'Agnes was worse; The Physician had pronounced her to be in imminent danger; She was ordered to remain quiet, and it was utterly impossible for her to receive her Brother's visit.' Lorenzo stormed at this answer, but there was no resource.

He raved, He entreated, He threatened: No means were left untried to obtain a sight of Agnes.

His endeavours were as fruitless as those of the day before, and He returned in despair to the Marquis.
On his side, the Latter had spared no pains to discover what had occasioned his plot to fail: Don Christoval, to whom the affair was now entrusted, endeavoured to worm out the secret from the Old Porteress of St.Clare, with whom He had formed an acquaintance; But She was too much upon her guard, and He gained from her no intelligence.

The Marquis was almost distracted, and Lorenzo felt scarcely less inquietude.

Both were convinced that the purposed elopement must have been discovered: They doubted not but the malady of Agnes was a pretence, But they knew not by what means to rescue her from the hands of the Prioress.
Regularly every day did Lorenzo visit the Convent: As regularly was He informed that his Sister rather grew worse than better.