the monk(僧侣)-第71节

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hand；　struck　her　full　upon　the　temple。　　She　sank　upon　the　ground
bathed　in　blood；　and　in　a　few　minutes　terminated　her　miserable
existence。　Yet　though　She　no　longer　felt　their　insults；　the
Rioters　still　exercised　their　impotent　rage　upon　her　lifeless
body。　　They　beat　it；　trod　upon　it；　and　ill…used　it；　till　it
became　no　more　than　a　mass　of　flesh；　unsightly；　shapeless；　and
disgusting。

Unable　to　prevent　this　shocking　event；　Lorenzo　and　his　Friends
had　beheld　it　with　the　utmost　horror：　　But　they　were　rouzed　from
their　compelled　inactivity；　on　hearing　that　the　Mob　was　attacking
the　Convent　of　St。　Clare。　　The　incensed　Populace；　confounding　the
innocent　with　the　guilty；　had　resolved　to　sacrifice　all　the　Nuns
of　that　order　to　their　rage；　and　not　to　leave　one　stone　of　the
building　upon　another。　　Alarmed　at　this　intelligence；　they
hastened　to　the　Convent；　resolved　to　defend　it　if　possible；　or　at
least　to　rescue　the　Inhabitants　from　the　fury　of　the　Rioters。　
Most　of　the　Nuns　had　fled；　but　a　few　still　remained　in　their
habitation。　　Their　situation　was　truly　dangerous。　　However；　as
they　had　taken　the　precaution　of　fastening　the　inner　Gates；　with
this　assistance　Lorenzo　hoped　to　repel　the　Mob；　till　Don　Ramirez
should　return　to　him　with　a　more　sufficient　force。

Having　been　conducted　by　the　former　disturbance　to　the　distance
of　some　Streets　from　the　Convent；　He　did　not　immediately　reach
it：　　When　He　arrived；　the　throng　surrounding　it　was　so　excessive
as　to　prevent　his　approaching　the　Gates。　　In　the　interim；　the
Populace　besieged　the　Building　with　persevering　rage：　　They
battered　the　walls；　threw　lighted　torches　in　at　the　windows；　and
swore　that　by　break　of　day　not　a　Nun　of　St。　Clare's　order　should
be　left　alive。　　Lorenzo　had　just　succeeded　in　piercing　his　way
through　the　Crowd；　when　one　of　the　Gates　was　forced　open。　　The
Rioters　poured　into　the　interior　part　of　the　Building；　where　they
exercised　their　vengeance　upon　every　thing　which　found　itself　in
their　passage。　　They　broke　the　furniture　into　pieces；　tore　down
the　pictures；　destroyed　the　reliques；　and　in　their　hatred　of　her
Servant　forgot　all　respect　to　the　Saint。　　Some　employed
themselves　in　searching　out　the　Nuns；　Others　in　pulling　down
parts　of　the　Convent；　and　Others　again　in　setting　fire　to　the
pictures　and　valuable　furniture　which　it　contained。　　These
Latter　produced　the　most　decisive　desolation：　　Indeed　the
consequences　of　their　action　were　more　sudden　than　themselves
had　expected　or　wished。　　The　Flames　rising　from　the　burning　piles
caught　part　of　the　Building；　which　being　old　and　dry；　the
conflagration　spread　with　rapidity　from　room　to　room。　The　Walls
were　soon　shaken　by　the　devouring　element：　The　Columns　gave　way：　
The　Roofs　came　tumbling　down　upon　the　Rioters；　and　crushed　many
of　them　beneath　their　weight。　　Nothing　was　to　be　heard　but
shrieks　and　groans；　The　Convent　was　wrapped　in　flames；　and　the
whole　presented　a　scene　of　devastation　and　horror。

