the monk(僧侣)-第74节

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While　He　listened　to　her　melancholy　accents；　Lorenzo's
sensibility　became　yet　more　violently　affected。　　The　first　sight
of　such　misery　had　given　a　sensible　shock　to　his　feelings：　　But
that　being　past；　He　now　advanced　towards　the　Captive。　　She　heard
his　steps；　and　uttering　a　cry　of　joy；　dropped　the　Rosary。

'Hark！　　Hark！　　Hark！'　She　cried：　　'Some　one　comes！'

She　strove　to　raise　herself；　but　her　strength　was　unequal　to　the
attempt：　　She　fell　back；　and　as　She　sank　again　upon　the　bed　of
straw；　Lorenzo　heard　the　rattling　of　heavy　chains。　　He　still
approached；　while　the　Prisoner　thus　continued。

'Is　it　you；　Camilla？　　You　are　come　then　at　last？　　Oh！　it　was
time！　　I　thought　that　you　had　forsaken　me；　that　I　was　doomed　to
perish　of　hunger。　　Give　me　to　drink；　Camilla；　for　pity's　sake！　　I
am　faint　with　long　fasting；　and　grown　so　weak　that　I　cannot　raise
myself　from　the　ground。　　Good　Camilla；　give　me　to　drink；　lest　I
expire　before　you！'

Fearing　that　surprize　in　her　enfeebled　state　might　be　fatal；
Lorenzo　was　at　a　loss　how　to　address　her。

'It　is　not　Camilla；'　said　He　at　length；　speaking　in　a　slow　and
gentle　voice。

'Who　is　it　then？'　replied　the　Sufferer：　　'Alix；　perhaps；　or
Violante。　　My　eyes　are　grown　so　dim　and　feeble　that　I　cannot
distinguish　your　features。　　But　whichever　it　is；　if　your　breast
is　sensible　of　the　least　compassion；　if　you　are　not　more　cruel
than　Wolves　and　Tigers；　take　pity　on　my　sufferings。　　You　know
that　I　am　dying　for　want　of　sustenance。　　This　is　the　third　day；
since　these　lips　have　received　nourishment。　　Do　you　bring　me
food？　　Or　come　you　only　to　announce　my　death；　and　learn　how　long
I　have　yet　to　exist　in　agony？'

'You　mistake　my　business；'　replied　Lorenzo；　'I　am　no　Emissary　of
the　cruel　Prioress。　　I　pity　your　sorrows；　and　come　hither　to
relieve　them。'

'To　relieve　them？'　repeated　the　Captive；　'Said　you；　to　relieve
them？'

At　the　same　time　starting　from　the　ground；　and　supporting　herself
upon　her　hands；　She　gazed　upon　the　Stranger　earnestly。

'Great　God！　　It　is　no　illusion！　　A　Man！　　Speak！　　Who　are　you？　
What　brings　you　hither？　　Come　you　to　save　me；　to　restore　me　to
liberty；　to　life　and　light？　　Oh！　speak；　speak　quickly；　lest　I
encourage　an　hope　whose　disappointment　will　destroy　me。'

'Be　calm！'　replied　Lorenzo　in　a　voice　soothing　and　compassionate；
'The　Domina　of　whose　cruelty　you　complain；　has　already　paid　the
forfeit　of　her　offences：　　You　have　nothing　more　to　fear　from　her。

A　few　minutes　will　restore　you　to　liberty；　and　the　embraces　of
your　Friends　from　whom　you　have　been　secluded。　　You　may　rely　upon
my　protection。　　Give　me　your　hand；　and　be　not　fearful。　Let　me
conduct　you　where　you　may　receive　those　attentions　which　your
feeble　state　requires。'

