s, with many tears made a full confession. I expressed
the utmost horror and surprise; she embraced my knees, implored my
pardon, and then, pointing to the nettles, requested I would use them if
I thought proper. Having said this, she covered her face with her
hands, and remained on her knees in silence.

I must confess, that when I called to mind the punishment which had been
inflicted on me through her means, and the manner in which she had
attempted to betray me to my death, I felt very much inclined to revenge
myself by scourging her severely; but although the affection I once felt
for her had passed away, I had a natural tenderness for the sex, which
made me abandon this petty revenge. My object was to remove her, so
that I might not be recognised in my worldly attire; and she, I knew,
was the only person who could prove that I had killed her lover. I
therefore raised her up, and telling her that I was satisfied with her
repentance, and, as far as I was personally concerned, forgave her ill
treatment, desired her to repair to her confessor, who was the proper
person to award a punishment for such a catalogue of heinous crimes.
The next day I was in the confessional, when she narrated all that had
passed: I then told her she had nothing to do, but to propitiate Heaven
by dedicating her musical talents to its service; pointing out, that her
only chance of salvation was from immediately taking the veil. I
refused to listen to any other species of penance, however severe, for
which she gladly would have compromised the sentence. Goaded by her
conscience, miserable at the desertion and death of her lover, and
alarmed at the threats of excommunication, in less than a week she
repaired to the Ursuline Convent; and, after a short probation, she took
the veil, and was admitted as one of the sisterhood.

As soon as my only accuser was fairly locked up, I occasionally resumed
my dress and wig. I say occasionally, because in the society which I
chiefly delighted in, and in which I became the connoisseur of good
wine, that I asserted myself to be, when your highness overheard me, I
had no occasion for it, being quite as well received when I sang and
played the guitar in my monkish dress, as I should have been in my
other. Besides which, I never had to pay when in that costume, as I was
obliged to do when I sported the other; which was only put on when I
wished to make myself agreeable to any fair one. I hardly need obs