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