the monk(僧侣)-第40章

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Cisternas。　　I　no　sooner　mentioned　the　name　than　He　profest
himself　an　acquaintance　of　my　Father's；　and　declared　that　He
would　not　permit　my　being　transported　to　such　a　distance　before
my　wounds　had　been　examined。　　He　added　that　his　House　was　hard
by；　and　begged　me　to　accompany　him　thither。　　His　manner　was　so
earnest；　that　I　could　not　reject　his　offer；　and　leaning　upon　his
arm；　a　few　minutes　brought　me　to　the　Porch　of　a　magnificent
Hotel。

On　entering　the　House；　an　old　grey…headed　Domestic　came　to
welcome　my　Conductor：　　He　enquired　when　the　Duke；　his　Master；
meant　to　quit　the　Country；　and　was　answered　that　He　would　remain
there　yet　some　months。　　My　Deliverer　then　desired　the
family　Surgeon　to　be　summoned　without　delay。　　His　orders　were
obeyed。　　I　was　seated　upon　a　Sopha　in　a　noble　apartment；　and　my
wounds　being　examined；　they　were　declared　to　be　very　slight。　　The
Surgeon；　however；　advised　me　not　to　expose　myself　to　the
night　air；　and　the　Stranger　pressed　me　so　earnestly　to　take　a　bed
in　his　House；　that　I　consented　to　remain　where　I　was　for　the
present。

Being　now　left　alone　with　my　Deliverer；　I　took　the　opportunity　of
thanking　him　in　more　express　terms；　than　I　had　done　hitherto：　
But　He　begged　me　to　be　silent　upon　the　subject。

'I　esteem　myself　happy；'　said　He；　'in　having　had　it　in　my　power
to　render　you　this　little　service；　and　I　shall　think　myself
eternally　obliged　to　my　Daughter　for　detaining　me　so　late　at　the
Convent　of　St。　Clare。　　The　high　esteem　in　which　I　have　ever　held
the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas；　though　accident　has　not　permitted
our　being　so　intimate　as　I　could　wish；　makes　me　rejoice　in　the
opportunity　of　making　his　Son's　acquaintance。　　I　am　certain　that
my　Brother　in　whose　House　you　now　are；　will　lament　his　not　being
at　Madrid　to　receive　you　himself：　But　in　the　Duke's　absence　I　am
Master　of　the　family；　and　may　assure　you　in　his　name；　that　every
thing　in　the　Hotel　de　Medina　is　perfectly　at　your　disposal。'

Conceive　my　surprize；　Lorenzo；　at　discovering　in　the　person　of　my
Preserver　Don　Gaston　de　Medina：　　It　was　only　to　be　equalled　by　my
secret　satisfaction　at　the　assurance　that　Agnes　inhabited　the
Convent　of　St。　Clare。　　This　latter　sensation　was　not　a　little
weakened；　when　in　answer　to　my　seemingly　indifferent　questions　He
told　me　that　his　Daughter　had　really　taken　the　veil。　　I　suffered
not　my　grief　at　this　circumstance　to　take　root　in　my　mind：　　I
flattered　myself　with　the　idea　that　my　Uncle's　credit　at　the
Court　of　Rome　would　remove　this　obstacle；　and　that　without
difficulty　I　should　obtain　for　my　Mistress　a　dispensation　from
her　vows。　　Buoyed　up　with　this　hope　I　calmed　the　uneasiness　of　my
bosom；　and　I　redoubled　my　endeavours　to　appear　grateful　for　the
attention　and　pleased　with　the　society　of　Don　Gaston。

A　Domestic　now　entered　the　room；　and　informed　me　that　the　Bravo
whom　I　had　wounded　discovered　some　signs　of　life。　　I　desired
that　He　might　be　carried　to　my　Father's　Hotel；　and　that　as　soon
as　He　recovered　his　voice；　I　would　examine　him　respecting　his
reasons　for　attempting　my　life。　　I　was　answered　that　He　was
already　able　to　speak；　though　with　difficulty：　　Don　Gaston's
curiosity　made　him　press　me　to　interrogate　the　Assassin　in　his
presence；　but　this　curiosity　I　was　by　no　means　inclined　to
gratify。　　One　reason　was；　that　doubting　from　whence　the　blow
came；　I　was　unwilling　to　place　before　Don　Gaston's　eyes　the　guilt
of　a　Sister：　　Another　was；　that　I　feared　to　be　recognized　for
Alphonso　d'Alvarada；　and　precautions　taken　in　consequence　to　keep
me　from　the　sight　of　Agnes。　　To　avow　my　passion　for　his　Daughter；
and　endeavour　to　make　him　enter　into　my　schemes；　what　I　knew　of
Don　Gaston's　character　convinced　me　would　be　an　imprudent　step：
and　considering　it　to　be　essential　that　He　should　know　me　for　no
other　than　the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas；　I　was　determined　not　to
let　him　hear　the　Bravo's　confession。　　I　insinuated　to　him；　that
as　I　suspected　a　Lady　to　be　concerned　in　the　Business；　whose　name
might　accidentally　escape　from　the　Assassin；　it　was　necessary　for
me　to　examine　the　Man　in　private。　　Don　Gaston's　delicacy　would
not　permit　his　urging　the　point　any　longer；　and　in　consequence
the　Bravo　was　conveyed　to　my　Hotel。

