The Old Gentlemen at last meeting with a Servant of the House, were
directed to Signior Claudio’s Chamber, where they were no sooner
entered but Aurelian came into the House. A Servant who had skulk’d for
him by Hippolito’s Order, followed him up into the Chamber, and told
him who was with Claudio then making Enquiry for him. He thought that
to be no Place for him, since Claudio must needs discover all the Truth
to his Father; wherefore he left Directions with the Servant, where
Hippolito should meet him in the Morning. As he was going out of the
Room he espied the torn Paper, which the Lady had thrown upon the
Floor: The first piece he took up had Incognita written upon it; the
sight of which so Alarum’d him, he scarce knew what he was about; but
hearing a Noise of a Door opening over Head, with as much Care as was
consistent with the haste he was then in, he gathered up scattered
pieces of Paper, and betook himself to a Ramble.
Coming by a Light which hung at the Corner of a Street, he join’d the
torn Papers and collected thus much, that Incognita had Written the
Note, and earnestly desired (if there were any reality in what he
pretended to her) to meet her at Twelve a Clock that Night at a Convent
Gate; but unluckily the Bit of Paper which should have mentioned what
Convent, was broken off and lost.
Here was a large Subject for Aurelian’s Passion, which he did not spare
to pour forth in Abundance of Curses on his Stars. So earnest was he in
the Contemplation of his Misfortunes, that he walk’d on unwittingly;
till at length Silence (and such as was only to be found in that part
the Town, whither his unguided Steps had carried him) surpriz’d his
Attention. I say, a profound Silence rouzed him from his Thought; and a
clap of Thunder could have done no more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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