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Clare；
'The noise comes from hence；' said He； 'Whose is this Statue？'
Helena； to whom He addressed the question； paused for a moment。
Suddenly She clapped her hands together。
'Aye！' cried She； 'it must be so。 I have discovered the meaning
of these groans。'
The Nuns crowded round her； and besought her eagerly to explain
herself。 She gravely replied that for time immemorial the
Statue had been famous for performing miracles： From this She
inferred that the Saint was concerned at the conflagration of a
Convent which She protected； and expressed her grief by audible
lamentations。 Not having equal faith in the miraculous Saint；
Lorenzo did not think this solution of the mystery quite so
satisfactory； as the Nuns； who subscribed to it without
hesitation。 In one point； 'tis true； that He agreed with Helena。
He suspected that the groans proceeded from the Statue： The more
He listened； the more was He confirmed in this idea。 He drew
nearer to the Image； designing to inspect it more closely： But
perceiving his intention； the Nuns besought him for God's sake to
desist； since if He touched the Statue； his death was inevitable。
'And in what consists the danger？' said He。
'Mother of God！ In what？' replied Helena； ever eager to relate a
miraculous adventure； 'If you had only heard the hundredth part
of those marvellous Stories about this Statue which the Domina
used to recount！ She assured us often and often； that if we only
dared to lay a finger upon it； we might expect the most fatal
consequences。 Among other things She told us that a Robber
having entered these Vaults by night； He observed yonder Ruby；
whose value is inestimable。 Do you see it； Segnor？ It sparkles
upon the third finger of the hand； in which She holds a crown of
Thorns。 This Jewel naturally excited the Villain's cupidity。 He
resolved to make himself Master of it。 For this purpose He
ascended the Pedestal： He supported himself by grasping the
Saint's right arm； and extended his own towards the Ring。 What
was his surprize； when He saw the Statue's hand raised in a
posture of menace； and heard her lips pronounce his eternal
perdition！ Penetrated with awe and consternation； He desisted
from his attempt； and prepared to quit the Sepulchre。 In this He
also failed。 Flight was denied him。 He found it impossible to
disengage the hand； which rested upon the right arm of the
Statue。 In vain did He struggle： He remained fixed to the
Image； till the insupportable and fiery anguish which darted
itself through his veins； compelled his shrieking for assistance。
The Sepulchre was now filled with Spectators。 The Villain
confessed his sacrilege； and was only released by the separation
of his hand from his body。 It has remained ever since fastened
to the Image。 The Robber turned Hermit； and led ever after an
exemplary life： But yet the Saint's decree was performed； and
Tradition says that He continues to haunt this Sepulchre； and
implore St。 Clare's pardon with groans and lamentations。 Now I
think of it； those which we have just heard； may very possibly
have been uttered by the Ghost of this Sinner： But of this I will
not be positive。 All that I can say is； that since that time no
one has ever dared to touch the Statue： Then do not be
foolhardy； good Segnor！ For the love of heaven； give up your
design； nor expose yourself unnecessarily to certain
destruction。'
Not being convinced that his destruction would be so certain as
Helena seemed to think it； Lorenzo persisted in his resolution。
The Nuns besought him to desist in piteous terms； and even
pointed out the Robber's hand； which in effect was still visible
upon the arm of the Statue。 This proof； as they imagined； must
convince him。 It was very far from doing so； and they were
greatly scandalized when he declared his suspicion that the
dried and shrivelled fingers had been placed there by order of
the Prioress。 In spite of their prayers and threats He
approached the Statue。 He sprang over the iron Rails which
defended it； and the Saint underwent a thorough examination。
The Image at first appeared to be of Stone； but proved on further
inspection to be formed of no more solid materials than coloured
Wood。 He shook it； and attempted to move it； But it appeared to
be of a piece with the Base which it stood upon。 He examined it
over and over： Still no clue guided him to the solution of this
mystery； for which the Nuns were become equally solicitous； when
they saw that He touched the Statue with impunity。 He paused；
and listened： The groans were repeated at intervals； and He was
convinced of being in the spot nearest to them。 He mused upon
this singular event； and ran over the Statue with enquiring eyes。
Suddenly they rested upon the shrivelled hand。 It struck him；
that so particular an injunction was not given without cause； not
to touch the arm of the Image。 He again ascended the Pedestal；
He examined the object of his attention； and discovered a small
knob of iron concealed between the Saint's shoulder and what was
supposed to have been the hand of the Robber。 This observation
delighted him。 He applied his fingers to the knob； and pressed
it down forcibly。 Immediately a rumbling noise was heard within
the Statue； as if a chain tightly stretched was flying back。
Startled at the sound the timid Nuns started away； prepared to
hasten from the Vault at the first appearance of danger。 All
remaining quiet and still； they again gathered round Lorenzo； and
beheld his proceedings with anxious curiosity。
Finding that nothing followed this discovery； He descended。 As
He took his hand from the Saint； She trembled beneath his touch。
This created new terrors in the Spectators； who believed the
Statue to be animated。 Lorenzo's ideas upon the subject were
widely different。 He easily comprehended that the noise which He
had heard； was occasioned by his having loosened a chain which
attached the Image to its Pedestal。 He once more attempted to
move it； and succeeded without much exertion。 He placed it upon
the ground； and then perceived the Pedestal to be hollow； and
covered at the opening with an heavy iron grate。
This excited such general curiosity that the Sisters forgot both
their real and imaginary dangers。 Lorenzo proceeded to raise the
Grate； in which the Nuns assisted him to the utmost of their
strength。 The attempt was accomplished with little difficulty。
A deep abyss now presented itself before them； whose thick
obscurity the eye strove in vain to pierce。 The rays of the Lamp
were too feeble to be of much assistance。 Nothing was
discernible； save a flight of rough unshapen steps which sank
into the yawning Gulph and were soon lost in darkness。 The
groans were heard no more； But All believed them to have ascended
from this Cavern。 As He bent over it； Lorenzo fancied that He
distinguished something bright twinkling through the gloom。 He
gazed attentively upon the spot where it showed itself； and was
convinced that He saw a small spark of light； now visible； now
disappearing。 He communicated this circumstance to the Nuns：
They also perceived the spark； But when H