the monk(僧侣)-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　withstand　the　shock　which　He　felt　at　this　fearful　Vision：　
Its　horror　increased　with　every　succeeding　appearance：　　His　alarm
at　length　became　so　insupportable　that　his　heart　burst；　and　one
morning　He　was　found　in　his　bed　totally　deprived　of　warmth　and
animation。　　His　death　did　not　put　an　end　to　the　nocturnal　riots。　
The　bones　of　Beatrice　continued　to　lie　unburied；　and　her　Ghost
continued　to　haunt　the　Castle。

'The　domains　of　Lindenberg　now　fell　to　a　distant　Relation。　　But
terrified　by　the　accounts　given　him　of　the　Bleeding　Nun　（So　was
the　Spectre　called　by　the　multitude）；　the　new　Baron　called　to　his
assistance　a　celebrated　Exorciser。　　This　holy　Man　succeeded　in
obliging　her　to　temporary　repose；　But　though　She　discovered　to
him　her　history；　He　was　not　permitted　to　reveal　it　to　others；　or
cause　her　skeleton　to　be　removed　to　hallowed　ground。　　That　Office
was　reserved　for　you；　and　till　your　coming；　her　Ghost　was　doomed
to　wander　about　the　Castle　and　lament　the　crime　which　She　had
there　committed。　　However；　the　Exorciser　obliged　her　to　silence
during　his　lifetime。　　So　long　as　He　existed；　the　haunted　chamber
was　shut　up；　and　the　Spectre　was　invisible。　　At　his　death　which
happened　in　five　years　after；　She　again　appeared；　but　only　once
on　every　fifth　year；　on　the　same　day　and　at　the　same　hour　when
She　plunged　her　Knife　in　the　heart　of　her　sleeping　Lover：　　She
then　visited　the　Cavern　which　held　her　mouldering　skeleton；
returned　to　the　Castle　as　soon　as　the　Clock　struck　'Two；'　and　was
seen　no　more　till　the　next　five　years　had　elapsed。

'She　was　doomed　to　suffer　during　the　space　of　a　Century。　　That
period　is　past。　　Nothing　now　remains　but　to　consign　to　the　Grave
the　ashes　of　Beatrice。　　I　have　been　the　means　of　releasing　you
from　your　visionary　Tormentor；　and　amidst　all　the　sorrows　which
oppress　me；　to　think　that　I　have　been　of　use　to　you；　is　some
consolation。　　Youth；　farewell！　　May　the　Ghost　of　your　Relation
enjoy　that　rest　in　the　Tomb；　which　the　Almighty's　vengeance　has
denied　to　me　for　ever！'

Here　the　Stranger　prepared　to　quit　the　apartment。

'Stay　yet　one　moment！'　said　I；　'You　have　satisfied　my　curiosity
with　regard　to　the　Spectre；　but　you　leave　me　in　prey　to　yet
greater　respecting　yourself。　　Deign　to　inform　me；　to　whom　I　am
under　such　real　obligations。　　You　mention　circumstances　long
past；　and　persons　long　dead：　　You　were　personally　acquainted　with
the　Exorciser；　who　by　your　own　account　has　been　deceased　near　a
Century。　　How　am　I　to　account　for　this？　　What　means　that　burning
Cross　upon　your　forehead；　and　why　did　the　sight　of　it　strike
such　horror　to　my　soul？'

On　these　points　He　for　some　time　refused　to　satisfy　me。　　At
length　overcome　by　my　entreaties；　He　consented　to　clear　up　the
whole；　on　condition　that　I　would　defer　his　explanation　till　the
next　day。　　With　this　request　I　was　obliged　to　comply；　and　He　left
me。　　In　the　Morning　my　first　care　was　to　enquire　after　the
mysterious　Stranger。　　Conceive　my　disappointment　when　informed
that　He　had　already　quitted　Ratisbon。　　I　dispatched　messengers　in
pursuit　of　him　but　in　vain。　　No　traces　of　the　Fugitive　were
discovered。　　Since　that　moment　I　never　have　heard　any　more　of
him；　and　'tis　most　probable　that　I　never　shall。'

（Lorenzo　here　interrupted　his　Friend's　narrative。

'How？'　said　He；　'You　have　never　discovered　who　He　was；　or　even
formed　a　guess？'

'Pardon　me；'　replied　the　Marquis；　'When　I　related　this　adventure
to　my　Uncle；　the　Cardinal…Duke；　He　told　me　that　He　had　no　doubt
of　this　singular　Man's　being　the　celebrated　Character　known
universally　by　the　name　of　'the　wandering　Jew。'　　His　not　being
permitted　to　pass　more　than　fourteen　days　on　the　same　spot；　the
burning　Cross　impressed　upon　his　forehead；　the　effect　which　it
produced　upon　the　Beholders；　and　many　other　circumstances　give
this　supposition　the　colour　of　truth。　　The　Cardinal　is　fully
persuaded　of　it；　and　for　my　own　part　I　am　inclined　to　adopt　the
only　solution　which　offers　itself　to　this　riddle。　　I　return　to
the　narrative　from　which　I　have　digressed。'）

