Nobleman, his intimate Friend; so it is believ'd, they are both in Town,
and not unlikely in this Room in Masquerade.

Hippolito could not forbear smiling to himself, at these last words. For
ever since the naming of Don Fabio he had been very attentive; but
before, his Thoughts were wholly taken up with the Beauty of the Face he
had seen, and from the time she had taken him by the Hand, a successive
warmth and chillness had play'd about his Heart, and surpriz'd him with
an unusual Transport. He was in a hundred Minds, whether he should make
her sensible of her Error or no; but considering he could expect no
farther Conference with her after he should discover himself, and that as
yet he knew not of her place of abode, he resolv'd to humour the mistake
a little further. Having her still by the Hand, which he squeez'd
somewhat more eagerly than is usual for Cousins to do, in a low and
undistinguishable Voice, he let her know how much he held himself obliged
to her, and avoiding as many words as handsomely he could, at the same
time, entreated her to give him her Advice, toward the management of
himself in this Affair. Leonora, who never from the beginning had
entertain'd the least Scruple of distrust, imagined he spoke faintly, as
not being yet perfectly recovered in his strength; and withal considering
that the heat of the Room, by reason of the Crowd, might be uneasie to a
Person in his Condition; she kindly told him, That if he were as
inclinable to dispense with the remainder of that Nights Diversion as she
was, and had no other engagement upon him, by her consent they should
both steal out of the Assembly, and go to her House, where they might
with more freedom discourse about a business of that importance, and
where he might take something to refresh himself if he were (as she
conceiv'd him to be) indisposed with his long standing. Judge you
whether the Proposal were acceptable to Hippolito or no; he had been
ruminating with himself how to bring something like this about, and had