the monk(僧侣)-第30部分

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moment's　conversation！'

Theodore　was　surprised　at　the　vivacity　of　my　manner：　However；　He
asked　no　questions；　but　hastened　to　obey　me。　　I　waited　his　return
impatiently。　　But　a　short　space　of　time　had　elapsed　when　He　again
appeared　and　ushered　the　expected　Guest　into　my　chamber。　　He　was
a　Man　of　majestic　presence：　　His　countenance　was　strongly　marked；
and　his　eyes　were　large；　black；　and　sparkling：　　Yet　there　was　a
something　in　his　look　which；　the　moment　that　I　saw　him；　inspired
me　with　a　secret　awe；　not　to　say　horror。　　He　was　drest　plainly；
his　hair　was　unpowdered；　and　a　band　of　black　velvet　which
encircled　his　forehead　spread　over　his　features　an　additional
gloom。　　His　countenance　wore　the　marks　of　profound　melancholy；
his　step　was　slow；　and　his　manner　grave；　stately；　and　solemn。

He　saluted　me　with　politeness；　and　having　replied　to　the　usual
compliments　of　introduction；　He　motioned　to　Theodore　to　quit　the
chamber。　　The　Page　instantly　withdrew。

'I　know　your　business；'　said　He；　without　giving　me　time　to　speak。

'I　have　the　power　of　releasing　you　from　your　nightly　Visitor；　But
this　cannot　be　done　before　Sunday。　　On　the　hour　when　the　Sabbath
Morning　breaks；　Spirits　of　darkness　have　least　influence　over
Mortals。　　After　Saturday　the　Nun　shall　visit　you　no　more。'

'May　I　not　enquire；'　said　I；　'by　what　means　you　are　in　possession
of　a　secret　which　I　have　carefully　concealed　from　the　knowledge
of　everyone？'

'How　can　I　be　ignorant　of　your　distress；　when　their　cause　at　this
moment　stands　beside　you？'

I　started。　　The　Stranger　continued。

'Though　to　you　only　visible　for　one　hour　in　the　twenty…four；
neither　day　or　night　does　She　ever　quit　you；　Nor　will　She　ever
quit　you　till　you　have　granted　her　request。'

'And　what　is　that　request？'

'That　She　must　herself　explain：　　It　lies　not　in　my　knowledge。　
Wait　with　patience　for　the　night　of　Saturday：　All　shall　be　then
cleared　up。'

I　dared　not　press　him　further。　　He　soon　after　changed　the
conversation　and　talked　of　various　matters。　　He　named　People　who
had　ceased　to　exist　for　many　Centuries；　and　yet　with　whom　He
appeared　to　have　been　personally　acquainted。　　I　could　not　mention
a　Country　however　distant　which　He　had　not　visited；　nor　could　I
sufficiently　admire　the　extent　and　variety　of　his　information。　
I　remarked　to　him　that　having　travelled；　seen；　and　known　so　much；
must　have　given　him　infinite　pleasure。　　He　shook　his　head
mournfully。

'No　one；'　He　replied；　'is　adequate　to　comprehending　the　misery　of
my　lot！　　Fate　obliges　me　to　be　constantly　in　movement：　　I　am　not
permitted　to　pass　more　than　a　fortnight　in　the　same　place。　　I
have　no　Friend　in　the　world；　and　from　the　restlessness　of　my
destiny　I　never　can　acquire　one。　　Fain　would　I　lay　down　my
miserable　life；　for　I　envy　those　who　enjoy　the　quiet　of　the
Grave：　But　Death　eludes　me；　and　flies　from　my　embrace。　　In　vain
do　I　throw　myself　in　the　way　of　danger。　　I　plunge　into　the　Ocean；
The　Waves　throw　me　back　with　abhorrence　upon　the　shore：　　I　rush
into　fire；　The　flames　recoil　at　my　approach：　　I　oppose　myself　to
the　fury　of　Banditti；　Their　swords　become　blunted；　and　break
against　my　breast：　　The　hungry　Tiger　shudders　at　my　approach；　and
the　Alligator　flies　from　a　Monster　more　horrible　than　itself。　
God　has　set　his　seal　upon　me；　and　all　his　Creatures　respect　this
fatal　mark！'