Lorenzo　was　shocked　at　having　been　the　cause；　however　innocent；
of　this　frightful　disturbance：　　He　endeavoured　to　repair　his
fault　by　protecting　the　helpless　Inhabitants　of　the　Convent。　　He
entered　it　with　the　Mob；　and　exerted　himself　to　repress　the
prevailing　Fury；　till　the　sudden　and　alarming　progress　of　the
flames　compelled　him　to　provide　for　his　own　safety。　　The　People
now　hurried　out；　as　eagerly　as　they　had　before　thronged　in；　But
their　numbers　clogging　up　the　doorway；　and　the　fire　gaining　upon
them　rapidly；　many　of　them　perished　ere　they　had　time　to　effect
their　escape。　　Lorenzo's　good　fortune　directed　him　to　a　small
door　in　a　farther　Aisle　of　the　Chapel。　　The　bolt　was　already
undrawn：　　He　opened　the　door；　and　found　himself　at　the　foot　of
St。　Clare's　Sepulchre。

Here　He　stopped　to　breathe。　　The　Duke　and　some　of　his　Attendants
had　followed　him；　and　thus　were　in　security　for　the　present。　
They　now　consulted；　what　steps　they　should　take　to　escape　from
this　scene　of　disturbance：　But　their　deliberations　were
considerably　interrupted　by　the　sight　of　volumes　of　fire　rising
from　amidst　the　Convent's　massy　walls；　by　the　noise　of　some　heavy
Arch　tumbling　down　in　ruins；　or　by　the　mingled　shrieks　of　the
Nuns　and　Rioters；　either　suffocating　in　the　press；　perishing　in
the　flames；　or　crushed　beneath　the　weight　of　the　falling　Mansion。

Lorenzo　enquired；　whither　the　Wicket　led？　　He　was　answered；　to
the　Garden　of　the　Capuchins；　and　it　was　resolved　to　explore　an
outlet　upon　that　side。　　Accordingly　the　Duke　raised　the　Latch；
and　passed　into　the　adjoining　Cemetery。　　The　Attendants　followed
without　ceremony。　　Lorenzo；　being　the　last；　was　also　on　the　point
of　quitting　the　Colonnade；　when　He　saw　the　door　of　the　Sepulchre
opened　softly。　　Someone　looked　out；　but　on　perceiving　Strangers
uttered　a　loud　shriek；　started　back　again；　and　flew　down　the
marble　Stairs。

'What　can　this　mean？'　cried　Lorenzo；　'Here　is　some　mystery
concealed。　　Follow　me　without　delay！'

Thus　saying；　He　hastened　into　the　Sepulchre；　and　pursued　the
person　who　continued　to　fly　before　him。　　The　Duke　knew　not　the
cause　of　his　exclamation；　but　supposing　that　He　had　good　reasons
for　it；　he　followed　him　without　hesitation。　　The　Others　did　the
same；　and　the　whole　Party　soon　arrived　at　the　foot　of　the　Stairs。

The　upper　door　having　been　left　open；　the　neighbouring　flames
darted　from　above　a　sufficient　light　to　enable　Lorenzo's　catching
a　glance　of　the　Fugitive　running　through　the　long　passages　and
distant　Vaults：　　But　when　a　sudden　turn　deprived　him　of　this
assistance；　total　darkness　succeeded；　and　He　could　only　trace　the
object　of　his　enquiry　by　the　faint　echo　of　retiring　feet。　　The
Pursuers　were　now　compelled　to　proceed　with　caution：　　As　well　as
they　could　judge；　the　Fugitive　also　seemed　to　slacken　pace；　for
they　heard　the　steps　follow　each　other　at　longer　intervals。　　They
at　length　were　bewildered　by　the　Labyrinth　of　passages；　and
dispersed　in　various　directions。　　Carried　away　by　his　eagerness
to　clear　up　this　mystery；　and　to　penetrate　into　which　He　was
impelled　by　a　movement　secret　and　unaccountable；　Lorenzo　heeded
not　this　circumstance　till　He　found　himself　in　total　solitude。　
The　noise　of　footsteps　had　ceased。　　All　was　silent　around；　and
no　clue　offered　itself　to　guide　him　to　the　flying　Person。　　He
stopped　to　reflect　on　the　means　most　likely　to　aid　his　pursuit。　
He　was　persuaded　that　no　common　cause　would　have　induced　the
Fugitive　to　seek　that　dreary　place　at　an　hour　so　unusual：　　The
cry　which　He　had　heard；　seemed　uttered　in　a　voice　of　terror；　and
He　was　convinced　that　some　mystery　was　attached　to　this　event。　
After　some　minutes　past　in　hesitation　He　continued　to　proceed；
feeling　his　way　along　the　walls　of　the　passage。　　He　had　already
past　some　time　in　this　slow　progress；　when　He　descried　a　spark　of
light　glimmering　at　a　distance。　　Guided　by　this　observation；　and
having　drawn　his　sword；　He　bent　his　steps　towards　the　place；
whence　the　beam　seemed　to　be　emitted。

