volume02-第4节

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it　gave　him　sincere　pain；　and　He　expressed　himself　in　my　favour　so　warmly；　that　I　endeavoured　to　win　him　over　to　my　interest。　　Scarcely　had　I　mentioned　the　name　of　Agnes　when　He　stopped　me　short；　and　said；　that　it　was　totally　out　of　his　power　to　interfere　in　the　business。　　I　saw　that　it　was　in　vain　to　argue；　The　Baroness　governed　her　Husband　with　despotic　sway；　and　I　easily　perceived　that　She　had　prejudiced　him　against　the　match。　　Agnes　did　not　appear：　　I　entreated　permission　to　take　leave　of　her；　but　my　prayer　was　rejected。　　I　was　obliged　to　depart　without　seeing　her。

At　quitting　him　the　Baron　shook　my　hand　affectionately；　and　assured　me　that　as　soon　as　his　Niece　was　gone；　I　might　consider　his　House　as　my　own。

'Farewell；　Don　Alphonso！'　said　the　Baroness；　and　stretched　out　her　hand　to　me。

I　took　it；　and　offered　to　carry　it　to　my　lips。　　She　prevented　me。

Her　Husband　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　room；　and　out　of　hearing。

'Take　care　of　yourself；'　She　continued；　'My　love　is　become　hatred；　and　my　wounded　pride　shall　not　be　unatoned。　　Go　where　you　will；　my　vengeance　shall　follow　you！'

She　accompanied　these　words　with　a　look　sufficient　to　make　me　tremble。　　I　answered　not；　but　hastened　to　quit　the　Castle。

As　my　Chaise　drove　out　of　the　Court；　I　looked　up　to　the　windows　of　your　Sister's　chamber。　　Nobody　was　to　be　seen　there：　　I　threw　myself　back　despondent　in　my　Carriage。　　I　was　attended　by　no　other　servants　than　a　Frenchman　whom　I　had　hired　at　Strasbourg　in　Stephano's　room；　and　my　little　Page　whom　I　before　mentioned　to　you。　　The　fidelity；　intelligence；　and　good　temper　of　Theodore　had　already　made　him　dear　to　me；　But　He　now　prepared　to　lay　an　obligation　on　me；　which　made　me　look　upon　him　as　a　Guardian　Genius。　　Scarcely　had　we　proceeded　half　a　mile　from　the　Castle；　when　He　rode　up　to　the　Chaise…door。

'Take　courage；　Segnor！'　said　He　in　Spanish；　which　He　had　already　learnt　to　speak　with　fluency　and　correctness。　'While　you　were　with　the　Baron；　I　watched　the　moment　when　Dame　Cunegonda　was　below　stairs；　and　mounted　into　the　chamber　over　that　of　Donna　Agnes。　　I　sang　as　loud　as　I　could　a　little　German　air　well…known　to　her；　hoping　that　She　would　recollect　my　voice。　　I　was　not　disappointed；　for　I　soon　heard　her　window　open。　　I　hastened　to　let　down　a　string　with　which　I　had　provided　myself：　　Upon　hearing　the　casement　closed　again；　I　drew　up　the　string；　and　fastened　to　it　I　found　this　scrap　of　paper。'

He　then　presented　me　with　a　small　note　addressed　to　me。　　I　opened　it　with　impatience：　　It　contained　the　following　words　written　in　pencil：

Conceal　yourself　for　the　next　fortnight　in　some　neighbouring　Village。　　My　Aunt　will　believe　you　to　have　quitted　Lindenberg；　and　I　shall　be　restored　to　liberty。　　I　will　be　in　the　West　Pavilion　at　twelve　on　the　night　of　the　thirtieth。　　Fail　not　to　be　there；　and　we　shall　have　an　opportunity　of　concerting　our　future　plans。　　Adieu。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Agnes。

