It was in my worldly disguise, that I determined to attempt my purpose; and as it was necessary to have a wart on my neck, I resolved to obtain one as soon as possible.  This was easily managed:  a friar of the convent was troubled with these excrescences, and I jocularly proposed a trial to see whether it was true that the blood of them would inoculate.  In a fortnight I had a wart on my finger which soon became large, and I then applied the blood of it to my neck.  Within three months I had a large wart on the back, of my neck, or rather a conglomeration of them, which I had produced by inoculation, assisted by constant irritation:  during this period I was not so frequent in my attendance upon the old lady, excusing myself on account of the duties of the convent which devolved upon me.  The next point was how to introduce myself in my other apparel.  This required some reflection, as it would be but occasionally that I could make my appearance.  After some reflection, I determined that the niece should assist me, for I knew that even if I succeeded in my plans, she would be a participator in the property which I wished to secure.  Often left in her company, I took opportunities of talking of a young friend whom I highly extolled.  When I had raised her curiosity, I mentioned in a laughing manner, that I suspected he was very much smitten with her charms, as I had often found him watching at the house opposite.  An admirer is always a source of gratification to a young girl; her vanity was flattered, and she asked me many particulars.  I answered them so as to inflame her curiosity, describing his person in a very favourable manner, and extolling his good qualities.  I also minutely described his dress.  After the music lesson was over, I returned to my lodgings, arrayed myself in my best suit, and putting on my curling ringlets, walked up and down before the window of the house.  The niece soon recognised me as the person whose dress and appearance I had so minutely described, one moment showing herself at the window, at another darting away with all the coquetry of her sex.  I perceived that she was flattered with her conquest; and, after parading myself for a short time, I disappeared.

When I called the next day in my monastic costume, I had a billet-doux ready in my pocket.  The singing commenced:  I soon found out that she had a prepossession, from her selecting a song which in the presence of her aunt I should have put on one side, but it now suited my purpose that she should be indulged.  When the aunt made her appearance we stopped, and commenced another:  by this little ruse I became a sort of confidant, and the intimacy which I desired was brought about.  When we had practised two or three songs, Donna Celia, the aunt, left the room:  I then observed that I had seen the young cavalier whom I had mentioned, and that he appeared to be more infatuated than ever:  that he had requested me as a favour to speak on his behalf, but that I had