the monk(僧侣)-第65章

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Grate　as　possible。

'Agnes！'　She　whispered　in　a　voice　scarcely　intelligible。
Theodore；　however；　caught　the　sound：　　He　concluded　that　some
mystery　was　concealed　in　the　Basket；　and　his　heart　beat　with
impatience　and　joy。　　At　this　moment　the　Domina　returned。　　Her　air
was　gloomy　and　frowning；　and　She　looked　if　possible　more　stern
than　ever。

'Mother　St。　Ursula；　I　would　speak　with　you　in　private。'

The　Nun　changed　colour；　and　was　evidently　disconcerted。

'With　me？'　She　replied　in　a　faltering　voice。

The　Domina　motioned　that　She　must　follow　her；　and　retired。　　The
Mother　St。　Ursula　obeyed　her；　Soon　after；　the　Refectory　Bell
ringing　a　second　time；　the　Nuns　quitted　the　Grate；　and　Theodore
was　left　at　liberty　to　carry　off　his　prize。　　Delighted　that　at
length　He　had　obtained　some　intelligence　for　the　Marquis；　He　flew
rather　than　ran；　till　He　reached　the　Hotel　de　las　Cisternas。　　In
a　few　minutes　He　stood　by　his　Master's　Bed　with　the　Basket　in　his
hand。　　Lorenzo　was　in　the　chamber；　endeavouring　to　reconcile　his
Friend　to　a　misfortune　which　He　felt　himself　but　too　severely。　
Theodore　related　his　adventure；　and　the　hopes　which　had　been
created　by　the　Mother　St。　Ursula's　gift。　　The　Marquis　started
from
his　pillow：　　That　fire　which　since　the　death　of　Agnes　had　been
extinguished；　now　revived　in　his　bosom；　and　his　eyes　sparkled
with　the　eagerness　of　expectation。　　The　emotions　which　Lorenzo's
countenance　betrayed；　were　scarcely　weaker；　and　He　waited　with
inexpressible　impatience　for　the　solution　of　this　mystery。　
Raymond　caught　the　basket　from　the　hands　of　his　Page：　　He　emptied
the　contents　upon　the　bed；　and　examined　them　with　minute
attention。　　He　hoped　that　a　letter　would　be　found　at　the　bottom；
Nothing　of　the　kind　appeared。　　The　search　was　resumed；　and　still
with　no　better　success。　　At　length　Don　Raymond　observed　that　one
corner　of　the　blue　satin　lining　was　unripped；　He　tore　it　open
hastily；　and　drew　forth　a　small　scrap　of　paper　neither　folded　or
sealed。　　It　was　addressed　to　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas；　and
the　contents　were　as　follows。

Having　recognised　your　Page；　I　venture　to　send　these　few　lines。　
Procure　an　order　from　the　Cardinal…Duke　for　seizing　my　Person；
and　that　of　the　Domina；　But　let　it　not　be　executed　till　Friday　at
midnight。　　It　is　the　Festival　of　St。　Clare：　　There　will　be　a
procession　of　Nuns　by　torch…light；　and　I　shall　be　among　them。　
Beware　not　to　let　your　intention　be　known：　　Should　a　syllable　be
dropt　to　excite　the　Domina's　suspicions；　you　will　never　hear　of
me　more。　　Be　cautious；　if　you　prize　the　memory　of　Agnes；　and　wish
to　punish　her　Assassins。　　I　have　that　to　tell；　will　freeze　your
blood　with　horror。　　　　　　St。　Ursula。

No　sooner　had　the　Marquis　read　the　note　than　He　fell　back　upon
his　pillow　deprived　of　sense　or　motion。　　The　hope　failed　him
which　till　now　had　supported　his　existence；　and　these　lines
convinced　him　but　too　positively　that　Agnes　was　indeed　no　more。　
Lorenzo　felt　this　circumstance　less　forcibly；　since　it　had　always
been　his　idea　that　his　Sister　had　perished　by　unfair　means。　　When
He　found　by　the　Mother　St。　Ursula's　letter　how　true　were　his
suspicions；　the　confirmation　excited　no　other　sentiment　in　his
bosom　than　a　wish　to　punish　the　Murderers　as　they　deserved。　　It
was　no　easy　task　to　recall　the　Marquis　to　himself。　　As　soon　as　He
recovered　his　speech；　He　broke　out　into　execrations　against　the
Assassins　of　his　Beloved；　and　vowed　to　take　upon　them　a　signal
vengeance。　　He　continued　to　rave　and　torment　himself　with
impotent　passion　till　his　constitution；　enfeebled　by　grief　and
illness；　could　support　itself　no　longer；　and　He　relapsed　into
insensibility。　　His　melancholy　situation　sincerely　affected
Lorenzo；　who　would　willingly　have　remained　in　the　apartment　of
his　Friend；　But　other　cares　now　demanded　his　presence。　　It　was
necessary　to　procure　the　order　for　seizing　the　Prioress　of　St。
Clare。　　For　this　purpose；　having　committed　Raymond　to　the　care　of
the　best　Physicians　in　Madrid；　He　quitted　the　Hotel　de　las
Cisternas；　and　bent　his　course　towards　the　Palace　of　the
Cardinal…Duke。

