the monk(僧侣)-第24章

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for　though　no　more　a　Prisoner；　Cunegonda　watches　my　every　step。　
An　express　is　arrived　from　my　Father；　I　must　depart　immediately
for　Madrid；　and　'tis　with　difficulty　that　I　have　obtained　a
week's　delay。　　The　superstition　of　my　Parents；　supported　by　the
representations　of　my　cruel　Aunt；　leaves　me　no　hope　of　softening
them　to　compassion。　　In　this　dilemma　I　have　resolved　to　commit
myself　to　your　honour：　　God　grant　that　you　may　never　give　me
cause　to　repent　my　resolution！　　Flight　is　my　only　resource　from
the　horrors　of　a　Convent；　and　my　imprudence　must　be　excused　by
the　urgency　of　the　danger。　　Now　listen　to　the　plan　by　which　I
hope　to　effect　my　escape。

'We　are　now　at　the　thirtieth　of　April。　　On　the　fifth　day　from
this　the　Visionary　Nun　is　expected　to　appear。　　In　my　last　visit
to　the　Convent　I　provided　myself　with　a　dress　proper　for　the
character：　　A　Friend；　whom　I　have　left　there　and　to　whom　I　made
no　scruple　to　confide　my　secret；　readily　consented　to　supply　me
with　a　religious　habit。　　Provide　a　carriage；　and　be　with　it　at　a
little　distance　from　the　great　Gate　of　the　Castle。　　As　soon　as
the　Clock　strikes　'one；'　I　shall　quit　my　chamber；　drest　in　the
same　apparel　as　the　Ghost　is　supposed　to　wear。　　Whoever　meets　me
will　be　too　much　terrified　to　oppose　my　escape。　　I　shall　easily
reach　the　door；　and　throw　myself　under　your　protection。　　Thus　far
success　is　certain：　　But　Oh！　　Alphonso；　should　you　deceive　me！　
Should　you　despise　my　imprudence　and　reward　it　with　ingratitude；
the　World　will　not　hold　a　Being　more　wretched　than　myself！　　I
feel　all　the　dangers　to　which　I　shall　be　exposed。　　I　feel　that　I
am　giving　you　a　right　to　treat　me　with　levity：　　But　I　rely　upon
your　love；　upon　your　honour！　　The　step　which　I　am　on　the　point　of
taking；　will　incense　my　Relations　against　me：　　Should　you　desert
me；　should　you　betray　the　trust　reposed　in　you；　I　shall　have　no
friend　to　punish　your　insult；　or　support　my　cause。　　On　yourself
alone　rests　all　my　hope；　and　if　your　own　heart　does　not　plead　in
my　behalf；　I　am　undone　for　ever！'

The　tone　in　which　She　pronounced　these　words　was　so　touching；
that　in　spite　of　my　joy　at　receiving　her　promise　to　follow　me；　I
could　not　help　being　affected。　　I　also　repined　in　secret　at　not
having　taken　the　precaution　to　provide　a　Carriage　at　the　Village；
in　which　case　I　might　have　carried　off　Agnes　that　very　night。　
Such　an　attempt　was　now　impracticable：　　Neither　Carriage　or
Horses　were　to　be　procured　nearer　than　Munich；　which　was　distant
from　Lindenberg　two　good　days　journey。　　I　was　therefore　obliged
to　chime　in　with　her　plan；　which　in　truth　seemed　well　arranged：　
Her　disguise　would　secure　her　from　being　stopped　in　quitting　the
Castle；　and　would　enable　her　to　step　into　the　Carriage　at　the
very　Gate　without　difficulty　or　losing　time。

Agnes　reclined　her　head　mournfully　upon　my　shoulder；　and　by　the
light　of　the　Moon　I　saw　tears　flowing　down　her　cheek。　　I　strove
to　dissipate　her　melancholy；　and　encouraged　her　to　look　forward
to　the　prospect　of　happiness。　　I　protested　in　the　most　solemn
terms　that　her　virtue　and　innocence　would　be　safe　in　my　keeping；
and　that　till　the　church　had　made　her　my　lawful　Wife；　her　honour
should　be　held　by　me　as　sacred　as　a　Sister's。　　I　told　her　that
my　first　care　should　be　to　find　you　out；　Lorenzo；　and　reconcile
you　to　our　union；　and　I　was　continuing　to　speak　in　the　same
strain；　when　a　noise　without　alarmed　me。　　Suddenly　the　door　of
the　Pavilion　was　thrown　open；　and　Cunegonda　stood　before　us。　　She
had　heard　Agnes　steal　out　of　her　chamber；　followed　her　into　the
Garden；　and　perceived　her　entering　the　Pavilion。　　Favoured　by　the
Trees　which　shaded　it；　and　unperceived　by　Theodore　who　waited　at
a　little　distance；　She　had　approached　in　silence；　and　overheard
our　whole　conversation。

