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Upon this the President and Dr. Fusbius sought audience of his Highness, and humbly laid before him the unforeseen obstacle which had occurred.

“Woman is ever ambitious,” said Dr. Fusbius.

“Nay,” corrected the President, “they have seen his Highness’s person as his Highness has ridden through the city.”

Duke Deodonato threw down his pen.

“This is very tiresome,” said he, knitting his brows. “My lord, I would be further advised on this matter. Return at the same hour to-morrow.”

The next day Duke Deodonato’s forehead had regained its customary smoothness, and his manner was tranquil and assured.

“Our pleasure is,” said he to the President, “that, albeit no woman shall be compelled to marry if so be that she be not invited thereunto; yet, if bidden, she shall in no wise refuse, but straightway espouse that man who first after the date of these presents shall solicit her hand.”

The President bowed in admiration.

“It is, if I may humbly say so, a practical and wise solution, sir,” he said.

“I apprehend that it will remedy the mischief,” said Duke Deodonato, not ill-pleased.

And doubtless it would have had an effect as altogether satisfactory, excellent, beneficial, salutary, and universal as the wisdom of Duke Deodonato had anticipated from it, had it not fallen out that, on the promulgation of the decree, all the aforesaid ladies of the Duchy, of whatsoever station, calling, age, appearance, wit, or character, straightway, and so swiftly that no man had time wherein to pay his court to them, fled to and shut and bottled and barricaded themselves in houses, castles, cupboards, cellars, stables, lofts, churches, chapels, chests, and every other kind of receptacle whatsoever, and there remained beyond reach of any man, be he whom he would, lest haply one, coming, should ask their hand in marriage, and thus they should lose all prospect of wedding the Duke.

When Duke Deodonato was apprised of this lamentable action on the part of the ladies of the Duchy, he frowned and laid down his pen.

“This is very annoying,” said he. “There appears to be a disposition to thwart Our endeavors for the public good.”

“It is gross contumacy,” said Dr. Fusbius.

“Yet,” remarked the President, “inspired by a natural, if ill-disciplined, admiration for his Highness’s person.”

“The decree is now a fortnight old,” observed Duke Deodonato. “Leave me, I will consider further of this matter.”

Now even as his Highness spoke a mighty uproar arose under the palace windows, and Duke Deodonato, looking out of the window (which, be it remembered, but for the guidance of Heaven he might not have done), beheld a maiden of wonderful charms struggling in the clutches of two halberdiers of the guard, who were haling her off to prison.

“Bring hither that damsel,” said Deodonato.

Presently the damsel, still held by the soldiers, entered the room. Her robe was dishevelled and rent, her golden hair hung loose on her shoulders, and her eyes were full of tears.

“At whose suit is she arrested?” asked Deodonato.

“At the suit of the most learned Dr. Fusbius, may it please your Highness.”

“Sir,” said Dr. Fusbius, “it is true. This lady, grossly contemning your Highness’s decree, has refused my hand in marriage.”

“Is it true, damsel?” asked Duke Deodonato.

“Hear me, your Highness!” answered she “I left my dwelling but an instant, for we were in sore straits for–“

“Bread?” asked Deodonato, a touch of sympathy in his voice.

“May it please your Highness, no–pins wherewith to fasten our hair. And, as I ran to the merchant’s, this aged man–“

“I am but turned of fifty,” interrupted Fusbius.

“And have not yet learnt silence?” asked Deodonato severely. “Damsel, proceed!”

“Caught me by my gown as I ran and–“

“I proposed marriage to her,” said Fusbius.

“Nay, if you proposed marriage, she shall marry you,” said Deodonato. “By the crown of my fathers, she shall marry you. But what said he, damsel?”

“May it please your Highness, he said that I had the prettiest face in all the Duchy, and that he would have no wife but me; and thereupon he kissed me; and I would have none of him, and I struck him and escaped.”