the monk(僧侣)-第30节

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of　circumstances：　　As　to　Theodore；　He　had　no　scruples　upon　the
subject。　　Cunegonda's　captivity　entertained　him　beyond　measure。　
During　his　abode　in　the　Castle；　a　continual　warfare　had　been
carried　on　between　him　and　the　Duenna；　and　now　that　He　found　his
Enemy　so　absolutely　in　his　power；　He　triumphed　without　mercy。　　He
seemed　to　think　of　nothing　but　how　to　find　out　new　means　of
plaguing　her：　　Sometimes　He　affected　to　pity　her　misfortune；　then
laughed　at；　abused；　and　mimicked　her；　He　played　her　a　thousand
tricks；　each　more　provoking　than　the　other；　and　amused　himself　by
telling　her　that　her　elopement　must　have　occasioned　much
surprise　at　the　Baron's。　　This　was　in　fact　the　case。　　No　one
except　Agnes　could　imagine　what　was　become　of　Dame　Cunegonda：　
Every　hole　and　corner　was　searched　for　her；　The　Ponds　were
dragged；　and　the　Woods　underwent　a　thorough　examination。　　Still
no　Dame　Cunegonda　made　her　appearance。　　Agnes　kept　the　secret；
and　I　kept　the　Duenna：　　The　Baroness；　therefore；　remained　in
total　ignorance　respecting　the　old　Woman's　fate；　but　suspected
her　to　have　perished　by　suicide。　　Thus　past　away　five　days；
during　which　I　had　prepared　every　thing　necessary　for　my
enterprise。　　On　quitting　Agnes；　I　had　made　it　my　first　business
to　dispatch　a　Peasant　with　a　letter　to　Lucas　at　Munich；　ordering
him　to　take　care　that　a　Coach　and　four　should　arrive　about　ten
o'clock　on　the　fifth　of　May　at　the　Village　of　Rosenwald。　　He
obeyed　my　instructions　punctually：　The　Equipage　arrived　at　the
time　appointed。　　As　the　period　of　her　Lady's　elopement　drew
nearer；　Cunegonda's　rage　increased。　　I　verily　believe　that　spight
and　passion　would　have　killed　her；　had　I　not　luckily　discovered
her　prepossession　in　favour　of　Cherry　Brandy。　With　this　favourite
liquor　She　was　plentifully　supplied；　and　Theodore　always
remaining　to　guard　her；　the　Gag　was　occasionally　removed。　　The
liquor　seemed　to　have　a　wonderful　effect　in　softening　the
acrimony　of　her　nature；　and　her　confinement　not　admitting　of　any
other　amusement；　She　got　drunk　regularly　once　a　day　just　by　way
of　passing　the　time。

The　fifth　of　May　arrived；　a　period　by　me　never　to　be　forgotten！　
Before　the　Clock　struck　twelve；　I　betook　myself　to　the　scene　of
action。　　Theodore　followed　me　on　horseback。　　I　concealed　the
Carriage　in　a　spacious　Cavern　of　the　Hill；　on　whose　brow　the
Castle　was　situated：　This　Cavern　was　of　considerable　depth；　and
among　the　peasants　was　known　by　the　name　of　Lindenberg　Hole。　　The
night　was　calm　and　beautiful：　　The　Moonbeams　fell　upon　the
antient　Towers　of　the　Castle；　and　shed　upon　their　summits　a
silver　light。　　All　was　still　around　me：　　Nothing　was　to　be　heard
except　the　night　breeze　sighing　among　the　leaves；　the　distant
barking　of　Village　Dogs；　or　the　Owl　who　had　established　herself
in　a　nook　of　the　deserted　Eastern　Turret。　　I　heard　her　melancholy
shriek；　and　looked　upwards。　　She　sat　upon　the　ride　of　a　window；
which　I　recognized　to　be　that　of　the　haunted　Room。　　This　brought
to　my　remembrance　the　story　of　the　Bleeding　Nun；　and　I　sighed
while　I　reflected　on　the　influence　of　superstition　and　weakness
of　human　reason。　　Suddenly　I　heard　a　faint　chorus　steal　upon　the
silence　of　the　night。

