The Mysteries of Udolpho

He was interrupted by the loud barking of the dog. 'Stay, Count Morano,' said Emily, terrified by his words, and by the

fury expressed in his eyes, 'I will save you from this error.--Of all

men, Signor Montoni is not your rival; though, if I find all other means

of saving myself vain, I will try whether my voice may not arouse his

servants to my succour.' 'Assertion,' replied Morano, 'at such a moment, is not to be depended

upon. How could I suffer myself to doubt, even for an instant, that he

could see you, and not love?--But my first care shall be to convey you

from the castle. Cesario! ho,--Cesario!' A man now appeared at the door of the stair-case, and other steps were

heard ascending. Emily uttered a loud shriek, as Morano hurried her

across the chamber, and, at the same moment, she heard a noise at the

door, that opened upon the corridor. The Count paused an instant, as if

his mind was suspended between love and the desire of vengeance; and,

in that instant, the door gave way, and Montoni, followed by the old

steward and several other persons, burst into the room.

'Draw!' cried Montoni to the Count, who did not pause for a second

bidding, but, giving Emily into the hands of the people, that appeared

from the stair-case, turned fiercely round. 'This in thine heart,

villain!' said he, as he made a thrust at Montoni with his sword, who

parried the blow, and aimed another, while some of the persons, who

had followed him into the room, endeavoured to part the combatants, and

others rescued Emily from the hands of Morano's servants.

'Was it for this, Count Morano,' said Montoni, in a cool sarcastic tone

of voice, 'that I received you under my roof, and permitted you, though

my declared enemy, to remain under it for the night? Was it, that you

might repay my hospitality with the treachery of a fiend, and rob me of

my niece?' 'Who talks of treachery?' said Morano, in a tone of unrestrained

vehemence. 'Let him that does, shew an unblushing face of innocence.

Montoni, you are a villain! If there is treachery in this affair, look

to yourself as the author of it. IF--do I say? I--whom you have wronged

with unexampled baseness, whom you have injured almost beyond redress!

But why do I use words?--Come on, coward, and receive justice at my

hands!' 'Coward!' cried Montoni, bursting from the people who held him, and

rushing on the Count, when they both retreated into the corridor, where

the fight continued so desperately, that none of the spectators dared

approach them, Montoni swearing, that the first who interfered, should

fall by his sword.