and his monks, descend from the chapel in procession. Father
_Jeronymo_ enters hastily, and accosts the prior, who comes
forward; he starts at the information given him, and hastily
bestows his benediction on the monks, who go off.]

_Prior._ Father Michael, say you? he wishes to see father Michael?

_Jeronymo._ Wishes? nay, he insists upon seeing him.

_Prior._ What business can he have with father Michael? what connexion
can possibly subsist between them? how should it be even known to the
viceroy, that such a being as father Michael exists?

_Jer._ On these points I can give you no information-- yet now I
recollect, that this very morning I observed a friar, whose air greatly
resembled father Michael's loitering about the viceroy's palace.

_Prior._ Indeed! Jeronymo, I have long suspected this Michael to be a
false brother; there is an affectation of rigid principles about him--
of philosophical abstinence-- of reserve respecting his own conduct and
of vigilance respecting that of others, which make me look on him as a
dangerous inmate of our house. However, he has not yet encountered the
viceroy?

_Jer._ Fortunately, it was to me that count Benvolio expressed his wish
to see this friar. I promised to go in search of him, and instantly
commanded father Michael, in your name, not to presume till further
orders to set his foot beyond the precincts of his cell. I then
returned, to inform the viceroy, with pretended regret, that the person
whom he desired to see was not at that time to be found in the
monastery.

_Prior._ Good!

_Jer._ He appeared much disappointed, and announced his intention of
waiting the friar's return. I was compelled to promise, that as soon as
he should re-enter these walls, father Michael should be sent to him.

_Prior._ The viceroy then is still here?

_Jer._ He is: I left him in the garden parlour adjoining the refectory.

_Prior._ No matter: night approaches, and then he will be compelled to
withdraw. Yet that he should rather desire to see father Michael than
Venoni-- that, I own, appears to me unaccountable. I was prepared for
his endeavouring to obtain another sight of his friend, and using every
possible means to disgust him with the idea of renouncing the world for
ever. Secure of my influence over Venoni, absolute master of his
understanding, and feeling my own strength in the knowledge of his
weakness, I meant not to object to their interviews; and would have
su