the monk(僧侣)-第39部分

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Stranger。　　The　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas　is　totally　unknown　to　me：

He　will　marry；　His　Lady　may　look　upon　Antonia　with　an　eye　of
displeasure；　and　deprive　her　of　her　only　Friend。　　Should　the
Duke；　your　Uncle；　give　his　consent；　you　need　not　doubt　obtaining
mine；　and　my　Daughter's：　　But　without　his；　hope　not　for　ours。　　At
all　events；　what　ever　steps　you　may　take；　what　ever　may　be　the
Duke's　decision；　till　you　know　it　let　me　beg　your　forbearing　to
strengthen　by　your　presence　Antonia's　prepossession。　　If　the
sanction　of　your　Relations　authorises　your　addressing　her　as　your
Wife；　my　Doors　fly　open　to　you：　　If　that　sanction　is　refused；　be
satisfied　to　possess　my　esteem　and　gratitude；　but　remember；　that
we　must　meet　no　more。'

Lorenzo　promised　reluctantly　to　conform　to　this　decree：　　But　He
added　that　He　hoped　soon　to　obtain　that　consent　which　would　give
him　a　claim　to　the　renewal　of　their　acquaintance。　　He　then
explained　to　her　why　the　Marquis　had　not　called　in　person；　and
made　no　scruple　of　confiding　to　her　his　Sister's　History。　　He
concluded　by　saying　that　He　hoped　to　set　Agnes　at　liberty　the
next　day；　and　that　as　soon　as　Don　Raymond's　fears　were　quieted
upon　this　subject；　He　would　lose　no　time　in　assuring　Donna　Elvira
of　his　friendship　and　protection。

The　Lady　shook　her　head。

'I　tremble　for　your　Sister；'　said　She；　'I　have　heard　many　traits
of　the　Domina　of　St。　Clare's　character；　from　a　Friend　who　was
educated　in　the　same　Convent　with　her。　　She　reported　her　to　be
haughty；　inflexible；　superstitious；　and　revengeful。　　I　have　since
heard　that　She　is　infatuated　with　the　idea　of　rendering　her
Convent　the　most　regular　in　Madrid；　and　never　forgave　those　whose
imprudence　threw　upon　it　the　slightest　stain。　　Though　naturally
violent　and　severe；　when　her　interests　require　it；　She　well　knows
how　to　assume　an　appearance　of　benignity。　　She　leaves　no　means
untried　to　persuade　young　Women　of　rank　to　become　Members　of　her
Community：　　She　is　implacable　when　once　incensed；　and　has　too
much　intrepidity　to　shrink　at　taking　the　most　rigorous　measures
for　punishing　the　Offender。　　Doubtless；　She　will　consider　your
Sister's　quitting　the　Convent　as　a　disgrace　thrown　upon　it：　　She
will　use　every　artifice　to　avoid　obeying　the　mandate　of　his
Holiness；　and　I　shudder　to　think　that　Donna　Agnes　is　in　the
hands　of　this　dangerous　Woman。'

Lorenzo　now　rose　to　take　leave。　　Elvira　gave　him　her　hand　at
parting；　which　He　kissed　respectfully；　and　telling　her　that　He
soon　hoped　for　the　permission　to　salute　that　of　Antonia；　He
returned　to　his　Hotel。　　The　Lady　was　perfectly　satisfied　with　the
conversation　which　had　past　between　them。　　She　looked　forward
with　satisfaction　to　the　prospect　of　his　becoming　her　Son…in…
law；　But　Prudence　bad　her　conceal　from　her　Daughter's　knowledge
the　flattering　hopes　which　Herself　now　ventured　to　entertain。

Scarcely　was　it　day；　and　already　Lorenzo　was　at　the　Convent　of
St。　Clare；　furnished　with　the　necessary　mandate。　　The　Nuns　were
at　Matins。　　He　waited　impatiently　for　the　conclusion　of　the
service；　and　at　length　the　Prioress　appeared　at　the　Parlour
Grate。　　Agnes　was　demanded。　　The　old　Lady　replied；　with　a
melancholy　air；　that　the　dear　Child's　situation　grew　hourly　more
dangerous；　That　the　Physicians　despaired　of　her　life；　But　that
they　had　declared　the　only　chance　for　her　recovery　to　consist　in
keeping　her　quiet；　and　not　to　permit　those　to　approach　her　whose
presence　was　likely　to　agitate　her。　　Not　a　word　of　all　this　was
believed　by　Lorenzo；　any　more　than　He　credited　the　expressions　of
grief　and　affection　for　Agnes；　with　which　this　account　was
interlarded。　　To　end　the　business；　He　put　the　Pope's　Bull　into
the　hands　of　the　Domina；　and　insisted　that；　ill　or　in　health；　his
Sister　should　be　delivered　to　him　without　delay。

