three days.'

'And can no possible remedy be found?' enquired Rosario.

'Without extracting the poison, He cannot recover; and how to extract
it is to me still a secret. All that I can do is to apply such herbs
to the wound as will relieve the anguish: The Patient will be restored
to his senses; But the venom will corrupt the whole mass of his blood,
and in three days He will exist no longer.'

Excessive was the universal grief at hearing this decision. Pablos, as
He had promised, dressed the wound, and then retired, followed by his
Companions: Rosario alone remained in the Cell, the Abbot at his
urgent entreaty having been committed to his care. Ambrosio's strength
worn out by the violence of his exertions, He had by this time fallen
into a profound sleep. So totally was He overcome by weariness, that
He scarcely gave any signs of life; He was still in this situation,
when the Monks returned to enquire whether any change had taken place.
Pablos loosened the bandage which concealed the wound, more from a
principle of curiosity than from indulging the hope of discovering any
favourable symptoms. What was his astonishment at finding, that the
inflammation had totally subsided! He probed the hand; His Lancet came
out pure and unsullied; No traces of the venom were perceptible; and
had not the orifice still been visible, Pablos might have doubted that
there had ever been a wound.

He communicated this intelligence to his Brethren; their delight was
only equalled by their surprize. From the latter sentiment, however,
they were soon released by explaining the circumstance according to
their own ideas: They were perfectly convinced that their Superior was
a Saint, and thought, that nothing could be more natural than for St.
Francis to have operated a miracle in his favour. This opinion was
adopted unanimously: They declared it so loudly, and vociferated,--'A
miracle! a miracle!'--with such fervour, that they soon interrupted
Ambrosio's slumbers.

The Monks immediately crowded round his Bed, and expressed their
satisfaction at his wonderful recovery. He was perfectly in his
senses, and free from every complaint except feeling weak and languid.
Pablos gave him a strengthening medicine, and advised his keeping his
bed for the two succeeding days: He then retired, having desired his
Patient not to exhaust himself by conversation, but rather to endeavour
at taking some repose. The other Monks followed his example