“What!” they said. “Do you not know? Have you not had the letters which were written to you?”
“No, by my oath,” said he. “What has happened?’
“Holy Mary!” they replied, “you have good reason to ask. You had not been gone more than a month when she packed up her combs and mirrors and betook herself to the house of a certain merchant, who is greatly attached to her. And, in fact, she has there been brought to bed of a fine boy. The merchant has had the child christened, and believes it to be his own.”
“By St. John! that is something new,” said the gentleman, “but, since she is that sort of a woman, she may go to the devil. The merchant may have her and keep her, but as for the child I am sure it is mine, and I want it.”
Thereupon he went and knocked loudly at the door of the merchant’s house. By chance, the lady was at home and opened the door, and when she recognised the lover she had deserted, they were both astonished. Nevertheless, he asked her how she came in that place, and she replied that Fortune had brought her there.
“Fortune?” said he; “Well then, fortune may keep you; but I want my child. Your new master may have the cow, but I will have the calf; so give it to me at once, for I will have it whatever may happen.”
“Alas!” said the wench, “what will my man say? I shall be disgraced, for he certainly believes the child is his.”
“I don’t care what he thinks,” replied the other, “but he shall not have what is mine.”
“Ah, my friend, I beg and request of you to leave the merchant this child; you will do him a great service and me also. And by God! you will not be tempted to have the child when once you have seen him, for he is an ugly, awkward boy, all scrofulous and mis-shapen.”
“Whatever he is,” replied the other, “he is mine, and I will have him.”