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！
Monster of Hypocrisy！ I already suspected your designs； but
forbore your accusation in pity to human frailty。 Silence would
now be criminal： The whole City shall be informed of your
incontinence。 I will unmask you； Villain； and convince the
Church what a Viper She cherishes in her bosom。'
Pale and confused the baffled Culprit stood trembling before her。
He would fain have extenuated his offence； but could find no
apology for his conduct： He could produce nothing but broken
sentences； and excuses which contradicted each other。 Elvira was
too justly incensed to grant the pardon which He requested。 She
protested that She would raise the neighbourhood； and make him an
example to all future Hypocrites。 Then hastening to the Bed； She
called to Antonia to wake； and finding that her voice had no
effect； She took her arm； and raised her forcibly from the
pillow。 The charm operated too powerfully。 Antonia remained
insensible； and on being released by her Mother； sank back upon
the pillow。
'This slumber cannot be natural！' cried the amazed Elvira； whose
indignation increased with every moment。 'Some mystery is
concealed in it； But tremble； Hypocrite； all your villainy shall
soon be unravelled！ Help！ Help！' She exclaimed aloud； 'Within
there！ Flora！ Flora！'
'Hear me for one moment； Lady！' cried the Monk； restored to
himself by the urgency of the danger； 'By all that is sacred and
holy； I swear that your Daughter's honour is still unviolated。
Forgive my transgression！ Spare me the shame of a discovery； and
permit me to regain the Abbey undisturbed。 Grant me this request
in mercy！ I promise not only that Antonia shall be secure from
me in future； but that the rest of my life shall prove 。 。 。 。 。'
Elvira interrupted him abruptly。
'Antonia secure from you？ _I_ will secure her！ You shall betray
no longer the confidence of Parents！ Your iniquity shall be
unveiled to the public eye： All Madrid shall shudder at your
perfidy； your hypocrisy and incontinence。 What Ho！ there！ Flora！
Flora； I say！'
While She spoke thus； the remembrance of Agnes struck upon his
mind。 Thus had She sued to him for mercy； and thus had He
refused her prayer！ It was now his turn to suffer； and He could
not but acknowledge that his punishment was just。 In the
meanwhile Elvira continued to call Flora to her assistance； but
her voice was so choaked with passion that the Servant； who was
buried in profound slumber； was insensible to all her cries：
Elvira dared not go towards the Closet in which Flora slept； lest
the Monk should take that opportunity to escape。 Such indeed was
his intention： He trusted that could He reach the Abbey
unobserved by any other than Elvira； her single testimony would
not suffice to ruin a reputation so well established as his was
in Madrid。 With this idea He gathered up such garments as He had
already thrown off； and hastened towards the Door。 Elvira was
aware of his design； She followed him； and ere He could draw back
the bolt； seized him by the arm； and detained him。
'Attempt not to fly！' said She； 'You quit not this room without
Witnesses of your guilt。'
Ambrosio struggled in vain to disengage himself。 Elvira quitted
not her hold； but redoubled her cries for succour。 The Friar's
danger grew more urgent。 He expected every moment to hear people
assembling at her voice； And worked up to madness by the approach
of ruin； He adopted a resolution equally desperate and savage。
Turning round suddenly； with one hand He grasped Elvira's throat
so as to prevent her continuing her clamour； and with the other；
dashing her violently upon the ground； He dragged her towards the
Bed。 Confused by this unexpected attack； She scarcely had power
to strive at forcing herself from his grasp： While the Monk；
snatching the pillow from beneath her Daughter's head； covering
with it Elvira's face； and pressing his knee upon her stomach
with all his strength； endeavoured to put an end to her
existence。 He succeeded but too well。 Her natural strength
increased by the excess of anguish； long did the Sufferer
struggle to disengage herself； but in vain。 The Monk continued
to kneel upon her breast； witnessed without mercy the convulsive
trembling of her limbs beneath him； and sustained with inhuman
firmness the spectacle of her agonies； when soul and body were on
the point of separating。 Those agonies at length were over。 She
ceased to struggle for life。 The Monk took off the pillow； and
gazed upon her。 Her face was covered with a frightful blackness：
Her limbs moved no more； The blood was chilled in her veins； Her
heart had forgotten to beat； and her hands were stiff and frozen。
Ambrosio beheld before him that once noble and majestic form； now
become a Corse； cold； senseless and disgusting。
This horrible act was no sooner perpetrated； than the Friar
beheld the enormity of his crime。 A cold dew flowed over his
limbs； his eyes closed； He staggered to a chair； and sank into it
almost as lifeless as the Unfortunate who lay extended at his
feet。 From this state He was rouzed by the necessity of flight；
and the danger of being found in Antonia's apartment。 He had no
desire to profit by the execution of his crime。 Antonia now
appeared to him an object of disgust。 A deadly cold had usurped
the place of that warmth which glowed in his bosom： No ideas
offered themselves to his mind but those of death and guilt； of
present shame and future punishment。 Agitated by remorse and
fear He prepared for flight： Yet his terrors did not so
compleatly master his recollection； as to prevent his taking the
precautions necessary for his safety。 He replaced the pillow
upon the bed； gathered up his garments； and with the fatal
Talisman in his hand； bent his unsteady steps towards the door。
Bewildered by fear； He fancied that his flight was opposed by
Legions of Phantoms； Whereever He turned； the disfigured Corse
seemed to lie in his passage； and it was long before He succeeded
in reaching the door。 The enchanted Myrtle produced its former
effect。 The door opened； and He hastened down the staircase。
He entered the Abbey unobserved； and having shut himself into his
Cell； He abandoned his soul to the tortures of unavailing
remorse； and terrors of impending detection。
CHAPTER II
Tell us； ye Dead； will none of you in pity
To those you left behind disclose the secret？
O！ That some courteous Ghost would blab it out；
What 'tis you are； and we must shortly be。
I've heard that Souls departed have sometimes
Fore…warned Men of their deaths：
'Twas kindly done
To knock； and give the alarum。
Blair。
Ambrosio shuddered at himself； when He reflected on his rapid
advances in iniquity。 The enormous crime which He had just
committed filled him with real horror。 The murdered Elvira was
continually before his eyes； and his guilt was already punished
by the agonies of his conscience。 Time； however； considerably
weakened these impressions： One day passed away； another
followed it； and still not the least suspicion was thrown upon
him。 Impunity reconciled him to his guilt： He began to resume
his spirits； and as his fears of detection died away； He paid
less attention to the reproaches of remorse。 Matilda exerted
herself to quiet his alarms。 At the first intelligence of
Elvira's death； She seemed greatly affected； and joined the Monk
in deploring the unhappy catastrophe of his adventure： But when
She found his agitation to be somewhat calmed； and himself better
disposed to listen to her arguments； She proceeded to mention his
offence in milder terms； and convince him that He was not so
highly culpable as He appeared to consider himself。 She
represented that He had only availed himself of the rights which
Nature allows to every one； those of self…preservation： That
either Elvira or himself must have perished； and that her
inflexibility and resolution to ruin him had deservedly marked
her out for the Victim。 She next stated； that as He had before
rendered himself suspected to Elvira； it was a fortunate event
for him that her lips were closed by death； since without this
last adventure； her