the monk(僧侣)-第54章

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been　made　to　him　upon　this　account；　and　though　highly　repugnant
to　his　own　wishes；　He　had　found　it　absolutely　necessary　for　the
service　of　heaven　to　change　his　determination；　and　quit　his
beloved　retirement。　　The　Prioress　applauded　his　zeal　in　his
profession　and　his　charity　towards　Mankind：　　She　declared　that
Madrid　was　happy　in　possessing　a　Man　so　perfect　and
irreproachable。　　In　such　discourse；　the　Friar　at　length　reached
the　Laboratory。　　He　found　the　Closet：　The　Bottle　stood　in　the
place　which　Matilda　had　described；　and　the　Monk　seized　an
opportunity　to　fill　his　phial　unobserved　with　the　soporific
liquor。　　Then　having　partaken　of　a　Collation　in　the　Refectory；　He
retired　from　the　Convent　pleased　with　the　success　of　his　visit；
and　leaving　the　Nuns　delighted　by　the　honour　conferred　upon　them。

He　waited　till　Evening　before　He　took　the　road　to　Antonia's
dwelling。　　Jacintha　welcomed　him　with　transport；　and　besought　him
not　to　forget　his　promise　to　pass　the　night　in　the　haunted
Chamber：　　That　promise　He　now　repeated。　　He　found　Antonia
tolerably　well；　but　still　harping　upon　the　Ghost's　prediction。　
Flora　moved　not　from　her　Lady's　Bed；　and　by　symptoms　yet　stronger
than　on　the　former　night　testified　her　dislike　to　the　Abbot's
presence。　　Still　Ambrosio　affected　not　to　observe　them。　　The
Physician　arrived；　while　He　was　conversing　with　Antonia。　　It　was
dark　already；　Lights　were　called　for；　and　Flora　was　compelled　to
descend　for　them　herself。　　However；　as　She　left　a　third　Person　in
the　room；　and　expected　to　be　absent　but　a　few　minutes；　She
believed　that　She　risqued　nothing　in　quitting　her　post。　　No
sooner　had　She　left　the　room；　than　Ambrosio　moved　towards　the
Table；　on　which　stood　Antonia's　medicine：　　It　was　placed　in　a
recess　of　the　window。　　The　Physician　seated　in　an　armed…chair；
and　employed　in　questioning　his　Patient；　paid　no　attention　to　the
proceedings　of　the　Monk。　　Ambrosio　seized　the　opportunity：　　He
drew　out　the　fatal　Phial；　and　let　a　few　drops　fall　into　the
medicine。　　He　then　hastily　left　the　Table；　and　returned　to　the
seat　which　He　had　quitted。　　When　Flora　made　her　appearance　with
lights；　every　thing　seemed　to　be　exactly　as　She　had　left　it。

The　Physician　declared　that　Antonia　might　quit　her　chamber　the
next　day　with　perfect　safety。　　He　recommended　her　following　the
same　prescription　which；　on　the　night　before；　had　procured　her　a
refreshing　sleep：　Flora　replied　that　the　draught　stood　ready
upon　the　Table：　　He　advised　the　Patient　to　take　it　without　delay；
and　then　retired。　　Flora　poured　the　medicine　into　a　Cup　and
presented　it　to　her　Mistress。　　At　that　moment　Ambrosio's　courage
failed　him。　　Might　not　Matilda　have　deceived　him？　　Might　not
Jealousy　have　persuaded　her　to　destroy　her　Rival；　and　substitute
poison　in　the　room　of　an　opiate？　　This　idea　appeared　so
reasonable　that　He　was　on　the　point　of　preventing　her　from
swallowing　the　medicine。　　His　resolution　was　adopted　too　late：　
The　Cup　was　already　emptied；　and　Antonia　restored　it　into　Flora's
hands。　　No　remedy　was　now　to　be　found：　　Ambrosio　could　only
expect　the　moment　impatiently；　destined　to　decide　upon　Antonia's
life　or　death；　upon　his　own　happiness　or　despair。

