They left the palace together, and, upon looking into the lower garden, they perceived that the cavalier had just arrived there, and was seated in the same place as the day preceding. Donna Elvira, who was one of the most lovely women at Court, was not content with shewing herself, but obliged her friend to do the same. Ozmin pretended to be surprised to see them, and was about to retire; but Elvira commenced a conversation with him to detain him; he answered, and they all three at length insensibly engaged in a sprightly discourse, but still only such as a stranger could hold with two unknown ladies. Ozmin summoned up all his wit on the occasion, and Elvira’s shone no less. Animated by the emotions of a rising passion, she said a thousand smart things, which she could not otherwise have thought of, although naturally full of wit. Daraxa was content to listen and say nothing. In short, each of them was well pleased, and time glided away with the rapidity usual on such agreeable occasions. If Ozmin did not find it tedious, the ladies, on their side, made it sufficiently evident that they were not tired of his company, for the King had already returned to the palace, and they had not once thought of retiring. The gardener put Ozmin in mind that it was time to leave the garden; but Elvira, before they separated, fixed, for another interview, the first day that the King went hunting again. After this conversation, Elvira was so charmed with Ozmin, that when they had parted, she could not refrain from telling Daraxa that she had never seen so accomplished a cavalier. Any other but the beautiful Moor would have been alarmed by so frank a confession; but she relied so firmly on her lover’s fidelity, that she only smiled at it; while her friend thought her the most insensible of her sex, and made no mystery of the passion she entertained for the unknown gentleman, of whom she was constantly speaking in the most lively terms. “Yes,” she would say to Daraxa, “I am touched by the merits of this cavalier; but I should be glad to know who he is, and why such a man should never shew himself at Court. I conjure you, my dear Daraxa, to ask him this when we next see him.” Ozmin was soon informed of all this by his mistress, who warned him of the delicate situation in which he stood; that he ought not to abuse the credulous passion of Elvira, nor could he, she trusted, be capable of betraying his faithful Daraxa; that in love the slightest appearances cause anxiety; and that when one person is in possession of the heart, she ought to be the sole object of all its desires.