with a smile of indignation. "I hope," said she, "I
may be allowed to pay you my homage, although the angelic Stewart has
forbid you to see me at my own house. I will not make use of reproaches
and expostulations, which would disgrace myself: still less will I
endeavour to excuse frailties which nothing can justify, since your
constancy for me deprives me of all defence, considering I am the only
person you have honoured with your tenderness, who has made herself
unworthy of it by ill conduct. I come now, therefore, with no other
intent than to comfort and to condole with you upon the affliction and
grief into which the coldness, or new-fashioned chastity of the inhuman
Stewart have reduced your majesty." These words were attended by a
fit of laughter, as unnatural and strained as it was insulting and
immoderate, which completed the king's impatience: he had, indeed,
expected that some bitter jest would follow this preamble; but he
did not suppose she would have given herself such blustering airs,
considering the terms they were then upon; and, as he was preparing to
answer her: "be not offended," said she, "that I take the liberty of
laughing at the gross manner in which you are imposed upon: I cannot
bear to see that such particular affectation should make you the jest of
your own court, and that you should be ridiculed with such impunity. I
know that the affected Stuart has sent you away, under pretence of some
indisposition, or perhaps some scruple of conscience; and I come to
acquaint you that the Duke of Richmond will soon be with her, if he is
not there already. I do not desire you to believe what I say, since it
might be suggested either through resentment or envy: only follow me to
her apartment, either that, no longer trusting calumny and malice, you
may honour her with a just preference, if I accuse her falsely; or, if
my information be true, you may no longer be the dupe of a pretended
prude, who makes you act so unbecoming and ridiculous a part."

As she ended this speech, she took him by the hand, while he was yet
undecided, and pulled him away towards her rival's apartments. Chiffinch
being in her interest, Miss Stewart could have no warning of the visit;
and Babiani, who owed all to the Duchess of Cleveland, and who served
her admirably well upon this occasion, came and told her that the Duke
of Richmond had just gone into Miss Stewart's chamber. It was in the
middle of a little gallery, which, through a