'Oh！　　Yes！　　Yes！　　Yes！'　cried　the　Prisoner　with　an　exulting
shriek；　'There　is　a　God　then；　and　a　just　one！　Joy！　　Joy！　　I　shall
once　more　breath　the　fresh　air；　and　view　the　light　of　the
glorious　sunbeams！　I　will　go　with　you！　Stranger；　I　will　go　with
you！　　Oh！　　Heaven　will　bless　you　for　pitying　an　Unfortunate！　　But
this　too　must　go　with　me；'　She　added　pointing　to　the　small
bundle　which　She　still　clasped　to　her　bosom；　'I　cannot　part　with
this。　　I　will　bear　it　away：　　It　shall　convince　the　world　how
dreadful　are　the　abodes　so　falsely　termed　religious。　　Good
Stranger；　lend　me　your　hand　to　rise：　　I　am　faint　with　want；　and
sorrow；　and　sickness；　and　my　forces　have　quite　forsaken　me！　　So；
that　is　well！'

As　Lorenzo　stooped　to　raise　her；　the　beams　of　the　Lamp　struck
full　upon　his　face。

'Almighty　God！'　She　exclaimed；　'Is　it　possible！　　That　look！　
Those　features！　　Oh！　　Yes；　it　is；　it　is　。　。　。　。　。'

She　extended　her　arms　to　throw　them　round　him；　But　her　enfeebled
frame　was　unable　to　sustain　the　emotions　which　agitated　her
bosom。　　She　fainted；　and　again　sank　upon　the　bed　of　straw。

Lorenzo　was　surprized　at　her　last　exclamation。　　He　thought　that
He　had　before　heard　such　accents　as　her　hollow　voice　had　just
formed；　but　where　He　could　not　remember。　　He　saw　that　in　her
dangerous　situation　immediate　physical　aid　was　absolutely
necessary；　and　He　hastened　to　convey　her　from　the　dungeon。　　He
was　at　first　prevented　from　doing　so　by　a　strong　chain　fastened
round　the　prisoner's　body；　and　fixing　her　to　the　neighbouring
Wall。　　However；　his　natural　strength　being　aided　by　anxiety　to
relieve　the　Unfortunate；　He　soon　forced　out　the　Staple　to　which
one　end　of　the　Chain　was　attached。　Then　taking　the　Captive　in　his
arms；　He　bent　his　course　towards　the　Staircase。　　The　rays　of　the
Lamp　above；　as　well　as　the　murmur　of　female　voices；　guided　his
steps。　He　gained　the　Stairs；　and　in　a　few　minutes　after　arrived
at　the　iron…grate。

The　Nuns　during　his　absence　had　been　terribly　tormented　by
curiosity　and　apprehension：　　They　were　equally　surprized　and
delighted　on　seeing　him　suddenly　emerge　from　the　Cave。　　Every
heart　was　filled　with　compassion　for　the　miserable　Creature　whom
He　bore　in　his　arms。　　While　the　Nuns；　and　Virginia　in　particular；
employed　themselves　in　striving　to　recall　her　to　her　senses；
Lorenzo　related　in　few　words　the　manner　of　his　finding　her。　　He
then　observed　to　them　that　by　this　time　the　tumult　must　have　been
quelled；　and　that　He　could　now　conduct　them　to　their　Friends
without　danger。　　All　were　eager　to　quit　the　Sepulchre：　　Still　to
prevent　all　possibility　of　ill…usage；　they　besought　Lorenzo　to
venture　out　first　alone；　and　examine　whether　the　Coast　was
clear。　With　this　request　He　complied。　　Helena　offered　to　conduct
him　to　the　Staircase；　and　they　were　on　the　point　of　departing；
when　a　strong　light　flashed　from　several　passages　upon　the
adjacent　walls。　　At　the　same　time　Steps　were　heard　of　people
approaching　hastily；　and　whose　number　seemed　to　be　considerable。　
The　Nuns　were　greatly　alarmed　at　this　circumstance：　　They
supposed　their　retreat　to　be　discovered；　and　the　Rioters　to　be
advancing　in　pursuit　of　them。　　Hastily　quitting　the　Prisoner　who
remained　insensible；　they　crowded　round　Lorenzo；　and　claimed　his
promise　to　protect　them。　　Virginia　alone　forgot　her　own　danger　by
striving　to　relieve　the　sorrows　of　Another。　　She　supported　the
Sufferer's　head　upon　her　knees；　bathing　her　temples　with
rose…water；　chafing　her　cold　hands；　and　sprinkling　her　face　with
tears　which　were　drawn　from　her　by　compassion。　　The　Strangers
approaching　nearer；　Lorenzo　was　enabled　to　dispel　the　fears　of
the　Suppliants。　　His　name；　pronounced　by　a　number　of　voices　among
which　He　distinguished　the　Duke's；　pealed　along　the　Vaults；　and
convinced　him　that　He　was　the　object　of　their　search。　　He
communicated　this　intelligence　to　the　Nuns；　who　received　it　with
rapture。　　A　few　moments　after　confirmed　his　idea。　　Don　Ramirez；
as　well　as　the　Duke；　appeared；　followed　by　Attendants　with
Torches。　　They　had　been　seeking　him　through　the　Vaults；　in　order
to　let　him　know　that　the　Mob　was　dispersed；　and　the　riot　entirely
over。　　Lorenzo　recounted　briefly　his　adventure　in　the　Cavern；　and
explained　how　much　the　Unknown　was　in　want　of　medical
assistance。　　He　besought　the　Duke　to　take　charge　of　her；　as　well
as　of　the　Nuns　and　Pensioners。

