the monk(僧侣)-第36节

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reasons　for　attempting　my　life。　　I　was　answered　that　He　was
already　able　to　speak；　though　with　difficulty：　　Don　Gaston's
curiosity　made　him　press　me　to　interrogate　the　Assassin　in　his
presence；　but　this　curiosity　I　was　by　no　means　inclined　to
gratify。　　One　reason　was；　that　doubting　from　whence　the　blow
came；　I　was　unwilling　to　place　before　Don　Gaston's　eyes　the　guilt
of　a　Sister：　　Another　was；　that　I　feared　to　be　recognized　for
Alphonso　d'Alvarada；　and　precautions　taken　in　consequence　to　keep
me　from　the　sight　of　Agnes。　　To　avow　my　passion　for　his　Daughter；
and　endeavour　to　make　him　enter　into　my　schemes；　what　I　knew　of
Don　Gaston's　character　convinced　me　would　be　an　imprudent　step：
and　considering　it　to　be　essential　that　He　should　know　me　for　no
other　than　the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas；　I　was　determined　not　to
let　him　hear　the　Bravo's　confession。　　I　insinuated　to　him；　that
as　I　suspected　a　Lady　to　be　concerned　in　the　Business；　whose　name
might　accidentally　escape　from　the　Assassin；　it　was　necessary　for
me　to　examine　the　Man　in　private。　　Don　Gaston's　delicacy　would
not　permit　his　urging　the　point　any　longer；　and　in　consequence
the　Bravo　was　conveyed　to　my　Hotel。

The　next　Morning　I　took　leave　of　my　Host；　who　was　to　return　to
the　Duke　on　the　same　day。　　My　wounds　had　been　so　trifling　that；　
except　being　obliged　to　wear　my　arm　in　a　sling　for　a　short　time；
I　felt　no　inconvenience　from　the　night's　adventure。　　The　Surgeon
who　examined　the　Bravo's　wound　declared　it　to　be　mortal：　　He　had
just　time　to　confess　that　He　had　been　instigated　to　murder　me　by
the　revengeful　Donna　Rodolpha；　and　expired　in　a　few　minutes
after。

All　my　thoughts　were　now　bent　upon　getting　to　the　speech　of　my
lovely　Nun。　　Theodore　set　himself　to　work；　and　for　this　time　with
better　success。　　He　attacked　the　Gardener　of　St。　Clare　so
forcibly　with　bribes　and　promises　that　the　Old　Man　was　entirely
gained　over　to　my　interests；　and　it　was　settled　that　I　should　be
introduced　into　the　Convent　in　the　character　of　his　Assistant。　
The　plan　was　put　into　execution　without　delay。　　Disguised　in　a
common　habit；　and　a　black　patch　covering　one　of　my　eyes；　I　was
presented　to　the　Lady　Prioress；　who　condescended　to　approve　of
the　Gardener's　choice。　　I　immediately　entered　upon　my　employment。
Botany　having　been　a　favourite　study　with　me；　I　was　by　no　means
at　a　loss　in　my　new　station。　　For　some　days　I　continued　to　work
in　the　Convent　Garden　without　meeting　the　Object　of　my　disguise：　
On　the　fourth　Morning　I　was　more　successful。　　I　heard　the　voice
of　Agnes；　and　was　speeding　towards　the　sound；　when　the　sight　of
the　Domina　stopped　me。　　I　drew　back　with　caution；　and　concealed
myself　behind　a　thick　clump　of　Trees。

