eez'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
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 r