them from his hands, and read in his eyes the joy that her billet had raised in his heart. Nor was he satisfied with expressing his raptures only by looks: he hastened home, and wrote to her at least four times as much. How different was this letter from the other! though perhaps not so well written; for the same wit is not displayed in suing for pardon, as in venting reproaches, and it seldom happens that the style of tenderness in a letter, is so impressive as that of satire and invective.

Be that as it may, his peace was made their past quarrel gave new life to their correspondence; and Lady Chesterfield, to make him as easy as he had before been distrustful, expressed on every occasion a feigned contempt for his rival, and a sincere aversion for her husband.

So great was his confidence in her, that he consented to her shewing in public some marks of attention to the duke, in order to conceal as much as possible their private intelligence. Thus, at this time nothing disturbed his peace of mind, but impatience to find a favourable opportunity for the completion of his desires: he thought it was in her power to command it; but she excused herself on account of several difficulties which she enumerated to him, and which she was desirous of removing by his industry and attentions.

This silenced his complaints; but whilst he was endeavouring to surmount these obstacles, still wondering how it was possible that two persons who were so well disposed to each other, and who were agreed to make each other happy, could not put their

designs in execution, accident discovered an unexpected adventure, which left him no room to doubt, either of the happiness of his rival, or of the treachery of his mistress.

Misfortunes often fall light, when most feared; and frequently prove heaviest when merited, and when least foreseen. Hamilton was in the middle of the most tender and passionate letter he had ever written to Lady Chesterfield, when her husband came to announce to him the particulars of this last discovery: he came so suddenly into his apartment, that he had only just time to conceal his amorous epistle among his other papers. His heart and mind were still so full of what he had been writing to his cousin, that her husband's complaints against her, at first, were scarce attended to; besides, in his opinion, he had come at

the most unfortunate moment on all

accounts.

He was, however, obliged to listen to him, and the first sentence he heard made him entertain quite different sentiments: his eyes gradually opened, while the earl related to him circumstances of such extravagant indiscretion, as seemed to him almost incredible, had not the minuteness of the particulars left him little reason to doubt the truth of them.

You have

'reason to be surprised at it,' said Lord Chesterfield, concluding his story; 'but if you doubt the truth of what I 'tell you, it will be easy for you to ' find evidence that will convince you; 'for the scene of their tender famili'arities, was no less public than the 'room where the queen plays at cards,

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which, at that time, was, God knows,

pretty well crowded. Lady Denham

was the first who discovered what 'they thought would pass unperceived ' in the crowd; and you may very well 'judge how secret she would keep 'such a circumstance. The truth is, 'she addressed herself to me first of 'all, as I entered the room, to tell me 'that I should give my wife a little advice, as other people might take ' notice of what I might see myself, if 'I pleased.

'Your cousin was at play as I be'fore told you the duke was sitting 'next to her: I know not what was ' become of his hand; but I am sure • that no one could see his arm below 'the elbow: I was standing behind

them, in the place that Lady Denham 'had just quitted: the duke turning 'round perceived me, and was so much disturbed at my presence, that he • almost undressed my lady in pulling