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impatience and rage flashed from his eyes, yet something like a shade of
fear passed over his countenance.
Emily sat down in a chair, near the door, for the various emotions
she had suffered, now almost overcame her; but Montoni paused
scarcely an instant, and, commanding his features, resumed his discourse
in a lower, yet sterner voice.
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I say, I could give you other instances of my power and of my
character, which it seems you do not understand, or you would not defy
me. -- I could tell you, that, when once my resolution is taken -- but I am
talking to a baby. Let me, however, repeat, that terrible as are the
examples I could recite, the recital could not now benefit you; for,
though your repentance would put an immediate end to opposition, it
would not now appease my indignation. -- I will have vengeance as well
as justice.
Another groan filled the pause which Montoni made.
Leave the room instantly! said he, seeming not to notice this
strange occurrence. Without power to implore his pity, she rose to go,
but found that she could not support herself; awe and terror overcame
her, and she sunk again into the chair.
Quit my presence! cried Montoni. This affectation of fear ill
becomes the heroine who has just dared to brave my indignation.
Did you hear nothing, Signor? said Emily, trembling, and still
unable to leave the room.
I heard my own voice, rejoined Montoni, sternly.
And nothing else? said Emily, speaking with difficulty. -- There
again! Do you hear nothing now?
Obey my order, repeated Montoni. And for these fool's tricks --
I will soon discover by whom they are practised.
Emily again rose, and exerted herself to the utmost to leave the
room, while Montoni followed her; but, instead of calling aloud to his
servants to search the chamber, as he had formerly done on a similar
occurrence, passed to the ramparts.
As, in her way to the corridor, she rested for a moment at an open
casement, Emily saw a party of Montoni's troops winding down a distant
mountain, whom she noticed no further, than as they brought to her
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mind the wretched prisoners they were, perhaps, bringing to the castle.
At length, having reached her apartment, she threw herself upon the
couch, overcome with the new horrors of her situation. Her thoughts lost
in tumult and perplexity, she could neither repent of, or approve, her late
conduct; she could only remember, that she was in the power of a man,
who had no principle of action -- but his will; and the astonishment and
terrors of superstition, which had, for a moment, so strongly assailed her,
now yielded to those of reason.
She was, at length, roused from the reverie, which engaged her, by
a confusion of distant voices, and a clattering of hoofs, that seemed to
come, on the wind, from the courts. A sudden hope, that some good was
approaching, seized her mind, till she remembered the troops she had
observed from the casement, and concluded this to be the party, which
Annette had said were expected at Udolpho.
Soon after, she heard voices faintly from the halls, and the noise of
horses' feet sunk away in the wind; silence ensued. Emily listened
anxiously for Annette's step in the corridor, but a pause of total stillness
continued, till again the castle seemed to be all tumult and confusion.
She heard the echoes of many footsteps, passing to and fro in the halls
and avenues below, and then busy tongues were loud on the rampart.
Having hurried to her casement, she perceived Montoni, with some of
his officers, leaning on the walls, and pointing from them; while several
soldiers were employed at the further end of the rampart about some
cannon; and she continued to observe them, careless of the passing time.
Annette at length appeared, but brought no intelligence of
Valancourt, For, ma'amselle, said she, all the people pretend to know
nothing about any prisoners. But here is a fine piece of business! The
rest of the party are just arrived, ma'am; they came scampering in, as if
they would have broken their necks; one scarcely knew whether the
man, or his horse would get within the gates first.
And they have brought word -- and such news! they have brought
word, that a party of the enemy, as they call them, are coming towards
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the castle; so we shall have all the officers of justice, I suppose,
besieging it! all those terrible-looking fellows one used to see at
Venice.
Thank God! exclaimed Emily, fervently, there is yet a hope left
for me, then!
What mean you, ma'amselle? Do you wish to fall into the hands
of those sad-looking men! Why I used to shudder as I passed them, and
should have guessed what they were, if Ludovico had not told me.
We cannot be in worse hands than at present, replied Emily,
unguardedly; but what reason have you to suppose these are officers of
justice?
Why OUR people, ma'am, are all in such a fright, and a fuss; and
I don't know any thing but the fear of justice, that could make them so. I
used to think nothing on earth could fluster them, unless, indeed, it was a
ghost, or so; but now, some of them are for hiding down in the vaults
under the castle; but you must not tell the Signor this, ma'amselle, and I
overheard two of them talking -- Holy Mother! what makes you look so
sad, ma'amselle? You don't hear what I say!
Yes, I do, Annette; pray proceed.
Well, ma'amselle, all the castle is in such hurly-burly. Some of
the men are loading the cannon, and some are examining the great gates,
and the walls all round, and are hammering and patching up, just as if all
those repairs had never been made, that were so long about. But what is
to become of me and you, ma'amselle, and Ludovico? O! when I hear
the sound of the cannon, I shall die with fright. If I could but catch the
great gate open for one minute, I would be even with it for shutting me
within these walls so long! -- it should never see me again.
Emily caught the latter words of Annette. O! if you could find it
open, but for one moment! she exclaimed, my peace might yet be
saved! The heavy groan she uttered, and the wildness of her look,
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terrified Annette, still more than her words; who entreated Emily to
explain the meaning of them, to whom it suddenly occurred, that
Ludovico might be of some service, if there should be a possibility of
escape, and who repeated the substance of what had passed between
Montoni and herself, but conjured her to mention this to no person
except to Ludovico. It may, perhaps, be in his power, she added, 'to
effect our escape. Go to him, Annette, tell him what I have to apprehend,
and what I have already suffered; but entreat him to be secret, and to
lose no time in attempting to release us. If he is willing to undertake this
he shall be amply rewarded.
I cannot speak with him myself, for we might be observed, and
then effectual care would be taken to prevent our flight. But be quick,
Annette, and, above all, be discreet -- I will await your return in this
apartment.
The girl, whose honest heart had been much affected by the recital,
was now as eager to obey, as Emily was to employ her, and she
immediately quitted the room.
Emily's surprise increased, as she reflected upon Annette's
intelligence. Alas! said she, what can the officers of justice do against
an armed castle? these cannot be such. Upon further consideration,
however, she concluded, that, Montoni's bands having plundered the
country round, the inhabitants had taken arms, and were coming with the
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