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house； who was badly wounded。 With a blow of his mace he killed the
man…at…arms； seized the squire； lifted him on to his horse； and gained
the open； accompanied by a guide； who led him to the castle of Roche…
Foucauld； which he entered by night； and found in the great room
Bertha de Rohan； who had arranged this retreat for him。 But on
removing the helmet of his rescuer； he recognised the son of Jehan；
who expired upon the table； as by a final effort he kissed his mother；
and saying in a loud voice to her
〃Mother； we have paid the debt we owed him！〃
Hearing these words； the mother clasped the body of her loved child to
her heart； and separated from him never again； for she died of grief；
without hearing or heeding the pardon and repentance of Bastarnay。
The strange calamity hastened the last day of the poor old man； who
did not live to see the coronation of King Louis the Eleventh。 He
founded a daily mass in the Church of Roche…Foucauld； where in the
same grave he placed mother and son； with a large tombstone； upon
which their lives are much honoured in the Latin language。
The morals which any one can deduce from this history are the most
profitable for the conduct of life； since this shows how gentlemen
should be courteous with the dearly beloveds of their wives。 Further；
it teaches us that all children are blessings sent by God Himself； and
over them fathers； whether true or false； have no right of murder； as
was formerly the case at Rome； owing to a heathen and abominable law；
which ill became that Christianity which makes us all sons of God。
HOW THE PRETTY MAID OF PORTILLON CONVINCED HER JUDGE
The Maid of Portillon； who became as everyone knows； La Tascherette；
was； before she became a dyer； a laundress at the said place of
Portillon； from which she took her name。 If any there be who do not
know Tours； it may be as well to state that Portillon is down the
Loire； on the same side as St。 Cyr； about as far from the bridge which
leads to the cathedral of Tours as said bridge is distant from
Marmoustier； since the bridge is in the centre of the embankment
between Portillon and Marmoustier。 Do you thoroughly understand？
Yes？ Good！ Now the maid had there her washhouse； from which she ran to
the Loire with her washing in a second and took the ferry…boat to get
to St。 Martin； which was on the other side of the river； for she had
to deliver the greater part of her work in Chateauneuf and other
places。
About Midsummer day； seven years before marrying old Taschereau； she
had just reached the right age to be loved； without making a choice
from any of the lads who pursued her with their intentions。 Although
there used to come to the bench under her window the son of Rabelais；
who had seven boats on the Loire； Jehan's eldest； Marchandeau the
tailor； and Peccard the ecclesiastical goldsmith； she made fun of them
all； because she wished to be taken to church before burthening
herself with a man； which proves that she was an honest woman until
she was wheedled out of her virtue。 She was one of those girls who
take great care not to be contaminated； but who； if by chance they get
deceived； let things take their course； thinking that for one stain or
for fifty a good polishing up is necessary。 These characters demand
our indulgence。
A young noble of the court perceived her one day when she was crossing
the water in the glare of the noonday sun； which lit up her ample
charms； and seeing her； asked who she was。 An old man； who was working
on the banks； told him she was called the Pretty Maid of Portillon； a
laundress； celebrated for her merry ways and her virtue。 This young
lord； besides ruffles to starch； had many precious draperies and
things； he resolved to give the custom of his house to this girl； whom
he stopped on the road。 He was thanked by her and heartily； because he
was the Sire du Fou； the king's chamberlain。 This encounter made her
so joyful that her mouth was full of his name。 She talked about it a
great deal to the people of St。 Martin； and when she got back to the
washhouse was still full of it； and on the morrow at her work her
tongue went nineteen to the dozen； and all on the same subject； so
that as much was said concerning my Lord du Fou in Portillon as of God
in a sermon； that is； a great deal too much。
〃If she works like that in cold water； what will she do in warm？〃 said
an old washerwoman。 〃She wants du Fou； he'll give her du Fou！〃
The first time this giddy wench； with her head full of Monsieur du
Fou； had to deliver the linen at his hotel； the chamberlain wished to
see her； and was very profuse in praises and compliments concerning
her charms； and wound up by telling her that she was not at all silly
to be beautiful； and therefore he would give her more than she
expected。 The deed followed the word； for the moment his people were
out of the room； he began to caress the maid； who thinking he was
about to take out the money from his purse； dared not look at the
purse； but said； like a girl ashamed to take her wages
〃It will be for the first time。〃
〃It will be soon；〃 said he。
Some people say that he had great difficulty in forcing her to accept
what he offered her； and hardly forced her at all； others that he
forced her badly； because she came out like an army flagging on the
route； crying and groaning； and came to the judge。 It happened that
the judge was out。 La Portillone awaited his return in his room；
weeping and saying to the servant that she had been robbed； because
Monseigneur du Fou had given her nothing but his mischief； whilst a
canon of the Chapter used to give her large sums for that which M。 du
Fou wanted for nothing。 If she loved a man she would think it wise to
do things for him for nothing； because it would be a pleasure to her；
but the chamberlain had treated her roughly； and not kindly and
gently； as he should have done； and that therefore he owed her the
thousand crowns of the canon。 Then the judge came in； saw the wench；
and wished to kiss her； but she put herself on guard； and said she had
come to make a complaint。 The judge replied that certainly she could
have the offender hanged if she liked； because he was most anxious to
serve her。 The injured maiden replied that she did not wish the death
of her man； but that he should pay her a thousand gold crowns； because
she had been robbed against her will。
〃Ha！ ha！〃 said the judge； 〃what he took was worth more than that。〃
〃For the thousand crowns I'll cry quits； because I shall be able to
live without washing。〃
〃He who has robbed you； is he well off？〃
〃Oh yes。〃
〃Then he shall pay dearly for it。 Who is it？〃
〃Monseigneur du Fou。〃
〃Oh； that alters the case；〃 said the judge。
〃But justice？〃 said she。
〃I said the case； not the justice of it；〃 replied the judge。 〃I must
know how the affair occurred。〃
Then the girl related naively how she was arr