on--This lady, sir, I mean----she is my wife, my lawful married wife.’ At this _Sylvia_ could no longer hold her patience within its bounds, but with that other hand he had left her, she struck him a box on the ear, that almost staggered him, coming unawares; and as she struck, she cried aloud, ‘Thou liest, base villain----and I will be revenged;’ and flinging herself out of his hand, she got on the other side of _Octavio_, while the whole company remained confounded at what they saw and heard. ‘How,’ cried out old _Sebastian_, uncle to _Octavio_, ’. woman, this? By my troth, sweet lady, (if you be one) methought you were a very pretty fellow.’ And turning to _Brilliard_, he cried,--’Why, what sir, then it seems all this noise of betraying the State was but a cuckold’s dream. Hah! and this wonderful and dangerous plot, was but one upon your wife, sir; hah,----was it so? Marry, sir, at this rate, I rather think it is you have a design of betraying the State----you cuckoldy knaves, that bring your handsome wives to seduce our young senators from their sobriety and wits.’ ‘Are these the recompenses,’ replied _Brilliard_, ‘you give the injured, and in lieu of restoring me my right, am I reproached with the most scandalous infamy that can befall a man?’ ‘Well, sir,’ replied _Sebastian_, ‘is this all you have to charge this gentleman with?’ At which he bowed, and was silent----and _Sebastian_ continued--’If your wife, sir, have a mind to my nephew, or he to her, it should have been your care to have forbid it, or prevented it, by keeping her under lock and key, if no other way to be secured; and, sir, we do not sit here to relieve fools and cuckolds; if your lady will be civil to my nephew, what is that to us: let her speak for herself: what say you, madam?’--’I say,’ replied _Sylvia_, ‘that this fellow is mad and raves, that he is my vassal, my servant, my slave; but, after this, unworthy of the meanest of these titles.’ This she spoke with a disdain that sufficiently shewed the pride and anger of her soul----’La you, sir,’ replied _Sebastian_, ‘you are discharged your lady’s service; it is a plain case she has more mind to the young Count than the husband, and we cannot compel people to be honest against their inclinations.’ And coming down from the seat where he sat, he embraced _Octavio_ a hundred times, and told the board, he was extremely glad they found the mighty plot, but a vagary of youth, and the spleen of a jealous husband or lover, or whatsoever other malicious thing; and desired the angry man might be discharged, since he had so just a provocation as the loss of a mistress. So all laughing at the jest, that had made so great a noise among the grave and wise, they freed them all: and _Sebastian_ advised his nephew, that the next cuckold he made, he would make a friend of him first, that he might hear of no more complaints against him. But _Octavio_ very gravely replied; ‘Sir, you