the monk(僧侣)-第52章

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that　trusty　Servant：　　She　had　desired　her　never　to　leave　Ambrosio
alone　with　her　Daughter；　and　if　possible　to　prevent　their　meeting
altogether。　　Flora　promised　to　obey　her；　and　had　executed　her
orders　to　the　very　letter。　　Ambrosio's　visit　had　been　rejected
that　morning；　though　Antonia　was　ignorant　of　it。　　He　saw　that　to
obtain　a　sight　of　his　Mistress　by　open　means　was　out　of　the
question；　and　both　Himself　and　Matilda　had　consumed　the　night；　in
endeavouring　to　invent　some　plan；　whose　event　might　be　more
successful。　　Such　was　their　employment；　when　a　Lay…Brother
entered　the　Abbot's　Cell；　and　informed　him　that　a　Woman　calling
herself　Jacintha　Zuniga　requested　audience　for　a　few　minutes。

Ambrosio　was　by　no　means　disposed　to　grant　the　petition　of　his
Visitor。　　He　refused　it　positively；　and　bad　the　Lay…Brother　tell
the　Stranger　to　return　the　next　day。　　Matilda　interrupted　him。

'See　this　Woman；'　said　She　in　a　low　voice；　'I　have　my　reasons。'

The　Abbot　obeyed　her；　and　signified　that　He　would　go　to　the
Parlour　immediately。　　With　this　answer　the　Lay…Brother
withdrew。　　As　soon　as　they　were　alone　Ambrosio　enquired　why
Matilda　wished　him　to　see　this　Jacintha。

'She　is　Antonia's　Hostess；'　replied　Matilda；　'She　may　possibly　be
of　use　to　you：　　but　let　us　examine　her；　and　learn　what　brings　her
hither。'

They　proceeded　together　to　the　Parlour；　where　Jacintha　was
already　waiting　for　the　Abbot。　　She　had　conceived　a　great　opinion
of　his　piety　and　virtue；　and　supposing　him　to　have　much　influence
over　the　Devil；　thought　that　it　must　be　an　easy　matter　for　him　to
lay　Elvira's　Ghost　in　the　Red　Sea。　　Filled　with　this　persuasion
She　had　hastened　to　the　Abbey。　　As　soon　as　She　saw　the　Monk　enter
the　Parlour；　She　dropped　upon　her　knees；　and　began　her　story　as
follows。

'Oh！　　Reverend　Father！　　Such　an　accident！　　Such　an　adventure！　I
know　not　what　course　to　take；　and　unless　you　can　help　me；　I　shall
certainly　go　distracted。　　Well；　to　be　sure；　never　was　Woman　so
unfortunate；　as　myself！　　All　in　my　power　to　keep　clear　of　such
abomination　have　I　done；　and　yet　that　all　is　too　little。　　What
signifies　my　telling　my　beads　four　times　a　day；　and　observing
every　fast　prescribed　by　the　Calendar？　　What　signifies　my　having
made　three　Pilgrimages　to　St。　James　of　Compostella；　and　purchased
as　many　pardons　from　the　Pope　as　would　buy　off　Cain's
punishment？　　Nothing　prospers　with　me！　　All　goes　wrong；　and　God
only　knows；　whether　any　thing　will　ever　go　right　again！　　Why　now；
be　your　Holiness　the　Judge。　　My　Lodger　dies　in　convulsions；　Out
of　pure　kindness　I　bury　her　at　my　own　expence；　（Not　that　She　is
any　Relation　of　mine；　or　that　I　shall　be　benefited　a　single
pistole　by　her　death：　　I　got　nothing　by　it；　and　therefore　you
know；　reverend　Father；　that　her　living　or　dying　was　just　the　same
to　me。　　But　that　is　nothing　to　the　purpose；　To　return　to　what　I
was　saying；）　I　took　care　of　her　funeral；　had　every　thing
performed　decently　and　properly；　and　put　myself　to　expence
enough；　God　knows！　　And　how　do　you　think　the　Lady　repays　me　for
my　kindness？　　Why　truly　by　refusing　to　sleep　quietly　in　her
comfortable　deal　Coffin；　as　a　peaceable　well…disposed　Spirit
ought　to　do；　and　coming　to　plague　me；　who　never　wish　to　set　eyes
on　her　again。　　Forsooth；　it　well　becomes　her　to　go　racketing
about　my　House　at　midnight；　popping　into　her　Daughter's　room
through　the　Keyhole；　and　frightening　the　poor　Child　out　of　her
wits！　　Though　She　be　a　Ghost；　She　might　be　more　civil　than　to
bolt　into　a　Person's　House；　who　likes　her　company　so　little。　　But
as　for　me；　reverend　Father；　the　plain　state　of　the　case　is　this：　
If　She　walks　into　my　House；　I　must　walk　out　of　it；　for　I　cannot
abide　such　Visitors；　not　I！　　Thus　you　see；　your　Sanctity；　that
without　your　assistance　I　am　ruined　and　undone　for　ever。　　I　shall
be　obliged　to　quit　my　House；　Nobody　will　take　it；　when　'tis　known
that　She　haunts　it；　and　then　I　shall　find　myself　in　a　fine
situation！　　Miserable　Woman　that　I　am！　　What　shall　I　do！　　What
will　become　of　me！'

