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. 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
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
I had been told that lady Playfeild's route was an assemblage of the most brilliant and polite persons of both sexes, and tho' I never had any great opinion of these sort of meetings, yet I was tempted to go thither, in order to be myself a witness how far the description that had been given me was consonant to truth. – As I am an entire stranger to her ladyship, and did not care for the formality of being introduced by any one who went there, I chose to make this visit in my Invisible Capacity.
The great number of wax-tapers, the sparkle of the ladies jewels, and the extraordinary beauty of some among them, was dazling to my eyes at first entrance; but I soon found that I had the same fault to find with this as I had done in all other mix'd company I ever saw; – a kind of hurry and confusion, which destroys that solid conversation that is so agreeable when only a few select friends are met together.
It was very near nine o'clock when I went thither, yet there were several who came in after me; – lady Playfeild received all of them with her accustomed politeness; but for a great while there was nothing in the salutations on either side which engross'd my attention so far as to make me spread my Tablets to retain it.
I was, indeed, quite indolent to every thing that was said, till the entrance of lady Allmode gave a little spur to my curiosity; – I had heard much talk of this lady, not only for her being extravagantly fond of every new fashion, but also for a certain peculiarity in her manner of conversation, which made her admired by people of a low education, and as much laugh'd at by those of a superior.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Invisible Spyby Eliza Haywood, pp. 262 - 268Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014