the monk(僧侣)-第73章

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Elvira　to　Spain；　and　loved　the　young　Antonia　with　a　Mother's
affection。　　Flora　quitted　not　the　room　for　a　moment　while　the
Abbot　remained　there：　　She　watched　his　every　word；　his　every
look；　his　every　action。　　He　saw　that　her　suspicious　eye　was
always　fixed　upon　him；　and　conscious　that　his　designs　would　not
bear　inspection　so　minute；　He　felt　frequently　confused　and
disconcerted。　　He　was　aware　that　She　doubted　the　purity　of　his
intentions；　that　She　would　never　leave　him　alone　with　Antonia；
and　his　Mistress　defended　by　the　presence　of　this　vigilant
Observer；　He　despaired　of　finding　the　means　to　gratify　his
passion。

As　He　quitted　the　House；　Jacintha　met　him；　and　begged　that　some
Masses　might　be　sung　for　the　repose　of　Elvira's　soul；　which　She
doubted　not　was　suffering　in　Purgatory。　　He　promised　not　to
forget　her　request；　But　He　perfectly　gained　the　old　Woman's
heart　by　engaging　to　watch　during　the　whole　of　the　approaching
night　in　the　haunted　chamber。　　Jacintha　could　find　no　terms
sufficiently　strong　to　express　her　gratitude；　and　the　Monk
departed　loaded　with　her　benedictions。

It　was　broad　day　when　He　returned　to　the　Abbey。　　His　first　care
was　to　communicate　what　had　past　to　his　Confident。　　He　felt　too
sincere　a　passion　for　Antonia　to　have　heard　unmoved　the
prediction　of　her　speedy　death；　and　He　shuddered　at　the　idea　of
losing　an　object　so　dear　to　him。　　Upon　this　head　Matilda
reassured　him。　　She　confirmed　the　arguments　which　Himself　had
already　used：　　She　declared　Antonia　to　have　been　deceived　by　the
wandering　of　her　brain；　by　the　Spleen　which　opprest　her　at　the
moment；　and　by　the　natural　turn　of　her　mind　to　superstition；　and
the　marvellous。　　As　to　Jacintha's　account；　the　absurdity　refuted
itself；　The　Abbot　hesitated　not　to　believe　that　She　had
fabricated　the　whole　story；　either　confused　by　terror；　or　hoping
to　make　him　comply　more　readily　with　her　request。　　Having
overruled　the　Monk's　apprehensions；　Matilda　continued　thus。

'The　prediction　and　the　Ghost　are　equally　false；　But　it　must　be
your　care；　Ambrosio；　to　verify　the　first。　Antonia　within　three
days　must　indeed　be　dead　to　the　world；　But　She　must　live　for　you。

Her　present　illness；　and　this　fancy　which　She　has　taken　into　her
head；　will　colour　a　plan　which　I　have　long　meditated；　but　which
was　impracticable　without　your　procuring　access　to　Antonia。　　She
shall　be　yours；　not　for　a　single　night；　but　for　ever。　　All　the
vigilance　of　her　Duenna　shall　not　avail　her：　　You　shall　riot
unrestrained　in　the　charms　of　your　Mistress。　　This　very　day　must
the　scheme　be　put　in　execution；　for　you　have　no　time　to　lose。　
The　Nephew　of　the　Duke　of　Medina　Celi　prepares　to　demand　Antonia
for　his　Bride：　　In　a　few　days　She　will　be　removed　to　the　Palace
of　her　Relation；　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas；　and　there　She　will
be　secure　from　your　attempts。　　Thus　during　your　absence　have　I
been　informed　by　my　Spies；　who　are　ever　employed　in　bringing　me
intelligence　for　your　service。　　Now　then　listen　to　me。　　There　is
a　juice　extracted　from　certain　herbs；　known　but　to　few；　which
brings　on　the　Person　who　drinks　it　the　exact　image　of　Death。　　Let
this　be　administered　to　Antonia：　　You　may　easily　find　means　to
pour　a　few　drops　into　her　medicine。　　The　effect　will　be　throwing
her　into　strong　convulsions　for　an　hour：　　After　which　her　blood
will　gradually　cease　to　flow；　and　heart　to　beat；　A　mortal
paleness　will　spread　itself　over　her　features；　and　She　will
appear　a　Corse　to　every　eye。　　She　has　no　Friends　about　her：　　You
may　charge　yourself　unsuspected　with　the　superintendence　of　her
funeral；　and　cause　her　to　be　buried　in　the　Vaults　of　St。　Clare。　
Their　solitude　and　easy　access　render　these　Caverns　favourable　to
your　designs。　　Give　Antonia　the　soporific　draught　this　Evening：
Eight　and　forty　hours　after　She　has　drank　it；　Life　will　revive　to
her　bosom。　　She　will　then　be　absolutely　in　your　power：　　She　will
find　all　resistance　unavailing；　and　necessity　will　compel　her　to
receive　you　in　her　arms。'

'Antonia　will　be　in　my　power！'　exclaimed　the　Monk；　'Matilda；　you
transport　me！　　At　length　then；　happiness　will　be　mine；　and　that
happiness　will　be　Matilda's　gift；　will　be　the　gift　of　friendship！