It　proceeded　from　the　Lamp　which　flamed　before　St。　Clare's
Statue。　　Before　it　stood　several　Females；　their　white　Garments
streaming　in　the　blast；　as　it　howled　along　the　vaulted　dungeons。　
Curious　to　know　what　had　brought　them　together　in　this　melancholy
spot；　Lorenzo　drew　near　with　precaution。　　The　Strangers　seemed
earnestly　engaged　in　conversation。　　They　heard　not　Lorenzo's
steps；　and　He　approached　unobserved；　till　He　could　hear　their
voices　distinctly。

'I　protest；'　continued　She　who　was　speaking　when　He　arrived；　and
to　whom　the　rest　were　listening　with　great　attention；　'I　protest；
that　I　saw　them　with　my　own　eyes。　　I　flew　down　the　steps；　They
pursued　me；　and　I　escaped　falling　into　their　hands　with
difficulty。　　Had　it　not　been　for　the　Lamp；　I　should　never　have
found　you。'

'And　what　could　bring　them　hither？'　said　another　in　a　trembling
voice；　'Do　you　think　that　they　were　looking　for　us？'

'God　grant　that　my　fears　may　be　false；'　rejoined　the　First；　'But
I　doubt　they　are　Murderers！　　If　they　discover　us；　we　are　lost！　
As　for　me；　my　fate　is　certain：　　My　affinity　to　the　Prioress　will
be　a　sufficient　crime　to　condemn　me；　and　though　till　now　these
Vaults　have　afforded　me　a　retreat。　。　。　。　。　。　。'

Here　looking　up；　her　eye　fell　upon　Lorenzo；　who　had　continued　to
approach　softly。

'The　Murderers！'　She　cried

She　started　away　from　the　Statue's　Pedestal　on　which　She　had　been
seated；　and　attempted　to　escape　by　flight。　　Her　Companions　at　the
same　moment　uttered　a　terrified　scream；　while　Lorenzo　arrested
the　Fugitive　by　the　arm。　　Frightened　and　desperate　She　sank　upon
her　knees　before　him。

'Spare　me！'　She　exclaimed；　'For　Christ's　sake；　spare　me！　　I　am
innocent；　indeed；　I　am！'

While　She　spoke；　her　voice　was　almost　choaked　with　fear。　　The
beams　of　the　Lamp　darting　full　upon　her　face　which　was　unveiled；
Lorenzo　recognized　the　beautiful　Virginia　de　Villa…Franca。　　He
hastened　to　raise　her　from　the　ground；　and　besought　her　to　take
courage。　　He　promised　to　protect　her　from　the　Rioters；　assured
her　that　her　retreat　was　still　a　secret；　and　that　She　might
depend　upon　his　readiness　to　defend　her　to　the　last　drop　of　his
blood。　　During　this　conversation；　the　Nuns　had　thrown　themselves
into　various　attit