
A wandering young cavalier from Toledo, accompanied by his faithful valet, stumbles upon a frantic lady fleeing a forest path. She begs his aid, pleading that two rival suitors are about to clash over her affection. The knight steps between the combatants, his sense of honor and compassion driving him to seek a peaceful resolution rather than let steel decide love’s fate.
What follows is a lively exchange of bravado, wounded pride, and the delicate art of negotiation. The strangers must confront their own motives, while the lady, torn between courtesy and genuine feeling, is urged to speak her heart. In this early encounter, the story explores how friendship, humility, and the courage to choose words over weapons can alter destinies, setting the stage for further adventures in a world where chivalry is tested at every turn.
Language
fr
Duration
~5 hours (325K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Laurent Vogel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)
Release date
2013-11-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1668–1747
Best known for the sharp, lively novel Gil Blas, this French writer helped bring Spanish-style adventure and satire into French literature. His stories mix wit, social observation, and a strong feel for the theater.
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