volume02- 第15部分

Antonia　subscribed　to　every　thing　without　hesitation；　though　not　without　regret。　　Her　Mother　kissed　her　affectionately；　and　retired　to　bed。　　Antonia　followed　her　example；　and　vowed　so　frequently　never　more　to　think　of　Lorenzo；　that　till　Sleep　closed　her　eyes　She　thought　of　nothing　else。

While　this　was　passing　at　Elvira's；　Lorenzo　hastened　to　rejoin　the　Marquis。　　Every　thing　was　ready　for　the　second　elopement　of　Agnes；　and　at　twelve　the　two　Friends　with　a　Coach　and　four　were　at　the　Garden　wall　of　the　Convent。　　Don　Raymond　drew　out　his　Key；　and　unlocked　the　door。　　They　entered；　and　waited　for　some　time　in　expectation　of　being　joined　by　Agnes。　　At　length　the　Marquis　grew　impatient：　　Beginning　to　fear　that　his　second　attempt　would　succeed　no　better　than　the　first；　He　proposed　to　reconnoitre　the　Convent。　　The　Friends　advanced　towards　it。　　Every　thing　was　still　and　dark。　　The　Prioress　was　anxious　to　keep　the　story　a　secret；　fearing　lest　the　crime　of　one　of　its　members　should　bring　disgrace　upon　the　whole　community；　or　that　the　interposition　of　powerful　Relations　should　deprive　her　vengeance　of　its　intended　victim。　　She　took　care　therefore　to　give　the　Lover　of　Agnes　no　cause　to　suppose　that　his　design　was　discovered；　and　his　Mistress　on　the　point　of　suffering　the　punishment　of　her　fault。　　The　same　reason　made　her　reject　the　idea　of　arresting　the　unknown　Seducer　in　the　Garden；　Such　a　proceeding　would　have　created　much　disturbance；　and　the　disgrace　of　her　Convent　would　have　been　noised　about　Madrid。　　She　contented　herself　with　confining　Agnes　closely；　As　to　the　Lover；　She　left　him　at　liberty　to　pursue　his　designs。　　What　She　had　expected　was　the　result。　　The　Marquis　and　Lorenzo　waited　in　vain　till　the　break　of　day：　　They　then　retired　without　noise；　alarmed　at　the　failure　of　their　plan；　and　ignorant　of　the　cause　of　its　ill…success。

The　next　morning　Lorenzo　went　to　the　Convent；　and　requested　to　see　his　Sister。　　The　Prioress　appeared　at　the　Grate　with　a　melancholy　countenance：　　She　informed　him　that　for　several　days　Agnes　had　appeared　much　agitated；　That　She　had　been　prest　by　the　Nuns　in　vain　to　reveal　the　cause；　and　apply　to　their　tenderness　for　advice　and　consolation；　That　She　had　obstinately　persisted　in　concealing　the　cause　of　her　distress；　But　that　on　Thursday　Evening　it　had　produced　so　violent　an　effect　upon　her　constitution；　that　She　had　fallen　ill；　and　was　actually　confined　to　her　bed。　　Lorenzo　did　not　credit　a　syllable　of　this　account：　　He　insisted　upon　seeing　his　Sister；　If　She　was　unable　to　come　to　the　Grate；　He　desired　to　be　admitted　to　her　Cell。　　The　Prioress　crossed　herself！　　She　was　shocked　at　the　very　idea　of　a　Man's　profane　eye　pervading　the　interior　of　her　holy　Mansion；　and　professed　herself　astonished　that　Lorenzo　could　think　of　such　a　thing。　　She　told　him　that　his　request　could　not　be　granted；　But　that　if　He　returned　the　next　day；　She　hoped　that　her　beloved　Daughter　would　then　be　sufficiently　recovered　to　join　him　at　the　Parlour　grate。

With　this　answer　Lorenzo　was　obliged　to　retire；　unsatisfied　and　trembling　for　his　Sister's　safety。

