it　was　destined　that　He　should　pay　it　another　visit　that　night。
  As　He　descended　the　steps　leading　into　the　Street；　a　Cavalier
  rushed　against　him　with　such　violence；　that　Both　were　nearly
  overturned　by　the　concussion。　　Lorenzo　put　his　hand　to　his　sword。
  'How　now；　Segnor？'　said　He；　'What　mean　you　by　this　rudeness？'
  'Ha！　　Is　it　you；　Medina？'　replied　the　Newcomer；　whom　Lorenzo　by
  his　voice　now　recognized　for　Don　Christoval；　'You　are　the
  luckiest　Fellow　in　the　Universe；　not　to　have　left　the　Church
  before　my　return。　　In；　in！　my　dear　Lad！　　They　will　be　here
  immediately！'
  'Who　will　be　here？'
  'The　old　Hen　and　all　her　pretty　little　Chickens！　　In；　I　say；　and
  then　you　shall　know　the　whole　History。'
  Lorenzo　followed　him　into　the　Cathedral；　and　they　concealed
  themselves　behind　the　Statue　of　St。　Francis。
  'And　now；'　said　our　Hero；　'may　I　take　the　liberty　of　asking；　what
  is　the　meaning　of　all　this　haste　and　rapture？'
  'Oh！　Lorenzo；　we　shall　see　such　a　glorious　sight！　　The　Prioress
  of　St。　Clare　and　her　whole　train　of　Nuns　are　coming　hither。　　You
  are　to　know；　that　the　pious　Father　Ambrosio　（The　Lord　reward　him
  for　it！）　will　upon　no　account　move　out　of　his　own　precincts：　　It
  being　absolutely　necessary　for　every　fashionable　Convent　to　have
  him　for　its　Confessor；　the　Nuns　are　in　consequence　obliged　to
  visit　him　at　the　Abbey；　since　when　the　Mountain　will　not　come　to
  Mahomet；　Mahomet　must　needs　go　to　the　Mountain。　　Now　the　Prioress
  of　St。　Clare；　the　better　to　escape　the　gaze　of　such　impure　eyes
  as　belong　to　yourself　and　your　humble　Servant；　thinks　proper　to
  bring　her　holy　flock　to　confession　in　the　Dusk：　She　is　to　be
  admitted　into　the　Abbey　Chapel　by　yon　private　door。　　The
  Porteress　of　St。　Clare；　who　is　a　worthy　old　Soul　and　a　particular
  Friend　of　mine；　has　just　assured　me　of　their　being　here　in　a　few
  moments。　　There　is　news　for　you；　you　Rogue！　　We　shall　see　some　of
  the　prettiest　faces　in　Madrid！'
  'In　truth；　Christoval；　we　shall　do　no　such　thing。　　The　Nuns　are
  always　veiled。'
  'No！　　No！　　I　know　better。　　On　entering　a　place　of　worship；　they
  ever　take　off　their　veils　from　respect　to　the　Saint　to　whom　'tis
  dedicated。　　But　Hark！　　They　are　coming！　　Silence；　silence！
  Observe；　and　be　convinced。'
  'Good！'　said　Lorenzo　to　himself；　'I　may　possibly　discover　to　whom
  the　vows　are　addressed　of　this　mysterious　Stranger。'
  Scarcely　had　Don　Christoval　ceased　to　speak；　when　the　Domina　of
  St。　Clare　appeared；　followed　by　a　long　procession　of　Nuns。　　Each
  upon　entering　the　Church　took　off　her　veil。　　The　Prioress　crossed
  her　hands　upon　her　bosom；　and　made　a　profound　reverence　as　She
  passed　the　Statue　of　St。　Francis；　the　Patron　of　this　Cathedral。
  The　Nuns　followed　her　example；　and　several　moved　onwards　without
  having　satisfied　Lorenzo's　curiosity。　　He　almost　began　to　despair
  of　seeing　the　mystery　cleared　up；　when　in　paying　her　respects　to
  St。　Francis；　one　of　the　Nuns　happened　to　drop　her　Rosary。　　As　She
  stooped　to　pick　it　up；　the　light　flashed　full　upon　her　face。　　At
  the　same　moment　She　dexterously　removed　the　letter　from　beneath
