The Mysteries of Udolpho

'When I left you, lady,' replied the man, 'you might see me go down the

rampart, but it was not till I reached the east terrace, that I saw

any thing. Then, the moon shining bright, I saw something like a shadow

flitting before me, as it were, at some distance. I stopped, when I

turned the corner of the east tower, where I had seen this figure not

a moment before,--but it was gone! As I stood, looking through the

old arch, which leads to the east rampart, and where I am sure it had

passed, I heard, all of a sudden, such a sound!--it was not like a

groan, or a cry, or a shout, or any thing I ever heard in my life. I

heard it only once, and that was enough for me; for I know nothing that

happened after, till I found my comrades, here, about me.'

'Come,' said Sebastian, 'let us go to our posts--the moon is setting.

Good night, lady!' 'Aye, let us go,' rejoined Roberto. 'Good night, lady.'

'Good night; the holy mother guard you!' said Emily, as she closed her

casement and retired to reflect upon the strange circumstance that had

just occurred, connecting which with what had happened on former nights,

she endeavoured to derive from the whole something more positive, than

conjecture. But her imagination was inflamed, while her judgment was not

enlightened, and the terrors of superstition again pervaded her mind.