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the pictures； destroyed the reliques； and in their hatred of her
Servant forgot all respect to the Saint。 Some employed
themselves in searching out the Nuns； Others in pulling down
parts of the Convent； and Others again in setting fire to the
pictures and valuable furniture which it contained。 These
Latter produced the most decisive desolation： Indeed the
consequences of their action were more sudden than themselves
had expected or wished。 The Flames rising from the burning piles
caught part of the Building； which being old and dry； the
conflagration spread with rapidity from room to room。 The Walls
were soon shaken by the devouring element： The Columns gave way：
The Roofs came tumbling down upon the Rioters； and crushed many
of them beneath their weight。 Nothing was to be heard but
shrieks and groans； The Convent was wrapped in flames； and the
whole presented a scene of devastation and horror。
Lorenzo was shocked at having been the cause； however innocent；
of this frightful disturbance： He endeavoured to repair his
fault by protecting the helpless Inhabitants of the Convent。 He
entered it with the Mob； and exerted himself to repress the
prevailing Fury； till the sudden and alarming progress of the
flames compelled him to provide for his own safety。 The People
now hurried out； as eagerly as they had before thronged in； But
their numbers clogging up the doorway； and the fire gaining upon
them rapidly； many of them perished ere they had time to effect
their escape。 Lorenzo's good fortune directed him to a small
door in a farther Aisle of the Chapel。 The bolt was already
undrawn： He opened the door； and found himself at the foot of
St。 Clare's Sepulchre。
Here He stopped to breathe。 The Duke and some of his Attendants
had followed him； and thus were in security for the present。
They now consulted； what steps they should take to escape from
this scene of disturbance： But their deliberations were
considerably interrupted by the sight of volumes of fire rising
from amidst the Convent's massy walls； by the noise of some heavy
Arch tumbling down in ruins； or by the mingled shrieks of the
Nuns and Rioters； either suffocating in the press； perishing in
the flames； or crushed beneath the weight of the falling Mansion。
Lorenzo enquired； whither the Wicket led？ He was answered； to
the Garden of the Capuchins； and it was resolved to explore an
outlet upon that side。 Accordingly the Duke raised the Latch；
and passed into the adjoining Cemetery。 The Attendants followed
without ceremony。 Lorenzo； being the last； was also on the point
of quitting the Colonnade； when He saw the door of the Sepulchre
opened softly。 Someone looked out； but on perceiving Strangers
uttered a loud shriek； started back again； and flew down the
marble Stairs。
'What can this mean？' cried Lorenzo； 'Here is some mystery
concealed。 Follow me without delay！'
Thus saying； He hastened into the Sepulchre； and pursued the
person who continued to fly before him。 The Duke knew not the
cause of his exclamation； but supposing that He had good reasons
for it； he followed him without hesitation。 The Others did the
same； and the whole Party soon arrived at the foot of the Stairs。
The upper door having been left open； the neighbouring flames
darted from above a sufficient light to enable Lorenzo's catching
a glance of the Fugitive running through the long passages and
distant Vaults： But when a sudden turn deprived him of this
assistance； total darkness succeeded； and He could only trace the
object of his enquiry by the faint echo of retiring feet。 The
Pursuers were now compelled to proceed with caution： As well as
they could judge； the Fugitive also seemed to slacken pace； for
they heard the steps follow each other at longer intervals。 They
at length were bewildered by the Labyrinth of passages； and
dispersed in various directions。 Carried away by his eagerness
to clear up this mystery； and to penetrate into which He was
impelled by a movement secret and unaccountable； Lorenzo heeded
not this circumstance till He found himself in total solitude。
The noise of footsteps had ceased。 All was silent around； and
no clue offered itself to guide him to the flying Person。 He
stopped to reflect on the means most likely to aid his pursuit。
He was persuaded that no common cause would have induced the
Fugitive to seek that dreary place at an hour so unusual： The
cry which He had heard； seemed uttered in a voice of terror； and
He was convinced that some mystery was attached to this event。
After some minutes past in hesitation He continued to proceed；
feeling his way along the walls of the passage。 He had already
past some time in this slow progress； when He descried a spark of
light glimmering at a distance。 Guided by this observation； and
having drawn his sword； He bent his steps towards the place；
whence the beam seemed to be emitted。
It proceeded from the Lamp which flamed before St。 Clare's
Statue。 Before it stood several Females； their white Garments
streaming in the blast； as it howled along the vaulted dungeons。
Curious to know what had brought them together in this melancholy
spot； Lorenzo drew near with precaution。 The Strangers seemed
earnestly engaged in conversation。 They heard not Lorenzo's
steps； and He approached unobserved； till He could hear their
voices distinctly。
'I protest；' continued She who was speaking when He arrived； and
to whom the rest were listening with great attention； 'I protest；
that I saw them with my own eyes。 I flew down the steps； They
pursued me； and I escaped falling into their hands with
difficulty。 Had it not been for the Lamp； I should never have
found you。'
'And what could bring them hither？' said another in a trembling
voice； 'Do you think that they were looking for us？'
'God grant that my fears may be false；' rejoined the First； 'But
I doubt they are Murderers！ If they discover us； we are lost！
As for me； my fate is certain： My affinity to the Prioress will
be a sufficient crime to condemn me； and though till now these
Vaults have afforded me a retreat。 。 。 。 。 。 。'
Here looking up； her eye fell upon Lorenzo； who had continued to
approach softly。
'The Murderers！' She cried
She started away from the Statue's Pedestal on which She had been
seated； and attempted to escape by flight。 Her Companions at the
same moment uttered a terrified scream； while Lorenzo arrested
the Fugitive by the arm。 Frightened and desperate She sank upon
her knees before him。
'Spare me！' She exclaimed； 'For Christ's sake； spare me！ I am
innocent； indeed； I am！'
While She spoke； her voice was almost choaked with fear。 The
beams of the Lamp darting full upon her face which was unveiled；
Lorenzo recognized the beautiful Virginia de Villa…Franca。 He
hastened to raise her from the ground； and besought her to take
courage。 He promised to protect her from the Rioters； assured
her that her retreat was still a secret； and that She might
depend upon his readiness to defend her to the last drop of his
blood。 During this conversation； the Nuns had thrown themselves
into various attitudes： One knelt； and addressed herself to
heaven； Another hid her face in the lap of her Neighbour； Some
listened motionless with fear to the discourse of the supposed
Assassin； while Others embraced the Statue of St。 Clare； and
implored her protection with frantic cries。 On perceiving their
mistake； they crowded round Lorenzo and heaped benedictions on
him by dozens。 He found that； on hearing the threats of the Mob；
and terrified by the cruelties which from the Convent Towers
they had seen inflicted on the Superior； many of the Pensioners
and Nuns had taken refuge in the Sepulchre。 Among the former was
to be reckoned the lovely Virginia。 Nearly related to the
Prioress； She had more reason than the rest to dread the Rioters；
and now besought Lorenzo earnestly not to abandon her to their
rage。 Her Companions； most of whom were Women of noble family；
made the same request； which He readily granted。 He promised not
to quit them； till He had seen each of them safe in the arms of
her Relations： But He advised