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enriched with fretwork, and supported, on three sides, by pillars of
marble; beyond these, long colonades retired in gloomy grandeur, till
their extent was lost in twilight. The lightest footsteps of the servants, as
they advanced through these, were returned in whispering echoes, and
their figures, seen at a distance imperfectly through the dusk, frequently
awakened Emily's imagination. She looked alternately at Montoni, at his
guests and on the surrounding scene; and then, remembering her dear
native province, her pleasant home and the simplicity and goodness of
the friends, whom she had lost, grief and surprise again occupied her
mind.
When her thoughts could return from these considerations, she
fancied she observed an air of authority towards his guests, such as she
had never before seen him assume, though he had always been
distinguished by an haughty carriage; there was something also in the
manners of the strangers, that seemed perfectly, though not servilely, to
acknowledge his superiority.
During dinner, the conversation was chiefly on war and politics.
They talked with energy of the state of Venice, its dangers, the character
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of the reigning Doge and of the chief senators; and then spoke of the
state of Rome. When the repast was over, they rose, and, each filling his
goblet with wine from the gilded ewer, that stood beside him, drank
 Success to our exploits! Montoni was lifting his goblet to his lips to
drink this toast, when suddenly the wine hissed, rose to the brim, and, as
he held the glass from him, it burst into a thousand pieces.
To him, who constantly used that sort of Venice glass, which had
the quality of breaking, upon receiving poisoned liquor, a suspicion, that
some of his guests had endeavoured to betray him, instantly occurred,
and he ordered all the gates to be closed, drew his sword, and, looking
round on them, who stood in silent amazement, exclaimed,  Here is a
traitor among us; let those, that are innocent, assist in discovering the
guilty.
Indignation flashed from the eyes of the cavaliers, who all drew
their swords; and Madame Montoni, terrified at what might ensue, was
hastening from the hall, when her husband commanded her to stay; but
his further words could not now be distinguished, for the voice of every
person rose together.
His order, that all the servants should appear, was at length obeyed,
and they declared their ignorance of any deceit -- a protestation which
could not be believed; for it was evident, that, as Montoni's liquor, and
his only, had been poisoned, a deliberate design had been formed against
his life, which could not have been carried so far towards its
accomplishment, without the connivance of the servant, who had the
care of the wine ewers.
This man, with another, whose face betrayed either the
consciousness of guilt, or the fear of punishment, Montoni ordered to be
chained instantly, and confined in a strong room, which had formerly
been used as a prison. Thither, likewise, he would have sent all his
guests, had he not foreseen the consequence of so bold and unjustifiable
a proceeding. As to those, therefore, he contented himself with swearing,
that no man should pass the gates, till this extraordinary affair had been
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THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO Vol II
investigated, and then sternly bade his wife retire to her apartment,
whither he suffered Emily to attend her.
In about half an hour, he followed to the dressing-room; and Emily
observed, with horror, his dark countenance and quivering lip, and heard
him denounce vengeance on her aunt.
 It will avail you nothing, said he to his wife,  to deny the fact; I
have proof of your guilt. Your only chance of mercy rests on a full
confession; -- there is nothing to hope from sullenness, or falsehood;
your accomplice has confessed all.
Emily's fainting spirits were roused by astonishment, as she heard
her aunt accused of a crime so atrocious, and she could not, for a
moment, admit the possibility of her guilt. Meanwhile Madame
Montoni's agitation did not permit her to reply; alternately her
complexion varied from livid paleness to a crimson flush; and she
trembled, -- but, whether with fear, or with indignation, it were difficult
to decide.
 Spare your words, said Montoni, seeing her about to speak,
 your countenance makes full confession of your crime. -- You shall be
instantly removed to the east turret.
 This accusation, said Madame Montoni, speaking with difficulty,
 is used only as an excuse for your cruelty; I disdain to reply to it. You
do not believe me guilty.
 Signor! said Emily solemnly,  this dreadful charge, I would
answer with my life, is false. Nay, Signor, she added, observing the
severity of his countenance,  this is no moment for restraint, on my part;
I do not scruple to tell you, that you are deceived -- most wickedly
deceived, by the suggestion of some person, who aims at the ruin of my
aunt: -- it is impossible, that you could yourself have imagined a crime
so hideous.
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THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO Vol II
Montoni, his lips trembling more than before, replied only,  If you
value your own safety, addressing Emily,  you will be silent. I shall
know how to interpret your remonstrances, should you persevere in
them.
Emily raised her eyes calmly to heaven.  Here is, indeed, then,
nothing to hope! said she.
 Peace! cried Montoni,  or you shall find there is something to
fear.
He turned to his wife, who had now recovered her spirits, and who
vehemently and wildly remonstrated upon this mysterious suspicion: but
Montoni's rage heightened with her indignation, and Emily, dreading the
event of it, threw herself between them, and clasped his knees in silence,
looking up in his face with an expression, that might have softened the
heart of a fiend. Whether his was hardened by a conviction of Madame
Montoni's guilt, or that a bare suspicion of it made him eager to exercise
vengeance, he was totally and alike insensible to the distress of his wife,
and to the pleading looks of Emily, whom he made no attempt to raise,
but was vehemently menacing both, when he was called out of the room
by some person at the door. As he shut the door, Emily heard him turn
the lock and take out the key; so that Madame Montoni and herself were
now prisoners; and she saw that his designs became more and more
terrible. Her endeavours to explain his motives for this circumstance
were almost as ineffectual as those to sooth the distress of her aunt,
whose innocence she could not doubt; but she, at length, accounted for
Montoni's readiness to suspect his wife by his own consciousness of
cruelty towards her, and for the sudden violence of his present conduct
against both, before even his suspicions could be completely formed, by
his general eagerness to effect suddenly whatever he was led to desire
and his carelessness of justice, or humanity, in accomplishing it.
Madame Montoni, after some time, again looked round, in search
of a possibility of escape from the castle, and conversed with Emily on
the subject, who was now willing to encounter any hazard, though she
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THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO Vol II
forbore to encourage a hope in her aunt, which she herself did not admit.
How strongly the edifice was secured, and how vigilantly guarded, she
knew too well; and trembled to commit their safety to the caprice of the
servant, whose assistance they must solicit. Old Carlo was
compassionate, but he seemed to be too much in his master's interest to
be trusted by them; Annette could of herself do little, and Emily knew
Ludovico only from her report. At present, however, these
considerations were useless, Madame Montoni and her niece being shut
up from all intercourse, even with the persons, whom there might be
these reasons to reject.
In the hall, confusion and tumult still reigned. Emily, as she
listened anxiously to the murmur, that sounded along the gallery, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]