The Mysteries of Udolpho

'O no, Theresa, tell me all, while I have the power to hear it,' said

Emily, 'tell me all, I conjure you!' 'Well, madam, I will then; but the steward did not say much, for Richard

says he seemed shy of talking about Mons. Valancourt, and what he

gathered was from Gabriel, one of the servants, who said he had heard it

from my lord's gentleman.' 'What did he hear?' said Emily.

'Why, madam, Richard has but a bad memory, and could not remember half

of it, and, if I had not asked him a great many questions, I should have

heard little indeed. But he says that Gabriel said, that he and all the

other servants were in great trouble about M. Valancourt, for that he

was such a kind young gentleman, they all loved him, as well as if he

had been their own brother--and now, to think what was become of him!

For he used to be so courteous to them all, and, if any of them had been

in fault, M. Valancourt was the first to persuade my lord to forgive

them.

And then, if any poor family was in distress, M. Valancourt was

the first, too, to relieve them, though some folks, not a great way off,

could have afforded that much better than he. And then, said Gabriel, he

was so gentle to every body, and, for all he had such a noble look with

him, he never would command, and call about him, as some of your quality

people do, and we never minded him the less for that. Nay, says Gabriel,

for that matter, we minded him the more, and would all have run to obey

him at a word, sooner than if some folks had told us what to do at full

length; aye, and were more afraid of displeasing him, too, than of them,

that used rough words to us.'

Emily, who no longer considered it to be dangerous to listen to praise,

bestowed on Valancourt, did not attempt to interrupt Theresa, but sat,

attentive to her words, though almost overwhelmed with grief. 'My Lord,'

continued Theresa, 'frets about M. Valancourt sadly, and the more,

because, they say, he had been rather harsh against him lately.

Gabriel says he had it from my Lord's valet, that M. Valancourt had

COMPORTED himself wildly at Paris, and had spent a great deal of money, more

a great deal than my Lord liked, for he loves money better than M.

Valancourt, who had been led astray sadly. Nay, for that matter, M.

Valancourt had been put into prison at Paris, and my Lord, says Gabriel,

refused to take him out, and said he deserved to suffer; and, when old

Gregoire, the butler, heard of this, he actually bought a walking-stick

to take with him to Paris, to visit his young master; but the next thing

we hear is, that M. Valancourt is coming home. O, it was a joyful day

when he came; but he was sadly altered, and my Lord looked very cool

upon him, and he was very sad, indeed. And, soon after, he went away

again into Languedoc, and, since that time, we have never seen him.'