The Project Gutenberg EBook Udolpho, by Ann Radcliffe

of

The

Mysteries

of

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THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO

A Romance
Interspersed With Some Pieces of Poetr

! Ann Radc"iffe
)ate sits on these dark battle!ents, and fro ns, And, as the portals open to recei"e !e, 8er "oice, in sullen echoes through the courts, Tells of a na!eless deed#

# O $ T E $ T S
% O L U M E & C H A P T E R I C H A P T E R I I

C H A P T E R I I I C H A P T E R I V C H A P T E R V C H A P T E R V I C H A P T E R V I I C H A P T E R V I

I I C H A P T E R I X C H A P T E R X C H A P T E R X I C H A P T E R X I I C H A P T E R X I I I

% O L U M

E ' C H A P T E R I C H A P T E R I I C H A P T E R I I I C H A P T E R I V C H A P T E R V C H A P T E R V I

C H A P T E R V I I C H A P T E R V I I I C H A P T E R I X C H A P T E R X C H A P T E R X I C H A P T E R X

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% O L U M E ( C H A P T E R I C H A P T E R I I C H A P T E R I I I C H A P T E R I V C H A P T E R V

C H A P T E R V I C H A P T E R V I I C H A P T E R V I I I C H A P T E R I V C H A P T E R X C H A P T E R X I

C H A P T E R X I I C H A P T E R X I I I

% O L U M E ) C H A P T E R I C H A P T E R I I C H A P T E R I

I I C H A P T E R I V C H A P T E R V C H A P T E R V I C H A P T E R V I I C H A P T E R V I I I C H A P T E R

I V C H A P T E R X C H A P T E R X I C H A P T E R X I I C H A P T E R X I I I C H A P T E R X I V C H A P T E R

X V C H A P T E R X V I C H A P T E R X V I I C H A P T E R X V I I I C H A P T E R X I X

%OLUME &

#HAPTER I
ho!e is the resort 7f lo"e, of joy, of peace and plenty, here, 4upporting and supported, polish=d friends And dear relations !ingle into bliss#6 6Tho!son

On the pleasant banks of the Garonne, in the province of Gascony, stoo , in the year !"#$, the chatea% of &onsie%r 't( A%bert( )ro* its +in o+s +ere seen the pastoral lan scapes of G%ienne an Gascony stretchin, alon, the river, ,ay +ith l%-%riant +oo s an vine, an plantations of olives( To the so%th, the vie+ +as bo%n e by the *a.estic Pyrenees, +hose s%**its, veile in clo% s, or e-hibitin, a+f%l for*s, seen, an lost a,ain, as the partial vapo%rs rolle alon,, +ere so*eti*es barren, an ,lea*e thro%,h the bl%e tin,e of air, an so*eti*es fro+ne +ith forests of ,loo*y pine, that s+ept o+n+ar to their base( These tre*en o%s precipices +ere contraste by the soft ,reen of the past%res an +oo s that h%n, %pon their skirts/ a*on, +hose flocks, an her s, an si*ple cotta,es, the eye, after havin, scale the cliffs above, eli,hte to repose( To the north, an to the east, the plains of G%ienne an 0an,%e oc +ere lost in the *ist of istance/ on the +est, Gascony +as bo%n e by the +aters of 1iscay( &( 't( A%bert love to +an er, +ith his +ife an a%,hter, on the *ar,in of the Garonne, an to listen to the *%sic that floate on its +aves( He ha kno+n life in other for*s than those of pastoral si*plicity, havin, *in,le in the ,ay an in the b%sy scenes of the +orl / b%t the flatterin, portrait of *ankin , +hich his heart ha elineate in early yo%th, his e-perience ha too sorro+f%lly correcte ( 2et, a*i st the chan,in, visions of life, his principles re*aine %nshaken, his

benevolence %nchille / an he retire fro* the *%ltit% e 3*ore in PIT2 than in an,er,3 to scenes of si*ple nat%re, to the p%re eli,hts of literat%re, an to the e-ercise of o*estic virt%es( He +as a escen ant fro* the yo%n,er branch of an ill%strio%s fa*ily, an it +as esi,ne , that the eficiency of his patri*onial +ealth sho%l be s%pplie either by a splen i alliance in *arria,e, or by s%ccess in the intri,%es of p%blic affairs( 1%t 't( A%bert ha too nice a sense of hono%r to f%lfil the latter hope, an too s*all a portion of a*bition to sacrifice +hat he calle happiness, to the attain*ent of +ealth( After the eath of his father he *arrie a very a*iable +o*an, his e4%al in birth, an not his s%perior in fort%ne( The late &onsie%r 't( A%bert3s liberality, or e-trava,ance, ha so *%ch involve his affairs, that his son fo%n it necessary to ispose of a part of the fa*ily o*ain, an , so*e years after his *arria,e, he sol it to &onsie%r 5%esnel, the brother of his +ife, an retire to a s*all estate in Gascony, +here con.%,al felicity, an parental %ties, ivi e his attention +ith the treas%res of kno+le ,e an the ill%*inations of ,eni%s( To this spot he ha been attache fro* his infancy( He ha often *a e e-c%rsions to it +hen a boy, an the i*pressions of eli,ht ,iven to his *in by the ho*ely kin ness of the ,rey6hea e peasant, to +ho* it +as intr%ste , an +hose fr%it an crea* never faile , ha not been obliterate by s%ccee in, circ%*stances( The ,reen past%res alon, +hich he ha so often bo%n e in the e-%ltation of health, an yo%thf%l free o*7the +oo s, %n er +hose refreshin, sha e he ha first in %l,e that pensive *elancholy, +hich after+ar s *a e a stron, feat%re of his character7the +il +alks of the *o%ntains, the river, on +hose +aves he ha floate , an the istant plains, +hich see*e bo%n less as his early hopes7+ere never after re*e*bere by 't( A%bert b%t +ith enth%sias* an re,ret( At len,th he isen,a,e hi*self fro* the +orl , an retire hither, to reali8e the +ishes of *any years( The b%il in,, as it then stoo , +as *erely a s%**er cotta,e, ren ere interestin, to a stran,er by its neat

si*plicity, or the bea%ty of the s%rro%n in, scene/ an consi erable a itions +ere necessary to *ake it a co*fortable fa*ily resi ence( 't( A%bert felt a kin of affection for every part of the fabric, +hich he re*e*bere in his yo%th, an +o%l not s%ffer a stone of it to be re*ove , so that the ne+ b%il in,, a apte to the style of the ol one, for*e +ith it only a si*ple an ele,ant resi ence( The taste of &a a*e 't( A%bert +as conspic%o%s in its internal finishin,, +here the sa*e chaste si*plicity +as observable in the f%rnit%re, an in the fe+ orna*ents of the apart*ents, that characteri8e the *anners of its inhabitants( The library occ%pie the +est si e of the chatea%, an +as enriche by a collection of the best books in the ancient an *o ern lan,%a,es( This roo* opene %pon a ,rove, +hich stoo on the bro+ of a ,entle eclivity, that fell to+ar s the river, an the tall trees ,ave it a *elancholy an pleasin, sha e/ +hile fro* the +in o+s the eye ca%,ht, beneath the sprea in, branches, the ,ay an l%-%riant lan scape stretchin, to the +est, an overlooke on the left by the bol precipices of the Pyrenees( A .oinin, the library +as a ,reen6ho%se, store +ith scarce an bea%tif%l plants/ for one of the a*%se*ents of 't( A%bert +as the st% y of botany, an a*on, the nei,hbo%rin, *o%ntains, +hich affor e a l%-%rio%s feast to the *in of the nat%ralist, he often passe the ay in the p%rs%it of his favo%rite science( He +as so*eti*es acco*panie in these little e-c%rsions by &a a*e 't( A%bert, an fre4%ently by his a%,hter/ +hen, +ith a s*all osier basket to receive plants, an another fille +ith col refresh*ents, s%ch as the cabin of the shepher i not affor , they +an ere a+ay a*on, the *ost ro*antic an *a,nificent scenes, nor s%ffere the char*s of 9at%re3s lo+ly chil ren to abstract the* fro* the observance of her st%pen o%s +orks( :hen +eary of sa%nterin, a*on, cliffs that see*e scarcely accessible b%t to the steps of the enth%siast, an +here no track appeare on the ve,etation, b%t +hat the foot of the i8ar ha left/ they +o%l seek one of those ,reen recesses, +hich so bea%tif%lly a orn the boso* of these

*o%ntains, +here, %n er the sha e of the lofty larch, or ce ar, they en.oye their si*ple repast, *a e s+eeter by the +aters of the cool strea*, that crept alon, the t%rf, an by the breath of +il flo+ers an aro*atic plants, that frin,e the rocks, an inlai the ,rass( A .oinin, the eastern si e of the ,reen6ho%se, lookin, to+ar s the plains of 0an,%e oc, +as a roo*, +hich E*ily calle hers, an +hich containe her books, her ra+in,s, her *%sical instr%*ents, +ith so*e favo%rite bir s an plants( Here she %s%ally e-ercise herself in ele,ant arts, c%ltivate only beca%se they +ere con,enial to her taste, an in +hich native ,eni%s, assiste by the instr%ctions of &onsie%r an &a a*e 't( A%bert, *a e her an early proficient( The +in o+s of this roo* +ere partic%larly pleasant/ they escen e to the floor, an , openin, %pon the little la+n that s%rro%n e the ho%se, the eye +as le bet+een ,roves of al*on , pal*6trees, flo+erin,6ash, an *yrtle, to the istant lan scape, +here the Garonne +an ere ( The peasants of this ,ay cli*ate +ere often seen on an evenin,, +hen the ay3s labo%r +as one, ancin, in ,ro%ps on the *ar,in of the river( Their spri,htly *elo ies, ebonnaire steps, the fancif%l fi,%re of their ances, +ith the tastef%l an capricio%s *anner in +hich the ,irls a .%ste their si*ple ress, ,ave a character to the scene entirely )rench( The front of the chatea%, +hich, havin, a so%thern aspect, opene %pon the ,ran e%r of the *o%ntains, +as occ%pie on the ,ro%n floor by a r%stic hall, an t+o e-cellent sittin, roo*s( The first floor, for the cotta,e ha no secon story, +as lai o%t in be 6 cha*bers, e-cept one apart*ent that opene to a balcony, an +hich +as ,enerally %se for a breakfast6 roo*( In the s%rro%n in, ,ro%n , 't( A%bert ha *a e very tastef%l i*prove*ents/ yet, s%ch +as his attach*ent to ob.ects he ha re*e*bere fro* his boyish ays, that he ha in so*e instances sacrifice taste to senti*ent( There +ere t+o ol larches that sha e the b%il in,, an interr%pte the prospect/ 't( A%bert ha so*eti*es

eclare that he believe he sho%l have been +eak eno%,h to have +ept at their fall( In a ition to these larches he plante a little ,rove of beech, pine, an *o%ntain6ash( On a lofty terrace, for*e by the s+ellin, bank of the river, rose a plantation of oran,e, le*on, an pal*6trees, +hose fr%it, in the coolness of evenin,, breathe elicio%s fra,rance( :ith these +ere *in,le a fe+ trees of other species( Here, %n er the a*ple sha e of a plane6tree, that sprea its *a.estic canopy to+ar s the river, 't( A%bert love to sit in the fine evenin,s of s%**er, +ith his +ife an chil ren, +atchin,, beneath its folia,e, the settin, s%n, the *il splen o%r of its li,ht fa in, fro* the istant lan scape, till the sha o+s of t+ili,ht *elte its vario%s feat%res into one tint of sober ,rey( Here, too, he love to rea , an to converse +ith &a a*e 't( A%bert/ or to play +ith his chil ren, resi,nin, hi*self to the infl%ence of those s+eet affections, +hich are ever atten ant on si*plicity an nat%re( He has often sai , +hile tears of pleas%re tre*ble in his eyes, that these +ere *o*ents infinitely *ore eli,htf%l than any passe a*i the brilliant an t%*%lt%o%s scenes that are co%rte by the +orl ( His heart +as occ%pie / it ha , +hat can be so rarely sai , no +ish for a happiness beyon +hat it e-perience ( The conscio%sness of actin, ri,ht iff%se a serenity over his *anners, +hich nothin, else co%l i*part to a *an of *oral perceptions like his, an +hich refine his sense of every s%rro%n in, blessin,( The eepest sha e of t+ili,ht i not sen hi* fro* his favo%rite plane6tree( He love the soothin, ho%r, +hen the last tints of li,ht ie a+ay/ +hen the stars, one by one, tre*ble thro%,h aether, an are reflecte on the ark *irror of the +aters/ that ho%r, +hich, of all others, inspires the *in +ith pensive ten erness, an often elevates it to s%bli*e conte*plation( :hen the *oon she her soft rays a*on, the folia,e, he still lin,ere , an his pastoral s%pper of crea* an fr%its +as often sprea beneath it( Then, on the stillness of ni,ht, ca*e the son, of the ni,htin,ale, breathin, s+eetness, an a+akenin, *elancholy(

The first interr%ptions to the happiness he ha kno+n since his retire*ent, +ere occasione by the eath of his t+o sons( He lost the* at that a,e +hen infantine si*plicity is so fascinatin,/ an tho%,h, in consi eration of &a a*e 't( A%bert3s istress, he restraine the e-pression of his o+n, an en eavo%re to bear it, as he *eant, +ith philosophy, he ha , in tr%th, no philosophy that co%l ren er hi* cal* to s%ch losses( One a%,hter +as no+ his only s%rvivin, chil / an , +hile he +atche the %nfol in, of her infant character, +ith an-io%s fon ness, he en eavo%re , +ith %nre*ittin, effort, to co%nteract those traits in her isposition, +hich *i,ht hereafter lea her fro* happiness( 'he ha iscovere in her early years %nco**on elicacy of *in , +ar* affections, an rea y benevolence/ b%t +ith these +as observable a e,ree of s%sceptibility too e-4%isite to a *it of lastin, peace( As she a vance in yo%th, this sensibility ,ave a pensive tone to her spirits, an a softness to her *anner, +hich a e ,race to bea%ty, an ren ere her a very interestin, ob.ect to persons of a con,enial isposition( 1%t 't( A%bert ha too *%ch ,oo sense to prefer a char* to a virt%e/ an ha penetration eno%,h to see, that this char* +as too an,ero%s to its possessor to be allo+e the character of a blessin,( He en eavo%re , therefore, to stren,then her *in / to en%re her to habits of self6co**an / to teach her to re.ect the first i*p%lse of her feelin,s, an to look, +ith cool e-a*ination, %pon the isappoint*ents he so*eti*es thre+ in her +ay( :hile he instr%cte her to resist first i*pressions, an to ac4%ire that stea y i,nity of *in , that can alone co%nterbalance the passions, an bear %s, as far as is co*patible +ith o%r nat%re, above the reach of circ%*stances, he ta%,ht hi*self a lesson of fortit% e/ for he +as often obli,e to +itness, +ith see*in, in ifference, the tears an str%,,les +hich his ca%tion occasione her( In person, E*ily rese*ble her *other/ havin, the sa*e ele,ant sy**etry of for*, the sa*e elicacy of feat%res, an the sa*e bl%e eyes, f%ll of ten er s+eetness( 1%t, lovely as +as her person, it +as the

varie e-pression of her co%ntenance, as conversation a+akene the nicer e*otions of her *in , that thre+ s%ch a captivatin, ,race aro%n her;
Those tend=rer tints, that shun the careless eye, And, in the orld=s contagious circle, die#

't( A%bert c%ltivate her %n erstan in, +ith the *ost scr%p%lo%s care( He ,ave her a ,eneral vie+ of the sciences, an an e-act ac4%aintance +ith every part of ele,ant literat%re( He ta%,ht her 0atin an En,lish, chiefly that she *i,ht %n erstan the s%bli*ity of their best poets( 'he iscovere in her early years a taste for +orks of ,eni%s/ an it +as 't( A%bert3s principle, as +ell as his inclination, to pro*ote every innocent *eans of happiness( 3A +ell6infor*e *in ,3 he +o%l say, 3is the best sec%rity a,ainst the conta,ion of folly an of vice( The vacant *in is ever on the +atch for relief, an rea y to pl%n,e into error, to escape fro* the lan,%or of i leness( 'tore it +ith i eas, teach it the pleas%re of thinkin,/ an the te*ptations of the +orl +itho%t, +ill be co%nteracte by the ,ratifications erive fro* the +orl +ithin( Tho%,ht, an c%ltivation, are necessary e4%ally to the happiness of a co%ntry an a city life/ in the first they prevent the %neasy sensations of in olence, an affor a s%bli*e pleas%re in the taste they create for the bea%tif%l, an the ,ran / in the latter, they *ake issipation less an ob.ect of necessity, an conse4%ently of interest(3 It +as one of E*ily3s earliest pleas%res to ra*ble a*on, the scenes of nat%re/ nor +as it in the soft an ,lo+in, lan scape that she *ost eli,hte / she love *ore the +il +oo 6+alks, that skirte the *o%ntain/ an still *ore the *o%ntain3s st%pen o%s recesses, +here the silence an ,ran e%r of solit% e i*presse a sacre a+e %pon her heart, an lifte her tho%,hts to the GO< O) HEAVE9 A9< EARTH( In scenes like these she +o%l often lin,er alon,, +rapt in a *elancholy char*, till the last ,lea* of ay fa e fro* the +est/ till the lonely so%n of a sheep6bell, or the istant bark of a +atch6 o,, +ere all that broke on the stillness of the evenin,( Then, the ,loo* of the +oo s/ the tre*blin, of their leaves, at intervals, in the bree8e/

the bat, flittin, on the t+ili,ht/ the cotta,e6li,hts, no+ seen, an no+ lost7+ere circ%*stances that a+akene her *in into effort, an le to enth%sias* an poetry( Her favo%rite +alk +as to a little fishin,6ho%se, belon,in, to 't( A%bert, in a +oo y ,len, on the *ar,in of a riv%let that escen e fro* the Pyrenees, an , after foa*in, a*on, their rocks, +o%n its silent +ay beneath the sha es it reflecte ( Above the +oo s, that screene this ,len, rose the lofty s%**its of the Pyrenees, +hich often b%rst bol ly on the eye thro%,h the ,la es belo+( 'o*eti*es the shattere face of a rock only +as seen, cro+ne +ith +il shr%bs/ or a shepher 3s cabin seate on a cliff, oversha o+e by ark cypress, or +avin, ash( E*er,in, fro* the eep recesses of the +oo s, the ,la e opene to the istant lan scape, +here the rich past%res an vine6covere slopes of Gascony ,ra %ally ecline to the plains/ an there, on the +in in, shores of the Garonne, ,roves, an ha*lets, an villas7their o%tlines softene by istance, *elte fro* the eye into one rich har*onio%s tint( This, too, +as the favo%rite retreat of 't( A%bert, to +hich he fre4%ently +ith re+ fro* the fervo%r of noon, +ith his +ife, his a%,hter, an his books/ or ca*e at the s+eet evenin, ho%r to +elco*e the silent %sk, or to listen for the *%sic of the ni,htin,ale( 'o*eti*es, too, he bro%,ht *%sic of his o+n, an a+akene every fairy echo +ith the ten er accents of his oboe/ an often have the tones of E*ily3s voice ra+n s+eetness fro* the +aves, over +hich they tre*ble ( It +as in one of these e-c%rsions to this spot, that she observe the follo+in, lines +ritten +ith a pencil on a part of the +ainscot;
47::ET Go, pencil> faithful to thy !aster=s sighs> Go?tell the Goddess of the fairy scene, <hen ne@t her light steps ind these ood% alks green, <hence all his tears, his tender sorro s, riseA Ah> paint her for!, her soul%illu!in=d eyes, The s eet e@pression of her pensi"e face,

The light=ning s!ile, the ani!ated grace? The portrait ell the lo"er=s "oice suppliesA 4peaks all his heart !ust feel, his tongue ould say' $et ah> not all his heart !ust sadly feel> 8o oft the flo =ret=s silken lea"es conceal The drug that steals the "ital spark a ay> And ho that gaBes on that angel%s!ile, <ould fear its char!, or think it could beguile>

These lines +ere not inscribe to any person/ E*ily therefore co%l not apply the* to herself, tho%,h she +as %n o%bte ly the ny*ph of these sha es( Havin, ,lance ro%n the little circle of her ac4%aintance +itho%t bein, etaine by a s%spicion as to +ho* they co%l be a resse , she +as co*pelle to rest in %ncertainty/ an %ncertainty +hich +o%l have been *ore painf%l to an i le *in than it +as to hers( 'he ha no leis%re to s%ffer this circ%*stance, triflin, at first, to s+ell into i*portance by fre4%ent re*e*brance( The little vanity it ha e-cite =for the incertit% e +hich forba e her to pres%*e %pon havin, inspire the sonnet, forba e her also to isbelieve it> passe a+ay, an the inci ent +as is*isse fro* her tho%,hts a*i her books, her st% ies, an the e-ercise of social charities( 'oon after this perio , her an-iety +as a+akene by the in isposition of her father, +ho +as attacke +ith a fever/ +hich, tho%,h not tho%,ht to be of a an,ero%s kin , ,ave a severe shock to his constit%tion( &a a*e 't( A%bert an E*ily atten e hi* +ith %nre*ittin, care/ b%t his recovery +as very slo+, an , as he a vance to+ar s health, &a a*e see*e to ecline( The first scene he visite , after he +as +ell eno%,h to take the air, +as his favo%rite fishin,6ho%se( A basket of provisions +as sent thither, +ith books, an E*ily3s l%te/ for fishin,6tackle he ha no %se, for he never co%l fin a*%se*ent in tort%rin, or estroyin,( After e*ployin, hi*self, for abo%t an ho%r, in botani8in,, inner +as serve ( It +as a repast, to +hich ,ratit% e, for bein, a,ain per*itte to visit this spot, ,ave s+eetness/ an fa*ily happiness once *ore s*ile beneath these sha es( &onsie%r 't( A%bert

converse +ith %n%s%al cheerf%lness/ every ob.ect eli,hte his senses( The refreshin, pleas%re fro* the first vie+ of nat%re, after the pain of illness, an the confine*ent of a sick6cha*ber, is above the conceptions, as +ell as the escriptions, of those in health( The ,reen +oo s an past%res/ the flo+ery t%rf/ the bl%e concave of the heavens/ the bal*y air/ the *%r*%r of the li*pi strea*/ an even the h%* of every little insect of the sha e, see* to revivify the so%l, an *ake *ere e-istence bliss( &a a*e 't( A%bert, reani*ate by the cheerf%lness an recovery of her h%sban , +as no lon,er sensible of the in isposition +hich ha lately oppresse her/ an , as she sa%ntere alon, the +oo 6+alks of this ro*antic ,len, an converse +ith hi*, an +ith her a%,hter, she often looke at the* alternately +ith a e,ree of ten erness, that fille her eyes +ith tears( 't( A%bert observe this *ore than once, an ,ently reprove her for the e*otion/ b%t she co%l only s*ile, clasp his han , an that of E*ily, an +eep the *ore( He felt the ten er enth%sias* stealin, %pon hi*self in a e,ree that beca*e al*ost painf%l/ his feat%res ass%*e a serio%s air, an he co%l not forbear secretly si,hin, 73Perhaps I shall so*e ti*e look back to these *o*ents, as to the s%**it of *y happiness, +ith hopeless re,ret( 1%t let *e not *is%se the* by %seless anticipation/ let *e hope I shall not live to *o%rn the loss of those +ho are earer to *e than life(3 To relieve, or perhaps to in %l,e, the pensive te*per of his *in , he ba e E*ily fetch the l%te she kne+ ho+ to to%ch +ith s%ch s+eet pathos( As she re+ near the fishin,6ho%se, she +as s%rprise to hear the tones of the instr%*ent, +hich +ere a+akene by the han of taste, an %ttere a plaintive air, +hose e-4%isite *elo y en,a,e all her attention( 'he listene in profo%n silence, afrai to *ove fro* the spot, lest the so%n of her steps sho%l occasion her to lose a note of the *%sic, or sho%l ist%rb the *%sician( Every thin, +itho%t the b%il in, +as still, an no person appeare ( 'he contin%e to listen, till ti*i ity s%ccee e to s%rprise an eli,ht/ a ti*i ity, increase by a

re*e*brance of the pencille lines she ha for*erly seen, an she hesitate +hether to procee , or to ret%rn( :hile she pa%se , the *%sic cease / an , after a *o*entary hesitation, she re6collecte co%ra,e to a vance to the fishin,6ho%se, +hich she entere +ith falterin, steps, an fo%n %nocc%pie ? Her l%te lay on the table/ every thin, see*e %n ist%rbe , an she be,an to believe it +as another instr%*ent she ha hear , till she re*e*bere , that, +hen she follo+e &( an &a a*e 't( A%bert fro* this spot, her l%te +as left on a +in o+ seat( 'he felt alar*e , yet kne+ not +herefore/ the *elancholy ,loo* of evenin,, an the profo%n stillness of the place, interr%pte only by the li,ht tre*blin, of leaves, hei,htene her fancif%l apprehensions, an she +as esiro%s of 4%ittin, the b%il in,, b%t perceive herself ,ro+ faint, an sat o+n( As she trie to recover herself, the pencille lines on the +ainscot *et her eye/ she starte , as if she ha seen a stran,er/ b%t, en eavo%rin, to con4%er the tre*or of her spirits, rose, an +ent to the +in o+( To the lines before notice she no+ perceive that others +ere a e , in +hich her na*e appeare ( Tho%,h no lon,er s%ffere to o%bt that they +ere a resse to herself, she +as as i,norant, as before, by +ho* they co%l be +ritten( :hile she *%se , she tho%,ht she hear the so%n of a step +itho%t the b%il in,, an a,ain alar*e , she ca%,ht %p her l%te, an h%rrie a+ay( &onsie%r an &a a*e 't( A%bert she fo%n in a little path that +o%n alon, the si es of the ,len( Havin, reache a ,reen s%**it, sha o+e by pal*6 trees, an overlookin, the vallies an plains of Gascony, they seate the*selves on the t%rf/ an +hile their eyes +an ere over the ,lorio%s scene, an they inhale the s+eet breath of flo+ers an herbs that enriche the ,rass, E*ily playe an s%n, several of their favo%rite airs, +ith the elicacy of e-pression in +hich she so *%ch e-celle ( &%sic an conversation etaine the* in this enchantin, spot, till the s%n3s last li,ht slept %pon the

plains/ till the +hite sails that ,li e beneath the *o%ntains, +here the Garonne +an ere , beca*e i*, an the ,loo* of evenin, stole over the lan scape( It +as a *elancholy b%t not %npleasin, ,loo*( 't( A%bert an his fa*ily rose, an left the place +ith re,ret/ alas? &a a*e 't( A%bert kne+ not that she left it for ever( :hen they reache the fishin,6ho%se she *isse her bracelet, an recollecte that she ha taken it fro* her ar* after inner, an ha left it on the table +hen she +ent to +alk( After a lon, search, in +hich E*ily +as very active, she +as co*pelle to resi,n herself to the loss of it( :hat *a e this bracelet val%able to her +as a *iniat%re of her a%,hter to +hich it +as attache , estee*e a strikin, rese*blance, an +hich ha been painte only a fe+ *onths before( :hen E*ily +as convince that the bracelet +as really ,one, she bl%she , an beca*e tho%,htf%l( That so*e stran,er ha been in the fishin,6ho%se, %rin, her absence, her l%te, an the a itional lines of a pencil, ha alrea y infor*e her; fro* the p%rport of these lines it +as not %nreasonable to believe, that the poet, the *%sician, an the thief +ere the sa*e person( 1%t tho%,h the *%sic she ha hear , the +ritten lines she ha seen, an the isappearance of the pict%re, for*e a co*bination of circ%*stances very re*arkable, she +as irresistibly restraine fro* *entionin, the*/ secretly eter*inin,, ho+ever, never a,ain to visit the fishin,6ho%se +itho%t &onsie%r or &a a*e 't( A%bert( They ret%rne pensively to the chatea%, E*ily *%sin, on the inci ent +hich ha .%st occ%rre / 't( A%bert reflectin,, +ith placi ,ratit% e, on the blessin,s he possesse / an &a a*e 't( A%bert so*e+hat ist%rbe , an perple-e , by the loss of her a%,hter3s pict%re( As they re+ near the ho%se, they observe an %n%s%al b%stle abo%t it/ the so%n of voices +as istinctly hear , servants an horses +ere seen passin, bet+een the trees, an , at len,th, the +heels of a carria,e rolle alon,( Havin, co*e +ithin vie+ of the front of the chatea%, a lan a%, +ith s*okin, horses, appeare on the little la+n before it( 't( A%bert perceive the liveries of his brother6in6la+, an in the

parlo%r he fo%n &onsie%r an &a a*e 5%esnel alrea y entere ( They ha left Paris so*e ays before, an +ere on the +ay to their estate, only ten lea,%es istant fro* 0a Vallee, an +hich &onsie%r 5%esnel ha p%rchase several years before of 't( A%bert( This ,entle*an +as the only brother of &a a*e 't( A%bert/ b%t the ties of relationship havin, never been stren,thene by con,eniality of character, the interco%rse bet+een the* ha not been fre4%ent( &( 5%esnel ha live alto,ether in the +orl / his ai* ha been conse4%ence/ splen o%r +as the ob.ect of his taste/ an his a ress an kno+le ,e of character ha carrie hi* for+ar to the attain*ent of al*ost all that he ha co%rte ( 1y a *an of s%ch a isposition, it is not s%rprisin, that the virt%es of 't( A%bert sho%l be overlooke / or that his p%re taste, si*plicity, an *o erate +ishes, +ere consi ere as *arks of a +eak intellect, an of confine vie+s( The *arria,e of his sister +ith 't( A%bert ha been *ortifyin, to his a*bition, for he ha esi,ne that the *atri*onial connection she for*e sho%l assist hi* to attain the conse4%ence +hich he so *%ch esire / an so*e offers +ere *a e her by persons +hose rank an fort%ne flattere his +ar*est hope( 1%t his sister, +ho +as then a resse also by 't( A%bert, perceive , or tho%,ht she perceive , that happiness an splen o%r +ere not the sa*e, an she i not hesitate to fore,o the last for the attain*ent of the for*er( :hether &onsie%r 5%esnel tho%,ht the* the sa*e, or not, he +o%l rea ily have sacrifice his sister3s peace to the ,ratification of his o+n a*bition/ an , on her *arria,e +ith 't( A%bert, e-presse in private his conte*pt of her spiritless con %ct, an of the connection +hich it per*itte ( &a a*e 't( A%bert, tho%,h she conceale this ins%lt fro* her h%sban , felt, perhaps, for the first ti*e, resent*ent li,hte in her heart/ an , tho%,h a re,ar for her o+n i,nity, %nite +ith consi erations of pr% ence, restraine her e-pression of this resent*ent, there +as ever after a *il reserve in her *anner to+ar s &( 5%esnel, +hich he both %n erstoo an felt(

In his o+n *arria,e he i not follo+ his sister3s e-a*ple( His la y +as an Italian, an an heiress by birth/ an , by nat%re an e %cation, +as a vain an frivolo%s +o*an( They no+ eter*ine to pass the ni,ht +ith 't( A%bert/ an as the chatea% +as not lar,e eno%,h to acco**o ate their servants, the latter +ere is*isse to the nei,hbo%rin, villa,e( :hen the first co*pli*ents +ere over, an the arran,e*ents for the ni,ht *a e &( 5%esnel be,an the isplay of his intelli,ence an his connections/ +hile 't( A%bert, +ho ha been lon, eno%,h in retire*ent to fin these topics reco**en e by their novelty, listene , +ith a e,ree of patience an attention, +hich his ,%est *istook for the h%*ility of +on er( The latter, in ee , escribe the fe+ festivities +hich the t%rb%lence of that perio per*itte to the co%rt of Henry the Thir , +ith a *in%teness, that so*e+hat reco*pense for his ostentation/ b%t, +hen he ca*e to speak of the character of the <%ke e @oye%se, of a secret treaty, +hich he kne+ to be ne,otiatin, +ith the Porte, an of the li,ht in +hich Henry of 9avarre +as receive , &( 't( A%bert recollecte eno%,h of his for*er e-perience to be ass%re , that his ,%est co%l be only of an inferior class of politicians/ an that, fro* the i*portance of the s%b.ects %pon +hich he co**itte hi*self, he co%l not be of the rank to +hich he preten e to belon,( The opinions elivere by &( 5%esnel, +ere s%ch as 't( A%bert forebore to reply to, for he kne+ that his ,%est ha neither h%*anity to feel, nor iscern*ent to perceive, +hat is .%st( &a a*e 5%esnel, *ean+hile, +as e-pressin, to &a a*e 't( A%bert her astonish*ent, that she co%l bear to pass her life in this re*ote corner of the +orl , as she calle it, an escribin,, fro* a +ish, probably, of e-citin, envy, the splen o%r of the balls, ban4%ets, an processions +hich ha .%st been ,iven by the co%rt, in hono%r of the n%ptials of the <%ke e @oye%se +ith &ar,aretta of 0orrain, the sister of the 5%een( 'he escribe +ith e4%al *in%teness the *a,nificence she ha seen, an that fro* +hich she ha been e-cl% e /

+hile E*ily3s vivi fancy, as she listene +ith the ar ent c%riosity of yo%th, hei,htene the scenes she hear of/ an &a a*e 't( A%bert, lookin, on her fa*ily, felt, as a tear stole to her eye, that tho%,h splen o%r *ay ,race happiness, virt%e only can besto+ it( 3It is no+ t+elve years, 't( A%bert,3 sai &( 5%esnel, 3since I p%rchase yo%r fa*ily estate(373'o*e+here thereabo%t,3 replie 't( A%bert, s%ppressin, a si,h( 3It is near five years since I have been there,3 res%*e 5%esnel/ 3for Paris an its nei,hbo%rhoo is the only place in the +orl to live in, an I a* so i**erse in politics, an have so *any affairs of *o*ent on *y han s, that I fin it iffic%lt to steal a+ay even for a *onth or t+o(3 't( A%bert re*ainin, silent, &( 5%esnel procee e ; 3I have so*eti*es +on ere ho+ yo%, +ho have live in the capital, an have been acc%sto*e to co*pany, can e-ist else+here/7especially in so re*ote a co%ntry as this, +here yo% can neither hear nor see any thin,, an can in short be scarcely conscio%s of life(3 3I live for *y fa*ily an *yself,3 sai 't( A%bert/ 3I a* no+ contente to kno+ only happiness/7for*erly I kne+ life(3 3I *ean to e-pen thirty or forty tho%san livres on i*prove*ents,3 sai &( 5%esnel, +itho%t see*in, to notice the +or s of 't( A%bert/ 3for I esi,n, ne-t s%**er, to brin, here *y frien s, the <%ke e <%refort an the &ar4%is Ra*ont, to pass a *onth or t+o +ith *e(3 To 't( A%bert3s en4%iry, as to these inten e i*prove*ents, he replie , that he sho%l take o+n the +hole east +in, of the chatea%, an raise %pon the site a set of stables( 3Then I shall b%il ,3 sai he, 3a 'A00E A &A9GER, a 'A0O9, a 'A00E AA CO&&A9E, an a n%*ber of roo*s for servants/ for at present there is not acco**o ation for a thir part of *y o+n people(3 3It acco**o ate o%r father3s ho%sehol ,3 sai 't( A%bert, ,rieve that the ol *ansion +as to be th%s i*prove , 3an that +as not a s*all one(3

3O%r notions are so*e+hat enlar,e since those ays,3 sai &( 5%esnel/73+hat +as then tho%,ht a ecent style of livin, +o%l not no+ be en %re (3 Even the cal* 't( A%bert bl%she at these +or s, b%t his an,er soon yiel e to conte*pt( 3The ,ro%n abo%t the chatea% is enc%*bere +ith trees/ I *ean to c%t so*e of the* o+n(3 3C%t o+n the trees too?3 sai 't( A%bert( 3Certainly( :hy sho%l I notB they interr%pt *y prospects( There is a chesn%t +hich sprea s its branches before the +hole so%th si e of the chatea%, an +hich is so ancient that they tell *e the hollo+ of its tr%nk +ill hol a o8en *en( 2o%r enth%sias* +ill scarcely conten that there can be either %se, or bea%ty, in s%ch a sapless ol tree as this(3 3Goo Go ?3 e-clai*e 't( A%bert, 3yo% s%rely +ill not estroy that noble chesn%t, +hich has flo%rishe for cent%ries, the ,lory of the estate? It +as in its *at%rity +hen the present *ansion +as b%ilt( Ho+ often, in *y yo%th, have I cli*be a*on, its broa branches, an sat e*bo+ere a*i st a +orl of leaves, +hile the heavy sho+er has pattere above, an not a rain rop reache *e? Ho+ often I have sat +ith a book in *y han , so*eti*es rea in,, an so*eti*es lookin, o%t bet+een the branches %pon the +i e lan scape, an the settin, s%n, till t+ili,ht ca*e, an bro%,ht the bir s ho*e to their little nests a*on, the leaves? Ho+ often 7b%t par on *e,3 a e 't( A%bert, recollectin, that he +as speakin, to a *an +ho co%l neither co*prehen , nor allo+ his feelin,s, 3I a* talkin, of ti*es an feelin,s as ol 6fashione as the taste that +o%l spare that venerable tree(3 3It +ill certainly co*e o+n,3 sai &( 5%esnel/ 3I believe I shall plant so*e 0o*bar y poplars a*on, the cl%*ps of chesn%t, that I shall leave of the aven%e/ &a a*e 5%esnel is partial to the poplar, an tells *e ho+ *%ch it a orns a villa of her %ncle, not far fro* Venice(3 3On the banks of the 1renta, in ee ,3 contin%e 't( A%bert, 3+here its spiry for* is inter*in,le +ith the

pine, an the cypress, an +here it plays over li,ht an ele,ant porticos an colonna es, it, %n4%estionably, a orns the scene/ b%t a*on, the ,iants of the forest, an near a heavy ,othic *ansion73 3:ell, *y ,oo sir,3 sai &( 5%esnel, 3I +ill not isp%te +ith yo%( 2o% *%st ret%rn to Paris before o%r i eas can at all a,ree( 1%t A6PROPO' of Venice, I have so*e tho%,hts of ,oin, thither, ne-t s%**er/ events *ay call *e to take possession of that sa*e villa, too, +hich they tell *e is the *ost char*in, that can be i*a,ine ( In that case I shall leave the i*prove*ents I *ention to another year, an I *ay, perhaps, be te*pte to stay so*e ti*e in Italy(3 E*ily +as so*e+hat s%rprise to hear hi* talk of bein, te*pte to re*ain abroa , after he ha *entione his presence to be so necessary at Paris, that it +as +ith iffic%lty he co%l steal a+ay for a *onth or t+o/ b%t 't( A%bert %n erstoo the self6i*portance of the *an too +ell to +on er at this trait/ an the possibility, that these pro.ecte i*prove*ents *i,ht be eferre , ,ave hi* a hope, that they *i,ht never take place( 1efore they separate for the ni,ht, &( 5%esnel esire to speak +ith 't( A%bert alone, an they retire to another roo*, +here they re*aine a consi erable ti*e( The s%b.ect of this conversation +as not kno+n/ b%t, +hatever it *i,ht be, 't( A%bert, +hen he ret%rne to the s%pper6roo*, see*e *%ch ist%rbe , an a sha e of sorro+ so*eti*es fell %pon his feat%res that alar*e &a a*e 't( A%bert( :hen they +ere alone she +as te*pte to en4%ire the occasion of it, b%t the elicacy of *in , +hich ha ever appeare in his con %ct, restraine her; she consi ere that, if 't( A%bert +ishe her to be ac4%ainte +ith the s%b.ect of his concern, he +o%l not +ait on her en4%iries( On the follo+in, ay, before &( 5%esnel eparte , he ha a secon conference +ith 't( A%bert( The ,%ests, after inin, at the chatea%, set o%t in the cool of the ay for Epo%rville, +hither they ,ave hi* an &a a*e 't( A%bert a pressin, invitation, pro*pte

rather by the vanity of isplayin, their splen o%r, than by a +ish to *ake their frien s happy( E*ily ret%rne , +ith eli,ht, to the liberty +hich their presence ha restraine , to her books, her +alks, an the rational conversation of &( an &a a*e 't( A%bert, +ho see*e to re.oice, no less, that they +ere elivere fro* the shackles, +hich arro,ance an frivolity ha i*pose ( &a a*e 't( A%bert e-c%se herself fro* sharin, their %s%al evenin, +alk, co*plainin, that she +as not 4%ite +ell, an 't( A%bert an E*ily +ent o%t to,ether( They chose a +alk to+ar s the *o%ntains, inten in, to visit so*e ol pensioners of 't( A%bert, +hich, fro* his very *o erate inco*e, he contrive to s%pport, tho%,h it is probable &( 5%esnel, +ith his very lar,e one, co%l not have affor e this( After istrib%tin, to his pensioners their +eekly stipen s, listenin, patiently to the co*plaints of so*e, re ressin, the ,rievances of others, an softenin, the iscontents of all, by the look of sy*pathy, an the s*ile of benevolence, 't( A%bert ret%rne ho*e thro%,h the +oo s,
here At fall of e"e the fairy%people throng, 5n "arious ga!es and re"elry to pass The su!!er night, as "illage stories tell#6 6Tho!son

3The evenin, ,loo* of +oo s +as al+ays eli,htf%l to *e,3 sai 't( A%bert, +hose *in no+ e-perience the s+eet cal*, +hich res%lts fro* the conscio%sness of havin, one a beneficent action, an +hich isposes it to receive pleas%re fro* every s%rro%n in, ob.ect( 3I re*e*ber that in *y yo%th this ,loo* %se to call forth to *y fancy a tho%san fairy visions, an ro*antic i*a,es/ an , I o+n, I a* not yet +holly insensible of that hi,h enth%sias*, +hich +akes the poet3s rea*; I can lin,er, +ith sole*n steps, %n er the eep sha es, sen for+ar a transfor*in, eye into the istant obsc%rity, an listen +ith thrillin, eli,ht to the *ystic *%r*%rin, of the +oo s(3

3O *y ear father,3 sai E*ily, +hile a s% en tear starte to her eye, 3ho+ e-actly yo% escribe +hat I have felt so often, an +hich I tho%,ht nobo y ha ever felt b%t *yself? 1%t hark? here co*es the s+eepin, so%n over the +oo 6tops/7no+ it ies a+ay/7ho+ sole*n the stillness that s%ccee s? 9o+ the bree8e s+ells a,ain( It is like the voice of so*e s%pernat%ral bein,7the voice of the spirit of the +oo s, that +atches over the* by ni,ht( Ah? +hat li,ht is yon erB 1%t it is ,one( An no+ it ,lea*s a,ain, near the root of that lar,e chestn%t; look, sir?3 3Are yo% s%ch an a *irer of nat%re,3 sai 't( A%bert, 3an so little ac4%ainte +ith her appearances as not to kno+ that for the ,lo+6+or*B 1%t co*e,3 a e he ,aily, 3step a little f%rther, an +e shall see fairies, perhaps/ they are often co*panions( The ,lo+6+or* len s his li,ht, an they in ret%rn char* hi* +ith *%sic, an the ance( <o yo% see nothin, trippin, yon erB3 E*ily la%,he ( 3:ell, *y ear sir,3 sai she, 3since yo% allo+ of this alliance, I *ay vent%re to o+n I have anticipate yo%/ an al*ost are vent%re to repeat so*e verses I *a e one evenin, in these very +oo s(3 39ay,3 replie 't( A%bert, 3 is*iss the A0&O'T, an vent%re 4%ite/ let %s hear +hat va,aries fancy has been playin, in yo%r *in ( If she has ,iven yo% one of her spells, yo% nee not envy those of the fairies(3 3If it is stron, eno%,h to enchant yo%r .% ,*ent, sir,3 sai E*ily, 3+hile I isclose her i*a,es, I nee 9OT envy the*( The lines ,o in a sort of trippin, *eas%re, +hich I tho%,ht *i,ht s%it the s%b.ect +ell eno%,h, b%t I fear they are too irre,%lar(3
T8E G&7<%<7RM 8o pleasant is the green% ood=s deep%!atted shade 7n a !id%su!!er=s e"e, hen the fresh rain is o=erA <hen the yello bea!s slope, and sparkle thro= the glade, And s iftly in the thin air the light s allo s soar> But s eeter, s eeter still, rest, hen the sun sinks to

And t ilight co!es on, ith the fairies so gay Tripping through the forest% alk, here flo =rs, unprest, Bo not their tall heads beneath their frolic play# To !usic=s softest sounds they dance a ay the hour, Till !oon%light steals do n a!ong the tre!bling lea"es, And checCuers all the ground, and guides the! to the bo =r, The long haunted bo =r, here the nightingale grie"es# Then no !ore they dance, till her sad song is done, But, silent as the night, to her !ourning attendA And often as her dying notes their pity ha"e on, They "o all her sacred haunts fro! !ortals to defend# <hen, do n a!ong the !ountains, sinks the e"=ning star, And the changing !oon forsakes this shado y sphere, 8o cheerless ould they be, tho= they fairies are, 5f 5, ith !y pale light, ca!e not near> $et cheerless !y lo"e> )or, often ay, And 5 gli!!er the gro"e, They bind !e astrayA tho= they=d be, they=re ungrateful to hen the tra"eller=s benighted on his in his path, and ould guide hi! thro=

in their !agic spells to lead hi! far

And in the !ire to lea"e hi!, till the stars are all burnt out, <hile, in strange%looking shapes, they frisk about the ground, And, afar in the oods, they raise a dis!al shout, Till 5 shrink into !y cell again for terror of the sound> But, see here all the tiny el"es co!e dancing in a ring, <ith the !erry, !erry pipe, and the tabor, and the horn, And the ti!brel so clear, and the lute ith dulcet stringA Then round about the oak they go till peeping of the !orn# (o n yonder glade t o lo"ers steal, to shun the fairy%Cueen, <ho fro ns upon their plighted "o s, and jealous is of !e, That yester%e"e 5 lighted the!, along the de y green, To seek the purple flo =r, hose juice fro! all her spells can free#

And no , to punish !e, she keeps afar her jocund band, <ith the !erry, !erry pipe, and the tabor, and the luteA 5f 5 creep near yonder oak she ill a"e her fairy and, And to !e the dance ill cease, and the !usic all be !ute# 7> had 5 but that purple flo =r hose lea"es her char!s can foil, And kne like fays to dra the juice, and thro it on the ind, 5=d be her sla"e no longer, nor the tra"eller beguile, And help all faithful lo"ers, nor fear the fairy kind> But soon the DAP7UR 7) T8E <77(4 ill ander afar, And the fickle !oon ill fade, and the stars disappear, Then, cheerless ill they be, tho= they fairies are, 5f 5, ith !y pale light, co!e not near>

:hatever 't( A%bert *i,ht think of the stan8as, he +o%l not eny his a%,hter the pleas%re of believin, that he approve the*/ an , havin, ,iven his co**en ation, he s%nk into a reverie, an they +alke on in silence(
A faint erroneous ray Glanc=d fro! th= i!perfect surfaces of things, )lung half an i!age on the straining eyeA <hile a"ing oods, and "illages, and strea!s, And rocks, and !ountain%tops, that long retain The ascending glea!, are all one s i!!ing scene, Uncertain if beheld#6 6Tho!son#

't( A%bert contin%e silent till he reache the chatea%, +here his +ife ha retire to her cha*ber( The lan,%or an e.ection, that ha lately oppresse her, an +hich the e-ertion calle forth by the arrival of her ,%ests ha s%spen e , no+ ret%rne +ith increase effect( On the follo+in, ay, sy*pto*s of fever appeare , an 't( A%bert, havin, sent for *e ical a vice, learne , that her isor er +as a fever of the sa*e nat%re as that, fro* +hich he ha lately recovere ( 'he ha , in ee , taken the infection, %rin, her atten ance %pon hi*, an , her constit%tion bein, too +eak to thro+ o%t the isease i**e iately, it ha l%rke in her veins, an

occasione the heavy lan,%or of +hich she ha co*plaine ( 't( A%bert, +hose an-iety for his +ife overca*e every other consi eration, etaine the physician in his ho%se( He re*e*bere the feelin,s an the reflections that ha calle a *o*entary ,loo* %pon his *in , on the ay +hen he ha last visite the fishin,6ho%se, in co*pany +ith &a a*e 't( A%bert, an he no+ a *itte a presenti*ent, that this illness +o%l be a fatal one( 1%t he effect%ally conceale this fro* her, an fro* his a%,hter, +ho* he en eavo%re to re6ani*ate +ith hopes that her constant assi %ities +o%l not be %navailin,( The physician, +hen aske by 't( A%bert for his opinion of the isor er, replie , that the event of it epen e %pon circ%*stances +hich he co%l not ascertain( &a a*e 't( A%bert see*e to have for*e a *ore eci e one/ b%t her eyes only ,ave hints of this( 'he fre4%ently fi-e the* %pon her an-io%s frien s +ith an e-pression of pity, an of ten erness, as if she anticipate the sorro+ that a+aite the*, an that see*e to say, it +as for their sakes only, for their s%fferin,s, that she re,rette life( On the seventh ay, the isor er +as at its crisis( The physician ass%*e a ,raver *anner, +hich she observe , an took occasion, +hen her fa*ily ha once 4%itte the cha*ber, to tell hi*, that she perceive her eath +as approachin,( 3<o not atte*pt to eceive *e,3 sai she, 3I feel that I cannot lon, s%rvive( I a* prepare for the event, I have lon,, I hope, been preparin, for it( 'ince I have not lon, to live, o not s%ffer a *istaken co*passion to in %ce yo% to flatter *y fa*ily +ith false hopes( If yo% o, their affliction +ill only be the heavier +hen it arrives; I +ill en eavo%r to teach the* resi,nation by *y e-a*ple(3 The physician +as affecte / he pro*ise to obey her, an tol 't( A%bert, so*e+hat abr%ptly, that there +as nothin, to e-pect( The latter +as not philosopher eno%,h to restrain his feelin,s +hen he receive this infor*ation/ b%t a consi eration of the increase affliction +hich the observance of his ,rief +o%l occasion his +ife, enable hi*, after so*e ti*e, to co**an hi*self in her presence( E*ily +as at first

over+hel*e +ith the intelli,ence/ then, el% e by the stren,th of her +ishes, a hope spr%n, %p in her *in that her *other +o%l yet recover, an to this she pertinacio%sly a here al*ost to the last ho%r( The pro,ress of this isor er +as *arke , on the si e of &a a*e 't( A%bert, by patient s%fferin,, an s%b.ecte +ishes( The co*pos%re, +ith +hich she a+aite her eath, co%l be erive only fro* the retrospect of a life ,overne , as far as h%*an frailty per*its, by a conscio%sness of bein, al+ays in the presence of the <eity, an by the hope of a hi,her +orl ( 1%t her piety co%l not entirely s%b %e the ,rief of partin, fro* those +ho* she so early love ( <%rin, these her last ho%rs, she converse *%ch +ith 't( A%bert an E*ily, on the prospect of f%t%rity, an on other reli,io%s topics( The resi,nation she e-presse , +ith the fir* hope of *eetin, in a f%t%re +orl the frien s she left in this, an the effort +hich so*eti*es appeare to conceal her sorro+ at this te*porary separation, fre4%ently affecte 't( A%bert so *%ch as to obli,e hi* to leave the roo*( Havin, in %l,e his tears a+hile, he +o%l ry the* an ret%rn to the cha*ber +ith a co%ntenance co*pose by an en eavo%r +hich i b%t increase his ,rief( 9ever ha E*ily felt the i*portance of the lessons, +hich ha ta%,ht her to restrain her sensibility, so *%ch as in these *o*ents, an never ha she practise the* +ith a tri%*ph so co*plete( 1%t +hen the last +as over, she s%nk at once %n er the press%re of her sorro+, an then perceive that it +as hope, as +ell as fortit% e, +hich ha hitherto s%pporte her( 't( A%bert +as for a ti*e too evoi of co*fort hi*self to besto+ any on his a%,hter(

#HAPTER II
5 could a tale unfold, hose lightest <ould harro up thy soul# 48A;E4PEARE ord

&a a*e 't( A%bert +as interre in the nei,hbo%rin, villa,e ch%rch/ her h%sban an a%,hter atten e her to the ,rave, follo+e by a lon, train of the peasantry, +ho +ere sincere *o%rners of this e-cellent +o*an( On his ret%rn fro* the f%neral, 't( A%bert sh%t hi*self in his cha*ber( :hen he ca*e forth, it +as +ith a serene co%ntenance, tho%,h pale in sorro+( He ,ave or ers that his fa*ily sho%l atten hi*( E*ily only +as absent/ +ho, overco*e +ith the scene she ha .%st +itnesse , ha retire to her closet to +eep alone( 't( A%bert follo+e her thither; he took her han in silence, +hile she contin%e to +eep/ an it +as so*e *o*ents before he co%l so far co**an his voice as to speak( It tre*ble +hile he sai , 3&y E*ily, I a* ,oin, to prayers +ith *y fa*ily/ yo% +ill .oin %s( :e *%st ask s%pport fro* above( :here else o%,ht +e to seek it7+here else can +e fin itB3 E*ily checke her tears, an follo+e her father to the parlo%r, +here, the servants bein, asse*ble , 't( A%bert rea , in a lo+ an sole*n voice, the evenin, service, an a e a prayer for the so%l of the eparte ( <%rin, this, his voice often faltere , his tears fell %pon the book, an at len,th he pa%se ( 1%t the s%bli*e e*otions of p%re evotion ,ra %ally elevate his vie+s above this +orl , an finally bro%,ht co*fort to his heart( :hen the service +as en e , an the servants +ere +ith ra+n, he ten erly kisse E*ily, an sai , 3I have en eavo%re to teach yo%, fro* yo%r earliest yo%th, the %ty of self6co**an / I have pointe o%t to yo% the ,reat i*portance of it thro%,h life, not only as it preserves %s in the vario%s an an,ero%s te*ptations that call %s fro* rectit% e an virt%e, b%t as it li*its the in %l,ences +hich are ter*e virt%o%s, yet +hich, e-ten e beyon a certain bo%n ary, are vicio%s, for their conse4%ence is evil( All e-cess is vicio%s/ even that sorro+, +hich is a*iable in its ori,in, beco*es a selfish an %n.%st passion, if in %l,e at the e-pence of o%r %ties7by o%r %ties I *ean +hat +e o+e to o%rselves, as +ell as to others( The in %l,ence of e-cessive ,rief enervates the *in , an al*ost

incapacitates it for a,ain partakin, of those vario%s innocent en.oy*ents +hich a benevolent Go esi,ne to be the s%n6shine of o%r lives( &y ear E*ily, recollect an practise the precepts I have so often ,iven yo%, an +hich yo%r o+n e-perience has so often she+n yo% to be +ise( 32o%r sorro+ is %seless( <o not receive this as *erely a co**onplace re*ark, b%t let reason THERE)ORE restrain sorro+( I +o%l not annihilate yo%r feelin,s, *y chil , I +o%l only teach yo% to co**an the*/ for +hatever *ay be the evils res%ltin, fro* a too s%sceptible heart, nothin, can be hope fro* an insensible one/ that, on the other han , is all vice7 vice, of +hich the efor*ity is not softene , or the effect console for, by any se*blance or possibility of ,oo ( 2o% kno+ *y s%fferin,s, an are, therefore, convince that *ine are not the li,ht +or s +hich, on these occasions, are so often repeate to estroy even the so%rces of honest e*otion, or +hich *erely isplay the selfish ostentation of a false philosophy( I +ill she+ *y E*ily, that I can practise +hat I a vise( I have sai th%s *%ch, beca%se I cannot bear to see yo% +astin, in %seless sorro+, for +ant of that resistance +hich is %e fro* *in / an I have not sai it till no+, beca%se there is a perio +hen all reasonin, *%st yiel to nat%re/ that is past; an another, +hen e-cessive in %l,ence, havin, s%nk into habit, +ei,hs o+n the elasticity of the spirits so as to ren er con4%est nearly i*possible/ this is to co*e( 2o%, *y E*ily, +ill she+ that yo% are +illin, to avoi it(3 E*ily s*ile thro%,h her tears %pon her father; 3<ear sir,3 sai she, an her voice tre*ble / she +o%l have a e , 3I +ill she+ *yself +orthy of bein, yo%r a%,hter/3 b%t a *in,le e*otion of ,ratit% e, affection, an ,rief overca*e her( 't( A%bert s%ffere her to +eep +itho%t interr%ption, an then be,an to talk on co**on topics( The first person +ho ca*e to con ole +ith 't( A%bert +as a &( 1arrea%-, an a%stere an see*in,ly %nfeelin, *an( A taste for botany ha intro %ce the* to each other, for they ha fre4%ently *et in their +an erin,s

a*on, the *o%ntains( &( 1arrea%- ha retire fro* the +orl , an al*ost fro* society, to live in a pleasant chatea%, on the skirts of the +oo s, near 0a Vallee( He also ha been isappointe in his opinion of *ankin / b%t he i not, like 't( A%bert, pity an *o%rn for the*/ he felt *ore in i,nation at their vices, than co*passion for their +eaknesses( 't( A%bert +as so*e+hat s%rprise to see hi*/ for, tho%,h he ha often presse hi* to co*e to the chatea%, he ha never till no+ accepte the invitation/ an no+ he ca*e +itho%t cere*ony or reserve, enterin, the parlo%r as an ol frien ( The clai*s of *isfort%ne appeare to have softene o+n all the r%,,e ness an pre.% ices of his heart( 't( A%bert %nhappy, see*e to be the sole i ea that occ%pie his *in ( It +as in *anners, *ore than in +or s, that he appeare to sy*pathi8e +ith his frien s; he spoke little on the s%b.ect of their ,rief/ b%t the *in%te attention he ,ave the*, an the *o %late voice, an softene look that acco*panie it, ca*e fro* his heart, an spoke to theirs( At this *elancholy perio 't( A%bert +as like+ise visite by &a a*e Cheron, his only s%rvivin, sister, +ho ha been so*e years a +i o+, an no+ resi e on her o+n estate near Tholo%se( The interco%rse bet+een the* ha not been very fre4%ent( In her con ole*ents, +or s +ere not +antin,/ she %n erstoo not the *a,ic of the look that speaks at once to the so%l, or the voice that sinks like bal* to the heart; b%t she ass%re 't( A%bert that she sincerely sy*pathi8e +ith hi*, praise the virt%es of his late +ife, an then offere +hat she consi ere to be consolation( E*ily +ept %nceasin,ly +hile she spoke/ 't( A%bert +as tran4%il, listene to +hat she sai in silence, an then t%rne the isco%rse %pon another s%b.ect( At partin, she presse hi* an her niece to *ake her an early visit( 3Chan,e of place +ill a*%se yo%,3 sai she, 3an it is +ron, to ,ive +ay to ,rief(3 't( A%bert ackno+le ,e the tr%th of these +or s of co%rse/ b%t, at the sa*e ti*e, felt *ore rel%ctant than ever to 4%it the spot +hich his past happiness ha consecrate ( The

presence of his +ife ha sanctifie every s%rro%n in, scene, an , each ay, as it ,ra %ally softene the ac%teness of his s%fferin,, assiste the ten er enchant*ent that bo%n hi* to ho*e( 1%t there +ere calls +hich *%st be co*plie +ith, an of this kin +as the visit he pai to his brother6in6la+ &( 5%esnel( An affair of an interestin, nat%re *a e it necessary that he sho%l elay this visit no lon,er, an , +ishin, to ro%se E*ily fro* her e.ection, he took her +ith hi* to Epo%rville( As the carria,e entere %pon the forest that a .oine his paternal o*ain, his eyes once *ore ca%,ht, bet+een the chesn%t aven%e, the t%rrete corners of the chatea%( He si,he to think of +hat ha passe since he +as last there, an that it +as no+ the property of a *an +ho neither revere nor val%e it( At len,th he entere the aven%e, +hose lofty trees ha so often eli,hte hi* +hen a boy, an +hose *elancholy sha e +as no+ so con,enial +ith the tone of his spirits( Every feat%re of the e ifice, istin,%ishe by an air of heavy ,ran e%r, appeare s%ccessively bet+een the branches of the trees7the broa t%rret, the arche ,ate6 +ay that le into the co%rts, the ra+bri ,e, an the ry fosse +hich s%rro%n e the +hole( The so%n of carria,e +heels bro%,ht a troop of servants to the ,reat ,ate, +here 't( A%bert ali,hte , an fro* +hich he le E*ily into the ,othic hall, no+ no lon,er h%n, +ith the ar*s an ancient banners of the fa*ily( These +ere isplace , an the oak +ainscottin,, an bea*s that crosse the roof, +ere painte +hite( The lar,e table, too, that %se to stretch alon, the %pper en of the hall, +here the *aster of the *ansion love to isplay his hospitality, an +hence the peal of la%,hter, an the son, of conviviality, ha so often reso%n e , +as no+ re*ove / even the benches that ha s%rro%n e the hall +ere no lon,er there( The heavy +alls +ere h%n, +ith frivolo%s orna*ents, an every thin, that appeare enote the false taste an corr%pte senti*ents of the present o+ner(

't( A%bert follo+e a ,ay Parisian servant to a parlo%r, +here sat &ons( an &a a*e 5%esnel, +ho receive hi* +ith a stately politeness, an , after a fe+ for*al +or s of con ole*ent, see*e to have for,otten that they ever ha a sister( E*ily felt tears s+ell into her eyes, an then resent*ent checke the*( 't( A%bert, cal* an eliberate, preserve his i,nity +itho%t ass%*in, i*portance, an 5%esnel +as epresse by his presence +itho%t e-actly kno+in, +herefore( After so*e ,eneral conversation, 't( A%bert re4%este to speak +ith hi* alone/ an E*ily, bein, left +ith &a a*e 5%esnel, soon learne that a lar,e party +as invite to ine at the chatea%, an +as co*pelle to hear that nothin, +hich +as past an irre*e iable o%,ht to prevent the festivity of the present ho%r( 't( A%bert, +hen he +as tol that co*pany +ere e-pecte , felt a *i-e e*otion of is,%st an in i,nation a,ainst the insensibility of 5%esnel, +hich pro*pte hi* to ret%rn ho*e i**e iately( 1%t he +as infor*e , that &a a*e Cheron ha been aske to *eet hi*/ an , +hen he looke at E*ily, an consi ere that a ti*e *i,ht co*e +hen the en*ity of her %ncle +o%l be pre.% icial to her, he eter*ine not to inc%r it hi*self, by con %ct +hich +o%l be resente as in ecoro%s, by the very persons +ho no+ sho+e so little sense of ecor%*( A*on, the visitors asse*ble at inner +ere t+o Italian ,entle*en, of +ho* one +as na*e &ontoni, a istant relation of &a a*e 5%esnel, a *an abo%t forty, of an %nco**only han so*e person, +ith feat%res *anly an e-pressive, b%t +hose co%ntenance e-hibite , %pon the +hole, *ore of the ha%,htiness of co**an , an the 4%ickness of iscern*ent, than of any other character( 'i,nor Cavi,ni, his frien , appeare to be abo%t thirty 7inferior in i,nity, b%t e4%al to hi* in penetration of co%ntenance, an s%perior in insin%ation of *anner(

E*ily +as shocke by the sal%tation +ith +hich &a a*e Cheron *et her father73<ear brother,3 sai she, 3I a* concerne to see yo% look so very ill/ o, pray, have a vice?3 't( A%bert ans+ere , +ith a *elancholy s*ile, that he felt hi*self *%ch as %s%al/ b%t E*ily3s fears *a e her no+ fancy that her father looke +orse than he really i ( E*ily +o%l have been a*%se by the ne+ characters she sa+, an the varie conversation that passe %rin, inner, +hich +as serve in a style of splen o%r she ha sel o* seen before, ha her spirits been less oppresse ( Of the ,%ests, 'i,nor &ontoni +as lately co*e fro* Italy, an he spoke of the co**otions +hich at that perio a,itate the co%ntry/ talke of party ifferences +ith +ar*th, an then la*ente the probable conse4%ences of the t%*%lts( His frien spoke +ith e4%al ar o%r, of the politics of his co%ntry/ praise the ,overn*ent an prosperity of Venice, an boaste of its eci e s%periority over all the other Italian states( He then t%rne to the la ies, an talke +ith the sa*e elo4%ence, of Parisian fashions, the )rench opera, an )rench *anners/ an on the latter s%b.ect he i not fail to *in,le +hat is so partic%larly a,reeable to )rench taste( The flattery +as not etecte by those to +ho* it +as a resse , tho%,h its effect, in pro %cin, s%b*issive attention, i not escape his observation( :hen he co%l isen,a,e hi*self fro* the assi %ities of the other la ies, he so*eti*es a resse E*ily; b%t she kne+ nothin, of Parisian fashions, or Parisian operas/ an her *o esty, si*plicity, an correct *anners for*e a eci e contrast to those of her fe*ale co*panions( After inner, 't( A%bert stole fro* the roo* to vie+ once *ore the ol chesn%t +hich 5%esnel talke of c%ttin, o+n( As he stoo %n er its sha e, an looke %p a*on, its branches, still l%-%riant, an sa+ here an there the bl%e sky tre*blin, bet+een the*/ the p%rs%its an events of his early ays cro+ e fast to his *in , +ith the fi,%res an characters of frien s7lon, since ,one fro* the earth/ an he no+ felt hi*self to be

al*ost an ins%late bein,, +ith nobo y b%t his E*ily for his heart to t%rn to( He stoo lost a*i the scenes of years +hich fancy calle %p, till the s%ccession close +ith the pict%re of his yin, +ife, an he starte a+ay, to for,et it, if possible, at the social boar ( 't( A%bert or ere his carria,e at an early ho%r, an E*ily observe , that he +as *ore than %s%ally silent an e.ecte on the +ay ho*e/ b%t she consi ere this to be the effect of his visit to a place +hich spoke so elo4%ently of for*er ti*es, nor s%specte that he ha a ca%se of ,rief +hich he conceale fro* her( On enterin, the chatea% she felt *ore epresse than ever, for she *ore than ever *isse the presence of that ear parent, +ho, +henever she ha been fro* ho*e, %se to +elco*e her ret%rn +ith s*iles an fon ness/ no+, all +as silent an forsaken( 1%t +hat reason an effort *ay fail to o, ti*e effects( :eek after +eek passe a+ay, an each, as it passe , stole so*ethin, fro* the harshness of her affliction, till it +as *ello+e to that ten erness +hich the feelin, heart cherishes as sacre ( 't( A%bert, on the contrary, visibly ecline in health/ tho%,h E*ily, +ho ha been so constantly +ith hi*, +as al*ost the last person +ho observe it( His constit%tion ha never recovere fro* the late attack of the fever, an the s%ccee in, shock it receive fro* &a a*e 't( A%bert3s eath ha pro %ce its present infir*ity( His physician no+ or ere hi* to travel/ for it +as perceptible that sorro+ ha sei8e %pon his nerves, +eakene as they ha been by the prece in, illness/ an variety of scene, it +as probable, +o%l , by a*%sin, his *in , restore the* to their proper tone( )or so*e ays E*ily +as occ%pie in preparations to atten hi*/ an he, by en eavo%rs to i*inish his e-pences at ho*e %rin, the .o%rney7a p%rpose +hich eter*ine hi* at len,th to is*iss his o*estics( E*ily sel o* oppose her father3s +ishes by 4%estions or re*onstrances, or she +o%l no+ have aske +hy he i not take a servant, an have represente that his

infir* health *a e one al*ost necessary( 1%t +hen, on the eve of their epart%re, she fo%n that he ha is*isse @ac4%es, )rancis, an &ary, an etaine only Theresa the ol ho%sekeeper, she +as e-tre*ely s%rprise , an vent%re to ask his reason for havin, one so( 3To save e-pences, *y ear,3 he replie 73+e are ,oin, on an e-pensive e-c%rsion(3 The physician ha prescribe the air of 0an,%e oc an Provence/ an 't( A%bert eter*ine , therefore, to travel leis%rely alon, the shores of the &e iterranean, to+ar s Provence( They retire early to their cha*ber on the ni,ht before their epart%re/ b%t E*ily ha a fe+ books an other thin,s to collect, an the clock ha str%ck t+elve before she ha finishe , or ha re*e*bere that so*e of her ra+in, instr%*ents, +hich she *eant to take +ith her, +ere in the parlo%r belo+( As she +ent to fetch these, she passe her father3s roo*, an , perceivin, the oor half open, concl% e that he +as in his st% y7for, since the eath of &a a*e 't( A%bert, it ha been fre4%ently his c%sto* to rise fro* his restless be , an ,o thither to co*pose his *in ( :hen she +as belo+ stairs she looke into this roo*, b%t +itho%t fin in, hi*/ an as she ret%rne to her cha*ber, she tappe at his oor, an receivin, no ans+er, steppe softly in, to be certain +hether he +as there( The roo* +as ark, b%t a li,ht ,li**ere thro%,h so*e panes of ,lass that +ere place in the %pper part of a closet6 oor( E*ily believe her father to be in the closet, an , s%rprise that he +as %p at so late an ho%r, apprehen e he +as %n+ell, an +as ,oin, to en4%ire/ b%t, consi erin, that her s% en appearance at this ho%r *i,ht alar* hi*, she re*ove her li,ht to the stair6 case, an then steppe softly to the closet( On lookin, thro%,h the panes of ,lass, she sa+ hi* seate at a s*all table, +ith papers before hi*, so*e of +hich he +as rea in, +ith eep attention an interest, %rin, +hich he often +ept an sobbe alo% ( E*ily, +ho ha co*e to the oor to learn +hether her father +as ill, +as no+ etaine there by a *i-t%re of c%riosity an

ten erness( 'he co%l not +itness his sorro+, +itho%t bein, an-io%s to kno+ the s%b.ect of/ an she therefore contin%e to observe hi* in silence, concl% in, that those papers +ere letters of her late *other( Presently he knelt o+n, an +ith a look so sole*n as she ha sel o* seen hi* ass%*e, an +hich +as *in,le +ith a certain +il e-pression, that partook *ore of horror than of any other character, he praye silently for a consi erable ti*e( :hen he rose, a ,hastly paleness +as on his co%ntenance( E*ily +as hastily retirin,/ b%t she sa+ hi* t%rn a,ain to the papers, an she stoppe ( He took fro* a*on, the* a s*all case, an fro* thence a *iniat%re pict%re( The rays of li,ht fell stron,ly %pon it, an she perceive it to be that of a la y, b%t not of her *other( 't( A%bert ,a8e earnestly an ten erly %pon his portrait, p%t it to his lips, an then to his heart, an si,he +ith a conv%lsive force( E*ily co%l scarcely believe +hat she sa+ to be real( 'he never kne+ till no+ that he ha a pict%re of any other la y than her *other, *%ch less that he ha one +hich he evi ently val%e so hi,hly/ b%t havin, looke repeate ly, to be certain that it +as not the rese*blance of &a a*e 't( A%bert, she beca*e entirely convince that it +as esi,ne for that of so*e other person( At len,th 't( A%bert ret%rne the pict%re to its case/ an E*ily, recollectin, that she +as intr% in, %pon his private sorro+s, softly +ith re+ fro* the cha*ber(

#HAPTER III
7 ho canst thou renounce the boundless store 7f char!s hich nature to her "ot=ry yields> The arbling oodland, the resounding shore, The po!p of gro"es, and garniture of fieldsA All that the genial ray of !orning gilds, And all that echoes to the song of e"enA All that the !ountain=s shelt=ring boso! shields, And all the dread !agnificence of hea"enA

7 ho canst thou renounce, and hope to be forgi"en> ##### These char!s shall ork thy soul=s eternal health, And lo"e, and gentleness, and joy, i!part# T8E M5:4TRE&

't( A%bert, instea of takin, the *ore irect roa , that ran alon, the feet of the Pyrenees to 0an,%e oc, chose one that, +in in, over the hei,hts, affor e *ore e-tensive vie+s an ,reater variety of ro*antic scenery( He t%rne a little o%t of his +ay to take leave of &( 1arrea%-, +ho* he fo%n botani8in, in the +oo near his chatea%, an +ho, +hen he +as tol the p%rpose of 't( A%bert3s visit, e-presse a e,ree of concern, s%ch as his frien ha tho%,ht it +as scarcely possible for hi* to feel on any si*ilar occasion( They parte +ith *%t%al re,ret( 3If any thin, co%l have te*pte *e fro* *y retire*ent,3 sai &( 1arrea%-, 3it +o%l have been the pleas%re of acco*panyin, yo% on this little to%r( I o not often offer co*pli*ents/ yo% *ay, therefore, believe *e, +hen I say, that I shall look for yo%r ret%rn +ith i*patience(3 The travellers procee e on their .o%rney( As they ascen e the hei,hts, 't( A%bert often looke back %pon the chatea%, in the plain belo+/ ten er i*a,es cro+ e to his *in / his *elancholy i*a,ination s%,,este that he sho%l ret%rn no *ore/ an tho%,h he checke this +an erin, tho%,ht, still he contin%e to look, till the ha8iness of istance blen e his ho*e +ith the ,eneral lan scape, an 't( A%bert see*e to
(rag at each re!o"e a lengthening chain#

He an E*ily contin%e s%nk in *%sin, silence for so*e lea,%es, fro* +hich *elancholy reverie E*ily first a+oke, an her yo%n, fancy, str%ck +ith the ,ran e%r of the ob.ects aro%n , ,ra %ally yiel e to eli,htf%l i*pressions( The roa no+ escen e into ,lens, confine by st%pen o%s +alls of rock, ,rey an barren, e-cept +here shr%bs frin,e their s%**its, or patches of *ea,re ve,etation tinte their recesses, in +hich the +il ,oat +as fre4%ently bro+sin,( An

no+, the +ay le to the lofty cliffs, fro* +hence the lan scape +as seen e-ten in, in all its *a,nificence( E*ily co%l not restrain her transport as she looke over the pine forests of the *o%ntains %pon the vast plains, that, enriche +ith +oo s, to+ns, bl%shin, vines, an plantations of al*on s, pal*s, an olives, stretche alon,, till their vario%s colo%rs *elte in istance into one har*onio%s h%e, that see*e to %nite earth +ith heaven( Thro%,h the +hole of this ,lorio%s scene the *a.estic Garonne +an ere / escen in, fro* its so%rce a*on, the Pyrenees, an +in in, its bl%e +aves to+ar s the 1ay of 1iscay( The r%,,e ness of the %nfre4%ente roa often obli,e the +an erers to ali,ht fro* their little carria,e, b%t they tho%,ht the*selves a*ply repai for this inconvenience by the ,ran e%r of the scenes/ an , +hile the *%leteer le his ani*als slo+ly over the broken ,ro%n , the travellers ha leis%re to lin,er a*i these solit% es, an to in %l,e the s%bli*e reflections, +hich soften, +hile they elevate, the heart, an fill it +ith the certainty of a present Go ? 'till the en.oy*ent of 't( A%bert +as to%che +ith that pensive *elancholy, +hich ,ives to every ob.ect a *ello+er tint, an breathes a sacre char* over all aro%n ( They ha provi e a,ainst part of the evil to be enco%ntere fro* a +ant of convenient inns, by carryin, a stock of provisions in the carria,e, so that they *i,ht take refresh*ent on any pleasant spot, in the open air, an pass the ni,hts +herever they sho%l happen to *eet +ith a co*fortable cotta,e( )or the *in , also, they ha provi e , by a +ork on botany, +ritten by &( 1arrea%-, an by several of the 0atin an Italian poets/ +hile E*ily3s pencil enable her to preserve so*e of those co*binations of for*s, +hich char*e her at every step( The loneliness of the roa , +here, only no+ an then, a peasant +as seen rivin, his *%le, or so*e *o%ntaineer6chil ren at play a*on, the rocks, hei,htene the effect of the scenery( 't( A%bert +as so *%ch str%ck +ith it, that he eter*ine , if he co%l

hear of a roa , to penetrate f%rther a*on, *o%ntains, an , ben in, his +ay rather *ore to so%th, to e*er,e into Ro%sillon, an coast &e iterranean alon, part of that co%ntry to 0an,%e

the the the oc(

'oon after *i 6 ay, they reache the s%**it of one of those cliffs, +hich, bri,ht +ith the ver %re of pal*6 trees, a orn, like ,e*s, the tre*en o%s +alls of the rocks, an +hich overlooke the ,reater part of Gascony, an part of 0an,%e oc( Here +as sha e, an the fresh +ater of a sprin,, that, ,li in, a*on, the t%rf, %n er the trees, thence precipitate itself fro* rock to rock, till its ashin, *%r*%rs +ere lost in the abyss, tho%,h its +hite foa* +as lon, seen a*i the arkness of the pines belo+( This +as a spot +ell s%ite for rest, an the travellers ali,hte to ine, +hile the *%les +ere %nharnesse to bro+se on the savo%ry herbs that enriche this s%**it( It +as so*e ti*e before 't( A%bert or E*ily co%l +ith ra+ their attention fro* the s%rro%n in, ob.ects, so as to partake of their little repast( 'eate in the sha e of the pal*s, 't( A%bert pointe o%t to her observation the co%rse of the rivers, the sit%ation of ,reat to+ns, an the bo%n aries of provinces, +hich science, rather than the eye, enable hi* to escribe( 9ot+ithstan in, this occ%pation, +hen he ha talke a+hile he s% enly beca*e silent, tho%,htf%l, an tears often s+elle to his eyes, +hich E*ily observe , an the sy*pathy of her o+n heart tol her their ca%se( The scene before the* bore so*e rese*blance, tho%,h it +as on a *%ch ,ran er scale, to a favo%rite one of the late &a a*e 't( A%bert, +ithin vie+ of the fishin,6ho%se( They both observe this, an tho%,ht ho+ eli,hte she +o%l have been +ith the present lan scape, +hile they kne+ that her eyes *%st never, never *ore open %pon this +orl ( 't( A%bert re*e*bere the last ti*e of his visitin, that spot in co*pany +ith her, an also the *o%rnf%lly presa,in, tho%,hts +hich ha then arisen in his *in , an +ere no+, even th%s soon, reali8e ? The recollections s%b %e hi*, an he abr%ptly rose fro* his seat, an +alke a+ay to +here no eye co%l observe his ,rief(

:hen he ret%rne , his co%ntenance ha recovere its %s%al serenity/ he took E*ily3s han , presse it affectionately, +itho%t speakin,, an soon after calle to the *%leteer, +ho sat at a little istance, concernin, a roa a*on, the *o%ntains to+ar s Ro%sillon( &ichael sai , there +ere several that +ay, b%t he i not kno+ ho+ far they e-ten e , or even +hether they +ere passable/ an 't( A%bert, +ho i not inten to travel after s%n6set, aske +hat villa,e they co%l reach abo%t that ti*e( The *%leteer calc%late that they co%l easily reach &atea%, +hich +as in their present roa / b%t that, if they took a roa that slope *ore to the so%th, to+ar s Ro%sillon, there +as a ha*let, +hich he tho%,ht they co%l ,ain before the evenin, sh%t in( 't( A%bert, after so*e hesitation, eter*ine to take the latter co%rse, an &ichael, havin, finishe his *eal, an harnesse his *%les, a,ain set for+ar , b%t soon stoppe / an 't( A%bert sa+ hi* oin, ho*a,e to a cross, that stoo on a rock i*pen in, over their +ay( Havin, concl% e his evotions, he s*acke his +hip in the air, an , in spite of the ro%,h roa , an the pain of his poor *%les, +hich he ha been lately la*entin,, rattle , in a f%ll ,allop, alon, the e ,e of a precipice, +hich it *a e the eye i88y to look o+n( E*ily +as terrifie al*ost to faintin,/ an 't( A%bert, apprehen in, still ,reater an,er fro* s% enly stoppin, the river, +as co*pelle to sit 4%ietly, an tr%st his fate to the stren,th an iscretion of the *%les, +ho see*e to possess a ,reater portion of the latter 4%ality than their *aster/ for they carrie the travellers safely into the valley, an there stoppe %pon the brink of the riv%let that +atere it( 0eavin, the splen o%r of e-tensive prospects, they no+ entere this narro+ valley screene by
Rocks on rocks piled, as if by !agic spell, 8ere scorch=d by lightnings, there ith i"y green#

The scene of barrenness +as here an there interr%pte by the sprea in, branches of the larch an ce ar, +hich thre+ their ,loo* over the cliff, or ath+art the torrent that rolle in the vale( 9o livin, creat%re appeare ,

e-cept the i8ar , scra*blin, a*on, the rocks, an often han,in, %pon points so an,ero%s, that fancy shr%nk fro* the vie+ of the*( This +as s%ch a scene as 'A0VATOR +o%l have chosen, ha he then e-iste , for his canvas/ 't( A%bert, i*presse by the ro*antic character of the place, al*ost e-pecte to see ban itti start fro* behin so*e pro.ectin, rock, an he kept his han %pon the ar*s +ith +hich he al+ays travelle ( As they a vance , the valley opene / its sava,e feat%res ,ra %ally softene , an , to+ar s evenin,, they +ere a*on, heathy *o%ntains, stretche in far perspective, alon, +hich the solitary sheep6bell +as hear , an the voice of the shepher callin, his +an erin, flocks to the ni,htly fol ( His cabin, partly sha o+e by the cork6tree an the ile-, +hich 't( A%bert observe to flo%rish in hi,her re,ions of the air than any other trees, e-cept the fir, +as all the h%*an habitation that yet appeare ( Alon, the botto* of this valley the *ost vivi ver %re +as sprea / an , in the little hollo+ recesses of the *o%ntains, %n er the sha e of the oak an chestn%t, her s of cattle +ere ,ra8in,( Gro%ps of the*, too, +ere often seen reposin, on the banks of the riv%let, or lavin, their si es in the cool strea*, an sippin, its +ave( The s%n +as no+ settin, %pon the valley/ its last li,ht ,lea*e %pon the +ater, an hei,htene the rich yello+ an p%rple tints of the heath an broo*, that oversprea the *o%ntains( 't( A%bert en4%ire of &ichael the istance to the ha*let he ha *entione , b%t the *an co%l not +ith certainty tell/ an E*ily be,an to fear that he ha *istaken the roa ( Here +as no h%*an bein, to assist, or irect the*/ they ha left the shepher an his cabin far behin , an the scene beca*e so obsc%re in t+ili,ht, that the eye co%l not follo+ the istant perspective of the valley in search of a cotta,e, or a ha*let( A ,lo+ of the hori8on still *arke the +est, an this +as of so*e little %se to the travellers( &ichael see*e en eavo%rin, to keep %p his co%ra,e by sin,in,/ his *%sic, ho+ever, +as not of a kin to isperse *elancholy/ he s%n,, in a sort of chant, one of the *ost is*al itties his present

a% itors ha ever hear , an 't( A%bert at len,th iscovere it to be a vesper6hy*n to his favo%rite saint( They travelle on, s%nk in that tho%,htf%l *elancholy, +ith +hich t+ili,ht an solit% e i*press the *in ( &ichael ha no+ en e his itty, an nothin, +as hear b%t the ro+sy *%r*%r of the bree8e a*on, the +oo s, an its li,ht fl%tter, as it ble+ freshly into the carria,e( They +ere at len,th ro%se by the so%n of fire6ar*s( 't( A%bert calle to the *%leteer to stop, an they listene ( The noise +as not repeate / b%t presently they hear a r%stlin, a*on, the brakes( 't( A%bert re+ forth a pistol, an or ere &ichael to procee as fast as possible/ +ho ha not lon, obeye , before a horn so%n e , that *a e the *o%ntains rin,( He looke a,ain fro* the +in o+, an then sa+ a yo%n, *an sprin, fro* the b%shes into the roa , follo+e by a co%ple of o,s( The stran,er +as in a h%nter3s ress( His ,%n +as sl%n, across his sho%l ers, the h%nter3s horn h%n, fro* his belt, an in his han +as a s*all pike, +hich, as he hel it, a e to the *anly ,race of his fi,%re, an assiste the a,ility of his steps( After a *o*ent3s hesitation, 't( A%bert a,ain stoppe the carria,e, an +aite till he ca*e %p, that they *i,ht en4%ire concernin, the ha*let they +ere in search of( The stran,er infor*e hi*, that it +as only half a lea,%e istant, that he +as ,oin, thither hi*self, an +o%l rea ily she+ the +ay( 't( A%bert thanke hi* for the offer, an , please +ith his chevalier6like air an open co%ntenance, aske hi* to take a seat in the carria,e/ +hich the stran,er, +ith an ackno+le ,*ent, ecline , a in, that he +o%l keep pace +ith the *%les( 31%t I fear yo% +ill be +retche ly acco**o ate ,3 sai he; 3the inhabitants of these *o%ntains are a si*ple people, +ho are not only +itho%t the l%-%ries of life, b%t al*ost estit%te of +hat in other places are hel to be its necessaries(3 3I perceive yo% are not one of its inhabitants, sir,3 sai 't( A%bert( 39o, sir, I a* only a +an erer here(3

The carria,e rove on, an the increasin, %sk *a e the travellers very thankf%l that they ha a ,%i e/ the fre4%ent ,lens, too, that no+ opene a*on, the *o%ntains, +o%l like+ise have a e to their perple-ity( E*ily, as she looke %p one of these, sa+ so*ethin, at a ,reat istance like a bri,ht clo% in the air( 3:hat li,ht is yon er, sirB3 sai she( 't( A%bert looke , an perceive that it +as the sno+y s%**it of a *o%ntain, so *%ch hi,her than any aro%n it, that it still reflecte the s%n3s rays, +hile those belo+ lay in eep sha e( At len,th, the villa,e li,hts +ere seen to t+inkle thro%,h the %sk, an , soon after, so*e cotta,es +ere iscovere in the valley, or rather +ere seen by reflection in the strea*, on +hose *ar,in they stoo , an +hich still ,lea*e +ith the evenin, li,ht( The stran,er no+ ca*e %p, an 't( A%bert, on f%rther en4%iry, fo%n not only that there +as no inn in the place, b%t not any sort of ho%se of p%blic reception( The stran,er, ho+ever, offere to +alk on, an en4%ire for a cotta,e to acco**o ate the*/ for +hich f%rther civility 't( A%bert ret%rne his thanks, an sai , that, as the villa,e +as so near, he +o%l ali,ht, an +alk +ith hi*( E*ily follo+e slo+ly in the carria,e( On the +ay, 't( A%bert aske his co*panion +hat s%ccess he ha ha in the chase( 39ot *%ch, sir,3 he replie , 3nor o I ai* at it( I a* please +ith the co%ntry, an *ean to sa%nter a+ay a fe+ +eeks a*on, its scenes( &y o,s I take +ith *e *ore for co*panionship than for ,a*e( This ress, too, ,ives *e an ostensible b%siness, an proc%res *e that respect fro* the people, +hich +o%l , perhaps, be ref%se to a lonely stran,er, +ho ha no visible *otive for co*in, a*on, the*(3 3I a *ire yo%r taste,3 sai 't( A%bert, 3an , if I +as a yo%n,er *an, sho%l like to pass a fe+ +eeks in yo%r +ay e-cee in,ly( I, too, a* a +an erer, b%t neither *y plan nor p%rs%its are e-actly like yo%rs7I ,o in search of health, as *%ch as of a*%se*ent(3 't( A%bert si,he , an pa%se / an then, see*in, to recollect hi*self, he

res%*e ; 3If I can hear of a tolerable roa , that shall affor ecent acco**o ation, it is *y intention to pass into Ro%sillon, an alon, the sea6shore to 0an,%e oc( 2o%, sir, see* to be ac4%ainte +ith the co%ntry, an can, perhaps, ,ive *e infor*ation on the s%b.ect(3 The stran,er sai , that +hat infor*ation he co%l ,ive +as entirely at his service/ an then *entione a roa rather *ore to the east, +hich le to a to+n, +hence it +o%l be easy to procee into Ro%sillon( They no+ arrive at the villa,e, an co**ence their search for a cotta,e, that +o%l affor a ni,ht3s lo ,in,( In several, +hich they entere , i,norance, poverty, an *irth see*e e4%ally to prevail/ an the o+ners eye 't( A%bert +ith a *i-t%re of c%riosity an ti*i ity( 9othin, like a be co%l be fo%n , an he ha cease to en4%ire for one, +hen E*ily .oine hi*, +ho observe the lan,%or of her father3s co%ntenance, an la*ente , that he ha taken a roa so ill provi e +ith the co*forts necessary for an invali ( Other cotta,es, +hich they e-a*ine , see*e so*e+hat less sava,e than the for*er, consistin, of t+o roo*s, if s%ch they co%l be calle / the first of these occ%pie by *%les an pi,s, the secon by the fa*ily, +hich ,enerally consiste of si- or ei,ht chil ren, +ith their parents, +ho slept on be s of skins an rie beech leaves, sprea %pon a *% floor( Here, li,ht +as a *itte , an s*oke ischar,e , thro%,h an apert%re in the roof/ an here the scent of spirits =for the travellin, s*%,,lers, +ho ha%nte the Pyrenees, ha *a e this r% e people fa*iliar +ith the %se of li4%ors> +as ,enerally perceptible eno%,h( E*ily t%rne fro* s%ch scenes, an looke at her father +ith an-io%s ten erness, +hich the yo%n, stran,er see*e to observe/ for, ra+in, 't( A%bert asi e, he *a e hi* an offer of his o+n be ( 3It is a ecent one,3 sai he, 3+hen co*pare +ith +hat +e have .%st seen, yet s%ch as in other circ%*stances I sho%l be asha*e to offer yo%(3 't( A%bert ackno+le ,e ho+ *%ch he felt hi*self obli,e by this kin ness, b%t ref%se to accept it, till the yo%n, stran,er +o%l take no enial( 3<o not ,ive *e the pain of kno+in,, sir,3 sai he, 3that an invali , like yo%, lies

on har skins, +hile I sleep in a be ( 1esi es, sir, yo%r ref%sal +o%n s *y pri e/ I *%st believe yo% think *y offer %n+orthy yo%r acceptance( 0et *e she+ yo% the +ay( I have no o%bt *y lan la y can acco**o ate this yo%n, la y also(3 't( A%bert at len,th consente , that, if this co%l be one, he +o%l accept his kin ness, tho%,h he felt rather s%rprise , that the stran,er ha prove hi*self so eficient in ,allantry, as to a *inister to the repose of an infir* *an, rather than to that of a very lovely yo%n, +o*an, for he ha not once offere the roo* for E*ily( 1%t she tho%,ht not of herself, an the ani*ate s*ile she ,ave hi*, tol ho+ *%ch she felt herself obli,e for the preference of her father( On their +ay, the stran,er, +hose na*e +as Valanco%rt, steppe on first to speak to his hostess, an she ca*e o%t to +elco*e 't( A%bert into a cotta,e, *%ch s%perior to any he ha seen( This ,oo +o*an see*e very +illin, to acco**o ate the stran,ers, +ho +ere soon co*pelle to accept the only t+o be s in the place( E,,s an *ilk +ere the only foo the cotta,e affor e / b%t a,ainst scarcity of provisions 't( A%bert ha provi e , an he re4%este Valanco%rt to stay, an partake +ith hi* of less ho*ely fare/ an invitation, +hich +as rea ily accepte , an they passe an ho%r in intelli,ent conversation( 't( A%bert +as *%ch please +ith the *anly frankness, si*plicity, an keen s%sceptibility to the ,ran e%r of nat%re, +hich his ne+ ac4%aintance iscovere / an , in ee , he ha often been hear to say, that, +itho%t a certain si*plicity of heart, this taste co%l not e-ist in any stron, e,ree( The conversation +as interr%pte by a violent %proar +itho%t, in +hich the voice of the *%leteer +as hear above every other so%n ( Valanco%rt starte fro* his seat, an +ent to en4%ire the occasion/ b%t the isp%te contin%e so lon, after+ar s, that 't( A%bert +ent hi*self, an fo%n &ichael 4%arrellin, +ith the hostess, beca%se she ha ref%se to let his *%les lie in a little roo* +here he an three of her sons +ere to pass the ni,ht( The place +as +retche eno%,h, b%t there +as no other for these people to sleep in/ an ,

+ith so*e+hat *ore of elicacy than +as %s%al a*on, the inhabitants of this +il tract of co%ntry, she persiste in ref%sin, to let the ani*als have the sa*e 1E<6CHA&1ER +ith her chil ren( This +as a ten er point +ith the *%leteer/ his hono%r +as +o%n e +hen his *%les +ere treate +ith isrespect, an he +o%l have receive a blo+, perhaps, +ith *ore *eekness( He eclare that his beasts +ere as honest beasts, an as ,oo beasts, as any in the +hole province/ an that they ha a ri,ht to be +ell treate +herever they +ent( 3They are as har*less as la*bs,3 sai he, 3if people on3t affront the*( I never kne+ the* behave the*selves a*iss above once or t+ice in *y life, an then they ha ,oo reason for oin, so( Once, in ee , they kicke at a boy3s le, that lay asleep in the stable, an broke it/ b%t I tol the* they +ere o%t there, an by 't( Anthony? I believe they %n erstoo *e, for they never i so a,ain(3 He concl% e this elo4%ent haran,%e +ith protestin,, that they sho%l share +ith hi*, ,o +here he +o%l ( The isp%te +as at len,th settle by Valanco%rt, +ho re+ the hostess asi e, an esire she +o%l let the *%leteer an his beasts have the place in 4%estion to the*selves, +hile her sons sho%l have the be of skins esi,ne for hi*, for that he +o%l +rap hi*self in his cloak, an sleep on the bench by the cotta,e oor( 1%t this she tho%,ht it her %ty to oppose, an she felt it to be her inclination to isappoint the *%leteer( Valanco%rt, ho+ever, +as positive, an the te io%s affair +as at len,th settle ( It +as late +hen 't( A%bert an E*ily retire to their roo*s, an Valanco%rt to his station at the oor, +hich, at this *il season, he preferre to a close cabin an a be of skins( 't( A%bert +as so*e+hat s%rprise to fin in his roo* vol%*es of Ho*er, Horace, an Petrarch/ b%t the na*e of Valanco%rt, +ritten in the*, tol hi* to +ho* they belon,e (

#HAPTER I%
5n truth he as a strange and ay ard ight, )ond of each gentle, and each dreadful scene, 5n darkness, and in stor! he found delightA :or less than hen on ocean% a"e serene The southern sun diffus=d his daBBling sheen# E"en sad "icissitude a!us=d his soulA And if a sigh ould so!eti!es inter"ene, And do n his cheek a tear of pity roll, A sigh, a tear, so s eet, he ish=d not to controul# T8E M5:4TRE&

't( A%bert a+oke at an early ho%r, refreshe by sleep, an esiro%s to set for+ar ( He invite the stran,er to breakfast +ith hi*/ an , talkin, a,ain of the roa , Valanco%rt sai , that, so*e *onths past, he ha travelle as far as 1ea%.e%, +hich +as a to+n of so*e conse4%ence on the +ay to Ro%sillon( He reco**en e it to 't( A%bert to take that ro%te, an the latter eter*ine to o so( 3The roa fro* this ha*let,3 sai Valanco%rt, 3an that to 1ea%.e%, part at the istance of abo%t a lea,%e an a half fro* hence/ if yo% +ill ,ive *e leave, I +ill irect yo%r *%leteer so far( I *%st +an er so*e+here, an yo%r co*pany +o%l *ake this a pleasanter ra*ble than any other I co%l take(3 't( A%bert thankf%lly accepte his offer, an they set o%t to,ether, the yo%n, stran,er on foot, for he ref%se the invitation of 't( A%bert to take a seat in his little carria,e( The roa +o%n alon, the feet of the *o%ntains thro%,h a pastoral valley, bri,ht +ith ver %re, an varie +ith ,roves of +arf oak, beech an syca*ore, %n er +hose branches her s of cattle repose ( The *o%ntain6ash too, an the +eepin, birch, often thre+ their pen ant folia,e over the steeps above, +here the scanty soil scarcely conceale their roots, an +here their li,ht branches +ave to every bree8e that fl%ttere fro* the *o%ntains( The travellers +ere fre4%ently *et at this early ho%r, for the s%n ha not yet risen %pon the valley, by shepher s rivin, i**ense flocks fro* their fol s to fee %pon the hills( 't( A%bert ha set o%t th%s early,

not only that he *i,ht en.oy the first appearance of s%nrise, b%t that he *i,ht inhale the first p%re breath of *ornin,, +hich above all thin,s is refreshin, to the spirits of the invali ( In these re,ions it +as partic%larly so, +here an ab%n ance of +il flo+ers an aro*atic herbs breathe forth their essence on the air( The a+n, +hich softene the scenery +ith its pec%liar ,rey tint, no+ isperse , an E*ily +atche the pro,ress of the ay, first tre*blin, on the tops of the hi,hest cliffs, then to%chin, the* +ith splen i li,ht, +hile their si es an the vale belo+ +ere still +rapt in e+y *ist( &ean+hile, the s%llen ,rey of the eastern clo% s be,an to bl%sh, then to re en, an then to ,lo+ +ith a tho%san colo%rs, till the ,ol en li,ht arte over all the air, to%che the lo+er points of the *o%ntain3s bro+, an ,lance in lon, slopin, bea*s %pon the valley an its strea*( All nat%re see*e to have a+akene fro* eath into life/ the spirit of 't( A%bert +as renovate ( His heart +as f%ll/ he +ept, an his tho%,hts ascen e to the Great Creator( E*ily +ishe to trip alon, the t%rf, so ,reen an bri,ht +ith e+, an to taste the f%ll eli,ht of that liberty, +hich the i8ar see*e to en.oy as he bo%n e alon, the bro+ of the cliffs/ +hile Valanco%rt often stoppe to speak +ith the travellers, an +ith social feelin, to point o%t to the* the pec%liar ob.ects of his a *iration( 't( A%bert +as please +ith hi*; 3Here is the real in,en%o%sness an ar o%r of yo%th,3 sai he to hi*self/ 3this yo%n, *an has never been at Paris(3 He +as sorry +hen they ca*e to the spot +here the roa s parte , an his heart took a *ore affectionate leave of hi* than is %s%al after so short an ac4%aintance( Valanco%rt talke lon, by the si e of the carria,e/ see*e *ore than once to be ,oin,, b%t still lin,ere , an appeare to search an-io%sly for topics of conversation to acco%nt for his elay( At len,th he took leave( As he +ent, 't( A%bert observe hi* look +ith an earnest an pensive eye at E*ily, +ho bo+e to hi* +ith a co%ntenance f%ll of ti*i s+eetness, +hile the carria,e rove on( 't( A%bert, for +hatever reason,

soon after looke fro* the +in o+, an sa+ Valanco%rt stan in, %pon the bank of the roa , restin, on his pike +ith fol e ar*s, an follo+in, the carria,e +ith his eyes( He +ave his han , an Valanco%rt, see*in, to a+ake fro* his reverie, ret%rne the sal%te, an starte a+ay( The aspect of the co%ntry no+ be,an to chan,e, an the travellers soon fo%n the*selves a*on, *o%ntains covere fro* their base nearly to their s%**its +ith forests of ,loo*y pine, e-cept +here a rock of ,ranite shot %p fro* the vale, an lost its sno+y top in the clo% s( The riv%let, +hich ha hitherto acco*panie the*, no+ e-pan e into a river/ an , flo+in, eeply an silently alon,, reflecte , as in a *irror, the blackness of the i*pen in, sha es( 'o*eti*es a cliff +as seen liftin, its bol hea above the +oo s an the vapo%rs, that floate *i 6+ay o+n the *o%ntains/ an so*eti*es a face of perpen ic%lar *arble rose fro* the +ater3s e ,e, over +hich the larch thre+ his ,i,antic ar*s, here scathe +ith li,htnin,, an there floatin, in l%-%riant folia,e( They contin%e to travel over a ro%,h an %nfre4%ente roa , seein, no+ an then at a istance the solitary shepher , +ith his o,, stalkin, alon, the valley, an hearin, only the ashin, of torrents, +hich the +oo s conceale fro* the eye, the lon, s%llen *%r*%r of the bree8e, as it s+ept over the pines, or the notes of the ea,le an the v%lt%re, +hich +ere seen to+erin, ro%n the beetlin, cliff( Often, as the carria,e *ove slo+ly over %neven ,ro%n , 't( A%bert ali,hte , an a*%se hi*self +ith e-a*inin, the c%rio%s plants that ,re+ on the banks of the roa , an +ith +hich these re,ions abo%n / +hile E*ily, +rapt in hi,h enth%sias*, +an ere a+ay %n er the sha es, listenin, in eep silence to the lonely *%r*%r of the +oo s( 9either villa,e nor ha*let +as seen for *any lea,%es/ the ,oat6her 3s or the h%nter3s cabin, perche a*on, the cliffs of the rocks, +ere the only h%*an habitations that appeare (

The travellers a,ain took their inner in the open air, on a pleasant spot in the valley, %n er the sprea in, sha e of ce ars/ an then set for+ar to+ar s 1ea%.e%( The roa no+ be,an to escen , an , leavin, the pine forests behin , +o%n a*on, rocky precipices( The evenin, t+ili,ht a,ain fell over the scene, an the travellers +ere i,norant ho+ far they *i,ht yet be fro* 1ea%.e%( 't( A%bert, ho+ever, con.ect%re that the istance co%l not be very ,reat, an co*forte hi*self +ith the prospect of travellin, on a *ore fre4%ente roa after reachin, that to+n, +here he esi,ne to pass the ni,ht( &in,le +oo s, an rocks, an heathy *o%ntains +ere no+ seen obsc%rely thro%,h the %sk/ b%t soon even these i*perfect i*a,es fa e in arkness( &ichael procee e +ith ca%tion, for he co%l scarcely istin,%ish the roa / his *%les, ho+ever, see*e to have *ore sa,acity, an their steps +ere s%re( On t%rnin, the an,le of a *o%ntain, a li,ht appeare at a istance, that ill%*ine the rocks, an the hori8on to a ,reat e-tent( It +as evi ently a lar,e fire, b%t +hether acci ental, or other+ise, there +ere no *eans of kno+in,( 't( A%bert tho%,ht it +as probably kin le by so*e of the n%*ero%s ban itti, that infeste the Pyrenees, an he beca*e +atchf%l an an-io%s to kno+ +hether the roa passe near this fire( He ha ar*s +ith hi*, +hich, on an e*er,ency, *i,ht affor so*e protection, tho%,h certainly a very %ne4%al one, a,ainst a ban of robbers, so esperate too as those %s%ally +ere +ho ha%nte these +il re,ions( :hile *any reflections rose %pon his *in , he hear a voice sho%tin, fro* the roa behin , an or erin, the *%leteer to stop( 't( A%bert ba e hi* procee as fast as possible/ b%t either &ichael, or his *%les +ere obstinate, for they i not 4%it the ol pace( Horses3 feet +ere no+ hear / a *an ro e %p to the carria,e, still or erin, the river to stop/ an 't( A%bert, +ho co%l no lon,er o%bt his p%rpose, +as +ith iffic%lty able to prepare a pistol for his efence, +hen his han +as %pon the oor of the chaise( The *an sta,,ere on his horse, the report of the pistol +as follo+e by a ,roan,

an 't( A%bert3s horror *ay be i*a,ine , +hen in the ne-t instant he tho%,ht he hear the faint voice of Valanco%rt( He no+ hi*self ba e the *%leteer stop/ an , prono%ncin, the na*e of Valanco%rt, +as ans+ere in a voice, that no lon,er s%ffere hi* to o%bt( 't( A%bert, +ho instantly ali,hte an +ent to his assistance, fo%n hi* still sittin, on his horse, b%t blee in, prof%sely, an appearin, to be in ,reat pain, tho%,h he en eavo%re to soften the terror of 't( A%bert by ass%rances that he +as not *aterially h%rt, the +o%n bein, only in his ar*( 't( A%bert, +ith the *%leteer, assiste hi* to is*o%nt, an he sat o+n on the bank of the roa , +here 't( A%bert trie to bin %p his ar*, b%t his han s tre*ble so e-cessively that he co%l not acco*plish it/ an , &ichael bein, no+ ,one in p%rs%it of the horse, +hich, on bein, isen,a,e fro* his ri er, ha ,allope off, he calle E*ily to his assistance( Receivin, no ans+er, he +ent to the carria,e, an fo%n her s%nk on the seat in a faintin, fit( 1et+een the istress of this circ%*stance an that of leavin, Valanco%rt blee in,, he scarcely kne+ +hat he i / he en eavo%re , ho+ever, to raise her, an calle to &ichael to fetch +ater fro* the riv%let that flo+e by the roa , b%t &ichael +as ,one beyon the reach of his voice( Valanco%rt, +ho hear these calls, an also the repeate na*e of E*ily, instantly %n erstoo the s%b.ect of his istress/ an , al*ost for,ettin, his o+n con ition, he hastene to her relief( 'he +as revivin, +hen he reache the carria,e/ an then, %n erstan in, that an-iety for hi* ha occasione her in isposition, he ass%re her, in a voice that tre*ble , b%t not fro* an,%ish, that his +o%n +as of no conse4%ence( :hile he sai this 't( A%bert t%rne ro%n , an perceivin, that he +as still blee in,, the s%b.ect of his alar* chan,e a,ain, an he hastily for*e so*e han kerchiefs into a ban a,e( This stoppe the eff%sion of the bloo / b%t 't( A%bert, rea in, the conse4%ence of the +o%n , en4%ire repeate ly ho+ far they +ere fro* 1ea%.e%/ +hen, learnin, that it +as at t+o lea,%es3 istance, his istress increase , since he kne+ not ho+ Valanco%rt, in his present state, +o%l bear the *otion of the carria,e,

an perceive that he +as alrea y faint fro* loss of bloo ( :hen he *entione the s%b.ect of his an-iety, Valanco%rt entreate that he +o%l not s%ffer hi*self to be th%s alar*e on his acco%nt, for that he ha no o%bt he sho%l be able to s%pport hi*self very +ell/ an then he talke of the acci ent as a sli,ht one( The *%leteer bein, no+ ret%rne +ith Valanco%rt3s horse, assiste hi* into the chaise/ an , as E*ily +as no+ revive , they *ove slo+ly on to+ar s 1ea%.e%( 't( A%bert, +hen he ha recovere fro* the terror occasione hi* by this acci ent, e-presse s%rprise on seein, Valanco%rt, +ho e-plaine his %ne-pecte appearance by sayin,, 32o%, sir, rene+e *y taste for society/ +hen yo% ha left the ha*let, it i in ee appear a solit% e( I eter*ine , therefore, since *y ob.ect +as *erely a*%se*ent, to chan,e the scene/ an I took this roa , beca%se I kne+ it le thro%,h a *ore ro*antic tract of *o%ntains than the spot I have left( 1esi es,3 a e he, hesitatin, for an instant, 3I +ill o+n, an +hy sho%l I notB that I ha so*e hope of overtakin, yo%(3 3An I have *a e yo% a very %ne-pecte ret%rn for the co*pli*ent,3 sai 't( A%bert, +ho la*ente a,ain the rashness +hich ha pro %ce the acci ent, an e-plaine the ca%se of his late alar*( 1%t Valanco%rt see*e an-io%s only to re*ove fro* the *in s of his co*panions every %npleasant feelin, relative to hi*self/ an , for that p%rpose, still str%,,le a,ainst a sense of pain, an trie to converse +ith ,aiety( E*ily *ean+hile +as silent, e-cept +hen Valanco%rt partic%larly a resse her, an there +as at those ti*es a tre*%lo%s tone in his voice that spoke *%ch( They +ere no+ so near the fire, +hich ha lon, fla*e at a istance on the blackness of ni,ht, that it ,lea*e %pon the roa , an they co%l istin,%ish fi,%res *ovin, abo%t the bla8e( The +ay +in in, still nearer, they perceive in the valley one of those n%*ero%s ban s of ,ipsies, +hich at that perio partic%larly ha%nte the +il s of the Pyrenees, an live partly by pl%n erin, the traveller( E*ily looke +ith so*e e,ree of terror on the sava,e co%ntenances of these

people, she+n by the fire, +hich hei,htene the ro*antic effects of the scenery, as it thre+ a re %sky ,lea* %pon the rocks an on the folia,e of the trees, leavin, heavy *asses of sha e an re,ions of obsc%rity, +hich the eye feare to penetrate( They +ere preparin, their s%pper/ a lar,e pot stoo by the fire, over +hich several fi,%res +ere b%sy( The bla8e iscovere a r% e kin of tent, ro%n +hich *any chil ren an o,s +ere playin,, an the +hole for*e a pict%re hi,hly ,rotes4%e( The travellers sa+ plainly their an,er( Valanco%rt +as silent, b%t lai his han on one of 't( A%bert3s pistols/ 't( A%bert re+ forth another, an &ichael +as or ere to procee as fast as possible( They passe the place, ho+ever, +itho%t bein, attacke / the rovers bein, probably %nprepare for the opport%nity, an too b%sy abo%t their s%pper to feel *%ch interest, at the *o*ent, in any thin, besi es( After a lea,%e an a half *ore, passe in arkness, the travellers arrive at 1ea%.e%, an rove %p to the only inn the place affor e / +hich, tho%,h s%perior to any they ha seen since they entere the *o%ntains, +as ba eno%,h( The s%r,eon of the to+n +as i**e iately sent for, if a s%r,eon he co%l be calle , +ho prescribe for horses as +ell as for *en, an shave faces at least as e-tero%sly as he set bones( After e-a*inin, Valanco%rt3s ar*, an perceivin, that the b%llet ha passe thro%,h the flesh +itho%t to%chin, the bone, he resse it, an left hi* +ith a sole*n prescription of 4%iet, +hich his patient +as not incline to obey( The eli,ht of ease ha no+ s%ccee e to pain/ for ease *ay be allo+e to ass%*e a positive 4%ality +hen contraste +ith an,%ish/ an , his spirits th%s re6 ani*ate , he +ishe to partake of the conversation of 't( A%bert an E*ily, +ho, release fro* so *any apprehensions, +ere %nco**only cheerf%l( 0ate as it +as, ho+ever, 't( A%bert +as obli,e to ,o o%t +ith the lan lor to b%y *eat for s%pper/ an E*ily, +ho, %rin, this interval, ha been absent as lon, as she co%l , %pon e-c%ses of lookin, to their acco**o ation, +hich she fo%n rather better than she

e-pecte , +as co*pelle to ret%rn, an converse +ith Valanco%rt alone( They talke of the character of the scenes they ha passe , of the nat%ral history of the co%ntry, of poetry, an of 't( A%bert/ a s%b.ect on +hich E*ily al+ays spoke an listene to +ith pec%liar pleas%re( The travellers passe an a,reeable evenin,/ b%t 't( A%bert +as fati,%e +ith his .o%rney/ an , as Valanco%rt see*e a,ain sensible of pain, they separate soon after s%pper( In the *ornin, 't( A%bert fo%n that Valanco%rt ha passe a restless ni,ht/ that he +as feverish, an his +o%n very painf%l( The s%r,eon, +hen he resse it, a vise hi* to re*ain 4%ietly at 1ea%.e%/ a vice +hich +as too reasonable to be re.ecte ( 't( A%bert, ho+ever, ha no favo%rable opinion of this practitioner, an +as an-io%s to co**it Valanco%rt into *ore skilf%l han s/ b%t learnin,, %pon en4%iry, that there +as no to+n +ithin several lea,%es +hich see*e *ore likely to affor better a vice, he altere the plan of his .o%rney, an eter*ine to a+ait the recovery of Valanco%rt, +ho, +ith so*e+hat *ore cere*ony than sincerity, *a e *any ob.ections to this elay( 1y or er of his s%r,eon, Valanco%rt i not ,o o%t of the ho%se that ay/ b%t 't( A%bert an E*ily s%rveye +ith eli,ht the environs of the to+n, sit%ate at the feet of the Pyrenean Alps, that rose, so*e in abr%pt precipices, an others s+ellin, +ith +oo s of ce ar, fir, an cypress, +hich stretche nearly to their hi,hest s%**its( The cheerf%l ,reen of the beech an *o%ntain6ash +as so*eti*es seen, like a ,lea* of li,ht, a*i st the ark ver %re of the forest/ an so*eti*es a torrent po%re its sparklin, floo , hi,h a*on, the +oo s( Valanco%rt3s in isposition etaine the travellers at 1ea%.e% several ays, %rin, +hich interval 't( A%bert ha observe his isposition an his talents +ith the philosophic in4%iry so nat%ral to hi*( He sa+ a frank an ,enero%s nat%re, f%ll of ar o%r, hi,hly s%sceptible of +hatever is ,ran an bea%tif%l, b%t i*pet%o%s,

+il , an so*e+hat ro*antic( Valanco%rt ha kno+n little of the +orl ( His perceptions +ere clear, an his feelin,s .%st/ his in i,nation of an %n+orthy, or his a *iration of a ,enero%s action, +ere e-presse in ter*s of e4%al vehe*ence( 't( A%bert so*eti*es s*ile at his +ar*th, b%t sel o* checke it, an often repeate to hi*self, 3This yo%n, *an has never been at Paris(3 A si,h so*eti*es follo+e this silent e.ac%lation( He eter*ine not to leave Valanco%rt till he sho%l be perfectly recovere / an , as he +as no+ +ell eno%,h to travel, tho%,h not able to *ana,e his horse, 't( A%bert invite hi* to acco*pany hi* for a fe+ ays in the carria,e( This he the *ore rea ily i , since he ha iscovere that Valanco%rt +as of a fa*ily of the sa*e na*e in Gascony, +ith +hose respectability he +as +ell ac4%ainte ( The latter accepte the offer +ith ,reat pleas%re, an they a,ain set for+ar a*on, these ro*antic +il s abo%t Ro%sillon( They travelle leis%rely/ stoppin, +herever a scene %nco**only ,ran appeare / fre4%ently ali,htin, to +alk to an e*inence, +hither the *%les co%l not ,o, fro* +hich the prospect opene in ,reater *a,nificence/ an often sa%nterin, over hillocks covere +ith laven er, +il thy*e, .%niper, an ta*arisc/ an %n er the sha es of +oo s, bet+een those boles they ca%,ht the lon, *o%ntain6vista, s%bli*e beyon any thin, that E*ily ha ever i*a,ine ( 't( A%bert so*eti*es a*%se hi*self +ith botani8in,, +hile Valanco%rt an E*ily strolle on/ he pointin, o%t to her notice the ob.ects that partic%larly char*e hi*, an recitin, bea%tif%l passa,es fro* s%ch of the 0atin an Italian poets as he ha hear her a *ire( In the pa%ses of conversation, +hen he tho%,ht hi*self not observe , he fre4%ently fi-e his eyes pensively on her co%ntenance, +hich e-presse +ith so *%ch ani*ation the taste an ener,y of her *in / an +hen he spoke a,ain, there +as a pec%liar ten erness in the tone of his voice, that efeate any atte*pt to conceal his senti*ents( 1y e,rees these silent pa%ses beca*e

*ore fre4%ent/ till E*ily, only, betraye an an-iety to interr%pt the*/ an she/ +ho ha been hitherto reserve , +o%l no+ talk a,ain, an a,ain, of the +oo s an the vallies an the *o%ntains, to avoi the an,er of sy*pathy an silence( )ro* 1ea%.e% the roa ha constantly ascen e , con %ctin, the travellers into the hi,her re,ions of the air, +here i**ense ,laciers e-hibite their fro8en horrors, an eternal sno+ +hitene the s%**its of the *o%ntains( They often pa%se to conte*plate these st%pen o%s scenes, an , seate on so*e +il cliff, +here only the ile- or the larch co%l flo%rish, looke over ark forests of fir, an precipices +here h%*an foot ha never +an ere , into the ,len7so eep, that the th%n er of the torrent, +hich +as seen to foa* alon, the botto*, +as scarcely hear to *%r*%r( Over these cra,s rose others of st%pen o%s hei,ht, an fantastic shape/ so*e shootin, into cones/ others i*pen in, far over their base, in h%,e *asses of ,ranite, alon, +hose broken ri ,es +as often lo ,e a +ei,ht of sno+, that, tre*blin, even to the vibration of a so%n , threatene to bear estr%ction in its co%rse to the vale( Aro%n , on every si e, far as the eye co%l penetrate, +ere seen only for*s of ,ran e%r7the lon, perspective of *o%ntain6tops, tin,e +ith ethereal bl%e, or +hite +ith sno+/ vallies of ice, an forests of ,loo*y fir( The serenity an clearness of the air in these hi,h re,ions +ere partic%larly eli,htf%l to the travellers/ it see*e to inspire the* +ith a finer spirit, an iff%se an in escribable co*placency over their *in s( They ha no +or s to e-press the s%bli*e e*otions they felt( A sole*n e-pression characteri8e the feelin,s of 't( A%bert/ tears often ca*e to his eyes, an he fre4%ently +alke a+ay fro* his co*panions( Valanco%rt no+ an then spoke, to point to E*ily3s notice so*e feat%re of the scene( The thinness of the at*osphere, thro%,h +hich every ob.ect ca*e so istinctly to the eye, s%rprise an el% e her/ +ho co%l scarcely believe that ob.ects, +hich appeare so near, +ere, in reality, so istant( The eep silence of these solit% es +as broken only at intervals by the

screa* of the v%lt%res, seen co+erin, ro%n so*e cliff belo+, or by the cry of the ea,le sailin, hi,h in the air/ e-cept +hen the travellers listene to the hollo+ th%n er that so*eti*es *%ttere at their feet( :hile, above, the eep bl%e of the heavens +as %nobsc%re by the li,htest clo% , half +ay o+n the *o%ntains, lon, billo+s of vapo%r +ere fre4%ently seen rollin,, no+ +holly e-cl% in, the co%ntry belo+, an no+ openin,, an partially revealin, its feat%res( E*ily eli,hte to observe the ,ran e%r of these clo% s as they chan,e in shape an tints, an to +atch their vario%s effect on the lo+er +orl , +hose feat%res, partly veile , +ere contin%ally ass%*in, ne+ for*s of s%bli*ity( After traversin, these re,ions for *any lea,%es, they be,an to escen to+ar s Ro%sillon, an feat%res of bea%ty then *in,le +ith the scene( 2et the travellers i not look back +itho%t so*e re,ret to the s%bli*e ob.ects they ha 4%itte / tho%,h the eye, fati,%e +ith the e-tension of its po+ers, +as ,la to repose on the ver %re of +oo s an past%res, that no+ h%n, on the *ar,in of the river belo+/ to vie+ a,ain the h%*ble cotta,e sha e by ce ars, the playf%l ,ro%p of *o%ntaineer6chil ren, an the flo+ery nooks that appeare a*on, the hills( As they escen e , they sa+ at a istance, on the ri,ht, one of the ,ran passes of the Pyrenees into 'pain, ,lea*in, +ith its battle*ents an to+ers to the splen o%r of the settin, rays, yello+ tops of +oo s colo%rin, the steeps belo+, +hile far above aspire the sno+y points of the *o%ntains, still reflectin, a rosy h%e( 't( A%bert be,an to look o%t for the little to+n he ha been irecte to by the people of 1ea%.e%, an +here he *eant to pass the ni,ht/ b%t no habitation yet appeare ( Of its istance Valanco%rt co%l not assist hi* to .% ,e, for he ha never been so far alon, this chain of Alps before( There +as, ho+ever, a roa to ,%i e the*/ an there co%l be little o%bt that it +as the ri,ht one/ for, since they ha left 1ea%.e%, there ha been no variety of tracks to perple- or *islea (

The s%n no+ ,ave his last li,ht, an 't( A%bert ba e the *%leteer procee +ith all possible ispatch( He fo%n , in ee , the lassit% e of illness ret%rn %pon hi*, after a ay of %nco**on fati,%e, both of bo y an *in , an he lon,e for repose( His an-iety +as not soothe by observin, a n%*ero%s train, consistin, of *en, horses, an loa e *%les, +in in, o+n the steeps of an opposite *o%ntain, appearin, an isappearin, at intervals a*on, the +oo s, so that its n%*bers co%l not be .% ,e of( 'o*ethin, bri,ht, like ar*s, ,lance in the settin, ray, an the *ilitary ress +as istin,%ishable %pon the *en +ho +ere in the van, an on others scattere a*on, the troop that follo+e ( As these +o%n into the vale, the rear of the party e*er,e fro* the +oo s, an e-hibite a ban of sol iers( 't( A%bert3s apprehensions no+ s%bsi e / he ha no o%bt that the train before hi* consiste of s*%,,lers, +ho, in conveyin, prohibite ,oo s over the Pyrenees, ha been enco%ntere , an con4%ere by a party of troops( The travellers ha lin,ere so lon, a*on, the s%bli*er scenes of these *o%ntains, that they fo%n the*selves entirely *istaken in their calc%lation that they co%l reach &onti,ny at s%n6set/ b%t, as they +o%n alon, the valley, the sa+, on a r% e Alpine bri ,e, that %nite t+o lofty cra,s of the ,len, a ,ro%p of *o%ntaineer6 chil ren, a*%sin, the*selves +ith roppin, pebbles into a torrent belo+, an +atchin, the stones pl%n,e into the +ater, that thre+ %p its +hite spray hi,h in the air as it receive the*, an ret%rne a s%llen so%n , +hich the echoes of the *o%ntains prolon,e ( An er the bri ,e +as seen a perspective of the valley, +ith its cataract escen in, a*on, the rocks, an a cotta,e on a cliff, oversha o+e +ith pines( It appeare , that they co%l not be far fro* so*e s*all to+n( 't( A%bert ba e the *%leteer stop, an then calle to the chil ren to en4%ire if he +as near &onti,ny/ b%t the istance, an the roarin, of the +aters, +o%l not s%ffer his voice to be hear / an the cra,s, a .oinin, the bri ,e, +ere of s%ch tre*en o%s hei,ht an steepness, that to have cli*be either +o%l have been scarcely practicable to a person %nac4%ainte +ith the ascent( 't( A%bert,

therefore, i not +aste *ore *o*ents in elay( They contin%e to travel lon, after t+ili,ht ha obsc%re the roa , +hich +as so broken, that, no+ thinkin, it safer to +alk than to ri e, they all ali,hte ( The *oon +as risin,, b%t her li,ht +as yet too feeble to assist the*( :hile they steppe caref%lly on, they hear the vesper6 bell of a convent( The t+ili,ht +o%l not per*it the* to istin,%ish anythin, like a b%il in,, b%t the so%n s see*e to co*e fro* so*e +oo s, that overh%n, an acclivity to the ri,ht( Valanco%rt propose to ,o in search of this convent( 3If they +ill not acco**o ate %s +ith a ni,ht3s lo ,in,,3 sai he, 3they *ay certainly infor* %s ho+ far +e are fro* &onti,ny, an irect %s to+ar s it(3 He +as bo%n in, for+ar , +itho%t +aitin, 't( A%bert3s reply, +hen the latter stoppe hi*( 3I a* very +eary,3 sai 't( A%bert, 3an +ish for nothin, so *%ch as for i**e iate rest( :e +ill all ,o to the convent/ yo%r ,oo looks +o%l efeat o%r p%rpose/ b%t +hen they see *ine an E*ily3s e-ha%ste co%ntenances, they +ill scarcely eny %s repose(3 As he sai this, he took E*ily3s ar* +ithin his, an , tellin, &ichael to +ait a+hile in the roa +ith the carria,e, they be,an to ascen to+ar s the +oo s, ,%i e by the bell of the convent( His steps +ere feeble, an Valanco%rt offere hi* his ar*, +hich he accepte ( The *oon no+ thre+ a faint li,ht over their path, an , soon after, enable the* to istin,%ish so*e to+ers risin, above the tops of the +oo s( 'till follo+in, the note of the bell, they entere the sha e of those +oo s, li,hte only by the *oonbea*s, that ,li e o+n bet+een the leaves, an thre+ a tre*%lo%s %ncertain ,lea* %pon the steep track they +ere +in in,( The ,loo* an the silence that prevaile , e-cept +hen the bell ret%rne %pon the air, to,ether +ith the +il ness of the s%rro%n in, scene, str%ck E*ily +ith a e,ree of fear, +hich, ho+ever, the voice an conversation of Valanco%rt so*e+hat represse ( :hen they ha been so*e ti*e ascen in,, 't( A%bert co*plaine of +eariness, an they stoppe to rest %pon a little ,reen s%**it, +here the trees opene , an a *itte the *oon6li,ht( He sat o+n %pon the t%rf,

bet+een E*ily an Valanco%rt( The bell ha no+ cease , an the eep repose of the scene +as %n ist%rbe by any so%n , for the lo+ %ll *%r*%r of so*e istant torrents *i,ht be sai to sooth, rather than to interr%pt, the silence( 1efore the*, e-ten e the valley they ha 4%itte / its rocks, an +oo s to the left, .%st silvere by the rays, for*e a contrast to the eep sha o+, that involve the opposite cliffs, +hose frin,e s%**its only +ere tippe +ith li,ht/ +hile the istant perspective of the valley +as lost in the yello+ *ist of *oon6li,ht( The travellers sat for so*e ti*e +rapt in the co*placency +hich s%ch scenes inspire( 3These scenes,3 sai Valanco%rt, at len,th, 3soften the heart, like the notes of s+eet *%sic, an inspire that elicio%s *elancholy +hich no person, +ho ha felt it once, +o%l resi,n for the ,ayest pleas%res( They +aken o%r best an p%rest feelin,s, isposin, %s to benevolence, pity, an frien ship( Those +ho* I love 7I al+ays see* to love *ore in s%ch an ho%r as this(3 His voice tre*ble , an he pa%se ( 't( A%bert +as silent/ E*ily perceive a +ar* tear fall %pon the han he hel / she kne+ the ob.ect of his tho%,hts/ hers too ha , for so*e ti*e, been occ%pie by the re*e*brance of her *other( He see*e by an effort to ro%se hi*self( 32es,3 sai he, +ith an half6 s%ppresse si,h, 3the *e*ory of those +e love7of ti*es for ever past? in s%ch an ho%r as this steals %pon the *in , like a strain of istant *%sic in the stillness of ni,ht/7all ten er an har*onio%s as this lan scape, sleepin, in the *ello+ *oon6li,ht(3 After the pa%se of a *o*ent, 't( A%bert a e , 3I have al+ays fancie , that I tho%,ht +ith *ore clearness, an precision, at s%ch an ho%r than at any other, an that heart *%st be insensible in a ,reat e,ree, that oes not soften to its infl%ence( 1%t *any s%ch there are(3 Valanco%rt si,he ( 3Are there, in ee , *any s%chB3 sai E*ily(

3A fe+ years hence, *y E*ily,3 replie 't( A%bert, 3an yo% *ay s*ile at the recollection of that 4%estion7if yo% o not +eep to it( 1%t co*e, I a* so*e+hat refreshe , let %s procee (3 Havin, e*er,e fro* the +oo s, they sa+, %pon a t%rfy hillock above, the convent of +hich they +ere in search( A hi,h +all, that s%rro%n e it, le the* to an ancient ,ate, at +hich they knocke / an the poor *onk, +ho opene it, con %cte the* into a s*all a .oinin, roo*, +here he esire they +o%l +ait +hile he infor*e the s%perior of their re4%est( In this interval, several friars ca*e in separately to look at the*/ an at len,th the first *onk ret%rne , an they follo+e hi* to a roo*, +here the s%perior +as sittin, in an ar*6chair, +ith a lar,e folio vol%*e, printe in black letter, open on a esk before hi*( He receive the* +ith co%rtesy, tho%,h he i not rise fro* his seat/ an , havin, aske the* a fe+ 4%estions, ,rante their re4%est( After a short conversation, for*al an sole*n on the part of the s%perior, they +ith re+ to the apart*ent +here they +ere to s%p, an Valanco%rt, +ho* one of the inferior friars civilly esire to acco*pany, +ent to seek &ichael an his *%les( They ha not escen e half +ay o+n the cliffs, before they hear the voice of the *%leteer echoin, far an +i e( 'o*eti*es he calle on 't( A%bert, an so*eti*es on Valanco%rt/ +ho havin,, at len,th, convince hi* that he ha nothin, to fear either for hi*self, or his *aster/ an havin, ispose of hi*, for the ni,ht, in a cotta,e on the skirts of the +oo s, ret%rne to s%p +ith his frien s, on s%ch sober fare as the *onks tho%,ht it pr% ent to set before the*( :hile 't( A%bert +as too *%ch in ispose to share it, E*ily, in her an-iety for her father, for,ot herself/ an Valanco%rt, silent an tho%,htf%l, yet never inattentive to the*, appeare partic%larly solicito%s to acco**o ate an relieve 't( A%bert, +ho often observe , +hile his a%,hter +as pressin, hi* to eat, or a .%stin, the pillo+ she ha place in the back of his ar*6chair, that Valanco%rt fi-e on her a look of

pensive ten erness, +hich he +as not %n erstan (

isplease

to

They separate at an early ho%r, an retire to their respective apart*ents( E*ily +as sho+n to hers by a n%n of the convent, +ho* she +as ,la to is*iss, for her heart +as *elancholy, an her attention so *%ch abstracte , that conversation +ith a stran,er +as painf%l( 'he tho%,ht her father aily eclinin,, an attrib%te his present fati,%e *ore to the feeble state of his fra*e, than to the iffic%lty of the .o%rney( A train of ,loo*y i eas ha%nte her *in , till she fell asleep( In abo%t t+o ho%rs after, she +as a+akene by the chi*in, of a bell, an then hear 4%ick steps pass alon, the ,allery, into +hich her cha*ber opene ( 'he +as so little acc%sto*e to the *anners of a convent, as to be alar*e by this circ%*stance/ her fears, ever alive for her father, s%,,este that he +as very ill, an she rose in haste to ,o to hi*( Havin, pa%se , ho+ever, to let the persons in the ,allery pass before she opene her oor, her tho%,hts, in the *ean ti*e, recovere fro* the conf%sion of sleep, an she %n erstoo that the bell +as the call of the *onks to prayers( It ha no+ cease , an , all bein, a,ain still, she forbore to ,o to 't( A%bert3s roo*( Her *in +as not ispose for i**e iate sleep, an the *oon6li,ht, that shone into her cha*ber, invite her to open the case*ent, an look o%t %pon the co%ntry( It +as a still an bea%tif%l ni,ht, the sky +as %nobsc%re by any clo% , an scarce a leaf of the +oo s beneath tre*ble in the air( As she listene , the *i 6ni,ht hy*n of the *onks rose softly fro* a chapel, that stoo on one of the lo+er cliffs, an holy strain, that see*e to ascen thro%,h the silence of ni,ht to heaven, an her tho%,hts ascen e +ith it( )ro* the consi eration of His +orks, her *in arose to the a oration of the <eity, in His ,oo ness an po+er/ +herever she t%rne her vie+, +hether on the sleepin, earth, or to the vast re,ions of space, ,lo+in, +ith +orl s beyon the reach of h%*an tho%,ht, the s%bli*ity of Go , an the *a.esty of His presence appeare ( Her eyes +ere fille +ith tears of a+f%l love

an a *iration/ an she felt that p%re evotion, s%perior to all the istinctions of h%*an syste*, +hich lifts the so%l above this +orl , an see*s to e-pan it into a nobler nat%re/ s%ch evotion as can, perhaps, only be e-perience , +hen the *in , resc%e , for a *o*ent, fro* the h%*bleness of earthly consi erations, aspires to conte*plate His po+er in the s%bli*ity of His +orks, an His ,oo ness in the infinity of His blessin,s(
5s it not no the hour, The holy hour, hen to the cloudless height 7f yon starred conca"e cli!bs the full%orbed !oon, And to this nether orld in sole!n stillness, Gi"es sign, that, to the list=ning ear of 8ea"en Religion=s "oice should pleadE The "ery babe ;no s this, and, chance a ak=d, his little hands &ifts to the gods, and on his innocent couch 3alls do n a blessing#6 63aractacus

The *i ni,ht chant of the *onks soon after roppe into silence/ b%t E*ily re*aine at the case*ent, +atchin, the settin, *oon, an the valley sinkin, into eep sha e, an +illin, to prolon, her present state of *in ( At len,th she retire to her *attress, an s%nk into tran4%il sl%*ber(

#HAPTER %
<hile in the rosy "ale &o"e breath=d his infant sighs, fro! anguish free# Tho!son

't( A%bert, s%fficiently restore by a ni,ht3s repose to p%rs%e his .o%rney, set o%t in the *ornin,, +ith his fa*ily an Valanco%rt, for Ro%sillon, +hich he hope to reach before ni,ht6fall( The scenes, thro%,h +hich they no+ passe , +ere as +il an ro*antic, as any they ha yet observe , +ith this ifference, that bea%ty, every no+ an then, softene the lan scape into s*iles( 0ittle +oo y recesses appeare a*on, the *o%ntains, covere +ith bri,ht ver %re an flo+ers/ or a pastoral

valley opene its ,rassy boso* in the sha e of the cliffs, +ith flocks an her s loiterin, alon, the banks of a riv%let, that refreshe it +ith perpet%al ,reen( 't( A%bert co%l not repent the havin, taken this fati,%in, roa , tho%,h he +as this ay, also, fre4%ently obli,e to ali,ht, to +alk alon, the r%,,e precipice, an to cli*b the steep an flinty *o%ntain( The +on erf%l s%bli*ity an variety of the prospects repai hi* for all this, an the enth%sias*, +ith +hich they +ere vie+e by his yo%n, co*panions, hei,htene his o+n, an a+akene a re*e*brance of all the eli,htf%l e*otions of his early ays, +hen the s%bli*e char*s of nat%re +ere first %nveile to hi*( He fo%n ,reat pleas%re in conversin, +ith Valanco%rt, an in listenin, to his in,en%o%s re*arks( The fire an si*plicity of his *anners see*e to ren er hi* a characteristic fi,%re in the scenes aro%n the*/ an 't( A%bert iscovere in his senti*ents the .%stness an the i,nity of an elevate *in , %nbiase by interco%rse +ith the +orl ( He perceive , that his opinions +ere for*e , rather than i*bibe / +ere *ore the res%lt of tho%,ht, than of learnin,( Of the +orl he see*e to kno+ nothin,/ for he believe +ell of all *ankin , an this opinion ,ave hi* the reflecte i*a,e of his o+n heart( 't( A%bert, as he so*eti*es lin,ere to e-a*ine the +il plants in his path, often looke for+ar +ith pleas%re to E*ily an Valanco%rt, as they strolle on to,ether/ he, +ith a co%ntenance of ani*ate eli,ht, pointin, to her attention so*e ,ran feat%re of the scene/ an she, listenin, an observin, +ith a look of ten er serio%sness, that spoke the elevation of her *in ( They appeare like t+o lovers +ho ha never straye beyon these their native *o%ntains/ +hose sit%ation ha secl% e the* fro* the frivolities of co**on life, +hose i eas +ere si*ple an ,ran , like the lan scapes a*on, +hich they *ove , an +ho kne+ no other happiness, than in the %nion of p%re an affectionate hearts( 't( A%bert s*ile , an si,he at the ro*antic pict%re of felicity his fancy re+/ an si,he a,ain to think, that nat%re an si*plicity +ere so little

kno+n to the +orl , as that their pleas%res +ere tho%,ht ro*antic( 3The +orl ,3 sai he, p%rs%in, this train of tho%,ht, 3ri ic%les a passion +hich it sel o* feels/ its scenes, an its interests, istract the *in , eprave the taste, corr%pt the heart, an love cannot e-ist in a heart that has lost the *eek i,nity of innocence( Virt%e an taste are nearly the sa*e, for virt%e is little *ore than active taste, an the *ost elicate affections of each co*bine in real love( Ho+ then are +e to look for love in ,reat cities, +here selfishness, issipation, an insincerity s%pply the place of ten erness, si*plicity an tr%thB3 It +as near noon, +hen the travellers, havin, arrive at a piece of steep an an,ero%s roa , ali,hte to +alk( The roa +o%n %p an ascent, that +as clothe +ith +oo , an , instea of follo+in, the carria,e, they entere the refreshin, sha e( A e+y coolness +as iff%se %pon the air, +hich, +ith the bri,ht ver %re of t%rf, that ,re+ %n er the trees, the *in,le fra,rance of flo+ers an of bal*, thy*e, an laven er, that enriche it, an the ,ran e%r of the pines, beech, an chestn%ts, that oversha o+e the*, ren ere this a *ost elicio%s retreat( 'o*eti*es, the thick folia,e e-cl% e all vie+ of the co%ntry/ at others, it a *itte so*e partial catches of the istant scenery, +hich ,ave hints to the i*a,ination to pict%re lan scapes *ore interestin,, *ore i*pressive, than any that ha been presente to the eye( The +an erers often lin,ere to in %l,e in these reveries of fancy( The pa%ses of silence, s%ch as ha for*erly interr%pte the conversations of Valanco%rt an E*ily, +ere *ore fre4%ent to ay than ever( Valanco%rt often roppe s% enly fro* the *ost ani*atin, vivacity into fits of eep *%sin,, an there +as, so*eti*es, an %naffecte *elancholy in his s*ile, +hich E*ily co%l not avoi %n erstan in,, for her heart +as intereste in the senti*ent it spoke( 't( A%bert +as refreshe by the sha es, an they contin%e to sa%nter %n er the*, follo+in,, as nearly as they co%l ,%ess, the irection of the roa , till they

perceive that they ha totally lost it( They ha contin%e near the bro+ of the precipice, all%re by the scenery it e-hibite , +hile the roa +o%n far a+ay over the cliff above( Valanco%rt calle lo% ly to &ichael, b%t hear no voice, e-cept his o+n, echoin, a*on, the rocks, an his vario%s efforts to re,ain the roa +ere e4%ally %ns%ccessf%l( :hile they +ere th%s circ%*stance , they perceive a shepher 3s cabin, bet+een the boles of the trees at so*e istance, an Valanco%rt bo%n e on first to ask assistance( :hen he reache it, he sa+ only t+o little chil ren, at play, on the t%rf before the oor( He looke into the h%t, b%t no person +as there, an the el est of the boys tol hi* that their father +as +ith his flocks, an their *other +as ,one o+n into the vale, b%t +o%l be back presently( As he stoo , consi erin, +hat +as f%rther to be one, on a s% en he hear &ichael3s voice roarin, forth *ost *anf%lly a*on, the cliffs above, till he *a e their echoes rin,( Valanco%rt i**e iately ans+ere the call, an en eavo%re to *ake his +ay thro%,h the thicket that clothe the steeps, follo+in, the irection of the so%n ( After *%ch str%,,le over bra*bles an precipices, he reache &ichael, an at len,th prevaile +ith hi* to be silent, an to listen to hi*( The roa +as at a consi erable istance fro* the spot +here 't( A%bert an E*ily +ere/ the carria,e co%l not easily ret%rn to the entrance of the +oo , an , since it +o%l be very fati,%in, for 't( A%bert to cli*b the lon, an steep roa to the place +here it no+ stoo , Valanco%rt +as an-io%s to fin a *ore easy ascent, by the +ay he ha hi*self passe ( &ean+hile 't( A%bert an E*ily approache the cotta,e, an reste the*selves on a r%stic bench, fastene bet+een t+o pines, +hich oversha o+e it, till Valanco%rt, +hose steps they ha observe , sho%l ret%rn( The el est of the chil ren esiste fro* his play, an stoo still to observe the stran,ers, +hile the yo%n,er contin%e his little ,a*bols, an tease his brother to .oin in the*( 't( A%bert looke +ith pleas%re %pon this pict%re of infantine si*plicity, till it bro%,ht to his

re*e*brance his o+n boys, +ho* he ha lost abo%t the a,e of these, an their la*ente *other/ an he s%nk into a tho%,htf%lness, +hich E*ily observin,, she i**e iately be,an to sin, one of those si*ple an lively airs he +as so fon of, an +hich she kne+ ho+ to ,ive +ith the *ost captivatin, s+eetness( 't( A%bert s*ile on her thro%,h his tears, took her han an presse it affectionately, an then trie to issipate the *elancholy reflections that lin,ere in his *in ( :hile she s%n,, Valanco%rt approache , +ho +as %n+illin, to interr%pt her, an pa%se at a little istance to listen( :hen she ha concl% e , he .oine the party, an tol the*, that he ha fo%n &ichael, as +ell as a +ay, by +hich he tho%,ht they co%l ascen the cliff to the carria,e( He pointe to the +oo y steeps above, +hich 't( A%bert s%rveye +ith an an-io%s eye( He +as alrea y +earie by his +alk, an this ascent +as for*i able to hi*( He tho%,ht, ho+ever, it +o%l be less toilso*e than the lon, an broken roa , an he eter*ine to atte*pt it/ b%t E*ily, ever +atchf%l of his ease, proposin, that he sho%l rest, an ine before they procee e f%rther, Valanco%rt +ent to the carria,e for the refresh*ents eposite there( On his ret%rn, he propose re*ovin, a little hi,her %p the *o%ntain, to +here the +oo s opene %pon a ,ran an e-tensive prospect/ an thither they +ere preparin, to ,o, +hen they sa+ a yo%n, +o*an .oin the chil ren, an caress an +eep over the*( The travellers, intereste by her istress, stoppe to observe her( 'he took the yo%n,est of the chil ren in her ar*s, an , perceivin, the stran,ers, hastily rie her tears, an procee e to the cotta,e( 't( A%bert, on en4%irin, the occasion of her sorro+, learne that her h%sban , +ho +as a shepher , an live here in the s%**er *onths to +atch over the flocks he le to fee %pon these *o%ntains, ha lost, on the prece in, ni,ht, his little all( A ,an, of ,ipsies, +ho ha for so*e ti*e infeste the nei,hbo%rhoo , ha riven a+ay several of his *aster3s sheep( 3@ac4%es,3 a e the shepher 3s +ife, 3ha save a little *oney, an ha bo%,ht a fe+ sheep +ith it, an no+ they *%st ,o to his *aster for those

that are stolen/ an +hat is +orse than all, his *aster, +hen he co*es to kno+ ho+ it is, +ill tr%st hi* no lon,er +ith the care of his flocks, for he is a har *an? an then +hat is to beco*e of o%r chil ren?3 The innocent co%ntenance of the +o*an, an the si*plicity of her *anner in relatin, her ,rievance, incline 't( A%bert to believe her story/ an Valanco%rt, convince that it +as tr%e, aske ea,erly +hat +as the val%e of the stolen sheep/ on hearin, +hich he t%rne a+ay +ith a look of isappoint*ent( 't( A%bert p%t so*e *oney into her han , E*ily too ,ave so*ethin, fro* her little p%rse, an they +alke to+ar s the cliff/ b%t Valanco%rt lin,ere behin , an spoke to the shepher 3s +ife, +ho +as no+ +eepin, +ith ,ratit% e an s%rprise( He en4%ire ho+ *%ch *oney +as yet +antin, to replace the stolen sheep, an fo%n , that it +as a s%* very little short of all he ha abo%t hi*( He +as perple-e an istresse ( 3This s%* then,3 sai he to hi*self, 3+o%l *ake this poor fa*ily co*pletely happy7it is in *y po+er to ,ive it7to *ake the* co*pletely happy? 1%t +hat is to beco*e of *eB7 ho+ shall I contrive to reach ho*e +ith the little *oney that +ill re*ainB3 )or a *o*ent he stoo , %n+illin, to fore,o the l%-%ry of raisin, a fa*ily fro* r%in to happiness, yet consi erin, the iffic%lties of p%rs%in, his .o%rney +ith so s*all a s%* as +o%l be left( :hile he +as in this state of perple-ity, the shepher hi*self appeare ; his chil ren ran to *eet hi*/ he took one of the* in his ar*s, an , +ith the other clin,in, to his coat, ca*e for+ar +ith a loiterin, step( His forlorn an *elancholy look eter*ine Valanco%rt at once/ he thre+ o+n all the *oney he ha , e-cept a very fe+ lo%is, an bo%n e a+ay after 't( A%bert an E*ily, +ho +ere procee in, slo+ly %p the steep( Valanco%rt ha sel o* felt his heart so li,ht as at this *o*ent/ his ,ay spirits ance +ith pleas%re/ every ob.ect aro%n hi* appeare *ore interestin,, or bea%tif%l, than before( 't( A%bert observe the %nco**on vivacity of his co%ntenance; 3:hat has please yo% so *%chB3 sai he( 3O +hat a lovely ay,3 replie Valanco%rt, 3ho+

bri,htly the s%n shines, ho+ p%re is this air, +hat enchantin, scenery?3 3It is in ee enchantin,,3 sai 't( A%bert, +ho* early e-perience ha ta%,ht to %n erstan the nat%re of Valanco%rt3s present feelin,s( 3:hat pity that the +ealthy, +ho can co**an s%ch s%nshine, sho%l ever pass their ays in ,loo*7in the col sha e of selfishness? )or yo%, *y yo%n, frien , *ay the s%n al+ays shine as bri,htly as at this *o*ent/ *ay yo%r o+n con %ct al+ays ,ive yo% the s%nshine of benevolence an reason %nite ?3 Valanco%rt, hi,hly flattere by this co*pli*ent, co%l *ake no reply b%t by a s*ile of ,ratit% e( They contin%e to +in %n er the +oo s, bet+een the ,rassy knolls of the *o%ntain, an , as they reache the sha y s%**it, +hich he ha pointe o%t, the +hole party b%rst into an e-cla*ation( 1ehin the spot +here they stoo , the rock rose perpen ic%larly in a *assy +all to a consi erable hei,ht, an then branche o%t into overhan,in, cra,s( Their ,rey tints +ere +ell contraste by the bri,ht h%es of the plants an +il flo+ers, that ,re+ in their fract%re si es, an +ere eepene by the ,loo* of the pines an ce ars, that +ave above( The steeps belo+, over +hich the eye passe abr%ptly to the valley, +ere frin,e +ith thickets of alpine shr%bs/ an , lo+er still, appeare the t%fte tops of the chesn%t +oo s, that clothe their base, a*on, +hich peepe forth the shepher 3s cotta,e, .%st left by the travellers, +ith its bl%eish s*oke c%rlin, hi,h in the air( On every si e appeare the *a.estic s%**its of the Pyrenees, so*e e-hibitin, tre*en o%s cra,s of *arble, +hose appearance +as chan,in, every instant, as the varyin, li,hts fell %pon their s%rface/ others, still hi,her, isplayin, only sno+y points, +hile their lo+er steeps +ere covere al*ost invariably +ith forests of pine, larch, an oak, that stretche o+n to the vale( This +as one of the narro+ vallies, that open fro* the Pyrenees into the co%ntry of Ro%sillon, an +hose ,reen past%res, an c%ltivate bea%ty, for* a eci e an +on erf%l contrast to the ro*antic ,ran e%r that environs it( Thro%,h a vista of the *o%ntains appeare the lo+lan s of Ro%sillon, tinte

+ith the bl%e ha8e of istance, as they %nite +ith the +aters of the &e iterranean/ +here, on a pro*ontory, +hich *arke the bo%n ary of the shore, stoo a lonely beacon, over +hich +ere seen circlin, fli,hts of sea6 fo+l( 1eyon , appeare , no+ an then, a stealin, sail, +hite +ith the s%n6bea*, an +hose pro,ress +as perceivable by its approach to the li,ht6ho%se( 'o*eti*es, too, +as seen a sail so istant, that it serve only to *ark the line of separation bet+een the sky an the +aves( On the other si e of the valley, i**e iately opposite to the spot +here the travellers reste , a rocky pass opene to+ar Gascony( Here no si,n of c%ltivation appeare ( The rocks of ,ranite, that screene the ,len, rose abr%ptly fro* their base, an stretche their barren points to the clo% s, %nvarie +ith +oo s, an %ncheere even by a h%nter3s cabin( 'o*eti*es, in ee , a ,i,antic larch thre+ its lon, sha e over the precipice, an here an there a cliff reare on its bro+ a *on%*ental cross, to tell the traveller the fate of hi* +ho ha vent%re thither before( This spot see*e the very ha%nt of ban itti/ an E*ily, as she looke o+n %pon it, al*ost e-pecte to see the* stealin, o%t fro* so*e hollo+ cave to look for their prey( 'oon after an ob.ect not less terrific str%ck her,7a ,ibbet stan in, on a point of rock near the entrance of the pass, an i**e iately over one of the crosses she ha before observe ( These +ere hiero,lyphics that tol a plain an rea f%l story( 'he forbore to point it o%t to 't( A%bert, b%t it thre+ a ,loo* over her spirits, an *a e her an-io%s to hasten for+ar , that they *i,ht +ith certainty reach Ro%sillon before ni,ht6fall( It +as necessary, ho+ever, that 't( A%bert sho%l take so*e refresh*ent, an , seatin, the*selves on the short ry t%rf, they opene the basket of provisions, +hile
by breeBy !ur!urs cool=d, Broad o=er T8E5R heads the "erdant cedars a"e, And high pal!etos lift their graceful shade# %T8E$ dra Ethereal soul, there drink re"i"ing gales Profusely breathing fro! the piney gro"es, And "ales of fragranceA there at a distance hear The roaring floods, and cataracts#6 6Tho!son

't( A%bert +as revive by rest, an by the serene air of this s%**it/ an Valanco%rt +as so char*e +ith all aro%n , an +ith the conversation of his co*panions, that he see*e to have for,otten he ha any f%rther to ,o( Havin, concl% e their si*ple repast, they ,ave a lon, fare+ell look to the scene, an a,ain be,an to ascen ( 't( A%bert re.oice +hen he reache the carria,e, +hich E*ily entere +ith hi*/ b%t Valanco%rt, +illin, to take a *ore e-tensive vie+ of the enchantin, co%ntry, into +hich they +ere abo%t to escen , than he co%l o fro* a carria,e, loosene his o,s, an once *ore bo%n e +ith the* alon, the banks of the roa ( He often 4%itte it for points that pro*ise a +i er prospect, an the slo+ pace, at +hich the *%les travelle , allo+e hi* to overtake the* +ith ease( :henever a scene of %nco**on *a,nificence appeare , he hastene to infor* 't( A%bert, +ho, tho%,h he +as too *%ch tire to +alk hi*self, so*eti*es *a e the chaise +ait, +hile E*ily +ent to the nei,hbo%rin, cliff( It +as evenin, +hen they escen e the lo+er alps, that bin Ro%sillon, an for* a *a.estic barrier ro%n that char*in, co%ntry, leavin, it open only on the east to the &e iterranean( The ,ay tints of c%ltivation once *ore bea%tifie the lan scape/ for the lo+lan s +ere colo%re +ith the richest h%es, +hich a l%-%riant cli*ate, an an in %strio%s people can a+aken into life( Groves of oran,e an le*on perf%*e the air, their ripe fr%it ,lo+in, a*on, the folia,e/ +hile, slopin, to the plains, e-tensive vineyar s sprea their treas%res( 1eyon these, +oo s an past%res, an *in,le to+ns an ha*lets stretche to+ar s the sea, on +hose bri,ht s%rface ,lea*e *any a istant sail/ +hile, over the +hole scene, +as iff%se the p%rple ,lo+ of evenin,( This lan scape +ith the s%rro%n in, alps i , in ee , present a perfect pict%re of the lovely an the s%bli*e, of 3bea%ty sleepin, in the lap of horror(3 The travellers, havin, reache the plains, procee e , bet+een he ,es of flo+erin, *yrtle an po*e,ranate, to the to+n of Arles, +here they propose to rest for the ni,ht( They *et +ith si*ple, b%t neat

acco**o ation, an +o%l have passe a happy evenin,, after the toils an the eli,hts of this ay, ha not the approachin, separation thro+n a ,loo* over their spirit( It +as 't( A%bert3s plan to procee , on the *orro+, to the bor ers of the &e iterranean, an travel alon, its shores into 0an,%e oc/ an Valanco%rt, since he +as no+ nearly recovere , an ha no lon,er a pretence for contin%in, +ith his ne+ frien s, resolve to leave the* here( 't( A%bert, +ho +as *%ch please +ith hi*, invite hi* to ,o f%rther, b%t i not repeat the invitation, an Valanco%rt ha resol%tion eno%,h to fore,o the te*ptation of acceptin, it, that he *i,ht prove hi*self not %n+orthy of the favo%r( On the follo+in, *ornin,, therefore, they +ere to part, 't( A%bert to p%rs%e his +ay to 0an,%e oc, an Valanco%rt to e-plore ne+ scenes a*on, the *o%ntains, on his ret%rn ho*e( <%rin, this evenin, he +as often silent an tho%,htf%l/ 't( A%bert3s *anner to+ar s hi* +as affectionate, tho%,h ,rave, an E*ily +as serio%s, tho%,h she *a e fre4%ent efforts to appear cheerf%l( After one of the *ost *elancholy evenin,s they ha yet passe to,ether, they separate for the ni,ht(

#HAPTER %I
5 care not, )ortune> hat you !e denyA $ou cannot rob !e of free nature=s graceA $ou cannot shut the indo s of the sky, Through hich Aurora she s her brightening faceA $ou cannot bar !y constant feet to trace The oods and la ns, by li"ing strea!, at e"e' &et health !y ner"es and finer fibres brace, And 5 their toys to the great children lea"e' 7f fancy, reason, "irtue, nought can !e berea"e# T87M47:

In the *ornin,, Valanco%rt breakfaste +ith 't( A%bert an E*ily, neither of +ho* see*e *%ch refreshe by sleep( The lan,%or of illness still h%n, over 't( A%bert, an to E*ily3s fears his isor er appeare to be increasin, fast %pon hi*( 'he +atche his looks +ith

an-io%s affection, an their e-pression +as al+ays faithf%lly reflecte in her o+n( At the co**ence*ent of their ac4%aintance, Valanco%rt ha *a e kno+n his na*e an fa*ily( 't( A%bert +as not a stran,er to either, for the fa*ily estates, +hich +ere no+ in the possession of an el er brother of Valanco%rt, +ere little *ore than t+enty *iles istant fro* 0a Vallee, an he ha so*eti*es *et the el er Valanco%rt on visits in the nei,hbo%rhoo ( This kno+le ,e ha *a e hi* *ore +illin,ly receive his present co*panion/ for, tho%,h his co%ntenance an *anners +o%l have +on hi* the ac4%aintance of 't( A%bert, +ho +as very apt to tr%st to the intelli,ence of his o+n eyes, +ith respect to co%ntenances, he +o%l not have accepte these, as s%fficient intro %ctions to that of his a%,hter( The breakfast +as al*ost as silent as the s%pper of the prece in, ni,ht/ b%t their *%sin, +as at len,th interr%pte by the so%n of the carria,e +heels, +hich +ere to bear a+ay 't( A%bert an E*ily( Valanco%rt starte fro* his chair, an +ent to the +in o+/ it +as in ee the carria,e, an he ret%rne to his seat +itho%t speakin,( The *o*ent +as no+ co*e +hen they *%st part( 't( A%bert tol Valanco%rt, that he hope he +o%l never pass 0a Vallee +itho%t favo%rin, hi* +ith a visit/ an Valanco%rt, ea,erly thankin, hi*, ass%re hi* that he never +o%l / as he sai +hich he looke ti*i ly at E*ily, +ho trie to s*ile a+ay the serio%sness of her spirits( They passe a fe+ *in%tes in interestin, conversation, an 't( A%bert then le the +ay to the carria,e, E*ily an Valanco%rt follo+in, in silence( The latter lin,ere at the oor several *in%tes after they +ere seate , an none of the party see*e to have co%ra,e eno%,h to say7)are+ell( At len,th, 't( A%bert prono%nce the *elancholy +or , +hich E*ily passe to Valanco%rt, +ho ret%rne it, +ith a e.ecte s*ile, an the carria,e rove on( The travellers re*aine , for so*e ti*e, in a state of tran4%il pensiveness, +hich is not %npleasin,( 't( A%bert interr%pte it by observin,, 3This is a very pro*isin, yo%n, *an/ it is *any years since I have

been so *%ch please +ith any person, on so short an ac4%aintance( He brin,s back to *y *e*ory the ays of *y yo%th, +hen every scene +as ne+ an eli,htf%l?3 't( A%bert si,he , an s%nk a,ain into a reverie/ an , as E*ily looke back %pon the roa they ha passe , Valanco%rt +as seen, at the oor of the little inn, follo+in, the* +ith his eyes( Her perceive her, an +ave his han / an she ret%rne the a ie%, till the +in in, roa sh%t her fro* his si,ht( 3I re*e*ber +hen I +as abo%t his a,e,3 res%*e 't( A%bert, 3an I tho%,ht, an felt e-actly as he oes( The +orl +as openin, %pon *e then, no+7it is closin,(3 3&y ear sir, o not think so ,loo*ily,3 sai E*ily in a tre*blin, voice, 3I hope yo% have *any, *any years to live7for yo%r o+n sake7for &2 sake(3 3Ah, *y E*ily?3 replie 't( A%bert, 3for thy sake? :ell 7I hope it is so(3 He +ipe a+ay a tear, that +as stealin, o+n his cheek, thre+ a s*ile %pon his co%ntenance, an sai in a cheerin, voice, 3there is so*ethin, in the ar o%r an in,en%o%sness of yo%th, +hich is partic%larly pleasin, to the conte*plation of an ol *an, if his feelin,s have not been entirely corro e by the +orl ( It is cheerin, an revivin,, like the vie+ of sprin, to a sick person/ his *in catches so*e+hat of the spirit of the season, an his eyes are li,hte %p +ith a transient s%nshine( Valanco%rt is this sprin, to *e(3 E*ily, +ho presse her father3s han affectionately, ha never before listene +ith so *%ch pleas%re to the praises he besto+e / no, not even +hen he ha besto+e the* on herself( They travelle on, a*on, vineyar s, +oo s, an past%res, eli,hte +ith the ro*antic bea%ty of the lan scape, +hich +as bo%n e , on one si e, by the ,ran e%r of the Pyrenees, an , on the other, by the ocean/ an , soon after noon, they reache the to+n of Colio%re, sit%ate on the &e iterranean( Here they ine , an reste till to+ar s the cool of ay, +hen they p%rs%e their +ay alon, the shores7those enchantin, shores?7+hich e-ten to 0an,%e oc(

E*ily ,a8e +ith enth%sias* on the vastness of the sea, its s%rface varyin,, as the li,hts an sha o+s fell, an on its +oo y banks, *ello+e +ith a%t%*nal tints( 't( A%bert +as i*patient to reach Perpi,nan, +here he e-pecte letters fro* &( 5%esnel/ an it +as the e-pectation of these letters, that ha in %ce hi* to leave Colio%re, for his feeble fra*e ha re4%ire i**e iate rest( After travellin, a fe+ *iles, he fell asleep/ an E*ily, +ho ha p%t t+o or three books into the carria,e, on leavin, 0a Vallee, ha no+ the leis%re for lookin, into the*( 'he so%,ht for one, in +hich Valanco%rt ha been rea in, the ay before, an hope for the pleas%re of re6tracin, a pa,e, over +hich the eyes of a belove frien ha lately passe , of +ellin, on the passa,es, +hich he ha a *ire , an of per*ittin, the* to speak to her in the lan,%a,e of his o+n *in , an to brin, hi*self to her presence( On searchin, for the book, she co%l fin it no +here, b%t in its stea perceive a vol%*e of Petrarch3s poe*s, that ha belon,e to Valanco%rt, +hose na*e +as +ritten in it, an fro* +hich he ha fre4%ently rea passa,es to her, +ith all the pathetic e-pression, that characteri8e the feelin,s of the a%thor( 'he hesitate in believin,, +hat +o%l have been s%fficiently apparent to al*ost any other person, that he ha p%rposely left this book, instea of the one she ha lost, an that love ha pro*pte the e-chan,e/ b%t, havin, opene it +ith i*patient pleas%re, an observe the lines of his pencil ra+n alon, the vario%s passa,es he ha rea alo% , an %n er others *ore escriptive of elicate ten erness than he ha are to tr%st his voice +ith, the conviction ca*e, at len,th, to her *in ( )or so*e *o*ents she +as conscio%s only of bein, belove / then, a recollection of all the variations of tone an co%ntenance, +ith +hich he ha recite these sonnets, an of the so%l, +hich spoke in their e-pression, presse to her *e*ory, an she +ept over the *e*orial of his affection( They arrive at Perpi,nan soon after s%nset, +here 't( A%bert fo%n , as he ha e-pecte , letters fro* &( 5%esnel, the contents of +hich so evi ently an

,rievo%sly affecte hi*, that E*ily +as alar*e , an presse hi*, as far as her elicacy +o%l per*it, to isclose the occasion of his concern/ b%t he ans+ere her only by tears, an i**e iately be,an to talk on other topics( E*ily, tho%,h she forbore to press the one *ost interestin, to her, +as ,reatly affecte by her father3s *anner, an passe a ni,ht of sleepless solicit% e( In the *ornin, they p%rs%e their .o%rney alon, the coast to+ar s 0e%cate, another to+n on the &e iterranean, sit%ate on the bor ers of 0an,%e oc an Ro%sillon( On the +ay, E*ily rene+e the s%b.ect of the prece in, ni,ht, an appeare so eeply affecte by 't( A%bert3s silence an e.ection, that he rela-e fro* his reserve( 3I +as %n+illin,, *y ear E*ily,3 sai he, 3to thro+ a clo% over the pleas%re yo% receive fro* these scenes, an *eant, therefore, to conceal, for the present, so*e circ%*stances, +ith +hich, ho+ever, yo% *%st at len,th have been *a e ac4%ainte ( 1%t yo%r an-iety has efeate *y p%rpose/ yo% s%ffer as *%ch fro* this, perhaps, as yo% +ill o fro* a kno+le ,e of the facts I have to relate( &( 5%esnel3s visit prove an %nhappy one to *e/ he ca*e to tell *e part of the ne+s he has no+ confir*e ( 2o% *ay have hear *e *ention a &( &otteville, of Paris, b%t yo% i not kno+ that the chief of *y personal property +as investe in his han s( I ha ,reat confi ence in hi*, an I a* yet +illin, to believe, that he is not +holly %n+orthy of *y estee*( A variety of circ%*stances have conc%rre to r%in hi*, an 7I a* r%ine +ith hi*(3 't( A%bert pa%se to conceal his e*otion( 3The letters I have .%st receive fro* &( 5%esnel,3 res%*e he, str%,,lin, to speak +ith fir*ness, 3enclose others fro* &otteville, +hich confir*e all I rea e (3 3&%st +e then 4%it 0a ValleeB3 sai E*ily, after a lon, pa%se of silence( 3That is yet %ncertain,3 replie 't( A%bert, 3it +ill epen %pon the co*pro*ise &otteville is able to *ake +ith his cre itors( &y inco*e, yo%

kno+, +as never lar,e, an no+ it +ill be re %ce to little in ee ? It is for yo%, E*ily, for yo%, *y chil , that I a* *ost afflicte (3 His last +or s faltere / E*ily s*ile ten erly %pon hi* thro%,h her tears, an then, en eavo%rin, to overco*e her e*otion, 3&y ear father,3 sai she, 3 o not ,rieve for *e, or for yo%rself/ +e *ay yet be happy/7if 0a Vallee re*ains for %s, +e *%st be happy( :e +ill retain only one servant, an yo% shall scarcely perceive the chan,e in yo%r inco*e( 1e co*forte , *y ear sir/ +e shall not feel the +ant of those l%-%ries, +hich others val%e so hi,hly, since +e never ha a taste for the*/ an poverty cannot eprive %s of *any consolations( It cannot rob %s of the affection +e have for each other, or e,ra e %s in o%r o+n opinion, or in that of any person, +hose opinion +e o%,ht to val%e(3 't( A%bert conceale his face +ith his han kerchief, an +as %nable to speak/ b%t E*ily contin%e to %r,e to her father the tr%ths, +hich hi*self ha i*presse %pon her *in ( 31esi es, *y ear sir, poverty cannot eprive %s of intellect%al eli,hts( It cannot eprive yo% of the co*fort of affor in, *e e-a*ples of fortit% e an benevolence/ nor *e of the eli,ht of consolin, a belove parent( It cannot ea en o%r taste for the ,ran , an the bea%tif%l, or eny %s the *eans of in %l,in, it/ for the scenes of nat%re7those s%bli*e spectacles, so infinitely s%perior to all artificial l%-%ries? are open for the en.oy*ent of the poor, as +ell as of the rich( Of +hat, then, have +e to co*plain, so lon, as +e are not in +ant of necessariesB Pleas%res, s%ch as +ealth cannot b%y, +ill still be o%rs( :e retain, then, the s%bli*e l%-%ries of nat%re, an lose only the frivolo%s ones of art(3 't( A%bert co%l not reply; he ca%,ht E*ily to his boso*, their tears flo+e to,ether, b%t7they +ere not tears of sorro+( After this lan,%a,e of the heart, all other +o%l have been feeble, an they re*aine silent for so*e ti*e( Then, 't( A%bert converse as before/ for, if his *in ha not recovere its nat%ral tran4%illity, it at least ass%*e the appearance of it(

