the monk(僧侣)-第19章

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above。'

Jacques　obeyed；　and　followed　his　Brother。　　They　seemed　to
converse　with　the　New…Comers　for　a　few　minutes：　　After　which　I
heard　the　Robbers　dismount；　and　as　I　conjectured；　bend　their
course　towards　the　Barn。

'So！　That　is　wisely　done！'　muttered　Baptiste；　'They　have　quitted
their　Horses；　that　They　may　fall　upon　the　Strangers　by　surprise。　
Good！　Good！　and　now　to　business。'

I　heard　him　approach　a　small　Cupboard　which　was　fixed　up　in　a
distant　part　of　the　room；　and　unlock　it。　　At　this　moment　I　felt
myself　shaken　gently。

'Now！　Now！'　whispered　Marguerite。

I　opened　my　eyes。　　Baptiste　stood　with　his　back　towards　me。　　No
one　else　was　in　the　room　save　Marguerite　and　the　sleeping　Lady。　
The　Villain　had　taken　a　dagger　from　the　Cupboard　and　seemed
examining　whether　it　was　sufficiently　sharp。　　I　had　neglected　to
furnish　myself　with　arms；　But　I　perceived　this　to　be　my　only
chance　of　escaping；　and　resolved　not　to　lose　the　opportunity。　　I
sprang　from　my　seat；　darted　suddenly　upon　Baptiste；　and　clasping
my　hands　round　his　throat；　pressed　it　so　forcibly　as　to　prevent
his　uttering　a　single　cry。　　You　may　remember　that　I　was
remarkable　at　Salamanca　for　the　power　of　my　arm：　　It　now　rendered
me　an　essential　service。　　Surprised；　terrified；　and　breathless；
the　Villain　was　by　no　means　an　equal　Antagonist。　　I　threw　him
upon　the　ground；　I　grasped　him　still　tighter；　and　while　I　fixed
him　without　motion　upon　the　floor；　Marguerite；　wresting　the
dagger　from　his　hand；　plunged　it　repeatedly　in　his　heart　till　He
expired。

No　sooner　was　this　horrible　but　necessary　act　perpetrated　than
Marguerite　called　on　me　to　follow　her。

'Flight　is　our　only　refuge！'　said　She；　'Quick！　Quick！　Away！'

I　hesitated　not　to　obey　her：　but　unwilling　to　leave　the　Baroness
a　victim　to　the　vengeance　of　the　Robbers；　I　raised　her　in　my　arms
still　sleeping；　and　hastened　after　Marguerite。　　The　Horses　of　the
Banditti　were　fastened　near　the　door：　　My　Conductress　sprang　upon
one　of　them。　　I　followed　her　example；　placed　the　Baroness　before
me；　and　spurred　on　my　Horse。　　Our　only　hope　was　to　reach
Strasbourg；　which　was　much　nearer　than　the　perfidious　Claude　had
assured　me。　　Marguerite　was　well　acquainted　with　the　road；　and
galloped　on　before　me。　　We　were　obliged　to　pass　by　the　Barn；
where　the　Robbers　were　slaughtering　our　Domestics。　　The　door　was
open：　　We　distinguished　the　shrieks　of　the　dying　and　imprecations
of　the　Murderers！　　What　I　felt　at　that　moment　language　is　unable
to　describe！

Jacques　heard　the　trampling　of　our　Horses　as　we　rushed　by　the
Barn。　　He　flew　to　the　Door　with　a　burning　Torch　in　his　hand；　and
easily　recognised　the　Fugitives。

'Betrayed！　Betrayed！'　He　shouted　to　his　Companions。

Instantly　they　left　their　bloody　work；　and　hastened　to　regain
their　Horses。　　We　heard　no　more。　　I　buried　my　spurs　in　the　sides
of　my　Courser；　and　Marguerite　goaded　on　hers　with　the　poignard；
which　had　already　rendered　us　such　good　service。　　We　flew　like
lightning；　and　gained　the　open　plains。　　Already　was　Strasbourg's
Steeple　in　sight；　when　we　heard　the　Robbers　pursuing　us。　
Marguerite　looked　back；　and　distinguished　our　followers
descending　a　small　Hill　at　no　great　distance。　　It　was　in　vain
that　we　urged　on　our　Horses；　The　noise　approached　nearer　with
every　moment。

'We　are　lost！'　She　exclaimed；　'The　Villains　gain　upon　us！'

'On！　On！'　replied　I；　'I　hear　the　trampling　of　Horses　coming　from
the　Town。'

We　redoubled　our　exertions；　and　were　soon　aware　of　a　numerous
band　of　Cavaliers；　who　came　towards　us　at　full　speed。　　They　were
on　the　point　of　passing　us。

'Stay！　　Stay！'　shrieked　Marguerite；　'Save　us！　　For　God's　sake；
save　us！'

