he delivered to her secretly at the next opportunity. She
received it from him with a smile, which scared all doubts of her
frailty from his mind, and with a pressure of his hand which
awoke the tenderest feelings in his heart.

He was now convinced her husband had allowed jealousy to blind
him, and had magnified his unworthy suspicions to assurances of
guilt. Is this view Hamilton was fully confirmed by a letter he
received from her the following day in answer to his own. "Are
you not," said she, "ashamed to give any credit to the visions of
a jealous fellow, who brought nothing else with him from Italy?
Is it possible that the story of the green stockings, upon which
he has founded his suspicions, should have imposed upon you,
accompanied as it is with such pitiful circumstances? Since he
has made you his confidant, why did not he boast of breaking in
pieces my poor harmless guitar? This exploit, perhaps, might
have convinced you more than all the rest; recollect yourself,
and if you are really in love with me, thank fortune for a
groundless jealousy, which diverts to another quarter the
attention he might pay to my attachment for the most amiable and
the most dangerous man at court."

Anointed by this flattering unction, such wounds as Hamilton had
experienced were quickly healed; alas, only to bleed afresh at
the certain knowledge that this charming woman had been making
him her dupe! For soon after, in a moment of indiscretion, and
whilst the whole court, including her majesty, was assembled in
the card-room, my lady there permitted the duke a liberty which
confirmed her husband in his suspicions of their intimacy.
Hamilton at hearing this was wild with fury, and advised Lord