第 28 节
作者:圈圈      更新:2021-02-18 22:40      字数:9322
  passion:  I threw myself at her feet; and declared my gratitude
  in the warmest and most affectionate terms。  She listened to me
  with complaisance; and assured me that She shared my sentiments:
  When suddenly She uttered a loud shriek; disengaged the hand
  which I held; and flew from the room by a door which opened to
  the Garden。  Amazed at this abrupt departure; I rose hastily from
  my knees。  I beheld with confusion the Baroness standing near me
  glowing with jealousy; and almost choaked with rage。  On
  recovering from her swoon; She had tortured her imagination to
  discover her concealed Rival。  No one appeared to deserve her
  suspicions more than Agnes。  She immediately hastened to find her
  Niece; tax her with encouraging my addresses; and assure herself
  whether her conjectures were well…grounded。  Unfortunately She
  had already seen enough to need no other confirmation。  She
  arrived at the door of the room at the precise moment; when Agnes
  gave me her Portrait。  She heard me profess an everlasting
  attachment to her Rival; and saw me kneeling at her feet。  She
  advanced to separate us; We were too much occupied by each other
  to perceive her approach; and were not aware of it; till Agnes
  beheld her standing by my side。
  Rage on the part of Donna Rodolpha; embarrassment on mine; for
  some time kept us both silent。  The Lady recovered herself first。
  'My suspicions then were just;' said She; 'The Coquetry of my
  Niece has triumphed; and 'tis to her that I am sacrificed。  In
  one respect however I am fortunate:  I shall not be the only one
  who laments a disappointed passion。  You too shall know; what it
  is to love without hope!  I daily expect orders for restoring
  Agnes to her Parents。  Immediately upon her arrival in Spain; She
  will take the veil; and place an insuperable barrier to your
  union。  You may spare your supplications。' She continued;
  perceiving me on the point of speaking; 'My resolution is fixed
  and immoveable。  Your Mistress shall remain a close Prisoner in
  her chamber till She exchanges this Castle for the Cloister。
  Solitude will perhaps recall her to a sense of her duty:  But to
  prevent your opposing that wished event; I must inform you; Don
  Alphonso; that your presence here is no longer agreeable either
  to the Baron or Myself。  It was not to talk nonsense to my Niece
  that your Relations sent you to Germany:  Your business was to
  travel; and I should be sorry to impede any longer so excellent a
  design。  Farewell; Segnor; Remember; that tomorrow morning we
  meet for the last time。'
  Having said this; She darted upon me a look of pride; contempt;
  and malice; and quitted the apartment。  I also retired to mine;
  and consumed the night in planning the means of rescuing Agnes
  from the power of her tyrannical Aunt。
  After the positive declaration of its Mistress; it was impossible
  for me to make a longer stay at the Castle of Lindenberg。
  Accordingly I the next day announced my immediate departure。  The
  Baron declared that it gave him sincere pain; and He expressed
  himself in my favour so warmly; that I endeavoured to win him
  over to my interest。  Scarcely had I mentioned the name of Agnes
  when He stopped me short; and said; that it was totally out of
  his power to interfere in the business。  I saw that it was in
  vain to argue; The Baroness governed her Husband with despotic
  sway; and I easily perceived that She had prejudiced him against
  the match。  Agnes did not appear:  I entreated permission to take
  leave of her; but my prayer was rejected。  I was obliged to
  depart without seeing her。
  At quitting him the Baron shook my hand affectionately; and
  assured me that as soon as his Niece was gone; I might consider
  his House as my own。
  'Farewell; Don Alphonso!' said the Baroness; and stretched out
  her hand to me。
  I took it; and offered to carry it to my lips。  She prevented me。
  Her Husband was at the other end of the room; and out of hearing。
  'Take care of yourself;' She continued; 'My love is become
  hatred; and my wounded pride shall not be unatoned。  Go where
  you will; my vengeance shall follow you!'
