saints, though very holy personages
in their way, are by no means the proper persons to consult respecting
the discovery of stray damsels. She appeared to place more confidence in
her own exertions than in their assistance. She commenced a scrupulous
search in every part of the chamber, under and round about the bed, and
waddling out of the apartment, she left no corner in the house
unsearched.

Astonished at the duenna's activity, and puzzled to discover the cause,
the servants flocked around her, but to all their inquiries she gave no
other answer but interjections and exclamations, and such harsh guttural
sounds, that they began to suspect that the good dame had fairly lost
her wits.

The garden was now explored, but alas! with no better success, and the
perturbation of poor Martha's mind baffled all description.

It was some time before she could determine what course to pursue,
balancing in her mind whether it would be more prudent to avoid the
impending storm by flight, or boldly and confidently to encounter her
master's ire. Flight certainly is the method preferred on similar
occasions; but then by adopting it she would tacitly confess herself
guilty, and her tender reputation would be sullied with an indelible
stain; by bravely encountering, on the other hand, the irritated father,
she could stoutly deny all cognizance of the affair, and boldly call on
all the saints of Heaven to assert her innocence, witnesses to whose
testimony Martha always confidently appealed, being satisfied they would
have no inclination to contradict her.

Acting upon this idea, she left the garden, instilling into her
parchment features all the surprise and grief that she could muster up
at so short a notice.

In the meantime Monteblanco, heartily tired of sending message after
message, resolved to seek himself the cause of the duenna's protracted
absence.

"Martha--Martha," he cried, as soon as he saw her--"In the name of the
devil, what means this?"

"Hush, Don Manuel!" replied the duenna, with great solemnity of
manner--"Hush, venerated Senor; for sure enough the evil one has been at
work."

"What!" exclaimed the astonished Don Manuel, "explain yourself, and
quickly."

"Holy Virgin!" proceeded the dame, "that such a thing should happen in
my time!"

"In the name of God--Martha," cried again the father, in agony, "tell me
what misfortune has happened."

"Oh!" whined the duenna, struggling hard to force from her old ey