the monk(僧侣)-第37节

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me　not　till　I　had　compelled　her　to　promise　that　on　the　following
night　She　would　be　at　the　same　place　at　the　same　hour。　　These
meetings　continued　for　several　Weeks　uninterrupted；　and　'tis　now；
Lorenzo；　that　I　must　implore　your　indulgence。　　Reflect　upon　our
situation；　our　youth；　our　long　attachment：　Weigh　all　the
circumstances　which　attended　our　assignations；　and　you　will
confess　the　temptation　to　have　been　irresistible；　you　will　even
pardon　me　when　I　acknowledge；　that　in　an　unguarded　moment；　the
honour　of　Agnes　was　sacrificed　to　my　passion。'

（Lorenzo's　eyes　sparkled　with　fury：　　A　deep　crimson　spread　itself
over　his　face。　　He　started　from　his　seat；　and　attempted　to　draw
his　sword。　　The　Marquis　was　aware　of　his　movement；　and　caught　his
hand：　　He　pressed　it　affectionately。

'My　Friend！　My　Brother！　Hear　me　to　the　conclusion！　　Till　then
restrain　your　passion；　and　be　at　least　convinced；　that　if　what　I
have　related　is　criminal；　the　blame　must　fall　upon　me；　and　not
upon　your　Sister。'

Lorenzo　suffered　himself　to　be　prevailed　upon　by　Don　Raymond's
entreaties。　　He　resumed　his　place；　and　listened　to　the　rest　of
the　narrative　with　a　gloomy　and　impatient　countenance。　　The
Marquis　thus　continued。）

'Scarcely　was　the　first　burst　of　passion　past　when　Agnes；
recovering　herself；　started　from　my　arms　with　horror。　　She　called
me　infamous　Seducer；　loaded　me　with　the　bitterest　reproaches；　and
beat　her　bosom　in　all　the　wildness　of　delirium。　　Ashamed　of　my
imprudence；　I　with　difficulty　found　words　to　excuse　myself。　　I
endeavoured　to　console　her；　I　threw　myself　at　her　feet；　and
entreated　her　forgiveness。　　She　forced　her　hand　from　me；　which　I
had　taken；　and　would　have　prest　to　my　lips。

'Touch　me　not！'　She　cried　with　a　violence　which　terrified　me；
'Monster　of　perfidy　and　ingratitude；　how　have　I　been　deceived　in
you！　　I　looked　upon　you　as　my　Friend；　my　Protector：　　I　trusted
myself　in　your　hands　with　confidence；　and　relying　upon　your
honour；　thought　that　mine　ran　no　risque。　　And　'tis　by　you；　whom　I
adored；　that　I　am　covered　with　infamy！　　'Tis　by　you　that　I　have
been　seduced　into　breaking　my　vows　to　God；　that　I　am　reduced　to　a
level　with　the　basest　of　my　sex！　　Shame　upon　you；　Villain；　you
shall　never　see　me　more！'

She　started　from　the　Bank　on　which　She　was　seated。　　I　endeavoured
to　detain　her；　But　She　disengaged　herself　from　me　with　violence；
and　took　refuge　in　the　Convent。

I　retired；　filled　with　confusion　and　inquietude。　　The　next
morning　I　failed　not　as　usual　to　appear　in　the　Garden；　but　Agnes
was　no　where　to　be　seen。　　At　night　I　waited　for　her　at　the　place
where　we　generally　met；　I　found　no　better　success。　　Several　days
and　nights　passed　away　in　the　same　manner。　　At　length　I　saw　my
offended　Mistress　cross　the　walk　on　whose　borders　I　was　working：
She　was　accompanied　by　the　same　young　Pensioner；　on　whose　arm　She
seemed　from　weakness　obliged　to　support　herself。　　She　looked　upon
me　for　a　moment；　but　instantly　turned　her　head　away。　　I　waited
her　return；　But　She　passed　on　to　the　Convent　without　paying　any
attention　to　me；　or　the　penitent　looks　with　which　I　implored　her
forgiveness。