They reache the ro*antic to+n of 0e%cate early in the ay, b%t 't( A%bert +as +eary, an they eter*ine to pass the ni,ht there( In the evenin,, he e-erte hi*self so far as to +alk +ith his a%,hter to vie+ the environs that overlook the lake of 0e%cate, the &e iterranean, part of Ro%sillon, +ith the Pyrenees, an a +i e e-tent of the l%-%riant province of 0an,%e oc, no+ bl%shin, +ith the ripene vinta,e, +hich the peasants +ere be,innin, to ,ather( 't( A%bert an E*ily sa+ the b%sy ,ro%ps, ca%,ht the .oyo%s son,, that +as +afte on the bree8e, an anticipate , +ith apparent pleas%re, their ne-t ay3s .o%rney over this ,ay re,ion( He esi,ne , ho+ever, still to +in alon, the sea6shore( To ret%rn ho*e i**e iately +as partly his +ish, b%t fro* this he +as +ithhel by a esire to len,then the pleas%re, +hich the .o%rney ,ave his a%,hter, an to try the effect of the sea air on his o+n isor er( On the follo+in, ay, therefore, they reco**ence their .o%rney thro%,h 0an,%e oc, +in in, the shores of the &e iterranean/ the Pyrenees still for*in, the *a,nificent back6,ro%n of their prospects, +hile on their ri,ht +as the ocean, an , on their left, +i e e-ten e plains *eltin, into the bl%e hori8on( 't( A%bert +as please , an converse *%ch +ith E*ily, yet his cheerf%lness +as so*eti*es artificial, an so*eti*es a sha e of *elancholy +o%l steal %pon his co%ntenance, an betray hi*( This +as soon chase a+ay by E*ily3s s*ile/ +ho s*ile , ho+ever, +ith an achin, heart, for she sa+ that his *isfort%nes preye %pon his *in , an %pon his enfeeble fra*e( It +as evenin, +hen they reache a s*all villa,e of Apper 0an,%e oc, +here they *eant to pass the ni,ht, b%t the place co%l not affor the* be s/ for here, too, it +as the ti*e of the vinta,e, an they +ere obli,e to procee to the ne-t post( The lan,%or of illness an of fati,%e, +hich ret%rne %pon 't( A%bert, re4%ire i**e iate repose, an the evenin, +as no+ far a vance / b%t fro* necessity there +as no appeal, an he or ere &ichael to procee ( The rich plains of 0an,%e oc, +hich e-hibite all the ,lories of the vinta,e, +ith the ,aieties of a )rench

festival, no lon,er a+akene 't( A%bert to pleas%re, +hose con ition for*e a *o%rnf%l contrast to the hilarity an yo%thf%l bea%ty +hich s%rro%n e hi*( As his lan,%i eyes *ove over the scene, he consi ere , that they +o%l soon, perhaps, be close for ever on this +orl ( 3Those istant an s%bli*e *o%ntains,3 sai he secretly, as he ,a8e on a chain of the Pyrenees that stretche to+ar s the +est, 3these l%-%riant plains, this bl%e va%lt, the cheerf%l li,ht of ay, +ill be sh%t fro* *y eyes? The son, of the peasant, the cheerin, voice of *an7+ill no lon,er so%n for *e?3 The intelli,ent eyes of E*ily see*e to rea +hat passe in the *in of her father, an she fi-e the* on his face, +ith an e-pression of s%ch ten er pity, as recalle his tho%,hts fro* every es%ltory ob.ect of re,ret, an he re*e*bere only, that he *%st leave his a%,hter +itho%t protection( This reflection chan,e re,ret to a,ony/ he si,he eeply, an re*aine silent, +hile she see*e to %n erstan that si,h, for she presse his han affectionately, an then t%rne to the +in o+ to conceal her tears( The s%n no+ thre+ a last yello+ ,lea* on the +aves of the &e iterranean, an the ,loo* of t+ili,ht sprea fast over the scene, till only a *elancholy ray appeare on the +estern hori8on, *arkin, the point +here the s%n ha set a*i the vapo%rs of an a%t%*nal evenin,( A cool bree8e no+ ca*e fro* the shore, an E*ily let o+n the ,lass/ b%t the air, +hich +as refreshin, to health, +as as chillin, to sickness, an 't( A%bert esire , that the +in o+ *i,ht be ra+n %p( Increasin, illness *a e hi* no+ *ore an-io%s than ever to finish the ay3s .o%rney, an he stoppe the *%leteer to en4%ire ho+ far they ha yet to ,o to the ne-t post( He replie , 39ine *iles(3 3I feel I a* %nable to procee *%ch f%rther,3 sai 't( A%bert/ 3en4%ire, as yo% ,o, if there is any ho%se on the roa that +o%l acco**o ate %s for the ni,ht(3 He s%nk back in the carria,e, an &ichael, crackin, his +hip in the air, set off, an contin%e on the f%ll ,allop, till 't( A%bert, al*ost faintin,, calle to hi* to stop( E*ily looke an-io%sly fro* the +in o+, an sa+ a peasant +alkin, at so*e little istance on the roa , for +ho*

they +aite , till he ca*e %p, +hen he +as aske , if there +as any ho%se in the nei,hbo%rhoo that acco**o ate travellers( He replie , that he kne+ of none( 3There is a chatea%, in ee , a*on, those +oo s on the ri,ht,3 a e he, 3b%t I believe it receives nobo y, an I cannot sho+ yo% the +ay, for I a* al*ost a stran,er here(3 't( A%bert +as ,oin, to ask hi* so*e f%rther 4%estion concernin, the chatea%, b%t the *an abr%ptly passe on( After so*e consi eration, he or ere &ichael to procee slo+ly to the +oo s( Every *o*ent no+ eepene the t+ili,ht, an increase the iffic%lty of fin in, the roa ( Another peasant soon after passe ( 3:hich is the +ay to the chatea% in the +oo sB3 crie &ichael( 3The chatea% in the +oo s?3 e-clai*e the peasant 73<o yo% *ean that +ith the t%rret, yon erB3 3I on3t kno+ as for the t%rret, as yo% call it,3 sai &ichael, 3I *ean that +hite piece of a b%il in,, that +e see at a istance there, a*on, the trees(3 32es, that is the t%rret/ +hy, +ho are yo%, that yo% are ,oin, thitherB3 sai the *an +ith s%rprise( 't( A%bert, on hearin, this o 4%estion, an observin, the pec%liar tone in +hich it +as elivere , looke o%t fro* the carria,e( 3:e are travellers,3 sai he, 3+ho are in search of a ho%se of acco**o ation for the ni,ht/ is there any hereabo%tB3 39one, &onsie%r, %nless yo% have a *in to try yo%r l%ck yon er,3 replie the peasant, pointin, to the +oo s, 3b%t I +o%l not a vise yo% to ,o there(3 3To +ho* oes the chatea% belon,B3 3I scarcely kno+ *yself, &onsie%r(3 3It is %ninhabite , thenB3 39o, not %ninhabite / the ste+ar an ho%sekeeper are there, I believe(3 On hearin, this, 't( A%bert eter*ine to procee to the chatea%, an ris4%e the ref%sal of bein, acco**o ate for the ni,ht/ he therefore esire the co%ntry*an +o%l she+ &ichael the +ay, an ba e hi* e-pect re+ar for his tro%ble( The *an +as for a

*o*ent silent, an then sai , that he +as ,oin, on other b%siness, b%t that the roa co%l not be *isse , if they +ent %p an aven%e to the ri,ht, to +hich he pointe ( 't( A%bert +as ,oin, to speak, b%t the peasant +ishe hi* ,oo ni,ht, an +alke on( The carria,e no+ *ove to+ar s the aven%e, +hich +as ,%ar e by a ,ate, an &ichael havin, is*o%nte to open it, they entere bet+een ro+s of ancient oak an chesn%t, +hose inter*in,le branches for*e a lofty arch above( There +as so*ethin, so ,loo*y an esolate in the appearance of this aven%e, an its lonely silence, that E*ily al*ost sh% ere as she passe alon,/ an , recollectin, the *anner in +hich the peasant ha *entione the chatea%, she ,ave a *ysterio%s *eanin, to his +or s, s%ch as she ha not s%specte +hen he %ttere the*( These apprehensions, ho+ever, she trie to check, consi erin, that they +ere probably the effect of a *elancholy i*a,ination, +hich her father3s sit%ation, an a consi eration of her o+n circ%*stances, ha *a e sensible to every i*pression( They passe slo+ly on, for they +ere no+ al*ost in arkness, +hich, to,ether +ith the %nevenness of the ,ro%n , an the fre4%ent roots of ol trees, that shot %p above the soil, *a e it necessary to procee +ith ca%tion( On a s% en &ichael stoppe the carria,e/ an , as 't( A%bert looke fro* the +in o+ to en4%ire the ca%se, he perceive a fi,%re at so*e istance *ovin, %p the aven%e( The %sk +o%l not per*it hi* to istin,%ish +hat it +as, b%t he ba e &ichael ,o on( 3This see*s a +il place,3 sai &ichael/ 3there is no ho%se hereabo%t, on3t yo%r hono%r think +e ha better t%rn backB3 3Go a little farther, an if +e see no ho%se then, +e +ill ret%rn to the roa ,3 replie 't( A%bert( &ichael procee e +ith rel%ctance, an the e-tre*e slo+ness of his pace *a e 't( A%bert look a,ain fro* the +in o+ to hasten hi*, +hen a,ain he sa+ the sa*e fi,%re( He +as so*e+hat startle ; probably the ,loo*iness of the spot *a e hi* *ore liable to alar*

than %s%al/ ho+ever this *i,ht be, he no+ stoppe &ichael, an ba e hi* call to the person in the aven%e( 3Please yo%r hono%r, he *ay be a robber,3 sai &ichael( 3It oes not please *e,3 replie 't( A%bert, +ho co%l not forbear s*ilin, at the si*plicity of his phrase, 3an +e +ill, therefore, ret%rn to the roa , for I see no probability of *eetin, here +ith +hat +e seek(3 &ichael t%rne abo%t i**e iately, an +as retracin, his +ay +ith alacrity, +hen a voice +as hear fro* a*on, the trees on the left( It +as not the voice of co**an , or istress, b%t a eep hollo+ tone, +hich see*e to be scarcely h%*an( The *an +hippe his *%les till they +ent as fast as possible, re,ar less of the arkness, the broken ,ro%n , an the necks of the +hole party, nor once stoppe till he reache the ,ate, +hich opene fro* the aven%e into the hi,h6roa , +here he +ent into a *ore *o erate pace( 3I a* very ill,3 sai 't( A%bert, takin, his a%,hter3s han ( 32o% are +orse, then, sir?3 sai E*ily, e-tre*ely alar*e by his *anner, 3yo% are +orse, an here is no assistance( Goo Go ? +hat is to be one?3 He leane his hea on her sho%l er, +hile she en eavo%re to s%pport hi* +ith her ar*, an &ichael +as a,ain or ere to stop( :hen the rattlin, of the +heels ha cease , *%sic +as hear on their air/ it +as to E*ily the voice of Hope( 3Oh? +e are near so*e h%*an habitation?3 sai she, 3help *ay soon be ha (3 'he listene an-io%sly/ the so%n s +ere istant, an see*e to co*e fro* a re*ote part of the +oo s that bor ere the roa / an , as she looke to+ar s the spot +hence they iss%e , she perceive in the faint *oon6 li,ht so*ethin, like a chatea%( It +as iffic%lt, ho+ever, to reach this/ 't( A%bert +as no+ too ill to bear the *otion of the carria,e/ &ichael co%l not 4%it his *%les/ an E*ily, +ho still s%pporte her father, feare to leave hi*, an also feare to vent%re alone to s%ch a istance, she kne+ not +hither, or to +ho*( 'o*ethin,, ho+ever, it +as necessary to eter*ine %pon i**e iately/ 't( A%bert, therefore, tol &ichael to procee slo+ly/ b%t they ha not ,one far, +hen he

fainte , an the carria,e +as a,ain stoppe ( He lay 4%ite senseless(73&y ear, ear father?3 crie E*ily in ,reat a,ony, +ho be,an to fear that he +as yin,, 3speak, if it is only one +or to let *e hear the so%n of yo%r voice?3 1%t no voice spoke in reply( In the a,ony of terror she ba e &ichael brin, +ater fro* the riv%let, that flo+e alon, the roa / an , havin, receive so*e in the *an3s hat, +ith tre*blin, han s she sprinkle it over her father3s face, +hich, as the *oon3s rays no+ fell %pon it, see*e to bear the i*pression of eath( Every e*otion of selfish fear no+ ,ave +ay to a stron,er infl%ence, an , co**ittin, 't( A%bert to the care of &ichael, +ho ref%se to ,o far fro* his *%les, she steppe fro* the carria,e in search of the chatea% she ha seen at a istance( It +as a still *oon6li,ht ni,ht, an the *%sic, +hich yet so%n e on the air, irecte her steps fro* the hi,h roa , %p a sha o+y lane, that le to the +oo s( Her *in +as for so*e ti*e so entirely occ%pie by an-iety an terror for her father, that she felt none for herself, till the eepenin, ,loo* of the overhan,in, folia,e, +hich no+ +holly e-cl% e the *oon6li,ht, an the +il ness of the place, recalle her to a sense of her a vent%ro%s sit%ation( The *%sic ha cease , an she ha no ,%i e b%t chance( )or a *o*ent she pa%se in terrifie perple-ity, till a sense of her father3s con ition a,ain overco*in, every consi eration for herself, she procee e ( The lane ter*inate in the +oo s, b%t she looke ro%n in vain for a ho%se, or a h%*an bein,, an as vainly listene for a so%n to ,%i e her( 'he h%rrie on, ho+ever, not kno+in, +hither, avoi in, the recesses of the +oo s, an en eavo%rin, to keep alon, their *ar,in, till a r% e kin of aven%e, +hich opene %pon a *oon6li,ht spot, arreste her attention( The +il ness of this aven%e bro%,ht to her recollection the one lea in, to the t%rrete chatea%, an she +as incline to believe, that this +as a part of the sa*e o*ain, an probably le to the sa*e point( :hile she hesitate , +hether to follo+ it or not, a so%n of *any voices in lo% *erri*ent b%rst %pon her ear( It see*e not the la%,h of cheerf%lness, b%t of riot, an she stoo appalle ( :hile she pa%se , she hear a istant voice, callin, fro* the

+ay she ha co*e, an not o%btin, b%t it +as that of &ichael, her first i*p%lse +as to hasten back/ b%t a secon tho%,ht chan,e her p%rpose/ she believe that nothin, less than the last e-tre*ity co%l have prevaile +ith &ichael to 4%it his *%les, an fearin, that her father +as no+ yin,, she r%she for+ar , +ith a feeble hope of obtainin, assistance fro* the people in the +oo s( Her heart beat +ith fearf%l e-pectation, as she re+ near the spot +hence the voices iss%e , an she often startle +hen her steps ist%rbe the fallen leaves( The so%n s le her to+ar s the *oon6li,ht ,la e she ha before notice / at a little istance fro* +hich she stoppe , an sa+, bet+een the boles of the trees, a s*all circ%lar level of ,reen t%rf, s%rro%n e by the +oo s, on +hich appeare a ,ro%p of fi,%res( On ra+in, nearer, she istin,%ishe these, by their ress, to be peasants, an perceive several cotta,es scattere ro%n the e ,e of the +oo s, +hich +ave loftily over this spot( :hile she ,a8e , an en eavo%re to overco*e the apprehensions that +ithhel her steps, several peasant ,irls ca*e o%t of a cotta,e/ *%sic instantly str%ck %p, an the ance be,an( It +as the .oyo%s *%sic of the vinta,e? the sa*e she ha before hear %pon the air( Her heart, occ%pie +ith terror for her father, co%l not feel the contrast, +hich this ,ay scene offere to her o+n istress/ she steppe hastily for+ar to+ar s a ,ro%p of el er peasants, +ho +ere seate at the oor of a cotta,e, an , havin, e-plaine her sit%ation, entreate their assistance( 'everal of the* rose +ith alacrity, an , offerin, any service in their po+er, follo+e E*ily, +ho see*e to *ove on the +in , as fast as they co%l to+ar s the roa ( :hen she reache the carria,e she fo%n 't( A%bert restore to ani*ation( On the recovery of his senses, havin, hear fro* &ichael +hither his a%,hter +as ,one, an-iety for her overca*e every re,ar for hi*self, an he ha sent hi* in search of her( He +as, ho+ever, still lan,%i , an , perceivin, hi*self %nable to travel *%ch farther, he rene+e his en4%iries for an inn, an concernin, the chatea% in the +oo s( 3The

chatea% cannot acco**o ate yo%, sir,3 sai a venerable peasant +ho ha follo+e E*ily fro* the +oo s, 3it is scarcely inhabite / b%t, if yo% +ill o *e the hono%r to visit *y cotta,e, yo% shall be +elco*e to the best be it affor s(3 't( A%bert +as hi*self a )rench*an/ he therefore +as not s%rprise at )rench co%rtesy/ b%t, ill as he +as, he felt the val%e of the offer enhance by the *anner +hich acco*panie it( He ha too *%ch elicacy to apolo,i8e, or to appear to hesitate abo%t availin, hi*self of the peasant3s hospitality, b%t i**e iately accepte it +ith the sa*e frankness +ith +hich it +as offere ( The carria,e a,ain *ove slo+ly on/ &ichael follo+in, the peasants %p the lane, +hich E*ily ha .%st 4%itte , till they ca*e to the *oon6li,ht ,la e( 't( A%bert3s spirits +ere so far restore by the co%rtesy of his host, an the near prospect of repose, that he looke +ith a s+eet co*placency %pon the *oon6li,ht scene, s%rro%n e by the sha o+y +oo s, thro%,h +hich, here an there, an openin, a *itte the strea*in, splen o%r, iscoverin, a cotta,e, or a sparklin, riv%let( He listene , +ith no painf%l e*otion, to the *erry notes of the ,%itar an ta*borine/ an , tho%,h tears ca*e to his eyes, +hen he sa+ the ebonnaire ance of the peasants, they +ere not *erely tears of *o%rnf%l re,ret( :ith E*ily it +as other+ise/ i**e iate terror for her father ha no+ s%bsi e into a ,entle *elancholy, +hich every note of .oy, by a+akenin, co*parison, serve to hei,hten( The ance cease on the approach of the carria,e, +hich +as a pheno*enon in these se4%estere +oo s, an the peasantry flocke ro%n it +ith ea,er c%riosity( On learnin, that it bro%,ht a sick stran,er, several ,irls ran across the t%rf, an ret%rne +ith +ine an baskets of ,rapes, +hich they presente to the travellers, each +ith kin contention pressin, for a preference( At len,th, the carria,e stoppe at a neat cotta,e, an his venerable con %ctor, havin, assiste 't( A%bert to ali,ht, le hi* an E*ily to a s*all inner roo*, ill%*inate only by *oon6bea*s, +hich the open

case*ent a *itte ( 't( A%bert, re.oicin, in rest, seate hi*self in an ar*6chair, an his senses +ere refreshe by the cool an bal*y air, that li,htly +ave the e*bo+erin, honeys%ckles, an +afte their s+eet breath into the apart*ent( His host, +ho +as calle 0a Voisin, 4%itte the roo*, b%t soon ret%rne +ith fr%its, crea*, an all the pastoral l%-%ry his cotta,e affor e / havin, set o+n +hich, +ith a s*ile of %nfei,ne +elco*e, he retire behin the chair of his ,%est( 't( A%bert insiste on his takin, a seat at the table, an , +hen the fr%it ha allaye the fever of his palate, an he fo%n hi*self so*e+hat revive , he be,an to converse +ith his host, +ho co**%nicate several partic%lars concernin, hi*self an his fa*ily, +hich +ere interestin,, beca%se they +ere spoken fro* the heart, an elineate a pict%re of the s+eet co%rtesies of fa*ily kin ness( E*ily sat by her father, hol in, his han , an , +hile she listene to the ol *an, her heart s+elle +ith the affectionate sy*pathy he escribe , an her tears fell to the *o%rnf%l consi eration, that eath +o%l probably soon eprive her of the earest blessin, she then possesse ( The soft *oon6li,ht of an a%t%*nal evenin,, an the istant *%sic, +hich no+ so%n e a plaintive strain, ai e the *elancholy of her *in ( The ol *an contin%e to talk of his fa*ily, an 't( A%bert re*aine silent( 3I have only one a%,hter livin,,3 sai 0a Voisin, 3b%t she is happily *arrie , an is every thin, to *e( :hen I lost *y +ife,3 he a e +ith a si,h, 3I ca*e to live +ith A,nes, an her fa*ily/ she has several chil ren, +ho are all ancin, on the ,reen yon er, as *erry as ,rasshoppers7an lon, *ay they be so? I hope to ie a*on, the*, *onsie%r( I a* ol no+, an cannot e-pect to live lon,, b%t there is so*e co*fort in yin, s%rro%n e by one3s chil ren(3 3&y ,oo frien ,3 sai 't( A%bert, +hile his voice tre*ble , 3I hope yo% +ill lon, live s%rro%n e by the*(3 3Ah, sir? at *y a,e I *%st not e-pect that?3 replie the ol *an, an he pa%se ; 3I can scarcely +ish it,3 he res%*e , 3for I tr%st that +henever I ie I shall ,o to heaven, +here *y poor +ife is ,one before *e( I can

so*eti*es al*ost fancy I see her of a still *oon6li,ht ni,ht, +alkin, a*on, these sha es she love so +ell( <o yo% believe, *onsie%r, that +e shall be per*itte to revisit the earth, after +e have 4%itte the bo yB3 E*ily co%l no lon,er stifle the an,%ish of her heart/ her tears fell fast %pon her father3s han , +hich she yet hel ( He *a e an effort to speak, an at len,th sai in a lo+ voice, 3I hope +e shall be per*itte to look o+n on those +e have left on the earth, b%t I can only hope it( )%t%rity is *%ch veile fro* o%r eyes, an faith an hope are o%r only ,%i es concernin, it( :e are not en.oine to believe, that ise*bo ie spirits +atch over the frien s they have love , b%t +e *ay innocently hope it( It is a hope +hich I +ill never resi,n,3 contin%e he, +hile he +ipe the tears fro* his a%,hter3s eyes, 3it +ill s+eeten the bitter *o*ents of eath?3 Tears fell slo+ly on his cheeks/ 0a Voisin +ept too, an there +as a pa%se of silence( Then, 0a Voisin, rene+in, the s%b.ect, sai , 31%t yo% believe, sir, that +e shall *eet in another +orl the relations +e have love in this/ I *%st believe this(3 3Then o believe it,3 replie 't( A%bert, 3severe, in ee , +o%l be the pan,s of separation, if +e believe it to be eternal( 0ook %p, *y ear E*ily, +e shall *eet a,ain?3 He lifte his eyes to+ar s heaven, an a ,lea* of *oon6li,ht, +hich fell %pon his co%ntenance, iscovere peace an resi,nation, stealin, on the lines of sorro+( 0a Voisin felt that he ha p%rs%e the s%b.ect too far, an he roppe it, sayin,, 3:e are in arkness, I for,ot to brin, a li,ht(3 39o,3 sai 't( A%bert, 3this is a li,ht I love( 'it o+n, *y ,oo frien ( E*ily, *y love, I fin *yself better than I have been all ay/ this air refreshes *e( I can en.oy this tran4%il ho%r, an that *%sic, +hich floats so s+eetly at a istance( 0et *e see yo% s*ile( :ho to%ches that ,%itar so tastef%llyB are there t+o instr%*ents, or is it an echo I hearB3 3It is an echo, *onsie%r, I fancy( That ,%itar is often hear at ni,ht, +hen all is still, b%t nobo y kno+s +ho to%ches it, an it is so*eti*es acco*panie by a voice

so s+eet, an so sa , one +o%l al*ost think the +oo s +ere ha%nte (3 3They certainly are ha%nte ,3 sai 't( A%bert +ith a s*ile, 3b%t I believe it is by *ortals(3 3I have so*eti*es hear it at *i ni,ht, +hen I co%l not sleep,3 re.oine 0a Voisin, not see*in, to notice this re*ark, 3al*ost %n er *y +in o+, an I never hear any *%sic like it( It has often *a e *e think of *y poor +ife till I crie ( I have so*eti*es ,ot %p to the +in o+ to look if I co%l see anybo y, b%t as soon as I opene the case*ent all +as h%she , an nobo y to be seen/ an I have listene , an listene till I have been so ti*oro%s, that even the tre*blin, of the leaves in the bree8e has *a e *e start( They say it often co*es to +arn people of their eath, b%t I have hear it these *any years, an o%tlive the +arnin,(3 E*ily, tho%,h she s*ile at the *ention of this ri ic%lo%s s%perstition, co%l not, in the present tone of her spirits, +holly resist its conta,ion( 3:ell, b%t, *y ,oo frien ,3 sai 't( A%bert, 3has nobo y ha co%ra,e to follo+ the so%n sB If they ha , they +o%l probably have iscovere +ho is the *%sician(3 32es, sir, they have follo+e the* so*e +ay into the +oo s, b%t the *%sic has still retreate , an see*e as istant as ever, an the people have at last been afrai of bein, le into har*, an +o%l ,o no f%rther( It is very sel o* that I have hear these so%n s so early in the evenin,( They %s%ally co*e abo%t *i ni,ht, +hen that bri,ht planet, +hich is risin, above the t%rret yon er, sets belo+ the +oo s on the left(3 3:hat t%rretB3 aske 't( A%bert +ith 4%ickness, 3I see none(3 32o%r par on, *onsie%r, yo% o see one in ee , for the *oon shines f%ll %pon it/7%p the aven%e yon er, a lon, +ay off/ the chatea% it belon,s to is hi a*on, the trees(3 32es, *y ear sir,3 sai E*ily, pointin,, 3 on3t yo% see so*ethin, ,litter above the ark +oo sB It is a fane, I fancy, +hich the rays fall %pon(3

3O yes, I see +hat yo% *ean/ an +ho oes the chatea% belon, toB3 3The &ar4%is e Villeroi +as its o+ner,3 replie Voisin, e*phatically( 0a

3Ah?3 sai 't( A%bert, +ith a eep si,h, 3are +e then so near 0e61lanc?3 He appeare *%ch a,itate ( 3It %se to be the &ar4%is3s favo%rite resi ence,3 res%*e 0a Voisin, 3b%t he took a islike to the place, an has not been there for *any years( :e have hear lately that he is ea , an that it is fallen into other han s(3 't( A%bert, +ho ha sat in eep *%sin,, +as ro%se by the last +or s( 3<ea ?3 he e-clai*e , 3Goo Go ? +hen i he ieB3 3He is reporte to have ie abo%t five +eeks since,3 replie 0a Voisin( 3<i yo% kno+ the &ar4%is, sirB3 3This is very e-traor inary?3 sai 't( A%bert +itho%t atten in, to the 4%estion( 3:hy is it so, *y ear sirB3 sai E*ily, in a voice of ti*i c%riosity( He *a e no reply, b%t s%nk a,ain into a reverie/ an in a fe+ *o*ents, +hen he see*e to have recovere hi*self, aske +ho ha s%ccee e to the estates( 3I have for,ot his title, *onsie%r,3 sai 0a Voisin/ 3b%t *y lor resi es at Paris chiefly/ I hear no talk of his co*in, hither(3 3The chatea% is sh%t %p then, stillB3 3:hy, little better, sir/ the ol ho%sekeeper, an her h%sban the ste+ar , have the care of it, b%t they live ,enerally in a cotta,e har by(3 3The chatea% is spacio%s, I s%ppose,3 sai E*ily, 3an *%st be esolate for the resi ence of only t+o persons(3 3<esolate eno%,h, *a e*oiselle,3 replie 0a Voisin, 3I +o%l not pass one ni,ht in the chatea%, for the val%e of the +hole o*ain(3 3:hat is thatB3 sai 't( A%bert, ro%se a,ain fro* tho%,htf%lness( As his host repeate his last sentence, a ,roan escape fro* 't( A%bert, an then, as if an-io%s to prevent it fro* bein, notice , he hastily aske 0a Voisin ho+ lon, he ha live in this nei,hbo%rhoo ( 3Al*ost fro* *y chil hoo , sir,3 replie his host(

32o% re*e*ber the late *archioness, thenB3 sai A%bert in an altere voice(

't(

3Ah, *onsie%r?7that I o +ell( There are *any besi es *e +ho re*e*ber her(3 32es73 sai 't( A%bert, 3an I a* one of those(3 3Alas, sir? yo% re*e*ber, then, a *ost bea%tif%l an e-cellent la y( 'he eserve a better fate(3 Tears stoo in 't( A%bert3s eyes/ 3Eno%,h,3 sai he, in a voice al*ost stifle by the violence of his e*otions, 73it is eno%,h, *y frien (3 E*ily, tho%,h e-tre*ely s%rprise by her father3s *anner, forbore to e-press her feelin,s by any 4%estion( 0a Voisin be,an to apolo,i8e, b%t 't( A%bert interr%pte hi*/ 3Apolo,y is 4%ite %nnecessary,3 sai he, 3let %s chan,e the topic( 2o% +as speakin, of the *%sic +e .%st no+ hear (3 3I +as, *onsie%r7b%t hark?7it co*es a,ain/ listen to that voice?3 They +ere all silent/
At last a soft and sole!n%breathing sound Rose, like a strea! of rich distilled perfu!es, And stole upon the air, that e"en 4ilence <as took ere she as = are, and ished she !ight (eny her nature, and be ne"er !ore 4till, to be so displaced#6 6Milton#

In a fe+ *o*ents the voice ie into air, an the instr%*ent, +hich ha been hear before, so%n e in lo+ sy*phony( 't( A%bert no+ observe , that it pro %ce a tone *%ch *ore f%ll an *elo io%s than that of a ,%itar, an still *ore *elancholy an soft than the l%te( They contin%e to listen, b%t the so%n s ret%rne no *ore( 3This is stran,e?3 sai 't( A%bert, at len,th interr%ptin, the silence( 3Very stran,e?3 sai E*ily( 3It is so,3 re.oine 0a Voisin, an they +ere a,ain silent( After a lon, pa%se, 3It is no+ abo%t ei,hteen years since I first hear that *%sic,3 sai 0a Voisin/ 3I re*e*ber it +as on a fine s%**er3s ni,ht, *%ch like this, b%t later, that I +as +alkin, in the +oo s, an alone( I re*e*ber, too, that *y spirits +ere very lo+, for one

of *y boys +as ill, an +e feare +e sho%l lose hi*( I ha been +atchin, at his be 6si e all the evenin, +hile his *other slept/ for she ha sat %p +ith hi* the ni,ht before( I ha been +atchin,, an +ent o%t for a little fresh air, the ay ha been very s%ltry( As I +alke %n er the sha es an *%se , I hear *%sic at a istance, an tho%,ht it +as Cla% e playin, %pon his fl%te, as he often i of a fine evenin,, at the cotta,e oor( 1%t, +hen I ca*e to a place +here the trees opene , =I shall never for,et it?> an stoo lookin, %p at the north6li,hts, +hich shot %p the heaven to a ,reat hei,ht, I hear all of a s% en s%ch so%n s?7they ca*e so as I cannot escribe( It +as like the *%sic of an,els, an I looke %p a,ain al*ost e-pectin, to see the* in the sky( :hen I ca*e ho*e, I tol +hat I ha hear , b%t they la%,he at *e, an sai it *%st be so*e of the shepher s playin, on their pipes, an I co%l not pers%a e the* to the contrary( A fe+ ni,hts after, ho+ever, *y +ife herself hear the sa*e so%n s, an +as as *%ch s%rprise as I +as, an )ather <enis fri,htene her sa ly by sayin,, that it +as *%sic co*e to +arn her of her chil 3s eath, an that *%sic often ca*e to ho%ses +here there +as a yin, person(3 E*ily, on hearin, this, shr%nk +ith a s%perstitio%s rea entirely ne+ to her, an co%l scarcely conceal her a,itation fro* 't( A%bert( 31%t the boy live , *onsie%r, in spite of )ather <enis(3 3)ather <enis?3 sai 't( A%bert, +ho ha listene to 3narrative ol a,e3 +ith patient attention, 3are +e near a convent, thenB3 32es, sir/ the convent of 't( Clair stan s at no ,reat istance, on the sea shore yon er(3 3Ah?3 sai 't( A%bert, as if str%ck +ith so*e s% en re*e*brance, 3the convent of 't( Clair?3 E*ily observe the clo% s of ,rief, *in,le +ith a faint e-pression of horror, ,atherin, on his bro+/ his co%ntenance beca*e fi-e , an , to%che as it no+ +as by the silver +hiteness of the *oon6li,ht, he rese*ble one of those *arble stat%es of a *on%*ent, +hich

see* to ben , in hopeless sorro+, over the ashes of the ea , she+n

by the blunted light That the di! !oon through painted case!ents lends#6 6 The E!igrants#

31%t, *y ear sir,3 sai E*ily, an-io%s to issipate his tho%,hts, 3yo% for,et that repose is necessary to yo%( If o%r kin host +ill ,ive *e leave, I +ill prepare yo%r be , for I kno+ ho+ yo% like it to be *a e(3 't( A%bert, recollectin, hi*self, an s*ilin, affectionately, esire she +o%l not a to her fati,%e by that attention/ an 0a Voisin, +hose consi eration for his ,%est ha been s%spen e by the interests +hich his o+n narrative ha recalle , no+ starte fro* his seat, an , apolo,i8in, for not havin, calle A,nes fro* the ,reen, h%rrie o%t of the roo*( In a fe+ *o*ents he ret%rne +ith his a%,hter, a yo%n, +o*an of pleasin, co%ntenance, an E*ily learne fro* her, +hat she ha not before s%specte , that, for their acco**o ation, it +as necessary part of 0a Voisin3s fa*ily sho%l leave their be s/ she la*ente this circ%*stance, b%t A,nes, by her reply, f%lly prove that she inherite , at least, a share of her father3s co%rteo%s hospitality( It +as settle , that so*e of her chil ren an &ichael sho%l sleep in the nei,hbo%rin, cotta,e( 3If I a* better, to6*orro+, *y ear,3 sai 't( A%bert +hen E*ily ret%rne to hi*, 3I *ean to set o%t at an early ho%r, that +e *ay rest, %rin, the heat of the ay, an +ill travel to+ar s ho*e( In the present state of *y health an spirits I cannot look on a lon,er .o%rney +ith pleas%re, an I a* also very an-io%s to reach 0a Vallee(3 E*ily, tho%,h she also esire to ret%rn, +as ,rieve at her father3s s% en +ish to o so, +hich she tho%,ht in icate a ,reater e,ree of in isposition than he +o%l ackno+le ,e( 't( A%bert no+ retire to rest, an E*ily to her little cha*ber, b%t not to i**e iate repose( Her tho%,hts ret%rne to the late conversation, concernin, the state of eparte spirits/ a s%b.ect, at this ti*e, partic%larly affectin, to her, +hen she ha every reason to believe that her ear father +o%l ere

lon, be n%*bere +ith the*( 'he leane pensively on the little open case*ent, an in eep tho%,ht fi-e her eyes on the heaven, +hose bl%e %nclo% e concave +as st% e thick +ith stars, the +orl s, perhaps, of spirits, %nsphere of *ortal *o%l ( As her eyes +an ere alon, the bo%n less aether, her tho%,hts rose, as before, to+ar s the s%bli*ity of the <eity, an to the conte*plation of f%t%rity( 9o b%sy note of this +orl interr%pte the co%rse of her *in / the *erry ance ha cease , an every cotta,er ha retire to his ho*e( The still air see*e scarcely to breathe %pon the +oo s, an , no+ an then, the istant so%n of a solitary sheep6bell, or of a closin, case*ent, +as all that broke on silence( At len,th, even this hint of h%*an bein, +as hear no *ore( Elevate an en+rapt, +hile her eyes +ere often +et +ith tears of s%bli*e evotion an sole*n a+e, she contin%e at the case*ent, till the ,loo* of *i 6ni,ht h%n, over the earth, an the planet, +hich 0a Voisin ha pointe o%t, s%nk belo+ the +oo s( 'he then recollecte +hat he ha sai concernin, this planet, an the *ysterio%s *%sic/ an , as she lin,ere at the +in o+, half hopin, an half fearin, that it +o%l ret%rn, her *in +as le to the re*e*brance of the e-tre*e e*otion her father ha she+n on *ention of the &ar4%is 0a Villeroi3s eath, an of the fate of the &archioness, an she felt stron,ly intereste concernin, the re*ote ca%se of this e*otion( Her s%rprise an c%riosity +ere in ee the ,reater, beca%se she i not recollect ever to have hear hi* *ention the na*e of Villeroi( 9o *%sic, ho+ever, stole on the silence of the ni,ht, an E*ily, perceivin, the lateness of the ho%r, ret%rne to a scene of fati,%e, re*e*bere that she +as to rise early in the *ornin,, an +ith re+ fro* the +in o+ to repose(

#HAPTER %II
&et those deplore their doo!, <hose hope still gro"els in this dark sojourn# But lofty souls can look beyond the to!b, 3an s!ile at fate, and onder ho they !ourn# 4hall 4pring to these sad scenes no !ore returnE 5s yonder a"e the sun=s eternal bedE? 4oon shall the orient ith ne lustre burn, And 4pring shall soon her "ital influence shed, Again attune the gro"e, again adorn the !ead> BEATT5E

E*ily, calle , as she ha re4%este , at an early ho%r, a+oke, little refreshe by sleep, for %neasy rea*s ha p%rs%e her, an *arre the kin est blessin, of the %nhappy( 1%t, +hen she opene her case*ent, looke o%t %pon the +oo s, bri,ht +ith the *ornin, s%n, an inspire the p%re air, her *in +as soothe ( The scene +as fille +ith that cheerin, freshness, +hich see*s to breathe the very spirit of health, an she hear only s+eet an PICTARE'5AE so%n s, if s%ch an e-pression *ay be allo+e 7the *atin6bell of a istant convent, the faint *%r*%r of the sea6+aves, the son, of bir s, an the far6off lo+ of cattle, +hich she sa+ co*in, slo+ly on bet+een the tr%nks of trees( 'tr%ck +ith the circ%*stances of i*a,ery aro%n her, she in %l,e the pensive tran4%illity +hich they inspire / an +hile she leane on her +in o+, +aitin, till 't( A%bert sho%l escen to breakfast, her i eas arran,e the*selves in the follo+in, lines; THE )IR'T HOAR O) &OR9I9G
8o s eet to ind the <hen early t ilight, (a ns on the sleeping And fades as !orning forest=s tangled shade, fro! the eastern bound, landscape in the glade, spreads her blush around>

<hen e"=ry infant flo er, that ept in night, &ifts its chill head soft glo ing ith a tear, E@pands its tender blosso! to the light, And gi"es its incense to the genial air# 8o fresh the breeBe that afts the rich perfu!e, And s ells the !elody of aking birdsA The hu! of bees, beneath the "erdant gloo!, And ood!an=s song, and lo of distant herds> Then, doubtful glea!s the !ountain=s hoary head, 4een through the parting foliage fro! afarA And, farther still, the ocean=s !isty bed,

<ith flitting sails, that partial sun%bea!s share# But, "ain the syl"an shade?the breath of May, The "oice of !usic floating on the gale, And for!s, that bea! through !orning=s de y "eil, 5f health no longer bid the heart be gay> 7 bal!y hour> =tis thine her ealth to gi"e, 8ere spread her blush, and bid the parent li"e>

E*ily no+ hear persons *ovin, belo+ in the cotta,e, an presently the voice of &ichael, +ho +as talkin, to his *%les, as he le the* forth fro* a h%t a .oinin,( As she left her roo*, 't( A%bert, +ho +as no+ risen, *et her at the oor, apparently as little restore by sleep as herself( 'he le hi* o+n stairs to the little parlo%r, in +hich they ha s%ppe on the prece in, ni,ht, +here they fo%n a neat breakfast set o%t, +hile the host an his a%,hter +aite to bi the* ,oo 6*orro+( 3I envy yo% this cotta,e, *y ,oo frien s,3 sai 't( A%bert, as he *et the*, 3it is so pleasant, so 4%iet, an so neat/ an this air, that one breathes7if any thin, co%l restore lost health, it +o%l s%rely be this air(3 0a Voisin bo+e ,ratef%lly, an replie , +ith the ,allantry of a )rench*an, 3O%r cotta,e *ay be envie , sir, since yo% an &a e*oiselle have hono%re it +ith yo%r presence(3 't( A%bert ,ave hi* a frien ly s*ile for his co*pli*ent, an sat o+n to a table, sprea +ith crea*, fr%it, ne+ cheese, b%tter, an coffee( E*ily, +ho ha observe her father +ith attention an tho%,ht he looke very ill, en eavo%re to pers%a e hi* to efer travellin, till the afternoon/ b%t he see*e very an-io%s to be at ho*e, an his an-iety he e-presse repeate ly, an +ith an earnestness that +as %n%s%al +ith hi*( He no+ sai , he fo%n hi*self as +ell as he ha been of late, an that he co%l bear travellin, better in the cool ho%r of the *ornin,, than at any other ti*e( 1%t, +hile he +as talkin, +ith his venerable host, an thankin, hi* for his kin attentions, E*ily observe his co%ntenance chan,e, an , before she co%l reach hi*, he fell back in his chair( In a fe+ *o*ents he recovere fro* the s% en faintness that ha co*e over hi*, b%t felt so ill, that he perceive hi*self %nable to set o%t, an , havin, re*aine a little +hile,

str%,,lin, a,ainst the press%re of in isposition, he be,,e he *i,ht be helpe %p stairs to be ( This re4%est rene+e all the terror +hich E*ily ha s%ffere on the prece in, evenin,/ b%t, tho%,h scarcely able to s%pport herself, %n er the s% en shock it ,ave her, she trie to conceal her apprehensions fro* 't( A%bert, an ,ave her tre*blin, ar* to assist hi* to the oor of his cha*ber( :hen he +as once *ore in be , he esire that E*ily, +ho +as then +eepin, in her o+n roo*, *i,ht be calle / an , as she ca*e, he +ave his han for every other person to 4%it the apart*ent( :hen they +ere alone, he hel o%t his han to her, an fi-e his eyes %pon her co%ntenance, +ith an e-pression so f%ll of ten erness an ,rief, that all her fortit% e forsook her, an she b%rst into an a,ony of tears( 't( A%bert see*e str%,,lin, to ac4%ire fir*ness, b%t +as still %nable to speak/ he co%l only press her han , an check the tears that stoo tre*blin, in his eyes( At len,th he co**an e his voice, 3&y ear chil ,3 sai he, tryin, to s*ile thro%,h his an,%ish, 3*y ear E*ily?37an pa%se a,ain( He raise his eyes to heaven, as if in prayer, an then, in a fir*er tone, an +ith a look, in +hich the ten erness of the father +as i,nifie by the pio%s sole*nity of the saint, he sai , 3&y ear chil , I +o%l soften the painf%l tr%th I have to tell yo%, b%t I fin *yself 4%ite %ne4%al to the art( Alas? I +o%l , at this *o*ent, conceal it fro* yo%, b%t that it +o%l be *ost cr%el to eceive yo%( It cannot be lon, before +e *%st part/ let %s talk of it, that o%r tho%,hts an o%r prayers *ay prepare %s to bear it(3 His voice faltere , +hile E*ily, still +eepin,, presse his han close to her heart, +hich s+elle +ith a conv%lsive si,h, b%t she co%l not look %p( 30et *e not +aste these *o*ents,3 sai 't( A%bert, recoverin, hi*self, 3I have *%ch to say( There is a circ%*stance of sole*n conse4%ence, +hich I have to *ention, an a sole*n pro*ise to obtain fro* yo%/ +hen this is one I shall be easier( 2o% have observe , *y ear, ho+ an-io%s I a* to reach ho*e, b%t kno+ not all *y reasons for this( 0isten to +hat I a* ,oin, to

say(72et stay7before I say *ore ,ive *e this pro*ise, a pro*ise *a e to yo%r yin, father?37't( A%bert +as interr%pte / E*ily, str%ck by his last +or s, as if for the first ti*e, +ith a conviction of his i**e iate an,er, raise her hea / her tears stoppe , an , ,a8in, at hi* for a *o*ent +ith an e-pression of %n%tterable an,%ish, a sli,ht conv%lsion sei8e her, an she s%nk senseless in her chair( 't( A%bert3s cries bro%,ht 0a Voisin an his a%,hter to the roo*, an they a *inistere every *eans in their po+er to restore her, b%t, for a consi erable ti*e, +itho%t effect( :hen she recovere , 't( A%bert +as so e-ha%ste by the scene he ha +itnesse , that it +as *any *in%tes before he ha stren,th to speak/ he +as, ho+ever, so*e+hat revive by a cor ial, +hich E*ily ,ave hi*/ an , bein, a,ain alone +ith her, he e-erte hi*self to tran4%ili8e her spirits, an to offer her all the co*fort of +hich her sit%ation a *itte ( 'he thre+ herself into his ar*s, +ept on his neck, an ,rief *a e her so insensible to all he sai , that he cease to offer the alleviations, +hich he hi*self co%l not, at this *o*ent, feel, an *in,le his silent tears +ith hers( Recalle , at len,th, to a sense of %ty, she trie to spare her father fro* a farther vie+ of her s%fferin,/ an , 4%ittin, his e*brace, rie her tears, an sai so*ethin,, +hich she *eant for consolation( 3&y ear E*ily,3 replie 't( A%bert, 3*y ear chil , +e *%st look %p +ith h%*ble confi ence to that 1ein,, +ho has protecte an co*forte %s in every an,er, an in every affliction +e have kno+n/ to +hose eye every *o*ent of o%r lives has been e-pose / he +ill not, he oes not, forsake %s no+/ I feel his consolations in *y heart( I shall leave yo%, *y chil , still in his care/ an , tho%,h I epart fro* this +orl , I shall be still in his presence( 9ay, +eep not a,ain, *y E*ily( In eath there is nothin, ne+, or s%rprisin,, since +e all kno+, that +e are born to ie/ an nothin, terrible to those, +ho can confi e in an all6po+erf%l Go ( Ha *y life been spare no+, after a very fe+ years, in the co%rse of nat%re, I *%st have resi,ne it/ ol a,e, +ith all its train of infir*ity, its privations an its sorro+s, +o%l have been *ine/ an then, at last, eath +o%l have

co*e, an calle forth the tears yo% no+ she ( Rather, *y chil , re.oice, that I a* save fro* s%ch s%fferin,, an that I a* per*itte to ie +ith a *in %ni*paire , an sensible of the co*forts of faith an resi,nation(3 't( A%bert pa%se , fati,%e +ith speakin,( E*ily a,ain en eavo%re to ass%*e an air of co*pos%re/ an , in replyin, to +hat he ha sai , trie to sooth hi* +ith a belief, that he ha not spoken in vain( :hen he ha repose a +hile, he res%*e the conversation( 30et *e ret%rn,3 sai he, 3to a s%b.ect, +hich is very near *y heart( I sai I ha a sole*n pro*ise to receive fro* yo%/ let *e receive it no+, before I e-plain the chief circ%*stance +hich it concerns/ there are others, of +hich yo%r peace re4%ires that yo% sho%l rest in i,norance( Pro*ise, then, that yo% +ill perfor* e-actly +hat I shall en.oin(3 E*ily, a+e by the earnest sole*nity of his *anner, rie her tears, that ha be,%n a,ain to flo+, in spite of her efforts to s%ppress the*/ an , lookin, elo4%ently at 't( A%bert, bo%n herself to o +hatever he sho%l re4%ire by a vo+, at +hich she sh% ere , yet kne+ not +hy( He procee e ; 3I kno+ yo% too +ell, *y E*ily, to believe, that yo% +o%l break any pro*ise, *%ch less one th%s sole*nly ,iven/ yo%r ass%rance ,ives *e peace, an the observance of it is of the %t*ost i*portance to yo%r tran4%illity( Hear, then, +hat I a* ,oin, to tell yo%( The closet, +hich a .oins *y cha*ber at 0a Vallee, has a sli in, boar in the floor( 2o% +ill kno+ it by a re*arkable knot in the +oo , an by its bein, the ne-t boar , e-cept one, to the +ainscot, +hich fronts the oor( At the istance of abo%t a yar fro* that en , nearer the +in o+, yo% +ill perceive a line across it, as if the plank ha been .oine /7the +ay to open it is this;7Press yo%r foot %pon the line/ the en of the boar +ill then sink, an yo% *ay sli e it +ith ease beneath the other( 1elo+, yo% +ill see a hollo+ place(3 't( A%bert pa%se for breath, an E*ily sat fi-e in eep attention( 3<o yo% %n erstan these irections, *y earB3 sai he( E*ily, tho%,h scarcely able to speak, ass%re hi* that she i (

3:hen yo% ret%rn ho*e, then,3 he a si,h7

e +ith a eep

At the *ention of her ret%rn ho*e, all the *elancholy circ%*stances, that *%st atten this ret%rn, r%she %pon her fancy/ she b%rst into conv%lsive ,rief, an 't( A%bert hi*self, affecte beyon the resistance of the fortit% e +hich he ha , at first, s%**one , +ept +ith her( After so*e *o*ents, he co*pose hi*self( 3&y ear chil ,3 sai he, 3be co*forte ( :hen I a* ,one, yo% +ill not be forsaken7I leave yo% only in the *ore i**e iate care of that Provi ence, +hich has never yet forsaken *e( <o not afflict *e +ith this e-cess of ,rief/ rather teach *e by yo%r e-a*ple to bear *y o+n(3 He stoppe a,ain, an E*ily, the *ore she en eavo%re to restrain her e*otion, fo%n it the less possible to o so( 't( A%bert, +ho no+ spoke +ith pain, res%*e the s%b.ect( 3That closet, *y ear,7+hen yo% ret%rn ho*e, ,o to it/ an , beneath the boar I have escribe , yo% +ill fin a packet of +ritten papers( Atten to *e no+, for the pro*ise yo% have ,iven partic%larly relates to +hat I shall irect( These papers yo% *%st b%rn7an , sole*nly I co**an yo%, :ITHOAT EXA&I9I9G THE&(3 E*ily3s s%rprise, for a *o*ent, overca*e her ,rief, an she vent%re to ask, +hy this *%st beB 't( A%bert replie , that, if it ha been ri,ht for hi* to e-plain his reasons, her late pro*ise +o%l have been %nnecessarily e-acte ( 3It is s%fficient for yo%, *y love, to have a eep sense of the i*portance of observin, *e in this instance(3 't( A%bert procee e ( 3An er that boar yo% +ill also fin abo%t t+o h%n re lo%is 3ors, +rappe in a silk p%rse/ in ee , it +as to sec%re +hatever *oney *i,ht be in the chatea%, that this secret place +as contrive , at a ti*e +hen the province +as over6r%n by troops of *en, +ho took a vanta,e of the t%*%lts, an beca*e pl%n erers( 31%t I have yet another pro*ise to receive fro* yo%, +hich is7that yo% +ill never, +hatever *ay be yo%r f%t%re circ%*stances, 'E00 the chatea%(3 't( A%bert

even en.oine her, +henever she *i,ht *arry, to *ake it an article in the contract, that the chatea% sho%l al+ays be hers( He then ,ave her a *ore *in%te acco%nt of his present circ%*stances than he ha yet one, a in,, 3The t+o h%n re lo%is, +ith +hat *oney yo% +ill no+ fin in *y p%rse, is all the rea y *oney I have to leave yo%( I have tol yo% ho+ I a* circ%*stance +ith &( &otteville, at Paris( Ah, *y chil ? I leave yo% poor7b%t not estit%te,3 he a e , after a lon, pa%se( E*ily co%l *ake no reply to any thin, he no+ sai , b%t knelt at the be 6si e, +ith her face %pon the 4%ilt, +eepin, over the han she hel there( After this conversation, the *in of 't( A%bert appeare to be *%ch *ore at ease/ b%t, e-ha%ste by the effort of speakin,, he s%nk into a kin of o8e, an E*ily contin%e to +atch an +eep besi e hi*, till a ,entle tap at the cha*ber6 oor ro%se her( It +as 0a Voisin, co*e to say, that a confessor fro* the nei,hbo%rin, convent +as belo+, rea y to atten 't( A%bert( E*ily +o%l not s%ffer her father to be ist%rbe , b%t esire , that the priest *i,ht not leave the cotta,e( :hen 't( A%bert a+oke fro* this o8e, his senses +ere conf%se , an it +as so*e *o*ents before he recovere the* s%fficiently to kno+, that it +as E*ily +ho sat besi e hi*( He then *ove his lips, an stretche forth his han to her/ as she receive +hich, she s%nk back in her chair, overco*e by the i*pression of eath on his co%ntenance( In a fe+ *in%tes he recovere his voice, an E*ily then aske , if he +ishe to see the confessor/ he replie , that he i / an , +hen the holy father appeare , she +ith re+( They re*aine alone to,ether above half an ho%r/ +hen E*ily +as calle in, she fo%n 't( A%bert *ore a,itate than +hen she ha left hi*, an she ,a8e , +ith a sli,ht e,ree of resent*ent, at the friar, as the ca%se of this/ +ho, ho+ever, looke *il ly an *o%rnf%lly at her, an t%rne a+ay( 't( A%bert, in a tre*%lo%s voice, sai , he +ishe her to .oin in prayer +ith hi*, an aske if 0a Voisin +o%l o so too( The ol *an an his a%,hter ca*e/ they both +ept, an knelt +ith E*ily ro%n the

be , +hile the holy father rea in a sole*n voice the service for the yin,( 't( A%bert lay +ith a serene co%ntenance, an see*e to .oin fervently in the evotion, +hile tears often stole fro* beneath his close eyeli s, an E*ily3s sobs *ore than once interr%pte the service( :hen it +as concl% e , an e-tre*e %nction ha been a *inistere , the friar +ith re+( 't( A%bert then *a e a si,n for 0a Voisin to co*e nearer( He ,ave hi* his han , an +as, for a *o*ent, silent( At len,th, he sai , in a tre*blin, voice, 3&y ,oo frien , o%r ac4%aintance has been short, b%t lon, eno%,h to ,ive yo% an opport%nity of she+in, *e *%ch kin attention( I cannot o%bt, that yo% +ill e-ten this kin ness to *y a%,hter, +hen I a* ,one/ she +ill have nee of it( I entr%st her to yo%r care %rin, the fe+ ays she +ill re*ain here( I nee say no *ore7yo% kno+ the feelin,s of a father, for yo% have chil ren/ *ine +o%l be, in ee , severe if I ha less confi ence in yo%(3 He pa%se ( 0a Voisin ass%re hi*, an his tears bore testi*ony to his sincerity, that he +o%l o all he co%l to soften her affliction, an that, if 't( A%bert +ishe it, he +o%l even atten her into Gascony/ an offer so pleasin, to 't( A%bert, that he ha scarcely +or s to ackno+le ,e his sense of the ol *an3s kin ness, or to tell hi*, that he accepte it( The scene, that follo+e bet+een 't( A%bert an E*ily, affecte 0a Voisin so *%ch, that he 4%itte the cha*ber, an she +as a,ain left alone +ith her father, +hose spirits see*e faintin, fast, b%t neither his senses, or his voice, yet faile hi*/ an , at intervals, he e*ploye *%ch of these last a+f%l *o*ents in a visin, his a%,hter, as to her f%t%re con %ct( Perhaps, he never ha tho%,ht *ore .%stly, or e-presse hi*self *ore clearly, than he i no+( 3Above all, *y ear E*ily,3 sai he, 3 o not in %l,e in the pri e of fine feelin,, the ro*antic error of a*iable *in s( Those, +ho really possess sensibility, o%,ht early to be ta%,ht, that it is a an,ero%s 4%ality, +hich is contin%ally e-tractin, the e-cess of *isery, or eli,ht, fro* every s%rro%n in, circ%*stance( An , since, in o%r passa,e thro%,h this +orl , painf%l

circ%*stances occ%r *ore fre4%ently than pleasin, ones, an since o%r sense of evil is, I fear, *ore ac%te than o%r sense of ,oo , +e beco*e the victi*s of o%r feelin,s, %nless +e can in so*e e,ree co**an the*( I kno+ yo% +ill say, =for yo% are yo%n,, *y E*ily> I kno+ yo% +ill say, that yo% are contente so*eti*es to s%ffer, rather than to ,ive %p yo%r refine sense of happiness, at others/ b%t, +hen yo%r *in has been lon, harasse by vicissit% e, yo% +ill be content to rest, an yo% +ill then recover fro* yo%r el%sion( 2o% +ill perceive, that the phanto* of happiness is e-chan,e for the s%bstance/ for happiness arises in a state of peace, not of t%*%lt( It is of a te*perate an %nifor* nat%re, an can no *ore e-ist in a heart, that is contin%ally alive to *in%te circ%*stances, than in one that is ea to feelin,( 2o% see, *y ear, that, tho%,h I +o%l ,%ar yo% a,ainst the an,ers of sensibility, I a* not an a vocate for apathy( At yo%r a,e I sho%l have sai THAT is a vice *ore hatef%l than all the errors of sensibility, an I say so still( I call it a VICE, beca%se it lea s to positive evil/ in this, ho+ever, it oes no *ore than an ill6,overne sensibility, +hich, by s%ch a r%le, *i,ht also be calle a vice/ b%t the evil of the for*er is of *ore ,eneral conse4%ence( I have e-ha%ste *yself,3 sai 't( A%bert, feebly, 3an have +earie yo%, *y E*ily/ b%t, on a s%b.ect so i*portant to yo%r f%t%re co*fort, I a* an-io%s to be perfectly %n erstoo (3 E*ily ass%re hi*, that his a vice +as *ost precio%s to her, an that she +o%l never for,et it, or cease fro* en eavo%rin, to profit by it( 't( A%bert s*ile affectionately an sorro+f%lly %pon her( 3I repeat it,3 sai he, 3I +o%l not teach yo% to beco*e insensible, if I co%l / I +o%l only +arn yo% of the evils of s%sceptibility, an point o%t ho+ yo% *ay avoi the*( 1e+are, *y love, I con.%re yo%, of that self6 el%sion, +hich has been fatal to the peace of so *any persons/ be+are of pri in, yo%rself on the ,racef%lness of sensibility/ if yo% yiel to this vanity, yo%r happiness is lost for ever( Al+ays re*e*ber ho+ *%ch *ore val%able is the stren,th of fortit% e, than the ,race of

sensibility( <o not, ho+ever, confo%n fortit% e +ith apathy/ apathy cannot kno+ the virt%e( Re*e*ber, too, that one act of beneficence, one act of real %sef%lness, is +orth all the abstract senti*ent in the +orl ( 'enti*ent is a is,race, instea of an orna*ent, %nless it lea %s to ,oo actions( The *iser, +ho thinks hi*self respectable, *erely beca%se he possesses +ealth, an th%s *istakes the *eans of oin, ,oo , for the act%al acco*plish*ent of it, is not *ore bla*eable than the *an of senti*ent, +itho%t active virt%e( 2o% *ay have observe persons, +ho eli,ht so *%ch in this sort of sensibility to senti*ent, +hich e-cl% es that to the calls of any practical virt%e, that they t%rn fro* the istresse , an , beca%se their s%fferin,s are painf%l to be conte*plate , o not en eavo%r to relieve the*( Ho+ espicable is that h%*anity, +hich can be contente to pity, +here it *i,ht ass%a,e?3 't( A%bert, so*e ti*e after, spoke of &a a*e Cheron, his sister( 30et *e infor* yo% of a circ%*stance, that nearly affects yo%r +elfare,3 he a e ( 3:e have, yo% kno+, ha little interco%rse for so*e years, b%t, as she is no+ yo%r only fe*ale relation, I have tho%,ht it proper to consi,n yo% to her care, as yo% +ill see in *y +ill, till yo% are of a,e, an to reco**en yo% to her protection after+ar s( 'he is not e-actly the person, to +ho* I +o%l have co**itte *y E*ily, b%t I ha no alternative, an I believe her to be %pon the +hole7a ,oo kin of +o*an( I nee not reco**en it to yo%r pr% ence, *y love, to en eavo%r to conciliate her kin ness/ yo% +ill o this for his sake, +ho has often +ishe to o so for yo%rs(3 E*ily ass%re hi*, that, +hatever he re4%este she +o%l reli,io%sly perfor* to the %t*ost of her ability( 3Alas?3 a e she, in a voice interr%pte by si,hs, 3that +ill soon be all +hich re*ains for *e/ it +ill be al*ost *y only consolation to f%lfil yo%r +ishes(3 't( A%bert looke %p silently in her face, as if +o%l have spoken, b%t his spirit s%nk a +hile, an his eyes beca*e heavy an %ll( 'he felt that look at her heart( 3&y ear father?3 she e-clai*e / an then, checkin, herself, presse his han closer, an hi her face +ith

her han kerchief( Her tears +ere conceale , b%t 't( A%bert hear her conv%lsive sobs( His spirits ret%rne ( 3O *y chil ?3 sai he, faintly, 3let *y consolations be yo%rs( I ie in peace/ for I kno+, that I a* abo%t to ret%rn to the boso* of *y )ather, +ho +ill still be yo%r )ather, +hen I a* ,one( Al+ays tr%st in hi*, *y love, an he +ill s%pport yo% in these *o*ents, as he s%pports *e(3 E*ily co%l only listen, an +eep/ b%t the e-tre*e co*pos%re of his *anner, an the faith an hope he e-presse , so*e+hat soothe her an,%ish( 2et, +henever she looke %pon his e*aciate co%ntenance, an sa+ the lines of eath be,innin, to prevail over it 7sa+ his s%nk eyes, still bent on her, an their heavy li s pressin, to a close, there +as a pan, in her heart, s%ch as efie e-pression, tho%,h it re4%ire filial virt%e, like hers, to forbear the atte*pt( He esire once *ore to bless her/ 3:here are yo%, *y earB3 sai he, as he stretche forth his han s( E*ily ha t%rne to the +in o+, that he *i,ht not perceive her an,%ish/ she no+ %n erstoo , that his si,ht ha faile hi*( :hen he ha ,iven her his blessin,, an it see*e to be the last effort of e-pirin, life, he s%nk back on his pillo+( 'he kisse his forehea / the a*ps of eath ha settle there, an , for,ettin, her fortit% e for a *o*ent, her tears *in,le +ith the*( 't( A%bert lifte %p his eyes/ the spirit of a father ret%rne to the*, b%t it 4%ickly vanishe , an he spoke no *ore( 't( A%bert lin,ere till abo%t three o3clock in the afternoon, an , th%s ,ra %ally sinkin, into eath, he e-pire +itho%t a str%,,le, or a si,h( E*ily +as le fro* the cha*ber by 0a Voisin an his a%,hter, +ho i +hat they co%l to co*fort her( The ol *an sat an +ept +ith her( A,nes +as *ore erroneo%sly officio%s(

#HAPTER %III
7=er hi!, hose doo! thy "irtues grie"e, Aerial for!s shall sit at e"e, and bend the pensi"e head# 37&&5:4

The *onk, +ho ha before appeare , ret%rne in the evenin, to offer consolation to E*ily, an bro%,ht a kin *essa,e fro* the la y abbess, invitin, her to the convent( E*ily, tho%,h she i not accept the offer, ret%rne an ans+er e-pressive of her ,ratit% e( The holy conversation of the friar, +hose *il benevolence of *anners bore so*e rese*blance to those of 't( A%bert, soothe the violence of her ,rief, an lifte her heart to the 1ein,, +ho, e-ten in, thro%,h all place an all eternity, looks on the events of this little +orl as on the sha o+s of a *o*ent, an behol s e4%ally, an in the sa*e instant, the so%l that has passe the ,ates of eath, an that, +hich still lin,ers in the bo y( 3In the si,ht of Go ,3 sai E*ily, 3*y ear father no+ e-ists, as tr%ly as he yester ay e-iste to *e/ it is to *e only that he is ea / to Go an to hi*self he yet lives?3 The ,oo *onk left her *ore tran4%il than she ha been since 't( A%bert ie / an , before she retire to her little cabin for the ni,ht, she tr%ste herself so far as to visit the corpse( 'ilent, an +itho%t +eepin,, she stoo by its si e( The feat%res, placi an serene, tol the nat%re of the last sensations, that ha lin,ere in the no+ eserte fra*e( )or a *o*ent she t%rne a+ay, in horror of the stillness in +hich eath ha fi-e that co%ntenance, never till no+ seen other+ise than ani*ate / then ,a8e on it +ith a *i-t%re of o%bt an a+f%l astonish*ent( Her reason co%l scarcely overco*e an invol%ntary an %nacco%ntable e-pectation of seein, that belove co%ntenance still s%sceptible( 'he contin%e to ,a8e +il ly/ took %p the col han / spoke/ still ,a8e , an then b%rst into a transport of ,rief( 0a Voisin, hearin, her sobs, ca*e into the roo* to lea her a+ay, b%t she hear nothin,, an only be,,e that he +o%l leave her(

A,ain alone, she in %l,e her tears, an , +hen the ,loo* of evenin, obsc%re the cha*ber, an al*ost veile fro* her eyes the ob.ect of her istress, she still h%n, over the bo y/ till her spirits, at len,th, +ere e-ha%ste , an she beca*e tran4%il( 0a Voisin a,ain knocke at the oor, an entreate that she +o%l co*e to the co**on apart*ent( 1efore she +ent, she kisse the lips of 't( A%bert, as she +as +ont to o +hen she ba e hi* ,oo ni,ht( A,ain she kisse the*/ her heart felt as if it +o%l break, a fe+ tears of a,ony starte to her eyes, she looke %p to heaven, then at 't( A%bert, an left the roo*( Retire to her lonely cabin, her *elancholy tho%,hts still hovere ro%n the bo y of her ecease parent/ an , +hen she s%nk into a kin of sl%*ber, the i*a,es of her +akin, *in still ha%nte her fancy( 'he tho%,ht she sa+ her father approachin, her +ith a beni,n co%ntenance/ then, s*ilin, *o%rnf%lly an pointin, %p+ar s, his lips *ove , b%t, instea of +or s, she hear s+eet *%sic borne on the istant air, an presently sa+ his feat%res ,lo+ +ith the *il rapt%re of a s%perior bein,( The strain see*e to s+ell lo% er, an she a+oke( The vision +as ,one, b%t *%sic yet ca*e to her ear in strains s%ch as an,els *i,ht breathe( 'he o%bte , listene , raise herself in the be , an a,ain listene ( It +as *%sic, an not an ill%sion of her i*a,ination( After a sole*n stea y har*ony, it pa%se / then rose a,ain, in *o%rnf%l s+eetness, an then ie , in a ca ence, that see*e to bear a+ay the listenin, so%l to heaven( 'he instantly re*e*bere the *%sic of the prece in, ni,ht, +ith the stran,e circ%*stances, relate by 0a Voisin, an the affectin, conversation it ha le to, concernin, the state of eparte spirits( All that 't( A%bert ha sai , on that s%b.ect, no+ presse %pon her heart, an over+hel*e it( :hat a chan,e in a fe+ ho%rs? He, +ho then co%l only con.ect%re, +as no+ *a e ac4%ainte +ith tr%th/ +as hi*self beco*e one of the eparte ? As she listene , she +as chille +ith s%perstitio%s a+e, her tears stoppe / an she rose, an +ent to the +in o+( All +itho%t +as obsc%re in sha e/ b%t E*ily, t%rnin, her eyes fro* the *assy

arkness of the +oo s, +hose +avin, o%tline appeare on the hori8on, sa+, on the left, that eff%l,ent planet, +hich the ol *an ha pointe o%t, settin, over the +oo s( 'he re*e*bere +hat he ha sai concernin, it, an , the *%sic no+ co*in, at intervals on the air, she %nclose the case*ent to listen to the strains, that soon ,ra %ally s%nk to a ,reater istance, an trie to iscover +hence they ca*e( The obsc%rity prevente her fro* istin,%ishin, any ob.ect on the ,reen platfor* belo+/ an the so%n s beca*e fainter an fainter, till they softene into silence( 'he listene , b%t they ret%rne no *ore( 'oon after, she observe the planet tre*blin, bet+een the frin,e tops of the +oo s, an , in the ne-t *o*ent, sink behin the*( Chille +ith a *elancholy a+e, she retire once *ore to her be , an , at len,th, for,ot for a +hile her sorro+s in sleep( On the follo+in, *ornin,, she +as visite by a sister of the convent, +ho ca*e, +ith kin offices an a secon invitation fro* the la y abbess/ an E*ily, tho%,h she co%l not forsake the cotta,e, +hile the re*ains of her father +ere in it, consente , ho+ever painf%l s%ch a visit *%st be, in the present state of her spirits, to pay her respects to the abbess, in the evenin,( Abo%t an ho%r before s%n6set, 0a Voisin she+e her the +ay thro%,h the +oo s to the convent, +hich stoo in a s*all bay of the &e iterranean, cro+ne by a +oo y a*phitheatre/ an E*ily, ha she been less %nhappy, +o%l have a *ire the e-tensive sea vie+, that appeare fro* the ,reen slope, in front of the e ifice, an the rich shores, h%n, +ith +oo s an past%res, that e-ten e on either han ( 1%t her tho%,hts +ere no+ occ%pie by one sa i ea, an the feat%res of nat%re +ere to her colo%rless an +itho%t for*( The bell for vespers str%ck, as she passe the ancient ,ate of the convent, an see*e the f%nereal note for 't( A%bert( 0ittle inci ents affect a *in , enervate by sorro+/ E*ily str%,,le a,ainst the sickenin, faintness, that ca*e over her, an +as le into the presence of the abbess, +ho receive her +ith an air of *aternal ten erness/ an air of s%ch ,entle solicit% e an

consi eration, as to%che her +ith an instantaneo%s ,ratit% e/ her eyes +ere fille +ith tears, an the +or s she +o%l have spoken faltere on her lips( The abbess le her to a seat, an sat o+n besi e her, still hol in, her han an re,ar in, her in silence, as E*ily rie her tears an atte*pte to speak( 31e co*pose , *y a%,hter,3 sai the abbess in a soothin, voice, 3 o not speak yet/ I kno+ all yo% +o%l say( 2o%r spirits *%st be soothe ( :e are ,oin, to prayers/7+ill yo% atten o%r evenin, serviceB It is co*fortable, *y chil , to look %p in o%r afflictions to a father, +ho sees an pities %s, an +ho chastens in his *ercy(3 E*ily3s tears flo+e a,ain, b%t a tho%san s+eet e*otions *in,le +ith the*( The abbess s%ffere her to +eep +itho%t interr%ption, an +atche over her +ith a look of beni,nity, that *i,ht have characteri8e the co%ntenance of a ,%ar ian an,el( E*ily, +hen she beca*e tran4%il, +as enco%ra,e to speak +itho%t reserve, an to *ention the *otive, that *a e her %n+illin, to 4%it the cotta,e, +hich the abbess i not oppose even by a hint/ b%t praise the filial piety of her con %ct, an a e a hope, that she +o%l pass a fe+ ays at the convent, before she ret%rne to 0a Vallee( 32o% *%st allo+ yo%rself a little ti*e to recover fro* yo%r first shock, *y a%,hter, before yo% enco%nter a secon / I +ill not affect to conceal fro* yo% ho+ *%ch I kno+ yo%r heart *%st s%ffer, on ret%rnin, to the scene of yo%r for*er happiness( Here, yo% +ill have all, that 4%iet an sy*pathy an reli,ion can ,ive, to restore yo%r spirits( 1%t co*e,3 a e she, observin, the tears s+ell in E*ily3s eyes, 3+e +ill ,o to the chapel(3 E*ily follo+e to the parlo%r, +here the n%ns +ere asse*ble , to +ho* the abbess co**itte her, sayin,, 3This is a a%,hter, for +ho* I have *%ch estee*/ be sisters to her(3 They passe on in sole*n evotion, perfor*e , elevate co*forts of faith an a train to the chapel, +here the +ith +hich the service +as her *in , an bro%,ht to it the resi,nation(

T+ili,ht ca*e on, before the abbess3s kin ness +o%l s%ffer E*ily to epart, +hen she left the convent, +ith a heart *%ch li,hter than she ha entere it, an +as recon %cte by 0a Voisin thro%,h the +oo s, the pensive ,loo* of +hich +as in %nison +ith the te*per of her *in / an she p%rs%e the little +il path, in *%sin, silence, till her ,%i e s% enly stoppe , looke ro%n , an then str%ck o%t of the path into the hi,h ,rass, sayin, he ha *istaken the roa ( He no+ +alke on 4%ickly, an E*ily, procee in, +ith iffic%lty over the obsc%re an %neven ,ro%n , +as left at so*e istance, till her voice arreste hi*, +ho see*e %n+illin, to stop, an still h%rrie on( 3If yo% are in o%bt abo%t the +ay,3 sai E*ily, 3ha +e not better en4%ire it at the chatea% yon er, bet+een the treesB3 39o,3 replie 0a Voisin, 3there is no occasion( :hen +e reach that brook, *a3a*selle, =yo% see the li,ht %pon the +ater there, beyon the +oo s> +hen +e reach that brook, +e shall be at ho*e presently( I on3t kno+ ho+ I happene to *istake the path/ I sel o* co*e this +ay after s%n6set(3 3It is solitary eno%,h,3 sai E*ily, 3b%t yo% have no ban itti here(3 39o, *a3a*selle7no ban itti(3 3:hat are yo% afrai of then, *y ,oo frien B yo% are not s%perstitio%sB3 39o, not s%perstitio%s/ b%t, to tell yo% the tr%th, la y, nobo y likes to ,o near that chatea%, after %sk(3 31y +ho* is it inhabite ,3 sai E*ily, 3that it is so for*i ableB3 3:hy, *a3a*selle, it is scarcely inhabite , for o%r lor the &ar4%is, an the lor of all these fin +oo s, too, is ea ( He ha not once been in it, for these *any years, an his people, +ho have the care of it, live in a cotta,e close by(3 E*ily no+ %n erstoo this to be the chatea%, +hich 0a Voisin ha for*erly pointe o%t, as havin, belon,e to the &ar4%is Villeroi, on the *ention of +hich her father ha appeare so *%ch affecte ( 3Ah? it is a esolate place no+,3 contin%e 0a Voisin, 3an s%ch a ,ran , fine place, as I re*e*ber it?3 E*ily en4%ire +hat ha occasione this la*entable chan,e/

b%t the ol *an +as silent, an E*ily, +hose interest +as a+akene by the fear he ha e-presse , an above all by a recollection of her father3s a,itation, repeate the 4%estion, an a e , 3If yo% are neither afrai of the inhabitants, *y ,oo frien , nor are s%perstitio%s, ho+ happens it, that yo% rea to pass near that chatea% in the arkB3 3Perhaps, then, I a* a little s%perstitio%s, *a3a*selle/ an , if yo% kne+ +hat I o, yo% *i,ht be so too( 'tran,e thin,s have happene there( &onsie%r, yo%r ,oo father, appeare to have kno+n the late &archioness(3 3Pray infor* *e +hat i happenB3 sai E*ily, +ith *%ch e*otion( 3Alas? *a3a*selle,3 ans+ere 0a Voisin, 3en4%ire no f%rther/ it is not for *e to lay open the o*estic secrets of *y lor (37E*ily, s%rprise by the ol *an3s +or s, an his *anner of eliverin, the*, forbore to repeat her 4%estion/ a nearer interest, the re*e*brance of 't( A%bert, occ%pie her tho%,hts, an she +as le to recollect the *%sic she hear on the prece in, ni,ht, +hich she *entione to 0a Voisin( 32o% +as not alone, *a3a*selle, in this,3 he replie , 3I hear it too/ b%t I have so often hear it, at the sa*e ho%r, that I +as scarcely s%rprise (3 32o% o%btless believe this *%sic to have so*e connection +ith the chatea%,3 sai E*ily s% enly, 3an are, therefore, s%perstitio%s(3 3It *ay be so, *a3a*selle, b%t there are other circ%*stances, belon,in, to that chatea%, +hich I re*e*ber, an sa ly too(3 A heavy si,h follo+e ; b%t E*ily3s elicacy restraine the c%riosity these +or s revive , an she en4%ire no f%rther( On reachin, the cotta,e, all the violence of her ,rief ret%rne / it see*e as if she ha escape its heavy press%re only +hile she +as re*ove fro* the ob.ect of it( 'he passe i**e iately to the cha*ber, +here the re*ains of her father +ere lai , an yiel e to all the an,%ish of hopeless ,rief( 0a Voisin, at len,th, pers%a e her to leave the roo*, an she ret%rne to her o+n, +here, e-ha%ste by the s%fferin,s of the ay,

she soon fell into eep sleep, an a+oke consi erably refreshe ( :hen the rea f%l ho%r arrive , in +hich the re*ains of 't( A%bert +ere to be taken fro* her for ever, she +ent alone to the cha*ber to look %pon his co%ntenance yet once a,ain, an 0a Voisin, +ho ha +aite patiently belo+ stairs, till her espair sho%l s%bsi e, +ith the respect %e to ,rief, forbore to interr%pt the in %l,ence of it, till s%rprise, at the len,th of her stay, an then apprehension overca*e his elicacy, an he +ent to lea her fro* the cha*ber( Havin, tappe ,ently at the oor, +itho%t receivin, an ans+er, he listene attentively, b%t all +as still/ no si,h, no sob of an,%ish +as hear ( 2et *ore alar*e by this silence, he opene the oor, an fo%n E*ily lyin, senseless across the foot of the be , near +hich stoo the coffin( His calls proc%re assistance, an she +as carrie to her roo*, +here proper applications, at len,th, restore her( <%rin, her state of insensibility, 0a Voisin ha ,iven irections for the coffin to be close , an he s%ccee e in pers%a in, E*ily to forbear revisitin, the cha*ber( 'he, in ee , felt herself %ne4%al to this, an also perceive the necessity of sparin, her spirits, an recollectin, fortit% e s%fficient to bear her thro%,h the approachin, scene( 't( A%bert ha ,iven a partic%lar in.%nction, that his re*ains sho%l be interre in the ch%rch of the convent of 't( Clair, an , in *entionin, the north chancel, near the ancient to*b of the Villerois, ha pointe o%t the e-act spot, +here he +ishe to be lai ( The s%perior ha ,rante this place for the inter*ent, an thither, therefore, the sa procession no+ *ove , +hich +as *et, at the ,ates, by the venerable priest, follo+e by a train of friars( Every person, +ho hear the sole*n chant of the anthe*, an the peal of the or,an, that str%ck %p, +hen the bo y entere the ch%rch, an sa+ also the feeble steps, an the ass%*e tran4%illity of E*ily, ,ave her invol%ntary tears( 'he she none, b%t +alke , her face partly sha e by a thin black veil, bet+een t+o persons, +ho s%pporte her, prece e by the abbess, an follo+e by

n%ns, +hose plaintive voices *ello+e the s+ellin, har*ony of the ir,e( :hen the procession ca*e to the ,rave the *%sic cease ( E*ily re+ the veil entirely over her face, an , in a *o*entary pa%se, bet+een the anthe* an the rest of the service, her sobs +ere istinctly a% ible( The holy father be,an the service, an E*ily a,ain co**an e her feelin,s, till the coffin +as let o+n, an she hear the earth rattle on its li ( Then, as she sh% ere , a ,roan b%rst fro* her heart, an she leane for s%pport on the person +ho stoo ne-t to her( In a fe+ *o*ents she recovere / an , +hen she hear those affectin, an s%bli*e +or s; 3His bo y is b%rie in peace, an his so%l ret%rns to Hi* that ,ave it,3 her an,%ish softene into tears( The abbess le her fro* the ch%rch into her o+n parlo%r, an there a *inistere all the consolations, that reli,ion an ,entle sy*pathy can ,ive( E*ily str%,,le a,ainst the press%re of ,rief/ b%t the abbess, observin, her attentively, or ere a be to be prepare , an reco**en e her to retire to repose( 'he also kin ly clai*e her pro*ise to re*ain a fe+ ays at the convent/ an E*ily, +ho ha no +ish to ret%rn to the cotta,e, the scene of all her s%fferin,s, ha leis%re, no+ that no i**e iate care presse %pon her attention, to feel the in isposition, +hich isable her fro* i**e iately travellin,( &ean+hile, the *aternal kin ness of the abbess, an the ,entle attentions of the n%ns i all, that +as possible, to+ar s soothin, her spirits an restorin, her health( 1%t the latter +as too eeply +o%n e , thro%,h the *e i%* of her *in , to be 4%ickly revive ( 'he lin,ere for so*e +eeks at the convent, %n er the infl%ence of a slo+ fever, +ishin, to ret%rn ho*e, yet %nable to ,o thither/ often even rel%ctant to leave the spot +here her father3s relics +ere eposite , an so*eti*es soothin, herself +ith the consi eration, that, if she ie here, her re*ains +o%l repose besi e those of 't( A%bert( In the *ean+hile, she sent letters to &a a*e Cheron an to the ol ho%sekeeper, infor*in, the* of the sa event, that ha taken place,

an of her o+n sit%ation( )ro* her a%nt she receive an ans+er, abo%n in, *ore in co**on6place con ole*ent, than in traits of real sorro+, +hich ass%re her, that a servant sho%l be sent to con %ct her to 0a Vallee, for that her o+n ti*e +as so *%ch occ%pie by co*pany, that she ha no leis%re to %n ertake so lon, a .o%rney( Ho+ever E*ily *i,ht prefer 0a Vallee to Tholo%se, she co%l not be insensible to the in ecoro%s an %nkin con %ct of her a%nt, in s%fferin, her to ret%rn thither, +here she ha no lon,er a relation to console an protect her/ a con %ct, +hich +as the *ore c%lpable, since 't( A%bert ha appointe &a a*e Cheron the ,%ar ian of his orphan a%,hter( &a a*e Cheron3s servant *a e the atten ance of the ,oo 0a Voisin %nnecessary/ an E*ily, +ho felt sensibly her obli,ations to hi*, for all his kin attention to her late father, as +ell as to herself, +as ,la to spare hi* a lon,, an +hat, at his ti*e of life, *%st have been a tro%bleso*e .o%rney( <%rin, her stay at the convent, the peace an sanctity that rei,ne +ithin, the tran4%il bea%ty of the scenery +itho%t, an the elicate attentions of the abbess an the n%ns, +ere circ%*stances so soothin, to her *in , that they al*ost te*pte her to leave a +orl , +here she ha lost her earest frien s, an evote herself to the cloister, in a spot, ren ere sacre to her by containin, the to*b of 't( A%bert( The pensive enth%sias*, too, so nat%ral to her te*per, ha sprea a bea%tif%l ill%sion over the sanctifie retire*ent of a n%n, that al*ost hi fro* her vie+ the selfishness of its sec%rity( 1%t the to%ches, +hich a *elancholy fancy, sli,htly tinct%re +ith s%perstition, ,ave to the *onastic scene, be,an to fa e, as her spirits revive , an bro%,ht once *ore to her heart an i*a,e, +hich ha only transiently been banishe thence( 1y this she +as silently a+akene to hope an co*fort an s+eet affections/ visions of happiness ,lea*e faintly at a istance, an , tho%,h she kne+ the* to be ill%sions, she co%l not resolve to sh%t the* o%t for ever( It +as the re*e*brance of Valanco%rt, of his taste, his ,eni%s,

an of the co%ntenance +hich ,lo+e +ith both, that, perhaps, alone eter*ine her to ret%rn to the +orl ( The ,ran e%r an s%bli*ity of the scenes, a*i st +hich they ha first *et, ha fascinate her fancy, an ha i*perceptibly contrib%te to ren er Valanco%rt *ore interestin, by see*in, to co**%nicate to hi* so*e+hat of their o+n character( The estee*, too, +hich 't( A%bert ha repeate ly e-presse for hi*, sanctione this kin ness/ b%t, tho%,h his co%ntenance an *anner ha contin%ally e-presse his a *iration of her, he ha not other+ise eclare it/ an even the hope of seein, hi* a,ain +as so istant, that she +as scarcely conscio%s of it, still less that it infl%ence her con %ct on this occasion( It +as several ays after the arrival of &a a*e Cheron3s servant before E*ily +as s%fficiently recovere to %n ertake the .o%rney to 0a Vallee( On the evenin, prece in, her epart%re, she +ent to the cotta,e to take leave of 0a Voisin an his fa*ily, an to *ake the* a ret%rn for their kin ness( The ol *an she fo%n sittin, on a bench at his oor, bet+een his a%,hter, an his son6in6la+, +ho +as .%st ret%rne fro* his aily labo%r, an +ho +as playin, %pon a pipe, that, in tone, rese*ble an oboe( A flask of +ine stoo besi e the ol *an, an , before hi*, a s*all table +ith fr%it an brea , ro%n +hich stoo several of his ,ran sons, fine rosy chil ren, +ho +ere takin, their s%pper, as their *other istrib%te it( On the e ,e of the little ,reen, that sprea before the cotta,e, +ere cattle an a fe+ sheep reposin, %n er the trees( The lan scape +as to%che +ith the *ello+ li,ht of the evenin, s%n, +hose lon, slantin, bea*s playe thro%,h a vista of the +oo s, an li,hte %p the istant t%rrets of the chatea%( 'he pa%se a *o*ent, before she e*er,e fro* the sha e, to ,a8e %pon the happy ,ro%p before her7on the co*placency an ease of healthy a,e, epict%re on the co%ntenance of 0a Voisin/ the *aternal ten erness of A,nes, as she looke %pon her chil ren, an the innocency of infantine pleas%res, reflecte in their s*iles( E*ily looke a,ain at the venerable ol *an, an at the cotta,e/ the *e*ory of

her father rose +ith f%ll force %pon her *in , an she hastily steppe for+ar , afrai to tr%st herself +ith a lon,er pa%se( 'he took an affectionate an affectin, leave of 0a Voisin an his fa*ily/ he see*e to love her as his a%,hter, an she tears/ E*ily she *any( 'he avoi e ,oin, into the cotta,e, since she kne+ it +o%l revive e*otions, s%ch as she co%l not no+ en %re( One painf%l scene yet a+aite her, for she eter*ine to visit a,ain her father3s ,rave/ an that she *i,ht not be interr%pte , or observe in the in %l,ence of her *elancholy ten erness, she eferre her visit, till every inhabitant of the convent, e-cept the n%n +ho pro*ise to brin, her the key of the ch%rch, sho%l be retire to rest( E*ily re*aine in her cha*ber, till she hear the convent bell strike t+elve, +hen the n%n ca*e, as she ha appointe , +ith the key of a private oor, that opene into the ch%rch, an they escen e to,ether the narro+ +in in, stair6case, that le thither( The n%n offere to acco*pany E*ily to the ,rave, a in,, 3It is *elancholy to ,o alone at this ho%r/3 b%t the for*er, thankin, her for the consi eration, co%l not consent to have any +itness of her sorro+/ an the sister, havin, %nlocke the oor, ,ave her the la*p( 32o% +ill re*e*ber, sister,3 sai she, 3that in the east aisle, +hich yo% *%st pass, is a ne+ly opene ,rave/ hol the li,ht to the ,ro%n , that yo% *ay not st%*ble over the loose earth(3 E*ily, thankin, her a,ain, took the la*p, an , steppin, into the ch%rch, sister &ariette eparte ( 1%t E*ily pa%se a *o*ent at the oor/ a s% en fear ca*e over her, an she ret%rne to the foot of the stair6 case, +here, as she hear the steps of the n%n ascen in,, an , +hile she hel %p the la*p, sa+ her black veil +avin, over the spiral bal%sters, she +as te*pte to call her back( :hile she hesitate , the veil isappeare , an , in the ne-t *o*ent, asha*e of her fears, she ret%rne to the ch%rch( The col air of the aisles chille her, an their eep silence an e-tent, feebly shone %pon by the *oon6li,ht, that strea*e thro%,h a istant ,othic +in o+, +o%l at any other ti*e have a+e her into s%perstition/ no+, ,rief

occ%pie all her attention( 'he scarcely hear the +hisperin, echoes of her o+n steps, or tho%,ht of the open ,rave, till she fo%n herself al*ost on its brink( A friar of the convent ha been b%rie there on the prece in, evenin,, an , as she ha sat alone in her cha*ber at t+ili,ht, she hear , at istance, the *onks chantin, the re4%ie* for his so%l( This bro%,ht freshly to her *e*ory the circ%*stances of her father3s eath/ an , as the voices, *in,lin, +ith a lo+ 4%er%lo%s peal of the or,an, s+elle faintly, ,loo*y an affectin, visions ha arisen %pon her *in ( 9o+ she re*e*bere the*, an , t%rnin, asi e to avoi the broken ,ro%n , these recollections *a e her pass on +ith 4%icker steps to the ,rave of 't( A%bert, +hen in the *oon6li,ht, that fell ath+art a re*ote part of the aisle, she tho%,ht she sa+ a sha o+ ,li in, bet+een the pillars( 'he stoppe to listen, an , not hearin, any footstep, believe that her fancy ha eceive her, an , no lon,er apprehensive of bein, observe , procee e ( 't( A%bert +as b%rie beneath a plain *arble, bearin, little *ore than his na*e an the ate of his birth an eath, near the foot of the stately *on%*ent of the Villerois( E*ily re*aine at his ,rave, till a chi*e, that calle the *onks to early prayers, +arne her to retire/ then, she +ept over it a last fare+el, an force herself fro* the spot( After this ho%r of *elancholy in %l,ence, she +as refreshe by a eeper sleep, than she ha e-perience for a lon, ti*e, an , on a+akenin,, her *in +as *ore tran4%il an resi,ne , than it ha been since 't( A%bert3s eath( 1%t, +hen the *o*ent of her epart%re fro* the convent arrive , all her ,rief ret%rne / the *e*ory of the ea , an the kin ness of the livin, attache her to the place/ an for the sacre spot, +here her father3s re*ains +ere interre , she see*e to feel all those ten er affections +hich +e conceive for ho*e( The abbess repeate *any kin ass%rances of re,ar at their partin,, an presse her to ret%rn, if ever she sho%l fin her con ition else+here %npleasant/ *any of the n%ns also e-presse %naffecte re,ret at her epart%re,

an E*ily left the convent +ith *any tears, an follo+e by sincere +ishes for her happiness( 'he ha travelle several lea,%es, before the scenes of the co%ntry, thro%,h +hich she passe , ha po+er to ro%se her for a *o*ent fro* the eep *elancholy, into +hich she +as s%nk, an , +hen they i , it +as only to re*in her, that, on her last vie+ of the*, 't( A%bert +as at her si e, an to call %p to her re*e*brance the re*arks he ha elivere on si*ilar scenery( Th%s, +itho%t any partic%lar occ%rrence, passe the ay in lan,%or an e.ection( 'he slept that ni,ht in a to+n on the skirts of 0an,%e oc, an , on the follo+in, *ornin,, entere Gascony( To+ar s the close of this ay, E*ily ca*e +ithin vie+ of the plains in the nei,hbo%rhoo of 0a Vallee, an the +ell6kno+n ob.ects of for*er ti*es be,an to press %pon her notice, an +ith the* recollections, that a+akene all her ten erness an ,rief( Often, +hile she looke thro%,h her tears %pon the +il ,ran e%r of the Pyrenees, no+ varie +ith the rich li,hts an sha o+s of evenin,, she re*e*bere , that, +hen last she sa+ the*, her father partook +ith her of the pleas%re they inspire ( '% enly so*e scene, +hich he ha partic%larly pointe o%t to her, +o%l present itself, an the sick lan,%or of espair +o%l steal %pon her heart( 3There?3 she +o%l e-clai*, 3there are the very cliffs, there the +oo of pines, +hich he looke at +ith s%ch eli,ht, as +e passe this roa to,ether for the last ti*e( There, too, %n er the cra, of that *o%ntain, is the cotta,e, peepin, fro* a*on, the ce ars, +hich he ba e *e re*e*ber, an copy +ith *y pencil( O *y father, shall I never see yo% *ore?3 As she re+ near the chatea%, these *elancholy *e*orials of past ti*es *%ltiplie ( At len,th, the chatea% itself appeare , a*i the ,lo+in, bea%ty of 't( A%bert3s favo%rite lan scape( This +as an ob.ect, +hich calle for fortit% e, not for tears/ E*ily rie hers, an prepare to *eet +ith cal*ness the tryin, *o*ent of her ret%rn to that ho*e, +here there +as no lon,er a parent to +elco*e her( 32es,3 sai she, 3let *e not for,et the lessons he has ta%,ht *e? Ho+ often he has pointe

o%t the necessity of resistin, even virt%o%s sorro+/ ho+ often +e have a *ire to,ether the ,reatness of a *in , that can at once s%ffer an reason? O *y father? if yo% are per*itte to look o+n %pon yo%r chil , it +ill please yo% to see, that she re*e*bers, an en eavo%rs to practise, the precepts yo% have ,iven her(3 A t%rn on the roa no+ allo+e a nearer vie+ of the chatea%, the chi*neys, tippe +ith li,ht, risin, fro* behin 't( A%bert3s favo%rite oaks, +hose folia,e partly conceale the lo+er part of the b%il in,( E*ily co%l not s%ppress a heavy si,h( 3This, too, +as his favo%rite ho%r,3 sai she, as she ,a8e %pon the lon, evenin, sha o+s, stretche ath+art the lan scape( 3Ho+ eep the repose, ho+ lovely the scene? lovely an tran4%il as in for*er ays?3 A,ain she resiste the press%re of sorro+, till her ear ca%,ht the ,ay *elo y of the ance, +hich she ha so often listene to, as she +alke +ith 't( A%bert, on the *ar,in of the Garonne, +hen all her fortit% e forsook her, an she contin%e to +eep, till the carria,e stoppe at the little ,ate, that opene %pon +hat +as no+ her o+n territory( 'he raise her eyes on the s% en stoppin, of the carria,e, an sa+ her father3s ol ho%sekeeper co*in, to open the ,ate( &anchon also ca*e r%nnin,, an barkin, before her/ an +hen his yo%n, *istress ali,hte , fa+ne , an playe ro%n her, ,aspin, +ith .oy( 3<ear *a3a*selle?3 sai Theresa, an pa%se , an looke as if she +o%l have offere so*ethin, of con ole*ent to E*ily, +hose tears no+ prevente reply( The o, still fa+ne an ran ro%n her, an then fle+ to+ar s the carria,e, +ith a short 4%ick bark( 3Ah, *a3a*selle?7*y poor *aster?3 sai Theresa, +hose feelin,s +ere *ore a+akene than her elicacy, 3&anchon3s ,one to look for hi*(3 E*ily sobbe alo% / an , on lookin, to+ar s the carria,e, +hich still stoo +ith the oor open, sa+ the ani*al sprin, into it, an instantly leap o%t, an then +ith his nose on the ,ro%n r%n ro%n the horses(

3<on3t cry so, *a3a*selle,3 sai Theresa, 3it breaks *y heart to see yo%(3 The o, no+ ca*e r%nnin, to E*ily, then ret%rne to the carria,e, an then back a,ain to her, +hinin, an iscontente ( 3Poor ro,%e?3 sai Theresa, 3tho% hast lost thy *aster, tho% *ayst +ell cry? 1%t co*e, *y ear yo%n, la y, be co*forte ( :hat shall I ,et to refresh yo%B3 E*ily ,ave her han to the ol servant, an trie to restrain her ,rief, +hile she *a e so*e kin en4%iries concernin, her health( 1%t she still lin,ere in the +alk +hich le to the chatea%, for +ithin +as no person to *eet her +ith the kiss of affection/ her o+n heart no lon,er palpitate +ith i*patient .oy to *eet a,ain the +ell6kno+n s*ile, an she rea e to see ob.ects, +hich +o%l recall the f%ll re*e*brance of her for*er happiness( 'he *ove slo+ly to+ar s the oor, pa%se , +ent on, an pa%se a,ain( Ho+ silent, ho+ forsaken, ho+ forlorn i the chatea% appear? Tre*blin, to enter it, yet bla*in, herself for elayin, +hat she co%l not avoi , she, at len,th, passe into the hall/ crosse it +ith a h%rrie step, as if afrai to look ro%n , an opene the oor of that roo*, +hich she +as +ont to call her o+n( The ,loo* of evenin, ,ave sole*nity to its silent an eserte air( The chairs, the tables, every article of f%rnit%re, so fa*iliar to her in happier ti*es, spoke elo4%ently to her heart( 'he seate herself, +itho%t i**e iately observin, it, in a +in o+, +hich opene %pon the ,ar en, an +here 't( A%bert ha often sat +ith her, +atchin, the s%n retire fro* the rich an e-tensive prospect, that appeare beyon the ,roves( Havin, in %l,e her tears for so*e ti*e, she beca*e *ore co*pose / an , +hen Theresa, after seein, the ba,,a,e eposite in her la y3s roo*, a,ain appeare , she ha so far recovere her spirits, as to be able to converse +ith her( 3I have *a e %p the ,reen be for yo%, *a3a*selle,3 sai Theresa, as she set the coffee %pon the table( 3I tho%,ht yo% +o%l like it better than yo%r o+n no+/ b%t I little tho%,ht this ay *onth, that yo% +o%l co*e back alone( A6+ell6a6 ay? the ne+s al*ost broke *y heart, +hen it i co*e( :ho +o%l have believe ,

that *y poor *aster, +hen he +ent fro* ho*e, +o%l never ret%rn a,ain?3 E*ily hi her face +ith her han kerchief, an +ave her han ( 3<o taste the coffee,3 sai Theresa( 3&y ear yo%n, la y, be co*forte 7+e *%st all ie( &y ear *aster is a saint above(3 E*ily took the han kerchief fro* her face, an raise her eyes f%ll of tears to+ar s heaven/ soon after she rie the*, an , in a cal*, b%t tre*%lo%s voice, be,an to en4%ire concernin, so*e of her late father3s pensioners( 3Alas6a6 ay?3 sai Theresa, as she po%re o%t the coffee, an han e it to her *istress, 3all that co%l co*e, have been here every ay to en4%ire after yo% an *y *aster(3 'he then procee e to tell, that so*e +ere ea +ho* they ha left +ell/ an others, +ho +ere ill, ha recovere ( 3An see, *a3a*selle,3 a e Theresa, 3there is ol &ary co*in, %p the ,ar en no+/ she has looke every ay these three years as if she +o%l ie, yet she is alive still( 'he has seen the chaise at the oor, an kno+s yo% are co*e ho*e(3 The si,ht of this poor ol +o*an +o%l have been too *%ch for E*ily, an she be,,e Theresa +o%l ,o an tell her, that she +as too ill to see any person that ni,ht( 3To6*orro+ I shall be better, perhaps/ b%t ,ive her this token of *y re*e*brance(3 E*ily sat for so*e ti*e, ,iven %p to sorro+( 9ot an ob.ect, on +hich her eye ,lance , b%t a+akene so*e re*e*brance, that le i**e iately to the s%b.ect of her ,rief( Her favo%rite plants, +hich 't( A%bert ha ta%,ht her to n%rse/ the little ra+in,s, that a orne the roo*, +hich his taste ha instr%cte her to e-ec%te/ the books, that he ha selecte for her %se, an +hich they ha rea to,ether/ her *%sical instr%*ents, +hose so%n s he love so +ell, an +hich he so*eti*es a+akene hi*self7every ob.ect ,ave ne+ force to sorro+( At len,th, she ro%se herself fro* this *elancholy in %l,ence, an , s%**onin, all her resol%tion, steppe for+ar to ,o into those forlorn roo*s, +hich, tho%,h she rea e to enter, she kne+

+o%l yet *ore po+erf%lly affect her, if she elaye to visit the*( Havin, passe thro%,h the ,reen6ho%se, her co%ra,e for a *o*ent forsook her, +hen she opene the oor of the library/ an , perhaps, the sha e, +hich evenin, an the folia,e of the trees near the +in o+s thre+ across the roo*, hei,htene the sole*nity of her feelin,s on enterin, that apart*ent, +here every thin, spoke of her father( There +as an ar* chair, in +hich he %se to sit/ she shr%nk +hen she observe it, for she ha so often seen hi* seate there, an the i ea of hi* rose so istinctly to her *in , that she al*ost fancie she sa+ hi* before her( 1%t she checke the ill%sions of a iste*pere i*a,ination, tho%,h she co%l not s%b %e a certain e,ree of a+e, +hich no+ *in,le +ith her e*otions( 'he +alke slo+ly to the chair, an seate herself in it/ there +as a rea in,6 esk before it, on +hich lay a book open, as it ha been left by her father( It +as so*e *o*ents before she recovere co%ra,e eno%,h to e-a*ine it/ an , +hen she looke at the open pa,e, she i**e iately recollecte , that 't( A%bert, on the evenin, before his epart%re fro* the chatea%, ha rea to her so*e passa,es fro* this his favo%rite a%thor( The circ%*stance no+ affecte her e-tre*ely/ she looke at the pa,e, +ept, an looke a,ain( To her the book appeare sacre an inval%able, an she +o%l not have *ove it, or close the pa,e, +hich he ha left open, for the treas%res of the In ies( 'till she sat before the esk, an co%l not resolve to 4%it it, tho%,h the increasin, ,loo*, an the profo%n silence of the apart*ent, revive a e,ree of painf%l a+e( Her tho%,hts +elt on the probable state of eparte spirits, an she re*e*bere the affectin, conversation, +hich ha passe bet+een 't( A%bert an 0a Voisin, on the ni,ht prece in, his eath( As she *%se she sa+ the oor slo+ly open, an a r%stlin, so%n in a re*ote part of the roo* startle her( Thro%,h the %sk she tho%,ht she perceive so*ethin, *ove( The s%b.ect she ha been consi erin,, an the present tone of her spirits, +hich *a e her i*a,ination respon to every i*pression of her senses, ,ave her a

s% en terror of so*ethin, s%pernat%ral( 'he sat for a *o*ent *otionless, an then, her issipate reason ret%rnin,, 3:hat sho%l I fearB3 sai she( 3If the spirits of those +e love ever ret%rn to %s, it is in kin ness(3 The silence, +hich a,ain rei,ne , *a e her asha*e of her late fears, an she believe , that her i*a,ination ha el% e her, or that she ha hear one of those %nacco%ntable noises, +hich so*eti*es occ%r in ol ho%ses( The sa*e so%n , ho+ever, ret%rne / an , istin,%ishin, so*ethin, *ovin, to+ar s her, an in the ne-t instant press besi e her into the chair, she shrieke / b%t her fleetin, senses +ere instantly recalle , on perceivin, that it +as &anchon +ho sat by her, an +ho no+ licke her han s affectionately( Perceivin, her spirits %ne4%al to the task she ha assi,ne herself of visitin, the eserte roo*s of the chatea% this ni,ht, +hen she left the library, she +alke into the ,ar en, an o+n to the terrace, that overh%n, the river( The s%n +as no+ set/ b%t, %n er the ark branches of the al*on trees, +as seen the saffron ,lo+ of the +est, sprea in, beyon the t+ili,ht of *i le air( The bat flitte silently by/ an , no+ an then, the *o%rnin, note of the ni,htin,ale +as hear ( The circ%*stances of the ho%r bro%,ht to her recollection so*e lines, +hich she ha once hear 't( A%bert recite on this very spot, an she ha no+ a *elancholy pleas%re in repeatin, the*(
47::ET :o the bat circles on the breeBe of e"e, That creeps, in shudd=ring fits, along the a"e, And tre!bles =!id the oods, and through the ca"e <hose lonely sighs the anderer decei"eA )or oft, hen !elancholy char!s his !ind, 8e thinks the 4pirit of the rock he hears, :or listens, but ith s eetly%thrilling fears, To the lo , !ystic !ur!urs of the ind> :o the bat circles, and the t ilight%de )alls silent round, and, o=er the !ountain%cliff, The glea!ing a"e, and far%disco"er=d skiff, 4preads the gray "eil of soft, har!onious hue# 4o falls o=er Grief the de of pity=s tear (i!!ing her lonely "isions of despair#

E*ily, +an erin, on, ca*e to 't( A%bert3s favo%rite plane6tree, +here so often, at this ho%r, they ha sat beneath the sha e to,ether, an +ith her ear *other so often ha converse on the s%b.ect of a f%t%re state( Ho+ often, too, ha her father e-presse the co*fort he erive fro* believin,, that they sho%l *eet in another +orl ? E*ily, overco*e by these recollections, left the plane6tree, an , as she leane pensively on the +all of the terrace, she observe a ,ro%p of peasants ancin, ,aily on the banks of the Garonne, +hich sprea in broa e-panse belo+, an reflecte the evenin, li,ht( :hat a contrast they for*e to the esolate, %nhappy E*ily? They +ere ,ay an ebonnaire, as they +ere +ont to be +hen she, too, +as ,ay7+hen 't( A%bert %se to listen to their *erry *%sic, +ith a co%ntenance bea*in, pleas%re an benevolence( E*ily, havin, looke for a *o*ent on this spri,htly ban , t%rne a+ay, %nable to bear the re*e*brances it e-cite / b%t +here, alas? co%l she t%rn, an not *eet ne+ ob.ects to ,ive ac%teness to ,riefB As she +alke slo+ly to+ar s the ho%se, she +as *et by Theresa( 3<ear *a3a*selle,3 sai she, 3I have been seekin, yo% %p an o+n this half ho%r, an +as afrai so*e acci ent ha happene to yo%( Ho+ can yo% like to +an er abo%t so in this ni,ht air? <o co*e into the ho%se( Think +hat *y poor *aster +o%l have sai , if he co%l see yo%( I a* s%re, +hen *y ear la y ie , no ,entle*an co%l take it *ore to heart than he i , yet yo% kno+ he sel o* she a tear(3 3Pray, Theresa, cease,3 sai E*ily, +ishin, to interr%pt this ill6.% ,e , b%t +ell6*eanin, haran,%e/ Theresa3s lo4%acity, ho+ever, +as not to be silence so easily( 3An +hen yo% %se to ,rieve so,3 she a e , 3he often tol yo% ho+ +ron, it +as7for that *y *istress +as happy( An , if she +as happy, I a* s%re he is so too/ for the prayers of the poor, they say, reach heaven(3 <%rin, this speech, E*ily ha +alke silently into the chatea%, an Theresa li,hte her across the hall into the co**on sittin, parlo%r, +here she ha lai the cloth, +ith one solitary knife an fork, for s%pper( E*ily +as

in the roo* before she perceive that it +as not her o+n apart*ent, b%t she checke the e*otion +hich incline her to leave it, an seate herself 4%ietly by the little s%pper table( Her father3s hat h%n, %pon the opposite +all/ +hile she ,a8e at it, a faintness ca*e over her( Theresa looke at her, an then at the ob.ect, on +hich her eyes +ere settle , an +ent to re*ove it/ b%t E*ily +ave her han 739o,3 sai she, 3let it re*ain( I a* ,oin, to *y cha*ber(3 39ay, *a3a*selle, s%pper is rea y(3 3I cannot take it,3 replie E*ily, 3I +ill ,o to *y roo*, an try to sleep( To*orro+ I shall be better(3 3This is poor oin,s?3 sai Theresa( 3<ear la y? o take so*e foo ? I have resse a pheasant, an a fine one it is( Ol &onsie%r 1arrea%- sent it this *ornin,, for I sa+ hi* yester ay, an tol hi* yo% +ere co*in,( An I kno+ nobo y that see*e *ore concerne , +hen he hear the sa ne+s, then he(3 3<i heB3 sai E*ily, in a ten er voice, +hile she felt her poor heart +ar*e for a *o*ent by a ray of sy*pathy( At len,th, her spirits +ere entirely overco*e, an she retire to her roo*(

#HAPTER I*
3an Music=s "oice, can Beauty=s eye, 3an Painting=s glo ing hand supply A char! so suited to !y !ind, As blo s this hollo gust of indE As drops this little eeping rill, 4oft tinkling do n the !oss%gro n hillA <hile, through the est, here sinks the cri!son day, Meek T ilight slo ly sails, and a"es her banners grayE MA47:

E*ily, so*e ti*e after her ret%rn to 0a Vallee, receive letters fro* her a%nt, &a a*e Cheron, in +hich, after so*e co**on6place con ole*ent an a vice, she

invite her to Tholo%se, an a e , that, as her late brother ha entr%ste E*ily3s E<ACATIO9 to her, she sho%l consi er herself bo%n to overlook her con %ct( E*ily, at this ti*e, +ishe only to re*ain at 0a Vallee, in the scenes of her early happiness, no+ ren ere infinitely ear to her, as the late resi ence of those, +ho* she ha lost for ever, +here she co%l +eep %nobserve , retrace their steps, an re*e*ber each *in%te partic%lar of their *anners( 1%t she +as e4%ally an-io%s to avoi the ispleas%re of &a a*e Cheron( Tho%,h her affection +o%l not s%ffer her to 4%estion, even a *o*ent, the propriety of 't( A%bert3s con %ct in appointin, &a a*e Cheron for her ,%ar ian, she +as sensible, that this step ha *a e her happiness epen , in a ,reat e,ree, on the h%*o%r of her a%nt( In her reply, she be,,e per*ission to re*ain, at present, at 0a Vallee, *entionin, the e-tre*e e.ection of her spirits, an the necessity she felt for 4%iet an retire*ent to restore the*( These she kne+ +ere not to be fo%n at &a a*e Cheron3s, +hose inclinations le her into a life of issipation, +hich her a*ple fort%ne enco%ra,e / an , havin, ,iven her ans+er, she felt so*e+hat *ore at ease( In the first ays of her affliction, she +as visite by &onsie%r 1arrea%-, a sincere *o%rner for 't( A%bert( 3I *ay +ell la*ent *y frien ,3 sai he, 3for I shall never *eet +ith his rese*blance( If I co%l have fo%n s%ch a *an in +hat is calle society, I sho%l not have left it(3 &( 1arrea%-3s a *iration of her father en eare hi* e-tre*ely to E*ily, +hose heart fo%n al*ost its first relief in conversin, of her parents, +ith a *an, +ho* she so *%ch revere , an +ho, tho%,h +ith s%ch an %n,racio%s appearance, possesse to *%ch ,oo ness of heart an elicacy of *in ( 'everal +eeks passe a+ay in 4%iet retire*ent, an E*ily3s affliction be,an to soften into *elancholy( 'he co%l bear to rea the books she ha before rea +ith her father/ to sit in his chair in the library7to +atch the flo+ers his han ha plante 7to a+aken the tones

of that instr%*ent his fin,ers ha presse , an so*eti*es even to play his favo%rite air( :hen her *in ha recovere fro* the first shock of affliction, perceivin, the an,er of yiel in, to in olence, an that activity alone co%l restore its tone, she scr%p%lo%sly en eavo%re to pass all her ho%rs in e*ploy*ent( An it +as no+ that she %n erstoo the f%ll val%e of the e %cation she ha receive fro* 't( A%bert, for in c%ltivatin, her %n erstan in, he ha sec%re her an asyl%* fro* in olence, +itho%t reco%rse to issipation, an rich an varie a*%se*ent an infor*ation, in epen ent of the society, fro* +hich her sit%ation secl% e her( 9or +ere the ,oo effects of this e %cation confine to selfish a vanta,es, since, 't( A%bert havin, no%rishe every a*iable 4%alify of her heart, it no+ e-pan e in benevolence to all aro%n her, an ta%,ht her, +hen she co%l not re*ove the *isfort%nes of others, at least to soften the* by sy*pathy an ten erness/7a benevolence that ta%,ht her to feel for all, that co%l s%ffer( &a a*e Cheron ret%rne no ans+er to E*ily3s letter, +ho be,an to hope, that she sho%l be per*itte to re*ain so*e ti*e lon,er in her retire*ent, an her *in ha no+ so far recovere its stren,th, that she vent%re to vie+ the scenes, +hich *ost po+erf%lly recalle the i*a,es of past ti*es( A*on, these +as the fishin,6ho%se/ an , to in %l,e still *ore the affectionate *elancholy of the visit, she took thither her l%te, that she *i,ht a,ain hear there the tones, to +hich 't( A%bert an her *other ha so often eli,hte to listen( 'he +ent alone, an at that still ho%r of the evenin, +hich is so soothin, to fancy an to ,rief( The last ti*e she ha been here she +as in co*pany +ith &onsie%r an &a a*e 't( A%bert, a fe+ ays prece in, that, on +hich the latter +as sei8e +ith a fatal illness( 9o+, +hen E*ily a,ain entere the +oo s, that s%rro%n e the b%il in,, they a+akene so forcibly the *e*ory of for*er ti*es, that her resol%tion yiel e for a *o*ent to e-cess of ,rief( 'he stoppe , leane for s%pport a,ainst a tree, an +ept for so*e *in%tes, before she ha recovere herself

s%fficiently to procee ( The little path, that le to the b%il in,, +as over,ro+n +ith ,rass an the flo+ers +hich 't( A%bert ha scattere carelessly alon, the bor er +ere al*ost choke +ith +ee s7the tall thistle 7the fo-6,love, an the nettle( 'he often pa%se to look on the esolate spot, no+ so silent an forsaken, an +hen, +ith a tre*blin, han , she opene the oor of the fishin,6ho%se, 3Ah?3 sai she, 3every thin,7every thin, re*ains as +hen I left it last7left it +ith those +ho never *%st ret%rn?3 'he +ent to a +in o+, that overh%n, the riv%let, an , leanin, over it, +ith her eyes fi-e on the c%rrent, +as soon lost in *elancholy reverie( The l%te she ha bro%,ht lay for,otten besi e her/ the *o%rnf%l si,hin, of the bree8e, as it +ave the hi,h pines above, an its softer +hispers a*on, the osiers, that bo+e %pon the banks belo+, +as a kin of *%sic *ore in %nison +ith her feelin,s( It i not vibrate on the chor s of %nhappy *e*ory, b%t +as soothin, to the heart as the voice of Pity( 'he contin%e to *%se, %nconscio%s of the ,loo* of evenin,, an that the s%n3s last li,ht tre*ble on the hei,hts above, an +o%l probably have re*aine so *%ch lon,er, if a s% en footstep, +itho%t the b%il in,, ha not alar*e her attention, an first *a e her recollect that she +as %nprotecte ( In the ne-t *o*ent, a oor opene , an a stran,er appeare , +ho stoppe on perceivin, E*ily, an then be,an to apolo,i8e for his intr%sion( 1%t E*ily, at the so%n of his voice, lost her fear in a stron,er e*otion; its tones +ere fa*iliar to her ear, an , tho%,h she co%l not rea ily istin,%ish thro%,h the %sk the feat%res of the person +ho spoke, she felt a re*e*brance too stron, to be istr%ste ( He repeate his apolo,y, an E*ily then sai so*ethin, in reply, +hen the stran,er ea,erly a vancin,, e-clai*e , 3Goo Go ? can it be7s%rely I a* not *istaken7*a3a*selle 't( A%bertB7is it notB3 3It is in ee ,3 sai E*ily, +ho +as confir*e in her first con.ect%re, for she no+ istin,%ishe the co%ntenance of Valanco%rt, li,hte %p +ith still *ore than its %s%al ani*ation( A tho%san painf%l recollections cro+ e to her *in , an the effort,

+hich she *a e to s%pport herself, only serve to increase her a,itation( Valanco%rt, *ean+hile, havin, en4%ire an-io%sly after her health, an e-presse his hopes, that &( 't( A%bert ha fo%n benefit fro* travellin,, learne fro* the floo of tears, +hich she co%l no lon,er repress, the fatal tr%th( He le her to a seat, an sat o+n by her, +hile E*ily contin%e to +eep, an Valanco%rt to hol the han , +hich she +as %nconscio%s he ha taken, till it +as +et +ith the tears, +hich ,rief for 't( A%bert an sy*pathy for herself ha calle forth( 3I feel,3 sai he at len,th, 3I feel ho+ ins%fficient all atte*pt at consolation *%st be on this s%b.ect( I can only *o%rn +ith yo%, for I cannot o%bt the so%rce of yo%r tears( :o%l to Go I +ere *istaken?3 E*ily co%l still ans+er only by tears, till she rose, an be,,e they *i,ht leave the *elancholy spot, +hen Valanco%rt, tho%,h he sa+ her feebleness, co%l not offer to etain her, b%t took her ar* +ithin his, an le her fro* the fishin,6ho%se( They +alke silently thro%,h the +oo s, Valanco%rt an-io%s to kno+, yet fearin, to ask any partic%lars concernin, 't( A%bert/ an E*ily too *%ch istresse to converse( After so*e ti*e, ho+ever, she ac4%ire fortit% e eno%,h to speak of her father, an to ,ive a brief acco%nt of the *anner of his eath/ %rin, +hich recital Valanco%rt3s co%ntenance betraye stron, e*otion, an , +hen he hear that 't( A%bert ha ie on the roa , an that E*ily ha been left a*on, stran,ers, he presse her han bet+een his, an invol%ntarily e-clai*e , 3:hy +as I not there?3 b%t in the ne-t *o*ent recollecte hi*self, for he i**e iately ret%rne to the *ention of her father/ till, perceivin, that her spirits +ere e-ha%ste , he ,ra %ally chan,e the s%b.ect, an spoke of hi*self( E*ily th%s learne that, after they ha parte , he ha +an ere , for so*e ti*e, alon, the shores of the &e iterranean, an ha then ret%rne thro%,h 0an,%e oc into Gascony, +hich +as his native province, an +here he %s%ally resi e ( :hen he ha concl% e his little narrative, he s%nk into a silence, +hich E*ily +as not ispose to

interr%pt, an it contin%e , till they reache the ,ate of the chatea%, +hen he stoppe , as if he ha kno+n this to be the li*it of his +alk( Here, sayin,, that it +as his intention to ret%rn to Est%viere on the follo+in, ay, he aske her if she +o%l per*it hi* to take leave of her in the *ornin,/ an E*ily, perceivin, that she co%l not re.ect an or inary civility, +itho%t e-pressin, by her ref%sal an e-pectation of so*ethin, *ore, +as co*pelle to ans+er, that she sho%l be at ho*e( 'he passe a *elancholy evenin,, %rin, +hich the retrospect of all that ha happene , since she ha seen Valanco%rt, +o%l rise to her i*a,ination/ an the scene of her father3s eath appeare in tints as fresh, as if it ha passe on the prece in, ay( 'he re*e*bere partic%larly the earnest an sole*n *anner, in +hich he ha re4%ire her to estroy the *an%script papers, an , a+akenin, fro* the lethar,y, in +hich sorro+ ha hel her, she +as shocke to think she ha not yet obeye hi*, an eter*ine , that another ay sho%l not reproach her +ith the ne,lect(

#HAPTER *
3an such things be, And o"erco!e us like a su!!er=s cloud, <ithout our special onderE MA3BET8

On the ne-t *ornin,, E*ily or ere a fire to be li,hte in the stove of the cha*ber, +here 't( A%bert %se to sleep/ an , as soon as she ha breakfaste , +ent thither to b%rn the papers( Havin, fastene the oor to prevent interr%ption, she opene the closet +here they +ere conceale , as she entere +hich, she felt an e*otion of %n%s%al a+e, an stoo for so*e *o*ents s%rveyin, it, tre*blin,, an al*ost afrai to re*ove the boar ( There +as a ,reat chair in one corner of the closet, an , opposite to it, stoo the table, at +hich she ha seen her father sit, on the evenin, that prece e his epart%re,

lookin, over, +ith so *%ch e*otion, +hat she believe to be these very papers( The solitary life, +hich E*ily ha le of late, an the *elancholy s%b.ects, on +hich she ha s%ffere her tho%,hts to +ell, ha ren ere her at ti*es sensible to the 3thick6co*in, fancies3 of a *in ,reatly enervate ( It +as la*entable, that her e-cellent %n erstan in, sho%l have yiel e , even for a *o*ent, to the reveries of s%perstition, or rather to those starts of i*a,ination, +hich eceive the senses into +hat can be calle nothin, less than *o*entary *a ness( Instances of this te*porary fail%re of *in ha *ore than once occ%rre since her ret%rn ho*e/ partic%larly +hen, +an erin, thro%,h this lonely *ansion in the evenin, t+ili,ht, she ha been alar*e by appearances, +hich +o%l have been %nseen in her *ore cheerf%l ays( To this infir* state of her nerves *ay be attrib%te +hat she i*a,ine , +hen, her eyes ,lancin, a secon ti*e on the ar*6chair, +hich stoo in an obsc%re part of the closet, the co%ntenance of her ea father appeare there( E*ily stoo fi-e for a *o*ent to the floor, after +hich she left the closet( Her spirits, ho+ever, soon ret%rne / she reproache herself +ith the +eakness of th%s s%fferin, interr%ption in an act of serio%s i*portance, an a,ain opene the oor( 1y the irections +hich 't( A%bert ha ,iven her, she rea ily fo%n the boar he ha escribe in an opposite corner of the closet, near the +in o+/ she istin,%ishe also the line he ha *entione , an , pressin, it as he ha ba e her, it sli o+n, an isclose the b%n le of papers, to,ether +ith so*e scattere ones, an the p%rse of lo%is( :ith a tre*blin, han she re*ove the*, replace the boar , pa%se a *o*ent, an +as risin, fro* the floor, +hen, on lookin, %p, there appeare to her alar*e fancy the sa*e co%ntenance in the chair( The ill%sion, another instance of the %nhappy effect +hich solit% e an ,rief ha ,ra %ally pro %ce %pon her *in , s%b %e her spirits/ she r%she for+ar into the cha*ber, an s%nk al*ost senseless into a chair( Ret%rnin, reason soon overca*e the rea f%l, b%t pitiable attack of i*a,ination, an she t%rne to the

papers, tho%,h still +ith so little recollection, that her eyes invol%ntarily settle on the +ritin, of so*e loose sheets, +hich lay open/ an she +as %nconscio%s, that she +as trans,ressin, her father3s strict in.%nction, till a sentence of rea f%l i*port a+akene her attention an her *e*ory to,ether( 'he hastily p%t the papers fro* her/ b%t the +or s, +hich ha ro%se e4%ally her c%riosity an terror, she co%l not is*iss fro* her tho%,hts( 'o po+erf%lly ha they affecte her, that she even co%l not resolve to estroy the papers i**e iately/ an the *ore she +elt on the circ%*stance, the *ore it infla*e her i*a,ination( Ar,e by the *ost forcible, an apparently the *ost necessary, c%riosity to en4%ire farther, concernin, the terrible an *ysterio%s s%b.ect, to +hich she ha seen an all%sion, she be,an to la*ent her pro*ise to estroy the papers( )or a *o*ent, she even o%bte , +hether it co%l .%stly be obeye , in contra iction to s%ch reasons as there appeare to be for f%rther infor*ation( 1%t the el%sion +as *o*entary( 3I have ,iven a sole*n pro*ise,3 sai she, 3to observe a sole*n in.%nction, an it is not *y b%siness to ar,%e, b%t to obey( 0et *e hasten to re*ove the te*ptation, that +o%l estroy *y innocence, an e*bitter *y life +ith the conscio%sness of irre*e iable ,%ilt, +hile I have stren,th to re.ect it(3 Th%s re6ani*ate +ith a sense of her %ty, she co*plete the tri%*ph of her inte,rity over te*ptation, *ore forcible than any she ha ever kno+n, an consi,ne the papers to the fla*es( Her eyes +atche the* as they slo+ly cons%*e , she sh% ere at the recollection of the sentence she ha .%st seen, an at the certainty, that the only opport%nity of e-plainin, it +as then passin, a+ay for ever( It +as lon, after this, that she recollecte the p%rse/ an as she +as epositin, it, %nopene , in a cabinet, perceivin, that it containe so*ethin, of a si8e lar,er than coin, she e-a*ine it( 3His han eposite the* here,3 sai she, as she kisse so*e pieces of the coin, an +ette the* +ith her tears, 3his han 7+hich is no+ %st?3 At the botto* of the p%rse +as a s*all

packet, havin, taken o%t +hich, an %nfol e paper after paper, she fo%n to be an ivory case, containin, the *iniat%re of a7la y? 'he starte 73The sa*e,3 sai she, 3*y father +ept over?3 On e-a*inin, the co%ntenance she co%l recollect no person that it rese*ble ( It +as of %nco**on bea%ty, an +as characteri8e by an e-pression of s+eetness, sha e +ith sorro+, an te*pere by resi,nation( 't( A%bert ha ,iven no irections concernin, this pict%re, nor ha even na*e it/ she, therefore, tho%,ht herself .%stifie in preservin, it( &ore than once re*e*berin, his *anner, +hen he ha spoken of the &archioness of Villeroi, she felt incline to believe that this +as her rese*blance/ yet there appeare no reason +hy he sho%l have preserve a pict%re of that la y, or, havin, preserve it, +hy he sho%l la*ent over it in a *anner so strikin, an affectin, as she ha +itnesse on the ni,ht prece in, his epart%re( E*ily still ,a8e on the co%ntenance, e-a*inin, its feat%res, b%t she kne+ not +here to etect the char* that captivate her attention, an inspire senti*ents of s%ch love an pity( <ark bro+n hair playe carelessly alon, the open forehea / the nose +as rather incline to a4%iline/ the lips spoke in a s*ile, b%t it +as a *elancholy one/ the eyes +ere bl%e, an +ere irecte %p+ar s +ith an e-pression of pec%liar *eekness, +hile the soft clo% of the bro+ spoke of the fine sensibility of the te*per( E*ily +as ro%se fro* the *%sin, *oo into +hich the pict%re ha thro+n her, by the closin, of the ,ar en ,ate/ an , on t%rnin, her eyes to the +in o+, she sa+ Valanco%rt co*in, to+ar s the chatea%( Her spirits a,itate by the s%b.ects that ha lately occ%pie her *in , she felt %nprepare to see hi*, an re*aine a fe+ *o*ents in the cha*ber to recover herself( :hen she *et hi* in the parlo%r, she +as str%ck +ith the chan,e that appeare in his air an co%ntenance since they ha parte in Ro%sillon, +hich t+ili,ht an the istress she s%ffere on the prece in, evenin, ha prevente her fro* observin,( 1%t e.ection an

lan,%or isappeare , for a *o*ent, in the s*ile that no+ enli,htene his co%ntenance, on perceivin, her( 32o% see,3 sai he, 3I have availe *yself of the per*ission +ith +hich yo% hono%re *e7of bi in, 2OA fare+ell, +ho* I ha the happiness of *eetin, only yester ay(3 E*ily s*ile faintly, an , an-io%s to say so*ethin,, aske if he ha been lon, in Gascony( 3A fe+ ays only,3 replie Valanco%rt, +hile a bl%sh passe over his cheek( 3I en,a,e in a lon, ra*ble after I ha the *isfort%ne of partin, +ith the frien s +ho ha *a e *y +an erin,s a*on, the Pyrenees so eli,htf%l(3 A tear ca*e to E*ily3s eye, as Valanco%rt sai this, +hich he observe / an , an-io%s to ra+ off her attention fro* the re*e*brance that ha occasione it, as +ell as shocke at his o+n tho%,htlessness, he be,an to speak on other s%b.ects, e-pressin, his a *iration of the chatea%, an its prospects( E*ily, +ho felt so*e+hat e*barrasse ho+ to s%pport a conversation, +as ,la of s%ch an opport%nity to contin%e it on in ifferent topics( They +alke o+n to the terrace, +here Valanco%rt +as char*e +ith the river scenery, an the vie+s over the opposite shores of G%ienne( As he leane on the +all of the terrace, +atchin, the rapi c%rrent of the Garonne, 3I +as a fe+ +eeks a,o,3 sai he, 3at the so%rce of this noble river/ I ha not then the happiness of kno+in, yo%, or I sho%l have re,rette yo%r absence7it +as a scene so e-actly s%ite to yo%r taste( It rises in a part of the Pyrenees, still +il er an *ore s%bli*e, I think, than any +e passe in the +ay to Ro%sillon(3 He then escribe its fall a*on, the precipices of the *o%ntains, +here its +aters, a%,*ente by the strea*s that escen fro* the sno+y s%**its aro%n , r%sh into the Vallee 3Aran, bet+een +hose ro*antic hei,hts it foa*s alon,, p%rs%in, its +ay to the north +est till it e*er,es %pon the plains of 0an,%e oc( Then, +ashin, the +alls of Tholo%se, an t%rnin, a,ain to the north +est, it ass%*es a *il er character, as it fertili8es the past%res

of Gascony an G%ienne, in its pro,ress to the 1ay of 1iscay( E*ily an Valanco%rt talke of the scenes they ha passe a*on, the Pyrenean Alps/ as he spoke of +hich there +as often a tre*%lo%s ten erness in his voice, an so*eti*es he e-patiate on the* +ith all the fire of ,eni%s, so*eti*es +o%l appear scarcely conscio%s of the topic, tho%,h he contin%e to speak( This s%b.ect recalle forcibly to E*ily the i ea of her father, +hose i*a,e appeare in every lan scape, +hich Valanco%rt partic%lari8e , +hose re*arks +elt %pon her *e*ory, an +hose enth%sias* still ,lo+e in her heart( Her silence, at len,th, re*in e Valanco%rt ho+ nearly his conversation approache to the occasion of her ,rief, an he chan,e the s%b.ect, tho%,h for one scarcely less affectin, to E*ily( :hen he a *ire the ,ran e%r of the plane6tree, that sprea its +i e branches over the terrace, an %n er +hose sha e they no+ sat, she re*e*bere ho+ often she ha sat th%s +ith 't( A%bert, an hear hi* e-press the sa*e a *iration( 3This +as a favo%rite tree +ith *y ear father,3 sai she/ 3he %se to love to sit %n er its folia,e +ith his fa*ily abo%t hi*, in the fine evenin,s of s%**er(3 Valanco%rt %n erstoo her feelin,s, an +as silent/ ha she raise her eyes fro* the ,ro%n she +o%l have seen tears in his( He rose, an leane on the +all of the terrace, fro* +hich, in a fe+ *o*ents, he ret%rne to his seat, then rose a,ain, an appeare to be ,reatly a,itate / +hile E*ily fo%n her spirits so *%ch epresse , that several of her atte*pts to rene+ the conversation +ere ineffect%al( Valanco%rt a,ain sat o+n, b%t +as still silent, an tre*ble ( At len,th he sai , +ith a hesitatin, voice, 3This lovely scene?7I a* ,oin, to leave7to leave yo%7perhaps for ever? These *o*ents *ay never ret%rn/ I cannot resolve to ne,lect, tho%,h I scarcely are to avail *yself of the*( 0et *e, ho+ever, +itho%t offen in, the elicacy of yo%r sorro+, vent%re to eclare the a *iration I *%st al+ays feel of yo%r ,oo ness7O? that at so*e f%t%re perio I *i,ht be per*itte to call it love?3

E*ily3s e*otion +o%l not s%ffer her to reply/ an Valanco%rt, +ho no+ vent%re to look %p, observin, her co%ntenance chan,e, e-pecte to see her faint, an *a e an invol%ntary effort to s%pport her, +hich recalle E*ily to a sense of her sit%ation, an to an e-ertion of her spirits( Valanco%rt i not appear to notice her in isposition, b%t, +hen he spoke a,ain, his voice tol the ten erest love( 3I +ill not pres%*e,3 he a e , 3to intr% e this s%b.ect lon,er %pon yo%r attention at this ti*e, b%t I *ay, perhaps, be per*itte to *ention, that these partin, *o*ents +o%l lose *%ch of their bitterness if I *i,ht be allo+e to hope the eclaration I have *a e +o%l not e-cl% e *e fro* yo%r presence in f%t%re(3 E*ily *a e another effort to overco*e the conf%sion of her tho%,hts, an to speak( 'he feare to tr%st the preference her heart ackno+le ,e to+ar s Valanco%rt, an to ,ive hi* any enco%ra,e*ent for hope, on so short an ac4%aintance( )or tho%,h in this narro+ perio she ha observe *%ch that +as a *irable in his taste an isposition, an tho%,h these observations ha been sanctione by the opinion of her father, they +ere not s%fficient testi*onies of his ,eneral +orth to eter*ine her %pon a s%b.ect so infinitely i*portant to her f%t%re happiness as that, +hich no+ solicite her attention( 2et, tho%,h the tho%,ht of is*issin, Valanco%rt +as so very painf%l to her, that she co%l scarcely en %re to pa%se %pon it, the conscio%sness of this *a e her fear the partiality of her .% ,*ent, an hesitate still *ore to enco%ra,e that s%it, for +hich her o+n heart too ten erly plea e ( The fa*ily of Valanco%rt, if not his circ%*stances, ha been kno+n to her father, an kno+n to be %ne-ceptionable( Of his circ%*stances, Valanco%rt hi*self hinte as far as elicacy +o%l per*it, +hen he sai he ha at present little else to offer b%t an heart, that a ore her( He ha solicite only for a istant hope, an she co%l not resolve to forbi , tho%,h she scarcely are to per*it it/ at len,th, she ac4%ire co%ra,e to say, that she *%st think herself hono%re by the ,oo opinion of any person, +ho* her father ha estee*e (

3An +as I, then, tho%,ht +orthy of his estee*B3 sai Valanco%rt, in a voice tre*blin, +ith an-iety/ then checkin, hi*self, he a e , 31%t par on the 4%estion/ I scarcely kno+ +hat I say( If I *i,ht are to hope, that yo% think *e not %n+orthy s%ch hono%r, an *i,ht be per*itte so*eti*es to en4%ire after yo%r health, I sho%l no+ leave yo% +ith co*parative tran4%illity(3 E*ily, after a *o*ent3s silence, sai , 3I +ill be in,en%o%s +ith yo%, for I kno+ yo% +ill %n erstan , an allo+ for *y sit%ation/ yo% +ill consi er it as a proof of *y7*y estee* that I a* so( Tho%,h I live here in +hat +as *y father3s ho%se, I live here alone( I have, alas? no lon,er a parent7a parent, +hose presence *i,ht sanction yo%r visits( It is %nnecessary for *e to point o%t the i*propriety of *y receivin, the*(3 39or +ill I affect to be insensible of this,3 replie Valanco%rt, a in, *o%rnf%lly73b%t +hat is to console *e for *y can o%rB I istress yo%, an +o%l no+ leave the s%b.ect, if I *i,ht carry +ith *e a hope of bein, so*e ti*e per*itte to rene+ it, of bein, allo+e to *ake *yself kno+n to yo%r fa*ily(3 E*ily +as a,ain conf%se , an a,ain hesitate +hat to reply/ she felt *ost ac%tely the iffic%lty7the forlornness of her sit%ation, +hich i not allo+ her a sin,le relative, or frien , to +ho* she co%l t%rn for even a look, that *i,ht s%pport an ,%i e her in the present e*barrassin, circ%*stances( &a a*e Cheron, +ho +as her only relative, an o%,ht to have been this frien , +as either occ%pie by her o+n a*%se*ents, or so resentf%l of the rel%ctance her niece ha she+n to 4%it 0a Vallee, that she see*e totally to have aban one her( 3Ah? I see,3 sai Valanco%rt, after a lon, pa%se, %rin, +hich E*ily ha be,%n, an left %nfinishe t+o or three sentences, 3I see that I have nothin, to hope/ *y fears +ere too .%st, yo% think *e %n+orthy of yo%r estee*( That fatal .o%rney? +hich I consi ere as the happiest perio of *y life7those eli,htf%l ays +ere to e*bitter all *y f%t%re ones( Ho+ often I have looke

back to the* +ith hope an fear7yet never till this *o*ent co%l I prevail +ith *yself to re,ret their enchantin, infl%ence(3 His voice faltere , an he abr%ptly 4%itte his seat an +alke on the terrace( There +as an e-pression of espair on his co%ntenance, that affecte E*ily( The plea in,s of her heart overca*e, in so*e e,ree, her e-tre*e ti*i ity, an , +hen he res%*e his seat, she sai , in an accent that betraye her ten erness, 32o% o both yo%rself an *e in.%stice +hen yo% say I think yo% %n+orthy of *y estee*/ I +ill ackno+le ,e that yo% have lon, possesse it, an 7an 73 Valanco%rt +aite i*patiently for the concl%sion of the sentence, b%t the +or s ie on her lips( Her eyes, ho+ever, reflecte all the e*otions of her heart( Valanco%rt passe , in an instant, fro* the i*patience of espair, to that of .oy an ten erness( 3O E*ily?3 he e-clai*e , 3*y o+n E*ily7teach *e to s%stain this *o*ent? 0et *e seal it as the *ost sacre of *y life?3 He presse her han to his lips, it +as col an tre*blin,/ an , raisin, her eyes, he sa+ the paleness of her co%ntenance( Tears ca*e to her relief, an Valanco%rt +atche in an-io%s silence over her( In a fe+ *o*ents, she recovere herself, an s*ilin, faintly thro%,h her tears, sai , 3Can yo% e-c%se this +eaknessB &y spirits have not yet, I believe, recovere fro* the shock they lately receive (3 3I cannot e-c%se *yself,3 sai Valanco%rt, 3b%t I +ill forbear to rene+ the s%b.ect, +hich *ay have contrib%te to a,itate the*, no+ that I can leave yo% +ith the s+eet certainty of possessin, yo%r estee*(3 Then, for,ettin, his resol%tion, he a,ain spoke of hi*self( 32o% kno+ not,3 sai he, 3the *any an-io%s ho%rs I have passe near yo% lately, +hen yo% believe *e, if in ee yo% hono%re *e +ith a tho%,ht, far a+ay( I have +an ere , near the chatea%, in the still ho%rs of the ni,ht, +hen no eye co%l observe *e( It +as eli,htf%l to kno+ I +as so near yo%, an there +as so*ethin, partic%larly soothin, in the tho%,ht, that I +atche ro%n yo%r habitation, +hile yo% slept(

These ,ro%n s are not entirely ne+ to *e( Once I vent%re +ithin the fence, an spent one of the happiest, an yet *ost *elancholy ho%rs of *y life in +alkin, %n er +hat I believe to be yo%r +in o+(3 E*ily en4%ire ho+ lon, Valanco%rt ha been in the nei,hbo%rhoo ( 3'everal ays,3 he replie ( 3It +as *y esi,n to avail *yself of the per*ission &( 't( A%bert ha ,iven *e( I scarcely kno+ ho+ to acco%nt for it/ b%t, tho%,h I an-io%sly +ishe to o this, *y resol%tion al+ays faile , +hen the *o*ent approache , an I constantly eferre *y visit( I lo ,e in a villa,e at so*e istance, an +an ere +ith *y o,s, a*on, the scenes of this char*in, co%ntry, +ishin, contin%ally to *eet yo%, yet not arin, to visit yo%(3 Havin, th%s contin%e to converse, +itho%t perceivin, the fli,ht of ti*e, Valanco%rt, at len,th, see*e to recollect hi*self( 3I *%st ,o,3 sai he *o%rnf%lly, 3b%t it is +ith the hope of seein, yo% a,ain, of bein, per*itte to pay *y respects to yo%r fa*ily/ let *e hear this hope confir*e by yo%r voice(3 3&y fa*ily +ill be happy to see any frien of *y ear father,3 sai E*ily( Valanco%rt kisse her han , an still lin,ere , %nable to epart, +hile E*ily sat silently, +ith her eyes bent on the ,ro%n / an Valanco%rt, as he ,a8e on her, consi ere that it +o%l soon be i*possible for hi* to recall, even to his *e*ory, the e-act rese*blance of the bea%tif%l co%ntenance he then behel / at this *o*ent an hasty footstep approache fro* behin the plane6tree, an , t%rnin, her eyes, E*ily sa+ &a a*e Cheron( 'he felt a bl%sh steal %pon her cheek, an her fra*e tre*ble +ith the e*otion of her *in / b%t she instantly rose to *eet her visitor( 3'o, niece?3 sai &a a*e Cheron, castin, a look of s%rprise an en4%iry on Valanco%rt, 3so niece, ho+ o yo% oB 1%t I nee not ask, yo%r looks tell *e yo% have alrea y recovere yo%r loss(3 3&y looks o *e in.%stice then, &a a*e, *y loss I kno+ can never be recovere (3

3:ell7+ell? I +ill not ar,%e +ith yo%/ I see yo% have e-actly yo%r father3s isposition/ an let *e tell yo% it +o%l have been *%ch happier for hi*, poor *an? if it ha been a ifferent one(3 A look of i,nifie ispleas%re, +ith +hich E*ily re,ar e &a a*e Cheron, +hile she spoke, +o%l have to%che al*ost any other heart/ she *a e no other reply, b%t intro %ce Valanco%rt, +ho co%l scarcely stifle the resent*ent he felt, an +hose bo+ &a a*e Cheron ret%rne +ith a sli,ht c%rtsy, an a look of s%percilio%s e-a*ination( After a fe+ *o*ents he took leave of E*ily, in a *anner, that hastily e-presse his pain both at his o+n epart%re, an at leavin, her to the society of &a a*e Cheron( 3:ho is that yo%n, *anB3 sai her a%nt, in an accent +hich e4%ally i*plie in4%isitiveness an cens%re( 3'o*e i le a *irer of yo%rs I s%ppose/ b%t I believe niece yo% ha a ,reater sense of propriety, than to have receive the visits of any yo%n, *an in yo%r present %nfrien e sit%ation( 0et *e tell yo% the +orl +ill observe those thin,s, an it +ill talk, aye an very freely too(3 E*ily, e-tre*ely shocke at this coarse speech, atte*pte to interr%pt it/ b%t &a a*e Cheron +o%l procee , +ith all the self6i*portance of a person, to +ho* po+er is ne+( 3It is very necessary yo% sho%l be %n er the eye of so*e person *ore able to ,%i e yo% than yo%rself( I, in ee , have not *%ch leis%re for s%ch a task/ ho+ever, since yo%r poor father *a e it his last re4%est, that I sho%l overlook yo%r con %ct7I *%st even take yo% %n er *y care( 1%t this let *e tell yo% niece, that, %nless yo% +ill eter*ine to be very confor*able to *y irection, I shall not tro%ble *yself lon,er abo%t yo%(3 E*ily *a e no atte*pt to interr%pt &a a*e Cheron a secon ti*e, ,rief an the pri e of conscio%s innocence kept her silent, till her a%nt sai , 3I a* no+ co*e to take yo% +ith *e to Tholo%se/ I a* sorry to fin , that yo%r poor father ie , after all, in s%ch in ifferent

circ%*stances/ ho+ever, I shall take yo% ho*e +ith *e( Ah? poor *an, he +as al+ays *ore ,enero%s than provi ent, or he +o%l not have left his a%,hter epen ent on his relations(3 39or has he one so, I hope, *a a*,3 sai E*ily cal*ly, 3nor i his pec%niary *isfort%nes arise fro* that noble ,enerosity, +hich al+ays istin,%ishe hi*( The affairs of &( e &otteville *ay, I tr%st, yet be settle +itho%t eeply in.%rin, his cre itors, an in the *eanti*e I sho%l be very happy to re*ain at 0a Vallee(3 39o o%bt yo% +o%l ,3 replie &a a*e Cheron, +ith a s*ile of irony, 3an I shall no o%bt consent to this, since I see ho+ necessary tran4%illity an retire*ent are to restore yo%r spirits( I i not think yo% capable of so *%ch %plicity, niece/ +hen yo% plea e this e-c%se for re*ainin, here, I foolishly believe it to be a .%st one, nor e-pecte to have fo%n +ith yo% so a,reeable a co*panion as this &( 0a Val7, I for,et his na*e(3 E*ily co%l no lon,er en %re these cr%el in i,nities( 3It +as a .%st one, *a a*,3 sai she/ 3an no+, in ee , I feel *ore than ever the val%e of the retire*ent I then solicite / an , if the p%rport of yo%r visit is only to a ins%lt to the sorro+s of yo%r brother3s chil , she co%l +ell have spare it(3 3I see that I have %n ertaken a very tro%bleso*e task,3 sai &a a*e Cheron, colo%rin, hi,hly( 3I a* s%re, *a a*,3 sai E*ily *il ly, an en eavo%rin, to restrain her tears, 3I a* s%re *y father i not *ean it sho%l be s%ch( I have the happiness to reflect, that *y con %ct %n er his eye +as s%ch as he often eli,hte to approve( It +o%l be very painf%l to *e to isobey the sister of s%ch a parent, an , if yo% believe the task +ill really be so tro%bleso*e, I *%st la*ent, that it is yo%rs(3 3:ell? niece, fine speakin, si,nifies little( I a* +illin,, in consi eration of *y poor brother, to overlook the i*propriety of yo%r late con %ct, an to try +hat yo%r f%t%re +ill be(3

E*ily interr%pte her, to be, she +o%l e-plain +hat +as the i*propriety she all% e to( 3:hat i*propriety? +hy that of receivin, the visits of a lover %nkno+n to yo%r fa*ily,3 replie &a a*e Cheron, not consi erin, the i*propriety of +hich she ha herself been ,%ilty, in e-posin, her niece to the possibility of con %ct so erroneo%s( A faint bl%sh passe over E*ily3s co%ntenance/ pri e an an-iety str%,,le in her breast/ an , till she recollecte , that appearances i , in so*e e,ree, .%stify her a%nt3s s%spicions, she co%l not resolve to h%*ble herself so far as to enter into the efence of a con %ct, +hich ha been so innocent an %n esi,nin, on her part( 'he *entione the *anner of Valanco%rt3s intro %ction to her father/ the circ%*stances of his receivin, the pistol6shot, an of their after+ar s travellin, to,ether/ +ith the acci ental +ay, in +hich she ha *et hi*, on the prece in, evenin,( 'he o+ne he ha eclare a partiality for her, an that he ha aske per*ission to a ress her fa*ily( 3An +ho is this yo%n, a vent%rer, prayB3 sai &a a*e Cheron, 3an +hat are his pretensionsB3 3These he *%st hi*self e-plain, *a a*,3 replie E*ily( 3Of his fa*ily *y father +as not i,norant, an I believe it is %ne-ceptionable(3 'he then procee e to *ention +hat she kne+ concernin, it( 3Oh, then, this it see*s is a yo%n,er brother,3 e-clai*e her a%nt, 3an of co%rse a be,,ar( A very fine tale in ee ? An so *y brother took a fancy to this yo%n, *an after only a fe+ ays ac4%aintance?7b%t that +as so like hi*? In his yo%th he +as al+ays takin, these likes an islikes, +hen no other person sa+ any reason for the* at all/ nay, in ee , I have often tho%,ht the people he isapprove +ere *%ch *ore a,reeable than those he a *ire /7b%t there is no acco%ntin, for tastes( He +as al+ays so *%ch infl%ence by people3s co%ntenances/ no+ I, for *y part, have no notion of this, it is all ri ic%lo%s enth%sias*( :hat has a *an3s face to o +ith his characterB Can a *an of ,oo character help havin, a isa,reeable faceB37+hich last

sentence &a a*e Cheron elivere +ith the ecisive air of a person +ho con,rat%lates herself on havin, *a e a ,ran iscovery, an believes the 4%estion to be %nans+erably settle ( E*ily, esiro%s of concl% in, the conversation, en4%ire if her a%nt +o%l accept so*e refresh*ent, an &a a*e Cheron acco*panie her to the chatea%, b%t +itho%t esistin, fro* a topic, +hich she isc%sse +ith so *%ch co*placency to herself, an severity to her niece( 3I a* sorry to perceive, niece,3 sai she, in all%sion to so*e+hat that E*ily ha sai , concernin, physio,no*y, 3that yo% have a ,reat *any of yo%r father3s pre.% ices, an a*on, the* those s% en pre ilections for people fro* their looks( I can perceive, that yo% i*a,ine yo%rself to be violently in love +ith this yo%n, a vent%rer, after an ac4%aintance of only a fe+ ays( There +as so*ethin,, too, so char*in,ly ro*antic in the *anner of yo%r *eetin,?3 E*ily checke the tears, that tre*ble in her eyes, +hile she sai , 3:hen *y con %ct shall eserve this severity, *a a*, yo% +ill o +ell to e-ercise it/ till then .%stice, if not ten erness, sho%l s%rely restrain it( I have never +illin,ly offen e yo%/ no+ I have lost *y parents, yo% are the only person to +ho* I can look for kin ness( 0et *e not la*ent *ore than ever the loss of s%ch parents(3 The last +or s +ere al*ost stifle by her e*otions, an she b%rst into tears( Re*e*berin, the elicacy an the ten erness of 't( A%bert, the happy, happy ays she ha passe in these scenes, an contrastin, the* +ith the coarse an %nfeelin, behavio%r of &a a*e Cheron, an fro* the f%t%re ho%rs of *ortification she *%st s%b*it to in her presence7a e,ree of ,rief sei8e her, that al*ost reache espair( &a a*e Cheron, *ore offen e by the reproof +hich E*ily3s +or s conveye , than to%che by the sorro+ they e-presse , sai nothin,, that *i,ht soften her ,rief/ b%t, not+ithstan in, an apparent rel%ctance to receive her niece, she esire her co*pany( The love of s+ay +as her r%lin, passion, an she kne+ it +o%l be hi,hly ,ratifie by takin,

into her ho%se a yo%n, orphan, +ho ha no appeal fro* her ecisions, an on +ho* she co%l e-ercise +itho%t contro%l the capricio%s h%*o%r of the *o*ent( On enterin, the chatea%, &a a*e Cheron e-presse a esire, that she +o%l p%t %p +hat she tho%,ht necessary to take to Tholo%se, as she *eant to set off i**e iately( E*ily no+ trie to pers%a e her to efer the .o%rney, at least till the ne-t ay, an , at len,th, +ith *%ch iffic%lty, prevaile ( The ay passe in the e-ercise of petty tyranny on the part of &a a*e Cheron, an in *o%rnf%l re,ret an *elancholy anticipation on that of E*ily, +ho, +hen her a%nt retire to her apart*ent for the ni,ht, +ent to take leave of every other roo* in this her ear native ho*e, +hich she +as no+ 4%ittin, for she kne+ not ho+ lon,, an for a +orl , to +hich she +as +holly a stran,er( 'he co%l not con4%er a presenti*ent, +hich fre4%ently occ%rre to her, this ni,ht7that she sho%l never *ore ret%rn to 0a Vallee( Havin, passe a consi erable ti*e in +hat ha been her father3s st% y, havin, selecte so*e of his favo%rite a%thors, to p%t %p +ith her clothes, an she *any tears, as she +ipe the %st fro* their covers, she seate herself in his chair before the rea in, esk, an sat lost in *elancholy reflection, till Theresa opene the oor to e-a*ine, as +as her c%sto* before she +ent to be , if +as all safe( 'he starte , on observin, her yo%n, la y, +ho ba e her co*e in, an then ,ave her so*e irections for keepin, the chatea% in rea iness for her reception at all ti*es( 3Alas6a6 ay? that yo% sho%l leave it?3 sai Theresa, 3I think yo% +o%l be happier here than +here yo% are ,oin,, if one *ay .% ,e(3 E*ily *a e no reply to this re*ark/ the sorro+ Theresa procee e to e-press at her epart%re affecte her, b%t she fo%n so*e co*fort in the si*ple affection of this poor ol servant, to +ho* she ,ave s%ch irections as *i,ht best con %ce to her co*fort %rin, her o+n absence( Havin, is*isse Theresa to be , E*ily +an ere thro%,h every lonely apart*ent of the chatea%, lin,erin, lon, in +hat ha been her father3s be 6roo*,

in %l,in, *elancholy, yet not %npleasin,, e*otions, an , havin, often ret%rne +ithin the oor to take another look at it, she +ith re+ to her o+n cha*ber( )ro* her +in o+ she ,a8e %pon the ,ar en belo+, she+n faintly by the *oon, risin, over the tops of the pal*6trees, an , at len,th, the cal* bea%ty of the ni,ht increase a esire of in %l,in, the *o%rnf%l s+eetness of bi in, fare+el to the belove sha es of her chil hoo , till she +as te*pte to escen ( Thro+in, over her the li,ht veil, in +hich she %s%ally +alke , she silently passe into the ,ar en, an , hastenin, to+ar s the istant ,roves, +as ,la to breathe once *ore the air of liberty, an to si,h %nobserve ( The eep repose of the scene, the rich scents, that floate on the bree8e, the ,ran e%r of the +i e hori8on an of the clear bl%e arch, soothe an ,ra %ally elevate her *in to that s%bli*e co*placency, +hich ren ers the ve-ations of this +orl so insi,nificant an *ean in o%r eyes, that +e +on er they have ha po+er for a *o*ent to ist%rb %s( E*ily for,ot &a a*e Cheron an all the circ%*stances of her con %ct, +hile her tho%,hts ascen e to the conte*plation of those %nn%*bere +orl s, that lie scattere in the epths of aether, tho%san s of the* hi fro* h%*an eyes, an al*ost beyon the fli,ht of h%*an fancy( As her i*a,ination soare thro%,h the re,ions of space, an aspire to that Great )irst Ca%se, +hich perva es an ,overns all bein,, the i ea of her father scarcely ever left her/ b%t it +as a pleasin, i ea, since she resi,ne hi* to Go in the f%ll confi ence of a p%re an holy faith( 'he p%rs%e her +ay thro%,h the ,roves to the terrace, often pa%sin, as *e*ory a+akene the pan, of affection, an as reason anticipate the e-ile, into +hich she +as ,oin,( An no+ the *oon +as hi,h over the +oo s, to%chin, their s%**its +ith yello+ li,ht, an artin, bet+een the folia,e lon, level bea*s/ +hile on the rapi Garonne belo+ the tre*blin, ra iance +as faintly obsc%re by the li,htest vapo%r( E*ily lon, +atche the playin, l%stre, listene to the soothin, *%r*%r of the c%rrent, an the yet li,hter so%n s of the air, as it

stirre , at intervals, the lofty pal*6trees( 3Ho+ eli,htf%l is the s+eet breath of these ,roves,3 sai she( 3This lovely scene?7ho+ often shall I re*e*ber an re,ret it, +hen I a* far a+ay( Alas? +hat events *ay occ%r before I see it a,ain? O, peacef%l, happy sha es? 7scenes of *y infant eli,hts, of parental ten erness no+ lost for ever?7+hy *%st I leave ye?7In yo%r retreats I sho%l still fin safety an repose( '+eet ho%rs of *y chil hoo 7I a* no+ to leave even yo%r last *e*orials? 9o ob.ects, that +o%l revive yo%r i*pressions, +ill re*ain for *e?3 Then ryin, her tears an lookin, %p, her tho%,hts rose a,ain to the s%bli*e s%b.ect she ha conte*plate / the sa*e ivine co*placency stole over her heart, an , h%shin, its throbs, inspire hope an confi ence an resi,nation to the +ill of the <eity, +hose +orks fille her *in +ith a oration( E*ily ,a8e lon, on the plane6tree, an then seate herself, for the last ti*e, on the bench %n er its sha e, +here she ha so often sat +ith her parents, an +here, only a fe+ ho%rs before, she ha converse +ith Valanco%rt, at the re*e*brance of +ho*, th%s revive , a *in,le sensation of estee*, ten erness an an-iety rose in her breast( :ith this re*e*brance occ%rre a recollection of his late confession7that he ha often +an ere near her habitation in the ni,ht, havin, even passe the bo%n ary of the ,ar en, an it i**e iately occ%rre to her, that he *i,ht be at this *o*ent in the ,ro%n s( The fear of *eetin, hi*, partic%larly after the eclaration he ha *a e, an of inc%rrin, a cens%re, +hich her a%nt *i,ht so reasonably besto+, if it +as kno+n, that she +as *et by her lover, at this ho%r, *a e her instantly leave her belove plane6tree, an +alk to+ar s the chatea%( 'he cast an an-io%s eye aro%n , an often stoppe for a *o*ent to e-a*ine the sha o+y scene before she vent%re to procee , b%t she passe on +itho%t perceivin, any person, till, havin, reache a cl%*p of al*on trees, not far fro* the ho%se, she reste to take a retrospect of the ,ar en, an to si,h forth another a ie%( As her eyes +an ere over the lan scape she tho%,ht she perceive a person

e*er,e fro* the ,roves, an pass slo+ly alon, a *oon6li,ht alley that le bet+een the*/ b%t the istance, an the i*perfect li,ht +o%l not s%ffer her to .% ,e +ith any e,ree of certainty +hether this +as fancy or reality( 'he contin%e to ,a8e for so*e ti*e on the spot, till on the ea stillness of the air she hear a s% en so%n , an in the ne-t instant fancie she istin,%ishe footsteps near her( :astin, not another *o*ent in con.ect%re, she h%rrie to the chatea%, an , havin, reache it, retire to her cha*ber, +here, as she close her +in o+ she looke %pon the ,ar en, an then a,ain tho%,ht she istin,%ishe a fi,%re, ,li in, bet+een the al*on trees she ha .%st left( 'he i**e iately +ith re+ fro* the case*ent, an , tho%,h *%ch a,itate , so%,ht in sleep the refresh*ent of a short oblivion(

#HAPTER *I
5 lea"e that flo ery path for eye 7f childhood, here 5 sported !any a day, <arbling and sauntering carelessly alongA <here e"ery face as innocent and gay, Each "ale ro!antic, tuneful e"ery tongue, 4 eet, ild, and artless all# T8E M5:4TRE&

At an early ho%r, the carria,e, +hich +as to take E*ily an &a a*e Cheron to Tholo%se, appeare at the oor of the chatea%, an &a a*e +as alrea y in the breakfast6roo*, +hen her niece entere it( The repast +as silent an *elancholy on the part of E*ily/ an &a a*e Cheron, +hose vanity +as pi4%e on observin, her e.ection, reprove her in a *anner that i not contrib%te to re*ove it( It +as +ith *%ch rel%ctance, that E*ily3s re4%est to take +ith her the o,, +hich ha been a favo%rite of her father, +as ,rante ( Her a%nt, i*patient to be ,one, or ere the carria,e to ra+ %p/ an , +hile she passe to the hall oor, E*ily ,ave another look into the library, an another fare+ell ,lance over the ,ar en, an then

follo+e ( Ol Theresa stoo at the oor to take leave of her yo%n, la y( 3Go for ever keep yo%, *a3a*selle?3 sai she, +hile E*ily ,ave her han in silence, an co%l ans+er only +ith a press%re of her han , an a force s*ile( At the ,ate, +hich le o%t of the ,ro%n s, several of her father3s pensioners +ere asse*ble to bi her fare+ell, to +ho* she +o%l have spoken, if her a%nt +o%l have s%ffere the river to stop/ an , havin, istrib%te to the* al*ost all the *oney she ha abo%t her, she s%nk back in the carria,e, yiel in, to the *elancholy of her heart( 'oon after, she ca%,ht, bet+een the steep banks of the roa , another vie+ of the chatea%, peepin, fro* a*on, the hi,h trees, an s%rro%n e by ,reen slopes an t%fte ,roves, the Garonne +in in, its +ay beneath their sha es, so*eti*es lost a*on, the vineyar s, an then risin, in ,reater *a.esty in the istant past%res( The to+erin, precipices of the Pyrenees, that rose to the so%th, ,ave E*ily a tho%san interestin, recollections of her late .o%rney/ an these ob.ects of her for*er enth%siastic a *iration, no+ e-cite only sorro+ an re,ret( Havin, ,a8e on the chatea% an its lovely scenery, till the banks a,ain close %pon the*, her *in beca*e too *%ch occ%pie by *o%rnf%l reflections, to per*it her to atten to the conversation, +hich &a a*e Cheron ha be,%n on so*e trivial topic, so that they soon travelle in profo%n silence( Valanco%rt, *ean +hile, +as ret%rne to Est%viere, his heart occ%pie +ith the i*a,e of E*ily/ so*eti*es in %l,in, in reveries of f%t%re happiness, b%t *ore fre4%ently shrinkin, +ith rea of the opposition he *i,ht enco%nter fro* her fa*ily( He +as the yo%n,er son of an ancient fa*ily of Gascony/ an , havin, lost his parents at an early perio of his life, the care of his e %cation an of his s*all portion ha evolve to his brother, the Co%nt e <%varney, his senior by nearly t+enty years( Valanco%rt ha been e %cate in all the acco*plish*ents of his a,e, an ha an ar o%r of spirit, an a certain ,ran e%r of *in , that ,ave hi* partic%lar e-cellence in the e-ercises then tho%,ht

heroic( His little fort%ne ha been i*inishe by the necessary e-pences of his e %cation/ b%t &( 0a Valanco%rt, the el er, see*e to think that his ,eni%s an acco*plish*ents +o%l a*ply s%pply the eficiency of his inheritance( They offere flatterin, hopes of pro*otion in the *ilitary profession, in those ti*es al*ost the only one in +hich a ,entle*an co%l en,a,e +itho%t inc%rrin, a stain on his na*e/ an 0a Valanco%rt +as of co%rse enrolle in the ar*y( The ,eneral ,eni%s of his *in +as b%t little %n erstoo by his brother( That ar o%r for +hatever is ,reat an ,oo in the *oral +orl , as +ell as in the nat%ral one, isplaye itself in his infant years/ an the stron, in i,nation, +hich he felt an e-presse at a cri*inal, or a *ean action, so*eti*es re+ %pon hi* the ispleas%re of his t%tor/ +ho reprobate it %n er the ,eneral ter* of violence of te*per/ an +ho, +hen haran,%in, on the virt%es of *il ness an *o eration, see*e to for,et the ,entleness an co*passion, +hich al+ays appeare in his p%pil to+ar s ob.ects of *isfort%ne( He ha no+ obtaine leave of absence fro* his re,i*ent +hen he *a e the e-c%rsion into the Pyrenees, +hich +as the *eans of intro %cin, hi* to 't( A%bert/ an , as this per*ission +as nearly e-pire , he +as the *ore an-io%s to eclare hi*self to E*ily3s fa*ily, fro* +ho* he reasonably apprehen e opposition, since his fort%ne, tho%,h, +ith a *o erate a ition fro* hers, it +o%l be s%fficient to s%pport the*, +o%l not satisfy the vie+s, either of vanity, or a*bition( Valanco%rt +as not +itho%t the latter, b%t he sa+ ,ol en visions of pro*otion in the ar*y/ an believe , that +ith E*ily he co%l , in the *ean ti*e, be eli,hte to live +ithin the li*its of his h%*ble inco*e( His tho%,hts +ere no+ occ%pie in consi erin, the *eans of *akin, hi*self kno+n to her fa*ily, to +ho*, ho+ever, he ha yet no a ress, for he +as entirely i,norant of E*ily3s precipitate epart%re fro* 0a Vallee, of +ho* he hope to obtain it(

