seized　privately；　and　confined　in　my　Hotel。　　By　this　means　I
  became　Master　of　the　Key　to　the　Garden　door；　and　I　had　now
  nothing　more　to　do　than　prepare　Agnes　for　the　elopement。　　This
  was　done　by　the　letter；　which　you　saw　me　deliver　this　Evening。　　I
  told　her　in　it；　that　I　should　be　ready　to　receive　her　at　twelve
  tomorrow　night；　that　I　had　secured　the　Key　of　the　Garden；　and
  that　She　might　depend　upon　a　speedy　release。
  You　have　now；　Lorenzo；　heard　the　whole　of　my　long　narrative。　　I
  have　nothing　to　say　in　my　excuse；　save　that　my　intentions　towards
  your　Sister　have　been　ever　the　most　honourable：　　That　it　has
  always　been；　and　still　is　my　design　to　make　her　my　Wife：　　And
  that　I　trust；　when　you　consider　these　circumstances；　our　youth；
  and　our　attachment；　you　will　not　only　forgive　our　momentary　lapse
  from　virtue；　but　will　aid　me　in　repairing　my　faults　to　Agnes；　and
  securing　a　lawful　title　to　her　person　and　her　heart。
  CHAPTER　II
  O　You！　whom　Vanity's　light　bark　conveys
  On　Fame's　mad　voyage　by　the　wind　of　praise；
  With　what　a　shifting　gale　your　course　you　ply；
  For　ever　sunk　too　low；　or　borne　too　high！
  Who　pants　for　glory　finds　but　short　repose；
  A　breath　revives　him；　and　a　breath　o'er…throws。
  Pope。
  Here　the　Marquis　concluded　his　adventures。　　Lorenzo；　before　He
  could　determine　on　his　reply；　past　some　moments　in　reflection。
  At　length　He　broke　silence。
  'Raymond；'　said　He　taking　his　hand；　'strict　honour　would　oblige
  me　to　wash　off　in　your　blood　the　stain　thrown　upon　my　family；　But
  the　circumstances　of　your　case　forbid　me　to　consider　you　as　an
  Enemy。　　The　temptation　was　too　great　to　be　resisted。　　'Tis　the
  superstition　of　my　Relations　which　has　occasioned　these
  misfortunes；　and　they　are　more　the　Offenders　than　yourself　and
  Agnes。　　What　has　past　between　you　cannot　be　recalled；　but　may　yet
  be　repaired　by　uniting　you　to　my　Sister。　　You　have　ever　been；　you
  still　continue　to　be；　my　dearest　and　indeed　my　only　Friend。　　I
  feel　for　Agnes　the　truest　affection；　and　there　is　no　one　on　whom
  I　would　bestow　her　more　willingly　than　on　yourself。　　Pursue　then
  your　design。　　I　will　accompany　you　tomorrow　night；　and　conduct
  her　myself　to　the　House　of　the　Cardinal。　　My　presence　will　be　a
  sanction　for　her　conduct；　and　prevent　her　incurring　blame　by　her
  flight　from　the　Convent。'
  The　Marquis　thanked　him　in　terms　by　no　means　deficient　in
  gratitude。　　Lorenzo　then　informed　him　that　He　had　nothing　more
  to　apprehend　from　Donna　Rodolpha's　enmity。　　Five　Months　had
  already　elapsed　since；　in　an　excess　of　passion；　She　broke　a
  blood…vessel　and　expired　in　the　course　of　a　few　hours。　　He　then
  proceeded　to　mention　the　interests　of　Antonia。　　The　Marquis　was
  much　surprized　at　hearing　of　this　new　Relation：　His　Father　had
  carried　his　hatred　of　Elvira　to　the　Grave；　and　had　never　given
  the　least　hint　that　He　knew　what　was　become　of　his　eldest　Son's
  Widow。　　Don　Raymond　assured　his　friend　that　He　was　not　mistaken
  in　supposing　him　ready　to　acknowledge　his　Sister…in…law　and　her
