the monk(僧侣)-第75章
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assured him that the effects of the Opiate would be speedy。 He
listened with fear； yet with eagerness； expecting to hear some
disturbance in the adjoining chamber。 All was still silent。 He
concluded that the drops had not begun to operate。 Great was
the stake； for which He now played： A moment would suffice to
decide upon his misery or happiness。 Matilda had taught him the
means of ascertaining that life was not extinct for ever： Upon
this assay depended all his hopes。 With every instant his
impatience redoubled； His terrors grew more lively； his anxiety
more awake。 Unable to bear this state of incertitude； He
endeavoured to divert it by substituting the thoughts of Others
to his own。 The Books； as was before mentioned； were ranged upon
shelves near the Table： This stood exactly opposite to the Bed；
which was placed in an Alcove near the Closet door。 Ambrosio
took down a Volume； and seated himself by the Table： But his
attention wandered from the Pages before him。 Antonia's image
and that of the murdered Elvira persisted to force themselves
before his imagination。 Still He continued to read； though his
eyes ran over the characters without his mind being conscious of
their import。 Such was his occupation； when He fancied that He
heard a footstep。 He turned his head； but nobody was to be seen。
He resumed his Book； But in a few minutes after the same sound
was repeated； and followed by a rustling noise close behind him。
He now started from his seat； and looking round him； perceived
the Closet door standing half…unclosed。 On his first entering
the room He had tried to open it； but found it bolted on the
inside。
'How is this？' said He to himself； 'How comes this door
unfastened？'
He advanced towards it： He pushed it open； and looked into the
closet： No one was there。 While He stood irresolute； He
thought that He distinguished a groaning in the adjacent
chamber： It was Antonia's； and He supposed that the drops began
to take effect： But upon listening more attentively； He found
the noise to be caused by Jacintha； who had fallen asleep by the
Lady's Bedside； and was snoring most lustily。 Ambrosio drew
back； and returned to the other room； musing upon the sudden
opening of the Closet door； for which He strove in vain to
account。
He paced the chamber up and down in silence。 At length He
stopped； and the Bed attracted his attention。 The curtain of the
Recess was but half…drawn。 He sighed involuntarily。
'That Bed；' said He in a low voice； 'That Bed was Elvira's！
There has She past many a quiet night； for She was good and
innocent。 How sound must have been her sleep！ And yet now She
sleeps sounder！ Does She indeed sleep？ Oh！ God grant that She
may！ What if She rose from her Grave at this sad and silent
hour？ What if She broke the bonds of the Tomb； and glided
angrily before my blasted eyes？ Oh！ I never could support the
sight！ Again to see her form distorted by dying agonies； her
blood…swollen veins； her livid countenance； her eyes bursting
from their sockets with pain！ To hear her speak of future
punishment； menace me with Heaven's vengeance； tax me with the
crimes I have committed； with those I am going to commit 。 。 。 。
。 Great God！ What is that？'
As He uttered these words； his eyes which were fixed upon the
Bed； saw the curtain shaken gently backwards and forwards。 The
Apparition was recalled to his mind； and He almost fancied that
He beheld Elvira's visionary form reclining upon the Bed。 A few
moments consideration sufficed to reassure him。
'It was only the wind；' said He； recovering himself。
Again He paced the chamber； But an involuntary movement of awe
and inquietude constantly led his eye towards the Alcove。 He
drew near it with irresolution。 He paused before He ascended the
few steps which led to it。 He put out his hand thrice to remove
the curtain； and as often drew it back。
'Absurd terrors！' He cried at length； ashamed of his own
weakness
Hastily he mounted the steps； When a Figure drest in white
started from the Alcove； and gliding by him； made with
precipitation towards the Closet。 Madness and despair now
supplied the Monk with that courage； of which He had till then
been destitute。 He flew down the steps； pursued the Apparition；
and attempted to grasp it。
'Ghost； or Devil； I hold you！' He exclaimed； and seized the
Spectre by the arm。
'Oh！ Christ Jesus！' cried a shrill voice； 'Holy Father； how you
gripe me！ I protest that I meant no harm！'
This address； as well as the arm which He held； convinced the
Abbot that the supposed Ghost was substantial flesh and blood。
He drew the Intruder towards the Table； and holding up the light；
discovered the features of 。 。 。 。 。 。 Madona Flora！
Incensed at having been betrayed by this trifling cause into
fears so ridiculous； He asked her sternly； what business had
brought her to that chamber。 Flora； ashamed at being found out；
and terrified at the severity of Ambrosio's looks； fell upon her
knees； and promised to make a full confession。
'I protest； reverend Father；' said She； 'that I am quite grieved
at having disturbed you： Nothing was further from my intention。
I meant to get out of the room as quietly as I got in； and had
you been ignorant that I watched you； you know； it would have
been the same thing as if I had not watched you at all。 To be
sure； I did very wrong in being a Spy upon you； that I cannot
deny； But Lord！ your Reverence； how can a poor weak Woman resist
curiosity？ Mine was so strong to know what you were doing； that
I could not but try to get a little peep； without any body
knowing any thing about it。 So with that I left old Dame
Jacintha sitting by my Lady's Bed； and I ventured to steal into
the Closet。 Being unwilling to interrupt you； I contented myself
at first with putting my eye to the Keyhole； But as I could see
nothing by this means； I undrew the bolt； and while your back was
turned to the Alcove； I whipt me in softly and silently。 Here I
lay snug behind the curtain； till your Reverence found me out；
and seized me ere I had time to regain the Closet door。 This is
the whole truth； I assure you； Holy Father； and I beg your pardon
a thousand times for my impertinence。'
During this speech the Abbot had time to recollect himself： He
was satisfied with reading the penitent Spy a lecture upon the
dangers of curiosity； and the meanness of the action in which She
had been just discovered。 Flora declared herself fully
persuaded that She had done wrong； She promised never to be
guilty of the same fault again； and was retiring very humble and
contrite to Antonia's chamber； when the Closet door was suddenly
thrown open； and in rushed Jacintha pale and out of breath。
'Oh！ Father！ Father！' She cried in a voice almost choaked with
terror； 'What shall I do！ What shall I do！ Here is a fine piece
of work！ Nothing but misfortunes！ Nothing but dead people； and
dying people！ Oh！ I shall go distracted！ I shall go
distracted！'
'Speak！ Speak！' cried Flora and the Monk at the same time； 'What
has happened？ What is the matter？'
'Oh！ I shall have another Corse in my House！ Some Witch has
certainly cast a spell upon it； upon me； and upon all about me！
Poor Donna Antonia！ There She lies in just such convulsions； as
killed her Mother！ The Ghost told her true！ I am sure； the Ghost
has told her true！'
Flora ran； or rather flew to her Lady's chamber： Ambrosio
followed her； his bosom trembling with hope and apprehension。
They found Antonia as Jacintha had described； torn by racking
convulsions from which they in vain endeavoured to relieve her。
The Monk dispatched Jacintha to the Abbey in all haste； and
commissioned her to bring Father Pablos back with her； without
losing a moment。
'I will go for him；' replied Jacintha； 'and tell him to come
hither； But as to bringing him myself； I shall do no such thing。
I am sure that the House is bewitched； and burn me if ever I set
foot in it again。'
With this resolution She set out for the Monastery； and delivered
to Father Pablos the Abbot's orders。 She then betook herself to
the House of old Simon Gonzalez； whom She r
