 from
all other schemes of pleasure, interest and ambition, and took lodgings in the
city, for the more commodious accomplishment of his purpose.
    While our lover's imagination was thus agreeably regaled, his mistress did
not enjoy her expectations, without the intervention of doubts and anxiety. His
silence touching the final aim of his addresses was a mystery on which she was
afraid of exercising her sagacity; and her uncle tormented her with inquiries
into the circumstances of Peregrine's professions and deportment. Rather than
give this relation the least cause of suspicion, which must have cut off all
intercourse betwixt her and her admirer, she said every thing which she thought
would satisfy his care and concern for her welfare; and in consequence of such
representation, she enjoyed, without reserve, the company of our adventurer, who
prosecuted his plan with surprising eagerness and perseverance.
 

                                 Chapter LXXXII

He prevails upon Emilia to accompany him to a Masquerade, makes a treacherous
Attempt upon her Affection, and meets with a deserved Repulse
 
Scarce a night elapsed in which he did not conduct her to some public
entertainment; and when, by dint of his insidious carriage, he thought himself
in full possession of her confidence and affection, he lay in wait for an
opportunity; and hearing her observe in conversation, that she had never been at
a masquerade, begged leave to attend her to the next ball; at the same time,
extending his invitation to the young lady, in whose company he had found her at
the play, she being present when this subject of discourse was introduced. He
had flattered himself, that this gentlewoman would decline the proposal, as she
was a person seemingly of a demure disposition, who had been born and bred in
the city, where such diversions are looked upon as scenes of lewdness and
debauchery. For once, however, he reckoned without his host; curiosity is as
prevalent in the city as at the court-end of the town: Emilia no sooner
signified her assent to his proposal, than her friend, with an air of
satisfaction, agreed to make one of the partie; and he was obliged to thank her
for that complaisance which laid him under infinite mortification. He set his
genius at work, to invent some scheme for preventing her unseasonable intrusion.
Had an opportunity offered, he would have acted as her physician, and
administered a medicine that would have laid her under the necessity of staying
at home: but his acquaintance with her being too slight to furnish him with the
means of executing this expedient, he devised another, which was practised with
all imaginable success. Understanding that her grandmother
