e
surmises. I generally devoted four days out of the seven in the week to
the convent and to my professional occupation as music-master. To
increase the difficulty of identification, I became more serious in my
manner, more dirty in my person, as the brother Anselmo. I pretended to
have imbibed a fancy for snuff, with which I soiled my face and monastic
attire, and seldom if ever spoke, or if I did, in a very solemn voice.
So far from suspicion, I every day gained more and more the good will of
the superior. My absence in the day-time was not noticed, as it was
known that I gave lessons in music, and my irregularity during the night
was a secret between the porter and myself.

I hardly need observe that, as Don Pedro, I always lamented not having
been gifted with a voice, and have even in the presence of my
companions, sent a billet to brother Anselmo to serenade a lady whom I
courted as Don Pedro. I do not believe until ulterior circumstances,
that there was ever in the mind of any the slightest idea that, under my
dissimilar habits, I was one and the same person.

But to continue: one day the young officer, whose name was Don Lopez,
informed me that he did not know how to act; he was so pestered with the
jealousy and reproaches of his mistress; and requested my advice as to
how to proceed. I laughed at his dilemma. "My dear Lopez," replied I,
"introduce me to her, and depend upon it, that she will give you no more
trouble. I will make love to her, and, pleased with her new conquest,
she will soon forget you."

"My good fellow," replied he, "your advice is excellent: will you come
with me this afternoon?"

Once more I was in the presence of her whom I had loved, but loved no
more, for I now only felt and lived for revenge. She had not the most
distant recognition of me. Piqued as she was with Don Lopez, and
fascinated with my exertions to please, I soon gained an interest; but
she still loved him, between the paroxysms of her hate. Trying all she
could to recover him at one moment, and listening to my attentions at
another, he at last accused her of perfidy, and took his leave for ever.
Then her violence broke out, and as a proof of my attachment, she
demanded that I should call him to account. I wished no better, and
pretending to be so violently attached to her that I was infatuated, I
took an occasion of his laughing at me, to give him the lie, and demand
satisfaction. As it was in the presence of others, there