the monk(僧侣)-第26章

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rush…light　which　glimmered　upon　the　hearth　shed　a　faint　gleam
through　the　apartment；　which　was　hung　with　tapestry。　　The　door
was　thrown　open　with　violence。　　A　figure　entered；　and　drew　near
my　Bed　with　solemn　measured　steps。　　With　trembling　apprehension　I
examined　this　midnight　Visitor。　　God　Almighty！　　It　was　the
Bleeding　Nun！　　It　was　my　lost　Companion！　　Her　face　was　still
veiled；　but　She　no　longer　held　her　Lamp　and　dagger。　　She　lifted
up　her　veil　slowly。　　What　a　sight　presented　itself　to　my　startled
eyes！　　I　beheld　before　me　an　animated　Corse。　　Her　countenance　was
long　and　haggard；　Her　cheeks　and　lips　were　bloodless；　The
paleness　of　death　was　spread　over　her　features；　and　her　eyeballs
fixed　stedfastly　upon　me　were　lustreless　and　hollow。

I　gazed　upon　the　Spectre　with　horror　too　great　to　be　described。　
My　blood　was　frozen　in　my　veins。　　I　would　have　called　for　aid；
but　the　sound　expired　ere　it　could　pass　my　lips。　　My　nerves　were
bound　up　in　impotence；　and　I　remained　in　the　same　attitude
inanimate　as　a　Statue。

The　visionary　Nun　looked　upon　me　for　some　minutes　in　silence：　
There　was　something　petrifying　in　her　regard。　At　length　in　a　low
sepulchral　voice　She　pronounced　the　following　words。

　　　　　　''Raymond！　　Raymond！　　Thou　art　mine！
　　　　　　　Raymond！　Raymond！　　I　am　thine！
　　　　　　　In　thy　veins　while　blood　shall　roll；　　
　　　　　　　I　am　thine！
　　　　　　　Thou　art　mine！
　　　　　　　Mine　thy　body！　Mine　thy　soul！''

Breathless　with　fear；　I　listened　while　She　repeated　my　own
expressions。　　The　Apparition　seated　herself　opposite　to　me　at　the
foot　of　the　Bed；　and　was　silent。　　Her　eyes　were　fixed　earnestly
upon　mine：　　They　seemed　endowed　with　the　property　of　the
Rattlesnake's；　for　I　strove　in　vain　to　look　off　her。　　My　eyes
were　fascinated；　and　I　had　not　the　power　of　withdrawing　them　from
the　Spectre's。

In　this　attitude　She　remained　for　a　whole　long　hour　without
speaking　or　moving；　nor　was　I　able　to　do　either。　　At　length　the
Clock　struck　two。　　The　Apparition　rose　from　her　seat；　and
approached　the　side　of　the　bed。　　She　grasped　with　her　icy　fingers
my　hand　which　hung　lifeless　upon　the　Coverture；　and　pressing　her
cold　lips　to　mine；　again　repeated；

　　　　　　''Raymond！　Raymond！　Thou　art　mine！
　　　　　　　Raymond！　Raymond！
　　　　　　　I　am　thine！　&c。''

She　then　dropped　my　hand；　quitted　the　chamber　with　slow　steps；
and　the　Door　closed　after　her。　　Till　that　moment　the　faculties　of
my　body　had　been　all　suspended；　Those　of　my　mind　had　alone　been
waking。　　The　charm　now　ceased　to　operate：　　The　blood　which　had
been　frozen　in　my　veins　rushed　back　to　my　heart　with　violence：　I
uttered　a　deep　groan；　and　sank　lifeless　upon　my　pillow。

The　adjoining　room　was　only　separated　from　mine　by　a　thin
partition：　　It　was　occupied　by　the　Host　and　his　Wife：　　The　Former
was　rouzed　by　my　groan；　and　immediately　hastened　to　my　chamber：　
The　Hostess　soon　followed　him。　　With　some　difficulty　they
succeeded　in　restoring　me　to　my　senses；　and　immediately　sent　for
the　Physician；　who　arrived　in　all　diligence。　　He　declared　my
fever　to　be　very　much　increased；　and　that　if　I　continued　to
suffer　such　violent　agitation；　He　would　not　take　upon　him　to
ensure　my　life。　　Some　medicines　which　He　gave　me　in　some　degree
tranquillized　my　spirits。　　I　fell　into　a　sort　of　slumber　towards
daybreak；　But　fearful　dreams　prevented　me　from　deriving　any
benefit　from　my　repose。　　Agnes　and　the　Bleeding　Nun　presented
themselves　by　turns　to　my　fancy；　and　combined　to　harass　and
torment　me。　　I　awoke　fatigued　and　unrefreshed。　　My　fever　seemed
rather　augmented　than　diminished；　The　agitation　of　my　mind
impeded　my　fractured　bones　from　knitting：　　I　had　frequent
fainting　fits；　and　during　the　whole　day　the　Physician　judged　it
expedient　not　to　quit　me　for　two　hours　together。

