The Mysteries of Udolpho

For Valancourt's sake also she determined to preserve these

estates, since they would afford that competency, by which she hoped to

secure the comfort of their future lives. As she thought of this, she

indulged the tenderness of tears, and anticipated the delight of that

moment, when, with affectionate generosity, she might tell him they

were his own. She saw the smile, that lighted up his features--the

affectionate regard, which spoke at once his joy and thanks; and, at

this instant, she believed she could brave any suffering, which the evil

spirit of Montoni might be preparing for her. Remembering then, for the

first time since her aunt's death, the papers relative to the estates

in question, she determined to search for them, as soon as her interview

with Montoni was over.

With these resolutions she met him at the appointed time, and waited to

hear his intention before she renewed her request. With him were Orsino

and another officer, and both were standing near a table, covered with

papers, which he appeared to be examining.

'I sent for you, Emily,' said Montoni, raising his head, 'that you might

be a witness in some business, which I am transacting with my friend

Orsino. All that is required of you will be to sign your name to this

paper:' he then took one up, hurried unintelligibly over some lines,

and, laying it before her on the table, offered her a pen. She took it,

and was going to write--when the design of Montoni came upon her mind

like a flash of lightning; she trembled, let the pen fall, and refused

to sign what she had not read. Montoni affected to laugh at her

scruples, and, taking up the paper, again pretended to read; but Emily,

who still trembled on perceiving her danger, and was astonished, that

her own credulity had so nearly betrayed her, positively refused to sign

any paper whatever. Montoni, for some time, persevered in affecting

to ridicule this refusal; but, when he perceived by her steady

perseverance, that she understood his design, he changed his manner, and

bade her follow him to another room. There he told her, that he had been

willing to spare himself and her the trouble of useless contest, in an

affair, where his will was justice, and where she should find it law;

and had, therefore, endeavoured to persuade, rather than to compel, her

to the practice of her duty.

'I, as the husband of the late Signora Montoni,' he added, 'am the heir

of all she possessed; the estates, therefore, which she refused to me

in her life-time, can no longer be withheld, and, for your own sake, I

would undeceive you, respecting a foolish assertion she once made to you

in my hearing--that these estates would be yours, if she died without

resigning them to me. She knew at that moment, she had no power to

withhold them from me, after her decease; and I think you have more

sense, than to provoke my resentment by advancing an unjust claim. I

am not in the habit of flattering, and you will, therefore, receive,

as sincere, the praise I bestow, when I say, that you possess an

understanding superior to that of your sex; and that you have none

of those contemptible foibles, that frequently mark the female

character--such as avarice and the love of power, which latter makes

women delight to contradict and to tease, when they cannot conquer. If

I understand your disposition and your mind, you hold in sovereign

contempt these common failings of your sex.'