The Mysteries of Udolpho

Call up him, that left half told

The story of Cambuscan bold.

MILTON

On the following morning, as Emily sat in the parlour adjoining the

library, reflecting on the scene of the preceding night, Annette rushed

wildly into the room, and, without speaking, sunk breathless into a

chair. It was some time before she could answer the anxious enquiries of

Emily, as to the occasion of her emotion, but, at length, she exclaimed,

'I have seen his ghost, madam, I have seen his ghost!'

'Who do you mean?' said Emily, with extreme impatience.

'It came in from the hall, madam,' continued Annette, 'as I was crossing

to the parlour.' 'Who are you speaking of?' repeated Emily,

'Who came in from the hall? 'It was dressed just as I have seen him, often and often,' added

Annette. 'Ah! who could have thought--'

Emily's patience was now exhausted, and she was reprimanding her for

such idle fancies, when a servant entered the room, and informed her,

that a stranger without begged leave to speak with her.

It immediately occurred to Emily, that this stranger was Valancourt, and

she told the servant to inform him, that she was engaged, and could not

see any person.

The servant, having delivered his message, returned with one from the

stranger, urging the first request, and saying, that he had something of

consequence to communicate; while Annette, who had hitherto sat

silent and amazed, now started up, and crying, 'It is Ludovico!--it is

Ludovico!' ran out of the room. Emily bade the servant follow her, and,

if it really was Ludovico, to shew him into the parlour.

In a few minutes, Ludovico appeared, accompanied by Annette, who, as

joy rendered her forgetful of all rules of decorum towards her mistress,

would not suffer any person to be heard, for some time, but herself.

Emily expressed surprise and satisfaction, on seeing Ludovico in safety,

and the first emotions increased, when he delivered letters from

Count De Villefort and the Lady Blanche, informing her of their late

adventure, and of their present situation at an inn among the Pyrenees,

where they had been detained by the illness of Mons. St. Foix, and the

indisposition of Blanche, who added, that the Baron St. Foix was just

arrived to attend his son to his chateau, where he would remain till the

perfect recovery of his wounds, and then return to Languedoc, but that

her father and herself purposed to be at La Vallee, on the following

day.

She added, that Emily's presence would be expected at the

approaching nuptials, and begged she would be prepared to proceed, in

a few days to Chateau-le-Blanc. For an account of Ludovico's adventure,

she referred her to himself; and Emily, though much interested,

concerning the means, by which he had disappeared from the north

apartments, had the forbearance to suspend the gratification of her

curiosity, till he had taken some refreshment, and had conversed with

Annette, whose joy, on seeing him in safety, could not have been more

extravagant, had he arisen from the grave.