volume02-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　Baron；　all　are　vanquished。　　I　sacrifice　them　to　my　love　for　you；　and　it　still　seems　to　me　that　I　pay　too　mean　a　price　for　your　possession。'

She　paused　for　an　answer。Judge；　my　Lorenzo；　what　must　have　been　my　confusion　at　this　discovery。　　I　at　once　saw　all　the　magnitude　of　this　obstacle；　which　I　had　raised　myself　to　my　happiness。　　The　Baroness　had　placed　those　attentions　to　her　own　account；　which　I　had　merely　paid　her　for　the　sake　of　Agnes：　　And　the　strength　of　her　expressions；　the　looks　which　accompanied　them；　and　my　knowledge　of　her　revengeful　disposition　made　me　tremble　for　myself　and　my　Beloved。　　I　was　silent　for　some　minutes。　　I　knew　not　how　to　reply　to　her　declaration：　　I　could　only　resolve　to　clear　up　the　mistake　without　delay；　and　for　the　present　to　conceal　from　her　knowledge　the　name　of　my　Mistress。　　No　sooner　had　She　avowed　her　passion　than　the　transports　which　before　were　evident　in　my　features　gave　place　to　consternation　and　constraint。　　I　dropped　her　hand；　and　rose　from　my　knees。　　The　change　in　my　countenance　did　not　escape　her　observation。

'What　means　this　silence？'　said　She　in　a　trembling　voice；　'Where　is　that　joy　which　you　led　me　to　expect？'

'Forgive　me；　Segnora；'　I　answered；　'if　what　necessity　forces　from　me　should　seem　harsh　and　ungrateful：　　To　encourage　you　in　an　error；　which；　however　it　may　flatter　myself；　must　prove　to　you　the　source　of　disappointment；　would　make　me　appear　criminal　in　every　eye。　　Honour　obliges　me　to　inform　you　that　you　have　mistaken　for　the　solicitude　of　Love　what　was　only　the　attention　of　Friendship。　　The　latter　sentiment　is　that　which　I　wished　to　excite　in　your　bosom：　　To　entertain　a　warmer；　respect　for　you　forbids　me；　and　gratitude　for　the　Baron's　generous　treatment。　　Perhaps　these　reasons　would　not　be　sufficient　to　shield　me　from　your　attractions；　were　it　not　that　my　affections　are　already　bestowed　upon　another。　　You　have　charms；　Segnora；　which　might　captivate　the　most　insensible；　No　heart　unoccupied　could　resist　them。　　Happy　is　it　for　me　that　mine　is　no　longer　in　my　possession；　or　I　should　have　to　reproach　myself　for　ever　with　having　violated　the　Laws　of　Hospitality。　　Recollect　yourself；　noble　Lady；　Recollect　what　is　owed　by　you　to　honour；　by　me　to　the　Baron；　and　replace　by　esteem　and　friendship　those　sentiments　which　I　never　can　return。'

The　Baroness　turned　pale　at　this　unexpected　and　positive　declaration：　　She　doubted　whether　She　slept　or　woke。　　At　length　recovering　from　her　surprise；　consternation　gave　place　to　rage；　and　the　blood　rushed　back　into　her　cheeks　with　violence。

'Villain！'　She　cried；　'Monster　of　deceit！　　Thus　is　the　avowal　of　my　love　received？　　Is　it　thus　that。　。　。　。　　But　no；　no！　　It　cannot；　it　shall　not　be！　　Alphonso；　behold　me　at　your　feet！　　Be　witness　of　my　despair！　　Look　with　pity　on　a　Woman　who　loves　you　with　sincere　affection！　　She　who　possesses　your　heart；　how　has　She　merited　such　a　treasure？　　What　sacrifice　has　She　made　to　you？

What　raises　her　above　Rodolpha？'

I　endeavoured　to　lift　her　from　her　Knees。

'For　God's　sake；　Segnora；　restrain　these　transports：　They　disgrace　yourself　and　me。　　Your　exclamations　may　be　heard；　and　your　secret　divulged　to　your　Attendants。　　I　see　that　my　presence　only　irritates　you：　permit　me　to　retire。'

I　prepared　to　quit　the　apartment：　　The　Baroness　caught　me　suddenly　by　the　arm。

'And　who　is　this　happy　Rival？'　said　She　in　a　menacing　tone；　'I　will　know　her　name；　and　WHEN　I　know　it。　。　。　。　！　She　is　someone　in　my　power；　You　entreated　my　favour；　my　protection！　　Let　me　but　find　her；　let　me　but　know　who　dares　to　rob　me　of　your　heart；　and　She　shall　suffer　every　torment　which　jealousy　and　disappointment　can　inflict！　　Who　is　She？　　Answer　me　this　moment。　　Hope　not　to　conceal　her　from　my　vengeance！　　Spies　shall　be　set　over　you；　every　step；　every　look　shall　be　watched；　Your　eyes　will　discover　my　Rival；　I　shall　know　her；　and　when　She　is　found；　tremble；　Alphonso　for　her　and　for　yourself！'

