, nor well discern what sort of person it was that gave it him. He
put it however in his pocket, designing to read it at more leisure, his
curiosity for the contents not equalling his desire of entertaining
mademoiselle Charlotta; but that young lady, whose jealousy received new
fewel from this object, had slipt away before he could turn from the
man, and had already mixed with a cluster of both sexes who had got into
the room before them.

Horatio finding all attempts to speak to her that night would be
ineffectual, went back into the drawing-room where they supped, and
where but few people remaining he might examine the letter with more
freedom. He saw it had no superscription; but supposing the inside would
give him some satisfaction, he broke it open hastily and found in it
these lines.

'Whether false or faithful still are you dear to
me; and if I am in the least so to you,
the treatment you received will be pardoned for
the sake of the occasion:--I own that at a
place where you might have been as particular as
you pleased with me without suspicion, it enraged
me to see you waste those precious moments
with others which I flattered myself to have solely
engrossed;--besides, the character of mademoiselle
Sanserre is so well known, that I thought
you would have avoided her of all others; yet
had she forced herself upon you, sure you might
afterwards have come to me, when I had given
you so particular a description of the habit I
should wear; but instead of making any excuse
for a first transgression, you hurry to a second,
and pay all your devoirs to another, whom indeed
I knew not at that time, but am since informed
she is one of the maids of honour to princess
Louisa.--I must confess I had not resolution
enough to suffer so cruel an injustice, and being
too much overcome by my passion to resent it as
I ought, I left the place, and desired our friend to
do it for me.--I find she somewhat exceeded
her commission, but you must forgive her, since
it was her love for me:--I am now at her
house, where I impatiently expect you--The
baron is secure for some hours;--those we may
pass together, if you still think there is any thing
worth quitting the masquerade for, to be found
in the arms of

_Yours_, &c,

_P.S._ If you now fail, no excuse hereafter shall
ever plead your pardon.'

This letter confirmed Horatio in the belief he had before, that he had
been mistaken by the lady for some favorite person; bu