The Mysteries of Udolpho

She looked fearfully towards the door of the stair-case, and

then, examining whether it was still fastened, found that it was so.

Unable to conquer the uneasiness she felt at the prospect of sleeping

again in this remote and insecure apartment, which some person seemed to

have entered during the preceding night, her impatience to see Annette,

whom she had bidden to enquire concerning this circumstance, became

extremely painful. She wished also to question her, as to the object,

which had excited so much horror in her own mind, and which Annette on

the preceding evening had appeared to be in part acquainted with, though

her words were very remote from the truth, and it appeared plainly to

Emily, that the girl had been purposely misled by a false report: above

all she was surprised, that the door of the chamber, which contained

it, should be left unguarded. Such an instance of negligence almost

surpassed belief. But her light was now expiring; the faint flashes it

threw upon the walls called up all the terrors of fancy, and she rose

to find her way to the habitable part of the castle, before it was quite

extinguished. As she opened the chamber door, she heard remote voices,

and, soon after, saw a light issue upon the further end of the corridor,

which Annette and another servant approached. 'I am glad you are

come,' said Emily: 'what has detained you so long? Pray light me a fire

immediately.'

'My lady wanted me, ma'amselle,' replied Annette in some confusion; 'I

will go and get the wood.'

'No,' said Caterina, 'that is my business,' and left the room instantly,

while Annette would have followed; but, being called back, she began

to talk very loud, and laugh, and seemed afraid to trust a pause of

silence. Caterina soon returned with the wood, and then, when the cheerful blaze

once more animated the room, and this servant had withdrawn, Emily

asked Annette, whether she had made the enquiry she bade her. 'Yes,

ma'amselle,' said Annette, 'but not a soul knows any thing about the

matter: and old Carlo--I watched him well, for they say he knows strange

things--old Carlo looked so as I don't know how to tell, and he asked me

again and again, if I was sure the door was ever unfastened. Lord, says

I--am I sure I am alive? And as for me, ma'am, I am all astounded, as

one may say, and would no more sleep in this chamber, than I would on

the great cannon at the end of the east rampart.' 'And what objection have you to that cannon, more than to any of the

rest?' said Emily smiling: 'the best would be rather a hard bed.' 'Yes, ma'amselle, any of them would be hard enough for that matter; but

they do say, that something has been seen in the dead of night, standing

beside the great cannon, as if to guard it.' 'Well! my good Annette, the people who tell such stories, are happy in

having you for an auditor, for I perceive you believe them all.