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〃I have with me a great truth which I will show you when you wish it。〃
replied the knight。 〃I undertake to give you queen's fare； and put you
on the high road to joy； by this means you will make up for lost time；
the more so as the king is ruined through other women； while I shall
reserve my advantage for your service。〃
〃And if the king learns of our arrangement； he will put your head on a
level with your feet。〃
〃Even if this misfortune befell me it after the first night； I should
believe I had lived a hundred years； from the joy therein received；
for never have I seen； after visiting all Courts； a princess fit to
hold a candle to your beauty。 To be brief； if I die not by the sword；
you will still be the cause of my death； for I am resolved to spend my
life in your love； if life will depart in the place whence it comes。〃
Now this queen had never heard such words before； and preferred them
to the most sweetly sung mass； her pleasure showed itself in her face；
which became purple； for these words made her blood boil within her
veins； so that the strings of her lute were moved thereat； and struck
a sweet note that rang melodiously in her ears； for this lute fills
with its music the brain and the body of the ladies； by a sweet
artifice of their resonant nature。 What a shame to be young；
beautiful； Spanish； and queen； and yet neglected。 She conceived an
intense disdain for those of her Court who had kept their lips closed
concerning this infidelity； through fear of the king； and determined
to revenge herself with the aid of this handsome Frenchman； who cared
so little for life that in his first words he had staked it in making
a proposition to a queen； which was worthy of death； if she did her
duty。 Instead of this； however； she pressed his foot with her own； in
a manner that admitted no misconception； and said aloud to him
〃Sir Knight； let us change the subject； for it is very wrong of you to
attack a poor queen in her weak spot。 Tell us the customs of the
ladies of the Court of France。〃
Thus did the knight receive the delicate hint that the business was
arranged。 Then he commenced to talk of merry and pleasant things；
which during supper kept the court； the king； the queen； and all the
courtiers in a good humour； so much so that when the siege was raised；
Leufroid declared that he had never laughed so much in his life。 Then
they strolled about the gardens； which were the most beautiful in the
world； and the queen made a pretext of the chevalier's sayings to walk
beneath a grove of blossoming orange trees； which yielded a delicious
fragrance。
〃Lovely and noble queen；〃 said Gauttier； immediately； 〃I have seen in
all countries the perdition of love have its birth in these first
attentions； which we call courtesy； if you have confidence in me； let
us agree； as people of high intelligence； to love each other without
standing on so much ceremony； by this means no suspicion will be
aroused； our happiness will be less dangerous and more lasting。 In
this fashion should queens conduct their amours； if they would avoid
interference。〃
〃Well said；〃 said she。 〃But as I am new at this business； I did not
know what arrangements to make。〃
〃Have you are among your women one in whom you have perfect
confidence？〃
〃Yes；〃 said she； 〃I have a maid who came from Spain with me； who would
put herself on a gridiron for me like St。 Lawrence did for God； but
she is always poorly。〃
〃That's good；〃 said her companion； 〃because you go to see her。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the queen； 〃and sometimes at night。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Gauttier； 〃I make a vow to St。 Rosalie； patroness of
Sicily； to build her a gold altar for this fortune。〃
〃O Jesus！〃 cried the queen。 〃I am doubly blessed in having a lover so
handsome and yet so religious。〃
〃Ah； my dear； I have two sweethearts today； because I have a queen to
love in heaven above； and another one here below； and luckily these
loves cannot clash one with the other。〃
This sweet speech so affected the queen； that for nothing she would
have fled with this cunning Frenchman。
〃The Virgin Mary is very powerful in heaven；〃 said the queen。 〃Love
grant that I may be like her！〃
〃Bah！ they are talking of the Virgin Mary；〃 said the king； who by
chance had come to watch them； disturbed by a gleam of jealousy； cast
into his heart by a Sicilian courtier； who was furious at the sudden
favour which the Frenchman had obtained。
The queen and the chevalier laid their plans； and everything was
secretly arranged to furnish the helmet of the king with two invisible
ornaments。 The knight rejoined the Court； made himself agreeable to
everyone； and returned to the Palace of Pezare； whom he told that
their fortunes were made； because on the morrow； at night； he would
sleep with the queen。 This swift success astonished the Venetian； who；
like a good friend； went in search of fine perfumes； linen of Brabant；
and precious garments； to which queens are accustomed； with all of
which he loaded his friend Gauttier； in order that the case might be
worthy the jewel。
〃Ah； my friend；〃 said he 〃are you sure not to falter； but to go
vigorously to work； to serve the queen bravely； and give her such joys
in her castle of Gallardin that she may hold on for ever to this
master staff； like a drowning sailor to a plank？〃
〃As for that； fear nothing； dear Pezare； because I have the arrears of
the journey； and I will deal with her as with a simple servant；
instructing her in the ways of the ladies of Touraine； who understand
love better than all others； because they make it； remake it； and
unmake it to make it again and having remade it； still keep on making
it； and having nothing else to do； have to do that which always wants
doing。 Now let us settle our plans。 This is how we shall obtain the
government of the island。 I shall hold the queen and you the king； we
will play the comedy of being great enemies before the eyes of the
courtiers； in order to divide them into two parties under our command；
and yet； unknown to all； we will remain friends。 By this means we
shall know their plots； and will thwart them； you by listening to my
enemies and I to yours。 In the course of a few days we will pretend to
quarrel in order to strive one against the other。 This quarrel will be
caused by the favour in which I will manage to place you with the
king； through the channel of the queen； and he will give you supreme
power； to my injury。〃
On the morrow Gauttier went to the house of the Spanish lady； who
before the courtiers he recognised as having known in Spain； and he
remained there seven whole days。 As you can imagine； the Touranian
treated the queen as a fondly loved woman； and showed her so many
terra incognita in love； French fashions； little tendernesses； etc。；
that she nearly lost her reason through it； and swore that the French
were the only people who thoroughly understood love。 You see