His　disappointment　was　excessive；　when　He　found　that　affairs　of
State　had　obliged　the　Cardinal　to　set　out　for　a　distant　Province。

It　wanted　but　five　to　Friday：　　Yet　by　travelling　day　and　night；
He　hoped　to　return　in　time　for　the　Pilgrimage　of　St。　Clare。　　In
this　He　succeeded。　　He　found　the　Cardinal…Duke；　and　represented
to　him　the　supposed　culpability　of　the　Prioress；　as　also　the
violent　effects　which　it　had　produced　upon　Don　Raymond。　　He　could
have　used　no　argument　so　forcible　as　this　last。　　Of　all　his
Nephews；　the　Marquis　was　the　only　one　to　whom　the　Cardinal…Duke
was　sincerely　attached：　　He　perfectly　doated　upon　him；　and　the
Prioress　could　have　committed　no　greater　crime　in　his　eyes　than
to　have　endangered　the　life　of　the　Marquis。　　Consequently；　He
granted　the　order　of　arrest　without　difficulty：　　He　also　gave
Lorenzo　a　letter　to　a　principal　Officer　of　the　Inquisition；
desiring　him　to　see　his　mandate　executed。　　Furnished　with　these
papers；　Medina　hastened　back　to　Madrid；　which　He　reached　on　the
Friday　a　few　hours　before　dark。　　He　found　the　Marquis　somewhat
easier；　but　so　weak　and　exhausted　that　without　great　exertion　He
could　neither　speak　or　more。　Having　past　an　hour　by　his　Bedside；
Lorenzo　left　him　to　communicate　his　design　to　his　Uncle；　as　also
to　give　Don　Ramirez　de　Mello　the　Cardinal's　letter。　　The　First
was　petrified　with　horror　when　He　learnt　the　fate　of　his　unhappy
Niece：　　He　encouraged　Lorenzo　to　punish　her　Assassins；　and
engaged　to　accompany　him　at　night　to　St。　Clare's　Convent。　　Don
Ramirez　promised　his　firmest　support；　and　selected　a　band　of
trusty　Archers　to　prevent　opposition　on　the　part　of　the　Populace。

But　while　Lorenzo　was　anxious　to　unmask　one　religious　Hypocrite；
He　was　unconscious　of　the　sorrows　prepared　for　him　by　Another。　
Aided　by　Matilda's　infernal　Agents；　Ambrosio　had　resolved　upon
the　innocent　Antonia's　ruin。　　The　moment　destined　to　be　so　fatal
to　her　arrived。　　She　had　taken　leave　of　her　Mother　for　the　night。

As　She　kissed　her；　She　felt　an　unusual　despondency　infuse　itself
into　her　bosom。　　She　left　her；　and　returned　to　her　instantly；
threw　herself　into　her　maternal　arms；　and　bathed　her　cheek　with
tears：　　She　felt　uneasy　at　quitting　her；　and　a　secret
presentiment　assured　her　that　never　must　they　meet　again。　　Elvira
observed；　and　tried　to　laugh　her　out　of　this　childish　prejudice：　
She　chid　her　mildly　for　encouraging　such　ungrounded　sadness；　and
warned　her　how　dangerous　it　was　to　encourage　such　ideas。

To　all　her　remonstrances　She　received　no　other　answer　than；

'Mother！　Dear　Mother！　Oh！　would　to　God；　it　were　Morning！'

Elvira；　whose　inquietude　respecting　her　Daughter　was　a　great
obstacle　to　her　perfect　reestablishment；　was　still　labouring
under　the　effects　of　her　late　severe　illness。　　She　was　this
Evening　more　than　usually　indisposed；　and　retired　to　bed　before
her　accustomed　hour。　　Antonia　withdrew　from　her　Mother's　chamber
with　regret；　and　till　the　Door　closed；　kept　her　eyes　fixed　upon
her　with　melancholy　expression。　　She　retired　to　her　own
apartment；　Her　heart　was　filled　with　bitterness：　　It　seemed　to
her　that　all　her　prospects　were　blasted；　and　the　world　contained
nothing　for　which　it　was　worth　existing。　　She　sank　into　a　Chair；
reclined　her　head　upon　her　arm；　and　gazed　upon　the　floor　with　a
vacant　stare；　while　the　most　gloomy　images　floated　before　her
fancy。　　She　was　still　in　this　state　of　insensibility　when　She
was　disturbed　by　hearing　a　strain　of　soft　Music　breathed　beneath
her　window。　　She　rose；　drew　near　the　Casement；　and　opened　it　to
hear　it　more　distinctly。　　Having　thrown　her　veil　over　her　face；
She　ventured　to　look　out。　　By　the　light　of　the　Moon　She　perceived
several　Men　below　with　Guitars　and　Lutes　in　their　hands；　and　at　a
little　distance　from　them　stood　Another　wrapped　in　his　cloak；
whose　stature　and　appearance　bore　a　strong　resemblance　to
Lorenzo's。　　She　was　not　deceived　in　this　conjecture。　　It　was
indeed　Lorenzo　himself；　who　bound　by　his　word　not　to　present
himself　to　Antonia　without　his　Uncle's　consent；　endeavoured　by
occasional　Serenades；　to　convince　his　Mistress