'What　can　occasion　that　noise；　Theodore？'

'A　Stranger　of　distinction；'　replied　He；　'passed　through　the
Village　today　in　his　way　to　the　Castle：　　He　is　reported　to　be
the　Father　of　Donna　Agnes。　　Doubtless；　the　Baron　has　given　an
entertainment　to　celebrate　his　arrival。'

The　Castle　Bell　announced　the　hour　of　midnight：　This　was　the
usual　signal　for　the　family　to　retire　to　Bed。　　Soon　after　I
perceived　lights　in　the　Castle　moving　backwards　and　forwards　in
different　directions。　　I　conjectured　the　company　to　be
separating。　　I　could　hear　the　heavy　doors　grate　as　they　opened
with　difficulty；　and　as　they　closed　again　the　rotten　Casements
rattled　in　their　frames。　　The　chamber　of　Agnes　was　on　the　other
side　of　the　Castle。　　I　trembled　lest　She　should　have　failed　in
obtaining　the　Key　of　the　haunted　Room：　　Through　this　it　was
necessary　for　her　to　pass　in　order　to　reach　the　narrow
Staircase　by　which　the　Ghost　was　supposed　to　descend　into　the
great　Hall。　　Agitated　by　this　apprehension；　I　kept　my　eyes
constantly　fixed　upon　the　window；　where　I　hoped　to　perceive　the
friendly　glare　of　a　Lamp　borne　by　Agnes。　　I　now　heard　the　massy
Gates　unbarred。　　By　the　candle　in　his　hand　I　distinguished　old
Conrad；　the　Porter。　　He　set　the　Portal　doors　wide　open；　and
retired。　　The　lights　in　the　Castle　gradually　disappeared；　and　at
length　the　whole　Building　was　wrapt　in　darkness。

While　I　sat　upon　a　broken　ridge　of　the　Hill；　the　stillness　of　the
scene　inspired　me　with　melancholy　ideas　not　altogether
unpleasing。　　The　Castle　which　stood　full　in　my　sight；　formed　an
object　equally　awful　and　picturesque。　Its　ponderous　Walls　tinged
by　the　moon　with　solemn　brightness；　its　old　and　partly…ruined
Towers　lifting　themselves　into　the　clouds　and　seeming　to　frown　on
the　plains　around　them；　its　lofty　battlements　oergrown　with　ivy；
and　folding　Gates　expanding　in　honour　of　the　Visionary
Inhabitant；　made　me　sensible　of　a　sad　and　reverential　horror。　
Yet　did　not　these　sensations　occupy　me　so　fully；　as　to　prevent　me
from　witnessing　with　impatience　the　slow　progress　of　time。　　I
approached　the　Castle；　and　ventured　to　walk　round　it。　　A　few　rays
of　light　still　glimmered　in　the　chamber　of　Agnes。　　I　observed
them　with　joy。　　I　was　still　gazing　upon　them；　when　I　perceived　a
figure　draw　near　the　window；　and　the　Curtain　was　carefully　closed
to　conceal　the　Lamp　which　burned　there。　　Convinced　by　this
observation　that　Agnes　had　not　abandoned　our　plan；　I　returned
with　a　light　heart　to　my　former　station。

The　half…hour　struck！　　The　three…quarters　struck！　　My　bosom　beat
high　with　hope　and　expectation。　　At　length　the　wished…for　sound
was　heard。　　The　Bell　tolled　'One；'　and　the　Mansion　echoed　with
the　noise　loud　and　solemn。　　I　looked　up　to　the　Casement　of　the
haunted　Chamber。　　Scarcely　had　five　minutes　elapsed；　when　the
expected　light　appeared。　　I　was　now　close　to　the　Tower。　　The
window　was　not　so　far　from　the　Ground　but　that　I　fancied　I
perceived　a　female　figure　with　a　Lamp　in　her　hand　moving　slowly
along　the　Apartment。　　The　light　soon　faded　away；　and　all　was
again　dark　and　gloomy。

