circumstances　have　prevented　us　from　being　much　together。　　While
  yet　a　Child　She　was　consigned　to　the　care　of　her　Aunt；　who　had
  married　a　German　Nobleman。　　At　his　Castle　She　remained　till　two
  years　since；　when　She　returned　to　Spain；　determined　upon
  secluding　herself　from　the　world。'
  'Good　God！　　Lorenzo；　you　knew　of　her　intention；　and　yet　strove
  not　to　make　her　change　it？'
  'Marquis；　you　wrong　me。　　The　intelligence；　which　I　received　at
  Naples；　shocked　me　extremely；　and　I　hastened　my　return　to　Madrid
  for　the　express　purpose　of　preventing　the　sacrifice。　　The　moment
  that　I　arrived；　I　flew　to　the　Convent　of　St。　Clare；　in　which
  Agnes　had　chosen　to　perform　her　Noviciate。　　I　requested　to　see　my
  Sister。　　Conceive　my　surprise　when　She　sent　me　a　refusal；　She
  declared　positively；　that　apprehending　my　influence　over　her
  mind；　She　would　not　trust　herself　in　my　society　till　the　day
  before　that　on　which　She　was　to　receive　the　Veil。　　I　supplicated
  the　Nuns；　I　insisted　upon　seeing　Agnes；　and　hesitated　not　to　avow
  my　suspicions　that　her　being　kept　from　me　was　against　her　own
  inclinations。　To　free　herself　from　the　imputation　of　violence；
  the　Prioress　brought　me　a　few　lines　written　in　my　Sister's
  well…known　hand；　repeating　the　message　already　delivered。　　All
  future　attempts　to　obtain　a　moment's　conversation　with　her　were
  as　fruitless　as　the　first。　　She　was　inflexible；　and　I　was　not
  permitted　to　see　her　till　the　day　preceding　that　on　which　She
  entered　the　Cloister　never　to　quit　it　more。　　This　interview　took
  place　in　the　presence　of　our　principal　Relations。　　It　was　for　the
  first　time　since　her　childhood　that　I　saw　her；　and　the　scene　was
  most　affecting。　　She　threw　herself　upon　my　bosom；　kissed　me；　and
  wept　bitterly。　　By　every　possible　argument；　by　tears；　by　prayers；
  by　kneeling；　I　strove　to　make　her　abandon　her　intention。　　I
  represented　to　her　all　the　hardships　of　a　religious　life；　I
  painted　to　her　imagination　all　the　pleasures　which　She　was　going
  to　quit；　and　besought　her　to　disclose　to　me；　what　occasioned　her
  disgust　to　the　world。　　At　this　last　question　She　turned　pale；　and
  her　tears　flowed　yet　faster。　　She　entreated　me　not　to　press　her
  on　that　subject；　That　it　sufficed　me　to　know　that　her　resolution
  was　taken；　and　that　a　Convent　was　the　only　place　where　She　could
  now　hope　for　tranquillity。　　She　persevered　in　her　design；　and
  made　her　profession。　　I　visited　her　frequently　at　the　Grate；　and
  every　moment　that　I　passed　with　her；　made　me　feel　more　affliction
  at　her　loss。　　I　was　shortly　after　obliged　to　quit　Madrid；　I
  returned　but　yesterday　evening；　and　since　then　have　not　had　time
  to　call　at　St。　Clare's　Convent。'
  'Then　till　I　mentioned　it；　you　never　heard　the　name　of　Alphonso
  d'Alvarada？'
  'Pardon　me：　my　Aunt　wrote　me　word　that　an　Adventurer　so　called
  had　found　means　to　get　introduced　into　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg；
  That　He　had　insinuated　himself　into　my　Sister's　good　graces；　and
  that　She　had　even　consented　to　elope　with　him。　　However；　before
  the　plan　could　be　executed；　the　Cavalier　discovered　that　the