&ean+hile, the travellers p%rs%e their .o%rney/ E*ily *akin, fre4%ent efforts to appear cheerf%l, an too often relapsin, into silence an e.ection( &a a*e Cheron, attrib%tin, her *elancholy solely to the circ%*stance of her bein, re*ove to a istance fro* her lover, an believin,, that the sorro+, +hich her niece still e-presse for the loss of 't( A%bert, procee e partly fro* an affectation of sensibility, en eavo%re to *ake it appear ri ic%lo%s to her, that s%ch eep re,ret sho%l contin%e to be felt so lon, after the perio %s%ally allo+e for ,rief( At len,th, these %npleasant lect%res +ere interr%pte by the arrival of the travellers at Tholo%se/ an E*ily, +ho ha not been there for *any years, an ha only a very faint recollection of it, +as s%rprise at the ostentatio%s style e-hibite in her a%nt3s ho%se an f%rnit%re/ the *ore so, perhaps, beca%se it +as so totally ifferent fro* the *o est ele,ance, to +hich she ha been acc%sto*e ( 'he follo+e &a a*e Cheron thro%,h a lar,e hall, +here several servants in rich liveries appeare , to a kin of saloon, fitte %p +ith *ore she+ than taste/ an her a%nt, co*plainin, of fati,%e, or ere s%pper i**e iately( 3I a* ,la to fin *yself in *y o+n ho%se a,ain,3 sai she, thro+in, herself on a lar,e settee, 3an to have *y o+n people abo%t *e( I etest travellin,/ tho%,h, in ee , I o%,ht to like it, for +hat I see abroa al+ays *akes *e eli,hte to ret%rn to *y o+n chatea%( :hat *akes yo% so silent, chil B7:hat is it that ist%rbs yo% no+B3 E*ily s%ppresse a startin, tear, an trie to s*ile a+ay the e-pression of an oppresse heart/ she +as thinkin, of HER ho*e, an felt too sensibly the arro,ance an ostentatio%s vanity of &a a*e Cheron3s conversation( 3Can this be *y father3s sister?3 sai she to herself/ an then the conviction that she +as so, +ar*in, her heart +ith so*ethin, like kin ness to+ar s her, she felt an-io%s to soften the harsh i*pression her *in ha receive of her a%nt3s character, an to she+ a +illin,ness to obli,e her( The effort i not entirely fail/ she listene +ith apparent

cheerf%lness, +hile &a a*e Cheron e-patiate on the splen o%r of her ho%se, tol of the n%*ero%s parties she entertaine , an +hat she sho%l e-pect of E*ily, +hose iffi ence ass%*e the air of a reserve, +hich her a%nt, believin, it to be that of pri e an i,norance %nite , no+ took occasion to reprehen ( 'he kne+ nothin, of the con %ct of a *in , that fears to tr%st its o+n po+ers/ +hich, possessin, a nice .% ,*ent, an inclinin, to believe, that every other person perceives still *ore critically, fears to co**it itself to cens%re, an seeks shelter in the obsc%rity of silence( E*ily ha fre4%ently bl%she at the fearless *anners, +hich she ha seen a *ire , an the brilliant nothin,s, +hich she ha hear appla% e / yet this appla%se, so far fro* enco%ra,in, her to i*itate the con %ct that ha +on it, rather *a e her shrink into the reserve, that +o%l protect her fro* s%ch abs%r ity( &a a*e Cheron looke on her niece3s iffi ence +ith a feelin, very near to conte*pt, an en eavo%re to overco*e it by reproof, rather than to enco%ra,e it by ,entleness( The entrance of s%pper so*e+hat interr%pte the co*placent isco%rse of &a a*e Cheron an the painf%l consi erations, +hich it ha force %pon E*ily( :hen the repast, +hich +as ren ere ostentatio%s by the atten ance of a ,reat n%*ber of servants, an by a prof%sion of plate, +as over, &a a*e Cheron retire to her cha*ber, an a fe*ale servant ca*e to she+ E*ily to hers( Havin, passe %p a lar,e stair6case, an thro%,h several ,alleries, they ca*e to a fli,ht of back stairs, +hich le into a short passa,e in a re*ote part of the chatea%, an there the servant opene the oor of a s*all cha*ber, +hich she sai +as &a3a*selle E*ily3s, +ho, once *ore alone, in %l,e the tears she ha lon, trie to restrain( Those, +ho kno+, fro* e-perience, ho+ *%ch the heart beco*es attache even to inani*ate ob.ects, to +hich it has been lon, acc%sto*e , ho+ %n+illin,ly it resi,ns the*/ ho+ +ith the sensations of an ol frien it *eets the*, after te*porary absence, +ill %n erstan the forlornness of E*ily3s feelin,s, of E*ily sh%t o%t

fro* the only ho*e she ha kno+n fro* her infancy, an thro+n %pon a scene, an a*on, persons, isa,reeable for *ore 4%alities than their novelty( Her father3s favo%rite o,, no+ in the cha*ber, th%s see*e to ac4%ire the character an i*portance of a frien / an , as the ani*al fa+ne over her +hen she +ept, an licke her han s, 3Ah, poor &anchon?3 sai she, 3I have nobo y no+ to love *e7b%t yo%?3 an she +ept the *ore( After so*e ti*e, her tho%,hts ret%rnin, to her father3s in.%nctions, she re*e*bere ho+ often he ha bla*e her for in %l,in, %seless sorro+/ ho+ often he ha pointe o%t to her the necessity of fortit% e an patience, ass%rin, her, that the fac%lties of the *in stren,then by e-ertion, till they finally %nnerve affliction, an tri%*ph over it( These recollections rie her tears, ,ra %ally soothe her spirits, an inspire her +ith the s+eet e*%lation of practisin, precepts, +hich her father ha so fre4%ently inc%lcate (

#HAPTER *II
4o!e po =r i!part the spear and shield, At hich the iBard passions fly, By hich the giant follies die# 37&&5:4

&a a*e Cheron3s ho%se stoo at a little istance fro* the city of Tholo%se, an +as s%rro%n e by e-tensive ,ar ens, in +hich E*ily, +ho ha risen early, a*%se herself +ith +an erin, before breakfast( )ro* a terrace, that e-ten e alon, the hi,hest part of the*, +as a +i e vie+ over 0an,%e oc( On the istant hori8on to the so%th, she iscovere the +il s%**its of the Pyrenees, an her fancy i**e iately painte the ,reen past%res of Gascony at their feet( Her heart pointe to her peacef%l ho*e7to the nei,hbo%rhoo +here Valanco%rt +as7+here 't( A%bert ha been/ an her i*a,ination, piercin, the veil of istance, bro%,ht that ho*e to her eyes in all its interestin, an ro*antic bea%ty( 'he e-perience an ine-pressible

pleas%re in believin,, that she behel the co%ntry aro%n it, tho%,h no feat%re co%l be istin,%ishe , e-cept the retirin, chain of the Pyrenees/ an , inattentive to the scene i**e iately before her, an to the fli,ht of ti*e, she contin%e to lean on the +in o+ of a pavilion, that ter*inate the terrace, +ith her eyes fi-e on Gascony, an her *in occ%pie +ith the interestin, i eas +hich the vie+ of it a+akene , till a servant ca*e to tell her breakfast +as rea y( Her tho%,hts th%s recalle to the s%rro%n in, ob.ects, the strai,ht +alks, s4%are parterres, an artificial fo%ntains of the ,ar en, co%l not fail, as she passe thro%,h it, to appear the +orse, oppose to the ne,li,ent ,races, an nat%ral bea%ties of the ,ro%n s of 0a Vallee, %pon +hich her recollection ha been so intensely e*ploye ( 3:hither have yo% been ra*blin, so earlyB3 sai &a a*e Cheron, as her niece entere the breakfast6 roo*( 3I on3t approve of these solitary +alks/3 an E*ily +as s%rprise , +hen, havin, infor*e her a%nt, that she ha been no f%rther than the ,ar ens, she %n erstoo these to be incl% e in the reproof( 3I esire yo% +ill not +alk there a,ain at so early an ho%r %natten e ,3 sai &a a*e Cheron/ 3*y ,ar ens are very e-tensive/ an a yo%n, +o*an, +ho can *ake assi,nations by *oon6li,ht, at 0a Vallee, is not to be tr%ste to her o+n inclinations else+here(3 E*ily, e-tre*ely s%rprise an shocke , ha scarcely po+er to be, an e-planation of these +or s, an , +hen she i , her a%nt absol%tely ref%se to ,ive it, tho%,h, by her severe looks, an half sentences, she appeare an-io%s to i*press E*ily +ith a belief, that she +as +ell infor*e of so*e e,ra in, circ%*stances of her con %ct( Conscio%s innocence co%l not prevent a bl%sh fro* stealin, over E*ily3s cheek/ she tre*ble , an looke conf%se ly %n er the bol eye of &a a*e Cheron, +ho bl%she also/ b%t hers +as the bl%sh of tri%*ph, s%ch as so*eti*es stains the co%ntenance of a person, con,rat%latin, hi*self on the penetration +hich ha ta%,ht hi* to s%spect another, an +ho loses both pity for the s%ppose cri*inal, an in i,nation of his ,%ilt, in the ,ratification of his o+n vanity(

E*ily, not o%btin, that her a%nt3s *istake arose fro* the havin, observe her ra*ble in the ,ar en on the ni,ht prece in, her epart%re fro* 0a Vallee, no+ *entione the *otive of it, at +hich &a a*e Cheron s*ile conte*pt%o%sly, ref%sin, either to accept this e-planation, or to ,ive her reasons for ref%sin, it/ an , soon after, she concl% e the s%b.ect by sayin,, 3I never tr%st people3s assertions, I al+ays .% ,e of the* by their actions/ b%t I a* +illin, to try +hat +ill be yo%r behavio%r in f%t%re(3 E*ily, less s%rprise by her a%nt3s *o eration an *ysterio%s silence, than by the acc%sation she ha receive , eeply consi ere the latter, an scarcely o%bte , that it +as Valanco%rt +ho* she ha seen at ni,ht in the ,ar ens of 0a Vallee, an that he ha been observe there by &a a*e Cheron/ +ho no+ passin, fro* one painf%l topic only to revive another al*ost e4%ally so, spoke of the sit%ation of her niece3s property, in the han s of &( &otteville( :hile she th%s talke +ith ostentatio%s pity of E*ily3s *isfort%nes, she faile not to inc%lcate the %ties of h%*ility an ,ratit% e, or to ren er E*ily f%lly sensible of every cr%el *ortification, +ho soon perceive , that she +as to be consi ere as a epen ant, not only by her a%nt, b%t by her a%nt3s servants( 'he +as no+ infor*e , that a lar,e party +ere e-pecte to inner, on +hich acco%nt &a a*e Cheron repeate the lesson of the prece in, ni,ht, concernin, her con %ct in co*pany, an E*ily +ishe , that she *i,ht have co%ra,e eno%,h to practise it( Her a%nt then procee e to e-a*ine the si*plicity of her ress, a in,, that she e-pecte to see her attire +ith ,aiety an taste/ after +hich she con escen e to she+ E*ily the splen o%r of her chatea%, an to point o%t the partic%lar bea%ty, or ele,ance, +hich she tho%,ht istin,%ishe each of her n%*ero%s s%ites of apart*ents( 'he then +ith re+ to her toilet, the throne of her ho*a,e, an E*ily to her cha*ber, to %npack her books, an to try to char* her *in by rea in,, till the ho%r of ressin,(

:hen the co*pany arrive , E*ily entere the saloon +ith an air of ti*i ity, +hich all her efforts co%l not overco*e, an +hich +as increase by the conscio%sness of &a a*e Cheron3s severe observation( Her *o%rnin, ress, the *il e.ection of her bea%tif%l co%ntenance, an the retirin, iffi ence of her *anner, ren ere her a very interestin, ob.ect to *any of the co*pany/ a*on, +ho* she istin,%ishe 'i,nor &ontoni, an his frien Cavi,ni, the late visitors at &( 5%esnel3s, +ho no+ see*e to converse +ith &a a*e Cheron +ith the fa*iliarity of ol ac4%aintance, an she to atten to the* +ith partic%lar pleas%re( This 'i,nor &ontoni ha an air of conscio%s s%periority, ani*ate by spirit, an stren,thene by talents, to +hich every person see*e invol%ntarily to yiel ( The 4%ickness of his perceptions +as strikin,ly e-presse on his co%ntenance, yet that co%ntenance co%l s%b*it i*plicitly to occasion/ an , *ore than once in this ay, the tri%*ph of art over nat%re *i,ht have been iscerne in it( His visa,e +as lon,, an rather narro+, yet he +as calle han so*e/ an it +as, perhaps, the spirit an vi,o%r of his so%l, sparklin, thro%,h his feat%res, that tri%*phe for hi*( E*ily felt a *iration, b%t not the a *iration that lea s to estee*/ for it +as *i-e +ith a e,ree of fear she kne+ not e-actly +herefore( Cavi,ni +as ,ay an insin%atin, as for*erly/ an , tho%,h he pai al*ost incessant attention to &a a*e Cheron, he fo%n so*e opport%nities of conversin, +ith E*ily, to +ho* he irecte , at first, the sallies of his +it, b%t no+ an then ass%*e an air of ten erness, +hich she observe , an shr%nk fro*( Tho%,h she replie b%t little, the ,entleness an s+eetness of her *anners enco%ra,e hi* to talk, an she felt relieve +hen a yo%n, la y of the party, +ho spoke incessantly, obtr% e herself on his notice( This la y, +ho possesse all the spri,htliness of a )rench+o*an, +ith all her co4%etry, affecte to %n erstan every s%b.ect, or rather there +as no affectation in the case/ for, never lookin, beyon the li*its of her o+n i,norance, she believe she ha nothin, to learn( 'he attracte notice

fro* all/ a*%se so*e, is,%ste others for a *o*ent, an +as then for,otten( This ay passe +itho%t any *aterial occ%rrence/ an E*ily, tho%,h a*%se by the characters she ha seen, +as ,la +hen she co%l retire to the recollections, +hich ha ac4%ire +ith her the character of %ties( A fortni,ht passe in a ro%n of issipation an co*pany, an E*ily, +ho atten e &a a*e Cheron in all her visits, +as so*eti*es entertaine , b%t oftener +earie ( 'he +as str%ck by the apparent talents an kno+le ,e isplaye in the vario%s conversations she listene to, an it +as lon, before she iscovere , that the talents +ere for the *ost part those of i*post%re, an the kno+le ,e nothin, *ore than +as necessary to assist the*( 1%t +hat eceive her *ost, +as the air of constant ,aiety an ,oo spirits, isplaye by every visitor, an +hich she s%ppose to arise fro* content as constant, an fro* benevolence as rea y( At len,th, fro* the over6actin, of so*e, less acco*plishe than the others, she co%l perceive, that, tho%,h content*ent an benevolence are the only s%re so%rces of cheerf%lness, the i**o erate an feverish ani*ation, %s%ally e-hibite in lar,e parties, res%lts partly fro* an insensibility to the cares, +hich benevolence *%st so*eti*es erive fro* the s%fferin,s of others, an partly fro* a esire to isplay the appearance of that prosperity, +hich they kno+ +ill co**an s%b*ission an attention to the*selves( E*ily3s pleasantest ho%rs +ere passe in the pavilion of the terrace, to +hich she retire , +hen she co%l steal fro* observation, +ith a book to overco*e, or a l%te to in %l,e, her *elancholy( There, as she sat +ith her eyes fi-e on the far6 istant Pyrenees, an her tho%,hts on Valanco%rt an the belove scenes of Gascony, she +o%l play the s+eet an *elancholy son,s of her native province7the pop%lar son,s she ha listene to fro* her chil hoo ( One evenin,, havin, e-c%se herself fro* acco*panyin, her a%nt abroa , she th%s +ith re+ to the pavilion, +ith books an her l%te( It +as the *il

an bea%tif%l evenin, of a s%ltry ay, an the +in o+s, +hich fronte the +est, opene %pon all the ,lory of a settin, s%n( Its rays ill%*inate , +ith stron, splen o%r, the cliffs of the Pyrenees, an to%che their sno+y tops +ith a roseate h%e, that re*aine , lon, after the s%n ha s%nk belo+ the hori8on, an the sha es of t+ili,ht ha stolen over the lan scape( E*ily to%che her l%te +ith that fine *elancholy e-pression, +hich ca*e fro* her heart( The pensive ho%r an the scene, the evenin, li,ht on the Garonne, that flo+e at no ,reat istance, an +hose +aves, as they passe to+ar s 0a Vallee, she often vie+e +ith a si,h,7these %nite circ%*stances ispose her *in to ten erness, an her tho%,hts +ere +ith Valanco%rt, of +ho* she ha hear nothin, since her arrival at Tholo%se, an no+ that she +as re*ove fro* hi*, an in %ncertainty, she perceive all the interest he hel in her heart( 1efore she sa+ Valanco%rt she ha never *et a *in an taste so accor ant +ith her o+n, an , tho%,h &a a*e Cheron tol her *%ch of the arts of issi*%lation, an that the ele,ance an propriety of tho%,ht, +hich she so *%ch a *ire in her lover, +ere ass%*e for the p%rpose of pleasin, her, she co%l scarcely o%bt their tr%th( This possibility, ho+ever, faint as it +as, +as s%fficient to harass her *in +ith an-iety, an she fo%n , that fe+ con itions are *ore painf%l than that of %ncertainty, as to the *erit of a belove ob.ect/ an %ncertainty, +hich she +o%l not have s%ffere , ha her confi ence in her o+n opinions been ,reater( 'he +as a+akene fro* her *%sin, by the so%n of horses3 feet alon, a roa , that +o%n %n er the +in o+s of the pavilion, an a ,entle*an passe on horseback, +hose rese*blance to Valanco%rt, in air an fi,%re, for the t+ili,ht i not per*it a vie+ of his feat%res, i**e iately str%ck her( 'he retire hastily fro* the lattice, fearin, to be seen, yet +ishin, to observe f%rther, +hile the stran,er passe on +itho%t lookin, %p, an , +hen she ret%rne to the lattice, she sa+ hi* faintly thro%,h the t+ili,ht, +in in, %n er the hi,h trees, that le to Tholo%se( This little inci ent so *%ch ist%rbe her spirits, that the te*ple an its

scenery +ere no lon,er interestin, to her, an , after +alkin, a+hile on the terrace, she ret%rne to the chatea%( &a a*e Cheron, +hether she ha seen a rival a *ire , ha lost at play, or ha +itnesse an entertain*ent *ore splen i than her o+n, +as ret%rne fro* her visit +ith a te*per *ore than %s%ally isco*pose / an E*ily +as ,la , +hen the ho%r arrive , in +hich she co%l retire to the solit% e of her o+n apart*ent( On the follo+in, *ornin,, she +as s%**one to &a a*e Cheron, +hose co%ntenance +as infla*e +ith resent*ent, an , as E*ily a vance , she hel o%t a letter to her( 3<o yo% kno+ this han B3 sai she, in a severe tone, an +ith a look that +as inten e to search her heart, +hile E*ily e-a*ine the letter attentively, an ass%re her, that she i not( 3<o not provoke *e,3 sai her a%nt/ 3yo% o kno+ it, confess the tr%th i**e iately( I insist %pon yo%r confessin, the tr%th instantly(3 E*ily +as silent, an t%rne to leave the roo*, b%t &a a*e calle her back( 3O yo% are ,%ilty, then,3 sai she, 3yo% o kno+ the han (3 3If yo% +as before in o%bt of this, *a a*,3 replie E*ily cal*ly, 3+hy i yo% acc%se *e of havin, tol a falsehoo (3 &a a*e Cheron i not bl%sh/ b%t her niece i , a *o*ent after, +hen she hear the na*e of Valanco%rt( It +as not, ho+ever, +ith the conscio%sness of eservin, reproof, for, if she ever ha seen his han 6+ritin,, the present characters i not brin, it to her recollection( 3It is %seless to eny it,3 sai &a a*e Cheron, 3I see in yo%r co%ntenance, that yo% are no stran,er to this letter/ an , I are say, yo% have receive *any s%ch fro* this i*pertinent yo%n, *an, +itho%t *y kno+le ,e, in *y o+n ho%se(3 E*ily, shocke at the in elicacy of this acc%sation, still *ore than by the v%l,arity of the for*er, instantly for,ot the pri e, that ha i*pose silence, an

en eavo%re to vin icate herself fro* the aspersion, b%t &a a*e Cheron +as not to be convince ( 3I cannot s%ppose,3 she res%*e , 3that this yo%n, *an +o%l have taken the liberty of +ritin, to *e, if yo% ha not enco%ra,e hi* to o so, an I *%st no+3732o% +ill allo+ *e to re*in yo%, *a a*,3 sai E*ily ti*i ly, 3of so*e partic%lars of a conversation +e ha at 0a Vallee( I then tol yo% tr%ly, that I ha only not forba e &onsie%r Valanco%rt fro* a ressin, *y fa*ily(3 3I +ill not be interr%pte ,3 sai &a a*e Cheron, interr%ptin, her niece, 3I +as ,oin, to say7I7I6have for,ot +hat I +as ,oin, to say( 1%t ho+ happene it that yo% i not forbi hi*B3 E*ily +as silent( 3Ho+ happene it that yo% enco%ra,e hi* to tro%ble *e +ith this letterB7A yo%n, *an that nobo y kno+s/7 an %tter stran,er in the place,7a yo%n, a vent%rer, no o%bt, +ho is lookin, o%t for a ,oo fort%ne( Ho+ever, on that point he has *istaken his ai*(3 3His fa*ily +as kno+n to *y father,3 sai E*ily *o estly, an +itho%t appearin, to be sensible of the last sentence( 3O? that is no reco**en ation at all,3 replie her a%nt, +ith her %s%al rea iness %pon this topic/ 3he took s%ch stran,e fancies to people? He +as al+ays .% ,in, persons by their co%ntenances, an +as contin%ally eceive (3 32et it +as b%t no+, *a a*, that yo% .% ,e *e ,%ilty by *y co%ntenance,3 sai E*ily, +ith a esi,n of reprovin, &a a*e Cheron, to +hich she +as in %ce by this isrespectf%l *ention of her father( 3I calle yo% here,3 res%*e her a%nt, colo%rin,, 3to tell yo%, that I +ill not be ist%rbe in *y o+n ho%se by any letters, or visits fro* yo%n, *en, +ho *ay take a fancy to flatter yo%( This &( e Valantine7I think yo% call hi*, has the i*pertinence to be, I +ill per*it hi* to pay his respects to *e? I shall sen hi* a proper ans+er( An for yo%, E*ily, I repeat it once for all7if yo% are not contente to confor* to *y irections, an to *y +ay of live, I shall ,ive %p the task of overlookin, yo%r con %ct7I shall no lon,er tro%ble

*yself +ith yo%r e %cation, b%t shall sen yo% to boar in a convent(3 3<ear *a a*,3 sai E*ily, b%rstin, into tears, an overco*e by the r% e s%spicions her a%nt ha e-presse , 3ho+ have I eserve these reproofsB3 'he co%l say no *ore/ an so very fearf%l +as she of actin, +ith any e,ree of i*propriety in the affair itself, that, at the present *o*ent, &a a*e Cheron *i,ht perhaps have prevaile +ith her to bin herself by a pro*ise to reno%nce Valanco%rt for ever( Her *in , +eakene by her terrors, +o%l no lon,er s%ffer her to vie+ hi* as she ha for*erly one/ she feare the error of her o+n .% ,*ent, not that of &a a*e Cheron, an feare also, that, in her for*er conversation +ith hi*, at 0a Vallee, she ha not con %cte herself +ith s%fficient reserve( 'he kne+, that she i not eserve the coarse s%spicions, +hich her a%nt ha thro+n o%t, b%t a tho%san scr%ples rose to tor*ent her, s%ch as +o%l never have ist%rbe the peace of &a a*e Cheron( Th%s ren ere an-io%s to avoi every opport%nity of errin,, an +illin, to s%b*it to any restrictions, that her a%nt sho%l think proper, she e-presse an obe ience, to +hich &a a*e Cheron i not ,ive *%ch confi ence, an +hich she see*e to consi er as the conse4%ence of either fear, or artifice( 3:ell, then,3 sai she, 3pro*ise *e that yo% +ill neither see this yo%n, *an, nor +rite to hi* +itho%t *y consent(3 3<ear *a a*,3 replie E*ily, 3can yo% s%ppose I +o%l o either, %nkno+n to yo%?3 3I on3t kno+ +hat to s%ppose/ there is no kno+in, ho+ yo%n, +o*en +ill act( It is iffic%lt to place any confi ence in the*, for they have sel o* sense eno%,h to +ish for the respect of the +orl (3 3Alas, *a a*?3 sai E*ily, 3I a* an-io%s for *y o+n respect/ *y father ta%,ht *e the val%e of that/ he sai if I eserve *y o+n estee*, that the +orl +o%l follo+ of co%rse(3 3&y brother +as a ,oo kin of a *an,3 replie &a a*e Cheron, 3b%t he i not kno+ the +orl ( I a*

s%re I have al+ays felt a proper respect for *yself, yet 73 she stoppe , b%t she *i,ht have a e , that the +orl ha not al+ays she+n respect to her, an this +itho%t i*peachin, its .% ,*ent( 3:ell?3 res%*e &a a*e Cheron, 3yo% have not ,ive *e the pro*ise, tho%,h, that I e*an (3 E*ily rea ily ,ave it, an , bein, then s%ffere to +ith ra+, she +alke in the ,ar en/ trie to co*pose her spirits, an , at len,th, arrive at her favo%rite pavilion at the en of the terrace, +here, seatin, herself at one of the e*bo+ere +in o+s, that opene %pon a balcony, the stillness an secl%sion of the scene allo+e her to recollect her tho%,hts, an to arran,e the* so as to for* a clearer .% ,*ent of her for*er con %ct( 'he en eavo%re to revie+ +ith e-actness all the partic%lars of her conversation +ith Valanco%rt at 0a Vallee, ha the satisfaction to observe nothin,, that co%l alar* her elicate pri e, an th%s to be confir*e in the self6estee*, +hich +as so necessary to her peace( Her *in then beca*e tran4%il, an she sa+ Valanco%rt a*iable an intelli,ent, as he ha for*erly appeare , an &a a*e Cheron neither the one, or the other( The re*e*brance of her lover, ho+ever, bro%,ht +ith it *any very painf%l e*otions, for it by no *eans reconcile her to the tho%,ht of resi,nin, hi*/ an , &a a*e Cheron havin, alrea y she+n ho+ hi,hly she isapprove of the attach*ent, she foresa+ *%ch s%fferin, fro* the opposition of interests/ yet +ith all this +as *in,le a e,ree of eli,ht, +hich, in spite of reason, partook of hope( 'he eter*ine , ho+ever, that no consi eration sho%l in %ce her to per*it a clan estine correspon ence, an to observe in her conversation +ith Valanco%rt, sho%l they ever *eet a,ain, the sa*e nicety of reserve, +hich ha hitherto *arke her con %ct( As she repeate the +or s73sho%l +e ever *eet a,ain?3 she shr%nk as if this +as a circ%*stance, +hich ha never before occ%rre to her, an tears ca*e to her eyes, +hich she hastily rie , for she hear footsteps approachin,, an then the oor of the pavilion open, an , on t%rnin,, she sa+7Valanco%rt( An e*otion of *in,le pleas%re,

s%rprise an apprehension presse so s% enly %pon her heart as al*ost to overco*e her spirits/ the colo%r left her cheeks, then ret%rne bri,hter than before, an she +as for a *o*ent %nable to speak, or to rise fro* her chair( His co%ntenance +as the *irror, in +hich she sa+ her o+n e*otions reflecte , an it ro%se her to self6co**an ( The .oy, +hich ha ani*ate his feat%res, +hen he entere the pavilion, +as s% enly represse , as, approachin,, he perceive her a,itation, an , in a tre*%lo%s voice, en4%ire after her health( Recovere fro* her first s%rprise, she ans+ere hi* +ith a te*pere s*ile/ b%t a variety of opposite e*otions still assaile her heart, an str%,,le to s%b %e the *il i,nity of her *anner( It +as iffic%lt to tell +hich pre o*inate 7the .oy of seein, Valanco%rt, or the terror of her a%nt3s ispleas%re, +hen she sho%l hear of this *eetin,( After so*e short an e*barrasse conversation, she le hi* into the ,ar ens, an en4%ire if he ha seen &a a*e Cheron( 39o,3 sai he, 3I have not yet seen her, for they tol *e she +as en,a,e , an as soon as I learne that yo% +ere in the ,ar ens, I ca*e hither(3 He pa%se a *o*ent, in ,reat a,itation, an then a e , 3&ay I vent%re to tell yo% the p%rport of *y visit, +itho%t inc%rrin, yo%r ispleas%re, an to hope, that yo% +ill not acc%se *e of precipitation in no+ availin, *yself of the per*ission yo% once ,ave *e of a ressin, yo%r fa*ilyB3 E*ily, +ho kne+ not +hat to reply, +as spare fro* f%rther perple-ity, an +as sensible only of fear, +hen on raisin, her eyes, she sa+ &a a*e Cheron t%rn into the aven%e( As the conscio%sness of innocence ret%rne , this fear +as so far issipate as to per*it her to appear tran4%il, an , instea of avoi in, her a%nt, she a vance +ith Valanco%rt to *eet her( The look of ha%,hty an i*patient ispleas%re, +ith +hich &a a*e Cheron re,ar e the*, *a e E*ily shrink, +ho %n erstoo fro* a sin,le ,lance, that this *eetin, +as believe to have been *ore than acci ental; havin, *entione Valanco%rt3s na*e, she beca*e a,ain too *%ch a,itate to re*ain +ith the*, an ret%rne into the chatea%/ +here she a+aite lon,, in a state of tre*blin, an-iety, the concl%sion of the

conference( 'he kne+ not ho+ to acco%nt for Valanco%rt3s visit to her a%nt, before he ha receive the per*ission he solicite , since she +as i,norant of a circ%*stance, +hich +o%l have ren ere the re4%est %seless, even if &a a*e Cheron ha been incline to ,rant it( Valanco%rt, in the a,itation of his spirits, ha for,otten to ate his letter, so that it +as i*possible for &a a*e Cheron to ret%rn an ans+er/ an , +hen he recollecte this circ%*stance, he +as, perhaps, not so sorry for the o*ission as ,la of the e-c%se it allo+e hi* for +aitin, on her before she co%l sen a ref%sal( &a a*e Cheron ha a lon, conversation +ith Valanco%rt, an , +hen she ret%rne to the chatea%, her co%ntenance e-presse ill6h%*o%r, b%t not the e,ree of severity, +hich E*ily ha apprehen e ( 3I have is*isse this yo%n, *an, at last,3 sai she, 3an I hope *y ho%se +ill never a,ain be ist%rbe +ith si*ilar visits( He ass%res *e, that yo%r intervie+ +as not preconcerte (3 3<ear *a a*?3 sai E*ily in e-tre*e e*otion, 3yo% s%rely i not ask hi* the 4%estion?3 3&ost certainly I i / yo% co%l not s%ppose I sho%l be so i*pr% ent as to ne,lect it(3 3Goo Go ?3 e-clai*e E*ily, 3+hat an opinion *%st he for* of *e, since yo%, &a a*, co%l e-press a s%spicion of s%ch ill con %ct?3 3It is of very little conse4%ence +hat opinion he *ay for* of yo%,3 replie her a%nt, 3for I have p%t an en to the affair/ b%t I believe he +ill not for* a +orse opinion of *e for *y pr% ent con %ct( I let hi* see, that I +as not to be trifle +ith, an that I ha *ore elicacy, than to per*it any clan estine correspon ence to be carrie on in *y ho%se(3 E*ily ha fre4%ently hear &a a*e Cheron %se the +or elicacy, b%t she +as no+ *ore than %s%ally perple-e to %n erstan ho+ she *eant to apply it in this instance, in +hich her +hole con %ct appeare to *erit the very reverse of the ter*(

3It +as very inconsi erate of *y brother,3 res%*e &a a*e Cheron, 3to leave the tro%ble of overlookin, yo%r con %ct to *e/ I +ish yo% +as +ell settle in life( 1%t if I fin , that I a* to be f%rther tro%ble +ith s%ch visitors as this &( Valanco%rt, I shall place yo% in a convent at once/7so re*e*ber the alternative( This yo%n, *an has the i*pertinence to o+n to *e,7he o+ns it? that his fort%ne is very s*all, an that he is chiefly epen ent on an el er brother an on the profession he has chosen? He sho%l have conceale these circ%*stances, at least, if he e-pecte to s%ccee +ith *e( Ha he the pres%*ption to s%ppose I +o%l *arry *y niece to a person s%ch as he escribes hi*self?3 E*ily rie her tears +hen she hear of the can i confession of Valanco%rt/ an , tho%,h the circ%*stances it iscovere +ere afflictin, to her hopes, his artless con %ct ,ave her a e,ree of pleas%re, that overca*e every other e*otion( 1%t she +as co*pelle , even th%s early in life, to observe, that ,oo sense an noble inte,rity are not al+ays s%fficient to cope +ith folly an narro+ c%nnin,/ an her heart +as p%re eno%,h to allo+ her, even at this tryin, *o*ent, to look +ith *ore pri e on the efeat of the for*er, than +ith *ortification on the con4%ests of the latter( &a a*e Cheron p%rs%e her tri%*ph( 3He has also tho%,ht proper to tell *e, that he +ill receive his is*ission fro* no person b%t yo%rself/ this favo%r, ho+ever, I have absol%tely ref%se hi*( He shall learn, that it is 4%ite s%fficient, that I isapprove hi*( An I take this opport%nity of repeatin,,7that if yo% concert any *eans of intervie+ %nkno+n to *e, yo% shall leave *y ho%se i**e iately(3 3Ho+ little o yo% kno+ *e, *a a*, that yo% sho%l think s%ch an in.%nction necessary?3 sai E*ily, tryin, to s%ppress her e*otion, 3ho+ little of the ear parents, +ho e %cate *e?3 &a a*e Cheron no+ +ent to ress for an en,a,e*ent, +hich she ha *a e for the evenin,/ an E*ily, +ho

+o%l ,la ly have been e-c%se fro* atten in, her a%nt, i not ask to re*ain at ho*e lest her re4%est sho%l be attrib%te to an i*proper *otive( :hen she retire to her o+n roo*, the little fortit% e, +hich ha s%pporte her in the presence of her relation, forsook her/ she re*e*bere only that Valanco%rt, +hose character appeare *ore a*iable fro* every circ%*stance, that %nfol e it, +as banishe fro* her presence, perhaps, for ever, an she passe the ti*e in +eepin,, +hich, accor in, to her a%nt3s irection, she o%,ht to have e*ploye in ressin,( This i*portant %ty +as, ho+ever, 4%ickly ispatche / tho%,h, +hen she .oine &a a*e Cheron at table, her eyes betraye , that she ha been in tears, an re+ %pon her a severe reproof( Her efforts to appear cheerf%l i not entirely fail +hen she .oine the co*pany at the ho%se of &a a*e Clairval, an el erly +i o+ la y, +ho ha lately co*e to resi e at Tholo%se, on an estate of her late h%sban ( 'he ha live *any years at Paris in a splen i style/ ha nat%rally a ,ay te*per, an , since her resi ence at Tholo%se, ha ,iven so*e of the *ost *a,nificent entertain*ents, that ha been seen in that nei,hbo%rhoo ( These e-cite not only the envy, b%t the triflin, a*bition of &a a*e Cheron, +ho, since she co%l not rival the splen o%r of her festivities, +as esiro%s of bein, ranke in the n%*ber of her *ost inti*ate frien s( )or this p%rpose she pai her the *ost obse4%io%s attention, an *a e a point of bein, isen,a,e , +henever she receive an invitation fro* &a a*e Clairval, of +ho* she talke , +herever she +ent, an erive *%ch self6conse4%ence fro* i*pressin, a belief on her ,eneral ac4%aintance, that they +ere on the *ost fa*iliar footin,( The entertain*ents of this evenin, consiste of a ball an s%pper/ it +as a fancy ball, an the co*pany ance in ,ro%ps in the ,ar ens, +hich +ere very e-tensive( The hi,h an l%-%riant trees, %n er +hich the ,ro%ps asse*ble , +ere ill%*inate +ith a prof%sion of la*ps, ispose +ith taste an fancy( The

,ay an vario%s resses of the co*pany, so*e of +ho* +ere seate on the t%rf, conversin, at their ease, observin, the cotillons, takin, refresh*ents, an so*eti*es to%chin, sportively a ,%itar/ the ,allant *anners of the ,entle*en, the e-4%isitely capricio%s air of the la ies/ the li,ht fantastic steps of their ances/ the *%sicians, +ith the l%te, the ha%tboy, an the tabor, seate at the foot of an el*, an the sylvan scenery of +oo s aro%n +ere circ%*stances, that %nite ly for*e a characteristic an strikin, pict%re of )rench festivity( E*ily s%rveye the ,aiety of the scene +ith a *elancholy kin of pleas%re, an her e*otion *ay be i*a,ine +hen, as she stoo +ith her a%nt, lookin, at one of the ,ro%ps, she perceive Valanco%rt/ sa+ hi* ancin, +ith a yo%n, an bea%tif%l la y, sa+ hi* conversin, +ith her +ith a *i-t%re of attention an fa*iliarity, s%ch as she ha sel o* observe in his *anner( 'he t%rne hastily fro* the scene, an atte*pte to ra+ a+ay &a a*e Cheron, +ho +as conversin, +ith 'i,nor Cavi,ni, an neither perceive Valanco%rt, or +as +illin, to be interr%pte ( A faintness s% enly ca*e over E*ily, an , %nable to s%pport herself, she sat o+n on a t%rf bank beneath the trees, +here several other persons +ere seate ( One of these, observin, the e-tre*e paleness of her co%ntenance, en4%ire if she +as ill, an be,,e she +o%l allo+ hi* to fetch her a ,lass of +ater, for +hich politeness she thanke hi*, b%t i not accept it( Her apprehension lest Valanco%rt sho%l observe her e*otion *a e her an-io%s to overco*e it, an she s%ccee e so far as to re6co*pose her co%ntenance( &a a*e Cheron +as still conversin, +ith Cavi,ni/ an the Co%nt 1a%villers, +ho ha a resse E*ily, *a e so*e observations %pon the scene, to +hich she ans+ere al*ost %nconscio%sly, for her *in +as still occ%pie +ith the i ea of Valanco%rt, to +ho* it +as +ith e-tre*e %neasiness that she re*aine so near( 'o*e re*arks, ho+ever, +hich the Co%nt *a e %pon the ance obli,e her to t%rn her eyes to+ar s it, an , at that *o*ent, Valanco%rt3s *et hers( Her colo%r fa e a,ain, she felt, that she +as relapsin, into faintness, an instantly averte her looks, b%t not before she ha

observe the altere co%ntenance of Valanco%rt, on perceivin, her( 'he +o%l have left the spot i**e iately, ha she not been conscio%s, that this con %ct +o%l have she+n hi* *ore obvio%sly the interest he hel in her heart/ an , havin, trie to atten to the Co%nt3s conversation, an to .oin in it, she, at len,th, recovere her spirits( 1%t, +hen he *a e so*e observation on Valanco%rt3s partner, the fear of she+in, that she +as intereste in the re*ark, +o%l have betraye it to hi*, ha not the Co%nt, +hile he spoke, looke to+ar s the person of +ho* he +as speakin,( 3The la y,3 sai he, 3 ancin, +ith that yo%n, Chevalier, +ho appears to be acco*plishe in every thin,, b%t in ancin,, is ranke a*on, the bea%ties of Tholo%se( 'he is han so*e, an her fort%ne +ill be very lar,e( I hope she +ill *ake a better choice in a partner for life than she has one in a partner for the ance, for I observe he has .%st p%t the set into ,reat conf%sion/ he oes nothin, b%t co**it bl%n ers( I a* s%rprise , that, +ith his air an fi,%re, he has not taken *ore care to acco*plish hi*self in ancin,(3 E*ily, +hose heart tre*ble at every +or , that +as no+ %ttere , en eavo%re to t%rn the conversation fro* Valanco%rt, by en4%irin, the na*e of the la y, +ith +ho* he ance / b%t, before the Co%nt co%l reply, the ance concl% e , an E*ily, perceivin, that Valanco%rt +as co*in, to+ar s her, rose an .oine &a a*e Cheron( 3Here is the Chevalier Valanco%rt, *a a*,3 sai she in a +hisper, 3pray let %s ,o(3 Her a%nt i**e iately *ove on, b%t not before Valanco%rt ha reache the*, +ho bo+e lo+ly to &a a*e Cheron, an +ith an earnest an e.ecte look to E*ily, +ith +ho*, not+ithstan in, all her effort, an air of *ore than co**on reserve prevaile ( The presence of &a a*e Cheron prevente Valanco%rt fro* re*ainin,, an he passe on +ith a co%ntenance, +hose *elancholy reproache her for havin, increase it( E*ily +as calle fro* the *%sin, fit, into +hich she ha fallen, by the Co%nt 1a%villers, +ho +as kno+n to her a%nt(

3I have yo%r par on to be,, *a3a*selle,3 sai he, 3for a r% eness, +hich yo% +ill rea ily believe +as 4%ite %nintentional( I i not kno+, that the Chevalier +as yo%r ac4%aintance, +hen I so freely criticise his ancin,(3 E*ily bl%she an s*ile , an &a a*e Cheron spare her the iffic%lty of replyin,( 3If yo% *ean the person, +ho has .%st passe %s,3 sai she, 3I can ass%re yo% he is no ac4%aintance of either *ine, or *a3a*selle 't( A%bert3s; I kno+ nothin, of hi*(3 3O? that is the Chevalier Valanco%rt,3 sai Cavi,ni carelessly, an lookin, back( 32o% kno+ hi* thenB3 sai &a a*e Cheron( 3I a* not ac4%ainte +ith hi*,3 replie Cavi,ni( 32o% on3t kno+, then, the reason I have to call hi* i*pertinent/7he has ha the pres%*ption to a *ire *y niece?3 3If every *an eserves the title of i*pertinent, +ho a *ires *a3a*selle 't( A%bert,3 replie Cavi,ni, 3I fear there are a ,reat *any i*pertinents, an I a* +illin, to ackno+le ,e *yself one of the n%*ber(3 3O 'i,nor?3 sai &a a*e Cheron, +ith an affecte s*ile, 3I perceive yo% have learnt the art of co*pli*entin,, since yo% ca*e into )rance( 1%t it is cr%el to co*pli*ent chil ren, since they *istake flattery for tr%th(3 Cavi,ni t%rne a+ay his face for a *o*ent, an then sai +ith a st% ie air, 3:ho* then are +e to co*pli*ent, *a a*B for it +o%l be abs%r to co*pli*ent a +o*an of refine %n erstan in,/ 'HE is above all praise(3 As he finishe the sentence he ,ave E*ily a sly look, an the s*ile, that ha l%rke in his eye, stole forth( 'he perfectly %n erstoo it, an bl%she for &a a*e Cheron, +ho replie , 32o% are perfectly ri,ht, si,nor, no +o*an of %n erstan in, can en %re co*pli*ent(3 3I have hear 'i,nor &ontoni say,3 re.oine Cavi,ni, 3that he never kne+ b%t one +o*an +ho eserve it(3 3:ell?3 e-clai*e &a a*e Cheron, +ith a short la%,h, an a s*ile of %n%tterable co*placency, 3an +ho co%l she beB3

3O?3 replie Cavi,ni, 3it is i*possible to *istake her, for certainly there is not *ore than one +o*an in the +orl , +ho has both the *erit to eserve co*pli*ent an the +it to ref%se it( &ost +o*en reverse the case entirely(3 He looke a,ain at E*ily, +ho bl%she eeper than before for her a%nt, an t%rne fro* hi* +ith ispleas%re( 3:ell, si,nor?3 sai &a a*e Cheron, 3I protest yo% are a )rench*an/ I never hear a forei,ner say any thin, half so ,allant as that?3 3Tr%e, *a a*,3 sai the Co%nt, +ho ha been so*e ti*e silent, an +ith a lo+ bo+, 3b%t the ,allantry of the co*pli*ent ha been %tterly lost, b%t for the in,en%ity that iscovere the application(3 &a a*e Cheron i not perceive the *eanin, of this too satirical sentence, an she, therefore, escape the pain, +hich E*ily felt on her acco%nt( 3O? here co*es 'i,nor &ontoni hi*self,3 sai her a%nt, 3I protest I +ill tell hi* all the fine thin,s yo% have been sayin, to *e(3 The 'i,nor, ho+ever, passe at this *o*ent into another +alk( 3Pray, +ho is it, that has so *%ch en,a,e yo%r frien this evenin,B3 aske &a a*e Cheron, +ith an air of cha,rin, 3I have not seen hi* once(3 3He ha a very partic%lar en,a,e*ent +ith the &ar4%is 0a Riviere,3 replie Cavi,ni, 3+hich has etaine hi*, I perceive, till this *o*ent, or he +o%l have one hi*self the hono%r of payin, his respects to yo%, *a a*, sooner, as he co**issione *e to say( 1%t, I kno+ not ho+ it is7yo%r conversation is so fascinatin,7that it can char* even *e*ory, I think, or I sho%l certainly have elivere *y frien 3s apolo,y before(3 3The apolo,y, sir, +o%l have been *ore satisfactory fro* hi*self,3 sai &a a*e Cheron, +hose vanity +as *ore *ortifie by &ontoni3s ne,lect, than flattere by Cavi,ni3s co*pli*ent( Her *anner, at this *o*ent, an Cavi,ni3s late conversation, no+ a+akene a s%spicion in E*ily3s *in , +hich, not+ithstan in, that so*e recollections serve to confir* it, appeare

prepostero%s( 'he tho%,ht she perceive , that &ontoni +as payin, serio%s a resses to her a%nt, an that she not only accepte the*, b%t +as .ealo%sly +atchf%l of any appearance of ne,lect on his part(7That &a a*e Cheron at her years sho%l elect a secon h%sban +as ri ic%lo%s, tho%,h her vanity *a e it not i*possible/ b%t that &ontoni, +ith his iscern*ent, his fi,%re, an pretensions, sho%l *ake a choice of &a a*e Cheron 7appeare *ost +on erf%l( Her tho%,hts, ho+ever, i not +ell lon, on the s%b.ect/ nearer interests presse %pon the*/ Valanco%rt, re.ecte of her a%nt, an Valanco%rt ancin, +ith a ,ay an bea%tif%l partner, alternately tor*ente her *in ( As she passe alon, the ,ar ens she looke ti*i ly for+ar , half fearin, an half hopin, that he *i,ht appear in the cro+ / an the isappoint*ent she felt on not seein, hi*, tol her, that she ha hope *ore than she ha feare ( &ontoni soon after .oine the party( He *%ttere over so*e short speech abo%t re,ret for havin, been so lon, etaine else+here, +hen he kne+ he sho%l have the pleas%re of seein, &a a*e Cheron here/ an she, receivin, the apolo,y +ith the air of a pettish ,irl, a resse herself entirely to Cavi,ni, +ho looke archly at &ontoni, as if he +o%l have sai , 3I +ill not tri%*ph over yo% too *%ch/ I +ill have the ,oo ness to bear *y hono%rs *eekly/ b%t look sharp, 'i,nor, or I shall certainly r%n a+ay +ith yo%r pri8e(3 The s%pper +as serve in ifferent pavilions in the ,ar ens, as +ell as in one lar,e saloon of the chatea%, an +ith *ore of taste, than either of splen o%r, or even of plenty( &a a*e Cheron an her party s%ppe +ith &a a*e Clairval in the saloon, an E*ily, +ith iffic%lty, is,%ise her e*otion, +hen she sa+ Valanco%rt place at the sa*e table +ith herself( There, &a a*e Cheron havin, s%rveye hi* +ith hi,h ispleas%re, sai to so*e person +ho sat ne-t to her, 3Pray, +ho I' that yo%n, *anB3 3It is the Chevalier Valanco%rt,3 +as the ans+er( 32es, I a* not i,norant of his na*e, b%t +ho is this Chevalier Valanco%rt that th%s intr% es hi*self at this tableB3 The attention of the

person, +ho +ho* she spoke, +as calle off before she receive a secon reply( The table, at +hich they sat, +as very lon,, an , Valanco%rt bein, seate , +ith his partner, near the botto*, an E*ily near the top, the istance bet+een the* *ay acco%nt for his not i**e iately perceivin, her( 'he avoi e lookin, to that en of the table, b%t +henever her eyes happene to ,lance to+ar s it, she observe hi* conversin, +ith his bea%tif%l co*panion, an the observation i not contrib%te to restore her peace, any *ore than the acco%nts she hear of the fort%ne an acco*plish*ents of this sa*e la y( &a a*e Cheron, to +ho* these re*arks +ere so*eti*es a resse , beca%se they s%pporte topics for trivial conversation, see*e in efati,able in her atte*pts to epreciate Valanco%rt, to+ar s +ho* she felt all the petty resent*ent of a narro+ pri e( 3I a *ire the la y,3 sai she, 3b%t I *%st con e*n her choice of a partner(3 3Oh, the Chevalier Valanco%rt is one of the *ost acco*plishe yo%n, *en +e have,3 replie the la y, to +ho* this re*ark +as a resse ; 3it is +hispere , that &a e*oiselle <3E*ery, an her lar,e fort%ne, are to be his(3 3I*possible?3 e-clai*e &a a*e Cheron, re enin, +ith ve-ation, 3it is i*possible that she can be so estit%te of taste/ he has so little the air of a person of con ition, that, if I i not see hi* at the table of &a a*e Clairval, I sho%l never have s%specte hi* to be one( I have besi es partic%lar reasons for believin, the report to be erroneo%s(3 3I cannot o%bt the tr%th of it,3 replie the la y ,ravely, is,%ste by the abr%pt contra iction she ha receive , concernin, her opinion of Valanco%rt3s *erit( 32o% +ill, perhaps, o%bt it,3 sai &a a*e Cheron, 3+hen I ass%re yo%, that it +as only this *ornin, that I re.ecte his s%it(3 This +as sai +itho%t any intention of i*posin, the *eanin, it conveye , b%t si*ply fro* a habit of consi erin, herself to be the *ost i*portant person in every affair that concerne her niece, an beca%se literally she ha re.ecte Valanco%rt( 32o%r reasons are in ee s%ch as cannot be o%bte ,3 replie the la y,

+ith an ironical s*ile( 3Any *ore than the iscern*ent of the Chevalier Valanco%rt,3 a e Cavi,ni, +ho stoo by the chair of &a a*e Cheron, an ha hear her arro,ate to herself, as he tho%,ht, a istinction +hich ha been pai to her niece( 3His iscern*ent &A2 be .%stly 4%estione , 'i,nor,3 sai &a a*e Cheron, +ho +as not flattere by +hat she %n erstoo to be an enco*i%* on E*ily( 3Alas?3 e-clai*e Cavi,ni, s%rveyin, &a a*e Cheron +ith affecte ecstasy, 3ho+ vain is that assertion, +hile that face7that shape7that air7co*bine to ref%te it? Anhappy Valanco%rt? his iscern*ent has been his estr%ction(3 E*ily looke s%rprise an e*barrasse / the la y, +ho ha lately spoke, astonishe , an &a a*e Cheron, +ho, tho%,h she i not perfectly %n erstan this speech, +as very rea y to believe herself co*pli*ente by it, sai s*ilin,ly, 3O 'i,nor? yo% are very ,allant/ b%t those, +ho hear yo% vin icate the Chevalier3s iscern*ent, +ill s%ppose that I a* the ob.ect of it(3 3They cannot o%bt it,3 replie Cavi,ni, bo+in, lo+( 3An +o%l not that be very *ortifyin,, 'i,norB3 3An4%estionably it +o%l ,3 sai Cavi,ni( 3I cannot en %re the tho%,ht,3 sai &a a*e Cheron( 3It is not to be en %re ,3 replie Cavi,ni( 3:hat can be one to prevent so h%*iliatin, a *istakeB3 re.oine &a a*e Cheron( 3Alas? I cannot assist yo%,3 replie Cavi,ni, +ith a eliberatin, air( 32o%r only chance of ref%tin, the cal%*ny, an of *akin, people %n erstan +hat yo% +ish the* to believe, is to persist in yo%r first assertion/ for, +hen they are tol of the Chevalier3s +ant of iscern*ent, it is possible they *ay s%ppose he never pres%*e to istress yo% +ith his a *iration(7 1%t then a,ain7that iffi ence, +hich ren ers yo% so insensible to yo%r o+n perfections7they +ill consi er this, an Valanco%rt3s taste +ill not be o%bte , tho%,h

yo% arrai,n it( In short, they +ill, in spite of yo%r en eavo%rs, contin%e to believe, +hat *i,ht very nat%rally have occ%rre to the* +itho%t any hint of *ine7that the Chevalier has taste eno%,h to a *ire a bea%tif%l +o*an(3 3All this is very istressin,?3 sai &a a*e Cheron, +ith a profo%n si,h( 3&ay I be allo+e to ask +hat is so istressin,B3 sai &a a*e Clairval, +ho +as str%ck +ith the r%ef%l co%ntenance an olef%l accent, +ith +hich this +as elivere ( 3It is a elicate s%b.ect,3 replie &a a*e Cheron, 3a very *ortifyin, one to *e(3 3I a* concerne to hear it,3 sai &a a*e Clairval, 3I hope nothin, has occ%rre , this evenin,, partic%larly to istress yo%B3 3Alas, yes? +ithin this half ho%r/ an I kno+ not +here the report *ay en /7*y pri e +as never so shocke before, b%t I ass%re yo% the report is totally voi of fo%n ation(3 3Goo Go ?3 e-clai*e &a a*e Clairval,3 +hat can be oneB Can yo% point o%t any +ay, by +hich I can assist, or console yo%B3 3The only +ay, by +hich yo% can o either,3 replie &a a*e Cheron, 3is to contra ict the report +herever yo% ,o(3 3:ell? b%t pray infor* *e +hat I a* to contra ict(3 3It is so very h%*iliatin,, that I kno+ not ho+ to *ention it,3 contin%e &a a*e Cheron, 3b%t yo% shall .% ,e( <o yo% observe that yo%n, *an seate near the botto* of the table, +ho is conversin, +ith &a e*oiselle <3E*eryB3 32es, I perceive +ho* yo% *ean(3 32o% observe ho+ little he has the air of a person of con ition/ I +as sayin, .%st no+, that I sho%l not have tho%,ht hi* a ,entle*an, if I ha not seen hi* at this table(3 3:ell? b%t the report,3 sai &a a*e Clairval, 3let *e %n erstan the s%b.ect of yo%r istress(3 3Ah? the s%b.ect of *y istress,3 replie &a a*e Cheron/ 3this person, +ho* nobo y kno+s7=I be, par on, *a a*, I i not consi er +hat I sai >7this i*pertinent yo%n, *an, havin, ha the pres%*ption to a ress *y niece,

has, I fear, ,iven rise to a report, that he ha eclare hi*self *y a *irer( 9o+ only consi er ho+ very *ortifyin, s%ch a report *%st be? 2o%, I kno+, +ill feel for *y sit%ation( A +o*an of *y con ition?7think ho+ e,ra in, even the r%*o%r of s%ch an alliance *%st be(3 3<e,ra in, in ee , *y poor frien ?3 sai &a a*e Clairval( 32o% *ay rely %pon it I +ill contra ict the report +herever I ,o/3 as she sai +hich, she t%rne her attention %pon another part of the co*pany/ an Cavi,ni, +ho ha hitherto appeare a ,rave spectator of the scene, no+ fearin, he sho%l be %nable to s*other the la%,h, that conv%lse hi*, +alke abr%ptly a+ay( 3I perceive yo% o not kno+,3 sai the la y +ho sat near &a a*e Cheron, 3that the ,entle*an yo% have been speakin, of is &a a*e Clairval3s nephe+?3 3I*possible?3 e-clai*e &a a*e Cheron, +ho no+ be,an to perceive, that she ha been totally *istaken in her .% ,*ent of Valanco%rt, an to praise hi* alo% +ith as *%ch servility, as she ha before cens%re hi* +ith frivolo%s *ali,nity( E*ily, +ho, %rin, the ,reater part of this conversation, ha been so absorbe in tho%,ht as to be spare the pain of hearin, it, +as no+ e-tre*ely s%rprise by her a%nt3s praise of Valanco%rt, +ith +hose relationship to &a a*e Clairval she +as %nac4%ainte / b%t she +as not sorry +hen &a a*e Cheron, +ho, tho%,h she no+ trie to appear %nconcerne , +as really *%ch e*barrasse , prepare to +ith ra+ i**e iately after s%pper( &ontoni then ca*e to han &a a*e Cheron to her carria,e, an Cavi,ni, +ith an arch sole*nity of co%ntenance, follo+e +ith E*ily, +ho, as she +ishe the* ,oo ni,ht, an re+ %p the ,lass, sa+ Valanco%rt a*on, the cro+ at the ,ates( 1efore the carria,e rove off, he isappeare ( &a a*e Cheron forbore to *ention hi* to E*ily, an , as soon as they reache the chatea%, they separate for the ni,ht(

On the follo+in, *ornin,, as E*ily sat at breakfast +ith her a%nt, a letter +as bro%,ht to her, of +hich she kne+ the han +ritin, %pon the cover/ an , as she receive it +ith a tre*blin, han , &a a*e Cheron hastily en4%ire fro* +ho* it ca*e( E*ily, +ith her leave, broke the seal, an , observin, the si,nat%re of Valanco%rt, ,ave it %nrea to her a%nt, +ho receive it +ith i*patience/ an , as she looke it over, E*ily en eavo%re to rea on her co%ntenance its contents( Havin, ret%rne the letter to her niece, +hose eyes aske if she *i,ht e-a*ine it, 32es, rea it, chil ,3 sai &a a*e Cheron, in a *anner less severe than she ha e-pecte , an E*ily ha , perhaps, never before so +illin,ly obeye her a%nt( In this letter Valanco%rt sai little of the intervie+ of the prece in, ay, b%t concl% e +ith eclarin,, that he +o%l accept his is*ission fro* E*ily only, an +ith entreatin,, that she +o%l allo+ hi* to +ait %pon her, on the approachin, evenin,( :hen she rea this, she +as astonishe at the *o eration of &a a*e Cheron, an looke at her +ith ti*i e-pectation, as she sai sorro+f%lly73:hat a* I to say, *a a*B3 3:hy7+e *%st see the yo%n, *an, I believe,3 replie her a%nt, 3an hear +hat he has f%rther to say for hi*self( 2o% *ay tell hi* he *ay co*e(3 E*ily are scarcely cre it +hat she hear ( 32et, stay,3 a e &a a*e Cheron, 3I +ill tell hi* so *yself(3 'he calle for pen an ink/ E*ily still not arin, to tr%st the e*otions she felt, an al*ost sinkin, beneath the*( Her s%rprise +o%l have been less ha she overhear , on the prece in, evenin,, +hat &a a*e Cheron ha not for,otten7that Valanco%rt +as the nephe+ of &a a*e Clairval( :hat +ere the partic%lars of her a%nt3s note E*ily i not learn, b%t the res%lt +as a visit fro* Valanco%rt in the evenin,, +ho* &a a*e Cheron receive alone, an they ha a lon, conversation before E*ily +as calle o+n( :hen she entere the roo*, her a%nt +as conversin, +ith co*placency, an she sa+ the eyes of Valanco%rt, as he i*patiently rose, ani*ate +ith hope(

3:e have been talkin, over this affair,3 sai &a a*e Cheron, 3the chevalier has been tellin, *e, that the late &onsie%r Clairval +as the brother of the Co%ntess e <%varney, his *other( I only +ish he ha *entione his relationship to &a a*e Clairval before/ I certainly sho%l have consi ere that circ%*stance as a s%fficient intro %ction to *y ho%se(3 Valanco%rt bo+e , an +as ,oin, to a ress E*ily, b%t her a%nt prevente hi*( 3I have, therefore, consente that yo% shall receive his visits/ an , tho%,h I +ill not bin *yself by any pro*ise, or say, that I shall consi er hi* as *y nephe+, yet I shall per*it the interco%rse, an shall look for+ar to any f%rther connection as an event, +hich *ay possibly take place in a co%rse of years, provi e the chevalier rises in his profession, or any circ%*stance occ%rs, +hich *ay *ake it pr% ent for hi* to take a +ife( 1%t &ons( Valanco%rt +ill observe, an yo% too, E*ily, that, till that happens, I positively forbi any tho%,hts of *arryin,(3 E*ily3s co%ntenance, %rin, this coarse speech, varie every instant, an , to+ar s its concl%sion, her istress ha so *%ch increase , that she +as on the point of leavin, the roo*( Valanco%rt, *ean+hile, scarcely less e*barrasse , i not are to look at her, for +ho* he +as th%s istresse / b%t, +hen &a a*e Cheron +as silent, he sai , 3)latterin,, *a a*, as yo%r approbation is to *e7hi,hly as I a* hono%re by it7I have yet so *%ch to fear, that I scarcely are to hope(3 3Pray, sir, e-plain yo%rself,3 sai &a a*e Cheron/ an %ne-pecte re4%isition, +hich e*barrasse Valanco%rt a,ain, an al*ost overca*e hi* +ith conf%sion, at circ%*stances, on +hich, ha he been only a spectator of the scene, he +o%l have s*ile ( 3Till I receive &a e*oiselle 't( A%bert3s per*ission to accept yo%r in %l,ence,3 sai he, falterin,ly73till she allo+s *e to hope73 3O? is that allB3 interr%pte &a a*e Cheron( 3:ell, I +ill take %pon *e to ans+er for her( 1%t at the sa*e ti*e, sir, ,ive *e leave to observe to yo%, that I a* her ,%ar ian, an that I e-pect, in every instance, that *y +ill is hers(3

As she sai this, she rose an 4%itte the roo*, leavin, E*ily an Valanco%rt in a state of *%t%al e*barrass*ent/ an , +hen Valanco%rt3s hopes enable hi* to overco*e his fears, an to a ress her +ith the 8eal an sincerity so nat%ral to hi*, it +as a consi erable ti*e before she +as s%fficiently recovere to hear +ith istinctness his solicitations an in4%iries( The con %ct of &a a*e Cheron in this affair ha been entirely ,overne by selfish vanity( Valanco%rt, in his first intervie+, ha +ith ,reat can o%r lai open to her the tr%e state of his present circ%*stances, an his f%t%re e-pectancies, an she, +ith *ore pr% ence than h%*anity, ha absol%tely an abr%ptly re.ecte his s%it( 'he +ishe her niece to *arry a*bitio%sly, not beca%se she esire to see her in possession of the happiness, +hich rank an +ealth are %s%ally believe to besto+, b%t beca%se she esire to partake the i*portance, +hich s%ch an alliance +o%l ,ive( :hen, therefore, she iscovere that Valanco%rt +as the nephe+ of a person of so *%ch conse4%ence as &a a*e Clairval, she beca*e an-io%s for the connection, since the prospect it affor e of f%t%re fort%ne an istinction for E*ily, pro*ise the e-altation she covete for herself( Her calc%lations concernin, fort%ne in this alliance +ere ,%i e rather by her +ishes, than by any hint of Valanco%rt, or stron, appearance of probability/ an , +hen she reste her e-pectation on the +ealth of &a a*e Clairval, she see*e totally to have for,otten, that the latter ha a a%,hter( Valanco%rt, ho+ever, ha not for,otten this circ%*stance, an the consi eration of it ha *a e hi* so *o est in his e-pectations fro* &a a*e Clairval, that he ha not even na*e the relationship in his first conversation +ith &a a*e Cheron( 1%t, +hatever *i,ht be the f%t%re fort%ne of E*ily, the present istinction, +hich the connection +o%l affor for herself, +as certain, since the splen o%r of &a a*e Clairval3s establish*ent +as s%ch as to e-cite the ,eneral envy an partial i*itation of the nei,hbo%rhoo ( Th%s ha she consente to involve her niece in an en,a,e*ent, to +hich she sa+ only a istant an %ncertain concl%sion, +ith as little

consi eration of her happiness, as +hen she ha so precipitately forba e it; for tho%,h she herself possesse the *eans of ren erin, this %nion not only certain, b%t pr% ent, yet to o so +as no part of her present intention( )ro* this perio Valanco%rt *a e fre4%ent visits to &a a*e Cheron, an E*ily passe in his society the happiest ho%rs she ha kno+n since the eath of her father( They +ere both too *%ch en,a,e by the present *o*ents to ,ive serio%s consi eration to the f%t%re( They love an +ere belove , an sa+ not, that the very attach*ent, +hich for*e the eli,ht of their present ays, *i,ht possibly occasion the s%fferin,s of years( &ean+hile, &a a*e Cheron3s interco%rse +ith &a a*e Clairval beca*e *ore fre4%ent than before, an her vanity +as alrea y ,ratifie by the opport%nity of proclai*in,, +herever she +ent, the attach*ent that s%bsiste bet+een their nephe+ an niece( &ontoni +as no+ also beco*e a aily ,%est at the chatea%, an E*ily +as co*pelle to observe, that he really +as a s%itor, an a favo%re s%itor, to her a%nt( Th%s passe the +inter *onths, not only in peace, b%t in happiness, to Valanco%rt an E*ily/ the station of his re,i*ent bein, so near Tholo%se, as to allo+ this fre4%ent interco%rse( The pavilion on the terrace +as the favo%rite scene of their intervie+s, an there E*ily, +ith &a a*e Cheron, +o%l +ork, +hile Valanco%rt rea alo% +orks of ,eni%s an taste, listene to her enth%sias*, e-presse his o+n, an ca%,ht ne+ opport%nities of observin,, that their *in s +ere for*e to constit%te the happiness of each other, the sa*e taste, the sa*e noble an benevolent senti*ents ani*atin, each(

#HAPTER *III
As hen a shepherd of the 8ebrid%5sles, Placed far a!id the !elancholy !ain,

F<hether it be lone fancy hi! beguiles, 7r that aerial beings so!eti!es deign To stand e!bodied to our senses plainG 4ees on the naked hill, or "alley lo , The hilst in ocean Phoebus dips his ain, A "ast asse!bly !o"ing to and fro, Then all at once in air dissol"es the ondrous sho # 3A4T&E 7) 5:(7&E:3E

&a a*e Cheron3s avarice at len,th yiel e to her vanity( 'o*e very splen i entertain*ents, +hich &a a*e Clairval ha ,iven, an the ,eneral a %lation, +hich +as pai her, *a e the for*er *ore an-io%s than before to sec%re an alliance, that +o%l so *%ch e-alt her in her o+n opinion an in that of the +orl ( 'he propose ter*s for the i**e iate *arria,e of her niece, an offere to ,ive E*ily a o+er, provi e &a a*e Clairval observe e4%al ter*s, on the part of her nephe+( &a a*e Clairval listene to the proposal, an , consi erin, that E*ily +as the apparent heiress of her a%nt3s +ealth, accepte it( &ean+hile, E*ily kne+ nothin, of the transaction, till &a a*e Cheron infor*e her, that she *%st *ake preparation for the n%ptials, +hich +o%l be celebrate +itho%t f%rther elay/ then, astonishe an +holly %nable to acco%nt for this s% en concl%sion, +hich Valanco%rt ha not solicite =for he +as i,norant of +hat ha passe bet+een the el er la ies, an ha not are to hope s%ch ,oo fort%ne>, she ecisively ob.ecte to it( &a a*e Cheron, ho+ever, 4%ite as .ealo%s of contra iction no+, as she ha been for*erly, conten e for a spee y *arria,e +ith as *%ch vehe*ence as she ha for*erly oppose +hatever ha the *ost re*ote possibility of lea in, to it/ an E*ily3s scr%ples isappeare , +hen she a,ain sa+ Valanco%rt, +ho +as no+ infor*e of the happiness, esi,ne for hi*, an ca*e to clai* a pro*ise of it fro* herself( :hile preparations +ere *akin, for these n%ptials, &ontoni beca*e the ackno+le ,e lover of &a a*e Cheron/ an , tho%,h &a a*e Clairval +as *%ch isplease , +hen she hear of the approachin, connection, an +as +illin, to prevent that of Valanco%rt +ith E*ily, her conscience tol her, that she ha no ri,ht th%s to trifle +ith their peace, an &a a*e

Clairval, tho%,h a +o*an of fashion, +as far less a vance than her frien in the art of erivin, satisfaction fro* istinction an a *iration, rather than fro* conscience( E*ily observe +ith concern the ascen ancy, +hich &ontoni ha ac4%ire over &a a*e Cheron, as +ell as the increasin, fre4%ency of his visits/ an her o+n opinion of this Italian +as confir*e by that of Valanco%rt, +ho ha al+ays e-presse a islike of hi*( As she +as, one *ornin,, sittin, at +ork in the pavilion, en.oyin, the pleasant freshness of sprin,, +hose colo%rs +ere no+ sprea %pon the lan scape, an listenin, to Valanco%rt, +ho +as rea in,, b%t +ho often lai asi e the book to converse, she receive a s%**ons to atten &a a*e Cheron i**e iately, an ha scarcely entere the ressin,6roo*, +hen she observe +ith s%rprise the e.ection of her a%nt3s co%ntenance, an the contraste ,aiety of her ress( 3'o, niece?37sai &a a*e, an she stoppe %n er so*e e,ree of e*barrass*ent(73I sent for yo%7I7I +ishe to see yo%/ I have ne+s to tell yo%( )ro* this ho%r yo% *%st consi er the 'i,nor &ontoni as yo%r %ncle7+e +ere *arrie this *ornin,(3 Astonishe 7not so *%ch at the *arria,e, as at the secrecy +ith +hich it ha been concl% e , an the a,itation +ith +hich it +as anno%nce , E*ily, at len,th, attrib%te the privacy to the +ish of &ontoni, rather than of her a%nt( His +ife, ho+ever, inten e , that the contrary sho%l be believe , an therefore a e , 3yo% see I +ishe to avoi a b%stle/ b%t no+ the cere*ony is over I shall o so no lon,er/ an I +ish to anno%nce to *y servants that they *%st receive the 'i,nor &ontoni for their *aster(3 E*ily *a e a feeble atte*pt to con,rat%late her on these apparently i*pr% ent n%ptials( 3I shall no+ celebrate *y *arria,e +ith so*e splen o%r,3 contin%e &a a*e &ontoni, 3an to save ti*e I shall avail *yself of the preparation that has been *a e for yo%rs, +hich +ill, of co%rse, be elaye a little +hile( '%ch of yo%r +e in, clothes as are rea y I shall e-pect yo% +ill appear in, to o hono%r to this festival( I also +ish yo% to infor*

&onsie%r Valanco%rt, that I have chan,e *y na*e, an he +ill ac4%aint &a a*e Clairval( In a fe+ ays I shall ,ive a ,ran entertain*ent, at +hich I shall re4%est their presence(3 E*ily +as so lost in s%rprise an vario%s tho%,ht, that she *a e &a a*e &ontoni scarcely any reply, b%t, at her esire, she ret%rne to infor* Valanco%rt of +hat ha passe ( '%rprise +as not his pre o*inant e*otion on hearin, of these hasty n%ptials/ an , +hen he learne , that they +ere to be the *eans of elayin, his o+n, an that the very orna*ents of the chatea%, +hich ha been prepare to ,race the n%ptial ay of his E*ily, +ere to be e,ra e to the celebration of &a a*e &ontoni3s, ,rief an in i,nation a,itate hi* alternately( He co%l conceal neither fro* the observation of E*ily, +hose efforts to abstract hi* fro* these serio%s e*otions, an to la%,h at the apprehensive consi erations, that assaile hi*, +ere ineffect%al/ an , +hen, at len,th, he took leave, there +as an earnest ten erness in his *anner, that e-tre*ely affecte her/ she even she tears, +hen he isappeare at the en of the terrace, yet kne+ not e-actly +hy she sho%l o so( &ontoni no+ took possession of the chatea%, an the co**an of its inhabitants, +ith the ease of a *an, +ho ha lon, consi ere it to be his o+n( His frien Cavi,ni, +ho ha been e-tre*ely serviceable, in havin, pai &a a*e Cheron the attention an flattery, +hich she re4%ire , b%t fro* +hich &ontoni too often revolte , ha apart*ents assi,ne to hi*, an receive fro* the o*estics an e4%al e,ree of obe ience +ith the *aster of the *ansion( :ithin a fe+ ays, &a a*e &ontoni, as she ha pro*ise , ,ave a *a,nificent entertain*ent to a very n%*ero%s co*pany, a*on, +ho* +as Valanco%rt/ b%t at +hich &a a*e Clairval e-c%se herself fro* atten in,( There +as a concert, ball an s%pper( Valanco%rt +as, of co%rse, E*ily3s partner, an tho%,h, +hen he ,ave a look to the ecorations of the apart*ents, he co%l not b%t re*e*ber, that they +ere esi,ne for other festivities, than those they no+

contrib%te to celebrate, he en eavo%re to check his concern by consi erin,, that a little +hile only +o%l elapse before they +o%l be ,iven to their ori,inal estination( <%rin, this evenin,, &a a*e &ontoni ance , la%,he an talke incessantly/ +hile &ontoni, silent, reserve an so*e+hat ha%,hty, see*e +eary of the para e, an of the frivolo%s co*pany it ha ra+n to,ether( This +as the first an the last entertain*ent, ,iven in celebration of their n%ptials( &ontoni, tho%,h the severity of his te*per an the ,loo*iness of his pri e prevente hi* fro* en.oyin, s%ch festivities, +as e-tre*ely +illin, to pro*ote the*( It +as sel o*, that he co%l *eet in any co*pany a *an of *ore a ress, an still sel o*er one of *ore %n erstan in,, than hi*self/ the balance of a vanta,e in s%ch parties, or in the connections, +hich *i,ht arise fro* the*, *%st, therefore, be on his si e/ an , kno+in,, as he i , the selfish p%rposes, for +hich they are ,enerally fre4%ente , he ha no ob.ection to *eas%re his talents of issi*%lation +ith those of any other co*petitor for istinction an pl%n er( 1%t his +ife, +ho, +hen her o+n interest +as i**e iately concerne , ha so*eti*es *ore iscern*ent than vanity, ac4%ire a conscio%sness of her inferiority to other +o*en, in personal attractions, +hich, %nitin, +ith the .ealo%sy nat%ral to the iscovery, co%nteracte his rea iness for *in,lin, +ith all the parties Tholo%se co%l affor ( Till she ha , as she s%ppose , the affections of an h%sban to lose, she ha no *otive for iscoverin, the %n+elco*e tr%th, an it ha never obtr% e itself %pon her/ b%t, no+ that it infl%ence her policy, she oppose her h%sban 3s inclination for co*pany, +ith the *ore ea,erness, beca%se she believe hi* to be really as +ell receive in the fe*ale society of the place, as, %rin, his a resses to her, he ha affecte to be( A fe+ +eeks only ha elapse , since the *arria,e, +hen &a a*e &ontoni infor*e E*ily, that the 'i,nor inten e to ret%rn to Italy, as soon as the necessary preparation co%l be *a e for so lon, a .o%rney( 3:e shall ,o to Venice,3 sai she, 3+here the

'i,nor has a fine *ansion, an fro* thence to his estate in T%scany( :hy o yo% look so ,rave, chil B7 2o%, +ho are so fon of a ro*antic co%ntry an fine vie+s, +ill o%btless be eli,hte +ith this .o%rney(3 3A* I then to be of the party, *a a*B3 sai E*ily, +ith e-tre*e s%rprise an e*otion( 3&ost certainly,3 replie her a%nt, 3ho+ co%l yo% i*a,ine +e sho%l leave yo% behin B 1%t I see yo% are thinkin, of the Chevalier/ he is not yet, I believe, infor*e of the .o%rney, b%t he very soon +ill be so( 'i,nor &ontoni is ,one to ac4%aint &a a*e Clairval of o%r .o%rney, an to say, that the propose connection bet+een the fa*ilies *%st fro* this ti*e be tho%,ht of no *ore(3 The %nfeelin, *anner, in +hich &a a*e &ontoni th%s infor*e her niece, that she *%st be separate , perhaps for ever, fro* the *an, +ith +ho* she +as on the point of bein, %nite for life, a e to the is*ay, +hich she *%st other+ise have s%ffere at s%ch intelli,ence( :hen she co%l speak, she aske the ca%se of the s% en chan,e in &a a*e3s senti*ents to+ar s Valanco%rt, b%t the only reply she co%l obtain +as, that the 'i,nor ha forba e the connection, consi erin, it to be ,reatly inferior to +hat E*ily *i,ht reasonably e-pect( 3I no+ leave the affair entirely to the 'i,nor,3 a e &a a*e &ontoni, 3b%t I *%st say, that &( Valanco%rt never +as a favo%rite +ith *e, an I +as overpers%a e , or I sho%l not have ,iven *y consent to the connection( I +as +eak eno%,h7I a* so foolish so*eti*es?7to s%ffer other people3s %neasiness to affect *e, an so *y better .% ,*ent yiel e to yo%r affliction( 1%t the 'i,nor has very properly pointe o%t the folly of this, an he shall not have to reprove *e a secon ti*e( I a* eter*ine , that yo% shall s%b*it to those, +ho kno+ ho+ to ,%i e yo% better than yo%rself 7I a* eter*ine , that yo% shall be confor*able(3 E*ily +o%l have been astonishe at the assertions of this elo4%ent speech, ha not her *in been so over+hel*e by the s% en shock it ha receive , that she scarcely hear a +or of +hat +as latterly

a resse to her( :hatever +ere the +eaknesses of &a a*e &ontoni, she *i,ht have avoi e to acc%se herself +ith those of co*passion an ten erness to the feelin,s of others, an especially to those of E*ily( It +as the sa*e a*bition, that lately prevaile %pon her to solicit an alliance +ith &a a*e Clairval3s fa*ily, +hich in %ce her to +ith ra+ fro* it, no+ that her *arria,e +ith &ontoni ha e-alte her self6 conse4%ence, an , +ith it, her vie+s for her niece( E*ily +as, at this ti*e, too *%ch affecte to e*ploy either re*onstrance, or entreaty on this topic/ an +hen, at len,th, she atte*pte the latter, her e*otion overca*e her speech, an she retire to her apart*ent, to think, if in the present state of her *in to think +as possible, %pon this s% en an over+hel*in, s%b.ect( It +as very lon,, before her spirits +ere s%fficiently co*pose to per*it the reflection, +hich, +hen it ca*e, +as ark an even terrible( 'he sa+, that &ontoni so%,ht to a,,ran ise hi*self in his isposal of her, an it occ%rre , that his frien Cavi,ni +as the person, for +ho* he +as intereste ( The prospect of ,oin, to Italy +as still ren ere arker, +hen she consi ere the t%*%lt%o%s sit%ation of that co%ntry, then torn by civil co**otion, +here every petty state +as at +ar +ith its nei,hbo%r, an even every castle liable to the attack of an inva er( 'he consi ere the person, to +hose i**e iate ,%i ance she +o%l be co**itte , an the vast istance, that +as to separate her fro* Valanco%rt, an , at the recollection of hi*, every other i*a,e vanishe fro* her *in , an every tho%,ht +as a,ain obsc%re by ,rief( In this pert%rbe state she passe so*e ho%rs, an , +hen she +as s%**one to inner, she entreate per*ission to re*ain in her o+n apart*ent/ b%t &a a*e &ontoni +as alone, an the re4%est +as ref%se ( E*ily an her a%nt sai little %rin, the repast/ the one occ%pie by her ,riefs, the other en,rosse by the isappoint*ent, +hich the %ne-pecte absence of &ontoni occasione / for not only +as her vanity pi4%e by the ne,lect, b%t her .ealo%sy alar*e by +hat she consi ere as a *ysterio%s en,a,e*ent(

:hen the cloth +as ra+n an they +ere alone, E*ily rene+e the *ention of Valanco%rt/ b%t her a%nt, neither softene to pity, or a+akene to re*orse, beca*e enra,e , that her +ill sho%l be oppose , an the a%thority of &ontoni 4%estione , tho%,h this +as one by E*ily +ith her %s%al ,entleness, +ho, after a lon,, an tort%rin, conversation, retire in tears( As she crosse the hall, a person entere it by the ,reat oor, +ho*, as her eyes hastily ,lance that +ay, she i*a,ine to be &ontoni, an she +as passin, on +ith 4%icker steps, +hen she hear the +ell6kno+n voice of Valanco%rt( 3E*ily, O? *y E*ily?3 crie he in a tone falterin, +ith i*patience, +hile she t%rne , an , as he a vance , +as alar*e at the e-pression of his co%ntenance an the ea,er esperation of his air( 3In tears, E*ily? I +o%l speak +ith yo%,3 sai he, 3I have *%ch to say/ con %ct *e to +here +e *ay converse( 1%t yo% tre*ble7yo% are ill? 0et *e lea yo% to a seat(3 He observe the open oor of an apart*ent, an hastily took her han to lea her thither/ b%t she atte*pte to +ith ra+ it, an sai , +ith a lan,%i s*ile, 3I a* better alrea y/ if yo% +ish to see *y a%nt she is in the inin,6 parlo%r(3 3I *%st speak +ith 2OA, *y E*ily,3 replie Valanco%rt, 3Goo Go ? is it alrea y co*e to thisB Are yo% in ee so +illin, to resi,n *eB3 1%t this is an i*proper place7I a* overhear ( 0et *e entreat yo%r attention, if only for a fe+ *in%tes(373:hen yo% have seen *y a%nt,3 sai E*ily( 3I +as +retche eno%,h +hen I ca*e hither,3 e-clai*e Valanco%rt, 3 o not increase *y *isery by this col ness7this cr%el ref%sal(3 The espon ency, +ith +hich he spoke this, affecte her al*ost to tears, b%t she persiste in ref%sin, to hear hi*, till he ha converse +ith &a a*e &ontoni( 3:here is her h%sban , +here, then, is &ontoniB3 sai Valanco%rt, in an altere tone; 3it is he, to +ho* I *%st speak(3 E*ily, terrifie for the conse4%ence of the in i,nation, that flashe in his eyes, tre*blin,ly ass%re hi*, that

&ontoni +as not at ho*e, an entreate he +o%l en eavo%r to *o erate his resent*ent( At the tre*%lo%s accents of her voice, his eyes softene instantly fro* +il ness into ten erness( 32o% are ill, E*ily,3 sai he, 3they +ill estroy %s both? )or,ive *e, that I are to o%bt yo%r affection(3 E*ily no lon,er oppose hi*, as he le her into an a .oinin, parlo%r/ the *anner, in +hich he ha na*e &ontoni, ha so *%ch alar*e her for his o+n safety, that she +as no+ only an-io%s to prevent the conse4%ences of his .%st resent*ent( He listene to her entreaties, +ith attention, b%t replie to the* only +ith looks of espon ency an ten erness, concealin,, as *%ch as possible, the senti*ents he felt to+ar s &ontoni, that he *i,ht soothe the apprehensions, +hich istresse her( 1%t she sa+ the veil he ha sprea over his resent*ent, an , his ass%*e tran4%illity only alar*in, her *ore, she %r,e , at len,th, the i*policy of forcin, an intervie+ +ith &ontoni, an of takin, any *eas%re, +hich *i,ht ren er their separation irre*e iable( Valanco%rt yiel e to these re*onstrances, an her affectin, entreaties re+ fro* hi* a pro*ise, that, ho+ever &ontoni *i,ht persist in his esi,n of is%nitin, the*, he +o%l not seek to re ress his +ron,s by violence( 3)or *y sake,3 sai E*ily, 3let the consi eration of +hat I sho%l s%ffer eter yo% fro* s%ch a *o e of reven,e?3 3)or yo%r sake, E*ily,3 replie Valanco%rt, his eyes fillin, +ith tears of ten erness an ,rief, +hile he ,a8e %pon her( 32es7yes7I shall s%b %e *yself( 1%t, tho%,h I have ,iven yo% *y sole*n pro*ise to o this, o not e-pect, that I can ta*ely s%b*it to the a%thority of &ontoni/ if I co%l , I sho%l be %n+orthy of yo%( 2et, O E*ily? ho+ lon, *ay he con e*n *e to live +itho%t yo%,7ho+ lon, *ay it be before yo% ret%rn to )rance?3 E*ily en eavo%re to sooth hi* +ith ass%rances of her %nalterable affection, an by representin,, that, in little *ore than a year, she sho%l be her o+n *istress, as far as relate to her a%nt, fro* +hose ,%ar ianship her a,e +o%l then release her/ ass%rances, +hich ,ave little

consolation to Valanco%rt, +ho consi ere , that she +o%l then be in Italy an in the po+er of those, +hose o*inion over her +o%l not cease +ith their ri,hts/ b%t he affecte to be console by the*( E*ily, co*forte by the pro*ise she ha obtaine , an by his apparent co*pos%re, +as abo%t to leave hi*, +hen her a%nt entere the roo*( 'he thre+ a ,lance of sharp reproof %pon her niece, +ho i**e iately +ith re+, an of ha%,hty ispleas%re %pon Valanco%rt( 3This is not the con %ct I sho%l have e-pecte fro* yo%, sir/3 sai she, 3I i not e-pect to see yo% in *y ho%se, after yo% ha been infor*e , that yo%r visits +ere no lon,er a,reeable, *%ch less, that yo% +o%l seek a clan estine intervie+ +ith *y niece, an that she +o%l ,rant one(3 Valanco%rt, perceivin, it necessary to vin icate E*ily fro* s%ch a esi,n, e-plaine , that the p%rpose of his o+n visit ha been to re4%est an intervie+ +ith &ontoni, an he then entere %pon the s%b.ect of it, +ith the te*pere spirit +hich the se-, rather than the respectability, of &a a*e &ontoni, e*an e ( His e-post%lations +ere ans+ere +ith severe reb%ke/ she la*ente a,ain, that her pr% ence ha ever yiel e to +hat she ter*e co*passion, an a e , that she +as so sensible of the folly of her for*er consent, that, to prevent the possibility of a repetition, she ha co**itte the affair entirely to the con %ct of 'i,nor &ontoni( The feelin, elo4%ence of Valanco%rt, ho+ever, at len,th, *a e her sensible in so*e *eas%re of her %n+orthy con %ct, an she beca*e s%sceptible to sha*e, b%t not re*orse; she hate Valanco%rt, +ho a+akene her to this painf%l sensation, an , in proportion as she ,re+ issatisfie +ith herself, her abhorrence of hi* increase ( This +as also the *ore inveterate, beca%se his te*pere +or s an *anner +ere s%ch as, +itho%t acc%sin, her, co*pelle her to acc%se herself, an neither left her a hope, that the o io%s portrait +as the caricat%re of his pre.% ice, or affor e her an e-c%se for e-pressin, the violent

resent*ent, +ith +hich she conte*plate it( At len,th, her an,er rose to s%ch an hei,ht, that Valanco%rt +as co*pelle to leave the ho%se abr%ptly, lest he sho%l forfeit his o+n estee* by an inte*perate reply( He +as then convince , that fro* &a a*e &ontoni he ha nothin, to hope, for +hat of either pity, or .%stice co%l be e-pecte fro* a person, +ho co%l feel the pain of ,%ilt, +itho%t the h%*ility of repentanceB To &ontoni he looke +ith e4%al espon ency, since it +as nearly evi ent, that this plan of separation ori,inate +ith hi*, an it +as not probable, that he +o%l relin4%ish his o+n vie+s to entreaties, or re*onstrances, +hich he *%st have foreseen an have been prepare to resist( 2et, re*e*berin, his pro*ise to E*ily, an *ore solicito%s, concernin, his love, than .ealo%s of his conse4%ence, Valanco%rt +as caref%l to o nothin, that *i,ht %nnecessarily irritate &ontoni, he +rote to hi*, therefore, not to e*an an intervie+, b%t to solicit one, an , havin, one this, he en eavo%re to +ait +ith cal*ness his reply( &a a*e Clairval +as passive in the affair( :hen she ,ave her approbation to Valanco%rt3s *arria,e, it +as in the belief, that E*ily +o%l be the heiress of &a a*e &ontoni3s fort%ne/ an , tho%,h, %pon the n%ptials of the latter, +hen she perceive the fallacy of this e-pectation, her conscience ha +ithhel her fro* a optin, any *eas%re to prevent the %nion, her benevolence +as not s%fficiently active to i*pel her to+ar s any step, that *i,ht no+ pro*ote it( 'he +as, on the contrary, secretly please , that Valanco%rt +as release fro* an en,a,e*ent, +hich she consi ere to be as inferior, in point of fort%ne, to his *erit, as his alliance +as tho%,ht by &ontoni to be h%*iliatin, to the bea%ty of E*ily/ an , tho%,h her pri e +as +o%n e by this re.ection of a *e*ber of her fa*ily, she is aine to she+ resent*ent other+ise, than by silence( &ontoni, in his reply to Valanco%rt, sai , that as an intervie+ co%l neither re*ove the ob.ections of the one, or overco*e the +ishes of the other, it +o%l

serve only to pro %ce %seless altercation bet+een the*( He, therefore, tho%,ht proper to ref%se it( In consi eration of the policy, s%,,este by E*ily, an of his pro*ise to her, Valanco%rt restraine the i*p%lse, that %r,e hi* to the ho%se of &ontoni, to e*an +hat ha been enie to his entreaties( He only repeate his solicitations to see hi*/ secon in, the* +ith all the ar,%*ents his sit%ation co%l s%,,est( Th%s several ays passe , in re*onstrance, on one si e, an infle-ible enial, on the other/ for, +hether it +as fear, or sha*e, or the hatre , +hich res%lts fro* both, that *a e &ontoni sh%n the *an he ha in.%re , he +as pere*ptory in his ref%sal, an +as neither softene to pity by the a,ony, +hich Valanco%rt3s letters po%rtraye , or a+akene to a repentance of his o+n in.%stice by the stron, re*onstrances he e*ploye ( At len,th, Valanco%rt3s letters +ere ret%rne %nopene , an then, in the first *o*ents of passionate espair, he for,ot every pro*ise to E*ily, e-cept the sole*n one, +hich bo%n hi* to avoi violence, an hastene to &ontoni3s chatea%, eter*ine to see hi* by +hatever other *eans *i,ht be necessary( &ontoni +as enie , an Valanco%rt, +hen he after+ar s en4%ire for &a a*e, an &a3a*selle 't( A%bert, +as absol%tely ref%se a *ittance by the servants( 9ot choosin, to s%b*it hi*self to a contest +ith these, he, at len,th, eparte , an , ret%rnin, ho*e in a state of *in approachin, to fren8y, +rote to E*ily of +hat ha passe , e-presse +itho%t restraint all the a,ony of his heart, an entreate , that, since he *%st not other+ise hope to see her i**e iately, she +o%l allo+ hi* an intervie+ %nkno+n to &ontoni( 'oon after he ha ispatche this, his passions beco*in, *ore te*perate, he +as sensible of the error he ha co**itte in havin, ,iven E*ily a ne+ s%b.ect of istress in the stron, *ention of his o+n s%fferin,, an +o%l have ,iven half the +orl , ha it been his, to recover the letter( E*ily, ho+ever, +as spare the pain she *%st have receive fro* it by the s%spicio%s policy of &a a*e &ontoni, +ho ha or ere , that all letters, a resse to her niece, sho%l be elivere to herself,

an +ho, after havin, per%se this an in %l,e the e-pressions of resent*ent, +hich Valanco%rt3s *ention of &ontoni provoke , ha consi,ne it to the fla*es( &ontoni, *ean+hile, every ay *ore i*patient to leave )rance, ,ave repeate or ers for ispatch to the servants e*ploye in preparations for the .o%rney, an to the persons, +ith +ho* he +as transactin, so*e partic%lar b%siness( He preserve a stea y silence to the letters in +hich Valanco%rt, espairin, of ,reater ,oo , an havin, s%b %e the passion, that ha trans,resse a,ainst his policy, solicite only the in %l,ence of bein, allo+e to bi E*ily fare+ell( 1%t, +hen the latter CValanco%rtD learne , that she +as really to set o%t in a very fe+ ays, an that it +as esi,ne he sho%l see her no *ore, for,ettin, every consi eration of pr% ence, he are , in a secon letter to E*ily, to propose a clan estine *arria,e( This also +as trans*itte to &a a*e &ontoni, an the last ay of E*ily3s stay at Tholo%se arrive , +itho%t affor in, Valanco%rt even a line to sooth his s%fferin,s, or a hope, that he sho%l be allo+e a partin, intervie+( <%rin, this perio of tort%rin, s%spense to Valanco%rt, E*ily +as s%nk into that kin of st%por, +ith +hich s% en an irre*e iable *isfort%ne so*eti*es over+hel*s the *in ( 0ovin, hi* +ith the ten erest affection, an havin, lon, been acc%sto*e to consi er hi* as the frien an co*panion of all her f%t%re ays, she ha no i eas of happiness, that +ere not connecte +ith hi*( :hat, then, *%st have been her s%fferin,, +hen th%s s% enly they +ere to be separate , perhaps, for ever, certainly to be thro+n into istant parts of the +orl , +here they co%l scarcely hear of each other3s e-istence/ an all this in obe ience to the +ill of a stran,er, for s%ch as &ontoni, an of a person, +ho ha b%t lately been an-io%s to hasten their n%ptials? It +as in vain, that she en eavo%re to s%b %e her ,rief, an resi,n herself to an event, +hich she co%l not avoi ( The silence of Valanco%rt afflicte *ore than it s%rprise her, since she attrib%te it to its .%st occasion/ b%t, +hen the ay, prece in, that, on +hich she +as to 4%it Tholo%se, arrive , an she ha hear no *ention

of his bein, per*itte to take leave of her, ,rief overca*e every consi eration, that ha *a e her rel%ctant to speak of hi*, an she en4%ire of &a a*e &ontoni, +hether this consolation ha been ref%se ( Her a%nt infor*e her that it ha , a in,, that, after the provocation she ha herself receive fro* Valanco%rt, in their last intervie+, an the persec%tion, +hich the 'i,nor ha s%ffere fro* his letters, no entreaties sho%l avail to proc%re it( 3If the Chevalier e-pecte this favo%r fro* %s,3 sai she, 3he sho%l have con %cte hi*self in a very ifferent *anner/ he sho%l have +aite patiently, till he kne+ +hether +e +ere ispose to ,rant it, an not have co*e an reprove *e, beca%se I i not think proper to besto+ *y niece %pon hi*,7an then have persiste in tro%blin, the 'i,nor, beca%se he i not think proper to enter into any isp%te abo%t so chil ish an affair( His behavio%r thro%,ho%t has been e-tre*ely pres%*pt%o%s an i*pertinent, an I esire, that I *ay never hear his na*e repeate , an that yo% +ill ,et the better of those foolish sorro+s an +hi*s, an look like other people, an not appear +ith that is*al co%ntenance, as if yo% +ere rea y to cry( )or, tho%,h yo% say nothin,, yo% cannot conceal yo%r ,rief fro* *y penetration( I can see yo% are rea y to cry at this *o*ent, tho%,h I a* reprovin, yo% for it/ aye, even no+, in spite of *y co**an s(3 E*ily, havin, t%rne a+ay to hi e her tears, 4%itte the roo* to in %l,e the*, an the ay +as passe in an intensity of an,%ish, s%ch as she ha , perhaps, never kno+n before( :hen she +ith re+ to her cha*ber for the ni,ht, she re*aine in the chair +here she ha place herself, on enterin, the roo*, absorbe in her ,rief, till lon, after every *e*ber of the fa*ily, e-cept herself, +as retire to rest( 'he co%l not ivest herself of a belief, that she ha parte +ith Valanco%rt to *eet no *ore/ a belief, +hich i not arise *erely fro* foreseen circ%*stances, for, tho%,h the len,th of the .o%rney she +as abo%t to co**ence, the %ncertainty as to the perio of her ret%rn, to,ether +ith the prohibitions she ha receive , see*e to .%stify it, she

yiel e also to an i*pression, +hich she *istook for a pre6senti*ent, that she +as ,oin, fro* Valanco%rt for ever( Ho+ rea f%l to her i*a,ination, too, +as the istance that +o%l separate the*7the Alps, those tre*en o%s barriers? +o%l rise, an +hole co%ntries e-ten bet+een the re,ions +here each *%st e-ist? To live in a .oinin, provinces, to live even in the sa*e co%ntry, tho%,h +itho%t seein, hi*, +as co*parative happiness to the conviction of this rea f%l len,th of istance( Her *in +as, at len,th, so *%ch a,itate by the consi eration of her state, an the belief, that she ha seen Valanco%rt for the last ti*e, that she s% enly beca*e very faint, an , lookin, ro%n the cha*ber for so*ethin,, that *i,ht revive her, she observe the case*ents, an ha .%st stren,th to thro+ one open, near +hich she seate herself( The air recalle her spirits, an the still *oon6li,ht, that fell %pon the el*s of a lon, aven%e, frontin, the +in o+, so*e+hat soothe the*, an eter*ine her to try +hether e-ercise an the open air +o%l not relieve the intense pain that bo%n her te*ples( In the chatea% all +as still/ an , passin, o+n the ,reat stair6case into the hall, fro* +hence a passa,e le i**e iately to the ,ar en, she softly an %nhear , as she tho%,ht, %nlocke the oor, an entere the aven%e( E*ily passe on +ith steps no+ h%rrie , an no+ falterin,, as, eceive by the sha o+s a*on, the trees, she fancie she sa+ so*e person *ove in the istant perspective, an feare , that it +as a spy of &a a*e &ontoni( Her esire, ho+ever, to re6visit the pavilion, +here she ha passe so *any happy ho%rs +ith Valanco%rt, an ha a *ire +ith hi* the e-tensive prospect over 0an,%e oc an her native Gascony, overca*e her apprehension of bein, observe , an she *ove on to+ar s the terrace, +hich, r%nnin, alon, the %pper ,ar en, co**an e the +hole of the lo+er one, an co**%nicate +ith it by a fli,ht of *arble steps, that ter*inate the aven%e( Havin, reache these steps, she pa%se a *o*ent to look ro%n , for her istance fro* the chatea% no+ increase the fear, +hich the stillness an obsc%rity of

the ho%r ha a+akene ( 1%t, perceivin, nothin, that co%l .%stify it, she ascen e to the terrace, +here the *oon6li,ht she+e the lon, broa +alk, +ith the pavilion at its e-tre*ity, +hile the rays silvere the folia,e of the hi,h trees an shr%bs, that bor ere it on the ri,ht, an the t%fte s%**its of those, that rose to a level +ith the bal%stra e on the left, fro* the ,ar en belo+( Her istance fro* the chatea% a,ain alar*in, her, she pa%se to listen/ the ni,ht +as so cal*, that no so%n co%l have escape her, b%t she hear only the plaintive s+eetness of the ni,htin,ale, +ith the li,ht shiver of the leaves, an she p%rs%e her +ay to+ar s the pavilion, havin, reache +hich, its obsc%rity i not prevent the e*otion, that a f%ller vie+ of its +ell6 kno+n scene +o%l have e-cite ( The lattices +ere thro+n back, an she+e beyon their e*bo+ere arch the *oon6li,ht lan scape, sha o+y an soft/ its ,roves, an plains e-ten in, ,ra %ally an in istinctly to the eye, its istant *o%ntains catchin, a stron,er ,lea*, an the nearer river reflectin, the *oon, an tre*blin, to her rays( E*ily, as she approache the lattice, +as sensible of the feat%res of this scene only as they serve to brin, Valanco%rt *ore i**e iately to her fancy( 3Ah?3 sai she, +ith a heavy si,h, as she thre+ herself into a chair by the +in o+, 3ho+ often have +e sat to,ether in this spot7often have looke %pon that lan scape? 9ever, never *ore shall +e vie+ it to,ether7never7never *ore, perhaps, shall +e look %pon each other?3 Her tears +ere s% enly stoppe by terror7a voice spoke near her in the pavilion/ she shrieke 7it spoke a,ain, an she istin,%ishe the +ell6kno+n tones of Valanco%rt( It +as in ee Valanco%rt +ho s%pporte her in his ar*s? )or so*e *o*ents their e*otion +o%l not s%ffer either to speak( 3E*ily,3 sai Valanco%rt at len,th, as he presse her han in his( 3E*ily?3 an he +as a,ain silent, b%t the accent, in +hich he ha prono%nce her na*e, e-presse all his ten erness an sorro+( 3O *y E*ily?3 he res%*e , after a lon, pa%se, 3I o then see yo% once a,ain, an hear a,ain the so%n of that

voice? I have ha%nte this place7these ,ar ens, for *any7*any ni,hts, +ith a faint, very faint hope of seein, yo%( This +as the only chance that re*aine to *e, an thank heaven? it has at len,th s%ccee e 7I a* not con e*ne to absol%te espair?3 E*ily sai so*ethin,, she scarcely kne+ +hat, e-pressive of her %nalterable affection, an en eavo%re to cal* the a,itation of his *in / b%t Valanco%rt co%l for so*e ti*e only %tter incoherent e-pressions of his e*otions/ an , +hen he +as so*e+hat *ore co*pose , he sai , 3I ca*e hither, soon after s%n6set, an have been +atchin, in the ,ar ens, an in this pavilion ever since/ for, tho%,h I ha no+ ,iven %p all hope of seein, yo%, I co%l not resolve to tear *yself fro* a place so near to yo%, an sho%l probably have lin,ere abo%t the chatea% till *ornin, a+ne ( O ho+ heavily the *o*ents have passe , yet +ith +hat vario%s e*otion have they been *arke , as I so*eti*es tho%,ht I hear footsteps, an fancie yo% +ere approachin,, an then a,ain7perceive only a ea an reary silence? 1%t, +hen yo% opene the oor of the pavilion, an the arkness prevente *y istin,%ishin, +ith certainty, +hether it +as *y love7 *y heart beat so stron,ly +ith hopes an fears, that I co%l not speak( The instant I hear the plaintive accents of yo%r voice, *y o%bts vanishe , b%t not *y fears, till yo% spoke of *e/ then, losin, the apprehension of alar*in, yo% in the e-cess of *y e*otion, I co%l no lon,er be silent( O E*ily? these are *o*ents, in +hich .oy an ,rief str%,,le so po+erf%lly for pre6e*inence, that the heart can scarcely s%pport the contest?3 E*ily3s heart ackno+le ,e the tr%th of this assertion, b%t the .oy she felt on th%s *eetin, Valanco%rt, at the very *o*ent +hen she +as la*entin,, that they *%st probably *eet no *ore, soon *elte into ,rief, as reflection stole over her tho%,hts, an i*a,ination pro*pte visions of the f%t%re( 'he str%,,le to recover the cal* i,nity of *in , +hich +as necessary to s%pport her thro%,h this last intervie+, an +hich Valanco%rt fo%n it %tterly i*possible to attain, for the

transports of his .oy chan,e abr%ptly into those of s%fferin,, an he e-presse in the *ost i*passione lan,%a,e his horror of this separation, an his espair of their ever *eetin, a,ain( E*ily +ept silently as she listene to hi*, an then, tryin, to co**an her o+n istress, an to sooth his, she s%,,este every circ%*stance that co%l lea to hope( 1%t the ener,y of his fears le hi* instantly to etect the frien ly fallacies, +hich she en eavo%re to i*pose on herself an hi*, an also to con.%re %p ill%sions too po+erf%l for his reason( 32o% are ,oin, fro* *e,3 sai he, 3to a istant co%ntry, O ho+ istant?7to ne+ society, ne+ frien s, ne+ a *irers, +ith people too, +ho +ill try to *ake yo% for,et *e, an to pro*ote ne+ connections? Ho+ can I kno+ this, an not kno+, that yo% +ill never ret%rn for *e7never can be *ine(3 His voice +as stifle by si,hs( 32o% believe, then,3 sai E*ily, 3that the pan,s I s%ffer procee fro* a trivial an te*porary interest/ yo% believe73 3'%ffer?3 interr%pte Valanco%rt, 3s%ffer for *e? O E*ily 7ho+ s+eet7ho+ bitter are those +or s/ +hat co*fort, +hat an,%ish o they ,ive? I o%,ht not to o%bt the stea iness of yo%r affection, yet s%ch is the inconsistency of real love, that it is al+ays a+ake to s%spicion, ho+ever %nreasonable/ al+ays re4%irin, ne+ ass%rances fro* the ob.ect of its interest, an th%s it is, that I al+ays feel revive , as by a ne+ conviction, +hen yo%r +or s tell *e I a* ear to yo%/ an , +antin, these, I relapse into o%bt, an too often into espon ency(3 Then see*in, to recollect hi*self, he e-clai*e , 31%t +hat a +retch a* I, th%s to tort%re yo%, an in these *o*ents, too? I, +ho o%,ht to s%pport an co*fort yo%?3 This reflection overca*e Valanco%rt +ith ten erness, b%t, relapsin, into espon ency, he a,ain felt only for hi*self, an la*ente a,ain this cr%el separation, in a voice an +or s so i*passione , that E*ily co%l no lon,er str%,,le to repress her o+n ,rief, or to sooth his(

Valanco%rt, bet+een these e*otions of love an pity, lost the po+er, an al*ost the +ish, of repressin, his a,itation/ an , in the intervals of conv%lsive sobs, he, at one *o*ent, kisse a+ay her tears, then tol her cr%elly, that possibly she *i,ht never a,ain +eep for hi*, an then trie to speak *ore cal*ly, b%t only e-clai*e , 3O E*ily7*y heart +ill break?7I cannot 7cannot leave yo%? 9o+7I ,a8e %pon that co%ntenance, no+ I hol yo% in *y ar*s? a little +hile, an all this +ill appear a rea*( I shall look, an cannot see yo%/ shall try to recollect yo%r feat%res7 an the i*pression +ill be fle fro* *y i*a,ination/ 7to hear the tones of yo%r voice, an even *e*ory +ill be silent?7I cannot, cannot leave yo%? +hy sho%l +e confi e the happiness of o%r +hole lives to the +ill of people, +ho have no ri,ht to interr%pt, an , e-cept in ,ivin, yo% to *e, have no po+er to pro*ote itB O E*ily? vent%re to tr%st yo%r o+n heart, vent%re to be *ine for ever?3 His voice tre*ble , an he +as silent/ E*ily contin%e to +eep, an +as silent also, +hen Valanco%rt procee e to propose an i**e iate *arria,e, an that at an early ho%r on the follo+in, *ornin,, she sho%l 4%it &a a*e &ontoni3s ho%se, an be con %cte by hi* to the ch%rch of the A%,%stines, +here a friar sho%l a+ait to %nite the*( The silence, +ith +hich she listene to a proposal, ictate by love an espair, an enforce at a *o*ent, +hen it see*e scarcely possible for her to oppose it/ 7+hen her heart +as softene by the sorro+s of a separation, that *i,ht be eternal, an her reason obsc%re by the ill%sions of love an terror, enco%ra,e hi* to hope, that it +o%l not be re.ecte ( 3'peak, *y E*ily?3 sai Valanco%rt ea,erly, 3let *e hear yo%r voice, let *e hear yo% confir* *y fate(3 she spoke not/ her cheek +as col , an her senses see*e to fail her, b%t she i not faint( To Valanco%rt3s terrifie i*a,ination she appeare to be yin,/ he calle %pon her na*e, rose to ,o to the chatea% for assistance, an then, recollectin, her sit%ation, feare to ,o, or to leave her for a *o*ent(

After a fe+ *in%tes, she re+ a eep si,h, an be,an to revive( The conflict she ha s%ffere , bet+een love an the %ty she at present o+e to her father3s sister/ her rep%,nance to a clan estine *arria,e, her fear of e*er,in, on the +orl +ith e*barrass*ents, s%ch as *i,ht %lti*ately involve the ob.ect of her affection in *isery an repentance/7all this vario%s interest +as too po+erf%l for a *in , alrea y enervate by sorro+, an her reason ha s%ffere a transient s%spension( 1%t %ty, an ,oo sense, ho+ever har the conflict, at len,th, tri%*phe over affection an *o%rnf%l presenti*ent/ above all, she rea e to involve Valanco%rt in obsc%rity an vain re,ret, +hich she sa+, or tho%,ht she sa+, *%st be the too certain conse4%ence of a *arria,e in their present circ%*stances/ an she acte , perhaps, +ith so*e+hat *ore than fe*ale fortit% e, +hen she resolve to en %re a present, rather than provoke a istant *isfort%ne( :ith a can o%r, that prove ho+ tr%ly she estee*e an love hi*, an +hich en eare her to hi*, if possible, *ore than ever, she tol Valanco%rt all her reasons for re.ectin, his proposals( Those, +hich infl%ence her concernin, his f%t%re +elfare, he instantly ref%te , or rather contra icte / b%t they a+akene ten er consi erations for her, +hich the fren8y of passion an espair ha conceale before, an love, +hich ha b%t lately pro*pte hi* to propose a clan estine an i**e iate *arria,e, no+ in %ce hi* to reno%nce it( The tri%*ph +as al*ost too *%ch for his heart/ for E*ily3s sake, he en eavo%re to stifle his ,rief, b%t the s+ellin, an,%ish +o%l not be restraine ( 3O E*ily?3 sai he, 3I *%st leave yo%7I &A'T leave yo%, an I kno+ it is for ever?3 Conv%lsive sobs a,ain interr%pte his +or s, an they +ept to,ether in silence, till E*ily, recollectin, the an,er of bein, iscovere , an the i*propriety of prolon,in, an intervie+, +hich *i,ht s%b.ect her to cens%re, s%**one all her fortit% e to %tter a last fare+ell(

3'tay?3 sai Valanco%rt, 3I con.%re yo% stay, for I have *%ch to tell yo%( The a,itation of *y *in has hitherto s%ffere *e to speak only on the s%b.ect that occ%pie it/7I have forborne to *ention a o%bt of *%ch i*portance, partly, lest it sho%l appear as if I tol it +ith an %n,enero%s vie+ of alar*in, yo% into a co*pliance +ith *y late proposal(3 E*ily, *%ch a,itate , i not leave Valanco%rt, b%t she le hi* fro* the pavilion, an , as they +alke %pon the terrace, he procee e as follo+s; 3This &ontoni; I have hear so*e stran,e hints concernin, hi*( Are yo% certain he is of &a a*e 5%esnel3s fa*ily, an that his fort%ne is +hat it appears to beB3 3I have no reason to o%bt either,3 replie E*ily, in a voice of alar*( 3Of the first, in ee , I cannot o%bt, b%t I have no certain *eans of .% ,in, of the latter, an I entreat yo% +ill tell *e all yo% have hear (3 3That I certainly +ill, b%t it is very i*perfect, an %nsatisfactory infor*ation( I ,athere it by acci ent fro* an Italian, +ho +as speakin, to another person of this &ontoni( They +ere talkin, of his *arria,e/ the Italian sai , that if he +as the person he *eant, he +as not likely to *ake &a a*e Cheron happy( He procee e to speak of hi* in ,eneral ter*s of islike, an then ,ave so*e partic%lar hints, concernin, his character, that e-cite *y c%riosity, an I vent%re to ask hi* a fe+ 4%estions( He +as reserve in his replies, b%t, after hesitatin, for so*e ti*e, he o+ne , that he ha %n erstoo abroa , that &ontoni +as a *an of esperate fort%ne an character( He sai so*ethin, of a castle of &ontoni3s, sit%ate a*on, the Apennines, an of so*e stran,e circ%*stances, that *i,ht be *entione , as to his for*er *o e of life( I presse hi* to infor* *e f%rther, b%t I believe the stron, interest I felt +as visible in *y *anner, an alar*e hi*/ for no entreaties co%l prevail +ith hi* to ,ive any e-planation of the circ%*stances he ha all% e to, or to *ention any thin, f%rther concernin, &ontoni( I observe to hi*, that, if &ontoni +as possesse of a

castle in the Apennines, it appeare fro* s%ch a circ%*stance, that he +as of so*e fa*ily, an also see*e to contra ict the report, that he +as a *an of entirely broken fort%nes( He shook his hea , an looke as if he co%l have sai a ,reat eal, b%t *a e no reply( 3A hope of learnin, so*ethin, *ore satisfactory, or *ore positive, etaine *e in his co*pany a consi erable ti*e, an I rene+e the s%b.ect repeate ly, b%t the Italian +rappe hi*self %p in reserve, sai 7that +hat he ha *entione he ha ca%,ht only fro* a floatin, report, an that reports fre4%ently arose fro* personal *alice, an +ere very little to be epen e %pon( I forbore to press the s%b.ect farther, since it +as obvio%s that he +as alar*e for the conse4%ence of +hat he ha alrea y sai , an I +as co*pelle to re*ain in %ncertainty on a point +here s%spense is al*ost intolerable( Think, E*ily, +hat I *%st s%ffer to see yo% epart for a forei,n co%ntry, co**itte to the po+er of a *an of s%ch o%btf%l character as is this &ontoni? 1%t I +ill not alar* yo% %nnecessarily/7it is possible, as the Italian sai , at first, that this is not the &ontoni he all% e to( 2et, E*ily, consi er +ell before yo% resolve to co**it yo%rself to hi*( O? I *%st not tr%st *yself to speak7 or I shall reno%nce all the *otives, +hich so lately infl%ence *e to resi,n the hope of yo%r beco*in, *ine i**e iately(3 Valanco%rt +alke %pon the terrace +ith h%rrie steps, +hile E*ily re*aine leanin, on the bal%stra e in eep tho%,ht( The infor*ation she ha .%st receive e-cite , perhaps, *ore alar* than it co%l .%stify, an raise once *ore the conflict of contraste interests( 'he ha never like &ontoni( The fire an keenness of his eye, its pro% e-%ltation, its bol fierceness, its s%llen +atchf%lness, as occasion, an even sli,ht occasion, ha calle forth the latent so%l, she ha often observe +ith e*otion/ +hile fro* the %s%al e-pression of his co%ntenance she ha al+ays shr%nk( )ro* s%ch observations she +as the *ore incline to believe, that it +as this &ontoni, of +ho* the Italian

ha %ttere his s%spicio%s hints( The tho%,ht of bein, solely in his po+er, in a forei,n lan , +as terrifyin, to her, b%t it +as not by terror alone that she +as %r,e to an i**e iate *arria,e +ith Valanco%rt( The ten erest love ha alrea y plea e his ca%se, b%t ha been %nable to overco*e her opinion, as to her %ty, her isintereste consi erations for Valanco%rt, an the elicacy, +hich *a e her revolt fro* a clan estine %nion( It +as not to be e-pecte , that a va,%e terror +o%l be *ore po+erf%l, than the %nite infl%ence of love an ,rief( 1%t it recalle all their ener,y, an ren ere a secon con4%est necessary( :ith Valanco%rt, +hose i*a,ination +as no+ a+ake to the s%,,estion of every passion/ +hose apprehensions for E*ily ha ac4%ire stren,th by the *ere *ention of the*, an beca*e every instant *ore po+erf%l, as his *in broo e over the*7+ith Valanco%rt no secon con4%est +as attainable( He tho%,ht he sa+ in the clearest li,ht, an love assiste the fear, that this .o%rney to Italy +o%l involve E*ily in *isery/ he eter*ine , therefore, to persevere in opposin, it, an in con.%rin, her to besto+ %pon hi* the title of her la+f%l protector( 3E*ily?3 sai he, +ith sole*n earnestness, 3this is no ti*e for scr%p%lo%s istinctions, for +ei,hin, the %bio%s an co*paratively triflin, circ%*stances, that *ay affect o%r f%t%re co*fort( I no+ see, *%ch *ore clearly than before, the train of serio%s an,ers yo% are ,oin, to enco%nter +ith a *an of &ontoni3s character( Those ark hints of the Italian spoke *%ch, b%t not *ore than the i ea I have of &ontoni3s isposition, as e-hibite even in his co%ntenance( I think I see at this *o*ent all that co%l have been hinte , +ritten there( He is the Italian, +ho* I fear, an I con.%re yo% for yo%r o+n sake, as +ell as for *ine, to prevent the evils I sh% er to foresee( O E*ily? let *y ten erness, *y ar*s +ithhol yo% fro* the*7,ive *e the ri,ht to efen yo%?3 E*ily only si,he , +hile Valanco%rt procee e to re*onstrate an to entreat +ith all the ener,y that love an apprehension co%l inspire( 1%t, as his i*a,ination

*a,nifie to her the possible evils she +as ,oin, to *eet, the *ists of her o+n fancy be,an to issipate, an allo+e her to istin,%ish the e-a,,erate i*a,es, +hich i*pose on his reason( 'he consi ere , that there +as no proof of &ontoni bein, the person, +ho* the stran,er ha *eant/ that, even if he +as so, the Italian ha notice his character an broken fort%nes *erely fro* report/ an that, tho%,h the co%ntenance of &ontoni see*e to ,ive probability to a part of the r%*o%r, it +as not by s%ch circ%*stances that an i*plicit belief of it co%l be .%stifie ( These consi erations +o%l probably not have arisen so istinctly to her *in , at this ti*e, ha not the terrors of Valanco%rt presente to her s%ch obvio%s e-a,,erations of her an,er, as incite her to istr%st the fallacies of passion( 1%t, +hile she en eavo%re in the ,entlest *anner to convince hi* of his error, she pl%n,e hi* into a ne+ one( His voice an co%ntenance chan,e to an e-pression of ark espair( 3E*ily?3 sai he, 3this, this *o*ent is the bitterest that is yet co*e to *e( 2o% o not7cannot love *e?7It +o%l be i*possible for yo% to reason th%s coolly, th%s eliberately, if yo% i ( I, I a* torn +ith an,%ish at the prospect of o%r separation, an of the evils that *ay a+ait yo% in conse4%ence of it/ I +o%l enco%nter any ha8ar s to prevent it7to save yo%( 9o? E*ily, no?7 yo% cannot love *e(3 3:e have no+ little ti*e to +aste in e-cla*ation, or assertion,3 sai E*ily, en eavo%rin, to conceal her e*otion; 3if yo% are yet to learn ho+ ear yo% are, an ever *%st be, to *y heart, no ass%rances of *ine can ,ive yo% conviction(3 The last +or s faltere on her lips, an her tears flo+e fast( These +or s an tears bro%,ht, once *ore, an +ith instantaneo%s force, conviction of her love to Valanco%rt( He co%l only e-clai*, 3E*ily? E*ily?3 an +eep over the han he presse to his lips/ b%t she, after so*e *o*ents, a,ain ro%se herself fro* the in %l,ence of sorro+, an sai , 3I *%st leave yo%/ it is late, an *y absence fro* the chatea% *ay be

iscovere ( Think of *e7love *e7+hen I a* far a+ay/ the belief of this +ill be *y co*fort?3 3Think of yo%?7love yo%?3 e-clai*e Valanco%rt( 3Try to *o erate these transports,3 sai E*ily, 3for *y sake, try(3 3)or yo%r sake?3 32es, for *y sake,3 replie E*ily, in a tre*%lo%s voice, 3I cannot leave yo% th%s?3 3Then o not leave *e?3 sai Valanco%rt, +ith 4%ickness( 3:hy sho%l +e part, or part for lon,er than till to6*orro+B3 3I a*, in ee I a*, %ne4%al to these *o*ents,3 replie E*ily, 3yo% tear *y heart, b%t I never can consent to this hasty, i*pr% ent proposal?3 3If +e co%l co**an o%r ti*e, *y E*ily, it sho%l not be th%s hasty/ +e *%st s%b*it to circ%*stances(3 3:e *%st in ee ? I have alrea y tol yo% all *y heart 7*y spirits are ,one( 2o% allo+e the force of *y ob.ections, till yo%r ten erness calle %p va,%e terrors, +hich have ,iven %s both %nnecessary an,%ish( 'pare *e? o not obli,e *e to repeat the reasons I have alrea y %r,e (3 3'pare yo%?3 crie Valanco%rt, 3I a* a +retch7a very +retch, that have felt only for *yself?7I? +ho o%,ht to have she+n the fortit% e of a *an, +ho o%,ht to have s%pporte yo%, I? have increase yo%r s%fferin,s by the con %ct of a chil ? )or,ive *e, E*ily? think of the istraction of *y *in no+ that I a* abo%t to part +ith all that is ear to *e7an for,ive *e? :hen yo% are ,one, I shall recollect +ith bitter re*orse +hat I have *a e yo% s%ffer, an shall +ish in vain that I co%l see yo%, if only for a *o*ent, that I *i,ht sooth yo%r ,rief(3 Tears a,ain interr%pte his voice, an E*ily +ept +ith hi*( 3I +ill she+ *yself *ore +orthy of yo%r love,3 sai Valanco%rt, at len,th/ 3I +ill not prolon, these *o*ents( &y E*ily7*y o+n E*ily? never for,et *e? Go kno+s +hen +e shall *eet a,ain? I resi,n

yo% to his care(7O Go ?7O Go ?7protect an bless her?3 He presse her han to his heart( E*ily s%nk al*ost lifeless on his boso*, an neither +ept, nor spoke( Valanco%rt, no+ co**an in, his o+n istress, trie to co*fort an re6ass%re her, b%t she appeare totally %naffecte by +hat he sai , an a si,h, +hich she %ttere , no+ an then, +as all that prove she ha not fainte ( He s%pporte her slo+ly to+ar s the chatea%, +eepin, an speakin, to her/ b%t she ans+ere only in si,hs, till, havin, reache the ,ate, that ter*inate the aven%e, she see*e to have recovere her conscio%sness, an , lookin, ro%n , perceive ho+ near they +ere to the chatea%( 3:e *%st part here,3 sai she, stoppin,, 3:hy prolon, these *o*entsB Teach *e the fortit% e I have for,ot(3 Valanco%rt str%,,le to ass%*e a co*pose air( 3)are+ell, *y love?3 sai he, in a voice of sole*n ten erness73tr%st *e +e shall *eet a,ain7*eet for each other7*eet to part no *ore?3 His voice faltere , b%t, recoverin, it, he procee e in a fir*er tone( 32o% kno+ not +hat I shall s%ffer, till I hear fro* yo%/ I shall o*it no opport%nity of conveyin, to yo% *y letters, yet I tre*ble to think ho+ fe+ *ay occ%r( An tr%st *e, love, for yo%r ear sake, I +ill try to bear this absence +ith fortit% e( O ho+ little I have she+n to6ni,ht?3 3)are+ell?3 sai E*ily faintly( 3:hen yo% are ,one, I shall think of *any thin,s I +o%l have sai to yo%(3 3An I of *any7*any?3 sai Valanco%rt/ 3I never left yo% yet, that I i not i**e iately re*e*ber so*e 4%estion, or so*e entreaty, or so*e circ%*stance, concernin, *y love, that I earnestly +ishe to *ention, an feel +retche beca%se I co%l not( O E*ily? this co%ntenance, on +hich I no+ ,a8e7+ill, in a *o*ent, be ,one fro* *y eyes, an not all the efforts of fancy +ill be able to recall it +ith e-actness( O? +hat an infinite ifference bet+een this *o*ent an the ne-t? 9O:, I a* in yo%r presence, can behol yo%? THE9,

all +ill be a reary blank7an I shall be a +an erer, e-ile fro* *y only ho*e?3 Valanco%rt a,ain presse her to his heart, an hel her there in silence, +eepin,( Tears once a,ain cal*e her oppresse *in ( They a,ain ba e each other fare+ell, lin,ere a *o*ent, an then parte ( Valanco%rt see*e to force hi*self fro* the spot/ he passe hastily %p the aven%e, an E*ily, as she *ove slo+ly to+ar s the chatea%, hear his istant steps( 'he listene to the so%n s, as they s%nk fainter an fainter, till the *elancholy stillness of ni,ht alone re*aine / an then h%rrie to her cha*ber, to seek repose, +hich, alas? +as fle fro* her +retche ness(

%OLUME '

#HAPTER I
<here=er 5 roa!, hate"er real!s 5 see, My heart untra"ell=d still shall turn to thee# G7&(4M5T8

The carria,es +ere at the ,ates at an early ho%r/ the b%stle of the o*estics, passin, to an fro in the ,alleries, a+akene E*ily fro* harassin, sl%*bers; her %n4%iet *in ha , %rin, the ni,ht, presente her +ith terrific i*a,es an obsc%re circ%*stances, concernin, her affection an her f%t%re life( 'he no+ en eavo%re to chase a+ay the i*pressions they ha left on her fancy/ b%t fro* i*a,inary evils she a+oke to the conscio%sness of real ones( Recollectin, that she ha parte +ith Valanco%rt, perhaps for ever, her heart sickene as *e*ory revive ( 1%t she trie to is*iss the is*al forebo in,s that cro+ e on her *in , an to restrain the sorro+ +hich she co%l not s%b %e/

efforts +hich iff%se over the settle *elancholy of her co%ntenance an e-pression of te*pere resi,nation, as a thin veil, thro+n over the feat%res of bea%ty, ren ers the* *ore interestin, by a partial conceal*ent( 1%t &a a*e &ontoni observe nothin, in this co%ntenance e-cept its %s%al paleness, +hich attracte her cens%re( 'he tol her niece, that she ha been in %l,in, in fancif%l sorro+s, an be,,e she +o%l have *ore re,ar for ecor%*, than to let the +orl see that she co%l not reno%nce an i*proper attach*ent/ at +hich E*ily3s pale cheek beca*e fl%she +ith cri*son, b%t it +as the bl%sh of pri e, an she *a e no ans+er( 'oon after, &ontoni entere the breakfast roo*, spoke little, an see*e i*patient to be ,one( The +in o+s of this roo* opene %pon the ,ar en( As E*ily passe the*, she sa+ the spot +here she ha parte +ith Valanco%rt on the prece in, ni,ht; the re*e*brance presse heavily on her heart, an she t%rne hastily a+ay fro* the ob.ect that ha a+akene it( The ba,,a,e bein, at len,th a .%ste , entere their carria,es, an E*ily +o%l chatea% +itho%t one si,h of re,ret, ha sit%ate in the nei,hbo%rhoo of resi ence( the travellers have left the it not been Valanco%rt3s

)ro* a little e*inence she looke back %pon Tholo%se, an the far6seen plains of Gascony, beyon +hich the broken s%**its of the Pyrenees appeare on the istant hori8on, li,hte %p by a *ornin, s%n( 3<ear pleasant *o%ntains?3 sai she to herself, 3ho+ lon, *ay it be ere I see ye a,ain, an ho+ *%ch *ay happen to *ake *e *iserable in the interval? Oh, co%l I no+ be certain, that I sho%l ever ret%rn to ye, an fin that Valanco%rt still live for *e, I sho%l ,o in peace? He +ill still ,a8e on ye, ,a8e +hen I a* far a+ay?3 The trees, that i*pen e over the hi,h banks of the roa an for*e a line of perspective +ith the istant co%ntry, no+ threatene to e-cl% e the vie+ of the*/ b%t the bl%eish *o%ntains still appeare beyon the ark folia,e, an E*ily contin%e to lean fro* the

coach +in o+, till at len,th the closin, branches sh%t the* fro* her si,ht( Another ob.ect soon ca%,ht her attention( 'he ha scarcely looke at a person +ho +alke alon, the bank, +ith his hat, in +hich +as the *ilitary feather, ra+n over his eyes, before, at the so%n of +heels, he s% enly t%rne , an she perceive that it +as Valanco%rt hi*self, +ho +ave his han , spr%n, into the roa , an thro%,h the +in o+ of the carria,e p%t a letter into her han ( He en eavo%re to s*ile thro%,h the espair that oversprea his co%ntenance as she passe on( The re*e*brance of that s*ile see*e i*presse on E*ily3s *in for ever( 'he leane fro* the +in o+, an sa+ hi* on a knoll of the broken bank, leanin, a,ainst the hi,h trees that +ave over hi*, an p%rs%in, the carria,e +ith his eyes( He +ave his han , an she contin%e to ,a8e till istance conf%se his fi,%re, an at len,th another t%rn of the roa entirely separate hi* fro* her si,ht( Havin, stoppe to take %p 'i,nor Cavi,ni at a chatea% on the roa , the travellers, of +ho* E*ily +as isrespectf%lly seate +ith &a a*e &ontoni3s +o*an in a secon carria,e, p%rs%e their +ay over the plains of 0an,%e oc( The presence of this servant restraine E*ily fro* rea in, Valanco%rt3s letter, for she i not choose to e-pose the e*otions it *i,ht occasion to the observation of any person( 2et s%ch +as her +ish to rea this his last co**%nication, that her tre*blin, han +as every *o*ent on the point of breakin, the seal( At len,th they reache the villa,e, +here they stai only to chan,e horses, +itho%t ali,htin,, an it +as not till they stoppe to ine, that E*ily ha an opport%nity of rea in, the letter( Tho%,h she ha never o%bte the sincerity of Valanco%rt3s affection, the fresh ass%rances she no+ receive of it revive her spirits/ she +ept over his letter in ten erness, lai it by to be referre to +hen they sho%l be partic%larly epresse , an then tho%,ht of hi* +ith *%ch less an,%ish than she ha one since they parte ( A*on, so*e other re4%ests, +hich +ere interestin, to her, beca%se e-pressive of his

ten erness, an beca%se a co*pliance +ith the* see*e to annihilate for a +hile the pain of absence, he entreate she +o%l al+ays think of hi* at s%nset( 32o% +ill then *eet *e in tho%,ht,3 sai he/ 3I shall constantly +atch the s%n6set, an I shall be happy in the belief, that yo%r eyes are fi-e %pon the sa*e ob.ect +ith *ine, an that o%r *in s are conversin,( 2o% kno+ not, E*ily, the co*fort I pro*ise *yself fro* these *o*ents/ b%t I tr%st yo% +ill e-perience it(3 It is %nnecessary to say +ith +hat e*otion E*ily, on this evenin,, +atche the eclinin, s%n, over a lon, e-tent of plains, on +hich she sa+ it set +itho%t interr%ption, an sink to+ar s the province +hich Valanco%rt inhabite ( After this ho%r her *in beca*e far *ore tran4%il an resi,ne , than it ha been since the *arria,e of &ontoni an her a%nt( <%rin, several ays the travellers .o%rneye over the plains of 0an,%e oc/ an then enterin, <a%phiny, an +in in, for so*e ti*e a*on, the *o%ntains of that ro*antic province, they 4%itte their carria,es an be,an to ascen the Alps( An here s%ch scenes of s%bli*ity opene %pon the* as no colo%rs of lan,%a,e *%st are to paint? E*ily3s *in +as even so *%ch en,a,e +ith ne+ an +on erf%l i*a,es, that they so*eti*es banishe the i ea of Valanco%rt, tho%,h they *ore fre4%ently revive it( These bro%,ht to her recollection the prospects a*on, the Pyrenees, +hich they ha a *ire to,ether, an ha believe nothin, co%l e-cel in ,ran e%r( Ho+ often i she +ish to e-press to hi* the ne+ e*otions +hich this astonishin, scenery a+akene , an that he co%l partake of the*? 'o*eti*es too she en eavo%re to anticipate his re*arks, an al*ost i*a,ine hi* present( 'he see*e to have arisen into another +orl , an to have left every triflin, tho%,ht, every triflin, senti*ent, in that belo+/ those only of ,ran e%r an s%bli*ity no+ ilate her *in , an elevate the affections of her heart( :ith +hat e*otions of s%bli*ity, softene by ten erness, i she *eet Valanco%rt in tho%,ht, at the c%sto*ary ho%r of s%n6set, +hen, +an erin, a*on, the

Alps, she +atche the ,lorio%s orb sink a*i their s%**its, his last tints ie a+ay on their sno+y points, an a sole*n obsc%rity steal over the scene? An +hen the last ,lea* ha fa e , she t%rne her eyes fro* the +est +ith so*e+hat of the *elancholy re,ret that is e-perience after the epart%re of a belove frien / +hile these lonely feelin,s +ere hei,htene by the sprea in, ,loo*, an by the lo+ so%n s, hear only +hen arkness confines attention, +hich *ake the ,eneral stillness *ore i*pressive7leaves shook by the air, the last si,h of the bree8e that lin,ers after s%n6set, or the *%r*%r of istant strea*s( <%rin, the first ays of this .o%rney a*on, the Alps, the scenery e-hibite a +on erf%l *i-t%re of solit% e an inhabitation, of c%ltivation an barrenness( On the e ,e of tre*en o%s precipices, an +ithin the hollo+ of the cliffs, belo+ +hich the clo% s often floate , +ere seen villa,es, spires, an convent to+ers/ +hile ,reen past%res an vineyar s sprea their h%es at the feet of perpen ic%lar rocks of *arble, or of ,ranite, +hose points, t%fte +ith alpine shr%bs, or e-hibitin, only *assy cra,s, rose above each other, till they ter*inate in the sno+6topt *o%ntain, +hence the torrent fell, that th%n ere alon, the valley( The sno+ +as not yet *elte on the s%**it of &o%nt Cenis, over +hich the travellers passe / b%t E*ily, as she looke %pon its clear lake an e-ten e plain, s%rro%n e by broken cliffs, sa+, in i*a,ination, the ver ant bea%ty it +o%l e-hibit +hen the sno+s sho%l be ,one, an the shepher s, lea in, %p the *i s%**er flocks fro* Pie *ont, to past%re on its flo+ery s%**it, sho%l a Arca ian fi,%res to Arca ian lan scape( As she escen e on the Italian si e, the precipices beca*e still *ore tre*en o%s, an the prospects still *ore +il an *a.estic, over +hich the shiftin, li,hts thre+ all the po*p of colo%rin,( E*ily eli,hte to observe the sno+y tops of the *o%ntains %n er the passin, infl%ence of the ay, bl%shin, +ith *ornin,, ,lo+in, +ith the bri,htness of noon, or .%st tinte +ith the p%rple evenin,( The ha%nt of *an co%l no+ only

be iscovere by the si*ple h%t of the shepher an the h%nter, or by the ro%,h pine bri ,e thro+n across the torrent, to assist the latter in his chase of the cha*ois over cra,s +here, b%t for this vesti,e of *an, it +o%l have been believe only the cha*ois or the +olf are to vent%re( As E*ily ,a8e %pon one of these perilo%s bri ,es, +ith the cataract foa*in, beneath it, so*e i*a,es ca*e to her *in , +hich she after+ar s co*bine in the follo+in,
4T7R5E( 47::ET The eary tra"eller, ho, all night long, 8as cli!b=d a!ong the Alps= tre!endous steeps, 4kirting the pathless precipice, here throng <ild for!s of dangerA as he on ard creeps 5f, chance, his an@ious eye at distance sees The !ountain%shepherd=s solitary ho!e, Peeping fro! forth the !oon%illu!in=d trees, <hat sudden transports to his boso! co!e> But, if bet een so!e hideous chas! ya n, <here the cleft pine a doubtful bridge displays, 5n dreadful silence, on the brink, forlorn 8e stands, and "ie s in the faint rays )ar, far belo , the torrent=s rising surge, And listens to the ild i!petuous roarA 4till eyes the depth, still shudders on the "erge, )ears to return, nor dares to "enture o=er# (esperate, at length the tottering plank he tries, 8is eak steps slide, he shrieks, he sinks?he dies>

E*ily, often as she travelle a*on, the clo% s, +atche in silent a+e their billo+y s%r,es rollin, belo+/ so*eti*es, +holly closin, %pon the scene, they appeare like a +orl of chaos, an , at others, sprea in, thinly, they opene an a *itte partial catches of the lan scape7the torrent, +hose asto%n in, roar ha never faile , t%*blin, o+n the rocky chas*, h%,e cliffs +hite +ith sno+, or the ark s%**its of the pine forests, that stretche *i 6+ay o+n the *o%ntains( 1%t +ho *ay escribe her rapt%re, +hen, havin, passe thro%,h a sea of vapo%r, she ca%,ht a first vie+ of Italy/ +hen, fro* the ri ,e of one of those tre*en o%s precipices that han, %pon &o%nt Cenis an ,%ar the entrance of that enchantin, co%ntry, she looke o+n thro%,h the lo+er clo% s, an , as they floate a+ay, sa+ the ,rassy vales of Pie *ont at her feet, an , beyon , the plains of

0o*bar y e-ten in, to the farthest istance, at +hich appeare , on the faint hori8on, the o%btf%l to+ers of T%rinB The solitary ,ran e%r of the ob.ects that i**e iately s%rro%n e her, the *o%ntain6re,ion to+erin, above, the eep precipices that fell beneath, the +avin, blackness of the forests of pine an oak, +hich skirte their feet, or h%n, +ithin their recesses, the hea lon, torrents that, ashin, a*on, their cliffs, so*eti*es appeare like a clo% of *ist, at others like a sheet of ice7these +ere feat%res +hich receive a hi,her character of s%bli*ity fro* the reposin, bea%ty of the Italian lan scape belo+, stretchin, to the +i e hori8on, +here the sa*e *eltin, bl%e tint see*e to %nite earth an sky( &a a*e &ontoni only sh% ere as she looke o+n precipices near +hose e ,e the chair*en trotte li,htly an s+iftly, al*ost, as the cha*ois bo%n e , an fro* +hich E*ily too recoile / b%t +ith her fears +ere *in,le s%ch vario%s e*otions of eli,ht, s%ch a *iration, astonish*ent, an a+e, as she ha never e-perience before( &ean+hile the carriers, havin, co*e to a lan in,6 place, stoppe to rest, an the travellers bein, seate on the point of a cliff, &ontoni an Cavi,ni rene+e a isp%te concernin, Hannibal3s passa,e over the Alps, &ontoni conten in, that he entere Italy by +ay of &o%nt Cenis, an Cavi,ni, that he passe over &o%nt 't( 1ernar ( The s%b.ect bro%,ht to E*ily3s i*a,ination the isasters he ha s%ffere in this bol an perilo%s a vent%re( 'he sa+ his vast ar*ies +in in, a*on, the efiles, an over the tre*en o%s cliffs of the *o%ntains, +hich at ni,ht +ere li,hte %p by his fires, or by the torches +hich he ca%se to be carrie +hen he p%rs%e his in efati,able *arch( In the eye of fancy, she perceive the ,lea* of ar*s thro%,h the %skiness of ni,ht, the ,litter of spears an hel*ets, an the banners floatin, i*ly on the t+ili,ht/ +hile no+ an then the blast of a istant tr%*pet echoe alon, the efile, an the si,nal +as ans+ere by a *o*entary clash of ar*s( 'he looke +ith horror %pon

the *o%ntaineers, perche on the hi,her cliffs, assailin, the troops belo+ +ith broken fra,*ents of the *o%ntain/ on sol iers an elephants t%*blin, hea lon, o+n the lo+er precipices/ an , as she listene to the rebo%n in, rocks, that follo+e their fall, the terrors of fancy yiel e to those of reality, an she sh% ere to behol herself on the i88y hei,ht, +hence she ha pict%re the escent of others( &a a*e &ontoni, *eanti*e, as she looke %pon Italy, +as conte*platin, in i*a,ination the splen o%r of palaces an the ,ran e%r of castles, s%ch as she believe she +as ,oin, to be *istress of at Venice an in the Apennine, an she beca*e, in i ea, little less than a princess( 1ein, no lon,er %n er the alar*s +hich ha eterre her fro* ,ivin, entertain*ents to the bea%ties of Tholo%se, +ho* &ontoni ha *entione +ith *ore eclat to his o+n vanity than cre it to their iscretion, or re,ar to tr%th, she eter*ine to ,ive concerts, tho%,h she ha neither ear nor taste for *%sic/ conversa8ioni, tho%,h she ha no talents for conversation/ an to o%tvie, if possible, in the ,aieties of her parties an the *a,nificence of her liveries, all the noblesse of Venice( This blissf%l reverie +as so*e+hat obsc%re , +hen she recollecte the 'i,nor, her h%sban , +ho, tho%,h he +as not averse to the profit +hich so*eti*es res%lts fro* s%ch parties, ha al+ays she+n a conte*pt of the frivolo%s para e that so*eti*es atten s the*/ till she consi ere that his pri e *i,ht be ,ratifie by isplayin,, a*on, his o+n frien s, in his native city, the +ealth +hich he ha ne,lecte in )rance/ an she co%rte a,ain the splen i ill%sions that ha char*e her before( The travellers, as they escen e , ,ra %ally, e-chan,e the re,ion of +inter for the ,enial +ar*th an bea%ty of sprin,( The sky be,an to ass%*e that serene an bea%tif%l tint pec%liar to the cli*ate of Italy/ patches of yo%n, ver %re, fra,rant shr%bs an flo+ers looke ,aily a*on, the rocks, often frin,in, their r%,,e bro+s, or han,in, in t%fts fro* their broken si es/ an the b% s of the oak an *o%ntain ash +ere e-pan in, into folia,e( <escen in, lo+er, the oran,e an the

*yrtle, every no+ an then, appeare in so*e s%nny nook, +ith their yello+ blosso*s peepin, fro* a*on, the ark ,reen of their leaves, an *in,lin, +ith the scarlet flo+ers of the po*e,ranate an the paler ones of the arb%t%s, that ran *antlin, to the cra,s above/ +hile, lo+er still, sprea the past%res of Pie *ont, +here early flocks +ere croppin, the l%-%riant herba,e of sprin,( The river <oria, +hich, risin, on the s%**it of &o%nt Cenis, ha ashe for *any lea,%es over the precipices that bor ere the roa , no+ be,an to ass%*e a less i*pet%o%s, tho%,h scarcely less ro*antic character, as it approache the ,reen vallies of Pie *ont, into +hich the travellers escen e +ith the evenin, s%n/ an E*ily fo%n herself once *ore a*i the tran4%il bea%ty of pastoral scenery/ a*on, flocks an her s, an slopes t%fte +ith +oo s of lively ver %re an +ith bea%tif%l shr%bs, s%ch as she ha often seen +avin, l%-%riantly over the alps above( The ver %re of the past%ra,e, no+ varie +ith the h%es of early flo+ers, a*on, +hich +ere yello+ ran%nc%l%ses an pansey violets of elicio%s fra,rance, she ha never seen e-celle (7E*ily al*ost +ishe to beco*e a peasant of Pie *ont, to inhabit one of the pleasant e*bo+ere cotta,es +hich she sa+ peepin, beneath the cliffs, an to pass her careless ho%rs a*on, these ro*antic lan scapes( To the ho%rs, the *onths, she +as to pass %n er the o*inion of &ontoni, she looke +ith apprehension/ +hile those +hich +ere eparte she re*e*bere +ith re,ret an sorro+( In the present scenes her fancy often ,ave her the fi,%re of Valanco%rt, +ho* she sa+ on a point of the cliffs, ,a8in, +ith a+e an a *iration on the i*a,ery aro%n hi*/ or +an erin, pensively alon, the vale belo+, fre4%ently pa%sin, to look back %pon the scenery, an then, his co%ntenance ,lo+in, +ith the poet3s fire, p%rs%in, his +ay to so*e overhan,in, hei,hts( :hen she a,ain consi ere the ti*e an the istance that +ere to separate the*, that every step she no+ took len,thene this istance, her heart s%nk, an the s%rro%n in, lan scape char*e her no *ore(

The travellers, passin, 9ovalesa, reache , after the evenin, ha close , the s*all an antient to+n of '%sa, +hich ha for*erly ,%ar e this pass of the Alps into Pie *ont( The hei,hts +hich co**an it ha , since the invention of artillery, ren ere its fortifications %seless/ b%t these ro*antic hei,hts, seen by *oon6 li,ht, +ith the to+n belo+, s%rro%n e by its +alls an +atchto+ers, an partially ill%*ine , e-hibite an interestin, pict%re to E*ily( Here they reste for the ni,ht at an inn, +hich ha little acco**o ation to boast of/ b%t the travellers bro%,ht +ith the* the h%n,er that ,ives elicio%s flavo%r to the coarsest vian s, an the +eariness that ens%res repose/ an here E*ily first ca%,ht a strain of Italian *%sic, on Italian ,ro%n ( As she sat after s%pper at a little +in o+, that opene %pon the co%ntry, observin, an effect of the *oon6li,ht on the broken s%rface of the *o%ntains, an re*e*berin, that on s%ch a ni,ht as this she once ha sat +ith her father an Valanco%rt, restin, %pon a cliff of the Pyrenees, she hear fro* belo+ the lon,6 ra+n notes of a violin, of s%ch tone an elicacy of e-pression, as har*oni8e e-actly +ith the ten er e*otions she +as in %l,in,, an both char*e an s%rprise her( Cavi,ni, +ho approache the +in o+, s*ile at her s%rprise( 3This is nothin, e-traor inary,3 sai he, 3yo% +ill hear the sa*e, perhaps, at every inn on o%r +ay( It is one of o%r lan lor 3s fa*ily +ho plays, I o%bt not,3 E*ily, as she listene , tho%,ht he co%l be scarcely less than a professor of *%sic +ho* she hear / an the s+eet an plaintive strains soon l%lle her into a reverie, fro* +hich she +as very %n+illin,ly ro%se by the raillery of Cavi,ni, an by the voice of &ontoni, +ho ,ave or ers to a servant to have the carria,es rea y at an early ho%r on the follo+in, *ornin,/ an a e , that he *eant to ine at T%rin( &a a*e &ontoni +as e-cee in,ly re.oice to be once *ore on level ,ro%n / an , after ,ivin, a lon, etail of the vario%s terrors she ha s%ffere , +hich she for,ot that she +as escribin, to the co*panions of her an,ers, she a e a hope, that she sho%l soon be

beyon the vie+ of these horri *o%ntains, 3+hich all the +orl ,3 sai she, 3sho%l not te*pt *e to cross a,ain(3 Co*plainin, of fati,%e she soon retire to rest, an E*ily +ith re+ to her o+n roo*, +hen she %n erstoo fro* Annette, her a%nt3s +o*an, that Cavi,ni +as nearly ri,ht in his con.ect%re concernin, the *%sician, +ho ha a+akene the violin +ith so *%ch taste, for that he +as the son of a peasant inhabitin, the nei,hbo%rin, valley( 3He is ,oin, to the Carnival at Venice,3 a e Annette, 3for they say he has a fine han at playin,, an +ill ,et a +orl of *oney/ an the Carnival is .%st ,oin, to be,in; b%t for *y part, I sho%l like to live a*on, these pleasant +oo s an hills, better than in a to+n/ an they say &a3*oiselle, +e shall see no +oo s, or hills, or fiel s, at Venice, for that it is b%ilt in the very *i le of the sea(3 E*ily a,ree +ith the talkative Annette, that this yo%n, *an +as *akin, a chan,e for the +orse, an co%l not forbear silently la*entin,, that he sho%l be ra+n fro* the innocence an bea%ty of these scenes, to the corr%pt ones of that vol%pt%o%s city( :hen she +as alone, %nable to sleep, the lan scapes of her native ho*e, +ith Valanco%rt, an the circ%*stances of her epart%re, ha%nte her fancy/ she re+ pict%res of social happiness a*i st the ,ran si*plicity of nat%re, s%ch as she feare she ha ba e fare+el to for ever/ an then, the i ea of this yo%n, Pie *ontese, th%s i,norantly sportin, +ith his happiness, ret%rne to her tho%,hts, an , ,la to escape a+hile fro* the press%re of nearer interests, she in %l,e her fancy in co*posin, the follo+in, lines(
T8E P5E(M7:TE4E Ah, !erry s ain, ho laugh=d along the "ales, And ith your gay pipe !ade the !ountains ring, <hy lea"e your cot, your oods, and thy!y gales, And friends belo"=d, for aught that ealth can bringE 8e goes to ake o=er !oon%light seas the string, Denetian gold his untaught fancy hails> $et oft of ho!e his si!ple carols sing, And his steps pause, as the last Alp he scales# 7nce !ore he turns to "ie his nati"e scene? )ar, far belo , as roll the clouds a ay, 8e spies his cabin =!id the pine%tops green,

The ell%kno n oods, clear brook, and pastures gayA And thinks of friends and parents left behind, 7f syl"an re"els, dance, and festi"e songA And hears the faint reed s elling in the indA And his sad sighs the distant notes prolong> Thus ent the s ain, till !ountain%shado s fell, And di!!=d the landscape to his aching sightA And !ust he lea"e the "ales he lo"es so ell> 3an foreign ealth, and sho s, his heart delightE :o, happy "ales> your ild rocks still shall hear 8is pipe, light sounding on the !orning breeBeA 4till shall he lead the flocks to strea!let clear, And atch at e"e beneath the estern trees# A ay, Denetian gold?your char! is o=er> And no his s ift step seeks the lo land bo =rs, <here, through the lea"es, his cottage light 7:3E M7RE Guides hi! to happy friends, and jocund hours# Ah, !erry s ain> that laugh along the "ales, And ith your gay pipe !ake the !ountains ring, $our cot, your oods, your thy!y%scented gales? And friends belo"=d?!ore joy than ealth can bring>

#HAPTER II
T5TA:5A# 5f you ill patiently dance in our round, And see our !oon%light re"els, go ith us# M5(4UMMER :5G8T=4 (REAM

Early on the follo+in, *ornin,, the travellers set o%t for T%rin( The l%-%riant plain, that e-ten s fro* the feet of the Alps to that *a,nificent city, +as not then, as no+, sha e by an aven%e of trees nine *iles in len,th/ b%t plantations of olives, *%lberry an pal*s, festoone +ith vines, *in,le +ith the pastoral scenery, thro%,h +ith the rapi Po, after its escent fro* the *o%ntains, +an ere to *eet the h%*ble <oria at T%rin( As they a vance to+ar s this city, the Alps, seen at so*e istance, be,an to appear in all their a+f%l s%bli*ity/ chain risin, over chain in lon, s%ccession, their hi,her points arkene by the hoverin, clo% s, so*eti*es hi , an at others seen shootin, %p far above the*/ +hile their lo+er steeps, broken into fantastic for*s, +ere to%che +ith bl%e an p%rplish tints, +hich, as they chan,e in li,ht an sha e, see*e to open ne+ scenes to the eye( To the

east stretche the plains of 0o*bar y, +ith the to+ers of T%rin risin, at a istance/ an beyon , the Apennines, bo%n in, the hori8on( The ,eneral *a,nificence of that city, +ith its vistas of ch%rches an palaces, branchin, fro* the ,ran s4%are, each openin, to a lan scape of the istant Alps or Apennines, +as not only s%ch as E*ily ha never seen in )rance, b%t s%ch as she ha never i*a,ine ( &ontoni, +ho ha been often at T%rin, an care little abo%t vie+s of any kin , i not co*ply +ith his +ife3s re4%est, that they *i,ht s%rvey so*e of the palaces/ b%t stayin, only till the necessary refresh*ents co%l be obtaine , they set for+ar for Venice +ith all possible rapi ity( &ontoni3s *anner, %rin, this .o%rney, +as ,rave, an even ha%,hty/ an to+ar s &a a*e &ontoni he +as *ore especially reserve / b%t it +as not the reserve of respect so *%ch as of pri e an iscontent( Of E*ily he took little notice( :ith Cavi,ni his conversations +ere co**only on political or *ilitary topics, s%ch as the conv%lse state of their co%ntry ren ere at this ti*e partic%larly interestin,, E*ily observe , that, at the *ention of any arin, e-ploit, &ontoni3s eyes lost their s%llenness, an see*e instantaneo%sly to ,lea* +ith fire/ yet they still retaine so*e+hat of a l%rkin, c%nnin,, an she so*eti*es tho%,ht that their fire partook *ore of the ,lare of *alice than the bri,htness of valo%r, tho%,h the latter +o%l +ell have har*oni8e +ith the hi,h chivalric air of his fi,%re, in +hich Cavi,ni, +ith all his ,ay an ,allant *anners, +as his inferior( On enterin, the &ilanese, the ,entle*en e-chan,e their )rench hats for the Italian cap of scarlet cloth, e*broi ere / an E*ily +as so*e+hat s%rprise to observe, that &ontoni a e to his the *ilitary pl%*e, +hile Cavi,ni retaine only the feather; +hich +as %s%ally +orn +ith s%ch caps; b%t she at len,th concl% e , that &ontoni ass%*e this ensi,n of a sol ier for convenience, as a *eans of passin, +ith *ore safety thro%,h a co%ntry over6r%n +ith parties of the *ilitary(

Over the bea%tif%l plains of this co%ntry the evastations of +ar +ere fre4%ently visible( :here the lan s ha not been s%ffere to lie %nc%ltivate , they +ere often tracke +ith the steps of the spoiler/ the vines +ere torn o+n fro* the branches that ha s%pporte the*, the olives tra*ple %pon the ,ro%n , an even the ,roves of *%lberry trees ha been he+n by the ene*y to li,ht fires that estroye the ha*lets an villa,es of their o+ners( E*ily t%rne her eyes +ith a si,h fro* these painf%l vesti,es of contention, to the Alps of the Grison, that overlooke the* to the north, +hose a+f%l solit% es see*e to offer to persec%te *an a sec%re asyl%*( The travellers fre4%ently istin,%ishe troops of sol iers *ovin, at a istance/ an they e-perience , at the little inns on the roa , the scarcity of provision an other inconveniences, +hich are a part of the conse4%ence of intestine +ar/ b%t they ha never reason to be *%ch alar*e for their i**e iate safety, an they passe on to &ilan +ith little interr%ption of any kin , +here they stai not to s%rvey the ,ran e%r of the city, or even to vie+ its vast cathe ral, +hich +as then b%il in,( 1eyon &ilan, the co%ntry +ore the aspect of a r% er evastation/ an tho%,h every thin, see*e no+ 4%iet, the repose +as like that of eath, sprea over feat%res, +hich retain the i*pression of the last conv%lsions( It +as not till they ha passe the eastern li*its of the &ilanese, that the travellers sa+ any troops since they ha left &ilan, +hen, as the evenin, +as ra+in, to a close, they escrie +hat appeare to be an ar*y +in in, on+ar alon, the istant plains, +hose spears an other ar*s ca%,ht the last rays of the s%n( As the col%*n a vance thro%,h a part of the roa , contracte bet+een t+o hillocks, so*e of the co**an ers, on horseback, +ere istin,%ishe on a s*all e*inence, pointin, an *akin, si,nals for the *arch/ +hile several of the officers +ere ri in, alon, the line irectin, its pro,ress, accor in, to the si,ns co**%nicate by those above/ an others, separatin, fro* the van,%ar , +hich ha e*er,e fro* the pass,

+ere ri in, carelessly alon, the plains at so*e istance to the ri,ht of the ar*y( As they re+ nearer, &ontoni, istin,%ishin, the feathers that +ave in their caps, an the banners an liveries of the ban s that follo+e the*, tho%,ht he kne+ this to be the s*all ar*y co**an e by the fa*o%s captain Atal o, +ith +ho*, as +ell as +ith so*e of the other chiefs, he +as personally ac4%ainte ( He, therefore, ,ave or ers that the carria,es sho%l ra+ %p by the si e of the roa , to a+ait their arrival, an ,ive the* the pass( A faint strain of *artial *%sic no+ stole by, an , ,ra %ally stren,thenin, as the troops approache , E*ily istin,%ishe the r%*s an tr%*pets, +ith the clash of cy*bals an of ar*s, that +ere str%ck by a s*all party, in ti*e to the *arch( &ontoni bein, no+ certain that these +ere the ban s of the victorio%s Atal o, leane fro* the carria,e +in o+, an haile their ,eneral by +avin, his cap in the air/ +hich co*pli*ent the chief ret%rne by raisin, his spear, an then lettin, it o+n a,ain s% enly, +hile so*e of his officers, +ho +ere ri in, at a istance fro* the troops, ca*e %p to the carria,e, an sal%te &ontoni as an ol ac4%aintance( The captain hi*self soon after arrivin,, his ban s halte +hile he converse +ith &ontoni, +ho* he appeare *%ch re.oice to see/ an fro* +hat he sai , E*ily %n erstoo that this +as a victorio%s ar*y, ret%rnin, into their o+n principality/ +hile the n%*ero%s +a,,ons, that acco*panie the*, containe the rich spoils of the ene*y, their o+n +o%n e sol iers, an the prisoners they ha taken in battle, +ho +ere to be ranso*e +hen the peace, then ne,ociatin, bet+een the nei,hbo%rin, states, sho%l be ratifie ( The chiefs on the follo+in, ay +ere to separate, an each, takin, his share of the spoil, +as to ret%rn +ith his o+n ban to his castle( This +as therefore to be an evenin, of %nco**on an ,eneral festivity, in co**e*oration of the victory they ha acco*plishe to,ether, an of the fare+ell +hich the co**an ers +ere abo%t to take of each other(

E*ily, as these officers converse +ith &ontoni, observe +ith a *iration, tinct%re +ith a+e, their hi,h *artial air, *in,le +ith the ha%,htiness of the nobless of those ays, an hei,htene by the ,allantry of their ress, by the pl%*es to+erin, on their caps, the ar*orial coat, Persian sash, an ancient 'panish cloak( Atal o, tellin, &ontoni that his ar*y +ere ,oin, to enca*p for the ni,ht near a villa,e at only a fe+ *iles istance, invite hi* to t%rn back an partake of their festivity, ass%rin, the la ies also, that they sho%l be pleasantly acco**o ate / b%t &ontoni e-c%se hi*self, a in,, that it +as his esi,n to reach Verona that evenin,/ an , after so*e conversation concernin, the state of the co%ntry to+ar s that city, they parte ( The travellers procee e +itho%t any interr%ption/ b%t it +as so*e ho%rs after s%n6set before they arrive at Verona, +hose bea%tif%l environs +ere therefore not seen by E*ily till the follo+in, *ornin,/ +hen, leavin, that pleasant to+n at an early ho%r, they set off for Pa %a, +here they e*barke on the 1renta for Venice( Here the scene +as entirely chan,e / no vesti,es of +ar, s%ch as ha efor*e the plains of the &ilanese, appeare / on the contrary, all +as peace an ele,ance( The ver ant banks of the 1renta e-hibite a contin%e lan scape of bea%ty, ,aiety, an splen o%r( E*ily ,a8e +ith a *iration on the villas of the Venetian noblesse, +ith their cool porticos an colonna es, overh%n, +ith poplars an cypresses of *a.estic hei,ht an lively ver %re/ on their rich oran,eries, +hose blosso*s perf%*e the air, an on the l%-%riant +illo+s, that ippe their li,ht leaves in the +ave, an sheltere fro* the s%n the ,ay parties +hose *%sic ca*e at intervals on the bree8e( The Carnival i , in ee , appear to e-ten fro* Venice alon, the +hole line of these enchantin, shores/ the river +as ,ay +ith boats passin, to that city, e-hibitin, the fantastic iversity of a *as4%era e in the resses of the people +ithin the*/ an , to+ar s evenin,, ,ro%ps of ancers fre4%ently +ere seen beneath the trees( Cavi,ni, *ean+hile, infor*e her of the na*es of the noble*en to +ho* the several villas they passe

belon,e , a in, li,ht sketches of their characters, s%ch as serve to a*%se rather than to infor*, e-hibitin, his o+n +it instea of the elineation of tr%th( E*ily +as so*eti*es iverte by his conversation/ b%t his ,aiety i not entertain &a a*e &ontoni, as it ha for*erly one/ she +as fre4%ently ,rave, an &ontoni retaine his %s%al reserve( 9othin, co%l e-cee E*ily3s a *iration on her first vie+ of Venice, +ith its islets, palaces, an to+ers risin, o%t of the sea, +hose clear s%rface reflecte the tre*%lo%s pict%re in all its colo%rs( The s%n, sinkin, in the +est, tinte the +aves an the lofty *o%ntains of )ri%li, +hich skirt the northern shores of the A riatic, +ith a saffron ,lo+, +hile on the *arble porticos an colonna es of 't( &ark +ere thro+n the rich li,hts an sha es of evenin,( As they ,li e on, the ,ran er feat%res of this city appeare *ore istinctly; its terraces, cro+ne +ith airy yet *a.estic fabrics, to%che , as they no+ +ere, +ith the splen o%r of the settin, s%n, appeare as if they ha been calle %p fro* the ocean by the +an of an enchanter, rather than reare by *ortal han s( The s%n, soon after, sinkin, to the lo+er +orl , the sha o+ of the earth stole ,ra %ally over the +aves, an then %p the to+erin, si es of the *o%ntains of )ri%li, till it e-tin,%ishe even the last %p+ar bea*s that ha lin,ere on their s%**its, an the *elancholy p%rple of evenin, re+ over the*, like a thin veil( Ho+ eep, ho+ bea%tif%l +as the tran4%illity that +rappe the scene? All nat%re see*e to repose/ the finest e*otions of the so%l +ere alone a+ake( E*ily3s eyes fille +ith tears of a *iration an s%bli*e evotion, as she raise the* over the sleepin, +orl to the vast heavens, an hear the notes of sole*n *%sic, that stole over the +aters fro* a istance( 'he listene in still rapt%re, an no person of the party broke the char* by an en4%iry( The so%n s see*e to ,ro+ on the air/ for so s*oothly i the bar,e ,li e alon,, that its *otion +as not perceivable, an the fairy city appeare approachin, to +elco*e the stran,ers( They no+ istin,%ishe a fe*ale voice, acco*panie by a fe+ instr%*ents,

sin,in, a soft an *o%rnf%l air/ an its fine e-pression, as so*eti*es it see*e plea in, +ith the i*passione ten erness of love, an then lan,%ishin, into the ca ence of hopeless ,rief, eclare , that it flo+e fro* no fei,ne sensibility( Ah? tho%,ht E*ily, as she si,he an re*e*bere Valanco%rt, those strains co*e fro* the heart? 'he looke ro%n , +ith an-io%s en4%iry/ the eep t+ili,ht, that ha fallen over the scene, a *itte only i*perfect i*a,es to the eye, b%t, at so*e istance on the sea, she tho%,ht she perceive a ,on ola; a chor%s of voices an instr%*ents no+ s+elle on the air7so s+eet, so sole*n? it see*e like the hy*n of an,els escen in, thro%,h the silence of ni,ht? 9o+ it ie a+ay, an fancy al*ost behel the holy choir reascen in, to+ar s heaven/ then a,ain it s+elle +ith the bree8e, tre*ble a+hile, an a,ain ie into silence( It bro%,ht to E*ily3s recollection so*e lines of her late father, an she repeate in a lo+ voice,
7ft 5 hear, Upon the silence of the !idnight air, 3elestial "oices s ell in holy chorus That bears the soul to hea"en>

The eep stillness, that s%ccee e , +as as e-pressive as the strain that ha .%st cease ( It +as %ninterr%pte for several *in%tes, till a ,eneral si,h see*e to release the co*pany fro* their enchant*ent( E*ily, ho+ever, lon, in %l,e the pleasin, sa ness, that ha stolen %pon her spirits/ b%t the ,ay an b%sy scene that appeare , as the bar,e approache 't( &ark3s Place, at len,th ro%se her attention( The risin, *oon, +hich thre+ a sha o+y li,ht %pon the terraces, an ill%*ine the porticos an *a,nificent arca es that cro+ne the*, iscovere the vario%s co*pany, +hose li,ht steps, soft ,%itars, an softer voices, echoe thro%,h the colonna es( The *%sic they hear before no+ passe &ontoni3s bar,e, in one of the ,on olas, of +hich several +ere seen ski**in, alon, the *oon6li,ht sea, f%ll of ,ay parties, catchin, the cool bree8e( &ost of these ha *%sic, *a e s+eeter by the +aves over +hich it

floate , an by the *eas%re so%n of oars, as they ashe the sparklin, ti e( E*ily ,a8e , an listene , an tho%,ht herself in a fairy scene/ even &a a*e &ontoni +as please / &ontoni con,rat%late hi*self on his ret%rn to Venice, +hich he calle the first city in the +orl , an Cavi,ni +as *ore ,ay an ani*ate than ever( The bar,e passe on to the ,ran canal, +here &ontoni3s *ansion +as sit%ate ( An here, other for*s of bea%ty an of ,ran e%r, s%ch as her i*a,ination ha never painte , +ere %nfol e to E*ily in the palaces of 'ansovino an Palla io, as she ,li e alon, the +aves( The air bore no so%n s, b%t those of s+eetness, echoin, alon, each *ar,in of the canal, an fro* ,on olas on its s%rface, +hile ,ro%ps of *asks +ere seen ancin, on the *oon6li,ht terraces, an see*e al*ost to reali8e the ro*ance of fairylan ( The bar,e stoppe before the portico of a lar,e ho%se, fro* +hence a servant of &ontoni crosse the terrace, an i**e iately the party ise*barke ( )ro* the portico they passe a noble hall to a stair6case of *arble, +hich le to a saloon, fitte %p in a style of *a,nificence that s%rprise E*ily( The +alls an ceilin,s +ere a orne +ith historical an alle,orical paintin,s, in fresco/ silver tripo s, epen in, fro* chains of the sa*e *etal, ill%*ine the apart*ent, the floor of +hich +as covere +ith In ian *ats painte in a variety of colo%rs an evices/ the co%ches an rapery of the lattices +ere of pale ,reen silk, e*broi ere an frin,e +ith ,reen an ,ol ( 1alcony lattices opene %pon the ,ran canal, +hence rose a conf%sion of voices an of *%sical instr%*ents, an the bree8e that ,ave freshness to the apart*ent( E*ily, consi erin, the ,loo*y te*per of &ontoni, looke %pon the splen i f%rnit%re of this ho%se +ith s%rprise, an re*e*bere the report of his bein, a *an of broken fort%ne, +ith astonish*ent( 3Ah?3 sai she to herself, 3if Valanco%rt co%l b%t see this *ansion, +hat peace +o%l it ,ive hi*? He +o%l then be convince that the report +as ,ro%n less(3

