was no recall
or explanation allowed. We met by agreement, alone, in the very field
where I had received my chastisement; I brought with me my monastic
habit and tonsure, which I concealed before his arrival among the very
nettles which he had gathered for my chastisement. The conflict was not
long: after a few thrusts and parries, he lay dying at my feet. I
immediately threw over my dress that of the friar, and exchanging the
wig for the tonsure, stood by him. He opened his eyes, which had closed
from the fainting, occasioned by the sudden gush from his wound, and
looked at me with amazement.

"Yes, Don Lopez," said I, "in Don Pedro behold the Friar Anselmo; he
whom you scourged with nettles; he who has revenged the insult." I then
threw off the monk's dress, and exposed to him the other beneath it, and
changing my tonsure for the wig, "now you are convinced of the truth,"
added I, "and now I have my revenge."

"I am, I am," replied he faintly; "but if you have slain me as Don
Pedro, now that I am dying, I entreat you, as brother Anselmo, to give
me absolution. Carry not your revenge so far as to deny me this."

I could not refuse; and I gave absolution in the one costume, to the man
who had fallen by my hand in the other: for my own part, I thought it
was an absurdity, but my revenge was satisfied, and I would not refuse
him such a poor consolation.

A few minutes afterwards he expired, and I hastened to my lodgings,
changed my dress, and repaired to the convent, where, as Don Pedro I
wrote to Donna Sophia, informing her of what had taken place, and of my
having absconded until the hue and cry should be over. For three weeks I
remained in the convent, or only appeared abroad as the Friar Anselmo. I
brought a considerable sum to the superior for the use of the church,
partly to satisfy the qualms of conscience which assailed me for the
crime which I had committed; partly that I might continue in his good
graces.

At the expiration of the time I sent a note to the young lady, as from
Don Pedro, acquainting her with my return, and my intention to call upon
her in the dusk of the evening. I went to my lodgings, dressed myself as
Don Pedro, and tapping at her door, was admitted; but instead of being
cordially greeted, as I expected, I was repulsed, loaded with abuse, and
declared an object of detestation. It appeared that, although in her
rage at the desertion of her lover, she had listened to the dictates of
revenge