"After this meeting my husband became odious to me, so that I could scarcely behave to him with common civility; and I positively insisted, that Cantaria should withdraw his attendance on me. The Count, who only lived to please and oblige me, though he was astonished at this sudden change in my temper and disposition, readily consented to remove this troublesome attendant, and he was forbid the house, which gave me the greatest pleasure; and as my husband had not the least suspicion of my honour, I had every opportunity I could wish of meeting Lord Kingsborough at the place of assignation which we never failed to do every night.

            "We continued our fatal intercourse about three weeks without any interruption, and as I had never heard from, or seen Cantaria, but in public places, where he never spoke to me, I had not the least apprehensions of him; but he was not so idle as I imagined. Dismission from the office of Cicisbeo, is one of the greatest indignities, that can be offered; and this haughty young nobleman was resolved to be amply revenged of me. For this purpose he set watches upon my every motion, and as he knew almost every place where Count Valeria and I visited, there was not an action or an expression of mine that he was not acquainted with, except the place of private meeting with Lord Kingsborough and that too he unfortunately discovered, but by what means I know not nor ever could learn; and the consequences removed all possibility of enquiring.

            "Lord Kingsborough was one night somewhat later in his appointment than usual, which gave me the utmost uneasiness, I had waited for him near half an hour, when my anxiety led me to look out of the window to see for him, and although it was quite dark, I perceived a man walking several times by the house we were in; and from circumstances which I now recollect, I have come reason to conclude, that my woman knew it was Cantaria, though cloaked and masked. But we had not been long at the window before I perceived Lord Kingsborough approach, who was likewise disguised, and when he came within a few paces of the house, the person we before observed walking suddenly drew his sword, and made a dreadful push at him, which I thought went quite through his body, upon which I cried out, 'Murder!' and instantly fainted; and in that situation I remained, insensible and lifeless, till I found myself recovered, and in the arms of Lord Kingsborough.

            "As soon as I was sufficiently recovered, my Lord informed me, that it was the villain Cantaria, that had attempted to assassinate him, and had wounded him, but that he had received the reward of his barbarity, and was then lying in another apartment, he feared, expiring, that therefore there was not a moment to be lost, that as to me he would not part with me at the peril of his life, and that as the death of Cantaria would instantly found out, so the cause of it and our intercourse would be likewise made public: he therefore conjured me, that moment, to fly with him out of the Venetian territories. At this instant a servant of my Lord's, who always attended at these apartments, and to whom he had given Cantaria in care, entered the room and in the utmost confusion told us, that he was dead. This gave us all a fresh alarm, and I was so perfectly petrified with terror, grief and astonishment, that I was incapable of moving or speaking: therefore my Lord ordered his servant to wrap me in his cloak, and carry me in his arms, until we could get a carriage, and taking hold of my woman himself, we quitted this fatal house, and went through several dark streets and passages, before we could stop or call for a coach. We at length got one, and drove to the utmost limits of the city, near the harbour, when my Lord ordered his servant to go directly in quest of the captain of an English ship, whom he had formerly known and sailed with. The servant returned in a few minutes with the Captain, and in less than a quarter of an hour we were aboard his ship.

            "Lord Kingsborough acquainted the Captain, whose name was Wilson, with what had happened respecting Cantaria; and seeing me with him, and knowing his Lordship's general character, he easily guessed the rest. And although he had not finished half his business at Venice, he immediately agreed to go with us to Genoa, and we set sail accordingly.

            "After we had been some time on board, and everything was settled for sailing, my Lord asked the Captain if he had a surgeon on board, and being answered in the affirmative, he desired he would find send him to the cabin, as he had received a little hurt in his arm. When the surgeon came and undressed his arm, which was tied up with two or three handkerchiefs to stop the blood, he found his Lordship had received a terrible wound in his left arm, and had lost a vast quantity of blood, which his cloak prevented our seeing before. The surgeon immediately dressed it, and my Lord made nothing of it. For my own part, from the moment I saw Cantaria's sword, to that instant, I was perfectly insensible of everything that passed, and I had no more thought of going aboard ship, and for ever quitting my parents, husband and friends, than if no such people ever existed; but tacitly submitted to every thing my Lord did and ordered.

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