第7章 INCOGNITA(5)

Hippolito,a little after he had parted with Aurelian,was got among a knot of Ladies and Cavaliers,who were looking upon a large Gold Cup set with Jewels,in which his Royal Highness had drank to the prosperity of the new married Couple at Dinner,and which afterward he presented to his Cousin Donna Catharina.He among the rest was very intent,admiring the richness,workmanship and beauty of the Cup,when a Lady came behind him and pulling him by the Elbow,made a sign she would speak with him;Hippolito,who knew himself an utter Stranger to Florence and every body in it,immediately guessed she had mistaken him for her acquaintance,as indeed it happened;however he resolved not to discover himself till he should be assured of it;having followed her into a set Window remote from Company,she address'd her self to him in this manner:'Signior Don Lorenzo (said she)I am overjoy'd to see you are so speedily recovered of your Wounds,which by report were much more dangerous than to have suffered your coming abroad so soon;but I must accuse you of great indiscretion,in appearing in a Habit which so many must needs remember you to have worn upon the like occasion not long ago,I mean at the Marriage of Don Cynthio with your Sister Atalanta;I do assure you,you were known by it,both to Juliana and my self,who was so far concerned for you,as to desire me to tell you,that her Brother Don Fabritio (who saw you when you came in with another Gentleman)had eyed you very narrowly,and is since gone out of the Room,she knows not upon what design;however she would have you,for your own sake,be advised and circumspect when you depart this place,lest you should be set upon unawares;you know the hatred Don Fabritio has born you ever since you had the fortune to kill his Kinsman in a Duel:Here she paused as if expecting his reply;but Hippolito was so confounded,that he stood mute,and contemplating the hazard he had ignorantly brought himself into,forgot his design of informing the Lady of her mistake.She finding he made her no Answer,went on.

'I perceive (continued she)you are in some surprize at what I have related,and may be,are doubtful of the Truth;but I thought you had been better acquainted with your Cousin Leonora's Voice,than to have forgot it so soon:Yet in Complaisance to your ill Memory,I will put you past doubt,by shewing you my Face;with that she pulled off her Mask,and discovered to Hippolito (now more amaz'd than ever)the most Angelick Face that he had ever beheld.He was just about to have made her some answer,when,clapping on her Mask again without giving him time,she happily for him pursu'd her Discourse.(For 'tis odds but he had made some discovery of himself in the surprize he was in.)Having taken him familiarly by the Hand,now she had made her self known to him,'Cousin Lorenzo (added she)you may perhaps have taken it unkindly,that,during the time of your indisposition by reason of your Wounds,I have not been to visit you;I do assure you it was not for want of any Inclination I had both to see and serve you to my power;but you are well acquainted with the Severity of my Father,whom you know how lately you have disobliged.

I am mighty glad that I have met with you here,where I have had an Opportunity to tell you what so much concerns your Safety,which I am afraid you will not find in Florence;considering the great Power Don Fabritio and his Father,the Marquess of Viterbo,have in this City.

I have another thing to inform you of,That whereas Don Fabio had interested himself in your Cause,in Opposition to the Marquess of Viterbo,by reason of the long Animosity between them,all hopes of his Countenance and Assistance are defeated:For there has been a Proposal of Reconciliation made to both Houses,and it is said it will be confirm'd (as most such ancient Quarrels are at last)by the Marriage of Juliana the Marquess's Daughter,with Aurelian,Son to Don Fabio:to which effect the old Gentleman sent 'tother Day to Siena,where Aurelian has been Educated,to hasten his coming to Town;but the Messenger returning this Morning,brought word,That the same day he arriv'd at Siena,Aurelian had set out for Florence,in Company with a young Spanish Nobleman,his intimate Friend;so it is believ'd,they are both in Town,and not unlikely in this Room in Masquerade.

Hippolito could not forbear smiling to himself,at these last words.

For ever since the naming of Don Fabio he had been very attentive;but before,his Thoughts were wholly taken up with the Beauty of the Face he had seen,and from the time she had taken him by the Hand,a successive warmth and chillness had play'd about his Heart,and surpriz'd him with an unusual Transport.He was in a hundred Minds,whether he should make her sensible of her Error or no;but considering he could expect no farther Conference with her after he should discover himself,and that as yet he knew not of her place of abode,he resolv'd to humour the mistake a little further.Having her still by the Hand,which he squeez'd somewhat more eagerly than is usual for Cousins to do,in a low and undistinguishable Voice,he let her know how much he held himself obliged to her,and avoiding as many words as handsomely he could,at the same time,entreated her to give him her Advice,toward the management of himself in this Affair.