of passion, and to vex him, for love of whom she had endured much
annoyance, showed him a fairer countenance than ever she had done
before. Thereupon the gentleman, who lacked boldness neither in love nor
in war, began hotly to press the suit that he many a time previously had
addressed to her.

She, pretending to be wholly vanquished by pity, promised to grant his
request, and told him that she would with this intent go into her room,
which was on a garret floor, where she knew there was nobody. And as
soon as he should see that she was gone he was to follow her without
fail, for he would find her ready to give proof of the good-will that
she bore him.

The gentleman, believing what she said, was exceedingly well pleased,
and began to amuse himself with the other ladies until he should see
her gone, and might quickly follow her. But she, who lacked naught of
woman's craftiness, betook herself to my Lady Margaret, daughter of the
King, and to the Duchess of Montpensier, (2) to whom she said--

"I will if you are willing, show you the fairest diversion you have ever
seen."

2 The former is Margaret of France, Duchess of Savoy and
Berry. Born in June 1523, she died in September 1574.--
Queen Margaret was her godmother. When only three years old,
she was promised in marriage to Louis of Savoy, eldest son
of Duke Charles III., and he dying, she espoused his younger
brother, Emmanuel Philibert, in July 1549. Graceful and
pretty as a child (see _ante_, vol. i. p. xlviii.), she
became, thanks to the instruction of the famous Michael de