ldered by the Labyrinth of
passages, and dispersed in various directions. Carried away by his
eagerness to clear up this mystery, and to penetrate into which He was
impelled by a movement secret and unaccountable, Lorenzo heeded not
this circumstance till He found himself in total solitude. The noise of
footsteps had ceased. All was silent around, and no clue offered
itself to guide him to the flying Person. He stopped to reflect on the
means most likely to aid his pursuit. He was persuaded that no common
cause would have induced the Fugitive to seek that dreary place at an
hour so unusual: The cry which He had heard, seemed uttered in a voice
of terror, and He was convinced that some mystery was attached to this
event. After some minutes past in hesitation He continued to proceed,
feeling his way along the walls of the passage. He had already past
some time in this slow progress, when He descried a spark of light
glimmering at a distance. Guided by this observation, and having drawn
his sword, He bent his steps towards the place, whence the beam seemed
to be emitted.

It proceeded from the Lamp which flamed before St. Clare's Statue.
Before it stood several Females, their white Garments streaming in the
blast, as it howled along the vaulted dungeons. Curious to know what
had brought them together in this melancholy spot, Lorenzo drew near
with precaution. The Strangers seemed earnestly engaged in
conversation. They heard not Lorenzo's steps, and He approached
unobserved, till He could hear their voices distinctly.

'I protest,' continued She who was speaking when He arrived, and to
whom the rest were listening with great attention; 'I protest, that I
saw them with my own eyes. I flew down the steps; They pursued me, and
I escaped falling into their hands with difficulty. Had it not been
for the Lamp, I should never have found you.'

'And what could bring them hither?' said another in a trembling voice;
'Do you think that they were looking for us?'

'God grant that my fears may be false,' rejoined the First; 'But I
doubt they are Murderers! If they discover us, we are lost! As for me,
my fate is certain: My affinity to the Prioress will be a sufficient
crime to condemn me; and though till now these Vaults have afforded me
a retreat.......'

Here looking up, her eye fell upon Lorenzo, who had continued to
approach softly.

'The Murderers!' She cried--

She started away from the Statue's Pedestal on w