As　soon　as　the　Nuns　were　retired；　the　old　Gardener　joined　me　with
a　sorrowful　air。

'Segnor；'　said　He；　'it　grieves　me　to　say；　that　I　can　be　no　longer
of　use　to　you。　　The　Lady　whom　you　used　to　meet　has　just　assured
me　that　if　I　admitted　you　again　into　the　Garden；　She　would
discover　the　whole　business　to　the　Lady　Prioress。　　She　bade　me
tell　you　also；　that　your　presence　was　an　insult；　and　that　if　you
still　possess　the　least　respect　for　her；　you　will　never　attempt
to　see　her　more。　　Excuse　me　then　for　informing　you　that　I　can
favour　your　disguise　no　longer。　　Should　the　Prioress　be
acquainted　with　my　conduct；　She　might　not　be　contented　with
dismissing　me　her　service：　　Out　of　revenge　She　might　accuse　me　of
having　profaned　the　Convent；　and　cause　me　to　be　thrown　into　the
Prisons　of　the　Inquisition。'

Fruitless　were　my　attempts　to　conquer　his　resolution。　　He　denied
me　all　future　entrance　into　the　Garden；　and　Agnes　persevered　in
neither　letting　me　see　or　hear　from　her。　　In　about　a　fortnight
after；　a　violent　illness　which　had　seized　my　Father　obliged　me　to
set　out　for　Andalusia。　　I　hastened　thither；　and　as　I　imagined；
found　the　Marquis　at　the　point　of　death。　　Though　on　its　first
appearance　his　complaint　was　declared　mortal；　He　lingered　out
several　Months；　during　which　my　attendance　upon　him　during　his
malady；　and　the　occupation　of　settling　his　affairs　after　his
decease；　permitted　not　my　quitting　Andalusia。　　Within　these　four
days　I　returned　to　Madrid；　and　on　arriving　at　my　Hotel；　I　there
found　this　letter　waiting　for　me。

（Here　the　Marquis　unlocked　the　drawer　of　a　Cabinet：　He　took　out　a
folded　paper；　which　He　presented　to　his　Auditor。　　Lorenzo　opened
it；　and　recognised　his　Sister's　hand。　　The　Contents　were　as
follows。

