lready; Lights were called for, and Flora was compelled to
descend for them herself. However, as She left a third Person in the
room, and expected to be absent but a few minutes, She believed that
She risqued nothing in quitting her post. No sooner had She left the
room, than Ambrosio moved towards the Table, on which stood Antonia's
medicine: It was placed in a recess of the window. The Physician
seated in an armed-chair, and employed in questioning his Patient, paid
no attention to the proceedings of the Monk. Ambrosio seized the
opportunity: He drew out the fatal Phial, and let a few drops fall
into the medicine. He then hastily left the Table, and returned to the
seat which He had quitted. When Flora made her appearance with lights,
every thing seemed to be exactly as She had left it.

The Physician declared that Antonia might quit her chamber the next day
with perfect safety. He recommended her following the same
prescription which, on the night before, had procured her a refreshing
sleep: Flora replied that the draught stood ready upon the Table: He
advised the Patient to take it without delay, and then retired. Flora
poured the medicine into a Cup and presented it to her Mistress. At
that moment Ambrosio's courage failed him. Might not Matilda have
deceived him? Might not Jealousy have persuaded her to destroy her
Rival, and substitute poison in the room of an opiate? This idea
appeared so reasonable that He was on the point of preventing her from
swallowing the medicine. His resolution was adopted too late: The Cup
was already emptied, and Antonia restored it into Flora's hands. No
remedy was now to be found: Ambrosio could only expect the moment
impatiently, destined to decide upon Antonia's life or death, upon his
own happiness or despair.

Dreading to create suspicion by his stay, or betray himself by his
mind's agitation, He took leave of his Victim, and withdrew from the
room. Antonia parted from him with less cordiality than on the former
night. Flora had represented to her Mistress that to admit his visits
was to disobey her Mother's orders: She described to her his emotion
on entering the room, and the fire which sparkled in his eyes while He
gazed upon her. This had escaped Antonia's observation, but not her
Attendant's; Who explaining the Monk's designs and their probable
consequences in terms much clearer than Elvira's, though not quite so
delicate, had succeeded in alarming her