He　returned　the　next　morning　at　an　early　hour。　　'Agnes　was　worse；　The　Physician　had　pronounced　her　to　be　in　imminent　danger；　She　was　ordered　to　remain　quiet；　and　it　was　utterly　impossible　for　her　to　receive　her　Brother's　visit。'　　Lorenzo　stormed　at　this　answer；　but　there　was　no　resource。　　He　raved；　He　entreated；　He　threatened：　　No　means　were　left　untried　to　obtain　a　sight　of　Agnes。　　His　endeavours　were　as　fruitless　as　those　of　the　day　before；　and　He　returned　in　despair　to　the　Marquis。　　On　his　side；　the　Latter　had　spared　no　pains　to　discover　what　had　occasioned　his　plot　to　fail：　　Don　Christoval；　to　whom　the　affair　was　now　entrusted；　endeavoured　to　worm　out　the　secret　from　the　Old　Porteress　of　St。　Clare；　with　whom　He　had　formed　an　acquaintance；　But　She　was　too　much　upon　her　guard；　and　He　gained　from　her　no　intelligence。　The　Marquis　was　almost　distracted；　and　Lorenzo　felt　scarcely　less　inquietude。　　Both　were　convinced　that　the　purposed　elopement　must　have　been　discovered：　　They　doubted　not　but　the　malady　of　Agnes　was　a　pretence；　But　they　knew　not　by　what　means　to　rescue　her　from　the　hands　of　the　Prioress。

Regularly　every　day　did　Lorenzo　visit　the　Convent：　As　regularly　was　He　informed　that　his　Sister　rather　grew　worse　than　better。　　Certain　that　her　indisposition　was　feigned；　these　accounts　did　not　alarm　him：　　But　his　ignorance　of　her　fate；　and　of　the　motives　which　induced　the　Prioress　to　keep　her　from　him；　excited　the　most　serious　uneasiness。　　He　was　still　uncertain　what　steps　He　ought　to　take；　when　the　Marquis　received　a　letter　from　the　Cardinal…Duke　of　Lerma。　　It　inclosed　the　Pope's　expected　Bull；　ordering　that　Agnes　should　be　released　from　her　vows；　and　restored　to　her　Relations。　　This　essential　paper　decided　at　once　the　proceedings　of　her　Friends：　　They　resolved　that　Lorenzo　should　carry　it　to　the　Domina　without　delay；　and　demand　that　his　Sister　should　be　instantly　given　up　to　him。　　Against　this　mandate　illness　could　not　be　pleaded：　　It　gave　her　Brother　the　power　of　removing　her　instantly　to　the　Palace　de　Medina；　and　He　determined　to　use　that　power　on　the　following　day。

His　mind　relieved　from　inquietude　respecting　his　Sister；　and　his　Spirits　raised　by　the　hope　of　soon　restoring　her　to　freedom；　He　now　had　time　to　give　a　few　moments　to　love　and　to　Antonia。　　At　the　same　hour　as　on　his　former　visit　He　repaired　to　Donna　Elvira's：　　She　had　given　orders　for　his　admission。　　As　soon　as　He　was　announced；　her　Daughter　retired　with　Leonella；　and　when　He　entered　the　chamber；　He　found　the　Lady　of　the　House　alone。　　She　received　him　with　less　distance　than　before；　and　desired　him　to　place　himself　near　her　upon　the　Sopha。　　She　then　without　losing　time　opened　her　business；　as　had　been　agreed　between　herself　and　Antonia。

'You　must　not　think　me　ungrateful；　Don　Lorenzo；　or　forgetful　how　essential　are　the　services　which　you　have　rendered　me　with　the　Marquis。　　I　feel　the　weight　of　my　obligations；　Nothing　under　the　Sun　should　induce　my　taking　the　step　to　which　I　am　now　compelled　　but　the　interest　of　my　Child；　of　my　beloved　Antonia。　　My　health　is　declining；　God　only　knows　how　soon　I　may　be　summoned　before　his　Throne。　　My　Daughter　will　be　left　without　Parents；　and　should　She　lose　the　protection　of　the　Cisternas　family；　without　Friends。

