the monk(僧侣)-第60部分

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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　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　beto