volume02-第11部分

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ment　was　impossible；　But　She　engaged　to　be　in　the　same　spot　at　eleven　that　night；　and　to　converse　with　me　for　the　last　time。　　Having　obtained　this　promise　I　released　her　hand；　and　She　fled　back　with　rapidity　towards　the　Convent。

I　communicated　my　success　to　my　Ally；　the　old　Gardener：　　He　pointed　out　an　hiding　place　where　I　might　shelter　myself　till　night　without　fear　of　a　discovery。　　Thither　I　betook　myself　at　the　hour　when　I　ought　to　have　retired　with　my　supposed　Master；　and　waited　impatiently　for　the　appointed　time。　　The　chillness　of　the　night　was　in　my　favour；　since　it　kept　the　other　Nuns　confined　to　their　Cells。　　Agnes　alone　was　insensible　of　the　inclemency　of　the　Air；　and　before　eleven　joined　me　at　the　spot　which　had　witnessed　our　former　interview。　　Secure　from　interruption；　I　related　to　her　the　true　cause　of　my　disappearing　on　the　fatal　fifth　of　May。　　She　was　evidently　much　affected　by　my　narrative：　　When　it　was　concluded；　She　confessed　the　injustice　of　her　suspicions；　and　blamed　herself　for　having　taken　the　veil　through　despair　at　my　ingratitude。

'But　now　it　is　too　late　to　repine！'　She　added；　'The　die　is　thrown：　　I　have　pronounced　my　vows；　and　dedicated　myself　to　the　service　of　heaven。　　I　am　sensible；　how　ill　I　am　calculated　for　a　Convent。　　My　disgust　at　a　monastic　life　increases　daily：　　Ennui　and　discontent　are　my　constant　Companions；　and　I　will　not　conceal　from　you　that　the　passion　which　I　formerly　felt　for　one　so　near　being　my　Husband　is　not　yet　extinguished　in　my　bosom。　　But　we　must　part！　　Insuperable　Barriers　divide　us　from　each　other；　and　on　this　side　the　Grave　we　must　never　meet　again！'

I　now　exerted　myself　to　prove　that　our　union　was　not　so　impossible　as　She　seemed　to　think　it。　　I　vaunted　to　her　the　Cardinal…Duke　of　Lerma's　influence　at　the　Court　of　Rome：　　I　assured　her　that　I　should　easily　obtain　a　dispensation　from　her　vows；　and　I　doubted　not　but　Don　Gaston　would　coincide　with　my　views；　when　informed　of　my　real　name　and　long　attachment。　　Agnes　replied　that　since　I　encouraged　such　an　hope；　I　could　know　but　little　of　her　Father。　　Liberal　and　kind　in　every　other　respect；　Superstition　formed　the　only　stain　upon　his　character。　　Upon　this　head　He　was　inflexible；　He　sacrificed　his　dearest　interests　to　his　scruples；　and　would　consider　it　an　insult　to　suppose　him　capable　of　authorising　his　daughter　to　break　her　vows　to　heaven。

'But　suppose；'　said　I　interrupting　her；　'Suppose　that　He　should　disapprove　of　our　union；　Let　him　remain　ignorant　of　my　proceedings；　till　I　have　rescued　you　from　the　prison　in　which　you　are　now　confined。　　Once　my　Wife；　you　are　free　from　his　authority：　　I　need　from　him　no　pecuniary　assistance；　and　when　He　sees　his　resentment　to　be　unavailing；　He　will　doubtless　restore　you　to　his　favour。　　But　let　the　worst　happen；　Should　Don　Gaston　be　irreconcileable；　my　Relations　will　vie　with　each　other　in　making　you　forget　his　loss：　and　you　will　find　in　my　Father　a　substitute　for　the　Parent　of　whom　I　shall　deprive　you。'

'Don　Raymond；'　replied　Agnes　in　a　firm　and　resolute　voice；　'I　love　my　Father：　　He　has　treated　me　harshly　in　this　one　instance；　but　I　have　received　from　him　in　every　other　so　many　proofs　of　love　that　his　affection　is　become　necessary　to　my　existence。　　Were　I　to　quit　the　Convent；　He　never　would　forgive　me；　nor　can　I　think　that　on　his　deathbed　He　would　leave　me　his　curse；　without　shuddering　at　the　very　idea。　　Besides；　I　am　conscious　myself；　that　my　vows　are　binding：　　Wilfully　did　I　contract　my　engagement　with　heaven；　I　cannot　break　it　without　a　crime。　　Then　banish　from　your　mind　the　idea　of　our　being　ever　united。　　I　am　devoted　to　religion；　and　however　I　may　grieve　at　our　separation；　I　would　oppose　obstacles　myself；　to　what　I　feel　would　render　me　guilty。'

