Rodolfo arrived at his own house without any impediment, and Leocadia’s parents reached theirs heart-broken and despairing.  They were afraid to appeal for justice to the laws, lest thereby they should only publish their daughter’s disgrace; besides, though well born they were poor, and had not the means of commanding influence and favour; and above all, they knew not the name of their injurer, or of whom or what to complain but their luckless stars.  Meanwhile Rodolfo had Leocadia safe in his custody, and in his own apartment.  It was in a wing of his father’s house, of which he had the keys, a great imprudence on the part of any parent.  When Leocadia fainted in his arms, he had bandaged her eyes, in order that she might not notice the streets through which she passed, or the house into which he took her; and before she recovered her senses, he effected his guilty purpose.

Apathy and disgust commonly follow satiated lust.  Rodolfo was now impatient to get rid of Leocadia, and made up his mind to lay her in the street, insensible as she was.  He had set to work with that intention, when she came to herself, saying, “Where am I?  Woe is me!  What darkness is this?  Am I in the limbo of my innocence, or the hell of my sins?  Who touches me?  Am I in bed?  Mother! dear father! do you hear me?  Alas, too well I perceive that you cannot hear me, and that I am in the hands of enemies.  Well would it be for me if this darkness were to last for ever, and my eyes were never more to see the light!  Whoever thou art,” She exclaimed, suddenly seizing Rodolfo’s hand, “if thy soul is capable of pity, grant me one prayer:  having deprived me of honour, now deprive me of life.  Let me not survive my disgrace!  In mercy kill me this moment!  It is the only amends I ask of you for the wrong you have done me.”

Confused by the vehemence of her reproaches, Rodolfo knew not what to say or do, and answered not a word.  This silence so astonished Leocadia, that she began to fancy she was dreaming, or haunted by a phantom; but the hands she grasped were of flesh and blood.  She remembered the violence with which she had been torn from her parents, and she became but too well aware of the real nature of her calamity.  After a passionate burst of tears and groans, “Inhuman youth!” she continued, “for your deeds assure me that your years are few, I will forgive the outrage you have done me, on the sole condition that you promise and vow to conceal your crime in perpetual silence, as profound as this darkness in which you have perpetrated it.  This is but a small recompense for so grievous a wrong; but it is the greatest which I can ask, or you can grant me.  I have never seen your face, nor ever desire to see it.  It is enough for me to remember the injury I have sustained, without having before my mind’s eye the image of my ravisher.  My complaints shall be addressed only to Heaven:  I would not have them heard by the world, which judges not according to the circumstances