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the Stairs with his Conductress； the Landlady failed not to make
her appearance。
'Why surely you are not going away； reverend Father？' cried She；
'Did you not promise to pass the night in the haunted Chamber？
Christ Jesus！ I shall be left alone with the Ghost； and a fine
pickle I shall be in by morning！ Do all I could； say all I
could； that obstinate old Brute； Simon Gonzalez； refused to marry
me today； And before tomorrow comes； I suppose； I shall be torn
to pieces； by the Ghosts； and Goblins； and Devils； and what not！
For God's sake； your Holiness； do not leave me in such a woeful
condition！ On my bended knees I beseech you to keep your
promise： Watch this night in the haunted chamber； Lay the
Apparition in the Red Sea； and Jacintha remembers you in her
prayers to the last day of her existence！'
This request Ambrosio expected and desired； Yet He affected to
raise objections； and to seem unwilling to keep his word。 He
told Jacintha that the Ghost existed nowhere but in her own
brain； and that her insisting upon his staying all night in the
House was ridiculous and useless。 Jacintha was obstinate： She
was not to be convinced； and pressed him so urgently not to leave
her a prey to the Devil； that at length He granted her request。
All this show of resistance imposed not upon Flora； who was
naturally of a suspicious temper。 She suspected the Monk to be
acting a part very contrary to his own inclinations； and that He
wished for no better than to remain where He was。 She even went
so far as to believe that Jacintha was in his interest； and the
poor old Woman was immediately set down； as no better than a
Procuress。 While She applauded herself for having penetrated
into this plot against her Lady's honour； She resolved in secret
to render it fruitless。
'So then；' said She to the Abbot with a look half…satirical and
half indignant； 'So then you mean to stay here tonight？ Do so；
in God's name！ Nobody will prevent you。 Sit up to watch for the
Ghost's arrival： I shall sit up too； and the Lord grant that I
may see nothing worse than a Ghost！ I quit not Donna Antonia's
Bedside during this blessed night： Let me see any one dare to
enter the room； and be He mortal or immortal； be He Ghost； Devil；
or Man； I warrant his repenting that ever He crossed the
threshold！'
This hint was sufficiently strong； and Ambrosio understood its
meaning。 But instead of showing that He perceived her
suspicions； He replied mildly that He approved the Duenna's
precautions； and advised her to persevere in her intention。
This； She assured him faithfully that He might depend upon her
doing。 Jacintha then conducted him into the chamber where the
Ghost had appeared； and Flora returned to her Lady's。
Jacintha opened the door of the haunted room with a trembling
hand： She ventured to peep in； But the wealth of India would not
have tempted her to cross the threshold。 She gave the Taper to
the Monk； wished him well through the adventure； and hastened to
be gone。 Ambrosio entered。 He bolted the door； placed the light
upon the Table； and seated himself in the Chair which on the
former night had sustained Antonia。 In spite of Matilda's
assurances that the Spectre was a mere creation of fancy； his
mind was impressed with a certain mysterious horror。 He in vain
endeavoured to shake it off。 The silence of the night； the story
of the Apparition； the chamber wainscotted with dark oak
pannells； the recollection which it brought with it of the
murdered Elvira； and his incertitude respecting the nature of the
drops given by him to Antonia； made him feel uneasy at his
present situation。 But He thought much less of the Spectre； than
of the poison。 Should He have destroyed the only object which
rendered life dear to him； Should the Ghost's prediction prove
true； Should Antonia in three days be no more； and He the
wretched cause of her death 。 。 。 。 。 。 The supposition was too
horrible to dwell upon。 He drove away these dreadful images； and
as often they presented themselves again before him。 Matilda had
assured him that the effects of the Opiate would be speedy。 He
listened with fear； yet with eagerness； expecting to hear some
disturbance in the adjoining chamber。 All was still silent。 He
concluded that the drops had not begun to operate。 Great was
the stake； for which He now played： A moment would suffice to
decide upon his misery or happiness。 Matilda had taught him the
means of ascertaining that life was not extinct for ever： Upon
this assay depended all his hopes。 With every instant his
impatience redoubled； His terrors grew more lively； his anxiety
more awake。 Unable to bear this state of incertitude； He
endeavoured to divert it by substituting the thoughts of Others
to his own。 The Books； as was before mentioned； were ranged upon
shelves near the Table： This stood exactly opposite to the Bed；
which was placed in an Alcove near the Closet door。 Ambrosio
took down a Volume； and seated himself by the Table： But his
attention wandered from the Pages before him。 Antonia's image
and that of the murdered Elvira persisted to force themselves
before his imagination。 Still He continued to read； though his
eyes ran over the characters without his mind being conscious of
their import。 Such was his occupation； when He fancied that He
heard a footstep。 He turned his head； but nobody was to be seen。
He resumed his Book； But in a few minutes after the same sound
was repeated； and followed by a rustling noise close behind him。
He now started from his seat； and looking round him； perceived
the Closet door standing half…unclosed。 On his first entering
the room He had tried to open it； but found it bolted on the
inside。
'How is this？' said He to himself； 'How comes this door
unfastened？'
He advanced towards it： He pushed it open； and looked into the
closet： No one was there。 While He stood irresolute； He
thought that He distinguished a groaning in the adjacent
chamber： It was Antonia's； and He supposed that the drops began
to take effect： But upon listening more attentively； He found
the noise to be caused by Jacintha； who had fallen asleep by the
Lady's Bedside； and was snoring most lustily。 Ambrosio drew
back； and returned to the other room； musing upon the sudden
opening of the Closet door； for which He strove in vain to
account。
He paced the chamber up and down in silence。 At length He
stopped； and the Bed attracted his attention。 The curtain of the
Recess was but half…drawn。 He sighed involuntarily。
'That Bed；' said He in a low voice； 'That Bed was Elvira's！
There has She past many a quiet night； for She was good and
innocent。 How sound must have been her sleep！ And yet now She
sleeps sounder！ Does She indeed sleep？ Oh！ God grant that She
may！ What if She rose from her Grave at this sad and silent
hour？ What if She broke the bonds of the Tomb； and glided
angrily before my blasted eyes？ Oh！ I never could support the
sight！ Again to see her form distorted by dying agonies； her
blood…swollen veins； her livid countenance； her eyes bursting
from their sockets with pain！ To hear her speak of future
punis