the monk(僧侣)-第24节

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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　the　troop　of　the　Banditti；　That　I　must
give　up　all　hopes　of　ever　rejoining　society；　and　consent
instantly　to　accepting　one　of　their　Band　for　my　Husband！　　My
prayers　and　remonstrances　were　vain。　　They　cast　lots　to　decide　to
whose　possession　I　should　fall；　I　became　the　property　of　the
infamous　Baptiste。　　A　Robber；　who　had　once　been　a　Monk；
pronounced　over　us　a　burlesque　rather　than　a　religious　Ceremony：　
I　and　my　Children　were　delivered　into　the　hands　of　my　new
Husband；　and　He　conveyed　us　immediately　to　his　home。

'He　assured　me　that　He　had　long　entertained　for　me　the　most
ardent　regard；　But　that　Friendship　for　my　deceased　Lover　had
obliged　him　to　stifle　his　desires。　　He　endeavoured　to　reconcile
me　to　my　fate；　and　for　some　time　treated　me　with　respect　and
gentleness：　　At　length　finding　that　my　aversion　rather　increased
than　diminished；　He　obtained　those　favours　by　violence；　which　I
persisted　to　refuse　him。　　No　resource　remained　for　me　but　to　bear
my　sorrows　with　patience；　I　was　conscious　that　I　deserved　them
but　too　well。　　Flight　was　forbidden：　My　Children　were　in　the
power　of　Baptiste；　and　He　had　sworn　that　if　I　attempted　to
escape；　their　lives　should　pay　for　it。　　I　had　had　too　many
opportunities　of　witnessing　the　barbarity　of　his　nature　to　doubt
his　fulfilling　his　oath　to　the　very　letter。　　Sad　experience　had
convinced　me　of　the　horrors　of　my　situation：　　My　first　Lover　had
carefully　concealed　them　from　me；　Baptiste　rather　rejoiced　in
opening　my　eyes　to　the　cruelties　of　his　profession；　and　strove　to
familiarise　me　with　blood　and　slaughter。

'My　nature　was　licentious　and　warm；　but　not　cruel：　My　conduct　had
been　imprudent；　but　my　heart　was　not　unprincipled。　　Judge　then
what　I　must　have　felt　at　being　a　continual　witness　of　crimes　the
most　horrible　and　revolting！　　Judge　how　I　must　have　grieved　at
being　united　to　a　Man　who　received　the　unsuspecting　Guest　with
an　air　of　openness　and　hospitality；　at　the　very　moment　that　He
meditated　his　destruction。　　Chagrin　and　discontent　preyed　upon　my
constitution：　　The　few　charms　bestowed　on　me　by　nature　withered
away；　and　the　dejection　of　my　countenance　denoted　the　sufferings
of　my　heart。　　I　was　tempted　a　thousand　times　to　put　an　end　to　my
existence；　But　the　remembrance　of　my　Children　held　my　hand。　　I
trembled　to　leave　my　dear　Boys　in　my　Tyrant's　power；　and　trembled
yet　more　for　their　virtue　than　their　lives。　　The　Second　was　still
too　young　to　benefit　by　my　instructions；　But　in　the　heart　of　my
Eldest　I　laboured　unceasingly　to　plant　those　principles；　which
might　enable　him　to　avoid　the　crimes　of　his　Parents。　　He　listened
to　me　with　docility；　or　rather　with　eagerness。　　Even　at　his　early
age；　He　showed　that　He　was　not　calculated　for　the　society　of
Villains；　and　the　only　comfort　which　I　enjoyed　among　my　sorrows；
was　to　witness　the　dawning　virtues　of　my　Theodore。

