dini. "But did you never learn by what means the sisters of Corpus Domini discovered your retreat in the cavern?"

It was through the puerile weakness of the wretch we trusted," rejoined the agitated Duca: "Abdiel heard the denunciations of the enraged sisterhood, and sunk under the bigotry of his nature; heard the Lady Abbess talk of purgatory and condemnation, till humanity, justice, gratitude, yielded to the fear of eternal torture. The curse of Heaven, he thought, would avenge a sacrilege so dreadful; the spouse of God stolen, as it were, from his bosom, rang a death-warrant to hope; and to save his soul, he severed the ties of wedded love, crushed the rich promises of happiness, plunged two confiding beings into misery, and shortened the days of the innocent, injured victim of religious fanaticism. Ah! surely, surely the Creator of the universe sanctions not a coercion so repugnant to every law of feeling and of nature! surely he approves not that nuga

VOL. 11.

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tory state of existence, which, by excluding the allurements of temptation, ex-. cludes likewise the pre-eminence of virtue,, and stamps inactivity and self-denial the road to eternal peace!"

Yielding a moment to his feelings, the Duca rose from his chair and paced the chamber; but presently recovering his, self command, he continued-" My Philippina escaped the power of her tyrants, not, as heretofore, to be regained, but for ever; she died, sweet saint and left me a mournful sojourner in this vale of tears; she died, and with her every hope, save from religion. 'Tis frue, many, many years have rolled away, since I witnessed the wreck of felicity; but, alas! memory presents it but as yesterday, and lingers with delusive fondness over the fleeting, shadow."

$

CHAP.

CHAP. III.

The devil can cite scripture for his purpose."

There's not a pain which age or sickness brings,

Is half so grievous

that the mind feels.

RowL

PLEASED with the society of Di Rinaldini, a fortnight elapsed ere the Duca di Monte Melissario propoed quitting Montranzo; and, even then, it was with a reluctance so sweetly grateful to the feelings of our hero, that he saw the intended dawn of departure break in the east, with an im-. pulse of regret, which could alone claim birth in friendship. Feeling for the similarity of each other's misfortunes, imperceptibly

Ę 2

can

ceptibly had interest grown into esteem, imperceptibly had interest given birth to a sensation, which whispered their hearts yet alive to the social influence of nature.In the death of the Marchese di Montranzo, the Duca concluded the energies of friendship exhausted; but there now arose didate not to be resisted, a candidate clothed in the resemblance of his departed friend, and stealing into his confidence.— "Interesting young man," he exclaimed, pressing, in the moment of adieu, the hand of Huberto, "your misfortunes excite my compassion, your virtues my regard. Should ever the effects of hatred, malignancy, or revenge, which I still think instigates the seeming mysteries of Móntranzo, by jaundicing the mind of superstition, work to your undoing, remember to claim, from my friendship, en alleviating balm-from my gratitude, an exertion of

service."

Di Rinaldini acknowledged his thanks, though

though he acquiesced not in the suspicions of the Duca; he knew no being, whom, for a moment, imagination could blacken with an imputation so dreadful. 'Twas true, Father Brazilio had strongly opposed his marriage with Adelheida, but that warmth he concluded more to result from his interest in the aggrandizement of the Conte's family, than any lurking hatred towards himself: conscious that he had never offended, and judging by his own heart, he acquitted him of premeditated malice; and upon whom else could the accusation fall?

66

The Duca and his attendants had scarcely lost sight of Montranzo, when Vannina hastily joined Huberto, Signor," she exclaimed, it is all a pretence; Father Brazilio's mission has extended no further than his own cell."

"What mean you?" demanded Di Rinaldini.

"To talk so much of his calling, and his occupation

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