_Sylvia_, who was impatient to have him gone, never asked to see either of these notes, lest it should have deterred him; and she knew _Octavio_ would visit her early though she knew withal she could refuse him entrance with any slight excuse, so good an opinion he had of her virtue, and so absolute an ascendant she had over him.--She had given orders, if he came, to be refused her chamber; and she was glad to know he had not yet been at her lodgings. A hundred times she was about to make use of the lessened love _Philander_ had for her, and to have proposed to him the suffering _Octavio_ to share her embraces, for so good an interest, since no returns could be had from _France_, nor any signs of amendment of their fortunes any other way: but still she feared he had too much honour to permit such a cheat in love, to be put even upon an enemy. This fear deferred her speaking of it, or offering to sacrifice _Octavio_ as a cully to their interest, though she wished it; nor knew she long how to deceive both; the business was to put _Philander_ off handsomely, if possible, since she failed of all other hopes. These were her thoughts while _Philander_ was dressing, and raised by his asking for some more pistoles from her cabinet, which she found would quickly be at an end, if one lover diminished daily, and the other was hindered from increasing: but _Philander_ was no sooner dressed but he left her to her repose; and _Octavio_ (who had a _Grison_ attending the motions of _Philander_, all that morning, and had brought him word he was gone from _Sylvia_) went to visit her, and entering her chamber, all changed from what he was before, and death sat in his face and eyes, maugre all his resolves and art of dissembling. She, not perceiving it as she lay, stretched out her arms to receive him with her wonted caresses; but he gently put her off, and sighing, cried--’No, _Sylvia_, I leave those joys to happier lovers.’ She was a little surprised at that--but not imagining he had known her guilt, replied: ‘Then those caresses were only meant for him; for if _Sylvia_ could make him happy, he was sure of being the man;’ and by force compelled him to suffer her kisses and embraces, while his heart was bursting, without any sense of the pleasure of her touches. ‘Ah, _Sylvia_,’ says he, ‘I can never think myself secure, or happy, while _Philander_ is so near you; every absent moment alarms me with ten thousand fears; in sleep I dream thou art false, and givest thy honour up all my absent nights, and all day thy vows:’ and that he was sure, should she again suffer herself to see _Philander_, he should be abandoned; and she again undone. ‘For since I parted with you,’ continued he, ‘I heard from _Clarinau_, that he saw _Philander_ yesterday come out of your lodgings. How can I bear this, when you have vowed not to see him, with imprecations that must damn thee, _Sylvia_, without severe repentance?’----At this she