The Mysteries of Udolpho

But presently I was awakened by the noise I had heard

before, and it seemed to come from that part of the chamber, where the

bed stood; and then, whether it was the story I had been reading that

affected my spirits, or the strange reports, that had been spread of

these apartments, I don't know, but, when I looked towards the bed

again, I fancied I saw a man's face within the dusky curtains.'

At the mention of this, Emily trembled, and looked anxiously,

remembering the spectacle she had herself witnessed there with Dorothee.

'I confess, madam, my heart did fail me, at that instant,' continued

Ludovico, 'but a return of the noise drew my attention from the bed, and

I then distinctly heard a sound, like that of a key, turning in a lock,

but what surprised me more was, that I saw no door where the sound

seemed to come from. In the next moment, however, the arras near the

bed was slowly lifted, and a person appeared behind it, entering from

a small door in the wall. He stood for a moment as if half retreating,

with his head bending under the arras which concealed the upper part of

his face except his eyes scowling beneath the tapestry as he held it;

and then, while he raised it higher, I saw the face of another man

behind, looking over his shoulder. I know not how it was, but, though

my sword was upon the table before me, I had not the power just then to

seize it, but sat quite still, watching them, with my eyes half shut as

if I was asleep.

I suppose they thought me so, and were debating what

they should do, for I heard them whisper, and they stood in the same

posture for the value of a minute, and then, I thought I perceived other

faces in the duskiness beyond the door, and heard louder whispers.'

'This door surprises me,' said Emily, 'because I understood, that

the Count had caused the arras to be lifted, and the walls examined,

suspecting, that they might have concealed a passage through which you

had departed.' 'It does not appear so extraordinary to me, madam,' replied Ludovico,

'that this door should escape notice, because it was formed in a narrow

compartment, which appeared to be part of the outward wall, and, if the

Count had not passed over it, he might have thought it was useless to

search for a door where it seemed as if no passage could communicate

with one; but the truth was, that the passage was formed within the

wall itself.--