We may easily imagine what his state of mind was when he arrived at the palace.  Alarms are to the jealous what disasters are to the unfortunate:  they seldom come alone, but form a series of persecution.  He was informed that he was sent for to attend the queen at an audience she gave to seven or eight Muscovite ambassadors:  he had scarce begun to curse the Muscovites, when his brother-in-law appeared, and drew upon himself all the imprecations he bestowed upon the embassy:  he no longer doubted his being in the plot with the two persons he had left together, and in his heart sincerely wished him such recompense for his good offices as such good offices deserved.  It was with great difficulty that he restrained himself from immediately acquainting him what was his opinion of such conduct:  he thought that what he had already seen was a sufficient proof of his wife’s infidelity; but before the end of the very same day, some circumstances occurred which increased his suspicions, and persuaded him that they had taken advantage of his absence, and of the honourable officiousness of his brother-in-law.  He passed, however, that night with tranquillity; but the next morning, being reduced to the necessity either of bursting or giving vent to his sorrows and conjectures, he did nothing but think and walk about the room until Park-time.  He went to court, seemed very busy, as if seeking for some person or other, imagining that people guessed at the subject of his uneasiness:  he avoided everybody, but at length meeting with Hamilton, he thought he was the very man that he wanted; and, having desired him to take an airing with him in Hyde Park, he took him up in his coach, and they arrived at the Ring, without a word having passed between them.

Hamilton, who saw him as yellow as jealousy itself, and particularly thoughtful, imagined that he had just discovered what all the world had perceived long before; when Chesterfield, after a broken, insignificant preamble, asked him how he succeeded with Lady Castlemaine.  Hamilton, who very well saw that he meant nothing by this question, nevertheless thanked him; and as he was thinking of an answer:  “Your cousin,” said the earl, “is extremely coquettish, and I have some reason to suppose she is not so prudent as she ought to be.”  Hamilton thought the last charge a little too severe; and as he was endeavouring to refute it:  “Good God!” said my lord, “you see, as well as the whole court, what airs she gives herself:  husbands are always the last people that are spoken to about those affairs that corcern them the most; but they are not always the last to perceive it themselves:  though you have made me your confidant in other matters, yet I am not at all surprised you have concealed this from me; but as I flatter myself with having some share in your esteem, I should be sorry you should think me such a fool as to be incapable of seeing, though I am so complaisant as not to express my sentiments: