I unwarily dropped some words at the funeral of Agnes, while thrown off my guard by excessive grief, which alarmed the guilty conscience of the Prioress.

My every action was observed; My every step was traced.

I was constantly surrounded by the Superior's spies.

It was long before I could find the means of conveying to the unhappy Girl's Relations an intimation of my secret.

It was given out that Agnes had expired suddenly: This account was credited not only by her Friends in Madrid, but even by those within the Convent.