The Husband's Sword

A man seems to be declaring his undying love to a woman in an armchair, while another man suddenly appears at a window behind him and splits him in half with a huge sword.
This picture is an illustration for The High Constable’s Wife, from Droll Stories.

The caption reads in the original French: L’espée des marys est un beau trespas de guallanterie, s’il y ha de beaulx trespas !
The translation provided here is from the edition published in London by the Bibliophilist Society, 1874.