the monk(僧侣)-第27章

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by　Donna　Rodolpha's　order　was　kept　out　of　her　sight：　　What　proved
a　still　greater　confirmation　of　my　being　an　Impostor；　was　the
arrival　of　a　letter　from　yourself　declaring　that　you　had　no　sort
of　acquaintance　with　Alphonso　d'Alvarada。　　These　seeming　proofs
of　my　perfidy；　aided　by　the　artful　insinuations　of　her　Aunt；　by
Cunegonda's　flattery；　and　her　Father's　threats　and　anger；
entirely　conquered　your　Sister's　repugnance　to　a　Convent。　
Incensed　at　my　behaviour；　and　disgusted　with　the　world　in
general；　She　consented　to　receive　the　veil。　　She　past　another
Month　at　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg；　during　which　my　non…appearance
confirmed　her　in　her　resolution；　and　then　accompanied　Don　Gaston
into　Spain。　　Theodore　was　now　set　at　liberty。　　He　hastened　to
Munich；　where　I　had　promised　to　let　him　hear　from　me；　But　finding
from　Lucas　that　I　had　never　arrived　there；　He　pursued　his　search
with　indefatigable　perseverance；　and　at　length　succeeded　in
rejoining　me　at　Ratisbon。

So　much　was　I　altered；　that　scarcely　could　He　recollect　my
features：　　The　distress　visible　upon　his　sufficiently　testified
how　lively　was　the　interest　which　He　felt　for　me。　　The　society　of
this　amiable　Boy；　whom　I　had　always　considered　rather　as　a
Companion　than　a　Servant；　was　now　my　only　comfort。　　His
conversation　was　gay　yet　sensible；　and　his　observations　shrewd
and　entertaining：　He　had　picked　up　much　more　knowledge　than　is
usual　at　his　Age：　　But　what　rendered　him　most　agreeable　to　me；
was　his　having　a　delightful　voice；　and　some　skill　in　Music。　　He
had　also　acquired　some　taste　in　poetry；　and　even　ventured
sometimes　to　write　verses　himself。　　He　occasionally　composed
little　Ballads　in　Spanish；　his　compositions　were　but　indifferent；
I　must　confess；　yet　they　were　pleasing　to　me　from　their　novelty；
and　hearing　him　sing　them　to　his　guitar　was　the　only　amusement；
which　I　was　capable　of　receiving。　　Theodore　perceived　well　enough
that　something　preyed　upon　my　mind；　But　as　I　concealed　the　cause
of　my　grief　even　from　him；　Respect　would　not　permit　him　to　pry
into　my　secrets。

One　Evening　I　was　lying　upon　my　Sopha；　plunged　in　reflections
very　far　from　agreeable：　　Theodore　amused　himself　by　observing
from　the　window　a　Battle　between　two　Postillions；　who　were
quarrelling　in　the　Inn…yard。

'Ha！　Ha！'　cried　He　suddenly；　'Yonder　is　the　Great　Mogul。'

'Who？'　said　I。

'Only　a　Man　who　made　me　a　strange　speech　at　Munich。'

'What　was　the　purport　of　it？'

'Now　you　put　me　in　mind　of　it；　Segnor；　it　was　a　kind　of　message
to　you；　but　truly　it　was　not　worth　delivering。　　I　believe　the
Fellow　to　be　mad；　for　my　part。　　When　I　came　to　Munich　in　search
of　you；　I　found　him　living　at　'The　King　of　the　Romans；'　and　the
Host　gave　me　an　odd　account　of　him。　　By　his　accent　He　is　supposed
to　be　a　Foreigner；　but　of　what　Country　nobody　can　tell。　　He
seemed　to　have　no　acquaintance　in　the　Town；　spoke　very　seldom；
and　never　was　seen　to　smile。　　He　had　neither　Servants　or　Baggage；
But　his　Purse　seemed　well…furnished；　and　He　did　much　good　in　the
Town。　　Some　supposed　him　to　be　an　Arabian　Astrologer；　Others　to
be　a　Travelling　Mountebank；　and　many　declared　that　He　was　Doctor
Faustus；　whom　the　Devil　had　sent　back　to　Germany。　　The　Landlord；
however　told　me；　that　He　had　the　best　reasons　to　believe　him　to
be　the　Great　Mogul　incognito。'

'But　the　strange　speech；　Theodore。'

'True；　I　had　almost　forgotten　the　speech：　　Indeed　for　that
matter；　it　would　not　have　been　a　great　loss　if　I　had　forgotten
it　altogether。　　You　are　to　know；　Segnor；　that　while　I　was
enquiring　about　you　of　the　Landlord；　this　Stranger　passed　by。　　He
stopped；　and　looked　at　me　earnestly。　'Youth！'　said　He　in　a　solemn
voice；　'He　whom　you　seek；　has　found　that　which　He　would　fain
lose。　　My　hand　alone　can　dry　up　the　blood：　　Bid　your　Master　wish
for　me　when　the　Clock　strikes；　'One。'

