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his arrival； She undrest Antonia； and conveyed her to Bed。
Heedless of the storm； terrified almost out of her senses；
Jacintha ran through the Streets； and stopped not till She
reached the Gate of the Abbey。 She rang loudly at the bell； and
as soon as the Porter appeared； She desired permission to speak
to the Superior。 Ambrosio was then conferring with Matilda upon
the means of procuring access to Antonia。 The cause of Elvira's
death remaining unknown； He was convinced that crimes were not so
swiftly followed by punishment； as his Instructors the Monks had
taught him； and as till then He had himself believed。 This
persuasion made him resolve upon Antonia's ruin； for the
enjoyment of whose person dangers and difficulties only seemed to
have increased his passion。 The Monk had already made one
attempt to gain admission to her presence； But Flora had refused
him in such a manner as to convince him that all future
endeavours must be vain。 Elvira had confided her suspicions to
that trusty Servant： She had desired her never to leave Ambrosio
alone with her Daughter； and if possible to prevent their meeting
altogether。 Flora promised to obey her； and had executed her
orders to the very letter。 Ambrosio's visit had been rejected
that morning； though Antonia was ignorant of it。 He saw that to
obtain a sight of his Mistress by open means was out of the
question； and both Himself and Matilda had consumed the night； in
endeavouring to invent some plan； whose event might be more
successful。 Such was their employment； when a Lay…Brother
entered the Abbot's Cell； and informed him that a Woman calling
herself Jacintha Zuniga requested audience for a few minutes。
Ambrosio was by no means disposed to grant the petition of his
Visitor。 He refused it positively； and bad the Lay…Brother tell
the Stranger to return the next day。 Matilda interrupted him。
'See this Woman；' said She in a low voice； 'I have my reasons。'
The Abbot obeyed her； and signified that He would go to the
Parlour immediately。 With this answer the Lay…Brother
withdrew。 As soon as they were alone Ambrosio enquired why
Matilda wished him to see this Jacintha。
'She is Antonia's Hostess；' replied Matilda； 'She may possibly be
of use to you： but let us examine her； and learn what brings her
hither。'
They proceeded together to the Parlour； where Jacintha was
already waiting for the Abbot。 She had conceived a great opinion
of his piety and virtue； and supposing him to have much influence
over the Devil； thought that it must be an easy matter for him to
lay Elvira's Ghost in the Red Sea。 Filled with this persuasion
She had hastened to the Abbey。 As soon as She saw the Monk enter
the Parlour； She dropped upon her knees； and began her story as
follows。
'Oh！ Reverend Father！ Such an accident！ Such an adventure！ I
know not what course to take； and unless you can help me； I shall
certainly go distracted。 Well； to be sure； never was Woman so
unfortunate； as myself！ All in my power to keep clear of such
abomination have I done； and yet that all is too little。 What
signifies my telling my beads four times a day； and observing
every fast prescribed by the Calendar？ What signifies my having
made three Pilgrimages to St。 James of Compostella； and purchased
as many pardons from the Pope as would buy off Cain's
punishment？ Nothing prospers with me！ All goes wrong； and God
only knows； whether any thing will ever go right again！ Why now；
be your Holiness the Judge。 My Lodger dies in convulsions； Out
of pure kindness I bury her at my own expence； （Not that She is
any Relation of mine； or that I shall be benefited a single
pistole by her death： I got nothing by it； and therefore you
know； reverend Father； that her living or dying was just the same
to me。 But that is nothing to the purpose； To return to what I
was saying；） I took care of her funeral； had every thing
performed decently and properly； and put myself to expence
enough； God knows！ And how do you think the Lady repays me for
my kindness？ Why truly by refusing to sleep quietly in her
comfortable deal Coffin； as a peaceable well…disposed Spirit
ought to do； and coming to plague me； who never wish to set eyes
on her again。 Forsooth； it well becomes her to go racketing
about my House at midnight； popping into her Daughter's room
through the Keyhole； and frightening the poor Child out of her
wits！ Though She be a Ghost； She might be more civil than to
bolt into a Person's House； who likes her company so little。 But
as for me； reverend Father； the plain state of the case is this：
If She walks into my House； I must walk out of it； for I cannot
abide such Visitors； not I！ Thus you see； your Sanctity； that
without your assistance I am ruined and undone for ever。 I shall
be obliged to quit my House； Nobody will take it； when 'tis known
that She haunts it； and then I shall find myself in a fine
situation！ Miserable Woman that I am！ What shall I do！ What
will become of me！'
Here She wept bitterly； wrung her hands； and begged to know the
Abbot's opinion of her case。
'In truth； good Woman；' replied He； 'It will be difficult for me
to relieve you without knowing what is the matter with you。 You
have forgotten to tell me what has happened； and what it is you
want。'
'Let me die' cried Jacintha； 'but your Sanctity is in the right！
This then is the fact stated briefly。 A lodger of mine is lately
dead； a very good sort of Woman that I must needs say for her as
far as my knowledge of her went； though that was not a great way：
She kept me too much at a distance； for indeed She was given to
be upon the high ropes； and whenever I ventured to speak to her；
She had a look with her which always made me feel a little
queerish； God forgive me for saying so。 However； though She was
more stately than needful； and affected to look down upon me
（Though if I am well informed； I come of as good Parents as She
could do for her ears； for her Father was a Shoe…maker at
Cordova； and Mine was an Hatter at Madrid； aye； and a very
creditable Hatter too； let me tell you；） Yet for all her pride；
She was a quiet well…behaved Body； and I never wish to have a
better Lodger。 This makes me wonder the more at her not sleeping
quietly in her Grave： But there is no trusting to people in this
world！ For my part； I never saw her do amiss； except on the
Friday before her death。 To be sure； I was then much scandalized
by seeing her eat the wing of a Chicken！ ''How； Madona Flora！''
quoth I； （Flora； may it please your Reverence； is the name of the
waiting Maid）''How； Madona Flora！'' quoth I； ''Does your
Mistress eat flesh upon Fridays？ Well！ Well！ See the event；
and then remember that Dame Jacintha warned you of it！'' These
were my very words； but Alas！ I might as well have held my
tongue！ Nobody minded me； and Flora； who is somewhat pert and
snappish； （More is the pity； say I） told me that there was no
more harm in eating a Chicken than the egg from which it came。
Nay； She even declared that if her Lady added a slice of bacon；
She would not be an inch nearer Damnation； God protect us！ A
poor ignorant sinful soul！ I protest to your Holiness； I
trembled to hear her utter such blasphemies； and expected every
moment to see the ground open and swallow her up； Chicken and
all！ For you must know； worshipful Father； that while She talked
thus； She held the plate in her hand； on which lay the identical
roast Fowl。 And a fine Bird it was； that I must say for it！ Done
to a turn； for I superintended the cooking of it myself： It was
a little Gallician of my own raising； may it please your
Holiness； and the flesh was as white as an egg…shell； as indeed
Donna Elvira told me herself。 ''Dame Jacintha；'' said She； very
good…humouredly； though to say the truth； She was always very
polite to me 。 。 。 。 。'
Here Ambrosio's patience failed him。 Eager to know Jacintha's
business in which Antonia seemed to be concerned； He was almost
distracted while listening to the rambling of this prosing old
Woman。 He interrupted her； and protested that if She did not
immediately tell her story and have done with it； He should