  estates　which　He　believed　Agnes　to　possess　in　Hispaniola；　in
  reality　belonged　to　me。　　This　intelligence　made　him　change　his
  intention；　He　disappeared　on　the　day　that　the　elopement　was　to
  have　taken　place；　and　Agnes；　in　despair　at　his　perfidy　and
  meanness；　had　resolved　upon　seclusion　in　a　Convent。　　She　added；
  that　as　this　adventurer　had　given　himself　out　to　be　a　Friend　of
  mine；　She　wished　to　know　whether　I　had　any　knowledge　of　him。　　I
  replied　in　the　negative。　　I　had　then　very　little　idea；　that
  Alphonso　d'Alvarada　and　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas　were　one　and
  the　same　person：　　The　description　given　me　of　the　first　by　no
  means　tallied　with　what　I　knew　of　the　latter。'
  'In　this　I　easily　recognize　Donna　Rodolpha's　perfidious
  character。　　Every　word　of　this　account　is　stamped　with　marks　of
  her　malice；　of　her　falsehood；　of　her　talents　for　misrepresenting
  those　whom　She　wishes　to　injure。　　Forgive　me；　Medina；　for
  speaking　so　freely　of　your　Relation。　　The　mischief　which　She　has
  done　me　authorises　my　resentment；　and　when　you　have　heard　my
  story；　you　will　be　convinced　that　my　expressions　have　not　been
  too　severe。'
  He　then　began　his　narrative　in　the　following　manner。
  HISTORY　OF　DON　RAYMOND；　MARQUIS　DE　LAS　CISTERNAS
  Long　experience；　my　dear　Lorenzo；　has　convinced　me　how　generous
  is　your　nature：　　I　waited　not　for　your　declaration　of　ignorance
  respecting　your　Sister's　adventures　to　suppose　that　they　had
  been　purposely　concealed　from　you。　　Had　they　reached　your
  knowledge；　from　what　misfortunes　should　both　Agnes　and　myself
  have　escaped！　　Fate　had　ordained　it　otherwise！　　You　were　on　your
  Travels　when　I　first　became　acquainted　with　your　Sister；　and　as
  our　Enemies　took　care　to　conceal　from　her　your　direction；　it　was
  impossible　for　her　to　implore　by　letter　your　protection　and
  advice。
  On　leaving　Salamanca；　at　which　University　as　I　have　since　heard；
  you　remained　a　year　after　I　quitted　it；　I　immediately　set　out
  upon　my　Travels。　　My　Father　supplied　me　liberally　with　money；　But
  He　insisted　upon　my　concealing　my　rank；　and　presenting　myself　as
  no　more　than　a　private　Gentleman。　　This　command　was　issued　by　the
  counsels　of　his　Friend；　the　Duke　of　Villa　Hermosa；　a　Nobleman　for
  whose　abilities　and　knowledge　of　the　world　I　have　ever
  entertained　the　most　profound　veneration。
  'Believe　me；'　said　He；　'my　dear　Raymond；　you　will　hereafter　feel
  the　benefits　of　this　temporary　degradation。　　'Tis　true；　that　as
  the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas　you　would　have　been　received　with　open
  arms；　and　your　youthful　vanity　might　have　felt　gratified　by　the
  attentions　showered　upon　you　from　all　sides。　　At　present；　much
  will　depend　upon　yourself：　　You　have　excellent　recommendations；
  but　it　must　be　your　own　business　to　make　them　of　use　to　you。　　You
  must　lay　yourself　out　to　please；　You　must　labour　to　gain　the
  approbation　of　those；　to　whom　you　are　presented：　　They　who　would
  have　courted　the　friendship　of　the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas　will
  have　no　interest　in　finding　out　the　merits；　or　bearing　patiently
  with　the　faults；　of　Alphonso　d'Alvarada。　　Consequently；　when　you