'How？'　cried　I；　starting　from　my　Sopha。　　（The　words　which
Theodore　had　repeated；　seemed　to　imply　the　Stranger's　knowledge
of　my　secret）　'Fly　to　him；　my　Boy！　　Entreat　him　to　grant　me　one
moment's　conversation！'

Theodore　was　surprised　at　the　vivacity　of　my　manner：　However；　He
asked　no　questions；　but　hastened　to　obey　me。　　I　waited　his　return
impatiently。　　But　a　short　space　of　time　had　elapsed　when　He　again
appeared　and　ushered　the　expected　Guest　into　my　chamber。　　He　was
a　Man　of　majestic　presence：　　His　countenance　was　strongly　marked；
and　his　eyes　were　large；　black；　and　sparkling：　　Yet　there　was　a
something　in　his　look　which；　the　moment　that　I　saw　him；　inspired
me　with　a　secret　awe；　not　to　say　horror。　　He　was　drest　plainly；
his　hair　was　unpowdered；　and　a　band　of　black　velvet　which
encircled　his　forehead　spread　over　his　features　an　additional
gloom。　　His　countenance　wore　the　marks　of　profound　melancholy；
his　step　was　slow；　and　his　manner　grave；　stately；　and　solemn。

He　saluted　me　with　politeness；　and　having　replied　to　the　usual
compliments　of　introduction；　He　motioned　to　Theodore　to　quit　the
chamber。　　The　Page　instantly　withdrew。

'I　know　your　business；'　said　He；　without　giving　me　time　to　speak。

'I　have　the　power　of　releasing　you　from　your　nightly　Visitor；　But
this　cannot　be　done　before　Sunday。　　On　the　hour　when　the　Sabbath
Morning　breaks；　Spirits　of　darkness　have　least　influence　over
Mortals。　　After　Saturday　the　Nun　shall　visit　you　no　more。'

'May　I　not　enquire；'　said　I；　'by　what　means　you　are　in　possession
of　a　secret　which　I　have　carefully　concealed　from　the　knowledge
of　everyone？'

'How　can　I　be　ignorant　of　your　distress；　when　their　cause　at　this
moment　stands　beside　you？'

I　started。　　The　Stranger　continued。

'Though　to　you　only　visible　for　one　hour　in　the　twenty…four；
neither　day　or　night　does　She　ever　quit　you；　Nor　will　She　ever
quit　you　till　you　have　granted　her　request。'

'And　what　is　that　request？'

'That　She　must　herself　explain：　　It　lies　not　in　my　knowledge。　
Wait　with　patience　for　the　night　of　Saturday：　All　shall　be　then
cleared　up。'

I　dared　not　press　him　further。　　He　soon　after　changed　the
conversation　and　talked　of　various　matters。　　He　named　People　who
had　ceased　to　exist　for　many　Centuries；　and　yet　with　whom　He
appeared　to　have　been　personally　acquainted。　　I　could　not　mention
a　Country　however　distant　which　He　had　not　visited；　nor　could　I
sufficiently　admire　the　extent　and　variety　of　his　information。　
I　remarked　to　him　that　having　travelled；　seen；　and　known　so　much；
must　have　given　him　infinite　pleasure。　　He　shook　his　head
mournfully。

'No　one；'　He　replied；　'is　adequate　to　comprehending　the　misery　of
my　lot！　　Fate　obliges　me　to　be　constantly　in　movement：　　I　am　not
permitted　to　pass　more　than　a　fortnight　in　the　same　place。　　I
have　no　Friend　in　the　world；　and　from　the　restlessness　of　my
destiny　I　never　can　acquire　one。　　Fain　would　I　lay　down　my
miserable　life；　for　I　envy　those　who　enjoy　the　quiet　of　the
Grave：　But　Death　eludes　me；　and　flies　from　my　embrace。　　In　vain
do　I　throw　myself　in　the　way　of　danger。　　I　plunge　into　the　Ocean；
The　Waves　throw　me　back　with　abhorrence　upon　the　shore：　　I　rush
into　fire；　The　flames　recoil　at　my　approach：　　I　oppose　myself　to
the　fury　of　Banditti；　Their　swords　become　blunted；　and　break
against　my　breast：　　The　hungry　Tiger　shudders　at　my　approach；　and
the　Alligator　flies　from　a　Monster　more　horrible　than　itself。　
God　has　set　his　seal　upon　me；　and　all　his　Creatures　respect　this
fatal　mark！'

He　put　his　hand　to　the　velvet；　which　was　bound　round　his
forehead。　　There　was　in　his　eyes　an　expression　of　fury；　despair；
and　malevolence；　that　struck　horror　to　my　very　soul。　　An
involuntary　convulsion　made　me　shudder。　　The　Stranger　perceived
it。

