the monk(僧侣)-第15章

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my　suspicions　that　her　being　kept　from　me　was　against　her　own
inclinations。　To　free　herself　from　the　imputation　of　violence；
the　Prioress　brought　me　a　few　lines　written　in　my　Sister's
well…known　hand；　repeating　the　message　already　delivered。　　All
future　attempts　to　obtain　a　moment's　conversation　with　her　were
as　fruitless　as　the　first。　　She　was　inflexible；　and　I　was　not
permitted　to　see　her　till　the　day　preceding　that　on　which　She
entered　the　Cloister　never　to　quit　it　more。　　This　interview　took
place　in　the　presence　of　our　principal　Relations。　　It　was　for　the
first　time　since　her　childhood　that　I　saw　her；　and　the　scene　was
most　affecting。　　She　threw　herself　upon　my　bosom；　kissed　me；　and
wept　bitterly。　　By　every　possible　argument；　by　tears；　by　prayers；
by　kneeling；　I　strove　to　make　her　abandon　her　intention。　　I
represented　to　her　all　the　hardships　of　a　religious　life；　I
painted　to　her　imagination　all　the　pleasures　which　She　was　going
to　quit；　and　besought　her　to　disclose　to　me；　what　occasioned　her
disgust　to　the　world。　　At　this　last　question　She　turned　pale；　and
her　tears　flowed　yet　faster。　　She　entreated　me　not　to　press　her
on　that　subject；　That　it　sufficed　me　to　know　that　her　resolution
was　taken；　and　that　a　Convent　was　the　only　place　where　She　could
now　hope　for　tranquillity。　　She　persevered　in　her　design；　and
made　her　profession。　　I　visited　her　frequently　at　the　Grate；　and
every　moment　that　I　passed　with　her；　made　me　feel　more　affliction
at　her　loss。　　I　was　shortly　after　obliged　to　quit　Madrid；　I
returned　but　yesterday　evening；　and　since　then　have　not　had　time
to　call　at　St。　Clare's　Convent。'

'Then　till　I　mentioned　it；　you　never　heard　the　name　of　Alphonso
d'Alvarada？'

'Pardon　me：　my　Aunt　wrote　me　word　that　an　Adventurer　so　called
had　found　means　to　get　introduced　into　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg；
That　He　had　insinuated　himself　into　my　Sister's　good　graces；　and
that　She　had　even　consented　to　elope　with　him。　　However；　before
the　plan　could　be　executed；　the　Cavalier　discovered　that　the
estates　which　He　believed　Agnes　to　possess　in　Hispaniola；　in
reality　belonged　to　me。　　This　intelligence　made　him　change　his
intention；　He　disappeared　on　the　day　that　the　elopement　was　to
have　taken　place；　and　Agnes；　in　despair　at　his　perfidy　and
meanness；　had　resolved　upon　seclusion　in　a　Convent。　　She　added；
that　as　this　adventurer　had　given　himself　out　to　be　a　Friend　of
mine；　She　wished　to　know　whether　I　had　any　knowledge　of　him。　　I
replied　in　the　negative。　　I　had　then　very　little　idea；　that
Alphonso　d'Alvarada　and　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas　were　one　and
the　same　person：　　The　description　given　me　of　the　first　by　no
means　tallied　with　what　I　knew　of　the　latter。'

'In　this　I　easily　recognize　Donna　Rodolpha's　perfidious
character。　　Every　word　of　this　account　is　stamped　with　marks　of
her　malice；　of　her　falsehood；　of　her　talents　for　misrepresenting
those　whom　She　wishes　to　injure。　　Forgive　me；　Medina；　for
speaking　so　freely　of　your　Relation。　　The　mischief　which　She　has
done　me　authorises　my　resentment；　and　when　you　have　heard　my
story；　you　will　be　convinced　that　my　expressions　have　not　been
too　severe。'

He　then　began　his　narrative　in　the　following　manner。

HISTORY　OF　DON　RAYMOND；　MARQUIS　DE　LAS　CISTERNAS

Long　experience；　my　dear　Lorenzo；　has　convinced　me　how　generous
is　your　nature：　　I　waited　not　for　your　declaration　of　ignorance
respecting　your　Sister's　adventures　to　suppose　that　they　had
been　purposely　concealed　from　you。　　Had　they　reached　your
knowledge；　from　what　misfortunes　should　both　Agnes　and　myself
have　escaped！　　Fate　had　ordained　it　otherwise！　　You　were　on　your
Travels　when　I　first　became　acquainted　with　your　Sister；　and　as
our　Enemies　took　care　to　conceal　from　her　your　direction；　it　was
impossible　for　her　to　implore　by　letter　your　protection　and
advice。

