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neither letting me see or hear from her。 In about a fortnight
after； a violent illness which had seized my Father obliged me to
set out for Andalusia。 I hastened thither； and as I imagined；
found the Marquis at the point of death。 Though on its first
appearance his complaint was declared mortal； He lingered out
several Months； during which my attendance upon him during his
malady； and the occupation of settling his affairs after his
decease； permitted not my quitting Andalusia。 Within these four
days I returned to Madrid； and on arriving at my Hotel； I there
found this letter waiting for me。
（Here the Marquis unlocked the drawer of a Cabinet： He took out a
folded paper； which He presented to his Auditor。 Lorenzo opened
it； and recognised his Sister's hand。 The Contents were as
follows。
Into what an abyss of misery have you plunged me！ Raymond； you
force me to become as criminal as yourself。 I had resolved never
to see you more； if possible； to forget you； If not； only to
remember you with hate。 A Being for whom I already feel a
Mother's tenderness； solicits me to pardon my Seducer； and apply
to his love for the means of preservation。 Raymond； your child
lives in my bosom。 I tremble at the vengeance of the Prioress； I
tremble much for myself； yet more for the innocent Creature whose
existence depends upon mine。 Both of us are lost； should my
situation be discovered。 Advise me then what steps to take； but
seek not to see me。 The Gardener； who undertakes to deliver
this； is dismissed； and we have nothing to hope from that
quarter： The Man engaged in his place is of incorruptible
fidelity。 The best means of conveying to me your answer； is by
concealing it under the great Statue of St。 Francis； which stands
in the Capuchin Cathedral。 Thither I go every Thursday to
confession； and shall easily have an opportunity of securing your
letter。 I hear that you are now absent from Madrid； Need I
entreat you to write the very moment of your return？ I will not
think it。 Ah！ Raymond！ Mine is a cruel situation！ Deceived by
my nearest Relations； compelled to embrace a profession the
duties of which I am ill…calculated to perform； conscious of the
sanctity of those duties； and seduced into violating them by One
whom I least suspected of perfidy； I am now obliged by
circumstances to chuse between death and perjury。 Woman's
timidity； and maternal affection； permit me not to balance in the
choice。 I feel all the guilt into which I plunge myself； when I
yield to the plan which you before proposed to me。 My poor
Father's death which has taken place since we met； has removed
one obstacle。 He sleeps in his grave； and I no longer dread his
anger。 But from the anger of God； Oh！ Raymond！ who shall shield
me？ Who can protect me against my conscience； against myself？ I
dare not dwell upon these thoughts； They will drive me mad。 I
have taken my resolution： Procure a dispensation from my vows； I
am ready to fly with you。 Write to me； my Husband！ Tell me；
that absence has not abated your love； tell me that you will
rescue from death your unborn Child； and its unhappy Mother。 I
live in all the agonies of terror： Every eye which is fixed upon
me seems to read my secret and my shame。 And you are the cause
of those agonies！ Oh！ When my heart first loved you； how little
did it suspect you of making it feel such pangs！
Agnes。
Having perused the letter； Lorenzo restored it in silence。 The
Marquis replaced it in the Cabinet； and then proceeded。）
'Excessive was my joy at reading this intelligence so
earnestly…desired； so little expected。 My plan was soon
arranged。 When Don Gaston discovered to me his Daughter's
retreat； I entertained no doubt of her readiness to quit the
Convent： I had； therefore； entrusted the Cardinal…Duke of Lerma
with the whole affair； who immediately busied himself in
obtaining the necessary Bull。 Fortunately I had afterwards
neglected to stop his proceedings。 Not long since I received a
letter from him； stating that He expected daily to receive the
order from the Court of Rome。 Upon this I would willingly have
relyed： But the Cardinal wrote me word； that I must find some
means of conveying Agnes out of the Convent； unknown to the
Prioress。 He doubted not but this Latter would be much incensed
by losing a Person of such high rank from her society； and
consider the renunciation of Agnes as an insult to her House。 He
represented her as a Woman of a violent and revengeful character；
capable of proceeding to the greatest extremities。 It was
therefore to be feared； lest by confining Agnes in the Convent
She should frustrate my hopes； and render the Pope's mandate
unavailing。 Influenced by this consideration； I resolved to
carry off my Mistress； and conceal her till the arrival of the
expected Bull in the Cardinal…Duke's Estate。 He approved of my
design； and profest himself ready to give a shelter to the
Fugitive。 I next caused the new Gardener of St。 Clare to be
seized privately； and confined in my Hotel。 By this means I
became Master of the Key to the Garden door； and I had now
nothing more to do than prepare Agnes for the elopement。 This
was done by the letter； which you saw me deliver this Evening。 I
told her in it； that I should be ready to receive her at twelve
tomorrow night； that I had secured the Key of the Garden； and
that She might depend upon a speedy release。
You have now； Lorenzo； heard the whole of my long narrative。 I
have nothing to say in my excuse； save that my intentions towards
your Sister have been ever the most honourable： That it has
always been； and still is my design to make her my Wife： And
that I trust； when you consider these circumstances； our youth；
and our attachment； you will not only forgive our momentary lapse
from virtue； but will aid me in repairing my faults to Agnes； and
securing a lawful title to her person and her heart。
CHAPTER II
O You！ whom Vanity's light bark conveys
On Fame's mad voyage by the wind of praise；
With what a shifting gale your course you ply；
For ever sunk too low； or borne too high！
Who pants for glory finds but short repose；
A breath revives him； and a breath o'er…throws。
Pope。
Here the Marquis concluded his adventures。 Lorenzo； before He
could determine on his reply； past some moments in reflection。
At length He broke silence。
'Raymond；' said He taking his hand； 'strict honour would oblige
me to wash off in your blood the stain thrown upon my family； But
the circumstances of your case forbid me to consider you as an
Enemy。 The temptation was too great to be resisted。 'Tis the
superstition of my Relations which has occasioned these
misfortunes； and they are more the Offenders than yourself and
Agnes。 What has past between you cannot be recalled； but may yet
be repaired by uniting you to my Sister。 You have ever been； you
still continue to be； my dearest and indeed my only Friend。 I
feel for Agnes the truest affection； and there is no one on whom
I would bestow her more willingly than on yourself。 Pursue then
your design。 I will accompany you tomorrow night； and conduct
her myself to the House of the Cardinal。 My presence will be a
sanction for her conduct； and prevent her incurring blame by her
flight from the Convent。'
The Marquis thanked him in terms by no means deficient in
gratitude。 Lorenzo then informed him that He had nothing more
to apprehend from Donna Rodolpha's enmity。 Five Months had
already elapsed since； in an excess of passion； She broke a
blood…vessel and expired in the course of a few hours。 He then
proceeded to mention the interests of Antonia。 The Marquis was
much surprized at hearing of this new Relation： His Father had
carried his hatred of Elvira to the Grave； and had never given
the least hint that He knew what was become of his eldest Son's
Widow。 Don Raymond assured his friend that He was not mistaken
in supposing him ready to acknowledge his Sister…in…law and her
amiable Daughter。 The preparations for the elopement would not
permit his v