another； which would have been the ruin of all had not Camilla found a
remedy。 It did not occur to Lothario that this man he had seen issuing
at such an untimely hour from Anselmo's house could have entered it on
Leonela's account； nor did he even remember there was such a person as
Leonela； all he thought was that as Camilla had been light and
yielding with him； so she had been with another； for this further
penalty the erring woman's sin brings with it； that her honour is
distrusted even by him to whose overtures and persuasions she has
yielded； and he believes her to have surrendered more easily to
others； and gives implicit credence to every suspicion that comes into
his mind。 All Lothario's good sense seems to have failed him at this
juncture； all his prudent maxims escaped his memory； for without
once reflecting rationally； and without more ado； in his impatience
and in the blindness of the jealous rage that gnawed his heart； and
dying to revenge himself upon Camilla； who had done him no wrong；
before Anselmo had risen he hastened to him and said to him； 〃Know；
Anselmo； that for several days past I have been struggling with
myself； striving to withhold from thee what it is no longer possible
or right that I should conceal from thee。 Know that Camilla's fortress
has surrendered and is ready to submit to my will； and if I have
been slow to reveal this fact to thee； it was in order to see if it
were some light caprice of hers； or if she sought to try me and
ascertain if the love I began to make to her with thy permission was
made with a serious intention。 I thought； too； that she； if she were
what she ought to be； and what we both believed her； would have ere
this given thee information of my addresses； but seeing that she
delays； I believe the truth of the promise she has given me that the
next time thou art absent from the house she will grant me an
interview in the closet where thy jewels are kept （and it was true
that Camilla used to meet him there）； but I do not wish thee to rush
precipitately to take vengeance； for the sin is as yet only
committed in intention； and Camilla's may change perhaps between
this and the appointed time； and repentance spring up in its place。 As
hitherto thou hast always followed my advice wholly or in part； follow
and observe this that I will give thee now； so that； without
mistake； and with mature deliberation； thou mayest satisfy thyself
as to what may seem the best course； pretend to absent thyself for two
or three days as thou hast been wont to do on other occasions； and
contrive to hide thyself in the closet； for the tapestries and other
things there afford great facilities for thy concealment； and then
thou wilt see with thine own eyes and I with mine what Camilla's
purpose may be。 And if it be a guilty one； which may be feared
rather than expected； with silence； prudence； and discretion thou
canst thyself become the instrument of punishment for the wrong done
thee。〃
Anselmo was amazed； overwhelmed； and astounded at the words of
Lothario； which came upon him at a time when he least expected to hear
them； for he now looked upon Camilla as having triumphed over the
pretended attacks of Lothario； and was beginning to enjoy the glory of
her victory。 He remained silent for a considerable time； looking on
the ground with fixed gaze； and at length said； 〃Thou hast behaved；
Lothario； as I expected of thy friendship： I will follow thy advice in
everything； do as thou wilt； and keep this secret as thou seest it
should be kept in circumstances so unlooked for。〃
Lothario gave him his word； but after leaving him he repented
altogether of what he had said to him； perceiving how foolishly he had
acted； as he might have revenged himself upon Camilla in some less
cruel and degrading way。 He cursed his want of sense； condemned his
hasty resolution； and knew not what course to take to undo the
mischief or find some ready escape from it。 At last he decided upon
revealing all to Camilla； and； as there was no want of opportunity for
doing so； he found her alone the same day； but she； as soon as she had
the chance of speaking to him； said； 〃Lothario my friend； I must
tell thee I have a sorrow in my heart which fills it so that it
seems ready to burst； and it will be a wonder if it does not； for
the audacity of Leonela has now reached such a pitch that every
night she conceals a gallant of hers in this house and remains with
him till morning； at the expense of my reputation； inasmuch as it is
open to anyone to question it who may see him quitting my house at
such unseasonable hours； but what distresses me is that I cannot
punish or chide her； for her privity to our intrigue bridles my
mouth and keeps me silent about hers； while I am dreading that some
catastrophe will come of it。〃
As Camilla said this Lothario at first imagined it was some device
to delude him into the idea that the man he had seen going out was
Leonela's lover and not hers； but when he saw how she wept and
suffered； and begged him to help her； he became convinced of the
truth； and the conviction completed his confusion and remorse；
however； he told Camilla not to distress herself； as he would take
measures to put a stop to the insolence of Leonela。 At the same time
he told her what； driven by the fierce rage of jealousy； he had said
to Anselmo； and how he had arranged to hide himself in the closet that
he might there see plainly how little she preserved her fidelity to
him； and he entreated her pardon for this madness； and her advice as
to how to repair it； and escape safely from the intricate labyrinth in
which his imprudence had involved him。 Camilla was struck with alarm
at hearing what Lothario said； and with much anger； and great good
sense； she reproved him and rebuked his base design and the foolish
and mischievous resolution he had made； but as woman has by nature a
nimbler wit than man for good and for evil； though it is apt to fail
when she sets herself deliberately to reason； Camilla on the spur of
the moment thought of a way to remedy what was to all appearance
irremediable； and told Lothario to contrive that the next day
Anselmo should conceal himself in the place he mentioned； for she
hoped from his concealment to obtain the means of their enjoying
themselves for the future without any apprehension； and without
revealing her purpose to him entirely she charged him to be careful；
as soon as Anselmo was concealed； to come to her when Leonela should
call him； and to all she said to him to answer as he would have
answered had he not known that Anselmo was listening。 Lothario pressed
her to explain her intention fully； so that he might with more
certainty and precaution take care to do what he saw to be needful。
〃I tell you；〃 said Camilla； 〃there is nothing to take care of except
to answer me what I shall ask you；〃 for she did not wish to explain to
him beforehand what she meant to do； fearing lest he should be
unwilling to follow out an idea which seemed to her such a good one；
and should try or devise some other less practicable plan。
Lothario then retired； and the next day Anselmo； under pretence of
going to his friend's country house； took his departure； and then
returned to conceal himself； which he was able to do easily； as
Camilla and Leonela took care to give him the opportunity； and so he
placed himself in hiding in the state of agitation that it may be
imagined he would feel who expected to see the vitals of his honour
laid bare before his eyes； and found himself on the point of losing
the supreme blessing he thought he possessed in his beloved Camilla。
Having made sure of Anselmo's being in his hiding…place； Camilla and
Leonela entered the closet； and the instant she set foot within it
Camilla said； with a deep sigh； 〃Ah！ dear Leonela； would it not be
better； before I do what I am unwilling you should know lest you
should seek to prevent it； that you should take Anselmo's dagger
that I have asked of you and with it pierce this vile heart of mine？
But no； there is no reason why I should suffer the punishment of
another's fault。 I will first know what it is that the bold licentious
eyes of Lothario have seen in me that could have encouraged him to
reveal to me a design so base as that which he has disclosed
regardless of his friend and of my honour。 Go to the window；
Leonela； and call him； for no doubt he is in the street waiting to
carry out his vile project； but mine； cruel it may be； but honourable；
shall be carried out first。〃
〃Ah； senora；〃 said the crafty Leonela； who knew her part； 〃what is
it you want to do with this dagger？ Can it be that you mean to take
your own life； or Lothario's？ for whichever you mean to do； it will
lead to the loss of your reputation and good name。 It is better to
dissemble your wrong and not give this wicked man the chance of
entering the house now and finding us alone； consider； senora； we
are weak women and he is a man； and determined； and as he comes with
such a base purpose； blind and urged by passion； perhaps before you
can put yours into execution he may do what will be worse for you than
taking your life。 Ill betide my master； Anselmo； for giving su