The　singularity　of　my　adventure　made　me　determine　to　conceal　it
from　every　one；　since　I　could　not　expect　that　a　circumstance　so
strange　should　gain　credit。　　I　was　very　uneasy　about　Agnes。　　I
knew　not　what　She　would　think　at　not　finding　me　at　the
rendezvous；　and　dreaded　her　entertaining　suspicions　of　my
fidelity。　　However；　I　depended　upon　Theodore's　discretion；　and
trusted　that　my　letter　to　the　Baroness　would　convince　her　of　the
rectitude　of　my　intentions。　　These　considerations　somewhat
lightened　my　inquietude　upon　her　account：　　But　the　impression
left　upon　my　mind　by　my　nocturnal　Visitor　grew　stronger　with
every　succeeding　moment。　　The　night　drew　near；　I　dreaded　its
arrival。　　Yet　I　strove　to　persuade　myself　that　the　Ghost　would
appear　no　more；　and　at　all　events　I　desired　that　a　Servant　might
sit　up　in　my　chamber。

The　fatigue　of　my　body　from　not　having　slept　on　the　former　night；
co…operating　with　the　strong　opiates　administered　to　me　in
profusion；　at　length　procured　me　that　repose　of　which　I　was　so
much　in　need。　　I　sank　into　a　profound　and　tranquil　slumber；　and
had　already　slept　for　some　hours；　when　the　neighbouring　Clock
rouzed　me　by　striking　'One'。　　Its　sound　brought　with　it　to　my
memory　all　the　horrors　of　the　night　before。　　The　same　cold
shivering　seized　me。　　I　started　up　in　my　bed；　and　perceived　the
Servant　fast　asleep　in　an　armed…Chair　near　me。　　I　called　him　by
his　name：　　He　made　no　answer。　　I　shook　him　forcibly　by　the　arm；
and　strove　in　vain　to　wake　him。　　He　was　perfectly　insensible　to
my　efforts。　　I　now　heard　the　heavy　steps　ascending　the
staircase；　The　Door　was　thrown　open；　and　again　the　Bleeding　Nun
stood　before　me。　　Once　more　my　limbs　were　chained　in　second
infancy。　　Once　more　I　heard　those　fatal　words　repeated；

　　　　　　''Raymond！　Raymond！　　Thou　art　mine！
　　　　　　　Raymond！　Raymond！　　I　am　thine！　&c。''

The　scene　which　had　shocked　me　so　sensibly　on　the　former　night；
was　again　presented。　　The　Spectre　again　pressed　her　lips　to　mine；
again　touched　me　with　her　rotting　fingers；　and　as　on　her　first
appearance；　quitted　the　chamber　as　soon　as　the　Clock　told　'Two。'

Even　night　was　this　repeated。　　Far　from　growing　accustomed　to　the
Ghost；　every　succeeding　visit　inspired　me　with　greater　horror。　
Her　idea　pursued　me　continually；　and　I　became　the　prey　of
habitual　melancholy。　　The　constant　agitation　of　my　mind　naturally
retarded　the　re…establishment　of　my　health。　　Several　months
elapsed　before　I　was　able　to　quit　my　bed；　and　when　at　length　I
was　moved　to　a　Sopha；　I　was　so　faint；　spiritless；　and　emaciated；
that　I　could　not　cross　the　room　without　assistance。　　The　looks　of
my　Attendants　sufficiently　denoted　the　little　hope；　which　they
entertained　of　my　recovery。　　The　profound　sadness；　which
oppressed　me　without　remission　made　the　Physician　consider　me　to
be　an　Hypochondriac。　　The　cause　of　my　distress　I　carefully
concealed　in　my　own　bosom；　for　I　knew　that　no　one　could　give　me
relief：　　The　Ghost　was　not　even　visible　to　any　eye　but　mine。　　I
had　frequently　caused　Attendants　to　sit　up　in　my　room：　　But　the
moment　that　the　Clock　struck　'One；'　irresistible　slumber　seized
them；　nor　left　them　till　the　departure　of　the　Ghost。

You　may　be　surprized　that　during　this　time　I　made　no　enquiries
after　your　Sister。　　Theodore；　who　with　difficulty　had　discovered
my　abode；　had　quieted　my　apprehensions　for　her　safety：　　At　the
same　time　He　convinced　me　that　all　attempts　to　release　her　from
captivity　must　be　fruitless　till　I　should　be　in　a　condition　to
return　to　Spain。　　The　particulars　of　her　adventure　which　I　shall
now　relate　to　you；　were　partly　communicated　to　me　by　Theodore；
and　partly　by　Agnes　herself。

