remarked that they were rendered abortive by others far more ingenious and better executed. Heaven knew, what interest our opponents could feel! The dutchess most solemnly protested, she had never given the duke a right of being jealous of her, nor had she ever had an opportunity for it.
But who could be those opponents? Was it some new genius, a second Amanuel? Was it a set of emissaries of the monstrous Cabal? I did not know how to reconcile these thoughts with the invisible influence of my mystic brethren, which had ceased to distress me ever since Bernardos's tragical and deserved exit.
The appearance of the two foreigners, dressed in regimentals, one of whom had spoken to me in good Spanish, made me after all inclined to think, that the relentless covenant was again exerting its secret and invisible powers to prepare for me new catastrophes.
The duke now became daily more reserved towards me and my friend. The dutchess was aware of it, and seemed to despair. Her
