the monk(僧侣)-第31章
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the Nun ventured to peep abroad again。 However； She was now
grown much more tractable and well…behaved。 She walked about in
silence； and never made her appearance above once in five years。
This custom； if you will believe the Baron； She still continues。
He is fully persuaded； that on the fifth of May of every fifth
year； as soon as the Clock strikes One； the Door of the haunted
Chamber opens。 （Observe； that this room has been shut up for
near a Century。） Then out walks the Ghostly Nun with her Lamp
and dagger： She descends the staircase of the Eastern Tower；
and crosses the great Hall！ On that night the Porter always
leaves the Gates of the Castle open； out of respect to the
Apparition： Not that this is thought by any means necessary；
since She could easily whip through the Keyhole if She chose it；
But merely out of politeness； and to prevent her from making her
exit in a way so derogatory to the dignity of her Ghost…ship。'
'And whither does She go on quitting the Castle？'
'To Heaven； I hope； But if She does； the place certainly is not
to her taste； for She always returns after an hour's absence。
The Lady then retires to her chamber； and is quiet for another
five years。'
'And you believe this； Agnes？'
'How can you ask such a question？ No； no； Alphonso！ I have too
much reason to lament superstition's influence to be its Victim
myself。 However I must not avow my incredulity to the Baroness：
She entertains not a doubt of the truth of this History。 As to
Dame Cunegonda； my Governess； She protests that fifteen years ago
She saw the Spectre with her own eyes。 She related to me one
evening how She and several other Domestics had been terrified
while at Supper by the appearance of the Bleeding Nun； as the
Ghost is called in the Castle： 'Tis from her account that I drew
this sketch； and you may be certain that Cunegonda was not
omitted。 There She is！ I shall never forget what a passion She
was in； and how ugly She looked while She scolded me for having
made her picture so like herself！'
Here She pointed to a burlesque figure of an old Woman in an
attitude of terror。
In spite of the melancholy which oppressed me； I could not help
smiling at the playful imagination of Agnes： She had perfectly
preserved Dame Cunegonda's resemblance； but had so much
exaggerated every fault； and rendered every feature so
irresistibly laughable； that I could easily conceive the Duenna's
anger。
'The figure is admirable； my dear Agnes！ I knew not that you
possessed such talents for the ridiculous。'
'Stay a moment；' She replied； 'I will show you a figure still
more ridiculous than Dame Cunegonda's。 If it pleases you； you
may dispose of it as seems best to yourself。'
She rose； and went to a Cabinet at some little distance。
Unlocking a drawer； She took out a small case； which She opened；
and presented to me。
'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
