the monk(僧侣)-第20章

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is　involved　in　this　affair：　　Till　that　is　established；　and　the
purport　of　your　correspondence　with　Agnes　cleared　up；　I　cannot
consider　you　as　my　Friend。　　I　am　anxious　to　hear　the　meaning　of
your　conduct；　and　hope　that　you　will　not　delay　the　promised
explanation。'

'First　give　me　your　word；　that　you　will　listen　with　patience　and
indulgence。'

'I　love　my　Sister　too　well　to　judge　her　harshly；　and　till　this
moment　I　possessed　no　Friend　so　dear　to　me　as　yourself。　　I　will
also　confess；　that　your　having　it　in　your　power　to　oblige　me　in　a
business　which　I　have　much　at　heart；　makes　me　very　anxious　to
find　you　still　deserving　my　esteem。'

'Lorenzo；　you　transport　me！　　No　greater　pleasure　can　be　given　me；
than　an　opportunity　of　serving　the　Brother　of　Agnes。'

'Convince　me　that　I　can　accept　your　favours　without　dishonour；
and　there　is　no　Man　in　the　world　to　whom　I　am　more　willing　to　be
obliged。'

'Probably；　you　have　already　heard　your　Sister　mention　the　name　of
Alphonso　d'Alvarada？'

'Never。　　Though　I　feel　for　Agnes　an　affection　truly　fraternal；
circumstances　have　prevented　us　from　being　much　together。　　While
yet　a　Child　She　was　consigned　to　the　care　of　her　Aunt；　who　had
married　a　German　Nobleman。　　At　his　Castle　She　remained　till　two
years　since；　when　She　returned　to　Spain；　determined　upon
secluding　herself　from　the　world。'

'Good　God！　　Lorenzo；　you　knew　of　her　intention；　and　yet　strove
not　to　make　her　change　it？'

'Marquis；　you　wrong　me。　　The　intelligence；　which　I　received　at
Naples；　shocked　me　extremely；　and　I　hastened　my　return　to　Madrid
for　the　express　purpose　of　preventing　the　sacrifice。　　The　moment
that　I　arrived；　I　flew　to　the　Convent　of　St。　Clare；　in　which
Agnes　had　chosen　to　perform　her　Noviciate。　　I　requested　to　see　my
Sister。　　Conceive　my　surprise　when　She　sent　me　a　refusal；　She
declared　positively；　that　apprehending　my　influence　over　her
mind；　She　would　not　trust　herself　in　my　society　till　the　day
before　that　on　which　She　was　to　receive　the　Veil。　　I　supplicated
the　Nuns；　I　insisted　upon　seeing　Agnes；　and　hesitated　not　to　avow
my　suspicions　that　her　being　kept　from　me　was　against　her　own
inclinations。　To　free　herself　from　the　imputation　of　violence；
the　Prioress　brought　me　a　few　lines　written　in　my　Sister's
well…known　hand；　repeating　the　message　already　delivered。　　All
future　attempts　to　obtain　a　moment's　conversation　with　her　were
as　fruitless　as　the　first。　　She　was　inflexible；　and　I　was　not
permitted　to　see　her　till　the　day　preceding　that　on　which　She
entered　the　Cloister　never　to　quit　it　more。　　This　interview　took
place　in　the　presence　of　our　principal　Relations。　　It　was　for　the
first　time　since　her　childhood　that　I　saw　her；　and　the　scene　was
most　affecting。　　She　threw　herself　upon　my　bosom；　kissed　me；　and
wept　bitterly。　　By　every　possible　argument；　by　tears；　by　prayers；
by　kneeling；　I　strove　to　make　her　abandon　her　intention。　　I
represented　to　her　all　the　hardships　of　a　religious　life；　I
painted　to　her　imagination　all　the　pleasures　which　She　was　going
to　quit；　and　besought　her　to　disclose　to　me；　what　occasioned　her
disgust　to　the　world。　　At　this　last　question　She　turned　pale；　and
her　tears　flowed　yet　faster。　　She　entreated　me　not　to　press　her
on　that　subject；　That　it　sufficed　me　to　know　that　her　resolution
was　taken；　and　that　a　Convent　was　the　only　place　where　She　could
now　hope　for　tranquillity。　　She　persevered　in　her　design；　and
made　her　profession。　　I　visited　her　frequently　at　the　Grate；　and
every　moment　that　I　passed　with　her；　made　me　feel　more　affliction
at　her　loss。　　I　was　shortly　after　obliged　to　quit　Madrid；　I
returned　but　yesterday　evening；　and　since　then　have　not　had　time
to　call　at　St。　Clare's　Convent。'

'Then　till　I　mentioned　it；　you　never　heard　the　name　of　Alphonso
d'Alvarada？'