He　put　his　hand　to　the　velvet；　which　was　bound　round　his
forehead。　　There　was　in　his　eyes　an　expression　of　fury；　despair；
and　malevolence；　that　struck　horror　to　my　very　soul。　　An
involuntary　convulsion　made　me　shudder。　　The　Stranger　perceived
it。

'Such　is　the　curse　imposed　on　me；'　he　continued：　　'I　am　doomed　to
inspire　all　who　look　on　me　with　terror　and　detestation。　　You
already　feel　the　influence　of　the　charm；　and　with　every
succeeding　moment　will　feel　it　more。　　I　will　not　add　to　your
sufferings　by　my　presence。　　Farewell　till　Saturday。　　As　soon　as
the　Clock　strikes　twelve；　expect　me　at　your　chamber　door。'

Having　said　this　He　departed；　leaving　me　in　astonishment　at　the
mysterious　turn　of　his　manner　and　conversation。

His　assurances　that　I　should　soon　be　relieved　from　the
Apparition's　visits　produced　a　good　effect　upon　my　constitution。　
Theodore；　whom　I　rather　treated　as　an　adopted　Child　than　a
Domestic；　was　surprized　at　his　return　to　observe　the　amendment　in
my　looks。　　He　congratulated　me　on　this　symptom　of　returning
health；　and　declared　himself　delighted　at　my　having　received　so
much　benefit　from　my　conference　with　the　Great　Mogul。　　Upon
enquiry　I　found　that　the　Stranger　had　already　past　eight　days　in
Ratisbon：　　According　to　his　own　account；　therefore；　He　was　only
to　remain　there　six　days　longer。　　Saturday　was　still　at　the
distance　of　Three。　　Oh！　with　what　impatience　did　I　expect　its
arrival！　　In　the　interim；　the　Bleeding　Nun　continued　her
nocturnal　visits；　But　hoping　soon　to　be　released　from　them
altogether；　the　effects　which　they　produced　on　me　became　less
violent　than　before。

The　wished…for　night　arrived。　　To　avoid　creating　suspicion　I
retired　to　bed　at　my　usual　hour：　　But　as　soon　as　my　Attendants
had　left　me；　I　dressed　myself　again；　and　prepared　for　the
Stranger's　reception。　　He　entered　my　room　upon　the　turn　of
midnight。　　A　small　Chest　was　in　his　hand；　which　He　placed　near
the　Stove。　　He　saluted　me　without　speaking；　I　returned　the
compliment；　observing　an　equal　silence。　　He　then　opened　his
Chest。　　The　first　thing　which　He　produced　was　a　small　wooden
Crucifix：　He　sank　upon　his　knees；　gazed　upon　it　mournfully；　and
cast　his　eyes　towards　heaven。　　He　seemed　to　be　praying　devoutly。　
At　length　He　bowed　his　head　respectfully；　kissed　the　Crucifix
thrice；　and　quitted　his　kneeling　posture。　　He　next　drew　from　the
Chest　a　covered　Goblet：　With　the　liquor　which　it　contained；　and
which　appeared　to　be　blood；　He　sprinkled　the　floor；　and　then
dipping　in　it　one　end　of　the　Crucifix；　He　described　a　circle　in
the　middle　of　the　room。　　Round　about　this　He　placed　various
reliques；　sculls；　thigh…bones　&c；　I　observed；　that　He　disposed
them　all　in　the　forms　of　Crosses。　　Lastly　He　took　out　a　large
Bible；　and　beckoned　me　to　follow　him　into　the　Circle。　　I　obeyed。

'Be　cautious　not　to　utter　a　syllable！'　whispered　the　Stranger；
'Step　not　out　of　the　circle；　and　as　you　love　yourself；　dare　not
to　look　upon　my　face！'

Holding　the　Crucifix　in　one　hand；　the　Bible　in　the　other；　He
seemed　to　read　with　profound　attention。　　The　Clock　struck　'One'！　
As　usual　I　heard　the　Spectre's　steps　upon　the　Staircase：　　But　I
was　not　seized　with　the　accustomed　shivering。　　I　waited　her
approach　with　confidence。　　She　entered　the　room；　drew　near　the
Circle；　and　stopped。　　The　Stranger　muttered　some　words；　to　me
unintelligible。　　Then　raising　his　head　from　the　Book；　and
extending　the　Crucifix　towards　the　Ghost；　He　pronounced　in　a
voice　distinct　and　solemn；

