Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/655

Rh size and figure were nearly answerable to his, and who hardly knew what she was doing when she consented to it; as, fearful of her repenting the part she had to act, the countess kept her constantly talking and engaged from the time of her proposing it till its completion. She did not, however, leave her in his cell; but by unequalled ingenuity and presence of mind managed the whole business, so that no one was implicated or suspected but herself. He was concealed in a mean lodging till Saturday night (his liberation took place only on the Thursday, 29d Feb.) when he was conducted to the Venetian ambassador's, in great secrecy, his excellency even not knowing any thing of the matter; but one of his servants concealed him in his own room till Wednesday, on which day the ambassador's coach and six was to go down to Dover to meet his brother. Lord Nithsdale put on livery, and went down in the retinue, without the least suspicion, to Dover, where Mr. Mitchel, the ambassador's servant, who h^d concealed him, hired a small vessel, and immediately set sail for Calais. The passage was short and prosperous. She was concluded to have gone off with her lord, but remained concealed in town till assured of her husband's safe arrival on the continent. She then, through her friends, solicited leave to go in safety about her business, alledging that a bare suspicion of her being instrumental to her husband's preservation ought not to be grounds of punishment. But they were resolved to secure her; after several debates, however, she was given to understand, that if she remained concealed, no farther search should be made after her; but if she appeared either in England or Scotland, she should be secured "But," says she, emphatically, "this was not suffi- cient