She　is　young　and　artless；　uninstructed　in　the　world's　perfidy；　and　with　charms　sufficient　to　render　her　an　object　of　seduction。　Judge　then；　how　I　must　tremble　at　the　prospect　before　her！　　Judge　how　anxious　I　must　be　to　keep　her　from　their　society　who　may　excite　the　yet　dormant　passions　of　her　bosom。　　You　are　amiable；　Don　Lorenzo：　　Antonia　has　a　susceptible；　a　loving　heart；　and　is　grateful　for　the　favours　conferred　upon　us　by　your　interference　with　the　Marquis。　　Your　presence　makes　me　tremble：　　I　fear　lest　it　should　inspire　her　with　sentiments　which　may　embitter　the　remainder　of　her　life；　or　encourage　her　to　cherish　hopes　in　her　situation　unjustifiable　and　futile。　　Pardon　me　when　I　avow　my　terrors；　and　let　my　frankness　plead　in　my　excuse。　　I　cannot　forbid　you　my　House；　for　gratitude　restrains　me；　I　can　only　throw　myself　upon　your　generosity；　and　entreat　you　to　spare　the　feelings　of　an　anxious；　of　a　doting　Mother。　　Believe　me　when　I　assure　you　that　I　lament　the　necessity　of　rejecting　your　acquaintance；　But　there　is　no　remedy；　and　Antonia's　interest　obliges　me　to　beg　you　to　forbear　your　visits。　　By　complying　with　my　request；　you　will　increase　the　esteem　which　I　already　feel　for　you；　and　of　which　everything　convinces　me　that　you　are　truly　deserving。'

'Your　frankness　charms　me；'　replied　Lorenzo；　'You　shall　find　that　in　your　favourable　opinion　of　me　you　were　not　deceived。　　Yet　I　hope　that　the　reasons；　now　in　my　power　to　allege；　will　persuade　you　to　withdraw　a　request　which　I　cannot　obey　without　infinite　reluctance。　　I　love　your　Daughter；　love　her　most　sincerely：　　I　wish　for　no　greater　happiness　than　to　inspire　her　with　the　same　sentiments；　and　receive　her　hand　at　the　Altar　as　her　Husband。　　'Tis　true；　I　am　not　rich　myself；　My　Father's　death　has　left　me　but　little　in　my　own　possession；　But　my　expectations　justify　my　pretending　to　the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas'　Daughter。'

He　was　proceeding；　but　Elvira　interrupted　him。

'Ah！　Don　Lorenzo；　you　forget　in　that　pompous　title　the　meanness　of　my　origin。　　You　forget　that　I　have　now　past　fourteen　years　in　Spain；　disavowed　by　my　Husband's　family；　and　existing　upon　a　stipend　barely　sufficient　for　the　support　and　education　of　my　Daughter。　　Nay；　I　have　even　been　neglected　by　most　of　my　own　Relations；　who　out　of　envy　affect　to　doubt　the　reality　of　my　marriage。　　My　allowance　being　discontinued　at　my　Father…in…law's　death；　I　was　reduced　to　the　very　brink　of　want。　　In　this　situation　I　was　found　by　my　Sister；　who　amongst　all　her　foibles　possesses　a　warm；　generous；　and　affectionate　heart。　　She　aided　me　with　the　little　fortune　which　my　Father　left　her；　persuaded　me　to　visit　Madrid；　and　has　supported　my　Child　and　myself　since　our　quitting　Murcia。　　Then　consider　not　Antonia　as　descended　from　the　Conde　de　la　Cisternas：　　Consider　her　as　a　poor　and　unprotected　Orphan；　as　the　Grand…child　of　the　Tradesman　Torribio　Dalfa；　as　the　needy　Pensioner　of　that　Tradesman's　Daughter。　　Reflect　upon　the　difference　between　such　a　situation；　and　that　of　the　Nephew　and　Heir　of　the　potent　Duke　of　Medina。　　I　believe　your　intentions　to　be　honourable；　But　as　there　are　no　hopes　that　your　Uncle　will　approve　of　the　union；　I　foresee　that　the　consequences　of　your　attachment　must　be　fatal　to　my　Child's　repose。'

'Pardon　me；　Segnora；　You　are　misinformed　if　you　suppose　the　Duke　of　Medina　to　resemble　the　generality　of　Men。　　His　sentiments　are　liberal　and　disinterested：　　He　loves　me　well；　and　I　have　no　reason　to　dread　his　forbidding　the　marriage　when　He　perceives　that　my　happiness　depends　upon　Antonia。　　But　supposing　him　to　refuse　his　sanction；　what　have　I　still　to　fear？　　My　Parents　are　no　more；　My　little　fortune　is　in　my　own　possession：　It　will　be　sufficient　to　support　Antonia；　and　I　shall　exchange　for　her　hand　Medina's　Dukedom　without　one　sigh　of　regret。'

'You　are　young　and　eager；　It　is　natural　for　you　to　entertain　such　ideas。　　But　Experience　has　taught　me　to　my　cost　that　curses