following the Court.

He therefore withdrew to his own house as often as he was able, but so
much company came thither to see him that the expenses of his household
became scarcely any less, for, wherever his wife might be, she always
found means to pass her time in sports, dances, and all such matters as
youthful dames may use with honour. And when sometimes her husband told
her, laughing, that their expenses were too great, she would reply that
she promised never to make him a "coqu" or cuckold, but only a "coquin,"
that is, a beggar; for she was so exceedingly fond of dress, that she
must needs have the bravest and richest at the Court. (1) Her husband
took her thither as seldom as possible, but she did all in her power
to go, and to this end behaved in a most loving fashion towards her
husband, who would not willingly have refused her a much harder request.

1 As Queen Margaret was by no means over fond of gorgeous
apparel and display, this passage is in contradiction with
M. de Lincy's surmise that the lady of this and the
preceding tale may be herself. In any case the narrative
could only apply to the period of her first marriage, and
this was in no wise a love-match. Yet we are told at the
outset of the above story that the lady and gentleman had
married on account of the great affection between them. On
the other hand, these details may have been introduced the
better to conceal the identity of the persons referred to.--
Ed.

Now one day, when she had found that all her devices could not induce
him to make this journey to the Court, she perceived that he was very
pleasant in manner with a chamber-woman (2) she had, and thereupon