“My imprisonment,” said Astillon, “began on such a day and finished on such another.”

“Mine,” thereupon said Durassier, “began on the very day that yours ended, and lasted until such a day.”

Valnebon, who was losing patience, began to swear.

“’Sblood!” said he, “from what I can see, I, who thought myself the first and only one, was the third, for I went in on such a day and came out on such another.”

Three others, who were at the table, swore that they had followed in like order.

“Well, since that is so,” said Astillon, “I will mention the condition of our gaoler.  She is married, and her husband is a long way off.”

“’Tis even she,” they all replied.

“Well, to put us out of our pain,” said Astillon, “I, who was first enrolled, shall also be the first to name her.  It was my lady the Countess, she who was so extremely haughty that in conquering her affection I felt as though I had conquered Caesar.”

[Said Valnebon—­(6)]

6 It is probable that the angry Valnebon is speaking here, and that his name has been accidentally omitted from the MSS.  At all events the three subsequent paragraphs show that these remarks are not made by Astillon, who declines the other speaker’s advice, and proposes a scheme of his own.—­ Ed.

“To the devil with the jade, who gave us so much toil, and made us believe ourselves so fortunate in winning her!  Never was there such wantonness, for while she kept one in hiding she was practising upon another, so that she might never be without diversion.  I would rather die than suffer her to go unpunished.”

Each thereupon asked him what he thought ought to be done to her, saying that they were all ready to do it.

“I think,” said he, “that we ought to tell the King our master, who prizes her as though she were a goddess.

“By no means,” said Astillon; “we are ourselves able to take vengeance upon her, without calling in the aid of our master.  Let us all be present to-morrow when she goes to mass, each of us wearing an iron chain about his neck.  Then, when she enters the church, we will greet her as shall be fitting.”

This counsel was highly approved by the whole company, and each provided himself with an iron chain.  The next morning they all went, dressed in black and with their iron chains twisted like collars round their necks, to meet the Countess as she was going to church.  And as soon as she saw them thus attired, she began to laugh and asked them—­

“Whither go such doleful folk?”

“Madam,” said Astillon, “we are come to attend you as poor captive slaves constrained to do your service.”

The Countess, feigning not to understand, replied—­

“You are not my captives, and I cannot understand that you have more occasion than others to do me service.”

Thereupon Valnebon stepped forward and said to her—­