The Mysteries of Udolpho

Emily now listened, with very anxious attention, to the narrative of Du

Pont, who proceeded:

'In granting this indulgence, he knew, that he had nothing to apprehend

from a chance of my escaping from a castle, which was vigilantly

guarded, and the nearest terrace of which rose over a perpendicular

rock; he shewed me also,' continued Du Pont, 'a door concealed in

the cedar wainscot of the apartment where I was confined, which he

instructed me how to open; and which, leading into a passage, formed

within the thickness of the wall, that extended far along the castle,

finally opened in an obscure corner of the eastern rampart. I have since

been informed, that there are many passages of the same kind

concealed within the prodigious walls of that edifice, and which were,

undoubtedly, contrived for the purpose of facilitating escapes in time

of war.

Through this avenue, at the dead of night, I often stole to the

terrace, where I walked with the utmost caution, lest my steps should

betray me to the sentinels on duty in distant parts; for this end of it,

being guarded by high buildings, was not watched by soldiers. In one of

these midnight wanderings, I saw light in a casement that overlooked the

rampart, and which, I observed, was immediately over my prison-chamber.

It occurred to me, that you might be in that apartment, and, with the

hope of seeing you, I placed myself opposite to the window.'

Emily, remembering the figure that had formerly appeared on the terrace,

and which had occasioned her so much anxiety, exclaimed, 'It was you

then, Monsieur Du Pont, who occasioned me much foolish terror; my

spirits were, at that time, so much weakened by long suffering, that

they took alarm at every hint.' Du Pont, after lamenting, that he

had occasioned her any apprehension, added, 'As I rested on the

wall, opposite to your casement, the consideration of your melancholy

situation and of my own called from me involuntary sounds of

lamentation, which drew you, I fancy, to the casement; I saw there a

person, whom I believed to be you. O! I will say nothing of my emotion

at that moment; I wished to speak, but prudence restrained me, till

the distant foot-step of a sentinel compelled me suddenly to quit my

station.

'It was some time, before I had another opportunity of walking, for I

could only leave my prison, when it happened to be the turn of one

man to guard me; meanwhile I became convinced from some circumstances

related by him, that your apartment was over mine, and, when again I

ventured forth, I returned to your casement, where again I saw you, but

without daring to speak. I waved my hand, and you suddenly disappeared;

then it was, that I forgot my prudence, and yielded to lamentation;

again you appeared--you spoke--I heard the well-known accent of your

voice! and, at that moment, my discretion would have forsaken me

again, had I not heard also the approaching steps of a soldier, when I

instantly quitted the place, though not before the man had seen me.

He followed down the terrace and gained so fast upon me, that I was

compelled to make use of a stratagem, ridiculous enough, to save myself.