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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 despondent； and became the abode of satiety and
disgust。 He avoided the eyes of his Partner in frailty； A
melancholy silence prevailed； during which Both seemed busied
with disagreable reflections。
Matilda was the first to break it。 She took his hand gently； and
pressed it to her burning lips。
'Ambrosio！' She murmured in a soft and trembling voice。
The Abbot started at the sound。 He turned his eyes upon
Matilda's： They were filled with tears； Her cheeks were covered
with blushes； and her supplicating looks seemed to solicit his
compassion。
'Dangerous Woman！' said He； 'Into what an abyss of misery have
you plunged me！ Should your sex be discovered； my honour； nay my
life； must pay for the pleasure of a few moments。 Fool that I
was； to trust myself to your seductions！ What can now be done？
How can my offence be expiated？ What atonement can purchase the
pardon of my crime？ Wretched Matilda； you have destroyed my
quiet for ever！'
'To me these reproaches； Ambrosio？ To me； who have sacrificed
for you the world's pleasures； the luxury of wealth； the delicacy
of sex； my Friends； my fortune； and my fame？ What have you lost；
which I preserved？ Have _I_ not shared in YOUR guilt？ Have YOU
not shared in MY pleasure？ Guilt； did I say？ In what consists
ours； unless in the opinion of an ill…judging World？ Let that
World be ignorant of them； and our joys become divine and
blameless！ Unnatural were your vows of Celibacy； Man was not
created for such a state； And were Love a crime； God never would
have made it so sweet； so irresistible！ Then banish those clouds
from your brow； my Ambrosio！ Indulge in those pleasures freely；
without which life is a worthless gift： Cease to reproach me
with having taught you what is bliss； and feel equal transports
with the Woman who adores you！'
As She spoke； her eyes were filled with a delicious languor。 Her
bosom panted： She twined her arms voluptuously round him； drew
him towards her； and glewed her lips to his。 Ambrosio again
raged with desire： The die was thrown： His vows were already
broken； He had already committed the crime； and why should He
refrain from enjoying its reward？ He clasped her to his breast
with redoubled ardour。 No longer repressed by the sense of
shame； He gave a loose to his intemperate appetites。 While the
fair Wanton put every invention of lust in practice； every
refinement in the art of pleasure which might heighten the bliss
of her possession； and render her Lover's transports still more
exquisite； Ambrosio rioted in delights till then unknown to him：
Swift fled the night； and the Morning blushed to behold him still
clasped in the embraces of Matilda。
Intoxicated with pleasure； the Monk rose from the Syren's
luxurious Couch。 He no longer reflected with shame upon his
incontinence； or dreaded the vengeance of offended heaven。 His
only fear was lest Death should rob him of enjoyments； for which
hi