I was in the humour that day.

You will not catch me in the same mind again, neither you nor any young man, I warrant me." "Margaret, I came back the moment the Countess let me go; but you were not there." "Nay, you did not, or you had seen Hans Cloterman at our table; we left him to bring you on." "I saw no one there, but only a drunken man, that had just tumbled down." "At our table?
How was he clad ?" "Nay, I took little heed: in sad-coloured garb." At this Margaret's face gradually warmed; but presently, assuming incredulity and severity, she put many shrewd questions, all of which Gerard answered most loyally.

Finally, the clouds cleared, and they guessed how the misunderstanding had come about.

Then came a revulsion of tenderness, all the more powerful that they had done each other wrong; and then, more dangerous still, came mutual confessions.

Neither had been happy since; neither ever would have been happy but for this fortunate meeting.
And Gerard found a MS.