volume01-第5节

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t　not　unpleasing。　　Sleep　insensibly　stole　over　him；　and　the　tranquil　solemnity　of　his　mind　when　awake　for　a　while　continued　to　influence　his　slumbers。

He　still　fancied　himself　to　be　in　the　Church　of　the　Capuchins；　but　it　was　no　longer　dark　and　solitary。　　Multitudes　of　silver　Lamps　shed　splendour　from　the　vaulted　Roof；　Accompanied　by　the　captivating　chaunt　of　distant　choristers；　the　Organ's　melody　swelled　through　the　Church；　The　Altar　seemed　decorated　as　for　some　distinguished　feast；　It　was　surrounded　by　a　brilliant　Company；　and　near　it　stood　Antonia　arrayed　in　bridal　white；　and　blushing　with　all　the　charms　of　Virgin　Modesty。

Half　hoping；　half　fearing；　Lorenzo　gazed　upon　the　scene　before　him。　　Sudden　the　door　leading　to　the　Abbey　unclosed；　and　He　saw；　attended　by　a　long　train　of　Monks；　the　Preacher　advance　to　whom　He　had　just　listened　with　so　much　admiration。　　He　drew　near　Antonia。

'And　where　is　the　Bridegroom？'　said　the　imaginary　Friar。

Antonia　seemed　to　look　round　the　Church　with　anxiety。　　Involuntarily　the　Youth　advanced　a　few　steps　from　his　concealment。　　She　saw　him；　The　blush　of　pleasure　glowed　upon　her　cheek；　With　a　graceful　motion　of　her　hand　She　beckoned　to　him　to　advance。　　He　disobeyed　not　the　command；　He　flew　towards　her；　and　threw　himself　at　her　feet。

She　retreated　for　a　moment；　Then　gazing　upon　him　with　unutterable　delight；'Yes！'　She　exclaimed；　'My　Bridegroom！　　My　destined　Bridegroom！'　She　said；　and　hastened　to　throw　herself　into　his　arms；　But　before　He　had　time　to　receive　her；　an　Unknown　rushed　between　them。　　His　form　was　gigantic；　His　complexion　was　swarthy；　His　eyes　fierce　and　terrible；　his　Mouth　breathed　out　volumes　of　fire；　and　on　his　forehead　was　written　in　legible　characters'Pride！　Lust！　Inhumanity！'

Antonia　shrieked。　　The　Monster　clasped　her　in　his　arms；　and　springing　with　her　upon　the　Altar；　tortured　her　with　his　odious　caresses。　　She　endeavoured　in　vain　to　escape　from　his　embrace。　　Lorenzo　flew　to　her　succour；　but　ere　He　had　time　to　reach　her；　a　loud　burst　of　thunder　was　heard。　　Instantly　the　Cathedral　seemed　crumbling　into　pieces；　The　Monks　betook　themselves　to　flight；　shrieking　fearfully；　The　Lamps　were　extinguished；　the　Altar　sank　down；　and　in　its　place　appeared　an　abyss　vomiting　forth　clouds　of　flame。　　Uttering　a　loud　and　terrible　cry　the　Monster　plunged　into　the　Gulph；　and　in　his　fall　attempted　to　drag　Antonia　with　him。　　He　strove　in　vain。　　Animated　by　supernatural　powers　She　disengaged　herself　from　his　embrace；　But　her　white　Robe　was　left　in　his　possession。　　Instantly　a　wing　of　brilliant　splendour　spread　itself　from　either　of　Antonia's　arms。　　She　darted　upwards；　and　while　ascending　cried　to　Lorenzo；

'Friend！　we　shall　meet　above！'

At　the　same　moment　the　Roof　of　the　Cathedral　opened；　Harmonious　voices　pealed　along　the　Vaults；　and　the　glory　into　which　Antonia　was　received　was　composed　of　rays　of　such　dazzling　brightness；　that　Lorenzo　was　unable　to　sustain　the　gaze。　　His　sight　failed；　and　He　sank　upon　the　ground。

