mise
you all the good offices in my power with Miss Stewart." He said this,
because they had just given her an apartment separate from the rest of
the maids of honour, which made the courtiers begin to pay respect
to her. The king was very well pleased at this pleasantry, and having
thanked him for so necessary an offer: "Monsieur le Chevalier," said he,
"in what style do you intend to dress yourself for the ball? I leave you
the choice of all countries." "If so," said the Chevalier, "I will dress
after the French manner, in order to disguise myself; for they already
do me the honour to take me for an Englishman in your city of London.
Had it not been for this, I should have wished to have appeared as a
Roman; but for fear of embroiling myself with Prince Rupert, who so
warmly espouses the interests of Alexander against Lord Thanet, who
declares himself for Caesar, I dare no longer think of assuming the
hero: nevertheless, though I may dance awkwardly, yet, by observing
the tune, and with a little alertness, I hope to come off pretty well;
besides, Miss Hamilton will take care that too much attention shall
not be paid to me. As for my dress, I shall send Termes off tomorrow
morning; and if I do not show you at his return the most splendid habit
you have ever seen, look upon mine as the most disgraced nation in your
masquerade."

Termes set out with ample instructions, on the subject of his journey:
and his master, redoubling his impatience on an occasion like the
present, before the courier could be landed, began to count the minutes
in expectation of his return: thus was he employed until the very eve of
the ball; and that was the day that Miss Hamilton and her little society
had fixed for the execution of their project.

Martial gloves were then very much in fashion: she had by chance several
pairs of them: she sent one to Miss Blague, accompanied with four yards
of yellow riband, the palest she could find, to which she added this
note:

"You were the other day more charming than all the fair women in the
world: you looked yesterday still more fair than you did the day before:
if you go on, what will become of my heart? But it is a long time since
that has been a prey to your pretty little young wild boar's eyes. Shall
you be at the masquerade to-morrow? But can there be any charms at an
entertainment, at which you are not present? It does not signify: I
shall know you in whatever disguise you may be: but I shall b