the monk(僧侣)-第59节

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Sleep　was　not　long　absent；　and　his　presence　relieved　her　from　her
terrors　and　inquietude

It　was　almost　two　o'clock　before　the　lustful　Monk　ventured　to
bend　his　steps　towards　Antonia's　dwelling。　　It　has　been　already
mentioned　that　the　Abbey　was　at　no　great　distance　from　the
Strada　di　San　Iago。　　He　reached　the　House　unobserved。　　Here　He
stopped；　and　hesitated　for　a　moment。　　He　reflected　on　the
enormity　of　the　crime；　the　consequences　of　a　discovery；　and　the
probability；　after　what　had　passed；　of　Elvira's　suspecting　him　to
be　her　Daughter's　Ravisher：　　On　the　other　hand　it　was　suggested
that　She　could　do　no　more　than　suspect；　that　no　proofs　of　his
guilt　could　be　produced；　that　it　would　seem　impossible　for　the
rape　to　have　been　committed　without　Antonia's　knowing　when；
where；　or　by　whom；　and　finally；　He　believed　that　his　fame　was　too
firmly　established　to　be　shaken　by　the　unsupported　accusations　of
two　unknown　Women。　　This　latter　argument　was　perfectly　false：　　He
knew　not　how　uncertain　is　the　air　of　popular　applause；　and　that　a
moment　suffices　to　make　him　today　the　detestation　of　the　world；
who　yesterday　was　its　Idol。　　The　result　of　the　Monk's
deliberations　was　that　He　should　proceed　in　his　enterprize。　　He
ascended　the　steps　leading　to　the　House。　　No　sooner　did　He　touch
the　door　with　the　silver　Myrtle；　than　it　flew　open；　and　presented
him　with　a　free　passage。　　He　entered；　and　the　door　closed　after
him　of　its　own　accord。

Guided　by　the　moonbeams；　He　proceeded　up　the　Staircase　with
slow　and　cautious　steps。　　He　looked　round　him　every　moment　with
apprehension　and　anxiety。　　He　saw　a　Spy　in　every　shadow；　and
heard　a　voice　in　every　murmur　of　the　night　breeze。　　Consciousness
of　the　guilty　business　on　which　He　was　employed　appalled　his
heart；　and　rendered　it　more　timid　than　a　Woman's。　　Yet　still　He
proceeded。　　He　reached　the　door　of　Antonia's　chamber。　He　stopped；
and　listened。　　All　was　hushed　within。　　The　total　silence
persuaded　him　that　his　intended　Victim　was　retired　to　rest；　and
He　ventured　to　lift　up　the　Latch。　　The　door　was　fastened；　and
resisted　his　efforts：　　But　no　sooner　was　it　touched　by　the
Talisman；　than　the　Bolt　flew　back。　The　Ravisher　stept　on；　and
found　himself　in　the　chamber；　where　slept　the　innocent　Girl；
unconscious　how　dangerous　a　Visitor　was　drawing　near　her　Couch。　
The　door　closed　after　him；　and　the　Bolt　shot　again　into　its
fastening。

