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.
Hippolito as soon as she was gone in, began to make
his Remarks about the House, walking round the great
Court, viewing the Gardens and all the Passages leading
to that side of the Piazza. Having sufficiently
informed himself, with a Heart full of Love, and a
Head full of Stratagem, he walked toward his Lodging,
impatient till the arrival of Aurelian that he might
give himself vent. In which interim, let me take
the liberty to digress a little, and tell the Reader
something which I do not doubt he has apprehended
himself long ago, if he be not the dullest Reader
in the World; yet only for orders sake, let me tell
him I say, That a young Gentleman (Cousin to the aforesaid
Don Fabritio) happened one night to have some words
at a Gameing House with one Lorenzo, which created
a Quarrel of fatal Consequence to the former, who was
killed upon the Spot, and likely to be so to the latter,
who was very desperately wounded.