&a a*e &ontoni see*e to ass%*e the air of a princess/ b%t &ontoni +as restless an iscontente , an i not even observe the civility of bi in, her +elco*e to her ho*e( 'oon after his arrival, he or ere his ,on ola, an , +ith Cavi,ni, +ent o%t to *in,le in the scenes of the evenin,( &a a*e then beca*e serio%s an tho%,htf%l( E*ily, +ho +as char*e +ith every thin, she sa+, en eavo%re to enliven her/ b%t reflection ha not, +ith &a a*e &ontoni, s%b %e caprice an ill6h%*o%r, an her ans+ers iscovere so *%ch of both, that E*ily ,ave %p the atte*pt of ivertin, her, an +ith re+ to a lattice, to a*%se herself +ith the scene +itho%t, so ne+ an so enchantin,( The first ob.ect that attracte her notice +as a ,ro%p of ancers on the terrace belo+, le by a ,%itar an so*e other instr%*ents( The ,irl, +ho str%ck the ,%itar, an another, +ho flo%rishe a ta*bo%rine, passe on in a ancin, step, an +ith a li,ht ,race an ,aiety of heart, that +o%l have s%b %e the ,o ess of spleen in her +orst h%*o%r( After these ca*e a ,ro%p of fantastic fi,%res, so*e resse as ,on olieri, others as *instrels, +hile others see*e to efy all escription( They s%n, in parts, their voices acco*panie by a fe+ soft instr%*ents( At a little istance fro* the portico they stoppe , an E*ily istin,%ishe the verses of Ariosto( They s%n, of the +ars of the &oors a,ainst Charle*a,ne, an then of the +oes of Orlan o; after+ar s the *eas%re chan,e , an the *elancholy s+eetness of Petrarch s%ccee e ( The *a,ic of his ,rief +as assiste by all that Italian *%sic an Italian e-pression, hei,htene by the enchant*ents of Venetian *oonli,ht, co%l ,ive( E*ily, as she listene , ca%,ht the pensive enth%sias*/ her tears flo+e silently, +hile her fancy bore her far a+ay to )rance an to Valanco%rt( Each s%ccee in, sonnet, *ore f%ll of char*in, sa ness than the last, see*e to bin the spell of *elancholy; +ith e-tre*e re,ret she sa+ the *%sicians *ove on, an her attention follo+e the strain till the last faint +arble ie in air( 'he then re*aine s%nk in that pensive

tran4%illity +hich soft *%sic leaves on the *in 7a state like that pro %ce by the vie+ of a bea%tif%l lan scape by *oon6li,ht, or by the recollection of scenes *arke +ith the ten erness of frien s lost for ever, an +ith sorro+s, +hich ti*e has *ello+e into *il re,ret( '%ch scenes are in ee , to the *in , like 3those faint traces +hich the *e*ory bears of *%sic that is past3( Other so%n s soon a+akene her attention; it +as the sole*n har*ony of horns, that s+elle fro* a istance/ an , observin, the ,on olas arran,e the*selves alon, the *ar,in of the terraces, she thre+ on her veil, an , steppin, into the balcony, iscerne , in the istant perspective of the canal, so*ethin, like a procession, floatin, on the li,ht s%rface of the +ater; as it approache , the horns an other instr%*ents *in,le s+eetly, an soon after the fable eities of the city see*e to have arisen fro* the ocean/ for 9ept%ne, +ith Venice personifie as his 4%een, ca*e on the %n %latin, +aves, s%rro%n e by tritons an sea6 ny*phs( The fantastic splen o%r of this spectacle, to,ether +ith the ,ran e%r of the s%rro%n in, palaces, appeare like the vision of a poet s% enly e*bo ie , an the fancif%l i*a,es, +hich it a+akene in E*ily3s *in , lin,ere there lon, after the procession ha passe a+ay( 'he in %l,e herself in i*a,inin, +hat *i,ht be the *anners an eli,hts of a sea6ny*ph, till she al*ost +ishe to thro+ off the habit of *ortality, an pl%n,e into the ,reen +ave to participate the*( 3Ho+ eli,htf%l,3 sai she, 3to live a*i st the coral bo+ers an crystal caverns of the ocean, +ith *y sister ny*phs, an listen to the so%n in, +aters above, an to the soft shells of the tritons? an then, after s%n6set, to ski* on the s%rface of the +aves ro%n +il rocks an alon, se4%estere shores, +here, perhaps, so*e pensive +an erer co*es to +eep? Then +o%l I soothe his sorro+s +ith *y s+eet *%sic, an offer hi* fro* a shell so*e of the elicio%s fr%it that han,s ro%n 9ept%ne3s palace(3 'he +as recalle fro* her reverie to a *ere *ortal s%pper, an co%l not forbear s*ilin, at the fancies she

ha been in %l,in,, an at her conviction of the serio%s ispleas%re, +hich &a a*e &ontoni +o%l have e-presse , co%l she have been *a e ac4%ainte +ith the*( After s%pper, her a%nt sat late, b%t &ontoni i not ret%rn, an she at len,th retire to rest( If E*ily ha a *ire the *a,nificence of the saloon, she +as not less s%rprise , on observin, the half6f%rnishe an forlorn appearance of the apart*ents she passe in the +ay to her cha*ber, +hither she +ent thro%,h lon, s%ites of noble roo*s, that see*e , fro* their esolate aspect, to have been %nocc%pie for *any years( On the +alls of so*e +ere the fa e re*ains of tapestry/ fro* others, painte in fresco, the a*ps ha al*ost +ith ra+n both colo%rs an esi,n( At len,th she reache her o+n cha*ber, spacio%s, esolate, an lofty, like the rest, +ith hi,h lattices that opene to+ar s the A riatic( It bro%,ht ,loo*y i*a,es to her *in , b%t the vie+ of the A riatic soon ,ave her others *ore airy, a*on, +hich +as that of the sea6ny*ph, +hose eli,hts she ha before a*%se herself +ith pict%rin,/ an , an-io%s to escape fro* serio%s reflections, she no+ en eavo%re to thro+ her fancif%l i eas into a train, an concl% e the ho%r +ith co*posin, the follo+in, lines;
T8E 4EA%:$MP8 (o n, do n a thousand fatho! deep, A!ong the sounding seas 5 goA Play round the foot of e"=ry steep <hose cliffs abo"e the ocean gro # There, ithin their secret cares, 5 hear the !ighty ri"ers roarA And guide their strea!s through :eptune=s To bless the green earth=s in!ost shore' And bid the freshen=d aters glide, )or fern%cro n=d ny!phs of lake, or brook, Through inding oods and pastures ide, And !any a ild, ro!antic nook# )or this the ny!phs, at fall of ea"e, 7ft dance upon the flo =ry banks, And sing !y na!e, and garlands ea"e To bear beneath the a"e their thanks# 5n coral bo =rs 5 lo"e to lie,

a"es

And hear the surges roll abo"e, And through the aters "ie on high The proud ships sail, and gay clouds !o"e# And oft at !idnight=s stillest hour, <hen su!!er seas the "essel la"e, 5 lo"e to pro"e !y char!ful po =r <hile floating on the !oon%light a"e# And hen deep sleep the cre has bound, And the sad lo"er !using leans 7=er the ship=s side, 5 breathe around 4uch strains as speak no !ortal !eans> 7=er the di! a"es his searching eye 4ees but the "essel=s lengthen=d shadeA Abo"e?the !oon and aBure skyA Entranc=d he hears, and half afraid> 4o!eti!es, a single note 5 s ell, That, softly s eet, at distance diesA Then ake the !agic of !y shell, And choral "oices round !e rise> The tre!bling youth, char!=d by !y strain, 3alls up the cre , ho, silent, bend 7=er the high deck, but list in "ainA My song is hush=d, !y onders end> <ithin the !ountain=s oody bay, <here the tall bark at anchor rides, At t ilight hour, ith tritons gay, 5 dance upon the lapsing tides' And ith !y sister%ny!phs 5 sport, Till the broad sun looks o=er the floodsA Then, s ift e seek our crystal court, (eep in the a"e, =!id :eptune=s oods# 5n cool <e pass Beyond <ea"ing arcades and glassy halls the sultry hours of noon, here"er sun%bea! falls, sea%flo ers in gay festoon#

The hile e chant our ditties s eet To so!e soft shell that arbles nearA 9oin=d by the !ur!uring currents, fleet, That glide along our halls so clear# There, the pale pearl and sapphire blue, And ruby red, and e!=rald green, (art fro! the do!es a changing hue, And sparry colu!ns deck the scene# <hen the dark stor! sco ls o=er the deep, And long, long peals of thunder sound, 7n so!e high cliff !y atch 5 keep 7=er all the restless seas around'

Till on the ridgy a"e afar 3o!es the lone "essel, labouring slo , 4preading the hite foa! in the air, <ith sail and top%!ast bending lo # Then, plunge 5 =!id the ocean=s roar, My ay by Cui"=ring lightnings she n, To guide the bark to peaceful shore, And hush the sailor=s fearful groan# And if too late 5 reach its side To sa"e it fro! the = hel!ing surge, 5 call !y dolphins o=er the tide, To bear the cre here isles e!erge# Their !ournful spirits soon 5 cheer, <hile round the desert coast 5 go, <ith arbled songs they faintly hear, 7ft as the stor!y gust sinks lo # My !usic leads to lofty gro"es, That ild upon the sea%bank a"eA <here s eet fruits bloo!, and fresh spring ro"es, And closing boughs the te!pest bra"e# Then, fro! the air spirits obey My potent "oice they lo"e so ell, And, on the clouds, paint "isions gay, <hile strains !ore s eet at distance s ell# And thus the lonely hours 5 cheat, 4oothing the ship% reck=d sailor=s heart, Till fro! the a"es the stor!s retreat, And o=er the east the day%bea!s dart# :eptune for this oft binds !e fast To rocks belo , ith coral chain, Till all the te!pest=s o"er%past, And dro ning sea!en cry in "ain# <hoe=er ye are that lo"e !y lay, 3o!e, hen red sun%set tints the a"e, To the still sands, here fairies playA There, in cool seas, 5 lo"e to la"e#

#HAPTER III
8e is a great obser"er, and he looks Huite through the deeds of !en' he lo"es no plays, he hears no !usicA 4eldo! he s!ilesA and s!iles in such a sort, As if he !ock=d hi!self, and scorn=d his spirit that could be !o"=d to s!ile at any thing#

4uch !en as he be ne"er at heart=s ease, <hile they behold a greater than the!sel"es# 9U&5U4 3AE4AR

&ontoni an his co*panion i not ret%rn ho*e, till *any ho%rs after the a+n ha bl%she %pon the A riatic( The airy ,ro%ps, +hich ha ance all ni,ht alon, the colonna e of 't( &ark, isperse before the *ornin,, like so *any spirits( &ontoni ha been other+ise en,a,e / his so%l +as little s%sceptible of li,ht pleas%res( He eli,hte in the ener,ies of the passions/ the iffic%lties an te*pests of life, +hich +reck the happiness of others, ro%se an stren,thene all the po+ers of his *in , an affor e hi* the hi,hest en.oy*ents, of +hich his nat%re +as capable( :itho%t so*e ob.ect of stron, interest, life +as to hi* little *ore than a sleep/ an , +hen p%rs%its of real interest faile , he s%bstit%te artificial ones, till habit chan,e their nat%re, an they cease to be %nreal( Of this kin +as the habit of ,a*in,, +hich he ha a opte , first, for the p%rpose of relievin, hi* fro* the lan,%or of inaction, b%t ha since p%rs%e +ith the ar o%r of passion( In this occ%pation he ha passe the ni,ht +ith Cavi,ni an a party of yo%n, *en, +ho ha *ore *oney than rank, an *ore vice than either( &ontoni espise the ,reater part of these for the inferiority of their talents, rather than for their vicio%s inclinations, an associate +ith the* only to *ake the* the instr%*ents of his p%rposes( A*on, these, ho+ever, +ere so*e of s%perior abilities, an a fe+ +ho* &ontoni a *itte to his inti*acy, b%t even to+ar s these he still preserve a ecisive an ha%,hty air, +hich, +hile it i*pose s%b*ission on +eak an ti*i *in s, ro%se the fierce hatre of stron, ones( He ha , of co%rse, *any an bitter ene*ies/ b%t the ranco%r of their hatre prove the e,ree of his po+er/ an , as po+er +as his chief ai*, he ,lorie *ore in s%ch hatre , than it +as possible he co%l in bein, estee*e ( A feelin, so te*pere as that of estee*, he espise , an +o%l have espise hi*self also ha he tho%,ht hi*self capable of bein, flattere by it(

A*on, the fe+ +ho* he istin,%ishe , +ere the 'i,nors 1ertolini, Orsino, an Vere88i( The first +as a *an of ,ay te*per, stron, passions, issipate , an of %nbo%n e e-trava,ance, b%t ,enero%s, brave, an %ns%spicio%s( Orsino +as reserve , an ha%,hty/ lovin, po+er *ore than ostentation/ of a cr%el an s%spicio%s te*per/ 4%ick to feel an in.%ry, an relentless in aven,in, it/ c%nnin, an %nsearchable in contrivance, patient an in efati,able in the e-ec%tion of his sche*es( He ha a perfect co**an of feat%re an of his passions, of +hich he ha scarcely any, b%t pri e, reven,e an avarice/ an , in the ,ratification of these, fe+ consi erations ha po+er to restrain hi*, fe+ obstacles to +ithstan the epth of his strata,e*s( This *an +as the chief favo%rite of &ontoni( Vere88i +as a *an of so*e talent, of fiery i*a,ination, an the slave of alternate passions( He +as ,ay, vol%pt%o%s, an arin,/ yet ha neither perseverance or tr%e co%ra,e, an +as *eanly selfish in all his ai*s( 5%ick to for* sche*es, an san,%ine in his hope of s%ccess, he +as the first to %n ertake, an to aban on, not only his o+n plans, b%t those a opte fro* other persons( Pro% an i*pet%o%s, he revolte a,ainst all s%bor ination/ yet those +ho +ere ac4%ainte +ith his character, an +atche the t%rn of his passions, co%l lea hi* like a chil ( '%ch +ere the frien s +ho* &ontoni intro %ce to his fa*ily an his table, on the ay after his arrival at Venice( There +ere also of the party a Venetian noble*an, Co%nt &orano, an a 'i,nora 0ivona, +ho* &ontoni ha intro %ce to his +ife, as a la y of istin,%ishe *erit, an +ho, havin, calle in the *ornin, to +elco*e her to Venice, ha been re4%este to be of the inner party( &a a*e &ontoni receive +ith a very ill ,race, the co*pli*ents of the 'i,nors( 'he islike the*, beca%se they +ere the frien s of her h%sban / hate the*, beca%se she believe they ha contrib%te to etain hi* abroa till so late an ho%r of the prece in, *ornin,/ an envie the*, since, conscio%s of her o+n +ant of infl%ence, she +as convince , that he preferre

their society to her o+n( The rank of Co%nt &orano proc%re hi* that istinction +hich she ref%se to the rest of the co*pany( The ha%,hty s%llenness of her co%ntenance an *anner, an the ostentatio%s e-trava,ance of her ress, for she ha not yet a opte the Venetian habit, +ere strikin,ly contraste by the bea%ty, *o esty, s+eetness an si*plicity of E*ily, +ho observe , +ith *ore attention than pleas%re, the party aro%n her( The bea%ty an fascinatin, *anners of 'i,nora 0ivona, ho+ever, +on her invol%ntary re,ar / +hile the s+eetness of her accents an her air of ,entle kin ness a+akene +ith E*ily those pleasin, affections, +hich so lon, ha sl%*bere ( In the cool of the evenin, the party e*barke in &ontoni3s ,on ola, an ro+e o%t %pon the sea( The re ,lo+ of s%n6set still to%che the +aves, an lin,ere in the +est, +here the *elancholy ,lea* see*e slo+ly e-pirin,, +hile the ark bl%e of the %pper aether be,an to t+inkle +ith stars( E*ily sat, ,iven %p to pensive an s+eet e*otions( The s*oothness of the +ater, over +hich she ,li e , its reflecte i*a,es7a ne+ heaven an tre*blin, stars belo+ the +aves, +ith sha o+y o%tlines of to+ers an porticos, conspire +ith the stillness of the ho%r, interr%pte only by the passin, +ave, or the notes of istant *%sic, to raise those e*otions to enth%sias*( As she listene to the *eas%re so%n of the oars, an to the re*ote +arblin,s that ca*e in the bree8e, her softene *in ret%rne to the *e*ory of 't( A%bert an to Valanco%rt, an tears stole to her eyes( The rays of the *oon, stren,thenin, as the sha o+s eepene , soon after thre+ a silvery ,lea* %pon her co%ntenance, +hich +as partly sha e by a thin black veil, an to%che it +ith ini*itable softness( Hers +as the CO9TOAR of a &a ona, +ith the sensibility of a &a, alen/ an the pensive %plifte eye, +ith the tear that ,littere on her cheek, confir*e the e-pression of the character( The last strain of istant *%sic no+ ie in air, for the ,on ola +as far %pon the +aves, an the party eter*ine to have *%sic of their o+n( The Co%nt

&orano, +ho sat ne-t to E*ily, an +ho ha been observin, her for so*e ti*e in silence, snatche %p a l%te, an str%ck the chor s +ith the fin,er of har*ony herself, +hile his voice, a fine tenor, acco*panie the* in a ron ea% f%ll of ten er sa ness( To hi*, in ee , *i,ht have been applie that bea%tif%l e-hortation of an En,lish poet, ha it then e-iste ;
4trike up, !y !aster, But touch the strings ith a religious softness> Teach sounds to languish through the night=s dull ear Till Melancholy starts fro! off her couch, And 3arelessness gro s concert to attention>

:ith s%ch po+ers of e-pression the Co%nt s%n, the follo+in,

R7:(EAU 4oft as yon sil"er ray, that sleeps Upon the ocean=s tre!bling tideA 4oft as the air, that lightly s eeps $on sad, that s ells in stately pride' 4oft as the surge=s stealing note, That dies along the distant shores, 7r arbled strain, that sinks re!ote? 4o soft the sigh !y boso! pours> True as the a"e to 3ynthia=s ray, True as the "essel to the breeBe, True as the soul to !usic=s s ay, 7r !usic to Denetian seas' 4oft as yon sil"er bea!s, that sleep Upon the ocean=s tre!bling breastA 4o soft, so true, fond &o"e shall eep, 4o soft, so true, ith T8EE shall rest#

The ca ence +ith +hich he ret%rne fro* the last stan8a to a repetition of the first/ the fine *o %lation in +hich his voice stole %pon the first line, an the pathetic ener,y +ith +hich it prono%nce the last, +ere s%ch as only e-4%isite taste co%l ,ive( :hen he ha concl% e , he ,ave the l%te +ith a si,h to E*ily, +ho, to avoi any appearance of affectation, i**e iately be,an to play( 'he s%n, a *elancholy little air, one of the pop%lar son,s of her native province, +ith a si*plicity an pathos that *a e it enchantin,( 1%t its +ell6kno+n *elo y bro%,ht so forcibly to her fancy

the scenes an the persons, a*on, +hich she ha often hear it, that her spirits +ere overco*e, her voice tre*ble an cease 7an the strin,s of the l%te +ere str%ck +ith a isor ere han / till, asha*e of the e*otion she ha betraye , she s% enly passe on to a son, so ,ay an airy, that the steps of the ance see*e al*ost to echo to the notes( 1RAVI''I&O? b%rst instantly fro* the lips of her eli,hte a% itors, an she +as co*pelle to repeat the air( A*on, the co*pli*ents that follo+e , those of the Co%nt +ere not the least a% ible, an they ha not concl% e , +hen E*ily ,ave the instr%*ent to 'i,nora 0ivona, +hose voice acco*panie it +ith tr%e Italian taste( After+ar s, the Co%nt, E*ily, Cavi,ni, an the 'i,nora, s%n, can8onettes, acco*panie by a co%ple of l%tes an a fe+ other instr%*ents( 'o*eti*es the instr%*ents s% enly cease , an the voices roppe fro* the f%ll s+ell of har*ony into a lo+ chant/ then, after a eep pa%se, they rose by e,rees, the instr%*ents one by one strikin, %p, till the lo% an f%ll chor%s soare a,ain to heaven? &ean+hile, &ontoni, +ho +as +eary of this har*ony, +as consi erin, ho+ he *i,ht isen,a,e hi*self fro* his party, or +ith ra+ +ith s%ch of it as +o%l be +illin, to play, to a Casino( In a pa%se of the *%sic, he propose ret%rnin, to shore, a proposal +hich Orsino ea,erly secon e , b%t +hich the Co%nt an the other ,entle*en as +ar*ly oppose ( &ontoni still *e itate ho+ he *i,ht e-c%se hi*self fro* lon,er atten ance %pon the Co%nt, for to hi* only he tho%,ht e-c%se necessary, an ho+ he *i,ht ,et to lan , till the ,on olieri of an e*pty boat, ret%rnin, to Venice, haile his people( :itho%t tro%blin, hi*self lon,er abo%t an e-c%se, he sei8e this opport%nity of ,oin, thither, an , co**ittin, the la ies to the care of his frien s, eparte +ith Orsino, +hile E*ily, for the first ti*e, sa+ hi* ,o +ith re,ret/ for she consi ere his presence a protection, tho%,h she kne+ not +hat she sho%l fear( He lan e at 't( &ark3s, an , h%rryin, to a Casino, +as soon lost a*i st a cro+ of ,a*esters(

&ean+hile, the Co%nt havin, secretly ispatche a servant in &ontoni3s boat, for his o+n ,on ola an *%sicians, E*ily hear , +itho%t kno+in, his pro.ect, the ,ay son, of ,on olieri approachin,, as they sat on the stern of the boat, an sa+ the tre*%lo%s ,lea* of the *oon6li,ht +ave, +hich their oars ist%rbe ( Presently she hear the so%n of instr%*ents, an then a f%ll sy*phony s+elle on the air, an , the boats *eetin,, the ,on olieri haile each other( The co%nt then e-plainin, hi*self, the party re*ove into his ,on ola, +hich +as e*bellishe +ith all that taste co%l besto+( :hile they partook of a collation of fr%its an ice, the +hole ban , follo+in, at a istance in the other boat, playe the *ost s+eet an enchantin, strains, an the Co%nt, +ho ha a,ain seate hi*self by E*ily, pai her %nre*itte attention, an so*eti*es, in a lo+ b%t i*passione voice, %ttere co*pli*ents +hich she co%l not *is%n erstan ( To avoi the* she converse +ith 'i,nora 0ivona, an her *anner to the Co%nt ass%*e a *il reserve, +hich, tho%,h i,nifie , +as too ,entle to repress his assi %ities; he co%l see, hear, speak to no person, b%t E*ily +hile Cavi,ni observe hi* no+ an then, +ith a look of ispleas%re, an E*ily, +ith one of %neasiness( 'he no+ +ishe for nothin, so *%ch as to ret%rn to Venice, b%t it +as near *i 6ni,ht before the ,on olas approache 't( &ark3s Place, +here the voice of ,aiety an son, +as lo% ( The b%sy h%* of *in,lin, so%n s +as hear at a consi erable istance on the +ater, an , ha not a bri,ht *oon6li,ht iscovere the city, +ith its terraces an to+ers, a stran,er +o%l al*ost have cre ite the fable +on ers of 9ept%ne3s co%rt, an believe , that the t%*%lt arose fro* beneath the +aves( They lan e at 't( &ark3s, +here the ,aiety of the colonna es an the bea%ty of the ni,ht, *a e &a a*e &ontoni +illin,ly s%b*it to the Co%nt3s solicitations to .oin the pro*ena e, an after+ar s to take a s%pper +ith the rest of the party, at his Casino( If any thin, co%l have issipate E*ily3s %neasiness, it +o%l have been the ,ran e%r, ,aiety, an novelty of the

s%rro%n in, scene, a orne +ith Palla io3s palaces, an b%sy +ith parties of *as4%era ers( At len,th they +ith re+ to the Casino, +hich +as fitte %p +ith infinite taste, an +here a splen i ban4%et +as prepare / b%t here E*ily3s reserve *a e the Co%nt perceive, that it +as necessary for his interest to +in the favo%r of &a a*e &ontoni, +hich, fro* the con escension she ha alrea y she+n to hi*, appeare to be an achieve*ent of no ,reat iffic%lty( He transferre , therefore, part of his attention fro* E*ily to her a%nt, +ho felt too *%ch flattere by the istinction even to is,%ise her e*otion/ an before the party broke %p, he ha entirely en,a,e the estee* of &a a*e &ontoni( :henever he a resse her, her %n,racio%s co%ntenance rela-e into s*iles, an to +hatever he propose she assente ( He invite her, +ith the rest of the party, to take coffee, in his bo- at the opera, on the follo+in, evenin,, an E*ily hear the invitation accepte , +ith stron, an-iety, concernin, the *eans of e-c%sin, herself fro* atten in, &a a*e &ontoni thither( It +as very late before their ,on ola +as or ere , an E*ily3s s%rprise +as e-tre*e, +hen, on 4%ittin, the Casino, she behel the broa s%n risin, o%t of the A riatic, +hile 't( &ark3s Place +as yet cro+ e +ith co*pany( 'leep ha lon, +ei,he heavily on her eyes, b%t no+ the fresh sea6bree8e revive her, an she +o%l have 4%itte the scene +ith re,ret, ha not the Co%nt been present, perfor*in, the %ty, +hich he ha i*pose %pon hi*self, of escortin, the* ho*e( There they hear that &ontoni +as not yet ret%rne / an his +ife, retirin, in ispleas%re to her apart*ent, at len,th release E*ily fro* the fati,%e of f%rther atten ance( &ontoni ca*e ho*e late in the *ornin,, in a very ill h%*o%r, havin, lost consi erably at play, an , before he +ith re+ to rest, ha a private conference +ith Cavi,ni, +hose *anner, on the follo+in, ay, see*e to tell, that the s%b.ect of it ha not been pleasin, to hi*(

In the evenin,, &a a*e &ontoni, +ho, %rin, the ay, ha observe a s%llen silence to+ar s her h%sban , receive visits fro* so*e Venetian la ies, +ith +hose s+eet *anners E*ily +as partic%larly char*e ( They ha an air of ease an kin ness to+ar s the stran,ers, as if they ha been their fa*iliar frien s for years/ an their conversation +as by t%rns ten er, senti*ental an ,ay( &a a*e, tho%,h she ha no taste for s%ch conversation, an +hose coarseness an selfishness so*eti*es e-hibite a l% icro%s contrast to their e-cessive refine*ent, co%l not re*ain +holly insensible to the captivations of their *anner( In a pa%se of conversation, a la y +ho +as calle 'i,nora Her*inia took %p a l%te, an be,an to play an sin,, +ith as *%ch easy ,aiety, as if she ha been alone( Her voice +as %nco**only rich in tone, an vario%s in e-pression/ yet she appeare to be entirely %nconscio%s of its po+ers, an *eant nothin, less than to isplay the*( 'he s%n, fro* the ,aiety of her heart, as she sat +ith her veil half thro+n back, hol in, ,racef%lly the l%te, %n er the sprea in, folia,e an flo+ers of so*e plants, that rose fro* baskets, an interlace one of the lattices of the saloon( E*ily, retirin, a little fro* the co*pany, sketche her fi,%re, +ith the *iniat%re scenery aro%n her, an re+ a very interestin, pict%re, +hich, tho%,h it +o%l not, perhaps, have borne criticis*, ha spirit an taste eno%,h to a+aken both the fancy an the heart( :hen she ha finishe it, she presente it to the bea%tif%l ori,inal, +ho +as eli,hte +ith the offerin,, as +ell as the senti*ent it conveye , an ass%re E*ily, +ith a s*ile of captivatin, s+eetness, that she sho%l preserve it as a ple ,e of her frien ship( In the evenin, Cavi,ni .oine the la ies, b%t &ontoni ha other en,a,e*ents/ an they e*barke in the ,on ola for 't( &ark3s, +here the sa*e ,ay co*pany see*e to fl%tter as on the prece in, ni,ht( The cool bree8e, the ,lassy sea, the ,entle so%n of its +aves, an the s+eeter *%r*%r of istant *%sic/ the lofty porticos an arca es, an the happy ,ro%ps that sa%ntere beneath the*/ these, +ith every feat%re an

circ%*stance of the scene, %nite to char* E*ily, no lon,er tease by the officio%s attentions of Co%nt &orano( 1%t, as she looke %pon the *oon6li,ht sea, %n %latin, alon, the +alls of 't( &ark, an , lin,erin, for a *o*ent over those +alls, ca%,ht the s+eet an *elancholy son, of so*e ,on olier as he sat in his boat belo+, +aitin, for his *aster, her softene *in ret%rne to the *e*ory of her ho*e, of her frien s, an of all that +as ear in her native co%ntry( After +alkin, so*e ti*e, they sat o+n at the oor of a Casino, an , +hile Cavi,ni +as acco**o atin, the* +ith coffee an ice, +ere .oine by Co%nt &orano( He so%,ht E*ily +ith a look of i*patient eli,ht, +ho, re*e*berin, all the attention he ha she+n her on the prece in, evenin,, +as co*pelle , as before, to shrink fro* his assi %ities into a ti*i reserve, e-cept +hen she converse +ith 'i,nora Her*inia an the other la ies of her party( It +as near *i ni,ht before they +ith re+ to the opera, +here E*ily +as not so char*e b%t that, +hen she re*e*bere the scene she ha .%st 4%itte , she felt ho+ infinitely inferior all the splen o%r of art is to the s%bli*ity of nat%re( Her heart +as not no+ affecte , tears of a *iration i not start to her eyes, as +hen she vie+e the vast e-panse of ocean, the ,ran e%r of the heavens, an listene to the rollin, +aters, an to the faint *%sic that, at intervals, *in,le +ith their roar( Re*e*berin, these, the scene before her fa e into insi,nificance( Of the evenin,, +hich passe on +itho%t any partic%lar inci ent, she +ishe the concl%sion, that she *i,ht escape fro* the attentions of the Co%nt/ an , as opposite 4%alities fre4%ently attract each other in o%r tho%,hts, th%s E*ily, +hen she looke on Co%nt &orano, re*e*bere Valanco%rt, an a si,h so*eti*es follo+e the recollection( 'everal +eeks passe in the co%rse of c%sto*ary visits, %rin, +hich nothin, re*arkable occ%rre ( E*ily +as a*%se by the *anners an scenes that s%rro%n e her, so ifferent fro* those of )rance, b%t +here Co%nt

&orano, too fre4%ently for her co*fort, contrive to intro %ce hi*self( His *anner, fi,%re an acco*plish*ents, +hich +ere ,enerally a *ire , E*ily +o%l , perhaps, have a *ire also, ha her heart been isen,a,e fro* Valanco%rt, an ha the Co%nt forborne to persec%te her +ith officio%s attentions, %rin, +hich she observe so*e traits in his character, that pre.% ice her a,ainst +hatever *i,ht other+ise be ,oo in it( 'oon after his arrival at Venice, &ontoni receive a packet fro* &( 5%esnel, in +hich the latter *entione the eath of his +ife3s %ncle, at his villa on the 1renta/ an that, in conse4%ence of this event, he sho%l hasten to take possession of that estate an of other effects be4%eathe to hi*( This %ncle +as the brother of &a a*e 5%esnel3s late *other/ &ontoni +as relate to her by the father3s si e, an tho%,h he co%l have ha neither clai* nor e-pectation concernin, these possessions, he co%l scarcely conceal the envy +hich &( 5%esnel3s letter e-cite ( E*ily ha observe +ith concern, that, since they left )rance, &ontoni ha not even affecte kin ness to+ar s her a%nt, an that, after treatin, her, at first, +ith ne,lect, he no+ *et her +ith %nifor* ill6h%*o%r an reserve( 'he ha never s%ppose , that her a%nt3s foibles co%l have escape the iscern*ent of &ontoni, or that her *in or fi,%re +ere of a kin to eserve his attention( Her s%rprise, therefore, at this *atch, ha been e-tre*e/ b%t since he ha *a e the choice, she i not s%spect that he +o%l so openly have iscovere his conte*pt of it( 1%t &ontoni, +ho ha been all%re by the see*in, +ealth of &a a*e Cheron, +as no+ severely isappointe by her co*parative poverty, an hi,hly e-asperate by the eceit she ha e*ploye to conceal it, till conceal*ent +as no lon,er necessary( He ha been eceive in an affair, +herein he *eant to be the eceiver/ o%t6+itte by the s%perior c%nnin, of a +o*an, +hose %n erstan in, he espise , an to +ho* he ha sacrifice his pri e an his liberty, +itho%t savin, hi*self fro* the r%in, +hich ha i*pen e over his

hea ( &a a*e &ontoni ha contrive to have the ,reatest part of +hat she really i possess, settle %pon herself; +hat re*aine , tho%,h it +as totally ina e4%ate both to her h%sban 3s e-pectations, an to his necessities, he ha converte into *oney, an bro%,ht +ith hi* to Venice, that he *i,ht a little lon,er el% e society, an *ake a last effort to re,ain the fort%nes he ha lost( The hints +hich ha been thro+n o%t to Valanco%rt, concernin, &ontoni3s character an con ition, +ere too tr%e/ b%t it +as no+ left to ti*e an occasion, to %nfol the circ%*stances, both of +hat ha , an of +hat ha not been hinte , an to ti*e an occasion +e co**it the*( &a a*e &ontoni +as not of a nat%re to bear in.%ries +ith *eekness, or to resent the* +ith i,nity; her e-asperate pri e isplaye itself in all the violence an acri*ony of a little, or at least of an ill6re,%late *in ( 'he +o%l not ackno+le ,e, even to herself, that she ha in any e,ree provoke conte*pt by her %plicity, b%t +eakly persiste in believin,, that she alone +as to be pitie , an &ontoni alone to be cens%re / for, as her *in ha nat%rally little perception of *oral obli,ation, she sel o* %n erstoo its force b%t +hen it happene to be violate to+ar s herself; her vanity ha alrea y been severely shocke by a iscovery of &ontoni3s conte*pt/ it re*aine to be farther reprove by a iscovery of his circ%*stances( His *ansion at Venice, tho%,h its f%rnit%re iscovere a part of the tr%th to %npre.% ice persons, tol nothin, to those +ho +ere blin e by a resol%tion to believe +hatever they +ishe ( &a a*e &ontoni still tho%,ht herself little less than a princess, possessin, a palace at Venice, an a castle a*on, the Apennines( To the castle i A olpho, in ee , &ontoni so*eti*es talke of ,oin, for a fe+ +eeks to e-a*ine into its con ition, an to receive so*e rents/ for it appeare that he ha not been there for t+o years, an that, %rin, this perio , it ha been inhabite only by an ol servant, +ho* he calle his ste+ar (

E*ily listene to the *ention of this .o%rney +ith pleas%re, for she not only e-pecte fro* it ne+ i eas, b%t a release fro* the perseverin, assi %ities of Co%nt &orano( In the co%ntry, too, she +o%l have leis%re to think of Valanco%rt, an to in %l,e the *elancholy, +hich his i*a,e, an a recollection of the scenes of 0a Vallee, al+ays blesse +ith the *e*ory of her parents, a+akene ( The i eal scenes +ere earer, an *ore soothin, to her heart, than all the splen o%r of ,ay asse*blies/ they +ere a kin of talis*an that e-pelle the poison of te*porary evils, an s%pporte her hopes of happy ays; they appeare like a bea%tif%l lan scape, li,hte %p by a ,lea* of s%n6shine, an seen thro%,h a perspective of ark an r%,,e rocks( 1%t Co%nt &orano i not lon, confine hi*self to silent assi %ities/ he eclare his passion to E*ily, an *a e proposals to &ontoni, +ho enco%ra,e , tho%,h E*ily re.ecte , hi*; +ith &ontoni for his frien , an an ab%n ance of vanity to el% e hi*, he i not espair of s%ccess( E*ily +as astonishe an hi,hly is,%ste at his perseverance, after she ha e-plaine her senti*ents +ith a frankness that +o%l not allo+ hi* to *is%n erstan the*( He no+ passe the ,reater part of his ti*e at &ontoni3s, inin, there al*ost aily, an atten in, &a a*e an E*ily +herever they +ent/ an all this, not+ithstan in, the %nifor* reserve of E*ily, +hose a%nt see*e as an-io%s as &ontoni to pro*ote this *arria,e/ an +o%l never ispense +ith her atten ance at any asse*bly +here the Co%nt propose to be present( &ontoni no+ sai nothin, of his inten e .o%rney, of +hich E*ily +aite i*patiently to hear/ an he +as sel o* at ho*e b%t +hen the Co%nt, or 'i,nor Orsino, +as there, for bet+een hi*self an Cavi,ni a coolness see*e to s%bsist, tho%,h the latter re*aine in his ho%se( :ith Orsino, &ontoni +as fre4%ently closete for ho%rs to,ether, an , +hatever *i,ht be the b%siness, %pon +hich they cons%lte , it appeare to be of conse4%ence, since &ontoni often sacrifice to it his favo%rite passion for play, an re*aine at ho*e the

+hole ni,ht( There +as so*e+hat of privacy, too, in the *anner of Orsino3s visits, +hich ha never before occ%rre , an +hich e-cite not only s%rprise, b%t so*e e,ree of alar* in E*ily3s *in , +ho ha %n+illin,ly iscovere *%ch of his character +hen he ha *ost en eavo%re to is,%ise it( After these visits, &ontoni +as often *ore tho%,htf%l than %s%al/ so*eti*es the eep +orkin,s of his *in entirely abstracte hi* fro* s%rro%n in, ob.ects, an thre+ a ,loo* over his visa,e that ren ere it terrible/ at others, his eyes see*e al*ost to flash fire, an all the ener,ies of his so%l appeare to be ro%se for so*e ,reat enterprise( E*ily observe these +ritten characters of his tho%,hts +ith eep interest, an not +itho%t so*e e,ree of a+e, +hen she consi ere that she +as entirely in his po+er/ b%t forbore even to hint her fears, or her observations, to &a a*e &ontoni, +ho iscerne nothin, in her h%sban , at these ti*es, b%t his %s%al sternness( A secon letter fro* &( 5%esnel anno%nce the arrival of hi*self an his la y at the Villa &iarenti/ state several circ%*stances of his ,oo fort%ne, respectin, the affair that ha bro%,ht hi* into Italy/ an concl% e +ith an earnest re4%est to see &ontoni, his +ife an niece, at his ne+ estate( E*ily receive , abo%t the sa*e perio , a *%ch *ore interestin, letter, an +hich soothe for a +hile every an-iety of her heart( Valanco%rt, hopin, she *i,ht be still at Venice, ha tr%ste a letter to the or inary post, that tol her of his health, an of his %nceasin, an an-io%s affection( He ha lin,ere at Tholo%se for so*e ti*e after her epart%re, that he *i,ht in %l,e the *elancholy pleas%re of +an erin, thro%,h the scenes +here he ha been acc%sto*e to behol her, an ha thence ,one to his brother3s chatea%, +hich +as in the nei,hbo%rhoo of 0a Vallee( Havin, *entione this, he a e , 3If the %ty of atten in, *y re,i*ent i not re4%ire *y epart%re, I kno+ not +hen I sho%l have resol%tion eno%,h to 4%it the nei,hbo%rhoo of a place +hich is en eare by the re*e*brance of yo%( The vicinity to 0a Vallee has alone etaine *e th%s lon, at

Est%viere; I fre4%ently ri e thither early in the *ornin,, that I *ay +an er, at leis%re, thro%,h the ay, a*on, scenes, +hich +ere once yo%r ho*e, +here I have been acc%sto*e to see yo%, an to hear yo% converse( I have rene+e *y ac4%aintance +ith the ,oo ol Theresa, +ho re.oice to see *e, that she *i,ht talk of yo%; I nee not say ho+ *%ch this circ%*stance attache *e to her, or ho+ ea,erly I listene to her %pon her favo%rite s%b.ect( 2o% +ill ,%ess the *otive that first in %ce *e to *ake *yself kno+n to Theresa; it +as, in ee , no other than that of ,ainin, a *ittance into the chatea% an ,ar ens, +hich *y E*ily ha so lately inhabite ; here, then, I +an er, an *eet yo%r i*a,e %n er every sha e; b%t chiefly I love to sit beneath the sprea in, branches of yo%r favo%rite plane, +here once, E*ily, +e sat to,ether/ +here I first vent%re to tell yo%, that I love ( O E*ily? the re*e*brance of those *o*ents overco*es *e7I sit lost in reverie7I en eavo%r to see yo% i*ly thro%,h *y tears, in all the heaven of peace an innocence, s%ch as yo% then appeare to *e/ to hear a,ain the accents of that voice, +hich then thrille *y heart +ith ten erness an hope( I lean on the +all of the terrace, +here +e to,ether +atche the rapi c%rrent of the Garonne belo+, +hile I escribe the +il scenery abo%t its so%rce, b%t tho%,ht only of yo%( O E*ily? are these *o*ents passe for ever7+ill they never *ore ret%rnB3 In another part of his letter he +rote th%s( 32o% see *y letter is ate on *any ifferent ays, an , if yo% look back to the first, yo% +ill perceive, that I be,an to +rite soon after yo%r epart%re fro* )rance( To +rite +as, in ee , the only e*ploy*ent that +ith re+ *e fro* *y o+n *elancholy, an ren ere yo%r absence s%pportable, or rather, it see*e to estroy absence/ for, +hen I +as conversin, +ith yo% on paper, an tellin, yo% every senti*ent an affection of *y heart, yo% al*ost appeare to be present( This e*ploy*ent has been fro* ti*e to ti*e *y chief consolation, an I have eferre sen in, off *y packet, *erely for the co*fort of prolon,in, it, tho%,h it +as certain, that

+hat I ha +ritten, +as +ritten to no p%rpose till yo% receive it( :henever *y *in has been *ore than %s%ally epresse I have co*e to po%r forth its sorro+s to yo%, an have al+ays fo%n consolation/ an , +hen any little occ%rrence has intereste *y heart, an ,iven a ,lea* of .oy to *y spirits, I have hastene to co**%nicate it to yo%, an have receive reflecte satisfaction( Th%s, *y letter is a kin of pict%re of *y life an of *y tho%,hts for the last *onth, an th%s, tho%,h it has been eeply interestin, to *e, +hile I +rote it, an I are hope +ill, for the sa*e reason, be not in ifferent to yo%, yet to other rea ers it +o%l see* to abo%n only in frivolities( Th%s it is al+ays, +hen +e atte*pt to escribe the finer *ove*ents of the heart, for they are too fine to be iscerne , they can only be e-perience , an are therefore passe over by the in ifferent observer, +hile the intereste one feels, that all escription is i*perfect an %nnecessary, e-cept as it *ay prove the sincerity of the +riter, an sooth his o+n s%fferin,s( 2o% +ill par on all this e,otis*7for I a* a lover(3 3I have .%st hear of a circ%*stance, +hich entirely estroys all *y fairy para ise of i eal eli,ht, an +hich +ill reconcile *e to the necessity of ret%rnin, to *y re,i*ent, for I *%st no lon,er +an er beneath the belove sha es, +here I have been acc%sto*e to *eet yo% in tho%,ht(70a Vallee is let? I have reason to believe this is +itho%t yo%r kno+le ,e, fro* +hat Theresa tol *e this *ornin,, an , therefore, I *ention the circ%*stance( 'he she tears, +hile she relate , that she +as ,oin, to leave the service of her ear *istress, an the chatea% +here she ha live so *any happy years/ an all this, a e she, +itho%t even a letter fro* &a e*oiselle to soften the ne+s/ b%t it is all &ons( 5%esnel3s oin,s, an I are say she oes not even kno+ +hat is ,oin, for+ar (3 3Theresa a e , That she ha receive a letter fro* hi*, infor*in, her the chatea% +as let, an that, as her services +o%l no lon,er be re4%ire , she *%st 4%it the place, on that ay +eek, +hen the ne+ tenant +o%l arrive(3

3Theresa ha been s%rprise by a visit fro* &( 5%esnel, so*e ti*e before the receipt of this letter, +ho +as acco*panie by a stran,er that vie+e the pre*ises +ith *%ch c%riosity(3 To+ar s the concl%sion of his letter, +hich is ate a +eek after this sentence, Valanco%rt a s, 3I have receive a s%**ons fro* *y re,i*ent, an I .oin it +itho%t re,ret, since I a* sh%t o%t fro* the scenes that are so interestin, to *y heart( I ro e to 0a Vallee this *ornin,, an hear that the ne+ tenant +as arrive , an that Theresa +as ,one( I sho%l not treat the s%b.ect th%s fa*iliarly if I i not believe yo% to be %ninfor*e of this isposal of yo%r ho%se/ for yo%r satisfaction I have en eavo%re to learn so*ethin, of the character an fort%ne of yo%r tenant, b%t +itho%t s%ccess( He is a ,entle*an, they say, an this is all I can hear( The place, as I +an ere ro%n the bo%n aries, appeare *ore *elancholy to *y i*a,ination, than I ha ever seen it( I +ishe earnestly to have ,ot a *ittance, that I *i,ht have taken another leave of yo%r favo%rite plane6tree, an tho%,ht of yo% once *ore beneath its sha e; b%t I forbore to te*pt the c%riosity of stran,ers; the fishin,6ho%se in the +oo s, ho+ever, +as still open to *e/ thither I +ent, an passe an ho%r, +hich I cannot even look back %pon +itho%t e*otion( O E*ily? s%rely +e are not separate for ever7s%rely +e shall live for each other?3 This letter bro%,ht *any tears to E*ily3s eyes/ tears of ten erness an satisfaction on learnin, that Valanco%rt +as +ell, an that ti*e an absence ha in no e,ree efface her i*a,e fro* his heart( There +ere passa,es in this letter +hich partic%larly affecte her, s%ch as those escribin, his visits to 0a Vallee, an the senti*ents of elicate affection that its scenes ha a+akene ( It +as a consi erable ti*e before her *in +as s%fficiently abstracte fro* Valanco%rt to feel the force of his intelli,ence concernin, 0a Vallee( That &ons( 5%esnel sho%l let it, +itho%t even cons%ltin, her on the *eas%re, both s%rprise an shocke her, partic%larly as it prove the absol%te a%thority he tho%,ht hi*self entitle to e-ercise in her affairs( It is

tr%e, he ha propose , before she left )rance, that the chatea% sho%l be let, %rin, her absence, an to the oecono*ical pr% ence of this she ha nothin, to ob.ect/ b%t the co**ittin, +hat ha been her father3s villa to the po+er an caprice of stran,ers, an the eprivin, herself of a s%re ho*e, sho%l any %nhappy circ%*stances *ake her look back to her ho*e as an asyl%*, +ere consi erations that *a e her, even then, stron,ly oppose the *eas%re( Her father, too, in his last ho%r, ha receive fro* her a sole*n pro*ise never to ispose of 0a Vallee/ an this she consi ere as in so*e e,ree violate if she s%ffere the place to be let( 1%t it +as no+ evi ent +ith ho+ little respect &( 5%esnel ha re,ar e these ob.ections, an ho+ insi,nificant he consi ere every obstacle to pec%niary a vanta,e( It appeare , also, that he ha not even con escen e to infor* &ontoni of the step he ha taken, since no *otive +as evi ent for &ontoni3s concealin, the circ%*stance fro* her, if it ha been *a e kno+n to hi*; this both isplease an s%rprise her/ b%t the chief s%b.ects of her %neasiness +ere7the te*porary isposal of 0a Vallee, an the is*ission of her father3s ol an faithf%l servant(73Poor Theresa,3 sai E*ily, 3tho% ha st not save *%ch in thy servit% e, for tho% +ast al+ays ten er to+ar s the poor, an believ 3st tho% sho%l st ie in the fa*ily, +here thy best years ha been spent( Poor Theresa?7no+ tho% art t%rne o%t in thy ol a,e to seek thy brea ?3 E*ily +ept bitterly as these tho%,hts passe over her *in , an she eter*ine to consi er +hat co%l be one for Theresa, an to talk very e-plicitly to &( 5%esnel on the s%b.ect/ b%t she *%ch feare that his col heart co%l feel only for itself( 'he eter*ine also to en4%ire +hether he ha *a e any *ention of her affairs, in his letter to &ontoni, +ho soon ,ave her the opport%nity she so%,ht, by esirin, that she +o%l atten hi* in his st% y( 'he ha little o%bt, that the intervie+ +as inten e for the p%rpose of co**%nicatin, to her a part of &( 5%esnel3s letter concernin, the transactions at 0a Vallee, an she obeye hi* i**e iately( &ontoni +as alone(

3I have .%st been +ritin, to &ons( 5%esnel,3 sai he +hen E*ily appeare , 3in reply to the letter I receive fro* hi* a fe+ ays a,o, an I +ishe to talk to yo% %pon a s%b.ect that occ%pie part of it(3 3I also +ishe to speak +ith yo% on this topic, sir,3 sai E*ily( 3It is a s%b.ect of so*e interest to yo%, %n o%bte ly,3 re.oine &ontoni, 3an I think yo% *%st see it in the li,ht that I o/ in ee it +ill not bear any other( I tr%st yo% +ill a,ree +ith *e, that any ob.ection fo%n e on senti*ent, as they call it, o%,ht to yiel to circ%*stances of soli a vanta,e(3 3Grantin, this, sir,3 replie E*ily, *o estly, 3those of h%*anity o%,ht s%rely to be atten e to( 1%t I fear it is no+ too late to eliberate %pon this plan, an I *%st re,ret, that it is no lon,er in *y po+er to re.ect it(3 3It is too late,3 sai &ontoni/ 3b%t since it is so, I a* please to observe, that yo% s%b*it to reason an necessity +itho%t in %l,in, %seless co*plaint( I appla% this con %ct e-cee in,ly, the *ore, perhaps, since it iscovers a stren,th of *in sel o* observable in yo%r se-( :hen yo% are ol er yo% +ill look back +ith ,ratit% e to the frien s +ho assiste in resc%in, yo% fro* the ro*antic ill%sions of senti*ent, an +ill perceive, that they are only the snares of chil hoo , an sho%l be van4%ishe the *o*ent yo% escape fro* the n%rsery( I have not close *y letter, an yo% *ay a a fe+ lines to infor* yo%r %ncle of yo%r ac4%iescence( 2o% +ill soon see hi*, for it is *y intention to take yo%, +ith &a a*e &ontoni, in a fe+ ays to &iarenti, an yo% can then talk over the affair(3 E*ily +rote on the opposite pa,e of the paper as follo+s;
=5t is no useless, sir, for !e to re!onstrate upon the circu!stances of hich 4ignor Montoni infor!s !e that he has ritten# 5 could ha"e ished, at least, that the affair had been concluded ith less precipitation, that 5 !ight ha"e taught !yself to subdue so!e prejudices, as the 4ignor calls the!, hich still linger in !y heart# As

it is, 5 sub!it# 5n point of prudence nothing certainly can be objectedA but, though 5 sub!it, 5 ha"e yet !uch to say on so!e other points of the subject, hen 5 shall ha"e the honour of seeing you# 5n the !eanti!e 5 entreat you ill take care of Theresa, for the sake of, 4ir, $our affectionate niece, EM5&$ 4T# AUBERT#=

&ontoni s*ile satirically at +hat E*ily ha +ritten, b%t i not ob.ect to it, an she +ith re+ to her o+n apart*ent, +here she sat o+n to be,in a letter to Valanco%rt, in +hich she relate the partic%lars of her .o%rney, an her arrival at Venice, escribe so*e of the *ost strikin, scenes in the passa,e over the Alps/ her e*otions on her first vie+ of Italy/ the *anners an characters of the people aro%n her, an so*e fe+ circ%*stances of &ontoni3s con %ct( 1%t she avoi e even na*in, Co%nt &orano, *%ch *ore the eclaration he ha *a e, since she +ell kne+ ho+ tre*blin,ly alive to fear is real love, ho+ .ealo%sly +atchf%l of every circ%*stance that *ay affect its interest/ an she scr%p%lo%sly avoi e to ,ive Valanco%rt even the sli,htest reason for believin, he ha a rival( On the follo+in, ay Co%nt &orano ine a,ain at &ontoni3s( He +as in an %nco**on flo+ of spirits, an E*ily tho%,ht there +as so*e+hat of e-%ltation in his *anner of a ressin, her, +hich she ha never observe before( 'he en eavo%re to repress this by *ore than her %s%al reserve, b%t the col civility of her air no+ see*e rather to enco%ra,e than to epress hi*( He appeare +atchf%l of an opport%nity of speakin, +ith her alone, an *ore than once solicite this/ b%t E*ily al+ays replie , that she co%l hear nothin, fro* hi* +hich he +o%l be %n+illin, to repeat before the +hole co*pany( In the evenin,, &a a*e &ontoni an her party +ent o%t %pon the sea, an as the Co%nt le E*ily to his 8en aletto, he carrie her han to his lips, an thanke her for the con escension she ha sho+n hi*( E*ily, in e-tre*e s%rprise an ispleas%re, hastily +ith re+

her han , an concl% e that he ha spoken ironically/ b%t, on reachin, the steps of the terrace, an observin, by the livery, that it +as the Co%nt3s 8en aletto +hich +aite belo+, +hile the rest of the party, havin, arran,e the*selves in the ,on olas, +ere *ovin, on, she eter*ine not to per*it a separate conversation, an , +ishin, hi* a ,oo evenin,, ret%rne to the portico( The Co%nt follo+e to e-post%late an entreat, an &ontoni, +ho then ca*e o%t, ren ere solicitation %nnecessary, for, +itho%t con escen in, to speak, he took her han , an le her to the 8en aletto( E*ily +as not silent/ she entreate &ontoni, in a lo+ voice, to consi er the i*propriety of these circ%*stances, an that he +o%l spare her the *ortification of s%b*ittin, to the*/ he, ho+ever, +as infle-ible( 3This caprice is intolerable,3 sai he, 3an shall not be in %l,e ; there is no i*propriety in the case(3 At this *o*ent, E*ily3s islike of Co%nt &orano rose to abhorrence( That he sho%l , +ith %n a%nte ass%rance, th%s p%rs%e her, not+ithstan in, all she ha e-presse on the s%b.ect of his a resses, an think, as it +as evi ent he i , that her opinion of hi* +as of no conse4%ence, so lon, as his pretensions +ere sanctione by &ontoni, a e in i,nation to the is,%st +hich she ha felt to+ar s hi*( 'he +as so*e+hat relieve by observin, that &ontoni +as to be of the party, +ho seate hi*self on one si e of her, +hile &orano place hi*self on the other( There +as a pa%se for so*e *o*ents as the ,on olieri prepare their oars, an E*ily tre*ble fro* apprehension of the isco%rse that *i,ht follo+ this silence( At len,th she collecte co%ra,e to break it herself, in the hope of preventin, fine speeches fro* &orano, an reproof fro* &ontoni( To so*e trivial re*ark +hich she *a e, the latter ret%rne a short an isobli,in, reply/ b%t &orano i**e iately follo+e +ith a ,eneral observation, +hich he contrive to en +ith a partic%lar co*pli*ent, an , tho%,h E*ily passe it +itho%t even the notice of a s*ile, he +as not isco%ra,e (

3I have been i*patient,3 sai he, a ressin, E*ily, 3to e-press *y ,ratit% e/ to thank yo% for yo%r ,oo ness/ b%t I *%st also thank 'i,nor &ontoni, +ho has allo+e *e this opport%nity of oin, so(3 E*ily re,ar e the Co%nt +ith a look of *in,le astonish*ent an ispleas%re( 3:hy,3 contin%e he, 3sho%l yo% +ish to i*inish the eli,ht of this *o*ent by that air of cr%el reserveB7 :hy seek to thro+ *e a,ain into the perple-ities of o%bt, by teachin, yo%r eyes to contra ict the kin ness of yo%r late eclarationB 2o% cannot o%bt the sincerity, the ar o%r of *y passion/ it is therefore %nnecessary, char*in, E*ily? s%rely %nnecessary, any lon,er to atte*pt a is,%ise of yo%r senti*ents(3 3If I ever ha is,%ise the*, sir,3 sai E*ily, +ith recollecte spirit, 3it +o%l certainly be %nnecessary any lon,er to o so( I ha hope , sir, that yo% +o%l have spare *e any farther necessity of all% in, to the*/ b%t, since yo% o not ,rant this, hear *e eclare, an for the last ti*e, that yo%r perseverance has eprive yo% even of the estee*, +hich I +as incline to believe yo% *erite (3 3Astonishin,?3 e-clai*e &ontoni; 3this is beyon even *y e-pectation, tho%,h I have hitherto one .%stice to the caprice of the se-? 1%t yo% +ill observe, &a e*oiselle E*ily, that I a* no lover, tho%,h Co%nt &orano is, an that I +ill not be *a e the a*%se*ent of yo%r capricio%s *o*ents( Here is the offer of an alliance, +hich +o%l o hono%r to any fa*ily/ yo%rs, yo% +ill recollect, is not noble/ yo% lon, resiste *y re*onstrances, b%t *y hono%r is no+ en,a,e , an it shall not be trifle +ith(72o% shall a here to the eclaration, +hich yo% have *a e *e an a,ent to convey to the Co%nt(3 3I *%st certainly *istake yo%, sir,3 sai E*ily/ 3*y ans+ers on the s%b.ect have been %nifor*/ it is %n+orthy of yo% to acc%se *e of caprice( If yo% have con escen e to be *y a,ent, it is an hono%r I i not solicit( I *yself have constantly ass%re Co%nt

&orano, an yo% also, sir, that I never can accept the hono%r he offers *e, an I no+ repeat the eclaration(3 The Co%nt looke +ith an air of s%rprise an en4%iry at &ontoni, +hose co%ntenance also +as *arke +ith s%rprise, b%t it +as s%rprise *in,le +ith in i,nation( 3Here is confi ence, as +ell as caprice?3 sai the latter( 3:ill yo% eny yo%r o+n +or s, &a a*B3 3'%ch a 4%estion is %n+orthy of an ans+er, sir/3 sai E*ily bl%shin,/ 3yo% +ill recollect yo%rself, an be sorry that yo% have aske it(3 3'peak to the point,3 re.oine &ontoni, in a voice of increasin, vehe*ence( 3:ill yo% eny yo%r o+n +or s/ +ill yo% eny, that yo% ackno+le ,e , only a fe+ ho%rs a,o, that it +as too late to rece e fro* yo%r en,a,e*ents, an that yo% accepte the Co%nt3s han B3 3I +ill eny all this, for no +or s of *ine ever i*porte it(3 3Astonishin,? :ill yo% eny +hat yo% +rote to &ons( 5%esnel, yo%r %ncleB if yo% o, yo%r o+n han +ill bear testi*ony a,ainst yo%( :hat have yo% no+ to sayB3 contin%e &ontoni, observin, the silence an conf%sion of E*ily( 3I no+ perceive, sir, that yo% are %n er a very ,reat error, an that I have been e4%ally *istaken(3 39o *ore %plicity, I entreat/ be open an can i , if it be possible(3 3I have al+ays been so, sir/ an can clai* no *erit in s%ch con %ct, for I have ha nothin, to conceal(3 3Ho+ is this, 'i,norB3 crie &orano, +ith tre*blin, e*otion( 3'%spen yo%r .% ,*ent, Co%nt,3 replie &ontoni, 3the +iles of a fe*ale heart are %nsearchable( 9o+, &a a*e, yo%r EXP0A9ATIO9(3 3E-c%se *e, sir, if I +ithhol *y e-planation till yo% appear +illin, to ,ive *e yo%r confi ence/ assertion as present can only s%b.ect *e to ins%lt(3 32o%r e-planation, I entreat yo%?3 sai &orano(

3:ell, +ell,3 re.oine &ontoni, 3I ,ive yo% *y confi ence/ let %s hear this e-planation(3 30et *e lea to it then, by askin, a 4%estion(3 3As *any as conte*pt%o%sly( yo% please,3 sai &ontoni,

3:hat, then, +as the s%b.ect of yo%r letter to &ons( 5%esnelB3 3The sa*e that +as the s%b.ect of yo%r note to hi*, certainly( 2o% i +ell to stip%late for *y confi ence before yo% e*an e that 4%estion(3 3I *%st be, yo% +ill be *ore e-plicit, sir/ +hat +as that s%b.ectB3 3:hat co%l it be, b%t the noble offer of Co%nt &orano,3 sai &ontoni( 3Then, sir, +e entirely *is%n erstoo replie E*ily( each other,3

3:e entirely *is%n erstoo each other too, I s%ppose,3 re.oine &ontoni, 3in the conversation +hich prece e the +ritin, of that noteB I *%st o yo% the .%stice to o+n, that yo% are very in,enio%s at this sa*e art of *is%n erstan in,(3 E*ily trie to restrain the tears that ca*e to her eyes, an to ans+er +ith beco*in, fir*ness( 3Allo+ *e, sir, to e-plain *yself f%lly, or to be +holly silent(3 3The e-planation *ay no+ be ispense +ith/ it is anticipate ( If Co%nt &orano still thinks one necessary, I +ill ,ive hi* an honest one72o% have chan,e yo%r intention since o%r last conversation/ an , if he can have patience an h%*ility eno%,h to +ait till to6 *orro+, he +ill probably fin it chan,e a,ain; b%t as I have neither the patience or the h%*ility, +hich yo% e-pect fro* a lover, I +arn yo% of the effect of *y ispleas%re?3 3&ontoni, yo% are too precipitate,3 sai the Co%nt, +ho ha listene to this conversation in e-tre*e a,itation an i*patience/73'i,nora, I entreat yo%r o+n e-planation of this affair?3

3'i,nor &ontoni has sai .%stly,3 replie E*ily, 3that all e-planation *ay no+ be ispense +ith/ after +hat has passe I cannot s%ffer *yself to ,ive one( It is s%fficient for *e, an for yo%, sir, that I repeat *y late eclaration/ let *e hope this is the last ti*e it +ill be necessary for *e to repeat it7I never can accept the hono%r of yo%r alliance(3 3Char*in, E*ily?3 e-clai*e the Co%nt in an i*passione tone, 3let not resent*ent *ake yo% %n.%st/ let *e not s%ffer for the offence of &ontoni?7Revoke 73 3Offence?3 interr%pte &ontoni73Co%nt, this lan,%a,e is ri ic%lo%s, this s%b*ission is chil ish?7speak as beco*es a *an, not as the slave of a pretty tyrant(3 32o% istract *e, 'i,nor/ s%ffer *e to plea *y o+n ca%se/ yo% have alrea y prove ins%fficient to it(3 3All conversation on this s%b.ect, sir,3 sai E*ily, 3is +orse than %seless, since it can brin, only pain to each of %s; if yo% +o%l obli,e *e, p%rs%e it no farther(3 3It is i*possible, &a a*, that I can th%s easily resi,n the ob.ect of a passion, +hich is the eli,ht an tor*ent of *y life(7I *%st still love7still p%rs%e yo% +ith %nre*ittin, ar o%r/7+hen yo% shall be convince of the stren,th an constancy of *y passion, yo%r heart *%st soften into pity an repentance(3 3Is this ,enero%s, sirB is this *anlyB can it either eserve or obtain the estee* yo% solicit, th%s to contin%e a persec%tion fro* +hich I have no present *eans of escapin,B3 A ,lea* of *oonli,ht that fell %pon &orano3s co%ntenance, reveale the stron, e*otions of his so%l/ an , ,lancin, on &ontoni iscovere the ark resent*ent, +hich contraste his feat%res( 31y heaven this is too *%ch?3 s% enly e-clai*e the Co%nt/ 3'i,nor &ontoni, yo% treat *e ill/ it is fro* yo% that I shall look for e-planation(3 3)ro* *e, sir? yo% shall have it/3 *%ttere &ontoni, 3if yo%r iscern*ent is in ee so far obsc%re by passion,

as to *ake e-planation necessary( An for yo%, &a a*, yo% sho%l learn, that a *an of hono%r is not to be trifle +ith, tho%,h yo% *ay, perhaps, +ith i*p%nity, treat a 1O2 like a p%ppet(3 This sarcas* ro%se the pri e of &orano, an the resent*ent +hich he ha felt at the in ifference of E*ily, bein, lost in in i,nation of the insolence of &ontoni, he eter*ine to *ortify hi*, by efen in, her( 3This also,3 sai he, replyin, to &ontoni3s last +or s, 3this also, shall not pass %nnotice ( I bi yo% learn, sir, that yo% have a stron,er ene*y than a +o*an to conten +ith; I +ill protect 'i,nora 't( A%bert fro* yo%r threatene resent*ent( 2o% have *isle *e, an +o%l reven,e yo%r isappointe vie+s %pon the innocent(3 3&isle yo%?3 retorte &ontoni +ith 4%ickness, 3is *y con %ct7*y +or 37then pa%sin,, +hile he see*e en eavo%rin, to restrain the resent*ent, that flashe in his eyes, in the ne-t *o*ent he a e , in a s%b %e voice, 3Co%nt &orano, this is a lan,%a,e, a sort of con %ct to +hich I a* not acc%sto*e ; it is the con %ct of a passionate boy7as s%ch, I pass it over in conte*pt(3 3In conte*pt, 'i,norB3 3The respect I o+e *yself,3 re.oine &ontoni, 3re4%ires, that I sho%l converse *ore lar,ely +ith yo% %pon so*e points of the s%b.ect in isp%te( Ret%rn +ith *e to Venice, an I +ill con escen to convince yo% of yo%r error(3 3Con escen , sir? b%t I +ill not con escen to be so converse +ith(3 &ontoni s*ile conte*pt%o%sly/ an E*ily, no+ terrifie for the conse4%ences of +hat she sa+ an hear , co%l no lon,er be silent( 'he e-plaine the +hole s%b.ect %pon +hich she ha *istaken &ontoni in the *ornin,, eclarin,, that she %n erstoo hi* to have cons%lte her solely concernin, the isposal of 0a Vallee, an concl% in, +ith entreatin,, that he +o%l

+rite i**e iately to &( 5%esnel, an *istake(

rectify the

1%t &ontoni either +as, or affecte to be, still incre %lo%s/ an Co%nt &orano +as still entan,le in perple-ity( :hile she +as speakin,, ho+ever, the attention of her a% itors ha been iverte fro* the i**e iate occasion of their resent*ent, an their passion conse4%ently beca*e less( &ontoni esire the Co%nt +o%l or er his servants to ro+ back to Venice, that he *i,ht have so*e private conversation +ith hi*/ an &orano, so*e+hat soothe by his softene voice an *anner, an ea,er to e-a*ine into the f%ll e-tent of his iffic%lties, co*plie ( E*ily, co*forte by this prospect of release, e*ploye the present *o*ents in en eavo%rin,, +ith conciliatin, care, to prevent any fatal *ischief bet+een the persons +ho so lately ha persec%te an ins%lte her( Her spirits revive , +hen she hear once *ore the voice of son, an la%,hter, reso%n in, fro* the ,ran canal, an at len,th entere a,ain bet+een its stately pia88as( The 8en aletto stoppe at &ontoni3s *ansion, an the Co%nt hastily le her into the hall, +here &ontoni took his ar*, an sai so*ethin, in a lo+ voice, on +hich &orano kisse the han he hel , not+ithstan in, E*ily3s effort to isen,a,e it, an , +ishin, her a ,oo evenin,, +ith an accent an look she co%l not *is%n erstan , ret%rne to his 8en aletto +ith &ontoni( E*ily, in her o+n apart*ent, consi ere +ith intense an-iety all the %n.%st an tyrannical con %ct of &ontoni, the a%ntless perseverance of &orano, an her o+n esolate sit%ation, re*ove fro* her frien s an co%ntry( 'he looke in vain to Valanco%rt, confine by his profession to a istant kin, o*, as her protector/ b%t it ,ave her co*fort to kno+, that there +as, at least, one person in the +orl , +ho +o%l sy*pathi8e in her afflictions, an +hose +ishes +o%l fly ea,erly to release her( 2et she eter*ine not to ,ive hi* %navailin, pain by relatin, the reasons she ha to re,ret the havin, re.ecte his better .% ,*ent

concernin, &ontoni/ reasons, ho+ever, +hich co%l not in %ce her to la*ent the elicacy an isintereste affection that ha *a e her re.ect his proposal for a clan estine *arria,e( The approachin, intervie+ +ith her %ncle she re,ar e +ith so*e e,ree of hope, for she eter*ine to represent to hi* the istresses of her sit%ation, an to entreat that he +o%l allo+ her to ret%rn to )rance +ith hi* an &a a*e 5%esnel( Then, s% enly re*e*berin, that her belove 0a Vallee, her only ho*e, +as no lon,er at her co**an , her tears flo+e ane+, an she feare that she ha little pity to e-pect fro* a *an +ho, like &( 5%esnel, co%l ispose of it +itho%t ei,nin, to cons%lt +ith her, an co%l is*iss an a,e an faithf%l servant, estit%te of either s%pport or asyl%*( 1%t, tho%,h it +as certain, that she ha herself no lon,er a ho*e in )rance, an fe+, very fe+ frien s there, she eter*ine to ret%rn, if possible, that she *i,ht be release fro* the po+er of &ontoni, +hose partic%larly oppressive con %ct to+ar s herself, an ,eneral character as to others, +ere .%stly terrible to her i*a,ination( 'he ha no +ish to resi e +ith her %ncle, &( 5%esnel, since his behavio%r to her late father an to herself, ha been %nifor*ly s%ch as to convince her, that in flyin, to hi* she co%l only obtain an e-chan,e of oppressors/ neither ha she the sli,htest intention of consentin, to the proposal of Valanco%rt for an i**e iate *arria,e, tho%,h this +o%l ,ive her a la+f%l an a ,enero%s protector, for the chief reasons, +hich ha for*erly infl%ence her con %ct, still e-iste a,ainst it, +hile others, +hich see*e to .%stify the step, +o%l not be one a+ay/ an his interest, his fa*e +ere at all ti*es too ear to her, to s%ffer her to consent to a %nion, +hich, at this early perio of their lives, +o%l probably efeat both( One s%re, an proper asyl%*, ho+ever, +o%l still be open to her in )rance( 'he kne+ that she co%l boar in the convent, +here she ha for*erly e-perience so *%ch kin ness, an +hich ha an affectin, an sole*n clai* %pon her heart, since it containe the re*ains of her late father( Here she co%l re*ain in safety an tran4%illity, till the ter*, for +hich 0a Vallee *i,ht be let, sho%l e-pire/ or, till the

arran,e*ent of &( &otteville3s affairs enable her so far to esti*ate the re*ains of her fort%ne, as to .% ,e +hether it +o%l be pr% ent for her to resi e there( Concernin, &ontoni3s con %ct +ith respect to his letters to &( 5%esnel, she ha *any o%bts/ ho+ever he *i,ht be at first *istaken on the s%b.ect, she *%ch s%specte that he +ilf%lly persevere in his error, as a *eans of inti*i atin, her into a co*pliance +ith his +ishes of %nitin, her to Co%nt &orano( :hether this +as or +as not the fact, she +as e-tre*ely an-io%s to e-plain the affair to &( 5%esnel, an looke for+ar +ith a *i-t%re of i*patience, hope an fear, to her approachin, visit( On the follo+in, ay, &a a*e &ontoni, bein, alone +ith E*ily, intro %ce the *ention of Co%nt &orano, by e-pressin, her s%rprise, that she ha not .oine the party on the +ater the prece in, evenin,, an at her abr%pt epart%re to Venice( E*ily then relate +hat ha passe , e-presse her concern for the *%t%al *istake that ha occ%rre bet+een &ontoni an herself, an solicite her a%nt3s kin offices in %r,in, hi* to ,ive a ecisive enial to the co%nt3s f%rther a resses/ b%t she soon perceive , that &a a*e &ontoni ha not been i,norant of the late conversation, +hen she intro %ce the present( 32o% have no enco%ra,e*ent to e-pect fro* *e,3 sai her a%nt, 3in these notions( I have alrea y ,iven *y opinion on the s%b.ect, an think 'i,nor &ontoni ri,ht in enforcin,, by any *eans, yo%r consent( If yo%n, persons +ill be blin to their interest, an obstinately oppose it, +hy, the ,reatest blessin,s they can have are frien s, +ho +ill oppose their folly( Pray +hat pretensions of any kin o yo% think yo% have to s%ch a *atch as is no+ offere yo%B3 39ot any +hatever, &a a*,3 replie E*ily, 3an , therefore, at least, s%ffer *e to be happy in *y h%*ility(3 39ay, niece, it cannot be enie , that yo% have pri e eno%,h/ *y poor brother, yo%r father, ha his share of

pri e too/ tho%,h, let *e a it(3

, his fort%ne i not .%stify

E*ily, so*e+hat e*barrasse by the in i,nation, +hich this *alevolent all%sion to her father e-cite , an by the iffic%lty of ren erin, her ans+er as te*perate as it sho%l be reprehensive, hesitate for so*e *o*ents, in a conf%sion, +hich hi,hly ,ratifie her a%nt( At len,th she sai , 3&y father3s pri e, &a a*, ha a noble ob.ect7the happiness +hich he kne+ co%l be erive only fro* ,oo ness, kno+le ,e an charity( As it never consiste in his s%periority, in point of fort%ne, to so*e persons, it +as not h%*ble by his inferiority, in that respect, to others( He never is aine those, +ho +ere +retche by poverty an *isfort%ne/ he i so*eti*es espise persons, +ho, +ith *any opport%nities of happiness, ren ere the*selves *iserable by vanity, i,norance an cr%elty( I shall think it *y hi,hest ,lory to e*%late s%ch pri e(3 3I o not preten to %n erstan any thin, of these hi,h6 flo+n senti*ents, niece/ yo% have all that ,lory to yo%rself; I +o%l teach yo% a little plain sense, an not have yo% so +ise as to espise happiness(3 3That +o%l in ee not be +is o*, b%t folly,3 sai E*ily, 3for +is o* can boast no hi,her attain*ent than happiness/ b%t yo% +ill allo+, &a a*, that o%r i eas of happiness *ay iffer( I cannot o%bt, that yo% +ish *e to be happy, b%t I *%st fear yo% are *istaken in the *eans of *akin, *e so(3 3I cannot boast of a learne e %cation, niece, s%ch as yo%r father tho%,ht proper to ,ive yo%, an , therefore, o not preten to %n erstan all these fine speeches abo%t happiness( I *%st be contente to %n erstan only co**on sense, an happy +o%l it have been for yo% an yo%r father, if that ha been incl% e in his e %cation(3 E*ily +as too *%ch shocke by these reflections on her father3s *e*ory, to espise this speech as it eserve (

&a a*e &ontoni +as abo%t to speak, b%t E*ily 4%itte the roo*, an retire to her o+n, +here the little spirit she ha lately e-erte yiel e to ,rief an ve-ation, an left her only to her tears( )ro* every revie+ of her sit%ation she co%l erive, in ee , only ne+ sorro+( To the iscovery, +hich ha .%st been force %pon her, of &ontoni3s %n+orthiness, she ha no+ to a , that of the cr%el vanity, for the ,ratification of +hich her a%nt +as abo%t to sacrifice her/ of the effrontery an c%nnin,, +ith +hich, at the ti*e that she *e itate the sacrifice, she boaste of her ten erness, or ins%lte her victi*/ an of the veno*o%s envy, +hich, as it i not scr%ple to attack her father3s character, co%l scarcely be e-pecte to +ithhol fro* her o+n( <%rin, the fe+ ays that intervene bet+een this conversation an the epart%re for &iarenti, &ontoni i not once a ress hi*self to E*ily( His looks s%fficiently eclare his resent*ent/ b%t that he sho%l forbear to rene+ a *ention of the s%b.ect of it, e-cee in,ly s%rprise her, +ho +as no less astonishe , that, %rin, three ays, Co%nt &orano neither visite &ontoni, or +as na*e by hi*( 'everal con.ect%res arose in her *in ( 'o*eti*es she feare that the isp%te bet+een the* ha been revive , an ha en e fatally to the Co%nt( 'o*eti*es she +as incline to hope, that +eariness, or is,%st at her fir* re.ection of his s%it ha in %ce hi* to relin4%ish it/ an , at others, she s%specte that he ha no+ reco%rse to strata,e*, an forbore his visits, an prevaile +ith &ontoni to forbear the repetition of his na*e, in the e-pectation that ,ratit% e an ,enerosity +o%l prevail +ith her to ,ive hi* the consent, +hich he co%l not hope fro* love( Th%s passe the ti*e in vain con.ect%re, an alternate hopes an fears, till the ay arrive +hen &ontoni +as to set o%t for the villa of &iarenti, +hich, like the prece in, ones, neither bro%,ht the Co%nt, or the *ention of hi*( &ontoni havin, eter*ine not to leave Venice, till to+ar s evenin,, that he *i,ht avoi the heats, an

catch the cool bree8es of ni,ht, e*barke abo%t an ho%r before s%n6set, +ith his fa*ily, in a bar,e, for the 1renta( E*ily sat alone near the stern of the vessel, an , as it floate slo+ly on, +atche the ,ay an lofty city lessenin, fro* her vie+, till its palaces see*e to sink in the istant +aves, +hile its loftier to+ers an o*es, ill%*ine by the eclinin, s%n, appeare on the hori8on, like those far6seen clo% s +hich, in *ore northern cli*es, often lin,er on the +estern ver,e, an catch the last li,ht of a s%**er3s evenin,( 'oon after, even these ,re+ i*, an fa e in istance fro* her si,ht/ b%t she still sat ,a8in, on the vast scene of clo% less sky, an *i,hty +aters, an listenin, in pleasin, a+e to the eep6so%n in, +aves, +hile, as her eyes ,lance over the A riatic, to+ar s the opposite shores, +hich +ere, ho+ever, far beyon the reach of si,ht, she tho%,ht of Greece, an , a tho%san classical re*e*brances stealin, to her *in , she e-perience that pensive l%-%ry +hich is felt on vie+in, the scenes of ancient story, an on co*parin, their present state of silence an solit% e +ith that of their for*er ,ran e%r an ani*ation( The scenes of the Illia illapse in ,lo+in, colo%rs to her fancy7scenes, once the ha%nt of heroes7no+ lonely, an in r%ins/ b%t +hich still shone, in the poet3s strain, in all their yo%thf%l splen o%r( As her i*a,ination painte +ith *elancholy to%ches, the eserte plains of Troy, s%ch as they appeare in this after6 ay, she reani*ate the lan scape +ith the follo+in, little story(
4TA:IA4 7=er 5lion=s plains, here once the arrior bled, And once the poet rais=d his deathless strain, 7=er 5lion=s plains a eary dri"er led 8is stately ca!els' )or the ruin=d fane <ide round the lonely scene his glance he thre , )or no the red cloud faded in the est, And t ilight o=er the silent landscape dre 8er deep=ning "eilA east ard his course he prest' There, on the grey horiBon=s gli!!=ring bound, Rose the proud colu!ns of deserted Troy, And andering shepherds no a shelter found <ithin those alls, here princes ont to joy#

Beneath a lofty porch the dri"er pass=d, Then, fro! his ca!els hea"=d the hea"y loadA Partook ith the! the si!ple, cool repast, And in short "esper ga"e hi!self to God# )ro! distant lands ith !erchandise he ca!e, 8is all of ealth his patient ser"ants boreA 7ft deep%dra n sighs his an@ious ish proclai! To reach, again, his happy cottage doorA )or there, his ife, his little children, d ellA Their s!iles shall pay the toil of !any an hour' E"=n no ar! tears to e@pectation s ell, As fancy o=er his !ind e@tends her po =r# A death%like stillness reign=d, here once the song, The song of heroes, ak=d the !idnight air, 4a"e, hen a sole!n !ur!ur roll=d along, That see!=d to say?=for future orlds prepare#= )or Ti!e=s i!perious "oice as freCuent heard 4haking the !arble te!ple to its fall, FBy hands he long had conCuer=d, "ainly rear=dG, And distant ruins ans er=d to his call# <hile 8a!et slept, his ca!els round hi! lay, Beneath hi!, all his store of ealth as piledA And here, his cruse and e!pty allet lay, And there, the flute that chear=d hi! in the ild# The robber Tartar on his slu!ber stole, )or o=er the aste, at e"e, he atch=d his trainA Ah> ho his thirst of plunder shall controlE <ho calls on hi! for !ercy?calls in "ain> A poison=d poignard in his belt he ore, A crescent s ord depended at his side, The deathful Cui"er at his back he bore, And infants?at his "ery look had died> The !oon=s cold bea! ath art the te!ple fell, And to his sleeping prey the Tartar ledA But soft>?a startled ca!el shook his bell, Then stretch=d his li!bs, and rear=d his dro sy head# 8a!et a oke> 4 ift fro! blo A <hen fro! an That lay the the poignard glitter=d high> his couch he sprung, and =scap=d the unkno n hand the arro s fly, ruffian, in his "engeance, lo #

8e groan=d, he died> fro! forth a colu!n=d gate A fearful shepherd, pale and silent, crept, <ho, as he atch=d his folded flock star%late, 8ad !ark=d the robber steal here 8a!et slept# 8e fear=d his o n, and sa"=d a stranger=s life>

Poor 8a!et clasp=d hi! to his grateful heartA Then, rous=d his ca!els for the dusty strife, And, ith the shepherd, hasten=d to depart# And no , aurora breathes her fresh=ning gale, And faintly tre!bles on the eastern cloudA And no , the sun, fro! under t ilight=s "eil, &ooks gaily forth, and !elts her airy shroud# <ide o=er the le"el plains, his slanting bea!s (art their long lines on 5lion=s to er=d siteA The distant 8ellespont ith !orning glea!s, And old 4ca!ander inds his a"es in light# All !erry sound the ca!el bells, so gay, And !erry beats fond 8a!et=s heart, for he, E=er the di! e"ening steals upon the day, 8is children, ife and happy ho!e shall see#

As E*ily approache the shores of Italy she be,an to iscri*inate the rich feat%res an varie colo%rin, of the lan scape7the p%rple hills, ,roves of oran,e pine an cypress, sha in, *a,nificent villas, an to+ns risin, a*on, vineyar s an plantations( The noble 1renta, po%rin, its broa +aves into the sea, no+ appeare , an , +hen she reache its *o%th, the bar,e stoppe , that the horses *i,ht be fastene +hich +ere no+ to to+ it %p the strea*( This one, E*ily ,ave a last look to the A riatic, an to the i* sail,
that fro! the sky%!i@=d (a ns on the sight, a"e

an the bar,e slo+ly ,li e bet+een the ,reen an l%-%riant slopes of the river( The ,ran e%r of the Palla ian villas, that a orn these shores, +as consi erably hei,htene by the settin, rays, +hich thre+ stron, contrasts of li,ht an sha e %pon the porticos an lon, arca es, an bea*e a *ello+ l%stre %pon the oran,eries an the tall ,roves of pine an cypress, that overh%n, the b%il in,s( The scent of oran,es, of flo+erin, *yrtles, an other o orifero%s plants +as iff%se %pon the air, an often, fro* these e*bo+ere retreats, a strain of *%sic stole on the cal*, an 3softene into silence(3 The s%n no+ s%nk belo+ the hori8on, t+ili,ht fell over the lan scape, an E*ily, +rapt in *%sin, silence, contin%e to +atch its feat%res ,ra %ally vanishin, into

obsc%rity( 'he re*e*bere her *any happy evenin,s, +hen +ith 't( A%bert she ha observe the sha es of t+ili,ht steal over a scene as bea%tif%l as this, fro* the ,ar ens of 0a Vallee, an a tear fell to the *e*ory of her father( Her spirits +ere softene into *elancholy by the infl%ence of the ho%r, by the lo+ *%r*%r of the +ave passin, %n er the vessel, an the stillness of the air, that tre*ble only at intervals +ith istant *%sic; 7+hy else sho%l she, at these *o*ents, have looke on her attach*ent to Valanco%rt +ith presa,es so very afflictin,, since she ha b%t lately receive letters fro* hi*, that ha soothe for a +hile all her an-ietiesB It no+ see*e to her oppresse *in , that she ha taken leave of hi* for ever, an that the co%ntries, +hich separate the*, +o%l never *ore be re6trace by her( 'he looke %pon Co%nt &orano +ith horror, as in so*e e,ree the ca%se of this/ b%t apart fro* hi*, a conviction, if s%ch that *ay be calle , +hich arises fro* no proof, an +hich she kne+ not ho+ to acco%nt for, sei8e her *in 7that she sho%l never see Valanco%rt a,ain( Tho%,h she kne+, that neither &orano3s solicitations, nor &ontoni3s co**an s ha la+f%l po+er to enforce her obe ience, she re,ar e both +ith a s%perstitio%s rea , that they +o%l finally prevail( 0ost in this *elancholy reverie, an she in, fre4%ent tears, E*ily +as at len,th ro%se by &ontoni, an she follo+e hi* to the cabin, +here refresh*ents +ere sprea , an her a%nt +as seate alone( The co%ntenance of &a a*e &ontoni +as infla*e +ith resent*ent, that appeare to be the conse4%ence of so*e conversation she ha hel +ith her h%sban , +ho re,ar e her +ith a kin of s%llen is ain, an both preserve , for so*e ti*e, a ha%,hty silence( &ontoni then spoke to E*ily of &ons( 5%esnel; 32o% +ill not, I hope, persist in isclai*in, yo%r kno+le ,e of the s%b.ect of *y letter to hi*B3 3I ha hope , sir, that it +as no lon,er necessary for *e to isclai* it,3 sai E*ily, 3I ha hope , fro* yo%r silence, that yo% +as convince of yo%r error(3

32o% have hope i*possibilities then,3 replie &ontoni/ 3I *i,ht as reasonably have e-pecte to fin sincerity an %nifor*ity of con %ct in one of yo%r se-, as yo% to convict *e of error in this affair(3 E*ily bl%she , an +as silent/ she no+ perceive too clearly, that she ha hope an i*possibility, for, +here no *istake ha been co**itte no conviction co%l follo+/ an it +as evi ent, that &ontoni3s con %ct ha not been the conse4%ence of *istake, b%t of esi,n( An-io%s to escape fro* conversation, +hich +as both afflictin, an h%*iliatin, to her, she soon ret%rne to the eck, an res%*e her station near the stern, +itho%t apprehension of col , for no vapo%r rose fro* the +ater, an the air +as ry an tran4%il/ here, at least, the benevolence of nat%re allo+e her the 4%iet +hich &ontoni ha enie her else+here( It +as no+ past *i ni,ht( The stars she a kin of t+ili,ht, that serve to she+ the ark o%tline of the shores on either han , an the ,rey s%rface of the river/ till the *oon rose fro* behin a hi,h pal* ,rove, an she her *ello+ l%stre over the scene( The vessel ,li e s*oothly on; a*i the stillness of the ho%r E*ily hear , no+ an then, the solitary voice of the bar,e6 *en on the bank, as they spoke to their horses/ +hile, fro* a re*ote part of the vessel, +ith *elancholy son,,
The sailor sooth=d, Beneath the tre!bling !oon, the !idnight a"e#

E*ily, *ean+hile, anticipate her reception by &ons, an &a a*e 5%esnel/ consi ere +hat she sho%l say on the s%b.ect of 0a Vallee/ an then, to +ith6hol her *in fro* *ore an-io%s topics, trie to a*%se herself by iscri*inatin, the faint6 ra+n feat%res of the lan scape, reposin, in the *oon6li,ht( :hile her fancy th%s +an ere , she sa+, at a istance, a b%il in, peepin, bet+een the *oon6li,ht trees, an , as the bar,e approache , hear voices speakin,, an soon istin,%ishe the lofty portico of a villa, oversha o+e by ,roves of pine an syca*ore, +hich she recollecte to be the sa*e, that ha for*erly been pointe o%t to her, as belon,in, to &a a*e 5%esnel3s relative(

The bar,e stoppe at a fli,ht of *arble steps, +hich le %p the bank to a la+n( 0i,hts appeare bet+een so*e pillars beyon the portico( &ontoni sent for+ar his servant, an then ise*barke +ith his fa*ily( They fo%n &ons( an &a a*e 5%esnel, +ith a fe+ frien s, seate on sofas in the portico, en.oyin, the cool bree8e of the ni,ht, an eatin, fr%its an ices, +hile so*e of their servants at a little istance, on the river3s bank, +ere perfor*in, a si*ple serena e( E*ily +as no+ acc%sto*e to the +ay of livin, in this +ar* co%ntry, an +as not s%rprise to fin &ons( an &a a*e 5%esnel in their portico, t+o ho%rs after *i ni,ht( The %s%al sal%tations bein, over, the co*pany seate the*selves in the portico, an refresh*ents +ere bro%,ht the* fro* the a .oinin, hall, +here a ban4%et +as sprea , an servants atten e ( :hen the b%stle of this *eetin, ha s%bsi e , an E*ily ha recovere fro* the little fl%tter into +hich it ha thro+n her spirits, she +as str%ck +ith the sin,%lar bea%ty of the hall, so perfectly acco**o ate to the l%-%ries of the season( It +as of +hite *arble, an the roof, risin, into an open c%pola, +as s%pporte by col%*ns of the sa*e *aterial( T+o opposite si es of the apart*ent, ter*inatin, in open porticos, a *itte to the hall a f%ll vie+ of the ,ar ens, an of the river scenery/ in the centre a fo%ntain contin%ally refreshe the air, an see*e to hei,hten the fra,rance, that breathe fro* the s%rro%n in, oran,eries, +hile its ashin, +aters ,ave an a,reeable an soothin, so%n ( Etr%scan la*ps, s%spen e fro* the pillars, iff%se a brilliant li,ht over the interior part of the hall, leavin, the re*oter porticos to the softer l%stre of the *oon( &ons( 5%esnel talke apart to &ontoni of his o+n affairs, in his %s%al strain of self6i*portance/ boaste of his ne+ ac4%isitions, an then affecte to pity so*e isappoint*ents, +hich &ontoni ha lately s%staine ( &ean+hile, the latter, +hose pri e at least enable hi* to espise s%ch vanity as this, an +hose iscern*ent at once etecte %n er this ass%*e pity, the frivolo%s *ali,nity of 5%esnel3s *in , listene to hi* in

conte*pt%o%s silence, till he na*e his niece, an then they left the portico, an +alke a+ay into the ,ar ens( E*ily, ho+ever, still atten e to &a a*e 5%esnel, +ho spoke of )rance =for even the na*e of her native co%ntry +as ear to her> an she fo%n so*e pleas%re in lookin, at a person, +ho ha lately been in it( That co%ntry, too, +as inhabite by Valanco%rt, an she listene to the *ention of it, +ith a faint hope, that he also +o%l be na*e ( &a a*e 5%esnel, +ho, +hen she +as in )rance, ha talke +ith rapt%re of Italy, no+, that she +as in Italy, talke +ith e4%al praise of )rance, an en eavo%re to e-cite the +on er an the envy of her a% itors by acco%nts of places, +hich they ha not been happy eno%,h to see( In these escriptions she not only i*pose %pon the*, b%t %pon herself, for she never tho%,ht a present pleas%re e4%al to one, that +as passe / an th%s the elicio%s cli*ate, the fra,rant oran,eries an all the l%-%ries, +hich s%rro%n e her, slept %nnotice , +hile her fancy +an ere over the istant scenes of a northern co%ntry( E*ily listene in vain for the na*e of Valanco%rt( &a a*e &ontoni spoke in her t%rn of the eli,hts of Venice, an of the pleas%re she e-pecte fro* visitin, the fine castle of &ontoni, on the Apennine/ +hich latter *ention, at least, +as *erely a retaliatin, boast, for E*ily +ell kne+, that her a%nt ha no taste for solitary ,ran e%r, an , partic%larly, for s%ch as the castle of A olpho pro*ise ( Th%s the party contin%e to converse, an , as far as civility +o%l per*it, to tort%re each other by *%t%al boasts, +hile they recline on sofas in the portico, an +ere environe +ith eli,hts both fro* nat%re an art, by +hich any honest *in s +o%l have been te*pere to benevolence, an happy i*a,inations +o%l have been soothe into enchant*ent( The a+n, soon after, tre*ble in the eastern hori8on, an the li,ht tints of *ornin,, ,ra %ally e-pan in,, she+e the bea%tif%lly eclinin, for*s of the Italian *o%ntains an the ,lea*in, lan scapes, stretche at their feet( Then the s%n6bea*s, shootin, %p fro* behin the hills, sprea over the scene that fine saffron

tin,e, +hich see*s to i*part repose to all it to%ches( The lan scape no lon,er ,lea*e / all its ,lo+in, colo%rs +ere reveale , e-cept that its re*oter feat%res +ere still softene an %nite in the *ist of istance, +hose s+eet effect +as hei,htene to E*ily by the ark ver %re of the pines an cypresses, that over6 arche the fore,ro%n of the river( The *arket people, passin, +ith their boats to Venice, no+ for*e a *ovin, pict%re on the 1renta( &ost of these ha little painte a+nin,s, to shelter their o+ners fro* the s%n6bea*s, +hich, to,ether +ith the piles of fr%it an flo+ers, isplaye beneath, an the tastef%l si*plicity of the peasant ,irls, +ho +atche the r%ral treas%res, ren ere the* ,ay an strikin, ob.ects( The s+ift *ove*ent of the boats o+n the c%rrent, the 4%ick ,lance of oars in the +ater, an no+ an then the passin, chor%s of peasants, +ho recline %n er the sail of their little bark, or the tones of so*e r%stic instr%*ent, playe by a ,irl, as she sat near her sylvan car,o, hei,htene the ani*ation an festivity of the scene( :hen &ontoni an &( 5%esnel ha .oine the la ies, the party left the portico for the ,ar ens, +here the char*in, scenery soon +ith re+ E*ily3s tho%,hts fro* painf%l s%b.ects( The *a.estic for*s an rich ver %re of cypresses she ha never seen so perfect before; ,roves of ce ar, le*on, an oran,e, the spiry cl%sters of the pine an poplar, the l%-%riant chesn%t an oriental plane, thre+ all their po*p of sha e over these ,ar ens/ +hile bo+ers of flo+erin, *yrtle an other spicy shr%bs *in,le their fra,rance +ith that of flo+ers, +hose vivi an vario%s colo%rin, ,lo+e +ith increase effect beneath the contraste %*bra,e of the ,roves( The air also +as contin%ally refreshe by riv%lets, +hich, +ith *ore taste than fashion, ha been s%ffere to +an er a*on, the ,reen recesses( E*ily often lin,ere behin the party, to conte*plate the istant lan scape, that close a vista, or that ,lea*e beneath the ark folia,e of the fore,ro%n /7 the spiral s%**its of the *o%ntains, to%che +ith a p%rple tint, broken an steep above, b%t shelvin,

,ra %ally to their base/ the open valley, *arke by no for*al lines of art/ an the tall ,roves of cypress, pine an poplar, so*eti*es e*bellishe by a r%ine villa, +hose broken col%*ns appeare bet+een the branches of a pine, that see*e to roop over their fall( )ro* other parts of the ,ar ens, the character of the vie+ +as entirely chan,e , an the fine solitary bea%ty of the lan scape shifte for the cro+ e feat%res an varie colo%rin, of inhabitation( The s%n +as no+ ,ainin, fast %pon the sky, an the party 4%itte the ,ar ens, an retire to repose(

#HAPTER I%
And poor Misfortune feels the lash of Dice# T87M47:

E*ily sei8e the first opport%nity of conversin, alone +ith &ons( 5%esnel, concernin, 0a Vallee( His ans+ers to her en4%iries +ere concise, an elivere +ith the air of a *an, +ho is conscio%s of possessin, absol%te po+er an i*patient of hearin, it 4%estione ( He eclare , that the isposal of the place +as a necessary *eas%re/ an that she *i,ht consi er herself in ebte to his pr% ence for even the s*all inco*e that re*aine for her( 31%t, ho+ever,3 a e he, 3+hen this Venetian Co%nt =I have for,ot his na*e> *arries yo%, yo%r present isa,reeable state of epen ence +ill cease( As a relation to yo% I re.oice in the circ%*stance, +hich is so fort%nate for yo%, an , I *ay a , so %ne-pecte by yo%r frien s(3 )or so*e *o*ents E*ily +as chille into silence by this speech/ an , +hen she atte*pte to %n eceive hi*, concernin, the p%rport of the note she ha inclose in &ontoni3s letter, he appeare to have so*e private reason for isbelievin, her assertion, an , for a consi erable ti*e, persevere in acc%sin, her of capricio%s con %ct( 1ein,, at len,th, ho+ever, convince that she really islike &orano

an ha positively re.ecte his s%it, his resent*ent +as e-trava,ant, an he e-presse it in ter*s e4%ally pointe an inh%*an/ for, secretly flattere by the prospect of a connection +ith a noble*an, +hose title he ha affecte to for,et, he +as incapable of feelin, pity for +hatever s%fferin,s of his niece *i,ht stan in the +ay of his a*bition( E*ily sa+ at once in his *anner all the iffic%lties, that a+aite her, an , tho%,h no oppression co%l have po+er to *ake her reno%nce Valanco%rt for &orano, her fortit% e no+ tre*ble at an enco%nter +ith the violent passions of her %ncle( 'he oppose his t%rb%lence an in i,nation only by the *il i,nity of a s%perior *in / b%t the ,entle fir*ness of her con %ct serve to e-asperate still *ore his resent*ent, since it co*pelle hi* to feel his o+n inferiority, an , +hen he left her, he eclare , that, if she persiste in her folly, both hi*self an &ontoni +o%l aban on her to the conte*pt of the +orl ( The cal*ness she ha ass%*e in his presence faile E*ily, +hen alone, an she +ept bitterly, an calle fre4%ently %pon the na*e of her eparte father, +hose a vice to her fro* his eath6be she then re*e*bere ( 3Alas?3 sai she, 3I o in ee perceive ho+ *%ch *ore val%able is the stren,th of fortit% e than the ,race of sensibility, an I +ill also en eavo%r to f%lfil the pro*ise I then *a e/ I +ill not in %l,e in %navailin, la*entation, b%t +ill try to en %re, +ith fir*ness, the oppression I cannot el% e(3 'o*e+hat soothe by the conscio%sness of perfor*in, a part of 't( A%bert3s last re4%est, an of en eavo%rin, to p%rs%e the con %ct +hich he +o%l have approve , she overca*e her tears, an , +hen the co*pany *et at inner, ha recovere her %s%al serenity of co%ntenance( In the cool of the evenin,, the la ies took the )RE'CO alon, the bank of the 1renta in &a a*e 5%esnel3s carria,e( The state of E*ily3s *in +as in *elancholy contrast +ith the ,ay ,ro%ps asse*ble beneath the sha es that overh%n, this enchantin, strea*( 'o*e

+ere ancin, %n er the trees, an others reclinin, on the ,rass, takin, ices an coffee an cal*ly en.oyin, the effect of a bea%tif%l evenin,, on a l%-%riant lan scape( E*ily, +hen she looke at the sno+6capt Apennines, ascen in, in the istance, tho%,ht of &ontoni3s castle, an s%ffere so*e terror, lest he sho%l convey her thither, for the p%rpose of enforcin, her obe ience/ b%t the tho%,ht vanishe , +hen she consi ere , that she +as as *%ch in his po+er at Venice as she co%l be else+here( It +as *oonli,ht before the party ret%rne to the villa, +here s%pper +as sprea in the airy hall, +hich ha so *%ch enchante E*ily3s fancy, on the prece in, ni,ht( The la ies seate the*selves in the portico, till &ons( 5%esnel, &ontoni, an other ,entle*en sho%l .oin the* at table, an E*ily en eavo%re to resi,n herself to the tran4%illity of the ho%r( Presently, a bar,e stoppe at the steps that le into the ,ar ens, an , soon after, she istin,%ishe the voices of &ontoni an 5%esnel, an then that of &orano, +ho, in the ne-t *o*ent, appeare ( His co*pli*ents she receive in silence, an her col air see*e at first to isco*pose hi*/ b%t he soon recovere his %s%al ,aiety of *anner, tho%,h the officio%s kin ness of &( an &a a*e 5%esnel E*ily perceive is,%ste hi*( '%ch a e,ree of attention she ha scarcely believe co%l be she+n by &( 5%esnel, for she ha never before seen hi* other+ise than in the presence of his inferiors or e4%als( :hen she co%l retire to her o+n apart*ent, her *in al*ost invol%ntarily +elt on the *ost probable *eans of prevailin, +ith the Co%nt to +ith ra+ his s%it, an to her liberal *in none appeare *ore probable, than that of ackno+le ,in, to hi* a prior attach*ent an thro+in, herself %pon his ,enerosity for a release( :hen, ho+ever, on the follo+in, ay, he rene+e his a resses, she shr%nk fro* the a option of the plan she ha for*e ( There +as so*ethin, so rep%,nant to her .%st pri e, in layin, open the secret of her heart to s%ch a *an as &orano, an in s%in, to hi* for co*passion, that she i*patiently re.ecte this esi,n an +on ere ,

that she co%l have pa%se %pon it for a *o*ent( The re.ection of his s%it she repeate in the *ost ecisive ter*s she co%l select, *in,lin, +ith it a severe cens%re of his con %ct/ b%t, tho%,h the Co%nt appeare *ortifie by this, he persevere in the *ost ar ent professions of a *iration, till he +as interr%pte an E*ily release by the presence of &a a*e 5%esnel( <%rin, her stay at this pleasant villa, E*ily +as th%s ren ere *iserable by the assi %ities of &orano, to,ether +ith the cr%elly e-erte a%thority of &( 5%esnel an &ontoni, +ho, +ith her a%nt, see*e no+ *ore resol%tely eter*ine %pon this *arria,e than they ha even appeare to be at Venice( &( 5%esnel, fin in,, that both ar,%*ent an *enace +ere ineffect%al in enforcin, an i**e iate concl%sion to it, at len,th relin4%ishe his en eavo%rs, an tr%ste to the po+er of &ontoni an to the co%rse of events at Venice( E*ily, in ee , looke to Venice +ith hope, for there she +o%l be relieve in so*e *eas%re fro* the persec%tion of &orano, +ho +o%l no lon,er be an inhabitant of the sa*e ho%se +ith herself, an fro* that of &ontoni, +hose en,a,e*ents +o%l not per*it hi* to be contin%ally at ho*e( 1%t a*i st the press%re of her o+n *isfort%nes, she i not for,et those of poor Theresa, for +ho* she plea e +ith co%ra,eo%s ten erness to 5%esnel, +ho pro*ise , in sli,ht an ,eneral ter*s, that she sho%l not be for,otten( &ontoni, in a lon, conversation +ith &( 5%esnel, arran,e the plan to be p%rs%e respectin, E*ily, an &( 5%esnel propose to be at Venice, as soon as he sho%l be infor*e , that the n%ptials +ere concl% e ( It +as ne+ to E*ily to part +ith any person, +ith +ho* she +as connecte , +itho%t feelin, of re,ret/ the *o*ent, ho+ever, in +hich she took leave of &( an &a a*e 5%esnel, +as, perhaps, the only satisfactory one she ha kno+n in their presence( &orano ret%rne in &ontoni3s bar,e, an E*ily, as she +atche her ,ra %al approach to that *a,ic city, sa+ at her si e the only person, +ho occasione her to vie+ it +ith less than perfect eli,ht( They arrive there abo%t

*i ni,ht, +hen E*ily +as release fro* the presence of the Co%nt, +ho, +ith &ontoni, +ent to a Casino, an she +as s%ffere to retire to her o+n apart*ent( On the follo+in, ay, &ontoni, in a short conversation, +hich he hel +ith E*ily, infor*e her, that he +o%l no lon,er be TRI)0E< +ith, an that, since her *arria,e +ith the Co%nt +o%l be so hi,hly a vanta,eo%s to her, that folly only co%l ob.ect to it, an folly of s%ch e-tent as +as incapable of conviction, it sho%l be celebrate +itho%t f%rther elay, an , if that +as necessary, +itho%t her consent( E*ily, +ho ha hitherto trie re*onstrance, ha no+ reco%rse to s%pplication, for istress prevente her fro* foreseein,, that, +ith a *an of &ontoni3s isposition, s%pplication +o%l be e4%ally %seless( 'he after+ar s en4%ire by +hat ri,ht he e-erte this %nli*ite a%thority over herB a 4%estion, +hich her better .% ,*ent +o%l have +ith6hel her, in a cal*er *o*ent, fro* *akin,, since it co%l avail her nothin,, an +o%l affor &ontoni another opport%nity of tri%*phin, over her efenceless con ition( 31y +hat ri,ht?3 crie &ontoni, +ith a *alicio%s s*ile, 3by the ri,ht of *y +ill/ if yo% can el% e that, I +ill not in4%ire by +hat ri,ht yo% o so( I no+ re*in yo%, for the last ti*e, that yo% are a stran,er, in a forei,n co%ntry, an that it is yo%r interest to *ake *e yo%r frien / yo% kno+ the *eans/ if yo% co*pel *e to beco*e yo%r ene*y7I +ill vent%re to tell yo%, that the p%nish*ent shall e-cee yo%r e-pectation( 2o% *ay kno+ I a* not to be trifle +ith(3 E*ily contin%e , for so*e ti*e after &ontoni ha left her, in a state of espair, or rather st%pefaction/ a conscio%sness of *isery +as all that re*aine in her *in ( In this sit%ation &a a*e &ontoni fo%n her, at the so%n of +hose voice E*ily looke %p, an her a%nt, so*e+hat softene by the e-pression of espair, that fi-e her co%ntenance, spoke in a *anner *ore kin than she ha ever yet one( E*ily3s heart +as to%che / she she tears, an , after +eepin, for so*e ti*e, recovere s%fficient co*pos%re to speak on the

s%b.ect of her istress, an to en eavo%r to interest &a a*e &ontoni in her behalf( 1%t, tho%,h the co*passion of her a%nt ha been s%rprise , her a*bition +as not to be overco*e, an her present ob.ect +as to be the a%nt of a Co%ntess( E*ily3s efforts, therefore, +ere as %ns%ccessf%l as they ha been +ith &ontoni, an she +ith re+ to her apart*ent to think an +eep alone( Ho+ often i she re*e*ber the partin, scene +ith Valanco%rt, an +ish, that the Italian ha *entione &ontoni3s character +ith less reserve? :hen her *in , ho+ever, ha recovere fro* the first shock of this behavio%r, she consi ere , that it +o%l be i*possible for hi* to co*pel her alliance +ith &orano, if she persiste in ref%sin, to repeat any part of the *arria,e cere*ony/ an she persevere in her resol%tion to a+ait &ontoni3s threatene ven,eance rather than ,ive herself for life to a *an, +ho* she *%st have espise for his present con %ct, ha she never even love Valanco%rt/ yet she tre*ble at the reven,e she th%s resolve to brave( An affair, ho+ever, soon after occ%rre , +hich so*e+hat calle off &ontoni3s attention fro* E*ily( The *ysterio%s visits of Orsino +ere rene+e +ith *ore fre4%ency since the ret%rn of the for*er to Venice( There +ere others, also, besi es Orsino, a *itte to these *i ni,ht co%ncils, an a*on, the* Cavi,ni an Vere88i( &ontoni beca*e *ore reserve an a%stere in his *anner than ever/ an E*ily, if her o+n interests ha not *a e her re,ar less of his, *i,ht have perceive , that so*ethin, e-traor inary +as +orkin, in his *in ( One ni,ht, on +hich a co%ncil +as not hel , Orsino ca*e in ,reat a,itation of spirits, an ispatche his confi ential servant to &ontoni, +ho +as at a Casino, esirin, that he +o%l ret%rn ho*e i**e iately/ b%t char,in, the servant not to *ention his na*e( &ontoni obeye the s%**ons, an , on *eetin, Orsino, +as infor*e of the circ%*stances, that occasione his visit an his visible alar*, +ith a part of +hich he +as alrea y ac4%ainte (

A Venetian noble*an, +ho ha , on so*e late occasion, provoke the hatre of Orsino, ha been +ay6lai an poniar e by hire assassins; an , as the *%r ere person +as of the first connections, the 'enate ha taken %p the affair( One of the assassins +as no+ apprehen e , +ho ha confesse , that Orsino +as his e*ployer in the atrocio%s ee / an the latter, infor*e of his an,er, ha no+ co*e to &ontoni to cons%lt on the *eas%res necessary to favo%r his escape( He kne+, that, at this ti*e, the officers of the police +ere %pon the +atch for hi*, all over the city/ to leave it, at present, therefore, +as i*practicable, an &ontoni consente to secrete hi* for a fe+ ays till the vi,ilance of .%stice sho%l rela-, an then to assist hi* in 4%ittin, Venice( He kne+ the an,er he hi*self inc%rre by per*ittin, Orsino to re*ain in his ho%se, b%t s%ch +as the nat%re of his obli,ations to this *an, that he i not think it pr% ent to ref%se hi* an asyl%*( '%ch +as the person +ho* &ontoni ha a *itte to his confi ence, an for +ho* he felt as *%ch frien ship as +as co*patible +ith his character( :hile Orsino re*aine conceale in his ho%se, &ontoni +as %n+illin, to attract p%blic observation by the n%ptials of Co%nt &orano/ b%t this obstacle +as, in a fe+ ays, overco*e by the epart%re of his cri*inal visitor, an he then infor*e E*ily, that her *arria,e +as to be celebrate on the follo+in, *ornin,( To her repeate ass%rances, that it sho%l not take place, he replie only by a *ali,nant s*ile/ an , tellin, her that the Co%nt an a priest +o%l be at his ho%se, early in the *ornin,, he a vise her no f%rther to are his resent*ent, by opposition to his +ill an to her o+n interest( 3I a* no+ ,oin, o%t for the evenin,,3 sai he, 3re*e*ber, that I shall ,ive yo%r han to Co%nt &orano in the *ornin,(3 E*ily, havin,, ever since his late threats, e-pecte , that her trials +o%l at len,th arrive to this crisis, +as less shocke by the eclaration, that she other+ise +o%l have been, an she en eavo%re to s%pport herself by the belief, that the *arria,e co%l not be vali , so lon, as she ref%se before the priest to repeat any part of the cere*ony( 2et, as the *o*ent of

trial approache , her lon,6harasse spirits shr%nk al*ost e4%ally fro* the enco%nter of his ven,eance, an fro* the han of Co%nt &orano( 'he +as not even perfectly certain of the conse4%ence of her stea y ref%sal at the altar, an she tre*ble , *ore than ever, at the po+er of &ontoni, +hich see*e %nli*ite as his +ill, for she sa+, that he +o%l not scr%ple to trans,ress any la+, if, by so oin,, he co%l acco*plish his pro.ect( :hile her *in +as th%s s%fferin, an in a state little short of istraction, she +as infor*e that &orano aske per*ission to see her, an the servant ha scarcely eparte +ith an e-c%se, before she repente that she ha sent one( In the ne-t *o*ent, revertin, to her for*er esi,n, an eter*inin, to try, +hether e-post%lation an entreaty +o%l not s%ccee , +here a ref%sal an a .%st is ain ha faile , she recalle the servant, an , sen in, a ifferent *essa,e, prepare to ,o o+n to the Co%nt( The i,nity an ass%*e co*pos%re +ith +hich she *et hi*, an the kin of pensive resi,nation, that softene her co%ntenance, +ere circ%*stances not likely to in %ce hi* to relin4%ish her, servin,, as they i , to hei,hten a passion, +hich ha alrea y into-icate his .% ,*ent( He listene to all she sai +ith an appearance of co*placency an of a +ish to obli,e her/ b%t his resol%tion re*aine invariably the sa*e, an he en eavo%re to +in her a *iration by every insin%atin, art he so +ell kne+ ho+ to practise( 1ein,, at len,th, ass%re , that she ha nothin, to hope fro* his .%stice, she repeate , in a sole*n an i*pressive *anner, her absol%te re.ection of his s%it, an 4%itte hi* +ith an ass%rance, that her ref%sal +o%l be effect%ally *aintaine a,ainst every circ%*stance, that co%l be i*a,ine for s%b %in, it( A .%st pri e ha restraine her tears in his presence, b%t no+ they flo+e fro* the f%lness of her heart( 'he often calle %pon the na*e of her late father, an often +elt +ith %n%tterable an,%ish on the i ea of Valanco%rt(

'he i not ,o o+n to s%pper, b%t re*aine alone in her apart*ent, so*eti*es yiel in, to the infl%ence of ,rief an terror, an , at others, en eavo%rin, to fortify her *in a,ainst the*, an to prepare herself to *eet, +ith co*pose co%ra,e, the scene of the follo+in, *ornin,, +hen all the strata,e* of &orano an the violence of &ontoni +o%l be %nite a,ainst her( The evenin, +as far a vance , +hen &a a*e &ontoni ca*e to her cha*ber +ith so*e bri al orna*ents, +hich the Co%nt ha sent to E*ily( 'he ha , this ay, p%rposely avoi e her niece/ perhaps, beca%se her %s%al insensibility faile her, an she feare to tr%st herself +ith a vie+ of E*ily3s istress/ or possibly, tho%,h her conscience +as sel o* a% ible, it no+ reproache her +ith her con %ct to her brother3s orphan chil , +hose happiness ha been entr%ste to her care by a yin, father( E*ily co%l not look at these presents, an *a e a last, tho%,h al*ost hopeless, effort to interest the co*passion of &a a*e &ontoni, +ho, if she i feel any e,ree of pity, or re*orse, s%ccessf%lly conceale it, an reproache her niece +ith folly in bein, *iserable, concernin, a *arria,e, +hich o%,ht only to *ake her happy( 3I a* s%re,3 sai she, 3if I +as %n*arrie , an the Co%nt ha propose to *e, I sho%l have been flattere by the istinction; an if I sho%l have been so, I a* s%re, niece, yo%, +ho have no fort%ne, o%,ht to feel yo%rself hi,hly hono%re , an she+ a proper ,ratit% e an h%*ility to+ar s the Co%nt, for his con escension( I a* often s%rprise , I *%st o+n, to observe ho+ h%*bly he eports hi*self to yo%, not+ithstan in, the ha%,hty airs yo% ,ive yo%rself/ I +on er he has patience to h%*o%r yo% so; if I +as he, I kno+, I sho%l often be rea y to reprehen yo%, an *ake yo% kno+ yo%rself a little better( I +o%l not have flattere yo%, I can tell yo%, for it is this abs%r flattery that *akes yo% fancy yo%rself of so *%ch conse4%ence, that yo% think nobo y can eserve yo%, an I often tell the Co%nt so, for I have no patience to hear hi* pay yo% s%ch e-trava,ant co*pli*ents, +hich yo% believe every +or of?3

32o%r patience, *a a*, cannot s%ffer *ore cr%elly on s%ch occasions, than *y o+n,3 sai E*ily( 3O? that is all *ere affectation,3 re.oine her a%nt( 3I kno+ that his flattery eli,hts yo%, an *akes yo% so vain, that yo% think yo% *ay have the +hole +orl at yo%r feet( 1%t yo% are very *%ch *istaken/ I can ass%re yo%, niece, yo% +ill not *eet +ith *any s%ch s%itors as the Co%nt; every other person +o%l have t%rne %pon his heel, an left yo% to repent at yo%r leis%re, lon, a,o(3 3O that the Co%nt ha rese*ble every other person, then?3 sai E*ily, +ith a heavy si,h( 3It is happy for yo%, that he oes not,3 re.oine &a a*e &ontoni/ 3an +hat I a* no+ sayin, is fro* p%re kin ness( I a* en eavo%rin, to convince yo% of yo%r ,oo fort%ne, an to pers%a e yo% to s%b*it to necessity +ith a ,oo ,race( It is nothin, to *e, yo% kno+, +hether yo% like this *arria,e or not, for it *%st be/ +hat I say, therefore, is fro* p%re kin ness( I +ish to see yo% happy, an it is yo%r o+n fa%lt if yo% are not so( I +o%l ask yo%, no+, serio%sly an cal*ly, +hat kin of a *atch yo% can e-pect, since a Co%nt cannot content yo%r a*bitionB3 3I have no a*bition +hatever, *a a*,3 replie E*ily, 3*y only +ish is to re*ain in *y present station(3 3O? that is speakin, 4%ite fro* the p%rpose,3 sai her a%nt, 3I see yo% are still thinkin, of &ons( Valanco%rt( Pray ,et ri of all those fantastic notions abo%t love, an this ri ic%lo%s pri e, an be so*ethin, like a reasonable creat%re( 1%t, ho+ever, this is nothin, to the p%rpose7for yo%r *arria,e +ith the Co%nt takes place to*orro+, yo% kno+, +hether yo% approve it or not( The Co%nt +ill be trifle +ith no lon,er(3 E*ily *a e no atte*pt to reply to this c%rio%s speech/ she felt it +o%l be *ean, an she kne+ it +o%l be %seless( &a a*e &ontoni lai the Co%nt3s presents %pon the table, on +hich E*ily +as leanin,, an then, esirin, she +o%l be rea y early in the *ornin,, ba e her ,oo 6ni,ht( 3Goo 6ni,ht, *a a*,3 sai E*ily, +ith

a eep si,h, as the oor close %pon her a%nt, an she +as left once *ore to her o+n sa reflections( )or so*e ti*e she sat so lost in tho%,ht, as to be +holly %nconscio%s +here she +as/ at len,th, raisin, her hea , an lookin, ro%n the roo*, its ,loo* an profo%n stillness a+e her( 'he fi-e her eyes on the oor, thro%,h +hich her a%nt ha isappeare , an listene an-io%sly for so*e so%n , that *i,ht relieve the eep e.ection of her spirits/ b%t it +as past *i ni,ht, an all the fa*ily e-cept the servant, +ho sat %p for &ontoni, ha retire to be ( Her *in , lon, harasse by istress, no+ yiel e to i*a,inary terrors/ she tre*ble to look into the obsc%rity of her spacio%s cha*ber, an feare she kne+ not +hat/ a state of *in , +hich contin%e so lon,, that she +o%l have calle %p Annette, her a%nt3s +o*an, ha her fears per*itte her to rise fro* her chair, an to cross the apart*ent( These *elancholy ill%sions at len,th be,an to isperse, an she retire to her be , not to sleep, for that +as scarcely possible, b%t to try, at least, to 4%iet her ist%rbe fancy, an to collect stren,th of spirits s%fficient to bear her thro%,h the scene of the approachin, *ornin,(

#HAPTER %
(ark po er> ith shudd=ring, !eek sub!itted thought Be !ine to read the "isions old <hich thy a ak=ning bards ha"e told, And, lest they !eet !y blasted "ie , 8old each strange tale de"outly true# 37&&5:4= 7(E T7 )EAR

E*ily +as recalle fro* a kin of sl%*ber, into +hich she ha , at len,th, s%nk, by a 4%ick knockin, at her cha*ber oor( 'he starte %p in terror, for &ontoni an Co%nt &orano instantly ca*e to her *in / b%t, havin, listene in silence for so*e ti*e, an reco,ni8in, the voice of Annette, she rose an opene the oor( 3:hat brin,s yo% hither so earlyB3 sai E*ily, tre*blin,

e-cessively( 'he +as %nable to s%pport herself, an sat o+n on the be ( 3<ear *a3a*selle?3 sai Annette, 3 o not look so pale( I a* 4%ite fri,htene to see yo%( Here is a fine b%stle belo+ stairs, all the servants r%nnin, to an fro, an none of the* fast eno%,h? Here is a b%stle, in ee , all of a s% en, an nobo y kno+s for +hat?3 3:ho is belo+ besi es the*B3 sai E*ily, 3Annette, o not trifle +ith *e?3 39ot for the +orl , *a3a*selle, I +o%l not trifle for the +orl / b%t one cannot help *akin, one3s re*arks, an there is the 'i,nor in s%ch a b%stle, as I never sa+ hi* before/ an he has sent *e to tell yo%, *a3a*, to ,et rea y i**e iately(3 3Goo Go s%pport *e?3 crie E*ily, al*ost faintin,, 3Co%nt &orano is belo+, then?3 39o, *a3a*selle, he is not belo+ that I kno+ of,3 replie Annette, 3only his e-cellen8a sent *e to esire yo% +o%l ,et rea y irectly to leave Venice, for that the ,on olas +o%l be at the steps of the canal in a fe+ *in%tes; b%t I *%st h%rry back to *y la y, +ho is .%st at her +its en , an kno+s not +hich +ay to t%rn for haste(3 3E-plain, Annette, e-plain the *eanin, of all this before yo% ,o,3 sai E*ily, so overco*e +ith s%rprise an ti*i hope, that she ha scarcely breath to speak( 39ay, *a3a*selle, that is *ore than I can o( I only kno+ that the 'i,nor is .%st co*e ho*e in a very ill h%*o%r, that he has ha %s all calle o%t of o%r be s, an tells %s +e are all to leave Venice i**e iately(3 3Is Co%nt &orano to ,o +ith the si,norB3 sai E*ily, 3an +hither are +e ,oin,B3 3I kno+ neither, *a3a*, for certain/ b%t I hear 0% ovico say so*ethin, abo%t ,oin,, after +e ,et to terra6fir*a, to the si,nor3s castle a*on, so*e *o%ntains, that he talke of(3 3The Apennines?3 sai E*ily, ea,erly, 3O? then I have little to hope?3

3That is the very place, *a3a*( 1%t cheer %p, an o not take it so *%ch to heart, an think +hat a little ti*e yo% have to ,et rea y in, an ho+ i*patient the 'i,nor is( Holy 't( &ark? I hear the oars on the canal/ an no+ they co*e nearer, an no+ they are ashin, at the steps belo+/ it is the ,on ola, s%re eno%,h(3 Annette hastene fro* the roo*/ an E*ily prepare for this %ne-pecte fli,ht, as fast as her tre*blin, han s +o%l per*it, not perceivin,, that any chan,e in her sit%ation co%l possibly be for the +orse( 'he ha scarcely thro+n her books an clothes into her travellin, tr%nk, +hen, receivin, a secon s%**ons, she +ent o+n to her a%nt3s ressin,6roo*, +here she fo%n &ontoni i*patiently reprovin, his +ife for elay( He +ent o%t, soon after, to ,ive so*e f%rther or ers to his people, an E*ily then en4%ire the occasion of this hasty .o%rney/ b%t her a%nt appeare to be as i,norant as herself, an to %n ertake the .o%rney +ith *ore rel%ctance( The fa*ily at len,th e*barke , b%t neither Co%nt &orano, nor Cavi,ni, +as of the party( 'o*e+hat revive by observin, this, E*ily, +hen the ,on olieri ashe their oars in the +ater, an p%t off fro* the steps of the portico, felt like a cri*inal, +ho receives a short reprieve( Her heart beat yet li,hter, +hen they e*er,e fro* the canal into the ocean, an li,hter still, +hen they ski**e past the +alls of 't( &ark, +itho%t havin, stoppe to take %p Co%nt &orano( The a+n no+ be,an to tint the hori8on, an to break %pon the shores of the A riatic( E*ily i not vent%re to ask any 4%estions of &ontoni, +ho sat, for so*e ti*e, in ,loo*y silence, an then rolle hi*self %p in his cloak, as if to sleep, +hile &a a*e &ontoni i the sa*e/ b%t E*ily, +ho co%l not sleep, %n re+ one of the little c%rtains of the ,on ola, an looke o%t %pon the sea( The risin, a+n no+ enli,htene the *o%ntain6tops of )ri%li, b%t their lo+er si es, an the istant +aves, that rolle at their feet, +ere still in eep sha o+( E*ily, s%nk in tran4%il *elancholy, +atche the stren,thenin, li,ht sprea in, %pon the ocean, she+in, s%ccessively Venice an her islets, an the

shores of Italy, alon, +hich boats, +ith their pointe latin sails, be,an to *ove( The ,on olieri +ere fre4%ently haile , at this early ho%r, by the *arket6people, as they ,li e by to+ar s Venice, an the la,%ne soon isplaye a ,ay scene of inn%*erable little barks, passin, fro* terra6fir*a +ith provisions( E*ily ,ave a last look to that splen i city, b%t her *in +as then occ%pie by consi erin, the probable events, that a+aite her, in the scenes, to +hich she +as re*ovin,, an +ith con.ect%res, concernin, the *otive of this s% en .o%rney( It appeare , %pon cal*er consi eration, that &ontoni +as re*ovin, her to his secl% e castle, beca%se he co%l there, +ith *ore probability of s%ccess, atte*pt to terrify her into obe ience/ or, that, sho%l its ,loo*y an se4%estere scenes fail of this effect, her force *arria,e +ith the Co%nt co%l there be sole*ni8e +ith the secrecy, +hich +as necessary to the hono%r of &ontoni( The little spirit, +hich this reprieve ha recalle , no+ be,an to fail, an , +hen E*ily reache the shore, her *in ha s%nk into all its for*er epression( &ontoni i not e*bark on the 1renta, b%t p%rs%e his +ay in carria,es across the co%ntry, to+ar s the Apennine/ %rin, +hich .o%rney, his *anner to E*ily +as so partic%larly severe, that this alone +o%l have confir*e her late con.ect%re, ha any s%ch confir*ation been necessary( Her senses +ere no+ ea to the bea%tif%l co%ntry, thro%,h +hich she travelle ( 'o*eti*es she +as co*pelle to s*ile at the naivete of Annette, in her re*arks on +hat she sa+, an so*eti*es to si,h, as a scene of pec%liar bea%ty recalle Valanco%rt to her tho%,hts, +ho +as in ee sel o* absent fro* the*, an of +ho* she co%l never hope to hear in the solit% e, to +hich she +as hastenin,( At len,th, the travellers be,an to ascen a*on, the Apennines( The i**ense pine6forests, +hich, at that perio , overh%n, these *o%ntains, an bet+een +hich the roa +o%n , e-cl% e all vie+ b%t of the cliffs aspirin, above, e-cept, that, no+ an then, an openin,

thro%,h the ark +oo s allo+e the eye a *o*entary ,li*pse of the co%ntry belo+( The ,loo* of these sha es, their solitary silence, e-cept +hen the bree8e s+ept over their s%**its, the tre*en o%s precipices of the *o%ntains, that ca*e partially to the eye, each assiste to raise the sole*nity of E*ily3s feelin,s into a+e/ she sa+ only i*a,es of ,loo*y ,ran e%r, or of rea f%l s%bli*ity, aro%n her/ other i*a,es, e4%ally ,loo*y an e4%ally terrible, ,lea*e on her i*a,ination( 'he +as ,oin, she scarcely kne+ +hither, %n er the o*inion of a person, fro* +hose arbitrary isposition she ha alrea y s%ffere so *%ch, to *arry, perhaps, a *an +ho possesse neither her affection, or estee*/ or to en %re, beyon the hope of s%cco%r, +hatever p%nish*ent reven,e, an that Italian reven,e, *i,ht ictate(7The *ore she consi ere +hat *i,ht be the *otive of the .o%rney, the *ore she beca*e convince , that it +as for the p%rpose of concl% in, her n%ptials +ith Co%nt &orano, +ith that secrecy, +hich her resol%te resistance ha *a e necessary to the hono%r, if not to the safety, of &ontoni( )ro* the eep solit% es, into +hich she +as i**er,in,, an fro* the ,loo*y castle, of +hich she ha hear so*e *ysterio%s hints, her sick heart recoile in espair, an she e-perience , that, tho%,h her *in +as alrea y occ%pie by pec%liar istress, it +as still alive to the infl%ence of ne+ an local circ%*stance/ +hy else i she sh% er at the i ea of this esolate castleB As the travellers still ascen e a*on, the pine forests, steep rose over steep, the *o%ntains see*e to *%ltiply, as they +ent, an +hat +as the s%**it of one e*inence prove to be only the base of another( At len,th, they reache a little plain, +here the rivers stoppe to rest the *%les, +hence a scene of s%ch e-tent an *a,nificence opene belo+, as re+ even fro* &a a*e &ontoni a note of a *iration( E*ily lost, for a *o*ent, her sorro+s, in the i**ensity of nat%re( 1eyon the a*phitheatre of *o%ntains, that stretche belo+, +hose tops appeare as n%*ero%s al*ost, as the +aves of the sea, an +hose feet +ere conceale by the forests7e-ten e the ca*pa,na of

Italy, +here cities an rivers, an +oo s an all the ,lo+ of c%ltivation +ere *in,le in ,ay conf%sion( The A riatic bo%n e the hori8on, into +hich the Po an the 1renta, after +in in, thro%,h the +hole e-tent of the lan scape, po%re their fr%itf%l +aves( E*ily ,a8e lon, on the splen o%rs of the +orl she +as 4%ittin,, of +hich the +hole *a,nificence see*e th%s ,iven to her si,ht only to increase her re,ret on leavin, it/ for her, Valanco%rt alone +as in that +orl / to hi* alone her heart t%rne , an for hi* alone fell her bitter tears( )ro* this s%bli*e scene the travellers contin%e to ascen a*on, the pines, till they entere a narro+ pass of the *o%ntains, +hich sh%t o%t every feat%re of the istant co%ntry, an , in its stea , e-hibite only tre*en o%s cra,s, i*pen in, over the roa , +here no vesti,e of h%*anity, or even of ve,etation, appeare , e-cept here an there the tr%nk an scathe branches of an oak, that h%n, nearly hea lon, fro* the rock, into +hich its stron, roots ha fastene ( This pass, +hich le into the heart of the Apennine, at len,th opene to ay, an a scene of *o%ntains stretche in lon, perspective, as +il as any the travellers ha yet passe ( 'till vast pine6forests h%n, %pon their base, an cro+ne the ri ,y precipice, that rose perpen ic%larly fro* the vale, +hile, above, the rollin, *ists ca%,ht the s%n6bea*s, an to%che their cliffs +ith all the *a,ical colo%rin, of li,ht an sha e( The scene see*e perpet%ally chan,in,, an its feat%res to ass%*e ne+ for*s, as the +in in, roa bro%,ht the* to the eye in ifferent attit% es/ +hile the shiftin, vapo%rs, no+ partially concealin, their *in%ter bea%ties an no+ ill%*inatin, the* +ith splen i tints, assiste the ill%sions of the si,ht( Tho%,h the eep vallies bet+een these *o%ntains +ere, for the *ost part, clothe +ith pines, so*eti*es an abr%pt openin, presente a perspective of only barren rocks, +ith a cataract flashin, fro* their s%**it a*on, broken cliffs, till its +aters, reachin, the botto*, foa*e alon, +ith %nceasin, f%ry/ an so*eti*es pastoral scenes e-hibite their 3,reen eli,hts3 in the narro+ vales, s*ilin, a*i s%rro%n in,

horror( There her s an flocks of ,oats an sheep, bro+sin, %n er the sha e of han,in, +oo s, an the shepher 3s little cabin, reare on the *ar,in of a clear strea*, presente a s+eet pict%re of repose( :il an ro*antic as +ere these scenes, their character ha far less of the s%bli*e, that ha those of the Alps, +hich ,%ar the entrance of Italy( E*ily +as often elevate , b%t sel o* felt those e*otions of in escribable a+e +hich she ha so contin%ally e-perience , in her passa,e over the Alps( To+ar s the close of ay, the roa +o%n into a eep valley( &o%ntains, +hose sha,,y steeps appeare to be inaccessible, al*ost s%rro%n e it( To the east, a vista opene , that e-hibite the Apennines in their arkest horrors/ an the lon, perspective of retirin, s%**its, risin, over each other, their ri ,es clothe +ith pines, e-hibite a stron,er i*a,e of ,ran e%r, than any that E*ily ha yet seen( The s%n ha .%st s%nk belo+ the top of the *o%ntains she +as escen in,, +hose lon, sha o+ stretche ath+art the valley, b%t his slopin, rays, shootin, thro%,h an openin, of the cliffs, to%che +ith a yello+ ,lea* the s%**its of the forest, that h%n, %pon the opposite steeps, an strea*e in f%ll splen o%r %pon the to+ers an battle*ents of a castle, that sprea its e-tensive ra*parts alon, the bro+ of a precipice above( The splen o%r of these ill%*ine ob.ects +as hei,htene by the contraste sha e, +hich involve the valley belo+( 3There,3 sai &ontoni, speakin, for the first ti*e in several ho%rs, 3is A olpho(3 E*ily ,a8e +ith *elancholy a+e %pon the castle, +hich she %n erstoo to be &ontoni3s/ for, tho%,h it +as no+ li,hte %p by the settin, s%n, the ,othic ,reatness of its feat%res, an its *o%l erin, +alls of ark ,rey stone, ren ere it a ,loo*y an s%bli*e ob.ect( As she ,a8e , the li,ht ie a+ay on its +alls, leavin, a *elancholy p%rple tint, +hich sprea eeper an eeper, as the thin vapo%r crept %p the *o%ntain, +hile the battle*ents above +ere still tippe +ith splen o%r( )ro* those, too, the rays soon fa e , an

the +hole e ifice +as investe +ith the sole*n %skiness of evenin,( 'ilent, lonely, an s%bli*e, it see*e to stan the soverei,n of the scene, an to fro+n efiance on all, +ho are to inva e its solitary rei,n( As the t+ili,ht eepene , its feat%res beca*e *ore a+f%l in obsc%rity, an E*ily contin%e to ,a8e, till its cl%sterin, to+ers +ere alone seen, risin, over the tops of the +oo s, beneath +hose thick sha e the carria,es soon after be,an to ascen ( The e-tent an arkness of these tall +oo s a+akene terrific i*a,es in her *in , an she al*ost e-pecte to see ban itti start %p fro* %n er the trees( At len,th, the carria,es e*er,e %pon a heathy rock, an , soon after, reache the castle ,ates, +here the eep tone of the portal bell, +hich +as str%ck %pon to ,ive notice of their arrival, increase the fearf%l e*otions, that ha assaile E*ily( :hile they +aite till the servant +ithin sho%l co*e to open the ,ates, she an-io%sly s%rveye the e ifice; b%t the ,loo*, that oversprea it, allo+e her to istin,%ish little *ore than a part of its o%tline, +ith the *assy +alls of the ra*parts, an to kno+, that it +as vast, ancient an reary( )ro* the parts she sa+, she .% ,e of the heavy stren,th an e-tent of the +hole( The ,ate+ay before her, lea in, into the co%rts, +as of ,i,antic si8e, an +as efen e by t+o ro%n to+ers, cro+ne by overhan,in, t%rrets, e*battle , +here, instea of banners, no+ +ave lon, ,rass an +il plants, that ha taken root a*on, the *o%l erin, stones, an +hich see*e to si,h, as the bree8e rolle past, over the esolation aro%n the*( The to+ers +ere %nite by a c%rtain, pierce an e*battle also, belo+ +hich appeare the pointe arch of a h%,e portc%llis, s%r*o%ntin, the ,ates; fro* these, the +alls of the ra*parts e-ten e to other to+ers, overlookin, the precipice, +hose shattere o%tline, appearin, on a ,lea*, that lin,ere in the +est, tol of the rava,es of +ar(71eyon these all +as lost in the obsc%rity of evenin,( :hile E*ily ,a8e +ith a+e %pon the scene, footsteps +ere hear +ithin the ,ates, an the %n ra+in, of bolts/ after +hich an ancient servant of the castle

appeare , forcin, back the h%,e fol s of the portal, to a *it his lor ( As the carria,e6+heels rolle heavily %n er the portc%llis, E*ily3s heart s%nk, an she see*e , as if she +as ,oin, into her prison/ the ,loo*y co%rt, into +hich she passe , serve to confir* the i ea, an her i*a,ination, ever a+ake to circ%*stance, s%,,este even *ore terrors, than her reason co%l .%stify( Another ,ate elivere the* into the secon co%rt, ,rass6,ro+n, an *ore +il than the first, +here, as she s%rveye thro%,h the t+ili,ht its esolation7its lofty +alls, overtopt +ith briony, *oss an ni,htsha e, an the e*battle to+ers that rose above,7lon,6 s%fferin, an *%r er ca*e to her tho%,hts( One of those instantaneo%s an %nacco%ntable convictions, +hich so*eti*es con4%er even stron, *in s, i*presse her +ith its horror( The senti*ent +as not i*inishe , +hen she entere an e-tensive ,othic hall, obsc%re by the ,loo* of evenin,, +hich a li,ht, ,li**erin, at a istance thro%,h a lon, perspective of arches, only ren ere *ore strikin,( As a servant bro%,ht the la*p nearer partial ,lea*s fell %pon the pillars an the pointe arches, for*in, a stron, contrast +ith their sha o+s, that stretche alon, the pave*ent an the +alls( The s% en .o%rney of &ontoni ha prevente his people fro* *akin, any other preparations for his reception, than co%l be ha in the short interval, since the arrival of the servant, +ho ha been sent for+ar fro* Venice/ an this, in so*e *eas%re, *ay acco%nt for the air of e-tre*e esolation, that every+here appeare ( The servant, +ho ca*e to li,ht &ontoni, bo+e in silence, an the *%scles of his co%ntenance rela-e +ith no sy*pto* of .oy(7&ontoni notice the sal%tation by a sli,ht *otion of his han , an passe on, +hile his la y, follo+in,, an lookin, ro%n +ith a e,ree of s%rprise an iscontent, +hich she see*e fearf%l of e-pressin,, an E*ily, s%rveyin, the e-tent an ,ran e%r of the hall in ti*i +on er, approache a *arble stair6case( The arches here opene to a lofty

va%lt, fro* the centre of +hich h%n, a tripo la*p, +hich a servant +as hastily li,htin,/ an the rich fret6 +ork of the roof, a corri or, lea in, into several %pper apart*ents, an a painte +in o+, stretchin, nearly fro* the pave*ent to the ceilin, of the hall, beca*e ,ra %ally visible( Havin, crosse the foot of the stair6case, an passe thro%,h an ante6roo*, they entere a spacio%s apart*ent, +hose +alls, +ainscote +ith black larch6 +oo , the ,ro+th of the nei,hbo%rin, *o%ntains, +ere scarcely istin,%ishable fro* arkness itself( 31rin, *ore li,ht,3 sai &ontoni, as he entere ( The servant, settin, o+n his la*p, +as +ith ra+in, to obey hi*, +hen &a a*e &ontoni observin,, that the evenin, air of this *o%ntaino%s re,ion +as col , an that she sho%l like a fire, &ontoni or ere that +oo *i,ht be bro%,ht( :hile he pace the roo* +ith tho%,htf%l steps, an &a a*e &ontoni sat silently on a co%ch, at the %pper en of it, +aitin, till the servant ret%rne , E*ily +as observin, the sin,%lar sole*nity an esolation of the apart*ent, vie+e , as it no+ +as, by the ,li**er of the sin,le la*p, place near a lar,e Venetian *irror, that %skily reflecte the scene, +ith the tall fi,%re of &ontoni passin, slo+ly alon,, his ar*s fol e , an his co%ntenance sha e by the pl%*e, that +ave in his hat( )ro* the conte*plation of this scene, E*ily3s *in procee e to the apprehension of +hat she *i,ht s%ffer in it, till the re*e*brance of Valanco%rt, far, far istant? ca*e to her heart, an softene it into sorro+( A heavy si,h escape her; b%t, tryin, to conceal her tears, she +alke a+ay to one of the hi,h +in o+s, that opene %pon the ra*parts, belo+ +hich, sprea the +oo s she ha passe in her approach to the castle( 1%t the ni,ht6sha e sat eeply on the *o%ntains beyon , an their in ente o%tline alone co%l be faintly trace on the hori8on, +here a re streak yet ,li**ere in the +est( The valley bet+een +as s%nk in arkness(

The scene +ithin, %pon +hich E*ily t%rne on the openin, of the oor, +as scarcely less ,loo*y( The ol servant, +ho ha receive the* at the ,ates, no+ entere , ben in, %n er a loa of pine6branches, +hile t+o of &ontoni3s Venetian servants follo+e +ith li,hts( 32o%r e-cellen8a is +elco*e to the castle,3 sai the ol *an, as he raise hi*self fro* the hearth, +here he ha lai the +oo ; 3it has been a lonely place a lon, +hile/ b%t yo% +ill e-c%se it, 'i,nor, kno+in, +e ha b%t short notice( It is near t+o years, co*e ne-t feast of 't( &ark, since yo%r e-cellen8a +as +ithin these +alls(3 32o% have a ,oo *e*ory, ol Carlo,3 sai &ontoni; 3it is there6abo%t/ an ho+ hast tho% contrive to live so lon,B3 3A6+ell6a6 ay, sir, +ith *%ch a o/ the col +in s, that blo+ thro%,h the castle in +inter, are al*ost too *%ch for *e/ an I tho%,ht so*eti*es of askin, yo%r e-cellen8a to let *e leave the *o%ntains, an ,o o+n into the lo+lan s( 1%t I on3t kno+ ho+ it is7I a* loth to 4%it these ol +alls I have live in so lon,(3 3:ell, ho+ have yo% ,one on in the castle, since I left itB3 sai &ontoni( 3:hy *%ch as %s%al, 'i,nor, only it +ants a ,oo eal of repairin,( There is the north to+er7so*e of the battle*ents have t%*ble o+n, an ha like one ay to have knocke *y poor +ife =Go rest her so%l?> on the hea ( 2o%r e-cellen8a *%st kno+37 3:ell, b%t the repairs,3 interr%pte &ontoni( 3Aye, the repairs,3 sai Carlo; 3a part of the roof of the ,reat hall has fallen in, an all the +in s fro* the *o%ntains r%she thro%,h it last +inter, an +histle thro%,h the +hole castle so, that there +as no keepin, one3s self +ar*, be +here one +o%l ( There, *y +ife an I %se to sit shiverin, over a ,reat fire in one corner of the little hall, rea y to ie +ith col , an 37 31%t there are no *ore repairs +ante ,3 sai &ontoni, i*patiently(

3O 0or ? 2o%r e-cellen8a, yes7the +all of the ra*part has t%*ble o+n in three places/ then, the stairs, that lea to the +est ,allery, have been a lon, ti*e so ba , that it is an,ero%s to ,o %p the*/ an the passa,e lea in, to the ,reat oak cha*ber, that overhan,s the north ra*part7one ni,ht last +inter I vent%re to ,o there by *yself, an yo%r e-cellen8a37 3:ell, +ell, eno%,h of this,3 sai &ontoni, +ith 4%ickness; 3I +ill talk *ore +ith thee to6*orro+(3 The fire +as no+ li,hte / Carlo s+ept the hearth, place chairs, +ipe the %st fro* a lar,e *arble table that stoo near it, an then left the roo*( &ontoni an his fa*ily re+ ro%n the fire( &a a*e &ontoni *a e several atte*pts at conversation, b%t his s%llen ans+ers rep%lse her, +hile E*ily sat en eavo%rin, to ac4%ire co%ra,e eno%,h to speak to hi*( At len,th, in a tre*%lo%s voice, she sai , 3&ay I ask, sir, the *otive of this s% en .o%rneyB37After a lon, pa%se, she recovere s%fficient co%ra,e to repeat the 4%estion( 3It oes not s%it *e to ans+er en4%iries,3 sai &ontoni, 3nor oes it beco*e yo% to *ake the*/ ti*e *ay %nfol the* all; b%t I esire I *ay be no f%rther harasse , an I reco**en it to yo% to retire to yo%r cha*ber, an to en eavo%r to a opt a *ore rational con %ct, than that of yiel in, to fancies, an to a sensibility, +hich, to call it by the ,entlest na*e, is only a +eakness(3 E*ily rose to +ith ra+( 3Goo ni,ht, *a a*,3 sai she to her a%nt, +ith an ass%*e co*pos%re, that co%l not is,%ise her e*otion( 3Goo ni,ht, *y ear,3 sai &a a*e &ontoni, in a tone of kin ness, +hich her niece ha never before hear fro* her/ an the %ne-pecte en ear*ent bro%,ht tears to E*ily3s eyes( 'he c%rtsie to &ontoni, an +as retirin,/ 31%t yo% o not kno+ the +ay to yo%r cha*ber,3 sai her a%nt( &ontoni calle the servant, +ho +aite in the ante6roo*, an ba e hi* sen

&a a*e &ontoni3s +o*an, +ith +ho*, in a fe+ *in%tes, E*ily +ith re+( 3<o yo% kno+ +hich is *y roo*B3 sai she to Annette, as they crosse the hall( 32es, I believe I o, *a3a*selle/ b%t this is s%ch a stran,e ra*blin, place? I have been lost in it alrea y; they call it the o%ble cha*ber, over the so%th ra*part, an I +ent %p this ,reat stair6case to it( &y la y3s roo* is at the other en of the castle(3 E*ily ascen e the *arble staircase, an ca*e to the corri or, as they passe thro%,h +hich, Annette res%*e her chat73:hat a +il lonely place this is, *a3a*? I shall be 4%ite fri,htene to live in it( Ho+ often, an often have I +ishe *yself in )rance a,ain? I little tho%,ht, +hen I ca*e +ith *y la y to see the +orl , that I sho%l ever be sh%t %p in s%ch a place as this, or I +o%l never have left *y o+n co%ntry? This +ay, *a3a*selle, o+n this t%rnin,( I can al*ost believe in ,iants a,ain, an s%ch like, for this is .%st like one of their castles/ an , so*e ni,ht or other, I s%ppose I shall see fairies too, hoppin, abo%t in that ,reat ol hall, that looks *ore like a ch%rch, +ith its h%,e pillars, than any thin, else(3 32es,3 sai E*ily, s*ilin,, an ,la to escape fro* *ore serio%s tho%,ht, 3if +e co*e to the corri or, abo%t *i ni,ht, an look o+n into the hall, +e shall certainly see it ill%*inate +ith a tho%san la*ps, an the fairies trippin, in ,ay circles to the so%n of elicio%s *%sic/ for it is in s%ch places as this, yo% kno+, that they co*e to hol their revels( 1%t I a* afrai , Annette, yo% +ill not be able to pay the necessary penance for s%ch a si,ht; an , if once they hear yo%r voice, the +hole scene +ill vanish in an instant(3 3O? if yo% +ill bear *e co*pany, *a3a*selle, I +ill co*e to the corri or, this very ni,ht, an I pro*ise yo% I +ill hol *y ton,%e/ it shall not be *y fa%lt if the sho+ vanishes(71%t o yo% think they +ill co*eB3

3I cannot pro*ise that +ith certainty, b%t I +ill vent%re to say, it +ill not be yo%r fa%lt if the enchant*ent sho%l vanish(3 3:ell, *a3a*selle, that is sayin, *ore than I e-pecte of yo%; b%t I a* not so *%ch afrai of fairies, as of ,hosts, an they say there are a plentif%l *any of the* abo%t the castle; no+ I sho%l be fri,htene to eath, if I sho%l chance to see any of the*( 1%t h%sh? *a3a*selle, +alk softly? I have tho%,ht, several ti*es, so*ethin, passe by *e(3 3Ri ic%lo%s?3 sai E*ily, 3yo% *%st not in %l,e s%ch fancies(3 3O *a3a*? they are not fancies, for a%,ht I kno+/ 1ene etto says these is*al ,alleries an halls are fit for nothin, b%t ,hosts to live in/ an I verily believe, if I 0IVE lon, in the* I shall t%rn to one *yself?3 3I hope,3 sai E*ily, 3yo% +ill not s%ffer 'i,nor &ontoni to hear of these +eak fears/ they +o%l hi,hly isplease hi*(3 3:hat, yo% kno+ then, *a3a*selle, all abo%t it?3 re.oine Annette( 39o, no, I o kno+ better than to o so/ tho%,h, if the 'i,nor can sleep so%n , nobo y else in the castle has any ri,ht to lie a+ake, I a* s%re(3 E*ily i not appear to notice this re*ark( 3<o+n this passa,e, *a3a*selle/ this lea s to a back stair6case( O? if I see any thin,, I shall be fri,htene o%t of *y +its?3 3That +ill scarcely be possible,3 sai E*ily s*ilin,, as she follo+e the +in in, of the passa,e, +hich opene into another ,allery; an then Annette, perceivin, that she ha *isse her +ay, +hile she ha been so elo4%ently haran,%in, on ,hosts an fairies, +an ere abo%t thro%,h other passa,es an ,alleries, till, at len,th, fri,htene by their intricacies an esolation, she calle alo% for assistance; b%t they +ere beyon the hearin, of the servants, +ho +ere on the other si e of the castle, an E*ily no+ opene the oor of a cha*ber on the left(

3O? o not ,o in there, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3yo% +ill only lose yo%rself f%rther(3 31rin, the li,ht for+ar ,3 sai E*ily, 3+e *ay possibly fin o%r +ay thro%,h these roo*s(3 Annette stoo at the oor, in an attit% e of hesitation, +ith the li,ht hel %p to she+ the cha*ber, b%t the feeble rays sprea thro%,h not half of it( 3:hy o yo% hesitateB3 sai E*ily, 3let *e see +hither this roo* lea s(3 Annette a vance rel%ctantly( It opene into a s%ite of spacio%s an ancient apart*ents, so*e of +hich +ere h%n, +ith tapestry, an others +ainscote +ith ce ar an black larch6+oo ( :hat f%rnit%re there +as, see*e to be al*ost as ol as the roo*s, an retaine an appearance of ,ran e%r, tho%,h covere +ith %st, an roppin, to pieces +ith the a*ps, an +ith a,e( 3Ho+ col these roo*s are, *a3a*selle?3 sai Annette; 3nobo y has live in the* for *any, *any years, they say( <o let %s ,o(3 3They *ay open %pon the ,reat stair6case, perhaps,3 sai E*ily, passin, on till she ca*e to a cha*ber, h%n, +ith pict%res, an took the li,ht to e-a*ine that of a sol ier on horseback in a fiel of battle(7He +as artin, his spear %pon a *an, +ho lay %n er the feet of the horse, an +ho hel %p one han in a s%pplicatin, attit% e( The sol ier, +hose beaver +as %p, re,ar e hi* +ith a look of ven,eance, an the co%ntenance, +ith that e-pression, str%ck E*ily as rese*blin, &ontoni( 'he sh% ere , an t%rne fro* it( Passin, the li,ht hastily over several other pict%res, she ca*e to one conceale by a veil of black silk( The sin,%larity of the circ%*stance str%ck her, an she stoppe before it, +ishin, to re*ove the veil, an e-a*ine +hat co%l th%s caref%lly be conceale , b%t so*e+hat +antin, co%ra,e( 3Holy Vir,in? +hat can this *eanB3 e-clai*e Annette( 3This is s%rely the pict%re they tol *e of at Venice(3

3:hat pict%reB3 sai E*ily( 3:hy a pict%re7a pict%re,3 replie Annette, hesitatin,ly73b%t I never co%l *ake o%t e-actly +hat it +as abo%t, either(3 3Re*ove the veil, Annette(3 3:hat? I, *a3a*selle?7I? not for the +orl ?3 E*ily, t%rnin, ro%n , sa+ Annette3s co%ntenance ,ro+ pale( 3An pray, +hat have yo% hear of this pict%re, to terrify yo% so, *y ,oo ,irlB3 sai she( 39othin,, *a3a*selle; I have hear nothin,, only let %s fin o%r +ay o%t(3 3Certainly; b%t I +ish first to e-a*ine the pict%re/ take the li,ht, Annette, +hile I lift the veil(3 Annette took the li,ht, an i**e iately +alke a+ay +ith it, isre,ar in, E*ily3s call to stay, +ho, not choosin, to be left alone in the ark cha*ber, at len,th follo+e her( 3:hat is the reason of this, AnnetteB3 sai E*ily, +hen she overtook her, 3+hat have yo% hear concernin, that pict%re, +hich *akes yo% so %n+illin, to stay +hen I bi yo%B3 3I on3t kno+ +hat is the reason, *a3a*selle, replie Annette, 3nor any thin, abo%t the pict%re, only I have hear there is so*ethin, very rea f%l belon,in, to it 7an that it has been covere %p in black EVER 'I9CE7an that nobo y has looke at it for a ,reat *any years7an it so*eho+ has to o +ith the o+ner of this castle before 'i,nor &ontoni ca*e to the possession of it7an 376 3:ell, Annette,3 sai E*ily, s*ilin,, 3I perceive it is as yo% say7that yo% kno+ nothin, abo%t the pict%re(3 39o, nothin,, in ee , *a3a*selle, for they *a e *e pro*ise never to tell;7b%t37 3:ell,3 re.oine E*ily, +ho observe that she +as str%,,lin, bet+een her inclination to reveal a secret, an her apprehension for the conse4%ence, 3I +ill en4%ire no f%rther376 39o, pray, *a3a*, o not(3 30est yo% sho%l tell all,3 interr%pte E*ily(

Annette bl%she , an E*ily s*ile , an they passe on to the e-tre*ity of this s%ite of apart*ents, an fo%n the*selves, after so*e f%rther perple-ity, once *ore at the top of the *arble stair6case, +here Annette left E*ily, +hile she +ent to call one of the servants of the castle to she+ the* to the cha*ber, for +hich they ha been seekin,( :hile she +as absent, E*ily3s tho%,hts ret%rne to the pict%re/ an %n+illin,ness to ta*per +ith the inte,rity of a servant, ha checke her en4%iries on this s%b.ect, as +ell as concernin, so*e alar*in, hints, +hich Annette ha roppe respectin, &ontoni/ tho%,h her c%riosity +as entirely a+akene , an she ha perceive , that her 4%estions *i,ht easily be ans+ere ( 'he +as no+, ho+ever, incline to ,o back to the apart*ent an e-a*ine the pict%re/ b%t the loneliness of the ho%r an of the place, +ith the *elancholy silence that rei,ne aro%n her, conspire +ith a certain e,ree of a+e, e-cite by the *ystery atten in, this pict%re, to prevent her( 'he eter*ine , ho+ever, +hen ay6li,ht sho%l have re6ani*ate her spirits, to ,o thither an re*ove the veil( As she leane fro* the corri or, over the stair6case, an her eyes +an ere ro%n , she a,ain observe , +ith +on er, the vast stren,th of the +alls, no+ so*e+hat ecaye , an the pillars of soli *arble, that rose fro* the hall, an s%pporte the roof( A servant no+ appeare +ith Annette, an con %cte E*ily to her cha*ber, +hich +as in a re*ote part of the castle, an at the very en of the corri or, fro* +hence the s%ite of apart*ents opene , thro%,h +hich they ha been +an erin,( The lonely aspect of her roo* *a e E*ily %n+illin, that Annette sho%l leave her i**e iately, an the a*pness of it chille her +ith *ore than fear( 'he be,,e Caterina, the servant of the castle, to brin, so*e +oo an li,ht a fire( 3Aye, la y, it3s *any a year since a fire +as li,hte here,3 sai Caterina( 32o% nee not tell %s that, ,oo +o*an,3 sai Annette/ 3every roo* in the castle feels like a +ell( I +on er

ho+ yo% contrive to live here/ for *y part, I +ish *yself at Venice a,ain(3 E*ily +ave her han for Caterina to fetch the +oo ( 3I +on er, *a3a*, +hy they call this the o%ble cha*berB3 sai Annette, +hile E*ily s%rveye it in silence an sa+ that it +as lofty an spacio%s, like the others she ha seen, an , like *any of the*, too, ha its +alls line +ith ark larch6+oo ( The be an other f%rnit%re +as very ancient, an ha an air of ,loo*y ,ran e%r, like all that she ha seen in the castle( One of the hi,h case*ents, +hich she opene , overlooke a ra*part, b%t the vie+ beyon +as hi in arkness( In the presence of Annette, E*ily trie to s%pport her spirits, an to restrain the tears, +hich, every no+ an then, ca*e to her eyes( 'he +ishe *%ch to en4%ire +hen Co%nt &orano +as e-pecte at the castle, b%t an %n+illin,ness to ask %nnecessary 4%estions, an to *ention fa*ily concerns to a servant, +ithhel her( &ean+hile, Annette3s tho%,hts +ere en,a,e %pon another s%b.ect; she early love the *arvello%s, an ha hear of a circ%*stance, connecte +ith the castle, that hi,hly ,ratifie this taste( Havin, been en.oine not to *ention it, her inclination to tell it +as so stron,, that she +as every instant on the point of speakin, +hat she ha hear ( '%ch a stran,e circ%*stance, too, an to be obli,e to conceal it, +as a severe p%nish*ent/ b%t she kne+, that &ontoni *i,ht i*pose one *%ch severer, an she feare to inc%r it by offen in, hi*( Caterina no+ bro%,ht the +oo , an its bri,ht bla8e ispelle , for a +hile, the ,loo* of the cha*ber( 'he tol Annette, that her la y ha en4%ire for her, an E*ily +as once a,ain left to her o+n sa reflections( Her heart +as not yet har ene a,ainst the stern *anners of &ontoni, an she +as nearly as *%ch shocke no+, as she ha been +hen she first +itnesse the*( The ten erness an affection, to +hich she ha been acc%sto*e , till she lost her parents, ha *a e her partic%larly sensible to any e,ree of %nkin ness, an s%ch a reverse as this no apprehension ha prepare her to s%pport(

To call off her attention fro* s%b.ects, that presse heavily on her spirits, she rose an a,ain e-a*ine her roo* an its f%rnit%re( As she +alke ro%n it, she passe a oor, that +as not 4%ite sh%t, an , perceivin,, that it +as not the one, thro%,h +hich she entere , she bro%,ht the li,ht for+ar to iscover +hither it le ( 'he opene it, an , ,oin, for+ar , ha nearly fallen o+n a steep, narro+ stair6case that +o%n fro* it, bet+een t+o stone +alls( 'he +ishe to kno+ to +hat it le , an +as the *ore an-io%s, since it co**%nicate so i**e iately +ith her apart*ent/ b%t, in the present state of her spirits, she +ante co%ra,e to vent%re into the arkness alone( Closin, the oor, therefore, she en eavo%re to fasten it, b%t, %pon f%rther e-a*ination, perceive , that it ha no bolts on the cha*ber si e, tho%,h it ha t+o on the other( 1y placin, a heavy chair a,ainst it, she in so*e *eas%re re*e ie the efect/ yet she +as still alar*e at the tho%,ht of sleepin, in this re*ote roo* alone, +ith a oor openin, she kne+ not +hither, an +hich co%l not be perfectly fastene on the insi e( 'o*eti*es she +ishe to entreat of &a a*e &ontoni, that Annette *i,ht have leave to re*ain +ith her all ni,ht, b%t +as eterre by an apprehension of betrayin, +hat +o%l be tho%,ht chil ish fears, an by an %n+illin,ness to increase the apt terrors of Annette( Her ,loo*y reflections +ere, soon after, interr%pte by a footstep in the corri or, an she +as ,la to see Annette enter +ith so*e s%pper, sent by &a a*e &ontoni( Havin, a table near the fire, she *a e the ,oo ,irl sit o+n an s%p +ith her/ an , +hen their little repast +as over, Annette, enco%ra,e by her kin ness an stirrin, the +oo into a bla8e, re+ her chair %pon the hearth, nearer to E*ily, an sai 73<i yo% ever hear, *a3a*selle, of the stran,e acci ent, that *a e the 'i,nor lor of this castleB3 3:hat +on erf%l story have yo% no+ to tellB3 sai E*ily, concealin, the c%riosity, occasione by the *ysterio%s hints she ha for*erly hear on that s%b.ect(

3I have hear all abo%t it, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, lookin, ro%n the cha*ber an ra+in, closer to E*ily/ 31ene etto tol it *e as +e travelle to,ether; says he, EAnnette, yo% on3t kno+ abo%t this castle here, that +e are ,oin, toBE 9o, says I, &r( 1ene etto, pray +hat o yo% kno+B 1%t, *a3a*selle, yo% can keep a secret, or I +o%l not tell it yo% for the +orl / for I pro*ise never to tell, an they say, that the 'i,nor oes not like to have it talke of(3 3If yo% pro*ise to keep this secret,3 sai E*ily, 3yo% o ri,ht not to *ention it(3 Annette pa%se a *o*ent, an then sai , 3O, b%t to yo%, *a3a*selle, to yo% I *ay tell it safely, I kno+(3 E*ily s*ile , 3I certainly shall keep it as faithf%l as yo%rself, Annette(3 Annette replie very ,ravely, that +o%l o, an procee e 73This castle, yo% *%st kno+, *a3a*selle, is very ol , an very stron,, an has stoo o%t *any sie,es as they say( 9o+ it +as not 'i,nor &ontoni3s al+ays, nor his father3s/ no/ b%t, by so*e la+ or other, it +as to co*e to the 'i,nor, if the la y ie %n*arrie (3 3:hat la yB3 sai E*ily( 3I a* not co*e to that yet,3 replie Annette, 3it is the la y I a* ,oin, to tell yo% abo%t, *a3a*selle; b%t, as I +as sayin,, this la y live in the castle, an ha everythin, very ,ran abo%t her, as yo% *ay s%ppose, *a3a*selle( The 'i,nor %se often to co*e to see her, an +as in love +ith her, an offere to *arry her/ for, tho%,h he +as so*eho+ relate , that i not si,nify( 1%t she +as in love +ith so*ebo y else, an +o%l not have hi*, +hich *a e hi* very an,ry, as they say, an yo% kno+, *a3a*selle, +hat an ill6lookin, ,entle*an he is, +hen he is an,ry( Perhaps she sa+ hi* in a passion, an therefore +o%l not have hi*( 1%t, as I +as sayin,, she +as very *elancholy an %nhappy, an all that, for a lon, +hile, an 7Holy Vir,in? +hat noise is thatB i not yo% hear a so%n , *a3a*selleB3

3It +as only the +in ,3 sai E*ily, 3b%t o co*e to the en of yo%r story(3 3As I +as sayin,7O, +here +as IB7as I +as sayin,7 she +as very *elancholy an %nhappy a lon, +hile, an %se to +alk abo%t %pon the terrace, there, %n er the +in o+s, by herself, an cry so? it +o%l have one yo%r heart ,oo to hear her( That is7I on3t *ean ,oo , b%t it +o%l have *a e yo% cry too, as they tell *e(3 3:ell, b%t, Annette, o tell *e the s%bstance of yo%r tale(3 3All in ,oo ti*e, *a3a*/ all this I hear before at Venice, b%t +hat is to co*e I never hear till to6 ay( This happene a ,reat *any years a,o, +hen 'i,nor &ontoni +as 4%ite a yo%n, *an( The la y7they calle her 'i,nora 0a%rentini, +as very han so*e, b%t she %se to be in ,reat passions, too, so*eti*es, as +ell as the 'i,nor( )in in, he co%l not *ake her listen to hi* 7+hat oes he o, b%t leave the castle, an never co*es near it for a lon, ti*e? b%t it +as all one to her/ she +as .%st as %nhappy +hether he +as here or not, till one evenin,, Holy 't( Peter? *a3a*selle,3 crie Annette, 3look at that la*p, see ho+ bl%e it b%rns?3 'he looke fearf%lly ro%n the cha*ber( 3Ri ic%lo%s ,irl?3 sai E*ily, 3+hy +ill yo% in %l,e those fanciesB Pray let *e hear the en of yo%r story, I a* +eary(3 Annette still kept her eyes on the la*p, an procee e in a lo+er voice( 3It +as one evenin,, they say, at the latter en of the year, it *i,ht be abo%t the *i le of 'epte*ber, I s%ppose, or the be,innin, of October/ nay, for that *atter, it *i,ht be 9ove*ber, for that, too, is the latter en of the year, b%t that I cannot say for certain, beca%se they i not tell *e for certain the*selves( Ho+ever, it +as at the latter en of the year, this ,ran la y +alke o%t of the castle into the +oo s belo+, as she ha often one before, all alone, only her *ai +as +ith her( The +in ble+ col , an stre+e the leaves abo%t, an +histle is*ally a*on, those ,reat ol chesn%t trees, that +e passe , *a3a*selle, as +e ca*e to the castle7for 1ene etto

she+e *e the trees as he +as talkin,7the +in ble+ col , an her +o*an +o%l have pers%a e her to ret%rn; b%t all +o%l not o, for she +as fon of +alkin, in the +oo s, at evenin, ti*e, an , if the leaves +ere fallin, abo%t her, so *%ch the better( 3:ell, they sa+ her ,o o+n a*on, the +oo s, b%t ni,ht ca*e, an she i not ret%rn; ten o3clock, eleven o3clock, t+elve o3clock ca*e, an no la y? :ell, the servants tho%,ht to be s%re, so*e acci ent ha befallen her, an they +ent o%t to seek her( They searche all ni,ht lon,, b%t co%l not fin her, or any trace of her/ an , fro* that ay to this, *a3a*selle, she has never been hear of(3 3Is this tr%e, AnnetteB3 sai E*ily, in *%ch s%rprise( 3Tr%e, *a3a*?3 sai Annette, +ith a look of horror, 3yes, it is tr%e, in ee ( 1%t they o say,3 she a e , lo+erin, her voice, 3they o say, that the 'i,nora has been seen, several ti*es since, +alkin, in the +oo s an abo%t the castle in the ni,ht; several of the ol servants, +ho re*aine here so*e ti*e after, eclare they sa+ her/ an , since then, she has been seen by so*e of the vassals, +ho have happene to be in the castle, at ni,ht( Carlo, the ol ste+ar , co%l tell s%ch thin,s, they say, if he +o%l (3 3Ho+ contra ictory is this, Annette?3 sai E*ily, 3yo% say nothin, has been since kno+n of her, an yet she has been seen?3 31%t all this +as tol *e for a ,reat secret,3 re.oine Annette, +itho%t noticin, the re*ark, 3an I a* s%re, *a3a*, yo% +o%l not h%rt either *e or 1ene etto, so *%ch as to ,o an tell it a,ain(3 E*ily re*aine silent, an Annette repeate her last sentence( 32o% have nothin, to fear fro* *y in iscretion,3 replie E*ily, 3an let *e a vise yo%, *y ,oo Annette, be iscreet yo%rself, an never *ention +hat yo% have .%st tol *e to any other person( 'i,nor &ontoni, as yo% say, *ay be an,ry if he hears of it( 1%t +hat in4%iries +ere *a e concernin, the la yB3

3O? a ,reat eal, in ee , *a3a*selle, for the 'i,nor lai clai* to the castle irectly, as bein, the ne-t heir, an they sai , that is, the .% ,es, or the senators, or so*ebo y of that sort, sai , he co%l not take possession of it till so *any years +ere ,one by, an then, if, after all, the la y co%l not be fo%n , +hy she +o%l be as ,oo as ea , an the castle +o%l be his o+n/ an so it is his o+n( 1%t the story +ent ro%n , an *any stran,e reports +ere sprea , so very stran,e, *a3a*selle, that I shall not tell the*(3 3That is stran,er still, Annette,3 sai E*ily, s*ilin,, an ro%sin, herself fro* her reverie( 31%t, +hen 'i,nora 0a%rentini +as after+ar s seen in the castle, i nobo y speak to herB3 3'peak7speak to her?3 crie Annette, +ith a look of terror/ 3no, to be s%re(3 3An +hy notB3 re.oine E*ily, +illin, to hear f%rther( 3Holy &other? speak to a spirit?3 31%t +hat reason ha they to concl% e it +as a spirit, %nless they ha approache , an spoken to itB3 3O *a3a*selle, I cannot tell( Ho+ can yo% ask s%ch shockin, 4%estionsB 1%t nobo y ever sa+ it co*e in, or ,o o%t of the castle/ an it +as in one place no+, an then the ne-t *in%te in 4%ite another part of the castle/ an then it never spoke, an , if it +as alive, +hat sho%l it o in the castle if it never spokeB 'everal parts of the castle have never been ,one into since, they say, for that very reason(3 3:hat, beca%se it never spokeB3 sai E*ily, tryin, to la%,h a+ay the fears that be,an to steal %pon her( 739o, *a3a*selle, no/3 replie Annette, rather an,rily 3b%t beca%se so*ethin, has been seen there( They say, too, there is an ol chapel a .oinin, the +est si e of the castle, +here, any ti*e at *i ni,ht, yo% *ay hear s%ch ,roans?7it *akes one sh% er to think of the*?7an stran,e si,hts have been seen there73 3Pr3ythee, Annette, no *ore of these silly tales,3 sai E*ily(

