The Mysteries of Udolpho

This is no mortal business, nor no sound

That the earth owes!

SHAKESPEARE

We now return to the mention of Montoni, whose rage and disappointment

were soon lost in nearer interests, than any, which the unhappy Emily

had awakened. His depredations having exceeded their usual limits, and

reached an extent, at which neither the timidity of the then commercial

senate of Venice, nor their hope of his occasional assistance would

permit them to connive, the same effort, it was resolved, should

complete the suppression of his power and the correction of his

outrages.

While a corps of considerable strength was upon the point of

receiving orders to march for Udolpho, a young officer, prompted partly

by resentment, for some injury, received from Montoni, and partly by

the hope of distinction, solicited an interview with the Minister, who

directed the enterprise. To him he represented, that the situation of

Udolpho rendered it too strong to be taken by open force, except after

some tedious operations; that Montoni had lately shewn how capable he

was of adding to its strength all the advantages, which could be derived

from the skill of a commander; that so considerable a body of troops, as

that allotted to the expedition, could not approach Udolpho without his

knowledge, and that it was not for the honour of the republic to have a

large part of its regular force employed, for such a time as the siege

of Udolpho would require, upon the attack of a handful of banditti.

The object of the expedition, he thought, might be accomplished much more

safely and speedily by mingling contrivance with force. It was possible

to meet Montoni and his party, without their walls, and to attack them

then; or, by approaching the fortress, with the secrecy, consistent with

the march of smaller bodies of troops, to take advantage either of the

treachery, or negligence of some of his party, and to rush unexpectedly

upon the whole even in the castle of Udolpho.

This advice was seriously attended to, and the officer, who gave it,

received the command of the troops, demanded for his purpose. His

first efforts were accordingly those of contrivance alone. In the

neighbourhood of Udolpho, he waited, till he had secured the assistance

of several of the condottieri, of whom he found none, that he addressed,

unwilling to punish their imperious master and to secure their own

pardon from the senate.

He learned also the number of Montoni's troops,

and that it had been much increased, since his late successes. The

conclusion of his plan was soon effected. Having returned with his

party, who received the watch-word and other assistance from their

friends within, Montoni and his officers were surprised by one division,

who had been directed to their apartment, while the other maintained the

slight combat, which preceded the surrender of the whole garrison. Among

the persons, seized with Montoni, was Orsino, the assassin, who had

joined him on his first arrival at Udolpho, and whose concealment had

been made known to the senate by Count Morano, after the unsuccessful

attempt of the latter to carry off Emily. It was, indeed, partly for

the purpose of capturing this man, by whom one of the senate had been

murdered, that the expedition was undertaken, and its success was so

acceptable to them, that Morano was instantly released, notwithstanding

the political suspicions, which Montoni, by his secret accusation,

had excited against him.