The Monk | Page 7

of such a thing. She is so obstinate! Well! She will find herself the
worse for not following my counsels: the Girl has a good pretty face,
and possibly might have done much.'
'Ah! Segnora,' interrupted Don Christoval, counterfeiting a passionate
air; 'If a pretty face will do the business, why has not your Sister
recourse to you?'
'Oh! Jesus! my Lord, I swear you quite overpower me with your
gallantry! But I promise you that I am too well aware of the danger of
such Expeditions to trust myself in a young Nobleman's power! No, no;
I have as yet preserved my reputation without blemish or reproach, and
I always knew how to keep the Men at a proper distance.'
'Of that, Segnora, I have not the least doubt. But permit me to ask you;
Have you then any aversion to Matrimony?'
'That is an home question. I cannot but confess, that if an amiable
Cavalier was to present himself. . . .'
Here She intended to throw a tender and significant look upon Don
Christoval; But, as She unluckily happened to squint most abominably,
the glance fell directly upon his Companion: Lorenzo took the
compliment to himself, and answered it by a profound bow.
'May I enquire,' said He, 'the name of the Marquis?'
'The Marquis de las Cisternas.'
'I know him intimately well. He is not at present in Madrid, but is

expected here daily. He is one of the best of Men; and if the lovely
Antonia will permit me to be her Advocate with him, I doubt not my
being able to make a favourable report of her cause.'
Antonia raised her blue eyes, and silently thanked him for the offer by a
smile of inexpressible sweetness. Leonella's satisfaction was much
more loud and audible: Indeed, as her Niece was generally silent in her
company, She thought it incumbent upon her to talk enough for both:
This She managed without difficulty, for She very seldom found
herself deficient in words.
'Oh! Segnor!' She cried; 'You will lay our whole family under the most
signal obligations! I accept your offer with all possible gratitude, and
return you a thousand thanks for the generosity of your proposal.
Antonia, why do not you speak, Child? While the Cavalier says all
sorts of civil things to you, you sit like a Statue, and never utter a
syllable of thanks, either bad, good, or indifferent!'
'My dear Aunt, I am very sensible that. . . .'
'Fye, Niece! How often have I told you, that you never should interrupt
a Person who is speaking!? When did you ever know me do such a
thing? Are these your Murcian manners? Mercy on me! I shall never be
able to make this Girl any thing like a Person of good breeding. But
pray, Segnor,' She continued, addressing herself to Don Christoval,
'inform me, why such a Crowd is assembled today in this Cathedral?'
'Can you possibly be ignorant, that Ambrosio, Abbot of this Monastery,
pronounces a Sermon in this Church every Thursday? All Madrid rings
with his praises. As yet He has preached but thrice; But all who have
heard him are so delighted with his eloquence, that it is as difficult to
obtain a place at Church, as at the first representation of a new Comedy.
His fame certainly must have reached your ears--'
'Alas! Segnor, till yesterday I never had the good fortune to see Madrid;
and at Cordova we are so little informed of what is passing in the rest
of the world, that the name of Ambrosio has never been mentioned in
its precincts.'

'You will find it in every one's mouth at Madrid. He seems to have
fascinated the Inhabitants; and not having attended his Sermons myself,
I am astonished at the Enthusiasm which He has excited. The adoration
paid him both by Young and Old, by Man and Woman is unexampled.
The Grandees load him with presents; Their Wives refuse to have any
other Confessor, and he is known through all the city by the name of
the ''Man of Holiness''.'
'Undoubtedly, Segnor, He is of noble origin--'
'That point still remains undecided. The late Superior of the Capuchins
found him while yet an Infant at the Abbey door. All attempts to
discover who had left him there were vain, and the Child himself could
give no account of his Parents. He was educated in the Monastery,
where He has remained ever since. He early showed a strong
inclination for study and retirement, and as soon as He was of a proper
age, He pronounced his vows. No one has ever appeared to claim him,
or clear up the mystery which conceals his birth; and the Monks, who
find their account in the favour which is shewn to