Clare: but she has forfeited my affection in a manner yet more culpable. Her crimes were great, and when you know the cause of her death, you will doubtless rejoice, Don Lorenzo, that such a wretch is no longer in existence. She was taken ill on Thursday last on returning from confession in the Capuchin chapel. Her malady seemed attended with strange circumstances; but she persisted in concealing its cause: thanks to the Virgin, we were too ignorant to suspect it! Judge then what must have been our consternation, our horror, when she was delivered the next day of a stillborn child, whom she immediately followed to the grave. How, señor? Is it possible that your countenance expresses no surprise, no indignation? Is it possible that your sister’s infamy was known to you, and that still she possessed your affection? In that case, you have no need of my compassion. I can say nothing more, except repeat my inability of obeying the orders of his holiness. Agnes is no more, and to convince you that what I say is true, I swear by our blessed saviour, that three days have passed since she was buried.”

Here she kissed a small crucifix which hung at her girdle. She then rose from her chair, and quitted the parlour. As she withdrew, she cast upon Lorenzo a scornful smile.

“Farewell, señor,” said she; “I know no remedy for this accident: I fear that even a second bull from the Pope will not procure your sister’s resurrection.”

Lorenzo also retired, penetrated with affliction: but Don Raymond’s at the news of this event amounted to madness. He would not be convinced that Agnes was really dead, and continued to insist that the walls of St. Clare still confined her. No arguments could make him abandon his hopes of regaining her: every day some fresh scheme was invented for procuring intelligence of her, and all of them were attended with the same success.