Here　She　wept　bitterly；　wrung　her　hands；　and　begged　to　know　the
Abbot's　opinion　of　her　case。

'In　truth；　good　Woman；'　replied　He；　'It　will　be　difficult　for　me
to　relieve　you　without　knowing　what　is　the　matter　with　you。　　You
have　forgotten　to　tell　me　what　has　happened；　and　what　it　is　you
want。'

'Let　me　die'　cried　Jacintha；　'but　your　Sanctity　is　in　the　right！　
This　then　is　the　fact　stated　briefly。　　A　lodger　of　mine　is　lately
dead；　a　very　good　sort　of　Woman　that　I　must　needs　say　for　her　as
far　as　my　knowledge　of　her　went；　though　that　was　not　a　great　way：

She　kept　me　too　much　at　a　distance；　for　indeed　She　was　given　to
be　upon　the　high　ropes；　and　whenever　I　ventured　to　speak　to　her；
She　had　a　look　with　her　which　always　made　me　feel　a　little
queerish；　God　forgive　me　for　saying　so。　　However；　though　She　was
more　stately　than　needful；　and　affected　to　look　down　upon　me
（Though　if　I　am　well　informed；　I　come　of　as　good　Parents　as　She
could　do　for　her　ears；　for　her　Father　was　a　Shoe…maker　at
Cordova；　and　Mine　was　an　Hatter　at　Madrid；　aye；　and　a　very
creditable　Hatter　too；　let　me　tell　you；）　Yet　for　all　her　pride；
She　was　a　quiet　well…behaved　Body；　and　I　never　wish　to　have　a
better　Lodger。　　This　makes　me　wonder　the　more　at　her　not　sleeping
quietly　in　her　Grave：　　But　there　is　no　trusting　to　people　in　this
world！　　For　my　part；　I　never　saw　her　do　amiss；　except　on　the
Friday　before　her　death。　　To　be　sure；　I　was　then　much　scandalized
by　seeing　her　eat　the　wing　of　a　Chicken！　''How；　Madona　Flora！''
quoth　I；　（Flora；　may　it　please　your　Reverence；　is　the　name　of　the
waiting　Maid）''How；　Madona　Flora！''　quoth　I；　''Does　your
Mistress　eat　flesh　upon　Fridays？　　Well！　　Well！　　See　the　event；
and　then　remember　that　Dame　Jacintha　warned　you　of　it！''　　These
were　my　very　words；　but　Alas！　　I　might　as　well　have　held　my
tongue！　　Nobody　minded　me；　and　Flora；　who　is　somewhat　pert　and
snappish；　（More　is　the　pity；　say　I）　told　me　that　there　was　no
more　harm　in　eating　a　Chicken　than　the　egg　from　which　it　came。　
Nay；　She　even　declared　that　if　her　Lady　added　a　slice　of　bacon；
She　would　not　be　an　inch　nearer　Damnation；　God　protect　us！　　A
poor　ignorant　sinful　soul！　　I　protest　to　your　Holiness；　I
trembled　to　hear　her　utter　such　blasphemies；　and　expected　every
moment　to　see　the　ground　open　and　swallow　her　up；　Chicken　and
all！　　For　you　must　know；　worshipful　Father；　that　while　She　talked
thus；　She　held　the　plate　in　her　hand；　on　which　lay　the　identical
roast　Fowl。　　And　a　fine　Bird　it　was；　that　I　must　say　for　it！　Done
to　a　turn；　for　I　superintended　the　cooking　of　it　myself：　It　was
a　little　Gallician　of　my　own　raising；　may　it　please　your
Holiness；　and　the　flesh　was　as　white　as　an　egg…shell；　as　indeed
Donna　Elvira　told　me　herself。　''Dame　Jacintha；''　said　She；　very
good…humouredly；　though　to　say　the　truth；　She　was　always　very
polite　to　me　。　。　。　。　。'

Here　Ambrosio's　patience　failed　him。　　Eager　to　know　Jacintha's
business　in　which　Antonia　seemed　to　be　concerned；　He　was　almost
distracted　while　listening　to　the　rambling　of　this　prosing　old
Woman。　　He　interrupted　her；　and　protested　that　if　She　did　not
immediately　tell　her　story　and　have　done　with　it；　He　should　quit
the　Parlour；　and　leave　her　to　get　out　of　her　difficulties　by
herself。　　This　threat　had　the　desired　effect。　　Jacintha　related
her　business　in　as　few　words　as　She　could　manage；　But　her　account
was　still　so　prolix　that　Ambrosio　had　need　of　his　patience　to
bear　him　to　the　conclusion。

