The difficulty of colouring Antonia's unexpected return to life, after her supposed death and public interment, was the only point which kept him irresolute.

He was still pondering on the means of removing this obstacle, when He heard the sound of feet approaching with precipitation.

The door of the Vault was thrown open, and Matilda rushed in, evidently much confused and terrified.
On seeing a Stranger enter, Antonia uttered a cry of joy: But her hopes of receiving succour from him were soon dissipated.

The supposed Novice, without expressing the least surprize at finding a Woman alone with the Monk, in so strange a place, and at so late an hour, addressed him thus without losing a moment.
'What is to be done, Ambrosio?
We are lost, unless some speedy means is found of dispelling the Rioters.

Ambrosio, the Convent of St.Clare is on fire; The Prioress has fallen a victim to the fury of the Mob.
Already is the Abbey menaced with a similar fate.