volume01-第16部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


d　to　quit　Madrid；　I　returned　but　yesterday　evening；　and　since　then　have　not　had　time　to　call　at　St。　Clare's　Convent。'

'Then　till　I　mentioned　it；　you　never　heard　the　name　of　Alphonso　d'Alvarada？'

'Pardon　me：　my　Aunt　wrote　me　word　that　an　Adventurer　so　called　had　found　means　to　get　introduced　into　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg；　That　He　had　insinuated　himself　into　my　Sister's　good　graces；　and　that　She　had　even　consented　to　elope　with　him。　　However；　before　the　plan　could　be　executed；　the　Cavalier　discovered　that　the　estates　which　He　believed　Agnes　to　possess　in　Hispaniola；　in　reality　belonged　to　me。　　This　intelligence　made　him　change　his　intention；　He　disappeared　on　the　day　that　the　elopement　was　to　have　taken　place；　and　Agnes；　in　despair　at　his　perfidy　and　meanness；　had　resolved　upon　seclusion　in　a　Convent。　　She　added；　that　as　this　adventurer　had　given　himself　out　to　be　a　Friend　of　mine；　She　wished　to　know　whether　I　had　any　knowledge　of　him。　　I　replied　in　the　negative。　　I　had　then　very　little　idea；　that　Alphonso　d'Alvarada　and　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas　were　one　and　the　same　person：　　The　description　given　me　of　the　first　by　no　means　tallied　with　what　I　knew　of　the　latter。'

'In　this　I　easily　recognize　Donna　Rodolpha's　perfidious　character。　　Every　word　of　this　account　is　stamped　with　marks　of　her　malice；　of　her　falsehood；　of　her　talents　for　misrepresenting　those　whom　She　wishes　to　injure。　　Forgive　me；　Medina；　for　speaking　so　freely　of　your　Relation。　　The　mischief　which　She　has　done　me　authorises　my　resentment；　and　when　you　have　heard　my　story；　you　will　be　convinced　that　my　expressions　have　not　been　too　severe。'

He　then　began　his　narrative　in　the　following　manner。

HISTORY　OF　DON　RAYMOND；　MARQUIS　DE　LAS　CISTERNAS

Long　experience；　my　dear　Lorenzo；　has　convinced　me　how　generous　is　your　nature：　　I　waited　not　for　your　declaration　of　ignorance　respecting　your　Sister's　adventures　to　suppose　that　they　had　been　purposely　concealed　from　you。　　Had　they　reached　your　knowledge；　from　what　misfortunes　should　both　Agnes　and　myself　have　escaped！　　Fate　had　ordained　it　otherwise！　　You　were　on　your　Travels　when　I　first　became　acquainted　with　your　Sister；　and　as　our　Enemies　took　care　to　conceal　from　her　your　direction；　it　was　impossible　for　her　to　implore　by　letter　your　protection　and　advice。

On　leaving　Salamanca；　at　which　University　as　I　have　since　heard；　you　remained　a　year　after　I　quitted　it；　I　immediately　set　out　upon　my　Travels。　　My　Father　supplied　me　liberally　with　money；　But　He　insisted　upon　my　concealing　my　rank；　and　presenting　myself　as　no　more　than　a　private　Gentleman。　　This　command　was　issued　by　the　counsels　of　his　Friend；　the　Duke　of　Villa　Hermosa；　a　Nobleman　for　whose　abilities　and　knowledge　of　the　world　I　have　ever　entertained　the　most　profound　veneration。