3'illy tales, *a3a*selle? O, b%t I +ill tell yo% one story abo%t this, if yo% please, that Caterina tol *e( It +as one col +inter3s ni,ht that Caterina =she often ca*e to the castle then, she says, to keep ol Carlo an his +ife co*pany, an so he reco**en e her after+ar s to the 'i,nor, an she has live here ever since> Caterina +as sittin, +ith the* in the little hall, says Carlo, EI +ish +e ha so*e of those fi,s to roast, that lie in the store6 closet, b%t it is a lon, +ay off, an I a* loath to fetch the*/ o, Caterina,E says he, Efor yo% are yo%n, an ni*ble, o brin, %s so*e, the fire is in nice tri* for roastin, the*/ they lie,E says he, Ein s%ch a corner of the store6roo*, at the en of the north6,allery/ here, take the la*p,E says he, Ean *in , as yo% ,o %p the ,reat stair6case, that the +in , thro%,h the roof, oes not blo+ it o%t(E 'o, +ith that, Caterina took the la*p 7H%sh? *a3a*selle, I s%rely hear a noise?3 E*ily, +ho* Annette ha no+ infecte +ith her o+n terrors, listene attentively/ b%t every thin, +as still, an Annette procee e ; 3Caterina +ent to the north6,allery, that is the +i e ,allery +e passe , *a3a*, before +e ca*e to the corri or, here( As she +ent +ith the la*p in her han , thinkin, of nothin, at all7There, a,ain?3 crie Annette s% enly73I hear it a,ain?7it +as not fancy, *a3a*selle?3 3H%sh?3 sai E*ily, tre*blin,( They listene , an , contin%in, to sit 4%ite still, E*ily hear a lo+ knockin, a,ainst the +all( It ca*e repeate ly( Annette then screa*e lo% ly, an the cha*ber oor slo+ly opene (7It +as Caterina, co*e to tell Annette, that her la y +ante her( E*ily, tho%,h she no+ perceive +ho it +as, co%l not i**e iately overco*e her terror/ +hile Annette, half la%,hin,, half cryin,, scol e Caterina heartily for th%s alar*in, the*/ an +as also terrifie lest +hat she ha tol ha been overhear (7 E*ily, +hose *in +as eeply i*presse by the chief circ%*stance of Annette3s relation, +as %n+illin, to be left alone, in the present state of her spirits/ b%t, to avoi offen in, &a a*e &ontoni, an betrayin, her

o+n +eakness, she str%,,le to overco*e the ill%sions of fear, an is*isse Annette for the ni,ht( :hen she +as alone, her tho%,hts rec%rre to the stran,e history of 'i,nora 0a%rentini an then to her o+n stran,e sit%ation, in the +il an solitary *o%ntains of a forei,n co%ntry, in the castle, an the po+er of a *an, to +ho*, only a fe+ prece in, *onths, she +as an entire stran,er/ +ho ha alrea y e-ercise an %s%rpe a%thority over her, an +hose character she no+ re,ar e , +ith a e,ree of terror, apparently .%stifie by the fears of others( 'he kne+, that he ha invention e4%al to the conception an talents to the e-ec%tion of any pro.ect, an she ,reatly feare he ha a heart too voi of feelin, to oppose the perpetration of +hatever his interest *i,ht s%,,est( 'he ha lon, observe the %nhappiness of &a a*e &ontoni, an ha often been +itness to the stern an conte*pt%o%s behavio%r she receive fro* her h%sban ( To these circ%*stances, +hich conspire to ,ive her .%st ca%se for alar*, +ere no+ a e those tho%san na*eless terrors, +hich e-ist only in active i*a,inations, an +hich set reason an e-a*ination e4%ally at efiance( E*ily re*e*bere all that Valanco%rt ha tol her, on the eve of her epart%re fro* 0an,%e oc, respectin, &ontoni, an all that he ha sai to iss%a e her fro* vent%rin, on the .o%rney( His fears ha often since appeare to her prophetic7no+ they see*e confir*e ( Her heart, as it ,ave her back the i*a,e of Valanco%rt, *o%rne in vain re,ret, b%t reason soon ca*e +ith a consolation +hich, tho%,h feeble at first, ac4%ire vi,o%r fro* reflection( 'he consi ere , that, +hatever *i,ht be her s%fferin,s, she ha +ithhel fro* involvin, hi* in *isfort%ne, an that, +hatever her f%t%re sorro+s co%l be, she +as, at least, free fro* self6reproach( Her *elancholy +as assiste by the hollo+ si,hin,s of the +in alon, the corri or an ro%n the castle( The cheerf%l bla8e of the +oo ha lon, been e-tin,%ishe , an she sat +ith her eyes fi-e on the yin, e*bers, till a lo% ,%st, that s+ept thro%,h the corri or, an shook

the oors an case*ents, alar*e her, for its violence ha *ove the chair she ha place as a fastenin,, an the oor, lea in, to the private stair6case stoo half open( Her c%riosity an her fears +ere a,ain a+akene ( 'he took the la*p to the top of the steps, an stoo hesitatin, +hether to ,o o+n/ b%t a,ain the profo%n stillness an the ,loo* of the place a+e her, an , eter*inin, to en4%ire f%rther, +hen ay6li,ht *i,ht assist the search, she close the oor, an place a,ainst it a stron,er ,%ar ( 'he no+ retire to her be , leavin, the la*p b%rnin, on the table/ b%t its ,loo*y li,ht, instea of ispellin, her fear, assiste it/ for, by its %ncertain rays, she al*ost fancie she sa+ shapes flit past her c%rtains an ,li e into the re*ote obsc%rity of her cha*ber(7The castle clock str%ck one before she close her eyes to sleep(

#HAPTER %I
5 think it is the eakness of !ine eyes, That shapes this !onstrous apparition# 5t co!es upon !e> 9U&5U4 3AE4AR

<ayli,ht ispelle fro* E*ily3s *in the ,loo*s of s%perstition, b%t not those of apprehension( The Co%nt &orano +as the first i*a,e, that occ%rre to her +akin, tho%,hts, an then ca*e a train of anticipate evils, +hich she co%l neither con4%er, nor avoi ( 'he rose, an , to relieve her *in fro* the b%sy i eas, that tor*ente it, co*pelle herself to notice e-ternal ob.ects( )ro* her case*ent she looke o%t %pon the +il ,ran e%r of the scene, close nearly on all si es by alpine steeps, +hose tops, peepin, over each other, fa e fro* the eye in *isty h%es, +hile the pro*ontories belo+ +ere ark +ith +oo s, that s+ept o+n to their base, an stretche alon, the narro+ vallies( The rich po*p of these +oo s +as partic%larly

eli,htf%l to E*ily/ an she vie+e +ith astonish*ent the fortifications of the castle sprea in, alon, a vast e-tent of rock, an no+ partly in ecay, the ,ran e%r of the ra*parts belo+, an the to+ers an battle*ents an vario%s feat%res of the fabric above( )ro* these her si,ht +an ere over the cliffs an +oo s into the valley, alon, +hich foa*e a broa an rapi strea*, seen fallin, a*on, the cra,s of an opposite *o%ntain, no+ flashin, in the s%n6bea*s, an no+ sha o+e by over6archin, pines, till it +as entirely conceale by their thick folia,e( A,ain it b%rst fro* beneath this arkness in one broa sheet of foa*, an fell th%n erin, into the vale( 9earer, to+ar s the +est, opene the *o%ntain6vista, +hich E*ily ha vie+e +ith s%ch s%bli*e e*otion, on her approach to the castle; a thin %sky vapo%r, that rose fro* the valley, oversprea its feat%res +ith a s+eet obsc%rity( As this ascen e an ca%,ht the s%n6bea*s, it kin le into a cri*son tint, an to%che +ith e-4%isite bea%ty the +oo s an cliffs, over +hich it passe to the s%**it of the *o%ntains/ then, as the veil re+ %p, it +as eli,htf%l to +atch the ,lea*in, ob.ects, that pro,ressively isclose the*selves in the valley7the ,reen t%rf7 ark +oo s7little rocky recesses7a fe+ peasants3 h%ts7the foa*in, strea*7a her of cattle, an vario%s i*a,es of pastoral bea%ty( Then, the pine6 forests bri,htene , an then the broa breast of the *o%ntains, till, at len,th, the *ist settle ro%n their s%**it, to%chin, the* +ith a r% y ,lo+( The feat%res of the vista no+ appeare istinctly, an the broa eep sha o+s, that fell fro* the lo+er cliffs, ,ave stron, effect to the strea*in, splen o%r above/ +hile the *o%ntains, ,ra %ally sinkin, in the perspective, appeare to shelve into the A riatic sea, for s%ch E*ily i*a,ine to be the ,lea* of bl%eish li,ht, that ter*inate the vie+( Th%s she en eavo%re to a*%se her fancy, an +as not %ns%ccessf%l( The bree8y freshness of the *ornin,, too, revive her( 'he raise her tho%,hts in prayer, +hich she felt al+ays *ost ispose to o, +hen vie+in, the

s%bli*ity of nat%re, an stren,th(

her *in

recovere

its

:hen she t%rne fro* the case*ent, her eyes ,lance %pon the oor she ha so caref%lly ,%ar e , on the prece in, ni,ht, an she no+ eter*ine to e-a*ine +hither it le / b%t, on a vancin, to re*ove the chairs, she perceive , that they +ere alrea y *ove a little +ay( Her s%rprise cannot be easily i*a,ine , +hen, in the ne-t *in%te, she perceive that the oor +as fastene (7'he felt, as if she ha seen an apparition( The oor of the corri or +as locke as she ha left it, b%t this oor, +hich co%l be sec%re only on the o%tsi e, *%st have been bolte , %rin, the ni,ht( 'he beca*e serio%sly %neasy at the tho%,ht of sleepin, a,ain in a cha*ber, th%s liable to intr%sion, so re*ote, too, as it +as fro* the fa*ily, an she eter*ine to *ention the circ%*stance to &a a*e &ontoni, an to re4%est a chan,e( After so*e perple-ity she fo%n her +ay into the ,reat hall, an to the roo*, +hich she ha left, on the prece in, ni,ht, +here breakfast +as sprea , an her a%nt +as alone, for &ontoni ha been +alkin, over the environs of the castle, e-a*inin, the con ition of its fortifications, an talkin, for so*e ti*e +ith Carlo( E*ily observe that her a%nt ha been +eepin,, an her heart softene to+ar s her, +ith an affection, that she+e itself in her *anner, rather than in +or s, +hile she caref%lly avoi e the appearance of havin, notice , that she +as %nhappy( 'he sei8e the opport%nity of &ontoni3s absence to *ention the circ%*stance of the oor, to re4%est that she *i,ht be allo+e another apart*ent, an to en4%ire a,ain, concernin, the occasion of their s% en .o%rney( On the first s%b.ect her a%nt referre her to &ontoni, positively ref%sin, to interfere in the affair/ on the last, she professe %tter i,norance( E*ily, then, +ith a +ish of *akin, her a%nt *ore reconcile to her sit%ation, praise the ,ran e%r of the castle an the s%rro%n in, scenery, an en eavo%re to soften every %npleasin, circ%*stance atten in, it( 1%t, tho%,h *isfort%ne ha so*e+hat con4%ere the

asperities of &a a*e &ontoni3s te*per, an , by increasin, her cares for herself, ha ta%,ht her to feel in so*e e,ree for others, the capricio%s love of r%le, +hich nat%re ha plante an habit ha no%rishe in her heart, +as not s%b %e ( 'he co%l not no+ eny herself the ,ratification of tyranni8in, over the innocent an helpless E*ily, by atte*ptin, to ri ic%le the taste she co%l not feel( Her satirical isco%rse +as, ho+ever, interr%pte by the entrance of &ontoni, an her co%ntenance i**e iately ass%*e a *in,le e-pression of fear an resent*ent, +hile he seate hi*self at the breakfast6table, as if %nconscio%s of there bein, any person b%t hi*self in the roo*( E*ily, as she observe hi* in silence, sa+, that his co%ntenance +as arker an sterner than %s%al( 3O co%l I kno+,3 sai she to herself, 3+hat passes in that *in / co%l I kno+ the tho%,hts, that are kno+n there, I sho%l no lon,er be con e*ne to this tort%rin, s%spense?3 Their breakfast passe in silence, till E*ily vent%re to re4%est, that another apart*ent *i,ht be allotte to her, an relate the circ%*stance +hich *a e her +ish it( 3I have no ti*e to atten to these i le +hi*s,3 sai &ontoni, 3that cha*ber +as prepare for yo%, an yo% *%st rest contente +ith it( It is not probable, that any person +o%l take the tro%ble of ,oin, to that re*ote stair6case, for the p%rpose of fastenin, a oor( If it +as not fastene , +hen yo% entere the cha*ber, the +in , perhaps, shook the oor an *a e the bolts sli e( 1%t I kno+ not +hy I sho%l %n ertake to acco%nt for so triflin, an occ%rrence(3 This e-planation +as by no *eans satisfactory to E*ily, +ho ha observe , that the bolts +ere r%ste , an conse4%ently co%l not be th%s easily *ove / b%t she forbore to say so, an repeate her re4%est( 3If yo% +ill not release yo%rself fro* the slavery of these fears,3 sai &ontoni, sternly, 3at least forbear to tor*ent others by the *ention of the*( Con4%er s%ch +hi*s, an en eavo%r to stren,then yo%r *in ( 9o

e-istence is *ore conte*ptible than that, +hich is e*bittere by fear(3 As he sai this, his eye ,lance %pon &a a*e &ontoni, +ho colo%re hi,hly, b%t +as still silent( E*ily, +o%n e an isappointe , tho%,ht her fears +ere, in this instance, too reasonable to eserve ri ic%le/ b%t, perceivin,, that, ho+ever they *i,ht oppress her, she *%st en %re the*, she trie to +ith ra+ her attention fro* the s%b.ect( Carlo soon after entere +ith so*e fr%it; 32o%r e-cellen8a is tire after yo%r lon, ra*ble,3 sai he, as he set the fr%it %pon the table/ 3b%t yo% have *ore to see after breakfast( There is a place in the va%lte passa,e lea in, to73 &ontoni fro+ne %pon hi*, an +ave his han for hi* to leave the roo*( Carlo stoppe , looke o+n, an then a e , as he a vance to the breakfast6table, an took %p the basket of fr%it, 3I *a e bol , yo%r e-cellen8a, to brin, so*e cherries, here, for *y hono%re la y an *y yo%n, *istress( :ill yo%r la yship taste the*, *a a*B3 sai Carlo, presentin, the basket, 3they are very fine ones, tho%,h I ,athere the* *yself, an fro* an ol tree, that catches all the so%th s%n/ they are as bi, as pl%*s, yo%r la yship(3 3Very +ell, ol Carlo,3 sai &a a*e &ontoni/ 3I a* obli,e to yo%(3 3An the yo%n, 'i,nora, too, she *ay like so*e of the*,3 re.oine Carlo, t%rnin, +ith the basket to E*ily, 3it +ill o *e ,oo to see her eat so*e(3 3Thank yo%, Carlo,3 sai E*ily, takin, so*e cherries, an s*ilin, kin ly( 3Co*e, co*e,3 sai &ontoni, i*patiently, 3eno%,h of this( 0eave the roo*, b%t be in +aitin,( I shall +ant yo% presently(3 Carlo obeye , an &ontoni, soon after, +ent o%t to e-a*ine f%rther into the state of the castle/ +hile E*ily re*aine +ith her a%nt, patiently en %rin, her ill h%*o%r, an en eavo%rin,, +ith *%ch s+eetness, to soothe her affliction, instea of resentin, its effect(

:hen &a a*e &ontoni retire to her ressin,6roo*, E*ily en eavo%re to a*%se herself by a vie+ of the castle( Thro%,h a fol in, oor she passe fro* the ,reat hall to the ra*parts, +hich e-ten e alon, the bro+ of the precipice, ro%n three si es of the e ifice/ the fo%rth +as ,%ar e by the hi,h +alls of the co%rts, an by the ,ate+ay, thro%,h +hich she ha passe , on the prece in, evenin,( The ,ran e%r of the broa ra*parts, an the chan,in, scenery they overlooke , e-cite her hi,h a *iration/ for the e-tent of the terraces allo+e the feat%res of the co%ntry to be seen in s%ch vario%s points of vie+, that they appeare to for* ne+ lan scapes( 'he often pa%se to e-a*ine the ,othic *a,nificence of A olpho, its pro% irre,%larity, its lofty to+ers an battle*ents, its hi,h6arche case*ents, an its slen er +atch6to+ers, perche %pon the corners of t%rrets( Then she +o%l lean on the +all of the terrace, an , sh% erin,, *eas%re +ith her eye the precipice belo+, till the ark s%**its of the +oo s arreste it( :herever she t%rne , appeare *o%ntain6 tops, forests of pine an narro+ ,lens, openin, a*on, the Apennines an retirin, fro* the si,ht into inaccessible re,ions( :hile she th%s leane , &ontoni, follo+e by t+o *en, appeare , ascen in, a +in in, path, c%t in the rock belo+( He stoppe %pon a cliff, an , pointin, to the ra*parts, t%rne to his follo+ers, an talke +ith *%ch ea,erness of ,estic%lation(7E*ily perceive , that one of these *en +as Carlo/ the other +as in the ress of a peasant, an he alone see*e to be receivin, the irections of &ontoni( 'he +ith re+ fro* the +alls, an p%rs%e her +alk, till she hear at a istance the so%n of carria,e +heels, an then the lo% bell of the portal, +hen it instantly occ%rre to her, that Co%nt &orano +as arrive ( As she hastily passe the fol in, oors fro* the terrace, to+ar s her o+n apart*ent, several persons entere the hall by an opposite oor( 'he sa+ the* at the e-tre*ities of the arca es, an i**e iately retreate / b%t the a,itation of her spirits, an the e-tent an %skiness of the hall, ha prevente her fro*

istin,%ishin, the persons of the stran,ers( Her fears, ho+ever, ha b%t one ob.ect, an they ha calle %p that ob.ect to her fancy;7she believe that she ha seen Co%nt &orano( :hen she tho%,ht that they ha passe the hall, she vent%re a,ain to the oor, an procee e , %nobserve , to her roo*, +here she re*aine , a,itate +ith apprehensions, an listenin, to every istant so%n ( At len,th, hearin, voices on the ra*part, she hastene to her +in o+, an observe &ontoni, +ith 'i,nor Cavi,ni, +alkin, belo+, conversin, earnestly, an often stoppin, an t%rnin, to+ar s each other, at +hich ti*e their isco%rse see*e to be %nco**only interestin,( Of the several persons +ho ha appeare in the hall, here +as Cavi,ni alone; b%t E*ily3s alar* +as soon after hei,htene by the steps of so*e one in the corri or, +ho, she apprehen e , bro%,ht a *essa,e fro* the Co%nt( In the ne-t *o*ent, Annette appeare ( 3Ah? *a3a*selle,3 sai she, 3here is the 'i,nor Cavi,ni arrive ? I a* s%re I re.oice to see a christian person in this place/ an then he is so ,oo nat%re too, he al+ays takes so *%ch notice of *e?7An here is also 'i,nor Vere88i, an +ho o yo% think besi es, *a3a*selleB3 3I cannot ,%ess, Annette/ tell *e 4%ickly(3 39ay, *a3a*, o ,%ess once(3 3:ell, then,3 sai E*ily, +ith ass%*e co*pos%re, 3it is 7Co%nt &orano, I s%ppose(3 3Holy Vir,in?3 crie Annette, 3are yo% ill, *a3a*selleB yo% are ,oin, to faint? let *e ,et so*e +ater(3 E*ily s%nk into a chair( 3'tay, Annette,3 sai she, feebly, 3 o not leave *e7I shall soon be better/ open the case*ent(7The Co%nt, yo% say7he is co*e, thenB3 3:ho, I?7the Co%nt? 9o, *a3a*selle, I i not say so(3 3He is 9OT co*e thenB3 sai E*ily ea,erly( 39o, *a3a*selle(3

32o% are s%re of itB3 30or bless *e?3 sai Annette, 3yo% recover very s% enly, *a3a*? +hy, I tho%,ht yo% +as yin,, .%st no+(3 31%t the Co%nt7yo% are s%re, is not co*eB3 3O yes, 4%ite s%re of that, *a3a*selle( :hy, I +as lookin, o%t thro%,h the ,rate in the north t%rret, +hen the carria,es rove into the co%rt6yar , an I never e-pecte to see s%ch a ,oo ly si,ht in this is*al ol castle? b%t here are *asters an servants, too, eno%,h to *ake the place rin, a,ain( O? I +as rea y to leap thro%,h the r%sty ol bars for .oy?7O? +ho +o%l ever have tho%,ht of seein, a christian face in this h%,e reary ho%seB I co%l have kisse the very horses that bro%,ht the*(3 3:ell, Annette, +ell, I a* better no+(3 32es, *a3a*selle, I see yo% are( O? all the servants +ill lea *erry lives here, no+/ +e shall have sin,in, an ancin, in the little hall, for the 'i,nor cannot hear %s there7an roll stories70% ovico3s co*e, *a3a*/ yes, there is 0% ovico co*e +ith the*? 2o% re*e*ber 0% ovico, *a3a*7a tall, han so*e yo%n, *an7 'i,nor Cavi,ni3s lac4%ey7+ho al+ays +ears his cloak +ith s%ch a ,race, thro+n ro%n his left ar*, an his hat set on so s*artly, all on one si e, an 73 39o,3 sai E*ily, +ho +as +earie by her lo4%acity( 3:hat, *a3a*selle, on3t yo% re*e*ber 0% ovico7 +ho ro+e the Cavaliero3s ,on ola, at the last re,atta, an +on the pri8eB An +ho %se to sin, s%ch s+eet verses abo%t Orlan os an abo%t the 1lack6a6*oors, too/ an Charly7Charly7*a,ne, yes, that +as the na*e, all %n er *y lattice, in the +est portico, on the *oon6li,ht ni,hts at VeniceB O? I have listene to hi*?376 3I fear, to thy peril, *y ,oo Annette,3 sai E*ily/ 3for it see*s his verses have stolen thy heart( 1%t let *e a vise yo%/ if it is so, keep the secret/ never let hi* kno+ it(3

3Ah7*a3a*selle?7ho+ can one keep s%ch a secret as thatB3 3:ell, Annette, I a* no+ so *%ch better, that yo% *ay leave *e(3 3O, b%t, *a3a*selle, I for,ot to ask7ho+ i yo% sleep in this reary ol cha*ber last ni,htB373As +ell as %s%al(373<i yo% hear no noisesB3739one(3739or see anythin,B3739othin,(373:ell, that is s%rprisin,?3739ot in the least; an no+ tell *e, +hy yo% ask these 4%estions(3 3O, *a3a*selle? I +o%l not tell yo% for the +orl , nor all I have hear abo%t this cha*ber, either/ it +o%l fri,hten yo% so(3 3If that is all, yo% have fri,htene *e alrea y, an *ay therefore tell *e +hat yo% kno+, +itho%t h%rtin, yo%r conscience(3 3O 0or ? they say the roo* is ha%nte , an has been so these *any years(3 3It is by a ,host, then, +ho can ra+ bolts,3 sai E*ily, en eavo%rin, to la%,h a+ay her apprehensions/ 3for I left the oor open, last ni,ht, an fo%n it fastene this *ornin,(3 Annette t%rne pale, an sai not a +or ( 3<o yo% kno+ +hether any of the servants fastene this oor in the *ornin,, before I roseB3 39o, *a3a*, that I +ill be bo%n they i not/ b%t I on3t kno+; shall I ,o an ask, *a3a*selleB3 sai Annette, *ovin, hastily to+ar s the corri or( 3'tay, Annette, I have another 4%estion to ask/ tell *e +hat yo% have hear concernin, this roo*, an +hither that stair6case lea s(3 3I +ill ,o an ask it all irectly, *a3a*/ besi es, I a* s%re *y la y +ants *e( I cannot stay no+, in ee , *a3a*(3 'he h%rrie fro* the roo*, +itho%t +aitin, E*ily3s reply, +hose heart, li,htene by the certainty, that &orano +as not arrive , allo+e her to s*ile at the

s%perstitio%s terror, +hich ha sei8e on Annette/ for, tho%,h she so*eti*es felt its infl%ence herself, she co%l s*ile at it, +hen apparent in other persons( &ontoni havin, ref%se E*ily another cha*ber, she eter*ine to bear +ith patience the evil she co%l not re*ove, an , in or er to *ake the roo* as co*fortable as possible, %npacke her books, her s+eet eli,ht in happier ays, an her soothin, reso%rce in the ho%rs of *o erate sorro+; b%t there +ere ho%rs +hen even these faile of their effect/ +hen the ,eni%s, the taste, the enth%sias* of the s%bli*est +riters +ere felt no lon,er( Her little library bein, arran,e on a hi,h chest, part of the f%rnit%re of the roo*, she took o%t her ra+in, %tensils, an +as tran4%il eno%,h to be please +ith the tho%,ht of sketchin, the s%bli*e scenes, behel fro* her +in o+s/ b%t she s% enly checke this pleas%re, re*e*berin, ho+ often she ha soothe herself by the intention of obtainin, a*%se*ent of this kin , an ha been prevente by so*e ne+ circ%*stance of *isfort%ne( 3Ho+ can I s%ffer *yself to be el% e by hope,3 sai she, 3an , beca%se Co%nt &orano is not yet arrive , feel a *o*entary happinessB Alas? +hat is it to *e, +hether he is here to6 ay, or to6*orro+, if he co*es at allB7an that he +ill co*e7it +ere +eakness to o%bt(3 To +ith ra+ her tho%,hts, ho+ever, fro* the s%b.ect of her *isfort%nes, she atte*pte to rea , b%t her attention +an ere fro* the pa,e, an , at len,th, she thre+ asi e the book, an eter*ine to e-plore the a .oinin, cha*bers of the castle( Her i*a,ination +as please +ith the vie+ of ancient ,ran e%r, an an e*otion of *elancholy a+e a+akene all its po+ers, as she +alke thro%,h roo*s, obsc%re an esolate, +here no footsteps ha passe probably for *any years, an re*e*bere the stran,e history of the for*er possessor of the e ifice( This bro%,ht to her recollection the veile pict%re, +hich ha attracte her c%riosity, on the prece in, ni,ht, an she resolve to e-a*ine it( As she passe thro%,h the cha*bers, that

le to this, she fo%n herself so*e+hat a,itate / its connection +ith the late la y of the castle, an the conversation of Annette, to,ether +ith the circ%*stance of the veil, thro+in, a *ystery over the s%b.ect, that e-cite a faint e,ree of terror( 1%t a terror of this nat%re, as it occ%pies an e-pan s the *in , an elevates it to hi,h e-pectation, is p%rely s%bli*e, an lea s %s, by a kin of fascination, to seek even the ob.ect, fro* +hich +e appear to shrink( E*ily passe on +ith falterin, steps, an havin, pa%se a *o*ent at the oor, before she atte*pte to open it, she then hastily entere the cha*ber, an +ent to+ar s the pict%re, +hich appeare to be enclose in a fra*e of %nco**on si8e, that h%n, in a ark part of the roo*( 'he pa%se a,ain, an then, +ith a ti*i han , lifte the veil/ b%t instantly let it fall7perceivin, that +hat it ha conceale +as no pict%re, an , before she co%l leave the cha*ber, she roppe senseless on the floor( :hen she recovere her recollection, the re*e*brance of +hat she ha seen ha nearly eprive her of it a secon ti*e( 'he ha scarcely stren,th to re*ove fro* the roo*, an re,ain her o+n/ an , +hen arrive there, +ante co%ra,e to re*ain alone( Horror occ%pie her *in , an e-cl% e , for a ti*e, all sense of past, an rea of f%t%re *isfort%ne; she seate herself near the case*ent, beca%se fro* thence she hear voices, tho%,h istant, on the terrace, an *i,ht see people pass, an these, triflin, as they +ere, +ere revivin, circ%*stances( :hen her spirits ha recovere their tone, she consi ere , +hether she sho%l *ention +hat she ha seen to &a a*e &ontoni, an vario%s an i*portant *otives %r,e her to o so, a*on, +hich the least +as the hope of the relief, +hich an overb%r ene *in fin s in speakin, of the s%b.ect of its interest( 1%t she +as a+are of the terrible conse4%ences, +hich s%ch a co**%nication *i,ht lea to/ an , rea in, the in iscretion of her a%nt, at len,th, en eavo%re to ar* herself +ith resol%tion to observe a profo%n silence, on the s%b.ect( &ontoni an Vere88i soon after passe %n er the case*ent, speakin, cheerf%lly, an their

voices revive her( Presently the 'i,nors 1ertolini an Cavi,ni .oine the party on the terrace, an E*ily, s%pposin, that &a a*e &ontoni +as then alone, +ent to seek her/ for the solit% e of her cha*ber, an its pro-i*ity to that +here she ha receive so severe a shock, a,ain affecte her spirit( 'he fo%n her a%nt in her ressin,6roo*, preparin, for inner( E*ily3s pale an affri,hte co%ntenance alar*e even &a a*e &ontoni/ b%t she ha s%fficient stren,th of *in to be silent on the s%b.ect, that still *a e her sh% er, an +hich +as rea y to b%rst fro* her lips( In her a%nt3s apart*ent she re*aine , till they both escen e to inner( There she *et the ,entle*en lately arrive , +ho ha a kin of b%sy serio%sness in their looks, +hich +as so*e+hat %n%s%al +ith the*, +hile their tho%,hts see*e too *%ch occ%pie by so*e eep interest, to s%ffer the* to besto+ *%ch attention either on E*ily, or &a a*e &ontoni( They spoke little, an &ontoni less( E*ily, as she no+ looke on hi*, sh% ere ( The horror of the cha*ber r%she on her *in ( 'everal ti*es the colo%r fa e fro* her cheeks, an she feare , that illness +o%l betray her e*otions, an co*pel her to leave the roo*/ b%t the stren,th of her resol%tion re*e ie the +eakness of her fra*e/ she obli,e herself to converse, an even trie to look cheerf%l( &ontoni evi ently labo%re %n er so*e ve-ation, s%ch as +o%l probably have a,itate a +eaker *in , or a *ore s%sceptible heart, b%t +hich appeare , fro* the sternness of his co%ntenance, only to ben %p his fac%lties to ener,y an fortit% e( It +as a co*fortless an silent *eal( The ,loo* of the castle see*e to have sprea its conta,ion even over the ,ay co%ntenance of Cavi,ni, an +ith this ,loo* +as *in,le a fierceness, s%ch as she ha sel o* seen hi* in icate( Co%nt &orano +as not na*e , an +hat conversation there +as, t%rne chiefly %pon the +ars, +hich at that ti*e a,itate the Italian states, the stren,th of the Venetian ar*ies, an the characters of their ,enerals(

After inner, +hen the servants ha +ith ra+n, E*ily learne , that the cavalier, +ho ha ra+n %pon hi*self the ven,eance of Orsino, ha since ie of his +o%n s, an that strict search +as still *akin, for his *%r erer( The intelli,ence see*e to ist%rb &ontoni, +ho *%se , an then en4%ire , +here Orsino ha conceale hi*self( His ,%ests, +ho all, e-cept Cavi,ni, +ere i,norant, that &ontoni ha hi*self assiste hi* to escape fro* Venice, replie , that he ha fle in the ni,ht +ith s%ch precipitation an secrecy, that his *ost inti*ate co*panions kne+ not +hither( &ontoni bla*e hi*self for havin, aske the 4%estion, for a secon tho%,ht convince hi*, that a *an of Orsino3s s%spicio%s te*per +as not likely to tr%st any of the persons present +ith the kno+le ,e of his asyl%*( He consi ere hi*self, ho+ever, as entitle to his %t*ost confi ence, an i not o%bt, that he sho%l soon hear of hi*( E*ily retire +ith &a a*e &ontoni, soon after the cloth +as +ith ra+n, an left the cavaliers to their secret co%ncils, b%t not before the si,nificant fro+ns of &ontoni ha +arne his +ife to epart, +ho passe fro* the hall to the ra*parts, an +alke , for so*e ti*e, in silence, +hich E*ily i not interr%pt, for her *in +as also occ%pie by interests of its o+n( It re4%ire all her resol%tion, to forbear co**%nicatin, to &a a*e &ontoni the terrible s%b.ect, +hich still thrille her every nerve +ith horror/ an so*eti*es she +as on the point of oin, so, *erely to obtain the relief of a *o*ent/ b%t she kne+ ho+ +holly she +as in the po+er of &ontoni, an , consi erin,, that the in iscretion of her a%nt *i,ht prove fatal to the* both, she co*pelle herself to en %re a present an an inferior evil, rather than to te*pt a f%t%re an a heavier one( A stran,e kin of presenti*ent fre4%ently, on this ay, occ%rre to her/7it see*e as if her fate reste here, an +as by so*e invisible *eans connecte +ith this castle( 30et *e not accelerate it,3 sai she to herself; 3for +hatever I *ay be reserve , let *e, at least, avoi self6 reproach(3

As she looke on the *assy +alls of the e ifice, her *elancholy spirits represente it to be her prison/ an she starte as at a ne+ s%,,estion, +hen she consi ere ho+ far istant she +as fro* her native co%ntry, fro* her little peacef%l ho*e, an fro* her only frien 7 ho+ re*ote +as her hope of happiness, ho+ feeble the e-pectation of a,ain seein, hi*? 2et the i ea of Valanco%rt, an her confi ence in his faithf%l love, ha hitherto been her only solace, an she str%,,le har to retain the*( A fe+ tears of a,ony starte to her eyes, +hich she t%rne asi e to conceal( :hile she after+ar s leane on the +all of the ra*part, so*e peasants, at a little istance, +ere seen e-a*inin, a breach, before +hich lay a heap of stones, as if to repair it, an a r%sty ol cannon, that appeare to have fallen fro* its station above( &a a*e &ontoni stoppe to speak to the *en, an en4%ire +hat they +ere ,oin, to o( 3To repair the fortifications, yo%r la yship,3 sai one of the*/ a labo%r +hich she +as so*e+hat s%rprise , that &ontoni sho%l think necessary, partic%larly since he ha never spoken of the castle, as of a place, at +hich he *eant to resi e for any consi erable ti*e/ b%t she passe on to+ar s a lofty arch, that le fro* the so%th to the east ra*part, an +hich a .oine the castle, on one si e, +hile, on the other, it s%pporte a s*all +atch6to+er, that entirely co**an e the eep valley belo+( As she approache this arch, she sa+, beyon it, +in in, alon, the +oo y escent of a istant *o%ntain, a lon, troop of horse an foot, +ho* she kne+ to be sol iers, only by the ,litter of their pikes an other ar*s, for the istance i not allo+ her to iscover the colo%r of their liveries( As she ,a8e , the van,%ar iss%e fro* the +oo s into the valley, b%t the train still contin%e to po%r over the re*ote s%**it of the *o%ntain, in en less s%ccession/ +hile, in the front, the *ilitary %nifor* beca*e istin,%ishable, an the co**an ers, ri in, first, an see*in,, by their ,est%res, to irect the *arch of those that follo+e , at len,th, approache very near to the castle(

'%ch a spectacle, in these solitary re,ions, both s%rprise an alar*e &a a*e &ontoni, an she hastene to+ar s so*e peasants, +ho +ere e*ploye in raisin, bastions before the so%th ra*part, +here the rock +as less abr%pt than else+here( These *en co%l ,ive no satisfactory ans+ers to her en4%iries, b%t, bein, ro%se by the*, ,a8e in st%pi astonish*ent %pon the lon, cavalca e( &a a*e &ontoni, then thinkin, it necessary to co**%nicate f%rther the ob.ect of her alar*, sent E*ily to say, that she +ishe to speak to &ontoni/ an erran her niece i not approve, for she rea e his fro+ns, +hich she kne+ this *essa,e +o%l provoke/ b%t she obeye in silence( As she re+ near the apart*ent, in +hich he sat +ith his ,%ests, she hear the* in earnest an lo% isp%te, an she pa%se a *o*ent, tre*blin, at the ispleas%re, +hich her s% en interr%ption +o%l occasion( In the ne-t, their voices s%nk all to,ether/ she then vent%re to open the oor, an , +hile &ontoni t%rne hastily an looke at her, +itho%t speakin,, she elivere her *essa,e( 3Tell &a a* &ontoni I a* en,a,e ,3 sai he( E*ily then tho%,ht it proper to *ention the s%b.ect of her alar*( &ontoni an his co*panions rose instantly an +ent to the +in o+s, b%t, these not affor in, the* a vie+ of the troops, they at len,th procee e to the ra*parts, +here Cavi,ni con.ect%re it to be a le,ion of con ottieri, on their *arch to+ar s &o ena( One part of the cavalca e no+ e-ten e alon, the valley, an another +o%n a*on, the *o%ntains to+ar s the north, +hile so*e troops still lin,ere on the +oo y precipices, +here the first ha appeare , so that the ,reat len,th of the procession see*e to incl% e an +hole ar*y( :hile &ontoni an his fa*ily +atche its pro,ress, they hear the so%n of tr%*pets an the clash of cy*bals in the vale, an then others, ans+erin, fro* the hei,hts( E*ily listene +ith e*otion to the shrill blast, that +oke the echoes of the *o%ntains, an &ontoni e-plaine the si,nals, +ith +hich he appeare to be +ell ac4%ainte , an +hich

*eant nothin, hostile( The %nifor*s of the troops, an the kin of ar*s they bore, confir*e to hi* the con.ect%re of Cavi,ni, an he ha the satisfaction to see the* pass by, +itho%t even stoppin, to ,a8e %pon his castle( He i not, ho+ever, leave the ra*part, till the bases of the *o%ntains ha sh%t the* fro* his vie+, an the last *%r*%r of the tr%*pet floate a+ay on the +in ( Cavi,ni an Vere88i +ere inspirite by this spectacle, +hich see*e to have ro%se all the fire of their te*per/ &ontoni t%rne into the castle in tho%,htf%l silence( E*ily3s *in ha not yet s%fficiently recovere fro* its late shock, to en %re the loneliness of her cha*ber, an she re*aine %pon the ra*parts/ for &a a*e &ontoni ha not invite her to her ressin,6roo*, +hither she ha ,one evi ently in lo+ spirits, an E*ily, fro* her late e-perience, ha lost all +ish to e-plore the ,loo*y an *ysterio%s recesses of the castle( The ra*parts, therefore, +ere al*ost her only retreat, an here she lin,ere , till the ,ray ha8e of evenin, +as a,ain sprea over the scene( The cavaliers s%ppe by the*selves, an &a a*e &ontoni re*aine in her apart*ent, +hither E*ily +ent, before she retire to her o+n( 'he fo%n her a%nt +eepin,, an in *%ch a,itation( The ten erness of E*ily +as nat%rally so soothin,, that it sel o* faile to ,ive co*fort to the roopin, heart; b%t &a a*e &ontoni3s +as torn, an the softest accents of E*ily3s voice +ere lost %pon it( :ith her %s%al elicacy, she i not appear to observe her a%nt3s istress, b%t it ,ave an invol%ntary ,entleness to her *anners, an an air of solicit% e to her co%ntenance, +hich &a a*e &ontoni +as ve-e to perceive, +ho see*e to feel the pity of her niece to be an ins%lt to her pri e, an is*isse her as soon as she properly co%l ( E*ily i not vent%re to *ention a,ain the rel%ctance she felt to her ,loo*y cha*ber, b%t she re4%este that Annette *i,ht be per*itte to re*ain +ith her till she retire to rest/ an the re4%est +as so*e+hat rel%ctantly ,rante ( Annette, ho+ever, +as no+ +ith the servants, an E*ily +ith re+ alone(

:ith li,ht an hasty steps she passe thro%,h the lon, ,alleries, +hile the feeble ,li**er of the la*p she carrie only she+e the ,loo* aro%n her, an the passin, air threatene to e-tin,%ish it( The lonely silence, that rei,ne in this part of the castle, a+e her/ no+ an then, in ee , she hear a faint peal of la%,hter rise fro* a re*ote part of the e ifice, +here the servants +ere asse*ble , b%t it +as soon lost, an a kin of breathless stillness re*aine ( As she passe the s%ite of roo*s +hich she ha visite in the *ornin,, her eyes ,lance fearf%lly on the oor, an she al*ost fancie she hear *%r*%rin, so%n s +ithin, b%t she pa%se not a *o*ent to en4%ire( Havin, reache her o+n apart*ent, +here no bla8in, +oo on the hearth issipate the ,loo*, she sat o+n +ith a book, to enliven her attention, till Annette sho%l co*e, an a fire co%l be kin le ( 'he contin%e to rea till her li,ht +as nearly e-pire , b%t Annette i not appear, an the solit% e an obsc%rity of her cha*ber a,ain affecte her spirits, the *ore, beca%se of its nearness to the scene of horror, that she ha +itnesse in the *ornin,( Gloo*y an fantastic i*a,es ca*e to her *in ( 'he looke fearf%lly to+ar s the oor of the stair6case, an then, e-a*inin, +hether it +as still fastene , fo%n that it +as so( Anable to con4%er the %neasiness she felt at the prospect of sleepin, a,ain in this re*ote an insec%re apart*ent, +hich so*e person see*e to have entere %rin, the prece in, ni,ht, her i*patience to see Annette, +ho* she ha bi en to en4%ire concernin, this circ%*stance, beca*e e-tre*ely painf%l( 'he +ishe also to 4%estion her, as to the ob.ect, +hich ha e-cite so *%ch horror in her o+n *in , an +hich Annette on the prece in, evenin, ha appeare to be in part ac4%ainte +ith, tho%,h her +or s +ere very re*ote fro* the tr%th, an it appeare plainly to E*ily, that the ,irl ha been p%rposely *isle by a false report; above all she +as s%rprise , that the oor of the cha*ber, +hich containe it, sho%l be left %n,%ar e ( '%ch an instance of ne,li,ence al*ost s%rpasse belief( 1%t her li,ht +as no+ e-pirin,/ the faint flashes it thre+ %pon

the +alls calle %p all the terrors of fancy, an she rose to fin her +ay to the habitable part of the castle, before it +as 4%ite e-tin,%ishe ( As she opene the cha*ber oor, she hear re*ote voices, an , soon after, sa+ a li,ht iss%e %pon the f%rther en of the corri or, +hich Annette an another servant approache ( 3I a* ,la yo% are co*e,3 sai E*ily; 3+hat has etaine yo% so lon,B Pray li,ht *e a fire i**e iately(3 3&y la y +ante *e, *a3a*selle,3 replie Annette in so*e conf%sion/ 3I +ill ,o an ,et the +oo (3 39o,3 sai Caterina, 3that is *y b%siness,3 an left the roo* instantly, +hile Annette +o%l have follo+e / b%t, bein, calle back, she be,an to talk very lo% , an la%,h, an see*e afrai to tr%st a pa%se of silence( Caterina soon ret%rne +ith the +oo , an then, +hen the cheerf%l bla8e once *ore ani*ate the roo*, an this servant ha +ith ra+n, E*ily aske Annette, +hether she ha *a e the en4%iry she ba e her( 32es, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3b%t not a so%l kno+s any thin, abo%t the *atter; an ol Carlo7I +atche hi* +ell, for they say he kno+s stran,e thin,s7ol Carlo looke so as I on3t kno+ ho+ to tell, an he aske *e a,ain an a,ain, if I +as s%re the oor +as ever %nfastene ( 0or , says I7a* I s%re I a* aliveB An as for *e, *a3a*, I a* all asto%n e , as one *ay say, an +o%l no *ore sleep in this cha*ber, than I +o%l on the ,reat cannon at the en of the east ra*part(3 3An +hat ob.ection have yo% to that cannon, *ore than to any of the restB3 sai E*ily s*ilin,; 3the best +o%l be rather a har be (3 32es, *a3a*selle, any of the* +o%l be har eno%,h for that *atter/ b%t they o say, that so*ethin, has been seen in the ea of ni,ht, stan in, besi e the ,reat cannon, as if to ,%ar it(3 3:ell? *y ,oo Annette, the people +ho tell s%ch stories, are happy in havin, yo% for an a% itor, for I perceive yo% believe the* all(3 3<ear *a3a*selle? I +ill she+ yo% the very cannon/ yo% can see it fro* these +in o+s?3

3:ell,3 sai E*ily, 3b%t that apparition ,%ar s it(3

oes not prove, that an

3:hat? not if I she+ yo% the very cannon? <ear *a3a*, yo% +ill believe nothin,(3 39othin, probably %pon this s%b.ect, b%t +hat I see,3 sai E*ily(73:ell, *a3a*, b%t yo% shall see it, if yo% +ill only step this +ay to the case*ent(37E*ily co%l not forbear la%,hin,, an Annette looke s%rprise ( Perceivin, her e-tre*e aptit% e to cre it the *arvello%s, E*ily forbore to *ention the s%b.ect she ha inten e , lest it sho%l overco*e her +ith i le terrors, an she be,an to speak on a lively topic7the re,attas of Venice( 3Aye, *a3a*selle, those ro+in, *atches,3 sai Annette, 3an the fine *oon6li,ht ni,hts, are all, that are +orth seein, in Venice( To be s%re the *oon is bri,hter than any I ever sa+/ an then to hear s%ch s+eet *%sic, too, as 0% ovico has often an often s%n, %n er the lattice by the +est portico? &a3a*selle, it +as 0% ovico, that tol *e abo%t that pict%re, +hich yo% +ante so to look at last ni,ht, an 763 3:hat pict%reB3 sai E*ily, +ishin, Annette to e-plain herself( 3O? that terrible pict%re +ith the black veil over it(3 32o% never sa+ it, thenB3 sai E*ily( 3:ho, I?79o, *a3a*selle, I never i ( 1%t this *ornin,,3 contin%e Annette, lo+erin, her voice, an lookin, ro%n the roo*, 3this *ornin,, as it +as broa ayli,ht, o yo% kno+, *a3a*, I took a stran,e fancy to see it, as I ha hear s%ch o hints abo%t it, an I ,ot as far as the oor, an sho%l have opene it, if it ha not been locke ?3 E*ily, en eavo%rin, to conceal the e*otion this circ%*stance occasione , en4%ire at +hat ho%r she +ent to the cha*ber, an fo%n , that it +as soon after herself ha been there( 'he also aske f%rther 4%estions, an the ans+ers convince her, that Annette, an probably her infor*er, +ere i,norant of the terrible tr%th, tho%,h in Annette3s acco%nt so*ethin, very like

the tr%th, no+ an then, *in,le +ith the falsehoo ( E*ily no+ be,an to fear, that her visit to the cha*ber ha been observe , since the oor ha been close , so i**e iately after her epart%re/ an rea e lest this sho%l ra+ %pon her the ven,eance of &ontoni( Her an-iety, also, +as e-cite to kno+ +hence, an for +hat p%rpose, the el%sive report, +hich ha been i*pose %pon Annette, ha ori,inate , since &ontoni co%l only have +ishe for silence an secrecy/ b%t she felt, that the s%b.ect +as too terrible for this lonely ho%r, an she co*pelle herself to leave it, to converse +ith Annette, +hose chat, si*ple as it +as, she preferre to the stillness of total solit% e( Th%s they sat, till near *i ni,ht, b%t not +itho%t *any hints fro* Annette, that she +ishe to ,o( The e*bers +ere no+ nearly b%rnt o%t/ an E*ily hear , at a istance, the th%n erin, so%n of the hall oors, as they +ere sh%t for the ni,ht( 'he, therefore, prepare for rest, b%t +as still %n+illin, that Annette sho%l leave her( At this instant, the ,reat bell of the portal so%n e ( They listene in fearf%l e-pectation, +hen, after a lon, pa%se of silence, it so%n e a,ain( 'oon after, they hear the noise of carria,e +heels in the co%rt6yar ( E*ily s%nk al*ost lifeless in her chair/ 3It is the Co%nt,3 sai she( 3:hat, at this ti*e of ni,ht, *a3a*?3 sai Annette; 3no, *y ear la y( 1%t, for that *atter, it is a stran,e ti*e of ni,ht for any bo y to co*e?3 39ay, pr3ythee, ,oo Annette, stay not talkin,,3 sai E*ily in a voice of a,ony73Go, pr3ythee, ,o, an see +ho it is(3 Annette left the roo*, an carrie +ith her the li,ht, leavin, E*ily in arkness, +hich a fe+ *o*ents before +o%l have terrifie her in this roo*, b%t +as no+ scarcely observe by her( 'he listene an +aite , in breathless e-pectation, an hear istant noises, b%t Annette i not ret%rn( Her patience, at len,th, e-ha%ste , she trie to fin her +ay to the corri or, b%t it +as lon, before she co%l to%ch the oor of the cha*ber, an , +hen she ha opene it, the total

arkness +itho%t *a e her fear to procee ( Voices +ere no+ hear , an E*ily even tho%,ht she istin,%ishe those of Co%nt &orano, an &ontoni( 'oon after, she hear steps approachin,, an then a ray of li,ht strea*e thro%,h the arkness, an Annette appeare , +ho* E*ily +ent to *eet( 32es, *a3a*selle,3 sai Co%nt s%re eno%,h(3 she, 3yo% +as ri,ht, it is the

3It is he?3 e-clai*e E*ily, liftin, her eyes to+ar s heaven an s%pportin, herself by Annette3s ar*( 3Goo 0or ? *y ear la y, on3t be in s%ch a )0A'TER, an look so pale, +e shall soon hear *ore(3 3:e shall, in ee ?3 sai E*ily, *ovin, as fast as she +as able to+ar s her apart*ent( 3I a* not +ell/ ,ive *e air(3 Annette opene a case*ent, an bro%,ht +ater( The faintness soon left E*ily, b%t she esire Annette +o%l not ,o till she hear fro* &ontoni( 3<ear *a3a*selle? he s%rely +ill not ist%rb yo% at this ti*e of ni,ht/ +hy he *%st think yo% are asleep(3 3'tay +ith *e till I a* so, then,3 sai E*ily, +ho felt te*porary relief fro* this s%,,estion, +hich appeare probable eno%,h, tho%,h her fears ha prevente its occ%rrin, to her( Annette, +ith secret rel%ctance, consente to stay, an E*ily +as no+ co*pose eno%,h to ask her so*e 4%estions/ a*on, others, +hether she ha seen the Co%nt( 32es, *a3a*, I sa+ hi* ali,ht, for I +ent fro* hence to the ,rate in the north t%rret, that overlooks the inner co%rt6yar , yo% kno+( There I sa+ the Co%nt3s carria,e, an the Co%nt in it, +aitin, at the ,reat oor,7for the porter +as .%st ,one to be 7+ith several *en on horseback all by the li,ht of the torches they carrie (3 E*ily +as co*pelle to s*ile( 3:hen the oor +as opene , the Co%nt sai so*ethin,, that I co%l not *ake o%t, an then ,ot o%t, an another ,entle*an +ith hi*( I tho%,ht, to be s%re, the 'i,nor +as ,one to be , an I hastene a+ay to *y la y3s ressin,6roo*, to see +hat I co%l hear( 1%t in the +ay I *et 0% ovico, an he tol *e that the 'i,nor +as %p, co%nsellin, +ith his

*aster an the other 'i,nors, in the roo* at the en of the north ,allery/ an 0% ovico hel %p his fin,er, an lai it on his lips, as *%ch as to say7There is *ore ,oin, on, than yo% think of, Annette, b%t yo% *%st hol yo%r ton,%e( An so I i hol *y ton,%e, *a3a*selle, an ca*e a+ay to tell yo% irectly(3 E*ily en4%ire +ho the cavalier +as, that acco*panie the Co%nt, an ho+ &ontoni receive the*/ b%t Annette co%l not infor* her( 30% ovico,3 she a e , 3ha .%st been to call 'i,nor &ontoni3s valet, that he *i,ht tell hi* they +ere arrive , +hen I *et hi*(3 E*ily sat *%sin,, for so*e ti*e, an then her an-iety +as so *%ch increase , that she esire Annette +o%l ,o to the servants3 hall, +here it +as possible she *i,ht hear so*ethin, of the Co%nt3s intention, respectin, his stay at the castle( 32es, *a3a*,3 sai Annette +ith rea iness/ 3b%t ho+ a* I to fin the +ay, if I leave the la*p +ith yo%B3 E*ily sai she +o%l li,ht her, an they i**e iately 4%itte the cha*ber( :hen they ha reache the top of the ,reat stair6case, E*ily recollecte , that she *i,ht be seen by the Co%nt, an , to avoi the ,reat hall, Annette con %cte her thro%,h so*e private passa,es to a back stair6case, +hich le irectly to that of the servants( As she ret%rne to+ar s her cha*ber, E*ily be,an to fear, that she *i,ht a,ain lose herself in the intricacies of the castle, an a,ain be shocke by so*e *ysterio%s spectacle/ an , tho%,h she +as alrea y perple-e by the n%*ero%s t%rnin,s, she feare to open one of the *any oors that offere ( :hile she steppe tho%,htf%lly alon,, she fancie , that she hear a lo+ *oanin, at no ,reat istance, an , havin, pa%se a *o*ent, she hear it a,ain an istinctly( 'everal oors appeare on the ri,ht han of the passa,e( 'he a vance , an listene ( :hen she ca*e to the secon , she hear a voice, apparently in co*plaint, +ithin, to +hich she contin%e to listen, afrai to open the oor,

an %n+illin, to leave it( Conv%lsive sobs follo+e , an then the piercin, accents of an a,oni8in, spirit b%rst forth( E*ily stoo appalle , an looke thro%,h the ,loo*, that s%rro%n e her, in fearf%l e-pectation( The la*entations contin%e ( Pity no+ be,an to s%b %e terror/ it +as possible she *i,ht a *inister co*fort to the s%fferer, at least, by e-pressin, sy*pathy, an she lai her han on the oor( :hile she hesitate she tho%,ht she kne+ this voice, is,%ise as it +as by tones of ,rief( Havin,, therefore, set o+n the la*p in the passa,e, she ,ently opene the oor, +ithin +hich all +as ark, e-cept that fro* an inner apart*ent a partial li,ht appeare / an she steppe softly on( 1efore she reache it, the appearance of &a a*e &ontoni, leanin, on her ressin,6table, +eepin,, an +ith a han kerchief hel to her eyes, str%ck her, an she pa%se ( 'o*e person +as seate in a chair by the fire, b%t +ho it +as she co%l not istin,%ish( He spoke, no+ an then, in a lo+ voice, that i not allo+ E*ily to hear +hat +as %ttere , b%t she tho%,ht, that &a a*e &ontoni, at those ti*es, +ept the *ore, +ho +as too *%ch occ%pie by her o+n istress, to observe E*ily, +hile the latter, tho%,h an-io%s to kno+ +hat occasione this, an +ho +as the person a *itte at so late an ho%r to her a%nt3s ressin,6roo*, forbore to a to her s%fferin,s by s%rprisin, her, or to take a vanta,e of her sit%ation, by listenin, to a private isco%rse( 'he, therefore, steppe softly back, an , after so*e f%rther iffic%lty, fo%n the +ay to her o+n cha*ber, +here nearer interests, at len,th, e-cl% e the s%rprise an concern she ha felt, respectin, &a a*e &ontoni( Annette, ho+ever, ret%rne +itho%t satisfactory intelli,ence, for the servants, a*on, +ho* she ha been, +ere either entirely i,norant, or affecte to be so, concernin, the Co%nt3s inten e stay at the castle( They co%l talk only of the steep an broken roa they ha .%st passe , an of the n%*ero%s an,ers they ha escape an e-press +on er ho+ their lor co%l choose to enco%nter all these, in the arkness of ni,ht/ for they scarcely allo+e , that the torches ha serve

for any other p%rpose b%t that of she+in, the reariness of the *o%ntains( Annette, fin in, she co%l ,ain no infor*ation, left the*, *akin, noisy petitions, for *ore +oo on the fire an *ore s%pper on the table( 3An no+, *a3a*selle,3 a e she, 3I a* so sleepy?7I a* s%re, if yo% +as so sleepy, yo% +o%l not esire *e to sit %p +ith yo%(3 E*ily, in ee , be,an to think it +as cr%el to +ish it/ she ha also +aite so lon,, +itho%t receivin, a s%**ons fro* &ontoni, that it appeare he i not *ean to ist%rb her, at this late ho%r, an she eter*ine to is*iss Annette( 1%t, +hen she a,ain looke ro%n her ,loo*y cha*ber, an recollecte certain circ%*stances, fear sei8e her spirits, an she hesitate ( 3An yet it +ere cr%el of *e to ask yo% to stay, till I a* asleep, Annette,3 sai she, 3for I fear it +ill be very lon, before I for,et *yself in sleep(3 3I are say it +ill be very lon,, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette( 31%t, before yo% ,o,3 re.oine E*ily, 3let *e ask yo%7 Ha 'i,nor &ontoni left Co%nt &orano, +hen yo% 4%itte the hallB3 3O no, *a3a*, they +ere alone to,ether(3 3Have yo% been in *y a%nt3s ressin,6roo*, since yo% left *eB3 39o, *a3a*selle, I calle at the oor as I passe , b%t it +as fastene / so I tho%,ht *y la y +as ,one to be (3 3:ho, then, +as +ith yo%r la y .%st no+B3 sai E*ily, for,ettin,, in s%rprise, her %s%al pr% ence( 39obo y, I believe, *a3a*,3 replie Annette, 3nobo y has been +ith her, I believe, since I left yo%(3 E*ily took no f%rther notice of the s%b.ect, an , after so*e str%,,le +ith i*a,inary fears, her ,oo nat%re prevaile over the* so far, that she is*isse Annette for the ni,ht( 'he then sat, *%sin, %pon her o+n circ%*stances an those of &a a*e &ontoni, till her eye reste on the *iniat%re pict%re, +hich she ha

fo%n , after her father3s eath, a*on, the papers he ha en.oine her to estroy( It +as open %pon the table, before her, a*on, so*e loose ra+in,s, havin,, +ith the*, been taken o%t of a little bo- by E*ily, so*e ho%rs before( The si,ht of it calle %p *any interestin, reflections, b%t the *elancholy s+eetness of the co%ntenance soothe the e*otions, +hich these ha occasione ( It +as the sa*e style of co%ntenance as that of her late father, an , +hile she ,a8e on it +ith fon ness on this acco%nt, she even fancie a rese*blance in the feat%res( 1%t this tran4%illity +as s% enly interr%pte , +hen she recollecte the +or s in the *an%script, that ha been fo%n +ith this pict%re, an +hich ha for*erly occasione her so *%ch o%bt an horror( At len,th, she ro%se herself fro* the eep reverie, into +hich this re*e*brance ha thro+n her/ b%t, +hen she rose to %n ress, the silence an solit% e, to +hich she +as left, at this *i ni,ht ho%r, for not even a istant so%n +as no+ hear , conspire +ith the i*pression the s%b.ect she ha been consi erin, ha ,iven to her *in , to appall her( Annette3s hints, too, concernin, this cha*ber, si*ple as they +ere, ha not faile to affect her, since they follo+e a circ%*stance of pec%liar horror, +hich she herself ha +itnesse , an since the scene of this +as a cha*ber nearly a .oinin, her o+n( The oor of the stair6case +as, perhaps, a s%b.ect of *ore reasonable alar*, an she no+ be,an to apprehen , s%ch +as the aptit% e of her fears, that this stair6case ha so*e private co**%nication +ith the apart*ent, +hich she sh% ere even to re*e*ber( <eter*ine not to %n ress, she lay o+n to sleep in her clothes, +ith her late father3s o,, the faithf%l &A9CHO9, at the foot of the be , +ho* she consi ere as a kin of ,%ar ( Th%s circ%*stance , she trie to banish reflection, b%t her b%sy fancy +o%l still hover over the s%b.ects of her interest, an she hear the clock of the castle strike t+o, before she close her eyes( )ro* the ist%rbe sl%*ber, into +hich she then s%nk, she +as soon a+akene by a noise, +hich see*e to

arise +ithin her cha*ber/ b%t the silence, that prevaile , as she fearf%lly listene , incline her to believe, that she ha been alar*e by s%ch so%n s as so*eti*es occ%r in rea*s, an she lai her hea a,ain %pon the pillo+( A ret%rn of the noise a,ain ist%rbe her/ it see*e to co*e fro* that part of the roo*, +hich co**%nicate +ith the private stair6case, an she instantly re*e*bere the o circ%*stance of the oor havin, been fastene , %rin, the prece in, ni,ht, by so*e %nkno+n han ( Her late alar*in, s%spicion, concernin, its co**%nication, also occ%rre to her( Her heart beca*e faint +ith terror( Half raisin, herself fro* the be , an ,ently ra+in, asi e the c%rtain, she looke to+ar s the oor of the stair6case, b%t the la*p, that b%rnt on the hearth, sprea so feeble a li,ht thro%,h the apart*ent, that the re*ote parts of it +ere lost in sha o+( The noise, ho+ever, +hich, she +as convince , ca*e fro* the oor, contin%e ( It see*e like that *a e by the %n ra+in, of r%sty bolts, an often cease , an +as then rene+e *ore ,ently, as if the han , that occasione it, +as restraine by a fear of iscovery( :hile E*ily kept her eyes fi-e on the spot, she sa+ the oor *ove, an then slo+ly open, an perceive so*ethin, enter the roo*, b%t the e-tre*e %skiness prevente her istin,%ishin, +hat it +as( Al*ost faintin, +ith terror, she ha yet s%fficient co**an over herself, to check the shriek, that +as escapin, fro* her lips, an , lettin, the c%rtain rop fro* her han , contin%e to observe in silence the *otions of the *ysterio%s for* she sa+( It see*e to ,li e alon, the re*ote obsc%rity of the apart*ent, then pa%se , an , as it approache the hearth, she perceive , in the stron,er li,ht, +hat appeare to be a h%*an fi,%re( Certain re*e*brances no+ str%ck %pon her heart, an al*ost s%b %e the feeble re*ains of her spirits/ she contin%e , ho+ever, to +atch the fi,%re, +hich re*aine for so*e ti*e *otionless, b%t then, a vancin, slo+ly to+ar s the be , stoo silently at the feet, +here the c%rtains, bein, a little open, allo+e her

still to see it/ terror, ho+ever, ha no+ eprive her of the po+er of iscri*ination, as +ell as of that of %tterance( Havin, contin%e there a *o*ent, the for* retreate to+ar s the hearth, +hen it took the la*p, hel it %p, s%rveye the cha*ber, for a fe+ *o*ents, an then a,ain a vance to+ar s the be ( The li,ht at that instant a+akenin, the o,, that ha slept at E*ily3s feet, he barke lo% ly, an , .%*pin, to the floor, fle+ at the stran,er, +ho str%ck the ani*al s*artly +ith a sheathe s+or , an , sprin,in, to+ar s the be , E*ily iscovere 7Co%nt &orano? 'he ,a8e at hi* for a *o*ent in speechless affri,ht, +hile he, thro+in, hi*self on his knee at the be 6si e, beso%,ht her to fear nothin,, an , havin, thro+n o+n his s+or , +o%l have taken her han , +hen the fac%lties, that terror ha s%spen e , s% enly ret%rne , an she spr%n, fro* the be , in the ress, +hich s%rely a kin of prophetic apprehension ha prevente her, on this ni,ht, fro* thro+in, asi e( &orano rose, follo+e her to the oor, thro%,h +hich he ha entere , an ca%,ht her han , as she reache the top of the stair6case, b%t not before she ha iscovere , by the ,lea* of a la*p, another *an half6+ay o+n the steps( 'he no+ screa*e in espair, an , believin, herself ,iven %p by &ontoni, sa+, in ee , no possibility of escape( The Co%nt, +ho still hel her han , le her back into the cha*ber( 3:hy all this terrorB3 sai he, in a tre*%lo%s voice( 3Hear *e, E*ily; I co*e not to alar* yo%/ no, by Heaven? I love yo% too +ell7too +ell for *y o+n peace(3 E*ily looke at hi* for a *o*ent, in fearf%l o%bt( 3Then leave *e, sir,3 sai she, 3leave *e instantly(3 3Hear *e, E*ily,3 res%*e &orano, 3hear *e? I love, an a* in espair7yes7in espair( Ho+ can I ,a8e %pon yo%, an kno+, that it is, perhaps, for the last ti*e, +itho%t s%fferin, all the phrensy of espairB 1%t

it shall not be so/ yo% shall be *ine, in spite of &ontoni an all his villany(3 3In spite of &ontoni?3 crie E*ily ea,erly; 3+hat is it I hearB3 32o% hear, that &ontoni is a villain,3 e-clai*e &orano +ith vehe*ence,73a villain +ho +o%l have sol yo% to *y love?7:ho763 3An is he less, +ho +o%l have bo%,ht *eB3 sai E*ily, fi-in, on the Co%nt an eye of cal* conte*pt( 30eave the roo*, sir, instantly,3 she contin%e in a voice, tre*blin, bet+een .oy an fear, 3or I +ill alar* the fa*ily, an yo% *ay receive that fro* 'i,nor &ontoni3s ven,eance, +hich I have vainly s%pplicate fro* his pity(3 1%t E*ily kne+, that she +as beyon the hearin, of those, +ho *i,ht protect her( 32o% can never hope any thin, fro* his pity,3 sai &orano, 3he has %se *e infa*o%sly, an *y ven,eance shall p%rs%e hi*( An for yo%, E*ily, for yo%, he has ne+ plans *ore profitable than the last, no o%bt(3 The ,lea* of hope, +hich the Co%nt3s for*er speech ha revive , +as no+ nearly e-tin,%ishe by the latter/ an , +hile E*ily3s co%ntenance betraye the e*otions of her *in , he en eavo%re to take a vanta,e of the iscovery( 3I lose ti*e,3 sai he; 3I ca*e not to e-clai* a,ainst &ontoni/ I ca*e to solicit, to plea 7to E*ily/ to tell her all I s%ffer, to entreat her to save *e fro* espair, an herself fro* estr%ction( E*ily? the sche*es of &ontoni are insearchable, b%t, I +arn yo%, they are terrible/ he has no principle, +hen interest, or a*bition lea s( Can I love yo%, an aban on yo% to his po+erB )ly, then, fly fro* this ,loo*y prison, +ith a lover, +ho a ores yo%? I have bribe a servant of the castle to open the ,ates, an , before to*orro+3s a+n, yo% shall be far on the +ay to Venice(3 E*ily, overco*e by the s% en shock she ha receive , at the *o*ent, too, +hen she ha be,%n to hope for better ays, no+ tho%,ht she sa+ estr%ction s%rro%n her on every si e( Anable to reply, an al*ost

to think, she thre+ herself into a chair, pale an breathless( That &ontoni ha for*erly sol her to &orano, +as very probable/ that he ha no+ +ith ra+n his consent to the *arria,e, +as evi ent fro* the Co%nt3s present con %ct/ an it +as nearly certain, that a sche*e of stron,er interest only co%l have in %ce the selfish &ontoni to fore,o a plan, +hich he ha hitherto so stren%o%sly p%rs%e ( These reflections *a e her tre*ble at the hints, +hich &orano ha .%st ,iven, +hich she no lon,er hesitate to believe/ an , +hile she shr%nk fro* the ne+ scenes of *isery an oppression, that *i,ht a+ait her in the castle of A olpho, she +as co*pelle to observe, that al*ost her only *eans of escapin, the* +as by s%b*ittin, herself to the protection of this *an, +ith +ho* evils *ore certain an not less terrible appeare , 7evils, %pon +hich she co%l not en %re to pa%se for an instant( Her silence, tho%,h it +as that of a,ony, enco%ra,e the hopes of &orano, +ho +atche her co%ntenance +ith i*patience, took a,ain the resistin, han she ha +ith ra+n, an , as he presse it to his heart, a,ain con.%re her to eter*ine i**e iately( 3Every *o*ent +e lose, +ill *ake o%r epart%re *ore an,ero%s,3 sai he; 3these fe+ *o*ents lost *ay enable &ontoni to overtake %s(3 3I beseech yo%, sir, be silent,3 sai E*ily faintly; 3I a* in ee very +retche , an +retche I *%st re*ain( 0eave *e7I co**an yo%, leave *e to *y fate(3 39ever?3 crie the Co%nt vehe*ently; 3let *e perish first? 1%t for,ive *y violence? the tho%,ht of losin, yo% is *a ness( 2o% cannot be i,norant of &ontoni3s character, yo% *ay be i,norant of his sche*es7nay, yo% *%st be so, or yo% +o%l not hesitate bet+een *y love an his po+er(3 39or o I hesitate,3 sai E*ily( 30et %s ,o, then,3 sai &orano, ea,erly kissin, her han , an risin,, 3*y carria,e +aits, belo+ the castle +alls(3

32o% *istake *e, sir,3 sai E*ily( 3Allo+ *e to thank yo% for the interest yo% e-press in *y +elfare, an to eci e by *y o+n choice( I shall re*ain %n er the protection of 'i,nor &ontoni(3 3An er his protection?3 e-clai*e &orano, pro% ly, 3his PROTECTIO9? E*ily, +hy +ill yo% s%ffer yo%rself to be th%s el% e B I have alrea y tol yo% +hat yo% have to e-pect fro* his PROTECTIO9(3 3An par on *e, sir, if, in this instance, I o%bt *ere assertion, an , to be convince , re4%ire so*ethin, approachin, to proof(3 3I have no+ neither the ti*e, or the *eans of a proof,3 replie the Co%nt( %cin,

39or have I, sir, the inclination to listen to it, if yo% ha (3 31%t yo% trifle +ith *y patience an *y istress,3 contin%e &orano( 3Is a *arria,e +ith a *an, +ho a ores yo%, so very terrible in yo%r eyes, that yo% +o%l prefer to it all the *isery, to +hich &ontoni *ay con e*n yo% in this re*ote prisonB 'o*e +retch *%st have stolen those affections, +hich o%,ht to be *ine, or yo% +o%l not th%s obstinately persist in ref%sin, an offer, that +o%l place yo% beyon the reach of oppression(3 &orano +alke abo%t the roo*, +ith 4%ick steps, an a ist%rbe air( 3This isco%rse, Co%nt &orano, s%fficiently proves, that *y affections o%,ht not to be yo%rs,3 sai E*ily, *il ly, 3an this con %ct, that I sho%l not be place beyon the reach of oppression, so lon, as I re*aine in yo%r po+er( If yo% +ish *e to believe other+ise, cease to oppress *e any lon,er by yo%r presence( If yo% ref%se this, yo% +ill co*pel *e to e-pose yo% to the resent*ent of 'i,nor &ontoni(3 32es, let hi* co*e,3 crie &orano f%rio%sly, 3an brave &2 resent*ent? 0et hi* are to face once *ore the *an he has so co%ra,eo%sly in.%re / an,er shall teach hi* *orality, an ven,eance .%stice7let hi* co*e, an receive *y s+or in his heart?3

The vehe*ence, +ith +hich this +as %ttere , ,ave E*ily ne+ ca%se of alar*, +ho arose fro* her chair, b%t her tre*blin, fra*e ref%se to s%pport her, an she res%*e her seat/7the +or s ie on her lips, an , +hen she looke +istf%lly to+ar s the oor of the corri or, +hich +as locke , she consi ere it +as i*possible for her to leave the apart*ent, before &orano +o%l be apprise of, an able to co%nteract, her intention( :itho%t observin, her a,itation, he contin%e to pace the roo* in the %t*ost pert%rbation of spirits( His arkene co%ntenance e-presse all the ra,e of .ealo%sy an reven,e/ an a person, +ho ha seen his feat%res %n er the s*ile of ineffable ten erness, +hich he so lately ass%*e , +o%l no+ scarcely have believe the* to be the sa*e( 3Co%nt &orano,3 sai E*ily, at len,th recoverin, her voice, 3cal*, I entreat yo%, these transports, an listen to reason, if yo% +ill not to pity( 2o% have e4%ally *isplace yo%r love, an yo%r hatre (7I never co%l have ret%rne the affection, +ith +hich yo% hono%r *e, an certainly have never enco%ra,e it/ neither has 'i,nor &ontoni in.%re yo%, for yo% *%st have kno+n, that he ha no ri,ht to ispose of *y han , ha he even possesse the po+er to o so( 0eave, then, leave the castle, +hile yo% *ay +ith safety( 'pare yo%rself the rea f%l conse4%ences of an %n.%st reven,e, an the re*orse of havin, prolon,e to *e these *o*ents of s%fferin,(3 3Is it for *ine, or for &ontoni3s safety, that yo% are th%s alar*e B3 sai &orano, col ly, an t%rnin, to+ar s her +ith a look of acri*ony( 3)or both,3 replie E*ily, in a tre*blin, voice( 3An.%st reven,e?3 crie the Co%nt, res%*in, the abr%pt tones of passion( 3:ho, that looks %pon that face, can i*a,ine a p%nish*ent a e4%ate to the in.%ry he +o%l have one *eB 2es, I +ill leave the castle/ b%t it shall not be alone( I have trifle too lon,( 'ince *y prayers an *y s%fferin,s cannot prevail, force shall( I have people in +aitin,, +ho shall convey yo% to *y

carria,e( 2o%r voice +ill brin, no s%cco%r/ it cannot be hear fro* this re*ote part of the castle/ s%b*it, therefore, in silence, to ,o +ith *e(3 This +as an %nnecessary in.%nction, at present/ for E*ily +as too certain, that her call +o%l avail her nothin,/ an terror ha so entirely isor ere her tho%,hts, that she kne+ not ho+ to plea to &orano, b%t sat, *%te an tre*blin,, in her chair, till he a vance to lift her fro* it, +hen she s% enly raise herself, an , +ith a rep%lsive ,est%re, an a co%ntenance of force serenity, sai , 3Co%nt &orano? I a* no+ in yo%r po+er/ b%t yo% +ill observe, that this is not the con %ct +hich can +in the estee* yo% appear so solicito%s to obtain, an that yo% are preparin, for yo%rself a loa of re*orse, in the *iseries of a frien less orphan, +hich can never leave yo%( <o yo% believe yo%r heart to be, in ee , so har ene , that yo% can look +itho%t e*otion on the s%fferin,, to +hich yo% +o%l con e*n *eB376 E*ily +as interr%pte by the ,ro+lin, of the o,, +ho no+ ca*e a,ain fro* the be , an &orano looke to+ar s the oor of the stair6case, +here no person appearin,, he calle alo% , 3Cesario?3 3E*ily,3 sai the Co%nt, 3+hy +ill yo% re %ce *e to a opt this con %ctB Ho+ *%ch *ore +illin,ly +o%l I pers%a e, than co*pel yo% to beco*e *y +ife? b%t, by Heaven? I +ill not leave yo% to be sol by &ontoni( 2et a tho%,ht ,lances across *y *in , that brin,s *a ness +ith it( I kno+ not ho+ to na*e it( It is prepostero%s7 it cannot be(72et yo% tre*ble7yo% ,ro+ pale? It is? it is so/7yo%7yo%7love &ontoni?3 crie &orano, ,raspin, E*ily3s +rist, an sta*pin, his foot on the floor( An invol%ntary air of s%rprise appeare on her co%ntenance( 3If yo% have in ee believe so,3 sai she, 3believe so still(3 3That look, those +or s confir* it,3 e-clai*e &orano, f%rio%sly( 39o, no, no, &ontoni ha a richer pri8e in vie+, than ,ol ( 1%t he shall not live to tri%*ph over *e?7This very instant763

He +as interr%pte by the lo% barkin, of the o,( 3'tay, Co%nt &orano,3 sai E*ily, terrifie by his +or s, an by the f%ry e-presse in his eyes, 3I +ill save yo% fro* this error(7Of all *en, 'i,nor &ontoni is not yo%r rival/ tho%,h, if I fin all other *eans of savin, *yself vain, I +ill try +hether *y voice *ay not aro%se his servants to *y s%cco%r(3 3Assertion,3 replie &orano, 3at s%ch a *o*ent, is not to be epen e %pon( Ho+ co%l I s%ffer *yself to o%bt, even for an instant, that he co%l see yo%, an not loveB 71%t *y first care shall be to convey yo% fro* the castle( Cesario? ho,7Cesario?3 A *an no+ appeare at the oor of the stair6case, an other steps +ere hear ascen in,( E*ily %ttere a lo% shriek, as &orano h%rrie her across the cha*ber, an , at the sa*e *o*ent, she hear a noise at the oor, that opene %pon the corri or( The Co%nt pa%se an instant, as if his *in +as s%spen e bet+een love an the esire of ven,eance/ an , in that instant, the oor ,ave +ay, an &ontoni, follo+e by the ol ste+ar an several other persons, b%rst into the roo*( 3<ra+?3 crie &ontoni to the Co%nt, +ho i not pa%se for a secon bi in,, b%t, ,ivin, E*ily into the han s of the people, that appeare fro* the stair6case, t%rne fiercely ro%n ( 3This in thine heart, villain?3 sai he, as he *a e a thr%st at &ontoni +ith his s+or , +ho parrie the blo+, an ai*e another, +hile so*e of the persons, +ho ha follo+e hi* into the roo*, en eavo%re to part the co*batants, an others resc%e E*ily fro* the han s of &orano3s servants( 3:as it for this, Co%nt &orano,3 sai &ontoni, in a cool sarcastic tone of voice, 3that I receive yo% %n er *y roof, an per*itte yo%, tho%,h *y eclare ene*y, to re*ain %n er it for the ni,htB :as it, that yo% *i,ht repay *y hospitality +ith the treachery of a fien , an rob *e of *y nieceB3 3:ho talks of treacheryB3 sai &orano, in a tone of %nrestraine vehe*ence( 30et hi* that oes, she+ an %nbl%shin, face of innocence( &ontoni, yo% are a

villain? If there is treachery in this affair, look to yo%rself as the a%thor of it( I)7 o I sayB I7+ho* yo% have +ron,e +ith %ne-a*ple baseness, +ho* yo% have in.%re al*ost beyon re ress? 1%t +hy o I %se +or sB7Co*e on, co+ar , an receive .%stice at *y han s?3 3Co+ar ?3 crie &ontoni, b%rstin, fro* the people +ho hel hi*, an r%shin, on the Co%nt, +hen they both retreate into the corri or, +here the fi,ht contin%e so esperately, that none of the spectators are approach the*, &ontoni s+earin,, that the first +ho interfere , sho%l fall by his s+or ( @ealo%sy an reven,e lent all their f%ry to &orano, +hile the s%perior skill an the te*perance of &ontoni enable hi* to +o%n his a versary, +ho* his servants no+ atte*pte to sei8e, b%t he +o%l not be restraine , an , re,ar less of his +o%n , contin%e to fi,ht( He see*e to be insensible both of pain an loss of bloo , an alive only to the ener,y of his passions( &ontoni, on the contrary, persevere in the co*bat, +ith a fierce, yet +ary, valo%r/ he receive the point of &orano3s s+or on his ar*, b%t, al*ost in the sa*e instant, severely +o%n e an isar*e hi*( The Co%nt then fell back into the ar*s of his servant, +hile &ontoni hel his s+or over hi*, an ba e hi* ask his life( &orano, sinkin, %n er the an,%ish of his +o%n , ha scarcely replie by a ,est%re, an by a fe+ +or s, feebly artic%late , that he +o%l not7+hen he fainte / an &ontoni +as then ,oin, to have pl%n,e the s+or into his breast, as he lay senseless, b%t his ar* +as arreste by Cavi,ni( To the interr%ption he yiel e +itho%t *%ch iffic%lty, b%t his co*ple-ion chan,e al*ost to blackness, as he looke %pon his fallen a versary, an or ere , that he sho%l be carrie instantly fro* the castle( In the *ean ti*e, E*ily, +ho ha been +ith6hel fro* leavin, the cha*ber %rin, the affray, no+ ca*e for+ar into the corri or, an plea e a ca%se of co**on h%*anity, +ith the feelin,s of the +ar*est benevolence, +hen she entreate &ontoni to allo+ &orano the assistance in the castle, +hich his sit%ation

re4%ire ( 1%t &ontoni, +ho ha sel o* listene to pity, no+ see*e rapacio%s of ven,eance, an , +ith a *onster3s cr%elty, a,ain or ere his efeate ene*y to be taken fro* the castle, in his present state, tho%,h there +ere only the +oo s, or a solitary nei,hbo%rin, cotta,e, to shelter hi* fro* the ni,ht( The Co%nt3s servants havin, eclare , that they +o%l not *ove hi* till he revive , &ontoni3s stoo inactive, Cavi,ni re*onstratin,, an E*ily, s%perior to &ontoni3s *enaces, ,ivin, +ater to &orano, an irectin, the atten ants to bin %p his +o%n ( At len,th, &ontoni ha leis%re to feel pain fro* his o+n h%rt, an he +ith re+ to e-a*ine it( The Co%nt, *ean+hile, havin, slo+ly recovere , the first ob.ect he sa+, on raisin, his eyes, +as E*ily, ben in, over hi* +ith a co%ntenance stron,ly e-pressive of solicit% e( He s%rveye her +ith a look of an,%ish( 3I have eserve this,3 sai he, 3b%t not fro* &ontoni( It is fro* yo%, E*ily, that I have eserve p%nish*ent, yet I receive only pity?3 He pa%se , for he ha spoken +ith iffic%lty( After a *o*ent, he procee e ( 3I *%st resi,n yo%, b%t not to &ontoni( )or,ive *e the s%fferin,s I have alrea y occasione yo%? 1%t for THAT villain7his infa*y shall not ,o %np%nishe ( Carry *e fro* this place,3 sai he to his servants( 3I a* in no con ition to travel; yo% *%st, therefore, take *e to the nearest cotta,e, for I +ill not pass the ni,ht %n er his roof, altho%,h I *ay e-pire on the +ay fro* it(3 Cesario propose to ,o o%t, an en4%ire for a cotta,e, that *i,ht receive his *aster, before he atte*pte to re*ove hi*; b%t &orano +as i*patient to be ,one/ the an,%ish of his *in see*e to be even ,reater than that of his +o%n , an he re.ecte , +ith is ain, the offer of Cavi,ni to entreat &ontoni, that he *i,ht be s%ffere to pass the ni,ht in the castle( Cesario +as no+ ,oin, to call %p the carria,e to the ,reat ,ate, b%t the Co%nt forba e hi*( 3I cannot bear the *otion of a carria,e,3

sai he; 3call so*e others of *y people, that they *ay assist in bearin, *e in their ar*s(3 At len,th, ho+ever, &orano s%b*itte to reason, an consente , that Cesario sho%l first prepare so*e cotta,e to receive hi*( E*ily, no+ that he ha recovere his senses, +as abo%t to +ith ra+ fro* the corri or, +hen a *essa,e fro* &ontoni co**an e her to o so, an also that the Co%nt, if he +as not alrea y ,one, sho%l 4%it the castle i**e iately( In i,nation flashe fro* &orano3s eyes, an fl%she his cheeks( 3Tell &ontoni,3 sai he, 3that I shall ,o +hen it s%its *y o+n convenience/ that I 4%it the castle, he ares to call his, as I +o%l the nest of a serpent, an that this is not the last he shall hear fro* *e( Tell hi*, I +ill not leave A9OTHER *%r er on his conscience, if I can help it(3 3Co%nt &orano? Cavi,ni( o yo% kno+ +hat yo% sayB3 sai

32es, 'i,nor, I kno+ +ell +hat I say, an he +ill %n erstan +ell +hat I *ean( His conscience +ill assist his %n erstan in,, on this occasion(3 3Co%nt &orano,3 sai Vere88i, +ho ha hitherto silently observe hi*, 3 are a,ain to ins%lt *y frien , an I +ill pl%n,e this s+or in yo%r bo y(3 3It +o%l be an action +orthy the frien of a villain?3 sai &orano, as the stron, i*p%lse of his in i,nation enable hi* to raise hi*self fro* the ar*s of his servants/ b%t the ener,y +as *o*entary, an he s%nk back, e-ha%ste by the effort( &ontoni3s people, *ean+hile, hel Vere88i, +ho see*e incline , even in this instant, to e-ec%te his threat/ an Cavi,ni, +ho +as not so eprave as to abet the co+ar ly *ali,nity of Vere88i, en eavo%re to +ith ra+ hi* fro* the corri or/ an E*ily, +ho* a co*passionate interest ha th%s lon, etaine , +as no+ 4%ittin, it in ne+ terror, +hen the s%pplicatin, voice of &orano arreste her, an , by a feeble ,est%re, he beckone her to ra+ nearer( 'he a vance +ith ti*i steps, b%t the faintin,

lan,%or of his co%ntenance a,ain a+akene her pity, an overca*e her terror( 3I a* ,oin, fro* hence for ever,3 sai he; 3perhaps, I shall never see yo% a,ain( I +o%l carry +ith *e yo%r for,iveness, E*ily/ nay *ore7I +o%l also carry yo%r ,oo +ishes(3 32o% have *y for,iveness, then,3 sai E*ily, 3an *y sincere +ishes for yo%r recovery(3 3An only for *y recoveryB3 sai &orano, +ith a si,h( 3)or yo%r ,eneral +elfare,3 a e E*ily( 3Perhaps I o%,ht to be contente +ith this,3 he res%*e / 3I certainly have not eserve *ore/ b%t I +o%l ask yo%, E*ily, so*eti*es to think of *e, an , for,ettin, *y offence, to re*e*ber only the passion +hich occasione it( I +o%l ask, alas? i*possibilities; I +o%l ask yo% to love *e? At this *o*ent, +hen I a* abo%t to part +ith yo%, an that, perhaps, for ever, I a* scarcely *yself( E*ily7*ay yo% never kno+ the tort%re of a passion like *ine? :hat o I sayB O, that, for *e, yo% *i,ht be sensible of s%ch a passion?3 E*ily looke i*patient to be ,one( 3I entreat yo%, Co%nt, to cons%lt yo%r o+n safety,3 sai she, 3an lin,er here no lon,er( I tre*ble for the conse4%ences of 'i,nor Vere88i3s passion, an of &ontoni3s resent*ent, sho%l he learn that yo% are still here(3 &orano3s face +as oversprea +ith a *o*entary cri*son, his eyes sparkle , b%t he see*e en eavo%rin, to con4%er his e*otion, an replie in a cal* voice, 3'ince yo% are intereste for *y safety, I +ill re,ar it, an be ,one( 1%t, before I ,o, let *e a,ain hear yo% say, that yo% +ish *e +ell,3 sai he, fi-in, on her an earnest an *o%rnf%l look( E*ily repeate her ass%rances( He took her han , +hich she scarcely atte*pte to +ith ra+, an p%t it to his lips( 3)are+ell, Co%nt &orano?3 sai E*ily/ an she t%rne to ,o, +hen a secon *essa,e arrive fro* &ontoni, an she a,ain con.%re &orano, as he val%e his life, to 4%it the castle i**e iately( He re,ar e her in silence, +ith a look of fi-e espair( 1%t she ha no

ti*e to enforce her co*passionate entreaties, an , not arin, to isobey the secon co**an of &ontoni, she left the corri or, to atten hi*( He +as in the ce ar parlo%r, that a .oine the ,reat hall, lai %pon a co%ch, an s%fferin, a e,ree of an,%ish fro* his +o%n , +hich fe+ persons co%l have is,%ise , as he i ( His co%ntenance, +hich +as stern, b%t cal*, e-presse the ark passion of reven,e, b%t no sy*pto* of pain/ bo ily pain, in ee , he ha al+ays espise , an ha yiel e only to the stron, an terrible ener,ies of the so%l( He +as atten e by ol Carlo an by 'i,nor 1ertolini, b%t &a a*e &ontoni +as not +ith hi*( E*ily tre*ble , as she approache an receive his severe reb%ke, for not havin, obeye his first s%**ons/ an perceive , also, that he attrib%te her stay in the corri or to a *otive, that ha not even occ%rre to her artless *in ( 3This is an instance of fe*ale caprice,3 sai he, 3+hich I o%,ht to have foreseen( Co%nt &orano, +hose s%it yo% obstinately re.ecte , so lon, as it +as co%ntenance by *e, yo% favo%r, it see*s, since yo% fin I have is*isse hi*(3 E*ily looke astonishe ( 3I o not co*prehen yo%, sir,3 sai she; 32o% certainly o not *ean to i*ply, that the esi,n of the Co%nt to visit the o%ble6cha*ber, +as fo%n e %pon any approbation of *ine(3 3To that I reply nothin,,3 sai &ontoni/ 3b%t it *%st certainly be a *ore than co**on interest, that *a e yo% plea so +ar*ly in his ca%se, an that co%l etain yo% th%s lon, in his presence, contrary to *y e-press or er7in the presence of a *an, +ho* yo% have hitherto, on all occasions, *ost scr%p%lo%sly sh%nne ?3 3I fear, sir, it +as a *ore than co**on interest, that etaine *e,3 sai E*ily cal*ly/ 3for of late I have been incline to think, that of co*passion is an %nco**on one( 1%t ho+ co%l I, co%l 2OA, sir, +itness Co%nt &orano3s eplorable con ition, an not +ish to relieve itB3

32o% a hypocrisy to caprice,3 sai &ontoni, fro+nin,, 3an an atte*pt at satire, to both/ b%t, before yo% %n ertake to re,%late the *orals of other persons, yo% sho%l learn an practise the virt%es, +hich are in ispensable to a +o*an7sincerity, %nifor*ity of con %ct an obe ience(3 E*ily, +ho ha al+ays en eavo%re to re,%late her con %ct by the nicest la+s, an +hose *in +as finely sensible, not only of +hat is .%st in *orals, b%t of +hatever is bea%tif%l in the fe*ale character, +as shocke by these +or s/ yet, in the ne-t *o*ent, her heart s+elle +ith the conscio%sness of havin, eserve praise, instea of cens%re, an she +as pro% ly silent( &ontoni, ac4%ainte +ith the elicacy of her *in , kne+ ho+ keenly she +o%l feel his reb%ke/ b%t he +as a stran,er to the l%-%ry of conscio%s +orth, an , therefore, i not foresee the ener,y of that senti*ent, +hich no+ repelle his satire( T%rnin, to a servant +ho ha lately entere the roo*, he aske +hether &orano ha 4%itte the castle( The *an ans+ere , that his servants +ere then re*ovin, hi*, on a co%ch, to a nei,hbo%rin, cotta,e( &ontoni see*e so*e+hat appease , on hearin, this/ an , +hen 0% ovico appeare , a fe+ *o*ents after, an sai , that &orano +as ,one, he tol E*ily she *i,ht retire to her apart*ent( 'he +ith re+ +illin,ly fro* his presence/ b%t the tho%,ht of passin, the re*ain er of the ni,ht in a cha*ber, +hich the oor fro* the stair6case *a e liable to the intr%sion of any person, no+ alar*e her *ore than ever, an she eter*ine to call at &a a*e &ontoni3s roo*, an re4%est, that Annette *i,ht be per*itte to be +ith her( On reachin, the ,reat ,allery, she hear voices see*in,ly in isp%te, an , her spirits no+ apt to take alar*, she pa%se , b%t soon istin,%ishe so*e +or s of Cavi,ni an Vere88i, an +ent to+ar s the*, in the hope of conciliatin, their ifference( They +ere alone( Vere88i3s face +as still fl%she +ith ra,e/ an , as the first ob.ect of it +as no+ re*ove fro* hi*, he appeare +illin, to transfer his resent*ent to Cavi,ni,

+ho see*e to be e-post%latin,, rather than isp%tin,, +ith hi*( Vere88i +as protestin,, that he +o%l instantly infor* &ontoni of the ins%lt, +hich &orano ha thro+n o%t a,ainst hi*, an above all, that, +herein he ha acc%se hi* of *%r er( 3There is no ans+erin,,3 sai Cavi,ni, 3for the +or s of a *an in a passion/ little serio%s re,ar o%,ht to be pai to the*( If yo% persist in yo%r resol%tion, the conse4%ences *ay be fatal to both( :e have no+ *ore serio%s interests to p%rs%e, than those of a petty reven,e(3 E*ily .oine her entreaties to Cavi,ni3s ar,%*ents, an they, at len,th, prevaile so far, as that Vere88i consente to retire, +itho%t seein, &ontoni( On callin, at her a%nt3s apart*ent, she fo%n it fastene ( In a fe+ *in%tes, ho+ever, it +as opene by &a a*e &ontoni herself( It *ay be re*e*bere , that it +as by a oor lea in, into the be roo* fro* a back passa,e, that E*ily ha secretly entere a fe+ ho%rs prece in,( 'he no+ con.ect%re , by the cal*ness of &a a*e &ontoni3s air, that she +as not apprise of the acci ent, +hich ha befallen her h%sban , an +as be,innin, to infor* her of it, in the ten erest *anner she co%l , +hen her a%nt interr%pte her, by sayin,, she +as ac4%ainte +ith the +hole affair( E*ily kne+ in ee , that she ha little reason to love &ontoni, b%t co%l scarcely have believe her capable of s%ch perfect apathy, as she no+ iscovere to+ar s hi*/ havin, obtaine per*ission, ho+ever, for Annette to sleep in her cha*ber, she +ent thither i**e iately( A track of bloo appeare alon, the corri or, lea in, to it/ an on the spot, +here the Co%nt an &ontoni ha fo%,ht, the +hole floor +as staine ( E*ily sh% ere , an leane on Annette, as she passe ( :hen she reache her apart*ent, she instantly eter*ine , since the oor of the stair6case ha been left open, an that Annette +as no+ +ith her, to e-plore +hither it le ,7a

circ%*stance no+ *aterially connecte +ith her o+n safety( Annette accor in,ly, half c%rio%s an half afrai , propose to escen the stairs/ b%t, on approachin, the oor, they perceive , that it +as alrea y fastene +itho%t, an their care +as then irecte to the sec%rin, it on the insi e also, by placin, a,ainst it as *%ch of the heavy f%rnit%re of the roo*, as they co%l lift( E*ily then retire to be , an Annette contin%e on a chair by the hearth, +here so*e feeble e*bers re*aine (

#HAPTER %II
7f aery tongues, that syllable !en=s na!es 7n sands and shores and desert ildernesses# M5&T7:

It is no+ necessary to *ention so*e circ%*stances, +hich co%l not be relate a*i st the events of E*ily3s hasty epart%re fro* Venice, or to,ether +ith those, +hich so rapi ly s%ccee e to her arrival in the castle( On the *ornin, of her .o%rney, Co%nt &orano ha ,one at the appointe ho%r to the *ansion of &ontoni, to e*an his bri e( :hen he reache it, he +as so*e+hat s%rprise by the silence an solitary air of the portico, +here &ontoni3s lac4%eys %s%ally loitere / b%t s%rprise +as soon chan,e to astonish*ent, an astonish*ent to the ra,e of isappoint*ent, +hen the oor +as opene by an ol +o*an, +ho tol his servants, that her *aster an his fa*ily ha left Venice, early in the *ornin,, for terra6fir*a( 'carcely believin, +hat his servants tol , he left his ,on ola, an r%she into the hall to en4%ire f%rther( The ol +o*an, +ho +as the only person left in care of the *ansion, persiste in her story, +hich the silent an eserte apart*ents soon convince hi* +as no fiction( He then sei8e her +ith a *enacin, air, as if he *eant to +reak all his ven,eance %pon her, at the sa*e ti*e askin, her t+enty 4%estions in a breath, an all these +ith a

,estic%lation so f%rio%s, that she +as eprive of the po+er of ans+erin, the*/ then s% enly lettin, her ,o, he sta*pe abo%t the hall, like a *a *an, c%rsin, &ontoni an his o+n folly( :hen the ,oo +o*an +as at liberty, an ha so*e+hat recovere fro* her fri,ht, she tol hi* all she kne+ of the affair, +hich +as, in ee , very little, b%t eno%,h to enable &orano to iscover, that &ontoni +as ,one to his castle on the Apennine( Thither he follo+e , as soon as his servants co%l co*plete the necessary preparation for the .o%rney, acco*panie by a frien , an atten e by a n%*ber of his people, eter*ine to obtain E*ily, or a f%ll reven,e on &ontoni( :hen his *in ha recovere fro* the first effervescence of ra,e, an his tho%,hts beca*e less obsc%re , his conscience hinte to hi* certain circ%*stances, +hich, in so*e *eas%re, e-plaine the con %ct of &ontoni; b%t ho+ the latter co%l have been le to s%spect an intention, +hich, he ha believe , +as kno+n only to hi*self, he co%l not even ,%ess( On this occasion, ho+ever, he ha been partly betraye by that sy*pathetic intelli,ence, +hich *ay be sai to e-ist bet+een ba *in s, an +hich teaches one *an to .% ,e +hat another +ill o in the sa*e circ%*stances( Th%s it +as +ith &ontoni, +ho ha no+ receive in isp%table proof of a tr%th, +hich he ha so*e ti*e s%specte 7that &orano3s circ%*stances, instea of bein, affl%ent, as he ha been bi en to believe, +ere ,reatly involve ( &ontoni ha been intereste in his s%it, by *otives entirely selfish, those of avarice an pri e/ the last of +hich +o%l have been ,ratifie by an alliance +ith a Venetian noble*an, the for*er by E*ily3s estate in Gascony, +hich he ha stip%late , as the price of his favo%r, sho%l be elivere %p to hi* fro* the ay of her *arria,e( In the *eanti*e, he ha been le to s%spect the conse4%ence of the Co%nt3s bo%n less e-trava,ance/ b%t it +as not till the evenin,, prece in, the inten e n%ptials, that he obtaine certain infor*ation of his istresse circ%*stances( He i not hesitate then to infer, that &orano esi,ne to efra%

hi* of E*ily3s estate/ an in this s%pposition he +as confir*e , an +ith apparent reason, by the s%bse4%ent con %ct of the Co%nt, +ho, after havin, appointe to *eet hi* on that ni,ht, for the p%rpose of si,nin, the instr%*ent, +hich +as to sec%re to hi* his re+ar , faile in his en,a,e*ent( '%ch a circ%*stance, in ee , in a *an of &orano3s ,ay an tho%,htless character, an at a ti*e +hen his *in +as en,a,e by the b%stle of preparation for his n%ptials, *i,ht have been attrib%te to a ca%se less ecisive, than esi,n/ b%t &ontoni i not hesitate an instant to interpret it his o+n +ay, an , after vainly +aitin, the Co%nt3s arrival, for several ho%rs, he ,ave or ers for his people to be in rea iness to set off at a *o*ent3s notice( 1y hastenin, to A olpho he inten e to re*ove E*ily fro* the reach of &orano, as +ell as to break off the affair, +itho%t s%b*ittin, hi*self to %seless altercation; an , if the Co%nt *eant +hat he calle hono%rably, he +o%l o%btless follo+ E*ily, an si,n the +ritin,s in 4%estion( If this +as one, so little consi eration ha &ontoni for her +elfare, that he +o%l not have scr%ple to sacrifice her to a *an of r%ine fort%ne, since by that *eans he co%l enrich hi*self/ an he forbore to *ention to her the *otive of his s% en .o%rney, lest the hope it *i,ht revive sho%l ren er her *ore intractable, +hen s%b*ission +o%l be re4%ire ( :ith these consi erations, he ha left Venice/ an , +ith others totally ifferent, &orano ha , soon after, p%rs%e his steps across the r%,,e Apennines( :hen his arrival +as anno%nce at the castle, &ontoni i not believe, that he +o%l have pres%*e to she+ hi*self, %nless he ha *eant to f%lfil his en,a,e*ent, an he, therefore, rea ily a *itte hi*/ b%t the enra,e co%ntenance an e-pressions of &orano, as he entere the apart*ent, instantly %n eceive hi*/ an , +hen &ontoni ha e-plaine , in part, the *otives of his abr%pt epart%re fro* Venice, the Co%nt still persiste in e*an in, E*ily, an reproachin, &ontoni, +itho%t even na*in, the for*er stip%lation( &ontoni, at len,th, +eary of the isp%te, eferre the settlin, of it till the *orro+, an &orano retire +ith

so*e hope, s%,,este by &ontoni3s apparent in ecision( :hen, ho+ever, in the silence of his o+n apart*ent, he be,an to consi er the past conversation, the character of &ontoni, an so*e for*er instances of his %plicity, the hope, +hich he ha a *itte , vanishe , an he eter*ine not to ne,lect the present possibility of obtainin, E*ily by other *eans( To his confi ential valet he tol his esi,n of carryin, a+ay E*ily, an sent hi* back to &ontoni3s servants to fin o%t one a*on, the*, +ho *i,ht enable hi* to e-ec%te it( The choice of this person he entr%ste to the fello+3s o+n iscern*ent, an not i*pr% ently/ for he iscovere a *an, +ho* &ontoni ha , on so*e for*er occasion, treate harshly, an +ho +as no+ rea y to betray hi*( This *an con %cte Cesario ro%n the castle, thro%,h a private passa,e, to the stair6case, that le to E*ily3s cha*ber/ then she+e hi* a short +ay o%t of the b%il in,, an after+ar s proc%re hi* the keys, that +o%l sec%re his retreat( The *an +as +ell re+ar e for his tro%ble/ ho+ the Co%nt +as re+ar e for his treachery, ha alrea y appeare ( &ean+hile, ol Carlo ha overhear t+o of &orano3s servants, +ho ha been or ere to be in +aitin, +ith the carria,e, beyon the castle +alls, e-pressin, their s%rprise at their *aster3s s% en, an secret epart%re, for the valet ha entr%ste the* +ith no *ore of &orano3s esi,ns, than it +as necessary for the* to e-ec%te( They, ho+ever, in %l,e the*selves in s%r*ises, an in e-pressin, the* to each other/ an fro* these Carlo ha ra+n a .%st concl%sion( 1%t, before he vent%re to isclose his apprehensions to &ontoni, he en eavo%re to obtain f%rther confir*ation of the*, an , for this p%rpose, place hi*self, +ith one of his fello+6servants, at the oor of E*ily3s apart*ent, that opene %pon the corri or( He i not +atch lon, in vain, tho%,h the ,ro+lin, of the o, ha once nearly betraye hi*( :hen he +as convince , that &orano +as in the roo*, an ha listene lon, eno%,h to his conversation, to %n erstan his sche*e, he i**e iately alar*e &ontoni, an th%s resc%e E*ily fro* the esi,ns of the Co%nt(

&ontoni, on the follo+in, *ornin,, appeare as %s%al, e-cept that he +ore his +o%n e ar* in a slin,/ he +ent o%t %pon the ra*parts/ overlooke the *en e*ploye in repairin, the*/ ,ave or ers for a itional +ork*en, an then ca*e into the castle to ,ive a% ience to several persons, +ho +ere .%st arrive , an +ho +ere she+n into a private apart*ent, +here he co**%nicate +ith the*, for near an ho%r( Carlo +as then s%**one , an or ere to con %ct the stran,ers to a part of the castle, +hich, in for*er ti*es, ha been occ%pie by the %pper servants of the fa*ily, an to provi e the* +ith every necessary refresh*ent(7 :hen he ha one this, he +as bi en to ret%rn to his *aster( &ean+hile, the Co%nt re*aine in a cotta,e in the skirts of the +oo s belo+, s%fferin, %n er bo ily an *ental pain, an *e itatin, eep reven,e a,ainst &ontoni( His servant, +ho* he ha ispatche for a s%r,eon to the nearest to+n, +hich +as, ho+ever, at a consi erable istance, i not ret%rn till the follo+in, ay, +hen, his +o%n s bein, e-a*ine an resse , the practitioner ref%se to eliver any positive opinion, concernin, the e,ree of an,er atten in, the*/ b%t ,ivin, his patient a co*posin, ra%,ht an or erin, hi* to be 4%iet, re*aine at the cotta,e to +atch the event( E*ily, for the re*ain er of the late eventf%l ni,ht, ha been s%ffere to sleep, %n ist%rbe / an , +hen her *in recovere fro* the conf%sion of sl%*ber, an she re*e*bere , that she +as no+ release fro* the a resses of Co%nt &orano, her spirits +ere s% enly relieve fro* a part of the terrible an-iety, that ha lon, oppresse the*/ that +hich re*aine , arose chiefly fro* a recollection of &orano3s assertions, concernin, the sche*es of &ontoni( He ha sai , that plans of the latter, concernin, E*ily, +ere insearchable, yet that he kne+ the* to be terrible( At the ti*e he %ttere this, she al*ost believe it to be esi,ne for the p%rpose of prevailin, +ith her to thro+ herself into his protection, an she still tho%,ht it *i,ht be chiefly so acco%nte for/ b%t his assertions

ha left an i*pression on her *in , +hich a consi eration of the character an for*er con %ct of &ontoni i not contrib%te to efface( 'he, ho+ever, checke her propensity to anticipate evil/ an , eter*ine to en.oy this respite fro* act%al *isfort%ne, trie to is*iss tho%,ht, took her instr%*ents for ra+in,, an place herself at a +in o+, to select into a lan scape so*e feat%res of the scenery +itho%t( As she +as th%s e*ploye , she sa+, +alkin, on the ra*part belo+, the *en, +ho ha so lately arrive at the castle( The si,ht of stran,ers s%rprise her, b%t still *ore, of stran,ers s%ch as these( There +as a sin,%larity in their ress, an a certain fierceness in their air, that fi-e all her attention( 'he +ith re+ fro* the case*ent, +hile they passe , b%t soon ret%rne to observe the* f%rther( Their fi,%res see*e so +ell s%ite to the +il ness of the s%rro%n in, ob.ects, that, as they stoo s%rveyin, the castle, she sketche the* for ban itti, a*i the *o%ntain6vie+ of her pict%re, +hen she ha finishe +hich, she +as s%rprise to observe the spirit of her ,ro%p( 1%t she ha copie fro* nat%re( Carlo, +hen he ha place refresh*ent before these *en in the apart*ent assi,ne to the*, ret%rne , as he +as or ere , to &ontoni, +ho +as an-io%s to iscover by +hat servant the keys of the castle ha been elivere to &orano, on the prece in, ni,ht( 1%t this *an, tho%,h he +as too faithf%l to his *aster 4%ietly to see hi* in.%re , +o%l not betray a fello+6servant even to .%stice/ he, therefore, preten e to be i,norant +ho it +as, that ha conspire +ith Co%nt &orano, an relate , as before, that he ha only overhear so*e of the stran,ers escribin, the plot( &ontoni3s s%spicions nat%rally fell %pon the porter, +ho* he or ere no+ to atten ( Carlo hesitate , an then +ith slo+ steps +ent to seek hi*( 1arnar ine, the porter, enie the acc%sation +ith a co%ntenance so stea y an %n a%nte , that &ontoni co%l scarcely believe hi* ,%ilty, tho%,h he kne+ not ho+ to think hi* innocent( At len,th, the *an +as

is*isse fro* his presence, an , tho%,h the real offen er, escape etection( &ontoni then +ent to his +ife3s apart*ent, +hither E*ily follo+e soon after, b%t, fin in, the* in hi,h isp%te, +as instantly leavin, the roo*, +hen her a%nt calle her back, an esire her to stay(732o% shall be a +itness,3 sai she, 3of *y opposition( 9o+, sir, repeat the co**an , I have so often ref%se to obey(3 &ontoni t%rne , +ith a stern co%ntenance, to E*ily, an ba e her 4%it the apart*ent, +hile his +ife persiste in esirin,, that she +o%l stay( E*ily +as ea,er to escape fro* this scene of contention, an an-io%s, also, to serve her a%nt/ b%t she espaire of conciliatin, &ontoni, in +hose eyes the risin, te*pest of his so%l flashe terribly( 30eave the roo*,3 sai he, in a voice of th%n er( E*ily obeye , an , +alkin, o+n to the ra*part, +hich the stran,ers ha no+ left, contin%e to *e itate on the %nhappy *arria,e of her father3s sister, an on her o+n esolate sit%ation, occasione by the ri ic%lo%s i*pr% ence of her, +ho* she ha al+ays +ishe to respect an love( &a a*e &ontoni3s con %ct ha , in ee , ren ere it i*possible for E*ily to o either/ b%t her ,entle heart +as to%che by her istress, an , in the pity th%s a+akene , she for,ot the in.%rio%s treat*ent she ha receive fro* her( As she sa%ntere on the ra*part, Annette appeare at the hall oor, looke ca%tio%sly ro%n , an then a vance to *eet her( 3<ear *a3a*selle, I have been lookin, for yo% all over the castle,3 sai she( 3If yo% +ill step this +ay, I +ill she+ yo% a pict%re(3 3A pict%re?3 e-clai*e E*ily, an sh% ere ( 32es, *a3a*, a pict%re of the late la y of this place( Ol Carlo .%st no+ tol *e it +as her, an I tho%,ht yo% +o%l be c%rio%s to see it( As to *y la y, yo% kno+, *a3a*selle, one cannot talk abo%t s%ch thin,s to her(37 3An so,3 sai E*ily s*ilin,ly, 3as yo% *%st talk of the* to so*ebo y73

3:hy, yes, *a3a*selle/ +hat can one o in s%ch a place as this, if one *%st not talkB If I +as in a %n,eon, if they +o%l let *e talk7it +o%l be so*e co*fort/ nay, I +o%l talk, if it +as only to the +alls( 1%t co*e, *a3a*selle, +e lose ti*e7let *e she+ yo% to the pict%re(3 3Is it veile B3 sai E*ily, pa%sin,( 3<ear *a3a*selle?3 sai Annette, fi-in, her eyes on E*ily3s face, 3+hat *akes yo% look so paleB7are yo% illB3 39o, Annette, I a* +ell eno%,h, b%t I have no esire to see this pict%re/ ret%rn into the hall(3 3:hat? *a3a*, not to see the la y of this castleB3 sai the ,irl73the la y, +ho isappeare to stran,elyB :ell? no+, I +o%l have r%n to the f%rthest *o%ntain +e can see, yon er, to have ,ot a si,ht of s%ch a pict%re/ an , to speak *y *in , that stran,e story is all, that *akes *e care abo%t this ol castle, tho%,h it *akes *e thrill all over, as it +ere, +henever I think of it(3 32es, Annette, yo% love the +on erf%l/ b%t o yo% kno+, that, %nless yo% ,%ar a,ainst this inclination, it +ill lea yo% into all the *isery of s%perstitionB3 Annette *i,ht have s*ile in her t%rn, at this sa,e observation of E*ily, +ho co%l tre*ble +ith i eal terrors, as *%ch as herself, an listen al*ost as ea,erly to the recital of a *ysterio%s story( Annette %r,e her re4%est( 3Are yo% s%re it is a pict%reB3 sai E*ily, 3Have yo% seen itB7Is it veile B3 3Holy &aria? *a3a*selle, yes, no, yes( I a* s%re it is a pict%re7I have seen it, an it is not veile ?3 The tone an look of s%rprise, +ith +hich this +as %ttere , recalle E*ily3s pr% ence/ +ho conceale her e*otion %n er a s*ile, an ba e Annette lea her to the pict%re( It +as in an obsc%re cha*ber, a .oinin, that part of the castle, allotte to the servants( 'everal other portraits h%n, on the +alls, covere , like this, +ith %st an cob+eb(

3That is it, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, in a lo+ voice, an pointin,( E*ily a vance , an s%rveye the pict%re( It represente a la y in the flo+er of yo%th an bea%ty/ her feat%res +ere han so*e an noble, f%ll of stron, e-pression, b%t ha little of the captivatin, s+eetness, that E*ily ha looke for, an still less of the pensive *il ness she love ( It +as a co%ntenance, +hich spoke the lan,%a,e of passion, rather than that of senti*ent/ a ha%,hty i*patience of *isfort%ne7not the placi *elancholy of a spirit in.%re , yet resi,ne ( 3Ho+ *any years have passe , since this la y isappeare , AnnetteB3 sai E*ily( 3T+enty years, *a3a*selle, or thereabo%t, as they tell *e/ I kno+ it is a lon, +hile a,o(3 E*ily contin%e to ,a8e %pon the portrait( 3I think,3 res%*e Annette, 3the 'i,nor +o%l o +ell to han, it in a better place, than this ol cha*ber( 9o+, in *y *in , he o%,ht to place the pict%re of a la y, +ho ,ave hi* all these riches, in the han so*est roo* in the castle( 1%t he *ay have ,oo reasons for +hat he oes; an so*e people o say that he has lost his riches, as +ell as his ,ratit% e( 1%t h%sh, *a3a*, not a +or ?3 a e Annette, layin, her fin,er on her lips( E*ily +as too *%ch absorbe in tho%,ht, to hear +hat she sai ( 33Tis a han so*e la y, I a* s%re,3 contin%e Annette; 3the 'i,nor nee not be asha*e to p%t her in the ,reat apart*ent, +here the veile pict%re han,s(3 E*ily t%rne ro%n ( 31%t for that *atter, she +o%l be as little seen there, as here, for the oor is al+ays locke , I fin (3 30et %s leave this cha*ber,3 sai E*ily; 3an let *e ca%tion yo% a,ain, Annette/ be ,%ar e in yo%r conversation, an never tell, that yo% kno+ any thin, of that pict%re(3 3Holy &other?3 e-clai*e Annette, 3it is no secret/ +hy all the servants have seen it alrea y?3 E*ily starte ( 3Ho+ is thisB3 sai she73Have seen it? :henB7ho+B3

3<ear, *a3a*selle, there is nothin, s%rprisin, in that/ +e ha all a little *ore CARIOA'9E'' than yo% ha (3 3I tho%,ht yo% tol *e, the oor +as kept locke B3 sai E*ily( 3If that +as the case, *a3a*selle,3 replie lookin, abo%t her, 3ho+ co%l +e ,et hereB3 Annette,

3Oh, yo% *ean THI' pict%re,3 sai E*ily, +ith ret%rnin, cal*ness( 3:ell, Annette, here is nothin, *ore to en,a,e *y attention/ +e +ill ,o(3 E*ily, as she passe to her o+n apart*ent, sa+ &ontoni ,o o+n to the hall, an she t%rne into her a%nt3s ressin,6roo*, +ho* she fo%n +eepin, an alone, ,rief an resent*ent str%,,lin, on her co%ntenance( Pri e ha hitherto restraine co*plaint( @% ,in, of E*ily3s isposition fro* her o+n, an fro* a conscio%sness of +hat her treat*ent of her eserve , she ha believe , that her ,riefs +o%l be ca%se of tri%*ph to her niece, rather than of sy*pathy/ that she +o%l espise, not pity her( 1%t she kne+ not the ten erness an benevolence of E*ily3s heart, that ha al+ays ta%,ht her to for,et her o+n in.%ries in the *isfort%nes of her ene*y( The s%fferin,s of others, +hoever they *i,ht be, calle forth her rea y co*passion, +hich issipate at once every obsc%rin, clo% to ,oo ness, that passion or pre.% ice *i,ht have raise in her *in ( &a a*e &ontoni3s s%fferin,s, at len,th, rose above her pri e, an , +hen E*ily ha before entere the roo*, she +o%l have tol the* all, ha not her h%sban prevente her/ no+ that she +as no lon,er restraine by his presence, she po%re forth all her co*plaints to her niece( 3O E*ily?3 she e-clai*e , 3I a* the *ost +retche of +o*en7I a* in ee cr%elly treate ? :ho, +ith *y prospects of happiness, co%l have foreseen s%ch a +retche fate as thisB7+ho co%l have tho%,ht, +hen I *arrie s%ch a *an as the 'i,nor, I sho%l ever have to be+ail *y lotB 1%t there is no .% ,in, +hat is for the best7there is no kno+in, +hat is for o%r ,oo ?

The *ost flatterin, prospects often chan,e7the best .% ,*ents *ay be eceive 7+ho co%l have foreseen, +hen I *arrie the 'i,nor, that I sho%l ever repent *y GE9ERO'IT2B3 E*ily tho%,ht she *i,ht have foreseen it, b%t this +as not a tho%,ht of tri%*ph( 'he place herself in a chair near her a%nt, took her han , an , +ith one of those looks of soft co*passion, +hich *i,ht characteri8e the co%ntenance of a ,%ar ian an,el, spoke to her in the ten erest accents( 1%t these i not sooth &a a*e &ontoni, +ho* i*patience to talk *a e %n+illin, to listen( 'he +ante to co*plain, not to be console / an it +as by e-cla*ations of co*plaint only, that E*ily learne the partic%lar circ%*stances of her affliction( 3An,ratef%l *an?3 sai &a a*e &ontoni, 3he has eceive *e in every respect/ an no+ he has taken *e fro* *y co%ntry an frien s, to sh%t *e %p in this ol castle/ an , here he thinks he can co*pel *e to o +hatever he esi,ns? 1%t he shall fin hi*self *istaken, he shall fin that no threats can alter71%t +ho +o%l have believe ? +ho +o%l have s%ppose , that a *an of his fa*ily an apparent +ealth ha absol%tely no fort%neB7no, scarcely a se4%in of his o+n? I i all for the best/ I tho%,ht he +as a *an of conse4%ence, of ,reat property, or I a* s%re I +o%l never have *arrie hi*,7%n,ratef%l, artf%l *an?3 'he pa%se to take breath( 3<ear &a a*, be co*pose ,3 sai E*ily; 3the 'i,nor *ay not be so rich as yo% ha reason to e-pect, b%t s%rely he cannot be very poor, since this castle an the *ansion at Venice are his( &ay I ask +hat are the circ%*stances, that partic%larly affect yo%B3 3:hat are the circ%*stances?3 e-clai*e &a a*e &ontoni +ith resent*ent; 3+hy is it not s%fficient, that he ha lon, a,o r%ine his o+n fort%ne by play, an that he has since lost +hat I bro%,ht hi*7an that no+ he +o%l co*pel *e to si,n a+ay *y settle*ent =it +as +ell I ha the chief of *y property settle on *yself?> that he *ay lose this also, or thro+ it a+ay in

+il sche*es, +hich nobo y can %n erstan hi*selfB An , an 7is not all this s%fficientB3

b%t

3It is, in ee ,3 sai E*ily, 3b%t yo% *%st recollect, ear *a a*, that I kne+ nothin, of all this(3 3:ell, an is it not s%fficient,3 re.oine her a%nt, 3that he is also absol%tely r%ine , that he is s%nk eeply in ebt, an that neither this castle, or the *ansion at Venice, is his o+n, if all his ebts, hono%rable an ishono%rable, +ere pai ?3 3I a* shocke by +hat yo% tell *e, *a a*,3 sai E*ily( 3An is it not eno%,h,3 interr%pte &a a*e &ontoni, 3that he has treate *e +ith ne,lect, +ith cr%elty, beca%se I ref%se to relin4%ish *y settle*ents, an , instea of bein, fri,htene by his *enaces, resol%tely efie hi*, an %pbrai e hi* +ith his sha*ef%l con %ctB 1%t I bore all *eekly,7yo% kno+, niece, I never %ttere a +or of co*plaint, till no+/ no? That s%ch a isposition as *ine sho%l be so i*pose %pon? That I, +hose only fa%lts are too *%ch kin ness, too *%ch ,enerosity, sho%l be chaine for life to s%ch a vile, eceitf%l, cr%el *onster?3 :ant of breath co*pelle &a a*e &ontoni to stop( If any thin, co%l have *a e E*ily s*ile in these *o*ents, it +o%l have been this speech of her a%nt, elivere in a voice very little belo+ a screa*, an +ith a vehe*ence of ,estic%lation an of co%ntenance, that t%rne the +hole into b%rles4%e( E*ily sa+, that her *isfort%nes i not a *it of real consolation, an , conte*nin, the co**onplace ter*s of s%perficial co*fort, she +as silent/ +hile &a a*e &ontoni, .ealo%s of her o+n conse4%ence, *istook this for the silence of in ifference, or of conte*pt, an reproache her +ith +ant of %ty an feelin,( 3O? I s%specte +hat all this boaste sensibility +o%l prove to be?3 re.oine she/ 3I tho%,ht it +o%l not teach yo% to feel either %ty, or affection, for yo%r relations, +ho have treate yo% like their o+n a%,hter?3 3Par on *e, *a a*,3 sai E*ily, *il ly, 3it is not nat%ral to *e to boast, an if it +as, I a* s%re I +o%l

not boast of sensibility7a 4%ality, perhaps, *ore to be feare , than esire (3 3:ell, +ell, niece, I +ill not isp%te +ith yo%( 1%t, as I sai , &ontoni threatens *e +ith violence, if I any lon,er ref%se to si,n a+ay *y settle*ents, an this +as the s%b.ect of o%r contest, +hen yo% ca*e into the roo* before( 9o+, I a* eter*ine no po+er on earth shall *ake *e o this( 9either +ill I bear all this ta*ely( He shall hear his tr%e character fro* *e/ I +ill tell hi* all he eserves, in spite of his threats an cr%el treat*ent(3 E*ily sei8e a pa%se of &a a*e &ontoni3s voice, to speak( 3<ear *a a*,3 sai she, 3b%t +ill not this serve to irritate the 'i,nor %nnecessarilyB +ill it not provoke the harsh treat*ent yo% rea B3 3I o not care,3 replie &a a*e &ontoni, 3it oes not si,nify; I +ill not s%b*it to s%ch %sa,e( 2o% +o%l have *e ,ive %p *y settle*ents, too, I s%ppose?3 39o, *a a*, I o not e-actly *ean that(3 3:hat is it yo% o *ean thenB3 32o% spoke of reproachin, the 'i,nor,37sai E*ily, +ith hesitation( 3:hy, oes he not eserve reproachesB3 sai her a%nt( 3Certainly he oes/ b%t +ill it be pr% ent in yo%, *a a*, to *ake the*B3 3Pr% ent?3 e-clai*e &a a*e &ontoni( 3Is this a ti*e to talk of pr% ence, +hen one is threatene +ith all sorts of violenceB3 3It is to avoi that violence, that pr% ence is necessary(3 sai E*ily( 3Of pr% ence?3 contin%e &a a*e &ontoni, +itho%t atten in, to her, 3of pr% ence to+ar s a *an, +ho oes not scr%ple to break all the co**on ties of h%*anity in his con %ct to *e? An is it for *e to consi er pr% ence in *y behavio%r to+ar s hi*? I a* not so *ean(3 3It is for yo%r o+n sake, not for the 'i,nor3s, *a a*,3 sai E*ily *o estly, 3that yo% sho%l cons%lt pr% ence(

2o%r reproaches, ho+ever .%st, cannot p%nish hi*, b%t they *ay provoke hi* to f%rther violence a,ainst yo%(3 3:hat? +o%l yo% have *e s%b*it, then, to +hatever he co**an s7+o%l yo% have *e kneel o+n at his feet, an thank hi* for his cr%eltiesB :o%l yo% have *e ,ive %p *y settle*entsB3 3Ho+ *%ch yo% *istake *e, *a a*?3 sai E*ily, 3I a* %ne4%al to a vise yo% on a point so i*portant as the last; b%t yo% +ill par on *e for sayin,, that, if yo% cons%lt yo%r o+n peace, yo% +ill try to conciliate 'i,nor &ontoni, rather than to irritate hi* by reproaches(3 3Conciliate in ee ? I tell yo%, niece, it is %tterly i*possible/ I is ain to atte*pt it(3 E*ily +as shocke to observe the perverte %n erstan in, an obstinate te*per of &a a*e &ontoni/ b%t, not less ,rieve for her s%fferin,s, she looke ro%n for so*e alleviatin, circ%*stance to offer her( 32o%r sit%ation is, perhaps, not so esperate, ear *a a*,3 sai E*ily, 3as yo% *ay i*a,ine( The 'i,nor *ay represent his affairs to be +orse than they are, for the p%rpose of plea in, a stron,er necessity for his possession of yo%r settle*ent( 1esi es, so lon, as yo% keep this, yo% *ay look for+ar to it as a reso%rce, at least, that +ill affor yo% a co*petence, sho%l the 'i,nor3s f%t%re con %ct co*pel yo% to s%e for separation(3 &a a*e &ontoni i*patiently interr%pte her( 3Anfeelin,, cr%el ,irl?3 sai she, 3an so yo% +o%l pers%a e *e, that I have no reason to co*plain/ that the 'i,nor is in very flo%rishin, circ%*stances, that *y f%t%re prospects pro*ise nothin, b%t co*fort, an that *y ,riefs are as fancif%l an ro*antic as yo%r o+n? Is it the +ay to console *e, to en eavo%r to pers%a e *e o%t of *y senses an *y feelin,s, beca%se yo% happen to have no feelin,s yo%rselfB I tho%,ht I +as openin, *y heart to a person, +ho co%l sy*pathi8e in *y istress, b%t I fin , that yo%r people of sensibility can feel for nobo y b%t the*selves? 2o% *ay retire to yo%r cha*ber(3

E*ily, +itho%t replyin,, i**e iately left the roo*, +ith a *in,le e*otion of pity an conte*pt, an hastene to her o+n, +here she yiel e to the *o%rnf%l reflections, +hich a kno+le ,e of her a%nt3s sit%ation ha occasione ( The conversation of the Italian +ith Valanco%rt, in )rance, a,ain occ%rre to her( His hints, respectin, the broken fort%nes of &ontoni, +ere no+ co*pletely .%stifie / those, also, concernin, his character, appeare not less so, tho%,h the partic%lar circ%*stances, connecte +ith his fa*e, to +hich the stran,er ha all% e , yet re*aine to be e-plaine ( 9ot+ithstan in,, that her o+n observations an the +or s of Co%nt &orano ha convince her, that &ontoni3s sit%ation +as not +hat it for*erly appeare to be, the intelli,ence she ha .%st receive fro* her a%nt on this point, str%ck her +ith all the force of astonish*ent, +hich +as not +eakene , +hen she consi ere the present style of &ontoni3s livin,, the n%*ber of servants he *aintaine , an the ne+ e-pences he +as inc%rrin,, by repairin, an fortifyin, his castle( Her an-iety for her a%nt an for herself increase +ith reflection( 'everal assertions of &orano, +hich, on the prece in, ni,ht, she ha believe +ere pro*pte either by interest, or by resent*ent, no+ ret%rne to her *in +ith the stren,th of tr%th( 'he co%l not o%bt, that &ontoni ha for*erly a,ree to ,ive her to the Co%nt, for a pec%niary re+ar /7his character, an his istresse circ%*stances .%stifie the belief/ these, also, see*e to confir* &orano3s assertion, that he no+ esi,ne to ispose of her, *ore a vanta,eo%sly for hi*self, to a richer s%itor( A*i st the reproaches, +hich &orano ha thro+n o%t a,ainst &ontoni, he ha sai 7he +o%l not 4%it the castle HE <ARE< TO CA00 HI', nor +illin,ly leave A9OTHER *%r er on his conscience7hints, +hich *i,ht have no other ori,in than the passion of the *o*ent; b%t E*ily +as no+ incline to acco%nt for the* *ore serio%sly, an she sh% ere to think, that she +as in the han s of a *an, to +ho* it +as even possible they co%l apply( At len,th, consi erin,, that reflection co%l neither release her fro* her

*elancholy sit%ation, or enable her to bear it +ith ,reater fortit% e, she trie to ivert her an-iety, an took o+n fro* her little library a vol%*e of her favo%rite Ariosto/ b%t his +il i*a,ery an rich invention co%l not lon, enchant her attention/ his spells i not reach her heart, an over her sleepin, fancy they playe , +itho%t a+akenin, it( 'he no+ p%t asi e the book, an took her l%te, for it +as sel o* that her s%fferin,s ref%se to yiel to the *a,ic of s+eet so%n s/ +hen they i so, she +as oppresse by sorro+, that ca*e fro* e-cess of ten erness an re,ret/ an there +ere ti*es, +hen *%sic ha increase s%ch sorro+ to a e,ree, that +as scarcely en %rable/ +hen, if it ha not s% enly cease , she *i,ht have lost her reason( '%ch +as the ti*e, +hen she *o%rne for her father, an hear the *i ni,ht strains, that floate by her +in o+ near the convent in 0an,%e oc, on the ni,ht that follo+e his eath( 'he contin%e to play, till Annette bro%,ht inner into her cha*ber, at +hich E*ily +as s%rprise , an en4%ire +hose or er she obeye ( 3&y la y3s, *a3a*selle,3 replie Annette; 3the 'i,nor or ere her inner to be carrie to her o+n apart*ent, an so she has sent yo% yo%rs( There have been sa oin,s bet+een the*, +orse than ever, I think(3 E*ily, not appearin, to notice +hat she sai , sat o+n to the little table, that +as sprea for her( 1%t Annette +as not to be silence th%s easily( :hile she +aite , she tol of the arrival of the *en, +ho* E*ily ha observe on the ra*parts, an e-presse *%ch s%rprise at their stran,e appearance, as +ell as at the *anner, in +hich they ha been atten e by &ontoni3s or er( 3<o they ine +ith the 'i,nor, thenB3 sai E*ily( 39o, *a3a*selle, they ine lon, a,o, in an apart*ent at the north en of the castle, b%t I kno+ not +hen they are to ,o, for the 'i,nor tol ol Carlo to see the* provi e +ith every thin, necessary( They have been +alkin, all abo%t the castle, an askin, 4%estions of the +ork*en on the ra*parts( I never sa+ s%ch

stran,e6lookin, *en in *y life/ I a* fri,htene +henever I see the*(3 E*ily en4%ire , if she ha hear of Co%nt &orano, an +hether he +as likely to recover; b%t Annette only kne+, that he +as lo ,e in a cotta,e in the +oo belo+, an that every bo y sai he *%st ie( E*ily3s co%ntenance iscovere her e*otion( 3<ear *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3to see ho+ yo%n, la ies +ill is,%ise the*selves, +hen they are in love? I tho%,ht yo% hate the Co%nt, or I a* s%re I +o%l not have tol yo%/ an I a* s%re yo% have ca%se eno%,h to hate hi*(3 3I hope I hate nobo y,3 replie E*ily, tryin, to s*ile/ 3b%t certainly I o not love Co%nt &orano( I sho%l be shocke to hear of any person yin, by violent *eans(3 32es, *a3a*selle, b%t it is his o+n fa%lt(3 E*ily looke isplease / an Annette, *istakin, the ca%se of her ispleas%re, i**e iately be,an to e-c%se the Co%nt, in her +ay( 3To be s%re, it +as very %n,enteel behavio%r,3 sai she, 3to break into a la y3s roo*, an then, +hen he fo%n his isco%rsin, +as not a,reeable to her, to ref%se to ,o/ an then, +hen the ,entle*an of the castle co*es to esire hi* to +alk abo%t his b%siness7to t%rn ro%n , an ra+ his s+or , an s+ear he3ll r%n hi* thro%,h the bo y?7To be s%re it +as very %n,enteel behavio%r, b%t then he +as is,%ise in love, an so i not kno+ +hat he +as abo%t(3 3Eno%,h of this,3 sai E*ily, +ho no+ s*ile +itho%t an effort/ an Annette ret%rne to a *ention of the isa,ree*ent bet+een &ontoni, an her la y( 3It is nothin, ne+,3 sai she; 3+e sa+ an hear eno%,h of this at Venice, tho%,h I never tol yo% of it, *a3a*selle(3 3:ell, Annette, it +as very pr% ent of yo% not to *ention it then; be as pr% ent no+/ the s%b.ect is an %npleasant one(3 3Ah ear, *a3a*selle?7to see no+ ho+ consi erate yo% can be abo%t so*e folks, +ho care so little abo%t

yo%? I cannot bear to see yo% so eceive , an I *%st tell yo%( 1%t it is all for yo%r o+n ,oo , an not to spite *y la y, tho%,h, to speak tr%th, I have little reason to love her/ b%t73 32o% are not speakin, th%s of *y a%nt, I hope, AnnetteB3 sai E*ily, ,ravely( 32es, *a3a*selle, b%t I a*, tho%,h/ an if yo% kne+ as *%ch as I o, yo% +o%l not look so an,ry( I have often, an often, hear the 'i,nor an her talkin, over yo%r *arria,e +ith the Co%nt, an she al+ays a vise hi* never to ,ive %p to yo%r foolish +hi*s, as she +as please to call the*, b%t to be resol%te, an co*pel yo% to be obe ient, +hether yo% +o%l , or no( An I a* s%re, *y heart has ache a tho%san ti*es, an I have tho%,ht, +hen she +as so %nhappy herself, she *i,ht have felt a little for other people, an 73 3I thank yo% for yo%r pity, Annette,3 sai E*ily, interr%ptin, her; 3b%t *y a%nt +as %nhappy then, an that ist%rbe her te*per perhaps, or I think7I a* s%re 72o% *ay take a+ay, Annette, I have one(3 3<ear *a3a*selle, yo% have eat nothin, at all? <o try, an take a little bit *ore( <ist%rbe her te*per tr%ly? +hy, her te*per is al+ays ist%rbe , I think( An at Tholo%se too I have hear *y la y talkin, of yo% an &ons( Valanco%rt to &a a*e &erveille an &a a*e Vaison, often an often, in a very ill6nat%re +ay, as I tho%,ht, tellin, the* +hat a eal of tro%ble she ha to keep yo% in or er, an +hat a fati,%e an istress it +as to her, an that she believe yo% +o%l r%n a+ay +ith &ons( Valanco%rt, if she +as not to +atch yo% closely/ an that yo% connive at his co*in, abo%t the ho%se at ni,ht, an 73 3Goo Go ?3 e-clai*e E*ily, bl%shin, eeply, 3it is s%rely i*possible *y a%nt co%l th%s have represente *e?3 3In ee , *a3a*, I say nothin, *ore than the tr%th, an not all of that( 1%t I tho%,ht, *yself, she *i,ht have fo%n so*ethin, better to isco%rse abo%t, than the fa%lts of her o+n niece, even if yo% ha been in fa%lt,

*a3a*selle/ b%t I i not believe a +or of +hat she sai ( 1%t *y la y oes not care +hat she says a,ainst any bo y, for that *atter(3 3Ho+ever that *ay be, Annette,3 interr%pte E*ily, recoverin, her co*pos%re, 3it oes not beco*e yo% to speak of the fa%lts of *y a%nt to *e( I kno+ yo% have *eant +ell, b%t7say no *ore(7I have 4%ite ine (3 Annette bl%she , looke to clear the table( o+n, an then be,an slo+ly

3Is this, then, the re+ar of *y in,en%o%snessB3 sai E*ily, +hen she +as alone/ 3the treat*ent I a* to receive fro* a relation7an a%nt7+ho o%,ht to have been the ,%ar ian, not the slan erer of *y rep%tation, 7+ho, as a +o*an, o%,ht to have respecte the elicacy of fe*ale hono%r, an , as a relation, sho%l have protecte *ine? 1%t, to %tter falsehoo s on so nice a s%b.ect7to repay the openness, an , I *ay say +ith honest pri e, the propriety of *y con %ct, +ith slan ers7re4%ire a epravity of heart, s%ch as I co%l scarcely have believe e-iste , s%ch as I +eep to fin in a relation( O? +hat a contrast oes her character present to that of *y belove father/ +hile envy an lo+ c%nnin, for* the chief traits of hers, his +as istin,%ishe by benevolence an philosophic +is o*? 1%t no+, let *e only re*e*ber, if possible, that she is %nfort%nate(3 E*ily thre+ her veil over her, an +ent o+n to +alk %pon the ra*parts, the only +alk, in ee , +hich +as open to her, tho%,h she often +ishe , that she *i,ht be per*itte to ra*ble a*on, the +oo s belo+, an still *ore, that she *i,ht so*eti*es e-plore the s%bli*e scenes of the s%rro%n in, co%ntry( 1%t, as &ontoni +o%l not s%ffer her to pass the ,ates of the castle, she trie to be contente +ith the ro*antic vie+s she behel fro* the +alls( The peasants, +ho ha been e*ploye on the fortifications, ha left their +ork, an the ra*parts +ere silent an solitary( Their lonely appearance, to,ether +ith the ,loo* of a lo+erin, sky, assiste the *%sin,s of her *in , an thre+ over it a kin of *elancholy tran4%illity, s%ch as she often love

to in %l,e( 'he t%rne to observe a fine effect of the s%n, as his rays, s% enly strea*in, fro* behin a heavy clo% , li,hte %p the +est to+ers of the castle, +hile the rest of the e ifice +as in eep sha e, e-cept, that, thro%,h a lofty ,othic arch, a .oinin, the to+er, +hich le to another terrace, the bea*s arte in f%ll splen o%r, an she+e the three stran,ers she ha observe in the *ornin,( Perceivin, the*, she starte , an a *o*entary fear ca*e over her, as she looke %p the lon, ra*part, an sa+ no other persons( :hile she hesitate , they approache ( The ,ate at the en of the terrace, +hither they +ere a vancin,, she kne+, +as al+ays locke , an she co%l not epart by the opposite e-tre*ity, +itho%t *eetin, the*/ b%t, before she passe the*, she hastily re+ a thin veil over her face, +hich i , in ee , b%t ill conceal her bea%ty( They looke earnestly at her, an spoke to each other in ba Italian, of +hich she ca%,ht only a fe+ +or s/ b%t the fierceness of their co%ntenances, no+ that she +as near eno%,h to iscri*inate the*, str%ck her yet *ore than the +il sin,%larity of their air an ress ha for*erly one( It +as the co%ntenance an fi,%re of hi*, +ho +alke bet+een the other t+o, that chiefly sei8e her attention, +hich e-presse a s%llen ha%,htiness an a kin of ark +atchf%l villany, that ,ave a thrill of horror to her heart( All this +as so le,ibly +ritten on his feat%res, as to be seen by a sin,le ,lance, for she passe the ,ro%p s+iftly, an her ti*i eyes scarcely reste on the* a *o*ent( Havin, reache the terrace, she stoppe , an perceive the stran,ers stan in, in the sha o+ of one of the t%rrets, ,a8in, after her, an see*in,ly, by their action, in earnest conversation( 'he i**e iately left the ra*part, an retire to her apart*ent( In the evenin,, &ontoni sat late, caro%sin, +ith his ,%ests in the ce ar cha*ber( His recent tri%*ph over Co%nt &orano, or, perhaps, so*e other circ%*stance, contrib%te to elevate his spirits to an %n%s%al hei,ht( He fille the ,oblet often, an ,ave a loose to *erri*ent an talk( The ,aiety of Cavi,ni, on the contrary, +as so*e+hat clo% e by an-iety( He kept a

+atchf%l eye %pon Vere88i, +ho*, +ith the %t*ost iffic%lty, he ha hitherto restraine fro* e-asperatin, &ontoni f%rther a,ainst &orano, by a *ention of his late ta%ntin, +or s( One of the co*pany e-%ltin,ly rec%rre to the event of the prece in, evenin,( Vere88i3s eyes sparkle ( The *ention of &orano le to that of E*ily, of +ho* they +ere all prof%se in the praise, e-cept &ontoni, +ho sat silent, an then interr%pte the s%b.ect( :hen the servants ha +ith ra+n, &ontoni an his frien s entere into close conversation, +hich +as so*eti*es checke by the irascible te*per of Vere88i, b%t in +hich &ontoni isplaye his conscio%s s%periority, by that ecisive look an *anner, +hich al+ays acco*panie the vi,o%r of his tho%,ht, an to +hich *ost of his co*panions s%b*itte , as to a po+er, that they ha no ri,ht to 4%estion, tho%,h of each other3s self6i*portance they +ere .ealo%sly scr%p%lo%s( A*i st this conversation, one of the* i*pr% ently intro %ce a,ain the na*e of &orano/ an Vere88i, no+ *ore heate by +ine, isre,ar e the e-pressive looks of Cavi,ni, an ,ave so*e ark hints of +hat ha passe on the prece in, ni,ht( These, ho+ever, &ontoni i not appear to %n erstan , for he contin%e silent in his chair, +itho%t iscoverin, any e*otion, +hile, the choler of Vere88i increasin, +ith the apparent insensibility of &ontoni, he at len,th tol the s%,,estion of &orano, that this castle i not la+f%lly belon, to hi*, an that he +o%l not +illin,ly leave another *%r er on his conscience( 3A* I to be ins%lte at *y o+n table, an by *y o+n frien sB3 sai &ontoni, +ith a co%ntenance pale in an,er( 3:hy are the +or s of that *a *an repeate to *eB3 Vere88i, +ho ha e-pecte to hear &ontoni3s in i,nation po%re forth a,ainst &orano, an ans+ere by thanks to hi*self, looke +ith astonish*ent at Cavi,ni, +ho en.oye his conf%sion( 3Can yo% be +eak eno%,h to cre it the assertions of a *a *anB3 re.oine &ontoni, 3or, +hat is the sa*e thin,, a *an possesse by the spirit of ven,eanceB 1%t he has s%ccee e too +ell/ yo% believe +hat he sai (3

3'i,nor,3 sai Vere88i, 3+e believe only +hat +e kno+(373Ho+?3 interr%pte &ontoni, sternly; 3pro %ce yo%r proof(3 3:e believe only +hat +e kno+,3 repeate Vere88i, 3an +e kno+ nothin, of +hat &orano asserts(3 &ontoni see*e to recover hi*self( 3I a* hasty, *y frien s,3 sai he, 3+ith respect to *y hono%r/ no *an shall 4%estion it +ith i*p%nity7yo% i not *ean to 4%estion it( These foolish +or s are not +orth yo%r re*e*brance, or *y resent*ent( Vere88i, here is to yo%r first e-ploit(3 3'%ccess to yo%r first e-ploit,3 re6echoe co*pany( the +hole

39oble 'i,nor,3 replie Vere88i, ,la to fin he ha escape &ontoni3s resent*ent, 3+ith *y ,oo +ill, yo% shall b%il yo%r ra*parts of ,ol (3 3Pass the ,oblet,3 crie &ontoni( 3:e +ill rink to 'i,nora 't( A%bert,3 sai Cavi,ni( 31y yo%r leave +e +ill first rink to the la y of the castle(3 sai 1ertolini( 7&ontoni +as silent( 3To the la y of the castle,3 sai his ,%ests( He bo+e his hea ( 3It *%ch s%rprises *e, 'i,nor,3 sai 1ertolini, 3that yo% have so lon, ne,lecte this castle/ it is a noble e ifice(3 3It s%its o%r p%rpose,3 replie &ontoni, 3an I' a noble e ifice( 2o% kno+ not, it see*s, by +hat *ischance it ca*e to *e(3 3It +as a l%cky *ischance, be it +hat it *ay, 'i,nor,3 replie 1ertolini, s*ilin,( 3I +o%l , that one so l%cky ha befallen *e(3 &ontoni looke ,ravely at hi*( 3If yo% +ill atten to +hat I say,3 he res%*e , 3yo% shall hear the story(3 The co%ntenances of 1ertolini an Vere88i e-presse so*ethin, *ore than c%riosity/ Cavi,ni, +ho see*e to feel none, ha probably hear the relation before( 3It is no+ near t+enty years,3 sai &ontoni, 3since this castle ca*e into *y possession( I inherit it by the fe*ale line( The la y, *y pre ecessor, +as only istantly relate to *e/ I a* the last of her fa*ily( 'he

+as bea%tif%l an rich/ I +ooe her/ b%t her heart +as fi-e %pon another, an she re.ecte *e( It is probable, ho+ever, that she +as herself re.ecte of the person, +hoever he *i,ht be, on +ho* she besto+e her favo%r, for a eep an settle *elancholy took possession of her/ an I have reason to believe she p%t a perio to her o+n life( I +as not at the castle at the ti*e/ b%t, as there are so*e sin,%lar an *ysterio%s circ%*stances atten in, that event, I shall repeat the*(3 3Repeat the*?3 sai a voice( &ontoni +as silent/ the ,%ests looke at each other, to kno+ +ho spoke/ b%t they perceive , that each +as *akin, the sa*e en4%iry( &ontoni, at len,th, recovere hi*self( 3:e are overhear ,3 sai he; 3+e +ill finish this s%b.ect another ti*e( Pass the ,oblet(3 The cavaliers looke ro%n the +i e cha*ber( 3Here is no person, b%t o%rselves,3 sai Vere88i; 3pray, 'i,nor, procee (3 3<i yo% hear any thin,B3 sai &ontoni( 3:e i ,3 sai 1ertolini( 3It co%l be only fancy,3 sai Vere88i, lookin, ro%n a,ain( 3:e see no person besi es o%rselves/ an the so%n I tho%,ht I hear see*e +ithin the roo*( Pray, 'i,nor, ,o on(3 &ontoni pa%se a *o*ent, an then procee e in a lo+ere voice, +hile the cavaliers re+ nearer to atten ( 32e are to kno+, 'i,nors, that the 0a y 0a%rentini ha for so*e *onths she+n sy*pto*s of a e.ecte *in , nay, of a ist%rbe i*a,ination( Her *oo +as very %ne4%al/ so*eti*es she +as s%nk in cal* *elancholy, an , at others, as I have been tol , she betraye all the sy*pto*s of frantic *a ness( It +as one ni,ht in the *onth of October, after she ha recovere fro* one of those fits of e-cess, an ha s%nk a,ain into her %s%al *elancholy, that she retire alone to her cha*ber, an forba e all interr%ption( It +as the cha*ber at the en

of the corri or, 'i,nors, +here +e ha the affray, last ni,ht( )ro* that ho%r, she +as seen no *ore(3 3Ho+? seen no *ore?3 sai 1ertolini, 3+as not her bo y fo%n in the cha*berB3 3:ere her re*ains never fo%n B3 crie the rest of the co*pany all to,ether( 39ever?3 replie &ontoni( 3:hat reasons +ere there to s%ppose she estroye herself, thenB3 sai 1ertolini(73Aye, +hat reasonsB3 sai Vere88i(73Ho+ happene it, that her re*ains +ere never fo%n B Altho%,h she kille herself, she co%l not b%ry herself(3 &ontoni looke in i,nantly at Vere88i, +ho be,an to apolo,i8e( 32o%r par on, 'i,nor,3 sai he; 3I i not consi er, that the la y +as yo%r relative, +hen I spoke of her so li,htly(3 &ontoni accepte the apolo,y( 31%t the 'i,nor +ill obli,e %s +ith the reasons, +hich %r,e hi* to believe, that the la y co**itte s%ici e(3 3Those I +ill e-plain hereafter,3 sai &ontoni; 3at present let *e relate a *ost e-traor inary circ%*stance( This conversation ,oes no f%rther, 'i,nors( 0isten, then, to +hat I a* ,oin, to say(3 30isten?3 sai a voice( They +ere all a,ain silent, an the co%ntenance of &ontoni chan,e ( 3This is no ill%sion of the fancy,3 sai Cavi,ni, at len,th breakin, the profo%n silence( 739o,3 sai 1ertolini/ 3I hear it *yself, no+( 2et here is no person in the roo* b%t o%rselves?3 3This is very e-traor inary,3 sai &ontoni, s% enly risin,( 3This is not to be borne/ here is so*e eception, so*e trick( I +ill kno+ +hat it *eans(3 All the co*pany rose fro* their chairs in conf%sion( 3It is very o ?3 sai 1ertolini( 3Here is really no stran,er in the roo*( If it is a trick, 'i,nor, yo% +ill o +ell to p%nish the a%thor of it severely(3 3A trick? +hat else can it beB3 sai Cavi,ni, affectin, a la%,h(

The servants +ere no+ s%**one , an the cha*ber +as searche , b%t no person +as fo%n ( The s%rprise an consternation of the co*pany increase ( &ontoni +as isco*pose ( 3:e +ill leave this roo*,3 sai he, 3an the s%b.ect of o%r conversation also/ it is too sole*n(3 His ,%ests +ere e4%ally rea y to 4%it the apart*ent/ b%t the s%b.ect ha ro%se their c%riosity, an they entreate &ontoni to +ith ra+ to another cha*ber, an finish it/ no entreaties co%l , ho+ever, prevail +ith hi*( 9ot+ithstan in, his efforts to appear at ease, he +as visibly an ,reatly isor ere ( 3:hy, 'i,nor, yo% are not s%perstitio%s,3 crie Vere88i, .eerin,ly/ 3yo%, +ho have so often la%,he at the cre %lity of others?3 3I a* not s%perstitio%s,3 replie &ontoni, re,ar in, hi* +ith stern ispleas%re, 3tho%,h I kno+ ho+ to espise the co**on6place sentences, +hich are fre4%ently %ttere a,ainst s%perstition( I +ill en4%ire f%rther into this affair(3 He then left the roo*/ an his ,%ests, separatin, for the ni,ht, retire to their respective apart*ents(

#HAPTER %III
8e ears the rose of youth upon his cheek# 48A;E4PEARE

:e no+ ret%rn to Valanco%rt, +ho, it *ay be re*e*bere , re*aine at Tholo%se, so*e ti*e after the epart%re of E*ily, restless an *iserable( Each *orro+ that approache , he esi,ne sho%l carry hi* fro* thence/ yet to6*orro+ an to6*orro+ ca*e, an still sa+ hi* lin,erin, in the scene of his for*er happiness( He co%l not i**e iately tear hi*self fro* the spot, +here he ha been acc%sto*e to converse +ith E*ily, or fro* the ob.ects they ha vie+e to,ether, +hich appeare to hi* *e*orials of her affection, as +ell as a kin of s%rety for its faithf%lness/

an , ne-t to the pain of bi in, her a ie%, +as that of leavin, the scenes +hich so po+erf%lly a+akene her i*a,e( 'o*eti*es he ha bribe a servant, +ho ha been left in the care of &a a*e &ontoni3s chatea%, to per*it hi* to visit the ,ar ens, an there he +o%l +an er, for ho%rs to,ether, rapt in a *elancholy, not %npleasin,( The terrace, an the pavilion at the en of it, +here he ha taken leave of E*ily, on the eve of her epart%re fro* Tholo%se, +ere his *ost favo%rite ha%nts( There, as he +alke , or leane fro* the +in o+ of the b%il in,, he +o%l en eavo%r to recollect all she ha sai , on that ni,ht/ to catch the tones of her voice, as they faintly vibrate on his *e*ory, an to re*e*ber the e-act e-pression of her co%ntenance, +hich so*eti*es ca*e s% enly to his fancy, like a vision/ that bea%tif%l co%ntenance, +hich a+akene , as by instantaneo%s *a,ic, all the ten erness of his heart, an see*e to tell +ith irresistible elo4%ence7that he ha lost her forever? At these *o*ents, his h%rrie steps +o%l have iscovere to a spectator the espair of his heart( The character of &ontoni, s%ch as he ha receive fro* hints, an s%ch as his fears represente it, +o%l rise to his vie+, to,ether +ith all the an,ers it see*e to threaten to E*ily an to his love( He bla*e hi*self, that he ha not %r,e these *ore forcibly to her, +hile it *i,ht have been in his po+er to etain her, an that he ha s%ffere an abs%r an cri*inal elicacy, as he ter*e it, to con4%er so soon the reasonable ar,%*ents he ha oppose to this .o%rney( Any evil, that *i,ht have atten e their *arria,e, see*e so inferior to those, +hich no+ threatene their love, or even to the s%fferin,s, that absence occasione , that he +on ere ho+ he co%l have cease to %r,e his s%it, till he ha convince her of its propriety/ an he +o%l certainly no+ have follo+e her to Italy, if he co%l have been spare fro* his re,i*ent for so lon, a .o%rney( His re,i*ent, in ee , soon re*in e hi*, that he ha other %ties to atten , than those of love( A short ti*e after his arrival at his brother3s ho%se, he +as s%**one to .oin his brother officers, an he

acco*panie a battalion to Paris/ +here a scene of novelty an ,aiety opene %pon hi*, s%ch as, till then, he ha only a faint i ea of( 1%t ,aiety is,%ste , an co*pany fati,%e , his sick *in / an he beca*e an ob.ect of %nceasin, raillery to his co*panions, fro* +ho*, +henever he co%l steal an opport%nity, he escape , to think of E*ily( The scenes aro%n hi*, ho+ever, an the co*pany +ith +ho* he +as obli,e to *in,le, en,a,e his attention, tho%,h they faile to a*%se his fancy, an th%s ,ra %ally +eakene the habit of yiel in, to la*entation, till it appeare less a %ty to his love to in %l,e it( A*on, his brother6officers +ere *any, +ho a e to the or inary character of a )rench sol ier3s ,aiety so*e of those fascinatin, 4%alities, +hich too fre4%ently thro+ a veil over folly, an so*eti*es even soften the feat%res of vice into s*iles( To these *en the reserve an tho%,htf%l *anners of Valanco%rt +ere a kin of tacit cens%re on their o+n, for +hich they rallie hi* +hen present, an plotte a,ainst hi* +hen absent/ they ,lorie in the tho%,ht of re %cin, hi* to their o+n level, an , consi erin, it to be a spirite frolic, eter*ine to acco*plish it( Valanco%rt +as a stran,er to the ,ra %al pro,ress of sche*e an intri,%e, a,ainst +hich he co%l not be on his ,%ar ( He ha not been acc%sto*e to receive ri ic%le, an he co%l ill en %re its stin,/ he resente it, an this only re+ %pon hi* a lo% er la%,h( To escape fro* s%ch scenes, he fle into solit% e, an there the i*a,e of E*ily *et hi*, an revive the pan,s of love an espair( He then so%,ht to rene+ those tastef%l st% ies, +hich ha been the eli,ht of his early years/ b%t his *in ha lost the tran4%illity, +hich is necessary for their en.oy*ent( To for,et hi*self an the ,rief an an-iety, +hich the i ea of her recalle , he +o%l 4%it his solit% e, an a,ain *in,le in the cro+ 7,la of a te*porary relief, an re.oicin, to snatch a*%se*ent for the *o*ent( Th%s passe +eeks after +eeks, ti*e ,ra %ally softenin, his sorro+, an habit stren,thenin, his esire of a*%se*ent, till the scenes aro%n hi* see*e to

a+aken into a ne+ character, an Valanco%rt, to have fallen a*on, the* fro* the clo% s( His fi,%re an a ress *a e hi* a +elco*e visitor, +herever he ha been intro %ce , an he soon fre4%ente the *ost ,ay an fashionable circles of Paris( A*on, these, +as the asse*bly of the Co%ntess 0acle%r, a +o*an of e*inent bea%ty an captivatin, *anners( 'he ha passe the sprin, of yo%th, b%t her +it prolon,e the tri%*ph of its rei,n, an they *%t%ally assiste the fa*e of each other/ for those, +ho +ere char*e by her loveliness, spoke +ith enth%sias* of her talents/ an others, +ho a *ire her playf%l i*a,ination, eclare , that her personal ,races +ere %nrivalle ( 1%t her i*a,ination +as *erely playf%l, an her +it, if s%ch it co%l be calle , +as brilliant, rather than .%st/ it a88le , an its fallacy escape the etection of the *o*ent/ for the accents, in +hich she prono%nce it, an the s*ile, that acco*panie the*, +ere a spell %pon the .% ,*ent of the a% itors( Her petits so%pers +ere the *ost tastef%l of any in Paris, an +ere fre4%ente by *any of the secon class of literati( 'he +as fon of *%sic, +as herself a scientific perfor*er, an ha fre4%ently concerts at her ho%se( Valanco%rt, +ho passionately love *%sic, an +ho so*eti*es assiste at these concerts, a *ire her e-ec%tion, b%t re*e*bere +ith a si,h the elo4%ent si*plicity of E*ily3s son,s an the nat%ral e-pression of her *anner, +hich +aite not to be approve by the .% ,*ent, b%t fo%n their +ay at once to the heart( &a a*e 0a Co*tesse ha often eep play at her ho%se, +hich she affecte to restrain, b%t secretly enco%ra,e / an it +as +ell kno+n a*on, her frien s, that the splen o%r of her establish*ent +as chiefly s%pplie fro* the profits of her tables( 1%t her petits so%pers +ere the *ost char*in, i*a,inable? Here +ere all the elicacies of the fo%r 4%arters of the +orl , all the +it an the li,hter efforts of ,eni%s, all the ,races of conversation7the s*iles of bea%ty, an the char* of *%sic/ an Valanco%rt passe his pleasantest, as +ell as *ost an,ero%s ho%rs in these parties(

His brother, +ho re*aine +ith his fa*ily in Gascony, ha contente hi*self +ith ,ivin, hi* letters of intro %ction to s%ch of his relations, resi in, at Paris, as the latter +as not alrea y kno+n to( All these +ere persons of so*e istinction/ an , as neither the person, *in , or *anners of Valanco%rt the yo%n,er threatene to is,race their alliance, they receive hi* +ith as *%ch kin ness as their nat%re, har ene by %ninterr%pte prosperity, +o%l a *it of/ b%t their attentions i not e-ten to acts of real frien ship/ for they +ere too *%ch occ%pie by their o+n p%rs%its, to feel any interest in his/ an th%s he +as set o+n in the *i st of Paris, in the pri e of yo%th, +ith an open, %ns%spicio%s te*per an ar ent affections, +itho%t one frien , to +arn hi* of the an,ers, to +hich he +as e-pose ( E*ily, +ho, ha she been present, +o%l have save hi* fro* these evils by a+akenin, his heart, an en,a,in, hi* in +orthy p%rs%its, no+ only increase his an,er/7it +as to lose the ,rief, +hich the re*e*brance of her occasione , that he first so%,ht a*%se*ent/ an for this en he p%rs%e it, till habit *a e it an ob.ect of abstract interest( There +as also a &archioness Cha*pfort, a yo%n, +i o+, at +hose asse*blies he passe *%ch of his ti*e( 'he +as han so*e, still *ore artf%l, ,ay an fon of intri,%e( The society, +hich she re+ ro%n her, +as less ele,ant an *ore vicio%s, than that of the Co%ntess 0acle%r; b%t, as she ha a ress eno%,h to thro+ a veil, tho%,h b%t a sli,ht one, over the +orst part of her character, she +as still visite by *any persons of +hat is calle istinction( Valanco%rt +as intro %ce to her parties by t+o of his brother officers, +hose late ri ic%le he ha no+ for,iven so far, that he co%l so*eti*es .oin in the la%,h, +hich a *ention of his for*er *anners +o%l rene+( The ,aiety of the *ost splen i co%rt in E%rope, the *a,nificence of the palaces, entertain*ents, an e4%ipa,es, that s%rro%n e hi*7all conspire to a88le his i*a,ination, an re6ani*ate his spirits, an the e-a*ple an *a-i*s of his *ilitary associates to el% e his *in ( E*ily3s i*a,e, in ee , still live

there/ b%t it +as no lon,er the frien , the *onitor, that save hi* fro* hi*self, an to +hich he retire to +eep the s+eet, yet *elancholy, tears of ten erness( :hen he ha reco%rse to it, it ass%*e a co%ntenance of *il reproach, that +r%n, his so%l, an calle forth tears of %n*i-e *isery/ his only escape fro* +hich +as to for,et the ob.ect of it, an he en eavo%re , therefore, to think of E*ily as sel o* as he co%l ( Th%s an,ero%sly circ%*stance +as Valanco%rt, at the ti*e, +hen E*ily +as s%fferin, at Venice, fro* the persec%tin, a resses of Co%nt &orano, an the %n.%st a%thority of &ontoni/ at +hich perio +e leave hi*(

#HAPTER I*
The i!age of a icked, heinous fault &i"es in his eyeA that close aspect of his (oes she the !ood of a !uch%troubled breast# ;5:G 978:

0eavin, the ,ay scenes of Paris, +e ret%rn to those of the ,loo*y Apennine, +here E*ily3s tho%,hts +ere still faithf%l to Valanco%rt( 0ookin, to hi* as to her only hope, she recollecte , +ith .ealo%s e-actness, every ass%rance an every proof she ha +itnesse of his affection/ rea a,ain an a,ain the letters she ha receive fro* hi*/ +ei,he , +ith intense an-iety, the force of every +or , that spoke of his attach*ent/ an rie her tears, as she tr%ste in his tr%th( &ontoni, *ean+hile, ha *a e strict en4%iry concernin, the stran,e circ%*stance of his alar*, +itho%t obtainin, infor*ation/ an +as, at len,th, obli,e to acco%nt for it by the reasonable s%pposition, that it +as a *ischievo%s trick playe off by one of his o*estics( His isa,ree*ents +ith &a a*e &ontoni, on the s%b.ect of her settle*ents, +ere no+ *ore fre4%ent than ever/ he even confine her entirely to her o+n apart*ent, an i not scr%ple to threaten her +ith

*%ch ,reater severity, sho%l ref%sal(

she persevere in a

Reason, ha she cons%lte it, +o%l no+ have perple-e her in the choice of a con %ct to be a opte ( It +o%l have pointe o%t the an,er of irritatin, by f%rther opposition a *an, s%ch as &ontoni ha prove hi*self to be, an to +hose po+er she ha so entirely co**itte herself/ an it +o%l also have tol her, of +hat e-tre*e i*portance to her f%t%re co*fort it +as, to reserve for herself those possessions, +hich +o%l enable her to live in epen ently of &ontoni, sho%l she ever escape fro* his i**e iate contro%l( 1%t she +as irecte by a *ore ecisive ,%i e than reason7 the spirit of reven,e, +hich %r,e her to oppose violence to violence, an obstinacy to obstinacy( :holly confine to the solit% e of her apart*ent, she +as no+ re %ce to solicit the society she ha lately re.ecte / for E*ily +as the only person, e-cept Annette, +ith +ho* she +as per*itte to converse( Genero%sly an-io%s for her peace, E*ily, therefore, trie to pers%a e, +hen she co%l not convince, an so%,ht by every ,entle *eans to in %ce her to forbear that asperity of reply, +hich so ,reatly irritate &ontoni( The pri e of her a%nt i so*eti*es soften to the soothin, voice of E*ily, an there even +ere *o*ents, +hen she re,ar e her affectionate attentions +ith ,oo +ill( The scenes of terrible contention, to +hich E*ily +as fre4%ently co*pelle to be +itness, e-ha%ste her spirits *ore than any circ%*stances, that ha occ%rre since her epart%re fro* Tholo%se( The ,entleness an ,oo ness of her parents, to,ether +ith the scenes of her early happiness, often stole on her *in , like the visions of a hi,her +orl / +hile the characters an circ%*stances, no+ passin, beneath her eye, e-cite both terror an s%rprise( 'he co%l scarcely have i*a,ine , that passions so fierce an so vario%s, as those +hich &ontoni e-hibite , co%l have been concentrate in one in ivi %al/ yet +hat *ore s%rprise her, +as, that, on ,reat occasions, he co%l ben these

passions, +il as they +ere, to the ca%se of his interest, an ,enerally co%l is,%ise in his co%ntenance their operation on his *in / b%t she ha seen hi* too often, +hen he ha tho%,ht it %nnecessary to conceal his nat%re, to be eceive on s%ch occasions( Her present life appeare like the rea* of a iste*pere i*a,ination, or like one of those fri,htf%l fictions, in +hich the +il ,eni%s of the poets so*eti*es eli,hte ( Reflection bro%,ht only re,ret, an anticipation terror( Ho+ often i she +ish to 3steal the lark3s +in,, an *o%nt the s+iftest ,ale,3 that 0an,%e oc an repose *i,ht once *ore be hers? Of Co%nt &orano3s health she *a e fre4%ent en4%iry/ b%t Annette hear only va,%e reports of his an,er, an that his s%r,eon ha sai he +o%l never leave the cotta,e alive/ +hile E*ily co%l not b%t be shocke to think, that she, ho+ever innocently, *i,ht be the *eans of his eath/ an Annette, +ho i not fail to observe her e*otion, interprete it in her o+n +ay( 1%t a circ%*stance soon occ%rre , +hich entirely +ith re+ Annette3s attention fro* this s%b.ect, an a+akene the s%rprise an c%riosity so nat%ral to her( Co*in, one ay to E*ily3s apart*ent, +ith a co%ntenance f%ll of i*portance, 3:hat can all this *ean, *a3a*selleB3 sai she( 3:o%l I +as once safe in 0an,%e oc a,ain, they sho%l never catch *e ,oin, on *y travels any *ore? I *%st think it a fine thin,, tr%ly, to co*e abroa , an see forei,n parts? I little tho%,ht I +as co*in, to be catche %p in a ol castle, a*on, s%ch reary *o%ntains, +ith the chance of bein, *%r ere , or, +hat is as ,oo , havin, *y throat c%t?3 3:hat can all this *ean, in ee , AnnetteB3 sai E*ily, in astonish*ent( 3Aye, *a3a*selle, yo% *ay look s%rprise / b%t yo% +on3t believe it, perhaps, till they have *%r ere yo%, too( 2o% +o%l not believe abo%t the ,host I tol yo% of, tho%,h I she+e yo% the very place, +here it %se to appear?72o% +ill believe nothin,, *a3a*selle(3

