volume02-第9节

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'Though　to　you　only　visible　for　one　hour　in　the　twenty…four；　neither　day　or　night　does　She　ever　quit　you；　Nor　will　She　ever　quit　you　till　you　have　granted　her　request。'

'And　what　is　that　request？'

'That　She　must　herself　explain：　　It　lies　not　in　my　knowledge。　　Wait　with　patience　for　the　night　of　Saturday：　All　shall　be　then　cleared　up。'

I　dared　not　press　him　further。　　He　soon　after　changed　the　conversation　and　talked　of　various　matters。　　He　named　People　who　had　ceased　to　exist　for　many　Centuries；　and　yet　with　whom　He　appeared　to　have　been　personally　acquainted。　　I　could　not　mention　a　Country　however　distant　which　He　had　not　visited；　nor　could　I　sufficiently　admire　the　extent　and　variety　of　his　information。　　I　remarked　to　him　that　having　travelled；　seen；　and　known　so　much；　must　have　given　him　infinite　pleasure。　　He　shook　his　head　mournfully。

'No　one；'　He　replied；　'is　adequate　to　comprehending　the　misery　of　my　lot！　　Fate　obliges　me　to　be　constantly　in　movement：　　I　am　not　permitted　to　pass　more　than　a　fortnight　in　the　same　place。　　I　have　no　Friend　in　the　world；　and　from　the　restlessness　of　my　destiny　I　never　can　acquire　one。　　Fain　would　I　lay　down　my　miserable　life；　for　I　envy　those　who　enjoy　the　quiet　of　the　Grave：　But　Death　eludes　me；　and　flies　from　my　embrace。　　In　vain　do　I　throw　myself　in　the　way　of　danger。　　I　plunge　into　the　Ocean；　The　Waves　throw　me　back　with　abhorrence　upon　the　shore：　　I　rush　into　fire；　The　flames　recoil　at　my　approach：　　I　oppose　myself　to　the　fury　of　Banditti；　Their　swords　become　blunted；　and　break　against　my　breast：　　The　hungry　Tiger　shudders　at　my　approach；　and　the　Alligator　flies　from　a　Monster　more　horrible　than　itself。　　God　has　set　his　seal　upon　me；　and　all　his　Creatures　respect　this　fatal　mark！'

He　put　his　hand　to　the　velvet；　which　was　bound　round　his　forehead。　　There　was　in　his　eyes　an　expression　of　fury；　despair；　and　malevolence；　that　struck　horror　to　my　very　soul。　　An　involuntary　convulsion　made　me　shudder。　　The　Stranger　perceived　it。

'Such　is　the　curse　imposed　on　me；'　he　continued：　　'I　am　doomed　to　inspire　all　who　look　on　me　with　terror　and　detestation。　　You　already　feel　the　influence　of　the　charm；　and　with　every　succeeding　moment　will　feel　it　more。　　I　will　not　add　to　your　sufferings　by　my　presence。　　Farewell　till　Saturday。　　As　soon　as　the　Clock　strikes　twelve；　expect　me　at　your　chamber　door。'

Having　said　this　He　departed；　leaving　me　in　astonishment　at　the　mysterious　turn　of　his　manner　and　conversation。

His　assurances　that　I　should　soon　be　relieved　from　the　Apparition's　visits　produced　a　good　effect　upon　my　constitution。　　Theodore；　whom　I　rather　treated　as　an　adopted　Child　than　a　Domestic；　was　surprized　at　his　return　to　observe　the　amendment　in　my　looks。　　He　congratulated　me　on　this　symptom　of　returning　health；　and　declared　himself　delighted　at　my　having　received　so　much　benefit　from　my　conference　with　the　Great　Mogul。　　Upon　enquiry　I　found　that　the　Stranger　had　already　past　eight　days　in　Ratisbon：　　According　to　his　own　account；　therefore；　He　was　only　to　remain　there　six　days　longer。　　Saturday　was　still　at　the　distance　of　Three。　　Oh！　with　what　impatience　did　I　expect　its　arrival！　　In　the　interim；　the　Bleeding　Nun　continued　her　nocturnal　visits；　But　hoping　soon　to　be　released　from　them　altogether；　the　effects　which　they　produced　on　me　became　less　violent　than　before。

