volume02-第21章

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d　made　no　scruple　of　confiding　to　her　his　Sister's　History。　　He　concluded　by　saying　that　He　hoped　to　set　Agnes　at　liberty　the　next　day；　and　that　as　soon　as　Don　Raymond's　fears　were　quieted　upon　this　subject；　He　would　lose　no　time　in　assuring　Donna　Elvira　of　his　friendship　and　protection。

The　Lady　shook　her　head。

'I　tremble　for　your　Sister；'　said　She；　'I　have　heard　many　traits　of　the　Domina　of　St。　Clare's　character；　from　a　Friend　who　was　educated　in　the　same　Convent　with　her。　　She　reported　her　to　be　haughty；　inflexible；　superstitious；　and　revengeful。　　I　have　since　heard　that　She　is　infatuated　with　the　idea　of　rendering　her　Convent　the　most　regular　in　Madrid；　and　never　forgave　those　whose　imprudence　threw　upon　it　the　slightest　stain。　　Though　naturally　violent　and　severe；　when　her　interests　require　it；　She　well　knows　how　to　assume　an　appearance　of　benignity。　　She　leaves　no　means　untried　to　persuade　young　Women　of　rank　to　become　Members　of　her　Community：　　She　is　implacable　when　once　incensed；　and　has　too　much　intrepidity　to　shrink　at　taking　the　most　rigorous　measures　for　punishing　the　Offender。　　Doubtless；　She　will　consider　your　Sister's　quitting　the　Convent　as　a　disgrace　thrown　upon　it：　　She　will　use　every　artifice　to　avoid　obeying　the　mandate　of　his　Holiness；　and　I　shudder　to　think　that　Donna　Agnes　is　in　the　hands　of　this　dangerous　Woman。'

Lorenzo　now　rose　to　take　leave。　　Elvira　gave　him　her　hand　at　parting；　which　He　kissed　respectfully；　and　telling　her　that　He　soon　hoped　for　the　permission　to　salute　that　of　Antonia；　He　returned　to　his　Hotel。　　The　Lady　was　perfectly　satisfied　with　the　conversation　which　had　past　between　them。　　She　looked　forward　with　satisfaction　to　the　prospect　of　his　becoming　her　Son…in…　law；　But　Prudence　bad　her　conceal　from　her　Daughter's　knowledge　the　flattering　hopes　which　Herself　now　ventured　to　entertain。

Scarcely　was　it　day；　and　already　Lorenzo　was　at　the　Convent　of　St。　Clare；　furnished　with　the　necessary　mandate。　　The　Nuns　were　at　Matins。　　He　waited　impatiently　for　the　conclusion　of　the　service；　and　at　length　the　Prioress　appeared　at　the　Parlour　Grate。　　Agnes　was　demanded。　　The　old　Lady　replied；　with　a　melancholy　air；　that　the　dear　Child's　situation　grew　hourly　more　dangerous；　That　the　Physicians　despaired　of　her　life；　But　that　they　had　declared　the　only　chance　for　her　recovery　to　consist　in　keeping　her　quiet；　and　not　to　permit　those　to　approach　her　whose　presence　was　likely　to　agitate　her。　　Not　a　word　of　all　this　was　believed　by　Lorenzo；　any　more　than　He　credited　the　expressions　of　grief　and　affection　for　Agnes；　with　which　this　account　was　interlarded。　　To　end　the　business；　He　put　the　Pope's　Bull　into　the　hands　of　the　Domina；　and　insisted　that；　ill　or　in　health；　his　Sister　should　be　delivered　to　him　without　delay。

The　Prioress　received　the　paper　with　an　air　of　humility：　But　no　sooner　had　her　eye　glanced　over　the　contents；　than　her　resentment　baffled　all　the　efforts　of　Hypocrisy。　　A　deep　crimson　spread　itself　over　her　face；　and　She　darted　upon　Lorenzo　looks　of　rage　and　menace。

'This　order　is　positive；'　said　She　in　a　voice　of　anger；　which　She　in　vain　strove　to　disguise；　'Willingly　would　I　obey　it；　But　unfortunately　it　is　out　of　my　power。'

Lorenzo　interrupted　her　by　an　exclamation　of　surprize。

'I　repeat　it；　Segnor；　to　obey　this　order　is　totally　out　of　my　power。　　From　tenderness　to　a　Brother's　feelings；　I　would　have　communicated　the　sad　event　to　you　by　degrees；　and　have　prepared　you　to　hear　it　with　fortitude。　　My　measures　are　broken　through：　　This　order　commands　me　to　deliver　up　to　you　the　Sister　Agnes　without　delay；　I　am　therefore　obliged　to　inform　you　without　circumlocution；　that　on　Friday　last；　She　expired。'

Lorenzo　started　back　with　horror；　and　turned　pale。　　A　moment's　recollection　convinced　him　that　this　assertion　must　be　false；　and　it　restored　him　to　himself。

'You　deceive　me！'　said　He　passionately；　'But　five　minutes　past　since　you　assured　me　that　though　ill　She　was　still　alive。　　Produce　her　this　instant！　　See　her　I　must　and　will；　and　every　attempt　to　keep　her　from　me　will　be　unavailing。'

