mity of her conduct fully before her, and
told her that he could not afford her absolution, because she was
married to one who held heretical notions, unless she could manage to
get him duly punished. She had made her confession; but, after all, she
had to go home without receiving absolution. She had observed that her
husband was away from home occasionally for some hours, and not engaged
in business; also, he occasionally remained out at night for a
considerable time, and declined telling her where he had been. She had
made a statement to that effect to the priest, together with her
suspicions that Lutheranism had something to do with the matter.

"Then obtain all the information you can; and if you discover anything
of importance, not only shall you receive absolution for all your yet
unpardoned sins, but you shall receive a handsome reward, and a plenary
indulgence for the future," answered the confessor. "Exert your woman's
wit. Think of the indulgence you will obtain, and if your husband is,
as you suspect, a heretic, he is utterly unworthy of your consideration.
You cannot wish to associate with him in this world; and in the next,
if you go to heaven, you must be ever separated from him."

Thus exhorted, the wretched Maria returned to her home. She knew that
her husband had a secret, and she resolved to discover it. If he should
prove to be a Lutheran, it would be a pious act for her to deliver him
up to justice. She procured a mantilla, such as is worn occasionally by
tradesmen's wives, and even ladies when going to confession, of a
manufacture different from that which her husband was accustomed to see
her wear. To throw him off his guard, she lavished on him far more
affection than was her custom, and pretended to forget that she had ever
complained of his leaving home without telling her where he was going.
More than once she put on her mantilla to follow him, but before he had
got far she lost sight of him in the crowd. At length, one evening,
when the weather was rainy, and there were fewer people abroad than
usual, she saw he was preparing to go out; and managing to leave the
house before him, she concealed herself within an archway, whence she
could watch which way he went. He came out; she followed him
stealthily, but quickly. He called at several houses, she noted them
carefully; then he went on till he came to the mansion of the Cazalla
family. He was admitted at a side door. She took up