he ventur'd to ask
him concerning a Lady whom just now he had left in that Chamber. Don
Fabio told him, she was just gone down, and doubted they had been Guilty
of a Mistake, in coming to enquire for a Couple of Gentlemen whom they
were informed were Lodged in that House; he begg'd his Pardon if he had
any Relation to that Lady, and desired to know if he could give them any
Account of the Persons they sought for. Hippolito made answer, He was a
Stranger in the Place, and only a Servant to that Lady whom they had
disturb'd, and whom he must go and seek out. And in this Perplexity he
left them, going again in Search of Aurelian, to inform him of what had
passed.

The Old Gentlemen at last meeting with a Servant of the House, were
directed to Signior Claudio's Chamber, where they were no sooner entered
but Aurelian came into the House. A Servant who had skulk'd for him by
Hippolito's Order, followed him up into the Chamber, and told him who was
with Claudio then making Enquiry for him. He thought that to be no Place
for him, since Claudio must needs discover all the Truth to his Father;
wherefore he left Directions with the Servant, where Hippolito should
meet him in the Morning. As he was going out of the Room he espied the
torn Paper, which the Lady had thrown upon the Floor: The first piece he
took up had Incognita written upon it; the sight of which so Alarum'd
him, he scarce knew what he was about; but hearing a Noise of a Door
opening over Head, with as much Care as was consistent with the haste he
was then in, he gathered up scattered pieces of Paper, and betook himself
to a Ramble.

Coming by a Light which hung at the Corner of a Street, he join'd the
torn Papers and collected thus much, that Incognita had Written the Note,
and earnestly desired (if there were any reality in what he pretended to
her) to meet her at Twelve a Clock that Night at a Convent Gate; but
unluckily the Bit of Paper which should have mentioned what Convent, was
broken off and lost.

Here was a large Subject for Aurelian's Passion, which he did not spare
to pour forth in Abundance of Curses on his Stars. So earnest was he in
the Contemplation of his Misfortunes, that he walk'd on unwittingly; till
at length Silence (and such as was only to be found in that part the
Town, whither his unguided Steps had carried him) surpriz'd his
Attention. I say, a profound Silence rouzed him from his Thought; and a
clap of Thunder could have done