the monk(僧侣)-第31节

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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　flint。　　The　pain　of　the　wound；　the　violence　of
the　shock；　and　apprehension　for　the　safety　of　Agnes　combined　to
overpower　me　so　compleatly；　that　my　senses　forsook　me；　and　I　lay
without　animation　on　the　ground。

I　probably　remained　for　some　time　in　this　situation；　since　when　I
opened　my　eyes；　it　was　broad　daylight。　　Several　Peasants　were
standing　round　me；　and　seemed　disputing　whether　my　recovery　was
possible。　　I　spoke　German　tolerably　well。　　As　soon　as　I　could
utter　an　articulate　sound；　I　enquired　after　Agnes。　　What　was　my
surprise　and　distress；　when　assured　by　the　Peasants；　that　nobody
had　been　seen　answering　the　description　which　I　gave　of　her！　
They　told　me　that　in　going　to　their　daily　labour　they　had　been
alarmed　by　observing　the　fragments　of　my　Carriage；　and　by　hearing
the　groans　of　an　Horse；　the　only　one　of　the　four　which　remained
alive：　The　other　Three　lay　dead　by　my　side。　　Nobody　was　near　me
when　they　came　up；　and　much　time　had　been　lost；　before　they
succeeded　in　recovering　me。　　Uneasy　beyond　expression　respecting
the　fate　of　my　Companion；　I　besought　the　Peasants　to　disperse
themselves　in　search　of　her：　　I　described　her　dress；　and　promised
immense　rewards　to　whoever　brought　me　any　intelligence。　　As　for
myself；　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　join　in　the　pursuit：　I　had
broken　two　of　my　ribs　in　the　fall：　　My　arm　being　dislocated　hung
useless　by　my　side；　and　my　left　leg　was　shattered　so　terribly；
that　I　never　expected　to　recover　its　use。

The　Peasants　complied　with　my　request：　　All　left　me　except　Four；
who　made　a　litter　of　boughs　and　prepared　to　convey　me　to　the
neighbouring　Town。　　I　enquired　its　name。　　It　proved　to　be
Ratisbon；　and　I　could　scarcely　persuade　myself　that　I　had
travelled　to　such　a　distance　in　a　single　night。　　I　told　the
Countrymen　that　at　one　o'clock　that　morning　I　had　past　through
the　Village　of　Rosenwald。　　They　shook　their　heads　wistfully；　and
made　signs　to　each　other　that　I　must　certainly　be　delirious。　　I
was　conveyed　to　a　decent　Inn　and　immediately　put　to　bed。　　A
Physician　was　sent　for；　who　set　my　arm　with　success。　　He　then
examined　my　other　hurts；　and　told　me　that　I　need　be　under　no
apprehension　of　the　consequences　of　any　of　them；　But　ordered　me
to　keep　myself　quiet；　and　be　prepared　for　a　tedious　and　painful
cure。　　I　answered　him　that　if　He　hoped　to　keep　me　quiet；　He　must
first　endeavour　to　procure　me　some　news　of　a　Lady　who　had
quitted　Rosenwald　in　my　company　the　night　before；　and　had　been
with　me　at　the　moment　when　the　Coach　broke　down。　　He　smiled；　and
only　replied　by　advising　me　to　make　myself　easy；　for　that　all
proper　care　should　be　taken　of　me。　　As　He　quitted　me；　the　Hostess
met　him　at　the　door　of　the　room。

'The　Gentleman　is　not　quite　in　his　right　senses；'　I　heard　him　say
to　her　in　a　low　voice；　'　'Tis　the　natural　consequence　of　his
fall；　but　that　will　soon　be　over。'

One　after　another　the　Peasants　returned　to　the　Inn；　and　informed
me　that　no　traces　had　been　discovered　of　my　unfortunate　Mistress。