'Pardon　me：　my　Aunt　wrote　me　word　that　an　Adventurer　so　called
had　found　means　to　get　introduced　into　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg；
That　He　had　insinuated　himself　into　my　Sister's　good　graces；　and
that　She　had　even　consented　to　elope　with　him。　　However；　before
the　plan　could　be　executed；　the　Cavalier　discovered　that　the
estates　which　He　believed　Agnes　to　possess　in　Hispaniola；　in
reality　belonged　to　me。　　This　intelligence　made　him　change　his
intention；　He　disappeared　on　the　day　that　the　elopement　was　to
have　taken　place；　and　Agnes；　in　despair　at　his　perfidy　and
meanness；　had　resolved　upon　seclusion　in　a　Convent。　　She　added；
that　as　this　adventurer　had　given　himself　out　to　be　a　Friend　of
mine；　She　wished　to　know　whether　I　had　any　knowledge　of　him。　　I
replied　in　the　negative。　　I　had　then　very　little　idea；　that
Alphonso　d'Alvarada　and　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas　were　one　and
the　same　person：　　The　description　given　me　of　the　first　by　no
means　tallied　with　what　I　knew　of　the　latter。'

'In　this　I　easily　recognize　Donna　Rodolpha's　perfidious
character。　　Every　word　of　this　account　is　stamped　with　marks　of
her　malice；　of　her　falsehood；　of　her　talents　for　misrepresenting
those　whom　She　wishes　to　injure。　　Forgive　me；　Medina；　for
speaking　so　freely　of　your　Relation。　　The　mischief　which　She　has
done　me　authorises　my　resentment；　and　when　you　have　heard　my
story；　you　will　be　convinced　that　my　expressions　have　not　been
too　severe。'

He　then　began　his　narrative　in　the　following　manner。

HISTORY　OF　DON　RAYMOND；　MARQUIS　DE　LAS　CISTERNAS

Long　experience；　my　dear　Lorenzo；　has　convinced　me　how　generous
is　your　nature：　　I　waited　not　for　your　declaration　of　ignorance
respecting　your　Sister's　adventures　to　suppose　that　they　had
been　purposely　concealed　from　you。　　Had　they　reached　your
knowledge；　from　what　misfortunes　should　both　Agnes　and　myself
have　escaped！　　Fate　had　ordained　it　otherwise！　　You　were　on　your
Travels　when　I　first　became　acquainted　with　your　Sister；　and　as
our　Enemies　took　care　to　conceal　from　her　your　direction；　it　was
impossible　for　her　to　implore　by　letter　your　protection　and
advice。

On　leaving　Salamanca；　at　which　University　as　I　have　since　heard；
you　remained　a　year　after　I　quitted　it；　I　immediately　set　out
upon　my　Travels。　　My　Father　supplied　me　liberally　with　money；　But
He　insisted　upon　my　concealing　my　rank；　and　presenting　myself　as
no　more　than　a　private　Gentleman。　　This　command　was　issued　by　the
counsels　of　his　Friend；　the　Duke　of　Villa　Hermosa；　a　Nobleman　for
whose　abilities　and　knowledge　of　the　world　I　have　ever
entertained　the　most　profound　veneration。

'Believe　me；'　said　He；　'my　dear　Raymond；　you　will　hereafter　feel
the　benefits　of　this　temporary　degradation。　　'Tis　true；　that　as
the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas　you　would　have　been　received　with　open
arms；　and　your　youthful　vanity　might　have　felt　gratified　by　the
attentions　showered　upon　you　from　all　sides。　　At　present；　much
will　depend　upon　yourself：　　You　have　excellent　recommendations；
but　it　must　be　your　own　business　to　make　them　of　use　to　you。　　You
must　lay　yourself　out　to　please；　You　must　labour　to　gain　the
approbation　of　those；　to　whom　you　are　presented：　　They　who　would
have　courted　the　friendship　of　the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas　will
have　no　interest　in　finding　out　the　merits；　or　bearing　patiently
with　the　faults；　of　Alphonso　d'Alvarada。　　Consequently；　when　you
find　yourself　really　liked；　you　may　safely　ascribe　it　to　your
good　qualities；　not　your　rank；　and　the　distinction　shown　you　will
be　infinitely　more　flattering。　　Besides；　your　exalted　birth　would
not　permit　your　mixing　with　the　lower　classes　of　society；　which
will　now　be　in　your　power；　and　from　which；　in　my　opinion；　you
will　derive　considerable　benefit。　　Do　not　confine　yourself　to　the
Illustrious　of　those　Countries　through　which　you　pass。　　Examine
the　manners　and　customs　of　the　multitude：　Enter　into　the
Cottages；　and　by　observing　how　the　Vassals　of　Foreigners　are
treated；　learn　to　diminish　the　burthens　and　augment　the　comforts
of　your　own。　　According　to　my　ideas；　of　those　advantages　which　a
Youth　destined　to　the　possession　of　power　and　wealth　may　reap
from　travel；　He　should　not　consider　as　the　least　essential；　the
opportunity　of　mixing　with　the　classes　below　him；　and　becoming　an
eyewitness　of　the　sufferings　of　the　People。'

Forgive　me；　Lorenzo；　if　I　seem　tedious　in　my　narration。　The　close