He hoped, he said, he might trust to my discretion, that I would not let Mr. B. know from whom I had the information:  that, indeed, his motive in mentioning it was self-interest; having presumed to make some overture of an honourable nature to the Countess, in his own behalf; which had been rejected since that masquerade night:  and he hoped the prudent use I would make of the intimation, might somehow be a means to break off that correspondence, before it was attended with bad consequences.

I told him coldly, though it stung me to the heart, that I was fully assured of Mr. B.’s honour; and was sorry he, Mr. Turner, had so bad an opinion of a lady to whom he professed so high a consideration.  And rising up—­“Will you excuse me, Sir, that I cannot attend at all to such a subject as this?  I think I ought not:  and so must withdraw.”

“Only, Madam, one word.”  He offered to take my hand, but I would not permit it.  He then swore a great oath, that he had told me his true and only motive; that letters had passed between the Countess and Mr. B., adding, “But I beg you’ll keep it within your own breast; else, from two such hasty spirits as his and mine, it might be attended with still worse consequences.”

“I will never.  Sir, enter into a subject that is not proper to be communicated every tittle of it to Mr. B.; and this must be my excuse for withdrawing.”  And away I went from him.

Your ladyship will judge with how uneasy a heart; which became more so, when I sat down to reflect upon what he had told me.  But I was resolved to give it as little credit as I could, or that any thing would come of it, till Mr. B.’s own behaviour should convince me, to my affliction, that I had some reason to be alarmed:  so I opened not my lips about it, not even to Mrs. Jervis.

At Mr. B.’s return, I received him in my usual affectionate and unreserved manner:  and he behaved himself to me with his accustomed goodness and kindness:  or, at least, with so little difference, that had not Mr. Turner’s officiousness made me more watchful, I should not have perceived it.

But next day a letter was brought by a footman for Mr. B. He was out:  so John gave it to me.  The superscription was a lady’s writing:  the seal, the Dowager Lady’s, with a coronet.  This gave me great uneasiness; and when Mr. B. came in, I said, “Here is a letter for you.  Sir; and from a lady too!”

“What then,” said he, with quickness.

I was baulked, and withdrew.  For I saw him turn the seal about and about, as if he would see whether I had endeavoured to look into it.

He needed not to have been so afraid; for I would not have done such a thing had I known my life was to depend upon it.  I went up, and could not help weeping at his quick answer; yet I did my endeavour to hide it, when he came up.

“Was not my girl a little inquisitive upon me just now?”

“I spoke pleasantly.  Sir—­But you were very quick on your girl.”