From　this　period　I　recovered　my　health　so　rapidly　as　to　astonish
my　Physicians。　　The　Bleeding　Nun　appeared　no　more；　and　I　was　soon
able　to　set　out　for　Lindenberg。　　The　Baron　received　me　with　open
arms。　　I　confided　to　him　the　sequel　of　my　adventure；　and　He　was
not　a　little　pleased　to　find　that　his　Mansion　would　be　no　longer
troubled　with　the　Phantom's　quiennial　visits。　　I　was　sorry　to
perceive　that　absence　had　not　weakened　Donna　Rodolpha's
imprudent　passion。　　In　a　private　conversation　which　I　had　with
her　during　my　short　stay　at　the　Castle；　She　renewed　her　attempts
to　persuade　me　to　return　her　affection。　　Regarding　her　as　the
primary　cause　of　all　my　sufferings；　I　entertained　for　her　no
other　sentiment　than　disgust。　　The　Skeleton　of　Beatrice　was　found
in　the　place　which　She　had　mentioned。　　This　being　all　that　I
sought　at　Lindenberg；　I　hastened　to　quit　the　Baron's　domains；
equally　anxious　to　perform　the　obsequies　of　the　murdered　Nun；　and
escape　the　importunity　of　a　Woman　whom　I　detested。　　I　departed；
followed　by　Donna　Rodolpha's　menaces　that　my　contempt　should　not
be　long　unpunished。

I　now　bent　my　course　towards　Spain　with　all　diligence。　　Lucas
with　my　Baggage　had　joined　me　during　my　abode　at　Lindenberg。　　I
arrived　in　my　native　Country　without　any　accident；　and
immediately　proceeded　to　my　Father's　Castle　in　Andalusia。　　The
remains　of　Beatrice　were　deposited　in　the　family　vault；　all　due
ceremonies　performed；　and　the　number　of　Masses　said　which　She　had
required。　　Nothing　now　hindered　me　from　employing　all　my
endeavours　to　discover　the　retreat　of　Agnes。　　The　Baroness　had
assured　me　that　her　Niece　had　already　taken　the　veil：　　This
intelligence　I　suspected　to　have　been　forged　by　jealousy；　and
hoped　to　find　my　Mistress　still　at　liberty　to　accept　my　hand。　　I
enquired　after　her　family；　I　found　that　before　her　Daughter　could
reach　Madrid；　Donna　Inesilla　was　no　more：　　You；　my　dear　Lorenzo；
were　said　to　be　abroad；　but　where　I　could　not　discover：　　Your
Father　was　in　a　distant　Province　on　a　visit　to　the　Duke　de
Medina；　and　as　to　Agnes；　no　one　could　or　would　inform　me　what　was
become　of　her。　　Theodore；　according　to　promise；　had　returned　to
Strasbourg；　where　He　found　his　Grandfather　dead；　and　Marguerite
in　possession　of　his　fortune。　　All　her　persuations　to　remain　with
her　were　fruitless：　　He　quitted　her　a　second　time；　and　followed
me　to　Madrid。　　He　exerted　himself　to　the　utmost　in　forwarding　my
search：　But　our　united　endeavours　were　unattended　by　success。　
The　retreat；　which　concealed　Agnes　remained　an　impenetrable
mystery；　and　I　began　to　abandon　all　hopes　of　recovering　her。

About　eight　months　ago　I　was　returning　to　my　Hotel　in　a
melancholy　humour；　having　past　the　evening　at　the　Play…House。　
The　Night　was　dark；　and　I　was　unaccompanied。　　Plunged　in
reflections　which　were　far　from　being　agreeable；　I　perceived　not
that　three　Men　had　followed　me　from　the　Theatre；　till；　on　turning
into　an　unfrequented　Street；　they　all　attacked　me　at　the　same
time　with　the　utmost　fury。　　I　sprang　back　a　few　paces；　drew　my
sword；　and　threw　my　cloak　over　my　left　arm。　　The　obscurity　of　the
night　was　in　my　favour。　　For　the　most　part　the　blows　of　the
Assassins；　being　aimed　at　random；　failed　to　touch　me。　　I　at
length　was　fortunate　enough　to　lay　one　of　my　Adversaries　at　my
feet；　But　before　this　I　had　already　received　so　many　wounds；　and
was　so　warmly　pressed；　that　my　destruction　would　have　been
inevitable；　had　not　the　clashing　of　swords　called　a　Cavalier　to
my　assistance。　　He　ran　towards　me　with　his　sword　drawn：　　Several
Domestics　followed　him　with　torches。　　His　arrival　made　the　combat
equal：　　Yet　would　not　the　Bravoes　abandon　their　design　till　the
Servants　were　on　the　point　of　joining　us。　　They　then　fled　away；
and　we　lost　them　in　the　obscurity。

The　Stranger　now　addressed　himself　to　me　with　politeness；　and
enquired　whether　I　was　wounded。　　Faint　with　the　loss　of　blood；　I
could　scarcely　thank　him　for　his　seasonable　aid；　and　entreat　him
to　let　some　of　his　Servants　convey　me　to　the　Hotel　de　las
Cisternas。　　I　no　sooner　mentioned　the　name　than　He　profest
himself　an　acquaintance　of　my　Father's；　and