39ot till yo% speak *ore reasonably, Annette/ for Heaven3s sake, e-plain yo%r *eanin,( 2o% spoke of *%r er?3 3Aye, *a3a*selle, they are co*in, to *%r er %s all, perhaps/ b%t +hat si,nifies e-plainin,B7yo% +ill not believe(3 E*ily a,ain esire her to relate +hat she ha seen, or hear ( 3O, I have seen eno%,h, *a3a*, an hear too *%ch, as 0% ovico can prove( Poor so%l? they +ill *%r er hi*, too? I little tho%,ht, +hen he s%n, those s+eet verses %n er *y lattice, at Venice?37E*ily looke i*patient an isplease ( 3:ell, *a3a*selle, as I +as sayin,, these preparations abo%t the castle, an these stran,e6 lookin, people, that are callin, here every ay, an the 'i,nor3s cr%el %sa,e of *y la y, an his o ,oin,s6on 7all these, as I tol 0% ovico, can bo e no ,oo ( An he bi *e hol *y ton,%e( 'o, says I, the 'i,nor3s stran,ely altere , 0% ovico, in this ,loo*y castle, to +hat he +as in )rance/ there, all so ,ay? 9obo y so ,allant to *y la y, then/ an he co%l s*ile, too, %pon a poor servant, so*eti*es, an .eer her, too, ,oo 6 nat%re ly eno%,h( I re*e*ber once, +hen he sai to *e, as I +as ,oin, o%t of *y la y3s ressin,6roo*7 Annette, says he73 39ever *in +hat the 'i,nor sai ,3 interr%pte E*ily/ 3b%t tell *e, at once, the circ%*stance, +hich has th%s alar*e yo%(3 3Aye, *a3a*selle,3 re.oine Annette, 3that is .%st +hat 0% ovico sai ; says he, 9ever *in +hat the 'i,nor says to yo%( 'o I tol hi* +hat I tho%,ht abo%t the 'i,nor( He is so stran,ely altere , sai I; for no+ he is so ha%,hty, an so co**an in,, an so sharp +ith *y la y/ an , if he *eets one, he3ll scarcely look at one, %nless it be to fro+n( 'o *%ch the better, says 0% ovico, so *%ch the better( An to tell yo% the tr%th, *a3a*selle, I tho%,ht this +as a very ill6nat%re speech of 0% ovico; b%t I +ent on( An then, says I, he is al+ays knittin, his bro+s/ an if one speaks to hi*, he oes not hear/ an then he sits %p co%nsellin, so, of a

ni,ht, +ith the other 'i,nors7there they are, till lon, past *i ni,ht, isco%rsin, to,ether? Aye, b%t says 0% ovico, yo% on3t kno+ +hat they are co%nsellin, abo%t( 9o, sai I, b%t I can ,%ess7it is abo%t *y yo%n, la y( Apon that, 0% ovico b%rst o%t a6la%,hin,, 4%ite lo% / so he p%t *e in a h%ff, for I i not like that either I or yo%, *a3a*selle, sho%l be la%,he at/ an I t%rne a+ay 4%ick, b%t he stoppe *e( E<on3t be affronte , Annette,E sai he, Eb%t I cannot help la%,hin,/E an +ith that he la%,he a,ain( E:hat?E says he, E o yo% think the 'i,nors sit %p, ni,ht after ni,ht, only to co%nsel abo%t thy yo%n, la y? 9o, no, there is so*ethin, *ore in the +in than that( An these repairs abo%t the castle, an these preparations abo%t the ra*parts7they are not *akin, abo%t yo%n, la ies(E :hy, s%rely, sai I, the 'i,nor, *y *aster, is not ,oin, to *ake +arB E&ake +ar?E sai 0% ovico, E+hat, %pon the *o%ntains an the +oo sB for here is no livin, so%l to *ake +ar %pon that I see(E 3:hat are these preparations for, thenB sai I/ +hy s%rely nobo y is co*in, to take a+ay *y *aster3s castle? EThen there are so *any ill6lookin, fello+s co*in, to the castle every ay,E says 0% ovico, +itho%t ans+erin, *y 4%estion, Ean the 'i,nor sees the* all, an talks +ith the* all, an they all stay in the nei,hbo%rhoo ? 1y holy 't( &arco? so*e of the* are the *ost c%t6throat6lookin, o,s I ever set *y eyes %pon(E 3I aske 0% ovico a,ain, if he tho%,ht they +ere co*in, to take a+ay *y *aster3s castle/ an he sai , 9o, he i not think they +ere, b%t he i not kno+ for certain( EThen yester ay,E sai he, b%t yo% *%st not tell this, *a3a*selle, Eyester ay, a party of these *en ca*e, an left all their horses in the castle stables, +here, it see*s, they are to stay, for the 'i,nor or ere the* all to be entertaine +ith the best proven er in the *an,er/ b%t the *en are, *ost of the*, in the nei,hbo%rin, cotta,es(E 3'o, *a3a*selle, I ca*e to tell yo% all this, for I never hear any thin, so stran,e in *y life( 1%t +hat can these ill6lookin, *en be co*e abo%t, if it is not to

*%r er %sB An the 'i,nor kno+s this, or +hy sho%l he be so civil to the*B An +hy sho%l he fortify the castle, an co%nsel so *%ch +ith the other 'i,nors, an be so tho%,htf%lB3 3Is this all yo% have to tell, AnnetteB3 sai E*ily( 3Have yo% hear nothin, else, that alar*s yo%B3 39othin, else, *a3a*selle?3 sai Annette/ 3+hy, is not this eno%,hB3 35%ite eno%,h for *y patience, Annette, b%t not 4%ite eno%,h to convince *e +e are all to be *%r ere , tho%,h I ackno+le ,e here is s%fficient foo for c%riosity(3 'he forbore to speak her apprehensions, beca%se she +o%l not enco%ra,e Annette3s +il terrors/ b%t the present circ%*stances of the castle both s%rprise , an alar*e her( Annette, havin, tol her tale, left the cha*ber, on the +in, for ne+ +on ers( In the evenin,, E*ily ha passe so*e *elancholy ho%rs +ith &a a*e &ontoni, an +as retirin, to rest, +hen she +as alar*e by a stran,e an lo% knockin, at her cha*ber oor, an then a heavy +ei,ht fell a,ainst it, that al*ost b%rst it open( 'he calle to kno+ +ho +as there, an receivin, no ans+er, repeate the call/ b%t a chillin, silence follo+e ( It occ%rre to her 7for, at this *o*ent, she co%l not reason on the probability of circ%*stances7that so*e one of the stran,ers, lately arrive at the castle, ha iscovere her apart*ent, an +as co*e +ith s%ch intent, as their looks ren ere too possible7to rob, perhaps to *%r er, her( The *o*ent she a *itte this possibility, terror s%pplie the place of conviction, an a kin of instinctive re*e*brance of her re*ote sit%ation fro* the fa*ily hei,htene it to a e,ree, that al*ost overca*e her senses( 'he looke at the oor, +hich le to the staircase, e-pectin, to see it open, an listenin,, in fearf%l silence, for a ret%rn of the noise, till she be,an to think it ha procee e fro* this oor, an a +ish of escapin, thro%,h the opposite one r%she %pon her *in ( 'he +ent to the ,allery oor, an then, fearin, to open it, lest so*e person *i,ht be silently l%rkin, for her +itho%t, she stoppe , b%t +ith her eyes fi-e in e-pectation %pon the opposite oor of the stair6 case( As th%s she stoo , she hear a faint breathin, near

her, an beca*e convince , that so*e person +as on the other si e of the oor, +hich +as alrea y locke ( 'he so%,ht for other fastenin,, b%t there +as none( :hile she yet listene , the breathin, +as istinctly hear , an her terror +as not soothe , +hen, lookin, ro%n her +i e an lonely cha*ber, she a,ain consi ere her re*ote sit%ation( As she stoo hesitatin, +hether to call for assistance, the contin%ance of the stillness s%rprise her/ an her spirits +o%l have revive , ha she not contin%e to hear the faint breathin,, that convince her, the person, +hoever it +as, ha not 4%itte the oor( At len,th, +orn o%t +ith an-iety, she eter*ine to call lo% ly for assistance fro* her case*ent, an +as a vancin, to it, +hen, +hether the terror of her *in ,ave her i eal so%n s, or that real ones i co*e, she tho%,ht footsteps +ere ascen in, the private stair6case/ an , e-pectin, to see its oor %nclose, she for,ot all other ca%se of alar*, an retreate to+ar s the corri or( Here she en eavo%re to *ake her escape, b%t, on openin, the oor, +as very near fallin, over a person, +ho lay on the floor +itho%t( 'he screa*e , an +o%l have passe , b%t her tre*blin, fra*e ref%se to s%pport her/ an the *o*ent, in +hich she leane a,ainst the +all of the ,allery, allo+e her leis%re to observe the fi,%re before her, an to reco,nise the feat%res of Annette( )ear instantly yiel e to s%rprise( 'he spoke in vain to the poor ,irl, +ho re*aine senseless on the floor, an then, losin, all conscio%sness of her o+n +eakness, h%rrie to her assistance( :hen Annette recovere , she +as helpe by E*ily into the cha*ber, b%t +as still %nable to speak, an looke ro%n her, as if her eyes follo+e so*e person in the roo*( E*ily trie to sooth her ist%rbe spirits, an forbore, at present, to ask her any 4%estions/ b%t the fac%lty of speech +as never lon, +ith6hel fro* Annette, an she e-plaine , in broken sentences, an in her te io%s +ay, the occasion of her isor er( 'he affir*e , an +ith a sole*nity of conviction, that al*ost sta,,ere the incre %lity of E*ily, that she ha

seen an apparition, as she +as passin, to her be roo*, thro%,h the corri or( 3I ha hear stran,e stories of that cha*ber before,3 sai Annette; 3b%t as it +as so near yo%rs, *a3a*selle, I +o%l not tell the* to yo%, beca%se they +o%l fri,hten yo%( The servants ha tol *e, often an often, that it +as ha%nte , an that +as the reason +hy it +as sh%t %p; nay, for that *atter, +hy the +hole strin, of these roo*s, here, are sh%t %p( I 4%ake +henever I +ent by, an I *%st say, I i so*eti*es think I hear o noises +ithin it( 1%t, as I sai , as I +as passin, alon, the corri or, an not thinkin, a +or abo%t the *atter, or even of the stran,e voice that the 'i,nors hear the other ni,ht, all of a s% en co*es a ,reat li,ht, an , lookin, behin *e, there +as a tall fi,%re, =I sa+ it as plainly, *a3a*selle, as I see yo% at this *o*ent>, a tall fi,%re ,li in, alon, =Oh? I cannot escribe ho+?> into the roo*, that is al+ays sh%t %p, an nobo y has the key of it b%t the 'i,nor, an the oor sh%t irectly(3 3Then it o%btless +as the 'i,nor,3 sai E*ily( 3O no, *a3a*selle, it co%l not be hi*, for I left hi* b%sy a64%arrellin, in *y la y3s ressin,6roo*?3 32o% brin, *e stran,e tales, Annette,3 sai E*ily; 3it +as b%t this *ornin,, that yo% +o%l have terrifie *e +ith the apprehension of *%r er/ an no+ yo% +o%l pers%a e *e, yo% have seen a ,host? These +on erf%l stories co*e too 4%ickly(3 39ay, *a3a*selle, I +ill say no *ore, only, if I ha not been fri,htene , I sho%l not have fainte ea a+ay, so( I ran as fast as I co%l , to ,et to yo%r oor/ b%t, +hat +as +orst of all, I co%l not call o%t/ then I tho%,ht so*ethin, *%st be stran,ely the *atter +ith *e, an irectly I ropt o+n(3 3:as it the cha*ber +here the black veil han,sB3 sai E*ily( 3O? no, *a3a*selle, it +as one nearer to this( :hat shall I o, to ,et to *y roo*B I +o%l not ,o o%t into the corri or a,ain, for the +hole +orl ?3 E*ily, +hose spirits ha been severely shocke , an +ho,

therefore, i not like the tho%,ht of passin, the ni,ht alone, tol her she *i,ht sleep +here she +as( 3O, no, *a3a*selle,3 replie Annette, 3I +o%l not sleep in the roo*, no+, for a tho%san se4%ins?3 :earie an isappointe , E*ily first ri ic%le , tho%,h she share , her fears, an then trie to sooth the*/ b%t neither atte*pt s%ccee e , an the ,irl persiste in believin, an affir*in,, that +hat she ha seen +as nothin, h%*an( It +as not till so*e ti*e after E*ily ha recovere her co*pos%re, that she recollecte the steps she ha hear on the stair6case7a re*e*brance, ho+ever, +hich *a e her insist that Annette sho%l pass the ni,ht +ith her, an , +ith *%ch iffic%lty, she, at len,th, prevaile , assiste by that part of the ,irl3s fear, +hich concerne the corri or( Early on the follo+in, *ornin,, as E*ily crosse the hall to the ra*parts, she hear a noisy b%stle in the co%rt6yar , an the clatter of horses3 hoofs( '%ch %n%s%al so%n s e-cite her c%riosity/ an , instea of ,oin, to the ra*parts, she +ent to an %pper case*ent, fro* +hence she sa+, in the co%rt belo+, a lar,e party of horse*en, resse in a sin,%lar, b%t %nifor*, habit, an co*pletely, tho%,h vario%sly, ar*e ( They +ore a kin of short .acket, co*pose of black an scarlet, an several of the* ha a cloak, of plain black, +hich, coverin, the person entirely, h%n, o+n to the stirr%ps( As one of these cloaks ,lance asi e, she sa+, beneath, a,,ers, apparently of ifferent si8es, t%cke into the horse*an3s belt( 'he f%rther observe , that these +ere carrie , in the sa*e *anner, by *any of the horse*en +itho%t cloaks, *ost of +ho* bore also pikes, or .avelins( On their hea s, +ere the s*all Italian caps, so*e of +hich +ere istin,%ishe by black feathers( :hether these caps ,ave a fierce air to the co%ntenance, or that the co%ntenances they s%r*o%nte ha nat%rally s%ch an appearance, E*ily tho%,ht she ha never, till then, seen an asse*bla,e of faces so sava,e an terrific( :hile she ,a8e , she al*ost fancie herself s%rro%n e by ban itti/ an a va,%e tho%,ht ,lance ath+art her fancy7that &ontoni +as the captain of the ,ro%p before her, an that this castle

+as to be the place of ren e8vo%s( The stran,e an horrible s%pposition +as b%t *o*entary, tho%,h her reason co%l s%pply none *ore probable, an tho%,h she iscovere , a*on, the ban , the stran,ers she ha for*erly notice +ith so *%ch alar*, +ho +ere no+ istin,%ishe by the black pl%*e( :hile she contin%e ,a8in,, Cavi,ni, Vere88i, an 1ertolini ca*e forth fro* the hall, habite like the rest, e-cept that they +ore hats, +ith a *i-e pl%*e of black an scarlet, an that their ar*s iffere fro* those of the rest of the party( As they *o%nte their horses, E*ily +as str%ck +ith the e-%ltin, .oy, e-presse on the visa,e of Vere88i, +hile Cavi,ni +as ,ay, yet +ith a sha e of tho%,ht on his co%ntenance/ an , as he *ana,e his horse +ith e-terity, his ,racef%l an co**an in, fi,%re, +hich e-hibite the *a.esty of a hero, ha never appeare to *ore a vanta,e( E*ily, as she observe hi*, tho%,ht he so*e+hat rese*ble Valanco%rt, in the spirit an i,nity of his person/ b%t she looke in vain for the noble, benevolent co%ntenance7the so%l3s intelli,ence, +hich oversprea the feat%res of the latter( As she +as hopin,, she scarcely kne+ +hy, that &ontoni +o%l acco*pany the party, he appeare at the hall oor, b%t %n6acco%tre ( Havin, caref%lly observe the horse*en, converse a+hile +ith the cavaliers, an bi en the* fare+el, the ban +heele ro%n the co%rt, an , le by Vere88i, iss%e forth %n er the portc%llis/ &ontoni follo+in, to the portal, an ,a8in, after the* for so*e ti*e( E*ily then retire fro* the case*ent, an , no+ certain of bein, %n*oleste , +ent to +alk on the ra*parts, fro* +hence she soon after sa+ the party +in in, a*on, the *o%ntains to the +est, appearin, an isappearin, bet+een the +oo s, till istance conf%se their fi,%res, consoli ate their n%*bers, an only a in,y *ass appeare *ovin, alon, the hei,hts( E*ily observe , that no +ork*en +ere on the ra*parts, an that the repairs of the fortifications see*e to be co*plete ( :hile she sa%ntere tho%,htf%lly on, she hear istant footsteps, an ,

raisin, her eyes, sa+ several *en l%rkin, %n er the castle +alls, +ho +ere evi ently not +ork*en, b%t looke as if they +o%l have accor e +ell +ith the party, +hich +as ,one( :on erin, +here Annette ha hi herself so lon,, +ho *i,ht have e-plaine so*e of the late circ%*stances, an then consi erin, that &a a*e &ontoni +as probably risen, she +ent to her ressin,6roo*, +here she *entione +hat ha occ%rre / b%t &a a*e &ontoni either +o%l not, or co%l not, ,ive any e-planation of the event( The 'i,nor3s reserve to his +ife, on this s%b.ect, +as probably nothin, *ore than %s%al/ yet, to E*ily, it ,ave an air of *ystery to the +hole affair, that see*e to hint, there +as an,er, if not villany, in his sche*es( Annette presently ca*e, an , as %s%al, +as f%ll of alar*/ to her la y3s ea,er en4%iries of +hat she ha hear a*on, the servants, she replie ; 3Ah, *a a*? nobo y kno+s +hat it is all abo%t, b%t ol Carlo/ he kno+s +ell eno%,h, I are say, b%t he is as close as his *aster( 'o*e say the 'i,nor is ,oin, o%t to fri,hten the ene*y, as they call it; b%t +here is the ene*yB Then others say, he is ,oin, to take a+ay so*e bo y3s castle; b%t I a* s%re he has roo* eno%,h in his o+n, +itho%t takin, other people3s/ an I a* s%re I sho%l like it a ,reat eal better, if there +ere *ore people to fill it(3 3Ah? yo% +ill soon have yo%r +ish, I fear,3 replie &a a*e &ontoni( 39o, *a a*, b%t s%ch ill6lookin, fello+s are not +orth havin,( I *ean s%ch ,allant, s*art, *erry fello+s as 0% ovico, +ho is al+ays tellin, roll stories, to *ake one la%,h( It +as b%t yester ay, he tol *e s%ch a HA&OAR'O&E tale? I can3t help la%,hin, at it no+( 7'ays he73 3:ell, +e can ispense +ith the story,3 sai her la y( 3Ah?3 contin%e Annette, 3he sees a ,reat +ay f%rther than other people? 9o+ he sees into all the 'i,nor3s *eanin,, +itho%t kno+in, a +or abo%t the *atter?3 3Ho+ is thatB3 sai &a a*e &ontoni(

3:hy he says7b%t he *a e *e pro*ise not to tell, an I +o%l not isobli,e hi* for the +orl (3 3:hat is it he *a e yo% pro*ise not to tellB3 sai her la y, sternly( 3I insist %pon kno+in, i**e iately7 +hat is it he *a e yo% pro*iseB3 3O *a a*,3 crie Annette, 3I +o%l not tell for the %niverse?3 3I insist %pon yo%r tellin, this instant,3 sai &a a*e &ontoni( 3O ear *a a*? I +o%l not tell for a h%n re se4%ins? 2o% +o%l not have *e fors+ear *yself *a a*?3 e-clai*e Annette( 3I +ill not +ait another *o*ent,3 sai &ontoni( Annette +as silent( &a a*e

3The 'i,nor shall be infor*e of this irectly,3 re.oine her *istress; 3he +ill *ake yo% iscover all(3 3It is 0% ovico, +ho has iscovere ,3 sai Annette; 3b%t for *ercy3s sake, *a a*, on3t tell the 'i,nor, an yo% shall kno+ all irectly(3 &a a*e &ontoni sai , that she +o%l not( 3:ell then, *a a*, 0% ovico says, that the 'i,nor, *y *aster, is7is7that is, he only thinks so, an any bo y, yo% kno+, *a a*, is free to think7that the 'i,nor, *y *aster, is7is73 3Is +hatB3 sai her la y, i*patiently( 3That the 'i,nor, *y *aster, is ,oin, to be7a ,reat robber7that is7he is ,oin, to rob on his o+n acco%nt/ 7to be, =b%t I a* s%re I on3t %n erstan +hat he *eans> to be a7captain of7robbers(3 3Art tho% in thy senses, AnnetteB3 sai &a a*e &ontoni/ 3or is this a trick to eceive *eB Tell *e, this instant, +hat 0% ovico <I< say to thee/7no e4%ivocation/7this instant(3 39ay, *a a*,3 crie Annette, 3if this is all I a* to ,et for havin, tol the secret37Her *istress th%s contin%e to insist, an Annette to protest, till &ontoni, hi*self, appeare , +ho ba e the latter leave the roo*, an she +ith re+, tre*blin, for the fate of her story( E*ily also +as retirin,, b%t her a%nt esire she +o%l stay/ an &ontoni ha so often *a e her a +itness of their

contention, that he no lon,er ha acco%nt(

scr%ples on that

3I insist %pon kno+in, this instant, 'i,nor, +hat all this *eans;3 sai his +ife73+hat are all these ar*e *en, +ho* they tell *e of, ,one o%t abo%tB3 &ontoni ans+ere her only +ith a look of scorn/ an E*ily +hispere so*ethin, to her( 3It oes not si,nify,3 sai her a%nt; 3I +ill kno+/ an I +ill kno+, too, +hat the castle has been fortifie for(3 3Co*e, co*e,3 sai &ontoni, 3other b%siness bro%,ht *e here( I *%st be trifle +ith no lon,er( I have i**e iate occasion for +hat I e*an 7those estates *%st be ,iven %p, +itho%t f%rther contention/ or I *ay fin a +ay73 3They never shall be ,iven %p,3 interr%pte &a a*e &ontoni; 3they never shall enable yo% to carry on yo%r +il sche*es/7b%t +hat are theseB I +ill kno+( <o yo% e-pect the castle to be attacke B <o yo% e-pect ene*iesB A* I to be sh%t %p here, to be kille in a sie,eB3 3'i,n the +ritin,s,3 sai &ontoni, 3an yo% shall kno+ *ore(3 3:hat ene*y can be co*in,B3 contin%e his +ife( 3Have yo% entere into the service of the stateB A* I to be blocke %p here to ieB3 3That *ay possibly happen,3 sai &ontoni, 3%nless yo% yiel to *y e*an ; for, co*e +hat *ay, yo% shall not 4%it the castle till then(3 &a a*e &ontoni b%rst into lo% la*entation, +hich she as s% enly checke , consi erin,, that her h%sban 3s assertions *i,ht be only artifices, e*ploye to e-tort her consent( 'he hinte this s%spicion, an , in the ne-t *o*ent, tol hi* also, that his esi,ns +ere not so hono%rable as to serve the state, an that she believe he ha only co**ence a captain of ban itti, to .oin the ene*ies of Venice, in pl%n erin, an layin, +aste the s%rro%n in, co%ntry( &ontoni looke at her for a *o*ent +ith a stea y an stern co%ntenance/ +hile E*ily tre*ble , an his +ife,

for once, tho%,ht she ha sai too *%ch( 32o% shall be re*ove , this ni,ht,3 sai he, 3to the east t%rret; there, perhaps, yo% *ay %n erstan the an,er of offen in, a *an, +ho has an %nli*ite po+er over yo%(3 E*ily no+ fell at his feet, an , +ith tears of terror, s%pplicate for her a%nt, +ho sat, tre*blin, +ith fear, an in i,nation/ no+ rea y to po%r forth e-ecrations, an no+ to .oin the intercessions of E*ily( &ontoni, ho+ever, soon interr%pte these entreaties +ith an horrible oath/ an , as he b%rst fro* E*ily, leavin, his cloak, in her han , she fell to the floor, +ith a force, that occasione her a severe blo+ on the forehea ( 1%t he 4%itte the roo*, +itho%t atte*ptin, to raise her, +hose attention +as calle fro* herself, by a eep ,roan fro* &a a*e &ontoni, +ho contin%e other+ise %n*ove in her chair, an ha not fainte ( E*ily, hastenin, to her assistance, sa+ her eyes rollin,, an her feat%res conv%lse ( Havin, spoken to her, +itho%t receivin, an ans+er, she bro%,ht +ater, an s%pporte her hea , +hile she hel it to her lips/ b%t the increasin, conv%lsions soon co*pelle E*ily to call for assistance( On her +ay thro%,h the hall, in search of Annette, she *et &ontoni, +ho* she tol +hat ha happene , an con.%re to ret%rn an co*fort her a%nt/ b%t he t%rne silently a+ay, +ith a look of in ifference, an +ent o%t %pon the ra*parts( At len,th she fo%n ol Carlo an Annette, an they hastene to the ressin,6roo*, +here &a a*e &ontoni ha fallen on the floor, an +as lyin, in stron, conv%lsions( Havin, lifte her into the a .oinin, roo*, an lai her on the be , the force of her isor er still *a e all their stren,th necessary to hol her, +hile Annette tre*ble an sobbe , an ol Carlo looke silently an piteo%sly on, as his feeble han s ,raspe those of his *istress, till, t%rnin, his eyes %pon E*ily, he e-clai*e , 3Goo Go ? 'i,nora, +hat is the *atterB3 E*ily looke cal*ly at hi*, an sa+ his en4%irin, eyes fi-e on her; an Annette, lookin, %p, screa*e lo% ly/ for E*ily3s face +as staine +ith bloo , +hich contin%e to fall slo+ly fro* her forehea ; b%t her

attention ha been so entirely occ%pie by the scene before her, that she ha felt no pain fro* the +o%n ( 'he no+ hel an han kerchief to her face, an , not+ithstan in, her faintness, contin%e to +atch &a a*e &ontoni, the violence of +hose conv%lsions +as abatin,, till at len,th they cease , an left her in a kin of st%por( 3&y a%nt *%st re*ain 4%iet,3 sai E*ily( 3Go, ,oo Carlo/ if +e sho%l +ant yo%r assistance, I +ill sen for yo%( In the *ean ti*e, if yo% have an opport%nity, speak kin ly of yo%r *istress to yo%r *aster(3 3Alas?3 sai Carlo, 3I have seen too *%ch? I have little infl%ence +ith the 'i,nor( 1%t o, ear yo%n, la y, take so*e care of yo%rself/ that is an %,ly +o%n , an yo% look sa ly(3 3Thank yo%, *y frien , for yo%r consi eration,3 sai E*ily, s*ilin, kin ly; 3the +o%n is triflin,, it ca*e by a fall(3 Carlo shook his hea , an left the roo*/ an E*ily, +ith Annette, contin%e to +atch by her a%nt( 3<i *y la y tell the 'i,nor +hat 0% ovico sai , *a3a*selleB3 aske Annette in a +hisper/ b%t E*ily 4%iete her fears on the s%b.ect( 3I tho%,ht +hat this 4%arrellin, +o%l co*e to,3 contin%e Annette; 3I s%ppose the 'i,nor has been beatin, *y la y(3 39o, no, Annette, yo% are totally *istaken, nothin, e-tra6or inary has happene (3 3:hy, e-traor inary thin,s happen here so often, *a3a*selle, that there is nothin, in the*( Here is another le,ion of those ill6lookin, fello+s, co*e to the castle, this *ornin,(3 3H%sh? Annette, yo% +ill ist%rb *y a%nt/ +e +ill talk of that by an bye(3 They contin%e +atchin, silently, till &a a*e &ontoni %ttere a lo+ si,h, +hen E*ily took her han , an spoke soothin,ly to her/ b%t the for*er ,a8e +ith %nconscio%s eyes, an it +as lon, before she kne+ her

niece( Her first +or s then en4%ire for &ontoni/ to +hich E*ily replie by an entreaty, that she +o%l co*pose her spirits, an consent to be kept 4%iet, a in,, that, if she +ishe any *essa,e to be conveye to hi*, she +o%l herself eliver it( 39o,3 sai her a%nt faintly, 3no7I have nothin, ne+ to tell hi*( <oes he persist in sayin, I shall be re*ove fro* *y cha*berB3 E*ily replie , that he ha not spoken, on the s%b.ect, since &a a*e &ontoni hear hi*/ an then she trie to ivert her attention to so*e other topic/ b%t her a%nt see*e to be inattentive to +hat she sai , an lost in secret tho%,hts( E*ily, havin, bro%,ht her so*e refresh*ent, no+ left her to the care of Annette, an +ent in search of &ontoni, +ho* she fo%n on a re*ote part of the ra*part, conversin, a*on, a ,ro%p of the *en escribe by Annette( They stoo ro%n hi* +ith fierce, yet s%b.%,ate , looks, +hile he, speakin, earnestly, an pointin, to the +alls, i not perceive E*ily, +ho re*aine at so*e istance, +aitin, till he sho%l be at leis%re, an observin, invol%ntarily the appearance of one *an, *ore sava,e than his fello+s, +ho stoo restin, on his pike, an lookin,, over the sho%l ers of a co*ra e, at &ontoni, to +ho* he listene +ith %nco**on earnestness( This *an +as apparently of lo+ con ition/ yet his looks appeare not to ackno+le ,e the s%periority of &ontoni, as i those of his co*panions/ an so*eti*es they even ass%*e an air of a%thority, +hich the ecisive *anner of the 'i,nor co%l not repress( 'o*e fe+ +or s of &ontoni then passe in the +in / an , as the *en +ere separatin,, she hear hi* say, 3This evenin,, then, be,in the +atch at s%n6set(3 3At s%n6set, 'i,nor,3 replie one or t+o of the*, an +alke a+ay/ +hile E*ily approache &ontoni, +ho appeare esiro%s of avoi in, her; b%t, tho%,h she observe this, she ha co%ra,e to procee ( 'he en eavo%re to interce e once *ore for her a%nt, represente to hi* her s%fferin,s, an %r,e the an,er of e-posin, her to a col apart*ent in her present state( 3'he s%ffers by her o+n folly,3 sai &ontoni, 3an is not to be pitie /7she kno+s ho+ she *ay avoi these

s%fferin,s in f%t%re7if she is re*ove to the t%rret, it +ill be her o+n fa%lt( 0et her be obe ient, an si,n the +ritin,s yo% hear of, an I +ill think no *ore of it(3 :hen E*ily vent%re still to plea , he sternly silence an reb%ke her for interferin, in his o*estic affairs, b%t, at len,th, is*isse her +ith this concession7 That he +o%l not re*ove &a a*e &ontoni, on the ens%in, ni,ht, b%t allo+ her till the ne-t to consi er, +hether she +o%l resi,n her settle*ents, or be i*prisone in the east t%rret of the castle, 3+here she shall fin ,3 he a e , 3a p%nish*ent she *ay not e-pect(3 E*ily then hastene to infor* her a%nt of this short respite an of the alternative, that a+aite her, to +hich the latter *a e no reply, b%t appeare tho%,htf%l, +hile E*ily, in consi eration of her e-tre*e lan,%or, +ishe to sooth her *in by lea in, it to less interestin, topics; an , tho%,h these efforts +ere %ns%ccessf%l, an &a a*e &ontoni beca*e peevish, her resol%tion, on the conten e point, see*e so*e+hat to rela-, an E*ily reco**en e , as her only *eans of safety, that she sho%l s%b*it to &ontoni3s e*an ( 32o% kno+ not +hat yo% a vise,3 sai her a%nt( 3<o yo% %n erstan , that these estates +ill escen to yo% at *y eath, if I persist in a ref%salB3 3I +as i,norant of that circ%*stance, *a a*,3 replie E*ily, 3b%t the kno+le ,e of it cannot +ith6hol *e fro* a visin, yo% to a opt the con %ct, +hich not only yo%r peace, b%t, I fear, yo%r safety re4%ires, an I entreat, that yo% +ill not s%ffer a consi eration co*paratively so triflin,, to *ake yo% hesitate a *o*ent in resi,nin, the*(3 3Are yo% sincere, nieceB3 3Is it possible yo% can o%bt it, *a a*B3 Her a%nt appeare to be affecte ( 32o% are not %n+orthy of these estates, niece,3 sai she; 3I +o%l +ish to keep the* for yo%r sake7yo% she+ a virt%e I i not e-pect(3 3Ho+ have I eserve this reproof, *a a*B3 sai E*ily sorro+f%lly(

3Reproof?3 replie &a a*e &ontoni; 3I *eant to praise yo%r virt%e(3 3Alas? here is no e-ertion of virt%e,3 re.oine E*ily, 3for here is no te*ptation to be overco*e(3 32et &onsie%r Valanco%rt37sai her a%nt( 3O, *a a*?3 interr%pte E*ily, anticipatin, +hat she +o%l have sai , 3 o not let *e ,lance on that s%b.ect; o not let *y *in be staine +ith a +ish so shockin,ly self6 intereste (3 'he i**e iately chan,e the topic, an contin%e +ith &a a*e &ontoni, till she +ith re+ to her apart*ent for the ni,ht( At that ho%r, the castle +as perfectly still, an every inhabitant of it, e-cept herself, see*e to have retire to rest( As she passe alon, the +i e an lonely ,alleries, %sky an silent, she felt forlorn an apprehensive of7she scarcely kne+ +hat/ b%t +hen, enterin, the corri or, she recollecte the inci ent of the prece in, ni,ht, a rea sei8e her, lest a s%b.ect of alar*, si*ilar to that, +hich ha befallen Annette, sho%l occ%r to her, an +hich, +hether real, or i eal, +o%l , she felt, have an al*ost e4%al effect %pon her +eakene spirits( The cha*ber, to +hich Annette ha all% e , she i not e-actly kno+, b%t %n erstoo it to be one of those she *%st pass in the +ay to her o+n/ an , sen in, a fearf%l look for+ar into the ,loo*, she steppe li,htly an ca%tio%sly alon,, till, co*in, to a oor, fro* +hence iss%e a lo+ so%n , she hesitate an pa%se / an , %rin, the elay of that *o*ent, her fears so *%ch increase , that she ha no po+er to *ove fro* the spot( 1elievin,, that she hear a h%*an voice +ithin, she +as so*e+hat revive / b%t, in the ne-t *o*ent, the oor +as opene , an a person, +ho* she conceive to be &ontoni, appeare , +ho instantly starte back, an close it, tho%,h not before she ha seen, by the li,ht that b%rne in the cha*ber, another person, sittin, in a *elancholy attit% e by the fire( Her terror vanishe , b%t her astonish*ent only be,an, +hich +as no+ ro%se by the *ysterio%s secrecy of &ontoni3s *anner, an by the iscovery of a person, +ho* he th%s visite at *i ni,ht, in an

apart*ent, +hich ha lon, been sh%t %p, an of +hich s%ch e-traor inary reports +ere circ%late ( :hile she th%s contin%e hesitatin,, stron,ly pro*pte to +atch &ontoni3s *otions, yet fearin, to irritate hi* by appearin, to notice the*, the oor +as a,ain opene ca%tio%sly, an as instantly close as before( 'he then steppe softly to her cha*ber, +hich +as the ne-t b%t one to this, b%t, havin, p%t o+n her la*p, ret%rne to an obsc%re corner of the corri or, to observe the procee in,s of this half6seen person, an to ascertain, +hether it +as in ee &ontoni( Havin, +aite in silent e-pectation for a fe+ *in%tes, +ith her eyes fi-e on the oor, it +as a,ain opene , an the sa*e person appeare , +ho* she no+ kne+ to be &ontoni( He looke ca%tio%sly ro%n , +itho%t perceivin, her, then, steppin, for+ar , close the oor, an left the corri or( 'oon after, E*ily hear the oor fastene on the insi e, an she +ith re+ to her cha*ber, +on erin, at +hat she ha +itnesse ( It +as no+ t+elve o3clock( As she close her case*ent, she hear footsteps on the terrace belo+, an sa+ i*perfectly, thro%,h the ,loo*, several persons a vancin,, +ho passe %n er the case*ent( 'he then hear the clink of ar*s, an , in the ne-t *o*ent, the +atch6+or / +hen, recollectin, the co**an she ha overhear fro* &ontoni, an the ho%r of the ni,ht, she %n erstoo , that these *en +ere, for the first ti*e, relievin, ,%ar in the castle( Havin, listene till all +as a,ain still, she retire to sleep(

#HAPTER *
And shall no lay of death <ith pleasing !ur!ur sooth 8er parted soulE 4hall no tear et her gra"eE 4A$ER4

On the follo+in, *ornin,, E*ily +ent early to the apart*ent of &a a*e &ontoni, +ho ha slept +ell, an +as *%ch recovere ( Her spirits ha also ret%rne +ith her health, an her resol%tion to oppose &ontoni3s e*an s revive , tho%,h it yet str%,,le +ith her fears, +hich E*ily, +ho tre*ble for the conse4%ence of f%rther opposition, en eavo%re to confir*( Her a%nt, as has been alrea y she+n, ha a isposition, +hich eli,hte in contra iction, an +hich ta%,ht her, +hen %npleasant circ%*stances +ere offere to her %n erstan in,, not to en4%ire into their tr%th, b%t to seek for ar,%*ents, by +hich she *i,ht *ake the* appear false( 0on, habit ha so entirely confir*e this nat%ral propensity, that she +as not conscio%s of possessin, it( E*ily3s re*onstrances an representations, therefore, ro%se her pri e, instea of alar*in,, or convincin, her .% ,*ent, an she still relie %pon the iscovery of so*e *eans, by +hich she *i,ht yet avoi s%b*ittin, to the e*an of her h%sban ( Consi erin,, that, if she co%l once escape fro* his castle, she *i,ht efy his po+er, an , obtainin, a ecisive separation, live in co*fort on the estates, that yet re*aine for her, she *entione this to her niece, +ho accor e +ith her in the +ish, b%t iffere fro* her, as to the probability of its co*pletion( 'he represente the i*possibility of passin, the ,ates, sec%re an ,%ar e as they +ere, an the e-tre*e an,er of co**ittin, her esi,n to the iscretion of a servant, +ho *i,ht either p%rposely betray, or acci entally isclose it(7&ontoni3s ven,eance +o%l also is ain restraint, if her intention +as etecte ; an , tho%,h E*ily +ishe , as fervently as she co%l o, to re,ain her free o*, an ret%rn to )rance, she cons%lte only &a a*e &ontoni3s safety, an persevere in a visin, her to relin4%ish her settle*ent, +itho%t bravin, f%rther o%tra,e( The str%,,le of contrary e*otions, ho+ever, contin%e to ra,e in her a%nt3s boso*, an she still broo e over the chance of effectin, an escape( :hile she th%s sat, &ontoni entere the roo*, an , +itho%t noticin, his +ife3s in isposition, sai , that he ca*e to re*in her of

the i*policy of triflin, +ith hi*, an that he ,ave her only till the evenin, to eter*ine, +hether she +o%l consent to his e*an , or co*pel hi*, by a ref%sal, to re*ove her to the east t%rret( He a e , that a party of cavaliers +o%l ine +ith hi*, that ay, an that he e-pecte that she +o%l sit at the hea of the table, +here E*ily, also, *%st be present( &a a*e &ontoni +as no+ on the point of %tterin, an absol%te ref%sal, b%t, s% enly consi erin,, that her liberty, %rin, this entertain*ent, tho%,h circ%*scribe , *i,ht favo%r her f%rther plans, she ac4%iesce , +ith see*in, rel%ctance, an &ontoni, soon after, left the apart*ent( His co**an str%ck E*ily +ith s%rprise an apprehension, +ho shrank fro* the tho%,ht of bein, e-pose to the ,a8e of stran,ers, s%ch as her fancy represente these to be, an the +or s of Co%nt &orano, no+ a,ain recollecte , i not sooth her fears( :hen she +ith re+ to prepare for inner, she resse herself +ith even *ore si*plicity than %s%al, that she *i,ht escape observation7a policy, +hich i not avail her, for, as she re6passe to her a%nt3s apart*ent, she +as *et by &ontoni, +ho cens%re +hat he calle her pr% ish appearance, an insiste , that she sho%l +ear the *ost splen i ress she ha , even that, +hich ha been prepare for her inten e n%ptials +ith Co%nt &orano, an +hich, it no+ appeare , her a%nt ha caref%lly bro%,ht +ith her fro* Venice( This +as *a e, not in the Venetian, b%t, in the 9eapolitan fashion, so as to set off the shape an fi,%re, to the %t*ost a vanta,e( In it, her bea%tif%l chestn%t tresses +ere ne,li,ently bo%n %p in pearls, an s%ffere to fall back a,ain on her neck( The si*plicity of a better taste, than &a a*e &ontoni3s, +as conspic%o%s in this ress, splen i as it +as, an E*ily3s %naffecte bea%ty never ha appeare *ore captivatin,ly( 'he ha no+ only to hope, that &ontoni3s or er +as pro*pte , not by any e-traor inary esi,n, b%t by an ostentation of isplayin, his fa*ily, richly attire , to the eyes of stran,ers/ yet nothin, less than his absol%te co**an co%l have prevaile +ith her to +ear a ress, that ha been esi,ne for s%ch an offensive p%rpose, *%ch less

to have +orn it on this occasion( As she escen e to inner, the e*otion of her *in thre+ a faint bl%sh over her co%ntenance, an hei,htene its interestin, e-pression/ for ti*i ity ha *a e her lin,er in her apart*ent, till the %t*ost *o*ent, an , +hen she entere the hall, in +hich a kin of state inner +as sprea , &ontoni an his ,%ests +ere alrea y seate at the table( 'he +as then ,oin, to place herself by her a%nt/ b%t &ontoni +ave his han , an t+o of the cavaliers rose, an seate her bet+een the*( The el est of these +as a tall *an, +ith stron, Italian feat%res, an a4%iline nose, an ark penetratin, eyes, that flashe +ith fire, +hen his *in +as a,itate , an , even in its state of rest, retaine so*e+hat of the +il ness of the passions( His visa,e +as lon, an narro+, an his co*ple-ion of a sickly yello+( The other, +ho appeare to be abo%t forty, ha feat%res of a ifferent cast, yet Italian, an his look +as slo+, s%btle an penetratin,/ his eyes, of a ark ,rey, +ere s*all, an hollo+/ his co*ple-ion +as a s%n6b%rnt bro+n, an the conto%r of his face, tho%,h incline to oval, +as irre,%lar an ill6for*e ( Ei,ht other ,%ests sat ro%n the table, +ho +ere all resse in an %nifor*, an ha all an e-pression, *ore or less, of +il fierceness, of s%btle esi,n, or of licentio%s passions( As E*ily ti*i ly s%rveye the*, she re*e*bere the scene of the prece in, *ornin,, an a,ain al*ost fancie herself s%rro%n e by ban itti/ then, lookin, back to the tran4%illity of her early life, she felt scarcely less astonish*ent, than ,rief, at her present sit%ation( The scene, in +hich they sat, assiste the ill%sion/ it +as an antient hall, ,loo*y fro* the style of its architect%re, fro* its ,reat e-tent, an beca%se al*ost the only li,ht it receive +as fro* one lar,e ,othic +in o+, an fro* a pair of fol in, oors, +hich, bein, open, a *itte like+ise a vie+ of the +est ra*part, +ith the +il *o%ntains of the Apennine beyon ( The *i le co*part*ent of this hall rose into a va%lte roof, enriche +ith fret+ork, an s%pporte , on three

si es, by pillars of *arble/ beyon these, lon, colonna es retire in ,loo*y ,ran e%r, till their e-tent +as lost in t+ili,ht( The li,htest footsteps of the servants, as they a vance thro%,h these, +ere ret%rne in +hisperin, echoes, an their fi,%res, seen at a istance i*perfectly thro%,h the %sk, fre4%ently a+akene E*ily3s i*a,ination( 'he looke alternately at &ontoni, at his ,%ests an on the s%rro%n in, scene/ an then, re*e*berin, her ear native province, her pleasant ho*e an the si*plicity an ,oo ness of the frien s, +ho* she ha lost, ,rief an s%rprise a,ain occ%pie her *in ( :hen her tho%,hts co%l ret%rn fro* these consi erations, she fancie she observe an air of a%thority to+ar s his ,%ests, s%ch as she ha never before seen hi* ass%*e, tho%,h he ha al+ays been istin,%ishe by an ha%,hty carria,e/ there +as so*ethin, also in the *anners of the stran,ers, that see*e perfectly, tho%,h not servilely, to ackno+le ,e his s%periority( <%rin, inner, the conversation +as chiefly on +ar an politics( They talke +ith ener,y of the state of Venice, its an,ers, the character of the rei,nin, <o,e an of the chief senators/ an then spoke of the state of Ro*e( :hen the repast +as over, they rose, an , each fillin, his ,oblet +ith +ine fro* the ,il e e+er, that stoo besi e hi*, rank 3'%ccess to o%r e-ploits?3 &ontoni +as liftin, his ,oblet to his lips to rink this toast, +hen s% enly the +ine hisse , rose to the bri*, an , as he hel the ,lass fro* hi*, it b%rst into a tho%san pieces( To hi*, +ho constantly %se that sort of Venice ,lass, +hich ha the 4%ality of breakin,, %pon receivin, poisone li4%or, a s%spicion, that so*e of his ,%ests ha en eavo%re to betray hi*, instantly occ%rre , an he or ere all the ,ates to be close , re+ his s+or , an , lookin, ro%n on the*, +ho stoo in silent a*a8e*ent, e-clai*e , 3Here is a traitor a*on, %s/ let those, that are innocent, assist in iscoverin, the ,%ilty(3

In i,nation flashe fro* the eyes of the cavaliers, +ho all re+ their s+or s/ an &a a*e &ontoni, terrifie at +hat *i,ht ens%e, +as hastenin, fro* the hall, +hen her h%sban co**an e her to stay/ b%t his f%rther +or s co%l not no+ be istin,%ishe , for the voice of every person rose to,ether( His or er, that all the servants sho%l appear, +as at len,th obeye , an they eclare their i,norance of any eceit7a protestation +hich co%l not be believe / for it +as evi ent, that, as &ontoni3s li4%or, an his only, ha been poisone , a eliberate esi,n ha been for*e a,ainst his life, +hich co%l not have been carrie so far to+ar s its acco*plish*ent, +itho%t the connivance of the servant, +ho ha the care of the +ine e+ers( This *an, +ith another, +hose face betraye either the conscio%sness of ,%ilt, or the fear of p%nish*ent, &ontoni or ere to be chaine instantly, an confine in a stron, roo*, +hich ha for*erly been %se as a prison( Thither, like+ise, he +o%l have sent all his ,%ests, ha he not foreseen the conse4%ence of so bol an %n.%stifiable a procee in,( As to those, therefore, he contente hi*self +ith s+earin,, that no *an sho%l pass the ,ates, till this e-traor inary affair ha been investi,ate , an then sternly ba e his +ife retire to her apart*ent, +hither he s%ffere E*ily to atten her( In abo%t half an ho%r, he follo+e to the ressin,6 roo*/ an E*ily observe , +ith horror, his ark co%ntenance an 4%iverin, lip, an hear hi* eno%nce ven,eance on her a%nt( 3It +ill avail yo% nothin,,3 sai he to his +ife, 3to eny the fact/ I have proof of yo%r ,%ilt( 2o%r only chance of *ercy rests on a f%ll confession/7there is nothin, to hope fro* s%llenness, or falsehoo / yo%r acco*plice has confesse all(3 E*ily3s faintin, spirits +ere ro%se by astonish*ent, as she hear her a%nt acc%se of a cri*e so atrocio%s, an she co%l not, for a *o*ent, a *it the possibility of her ,%ilt( &ean+hile &a a*e &ontoni3s a,itation i not per*it her to reply/ alternately her co*ple-ion

varie fro* livi paleness to a cri*son fl%sh/ an she tre*ble ,7b%t, +hether +ith fear, or +ith in i,nation, it +ere iffic%lt to eci e( 3'pare yo%r +or s,3 sai &ontoni, seein, her abo%t to speak, 3yo%r co%ntenance *akes f%ll confession of yo%r cri*e(72o% shall be instantly re*ove to the east t%rret(3 3This acc%sation,3 sai &a a*e &ontoni, speakin, +ith iffic%lty, 3is %se only as an e-c%se for yo%r cr%elty/ I is ain to reply to it( 2o% o not believe *e ,%ilty(3 3'i,nor?3 sai E*ily sole*nly, 3this rea f%l char,e, I +o%l ans+er +ith *y life, is false( 9ay, 'i,nor,3 she a e , observin, the severity of his co%ntenance, 3this is no *o*ent for restraint, on *y part/ I o not scr%ple to tell yo%, that yo% are eceive 7*ost +icke ly eceive , by the s%,,estion of so*e person, +ho ai*s at the r%in of *y a%nt;7it is i*possible, that yo% co%l yo%rself have i*a,ine a cri*e so hi eo%s(3 &ontoni, his lips tre*blin, *ore than before, replie only, 3If yo% val%e yo%r o+n safety,3 a ressin, E*ily, 3yo% +ill be silent( I shall kno+ ho+ to interpret yo%r re*onstrances, sho%l yo% persevere in the*(3 E*ily raise her eyes cal*ly to heaven( 3Here is, in ee , then, nothin, to hope?3 sai she( 3Peace?3 crie &ontoni, 3or yo% shall fin so*ethin, to fear(3 there is

He t%rne to his +ife, +ho ha no+ recovere her spirits, an +ho vehe*ently an +il ly re*onstrate %pon this *ysterio%s s%spicion; b%t &ontoni3s ra,e hei,htene +ith her in i,nation, an E*ily, rea in, the event of it, thre+ herself bet+een the*, an claspe his knees in silence, lookin, %p in his face +ith an e-pression, that *i,ht have softene the heart of a fien ( :hether his +as har ene by a conviction of &a a*e &ontoni3s ,%ilt, or that a bare s%spicion of it *a e hi* ea,er to e-ercise ven,eance, he +as totally an alike insensible to the istress of his +ife, an to the plea in, looks of E*ily, +ho* he *a e no atte*pt to raise, b%t +as vehe*ently *enacin, both, +hen he

+as calle o%t of the roo* by so*e person at the oor( As he sh%t the oor, E*ily hear hi* t%rn the lock an take o%t the key/ so that &a a*e &ontoni an herself +ere no+ prisoners/ an she sa+ that his esi,ns beca*e *ore an *ore terrible( Her en eavo%rs to e-plain his *otives for this circ%*stance +ere al*ost as ineffect%al as those to sooth the istress of her a%nt, +hose innocence she co%l not o%bt/ b%t she, at len,th, acco%nte for &ontoni3s rea iness to s%spect his +ife by his o+n conscio%sness of cr%elty to+ar s her, an for the s% en violence of his present con %ct a,ainst both, before even his s%spicions co%l be co*pletely for*e , by his ,eneral ea,erness to effect s% enly +hatever he +as le to esire an his carelessness of .%stice, or h%*anity, in acco*plishin, it( &a a*e &ontoni, after so*e ti*e, a,ain looke ro%n , in search of a possibility of escape fro* the castle, an converse +ith E*ily on the s%b.ect, +ho +as no+ +illin, to enco%nter any ha8ar , tho%,h she forbore to enco%ra,e a hope in her a%nt, +hich she herself i not a *it( Ho+ stron,ly the e ifice +as sec%re , an ho+ vi,ilantly ,%ar e , she kne+ too +ell/ an tre*ble to co**it their safety to the caprice of the servant, +hose assistance they *%st solicit( Ol Carlo +as co*passionate, b%t he see*e to be too *%ch in his *aster3s interest to be tr%ste by the*/ Annette co%l of herself o little, an E*ily kne+ 0% ovico only fro* her report( At present, ho+ever, these consi erations +ere %seless, &a a*e &ontoni an her niece bein, sh%t %p fro* all interco%rse, even +ith the persons, +ho* there *i,ht be these reasons to re.ect( In the hall, conf%sion an t%*%lt still rei,ne ( E*ily, as she listene an-io%sly to the *%r*%r, that so%n e alon, the ,allery, so*eti*es fancie she hear the clashin, of s+or s, an , +hen she consi ere the nat%re of the provocation, ,iven by &ontoni, an his i*pet%osity, it appeare probable, that nothin, less than ar*s +o%l ter*inate the contention( &a a*e &ontoni, havin, e-ha%ste all her e-pressions of

in i,nation, an E*ily, hers of co*fort, they re*aine silent, in that kin of breathless stillness, +hich, in nat%re, often s%ccee s to the %proar of conflictin, ele*ents/ a stillness, like the *ornin,, that a+ns %pon the r%ins of an earth4%ake( An %ncertain kin of terror perva e E*ily3s *in / the circ%*stances of the past ho%r still ca*e i*ly an conf%se ly to her *e*ory/ an her tho%,hts +ere vario%s an rapi , tho%,h +itho%t t%*%lt( )ro* this state of +akin, visions she +as recalle by a knockin, at the cha*ber6 oor, an , en4%irin, +ho +as there, hear the +hisperin, voice of Annette( 3<ear *a a*, let *e co*e in, I have a ,reat eal to say,3 sai the poor ,irl( 3The oor is locke ,3 ans+ere the la y( 32es, *a3a*, b%t o pray open it(3 3The 'i,nor has the key,3 sai &a a*e &ontoni( 3O blesse Vir,in? +hat +ill beco*e of %sB3 e-clai*e Annette( 3Assist %s to escape,3 sai 0% ovicoB3 her *istress( 3:here is

31elo+ in the hall, *a3a*, a*on,st the* all, fi,htin, +ith the best of the*?3 3)i,htin,? :ho are fi,htin,B3 crie &a a*e &ontoni( 3:hy the 'i,nor, *a3a*, an all the 'i,nors, an a ,reat *any *ore(3 3Is any person *%ch h%rtB3 sai E*ily, in a tre*%lo%s voice( 3H%rt? 2es, *a3a*selle,7there they lie blee in,, an the s+or s are clashin,, an 7O holy saints? <o let *e in, *a3a*, they are co*in, this +ay7I shall be *%r ere ?3 3)ly?3 crie E*ily, 3fly? +e cannot open the oor(3 Annette repeate , that they +ere co*in,, an in the sa*e *o*ent fle (

31e cal*, *a a*,3 sai E*ily, t%rnin, to her a%nt, 3I entreat yo% to be cal*, I a* not fri,htene 7not fri,htene in the least, o not yo% be alar*e (3 32o% can scarcely s%pport yo%rself,3 replie her a%nt/ 3&ercif%l Go ? +hat is it they *ean to o +ith %sB3 3They co*e, perhaps, to liberate %s,3 sai E*ily, 3'i,nor &ontoni perhaps is7is con4%ere (3 The belief of his eath ,ave her spirits a s% en shock, an she ,re+ faint as she sa+ hi* in i*a,ination, e-pirin, at her feet( 3They are co*in,?3 crie &a a*e &ontoni73I hear their steps7they are at the oor?3 E*ily t%rne her lan,%i eyes to the oor, b%t terror eprive her of %tterance( The key so%n e in the lock/ the oor opene , an &ontoni appeare , follo+e by three r%ffian6like *en( 3E-ec%te yo%r or ers,3 sai he, t%rnin, to the*, an pointin, to his +ife, +ho shrieke , b%t +as i**e iately carrie fro* the roo*/ +hile E*ily s%nk, senseless, on a co%ch, by +hich she ha en eavo%re to s%pport herself( :hen she recovere , she +as alone, an recollecte only, that &a a*e &ontoni ha been there, to,ether +ith so*e %nconnecte partic%lars of the prece in, transaction, +hich +ere, ho+ever, s%fficient to rene+ all her terror( 'he looke +il ly ro%n the apart*ent, as if in search of so*e *eans of intelli,ence, concernin, her a%nt, +hile neither her o+n an,er, or an i ea of escapin, fro* the roo*, i**e iately occ%rre ( :hen her recollection +as *ore co*plete, she raise herself an +ent, b%t +ith only a faint hope, to e-a*ine +hether the oor +as %nfastene ( It +as so, an she then steppe ti*i ly o%t into the ,allery, b%t pa%se there, %ncertain +hich +ay she sho%l procee ( Her first +ish +as to ,ather so*e infor*ation, as to her a%nt, an she, at len,th, t%rne her steps to ,o to the lesser hall, +here Annette an the other servants %s%ally +aite ( Every +here, as she passe , she hear , fro* a istance, the %proar of contention, an the fi,%res an faces,

+hich she *et, h%rryin, alon, the passa,es, str%ck her *in +ith is*ay( E*ily *i,ht no+ have appeare , like an an,el of li,ht, enco*passe by fien s( At len,th, she reache the lesser hall, +hich +as silent an eserte , b%t, pantin, for breath, she sat o+n to recover herself( The total stillness of this place +as as a+f%l as the t%*%lt, fro* +hich she ha escape ; b%t she ha no+ ti*e to recall her scattere tho%,hts, to re*e*ber her personal an,er, an to consi er of so*e *eans of safety( 'he perceive , that it +as %seless to seek &a a*e &ontoni, thro%,h the +i e e-tent an intricacies of the castle, no+, too, +hen every aven%e see*e to be beset by r%ffians/ in this hall she co%l not resolve to stay, for she kne+ not ho+ soon it *i,ht beco*e their place of ren e8vo%s/ an , tho%,h she +ishe to ,o to her cha*ber, she rea e a,ain to enco%nter the* on the +ay( Th%s she sat, tre*blin, an hesitatin,, +hen a istant *%r*%r broke on the silence, an ,re+ lo% er an lo% er, till she istin,%ishe voices an steps approachin,( 'he then rose to ,o, b%t the so%n s ca*e alon, the only passa,e, by +hich she co%l epart, an she +as co*pelle to a+ait in the hall, the arrival of the persons, +hose steps she hear ( As these a vance , she istin,%ishe ,roans, an then sa+ a *an borne slo+ly alon, by fo%r others( Her spirits faltere at the si,ht, an she leane a,ainst the +all for s%pport( The bearers, *ean+hile, entere the hall, an , bein, too b%sily occ%pie to etain, or even notice E*ily, she atte*pte to leave it, b%t her stren,th faile , an she a,ain sat o+n on the bench( A a*p chillness ca*e over her/ her si,ht beca*e conf%se / she kne+ not +hat ha passe , or +here she +as, yet the ,roans of the +o%n e person still vibrate on her heart( In a fe+ *o*ents, the ti e of life see*e a,ain to flo+/ she be,an to breathe *ore freely, an her senses revive ( 'he ha not fainte , nor ha ever totally lost her conscio%sness, b%t ha contrive to s%pport herself on the bench/ still +itho%t co%ra,e to t%rn her eyes %pon the %nfort%nate ob.ect, +hich re*aine near her, an

abo%t +ho* the *en +ere yet too *%ch en,a,e to atten to her( :hen her stren,th ret%rne , she rose, an +as s%ffere to leave the hall, tho%,h her an-iety, havin, pro %ce so*e vain en4%iries, concernin, &a a*e &ontoni, ha th%s *a e a iscovery of herself( To+ar s her cha*ber she no+ hastene , as fast as her steps +o%l bear her, for she still perceive , %pon her passa,e, the so%n s of conf%sion at a istance, an she en eavo%re , by takin, her +ay thro%,h so*e obsc%re roo*s, to avoi enco%nterin, the persons, +hose looks ha terrifie her before, as +ell as those parts of the castle, +here the t%*%lt *i,ht still ra,e( At len,th, she reache her cha*ber, an , havin, sec%re the oor of the corri or, felt herself, for a *o*ent, in safety( A profo%n stillness rei,ne in this re*ote apart*ent, +hich not even the faint *%r*%r of the *ost istant so%n s no+ reache ( 'he sat o+n, near one of the case*ents, an , as she ,a8e on the *o%ntain6vie+ beyon , the eep repose of its bea%ty str%ck her +ith all the force of contrast, an she co%l scarcely believe herself so near a scene of sava,e iscor ( The conten in, ele*ents see*e to have retire fro* their nat%ral spheres, an to have collecte the*selves into the *in s of *en, for there alone the te*pest no+ rei,ne ( E*ily trie to tran4%illi8e her spirits, b%t an-iety *a e her constantly listen for so*e so%n , an often look o%t %pon the ra*parts, +here all, ho+ever, +as lonely an still( As a sense of her o+n i**e iate an,er ha ecrease , her apprehension concernin, &a a*e &ontoni hei,htene , +ho, she re*e*bere , ha been fiercely threatene +ith confine*ent in the east t%rret, an it +as possible, that her h%sban ha satisfie his present ven,eance +ith this p%nish*ent( 'he, therefore, eter*ine , +hen ni,ht sho%l ret%rn, an the inhabitants of the castle sho%l be asleep, to e-plore the +ay to the t%rret, +hich, as the irection it stoo in +as *entione , appeare not very iffic%lt to be one( 'he kne+, in ee , that altho%,h her a%nt *i,ht be there, she co%l affor her no effect%al

assistance, b%t it *i,ht ,ive her so*e co*fort even to kno+, that she +as iscovere , an to hear the so%n of her niece3s voice/ for herself, any certainty, concernin, &a a*e &ontoni3s fate, appeare *ore tolerable, than this e-ha%stin, s%spense( &ean+hile, Annette i not appear, an E*ily +as s%rprise , an so*e+hat alar*e for her, +ho*, in the conf%sion of the late scene, vario%s acci ents *i,ht have befallen, an it +as i*probable, that she +o%l have faile to co*e to her apart*ent, %nless so*ethin, %nfort%nate ha happene ( Th%s the ho%rs passe in solit% e, in silence, an in an-io%s con.ect%rin,( 1ein, not once ist%rbe by a *essa,e, or a so%n , it appeare , that &ontoni ha +holly for,otten her, an it ,ave her so*e co*fort to fin , that she co%l be so %nnotice ( 'he en eavo%re to +ith ra+ her tho%,hts fro* the an-iety, that preye %pon the*, b%t they ref%se contro%l/ she co%l neither rea , or ra+, an the tones of her l%te +ere so %tterly iscor ant +ith the present state of her feelin,s, that she co%l not en %re the* for a *o*ent( The s%n, at len,th, set behin the +estern *o%ntains/ his fiery bea*s fa e fro* the clo% s, an then a %n *elancholy p%rple re+ over the*, an ,ra %ally involve the feat%res of the co%ntry belo+( 'oon after, the sentinels passe on the ra*part to co**ence the +atch( T+ili,ht ha no+ sprea its ,loo* over every ob.ect/ the is*al obsc%rity of her cha*ber recalle fearf%l tho%,hts, b%t she re*e*bere , that to proc%re a li,ht she *%st pass thro%,h a ,reat e-tent of the castle, an , above all, thro%,h the halls, +here she ha alrea y e-perience so *%ch horror( <arkness, in ee , in the present state of her spirits, *a e silence an solit% e terrible to her/ it +o%l also prevent the possibility of her fin in, her +ay to the t%rret, an con e*n her to re*ain in s%spense, concernin, the fate of her a%nt/ yet she are not to vent%re forth for a la*p( Contin%in, at the case*ent, that she *i,ht catch the last lin,erin, ,lea* of evenin,, a tho%san va,%e

i*a,es of fear floate on her fancy( 3:hat if so*e of these r%ffians,3 sai she, 3sho%l fin o%t the private stair6case, an in the arkness of ni,ht steal into *y cha*ber?3 Then, recollectin, the *ysterio%s inhabitant of the nei,hbo%rin, apart*ent, her terror chan,e its ob.ect( 3He is not a prisoner,3 sai she, 3tho%,h he re*ains in one cha*ber, for &ontoni i not fasten the oor, +hen he left it/ the %nkno+n person hi*self i this/ it is certain, therefore, he can co*e o%t +hen he pleases(3 'he pa%se , for, not+ithstan in, the terrors of arkness, she consi ere it to be very i*probable, +hoever he +as, that he co%l have any interest in intr% in, %pon her retire*ent/ an a,ain the s%b.ect of her e*otion chan,e , +hen, re*e*berin, her nearness to the cha*ber, +here the veil ha for*erly isclose a rea f%l spectacle, she o%bte +hether so*e passa,e *i,ht not co**%nicate bet+een it an the insec%re oor of the stair6case( It +as no+ entirely ark, an she left the case*ent( As she sat +ith her eyes fi-e on the hearth, she tho%,ht she perceive there a spark of li,ht/ it t+inkle an isappeare , an then a,ain +as visible( At len,th, +ith *%ch care, she fanne the e*bers of a +oo fire, that ha been li,hte in the *ornin,, into fla*e, an , havin, co**%nicate it to a la*p, +hich al+ays stoo in her roo*, felt a satisfaction not to be conceive , +itho%t a revie+ of her sit%ation( Her first care +as to ,%ar the oor of the stair6case, for +hich p%rpose she place a,ainst it all the f%rnit%re she co%l *ove, an she +as th%s e*ploye , for so*e ti*e, at the en of +hich she ha another instance ho+ *%ch *ore oppressive *isfort%ne is to the i le, than to the b%sy/ for, havin, then leis%re to think over all the circ%*stances of her present afflictions, she i*a,ine a tho%san evils for f%t%rity, an these real an i eal s%b.ects of istress alike +o%n e her *in ( Th%s heavily *ove the ho%rs till *i ni,ht, +hen she co%nte the s%llen notes of the ,reat clock, as they rolle alon, the ra*part, %n*in,le +ith any so%n , e-cept the istant foot6fall of a sentinel, +ho ca*e to

relieve ,%ar ( 'he no+ tho%,ht she *i,ht vent%re to+ar s the t%rret, an , havin, ,ently opene the cha*ber oor to e-a*ine the corri or, an to listen if any person +as stirrin, in the castle, fo%n all aro%n in perfect stillness( 2et no sooner ha she left the roo*, than she perceive a li,ht flash on the +alls of the corri or, an , +itho%t +aitin, to see by +ho* it +as carrie , she shr%nk back, an close her oor( 9o one approachin,, she con.ect%re , that it +as &ontoni ,oin, to pay his *i 6ni,ht visit to her %nkno+n nei,hbo%r, an she eter*ine to +ait, till he sho%l have retire to his o+n apart*ent( :hen the chi*es ha tolle another half ho%r, she once *ore opene the oor, an , perceivin, that no person +as in the corri or, hastily crosse into a passa,e, that le alon, the so%th si e of the castle to+ar s the stair6 case, +hence she believe she co%l easily fin her +ay to the t%rret( Often pa%sin, on her +ay, listenin, apprehensively to the *%r*%rs of the +in , an lookin, fearf%lly on+ar into the ,loo* of the lon, passa,es, she, at len,th, reache the stair6case/ b%t there her perple-ity be,an( T+o passa,es appeare , of +hich she kne+ not ho+ to prefer one, an +as co*pelle , at last, to eci e by chance, rather than by circ%*stances( That she entere , opene first into a +i e ,allery, alon, +hich she passe li,htly an s+iftly/ for the lonely aspect of the place a+e her, an she starte at the echo of her o+n steps( On a s% en, she tho%,ht she hear a voice, an , not istin,%ishin, fro* +hence it ca*e, feare e4%ally to procee , or to ret%rn( )or so*e *o*ents, she stoo in an attit% e of listenin, e-pectation, shrinkin, al*ost fro* herself an scarcely arin, to look ro%n her( The voice ca*e a,ain, b%t, tho%,h it +as no+ near her, terror i not allo+ her to .% ,e e-actly +hence it procee e ( 'he tho%,ht, ho+ever, that it +as the voice of co*plaint, an her belief +as soon confir*e by a lo+ *oanin, so%n , that see*e to procee fro* one of the cha*bers, openin, into the ,allery( It instantly occ%rre to her, that &a a*e &ontoni *i,ht be there confine , an she a vance to the oor to speak, b%t

+as checke by consi erin,, that she +as, perhaps, ,oin, to co**it herself to a stran,er, +ho *i,ht iscover her to &ontoni/ for, tho%,h this person, +hoever it +as, see*e to be in affliction, it i not follo+, that he +as a prisoner( :hile these tho%,hts passe over her *in , an left her still in hesitation, the voice spoke a,ain, an , callin, 30% ovico,3 she then perceive it to be that of Annette/ on +hich, no lon,er hesitatin,, she +ent in .oy to ans+er her( 30% ovico?3 crie Annette, sobbin,730% ovico?3 3It is not 0% ovico, it is I7&a e*oiselle E*ily(3 Annette cease sobbin,, an +as silent( 3If yo% can open the oor, let *e in,3 sai E*ily, 3here is no person to h%rt yo%(3 30% ovico?7O, 0% ovico?3 crie Annette( E*ily no+ lost her patience, an her fear of bein, overhear increasin,, she +as even nearly abo%t to leave the oor, +hen she consi ere , that Annette *i,ht, possibly, kno+ so*ethin, of the sit%ation of &a a*e &ontoni, or irect her to the t%rret( At len,th, she obtaine a reply, tho%,h little satisfactory, to her 4%estions, for Annette kne+ nothin, of &a a*e &ontoni, an only con.%re E*ily to tell her +hat +as beco*e of 0% ovico( Of hi* she ha no infor*ation to ,ive, an she a,ain aske +ho ha sh%t Annette %p( 30% ovico,3 sai the poor ,irl, 30% ovico sh%t *e %p( :hen I ran a+ay fro* the ressin,6roo* oor to6 ay, I +ent I scarcely kne+ +here, for safety/ an , in this ,allery, here, I *et 0% ovico, +ho h%rrie *e into this cha*ber, an locke *e %p to keep *e o%t of har*, as he sai ( 1%t he +as in s%ch a h%rry hi*self, he har ly spoke ten +or s, b%t he tol *e he +o%l co*e, an let *e o%t, +hen all +as 4%iet, an he took a+ay the key +ith hi*( 9o+ all these ho%rs are passe , an I have neither seen, or hear a +or of hi*/ they have *%r ere hi*7I kno+ they have?3

E*ily s% enly re*e*bere the +o%n e person, +ho* she ha seen borne into the servants3 hall, an she scarcely o%bte , that he +as 0% ovico, b%t she conceale the circ%*stance fro* Annette, an en eavo%re to co*fort her( Then, i*patient to learn so*ethin, of her a%nt, she a,ain en4%ire the +ay to the t%rret( 3O? yo% are not ,oin,, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3for Heaven3s sake, o not ,o, an leave *e here by *yself(3 39ay, Annette, yo% o not think I can +ait in the ,allery all ni,ht,3 replie E*ily( 3<irect *e to the t%rret/ in the *ornin, I +ill en eavo%r to release yo%(3 3O holy &ary?3 e-clai*e Annette, 3a* I to stay here by *yself all ni,ht? I shall be fri,htene o%t of *y senses, an I shall ie of h%n,er/ I have ha nothin, to eat since inner?3 E*ily co%l scarcely forbear s*ilin, at the hetero,eneo%s istresses of Annette, tho%,h she sincerely pitie the*, an sai +hat she co%l to sooth her( At len,th, she obtaine so*ethin, like a irection to the east t%rret, an 4%itte the oor, fro* +hence, after *any intricacies an perple-ities, she reache the steep an +in in, stairs of the t%rret, at the foot of +hich she stoppe to rest, an to re6ani*ate her co%ra,e +ith a sense of her %ty( As she s%rveye this is*al place, she perceive a oor on the opposite si e of the stair6case, an , an-io%s to kno+ +hether it +o%l lea her to &a a*e &ontoni, she trie to %n ra+ the bolts, +hich fastene it( A fresher air ca*e to her face, as she %nclose the oor, +hich opene %pon the east ra*part, an the s% en c%rrent ha nearly e-tin,%ishe her li,ht, +hich she no+ re*ove to a istance/ an a,ain, lookin, o%t %pon the obsc%re terrace, she perceive only the faint o%tline of the +alls an of so*e to+ers, +hile, above, heavy clo% s, borne alon, the +in , see*e to *in,le +ith the stars, an +rap the ni,ht in thicker arkness( As she ,a8e , no+ +illin, to efer the *o*ent of certainty, fro* +hich she e-pecte only confir*ation of evil, a istant footstep re*in e her, that she *i,ht be observe by

the *en on +atch, an , hastily closin, the oor, she took her la*p, an passe %p the stair6case( Tre*blin, ca*e %pon her, as she ascen e thro%,h the ,loo*( To her *elancholy fancy this see*e to be a place of eath, an the chillin, silence, that rei,ne , confir*e its character( Her spirits faltere ( 3Perhaps,3 sai she, 3I a* co*e hither only to learn a rea f%l tr%th, or to +itness so*e horrible spectacle/ I feel that *y senses +o%l not s%rvive s%ch an a ition of horror(3 The i*a,e of her a%nt *%r ere 7*%r ere , perhaps, by the han of &ontoni, rose to her *in / she tre*ble , ,aspe for breath7repente that she ha are to vent%re hither, an checke her steps( 1%t, after she ha pa%se a fe+ *in%tes, the conscio%sness of her %ty ret%rne , an she +ent on( 'till all +as silent( At len,th a track of bloo , %pon a stair, ca%,ht her eye/ an instantly she perceive , that the +all an several other steps +ere staine ( 'he pa%se , a,ain str%,,le to s%pport herself, an the la*p al*ost fell fro* her tre*blin, han ( 'till no so%n +as hear , no livin, bein, see*e to inhabit the t%rret/ a tho%san ti*es she +ishe herself a,ain in her cha*ber/ rea e to en4%ire farther7 rea e to enco%nter so*e horrible spectacle, an yet co%l not resolve, no+ that she +as so near the ter*ination of her efforts, to esist fro* the*( Havin, a,ain collecte co%ra,e to procee , after ascen in, abo%t half +ay %p the t%rret, she ca*e to another oor, b%t here a,ain she stoppe in hesitation/ listene for so%n s +ithin, an then, s%**onin, all her resol%tion, %nclose it, an entere a cha*ber, +hich, as her la*p shot its feeble rays thro%,h the arkness, see*e to e-hibit only e+6staine an eserte +alls( As she stoo e-a*inin, it, in fearf%l e-pectation of iscoverin, the re*ains of her %nfort%nate a%nt, she perceive so*ethin, lyin, in an obsc%re corner of the roo*, an , str%ck +ith an horrible conviction, she beca*e, for an instant, *otionless an nearly insensible( Then, +ith a kin of esperate resol%tion, she h%rrie to+ar s the ob.ect that e-cite her terror, +hen, perceivin, the clothes of so*e person, on the floor, she ca%,ht hol of the*, an fo%n in her ,rasp

the ol %nifor* of a sol ier, beneath +hich appeare a heap of pikes an other ar*s( 'carcely arin, to tr%st her si,ht, she contin%e , for so*e *o*ents, to ,a8e on the ob.ect of her late alar*, an then left the cha*ber, so *%ch co*forte an occ%pie by the conviction, that her a%nt +as not there, that she +as ,oin, to escen the t%rret, +itho%t en4%irin, farther/ +hen, on t%rnin, to o so, she observe %pon so*e steps on the secon fli,ht an appearance of bloo , an re*e*berin,, that there +as yet another cha*ber to be e-plore , she a,ain follo+e the +in in,s of the ascent( 'till, as she ascen e , the track of bloo ,lare %pon the stairs( It le her to the oor of a lan in,6place, that ter*inate the*, b%t she +as %nable to follo+ it farther( 9o+ that she +as so near the so%,ht6for certainty, she rea e to kno+ it, even *ore than before, an ha not fortit% e s%fficient to speak, or to atte*pt openin, the oor( Havin, listene , in vain, for so*e so%n , that *i,ht confir*, or estroy her fears, she, at len,th, lai her han on the lock, an , fin in, it fastene , calle on &a a*e &ontoni/ b%t only a chillin, silence ens%e ( 3'he is ea ?3 she crie ,73*%r ere ?7her bloo is on the stairs?3 E*ily ,re+ very faint/ co%l s%pport herself no lon,er, an ha scarcely presence of *in to set o+n the la*p, an place herself on a step( :hen her recollection ret%rne , she spoke a,ain at the oor, an a,ain atte*pte to open it, an , havin, lin,ere for so*e ti*e, +itho%t receivin, any ans+er, or hearin, a so%n , she escen e the t%rret, an , +ith all the s+iftness her feebleness +o%l per*it, so%,ht her o+n apart*ent( As she t%rne into the corri or, the oor of a cha*ber opene , fro* +hence &ontoni ca*e forth/ b%t E*ily, *ore terrifie than ever to behol hi*, shr%nk back into the passa,e soon eno%,h to escape bein, notice , an hear hi* close the oor, +hich she ha perceive +as the sa*e she for*erly observe ( Havin, here

listene to his epartin, steps, till their faint so%n +as lost in istance, she vent%re to her apart*ent, an , sec%rin, it once a,ain, retire to her be , leavin, the la*p b%rnin, on the hearth( 1%t sleep +as fle fro* her harasse *in , to +hich i*a,es of horror alone occ%rre ( 'he en eavo%re to think it possible, that &a a*e &ontoni ha not been taken to the t%rret/ b%t, +hen she recollecte the for*er *enaces of her h%sban an the terrible spirit of ven,eance, +hich he ha isplaye on a late occasion/ +hen she re*e*bere his ,eneral character, the looks of the *en, +ho ha force &a a*e &ontoni fro* her apart*ent, an the +ritten traces on the stairs of the t%rret7she co%l not o%bt, that her a%nt ha been carrie thither, an co%l scarcely hope, that she ha not been carrie to be *%r ere ( The ,rey of *ornin, ha lon, a+ne thro%,h her case*ents, before E*ily close her eyes in sleep/ +hen +earie nat%re, at len,th, yiel e her a respite fro* s%fferin,(

#HAPTER *I
<ho rears the bloody handE 4A$ER4

E*ily re*aine in her cha*ber, on the follo+in, *ornin,, +itho%t receivin, any notice fro* &ontoni, or seein, a h%*an bein,, e-cept the ar*e *en, +ho so*eti*es passe on the terrace belo+( Havin, taste no foo since the inner of the prece in, ay, e-tre*e faintness *a e her feel the necessity of 4%ittin, the asyl%* of her apart*ent to obtain refresh*ent, an she +as also very an-io%s to proc%re liberty for Annette( :illin,, ho+ever, to efer vent%rin, forth, as lon, as possible, an consi erin,, +hether she sho%l apply to &ontoni, or to the co*passion of so*e other person, her e-cessive an-iety concernin, her a%nt, at len,th, overca*e her abhorrence of his presence, an she

eter*ine to ,o to hi*, an to entreat, that he +o%l s%ffer her to see &a a*e &ontoni( &ean+hile, it +as too certain, fro* the absence of Annette, that so*e acci ent ha befallen 0% ovico, an that she +as still in confine*ent/ E*ily, therefore, resolve also to visit the cha*ber, +here she ha spoken to her, on the prece in, ni,ht, an , if the poor ,irl +as yet there, to infor* &ontoni of her sit%ation( It +as near noon, before she vent%re fro* her apart*ent, an +ent first to the so%th ,allery, +hither she passe +itho%t *eetin, a sin,le person, or hearin, a so%n , e-cept, no+ an then, the echo of a istant footstep( It +as %nnecessary to call Annette, +hose la*entations +ere a% ible %pon the first approach to the ,allery, an +ho, be+ailin, her o+n an 0% ovico3s fate, tol E*ily, that she sho%l certainly be starve to eath, if she +as not let o%t i**e iately( E*ily replie , that she +as ,oin, to be, her release of &ontoni/ b%t the terrors of h%n,er no+ yiel e to those of the 'i,nor, an , +hen E*ily left her, she +as lo% ly entreatin,, that her place of ref%,e *i,ht be conceale fro* hi*( As E*ily re+ near the ,reat hall, the so%n s she hear an the people she *et in the passa,es rene+e her alar*( The latter, ho+ever, +ere peaceable, an i not interr%pt her, tho%,h they looke earnestly at her, as she passe , an so*eti*es spoke( On crossin, the hall to+ar s the ce ar roo*, +here &ontoni %s%ally sat, she perceive , on the pave*ent, fra,*ents of s+or s, so*e tattere ,ar*ents staine +ith bloo , an al*ost e-pecte to have seen a*on, the* a ea bo y/ b%t fro* s%ch a spectacle she +as, at present, spare ( As she approache the roo*, the so%n of several voices iss%e fro* +ithin, an a rea of appearin, before *any stran,ers, as +ell as of irritatin, &ontoni by s%ch an intr%sion, *a e her pa%se an falter fro* her p%rpose( 'he looke %p thro%,h the lon, arca es of the hall, in search of a servant, +ho *i,ht bear a *essa,e, b%t no one appeare , an the %r,ency of +hat she ha to re4%est *a e her still lin,er near the oor( The

voices +ithin +ere not in contention, tho%,h she istin,%ishe those of several of the ,%ests of the prece in, ay/ b%t still her resol%tion faile , +henever she +o%l have tappe at the oor, an she ha eter*ine to +alk in the hall, till so*e person sho%l appear, +ho *i,ht call &ontoni fro* the roo*, +hen, as she t%rne fro* the oor, it +as s% enly opene by hi*self( E*ily tre*ble , an +as conf%se , +hile he al*ost starte +ith s%rprise, an all the terrors of his co%ntenance %nfol e the*selves( 'he for,ot all she +o%l have sai , an neither en4%ire for her a%nt, or entreate for Annette, b%t stoo silent an e*barrasse ( After closin, the oor he reprove her for a *eanness, of +hich she ha not been ,%ilty, an sternly 4%estione her +hat she ha overhear / an acc%sation, +hich revive her recollection so far, that she ass%re hi* she ha not co*e thither +ith an intention to listen to his conversation, b%t to entreat his co*passion for her a%nt, an for Annette( &ontoni see*e to o%bt this assertion, for he re,ar e her +ith a scr%tini8in, look/ an the o%bt evi ently arose fro* no triflin, interest( E*ily then f%rther e-plaine herself, an concl% e +ith entreatin, hi* to infor* her, +here her a%nt +as place , an to per*it, that she *i,ht visit her/ b%t he looke %pon her only +ith a *ali,nant s*ile, +hich instantaneo%sly confir*e her +orst fears for her a%nt, an , at that *o*ent, she ha not co%ra,e to rene+ her entreaties( 3)or Annette,3 sai he,73if yo% ,o to Carlo, he +ill release the ,irl/ the foolish fello+, +ho sh%t her %p, ie yester ay(3 E*ily sh% ere (731%t *y a%nt, 'i,nor37sai she, 3O tell *e of *y a%nt?3 3'he is taken care of,3 replie &ontoni hastily, 3I have no ti*e to ans+er i le 4%estions(3 He +o%l have passe on, b%t E*ily, in a voice of a,ony, that co%l not be +holly resiste , con.%re hi* to tell her, +here &a a*e &ontoni +as/ +hile he pa%se , an she an-io%sly +atche his co%ntenance, a tr%*pet so%n e , an , in the ne-t *o*ent, she hear the heavy ,ates of the portal open, an then the

clatterin, of horses3 hoofs in the co%rt, +ith the conf%sion of *any voices( 'he stoo for a *o*ent hesitatin, +hether she sho%l follo+ &ontoni, +ho, at the so%n of the tr%*pet, ha passe thro%,h the hall, an , t%rnin, her eyes +hence it ca*e, she sa+ thro%,h the oor, that opene beyon a lon, perspective of arches into the co%rts, a party of horse*en, +ho* she .% ,e , as +ell as the istance an her e*barrass*ent +o%l allo+, to be the sa*e she ha seen epart, a fe+ ays before( 1%t she stai not to scr%tini8e, for, +hen the tr%*pet so%n e a,ain, the chevaliers r%she o%t of the ce ar roo*, an *en ca*e r%nnin, into the hall fro* every 4%arter of the castle( E*ily once *ore h%rrie for shelter to her o+n apart*ent( Thither she +as still p%rs%e by i*a,es of horror( 'he re6 consi ere &ontoni3s *anner an +or s, +hen he ha spoken of his +ife, an they serve only to confir* her *ost terrible s%spicions( Tears ref%se any lon,er to relieve her istress, an she ha sat for a consi erable ti*e absorbe in tho%,ht, +hen a knockin, at the cha*ber oor aro%se her, on openin, +hich she fo%n ol Carlo( 3<ear yo%n, la y,3 sai he, 3I have been so fl%rrie , I never once tho%,ht of yo% till .%st no+( I have bro%,ht yo% so*e fr%it an +ine, an I a* s%re yo% *%st stan in nee of the* by this ti*e(3 3Thank yo%, Carlo,3 sai E*ily, 3this is very ,oo of yo% <i the 'i,nor re*in yo% of *eB3 39o, 'i,nora,3 replie Carlo, 3his e-cellen8a has b%siness eno%,h on his han s(3 E*ily then rene+e her en4%iries, concernin, &a a*e &ontoni, b%t Carlo ha been e*ploye at the other en of the castle, %rin, the ti*e, that she +as re*ove , an he ha hear nothin, since, concernin, her( :hile he spoke, E*ily looke stea ily at hi*, for she scarcely kne+ +hether he +as really i,norant, or conceale his kno+le ,e of the tr%th fro* a fear of offen in, his *aster( To several 4%estions, concernin, the contentions of yester ay, he ,ave very li*ite ans+ers/ b%t tol , that the isp%tes +ere no+ a*icably

settle , an that the 'i,nor believe hi*self to have been *istaken in his s%spicions of his ,%ests( 3The fi,htin, +as abo%t that, 'i,nora,3 sai Carlo/ 3b%t I tr%st I shall never see s%ch another ay in this castle, tho%,h stran,e thin,s are abo%t to be one(3 On her en4%irin, his *eanin,, 3Ah, 'i,nora?3 a e he, 3it is not for *e to betray secrets, or tell all I think, b%t ti*e +ill tell(3 'he then esire hi* to release Annette, an , havin, escribe the cha*ber in +hich the poor ,irl +as confine , he pro*ise to obey her i**e iately, an +as epartin,, +hen she re*e*bere to ask +ho +ere the persons .%st arrive ( Her late con.ect%re +as ri,ht/ it +as Vere88i, +ith his party( Her spirits +ere so*e+hat soothe by this short conversation +ith Carlo/ for, in her present circ%*stances, it affor e so*e co*fort to hear the accents of co*passion, an to *eet the look of sy*pathy( An ho%r passe before Annette appeare , +ho then ca*e +eepin, an sobbin,( 3O 0% ovico70% ovico?3 crie she( 3&y poor Annette?3 sai E*ily, an *a e her sit o+n( 3:ho co%l have foreseen this, *a3a*selleB O *iserable, +retche , ay7that ever I sho%l live to see it?3 an she contin%e to *oan an la*ent, till E*ily tho%,ht it necessary to check her e-cess of ,rief( 3:e are contin%ally losin, ear frien s by eath,3 sai she, +ith a si,h, that ca*e fro* her heart( 3:e *%st s%b*it to the +ill of Heaven7o%r tears, alas? cannot recall the ea ?3 Annette took the han kerchief fro* her face( 32o% +ill *eet 0% ovico in a better +orl , I hope,3 a e E*ily( 32es7yes,7*a3a*selle,3 sobbe Annette, 3b%t I hope I shall *eet hi* a,ain in this7tho%,h he is so +o%n e ?3 3:o%n e ?3 e-clai*e E*ily, 3 oes he liveB3

32es, *a3a*, b%t7b%t he has a terrible +o%n , an co%l not co*e to let *e o%t( They tho%,ht hi* ea , at first, an he has not been ri,htly hi*self, till +ithin this ho%r(3 3:ell, Annette, I re.oice to hear he lives(3 30ives? Holy 'aints? +hy he +ill not ie, s%rely?3 E*ily sai she hope not, b%t this e-pression of hope Annette tho%,ht i*plie fear, an her o+n increase in proportion, as E*ily en eavo%re to enco%ra,e her( To en4%iries, concernin, &a a*e &ontoni, she co%l ,ive no satisfactory ans+ers( 3I 4%ite for,ot to ask a*on, the servants, *a3a*selle,3 sai she, 3for I co%l think of nobo y b%t poor 0% ovico(3 Annette3s ,rief +as no+ so*e+hat ass%a,e , an E*ily sent her to *ake en4%iries, concernin, her la y, of +ho*, ho+ever, she co%l obtain no intelli,ence, so*e of the people she spoke +ith bein, really i,norant of her fate, an others havin, probably receive or ers to conceal it( This ay passe +ith E*ily in contin%e ,rief an an-iety for her a%nt/ b%t she +as %n*oleste by any notice fro* &ontoni/ an , no+ that Annette +as liberate , she obtaine foo , +itho%t e-posin, herself to an,er, or i*pertinence( T+o follo+in, ays passe in the sa*e *anner, %n*arke by any occ%rrence, %rin, +hich she obtaine no infor*ation of &a a*e &ontoni( On the evenin, of the secon , havin, is*isse Annette, an retire to be , her *in beca*e ha%nte by the *ost is*al i*a,es, s%ch as her lon, an-iety, concernin, her a%nt, s%,,este / an , %nable to for,et herself, for a *o*ent, or to van4%ish the phanto*s, that tor*ente her, she rose fro* her be , an +ent to one of the case*ents of her cha*ber, to breathe a freer air( All +itho%t +as silent an ark, %nless that co%l be calle li,ht, +hich +as only the faint ,li**er of the stars, she+in, i*perfectly the o%tline of the *o%ntains, the +estern to+ers of the castle an the ra*parts

belo+, +here a solitary sentinel +as pacin,( :hat an i*a,e of repose i this scene present? The fierce an terrible passions, too, +hich so often a,itate the inhabitants of this e ifice, see*e no+ h%she in sleep/ 7those *ysterio%s +orkin,s, that ro%se the ele*ents of *an3s nat%re into te*pest7+ere cal*( E*ily3s heart +as not so/ b%t her s%fferin,s, tho%,h eep, partook of the ,entle character of her *in ( Hers +as a silent an,%ish, +eepin,, yet en %rin,/ not the +il ener,y of passion, infla*in, i*a,ination, bearin, o+n the barriers of reason an livin, in a +orl of its o+n( The air refreshe her, an she contin%e at the case*ent, lookin, on the sha o+y scene, over +hich the planets b%rne +ith a clear li,ht, a*i the eep bl%e aether, as they silently *ove in their estine co%rse( 'he re*e*bere ho+ often she ha ,a8e on the* +ith her ear father, ho+ often he ha pointe o%t their +ay in the heavens, an e-plaine their la+s/ an these reflections le to others, +hich, in an al*ost e4%al e,ree, a+akene her ,rief an astonish*ent( They bro%,ht a retrospect of all the stran,e an *o%rnf%l events, +hich ha occ%rre since she live in peace +ith her parents( An to E*ily, +ho ha been so ten erly e %cate , so ten erly love , +ho once kne+ only ,oo ness an happiness7to her, the late events an her present sit%ation7in a forei,n lan 7in a re*ote castle7s%rro%n e by vice an violence7 see*e *ore like the visions of a iste*pere i*a,ination, than the circ%*stances of tr%th( 'he +ept to think of +hat her parents +o%l have s%ffere , co%l they have foreseen the events of her f%t%re life( :hile she raise her strea*in, eyes to heaven, she observe the sa*e planet, +hich she ha seen in 0an,%e oc, on the ni,ht, prece in, her father3s eath, rise above the eastern to+ers of the castle, +hile she re*e*bere the conversation, +hich has passe , concernin, the probable state of eparte so%ls/ re*e*bere , also, the sole*n *%sic she ha hear , an to +hich the ten erness of her spirits ha , in spite of her reason, ,iven a s%perstitio%s *eanin,( At these recollections she +ept a,ain, an contin%e *%sin,,

+hen s% enly the notes of s+eet *%sic passe on the air( A s%perstitio%s rea stole over her/ she stoo listenin,, for so*e *o*ents, in tre*blin, e-pectation, an then en eavo%re to re6collect her tho%,hts, an to reason herself into co*pos%re/ b%t h%*an reason cannot establish her la+s on s%b.ects, lost in the obsc%rity of i*a,ination, any *ore than the eye can ascertain the for* of ob.ects, that only ,li**er thro%,h the i*ness of ni,ht( Her s%rprise, on hearin, s%ch soothin, an elicio%s so%n s, +as, at least, .%stifiable/ for it +as lon,7very lon,, since she ha listene to any thin, like *elo y( The fierce tr%*pet an the shrill fife +ere the only instr%*ents she ha hear , since her arrival at A olpho( :hen her *in +as so*e+hat *ore co*pose , she trie to ascertain fro* +hat 4%arter the so%n s procee e , an tho%,ht they ca*e fro* belo+/ b%t +hether fro* a roo* of the castle, or fro* the terrace, she co%l not +ith certainty .% ,e( )ear an s%rprise no+ yiel e to the enchant*ent of a strain, that floate on the silent ni,ht, +ith the *ost soft an *elancholy s+eetness( '% enly, it see*e re*ove to a istance, tre*ble faintly, an then entirely cease ( 'he contin%e to listen, s%nk in that pleasin, repose, +hich soft *%sic leaves on the *in 7b%t it ca*e no *ore( Apon this stran,e circ%*stance her tho%,hts +ere lon, en,a,e , for stran,e it certainly +as to hear *%sic at *i ni,ht, +hen every inhabitant of the castle ha lon, since retire to rest, an in a place, +here nothin, like har*ony ha been hear before, probably, for *any years( 0on,6s%fferin, ha *a e her spirits pec%liarly sensible to terror, an liable to be affecte by the ill%sions of s%perstition(7It no+ see*e to her, as if her ea father ha spoken to her in that strain, to inspire her +ith co*fort an confi ence, on the s%b.ect, +hich ha then occ%pie her *in ( 2et reason tol her, that this +as a +il con.ect%re, an she +as incline to is*iss it/ b%t, +ith the inconsistency so nat%ral, +hen i*a,ination ,%i es the tho%,hts, she then +avere to+ar s a belief as +il ( 'he re*e*bere the

sin,%lar event, connecte +ith the castle, +hich ha ,iven it into the possession of its present o+ner/ an , +hen she consi ere the *ysterio%s *anner, in +hich its late possessor ha isappeare , an that she ha never since been hear of, her *in +as i*presse +ith an hi,h e,ree of sole*n a+e/ so that, tho%,h there appeare no cl%e to connect that event +ith the late *%sic, she +as incline fancif%lly to think they ha so*e relation to each other( At this con.ect%re, a s% en chillness ran thro%,h her fra*e/ she looke fearf%lly %pon the %skiness of her cha*ber, an the ea silence, that prevaile there, hei,htene to her fancy its ,loo*y aspect( At len,th, she left the case*ent, b%t her steps faltere , as she approache the be , an she stoppe an looke ro%n ( The sin,le la*p, that b%rne in her spacio%s cha*ber, +as e-pirin,/ for a *o*ent, she shr%nk fro* the arkness beyon / an then, asha*e of the +eakness, +hich, ho+ever, she co%l not +holly con4%er, +ent for+ar to the be , +here her *in i not soon kno+ the soothin,s of sleep( 'he still *%se on the late occ%rrence, an looke +ith an-iety to the ne-t ni,ht, +hen, at the sa*e ho%r, she eter*ine to +atch +hether the *%sic ret%rne ( 3If those so%n s +ere h%*an,3 sai she, 3I shall probably hear the* a,ain(3

#HAPTER *II
Then, oh, you blessed !inisters abo"e, ;eep !e in patienceA and, in ripen=d ti!e, Unfold the e"il hich is here rapt up 5n countenance# 48A;E4PEARE

Annette ca*e al*ost breathless to E*ily3s apart*ent in the *ornin,( 3O *a3a*selle?3 sai she, in broken sentences, 3+hat ne+s I have to tell? I have fo%n o%t +ho the prisoner is7b%t he +as no prisoner, neither/7

he that +as sh%t %p in the cha*ber I tol yo% of( I *%st think hi* a ,host, forsooth?3 3:ho +as the prisonerB3 en4%ire E*ily, +hile her tho%,hts ,lance back to the circ%*stance of the prece in, ni,ht( 32o% *istake, *a3a*,3 sai prisoner, after all(3 3:ho is the person, thenB3 3Holy 'aints?3 re.oine Annette/ 3Ho+ I +as s%rprise ? I *et hi* .%st no+, on the ra*part belo+, there( I never +as so s%rprise in *y life? Ah? *a3a*selle? this is a stran,e place? I sho%l never have one +on erin,, if I +as to live here an h%n re years( 1%t, as I +as sayin,, I *et hi* .%st no+ on the ra*part, an I +as thinkin, of nobo y less than of hi*(3 3This triflin, is ins%pportable,3 sai E*ily/ 3prythee, Annette, o not tort%re *y patience any lon,er(3 39ay, *a3a*selle, ,%ess7,%ess +ho it +as/ it +as so*ebo y yo% kno+ very +ell(3 3I cannot ,%ess,3 sai E*ily i*patiently( 39ay, *a3a*selle, I3ll tell yo% so*ethin, to ,%ess by7 A tall 'i,nor, +ith a lon,ish face, +ho +alks so stately, an %se to +ear s%ch a hi,h feather in his hat/ an %se often to look o+n %pon the ,ro%n , +hen people spoke to hi*/ an to look at people fro* %n er his eyebro+s, as it +ere, all so ark an fro+nin,( 2o% have seen hi*, often an often, at Venice, *a3a*( Then he +as so inti*ate +ith the 'i,nor, too( An , no+ I think of it, I +on er +hat he co%l be afrai of in this lonely ol castle, that he sho%l sh%t hi*self %p for( 1%t he is co*e abroa no+, for I *et hi* on the ra*part .%st this *in%te( I tre*ble +hen I sa+ hi*, for I al+ays +as afrai of hi*, so*eho+/ b%t I eter*ine I +o%l not let hi* see it/ so I +ent %p to hi*, an *a e hi* a lo+ c%rtesy, E2o% are +elco*e to the castle, 'i,nor Orsino,E sai I(3 3O, it +as 'i,nor Orsino, then?3 sai E*ily( Annette/ 3he +as not a

32es, *a3a*selle, 'i,nor Orsino, hi*self, +ho ca%se that Venetian ,entle*an to be kille , an has been poppin, abo%t fro* place to place, ever since, as I hear(3 3Goo Go ?3 e-clai*e E*ily, recoverin, fro* the shock of this intelli,ence/ 3an is HE co*e to A olpho? He oes +ell to en eavo%r to conceal hi*self(3 32es, *a3a*selle, b%t if that +as all, this esolate place +o%l conceal hi*, +itho%t his sh%ttin, hi*self %p in one roo*( :ho +o%l think of co*in, to look for hi* hereB I a* s%re I sho%l as soon think of ,oin, to look for any bo y in the other +orl (3 3There is so*e tr%th in that,3 sai E*ily, +ho +o%l no+ have concl% e it +as Orsino3s *%sic, +hich she ha hear , on the prece in, ni,ht, ha she not kno+n, that he ha neither taste, or skill in the art( 1%t, tho%,h she +as %n+illin, to a to the n%*ber of Annette3s s%rprises, by *entionin, the s%b.ect of her o+n, she en4%ire , +hether any person in the castle playe on a *%sical instr%*entB 3O yes, *a3a*selle? there is 1ene etto plays the ,reat r%* to a *iration/ an then, there is 0a%ncelot the tr%*peter/ nay, for that *atter, 0% ovico hi*self can play on the tr%*pet/7b%t he is ill no+( I re*e*ber once37 E*ily interr%pte her/ 3Have yo% hear no other *%sic since yo% ca*e to the castle7none last ni,htB3 3:hy, i 2OA hear any last ni,ht, *a3a*selleB3 E*ily eva e this 4%estion, by repeatin, her o+n( 3:hy, no, *a3a*,3 replie Annette/ 3I never hear any *%sic here, I *%st say, b%t the r%*s an the tr%*pet/ an , as for last ni,ht, I i nothin, b%t rea* I sa+ *y late la y3s ,host(3 32o%r 0ATE la y3s,3 sai E*ily in a tre*%lo%s voice/ 3yo% have hear *ore, then( Tell *e7tell *e all, Annette, I entreat/ tell *e the +orst at once(3 39ay, *a3a*selle, yo% kno+ the +orst alrea y(3 3I kno+ nothin,,3 sai E*ily(

32es, yo% o, *a3a*selle/ yo% kno+, that nobo y kno+s any thin, abo%t her/ an it is plain, therefore, she is ,one, the +ay of the first la y of the castle7 nobo y ever kne+ any thin, abo%t her(3 E*ily leane her hea %pon her han , an +as, for so*e ti*e, silent/ then, tellin, Annette she +ishe to be alone, the latter left the roo*( The re*ark of Annette ha revive E*ily3s terrible s%spicion, concernin, the fate of &a a*e &ontoni/ an she resolve to *ake another effort to obtain certainty on this s%b.ect, by applyin, to &ontoni once *ore( :hen Annette ret%rne , a fe+ ho%rs after, she tol E*ily, that the porter of the castle +ishe very *%ch to speak +ith her, for that he ha so*ethin, of i*portance to say/ her spirits ha , ho+ever, of late been so s%b.ect to alar*, that any ne+ circ%*stance e-cite it/ an this *essa,e fro* the porter, +hen her first s%rprise +as over, *a e her look ro%n for so*e l%rkin, an,er, the *ore s%spicio%sly, perhaps, beca%se she ha fre4%ently re*arke the %npleasant air an co%ntenance of this *an( 'he no+ hesitate , +hether to speak +ith hi*, o%btin, even, that this re4%est +as only a prete-t to ra+ her into so*e an,er/ b%t a little reflection she+e her the i*probability of this, an she bl%she at her +eak fears( 3I +ill speak to hi*, Annette,3 sai she/ 3 esire hi* to co*e to the corri or i**e iately(3 Annette eparte , an soon after ret%rne ( 31arnar ine, *a3a*selle,3 sai she, 3 are not co*e to the corri or, lest he sho%l be iscovere , it is so far fro* his post/ an he are not even leave the ,ates for a *o*ent no+/ b%t, if yo% +ill co*e to hi* at the portal, thro%,h so*e ro%n abo%t passa,es he tol *e of, +itho%t crossin, the co%rts, he has that to tell, +hich +ill s%rprise yo%( 1%t yo% *%st not co*e thro%,h the co%rts, lest the 'i,nor sho%l see yo%(3 E*ily, neither approvin, these 3ro%n abo%t passa,e,3 nor the other part of the re4%est, no+ positively ref%se

to ,o( 3Tell hi*,3 sai she, 3if he has any thin, of conse4%ence to i*part, I +ill hear hi* in the corri or, +henever he has an opport%nity of co*in, thither(3 Annette +ent to eliver this *essa,e, an +as absent a consi erable ti*e( :hen she ret%rne , 3It +on3t o, *a3a*selle,3 sai she( 31arnar ine has been consi erin, all this ti*e +hat can be one, for it is as *%ch as his place is +orth to leave his post no+( 1%t, if yo% +ill co*e to the east ra*part in the %sk of the evenin,, he can, perhaps, steal a+ay, an tell yo% all he has to say(3 E*ily +as s%rprise an alar*e , at the secrecy +hich this *an see*e to think so necessary, an hesitate +hether to *eet hi*, till, consi erin,, that he *i,ht *ean to +arn her of so*e serio%s an,er, she resolve to ,o( 3'oon after s%n6set,3 sai she, 3I +ill be at the en of the east ra*part( 1%t then the +atch +ill be set,3 she a e , recollectin, herself, 3an ho+ can 1arnar ine pass %nobserve B3 3That is .%st +hat I sai to hi*, *a3a*, an he ans+ere *e, that he ha the key of the ,ate, at the en of the ra*part, that lea s to+ar s the co%rts, an co%l let hi*self thro%,h that +ay/ an as for the sentinels, there +ere none at this en of the terrace, beca%se the place is ,%ar e eno%,h by the hi,h +alls of the castle, an the east t%rret/ an he sai those at the other en +ere too far off to see hi*, if it +as pretty %skyish(3 3:ell,3 sai E*ily, 3I *%st hear +hat he has to tell/ an , therefore, esire yo% +ill ,o +ith *e to the terrace, this evenin,(3 3He esire it *i,ht be pretty %skyish, *a3a*selle,3 repeate Annette, 3beca%se of the +atch(3 E*ily pa%se , an then sai she +o%l be on the terrace, an ho%r after s%n6set/73an tell 1arnar ine,3 she a e , 3to be p%nct%al to the ti*e/ for that I, also, *ay be observe by 'i,nor &ontoni( :here is the 'i,norB I +o%l speak +ith hi*(3 3He is in the ce ar cha*ber, *a3a*, co%nsellin, +ith the other 'i,nors( He is ,oin, to ,ive the* a sort of

treat to6 ay, to *ake %p for +hat passe at the last, I s%ppose/ the people are all very b%sy in the kitchen(3 E*ily no+ en4%ire , if &ontoni e-pecte any ne+ ,%estsB an Annette believe that he i not( 3Poor 0% ovico?3 a e she, 3he +o%l be as *erry as the best of the*, if he +as +ell/ b%t he *ay recover yet( Co%nt &orano +as +o%n e as ba , as he, an he is ,ot +ell a,ain, an is ,one back to Venice(3 3Is he soB3 sai E*ily, 3+hen i yo% hear thisB3 3I hear it, last ni,ht, *a3a*selle, b%t I for,ot to tell it(3 E*ily aske so*e f%rther 4%estions, an then, esirin, Annette +o%l observe an infor* her, +hen &ontoni +as alone, the ,irl +ent to eliver her *essa,e to 1arnar ine( &ontoni +as, ho+ever, so *%ch en,a,e , %rin, the +hole ay, that E*ily ha no opport%nity of seekin, a release fro* her terrible s%spense, concernin, her a%nt( Annette +as e*ploye in +atchin, his steps, an in atten in, %pon 0% ovico, +ho* she, assiste by Caterina, n%rse +ith the %t*ost care/ an E*ily +as, of co%rse, left *%ch alone( Her tho%,hts +elt often on the *essa,e of the porter, an +ere e*ploye in con.ect%rin, the s%b.ect, that occasione it, +hich she so*eti*es i*a,ine concerne the fate of &a a*e &ontoni/ at others, that it relate to so*e personal an,er, +hich threatene herself( The ca%tio%s secrecy +hich 1arnar ine observe in his con %ct, incline her to believe the latter( As the ho%r of appoint*ent re+ near, her i*patience increase ( At len,th, the s%n set/ she hear the passin, steps of the sentinels ,oin, to their posts/ an +aite only for Annette to acco*pany her to the terrace, +ho, soon after, ca*e, an they escen e to,ether( :hen E*ily e-presse apprehensions of *eetin, &ontoni, or so*e of his ,%ests, 3O, there is no fear of that, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3they are all set in to feastin, yet, an that 1arnar ine kno+s(3 They reache the first terrace, +here the sentinels e*an e +ho passe / an E*ily, havin, ans+ere ,

+alke on to the east ra*part, at the entrance of +hich they +ere a,ain stoppe / an , havin, a,ain replie , +ere per*itte to procee ( 1%t E*ily i not like to e-pose herself to the iscretion of these *en, at s%ch an ho%r/ an , i*patient to +ith ra+ fro* the sit%ation, she steppe hastily on in search of 1arnar ine( He +as not yet co*e( 'he leane pensively on the +all of the ra*part, an +aite for hi*( The ,loo* of t+ili,ht sat eep on the s%rro%n in, ob.ects, blen in, in soft conf%sion the valley, the *o%ntains, an the +oo s, +hose tall hea s, stirre by the evenin, bree8e, ,ave the only so%n s, that stole on silence, e-cept a faint, faint chor%s of istant voices, that arose fro* +ithin the castle( 3:hat voices are thoseB3 sai E*ily, as she fearf%lly listene ( 3It is only the 'i,nor an his ,%ests, caro%sin,,3 replie Annette( 3Goo Go ?3 tho%,ht E*ily, 3can this *an3s heart be so ,ay, +hen he has *a e another bein, so +retche / if, in ee , *y a%nt is yet s%ffere to feel her +retche nessB O? +hatever are *y o+n s%fferin,s, *ay *y heart never, never be har ene a,ainst those of others?3 'he looke %p, +ith a sensation of horror, to the east t%rret, near +hich she then stoo / a li,ht ,li**ere thro%,h the ,rates of the lo+er cha*ber, b%t those of the %pper one +ere ark( Presently, she perceive a person *ovin, +ith a la*p across the lo+er roo*/ b%t this circ%*stance revive no hope, concernin, &a a*e &ontoni, +ho* she ha vainly so%,ht in that apart*ent, +hich ha appeare to contain only sol iers3 acco%tre*ents( E*ily, ho+ever, eter*ine to atte*pt the o%ter oor of the t%rret, as soon as 1arnar ine sho%l +ith ra+/ an , if it +as %nfastene , to *ake another effort to iscover her a%nt( The *o*ents passe , b%t still 1arnar ine i not appear/ an E*ily, beco*in, %neasy, hesitate +hether to +ait any lon,er( 'he +o%l have sent Annette to the portal to hasten hi*, b%t feare to be left alone, for it

+as no+ al*ost ark, an a *elancholy streak of re , that still lin,ere in the +est, +as the only vesti,e of eparte ay( The stron, interest, ho+ever, +hich 1arnar ine3s *essa,e ha a+akene , overca*e other apprehensions, an still etaine her( :hile she +as con.ect%rin, +ith Annette +hat co%l th%s occasion his absence, they hear a key t%rn in the lock of the ,ate near the*, an presently sa+ a *an a vancin,( It +as 1arnar ine, of +ho* E*ily hastily en4%ire +hat he ha to co**%nicate, an esire , that he +o%l tell her 4%ickly, 3for I a* chille +ith this evenin, air,3 sai she( 32o% *%st is*iss yo%r *ai , la y,3 sai the *an in a voice, the eep tone of +hich shocke her, 3+hat I have to tell is to yo% only(3 E*ily, after so*e hesitation, esire Annette to +ith ra+ to a little istance( 39o+, *y frien , +hat +o%l yo% sayB3 He +as silent a *o*ent, as if consi erin,, an then sai ,7 3That +hich +o%l cost *e *y place, at least, if it ca*e to the 'i,nor3s ears( 2o% *%st pro*ise, la y, that nothin, shall ever *ake yo% tell a syllable of the *atter/ I have been tr%ste in this affair, an , if it +as kno+n, that I betraye *y tr%st, *y life, perhaps, *i,ht ans+er it( 1%t I +as concerne for yo%, la y, an I resolve to tell yo%(3 He pa%se (7 E*ily thanke hi*, ass%re hi* that he *i,ht repose on her iscretion, an entreate hi* to ispatch( 3Annette tol %s in the hall ho+ %nhappy yo% +as abo%t 'i,nora &ontoni, an ho+ *%ch yo% +ishe to kno+ +hat +as beco*e of her(3 3&ost tr%e,3 sai E*ily ea,erly, 3an yo% can infor* *e( I con.%re yo% tell *e the +orst, +itho%t hesitation(3 'he reste her tre*blin, ar* %pon the +all( 3I can tell yo%,3 sai 1arnar ine, an pa%se (7 E*ily ha no po+er to enforce her entreaties( 3I CA9 tell yo%,3 res%*e 1arnar ine,73b%t37

31%t +hatB3 e-clai*e E*ily, recoverin, her resol%tion( 3Here I a*, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, +ho, havin, hear the ea,er tone, in +hich E*ily prono%nce these +or s, ca*e r%nnin, to+ar s her( 3Retire?3 sai 1arnar ine, sternly/ 3yo% are not +ante /3 an , as E*ily sai nothin,, Annette obeye ( 3I CA9 tell yo%,3 repeate the porter,73b%t I kno+ not ho+7yo% +as afflicte before(37 3I a* prepare for the +orst, *y frien ,3 sai E*ily, in a fir* an sole*n voice( 3I can s%pport any certainty better than this s%spense(3 3:ell, 'i,nora, if that is the case, yo% shall hear(72o% kno+, I s%ppose, that the 'i,nor an his la y %se so*eti*es to isa,ree( It is none of *y concerns to en4%ire +hat it +as abo%t, b%t I believe yo% kno+ it +as so(3 3:ell,3 sai E*ily, 3procee (3 3The 'i,nor, it see*s, ha lately been very +rath a,ainst her( I sa+ all, an hear all,7a ,reat eal *ore than people tho%,ht for/ b%t it +as none of *y b%siness, so I sai nothin,( A fe+ ays a,o, the 'i,nor sent for *e( E1arnar ine,E says he, Eyo% are7an honest *an, I think I can tr%st yo%(E I ass%re his e-cellen8a that he co%l ( EThen,E says he, as near as I can re*e*ber, EI have an affair in han , +hich I +ant yo% to assist *e in(E7Then he tol *e +hat I +as to o/ b%t that I shall say nothin, abo%t7it concerne only the 'i,nora(3 3O Heavens?3 e-clai*e E*ily73+hat have yo% oneB3 1arnar ine hesitate , an +as silent( 3:hat fien co%l te*pt hi*, or yo%, to s%ch an act?3 crie E*ily, chille +ith horror, an scarcely able to s%pport her faintin, spirits( 3It +as a fien ,3 sai 1arnar ine in a ,loo*y tone of voice( They +ere no+ both silent/7E*ily ha not co%ra,e to en4%ire f%rther, an 1arnar ine see*e to shrink fro* tellin, *ore( At len,th he sai , 3It is of no %se to think of the past/ the 'i,nor +as cr%el eno%,h,

b%t he +o%l be obeye ( :hat si,nifie *y ref%sin,B He +o%l have fo%n others, +ho ha no scr%ples(3 32o% have *%r ere her, then?3 sai E*ily, in a hollo+ an in+ar voice73I a* talkin, +ith a *%r erer?3 1arnar ine stoo silent/ +hile E*ily t%rne fro* hi*, an atte*pte to leave the place( 3'tay, la y?3 sai he, 32o% eserve to think so still7 since yo% can believe *e capable of s%ch a ee (3 3If yo% are innocent, tell *e 4%ickly,3 sai E*ily, in faint accents, 3for I feel I shall not be able to hear yo% lon,(3 3I +ill tell yo% no *ore,3 sai he, an +alke a+ay( E*ily ha .%st stren,th eno%,h to bi hi* stay, an then to call Annette, on +hose ar* she leane , an they +alke slo+ly %p the ra*part, till they hear steps behin the*( It +as 1arnar ine a,ain( 3'en a+ay the ,irl,3 sai he, 3an I +ill tell yo% *ore(3 3'he *%st not ,o,3 sai E*ily/ 3+hat yo% have to say, she *ay hear(3 3&ay she so, la yB3 sai he( 32o% shall kno+ no *ore, then/3 an he +as ,oin,, tho%,h slo+ly, +hen E*ily3s an-iety, overco*in, the resent*ent an fear, +hich the *an3s behavio%r ha ro%se , she esire hi* to stay, an ba e Annette retire( 3The 'i,nora is alive,3 sai he, 3for *e( 'he is *y prisoner, tho%,h/ his e-cellen8a has sh%t her %p in the cha*ber over the ,reat ,ates of the co%rt, an I have the char,e of her( I +as ,oin, to have tol yo%, yo% *i,ht see her7b%t no+73 E*ily, relieve fro* an %n%tterable loa of an,%ish by this speech, ha no+ only to ask 1arnar ine3s for,iveness, an to con.%re, that he +o%l let her visit her a%nt( He co*plie +ith less rel%ctance, than she e-pecte , an tol her, that, if she +o%l repair, on the follo+in, ni,ht, +hen the 'i,nor +as retire to rest, to the postern6,ate of the castle, she sho%l , perhaps, see &a a*e &ontoni(

A*i all the thankf%lness, +hich E*ily felt for this concession, she tho%,ht she observe a *alicio%s tri%*ph in his *anner, +hen he prono%nce the last +or s/ b%t, in the ne-t *o*ent, she is*isse the tho%,ht, an , havin, a,ain thanke hi*, co**en e her a%nt to his pity, an ass%re hi*, that she +o%l herself re+ar hi*, an +o%l be p%nct%al to her appoint*ent, she ba e hi* ,oo ni,ht, an retire , %nobserve , to her cha*ber( It +as a consi erable ti*e, before the t%*%lt of .oy, +hich 1arnar ine3s %ne-pecte intelli,ence ha occasione , allo+e E*ily to think +ith clearness, or to be conscio%s of the real an,ers, that still s%rro%n e &a a*e &ontoni an herself( :hen this a,itation s%bsi e , she perceive , that her a%nt +as yet the prisoner of a *an, to +hose ven,eance, or avarice, she *i,ht fall a sacrifice/ an , +hen she f%rther consi ere the sava,e aspect of the person, +ho +as appointe to ,%ar &a a*e &ontoni, her oo* appeare to be alrea y seale , for the co%ntenance of 1arnar ine see*e to bear the sta*p of a *%r erer/ an , +hen she ha looke %pon it, she felt incline to believe, that there +as no ee , ho+ever black, +hich he *i,ht not be prevaile %pon to e-ec%te( These reflections bro%,ht to her re*e*brance the tone of voice, in +hich he ha pro*ise to ,rant her re4%est to see his prisoner/ an she *%se %pon it lon, in %neasiness an o%bt( 'o*eti*es, she even hesitate , +hether to tr%st herself +ith hi* at the lonely ho%r he ha appointe / an once, an only once, it str%ck her, that &a a*e &ontoni *i,ht be alrea y *%r ere , an that this r%ffian +as appointe to ecoy herself to so*e secret place, +here her life also +as to be sacrifice to the avarice of &ontoni, +ho then +o%l clai* sec%rely the conteste estates in 0an,%e oc( The consi eration of the enor*ity of s%ch ,%ilt i , at len,th, relieve her fro* the belief of its probability, b%t not fro* all the o%bts an fears, +hich a recollection of 1arnar ine3s *anner ha occasione ( )ro* these s%b.ects, her tho%,hts, at len,th, passe to others/ an , as the evenin, a vance , she re*e*bere , +ith so*e+hat *ore than s%rprise, the *%sic she ha

hear , on the prece in, ni,ht, an ret%rn, +ith *ore than c%riosity(

no+ a+aite

its

'he istin,%ishe , till a late ho%r, the istant caro%sals of &ontoni an his co*panions7the lo% contest, the issol%te la%,h an the choral son,, that *a e the halls re6echo( At len,th, she hear the heavy ,ates of the castle sh%t for the ni,ht, an those so%n s instantly s%nk into a silence, +hich +as ist%rbe only by the +hisperin, steps of persons, passin, thro%,h the ,alleries to their re*ote roo*s( E*ily no+ .% ,in, it to be abo%t the ti*e, +hen she ha hear the *%sic, on the prece in, ni,ht, is*isse Annette, an ,ently opene the case*ent to +atch for its ret%rn( The planet she ha so partic%larly notice , at the rec%rrence of the *%sic, +as not yet risen/ b%t, +ith s%perstitio%s +eakness, she kept her eyes fi-e on that part of the he*isphere, +here it +o%l rise, al*ost e-pectin,, that, +hen it appeare , the so%n s +o%l ret%rn( At len,th, it ca*e, serenely bri,ht, over the eastern to+ers of the castle( Her heart tre*ble , +hen she perceive it, an she ha scarcely co%ra,e to re*ain at the case*ent, lest the ret%rnin, *%sic sho%l confir* her terror, an s%b %e the little stren,th she yet retaine ( The clock soon after str%ck one, an , kno+in, this to be abo%t the ti*e, +hen the so%n s ha occ%rre , she sat o+n in a chair, near the case*ent, an en eavo%re to co*pose her spirits/ b%t the an-iety of e-pectation yet ist%rbe the*( Every thin,, ho+ever, re*aine still/ she hear only the solitary step of a sentinel, an the l%llin, *%r*%r of the +oo s belo+, an she a,ain leane fro* the case*ent, an a,ain looke , as if for intelli,ence, to the planet, +hich +as no+ risen hi,h above the to+ers( E*ily contin%e to listen, b%t no *%sic ca*e( 3Those +ere s%rely no *ortal so%n s?3 sai she, recollectin, their entrancin, *elo y( 39o inhabitant of this castle co%l %tter s%ch/ an , +here is the feelin,, that co%l *o %late s%ch e-4%isite e-pressionB :e all kno+, that it has been affir*e celestial so%n s have so*eti*es been hear on earth( )ather Pierre an )ather Antoine eclare , that they ha so*eti*es hear the* in the

stillness of ni,ht, +hen they alone +ere +akin, to offer their orisons to heaven( 9ay, *y ear father hi*self, once sai , that, soon after *y *other3s eath, as he lay +atchf%l in ,rief, so%n s of %nco**on s+eetness calle hi* fro* his be / an , on openin, his +in o+, he hear lofty *%sic pass alon, the *i ni,ht air( It soothe hi*, he sai / he looke %p +ith confi ence to heaven, an resi,ne her to his Go (3 E*ily pa%se to +eep at this recollection( 3Perhaps,3 res%*e she, 3perhaps, those strains I hear +ere sent to co*fort,7to enco%ra,e *e? 9ever shall I for,et those I hear , at this ho%r, in 0an,%e oc? Perhaps, *y father +atches over *e, at this *o*ent?3 'he +ept a,ain in ten erness( Th%s passe the ho%r in +atchf%lness an sole*n tho%,ht/ b%t no so%n s ret%rne / an , after re*ainin, at the case*ent, till the li,ht tint of a+n be,an to e ,e the *o%ntain6tops an steal %pon the ni,ht6sha e, she concl% e , that they +o%l not ret%rn, an retire rel%ctantly to repose(

%OLUME (

#HAPTER I
5 ill ad"ise you here to plant yoursel"esA AcCuaint you ith the perfect spy o= the ti!e, The !o!ent on =tA for =t !ust be done to%night# MA3BET8

E*ily +as so*e+hat s%rprise , on the follo+in, ay, to fin that Annette ha hear of &a a*e &ontoni3s confine*ent in the cha*ber over the portal, as +ell as of her p%rpose visit there, on the approachin, ni,ht( That the circ%*stance, +hich 1arnar ine ha so sole*nly en.oine her to conceal, he ha hi*self tol to so in iscreet an hearer as Annette, appeare very

i*probable, tho%,h he ha no+ char,e her +ith a *essa,e, concernin, the inten e intervie+( He re4%este , that E*ily +o%l *eet hi*, %natten e , on the terrace, at a little after *i ni,ht, +hen he hi*self +o%l lea her to the place he ha pro*ise / a proposal, fro* +hich she i**e iately shr%nk, for a tho%san va,%e fears arte ath+art her *in , s%ch as ha tor*ente her on the prece in, ni,ht, an +hich she neither kne+ ho+ to tr%st, or to is*iss( It fre4%ently occ%rre to her, that 1arnar ine *i,ht have eceive her, concernin, &a a*e &ontoni, +hose *%r erer, perhaps, he really +as/ an that he ha eceive her by or er of &ontoni, the *ore easily to ra+ her into so*e of the esperate esi,ns of the latter( The terrible s%spicion, that &a a*e &ontoni no lon,er live , th%s ca*e, acco*panie by one not less rea f%l for herself( Anless the cri*e, by +hich the a%nt ha s%ffere , +as insti,ate *erely by resent*ent, %nconnecte +ith profit, a *otive, %pon +hich &ontoni i not appear very likely to act, its ob.ect *%st be %nattaine , till the niece +as also ea , to +ho* &ontoni kne+ that his +ife3s estates *%st escen ( E*ily re*e*bere the +or s, +hich ha infor*e her, that the conteste estates in )rance +o%l evolve to her, if &a a*e &ontoni ie , +itho%t consi,nin, the* to her h%sban , an the for*er obstinate perseverance of her a%nt *a e it too probable, that she ha , to the last, +ithhel the*( At this instant, recollectin, 1arnar ine3s *anner, on the prece in, ni,ht, she no+ believe , +hat she ha then fancie , that it e-presse *ali,nant tri%*ph( 'he sh% ere at the recollection, +hich confir*e her fears, an eter*ine not to *eet hi* on the terrace( 'oon after, she +as incline to consi er these s%spicions as the e-trava,ant e-a,,erations of a ti*i an harasse *in , an co%l not believe &ontoni liable to s%ch prepostero%s epravity as that of estroyin,, fro* one *otive, his +ife an her niece( 'he bla*e herself for s%fferin, her ro*antic i*a,ination to carry her so far beyon the bo%n s of probability, an eter*ine to en eavo%r to check its rapi fli,hts, lest they sho%l so*eti*es e-ten into

*a ness( 'till, ho+ever, she shr%nk fro* the tho%,ht of *eetin, 1arnar ine, on the terrace, at *i ni,ht/ an still the +ish to be relieve fro* this terrible s%spense, concernin, her a%nt, to see her, an to sooth her s%fferin,s, *a e her hesitate +hat to o( 32et ho+ is it possible, Annette, I can pass to the terrace at that ho%rB3 sai she, recollectin, herself, 3the sentinels +ill stop *e, an 'i,nor &ontoni +ill hear of the affair(3 3O *a3a*selle? that is +ell tho%,ht of,3 replie Annette( 3That is +hat 1arnar ine tol *e abo%t( He ,ave *e this key, an ba e *e say it %nlocks the oor at the en of the va%lte ,allery, that opens near the en of the east ra*part, so that yo% nee not pass any of the *en on +atch( He ba e *e say, too, that his reason for re4%estin, yo% to co*e to the terrace +as, beca%se he co%l take yo% to the place yo% +ant to ,o to, +itho%t openin, the ,reat oors of the hall, +hich ,rate so heavily(3 E*ily3s spirits +ere so*e+hat cal*e by this e-planation, +hich see*e to be honestly ,iven to Annette( 31%t +hy i he esire I +o%l co*e alone, AnnetteB3 sai she( 3:hy that +as +hat I aske hi* *yself, *a3a*selle( 'ays I, :hy is *y yo%n, la y to co*e aloneB7'%rely I *ay co*e +ith her?7:hat har* can I oB 1%t he sai E9o7no7I tell yo% not,E in his ,r%ff +ay( 9ay, says I, I have been tr%ste in as ,reat affairs as this, I +arrant, an it3s a har *atter if I can3t keep a secret no+( 'till he +o%l say nothin, b%t7E9o7no7no(E :ell, says I, if yo% +ill only tr%st *e, I +ill tell yo% a ,reat secret, that +as tol *e a *onth a,o, an I have never opene *y lips abo%t it yet7so yo% nee not be afrai of tellin, *e( 1%t all +o%l not o( Then, *a3a*selle, I +ent so far as to offer hi* a bea%tif%l ne+ se4%in, that 0% ovico ,ave *e for a keep sake, an I +o%l not have parte +ith it for all 't( &arco3s Place/ b%t even that +o%l not o? 9o+ +hat can be the reason of thisB 1%t I kno+, yo% kno+, *a3a*, +ho yo% are ,oin, to see(3

3Pray i 1arnar ine tell yo% thisB3 3He? 9o, *a3a*selle, that he i not(3 E*ily en4%ire +ho i , b%t Annette she+e , that she COA0< keep a secret( <%rin, the re*ain er of the ay, E*ily3s *in +as a,itate +ith o%bts an fears an contrary eter*inations, on the s%b.ect of *eetin, this 1arnar ine on the ra*part, an s%b*ittin, herself to his ,%i ance, she scarcely kne+ +hither( Pity for her a%nt an an-iety for herself alternately s+aye her eter*ination, an ni,ht ca*e, before she ha eci e %pon her con %ct( 'he hear the castle clock strike eleven7t+elve7an yet her *in +avere ( The ti*e, ho+ever, +as no+ co*e, +hen she co%l hesitate no lon,er; an then the interest she felt for her a%nt overca*e other consi erations, an , bi in, Annette follo+ her to the o%ter oor of the va%lte ,allery, an there a+ait her ret%rn, she escen e fro* her cha*ber( The castle +as perfectly still, an the ,reat hall, +here so lately she ha +itnesse a scene of rea f%l contention, no+ ret%rne only the +hisperin, footsteps of the t+o solitary fi,%res ,li in, fearf%lly bet+een the pillars, an ,lea*e only to the feeble la*p they carrie ( E*ily, eceive by the lon, sha o+s of the pillars an by the catchin, li,hts bet+een, often stoppe , i*a,inin, she sa+ so*e person, *ovin, in the istant obsc%rity of the perspective/ an , as she passe these pillars, she feare to t%rn her eyes to+ar the*, al*ost e-pectin, to see a fi,%re start o%t fro* behin their broa shaft( 'he reache , ho+ever, the va%lte ,allery, +itho%t interr%ption, b%t %nclose its o%ter oor +ith a tre*blin, han , an , char,in, Annette not to 4%it it an to keep it a little open, that she *i,ht be hear if she calle , she elivere to her the la*p, +hich she i not are to take herself beca%se of the *en on +atch, an , alone, steppe o%t %pon the ark terrace( Every thin, +as so still, that she feare , lest her o+n li,ht steps sho%l be hear by the istant sentinels, an she +alke ca%tio%sly to+ar s the spot, +here she ha before *et 1arnar ine, listenin, for a so%n , an

lookin, on+ar thro%,h the ,loo* in search of hi*( At len,th, she +as startle by a eep voice, that spoke near her, an she pa%se , %ncertain +hether it +as his, till it spoke a,ain, an she then reco,ni8e the hollo+ tones of 1arnar ine, +ho ha been p%nct%al to the *o*ent, an +as at the appointe place, restin, on the ra*part +all( After chi in, her for not co*in, sooner, an sayin,, that he ha been +aitin, nearly half an ho%r, he esire E*ily, +ho *a e no reply, to follo+ hi* to the oor, thro%,h +hich he ha entere the terrace( :hile he %nlocke it, she looke back to that she ha left, an , observin, the rays of the la*p strea* thro%,h a s*all openin,, +as certain, that Annette +as still there( 1%t her re*ote sit%ation co%l little befrien E*ily, after she ha 4%itte the terrace/ an , +hen 1arnar ine %nclose the ,ate, the is*al aspect of the passa,e beyon , she+n by a torch b%rnin, on the pave*ent, *a e her shrink fro* follo+in, hi* alone, an she ref%se to ,o, %nless Annette *i,ht acco*pany her( This, ho+ever, 1arnar ine absol%tely ref%se to per*it, *in,lin, at the sa*e ti*e +ith his ref%sal s%ch artf%l circ%*stances to hei,hten the pity an c%riosity of E*ily to+ar s her a%nt, that she, at len,th, consente to follo+ hi* alone to the portal( He then took %p the torch, an le her alon, the passa,e, at the e-tre*ity of +hich he %nlocke another oor, +hence they escen e , a fe+ steps, into a chapel, +hich, as 1arnar ine hel %p the torch to li,ht her, E*ily observe to be in r%ins, an she i**e iately recollecte a for*er conversation of Annette, concernin, it, +ith very %npleasant e*otions( 'he looke fearf%lly on the al*ost roofless +alls, ,reen +ith a*ps, an on the ,othic points of the +in o+s, +here the ivy an the briony ha lon, s%pplie the place of ,lass, an ran *antlin, a*on, the broken capitals of so*e col%*ns, that ha once s%pporte the roof( 1arnar ine st%*ble over the broken pave*ent, an his voice, as he %ttere a s% en oath, +as ret%rne in hollo+ echoes, that *a e it *ore terrific( E*ily3s heart s%nk/ b%t she still follo+e hi*, an he t%rne

o%t of +hat ha been the principal aisle of the chapel( 3<o+n these steps, la y,3 sai 1arnar ine, as he escen e a fli,ht, +hich appeare to lea into the va%lts/ b%t E*ily pa%se on the top, an e*an e , in a tre*%lo%s tone, +hither he +as con %ctin, her( 3To the portal,3 sai 1arnar ine( 3Cannot +e ,o thro%,h the chapel to the portalB3 sai E*ily( 39o, 'i,nora, that lea s to the inner co%rt, +hich I on3t choose to %nlock( This +ay, an +e shall reach the o%ter co%rt presently(3 E*ily still hesitate / fearin, not only to ,o on, b%t, since she ha ,one th%s far, to irritate 1arnar ine by ref%sin, to ,o f%rther( 3Co*e, la y,3 sai the *an, +ho ha nearly reache the botto* of the fli,ht, 3*ake a little haste/ I cannot +ait here all ni,ht(3 3:hither o these steps lea B3 sai E*ily, yet pa%sin,( 3To the portal,3 repeate 1arnar ine, in an an,ry tone, 3I +ill +ait no lon,er(3 As he sai this, he *ove on +ith the li,ht, an E*ily, fearin, to provoke hi* by f%rther elay, rel%ctantly follo+e ( )ro* the steps, they procee e thro%,h a passa,e, a .oinin, the va%lts, the +alls of +hich +ere roppin, +ith %n+holeso*e e+s, an the vapo%rs, that crept alon, the ,ro%n , *a e the torch b%rn so i*ly, that E*ily e-pecte every *o*ent to see it e-tin,%ishe , an 1arnar ine co%l scarcely fin his +ay( As they a vance , these vapo%rs thickene , an 1arnar ine, believin, the torch +as e-pirin,, stoppe for a *o*ent to tri* it( As he then reste a,ainst a pair of iron ,ates, that opene fro* the passa,e, E*ily sa+, by %ncertain flashes of li,ht, the va%lts beyon , an , near her, heaps of earth, that see*e to s%rro%n an open ,rave( '%ch an ob.ect, in s%ch a scene, +o%l , at any ti*e, have ist%rbe her/ b%t no+ she +as shocke by an instantaneo%s presenti*ent, that this +as the ,rave of her %nfort%nate a%nt, an that the treachero%s 1arnar ine +as lea in, herself to estr%ction( The obsc%re an terrible place, to

+hich he ha con %cte her, see*e to .%stify the tho%,ht/ it +as a place s%ite for *%r er, a receptacle for the ea , +here a ee of horror *i,ht be co**itte , an no vesti,e appear to proclai* it( E*ily +as so over+hel*e +ith terror, that, for a *o*ent, she +as %nable to eter*ine +hat con %ct to p%rs%e( 'he then consi ere , that it +o%l be vain to atte*pt an escape fro* 1arnar ine, by fli,ht, since the len,th an the intricacy of the +ay she ha passe +o%l soon enable hi* to overtake her, +ho +as %nac4%ainte +ith the t%rnin,s, an +hose feebleness +o%l not s%ffer her to r%n lon, +ith s+iftness( 'he feare e4%ally to irritate hi* by a isclos%re of her s%spicions, +hich a ref%sal to acco*pany hi* f%rther certainly +o%l o/ an , since she +as alrea y as *%ch in his po+er as it +as possible she co%l be, if she procee e , she, at len,th, eter*ine to s%ppress, as far as she co%l , the appearance of apprehension, an to follo+ silently +hither he esi,ne to lea her( Pale +ith horror an an-iety, she no+ +aite till 1arnar ine ha tri**e the torch, an , as her si,ht ,lance a,ain %pon the ,rave, she co%l not forbear en4%irin,, for +ho* it +as prepare ( He took his eyes fro* the torch, an fi-e the* %pon her face +itho%t speakin,( 'he faintly repeate the 4%estion, b%t the *an, shakin, the torch, passe on/ an she follo+e , tre*blin,, to a secon fli,ht of steps, havin, ascen e +hich, a oor elivere the* into the first co%rt of the castle( As they crosse it, the li,ht she+e the hi,h black +alls aro%n the*, frin,e +ith lon, ,rass an ank +ee s, that fo%n a scanty soil a*on, the *o%l erin, stones/ the heavy b%ttresses, +ith, here an there, bet+een the*, a narro+ ,rate, that a *itte a freer circ%lation of air to the co%rt, the *assy iron ,ates, that le to the castle, +hose cl%sterin, t%rrets appeare above, an , opposite, the h%,e to+ers an arch of the portal itself( In this scene the lar,e, %nco%th person of 1arnar ine, bearin, the torch, for*e a characteristic fi,%re( This 1arnar ine +as +rapt in a lon, ark cloak, +hich scarcely allo+e the kin of half6boots, or san als, that +ere lace %pon his le,s, to appear, an she+e only the point of a broa s+or , +hich he %s%ally +ore,

sl%n, in a belt across his sho%l ers( On his hea +as a heavy flat velvet cap, so*e+hat rese*blin, a t%rban, in +hich +as a short feather/ the visa,e beneath it she+e stron, feat%res, an a co%ntenance f%rro+e +ith the lines of c%nnin, an arkene by habit%al iscontent( The vie+ of the co%rt, ho+ever, reani*ate E*ily, +ho, as she crosse silently to+ar s the portal, be,an to hope, that her o+n fears, an not the treachery of 1arnar ine, ha eceive her( 'he looke an-io%sly %p at the first case*ent, that appeare above the lofty arch of the portc%llis/ b%t it +as ark, an she en4%ire , +hether it belon,e to the cha*ber, +here &a a*e &ontoni +as confine ( E*ily spoke lo+, an 1arnar ine, perhaps, i not hear her 4%estion, for he ret%rne no ans+er/ an they, soon after, entere the postern oor of the ,ate6+ay, +hich bro%,ht the* to the foot of a narro+ stair6case, that +o%n %p one of the to+ers( 3Ap this stair6case the 'i,nora lies,3 sai 1arnar ine( 30ies?3 repeate E*ily faintly, as she be,an to ascen ( 3'he lies in the %pper cha*ber,3 sai 1arnar ine( As they passe %p, the +in , +hich po%re thro%,h the narro+ cavities in the +all, *a e the torch flare, an it thre+ a stron,er ,lea* %pon the ,ri* an sallo+ co%ntenance of 1arnar ine, an iscovere *ore f%lly the esolation of the place7the ro%,h stone +alls, the spiral stairs, black +ith a,e, an a s%it of antient ar*o%r, +ith an iron visor, that h%n, %pon the +alls, an appeare a trophy of so*e for*er victory( Havin, reache a lan in,6place, 32o% *ay +ait here, la y,3 sai he, applyin, a key to the oor of a cha*ber, 3+hile I ,o %p, an tell the 'i,nora yo% are co*in,(3 3That cere*ony is %nnecessary,3 replie E*ily, 3*y a%nt +ill re.oice to see *e(3 3I a* not so s%re of that,3 sai 1arnar ine, pointin, to the roo* he ha opene ; 3Co*e in here, la y, +hile I step %p(3

E*ily, s%rprise an so*e+hat shocke , i not are to oppose hi* f%rther, b%t, as he +as t%rnin, a+ay +ith the torch, esire he +o%l not leave her in arkness( He looke aro%n , an , observin, a tripo la*p, that stoo on the stairs, li,hte an ,ave it to E*ily, +ho steppe for+ar into a lar,e ol cha*ber, an he close the oor( As she listene an-io%sly to his epartin, steps, she tho%,ht he escen e , instea of ascen in,, the stairs/ b%t the ,%sts of +in , that +histle ro%n the portal, +o%l not allo+ her to hear istinctly any other so%n ( 'till, ho+ever, she listene , an , perceivin, no step in the roo* above, +here he ha affir*e &a a*e &ontoni to be, her an-iety increase , tho%,h she consi ere , that the thickness of the floor in this stron, b%il in, *i,ht prevent any so%n reachin, her fro* the %pper cha*ber( The ne-t *o*ent, in a pa%se of the +in , she istin,%ishe 1arnar ine3s step escen in, to the co%rt, an then tho%,ht she hear his voice/ b%t, the risin, ,%st a,ain overco*in, other so%n s, E*ily, to be certain on this point, *ove softly to the oor, +hich, on atte*ptin, to open it, she iscovere +as fastene ( All the horri apprehensions, that ha lately assaile her, ret%rne at this instant +ith re o%ble force, an no lon,er appeare like the e-a,,erations of a ti*i spirit, b%t see*e to have been sent to +arn her of her fate( 'he no+ i not o%bt, that &a a*e &ontoni ha been *%r ere , perhaps in this very cha*ber/ or that she herself +as bro%,ht hither for the sa*e p%rpose( The co%ntenance, the *anners an the recollecte +or s of 1arnar ine, +hen he ha spoken of her a%nt, confir*e her +orst fears( )or so*e *o*ents, she +as incapable of consi erin, of any *eans, by +hich she *i,ht atte*pt an escape( 'till she listene , b%t hear footsteps neither on the stairs, or in the roo* above/ she tho%,ht, ho+ever, that she a,ain istin,%ishe 1arnar ine3s voice belo+, an +ent to a ,rate +in o+, that opene %pon the co%rt, to en4%ire f%rther( Here, she plainly hear his hoarse accents, *in,lin, +ith the blast, that s+ept by, b%t they +ere lost a,ain so 4%ickly, that their *eanin, co%l not be interprete / an then the li,ht of a torch, +hich see*e to iss%e fro* the portal belo+,

flashe across the co%rt, an the lon, sha o+ of a *an, +ho +as %n er the arch6+ay, appeare %pon the pave*ent( E*ily, fro* the h%,eness of this s% en portrait, concl% e it to be that of 1arnar ine/ b%t other eep tones, +hich passe in the +in , soon convince her he +as not alone, an that his co*panion +as not a person very liable to pity( :hen her spirits ha overco*e the first shock of her sit%ation, she hel %p the la*p to e-a*ine, if the cha*ber affor e a possibility of an escape( It +as a spacio%s roo*, +hose +alls, +ainscote +ith ro%,h oak, she+e no case*ent b%t the ,rate one, +hich E*ily ha left, an no other oor than that, by +hich she ha entere ( The feeble rays of the la*p, ho+ever, i not allo+ her to see at once its f%ll e-tent/ she perceive no f%rnit%re, e-cept, in ee , an iron chair, fastene in the centre of the cha*ber, i**e iately over +hich, epen in, on a chain fro* the ceilin,, h%n, an iron rin,( Havin, ,a8e %pon these, for so*e ti*e, +ith +on er an horror, she ne-t observe iron bars belo+, *a e for the p%rpose of confinin, the feet, an on the ar*s of the chair +ere rin,s of the sa*e *etal( As she contin%e to s%rvey the*, she concl% e , that they +ere instr%*ents of tort%re, an it str%ck her, that so*e poor +retch ha once been fastene in this chair, an ha there been starve to eath( 'he +as chille by the tho%,ht/ b%t, +hat +as her a,ony, +hen, in the ne-t *o*ent, it occ%rre to her, that her a%nt *i,ht have been one of these victi*s, an that she herself *i,ht be the ne-t? An ac%te pain sei8e her hea , she +as scarcely able to hol the la*p, an , lookin, ro%n for s%pport, +as seatin, herself, %nconscio%sly, in the iron chair itself/ b%t s% enly perceivin, +here she +as, she starte fro* it in horror, an spr%n, to+ar s a re*ote en of the roo*( Here a,ain she looke ro%n for a seat to s%stain her, an perceive only a ark c%rtain, +hich, escen in, fro* the ceilin, to the floor, +as ra+n alon, the +hole si e of the cha*ber( Ill as she +as, the appearance of this c%rtain str%ck her, an she pa%se to ,a8e %pon it, in +on er an apprehension(

It see*e to conceal a recess of the cha*ber/ she +ishe , yet rea e , to lift it, an to iscover +hat it veile ; t+ice she +as +ithhel by a recollection of the terrible spectacle her arin, han ha for*erly %nveile in an apart*ent of the castle, till, s% enly con.ect%rin,, that it conceale the bo y of her *%r ere a%nt, she sei8e it, in a fit of esperation, an re+ it asi e( 1eyon , appeare a corpse, stretche on a kin of lo+ co%ch, +hich +as cri*sone +ith h%*an bloo , as +as the floor beneath( The feat%res, efor*e by eath, +ere ,hastly an horrible, an *ore than one livi +o%n appeare in the face( E*ily, ben in, over the bo y, ,a8e , for a *o*ent, +ith an ea,er, fren8ie eye/ b%t, in the ne-t, the la*p roppe fro* her han , an she fell senseless at the foot of the co%ch( :hen her senses ret%rne , she fo%n herself s%rro%n e by *en, a*on, +ho* +as 1arnar ine, +ho +ere liftin, her fro* the floor, an then bore her alon, the cha*ber( 'he +as sensible of +hat passe , b%t the e-tre*e lan,%or of her spirits i not per*it her to speak, or *ove, or even to feel any istinct fear( They carrie her o+n the stair6case, by +hich she ha ascen e / +hen, havin, reache the arch6+ay, they stoppe , an one of the *en, takin, the torch fro* 1arnar ine, opene a s*all oor, that +as c%t in the ,reat ,ate, an , as he steppe o%t %pon the roa , the li,ht he bore she+e several *en on horseback, in +aitin,( :hether it +as the freshness of the air, that revive E*ily, or that the ob.ects she no+ sa+ ro%se the spirit of alar*, she s% enly spoke, an *a e an ineffect%al effort to isen,a,e herself fro* the ,rasp of the r%ffians, +ho hel her( 1arnar ine, *ean+hile, calle lo% ly for the torch, +hile istant voices ans+ere , an several persons approache , an , in the sa*e instant, a li,ht flashe %pon the co%rt of the castle( A,ain he vociferate for the torch, an the *en h%rrie E*ily thro%,h the ,ate( At a short istance, %n er the shelter of the castle +alls, she perceive the fello+, +ho ha taken the li,ht fro* the porter, hol in, it to a *an, b%sily e*ploye in alterin, the sa le of a horse, ro%n +hich +ere several

horse*en, lookin, on, +hose harsh feat%res receive the f%ll ,lare of the torch/ +hile the broken ,ro%n beneath the*, the opposite +alls, +ith the t%fte shr%bs, that overh%n, their s%**its, an an e*battle +atch6to+er above, +ere re ene +ith the ,lea*, +hich, fa in, ,ra %ally a+ay, left the re*oter ra*parts an the +oo s belo+ to the obsc%rity of ni,ht( 3:hat o yo% +aste ti*e for, thereB3 sai 1arnar ine +ith an oath, as he approache the horse*en( 3<ispatch 7 ispatch?3 3The sa le +ill be rea y in a *in%te,3 replie the *an +ho +as b%cklin, it, at +ho* 1arnar ine no+ s+ore a,ain, for his ne,li,ence, an E*ily, callin, feebly for help, +as h%rrie to+ar s the horses, +hile the r%ffians isp%te on +hich to place her, the one esi,ne for her not bein, rea y( At this *o*ent a cl%ster of li,hts iss%e fro* the ,reat ,ates, an she i**e iately hear the shrill voice of Annette above those of several other persons, +ho a vance ( In the sa*e *o*ent, she istin,%ishe &ontoni an Cavi,ni, follo+e by a n%*ber of r%ffian6face fello+s, to +ho* she no lon,er looke +ith terror, b%t +ith hope, for, at this instant, she i not tre*ble at the tho%,ht of any an,ers, that *i,ht a+ait her +ithin the castle, +hence so lately, an so an-io%sly she ha +ishe to escape( Those, +hich threatene her fro* +itho%t, ha en,rosse all her apprehensions( A short contest ens%e bet+een the parties, in +hich that of &ontoni, ho+ever, +ere presently victors, an the horse*en, perceivin, that n%*bers +ere a,ainst the*, an bein,, perhaps, not very +ar*ly intereste in the affair they ha %n ertaken, ,allope off, +hile 1arnar ine ha r%n far eno%,h to be lost in the arkness, an E*ily +as le back into the castle( As she re6passe the co%rts, the re*e*brance of +hat she ha seen in the portal6cha*ber ca*e, +ith all its horror, to her *in / an +hen, soon after, she hear the ,ate close, that sh%t her once *ore +ithin the castle +alls, she sh% ere for herself, an , al*ost for,ettin, the an,er she ha escape , co%l scarcely think, that

any thin, less precio%s than liberty an peace +as to be fo%n beyon the*( &ontoni or ere E*ily to a+ait hi* in the ce ar parlo%r, +hither he soon follo+e , an then sternly 4%estione her on this *ysterio%s affair( Tho%,h she no+ vie+e hi* +ith horror, as the *%r erer of her a%nt, an scarcely kne+ +hat she sai in reply to his i*patient en4%iries, her ans+ers an her *anner convince hi*, that she ha not taken a vol%ntary part in the late sche*e, an he is*isse her %pon the appearance of his servants, +ho* he ha or ere to atten , that he *i,ht en4%ire f%rther into the affair, an iscover those, +ho ha been acco*plices in it( E*ily ha been so*e ti*e in her apart*ent, before the t%*%lt of her *in allo+e her to re*e*ber several of the past circ%*stances( Then, a,ain, the ea for*, +hich the c%rtain in the portal6cha*ber ha isclose , ca*e to her fancy, an she %ttere a ,roan, +hich terrifie Annette the *ore, as E*ily forbore to satisfy her c%riosity, on the s%b.ect of it, for she feare to tr%st her +ith so fatal a secret, lest her in iscretion sho%l call o+n the i**e iate ven,eance of &ontoni on herself( Th%s co*pelle to bear +ithin her o+n *in the +hole horror of the secret, that oppresse it, her reason see*e to totter %n er the intolerable +ei,ht( 'he often fi-e a +il an vacant look on Annette, an , +hen she spoke, either i not hear her, or ans+ere fro* the p%rpose( 0on, fits of abstraction s%ccee e / Annette spoke repeate ly, b%t her voice see*e not to *ake any i*pression on the sense of the lon, a,itate E*ily, +ho sat fi-e an silent, e-cept that, no+ an then, she heave a heavy si,h, b%t +itho%t tears( Terrifie at her con ition, Annette, at len,th, left the roo*, to infor* &ontoni of it, +ho ha .%st is*isse his servants, +itho%t havin, *a e any iscoveries on the s%b.ect of his en4%iry( The +il escription, +hich this ,irl no+ ,ave of E*ily, in %ce hi* to follo+ her i**e iately to the cha*ber(

At the so%n of his voice, E*ily t%rne her eyes, an a ,lea* of recollection see*e to shoot ath+art her *in , for she i**e iately rose fro* her seat, an *ove slo+ly to a re*ote part of the roo*( He spoke to her in accents so*e+hat softene fro* their %s%al harshness, b%t she re,ar e hi* +ith a kin of half c%rio%s, half terrifie look, an ans+ere only 3yes,3 to +hatever he sai ( Her *in still see*e to retain no other i*pression, than that of fear( Of this isor er Annette co%l ,ive no e-planation, an &ontoni, havin, atte*pte , for so*e ti*e, to pers%a e E*ily to talk, retire , after or erin, Annette to re*ain +ith her, %rin, the ni,ht, an to infor* hi*, in the *ornin,, of her con ition( :hen he +as ,one, E*ily a,ain ca*e for+ar , an aske +ho it +as, that ha been there to ist%rb her( Annette sai it +as the 'i,nor6'i,nor &ontoni( E*ily repeate the na*e after her, several ti*es, as if she i not recollect it, an then s% enly ,roane , an relapse into abstraction( :ith so*e iffic%lty, Annette le her to the be , +hich E*ily e-a*ine +ith an ea,er, fren8ie eye, before she lay o+n, an then, pointin,, t%rne +ith sh% erin, e*otion, to Annette, +ho, no+ *ore terrifie , +ent to+ar s the oor, that she *i,ht brin, one of the fe*ale servants to pass the ni,ht +ith the*/ b%t E*ily, observin, her ,oin,, calle her by na*e, an then in the nat%rally soft an plaintive tone of her voice, be,,e , that she, too, +o%l not forsake her(73)or since *y father ie ,3 a e she, si,hin,, 3every bo y forsakes *e(3 32o%r father, *a3a*selle?3 sai Annette, 3he +as ea before yo% kne+ *e(3 3He +as, in ee ?3 re.oine E*ily, an her tears be,an to flo+( 'he no+ +ept silently an lon,, after +hich, beco*in, 4%ite cal*, she at len,th s%nk to sleep, Annette havin, ha iscretion eno%,h not to interr%pt her tears( This ,irl, as affectionate as she +as si*ple, lost in these *o*ents all her for*er fears of re*ainin,

in the cha*ber, an +atche alone by E*ily, %rin, the +hole ni,ht(

#HAPTER II
unfold <hat orlds, or hat "ast regions, hold Th= i!!ortal !ind, that hath forsook 8er !ansion in this fleshly nook> 5& PE:4ER747

E*ily3s *in +as refreshe by sleep( On +akin, in the *ornin,, she looke +ith s%rprise on Annette, +ho sat sleepin, in a chair besi e the be , an then en eavo%re to recollect herself/ b%t the circ%*stances of the prece in, ni,ht +ere s+ept fro* her *e*ory, +hich see*e to retain no trace of +hat ha passe , an she +as still ,a8in, +ith s%rprise on Annette, +hen the latter a+oke( 3O ear *a3a*selle? o yo% kno+ *eB3 crie she( 3Fno+ yo%? Certainly,3 replie E*ily, 3yo% are Annette/ b%t +hy are yo% sittin, by *e th%sB3 3O yo% have been very ill, *a3a*selle,7very ill in ee ? an I a* s%re I tho%,ht73 3This is very stran,e?3 sai E*ily, still tryin, to recollect the past(731%t I think I o re*e*ber, that *y fancy has been ha%nte by fri,htf%l rea*s( Goo Go ?3 she a e , s% enly startin,73s%rely it +as nothin, *ore than a rea*?3 'he fi-e a terrifie look %pon Annette, +ho, inten in, to 4%iet her, sai 32es, *a3a*selle, it +as *ore than a rea*, b%t it is all over no+(3 3'he I' *%r ere , then?3 sai E*ily in an in+ar voice, an sh% erin, instantaneo%sly( Annette screa*e / for, bein, i,norant of the circ%*stance to +hich E*ily referre , she attrib%te her *anner to a isor ere fancy/ b%t, +hen she ha e-plaine to +hat her o+n speech all% e , E*ily, recollectin, the atte*pt that ha

been *a e to carry her off, aske if the contriver of it ha been iscovere ( Annette replie , that he ha not, tho%,h he *i,ht easily be ,%esse at/ an then tol E*ily she *i,ht thank her for her eliverance, +ho, en eavo%rin, to co**an the e*otion, +hich the re*e*brance of her a%nt ha occasione , appeare cal*ly to listen to Annette, tho%,h, in tr%th, she hear scarcely a +or that +as sai ( 3An so, *a3a*selle,3 contin%e the latter, 3I +as eter*ine to be even +ith 1arnar ine for ref%sin, to tell *e the secret, by fin in, it o%t *yself/ so I +atche yo%, on the terrace, an , as soon as he ha opene the oor at the en , I stole o%t fro* the castle, to try to follo+ yo%/ for, says I, I a* s%re no ,oo can be planne , or +hy all this secrecyB 'o, s%re eno%,h, he ha not bolte the oor after hi*, an , +hen I opene it, I sa+, by the ,li**er of the torch, at the other en of the passa,e, +hich +ay yo% +ere ,oin,( I follo+e the li,ht, at a istance, till yo% ca*e to the va%lts of the chapel, an there I +as afrai to ,o f%rther, for I ha hear stran,e thin,s abo%t these va%lts( 1%t then, a,ain, I +as afrai to ,o back, all in arkness, by *yself/ so by the ti*e 1arnar ine ha tri**e the li,ht, I ha resolve to follo+ yo%, an I i so, till yo% ca*e to the ,reat co%rt, an there I +as afrai he +o%l see *e/ so I stoppe at the oor a,ain, an +atche yo% across to the ,ates, an , +hen yo% +as ,one %p the stairs, I +hipt after( There, as I stoo %n er the ,ate6+ay, I hear horses3 feet +itho%t, an several *en talkin,/ an I hear the* s+earin, at 1arnar ine for not brin,in, yo% o%t, an .%st then, he ha like to have ca%,ht *e, for he ca*e o+n the stairs a,ain, an I ha har ly ti*e to ,et o%t of his +ay( 1%t I ha hear eno%,h of his secret no+, an I eter*ine to be even +ith hi*, an to save yo%, too, *a3a*selle, for I ,%esse it to be so*e ne+ sche*e of Co%nt &orano, tho%,h he +as ,one a+ay( I ran into the castle, b%t I ha har +ork to fin *y +ay thro%,h the passa,e %n er the chapel, an +hat is very stran,e, I 4%ite for,ot to look for the ,hosts they ha tol *e abo%t, tho%,h I +o%l not ,o into that place a,ain by

*yself for all the +orl ? 0%ckily the 'i,nor an 'i,nor Cavi,ni +ere %p, so +e ha soon a train at o%r heels, s%fficient to fri,hten that 1arnar ine an his ro,%es, all to,ether(3 Annette cease to speak, b%t E*ily still appeare to listen( At len,th she sai , s% enly, 3I think I +ill ,o to hi* *yself/7+here is heB3 Annette aske +ho +as *eant( 3'i,nor &ontoni,3 replie E*ily( 3I +o%l speak +ith hi*/3 an Annette, no+ re*e*berin, the or er he ha ,iven, on the prece in, ni,ht, respectin, her yo%n, la y, rose, an sai she +o%l seek hi* herself( This honest ,irl3s s%spicions of Co%nt &orano +ere perfectly .%st/ E*ily, too, +hen she tho%,ht on the sche*e, ha attrib%te it to hi*/ an &ontoni, +ho ha not a o%bt on this s%b.ect, also, be,an to believe, that it +as by the irection of &orano, that poison ha for*erly been *in,le +ith his +ine( The professions of repentance, +hich &orano ha *a e to E*ily, %n er the an,%ish of his +o%n , +as sincere at the *o*ent he offere the*/ b%t he ha *istaken the s%b.ect of his sorro+, for, +hile he tho%,ht he +as con e*nin, the cr%elty of his late esi,n, he +as la*entin, only the state of s%fferin,, to +hich it ha re %ce hi*( As these s%fferin,s abate , his for*er vie+s revive , till, his health bein, re6 establishe , he a,ain fo%n hi*self rea y for enterprise an iffic%lty( The porter of the castle, +ho ha serve hi*, on a for*er occasion, +illin,ly accepte a secon bribe/ an , havin, concerte the *eans of ra+in, E*ily to the ,ates, &orano p%blicly left the ha*let, +hither he ha been carrie after the affray, an +ith re+ +ith his people to another at several *iles istance( )ro* thence, on a ni,ht a,ree %pon by 1arnar ine, +ho ha iscovere fro* the tho%,htless prattle of Annette, the *ost probable *eans of ecoyin, E*ily, the Co%nt sent back his servants to the castle, +hile he a+aite her arrival at the ha*let, +ith an intention of carryin, her i**e iately to Venice( Ho+ this, his secon sche*e, +as fr%strate , has

alrea y appeare / b%t the violent, an vario%s passions +ith +hich this Italian lover +as no+ a,itate , on his ret%rn to that city, can only be i*a,ine ( Annette havin, *a e her report to &ontoni of E*ily3s health an of her re4%est to see hi*, he replie , that she *i,ht atten hi* in the ce ar roo*, in abo%t an ho%r( It +as on the s%b.ect, that presse so heavily on her *in , that E*ily +ishe to speak to hi*, yet she i not istinctly kno+ +hat ,oo p%rpose this co%l ans+er, an so*eti*es she even recoile in horror fro* the e-pectation of his presence( 'he +ishe , also, to petition, tho%,h she scarcely are to believe the re4%est +o%l be ,rante , that he +o%l per*it her, since her a%nt +as no *ore, to ret%rn to her native co%ntry( As the *o*ent of intervie+ approache , her a,itation increase so *%ch, that she al*ost resolve to e-c%se herself %n er +hat co%l scarcely be calle a pretence of illness/ an , +hen she consi ere +hat co%l be sai , either concernin, herself, or the fate of her a%nt, she +as e4%ally hopeless as to the event of her entreaty, an terrifie as to its effect %pon the ven,ef%l spirit of &ontoni( 2et, to preten i,norance of her eath, appeare , in so*e e,ree, to be sharin, its cri*inality, an , in ee , this event +as the only ,ro%n , on +hich E*ily co%l rest her petition for leavin, A olpho( :hile her tho%,hts th%s +avere , a *essa,e +as bro%,ht, i*portin,, that &ontoni co%l not see her, till the ne-t ay/ an her spirits +ere then relieve , for a *o*ent, fro* an al*ost intolerable +ei,ht of apprehension( Annette sai , she fancie the Chevaliers +ere ,oin, o%t to the +ars a,ain, for the co%rt6yar +as fille +ith horses, an she hear , that the rest of the party, +ho +ent o%t before, +ere e-pecte at the castle( 3An I hear one of the sol iers, too,3 a e she, 3say to his co*ra e, that he +o%l +arrant they3 brin, ho*e a rare eal of booty(7'o, thinks I, if the 'i,nor can, +ith a safe conscience, sen his people o%t a6 robbin,7+hy it is no b%siness of *ine( I only +ish I +as once safe o%t of this castle/ an , if it ha not been for poor 0% ovico3s sake, I +o%l have let Co%nt

&orano3s people r%n a+ay +ith %s both, for it +o%l have been servin, yo% a ,oo t%rn, *a3a*selle, as +ell as *yself(3 Annette *i,ht have contin%e th%s talkin, for ho%rs for any interr%ption she +o%l have receive fro* E*ily, +ho +as silent, inattentive, absorbe in tho%,ht, an passe the +hole of this ay in a kin of sole*n tran4%illity, s%ch as is often the res%lt of fac%lties overstraine by s%fferin,( :hen ni,ht ret%rne , E*ily recollecte the *ysterio%s strains of *%sic, that she ha lately hear , in +hich she still felt so*e e,ree of interest, an of +hich she hope to hear a,ain the soothin, s+eetness( The infl%ence of s%perstition no+ ,aine on the +eakness of her lon,6harasse *in / she looke , +ith enth%siastic e-pectation, to the ,%ar ian spirit of her father, an , havin, is*isse Annette for the ni,ht, eter*ine to +atch alone for their ret%rn( It +as not yet, ho+ever, near the ti*e +hen she ha hear the *%sic on a for*er ni,ht, an an-io%s to call off her tho%,hts fro* istressin, s%b.ects, she sat o+n +ith one of the fe+ books, that she ha bro%,ht fro* )rance/ b%t her *in , ref%sin, contro%l, beca*e restless an a,itate , an she +ent often to the case*ent to listen for a so%n ( Once, she tho%,ht she hear a voice, b%t then, every thin, +itho%t the case*ent re*ainin, still, she concl% e , that her fancy ha eceive her( Th%s passe the ti*e, till t+elve o3clock, soon after +hich the istant so%n s, that *%r*%re thro%,h the castle, cease , an sleep see*e to rei,n over all( E*ily then seate herself at the case*ent, +here she +as soon recalle fro* the reverie, into +hich she s%nk, by very %n%s%al so%n s, not of *%sic, b%t like the lo+ *o%rnin, of so*e person in istress( As she listene , her heart faltere in terror, an she beca*e convince , that the for*er so%n +as *ore than i*a,inary( 'till, at intervals, she hear a kin of feeble la*entation, an so%,ht to iscover +hence it ca*e( There +ere several roo*s %n erneath, a .oinin, the ra*part, +hich ha been lon, sh%t %p, an , as the

so%n probably rose fro* one of these, she leane fro* the case*ent to observe, +hether any li,ht +as visible there( The cha*bers, as far as she co%l perceive, +ere 4%ite ark, b%t, at a little istance, on the ra*part belo+, she tho%,ht she sa+ so*ethin, *ovin,( The faint t+ili,ht, +hich the stars she , i not enable her to istin,%ish +hat it +as/ b%t she .% ,e it to be a sentinel, on +atch, an she re*ove her li,ht to a re*ote part of the cha*ber, that she *i,ht escape notice, %rin, her f%rther observation( The sa*e ob.ect still appeare ( Presently, it a vance alon, the ra*part, to+ar s her +in o+, an she then istin,%ishe so*ethin, like a h%*an for*, b%t the silence, +ith +hich it *ove , convince her it +as no sentinel( As it re+ near, she hesitate +hether to retire/ a thrillin, c%riosity incline her to stay, b%t a rea of she scarcely kne+ +hat +arne her to +ith ra+( :hile she pa%se , the fi,%re ca*e opposite to her case*ent, an +as stationary( Every thin, re*aine 4%iet/ she ha not hear even a foot6fall/ an the sole*nity of this silence, +ith the *ysterio%s for* she sa+, s%b %e her spirits, so that she +as *ovin, fro* the case*ent, +hen, on a s% en, she observe the fi,%re start a+ay, an ,li e o+n the ra*part, after +hich it +as soon lost in the obsc%rity of ni,ht( E*ily contin%e to ,a8e, for so*e ti*e, on the +ay it ha passe , an then retire +ithin her cha*ber, *%sin, on this stran,e circ%*stance, an scarcely o%btin,, that she ha +itnesse a s%pernat%ral appearance( :hen her spirits recovere co*pos%re, she looke ro%n for so*e other e-planation( Re*e*berin, +hat she ha hear of the arin, enterprises of &ontoni, it occ%rre to her, that she ha .%st seen so*e %nhappy person, +ho, havin, been pl%n ere by his ban itti, +as bro%,ht hither a captive/ an that the *%sic she ha for*erly hear , ca*e fro* hi*( 2et, if they ha pl%n ere hi*, it still appeare i*probable, that they sho%l have bro%,ht hi* to the castle, an it +as also *ore consistent +ith the *anners of ban itti to *%r er

those they rob, than to *ake the* prisoners( 1%t +hat, *ore than any other circ%*stance, contra icte the s%pposition, that it +as a prisoner, +as that it +an ere on the terrace, +itho%t a ,%ar ; a consi eration, +hich *a e her is*iss i**e iately her first s%r*ise( After+ar s, she +as incline to believe, that Co%nt &orano ha obtaine a *ittance into the castle/ b%t she soon recollecte the iffic%lties an an,ers, that *%st have oppose s%ch an enterprise, an that, if he ha so far s%ccee e , to co*e alone an in silence to her case*ent at *i ni,ht +as not the con %ct he +o%l have a opte , partic%larly since the private stair6case, co**%nicatin, +ith her apart*ent, +as kno+n to hi*/ neither +o%l he have %ttere the is*al so%n s she ha hear ( Another s%,,estion represente , that this *i,ht be so*e person, +ho ha esi,ns %pon the castle/ b%t the *o%rnf%l so%n s estroye , also, that probability( Th%s, en4%iry only perple-e her( :ho, or +hat, it co%l be that ha%nte this lonely ho%r, co*plainin, in s%ch olef%l accents an in s%ch s+eet *%sic =for she +as still incline to believe, that the for*er strains an the late appearance +ere connecte ,> she ha no *eans of ascertainin,/ an i*a,ination a,ain ass%*e her e*pire, an ro%se the *ysteries of s%perstition( 'he eter*ine , ho+ever, to +atch on the follo+in, ni,ht, +hen her o%bts *i,ht, perhaps, be cleare %p/ an she al*ost resolve to a ress the fi,%re, if it sho%l appear a,ain(

