During this period, Ellena is hardly less anxious than either Schedoni or Vivaldi, having heard nothing from either. But she has a pleasant surprise one evening when she sees figures in the court of the great cloister. Curious to know the cause of the excitement, she goes down to the convent and finds Olivia. The latter informs Ellena that she was sent to the Santa della Pieta by the Abbess of San Stefano, who was outraged by her part in helping Ellena escape but did not have sufficient testimony for legal punishment.

Ellena’s attention soon shifts to Vivaldi, however, when Beatrice seeks her out at the convent, informing her of the death of the marchesa, who succumbed to illness a month earlier. She adds that the marchesa and her husband had been searching for their son and his servant from one end of the kingdom to the other but to no avail. Nor can Schedoni be found.

As they are chatting, Olivia enters. Ellena notices a set of curious glances between Beatrice and Olivia as they eventually recognize one another. When Ellena reports that she had just found her father, Olivia explains that he is dead and introduces herself as her mother. But for the moment, she advises Ellena, she does not wish their relationship to be revealed to the abbess. When Ellena shows the miniature of Schedoni to Olivia and tells her that she has just sent a note inviting him to visit, Olivia’s expression changes to fright. She clarifies that Schedoni is not her father.

Several days later, she tells Ellena that although she was stabbed by Schedoni, her wound was not mortal. She decided to flee and have a public funeral arranged rather than take legal action, which would have heaped shame on her family. (Since Beatrice believed that Olivia had died, she was thus surprised to see her at the convent during their encounter.) While Olivia fled to San Stefano, her sister Bianchi took care of the daughters of the first and second Count di Bruno’s. Ellena, the daughter of the first count, survived, while the daughter of the second (Schedoni’s) did not. Bianchi had always wanted to inform Ellena of the secret of her birth but had expired before she had the chance. In the meantime, when Ellena arrived at San Stefano, Olivia could not help but notice the young woman’s resemblance to her husband.