ting in your case than
absolution." I waited some time before I again spoke, during which she
sobbed bitterly. "My daughter," observed I, "before I can decide upon
what is to be done to save you from everlasting perdition, it is
necessary that you humble yourself before the religious man, whose
person you have abused. Send to the convent to which he belongs, and
entreat him to come; and when you have confessed your crime, offer to
him the same implements of punishment, which through your instigation
were so sacrilegiously applied. Submit to his sentence, and the penance
which he may prescribe. When you have done that, repair again to me. I
shall be in this chair the day after to-morrow."

The girl muffled up her face, waited a few minutes to compose herself,
and then returned to her mother, who wondered what could have detained
her so long.

That evening, I received a note from Donna Sophia, requesting me to call
on the ensuing day. I found her in her room, she had been weeping
bitterly, and when I entered coloured up with shame and vexation; but
she had been too much frightened on the day before, to resist the
injunctions which she had received: a large bundle of nettles lay on the
chair; and when I entered she turned the key of the door, and falling
down on her knees, with many tears made a full confession. I expressed
the utmost horror and surprise; she embraced my knees, implored my
pardon, and then, pointing to the nettles, requested I would use them if
I thought proper. Having said this, she covered her face with her hands,
and remained on her knees in silence.

I must confess, that when I called to mind the punishment which had been
inflicted on me through her means, and the manner in which she had
attempted to betray me to my death, I felt very much inclined to revenge
myself by scourging her severely; but although the affection I once felt
for her had passed away, I had a natural tenderness for the sex, which
made me abandon this petty revenge. My object was to remove her, so that
I might not be recognised in my worldly attire; and she, I knew, was the
only person who could prove that I had killed her lover. I therefore
raised her up, and telling her that I was satisfied with her
repentance, and, as far as I was personally concerned, forgave her
ill-treatment, desired her to repair to her confessor, who was the
proper person to award a punishment for such a catalogue of heinous
crimes. The next day I was in