As　She　uttered　these　last　words　her　fury　mounted　to　such　a　pitch　as　to　stop　her　powers　of　respiration。　　She　panted；　groaned；　and　at　length　fainted　away。　　As　She　was　falling　I　caught　her　in　my　arms；　and　placed　her　upon　a　Sopha。　　Then　hastening　to　the　door；　I　summoned　her　Women　to　her　assistance；　I　committed　her　to　their　care；　and　seized　the　opportunity　of　escaping。

Agitated　and　confused　beyond　expression　I　bent　my　steps　towards　the　Garden。　　The　benignity　with　which　the　Baroness　had　listened　to　me　at　first　raised　my　hopes　to　the　highest　pitch：　　I　imagined　her　to　have　perceived　my　attachment　for　her　Niece；　and　to　approve　of　it。　　Extreme　was　my　disappointment　at　understanding　the　true　purport　of　her　discourse。　　I　knew　not　what　course　to　take：　The　superstition　of　the　Parents　of　Agnes；　aided　by　her　Aunt's　unfortunate　passion；　seemed　to　oppose　such　obstacles　to　our　union　as　were　almost　insurmountable。

As　I　past　by　a　low　parlour；　whose　windows　looked　into　the　Garden；　through　the　door　which　stood　half　open　I　observed　Agnes　seated　at　a　Table。　　She　was　occupied　in　drawing；　and　several　unfinished　sketches　were　scattered　round　her。　　I　entered；　still　undetermined　whether　I　should　acquaint　her　with　the　declaration　of　the　Baroness。

'Oh！　is　it　only　you？'　said　She；　raising　her　head；　'You　are　no　Stranger；　and　I　shall　continue　my　occupation　without　ceremony。　　Take　a　Chair；　and　seat　yourself　by　me。'

I　obeyed；　and　placed　myself　near　the　Table。　　Unconscious　what　I　was　doing；　and　totally　occupied　by　the　scene　which　had　just　passed；　I　took　up　some　of　the　drawings；　and　cast　my　eye　over　them。　　One　of　the　subjects　struck　me　from　its　singularity。　　It　represented　the　great　Hall　of　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg。　　A　door　conducting　to　a　narrow　staircase　stood　half　open。　　In　the　foreground　appeared　a　Groupe　of　figures；　placed　in　the　most　grotesque　attitudes；　Terror　was　expressed　upon　every　countenance。

Here　was　One　upon　his　knees　with　his　eyes　cast　up　to　heaven；　and　praying　most　devoutly；　There　Another　was　creeping　away　upon　all　fours。　　Some　hid　their　faces　in　their　cloaks　or　the　laps　of　their　Companions；　Some　had　concealed　themselves　beneath　a　Table；　on　which　the　remnants　of　a　feast　were　visible；　While　Others　with　gaping　mouths　and　eyes　wide…stretched　pointed　to　a　Figure；　supposed　to　have　created　this　disturbance。　　It　represented　a　Female　of　more　than　human　stature；　clothed　in　the　habit　of　some　religious　order。　　Her　face　was　veiled；　On　her　arm　hung　a　chaplet　of　beads；　Her　dress　was　in　several　places　stained　with　the　blood　which　trickled　from　a　wound　upon　her　bosom。　In　one　hand　She　held　a　Lamp；　in　the　other　a　large　Knife；　and　She　seemed　advancing　towards　the　iron　gates　of　the　Hall。

'What　does　this　mean；　Agnes？'　said　I；　'Is　this　some　invention　of　your　own？'

She　cast　her　eye　upon　the　drawing。

'Oh！　no；'　She　replied；　'　'Tis　the　invention　of　much　wiser　heads　than　mine。　　But　can　you　possibly　have　lived　at　Lindenberg　for　three　whole　Months　without　hearing　of　the　Bleeding　Nun？'

'You　are　the　first；　who　ever　mentioned　the　name　to　me。　　Pray；　who　may　the　Lady　be？'

'That　is　more　than　I　can　pretend　to　tell　you。　　All　my　knowledge　of　her　History　comes　from　an　old　tradition　in　this　family；　which　has　been　handed　down　from　Father　to　Son；　and　is　firmly　credited　throughout　the　Baron's　domains。　　Nay；　the　Baron　believes　it　himself；　and　as　for　my　Aunt　who　has　a　natural　turn　for　the　marvellous；　She　would　sooner　doubt　the　veracity　of　the　Bible；　than　of　the　Bleeding　Nun。　　Shall　I　tell　you　this　History？'