The　wished…for　night　arrived。　　To　avoid　creating　suspicion　I　retired　to　bed　at　my　usual　hour：　　But　as　soon　as　my　Attendants　had　left　me；　I　dressed　myself　again；　and　prepared　for　the　Stranger's　reception。　　He　entered　my　room　upon　the　turn　of　midnight。　　A　small　Chest　was　in　his　hand；　which　He　placed　near　the　Stove。　　He　saluted　me　without　speaking；　I　returned　the　compliment；　observing　an　equal　silence。　　He　then　opened　his　Chest。　　The　first　thing　which　He　produced　was　a　small　wooden　Crucifix：　He　sank　upon　his　knees；　gazed　upon　it　mournfully；　and　cast　his　eyes　towards　heaven。　　He　seemed　to　be　praying　devoutly。　　At　length　He　bowed　his　head　respectfully；　kissed　the　Crucifix　thrice；　and　quitted　his　kneeling　posture。　　He　next　drew　from　the　Chest　a　covered　Goblet：　With　the　liquor　which　it　contained；　and　which　appeared　to　be　blood；　He　sprinkled　the　floor；　and　then　dipping　in　it　one　end　of　the　Crucifix；　He　described　a　circle　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　　Round　about　this　He　placed　various　reliques；　sculls；　thigh…bones　&c；　I　observed；　that　He　disposed　them　all　in　the　forms　of　Crosses。　　Lastly　He　took　out　a　large　Bible；　and　beckoned　me　to　follow　him　into　the　Circle。　　I　obeyed。

'Be　cautious　not　to　utter　a　syllable！'　whispered　the　Stranger；　'Step　not　out　of　the　circle；　and　as　you　love　yourself；　dare　not　to　look　upon　my　face！'

Holding　the　Crucifix　in　one　hand；　the　Bible　in　the　other；　He　seemed　to　read　with　profound　attention。　　The　Clock　struck　'One'！　　As　usual　I　heard　the　Spectre's　steps　upon　the　Staircase：　　But　I　was　not　seized　with　the　accustomed　shivering。　　I　waited　her　approach　with　confidence。　　She　entered　the　room；　drew　near　the　Circle；　and　stopped。　　The　Stranger　muttered　some　words；　to　me　unintelligible。　　Then　raising　his　head　from　the　Book；　and　extending　the　Crucifix　towards　the　Ghost；　He　pronounced　in　a　voice　distinct　and　solemn；

'Beatrice！　　Beatrice！　　Beatrice！'

'What　wouldst　Thou？'　replied　the　Apparition　in　a　hollow　faltering　tone。

'What　disturbs　thy　sleep？　　Why　dost　thou　afflict　and　torture　this　Youth？　　How　can　rest　be　restored　to　thy　unquiet　Spirit？'

'I　dare　not　tell！I　must　not　tell！Fain　would　I　repose　in　my　Grave；　but　stern　commands　force　me　to　prolong　my　punishment！'

'Knowest　Thou　this　blood？　　Knowest　Thou　in　whose　veins　it　flowed？

Beatrice！　Beatrice！　In　his　name　I　charge　thee　to　answer　me！'

'I　dare　not　disobey　my　taskers。'

'Darest　Thou　disobey　Me？'

He　spoke　in　a　commanding　tone；　and　drew　the　sable　band　from　his　forehead。　　In　spite　of　his　injunctions　to　the　contrary；　　Curiosity　would　not　suffer　me　to　keep　my　eyes　off　his　face：　　I　raised　them；　and　beheld　a　burning　Cross　impressed　upon　his　brow。　　For　the　horror　with　which　this　object　inspired　me　I　cannot　account；　but　I　never　felt　its　equal！　　My　senses　left　me　for　some　moments；　A　mysterious　dread　overcame　my　courage；　and　had　not　the　Exorciser　caught　my　hand；　I　should　have　fallen　out　of　the　Circle。

