With these words she drew from beneath her habit a mirror of polished steel, the borders of which were marked with various strange and unknown characters.

“Amidst all my sorrows, amidst all my regrets for your coldness, I was sustained from despair by the virtues of this talisman. On pronouncing certain words, the person appears in it on whom the observer’s thoughts are bent: thus though I was exiled from your sight, you, Ambrosio, were ever present to mine.”

The friar’s curiosity was excited strongly.

“What you relate is incredible! Matilda, are you not amusing yourself with my credulity?”

“Be your own eyes the judge.”