give her absolution。 Every moment announced the approach of
Antonia's fate： Her sight failed； Her heart beat sluggishly； Her
fingers stiffened； and grew cold； and at two in the morning She
expired without a groan。 As soon as the breath had forsaken her
body； Father Pablos retired； sincerely affected at the melancholy
scene。 On her part； Flora gave way to the most unbridled sorrow。
Far different concerns employed Ambrosio： He sought for the
pulse whose throbbing； so Matilda had assured him； would prove
Antonia's death but temporal。 He found it； He pressed it； It
palpitated beneath his hand； and his heart was filled with
ecstacy。 However； He carefully concealed his satisfaction at the
success of his plan。 He assumed a melancholy air； and addressing
himself to Flora； warned her against abandoning herself to
fruitless sorrow。 Her tears were too sincere to permit her
listening to his counsels； and She continued to weep unceasingly。
The Friar withdrew； first promising to give orders himself about
the Funeral； which； out of consideration for Jacintha as He
pretended； should take place with all expedition。 Plunged in
grief for the loss of her beloved Mistress； Flora scarcely
attended to what He said。 Ambrosio hastened to command the
Burial。 He obtained permission from the Prioress； that the Corse
should be deposited in St。 Clare's Sepulchre： and on the Friday
Morning； every proper and needful ceremony being performed；
Antonia's body was committed to the Tomb。
On the same day Leonella arrived at Madrid； intending to present
her young Husband to Elvira。 Various circumstances had obliged
her to defer her journey from Tuesday to Friday； and She had no
opportunity of making this alteration in her plans known to her
Sister。 As her heart was truly affectionate； and as She had ever
entertained a sincere regard for Elvira and her Daughter； her
surprize at hearing of their sudden and melancholy fate was fully
equalled by her sorrow and disappointment。 Ambrosio sent to
inform her of Antonia's bequest： At her solication； He promised；
as soon as Elvira's trifling debts were discharged； to transmit
to her the remainder。 This being settled； no other business
detained Leonella in Madrid； and She returned to Cordova with all
diligence。
CHAPTER III
Oh！ could I worship aught beneath the skies
That earth hath seen or fancy could devise；
Thine altar； sacred Liberty； should stand；
Built by no mercenary vulgar hand；
With fragrant turf； and flowers as wild and fair；
As ever dressed a bank； or scented summer air。
Cowper。
His whole attention bent upon bringing to justice the Assassins
of his Sister； Lorenzo little thought how severely his interest
was suffering in another quarter。 As was before mentioned； He
returned not to Madrid till the evening of that day on which
Antonia was buried。 Signifying to the Grand Inquisitor the order
of the Cardinal…Duke （a ceremony not to be neglected； when a
Member of the Church was to be arrested publicly） communicating
his design to his Uncle and Don Ramirez； and assembling a troop
of Attendants sufficiently to prevent opposition； furnished him
with full occupation during the few hours preceding midnight。
Consequently； He had no opportunity to enquire about his
Mistress； and was perfectly ignorant both of her death and her
Mother's。
The Marquis was by no means out of danger： His delirium was
gone； but had left him so much exhausted that the Physicians
declined pronouncing upon the consequences likely to ensue。 As
for Raymond himself； He wished for nothing more earnestly than to
join Agnes in the grave。 Existence was hateful to him： He saw
nothing in the world deserving his attention； and He hoped to
hear that Agnes was revenged； and himself given over in the same
moment。
Followed by Raymond's ardent prayers for success； Lorenzo was at
the Gates of St。 Clare a full hour before the time appointed by
the Mother St。 Ursula。 He was accompanied by his Uncle； by Don
Ramirez de Mello； and a party of chosen Archers。 Though in
considerable numbers their appearance created no surprize： A
great Crowd was already assembled before the Convent doors； in
order to witness the Procession。 It was naturally supposed that
Lorenzo and his Attendants were conducted thither by the same
design。 The Duke of Medina being recognised； the People drew
back； and made way for his party to advance。 Lorenzo placed
himself opposite to the great Gate； through which the Pilgrims
were to pass。 Convinced that the Prioress could not escape him；