  amiable　Daughter。　　The　preparations　for　the　elopement　would　not
  permit　his　visiting　them　the　next　day；　But　in　the　meanwhile　He
  desired　Lorenzo　to　assure　them　of　his　friendship；　and　to　supply
  Elvira　upon　his　account　with　any　sums　which　She　might　want。　　This
  the　Youth　promised　to　do；　as　soon　as　her　abode　should　be　known　to
  him：　　He　then　took　leave　of　his　future　Brother；　and　returned　to
  the　Palace　de　Medina。
  The　day　was　already　on　the　point　of　breaking　when　the　Marquis
  retired　to　his　chamber。　　Conscious　that　his　narrative　would　take
  up　some　hours；　and　wishing　to　secure　himself　from　interruption
  on　returning　to　the　Hotel；　He　ordered　his　Attendants　not　to　sit
  upfor　him。　　Consequently；　He　was　somewhat　surprised　on　entering
  his　Antiroom；　to　find　Theodore　established　there。　　The　Page　sat
  near　a　Table　with　a　pen　in　his　hand；　and　was　so　totally　occupied
  by　his　employment　that　He　perceived　not　his　Lord's　approach。　　The
  Marquis　stopped　to　observe　him。　　Theodore　wrote　a　few　lines；　then
  paused；　and　scratched　out　a　part　of　the　writing：　　Then　wrote
  again；　smiled；　and　seemed　highly　pleased　with　what　He　had　been
  about。　　At　last　He　threw　down　his　pen；　sprang　from　his　chair；　and
  clapped　his　hands　together　joyfully。
  'There　it　is！'　cried　He　aloud：　　'Now　they　are　charming！'
  His　transports　were　interrupted　by　a　laugh　from　the　Marquis；　who
  suspected　the　nature　of　his　employment。
  'What　is　so　charming；　Theodore？'
  The　Youth　started；　and　looked　round。　　He　blushed；　ran　to　the
  Table；　seized　the　paper　on　which　He　had　been　writing；　and
  concealed　it　in　confusion。
  'Oh！　my　Lord；　I　knew　not　that　you　were　so　near　me。　　Can　I　be　of
  use　to　you？　　Lucas　is　already　gone　to　bed。'
  'I　shall　follow　his　example　when　I　have　given　my　opinion　of　your
  verses。'
  'My　verses；　my　Lord？'
  'Nay；　I　am　sure　that　you　have　been　writing　some；　for　nothing　else
  could　have　kept　you　awake　till　this　time　of　the　morning。　　Where
  are　they；　Theodore？　　I　shall　like　to　see　your　composition。'
  Theodore's　cheeks　glowed　with　still　deeper　crimson：　He　longed　to
  show　his　poetry；　but　first　chose　to　be　pressed　for　it。
  'Indeed；　my　Lord；　they　are　not　worthy　your　attention。'
  'Not　these　verses；　which　you　just　now　declared　to　be　so　charming？
  Come；　come；　let　me　see　whether　our　opinions　are　the　same。　　I
  promise　that　you　shall　find　in　me　an　indulgent　Critic。'
  The　Boy　produced　his　paper　with　seeming　reluctance；　but　the
  satisfaction　which　sparkled　in　his　dark　expressive　eyes　betrayed
  the　vanity　of　his　little　bosom。　　The　Marquis　smiled　while　He
  observed　the　emotions　of　an　heart　as　yet　but　little　skilled　in
  veiling　its　sentiments。　　He　seated　himself　upon　a　Sopha：
  Theodore；　while　Hope　and　fear　contended　on　his　anxious
  countenance；　waited　with　inquietude　for　his　Master's　decision；
  while　the　Marquis　read　the　following　lines。
  LOVE　AND　AGE
  The　night　was　dark；　The　wind　blew　cold；
  Anacreon；　grown　morose　and　old；
  Sat　by　his　fire；　and　fed　the　chearful　flame：
