 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. Do'st 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 Mathews; 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
Mathews, went along with the Colonel in search of his Wife. As for Miss Mathews,
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 into 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 Mathews 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,
