the monk(僧侣)-第25部分

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the　Nun　ventured　to　peep　abroad　again。　　However；　She　was　now
grown　much　more　tractable　and　well…behaved。　　She　walked　about　in
silence；　and　never　made　her　appearance　above　once　in　five　years。　
This　custom；　if　you　will　believe　the　Baron；　She　still　continues。　
He　is　fully　persuaded；　that　on　the　fifth　of　May　of　every　fifth
year；　as　soon　as　the　Clock　strikes　One；　the　Door　of　the　haunted
Chamber　opens。　　（Observe；　that　this　room　has　been　shut　up　for
near　a　Century。）　　Then　out　walks　the　Ghostly　Nun　with　her　Lamp
and　dagger：　　She　descends　the　staircase　of　the　Eastern　Tower；
and　crosses　the　great　Hall！　　On　that　night　the　Porter　always
leaves　the　Gates　of　the　Castle　open；　out　of　respect　to　the
Apparition：　　Not　that　this　is　thought　by　any　means　necessary；
since　She　could　easily　whip　through　the　Keyhole　if　She　chose　it；
But　merely　out　of　politeness；　and　to　prevent　her　from　making　her
exit　in　a　way　so　derogatory　to　the　dignity　of　her　Ghost…ship。'

'And　whither　does　She　go　on　quitting　the　Castle？'

'To　Heaven；　I　hope；　But　if　She　does；　the　place　certainly　is　not
to　her　taste；　for　She　always　returns　after　an　hour's　absence。　
The　Lady　then　retires　to　her　chamber；　and　is　quiet　for　another
five　years。'

'And　you　believe　this；　Agnes？'

'How　can　you　ask　such　a　question？　　No；　no；　Alphonso！　I　have　too
much　reason　to　lament　superstition's　influence　to　be　its　Victim
myself。　　However　I　must　not　avow　my　incredulity　to　the　Baroness：　
She　entertains　not　a　doubt　of　the　truth　of　this　History。　　As　to
Dame　Cunegonda；　my　Governess；　She　protests　that　fifteen　years　ago
She　saw　the　Spectre　with　her　own　eyes。　　She　related　to　me　one
evening　how　She　and　several　other　Domestics　had　been　terrified
while　at　Supper　by　the　appearance　of　the　Bleeding　Nun；　as　the
Ghost　is　called　in　the　Castle：　　'Tis　from　her　account　that　I　drew
this　sketch；　and　you　may　be　certain　that　Cunegonda　was　not
omitted。　　There　She　is！　　I　shall　never　forget　what　a　passion　She
was　in；　and　how　ugly　She　looked　while　She　scolded　me　for　having
made　her　picture　so　like　herself！'

Here　She　pointed　to　a　burlesque　figure　of　an　old　Woman　in　an
attitude　of　terror。

In　spite　of　the　melancholy　which　oppressed　me；　I　could　not　help
smiling　at　the　playful　imagination　of　Agnes：　　She　had　perfectly
preserved　Dame　Cunegonda's　resemblance；　but　had　so　much
exaggerated　every　fault；　and　rendered　every　feature　so
irresistibly　laughable；　that　I　could　easily　conceive　the　Duenna's
anger。

'The　figure　is　admirable；　my　dear　Agnes！　I　knew　not　that　you
possessed　such　talents　for　the　ridiculous。'

'Stay　a　moment；'　She　replied；　'I　will　show　you　a　figure　still
more　ridiculous　than　Dame　Cunegonda's。　　If　it　pleases　you；　you
may　dispose　of　it　as　seems　best　to　yourself。'

She　rose；　and　went　to　a　Cabinet　at　some　little　distance。
Unlocking　a　drawer；　She　took　out　a　small　case；　which　She　opened；
and　presented　to　me。

