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The first is, that while Lucy was relating her adventures more

minutely to the good widow, she recurred to the signora, who had

afforded her an asylum, in the convent of Monza, and in return

learnt many things which afforded her the solution to numerous

mysteries, and filled her with sorrow and astonishment. She

learnt, too, that the unfortunate signora, falling afterwards

under the most horrible suspicions, had been, by order of the

cardinal, transferred to a convent at Milan; that there, after

having given herself up for a time to rage and despair, she had

at last made her confession and repented of her crimes; and that

her present life was one of severe and voluntary penance. If any

one desires to know the details of her sad history, it will be

found in the author we have so often quoted.[36]

[36] Ripamonti.