almost despair'd of it; when of a suddain he found the success of his
design had prevented his own endeavours. He told his Cousin in the same
key as before, That he was unwilling to be the occasion of her Divorce
from so much good Company; but for his own part, he was afraid he had
presumed too much upon his recovery in coming abroad so soon, and that he
found himself so unwell, he feared he should be quickly forc'd to retire.
Leonora stay'd not to make him any other reply, only tipp'd him upon the
Arm, and bid him follow her at a convenient distance to avoid
Observation.

Whoever had seen the Joy that was in Hippolito's Countenance, and the
Sprightliness with which he follow'd his Beautiful Conductress, would
scarce have taken him for a Person griev'd with uncured Wounds. She led
him down a back pair of Stairs, into one of the Palace Gardens which had
a Door opening into the Piazza, not far from where Don Mario her Father
lived. They had little Discourse by the way, which gave Hippolito time
to consider of the best way of discovering himself. A thousand things
came into his Head in a minute, yet nothing that pleased him: and after
so many Contrivances as he had formed for the discovery of himself, he
found it more rational for him not to reveal himself at all that Night,
since he could not foresee what effect the surprize would have, she must
needs be in, at the appearance of a Stranger, whom she had never seen
before, yet whom she had treated so familiarly. He knew Women were apt
to shriek or swoon upon such Occasions, and should she happen to do
either, he might be at a loss how to bring himself off. He thought he
might easily pretend to be indisposed somewhat more than ordinary, and so
make an excuse to go to his own Lodging. It came into his Head too, that
under pretence of giving her an account of his Health, he might enquire
of her the means how a Letter might be convey'd to her the next morning,
wherein he might inform her gently of her mistake, and insinuate