At　perusing　these　lines　my　transports　exceeded　all　bounds；　Neither　did　I　set　any　to　the　expressions　of　gratitude　which　I　heaped　upon　Theodore。　　In　fact　his　address　and　attention　merited　my　warmest　praise。　　You　will　readily　believe　that　I　had　not　entrusted　him　with　my　passion　for　Agnes；　But　the　arch　Youth　had　too　much　discernment　not　to　discover　my　secret；　and　too　much　discretion　not　to　conceal　his　knowledge　of　it。　　He　observed　in　silence　what　was　going　on；　nor　strove　to　make　himself　an　Agent　in　the　business　till　my　interests　required　his　interference。　　I　equally　admired　his　judgment；　his　penetration；　his　address；　and　his　fidelity。　　This　was　not　the　first　occasion　in　which　I　had　found　him　of　infinite　use；　and　I　was　every　day　more　convinced　of　his　quickness　and　capacity。　　During　my　short　stay　at　Strasbourg；　He　had　applied　himself　diligently　to　learning　the　rudiments　of　Spanish：　　He　continued　to　study　it；　and　with　so　much　success　that　He　spoke　it　with　the　same　facility　as　his　native　language。　　He　past　the　greatest　part　of　his　time　in　reading；　He　had　acquired　much　information　for　his　Age；　and　united　the　advantages　of　a　lively　countenance　and　prepossessing　figure　to　an　excellent　understanding　and　the　very　best　of　hearts。　　He　is　now　fifteen；　He　is　still　in　my　service；　and　when　you　see　him；　I　am　sure　that　He　will　please　you。　　But　excuse　this　digression：　　I　return　to　the　subject　which　I　quitted。

I　obeyed　the　instructions　of　Agnes。　　I　proceeded　to　Munich。　　There　I　left　my　Chaise　under　the　care　of　Lucas；　my　French　Servant；　and　then　returned　on　Horseback　to　a　small　Village　about　four　miles　distant　from　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg。　　Upon　arriving　there　a　story　was　related　to　the　Host　at　whose　Inn　I　descended；　which　prevented　his　wondering　at　my　making　so　long　a　stay　in　his　House。　The　old　Man　fortunately　was　credulous　and　incurious：　He　believed　all　I　said；　and　sought　to　know　no　more　than　what　I　thought　proper　to　tell　him。　　Nobody　was　with　me　but　Theodore；　Both　were　disguised；　and　as　we　kept　ourselves　close；　we　were　not　suspected　to　be　other　than　what　we　seemed。　　In　this　manner　the　fortnight　passed　away。　　During　that　time　I　had　the　pleasing　conviction　that　Agnes　was　once　more　at　liberty。　　She　past　through　the　Village　with　Dame　Cunegonda：　　She　seemed　in　health　and　spirits；　and　talked　to　her　Companion　without　any　appearance　of　constraint。

'Who　are　those　Ladies？'　said　I　to　my　Host；　as　the　Carriage　past。

'Baron　Lindenberg's　Niece　with　her　Governess；'　He　replied；　'She　goes　regularly　every　Friday　to　the　Convent　of　St。　Catharine；　in　which　She　was　brought　up；　and　which　is　situated　about　a　mile　from　hence。'

You　may　be　certain　that　I　waited　with　impatience　for　the　ensuing　Friday。　　I　again　beheld　my　lovely　Mistress。　　She　cast　her　eyes　upon　me；　as　She　passed　the　Inn…door。　　A　blush　which　overspread　her　cheek　told　me　that　in　spite　of　my　disguise　I　had　been　recognised。　　I　bowed　profoundly。　　She　returned　the　compliment　by　a　slight　inclination　of　the　head　as　if　made　to　one　inferior；　and　looked　another　way　till　the　Carriage　was　out　of　sight。