'Such　was　my　situation；　when　the　perfidy　of　Don　Alphonso's
postillion　conducted　him　to　the　Cottage。　　His　youth；　air；　and
manners　interested　me　most　forcibly　in　his　behalf。　　The　absence
of　my　Husband's　Sons　gave　me　an　opportunity　which　I　had　long
wished　to　find；　and　I　resolved　to　risque　every　thing　to　preserve
the　Stranger。　　The　vigilance　of　Baptiste　prevented　me　from
warning　Don　Alphonso　of　his　danger：　　I　knew　that　my　betraying　the
secret　would　be　immediately　punished　with　death；　and　however
embittered　was　my　life　by　calamities；　I　wanted　courage　to
sacrifice　it　for　the　sake　of　preserving　that　of　another　Person。　
My　only　hope　rested　upon　procuring　succour　from　Strasbourg：　　At
this　I　resolved　to　try；　and　should　an　opportunity　offer　of
warning　Don　Alphonso　of　his　danger　unobserved；　I　was　determined
to　seize　it　with　avidity。　　By　Baptiste's　orders　I　went　upstairs
to　make　the　Stranger's　Bed：　　I　spread　upon　it　Sheets　in　which　a
Traveller　had　been　murdered　but　a　few　nights　before；　and　which
still　were　stained　with　blood。　　I　hoped　that　these　marks　would
not　escape　the　vigilance　of　our　Guest；　and　that　He　would　collect
from　them　the　designs　of　my　perfidious　Husband。　　Neither　was　this
the　only　step　which　I　took　to　preserve　the　Stranger。　　Theodore
was　confined　to　his　bed　by　illness。　　I　stole　into　his　room
unobserved　by　my　Tyrant；　communicated　to　him　my　project；　and　He
entered　into　it　with　eagerness。　　He　rose　in　spite　of　his　malady；
and　dressed　himself　with　all　speed。　　I　fastened　one　of　the　Sheets
round　his　arms；　and　lowered　him　from　the　Window。　　He　flew　to　the
Stable；　took　Claude's　Horse；　and　hastened　to　Strasbourg。　　Had　He
been　accosted　by　the　Banditti；　He　was　to　have　declared　himself
sent　upon　a　message　by　Baptiste；　but　fortunately　He　reached　the
Town　without　meeting　any　obstacle。　　Immediately　upon　his　arrival
at　Strasbourg；　He　entreated　assistance　from　the　Magistrature：　
His　Story　passed　from　mouth　to　mouth；　and　at　length　came　to　the
knowledge　of　my　Lord　the　Baron。　　Anxious　for　the　safety　of　his
Lady；　whom　He　knew　would　be　upon　the　road　that　Evening；　it　struck
him　that　She　might　have　fallen　into　the　power　of　the　Robbers。　　He
accompanied　Theodore　who　guided　the　Soldiers　towards　the　Cottage；
and　arrived　just　in　time　to　save　us　from　falling　once　more　into
the　hands　of　our　Enemies。'

Here　I　interrupted　Marguerite　to　enquire　why　the　sleepy　potion
had　been　presented　to　me。　　She　said　that　Baptiste　supposed　me　to
have　arms　about　me；　and　wished　to　incapacitate　me　from　making
resistance：　　It　was　a　precaution　which　He　always　took；　since　as
the　Travellers　had　no　hopes　of　escaping；　Despair　would　have
incited　them　to　sell　their　lives　dearly。

The　Baron　then　desired　Marguerite　to　inform　him；　what　were　her
present　plans。　　I　joined　him　in　declaring　my　readiness　to　show　my
gratitude　to　her　for　the　preservation　of　my　life。

'Disgusted　with　a　world；'　She　replied；　'in　which　I　have　met　with
nothing　but　misfortunes；　my　only　wish　is　to　retire　into　a
Convent。　　But　first　I　must　provide　for　my　Children。　　I　find　that
my　Mother　is　no　more；　probably　driven　to　an　untimely　grave　by　my
desertion！　　My　Father　is　still　living；　He　is　not　an　hard　Man；
Perhaps；　Gentlemen；　in　spite　of　my　ingratitude　and　imprudence；
your　intercessions　may　induce　him　to　forgive　me；　and　to　take
charge　of　his　unfortunate　Grand…sons。　　If　you　obtain　this　boon
for　me；　you　will　repay　my　services　a　thousand…fold！'

Both　the　Baron　and　myself　assured　Marguerite；　that　we　would　spare
no　pains　to　obtain　her　pardon：　and　that　even　should　her　Father　be
inflexible；　She　need　be　under　no　apprehensions　respecting　the
fate　of　her　Children。　　I　engaged　myself　to　provide　for　Theodore；
and　the　Baron　promised　to　take　the　youngest　under　his　protection。

The　grateful　Mother　thanked　us　with　tears　for　what　She　called
generosity；　but　which　in　fact　was　no　more　than　a　proper　sense　of
our　obligations　to　her。　　She　then　left　the　room　to　put　her　little
Boy　to　bed；　whom　fatigue　and　sleep　had　compleatly　overpowered。

The　Baroness；　on　recovering　and　being　informed　from　what　dangers
I　had　rescued　her；　set　no　bounds　to　the　expressions　of　her
gratitude。　　She　was　joined　so　warmly　by　her　Husband　in　pressing
me　to　accompany　them　to　their　Castle　in　Bavaria；　that　I