'Admirable！'　cried　Cunegonda　in　a　voice　shrill　with　passion；
while　Agnes　uttered　a　loud　shriek；　'By　St。　Barbara；　young　Lady；
you　have　an　excellent　invention！　　You　must　personate　the　Bleeding
Nun；　truly？　　What　impiety！　　What　incredulity！　　Marry；　I　have　a
good　mind　to　let　you　pursue　your　plan：　　When　the　real　Ghost　met
you；　I　warrant；　you　would　be　in　a　pretty　condition！　　Don
Alphonso；　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself　for　seducing　a
young　ignorant　Creature　to　leave　her　family　and　Friends：　
However；　for　this　time　at　least　I　shall　mar　your　wicked　designs。　
The　noble　Lady　shall　be　informed　of　the　whole　affair；　and　Agnes
must　defer　playing　the　Spectre　till　a　better　opportunity。　
Farewell；　Segnor　Donna　Agnes；　let　me　have　the　honour　of
conducting　your　Ghost…ship　back　to　your　apartment。'

She　approached　the　Sopha　on　which　her　trembling　Pupil　was　seated；
took　her　by　the　hand；　and　prepared　to　lead　her　from　the　Pavilion。

I　detained　her；　and　strove　by　entreaties；　soothing；　promises；　and
flattery　to　win　her　to　my　party：　　But　finding　all　that　I　could
say　of　no　avail；　I　abandoned　the　vain　attempt。

'Your　obstinacy　must　be　its　own　punishment；'　said　I；　'But　one
resource　remains　to　save　Agnes　and　myself；　and　I　shall　not
hesitate　to　employ　it。'

Terrified　at　this　menace；　She　again　endeavoured　to　quit　the
Pavilion；　But　I　seized　her　by　the　wrist；　and　detained　her
forcibly。　　At　the　same　moment　Theodore；　who　had　followed　her　into
the　room；　closed　the　door；　and　prevented　her　escape。　　I　took　the
veil　of　Agnes：　　I　threw　it　round　the　Duenna's　head；　who　uttered
such　piercing　shrieks　that　in　spite　of　our　distance　from　the
Castle；　I　dreaded　their　being　heard。　　At　length　I　succeeded　in
gagging　her　so　compleatly　that　She　could　not　produce　a　single
sound。　　Theodore　and　myself　with　some　difficulty　next　contrived
to　bind　her　hands　and　feet　with　our　handkerchiefs；　And　I　advised
Agnes　to　regain　her　chamber　with　all　diligence。　　I　promised　that
no　harm　should　happen　to　Cunegonda；　bad　her　remember　that　on　the
fifth　of　May　I　should　be　in　waiting　at　the　Great　Gate　of　the
Castle；　and　took　of　her　an　affectionate　farewell。　　Trembling　and
uneasy　She　had　scarce　power　enough　to　signify　her　consent　to　my
plans；　and　fled　back　to　her　apartment　in　disorder　and　confusion。

In　the　meanwhile　Theodore　assisted　me　in　carrying　off　my
antiquated　Prize。　　She　was　hoisted　over　the　wall；　placed　before
me　upon　my　Horse　like　a　Portmanteau；　and　I　galloped　away　with　her
from　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg。　　The　unlucky　Duenna　never　had　made
a　more　disagreeable　journey　in　her　life：　　She　was　jolted　and
shaken　till　She　was　become　little　more　than　an　animated　Mummy；
not　to　mention　her　fright　when　we　waded　through　a　small　River　
through　which　it　was　necessary　to　pass　in　order　to　regain　the
Village。　　Before　we　reached　the　Inn；　I　had　already　determined　how
to　dispose　of　the　troublesome　Cunegonda。　　We　entered　the　Street
in　which　the　Inn　stood；　and　while　the　page　knocked；　I　waited　at　a
little　distance。　　The　Landlord　opened　the　door　with　a　Lamp　in　his
hand。

'Give　me　the　light！'　said　Theodore；　'My　Master　is　coming。'

He　snatched　the　Lamp　hastily；　and　purposely　let　it　fall　upon　the
ground：　　The　Landlord　returned　to　the　Kitchen　to　re…light　the
Lamp；　leaving　the　door　open。　　I　profited　by　the　obscurity；　sprang
from　my　Horse　with　Cunegonda　in　my　arms；　darted　up　stairs；
reached　my　chamber　unperceived；　and　unlocking　the　door　of　a
spacious　Closet；　stowed　her　within　it；　and　then　turned　the　Key。　
The　Landlord　and　Theodore　soon　after　appeared　with　lights：　　The
Former　expressed　himself　a　little　surprised　at　my　returning　so
late；　but　asked　no　impertinent　questions。　　He　soon　quitted　the
room；　and　left　me　to　exult　in　the　success　of　my　undertaking。

