The Mysteries of Udolpho

Still, however, she shrunk from the thought of meeting

Barnardine, on the terrace, at midnight; and still the wish to be

relieved from this terrible suspense, concerning her aunt, to see her,

and to sooth her sufferings, made her hesitate what to do.

'Yet how is it possible, Annette, I can pass to the terrace at that

hour?' said she, recollecting herself, 'the sentinels will stop me, and

Signor Montoni will hear of the affair.'

'O ma'amselle! that is well thought of,' replied Annette. 'That is

what Barnardine told me about. He gave me this key, and bade me say it

unlocks the door at the end of the vaulted gallery, that opens near the

end of the east rampart, so that you need not pass any of the men on

watch. He bade me say, too, that his reason for requesting you to come

to the terrace was, because he could take you to the place you want

to go to, without opening the great doors of the hall, which grate so

heavily.' Emily's spirits were somewhat calmed by this explanation, which seemed

to be honestly given to Annette. 'But why did he desire I would come

alone, Annette?' said she.

'Why that was what I asked him myself, ma'amselle. Says I, Why is my

young lady to come alone?--Surely I may come with her!--What harm can I

do? But he said "No--no--I tell you not," in his gruff way. Nay, says I,

I have been trusted in as great affairs as this, I warrant, and it's a

hard matter if I can't keep a secret now. Still he would say nothing

but--"No--no--no." Well, says I, if you will only trust me, I will

tell you a great secret, that was told me a month ago, and I have never

opened my lips about it yet--so you need not be afraid of telling me.

But all would not do. Then, ma'amselle, I went so far as to offer him a

beautiful new sequin, that Ludovico gave me for a keep sake, and I would

not have parted with it for all St. Marco's Place; but even that would

not do! Now what can be the reason of this? But I know, you know, ma'am,

who you are going to see.' 'Pray did Barnardine tell you this?'

'He! No, ma'amselle, that he did not.'

Emily enquired who did, but Annette shewed, that she COULD keep a

secret. During the remainder of the day, Emily's mind was agitated with doubts

and fears and contrary determinations, on the subject of meeting this

Barnardine on the rampart, and submitting herself to his guidance,

she scarcely knew whither.