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Clare's Laboratory。 Hasten then to the Prioress； Request of her
admission to the Laboratory； and it will not be denied。 There is
a Closet at the lower end of the great Room； filled with liquids
of different colours and qualities。 The Bottle in question
stands by itself upon the third shelf on the left。 It contains a
greenish liquor： Fill a small phial with it when you are
unobserved； and Antonia is your own。'
The Monk hesitated not to adopt this infamous plan。 His desires；
but too violent before； had acquired fresh vigour from the sight
of Antonia。 As He sat by her bedside； accident had discovered to
him some of those charms which till then had been concealed from
him： He found them even more perfect； than his ardent imagination
had pictured them。 Sometimes her white and polished arm was
displayed in arranging the pillow： Sometimes a sudden movement
discovered part of her swelling bosom： But whereever the
new…found charm presented itself； there rested the Friar's
gloting eyes。 Scarcely could He master himself sufficiently to
conceal his desires from Antonia and her vigilant Duenna。
Inflamed by the remembrance of these beauties； He entered into
Matilda's scheme without hesitation。
No sooner were Matins over than He bent his course towards the
Convent of St。 Clare： His arrival threw the whole Sisterhood
into the utmost amazement。 The Prioress was sensible of the
honour done her Convent by his paying it his first visit； and
strove to express her gratitude by every possible attention。 He
was paraded through the Garden； shown all the reliques of Saints
and Martyrs； and treated with as much respect and distinction as
had He been the Pope himself。 On his part； Ambrosio received the
Domina's civilities very graciously； and strove to remove her
surprize at his having broken through his resolution。 He stated；
that among his penitents； illness prevented many from quitting
their Houses。 These were exactly the People who most needed his
advice and the comforts of Religion： Many representations had
been made to him upon this account； and though highly repugnant
to his own wishes； He had found it absolutely necessary for the
service of heaven to change his determination； and quit his
beloved retirement。 The Prioress applauded his zeal in his
profession and his charity towards Mankind： She declared that
Madrid was happy in possessing a Man so perfect and
irreproachable。 In such discourse； the Friar at length reached
the Laboratory。 He found the Closet： The Bottle stood in the
place which Matilda had described； and the Monk seized an
opportunity to fill his phial unobserved with the soporific
liquor。 Then having partaken of a Collation in the Refectory； He
retired from the Convent pleased with the success of his visit；
and leaving the Nuns delighted by the honour conferred upon them。
He waited till Evening before He took the road to Antonia's
dwelling。 Jacintha welcomed him with transport； and besought him
not to forget his promise to pass the night in the haunted
Chamber： That promise He now repeated。 He found Antonia
tolerably well； but still harping upon the Ghost's prediction。
Flora moved not from her Lady's Bed； and by symptoms yet stronger
than on the former night testified her dislike to the Abbot's
presence。 Still Ambrosio affected not to observe them。 The
Physician arrived； while He was conversing with Antonia。 It was
dark already； Lights were called for； and Flora was compelled to
descend for them herself。 However； as She left a third Person in
the room； and expected to be absent but a few minutes； She
believed that She risqued nothing in quitting her post。 No
sooner had She left the room； than Ambrosio moved towards the
Table； on which stood Antonia's medicine： It was placed in a
recess of the window。 The Physician seated in an armed…chair；
and employed in questioning his Patient； paid no attention to the
proceedings of the Monk。 Ambrosio seized the opportunity： He
drew out the fatal Phial； and let a few drops fall into the
medicine。 He then hastily left the Table； and returned to the
seat which He had quitted。 When Flora made her appearance with
lights； every thing seemed to be exactly as She had left it。
The Physician declared that Antonia might quit her chamber the
next day with perfect safety。 He recommended her following the
same prescription which； on the night before； had procured her a
refreshing sleep： Flora replied that the draught stood ready
upon the Table： He advised the Patient to take it without delay；
and then retired。 Flora poured the medicine into a Cup and
presented it to her Mistress。 At that moment Ambrosio's courage
failed him。 Might not Matilda have deceived him？ Might not
Jealousy have persuaded her to destroy her Rival； and substitute
poison in the room of an opiate？ This idea appeared so
reasonable that He was on the point of preventing her from
swallowing the medicine。 His resolution was adopted too late：
The Cup was already emptied； and Antonia restored it into Flora's
hands。 No remedy was now to be found： Ambrosio could only
expect the moment impatiently； destined to decide upon Antonia's
life or death； upon his own happiness or despair。
Dreading to create suspicion by his stay； or betray himself by
his mind's agitation； He took leave of his Victim； and withdrew
from the room。 Antonia parted from him with less cordiality than
on the former night。 Flora had represented to her Mistress that
to admit his visits was to disobey her Mother's orders： She
described to her his emotion on entering the room； and the fire
which sparkled in his eyes while He gazed upon her。 This had
escaped Antonia's observation； but not her Attendant's； Who
explaining the Monk's designs and their probable consequences in
terms much clearer than Elvira's； though not quite so delicate；
had succeeded in alarming her young Lady； and persuading her to
treat him more distantly than She had done hitherto。 The idea of
obeying her Mother's will at once determined Antonia。 Though She
grieved at losing his society； She conquered herself sufficiently
to receive the Monk with some degree of reserve and coldness。
She thanked him with respect and gratitude for his former visits；
but did not invite his repeating them in future。 It now was not
the Friar's interest to solicit admission to her presence； and He
took leave of her as if not designing to return。 Fully
persuaded that the acquaintance which She dreaded was now at an
end； Flora was so much worked upon by his easy compliance that
She began to doubt the justice of her suspicions。 As She lighted
him down Stairs； She thanked him for having endeavoured to root
out from Antonia's mind her superstitious terrors of the
Spectre's prediction： She added； that as He seemed interested in
Donna Antonia's welfare； should any change take place in her
situation； She would be careful to let him know it。 The Monk in
replying took pains to raise his voice； hoping that Jacintha
would hear it。 In this He succeeded； As He reached the foot of
the Stairs with his Conductress； the Landlady failed not to make
her appearance。
'Why surely y