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ce 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 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