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her chamber till She exchanges this Castle for the Cloister。
Solitude will perhaps recall her to a sense of her duty： But to
prevent your opposing that wished event； I must inform you； Don
Alphonso； that your presence here is no longer agreeable either
to the Baron or Myself。 It was not to talk nonsense to my Niece
that your Relations sent you to Germany： Your business was to
travel； and I should be sorry to impede any longer so excellent a
design。 Farewell； Segnor； Remember； that tomorrow morning we
meet for the last time。'
Having said this； She darted upon me a look of pride； contempt；
and malice； and quitted the apartment。 I also retired to mine；
and consumed the night in planning the means of rescuing Agnes
from the power of her tyrannical Aunt。
After the positive declaration of its Mistress； it was impossible
for me to make a longer stay at the Castle of Lindenberg。
Accordingly I the next day announced my immediate departure。 The
Baron declared that it gave him sincere pain； and He expressed
himself in my favour so warmly； that I endeavoured to win him
over to my interest。 Scarcely had I mentioned the name of Agnes
when He stopped me short； and said； that it was totally out of
his power to interfere in the business。 I saw that it was in
vain to argue； The Baroness governed her Husband with despotic
sway； and I easily perceived that She had prejudiced him against
the match。 Agnes did not appear： I entreated permission to take
leave of her； but my prayer was rejected。 I was obliged to
depart without seeing her。
At quitting him the Baron shook my hand affectionately； and
assured me that as soon as his Niece was gone； I might consider
his House as my own。
'Farewell； Don Alphonso！' said the Baroness； and stretched out
her hand to me。
I took it； and offered to carry it to my lips。 She prevented me。
Her Husband was at the other end of the room； and out of hearing。
'Take care of yourself；' She continued； 'My love is become
hatred； and my wounded pride shall not be unatoned。 Go where
you will； my vengeance shall follow you！'
She accompanied these words with a look sufficient to make me
tremble。 I answered not； but hastened to quit the Castle。
As my Chaise drove out of the Court； I looked up to the windows
of your Sister's chamber。 Nobody was to be seen there： I threw
myself back despondent in my Carriage。 I was attended by no
other servants than a Frenchman whom I had hired at Strasbourg
in Stephano's room； and my little Page whom I before mentioned to
you。 The fidelity； intelligence； and good temper of Theodore had
already made him dear to me； But He now prepared to lay an
obligation on me； which made me look upon him as a Guardian
Genius。 Scarcely had we proceeded half a mile from the Castle；
when He rode up to the Chaise…door。
'Take courage； Segnor！' said He in Spanish； which He had already
learnt to speak with fluency and correctness。 'While you were
with the Baron； I watched the moment when Dame Cunegonda was
below stairs； and mounted into the chamber over that of Donna
Agnes。 I sang as loud as I could a little German air well…known
to her； hoping that She would recollect my voice。 I was not
disappointed； for I soon heard her window open。 I hastened to
let down a string with which I had provided myself： Upon hearing
the casement closed again； I drew up the string； and fastened to
it I found this scrap of paper。'
He then presented me with a small note addressed to me。 I opened
it with impatience： It contained the following words written in
pencil：
Conceal yourself for the next fortnight in some neighbouring
Village。 My Aunt will believe you to have quitted Lindenberg；
and I shall be restored to liberty。 I will be in the West
Pavilion at twelve on the night of the thirtieth。 Fail not to be
there； and we shall have an opportunity of concerting our future
plans。 Adieu。 Agnes。
At perusing these lines my transports exceeded all bounds；
Neither did I set any to the expressions of gratitude which I
heaped upon Theodore。 In fact his address and attention merited
my warmest praise。 You will readily believe that I had not
entrusted him with my passion for Agnes； But the arch Youth had
too much discernment not to discover my secret； and too much
discretion not to conceal his knowledge of it。 He observed in
silence what was going on； nor strove to make himself an Agent in
the business till my interests required his interference。 I
equally admired his judgment； his penetration； his address； and
his fidelity。 This was not the first occasion in which I had
found him of infinite use； and I was every day more convinced of
his quickness and capacity。 During my short stay at Strasbourg；
He had applied himself diligently to learning the rudiments of
Spanish： He continued to study it； and with so much success that
He spoke it with the same facility as his native language。 He
past the greatest part of his time in reading； He had acquired
much information for his Age； and united the advantages of a
lively countenance and prepossessing figure to an excellent
understanding and the very best of hearts。 He is now fifteen； He
is still in my service； and when you see him； I am sure that He
will please you。 But excuse this digression： I return to the
subject which I quitted。
I obeyed the instructions of Agnes。 I proceeded to Munich。
There I left my Chaise under the care of Lucas； my French
Servant； and then returned on Horseback to a small Village about
four miles distant from the Castle of Lindenberg。 Upon arriving
there a story was related to the Host at whose Inn I descended；
which prevented his wondering at my making so long a stay in his
House。 The old Man fortunately was credulous and incurious： He
believed all I said； and sought to know no more than what I
thought proper to tell him。 Nobody was with me but Theodore；
Both were disguised； and as we kept ourselves close； we were not
suspected to be other than what we seemed。 In this manner the
fortnight passed away。 During that time I had the pleasing
conviction that Agnes was once more at liberty。 She past through
the Village with Dame Cunegonda： She seemed in health and
spirits； and talked to her Companion without any appearance of
constraint。
'Who are those Ladies？' said I to my Host； as the Carriage past。
'Baron Lindenberg's Niece with her Governess；' He replied； 'She
goes regularly every Friday to the Convent of St。 Catharine； in
which She was brought up； and which is situated about a mile from
hence。'
You may be certain that I waited with impatience for the ensuing
Friday。 I again beheld my lovely Mistress。 She cast her eyes
upon me； as She passed the Inn…door。 A blush which overspread
her cheek told me that in spite of my disguise I had been
recognised。 I bowed profoundly。 She returned the compliment by
a slight inclination of the head as if made to one inferior； and
looked another way till the Carriage was out of sight。
The long…expected； long…wished for night arrived。 It was calm；
and the Moon was at the full。 As soon as the Clock struck eleven
I ha