"Since you may have no child by me, needs must we say farewell. I tell
you truly that the parting presses hardly upon me, for never again
shall woman lie so nearly to my heart as you have lain."
Then might he speak no more because of tears, and the lady wept with
him.
"Husband," said she, "for God's love have pity upon me, for where may I
hide myself, and what may I find to do?"
"Wife, so it pleases God, your good days are not yet past, for
honourably and in rich estate shall you return to your own friends in
your own land."
"Lord," said the dame, "I require none of this gear. So it please you,
I will bestow me in a certain convent of nuns, if it will receive me,
and there I will serve God all my life; for since I lose your love I am
she whose heart shall never harbour love again."
So King Florus and the lady wept together very bitterly.
On the third day the Queen set forth to her convent; and the fresh
Queen came to the palace in great pomp, and held revel and festival
with her friends. For four years did King Florus possess this lady, yet
never might he get an heir. So now the story ceases to speak of King
Florus, and turns again to Messire Robert and to John, who were come
to Marseilles.
Very sad was Sir Robert when he came to the city that he might hear of
no arming in all the land; so he said to John--
"What shall we do? You have lent me much money, for the which I owe you
more than thanks. I will give it you again, though I have to sell my
very palfrey, to discharge me of the debt."
"Sir," said John, "if it please you give heed to me, and I will show
you what we have to do. There remain yet to us one hundred Tournay
sous. If you grant me leave, I will turn our two good horses into
better money. With this I will make French bread, for I am the lightest
baker of whom you have heard, and I doubt but little that we shall gain
our money and our livelihood besides."
"John," said Sir Robert, "I am content that you should do according to
your will."
The next day John sold his two horses for ten pounds Tournay. With
these he bought corn, and carried it to the mill. Afterwards he bought
baskets and set to work at his oven to bake good French bread. So white
and so fresh were these loaves of his baking that he sold more than the
best baker of the town, and prospered so greatly that within two years
he had put by well one hundred pounds for their need.