volume01-第4节

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h　what　pain　I　should　have　repressed　the　sentiment！　　Ah！　dearest　Aunt；　entreat　my　Mother　to　choose　him　for　our　Confessor。'

'I　entreat　her？'　replied　Leonella；　'I　promise　you　that　I　shall　do　no　such　thing。　　I　do　not　like　this　same　Ambrosio　in　the　least；　He　has　a　look　of　severity　about　him　that　made　me　tremble　from　head　to　foot：　　Were　He　my　Confessor；　I　should　never　have　the　courage　to　avow　one　half　of　my　peccadilloes；　and　then　I　should　be　in　a　rare　condition！　　I　never　saw　such　a　stern…looking　Mortal；　and　hope　that　I　never　shall　see　such　another。　　His　description　of　the　Devil；　God　bless　us！　almost　terrified　me　out　of　my　wits；　and　when　He　spoke　about　Sinners　He　seemed　as　if　He　was　ready　to　eat　them。'

'You　are　right；　Segnora；'　answered　Don　Christoval；　'Too　great　severity　is　said　to　be　Ambrosio's　only　fault。　Exempted　himself　from　human　failings；　He　is　not　sufficiently　indulgent　to　those　of　others；　and　though　strictly　just　and　disinterested　in　his　decisions；　his　government　of　the　Monks　has　already　shown　some　proofs　of　his　inflexibility。　But　the　crowd　is　nearly　dissipated：　　Will　you　permit　us　to　attend　you　home？'

'Oh！　Christ！　Segnor；'　exclaimed　Leonella　affecting　to　blush；　'I　would　not　suffer　such　a　thing　for　the　Universe！　　If　I　came　home　attended　by　so　gallant　a　Cavalier；　My　Sister　is　so　scrupulous　that　She　would　read　me　an　hour's　lecture；　and　I　should　never　hear　the　last　of　it。　　Besides；　I　rather　wish　you　not　to　make　your　proposals　just　at　present。'

'My　proposals？　　I　assure　you；　Segnora。　。　。　。'

'Oh！　Segnor；　I　believe　that　your　assurances　of　impatience　are　all　very　true；　But　really　I　must　desire　a　little　respite。　　It　would　not　be　quite　so　delicate　in　me　to　accept　your　hand　at　first　sight。'

'Accept　my　hand？　　As　I　hope　to　live　and　breathe。　。　。　。'

'Oh！　dear　Segnor；　press　me　no　further；　if　you　love　me！　I　shall　consider　your　obedience　as　a　proof　of　your　affection；　You　shall　hear　from　me　tomorrow；　and　so　farewell。　　But　pray；　Cavaliers；　may　I　not　enquire　your　names？'

'My　Friend's；'　replied　Lorenzo；　'is　the　Conde　d'Ossorio；　and　mine　Lorenzo　de　Medina。'

'　'Tis　sufficient。　　Well；　Don　Lorenzo；　I　shall　acquaint　my　Sister　with　your　obliging　offer；　and　let　you　know　the　result　with　all　expedition。　　Where　may　I　send　to　you？'

'I　am　always　to　be　found　at　the　Medina　Palace。'

'You　may　depend　upon　hearing　from　me。　　Farewell；　Cavaliers。　　Segnor　Conde；　let　me　entreat　you　to　moderate　the　excessive　ardour　of　your　passion：　　However；　to　prove　to　you　that　I　am　not　displeased　with　you；　and　prevent　your　abandoning　yourself　to　despair；　receive　this　mark　of　my　affection；　and　sometimes　bestow　a　thought　upon　the　absent　Leonella。'

As　She　said　this；　She　extended　a　lean　and　wrinkled　hand；　which　her　supposed　Admirer　kissed　with　such　sorry　grace　and　constraint　so　evident；　that　Lorenzo　with　difficulty　repressed　his　inclination　to　laugh。　　Leonella　then　hastened　to　quit　the　Church；　The　lovely　Antonia　followed　her　in　silence；　but　when　She　reached　the　Porch；　She　turned　involuntarily；　and　cast　back　her　eyes　towards　Lorenzo。　　He　bowed　to　her；　as　bidding　her　farewell；　She　returned　the　compliment；　and　hastily　withdrew。

