Then my Lord Arran commenced the
famous saraband, whilst the duke commenced to ogle my lady, and
she to return his glances in kind, as if both were unconscious of
her husband's presence. So delightful did they find the
saraband, that Lord Arran was obliged to repeat it at least
twenty times, to the great mortification of the earl, who could
scarcely contain his violent rage and jealousy. His torture was
presently increased to an immeasurable degree, by a summons he
received from the queen to attend her in his capacity of lord
chamberlain, during an audience she was about, to give the
Muscovite ambassador.
He had from the first suspected the visit, with which he was
honoured, to have been preconcerted by his wife and the duke; and
he now began to think her majesty was likewise connected with a
plot destined to rob him of his peace and blight his honour.
However, he was obliged to obey the queen's summons and depart.
Nor had he been many minutes absent when Lord Arran entered the
presence-chamber where the audience was being held, unaccompanied
by the duke, at which Lord Chesterfield's jealous fears were
strengthened a thousandfold. Before night came he was satisfied
he held sufficient proof of his wife's infidelity.
This conviction caused him intense anxiety and pain; he walked
about his apartments abstracted and brooding on the wrongs from
which he suffered; avoided all who came in his way; and
maintained strict silence as to that which disturbed his peace,
until next day, when he met James Hamilton.
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