attentions to the Countess of Chesterfield, who seemed in no way
loath to receive them.

This charming woman had married my Lord Chesterfield in
compliance with a family arrangement; and discovered too soon she
had no place in the heart of him whose life she shared. His
coldness to her was only equalled by his ardour for Lady
Castlemaine, whose lover he continued to remain after his
marriage. The affection his wife had offered and he had
repulsed, in the dawn of their wedded life, changed by degrees to
disdain and hatred.

Now as chamberlain to the queen my Lord Chesterfield had,
apartments in the palace, by reason of which the countess became
an habituee of the court. The moral atmosphere of Whitehall was
not calculated to strengthen her conjugal virtue, but its
perpetual gaiety was destined to dissipate her sense of neglect.
It was not possible for a woman endowed with so much beauty, and
possessed of such engaging manners, to be disregarded, in a court
entirely devoted to love and gallantry; and accordingly she soon
became an object of general admiration. This was by no means
pleasing to my Lord Chesterfield, who, though he had wilfully
repulsed her affections, was selfishly opposed to their bestowal
upon others. Accordingly he became watchful of her conduct, and
jealous of her admirers.

Prominent amongst these were James Hamilton and the Duke of York.
The former was her cousin, and her husband's confidant, in
consequence of which my lord failed to associate him with the
suspicion he entertained towards all other men who approached