#HAPTER III
4uch are those thick and gloo!y shado s da!p, 7ft seen in charnel%"aults and sepulchres, &ingering, and sitting, by a ne %!ade gra"e# M5&T7:

On the follo+in, ay, &ontoni sent a secon e-c%se to E*ily, +ho +as s%rprise at the circ%*stance( 3This is

very stran,e?3 sai she to herself( 3His conscience tells hi* the p%rport of *y visit, an he efers it, to avoi an e-planation(3 'he no+ al*ost resolve to thro+ herself in his +ay, b%t terror checke the intention, an this ay passe , as the prece in, one, +ith E*ily, e-cept that a e,ree of a+f%l e-pectation, concernin, the approachin, ni,ht, no+ so*e+hat ist%rbe the rea f%l cal*ness that ha perva e her *in ( To+ar s evenin,, the secon part of the ban , +hich ha *a e the first e-c%rsion a*on, the *o%ntains, ret%rne to the castle, +here, as they entere the co%rts, E*ily, in her re*ote cha*ber, hear their lo% sho%ts an strains of e-%ltation, like the or,ies of f%ries over so*e horri sacrifice( 'he even feare they +ere abo%t to co**it so*e barbaro%s ee / a con.ect%re fro* +hich, ho+ever, Annette soon relieve her, by tellin,, that the people +ere only e-%ltin, over the pl%n er they ha bro%,ht +ith the*( This circ%*stance still f%rther confir*e her in the belief, that &ontoni ha really co**ence to be a captain of ban itti, an *eant to retrieve his broken fort%nes by the pl%n er of travellers? In ee , +hen she consi ere all the circ%*stances of his sit%ation7in an ar*e , an al*ost inaccessible castle, retire far a*on, the recesses of +il an solitary *o%ntains, alon, +hose istant skirts +ere scattere to+ns, an cities, +hither +ealthy travellers +ere contin%ally passin,7this appeare to be the sit%ation of all others *ost s%ite for the s%ccess of sche*es of rapine, an she yiel e to the stran,e tho%,ht, that &ontoni +as beco*e a captain of robbers( His character also, %nprinciple , a%ntless, cr%el an enterprisin,, see*e to fit hi* for the sit%ation( <eli,htin, in the t%*%lt an in the str%,,les of life, he +as e4%ally a stran,er to pity an to fear/ his very co%ra,e +as a sort of ani*al ferocity/ not the noble i*p%lse of a principle, s%ch as inspirits the *in a,ainst the oppressor, in the ca%se of the oppresse / b%t a constit%tional har iness of nerve, that cannot feel, an that, therefore, cannot fear( E*ily3s s%pposition, ho+ever nat%ral, +as in part erroneo%s, for she +as a stran,er to the state of this

co%ntry an to the circ%*stances, %n er +hich its fre4%ent +ars +ere partly con %cte ( The reven%es of the *any states of Italy bein,, at that ti*e, ins%fficient to the s%pport of stan in, ar*ies, even %rin, the short perio s, +hich the t%rb%lent habits both of the ,overn*ents an the people per*itte to pass in peace, an or er of *en arose not kno+n in o%r a,e, an b%t faintly escribe in the history of their o+n( Of the sol iers, isban e at the en of every +ar, fe+ ret%rne to the safe, b%t %nprofitable occ%pations, then %s%al in peace( 'o*eti*es they passe into other co%ntries, an *in,le +ith ar*ies, +hich still kept the fiel ( 'o*eti*es they for*e the*selves into ban s of robbers, an occ%pie re*ote fortresses, +here their esperate character, the +eakness of the ,overn*ents +hich they offen e , an the certainty, that they co%l be recalle to the ar*ies, +hen their presence sho%l be a,ain +ante , prevente the* fro* bein, *%ch p%rs%e by the civil po+er/ an , so*eti*es, they attache the*selves to the fort%nes of a pop%lar chief, by +ho* they +ere le into the service of any state, +hich co%l settle +ith hi* the price of their valo%r( )ro* this latter practice arose their na*e7 CO9<OTTIERI/ a ter* for*i able all over Italy, for a perio , +hich concl% e in the earlier part of the seventeenth cent%ry, b%t of +hich it is not so easy to ascertain the co**ence*ent( Contests bet+een the s*aller states +ere then, for the *ost part, affairs of enterpri8e alone, an the probabilities of s%ccess +ere esti*ate , not fro* the skill, b%t fro* the personal co%ra,e of the ,eneral, an the sol iers( The ability, +hich +as necessary to the con %ct of te io%s operations, +as little val%e ( It +as eno%,h to kno+ ho+ a party *i,ht be le to+ar s their ene*ies, +ith the ,reatest secrecy, or con %cte fro* the* in the co*pactest or er( The officer +as to precipitate hi*self into a sit%ation, +here, b%t for his e-a*ple, the sol iers *i,ht not have vent%re / an , as the oppose parties kne+ little of each other3s stren,th, the event of the ay +as fre4%ently eter*ine by the bol ness of the first *ove*ents( In s%ch services the

con ottieri +ere e*inent, an in these, +here pl%n er al+ays follo+e s%ccess, their characters ac4%ire a *i-t%re of intrepi ity an profli,acy, +hich a+e even those +ho* they serve ( :hen they +ere not th%s en,a,e , their chief ha %s%ally his o+n fortress, in +hich, or in its nei,hbo%rhoo , they en.oye an irkso*e rest/ an , tho%,h their +ants +ere, at one ti*e, partly s%pplie fro* the property of the inhabitants, the lavish istrib%tion of their pl%n er at others, prevente the* fro* bein, obno-io%s/ an the peasants of s%ch istricts ,ra %ally share the character of their +arlike visitors( The nei,hbo%rin, ,overn*ents so*eti*es professe , b%t sel o* en eavo%re , to s%ppress these *ilitary co**%nities/ both beca%se it +as iffic%lt to o so, an beca%se a is,%ise protection of the* ens%re , for the service of their +ars, a bo y of *en, +ho co%l not other+ise be so cheaply *aintaine , or so perfectly 4%alifie ( The co**an ers so*eti*es even relie so far %pon this policy of the several po+ers, as to fre4%ent their capitals/ an &ontoni, havin, *et the* in the ,a*in, parties of Venice an Pa %a, conceive a esire to e*%late their characters, before his r%ine fort%nes te*pte hi* to a opt their practices( It +as for the arran,e*ent of his present plan of life, that the *i ni,ht co%ncils +ere hel at his *ansion in Venice, an at +hich Orsino an so*e other *e*bers of the present co**%nity then assiste +ith s%,,estions, +hich they ha since e-ec%te +ith the +reck of their fort%nes( On the ret%rn of ni,ht, E*ily res%*e her station at the case*ent( There +as no+ a *oon/ an , as it rose over the t%fte +oo s, its yello+ li,ht serve to she+ the lonely terrace an the s%rro%n in, ob.ects, *ore istinctly, than the t+ili,ht of the stars ha one, an pro*ise E*ily to assist her observations, sho%l the *ysterio%s for* ret%rn( On this s%b.ect, she a,ain +avere in con.ect%re, an hesitate +hether to speak to the fi,%re, to +hich a stron, an al*ost irresistible interest %r,e her/ b%t terror, at intervals, *a e her rel%ctant to o so(

3If this is a person +ho has esi,ns %pon the castle,3 sai she, 3*y c%riosity *ay prove fatal to *e/ yet the *ysterio%s *%sic, an the la*entations I hear , *%st s%rely have procee e fro* hi*; if so, he cannot be an ene*y(3 'he then tho%,ht of her %nfort%nate a%nt, an , sh% erin, +ith ,rief an horror, the s%,,estions of i*a,ination sei8e her *in +ith all the force of tr%th, an she believe , that the for* she ha seen +as s%pernat%ral( 'he tre*ble , breathe +ith iffic%lty, an icy col ness to%che her cheeks, an her fears for a +hile overca*e her .% ,*ent( Her resol%tion no+ forsook her, an she eter*ine , if the fi,%re sho%l appear, not to speak to it( Th%s the ti*e passe , as she sat at her case*ent, a+e by e-pectation, an by the ,loo* an stillness of *i ni,ht/ for she sa+ obsc%rely in the *oon6li,ht only the *o%ntains an +oo s, a cl%ster of to+ers, that for*e the +est an,le of the castle, an the terrace belo+/ an hear no so%n , e-cept, no+ an then, the lonely +atch6+or , passe by the centinels on %ty, an after+ar s the steps of the *en +ho ca*e to relieve ,%ar , an +ho* she kne+ at a istance on the ra*part by their pikes, that ,littere in the *oonbea*, an then, by the fe+ short +or s, in +hich they haile their fello+s of the ni,ht( E*ily retire +ithin her cha*ber, +hile they passe the case*ent( :hen she ret%rne to it, all +as a,ain 4%iet( It +as no+ very late, she +as +earie +ith +atchin,, an be,an to o%bt the reality of +hat she ha seen on the prece in, ni,ht/ b%t she still lin,ere at the +in o+, for her *in +as too pert%rbe to a *it of sleep( The *oon shone +ith a clear l%stre, that affor e her a co*plete vie+ of the terrace/ b%t she sa+ only a solitary centinel, pacin, at one en of it/ an , at len,th, tire +ith e-pectation, she +ith re+ to seek rest( '%ch, ho+ever, +as the i*pression, left on her *in by the *%sic, an the co*plainin, she ha for*erly hear , as +ell as by the fi,%re, +hich she fancie she ha seen, that she eter*ine to repeat the +atch, on the follo+in, ni,ht(

&ontoni, on the ne-t ay, took no notice of E*ily3s appointe visit, b%t she, *ore an-io%s than before to see hi*, sent Annette to en4%ire, at +hat ho%r he +o%l a *it her( He *entione eleven o3clock, an E*ily +as p%nct%al to the *o*ent/ at +hich she calle %p all her fortit% e to s%pport the shock of his presence an the rea f%l recollections it enforce ( He +as +ith several of his officers, in the ce ar roo*/ on observin, +ho* she pa%se / an her a,itation increase , +hile he contin%e to converse +ith the*, apparently not observin, her, till so*e of his officers, t%rnin, ro%n , sa+ E*ily, an %ttere an e-cla*ation( 'he +as hastily retirin,, +hen &ontoni3s voice arreste her, an , in a fa%lterin, accent, she sai ,73I +o%l speak +ith yo%, 'i,nor &ontoni, if yo% are at leis%re(3 3These are *y frien s,3 he replie , 3+hatever yo% +o%l say, they *ay hear(3 E*ily, +itho%t replyin,, t%rne fro* the r% e ,a8e of the chevaliers, an &ontoni then follo+e her to the hall, +hence he le her to a s*all roo*, of +hich he sh%t the oor +ith violence( As she looke on his ark co%ntenance, she a,ain tho%,ht she sa+ the *%r erer of her a%nt/ an her *in +as so conv%lse +ith horror, that she ha not po+er to recall tho%,ht eno%,h to e-plain the p%rport of her visit/ an to tr%st herself +ith the *ention of &a a*e &ontoni +as *ore than she are ( &ontoni at len,th i*patiently en4%ire +hat she ha to sayB 3I have no ti*e for triflin,,3 he a e , 3*y *o*ents are i*portant(3 E*ily then tol hi*, that she +ishe to ret%rn to )rance, an ca*e to be,, that he +o%l per*it her to o so(71%t +hen he looke s%rprise , an en4%ire for the *otive of the re4%est, she hesitate , beca*e paler than before, tre*ble , an ha nearly s%nk at his feet( He observe her e*otion, +ith apparent in ifference, an interr%pte the silence by tellin, her, he *%st be ,one( E*ily, ho+ever, recalle her spirits s%fficiently to enable her to repeat her re4%est( An ,

+hen &ontoni absol%tely ref%se *in +as ro%se (

it, her sl%*berin,

3I can no lon,er re*ain here +ith propriety, sir,3 sai she, 3an I *ay be allo+e to ask, by +hat ri,ht yo% etain *e(3 3It is *y +ill that yo% re*ain here,3 sai &ontoni, layin, his han on the oor to ,o/ 3let that s%ffice yo%(3 E*ily, consi erin, that she ha no appeal fro* this +ill, forbore to isp%te his ri,ht, an *a e a feeble effort to pers%a e hi* to be .%st( 3:hile *y a%nt live , sir,3 sai she, in a tre*%lo%s voice, 3*y resi ence here +as not i*proper/ b%t no+, that she is no *ore, I *ay s%rely be per*itte to epart( &y stay cannot benefit yo%, sir, an +ill only istress *e(3 3:ho tol yo%, that &a a*e &ontoni +as ea B3 sai &ontoni, +ith an in4%isitive eye( E*ily hesitate , for nobo y ha tol her so, an she i not are to avo+ the havin, seen that spectacle in the portal6cha*ber, +hich ha co*pelle her to the belief( 3:ho tol yo% soB3 he repeate , *ore sternly( 3Alas? I kno+ it too +ell,3 replie E*ily; 3spare *e on this terrible s%b.ect?3 'he sat o+n on a bench to s%pport herself( 3If yo% +ish to see her,3 sai &ontoni, 3yo% *ay/ she lies in the east t%rret(3 He no+ left the roo*, +itho%t a+aitin, her reply, an ret%rne to the ce ar cha*ber, +here s%ch of the chevaliers as ha not before seen E*ily, be,an to rally hi*, on the iscovery they ha *a e/ b%t &ontoni i not appear ispose to bear this *irth, an they chan,e the s%b.ect( Havin, talke +ith the s%btle Orsino, on the plan of an e-c%rsion, +hich he *e itate for a f%t%re ay, his frien a vise , that they sho%l lie in +ait for the ene*y, +hich Vere88i i*pet%o%sly oppose , reproache Orsino +ith +ant of spirit, an s+ore, that, if &ontoni +o%l let hi* lea on fifty *en, he +o%l con4%er all that sho%l oppose hi*(

Orsino s*ile conte*pt%o%sly/ &ontoni s*ile too, b%t he also listene ( Vere88i then procee e +ith vehe*ent ecla*ation an assertion, till he +as stoppe by an ar,%*ent of Orsino, +hich he kne+ not ho+ to ans+er better than by invective( His fierce spirit eteste the c%nnin, ca%tion of Orsino, +ho* he constantly oppose , an +hose inveterate, tho%,h silent, hatre he ha lon, a,o inc%rre ( An &ontoni +as a cal* observer of both, +hose ifferent 4%alifications he kne+, an ho+ to ben their opposite character to the perfection of his o+n esi,ns( 1%t Vere88i, in the heat of opposition, no+ i not scr%ple to acc%se Orsino of co+ar ice, at +hich the co%ntenance of the latter, +hile he *a e no reply, +as oversprea +ith a livi paleness/ an &ontoni, +ho +atche his l%rkin, eye, sa+ hi* p%t his han hastily into his boso*( 1%t Vere88i, +hose face, ,lo+in, +ith cri*son, for*e a strikin, contrast to the co*ple-ion of Orsino, re*arke not the action, an contin%e bol ly eclai*in, a,ainst co+ar s to Cavi,ni, +ho +as slily la%,hin, at his vehe*ence, an at the silent *ortification of Orsino, +hen the latter, retirin, a fe+ steps behin , re+ forth a stilletto to stab his a versary in the back( &ontoni arreste his half6e-ten e ar*, an , +ith a si,nificant look, *a e hi* ret%rn the poinar into his boso*, %nseen by all e-cept hi*self/ for *ost of the party +ere isp%tin, at a istant +in o+, on the sit%ation of a ell +here they *eant to for* an a*b%sca e( :hen Vere88i ha t%rne ro%n , the ea ly hatre , e-presse on the feat%res of his opponent, raisin,, for the first ti*e, a s%spicion of his intention, he lai his han on his s+or , an then, see*in, to recollect hi*self, stro e %p to &ontoni( 3'i,nor,3 sai he, +ith a si,nificant look at Orsino, 3+e are not a ban of assassins/ if yo% have b%siness for brave *en e*ploy *e on this e-pe ition; yo% shall have the last rop of *y bloo / if yo% have only +ork for co+ar s7keep hi*,3 pointin, to Orsino, 3an let *e 4%it A olpho(3

Orsino, still *ore incense , a,ain re+ forth his stilletto, an r%she to+ar s Vere88i, +ho, at the sa*e instant, a vance +ith his s+or , +hen &ontoni an the rest of the party interfere an separate the*( 3This is the con %ct of a boy,3 sai &ontoni to Vere88i, 3not of a *an; be *ore *o erate in yo%r speech(3 3&o eration is the virt%e of co+ar s,3 retorte Vere88i/ 3they are *o erate in every thin,7b%t in fear(3 3I accept yo%r +or s,3 sai &ontoni, t%rnin, %pon hi* +ith a fierce an ha%,hty look, an ra+in, his s+or o%t of the scabbar ( 3:ith all *y heart,3 crie Vere88i, 3tho%,h I i not *ean the* for yo%(3 He irecte a pass at &ontoni/ an , +hile they fo%,ht, the villain Orsino *a e another atte*pt to stab Vere88i, an +as a,ain prevente ( The co*batants +ere, at len,th, separate / an , after a very lon, an violent isp%te, reconcile ( &ontoni then left the roo* +ith Orsino, +ho* he etaine in private cons%ltation for a consi erable ti*e( E*ily, *ean+hile, st%nne by the last +or s of &ontoni, for,ot, for the *o*ent, his eclaration, that she sho%l contin%e in the castle, +hile she tho%,ht of her %nfort%nate a%nt, +ho, he ha sai , +as lai in the east t%rret( In s%fferin, the re*ains of his +ife to lie th%s lon, %nb%rie , there appeare a e,ree of br%tality *ore shockin, than she ha s%specte even &ontoni co%l practise( After a lon, str%,,le, she eter*ine to accept his per*ission to visit the t%rret, an to take a last look of her ill6fate a%nt; +ith +hich esi,n she ret%rne to her cha*ber, an , +hile she +aite for Annette to acco*pany her, en eavo%re to ac4%ire fortit% e s%fficient to s%pport her thro%,h the approachin, scene/ for, tho%,h she tre*ble to enco%nter it, she kne+ that to re*e*ber the perfor*ance of this last act of %ty +o%l hereafter affor her consolin, satisfaction(

Annette ca*e, an E*ily *entione her p%rpose, fro* +hich the for*er en eavo%re to iss%a e her, tho%,h +itho%t effect, an Annette +as, +ith *%ch iffic%lty, prevaile %pon to acco*pany her to the t%rret/ b%t no consi eration co%l *ake her pro*ise to enter the cha*ber of eath( They no+ left the corri or, an , havin, reache the foot of the stair6case, +hich E*ily ha for*erly ascen e , Annette eclare she +o%l ,o no f%rther, an E*ily procee e alone( :hen she sa+ the track of bloo , +hich she ha before observe , her spirits fainte , an , bein, co*pelle to rest on the stairs, she al*ost eter*ine to procee no f%rther( The pa%se of a fe+ *o*ents restore her resol%tion, an she +ent on( As she re+ near the lan in,6place, %pon +hich the %pper cha*ber opene , she re*e*bere , that the oor +as for*erly fastene , an apprehen e , that it *i,ht still be so( In this e-pectation, ho+ever, she +as *istaken/ for the oor opene at once, into a %sky an silent cha*ber, ro%n +hich she fearf%lly looke , an then slo+ly a vance , +hen a hollo+ voice spoke( E*ily, +ho +as %nable to speak, or to *ove fro* the spot, %ttere no so%n of terror( The voice spoke a,ain/ an , then, thinkin, that it rese*ble that of &a a*e &ontoni, E*ily3s spirits +ere instantly ro%se / she r%she to+ar s a be , that stoo in a re*ote part of the roo*, an re+ asi e the c%rtains( :ithin, appeare a pale an e*aciate face( 'he starte back, then a,ain a vance , sh% ere as she took %p the skeleton han , that lay stretche %pon the 4%ilt/ then let it rop, an then vie+e the face +ith a lon,, %nsettle ,a8e( It +as that of &a a*e &ontoni, tho%,h so chan,e by illness, that the rese*blance of +hat it ha been, co%l scarcely be trace in +hat it no+ appeare ( 'he +as still alive, an , raisin, her heavy eyes, she t%rne the* on her niece( 3:here have yo% been so lon,B3 sai she, in the sa*e tone, 3I tho%,ht yo% ha forsaken *e(3

3<o yo% in ee live,3 sai E*ily, at len,th, 3or is this b%t a terrible apparitionB3 she receive no ans+er, an a,ain she snatche %p the han ( 3This is s%bstance,3 she e-clai*e , 3b%t it is col 7col as *arble?3 'he let it fall( 3O, if yo% really live, speak?3 sai E*ily, in a voice of esperation, 3that I *ay not lose *y senses7say yo% kno+ *e?3 3I o live,3 replie &a a*e &ontoni, 3b%t7I feel that I a* abo%t to ie(3 E*ily claspe the han she hel , *ore ea,erly, an ,roane ( They +ere both silent for so*e *o*ents( Then E*ily en eavo%re to soothe her, an en4%ire +hat ha re %ce her to this present eplorable state( &ontoni, +hen he re*ove her to the t%rret %n er the i*probable s%spicion of havin, atte*pte his life, ha or ere the *en e*ploye on the occasion, to observe a strict secrecy concernin, her( To this he +as infl%ence by a o%ble *otive( He *eant to ebar her fro* the co*fort of E*ily3s visits, an to sec%re an opport%nity of privately ispatchin, her, sho%l any ne+ circ%*stances occ%r to confir* the present s%,,estions of his s%spectin, *in ( His conscio%sness of the hatre he eserve it +as nat%ral eno%,h sho%l at first le hi* to attrib%te to her the atte*pt that ha been *a e %pon his life/ an , tho%,h there +as no other reason to believe that she +as concerne in that atrocio%s esi,n, his s%spicions re*aine / he contin%e to confine her in the t%rret, %n er a strict ,%ar / an , +itho%t pity or re*orse, ha s%ffere her to lie, forlorn an ne,lecte , %n er a ra,in, fever, till it ha re %ce her to the present state( The track of bloo , +hich E*ily ha seen on the stairs, ha flo+e fro* the %nbo%n +o%n of one of the *en e*ploye to carry &a a*e &ontoni, an +hich he ha receive in the late affray( At ni,ht these *en, havin, contente the*selves +ith sec%rin, the oor of their prisoner3s roo*, ha retire fro* ,%ar / an then it +as, that E*ily, at the ti*e of her first en4%iry, ha fo%n the t%rret so silent an eserte (

:hen she ha atte*pte to open the oor of the cha*ber, her a%nt +as sleepin,, an this occasione the silence, +hich ha contrib%te to el% e her into a belief, that she +as no *ore/ yet ha her terror per*itte her to persevere lon,er in the call, she +o%l probably have a+akene &a a*e &ontoni, an have been spare *%ch s%fferin,( The spectacle in the portal6cha*ber, +hich after+ar s confir*e E*ily3s horrible s%spicion, +as the corpse of a *an, +ho ha fallen in the affray, an the sa*e +hich ha been borne into the servants3 hall, +here she took ref%,e fro* the t%*%lt( This *an ha lin,ere %n er his +o%n s for so*e ays/ an , soon after his eath, his bo y ha been re*ove on the co%ch, on +hich he ie , for inter*ent in the va%lt beneath the chapel, thro%,h +hich E*ily an 1arnar ine ha passe to the cha*ber( E*ily, after askin, &a a*e &ontoni a tho%san 4%estions concernin, herself, left her, an so%,ht &ontoni/ for the *ore sole*n interest she felt for her a%nt, *a e her no+ re,ar less of the resent*ent her re*onstrances *i,ht ra+ %pon herself, an of the i*probability of his ,rantin, +hat she *eant to entreat( 3&a a*e &ontoni is no+ yin,, sir,3 sai E*ily, as soon as she sa+ hi*732o%r resent*ent, s%rely +ill not p%rs%e her to the last *o*ent? '%ffer her to be re*ove fro* that forlorn roo* to her o+n apart*ent, an to have necessary co*forts a *inistere (3 3Of +hat service +ill that be, if she is yin,B3 sai &ontoni, +ith apparent in ifference( 3The service, at leave, of savin, yo%, sir, fro* a fe+ of those pan,s of conscience yo% *%st s%ffer, +hen yo% shall be in the sa*e sit%ation,3 sai E*ily, +ith i*pr% ent in i,nation, of +hich &ontoni soon *a e her sensible, by co**an in, her to 4%it his presence( Then, for,ettin, her resent*ent, an i*presse only by co*passion for the piteo%s state of her a%nt, yin, +itho%t s%cco%r, she s%b*itte to h%*ble herself to &ontoni, an to a opt every pers%asive *eans, that *i,ht in %ce hi* to relent to+ar s his +ife(

)or a consi erable ti*e he +as proof a,ainst all she sai , an all she looke / b%t at len,th the ivinity of pity, bea*in, in E*ily3s eyes, see*e to to%ch his heart( He t%rne a+ay, asha*e of his better feelin,s, half s%llen an half relentin,/ b%t finally consente , that his +ife sho%l be re*ove to her o+n apart*ent, an that E*ily sho%l atten her( <rea in, e4%ally, that this relief *i,ht arrive too late, an that &ontoni *i,ht retract his concession, E*ily scarcely stai to thank hi* for it, b%t, assiste by Annette, she 4%ickly prepare &a a*e &ontoni3s be , an they carrie her a cor ial, that *i,ht enable her feeble fra*e to s%stain the fati,%e of a re*oval( &a a*e +as scarcely arrive in her o+n apart*ent, +hen an or er +as ,iven by her h%sban , that she sho%l re*ain in the t%rret/ b%t E*ily, thankf%l that she ha *a e s%ch ispatch, hastene to infor* hi* of it, as +ell as that a secon re*oval +o%l instantly prove fatal, an he s%ffere his +ife to contin%e +here she +as( <%rin, this ay, E*ily never left &a a*e &ontoni, e-cept to prepare s%ch little no%rishin, thin,s as she .% ,e necessary to s%stain her, an +hich &a a*e &ontoni receive +ith 4%iet ac4%iescence, tho%,h she see*e sensible that they co%l not save her fro* approachin, issol%tion, an scarcely appeare to +ish for life( E*ily *ean+hile +atche over her +ith the *ost ten er solicit% e, no lon,er seein, her i*perio%s a%nt in the poor ob.ect before her, b%t the sister of her late belove father, in a sit%ation that calle for all her co*passion an kin ness( :hen ni,ht ca*e, she eter*ine to sit %p +ith her a%nt, b%t this the latter positively forba e, co**an in, her to retire to rest, an Annette alone to re*ain in her cha*ber( Rest +as, in ee , necessary to E*ily, +hose spirits an fra*e +ere e4%ally +earie by the occ%rrences an e-ertions of the ay/ b%t she +o%l not leave &a a*e &ontoni, till after the t%rn of *i ni,ht, a perio then tho%,ht so critical by the physicians( 'oon after t+elve, havin, en.oine Annette to be +akef%l, an to call her, sho%l any chan,e appear for

the +orse, E*ily sorro+f%lly ba e &a a*e &ontoni ,oo ni,ht, an +ith re+ to her cha*ber( Her spirits +ere *ore than %s%ally epresse by the piteo%s con ition of her a%nt, +hose recovery she scarcely are to e-pect( To her o+n *isfort%nes she sa+ no perio , inclose as she +as, in a re*ote castle, beyon the reach of any frien s, ha she possesse s%ch, an beyon the pity even of stran,ers/ +hile she kne+ herself to be in the po+er of a *an capable of any action, +hich his interest, or his a*bition, *i,ht s%,,est( Occ%pie by *elancholy reflections an by anticipations as sa , she i not retire i**e iately to rest, b%t leane tho%,htf%lly on her open case*ent( The scene before her of +oo s an *o%ntains, reposin, in the *oon6li,ht, for*e a re,rette contrast +ith the state of her *in / b%t the lonely *%r*%r of these +oo s, an the vie+ of this sleepin, lan scape, ,ra %ally soothe her e*otions an softene her to tears( 'he contin%e to +eep, for so*e ti*e, lost to every thin,, b%t to a ,entle sense of her *isfort%nes( :hen she, at len,th, took the han kerchief fro* her eyes, she perceive , before her, on the terrace belo+, the fi,%re she ha for*erly observe , +hich stoo fi-e an silent, i**e iately opposite to her case*ent( On perceivin, it, she starte back, an terror for so*e ti*e overca*e c%riosity/7at len,th, she ret%rne to the case*ent, an still the fi,%re +as before it, +hich she no+ co*pelle herself to observe, b%t +as %tterly %nable to speak, as she ha for*erly inten e ( The *oon shone +ith a clear li,ht, an it +as, perhaps, the a,itation of her *in , that prevente her istin,%ishin,, +ith any e,ree of acc%racy, the for* before her( It +as still stationary, an she be,an to o%bt, +hether it +as really ani*ate ( Her scattere tho%,hts +ere no+ so far ret%rne as to re*in her, that her li,ht e-pose her to an,ero%s observation, an she +as steppin, back to re*ove it, +hen she perceive the fi,%re *ove, an then +ave +hat see*e to be its ar*, as if to beckon her/ an ,

+hile she ,a8e , fi-e in fear, it repeate the action( 'he no+ atte*pte to speak, b%t the +or s ie on her lips, an she +ent fro* the case*ent to re*ove her li,ht/ as she +as oin, +hich, she hear , fro* +itho%t, a faint ,roan( 0istenin,, b%t not arin, to ret%rn, she presently hear it repeate ( 3Goo Go ?7+hat can this *ean?3 sai she( A,ain she listene , b%t the so%n ca*e no *ore/ an , after a lon, interval of silence, she recovere co%ra,e eno%,h to ,o to the case*ent, +hen she a,ain sa+ the sa*e appearance? It beckone a,ain, an a,ain %ttere a lo+ so%n ( 3That ,roan +as s%rely h%*an?3 sai she( 3I :I00 speak(3 3:ho is it,3 crie E*ily in a faint voice, 3that +an ers at this late ho%rB3 The fi,%re raise its hea b%t s% enly starte a+ay, an ,li e o+n the terrace( 'he +atche it, for a lon, +hile, passin, s+iftly in the *oon6li,ht, b%t hear no footstep, till a sentinel fro* the other e-tre*ity of the ra*part +alke slo+ly alon,( The *an stoppe %n er her +in o+, an , lookin, %p, calle her by na*e( 'he +as retirin, precipitately, b%t, a secon s%**ons in %cin, her to reply, the sol ier then respectf%lly aske if she ha seen any thin, pass( On her ans+erin,, that she ha / he sai no *ore, b%t +alke a+ay o+n the terrace, E*ily follo+in, hi* +ith her eyes, till he +as lost in the istance( 1%t, as he +as on ,%ar , she kne+ he co%l not ,o beyon the ra*part, an , therefore, resolve to a+ait his ret%rn( 'oon after, his voice +as hear , at a istance, callin, lo% ly/ an then a voice still *ore istant ans+ere , an , in the ne-t *o*ent, the +atch6+or +as ,iven, an passe alon, the terrace( As the sol iers *ove hastily %n er the case*ent, she calle to en4%ire +hat ha happene , b%t they passe +itho%t re,ar in, her( E*ily3s tho%,hts ret%rnin, to the fi,%re she ha seen, 3It cannot be a person, +ho has esi,ns %pon the castle,3 sai she/ 3s%ch an one +o%l con %ct hi*self very ifferently( He +o%l not vent%re +here sentinels +ere

on +atch, nor fi- hi*self opposite to a +in o+, +here he perceive he *%st be observe / *%ch less +o%l he beckon, or %tter a so%n of co*plaint( 2et it cannot be a prisoner, for ho+ co%l he obtain the opport%nity to +an er th%sB3 If she ha been s%b.ect to vanity, she *i,ht have s%ppose this fi,%re to be so*e inhabitant of the castle, +ho +an ere %n er her case*ent in the hope of seein, her, an of bein, allo+e to eclare his a *iration/ b%t this opinion never occ%rre to E*ily, an , if it ha , she +o%l have is*isse it as i*probable, on consi erin,, that, +hen the opport%nity of speakin, ha occ%rre , it ha been s%ffere to pass in silence/ an that, even at the *o*ent in +hich she ha spoken, the for* ha abr%ptly 4%itte the place( :hile she *%se , t+o sentinels +alke %p the ra*part in earnest conversation, of +hich she ca%,ht a fe+ +or s, an learne fro* these, that one of their co*ra es ha fallen o+n senseless( 'oon after, three other sol iers appeare slo+ly a vancin, fro* the botto* of the terrace, b%t she hear only a lo+ voice, that ca*e at intervals( As they re+ near, she perceive this to be the voice of hi*, +ho +alke in the *i le, apparently s%pporte by his co*ra es/ an she a,ain calle to the*, en4%irin, +hat ha happene ( At the so%n of her voice, they stoppe , an looke %p, +hile she repeate her 4%estion, an +as tol , that Roberto, their fello+ of the +atch, ha been sei8e +ith a fit, an that his cry, as he fell, ha ca%se a false alar*( 3Is he s%b.ect to fitsB3 sai E*ily( 32es, 'i,nora,3 replie Roberto/ 3b%t if I ha not, +hat I sa+ +as eno%,h to have fri,htene the Pope hi*self(3 3:hat +as itB3 en4%ire E*ily, tre*blin,( 3I cannot tell +hat it +as, la y, or +hat I sa+, or ho+ it vanishe ,3 replie the sol ier, +ho see*e to sh% er at the recollection( 3:as it the person, +ho* yo% follo+e o+n the ra*part, that has occasione yo% this alar*B3 sai E*ily, en eavo%rin, to conceal her o+n(

3Person?3 e-clai*e the *an,73it +as the evil, an this is not the first ti*e I have seen hi*?3 39or +ill it be the last,3 observe one of his co*ra es, la%,hin,( 39o, no, I +arrant not,3 sai another( 3:ell,3 re.oine Roberto, 3yo% *ay be as *erry no+, as yo% please/ yo% +as none so .ocose the other ni,ht, 'ebastian, +hen yo% +as on +atch +ith 0a%ncelot(3 30a%ncelot nee not talk of that,3 replie 'ebastian, 3let hi* re*e*ber ho+ he stoo tre*blin,, an %nable to ,ive the :OR<, till the *an +as ,one, If the *an ha not co*e so silently %pon %s, I +o%l have sei8e hi*, an soon *a e hi* tell +ho he +as(3 3:hat *anB3 en4%ire E*ily( 3It +as no *an, la y,3 sai 0a%ncelot, +ho stoo by, 3b%t the evil hi*self, as *y co*ra e says( :hat *an, +ho oes not live in the castle, co%l ,et +ithin the +alls at *i ni,htB :hy, I *i,ht .%st as +ell preten to *arch to Venice, an ,et a*on, all the 'enators, +hen they are co%nsellin,/ an I +arrant I sho%l have *ore chance of ,ettin, o%t a,ain alive, than any fello+, that +e sho%l catch +ithin the ,ates after ark( 'o I think I have prove plainly eno%,h, that this can be nobo y that lives o%t of the castle/ an no+ I +ill prove, that it can be nobo y that lives in the castle7for, if he i 7 +hy sho%l he be afrai to be seenB 'o after this, I hope nobo y +ill preten to tell *e it +as anybo y( 9o, I say a,ain, by holy Pope? it +as the evil, an 'ebastian, there, kno+s this is not the first ti*e +e have seen hi*(3 3:hen i yo% see the fi,%re, then, beforeB3 sai E*ily half s*ilin,, +ho, tho%,h she tho%,ht the conversation so*e+hat too *%ch, felt an interest, +hich +o%l not per*it her to concl% e it( 3Abo%t a +eek a,o, la y,3 sai 'ebastian, takin, %p the story( 3An +hereB3 3On the ra*part, la y, hi,her %p(3

3<i yo% p%rs%e it, that it fle B3 39o, 'i,nora( 0a%ncelot an I +ere on +atch to,ether, an every thin, +as so still, yo% *i,ht have hear a *o%se stir, +hen, s% enly, 0a%ncelot says7 'ebastian? o yo% see nothin,B I t%rne *y hea a little to the left, as it *i,ht be7th%s( 9o, says I( H%sh? sai 0a%ncelot,7look yon er7.%st by the last cannon on the ra*part? I looke , an then tho%,ht I i see so*ethin, *ove/ b%t there bein, no li,ht, b%t +hat the stars ,ave, I co%l not be certain( :e stoo 4%ite silent, to +atch it, an presently sa+ so*ethin, pass alon, the castle +all .%st opposite to %s?3 3:hy i yo% not sei8e it, thenB3 crie a sol ier, +ho ha scarcely spoken till no+( 3Aye, +hy i yo% not sei8e itB3 sai Roberto( 32o% sho%l have been there to have one that,3 replie 'ebastian( 32o% +o%l have been bol eno%,h to have taken it by the throat, tho%,h it ha been the evil hi*self/ +e co%l not take s%ch a liberty, perhaps, beca%se +e are not so +ell ac4%ainte +ith hi*, as yo% are( 1%t, as I +as sayin,, it stole by %s so 4%ickly, that +e ha not ti*e to ,et ri of o%r s%rprise, before it +as ,one( Then, +e kne+ it +as in vain to follo+( :e kept constant +atch all that ni,ht, b%t +e sa+ it no *ore( 9e-t *ornin,, +e tol so*e of o%r co*ra es, +ho +ere on %ty on other parts of the ra*parts, +hat +e ha seen/ b%t they ha seen nothin,, an la%,he at %s, an it +as not till to6ni,ht, that the sa*e fi,%re +alke a,ain(3 3:here i yo% lose it, frien B3 sai E*ily to Roberto( 3:hen I left yo%, la y,3 replie the *an, 3yo% *i,ht see *e ,o o+n the ra*part, b%t it +as not till I reache the east terrace, that I sa+ any thin,( Then, the *oon shinin, bri,ht, I sa+ so*ethin, like a sha o+ flittin, before *e, as it +ere, at so*e istance( I stoppe , +hen I t%rne the corner of the east to+er, +here I ha seen this fi,%re not a *o*ent before,7b%t it +as ,one? As I stoo , lookin, thro%,h the ol arch, +hich lea s to the east ra*part, an +here I a* s%re it ha

passe , I hear , all of a s% en, s%ch a so%n ?7it +as not like a ,roan, or a cry, or a sho%t, or any thin, I ever hear in *y life( I hear it only once, an that +as eno%,h for *e/ for I kno+ nothin, that happene after, till I fo%n *y co*ra es, here, abo%t *e(3 3Co*e,3 sai 'ebastian, 3let %s ,o to o%r posts7the *oon is settin,( Goo ni,ht, la y?3 3Aye, let %s ,o,3 re.oine Roberto( 3Goo ni,ht, la y(3 3Goo ni,ht/ the holy *other ,%ar yo%?3 sai E*ily, as she close her case*ent an retire to reflect %pon the stran,e circ%*stance that ha .%st occ%rre , connectin, +hich +ith +hat ha happene on for*er ni,hts, she en eavo%re to erive fro* the +hole so*ethin, *ore positive, than con.ect%re( 1%t her i*a,ination +as infla*e , +hile her .% ,*ent +as not enli,htene , an the terrors of s%perstition a,ain perva e her *in (

#HAPTER I%
There is one ithin, Besides the things, that e ha"e heard and seen, Recounts !ost horrid sights, seen by the atch# 9U&5U4 3AE4AR

In the *ornin,, E*ily fo%n &a a*e &ontoni nearly in the sa*e con ition, as on the prece in, ni,ht/ she ha slept little, an that little ha not refreshe her/ she s*ile on her niece, an see*e cheere by her presence, b%t spoke only a fe+ +or s, an never na*e &ontoni, +ho, ho+ever, soon after, entere the roo*( His +ife, +hen she %n erstoo that he +as there, appeare *%ch a,itate , b%t +as entirely silent, till E*ily rose fro* a chair at the be 6si e, +hen she be,,e , in a feeble voice, that she +o%l not leave her( The visit of &ontoni +as not to sooth his +ife, +ho* he kne+ to be yin,, or to console, or to ask her for,iveness, b%t to *ake a last effort to proc%re that si,nat%re, +hich +o%l transfer her estates in

0an,%e oc, after her eath, to hi* rather than to E*ily( This +as a scene, that e-hibite , on his part, his %s%al inh%*anity, an , on that of &a a*e &ontoni, a perseverin, spirit, conten in, +ith a feeble fra*e/ +hile E*ily repeate ly eclare to hi* her +illin,ness to resi,n all clai* to those estates, rather than that the last ho%rs of her a%nt sho%l be ist%rbe by contention( &ontoni, ho+ever, i not leave the roo*, till his +ife, e-ha%ste by the obstinate isp%te, ha fainte , an she lay so lon, insensible, that E*ily be,an to fear that the spark of life +as e-tin,%ishe ( At len,th, she revive , an , lookin, feebly %p at her niece, +hose tears +ere fallin, over her, *a e an effort to speak, b%t her +or s +ere %nintelli,ible, an E*ily a,ain apprehen e she +as yin,( After+ar s, ho+ever, she recovere her speech, an , bein, so*e+hat restore by a cor ial, converse for a consi erable ti*e, on the s%b.ect of her estates in )rance, +ith clearness an precision( 'he irecte her niece +here to fin so*e papers relative to the*, +hich she ha hitherto conceale fro* the search of &ontoni, an earnestly char,e her never to s%ffer these papers to escape her( 'oon after this conversation, &a a*e &ontoni s%nk into a ose, an contin%e sl%*berin,, till evenin,, +hen she see*e better than she ha been since her re*oval fro* the t%rret( E*ily never left her, for a *o*ent, till lon, after *i ni,ht, an even then +o%l not have 4%itte the roo*, ha not her a%nt entreate , that she +o%l retire to rest( 'he then obeye , the *ore +illin,ly, beca%se her patient appeare so*e+hat recr%ite by sleep/ an , ,ivin, Annette the sa*e in.%nction, as on the prece in, ni,ht, she +ith re+ to her o+n apart*ent( 1%t her spirits +ere +akef%l an a,itate , an , fin in, it i*possible to sleep, she eter*ine to +atch, once *ore, for the *ysterio%s appearance, that ha so *%ch intereste an alar*e her( It +as no+ the secon +atch of the ni,ht, an abo%t the ti*e +hen the fi,%re ha before appeare ( E*ily hear the passin, steps of the sentinels, on the ra*part, as

they chan,e ,%ar / an , +hen all +as a,ain silent, she took her station at the case*ent, leavin, her la*p in a re*ote part of the cha*ber, that she *i,ht escape notice fro* +itho%t( The *oon ,ave a faint an %ncertain li,ht, for heavy vapo%rs s%rro%n e it, an , often rollin, over the isk, left the scene belo+ in total arkness( It +as in one of these *o*ents of obsc%rity, that she observe a s*all an la*bent fla*e, *ovin, at so*e istance on the terrace( :hile she ,a8e , it isappeare , an , the *oon a,ain e*er,in, fro* the l%ri an heavy th%n er clo% s, she t%rne her attention to the heavens, +here the vivi li,htnin,s arte fro* clo% to clo% , an flashe silently on the +oo s belo+( 'he love to catch, in the *o*entary ,lea*, the ,loo*y lan scape( 'o*eti*es, a clo% opene its li,ht %pon a istant *o%ntain, an , +hile the s% en splen o%r ill%*ine all its recesses of rock an +oo , the rest of the scene re*aine in eep sha o+/ at others, partial feat%res of the castle +ere reveale by the ,li*pse7the antient arch lea in, to the east ra*part, the t%rret above, or the fortifications beyon / an then, perhaps, the +hole e ifice +ith all its to+ers, its ark *assy +alls an pointe case*ents +o%l appear, an vanish in an instant( E*ily, lookin, a,ain %pon the ra*part, perceive the fla*e she ha seen before/ it *ove on+ar / an , soon after, she tho%,ht she hear a footstep( The li,ht appeare an isappeare fre4%ently, +hile, as she +atche , it ,li e %n er her case*ents, an , at the sa*e instant, she +as certain, that a footstep passe , b%t the arkness i not per*it her to istin,%ish any ob.ect e-cept the fla*e( It *ove a+ay, an then, by a ,lea* of li,htnin,, she perceive so*e person on the terrace( All the an-ieties of the prece in, ni,ht ret%rne ( This person a vance , an the playin, fla*e alternately appeare an vanishe ( E*ily +ishe to speak, to en her o%bts, +hether this fi,%re +ere h%*an or s%pernat%ral/ b%t her co%ra,e faile as often as she atte*pte %tterance, till the li,ht *ove a,ain %n er the case*ent, an she faintly e*an e , +ho passe (

3A frien ,3 replie a voice( 3:hat frien B3 sai E*ily, so*e+hat enco%ra,e 3+ho are yo%, an +hat is that li,ht yo% carryB3 3I a* Anthonio, one of the 'i,nor3s sol iers,3 replie the voice( 3An +hat is that taperin, li,ht yo% bearB3 sai E*ily, 3see ho+ it arts %p+ar s,7an no+ it vanishes?3 3This li,ht, la y,3 sai the sol ier, 3has appeare to6ni,ht as yo% see it, on the point of *y lance, ever since I have been on +atch/ b%t +hat it *eans I cannot tell(3 3This is very stran,e?3 sai E*ily( 3&y fello+6,%ar ,3 contin%e the *an, 3has the sa*e fla*e on his ar*s/ he says he has so*eti*es seen it before( I never i / I a* b%t lately co*e to the castle, for I have not been lon, a sol ier(3 3Ho+ oes yo%r co*ra e acco%nt for itB3 sai E*ily( 3He says it is an o*en, la y, an bo es no ,oo (3 3An +hat har* can it bo eB3 re.oine E*ily( 3He kno+s not so *%ch as that, la y(3 :hether E*ily +as alar*e by this o*en, or not, she certainly +as relieve fro* *%ch terror by iscoverin, this *an to be only a sol ier on %ty, an it i**e iately occ%rre to her, that it *i,ht be he, +ho ha occasione so *%ch alar* on the prece in, ni,ht( There +ere, ho+ever, so*e circ%*stances, that still re4%ire e-planation( As far as she co%l .% ,e by the faint *oon6li,ht, that ha assiste her observation, the fi,%re she ha seen i not rese*ble this *an either in shape or si8e/ besi es, she +as certain it ha carrie no ar*s( The silence of its steps, if steps it ha , the *oanin, so%n s, too, +hich it ha %ttere , an its stran,e isappearance, +ere circ%*stances of *ysterio%s i*port, that i not apply, +ith probability, to a sol ier en,a,e in the %ty of his ,%ar ( 'he no+ en4%ire of the sentinel, +hether he ha seen any person besi es his fello+ +atch, +alkin, on the

terrace, abo%t *i ni,ht/ an then briefly relate +hat she ha herself observe ( 3I +as not on ,%ar that ni,ht, la y,3 replie the *an, 3b%t I hear of +hat happene ( There are a*on,st %s, +ho believe stran,e thin,s( 'tran,e stories, too, have lon, been tol of this castle, b%t it is no b%siness of *ine to repeat the*/ an , for *y part, I have no reason to co*plain/ o%r Chief oes nobly by %s(3 3I co**en yo%r pr% ence,3 sai E*ily( 3Goo ni,ht, an accept this fro* *e,3 she a e , thro+in, hi* a s*all piece of coin, an then closin, the case*ent to p%t an en to the isco%rse( :hen he +as ,one, she opene it a,ain, listene +ith a ,loo*y pleas%re to the istant th%n er, that be,an to *%r*%r a*on, the *o%ntains, an +atche the arro+y li,htnin,s, +hich broke over the re*oter scene( The pealin, th%n er rolle on+ar , an then, reverbe by the *o%ntains, other th%n er see*e to ans+er fro* the opposite hori8on/ +hile the acc%*%latin, clo% s, entirely concealin, the *oon, ass%*e a re s%lph%reo%s tin,e, that foretol a violent stor*( E*ily re*aine at her case*ent, till the vivi li,htnin,, that no+, every instant, reveale the +i e hori8on an the lan scape belo+, *a e it no lon,er safe to o so, an she +ent to her co%ch/ b%t, %nable to co*pose her *in to sleep, still listene in silent a+e to the tre*en o%s so%n s, that see*e to shake the castle to its fo%n ation( 'he ha contin%e th%s for a consi erable ti*e, +hen, a*i st the %proar of the stor*, she tho%,ht she hear a voice, an , raisin, herself to listen, sa+ the cha*ber oor open, an Annette enter +ith a co%ntenance of +il affri,ht( 3'he is yin,, *a3a*selle, *y la y is yin,?3 sai she( E*ily starte %p, an ran to &a a*e &ontoni3s roo*( :hen she entere , her a%nt appeare to have fainte , for she +as 4%ite still, an insensible/ an E*ily +ith a stren,th of *in , that ref%se to yiel to ,rief, +hile any %ty re4%ire her activity, applie every *eans that

see*e likely to restore her( 1%t the last str%,,le +as over7she +as ,one for ever( :hen E*ily perceive , that all her efforts +ere ineffect%al, she interro,ate the terrifie Annette, an learne , that &a a*e &ontoni ha fallen into a o8e soon after E*ily3s epart%re, in +hich she ha contin%e , %ntil a fe+ *in%tes before her eath( 3I +on ere , *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3+hat +as the reason *y la y i not see* fri,htene at the th%n er, +hen I +as so terrifie , an I +ent often to the be to speak to her, b%t she appeare to be asleep/ till presently I hear a stran,e noise, an , on ,oin, to her, sa+ she +as yin,(3 E*ily, at this recital, she tears( 'he ha no o%bt b%t that the violent chan,e in the air, +hich the te*pest pro %ce , ha effecte this fatal one, on the e-ha%ste fra*e of &a a*e &ontoni( After so*e eliberation, she eter*ine that &ontoni sho%l not be infor*e of this event till the *ornin,, for she consi ere , that he *i,ht, perhaps, %tter so*e inh%*an e-pressions, s%ch as in the present te*per of her spirits she co%l not bear( :ith Annette alone, therefore, +ho* she enco%ra,e by her o+n e-a*ple, she perfor*e so*e of the last sole*n offices for the ea , an co*pelle herself to +atch %rin, the ni,ht, by the bo y of her ecease a%nt( <%rin, this sole*n perio , ren ere *ore a+f%l by the tre*en o%s stor* that shook the air, she fre4%ently a resse herself to Heaven for s%pport an protection, an her pio%s prayers, +e *ay believe, +ere accepte of the Go , that ,iveth co*fort(

#HAPTER %
The !idnight clock has toll=dA and hark, the bell 7f (eath beats slo > heard ye the note profoundE 5t pauses no A and no , ith rising knell, )lings to the hollo gale its sullen sound#

MA47:

:hen &ontoni +as infor*e of the eath of his +ife, an consi ere that she ha ie +itho%t ,ivin, hi* the si,nat%re so necessary to the acco*plish*ent of his +ishes, no sense of ecency restraine the e-pression of his resent*ent( E*ily an-io%sly avoi e his presence, an +atche , %rin, t+o ays an t+o ni,hts, +ith little inter*ission, by the corpse of her late a%nt( Her *in eeply i*presse +ith the %nhappy fate of this ob.ect, she for,ot all her fa%lts, her %n.%st an i*perio%s con %ct to herself/ an , re*e*berin, only her s%fferin,s, tho%,ht of her only +ith ten er co*passion( 'o*eti*es, ho+ever, she co%l not avoi *%sin, %pon the stran,e infat%ation that ha prove so fatal to her a%nt, an ha involve herself in a labyrinth of *isfort%ne, fro* +hich she sa+ no *eans of escapin,,7the *arria,e +ith &ontoni( 1%t, +hen she consi ere this circ%*stance, it +as 3*ore in sorro+ than in an,er,37*ore for the p%rpose of in %l,in, la*entation, than reproach( In her pio%s cares she +as not ist%rbe by &ontoni, +ho not only avoi e the cha*ber, +here the re*ains of his +ife +ere lai , b%t that part of the castle a .oinin, to it, as if he ha apprehen e a conta,ion in eath( He see*e to have ,iven no or ers respectin, the f%neral, an E*ily be,an to fear he *eant to offer a ne+ ins%lt to the *e*ory of &a a*e &ontoni/ b%t fro* this apprehension she +as relieve , +hen, on the evenin, of the secon ay, Annette infor*e her, that the inter*ent +as to take place that ni,ht( 'he kne+, that &ontoni +o%l not atten / an it +as so very ,rievo%s to her to think that the re*ains of her %nfort%nate a%nt +o%l pass to the ,rave +itho%t one relative, or frien to pay the* the last ecent rites, that she eter*ine to be eterre by no consi erations for herself, fro* observin, this %ty( 'he +o%l other+ise have shr%nk fro* the circ%*stance of follo+in, the* to the col va%lt, to +hich they +ere to be carrie by *en, +hose air an co%ntenances see*e to sta*p the* for *%r erers, at the *i ni,ht ho%r of silence an privacy, +hich &ontoni ha chosen for co**ittin,, if

possible, to oblivion the reli4%es of a +o*an, +ho* his harsh con %ct ha , at least, contrib%te to estroy( E*ily, sh% erin, +ith e*otions of horror an ,rief, assiste by Annette, prepare the corpse for inter*ent/ an , havin, +rapt it in cere*ents, an covere it +ith a +in in,6sheet, they +atche besi e it, till past *i ni,ht, +hen they hear the approachin, footsteps of the *en, +ho +ere to lay it in its earthy be ( It +as +ith iffic%lty, that E*ily overca*e her e*otion, +hen, the oor of the cha*ber bein, thro+n open, their ,loo*y co%ntenances +ere seen by the ,lare of the torch they carrie , an t+o of the*, +itho%t speakin,, lifte the bo y on their sho%l ers, +hile the thir prece in, the* +ith the li,ht, escen e thro%,h the castle to+ar s the ,rave, +hich +as in the lo+er va%lt of the chapel +ithin the castle +alls( They ha to cross t+o co%rts, to+ar s the east +in, of the castle, +hich, a .oinin, the chapel, +as, like it, in r%ins; b%t the silence an ,loo* of these co%rts ha no+ little po+er over E*ily3s *in , occ%pie as it +as, +ith *ore *o%rnf%l i eas/ an she scarcely hear the lo+ an is*al hootin, of the ni,ht6bir s, that rooste a*on, the ivye battle*ents of the r%in, or perceive the still flittin,s of the bat, +hich fre4%ently crosse her +ay( 1%t, +hen, havin, entere the chapel, an passe bet+een the *o%l erin, pillars of the aisles, the bearers stoppe at a fli,ht of steps, that le o+n to a lo+ arche oor, an , their co*ra e havin, escen e to %nlock it, she sa+ i*perfectly the ,loo*y abyss beyon /7sa+ the corpse of her a%nt carrie o+n these steps, an the r%ffian6like fi,%re, that stoo +ith a torch at the botto* to receive it7all her fortit% e +as lost in e*otions of ine-pressible ,rief an terror( 'he t%rne to lean %pon Annette, +ho +as col an tre*blin, like herself, an she lin,ere so lon, on the s%**it of the fli,ht, that the ,lea* of the torch be,an to ie a+ay on the pillars of the chapel, an the *en +ere al*ost beyon her vie+( Then, the ,loo* aro%n her a+akenin, other fears, an a sense of +hat she consi ere to be her %ty overco*in, her rel%ctance, she escen e to the va%lts, follo+in, the echo of

footsteps an the faint ray, that pierce the arkness, till the harsh ,ratin, of a istant oor, that +as opene to receive the corpse, a,ain appalle her( After the pa%se of a *o*ent, she +ent on, an , as she entere the va%lts, sa+ bet+een the arches, at so*e istance, the *en lay o+n the bo y near the e ,e of an open ,rave, +here stoo another of &ontoni3s *en an a priest, +ho* she i not observe, till he be,an the b%rial service/ then, liftin, her eyes fro* the ,ro%n , she sa+ the venerable fi,%re of the friar, an hear hi* in a lo+ voice, e4%ally sole*n an affectin,, perfor* the service for the ea ( At the *o*ent, in +hich they let o+n the bo y into the earth, the scene +as s%ch as only the ark pencil of a <o*enichino, perhaps, co%l have one .%stice to( The fierce feat%res an +il ress of the con ottieri, ben in, +ith their torches over the ,rave, into +hich the corpse +as escen in,, +ere contraste by the venerable fi,%re of the *onk, +rapt in lon, black ,ar*ents, his co+l thro+n back fro* his pale face, on +hich the li,ht ,lea*in, stron,ly she+e the lines of affliction softene by piety, an the fe+ ,rey locks, +hich ti*e ha spare on his te*ples; +hile, besi e hi*, stoo the softer for* of E*ily, +ho leane for s%pport %pon Annette/ her face half averte , an sha e by a thin veil, that fell over her fi,%re/ an her *il an bea%tif%l co%ntenance fi-e in ,rief so sole*n as a *itte not of tears, +hile she th%s sa+ co**itte %nti*ely to the earth her last relative an frien ( The ,lea*s, thro+n bet+een the arches of the va%lts, +here, here an there, the broken ,ro%n *arke the spots in +hich other bo ies ha been recently interre , an the ,eneral obsc%rity beyon +ere circ%*stances, that alone +o%l have le on the i*a,ination of a spectator to scenes *ore horrible, than even that, +hich +as pict%re at the ,rave of the *is,%i e an %nfort%nate &a a*e &ontoni( :hen the service +as over, the friar re,ar e E*ily +ith attention an s%rprise, an looke as if he +ishe to speak to her, b%t +as restraine by the presence of the con ottieri, +ho, as they no+ le the +ay to the

co%rts, a*%se the*selves +ith .okes %pon his holy or er, +hich he en %re in silence, e*an in, only to be con %cte safely to his convent, an to +hich E*ily listene +ith concern an even horror( :hen they reache the co%rt, the *onk ,ave her his blessin,, an , after a lin,erin, look of pity, t%rne a+ay to the portal, +hither one of the *en carrie a torch/ +hile Annette, li,htin, another, prece e E*ily to her apart*ent( The appearance of the friar an the e-pression of ten er co*passion, +ith +hich he ha re,ar e her, ha intereste E*ily, +ho, tho%,h it +as at her earnest s%pplication, that &ontoni ha consente to allo+ a priest to perfor* the last rites for his ecease +ife, kne+ nothin, concernin, this person, till Annette no+ infor*e her, that he belon,e to a *onastery, sit%ate a*on, the *o%ntains at a fe+ *iles istance( The '%perior, +ho re,ar e &ontoni an his associates, not only +ith aversion, b%t +ith terror, ha probably feare to offen hi* by ref%sin, his re4%est, an ha , therefore, or ere a *onk to officiate at the f%neral, +ho, +ith the *eek spirit of a christian, ha overco*e his rel%ctance to enter the +alls of s%ch a castle, by the +ish of perfor*in, +hat he consi ere to be his %ty, an , as the chapel +as b%ilt on consecrate ,ro%n , ha not ob.ecte to co**it to it the re*ains of the late %nhappy &a a*e &ontoni( 'everal ays passe +ith E*ily in total secl%sion, an in a state of *in partakin, both of terror for herself, an ,rief for the eparte ( 'he, at len,th, eter*ine to *ake other efforts to pers%a e &ontoni to per*it her ret%rn to )rance( :hy he sho%l +ish to etain her, she co%l scarcely are to con.ect%re/ b%t it +as too certain that he i so, an the absol%te ref%sal he ha for*erly ,iven to her epart%re allo+e her little hope, that he +o%l no+ consent to it( 1%t the horror, +hich his presence inspire , *a e her efer, fro* ay to ay, the *ention of this s%b.ect/ an at last she +as a+akene fro* her inactivity only by a *essa,e fro* hi*, esirin, her atten ance at a certain ho%r( 'he be,an to hope he *eant to resi,n, no+ that her a%nt +as no *ore, the a%thority he ha %s%rpe over her/ till she

recollecte , that the estates, +hich ha occasione so *%ch contention, +ere no+ hers, an she then feare &ontoni +as abo%t to e*ploy so*e strata,e* for obtainin, the*, an that he +o%l etain her his prisoner, till he s%ccee e ( This tho%,ht, instea of overco*in, her +ith espon ency, ro%se all the latent po+ers of her fortit% e into action/ an the property, +hich she +o%l +illin,ly have resi,ne to sec%re the peace of her a%nt, she resolve , that no co**on s%fferin,s of her o+n sho%l ever co*pel her to ,ive to &ontoni( )or Valanco%rt3s sake also she eter*ine to preserve these estates, since they +o%l affor that co*petency, by +hich she hope to sec%re the co*fort of their f%t%re lives( As she tho%,ht of this, she in %l,e the ten erness of tears, an anticipate the eli,ht of that *o*ent, +hen, +ith affectionate ,enerosity, she *i,ht tell hi* they +ere his o+n( 'he sa+ the s*ile, that li,hte %p his feat%res7the affectionate re,ar , +hich spoke at once his .oy an thanks/ an , at this instant, she believe she co%l brave any s%fferin,, +hich the evil spirit of &ontoni *i,ht be preparin, for her( Re*e*berin, then, for the first ti*e since her a%nt3s eath, the papers relative to the estates in 4%estion, she eter*ine to search for the*, as soon as her intervie+ +ith &ontoni +as over( :ith these resol%tions she *et hi* at the appointe ti*e, an +aite to hear his intention before she rene+e her re4%est( :ith hi* +ere Orsino an another officer, an both +ere stan in, near a table, covere +ith papers, +hich he appeare to be e-a*inin,( 3I sent for yo%, E*ily,3 sai &ontoni, raisin, his hea , 3that yo% *i,ht be a +itness in so*e b%siness, +hich I a* transactin, +ith *y frien Orsino( All that is re4%ire of yo% +ill be to si,n yo%r na*e to this paper;3 he then took one %p, h%rrie %nintelli,ibly over so*e lines, an , layin, it before her on the table, offere her a pen( 'he took it, an +as ,oin, to +rite7+hen the esi,n of &ontoni ca*e %pon her *in like a flash of li,htnin,/ she tre*ble , let the pen fall, an ref%se to si,n +hat she ha not rea ( &ontoni affecte to la%,h

at her scr%ples, an , takin, %p the paper, a,ain preten e to rea / b%t E*ily, +ho still tre*ble on perceivin, her an,er, an +as astonishe , that her o+n cre %lity ha so nearly betraye her, positively ref%se to si,n any paper +hatever( &ontoni, for so*e ti*e, persevere in affectin, to ri ic%le this ref%sal/ b%t, +hen he perceive by her stea y perseverance, that she %n erstoo his esi,n, he chan,e his *anner, an ba e her follo+ hi* to another roo*( There he tol her, that he ha been +illin, to spare hi*self an her the tro%ble of %seless contest, in an affair, +here his +ill +as .%stice, an +here she sho%l fin it la+/ an ha , therefore, en eavo%re to pers%a e, rather than to co*pel, her to the practice of her %ty( 3I, as the h%sban of the late 'i,nora &ontoni,3 he a e , 3a* the heir of all she possesse / the estates, therefore, +hich she ref%se to *e in her life6ti*e, can no lon,er be +ithhel , an , for yo%r o+n sake, I +o%l %n eceive yo%, respectin, a foolish assertion she once *a e to yo% in *y hearin,7that these estates +o%l be yo%rs, if she ie +itho%t resi,nin, the* to *e( 'he kne+ at that *o*ent, she ha no po+er to +ithhol the* fro* *e, after her ecease/ an I think yo% have *ore sense, than to provoke *y resent*ent by a vancin, an %n.%st clai*( I a* not in the habit of flatterin,, an yo% +ill, therefore, receive, as sincere, the praise I besto+, +hen I say, that yo% possess an %n erstan in, s%perior to that of yo%r se-/ an that yo% have none of those conte*ptible foibles, that fre4%ently *ark the fe*ale character7s%ch as avarice an the love of po+er, +hich latter *akes +o*en eli,ht to contra ict an to tease, +hen they cannot con4%er( If I %n erstan yo%r isposition an yo%r *in , yo% hol in soverei,n conte*pt these co**on failin,s of yo%r se-(3 &ontoni pa%se / an E*ily re*aine silent an e-pectin,/ for she kne+ hi* too +ell, to believe he +o%l con escen to s%ch flattery, %nless he tho%,ht it +o%l pro*ote his o+n interest/ an , tho%,h he ha forborne to na*e vanity a*on, the foibles of +o*en, it +as evi ent, that he consi ere it to be a

pre o*inant one, since he esi,ne to sacrifice to hers the character an %n erstan in, of her +hole se-( 3@% ,in, as I o,3 res%*e &ontoni, 3I cannot believe yo% +ill oppose, +here yo% kno+ yo% cannot con4%er, or, in ee , that yo% +o%l +ish to con4%er, or be avaricio%s of any property, +hen yo% have not .%stice on yo%r si e( I think it proper, ho+ever, to ac4%aint yo% +ith the alternative( If yo% have a .%st opinion of the s%b.ect in 4%estion, yo% shall be allo+e a safe conveyance to )rance, +ithin a short perio / b%t, if yo% are so %nhappy as to be *isle by the late assertion of the 'i,nora, yo% shall re*ain *y prisoner, till yo% are convince of yo%r error(3 E*ily cal*ly sai , 3I a* not so i,norant, 'i,nor, of the la+s on this s%b.ect, as to be *isle by the assertion of any person( The la+, in the present instance, ,ives *e the estates in 4%estion, an *y o+n han shall never betray *y ri,ht(3 3I have been *istaken in *y opinion of yo%, it appears,3 re.oine &ontoni, sternly( 32o% speak bol ly, an pres%*pt%o%sly, %pon a s%b.ect, +hich yo% o not %n erstan ( )or once, I a* +illin, to par on the conceit of i,norance/ the +eakness of yo%r se-, too, fro* +hich, it see*s, yo% are not e-e*pt, clai*s so*e allo+ance/ b%t, if yo% persist in this strain7yo% have every thin, to fear fro* *y .%stice(3 3)ro* yo%r .%stice, 'i,nor,3 re.oine nothin, to fear7I have only to hope(3 E*ily, 3I have

&ontoni looke at her +ith ve-ation, an see*e consi erin, +hat to say( 3I fin that yo% are +eak eno%,h,3 he res%*e , 3to cre it the i le assertion I all% e to? )or yo%r o+n sake I la*ent this/ as to *e, it is of little conse4%ence( 2o%r cre %lity can p%nish only yo%rself/ an I *%st pity the +eakness of *in , +hich lea s yo% to so *%ch s%fferin, as yo% are co*pellin, *e to prepare for yo%(3 32o% *ay fin , perhaps, 'i,nor,3 sai E*ily, +ith *il i,nity, 3that the stren,th of *y *in is e4%al to the

.%stice of *y ca%se/ an that I can en %re +ith fortit% e, +hen it is in resistance of oppression(3 32o% speak like a heroine,3 sai &ontoni, conte*pt%o%sly/ 3+e shall see +hether yo% can s%ffer like one(3 E*ily +as silent, an he left the roo*( Recollectin,, that it +as for Valanco%rt3s sake she ha th%s resiste , she no+ s*ile co*placently %pon the threatene s%fferin,s, an retire to the spot, +hich her a%nt ha pointe o%t as the repository of the papers, relative to the estates, +here she fo%n the* as escribe / an , since she kne+ of no better place of conceal*ent, than this, ret%rne the*, +itho%t e-a*inin, their contents, bein, fearf%l of iscovery, +hile she sho%l atte*pt a per%sal( To her o+n solitary cha*ber she once *ore ret%rne , an there tho%,ht a,ain of the late conversation +ith &ontoni, an of the evil she *i,ht e-pect fro* opposition to his +ill( 1%t his po+er i not appear so terrible to her i*a,ination, as it +as +ont to o; a sacre pri e +as in her heart, that ta%,ht it to s+ell a,ainst the press%re of in.%stice, an al*ost to ,lory in the 4%iet s%fferance of ills, in a ca%se, +hich ha also the interest of Valanco%rt for its ob.ect( )or the first ti*e, she felt the f%ll e-tent of her o+n s%periority to &ontoni, an espise the a%thority, +hich, till no+, she ha only feare ( As she sat *%sin,, a peal of la%,hter rose fro* the terrace, an , on ,oin, to the case*ent, she sa+, +ith ine-pressible s%rprise, three la ies, resse in the ,ala habit of Venice, +alkin, +ith several ,entle*en belo+( 'he ,a8e in an astonish*ent that *a e her re*ain at the +in o+, re,ar less of bein, observe , till the ,ro%p passe %n er it/ an , one of the stran,ers lookin, %p, she perceive the feat%res of 'i,nora 0ivona, +ith +hose *anners she ha been so *%ch char*e , the ay after her arrival at Venice, an +ho ha been there intro %ce at the table of &ontoni( This iscovery occasione her an e*otion of o%btf%l .oy/ for it +as *atter of .oy an co*fort to kno+, that a person, of a

*in so ,entle, as that of 'i,nora 0ivona see*e to be, +as near her/ yet there +as so*ethin, so e-traor inary in her bein, at this castle, circ%*stance as it no+ +as, an evi ently, by the ,aiety of her air, +ith her o+n consent, that a very painf%l s%r*ise arose, concernin, her character( 1%t the tho%,ht +as so shockin, to E*ily, +hose affection the fascinatin, *anners of the 'i,nora ha +on, an appeare so i*probable, +hen she re*e*bere these *anners, that she is*isse it al*ost instantly( On Annette3s appearance, ho+ever, she en4%ire , concernin, these stran,ers/ an the for*er +as as ea,er to tell, as E*ily +as to learn( 3They are .%st co*e, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3+ith t+o 'i,nors fro* Venice, an I +as ,la to see s%ch Christian faces once a,ain(71%t +hat can they *ean by co*in, hereB They *%st s%rely be stark *a to co*e freely to s%ch a place as this? 2et they o co*e freely, for they see* *erry eno%,h, I a* s%re(3 3They +ere taken prisoners, perhapsB3 sai E*ily( 3Taken prisoners?3 e-clai*e Annette/ 3no, in ee , *a3a*selle, not they( I re*e*ber one of the* very +ell at Venice; she ca*e t+o or three ti*es, to the 'i,nor3s yo% kno+, *a3a*selle, an it +as sai , b%t I i not believe a +or of it7it +as sai , that the 'i,nor like her better than he sho%l o( Then +hy, says I, brin, her to *y la yB Very tr%e, sai 0% ovico/ b%t he looke as if he kne+ *ore, too(3 E*ily esire Annette +o%l en eavo%r to learn +ho these la ies +ere, as +ell as all she co%l concernin, the*/ an she then chan,e the s%b.ect, an spoke of istant )rance( 3Ah, *a3a*selle? +e shall never see it *ore?3 sai Annette, al*ost +eepin,(73I *%st co*e on *y travels, forsooth?3 E*ily trie to sooth an to cheer her, +ith a hope, in +hich she scarcely herself in %l,e ( 3Ho+7ho+, *a3a*selle, co%l yo% leave )rance, an leave &ons( Valanco%rt, tooB3 sai Annette, sobbin,( 3I

7I7a* s%re, if 0% ovico ha been in )rance, I +o%l never have left it(3 3:hy o yo% la*ent 4%ittin, )rance, thenB3 sai E*ily, tryin, to s*ile, 3since, if yo% ha re*aine there, yo% +o%l not have fo%n 0% ovico(3 3Ah, *a3a*selle? I only +ish I +as o%t of this fri,htf%l castle, servin, yo% in )rance, an I +o%l care abo%t nothin, else?3 3Thank yo%, *y ,oo Annette, for yo%r affectionate re,ar / the ti*e +ill co*e, I hope, +hen yo% *ay re*e*ber the e-pression of that +ish +ith pleas%re(3 Annette eparte on her b%siness, an E*ily so%,ht to lose the sense of her o+n cares, in the visionary scenes of the poet/ b%t she ha a,ain to la*ent the irresistible force of circ%*stances over the taste an po+ers of the *in / an that it re4%ires a spirit at ease to be sensible even to the abstract pleas%res of p%re intellect( The enth%sias* of ,eni%s, +ith all its pict%re scenes, no+ appeare col , an i*( As she *%se %pon the book before her, she invol%ntarily e-clai*e , 3Are these, in ee , the passa,es, that have so often ,iven *e e-4%isite eli,htB :here i the char* e-istB7:as it in *y *in , or in the i*a,ination of the poetB It live in each,3 sai she, pa%sin,( 31%t the fire of the poet is vain, if the *in of his rea er is not te*pere like his o+n, ho+ever it *ay be inferior to his in po+er(3 E*ily +o%l have p%rs%e this train of thinkin,, beca%se it relieve her fro* *ore painf%l reflection, b%t she fo%n a,ain, that tho%,ht cannot al+ays be controlle by +ill/ an hers ret%rne to the consi eration of her o+n sit%ation( In the evenin,, not choosin, to vent%re o+n to the ra*parts, +here she +o%l be e-pose to the r% e ,a8e of &ontoni3s associates, she +alke for air in the ,allery, a .oinin, her cha*ber/ on reachin, the f%rther en of +hich she hear istant so%n s of *erri*ent an la%,hter( It +as the +il %proar of riot, not the cheerin, ,aiety of te*pere *irth/ an see*e to co*e fro* that part of the castle, +here &ontoni %s%ally

+as( '%ch so%n s, at this ti*e, +hen her a%nt ha been so fe+ ays ea , partic%larly shocke her, consistent as they +ere +ith the late con %ct of &ontoni( As she listene , she tho%,ht she istin,%ishe fe*ale voices *in,lin, +ith the la%,hter, an this confir*e her +orst s%r*ise, concernin, the character of 'i,nora 0ivona an her co*panions( It +as evi ent, that they ha not been bro%,ht hither by co*p%lsion/ an she behel herself in the re*ote +il s of the Apennine, s%rro%n e by *en, +ho* she consi ere to be little less than r%ffians, an their +orst associates, a*i scenes of vice, fro* +hich her so%l recoile in horror( It +as at this *o*ent, +hen the scenes of the present an the f%t%re opene to her i*a,ination, that the i*a,e of Valanco%rt faile in its infl%ence, an her resol%tion shook +ith rea ( 'he tho%,ht she %n erstoo all the horrors, +hich &ontoni +as preparin, for her, an shr%nk fro* an enco%nter +ith s%ch re*orseless ven,eance, as he co%l inflict( The isp%te estates she no+ al*ost eter*ine to yiel at once, +henever he sho%l a,ain call %pon her, that she *i,ht re,ain safety an free o*/ b%t then, the re*e*brance of Valanco%rt +o%l steal to her heart, an pl%n,e her into the istractions of o%bt( 'he contin%e +alkin, in the ,allery, till evenin, thre+ its *elancholy t+ili,ht thro%,h the painte case*ents, an eepene the ,loo* of the oak +ainscotin, aro%n her/ +hile the istant perspective of the corri or +as so *%ch obsc%re , as to be iscernible only by the ,li**erin, +in o+, that ter*inate it( Alon, the va%lte halls an passa,es belo+, peals of la%,hter echoe faintly, at intervals, to this re*ote part of the castle, an see*e to ren er the s%ccee in, stillness *ore reary( E*ily, ho+ever, %n+illin, to ret%rn to her *ore forlorn cha*ber, +hither Annette +as not yet co*e, still pace the ,allery( As she passe the oor of the apart*ent, +here she ha once are to lift the veil, +hich iscovere to her a spectacle so horrible, that she ha never after re*e*bere it, b%t +ith e*otions of in escribable a+e, this re*e*brance s% enly rec%rre ( It no+ bro%,ht +ith it reflections

*ore terrible, than it ha yet one, +hich the late con %ct of &ontoni occasione / an , hastenin, to 4%it the ,allery, +hile she ha po+er to o so, she hear a s% en step behin her(7It *i,ht be that of Annette/ b%t, t%rnin, fearf%lly to look, she sa+, thro%,h the ,loo*, a tall fi,%re follo+in, her, an all the horrors of that cha*ber r%she %pon her *in ( In the ne-t *o*ent, she fo%n herself claspe in the ar*s of so*e person, an hear a eep voice *%r*%r in her ear( :hen she ha po+er to speak, or to istin,%ish artic%late so%n s, she e*an e +ho etaine her( 3It is I,3 replie the voice73:hy are yo% th%s alar*e B3 'he looke on the face of the person +ho spoke, b%t the feeble li,ht, that ,lea*e thro%,h the hi,h case*ent at the en of the ,allery, i not per*it her to istin,%ish the feat%res( 3:hoever yo% are,3 sai E*ily, in a tre*blin, voice, 3for heaven3s sake let *e ,o?3 3&y char*in, E*ily,3 sai the *an, 3+hy +ill yo% sh%t yo%rself %p in this obsc%re place, +hen there is so *%ch ,aiety belo+B Ret%rn +ith *e to the ce ar parlo%r, +here yo% +ill be the fairest orna*ent of the party/7yo% shall not repent the e-chan,e(3 E*ily is aine liberate herself( to reply, an still en eavo%re to

3Pro*ise, that yo% +ill co*e,3 he contin%e , 3an I +ill release yo% i**e iately/ b%t first ,ive *e a re+ar for so oin,(3 3:ho are yo%B3 e*an e E*ily, in a tone of *in,le terror an in i,nation, +hile she still str%,,le for liberty73+ho are yo%, that have the cr%elty th%s to ins%lt *eB3 3:hy call *e cr%elB3 sai the *an, 3I +o%l re*ove yo% fro* this reary solit% e to a *erry party belo+( <o yo% not kno+ *eB3 E*ily no+ faintly re*e*bere , that he +as one of the officers +ho +ere +ith &ontoni +hen she atten e hi* in the *ornin,( 3I thank yo% for the kin ness of

yo%r intention,3 she replie , +itho%t appearin, to %n erstan hi*, 3b%t I +ish for nothin, so *%ch as that yo% +o%l leave *e(3 3Char*in, E*ily?3 sai he, 3,ive %p this foolish +hi* for solit% e, an co*e +ith *e to the co*pany, an eclipse the bea%ties +ho *ake part of it/ yo%, only, are +orthy of *y love(3 He atte*pte to kiss her han , b%t the stron, i*p%lse of her in i,nation ,ave her po+er to liberate herself, an she fle to+ar s the cha*ber( 'he close the oor, before he reache it, havin, sec%re +hich, she s%nk in a chair, overco*e by terror an by the e-ertion she ha *a e, +hile she hear his voice, an his atte*pts to open the oor, +itho%t havin, the po+er to raise herself( At len,th, she perceive hi* epart, an ha re*aine , listenin,, for a consi erable ti*e, an +as so*e+hat revive by not hearin, any so%n , +hen s% enly she re*e*bere the oor of the private stair6case, an that he *i,ht enter that +ay, since it +as fastene only on the other si e( 'he then e*ploye herself in en eavo%rin, to sec%re it, in the *anner she ha for*erly one( It appeare to her, that &ontoni ha alrea y co**ence his sche*e of ven,eance, by +ith ra+in, fro* her his protection, an she repente of the rashness, that ha *a e her brave the po+er of s%ch a *an( To retain the estates see*e to be no+ %tterly i*possible, an to preserve her life, perhaps her hono%r, she resolve , if she sho%l escape the horrors of this ni,ht, to ,ive %p all clai*s to the estates, on the *orro+, provi e &ontoni +o%l s%ffer her to epart fro* A olpho( :hen she ha co*e to this ecision, her *in beca*e *ore co*pose , tho%,h she still an-io%sly listene , an often starte at i eal so%n s, that appeare to iss%e fro* the stair6case( Havin, sat in arkness for so*e ho%rs, %rin, all +hich ti*e Annette i not appear, she be,an to have serio%s apprehensions for her/ b%t, not arin, to vent%re o+n into the castle, +as co*pelle to re*ain in %ncertainty, as to the ca%se of this %n%s%al absence(

E*ily often stole to the stair6case oor, to listen if any step approache , b%t still no so%n alar*e her; eter*inin,, ho+ever, to +atch, %rin, the ni,ht, she once *ore reste on her ark an esolate co%ch, an bathe the pillo+ +ith innocent tears( 'he tho%,ht of her ecease parents an then of the absent Valanco%rt, an fre4%ently calle %pon their na*es/ for the profo%n stillness, that no+ rei,ne , +as propitio%s to the *%sin, sorro+ of her *in ( :hile she th%s re*aine , her ear s% enly ca%,ht the notes of istant *%sic, to +hich she listene attentively, an , soon perceivin, this to be the instr%*ent she ha for*erly hear at *i ni,ht, she rose, an steppe softly to the case*ent, to +hich the so%n s appeare to co*e fro* a lo+er roo*( In a fe+ *o*ents, their soft *elo y +as acco*panie by a voice so f%ll of pathos, that it evi ently san, not of i*a,inary sorro+s( Its s+eet an pec%liar tones she tho%,ht she ha so*e+here hear before/ yet, if this +as not fancy, it +as, at *ost, a very faint recollection( It stole over her *in , a*i st the an,%ish of her present s%fferin,, like a celestial strain, soothin,, an re6ass%rin, her/73Pleasant as the ,ale of sprin,, that si,hs on the h%nter3s ear, +hen he a+akens fro* rea*s of .oy, an has hear the *%sic of the spirits of the hill(3G =GOssian( CA( R(D> 1%t her e*otion can scarcely be i*a,ine , +hen she hear s%n,, +ith the taste an si*plicity of tr%e feelin,, one of the pop%lar airs of her native province, to +hich she ha so often listene +ith eli,ht, +hen a chil , an +hich she ha so often hear her father repeat? To this +ell6kno+n son,, never, till no+, hear b%t in her native co%ntry, her heart *elte , +hile the *e*ory of past ti*es ret%rne ( The pleasant, peacef%l scenes of Gascony, the ten erness an ,oo ness of her parents, the taste an si*plicity of her for*er life7all rose to her fancy, an for*e a pict%re, so s+eet an ,lo+in,, so strikin,ly contraste +ith the scenes, the characters an the an,ers, +hich no+ s%rro%n e her7that her

*in co%l not bear to pa%se %pon the retrospect, an shr%nk at the ac%teness of its o+n s%fferin,s( Her si,hs +ere eep an conv%lse / she co%l no lon,er listen to the strain, that ha so often char*e her to tran4%illity, an she +ith re+ fro* the case*ent to a re*ote part of the cha*ber( 1%t she +as not yet beyon the reach of the *%sic/ she hear the *eas%re chan,e, an the s%ccee in, air calle her a,ain to the +in o+, for she i**e iately recollecte it to be the sa*e she ha for*erly hear in the fishin,6ho%se in Gascony( Assiste , perhaps, by the *ystery, +hich ha then acco*panie this strain, it ha *a e so eep an i*pression on her *e*ory, that she ha never since entirely for,otten it/ an the *anner, in +hich it +as no+ s%n,, convince her, ho+ever %nacco%ntable the circ%*stances appeare , that this +as the sa*e voice she ha then hear ( '%rprise soon yiel e to other e*otions/ a tho%,ht arte , like li,htnin,, %pon her *in , +hich iscovere a train of hopes, that revive all her spirits( 2et these hopes +ere so ne+, so %ne-pecte , so astonishin,, that she i not are to tr%st, tho%,h she co%l not resolve to isco%ra,e the*( 'he sat o+n by the case*ent, breathless, an overco*e +ith the alternate e*otions of hope an fear/ then rose a,ain, leane fro* the +in o+, that she *i,ht catch a nearer so%n , listene , no+ o%btin, an then believin,, softly e-clai*e the na*e of Valanco%rt, an then s%nk a,ain into the chair( 2es, it +as possible, that Valanco%rt +as near her, an she recollecte circ%*stances, +hich in %ce her to believe it +as his voice she ha .%st hear ( 'he re*e*bere he ha *ore than once sai that the fishin,6ho%se, +here she ha for*erly listene to this voice an air, an +here she ha seen pencille sonnets, a resse to herself, ha been his favo%rite ha%nt, before he ha been *a e kno+n to her/ there, too, she ha herself %ne-pecte ly *et hi*( It appeare , fro* these circ%*stances, *ore than probable, that he +as the *%sician, +ho ha for*erly char*e her attention, an the a%thor of the lines, +hich ha e-presse s%ch ten er a *iration/7+ho else, in ee ,

co%l it beB 'he +as %nable, at that ti*e, to for* a con.ect%re, as to the +riter, b%t, since her ac4%aintance +ith Valanco%rt, +henever he ha *entione the fishin,6ho%se to have been kno+n to hi*, she ha not scr%ple to believe that he +as the a%thor of the sonnets( As these consi erations passe over her *in , .oy, fear an ten erness conten e at her heart/ she leane a,ain fro* the case*ent to catch the so%n s, +hich *i,ht confir*, or estroy her hope, tho%,h she i not recollect to have ever hear hi* sin,/ b%t the voice, an the instr%*ent, no+ cease ( 'he consi ere for a *o*ent +hether she sho%l vent%re to speak; then, not choosin,, lest it sho%l be he, to *ention his na*e, an yet too *%ch intereste to ne,lect the opport%nity of en4%irin,, she calle fro* the case*ent, 3Is that son, fro* GasconyB3 Her an-io%s attention +as not cheere by any reply/ every thin, re*aine silent( Her i*patience increasin, +ith her fears, she repeate the 4%estion/ b%t still no so%n +as hear , e-cept the si,hin,s of the +in a*on, the battle*ents above/ an she en eavo%re to console herself +ith a belief, that the stran,er, +hoever he +as, ha retire , before she ha spoken, beyon the reach of her voice, +hich, it appeare certain, ha Valanco%rt hear an reco,ni8e , he +o%l instantly have replie to( Presently, ho+ever, she consi ere , that a *otive of pr% ence, an not an acci ental re*oval, *i,ht occasion his silence/ b%t the s%r*ise, that le to this reflection, s% enly chan,e her hope an .oy to terror an ,rief/ for, if Valanco%rt +ere in the castle, it +as too probable, that he +as here a prisoner, taken +ith so*e of his co%ntry*en, *any of +ho* +ere at that ti*e en,a,e in the +ars of Italy, or intercepte in so*e atte*pt to reach her( Ha he even recollecte E*ily3s voice, he +o%l have feare , in these circ%*stances, to reply to it, in the presence of the *en, +ho ,%ar e his prison( :hat so lately she ha ea,erly hope she no+ believe she rea e /7 rea e to kno+, that Valanco%rt +as near her/ an , +hile she +as an-io%s to be relieve

fro* her apprehension for his safety, she still +as %nconscio%s, that a hope of soon seein, hi*, str%,,le +ith the fear( 'he re*aine listenin, at the case*ent, till the air be,an to freshen, an one hi,h *o%ntain in the east to ,li**er +ith the *ornin,/ +hen, +earie +ith an-iety, she retire to her co%ch, +here she fo%n it %tterly i*possible to sleep, for .oy, ten erness, o%bt an apprehension, istracte her %rin, the +hole ni,ht( 9o+ she rose fro* the co%ch, an opene the case*ent to listen/ then she +o%l pace the roo* +ith i*patient steps, an , at len,th, ret%rn +ith espon ence to her pillo+( 9ever i ho%rs appear to *ove so heavily, as those of this an-io%s ni,ht/ after +hich she hope that Annette *i,ht appear, an concl% e her present state of tort%rin, s%spense(

#HAPTER %I
!ight e but hear The folded flocks penn=d in their atled cotes, 7r sound of pastoral reed ith oaten stops, 7r histle fro! the lodge, or "illage cock 3ount the night atches to his feathery da!es, =T ould be so!e solace yet, so!e little cheering 5n this close dungeon of innu!erous boughs# M5&T7:

In the *ornin,, E*ily +as relieve fro* her fears for Annette, +ho ca*e at an early ho%r( 3Here +ere fine oin,s in the castle, last ni,ht, *a3a*selle,3 sai she, as soon as she entere the roo*, 73fine oin,s, in ee ? :as yo% not fri,htene , *a3a*selle, at not seein, *eB3 3I +as alar*e both on yo%r acco%nt an on *y o+n,3 replie E*ily73:hat etaine yo%B3 3Aye, I sai so, I tol hi* so/ b%t it +o%l not o( It +as not *y fa%lt, in ee , *a3a*selle, for I co%l not ,et o%t( That ro,%e 0% ovico locke *e %p a,ain(3

30ocke yo% %p?3 sai E*ily, +ith ispleas%re, 3:hy o yo% per*it 0% ovico to lock yo% %pB3 3Holy 'aints?3 e-clai*e Annette, 3ho+ can I help it? If he +ill lock the oor, *a3a*selle, an take a+ay the key, ho+ a* I to ,et o%t, %nless I .%*p thro%,h the +in o+B 1%t that I sho%l not *in so *%ch, if the case*ents here +ere not all so hi,h/ one can har ly scra*ble %p to the* on the insi e, an one sho%l break one3s neck, I s%ppose, ,oin, o+n on the o%tsi e( 1%t yo% kno+, I are say, *a3a*, +hat a h%rly6b%rly the castle +as in, last ni,ht/ yo% *%st have hear so*e of the %proar(3 3:hat, +ere they isp%tin,, thenB3 sai E*ily( 39o, *a3a*selle, nor fi,htin,, b%t al*ost as ,oo , for I believe there +as not one of the 'i,nors sober/ an +hat is *ore, not one of those fine la ies sober, either( I tho%,ht, +hen I sa+ the* first, that all those fine silks an fine veils,7+hy, *a3a*selle, their veils +ere +orke +ith silver? an fine tri**in,s7bo e no ,oo 7I ,%esse +hat they +ere?3 3Goo Go ?3 e-clai*e E*ily, 3+hat +ill beco*e of *e?3 3Aye, *a3a*, 0% ovico sai *%ch the sa*e thin, of *e( Goo Go ? sai he, Annette, +hat is to beco*e of yo%, if yo% are to ,o r%nnin, abo%t the castle a*on, all these r%nken 'i,norsB3 3O? says I, for that *atter, I only +ant to ,o to *y yo%n, la y3s cha*ber, an I have only to ,o, yo% kno+, alon, the va%lte passa,e an across the ,reat hall an %p the *arble stair6case an alon, the north ,allery an thro%,h the +est +in, of the castle an I a* in the corri or in a *in%te(3 3Are yo% soB says he, an +hat is to beco*e of yo%, if yo% *eet any of those noble cavaliers in the +ayB3 3:ell, says I, if yo% think there is an,er, then, ,o +ith *e, an ,%ar *e/ I a* never afrai +hen yo% are by(3 3:hat? says he, +hen I a* scarcely recovere of one +o%n , shall I p%t *yself in the +ay of ,ettin, anotherB for if any of the cavaliers *eet yo%, they +ill fall a6fi,htin, +ith *e irectly( 9o,

no, says he, I +ill c%t the +ay shorter, than thro%,h the va%lte passa,e an %p the *arble stair6case, an alon, the north ,allery an thro%,h the +est +in, of the castle, for yo% shall stay here, Annette/ yo% shall not ,o o%t of this roo*, to6ni,ht(3 3'o, +ith that I says37 3:ell, +ell,3 sai E*ily, i*patiently, an an-io%s to en4%ire on another s%b.ect,73so he locke yo% %pB3 32es, he i in ee , *a3a*selle, not+ithstan in, all I co%l say to the contrary/ an Caterina an I an he stai there all ni,ht( An in a fe+ *in%tes after I +as not so ve-e , for there ca*e 'i,nor Vere88i roarin, alon, the passa,e, like a *a b%ll, an he *istook 0% ovico3s hall, for ol Carlo3s/ so he trie to b%rst open the oor, an calle o%t for *ore +ine, for that he ha r%nk all the flasks ry, an +as yin, of thirst( 'o +e +ere all as still as ni,ht, that he *i,ht s%ppose there +as nobo y in the roo*/ b%t the 'i,nor +as as c%nnin, as the best of %s, an kept callin, o%t at the oor, ECo*e forth, *y antient hero?E sai he, Ehere is no ene*y at the ,ate, that yo% nee hi e yo%rself; co*e forth, *y valoro%s 'i,nor 'te+ar ?E @%st then ol Carlo opene his oor, an he ca*e +ith a flask in his han / for, as soon as the 'i,nor sa+ hi*, he +as as ta*e as co%l be, an follo+e hi* a+ay as nat%rally as a o, oes a b%tcher +ith a piece of *eat in his basket( All this I sa+ thro%,h the key6hole( :ell, Annette, sai 0% ovico, .eerin,ly, shall I let yo% o%t no+B O no, says I, I +o%l not37 3I have so*e 4%estions to ask yo% on another s%b.ect,3 interr%pte E*ily, 4%ite +earie by this story( 3<o yo% kno+ +hether there are any prisoners in the castle, an +hether they are confine at this en of the e ificeB3 3I +as not in the +ay, *a3a*selle,3 replie Annette, 3+hen the first party ca*e in fro* the *o%ntains, an the last party is not co*e back yet, so I on3t kno+, +hether there are any prisoners/ b%t it is e-pecte back to6ni,ht, or to6*orro+, an I shall kno+ then, perhaps(3 E*ily en4%ire if she ha ever hear the servants talk of prisoners(

3Ah *a3a*selle?3 sai Annette archly, 3no+ I are say yo% are thinkin, of &onsie%r Valanco%rt, an that he *ay have co*e a*on, the ar*ies, +hich, they say, are co*e fro* o%r co%ntry, to fi,ht a,ainst this state, an that he has *et +ith so*e of OAR people, an is taken captive( O 0or ? ho+ ,la I sho%l be, if it +as so?3 3:o%l yo%, in ee , be ,la B3 sai E*ily, in a tone of *o%rnf%l reproach( 3To be s%re I sho%l , *a3a*,3 replie Annette, 3an +o%l not yo% be ,la too, to see 'i,nor Valanco%rtB I on3t kno+ any chevalier I like better, I have a very ,reat re,ar for the 'i,nor, tr%ly(3 32o%r re,ar for hi* cannot be o%bte ,3 sai E*ily, 3since yo% +ish to see hi* a prisoner(3 3:hy no, *a3a*selle, not a prisoner either/ b%t one *%st be ,la to see hi*, yo% kno+( An it +as only the other ni,ht I rea*t7I rea*t I sa+ hi* rive into the castle6yar all in a coach an si-, an resse o%t, +ith a lace coat an a s+or , like a lor as he is(3 E*ily co%l not forbear s*ilin, at Annette3s i eas of Valanco%rt, an repeate her en4%iry, +hether she ha hear the servants talk of prisoners( 39o, *a3a*selle,3 replie she, 3never/ an lately they have one nothin, b%t talk of the apparition, that has been +alkin, abo%t of a ni,ht on the ra*parts, an that fri,htene the sentinels into fits( It ca*e a*on, the* like a flash of fire, they say, an they all fell o+n in a ro+, till they ca*e to the*selves a,ain/ an then it +as ,one, an nothin, to be seen b%t the ol castle +alls/ so they helpe one another %p a,ain as fast as they co%l ( 2o% +o%l not believe, *a3a*selle, tho%,h I she+e yo% the very cannon, +here it %se to appear(3 3An are yo%, in ee , so si*ple, Annette,3 sai E*ily, s*ilin, at this c%rio%s e-a,,eration of the circ%*stances she ha +itnesse , 3as to cre it these storiesB3 3Cre it the*, *a3a*selle? +hy all the +orl co%l not pers%a e *e o%t of the*( Roberto an 'ebastian an half a o8en *ore of the* +ent into fits? To be s%re,

there +as no occasion for that/ I sai , *yself, there +as no nee of that, for, says I, +hen the ene*y co*es, +hat a pretty fi,%re they +ill c%t, if they are to fall o+n in fits, all of a ro+? The ene*y +on3t be so civil, perhaps, as to +alk off, like the ,host, an leave the* to help one another %p, b%t +ill fall to, c%ttin, an slashin,, till he *akes the* all rise %p ea *en( 9o, no, says I, there is reason in all thin,s; tho%,h I *i,ht have fallen o+n in a fit that +as no r%le for the*, bein,, beca%se it is no b%siness of *ine to look ,r%ff, an fi,ht battles(3 E*ily en eavo%re to correct the s%perstitio%s +eakness of Annette, tho%,h she co%l not entirely s%b %e her o+n/ to +hich the latter only replie , 39ay, *a3a*selle, yo% +ill believe nothin,/ yo% are al*ost as ba as the 'i,nor hi*self, +ho +as in a ,reat passion +hen they tol of +hat ha happene , an s+ore that the first *an, +ho repeate s%ch nonsense, sho%l be thro+n into the %n,eon %n er the east t%rret( This +as a har p%nish*ent too, for only talkin, nonsense, as he calle it, b%t I are say he ha other reasons for callin, it so, than yo% have, *a3a*(3 E*ily looke isplease , an *a e no reply( As she *%se %pon the recollecte appearance, +hich ha lately so *%ch alar*e her, an consi ere the circ%*stances of the fi,%re havin, statione itself opposite to her case*ent, she +as for a *o*ent incline to believe it +as Valanco%rt, +ho* she ha seen( 2et, if it +as he, +hy i he not speak to her, +hen he ha the opport%nity of oin, so7an , if he +as a prisoner in the castle, an he co%l be here in no other character, ho+ co%l he obtain the *eans of +alkin, abroa on the ra*partB Th%s she +as %tterly %nable to eci e, +hether the *%sician an the for* she ha observe , +ere the sa*e, or, if they +ere, +hether this +as Valanco%rt( 'he, ho+ever, esire that Annette +o%l en eavo%r to learn +hether any prisoners +ere in the castle, an also their na*es( 3O ear, *a3a*selle?3 sai Annette, 3I for,et to tell yo% +hat yo% ba e *e ask abo%t, the la ies, as they call the*selves, +ho are lately co*e to A olpho( :hy that

'i,nora 0ivona, that the 'i,nor bro%,ht to see *y late la y at Venice, is his *istress no+, an +as little better then, I are say( An 0% ovico says =b%t pray be secret, *a3a*> that his e-cellen8a intro %ce her only to i*pose %pon the +orl , that ha be,%n to *ake free +ith her character( 'o +hen people sa+ *y la y notice her, they tho%,ht +hat they ha hear *%st be scan al( The other t+o are the *istresses of 'i,nor Vere88i an 'i,nor 1ertolini/ an 'i,nor &ontoni invite the* all to the castle/ an so, yester ay, he ,ave a ,reat entertain*ent/ an there they +ere, all rinkin, T%scany +ine an all sorts, an la%,hin, an sin,in,, till they *a e the castle rin, a,ain( 1%t I tho%,ht they +ere is*al so%n s, so soon after *y poor la y3s eath too/ an they bro%,ht to *y *in +hat she +o%l have tho%,ht, if she ha hear the*7b%t she cannot hear the* no+, poor so%l? sai I(3 E*ily t%rne a+ay to conceal her e*otion, an then esire Annette to ,o, an *ake en4%iry, concernin, the prisoners, that *i,ht be in the castle, b%t con.%re her to o it +ith ca%tion, an on no acco%nt to *ention her na*e, or that of &onsie%r Valanco%rt( 39o+ I think of it, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3I o believe there are prisoners, for I overhear one of the 'i,nor3s *en, yester ay, in the servants hall, talkin, so*ethin, abo%t ranso*s, an sayin, +hat a fine thin, it +as for his e-cellen8a to catch %p *en, an they +ere as ,oo booty as any other, beca%se of the ranso*s( An the other *an +as ,r%*blin,, an sayin, it +as fine eno%,h for the 'i,nor, b%t none so fine for his sol iers, beca%se, sai he, +e on3t ,o shares there(3 This infor*ation hei,htene E*ily3s i*patience to kno+ *ore, an Annette i**e iately eparte on her en4%iry( The late resol%tion of E*ily to resi,n her estates to &ontoni, no+ ,ave +ay to ne+ consi erations/ the possibility, that Valanco%rt +as near her, revive her fortit% e, an she eter*ine to brave the threatene ven,eance, at least, till she co%l be ass%re +hether he +as really in the castle( 'he +as in this te*per of *in ,

+hen she receive a *essa,e fro* &ontoni, re4%irin, her atten ance in the ce ar parlo%r, +hich she obeye +ith tre*blin,, an , on her +ay thither, en eavo%re to ani*ate her fortit% e +ith the i ea of Valanco%rt( &ontoni +as alone( 3I sent for yo%,3 sai he, 3to ,ive yo% another opport%nity of retractin, yo%r late *istaken assertions concernin, the 0an,%e oc estates( I +ill con escen to a vise, +here I *ay co**an (7 If yo% are really el% e by an opinion, that yo% have any ri,ht to these estates, at least, o not persist in the error7an error, +hich yo% *ay perceive, too late, has been fatal to yo%( <are *y resent*ent no f%rther, b%t si,n the papers(3 3If I have no ri,ht in these estates, sir,3 sai E*ily, 3of +hat service can it be to yo%, that I sho%l si,n any papers, concernin, the*B If the lan s are yo%rs by la+, yo% certainly *ay possess the*, +itho%t *y interference, or *y consent(3 3I +ill have no *ore ar,%*ent,3 sai &ontoni, +ith a look that *a e her tre*ble( 3:hat ha I b%t tro%ble to e-pect, +hen I con escen e to reason +ith a baby? 1%t I +ill be trifle +ith no lon,er; let the recollection of yo%r a%nt3s s%fferin,s, in conse4%ence of her folly an obstinacy, teach yo% a lesson(7'i,n the papers(3 E*ily3s resol%tion +as for a *o*ent a+e ;7she shr%nk at the recollections he revive , an fro* the ven,eance he threatene / b%t then, the i*a,e of Valanco%rt, +ho so lon, ha love her, an +ho +as no+, perhaps, so near her, ca*e to her heart, an , to,ether +ith the stron, feelin,s of in i,nation, +ith +hich she ha al+ays, fro* her infancy, re,ar e an act of in.%stice, inspire her +ith a noble, tho%,h i*pr% ent, co%ra,e( 3'i,n the papers,3 sai &ontoni, *ore i*patiently than before( 39ever, sir,3 replie E*ily/ 3that re4%est +o%l have prove to *e the in.%stice of yo%r clai*, ha I even been i,norant of *y ri,ht(3

&ontoni t%rne pale +ith an,er, +hile his 4%iverin, lip an l%rkin, eye *a e her al*ost repent the bol ness of her speech( 3Then all *y ven,eance falls %pon yo%,3 he e-clai*e , +ith an horrible oath( 3An think not it shall be elaye ( 9either the estates in 0an,%e oc, or Gascony, shall be yo%rs/ yo% have are to 4%estion *y ri,ht,7 no+ are to 4%estion *y po+er( I have a p%nish*ent +hich yo% think not of/ it is terrible? This ni,ht7this very ni,ht37 3This ni,ht?3 repeate another voice( &ontoni pa%se , an t%rne half ro%n , b%t, see*in, to recollect hi*self, he procee e in a lo+er tone( 32o% have lately seen one terrible e-a*ple of obstinacy an folly/ yet this, it appears, has not been s%fficient to eter yo%(7I co%l tell yo% of others7I co%l *ake yo% tre*ble at the bare recital(3 He +as interr%pte by a ,roan, +hich see*e to rise fro* %n erneath the cha*ber they +ere in/ an , as he thre+ a ,lance ro%n it, i*patience an ra,e flashe fro* his eyes, yet so*ethin, like a sha e of fear passe over his co%ntenance( E*ily sat o+n in a chair, near the oor, for the vario%s e*otions she ha s%ffere , no+ al*ost overca*e her/ b%t &ontoni pa%se scarcely an instant, an , co**an in, his feat%res, res%*e his isco%rse in a lo+er, yet sterner voice( 3I say, I co%l ,ive yo% other instances of *y po+er an of *y character, +hich it see*s yo% o not %n erstan , or yo% +o%l not efy *e(7I co%l tell yo%, that, +hen once *y resol%tion is taken7b%t I a* talkin, to a baby( 0et *e, ho+ever, repeat, that terrible as are the e-a*ples I co%l recite, the recital co%l not no+ benefit yo%/ for, tho%,h yo%r repentance +o%l p%t an i**e iate en to opposition, it +o%l not no+ appease *y in i,nation(7I +ill have ven,eance as +ell as .%stice(3 Another ,roan fille the pa%se +hich &ontoni *a e( 30eave the roo* instantly?3 sai he, see*in, not to notice this stran,e occ%rrence( :itho%t po+er to

i*plore his pity, she rose to ,o, b%t fo%n that she co%l not s%pport herself/ a+e an terror overca*e her, an she s%nk a,ain into the chair( 35%it *y presence?3 crie &ontoni( 3This affectation of fear ill beco*es the heroine +ho has .%st are to brave *y in i,nation(3 3<i yo% hear nothin,, 'i,norB3 sai E*ily, tre*blin,, an still %nable to leave the roo*( 3I hear *y o+n voice,3 re.oine &ontoni, sternly( 3An nothin, elseB3 sai E*ily, speakin, +ith iffic%lty(73There a,ain? <o yo% hear nothin, no+B3 3Obey *y or er,3 repeate &ontoni( 3An for these fool3s tricks7I +ill soon iscover by +ho* they are practise (3 E*ily a,ain rose, an e-erte herself to the %t*ost to leave the roo*, +hile &ontoni follo+e her/ b%t, instea of callin, alo% to his servants to search the cha*ber, as he ha for*erly one on a si*ilar occ%rrence, passe to the ra*parts( As, in her +ay to the corri or, she reste for a *o*ent at an open case*ent, E*ily sa+ a party of &ontoni3s troops +in in, o+n a istant *o%ntain, +ho* she notice no f%rther, than as they bro%,ht to her *in the +retche prisoners they +ere, perhaps, brin,in, to the castle( At len,th, havin, reache her apart*ent, she thre+ herself %pon the co%ch, overco*e +ith the ne+ horrors of her sit%ation( Her tho%,hts lost in t%*%lt an perple-ity, she co%l neither repent of, or approve, her late con %ct/ she co%l only re*e*ber, that she +as in the po+er of a *an, +ho ha no principle of action7 b%t his +ill/ an the astonish*ent an terrors of s%perstition, +hich ha , for a *o*ent, so stron,ly assaile her, no+ yiel e to those of reason( 'he +as, at len,th, ro%se fro* the reverie, +hich en,a,e her, by a conf%sion of istant voices, an a clatterin, of hoofs, that see*e to co*e, on the +in , fro* the co%rts( A s% en hope, that so*e ,oo +as approachin,, sei8e her *in , till she re*e*bere the troops she ha observe fro* the case*ent, an

concl% e this to be the party, +hich Annette ha sai +ere e-pecte at A olpho( 'oon after, she hear voices faintly fro* the halls, an the noise of horses3 feet s%nk a+ay in the +in / silence ens%e ( E*ily listene an-io%sly for Annette3s step in the corri or, b%t a pa%se of total stillness contin%e , till a,ain the castle see*e to be all t%*%lt an conf%sion( 'he hear the echoes of *any footsteps, passin, to an fro in the halls an aven%es belo+, an then b%sy ton,%es +ere lo% on the ra*part( Havin, h%rrie to her case*ent, she perceive &ontoni, +ith so*e of his officers, leanin, on the +alls, an pointin, fro* the*/ +hile several sol iers +ere e*ploye at the f%rther en of the ra*part abo%t so*e cannon/ an she contin%e to observe the*, careless of the passin, ti*e( Annette at len,th appeare , b%t bro%,ht no intelli,ence of Valanco%rt, 3)or, *a3a*selle,3 sai she, 3all the people preten to kno+ nothin, abo%t any prisoners( 1%t here is a fine piece of b%siness? The rest of the party are .%st arrive , *a3a*/ they ca*e sca*perin, in, as if they +o%l have broken their necks/ one scarcely kne+ +hether the *an, or his horse +o%l ,et +ithin the ,ates first( An they have bro%,ht +or 7an s%ch ne+s? they have bro%,ht +or , that a party of the ene*y, as they call the*, are co*in, to+ar s the castle/ so +e shall have all the officers of .%stice, I s%ppose, besie,in, it? all those terrible6lookin, fello+s one %se to see at Venice(3 3Thank Go ?3 e-clai*e E*ily, fervently, 3there is yet a hope left for *e, then?3 3:hat *ean yo%, *a3a*selleB <o yo% +ish to fall into the han s of those sa 6lookin, *en? :hy I %se to sh% er as I passe the*, an sho%l have ,%esse +hat they +ere, if 0% ovico ha not tol *e(3 3:e cannot be in +orse han s than at present,3 replie E*ily, %n,%ar e ly/ 3b%t +hat reason have yo% to s%ppose these are officers of .%sticeB3 3:hy OAR people, *a3a*, are all in s%ch a fri,ht, an a f%ss/ an I on3t kno+ any thin, b%t the fear of

.%stice, that co%l *ake the* so( I %se to think nothin, on earth co%l fl%ster the*, %nless, in ee , it +as a ,host, or so/ b%t no+, so*e of the* are for hi in, o+n in the va%lts %n er the castle/ b%t yo% *%st not tell the 'i,nor this, *a3a*selle, an I overhear t+o of the* talkin,7Holy &other? +hat *akes yo% look so sa , *a3a*selleB 2o% on3t hear +hat I say?3 32es, I o, Annette/ pray procee (3 3:ell, *a3a*selle, all the castle is in s%ch h%rly6b%rly( 'o*e of the *en are loa in, the cannon, an so*e are e-a*inin, the ,reat ,ates, an the +alls all ro%n , an are ha**erin, an patchin, %p, .%st as if all those repairs ha never been *a e, that +ere so lon, abo%t( 1%t +hat is to beco*e of *e an yo%, *a3a*selle, an 0% ovicoB O? +hen I hear the so%n of the cannon, I shall ie +ith fri,ht( If I co%l b%t catch the ,reat ,ate open for one *in%te, I +o%l be even +ith it for sh%ttin, *e +ithin these +alls so lon,?7it sho%l never see *e a,ain(3 E*ily ca%,ht the latter +or s of Annette( 3O? if yo% co%l fin it open, b%t for one *o*ent?3 she e-clai*e , 3*y peace *i,ht yet be save ?3 The heavy ,roan she %ttere , an the +il ness of her look, terrifie Annette, still *ore than her +or s/ +ho entreate E*ily to e-plain the *eanin, of the*, to +ho* it s% enly occ%rre , that 0% ovico *i,ht be of so*e service, if there sho%l be a possibility of escape, an +ho repeate the s%bstance of +hat ha passe bet+een &ontoni an herself, b%t con.%re her to *ention this to no person e-cept to 0% ovico( 3It *ay, perhaps, be in his po+er,3 she a e , 3to effect o%r escape( Go to hi*, Annette, tell hi* +hat I have to apprehen , an +hat I have alrea y s%ffere / b%t entreat hi* to be secret, an to lose no ti*e in atte*ptin, to release %s( If he is +illin, to %n ertake this he shall be a*ply re+ar e ( I cannot speak +ith hi* *yself, for +e *i,ht be observe , an then effect%al care +o%l be taken to prevent o%r fli,ht( 1%t be 4%ick, Annette, an , above all, be iscreet7I +ill a+ait yo%r ret%rn in this apart*ent(3

The ,irl, +hose honest heart ha been *%ch affecte by the recital, +as no+ as ea,er to obey, as E*ily +as to e*ploy her, an she i**e iately 4%itte the roo*( E*ily3s s%rprise increase , as she reflecte %pon Annette3s intelli,ence( 3Alas?3 sai she, 3+hat can the officers of .%stice o a,ainst an ar*e castleB these cannot be s%ch(3 Apon f%rther consi eration, ho+ever, she concl% e , that, &ontoni3s ban s havin, pl%n ere the co%ntry ro%n , the inhabitants ha taken ar*s, an +ere co*in, +ith the officers of police an a party of sol iers, to force their +ay into the castle( 31%t they kno+ not,3 tho%,ht she, 3its stren,th, or the ar*e n%*bers +ithin it( Alas? e-cept fro* fli,ht, I have nothin, to hope?3 &ontoni, tho%,h not precisely +hat E*ily apprehen e hi* to be7a captain of ban itti7ha e*ploye his troops in enterprises not less arin,, or less atrocio%s, than s%ch a character +o%l have %n ertaken( They ha not only pilla,e , +henever opport%nity offere , the helpless traveller, b%t ha attacke , an pl%n ere the villas of several persons, +hich, bein, sit%ate a*on, the solitary recesses of the *o%ntains, +ere totally %nprepare for resistance( In these e-pe itions the co**an ers of the party i not appear, an the *en, partly is,%ise , ha so*eti*es been *istaken for co**on robbers, an , at others, for ban s of the forei,n ene*y, +ho, at that perio , inva e the co%ntry( 1%t, tho%,h they ha alrea y pilla,e several *ansions, an bro%,ht ho*e consi erable treas%res, they ha vent%re to approach only one castle, in the attack of +hich they +ere assiste by other troops of their o+n or er/ fro* this, ho+ever, they +ere vi,oro%sly rep%lse , an p%rs%e by so*e of the forei,n ene*y, +ho +ere in lea,%e +ith the besie,e ( &ontoni3s troops fle precipitately to+ar s A olpho, b%t +ere so closely tracke over the *o%ntains, that, +hen they reache one of the hei,hts in the nei,hbo%rhoo of the castle, an looke back %pon the roa , they perceive the ene*y +in in, a*on, the cliffs belo+, an at not *ore than a lea,%e istant( Apon this iscovery, they hastene for+ar

+ith increase spee , to prepare &ontoni for the ene*y/ an it +as their arrival, +hich ha thro+n the castle into s%ch conf%sion an t%*%lt( As E*ily a+aite an-io%sly so*e infor*ation fro* belo+, she no+ sa+ fro* her case*ents a bo y of troops po%r over the nei,hbo%rin, hei,hts/ an , tho%,h Annette ha been ,one a very short ti*e, an ha a iffic%lt an an,ero%s b%siness to acco*plish, her i*patience for intelli,ence beca*e painf%l; she listene / opene her oor/ an often +ent o%t %pon the corri or to *eet her( At len,th, she hear a footstep approach her cha*ber/ an , on openin, the oor, sa+, not Annette, b%t ol Carlo? 9e+ fears r%she %pon her *in ( He sai he ca*e fro* the 'i,nor, +ho ha or ere hi* to infor* her, that she *%st be rea y to epart fro* A olpho i**e iately, for that the castle +as abo%t to be besie,e / an that *%les +ere preparin, to convey her, +ith her ,%i es, to a place of safety( 3Of safety?3 e-clai*e E*ily, tho%,htlessly/ 3has, then, the 'i,nor so *%ch consi eration for *eB3 Carlo looke %pon the ,ro%n , an *a e no reply( A tho%san opposite e*otions a,itate E*ily, s%ccessively, as she listene to ol Carlo/ those of .oy, ,rief, istr%st an apprehension, appeare , an vanishe fro* her *in , +ith the 4%ickness of li,htnin,( One *o*ent, it see*e i*possible, that &ontoni co%l take this *eas%re *erely for her preservation/ an so very stran,e +as his sen in, her fro* the castle at all, that she co%l attrib%te it only to the esi,n of carryin, into e-ec%tion the ne+ sche*e of ven,eance, +ith +hich he ha *enace her( In the ne-t instant, it appeare so esirable to 4%it the castle, %n er any circ%*stances, that she co%l not b%t re.oice in the prospect, believin, that chan,e *%st be for the better, till she re*e*bere the probability of Valanco%rt bein, etaine in it, +hen sorro+ an re,ret %s%rpe her *in , an she +ishe , *%ch *ore fervently than she ha yet one, that it *i,ht not be his voice +hich she ha hear (

Carlo havin, re*in e her, that she ha no ti*e to lose, for that the ene*y +ere +ithin si,ht of the castle, E*ily entreate hi* to infor* her +hither she +as to ,o/ an , after so*e hesitation, he sai he ha receive no or ers to tell/ b%t, on her repeatin, the 4%estion, replie , that he believe she +as to be carrie into T%scany(3 3To T%scany?3 e-clai*e E*ily73an +hy thitherB3 Carlo ans+ere , that he kne+ nothin, f%rther, than that she +as to be lo ,e in a cotta,e on the bor ers of T%scany, at the feet of the Apennines739ot a ay3s .o%rney istant,3 sai he( E*ily no+ is*isse hi*/ an , +ith tre*blin, han s, prepare the s*all packa,e, that she *eant to take +ith her/ +hile she +as e*ploye abo%t +hich Annette ret%rne ( 3O *a3a*selle?3 sai she, 3nothin, can be one? 0% ovico says the ne+ porter is *ore +atchf%l even than 1arnar ine +as, an +e *i,ht as +ell thro+ o%rselves in the +ay of a ra,on, as in his( 0% ovico is al*ost as broken6hearte as yo% are, *a3a*, on *y acco%nt, he says, an I a* s%re I shall never live to hear the cannon fire t+ice?3 'he no+ be,an to +eep, b%t revive %pon hearin, of +hat ha .%st occ%rre , an entreate E*ily to take her +ith her( 3That I +ill o *ost +illin,ly,3 replie E*ily, 3if 'i,nor &ontoni per*its it/3 to +hich Annette *a e no reply, b%t ran o%t of the roo*, an i**e iately so%,ht &ontoni, +ho +as on the terrace, s%rro%n e by his officers, +here she be,an her petition( He sharply ba e her ,o into the castle, an absol%tely ref%se her re4%est( Annette, ho+ever, not only plea e for herself, b%t for 0% ovico/ an &ontoni ha or ere so*e of his *en to take her fro* his presence, before she +o%l retire( In an a,ony of isappoint*ent, she ret%rne to E*ily, +ho forebo e little ,oo to+ar s herself, fro* this ref%sal to Annette, an +ho, soon after, receive a

s%**ons to repair to the ,reat co%rt, +here the *%les, +ith her ,%i es, +ere in +aitin,( E*ily here trie in vain to sooth the +eepin, Annette, +ho persiste in sayin,, that she sho%l never see her ear yo%n, la y a,ain/ a fear, +hich her *istress secretly tho%,ht too +ell .%stifie , b%t +hich she en eavo%re to restrain, +hile, +ith apparent co*pos%re, she ba e this affectionate servant fare+ell( Annette, ho+ever, follo+e to the co%rts, +hich +ere no+ thron,e +ith people, b%sy in preparation for the ene*y/ an , havin, seen her *o%nt her *%le an epart, +ith her atten ants, thro%,h the portal, t%rne into the castle an +ept a,ain( E*ily, *ean+hile, as she looke back %pon the ,loo*y co%rts of the castle, no lon,er silent as +hen she ha first entere the*, b%t reso%n in, +ith the noise of preparation for their efence, as +ell as cro+ e +ith sol iers an +ork*en, h%rryin, to an fro/ an , +hen she passe once *ore %n er the h%,e portc%llis, +hich ha for*erly str%ck her +ith terror an is*ay, an , lookin, ro%n , sa+ no +alls to confine her steps7felt, in spite of anticipation, the s% en .oy of a prisoner, +ho %ne-pecte ly fin s hi*self at liberty( This e*otion +o%l not s%ffer her no+ to look i*partially on the an,ers that a+aite her +itho%t/ on *o%ntains infeste by hostile parties, +ho sei8e every opport%nity for pl%n er/ an on a .o%rney co**en e %n er the ,%i ance of *en, +hose co%ntenances certainly i not speak favo%rably of their ispositions( In the present *o*ents, she co%l only re.oice, that she +as liberate fro* those +alls, +hich she ha entere +ith s%ch is*al forebo in,s/ an , re*e*berin, the s%perstitio%s presenti*ent, +hich ha then sei8e her, she co%l no+ s*ile at the i*pression it ha *a e %pon her *in ( As she ,a8e , +ith these e*otions, %pon the t%rrets of the castle, risin, hi,h over the +oo s, a*on, +hich she +o%n , the stran,er, +ho* she believe to be confine there, ret%rne to her re*e*brance, an an-iety an apprehension, lest he sho%l be Valanco%rt, a,ain passe like a clo% %pon her .oy( 'he recollecte

every circ%*stance, concernin, this %nkno+n person, since the ni,ht, +hen she ha first hear hi* play the son, of her native province/7circ%*stances, +hich she ha so often recollecte , an co*pare before, +itho%t e-tractin, fro* the* any thin, like conviction, an +hich still only pro*pte her to believe, that Valanco%rt +as a prisoner at A olpho( It +as possible, ho+ever, that the *en, +ho +ere her con %ctors, *i,ht affor her infor*ation, on this s%b.ect/ b%t, fearin, to 4%estion the* i**e iately, lest they sho%l be %n+illin, to iscover any circ%*stance to her in the presence of each other, she +atche for an opport%nity of speakin, +ith the* separately( 'oon after, a tr%*pet echoe faintly fro* a istance/ the ,%i es stoppe , an looke to+ar the 4%arter +hence it ca*e, b%t the thick +oo s, +hich s%rro%n e the*, e-cl% in, all vie+ of the co%ntry beyon , one of the *en ro e on to the point of an e*inence, that affor e a *ore e-tensive prospect, to observe ho+ near the ene*y, +hose tr%*pet he ,%esse this to be, +ere a vance / the other, *ean+hile, re*aine +ith E*ily, an to hi* she p%t so*e 4%estions, concernin, the stran,er at A olpho( A,o, for this +as his na*e, sai , that there +ere several prisoners in the castle, b%t he neither recollecte their persons, or the precise ti*e of their arrival, an co%l therefore ,ive her no infor*ation( There +as a s%rliness in his *anner, as he spoke, that *a e it probable he +o%l not have satisfie her en4%iries, even if he co%l have one so( Havin, aske hi* +hat prisoners ha been taken, abo%t the ti*e, as nearly as she co%l re*e*ber, +hen she ha first hear the *%sic, 3All that +eek,3 sai A,o, 3I +as o%t +ith a party, %pon the *o%ntains, an kne+ nothin, of +hat +as oin, at the castle( :e ha eno%,h %pon o%r han s, +e ha +ar* +ork of it(3 1ertran , the other *an, bein, no+ ret%rne , E*ily en4%ire no f%rther, an , +hen he ha relate to his co*panion +hat he ha seen, they travelle on in eep silence/ +hile E*ily often ca%,ht, bet+een the openin, +oo s, partial ,li*pses of the castle above7the +est to+ers, +hose battle*ents +ere no+ cro+ e +ith

archers, an the ra*parts belo+, +here sol iers +ere seen h%rryin, alon,, or b%sy %pon the +alls, preparin, the cannon( Havin, e*er,e fro* the +oo s, they +o%n alon, the valley in an opposite irection to that, fro* +hence the ene*y +ere approachin,( E*ily no+ ha a f%ll vie+ of A olpho, +ith its ,ray +alls, to+ers an terraces, hi,h over6toppin, the precipices an the ark +oo s, an ,litterin, partially +ith the ar*s of the con ottieri, as the s%n3s rays, strea*in, thro%,h an a%t%*nal clo% , ,lance %pon a part of the e ifice, +hose re*ainin, feat%res stoo in arkene *a.esty( 'he contin%e to ,a8e, thro%,h her tears, %pon +alls that, perhaps, confine Valanco%rt, an +hich no+, as the clo% floate a+ay, +ere li,hte %p +ith s% en splen o%r, an then, as s% enly +ere shro% e in ,loo*/ +hile the passin, ,lea* fell on the +oo 6tops belo+, an hei,htene the first tints of a%t%*n, that ha be,%n to steal %pon the folia,e( The +in in, *o%ntains, at len,th, sh%t A olpho fro* her vie+, an she t%rne , +ith *o%rnf%l rel%ctance, to other ob.ects( The *elancholy si,hin, of the +in a*on, the pines, that +ave hi,h over the steeps, an the istant th%n er of a torrent assiste her *%sin,s, an conspire +ith the +il scenery aro%n , to iff%se over her *in e*otions sole*n, yet not %npleasin,, b%t +hich +ere soon interr%pte by the istant roar of cannon, echoin, a*on, the *o%ntains( The so%n s rolle alon, the +in , an +ere repeate in faint an fainter reverberation, till they s%nk in s%llen *%r*%rs( This +as a si,nal, that the ene*y ha reache the castle, an fear for Valanco%rt a,ain tor*ente E*ily( 'he t%rne her an-io%s eyes to+ar s that part of the co%ntry, +here the e ifice stoo , b%t the intervenin, hei,hts conceale it fro* her vie+/ still, ho+ever, she sa+ the tall hea of a *o%ntain, +hich i**e iately fronte her late cha*ber, an on this she fi-e her ,a8e, as if it co%l have tol her of all that +as passin, in the scene it overlooke ( The ,%i es t+ice re*in e her, that she +as losin, ti*e an that they ha far to ,o, before she co%l t%rn fro* this interestin, ob.ect, an , even +hen

she a,ain *ove on+ar , she often sent a look back, till only its bl%e point, bri,htenin, in a ,lea* of s%nshine, appeare peepin, over other *o%ntains( The so%n of the cannon affecte A,o, as the blast of the tr%*pet oes the +ar6horse/ it calle forth all the fire of his nat%re/ he +as i*patient to be in the *i st of the fi,ht, an %ttere fre4%ent e-ecrations a,ainst &ontoni for havin, sent hi* to a istance( The feelin,s of his co*ra e see*e to be very opposite, an a apte rather to the cr%elties, than to the an,ers of +ar( E*ily aske fre4%ent 4%estions, concernin, the place of her estination, b%t co%l only learn, that she +as ,oin, to a cotta,e in T%scany/ an , +henever she *entione the s%b.ect, she fancie she perceive , in the co%ntenances of these *en, an e-pression of *alice an c%nnin,, that alar*e her( It +as afternoon, +hen they ha left the castle( <%rin, several ho%rs, they travelle thro%,h re,ions of profo%n solit% e, +here no bleat of sheep, or bark of +atch6 o,, broke on silence, an they +ere no+ too far off to hear even the faint th%n er of the cannon( To+ar s evenin,, they +o%n o+n precipices, black +ith forests of cypress, pine an ce ar, into a ,len so sava,e an secl% e , that, if 'olit% e ever ha local habitation, this *i,ht have been 3her place of earest resi ence(3 To E*ily it appeare a spot e-actly s%ite for the retreat of ban itti, an , in her i*a,ination, she alrea y sa+ the* l%rkin, %n er the bro+ of so*e pro.ectin, rock, +hence their sha o+s, len,thene by the settin, s%n, stretche across the roa , an +arne the traveller of his an,er( 'he sh% ere at the i ea, an , lookin, at her con %ctors, to observe +hether they +ere ar*e , tho%,ht she sa+ in the* the ban itti she rea e ? It +as in this ,len, that they propose to ali,ht, 3)or,3 sai A,o, 3ni,ht +ill co*e on presently, an then the +olves +ill *ake it an,ero%s to stop(3 This +as a ne+ s%b.ect of alar* to E*ily, b%t inferior to +hat she s%ffere fro* the tho%,ht of bein, left in these +il s,

at *i ni,ht, +ith t+o s%ch *en as her present con %ctors( <ark an rea f%l hints of +hat *i,ht be &ontoni3s p%rpose in sen in, her hither, ca*e to her *in ( 'he en eavo%re to iss%a e the *en fro* stoppin,, an en4%ire , +ith an-iety, ho+ far they ha yet to ,o( 3&any lea,%es yet,3 replie 1ertran ( 3As for yo%, 'i,nora, yo% *ay o as yo% please abo%t eatin,, b%t for %s, +e +ill *ake a hearty s%pper, +hile +e can( :e shall have nee of it, I +arrant, before +e finish o%r .o%rney( The s%n3s ,oin, o+n apace/ let %s ali,ht %n er that rock, yon er(3 His co*ra e assente , an , t%rnin, the *%les o%t of the roa , they a vance to+ar s a cliff, overh%n, +ith ce ars, E*ily follo+in, in tre*blin, silence( They lifte her fro* her *%le, an , havin, seate the*selves on the ,rass, at the foot of the rocks, re+ so*e ho*ely fare fro* a +allet, of +hich E*ily trie to eat a little, the better to is,%ise her apprehensions( The s%n +as no+ s%nk behin the hi,h *o%ntains in the +est, %pon +hich a p%rple ha8e be,an to sprea , an the ,loo* of t+ili,ht to ra+ over the s%rro%n in, ob.ects( To the lo+ an s%llen *%r*%r of the bree8e, passin, a*on, the +oo s, she no lon,er listene +ith any e,ree of pleas%re, for it conspire +ith the +il ness of the scene an the evenin, ho%r, to epress her spirits( '%spense ha so *%ch increase her an-iety, as to the prisoner at A olpho, that, fin in, it i*practicable to speak alone +ith 1ertran , on that s%b.ect, she rene+e her 4%estions in the presence of A,o/ b%t he either +as, or preten e to be entirely i,norant, concernin, the stran,er( :hen he ha is*isse the 4%estion, he talke +ith A,o on so*e s%b.ect, +hich le to the *ention of 'i,nor Orsino an of the affair that ha banishe hi* fro* Venice/ respectin, +hich E*ily ha vent%re to ask a fe+ 4%estions( A,o appeare to be +ell ac4%ainte +ith the circ%*stances of that tra,ical event, an relate so*e *in%te partic%lars, that both shocke an s%rprise her/ for it appeare very

e-traor inary ho+ s%ch partic%lars co%l be kno+n to any, b%t to persons, present +hen the assassination +as co**itte ( 3He +as of rank,3 sai 1ertran , 3or the 'tate +o%l not have tro%ble itself to en4%ire after his assassins( The 'i,nor has been l%cky hitherto/ this is not the first affair of the kin he has ha %pon his han s/ an to be s%re, +hen a ,entle*an has no other +ay of ,ettin, re ress7+hy he *%st take this(3 3Aye,3 sai A,o, 3an +hy is not this as ,oo as anotherB This is the +ay to have .%stice one at once, +itho%t *ore a o( If yo% ,o to la+, yo% *%st stay till the .% ,es please, an *ay lose yo%r ca%se, at last, :hy the best +ay, then, is to *ake s%re of yo%r ri,ht, +hile yo% can, an e-ec%te .%stice yo%rself(3 32es, yes,3 re.oine 1ertran , 3if yo% +ait till .%stice is one yo%7yo% *ay stay lon, eno%,h( :hy if I +ant a frien of *ine properly serve , ho+ a* I to ,et *y reven,eB Ten to one they +ill tell *e he is in the ri,ht, an I a* in the +ron,( Or, if a fello+ has ,ot possession of property, +hich I think o%,ht to be *ine, +hy I *ay +ait, till I starve, perhaps, before the la+ +ill ,ive it *e, an then, after all, the .% ,e *ay say7 the estate is his( :hat is to be one thenB7:hy the case is plain eno%,h, I *%st take it at last(3 E*ily3s horror at this conversation +as hei,htene by a s%spicion, that the latter part of it +as pointe a,ainst herself, an that these *en ha been co**issione by &ontoni to e-ec%te a si*ilar kin of @A'TICE, in his ca%se( 31%t I +as speakin, of 'i,nor Orsino,3 res%*e 1ertran , 3he is one of those, +ho love to o .%stice at once( I re*e*ber, abo%t ten years a,o, the 'i,nor ha a 4%arrel +ith a cavaliero of &ilan( The story +as tol *e then, an it is still fresh in *y hea ( They 4%arrelle abo%t a la y, that the 'i,nor like , an she +as perverse eno%,h to prefer the ,entle*an of &ilan, an even carrie her +hi* so far as to *arry hi*( This provoke the 'i,nor, as +ell it *i,ht, for he ha trie to talk reason to her a lon, +hile, an %se to sen

people to serena e her, %n er her +in o+s, of a ni,ht/ an %se to *ake verses abo%t her, an +o%l s+ear she +as the han so*est la y in &ilan71%t all +o%l not o7nothin, +o%l brin, her to reason/ an , as I sai , she +ent so far at last, as to *arry this other cavaliero( This *a e the 'i,nor +rath, +ith a ven,eance/ he resolve to be even +ith her tho%,h, an he +atche his opport%nity, an i not +ait lon,, for, soon after the *arria,e, they set o%t for Pa %a, nothin, o%btin,, I +arrant, of +hat +as preparin, for the*( The cavaliero tho%,ht, to be s%re, he +as to be calle to no acco%nt, b%t +as to ,o off tri%*phant/ b%t he +as soon *a e to kno+ another sort of story(3 3:hat then, the la y ha OrsinoB3 sai A,o( pro*ise to have 'i,nor

3Pro*ise ? 9o,3 replie 1ertran , 3she ha not +it eno%,h even to tell hi* she like hi*, as I hear , b%t the contrary, for she %se to say, fro* the first, she never *eant to have hi*( An this +as +hat provoke the 'i,nor, so, an +ith ,oo reason, for, +ho likes to be tol that he is isa,reeableB an this +as sayin, as ,oo ( It +as eno%,h to tell hi* this/ she nee not have ,one, an *arrie another(3 3:hat, she *arrie , then, on p%rpose to pla,%e the 'i,norB3 sai A,o( 3I on3t kno+ as for that,3 replie 1ertran , 3they sai , in ee , that she ha ha a re,ar for the other ,entle*an a ,reat +hile/ b%t that is nothin, to the p%rpose, she sho%l not have *arrie hi*, an then the 'i,nor +o%l not have been so *%ch provoke ( 'he *i,ht have e-pecte +hat +as to follo+/ it +as not to be s%ppose he +o%l bear her ill %sa,e ta*ely, an she *i,ht thank herself for +hat happene ( 1%t, as I sai , they set o%t for Pa %a, she an her h%sban , an the roa lay over so*e barren *o%ntains like these( This s%ite the 'i,nor3s p%rpose +ell( He +atche the ti*e of their epart%re, an sent his *en after the*, +ith irections +hat to o( They kept their istance, till they sa+ their opport%nity, an this i not happen, till the secon ay3s .o%rney, +hen, the ,entle*an havin,

sent his servants for+ar to the ne-t to+n, *ay be, to have horses in rea iness, the 'i,nor3s *en 4%ickene their pace, an overtook the carria,e, in a hollo+, bet+een t+o *o%ntains, +here the +oo s prevente the servants fro* seein, +hat passe , tho%,h they +ere then not far off( :hen +e ca*e %p, +e fire o%r tro*boni, b%t *isse (3 E*ily t%rne pale, at these +or s, an then hope she ha *istaken the*/ +hile 1ertran procee e ; 3The ,entle*an fire a,ain, b%t he +as soon *a e to ali,ht, an it +as as he t%rne to call his people, that he +as str%ck( It +as the *ost e-tero%s feat yo% ever sa+ 7he +as str%ck in the back +ith three stillettos at once( He fell, an +as ispatche in a *in%te/ b%t the la y escape , for the servants ha hear the firin,, an ca*e %p before she co%l be taken care of( E1ertran ,E sai the 'i,nor, +hen his *en ret%rne 37 31ertran ?3 e-clai*e E*ily, pale +ith horror, on +ho* not a syllable of this narrative ha been lost( 31ertran , i I sayB3 re.oine the *an, +ith so*e conf%sion739o, Giovanni( 1%t I have for,ot +here I +as/7E1ertran ,E sai the 'i,nor37 31ertran , a,ain?3 sai E*ily, in a falterin, voice, 3:hy o yo% repeat that na*eB3 1ertran s+ore( 3:hat si,nifies it,3 he procee e , 3+hat the *an +as calle 71ertran , or Giovanni7or RobertoB it3s all one for that( 2o% have p%t *e o%t t+ice +ith that74%estion( E1ertran ,E or Giovanni7or +hat yo% +ill7E1ertran ,E sai the 'i,nor, Eif yo%r co*ra es ha one their %ty, as +ell as yo%, I sho%l not have lost the la y( Go, *y honest fello+, an be happy +ith this(E He ,a*e hi* a p%rse of ,ol 7an little eno%,h too, consi erin, the service he ha one hi*(3 3Aye, aye,3 sai A,o, 3little eno%,h7little eno%,h(3 E*ily no+ breathe +ith iffic%lty, an co%l scarcely s%pport herself( :hen first she sa+ these *en, their appearance an their connection +ith &ontoni ha been s%fficient to i*press her +ith istr%st/ b%t no+,

+hen one of the* ha betraye hi*self to be a *%r erer, an she sa+ herself, at the approach of ni,ht, %n er his ,%i ance, a*on, +il an solitary *o%ntains, an ,oin, she scarcely kne+ +hither, the *ost a,oni8in, terror sei8e her, +hich +as the less s%pportable fro* the necessity she fo%n herself %n er of concealin, all sy*pto*s of it fro* her co*panions( Reflectin, on the character an the *enaces of &ontoni, it appeare not i*probable, that he ha elivere her to the*, for the p%rpose of havin, her *%r ere , an of th%s sec%rin, to hi*self, +itho%t f%rther opposition, or elay, the estates, for +hich he ha so lon, an so esperately conten e ( 2et, if this +as his esi,n, there appeare no necessity for sen in, her to s%ch a istance fro* the castle/ for, if any rea of iscovery ha *a e hi* %n+illin, to perpetrate the ee there, a *%ch nearer place *i,ht have s%ffice for the p%rpose of conceal*ent( These consi erations, ho+ever, i not i**e iately occ%r to E*ily, +ith +ho* so *any circ%*stances conspire to ro%se terror, that she ha no po+er to oppose it, or to en4%ire coolly into its ,ro%n s/ an , if she ha one so, still there +ere *any appearances +hich +o%l too +ell have .%stifie her *ost terrible apprehensions( 'he i not no+ are to speak to her con %ctors, at the so%n of +hose voices she tre*ble / an +hen, no+ an then, she stole a ,lance at the*, their co%ntenances, seen i*perfectly thro%,h the ,loo* of evenin,, serve to confir* her fears( The s%n ha no+ been set so*e ti*e/ heavy clo% s, +hose lo+er skirts +ere tin,e +ith s%lph%reo%s cri*son, lin,ere in the +est, an thre+ a re ish tint %pon the pine forests, +hich sent forth a sole*n so%n , as the bree8e rolle over the*( The hollo+ *oan str%ck %pon E*ily3s heart, an serve to ren er *ore ,loo*y an terrific every ob.ect aro%n her,7the *o%ntains, sha e in t+ili,ht7the ,lea*in, torrent, hoarsely roarin,7the black forests, an the eep ,len, broken into rocky recesses, hi,h oversha o+e by cypress an syca*ore an +in in, into lon, obsc%rity( To this ,len, E*ily, as she sent forth her an-io%s eye, tho%,ht there

+as no en / no ha*let, or even cotta,e, +as seen, an still no istant bark of +atch o,, or even faint, far6off halloo ca*e on the +in ( In a tre*%lo%s voice, she no+ vent%re to re*in the ,%i es, that it +as ,ro+in, late, an to ask a,ain ho+ far they ha to ,o; b%t they +ere too *%ch occ%pie by their o+n isco%rse to atten to her 4%estion, +hich she forbore to repeat, lest it sho%l provoke a s%rly ans+er( Havin,, ho+ever, soon after, finishe their s%pper, the *en collecte the fra,*ents into their +allet, an procee e alon, this +in in, ,len, in ,loo*y silence/ +hile E*ily a,ain *%se %pon her o+n sit%ation, an concernin, the *otives of &ontoni for involvin, her in it( That it +as for so*e evil p%rpose to+ar s herself, she co%l not o%bt/ an it see*e , that, if he i not inten to estroy her, +ith a vie+ of i**e iately sei8in, her estates, he *eant to reserve her a +hile in conceal*ent, for so*e *ore terrible esi,n, for one that *i,ht e4%ally ,ratify his avarice an still *ore his eep reven,e( At this *o*ent, re*e*berin, 'i,nor 1rochio an his behavio%r in the corri or, a fe+ prece in, ni,hts, the latter s%pposition, horrible as it +as, stren,thene in her belief( 2et, +hy re*ove her fro* the castle, +here ee s of arkness ha , she feare , been often e-ec%te +ith secrecyB7fro* cha*bers, perhaps
<ith !any a foul, and !idnight !urder stain=d#

The rea of +hat she *i,ht be ,oin, to enco%nter +as no+ so e-cessive, that it so*eti*es threatene her senses/ an , often as she +ent, she tho%,ht of her late father an of all he +o%l have s%ffere , co%l he have foreseen the stran,e an rea f%l events of her f%t%re life/ an ho+ an-io%sly he +o%l have avoi e that fatal confi ence, +hich co**itte his a%,hter to the care of a +o*an so +eak as +as &a a*e &ontoni( 'o ro*antic an i*probable, in ee , i her present sit%ation appear to E*ily herself, partic%larly +hen she co*pare it +ith the repose an bea%ty of her early ays, that there +ere *o*ents, +hen she co%l al*ost have believe herself the victi* of fri,htf%l visions, ,larin, %pon a isor ere fancy(

Restraine by the presence of her ,%i es fro* e-pressin, her terrors, their ac%teness +as, at len,th, lost in ,loo*y espair( The rea f%l vie+ of +hat *i,ht a+ait her hereafter ren ere her al*ost in ifferent to the s%rro%n in, an,ers( 'he no+ looke , +ith little e*otion, on the +il in,les, an the ,loo*y roa an *o%ntains, +hose o%tlines +ere only istin,%ishable thro%,h the %sk/7ob.ects, +hich b%t lately ha affecte her spirits so *%ch, as to a+aken horri vie+s of the f%t%re, an to tin,e these +ith their o+n ,loo*( It +as no+ so nearly ark, that the travellers, +ho procee e only by the slo+est pace, co%l scarcely iscern their +ay( The clo% s, +hich see*e char,e +ith th%n er, passe slo+ly alon, the heavens, she+in,, at intervals, the tre*blin, stars/ +hile the ,roves of cypress an syca*ore, that overh%n, the rocks, +ave hi,h in the bree8e, as it s+ept over the ,len, an then r%she a*on, the istant +oo s( E*ily shivere as it passe ( 3:here is the torchB3 sai A,o, 3It ,ro+s ark(3 39ot so ark yet,3 replie 1ertran , 3b%t +e *ay fin o%r +ay, an 3tis best not li,ht the torch, before +e can help, for it *ay betray %s, if any stra,,lin, party of the ene*y is abroa (3 A,o *%ttere so*ethin,, +hich E*ily i not %n erstan , an they procee e in arkness, +hile she al*ost +ishe , that the ene*y *i,ht iscover the*/ for fro* chan,e there +as so*ethin, to hope, since she co%l scarcely i*a,ine any sit%ation *ore rea f%l than her present one( As they *ove slo+ly alon,, her attention +as s%rprise by a thin taperin, fla*e, that appeare , by fits, at the point of the pike, +hich 1ertran carrie , rese*blin, +hat she ha observe on the lance of the sentinel, the ni,ht &a a*e &ontoni ie , an +hich he ha sai +as an o*en( The event i**e iately follo+in, it appeare to .%stify the assertion, an a s%perstitio%s i*pression ha re*aine on E*ily3s *in , +hich the present appearance confir*e ( 'he

tho%,ht it +as an o*en of her o+n fate, an +atche it s%ccessively vanish an ret%rn, in ,loo*y silence, +hich +as at len,th interr%pte by 1ertran ( 30et %s li,ht the torch,3 sai he, 3an ,et %n er shelter of the +oo s/7a stor* is co*in, on7look at *y lance(3 He hel it forth, +ith the fla*e taperin, at its point(G =G'ee the Abbe 1erthelon on Electricity( CA( R(D> 3Aye,3 sai A,o, 3yo% are not one of those, that believe in o*ens; +e have left co+ar s at the castle, +ho +o%l t%rn pale at s%ch a si,ht( I have often seen it before a th%n er stor*, it is an o*en of that, an one is co*in, no+, s%re eno%,h( The clo% s flash fast alrea y(3 E*ily +as relieve by this conversation fro* so*e of the terrors of s%perstition, b%t those of reason increase , as, +aitin, +hile A,o searche for a flint, to strike fire, she +atche the pale li,htnin, ,lea* over the +oo s they +ere abo%t to enter, an ill%*ine the harsh co%ntenances of her co*panions( A,o co%l not fin a flint, an 1ertran beca*e i*patient, for the th%n er so%n e hollo+ly at a istance, an the li,htnin, +as *ore fre4%ent( 'o*eti*es, it reveale the nearer recesses of the +oo s, or, isplayin, so*e openin, in their s%**its, ill%*ine the ,ro%n beneath +ith partial splen o%r, the thick folia,e of the trees preservin, the s%rro%n in, scene in eep sha o+( At len,th, A,o fo%n a flint, an the torch +as li,hte ( The *en then is*o%nte , an , havin, assiste E*ily, le the *%les to+ar s the +oo s, that skirte the ,len, on the left, over broken ,ro%n , fre4%ently interr%pte +ith br%sh6+oo an +il plants, +hich she +as often obli,e to *ake a circ%it to avoi ( 'he co%l not approach these +oo s, +itho%t e-periencin, keener sense of her an,er( Their eep silence, e-cept +hen the +in s+ept a*on, their branches, an i*penetrable ,loo*s she+n partially by the s% en flash, an then, by the re ,lare of the torch, +hich serve only to *ake 3 arkness visible,3 +ere circ%*stances, that contrib%te to rene+ all her *ost

terrible apprehensions/ she tho%,ht, too, that, at this *o*ent, the co%ntenances of her con %ctors isplaye *ore than their %s%al fierceness, *in,le +ith a kin of l%rkin, e-%ltation, +hich they see*e en eavo%rin, to is,%ise( To her affri,hte fancy it occ%rre , that they +ere lea in, her into these +oo s to co*plete the +ill of &ontoni by her *%r er( The horri s%,,estion calle a ,roan fro* her heart, +hich s%rprise her co*panions, +ho t%rne ro%n 4%ickly to+ar s her, an she e*an e +hy they le her thither, beseechin, the* to contin%e their +ay alon, the open ,len, +hich she represente to be less an,ero%s than the +oo s, in a th%n er stor*( 39o, no,3 sai 1ertran , 3+e kno+ best +here the an,er lies( 'ee ho+ the clo% s open over o%r hea s( 1esi es, +e can ,li e %n er cover of the +oo s +ith less ha8ar of bein, seen, sho%l any of the ene*y be +an erin, this +ay( 1y holy 't( Peter an all the rest of the*, I3ve as sto%t a heart as the best, as *any a poor evil co%l tell, if he +ere alive a,ain7b%t +hat can +e o a,ainst n%*bersB3 3:hat are yo% +hinin, abo%tB3 sai A,o, conte*pt%o%sly, 3+ho fears n%*bers? 0et the* co*e, tho%,h they +ere as *any, as the 'i,nor3s castle co%l hol / I +o%l she+ the knaves +hat fi,htin, is( )or yo%7I +o%l lay yo% 4%ietly in a ry itch, +here yo% *i,ht peep o%t, an see *e p%t the ro,%es to fli,ht(7 :ho talks of fear?3 1ertran replie , +ith an horrible oath, that he i not like s%ch .estin,, an a violent altercation ens%e , +hich +as, at len,th, silence by the th%n er, +hose eep volley +as hear afar, rollin, on+ar till it b%rst over their hea s in so%n s, that see*e to shake the earth to its centre( The r%ffians pa%se , an looke %pon each other( 1et+een the boles of the trees, the bl%e li,htnin, flashe an 4%ivere alon, the ,ro%n , +hile, as E*ily looke %n er the bo%,hs, the *o%ntains beyon , fre4%ently appeare to be clothe in livi fla*e( At this *o*ent, perhaps, she felt less fear of the stor*, than i either of her co*panions, for other terrors occ%pie her *in (

The *en no+ reste %n er an enor*o%s chesn%t6tree, an fi-e their pikes in the ,ro%n , at so*e istance, on the iron points of +hich E*ily repeate ly observe the li,htnin, play, an then ,li e o+n the* into the earth( 3I +o%l +e +ere +ell in the 'i,nor3s castle?3 sai 1ertran , 3I kno+ not +hy he sho%l sen %s on this b%siness( Hark? ho+ it rattles above, there? I co%l al*ost fin in *y heart to t%rn priest, an pray( A,o, hast ,ot a rosaryB3 39o,3 replie A,o, 3I leave it to co+ar s like thee, to carry rosaries7I, carry a s+or (3 3An *%ch ,oo *ay it o thee in fi,htin, a,ainst the stor*?3 sai 1ertran ( Another peal, +hich +as reverberate in tre*en o%s echoes a*on, the *o%ntains, silence the* for a *o*ent( As it rolle a+ay, A,o propose ,oin, on( 3:e are only losin, ti*e here,3 sai he, 3for the thick bo%,hs of the +oo s +ill shelter %s as +ell as this chesn%t6tree(3 They a,ain le the *%les for+ar , bet+een the boles of the trees, an over pathless ,rass, that conceale their hi,h knotte roots( The risin, +in +as no+ hear conten in, +ith the th%n er, as it r%she f%rio%sly a*on, the branches above, an bri,htene the re fla*e of the torch, +hich thre+ a stron,er li,ht for+ar a*on, the +oo s, an she+e their ,loo*y recesses to be s%itable resorts for the +olves, of +hich A,o ha for*erly spoken( At len,th, the stren,th of the +in see*e to rive the stor* before it, for the th%n er rolle a+ay into istance, an +as only faintly hear ( After travellin, thro%,h the +oo s for nearly an ho%r, %rin, +hich the ele*ents see*e to have ret%rne to repose, the travellers, ,ra %ally ascen in, fro* the ,len, fo%n the*selves %pon the open bro+ of a *o%ntain, +ith a +i e valley, e-ten in, in *isty *oon6li,ht, at their feet, an above, the bl%e sky, tre*blin, thro%,h the fe+

thin clo% s, that lin,ere after the stor*, an sinkin, slo+ly to the ver,e of the hori8on(

+ere

E*ily3s spirits, no+ that she ha 4%itte the +oo s, be,an to revive/ for she consi ere , that, if these *en ha receive an or er to estroy her, they +o%l probably have e-ec%te their barbaro%s p%rpose in the solitary +il , fro* +hence they ha .%st e*er,e , +here the ee +o%l have been shro% e fro* every h%*an eye( Reass%re by this reflection, an by the 4%iet e*eano%r of her ,%i es, E*ily, as they procee e silently, in a kin of sheep track, that +o%n alon, the skirts of the +oo s, +hich ascen e on the ri,ht, co%l not s%rvey the sleepin, bea%ty of the vale, to +hich they +ere eclinin,, +itho%t a *o*entary sensation of pleas%re( It see*e varie +ith +oo s, past%res, an slopin, ,ro%n s, an +as screene to the north an the east by an a*phitheatre of the Apennines, +hose o%tline on the hori8on +as here broken into varie an ele,ant for*s/ to the +est an the so%th, the lan scape e-ten e in istinctly into the lo+lan s of T%scany( 3There is the sea yon er,3 sai 1ertran , as if he ha kno+n that E*ily +as e-a*inin, the t+ili,ht vie+, 3yon er in the +est, tho%,h +e cannot see it(3 E*ily alrea y perceive a chan,e in the cli*ate, fro* that of the +il an *o%ntaino%s tract she ha left/ an , as she contin%e escen in,, the air beca*e perf%*e by the breath of a tho%san na*eless flo+ers a*on, the ,rass, calle forth by the late rain( 'o soothin,ly bea%tif%l +as the scene aro%n her, an so strikin,ly contraste to the ,loo*y ,ran e%r of those, to +hich she ha lon, been confine , an to the *anners of the people, +ho *ove a*on, the*, that she co%l al*ost have fancie herself a,ain at 0a Vallee, an , +on erin, +hy &ontoni ha sent her hither, co%l scarcely believe, that he ha selecte so enchantin, a spot for any cr%el esi,n( It +as, ho+ever, probably not the spot, b%t the persons, +ho happene to inhabit it, an to +hose care he co%l safely co**it the e-ec%tion of his plans, +hatever they *i,ht be, that ha eter*ine his choice(

'he no+ vent%re a,ain to en4%ire, +hether they +ere near the place of their estination, an +as ans+ere by A,o, that they ha not far to ,o( 3Only to the +oo of chesn%ts in the valley yon er,3 sai he, 3there, by the brook, that sparkles +ith the *oon/ I +ish I +as once at rest there, +ith a flask of ,oo +ine, an a slice of T%scany bacon(3 E*ily3s spirits revive , +hen she hear , that the .o%rney +as so nearly concl% e , an sa+ the +oo of chesn%ts in an open part of the vale, on the *ar,in of the strea*( In a short ti*e, they reache the entrance of the +oo , an perceive , bet+een the t+inklin, leaves, a li,ht, strea*in, fro* a istant cotta,e +in o+( They procee e alon, the e ,e of the brook to +here the trees, cro+ in, over it, e-cl% e the *oon6bea*s, b%t a lon, line of li,ht, fro* the cotta,e above, +as seen on its ark tre*%lo%s s%rface( 1ertran no+ steppe on first, an E*ily hear hi* knock, an call lo% ly at the oor( As she reache it, the s*all %pper case*ent, +here the li,ht appeare , +as %nclose by a *an, +ho, havin, en4%ire +hat they +ante , i**e iately escen e , let the* into a neat r%stic cot, an calle %p his +ife to set refresh*ents before the travellers( As this *an converse , rather apart, +ith 1ertran , E*ily an-io%sly s%rveye hi*( He +as a tall, b%t not rob%st, peasant, of a sallo+ co*ple-ion, an ha a shre+ an c%nnin, eye/ his co%ntenance +as not of a character to +in the rea y confi ence of yo%th, an there +as nothin, in his *anner, that *i,ht conciliate a stran,er( A,o calle i*patiently for s%pper, an in a tone as if he kne+ his a%thority here to be %n4%estionable( 3I e-pecte yo% an ho%r a,o,3 sai the peasant, 3for I have ha 'i,nor &ontoni3s letter these three ho%rs, an I an *y +ife ha ,iven yo% %p, an ,one to be ( Ho+ i yo% fare in the stor*B3 3Ill eno%,h,3 replie A,o, 3ill eno%,h an +e are like to fare ill eno%,h here, too, %nless yo% +ill *ake *ore haste( Get %s *ore +ine, an let %s see +hat yo% have to eat(3

The peasant place before the* all, that his cotta,e affor e 7ha*, +ine, fi,s, an ,rapes of s%ch si8e an flavo%r, as E*ily ha sel o* taste ( After takin, refresh*ent, she +as she+n by the peasant3s +ife to her little be 6cha*ber, +here she aske so*e 4%estions concernin, &ontoni, to +hich the +o*an, +hose na*e +as <orina, ,ave reserve ans+ers, preten in, i,norance of his e-cellen8a3s intention in sen in, E*ily hither, b%t ackno+le ,in, that her h%sban ha been appri8e of the circ%*stance( Perceivin,, that she co%l obtain no intelli,ence concernin, her estination, E*ily is*isse <orina, an retire to repose/ b%t all the b%sy scenes of her past an the anticipate ones of the f%t%re ca*e to her an-io%s *in , an conspire +ith the sense of her ne+ sit%ation to banish sleep(

#HAPTER %II
<as nought around but i!ages of rest, 4leep%soothing gro"es, and Cuiet la ns bet een, And flo ery beds that slu!brous influence kept, )ro! poppies breath=d, and banks of pleasant green, <here ne"er yet as creeping creature seen# Meanti!e unnu!bered glittering strea!lets play=d, And hurled e"ery here their ater=s sheen, That, as they bicker=d through the sunny glade, Though restless still the!sel"es, a lulling !ur!ur !ade# T87M47:

:hen E*ily, in the *ornin,, opene her case*ent, she +as s%rprise to observe the bea%ties, that s%rro%n e it( The cotta,e +as nearly e*bo+ere in the +oo s, +hich +ere chiefly of chesn%t inter*i-e +ith so*e cypress, larch an syca*ore( 1eneath the ark an sprea in, branches, appeare , to the north, an to the east, the +oo y Apennines, risin, in *a.estic a*phitheatre, not black +ith pines, as she ha been acc%sto*e to see the*, b%t their loftiest s%**its cro+ne +ith antient forests of chesn%t, oak, an oriental plane, no+ ani*ate +ith the rich tints of

a%t%*n, an +hich s+ept o+n+ar to the valley %ninterr%pte ly, e-cept +here so*e bol rocky pro*ontory looke o%t fro* a*on, the folia,e, an ca%,ht the passin, ,lea*( Vineyar s stretche alon, the feet of the *o%ntains, +here the ele,ant villas of the T%scan nobility fre4%ently a orne the scene, an overlooke slopes clothe +ith ,roves of olive, *%lberry, oran,e an le*on( The plain, to +hich these ecline , +as colo%re +ith the riches of c%ltivation, +hose *in,le h%es +ere *ello+e into har*ony by an Italian s%n( Vines, their p%rple cl%sters bl%shin, bet+een the r%sset folia,e, h%n, in l%-%riant festoons fro* the branches of stan ar fi, an cherry trees, +hile past%res of ver %re, s%ch as E*ily ha sel o* seen in Italy, enriche the banks of a strea* that, after escen in, fro* the *o%ntains, +o%n alon, the lan scape, +hich it reflecte , to a bay of the sea( There, far in the +est, the +aters, fa in, into the sky, ass%*e a tint of the faintest p%rple, an the line of separation bet+een the* +as, no+ an then, iscernible only by the pro,ress of a sail, bri,htene +ith the s%nbea*, alon, the hori8on( The cotta,e, +hich +as sha e by the +oo s fro* the intenser rays of the s%n, an +as open only to his evenin, li,ht, +as covere entirely +ith vines, fi,6trees an .essa*ine, +hose flo+ers s%rpasse in si8e an fra,rance any that E*ily ha seen( These an ripenin, cl%sters of ,rapes h%n, ro%n her little case*ent( The t%rf, that ,re+ %n er the +oo s, +as inlai +ith a variety of +il flo+ers an perf%*e herbs, an , on the opposite *ar,in of the strea*, +hose c%rrent iff%se freshness beneath the sha es, rose a ,rove of le*on an oran,e trees( This, tho%,h nearly opposite to E*ily3s +in o+, i not interr%pt her prospect, b%t rather hei,htene , by its ark ver %re, the effect of the perspective/ an to her this spot +as a bo+er of s+eets, +hose char*s co**%nicate i*perceptibly to her *in so*e+hat of their o+n serenity( 'he +as soon s%**one to breakfast, by the peasant3s a%,hter, a ,irl abo%t seventeen, of a pleasant co%ntenance, +hich, E*ily +as ,la to observe,

see*e ani*ate +ith the p%re affections of nat%re, tho%,h the others, that s%rro%n e her, e-presse , *ore or less, the +orst 4%alities7cr%elty, ferocity, c%nnin, an %plicity/ of the latter style of co%ntenance, especially, +ere those of the peasant an his +ife( &a elina spoke little, b%t +hat she sai +as in a soft voice, an +ith an air of *o esty an co*placency, that intereste E*ily, +ho breakfaste at a separate table +ith <orina, +hile A,o an 1ertran +ere takin, a repast of T%scany bacon an +ine +ith their host, near the cotta,e oor/ +hen they ha finishe +hich, A,o, risin, hastily, en4%ire for his *%le, an E*ily learne that he +as to ret%rn to A olpho, +hile 1ertran re*aine at the cotta,e/ a circ%*stance, +hich, tho%,h it i not s%rprise, istresse her( :hen A,o +as eparte , E*ily propose to +alk in the nei,hbo%rin, +oo s/ b%t, on bein, tol , that she *%st not 4%it the cotta,e, +itho%t havin, 1ertran for her atten ant, she +ith re+ to her o+n roo*( There, as her eyes settle on the to+erin, Apennines, she recollecte the terrific scenery they ha e-hibite an the horrors she ha s%ffere , on the prece in, ni,ht, partic%larly at the *o*ent +hen 1ertran ha betraye hi*self to be an assassin/ an these re*e*brances a+akene a train of i*a,es, +hich, since they abstracte her fro* a consi eration of her o+n sit%ation, she p%rs%e for so*e ti*e, an then arran,e in the follo+in, lines/ please to have iscovere any innocent *eans, by +hich she co%l be,%ile an ho%r of *isfort%ne(
T8E P5&GR5M6 4lo o=er the Apennine, ith bleeding feet, A patient Pilgri! ound his lonely ay, To deck the &ady of &oretto=s seat <ith all the little ealth his Beal could pay# )ro! !ountain%tops cold died the e"ening ray, And, stretch=d in t ilight, slept the "ale belo A And no the last, last purple streaks of day Along the !elancholy <est fade slo # 8igh o=er his head, the restless pines co!plain, As on their su!!it rolls the breeBe of nightA Beneath, the hoarse strea! chides the rocks in "ain' The Pilgri! pauses on the diBBy height# Then to the "ale his cautious step he prest, )or there a her!it=s cross as di!ly seen,

3resting the rock, and there his li!bs !ight rest, 3heer=d in the good !an=s ca"e, by faggot=s sheen, 7n leafy beds, nor guile his sleep !olest# Unhappy &uke> he trusts a treacherous clue> Behind the cliff the lurking robber stoodA :o friendly !oon his giant shado thre Ath art the road, to sa"e the Pilgri!=s bloodA 7n as he ent a "esper%hy!n he sang, The hy!n, that nightly sooth=d hi! to repose# )ierce on his har!less prey the ruffian sprang> The Pilgri! bleeds to death, his eye%lids close# $et his !eek spirit kne no "engeful care, But, dying, for his !urd=rer breath=d?a sainted pray=r>

=G This poe* an that entitle THE TRAVE00ER in vol( ii, have alrea y appeare in a perio ical p%blication( CA( R(D> Preferrin, the solit% e of her roo* to the co*pany of the persons belo+ stairs, E*ily ine above, an &a elina +as s%ffere to atten her, fro* +hose si*ple conversation she learne , that the peasant an his +ife +ere ol inhabitants of this cotta,e, +hich ha been p%rchase for the* by &ontoni, in re+ar of so*e service, ren ere hi*, *any years before, by &arco, to +ho* Carlo, the ste+ar at the castle, +as nearly relate ( 3'o *any years a,o, 'i,nora,3 a e &a elina, 3that I kno+ nothin, abo%t it/ b%t *y father i the 'i,nor a ,reat ,oo , for *y *other has often sai to hi*, this cotta,e +as the least he o%,ht to have ha (3 To the *ention of this circ%*stance E*ily listene +ith a painf%l interest, since it appeare to ,ive a fri,htf%l colo%r to the character of &arco, +hose service, th%s re+ar e by &ontoni, she co%l scarcely o%bt have been cri*inal/ an , if so, ha too *%ch reason to believe, that she ha been co**itte into his han s for so*e esperate p%rpose( 3<i yo% ever hear ho+ *any years it is,3 sai E*ily, +ho +as consi erin, of 'i,nora 0a%rentini3s isappearance fro* A olpho, 3since yo%r father perfor*e the services yo% spoke ofB3 3It +as a little before he ca*e to live at the cotta,e, 'i,nora,3 replie &a elina, 3an that is abo%t ei,hteen years a,o(3