I　strove　to　overrule　these　ill…grounded　scruples：　　We　were　still　disputing　upon　the　subject；　when　the　Convent　Bell　summoned　the　Nuns　to　Matins。　　Agnes　was　obliged　to　attend　them；　But　She　left　me　not　till　I　had　compelled　her　to　promise　that　on　the　following　night　She　would　be　at　the　same　place　at　the　same　hour。　　These　meetings　continued　for　several　Weeks　uninterrupted；　and　'tis　now；　Lorenzo；　that　I　must　implore　your　indulgence。　　Reflect　upon　our　situation；　our　youth；　our　long　attachment：　Weigh　all　the　circumstances　which　attended　our　assignations；　and　you　will　confess　the　temptation　to　have　been　irresistible；　you　will　even　pardon　me　when　I　acknowledge；　that　in　an　unguarded　moment；　the　honour　of　Agnes　was　sacrificed　to　my　passion。'

（Lorenzo's　eyes　sparkled　with　fury：　　A　deep　crimson　spread　itself　over　his　face。　　He　started　from　his　seat；　and　attempted　to　draw　his　sword。　　The　Marquis　was　aware　of　his　movement；　and　caught　his　hand：　　He　pressed　it　affectionately。

'My　Friend！　My　Brother！　Hear　me　to　the　conclusion！　　Till　then　restrain　your　passion；　and　be　at　least　convinced；　that　if　what　I　have　related　is　criminal；　the　blame　must　fall　upon　me；　and　not　upon　your　Sister。'

Lorenzo　suffered　himself　to　be　prevailed　upon　by　Don　Raymond's　entreaties。　　He　resumed　his　place；　and　listened　to　the　rest　of　the　narrative　with　a　gloomy　and　impatient　countenance。　　The　Marquis　thus　continued。）

'Scarcely　was　the　first　burst　of　passion　past　when　Agnes；　recovering　herself；　started　from　my　arms　with　horror。　　She　called　me　infamous　Seducer；　loaded　me　with　the　bitterest　reproaches；　and　beat　her　bosom　in　all　the　wildness　of　delirium。　　Ashamed　of　my　imprudence；　I　with　difficulty　found　words　to　excuse　myself。　　I　endeavoured　to　console　her；　I　threw　myself　at　her　feet；　and　entreated　her　forgiveness。　　She　forced　her　hand　from　me；　which　I　had　taken；　and　would　have　prest　to　my　lips。

'Touch　me　not！'　She　cried　with　a　violence　which　terrified　me；　'Monster　of　perfidy　and　ingratitude；　how　have　I　been　deceived　in　you！　　I　looked　upon　you　as　my　Friend；　my　Protector：　　I　trusted　myself　in　your　hands　with　confidence；　and　relying　upon　your　honour；　thought　that　mine　ran　no　risque。　　And　'tis　by　you；　whom　I　adored；　that　I　am　covered　with　infamy！　　'Tis　by　you　that　I　have　been　seduced　into　breaking　my　vows　to　God；　that　I　am　reduced　to　a　level　with　the　basest　of　my　sex！　　Shame　upon　you；　Villain；　you　shall　never　see　me　more！'

She　started　from　the　Bank　on　which　She　was　seated。　　I　endeavoured　to　detain　her；　But　She　disengaged　herself　from　me　with　violence；　and　took　refuge　in　the　Convent。

I　retired；　filled　with　confusion　and　inquietude。　　The　next　morning　I　failed　not　as　usual　to　appear　in　the　Garden；　but　Agnes　was　no　where　to　be　seen。　　At　night　I　waited　for　her　at　the　place　where　we　generally　met；　I　found　no　better　success。　　Several　days　and　nights　passed　away　in　the　same　manner。　　At　length　I　saw　my　offended　Mistress　cross　the　walk　on　whose　borders　I　was　working：　She　was　accompanied　by　the　same　young　Pensioner；　on　whose　arm　She　seemed　from　weakness　obliged　to　support　herself。　　She　looked　upon　me　for　a　moment；　but　instantly　turned　her　head　away。　　I　waited　her　return；　But　She　passed　on　to　the　Convent　without　paying　any　attention　to　me；　or　the　penitent　looks　with　which　I　implored　her　forgiveness。

