ing committed
Raymond to the care of the best Physicians in Madrid, He quitted the
Hotel de las Cisternas, and bent his course towards the Palace of the
Cardinal-Duke.

His disappointment was excessive, when He found that affairs of State
had obliged the Cardinal to set out for a distant Province.

It wanted but five to Friday: Yet by travelling day and night, He
hoped to return in time for the Pilgrimage of St. Clare. In this He
succeeded. He found the Cardinal-Duke; and represented to him the
supposed culpability of the Prioress, as also the violent effects which
it had produced upon Don Raymond. He could have used no argument so
forcible as this last. Of all his Nephews, the Marquis was the only
one to whom the Cardinal-Duke was sincerely attached: He perfectly
doated upon him, and the Prioress could have committed no greater crime
in his eyes than to have endangered the life of the Marquis.
Consequently, He granted the order of arrest without difficulty: He
also gave Lorenzo a letter to a principal Officer of the Inquisition,
desiring him to see his mandate executed. Furnished with these papers,
Medina hastened back to Madrid, which He reached on the Friday a few
hours before dark. He found the Marquis somewhat easier, but so weak
and exhausted that without great exertion He could neither speak or
more. Having past an hour by his Bedside, Lorenzo left him to
communicate his design to his Uncle, as also to give Don Ramirez de
Mello the Cardinal's letter. The First was petrified with horror when
He learnt the fate of his unhappy Niece: He encouraged Lorenzo to
punish her Assassins, and engaged to accompany him at night to St.
Clare's Convent. Don Ramirez promised his firmest support, and
selected a band of trusty Archers to prevent opposition on the part of
the Populace.

But while Lorenzo was anxious to unmask one religious Hypocrite, He was
unconscious of the sorrows prepared for him by Another. Aided by
Matilda's infernal Agents, Ambrosio had resolved upon the innocent
Antonia's ruin. The moment destined to be so fatal to her arrived.
She had taken leave of her Mother for the night.

As She kissed her, She felt an unusual despondency infuse itself into
her bosom. She left her, and returned to her instantly, threw herself
into her maternal arms, and bathed her cheek with tears: She felt
uneasy at quitting her, and a secret presentiment assured her that
never must they meet again. Elvira observed