The Mysteries of Udolpho

When the service was over, the friar regarded Emily with attention and

surprise, and looked as if he wished to speak to her, but was restrained

by the presence of the condottieri, who, as they now led the way to

the courts, amused themselves with jokes upon his holy order, which

he endured in silence, demanding only to be conducted safely to his

convent, and to which Emily listened with concern and even horror. When

they reached the court, the monk gave her his blessing, and, after a

lingering look of pity, turned away to the portal, whither one of the

men carried a torch; while Annette, lighting another, preceded Emily to

her apartment. The appearance of the friar and the expression of tender

compassion, with which he had regarded her, had interested Emily, who,

though it was at her earnest supplication, that Montoni had consented

to allow a priest to perform the last rites for his deceased wife, knew

nothing concerning this person, till Annette now informed her, that he

belonged to a monastery, situated among the mountains at a few miles

distance. The Superior, who regarded Montoni and his associates, not

only with aversion, but with terror, had probably feared to offend him

by refusing his request, and had, therefore, ordered a monk to officiate

at the funeral, who, with the meek spirit of a christian, had overcome

his reluctance to enter the walls of such a castle, by the wish of

performing what he considered to be his duty, and, as the chapel was

built on consecrated ground, had not objected to commit to it the

remains of the late unhappy Madame Montoni.

Several days passed with Emily in total seclusion, and in a state of

mind partaking both of terror for herself, and grief for the departed.

She, at length, determined to make other efforts to persuade Montoni to

permit her return to France. Why he should wish to detain her, she could

scarcely dare to conjecture; but it was too certain that he did so, and

the absolute refusal he had formerly given to her departure allowed her

little hope, that he would now consent to it. But the horror, which his

presence inspired, made her defer, from day to day, the mention of this

subject; and at last she was awakened from her inactivity only by a

message from him, desiring her attendance at a certain hour. She began

to hope he meant to resign, now that her aunt was no more, the authority

he had usurped over her; till she recollected, that the estates, which

had occasioned so much contention, were now hers, and she then feared

Montoni was about to employ some stratagem for obtaining them, and

that he would detain her his prisoner, till he succeeded. This thought,

instead of overcoming her with despondency, roused all the latent

powers of her fortitude into action; and the property, which she would

willingly have resigned to secure the peace of her aunt, she resolved,

that no common sufferings of her own should ever compel her to give to

Montoni.