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is involved in this affair： Till that is established； and the
purport of your correspondence with Agnes cleared up； I cannot
consider you as my Friend。 I am anxious to hear the meaning of
your conduct； and hope that you will not delay the promised
explanation。'
'First give me your word； that you will listen with patience and
indulgence。'
'I love my Sister too well to judge her harshly； and till this
moment I possessed no Friend so dear to me as yourself。 I will
also confess； that your having it in your power to oblige me in a
business which I have much at heart； makes me very anxious to
find you still deserving my esteem。'
'Lorenzo； you transport me！ No greater pleasure can be given me；
than an opportunity of serving the Brother of Agnes。'
'Convince me that I can accept your favours without dishonour；
and there is no Man in the world to whom I am more willing to be
obliged。'
'Probably； you have already heard your Sister mention the name of
Alphonso d'Alvarada？'
'Never。 Though I feel for Agnes an affection truly fraternal；
circumstances have prevented us from being much together。 While
yet a Child She was consigned to the care of her Aunt； who had
married a German Nobleman。 At his Castle She remained till two
years since； when She returned to Spain； determined upon
secluding herself from the world。'
'Good God！ Lorenzo； you knew of her intention； and yet strove
not to make her change it？'
'Marquis； you wrong me。 The intelligence； which I received at
Naples； shocked me extremely； and I hastened my return to Madrid
for the express purpose of preventing the sacrifice。 The moment
that I arrived； I flew to the Convent of St。 Clare； in which
Agnes had chosen to perform her Noviciate。 I requested to see my
Sister。 Conceive my surprise when She sent me a refusal； She
declared positively； that apprehending my influence over her
mind； She would not trust herself in my society till the day
before that on which She was to receive the Veil。 I supplicated
the Nuns； I insisted upon seeing Agnes； and hesitated not to avow
my suspicions that her being kept from me was against her own
inclinations。 To free herself from the imputation of violence；
the Prioress brought me a few lines written in my Sister's
well…known hand； repeating the message already delivered。 All
future attempts to obtain a moment's conversation with her were
as fruitless as the first。 She was inflexible； and I was not
permitted to see her till the day preceding that on which She
entered the Cloister never to quit it more。 This interview took
place in the presence of our principal Relations。 It was for the
first time since her childhood that I saw her； and the scene was
most affecting。 She threw herself upon my bosom； kissed me； and
wept bitterly。 By every possible argument； by tears； by prayers；
by kneeling； I strove to make her abandon her intention。 I
represented to her all the hardships of a religious life； I
painted to her imagination all the pleasures which She was going
to quit； and besought her to disclose to me； what occasioned her
disgust to the world。 At this last question She turned pale； and
her tears flowed yet faster。 She entreated me not to press her
on that subject； That it sufficed me to know that her resolution
was taken； and that a Convent was the only place where She could
now hope for tranquillity。 She persevered in her design； and
made her profession。 I visited her frequently at the Grate； and
every moment that I passed with her； made me feel more affliction
at her loss。 I was shortly after obliged to quit Madrid； I
returned but yesterday evening； and since then have not had time
to call at St。 Clare's Convent。'
'Then till I mentioned it； you never heard the name of Alphonso
d'Alvarada？'
'Pardon me： my Aunt wrote me word that an Adventurer so called
had found means to get introduced into the Castle of Lindenberg；
That He had insinuated himself into my Sister's good graces； and
that She had even consented to elope with him。 However； before
the plan could be executed； the Cavalier discovered that the
estates which He believed Agnes to possess in Hispaniola； in
reality belonged to me。 This intelligence made him change his
intention； He disappeared on the day that the elopement was to
have taken place； and Agnes； in despair at his perfidy and
meanness； had resolved upon seclusion in a Convent。 She added；
that as this adventurer had given himself out to be a Friend of
mine； She wished to know whether I had any knowledge of him。 I
replied in the negative。 I had then very little idea； that
Alphonso d'Alvarada and the Marquis de las Cisternas were one and
the same person： The description given me of the first by no
means tallied with what I knew of the latter。'
'In this I easily recognize Donna Rodolpha's perfidious
character。 Every word of this account is stamped with marks of
her malice； of her falsehood； of her talents for misrepresenting
those whom She wishes to injure。 Forgive me； Medina； for
speaking so freely of your Relation。 The mischief which She has
done me authorises my resentment； and when you have heard my
story； you will be convinced that my expressions have not been
too severe。'
He then began his narrative in the following manner。
HISTORY OF DON RAYMOND； MARQUIS DE LAS CISTERNAS
Long experience； my dear Lorenzo； has convinced me how generous
is your nature： I waited not for your declaration of ignorance
respecting your Sister's adventures to suppose that they had
been purposely concealed from you。 Had they reached your
knowledge； from what misfortunes should both Agnes and myself
have escaped！ Fate had ordained it otherwise！ You were on your
Travels when I first became acquainted with your Sister； and as
our Enemies took care to conceal from her your direction； it was
impossible for her to implore by letter your protection and
advice。
On leaving Salamanca； at which University as I have since heard；
you remained a year after I quitted it； I immediately set out
upon my Travels。 My Father supplied me liberally with money； But
He insisted upon my concealing my rank； and presenting myself as
no more than a private Gentleman。 This command was issued by the
counsels of his Friend； the Duke of Villa Hermosa； a Nobleman for
whose abilities and knowledge of the world I have ever
entertained the most profound veneration。
'Believe me；' said He； 'my dear Raymond； you will hereafter feel
the benefits of this temporary degradation。 'Tis true； that as
the Conde de las Cisternas you would have been received with open
arms； and your youthful vanity might have felt gratified by the
attentions showered upon you from all sides。 At present； much
will depend upon yourself： You have excellent recommendations；
but it must be your own business to make them of use to you。 You
must lay yourself out to please； You must labour to gain the
approbation of those； to whom you are presented： They who would
have courted the friendship of the Conde de las Cisternas will
have no interest in finding out the merits； or bearing patiently
with the faults； of Alphonso d'Alvarada。 Consequently； when you
find yourself really liked； you may safely ascribe it to your
good qualities； not your rank； and the distinction shown you will
be infinitely more flattering。 Besides； your exalted birth would
not permit your mixing with the lower classes of society； which
will now be in your power； and from which； in my opinion； you
will derive considerable benefit。 Do not confine yourself to the
Illustrious of those Countries through which you pass。 Examine
the manners and customs of the multitude： Enter into the
Cottages； and by observing how the Vassals of Foreigners are
treated； learn to diminish the burthens and augment the comforts
of your own。 According to my ideas； of those advantages which a
Youth destined to the possession of power and wealth may reap
from travel； He should not consider as the least essential； the
opportunity of mixing with the classes below him； and becoming an
eyewitness of the sufferings of the People。'
Forgive me； Lorenzo； if I seem tedious in my narration。 The close