the monk(僧侣)-第33章
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terms that her virtue and innocence would be safe in my keeping；
and that till the church had made her my lawful Wife； her honour
should be held by me as sacred as a Sister's。 I told her that
my first care should be to find you out； Lorenzo； and reconcile
you to our union； and I was continuing to speak in the same
strain； when a noise without alarmed me。 Suddenly the door of
the Pavilion was thrown open； and Cunegonda stood before us。 She
had heard Agnes steal out of her chamber； followed her into the
Garden； and perceived her entering the Pavilion。 Favoured by the
Trees which shaded it； and unperceived by Theodore who waited at
a little distance； She had approached in silence； and overheard
our whole conversation。
'Admirable！' cried Cunegonda in a voice shrill with passion；
while Agnes uttered a loud shriek； 'By St。 Barbara； young Lady；
you have an excellent invention！ You must personate the Bleeding
Nun； truly？ What impiety！ What incredulity！ Marry； I have a
good mind to let you pursue your plan： When the real Ghost met
you； I warrant； you would be in a pretty condition！ Don
Alphonso； you ought to be ashamed of yourself for seducing a
young ignorant Creature to leave her family and Friends：
However； for this time at least I shall mar your wicked designs。
The noble Lady shall be informed of the whole affair； and Agnes
must defer playing the Spectre till a better opportunity。
Farewell； Segnor Donna Agnes； let me have the honour of
conducting your Ghost…ship back to your apartment。'
She approached the Sopha on which her trembling Pupil was seated；
took her by the hand； and prepared to lead her from the Pavilion。
I detained her； and strove by entreaties； soothing； promises； and
flattery to win her to my party： But finding all that I could
say of no avail； I abandoned the vain attempt。
'Your obstinacy must be its own punishment；' said I； 'But one
resource remains to save Agnes and myself； and I shall not
hesitate to employ it。'
Terrified at this menace； She again endeavoured to quit the
Pavilion； But I seized her by the wrist； and detained her
forcibly。 At the same moment Theodore； who had followed her into
the room； closed the door； and prevented her escape。 I took the
veil of Agnes： I threw it round the Duenna's head； who uttered
such piercing shrieks that in spite of our distance from the
Castle； I dreaded their being heard。 At length I succeeded in
gagging her so compleatly that She could not produce a single
sound。 Theodore and myself with some difficulty next contrived
to bind her hands and feet with our handkerchiefs； And I advised
Agnes to regain her chamber with all diligence。 I promised that
no harm should happen to Cunegonda； bad her remember that on the
fifth of May I should be in waiting at the Great Gate of the
Castle； and took of her an affectionate farewell。 Trembling and
uneasy She had scarce power enough to signify her consent to my
plans； and fled back to her apartment in disorder and confusion。
In the meanwhile Theodore assisted me in carrying off my
antiquated Prize。 She was hoisted over the wall； placed before
me upon my Horse like a Portmanteau； and I galloped away with her
from the Castle of Lindenberg。 The unlucky Duenna never had made
a more disagreeable journey in her life： She was jolted and
shaken till She was become little more than an animated Mummy；
not to mention her fright when we waded through a small River
through which it was necessary to pass in order to regain the
Village。 Before we reached the Inn； I had already determined how
to dispose of the troublesome Cunegonda。 We entered the Street
in which the Inn stood； and while the page knocked； I waited at a
little distance。 The Landlord opened the door with a Lamp in his
hand。
'Give me the light！' said Theodore； 'My Master is coming。'
He snatched the Lamp hastily； and purposely let it fall upon the
ground： The Landlord returned to the Kitchen to re…light the
Lamp； leaving the door open。 I profited by the obscurity； sprang
from my Horse with Cunegonda in my arms； darted up stairs；
reached my chamber unperceived； and unlocking the door of a
spacious Closet； stowed her within it； and then turned the Key。
The Landlord and Theodore soon after appeared with lights： The
Former expressed himself a little surprised at my returning so
late； but asked no impertinent questions。 He soon quitted the
room； and left me to exult in the success of my undertaking。
I immediately paid a visit to my Prisoner。 I strove to persuade
her submitting with patience to her temporary confinement。 My
attempt was unsuccessful。 Unable to speak or move； She expressed
her fury by her looks； and except at meals I never dared to
unbind her； or release her from the Gag。 At such times I stood
over her with a drawn sword； and protested； that if She uttered a
single cry； I would plunge it in her bosom。 As soon as She had
done eating； the Gag was replaced。 I was conscious that this
proceeding was cruel； and could only be justified by the urgency
of circumstances： As to Theodore； He had no scruples upon the
subject。 Cunegonda's captivity entertained him beyond measure。
During his abode in the Castle； a continual warfare had been
carried on between him and the Duenna； and now that He found his
Enemy so absolutely in his power； He triumphed without mercy。 He
seemed to think of nothing but how to find out new means of
plaguing her： Sometimes He affected to pity her misfortune； then
laughed at； abused； and mimicked her； He played her a thousand
tricks； each more provoking than the other； and amused himself by
telling her that her elopement must have occasioned much
surprise at the Baron's。 This was in fact the case。 No one
except Agnes could imagine what was become of Dame Cunegonda：
Every hole and corner was searched for her； The Ponds were
dragged； and the Woods underwent a thorough examination。 Still
no Dame Cunegonda made her appearance。 Agnes kept the secret；
and I kept the Duenna： The Baroness； therefore； remained in
total ignorance respecting the old Woman's fate； but suspected
her to have perished by suicide。 Thus past away five days；
during which I had prepared every thing necessary for my
enterprise。 On quitting Agnes； I had made it my first business
to dispatch a Peasant with a letter to Lucas at Munich； ordering
him to take care that a Coach and four should arrive about ten
o'clock on the fifth of May at the Village of Rosenwald。 He
obeyed my instructions punctually： The Equipage arrived at the
time appointed。 As the period of her Lady's elopement drew
nearer； Cunegonda's rage increased。 I verily believe that spight
and passion would have killed her； had I not luckily discovered
her prepossession in favour of Cherry Brandy。 With this favourite
liquor She was plentifully supplied； and Theodore always
remaining to guard her； the Gag was occasionally removed。 The
liquor seemed to have a wonderful effect in softening the
acrimony of her nature； and her confinement not admitting of any
other amusement； She got drunk regularly once a day just by way
of passing the time。
The fifth of May arrived； a period by me never to be forgotten！
Before the Clock struck twelve； I betook myself to the scene of
action。 Theodore followed me on horseback。 I concealed the
Carriage in a spacious Cavern of the Hill； on whose brow the
Castle was situated： This Cavern was of considerable depth； and
among the peasants was known by the name of Lindenberg Hole。 The
night was calm and beautiful： The Moonbeams fell upon the
antient Towers of the Castle； and shed upon their summits a
silver light。 All was still around me： Nothing was to be heard
except the night breeze sighing among the leaves； the distant
barking of Village Dogs； or the Owl who had established herself
in a nook of the deserted Eastern Turret。 I heard her melancholy
shriek； and looked upwards。 She sat upon the ride of a window；
which I recognized to be that of the haunted Room。 This brought
to my remembrance the story of the Bleeding Nun； and I sighed
while I reflected on the influence of superstition and weakness
of human reason。 Suddenly
