Incognita | Page 8

Fabio he had been very attentive; but
before, his Thoughts were wholly taken up with the Beauty of the Face
he had seen, and from the time she had taken him by the Hand, a
successive warmth and chillness had play'd about his Heart, and
surpriz'd him with an unusual Transport. He was in a hundred Minds,
whether he should make her sensible of her Error or no; but considering
he could expect no farther Conference with her after he should discover
himself, and that as yet he knew not of her place of abode, he resolv'd
to humour the mistake a little further. Having her still by the Hand,
which he squeez'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 reveal
himself at all that Night, since he could not foresee what effect the
surprize would have, she must needs be in, at the appearance of a
Stranger, whom she had never seen before, yet whom she had treated
so familiarly. He knew Women were apt to shriek or swoon upon such
Occasions, and should she happen to do either, he might be at a loss
how to bring himself off. He thought he might easily pretend to be
indisposed somewhat more than ordinary, and so make an excuse to go
to his own Lodging. It came into his Head too, that under pretence of
giving her an account of his Health, he might enquire of her the means
how a Letter might be convey'd to her the next morning, wherein he
might inform her gently of her mistake, and insinuate something of that
Passion he had conceiv'd, which he was sure he could not have
opportunity to speak of if he bluntly revealed himself. He had just
resolv'd upon this Method, as they were come to the great Gates of the
Court, when Leonora stopping to let him go in before her, he of a
suddain fetch'd his Breath violently as if some stitch or twinging smart
had just then assaulted him. She enquired the matter of him, and
advised him to make haste into the House that he might sit down and
rest him. He told her he found himself so ill,