“No, on my soul,” said Hippolita.

“Father,” interrupted Manfred, “I am the sovereign here, and will allow no meddling priest to interfere in my domestic affairs.”

“My lord,” said the friar, “I know my duty, and am the minister of a mightier Prince than Manfred.”

Manfred trembled with rage and shame, but Hippolita intervened.  “Holy father,” said she, “it is my duty to hear nothing that it pleases not my lord I should hear.  Attend the Prince to his chamber; I will retire to my oratory.”

“Excellent woman!” said the friar.  “My lord, I attend your pleasure.”

As soon as they had entered the Prince’s apartments, Manfred began.  “I perceive that Isabella has acquainted you with my purpose.  Now hear my resolve.  Urgent reasons of state demand that I should have a son.  It is in vain to expect an heir from Hippolita.  I have made choice of Isabella, and you must bring her back.”

“Prince,” replied Jerome, “the injuries of the virtuous Hippolita have mounted to the throne of pity.  By me thou art reprimanded for thy intention of repudiating her; by me thou art warned not to pursue thy wicked design on Isabella.”

“Father, you mistake me,” said the Prince.  “You know not the bitterest of my pangs.  I have had scruples on the legality of our union; Hippolita is related to me in the fourth degree.  It is true, we had a dispensation.  But I have been informed that she had been contracted to another.  Ease my conscience of this burden by dissolving our marriage.”

For some time the holy man remained absorbed in thought.  At length, conceiving some hopes from delay, he professed to be struck with the Prince’s scruples.  Manfred was overjoyed at this apparent change.

“Since we now understand one another,” resumed the Prince, “I expect that you will satisfy me on one point.  Who is the youth that I found in the vault?  He must have been privy to Isabella’s flight.  Is he her lover?”

The friar conceived it might not be amiss to sow the seeds of jealousy in Manfred’s mind, so that he might be prejudiced against Isabella, or have his attention diverted to a wrong scent.  With this unhappy policy, he answered in a manner to confirm Manfred’s fears.

“I will fathom to the bottom of this intrigue,” cried Manfred in a rage; and, quitting Jerome abruptly, he hastened to the great hall, and ordered the peasant to be brought before him.

The young man, finding that his share in Isabella’s flight had been discovered, boldly told the truth of his adventure in the vault.

“And on a silly girl’s report,” said Manfred, “thou didst hazard my displeasure!”

“I fear no man’s displeasure,” said the peasant, “when a woman in distress puts herself under my protection.”

Matilda was passing through a latticed gallery at the upper end of the hall, when her attention was drawn to the prisoner.  The gallantry of his last reply interested her in his favour.  His person was noble, handsome, and commanding; but his countenance soon engrossed her whole care.