The Mysteries of Udolpho

Luckily the Signor and Signor Cavigni were up, so we had

soon a train at our heels, sufficient to frighten that Barnardine and

his rogues, all together.'

Annette ceased to speak, but Emily still appeared to listen. At length

she said, suddenly, 'I think I will go to him myself;--where is he?' Annette asked who was meant. 'Signor Montoni,' replied Emily. 'I would speak with him;' and Annette,

now remembering the order he had given, on the preceding night,

respecting her young lady, rose, and said she would seek him herself.

This honest girl's suspicions of Count Morano were perfectly just;

Emily, too, when she thought on the scheme, had attributed it to

him; and Montoni, who had not a doubt on this subject, also, began

to believe, that it was by the direction of Morano, that poison had

formerly been mingled with his wine.

The professions of repentance, which Morano had made to Emily, under the

anguish of his wound, was sincere at the moment he offered them; but

he had mistaken the subject of his sorrow, for, while he thought he was

condemning the cruelty of his late design, he was lamenting only the

state of suffering, to which it had reduced him. As these sufferings

abated, his former views revived, till, his health being re-established,

he again found himself ready for enterprise and difficulty. The porter

of the castle, who had served him, on a former occasion, willingly

accepted a second bribe; and, having concerted the means of drawing

Emily to the gates, Morano publicly left the hamlet, whither he had been

carried after the affray, and withdrew with his people to another

at several miles distance. From thence, on a night agreed upon by

Barnardine, who had discovered from the thoughtless prattle of Annette,

the most probable means of decoying Emily, the Count sent back his

servants to the castle, while he awaited her arrival at the hamlet, with

an intention of carrying her immediately to Venice. How this, his second

scheme, was frustrated, has already appeared; but the violent, and

various passions with which this Italian lover was now agitated, on his

return to that city, can only be imagined.

Annette having made her report to Montoni of Emily's health and of her

request to see him, he replied, that she might attend him in the cedar

room, in about an hour. It was on the subject, that pressed so heavily

on her mind, that Emily wished to speak to him, yet she did not

distinctly know what good purpose this could answer, and sometimes

she even recoiled in horror from the expectation of his presence. She

wished, also, to petition, though she scarcely dared to believe the

request would be granted, that he would permit her, since her aunt was

no more, to return to her native country.