'So；　Lorenzo！'　said　Don　Christoval　as　soon　as　they　were　alone；　'You　have　procured　me　an　agreeable　Intrigue！　　To　favour　your　designs　upon　Antonia；　I　obligingly　make　a　few　civil　speeches　which　mean　nothing　to　the　Aunt；　and　at　the　end　of　an　hour　I　find　myself　upon　the　brink　of　Matrimony！　　How　will　you　reward　me　for　having　suffered　so　grievously　for　your　sake？　　What　can　repay　me　for　having　kissed　the　leathern　paw　of　that　confounded　old　Witch？　　Diavolo！　　She　has　left　such　a　scent　upon　my　lips　that　I　shall　smell　of　garlick　for　this　month　to　come！　　As　I　pass　along　the　Prado；　I　shall　be　taken　for　a　walking　Omelet；　or　some　large　Onion　running　to　seed！'

'I　confess；　my　poor　Count；'　replied　Lorenzo；　'that　your　service　has　been　attended　with　danger；　Yet　am　I　so　far　from　supposing　it　be　past　all　endurance　that　I　shall　probably　solicit　you　to　carry　on　your　amours　still　further。'

'From　that　petition　I　conclude　that　the　little　Antonia　has　made　some　impression　upon　you。'

'I　cannot　express　to　you　how　much　I　am　charmed　with　her。　　Since　my　Father's　death；　My　Uncle　the　Duke　de　Medina；　has　signified　to　me　his　wishes　to　see　me　married；　I　have　till　now　eluded　his　hints；　and　refused　to　understand　them；　But　what　I　have　seen　this　Evening。　。　。　。'

'Well？　　What　have　you　seen　this　Evening？　　Why　surely；　Don　Lorenzo；　You　cannot　be　mad　enough　to　think　of　making　a　Wife　out　of　this　Grand…daughter　of　''as　honest　a　painstaking　Shoe…maker　as　any　in　Cordova''？'

'You　forget；　that　She　is　also　the　Grand…daughter　of　the　late　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas；　But　without　disputing　about　birth　and　titles；　I　must　assure　you；　that　I　never　beheld　a　Woman　so　interesting　as　Antonia。'

'Very　possibly；　But　you　cannot　mean　to　marry　her？'

'Why　not；　my　dear　Conde？　　I　shall　have　wealth　enough　for　both　of　us；　and　you　know　that　my　Uncle　thinks　liberally　upon　the　subject。

From　what　I　have　seen　of　Raymond　de　las　Cisternas；　I　am　certain　that　he　will　readily　acknowledge　Antonia　for　his　Niece。　　Her　birth　therefore　will　be　no　objection　to　my　offering　her　my　hand。　　I　should　be　a　Villain　could　I　think　of　her　on　any　other　terms　than　marriage；　and　in　truth　She　seems　possessed　of　every　quality　requisite　to　make　me　happy　in　a　Wife。　　Young；　lovely；　gentle；　sensible。　。　。　。'

'Sensible？　　Why；　She　said　nothing　but　''Yes；''　and　''No''。'

'She　did　not　say　much　more；　I　must　confessBut　then　She　always　said　''Yes；''　or　''No；''　in　the　right　place。'

'Did　She　so？　　Oh！　your　most　obedient！　　That　is　using　a　right　Lover's　argument；　and　I　dare　dispute　no　longer　with　so　profound　a　Casuist。　　Suppose　we　adjourn　to　the　Comedy？'

'It　is　out　of　my　power。　　I　only　arrived　last　night　at　Madrid；　and　have　not　yet　had　an　opportunity　of　seeing　my　Sister；　You　know　that　her　Convent　is　in　this　Street；　and　I　was　going　thither　when　the　Crowd　which　I　saw　thronging　into　this　Church　excited　my　curiosity　to　know　what　was　the　matter。　　I　shall　now　pursue　my　first　intention；　and　probably　pass　the　Evening　with　my　Sister　at　the　Parlour　grate。'

