Such a spectacle, in these solitary regions, both surprised and alarmed

Madame Montoni, and she hastened towards some peasants, who were

employed in raising bastions before the south rampart, where the rock

was less abrupt than elsewhere. These men could give no satisfactory

answers to her enquiries, but, being roused by them, gazed in stupid

astonishment upon the long cavalcade. Madame Montoni, then thinking it

necessary to communicate further the object of her alarm, sent Emily to

say, that she wished to speak to Montoni; an errand her niece did not

approve, for she dreaded his frowns, which she knew this message would

provoke; but she obeyed in silence. As she drew near the apartment, in which he sat with his guests,

she heard them in earnest and loud dispute, and she paused a moment,

trembling at the displeasure, which her sudden interruption would

occasion. In the next, their voices sunk all together; she then ventured

to open the door, and, while Montoni turned hastily and looked at her,

without speaking, she delivered her message.

'Tell Madam Montoni I am engaged,' said he.

Emily then thought it proper to mention the subject of her alarm.

Montoni and his companions rose instantly and went to the windows, but,

these not affording them a view of the troops, they at length proceeded

to the ramparts, where Cavigni conjectured it to be a legion of

condottieri, on their march towards Modena.

One part of the cavalcade now extended along the valley, and another

wound among the mountains towards the north, while some troops still

lingered on the woody precipices, where the first had appeared, so that

the great length of the procession seemed to include an whole army.

While Montoni and his family watched its progress, they heard the sound

of trumpets and the clash of cymbals in the vale, and then others,

answering from the heights. Emily listened with emotion to the shrill

blast, that woke the echoes of the mountains, and Montoni explained the

signals, with which he appeared to be well acquainted, and which meant

nothing hostile. The uniforms of the troops, and the kind of arms

they bore, confirmed to him the conjecture of Cavigni, and he had the

satisfaction to see them pass by, without even stopping to gaze upon his

castle. He did not, however, leave the rampart, till the bases of

the mountains had shut them from his view, and the last murmur of the

trumpet floated away on the wind. Cavigni and Verezzi were inspirited

by this spectacle, which seemed to have roused all the fire of their

temper; Montoni turned into the castle in thoughtful silence.




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