about six o’clock at night
_ Sylvia _ , whose absence and ill treatment of _ Octavio _ , had but served to raise her flame to a much greater degree , had no sooner read this letter , but she suffered herself to be distracted with all the different passions that possess despairing lovers ; sometimes raving , and sometimes sighing and weeping : it was a good while she continued in these disorders , still thinking on what she had to do next that might redeem all : being a little come to herself , she thought good to consult with _ Brilliard _ in this affair , between whom and _ Octavio _ she found there was a very good understanding : and resolving absolutely to quit _ Philander _ , she no longer had any scruples or doubt what course to take , nor cared she what price she paid for a reconciliation with _ Octavio _ , if any price would purchase it : in order to this resolve , fixed in her heart , she sends for _ Brilliard _ , whom she caresses anew , with all the fondness and familiarity of a woman , who was resolved to make him her confidant , or rather indeed her next gallant . I have already said he was very handsome , and very well made , and you may believe he took all the care he could in dressing , which he understood very well : he had a good deal of wit , and was very well fashioned and bred : -- With all these accomplishments , and the addition of love and youth , he could not be imagined to appear wholly indifferent in the eyes of any body , though hitherto he had in those of _ Sylvia _ , whose heart was doting on _ Philander _ ; but now , that that passion was wholly extinguished , and that their eternal quarrels had made almost a perpetual separation , she being alone , without the conversation of men , which she loved , and was used to , and in her inclination naturally addicted to love , she found _ Brilliard _ more agreeable than he used to be ; which , together with the designs she had upon him , made her take such a freedom with him , as wholly transported this almost hopeless lover : she discourses with him concerning _ Octavio _ and his condition , and he failed not to answer , so as to please her , right or wrong ; she tells him how uneasy she was with _ Philander _ , who every day grew more and more insupportable to her ; she tells him she had a very great inclination for _ Octavio _ , and more for his fortune that was able to support her , than his person ; she knew she had a great power over him , and however it might seem now to be diminished by her unlucky flight with _ Philander _ , she doubted not but to reduce him to all that love he once professed to her , by telling him she was forced away , and without her knowledge , being carried only to take the air was compelled to the fatal place where she now was . _ Brilliard _ soothes and flatters her in all her hope , and offers her his service in her flight , which he might easily assist , unknown to _ Philander _ . It was now about six o'clock at night , and she commanded a supper to be provided , and brought to her chamber , where _ Brilliard _ and she supped together , and talked of nothing but the new design ; the hope of effecting which put her into so good a humour , that she frankly drank her bottle , and shewed more signs of mirth than she had done in many months before : in this good humour , _ Brilliard _ looked more amiable than ever ; she smiles upon him , she caresses him with all the assurance of friendship imaginable ; she tells him she shall behold him as her dearest friend , and speaks so many kind things , that he was emboldened , and approached her by degrees more near ; he makes advances ; and the greatest encouragement was , the secret he had of her intended flight : he tells her , he hoped she would be pleased to consider , that while he was serving her in a new amour , and assisting to render her into the arms of another , he was wounding his own heart , which languished for her ; that he should not have taken the presumption to have told her this , at such a time as he offered his life to serve her , but that it was already no secret to her , and that a man who loved at his rate , and yet would contrive to make his mistress happy with another , ought in justice to receive some recompense of a flame so constant and submissive . While he spake , he found he was not regarded with the looks of scorn or disdain ; he knew her haughty temper , and finding it calm , he pressed on to new submissions ; he fell at her feet , and pleaded so well , where no opposers were , that _ Sylvia _ no longer resisted , or if she did , it was very feebly , and with a sort of a wish that he would pursue his boldness yet farther ; which at last he did , from one degree of softness and gentle force to another , and made himself the happiest man in the world ; though she was very much disordered at the apprehension of what she had suffered from a man of his character , as she imagined , so infinitely below her ; but he redoubled his submission in so cunning a manner , that he soon brought her to her good humour ; and after that , he used the kind authority of a husband whenever he had an opportunity , and found her not displeased at his services . She considered he had a secret from her , which , if revealed , would not only prevent her design , but ruin her for ever ; she found too late she had discovered too much to him to keep him at the distance of a servant , and that she had no other way to attach him eternally to her interest , but by this means . He now every day appeared more fine , and well dressed , and omitted nothing that might make him , if possible , an absolute master of her heart , which he vowed he would defend with his life , from even _ Philander _ himself ; and that he would pretend to no other empire over her , nor presume , or pretend to engross that fair and charming person , which ought to be universally adored .