  Sudden　the　Cottage…door　expands；
  And　lo！　before　him　Cupid　stands；
  Casts　round　a　friendly　glance；　and　greets　him　by　his　name。
  'What　is　it　Thou？'　the　startled　Sire
  In　sullen　tone　exclaimed；　while　ire
  With　crimson　flushed　his　pale　and　wrinkled　cheek：
  'Wouldst　Thou　again　with　amorous　rage
  Inflame　my　bosom？　　Steeled　by　age；
  Vain　Boy；　to　pierce　my　breast　thine　arrows　are　too　weak。
  'What　seek　You　in　this　desart　drear？
  No　smiles　or　sports　inhabit　here；
  Ne'er　did　these　vallies　witness　dalliance　sweet：
  Eternal　winter　binds　the　plains；
  Age　in　my　house　despotic　reigns；
  My　Garden　boasts　no　flower；　my　bosom　boasts　no　heat。
  'Begone；　and　seek　the　blooming　bower；
  Where　some　ripe　Virgin　courts　thy　power；
  Or　bid　provoking　dreams　flit　round　her　bed；
  On　Damon's　amorous　breast　repose；
  Wanton…on　Chloe's　lip　of　rose；
  Or　make　her　blushing　cheek　a　pillow　for　thy　head。
  'Be　such　thy　haunts；　These　regions　cold
  Avoid！　　Nor　think　grown　wise　and　old
  This　hoary　head　again　thy　yoke　shall　bear：
  Remembering　that　my　fairest　years
  By　Thee　were　marked　with　sighs　and　tears；
  I　think　thy　friendship　false；　and　shun　the　guileful　snare。
  'I　have　not　yet　forgot　the　pains
  I　felt；　while　bound　in　Julia's　chains；
  The　ardent　flames　with　which　my　bosom　burned；
  The　nights　I　passed　deprived　of　rest；
  The　jealous　pangs　which　racked　my　breast；
  My　disappointed　hopes；　and　passion　unreturned。
  'Then　fly；　and　curse　mine　eyes　no　more！
  Fly　from　my　peaceful　Cottage…door！
  No　day；　no　hour；　no　moment　shalt　Thou　stay。
  I　know　thy　falsehood；　scorn　thy　arts；
  Distrust　thy　smiles；　and　fear　thy　darts；
  Traitor；　begone；　and　seek　some　other　to　betray！'
  'Does　Age；　old　Man；　your　wits　confound？'
  Replied　the　offended　God；　and　frowned；
  （His　frown　was　sweet　as　is　the　Virgin's　smile！）
  'Do　You　to　Me　these　words　address？
  To　Me；　who　do　not　love　you　less；
  Though　You　my　friendship　scorn；　and　pleasures　past　revile！
  'If　one　proud　Fair　you　chanced　to　find；
  An　hundred　other　Nymphs　were　kind；
  Whose　smiles　might　well　for　Julia's　frowns　atone：
  But　such　is　Man！　　His　partial　hand
  Unnumbered　favours　writes　on　sand；
  But　stamps　one　little　fault　on　solid　lasting　stone。
  'Ingrate！　Who　led　Thee　to　the　wave；
  At　noon　where　Lesbia　loved　to　lave？
  Who　named　the　bower　alone　where　Daphne　lay？
  And　who；　when　Caelia　shrieked　for　aid；
  Bad　you　with　kisses　hush　the　Maid？
  What　other　was't　than　Love；　Oh！　false　Anacreon；　say！
  'Then　You　could　call　me''Gentle　Boy！
  ''My　only　bliss！　my　source　of　joy　！''
  Then　You　could　prize　me　dearer　than　your　soul！
  Could　kiss；　and　dance　me　on　your　knees；
  And　swear；　not　wine　itself　would　please；
  Had　not　the　lip　of　Love　first　touched　the　flowing　bowl！
  'Must　those　sweet　days　return　no　more？
  Must　I　for　aye　your　loss　deplore；
  Banished　your　heart；　and　from　your　favour　driven？
  Ah！　no；　My　fears　that　smile　denies；
  That　heaving　breast；　those　sparkling　eyes
  Declare　me　ever　dear　and　all　my　faults　forgiven。
  'Again　beloved；　esteemed；　carest；
  Cupid　shall　in　thine　arms　be