Into　what　an　abyss　of　misery　have　you　plunged　me！　　Raymond；　you
force　me　to　become　as　criminal　as　yourself。　　I　had　resolved　never
to　see　you　more；　if　possible；　to　forget　you；　If　not；　only　to
remember　you　with　hate。　　A　Being　for　whom　I　already　feel　a
Mother's　tenderness；　solicits　me　to　pardon　my　Seducer；　and　apply
to　his　love　for　the　means　of　preservation。　　Raymond；　your　child
lives　in　my　bosom。　　I　tremble　at　the　vengeance　of　the　Prioress；　I
tremble　much　for　myself；　yet　more　for　the　innocent　Creature　whose
existence　depends　upon　mine。　　Both　of　us　are　lost；　should　my
situation　be　discovered。　　Advise　me　then　what　steps　to　take；　but
seek　not　to　see　me。　　The　Gardener；　who　undertakes　to　deliver
this；　is　dismissed；　and　we　have　nothing　to　hope　from　that
quarter：　　The　Man　engaged　in　his　place　is　of　incorruptible
fidelity。　　The　best　means　of　conveying　to　me　your　answer；　is　by
concealing　it　under　the　great　Statue　of　St。　Francis；　which　stands
in　the　Capuchin　Cathedral。　　Thither　I　go　every　Thursday　to
confession；　and　shall　easily　have　an　opportunity　of　securing　your
letter。　　I　hear　that　you　are　now　absent　from　Madrid；　Need　I
entreat　you　to　write　the　very　moment　of　your　return？　　I　will　not
think　it。　　Ah！　Raymond！　　Mine　is　a　cruel　situation！　　Deceived　by
my　nearest　Relations；　compelled　to　embrace　a　profession　the
duties　of　which　I　am　ill…calculated　to　perform；　conscious　of　the
sanctity　of　those　duties；　and　seduced　into　violating　them　by　One
whom　I　least　suspected　of　perfidy；　I　am　now　obliged　by
circumstances　to　chuse　between　death　and　perjury。　　Woman's
timidity；　and　maternal　affection；　permit　me　not　to　balance　in　the
choice。　　I　feel　all　the　guilt　into　which　I　plunge　myself；　when　I
yield　to　the　plan　which　you　before　proposed　to　me。　　My　poor
Father's　death　which　has　taken　place　since　we　met；　has　removed
one　obstacle。　　He　sleeps　in　his　grave；　and　I　no　longer　dread　his
anger。　　But　from　the　anger　of　God；　Oh！　Raymond！　who　shall　shield
me？　　Who　can　protect　me　against　my　conscience；　against　myself？　　I
dare　not　dwell　upon　these　thoughts；　They　will　drive　me　mad。　　I
have　taken　my　resolution：　　Procure　a　dispensation　from　my　vows；　I
am　ready　to　fly　with　you。　　Write　to　me；　my　Husband！　　Tell　me；
that　absence　has　not　abated　your　love；　tell　me　that　you　will
rescue　from　death　your　unborn　Child；　and　its　unhappy　Mother。　　I
live　in　all　the　agonies　of　terror：　　Every　eye　which　is　fixed　upon
me　seems　to　read　my　secret　and　my　shame。　　And　you　are　the　cause
of　those　agonies！　　Oh！　When　my　heart　first　loved　you；　how　little
did　it　suspect　you　of　making　it　feel　such　pangs！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Agnes。

Having　perused　the　letter；　Lorenzo　restored　it　in　silence。　　The
Marquis　replaced　it　in　the　Cabinet；　and　then　proceeded。）

'Excessive　was　my　joy　at　reading　this　intelligence　so
earnestly…desired；　so　little　expected。　　My　plan　was　soon
arranged。　　When　Don　Gaston　discovered　to　me　his　Daughter's
retreat；　I　entertained　no　doubt　of　her　readiness　to　quit　the
Convent：　　I　had；　therefore；　entrusted　the　Cardinal…Duke　of　Lerma
with　the　whole　affair；　who　immediately　busied　himself　in
obtaining　the　necessary　Bull。　　Fortunately　I　had　afterwards
neglected　to　stop　his　proceedings。　　Not　long　since　I　received　a
letter　from　him；　stating　that　He　expected　daily　to　receive　the
order　from　the　Court　of　Rome。　　Upon　this　I　would　willingly　have
relyed：　　But　the　Cardinal　wrote　me　word；　that　I　must　find　some
means　of　conveying　Agnes　out　of　the　Convent；　unknown　to　the
Prioress。　　He　doubted　not　but　this　Latter　would　be　much　incensed
by　losing　a　Person　of　such　high　rank　from　her　society；　and
consider　the　renunciation　of　Agnes　as　an　insult　to　her　House。　　He
represented　her　as　a　Woman　of　a　violent　and　revengeful　character；
capable　of　proceeding　to　the　greatest　extremities。　　It　was
therefore　to　be　feared；　lest　by　confining　Agnes　in　the　Convent
She　should　frustrate　my　hopes；　and　render　the　Pope's　mandate
unavailing。　　Influenced　by　this　consideration；　I　resolved　to
carry　off　my　Mistress；　and　conceal　her　till　the　arrival　of　the
expected　Bull　in　the　Cardinal…Duke's　Estate。　　He　approved　of　my
design；　and　profest　himself　ready　to　give　a　shelter　to　the
Fugitive。　　I　next　caused　the　new　Gardener　of　St。　Clare　to　be
seized　privately；　and　confined　in　my　Hotel。　　By　this　means　I
became　M