The　Prioress　advanced　and　seated　herself　with　Agnes　on　a　Bench
at　no　great　distance。　　I　heard　her　in　an　angry　tone　blame　her
Companion's　continual　melancholy：　She　told　her　that　to　weep　the
loss　of　any　Lover　in　her　situation　was　a　crime；　But　that　to　weep
the　loss　of　a　faithless　one　was　folly　and　absurdity　in　the
extreme。　　Agnes　replied　in　so　low　a　voice　that　I　could　not
distinguish　her　words；　but　I　perceived　that　She　used　terms　of
gentleness　and　submission。　　The　conversation　was　interrupted　by
the　arrival　of　a　young　Pensioner　who　informed　the　Domina　that
She　was　waited　for　in　the　Parlour。　　The　old　Lady　rose；　kissed　the
cheek　of　Agnes；　and　retired。　　The　newcomer　remained。　　Agnes　spoke
much　to　her　in　praise　of　somebody　whom　I　could　not　make　out；　but
her　Auditor　seemed　highly　delighted；　and　interested　by　the
conversation。　　The　Nun　showed　her　several　letters；　the　Other
perused　them　with　evident　pleasure；　obtained　permission　to　copy
them；　and　withdrew　for　that　purpose　to　my　great　satisfaction。

No　sooner　was　She　out　of　sight；　than　I　quitted　my　concealment。　
Fearing　to　alarm　my　lovely　Mistress；　I　drew　near　her　gently；
intending　to　discover　myself　by　degrees。　　But　who　for　a　moment
can　deceive　the　eyes　of　love？　　She　raised　her　head　at　my
approach；　and　recognised　me　in　spite　of　my　disguise　at　a　single
glance。　　She　rose　hastily　from　her　seat　with　an　exclamation　of
surprize；　and　attempted　to　retire；　But　I　followed　her；　detained
her；　and　entreated　to　be　heard。　　Persuaded　of　my　falsehood　She
refused　to　listen　to　me；　and　ordered　me　positively　to　quit　the
Garden。　　It　was　now　my　turn　to　refuse。　　I　protested　that　however
dangerous　might　be　the　consequences；　I　would　not　leave　her　till
She　had　heard　my　justification。　　I　assured　her　that　She　had　been
deceived　by　the　artifices　of　her　Relations；　that　I　could　convince
her　beyond　the　power　of　doubt　that　my　passion　had　been　pure　and
disinterested；　and　I　asked　her　what　should　induce　me　to　seek　her
in　the　Convent；　were　I　influenced　by　the　selfish　motives　which　my
Enemies　had　ascribed　to　me。

My　prayers；　my　arguments；　and　vows　not　to　quit　her；　till　She　had
promised　to　listen　to　me；　united　to　her　fears　lest　the　Nuns
should　see　me　with　her；　to　her　natural　curiosity；　and　to　the
effection　which　She　still　felt　for　me　in　spite　of　my　supposed
desertion；　at　length　prevailed。　She　told　me　that　to　grant　my
request　at　that　moment　was　impossible；　But　She　engaged　to　be　in
the　same　spot　at　eleven　that　night；　and　to　converse　with　me　for
the　last　time。　　Having　obtained　this　promise　I　released　her　hand；
and　She　fled　back　with　rapidity　towards　the　Convent。

I　communicated　my　success　to　my　Ally；　the　old　Gardener：　　He
pointed　out　an　hiding　place　where　I　might　shelter　myself　till
night　without　fear　of　a　discovery。　　Thither　I　betook　myself　at
the　hour　when　I　ought　to　have　retired　with　my　supposed　Master；
and　waited　impatiently　for　the　appointed　time。　　The　chillness　of
the　night　was　in　my　favour；　since　it　kept　the　other　Nuns　confined
to　their　Cells。　　Agnes　alone　was　insensible　of　the　inclemency　of
the　Air；　and　before　eleven　joined　me　at　the　spot　which　had
witnessed　our　former　interview。　　Secure　from　interruption；　I
related　to　her　the　true　cause　of　my　disappearing　on　the　fatal
fifth　of　May。　　She　was　evidently　much　affected　by　my　narrative：　
When　it　was　concluded；　She　confessed　the　injustice　of　her
suspicions；　and　blamed　herself　for　having　taken　the　veil　through
despair　at　my　ingratitude。

