The Mysteries of Udolpho

Montoni still meditated how he might excuse himself from longer

attendance upon the Count, for to him only he thought excuse necessary,

and how he might get to land, till the gondolieri of an empty boat,

returning to Venice, hailed his people. Without troubling himself longer

about an excuse, he seized this opportunity of going thither, and,

committing the ladies to the care of his friends, departed with Orsino,

while Emily, for the first time, saw him go with regret; for she

considered his presence a protection, though she knew not what she

should fear. He landed at St. Mark's, and, hurrying to a Casino, was

soon lost amidst a crowd of gamesters.

Meanwhile, the Count having secretly dispatched a servant in Montoni's

boat, for his own gondola and musicians, Emily heard, without knowing

his project, the gay song of gondolieri approaching, as they sat on the

stern of the boat, and saw the tremulous gleam of the moon-light

wave, which their oars disturbed. Presently she heard the sound of

instruments, and then a full symphony swelled on the air, and, the boats

meeting, the gondolieri hailed each other. The count then explaining

himself, the party removed into his gondola, which was embellished with

all that taste could bestow.

While they partook of a collation of fruits and ice, the whole band,

following at a distance in the other boat, played the most sweet and

enchanting strains, and the Count, who had again seated himself by

Emily, paid her unremitted attention, and sometimes, in a low

but impassioned voice, uttered compliments which she could not

misunderstand. To avoid them she conversed with Signora Livona, and her

manner to the Count assumed a mild reserve, which, though dignified, was

too gentle to repress his assiduities: he could see, hear, speak to no

person, but Emily while Cavigni observed him now and then, with a look

of displeasure, and Emily, with one of uneasiness. She now wished for

nothing so much as to return to Venice, but it was near mid-night before

the gondolas approached St. Mark's Place, where the voice of gaiety

and song was loud. The busy hum of mingling sounds was heard at a

considerable distance on the water, and, had not a bright moon-light

discovered the city, with its terraces and towers, a stranger would

almost have credited the fabled wonders of Neptune's court, and

believed, that the tumult arose from beneath the waves.

They landed at St. Mark's, where the gaiety of the colonnades and the

beauty of the night, made Madame Montoni willingly submit to the Count's

solicitations to join the promenade, and afterwards to take a supper

with the rest of the party, at his Casino. If any thing could have

dissipated Emily's uneasiness, it would have been the grandeur, gaiety,

and novelty of the surrounding scene, adorned with Palladio's palaces,

and busy with parties of masqueraders.