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proceed in thy cursed purpose of a divorce； until her sentence be known； and here I lance her anathema at thy head。〃
〃Audacious rebel！〃 said Manfred； endeavouring to conceal the awe with which the Friar's words inspired him。 〃Dost thou presume to threaten thy lawful Prince？〃
〃Thou art no lawful Prince；〃 said Jerome； 〃thou art no Prince … go； discuss thy claim with Frederic； and when that is done … 〃
〃It is done；〃 replied Manfred； 〃Frederic accepts Matilda's hand； and is content to waive his claim； unless I have no male issue〃 … as he spoke those words three drops of blood fell from the nose of Alfonso's statue。 Manfred turned pale； and the Princess sank on her knees。
〃Behold！〃 said the Friar； 〃mark this miraculous indication that the blood of Alfonso will never mix with that of Manfred！〃
〃My gracious Lord；〃 said Hippolita； 〃let us submit ourselves to heaven。 Think not thy ever obedient wife rebels against thy authority。 I have no will but that of my Lord and the Church。 To that revered tribunal let us appeal。 It does not depend on us to burst the bonds that unite us。 If the Church shall approve the dissolution of our marriage； be it so … I have but few years； and those of sorrow； to pass。 Where can they be worn away so well as at the foot of this altar； in prayers for thine and Matilda's safety？〃
〃But thou shalt not remain here until then；〃 said Manfred。 〃Repair with me to the castle； and there I will advise on the proper measures for a divorce； … but this meddling Friar comes not thither； my hospitable roof shall never more harbour a traitor … and for thy Reverence's off…spring；〃 continued he； 〃I banish him from my dominions。 He； I ween； is no sacred personage； nor under the protection of the Church。 Whoever weds Isabella； it shall not be Father Falconara's started…up son。〃
〃They start up；〃 said the Friar； 〃who are suddenly beheld in the seat of lawful Princes； but they wither away like the grass； and their place knows them no more。〃
Manfred； casting a look of scorn at the Friar； led Hippolita forth； but at the door of the church whispered one of his attendants to remain concealed about the convent； and bring him instant notice； if any one from the castle should repair thither。
CHAPTER V。
EVERY reflection which Manfred made on the Friar's behaviour； conspired to persuade him that Jerome was privy to an amour between Isabella and Theodore。 But Jerome's new presumption； so dissonant from his former meekness； suggested still deeper apprehensions。 The Prince even suspected that the Friar depended on some secret support from Frederic； whose arrival； coinciding with the novel appearance of Theodore； seemed to bespeak a correspondence。 Still more was he troubled with the resemblance of Theodore to Alfonso's portrait。 The latter he knew had unquestionably died without issue。 Frederic had consented to bestow Isabella on him。 These contradictions agitated his mind with numberless pangs。
He saw but two methods of extricating himself from his difficulties。 The one was to resign his dominions to the Marquis … pride； ambition； and his reliance on ancient prophecies； which had pointed out a possibility of his preserving them to his posterity； combated that thought。 The other was to press his marriage with Isabella。 After long ruminating on these anxious thoughts； as he marched silently with Hippolita to the castle； he at last discoursed with that Princess on the subject of his disquiet； and used every insinuating and plausible argument to extract her consent to； even her promise of promoting the divorce。 Hippolita needed little persuasions to bend her to his pleasure。 She endeavoured to win him over to the measure of resigning his dominions； but finding her exhortations fruitless； she assured him； that as far as her conscience would allow； she would raise no opposition to a separation； though without better founded scruples than what he yet alleged； she would not engage to be active in demanding it。
This compliance； though inadequate； was sufficient to raise Manfred's hopes。 He trusted that his power and wealth would easily advance his suit at the court of Rome； whither he resolved to engage Frederic to take a journey on purpose。 That Prince had discovered so much passion for Matilda； that Manfred hoped to obtain all he wished by holding out or withdrawing his daughter's charms； according as the Marquis should appear more or less disposed to co…operate in his views。 Even the absence of Frederic would be a material point gained； until he could take further measures for his security。
