The Mysteries of Udolpho

'What Marchioness?' said Emily, in extreme surprise; for she had

imagined, from the calmness of Agnes's manner, that her intellects were

restored. The abbess gave her a significant glance, but she repeated the

question. 'What Marchioness?' exclaimed Agnes, 'I know but of one--the Marchioness

de Villeroi.'

Emily, remembering the emotion of her late father, upon the unexpected

mention of this lady, and his request to be laid near to the tomb of

the Villerois, now felt greatly interested, and she entreated Agnes to

explain the reason of her question. The abbess would now have withdrawn

Emily from the room, who being, however, detained by a strong interest,

repeated her entreaties.

'Bring me that casket, sister,' said Agnes; 'I will shew her to you; yet

you need only look in that mirror, and you will behold her; you surely

are her daughter: such striking resemblance is never found but among

near relations.'

The nun brought the casket, and Agnes, having directed her how to unlock

it, she took thence a miniature, in which Emily perceived the exact

resemblance of the picture, which she had found among her late father's

papers. Agnes held out her hand to receive it; gazed upon it earnestly

for some moments in silence; and then, with a countenance of deep

despair, threw up her eyes to Heaven, and prayed inwardly. When she had

finished, she returned the miniature to Emily. 'Keep it,' said she,

'I bequeath it to you, for I must believe it is your right. I have

frequently observed the resemblance between you; but never, till this

day, did it strike upon my conscience so powerfully! Stay, sister, do

not remove the casket--there is another picture I would shew.'

Emily trembled with expectation, and the abbess again would have

withdrawn her. 'Agnes is still disordered,' said she, 'you observe how

she wanders. In these moods she says any thing, and does not scruple, as

you have witnessed, to accuse herself of the most horrible crimes.'

Emily, however, thought she perceived something more than madness in

the inconsistencies of Agnes, whose mention of the Marchioness,

and production of her picture, had interested her so much, that she

determined to obtain further information, if possible, respecting the

subject of it. The nun returned with the casket, and, Agnes pointing out to her a

secret drawer, she took from it another miniature. 'Here,' said Agnes,

as she offered it to Emily, 'learn a lesson for your vanity, at least;

look well at this picture, and see if you can discover any resemblance

between what I was, and what I am.'