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Granted this prayer； I have nothing more to desire。 I trust；
that my past sufferings have purchased from heaven the pardon of
my momentary weakness。 That I have offended； offended greatly and
grievously； I am fully conscious； But let not my Husband； because
He once conquered my virtue； doubt the propriety of my future
conduct。 I have been frail and full of error： But I yielded not
to the warmth of constitution； Raymond； affection for you
betrayed me。 I was too confident of my strength； But I depended
no less on your honour than my own。 I had vowed never to see you
more： Had it not been for the consequences of that unguarded
moment； my resolution had been kept。 Fate willed it otherwise；
and I cannot but rejoice at its decree。 Still my conduct has
been highly blameable； and while I attempt to justify myself； I
blush at recollecting my imprudence。 Let me then dismiss the
ungrateful subject； First assuring you； Raymond； that you shall
have no cause to repent our union； and that the more culpable
have been the errors of your Mistress； the more exemplary shall
be the conduct of your Wife。
Here Agnes ceased； and the Marquis replied to her address in
terms equally sincere and affectionate。 Lorenzo expressed his
satisfaction at the prospect of being so closely connected with a
Man for whom He had ever entertained the highest esteem。 The
Pope's Bull had fully and effectually released Agnes from her
religious engagements： The marriage was therefore celebrated as
soon as the needful preparations had been made； for the Marquis
wished to have the ceremony performed with all possible splendour
and publicity。 This being over； and the Bride having received
the compliments of Madrid； She departed with Don Raymond for his
Castle in Andalusia： Lorenzo accompanied them； as did also the
Marchioness de Villa…Franca and her lovely Daughter。 It is
needless to say that Theodore was of the party； and would be
impossible to describe his joy at his Master's marriage。
Previous to his departure； the Marquis； to atone in some measure
for his past neglect； made some enquiries relative to Elvira。
Finding that She as well as her Daughter had received many
services from Leonella and Jacintha； He showed his respect to the
memory of his Sister…in…law by making the two Women handsome
presents。 Lorenzo followed his exampleLeonella was highly
flattered by the attentions of Noblemen so distinguished； and
Jacintha blessed the hour on which her House was bewitched。
On her side； Agnes failed not to reward her Convent Friends。
The worthy Mother St。 Ursula； to whom She owed her liberty； was
named at her request Superintendent of 'The Ladies of Charity：'
This was one of the best and most opulent Societies throughout
Spain。 Bertha and Cornelia not choosing to quit their Friend；
were appointed to principal charges in the same establishment。
As to the Nuns who had aided the Domina in persecuting Agnes；
Camilla being confined by illness to her bed； had perished in the
flames which consumed St。 Clare's Convent。 Mariana； Alix； and
Violante； as well as two more； had fallen victims to the popular
rage。 The three Others who in Council had supported the Domina's
sentence； were severely reprimanded； and banished to religious
Houses in obscure and distant Provinces： Here they languished
away a few years； ashamed of their former weakness； and shunned
by their Companions with aversion and contempt。
Nor was the fidelity of Flora permitted to go unrewarded。 Her
wishes being consulted； She declared herself impatient to revisit
her native land。 In consequence； a passage was procured for her
to Cuba； where She arrived in safety； loaded with the presents of
Raymond and Lorenzo。
The debts of gratitude discharged； Agnes was at liberty to pursue
her favourite plan。 Lodged in the same House； Lorenzo and
Virginia were eternally together。 The more He saw of her； the
more was He convinced of her merit。 On her part； She laid
herself out to please； and not to succeed was for her impossible。
Lorenzo witnessed with admiration her beautiful person； elegant
manners； innumerable talents； and sweet disposition： He was also
much flattered by her prejudice in his favour； which She had not
sufficient art to conceal。 However； his sentiments partook not
of that ardent character which had marked his affection for
Antonia。 The image of that lovely and unfortunate Girl still
lived in his heart； and baffled all Virginia's efforts to
displace it。 Still when the Duke proposed to him the match；
which He wished to earnestly to take place； his Nephew did not
reject the offer。 The urgent supplications of his Friends； and
the Lady's merit conquered his repugnance to entering into new
engagements。 He proposed himself to the Marquis de Villa… Franca；
and was accepted with joy and gratitude。 Virginia became his
Wife； nor did She ever give him cause to repent his choice。 His
esteem increased for her daily。 Her unremitted endeavours to
please him could not but succeed。 His affection assumed stronger
and warmer colours。 Antonia's image was gradually effaced from
his bosom； and Virginia became sole Mistress of that heart； which
She well deserved to possess without a Partner。
The remaining years of Raymond and Agnes； of Lorenzo and
Virginia； were happy as can be those allotted to Mortals； born to
be the prey of grief； and sport of disappointment。 The exquisite
sorrows with which they had been afflicted； made them think
lightly of every succeeding woe。 They had felt the sharpest
darts in misfortune's quiver； Those which remained appeared blunt
in comparison。 Having weathered Fate's heaviest Storms； they
looked calmly upon its terrors： or if ever they felt Affliction's
casual gales； they seemed to them gentle as Zephyrs which
breathe over summer…seas。
CHAPTER V
He was a fell despightful Fiend：
Hell holds none worse in baleful bower below：
By pride； and wit； and rage； and rancor keened；
Of Man alike； if good or bad the Foe。
Thomson。
On the day following Antonia's death； all Madrid was a scene of
consternation and amazement。 An Archer who had witnessed the
adventure in the Sepulchre had indiscreetly related the
circumstances of the murder： He had also named the Perpetrator。
The confusion was without example which this intelligence raised
among the Devotees。 Most of them disbelieved it； and went
themselves to the Abbey to ascertain the fact。 Anxious to avoid
the shame to which their Superior's ill…conduct exposed the whole
Brotherhood； the Monks assured the Visitors that Ambrosio was
prevented from receiving them as usual by nothing but illness。
This attempt was unsuccessful： The same excuse being repeated
day after day； the Archer's story gradually obtained confidence。
His Partizans abandoned him： No one entertained a doubt of his
guilt； and they who before had been the warmest in his praise
were now the most vociferous in his condemnation。
While his innocence or guilt was debated in Madrid with the
utmost acrimony； Ambrosio was a prey to the pangs of conscious
villainy； and the terrors of punishment impending over him。 When
He looked back to the eminence on which He had lately stood；
universally honoured and respected； at peace with the world and
with himself； scarcely could He believe that He was indeed the
culprit whose crimes and whose fate He trembled to envisage。
But a few weeks had elapsed； since He was pure and virtuous；
courted by the wisest and noblest in Madrid； and regarded by the
People with a reverence that approached idolatry： He now saw
himself stained with the most loathed and monstrous sins； the
object of universal execration； a Prisoner of the Holy Office；
and probably doomed to perish in tortures the most severe。 He
could not hope to deceive his Judges： The proofs of his guilt
were too strong。 His being in the Sepulchre at so late an hour；
his confusion at the discovery； the dagger which in his first
alarm He owned had been concealed by him； and the blood which had
spirted upon his habit from Antonia's wound； sufficiently marked
him out for the Assassin。 He waited with agony fo