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Margaret, Queen of Navarre, 1492-1549

"The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. I. (of V.)"


4 This was of course Margaret herself.--Ed
5 Gilles du Mesnil, Lieutenant-General of the presidial
bailiwick and Senechaussee of Alencon.--B. J.
This mode of life lasted a long time, during which she had the Bishop
for her profit and the said Du Mesnil for her pleasure. To the latter
she swore that she showed a fair countenance to the Bishop only that
their own love might the more freely continue; that the Bishop, in
spite of appearances, had obtained only words, from her; and that he,
Du Mesnil, might rest assured that no man, save himself, should ever
receive aught else.
One day, when her husband was setting forth to visit the Bishop, she
asked leave of him to go into the country, saying that the air of the
town was injurious to her; and, when she had arrived at her farm, she
forthwith wrote to Du Mesnil to come and see her, without fail, at
about ten o'clock in the evening. This the young man did; but as he was
entering at the gate he met the maid who was wont to let him in, and who
said to him, "Go elsewhere, friend, for your place is taken.


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