Tho’ I had thought myself too well acquainted with the principles and inclinations of Corisca, to be at all surprised at any act of licentiousness she could possibly be guilty of, yet I could not defend my senses from being seiz'd with the extremest shock, on finding she could be base enough to condescend to become the instrument of others pleasures, and betray the innocence of a young lady for whom she had as much friendship as is consistent with a woman of her character, – forgetting all this while what the good old poet, Mr. Philip Massenger, tells us on an occasion similar to this of Corisca and Emilia.

In ruminating very wisely, as I then imagin'd, on what Corisca had said to Palamede, I must confess I entertain'd suspicions not at all to the advantage of poor Emilia; – I fancied that she had in reality confess'd a passion for that gentleman, and Corisca, in forming this contrivance to bring about a private interview between them, had done nothing but what she was convinced in her own mind would be highly satisfactory to her fair friend.

It was never my custom, however, to place an entire dependence on conjecture, whether of my own or that of another person, so resolved to be as convinced as my Invisible inspection could make me.

Accordingly the next day in the afternoon I girded on my precious Belt and went to the house of Corisca; – Emilia was not yet come, but just as I arriv'd I heard her give orders to refuse admittance to all of her own sex except that lady, and also to all those of the other except Favonius and Palamede.

As I doubted not but I should be able to fathom the whole truth of this affair, by the conversation that would pass between these two ladies while they believed themselves alone together, I was extremely impatient for the approach of Emilia, and equally rejoiced when I saw her enter.