Muscovites: the king arrived there just before me; and as if the
duke had sworn to pursue me wherever I went that day, he came in
just after me. The conversation turned upon the extraordinary
appearance of the ambassadors. I know not where that fool Crofts
had heard that all these Muscovites had handsome wives; and that
all their wives had handsome legs. Upon this the king
maintained, that no woman ever had such handsome legs as Miss
Stuart; and she to prove the truth of his majesty's assertion,
with the greatest imaginable ease, immediately showed her leg
above the knee. Some were ready to prostrate themselves in order
to adore its beauty, for indeed none can be handsomer; but the
duke alone began to criticize upon it. He contended that it was
too slender, and that as for himself he would give nothing for a
leg that was not thicker and shorter, and concluded by saying
that no leg was worth anything without green stockings; now this
in my opinion was a sufficient demonstration that he had just
seen green stockings, and had them fresh in his remembrance."

At hearing this story, Hamilton, being deeply in love with Lady
Chesterfield, was scarcely less agitated or less jealous than her
lord; but he was obliged to conceal his feelings. Therefore,
assuming the tone of an impartial hearer, he shrugged his
shoulders, declared appearances were often deceitful, and
maintained that even if she had given herself airs to encourage
the duke, there were no grounds to show she had been culpable of
improprieties. My lord expressed himself much obliged to his
friend for the interest he had shown in his troubles, and after
exchanging a few compliments they parted. Hamilton, full of
wrath, returned home, and wrote a letter replete with violent
expostulations and tender reproaches to the woman he loved. This