The Mysteries of Udolpho

Of this he soon informed her, in a short conversation, when Valancourt had left

him. While Emily listened to a relation of the services, that Valancourt

had rendered Mons. Bonnac, her eyes overflowed with tears of pleasure,

and the further conversation of Count De Villefort perfectly dissipated

every doubt, as to the past and future conduct of him, to whom she now

restored, without fear, the esteem and affection, with which she had

formerly received him.

When they returned to the supper-room, the Countess and Lady Blanche

met Valancourt with sincere congratulations; and Blanche, indeed, was

so much rejoiced to see Emily returned to happiness, as to forget, for a

while, that Mons. St. Foix was not yet arrived at the chateau, though

he had been expected for some hours; but her generous sympathy was, soon

after, rewarded by his appearance. He was now perfectly recovered from

the wounds, received, during his perilous adventure among the Pyrenees,

the mention of which served to heighten to the parties, who had

been involved in it, the sense of their present happiness. New

congratulations passed between them, and round the supper-table appeared

a group of faces, smiling with felicity, but with a felicity, which had

in each a different character.

The smile of Blanche was frank and gay,

that of Emily tender and pensive; Valancourt's was rapturous, tender and

gay alternately; Mons. St. Foix's was joyous, and that of the Count, as

he looked on the surrounding party, expressed the tempered complacency

of benevolence; while the features of the Countess, Henri, and Mons.

Bonnac, discovered fainter traces of animation. Poor Mons. Du Pont did

not, by his presence, throw a shade of regret over the company; for,

when he had discovered, that Valancourt was not unworthy of the esteem

of Emily, he determined seriously to endeavour at the conquest of

his own hopeless affection, and had immediately withdrawn from

Chateau-le-Blanc--a conduct, which Emily now understood, and rewarded

with her admiration and pity.

The Count and his guests continued together till a late hour, yielding

to the delights of social gaiety, and to the sweets of friendship. When

Annette heard of the arrival of Valancourt, Ludovico had some difficulty

to prevent her going into the supper-room, to express her joy, for she

declared, that she had never been so rejoiced at any ACCIDENT as this,

since she had found Ludovico himself.