It chanced that, as she tended me, when I was at my worst, she marked, hanging on a silken string about my neck, a little case of silver artfully wrought, wherein was that portrait of my mistress, painted by me before I left Chinon.
Being curious, like all girls, and deeming that the case held some relic, she opened it, I knowing nothing then of what she did.

But when I was well enough to lie abed and devise with her, it chanced that I was playing idly with my fingers about the silver case.
"Belike," said Charlotte, "that is some holy relic, to which, maybe, you owe your present recovery.

Surely, when you are whole again, you have vowed a pilgrimage to the shrine of the saint, your friend ?" Here she smiled at me gaily, for she was a right merry damsel, and a goodly.
"Nay," she said, "I have done more for you than your physician, seeing that I, or the saint you serve, have now brought the red colour into these wan cheeks of yours.

Is she a Scottish saint, then?
perchance St.
Margaret, of whom I have read?
Will you not let me look at the sacred thing ?" "Nay," said I.

"Methinks, from your smiling, that you have taken opportunity to see my treasure before to-day, being a daughter of our mother Eve." "She is very beautiful," said Charlotte; "nay, show her to me again!" With that I pressed the spring and opened the case, for there is no lover but longs to hear his lady commended, and to converse about her.