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shivering seized me。 I started up in my bed； and perceived the
Servant fast asleep in an armed…Chair near me。 I called him by
his name： He made no answer。 I shook him forcibly by the arm；
and strove in vain to wake him。 He was perfectly insensible to
my efforts。 I now heard the heavy steps ascending the
staircase； The Door was thrown open； and again the Bleeding Nun
stood before me。 Once more my limbs were chained in second
infancy。 Once more I heard those fatal words repeated；
''Raymond！ Raymond！ Thou art mine！
Raymond！ Raymond！ I am thine！ &c。''
The scene which had shocked me so sensibly on the former night；
was again presented。 The Spectre again pressed her lips to mine；
again touched me with her rotting fingers； and as on her first
appearance； quitted the chamber as soon as the Clock told 'Two。'
Even night was this repeated。 Far from growing accustomed to the
Ghost； every succeeding visit inspired me with greater horror。
Her idea pursued me continually； and I became the prey of
habitual melancholy。 The constant agitation of my mind naturally
retarded the re…establishment of my health。 Several months
elapsed before I was able to quit my bed； and when at length I
was moved to a Sopha； I was so faint； spiritless； and emaciated；
that I could not cross the room without assistance。 The looks of
my Attendants sufficiently denoted the little hope； which they
entertained of my recovery。 The profound sadness； which
oppressed me without remission made the Physician consider me to
be an Hypochondriac。 The cause of my distress I carefully
concealed in my own bosom； for I knew that no one could give me
relief： The Ghost was not even visible to any eye but mine。 I
had frequently caused Attendants to sit up in my room： But the
moment that the Clock struck 'One；' irresistible slumber seized
them； nor left them till the departure of the Ghost。
You may be surprized that during this time I made no enquiries
after your Sister。 Theodore； who with difficulty had discovered
my abode； had quieted my apprehensions for her safety： At the
same time He convinced me that all attempts to release her from
captivity must be fruitless till I should be in a condition to
return to Spain。 The particulars of her adventure which I shall
now relate to you； were partly communicated to me by Theodore；
and partly by Agnes herself。
On the fatal night when her elopement was to have taken place；
accident had not permitted her to quit her chamber at the
appointed time。 At length She ventured into 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