'Do　you　know　the　resemblance？'　said　She　smiling。

It　was　her　own。

Transported　at　the　gift；　I　pressed　the　portrait　to　my　lips　with
passion：　　I　threw　myself　at　her　feet；　and　declared　my　gratitude
in　the　warmest　and　most　affectionate　terms。　　She　listened　to　me
with　complaisance；　and　assured　me　that　She　shared　my　sentiments：　
When　suddenly　She　uttered　a　loud　shriek；　disengaged　the　hand
which　I　held；　and　flew　from　the　room　by　a　door　which　opened　to
the　Garden。　　Amazed　at　this　abrupt　departure；　I　rose　hastily　from
my　knees。　　I　beheld　with　confusion　the　Baroness　standing　near　me
glowing　with　jealousy；　and　almost　choaked　with　rage。　　On
recovering　from　her　swoon；　She　had　tortured　her　imagination　to
discover　her　concealed　Rival。　　No　one　appeared　to　deserve　her
suspicions　more　than　Agnes。　　She　immediately　hastened　to　find　her
Niece；　tax　her　with　encouraging　my　addresses；　and　assure　herself
whether　her　conjectures　were　well…grounded。　　Unfortunately　She
had　already　seen　enough　to　need　no　other　confirmation。　　She
arrived　at　the　door　of　the　room　at　the　precise　moment；　when　Agnes
gave　me　her　Portrait。　　She　heard　me　profess　an　everlasting
attachment　to　her　Rival；　and　saw　me　kneeling　at　her　feet。　　She
advanced　to　separate　us；　We　were　too　much　occupied　by　each　other
to　perceive　her　approach；　and　were　not　aware　of　it；　till　Agnes
beheld　her　standing　by　my　side。

Rage　on　the　part　of　Donna　Rodolpha；　embarrassment　on　mine；　for
some　time　kept　us　both　silent。　　The　Lady　recovered　herself　first。

'My　suspicions　then　were　just；'　said　She；　'The　Coquetry　of　my
Niece　has　triumphed；　and　'tis　to　her　that　I　am　sacrificed。　　In
one　respect　however　I　am　fortunate：　　I　shall　not　be　the　only　one
who　laments　a　disappointed　passion。　　You　too　shall　know；　what　it
is　to　love　without　hope！　　I　daily　expect　orders　for　restoring
Agnes　to　her　Parents。　　Immediately　upon　her　arrival　in　Spain；　She
will　take　the　veil；　and　place　an　insuperable　barrier　to　your
union。　　You　may　spare　your　supplications。'　She　continued；
perceiving　me　on　the　point　of　speaking；　'My　resolution　is　fixed
and　immoveable。　　Your　Mistress　shall　remain　a　close　Prisoner　in
her　chamber　till　She　exchanges　this　Castle　for　the　Cloister。　
Solitude　will　perhaps　recall　her　to　a　sense　of　her　duty：　　But　to
prevent　your　opposing　that　wished　event；　I　must　inform　you；　Don
Alphonso；　that　your　presence　here　is　no　longer　agreeable　either
to　the　Baron　or　Myself。　　It　was　not　to　talk　nonsense　to　my　Niece
that　your　Relations　sent　you　to　Germany：　　Your　business　was　to
travel；　and　I　should　be　sorry　to　impede　any　longer　so　excellent　a
design。　　Farewell；　Segnor；　Remember；　that　tomorrow　morning　we
meet　for　the　last　time。'

Having　said　this；　She　darted　upon　me　a　look　of　pride；　contempt；
and　malice；　and　quitted　the　apartment。　　I　also　retired　to　mine；
and　consumed　the　night　in　planning　the　means　of　rescuing　Agnes
from　the　power　of　her　tyrannical　Aunt。

After　the　positive　declaration　of　its　Mistress；　it　was　impossible
for　me　to　make　a　longer　stay　at　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg。　
Accordingly　I　the　next　day　announced　my　immediate　departure。　　The
Baron　declared　that　it　gave　him　sincere　pain；　and　He　expressed
himself　in　my　favour　so　warmly；　that　I　endeavoured　to　win　him
over　to　my　interest。　　Scarcely　had　I　mentioned　the　name　of　Agnes
when　He　stopped　me　short；　and　said；　that　it　was　totally　out　of
his　power　to　interfere　in　the　business。　　I　saw　that　it　was　in
vain　to　argue；　The　Baroness　governed　her　Husband　with　despotic
sway；　and　I　easily　perceived　that　She　had　prejudiced　him　against
the　match。　　Agnes　did　not　appear：　　I　entreated　permission　to　take
leave　of　her；　but　my　prayer　was　rejected。　　I　was　obliged　to
depart　without　seeing　her。

At　quitting　him　the　Baron　shook　my　hand　affectionately；　and
assured　me　that　as　soon　as　his　Niece　was　gone；　I　might　consider
his　House　as　my　own。