'Your　Sister　in　a　Convent；　say　you？　　Oh！　very　true；　I　had　forgotten。　　And　how　does　Donna　Agnes？　　I　am　amazed；　Don　Lorenzo；　how　you　could　possibly　think　of　immuring　so　charming　a　Girl　within　the　walls　of　a　Cloister！'

'I　think　of　it；　Don　Christoval？　　How　can　you　suspect　me　of　such　barbarity？　　You　are　conscious　that　She　took　the　veil　by　her　own　desire；　and　that　particular　circumstances　made　her　wish　for　a　seclusion　from　the　World。　　I　used　every　means　in　my　power　to　induce　her　to　change　her　resolution；　The　endeavour　was　fruitless；　and　I　lost　a　Sister！'

'The　luckier　fellow　you；　I　think；　Lorenzo；　you　were　a　considerable　gainer　by　that　loss：　　If　I　remember　right；　Donna　Agnes　had　a　portion　of　ten　thousand　pistoles；　half　of　which　reverted　to　your　Lordship。　　By　St。　Jago！　I　wish　that　I　had　fifty　Sisters　in　the　same　predicament。　I　should　consent　to　losing　them　every　soul　without　much　heart…burning'

'How；　Conde？'　said　Lorenzo　in　an　angry　voice；　'Do　you　suppose　me　base　enough　to　have　influenced　my　Sister's　retirement？　　Do　you　suppose　that　the　despicable　wish　to　make　myself　Master　of　her　fortune　could。　。　。　。'

'Admirable！　　Courage；　Don　Lorenzo！　　Now　the　Man　is　all　in　a　blaze。　　God　grant　that　Antonia　may　soften　that　fiery　temper；　or　we　shall　certainly　cut　each　other's　throat　before　the　Month　is　over！　　However；　to　prevent　such　a　tragical　Catastrophe　for　the　present；　I　shall　make　a　retreat；　and　leave　you　Master　of　the　field。　　Farewell；　my　Knight　of　Mount　Aetna！　　Moderate　that　inflammable　disposition；　and　remember　that　whenever　it　is　necessary　to　make　love　to　yonder　Harridan；　you　may　reckon　upon　my　services。'

He　said；　and　darted　out　of　the　Cathedral。

'How　wild…brained！'　said　Lorenzo；　'With　so　excellent　an　heart；　what　pity　that　He　possesses　so　little　solidity　of　judgment！'

The　night　was　now　fast　advancing。　　The　Lamps　were　not　yet　lighted。　　The　faint　beams　of　the　rising　Moon　scarcely　could　pierce　through　the　gothic　obscurity　of　the　Church。　　Lorenzo　found　himself　unable　to　quit　the　Spot。　　The　void　left　in　his　bosom　by　Antonia's　absence；　and　his　Sister's　sacrifice　which　Don　Christoval　had　just　recalled　to　his　imagination；　created　that　melancholy　of　mind　which　accorded　but　too　well　with　the　religious　gloom　surrounding　him。　　He　was　still　leaning　against　the　seventh　column　from　the　Pulpit。　　A　soft　and　cooling　air　breathed　along　the　solitary　Aisles：　　The　Moonbeams　darting　into　the　Church　through　painted　windows　tinged　the　fretted　roofs　and　massy　pillars　with　a　thousand　various　tints　of　light　and　colours：

Universal　silence　prevailed　around；　only　interrupted　by　the　occasional　closing　of　Doors　in　the　adjoining　Abbey。

The　calm　of　the　hour　and　solitude　of　the　place　contributed　to　nourish　Lorenzo's　disposition　to　melancholy。　He　threw　himself　upon　a　seat　which　stood　near　him；　and　abandoned　himself　to　the　delusions　of　his　fancy。　　He　thought　of　his　union　with　Antonia；　He　thought　of　the　obstacles　which　might　oppose　his　wishes；　and　a　thousand　changing　visions　floated　before　his　fancy；　sad　'tis　true；　but　not　unpleasing。　　Sleep　insensibly　stole　over　him；　and　the　tranquil　solemnity　of　his　mind　when　awak