On　leaving　Salamanca；　at　which　University　as　I　have　since　heard；
you　remained　a　year　after　I　quitted　it；　I　immediately　set　out
upon　my　Travels。　　My　Father　supplied　me　liberally　with　money；　But
He　insisted　upon　my　concealing　my　rank；　and　presenting　myself　as
no　more　than　a　private　Gentleman。　　This　command　was　issued　by　the
counsels　of　his　Friend；　the　Duke　of　Villa　Hermosa；　a　Nobleman　for
whose　abilities　and　knowledge　of　the　world　I　have　ever
entertained　the　most　profound　veneration。

'Believe　me；'　said　He；　'my　dear　Raymond；　you　will　hereafter　feel
the　benefits　of　this　temporary　degradation。　　'Tis　true；　that　as
the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas　you　would　have　been　received　with　open
arms；　and　your　youthful　vanity　might　have　felt　gratified　by　the
attentions　showered　upon　you　from　all　sides。　　At　present；　much
will　depend　upon　yourself：　　You　have　excellent　recommendations；
but　it　must　be　your　own　business　to　make　them　of　use　to　you。　　You
must　lay　yourself　out　to　please；　You　must　labour　to　gain　the
approbation　of　those；　to　whom　you　are　presented：　　They　who　would
have　courted　the　friendship　of　the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas　will
have　no　interest　in　finding　out　the　merits；　or　bearing　patiently
with　the　faults；　of　Alphonso　d'Alvarada。　　Consequently；　when　you
find　yourself　really　liked；　you　may　safely　ascribe　it　to　your
good　qualities；　not　your　rank；　and　the　distinction　shown　you　will
be　infinitely　more　flattering。　　Besides；　your　exalted　birth　would
not　permit　your　mixing　with　the　lower　classes　of　society；　which
will　now　be　in　your　power；　and　from　which；　in　my　opinion；　you
will　derive　considerable　benefit。　　Do　not　confine　yourself　to　the
Illustrious　of　those　Countries　through　which　you　pass。　　Examine
the　manners　and　customs　of　the　multitude：　Enter　into　the
Cottages；　and　by　observing　how　the　Vassals　of　Foreigners　are
treated；　learn　to　diminish　the　burthens　and　augment　the　comforts
of　your　own。　　According　to　my　ideas；　of　those　advantages　which　a
Youth　destined　to　the　possession　of　power　and　wealth　may　reap
from　travel；　He　should　not　consider　as　the　least　essential；　the
opportunity　of　mixing　with　the　classes　below　him；　and　becoming　an
eyewitness　of　the　sufferings　of　the　People。'

Forgive　me；　Lorenzo；　if　I　seem　tedious　in　my　narration。　The　close
connexion　which　now　exists　between　us；　makes　me　anxious　that　you
should　know　every　particular　respecting　me；　and　in　my　fear　of
omitting　the　least　circumstance　which　may　induce　you　to　think
favourably　of　your　Sister　and　myself；　I　may　possibly　relate　many
which　you　may　think　uninteresting。

I　followed　the　Duke's　advice；　I　was　soon　convinced　of　its　wisdom。

I　quitted　Spain；　calling　myself　by　the　assumed　title　of　Don
Alphonso　d'Alvarada；　and　attended　by　a　single　Domestic　of
approved　fidelity。　　Paris　was　my　first　station。　　For　some　time　I
was　enchanted　with　it；　as　indeed　must　be　every　Man　who　is　young；
rich；　and　fond　of　pleasure。　　Yet　among　all　its　gaieties；　I　felt
that　something　was　wanting　to　my　heart。　　I　grew　sick　of
dissipation：　I　discovered；　that　the　People　among　whom　I　lived；
and　whose　exterior　was　so　polished　and　seducing；　were　at　bottom
frivolous；　unfeeling　and　insincere。　　I　turned　from　the
Inhabitants　of　Paris　with　disgust；　and　quitted　that　Theatre　of
Luxury　without　heaving　one　sigh　of　regret。

I　now　bent　my　course　towards　Germany；　intending　to　visit　most　of
the　principal　courts：　　Prior　to　this　expedition；　I　meant　to　make
some　little　stay　at　Strasbourg。　　On　quitting　my　Chaise　at
Luneville　to　take　some　refreshment；　I　observed　a　splendid
Equipage；　attended　by　four　Domestics　in　rich　liveries；　waiting　at
the　door　of　the　Silver　Lion。　　Soon　after　as　I　looked　out　of　the
window；　I　saw　a　Lady　of　noble　presence；　followed　by　two　female
Attendants；　step　into　the　Carriage；　which　drove　off　immediately。