'Farewell；　Don　Alphonso！'　said　the　Baroness；　and　stretched　out
her　hand　to　me。

I　took　it；　and　offered　to　carry　it　to　my　lips。　　She　prevented　me。

Her　Husband　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　room；　and　out　of　hearing。

'Take　care　of　yourself；'　She　continued；　'My　love　is　become
hatred；　and　my　wounded　pride　shall　not　be　unatoned。　　Go　where
you　will；　my　vengeance　shall　follow　you！'

She　accompanied　these　words　with　a　look　sufficient　to　make　me
tremble。　　I　answered　not；　but　hastened　to　quit　the　Castle。

As　my　Chaise　drove　out　of　the　Court；　I　looked　up　to　the　windows
of　your　Sister's　chamber。　　Nobody　was　to　be　seen　there：　　I　threw
myself　back　despondent　in　my　Carriage。　　I　was　attended　by　no
other　servants　than　a　Frenchman　whom　I　had　hired　at　Strasbourg
in　Stephano's　room；　and　my　little　Page　whom　I　before　mentioned　to
you。　　The　fidelity；　intelligence；　and　good　temper　of　Theodore　had
already　made　him　dear　to　me；　But　He　now　prepared　to　lay　an
obligation　on　me；　which　made　me　look　upon　him　as　a　Guardian
Genius。　　Scarcely　had　we　proceeded　half　a　mile　from　the　Castle；
when　He　rode　up　to　the　Chaise…door。

'Take　courage；　Segnor！'　said　He　in　Spanish；　which　He　had　already
learnt　to　speak　with　fluency　and　correctness。　'While　you　were
with　the　Baron；　I　watched　the　moment　when　Dame　Cunegonda　was
below　stairs；　and　mounted　into　the　chamber　over　that　of　Donna
Agnes。　　I　sang　as　loud　as　I　could　a　little　German　air　well…known
to　her；　hoping　that　She　would　recollect　my　voice。　　I　was　not
disappointed；　for　I　soon　heard　her　window　open。　　I　hastened　to
let　down　a　string　with　which　I　had　provided　myself：　　Upon　hearing
the　casement　closed　again；　I　drew　up　the　string；　and　fastened　to
it　I　found　this　scrap　of　paper。'

He　then　presented　me　with　a　small　note　addressed　to　me。　　I　opened
it　with　impatience：　　It　contained　the　following　words　written　in
pencil：

Conceal　yourself　for　the　next　fortnight　in　some　neighbouring
Village。　　My　Aunt　will　believe　you　to　have　quitted　Lindenberg；
and　I　shall　be　restored　to　liberty。　　I　will　be　in　the　West
Pavilion　at　twelve　on　the　night　of　the　thirtieth。　　Fail　not　to　be
there；　and　we　shall　have　an　opportunity　of　concerting　our　future
plans。　　Adieu。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Agnes。

At　perusing　these　lines　my　transports　exceeded　all　bounds；
Neither　did　I　set　any　to　the　expressions　of　gratitude　which　I
heaped　upon　Theodore。　　In　fact　his　address　and　attention　merited
my　warmest　praise。　　You　will　readily　believe　that　I　had　not
entrusted　him　with　my　passion　for　Agnes；　But　the　arch　Youth　had
too　much　discernment　not　to　discover　my　secret；　and　too　much
discretion　not　to　conceal　his　knowledge　of　it。　　He　observed　in
silence　what　was　going　on；　nor　strove　to　make　himself　an　Agent　in
the　business　till　my　interests　required　his　interference。　　I
equally　admired　his　judgment；　his　penetration；　his　address；　and
his　fidelity。　　This　was　not　the　first　occasion　in　which　I　had
found　him　of　infinite　use；　and　I　was　every　day　more　convinced　of
his　quickness　and　capacity。　　During　my　short　stay　at　Strasbourg；
He　had　applied　himself　diligently　to　learning　the　rudiments　of
Spanish：　　He　continued　to　study　it；　and　with　so　much　success　that
He　spoke　it　with　the　same　facility　as　his　native　language。　　He
past　the　greatest　part　of　his　time　in　reading；　He　had　acquired
much　information　for　his　Age；　and　united　the　advantages　of　a
lively　countenance　and　prepossessing　figure　to　an　excellent
understanding　and　the　very　best　of　hearts。