'And　so；　your　Reverence；'　said　She；　after　relating　Elvira's　death
and　burial；　with　all　their　circumstances；　'And　so；　your
Reverence；　upon　hearing　the　shriek；　I　put　away　my　work；　and　away
posted　I　to　Donna　Antonia's　chamber。　　Finding　nobody　there；　I
past　on　to　the　next；　But　I　must　own；　I　was　a　little　timorous　at
going　in；　for　this　was　the　very　room　where　Donna　Elvira　used　to
sleep。　　However；　in　I　went；　and　sure　enough；　there　lay　the　young
Lady　at　full　length　upon　the　floor；　as　cold　as　a　stone；　and　as
white　as　a　sheet。　　I　was　surprized　at　this；　as　your　Holiness　may
well　suppose；　But　Oh　me！　how　I　shook　when　I　saw　a　great　tall
figure　at　my　elbow　whose　head　touched　the　ceiling！　　The　face　was
Donna　Elvira's；　I　must　confess；　But　out　of　its　mouth　came　clouds
of　fire；　its　arms　were　loaded　with　heavy　chains　which　it　rattled
piteously；　and　every　hair　on　its　head　was　a　Serpent　as　big　as　my
arm！　　At　this　I　was　frightened　enough；　and　began　to　say　my
Ave…Maria：　　But　the　Ghost　interrupting　me　uttered　three　loud
groans；　and　roared　out　in　a　terrible　voice；　''Oh！　That　Chicken's
wing！　　My　poor　soul　suffers　for　it！''　　As　soon　as　She　had　said
this；　the　Ground　opened；　the　Spectre　sank　down；　I　heard　a　clap　of
thunder；　and　the　room　was　filled　with　a　smell　of　brimstone。　　When
I　recovered　from　my　fright；　and　had　brought　Donna　Antonia　to
herself；　who　told　me　that　She　had　cried　out　upon　seeing　her
Mother's　Ghost；　（And　well　might　She　cry；　poor　Soul！　　Had　I　been
in　her　place；　I　should　have　cried　ten　times　louder）　it　directly
came　into　my　head；　that　if　any　one　had　power　to　quiet　this
Spectre；　it　must　be　your　Reverence。　　So　hither　I　came　in　all
diligence；　to　beg　that　you　will　sprinkle　my　House　with　holy
water；　and　lay　the　Apparition　in　the　Red　Sea。'

Ambrosio　stared　at　this　strange　story；　which　He　could　not　credit。

'Did　Donna　Antonia　also　see　the　Ghost？'　said　He。

'As　plain　as　I　see　you；　Reverend　Father！'

Ambrosio　paused　for　a　moment。　　Here　was　an　opportunity　offered
him　of　gaining　access　to　Antonia；　but　He　hesitated　to　employ　it。　
The　reputation　which　He　enjoyed　in　Madrid　was　still　dear　to　him；
and　since　He　had　lost　the　reality　of　virtue；　it　appeared　as　if
its　semblance　was　become　more　valuable。　　He　was　conscious　that
publicly　to　break　through　the　rule　never　to　quit　the
Abbey　precincts；　would　derogate　much　from　his　supposed　austerity。
In　visiting　Elvira；　He　had　always　taken　care　to　keep　his　features
concealed　from　the　Domestics。　　Except　by　the　Lady；　her　Daughter；
and　the　faithful　Flora；　He　was　known　in　the　Family　by　no　other
name　than　that　of　Father　Jerome。　　Should　He　comply　with
Jacintha's　request；　and　accompany　her　to　her　House；　He　knew　that
the　violation　of　his　rule　could　not　be　kept　a　secret。　　However；
his　eagerness　to　see　Antonia　obtained　the　victory：　He　even　hoped；
that　the　singularity　of　this　adventure　would　justify　him　in　the
eyes　of　Madrid：　　But　whatever　might　be　the　consequences；　He
resolved　to　profit　by　the　opportunity　which　chance　had　presented
to　him。　　An　expressive　look　from　Matilda　confirmed　him　in　this
resolution。

'Good　Woman；'　said　He　to　Jacintha；　'what　you　tell　me　is　so
extraordinary　that　I　can　scarcely　credit　your　assertions。　
However；　I　will　comply　with　your　request。　　Tomorrow　after　Matins
you　may　expect　me　at　your　House：　　I　will　then　examine　into　what　I
can　do　for　you；　and　if　it　is　in　my　power；　will　free　you　from　this
unwelcome　Visitor。　　Now　then　go　home；　and　peace　be　with　you！'

'Home？'　exclaimed　Jacintha；　'I　go　home？　　Not　I　by　my　troth！
except　under　your　protection；　I　set　no　foot　of　mine　within　the
threshold。　　God　help　me；　the　Ghost　may　meet　me　upon　the　Stairs；
and　whisk　me　away　with　her　to　the　devil！　　Oh！　　That　I　had
accepted　young　Melchior　Basco's　offer！　　Then