The Mysteries of Udolpho

'Barnardine, ma'amselle,' said she, 'dare not come to the corridor, lest

he should be discovered, it is so far from his post; and he dare not

even leave the gates for a moment now; but, if you will come to him

at the portal, through some roundabout passages he told me of, without

crossing the courts, he has that to tell, which will surprise you. But

you must not come through the courts, lest the Signor should see you.'

Emily, neither approving these 'roundabout passage,' nor the other part

of the request, now positively refused to go. 'Tell him,' said she,

'if he has any thing of consequence to impart, I will hear him in the

corridor, whenever he has an opportunity of coming thither.'

Annette went to deliver this message, and was absent a considerable

time. When she returned, 'It won't do, ma'amselle,' said she.

'Barnardine has been considering all this time what can be done, for it

is as much as his place is worth to leave his post now. But, if you will

come to the east rampart in the dusk of the evening, he can, perhaps,

steal away, and tell you all he has to say.'

Emily was surprised and alarmed, at the secrecy which this man seemed

to think so necessary, and hesitated whether to meet him, till,

considering, that he might mean to warn her of some serious danger, she

resolved to go. 'Soon after sun-set,' said she, 'I will be at the end of the east

rampart. But then the watch will be set,' she added, recollecting

herself, 'and how can Barnardine pass unobserved?'

'That is just what I said to him, ma'am, and he answered me, that he had

the key of the gate, at the end of the rampart, that leads towards

the courts, and could let himself through that way; and as for the

sentinels, there were none at this end of the terrace, because the place

is guarded enough by the high walls of the castle, and the east turret;

and he said those at the other end were too far off to see him, if it

was pretty duskyish.'

'Well,' said Emily, 'I must hear what he has to tell; and, therefore,

desire you will go with me to the terrace, this evening.'

'He desired it might be pretty duskyish, ma'amselle,' repeated Annette,

'because of the watch.' Emily paused, and then said she would be on the terrace, an hour after

sun-set;--'and tell Barnardine,' she added, 'to be punctual to the

time; for that I, also, may be observed by Signor Montoni. Where is the

Signor? I would speak with him.' 'He is in the cedar chamber, ma'am, counselling with the other Signors.

He is going to give them a sort of treat to-day, to make up for what

passed at the last, I suppose; the people are all very busy in the

kitchen.' Emily now enquired, if Montoni expected any new guests? and Annette

believed that he did not. 'Poor Ludovico!' added she, 'he would be as

merry as the best of them, if he was well; but he may recover yet. Count

Morano was wounded as bad, as he, and he is got well again, and is gone

back to Venice.' 'Is he so?' said Emily, 'when did you hear this?'