the monk(僧侣)-第59部分

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transport　me！　　At　length　then；　happiness　will　be　mine；　and　that
happiness　will　be　Matilda's　gift；　will　be　the　gift　of　friendship！

I　shall　clasp　Antonia　in　my　arms；　far　from　every　prying　eye；　from
every　tormenting　Intruder！　　I　shall　sigh　out　my　soul　upon　her
bosom；　Shall　teach　her　young　heart　the　first　rudiments　of
pleasure；　and　revel　uncontrouled　in　the　endless　variety　of　her
charms！　　And　shall　this　delight　indeed　by　mine？　　Shall　I　give　the
reins　to　my　desires；　and　gratify　every　wild　tumultuous　wish？　　Oh！
Matilda；　how　can　I　express　to　you　my　gratitude？'

'By　profiting　by　my　counsels。　　Ambrosio；　I　live　but　to　serve　you：

Your　interest　and　happiness　are　equally　mine。　Be　your　person
Antonia's；　but　to　your　friendship　and　your　heart　I　still　assert
my　claim。　　Contributing　to　yours　forms　now　my　only　pleasure。　
Should　my　exertions　procure　the　gratification　of　your　wishes；　I
shall　consider　my　trouble　to　be　amply　repaid。　　But　let　us　lose　no
time。　　The　liquor　of　which　I　spoke　is　only　to　be　found　in　St。
Clare's　Laboratory。　　Hasten　then　to　the　Prioress；　Request　of　her
admission　to　the　Laboratory；　and　it　will　not　be　denied。　There　is
a　Closet　at　the　lower　end　of　the　great　Room；　filled　with　liquids
of　different　colours　and　qualities。　　The　Bottle　in　question
stands　by　itself　upon　the　third　shelf　on　the　left。　　It　contains　a
greenish　liquor：　　Fill　a　small　phial　with　it　when　you　are
unobserved；　and　Antonia　is　your　own。'

The　Monk　hesitated　not　to　adopt　this　infamous　plan。　　His　desires；
but　too　violent　before；　had　acquired　fresh　vigour　from　the　sight
of　Antonia。　　As　He　sat　by　her　bedside；　accident　had　discovered　to
him　some　of　those　charms　which　till　then　had　been　concealed　from
him：　He　found　them　even　more　perfect；　than　his　ardent　imagination
had　pictured　them。　　Sometimes　her　white　and　polished　arm　was
displayed　in　arranging　the　pillow：　Sometimes　a　sudden　movement
discovered　part　of　her　swelling　bosom：　　But　whereever　the
new…found　charm　presented　itself；　there　rested　the　Friar's
gloting　eyes。　　Scarcely　could　He　master　himself　sufficiently　to
conceal　his　desires　from　Antonia　and　her　vigilant　Duenna。
Inflamed　by　the　remembrance　of　these　beauties；　He　entered　into
Matilda's　scheme　without　hesitation。

No　sooner　were　Matins　over　than　He　bent　his　course　towards　the
Convent　of　St。　Clare：　　His　arrival　threw　the　whole　Sisterhood
into　the　utmost　amazement。　　The　Prioress　was　sensible　of　the
honour　done　her　Convent　by　his　paying　it　his　first　visit；　and
strove　to　express　her　gratitude　by　every　possible　attention。　　He
was　paraded　through　the　Garden；　shown　all　the　reliques　of　Saints
and　Martyrs；　and　treated　with　as　much　respect　and　distinction　as
had　He　been　the　Pope　himself。　　On　his　part；　Ambrosio　received　the
Domina's　civilities　very　graciously；　and　strove　to　remove　her
surprize　at　his　having　broken　through　his　resolution。　　He　stated；
that　among　his　penitents；　illness　prevented　many　from　quitting
their　Houses。　　These　were　exactly　the　People　who　most　needed　his
advice　and　the　comforts　of　Religion：　　Many　representations　had
been　made　to　him　upon　this　account；　and　though　highly　repugnant
to　his　own　wishes；　He　had　found　it　absolutely　necessary　for　the
service　of　heaven　to　change　his　determination；　and　quit　his
beloved　retirement。　　The　Prioress　applauded　his　zeal　in　his
profession　and　his　charity　towards　Mankind：　　She　declared　that
Madrid　was　happy　in　possessing　a　Man　so　perfect　and
irreproachable。　　In　such　discourse；　the　Friar　at　length　reached
the　Laboratory。　　He　found　the　Closet：　The　Bottle　stood　in　the
place　which　Matilda　had　described；　and　the　Monk　seized　an
opportunity　to　fill　his　phial　unobserved　with　the　soporific
liquor。　　Then　having　partaken　of　a　Collation　in　the　Refectory；　He
retired　from　the　Convent　pleased　with　the　success　of　his　visit；
and　leaving　the　Nuns　delighted　by　the　honour　conferred　upon　them。

