volume02-第4章
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'Do you know the resemblance？' said She smiling。
It was her own。
Transported at the gift； I pressed the portrait to my lips with passion： I threw myself at her feet； and declared my gratitude in the warmest and most affectionate terms。 She listened to me with complaisance； and assured me that She shared my sentiments： When suddenly She uttered a loud shriek； disengaged the hand which I held； and flew from the room by a door which opened to the Garden。 Amazed at this abrupt departure； I rose hastily from my knees。 I beheld with confusion the Baroness standing near me glowing with jealousy； and almost choaked with rage。 On recovering from her swoon； She had tortured her imagination to discover her concealed Rival。 No one appeared to deserve her suspicions more than Agnes。 She immediately hastened to find her Niece； tax her with encouraging my addresses； and assure herself whether her conjectures were well…grounded。 Unfortunately She had already seen enough to need no other confirmation。 She arrived at the door of the room at the precise moment； when Agnes gave me her Portrait。 She heard me profess an everlasting attachment to her Rival； and saw me kneeling at her feet。 She advanced to separate us； We were too much occupied by each other to perceive her approach； and were not aware of it； till Agnes beheld her standing by my side。
Rage on the part of Donna Rodolpha； embarrassment on mine； for some time kept us both silent。 The Lady recovered herself first。
'My suspicions then were just；' said She； 'The Coquetry of my Niece has triumphed； and 'tis to her that I am sacrificed。 In one respect however I am fortunate： I shall not be the only one who laments a disappointed passion。 You too shall know； what it is to love without hope！ I daily expect orders for restoring Agnes to her Parents。 Immediately upon her arrival in Spain； She will take the veil； and place an insuperable barrier to your union。 You may spare your supplications。' She continued； perceiving me on the point of speaking； 'My resolution is fixed and immoveable。 Your Mistress shall remain a close Prisoner in her chamber till She exchanges this Castle for the Cloister。 Solitude will perhaps recall her to a sense of her duty： But to prevent your opposing that wished event； I must inform you； Don Alphonso； that your presence here is no longer agreeable either to the Baron or Myself。 It was not to talk nonsense to my Niece that your Relations sent you to Germany： Your business was to travel； and I should be sorry to impede any longer so excellent a design。 Farewell； Segnor； Remember； that tomorrow morning we meet for the last time。'
Having said this； She darted upon me a look of pride； contempt； and malice； and quitted the apartment。 I also retired to mine； and consumed the night in planning the means of rescuing Agnes from the power of her tyrannical Aunt。
After the positive declaration of its Mistress； it was impossible for me to make a longer stay at the Castle of Lindenberg。 Accordingly I the next day announced my immediate departure。 The Baron declared that it gave him sincere pain； and He expressed himself in my favour so warmly； that I endeavoured to win him over to my interest。 Scarcely had I mentioned the name of Agnes when He stopped me short； and said； that it was totally out of his power to interfere in the business。 I saw that it was in vain to argue； The Baroness governed her Husband with despotic sway； and I easily perceived that She had prejudiced him against the match。 Agnes did not appear： I entreated permission to take leave of her； but my prayer was rejected。 I was obliged to depart without seeing her。
At quitting him the Baron shook my hand affectionately； and assured me that as soon as his Niece was gone； I might consider his House as my own。
'Farewell； Don Alphonso！' said the Baroness； and stretched out her hand to me。
I took it； and offered to carry it to my lips。 She prevented me。
Her Husband was at the other end of the room； and out of hearing。
'Take care of yourself；' She continued； 'My love is become hatred； and my wounded pride shall not be unatoned。 Go where you will； my vengeance shall follow you！'
She accompanied these words with a look sufficient to make me tremble。 I answered not； but hastened to quit the Castle。
As my Chaise drove out of the Court； I looked up to the windows of your Sister's chamber。 Nobody was to be seen there： I threw myself back despondent in my Carriage。 I was attended by no other servants than a Frenchman whom I had hired at Strasbourg in Stephano's room； and my little Page whom I before mentioned to you。 The fidelity； intelligence； and good temper of Theodore had already made him dear to me； But He now prepared to lay an obligation on me； which made me look upon him as a Guardian Genius。 Scarcely had we proceeded half a mile from the Castle； when He rode up to the Chaise…door。
'Take courage； Segnor！' said He in Spanish； which He had already learnt to speak with fluency and correctness。 'While you were with the Baron； I watched the moment when Dame Cunegonda was below stairs； and mounted into the chamber over that of Donna Agnes。 I sang as loud as I could a little German air well…known to her； hoping that She would recollect my voice。 I was not disappointed； for I soon heard her window open。 I hastened to let down a string with which I had provided myself： Upon hearing the casement closed again； I drew up the string； and fastened to it I found this scrap of paper。'
He then presented me with a small note addressed to me。 I opened it with impatience： It contained the following words written in pencil：
Conceal yourself for the next fortnight in some neighbouring Village。 My Aunt will believe you to have quitted Lindenberg； and I shall be restored to liberty。 I will be in the West Pavilion at twelve on the night of the thirtieth。 Fail not to be there； and we shall have an opportunity of concerting our future plans。 Adieu。 Agnes。
At perusing these lines my transports exceeded all bounds； Neither did I set any to the expressions of gratitude which I heaped upon Theodore。 In fact his address and attention merited my warmest praise。 You will readily believe that I had not entrusted him with my passion for Agnes； But the arch Youth had too much discernment not to discover my secret； and too much discretion not to conceal his knowledge of it。 He observed in silence what was going on； nor strove to make himself an Agent in the business till my interests required his interference。 I equally admired his judgment； his penetration； his address； and his fidelity。 This was not the first occasion in which I had found him of infinite use； and I was every day more convinced of his quickness and capacity。 During my short stay at Strasbourg； He had applied himself diligently to learning the rudiments of Spanish： He continued to study it； and with so much success that He spoke it with the same facility as his native language。 He past the greatest part of his time in reading； He had acquired much information for his Age； and united the advantages of a lively countenance and prepossessing figure to an excellent understanding and the very best of hearts。 He is now fifteen； He is still in my service； and when you see him； I am sure that He will please you。 But excuse this digression： I return to the subject which I quitted。
I obeyed the instructions of Agnes。 I proceeded to Munich。 There I left my Chaise under the care of Lucas； my French Servant； and then returned on Horseback to a small Village about four miles distant from the Castle of Lindenberg。 Upon arriving there a story was related to the Host at whose Inn I descended； which prevented his wondering at my making so long a stay in his House。 The old Man fortunately was credulous and incurious： He believed all I said； and sought to know no more than what I thought proper to tell him。 Nobody was with me but Theodore； Both were disguised； and as we kept ourselves close； we were not suspected to be other than what we seemed。 In this manner the fortnight passed away。 During that time I had the pleasing conviction that Agnes was once more at
