s soon
as my health would admit of my removal; and soon after my lord wrote
to me by the hands of my lawyer, earnestly entreating me to drop my
prosecution, and come home; but I would not comply with his request; and
nothing was farther from my intention than the desire of receiving any
favours at his hands.

"Thus repulsed, he set on foot a most accurate search for my person; in
the course of which he is said to have detected several ladies and young
girls, who had reasons for keeping themselves concealed; and had like
to have been very severely handled for his impertinent curiosity. Being
unsuccessful in all his attempts, he entered into a treaty with one
Sir R-- H--, a person of a very indifferent character, who undertook
to furnish him with an infallible expedient to discover the place of my
abode, if he would gratify him with a bond for a thousand pounds; which
being executed accordingly, this worthy knight advertised me and my maid
in the public papers, offering one hundred pounds as a reward to any
person who should disclose the place of our retirement.

"As soon as the paper fell into my hands, I was again involved in
perplexity; and, being afraid of staying in town, resolved, with the
concurrence of my lover, to accept of an invitation I had received from
the duke of K--, who had by this time arrived in England, with that lady
whom I have already mentioned as one of our parties at Paris. Having
visited my little infant, I next day set out for the duke's country
seat, which is a most elegant chateau, and stands in a charming
situation. Mr. S--- followed in a few days. We met with a very cordial
reception; his grace was civil and good-natured, lived nobly, and loved
pleasure; Madame de la T-- was formed to please. There was always a
great deal of company in the house; so that we passed our time agreeably
in playing at billiards and cards, hunting, walking, reading, and
conversation.

"But my terms of happiness were generally of short duration. In the
midst of this felicity I was overtaken by a most severe affliction, in
the death of my dear hapless infant, who had engrossed a greater share
of my tenderness than perhaps I even should have paid to the offspring
of a legitimate contract; because the circumstance of her birth would
have been an insurmountable misfortune to her through the whole course
of her life, and rendered her absolutely dependent on my love and
protection.

"While I still lamented the untim