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the Image； placed it in her bosom； and hastened to resume her
rank in the procession。
'Ha！' said Christoval in a low voice； 'Here we have some little
Intrigue； no doubt。'
'Agnes； by heaven！' cried Lorenzo。
'What； your Sister？ Diavolo！ Then somebody； I suppose； will
have to pay for our peeping。'
'And shall pay for it without delay；' replied the incensed
Brother。
The pious procession had now entered the Abbey； The Door was
already closed upon it。 The Unknown immediately quitted his
concealment and hastened to leave the Church： Ere He could
effect his intention； He descried Medina stationed in his
passage。 The Stranger hastily retreated； and drew his Hat over
his eyes。
'Attempt not to fly me！' exclaimed Lorenzo； 'I will know who you
are； and what were the contents of that Letter。'
'Of that Letter？' repeated the Unknown。 'And by what title do
you ask the question？'
'By a title of which I am now ashamed； But it becomes not you to
question me。 Either reply circumstantially to my demands； or
answer me with your Sword。'
'The latter method will be the shortest；' rejoined the Other；
drawing his Rapier； 'Come on； Segnor Bravo！ I am ready！'
Burning with rage； Lorenzo hastened to the attack： The
Antagonists had already exchanged several passes before
Christoval； who at that moment had more sense than either of
them； could throw himself between their weapons。
'Hold！ Hold！ Medina！' He exclaimed； 'Remember the consequences
of shedding blood on consecrated ground！'
The Stranger immediately dropped his Sword。
'Medina？' He cried； 'Great God； is it possible！ Lorenzo； have you
quite forgotten Raymond de las Cisternas？'
Lorenzo's astonishment increased with every succeeding moment。
Raymond advanced towards him； but with a look of suspicion He
drew back his hand； which the Other was preparing to take。
'You here； Marquis？ What is the meaning of all this？ You
engaged in a clandestine correspondence with my Sister； whose
affections。 。 。 。'
'Have ever been； and still are mine。 But this is no fit place
for an explanation。 Accompany me to my Hotel； and you shall know
every thing。 Who is that with you？'
'One whom I believe you to have seen before；' replied Don
Christoval； 'though probably not at Church。'
'The Conde d'Ossorio？'
'Exactly so； Marquis。'
'I have no objection to entrusting you with my secret； for I am
sure that I may depend upon your silence。'
'Then your opinion of me is better than my own； and therefore I
must beg leave to decline your confidence。 Do you go your own
way； and I shall go mine。 Marquis； where are you to be found？'
'As usual； at the Hotel de las Cisternas； But remember； that I am
incognito； and that if you wish to see me； you must ask for
Alphonso d'Alvarada。'
'Good！ Good！ Farewell； Cavaliers！' said Don Christoval； and
instantly departed。
'You； Marquis；' said Lorenzo in the accent of surprise； 'You；
Alphonso d'Alvarada？'
'Even so； Lorenzo： But unless you have already heard my story
from your Sister； I have much to relate that will astonish you。
Follow me； therefore； to my Hotel without delay。'
At this moment the Porter of the Capuchins entered the Cathedral
to lock up the doors for the night。 The two Noblemen instantly
withdrew； and hastened with all speed to the Palace de las
Cisternas。
'Well； Antonia！' said the Aunt； as soon as She had quitted the
Church； 'What think you of our Gallants？ Don Lorenzo really
seems a very obliging good sort of young Man： He paid you some
attention； and nobody knows what may come of it。 But as to Don
Christoval； I protest to you； He is the very Phoenix of
politeness。 So gallant！ so well…bred！ So sensible； and so
pathetic！ Well！ If ever Man can prevail upon me to break my vow
never to marry； it will be that Don Christoval。 You see； Niece；
that every thing turns out exactly as I told you： The very
moment that I produced myself in Madrid； I knew that I should be
surrounded by Admirers。 When I took off my veil； did you see；
Antonia； what an effect the action had upon the Conde？ And when
I presented him my hand； did you observe the air of passion with
which He kissed it？ If ever I witnessed real love； I then saw it
impressed upon Don Christoval's countenance！'
Now Antonia had observed the air； with which Don Christoval had
kissed this same hand； But as She drew conclusions from it
somewhat different from her Aunt's； She was wise enough to hold
her tongue。 As this is the only instance known of a Woman's ever
having done so； it was judged worthy to be recorded here。
The old Lady continued her discourse to Antonia in the same
strain； till they gained the Street in which was their Lodging。
Here a Crowd collected before their door permitted them not to
approach it； and placing themselves on the opposite side of the
Street； they endeavoured to make out what had drawn all these
people together。 After some minutes the Crowd formed itself into
a Circle； And now Antonia perceived in the midst of it a Woman of
extraordinary height； who whirled herself repeatedly round and
round； using all sorts of extravagant gestures。 Her dress was
composed of shreds of various…coloured silks and Linens
fantastically arranged； yet not entirely without taste。 Her head
was covered with a kind of Turban； ornamented with vine leaves
and wild flowers。 She seemed much sun…burnt； and her complexion
was of a deep olive： Her eyes looked fiery and strange； and in
her hand She bore a long black Rod； with which She at intervals
traced a variety of singular figures upon the ground； round about
which She danced in all the eccentric attitudes of folly and
delirium。 Suddenly She broke off her dance； whirled herself
round thrice with rapidity； and after a moment's pause She sang
the following Ballad。
THE GYPSY'S SONG
Come； cross my hand！ My art surpasses
All that did ever Mortal know；
Come； Maidens； come！ My magic glasses
Your future Husband's form can show：
For 'tis to me the power is given
Unclosed the book of Fate to see；
To read the fixed resolves of heaven；
And dive into futurity。
I guide the pale Moon's silver waggon；
The winds in magic bonds I hold；
I charm to sleep the crimson Dragon；
Who loves to watch o'er buried gold：
Fenced round with spells； unhurt I venture
Their sabbath strange where Witches keep；
Fearless the Sorcerer's circle enter；
And woundless tread on snakes asleep。
Lo！ Here are charms of mighty power！
This makes secure an Husband's truth
And this composed at midnight hour
Will force to love the coldest Youth：
If any Maid too much has granted；
Her loss this Philtre will repair；
This blooms a cheek where red is wanted；
And this will make a brown girl fair！
Then silent hear； while I discover
What I in Fortune's mirror view；
And each； when many a year is over；
Shall own the Gypsy's sayings true。
'Dear Aunt！' said Antonia when the Stranger had finished； 'Is She
not mad？'
'Mad？ Not She； Child； She is only wicked。 She is a Gypsy； a
sort of Vagabond； whose sole occupation is to run about the
country telling lyes； and pilfering from those who come by their
money honestly。 Out upon such Vermin！ If I were King of Spain；
every one of them should be burnt alive who was found in my
dominions after the next three weeks。'
These words were pronounced so audibly that they reached the
Gypsy's ears。 She immediately pierced through the Crowd and
made towards the Ladies。 She saluted them thrice in the Eastern
fashion； and then addressed herself to Antonia。
THE GYPSY
'Lady！ gentle Lady！ Know；
I your future fate can show；
Give your hand； and do not fear；
Lady！ gentle Lady！ hear！'
'Dearest Aunt！' said Antonia； 'Indulge me this once！ Let me have
my fortune told me！'
'Nonsense； Child！ She will tell you nothing but falsehoods。'
'No matter； Let me at least hear what She has to say。 Do； my dear
Aunt！ Oblige me； I beseech you！'
'Well； well！ Antonia； since you are so bent upon the thing； 。 。 。
Here； good Woman； you shall see the hands of both of us。 There
is money for yo