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She was not of an humour to keep her inclinations long unknown；
But She found in Otto von Lindenberg her equal in depravity。 He
returned her passion just sufficiently to increase it； and when
He had worked it up to the desired pitch； He fixed the price of
his love at his Brother's murder。 The Wretch consented to this
horrible agreement。 A night was pitched upon for perpetrating
the deed。 Otto； who resided on a small Estate a few miles
distant from the Castle； promised that at One in the morning He
would be waiting for her at Lindenberg Hole； that He would bring
with him a party of chosen Friends； by whose aid He doubted not
being able to make himself Master of the Castle； and that his
next step should be the uniting her hand to his。 It was this
last promise； which overruled every scruple of Beatrice； since in
spite of his affection for her； the Baron had declared positively
that He never would make her his Wife。
'The fatal night arrived。 The Baron slept in the arms of his
perfidious Mistress； when the Castle…Bell struck 'One。'
Immediately Beatrice drew a dagger from underneath the pillow；
and plunged it in her Paramour's heart。 The Baron uttered a
single dreadful groan； and expired。 The Murderess quitted her
bed hastily； took a Lamp in one hand； in the other the bloody
dagger； and bent her course towards the cavern。 The Porter dared
not to refuse opening the Gates to one more dreaded in the
Castle than its Master。 Beatrice reached Lindenberg Hole
unopposed； where according to promise She found Otto waiting for
her。 He received and listened to her narrative with transport：
But ere She had time to ask why He came unaccompanied； He
convinced her that He wished for no witnesses to their interview。
Anxious to conceal his share in the murder； and to free himself
from a Woman； whose violent and atrocious character made him
tremble with reason for his own safety； He had resolved on the
destruction of his wretched Agent。 Rushing upon her suddenly； He
wrested the dagger from her hand： He plunged it still reeking
with his Brother's blood in her bosom； and put an end to her
existence by repeated blows。
'Otto now succeeded to the Barony of Lindenberg。 The murder was
attributed solely to the fugitive Nun； and no one suspected him
to have persuaded her to the action。 But though his crime was
unpunished by Man； God's justice permitted him not to enjoy in
peace his blood…stained honours。 Her bones lying still unburied
in the Cave； the restless soul of Beatrice continued to inhabit
the Castle。 Drest in her religious habit in memory of her vows
broken to heaven； furnished with the dagger which had drank the
blood of her Paramour； and holding the Lamp which had guided her
flying steps； every night did She stand before the Bed of Otto。
The most dreadful confusion reigned through the Castle； The
vaulted chambers resounded with shrieks and groans； And the
Spectre； as She ranged along the antique Galleries； uttered an
incoherent mixture of prayers and blasphemies。 Otto was unable
to withstand the shock which He felt at this fearful Vision：
Its horror increased with every succeeding appearance： His alarm
at length became so insupportable that his heart burst； and one
morning He was found in his bed totally deprived of warmth and
animation。 His death did not put an end to the nocturnal riots。
The bones of Beatrice continued to lie unburied； and her Ghost
continued to haunt the Castle。
'The domains of Lindenberg now fell to a distant Relation。 But
terrified by the accounts given him of the Bleeding Nun （So was
the Spectre called by the multitude）； the new Baron called to his
assistance a celebrated Exorciser。 This holy Man succeeded in
obliging her to temporary repose； But though She discovered to
him her history； He was not permitted to reveal it to others； or
cause her skeleton to be removed to hallowed ground。 That Office
was reserved for you； and till your coming； her Ghost was doomed
to wander about the Castle and lament the crime which She had
there committed。 However； the Exorciser obliged her to silence
during his lifetime。 So long as He existed； the haunted chamber
was shut up； and the Spectre was invisible。 At his death which
happened in five years after； She again appeared； but only once
on every fifth year； on the same day and at the same hour when
She plunged her Knife in the heart of her sleeping Lover： She
then visited the Cavern which held her mouldering skeleton；
returned to the Castle as soon as the Clock struck 'Two；' and was
seen no more till the next five years had elapsed。
'She was doomed to suffer during the space of a Century。 That
period is past。 Nothing now remains but to consign to the Grave
the ashes of Beatrice。 I have been the means of releasing you
from your visionary Tormentor； and amidst all the sorrows which
oppress me； to think that I have been of use to you； is some
consolation。 Youth； farewell！ May the Ghost of your Relation
enjoy that rest in the Tomb； which the Almighty's vengeance has
denied to me for ever！'
Here the Stranger prepared to quit the apartment。
'Stay yet one moment！' said I； 'You have satisfied my curiosity
with regard to the Spectre； but you leave me in prey to yet
greater respecting yourself。 Deign to inform me； to whom I am
under such real obligations。 You mention circumstances long
past； and persons long dead： You were personally acquainted with
the Exorciser； who by your own account has been deceased near a
Century。 How am I to account for this？ What means that burning
Cross upon your forehead； and why did the sight of it strike
such horror to my soul？'
On these points He for some time refused to satisfy me。 At
length overcome by my entreaties； He consented to clear up the
whole； on condition that I would defer his explanation till the
next day。 With this request I was obliged to comply； and He left
me。 In the Morning my first care was to enquire after the
mysterious Stranger。 Conceive my disappointment when informed
that He had already quitted Ratisbon。 I dispatched messengers in
pursuit of him but in vain。 No traces of the Fugitive were
discovered。 Since that moment I never have heard any more of
him； and 'tis most probable that I never shall。'
（Lorenzo here interrupted his Friend's narrative。
'How？' said He； 'You have never discovered who He was； or even
formed a guess？'
'Pardon me；' replied the Marquis； 'When I related this adventure
to my Uncle； the Cardinal…Duke； He told me that He had no doubt
of this singular Man's being the celebrated Character known
universally by the name of 'the wandering Jew。' His not being
permitted to pass more than fourteen days on the same spot； the
burning Cross impressed upon his forehead； the effect which it
produced upon the Beholders； and many other circumstances give
this supposition the colour of truth。 The Cardinal is fully
persuaded of it； and for my own part I am inclined to adopt the
only solution which offers itself to this riddle。 I return to
the narrative from which I have digressed。'）
From this period I recovered my health so rapidly as to astonish
my Physicians。 Th