The Mysteries of Udolpho

In consideration of the policy, suggested by Emily, and of his promise

to her, Valancourt restrained the impulse, that urged him to the house

of Montoni, to demand what had been denied to his entreaties. He only

repeated his solicitations to see him; seconding them with all the

arguments his situation could suggest. Thus several days passed, in

remonstrance, on one side, and inflexible denial, on the other; for,

whether it was fear, or shame, or the hatred, which results from both,

that made Montoni shun the man he had injured, he was peremptory in

his refusal, and was neither softened to pity by the agony, which

Valancourt's letters pourtrayed, or awakened to a repentance of his

own injustice by the strong remonstrances he employed. At length,

Valancourt's letters were returned unopened, and then, in the first

moments of passionate despair, he forgot every promise to Emily, except

the solemn one, which bound him to avoid violence, and hastened to

Montoni's chateau, determined to see him by whatever other means might

be necessary. Montoni was denied, and Valancourt, when he afterwards

enquired for Madame, and Ma'amselle St. Aubert, was absolutely refused

admittance by the servants.

Not choosing to submit himself to a contest

with these, he, at length, departed, and, returning home in a state of

mind approaching to frenzy, wrote to Emily of what had passed, expressed

without restraint all the agony of his heart, and entreated, that, since

he must not otherwise hope to see her immediately, she would allow him

an interview unknown to Montoni. Soon after he had dispatched this, his

passions becoming more temperate, he was sensible of the error he had

committed in having given Emily a new subject of distress in the strong

mention of his own suffering, and would have given half the world, had

it been his, to recover the letter. Emily, however, was spared the

pain she must have received from it by the suspicious policy of Madame

Montoni, who had ordered, that all letters, addressed to her niece,

should be delivered to herself, and who, after having perused this and

indulged the expressions of resentment, which Valancourt's mention of

Montoni provoked, had consigned it to the flames.

Montoni, meanwhile, every day more impatient to leave France, gave

repeated orders for dispatch to the servants employed in preparations

for the journey, and to the persons, with whom he was transacting some

particular business. He preserved a steady silence to the letters in

which Valancourt, despairing of greater good, and having subdued the

passion, that had transgressed against his policy, solicited only the

indulgence of being allowed to bid Emily farewell. But, when the latter

[Valancourt] learned, that she was really to set out in a very few days,

and that it was designed he should see her no more, forgetting every

consideration of prudence, he dared, in a second letter to Emily, to

propose a clandestine marriage. This also was transmitted to Madame

Montoni, and the last day of Emily's stay at Tholouse arrived, without

affording Valancourt even a line to sooth his sufferings, or a hope,

that he should be allowed a parting interview.