The doctor asked Messer Giannetto if he would grant him a favor, and being answered in the affirmative, he went on to say, “I would that you tarry not here, but go straightway home to your wife.”
Messer Giannetto declared that the time yet to elapse before meeting her would be as long to him as a thousand years, and in this wise they took leave of one another.
The doctor embarked and went his way, while Messer Giannetto let celebrate diverse banquets, and gave horses and money to his companions, and the merrymaking went on for several days. He kept open house, and at last he bade farewell to the Venetians, and took Messer Ansaldo with him, with many of his old friends accompanying them on their voyage.
Well nigh all the gentlemen and the ladies shed tears over his departure, so gracious had been his carriage with everyone what time he had abode in Venice, and thus he departed and returned toBelmonte.
It happened that his wife had come there some days before, having given out that she had been away at the baths, and had once more put on woman's garb. Now she prepared great feastings, and hung all the streets with silk, and bade diverse companies of men-at-arms array themselves.
So when Messer Giannetto and Messer Ansaldo arrived, all the barons and the courtiers met them, crying out, “Long live our lord!”
When they had landed, the lady ran to embrace Messer Ansaldo, but with Messer Giannetto she seemed somewhat angered, albeit she held him dearer than her