The　Prioress　received　the　paper　with　an　air　of　humility：　But　no
sooner　had　her　eye　glanced　over　the　contents；　than　her　resentment
baffled　all　the　efforts　of　Hypocrisy。　　A　deep　crimson　spread
itself　over　her　face；　and　She　darted　upon　Lorenzo　looks　of　rage
and　menace。

'This　order　is　positive；'　said　She　in　a　voice　of　anger；　which　She
in　vain　strove　to　disguise；　'Willingly　would　I　obey　it；　But
unfortunately　it　is　out　of　my　power。'

Lorenzo　interrupted　her　by　an　exclamation　of　surprize。

'I　repeat　it；　Segnor；　to　obey　this　order　is　totally　out　of　my
power。　　From　tenderness　to　a　Brother's　feelings；　I　would　have
communicated　the　sad　event　to　you　by　degrees；　and　have　prepared
you　to　hear　it　with　fortitude。　　My　measures　are　broken　through：　
This　order　commands　me　to　deliver　up　to　you　the　Sister　Agnes
without　delay；　I　am　therefore　obliged　to　inform　you　without
circumlocution；　that　on　Friday　last；　She　expired。'

Lorenzo　started　back　with　horror；　and　turned　pale。　　A　moment's
recollection　convinced　him　that　this　assertion　must　be　false；
and　it　restored　him　to　himself。

'You　deceive　me！'　said　He　passionately；　'But　five　minutes　past
since　you　assured　me　that　though　ill　She　was　still　alive。　
Produce　her　this　instant！　　See　her　I　must　and　will；　and　every
attempt　to　keep　her　from　me　will　be　unavailing。'

'You　forget　yourself；　Segnor；　You　owe　respect　to　my　age　as　well
as　my　profession。　　Your　Sister　is　no　more。　　If　I　at　first
concealed　her　death；　it　was　from　dreading　lest　an　event　so
unexpected　should　produce　on　you　too　violent　an　effect。　　In
truth；　I　am　but　ill　repaid　for　my　attention。　　And　what　interest；
I　pray　you；　should　I　have　in　detaining　her？　　To　know　her　wish　of
quitting　our　society　is　a　sufficient　reason　for　me　to　wish　her
absence；　and　think　her　a　disgrace　to　the　Sisterhood　of　St。
Clare：　But　She　has　forfeited　my　affection　in　a　manner　yet　more
culpable。　　Her　crimes　were　great；　and　when　you　know　the　cause　of
her　death；　you　will　doubtless　rejoice；　Don　Lorenzo；　that　such　a
Wretch　is　no　longer　in　existence。　　She　was　taken　ill　on　Thursday
last　on　returning　from　confession　in　the　Capuchin　Chapel。　　Her
malady　seemed　attended　with　strange　circumstances；　But　She
persisted　in　concealing　its　cause：　　Thanks　to　the　Virgin；　we　were
too　ignorant　to　suspect　it！　　Judge　then　what　must　have　been　our
consternation；　our　horror；　when　She　was　delivered　the　next　day　of
a　stillborn　Child；　whom　She　immediately　followed　to　the　Grave。　
How；　Segnor？　　Is　it　possible　that　your　countenance　expresses　no
surprize；　no　indignation？　　Is　it　possible　that　your　Sister's
infamy　was　known　to　you；　and　that　still　She　possessed　your
affection？　　In　that　case；　you　have　no　need　of　my　compassion。　　I
can　say　nothing　more；　except　repeat　my　inability　of　obeying　the
orders　of　his　Holiness。　　Agnes　is　no　more；　and　to　convince　you
that　what　I　say　is　true；　I　swear　by　our　blessed　Saviour；　that
three　days　have　past　since　She　was　buried。'