I　answered　that　She　would　oblige　me　much　by　relating　it：　　She　resumed　her　drawing；　and　then　proceeded　as　follows　in　a　tone　of　burlesqued　gravity。

'It　is　surprising　that　in　all　the　Chronicles　of　past　times；　this　remarkable　Personage　is　never　once　mentioned。　　Fain　would　I　recount　to　you　her　life；　But　unluckily　till　after　her　death　She　was　never　known　to　have　existed。　　Then　first　did　She　think　it　necessary　to　make　some　noise　in　the　world；　and　with　that　intention　She　made　bold　to　seize　upon　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg。　　Having　a　good　taste；　She　took　up　her　abode　in　the　best　room　of　the　House：　　and　once　established　there；　She　began　to　amuse　herself　by　knocking　about　the　tables　and　chairs　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　　Perhaps　She　was　a　bad　Sleeper；　but　this　I　have　never　been　able　to　ascertain。　　According　to　the　tradition；　this　entertainment　commenced　about　a　Century　ago。　　It　was　accompanied　with　shrieking；　howling；　groaning；　swearing；　and　many　other　agreeable　noises　of　the　same　kind。　　But　though　one　particular　room　was　more　especially　honoured　with　her　visits；　She　did　not　entirely　confine　herself　to　it。　　She　occasionally　ventured　into　the　old　Galleries；　paced　up　and　down　the　spacious　Halls；　or　sometimes　stopping　at　the　doors　of　the　Chambers；　She　wept　and　wailed　there　to　the　universal　terror　of　the　Inhabitants。　　In　these　nocturnal　excursions　She　was　seen　by　different　People；　who　all　describe　her　appearance　as　you　behold　it　here；　traced　by　the　hand　of　her　unworthy　Historian。'

The　singularity　of　this　account　insensibly　engaged　my　attention。

'Did　She　never　speak　to　those　who　met　her？'　said　I。

'Not　She。　　The　specimens　indeed；　which　She　gave　nightly　of　her　talents　for　conversation；　were　by　no　means　inviting。　　Sometimes　the　Castle　rung　with　oaths　and　execrations：　　A　Moment　after　She　repeated　her　Paternoster：　Now　She　howled　out　the　most　horrible　blasphemies；　and　then　chaunted　De　Profundis；　as　orderly　as　if　still　in　the　Choir。　　In　short　She　seemed　a　mighty　capricious　Being：　　But　whether　She　prayed　or　cursed；　whether　She　was　impious　or　devout；　She　always　contrived　to　terrify　her　Auditors　out　of　their　senses。　　The　Castle　became　scarcely　habitable；　and　its　Lord　was　so　frightened　by　these　midnight　Revels；　that　one　fine　morning　He　was　found　dead　in　his　bed。　　This　success　seemed　to　please　the　Nun　mightily；　for　now　She　made　more　noise　than　ever。　　But　the　next　Baron　proved　too　cunning　for　her。　　He　made　his　appearance　with　a　celebrated　Exorciser　in　his　hand；　who　feared　not　to　shut　himself　up　for　a　night　in　the　haunted　Chamber。　　There　it　seems　that　He　had　an　hard　battle　with　the　Ghost；　before　She　would　promise　to　be　quiet。　　She　was　obstinate；　but　He　was　more　so；　and　at　length　She　consented　to　let　the　Inhabitants　of　the　Castle　take　a　good　night's　rest。　　For　some　time　after　no　news　was　heard　of　her。　　But　at　the　end　of　five　years　the　Exorciser　died；　and　then　the　Nun　ventured　to　peep　abroad　again。　　However；　She　was　now　grown　much　more　tractable　and　well…behaved。　　She　walked　about　in　silence；　and　never　made　her　appearance　above　once　in　five　years。　　This　custom；　if　you　will　believe　the　Baron；　She　still　continues。　　He　is　fully　persuaded；　that　on　the　fifth　of　May　of　every　fifth　year；　as　soon　as　the　Clock　strikes　One；　the　Door　of　the　haunted　Chamber　opens。　　（Observe；　that　this　room　has　been　shut　up　for　near　a　Century。）　　Then　out　walks　the　Ghostly　Nun　with　her　Lamp　and　dagger：　　She　descends　the　staircase　of　the　Eastern　Tower；　and　crosses　the　great　Hall！　　On　that　night　the　Porter　always　leaves　the　Gates　of　the　Castle　open；　out　of　respect　to　the　Apparition：　　Not　that　this　is　thought　by　any　means　necessary；　since　She　could　easily　whip　through　the　Keyhole　if　She　chose　it；　But　merely　out　of　politeness；　and　to　prevent　her　from　making　her　exit　in　a　way　so　derogatory　to　the　dignity　of　her　Ghost…ship。'

'And　whither　does　S