Ambrosio　advanced　with　precaution。　　He　took　care　that　not　a　board
should　creak　under　his　foot；　and　held　in　his　breath　as　He
approached　the　Bed。　　His　first　attention　was　to　perform　the　magic
ceremony；　as　Matilda　had　charged　him：　　He　breathed　thrice　upon
the　silver　Myrtle；　pronounced　over　it　Antonia's　name；　and　laid　it
upon　her　pillow。　　The　effects　which　it　had　already　produced
permitted　not　his　doubting　its　success　in　prolonging　the　slumbers
of　his　devoted　Mistress。　　No　sooner　was　the　enchantment
performed　than　He　considered　her　to　be　absolutely　in　his　power；
and　his　eyes　flamed　with　lust　and　impatience。　　He　now　ventured　to
cast　a　glance　upon　the　sleeping　Beauty。　　A　single　Lamp；　burning
before　the　Statue　of　St。　Rosolia；　shed　a　faint　light　through　the
room；　and　permitted　him　to　examine　all　the　charms　of　the　lovely
Object　before　him。　　The　heat　of　the　weather　had　obliged　her　to
throw　off　part　of　the　Bed…cloathes：　　Those　which　still　covered
her；　Ambrosio's　insolent　hand　hastened　to　remove。　　She　lay　with
her　cheek　reclining　upon　one　ivory　arm；　The　Other　rested　on　the
side　of　the　Bed　with　graceful　indolence。　　A　few　tresses　of　her
hair　had　escaped　from　beneath　the　Muslin　which　confined　the　rest；
and　fell　carelessly　over　her　bosom；　as　it　heaved　with　slow　and
regular　suspiration。　　The　warm　air　had　spread　her　cheek　with
higher　colour　than　usual。　　A　smile　inexpressibly　sweet　played
round　her　ripe　and　coral　lips；　from　which　every　now　and　then
escaped　a　gentle　sigh　or　an　half…pronounced　sentence。　　An　air　of
enchanting　innocence　and　candour　pervaded　her　whole　form；　and
there　was　a　sort　of　modesty　in　her　very　nakedness　which　added
fresh　stings　to　the　desires　of　the　lustful　Monk。

He　remained　for　some　moments　devouring　those　charms　with　his
eyes　which　soon　were　to　be　subjected　to　his　ill…regulated
passions。　　Her　mouth　half…opened　seemed　to　solicit　a　kiss：　　He
bent　over　her；　he　joined　his　lips　to　hers；　and　drew　in　the
fragrance　of　her　breath　with　rapture。　　This　momentary　pleasure
increased　his　longing　for　still　greater。　　His　desires　were　raised
to　that　frantic　height　by　which　Brutes　are　agitated。　　He
resolved　not　to　delay　for　one　instant　longer　the　accomplishment
of　his　wishes；　and　hastily　proceeded　to　tear　off　those　garments　
which　impeded　the　gratification　of　his　lust。

'Gracious　God！'　exclaimed　a　voice　behind　him；　'Am　I　not　deceived？

Is　not　this　an　illusion？'

Terror；　confusion；　and　disappointment　accompanied　these　words；　as
they　struck　Ambrosio's　hearing。　　He　started；　and　turned　towards
it。　　Elvira　stood　at　the　door　of　the　chamber；　and　regarded　the
Monk　with　looks　of　surprize　and　detestation。

A　frightful　dream　had　represented　to　her　Antonia　on　the　verge　of
a　precipice。　　She　saw　her　trembling　on　the　brink：　　Every　moment
seemed　to　threaten　her　fall；　and　She　heard　her　exclaim　with
shrieks；　'Save　me；　Mother！　Save　me！Yet　a　moment；　and　it　will　be
too　late！'　　Elvira　woke　in　terror。　　The　vision　had　made　too
strong　an　impression　upon　her　mind；　to　permit　her　resting　till
assured　of　her　Daughter's　safety。　　She　hastily　started　from　her
Bed；　threw　on　a　loose　night…gown；　and　passing　through　the　Closet
in　which　slept　the　Waiting…woman；　She　reached　Antonia's　chamber
just　in　time　to　rescue　her　from　the　grasp　of　the　Ravisher。

His　shame　and　her　amazement　seemed　to　have　petrified　into　Statues
both　Elvira　and　the　Monk：　　They　remained　gazing　upon　each　other
in　silence。　　The　Lady　was　the　first　to　recover　herself。

'It　is　no　dream！'　　She　cried；　'It　is　really　Ambrosio；　who　stands
before　me！　　It　is　the　Man　whom　Madrid　esteems　a　Saint；　that　I
find　at　this　late　hour　near　the　Couch　of　my　unhappy　Child！　
Monster　of　Hypocrisy！　　I　already　suspected　your　designs；　but
forbore　your　accusation　in　pity　to　human　frailty。　　Silence　would
now　be　criminal：　　The　whole　City　shall　be　informed　of　your
incontinence。　　I　will　unmask　you；　Villain；　and　convince　the
Church　what　a　Viper　She　cherishes　in　her　bosom。'