I　enquired　of　the　Host；　who　the　Lady　was；　that　had　just　departed。

'A　German　Baroness；　Monsieur；　of　great　rank　and　fortune。　　She　has
been　upon　a　visit　to　the　Duchess　of　Longueville；　as　her　Servants
informed　me；　She　is　going　to　Strasbourg；　where　She　will　find　her
Husband；　and　then　both　return　to　their　Castle　in　Germany。'

I　resumed　my　journey；　intending　to　reach　Strasbourg　that　night。　
My　hopes；　however　were　frustrated　by　the　breaking　down　of　my
Chaise。　　The　accident　happened　in　the　middle　of　a　thick　Forest；
and　I　was　not　a　little　embarrassed　as　to　the　means　of　proceeding。

It　was　the　depth　of　winter：　　The　night　was　already　closing　round
us；　and　Strasbourg；　which　was　the　nearest　Town；　was　still　distant
from　us　several　leagues。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　my　only
alternative　to　passing　the　night　in　the　Forest；　was　to　take　my
Servant's　Horse　and　ride　on　to　Strasbourg；　an　undertaking　at
that　season　very　far　from　agreeable。　　However；　seeing　no　other
resource；　I　was　obliged　to　make　up　my　mind　to　it。　　Accordingly　I
communicated　my　design　to　the　Postillion；　telling　him　that　I
would　send　People　to　assist　him　as　soon　as　I　reached　Strasbourg。　
I　had　not　much　confidence　in　his　honesty；　But　Stephano　being
well…armed；　and　the　Driver　to　all　appearance　considerably
advanced　in　years；　I　believed　I　ran　no　danger　of　losing　my
Baggage。

Luckily；　as　I　then　thought；　an　opportunity　presented　itself　of
passing　the　night　more　agreeably　than　I　expected。　　On　mentioning
my　design　of　proceeding　by　myself　to　Strasbourg；　the　Postillion
shook　his　head　in　disapprobation。

'It　is　a　long　way；'　said　He；　'You　will　find　it　a　difficult　matter
to　arrive　there　without　a　Guide。　　Besides；　Monsieur　seems
unaccustomed　to　the　season's　severity；　and　'tis　possible　that
unable　to　sustain　the　excessive　cold。　。　。　。'

'What　use　is　there　to　present　me　with　all　these　objections？'　said
I；　impatiently　interrupting　him；　'I　have　no　other　resource：　　I
run　still　greater　risque　of　perishing　with　cold　by　passing　the
night　in　the　Forest。'

'Passing　the　night　in　the　Forest？'　He　replied；　'Oh！　by　St。　Denis！
We　are　not　in　quite　so　bad　a　plight　as　that　comes　to　yet。　　If　I
am　not　mistaken；　we　are　scarcely　five　minutes　walk　from　the
Cottage　of　my　old　Friend；　Baptiste。　　He　is　a　Wood…cutter；　and　a
very　honest　Fellow。　I　doubt　not　but　He　will　shelter　you　for　the
night　with　pleasure。　　In　the　meantime　I　can　take　the
saddle…Horse；　ride　to　Strasbourg；　and　be　back　with　proper　people
to　mend　your　Carriage　by　break　of　day。'

'And　in　the　name　of　God；'　said　I；　'How　could　you　leave　me　so　long
in　suspense？　　Why　did　you　not　tell　me　of　this　Cottage　sooner？　
What　excessive　stupidity！'

'I　thought　that　perhaps　Monsieur　would　not　deign　to　accept。　。　。
。'

'Absurd！　Come；　come！　　Say　no　more；　but　conduct　us　without　delay
to　the　Wood…man's　Cottage。'

He　obeyed；　and　we　moved　onwards：　　The　Horses　contrived　with　some
difficulty　to　drag　the　shattered　vehicle　after　us。　　My　Servant
was　become　almost　speechless；　and　I　began　to　feel　the　effects　of
the　cold　myself；　before　we　reached　the　wished…for　Cottage。　　It
was　a　small　but　neat　Building：　　As　we　drew　near　it；　I　rejoiced　at
observing　through　the　window　the　blaze　of　a　comfortable　fire。　
Our　Conductor　knocked　at　the　door：　　It　was　some　time　before　any
one　answered；　The　People　within　seemed　in　doubt　whether　we　should
be　admitted。

'Come！　　Come；　Friend　Baptiste！'　cried　the　Driver　with　impatience；
'What　are　you　about？　　Are　you　asleep？　　Or　will　you　refuse　a
night's　lodging　to　a　Gentleman；　whose　Chaise　has　just　broken　down
in　the　Forest？'

'Ah！　is　it　you；