the monk(僧侣)-第74章
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Chamber： That promise He now repeated。 He found Antonia
tolerably well； but still harping upon the Ghost's prediction。
Flora moved not from her Lady's Bed； and by symptoms yet stronger
than on the former night testified her dislike to the Abbot's
presence。 Still Ambrosio affected not to observe them。 The
Physician arrived； while He was conversing with Antonia。 It was
dark already； Lights were called for； and Flora was compelled to
descend for them herself。 However； as She left a third Person in
the room； and expected to be absent but a few minutes； She
believed that She risqued nothing in quitting her post。 No
sooner had She left the room； than Ambrosio moved towards the
Table； on which stood Antonia's medicine： It was placed in a
recess of the window。 The Physician seated in an armed…chair；
and employed in questioning his Patient； paid no attention to the
proceedings of the Monk。 Ambrosio seized the opportunity： He
drew out the fatal Phial； and let a few drops fall into the
medicine。 He then hastily left the Table； and returned to the
seat which He had quitted。 When Flora made her appearance with
lights； every thing seemed to be exactly as She had left it。
The Physician declared that Antonia might quit her chamber the
next day with perfect safety。 He recommended her following the
same prescription which； on the night before； had procured her a
refreshing sleep： Flora replied that the draught stood ready
upon the Table： He advised the Patient to take it without delay；
and then retired。 Flora poured the medicine into a Cup and
presented it to her Mistress。 At that moment Ambrosio's courage
failed him。 Might not Matilda have deceived him？ Might not
Jealousy have persuaded her to destroy her Rival； and substitute
poison in the room of an opiate？ This idea appeared so
reasonable that He was on the point of preventing her from
swallowing the medicine。 His resolution was adopted too late：
The Cup was already emptied； and Antonia restored it into Flora's
hands。 No remedy was now to be found： Ambrosio could only
expect the moment impatiently； destined to decide upon Antonia's
life or death； upon his own happiness or despair。
Dreading to create suspicion by his stay； or betray himself by
his mind's agitation； He took leave of his Victim； and withdrew
from the room。 Antonia parted from him with less cordiality than
on the former night。 Flora had represented to her Mistress that
to admit his visits was to disobey her Mother's orders： She
described to her his emotion on entering the room； and the fire
which sparkled in his eyes while He gazed upon her。 This had
escaped Antonia's observation； but not her Attendant's； Who
explaining the Monk's designs and their probable consequences in
terms much clearer than Elvira's； though not quite so delicate；
had succeeded in alarming her young Lady； and persuading her to
treat him more distantly than She had done hitherto。 The idea of
obeying her Mother's will at once determined Antonia。 Though She
grieved at losing his society； She conquered herself sufficiently
to receive the Monk with some degree of reserve and coldness。
She thanked him with respect and gratitude for his former visits；
but did not invite his repeating them in future。 It now was not
the Friar's interest to solicit admission to her presence； and He
took leave of her as if not designing to return。 Fully
persuaded that the acquaintance which She dreaded was now at an
end； Flora was so much worked upon by his easy compliance that
She began to doubt the justice of her suspicions。 As She lighted
him down Stairs； She thanked him for having endeavoured to root
out from Antonia's mind her superstitious terrors of the
Spectre's prediction： She added； that as He seemed interested in
Donna Antonia's welfare； should any change take place in her
situation； She would be careful to let him know it。 The Monk in
replying took pains to raise his voice； hoping that Jacintha
would hear it。 In this He succeeded； As He reached the foot of
the Stairs with his Conductress； the Landlady failed not to make
her appearance。
'Why surely you are not going away； reverend Father？' cried She；
'Did you not promise to pass the night in the haunted Chamber？
Christ Jesus！ I shall be left alone with the Ghost； and a fine
pickle I shall be in by morning！ Do all I could； say all I
could； that obstinate old Brute； Simon Gonzalez； refused to marry
me today； And before tomorrow comes； I suppose； I shall be torn
to pieces； by the Ghosts； and Goblins； and Devils； and what not！
For God's sake； your Holiness； do not leave me in such a woeful
condition！ On my bended knees I beseech you to keep your
promise： Watch this night in the haunted chamber； Lay the
Apparition in the Red Sea； and Jacintha remembers you in her
prayers to the last day of her existence！'
This request Ambrosio expected and desired； Yet He affected to
raise objections； and to seem unwilling to keep his word。 He
told Jacintha that the Ghost existed nowhere but in her own
brain； and that her insisting upon his staying all night in the
House was ridiculous and useless。 Jacintha was obstinate： She
was not to be convinced； and pressed him so urgently not to leave
her a prey to the Devil； that at length He granted her request。
All this show of resistance imposed not upon Flora； who was
naturally of a suspicious temper。 She suspected the Monk to be
acting a part very contrary to his own inclinations； and that He
wished for no better than to remain where He was。 She even went
so far as to believe that Jacintha was in his interest； and the
poor old Woman was immediately set down； as no better than a
Procuress。 While She applauded herself for having penetrated
into this plot against her Lady's honour； She resolved in secret
to render it fruitless。
'So then；' said She to the Abbot with a look half…satirical and
half indignant； 'So then you mean to stay here tonight？ Do so；
in God's name！ Nobody will prevent you。 Sit up to watch for the
Ghost's arrival： I shall sit up too； and the Lord grant that I
may see nothing worse than a Ghost！ I quit not Donna Antonia's
Bedside during this blessed night： Let me see any one dare to
enter the room； and be He mortal or immortal； be He Ghost； Devil；
or Man； I warrant his repenting that ever He crossed the
threshold！'
This hint was sufficiently strong； and Ambrosio understood its
meaning。 But instead of showing that He perceived her
suspicions； He replied mildly that He approved the Duenna's
precautions； and advised her to persevere in her intention。
This； She assured him faithfully that He might depend upon her
doing。 Jacintha then conducted him into the chamber where the
Ghost had appeared； and Flora returned to her Lady's。
Jacintha opened the door of the haunted room with a trembling
hand： She ventured to peep in； But the wealth of India would not
have tempted her to cross the threshold。 She gave the Taper to
the Monk； wished him well through the adventure； and hastened to
be gone。 Ambrosio entered。 He bolted the door； placed the light
upon the Table； and seated himself in the Chair which on the
former night had sustained Antonia。 In spite of Matilda's
assurances that the Spectre was a mere creation of fancy； his
mind was impressed with a certain mysterious horror。 He in vain
endeavoured to shake it off。 The silence of the night； the story
of the Apparition； the chamber wainscotted with dark oak
pannells； the recollection which it brought with it of the
murdered Elvira； and his incertitude respecting the nature of the
drops given by him to Antonia； made him feel uneasy at his
present situation。 But He thought much less of the Spectre； than
of the poison。 Should He have destroyed the only object which
rendered life dear to him； Should the Ghost's prediction prove
true； Should Antonia in three days be no more； and He the
wretched cause of her death 。 。 。 。 。 。 The supposition was too
horrible to dwell upon。 He drove away these dreadful images； and
as often they presented themselves again before him。 Matilda had
assured him that the effects of the Opiate would be speedy。 He
listened w
