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Grate as possible。
'Agnes！' She whispered in a voice scarcely intelligible。
Theodore； however； caught the sound： He concluded that some
mystery was concealed in the Basket； and his heart beat with
impatience and joy。 At this moment the Domina returned。 Her air
was gloomy and frowning； and She looked if possible more stern
than ever。
'Mother St。 Ursula； I would speak with you in private。'
The Nun changed colour； and was evidently disconcerted。
'With me？' She replied in a faltering voice。
The Domina motioned that She must follow her； and retired。 The
Mother St。 Ursula obeyed her； Soon after； the Refectory Bell
ringing a second time； the Nuns quitted the Grate； and Theodore
was left at liberty to carry off his prize。 Delighted that at
length He had obtained some intelligence for the Marquis； He flew
rather than ran； till He reached the Hotel de las Cisternas。 In
a few minutes He stood by his Master's Bed with the Basket in his
hand。 Lorenzo was in the chamber； endeavouring to reconcile his
Friend to a misfortune which He felt himself but too severely。
Theodore related his adventure； and the hopes which had been
created by the Mother St。 Ursula's gift。 The Marquis started
from
his pillow： That fire which since the death of Agnes had been
extinguished； now revived in his bosom； and his eyes sparkled
with the eagerness of expectation。 The emotions which Lorenzo's
countenance betrayed； were scarcely weaker； and He waited with
inexpressible impatience for the solution of this mystery。
Raymond caught the basket from the hands of his Page： He emptied
the contents upon the bed； and examined them with minute
attention。 He hoped that a letter would be found at the bottom；
Nothing of the kind appeared。 The search was resumed； and still
with no better success。 At length Don Raymond observed that one
corner of the blue satin lining was unripped； He tore it open
hastily； and drew forth a small scrap of paper neither folded or
sealed。 It was addressed to the Marquis de las Cisternas； and
the contents were as follows。
Having recognised your Page； I venture to send these few lines。
Procure an order from the Cardinal…Duke for seizing my Person；
and that of the Domina； But let it not be executed till Friday at
midnight。 It is the Festival of St。 Clare： There will be a
procession of Nuns by torch…light； and I shall be among them。
Beware not to let your intention be known： Should a syllable be
dropt to excite the Domina's suspicions； you will never hear of
me more。 Be cautious； if you prize the memory of Agnes； and wish
to punish her Assassins。 I have that to tell； will freeze your
blood with horror。 St。 Ursula。
No sooner had the Marquis read the note than He fell back upon
his pillow deprived of sense or motion。 The hope failed him
which till now had supported his existence； and these lines
convinced him but too positively that Agnes was indeed no more。
Lorenzo felt this circumstance less forcibly； since it had always
been his idea that his Sister had perished by unfair means。 When
He found by the Mother St。 Ursula's letter how true were his
suspicions； the confirmation excited no other sentiment in his
bosom than a wish to punish the Murderers as they deserved。 It
was no easy task to recall the Marquis to himself。 As soon as He
recovered his speech； He broke out into execrations against the
Assassins of his Beloved； and vowed to take upon them a signal
vengeance。 He continued to rave and torment himself with
impotent passion till his constitution； enfeebled by grief and
illness； could support itself no longer； and He relapsed into
insensibility。 His melancholy situation sincerely affected
Lorenzo； who would willingly have remained in the apartment of
his Friend； But other cares now demanded his presence。 It was
necessary to procure the order for seizing the Prioress of St。
Clare。 For this purpose； having committed Raymond to the care of
the best Physicians in Madrid； He quitted the Hotel de las
Cisternas； and bent his course towards the Palace of the
Cardinal…Duke。
His disappointment was excessive； when He found that affairs of
State had obliged the Cardinal to set out for a distant Province。
It wanted but five to Friday： Yet by travelling day and night；
He hoped to return in time for the Pilgrimage of St。 Clare。 In
this He succeeded。 He found the Cardinal…Duke； and represented
to him the supposed culpability of the Prioress； as also the
violent effects which it had produced upon Don Raymond。 He could
have used no argument so forcible as this last。 Of all his
Nephews； the Marquis was the only one to whom the Cardinal…Duke
was sincerely attached： He perfectly doated upon him； and the
Prioress could have committed no greater crime in his eyes than
to have endangered the life of the Marquis。 Consequently； He
granted the order of arrest without difficulty： He also gave
Lorenzo a letter to a principal Officer of the Inquisition；
desiring him to see his mandate executed。 Furnished with these
papers； Medina hastened back to Madrid； which He reached on the
Friday a few hours before dark。 He found the Marquis somewhat
easier； but so weak and exhausted that without great exertion He
could neither speak or more。 Having past an hour by his Bedside；
Lorenzo left him to communicate his design to his Uncle； as also
to give Don Ramirez de Mello the Cardinal's letter。 The First
was petrified with horror when He learnt the fate of his unhappy
Niece： He encouraged Lorenzo to punish her Assassins； and
engaged to accompany him at night to St。 Clare's Convent。 Don
Ramirez promised his firmest support； and selected a band of
trusty Archers to prevent opposition on the part of the Populace。
But while Lorenzo was anxious to unmask one religious Hypocrite；
He was unconscious of the sorrows prepared for him by Another。
Aided by Matilda's infernal Agents； Ambrosio had resolved upon
the innocent Antonia's ruin。 The moment destined to be so fatal
to her arrived。 She had taken leave of her Mother for the night。
As She kissed her； She felt an unusual despondency infuse itself
into her bosom。 She left her； and returned to her instantly；
threw herself into her maternal arms； and bathed her cheek with
tears： She felt uneasy at quitting her； and a secret
presentiment assured her that never must they meet again。 Elvira
observed； and tried to laugh her out of this childish prejudice：
She chid her mildly for encouraging such ungrounded sadness； and
warned her how dangerous it was to encourage such ideas。
To all her remonstrances She received no other answer than；
'Mother！ Dear Mother！ Oh！ would to God； it were Morning！'
Elvira； whose inquietude respecting her Daughter was a great
obstacle to her perfect reestablishment； was still labouring
under the effects of her late severe illness。 She was this
Evening more than usually indisposed； and retired to bed before
her accustomed hour。 Antonia withdrew from her Mother's chamber
with regret； and till the Door closed； kept her eyes fixed upon
her with melancholy expression。 She retired to her own
apartment； Her heart was filled with bitterness： It seemed to
her that all her prospects were blasted； and the world contained
nothing for which it was worth existing。 She sank into a Chair；
reclined her head upon her arm； and gazed upon the floor with a
vacant stare； while the most gloomy images floated before her
fancy。 She was still in this state of insensibility when She
was disturbed by hearing a strain of soft Music breathed beneath
her window。 She rose； drew near the Casement； and opened it to
hear it more distinctly。 Having thrown her veil over her face；
She ventured to look out。 By the light of the Moon She perceived
several Men below with Guitars and Lutes in their hands； and at a
little distance from them stood Another wrapped in his cloak；
whose stature and appearance bore a strong resemblance to
Lorenzo's。 She was not deceived in this conjecture。 It was
indeed Lorenzo himself； who bound by his word not to present
himself to Antonia without his Uncle's consent； endeavoured by
occasional Serenades； to convince his Mistress