composition; but her husband, who clearly perceived that he was the
person played upon, thought it a most detestable piece. However, though
he was in the last agony at being obliged to curb his passion while
others gave a free scope to theirs, he was resolved to find out the
drift of the visit; but it was not in his power: for, having the
honour to be chamberlain to the queen, a messenger came to require his
immediate attendance on her majesty. His first thought was to pretend
sickness: the second to suspect that the queen, who sent for him at
such an unseasonable time, was in the plot; but at last, after all the
extravagant ideas of a suspicious man, and all the irresolutions of a
jealous husband, he was obliged to go.

We may easily imagine what his state of mind was when he arrived at the
palace. Alarms are to the jealous what disasters are to the unfortunate:
they seldom come alone, but form a series of persecution. He was
informed that he was sent for to attend the queen at an audience she
gave to seven or eight Muscovite ambassadors: he had scarce begun to
curse the Muscovites, when his brother-in-law appeared, and drew upon
himself all the imprecations he bestowed upon the embassy: he no longer
doubted his being in the plot with the two persons he had left together,
and in his heart sincerely wished him such recompense for his good
offices as such good offices deserved. It was with great difficulty
that he restrained himself from immediately acquainting him what was his
opinion of such conduct: he thought that what he had already seen was
a sufficient proof of his wife's infidelity; but before the end of
the very same day, some circumstances occurred which increased his
suspicions, and persuaded him that they had taken advantage of his
absence, and of the honourable officiousness of his brother-in-law. He
passed, however, that night with tranquillity; but the next morning,
being reduced to the necessity either of bursting or giving vent to his
sorrows and conjectures, he did nothing but think and walk about the
room until Park-time. He went to court, seemed very busy, as if seeking
for some person or other, imagining that people guessed at the subject
of his uneasiness: he avoided everybody, but at length meeting with
Hamilton, he thought he was the very man that he wanted; and, having
desired him to take an airing with him in Hyde Park, he took him up in
his coach, and they arrived at the Ring, without a word hav