Montreux . o suspect any ulterior motive—had given her shelter in his house. He had evenspoken vaguely of marrying her, but, as the ladyseemed indifferent in the matter, had let the projectdrop. Before long the facts came to the ears of theministers, and Bonivard was summoned before theConsistory. It was contrary to good morals, hewas told, that he should harbour this young woman,and the promise of marriage must be fulfilled with-out delay. Bonivard objected. His relations withhis protegee, he pleaded, were Platonic : his ageand infirmities were such that those relations mustnecessarily contin
Montreux . o suspect any ulterior motive—had given her shelter in his house. He had evenspoken vaguely of marrying her, but, as the ladyseemed indifferent in the matter, had let the projectdrop. Before long the facts came to the ears of theministers, and Bonivard was summoned before theConsistory. It was contrary to good morals, hewas told, that he should harbour this young woman,and the promise of marriage must be fulfilled with-out delay. Bonivard objected. His relations withhis protegee, he pleaded, were Platonic : his ageand infirmities were such that those relations mustnecessarily continue to be Platonic, even if themarriage ceremony took place; consequently hebegged to be excused. The ministers, however,were obdurate. They declared that the excusewas frivolous, and that Bonivards infirmities mustnot hinder him from re-entering the holy estate. Heyielded to their authority, if not to their better judg-ment, and married his fourth wife at the age of sixty- THE DENTS DOCHE, SAVOY ALPS **^,. BONIVARD^S WIVES 35 nine. It is recorded that the bridegrooms wedding-present to the bride was a copy of his own theologicaland philosophical treatise, Amartigenee, and thatthe brides present to the bridegroom was a copyof the De Corona of Demosthenes. This fourth marriage of Bonivards was evenmore unhappy than the second. Three years afterits celebration his v^dfe was arraigned before theConsistory on a charge of infidelity to her reads, with sympathetic interest, that it wasnot Bonivard who brought the charge, and that heeven allowed himself to be called as a witness forthe defence. Whether he actually believed in hiswifes innocence, or merely pitied her, and soughtto shield her from the terrible punishment withwhich such offences as hers were visited in thosebarbarous times, we have no means of fact that he was nearly old enough to be hergrandfather, had never, so far as one knows, beenher lover, and had only married her, under compul-sion, to hu
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