  the　Image；　placed　it　in　her　bosom；　and　hastened　to　resume　her
  rank　in　the　procession。
  'Ha！'　said　Christoval　in　a　low　voice；　'Here　we　have　some　little
  Intrigue；　no　doubt。'
  'Agnes；　by　heaven！'　cried　Lorenzo。
  'What；　your　Sister？　　Diavolo！　　Then　somebody；　I　suppose；　will
  have　to　pay　for　our　peeping。'
  'And　shall　pay　for　it　without　delay；'　replied　the　incensed
  Brother。
  The　pious　procession　had　now　entered　the　Abbey；　The　Door　was
  already　closed　upon　it。　　The　Unknown　immediately　quitted　his
  concealment　and　hastened　to　leave　the　Church：　　Ere　He　could
  effect　his　intention；　He　descried　Medina　stationed　in　his
  passage。　　The　Stranger　hastily　retreated；　and　drew　his　Hat　over
  his　eyes。
  'Attempt　not　to　fly　me！'　exclaimed　Lorenzo；　'I　will　know　who　you
  are；　and　what　were　the　contents　of　that　Letter。'
  'Of　that　Letter？'　repeated　the　Unknown。　　'And　by　what　title　do
  you　ask　the　question？'
  'By　a　title　of　which　I　am　now　ashamed；　But　it　becomes　not　you　to
  question　me。　　Either　reply　circumstantially　to　my　demands；　or
  answer　me　with　your　Sword。'
  'The　latter　method　will　be　the　shortest；'　rejoined　the　Other；
  drawing　his　Rapier；　'Come　on；　Segnor　Bravo！　I　am　ready！'
  Burning　with　rage；　Lorenzo　hastened　to　the　attack：　The
  Antagonists　had　already　exchanged　several　passes　before
  Christoval；　who　at　that　moment　had　more　sense　than　either　of
  them；　could　throw　himself　between　their　weapons。
  'Hold！　　Hold！　　Medina！'　He　exclaimed；　'Remember　the　consequences
  of　shedding　blood　on　consecrated　ground！'
  The　Stranger　immediately　dropped　his　Sword。
  'Medina？'　He　cried；　'Great　God；　is　it　possible！　Lorenzo；　have　you
  quite　forgotten　Raymond　de　las　Cisternas？'
  Lorenzo's　astonishment　increased　with　every　succeeding　moment。
  Raymond　advanced　towards　him；　but　with　a　look　of　suspicion　He
  drew　back　his　hand；　which　the　Other　was　preparing　to　take。
  'You　here；　Marquis？　　What　is　the　meaning　of　all　this？　　You
  engaged　in　a　clandestine　correspondence　with　my　Sister；　whose
  affections。　。　。　。'
  'Have　ever　been；　and　still　are　mine。　　But　this　is　no　fit　place
  for　an　explanation。　　Accompany　me　to　my　Hotel；　and　you　shall　know
  every　thing。　　Who　is　that　with　you？'
  'One　whom　I　believe　you　to　have　seen　before；'　replied　Don
  Christoval；　'though　probably　not　at　Church。'
  'The　Conde　d'Ossorio？'
  'Exactly　so；　Marquis。'
  'I　have　no　objection　to　entrusting　you　with　my　secret；　for　I　am
  sure　that　I　may　depend　upon　your　silence。'
  'Then　your　opinion　of　me　is　better　than　my　own；　and　therefore　I
  must　beg　leave　to　decline　your　confidence。　Do　you　go　your　own
  way；　and　I　shall　go　mine。　　Marquis；　where　are　you　to　be　found？'
  'As　usual；　at　the　Hotel　de　las　Cisternas；　But　remember；　that　I　am
  incognito；　and　that　if　you　wish　to　see　me；　you　must　ask　for
  Alphonso　d'Alvarada。'
  'Good！　　Good！　　Farewell；　Cavaliers！'　said　Don　Christoval；　and
  instantly　departed。
  'You；　Marquis；'　said　Lorenzo　in　the　accent　of　surprise；　'You；
  Alphonso　d'Alvarada？'
  'Even　so；　Lorenzo：　　But　unless　you　have　already　heard　my　story
  from　your　Sister；　I　have　much　to　relate　that　will　astonish　you。
