The Mysteries of Udolpho

Emily wrote on the opposite page of the paper as follows:

'It is now useless, sir, for me to remonstrate upon the circumstances

of which Signor Montoni informs me that he has written. I could

have wished, at least, that the affair had been concluded with

less precipitation, that I might have taught myself to subdue some

prejudices, as the Signor calls them, which still linger in my heart. As

it is, I submit. In point of prudence nothing certainly can be objected;

but, though I submit, I have yet much to say on some other points of the

subject, when I shall have the honour of seeing you. In the meantime I

entreat you will take care of Theresa, for the sake of, Sir,

Your affectionate niece,

EMILY ST. AUBERT.'

Montoni smiled satirically at what Emily had written, but did not object

to it, and she withdrew to her own apartment, where she sat down to

begin a letter to Valancourt, in which she related the particulars

of her journey, and her arrival at Venice, described some of the most

striking scenes in the passage over the Alps; her emotions on her first

view of Italy; the manners and characters of the people around her, and

some few circumstances of Montoni's conduct. But she avoided even naming

Count Morano, much more the declaration he had made, since she well knew

how tremblingly alive to fear is real love, how jealously watchful of

every circumstance that may affect its interest; and she scrupulously

avoided to give Valancourt even the slightest reason for believing he

had a rival. On the following day Count Morano dined again at Montoni's. He was in

an uncommon flow of spirits, and Emily thought there was somewhat of

exultation in his manner of addressing her, which she had never observed

before. She endeavoured to repress this by more than her usual reserve,

but the cold civility of her air now seemed rather to encourage than to

depress him. He appeared watchful of an opportunity of speaking with her

alone, and more than once solicited this; but Emily always replied, that

she could hear nothing from him which he would be unwilling to repeat

before the whole company.

In the evening, Madame Montoni and her party went out upon the sea, and

as the Count led Emily to his zendaletto, he carried her hand to his

lips, and thanked her for the condescension she had shown him. Emily,

in extreme surprise and displeasure, hastily withdrew her hand, and

concluded that he had spoken ironically; but, on reaching the steps

of the terrace, and observing by the livery, that it was the Count's

zendaletto which waited below, while the rest of the party, having

arranged themselves in the gondolas, were moving on, she determined

not to permit a separate conversation, and, wishing him a good evening,

returned to the portico. The Count followed to expostulate and entreat,

and Montoni, who then came out, rendered solicitation unnecessary, for,

without condescending to speak, he took her hand, and led her to the

zendaletto. Emily was not silent; she entreated Montoni, in a low voice,

to consider the impropriety of these circumstances, and that he would

spare her the mortification of submitting to them; he, however, was

inflexible. 'This caprice is intolerable,' said he, 'and shall not be indulged:

there is no impropriety in the case.'