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streaming in the blast； as it howled along the vaulted dungeons。
Curious to know what had brought them together in this melancholy
spot； Lorenzo drew near with precaution。 The Strangers seemed
earnestly engaged in conversation。 They heard not Lorenzo's
steps； and He approached unobserved； till He could hear their
voices distinctly。
'I protest；' continued She who was speaking when He arrived； and
to whom the rest were listening with great attention； 'I protest；
that I saw them with my own eyes。 I flew down the steps； They
pursued me； and I escaped falling into their hands with
difficulty。 Had it not been for the Lamp； I should never have
found you。'
'And what could bring them hither？' said another in a trembling
voice； 'Do you think that they were looking for us？'
'God grant that my fears may be false；' rejoined the First； 'But
I doubt they are Murderers！ If they discover us； we are lost！
As for me； my fate is certain： My affinity to the Prioress will
be a sufficient crime to condemn me； and though till now these
Vaults have afforded me a retreat。 。 。 。 。 。 。'
Here looking up； her eye fell upon Lorenzo； who had continued to
approach softly。
'The Murderers！' She cried
She started away from the Statue's Pedestal on which She had been
seated； and attempted to escape by flight。 Her Companions at the
same moment uttered a terrified scream； while Lorenzo arrested
the Fugitive by the arm。 Frightened and desperate She sank upon
her knees before him。
'Spare me！' She exclaimed； 'For Christ's sake； spare me！ I am
innocent； indeed； I am！'
While She spoke； her voice was almost choaked with fear。 The
beams of the Lamp darting full upon her face which was unveiled；
Lorenzo recognized the beautiful Virginia de Villa…Franca。 He
hastened to raise her from the ground； and besought her to take
courage。 He promised to protect her from the Rioters； assured
her that her retreat was still a secret； and that She might
depend upon his readiness to defend her to the last drop of his
blood。 During this conversation； the Nuns had thrown themselves
into various attitudes： One knelt； and addressed herself to
heaven； Another hid her face in the lap of her Neighbour； Some
listened motionless with fear to the discourse of the supposed
Assassin； while Others embraced the Statue of St。 Clare； and
implored her protection with frantic cries。 On perceiving their
mistake； they crowded round Lorenzo and heaped benedictions on
him by dozens。 He found that； on hearing the threats of the Mob；
and terrified by the cruelties which from the Convent Towers
they had seen inflicted on the Superior； many of the Pensioners
and Nuns had taken refuge in the Sepulchre。 Among the former was
to be reckoned the lovely Virginia。 Nearly related to the
Prioress； She had more reason than the rest to dread the Rioters；
and now besought Lorenzo earnestly not to abandon her to their
rage。 Her Companions； most of whom were Women of noble family；
made the same request； which He readily granted。 He promised not
to quit them； till He had seen each of them safe in the arms of
her Relations： But He advised their deferring to quit the
Sepulchre for some time longer； when the popular fury should be
somewhat calmed； and the arrival of military force have dispersed
the multitude。
'Would to God！' cried Virginia； 'That I were already safe in my
Mother's embraces！ How say you； Segnor； Will it be long； ere we
may leave this place？ Every moment that I pass here； I pass in
torture！'
'I hope； not long；' said He； 'But till you can proceed with
security； this Sepulchre will prove an impenetrable asylum。 Here
you run no risque of a discovery； and I would advise your
remaining quiet for the next two or three hours。'
'Two or three hours？' exclaimed Sister Helena； 'If I stay another
hour in these vaults； I shall expire with fear！ Not the wealth
of worlds should bribe me to undergo again what I have suffered
since my coming hither。 Blessed Virgin！ To be in this melancholy
place in the middle of night； surrounded by the mouldering bodies
of my deceased Companions； and expecting every moment to be torn
in pieces by their Ghosts who wander about me； and complain； and
groan； and wail in accents that make my blood run cold； 。 。 。 。 。
。 Christ Jesus！ It is enough to drive me to madness！'
'Excuse me；' replied Lorenzo； 'if I am surprized that while
menaced by real woes you are capable of yielding to imaginary
dangers。 These terrors are puerile and groundless： Combat them；
holy Sister； I have promised to guard you from the Rioters； but
against the attacks of superstition you must depend for
protection upon yourself。 The idea of Ghosts is ridiculous in the
extreme； And if you continue to be swayed by ideal terrors 。 。 。
。 。 。'
'Ideal？' exclaimed the Nuns with one voice； 'Why we heard it
ourselves； Segnor！ Every one of us heard it！ It was frequently
repeated； and it sounded every time more melancholy and deep。
You will never persuade me that we could all have been deceived。
Not we； indeed； No； no； Had the noise been merely created by
fancy 。 。 。 。'
'Hark！ Hark！' interrupted Virginia in a voice of terror； 'God
preserve us！ There it is again！'
The Nuns clasped their hands together； and sank upon their knees。
Lorenzo looked round him eagerly； and was on the point of
yielding to the fears which already had possessed the Women。
Universal silence prevailed。 He examined the Vault； but nothing
was to be seen。 He now prepared to address the Nuns； and
ridicule their childish apprehensions； when his attention was
arrested by a deep and long…drawn groan。
'What was that？' He cried； and started。
'There； Segnor！' said Helena； 'Now you must be convinced！ You
have heard the noise yourself！ Now judge； whether our terrors
are imaginary。 Since we have been here； that groaning has been
repeated almost every five minutes。 Doubtless； it proceeds from
some Soul in pain； who wishes to be prayed out of purgatory： But
none of us here dares ask it the question。 As for me； were I to
see an Apparition； the fright； I am very certain； would kill me
out of hand。'
As She said this； a second groan was heard yet more distinctly。
The Nuns crossed themselves； and hastened to repeat their prayers
against evil Spirits。 Lorenzo listened attentively。 He even
thought that He could distinguish sounds； as of one speaking in
complaint； But distance rendered them inarticulate。 The noise
seemed to come from the midst of the small Vault in which He and
the Nuns then were； and which a multitude of passages branching
out in various directions； formed into a sort of Star。 Lorenzo's
curiosity which was ever awake； made him anxious to solve this
mystery。 He desired that silence might be kept。 The Nuns obeyed
him。 All was hushed； till the general stillness was again
disturbed by the groaning； which was repeated several times
successively。 He perceived it to be most audible； when upon
following the sound He was conducted close to the shrine of St。
Clare；
'The noise comes from hence；' said He； 'Whose is this Statue？'
Helena； to whom He addressed the question； paused for