'Beatrice！　　Beatrice！　　Beatrice！'

'What　wouldst　Thou？'　replied　the　Apparition　in　a　hollow　faltering
tone。

'What　disturbs　thy　sleep？　　Why　dost　thou　afflict　and　torture　this
Youth？　　How　can　rest　be　restored　to　thy　unquiet　Spirit？'

'I　dare　not　tell！I　must　not　tell！Fain　would　I　repose　in　my
Grave；　but　stern　commands　force　me　to　prolong　my　punishment！'

'Knowest　Thou　this　blood？　　Knowest　Thou　in　whose　veins　it　flowed？

Beatrice！　Beatrice！　In　his　name　I　charge　thee　to　answer　me！'

'I　dare　not　disobey　my　taskers。'

'Darest　Thou　disobey　Me？'

He　spoke　in　a　commanding　tone；　and　drew　the　sable　band　from　his
forehead。　　In　spite　of　his　injunctions　to　the　contrary；　
Curiosity　would　not　suffer　me　to　keep　my　eyes　off　his　face：　　I
raised　them；　and　beheld　a　burning　Cross　impressed　upon　his　brow。　
For　the　horror　with　which　this　object　inspired　me　I　cannot
account；　but　I　never　felt　its　equal！　　My　senses　left　me　for　some
moments；　A　mysterious　dread　overcame　my　courage；　and　had　not　the
Exorciser　caught　my　hand；　I　should　have　fallen　out　of　the　Circle。

When　I　recovered　myself；　I　perceived　that　the　burning　Cross　had
produced　an　effect　no　less　violent　upon　the　Spectre。　　Her
countenance　expressed　reverence；　and　horror；　and　her　visionary
limbs　were　shaken　by　fear。

'Yes！'　She　said　at　length；　'I　tremble　at　that　mark！　respect
it！I　obey　you！　　Know　then；　that　my　bones　lie　still　unburied：　
They　rot　in　the　obscurity　of　Lindenberg　Hole。　　None　but　this
Youth　has　the　right　of　consigning　them　to　the　Grave。　　His　own
lips　have　made　over　to　me　his　body　and　his　soul：　　Never　will　I
give　back　his　promise；　never　shall　He　know　a　night　devoid　of
terror；　unless　He　engages　to　collect　my　mouldering　bones；　and
deposit　them　in　the　family　vault　of　his　Andalusian　Castle。　　Then
let　thirty　Masses　be　said　for　the　repose　of　my　Spirit；　and　I
trouble　this　world　no　more。　　Now　let　me　depart！　　Those　flames　are
scorching！'

He　let　the　hand　drop　slowly　which　held　the　Crucifix；　and　which
till　then　He　had　pointed　towards　her。　　The　apparition　bowed　her
head；　and　her　form　melted　into　air。　　The　Exorciser　led　me　out　of
the　Circle。　　He　replaced　the　Bible　&c。　　in　the　Chest；　and　then
addressed　himself　to　me；　who　stood　near　him　speechless　from
astonishment。

'Don　Raymond；　you　have　heard　the　conditions　on　which　repose　is
promised　you。　　Be　it　your　business　to　fulfil　them　to　the　letter。　
For　me　nothing　more　remains　than　to　clear　up　the　darkness　still
spread　over　the　Spectre's　History；　and　inform　you　that　when
living；　Beatrice　bore　the　name　of　las　Cisternas。　　She　was　the
great　Aunt　of　your　Grandfather：　　In　quality　of　your　relation；
her　ashes　demand　respect　from　you；　though　the　enormity　of　her
crimes　must　excite　your　abhorrence。　　The　nature　of　those　crimes
no　one　is　more　capable　of　explaining　to　you　than　myself：　　I　was
personally　acquainted　with　the　holy　Man　who　proscribed　her
nocturnal　riots　in　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg；　and　I　hold　this
narrative　from　his　own　lips。

'Beatrice　de　las　Cisternas　took　the　veil　at　an　early　age；　not　by
her　own　choice；　but　at　the　express　command　of　her　Parents。　　She
was　then　too　young　to　regret　the　pleasures　of　which　her
profession　deprived　her：　　But　no　sooner　did　her　warm　and
voluptuous　character　begin　to　be　developed　than　She　abandoned
herself　freely　to　the　impulse　of　her　passions；　and　seized　the
first　opportunity　to　procure　their　gratific