At the end of a week, those who held me
captive suffered me to depart much weaker in body than I had been on my
arrival."
They all swore that the like had happened to them.
"My imprisonment," said Astillon, "began on such a day and finished on
such another."
"Mine," thereupon said Durassier, "began on the very day that yours
ended, and lasted until such a day."
Valnebon, who was losing patience, began to swear.
"'Sblood!" said he, "from what I can see, I, who thought myself the
first and only one, was the third, for I went in on such a day and came
out on such another."
Three others, who were at the table, swore that they had followed in
like order.
"Well, since that is so," said Astillon, "I will mention the condition
of our gaoler. She is married, and her husband is a long way off."
"'Tis even she," they all replied.
"Well, to put us out of our pain," said Astillon, "I, who was first
enrolled, shall also be the first to name her. It was my lady the
Countess, she who was so extremely haughty that in conquering her
affection I felt as though I had conquered Caesar."
[Said Valnebon--(6)]
6 It is probable that the angry Valnebon is speaking here,
and that his name has been accidentally omitted from the
MSS.
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