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bitten） Jehan believed that she was beginning to hate him； and
straightway he cried too。 In the evening Bertha； touched by his tears；
which had left their mark upon his eyes； although he had well dried
them； told him the cause of her sorrow； mingling therewith her
confessions of her terrors for the future； pointing out to him how
much they were both to blame； and discoursing so beautifully to him；
gave utterance to such Christian sentences； ornamented with holy tears
and contrite prayers； that Jehan was touched to the quick by the
sincerity of his mistress。 This love innocently united to repentance；
this nobility in sin； this mixture of weakness and strength； would； as
the old authors say； have changed the nature of a tiger； melting it to
pity。 You will not be astonished then； that Jehan was compelled to
pledge his word as a knight…bachelor； to obey her in what ever she
should command him； to save her in this world and in the next。
Delighted at this confidence in her； and this goodness of heart；
Bertha cast herself at Jehan's feet； and kissing them； exclaimed
〃Oh！ my love； whom I am compelled to love； although it is a mortal sin
to do so； thou who art so good； so gentle to thy poor Bertha； if thou
wouldst have her always think of thee with pleasure； and stop the
torrent of her tears； whose source is so pretty and so pleasant （here；
to show him that it was so； she let him steal a kiss）Jehan； if thou
wouldst that the memory of our celestial joys； angel music； and the
fragrance of love should be a consolation to me in my loneliness
rather than a torment； do that which the Virgin commanded me to order
thee in a dream； in which I was beseeching her to direct me in the
present case； for I had asked her to come to me； and she had come。
Then I told her the horrible anguish I should endure； trembling for
this little one； whose movements I already feel； and for the real
father； who would be at the mercy of the other； and might expiate his
paternity by a violent death； since it is possible that La Fallotte
saw clearly into his future life。 Then the beautiful Virgin told me；
smiling； that the Church offered its forgiveness for our faults if we
followed her commandments； that it was necessary to save one's self
from the pains of hell； by reforming before Heaven became angry。 Then
with her finger she showed me a Jehan like thee； but dressed as thou
shouldst be； and as thou wilt be； if thou does but love thy Bertha
with a love eternal。〃
Jehan assured her of his perfect obedience； and raised her； seating
her on his knee； and kissing her。 The unhappy Bertha told him then
that this garment was a monk's frock； and trembling besought him
almost fearing a refusalto enter the Church； and retire to
Marmoustier； beyond Tours； pledging him her word that she would grant
him a last night； after which she would be neither for him nor for
anyone else in the world again。 And each year； as a reward for this；
she would let him come to her one day； in order that he might see the
child。 Jehan； bound by his oath； promised to obey his mistress； saying
that by this means he would be faithful to her； and would experience
no joys of love but those tasted in her divine embrace； and would live
upon the dear remembrance of them。 Hearing these sweet words； Bertha
declared to him that； however great might have been her sin； and
whatever God reserved for her； this happiness would enable her to
support it； since she believed she had not fallen through a man； but
through an angel。
Then they returned to the nest which contained their love but only to
bid a final adieu to all their lovely flowers。 There can be but little
doubt that Seigneur Cupid had something to do with this festival； for
no woman ever experienced such joy in any part of the world before；
and no man ever took as much。 The especial property of true love is a
certain harmony； which brings it about that the more one gives； the
more the other receives； and vice…versa； as in certain cases in
mathematics； where things are multiplied by themselves without end。
This problem can only be explained to unscientific people； by asking
them to look into their Venetian glasses； in which are to be seen
thousands of faces produced by one alone。 Thus； in the heart of two
lovers； the roses of pleasure multiply within them in a manner which
causes them to be astonished that so much joy can be contained；
without anything bursting。 Bertha and Jehan would have wished in this
night to have finished their days； and thought； from the excessive
languor which flowed in their veins； that love had resolved to bear
them away on his wings with the kiss of death； but they held out in
spite of these numerous multiplications。
On the morrow； as the return of Monsieur Imbert de Bastarnay was close
at hand； the lady Sylvia was compelled to depart。 The poor girl left
her cousin； covering her with tears and with kisses； it was always her
last； but the last lasted till evening。 Then he was compelled to leave
her； and he did leave her although the blood of his heart congealed；
like the fallen wax of a Paschal candle。 According to his promise； he
wended his way towards Marmoustier； which he entered towards the
eleventh hour of the day； and was placed among the novices。
Monseigneur de Bastarnay was informed that Sylvia had returned to the
Lord which is the signification of le Seigneur in the English
language； and therefore in this Bertha did not lie。
The joy of her husband； when he saw Bertha without her waistbandshe
could not wear it； so much had she increased in sizecommenced the
martyrdom of this poor woman； who did not know how to deceive； and
who； at each false word； went to her Prie…Dieu； wept her blood away
from her eyes in tears； burst into prayers； and recommended herself to
the graces of Messieurs the Saints in paradise。 It happened that she
cried so loudly to God that He heard her； because He hears everything；
He hears the stones that roll beneath the waters； the poor who groan；
and the flies who wing their way through the air。 It is well that you
should know this； otherwise you would not believe in what happened。
God commanded the archangel Michael to make for this penitent a hell
upon earth； so that she might enter without dispute into Paradise。
Then St。 Michael descended from the skies as far as the gate of hell；
and handed over this triple soul to the devil； telling him that he had
permission to torment it during the rest of her days； at the same time
indicating to him Bertha； Jehan and the child。
The devil； who by the will of God； is lord of all evil； told the
archangel that he would obey the message。 During this heavenly
arrangement life went on as usual here below。 The sweet lady of
Bastarnay gave the most beautiful child in the world to the Sire
Imbert； a boy all lilies and roses； of great intelligence； like a
little Jesus； merry and arch as a pagan love。 He became more beautiful
day by day； while the eld