Occasional　gleams　of　brightness　darted　from　the　Staircase
windows　as　the　lovely　Ghost　past　by　them。　　I　traced　the　light
through　the　Hall：　　It　reached　the　Portal；　and　at　length　I　beheld
Agnes　pass　through　the　folding　gates。　　She　was　habited　exactly
as　She　had　described　the　Spectre。　　A　chaplet　of　Beads　hung　upon
her　arm；　her　head　was　enveloped　in　a　long　white　veil；　Her　Nun's
dress　was　stained　with　blood；　and　She　had　taken　care　to　provide
herself　with　a　Lamp　and　dagger。　　She　advanced　towards　the　spot
where　I　stood。　　I　flew　to　meet　her；　and　clasped　her　in　my　arms。

'Agnes！'　said　I　while　I　pressed　her　to　my　bosom；　　　　　　
Agnes！　　Agnes！　　Thou　art　mine！　　　　　　　
Agnes！　Agnes！　I　am　thine！　　　　
In　my　veins　while　blood　shall　roll；　　　　　　　
Thou　art　mine！　　　　　　　
I　am　thine！　　　　　　　
Thine　my　body！　Thine　my　soul！

Terrified　and　breathless　She　was　unable　to　speak：　She　dropt　her
Lamp　and　dagger；　and　sank　upon　my　bosom　in　silence。　　I　raised　her
in　my　arms；　and　conveyed　her　to　the　Carriage。　　Theodore　remained
behind　in　order　to　release　Dame　Cunegonda。　　I　also　charged　him
with　a　letter　to　the　Baroness　explaining　the　whole　affair；　and
entreating　her　good　offices　in　reconciling　Don　Gaston　to　my　union
with　his　Daughter。　　I　discovered　to　her　my　real　name：　　I　proved
to　her　that　my　birth　and　expectations　justified　my　pretending　to
her　Niece；　and　assured　her；　though　it　was　out　of　my　power　to
return　her　love；　that　I　would　strive　unceasingly　to　obtain　her
esteem　and　friendship。

I　stepped　into　the　Carriage；　where　Agnes　was　already　seated。　
Theodore　closed　the　door；　and　the　Postillions　drove　away。　　At
first　I　was　delighted　with　the　rapidity　of　our　progress；　But　as
soon　as　we　were　in　no　danger　of　pursuit；　I　called　to　the　Drivers；
and　bad　them　moderate　their　pace。　　They　strove　in　vain　to　obey
me。　　The　Horses　refused　to　answer　the　rein；　and　continued　to　rush
on　with　astonishing　swiftness。　　The　Postillions　redoubled　their
efforts　to　stop　them；　but　by　kicking　and　plunging　the　Beasts　soon
released　themselves　from　this　restraint。　　Uttering　a　loud　shriek；
the　Drivers　were　hurled　upon　the　ground。　　Immediately　thick
clouds　obscured　the　sky：　　The　winds　howled　around　us；　the
lightning　flashed；　and　the　Thunder　roared　tremendously。　　Never
did　I　behold　so　frightful　a　Tempest！　　Terrified　by　the　jar　of
contending　elements；　the　Horses　seemed　every　moment　to　increase
their　speed。　　Nothing　could　interrupt　their　career；　They　dragged
the　Carriage　through　Hedges　and　Ditches；　dashed　down　the　most
dangerous　precipices；　and　seemed　to　vye　in　swiftness　with　the
rapidity　of　the　winds。

All　this　while　my　Companion　lay　motionless　in　my　arms。　　Truly
alarmed　by　the　magnitude　of　the　danger；　I　was　in　vain　attempting
to　recall　her　to　her　senses；　when　a　loud　crash　announced；　that　a
stop　was　put　to　our　progress　in　the　most　disagreeable　manner。　
The　Carriage　was　shattered　to　pieces。　　In　falling　I　struck　my
temple　against　a　fli