'Believe　me；'　said　He；　'my　dear　Raymond；　you　will　hereafter　feel　the　benefits　of　this　temporary　degradation。　　'Tis　true；　that　as　the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas　you　would　have　been　received　with　open　arms；　and　your　youthful　vanity　might　have　felt　gratified　by　the　attentions　showered　upon　you　from　all　sides。　　At　present；　much　will　depend　upon　yourself：　　You　have　excellent　recommendations；　but　it　must　be　your　own　business　to　make　them　of　use　to　you。　　You　must　lay　yourself　out　to　please；　You　must　labour　to　gain　the　approbation　of　those；　to　whom　you　are　presented：　　They　who　would　have　courted　the　friendship　of　the　Conde　de　las　Cisternas　will　have　no　interest　in　finding　out　the　merits；　or　bearing　patiently　with　the　faults；　of　Alphonso　d'Alvarada。　　Consequently；　when　you　find　yourself　really　liked；　you　may　safely　ascribe　it　to　your　good　qualities；　not　your　rank；　and　the　distinction　shown　you　will　be　infinitely　more　flattering。　　Besides；　your　exalted　birth　would　not　permit　your　mixing　with　the　lower　classes　of　society；　which　will　now　be　in　your　power；　and　from　which；　in　my　opinion；　you　will　derive　considerable　benefit。　　Do　not　confine　yourself　to　the　Illustrious　of　those　Countries　through　which　you　pass。　　Examine　the　manners　and　customs　of　the　multitude：　Enter　into　the　Cottages；　and　by　observing　how　the　Vassals　of　Foreigners　are　treated；　learn　to　diminish　the　burthens　and　augment　the　comforts　of　your　own。　　According　to　my　ideas；　of　those　advantages　which　a　Youth　destined　to　the　possession　of　power　and　wealth　may　reap　from　travel；　He　should　not　consider　as　the　least　essential；　the　opportunity　of　mixing　with　the　classes　below　him；　and　becoming　an　eyewitness　of　the　sufferings　of　the　People。'

Forgive　me；　Lorenzo；　if　I　seem　tedious　in　my　narration。　The　close　connexion　which　now　exists　between　us；　makes　me　anxious　that　you　should　know　every　particular　respecting　me；　and　in　my　fear　of　omitting　the　least　circumstance　which　may　induce　you　to　think　favourably　of　your　Sister　and　myself；　I　may　possibly　relate　many　which　you　may　think　uninteresting。

I　followed　the　Duke's　advice；　I　was　soon　convinced　of　its　wisdom。

I　quitted　Spain；　calling　myself　by　the　assumed　title　of　Don　Alphonso　d'Alvarada；　and　attended　by　a　single　Domestic　of　approved　fidelity。　　Paris　was　my　first　station。　　For　some　time　I　was　enchanted　with　it；　as　indeed　must　be　every　Man　who　is　young；　rich；　and　fond　of　pleasure。　　Yet　among　all　its　gaieties；　I　felt　that　something　was　wanting　to　my　heart。　　I　grew　sick　of　dissipation：　I　discovered；　that　the　People　among　whom　I　lived；　and　whose　exterior　was　so　polished　and　seducing；　were　at　bottom　frivolous；　unfeeling　and　insincere。　　I　turned　from　the　Inhabitants　of　Paris　with　disgust；　and　quitted　that　Theatre　of　Luxury　without　heaving　one　sigh　of　regret。

I　now　bent　my　course　towards　Germany；　intending　to　visit　most　of　the　principal　courts：　　Prior　to　this　expedition；　I　meant　to　make　some　little　stay　at　Strasbourg。　　On　quitting　my　Chaise　at　Luneville　to　take　some　refreshment；　I　observed　a　splendid　Equipage；　attended　by　four　Domestics　in　rich　liveries；　waiting　at　the　door　of　the　Silver　Lion。　　Soon　after　as　I　looked　out　of　the　window；　I　saw　a　Lady　of　noble　presence；　followed　by　two　female　Attendants；　step　into　the　Carriage；　which　drove　off　immediately。

I　enquired　of　the　Host；　who　the　Lady　was；　that　had　just　departed。

'A　German　Baroness；　Monsieur；　of　great　rank　and　fortune。　　She　has　been　upon　a　visit　to　the　Duchess　of　Longueville；　as　her　Servants　informed　me；　She　is　going　to　Strasbourg；　where　She　will　find　her　Husband；　and　then　both　return　to　their　Castle　in　Germany。'

I　resumed　my　journey；　intending　to　reach　Strasbourg　that　night。　　My　hopes；　however　were　frustrated　by　the　breaking　down　of　my　Chaise。　　The　accident　happened　in　the　middle　of　a　thick　Forest；　and　I　was　not　a　little　embarrassed　as　to　the　means　of　proceeding。