  She accompanied these words with a look sufficient to make me
  tremble。  I answered not; but hastened to quit the Castle。
  As my Chaise drove out of the Court; I looked up to the windows
  of your Sister's chamber。  Nobody was to be seen there:  I threw
  myself back despondent in my Carriage。  I was attended by no
  other servants than a Frenchman whom I had hired at Strasbourg
  in Stephano's room; and my little Page whom I before mentioned to
  you。  The fidelity; intelligence; and good temper of Theodore had
  already made him dear to me; But He now prepared to lay an
  obligation on me; which made me look upon him as a Guardian
  Genius。  Scarcely had we proceeded half a mile from the Castle;
  when He rode up to the Chaise…door。
  'Take courage; Segnor!' said He in Spanish; which He had already
  learnt to speak with fluency and correctness。 'While you were
  with the Baron; I watched the moment when Dame Cunegonda was
  below stairs; and mounted into the chamber over that of Donna
  Agnes。  I sang as loud as I could a little German air well…known
  to her; hoping that She would recollect my voice。  I was not
  disappointed; for I soon heard her window open。  I hastened to
  let down a string with which I had provided myself:  Upon hearing
  the casement closed again; I drew up the string; and fastened to
  it I found this scrap of paper。'
  He then presented me with a small note addressed to me。  I opened
  it with impatience:  It contained the following words written in
  pencil:
  Conceal yourself for the next fortnight in some neighbouring
  Village。  My Aunt will believe you to have quitted Lindenberg;
  and I shall be restored to liberty。  I will be in the West
  Pavilion at twelve on the night of the thirtieth。  Fail not to be
  there; and we shall have an opportunity of concerting our future
  plans。  Adieu。                                         Agnes。
  At perusing these lines my transports exceeded all bounds;
  Neither did I set any to the expressions of gratitude which I
  heaped upon Theodore。  In fact his address and attention merited
  my warmest praise。  You will readily believe that I had not
  entrusted him with my passion for Agnes; But the arch Youth had
  too much discernment not to discover my secret; and too much
  discretion not to conceal his knowledge of it。  He observed in
  silence what was going on; nor strove to make himself an Agent in
  the business till my interests required his interference。  I
  equally admired his judgment; his penetration; his address; and
  his fidelity。  This was not the first occasion in which I had
  found him of infinite use; and I was every day more convinced of
  his quickness and capacity。  During my short stay at Strasbourg;
  He had applied himself diligently to learning the rudiments of
  Spanish:  He continued to study it; and with so much success that
  He spoke it with the same facility as his native language。  He
  past the greatest part of his time in reading; He had acquired
  much information for his Age; and united the advantages of a
  lively countenance and prepossessing figure to an excellent
  understanding and the very best of hearts。  He is now fifteen; He
  is still in my service; and when you see him; I am sure that He
  will please you。  But excuse this digression:  I return to the
  subject which I quitted。
  I obeyed the instructions of Agnes。  I proceeded to Munich。
  There I left my Chaise under the care of Lucas; my French
  Servant; and then returned on Horseback to a small Village about
  four miles distant from the Castle of Lindenberg。  Upon arriving
  there a story was related to the Host at whose Inn I descended;
  which prevented his wondering at my making so long a stay in his
  House。 The old Man fortunately was credulous and incurious: He
  believed all I said; and sought to know no more than what I
  thought proper to tell him。  Nobody was with me but Theodore;
  Both were disguised; and as we kept ourselves close; we were not
  suspected to be other than what we seemed。  In this manner the
  fortnight passed away。  During that time I had the pleasing
  conviction that Agnes was once more at liberty。  She past through
  the Village with Dame Cunegonda:  She seemed in health and
  spirits; and talked to her Companion without any appearance of
  constraint。
  'Who are those Ladies?' said I to my Host; as the Carriage past。
  'Baron Lindenberg's Niece with her Governess;' He replied; 'She
  goes regularly every Friday to the Convent of St。 Catharine; in
  which She was brought up; and which is situated about a mile from
  hence。'
  You may be certain that I waited with impatience for the ensuing
  Friday。  I again beheld my lovely Mistress。  She cast her eyes
  upon me; as She passed the Inn…door。  A blush which overspread
  her cheek told me that in spite of my disguise I had been
  recognised。  I bowed profoundly。  She returned the compliment by
  a slight inclination of the head as if made to one inferior; and
  looked another way till the Carriage was out of sight。
  The long…expected; long…wished for night arrived。  It was calm;
  and the Moon was at the full。  As soon as the Clock struck eleven
  I hastened to my appoint