The　Foremost；　who　seemed　to　act　as　Guide；　immediately　reined　in
his　Steed。

'　'Tis　She！　'Tis　She！'　exclaimed　He；　springing　upon　the　ground；
'Stop；　my　Lord；　stop！　They　are　safe！　'Tis　my　Mother！'

At　the　same　moment　Marguerite　threw　herself　from　her　Horse；
clasped　him　in　her　arms；　and　covered　him　with　Kisses。　　The　other
Cavaliers　stopped　at　the　exclamation。

'The　Baroness　Lindenberg？'　cried　another　of　the　Strangers
eagerly；　'Where　is　She？　　Is　She　not　with　you？'

He　stopped　on　beholding　her　lying　senseless　in　my　arms。　　Hastily
He　caught　her　from　me。　　The　profound　sleep　in　which　She　was
plunged　made　him　at　first　tremble　for　her　life；　but　the　beating
of　her　heart　soon　reassured　him。

'God　be　thanked！'　said　He；　'She　has　escaped　unhurt。'

I　interrupted　his　joy　by　pointing　out　the　Brigands；　who　continued
to　approach。　　No　sooner　had　I　mentioned　them　than　the　greatest
part　of　the　Company；　which　appeared　to　be　chiefly　composed　of
soldiers；　hastened　forward　to　meet　them。　　The　Villains　stayed　not
to　receive　their　attack：　　Perceiving　their　danger　they　turned　the
heads　of　their　Horses；　and　fled　into　the　wood；　whither　they　were
followed　by　our　Preservers。　　In　the　mean　while　the　Stranger；　whom
I　guessed　to　be　the　Baron　Lindenberg；　after　thanking　me　for　my
care　of　his　Lady；　proposed　our　returning　with　all　speed　to　the
Town。　　The　Baroness；　on　whom　the　effects　of　the　opiate　had　not
ceased　to　operate；　was　placed　before　him；　Marguerite　and　her　Son
remounted　their　Horses；　the　Baron's　Domestics　followed；　and　we
soon　arrived　at　the　Inn；　where　He　had　taken　his　apartments。

This　was　at　the　Austrian　Eagle；　where　my　Banker；　whom　before　my
quitting　Paris　I　had　apprised　of　my　intention　to　visit
Strasbourg；　had　prepared　Lodgings　for　me。　　I　rejoiced　at　this
circumstance。　　It　gave　me　an　opportunity　of　cultivating　the
Baron's　acquaintance；　which　I　foresaw　would　be　of　use　to　me　in
Germany。　　Immediately　upon　our　arrival　the　Lady　was　conveyed　to
bed；　A　Physician　was　sent　for；　who　prescribed　a　medicine　likely
to　counteract　the　effects　of　the　sleepy　potion；　and　after　it　had
been　poured　down　her　throat；　She　was　committed　to　the　care　of　the
Hostess。　　The　Baron　then　addressed　himself　to　me；　and　entreated
me　to　recount　the　particulars　of　this　adventure。　　I　complied　with
his　request　instantaneously；　for　in　pain　respecting　Stephano's
fate；　whom　I　had　been　compelled　to　abandon　to　the　cruelty　of　the
Banditti；　I　found　it　impossible　for　me　to　repose；　till　I　had　some
news　of　him。　　I　received　but　too　soon　the　intelligence；　that　my
trusty　Servant　had　perished。　　The　Soldiers　who　had　pursued　the
Brigands　returned　while　I　was　employed　in　relating　my　adventure
to　the　Baron。　By　their　account　I　found　that　the　Robbers　had　been
overtaken：　　Guilt　and　true　courage　are　incompatible；　They　had
thrown　themselves　at　the　feet　of　their　Pursuers；　had　surrendered
themselves　without　striking　a　blow；　had　discovered　their　secret
retreat；　made　known　their　signals　by　which　the　rest　of　the　Gang
might　be　seized；　and　in　short　had　betrayed　ever　mark　of　cowardice
and　baseness。　　By　this　means　the　whole　of　the　Band；　consisting　of
near　sixty　persons；　had　been　made　Prisoners；　bound；　and　conducted
to　Strasbourg。　　Some　of　the　Soldiers　hastened　to　the　Cottage；　One
of　the　Banditti　serving　them　as　Guide。　　Their　first　visit　was　to
the　fatal　Barn；　where　they　were　fortunate　enough　to　find　two　of
the　Baron's　Servants　still　alive；　though　desperately　wounded。　
The　rest　had　expired　beneath　the　swords　of　the　Robbers；　and　of
these　my　unhappy　Stephano　was　one。

