well acquainted with him, that she was a woman of fashion, and that she had a particular regard for him. But, though he was a gay man, he was in reality so fond of his Amelia, that he thought of no other woman; wherefore, though not absolutely a Joseph, as we have already seen, yet could he not be guilty of premeditated inconstancy. He was indeed so very cold and insensible to the hints which were given him, that the lady began to complain of his dullness. When the shepherdess again came up and heard this accusation against him, she confirmed it, saying, 'I do assure you, madam, he is the dullest fellow in the world. Indeed, I should almost take you for his wife, by finding you a second time with him; for I do assure you the gentleman very seldom keeps any other company.' 'Are you so well acquainted with him, madam?' said the domino. 'I have had that honour longer than your ladyship, I believe,' answered the shepherdess. 'Possibly you may, madam,' cries the domino; 'but I wish you would not interrupt us at present, for we have some business together.' 'I believe, madam,' answered the shepherdess, 'my business with the gentleman is altogether as important as yours; and therefore your ladyship may withdraw if you please.' 'My dear ladies,' cries Booth, 'I beg you will not quarrel about me.' 'Not at all,' answered the domino; 'since you are so indifferent, I resign my pretensions with all my heart. If you had not been the dullest fellow upon earth, I am convinced you must have discovered me.' She then went off, muttering to herself that she was satisfied the shepherdess was some wretched creature whom nobody knew.
The shepherdess overheard the sarcasm, and answered it by asking Booth what contemptible wretch he had picked up? 'Indeed, madam,' said he, 'you know as much of her as I do; she is a masquerade acquaintance like yourself.' 'Like me!' repeated she. 'Do you think if this had been our first acquaintance I should have wasted so much time with you as I have? for your part, indeed, I believe a woman will get very little advantage by her having been formerly intimate with you.' 'I do not know, madam,' said Booth, 'that I deserve that character any more than I know the person that now gives it me.' 'And you have the assurance then,' said she, in her own voice, 'to affect not to remember me?' 'I think,' cries Booth, 'I have heard that voice before; but, upon my soul, I do not recollect it.' 'Do you recollect,' said she, 'no woman that you have used with the highest barbarity--I will not say ingratitude?' 'No, upon my honour,' answered Booth. 'Mention not honour,' said she, 'thou wretch! for, hardened as thou art, I could shew thee a face that, in spite of thy consummate impudence, would confound thee with shame and horrour. Dost thou not yet know me?' 'I do, madam, indeed,' answered Booth, 'and I confess that of all women in the world you have the most reason for what you said.'
Here a long dialogue ensued between the gentleman and the lady, whom, I suppose, I need not mention to have been Miss Matthews; but, as it consisted chiefly of violent upbraidings on her side, and excuses on his, I despair of making it entertaining to the reader, and shall therefore return to the colonel, who, having searched all the rooms with the utmost diligence, without finding the woman he looked for, began to suspect that he had before fixed on the right person, and that Amelia had denied herself to him, being pleased with her paramour, whom he had discovered to be the noble peer.
He resolved, therefore, as he could have no sport himself, to spoil that of others; accordingly he found out Booth, and asked him again what was become of both their wives; for that he had searched all over the rooms, and could find neither of them.
Booth was now a little alarmed at this account, and, parting with Miss Matthews, went along with the colonel in search of his wife. As for Miss Matthews, he had at length pacified her with a promise to make her a visit; which promise she extorted from him, swearing bitterly, in the most solemn manner, unless he made it to her, she would expose both him and herself at the masquerade.
As he knew the violence of the lady's passions, and to what heights they were capable of rising, he was obliged to come in to these terms: for he had, I am convinced, no fear upon earth equal to that of Amelia's knowing what it was in the power of Miss Matthews to communicate to her, and which to conceal from her, he had already undergone so much uneasiness.
The colonel led Booth directly to the place where he had seen the peer and Amelia (such he was now well convinced she was) sitting together. Booth no sooner saw her than he said to the colonel, 'Sure that is my wife in conversation with that masque?' 'I took her for your lady myself,' said the colonel; 'but I found I was mistaken. Hark ye, that is my Lord----, and I have seen that very lady with him all this night.'
This conversation past at a little distance, and out of the hearing of the supposed Amelia; when Booth, looking stedfastly at the lady, declared with an oath that he was positive the colonel was in the right. She then beckoned to him with her fan; upon which he went directly to her, and she asked him to go home, which he very readily consented to. The peer then walked off: the colonel went in pursuit of his wife, or of some other woman; and Booth and his lady returned in two chairs to their lodgings.
