Although the conversation to which he subjected her had resulted in her favour, he had deemed it beneficial to place a priest who was devoted to him among the ecclesiastics in the little castle.
To surround her with spies chosen from the lay class was repugnant to his lofty nature.

Besides, they would have been superfluous; for a short time before his servant Cassian had asked permission to marry the marquise's French maid, and Alphonsine, who was neither young nor pretty, was inclined to all sorts of intrigues.

She supplied slow, pious Cassian's deficiencies in the best possible manner.

A chance word from the distinguished prelate had sufficed to make it their duty to watch Barbara and her visitors.
In Alphonsine's mistress, the Marquise de Leria, the almoner also possessed a willing tale-bearer.

She had avoided him since his refusal to commend her ruined son to the favour of his imperial penitent.