volume01-第6章

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e　Lorenzo　wish　to　discover　what　He　was　about。

Our　Hero　was　conscious　that　He　had　no　right　to　pry　into　the　secrets　of　this　unknown　Cavalier。

'I　will　go；'　said　Lorenzo。　　And　Lorenzo　stayed；　where　He　was。

The　shadow　thrown　by　the　Column；　effectually　concealed　him　from　the　Stranger；　who　continued　to　advance　with　caution。　　At　length　He　drew　a　letter　from　beneath　his　cloak；　and　hastily　placed　it　beneath　a　Colossal　Statue　of　St。　Francis。　　Then　retiring　with　precipitation；　He　concealed　himself　in　a　part　of　the　Church　at　a　considerable　distance　from　that　in　which　the　Image　stood。

'So！'　said　Lorenzo　to　himself；　'This　is　only　some　foolish　love　affair。　　I　believe；　I　may　as　well　be　gone；　for　I　can　do　no　good　in　it。'

In　truth　till　that　moment　it　never　came　into　his　head　that　He　could　do　any　good　in　it；　But　He　thought　it　necessary　to　make　some　little　excuse　to　himself　for　having　indulged　his　curiosity。　　He　now　made　a　second　attempt　to　retire　from　the　Church：　　For　this　time　He　gained　the　Porch　without　meeting　with　any　impediment；　But　it　was　destined　that　He　should　pay　it　another　visit　that　night。　As　He　descended　the　steps　leading　into　the　Street；　a　Cavalier　rushed　against　him　with　such　violence；　that　Both　were　nearly　overturned　by　the　concussion。　　Lorenzo　put　his　hand　to　his　sword。

'How　now；　Segnor？'　said　He；　'What　mean　you　by　this　rudeness？'

'Ha！　　Is　it　you；　Medina？'　replied　the　Newcomer；　whom　Lorenzo　by　his　voice　now　recognized　for　Don　Christoval；　'You　are　the　luckiest　Fellow　in　the　Universe；　not　to　have　left　the　Church　before　my　return。　　In；　in！　my　dear　Lad！　　They　will　be　here　immediately！'

'Who　will　be　here？'

'The　old　Hen　and　all　her　pretty　little　Chickens！　　In；　I　say；　and　then　you　shall　know　the　whole　History。'

Lorenzo　followed　him　into　the　Cathedral；　and　they　concealed　themselves　behind　the　Statue　of　St。　Francis。

'And　now；'　said　our　Hero；　'may　I　take　the　liberty　of　asking；　what　is　the　meaning　of　all　this　haste　and　rapture？'

'Oh！　Lorenzo；　we　shall　see　such　a　glorious　sight！　　The　Prioress　of　St。　Clare　and　her　whole　train　of　Nuns　are　coming　hither。　　You　are　to　know；　that　the　pious　Father　Ambrosio　（The　Lord　reward　him　for　it！）　will　upon　no　account　move　out　of　his　own　precincts：　　It　being　absolutely　necessary　for　every　fashionable　Convent　to　have　him　for　its　Confessor；　the　Nuns　are　in　consequence　obliged　to　visit　him　at　the　Abbey；　since　when　the　Mountain　will　not　come　to　Mahomet；　Mahomet　must　needs　go　to　the　Mountain。　　Now　the　Prioress　of　St。　Clare；　the　better　to　escape　the　gaze　of　such　impure　eyes　as　belong　to　yourself　and　your　humble　Servant；　thinks　proper　to　bring　her　holy　flock　to　confession　in　the　Dusk：　She　is　to　be　admitted　into　the　Abbey　Chapel　by　yon　private　door。　　The　Porteress　of　St。　Clare；　who　is　a　worthy　old　Soul　and　a　particular　Friend　of　mine；　has　just　assured　me　of　their　being　here　in　a　few　moments。　　There　is　news　for　you；　you　Rogue！　　We　shall　see　some　of　the　prettiest　faces　in　Madrid！'

'In　truth；　Christoval；　we　shall　do　no　such　thing。　　The　Nuns　are　always　veiled。'

'No！　　No！　　I　know　better。　　On　entering　a　place　of　worship；　they　ever　take　off　their　veils　from　respect　to　the　Saint　to　whom　'tis　dedicated。　　But　Hark！　　They　are　coming！　　Silence；　silence！　　Observe；　and　be　convinced。'

'Good！'　said　Lorenzo　to　himself；　'I　may　possibly　discover　to　whom　the　vows　are　addressed　of　this　mysterious　Stranger。'

Scarcely　had　Don　Christoval　ceased　to　speak；　when　the　Domina　of　St。　Clare　appeared；　followed　by　a　long　procession　of　Nuns。　　Each　upon　entering　the　Church　took　off　her　veil。　　The　Prioress　crossed　her　hands　upon　her　bosom；　and　made　a　profound　reverence　as　She　passed　the　Statue　of　St。　Francis；　the　Patron　of　this　Cathedral。　The　Nuns　followed　her　example；　and　several　moved　onwards　without　having　satisfied　Lorenzo's　curiosity。　　He　almost　began　to　despair　of　seeing　the　mystery　cleared　up；　when　in　paying　her　respects　to　St。　Francis；　one　of　the　Nuns　happened　to　drop　her　Rosary。　　As　She　stooped　to　pick　it　up；　the　light　flashed　full　upon　her　face。　　At　the　same　moment　She　dexterously　removed　the　letter　from　beneath　the　Image；　placed　it　in　her　bosom；　and　hastened　to　resume　her　rank　in　the　procession。

