按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to the haunted room； descended the staircase leading into the Hall； found the Gates open as She expected； and left the Castle unobserved。 What was her surprize at not finding me ready to receive her！ She examined the Cavern； ranged through every Alley of the neighbouring wood； and passed two full hours in this fruitless enquiry。 She could discover no traces either of me or of the Carriage。 Alarmed and disappointed； her only resource was to return to the Castle before the Baroness missed her： But here She found herself in a fresh embarrassment。 The Bell had already tolled 'Two：' The Ghostly hour was past； and the careful Porter had locked the folding gates。 After much irresolution She ventured to knock softly。 Luckily for her； Conrad was still awake： He heard the noise and rose； murmuring at being called up a second time。 No sooner had He opened one of the Doors； and beheld the supposed Apparition waiting there for admittance； than He uttered a loud cry； and sank upon his knees。 Agnes profited by his terror。 She glided by him； flew to her own apartment； and having thrown off her Spectre's trappings； retired to bed endeavouring in vain to account for my disappearing。
In the mean while Theodore having seen my Carriage drive off with the false Agnes； returned joyfully to the Village。 The next morning He released Cunegonda from her confinement； and accompanied her to the Castle。 There He found the Baron； his Lady； and Don Gaston； disputing together upon the Porter's relation。 All of them agreed in believing the existence of Spectres： But the Latter contended； that for a Ghost to knock for admittance was a proceeding till then unwitnessed； and totally incompatible with the immaterial nature of a Spirit。 They were still discussing this subject when the Page appeared with Cunegonda and cleared up the mystery。 On hearing his deposition； it was agreed unanimously that the Agnes whom Theodore had seen step into my Carriage must have been the Bleeding Nun； and that the Ghost who had terrified Conrad was no other than Don Gaston's Daughter。
The first surprize which this discovery occasioned being over； the Baroness resolved to make it of use in persuading her Niece to take the veil。 Fearing lest so advantageous an establishment for his Daughter should induce Don Gaston to renounce his resolution； She suppressed my letter； and continued to represent me as a needy unknown Adventurer。 A childish vanity had led me to conceal my real name even from my Mistress； I wished to be loved for myself； not for being the Son and Heir of the Marquis de las Cisternas。 The consequence was that my rank was known to no one in the Castle except the Baroness； and She took good care to confine the knowledge to her own breast。 Don Gaston having approved his Sister's design； Agnes was summoned to appear before them。 She was taxed with having meditated an elopement； obliged to make a full confession； and was amazed at the gentleness with which it was received： But what was her affliction； when informed that the failure of her project must be attributed to me！ Cunegonda； tutored by the Baroness； told her that when I released her； I had desired her to inform her Lady that our connexion was at an end； that the whole affair was occasioned by a false report； and that it by no means suited my circumstances to marry a Woman without fortune or expectations。
To this account my sudden disappearing gave but too great an air of probability。 Theodore； who could have contradicted the story； by Donna Rodolpha's order was kept out of her sight： What proved a still greater confirmation of my being an Impostor； was the arrival of a letter from yourself declaring that you had no sort of acquaintance with Alphonso d'Alvarada。 These seeming proofs of my perfidy； aided by the artful insinuations of her Aunt； by Cunegonda's flattery； and her Father's threats and anger； entirely conquered your Sister's repugnance to a Convent。 Incensed at my behaviour； and disgusted with the world in general； She consented to receive the veil。 She past another Month at the Castle of Lindenberg； during which my non…appearance confirmed her in her resolution； and then accompanied Don Gaston into Spain。 Theodore was now set at liberty。 He hastened to Munich； where I had promised to let him hear from me； But finding from Lucas that I had never arrived there； He pursued his search with indefatigable perseverance； and at length succeeded in rejoining me at Ratisbon。
