est brown, curled in
natural ringlets: and his clothes were remarkably well-fitted to his
slender and graceful figure. He was a cousin, who had just returned
from Carthagena; and as he was remarkably attentive, I soon perceived
that all my advances had been thrown away, and that I was more and more
in the background each morning that I made my appearance.

Annoyed at this, I ventured to speak too freely; and during his absence
calumniated him to the Donna Sophia, hoping by these means to regain my
place in her affections; but I made a sad mistake: for not only were my
services dispensed with for the future, but, as I afterwards discovered,
she stated to her cousin the grounds upon which I had been dismissed.

I returned to the convent in no pleasant mood, when I was informed that
my presence had been demanded by the superior. I repaired to the
parlour, where he stated that my licentious conduct had come to his
ears; and after much upbraiding, he concluded by ordering me to submit
to a severe penance. Aware that disobedience would only be followed up
by greater severity, I bowed with humility in my mien, but indignation
in my breast; and returning to my cell, resolved upon immediately
writing for my removal to Madrid. I had not been there many minutes
when the porter brought me a note. It was from Donna Sophia, requesting
to see me that evening, and apologising for her apparent ill-usage,
which she had only assumed the better to conceal her intentions; being
afraid, at our last interview, that her mother was within hearing.

I was in raptures when I perused the note, and hastened to comply with
her request. Her directions were to repair to the back door, which
looked out upon some fields, and give three taps. I arrived, and as
soon as I raised my hand to give the signal, was seized by four men in
masks, who gagged and bound me. They then stripped off my friar's
dress, and scourged me with nettles, until I was almost frantic with the
pain. When their vengeance was satisfied, they cast me loose, removed
the gag, and ran away. As I then suspected, and afterwards discovered
to be true, I was indebted to the young officer for this treatment, in
return for what I had said, and which his mistress had repeated.
Smarting with pain, and boiling with rage, I dragged on my clothes as
well as I could, and began to reflect in what manner I should act.
Conceal my situation from the other members of the convent I could not;