Pale　and　confused　the　baffled　Culprit　stood　trembling　before　her。

He　would　fain　have　extenuated　his　offence；　but　could　find　no
apology　for　his　conduct：　　He　could　produce　nothing　but　broken
sentences；　and　excuses　which　contradicted　each　other。　　Elvira　was
too　justly　incensed　to　grant　the　pardon　which　He　requested。　　She
protested　that　She　would　raise　the　neighbourhood；　and　make　him　an
example　to　all　future　Hypocrites。　　Then　hastening　to　the　Bed；　She
called　to　Antonia　to　wake；　and　finding　that　her　voice　had　no
effect；　She　took　her　arm；　and　raised　her　forcibly　from　the
pillow。　　The　charm　operated　too　powerfully。　　Antonia　remained
insensible；　and　on　being　released　by　her　Mother；　sank　back　upon
the　pillow。

'This　slumber　cannot　be　natural！'　cried　the　amazed　Elvira；　whose
indignation　increased　with　every　moment。　'Some　mystery　is
concealed　in　it；　But　tremble；　Hypocrite；　all　your　villainy　shall
soon　be　unravelled！　　Help！　Help！'　She　exclaimed　aloud；　'Within
there！　　Flora！　Flora！'

'Hear　me　for　one　moment；　Lady！'　cried　the　Monk；　restored　to
himself　by　the　urgency　of　the　danger；　'By　all　that　is　sacred　and
holy；　I　swear　that　your　Daughter's　honour　is　still　unviolated。　
Forgive　my　transgression！　　Spare　me　the　shame　of　a　discovery；　and
permit　me　to　regain　the　Abbey　undisturbed。　　Grant　me　this　request
in　mercy！　　I　promise　not　only　that　Antonia　shall　be　secure　from
me　in　future；　but　that　the　rest　of　my　life　shall　prove　。　。　。　。　。'

Elvira　interrupted　him　abruptly。

'Antonia　secure　from　you？　　_I_　will　secure　her！　　You　shall　betray
no　longer　the　confidence　of　Parents！　　Your　iniquity　shall　be
unveiled　to　the　public　eye：　　All　Madrid　shall　shudder　at　your
perfidy；　your　hypocrisy　and　incontinence。　　What　Ho！　there！　Flora！
Flora；　I　say！'

While　She　spoke　thus；　the　remembrance　of　Agnes　struck　upon　his
mind。　　Thus　had　She　sued　to　him　for　mercy；　and　thus　had　He
refused　her　prayer！　　It　was　now　his　turn　to　suffer；　and　He　could
not　but　acknowledge　that　his　punishment　was　just。　　In　the
meanwhile　Elvira　continued　to　call　Flora　to　her　assistance；　but
her　voice　was　so　choaked　with　passion　that　the　Servant；　who　was
buried　in　profound　slumber；　was　insensible　to　all　her　cries：　
Elvira　dared　not　go　towards　the　Closet　in　which　Flora　slept；　lest
the　Monk　should　take　that　opportunity　to　escape。　　Such　indeed　was
his　intention：　　He　trusted　that　could　He　reach　the　Abbey
unobserved　by　any　other　than　Elvira；　her　single　testimony　would
not　suffice　to　ruin　a　reputation　so　well　established　as　his　was
in　Madrid。　　With　this　idea　He　gathered　up　such　garments　as　He　had
already　thrown　off；　and　hastened　towards　the　Door。　　Elvira　was
aware　of　his　design；　She　followed　him；　and　ere　He　could　draw　back
the　bolt；　seized　him　by　the　arm；　and　detained　him。

'Attempt　not　to　fly！'　said　She；　'You　quit　not　this　room　without
Witnesses　of　your　guilt。'

A