be for the statue of my lady the virgin, and the other for my patron
saint, if I succeed, to the end that I may give thanks for the
emancipation of Tiennette, here present, and for whom I pray their high
assistance. Moreover, I vow, by my eternal salvation, to prosecute this
enterprise with courage, to expend therein all that I possess, and to
abandon it only with my life. Heaven hath heard me, and thou, fair one,"
he added, turning to the girl.

"Ah, my lord! My cow is running across the field," cried she weeping, at
the knees of the good man. "I will love you all my life--but recall your
vow."

"Let us seek the cow," said the goldsmith, raising her, without daring
to imprint a kiss upon her lips.

"Yes," said she, "for I shall be beaten."

The goldsmith ran after the cow, which recked little of their loves. But
she was seized by the horns, and held in the grasp of Claude as in an
iron vice. For a trifle he would have hurled her into the air.

"Farewell, dearest. If you go into the city, come to my house, near St.
Leu. I am called Master Anseau, and am the goldsmith of our seigneur,
the king of France, at the sign of St. Eloi. Promise me to be in this
field the next Sabbath, and I will not fail to come, though it were
raining halberts."

"I will, my lord. And, in the meanwhile, my prayers shall ascend to
heaven for your welfare."