"Sir Viscount, we must get rid of your god-child Nicolette.
"Cursed be the country where she was born! for she is the reason why I am losing my Aucassin, who ought to be a knight, and who refuses to do what he ought to do.
"If I can catch her, I will burn her at the stake, and I will burn you too."
"My lord," replied the viscount, "I am very sorry for what has happened; but it is no fault of mine.
"I bought Nicolette with my money; I trained her; I had her baptized; and she is my god-child.
"I wanted to marry her to a fine young man of mine, who would gladly have earned her bread for her, which is more than your son Aucassin could do.
"But, since your wish and your pleasure are what they are, I will send this god-child of mine away to such a land, in such a country, that Aucassin shall never set his eyes upon her again."
"See that you do so!" cried the Count Garin to the viscount, "or great misfortunes will come to you."
So saying, he left his vassal.
Now the viscount had a noble palace, of high walls, surrounded by a thickly planted garden. He put Nicolette into one of the rooms of this palace, in the very highest story.