  find　yourself　really　liked；　you　may　safely　ascribe　it　to　your
  good　qualities；　not　your　rank；　and　the　distinction　shown　you　will
  be　infinitely　more　flattering。　　Besides；　your　exalted　birth　would
  not　permit　your　mixing　with　the　lower　classes　of　society；　which
  will　now　be　in　your　power；　and　from　which；　in　my　opinion；　you
  will　derive　considerable　benefit。　　Do　not　confine　yourself　to　the
  Illustrious　of　those　Countries　through　which　you　pass。　　Examine
  the　manners　and　customs　of　the　multitude：　Enter　into　the
  Cottages；　and　by　observing　how　the　Vassals　of　Foreigners　are
  treated；　learn　to　diminish　the　burthens　and　augment　the　comforts
  of　your　own。　　According　to　my　ideas；　of　those　advantages　which　a
  Youth　destined　to　the　possession　of　power　and　wealth　may　reap
  from　travel；　He　should　not　consider　as　the　least　essential；　the
  opportunity　of　mixing　with　the　classes　below　him；　and　becoming　an
  eyewitness　of　the　sufferings　of　the　People。'
  Forgive　me；　Lorenzo；　if　I　seem　tedious　in　my　narration。　The　close
  connexion　which　now　exists　between　us；　makes　me　anxious　that　you
  should　know　every　particular　respecting　me；　and　in　my　fear　of
  omitting　the　least　circumstance　which　may　induce　you　to　think
  favourably　of　your　Sister　and　myself；　I　may　possibly　relate　many
  which　you　may　think　uninteresting。
  I　followed　the　Duke's　advice；　I　was　soon　convinced　of　its　wisdom。
  I　quitted　Spain；　calling　myself　by　the　assumed　title　of　Don
  Alphonso　d'Alvarada；　and　attended　by　a　single　Domestic　of
  approved　fidelity。　　Paris　was　my　first　station。　　For　some　time　I
  was　enchanted　with　it；　as　indeed　must　be　every　Man　who　is　young；
  rich；　and　fond　of　pleasure。　　Yet　among　all　its　gaieties；　I　felt
  that　something　was　wanting　to　my　heart。　　I　grew　sick　of
  dissipation：　I　discovered；　that　the　People　among　whom　I　lived；
  and　whose　exterior　was　so　polished　and　seducing；　were　at　bottom
  frivolous；　unfeeling　and　insincere。　　I　turned　from　the
  Inhabitants　of　Paris　with　disgust；　and　quitted　that　Theatre　of
  Luxury　without　heaving　one　sigh　of　regret。
  I　now　bent　my　course　towards　Germany；　intending　to　visit　most　of
  the　principal　courts：　　Prior　to　this　expedition；　I　meant　to　make
  some　little　stay　at　Strasbourg。　　On　quitting　my　Chaise　at
  Luneville　to　take　some　refreshment；　I　observed　a　splendid
  Equipage；　attended　by　four　Domestics　in　rich　liveries；　waiting　at
  the　door　of　the　Silver　Lion。　　Soon　after　as　I　looked　out　of　the
  window；　I　saw　a　Lady　of　noble　presence；　followed　by　two　female
  Attendants；　step　into　the　Carriage；　which　drove　off　immediately。
  I　enquired　of　the　Host；　who　the　Lady　was；　that　had　just　departed。
  'A　German　Baroness；　Monsieur；　of　great　rank　and　fortune。　　She　has
  been　upon　a　visit　to　the　Duchess　of　Longueville；　as　her　Servants
  informed　me；　She　is　going　to　Strasbourg；　where　She　will　find　her
  Husband；　and　then　both　return　to　their　Castle　in　Germany。'
  I　resumed　my　journey；　intending　to　reach　Strasbourg　that　night。
  My　hopes；　however　were　frustrated　by　the　breaking　down　of　my
  Chaise。　　The　accident　happened　in　the　middle　of　a　thick　Forest；
  and　I　was　not　a　little　embar