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His assurances that I should soon be relieved from the
Apparition's visits produced a good effect upon my constitution。
Theodore； whom I rather treated as an adopted Child than a
Domestic； was surprized at his return to observe the amendment in
my looks。 He congratulated me on this symptom of returning
health； and declared himself delighted at my having received so
much benefit from my conference with the Great Mogul。 Upon
enquiry I found that the Stranger had already past eight days in
Ratisbon： According to his own account； therefore； He was only
to remain there six days longer。 Saturday was still at the
distance of Three。 Oh！ with what impatience did I expect its
arrival！ In the interim； the Bleeding Nun continued her
nocturnal visits； But hoping soon to be released from them
altogether； the effects which they produced on me became less
violent than before。
The wished…for night arrived。 To avoid creating suspicion I
retired to bed at my usual hour： But as soon as my Attendants
had left me； I dressed myself again； and prepared for the
Stranger's reception。 He entered my room upon the turn of
midnight。 A small Chest was in his hand； which He placed near
the Stove。 He saluted me without speaking； I returned the
compliment； observing an equal silence。 He then opened his
Chest。 The first thing which He produced was a small wooden
Crucifix： He sank upon his knees； gazed upon it mournfully； and
cast his eyes towards heaven。 He seemed to be praying devoutly。
At length He bowed his head respectfully； kissed the Crucifix
thrice； and quitted his kneeling posture。 He next drew from the
Chest a covered Goblet： With the liquor which it contained； and
which appeared to be blood； He sprinkled the floor； and then
dipping in it one end of the Crucifix； He described a circle in
the middle of the room。 Round about this He placed various
reliques； sculls； thigh…bones &c； I observed； that He disposed
them all in the forms of Crosses。 Lastly He took out a large
Bible； and beckoned me to follow him into the Circle。 I obeyed。
'Be cautious not to utter a syllable！' whispered the Stranger；
'Step not out of the circle； and as you love yourself； dare not
to look upon my face！'
Holding the Crucifix in one hand； the Bible in the other； He
seemed to read with profound attention。 The Clock struck 'One'！
As usual I heard the Spectre's steps upon the Staircase： But I
was not seized with the accustomed shivering。 I waited her
approach with confidence。 She entered the room； drew near the
Circle； and stopped。 The Stranger muttered some words； to me
unintelligible。 Then raising his head from the Book； and
extending the Crucifix towards the Ghost； He pronounced in a
voice distinct and solemn；
'Beatrice！ Beatrice！ Beatrice！'
'What wouldst Thou？' replied the Apparition in a hollow faltering
tone。
'What disturbs thy sleep？ Why dost thou afflict and torture this
Youth？ How can rest be restored to thy unquiet Spirit？'
'I dare not tell！I must not tell！Fain would I repose in my
Grave； but stern commands force me to prolong my punishment！'
'Knowest Thou this blood？ Knowest Thou in whose veins it flowed？
Beatrice！ Beatrice！ In his name I charge thee to answer me！'
'I dare not disobey my taskers。'
'Darest Thou disobey Me？'
He spoke in a commanding tone； and drew the sable band from his
forehead。 In spite of his injunctions to the contrary；
Curiosity would not suffer me to keep my eyes off his face： I
raised them； and beheld a burning Cross impressed upon his brow。
For the horror with which this object inspired me I cannot
account； but I never felt its equal！ My senses left me for some
moments； A mysterious dread overcame my courage； and had not the
Exorciser caught my hand； I should have fallen out of the Circle。
When I recovered myself； I perceived that the burning Cross had
produced an effect no less violent upon the Spectre。 Her
countenance expressed reverence； and horror； and her visionary
limbs were shaken by fear。
'Yes！' She said at length； 'I tremble at that mark！ respect
it！I obey you！ Know then； that my bones lie still unburied：
They rot in the obscurity of Lindenberg Hole。 None but this
Youth has the right of consigning them to the Grave。 His own
lips have made over to me his body and his soul： Never will I
give back his promise； never shall He know a night devoid of
terror； unless He engages to collect my mouldering bones； and
deposit them in the family vault of his Andalusian Castle。 Then
let thirty Masses be said for the repose of my Spirit； and I
trouble this world no more。 Now let me depart！ Those flames are
scorching！'
He let the hand drop slowly which held the Crucifix； and which
till then He had pointed towards her。 The apparition bowed her
head； and her form melted into air。 The Exorciser led me out of
the Circle。 He replaced the Bible &c。 in the Chest； and then
addressed himself to me； who stood near him speechless from
astonishment。
'Don Raymond； you have heard the conditions on which repose is
promised you。 Be it your business to fulfil them to the letter。
For me nothing more remains than to clear up the darkness still
spread over the Spectre's History； and inform you that when
living； Beatrice bore the name of las Cisternas。 She was the
great Aunt of your Grandfather： In quality of your relation；
her ashes demand respect from you； though the enormity of her
crimes must excite your abhorrence。 The nature of those crimes
no one is more capable of explaining to you than myself： I was
personally acquainted with the holy Man who proscribed her
nocturnal riots in the Castle of Lindenberg； and I hold this
narrative from his own lips。
'Beatrice de las Cisternas took the veil at an early age； not by
her own choice； but at the express command of her Parents。 She
was then too young to regret the pleasures of which her
profession deprived her： But no sooner did her warm and
voluptuous character begin to be developed than She abandoned
herself freely to the impulse of her passions； and seized the
first opportunity to procure their gratification。 This
opportunity was at length presented； after many obstacles which
only added new force to her desires。 She contrived to elope from
the Convent； and fled to Germany with the Baron Lindenberg。 She
lived at his Castle several months as his avowed Concubine： All
Bavaria was scandalized by her impudent and abandoned conduct。
Her feasts vied in luxury with Cleopatra's； and Lindenberg became
the Theatre of the most unbridled debauchery。 Not satisfied with
displaying the incontinence of a Prostitute； She professed
herself an Atheist： She took every opportunity to scoff at her
monastic vows； and loaded with ridicule the most sacred
ceremonies of Religion。
'Possessed of a character so depraved； She did not long confine
her affections to one object。 Soon after her arrival at the
Castle； the Baron's younger Brother attracted her notice by his
strong…marked features； gigantic Stature； and Herculean limbs。
She was not of an humour to keep her inclinations long unknown；
But She found in Otto von Lindenberg her equa