'You　forget　yourself；　Segnor；　You　owe　respect　to　my　age　as　well　as　my　profession。　　Your　Sister　is　no　more。　　If　I　at　first　concealed　her　death；　it　was　from　dreading　lest　an　event　so　unexpected　should　produce　on　you　too　violent　an　effect。　　In　truth；　I　am　but　ill　repaid　for　my　attention。　　And　what　interest；　I　pray　you；　should　I　have　in　detaining　her？　　To　know　her　wish　of　quitting　our　society　is　a　sufficient　reason　for　me　to　wish　her　absence；　and　think　her　a　disgrace　to　the　Sisterhood　of　St。　Clare：　But　She　has　forfeited　my　affection　in　a　manner　yet　more　culpable。　　Her　crimes　were　great；　and　when　you　know　the　cause　of　her　death；　you　will　doubtless　rejoice；　Don　Lorenzo；　that　such　a　Wretch　is　no　longer　in　existence。　　She　was　taken　ill　on　Thursday　last　on　returning　from　confession　in　the　Capuchin　Chapel。　　Her　malady　seemed　attended　with　strange　circumstances；　But　She　persisted　in　concealing　its　cause：　　Thanks　to　the　Virgin；　we　were　too　ignorant　to　suspect　it！　　Judge　then　what　must　have　been　our　consternation；　our　horror；　when　She　was　delivered　the　next　day　of　a　stillborn　Child；　whom　She　immediately　followed　to　the　Grave。　　How；　Segnor？　　Is　it　possible　that　your　countenance　expresses　no　surprize；　no　indignation？　　Is　it　possible　that　your　Sister's　infamy　was　known　to　you；　and　that　still　She　possessed　your　affection？　　In　that　case；　you　have　no　need　of　my　compassion。　　I　can　say　nothing　more；　except　repeat　my　inability　of　obeying　the　orders　of　his　Holiness。　　Agnes　is　no　more；　and　to　convince　you　that　what　I　say　is　true；　I　swear　by　our　blessed　Saviour；　that　three　days　have　past　since　She　was　buried。'

Here　She　kissed　a　small　crucifix　which　hung　at　her　girdle。　　She　then　rose　from　her　chair；　and　quitted　the　Parlour。　　As　She　withdrew；　She　cast　upon　Lorenzo　a　scornful　smile。

'Farewell；　Segnor；'　said　She；　'I　know　no　remedy　for　this　accident：　　I　fear　that　even　a　second　Bull　from　the　Pope　will　not　procure　your　Sister's　resurrection。'

Lorenzo　also　retired；　penetrated　with　affliction：　　But　Don　Raymond's　at　the　news　of　this　event　amounted　to　Madness。　　He　would　not　be　convinced　that　Agnes　was　really　dead；　and　continued　to　insist　that　the　Walls　of　St。　Clare　still　confined　her。　　No　arguments　could　make　him　abandon　his　hopes　of　regaining　her：　　Every　day　some　fresh　scheme　was　invented　for　procuring　intelligence　of　her；　and　all　of　them　were　attended　with　the　same　success。

On　his　part；　Medina　gave　up　the　idea　of　ever　seeing　his　Sister　more：　　Yet　He　believed　that　She　had　been　taken　off　by　unfair　means。　　Under　this　persuasion；　He　encouraged　Don　Raymond's　researches；　determined；　should　He　discover　the　least　warrant　for　his　suspicions；　to　take　a　severe　vengeance　upon　the　unfeeling　Prioress。　　The　loss　of　his　Sister　affected　him　sincerely；　Nor　was　it　the　least　cause　of　his　distress　that　propriety　obliged　him　for　some　time　to　defer　mentioning　Antonia　to　the　Duke。　　In　the　meanwhile　his　emissaries　constantly　surrounded　Elvira's　Door。　　He　had　intelligence　of　all　the　movements　of　his　Mistress：　　As　She　never　failed　every　Thursday　to　attend　the　Sermon　in　the　Capuchin　Cathedral；　He　was　secure　of　seeing　her　once　a　week；　though　in　compliance　with　his　promise；　He　carefully　shunned　her　observation。　　Thus　two　long　Months　passed　away。　　Still　no　information　was　procured　of　Agnes：　　All　but　the　Marquis　credited　her　death；　and　now　Lorenzo　determined　to　disclose　his　sentiments　to　his　Uncle。　　He　had　already　dropt　some　hints　of　his　intention　to　marry；　They　had　been　as　favourably　received　as　He　could　expect；　and　He　harboured　no　doubt　of　the　success　of　his　application。　


CHAPTER　III

　While　in　each　other's　arms　entranced　They　lay；　　　They　blessed　the　night；　and　curst　the　coming　day。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Lee。　

The　burst　of　transport　was　past：　　Ambrosio's　lust　was　satisfied；　Pleasure　fled；　and　Shame　usurped　her　seat　in　his　bosom。　　Confused　and　terrified　at　his　weakness；　He　drew　himself　from　Matilda's　arms。　　His　perjury　presented　itself　before　him：　　He　reflected　on　the　scene　which　had　just　been　acted；　and　trembled　at　the　consequences　of　a　discovery。　　He　looked　forward　with　horror；　His　heart　was　de