'But　now　it　is　too　late　to　repine！'　She　added；　'The　die　is
thrown：　　I　have　pronounced　my　vows；　and　dedicated　myself　to　the
service　of　heaven。　　I　am　sensible；　how　ill　I　am　calculated　for　a
Convent。　　My　disgust　at　a　monastic　life　increases　daily：　　Ennui
and　discontent　are　my　constant　Companions；　and　I　will　not　conceal
from　you　that　the　passion　which　I　formerly　felt　for　one　so　near
being　my　Husband　is　not　yet　extinguished　in　my　bosom。　　But　we
must　part！　　Insuperable　Barriers　divide　us　from　each　other；　and
on　this　side　the　Grave　we　must　never　meet　again！'

I　now　exerted　myself　to　prove　that　our　union　was　not　so
impossible　as　She　seemed　to　think　it。　　I　vaunted　to　her　the
Cardinal…Duke　of　Lerma's　influence　at　the　Court　of　Rome：　　I
assured　her　that　I　should　easily　obtain　a　dispensation　from　her
vows；　and　I　doubted　not　but　Don　Gaston　would　coincide　with　my
views；　when　informed　of　my　real　name　and　long　attachment。　　Agnes
replied　that　since　I　encouraged　such　an　hope；　I　could　know　but
little　of　her　Father。　　Liberal　and　kind　in　every　other　respect；
Superstition　formed　the　only　stain　upon　his　character。　　Upon　this
head　He　was　inflexible；　He　sacrificed　his　dearest　interests　to
his　scruples；　and　would　consider　it　an　insult　to　suppose　him
capable　of　authorising　his　daughter　to　break　her　vows　to　heaven。

'But　suppose；'　said　I　interrupting　her；　'Suppose　that　He　should
disapprove　of　our　union；　Let　him　remain　ignorant　of　my
proceedings；　till　I　have　rescued　you　from　the　prison　in　which
you　are　now　confined。　　Once　my　Wife；　you　are　free　from　his
authority：　　I　need　from　him　no　pecuniary　assistance；　and　when　He
sees　his　resentment　to　be　unavailing；　He　will　doubtless　restore
you　to　his　favour。　　But　let　the　worst　happen；　Should　Don　Gaston
be　irreconcileable；　my　Relations　will　vie　with　each　other　in
making　you　forget　his　loss：　and　you　will　find　in　my　Father　a
substitute　for　the　Parent　of　whom　I　shall　deprive　you。'

'Don　Raymond；'　replied　Agnes　in　a　firm　and　resolute　voice；　'I
love　my　Father：　　He　has　treated　me　harshly　in　this　one　instance；
but　I　have　received　from　him　in　every　other　so　many　proofs　of
love　that　his　affection　is　become　necessary　to　my　existence。　
Were　I　to　quit　the　Convent；　He　never　would　forgive　me；　nor　can　I
think　that　on　his　deathbed　He　would　leave　me　his　curse；　without
shuddering　at　the　very　idea。　　Besides；　I　am　conscious　myself；
that　my　vows　are　binding：　　Wilfully　did　I　contract　my　engagement
with　heaven；　I　cannot　break　it　without　a　crime。　　Then　banish　from
your　mind　the　idea　of　our　being　ever　united。　　I　am　devoted　to
religion；　and　however　I　may　grieve　at　our　separation；　I　would
oppose　obstacles　myself；　to　what　I　feel　would　render　me　guilty。'

I　strove　to　overrule　these　ill…grounded　scruples：　　We　were　still
disputing　upon　the　subject；　when　the　Convent　Bell　summoned　the
Nuns　to　Matins。　　Agnes　was　obliged　to　attend　them；　But　She　left
me　not　till　I　had　compelled　her　to　promise　that　on　the　following
night　She　would　be　at　the　same　place　at　the　same　hour。　　These
meetings　c