a few moments, but was prevented by the arrival of the Friars.
Manfred angrily reprimanded them for their intrusion, and would
have forced them back from the chamber; but Jerome was too much
agitated to be repulsed. He declared aloud the flight of Isabella,
with protestations of his own innocence.

Manfred, distracted at the news, and not less at its coming to the
knowledge of the strangers, uttered nothing but incoherent
sentences, now upbraiding the Friar, now apologising to the
Knights, earnest to know what was become of Isabella, yet equally
afraid of their knowing; impatient to pursue her, yet dreading to
have them join in the pursuit. He offered to despatch messengers
in quest of her, but the chief Knight, no longer keeping silence,
reproached Manfred in bitter terms for his dark and ambiguous
dealing, and demanded the cause of Isabella's first absence from
the castle. Manfred, casting a stern look at Jerome, implying a
command of silence, pretended that on Conrad's death he had placed
her in sanctuary until he could determine how to dispose of her.
Jerome, who trembled for his son's life, did not dare contradict
this falsehood, but one of his brethren, not under the same
anxiety, declared frankly that she had fled to their church in the
preceding night. The Prince in vain endeavoured to stop this
discovery, which overwhelmed him with shame and confusion. The
principal stranger, amazed at the contradictions he heard, and more
than half persuaded that Manfred had secreted the Princess,
notwithstanding the concern he expressed at her flight, rushing to
the door, said -

"Thou traitor Prince! Isabella shall be found."