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your ladyship? Could I be guilty of betraying this poor innocent girlto you, what security could you have that I should not act the samepart by yourself? A moment's reflection will, I am sure, convince youthat a man with whom the secrets of a lady are not safe must be themost contemptible of wretches."--"Very well," said she--"I need notinsist on your becoming this contemptible wretch in your own opinion;for the inside of the letter could inform me of nothing more than Iknow already. I see the footing you are upon."--Here ensued a longconversation, which the reader, who is not too curious, will thank mefor not inserting at length. It shall suffice, therefore, to informhim, that Lady Bellaston grew more and more pacified, and at lengthbelieved, or affected to believe, his protestations, that his meetingwith Sophia that evening was merely accidental, and every other matterwhich the reader already knows, and which, as Jones set before her inthe strongest light, it is plain that she had in reality no reason tobe angry with him.She was not, however, in her heart perfectly satisfied with hisrefusal to show her the letter; so deaf are we to the clearest reason,when it argues against our prevailing passions. She was, indeed, wellconvinced that Sophia possessed the first place in Jones's affections;and yet, haughty and amorous as this lady was, she submitted at lastto bear the second place; or, to express it more properly in a legalphrase, was contented with the possession of that of which anotherwoman had the reversion.It was at length agreed that Jones should for the future visit at thehouse: for that Sophia, her maid, and all the servants, would placethese visits to the account of Sophia; and that she herself would beconsidered as the person imposed upon.This scheme was contrived by the lady, and highly relished by Jones,who was indeed glad to have a prospect of seeing his Sophia at anyrate; and the lady herself was not a little pleased with theimposition on Sophia, which Jones, she thought, could not possiblydiscover to her for his own sake.The next day was appointed for the first visit, and then, after properceremonials, the Lady Bellaston returned home.Chapter iii.Containing various matters.Jones was no sooner alone than he eagerly broke open his letter, andread as follows:--"Sir, it is impossible to express what I have suffered since youleft this house; and as I have reason to think you intend cominghere again, I have sent Honour, though so late at night, as shetells me she knows your lodgings, to prevent you. I charge you, byall the regard you have for me, not to think of visiting here; forit will certainly be discovered; nay, I almost doubt, from somethings which have dropt from her ladyship, that she is not alreadywithout some suspicion. Something favourable perhaps may happen; wemust wait with patience; but I once more entreat you, if you haveany concern for my ease, do not think of returning hither."