The Mysteries of Udolpho

Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn'd,

Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell,

Be thy intents wicked, or charitable, I will speak to thee.

HAMLET

Count de Villefort, at length, received a letter from the advocate at

Avignon, encouraging Emily to assert her claim to the estates of the

late Madame Montoni; and, about the same time, a messenger arrived from

Monsieur Quesnel with intelligence, that made an appeal to the law on

this subject unnecessary, since it appeared, that the only person, who

could have opposed her claim, was now no more.

A friend of Monsieur Quesnel, who resided at Venice, had sent him an account of the death

of Montoni who had been brought to trial with Orsino, as his supposed

accomplice in the murder of the Venetian nobleman. Orsino was found

guilty, condemned and executed upon the wheel, but, nothing being

discovered to criminate Montoni, and his colleagues, on this charge,

they were all released, except Montoni, who, being considered by the

senate as a very dangerous person, was, for other reasons, ordered again

into confinement, where, it was said, he had died in a doubtful and

mysterious manner, and not without suspicion of having been poisoned.

The authority, from which M. Quesnel had received this information,

would not allow him to doubt its truth, and he told Emily, that she had

now only to lay claim to the estates of her late aunt, to secure them,

and added, that he would himself assist in the necessary forms of this

business.

The term, for which La Vallee had been let being now also

nearly expired, he acquainted her with the circumstance, and advised her

to take the road thither, through Tholouse, where he promised to meet

her, and where it would be proper for her to take possession of the

estates of the late Madame Montoni; adding, that he would spare her

any difficulties, that might occur on that occasion from the want of

knowledge on the subject, and that he believed it would be necessary for

her to be at Tholouse, in about three weeks from the present time.

An increase of fortune seemed to have awakened this sudden kindness in

M. Quesnel towards his niece, and it appeared, that he entertained more

respect for the rich heiress, than he had ever felt compassion for the

poor and unfriended orphan.

The pleasure, with which she received this intelligence, was clouded

when she considered, that he, for whose sake she had once regretted

the want of fortune, was no longer worthy of sharing it with her; but,

remembering the friendly admonition of the Count, she checked this

melancholy reflection, and endeavoured to feel only gratitude for

the unexpected good, that now attended her; while it formed no

inconsiderable part of her satisfaction to know, that La Vallee, her

native home, which was endeared to her by it's having been the residence

of her parents, would soon be restored to her possession. There she

meant to fix her future residence, for, though it could not be compared

with the chateau at Tholouse, either for extent, or magnificence, its

pleasant scenes and the tender remembrances, that haunted them, had

claims upon her heart, which she was not inclined to sacrifice to

ostentation. She wrote immediately to thank M. Quesnel for the active

interest he took in her concerns, and to say, that she would meet him at

Tholouse at the appointed time.