the confessional, when she narrated all
that had passed: I then told her she had nothing to do, but to
propitiate Heaven by dedicating her musical talents to its service;
pointing out, that her only chance of salvation was from immediately
taking the veil. I refused to listen to any other species of penance,
however severe, for which she gladly would have compromised the
sentence. Goaded by her conscience, miserable at the desertion and death
of her lover, and alarmed at the threats of excommunication, in less
than a week she repaired to the Ursuline Convent; and, after a short
probation, she took the veil, and was admitted as one of the sisterhood.

As soon as my only accuser was fairly locked up, I occasionally resumed
my dress and wig. I say occasionally, because in the society which I
chiefly delighted in, and in which I became the connoisseur of good
wine, that I asserted myself to be, when your highness overheard me, I
had no occasion for it, being quite as well received when I sang and
played the guitar in my monkish dress, as I should have been in my
other. Besides which, I never had to pay when in that costume, as I was
obliged to do when I sported the other; which was only put on when I
wished to make myself agreeable to any fair one. I hardly need observe,
that I took great care to avoid the society in the one dress with which
I mixed in the other. This disguise I continued very successfully for
three years, when a circumstance occurred, which ended in my discovery,
and my eventually becoming a slave in your highness's dominions.

For some time I had taught the niece of an elderly lady, who was of
noble family and very rich. The aunt was always present at the lessons;
and, knowing that she was very devout, I rejected all songs that were of
an amorous tendency, and would only practise such as were unimpeachable.
In my demeanour I was always sedate and respectful--full of humility
and self-accusation. When I received my money from the old lady, I used
to thank her in the name of our convent, for whose use it was to be
appropriated, and call her donation a charity, for which Heaven would
reward her. Her confessor died, and the old lady chose me to supply his
place. This was what I was anxious to obtain, and I redoubled my zeal,
my humility, and my flattery.

It was not that I had originally any design upon the affections of the
niece, although she was a very pretty girl, but upon the old lady's
purse, for I kn