When　He　woke；　He　found　himself　extended　upon　the　pavement　of　the　Church：　　It　was　Illuminated；　and　the　chaunt　of　Hymns　sounded　from　a　distance。　　For　a　while　Lorenzo　could　not　persuade　himself　that　what　He　had　just　witnessed　had　been　a　dream；　so　strong　an　impression　had　it　made　upon　his　fancy。　　A　little　recollection　convinced　him　of　its　fallacy：　　The　Lamps　had　been　lighted　during　his　sleep；　and　the　music　which　he　heard　was　occasioned　by　the　Monks；　who　were　celebrating　their　Vespers　in　the　Abbey　Chapel。

Lorenzo　rose；　and　prepared　to　bend　his　steps　towards　his　Sister's　Convent。　　His　mind　fully　occupied　by　the　singularity　of　his　dream；　He　already　drew　near　the　Porch；　when　his　attention　was　attracted　by　perceiving　a　Shadow　moving　upon　the　opposite　wall。　　He　looked　curiously　round；　and　soon　descried　a　Man　wrapped　up　in　his　Cloak；　who　seemed　carefully　examining　whether　his　actions　were　observed。　　Very　few　people　are　exempt　from　the　influence　of　curiosity。　　The　Unknown　seemed　anxious　to　conceal　his　business　in　the　Cathedral；　and　it　was　this　very　circumstance；　which　made　Lorenzo　wish　to　discover　what　He　was　about。

Our　Hero　was　conscious　that　He　had　no　right　to　pry　into　the　secrets　of　this　unknown　Cavalier。

'I　will　go；'　said　Lorenzo。　　And　Lorenzo　stayed；　where　He　was。

The　shadow　thrown　by　the　Column；　effectually　concealed　him　from　the　Stranger；　who　continued　to　advance　with　caution。　　At　length　He　drew　a　letter　from　beneath　his　cloak；　and　hastily　placed　it　beneath　a　Colossal　Statue　of　St。　Francis。　　Then　retiring　with　precipitation；　He　concealed　himself　in　a　part　of　the　Church　at　a　considerable　distance　from　that　in　which　the　Image　stood。

'So！'　said　Lorenzo　to　himself；　'This　is　only　some　foolish　love　affair。　　I　believe；　I　may　as　well　be　gone；　for　I　can　do　no　good　in　it。'

In　truth　till　that　moment　it　never　came　into　his　head　that　He　could　do　any　good　in　it；　But　He　thought　it　necessary　to　make　some　little　excuse　to　himself　for　having　indulged　his　curiosity。　　He　now　made　a　second　attempt　to　retire　from　the　Church：　　For　this　time　He　gained　the　Porch　without　meeting　with　any　impediment；　But　it　was　destined　that　He　should　pay　it　another　visit　that　night。　As　He　descended　the　steps　leading　into　the　Street；　a　Cavalier　rushed　against　him　with　such　violence；　that　Both　were　nearly　overturned　by　the　concussion。　　Lorenzo　put　his　hand　to　his　sword。

'How　now；　Segnor？'　said　He；　'What　mean　you　by　this　rudeness？'

'Ha！　　Is　it　you；　Medina？'　replied　the　Newcomer；　whom　Lorenzo　by　his　voice　now　recognized　for　Don　Christoval；　'You　are　the　luckiest　Fellow　in　the　Universe；　not　to　have　left　the　Church　before　my　return。　　In；　in！　my　dear　Lad！　　They　will　be　here　immediately！'

'Who　will　be　here？'

'The　old　Hen　and　all　her　pretty　little　Chickens！　　In；　I　say；　and　then　you　shall　know　the　whole　History。'

Lorenzo　followed　him　into　the　Cathedral；　and　they　concealed　themselves　behind　the　Statue　of　St。　Francis。

'And　now；'　said　our　Hero；　'may　I　take　the　liberty　of　asking；　what　is　the　meaning　of　all　this　haste　and　rapture？'

