558 bianca. 



report of her adventure as well as of her beauty, to 

 which her ftudied referve not a little contributed ; all 

 this made the grand duke long ardently to fee her. 

 Every day he purpofely paffed before her chamber ; 

 and, as it was her only favourite paftime to frand at the 

 window, it was not long before his curioiity was fatif- 

 fied. She was half-veiled ; but the grand duke had 

 feen enough for being defperately in love with her. 



The confident, who foon perceived the unconquer- 

 able paffion of his matter, now began to fet his wits at 

 work, in conjunction with the duke, in order to con- 

 trive the means of fatisfying it. His like-minded lady 

 was duely admitted of the confultation. The late hard 

 fortune of Bianca, and her gloomy profpects in the 

 future, gave the worthy dame the faireft opportunity 

 for letting Bianca privately know, that matters of con- 

 sequence could be communicated to her; and accord- 

 ingly for inviting her to her houfe. Buonaventuri had 

 a long ftruggle with himfelf, whether he ought to con- 

 fent that Bianca mould accept of the invitation or not. 

 Yet, the high rank of the court-lady, and then his 

 own penurious circumfrances, helped him at length to 

 furmount all difficulties. Bianca went, and was received 

 with the moil flattering politenefs, that bordered on 

 real tendernefs. She was defired to relate her ttory ; it 

 was liftened to with heartfelt emotion, at leaft in ap- 

 pearance ; the moft affectionate offers were made her ; 

 Ihe was loaded with civilities ; prefents were tendered, 

 almoft forced upon her. 



Highly fatisfied with this firft vifit, the grand duke 

 flattered himfelf that he might be prefent at the fecond. 

 Shortly after, the court-lady invited Bianca once more : 



fhe 