I　immediately　paid　a　visit　to　my　Prisoner。　　I　strove　to　persuade
her　submitting　with　patience　to　her　temporary　confinement。　　My
attempt　was　unsuccessful。　　Unable　to　speak　or　move；　She　expressed
her　fury　by　her　looks；　and　except　at　meals　I　never　dared　to
unbind　her；　or　release　her　from　the　Gag。　　At　such　times　I　stood
over　her　with　a　drawn　sword；　and　protested；　that　if　She　uttered　a
single　cry；　I　would　plunge　it　in　her　bosom。　　As　soon　as　She　had
done　eating；　the　Gag　was　replaced。　　I　was　conscious　that　this
proceeding　was　cruel；　and　could　only　be　justified　by　the　urgency
of　circumstances：　　As　to　Theodore；　He　had　no　scruples　upon　the
subject。　　Cunegonda's　captivity　entertained　him　beyond　measure。　
During　his　abode　in　the　Castle；　a　continual　warfare　had　been
carried　on　between　him　and　the　Duenna；　and　now　that　He　found　his
Enemy　so　absolutely　in　his　power；　He　triumphed　without　mercy。　　He
seemed　to　think　of　nothing　but　how　to　find　out　new　means　of
plaguing　her：　　Sometimes　He　affected　to　pity　her　misfortune；　then
laughed　at；　abused；　and　mimicked　her；　He　played　her　a　thousand
tricks；　each　more　provoking　than　the　other；　and　amused　himself　by
telling　her　that　her　elopement　must　have　occasioned　much
surprise　at　the　Baron's。　　This　was　in　fact　the　case。　　No　one
except　Agnes　could　imagine　what　was　become　of　Dame　Cunegonda：　
Every　hole　and　corner　was　searched　for　her；　The　Ponds　were
dragged；　and　the　Woods　underwent　a　thorough　examination。　　Still
no　Dame　Cunegonda　made　her　appearance。　　Agnes　kept　the　secret；
and　I　kept　the　Duenna：　　The　Baroness；　therefore；　remained　in
total　ignorance　respecting　the　old　Woman's　fate；　but　suspected
her　to　have　perished　by　suicide。　　Thus　past　away　five　days；
during　which　I　had　prepared　every　thing　necessary　for　my
enterprise。　　On　quitting　Agnes；　I　had　made　it　my　first　business
to　dispatch　a　Peasant　with　a　letter　to　Lucas　at　Munich；　ordering
him　to　take　care　that　a　Coach　and　four　should　arrive　about　ten
o'clock　on　the　fifth　of　May　at　the　Village　of　Rosenwald。　　He
obeyed　my　instructions　punctually：　The　Equipage　arrived　at　the
time　appointed。　　As　the　period　of　her　Lady's　elopement　drew
nearer；　Cunegonda's　rage　increased。　　I　verily　believe　that　spight
and　passion　would　have　killed　her；　had　I　not　luckily　discovered
her　prepossession　in　favour　of　Cherry　Brandy。　With　this　favourite
liquor　She　was　plentifully　supplied；　and　Theodore　always
remaining　to　guard　her；　the　Gag　was　occasionally　removed。　　The
liquor　seemed　to　have　a　wonderful　effect　in　softening　the
acrimony　of　her　nature；　and　her　confinement　not　admitting　of　any
other　amusement；　She　got　drunk　regularly　once　a　day　just　by　way
of　passing　the　time。

The　fifth　of　May　arrived；　a　period　by　me　never　to　be　forgotten！　
Before　the　Clock　struck　twelve；　I　betook　myself　to　the　scene　of
action。　　Theodore　followed　me　on　horseback。　　I　concealed　the
Carriage　in　a　spacious　Cavern　of　the　Hill；　on　whose　brow　the
Castle　was　situated：　This　Cavern　was　of　considerable　depth；　and
among　the　peasants　was　known　by　the　name　of　Lindenberg　Hole。　　The
night　was　calm　and　beautiful：　　The　Moonbeams　fell　upon　the
antient　Towers　of　the　Castle；　and　shed　upon　their　summits　a
silver　light。　　All　was　still　around　me：　　Nothing　was　to　be　heard
except　the　night　breeze　sighing　among　the　leaves；　the　distant
barking　of　Village　Dogs；　or　the　Owl　who　had　established　herself
in　a　nook　of　the　deserted　Eastern　Turret。　　I　heard　her　melancholy
shriek；　and　looked　upwards。　　She　sat　upon　the　ride　of　a　window；
which　I　recognized　to　be　that　of　the　haunted　Room。　　This　brought
to　my　remembrance　the　story　of　the　Bleeding　Nun；　and　I　sighed
while　I　reflected　on　the　influence　of　superstition　and　weakness
of　human