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declared himself sincerely penitent； and that He would gladly
shed a drop of his blood； for every tear which his barbarity had
forced from her。 Wretched and hopeless； Antonia listened to him
in silent grief： But when He announced her confinement in the
Sepulchre； that dreadful doom to which even death seemed
preferable roused her from her insensibility at once。 To linger
out a life of misery in a narrow loathsome Cell； known to exist
by no human Being save her Ravisher； surrounded by mouldering
Corses； breathing the pestilential air of corruption； never more
to behold the light； or drink the pure gale of heaven； the idea
was more terrible than She could support。 It conquered even her
abhorrence of the Friar。 Again She sank upon her knees： She
besought his compassion in terms the most pathetic and urgent。
She promised； would He but restore her to liberty； to conceal her
injuries from the world； to assign any reason for her
reappearance which He might judge proper； and in order to
prevent the least suspicion from falling upon him； She offered to
quit Madrid immediately。 Her entreaties were so urgent as to
make a considerable impression upon the Monk。 He reflected that
as her person no longer excited his desires； He had no interest
in keeping her concealed as He had at first intended； that He was
adding a fresh injury to those which She had already suffered；
and that if She adhered to her promises； whether She was confined
or at liberty； his life and reputation were equally secure。 On
the other hand； He trembled lest in her affliction Antonia should
unintentionally break her engagement； or that her excessive
simplicity and ignorance of deceit should permit some one more
artful to surprize her secret。 However well…founded were these
apprehensions； compassion； and a sincere wish to repair his fault
as much as possible solicited his complying with the prayers of
his Suppliant。 The difficulty of colouring Antonia's unexpected
return to life； after her supposed death and public interment；
was the only point which kept him irresolute。 He was still
pondering on the means of removing this obstacle； when He heard
the sound of feet approaching with precipitation。 The door of
the Vault was thrown open； and Matilda rushed in； evidently much
confused and terrified。
On seeing a Stranger enter； Antonia uttered a cry of joy： But
her hopes of receiving succour from him were soon dissipated。
The supposed Novice； without expressing the least surprize at
finding a Woman alone with the Monk； in so strange a place； and
at so late an hour； addressed him thus without losing a moment。
'What is to be done； Ambrosio？ We are lost； unless some speedy
means is found of dispelling the Rioters。 Ambrosio； the Convent
of St。 Clare is on fire； The Prioress has fallen a victim to the
fury of the Mob。 Already is the Abbey menaced with a similar
fate。 Alarmed at the threats of the People； the Monks seek for
you everywhere。 They imagine that your authority alone will
suffice to calm this disturbance。 No one knows what is become
of you； and your absence creates universal astonishment and
despair。 I profited by the confusion； and fled hither to warn
you of the danger。'
'This will soon be remedied；' answered the Abbot； 'I will hasten
back to my Cell： a trivial reason will account for my having
been missed。'
'Impossible！' rejoined Matilda： 'The Sepulchre is filled with
Archers。 Lorenzo de Medina； with several Officers of the
Inquisition； searches through the Vaults； and pervades every
passage。 You will be intercepted in your flight； Your reasons
for being at this late hour in the Sepulchre will be examined；
Antonia will be found； and then you are undone for ever！'
'Lorenzo de Medina？ Officers of the Inquisition？ What brings
them here？ Seek they for me？ Am I then suspected？ Oh！ speak；
Matilda！ Answer me； in pity！'
'As yet they do not think of you； but I fear that they will ere
long。 Your only chance of escaping their notice rests upon the
difficulty of exploring this Vault。 The door is artfully hidden：
Haply it may not be observed； and we may remain concealed till
the search is over。'
'But Antonia 。 。 。 。 。 Should the Inquisitors draw near； and her
cries be heard 。 。 。 。'
'Thus I remove that danger！' interrupted Matilda。
At the same time drawing a poignard； She rushed upon her devoted
prey。
'Hold！ Hold！' cried Ambrosio； seizing her hand； and wresting from
it the already lifted weapon。 'What would you do； cruel Woman？
The Unfortunate has already suffered but too much； thanks to your
pernicious consels！ Would to God that I had never followed them！
Would to God that I had never seen your face！'
Matilda darted upon him a look of scorn。
'Absurd！' She exclaimed with an air of passion and majesty which
impressed the Monk with awe。 'After robbing her of all that made
it dear； can you fear to deprive her of a life so miserable？ But
'tis well！ Let her live to convince you of your folly。 I
abandon you to your evil destiny！ I disclaim your alliance！ Who
trembles to commit so insignificant a crime； deserves not my
protection。 Hark！ Hark！ Ambrosio； Hear you not the Archers？
They come； and your destruction is inevitable！'
At this moment the Abbot heard the sound of distant voices。 He
flew to close the door on whose concealment his safety depended；
and which Matilda had neglected to fasten。 Ere He could reach
it； He saw Antonia glide suddenly by him； rush through the door；
and fly towards the noise with the swiftness of an arrow。 She
had listened attentively to Matilda： She heard Lorenzo's name
mentioned； and resolved to risque every thing to throw herself
under his protection。 The door was open。 The sounds convinced
her that the Archers could be at no great distance。 She
mustered up her little remaining strength； rushed by the Monk ere
He perceived her design； and bent her course rapidly towards the
voices。 As soon as He recovered from his first surprize； the
Abbot failed not to pursue her。 In vain did Antonia redouble her
speed； and stretch every nerve to the utmost。 Her Enemy gained
upon her every moment： She heard his steps close after her； and
felt the heat of his breath glow upon her neck。 He overtook
her； He twisted his hand in the ringlets of her streaming hair；
and attempted to drag her back with him to the dungeon。 Antonia
resisted with all her strength： She folded her arms round a
Pillar which supported the roof； and shrieked loudly for
assistance。 In vain did the Monk strive to threaten her to
silence。
'Help！' She continued to exclaim； 'Help！ Help！ for God's sake！'
Quickened by her cries； the sound of footsteps was heard
approaching。 The Abbot expected every moment to see the
Inquisitors arrive。 Antonia still resisted； and He now enforced
her silence by means the most horrible and inhuman。 He still
grasped Matilda's dagger： Without allowing himself a moment's
reflection； He raised it； and plunged it twice in the bosom of
Antonia！ She shrieked； and sank upon the ground。 The Monk
endeavoured to bear her away with him； but She still embraced the
Pillar firmly。 At that instant the light of approaching Torches
flashed upon the Walls。 Dreading a discovery； Ambrosio was
compelled to abandon his Victim； and hastily fled back to the
Vault； where He had left Matilda。
He fled not unobserved。 Don Ramirez happening to arrive the
first； perceived a Female bleeding upon the ground； and a Man
flying from the spot； whose confusion betrayed him for the
Murderer。 He instantly pursued the Fugitive with some part of
the Archers； while the Others remained with Lorenzo to protect
the wounded Stranger。 They raised her； and supported her in their
arms。 She had fainted from excess of pain； but soon gave signs
of returning life。 She opened her eyes； and on lifting up her
head； the quantity of fair hair fell back which till then had
obscured her features。
'God Almighty！ It is Antonia！'
Such was Lorenzo's exclamation； while He snatched her from the
Attendant's arms； and clasped her in his own。
Though aimed by an uncertain hand； the poignard had answered but
too well th