He　waited　till　Evening　before　He　took　the　road　to　Antonia's
dwelling。　　Jacintha　welcomed　him　with　transport；　and　besought　him
not　to　forget　his　promise　to　pass　the　night　in　the　haunted
Chamber：　　That　promise　He　now　repeated。　　He　found　Antonia
tolerably　well；　but　still　harping　upon　the　Ghost's　prediction。　
Flora　moved　not　from　her　Lady's　Bed；　and　by　symptoms　yet　stronger
than　on　the　former　night　testified　her　dislike　to　the　Abbot's
presence。　　Still　Ambrosio　affected　not　to　observe　them。　　The
Physician　arrived；　while　He　was　conversing　with　Antonia。　　It　was
dark　already；　Lights　were　called　for；　and　Flora　was　compelled　to
descend　for　them　herself。　　However；　as　She　left　a　third　Person　in
the　room；　and　expected　to　be　absent　but　a　few　minutes；　She
believed　that　She　risqued　nothing　in　quitting　her　post。　　No
sooner　had　She　left　the　room；　than　Ambrosio　moved　towards　the
Table；　on　which　stood　Antonia's　medicine：　　It　was　placed　in　a
recess　of　the　window。　　The　Physician　seated　in　an　armed…chair；
and　employed　in　questioning　his　Patient；　paid　no　attention　to　the
proceedings　of　the　Monk。　　Ambrosio　seized　the　opportunity：　　He
drew　out　the　fatal　Phial；　and　let　a　few　drops　fall　into　the
medicine。　　He　then　hastily　left　the　Table；　and　returned　to　the
seat　which　He　had　quitted。　　When　Flora　made　her　appearance　with
lights；　every　thing　seemed　to　be　exactly　as　She　had　left　it。

The　Physician　declared　that　Antonia　might　quit　her　chamber　the
next　day　with　perfect　safety。　　He　recommended　her　following　the
same　prescription　which；　on　the　night　before；　had　procured　her　a
refreshing　sleep：　Flora　replied　that　the　draught　stood　ready
upon　the　Table：　　He　advised　the　Patient　to　take　it　without　delay；
and　then　retired。　　Flora　poured　the　medicine　into　a　Cup　and
presented　it　to　her　Mistress。　　At　that　moment　Ambrosio's　courage
failed　him。　　Might　not　Matilda　have　deceived　him？　　Might　not
Jealousy　have　persuaded　her　to　destroy　her　Rival；　and　substitute
poison　in　the　room　of　an　opiate？　　This　idea　appeared　so
reasonable　that　He　was　on　the　point　of　preventing　her　from
swallowing　the　medicine。　　His　resolution　was　adopted　too　late：　
The　Cup　was　already　emptied；　and　Antonia　restored　it　into　Flora's
hands。　　No　remedy　was　now　to　be　found：　　Ambrosio　could　only
expect　the　moment　impatiently；　destined　to　decide　upon　Antonia's
life　or　death；　upon　his　own　happiness　or　despair。