Uneasiness　now　became　despair。　I　entreated　them　to　renew　their
search　in　the　most　urgent　terms；　doubling　the　promises　which　I
had　already　made　them。　　My　wild　and　frantic　manner　confirmed　the
bye…standers　in　the　idea　of　my　being　delirious。　　No　signs　of　the
Lady　having　appeared；　they　believed　her　to　be　a　creature
fabricated　by　my　over…heated　brain；　and　paid　no　attention　to　my
entreaties。　　However；　the　Hostess　assured　me　that　a　fresh　enquiry
should　be　made；　but　I　found　afterwards　that　her　promise　was　only
given　to　quiet　me。　　No　further　steps　were　taken　in　the　business。

Though　my　Baggage　was　left　at　Munich　under　the　care　of　my　French
Servant；　having　prepared　myself　for　a　long　journey；　my　purse　was
amply　furnished：　　Besides　my　equipage　proved　me　to　be　of
distinction；　and　in　consequence　all　possible　attention　was　paid
me　at　the　Inn。　　The　day　passed　away：　　Still　no　news　arrived　of
Agnes。　　The　anxiety　of　fear　now　gave　place　to　despondency。　　I
ceased　to　rave　about　her　and　was　plunged　in　the　depth　of
melancholy　reflections。　　Perceiving　me　to　be　silent　and　tranquil；
my　Attendants　believed　my　delirium　to　have　abated；　and　that　my
malady　had　taken　a　favourable　turn。　　According　to　the　Physician's
order　I　swallowed　a　composing　medicine；　and　as　soon　as　the　night
shut　in；　my　attendants　withdrew　and　left　me　to　repose。

That　repose　I　wooed　in　vain。　　The　agitation　of　my　bosom　chased
away　sleep。　　Restless　in　my　mind；　in　spite　of　the　fatigue　of　my
body；　I　continued　to　toss　about　from　side　to　side；　till　the　Clock
in　a　neighbouring　Steeple　struck　'One。'　　As　I　listened　to　the
mournful　hollow　sound；　and　heard　it　die　away　in　the　wind；　I　felt
a　sudden　chillness　spread　itself　over　my　body。　　I　shuddered
without　knowing　wherefore；　Cold　dews　poured　down　my　forehead；　and
my　hair　stood　bristling　with　alarm。　　Suddenly　I　heard　slow　and
heavy　steps　ascending　the　staircase。　By　an　involuntary　movement
I　started　up　in　my　bed；　and　drew　back　the　curtain。　　A　single
rush…light　which　glimmered　upon　the　hearth　shed　a　faint　gleam
through　the　apartment；　which　was　hung　with　tapestry。　　The　door
was　thrown　open　with　violence。　　A　figure　entered；　and　drew　near
my　Bed　with　solemn　measured　steps。　　With　trembling　apprehension　I
examined　this　midnight　Visitor。　　God　Almighty！　　It　was　the
Bleeding　Nun！　　It　was　my　lost　Companion！　　Her　face　was　still
veiled；　but　She　no　longer　held　her　Lamp　and　dagger。　　She　lifted
up　her　veil　slowly。　　What　a　sight　presented　itself　to　my　startled
eyes！　　I　beheld　before　me　an　animated　Corse。　　Her　countenance　was
long　and　haggard；　Her　cheeks　and　lips　were　bloodless；　The
paleness　of　death　was　spread　over　her　features；　and　her　eyeballs
fixed　stedfastly　upon　me　were　lustreless　and　hollow。

I　gazed　upon　the　Spectre　with　horror　too　great　to　be　described。　
My　blood　was　frozen　in　my　veins。　　I　would　have　called　for　aid；
but　the　sound　expired　ere　it　could　pass　my　lips。　　My　nerves　were
bound　up　in　impotence；　and　I　remained　in　the　same　attitude
inanimate　as　a　Statue。

The　visionary　Nun　looked　upon　me　for　some　minutes　in　silence：　
There　was　something　petrifying　in　her　regard。　At　length　in　a　low
sepulchral　voice　She　pronounced　the　following　words。

