The Mysteries of Udolpho

'But, I hope,' added he, 'we shall meet with no straggling parties of

banditti; some of them are abroad, I know. However, I have got a good

trombone, which will be of some service, if we should encounter any of

those brave spirits. You have no arms, Signor?' 'Yes,' replied Du Pont,

'I have the villain's stilletto, who would have stabbed me--but let us

rejoice in our escape from Udolpho, nor torment ourselves with looking

out for dangers, that may never arrive.'

The moon was now risen high over the woods, that hung upon the sides of

the narrow glen, through which they wandered, and afforded them light

sufficient to distinguish their way, and to avoid the loose and broken

stones, that frequently crossed it. They now travelled leisurely, and

in profound silence; for they had scarcely yet recovered from the

astonishment, into which this sudden escape had thrown them.--Emily's

mind, especially, was sunk, after the various emotions it had suffered,

into a kind of musing stillness, which the reposing beauty of the

surrounding scene and the creeping murmur of the night-breeze among the

foliage above contributed to prolong.

She thought of Valancourt and of

France, with hope, and she would have thought of them with joy, had

not the first events of this evening harassed her spirits too much, to

permit her now to feel so lively a sensation. Meanwhile, Emily was

alone the object of Du Pont's melancholy consideration; yet, with the

despondency he suffered, as he mused on his recent disappointment, was

mingled a sweet pleasure, occasioned by her presence, though they

did not now exchange a single word. Annette thought of this wonderful

escape, of the bustle in which Montoni and his people must be, now that

their flight was discovered; of her native country, whither she hoped

she was returning, and of her marriage with Ludovico, to which there no

longer appeared any impediment, for poverty she did not consider such.

Ludovico, on his part, congratulated himself, on having rescued his

Annette and Signora Emily from the danger, that had surrounded them; on

his own liberation from people, whose manners he had long detested;

on the freedom he had given to Monsieur Du Pont; on his prospect of

happiness with the object of his affections, and not a little on the

address, with which he had deceived the sentinel, and conducted the

whole of this affair.

Thus variously engaged in thought, the travellers passed on silently,

for above an hour, a question only being, now and then, asked by Du

Pont, concerning the road, or a remark uttered by Annette, respecting

objects, seen imperfectly in the twilight. At length, lights were

perceived twinkling on the side of a mountain, and Ludovico had no

doubt, that they proceeded from the town he had mentioned, while his

companions, satisfied by this assurance, sunk again into silence.

Annette was the first who interrupted this. 'Holy Peter!' said she,

'What shall we do for money on our journey? for I know neither I, or my

lady, have a single sequin; the Signor took care of that!'