The colonel led Booth directly to the place where he had seen the peer and Amelia (such he was now well convinced she was) sitting together. Booth no sooner saw her than he said to the colonel, "Sure that is my wife in conversation with that masque?" "I took her for your lady myself," said the colonel; "but I found I was mistaken. Hark ye, that is my Lord----, and I have seen that very lady with him all this night." This conversation past at a little distance, and out of the hearing of the supposed Amelia; when Booth, looking stedfastly at the lady, declared with an oath that he was positive the colonel was in the right. She then beckoned to him with her fan; upon which he went directly to her, and she asked him to go home, which he very readily consented to. The peer then walked off: the colonel went in pursuit of his wife, or of some other woman; and Booth and his lady returned in two chairs to their lodgings. Chapter iii. _Consequences of the masquerade, not uncommon nor surprizing_. The lady, getting first out of her chair, ran hastily up into the nursery to the children; for such was Amelia's constant method at her return home, at whatever hour. Booth then walked into the dining-room, where he had not been long before Amelia came down to him, and, with a most chearful countenance, said, "My dear, I fancy we have neither of us supped; shall I go down and see whether there is any cold meat in the house?" "For yourself, if you please," answered Booth; "but I shall eat nothing." "How, my dear!" said Amelia; "I hope you have not lost your appetite at the masquerade!" for supper was a meal at which he generally eat very heartily. "I know not well what I have lost," said Booth; "I find myself disordered.--My head aches. I know not what is the matter with me." "Indeed, my dear, you frighten me," said Amelia; "you look, indeed, disordered. I wish the masquerade had been far enough before you had gone thither." "Would to Heaven it had!" cries Booth; "but that is over now. But pray, Amelia, answer me one question--Who was that gentleman with you when I came up to you?" "The gentleman! my dear," said Amelia; "what gentleman?" "The gentleman--the nobleman--when I came up; sure I speak plain." "Upon my word, my dear, I don't understand you," answered she; "I did not know one person at the masquerade." "How!" said he; "what! spend the whole evening with a masque without knowing him?" "Why, my dear," said she, "you know we were not together." "I know we were not," said he, "but what is that to the purpose? Sure you answer me strangely. I know we were not together; and therefore I ask you whom you were with?" "Nay, but, my dear," said she, "can I tell people in masques?" "I say again, madam," said he, "would you converse two hours or more with a masque whom you did not know?" "Indeed, child," says she, "I know nothing of the methods of a masquerade; for I never was at one in my life."