'Oh！　Lorenzo；　we　shall　see　such　a　glorious　sight！　　The　Prioress　of　St。　Clare　and　her　whole　train　of　Nuns　are　coming　hither。　　You　are　to　know；　that　the　pious　Father　Ambrosio　（The　Lord　reward　him　for　it！）　will　upon　no　account　move　out　of　his　own　precincts：　　It　being　absolutely　necessary　for　every　fashionable　Convent　to　have　him　for　its　Confessor；　the　Nuns　are　in　consequence　obliged　to　visit　him　at　the　Abbey；　since　when　the　Mountain　will　not　come　to　Mahomet；　Mahomet　must　needs　go　to　the　Mountain。　　Now　the　Prioress　of　St。　Clare；　the　better　to　escape　the　gaze　of　such　impure　eyes　as　belong　to　yourself　and　your　humble　Servant；　thinks　proper　to　bring　her　holy　flock　to　confession　in　the　Dusk：　She　is　to　be　admitted　into　the　Abbey　Chapel　by　yon　private　door。　　The　Porteress　of　St。　Clare；　who　is　a　worthy　old　Soul　and　a　particular　Friend　of　mine；　has　just　assured　me　of　their　being　here　in　a　few　moments。　　There　is　news　for　you；　you　Rogue！　　We　shall　see　some　of　the　prettiest　faces　in　Madrid！'

'In　truth；　Christoval；　we　shall　do　no　such　thing。　　The　Nuns　are　always　veiled。'

'No！　　No！　　I　know　better。　　On　entering　a　place　of　worship；　they　ever　take　off　their　veils　from　respect　to　the　Saint　to　whom　'tis　dedicated。　　But　Hark！　　They　are　coming！　　Silence；　silence！　　Observe；　and　be　convinced。'

'Good！'　said　Lorenzo　to　himself；　'I　may　possibly　discover　to　whom　the　vows　are　addressed　of　this　mysterious　Stranger。'

Scarcely　had　Don　Christoval　ceased　to　speak；　when　the　Domina　of　St。　Clare　appeared；　followed　by　a　long　procession　of　Nuns。　　Each　upon　entering　the　Church　took　off　her　veil。　　The　Prioress　crossed　her　hands　upon　her　bosom；　and　made　a　profound　reverence　as　She　passed　the　Statue　of　St。　Francis；　the　Patron　of　this　Cathedral。　The　Nuns　followed　her　example；　and　several　moved　onwards　without　having　satisfied　Lorenzo's　curiosity。　　He　almost　began　to　despair　of　seeing　the　mystery　cleared　up；　when　in　paying　her　respects　to　St。　Francis；　one　of　the　Nuns　happened　to　drop　her　Rosary。　　As　She　stooped　to　pick　it　up；　the　light　flashed　full　upon　her　face。　　At　the　same　moment　She　dexterously　removed　the　letter　from　beneath　the　Image；　placed　it　in　her　bosom；　and　hastened　to　resume　her　rank　in　the　procession。

'Ha！'　said　Christoval　in　a　low　voice；　'Here　we　have　some　little　Intrigue；　no　doubt。'

'Agnes；　by　heaven！'　cried　Lorenzo。

'What；　your　Sister？　　Diavolo！　　Then　somebody；　I　suppose；　will　have　to　pay　for　our　peeping。'

'And　shall　pay　for　it　without　delay；'　replied　the　incensed　Brother。

The　pious　procession　had　now　entered　the　Abbey；　The　Door　was　already　closed　upon　it。　　The　Unknown　immediately　quitted　his　concealment　and　hastened　to　leave　the　Church：　　Ere　He　could　effect　his　intention；　He　descried　Medina　stationed　in　his　passage。　　The　Stranger　hastily　retreated；　and　drew　his　Hat　over　his　eyes。

'Attempt　not　to　fly　me！'　exclaimed　Lorenzo；　'I　will　know　who　you　are；　and　what　were　the　contents　of　that　Letter。'

'Of　that　Letter？'　repeated　the　Unknown。　　'And　by　what　title　do　you　ask　the　question？'

'By　a　title　of　which　I　am　now　ashamed；　But　it　becomes　not　you　to　question　me。　　Either　reply　circumstantially　to　my　demands；　or　answer　me　with　your　Sword。'

'The　latter　method　will　be　the　shortest；'