The same reason made her reject the idea of arresting the unknown
Seducer in the Garden; Such a proceeding would have created much
disturbance, and the disgrace of her Convent would have been
noised about Madrid. She contented herself with confining Agnes
closely; As to the Lover, She left him at liberty to pursue his
designs. What She had expected was the result. The Marquis and
Lorenzo waited in vain till the break of day: They then retired
without noise, alarmed at the failure of their plan, and ignorant
of the cause of its ill-success.
The next morning Lorenzo went to the Convent, and requested to
see his Sister. The Prioress appeared at the Grate with a
melancholy countenance: She informed him that for several days
Agnes had appeared much agitated; That She had been prest by the
Nuns in vain to reveal the cause, and apply to their tenderness
for advice and consolation; That She had obstinately persisted in
concealing the cause of her distress; But that on Thursday
Evening it had produced so violent an effect upon her
constitution, that She had fallen ill, and was actually confined
to her bed. Lorenzo did not credit a syllable of this account:
He insisted upon seeing his Sister; If She was unable to come to
the Grate, He desired to be admitted to her Cell. The Prioress
crossed herself! She was shocked at the very idea of a Man's
profane eye pervading the interior of her holy Mansion, and
professed herself astonished that Lorenzo could think of such a
thing.
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