The　next　Morning　I　took　leave　of　my　Host；　who　was　to　return　to
the　Duke　on　the　same　day。　　My　wounds　had　been　so　trifling　that；　
except　being　obliged　to　wear　my　arm　in　a　sling　for　a　short　time；
I　felt　no　inconvenience　from　the　night's　adventure。　　The　Surgeon
who　examined　the　Bravo's　wound　declared　it　to　be　mortal：　　He　had
just　time　to　confess　that　He　had　been　instigated　to　murder　me　by
the　revengeful　Donna　Rodolpha；　and　expired　in　a　few　minutes
after。

All　my　thoughts　were　now　bent　upon　getting　to　the　speech　of　my
lovely　Nun。　　Theodore　set　himself　to　work；　and　for　this　time　with
better　success。　　He　attacked　the　Gardener　of　St。　Clare　so
forcibly　with　bribes　and　promises　that　the　Old　Man　was　entirely
gained　over　to　my　interests；　and　it　was　settled　that　I　should　be
introduced　into　the　Convent　in　the　character　of　his　Assistant。　
The　plan　was　put　into　execution　without　delay。　　Disguised　in　a
common　habit；　and　a　black　patch　covering　one　of　my　eyes；　I　was
presented　to　the　Lady　Prioress；　who　condescended　to　approve　of
the　Gardener's　choice。　　I　immediately　entered　upon　my　employment。
Botany　having　been　a　favourite　study　with　me；　I　was　by　no　means
at　a　loss　in　my　new　station。　　For　some　days　I　continued　to　work
in　the　Convent　Garden　without　meeting　the　Object　of　my　disguise：　
On　the　fourth　Morning　I　was　more　successful。　　I　heard　the　voice
of　Agnes；　and　was　speeding　towards　the　sound；　when　the　sight　of
the　Domina　stopped　me。　　I　drew　back　with　caution；　and　concealed
myself　behind　a　thick　clump　of　Trees。

The　Prioress　advanced　and　seated　herself　with　Agnes　on　a　Bench
at　no　great　distance。　　I　heard　her　in　an　angry　tone　blame　her
Companion's　continual　melancholy：　She　told　her　that　to　weep　the
loss　of　any　Lover　in　her　situation　was　a　crime；　But　that　to　weep
the　loss　of　a　faithless　one　was　folly　and　absurdity　in　the
extreme。　　Agnes　replied　in　so　low　a　voice　that　I　could　not
distinguish　her　words；　but　I　perceived　that　She　used　terms　of
gentleness　and　submission。　　The　conversation　was　interrupted　by
the　arrival　of　a　young　Pensioner　who　informed　the　Domina　that
She　was　waited　for　in　the　Parlour。　　The　old　Lady　rose；　kissed　the
cheek　of　Agnes；　and　retired。　　The　newcomer　remained。　　Agnes　spoke
much　to　her　in　praise　of　somebody　whom　I　could　not　make　out；　but
her　Auditor　seemed　highly　delighted；　and　interested　by　the
conversation。　　The　Nun　showed　her　several　letters；　the　Other
perused　them　with　evident　pleasure；　obtained　permission　to　copy
them；　and　withdrew　for　that　purpose　to　my　great　satisfaction。

No　sooner　was　She　out　of　sight；　than　I　quitted　my　concealment。　
Fearing　to　alarm　my　lovely　Mistress；　I　drew　near　her　gently；
intending　to　discover　myself　by　degrees。　　But　who　for　a　moment
can　deceive　the　eyes　of　love？　　She　raised　her　head　at　my
approach；　and　recognised　me　in　spite　of　my　disguise　at　a　single
glance。　　She　rose　hastily　from　her　seat　with　an　exclamation　of
surprize；　and　attempted　to　retire；　But　I　followed　her；　detained
her；　and　entreated　to　be　heard。　　Persuaded　of　my　falsehood　She
refused　to　listen　to　me；　and　ordered　me　positively　to　quit　the
Garden。　　It　was　now　my　turn　to　refuse。　　I　protested　that　however
dangerous　might　be　the　consequences；　I　would　not　leave　her　till
She　had　heard　my　justification。　　I　assured　her　that　She　had　been
deceived　by　the　artifices　of　her　Relations；　that　I　could　convince
her　beyond　the　power　of　doubt　that　my　passion　had　been　pure　and
disinterested；　and　I　asked　her　what　should　induce　me　to　seek　her
in　the　Convent；　were　I　influenced　by　the　selfish　motives　which　my
Enemies　had　ascribed　to　me。

My　prayers；　my　arguments；　and　vows　not　to　quit　her；　till　She　had
promised　to　listen　to　me；　united　to　her　fears　lest　the　Nuns
should　see　me　with　her；　to　her　natural　curiosity；　and　to　the
effection　which　She　still　felt　for　me　in　spite　of　my　supposed
desertion；　at　length　prevailed。　She　told　me　that　to　grant　my
request　at　that　moment　was　impossible；　But　She　engaged　to　be　in
the　same　spot