36 The ADVENTURES of
chapel of the caftle. It was not enough to renounce a crown, to lofe for ever, a perfon whom Ihe loved, and beftow hcrfelf upon the objeft of her hatred, but fhe was alfo obliged to diflemble her fentiments before a hulband, who was inflamed with the moil ardent paflion for her, and naturally of a jealous difpofition. That fpoufe, charmed with the poffeflion of what he held molt dear, was continually in her company, and did not even alllow her the fad confolation of bewailing her misfortune in fe- crct. When night approached, the daughter of Lc- ontio felt her affli&ion redouble*: but what were her pangs when her women, after having undrefled, left her alone with the conftable ! Heafked, in a refpedb- ful mannner, the caufe of that forrow with which Ihe J'eemed to be deprelTcd ; and Blanch, perplexed by the queftion, feigned herfeif indifpofed. This deceived her hufband at fir it, but he did not long continue in his miftake : for, as he was really concerned at the condition in which he faw her, and prefled her to go to bed, his entreaties, which fhe mifinterpret- ed, prefented fuch a cruel image to her imagination, that, being unable to contain herfeif any longer, Ihe gave free vent to her fighs and tears. What a fight was this for a man who believed hirnfelf at the very fnmmit of his happinefs ! He no longer doubted that the afflidtion of his wife portended fomething finifler to his love. Nevertheless, though the knowledge of it threw him into a fituation alinolt as deplorable as that of Blanch, he had fuch command of himfelf, that he concealed his fufpicions. He redoubled his entreaties, and continued to prefs his fpoufe to go to reft, alluring her, that he would not interrupt the repofe which ihe lecmed fo much to want. He even offered to call her women, if fhe thought that their afliltance could alleviate her indif- pofition. Blanch, encouraged by this promife, told him that her prefent weaknefs only requited a little fleep. He pretended to believe her, and going to