poor girl knew
the wicked designs you had upon her: I caution you, therefore, against
making any farther advances, to a person, too modest to listen to them:
I advise you likewise to take back your maid again, in order to silence
her scandalous tongue; for she says everywhere, that she is with child,
that you are the occasion of her being in that condition, and accuses
you of behaving towards her with the blackest ingratitude, upon trifling
suspicions only: you know very well, these are no stories of my own
invention; but that you may not entertain any manner of doubt, that I
had all this from her own mouth, she has told me your conversation in
the bathing-room, the characters you there drew of the principal men at
court, your artful malice in applying so improperly a scandalous song
to one of the loveliest women in all England; and in what manner the
innocent girl fell into the snare you had laid for her, in order to
do justice to her charms. But that which might be of the most fatal
consequences to you in that long conversation, is the revealing certain
secrets, which, in all probability, the duchess did not entrust you
with, to be imparted to the maids of honour: reflect upon this, and
neglect not to make some reparation to Sir Lyttleton, for the ridicule
with which you were pleased to load him. I know not whether he had his
information from your femme-de-chambre, but I am very certain that he
has sworn he will be revenged, and he is a man that keeps his word;
for after all, that you may not be deceived by his look, like that of a
Stoic, and his gravity, like that of a judge, I must acquaint you, that
he is the most passionate man living. Indeed, these invectives are of
the blackest and most horrible nature: he says it is most infamous, that
a wretch like yourself should find no other employment than to blacken
the characters of gentlemen, to gratify your jealousy; that if you
do not desist from such conduct for the future, he will immediately
complain of you; and that if her royal highness will not do him justice,
he is determined to do himself justice, and to run you through the body
with his own sword, though you were even in the arms of Miss Temple; and
that it is most scandalous that all the maids of honour should get into
your hands before they can look around them.

"These things, madam, I thought it my duty to acquaint you with: you are
better able to judge than myself, whether what I have now advanced be
tr