Dreading　to　create　suspicion　by　his　stay；　or　betray　himself　by
his　mind's　agitation；　He　took　leave　of　his　Victim；　and　withdrew
from　the　room。　　Antonia　parted　from　him　with　less　cordiality　than
on　the　former　night。　　Flora　had　represented　to　her　Mistress　that
to　admit　his　visits　was　to　disobey　her　Mother's　orders：　　She
described　to　her　his　emotion　on　entering　the　room；　and　the　fire
which　sparkled　in　his　eyes　while　He　gazed　upon　her。　　This　had
escaped　Antonia's　observation；　but　not　her　Attendant's；　Who
explaining　the　Monk's　designs　and　their　probable　consequences　in
terms　much　clearer　than　Elvira's；　though　not　quite　so　delicate；
had　succeeded　in　alarming　her　young　Lady；　and　persuading　her　to
treat　him　more　distantly　than　She　had　done　hitherto。　　The　idea　of
obeying　her　Mother's　will　at　once　determined　Antonia。　　Though　She
grieved　at　losing　his　society；　She　conquered　herself　sufficiently
to　receive　the　Monk　with　some　degree　of　reserve　and　coldness。　
She　thanked　him　with　respect　and　gratitude　for　his　former　visits；
but　did　not　invite　his　repeating　them　in　future。　　It　now　was　not
the　Friar's　interest　to　solicit　admission　to　her　presence；　and　He
took　leave　of　her　as　if　not　designing　to　return。　　Fully
persuaded　that　the　acquaintance　which　She　dreaded　was　now　at　an
end；　Flora　was　so　much　worked　upon　by　his　easy　compliance　that
She　began　to　doubt　the　justice　of　her　suspicions。　　As　She　lighted
him　down　Stairs；　She　thanked　him　for　having　endeavoured　to　root
out　from　Antonia's　mind　her　superstitious　terrors　of　the
Spectre's　prediction：　　She　added；　that　as　He　seemed　interested　in
Donna　Antonia's　welfare；　should　any　change　take　place　in　her
situation；　She　would　be　careful　to　let　him　know　it。　　The　Monk　in
replying　took　pains　to　raise　his　voice；　hoping　that　Jacintha
would　hear　it。　　In　this　He　succeeded；　As　He　reached　the　foot　of
the　Stairs　with　his　Conductress；　the　Landlady　failed　not　to　make
her　appearance。

'Why　surely　you　are　not　going　away；　reverend　Father？'　cried　She；
'Did　you　not　promise　to　pass　the　night　in　the　haunted　Chamber？　
Christ　Jesus！　I　shall　be　left　alone　with　the　Ghost；　and　a　fine
pickle　I　shall　be　in　by　morning！　　Do　all　I　could；　say　all　I
could；　that　obstinate　old　Brute；　Simon　Gonzalez；　refused　to　marry
me　today；　And　before　tomorrow　comes；　I　suppose；　I　shall　be　torn
to　pieces；　by　the　Ghosts；　and　Goblins；　and　Devils；　and　what　not！　
For　God's　sake；　your　Holiness；　do　not　leave　me　in　such　a　woeful
condition！　　On　my　bended　knees　I　beseech　you　to　keep　your
promise：　　Watch　this　night　in　the　haunted　chamber；　Lay　the
Apparition　in　the　Red　Sea；　and　Jacintha　remembers　you　in　her
prayers　to　the　last　day　of　her　existence！'

This　request　Ambrosio　expected　and　desired；　Yet　He　affected　to
raise　objections；　and　to　seem　unwilling　to　keep　his　word。　　He
told　Jacintha　that　the　Ghost　existed　nowhere　but　in　her　own
brain；　and　that　her　insisting　upon　his　staying　all　night　in　the
House　was　ridiculous　and　useless。　　Jacintha　was　obstinate：　　She
was　not　to　be　convinced；　and　pressed　him　so　urgently　not　to　leave
her　a　prey　to　the　Devil；　that　at　length　He　granted　her　request。
All　this　show　of　resistance　imposed　not　upon　Flora；　who　was
naturally　of　a　suspicious　temper。　　She　suspected　the　Monk　to　be
acting　a　part　very　contrary　to　his　own　inclinations；　and　that　He
wished　for　no　better　than　to　remain　where　He　was。　　She　even　went
so　far　as　to　believe　that　Jacintha　was　in　his　interest；　and　the
poor　old　Woman　was　immediately　set　down；　as　no　better　than　a
Procuress。　　While　She　applauded　herself　for　having　penetrated
into　this　plot　against　her　Lady's　honour；　She　resolved　in　secret
to　render　it　fruitless。

'So　then；'　said　She　to　the　Abbot　with　a　look　half…satirical　and
half　indignant；　'So　then　you　mean　to　stay　here　tonight？　　Do　so；
in　God's　name！　　Nobody　will　prevent　you。　　Sit　up　to　watch　for　the
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