'Stay!' said Valancourt, 'I conjure you stay, for I have much to tell

you. The agitation of my mind has hitherto suffered me to speak only

on the subject that occupied it;--I have forborne to mention a doubt of

much importance, partly, lest it should appear as if I told it with

an ungenerous view of alarming you into a compliance with my late

proposal.' Emily, much agitated, did not leave Valancourt, but she led him from the

pavilion, and, as they walked upon the terrace, he proceeded as follows:

'This Montoni: I have heard some strange hints concerning him. Are you

certain he is of Madame Quesnel's family, and that his fortune is what

it appears to be?'

'I have no reason to doubt either,' replied Emily, in a voice of alarm.

'Of the first, indeed, I cannot doubt, but I have no certain means

of judging of the latter, and I entreat you will tell me all you have

heard.' 'That I certainly will, but it is very imperfect, and unsatisfactory

information. I gathered it by accident from an Italian, who was speaking

to another person of this Montoni. They were talking of his marriage;

the Italian said, that if he was the person he meant, he was not likely

to make Madame Cheron happy. He proceeded to speak of him in general

terms of dislike, and then gave some particular hints, concerning his

character, that excited my curiosity, and I ventured to ask him a few

questions. He was reserved in his replies, but, after hesitating for

some time, he owned, that he had understood abroad, that Montoni was a

man of desperate fortune and character. He said something of a castle

of Montoni's, situated among the Apennines, and of some strange

circumstances, that might be mentioned, as to his former mode of life.

I pressed him to inform me further, but I believe the strong interest I

felt was visible in my manner, and alarmed him; for no entreaties could

prevail with him to give any explanation of the circumstances he had

alluded to, or to mention any thing further concerning Montoni. I

observed to him, that, if Montoni was possessed of a castle in the

Apennines, it appeared from such a circumstance, that he was of some

family, and also seemed to contradict the report, that he was a man of

entirely broken fortunes. He shook his head, and looked as if he could

have said a great deal, but made no reply.

'A hope of learning something more satisfactory, or more positive,

detained me in his company a considerable time, and I renewed the

subject repeatedly, but the Italian wrapped himself up in reserve,

said--that what he had mentioned he had caught only from a floating

report, and that reports frequently arose from personal malice, and were

very little to be depended upon. I forbore to press the subject farther,

since it was obvious that he was alarmed for the consequence of what

he had already said, and I was compelled to remain in uncertainty on a

point where suspense is almost intolerable. Think, Emily, what I must

suffer to see you depart for a foreign country, committed to the power

of a man of such doubtful character as is this Montoni! But I will not

alarm you unnecessarily;--it is possible, as the Italian said, at first,

that this is not the Montoni he alluded to. Yet, Emily, consider well

before you resolve to commit yourself to him. O! I must not trust

myself to speak--or I shall renounce all the motives, which so lately

influenced me to resign the hope of your becoming mine immediately.'




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