The Mysteries of Udolpho

Expressing surprise at not having yet heard from his friend, the

Advocate at Avignon, in answer to the questions proposed to him,

respecting the estates of the late Madame Montoni, he, with friendly

zeal, endeavoured to cheer Emily with hopes of establishing her claim

to them; while she felt, that the estates could now contribute little to

the happiness of a life, in which Valancourt had no longer an interest.

When they returned to the chateau, Emily retired to her apartment, and

Count De Villefort to the door of the north chambers. This was still

fastened, but, being now determined to arouse Ludovico, he renewed his

calls more loudly than before, after which a total silence ensued, and

the Count, finding all his efforts to be heard ineffectual, at length

began to fear, that some accident had befallen Ludovico, whom terror

of an imaginary being might have deprived of his senses. He, therefore,

left the door with an intention of summoning his servants to force it

open, some of whom he now heard moving in the lower part of the chateau.

To the Count's enquiries, whether they had seen or heard Ludovico, they

replied in affright, that not one of them had ventured on the north side

of the chateau, since the preceding night.

'He sleeps soundly then,' said the Count, 'and is at such a distance

from the outer door, which is fastened, that to gain admittance to the

chambers it will be necessary to force it. Bring an instrument, and

follow me.' The servants stood mute and dejected, and it was not till nearly all the

household were assembled, that the Count's orders were obeyed. In the

mean time, Dorothee was telling of a door, that opened from a gallery,

leading from the great stair-case into the last anti-room of the saloon,

and, this being much nearer to the bed-chamber, it appeared probable,

that Ludovico might be easily awakened by an attempt to open it.

Thither, therefore, the Count went, but his voice was as ineffectual

at this door as it had proved at the remoter one; and now, seriously

interested for Ludovico, he was himself going to strike upon the door

with the instrument, when he observed its singular beauty, and with-held

the blow. It appeared, on the first glance, to be of ebony, so dark and

close was its grain and so high its polish; but it proved to be only of

larch wood, of the growth of Provence, then famous for its forests

of larch. The beauty of its polished hue and of its delicate carvings

determined the Count to spare this door, and he returned to that leading

from the back stair-case, which being, at length, forced, he entered the

first anti-room, followed by Henri and a few of the most courageous of

his servants, the rest awaiting the event of the enquiry on the stairs

and landing-place.