第8章 INCOGNITA(6)

Leonora,who never from the beginning had entertain'd the least Scruple of distrust,imagined he spoke faintly,as not being yet perfectly recovered in his strength;and withal considering that the heat of the Room,by reason of the Crowd,might be uneasie to a Person in his Condition;she kindly told him,That if he were as inclinable to dispense with the remainder of that Nights Diversion as she was,and had no other engagement upon him,by her consent they should both steal out of the Assembly,and go to her House,where they might with more freedom discourse about a business of that importance,and where he might take something to refresh himself if he were (as she conceiv'd him to be)indisposed with his long standing.Judge you whether the Proposal were acceptable to Hippolito or no;he had been ruminating with himself how to bring something like this about,and had almost despair'd of it;when of a suddain he found the success of his design had prevented his own endeavours.He told his Cousin in the same key as before,That he was unwilling to be the occasion of her Divorce from so much good Company;but for his own part,he was afraid he had presumed too much upon his recovery in coming abroad so soon,and that he found himself so unwell,he feared he should be quickly forc'd to retire.Leonora stay'd not to make him any other reply,only tipp'd him upon the Arm,and bid him follow her at a convenient distance to avoid Observation.

Whoever had seen the Joy that was in Hippolito's Countenance,and the Sprightliness with which he follow'd his Beautiful Conductress,would scarce have taken him for a Person griev'd with uncured Wounds.She led him down a back pair of Stairs,into one of the Palace Gardens which had a Door opening into the Piazza,not far from where Don Mario her Father lived.They had little Discourse by the way,which gave Hippolito time to consider of the best way of discovering himself.A thousand things came into his Head in a minute,yet nothing that pleased him:and after so many Contrivances as he had formed for the discovery of himself,he found it more rational for him not to reveal himself at all that Night,since he could not foresee what effect the surprize would have,she must needs be in,at the appearance of a Stranger,whom she had never seen before,yet whom she had treated so familiarly.He knew Women were apt to shriek or swoon upon such Occasions,and should she happen to do either,he might be at a loss how to bring himself off.He thought he might easily pretend to be indisposed somewhat more than ordinary,and so make an excuse to go to his own Lodging.It came into his Head too,that under pretence of giving her an account of his Health,he might enquire of her the means how a Letter might be convey'd to her the next morning,wherein he might inform her gently of her mistake,and insinuate something of that Passion he had conceiv'd,which he was sure he could not have opportunity to speak of if he bluntly revealed himself.He had just resolv'd upon this Method,as they were come to the great Gates of the Court,when Leonora stopping to let him go in before her,he of a suddain fetch'd his Breath violently as if some stitch or twinging smart had just then assaulted him.She enquired the matter of him,and advised him to make haste into the House that he might sit down and rest him.He told her he found himself so ill,that he judged it more convenient for him to go home while he was in a condition to move,for he fear'd if he should once settle himself to rest he might not be able to stir.She was much troubled,and would have had a Chair made ready and Servants to carry him home;but he made answer,he would not have any of her Fathers Servants know of his being abroad,and that just now he had an interval of ease,which he hop'd would continue till he made a shift to reach his own Lodgings.Yet if she pleased to inform him how he might give an account of himself the next morning,in a line or two,he would not fail to give her the thanks due to her great kindness;and withal,would let her know something which would not a little surprize her,though now he had not time to acquaint her with it.She show'd him a little Window at the corner of the House,where one should wait to receive his Letter,and was just taking her leave of him,when seeing him search hastily in his Pocket,she ask'd him if he miss'd any thing;he told her he thought a Wound which was not throughly heal'd bled a little,and that he had lost his Handkerchief.His design took;for she immediately gave him hers:which indeed accordingly he apply'd to the only wound he was then griev'd with;which though it went quite through his Heart,yet thank God was not Mortal.He was not a little rejoyc'd at his good Fortune in getting so early a Favour from his Mistress,and notwithstanding the violence he did himself to personate a sick Man,he could not forbear giving some Symptoms of an extraordinary content;and telling her that he did not doubt to receive a considerable Proportion of ease from the Application of what had so often kiss'd her fair Hand.Leonora who did not suspect the Compliment,told him she should be heartily glad if that or any thing in her power might contribute to his recovery;and wishing him well home,went into her House,as much troubled for her Cousin as he was joyful for his Mistress.