As　soon　as　the　Nuns　were　retired；　the　old　Gardener　joined　me　with　a　sorrowful　air。

'Segnor；'　said　He；　'it　grieves　me　to　say；　that　I　can　be　no　longer　of　use　to　you。　　The　Lady　whom　you　used　to　meet　has　just　assured　me　that　if　I　admitted　you　again　into　the　Garden；　She　would　discover　the　whole　business　to　the　Lady　Prioress。　　She　bade　me　tell　you　also；　that　your　presence　was　an　insult；　and　that　if　you　still　possess　the　least　respect　for　her；　you　will　never　attempt　to　see　her　more。　　Excuse　me　then　for　informing　you　that　I　can　favour　your　disguise　no　longer。　　Should　the　Prioress　be　acquainted　with　my　conduct；　She　might　not　be　contented　with　dismissing　me　her　service：　　Out　of　revenge　She　might　accuse　me　of　having　profaned　the　Convent；　and　cause　me　to　be　thrown　into　the　Prisons　of　the　Inquisition。'

Fruitless　were　my　attempts　to　conquer　his　resolution。　　He　denied　me　all　future　entrance　into　the　Garden；　and　Agnes　persevered　in　neither　letting　me　see　or　hear　from　her。　　In　about　a　fortnight　after；　a　violent　illness　which　had　seized　my　Father　obliged　me　to　set　out　for　Andalusia。　　I　hastened　thither；　and　as　I　imagined；　found　the　Marquis　at　the　point　of　death。　　Though　on　its　first　appearance　his　complaint　was　declared　mortal；　He　lingered　out　several　Months；　during　which　my　attendance　upon　him　during　his　malady；　and　the　occupation　of　settling　his　affairs　after　his　decease；　permitted　not　my　quitting　Andalusia。　　Within　these　four　days　I　returned　to　Madrid；　and　on　arriving　at　my　Hotel；　I　there　found　this　letter　waiting　for　me。

（Here　the　Marquis　unlocked　the　drawer　of　a　Cabinet：　He　took　out　a　folded　paper；　which　He　presented　to　his　Auditor。　　Lorenzo　opened　it；　and　recognised　his　Sister's　hand。　　The　Contents　were　as　follows。

Into　what　an　abyss　of　misery　have　you　plunged　me！　　Raymond；　you　force　me　to　become　as　criminal　as　yourself。　　I　had　resolved　never　to　see　you　more；　if　possible；　to　forget　you；　If　not；　only　to　remember　you　with　hate。　　A　Being　for　whom　I　already　feel　a　Mother's　tenderness；　solicits　me　to　pardon　my　Seducer；　and　apply　to　his　love　for　the　means　of　preservation。　　Raymond；　your　child　lives　in　my　bosom。　　I　tremble　at　the　vengeance　of　the　Prioress；　I　tremble　much　for　myself；　yet　more　for　the　innocent　Creature　whose　existence　depends　upon　mine。　　Both　of　us　are　lost；　should　my　situation　be　discovered。　　Advise　me　then　what　steps　to　take；　but　seek　not　to　see　me。　　The　Gardener；　who　undertakes　to　deliver　this；　is　dismissed；　and　we　have　nothing　to　hope　from　that　quarter：　　The　Man　engaged　in　his　place　is　of　incorruptible　fidelity。　　The　best　means　of　conveying　to　me　your　answer；　is　by　concealing　it　under　the　great　Statue　of　St。　Francis；　which　stands　in　the　Capuchin　Cathedral。　　Thither　I　go　every　Thursday　to　confession；　and　shall　easily　have　an　opportunity　of　securing　your　letter。　　I　hear　that　you　are　now　absent　from　Madrid；　Need　I　entreat　you　to　write　the　very　moment　of　your　return？　　I　will　not　think　it。　　Ah！　Raymond！　　Mine　is　a　cruel　situation！　　Deceived　by　my　nearest　Relations；　compelled　to　embrace　a　profession　the　duties　of　which　I　am　ill…calculated　to　perform；　conscious　of　the　sanctity　of　those　duties；　and　seduced　into　violating　them　by　One　whom　I　least　suspected　of　perfidy；　I　am　now　obliged　by　cir