  Follow　me；　therefore；　to　my　Hotel　without　delay。'
  At　this　moment　the　Porter　of　the　Capuchins　entered　the　Cathedral
  to　lock　up　the　doors　for　the　night。　　The　two　Noblemen　instantly
  withdrew；　and　hastened　with　all　speed　to　the　Palace　de　las
  Cisternas。
  'Well；　Antonia！'　said　the　Aunt；　as　soon　as　She　had　quitted　the
  Church；　'What　think　you　of　our　Gallants？　　Don　Lorenzo　really
  seems　a　very　obliging　good　sort　of　young　Man：　　He　paid　you　some
  attention；　and　nobody　knows　what　may　come　of　it。　　But　as　to　Don
  Christoval；　I　protest　to　you；　He　is　the　very　Phoenix　of
  politeness。　　So　gallant！　so　well…bred！　　So　sensible；　and　so
  pathetic！　　Well！　　If　ever　Man　can　prevail　upon　me　to　break　my　vow
  never　to　marry；　it　will　be　that　Don　Christoval。　　You　see；　Niece；
  that　every　thing　turns　out　exactly　as　I　told　you：　　The　very
  moment　that　I　produced　myself　in　Madrid；　I　knew　that　I　should　be
  surrounded　by　Admirers。　　When　I　took　off　my　veil；　did　you　see；
  Antonia；　what　an　effect　the　action　had　upon　the　Conde？　　And　when
  I　presented　him　my　hand；　did　you　observe　the　air　of　passion　with
  which　He　kissed　it？　　If　ever　I　witnessed　real　love；　I　then　saw　it
  impressed　upon　Don　Christoval's　countenance！'
  Now　Antonia　had　observed　the　air；　with　which　Don　Christoval　had
  kissed　this　same　hand；　But　as　She　drew　conclusions　from　it
  somewhat　different　from　her　Aunt's；　She　was　wise　enough　to　hold
  her　tongue。　　As　this　is　the　only　instance　known　of　a　Woman's　ever
  having　done　so；　it　was　judged　worthy　to　be　recorded　here。
  The　old　Lady　continued　her　discourse　to　Antonia　in　the　same
  strain；　till　they　gained　the　Street　in　which　was　their　Lodging。
  Here　a　Crowd　collected　before　their　door　permitted　them　not　to
  approach　it；　and　placing　themselves　on　the　opposite　side　of　the
  Street；　they　endeavoured　to　make　out　what　had　drawn　all　these
  people　together。　　After　some　minutes　the　Crowd　formed　itself　into
  a　Circle；　And　now　Antonia　perceived　in　the　midst　of　it　a　Woman　of
  extraordinary　height；　who　whirled　herself　repeatedly　round　and
  round；　using　all　sorts　of　extravagant　gestures。　　Her　dress　was
  composed　of　shreds　of　various…coloured　silks　and　Linens
  fantastically　arranged；　yet　not　entirely　without　taste。　　Her　head
  was　covered　with　a　kind　of　Turban；　ornamented　with　vine　leaves
  and　wild　flowers。　　She　seemed　much　sun…burnt；　and　her　complexion
  was　of　a　deep　olive：　　Her　eyes　looked　fiery　and　strange；　and　in
  her　hand　She　bore　a　long　black　Rod；　with　which　She　at　intervals
  traced　a　variety　of　singular　figures　upon　the　ground；　round　about
  which　She　danced　in　all　the　eccentric　attitudes　of　folly　and
  delirium。　　Suddenly　She　broke　off　her　dance；　whirled　herself
  round　thrice　with　rapidity；　and　after　a　moment's　pause　She　sang
  the　following　Ballad。
  THE　GYPSY'S　SONG
  Come；　cross　my　hand！　　My　art　surpasses
  All　that　did　ever　Mortal　know；
  Come；　Maidens；　come！　My　magic　glasses
  Your　future　Husband's　form　can　show：
  For　'tis　to　me　the　power　is　given
  Unclosed　the　book　of　Fate　to　see；
  To　read　the　fixed　resolves　of　heaven；