So much was I altered； that scarcely could He recollect my features： The distress visible upon his sufficiently testified how lively was the interest which He felt for me。 The society of this amiable Boy； whom I had always considered rather as a Companion than a Servant； was now my only comfort。 His conversation was gay yet sensible； and his observations shrewd and entertaining： He had picked up much more knowledge than is usual at his Age： But what rendered him most agreeable to me； was his having a delightful voice； and some skill in Music。 He had also acquired some taste in poetry； and even ventured sometimes to write verses himself。 He occasionally composed little Ballads in Spanish； his compositions were but indifferent； I must confess； yet they were pleasing to me from their novelty； and hearing him sing them to his guitar was the only amusement； which I was capable of receiving。 Theodore perceived well enough that something preyed upon my mind； But as I concealed the cause of my grief even from him； Respect would not permit him to pry into my secrets。
One Evening I was lying upon my Sopha； plunged in reflections very far from agreeable： Theodore amused himself by observing from the window a Battle between two Postillions； who were quarrelling in the Inn…yard。
'Ha！ Ha！' cried He suddenly； 'Yonder is the Great Mogul。'
'Who？' said I。
'Only a Man who made me a strange speech at Munich。'
'What was the purport of it？'
'Now you put me in mind of it； Segnor； it was a kind of message to you； but truly it was not worth delivering。 I believe the Fellow to be mad； for my part。 When I came to Munich in search of you； I found him living at 'The King of the Romans；' and the Host gave me an odd account of him。 By his accent He is supposed to be a Foreigner； but of what Country nobody can tell。 He seemed to have no acquaintance in the Town； spoke very seldom； and never was seen to smile。 He had neither Servants or Baggage； But his Purse seemed well…furnished； and He did much good in the Town。 Some supposed him to be an Arabian Astrologer； Others to be a Travelling Mountebank； and many declared that He was Doctor Faustus； whom the Devil had sent back to Germany。 The Landlord； however told me； that He had the best reasons to believe him to be the Great Mogul incognito。'
'But the strange speech； Theodore。'
'True； I had almost forgotten the speech： Indeed for that matter； it would not have been a great loss if I had forgotten it altogether。 You are to know； Segnor； that while I was enquiring about you of the Landlord； this Stranger passed by。 He stopped； and looked at me earnestly。 'Youth！' said He in a solemn voice； 'He whom you seek； has found that which He would fain lose。 My hand alone can dry up the blood： Bid your Master wish for me when the Clock strikes； 'One。'
'How？' cried I； starting from my Sopha。 （The words which Theodore had repeated； seemed to imply the Stranger's knowledge of my secret） 'Fly to him； my Boy！ Entreat him to grant me one moment's conversation！'
Theodore was surprised at the vivacity of my manner： However； He asked no questions； but hastened to obey me。 I waited his return impatiently。 But a short space of time had elapsed when He again appeared and ushered the expected Guest into my chamber。 He was a Man of majestic presence： His countenance was strongly marked； and his eyes were large； black； and sparkling： Yet there was a something in his look which； the moment that I saw him； inspired me with a secret awe； not to say horror。 He was drest plainly； his hair was unpowdered； and a band of black velvet which encircled his forehead spread over his features an additional gloom。 His countenance wore the marks of profound melancholy； his step was slow； and his manner grave； stately； and solemn。
He saluted me with politeness； and having replied to the usual compliments of introduction； He motioned to Theodore to quit the chamber。 The Page instantly withdrew。
'I know your business；' said He； without giving me time to speak。
'I have the power of releasing you from your nightly Visitor； But this cannot be done before Sunday。 On the hour when the Sabbath Morning breaks； Spirits of darkness have least influence over Mortals。 After Saturday the Nun shall visit you no more。'
'May I not enquire；' said I； 'by what means you are in possession of a secret which I have carefully concealed from the knowledge of everyone？'
'How can I be ignorant of your distress； when their cause at this moment stands beside you？'
I started。 The Stranger continued。
'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？