Alarmed　at　our　escape；　the　Robbers　in　their　haste　to　overtake
us；　had　neglected　to　visit　the　Cottage。　　In　consequence；　the
Soldiers　found　the　two　Waiting…women　unhurt；　and　buried　in　the
same　death…like　slumber　which　had　overpowered　their　Mistress。　
There　was　nobody　else　found　in　the　Cottage；　except　a　child　not
above　four　years　old；　which　the　Soldiers　brought　away　with　them。
We　were　busying　ourselves　with　conjectures　respecting　the　birth
of　this　little　unfortunate；　when　Marguerite　rushed　into　the　room
with　the　Baby　in　her　arms。　　She　fell　at　the　feet　of　the　Officer
who　was　making　us　this　report；　and　blessed　him　a　thousand　times
for　the　preservation　of　her　Child。

When　the　first　burst　of　maternal　tenderness　was　over；　I　besought
her　to　declare；　by　what　means　She　had　been　united　to　a　Man　whose
principles　seemed　so　totally　discordant　with　her　own。　　She　bent
her　eyes　downwards；　and　wiped　a　few　tears　from　her　cheek。

'Gentlemen；'　said　She　after　a　silence　of　some　minutes；　'I　would
request　a　favour　of　you：　　You　have　a　right　to　know　on　whom　you
confer　an　obligation。　　I　will　not　therefore　stifle　a　confession
which　covers　me　with　shame；　But　permit　me　to　comprise　it　in　as
few　words　as　possible。

'I　was　born　in　Strasbourg　of　respectable　Parents；　Their　names　I
must　at　present　conceal：　　My　Father　still　lives；　and　deserves　not
to　be　involved　in　my　infamy；　If　you　grant　my　request；　you　shall
be　informed　of　my　family　name。　　A　Villain　made　himself　Master　of
my　affections；　and　to　follow　him　I　quitted　my　Father's　House。　
Yet　though　my　passions　overpowered　my　virtue；　I　sank　not　into
that　degeneracy　of　vice；　but　too　commonly　the　lot　of　Women　who
make　the　first　false　step。　　I　loved　my　Seducer；　dearly　loved　him！
I　was　true　to　his　Bed；　this　Baby；　and　the　Youth　who　warned　you；
my　Lord　Baron；　of　your　Lady's　danger；　are　the　pledges　of　our
affection。　　Even　at　this　moment　I　lament　his　loss；　though　'tis　to
him　that　I　owe　all　the　miseries　of　my　existence。

'He　was　of　noble　birth；　but　He　had　squandered　away　his　paternal
inheritance。　　His　Relations　considered　him　as　a　disgrace　to　their
name；　and　utterly　discarded　him。　　His　excesses　drew　upon　him　the
indignation　of　the　Police。　　He　was　obliged　to　fly　from
Strasbourg；　and　saw　no　other　resource　from　beggary　than　an　union
with　the　Banditti　who　infested　the　neighbouring　Forest；　and
whose　Troop　was　chiefly　composed　of　Young　Men　of　family　in　the
same　predicament　with　himself。　　I　was　determined　not　to　forsake
him。　　I　followed　him　to　the　Cavern　of　the　Brigands；　and　shared
with　him　the　misery　inseparable　from　a　life　of　pillage。　　But
though　I　was　aware　that　our　existence　was　supported　by　plunder；　I
knew　not　all　the　horrible　circumstances　attached　to　my　Lover's
profession。　　These　He　concealed　from　me　with　the　utmost　care；　He
was　conscious　that　my　sentiments　were　not　sufficiently　depraved
to　look　without　horror　upon　assassination：　　He　supposed；　and　with
justice；　that　I　should　fly　with　detestation　from　the　embraces　of
a　Murderer。　　Eight　years　of　possession　had　not　abated　his　love
for　me；　and　He　cautiously　removed　from　my　knowledge　every
circumstance；　which　might　lead　me　to　suspect　the　crimes　in　which
He　but　too　often　participated。　He　succeeded　perfectly：　　It　was
not　till　after　my　Seducer's　death；　that　I　discovered　his　hands　to
have　been　stained　with　the　blood　of　innocence。

'One　fatal　night　He　was　brought　back　to　the　Cavern　covered　with
wounds：　　He　received　them　in　attacking　an　English　Traveller；　whom
his　Companions　immediately　sacrificed　to　their　resentment。　　He
had　only　time　to　entreat　my　pardon　for　all　the　sorrows　which　He
had　caused　me：　　He　pressed　my　hand　to　his　lips；　and　expired。　　My
grief　was　inexpressible。　　As　soon　as　its　violence　abated；　I
resolved　to　return　to　Strasbourg；　to　throw　myself　with　my　two
Children　at　my　Father's　feet；　and　implore　his　forgiveness；　though
I　little　hoped　to　obtain　it。　　What　was　my　consternation　when
informed　that　no　one　entrusted　with　the　secret　of　their　retreat
was　ever　permitted　to　quit