should have the letter, but being wholly mercenary, and fearing that either when once she had it, it might make her go back from her promised assignation, or at least put her out of humour, so as to spoil a great part of the entertainment he designed: he took the pains to counterfeit another billet to her, which was this. * * * * * _To_ SYLVIA. _Madam_, Since we have begun to chaffer, you must give me leave to make the best of the advantage I find I have upon you; and having violated my honour to _Philander_, allow the breach of it in some degree on other occasions; not but I have all the obedience and adoration for you that ever possessed the soul of a most passionate and languishing lover: but, fair _Sylvia_, I know not whether, when you have seen the secret of the false _Philander_, you may not think it less valuable than you before did, and so defraud me of my due. Give me leave, oh wondrous creature! to suspect even the most perfect of your sex; and to tell you, that I will no sooner approach your presence, but I will resign the paper you so much wish. If you send me no answer, I will come according to your directions: if you do, I must obey and wait, though with that impatience that never attended a suffering lover, or any but, divine creature, your OCTAVIO. This he sealed, and after a convenient distance of time carried as from the page to _Antonet_, who was yet contriving with her lady, to whom she gives it, who read it with abundance of impatience, being extremely angry at the rudeness of the style, which she fancied much altered from what it was; and had not her rage blinded her, she might easily have perceived the difference too of the character, though it came as near to the like as possible so short a practice could produce; she took it with the other, and tore it in pieces with rage, and swore she would be revenged; but, after calmer thoughts, she took up the pieces to keep to upbraid him with, and fell to weeping for anger, defeat and shame; but the _April_ shower being past, she returned to her former resentment, and had some pleasure amidst all her torment of fears, jealousies, and sense of _Octavio_’. disrespect in the thoughts of revenge; in order to which she contrives how _Antonet_ shall manage herself, and commanding her to bring out some fine point linen, she dressed up _Antonet_’. head with them, and put her on a shift, laced with the same; for though she intended no light should be in the chamber when _Octavio_ should enter, she knew he understood by his touch the difference of fine things from other. In fine, having dressed her exactly as she herself used to be when she received _Octavio_’. visits in bed, she embraced her, and fancied she was much of her own shape and bigness, and that it was impossible to find the deceit: and now she made _Antonet_ dress her up in her clothes, and mobbing her sarsenet hood about her head, she appeared so