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to quit them； till He had seen each of them safe in the arms of
her Relations： But He advised their deferring to quit the
Sepulchre for some time longer； when the popular fury should be
somewhat calmed； and the arrival of military force have dispersed
the multitude。
'Would to God！' cried Virginia； 'That I were already safe in my
Mother's embraces！ How say you； Segnor； Will it be long； ere we
may leave this place？ Every moment that I pass here； I pass in
torture！'
'I hope； not long；' said He； 'But till you can proceed with
security； this Sepulchre will prove an impenetrable asylum。 Here
you run no risque of a discovery； and I would advise your
remaining quiet for the next two or three hours。'
'Two or three hours？' exclaimed Sister Helena； 'If I stay another
hour in these vaults； I shall expire with fear！ Not the wealth
of worlds should bribe me to undergo again what I have suffered
since my coming hither。 Blessed Virgin！ To be in this melancholy
place in the middle of night； surrounded by the mouldering bodies
of my deceased Companions； and expecting every moment to be torn
in pieces by their Ghosts who wander about me； and complain； and
groan； and wail in accents that make my blood run cold； 。 。 。 。 。
。 Christ Jesus！ It is enough to drive me to madness！'
'Excuse me；' replied Lorenzo； 'if I am surprized that while
menaced by real woes you are capable of yielding to imaginary
dangers。 These terrors are puerile and groundless： Combat them；
holy Sister； I have promised to guard you from the Rioters； but
against the attacks of superstition you must depend for
protection upon yourself。 The idea of Ghosts is ridiculous in the
extreme； And if you continue to be swayed by ideal terrors 。 。 。
。 。 。'
'Ideal？' exclaimed the Nuns with one voice； 'Why we heard it
ourselves； Segnor！ Every one of us heard it！ It was frequently
repeated； and it sounded every time more melancholy and deep。
You will never persuade me that we could all have been deceived。
Not we； indeed； No； no； Had the noise been merely created by
fancy 。 。 。 。'
'Hark！ Hark！' interrupted Virginia in a voice of terror； 'God
preserve us！ There it is again！'
The Nuns clasped their hands together； and sank upon their knees。
Lorenzo looked round him eagerly； and was on the point of
yielding to the fears which already had possessed the Women。
Universal silence prevailed。 He examined the Vault； but nothing
was to be seen。 He now prepared to address the Nuns； and
ridicule their childish apprehensions； when his attention was
arrested by a deep and long…drawn groan。
'What was that？' He cried； and started。
'There； Segnor！' said Helena； 'Now you must be convinced！ You
have heard the noise yourself！ Now judge； whether our terrors
are imaginary。 Since we have been here； that groaning has been
repeated almost every five minutes。 Doubtless； it proceeds from
some Soul in pain； who wishes to be prayed out of purgatory： But
none of us here dares ask it the question。 As for me； were I to
see an Apparition； the fright； I am very certain； would kill me
out of hand。'
As She said this； a second groan was heard yet more distinctly。
The Nuns crossed themselves； and hastened to repeat their prayers
against evil Spirits。 Lorenzo listened attentively。 He even
thought that He could distinguish sounds； as of one speaking in
complaint； But distance rendered them inarticulate。 The noise
seemed to come from the midst of the small Vault in which He and
the Nuns then were； and which a multitude of passages branching
out in various directions； formed into a sort of Star。 Lorenzo's
curiosity which was ever awake； made him anxious to solve this
mystery。 He desired that silence might be kept。 The Nuns obeyed
him。 All was hushed； till the general stillness was again
disturbed by the groaning； which was repeated several times
successively。 He perceived it to be most audible； when upon
following the sound He was conducted close to the shrine of St。
Clare；
'The noise comes from hence；' said He； 'Whose is this Statue？'
Helena； to whom He addressed the question； paused for a moment。
Suddenly She clapped her hands together。
'Aye！' cried She； 'it must be so。 I have discovered the meaning
of these groans。'
The Nuns crowded round her； and besought her eagerly to explain
herself。 She gravely replied that for time immemorial the
Statue had been famous for performing miracles： From this She
inferred that the Saint was concerned at the conflagration of a
Convent which She protected； and expressed her grief by audible
lamentations。 Not having equal faith in the miraculous Saint；
Lorenzo did not think this solution of the mystery quite so
satisfactory； as the Nuns； who subscribed to it without
hesitation。 In one point； 'tis true； that He agreed with Helena。
He suspected that the groans proceeded from the Statue： The more
He listened； the more was He confirmed in this idea。 He drew
nearer to the Image； designing to inspect it more closely： But
perceiving his intention； the Nuns besought him for God's sake to
desist； since if He touched the Statue； his death was inevitable。
'And in what consists the danger？' said He。
'Mother of God！ In what？' replied Helena； ever eager to relate a
miraculous adventure； 'If you had only heard the hundredth part
of those marvellous Stories about this Statue which the Domina
used to recount！ She assured us often and often； that if we only
dared to lay a finger upon it； we might expect the most fatal
consequences。 Among other things She told us that a Robber
having entered these Vaults by night； He observed yonder Ruby；
whose value is inestimable。 Do you see it； Segnor？ It sparkles
upon the third finger of the hand； in which She holds a crown of
Thorns。 This Jewel naturally excited the Villain's cupidity。 He
resolved to make himself Master of it。 For this purpose He
ascended the Pedestal： He supported himself by grasping the
Saint's right arm； and extended his own towards the Ring。 What
was his surprize； when He saw the Statue's hand raised in a
posture of menace； and heard her lips pronounce his eternal
perdition！ Penetrated with awe and consternation； He desisted
from his attempt； and prepared to quit the Sepulchre。 In this He
also failed。 Flight was denied him。 He found it impossible to
disengage the hand； which rested upon the right arm of the
Statue。 In vain did He struggle： He remained fixed to the
Image； till the insupportable and fiery anguish which darted
itself through his veins； compelled his shrieking for assistance。
The Sepulchre was now filled with Spectators。 The Villain
confessed his sacrilege； and was only released by the separation
of his hand from his body。 It has remained ever since fastened
to the Image。 The Robber turned Hermit； and led ever after an
exemplary life： But yet the Saint's decree was performed； and
Tradition says that He continues to haunt this Sepulchre； and
implore St。 Clare's pardon with groans and lamentations。 Now I
think of it； those which we have just heard； may very possibly
have been uttered by the Ghost of this Sinner： But of this I will
not be positive。 All that I can say is； that since that time no
one has ever dared to touch the Statue： Then do not be
foolhardy； good Segnor！ For the love of heaven； give up your
design； nor expose yourself unnecessarily to certain
destruction。'
Not being convinced that his destruction would be so certain as
Helena seemed to think it； Lorenzo persisted in his resolution。
The Nuns besought him to desist in piteous terms； and even
pointed out the Robber's hand； which in effect was still visible
upon the arm of the Statue。 This proof； as they imagined； must
convince him。 It was very far from doing so； and they were
greatly scandalized when he declared his suspicion that the
dried and shrivelled fingers had been placed there by order of
the Prioress。 In spite of their prayers and threats He
approached the Statue。 He sprang over the iron Rails which
defended it； and the Saint underwent a thorough examination。
The Image at first appeared to be of Stone； but proved on further
inspection to be formed o