"Husband," said the lady, "that would be madness. Are you set again to leave me, and what shall I do thereof?"
"Certes, lady, I can do none other; for never man did such things for his friend as he has done for me."
"Husband," said the wife, "what he did for you was but his duty; he did no more than what he should have done."
"Wife," said Messire Robert, "by your speech you should have known him."
"Truly," answered the lady, "truly, I should know him well, for never aught of what he did was hid from me."
"Lady," said Sir Robert, "I marvel at such words."
"Sir," said she, "there is no need for wonder. If I tell you, yea and verily, that such a thing is true, will you honestly believe my word?"
"Wife," said he, "on my honour."
"Believe, then, what I am about to tell you, for know assuredly that I am that very John whom you would seek and this is how it happed. When I was told the matter of the wager, and of the treason of Messire Raoul; when, too, I knew that you were fled because of your grief at my faithlessness, and by reason of the land that for ever you had lost, then was I more cast down than any woman since woman first was made. So I clipped my hair close to my head, and taking all the money in my chest, about ten pounds Tournay, I arrayed me in the guise of a squire, and followed after you to Paris, coming up with you at Tombe Isoire. From there we companied together, even to Marseilles, where I served you as my own liege lord for near seven years, nor do I grudge you varlet's service. And know for truth that I am innocent and clean of that deed the foul knight fastened upon me, as clearly now appears, for he has been put to shame in open field, and has publicly confessed his treason."
Having spoken thus, Madame Jehane embraced Sir Robert, her lord, and kissed him very sweetly on the mouth. When Messire Robert was persuaded that she, indeed, was John, his faithful squire, his joy was greater far than thought or words may express, and much he marvelled that so high a lady could prove so lowly and so serviceable. For which thing he loved her the more dearly all the days of his life.