　　　　　　''Raymond！　　Raymond！　　Thou　art　mine！
　　　　　　　Raymond！　Raymond！　　I　am　thine！
　　　　　　　In　thy　veins　while　blood　shall　roll；　　
　　　　　　　I　am　thine！
　　　　　　　Thou　art　mine！
　　　　　　　Mine　thy　body！　Mine　thy　soul！''

Breathless　with　fear；　I　listened　while　She　repeated　my　own
expressions。　　The　Apparition　seated　herself　opposite　to　me　at　the
foot　of　the　Bed；　and　was　silent。　　Her　eyes　were　fixed　earnestly
upon　mine：　　They　seemed　endowed　with　the　property　of　the
Rattlesnake's；　for　I　strove　in　vain　to　look　off　her。　　My　eyes
were　fascinated；　and　I　had　not　the　power　of　withdrawing　them　from
the　Spectre's。

In　this　attitude　She　remained　for　a　whole　long　hour　without
speaking　or　moving；　nor　was　I　able　to　do　either。　　At　length　the
Clock　struck　two。　　The　Apparition　rose　from　her　seat；　and
approached　the　side　of　the　bed。　　She　grasped　with　her　icy　fingers
my　hand　which　hung　lifeless　upon　the　Coverture；　and　pressing　her
cold　lips　to　mine；　again　repeated；

　　　　　　''Raymond！　Raymond！　Thou　art　mine！
　　　　　　　Raymond！　Raymond！
　　　　　　　I　am　thine！　&c。''

She　then　dropped　my　hand；　quitted　the　chamber　with　slow　steps；
and　the　Door　closed　after　her。　　Till　that　moment　the　faculties　of
my　body　had　been　all　suspended；　Those　of　my　mind　had　alone　been
waking。　　The　charm　now　ceased　to　operate：　　The　blood　which　had
been　frozen　in　my　veins　rushed　back　to　my　heart　with　violence：　I
uttered　a　deep　groan；　and　sank　lifeless　upon　my　pillow。

The　adjoining　room　was　only　separated　from　mine　by　a　thin
partition：　　It　was　occupied　by　the　Host　and　his　Wife：　　The　Former
was　rouzed　by　my　groan；　and　immediately　hastened　to　my　chamber：　
The　Hostess　soon　followed　him。　　With　some　difficulty　they
succeeded　in　restoring　me　to　my　senses；　and　immediately　sent　for
the　Physician；　who　arrived　in　all　diligence。　　He　declared　my
fever　to　be　very　much　increased；　and　that　if　I　continued　to
suffer　such　violent　agitation；　He　would　not　take　upon　him　to
ensure　my　life。　　Some　medicines　which　He　gave　me　in　some　degree
tranquillized　my　spirits。　　I　fell　into　a　sort　of　slumber　towards
daybreak；　But　fearful　dreams　prevented　me　from　deriving　any
benefit　from　my　repose。　　Agnes　and　the　Bleeding　Nun　presented
themselves　by　turns　to　my　fancy；　and　combined　to　harass　and
torment　me。　　I　awoke　fatigued　and　unrefreshed。　　My　fever　seemed
rather　augmented　than　diminished；　The　agitation　of　my　mind
impeded　my　fractured　bones　from　knitting：　　I　had　frequent
fainting　fits；　and　during　the　whole　day　the　Physician　judged　it
expedient　not　to　quit　me　for　two　hours　together。

The　singularity　of　my　adventure　made　me　determine　to　conceal　it
from　every　one；　since　I　could　not　expect　that　a　circumstance　so
strange　should　gain　credit。　　I　was　very　uneasy　about　Agnes。　　I
knew　not　what　She　would　think　at　not　finding　me　at　the
rendezvous；　and　dreaded　her　entertaining　suspicions　of　my
fidelity。　　However；　I　depended　upon　Theodore'