of gentle birth."

"I told you, Madam," said Bianca, "that I was sure he was some
Prince in disguise."

"Yet," said Matilda, "if he was privy to her escape, how will you
account for his not accompanying her in her flight? why expose
himself unnecessarily and rashly to my father's resentment?"

"As for that, Madam," replied she, "if he could get from under the
helmet, he will find ways of eluding your father's anger. I do not
doubt but he has some talisman or other about him."

"You resolve everything into magic," said Matilda; "but a man who
has any intercourse with infernal spirits, does not dare to make
use of those tremendous and holy words which he uttered. Didst
thou not observe with what fervour he vowed to remember ME to
heaven in his prayers? Yes; Isabella was undoubtedly convinced of
his piety."

"Commend me to the piety of a young fellow and a damsel that
consult to elope!" said Bianca. "No, no, Madam, my Lady Isabella
is of another guess mould than you take her for. She used indeed
to sigh and lift up her eyes in your company, because she knows you
are a saint; but when your back was turned--"

"You wrong her," said Matilda; "Isabella is no hypocrite; she has a
due sense of devotion, but never affected a call she has not. On
the contrary, she always combated my inclination for the cloister;
and though I own the mystery she has made to me of her flight