When　I　recovered　myself；　I　perceived　that　the　burning　Cross　had　produced　an　effect　no　less　violent　upon　the　Spectre。　　Her　countenance　expressed　reverence；　and　horror；　and　her　visionary　limbs　were　shaken　by　fear。

'Yes！'　She　said　at　length；　'I　tremble　at　that　mark！　respect　it！I　obey　you！　　Know　then；　that　my　bones　lie　still　unburied：　　They　rot　in　the　obscurity　of　Lindenberg　Hole。　　None　but　this　Youth　has　the　right　of　consigning　them　to　the　Grave。　　His　own　lips　have　made　over　to　me　his　body　and　his　soul：　　Never　will　I　give　back　his　promise；　never　shall　He　know　a　night　devoid　of　terror；　unless　He　engages　to　collect　my　mouldering　bones；　and　deposit　them　in　the　family　vault　of　his　Andalusian　Castle。　　Then　let　thirty　Masses　be　said　for　the　repose　of　my　Spirit；　and　I　trouble　this　world　no　more。　　Now　let　me　depart！　　Those　flames　are　scorching！'

He　let　the　hand　drop　slowly　which　held　the　Crucifix；　and　which　till　then　He　had　pointed　towards　her。　　The　apparition　bowed　her　head；　and　her　form　melted　into　air。　　The　Exorciser　led　me　out　of　the　Circle。　　He　replaced　the　Bible　&c。　　in　the　Chest；　and　then　addressed　himself　to　me；　who　stood　near　him　speechless　from　astonishment。

'Don　Raymond；　you　have　heard　the　conditions　on　which　repose　is　promised　you。　　Be　it　your　business　to　fulfil　them　to　the　letter。　　For　me　nothing　more　remains　than　to　clear　up　the　darkness　still　spread　over　the　Spectre's　History；　and　inform　you　that　when　living；　Beatrice　bore　the　name　of　las　Cisternas。　　She　was　the　great　Aunt　of　your　Grandfather：　　In　quality　of　your　relation；　her　ashes　demand　respect　from　you；　though　the　enormity　of　her　crimes　must　excite　your　abhorrence。　　The　nature　of　those　crimes　no　one　is　more　capable　of　explaining　to　you　than　myself：　　I　was　personally　acquainted　with　the　holy　Man　who　proscribed　her　nocturnal　riots　in　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg；　and　I　hold　this　narrative　from　his　own　lips。

'Beatrice　de　las　Cisternas　took　the　veil　at　an　early　age；　not　by　her　own　choice；　but　at　the　express　command　of　her　Parents。　　She　was　then　too　young　to　regret　the　pleasures　of　which　her　profession　deprived　her：　　But　no　sooner　did　her　warm　and　voluptuous　character　begin　to　be　developed　than　She　abandoned　herself　freely　to　the　impulse　of　her　passions；　and　seized　the　first　opportunity　to　procure　their　gratification。　　This　opportunity　was　at　length　presented；　after　many　obstacles　which　only　added　new　force　to　her　desires。　　She　contrived　to　elope　from　the　Convent；　and　fled　to　Germany　with　the　Baron　Lindenberg。　　She　lived　at　his　Castle　several　months　as　his　avowed　Concubine：　　All　Bavaria　was　scandalized　by　her　impudent　and　abandoned　conduct。　　Her　feasts　vied　in　luxury　with　Cleopatra's；　and　Lindenberg　became　the　Theatre　of　the　most　unbridled　debauchery。　　Not　satisfied　with　displaying　the　incontinence　of　a　Prostitute；　She　professed　herself　an　Atheist：　　She　took　every　opportunity　　to　scoff　at　her　monastic　vows；　and　loaded　with　ridicule　the　most　sacred　ceremonies　of　Religion。

'Possessed　of