The Mysteries of Udolpho

One night, on which a council was not held, Orsino came in great

agitation of spirits, and dispatched his confidential servant to

Montoni, who was at a Casino, desiring that he would return home

immediately; but charging the servant not to mention his name. Montoni

obeyed the summons, and, on meeting Orsino, was informed of the

circumstances, that occasioned his visit and his visible alarm, with a

part of which he was already acquainted.

A Venetian nobleman, who had, on some late occasion, provoked the hatred

of Orsino, had been way-laid and poniarded by hired assassins: and, as

the murdered person was of the first connections, the Senate had

taken up the affair. One of the assassins was now apprehended, who had

confessed, that Orsino was his employer in the atrocious deed; and the

latter, informed of his danger, had now come to Montoni to consult on

the measures necessary to favour his escape. He knew, that, at this

time, the officers of the police were upon the watch for him, all over

the city; to leave it, at present, therefore, was impracticable, and

Montoni consented to secrete him for a few days till the vigilance of

justice should relax, and then to assist him in quitting Venice. He knew

the danger he himself incurred by permitting Orsino to remain in his

house, but such was the nature of his obligations to this man, that he

did not think it prudent to refuse him an asylum.

Such was the person whom Montoni had admitted to his confidence, and for

whom he felt as much friendship as was compatible with his character.

While Orsino remained concealed in his house, Montoni was unwilling to

attract public observation by the nuptials of Count Morano; but this

obstacle was, in a few days, overcome by the departure of his criminal

visitor, and he then informed Emily, that her marriage was to be

celebrated on the following morning. To her repeated assurances, that

it should not take place, he replied only by a malignant smile; and,

telling her that the Count and a priest would be at his house, early

in the morning, he advised her no further to dare his resentment, by

opposition to his will and to her own interest. 'I am now going out for

the evening,' said he, 'remember, that I shall give your hand to Count

Morano in the morning.' Emily, having, ever since his late threats,

expected, that her trials would at length arrive to this crisis, was

less shocked by the declaration, that she otherwise would have been,

and she endeavoured to support herself by the belief, that the marriage

could not be valid, so long as she refused before the priest to repeat

any part of the ceremony. Yet, as the moment of trial approached, her

long-harassed spirits shrunk almost equally from the encounter of his

vengeance, and from the hand of Count Morano. She was not even perfectly

certain of the consequence of her steady refusal at the altar, and

she trembled, more than ever, at the power of Montoni, which seemed

unlimited as his will, for she saw, that he would not scruple to

transgress any law, if, by so doing, he could accomplish his project.