The Mysteries of Udolpho

The deliberate villany, with which he violated the solemn engagement he

had just entered into, shocked Emily as much, as the certainty, that she

had made a fruitless sacrifice, and must still remain his prisoner. She

had no words to express what she felt, and knew, that it would have been

useless, if she had. As she looked piteously at Montoni, he turned away,

and at the same time desired she would withdraw to her apartment; but,

unable to leave the room, she sat down in a chair near the door, and

sighed heavily.

She had neither words nor tears.

'Why will you indulge this childish grief?' said he. 'Endeavour to

strengthen your mind, to bear patiently what cannot now be avoided; you

have no real evil to lament; be patient, and you will be sent back to

France. At present retire to your apartment.'

'I dare not go, sir,' said she, 'where I shall be liable to the

intrusion of Signor Verezzi.' 'Have I not promised to protect you?'

said Montoni. 'You have promised, sir,'--replied Emily, after some

hesitation. 'And is not my promise sufficient?' added he sternly. 'You

will recollect your former promise, Signor,' said Emily, trembling,

'and may determine for me, whether I ought to rely upon this.' 'Will you

provoke me to declare to you, that I will not protect you then?' said

Montoni, in a tone of haughty displeasure. 'If that will satisfy you,

I will do it immediately.

Withdraw to your chamber, before I retract my

promise; you have nothing to fear there.' Emily left the room, and moved

slowly into the hall, where the fear of meeting Verezzi, or Bertolini,

made her quicken her steps, though she could scarcely support herself;

and soon after she reached once more her own apartment. Having looked

fearfully round her, to examine if any person was there, and having

searched every part of it, she fastened the door, and sat down by one of

the casements.

Here, while she looked out for some hope to support her

fainting spirits, which had been so long harassed and oppressed, that,

if she had not now struggled much against misfortune, they would have

left her, perhaps, for ever, she endeavoured to believe, that Montoni

did really intend to permit her return to France as soon as he had

secured her property, and that he would, in the mean time, protect her

from insult; but her chief hope rested with Ludovico, who, she doubted

not, would be zealous in her cause, though he seemed almost to despair

of success in it.