Sleep was not long absent； and his presence relieved her from her
terrors and inquietude
It was almost two o'clock before the lustful Monk ventured to
bend his steps towards Antonia's dwelling。 It has been already
mentioned that the Abbey was at no great distance from the
Strada di San Iago。 He reached the House unobserved。 Here He
stopped； and hesitated for a moment。 He reflected on the
enormity of the crime； the consequences of a discovery； and the
probability； after what had passed； of Elvira's suspecting him to
be her Daughter's Ravisher： On the other hand it was suggested
that She could do no more than suspect； that no proofs of his
guilt could be produced； that it would seem impossible for the
rape to have been committed without Antonia's knowing when；
where； or by whom； and finally； He believed that his fame was too
firmly established to be shaken by the unsupported accusations of
two unknown Women。 This latter argument was perfectly false： He
knew not how uncertain is the air of popular applause； and that a
moment suffices to make him today the detestation of the world；
who yesterday was its Idol。 The result of the Monk's
deliberations was that He should proceed in his enterprize。 He
ascended the steps leading to the House。 No sooner did He touch
the door with the silver Myrtle； than it flew open； and presented
him with a free passage。 He entered； and the door closed after
him of its own accord。
Guided by the moonbeams； He proceeded up the Staircase with
slow and cautious steps。 He looked round him every moment with
apprehension and anxiety。 He saw a Spy in every shadow； and
heard a voice in every murmur of the night breeze。 Consciousness
of the guilty business on which He was employed appalled his
heart； and rendered it more timid than a Woman's。 Yet still He
proceeded。 He reached the door of Antonia's chamber。 He stopped；
and listened。 All was hushed within。 The total silence
persuaded him that his intended Victim was retired to rest； and
He ventured to lift up the Latch。 The door was fastened； and
resisted his efforts： But no sooner was it touched by the
Talisman； than the Bolt flew back。 The Ravisher stept on； and
found himself in the chamber； where slept the innocent Girl；
unconscious how dangerous a Visitor was drawing near her Couch。
The door closed after him； and the Bolt shot again into its
fastening。
Ambrosio advanced with precaution。 He took care that not a board
should creak under his foot； and held in his breath as He
approached the Bed。 His first attention was to perform the magic
ceremony； as Matilda had charged him： He breathed thrice upon
the silver Myrtle； pronounced over it Antonia's name； and laid it
upon her pillow。 The effects which it had already produced
permitted not his doubting its success in prolonging the slumbers
of his devoted Mistress。 No sooner was the enchantment
performed than He considered her to be absolutely in his power；
and his eyes flamed with lust and impatience。 He now ventured to
cast a glance upon the sleeping Beauty。 A single Lamp； burning
before the Statue of St。 Rosolia； shed a faint light through the
room； and permitted him to examine all the charms of the lovely
Object before him。 The heat of the weather had obliged her to
throw off part of the Bed…cloathes： Those which still covered
her； Ambrosio's insolent hand hastened to remove。 She lay with
her cheek reclining upon one ivory arm； The Other rested on the
side of the Bed with graceful indolence。 A few tresses of her
hair had escaped from beneath the Muslin which confined the rest；
and fell carelessly over her bosom； as it heaved with slow and
regular suspiration。 The warm air had spread her cheek with
higher colour than usual。 A smile inexpressibly sweet played
round her ripe and coral lips； from which every now and then
escaped a gentle sigh or an half…pronounced sentence。 An air of
enchanting innocence and candour pervaded her whole form； and
there was a sort of modesty in her very nakedness which added
fresh stings to the desires of the lustful Monk。
He remained for some moments devouring those charms with his
eyes which soon were to be subjected to his ill…regulated
passions。 Her mouth half…opened seemed to solicit a kiss： He
bent over her； he joined his lips to hers； and drew in the
fragrance of her breath with rapture。 This momentary pleasure
increased his longing for still greater。 His desires were raised
to that frantic height by which Brutes are agitated。 He
resolved not to delay for one instant longer the accomplishment
of his wishes； and hastily proceeded to tear off those garments
which impeded the gratification of his lust。
'Gracious God！' exclaimed a voice behind him； 'Am I not deceived？
Is not this an illusion？'
Terror； confusion； and disappointment accompanied these words； as
they struck Ambrosio's hearing。 He started； and turned towards
it。 Elvira stood at the door of the chamber； and regarded the
Monk with looks of surprize and detestation。
A frightful dream had represented to her Antonia on the verge of
a precipice。 She saw her trembling on the brink： Every moment
seemed to threaten her fall； and She heard her exclaim with
shrieks； 'Save me； Mother！ Save me！Yet a moment； and it will be
too late！' Elvira woke in terror。 The vision had made too
strong an impression upon her mind； to permit her resting till
assured of her Daughter's safety。 She hastily started from her
Bed； threw on a loose night…gown； and passing through the Closet
in which slept the Waiting…woman； She reached Antonia's chamber
just in time to rescue her from the grasp of the Ravisher。
His shame and her amazement seemed to have petrified into Statues
both Elvira and the Monk： They remained gazing upon each other
in silence。 The Lady was the first to recover herself。
'It is no dream！' She cried； 'It is really Ambrosio； who stands
before me！ It is the Man whom Madrid esteems a Saint； that I
find at this late hour near the Couch of my unhappy Child！
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。'
A