Forgive me!"

"I an imp of the devil!--I, who had an aunt who died in odour of
sanctity, in the convent of Santa Clara--I, who am second cousin to Fray
Domingo, one of the most religious as well as most celebrated preachers
of the day!"

"May the curse of Heaven fall on thee, and him, and all thy race."

"Do not swear," interrupted Martha; "Oh! do not swear--you fright me--I
shall faint."

"Avaunt, thou detested hag!" continued Don Manuel.

"_San Pedro y san Pablo!_" cried the duenna.

"Thou poisonous crocodile!" replied Don Manuel.

"_San Jose bendito!_" responded the duenna.

"Abominable fiend!" returned Don Manuel.

"_Animas benditas!_" answered the duenna.

This extraordinary litany, however, was at length cut short by the
arrival of Don Antonio de Leyva. He was not a little surprised at the
scene which presented itself, and was for some time unable to obtain an
explanation. When he at length arrived at a knowledge of the affair, his
astonishment and sorrow were exhibited in the most lively manner.

"Alas!" he cried, "I could not but suspect from my first interview with
Theodora, that her affections were fixed on another object."

"Oh, no, no," eagerly replied Don Manuel--"you are far from the
mark--she cannot love any one--how could she form an attachment without
my knowledge?"

"Then," said Don Antonio, sighing, "it was to avoid my addresses that
she has sought a refuge in flight."

"_Jesus Maria!_" interposed the duenna--"Do not say so, Don Antonio--how
could she possibly object to so accomplished a cavalier?"

"Good dame," answered he, "it is not difficult to account for her
dislike; and I must acknowledge with painful sensations, that I am
chiefly to blame for this unfortunate occurrence."

"No, no," cried Monteblanco, pointing to Martha; "the person chiefly to
blame in this affair, is that detestable hag.--See how she crosses
herself, and rolls her eyes to impose upon our credulity; but it is all
over--I have been too long the dupe of her affected piety, and seeming
austerity of manners; my eyes are at length open to conviction, and I
see the despicable creature in her true colours."

"What reason," observed de Leyva, "can you assign for Theodora's strange
resolution, unless it be dislike to me, or love for another."

"Alas! I know not what to think," answered Don Manuel; "my mind is
bewildered, and all my conjectures may prove wrong. Perhaps some
hastiness in my way of proceeding may hav