'Ha！'　said　Christoval　in　a　low　voice；　'Here　we　have　some　little　Intrigue；　no　doubt。'

'Agnes；　by　heaven！'　cried　Lorenzo。

'What；　your　Sister？　　Diavolo！　　Then　somebody；　I　suppose；　will　have　to　pay　for　our　peeping。'

'And　shall　pay　for　it　without　delay；'　replied　the　incensed　Brother。

The　pious　procession　had　now　entered　the　Abbey；　The　Door　was　already　closed　upon　it。　　The　Unknown　immediately　quitted　his　concealment　and　hastened　to　leave　the　Church：　　Ere　He　could　effect　his　intention；　He　descried　Medina　stationed　in　his　passage。　　The　Stranger　hastily　retreated；　and　drew　his　Hat　over　his　eyes。

'Attempt　not　to　fly　me！'　exclaimed　Lorenzo；　'I　will　know　who　you　are；　and　what　were　the　contents　of　that　Letter。'

'Of　that　Letter？'　repeated　the　Unknown。　　'And　by　what　title　do　you　ask　the　question？'

'By　a　title　of　which　I　am　now　ashamed；　But　it　becomes　not　you　to　question　me。　　Either　reply　circumstantially　to　my　demands；　or　answer　me　with　your　Sword。'

'The　latter　method　will　be　the　shortest；'　rejoined　the　Other；　drawing　his　Rapier；　'Come　on；　Segnor　Bravo！　I　am　ready！'

Burning　with　rage；　Lorenzo　hastened　to　the　attack：　The　Antagonists　had　already　exchanged　several　passes　before　Christoval；　who　at　that　moment　had　more　sense　than　either　of　them；　could　throw　himself　between　their　weapons。

'Hold！　　Hold！　　Medina！'　He　exclaimed；　'Remember　the　consequences　of　shedding　blood　on　consecrated　ground！'

The　Stranger　immediately　dropped　his　Sword。

'Medina？'　He　cried；　'Great　God；　is　it　possible！　Lorenzo；　have　you　quite　forgotten　Raymond　de　las　Cisternas？'

Lorenzo's　astonishment　increased　with　every　succeeding　moment。　　Raymond　advanced　towards　him；　but　with　a　look　of　suspicion　He　drew　back　his　hand；　which　the　Other　was　preparing　to　take。

'You　here；　Marquis？　　What　is　the　meaning　of　all　this？　　You　engaged　in　a　clandestine　correspondence　with　my　Sister；　whose　affections。　。　。　。'

'Have　ever　been；　and　still　are　mine。　　But　this　is　no　fit　place　for　an　explanation。　　Accompany　me　to　my　Hotel；　and　you　shall　know　every　thing。　　Who　is　that　with　you？'

'One　whom　I　believe　you　to　have　seen　before；'　replied　Don　Christoval；　'though　probably　not　at　Church。'

'The　Conde　d'Ossorio？'

'Exactly　so；　Marquis。'

'I　have　no　objection　to　entrusting　you　with　my　secret；　for　I　am　sure　that　I　may　depend　upon　your　silence。'

'Then　your　opinion　of　me　is　better　than　my　own；　and　therefore　I　must　beg　leave　to　decline　your　confidence。　Do　you　go　your　own　way；　and　I　shall　go　mine。　　Marquis；　where　are　you　to　be　found？'

'As　usual；　at　the　Hotel　de　las　Cisternas；　But　remember；　that　I　am　incognito；　and　that　if　you　wish　to　see　me；　you　must　ask　for　Alphonso　d'Alvarada。'

'Good！　　Good！　　Farewell；　Cavaliers！'　said　Don　Christoval；　and　instantly　departed。

'You；　Marquis；'　said　Lorenzo　in　the　accent　of　surprise；　'You；　Alphonso　d'Alvarada？'

'Even　so；　Lorenzo：　　But　unless　you　have　already　heard　my　story　from　your　Sister；　I　have　much　to　relate　that　will　astonish　you。　　Follow　me；　therefore；　to　my　Hotel　without　delay。'

At　this　moment　the　Porter　of　the　Capuchins　entered　the　Cathedral　to　lock　up　the　doors　for　the　night。　　The　two　Noblemen　instantly　withdrew；　and　hastened　with　all　speed　to　the　Palace　de　las　Cisternas。

'Well；　Antonia！'　said　the　Aunt；　as　soon　as　She　had　quitted　the　Church；　'What　think　you　of　our　Gallants？　　Don　Lorenzo　really　seems　a　very　obliging　good　sort　of　young　Man：　　He　paid　you　some　attention；　and　nobody　knows　what　may　come　of　it。　　But　as　to　Don　Christoval；　I　protest　to　you；　He　is　the　very　Phoenix　of　politeness。　　So　gallant！　so　well…bred！　　So　sensible；　and　so　pathetic！　　Well！　　If　ever　Man　can　prevail　upon　me　to　break　my　vow　never　to　marry；　it　will　be　that　Don　Christoval。　　You　see；　Niece；　that　every　thing　turns　out　exactly　as　I　told　you：　　The　very　moment　that　I　produced　myself　in　Madrid；　I　knew　that　I　should　be　surrounded　by　Admirers。　　When　I　took　off　my　veil；　did　you　see；　Antonia；　what　an　effect　the　action　had　upon　the　Conde？　　And　when　I　presented　him　my　hand；　did　you　observe　the　air　of　passion　with　which　He　kisse