Here　She　kissed　a　small　crucifix　which　hung　at　her　girdle。　　She
then　rose　from　her　chair；　and　quitted　the　Parlour。　　As　She
withdrew；　She　cast　upon　Lorenzo　a　scornful　smile。

'Farewell；　Segnor；'　said　She；　'I　know　no　remedy　for　this
accident：　　I　fear　that　even　a　second　Bull　from　the　Pope　will　not
procure　your　Sister's　resurrection。'

Lorenzo　also　retired；　penetrated　with　affliction：　　But　Don
Raymond's　at　the　news　of　this　event　amounted　to　Madness。　　He
would　not　be　convinced　that　Agnes　was　really　dead；　and　continued
to　insist　that　the　Walls　of　St。　Clare　still　confined　her。　　No
arguments　could　make　him　abandon　his　hopes　of　regaining　her：　
Every　day　some　fresh　scheme　was　invented　for　procuring
intelligence　of　her；　and　all　of　them　were　attended　with　the　same
success。

On　his　part；　Medina　gave　up　the　idea　of　ever　seeing　his　Sister
more：　　Yet　He　believed　that　She　had　been　taken　off　by　unfair
means。　　Under　this　persuasion；　He　encouraged　Don　Raymond's
researches；　determined；　should　He　discover　the　least　warrant　for
his　suspicions；　to　take　a　severe　vengeance　upon　the　unfeeling
Prioress。　　The　loss　of　his　Sister　affected　him　sincerely；　Nor　was
it　the　least　cause　of　his　distress　that　propriety　obliged　him
for　some　time　to　defer　mentioning　Antonia　to　the　Duke。　　In　the
meanwhile　his　emissaries　constantly　surrounded　Elvira's　Door。　
He　had　intelligence　of　all　the　movements　of　his　Mistress：　　As　She
never　failed　every　Thursday　to　attend　the　Sermon　in　the　Capuchin
Cathedral；　He　was　secure　of　seeing　her　once　a　week；　though　in
compliance　with　his　promise；　He　carefully　shunned　her
observation。　　Thus　two　long　Months　passed　away。　　Still　no
information　was　procured　of　Agnes：　　All　but　the　Marquis　credited
her　death；　and　now　Lorenzo　determined　to　disclose　his　sentiments
to　his　Uncle。　　He　had　already　dropt　some　hints　of　his　intention
to　marry；　They　had　been　as　favourably　received　as　He　could
expect；　and　He　harboured　no　doubt　of　the　success　of　his
application。　


CHAPTER　III

　While　in　each　other's　arms　entranced　They　lay；　　
They　blessed　the　night；　and　curst　the　coming　day。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Lee。　

The　burst　of　transport　was　past：　　Ambrosio's　lust　was　satisfied；
Pleasure　fled；　and　Shame　usurped　her　seat　in　his　bosom。　　Confused
and　terrified　at　his　weakness；　He　drew　himself　from　Matilda's
arms。　　His　perjury　presented　itself　before　him：　　He　reflected　on
the　scene　which　had　just　been　acted；　and　trembled　at　the
consequences　of　a　discovery。　　He　looked　forward　with　horror；　His
heart　was　despondent；　and　became　the　abode　of　satiety　and
disgust。　　He　avoided　the　eyes　of　his　Partner　in　frailty；　A
melancholy　silence　prevailed；　during　which　Both　seemed　busied
with　disagreable　reflections。

Matilda　was　the　first　to　break　it。　　She　took　his　hand　gently；　and
pressed　it　to　her　burning　lips。

'Ambrosio！'　　She　murmured　in　a　soft　and　trembling　voice。

The　Abbot　started　at　the　sound。　　He　turned　his　eyes　upon
Matilda's：　　They　were　filled　with　tears；　Her　cheeks　were　covered
with　blushes；　and　her　supplicating　looks　seemed　to　solicit　his
compassion。

'Dangerous　Woman！'　said　He；　'Into　what　an　abyss　of　misery　have
you　plunged　me！　　Should　your　sex　be　discovered；　my　honour；　nay　my
life；　must　pay　for　the　pleasure　of　a　few　moments。　　Fool　that　I
was；　to　trust　myself　to　your　seductions！　　What　can　now　be　done？　
How　can　my　offence　be　expiated？　　What　atonement　can　purchase　the
pardon　of　my　crime？　　Wretched　Matilda