The Mysteries of Udolpho

'Up this stair-case the Signora lies,' said Barnardine. 'Lies!' repeated Emily faintly, as she began to ascend. 'She lies in the upper chamber,' said Barnardine.

As they passed up, the wind, which poured through the narrow cavities in

the wall, made the torch flare, and it threw a stronger gleam upon the

grim and sallow countenance of Barnardine, and discovered more fully the

desolation of the place--the rough stone walls, the spiral stairs, black

with age, and a suit of antient armour, with an iron visor, that hung

upon the walls, and appeared a trophy of some former victory.

Having reached a landing-place, 'You may wait here, lady,' said he,

applying a key to the door of a chamber, 'while I go up, and tell the

Signora you are coming.'

'That ceremony is unnecessary,' replied Emily, 'my aunt will rejoice to

see me.' 'I am not so sure of that,' said Barnardine, pointing to the room he had

opened: 'Come in here, lady, while I step up.'

Emily, surprised and somewhat shocked, did not dare to oppose him

further, but, as he was turning away with the torch, desired he would

not leave her in darkness. He looked around, and, observing a tripod

lamp, that stood on the stairs, lighted and gave it to Emily, who

stepped forward into a large old chamber, and he closed the door. As

she listened anxiously to his departing steps, she thought he descended,

instead of ascending, the stairs; but the gusts of wind, that whistled

round the portal, would not allow her to hear distinctly any other

sound. Still, however, she listened, and, perceiving no step in the

room above, where he had affirmed Madame Montoni to be, her anxiety

increased, though she considered, that the thickness of the floor in

this strong building might prevent any sound reaching her from the upper

chamber.

The next moment, in a pause of the wind, she distinguished

Barnardine's step descending to the court, and then thought she heard

his voice; but, the rising gust again overcoming other sounds, Emily, to

be certain on this point, moved softly to the door, which, on attempting

to open it, she discovered was fastened. All the horrid apprehensions,

that had lately assailed her, returned at this instant with redoubled

force, and no longer appeared like the exaggerations of a timid spirit,

but seemed to have been sent to warn her of her fate. She now did not

doubt, that Madame Montoni had been murdered, perhaps in this very

chamber; or that she herself was brought hither for the same purpose.

The countenance, the manners and the recollected words of Barnardine,

when he had spoken of her aunt, confirmed her worst fears. For some

moments, she was incapable of considering of any means, by which she

might attempt an escape. Still she listened, but heard footsteps neither

on the stairs, or in the room above; she thought, however, that she

again distinguished Barnardine's voice below, and went to a grated

window, that opened upon the court, to enquire further. Here, she

plainly heard his hoarse accents, mingling with the blast, that swept

by, but they were lost again so quickly, that their meaning could not be

interpreted; and then the light of a torch, which seemed to issue from

the portal below, flashed across the court, and the long shadow of a

man, who was under the arch-way, appeared upon the pavement. Emily,

from the hugeness of this sudden portrait, concluded it to be that

of Barnardine; but other deep tones, which passed in the wind, soon

convinced her he was not alone, and that his companion was not a person

very liable to pity.