The Mysteries of Udolpho

After closing the door he reproved her for a meanness, of which she had

not been guilty, and sternly questioned her what she had overheard; an

accusation, which revived her recollection so far, that she assured

him she had not come thither with an intention to listen to his

conversation, but to entreat his compassion for her aunt, and for

Annette. Montoni seemed to doubt this assertion, for he regarded her

with a scrutinizing look; and the doubt evidently arose from no trifling

interest. Emily then further explained herself, and concluded with

entreating him to inform her, where her aunt was placed, and to permit,

that she might visit her; but he looked upon her only with a malignant

smile, which instantaneously confirmed her worst fears for her aunt,

and, at that moment, she had not courage to renew her entreaties.

'For Annette,' said he,--'if you go to Carlo, he will release the

girl; the foolish fellow, who shut her up, died yesterday.' Emily

shuddered.--'But my aunt, Signor'--said she, 'O tell me of my aunt!' 'She is taken care of,' replied Montoni hastily, 'I have no time to

answer idle questions.'

He would have passed on, but Emily, in a voice of agony, that could not

be wholly resisted, conjured him to tell her, where Madame Montoni was;

while he paused, and she anxiously watched his countenance, a trumpet

sounded, and, in the next moment, she heard the heavy gates of the

portal open, and then the clattering of horses' hoofs in the court, with

the confusion of many voices. She stood for a moment hesitating whether

she should follow Montoni, who, at the sound of the trumpet, had passed

through the hall, and, turning her eyes whence it came, she saw through

the door, that opened beyond a long perspective of arches into the

courts, a party of horsemen, whom she judged, as well as the distance

and her embarrassment would allow, to be the same she had seen depart, a

few days before. But she staid not to scrutinize, for, when the trumpet

sounded again, the chevaliers rushed out of the cedar room, and men came

running into the hall from every quarter of the castle. Emily once more

hurried for shelter to her own apartment. Thither she was still pursued

by images of horror.

She re-considered Montoni's manner and words, when

he had spoken of his wife, and they served only to confirm her most

terrible suspicions. Tears refused any longer to relieve her distress,

and she had sat for a considerable time absorbed in thought, when a

knocking at the chamber door aroused her, on opening which she found old

Carlo. 'Dear young lady,' said he, 'I have been so flurried, I never once

thought of you till just now. I have brought you some fruit and wine,

and I am sure you must stand in need of them by this time.'