'As　for　me；'　said　He；　'Other　cares　demand　my　attention。　　While
you　with　one　half　of　the　Archers　convey　these　Ladies　to　their
respective　homes；　I　wish　the　other　half　to　be　left　with　me。　　I
will　examine　the　Cavern　below；　and　pervade　the　most　secret
recesses　of　the　Sepulchre。　　I　cannot　rest　till　convinced　that
yonder　wretched　Victim　was　the　only　one　confined　by　Superstition
in　these　vaults。'

The　Duke　applauded　his　intention。　　Don　Ramirez　offered　to　assist
him　in　his　enquiry；　and　his　proposal　was　accepted　with　gratitude。

The　Nuns　having　made　their　acknowledgments　to　Lorenzo；　committed
themselves　to　the　care　of　his　Uncle；　and　were　conducted　from　the
Sepulchre。　　Virginia　requested　that　the　Unknown　might　be　given　to
her　in　charge；　and　promised　to　let　Lorenzo　know　whenever　She　was
sufficiently　recovered　to　accept　his　visits。　　In　truth；　She　made
this　promise　more　from　consideration　for　herself　than　for　either
Lorenzo　or　the　Captive。　　She　had　witnessed　his　politeness；
gentleness；　and　intrepidity　with　sensible　emotion。　　She　wished
earnestly　to　preserve　his　acquaintance；　and　in　addition　to　the
sentiments　of　pity　which　the　Prisoner　excited；　She　hoped　that　her
attention　to　this　Unfortunate　would　raise　her　a　degree　in　the
esteem　of　Lorenzo。　　She　had　no　occasion　to　trouble　herself　upon
this　head。　　The　kindness　already　displayed　by　her　and　the　tender
concern　which　She　had　shown　for　the　Sufferer　had　gained　her　an
exalted　place　in　his　good　graces。　　While　occupied　in　alleviating
the　Captive's　sorrows；　the　nature　of　her　employment　adorned　her
with　new　charms；　and　rendered　her　beauty　a　thousand　times　more
interesting。　　Lorenzo　viewed　her　with　admiration　and　delight：　　He
considered　her　as　a　ministering　Angel　descended　to　the　aid　of
afflicted　innocence；　nor　could　his　heart　have　resisted　her
attractions；　had　it　not　been　steeled　by　the　remembrance　of
Antonia。

The　Duke　now　conveyed　the　Nuns　in　safety　to　the　Dwellings　of
their　respective　Friends。　　The　rescued　Prisoner　was　still
insensible　and　gave　no　signs　of　life；　except　by　occasional
groans。　　She　was　borne　upon　a　sort　of　lit