He waited patiently for her appearance； which She was expected to
make exactly at Midnight。
The Nuns were employed in religious duties established in honour
of St。 Clare； and to which no Prophane was ever admitted。 The
Chapel windows were illuminated。 As they stood on the outside；
the Auditors heard the full swell of the organ； accompanied by a
chorus of female voices； rise upon the stillness of the night。
This died away； and was succeeded by a single strain of harmony：
It was the voice of her who was destined to sustain in the
procession the character of St。 Clare。 For this office the most
beautiful Virgin of Madrid was always selected； and She upon whom
the choice fell esteemed it as the highest of honours。 While
listening to the Music； whose melody distance only seemed to
render sweeter； the Audience was wrapped up in profound
attention。 Universal silence prevailed through the Crowd； and
every heart was filled with reverence for religion。 Every heart
but Lorenzo's。 Conscious that among those who chaunted the
praises of their God so sweetly； there were some who cloaked with
devotion the foulest sins； their hymns inspired him with
detestation at their Hypocrisy。 He had long observed with
disapprobation and contempt the superstition which governed
Madrid's Inhabitants。 His good sense had pointed out to him the
artifices of the Monks； and the gross absurdity of their
miracles； wonders； and supposititious reliques。 He blushed to
see his Countrymen the Dupes of deceptions so ridiculous； and
only wished for an opportunity to free them from their monkish
fetters。 That opportunity； so long desired in vain； was at
length presented to him。 He resolved not to let it slip； but to
set before the People in glaring colours how enormous were the
abuses but too frequently practised in Monasteries； and how
unjustly public esteem was bestowed indiscriminately upon all who
wore a religious habit。 He longed for the moment destined to
unmask the Hypocrites； and convince his Countrymen that a
sanctified exterior does not always hide a virtuous heart。
The service lasted； till Midnight was announced by the
Convent Bell。 That sound being heard； the Music ceased： The
voices died away softly； and soon after the lights disappeared
from the Chapel windows。 Lorenzo's heart beat high； when He
found the execution of his plan to be at hand。 From the natural
superstition of the People He had prepared himself for some
resistance。 But He trusted that the Mother St。 Ursula would
bring good reasons to justify his proceeding。 He had force with
him to repel the first impulse of the Populace； till his
arguments should be heard： His only fear was lest the Domina；
suspecting his design； should have spirited away the Nun on
whose deposition every thing depended。 Unless the Mother St。
Ursula should be present； He could only accuse the Prioress upon
suspicion； and this reflection gave him some little apprehension
for the success of his enterprize。 The tranquillity which seemed
to reign through the Convent in some degree re…assured him：
Still He expected the moment eagerly； when the presence of his
Ally should deprive him of the power of doubting。
The Abbey of Capuchins was only separated from the Convent by the
Garden and Cemetery。 The Monks had been invited to assist at the
Pilgrimage。 They now arrived； marching two by two with lighted
Torches in their hands； and chaunting Hymns in honour of St。
Clare。 Father Pablos was at their head； the Abbot having excused
himself from attending。 The people made way for the holy Train；
and the Friars placed themselves in ranks on either side of the
great Gates。 A few minutes sufficed to arrange the order of the
Procession。 This being settled； the Convent doors were thrown
open； and again the female Chorus sounded in full melody。 First
appeared a Band of Choristers： As soon as they had passed； the
Monks fell in two by two； and followed with steps slow and
measured。 Next came the Novices； They bore no Tapers； as did the
Professed； but moved on with eyes bent downwards； and seemed to
be occupied by telling their Beads。 To them succeeded a young
and lovely Girl； who represented St。 Lucia： She held a golden
bason in which were two eyes： Her own were covered by a velvet
bandage； and She was conducted by another Nun habited as an
Angel。 She was followed by St。 Catherine； a palm…branch in one
hand； a flaming Sword in the other： She was robed in white； and
her brow was ornamented with a sparkling Diadem。 After her
appeared St。 Genevieve； surrounded by a number of Imps；