Dismissing Hippolita to her apartment； he repaired to that of the Marquis； but crossing the great hall through which he was to pass he met Bianca。 The damsel he knew was in the confidence of both the young ladies。 It immediately occurred to him to sift her on the subject of Isabella and Theodore。 Calling her aside into the recess of the oriel window of the hall； and soothing her with many fair words and promises； he demanded of her whether she knew aught of the state of Isabella's affections。
〃I！ my Lord！ no my Lord … yes my Lord … poor Lady！ she is wonderfully alarmed about her father's wounds； but I tell her he will do well； don't your Highness think so？〃
〃I do not ask you；〃 replied Manfred； 〃what she thinks about her father； but you are in her secrets。 Come； be a good girl and tell me； is there any young man … ha！ … you understand me。〃
〃Lord bless me！ understand your Highness？ no； not I。 I told her a few vulnerary herbs and repose … 〃
〃I am not talking；〃 replied the Prince； impatiently； 〃about her father； I know he will do well。〃
〃Bless me； I rejoice to hear your Highness say so； for though I thought it not right to let my young Lady despond； methought his greatness had a wan look； and a something … I remember when young Ferdinand was wounded by the Venetian … 〃
〃Thou answerest from the point；〃 interrupted Manfred； 〃but here； take this jewel； perhaps that may fix thy attention … nay； no reverences； my favour shall not stop here … come； tell me truly； how stands Isabella's heart？〃
〃Well！ your Highness has such a way！〃 said Bianca； 〃to be sure … but can your Highness keep a secret？ if it should ever come out of your lips … 〃
〃It shall not； it shall not；〃 cried Manfred。
〃Nay； but swear； your Highness。〃
〃By my halidame； if it should ever be known that I said it … 〃
〃Why； truth is truth； I do not think my Lady Isabella ever much affectioned my young Lord your son； yet he was a sweet youth as one should see； I am sure； if I had been a Princess … but bless me！ I must attend my Lady Matilda； she will marvel what is become of me。〃
〃Stay；〃 cried Manfred； 〃thou hast not satisfied my question。 Hast thou ever carried any message； any letter？〃
〃I！ good gracious！〃 cried Bianca； 〃I carry a letter？ I would not to be a Queen。 I hope your Highness thinks； though I am poor； I am honest。 Did your Highness never hear what Count Marsigli offered me； when he came a wooing to my Lady Matilda？〃
〃I have not leisure；〃 said Manfred； 〃to listen to thy tale。 I do not question thy honesty。 But it is thy duty to conceal nothing from me。 How long has Isabella been acquainted with Theodore？〃
〃Nay； there is nothing can escape your Highness！〃 said Bianca； 〃not that I know any thing of the matter。 Theodore； to be sure； is a proper young man； and； as my Lady Matilda says； the very image of good Alfonso。 Has not your Highness remarked it？〃
〃Yes； yes； … No … thou torturest me；〃 said Manfred。 〃Where did they meet？ when？〃
〃Who！ my Lady Matilda？〃 said Bianca。
〃No； no； not Matilda： Isabella； when did Isabella first become acquainted with this Theodore！〃
〃Virgin Mary！〃 said Bianca； 〃how should I know？〃
〃Thou dost know；〃 said Manfred； 〃and I must know； I will … 〃
〃Lord！ your Highness is not jealous of young Theodore！〃 said Bianca。
〃Jealous！ no； no。 Why should I be jealous？ perhaps I mean to unite them … If I were sure Isabella would have no repugnance。〃
〃Repugnance！ no； I'll warrant her；〃 said Bianca； 〃he is as comely a youth as ever trod on Christian ground。 We are all in love with him； there is not a soul in the castle but would be rejoiced to have him for our Prince … I mean； when it shall please heaven to call your Highness to itself。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Manfred； 〃has it gone so far！ oh！ this cursed Friar！ … but I must not lose time … go； Bianca； attend Isabella； but I charge thee； not a word of what has passed。 Find out how she is affected towards Theodore； bring me good news； and that ring has a companion。 Wait at the foot of the winding staircase： I am going to visit the Marquis； and will talk further with thee at my return。〃
Manfred； after some general conversation； desired Frederic to dismiss the two Knights； his companions； having to talk with him on urgent affairs。
As soon as they were alone； he began in artful guise to sound the Marquis on the subject of Matilda； and finding him disposed to his wish； he let drop hints on the difficulties that would attend the celebration of their marriage； unless … At that instant Bianca burst in