But finding that her Mistress only recovered from one
fit to fall into another, She sent in all haste for a Physician. While
expecting his arrival, She undrest Antonia, and conveyed her to Bed.

Heedless of the storm, terrified almost out of her senses, Jacintha ran
through the Streets, and stopped not till She reached the Gate of the
Abbey. She rang loudly at the bell, and as soon as the Porter
appeared, She desired permission to speak to the Superior. Ambrosio
was then conferring with Matilda upon the means of procuring access to
Antonia. The cause of Elvira's death remaining unknown, He was
convinced that crimes were not so swiftly followed by punishment, as
his Instructors the Monks had taught him, and as till then He had
himself believed. This persuasion made him resolve upon Antonia's
ruin, for the enjoyment of whose person dangers and difficulties only
seemed to have increased his passion. The Monk had already made one
attempt to gain admission to her presence; But Flora had refused him in
such a manner as to convince him that all future endeavours must be
vain. Elvira had confided her suspicions to that trusty Servant: She
had desired her never to leave Ambrosio alone with her Daughter, and if
possible to prevent their meeting altogether. Flora promised to obey
her, and had executed her orders to the very letter. Ambrosio's visit
had been rejected that morning, though Antonia was ignorant of it. He
saw that to obtain a sight of his Mistress by open means was out of the
question; and both Himself and Matilda had consumed the night, in
endeavouring to invent some plan, whose event might be more successful.
Such was their employment, when a Lay-Brother entered the Abbot's Cell,
and informed him that a Woman calling herself Jacintha Zuniga requested
audience for a few minutes.

Ambrosio was by no means disposed to grant the petition of his Visitor.
He refused it positively, and bad the Lay-Brother tell the Stranger to
return the next day. Matilda interrupted him.

'See this Woman,' said She in a low voice; 'I have my reasons.'

The Abbot obeyed her, and signified that He would go to the Parlour
immediately. With this answer the Lay-Brother withdrew. As soon as
they were alone Ambrosio enquired why Matilda wished him to see this
Jacintha.

'She is Antonia's Hostess,' replied Matilda; 'She may possibly be of
use to you: but let us examine her, and learn what brings her hither.'

They proceeded tog