“With me?” She replied in a faltering voice.
The Domina motioned that She must follow her, and retired. The Mother
St. Ursula obeyed her; Soon after, the Refectory Bell ringing a second
time, the Nuns quitted the Grate, and Theodore was left at liberty to
carry off his prize. Delighted that at length He had obtained some
intelligence for the Marquis, He flew rather than ran, till He reached
the Hotel de las Cisternas. In a few minutes He stood by his Master’s
Bed with the Basket in his hand. Lorenzo was in the chamber,
endeavouring to reconcile his Friend to a misfortune which He felt
himself but too severely. Theodore related his adventure, and the hopes
which had been created by the Mother St. Ursula’s gift. The Marquis
started from his pillow: That fire which since the death of Agnes had
been extinguished, now revived in his bosom, and his eyes sparkled with
the eagerness of expectation. The emotions which Lorenzo’s countenance
betrayed, were scarcely weaker, and He waited with inexpressible
impatience for the solution of this mystery. Raymond caught the basket
from the hands of his Page: He emptied the contents upon the bed, and
examined them with minute attention. He hoped that a letter would be
found at the bottom; Nothing of the kind appeared. The search was
resumed, and still with no better success. At length Don Raymond
observed that one corner of the blue satin lining was unripped; He tore
it open hastily, and drew forth a small scrap of paper neither folded
or sealed. It was addressed to the Marquis de las Cisternas, and the
contents were as follows:
“Having recognised your Page, I venture to send these few lines.
Procure an order from the Cardinal-Duke for seizing my Person, and that
of the Domina; But let it not be executed till Friday at midnight. It
is the Festival of St. Clare: There will be a procession of Nuns by
torch-light, and I shall be among them. Beware not to let your
intention be known: Should a syllable be dropt to excite the Domina’s
suspicions, you will never hear of me more. Be cautious, if you prize
the memory of Agnes, and wish to punish her Assassins. I have that to
tell, will freeze your blood with horror.
“ST. URSULA.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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