.'

'You have only this to do. Admit me into the burying-ground at
midnight; Watch while I descend into the vaults of St. Clare, lest some
prying eye should observe my actions; Leave me there alone for an hour,
and that life is safe which I dedicate to your pleasures. To prevent
creating suspicion, do not visit me during the day. Remember the Key,
and that I expect you before twelve. Hark! I hear steps approaching!
Leave me; I will pretend to sleep.'

The Friar obeyed, and left the Cell. As He opened the door, Father
Pablos made his appearance.

'I come,' said the Latter, 'to enquire after the health of my young
Patient.'

'Hush!' replied Ambrosio, laying his finger upon his lip; 'Speak
softly; I am just come from him. He has fallen into a profound
slumber, which doubtless will be of service to him. Do not disturb him
at present, for He wishes to repose.'

Father Pablos obeyed, and hearing the Bell ring, accompanied the Abbot
to Matins. Ambrosio felt embarrassed as He entered the Chapel. Guilt
was new to him, and He fancied that every eye could read the
transactions of the night upon his countenance. He strove to pray; His
bosom no longer glowed with devotion; His thoughts insensibly wandered
to Matilda's secret charms. But what He wanted in purity of heart, He
supplied by exterior sanctity. The better to cloak his transgression,
He redoubled his pretensions to the semblance of virtue, and never
appeared more devoted to Heaven as since He had broken through his
engagements. Thus did He unconsciously add Hypocrisy to perjury and
incontinence; He had fallen into the latter errors from yielding to
seduction almost irresistible; But he was now guilty of a voluntary
fault by endeavouring to conceal those into which Another had betrayed
him.

The Matins concluded, Ambrosio retired to his Cell. The pleasures
which He had just tasted for the first time were still impressed upon
his mind. His brain was bewildered, and presented a confused Chaos of
remorse, voluptuousness, inquietude, and fear. He looked back with
regret to that peace of soul, that security of virtue, which till then
had been his portion. He had indulged in excesses whose very idea but
four and twenty hours before He had recoiled at with horror. He
shuddered at reflecting that a trifling indiscretion on his part, or on
Matilda's, would overturn that fabric of reputation which it had cost
him thirty years to erect, and render him the abhor