Wrapped in Olivia’s veil, Ellena descends to the music room, mingling with the nuns. There are a number of people, including the abbess, who takes a seat on an elevated chair; the abate and his monks; strangers of distinction; pilgrims; as well as attendants of the convent. After Vivaldi proceeds to the grate of the convent and leaves a note there as planned, Ellena tries to pick up the note, but the garment of an approaching nun sweeps it to the ground.

Ellena is filled with anxiety as she sees the nun’s foot resting on the note, particularly when a friar appears to impart some important intelligence to the nun with an air of secrecy. The anxiety turns to surprise and relief as the nun pushes aside the note without examining it. But when the friar retreats into the crowd and the nun walks over to the abbess and whispers, Ellena fears that Vivaldi has been noticed.

Ellena waits more than an hour for the conclusion of the collation before retrieving the note and following the abbess’s train. The note from Vivaldi instructs her to go to the gate of the nun’s garden, where Vivaldi and a monk (Jeronimo) plan to wait for them. He adds that the horses are stationed at the foot of the mountain while urging her to hurry given the activities at the church that evening. As Olivia and Ellena pass through the refectory, Ellena is temporarily startled by the abbess, who stops to address Olivia. Upon reaching the gate, they find Vivaldi and Jeronimo, after which Olivia and Ellena bid each other tearful farewells.

As Jeronimo leads Ellena and Vivaldi through the church and an adjoining cave, they begin to feel suspicious, particularly when they reach a narrow passage winding away into the rock. Ellena begins to fear that the passage leads to a prison before they finally reach a gate. They are disappointed to find that the gate does not budge. Although Jeronimo is asked to return to the church to see whether there is a possibility of their passing unobserved to the great portal, his delay worries them, leading them to assume that he is trapping them. Vivaldi and Ellena are freed when an elderly monk who is seated in a room hidden from view is able to escort them out and unlock the gate.

In order to avoid the devotees headed to the church, the two fugitives keep within the shadows of the wall before crossing to the feet of the cliffs. As they reach the base of the mountain, they find Paulo waiting for them with horses. Vivaldi decides it is best to reach Naples by a circuitous way. However, as they ride, they continue to encounter others on the way to the church. Vivaldi is particularly suspicious when two men in cloaks request a ride, explaining that there are many banditti. Giving him a refusal, Paulo, Ellena, and Vivaldi quit the high road to Naples, taking a solitary westward one toward Aquila.