The Mysteries of Udolpho

The intense heat, for it was now noon, obliged the travellers to look

out for a shady recess, where they might rest, for a few hours, and

the neighbouring thickets, abounding with wild grapes, raspberries, and

figs, promised them grateful refreshment. Soon after, they turned

from the road into a grove, whose thick foliage entirely excluded the

sun-beams, and where a spring, gushing from the rock, gave coolness to

the air; and, having alighted and turned the horses to graze, Annette

and Ludovico ran to gather fruit from the surrounding thickets, of which

they soon returned with an abundance. The travellers, seated under the

shade of a pine and cypress grove and on turf, enriched with such a

profusion of fragrant flowers, as Emily had scarcely ever seen, even

among the Pyrenees, took their simple repast, and viewed, with new

delight, beneath the dark umbrage of gigantic pines, the glowing

landscape stretching to the sea.

Emily and Du Pont gradually became thoughtful and silent; but Annette

was all joy and loquacity, and Ludovico was gay, without forgetting the

respectful distance, which was due to his companions. The repast being

over, Du Pont recommended Emily to endeavour to sleep, during these

sultry hours, and, desiring the servants would do the same, said he

would watch the while; but Ludovico wished to spare him this trouble;

and Emily and Annette, wearied with travelling, tried to repose, while

he stood guard with his trombone.

When Emily, refreshed by slumber, awoke, she found the sentinel asleep

on his post and Du Pont awake, but lost in melancholy thought. As the

sun was yet too high to allow them to continue their journey, and as

it was necessary, that Ludovico, after the toils and trouble he had

suffered, should finish his sleep, Emily took this opportunity of

enquiring by what accident Du Pont became Montoni's prisoner, and he,

pleased with the interest this enquiry expressed and with the excuse

it gave him for talking to her of himself, immediately answered her

curiosity. 'I came into Italy, madam,' said Du Pont, 'in the service of my country.

In an adventure among the mountains our party, engaging with the bands

of Montoni, was routed, and I, with a few of my comrades, was taken

prisoner.

When they told me, whose captive I was, the name of Montoni

struck me, for I remembered, that Madame Cheron, your aunt, had married

an Italian of that name, and that you had accompanied them into Italy.

It was not, however, till some time after, that I became convinced this

was the same Montoni, or learned that you, madam, was under the same

roof with myself. I will not pain you by describing what were my

emotions upon this discovery, which I owed to a sentinel, whom I had

so far won to my interest, that he granted me many indulgences, one of

which was very important to me, and somewhat dangerous to himself; but

he persisted in refusing to convey any letter, or notice of my situation

to you, for he justly dreaded a discovery and the consequent vengeance

of Montoni. He however enabled me to see you more than once. You are

surprised, madam, and I will explain myself. My health and spirits

suffered extremely from want of air and exercise, and, at length, I

gained so far upon the pity, or the avarice of the man, that he gave me

the means of walking on the terrace.'