Dreading　to　create　suspicion　by　his　stay；　or　betray　himself　by
his　mind's　agitation；　He　took　leave　of　his　Victim；　and　withdrew
from　the　room。　　Antonia　parted　from　him　with　less　cordiality　than
on　the　former　night。　　Flora　had　represented　to　her　Mistress　that
to　admit　his　visits　was　to　disobey　her　Mother's　orders：　　She
described　to　her　his　emotion　on　entering　the　room；　and　the　fire
which　sparkled　in　his　eyes　while　He　gazed　upon　her。　　This　had
escaped　Antonia's　observation；　but　not　her　Attendant's；　Who
explaining　the　Monk's　designs　and　their　probable　consequences　in
terms　much　clearer　than　Elvira's；　though　not　quite　so　delicate；
had　succeeded　in　alarming　her　young　Lady；　and　persuading　her　to
treat　him　more　distantly　than　She　had　done　hitherto。　　The　idea　of
obeying　her　Mother's　will　at　once　determined　Antonia。　　Though　She
grieved　at　losing　his　society；　She　conquered　herself　sufficiently
to　receive　the　Monk　with　some　degree　of　reserve　and　coldness。　
She　thanked　him　with　respect　and　gratitude　for　his　former　visits；
but　did　not　invite　his　repeating　them　in　future。　　It　now　was　not
the　Friar's　interest　to　solicit　admission　to　her　presence；　and　He
took　leave　of　her　as　if　not　designing　to　return。　　Fully
persuaded　that　the　acquaintance　which　She　dreaded　was　now　at　an
end；　Flora　was　so　much　worked　upon　by　his　easy　compliance　that
She　began　to　doubt　the　justice　of　her　suspicions。　　As　She　lighted
him　down　Stairs；　She　thanked　him　for　having　endeavoured　to　root
out　from　Antonia's　mind　her　superstitious　terrors　of　the
Spectre's　prediction：　　She　added；　that　as　He　seemed　interested　in
Donna　Antonia's　welfare；　should　any　change　take　place　in　her
situation；　She　would　be　careful　to　let　him　know　it。　　The　Monk　in
replying　took　pains　to　raise　his　voice；　hoping　that　Jacintha
would　hear　it。　　In　this　He　succeeded；　As　He　reached　the　foot　of
the　Stairs　with　his　Conductress；　the　Landlady　failed　not　to　make
her　appearance。

'Why　surely　you　are　not　going　away；　reverend　Father？'　cried　She；
'Did　you　not　promise　to　pass　the　night　in　the　haunted　Chamber？　
Christ　Jesus！　I　shall　be　left　alone　with　the　Ghost；　and　a　fine
pickle　I　shall　be　in　by　morning！　　Do　all　I　could；　say　all　I
could；　that　obstinate　old　Brute；　Simon　Gonzalez；　refused　to　marry
me　today；　And　before　tomorrow　comes；　I　suppose；　I　shall　be　torn
to　pieces；　by　the　Ghosts；　and　Goblins；　and　Devils；　and　what　not！　
For　God's　sake；　your　Holiness；　do　not　leave　me　in　such　a　woeful
condition！　　On　my　bended　knees　I　beseech　you　to　keep　your
promise：　　Watch　this　night　in　the　haunted　chamber；　Lay　the
Apparition　in　the　Red　Sea；　and　Jacintha　remembers　you　in　her
prayers　to　the　last　day　of　her　existence！'

This　request　Ambrosio　expected　and　desired；　Yet　He　affected　to
raise　objections；　and　to　seem　unwilling　to　keep　his　word。　　He
told　Jacintha　that　the　Ghost　existed　nowhere　but　in　her　own
brain；　and　that　her　insisting　upon　his　staying　all　night　in　the
House　was　ridiculous　and　useless。　　Jacintha　was　obstinate：　　She
was　not　to　be　convinced；　and　pressed　him　so　urgently　not　to　leave
her　a　prey　to　the　Devil；　that　at　length　He　granted　her　request。
All　this　show　of　resistance　imposed　not　upon　Flora；　who　was
naturally　of　a　suspicious　temper。　　She　suspected　the　Monk　to　be
acting　a　part　very　contrary　to　his　own　inclinations；　and　that　He
wished　for　no　better　than　to　remain　where　He　was。　　She　even　went
so　far　as　to　believe　that　Jacintha　was　in　his　interest；　and　the
poor　old　Woman　was　immediately　set　down；　as　no　better　than　a
Procuress。　　While　She　applauded　herself　for　having　penetrated
into　this　plot　against　her　Lady's　honour；　She　resolved　in　secret
to　render　it　fruitless。

'So　then；'　said　She　to　the　Abbot　with　a　look　half…satirical　and
half　indignant；　'So　then　you　mean　to　stay　here　tonight？　　Do　so；
in　God's　name！　　Nobody　will　prevent　you。　　Sit　up　to　watch　for　the
Ghost's　arrival：　　I　shall　sit　up　too；　and　the　Lord　grant　that　I
may　see　nothing　worse　than　a　Ghost！　　I　quit　not　Donna　Anto