The Mysteries of Udolpho

'So, ma'amselle, I came to tell you all this, for I never heard any

thing so strange in my life. But what can these ill-looking men be come

about, if it is not to murder us? And the Signor knows this, or why

should he be so civil to them? And why should he fortify the castle, and

counsel so much with the other Signors, and be so thoughtful?'

'Is this all you have to tell, Annette?' said Emily. 'Have you heard

nothing else, that alarms you?'

'Nothing else, ma'amselle!' said Annette; 'why, is not this enough?'

'Quite enough for my patience, Annette, but not quite enough to convince

me we are all to be murdered, though I acknowledge here is sufficient

food for curiosity.' She forbore to speak her apprehensions, because

she would not encourage Annette's wild terrors; but the present

circumstances of the castle both surprised, and alarmed her. Annette,

having told her tale, left the chamber, on the wing for new wonders.

In the evening, Emily had passed some melancholy hours with Madame

Montoni, and was retiring to rest, when she was alarmed by a strange and

loud knocking at her chamber door, and then a heavy weight fell against

it, that almost burst it open. She called to know who was there, and

receiving no answer, repeated the call; but a chilling silence followed.

It occurred to her--for, at this moment, she could not reason on the

probability of circumstances--that some one of the strangers, lately

arrived at the castle, had discovered her apartment, and was come with

such intent, as their looks rendered too possible--to rob, perhaps to

murder, her.

The moment she admitted this possibility, terror supplied

the place of conviction, and a kind of instinctive remembrance of her

remote situation from the family heightened it to a degree, that almost

overcame her senses. She looked at the door, which led to the staircase,

expecting to see it open, and listening, in fearful silence, for a

return of the noise, till she began to think it had proceeded from this

door, and a wish of escaping through the opposite one rushed upon her

mind. She went to the gallery door, and then, fearing to open it, lest

some person might be silently lurking for her without, she stopped,

but with her eyes fixed in expectation upon the opposite door of the

stair-case. As thus she stood, she heard a faint breathing near her, and

became convinced, that some person was on the other side of the door,

which was already locked. She sought for other fastening, but there was

none. While she yet listened, the breathing was distinctly heard, and her

terror was not soothed, when, looking round her wide and lonely chamber,

she again considered her remote situation. As she stood hesitating

whether to call for assistance, the continuance of the stillness

surprised her; and her spirits would have revived, had she not continued

to hear the faint breathing, that convinced her, the person, whoever it

was, had not quitted the door.