dying suddenly, he as suddenly returned with the title of
Southesk, which his wife detested; but which she took more patiently
than she received the news of his return. Some private intimation
had been given him of the honour that was done him in his absence:
nevertheless, he did not show his jealousy at first; but, as he was
desirous to be satisfied of the reality of the fact, he kept a strict
watch over his wife's actions. The Duke of York and her ladyship had,
for some time, been upon such terms of intimacy, as not to pass their
time in frivolous amusements; however, the husband's return obliged them
to maintain some decorum: he therefore never went to her house, but in
form, that is to say, always accompanied by some friend or other, to
give his amours at least the appearance of a visit.

About this time Talbot returned from Portugal: this connection had taken
place during his absence; and without knowing who Lady Southesk was, he
had been informed that his master was in love with her.

A few days after his arrival, he was carried, merely to keep up
appearances, to her house by the duke; and after being introduced, and
some compliments having been paid on both sides, he thought it his duty
to give his Royal Highness an opportunity to pay his compliments, and
accordingly retired into the ante-chamber, which looked into the street,
and placed himself at the window to view the people as they passed.

He was one of the best meaning men in the world on such occasions;
but was so subject to forgetfulness, and absence of mind, that he once
forgot, and left behind him at London, a complimentary letter which the
duke had given him for the Infanta of Portugal, and never recollected it
till he was going to his audience.

He stood sentry, as we have before said, very attentive to his
instructions, when he saw a coach stop at the door, without being in the
least concerned at it, and still less, at a man whom he saw get out of
it, and whom he immediately heard coming upstairs.

The devil, who ought to be civil upon such occasions, forgot himself in
the present instance, and brought up Lord Southesk 'in propria persona':
his Royal Highness's equipage had been sent home, because my lady had
assured him that her husband was gone to see a bear and a bull baiting,
an entertainment in which he took great delight, and from whence he
seldom returned until it was very late; so that Southesk, not seeing any
equipage at the door, littl