'Such　is　the　curse　imposed　on　me；'　he　continued：　　'I　am　doomed　to
inspire　all　who　look　on　me　with　terror　and　detestation。　　You
already　feel　the　influence　of　the　charm；　and　with　every
succeeding　moment　will　feel　it　more。　　I　will　not　add　to　your
sufferings　by　my　presence。　　Farewell　till　Saturday。　　As　soon　as
the　Clock　strikes　twelve；　expect　me　at　your　chamber　door。'

Having　said　this　He　departed；　leaving　me　in　astonishment　at　the
mysterious　turn　of　his　manner　and　conversation。

His　assurances　that　I　should　soon　be　relieved　from　the
Apparition's　visits　produced　a　good　effect　upon　my　constitution。　
Theodore；　whom　I　rather　treated　as　an　adopted　Child　than　a
Domestic；　was　surprized　at　his　return　to　observe　the　amendment　in
my　looks。　　He　congratulated　me　on　this　symptom　of　returning
health；　and　declared　himself　delighted　at　my　having　received　so
much　benefit　from　my　conference　with　the　Great　Mogul。　　Upon
enquiry　I　found　that　the　Stranger　had　already　past　eight　days　in
Ratisbon：　　According　to　his　own　account；　therefore；　He　was　only
to　remain　there　six　days　longer。　　Saturday　was　still　at　the
distance　of　Three。　　Oh！　with　what　impatience　did　I　expect　its
arrival！　　In　the　interim；　the　Bleeding　Nun　continued　her
nocturnal　visits；　But　hoping　soon　to　be　released　from　them
altogether；　the　effects　which　they　produced　on　me　became　less
violent　than　before。

The　wished…for　night　arrived。　　To　avoid　creating　suspicion　I
retired　to　bed　at　my　usual　hour：　　But　as　soon　as　my　Attendants
had　left　me；　I　dressed　myself　again；　and　prepared　for　the
Stranger's　reception。　　He　entered　my　room　upon　the　turn　of
midnight。　　A　small　Chest　was　in　his　hand；　which　He　placed　near
the　Stove。　　He　saluted　me　without　speaking；　I　returned　the
compliment；　observing　an　equal　silence。　　He　then　opened　his
Chest。　　The　first　thing　which　He　produced　was　a　small　wooden
Crucifix：　He　sank　upon　his　knees；　gazed　upon　it　mournfully；　and
cast　his　eyes　towards　heaven。　　He　seemed　to　be　praying　devoutly。　
At　length　He　bowed　his　head　respectfully；　kissed　the　Crucifix
thrice；　and　quitted　his　kneeling　posture。　　He　next　drew　from　the
Chest　a　covered　Goblet：　With　the　liquor　which　it　contained；　and
which　appeared　to　be　blood；　He　sprinkled　the　floor；　and　then
dipping　in　it　one　end　of　the　Crucifix；　He　described　a　circle　in
the　middle　of　the　room。　　Round　about　this　He　placed　various
reliques；　sculls；　thigh…bones　&c；　I　observed；　that　He　disposed
them　all　in　the　forms　of　Crosses。　　Lastly　He　took　out　a　large
Bible；　and　beckoned　me　to　follow　him　into　the　Circle。　　I　obeyed。

'Be　cautious　not　to　utter　a　syllable！'　whispered　the　Stranger；
'Step　not　out　of　the　circle；　and　as　you　love　yourself；　dare　not
to　look　upon　my　face！'

Holding　the　Crucifix　in　one　hand；　the　Bible　in　the　other；　He
seemed　to　read　with　profound　attention。　　The　Clock　struck　'One'！　
As　usual　I　heard　the　Spectre's　steps　upon　the　Staircase：　　But　I
was　not　seized　with　the　accustomed　shivering。　　I　waited　her
approach　with　confidence。　　She　entered　the　room；　drew　near　the
Circle；　and　stopped。　　The　Stranger　muttered　some　words；　to　me
unintelligible。　　Then　raising　his　head　from　the　Book；　and
extending　the　Crucifix　towards　the　Ghost；　He　pronounced　in　a
voice　distinct　and　solemn；

'Beatrice！　　Beatrice！　　Beatrice！'

'What　wouldst　Thou？'　replied　the　Apparition　in　a　hollow　faltering
tone。

'What　disturbs　thy　sleep？　　Why　dost　thou　afflict　and　torture　this
Youth？　　How　can　rest　be　restored　to　thy　unquiet　Spirit？'

'I　dare　not　tell！I　must　not　tell！Fain　would　I　repose　in　my
Grave；　but　stern　commands　force　me　to　prolong　my　punishment！'

'Knowest　Thou　thi