On　the　fatal　night　when　her　elopement　was　to　have　taken　place；
accident　had　not　permitted　her　to　quit　her　chamber　at　the
appointed　time。　　At　length　She　ventured　into　the　haunted　room；
descended　the　staircase　leading　into　the　Hall；　found　the　Gates
open　as　She　expected；　and　left　the　Castle　unobserved。　　What　was
her　surprize　at　not　finding　me　ready　to　receive　her！　　She
examined　the　Cavern；　ranged　through　every　Alley　of　the
neighbouring　wood；　and　passed　two　full　hours　in　this　fruitless
enquiry。　She　could　discover　no　traces　either　of　me　or　of　the
Carriage。　　Alarmed　and　disappointed；　her　only　resource　was　to
return　to　the　Castle　before　the　Baroness　missed　her：　　But　here
She　found　herself　in　a　fresh　embarrassment。　The　Bell　had　already
tolled　'Two：'　The　Ghostly　hour　was　past；　and　the　careful　Porter
had　locked　the　folding　gates。　　After　much　irresolution　She
ventured　to　knock　softly。　　Luckily　for　her；　Conrad　was　still
awake：　　He　heard　the　noise　and　rose；　murmuring　at　being　called
up　a　second　time。　　No　sooner　had　He　opened　one　of　the　Doors；　and
beheld　the　supposed　Apparition　waiting　there　for　admittance；　than
He　uttered　a　loud　cry；　and　sank　upon　his　knees。　　Agnes　profited
by　his　terror。　　She　glided　by　him；　flew　to　her　own　apartment；　and
having　thrown　off　her　Spectre's　trappings；　retired　to　bed
endeavouring　in　vain　to　account　for　my　disappearing。

In　the　mean　while　Theodore　having　seen　my　Carriage　drive　off　with
the　false　Agnes；　returned　joyfully　to　the　Village。　　The　next
morning　He　released　Cunegonda　from　her　confinement；　and
accompanied　her　to　the　Castle。　　There　He　found　the　Baron；　his
Lady；　and　Don　Gaston；　disputing　together　upon　the　Porter's
relation。　　All　of　them　agreed　in　believing　the　existence　of
Spectres：　　But　the　Latter　contended；　that　for　a　Ghost　to　knock
for　admittance　was　a　proceeding　till　then　unwitnessed；　and
totally　incompatible　with　the　immaterial　nature　of　a　Spirit。　
They　were　still　discussing　this　subject　when　the　Page　appeared
with　Cunegonda　and　cleared　up　the　mystery。　　On　hearing　his
deposition；　it　was　agreed　unanimously　that　the　Agnes　whom
Theodore　had　seen　step　into　my　Carriage　must　have　been　the
Bleeding　Nun；　and　that　the　Ghost　who　had　terrified　Conrad　was　no
other　than　Don　Gaston's　Daughter。

The　first　surprize　which　this　discovery　occasioned　being　over；
the　Baroness　resolved　to　make　it　of　use　in　persuading　her　Niece
to　take　the　veil。　　Fearing　lest　so　advantageous　an　establishment
for　his　Daughter　should　induce　Don　Gaston　to　renounce　his
resolution；　She　suppressed　my　letter；　and　continued　to　represent
me　as　a　needy　unknown　Adventurer。　　A　childish　vanity　had　led　me
to　conceal　my　real　name　even　from　my　Mistress；　I　wished　to　be
loved　for　myself；　not　for　being　the　Son　and　Heir　of　the　Marquis
de　las　Cisternas。　　The　consequence　was　that　my　rank　was　known　to
no　one　in　the　Castle　except　the　Baroness；　and　She　took　good　care
to　confine　the　knowledge　to　her　own　breast。　　Don　Gaston　having
approved　his　Sister's　design；　Agnes　was　summoned　to　appear　before
them。　　She　was　taxed　with　having　meditated　an　elopement；　obliged
to　make　a　full　confession；　and　was　amazed　at　the　gentleness　with
which　it　was　received：　　But　what　was　her　affliction；　when
informed　that　the　failure　of　her　project　must　be　attributed　to
me！　　Cunegonda；　tutored　by　the　Baroness；　told　her　that　when　I
released　her；　I　had　desired　her　to　inform　her　Lady　that　our
connexion　was　at　an　end；　that　the　whole　affair　was　occasioned　by
a　false　report；　and　that　it　by　no　means　suited　my　circumstances
to　marry　a　Woman　without　fortune　or　expectations。

To　this　account　my　sudden　disappearing　gave　but　too　great　an　air
of　probability。　　Theodore；　who　could　have　contradicted　the　story；
by　Donna　Rodolpha's　order　was　kept　out　of　her　sight：　　What　proved
a　still　greater　confirmation　of　my　being