e day before, and He returned in despair to the Marquis.
On his side, the Latter had spared no pains to discover what had
occasioned his plot to fail: Don Christoval, to whom the affair was
now entrusted, endeavoured to worm out the secret from the Old
Porteress of St. Clare, with whom He had formed an acquaintance; But
She was too much upon her guard, and He gained from her no
intelligence. The Marquis was almost distracted, and Lorenzo felt
scarcely less inquietude. Both were convinced that the purposed
elopement must have been discovered: They doubted not but the malady
of Agnes was a pretence, But they knew not by what means to rescue her
from the hands of the Prioress.

Regularly every day did Lorenzo visit the Convent: As regularly was He
informed that his Sister rather grew worse than better. Certain that
her indisposition was feigned, these accounts did not alarm him: But
his ignorance of her fate, and of the motives which induced the
Prioress to keep her from him, excited the most serious uneasiness. He
was still uncertain what steps He ought to take, when the Marquis
received a letter from the Cardinal-Duke of Lerma. It inclosed the
Pope's expected Bull, ordering that Agnes should be released from her
vows, and restored to her Relations. This essential paper decided at
once the proceedings of her Friends: They resolved that Lorenzo should
carry it to the Domina without delay, and demand that his Sister should
be instantly given up to him. Against this mandate illness could not
be pleaded: It gave her Brother the power of removing her instantly to
the Palace de Medina, and He determined to use that power on the
following day.

His mind relieved from inquietude respecting his Sister, and his
Spirits raised by the hope of soon restoring her to freedom, He now had
time to give a few moments to love and to Antonia. At the same hour as
on his former visit He repaired to Donna Elvira's: She had given
orders for his admission. As soon as He was announced, her Daughter
retired with Leonella, and when He entered the chamber, He found the
Lady of the House alone. She received him with less distance than
before, and desired him to place himself near her upon the Sopha. She
then without losing time opened her business, as had been agreed
between herself and Antonia.

'You must not think me ungrateful, Don Lorenzo, or forgetful how
essential are the services which you have rendered me with the Marquis.
I