"Yes," said Parlamente, "if she is loved by him; but there are some who
love men without being certain that they are loved in return, and when
they find that their sweethearts love elsewhere, they call them fickle.
It therefore happens that discreet women are never deceived by such
talk, for they give no heed or belief even to those people who speak
truly, lest they should prove to be liars, seeing that the true and the
false speak but one tongue."

"If all women were of your opinion," said Simon-tault, "the gentlemen
might pack up their prayers at once; but, for all that you and those
like you may say, we shall never believe that women are as unbelieving
as they are fair. And in this wise we shall live as content as you would
fain render us uneasy by your maxims."

"Truly," said Longarine, "knowing as I well do who the lady is that
played that fine trick upon the gentleman, it is impossible for me not
to believe in any craftiness on her part. Since she did not spare her
husband, 'twere fitting she should not spare her lover."

"Her husband, say you?" said Simontault. "You know, then, more than I
do, and so, since you wish it, I give you my place that you may tell us
your opinion of the matter."

"And since you wish it," said Longarine, "I will do so."


[Illustration: 078.jpg Tailpiece]

[Illustration: 079a. The Lady discovering her Husband with the Waiting-woman]