I　shall　clasp　Antonia　in　my　arms；　far　from　every　prying　eye；　from
every　tormenting　Intruder！　　I　shall　sigh　out　my　soul　upon　her
bosom；　Shall　teach　her　young　heart　the　first　rudiments　of
pleasure；　and　revel　uncontrouled　in　the　endless　variety　of　her
charms！　　And　shall　this　delight　indeed　by　mine？　　Shall　I　give　the
reins　to　my　desires；　and　gratify　every　wild　tumultuous　wish？　　Oh！
Matilda；　how　can　I　express　to　you　my　gratitude？'

'By　profiting　by　my　counsels。　　Ambrosio；　I　live　but　to　serve　you：

Your　interest　and　happiness　are　equally　mine。　Be　your　person
Antonia's；　but　to　your　friendship　and　your　heart　I　still　assert
my　claim。　　Contributing　to　yours　forms　now　my　only　pleasure。　
Should　my　exertions　procure　the　gratification　of　your　wishes；　I
shall　consider　my　trouble　to　be　amply　repaid。　　But　let　us　lose　no
time。　　The　liquor　of　which　I　spoke　is　only　to　be　found　in　St。
Clare's　Laboratory。　　Hasten　then　to　the　Prioress；　Request　of　her
admission　to　the　Laboratory；　and　it　will　not　be　denied。　There　is
a　Closet　at　the　lower　end　of　the　great　Room；　filled　with　liquids
of　different　colours　and　qualities。　　The　Bottle　in　question
stands　by　itself　upon　the　third　shelf　on　the　left。　　It　contains　a
greenish　liquor：　　Fill　a　small　phial　with　it　when　you　are
unobserved；　and　Antonia　is　your　own。'

The　Monk　hesitated　not　to　adopt　this　infamous　plan。　　His　desires；
but　too　violent　before；　had　acquired　fresh　vigour　from　the　sight
of　Antonia。　　As　He　sat　by　her　bedside；　accident　had　discovered　to
him　some　of　those　charms　which　till　then　had　been　concealed　from
him：　He　found　them　even　more　perfect；　than　his　ardent　imagination
had　pictured　them。　　Sometimes　her　white　and　polished　arm　was
displayed　in　arranging　the　pillow：　Sometimes　a　sudden　movement
discovered　part　of　her　swelling　bosom：　　But　whereever　the
new…found　charm　presented　itself；　there　rested　the　Friar's
gloting　eyes。　　Scarcely　could　He　master　himself　sufficiently　to
conceal　his　desires　from　Antonia　and　her　vigilant　Duenna。
Inflamed　by　the　remembrance　of　these　beauties；　He　entered　into
Matilda's　scheme　without　hesitation。

No　sooner　were　Matins　over　than　He　bent　his　course　towards　the
Convent　of　St。　Clare：　　His　arrival　threw　the　whole　Sisterhood
into　the　utmost　amazement。　　The　Prioress　was　sensible　of　the
honour　done　her　Convent　by　his　paying　it　his　first　visit；　and
strove　to　express　her　gratitude　by　every　possible　attention。　　He
was　paraded　through　the　Garden；　shown　all　the　reliques　of　Saints
and　Martyrs；　and　treated　with　as　much　respect　and　distinction　as
had　He　been　the　Pope　himself。　　On　his　part；　Ambrosio　received　the
Domina's　civilities　very　graciously；　and　strove　to　remove　her
surprize　at　his　having　broken　through　his　resolution。　　He　stated；
that　among　his　penitents；　illness　prevented　many　from　quitting
their　Houses。　　These　were　exactly　the　People　who　most　needed　his
advice　and　the　comforts　of　Religion：　　Many　representations　had
been　made　to　him　upon　this　account；　and　though　highly　repugnant
to　his　own　wishes；　He　had　found　it　absolutely　necessary　for　the
service　of　heaven　to　change　his　determination；　and　quit　his
beloved　retirement。　　The　Prioress　applauded　his　zeal　in　his
profession　and　his　charity　towards　Mankind：　　She　declared　that
Madrid　was　happy　in　possessing　a　Man　so　perfect　and
irreproachable。　　In　such　discourse；　the　Friar　at　length　reached
the　Laboratory。　　He　found　the　Closet：　The　Bottle　stood　in　the
place　which　Matilda　had　described；　and　the　Monk　seized　an
opportunity　to　fill　his　phial　unobserved　with　the　soporific
liquor。　　Then　having　partaken　of　a　Collation　in　the　Refectory；　He
retired　from　the　Convent　pleased　with　the　success　of　his　visit；
and　leaving　the　Nuns　delighted　by　the　honour　conferred　upon　them。

He　waited　till　Evening　before　He　took　the　road　to　Antonia's
dwelling。　　Jacintha　welcomed　him　with　transport；　and　besought　him
not　to　forget　his　promise　to　pass　the　night　in　the　haunted
Chamber：　　That　promise　He　now　repeated。　　He　found　Antonia
tolerably　well；　but　sti