It　was　the　depth　of　winter：　　The　night　was　already　closing　round　us；　and　Strasbourg；　which　was　the　nearest　Town；　was　still　distant　from　us　several　leagues。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　my　only　alternative　to　passing　the　night　in　the　Forest；　was　to　take　my　Servant's　Horse　and　ride　on　to　Strasbourg；　an　undertaking　at　that　season　very　far　from　agreeable。　　However；　seeing　no　other　resource；　I　was　obliged　to　make　up　my　mind　to　it。　　Accordingly　I　communicated　my　design　to　the　Postillion；　telling　him　that　I　would　send　People　to　assist　him　as　soon　as　I　reached　Strasbourg。　　I　had　not　much　confidence　in　his　honesty；　But　Stephano　being　well…armed；　and　the　Driver　to　all　appearance　considerably　advanced　in　years；　I　believed　I　ran　no　danger　of　losing　my　Baggage。

Luckily；　as　I　then　thought；　an　opportunity　presented　itself　of　passing　the　night　more　agreeably　than　I　expected。　　On　mentioning　my　design　of　proceeding　by　myself　to　Strasbourg；　the　Postillion　shook　his　head　in　disapprobation。

'It　is　a　long　way；'　said　He；　'You　will　find　it　a　difficult　matter　to　arrive　there　without　a　Guide。　　Besides；　Monsieur　seems　unaccustomed　to　the　season's　severity；　and　'tis　possible　that　unable　to　sustain　the　excessive　cold。　。　。　。'

'What　use　is　there　to　present　me　with　all　these　objections？'　said　I；　impatiently　interrupting　him；　'I　have　no　other　resource：　　I　run　still　greater　risque　of　perishing　with　cold　by　passing　the　night　in　the　Forest。'

'Passing　the　night　in　the　Forest？'　He　replied；　'Oh！　by　St。　Denis！　We　are　not　in　quite　so　bad　a　plight　as　that　comes　to　yet。　　If　I　am　not　mistaken；　we　are　scarcely　five　minutes　walk　from　the　Cottage　of　my　old　Friend；　Baptiste。　　He　is　a　Wood…cutter；　and　a　very　honest　Fellow。　I　doubt　not　but　He　will　shelter　you　for　the　night　with　pleasure。　　In　the　meantime　I　can　take　the　saddle…Horse；　ride　to　Strasbourg；　and　be　back　with　proper　people　to　mend　your　Carriage　by　break　of　day。'

'And　in　the　name　of　God；'　said　I；　'How　could　you　leave　me　so　long　in　suspense？　　Why　did　you　not　tell　me　of　this　Cottage　sooner？　　What　excessive　stupidity！'

'I　thought　that　perhaps　Monsieur　would　not　deign　to　accept。　。　。　。'

'Absurd！　Come；　come！　　Say　no　more；　but　conduct　us　without　delay　to　the　Wood…man's　Cottage。'

He　obeyed；　and　we　moved　onwards：　　The　Horses　contrived　with　some　difficulty　to　drag　the　shattered　vehicle　after　us。　　My　Servant　was　become　almost　speechless；　and　I　began　to　feel　the　effects　of　the　cold　myself；　before　we　reached　the　wished…for　Cottage。　　It　was　a　small　but　neat　Building：　　As　we　drew　near　it；　I　rejoiced　at　observing　through　the　window　the　blaze　of　a　comfortable　fire。　　Our　Conductor　knocked　at　the　door：　　It　was　some　time　before　any　one　answered；　The　People　within　seemed　in　doubt　whether　we　should　be　admitted。

'Come！　　Come；　Friend　Baptiste！'　cried　the　Driver　with　impatience；　'What　are　you　about？　　Are　you　asleep？　　Or　will　you　refuse　a　night's　lodging　to　a　Gentleman；　whose　Chaise　has　just　broken　down　in　the　Forest？'

'Ah！　is　it　you；　honest　Claude？'　replied　a　Man's　voice　from　within；　'Wait　a　moment；　and　the　door　shall　be　opened。'

Soon　after　the　bolts　were　drawn　back。　　The　door　was　unclosed；　and　a　Man　presented　himself　to　us　with　a　Lamp　in　his　hand。　　He　gave　the　Guide　an　hearty　reception；　and　then　addressed　himself　to　me。

'Walk　in；　Monsieur；　Walk　in；　and　welcome！　　Excuse　me　for　not　admitting　you　at　first：　　But　there　are　so　many　Rogues　about　this　place；　that　saving　your　presence；　I　suspected　you　to　be　one。'

Thus　saying；　He　ushered　me　into　the　room；　where　I　had　observed　the　fire：　　I　was　immediately　placed　in　an　Easy　Chair；　which　stood　close　to　the　Hearth。