Book contents
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- CHAP. I The author's introduction to this volume consists only of an apology for making no introduction at all, and his reasons for that omission
- CHAP. II Contains such matters as, it is highly probable, will be the least pleasing to those for whose service it is most intended
- CHAP. III Presents the Reader with a very foolish adventure of Lysetta's, to which all that was contain'd in the preceding chapter was only a prelude; with some short remarks of the author's own on the extreme danger, as well as infatuation, of consulting Fortune-tellers of any kind, and giving credit to their idle and absurd predictions
- CHAP. IV Contains the catastrophe of an affair, which the repetition of ought not to give offence to any one, except the person whose resentment the author will not look upon as a misfortune
- CHAP. V Treats on various matters, some of which, the author dares venture to assure the public, will hereafter be found not only more entertaining, but also of more consequence than at present they appear to be
- CHAP. VI Contains such things as are not often to be met with, neither in the one nor the other sex; yet are, or at least ought to be, equally interesting to both
- CHAP. VII The Author has been in some debate within himself, whether he should insert or not, as he is conscious it will be little relish'd by the fashionable genteel part of his readers; – and what is still worse, can afford neither much entertainment, nor much improvement to the others
- CHAP. VIII Wherein the wonderful power of beauty, when accompany'd with virtue, is display'd in a very remarkable, as well as affecting occurrence
- CHAP. IX Contains only a continuation of the same narrative, begun in the foregoing Chapter, and will not be concluded in this
- CHAP. X The catastrophe of this adventure cannot fail of exciting compassion in the breasts of my fair readers, and also afford much matter of speculation to those of the other sex
- BOOK VI
- BOOK VII
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
CHAP. III - Presents the Reader with a very foolish adventure of Lysetta's, to which all that was contain'd in the preceding chapter was only a prelude; with some short remarks of the author's own on the extreme danger, as well as infatuation, of consulting Fortune-tellers of any kind, and giving credit to their idle and absurd predictions
from BOOK V
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- CHAP. I The author's introduction to this volume consists only of an apology for making no introduction at all, and his reasons for that omission
- CHAP. II Contains such matters as, it is highly probable, will be the least pleasing to those for whose service it is most intended
- CHAP. III Presents the Reader with a very foolish adventure of Lysetta's, to which all that was contain'd in the preceding chapter was only a prelude; with some short remarks of the author's own on the extreme danger, as well as infatuation, of consulting Fortune-tellers of any kind, and giving credit to their idle and absurd predictions
- CHAP. IV Contains the catastrophe of an affair, which the repetition of ought not to give offence to any one, except the person whose resentment the author will not look upon as a misfortune
- CHAP. V Treats on various matters, some of which, the author dares venture to assure the public, will hereafter be found not only more entertaining, but also of more consequence than at present they appear to be
- CHAP. VI Contains such things as are not often to be met with, neither in the one nor the other sex; yet are, or at least ought to be, equally interesting to both
- CHAP. VII The Author has been in some debate within himself, whether he should insert or not, as he is conscious it will be little relish'd by the fashionable genteel part of his readers; – and what is still worse, can afford neither much entertainment, nor much improvement to the others
- CHAP. VIII Wherein the wonderful power of beauty, when accompany'd with virtue, is display'd in a very remarkable, as well as affecting occurrence
- CHAP. IX Contains only a continuation of the same narrative, begun in the foregoing Chapter, and will not be concluded in this
- CHAP. X The catastrophe of this adventure cannot fail of exciting compassion in the breasts of my fair readers, and also afford much matter of speculation to those of the other sex
- BOOK VI
- BOOK VII
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
Summary
Having discover'd this folly in Lysetta, which before I could never have imagin'd, I began now to be censorious enough to suspect she might also be guilty of others, and therefore took it into my head to make her some Invisible Visits, at those hours in which it was likely her behaviour was most unguarded.
In order to satisfy my curiosity in this point, I went to her house one morning, and found her very busy in looking over some new pamphlets, which had been just sent her by her bookseller: – as I always thought the most certain way to form a true judgment of a woman's mind, was in the knowledge of what sort of reading she was most delighted with, I was glad to perceive that this lady made choice of only such books as shew'd her neither a wanton or a coquette, and returned all those which by their titles discover'd the least tendency to prophaneness or obscenity.
After this she took her little ivory folding-stick, and began to open the leaves of one which she seem'd most impatient to examine; but before she had gone through half the number of sheets it contain'd, was interrupted by a footman who presented her with a letter, and said the person who brought it waited for an answer; – I slipp'd behind her chair while she broke the seal, and the contents were as follow:
To the honourable Lysetta.
May it please your ladyship,
Madam,
I hope your goodness will pardon the liberty a stranger takes in writing to you; but as I am not so fortunate to be acquainted with any person who can introduce me to your ladyship, I am obliged to become my own sollicitor, and most humbly request you will allow me the privilege of waiting on you this afternoon, if no previous engagement intervenes between me and my desires, having something to communicate which is of the utmost moment to the peace of him who has the honour to be,
With the most profound respect,
Madam,
Your ladyship's
Sincerely devoted and obedient servant,
Orsames.- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Invisible Spyby Eliza Haywood, pp. 248 - 254Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014