The　long…expected；　long…wished　for　night　arrived。　　It　was　calm；　and　the　Moon　was　at　the　full。　　As　soon　as　the　Clock　struck　eleven　I　hastened　to　my　appointment；　determined　not　to　be　too　late。　　Theodore　had　provided　a　Ladder；　I　ascended　the　Garden　wall　without　difficulty；　The　Page　followed　me；　and　drew　the　Ladder　after　us。　I　posted　myself　in　the　West　Pavilion；　and　waited　impatiently　for　the　approach　of　Agnes。　　Every　breeze　that　whispered；　every　leaf　that　fell；　I　believed　to　be　her　footstep；　and　hastened　to　meet　her。　　Thus　was　I　obliged　to　pass　a　full　hour；　every　minute　of　which　appeared　to　me　an　age。　　The　Castle　Bell　at　length　tolled　twelve；　and　scarcely　could　I　believe　the　night　to　be　no　further　advanced。　　Another　quarter　of　an　hour　elapsed；　and　I　heard　the　light　foot　of　my　Mistress　approaching　the　Pavilion　with　precaution。　　I　flew　to　receive　her；　and　conducted　her　to　a　seat。　　I　threw　myself　at　her　feet；　and　was　expressing　my　joy　at　seeing　her；　when　She　thus　interrupted　me。

'We　have　no　time　to　lose；　Alphonso：　　The　moments　are　precious；　for　though　no　more　a　Prisoner；　Cunegonda　watches　my　every　step。　　An　express　is　arrived　from　my　Father；　I　must　depart　immediately　for　Madrid；　and　'tis　with　difficulty　that　I　have　obtained　a　week's　delay。　　The　superstition　of　my　Parents；　supported　by　the　representations　of　my　cruel　Aunt；　leaves　me　no　hope　of　softening　them　to　compassion。　　In　this　dilemma　I　have　resolved　to　commit　myself　to　your　honour：　　God　grant　that　you　may　never　give　me　cause　to　repent　my　resolution！　　Flight　is　my　only　resource　from　the　horrors　of　a　Convent；　and　my　imprudence　must　be　excused　by　the　urgency　of　the　danger。　　Now　listen　to　the　plan　by　which　I　hope　to　effect　my　escape。

'We　are　now　at　the　thirtieth　of　April。　　On　the　fifth　day　from　this　the　Visionary　Nun　is　expected　to　appear。　　In　my　last　visit　to　the　Convent　I　provided　myself　with　a　dress　proper　for　the　character：　　A　Friend；　whom　I　have　left　there　and　to　whom　I　made　no　scruple　to　confide　my　secret；　readily　consented　to　supply　me　with　a　religious　habit。　　Provide　a　carriage；　and　be　with　it　at　a　little　distance　from　the　great　Gate　of　the　Castle。　　As　soon　as　the　Clock　strikes　'one；'　I　shall　quit　my　chamber；　drest　in　the　same　apparel　as　the　Ghost　is　supposed　to　wear。　　Whoever　meets　me　will　be　too　much　terrified　to　oppose　my　escape。　　I　shall　easily　reach　the　door；　and　throw　myself　under　your　protection。　　Thus　far　success　is　certain：　　But　Oh！　　Alphonso；　should　you　deceive　me！　　Should　you　despise　my　imprudence　and　reward　it　with　ingratitude；　the　World　will　not　hold　a　Being　more　wretched　than　myself！　　I　feel　all　the　dangers　to　which　I　shall　be　exposed。　　I　feel　that　I　am　giving　you　a　right　to　treat　me　with　levity：　　But　I　rely　upon　your　love；　upon　your　honour！　　The　step　which　I　am　on　the　point　of　taking；　will　incense　my　Relations　against　me：　　Should　you　desert　me；　should　you　betray　the　trust　reposed　in　you；　I　shall　have　no　friend　to　punish　your　insult；　or　support　my　cause。　　On　yourself　alone　rests　all　my　hope；　and　if　your　own　heart　does　not　plead　in　my　behalf；　I　am　undone　for　ever！'

The　tone　in　which　She　pronounced　these　words　was　so　touching；　that　in　spite　of　my　joy　at　receiving　her　promise　to　follow　me；　I　could　not　help　being　affected。　　I　also　repin