The gentleman promised her what she asked, which made her very ready to do as much for him, namely, to refuse him nothing he might desire to have.  It was between five and six o’clock in winter-time, so that he could see nothing of the lady, but by the touch of her dress he perceived that it was of velvet, which at that time was not worn every day except by ladies of high and mighty lineage.  And so far as his hand could let him judge of what was beneath, there was nothing there that was not excellent, trim, and plump.  Accordingly, he was at pains to entertain her as well as he was able.  She on her part did no less, and the gentleman readily perceived that she was a married woman.

She desired afterwards to return immediately to the place whence she had come, but the gentleman said to her—­

“I esteem greatly the undeserved favour that you have shown me, but I shall esteem still more that which you may bestow at my request.  So well pleased am I by this your kindness, that I would fain learn whether I may not look for more of the same sort, and, also, in what manner you would have me act; for, knowing you not, I shall be powerless to woo.”

“Have no concern,” said the lady, “about that.  You may rest assured that every evening, before my mistress sups, I shall not fail to send for you, and do you be in readiness on the terrace where you were just now.  I shall merely send you word to remember what you have promised, and in this way you will know that I am waiting for you here in the gallery.  But if you hear talk of going to table, you may withdraw for that day or else come into our mistress’s apartment.  Above all things, I pray you will never seek to know me, if you would not forthwith bring our friendship to an end.”

So the lady and the gentleman went their several ways.  And although their love affair lasted for a great while, he could never learn who she was.  He pondered much upon the matter, wondering within himself who she might be.  He could not imagine that any woman in the world would fain be unseen and unloved; and, having heard some foolish preacher say that no one who had looked upon the face of the devil could ever love him, he suspected that his mistress might be some evil spirit.

In this perplexity he resolved to try and find out who it was that entertained him so well, and when next she sent for him he brought some chalk, and, while embracing her, marked the back of her shoulder without her knowledge.  Then, as soon as she was gone, the gentleman went with all speed to his mistress’s apartment, and stood beside the door in order to look from behind at the shoulders of those ladies that might go in.

He saw Jambicque enter among the rest, but with so haughty a bearing that he feared to look at her as keenly as at the others, and felt quite sure that it could not have been she.  Nevertheless, when her back was turned, he perceived the chalk mark, whereat he was so greatly astonished that he could hardly believe his eyes.