This +as near the perio , +hen 'i,nora 0a%rentini ha been sai to isappear, an it occ%rre to E*ily, that &arco ha assiste in that *ysterio%s affair, an , perhaps, ha been e*ploye in a *%r er? This horrible s%,,estion fi-e her in s%ch profo%n reverie, that &a elina 4%itte the roo*, %nperceive by her, an she re*aine %nconscio%s of all aro%n her, for a consi erable ti*e( Tears, at len,th, ca*e to her relief, after in %l,in, +hich, her spirits beco*in, cal*er, she cease to tre*ble at a vie+ of evils, that *i,ht never arrive/ an ha s%fficient resol%tion to en eavo%r to +ith ra+ her tho%,hts fro* the conte*plation of her o+n interests( Re*e*berin, the fe+ books, +hich even in the h%rry of her epart%re fro* A olpho she ha p%t into her little packa,e, she sat o+n +ith one of the* at her pleasant case*ent, +hence her eyes often +an ere fro* the pa,e to the lan scape, +hose bea%ty ,ra %ally soothe her *in into ,entle *elancholy( Here, she re*aine alone, till evenin,, an sa+ the s%n escen the +estern sky, thro+ all his po*p of li,ht an sha o+ %pon the *o%ntains, an ,lea* %pon the istant ocean an the stealin, sails, as he s%nk a*i st the +aves( Then, at the *%sin, ho%r of t+ili,ht, her softene tho%,hts ret%rne to Valanco%rt/ she a,ain recollecte every circ%*stance, connecte +ith the *i ni,ht *%sic, an all that *i,ht assist her con.ect%re, concernin, his i*prison*ent at the castle, an , beco*in, confir*e in the s%pposition, that it +as his voice she ha hear there, she looke back to that ,loo*y abo e +ith e*otions of ,rief an *o*entary re,ret( Refreshe by the cool an fra,rant air, an her spirits soothe to a state of ,entle *elancholy by the stilly *%r*%r of the brook belo+ an of the +oo s aro%n , she lin,ere at her case*ent lon, after the s%n ha set, +atchin, the valley sinkin, into obsc%rity, till only the ,ran o%tline of the s%rro%n in, *o%ntains, sha o+e %pon the hori8on, re*aine visible( 1%t a clear *oon6 li,ht, that s%ccee e , ,ave to the lan scape, +hat ti*e ,ives to the scenes of past life, +hen it softens all their

harsher feat%res, an thro+s over the +hole the *ello+in, sha e of istant conte*plation( The scenes of 0a Vallee, in the early *orn of her life, +hen she +as protecte an belove by parents e4%ally love , appeare in E*ily3s *e*ory ten erly bea%tif%l, like the prospect before her, an a+akene *o%rnf%l co*parisons( An+illin, to enco%nter the coarse behavio%r of the peasant3s +ife, she re*aine s%pperless in her roo*, +hile she +ept a,ain over her forlorn an perilo%s sit%ation, a revie+ of +hich entirely overca*e the s*all re*ains of her fortit% e, an , re %cin, her to te*porary espon ence, she +ishe to be release fro* the heavy loa of life, that ha so lon, oppresse her, an praye to Heaven to take her, in its *ercy, to her parents( :earie +ith +eepin,, she, at len,th, lay o+n on her *attress, an s%nk to sleep, b%t +as soon a+akene by a knockin, at her cha*ber oor, an , startin, %p in terror, she hear a voice callin, her( The i*a,e of 1ertran , +ith a stilletto in his han , appeare to her alar*e fancy, an she neither opene the oor, or ans+ere , b%t listene in profo%n silence, till, the voice repeatin, her na*e in the sa*e lo+ tone, she e*an e +ho calle ( 3It is I, 'i,nora,3 replie the voice, +hich she no+ istin,%ishe to be &a elina3s, 3pray open the oor( <on3t be fri,htene , it is I(3 3An +hat brin,s yo% here so late, &a E*ily, as she let her in( elinaB3 sai

3H%sh? si,nora, for heaven3s sake h%sh?7if +e are overhear I shall never be for,iven( &y father an *other an 1ertran are all ,one to be ,3 contin%e &a elina, as she ,ently sh%t the oor, an crept for+ar , 3an I have bro%,ht yo% so*e s%pper, for yo% ha none, yo% kno+, 'i,nora, belo+ stairs( Here are so*e ,rapes an fi,s an half a c%p of +ine(3 E*ily thanke her, b%t e-presse apprehension lest this kin ness sho%l ra+ %pon her the resent*ent of <orina, +hen she perceive the fr%it +as ,one( 3Take it back, therefore, &a elina,3 a e E*ily, 3I shall s%ffer *%ch less fro* the +ant of it, than I sho%l o, if this

act of ,oo 6nat%re +as to s%b.ect yo% to yo%r *other3s ispleas%re(3 3O 'i,nora? there is no an,er of that,3 replie &a elina, 3*y *other cannot *iss the fr%it, for I save it fro* *y o+n s%pper( 2o% +ill *ake *e very %nhappy, if yo% ref%se to take it, 'i,nora(3 E*ily +as so *%ch affecte by this instance of the ,oo ,irl3s ,enerosity, that she re*aine for so*e ti*e %nable to reply, an &a elina +atche her in silence, till, *istakin, the ca%se of her e*otion, she sai , 3<o not +eep so, 'i,nora? &y *other, to be s%re, is a little cross, so*eti*es, b%t then it is soon over,7so on3t take it so *%ch to heart( 'he often scol s *e, too, b%t then I have learne to bear it, an , +hen she has one, if I can b%t steal o%t into the +oo s, an play %pon *y sticca o, I for,et it all irectly(3 E*ily, s*ilin, thro%,h her tears, tol &a elina, that she +as a ,oo ,irl, an then accepte her offerin,( 'he +ishe an-io%sly to kno+, +hether 1ertran an <orina ha spoken of &ontoni, or of his esi,ns, concernin, herself, in the presence of &a elina, b%t is aine to te*pt the innocent ,irl to a con %ct so *ean, as that of betrayin, the private conversations of her parents( :hen she +as epartin,, E*ily re4%este , that she +o%l co*e to her roo* as often as she are , +itho%t offen in, her *other, an &a elina, after pro*isin, that she +o%l o so, stole softly back a,ain to her o+n cha*ber( Th%s several ays passe , %rin, +hich E*ily re*aine in her o+n roo*, &a elina atten in, her only at her repast, +hose ,entle co%ntenance an *anners soothe her *ore than any circ%*stance she ha kno+n for *any *onths( Of her pleasant e*bo+ere cha*ber she no+ beca*e fon , an be,an to e-perience in it those feelin,s of sec%rity, +hich +e nat%rally attach to ho*e( In this interval also, her *in , havin, been %n ist%rbe by any ne+ circ%*stance of is,%st, or alar*, recovere its tone s%fficiently to per*it her the en.oy*ent of her books, a*on, +hich she fo%n so*e %nfinishe sketches of lan scapes, several blank sheets of paper, +ith her ra+in,

instr%*ents, an she +as th%s enable to a*%se herself +ith selectin, so*e of the lovely feat%res of the prospect, that her +in o+ co**an e , an co*binin, the* in scenes, to +hich her tastef%l fancy ,ave a last ,race( In these little sketches she ,enerally place interestin, ,ro%ps, characteristic of the scenery they ani*ate , an often contrive to tell, +ith perspic%ity, so*e si*ple an affectin, story, +hen, as a tear fell over the pict%re ,riefs, +hich her i*a,ination re+, she +o%l for,et, for a *o*ent, her real s%fferin,s( Th%s innocently she be,%ile the heavy ho%rs of *isfort%ne, an , +ith *eek patience, a+aite the events of f%t%rity( A bea%tif%l evenin,, that ha s%ccee e to a s%ltry ay, at len,th in %ce E*ily to +alk, tho%,h she kne+ that 1ertran *%st atten her, an , +ith &a elina for her co*panion, she left the cotta,e, follo+e by 1ertran , +ho allo+e her to choose her o+n +ay( The ho%r +as cool an silent, an she co%l not look %pon the co%ntry aro%n her, +itho%t eli,ht( Ho+ lovely, too, appeare the brilliant bl%e, that colo%re all the %pper re,ion of the air, an , thence fa in, o+n+ar , +as lost in the saffron ,lo+ of the hori8on? 9or less so +ere the varie sha es an +ar* colo%rin, of the Apennines, as the evenin, s%n thre+ his slantin, rays ath+art their broken s%rface( E*ily follo+e the co%rse of the strea*, %n er the sha es, that overh%n, its ,rassy *ar,in( On the opposite banks, the past%res +ere ani*ate +ith her s of cattle of a bea%tif%l crea*6colo%r/ an , beyon , +ere ,roves of le*on an oran,e, +ith fr%it ,lo+in, on the branches, fre4%ent al*ost as the leaves, +hich partly conceale it( 'he p%rs%e her +ay to+ar s the sea, +hich reflecte the +ar* ,lo+ of s%n6set, +hile the cliffs, that rose over its e ,e, +ere tinte +ith the last rays( The valley +as ter*inate on the ri,ht by a lofty pro*ontory, +hose s%**it, i*pen in, over the +aves, +as cro+ne +ith a r%ine to+er, no+ servin, for the p%rpose of a beacon, +hose shattere battle*ents an the e-ten e +in,s of so*e sea6fo+l, that circle near it, +ere still ill%*ine by the %p+ar bea*s of the s%n, tho%,h his

isk +as no+ s%nk beneath the hori8on/ +hile the lo+er part of the r%in, the cliff on +hich it stoo an the +aves at its foot, +ere sha e +ith the first tints of t+ili,ht( Havin, reache this hea lan , E*ily ,a8e +ith sole*n pleas%re on the cliffs, that e-ten e on either han alon, the se4%estere shores, so*e cro+ne +ith ,roves of pine, an others e-hibitin, only barren precipices of ,rayish *arble, e-cept +here the cra,s +ere t%fte +ith *yrtle an other aro*atic shr%bs( The sea slept in a perfect cal*/ its +aves, yin, in *%r*%rs on the shores, flo+e +ith the ,entlest %n %lation, +hile its clear s%rface reflecte in softene bea%ty the ver*eil tints of the +est( E*ily, as she looke %pon the ocean, tho%,ht of )rance an of past ti*es, an she +ishe , Oh? ho+ ar ently, an vainly7+ishe ? that its +aves +o%l bear her to her istant, native ho*e? 3Ah? that vessel,3 sai she, 3that vessel, +hich ,li es alon, so stately, +ith its tall sails reflecte in the +ater is, perhaps, bo%n for )rance? Happy7happy bark?3 'he contin%e to ,a8e %pon it, +ith +ar* e*otion, till the ,ray of t+ili,ht obsc%re the istance, an veile it fro* her vie+( The *elancholy so%n of the +aves at her feet assiste the ten erness, that occasione her tears, an this +as the only so%n , that broke %pon the ho%r, till, havin, follo+e the +in in,s of the beach, for so*e ti*e, a chor%s of voices passe her on the air( 'he pa%se a *o*ent, +ishin, to hear *ore, yet fearin, to be seen, an , for the first ti*e, looke back to 1ertran , as her protector, +ho +as follo+in,, at a short istance, in co*pany +ith so*e other person( Reass%re by this circ%*stance, she a vance to+ar s the so%n s, +hich see*e to arise fro* behin a hi,h pro*ontory, that pro.ecte ath+art the beach( There +as no+ a s% en pa%se in the *%sic, an then one fe*ale voice +as hear to sin, in a kin of chant( E*ily 4%ickene her steps, an , +in in, ro%n the rock, sa+, +ithin the s+eepin, bay, beyon , +hich +as h%n, +ith +oo s fro* the bor ers of the beach to the very s%**it of the cliffs, t+o ,ro%ps of peasants, one seate beneath the sha es, an the other stan in, on

the e ,e of the sea, ro%n the ,irl, +ho +as sin,in,, an +ho hel in her han a chaplet of flo+ers, +hich she see*e abo%t to rop into the +aves( E*ily, listenin, +ith s%rprise an attention, istin,%ishe the follo+in, invocation elivere in the p%re an ele,ant ton,%e of T%scany, an acco*panie by a fe+ pastoral instr%*ents(
T7 A 4EA%:$MP8 7 ny!ph> ho lo"es to float on the green a"e, <hen :eptune sleeps beneath the !oon%light hour, &ull=d by the !usic=s !elancholy po =r, 7 ny!ph, arise fro! out thy pearly ca"e> )or 8esper bea!s a!id the t ilight shade, And soon shall 3ynthia tre!ble o=er the tide, Glea! on these cliffs, that bound the ocean=s pride, And lonely silence all the air per"ade# Then, let thy tender "oice at distance s ell, And steal along this solitary shore, 4ink on the breeBe, till dying?heard no !ore? Thou ak=st the sudden !agic of thy shell# <hile the long coast in echo s eet replies, Thy soothing strains the pensi"e heart beguile, And bid the "isions of the future s!ile, 7 ny!ph> fro! out thy pearly ca"e?arise> F3horusG?AR54E> F4e!i%chorusG?AR54E>

The last +or s bein, repeate by the s%rro%n in, ,ro%p, the ,arlan of flo+ers +as thro+n into the +aves, an the chor%s, sinkin, ,ra %ally into a chant, ie a+ay in silence( 3:hat can this *ean, &a elinaB3 sai E*ily, a+akenin, fro* the pleasin, trance, into +hich the *%sic ha l%lle her( 3This is the eve of a festival, 'i,nora,3 replie &a elina/ 3an the peasants then a*%se the*selves +ith all kin s of sports(3 31%t they talke of a sea6ny*ph,3 sai E*ily; 3ho+ ca*e these ,oo people to think of a sea6ny*phB3 3O, 'i,nora,3 re.oine &a elina, *istakin, the reason of E*ily3s s%rprise, 3nobo y 1E0IEVE' in s%ch thin,s, b%t o%r ol son,s tell of the*, an , +hen +e are at o%r

sports, +e so*eti*es sin, to the*, an thro+ ,arlan s into the sea(3 E*ily ha been early ta%,ht to venerate )lorence as the seat of literat%re an of the fine arts/ b%t, that its taste for classic story sho%l escen to the peasants of the co%ntry, occasione her both s%rprise an a *iration( The Arca ian air of the ,irls ne-t attracte her attention( Their ress +as a very short f%ll petticoat of li,ht ,reen, +ith a bo ice of +hite silk/ the sleeves loose, an tie %p at the sho%l ers +ith ribbons an b%nches of flo+ers( Their hair, fallin, in rin,lets on their necks, +as also orna*ente +ith flo+ers, an +ith a s*all stra+ hat, +hich, set rather back+ar an on one si e of the hea , ,ave an e-pression of ,aiety an s*artness to the +hole fi,%re( :hen the son, ha concl% e , several of these ,irls approache E*ily, an , invitin, her to sit o+n a*on, the*, offere her, an &a elina, +ho* they kne+, ,rapes an fi,s( E*ily accepte their co%rtesy, *%ch please +ith the ,entleness an ,race of their *anners, +hich appeare to be perfectly nat%ral to the*/ an +hen 1ertran , soon after, approache , an +as hastily ra+in, her a+ay, a peasant, hol in, %p a flask, invite hi* to rink/ a te*ptation, +hich 1ertran +as sel o* very valiant in resistin,( 30et the yo%n, la y .oin in the ance, *y frien ,3 sai the peasant, 3+hile +e e*pty this flask( They are ,oin, to be,in irectly( 'trike %p? *y la s, strike %p yo%r ta*bo%rines an *erry fl%tes?3 They so%n e ,aily/ an the yo%n,er peasants for*e the*selves into a circle, +hich E*ily +o%l rea ily have .oine , ha her spirits been in %nison +ith their *irth( &a elina, ho+ever, trippe it li,htly, an E*ily, as she looke on the happy ,ro%p, lost the sense of her *isfort%nes in that of a benevolent pleas%re( 1%t the pensive *elancholy of her *in ret%rne , as she sat rather apart fro* the co*pany, listenin, to the *ello+ *%sic, +hich the bree8e softene as it bore it a+ay, an +atchin, the *oon, stealin, its tre*%lo%s li,ht over the

+aves an on the +oo y s%**its of the cliffs, that +o%n alon, these T%scan shores( &ean+hile, 1ertran +as so +ell please +ith his first flask, that he very +illin,ly co**ence the attack on a secon , an it +as late before E*ily, not +itho%t so*e apprehension, ret%rne to the cotta,e( After this evenin,, she fre4%ently +alke +ith &a elina, b%t +as never %natten e by 1ertran / an her *in beca*e by e,rees as tran4%il as the circ%*stances of her sit%ation +o%l per*it( The 4%iet, in +hich she +as s%ffere to live, enco%ra,e her to hope, that she +as not sent hither +ith an evil esi,n/ an , ha it not appeare probable, that Valanco%rt +as at this ti*e an inhabitant of A olpho, she +o%l have +ishe to re*ain at the cotta,e, till an opport%nity sho%l offer of ret%rnin, to her native co%ntry( 1%t, concernin, &ontoni3s *otive for sen in, her into T%scany, she +as *ore than ever perple-e , nor co%l she believe that any consi eration for her safety ha infl%ence hi* on this occasion( 'he ha been so*e ti*e at the cotta,e, before she recollecte , that, in the h%rry of leavin, A olpho, she ha for,otten the papers co**itte to her by her late a%nt, relative to the 0an,%e oc estates/ b%t, tho%,h this re*e*brance occasione her *%ch %neasiness, she ha so*e hope, that, in the obsc%re place, +here they +ere eposite , they +o%l escape the etection of &ontoni(

#HAPTER %III
My tongue hath but a hea"ier tale to say# 5 play the torturer, by s!all and s!all, To lengthen out the orst that !ust be spoken# R538AR( 55

:e no+ ret%rn, for a *o*ent, to Venice, +here Co%nt &orano +as s%fferin, %n er an acc%*%lation of *isfort%nes( 'oon after his arrival in that city, he ha been arreste by or er of the 'enate, an , +itho%t

kno+in, of +hat he +as s%specte , +as conveye to a place of confine*ent, +hither the *ost stren%o%s en4%iries of his frien s ha been %nable to trace hi*( :ho the ene*y +as, that ha occasione hi* this cala*ity, he ha not been able to ,%ess, %nless, in ee , it +as &ontoni, on +ho* his s%spicions reste , an not only +ith *%ch apparent probability, b%t +ith .%stice( In the affair of the poisone c%p, &ontoni ha s%specte &orano/ b%t, bein, %nable to obtain the e,ree of proof, +hich +as necessary to convict hi* of a ,%ilty intention, he ha reco%rse to *eans of other reven,e, than he co%l hope to obtain by prosec%tion( He e*ploye a person, in +ho* he believe he *i,ht confi e, to rop a letter of acc%sation into the <E9A9HIE 'ECRETE, or lions3 *o%ths, +hich are fi-e in a ,allery of the <o,e3s palace, as receptacles for anony*o%s infor*ation, concernin, persons, +ho *ay be isaffecte to+ar s the state( As, on these occasions, the acc%ser is not confronte +ith the acc%se , a *an *ay falsely i*peach his ene*y, an acco*plish an %n.%st reven,e, +itho%t fear of p%nish*ent, or etection( That &ontoni sho%l have reco%rse to these iabolical *eans of r%inin, a person, +ho* he s%specte of havin, atte*pte his life, is not in the least s%rprisin,( In the letter, +hich he ha e*ploye as the instr%*ent of his reven,e, he acc%se &orano of esi,ns a,ainst the state, +hich he atte*pte to prove, +ith all the pla%sible si*plicity of +hich he +as *aster/ an the 'enate, +ith +ho* a s%spicion +as, at that ti*e, al*ost e4%al to a proof, arreste the Co%nt, in conse4%ence of this acc%sation/ an , +itho%t even hintin, to hi* his cri*e, thre+ hi* into one of those secret prisons, +hich +ere the terror of the Venetians, an in +hich persons often lan,%ishe , an so*eti*es ie , +itho%t bein, iscovere by their frien s( &orano ha inc%rre the personal resent*ent of *any *e*bers of the state/ his habits of life ha ren ere hi* obno-io%s to so*e/ an his a*bition, an the bol rivalship, +hich he iscovere , on several p%blic occasions,7to others/ an it +as not to be e-pecte ,

that *ercy +o%l soften the ri,o%r of a la+, +hich +as to be ispense fro* the han s of his ene*ies( &ontoni, *eanti*e, +as beset by an,ers of another kin ( His castle +as besie,e by troops, +ho see*e +illin, to are every thin,, an to s%ffer patiently any har ships in p%rs%it of victory( The stren,th of the fortress, ho+ever, +ithstoo their attack, an this, +ith the vi,oro%s efence of the ,arrison an the scarcity of provision on these +il *o%ntains, soon co*pelle the assailants to raise the sie,e( :hen A olpho +as once *ore left to the 4%iet possession of &ontoni, he ispatche A,o into T%scany for E*ily, +ho* he ha sent fro* consi erations of her personal safety, to a place of ,reater sec%rity, than a castle, +hich +as, at that ti*e, liable to be overr%n by his ene*ies( Tran4%illity bein, once *ore restore to A olpho, he +as i*patient to sec%re her a,ain %n er his roof, an ha co**issione A,o to assist 1ertran in ,%ar in, her back to the castle( Th%s co*pelle to ret%rn, E*ily ba e the kin &a elina fare+ell, +ith re,ret, an , after abo%t a fortni,ht3s stay in T%scany, +here she ha e-perience an interval of 4%iet, +hich +as absol%tely necessary to s%stain her lon,6harasse spirits, be,an once *ore to ascen the Apennines, fro* +hose hei,hts she ,ave a lon, an sorro+f%l look to the bea%tif%l co%ntry, that e-ten e at their feet, an to the istant &e iterranean, +hose +aves she ha so often +ishe +o%l bear her back to )rance( The istress she felt, on her ret%rn to+ar s the place of her for*er s%fferin,s, +as, ho+ever, softene by a con.ect%re, that Valanco%rt +as there, an she fo%n so*e e,ree of co*fort in the tho%,ht of bein, near hi*, not+ithstan in, the consi eration, that he +as probably a prisoner( It +as noon, +hen she ha left the cotta,e, an the evenin, +as close , lon, before she ca*e +ithin the nei,hbo%rhoo of A olpho( There +as a *oon, b%t it shone only at intervals, for the ni,ht +as clo% y, an , li,hte by the torch, +hich A,o carrie , the travellers pace silently alon,, E*ily *%sin, on her sit%ation, an 1ertran an A,o anticipatin, the co*forts of a

flask of +ine an a ,oo fire, for they ha perceive for so*e ti*e the ifference bet+een the +ar* cli*ate of the lo+lan s of T%scany an the nippin, air of these %pper re,ions( E*ily +as, at len,th, ro%se fro* her reverie by the far6off so%n of the castle clock, to +hich she listene not +itho%t so*e e,ree of a+e, as it rolle a+ay on the bree8e( Another an another note s%ccee e , an ie in s%llen *%r*%r a*on, the *o%ntains;7to her *o%rnf%l i*a,ination it see*e a knell *eas%rin, o%t so*e fatef%l perio for her( 3Aye, there is the ol clock,3 sai 1ertran , 3there he is still/ the cannon have not silence hi*?3 39o,3 ans+ere A,o, 3he cro+e as lo% as the best of the* in the *i st of it all( There he +as roarin, o%t in the hottest fire I have seen this *any a ay? I sai that so*e of the* +o%l have a hit at the ol fello+, b%t he escape , an the to+er too(3 The roa +in in, ro%n the base of a *o%ntain, they no+ ca*e +ithin vie+ of the castle, +hich +as she+n in the perspective of the valley by a ,lea* of *oon6 shine, an then vanishe in sha e/ +hile even a transient vie+ of it ha a+akene the poi,nancy of E*ily3s feelin,s( Its *assy an ,loo*y +alls ,ave her terrible i eas of i*prison*ent an s%fferin,; yet, as she a vance , so*e e,ree of hope *in,le +ith her terror/ for, tho%,h this +as certainly the resi ence of &ontoni, it +as possibly, also, that of Valanco%rt, an she co%l not approach a place, +here he *i,ht be, +itho%t e-periencin, so*e+hat of the .oy of hope( They contin%e to +in alon, the valley, an , soon after, she sa+ a,ain the ol +alls an *oon6lit to+ers, risin, over the +oo s; the stron, rays enable her, also, to perceive the rava,es, +hich the sie,e ha *a e,7 +ith the broken +alls, an shattere battle*ents, for they +ere no+ at the foot of the steep, on +hich A olpho stoo ( &assy fra,*ents ha rolle o+n a*on, the +oo s, thro%,h +hich the travellers no+ be,an to ascen , an there *in,le +ith the loose earth, an pieces of rock they ha bro%,ht +ith the*( The +oo s, too, ha s%ffere *%ch fro* the batteries

above, for here the ene*y ha en eavo%re to screen the*selves fro* the fire of the ra*parts( &any noble trees +ere levelle +ith the ,ro%n , an others, to a +i e e-tent, +ere entirely strippe of their %pper branches( 3:e ha better is*o%nt,3 sai A,o, 3an lea the *%les %p the hill, or +e shall ,et into so*e of the holes, +hich the balls have left( Here are plenty of the*( Give *e the torch,3 contin%e A,o, after they ha is*o%nte , 3an take care yo% on3t st%*ble over any thin,, that lies in yo%r +ay, for the ,ro%n is not yet cleare of the ene*y(3 3Ho+?3 e-clai*e E*ily, 3are any of the ene*y here, thenB3 39ay, I on3t kno+ for that, no+,3 he replie , 3b%t +hen I ca*e a+ay I sa+ one or t+o of the* lyin, %n er the trees(3 As they procee e , the torch thre+ a ,loo*y li,ht %pon the ,ro%n , an far a*on, the recesses of the +oo s, an E*ily feare to look for+ar , lest so*e ob.ect of horror sho%l *eet her eye( The path +as often stre+n +ith broken hea s of arro+s, an +ith shattere re*ains of ar*o%r, s%ch as at that perio +as *in,le +ith the li,hter ress of the sol iers( 31rin, the li,ht hither,3 sai 1ertran , 3I have st%*ble over so*ethin,, that rattles lo% eno%,h(3 A,o hol in, %p the torch, they perceive a steel breastplate on the ,ro%n , +hich 1ertran raise , an they sa+, that it +as pierce thro%,h, an that the linin, +as entirely covere +ith bloo / b%t %pon E*ily3s earnest entreaties, that they +o%l procee , 1ertran , %tterin, so*e .oke %pon the %nfort%nate person, to +ho* it ha belon,e , thre+ it har %pon the ,ro%n , an they passe on( At every step she took, E*ily feare to see so*e vesti,e of eath( Co*in, soon after to an openin, in the +oo s, 1ertran stoppe to s%rvey the ,ro%n , +hich +as enc%*bere +ith *assy tr%nks an branches of the trees, that ha so lately a orne it, an see*e to have been a spot partic%larly fatal to the besie,ers/ for it +as evi ent fro* the estr%ction of the

trees, that here the hottest fire of the ,arrison ha been irecte ( As A,o hel a,ain forth the torch, steel ,littere bet+een the fallen trees/ the ,ro%n beneath +as covere +ith broken ar*s, an +ith the torn vest*ents of sol iers, +hose *an,le for*s E*ily al*ost e-pecte to see/ an she a,ain entreate her co*panions to procee , +ho +ere, ho+ever, too intent in their e-a*ination, to re,ar her, an she t%rne her eyes fro* this esolate scene to the castle above, +here she observe li,hts ,li in, alon, the ra*parts( Presently, the castle clock str%ck t+elve, an then a tr%*pet so%n e , of +hich E*ily en4%ire the occasion( 3O? they are only chan,in, +atch,3 replie A,o( 3I o not re*e*ber this tr%*pet,3 sai E*ily, 3it is a ne+ c%sto*(3 3It is only an ol one revive , la y/ +e al+ays %se it in ti*e of +ar( :e have so%n e it, at *i ni,ht, ever since the place +as besie,e (3 3Hark?3 sai E*ily, as the tr%*pet so%n e a,ain/ an , in the ne-t *o*ent, she hear a faint clash of ar*s, an then the +atch+or passe alon, the terrace above, an +as ans+ere fro* a istant part of the castle/ after +hich all +as a,ain still( 'he co*plaine of col , an be,,e to ,o on( 3Presently, la y,3 sai 1ertran , t%rnin, over so*e broken ar*s +ith the pike he %s%ally carrie ( 3:hat have +e hereB3 3Hark?3 crie E*ily, 3+hat noise +as thatB3 3:hat noise +as itB3 sai A,o, startin, %p an listenin,( 3H%sh?3 repeate E*ily( 3It s%rely ca*e fro* the ra*parts above;3 an , on lookin, %p, they perceive a li,ht *ovin, alon, the +alls, +hile, in the ne-t instant, the bree8e s+ellin,, the voice so%n e lo% er than before( 3:ho ,oes yon erB3 crie a sentinel of the castle( 3'peak or it +ill be +orse for yo%(3 1ertran %ttere a sho%t of .oy( 3Hah? *y brave co*ra e, is it yo%B3 sai he, an he ble+ a shrill +histle, +hich si,nal +as ans+ere by another fro* the sol ier on +atch/ an the party, then passin, for+ar , soon after e*er,e fro*

the +oo s %pon the broken roa , that le i**e iately to the castle ,ates, an E*ily sa+, +ith rene+e terror, the +hole of that st%pen o%s str%ct%re( 3Alas?3 sai she to herself, 3I a* ,oin, a,ain into *y prison?3 3Here has been +ar* +ork, by 't( &arco?3 crie 1ertran , +avin, a torch over the ,ro%n / 3the balls have torn %p the earth here +ith a ven,eance(3 3Aye,3 replie A,o, 3they +ere fire fro* that re o%bt, yon er, an rare e-ec%tion they i ( The ene*y *a e a f%rio%s attack %pon the ,reat ,ates/ b%t they *i,ht have ,%esse they co%l never carry it there/ for, besi es the cannon fro* the +alls, o%r archers, on the t+o ro%n to+ers, sho+ere o+n %pon the* at s%ch a rate, that, by holy Peter? there +as no stan in, it( I never sa+ a better si,ht in *y life/ I la%,he , till *y si es ake , to see ho+ the knaves sca*pere ( 1ertran , *y ,oo fello+, tho% sho%l st have been a*on, the*/ I +arrant tho% +o%l st have +on the race?3 3Hah? yo% are at yo%r ol tricks a,ain,3 sai 1ertran in a s%rly tone( 3It is +ell for thee tho% art so near the castle/ tho% kno+est I have kille *y *an before no+(3 A,o replie only by a la%,h, an then ,ave so*e f%rther acco%nt of the sie,e, to +hich as E*ily listene , she +as str%ck by the stron, contrast of the present scene +ith that +hich ha so lately been acte here( The *in,le %proar of cannon, r%*s, an tr%*pets, the ,roans of the con4%ere , an the sho%ts of the con4%erors +ere no+ s%nk into a silence so profo%n , that it see*e as if eath ha tri%*phe alike over the van4%ishe an the victor( The shattere con ition of one of the to+ers of the ,reat ,ates by no *eans confir*e the VA0IA9T acco%nt .%st ,iven by A,o of the sca*perin, party, +ho, it +as evi ent, ha not only *a e a stan , b%t ha one *%ch *ischief before they took to fli,ht/ for this to+er appeare , as far as E*ily co%l .% ,e by the i* *oon6li,ht that fell %pon it, to be lai open, an the battle*ents +ere nearly e*olishe ( :hile she ,a8e , a li,ht ,li**ere thro%,h one of the lo+er loop6holes, an isappeare / b%t, in the ne-t *o*ent, she perceive thro%,h the

broken +all, a sol ier, +ith a la*p, ascen in, the narro+ staircase, that +o%n +ithin the to+er, an , re*e*berin, that it +as the sa*e she ha passe %p, on the ni,ht, +hen 1arnar ine ha el% e her +ith a pro*ise of seein, &a a*e &ontoni, fancy ,ave her so*e+hat of the terror she ha then s%ffere ( 'he +as no+ very near the ,ates, over +hich the sol ier havin, opene the oor of the portal6cha*ber, the la*p he carrie ,ave her a %sky vie+ of that terrible apart*ent, an she al*ost s%nk %n er the recollecte horrors of the *o*ent, +hen she ha ra+n asi e the c%rtain, an iscovere the ob.ect it +as *eant to conceal( 3Perhaps,3 sai she to herself, 3it is no+ %se for a si*ilar p%rpose/ perhaps, that sol ier ,oes, at this ea ho%r, to +atch over the corpse of his frien ?3 The little re*ains of her fortit% e no+ ,ave +ay to the %nite force of re*e*bere an anticipate horrors, for the *elancholy fate of &a a*e &ontoni appeare to foretell her o+n( 'he consi ere , that, tho%,h the 0an,%e oc estates, if she relin4%ishe the*, +o%l satisfy &ontoni3s avarice, they *i,ht not appease his ven,eance, +hich +as sel o* pacifie b%t by a terrible sacrifice/ an she even tho%,ht, that, +ere she to resi,n the*, the fear of .%stice *i,ht %r,e hi* either to etain her a prisoner, or to take a+ay her life( They +ere no+ arrive at the ,ates, +here 1ertran , observin, the li,ht ,li**er thro%,h a s*all case*ent of the portal6cha*ber, calle alo% / an the sol ier, lookin, o%t, e*an e +ho +as there( 3Here, I have bro%,ht yo% a prisoner,3 sai A,o, 3open the ,ate, an let %s in(3 3Tell *e first +ho it is, that e*an s entrance,3 replie the sol ier( 3:hat? *y ol co*ra e,3 crie A,o, 3 on3t yo% kno+ *eB not kno+ A,oB I have bro%,ht ho*e a prisoner here, bo%n han an foot7a fello+, +ho has been rinkin, T%scany +ine, +hile +e here have been fi,htin,(3

32o% +ill not rest till yo% *eet +ith yo%r *atch,3 sai 1ertran s%llenly( 3Hah? *y co*ra e, is it yo%B3 sai the sol ier73I3ll be +ith yo% irectly(3 E*ily presently hear his steps escen in, the stairs +ithin, an then the heavy chain fall, an the bolts %n ra+ of a s*all postern oor, +hich he opene to a *it the party( He hel the la*p lo+, to she+ the step of the ,ate, an she fo%n herself once *ore beneath the ,loo*y arch, an hear the oor close, that see*e to sh%t her fro* the +orl for ever( In the ne-t *o*ent, she +as in the first co%rt of the castle, +here she s%rveye the spacio%s an solitary area, +ith a kin of cal* espair/ +hile the ea ho%r of the ni,ht, the ,othic ,loo* of the s%rro%n in, b%il in,s, an the hollo+ an i*perfect echoes, +hich they ret%rne , as A,o an the sol ier converse to,ether, assiste to increase the *elancholy forebo in,s of her heart( Passin, on to the secon co%rt, a istant so%n broke feebly on the silence, an ,ra %ally s+ellin, lo% er, as they a vance , E*ily istin,%ishe voices of revelry an la%,hter, b%t they +ere to her far other than so%n s of .oy( 3:hy, yo% have ,ot so*e T%scany +ine a*on, yo%, HERE,3 sai 1ertran , 3if one *ay .% ,e by the %proar that is ,oin, for+ar ( A,o has taken a lar,er share of that than of fi,htin,, I3ll be s+orn( :ho is caro%sin, at this late ho%rB3 3His e-cellen8a an the 'i,nors,3 replie the sol ier; 3it is a si,n yo% are a stran,er at the castle, or yo% +o%l not nee to ask the 4%estion( They are brave spirits, that o +itho%t sleep7they ,enerally pass the ni,ht in ,oo cheer/ +o%l that +e, +ho keep the +atch, ha a little of it? It is col +ork, pacin, the ra*parts so *any ho%rs of the ni,ht, if one has no ,oo li4%or to +ar* one3s heart(3 3Co%ra,e, *y la , co%ra,e o%,ht to +ar* yo%r heart,3 sai A,o( 3Co%ra,e?3 replie the sol ier sharply, +ith a *enacin, air, +hich A,o perceivin,, prevente his sayin, *ore, by ret%rnin, to the s%b.ect of the caro%sal( 3This is a ne+ c%sto*,3 sai he/ 3+hen I left the castle, the 'i,nors %se to sit %p co%nsellin,(3

3Aye, an for that *atter, caro%sin, too,3 replie the sol ier, 3b%t, since the sie,e, they have one nothin, b%t *ake *erry; an if I +as they, I +o%l settle acco%nts +ith *yself, for all *y har fi,htin,, the sa*e +ay(3 They ha no+ crosse the secon co%rt, an reache the hall oor, +hen the sol ier, bi in, the* ,oo ni,ht, hastene back to his post/ an , +hile they +aite for a *ittance, E*ily consi ere ho+ she *i,ht avoi seein, &ontoni, an retire %nnotice to her for*er apart*ent, for she shr%nk fro* the tho%,ht of enco%nterin, either hi*, or any of his party, at this ho%r( The %proar +ithin the castle +as no+ so lo% , that, tho%,h A,o knocke repeate ly at the hall oor, he +as not hear by any of the servants, a circ%*stance, +hich increase E*ily3s alar*, +hile it allo+e her ti*e to eliberate on the *eans of retirin, %nobserve / for, tho%,h she *i,ht, perhaps, pass %p the ,reat stair6case %nseen, it +as i*possible she co%l fin the +ay to her cha*ber, +itho%t a li,ht, the iffic%lty of proc%rin, +hich, an the an,er of +an erin, abo%t the castle, +itho%t one, i**e iately str%ck her( 1ertran ha only a torch, an she kne+, that the servants never bro%,ht a taper to the oor, for the hall +as s%fficiently li,hte by the lar,e tripo la*p, +hich h%n, in the va%lte roof/ an , +hile she sho%l +ait till Annette co%l brin, a taper, &ontoni, or so*e of his co*panions, *i,ht iscover her( The oor +as no+ opene by Carlo/ an E*ily, havin, re4%este hi* to sen Annette i**e iately +ith a li,ht to the ,reat ,allery, +here she eter*ine to a+ait her, passe on +ith hasty steps to+ar s the stair6case/ +hile 1ertran an A,o, +ith the torch, follo+e ol Carlo to the servants3 hall, i*patient for s%pper an the +ar* bla8e of a +oo fire( E*ily, li,hte only by the feeble rays, +hich the la*p above thre+ bet+een the arches of this e-tensive hall, en eavo%re to fin her +ay to the stair6case, no+ hi in obsc%rity/ +hile the sho%ts of *erri*ent, that b%rst fro* a re*ote apart*ent, serve , by hei,htenin, her terror, to increase her perple-ity, an she e-pecte , every instant, to see the oor of that

roo* open, an &ontoni an his co*panions iss%e forth( Havin,, at len,th, reache the stair6case, an fo%n her +ay to the top, she seate herself on the last stair, to a+ait the arrival of Annette/ for the profo%n arkness of the ,allery eterre her fro* procee in, farther, an , +hile she listene for her footstep, she hear only istant so%n s of revelry, +hich rose in s%llen echoes fro* a*on, the arca es belo+( Once she tho%,ht she hear a lo+ so%n fro* the ark ,allery behin her/ an , t%rnin, her eyes, fancie she sa+ so*ethin, l%*ino%s *ove in it/ an , since she co%l not, at this *o*ent, s%b %e the +eakness that ca%se her fears, she 4%itte her seat, an crept softly o+n a fe+ stairs lo+er( Annette not yet appearin,, E*ily no+ concl% e , that she +as ,one to be , an that nobo y chose to call her %p/ an the prospect, that presente itself, of passin, the ni,ht in arkness, in this place, or in so*e other e4%ally forlorn =for she kne+ it +o%l be i*practicable to fin her +ay thro%,h the intricacies of the ,alleries to her cha*ber>, re+ tears of *in,le terror an espon ency fro* her eyes( :hile th%s she sat, she fancie she hear a,ain an o so%n fro* the ,allery, an she listene , scarcely arin, to breathe, b%t the increasin, voices belo+ overca*e every other so%n ( 'oon after, she hear &ontoni an his co*panions b%rst into the hall, +ho spoke, as if they +ere *%ch into-icate , an see*e to be a vancin, to+ar s the stair6case( 'he no+ re*e*bere , that they *%st co*e this +ay to their cha*bers, an , for,ettin, all the terrors of the ,allery, h%rrie to+ar s it +ith an intention of secretin, herself in so*e of the passa,es, that opene beyon , an of en eavo%rin,, +hen the 'i,nors +ere retire , to fin her +ay to her o+n roo*, or to that of Annette, +hich +as in a re*ote part of the castle( :ith e-ten e ar*s, she crept alon, the ,allery, still hearin, the voices of persons belo+, +ho see*e to stop in conversation at the foot of the stair6case, an then pa%sin, for a *o*ent to listen, half fearf%l of ,oin, f%rther into the arkness of the ,allery, +here she

still i*a,ine , fro* the noise she ha hear , that so*e person +as l%rkin,, 3They are alrea y infor*e of *y arrival,3 sai she, 3an &ontoni is co*in, hi*self to seek *e? In the present state of his *in , his p%rpose *%st be esperate(3 Then, recollectin, the scene, that ha passe in the corri or, on the ni,ht prece in, her epart%re fro* the castle, 3O Valanco%rt?3 sai she, 3I *%st then resi,n yo% for ever( To brave any lon,er the in.%stice of &ontoni, +o%l not be fortit% e, b%t rashness(3 'till the voices belo+ i not ra+ nearer, b%t they beca*e lo% er, an she istin,%ishe those of Vere88i an 1ertolini above the rest, +hile the fe+ +or s she ca%,ht *a e her listen *ore an-io%sly for others( The conversation see*e to concern herself/ an , havin, vent%re to step a fe+ paces nearer to the stair6case, she iscovere , that they +ere isp%tin, abo%t her, each see*in, to clai* so*e for*er pro*ise of &ontoni, +ho appeare , at first, incline to appease an to pers%a e the* to ret%rn to their +ine, b%t after+ar s to be +eary of the isp%te, an , sayin, that he left the* to settle it as they co%l , +as ret%rnin, +ith the rest of the party to the apart*ent he ha .%st 4%itte ( Vere88i then stoppe hi*( 3:here is sheB 'i,nor,3 sai he, in a voice of i*patience; 3tell %s +here she is(3 3I have alrea y tol yo% that I o not kno+,3 replie &ontoni, +ho see*e to be so*e+hat overco*e +ith +ine/ 3b%t she is *ost probably ,one to her apart*ent(3 Vere88i an 1ertolini no+ esiste fro* their en4%iries, an spran, to the stair6case to,ether, +hile E*ily, +ho, %rin, this isco%rse, ha tre*ble so e-cessively, that she ha +ith iffic%lty s%pporte herself, see*e inspire +ith ne+ stren,th, the *o*ent she hear the so%n of their steps, an ran alon, the ,allery, ark as it +as, +ith the fleetness of a fa+n( 1%t, lon, before she reache its e-tre*ity, the li,ht, +hich Vere88i carrie , flashe %pon the +alls/ both appeare , an , instantly perceivin, E*ily, p%rs%e her( At this *o*ent, 1ertolini, +hose steps, tho%,h s+ift, +ere not stea y, an +hose i*patience overca*e +hat little ca%tion he ha hitherto %se , st%*ble , an fell at his len,th( The la*p fell +ith hi*, an +as presently e-pirin, on the floor/ b%t Vere88i, re,ar less

of savin, it, sei8e the a vanta,e this acci ent ,ave hi* over his rival, an follo+e E*ily, to +ho*, ho+ever, the li,ht ha sho+n one of the passa,es that branche fro* the ,allery, an she instantly t%rne into it( Vere88i co%l .%st iscern the +ay she ha taken, an this he p%rs%e / b%t the so%n of her steps soon s%nk in istance, +hile he, less ac4%ainte +ith the passa,e, +as obli,e to procee thro%,h the ark, +ith ca%tion, lest he sho%l fall o+n a fli,ht of steps, s%ch as in this e-tensive ol castle fre4%ently ter*inate an aven%e( This passa,e at len,th bro%,ht E*ily to the corri or, into +hich her o+n cha*ber opene , an , not hearin, any footstep, she pa%se to take breath, an consi er +hat +as the safest esi,n to be a opte ( 'he ha follo+e this passa,e, *erely beca%se it +as the first that appeare , an no+ that she ha reache the en of it, +as as perple-e as before( :hither to ,o, or ho+ f%rther to fin her +ay in the ark, she kne+ not/ she +as a+are only that she *%st not seek her apart*ent, for there she +o%l certainly be so%,ht, an her an,er increase every instant, +hile she re*aine near it( Her spirits an her breath, ho+ever, +ere so *%ch e-ha%ste , that she +as co*pelle to rest, for a fe+ *in%tes, at the en of the passa,e, an still she hear no steps approachin,( As th%s she stoo , li,ht ,li**ere %n er an opposite oor of the ,allery, an , fro* its sit%ation, she kne+, that it +as the oor of that *ysterio%s cha*ber, +here she ha *a e a iscovery so shockin,, that she never re*e*bere it b%t +ith the %t*ost horror( That there sho%l be li,ht in this cha*ber, an at this ho%r, e-cite her stron, s%rprise, an she felt a *o*entary terror concernin, it, +hich i not per*it her to look a,ain, for her spirits +ere no+ in s%ch a state of +eakness, that she al*ost e-pecte to see the oor slo+ly open, an so*e horrible ob.ect appear at it( 'till she listene for a step alon, the passa,e, an looke %p it, +here, not a ray of li,ht appearin,, she concl% e , that Vere88i ha ,one back for the la*p/ an , believin, that he +o%l shortly be there, she a,ain consi ere +hich +ay she sho%l ,o, or rather +hich +ay she co%l fin in the ark(

A faint ray still ,li**ere %n er the opposite oor, b%t so ,reat, an , perhaps, so .%st +as her horror of that cha*ber, that she +o%l not a,ain have te*pte its secrets, tho%,h she ha been certain of obtainin, the li,ht so i*portant to her safety( 'he +as still breathin, +ith iffic%lty, an restin, at the en of the passa,e, +hen she hear a r%stlin, so%n , an then a lo+ voice, so very near her, that it see*e close to her ear/ b%t she ha presence of *in to check her e*otions, an to re*ain 4%ite still/ in the ne-t *o*ent, she perceive it to be the voice of Vere88i, +ho i not appear to kno+, that she +as there, b%t to have spoken to hi*self( 3The air is fresher here,3 sai he; 3this sho%l be the corri or(3 Perhaps, he +as one of those heroes, +hose co%ra,e can efy an ene*y better than arkness, an he trie to rally his spirits +ith the so%n of his o+n voice( Ho+ever this *i,ht be, he t%rne to the ri,ht, an procee e , +ith the sa*e stealin, steps, to+ar s E*ily3s apart*ent, apparently for,ettin,, that, in arkness, she co%l easily el% e his search, even in her cha*ber/ an , like an into-icate person, he follo+e pertinacio%sly the one i ea, that ha possesse his i*a,ination( The *o*ent she hear his steps steal a+ay, she left her station an *ove softly to the other en of the corri or, eter*ine to tr%st a,ain to chance, an to 4%it it by the first aven%e she co%l fin / b%t, before she co%l effect this, li,ht broke %pon the +alls of the ,allery, an , lookin, back, she sa+ Vere88i crossin, it to+ar s her cha*ber( 'he no+ ,li e into a passa,e, that opene on the left, +itho%t, as she tho%,ht, bein, perceive / b%t, in the ne-t instant, another li,ht, ,li**erin, at the f%rther en of this passa,e, thre+ her into ne+ terror( :hile she stoppe an hesitate +hich +ay to ,o, the pa%se allo+e her to perceive, that it +as Annette, +ho a vance , an she h%rrie to *eet her; b%t her i*pr% ence a,ain alar*e E*ily, on perceivin, +ho*, she b%rst into a screa* of .oy, an it +as so*e *in%tes, before she co%l be prevaile +ith to be silent, or to release her *istress fro* the ar ent clasp, in +hich she hel her( :hen, at len,th, E*ily

*a e Annette co*prehen her an,er, they h%rrie to+ar s Annette3s roo*, +hich +as in a istant part of the castle( 9o apprehensions, ho+ever, co%l yet silence the latter( 3Oh ear *a3a*selle,3 sai she, as they passe alon,, 3+hat a terrifie ti*e have I ha of it? Oh? I tho%,ht I sho%l have ie an h%n re ti*es? I never tho%,ht I sho%l live to see yo% a,ain? an I never +as so ,la to see any bo y in *y +hole life, as I a* to see yo% no+(3 3Hark?3 crie E*ily, 3+e are p%rs%e / that +as the echo of steps?3 39o, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3it +as only the echo of a oor sh%ttin,/ so%n r%ns alon, these va%lte passa,es so, that one is contin%ally eceive by it/ if one oes b%t speak, or co%,h, it *akes a noise as lo% as a cannon(3 3Then there is the ,reater necessity for %s to be silent,3 sai E*ily; 3pr3ythee say no *ore, till +e reach yo%r cha*ber(3 Here, at len,th, they arrive , +itho%t interr%ption, an , Annette havin, fastene the oor, E*ily sat o+n on her little be , to recover breath an co*pos%re( To her en4%iry, +hether Valanco%rt +as a*on, the prisoners in the castle, Annette replie , that she ha not been able to hear, b%t that she kne+ there +ere several persons confine ( 'he then procee e , in her te io%s +ay, to ,ive an acco%nt of the sie,e, or rather a etail of her terrors an vario%s s%fferin,s, %rin, the attack( 31%t,3 a e she, 3+hen I hear the sho%ts of victory fro* the ra*parts, I tho%,ht +e +ere all taken, an ,ave *yself %p for lost, instea of +hich, :E ha riven the ene*y a+ay( I +ent then to the north ,allery, an sa+ a ,reat *any of the* sca*perin, a+ay a*on, the *o%ntains/ b%t the ra*part +alls +ere all in r%ins, as one *ay say, an there +as a is*al si,ht to see o+n a*on, the +oo s belo+, +here the poor fello+s +ere lyin, in heaps, b%t +ere carrie off presently by their co*ra es( :hile the sie,e +as ,oin, on, the 'i,nor +as here, an there, an every +here, at the sa*e ti*e, as 0% ovico tol *e, for he +o%l not let *e see any thin, har ly, an locke *e %p, as he has often one before, in a roo* in the *i le of the castle, an %se to brin, *e foo , an co*e an talk +ith *e as often as he co%l / an I *%st

say, if it ha not been for 0% ovico, I sho%l have ie o%tri,ht(3 3:ell, Annette,3 sai E*ily, 3an ho+ have affairs ,one on, since the sie,eB3 3O? sa h%rly b%rly oin,s, *a3a*selle,3 replie Annette/ 3the 'i,nors have one nothin, b%t sit an rink an ,a*e, ever since( They sit %p, all ni,ht, an play a*on, the*selves, for all those riches an fine thin,s, they bro%,ht in, so*e ti*e since, +hen they %se to ,o o%t a6robbin,, or as ,oo , for ays to,ether/ an then they have rea f%l 4%arrels abo%t +ho loses, an +ho +ins( That fierce 'i,nor Vere88i is al+ays losin,, as they tell *e, an 'i,nor Orsino +ins fro* hi*, an this *akes hi* very +roth, an they have ha several har set6to3s abo%t it( Then, all those fine la ies are at the castle still/ an I eclare I a* fri,hte , +henever I *eet any of the* in the passa,es(37 3'%rely, Annette,3 sai E*ily startin,, 3I hear a noise; listen(3 After a lon, pa%se, 39o, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, 3it +as only the +in in the ,allery/ I often hear it, +hen it shakes the ol oors, at the other en ( 1%t +on3t yo% ,o to be , *a3a*selleB yo% s%rely +ill not sit %p starvin,, all ni,ht(3 E*ily no+ lai herself o+n on the *attress, an esire Annette to leave the la*p b%rnin, on the hearth/ havin, one +hich, the latter place herself besi e E*ily, +ho, ho+ever, +as not s%ffere to sleep, for she a,ain tho%,ht she hear a noise fro* the passa,e/ an Annette +as a,ain tryin, to convince her, that it +as only the +in , +hen footsteps +ere istinctly hear near the oor( Annette +as no+ startin, fro* the be , b%t E*ily prevaile +ith her to re*ain there, an listene +ith her in a state of terrible e-pectation( The steps still loitere at the oor, +hen presently an atte*pt +as *a e on the lock, an , in the ne-t instant, a voice calle ( 3)or heaven3s sake, Annette, o not ans+er,3 sai E*ily softly, 3re*ain 4%ite still/ b%t I fear +e *%st e-tin,%ish the la*p, or its ,lare +ill betray %s(3 3Holy Vir,in?3 e-clai*e Annette, for,ettin, her iscretion, 3I +o%l not be in arkness no+ for the +hole +orl (3 :hile she spoke, the voice beca*e lo% er than before, an

repeate Annette3s na*e/ 31lesse Vir,in?3 crie she s% enly, 3it is only 0% ovico(3 'he rose to open the oor, b%t E*ily prevente her, till they sho%l be *ore certain, that it +as he alone/ +ith +ho* Annette, at len,th, talke for so*e ti*e, an learne , that he +as co*e to en4%ire after herself, +ho* he ha let o%t of her roo* to ,o to E*ily, an that he +as no+ ret%rne to lock her in a,ain( E*ily, fearf%l of bein, overhear , if they converse any lon,er thro%,h the oor, consente that it sho%l be opene , an a yo%n, *an appeare , +hose open co%ntenance confir*e the favo%rable opinion of hi*, +hich his care of Annette ha alrea y pro*pte her to for*( 'he entreate his protection, sho%l Vere88i *ake this re4%isite/ an 0% ovico offere to pass the ni,ht in an ol cha*ber, a .oinin,, that opene fro* the ,allery, an , on the first alar*, to co*e to their efence( E*ily +as *%ch soothe by this proposal/ an 0% ovico, havin, li,hte his la*p, +ent to his station, +hile she, once *ore, en eavo%re to repose on her *attress( 1%t a variety of interests presse %pon her attention, an prevente sleep( 'he tho%,ht *%ch on +hat Annette ha tol her of the issol%te *anners of &ontoni an his associates, an *ore of his present con %ct to+ar s herself, an of the an,er, fro* +hich she ha .%st escape ( )ro* the vie+ of her present sit%ation she shr%nk, as fro* a ne+ pict%re of terror( 'he sa+ herself in a castle, inhabite by vice an violence, seate beyon the reach of la+ or .%stice, an in the po+er of a *an, +hose perseverance +as e4%al to every occasion, an in +ho* passions, of +hich reven,e +as not the +eakest, entirely s%pplie the place of principles( 'he +as co*pelle , once *ore, to ackno+le ,e, that it +o%l be folly, an not fortit% e, any lon,er to are his po+er/ an , resi,nin, all hopes of f%t%re happiness +ith Valanco%rt, she eter*ine , that, on the follo+in, *ornin,, she +o%l co*pro*ise +ith &ontoni, an ,ive %p her estates, on con ition, that he +o%l per*it her i**e iate ret%rn to )rance( '%ch consi erations kept her +akin, for *any ho%rs/

b%t, the ni,ht passe , +itho%t f%rther alar* fro* Vere88i( On the ne-t *ornin,, E*ily ha a lon, conversation +ith 0% ovico, in +hich she hear circ%*stances concernin, the castle, an receive hints of the esi,ns of &ontoni, that consi erably increase her alar*s( On e-pressin, her s%rprise, that 0% ovico, +ho see*e to be so sensible of the evils of his sit%ation, sho%l contin%e in it, he infor*e her, that it +as not his intention to o so, an she then vent%re to ask hi*, if he +o%l assist her to escape fro* the castle( 0% ovico ass%re her of his rea iness to atte*pt this, b%t stron,ly represente the iffic%lty of the enterprise, an the certain estr%ction +hich *%st ens%re, sho%l &ontoni overtake the*, before they ha passe the *o%ntains/ he, ho+ever, pro*ise to be +atchf%l of every circ%*stance, that *i,ht contrib%te to the s%ccess of the atte*pt, an to think %pon so*e plan of epart%re( E*ily no+ confi e to hi* the na*e of Valanco%rt, an be,,e he +o%l en4%ire for s%ch a person a*on, the prisoners in the castle/ for the faint hope, +hich this conversation a+akene , *a e her no+ rece e fro* her resol%tion of an i**e iate co*pro*ise +ith &ontoni( 'he eter*ine , if possible, to elay this, till she hear f%rther fro* 0% ovico, an , if his esi,ns +ere fo%n to be i*practicable, to resi,n the estates at once( Her tho%,hts +ere on this s%b.ect, +hen &ontoni, +ho +as no+ recovere fro* the into-ication of the prece in, ni,ht, sent for her, an she i**e iately obeye the s%**ons( He +as alone( 3I fin ,3 sai he, 3that yo% +ere not in yo%r cha*ber, last ni,ht/ +here +ere yo%B3 E*ily relate to hi* so*e circ%*stances of her alar*, an entreate his protection fro* a repetition of the*( 32o% kno+ the ter*s of *y protection,3 sai he/ 3if yo% really val%e this, yo% +ill sec%re it(3 His open eclaration, that he +o%l only con itionally protect her, +hile she re*aine a prisoner in the castle, she+e E*ily the necessity of an i**e iate co*pliance +ith his ter*s/ b%t she first e*an e , +hether he +o%l per*it her i**e iately to epart, if she ,ave %p her clai* to the conteste estates( In a very sole*n *anner

he then ass%re her, that he +o%l , an i**e iately lai before her a paper, +hich +as to transfer the ri,ht of those estates to hi*self( 'he +as, for a consi erable ti*e, %nable to si,n it, an her heart +as torn +ith conten in, interests, for she +as abo%t to resi,n the happiness of all her f%t%re years 7the hope, +hich ha s%staine her in so *any ho%rs of a versity( After hearin, fro* &ontoni a recapit%lation of the con itions of her co*pliance, an a re*onstrance, that his ti*e +as val%able, she p%t her han to the paper/ +hen she ha one +hich, she fell back in her chair, b%t soon recovere , an esire , that he +o%l ,ive or ers for her epart%re, an that he +o%l allo+ Annette to acco*pany her( &ontoni s*ile ( 3It +as necessary to eceive yo%,3 sai he,73there +as no other +ay of *akin, yo% act reasonably/ yo% shall ,o, b%t it *%st not be at present( I *%st first sec%re these estates by possession; +hen that is one, yo% *ay ret%rn to )rance if yo% +ill(3 The eliberate villany, +ith +hich he violate the sole*n en,a,e*ent he ha .%st entere into, shocke E*ily as *%ch, as the certainty, that she ha *a e a fr%itless sacrifice, an *%st still re*ain his prisoner( 'he ha no +or s to e-press +hat she felt, an kne+, that it +o%l have been %seless, if she ha ( As she looke piteo%sly at &ontoni, he t%rne a+ay, an at the sa*e ti*e esire she +o%l +ith ra+ to her apart*ent/ b%t, %nable to leave the roo*, she sat o+n in a chair near the oor, an si,he heavily( 'he ha neither +or s nor tears( 3:hy +ill yo% in %l,e this chil ish ,riefB3 sai he( 3En eavo%r to stren,then yo%r *in , to bear patiently +hat cannot no+ be avoi e / yo% have no real evil to la*ent/ be patient, an yo% +ill be sent back to )rance( At present retire to yo%r apart*ent(3 3I are not ,o, sir,3 sai she, 3+here I shall be liable to the intr%sion of 'i,nor Vere88i(3 3Have I not pro*ise to protect yo%B3 sai &ontoni( 32o% have pro*ise , sir,37replie E*ily, after so*e hesitation( 3An is not

*y pro*ise s%fficientB3 a e he sternly( 32o% +ill recollect yo%r for*er pro*ise, 'i,nor,3 sai E*ily, tre*blin,, 3an *ay eter*ine for *e, +hether I o%,ht to rely %pon this(3 3:ill yo% provoke *e to eclare to yo%, that I +ill not protect yo% thenB3 sai &ontoni, in a tone of ha%,hty ispleas%re( 3If that +ill satisfy yo%, I +ill o it i**e iately( :ith ra+ to yo%r cha*ber, before I retract *y pro*ise/ yo% have nothin, to fear there(3 E*ily left the roo*, an *ove slo+ly into the hall, +here the fear of *eetin, Vere88i, or 1ertolini, *a e her 4%icken her steps, tho%,h she co%l scarcely s%pport herself/ an soon after she reache once *ore her o+n apart*ent( Havin, looke fearf%lly ro%n her, to e-a*ine if any person +as there, an havin, searche every part of it, she fastene the oor, an sat o+n by one of the case*ents( Here, +hile she looke o%t for so*e hope to s%pport her faintin, spirits, +hich ha been so lon, harasse an oppresse , that, if she ha not no+ str%,,le *%ch a,ainst *isfort%ne, they +o%l have left her, perhaps, for ever, she en eavo%re to believe, that &ontoni i really inten to per*it her ret%rn to )rance as soon as he ha sec%re her property, an that he +o%l , in the *ean ti*e, protect her fro* ins%lt/ b%t her chief hope reste +ith 0% ovico, +ho, she o%bte not, +o%l be 8ealo%s in her ca%se, tho%,h he see*e al*ost to espair of s%ccess in it( One circ%*stance, ho+ever, she ha to re.oice in( Her pr% ence, or rather her fears, ha save her fro* *entionin, the na*e of Valanco%rt to &ontoni, +hich she +as several ti*es on the point of oin,, before she si,ne the paper, an of stip%latin, for his release, if he sho%l be really a prisoner in the castle( Ha she one this, &ontoni3s .ealo%s fears +o%l no+ probably have loa e Valanco%rt +ith ne+ severities, an have s%,,este the a vanta,e of hol in, hi* a captive for life( Th%s passe the *elancholy ay, as she ha before passe *any in this sa*e cha*ber( :hen ni,ht re+ on, she +o%l have +ith ra+n herself to Annette3s be , ha not a partic%lar interest incline her to re*ain in this cha*ber, in spite of her fears/ for, +hen the castle

sho%l be still, an the c%sto*ary ho%r arrive , she eter*ine to +atch for the *%sic, +hich she ha for*erly hear ( Tho%,h its so%n s *i,ht not enable her positively to eter*ine, +hether Valanco%rt +as there, they +o%l perhaps stren,then her opinion that he +as, an i*part the co*fort, so necessary to her present s%pport(71%t, on the other han , if all sho%l be silent 7? 'he har ly are to s%ffer her tho%,hts to ,lance that +ay, b%t +aite , +ith i*patient e-pectation, the approachin, ho%r( The ni,ht +as stor*y/ the battle*ents of the castle appeare to rock in the +in , an , at intervals, lon, ,roans see*e to pass on the air, s%ch as those, +hich often eceive the *elancholy *in , in te*pests, an a*i st scenes of esolation( E*ily hear , as for*erly, the sentinels pass alon, the terrace to their posts, an , lookin, o%t fro* her case*ent, observe , that the +atch +as o%ble / a preca%tion, +hich appeare necessary eno%,h, +hen she thre+ her eyes on the +alls, an sa+ their shattere con ition( The +ell6 kno+n so%n s of the sol iers3 *arch, an of their istant voices, +hich passe her in the +in , an +ere lost a,ain, recalle to her *e*ory the *elancholy sensation she ha s%ffere , +hen she for*erly hear the sa*e so%n s/ an occasione al*ost invol%ntary co*parisons bet+een her present, an her late sit%ation( 1%t this +as no s%b.ect for con,rat%lations, an she +isely checke the co%rse of her tho%,hts, +hile, as the ho%r +as not yet co*e, in +hich she ha been acc%sto*e to hear the *%sic, she close the case*ent, an en eavo%re to a+ait it in patience( The oor of the stair6case she trie to sec%re, as %s%al, +ith so*e of the f%rnit%re of the roo*/ b%t this e-pe ient her fears no+ represente to her to be very ina e4%ate to the po+er an perseverance of Vere88i/ an she often looke at a lar,e an heavy chest, that stoo in the cha*ber, +ith +ishes that she an Annette ha stren,th eno%,h to *ove it( :hile she bla*e the lon, stay of this ,irl, +ho +as still +ith 0% ovico an so*e other of the servants, she tri**e her +oo fire, to *ake the roo* appear less esolate, an sat o+n

besi e it +ith a book, +hich her eyes per%se , +hile her tho%,hts +an ere to Valanco%rt, an her o+n *isfort%nes( As she sat th%s, she tho%,ht, in a pa%se of the +in , she istin,%ishe *%sic, an +ent to the case*ent to listen, b%t the lo% s+ell of the ,%st overca*e every other so%n ( :hen the +in s%nk a,ain, she hear istinctly, in the eep pa%se that s%ccee e , the s+eet strin,s of a l%te/ b%t a,ain the risin, te*pest bore a+ay the notes, an a,ain +as s%ccee e by a sole*n pa%se( E*ily, tre*blin, +ith hope an fear, opene her case*ent to listen, an to try +hether her o+n voice co%l be hear by the *%sician/ for to en %re any lon,er this state of tort%rin, s%spense concernin, Valanco%rt, see*e to be %tterly i*possible( There +as a kin of breathless stillness in the cha*bers, that per*itte her to istin,%ish fro* belo+ the ten er notes of the very l%te she ha for*erly hear , an +ith it, a plaintive voice, *a e s+eeter by the lo+ r%stlin, so%n , that no+ be,an to creep alon, the +oo 6tops, till it +as lost in the risin, +in ( Their tall hea s then be,an to +ave, +hile, thro%,h a forest of pine, on the left, the +in , ,roanin, heavily, rolle on+ar over the +oo s belo+, ben in, the* al*ost to their roots/ an , as the lon,6reso%n in, ,ale s+ept a+ay, other +oo s, on the ri,ht, see*e to ans+er the 3lo% la*ent/3 then, others, f%rther still, softene it into a *%r*%r, that ie into silence( E*ily listene , +ith *in,le a+e an e-pectation, hope an fear/ an a,ain the *eltin, s+eetness of the l%te +as hear , an the sa*e sole*n6breathin, voice( Convince that these ca*e fro* an apart*ent %n erneath, she leane far o%t of her +in o+, that she *i,ht iscover +hether any li,ht +as there/ b%t the case*ents belo+, as +ell as those above, +ere s%nk so eep in the thick +alls of the castle, that she co%l not see the*, or even the faint ray, that probably ,li**ere thro%,h their bars( 'he then vent%re to call/ b%t the +in bore her voice to the other en of the terrace, an then the *%sic +as hear as before, in the pa%se of the ,%st( '% enly, she tho%,ht she hear a noise in her cha*ber, an she re+ herself +ithin the case*ent/ b%t, in a *o*ent after, istin,%ishin,

Annette3s voice at the oor, she concl% e it +as her she ha hear before, an she let her in( 3&ove softly, Annette, to the case*ent,3 sai she, 3an listen +ith *e/ the *%sic is ret%rne (3 They +ere silent till, the *eas%re chan,in,, Annette e-clai*e , 3Holy Vir,in? I kno+ that son, +ell/ it is a )rench son,, one of the favo%rite son,s of *y ear co%ntry(3 This +as the balla E*ily ha hear on a for*er ni,ht, tho%,h not the one she ha first listene to fro* the fishin,6ho%se in Gascony( 3O? it is a )rench*an, that sin,s,3 sai Annette; 3it *%st be &onsie%r Valanco%rt(3 3Hark? Annette, o not speak so lo% ,3 sai E*ily, 3+e *ay be overhear (3 3:hat? by the ChevalierB3 sai Annette( 39o,3 replie E*ily *o%rnf%lly, 3b%t by so*ebo y, +ho *ay report %s to the 'i,nor( :hat reason have yo% to think it is &onsie%r Valanco%rt, +ho sin,sB 1%t hark? no+ the voice s+ells lo% er? <o yo% recollect those tonesB I fear to tr%st *y o+n .% ,*ent(3 3I never happene to hear the Chevalier sin,, &a e*oiselle,3 replie Annette, +ho, as E*ily +as isappointe to perceive, ha no stron,er reason for concl% in, this to be Valanco%rt, than that the *%sician *%st be a )rench*an( 'oon after, she hear the son, of the fishin,6ho%se, an istin,%ishe her o+n na*e, +hich +as repeate so istinctly, that Annette ha hear it also( 'he tre*ble , s%nk into a chair by the +in o+, an Annette calle alo% , 3&onsie%r Valanco%rt? &onsie%r Valanco%rt?3 +hile E*ily en eavo%re to check her, b%t she repeate the call *ore lo% ly than before, an the l%te an the voice s% enly stoppe ( E*ily listene , for so*e ti*e, in a state of intolerable s%spense/ b%t, no ans+er bein, ret%rne , 3It oes not si,nify, &a e*oiselle,3 sai Annette/ 3it is the Chevalier, an I +ill speak to hi*(3 39o, Annette,3 sai E*ily, 3I think I +ill speak *yself/ if it is he, he +ill kno+ *y voice, an speak a,ain(3 3:ho is it,3 sai she, 3that sin,s at this late ho%rB3 A lon, silence ens%e , an , havin, repeate the 4%estion, she perceive so*e faint accents, *in,lin, in the blast, that s+ept by/ b%t the so%n s +ere so istant, an passe so s% enly, that she co%l scarcely hear

the*, *%ch less istin,%ish the +or s they %ttere , or reco,nise the voice( After another pa%se, E*ily calle a,ain/ an a,ain they hear a voice, b%t as faintly as before/ an they perceive , that there +ere other circ%*stances, besi es the stren,th, an irection of the +in , to content +ith/ for the ,reat epth, at +hich the case*ents +ere fi-e in the castle +alls, contrib%te , still *ore than the istance, to prevent artic%late so%n s fro* bein, %n erstoo , tho%,h ,eneral ones +ere easily hear ( E*ily, ho+ever, vent%re to believe, fro* the circ%*stance of her voice alone havin, been ans+ere , that the stran,er +as Valanco%rt, as +ell as that he kne+ her, an she ,ave herself %p to speechless .oy( Annette, ho+ever, +as not speechless(7'he rene+e her calls, b%t receive no ans+er/ an E*ily, fearin,, that a f%rther atte*pt, +hich certainly +as, as present, hi,hly an,ero%s, *i,ht e-pose the* to the ,%ar s of the castle, +hile it co%l not perhaps ter*inate her s%spense, insiste on Annette3s roppin, the en4%iry for this ni,ht/ tho%,h she eter*ine herself to 4%estion 0% ovico, on the s%b.ect, in the *ornin,, *ore %r,ently than she ha yet one( 'he +as no+ enable to say, that the stran,er, +ho* she ha for*erly hear , +as still in the castle, an to irect 0% ovico to that part of it, in +hich he +as confine ( E*ily, atten e by Annette, contin%e at the case*ent, for so*e ti*e, b%t all re*aine still/ they hear neither l%te or voice a,ain, an E*ily +as no+ as *%ch oppresse by an-io%s .oy, as she lately +as by a sense of her *isfort%nes( :ith hasty steps she pace the roo*, no+ half callin, on Valanco%rt3s na*e, then s% enly stoppin,, an no+ ,oin, to the case*ent an listenin,, +here, ho+ever, she hear nothin, b%t the sole*n +avin, of the +oo s( 'o*eti*es her i*patience to speak to 0% ovico pro*pte her to sen Annette to call hi*/ b%t a sense of the i*propriety of this at *i ni,ht restraine her( Annette, *ean+hile, as i*patient as her *istress, +ent as often to the case*ent to listen, an ret%rne al*ost as *%ch isappointe ( 'he, at len,th, *entione 'i,nor Vere88i, an her fear,

lest he sho%l enter the cha*ber by the staircase, oor( 31%t the ni,ht is no+ al*ost past, &a e*oiselle,3 sai she, recollectin, herself/ 3there is the *ornin, li,ht, be,innin, to peep over those *o%ntains yon er in the east(3 E*ily ha for,otten, till this *o*ent, that s%ch a person e-iste as Vere88i, an all the an,er that ha appeare to threaten her/ b%t the *ention of his na*e rene+e her alar*, an she re*e*bere the ol chest, that she ha +ishe to place a,ainst the oor, +hich she no+, +ith Annette, atte*pte to *ove, b%t it +as so heavy, that they co%l not lift it fro* the floor( 3:hat is in this ,reat ol chest, &a e*oiselle,3 sai Annette, 3that *akes it so +ei,htyB3 E*ily havin, replie , 3that she fo%n it in the cha*ber, +hen she first ca*e to the castle, an ha never e-a*ine it(373Then I +ill, *a3a*selle,3 sai Annette, an she trie to lift the li / b%t this +as hel by a lock, for +hich she ha no key, an +hich, in ee , appeare , fro* its pec%liar constr%ction, to open +ith a sprin,( The *ornin, no+ ,li**ere thro%,h the case*ents, an the +in ha s%nk into a cal*( E*ily looke o%t %pon the %sky +oo s, an on the t+ili,ht *o%ntains, .%st stealin, in the eye, an sa+ the +hole scene, after the stor*, lyin, in profo%n stillness, the +oo s *otionless, an the clo% s above, thro%,h +hich the a+n tre*ble , scarcely appearin, to *ove alon, the heavens( One sol ier +as pacin, the terrace beneath, +ith *eas%re steps/ an t+o, *ore istant, +ere s%nk asleep on the +alls, +earie +ith the ni,ht3s +atch( Havin, inhale , for a +hile, the p%re spirit of the air, an of ve,etation, +hich the late rains ha calle forth/ an havin, listene , once *ore, for a note of *%sic, she no+ close the case*ent, an retire to rest(

#HAPTER I%
Thus on the chill &apponian=s dreary land, )or !any a long !onth lost in sno profound,

<hen 4ol fro! 3ancer sends the seasons bland, And in their northern ca"e the stor!s hath boundA )ro! silent !ountains, straight, ith startling sound, Torrents are hurl=d, green hills e!erge, and lo, The trees ith foliage, cliffs ith flo =rs are cro n=dA Pure rills through "ales of "erdure arbling goA And onder, lo"e, and joy, the peasant=s heart o=erflo # BEATT5E

'everal of her s%ccee in, ays passe in s%spense, for 0% ovico co%l only learn fro* the sol iers, that there +as a prisoner in the apart*ent, escribe to hi* by E*ily, an that he +as a )rench*an, +ho* they ha taken in one of their skir*ishes, +ith a party of his co%ntry*en( <%rin, this interval, E*ily escape the persec%tions of 1ertolini, an Vere88i, by confinin, herself to her apart*ent/ e-cept that so*eti*es, in an evenin,, she vent%re to +alk in the a .oinin, corri or( &ontoni appeare to respect his last pro*ise, tho%,h he ha prophane his first/ for to his protection only co%l she attrib%te her present repose/ an in this she +as no+ so sec%re, that she i not +ish to leave the castle, till she co%l obtain so*e certainty concernin, Valanco%rt/ for +hich she +aite , in ee , +itho%t any sacrifice of her o+n co*fort, since no circ%*stance ha occ%rre to *ake her escape probable( On the fo%rth ay, 0% ovico infor*e her, that he ha hopes of bein, a *itte to the presence of the prisoner/ it bein, the t%rn of a sol ier, +ith +ho* he ha been for so*e ti*e fa*iliar, to atten hi* on the follo+in, ni,ht( He +as not eceive in his hope/ for, %n er pretence of carryin, in a pitcher of +ater, he entere the prison, tho%,h, his pr% ence havin, prevente hi* fro* tellin, the sentinel the real *otive of his visit, he +as obli,e to *ake his conference +ith the prisoner a very short one( E*ily a+aite the res%lt in her o+n apart*ent, 0% ovico havin, pro*ise to acco*pany Annette to the corri or, in the evenin,/ +here, after several ho%rs i*patiently co%nte , he arrive ( E*ily, havin, then %ttere the na*e of Valanco%rt, co%l artic%late no

*ore, b%t hesitate in tre*blin, e-pectation( 3The Chevalier +o%l not entr%st *e +ith his na*e, 'i,nora,3 replie 0% ovico/ 3b%t, +hen I .%st *entione yo%rs, he see*e over+hel*e +ith .oy, tho%,h he +as not so *%ch s%rprise as I e-pecte (3 3<oes he then re*e*ber *eB3 she e-clai*e ( 3O? it is &ons( Valanco%rt,3 sai Annette, an looke i*patiently at 0% ovico, +ho %n erstoo her look, an replie to E*ily; 32es, la y, the Chevalier oes, in ee , re*e*ber yo%, an , I a* s%re, has a very ,reat re,ar for yo%, an I *a e bol to say yo% ha for hi*( He then en4%ire ho+ yo% ca*e to kno+ he +as in the castle, an +hether yo% or ere *e to speak to hi*( The first 4%estion I co%l not ans+er, b%t the secon I i / an then he +ent off into his ecstasies a,ain( I +as afrai his .oy +o%l have betraye hi* to the sentinel at the oor(3 31%t ho+ oes he look, 0% ovicoB3 interr%pte E*ily; 3is he not *elancholy an ill +ith this lon, confine*entB373:hy, as to *elancholy, I sa+ no sy*pto* of that, la y, +hile I +as +ith hi*, for he see*e in the finest spirits I ever sa+ any bo y in, in all *y life( His co%ntenance +as all .oy, an , if one *ay .% ,e fro* that, he +as very +ell/ b%t I i not ask hi*(3 3<i he sen *e no *essa,eB3 sai E*ily( 3O yes, 'i,nora, an so*ethin, besi es,3 replie 0% ovico, +ho searche his pockets( 3'%rely, I have not lost it,3 a e he( 3The Chevalier sai , he +o%l have +ritten, *a a*, if he ha ha pen an ink, an +as ,oin, to have sent a very lon, *essa,e, +hen the sentinel entere the roo*, b%t not before he ha ,ive *e this(3 0% ovico then re+ forth a *iniat%re fro* his boso*, +hich E*ily receive +ith a tre*blin, han , an perceive to be a portrait of herself7the very pict%re, +hich her *other ha lost so stran,ely in the fishin,6 ho%se at 0a Vallee( Tears of *in,le .oy an ten erness flo+e to her eyes, +hile 0% ovico procee e 73ETell yo%r la y,E sai the Chevalier, as he ,ave *e the pict%re, Ethat this has been *y co*panion, an only solace in all *y *isfort%nes( Tell her, that I have +orn it ne-t *y heart, an that I

sent it her as the ple ,e of an affection, +hich can never ie/ that I +o%l not part +ith it, b%t to her, for the +ealth of +orl s, an that I no+ part +ith it, only in the hope of soon receivin, it fro* her han s( Tell herE7@%st then, 'i,nora, the sentinel ca*e in, an the Chevalier sai no *ore/ b%t he ha before aske *e to contrive an intervie+ for hi* +ith yo%/ an +hen I tol hi*, ho+ little hope I ha of prevailin, +ith the ,%ar to assist *e, he sai , that +as not, perhaps, of so *%ch conse4%ence as I i*a,ine , an ba e *e contrive to brin, back yo%r ans+er, an he +o%l infor* *e of *ore than he chose to o then( 'o this, I think, la y, is the +hole of +hat passe (3 3Ho+, 0% ovico, shall I re+ar yo% for yo%r 8ealB3 sai E*ily; 3b%t, in ee , I o not no+ possess the *eans( :hen can yo% see the Chevalier a,ainB3 3That is %ncertain, 'i,nora,3 replie he( 3It epen s %pon +ho stan s ,%ar ne-t; there are not *ore than one or t+o a*on, the*, fro* +ho* I +o%l are to ask a *ittance to the prison6cha*ber(3 3I nee not bi yo% re*e*ber, 0% ovico,3 res%*e E*ily, 3ho+ very *%ch intereste I a* in yo%r seein, the Chevalier soon/ an , +hen yo% o so, tell hi*, that I have receive the pict%re, an , +ith the senti*ents he +ishe ( Tell hi* I have s%ffere *%ch, an still s%ffer 73 'he pa%se ( 31%t shall I tell hi* yo% +ill see hi*, la yB3 sai 0% ovico( 3&ost certainly I +ill,3 replie E*ily( 31%t +hen, 'i,nora, an +hereB3 3That *%st epen %pon circ%*stances,3 ret%rne E*ily( 3The place, an the ho%r, *%st be re,%late by his opport%nities(3 3As to the place, *a e*oiselle,3 sai Annette, 3there is no other place in the castle, besi es this corri or, +here :E can see hi* in safety, yo% kno+/ an , as for the ho%r,7it *%st be +hen all the 'i,nors are asleep, if that ever happens?3 32o% *ay *ention these circ%*stances to the Chevalier, 0% ovico,3 sai she, checkin, the flippancy of Annette, 3an leave the* to his .% ,*ent an opport%nity( Tell hi*, *y heart is %nchan,e ( 1%t, above all, let hi* see yo% a,ain as soon as possible/ an , 0% ovico, I think it is nee less

to tell yo% I shall very an-io%sly look for yo%(3 Havin, then +ishe her ,oo ni,ht, 0% ovico escen e the staircase, an E*ily retire to rest, b%t not to sleep, for .oy no+ ren ere her as +akef%l, as she ha ever been fro* ,rief( &ontoni an his castle ha all vanishe fro* her *in , like the fri,htf%l vision of a necro*ancer, an she +an ere , once *ore, in fairy scenes of %nfa in, happiness;
As hen, beneath the bea! 7f su!!er !oons, the distant oods a!ong, 7r by so!e flood, all sil"er=d ith the glea!, The soft e!bodied )ays thro= airy portals strea!#

A +eek elapse , before 0% ovico a,ain visite the prison/ for the sentinels, %rin, that perio , +ere *en, in +ho* he co%l not confi e, an he feare to a+aken c%riosity, by askin, to see their prisoner( In this interval, he co**%nicate to E*ily terrific reports of +hat +as passin, in the castle/ of riots, 4%arrels, an of caro%sals *ore alar*in, than either/ +hile fro* so*e circ%*stances, +hich he *entione , she not only o%bte , +hether &ontoni *eant ever to release her, b%t ,reatly feare , that he ha esi,ns, concernin, her, 7s%ch as she ha for*erly rea e ( Her na*e +as fre4%ently *entione in the conversations, +hich 1ertolini an Vere88i hel to,ether, an , at those ti*es, they +ere fre4%ently in contention( &ontoni ha lost lar,e s%*s to Vere88i, so that there +as a rea f%l possibility of his esi,nin, her to be a s%bstit%te for the ebt/ b%t, as she +as i,norant, that he ha for*erly enco%ra,e the hopes of 1ertolini also, concernin, herself, after the latter ha one hi* so*e si,nal service, she kne+ not ho+ to acco%nt for these contentions bet+een 1ertolini an Vere88i( The ca%se of the*, ho+ever, appeare to be of little conse4%ence, for she tho%,ht she sa+ estr%ction approachin, in *any for*s, an her entreaties to 0% ovico to contrive an escape an to see the prisoner a,ain, +ere *ore %r,ent than ever( At len,th, he infor*e her, that he ha a,ain visite the Chevalier, +ho ha irecte hi* to confi e in the ,%ar of the prison, fro* +ho* he ha alrea y

receive so*e instances of kin ness, an +ho ha pro*ise to per*it his ,oin, into the castle for half an ho%r, on the ens%in, ni,ht, +hen &ontoni an his co*panions sho%l be en,a,e at their caro%sals( 3This +as kin , to be s%re,3 a e 0% ovico; 3b%t 'ebastian kno+s he r%ns no ris4%e in lettin, the Chevalier o%t, for, if he can ,et beyon the bars an iron oors of the castle, he *%st be c%nnin, in ee ( 1%t the Chevalier esire *e, 'i,nora, to ,o to yo% i**e iately, an to be, yo% +o%l allo+ hi* to visit yo%, this ni,ht, if it +as only for a *o*ent, for that he co%l no lon,er live %n er the sa*e roof, +itho%t seein, yo%/ the ho%r, he sai , he co%l not *ention, for it *%st epen on circ%*stances =.%st as yo% sai , 'i,nora>/ an the place he esire yo% +o%l appoint, as kno+in, +hich +as best for yo%r o+n safety(3 E*ily +as no+ so *%ch a,itate by the near prospect of *eetin, Valanco%rt, that it +as so*e ti*e, before she co%l ,ive any ans+er to 0% ovico, or consi er of the place of *eetin,/ +hen she i , she sa+ none, that pro*ise so *%ch sec%rity, as the corri or, near her o+n apart*ent, +hich she +as checke fro* leavin,, by the apprehension of *eetin, any of &ontoni3s ,%ests, on their +ay to their roo*s/ an she is*isse the scr%ples, +hich elicacy oppose , no+ that a serio%s an,er +as to be avoi e by enco%nterin, the*( It +as settle , therefore, that the Chevalier sho%l *eet her in the corri or, at that ho%r of the ni,ht, +hich 0% ovico, +ho +as to be %pon the +atch, sho%l .% ,e safest; an E*ily, as *ay be i*a,ine , passe this interval in a t%*%lt of hope an .oy, an-iety an i*patience( 9ever, since her resi ence in the castle, ha she +atche , +ith so *%ch pleas%re, the s%n set behin the *o%ntains, an t+ili,ht sha e, an arkness veil the scene, as on this evenin,( 'he co%nte the notes of the ,reat clock, an listene to the steps of the sentinels, as they chan,e the +atch, only to re.oice, that another ho%r +as ,one( 3O, Valanco%rt?3 sai she, 3after all I have s%ffere / after o%r lon,, lon, separation, +hen I tho%,ht I sho%l never7never see yo% *ore7+e are still to *eet a,ain? O? I have

en %re ,rief, an an-iety, an terror, an let *e, then, not sink beneath this .oy?3 These +ere *o*ents, +hen it +as i*possible for her to feel e*otions of re,ret, or *elancholy, for any or inary interests/7even the reflection, that she ha resi,ne the estates, +hich +o%l have been a provision for herself an Valanco%rt for life, thre+ only a li,ht an transient sha e %pon her spirits( The i ea of Valanco%rt, an that she sho%l see hi* so soon, alone occ%pie her heart( At len,th the clock str%ck t+elve/ she opene the oor to listen, if any noise +as in the castle, an hear only istant sho%ts of riot an la%,hter, echoe feebly alon, the ,allery( 'he ,%esse , that the 'i,nor an his ,%ests +ere at the ban4%et( 3They are no+ en,a,e for the ni,ht,3 sai she/ 3an Valanco%rt +ill soon be here(3 Havin, softly close the oor, she pace the roo* +ith i*patient steps, an often +ent to the case*ent to listen for the l%te/ b%t all +as silent, an , her a,itation every *o*ent increasin,, she +as at len,th %nable to s%pport herself, an sat o+n by the +in o+( Annette, +ho* she etaine , +as, in the *eanti*e, as lo4%acio%s as %s%al/ b%t E*ily hear scarcely any thin, she sai , an havin, at len,th risen to the case*ent, she istin,%ishe the chor s of the l%te, str%ck +ith an e-pressive han , an then the voice, she ha for*erly listene to, acco*panie it(
:o rising lo"e they fann=d, no pleasing dole They breath=d in tender !usings through the heartA And no a gra"er, sacred strain they stole, As hen seraphic hands an hy!n i!part>

E*ily +ept in o%btf%l .oy an ten erness/ an , +hen the strain cease , she consi ere it as a si,nal, that Valanco%rt +as abo%t to leave the prison( 'oon after, she hear steps in the corri or/7they +ere the li,ht, 4%ick steps of hope/ she co%l scarcely s%pport herself, as they approache , b%t openin, the oor of the apart*ent, she a vance to *eet Valanco%rt, an , in the ne-t *o*ent, s%nk in the ar*s of a stran,er( His voice7his co%ntenance instantly convince her, an she fainte a+ay(

On revivin,, she fo%n herself s%pporte by the stran,er, +ho +as +atchin, over her recovery, +ith a co%ntenance of ineffable ten erness an an-iety( 'he ha no spirits for reply, or en4%iry/ she aske no 4%estions, b%t b%rst into tears, an isen,a,e herself fro* his ar*s/ +hen the e-pression of his co%ntenance chan,e to s%rprise an isappoint*ent, an he t%rne to 0% ovico, for an e-planation/ Annette soon ,ave the infor*ation, +hich 0% ovico co%l not( 3O, sir?3 sai she, in a voice, interr%pte +ith sobs/ 3O, sir? yo% are not the other Chevalier( :e e-pecte &onsie%r Valanco%rt, b%t yo% are not he? O 0% ovico? ho+ co%l yo% eceive %s soB *y poor la y +ill never recover it 7never?3 The stran,er, +ho no+ appeare *%ch a,itate , atte*pte to speak, b%t his +or s faltere / an then strikin, his han a,ainst his forehea , as if in s% en espair, he +alke abr%ptly to the other en of the corri or( '% enly, Annette rie her tears, an spoke to 0% ovico( 31%t, perhaps,3 sai she, 3after all, the other Chevalier is not this; perhaps the Chevalier Valanco%rt is still belo+(3 E*ily raise her hea ( 39o,3 replie 0% ovico, 3&onsie%r Valanco%rt never +as belo+, if this ,entle*an is not he(3 3If yo%, sir,3 sai 0% ovico, a ressin, the stran,er, 3+o%l b%t have ha the ,oo ness to tr%st *e +ith yo%r na*e, this *istake ha been avoi e (3 3&ost tr%e,3 replie the stran,er, speakin, in broken Italian, 3b%t it +as of the %t*ost conse4%ence to *e, that *y na*e sho%l be conceale fro* &ontoni( &a a*,3 a e he then, a ressin, E*ily in )rench, 3+ill yo% per*it *e to apolo,i8e for the pain I have occasione yo%, an to e-plain to yo% alone *y na*e, an the circ%*stance, +hich has le *e into this errorB I a* of )rance/7I a* yo%r co%ntry*an/7+e are *et in a forei,n lan (3 E*ily trie to co*pose her spirits/ yet she hesitate to ,rant his re4%est( At len,th, esirin,, that 0% ovico +o%l +ait on the stair6case, an etainin, Annette, she tol the stran,er, that her +o*an %n erstoo very little Italian, an be,,e he +o%l co**%nicate +hat he +ishe to say, in that lan,%a,e(7Havin, +ith ra+n to

a istant part of the corri or, he sai , +ith a lon,6 ra+n si,h, 32o%, *a a*, are no stran,er to *e, tho%,h I a* so %nhappy as to be %nkno+n to yo%(7&y na*e is <% Pont/ I a* of )rance, of Gascony, yo%r native province, an have lon, a *ire ,7an , +hy sho%l I affect to is,%ise itB7have lon, love yo%(3 He pa%se , b%t, in the ne-t *o*ent, procee e ( 3&y fa*ily, *a a*, is probably not %nkno+n to yo%, for +e live +ithin a fe+ *iles of 0a Vallee, an I have, so*eti*es, ha the happiness of *eetin, yo%, on visits in the nei,hbo%rhoo ( I +ill not offen yo% by repeatin, ho+ *%ch yo% intereste *e/ ho+ *%ch I love to +an er in the scenes yo% fre4%ente / ho+ often I visite yo%r favo%rite fishin,6ho%se, an la*ente the circ%*stance, +hich, at that ti*e, forba e *e to reveal *y passion( I +ill not e-plain ho+ I s%rren ere to te*ptation, an beca*e possesse of a treas%re, +hich +as to *e inesti*able/ a treas%re, +hich I co**itte to yo%r *essen,er, a fe+ ays a,o, +ith e-pectations very ifferent fro* *y present ones( I +ill say nothin, of these circ%*stances, for I kno+ they +ill avail *e little/ let *e only s%pplicate fro* yo% for,iveness, an the pict%re, +hich I so %n+arily ret%rne ( 2o%r ,enerosity +ill par on the theft, an restore the pri8e( &y cri*e has been *y p%nish*ent/ for the portrait I stole has contrib%te to no%rish a passion, +hich *%st still be *y tor*ent(3 E*ily no+ interr%pte hi*( 3I think, sir, I *ay leave it to yo%r inte,rity to eter*ine, +hether, after +hat has .%st appeare , concernin, &ons( Valanco%rt, I o%,ht to ret%rn the pict%re( I think yo% +ill ackno+le ,e, that this +o%l not be ,enerosity/ an yo% +ill allo+ *e to a , that it +o%l be oin, *yself an in.%stice( I *%st consi er *yself hono%re by yo%r ,oo opinion, b%t37 an she hesitate ,73the *istake of this evenin, *akes it %nnecessary for *e to say *ore(3 3It oes, *a a*,7alas? it oes?3 sai the stran,er, +ho, after a lon, pa%se, procee e (731%t yo% +ill allo+ *e to she+ *y isintereste ness, tho%,h not *y love, an +ill accept the services I offer( 2et, alas? +hat services can I offerB I a* *yself a prisoner, a s%fferer, like yo%(

1%t, ear as liberty is to *e, I +o%l not seek it thro%,h half the ha8ar s I +o%l enco%nter to eliver yo% fro* this recess of vice( Accept the offere services of a frien / o not ref%se *e the re+ar of havin,, at least, atte*pte to eserve yo%r thanks(3 32o% eserve the* alrea y, sir,3 sai E*ily/ 3the +ish eserves *y +ar*est thanks( 1%t yo% +ill e-c%se *e for re*in in, yo% of the an,er yo% inc%r by prolon,in, this intervie+( It +ill be a ,reat consolation to *e to re*e*ber, +hether yo%r frien ly atte*pts to release *e s%ccee or not, that I have a co%ntry*an, +ho +o%l so ,enero%sly protect *e(37&onsie%r <% Pont took her han , +hich she b%t feebly atte*pte to +ith ra+, an presse it respectf%lly to his lips( 3Allo+ *e to breathe another fervent si,h for yo%r happiness,3 sai he, 3an to appla% *yself for an affection, +hich I cannot con4%er(3 As he sai this, E*ily hear a noise fro* her apart*ent, an , t%rnin, ro%n , sa+ the oor fro* the stair6case open, an a *an r%sh into her cha*ber( 3I +ill teach yo% to con4%er it,3 crie he, as he a vance into the corri or, an re+ a stiletto, +hich he ai*e at <% Pont, +ho +as %nar*e , b%t +ho, steppin, back, avoi e the blo+, an then spr%n, %pon Vere88i, fro* +ho* he +renche the stiletto( :hile they str%,,le in each other3s ,rasp, E*ily, follo+e by Annette, ran f%rther into the corri or, callin, on 0% ovico, +ho +as, ho+ever, ,one fro* the stair6case, an , as she a vance , terrifie an %ncertain +hat to o, a istant noise, that see*e to arise fro* the hall, re*in e her of the an,er she +as inc%rrin,/ an , sen in, Annette for+ar in search of 0% ovico, she ret%rne to the spot +here <% Pont an Vere88i +ere still str%,,lin, for victory( It +as her o+n ca%se +hich +as to be eci e +ith that of the for*er, +hose con %ct, in epen ently of this circ%*stance, +o%l , ho+ever, have intereste her in his s%ccess, even ha she not islike an rea e Vere88i( 'he thre+ herself in a chair, an s%pplicate the* to esist fro* f%rther violence, till, at len,th, <% Pont force Vere88i to the floor, +here he lay st%nne by the violence of his fall/ an she then entreate <% Pont to escape fro* the

roo*, before &ontoni, or his party, sho%l appear/ b%t he still ref%se to leave her %nprotecte / an , +hile E*ily, no+ *ore terrifie for hi*, than for herself, enforce the entreaty, they hear steps ascen in, the private stair6case( 3O yo% are lost?3 crie she, 3these are &ontoni3s people(3 <% Pont *a e no reply, b%t s%pporte E*ily, +hile, +ith a stea y, tho%,h ea,er, co%ntenance, he a+aite their appearance, an , in the ne-t *o*ent, 0% ovico, alone, *o%nte the lan in,6place( Thro+in, an hasty ,lance ro%n the cha*ber, 3)ollo+ *e,3 sai he, 3as yo% val%e yo%r lives/ +e have not an instant to lose?3 E*ily en4%ire +hat ha occ%rre , an +hither they +ere to ,oB 3I cannot stay to tell yo% no+, 'i,nora,3 replie 0% ovico; 3fly? fly?3 'he i**e iately follo+e hi*, acco*panie by &ons( <% Pont, o+n the stair6case, an alon, a va%lte passa,e, +hen s% enly she recollecte Annette, an en4%ire for her( 3'he a+aits %s f%rther on, 'i,nora,3 sai 0% ovico, al*ost breathless +ith haste/ 3the ,ates +ere open, a *o*ent since, to a party .%st co*e in fro* the *o%ntains; they +ill be sh%t, I fear, before +e can reach the*? Thro%,h this oor, 'i,nora,3 a e 0% ovico, hol in, o+n the la*p, 3take care, here are t+o steps(3 E*ily follo+e , tre*blin, still *ore, than before she ha %n erstoo , that her escape fro* the castle, epen e %pon the present *o*ent/ +hile <% Pont s%pporte her, an en eavo%re , as they passe alon,, to cheer her spirits( 3'peak lo+, 'i,nor,3 sai 0% ovico, 3these passa,es sen echoes all ro%n the castle(3 3Take care of the li,ht,3 crie E*ily, 3yo% ,o so fast, that the air +ill e-tin,%ish it(3 0% ovico no+ opene another oor, +here they fo%n Annette, an the party then escen e a short fli,ht of steps into a passa,e, +hich, 0% ovico sai , le ro%n the inner co%rt of the castle, an opene into the o%ter

one( As they a vance , conf%se an t%*%lt%o%s so%n s, that see*e to co*e fro* the inner co%rt, alar*e E*ily( 39ay, 'i,nora,3 sai 0% ovico, 3o%r only hope is in that t%*%lt/ +hile the 'i,nor3s people are b%sie abo%t the *en, +ho are .%st arrive , +e *ay, perhaps, pass %nnotice thro%,h the ,ates( 1%t h%sh?3 he a e , as they approache the s*all oor, that opene into the o%ter co%rt, 3if yo% +ill re*ain here a *o*ent, I +ill ,o to see +hether the ,ates are open, an any bo y is in the +ay( Pray e-tin,%ish the li,ht, 'i,nor, if yo% hear *e talkin,,3 contin%e 0% ovico, eliverin, the la*p to <% Pont, 3an re*ain 4%ite still(3 'ayin, this, he steppe o%t %pon the co%rt, an they close the oor, listenin, an-io%sly to his epartin, steps( 9o voice, ho+ever, +as hear in the co%rt, +hich he +as crossin,, tho%,h a conf%sion of *any voices yet iss%e fro* the inner one( 3:e shall soon be beyon the +alls,3 sai <% Pont softly to E*ily, 3s%pport yo%rself a little lon,er, &a a*, an all +ill be +ell(3 1%t soon they hear 0% ovico speakin, lo% , an the voice also of so*e other person, an <% Pont i**e iately e-tin,%ishe the la*p( 3Ah? it is too late?3 e-clai*e E*ily, 3+hat is to beco*e of %sB3 They listene a,ain, an then perceive , that 0% ovico +as talkin, +ith a sentinel, +hose voices +ere hear also by E*ily3s favo%rite o,, that ha follo+e her fro* the cha*ber, an no+ barke lo% ly( 3This o, +ill betray %s?3 sai <% Pont, 3I +ill hol hi*(3 3I fear he has alrea y betraye %s?3 replie E*ily( <% Pont, ho+ever, ca%,ht hi* %p, an , a,ain listenin, to +hat +as ,oin, on +itho%t, they hear 0% ovico say, 3I3ll +atch the ,ates the +hile(3 3'tay a *in%te,3 replie the sentinel, 3an yo% nee not have the tro%ble, for the horses +ill be sent ro%n to the o%ter stables, then the ,ates +ill be sh%t, an I can leave *y post(3 3I on3t *in the tro%ble, co*ra e,3 sai 0% ovico, 3yo% +ill o s%ch another ,oo t%rn for *e, so*e ti*e( Go7,o, an fetch the +ine/ the ro,%es, that are .%st co*e in, +ill rink it all else(3

The sol ier hesitate , an then calle alo% to the people in the secon co%rt, to kno+ +hy they i not sen o%t the horses, that the ,ates *i,ht be sh%t/ b%t they +ere too *%ch en,a,e , to atten to hi*, even if they ha hear his voice( 3Aye7aye,3 sai 0% ovico, 3they kno+ better than that/ they are sharin, it all a*on, the*/ if yo% +ait till the horses co*e o%t, yo% *%st +ait till the +ine is r%nk( I have ha *y share alrea y, b%t, since yo% o not care abo%t yo%rs, I see no reason +hy I sho%l not have that too(3 3Hol , hol , not so fast,3 crie the sentinel, 3 o +atch then, for a *o*ent; I3ll be +ith yo% presently(3 3<on3t h%rry yo%rself,3 sai 0% ovico, coolly, 3I have kept ,%ar before no+( 1%t yo% *ay leave *e yo%r tro*bone,G that, if the castle sho%l be attacke , yo% kno+, I *ay be able to efen the pass, like a hero(3 =G A kin of bl%n erb%ss( CA( R(D> 3There, *y ,oo fello+,3 ret%rne the sol ier, 3there, take it7it has seen service, tho%,h it co%l o little in efen in, the castle( I3ll tell yo% a ,oo story, tho%,h, abo%t this sa*e tro*bone(3 32o%3ll tell it better +hen yo% have ha the +ine,3 sai 0% ovico( 3There? they are co*in, o%t fro* the co%rt alrea y(3 3I3ll have the +ine, tho%,h,3 sai the sentinel, r%nnin, off( 3I +on3t keep yo% a *in%te(3 3Take yo%r ti*e, I a* in no haste,3 replie 0% ovico, +ho +as alrea y h%rryin, across the co%rt, +hen the sol ier ca*e back( 3:hither so fast, frien 7+hither so fastB3 sai the latter( 3:hat? is this the +ay yo% keep +atch? I *%st stan to *y post *yself, I see(3 3Aye, +ell,3 replie 0% ovico, 3yo% have save *e the tro%ble of follo+in, yo% f%rther, for I +ante to tell yo%, if yo% have a *in to rink the T%scany +ine, yo% *%st ,o to 'ebastian, he is ealin, it o%t/ the other that )e erico has, is not +orth havin,( 1%t yo% are not likely to have any, I see, for they are all co*in, o%t(3

31y 't( Peter? so they are,3 sai the sol ier, an a,ain ran off, +hile 0% ovico, once *ore at liberty, hastene to the oor of the passa,e, +here E*ily +as sinkin, %n er the an-iety this lon, isco%rse ha occasione / b%t, on his tellin, the* the co%rt +as clear, they follo+e hi* to the ,ates, +itho%t +aitin, another instant, yet not before he ha sei8e t+o horses, that ha straye fro* the secon co%rt, an +ere pickin, a scanty *eal a*on, the ,rass, +hich ,re+ bet+een the pave*ent of the first( They passe , +itho%t interr%ption, the rea f%l ,ates, an took the roa that le o+n a*on, the +oo s, E*ily, &onsie%r <% Pont an Annette on foot, an 0% ovico, +ho +as *o%nte on one horse, lea in, the other( Havin, reache the*, they stoppe , +hile E*ily an Annette +ere place on horseback +ith their t+o protectors, +hen, 0% ovico lea in, the +ay, they set off as fast as the broken roa , an the feeble li,ht, +hich a risin, *oon thre+ a*on, the folia,e, +o%l per*it( E*ily +as so *%ch astonishe by this s% en epart%re, that she scarcely are to believe herself a+ake/ an she yet *%ch o%bte +hether this a vent%re +o%l ter*inate in escape,7a o%bt, +hich ha too *%ch probability to .%stify it/ for, before they 4%itte the +oo s, they hear sho%ts in the +in , an , on e*er,in, fro* the*, sa+ li,hts *ovin, 4%ickly near the castle above( <% Pont +hippe his horse, an +ith so*e iffic%lty co*pelle hi* to ,o faster( 3Ah? poor beast,3 sai 0% ovico, 3he is +eary eno%,h/7 he has been o%t all ay/ b%t, 'i,nor, +e *%st fly for it, no+/ for yon er are li,hts co*in, this +ay(3 Havin, ,iven his o+n horse a lash, they no+ both set off on a f%ll ,allop/ an , +hen they a,ain looke back, the li,hts +ere so istant as scarcely to be iscerne , an the voices +ere s%nk into silence( The travellers then abate their pace, an , cons%ltin, +hither they sho%l irect their co%rse, it +as eter*ine they sho%l escen into T%scany, an en eavo%r to reach the &e iterranean, +here they co%l rea ily e*bark

for )rance( Thither <% Pont *eant to atten E*ily, if he sho%l learn, that the re,i*ent he ha acco*panie into Italy, +as ret%rne to his native co%ntry( They +ere no+ in the roa , +hich E*ily ha travelle +ith A,o an 1ertran / b%t 0% ovico, +ho +as the only one of the party, ac4%ainte +ith the passes of these *o%ntains, sai , that, a little f%rther on, a bye6 roa , branchin, fro* this, +o%l lea the* o+n into T%scany +ith very little iffic%lty/ an that, at a fe+ lea,%es istance, +as a s*all to+n, +here necessaries co%l be proc%re for their .o%rney( 31%t, I hope,3 a e he, 3+e shall *eet +ith no stra,,lin, parties of ban itti/ so*e of the* are abroa , I kno+( Ho+ever, I have ,ot a ,oo tro*bone, +hich +ill be of so*e service, if +e sho%l enco%nter any of those brave spirits( 2o% have no ar*s, 'i,norB3 32es,3 replie <% Pont, 3I have the villain3s stilletto, +ho +o%l have stabbe *e7b%t let %s re.oice in o%r escape fro* A olpho, nor tor*ent o%rselves +ith lookin, o%t for an,ers, that *ay never arrive(3 The *oon +as no+ risen hi,h over the +oo s, that h%n, %pon the si es of the narro+ ,len, thro%,h +hich they +an ere , an affor e the* li,ht s%fficient to istin,%ish their +ay, an to avoi the loose an broken stones, that fre4%ently crosse it( They no+ travelle leis%rely, an in profo%n silence/ for they ha scarcely yet recovere fro* the astonish*ent, into +hich this s% en escape ha thro+n the*(7E*ily3s *in , especially, +as s%nk, after the vario%s e*otions it ha s%ffere , into a kin of *%sin, stillness, +hich the reposin, bea%ty of the s%rro%n in, scene an the creepin, *%r*%r of the ni,ht6bree8e a*on, the folia,e above contrib%te to prolon,( 'he tho%,ht of Valanco%rt an of )rance, +ith hope, an she +o%l have tho%,ht of the* +ith .oy, ha not the first events of this evenin, harasse her spirits too *%ch, to per*it her no+ to feel so lively a sensation( &ean+hile, E*ily +as alone the ob.ect of <% Pont3s *elancholy consi eration/ yet, +ith the espon ency he s%ffere , as he *%se on his recent isappoint*ent, +as *in,le a s+eet pleas%re, occasione by her presence, tho%,h

they i not no+ e-chan,e a sin,le +or ( Annette tho%,ht of this +on erf%l escape, of the b%stle in +hich &ontoni an his people *%st be, no+ that their fli,ht +as iscovere / of her native co%ntry, +hither she hope she +as ret%rnin,, an of her *arria,e +ith 0% ovico, to +hich there no lon,er appeare any i*pe i*ent, for poverty she i not consi er s%ch( 0% ovico, on his part, con,rat%late hi*self, on havin, resc%e his Annette an 'i,nora E*ily fro* the an,er, that ha s%rro%n e the*/ on his o+n liberation fro* people, +hose *anners he ha lon, eteste / on the free o* he ha ,iven to &onsie%r <% Pont/ on his prospect of happiness +ith the ob.ect of his affections, an not a little on the a ress, +ith +hich he ha eceive the sentinel, an con %cte the +hole of this affair( Th%s vario%sly en,a,e in tho%,ht, the travellers passe on silently, for above an ho%r, a 4%estion only bein,, no+ an then, aske by <% Pont, concernin, the roa , or a re*ark %ttere by Annette, respectin, ob.ects, seen i*perfectly in the t+ili,ht( At len,th, li,hts +ere perceive t+inklin, on the si e of a *o%ntain, an 0% ovico ha no o%bt, that they procee e fro* the to+n he ha *entione , +hile his co*panions, satisfie by this ass%rance, s%nk a,ain into silence( Annette +as the first +ho interr%pte this( 3Holy Peter?3 sai she, 3:hat shall +e o for *oney on o%r .o%rneyB for I kno+ neither I, or *y la y, have a sin,le se4%in/ the 'i,nor took care of that?3 This re*ark pro %ce a serio%s en4%iry, +hich en e in as serio%s an e*barrass*ent, for <% Pont ha been rifle of nearly all his *oney, +hen he +as taken prisoner/ the re*ain er he ha ,iven to the sentinel, +ho ha enable hi* occasionally to leave his prison6 cha*ber/ an 0% ovico, +ho ha for so*e ti*e fo%n a iffic%lty, in proc%rin, any part of the +a,es %e to hi*, ha no+ scarcely cash s%fficient to proc%re necessary refresh*ent at the first to+n, in +hich they sho%l arrive( Their poverty +as the *ore istressin,, since it +o%l etain the* a*on, the *o%ntains, +here, even in a

to+n, they co%l scarcely consi er the*selves safe fro* &ontoni( The travellers, ho+ever, ha only to procee an are the f%t%re/ an they contin%e their +ay thro%,h lonely +il s an %sky vallies, +here the overhan,in, folia,e no+ a *itte , an then e-cl% e the *oon6li,ht/7+il s so esolate, that they appeare , on the first ,lance, as if no h%*an bein, ha ever tro e the* before( Even the roa , in +hich the party +ere, i b%t sli,htly contra ict this error, for the hi,h ,rass an other l%-%riant ve,etation, +ith +hich it +as over,ro+n, tol ho+ very sel o* the foot of a traveller ha passe it( At len,th, fro* a istance, +as hear the faint tinklin, of a sheep6bell/ an , soon after, the bleat of flocks, an the party then kne+, that they +ere near so*e h%*an habitation, for the li,ht, +hich 0% ovico ha fancie to procee fro* a to+n, ha lon, been conceale by intervenin, *o%ntains( Cheere by this hope, they 4%ickene their pace alon, the narro+ pass they +ere +in in,, an it opene %pon one of those pastoral vallies of the Apennines, +hich *i,ht be painte for a scene of Arca ia, an +hose bea%ty an si*plicity are finely contraste by the ,ran e%r of the sno+6topt *o%ntains above( The *ornin, li,ht, no+ ,li**erin, in the hori8on, she+e faintly, at a little istance, %pon the bro+ of a hill, +hich see*e to peep fro* 3%n er the openin, eye6li s of the *orn,3 the to+n they +ere in search of, an +hich they soon after reache ( It +as not +itho%t so*e iffic%lty, that they there fo%n a ho%se, +hich co%l affor shelter for the*selves an their horses/ an E*ily esire they *i,ht not rest lon,er than +as necessary for refresh*ent( Her appearance e-cite so*e s%rprise, for she +as +itho%t a hat, havin, ha ti*e only to thro+ on her veil before she left the castle, a circ%*stance, that co*pelle her to re,ret a,ain the +ant of *oney, +itho%t +hich it +as i*possible to proc%re this necessary article of ress( 0% ovico, on e-a*inin, his p%rse, fo%n it even ins%fficient to s%pply present refresh*ent, an <% Pont, at len,th, vent%re to infor* the lan lor , +hose

co%ntenance +as si*ple an honest, of their e-act sit%ation, an re4%este , that he +o%l assist the* to p%rs%e their .o%rney/ a p%rpose, +hich he pro*ise to co*ply +ith, as far as he +as able, +hen he learne that they +ere prisoners escapin, fro* &ontoni, +ho* he ha too *%ch reason to hate( 1%t, tho%,h he consente to len the* fresh horses to carry the* to the ne-t to+n, he +as too poor hi*self to tr%st the* +ith *oney, an they +ere a,ain la*entin, their poverty, +hen 0% ovico, +ho ha been +ith his tire horses to the hovel, +hich serve for a stable, entere the roo*, half frantic +ith .oy, in +hich his a% itors soon participate ( On re*ovin, the sa le fro* one of the horses, he ha fo%n beneath it a s*all ba,, containin,, no o%bt, the booty of one of the con ottieri, +ho ha ret%rne fro* a pl%n erin, e-c%rsion, .%st before 0% ovico left the castle, an +hose horse havin, straye fro* the inner co%rt, +hile his *aster +as en,a,e in rinkin,, ha bro%,ht a+ay the treas%re, +hich the r%ffian ha consi ere the re+ar of his e-ploit( On co%ntin, over this, <% Pont fo%n , that it +o%l be *ore than s%fficient to carry the* all to )rance, +here he no+ eter*ine to acco*pany E*ily, +hether he sho%l obtain intelli,ence of his re,i*ent, or not/ for, tho%,h he ha as *%ch confi ence in the inte,rity of 0% ovico, as his s*all kno+le ,e of hi* allo+e , he co%l not en %re the tho%,ht of co**ittin, her to his care for the voya,e/ nor, perhaps, ha he resol%tion eno%,h to eny hi*self the an,ero%s pleas%re, +hich he *i,ht erive fro* her presence( He no+ cons%lte the*, concernin, the sea6port, to +hich they sho%l irect their +ay, an 0% ovico, better infor*e of the ,eo,raphy of the co%ntry, sai , that 0e,horn +as the nearest port of conse4%ence, +hich <% Pont kne+ also to be the *ost likely of any in Italy to assist their plan, since fro* thence vessels of all nations +ere contin%ally epartin,( Thither, therefore, it +as eter*ine , that they sho%l procee ( E*ily, havin, p%rchase a little stra+ hat, s%ch as +as +orn by the peasant ,irls of T%scany, an so*e other

little necessary e4%ip*ents for the .o%rney, an the travellers, havin, e-chan,e their tire horses for others better able to carry the*, re6co**ence their .oyo%s +ay, as the s%n +as risin, over the *o%ntains, an , after travellin, thro%,h this ro*antic co%ntry, for several ho%rs, be,an to escen into the vale of Arno( An here E*ily behel all the char*s of sylvan an pastoral lan scape %nite , a orne +ith the ele,ant villas of the )lorentine nobles, an iversifie +ith the vario%s riches of c%ltivation( Ho+ vivi the shr%bs, that e*bo+ere the slopes, +ith the +oo s, that stretche a*phitheatrically alon, the *o%ntains? an , above all, ho+ ele,ant the o%tline of these +avin, Apennines, no+ softenin, fro* the +il ness, +hich their interior re,ions e-hibite ? At a istance, in the east, E*ily iscovere )lorence, +ith its to+ers risin, on the brilliant hori8on, an its l%-%riant plain, sprea in, to the feet of the Apennines, speckle +ith ,ar ens an *a,nificent villas, or colo%re +ith ,roves of oran,e an le*on, +ith vines, corn, an plantations of olives an *%lberry/ +hile, to the +est, the vale opene to the +aters of the &e iterranean, so istant, that they +ere kno+n only by a bl%eish line, that appeare %pon the hori8on, an by the li,ht *arine vapo%r, +hich .%st staine the aether above( :ith a f%ll heart, E*ily haile the +aves, that +ere to bear her back to her native co%ntry, the re*e*brance of +hich, ho+ever, bro%,ht +ith it a pan,/ for she ha there no ho*e to receive, no parents to +elco*e her, b%t +as ,oin,, like a forlorn pil,ri*, to +eep over the sa spot, +here he, +ho :A' her father, lay interre ( 9or +ere her spirits cheere , +hen she consi ere ho+ lon, it +o%l probably be before she sho%l see Valanco%rt, +ho *i,ht be statione +ith his re,i*ent in a istant part of )rance, an that, +hen they i *eet, it +o%l be only to la*ent the s%ccessf%l villany of &ontoni/ yet, still she +o%l have felt ine-pressible eli,ht at the tho%,ht of bein, once *ore in the sa*e co%ntry +ith Valanco%rt, ha it even been certain, that she co%l not see hi*(

The intense heat, for it +as no+ noon, obli,e the travellers to look o%t for a sha y recess, +here they *i,ht rest, for a fe+ ho%rs, an the nei,hbo%rin, thickets, abo%n in, +ith +il ,rapes, raspberries, an fi,s, pro*ise the* ,ratef%l refresh*ent( 'oon after, they t%rne fro* the roa into a ,rove, +hose thick folia,e entirely e-cl% e the s%n6bea*s, an +here a sprin,, ,%shin, fro* the rock, ,ave coolness to the air/ an , havin, ali,hte an t%rne the horses to ,ra8e, Annette an 0% ovico ran to ,ather fr%it fro* the s%rro%n in, thickets, of +hich they soon ret%rne +ith an ab%n ance( The travellers, seate %n er the sha e of a pine an cypress ,rove an on t%rf, enriche +ith s%ch a prof%sion of fra,rant flo+ers, as E*ily ha scarcely ever seen, even a*on, the Pyrenees, took their si*ple repast, an vie+e , +ith ne+ eli,ht, beneath the ark %*bra,e of ,i,antic pines, the ,lo+in, lan scape stretchin, to the sea( E*ily an <% Pont ,ra %ally beca*e tho%,htf%l an silent/ b%t Annette +as all .oy an lo4%acity, an 0% ovico +as ,ay, +itho%t for,ettin, the respectf%l istance, +hich +as %e to his co*panions( The repast bein, over, <% Pont reco**en e E*ily to en eavo%r to sleep, %rin, these s%ltry ho%rs, an , esirin, the servants +o%l o the sa*e, sai he +o%l +atch the +hile/ b%t 0% ovico +ishe to spare hi* this tro%ble/ an E*ily an Annette, +earie +ith travellin,, trie to repose, +hile he stoo ,%ar +ith his tro*bone( :hen E*ily, refreshe by sl%*ber, a+oke, she fo%n the sentinel asleep on his post an <% Pont a+ake, b%t lost in *elancholy tho%,ht( As the s%n +as yet too hi,h to allo+ the* to contin%e their .o%rney, an as it +as necessary, that 0% ovico, after the toils an tro%ble he ha s%ffere , sho%l finish his sleep, E*ily took this opport%nity of en4%irin, by +hat acci ent <% Pont beca*e &ontoni3s prisoner, an he, please +ith the interest this en4%iry e-presse an +ith the e-c%se it ,ave hi* for talkin, to her of hi*self, i**e iately ans+ere her c%riosity( 3I ca*e into Italy, *a a*,3 sai <% Pont, 3in the service of *y co%ntry( In an a vent%re a*on, the *o%ntains

o%r party, en,a,in, +ith the ban s of &ontoni, +as ro%te , an I, +ith a fe+ of *y co*ra es, +as taken prisoner( :hen they tol *e, +hose captive I +as, the na*e of &ontoni str%ck *e, for I re*e*bere , that &a a*e Cheron, yo%r a%nt, ha *arrie an Italian of that na*e, an that yo% ha acco*panie the* into Italy( It +as not, ho+ever, till so*e ti*e after, that I beca*e convince this +as the sa*e &ontoni, or learne that yo%, *a a*, +as %n er the sa*e roof +ith *yself( I +ill not pain yo% by escribin, +hat +ere *y e*otions %pon this iscovery, +hich I o+e to a sentinel, +ho* I ha so far +on to *y interest, that he ,rante *e *any in %l,ences, one of +hich +as very i*portant to *e, an so*e+hat an,ero%s to hi*self/ b%t he persiste in ref%sin, to convey any letter, or notice of *y sit%ation to yo%, for he .%stly rea e a iscovery an the conse4%ent ven,eance of &ontoni( He ho+ever enable *e to see yo% *ore than once( 2o% are s%rprise , *a a*, an I +ill e-plain *yself( &y health an spirits s%ffere e-tre*ely fro* +ant of air an e-ercise, an , at len,th, I ,aine so far %pon the pity, or the avarice of the *an, that he ,ave *e the *eans of +alkin, on the terrace(3 E*ily no+ listene , +ith very an-io%s attention, to the narrative of <% Pont, +ho procee e ; 3In ,rantin, this in %l,ence, he kne+, that he ha nothin, to apprehen fro* a chance of *y escapin, fro* a castle, +hich +as vi,ilantly ,%ar e , an the nearest terrace of +hich rose over a perpen ic%lar rock/ he she+e *e also,3 contin%e <% Pont, 3a oor conceale in the ce ar +ainscot of the apart*ent +here I +as confine , +hich he instr%cte *e ho+ to open/ an +hich, lea in, into a passa,e, for*e +ithin the thickness of the +all, that e-ten e far alon, the castle, finally opene in an obsc%re corner of the eastern ra*part( I have since been infor*e , that there are *any passa,es of the sa*e kin conceale +ithin the pro i,io%s +alls of that e ifice, an +hich +ere, %n o%bte ly, contrive for the p%rpose of facilitatin, escapes in ti*e of +ar( Thro%,h this aven%e, at the ea of ni,ht, I often stole to the terrace, +here I

+alke +ith the %t*ost ca%tion, lest *y steps sho%l betray *e to the sentinels on %ty in istant parts/ for this en of it, bein, ,%ar e by hi,h b%il in,s, +as not +atche by sol iers( In one of these *i ni,ht +an erin,s, I sa+ li,ht in a case*ent that overlooke the ra*part, an +hich, I observe , +as i**e iately over *y prison6cha*ber( It occ%rre to *e, that yo% *i,ht be in that apart*ent, an , +ith the hope of seein, yo%, I place *yself opposite to the +in o+(3 E*ily, re*e*berin, the fi,%re that ha for*erly appeare on the terrace, an +hich ha occasione her so *%ch an-iety, e-clai*e , 3It +as yo% then, &onsie%r <% Pont, +ho occasione *e *%ch foolish terror/ *y spirits +ere, at that ti*e, so *%ch +eakene by lon, s%fferin,, that they took alar* at every hint(3 <% Pont, after la*entin,, that he ha occasione her any apprehension, a e , 3As I reste on the +all, opposite to yo%r case*ent, the consi eration of yo%r *elancholy sit%ation an of *y o+n calle fro* *e invol%ntary so%n s of la*entation, +hich re+ yo%, I fancy, to the case*ent/ I sa+ there a person, +ho* I believe to be yo%( O? I +ill say nothin, of *y e*otion at that *o*ent/ I +ishe to speak, b%t pr% ence restraine *e, till the istant foot6step of a sentinel co*pelle *e s% enly to 4%it *y station( 3It +as so*e ti*e, before I ha another opport%nity of +alkin,, for I co%l only leave *y prison, +hen it happene to be the t%rn of one *an to ,%ar *e/ *ean+hile I beca*e convince fro* so*e circ%*stances relate by hi*, that yo%r apart*ent +as over *ine, an , +hen a,ain I vent%re forth, I ret%rne to yo%r case*ent, +here a,ain I sa+ yo%, b%t +itho%t arin, to speak( I +ave *y han , an yo% s% enly isappeare / then it +as, that I for,ot *y pr% ence, an yiel e to la*entation/ a,ain yo% appeare 7yo% spoke7I hear the +ell6kno+n accent of yo%r voice? an , at that *o*ent, *y iscretion +o%l have forsaken *e a,ain, ha I not hear also the approachin, steps of a sol ier, +hen I instantly 4%itte the place, tho%,h not before the *an ha seen *e( He follo+e o+n the terrace an ,aine so fast %pon *e,

that I +as co*pelle to *ake %se of a strata,e*, ri ic%lo%s eno%,h, to save *yself( I ha hear of the s%perstition of *any of these *en, an I %ttere a stran,e noise, +ith a hope, that *y p%rs%er +o%l *istake it for so*ethin, s%pernat%ral, an esist fro* p%rs%it( 0%ckily for *yself I s%ccee e / the *an, it see*s, +as s%b.ect to fits, an the terror he s%ffere thre+ hi* into one, by +hich acci ent I sec%re *y retreat( A sense of the an,er I ha escape , an the increase +atchf%lness, +hich *y appearance ha occasione a*on, the sentinels, eterre *e ever after fro* +alkin, on the terrace/ b%t, in the stillness of ni,ht, I fre4%ently be,%ile *yself +ith an ol l%te, proc%re for *e by a sol ier, +hich I so*eti*es acco*panie +ith *y voice, an so*eti*es, I +ill ackno+le ,e, +ith a hope of *akin, *yself hear by yo%/ b%t it +as only a fe+ evenin,s a,o, that this hope +as ans+ere ( I then tho%,ht I hear a voice in the +in , callin, *e/ yet, even then I feare to reply, lest the sentinel at the prison oor sho%l hear *e( :as I ri,ht, *a a*, in this con.ect%re7+as it yo% +ho spokeB3 32es,3 sai E*ily, +ith an invol%ntary si,h, 3yo% +as ri,ht in ee (3 <% Pont, observin, the painf%l e*otions, +hich this 4%estion revive , no+ chan,e the s%b.ect( 3In one of *y e-c%rsions thro%,h the passa,e, +hich I have *entione , I overhear a sin,%lar conversation,3 sai he( 3In the passa,e?3 sai E*ily, +ith s%rprise( 3I hear it in the passa,e,3 sai <% Pont, 3b%t it procee e fro* an apart*ent, a .oinin, the +all, +ithin +hich the passa,e +o%n , an the shell of the +all +as there so thin, an +as also so*e+hat ecaye , that I co%l istinctly hear every +or , spoken on the other si e( It happene that &ontoni an his co*panions +ere asse*ble in the roo*, an &ontoni be,an to relate the e-traor inary history of the la y, his pre ecessor, in the castle( He i , in ee , *ention so*e very s%rprisin, circ%*stances, an

+hether they +ere strictly tr%e, his conscience *%st eci e/ I fear it +ill eter*ine a,ainst hi*( 1%t yo%, *a a*, have o%btless hear the report, +hich he esi,ns sho%l circ%late, on the s%b.ect of that la y3s *ysterio%s fate(3 3I have, sir,3 replie E*ily, 3an I perceive, that yo% o%bt it(3 3I o%bte it before the perio I a* speakin, of,3 re.oine <% Pont/73b%t so*e circ%*stances, *entione by &ontoni, ,reatly contrib%te to *y s%spicions( The acco%nt I then hear , al*ost convince *e, that he +as a *%r erer( I tre*ble for yo%/7the *ore so that I ha hear the ,%ests *ention yo%r na*e in a *anner, that threatene yo%r repose/ an , kno+in,, that the *ost i*pio%s *en are often the *ost s%perstitio%s, I eter*ine to try +hether I co%l not a+aken their consciences, an a+e the* fro* the co**ission of the cri*e I rea e ( I listene closely to &ontoni, an , in the *ost strikin, passa,es of his story, I .oine *y voice, an repeate his last +or s, in a is,%ise an hollo+ tone(3 31%t +as yo% not afrai E*ily( of bein, iscovere B3 sai

3I +as not,3 replie <% Pont/ 3for I kne+, that, if &ontoni ha been ac4%ainte +ith the secret of this passa,e, he +o%l not have confine *e in the apart*ent, to +hich it le ( I kne+ also, fro* better a%thority, that he +as i,norant of it( The party, for so*e ti*e, appeare inattentive to *y voice/ b%t, at len,th, +ere so *%ch alar*e , that they 4%itte the apart*ent/ an , havin, hear &ontoni or er his servants to search it, I ret%rne to *y prison, +hich +as very istant fro* this part of the passa,e(3 3I re*e*ber perfectly to have hear of the conversation yo% *ention,3 sai E*ily/ 3it sprea a ,eneral alar* a*on, &ontoni3s people, an I +ill o+n I +as +eak eno%,h to partake of it(3 &onsie%r <% Pont an E*ily th%s contin%e to converse of &ontoni, an then of )rance, an of the plan of their voya,e/ +hen E*ily tol hi*, that it +as her intention to retire to a convent in 0an,%e oc, +here

she ha been for*erly treate +ith *%ch kin ness, an fro* thence to +rite to her relation &onsie%r 5%esnel, an infor* hi* of her con %ct( There, she esi,ne to +ait, till 0a Vallee sho%l a,ain be her o+n, +hither she hope her inco*e +o%l so*e ti*e per*it her to ret%rn/ for <% Pont no+ ta%,ht her to e-pect, that the estate, of +hich &ontoni ha atte*pte to efra% her, +as not irrecoverably lost, an he a,ain con,rat%late her on her escape fro* &ontoni, +ho, he ha not a o%bt, *eant to have etaine her for life( The possibility of recoverin, her a%nt3s estates for Valanco%rt an herself li,hte %p a .oy in E*ily3s heart, s%ch as she ha not kno+n for *any *onths/ b%t she en eavo%re to conceal this fro* &onsie%r <% Pont, lest it sho%l lea hi* to a painf%l re*e*brance of his rival( They contin%e to converse, till the s%n +as eclinin, in the +est, +hen <% Pont a+oke 0% ovico, an they set for+ar on their .o%rney( Gra %ally escen in, the lo+er slopes of the valley, they reache the Arno, an +o%n alon, its pastoral *ar,in, for *any *iles, eli,hte +ith the scenery aro%n the*, an +ith the re*e*brances, +hich its classic +aves revive ( At a istance, they hear the ,ay son, of the peasants a*on, the vineyar s, an observe the settin, s%n tint the +aves +ith yello+ l%stre, an t+ili,ht ra+ a %sky p%rple over the *o%ntains, +hich, at len,th, eepene into ni,ht( Then the 0ACCIO0A, the fire6fly of T%scany, +as seen to flash its s% en sparks a*on, the folia,e, +hile the cicala, +ith its shrill note, beca*e *ore cla*oro%s than even %rin, the noon6 ay heat, lovin, best the ho%r +hen the En,lish beetle, +ith less offensive so%n ,
inds 8is s!all but sullen horn, As oft he rises =!idst the t ilight path, Against the pilgri! borne in heedless hu!#6

=G Collins( CA( R(D> The travellers crosse the Arno by *oon6li,ht, at a ferry, an , learnin, that Pisa +as istant only a fe+ *iles o+n the river, they +ishe to have procee e

thither in a boat, b%t, as none co%l be proc%re , they set o%t on their +earie horses for that city( As they approache it, the vale e-pan e into a plain, varie,ate +ith vineyar s, corn, olives an *%lberry ,roves/ b%t it +as late, before they reache its ,ates, +here E*ily +as s%rprise to hear the b%sy so%n of footsteps an the tones of *%sical instr%*ents, as +ell as to see the lively ,ro%ps, that fille the streets, an she al*ost fancie herself a,ain at Venice/ b%t here +as no *oon6li,ht sea7no ,ay ,on olas, ashin, the +aves,7no PA00A<IA9 palaces, to thro+ enchant*ent over the fancy an lea it into the +il s of fairy story( The Arno rolle thro%,h the to+n, b%t no *%sic tre*ble fro* balconies over its +aters/ it ,ave only the b%sy voices of sailors on boar vessels .%st arrive fro* the &e iterranean/ the *elancholy heavin, of the anchor, an the shrill boats+ain3s +histle/7so%n s, +hich, since that perio , have there s%nk al*ost into silence( They then serve to re*in <% Pont, that it +as probable he *i,ht hear of a vessel, sailin, soon to )rance fro* this port, an th%s be spare the tro%ble of ,oin, to 0e,horn( As soon as E*ily ha reache the inn, he +ent therefore to the 4%ay, to *ake his en4%iries/ b%t, after all the en eavo%rs of hi*self an 0% ovico, they co%l hear of no bark, estine i**e iately for )rance, an the travellers ret%rne to their restin,6place( Here also, <% Pont en eavo%re to learn +here his re,i*ent then lay, b%t co%l ac4%ire no infor*ation concernin, it( The travellers retire early to rest, after the fati,%es of this ay/ an , on the follo+in,, rose early, an , +itho%t pa%sin, to vie+ the celebrate anti4%ities of the place, or the +on ers of its han,in, to+er, p%rs%e their .o%rney in the cooler ho%rs, thro%,h a char*in, co%ntry, rich +ith +ine, an corn an oil( The Apennines, no lon,er a+f%l, or even ,ran , here softene into the bea%ty of sylvan an pastoral lan scape/ an E*ily, as she escen e the*, looke o+n eli,hte on 0e,horn, an its spacio%s bay, fille +ith vessels, an cro+ne +ith these bea%tif%l hills(

'he +as no less s%rprise an a*%se , on enterin, this to+n, to fin it cro+ e +ith persons in the resses of all nations/ a scene, +hich re*in e her of a Venetian *as4%era e, s%ch as she ha +itnesse at the ti*e of the Carnival/ b%t here, +as b%stle, +itho%t ,aiety, an noise instea of *%sic, +hile ele,ance +as to be looke for only in the +avin, o%tlines of the s%rro%n in, hills( &onsie%r <% Pont, i**e iately on their arrival, +ent o+n to the 4%ay, +here he hear of several )rench vessels, an of one, that +as to sail, in a fe+ ays, for &arseilles, fro* +hence another vessel co%l be proc%re , +itho%t iffic%lty, to take the* across the ,%lf of 0yons to+ar s 9arbonne, on the coast not *any lea,%es fro* +hich city he %n erstoo the convent +as seate , to +hich E*ily +ishe to retire( He, therefore, i**e iately en,a,e +ith the captain to take the* to &arseilles, an E*ily +as eli,hte to hear, that her passa,e to )rance +as sec%re ( Her *in +as no+ relieve fro* the terror of p%rs%it, an the pleasin, hope of soon seein, her native co%ntry7that co%ntry +hich hel Valanco%rt, restore to her spirits a e,ree of cheerf%lness, s%ch as she ha scarcely kno+n, since the eath of her father( At 0e,horn also, <% Pont hear of his re,i*ent, an that it ha e*barke for )rance/ a circ%*stance, +hich ,ave hi* ,reat satisfaction, for he co%l no+ acco*pany E*ily thither, +itho%t reproach to his conscience, or apprehension of ispleas%re fro* his co**an er( <%rin, these ays, he scr%p%lo%sly forbore to istress her by a *ention of his passion, an she +as co*pelle to estee* an pity, tho%,h she co%l not love hi*( He en eavo%re to a*%se her by she+in, the environs of the to+n, an they often +alke to,ether on the sea6shore, an on the b%sy 4%ays, +here E*ily +as fre4%ently intereste by the arrival an epart%re of vessels, participatin, in the .oy of *eetin, frien s, an , so*eti*es, she in, a sy*pathetic tear to the sorro+ of those, that +ere separatin,( It +as after havin, +itnesse a scene of the latter kin , that she arran,e the follo+in, stan8as; THE &ARI9ER

4oft ca!e the breath of springA s!ooth flo =d the tideA And blue the hea"en in its !irror s!il=dA The hite sail tre!bled, s ell=d, e@panded ide, The busy sailors at the anchor toil=d# <ith an@ious friends, that shed the parting tear, The deck as throng=d?ho s ift the !o!ents fly> The "essel hea"es, the fare el signs appearA Mute is each tongue, and eloCuent each eye> The last dread !o!ent co!es>?The sailor%youth 8ides the big drop, then s!iles a!id his pain, 4ooths his sad bride, and "o s eternal truth, =)are el, !y lo"e? e shall?shall !eet again>= &ong on the stern, ith a"ing hand, he stoodA The cro ded shore sinks, lessening, fro! his "ie , As gradual glides the bark along the floodA 8is bride is seen no !ore?=Adieu>?adieu>= The breeBe of E"e !oans lo , her s!ile is o=er, (i! steals her t ilight do n the cri!son=d est, 8e cli!bs the top%!ost !ast, to seek once !ore The far%seen coast, here all his ishes rest# 8e "ie s its dark line on the distant sky, And )ancy leads hi! to his little ho!e, 8e sees his eeping lo"e, he hears her sigh, 8e sooths her griefs, and tells of joys to co!e# E"e yields to night, the breeBe to intry gales, 5n one "ast shade the seas and shores reposeA 8e turns his aching eyes,?his spirit fails, The chill tear fallsA?sad to the deck he goes> The stor! of !idnight s ells, the sails are furl=d, (eep sounds the lead, but finds no friendly shore, )ast o=er the a"es the retched bark is hurl=d, =7 Ellen, Ellen> e !ust !eet no !ore>= &ightnings, that she The rending thunders, The loud, loud inds, 4hake the fir! ner"e, the "ast and foa!y deep, as they on ard roll, that o=er the billo s s eep? appall the bra"est soul>

Ah> hat a"ails the sea!en=s toiling care> The straining cordage bursts, the !ast is ri"=nA The sounds of terror groan along the air, Then sink afarA?the bark on rocks is dri"=n> )ierce o=er the reck the hel!ing aters pass=d, The helpless cre sunk in the roaring !ain> 8enry=s faint accents tre!bled in the blast? =)are el, !y lo"e>? e ne=er shall !eet again>= 7ft, at the cal! and silent e"ening hour, <hen su!!er%breeBes linger on the a"e, A !elancholy "oice is heard to pour

5ts lonely s eetness o=er poor 8enry=s gra"e> And oft, at !idnight, airy strains are heard Around the gro"e, here Ellen=s for! is laidA :or is the dirge by "illage%!aidens fear=d, )or lo"ers= spirits guard the holy shade>

#HAPTER *
7h> the joy 7f young ideas, painted on the !ind 5n the ar! glo ing colours fancy spreads 7n objects not yet kno n, hen all is ne , And all is lo"ely> 4A3RE( (RAMA4

:e no+ ret%rn to 0an,%e oc an to the *ention of Co%nt <e Villefort, the noble*an, +ho s%ccee e to an estate of the &ar4%is <e Villeroi sit%ate near the *onastery of 't( Claire( It *ay be recollecte , that this chatea% +as %ninhabite , +hen 't( A%bert an his a%,hter +ere in the nei,hbo%rhoo , an that the for*er +as *%ch affecte on iscoverin, hi*self to be so near Chatea%6le61lanc, a place, concernin, +hich the ,oo ol 0a Voisin after+ar s roppe so*e hints, that ha alar*e E*ily3s c%riosity( It +as in the year !"#$, the be,innin, of that, in +hich 't( A%bert ie , that )rancis 1ea%vea%, Co%nt <e Villefort, ca*e into possession of the *ansion an e-tensive o*ain calle Chatea%6le61lanc, sit%ate in the province of 0an,%e oc, on the shore of the &e iterranean( This estate, +hich, %rin, so*e cent%ries, ha belon,e to his fa*ily, no+ escen e to hi*, on the ecease of his relative, the &ar4%is <e Villeroi, +ho ha been latterly a *an of reserve *anners an a%stere character/ circ%*stances, +hich, to,ether +ith the %ties of his profession, that often calle hi* into the fiel , ha prevente any e,ree of inti*acy +ith his co%sin, the Co%nt <e Villefort( )or *any years, they ha kno+n little of each other, an the Co%nt receive the first intelli,ence of his eath,

+hich happene in a istant part of )rance, to,ether +ith the instr%*ents, that ,ave hi* possession of the o*ain Chatea%6le61lanc/ b%t it +as not till the follo+in, year, that he eter*ine to visit that estate, +hen he esi,ne to pass the a%t%*n there( The scenes of Chatea%6le61lanc often ca*e to his re*e*brance, hei,htene by the to%ches, +hich a +ar* i*a,ination ,ives to the recollection of early pleas%res/ for, *any years before, in the life6ti*e of the &archioness, an at that a,e +hen the *in is partic%larly sensible to i*pressions of ,aiety an eli,ht, he ha once visite this spot, an , tho%,h he ha passe a lon, intervenin, perio a*i st the ve-ations an t%*%lts of p%blic affairs, +hich too fre4%ently corro e the heart, an vitiate the taste, the sha es of 0an,%e oc an the ,ran e%r of its istant scenery ha never been re*e*bere by hi* +ith in ifference( <%rin, *any years, the chatea% ha been aban one by the late &ar4%is, an , bein, inhabite only by an ol ste+ar an his +ife, ha been s%ffere to fall *%ch into ecay( To s%perinten the repairs, that +o%l be re4%isite to *ake it a co*fortable resi ence, ha been a principal *otive +ith the Co%nt for passin, the a%t%*nal *onths in 0an,%e oc/ an neither the re*onstrances, or the tears of the Co%ntess, for, on %r,ent occasions, she co%l +eep, +ere po+erf%l eno%,h to overco*e his eter*ination( 'he prepare , therefore, to obey the co**an , +hich she co%l not con4%er, an to resi,n the ,ay asse*blies of Paris,7 +here her bea%ty +as ,enerally %nrivalle an +on the appla%se, to +hich her +it ha b%t feeble clai*7for the t+ili,ht canopy of +oo s, the lonely ,ran e%r of *o%ntains an the sole*nity of ,othic halls an of lon,, lon, ,alleries, +hich echoe only the solitary step of a o*estic, or the *eas%re clink, that ascen e fro* the ,reat clock7the ancient *onitor of the hall belo+( )ro* these *elancholy e-pectations she en eavo%re to relieve her spirits by recollectin, all that she ha ever hear , concernin, the .oyo%s vinta,e of the plains of 0an,%e oc/ b%t there, alas? no airy for*s +o%l bo%n to the ,ay *elo y of Parisian

ances, an a vie+ of the r%stic festivities of peasants co%l affor little pleas%re to a heart, in +hich even the feelin,s of or inary benevolence ha lon, since ecaye %n er the corr%ptions of l%-%ry( The Co%nt ha a son an a a%,hter, the chil ren of a for*er *arria,e, +ho, he esi,ne , sho%l acco*pany hi* to the so%th of )rance/ Henri, +ho +as in his t+entieth year, +as in the )rench service/ an 1lanche, +ho +as not yet ei,hteen, ha been hitherto confine to the convent, +here she ha been place i**e iately on her father3s secon *arria,e( The present Co%ntess, +ho ha neither s%fficient ability, or inclination, to s%perinten the e %cation of her a%,hter6in6la+, ha a vise this step, an the rea of s%perior bea%ty ha since %r,e her to e*ploy every art, that *i,ht prevail on the Co%nt to prolon, the perio of 1lanche3s secl%sion/ it +as, therefore, +ith e-tre*e *ortification, that she no+ %n erstoo he +o%l no lon,er s%b*it on this s%b.ect, yet it affor e her so*e consolation to consi er, that, tho%,h the 0a y 1lanche +o%l e*er,e fro* her convent, the sha es of the co%ntry +o%l , for so*e ti*e, veil her bea%ty fro* the p%blic eye( On the *ornin,, +hich co**ence the .o%rney, the postillions stoppe at the convent, by the Co%nt3s or er, to take %p 1lanche, +hose heart beat +ith eli,ht, at the prospect of novelty an free o* no+ before her( As the ti*e of her epart%re re+ ni,h, her i*patience ha increase , an the last ni,ht, %rin, +hich she co%nte every note of every ho%r, ha appeare the *ost te io%s of any she ha ever kno+n( The *ornin, li,ht, at len,th, a+ne / the *atin6bell ran,/ she hear the n%ns escen in, fro* their cha*bers, an she starte fro* a sleepless pillo+ to +elco*e the ay, +hich +as to e*ancipate her fro* the severities of a cloister, an intro %ce her to a +orl , +here pleas%re +as ever s*ilin,, an ,oo ness ever blesse 7+here, in short, nothin, b%t pleas%re an ,oo ness rei,ne ? :hen the bell of the ,reat ,ate ran,, an the so%n +as follo+e by that of carria,e +heels, she ran, +ith a palpitatin, heart, to her lattice, an , perceivin, her father3s carria,e in the co%rt belo+, ance , +ith airy steps, alon, the

,allery, +here she +as *et by a n%n +ith a s%**ons fro* the abbess( In the ne-t *o*ent, she +as in the parlo%r, an in the presence of the Co%ntess +ho no+ appeare to her as an an,el, that +as to lea her into happiness( 1%t the e*otions of the Co%ntess, on behol in, her, +ere not in %nison +ith those of 1lanche, +ho ha never appeare so lovely as at this *o*ent, +hen her co%ntenance, ani*ate by the li,htnin, s*ile of .oy, ,lo+e +ith the bea%ty of happy innocence( After conversin, for a fe+ *in%tes +ith the abbess, the Co%ntess rose to ,o( This +as the *o*ent, +hich 1lanche ha anticipate +ith s%ch ea,er e-pectation, the s%**it fro* +hich she looke o+n %pon the fairy6lan of happiness, an s%rveye all its enchant*ent/ +as it a *o*ent, then, for tears of re,retB 2et it +as so( 'he t%rne , +ith an altere an e.ecte co%ntenance, to her yo%n, co*panions, +ho +ere co*e to bi her fare+ell, an +ept? Even *y la y abbess, so stately an so sole*n, she sal%te +ith a e,ree of sorro+, +hich, an ho%r before, she +o%l have believe it i*possible to feel, an +hich *ay be acco%nte for by consi erin, ho+ rel%ctantly +e all part, even +ith %npleasin, ob.ects, +hen the separation is conscio%sly for ever( A,ain, she kisse the poor n%ns an then follo+e the Co%ntess fro* that spot +ith tears, +hich she e-pecte to leave only +ith s*iles( 1%t the presence of her father an the variety of ob.ects, on the roa , soon en,a,e her attention, an issipate the sha e, +hich ten er re,ret ha thro+n %pon her spirits( Inattentive to a conversation, +hich +as passin, bet+een the Co%ntess an a &a e*oiselle 1earn, her frien , 1lanche sat, lost in pleasin, reverie, as she +atche the clo% s floatin, silently alon, the bl%e e-panse, no+ veilin, the s%n an stretchin, their sha o+s alon, the istant scene, an then isclosin, all his bri,htness( The .o%rney contin%e to ,ive 1lanche ine-pressible eli,ht, for ne+ scenes of nat%re +ere every instant openin, to her vie+, an her fancy beca*e store +ith ,ay an bea%tif%l i*a,ery(

It +as on the evenin, of the seventh ay, that the travellers ca*e +ithin vie+ of Chatea%6le61lanc, the ro*antic bea%ty of +hose sit%ation stron,ly i*presse the i*a,ination of 1lanche, +ho observe , +ith s%bli*e astonish*ent, the Pyrenean *o%ntains, +hich ha been seen only at a istance %rin, the ay, no+ risin, +ithin a fe+ lea,%es, +ith their +il cliffs an i**ense precipices, +hich the evenin, clo% s, floatin, ro%n the*, no+ isclose , an a,ain veile ( The settin, rays, that tin,e their sno+y s%**its +ith a roseate h%e, to%che their lo+er points +ith vario%s colo%rin,, +hile the bl%eish tint, that perva e their sha o+y recesses, ,ave the stren,th of contrast to the splen o%r of li,ht( The plains of 0an,%e oc, bl%shin, +ith the p%rple vine an iversifie +ith ,roves of *%lberry, al*on an olives, sprea far to the north an the east/ to the so%th, appeare the &e iterranean, clear as crystal, an bl%e as the heavens it reflecte , bearin, on its boso* vessels, +hose +hite sails ca%,ht the s%n6bea*s, an ,ave ani*ation to the scene( On a hi,h pro*ontory, +ashe by the +aters of the &e iterranean, stoo her father3s *ansion, al*ost secl% e fro* the eye by +oo s of inter*in,le pine, oak an chesn%t, +hich cro+ne the e*inence, an slope to+ar s the plains, on one si e/ +hile, on the other, they e-ten e to a consi erable istance alon, the sea6shores( As 1lanche re+ nearer, the ,othic feat%res of this antient *ansion s%ccessively appeare 7first an e*battle t%rret, risin, above the trees7then the broken arch of an i**ense ,ate6+ay, retirin, beyon the*/ an she al*ost fancie herself approachin, a castle, s%ch as is often celebrate in early story, +here the kni,hts look o%t fro* the battle*ents on so*e cha*pion belo+, +ho, clothe in black ar*o%r, co*es, +ith his co*panions, to resc%e the fair la y of his love fro* the oppression of his rival/ a sort of le,en s, to +hich she ha once or t+ice obtaine access in the library of her convent, that, like *any others, belon,in, to the *onks, +as store +ith these reli4%es of ro*antic fiction(

The carria,es stoppe at a ,ate, +hich le into the o*ain of the chatea%, b%t +hich +as no+ fastene / an the ,reat bell, that ha for*erly serve to anno%nce the arrival of stran,ers, havin, lon, since fallen fro* its station, a servant cli*be over a r%ine part of the a .oinin, +all, to ,ive notice to those +ithin of the arrival of their lor ( As 1lanche leane fro* the coach +in o+, she resi,ne herself to the s+eet an ,entle e*otions, +hich the ho%r an the scenery a+akene ( The s%n ha no+ left the earth, an t+ili,ht be,an to arken the *o%ntains/ +hile the istant +aters, reflectin, the bl%sh that still ,lo+e in the +est, appeare like a line of li,ht, skirtin, the hori8on( The lo+ *%r*%r of +aves, breakin, on the shore, ca*e in the bree8e, an , no+ an then, the *elancholy ashin, of oars +as feebly hear fro* a istance( 'he +as s%ffere to in %l,e her pensive *oo , for the tho%,hts of the rest of the party +ere silently en,a,e %pon the s%b.ects of their several interests( &ean+hile, the Co%ntess, reflectin,, +ith re,ret, %pon the ,ay parties she ha left at Paris, s%rveye , +ith is,%st, +hat she tho%,ht the ,loo*y +oo s an solitary +il ness of the scene/ an , shrinkin, fro* the prospect of bein, sh%t %p in an ol castle, +as prepare to *eet every ob.ect +ith ispleas%re( The feelin,s of Henri +ere so*e+hat si*ilar to those of the Co%ntess/ he ,ave a *o%rnf%l si,h to the eli,hts of the capital, an to the re*e*brance of a la y, +ho, he believe , ha en,a,e his affections, an +ho ha certainly fascinate his i*a,ination/ b%t the s%rro%n in, co%ntry, an the *o e of life, on +hich he +as enterin,, ha , for hi*, at least, the char* of novelty, an his re,ret +as softene by the ,ay e-pectations of yo%th( The ,ates bein, at len,th %nbarre , the carria,e *ove slo+ly on, %n er sprea in, chesn%ts, that al*ost e-cl% e the re*ains of ay, follo+in, +hat ha been for*erly a roa , b%t +hich no+, over,ro+n +ith l%-%riant ve,etation, co%l be trace only by the bo%n ary, for*e by trees, on either si e, an +hich +o%n for near half a *ile a*on, the +oo s, before it reache the chatea%( This

+as the very aven%e that 't( A%bert an E*ily ha for*erly entere , on their first arrival in the nei,hbo%rhoo , +ith the hope of fin in, a ho%se, that +o%l receive the*, for the ni,ht, an ha so abr%ptly 4%itte , on perceivin, the +il ness of the place, an a fi,%re, +hich the postillion ha fancie +as a robber( 3:hat a is*al place is this?3 e-clai*e the Co%ntess, as the carria,e penetrate the eeper recesses of the +oo s( 3'%rely, *y lor , yo% o not *ean to pass all the a%t%*n in this barbaro%s spot? One o%,ht to brin, hither a c%p of the +aters of 0ethe, that the re*e*brance of pleasanter scenes *ay not hei,hten, at least, the nat%ral reariness of these(3 3I shall be ,overne by circ%*stances, *a a*,3 sai the Co%nt, 3this barbaro%s spot +as inhabite by *y ancestors(3 The carria,e no+ stoppe at the chatea%, +here, at the oor of the ,reat hall, appeare the ol ste+ar an the Parisian servants, +ho ha been sent to prepare the chatea%, +aitin, to receive their lor ( 0a y 1lanche no+ perceive , that the e ifice +as not b%ilt entirely in the ,othic style, b%t that it ha a itions of a *ore *o ern ate/ the lar,e an ,loo*y hall, ho+ever, into +hich she no+ entere , +as entirely ,othic, an s%*pt%o%s tapestry, +hich it +as no+ too ark to istin,%ish, h%n, %pon the +alls, an epict%re scenes fro* so*e of the antient Provencal ro*ances( A vast ,othic +in o+, e*broi ere +ith C0E&ATI' an e,lantine, that ascen e to the so%th, le the eye, no+ that the case*ents +ere thro+n open, thro%,h this ver ant sha e, over a slopin, la+n, to the tops of ark +oo s, that h%n, %pon the bro+ of the pro*ontory( 1eyon , appeare the +aters of the &e iterranean, stretchin, far to the so%th, an to the east, +here they +ere lost in the hori8on/ +hile, to the north6east, they +ere bo%n e by the l%-%riant shores of 0an,%e oc an Provence, enriche +ith +oo , an ,ay +ith vines an slopin, past%res/ an , to the so%th6+est, by the *a.estic Pyrenees, no+ fa in, fro* the eye, beneath the ,ra %al ,loo*(

1lanche, as she crosse the hall, stoppe a *o*ent to observe this lovely prospect, +hich the evenin, t+ili,ht obsc%re , yet i not conceal( 1%t she +as 4%ickly a+akene fro* the co*placent eli,ht, +hich this scene ha iff%se %pon her *in , by the Co%ntess, +ho, iscontente +ith every ob.ect aro%n , an i*patient for refresh*ent an repose, hastene for+ar to a lar,e parlo%r, +hose ce ar +ainscot, narro+, pointe case*ents, an ark ceilin, of carve cypress +oo , ,ave it an aspect of pec%liar ,loo*, +hich the in,y ,reen velvet of the chairs an co%ches, frin,e +ith tarnishe ,ol , ha once been esi,ne to enliven( :hile the Co%ntess en4%ire for refresh*ent, the Co%nt, atten e by his son, +ent to look over so*e part of the chatea%, an 0a y 1lanche rel%ctantly re*aine to +itness the iscontent an ill6h%*o%r of her step6*other( 3Ho+ lon, have yo% live in this esolate placeB3 sai her la yship, to the ol ho%se keeper, +ho ca*e to pay her %ty( 3Above t+enty years, yo%r la yship, on the ne-t feast of 't( @ero*e(3 3Ho+ happene it, that yo% have live here so lon,, an al*ost alone, tooB I %n erstoo , that the chatea% ha been sh%t %p for so*e yearsB3 32es, *a a*, it +as for *any years after *y late lor , the Co%nt, +ent to the +ars/ b%t it is above t+enty years, since I an *y h%sban ca*e into his service( The place is so lar,e, an has of late been so lonely, that +e +ere lost in it, an , after so*e ti*e, +e +ent to live in a cotta,e at the en of the +oo s, near so*e of the tenants, an ca*e to look after the chatea%, every no+ an then( :hen *y lor ret%rne to )rance fro* the +ars, he took a islike to the place, an never ca*e to live here a,ain, an so he +as satisfie +ith o%r re*ainin, at the cotta,e( Alas7alas? ho+ the chatea% is chan,e fro* +hat it once +as? :hat eli,ht *y late la y %se to take in it? I +ell re*e*ber +hen she ca*e here a bri e, an ho+ fine it +as( 9o+, it has

been ne,lecte so lon,, an is ,one into s%ch ecay? I shall never see those ays a,ain?3 The Co%ntess appearin, to be so*e+hat offen e by the tho%,htless si*plicity, +ith +hich the ol +o*an re,rette for*er ti*es, <orothee a e 731%t the chatea% +ill no+ be inhabite , an cheerf%l a,ain/ not all the +orl co%l te*pt *e to live in it alone(3 3:ell, the e-peri*ent +ill not be *a e, I believe,3 sai the Co%ntess, isplease that her o+n silence ha been %nable to a+e the lo4%acity of this r%stic ol ho%sekeeper, no+ spare fro* f%rther atten ance by the entrance of the Co%nt, +ho sai he ha been vie+in, part of the chatea%, an fo%n , that it +o%l re4%ire consi erable repairs an so*e alterations, before it +o%l be perfectly co*fortable, as a place of resi ence( 3I a* sorry to hear it, *y lor ,3 replie the Co%ntess( 3An +hy sorry, *a a*B3 31eca%se the place +ill ill repay yo%r tro%ble/ an +ere it even a para ise, it +o%l be ins%fferable at s%ch a istance fro* Paris(3 The Co%nt *a e no reply, b%t +alke abr%ptly to a +in o+( 3There are +in o+s, *y lor , b%t they neither a *it entertain*ent, or li,ht/ they she+ only a scene of sava,e nat%re(3 3I a* at a loss, *a a*,3 sai the Co%nt, 3to con.ect%re +hat yo% *ean by sava,e nat%re( <o those plains, or those +oo s, or that fine e-panse of +ater, eserve the na*eB3 3Those *o%ntains certainly o, *y lor ,3 re.oine the Co%ntess, pointin, to the Pyrenees, 3an this chatea%, tho%,h not a +ork of r% e nat%re, is, to *y taste, at least, one of sava,e art(3 The Co%nt colo%re hi,hly( 3This place, *a a*, +as the +ork of *y ancestors,3 sai he, 3an yo% *%st allo+ *e to say, that yo%r present conversation iscovers neither ,oo taste, or ,oo *anners(3 1lanche, no+ shocke at an altercation, +hich appeare to be increasin, to a serio%s isa,ree*ent, rose to leave the roo*, +hen her *other3s +o*an entere it/ an the Co%ntess, i**e iately esirin, to be she+n to her o+n apart*ent, +ith re+, atten e by &a e*oiselle 1earn(

0a y 1lanche, it bein, not yet ark, took this opport%nity of e-plorin, ne+ scenes, an , leavin, the parlo%r, she passe fro* the hall into a +i e ,allery, +hose +alls +ere ecorate by *arble pilasters, +hich s%pporte an arche roof, co*pose of a rich *osaic +ork( Thro%,h a istant +in o+, that see*e to ter*inate the ,allery, +ere seen the p%rple clo% s of evenin, an a lan scape, +hose feat%res, thinly veile in t+ili,ht, no lon,er appeare istinctly, b%t, blen e into one ,ran *ass, stretche to the hori8on, colo%re only +ith a tint of sole*n ,rey( The ,allery ter*inate in a saloon, to +hich the +in o+ she ha seen thro%,h an open oor, belon,e / b%t the increasin, %sk per*itte her only an i*perfect vie+ of this apart*ent, +hich see*e to be *a,nificent an of *o ern architect%re/ tho%,h it ha been either s%ffere to fall into ecay, or ha never been properly finishe ( The +in o+s, +hich +ere n%*ero%s an lar,e, escen e lo+, an affor e a very e-tensive, an +hat 1lanche3s fancy represente to be, a very lovely prospect/ an she stoo for so*e ti*e, s%rveyin, the ,rey obsc%rity an epict%rin, i*a,inary +oo s an *o%ntains, vallies an rivers, on this scene of ni,ht/ her sole*n sensations rather assiste , than interr%pte , by the istant bark of a +atch6 o,, an by the bree8e, as it tre*ble %pon the li,ht folia,e of the shr%bs( 9o+ an then, appeare for a *o*ent, a*on, the +oo s, a cotta,e li,ht/ an , at len,th, +as hear , afar off, the evenin, bell of a convent, yin, on the air( :hen she +ith re+ her tho%,hts fro* these s%b.ects of fancif%l eli,ht, the ,loo* an silence of the saloon so*e+hat a+e her/ an , havin, so%,ht the oor of the ,allery, an p%rs%e , for a consi erable ti*e, a ark passa,e, she ca*e to a hall, b%t one totally ifferent fro* that she ha for*erly seen( 1y the t+ili,ht, a *itte thro%,h an open portico, she co%l .%st istin,%ish this apart*ent to be of very li,ht an airy architect%re, an that it +as pave +ith +hite *arble, pillars of +hich s%pporte the roof, that rose into arches b%ilt in the &oorish style( :hile 1lanche stoo on the steps of this portico, the

*oon rose over the sea, an ,ra %ally isclose , in partial li,ht, the bea%ties of the e*inence, on +hich she stoo , +hence a la+n, no+ r% e an over,ro+n +ith hi,h ,rass, slope to the +oo s, that, al*ost s%rro%n in, the chatea%, e-ten e in a ,ran s+eep o+n the so%thern si es of the pro*ontory to the very *ar,in of the ocean( 1eyon the +oo s, on the north6 si e, appeare a lon, tract of the plains of 0an,%e oc/ an , to the east, the lan scape she ha before i*ly seen, +ith the to+ers of a *onastery, ill%*ine by the *oon, risin, over ark ,roves( The soft an sha o+y tint, that oversprea the scene, the +aves, %n %latin, in the *oon6li,ht, an their lo+ an *eas%re *%r*%rs on the beach, +ere circ%*stances, that %nite to elevate the %nacc%sto*e *in of 1lanche to enth%sias*( 3An have I live in this ,lorio%s +orl so lon,,3 sai she, 3an never till no+ behel s%ch a prospect7never e-perience these eli,hts? Every peasant ,irl, on *y father3s o*ain, has vie+e fro* her infancy the face of nat%re/ has ran,e , at liberty, her ro*antic +il s, +hile I have been sh%t in a cloister fro* the vie+ of these bea%tif%l appearances, +hich +ere esi,ne to enchant all eyes, an a+aken all hearts( Ho+ can the poor n%ns an friars feel the f%ll fervo%r of evotion, if they never see the s%n rise, or setB 9ever, till this evenin,, i I kno+ +hat tr%e evotion is/ for, never before i I see the s%n sink belo+ the vast earth? To6 *orro+, for the first ti*e in *y life, I +ill see it rise( O, +ho +o%l live in Paris, to look %pon black +alls an irty streets, +hen, in the co%ntry, they *i,ht ,a8e on the bl%e heavens, an all the ,reen earth?3 This enth%siastic solilo4%y +as interr%pte by a r%stlin, noise in the hall/ an , +hile the loneliness of the place *a e her sensible to fear, she tho%,ht she perceive so*ethin, *ovin, bet+een the pillars( )or a *o*ent, she contin%e silently observin, it, till, asha*e of her ri ic%lo%s apprehensions, she recollecte co%ra,e eno%,h to e*an +ho +as there( 3O *y yo%n, la y, is it yo%B3 sai the ol ho%sekeeper, +ho +as co*e to sh%t the +in o+s, 3I a* ,la it is

yo%(3 The *anner, in +hich she spoke this, +ith a faint breath, rather s%rprise 1lanche, +ho sai , 32o% see*e fri,htene , <orothee, +hat is the *atterB3 39o, not fri,htene , *a3a*selle,3 replie <orothee, hesitatin, an tryin, to appear co*pose , 3b%t I a* ol , an 7a little *atter startles *e(3 The 0a y 1lanche s*ile at the istinction( 3I a* ,la , that *y lor the Co%nt is co*e to live at the chatea%, *a3a*selle,3 contin%e <orothee, 3for it has been *any a year eserte , an reary eno%,h/ no+, the place +ill look a little as it %se to o, +hen *y poor la y +as alive(3 1lanche en4%ire ho+ lon, it +as, since the &archioness ie B 3Alas? *y la y,3 replie <orothee, 3so lon,7that I have cease to co%nt the years? The place, to *y *in , has *o%rne ever since, an I a* s%re *y lor 3s vassals have? 1%t yo% have lost yo%rself, *a3a*selle,7shall I she+ yo% to the other si e of the chatea%B3 1lanche en4%ire ho+ lon, this part of the e ifice ha been b%ilt( 3'oon after *y lor 3s *arria,e, *a3a*,3 replie <orothee( 3The place +as lar,e eno%,h +itho%t this a ition, for *any roo*s of the ol b%il in, +ere even then never *a e %se of, an *y lor ha a princely ho%sehol too/ b%t he tho%,ht the antient *ansion ,loo*y, an ,loo*y eno%,h it is?3 0a y 1lanche no+ esire to be she+n to the inhabite part of the chatea%/ an , as the passa,es +ere entirely ark, <orothee con %cte her alon, the e ,e of the la+n to the opposite si e of the e ifice, +here, a oor openin, into the ,reat hall, she +as *et by &a e*oiselle 1earn( 3:here have yo% been so lon,B3 sai she, 3I ha be,%n to think so*e +on erf%l a vent%re ha befallen yo%, an that the ,iant of this enchante castle, or the ,host, +hich, no o%bt, ha%nts it, ha conveye yo% thro%,h a trap6 oor into so*e s%bterranean va%lt, +hence yo% +as never to ret%rn(3 39o,3 replie 1lanche, la%,hin,ly, 3yo% see* to love a vent%res so +ell, that I leave the* for yo% to achieve(3

3:ell, I a* +illin, to achieve the*, provi e I a* allo+e to escribe the*(3 3&y ear &a e*oiselle 1earn,3 sai Henri, as he *et her at the oor of the parlo%r, 3no ,host of these ays +o%l be so sava,e as to i*pose silence on yo%( O%r ,hosts are *ore civili8e than to con e*n a la y to a p%r,atory severer even, than their o+n, be it +hat it *ay(3 &a e*oiselle 1earn replie only by a la%,h/ an , the Co%nt no+ enterin, the roo*, s%pper +as serve , %rin, +hich he spoke little, fre4%ently appeare to be abstracte fro* the co*pany, an *ore than once re*arke , that the place +as ,reatly altere , since he ha last seen it( 3&any years have intervene since that perio ,3 sai he/ 3an , tho%,h the ,ran feat%res of the scenery a *it of no chan,e, they i*press *e +ith sensations very ifferent fro* those I for*erly e-perience (3 3<i these scenes, sir,3 sai 1lanche, 3ever appear *ore lovely, than they o no+B To *e this see*s har ly possible(3 The Co%nt, re,ar in, her +ith a *elancholy s*ile, sai , 3They once +ere as eli,htf%l to *e, as they are no+ to yo%/ the lan scape is not chan,e , b%t ti*e has chan,e *e/ fro* *y *in the ill%sion, +hich ,ave spirit to the colo%rin, of nat%re, is fa in, fast? If yo% live, *y ear 1lanche, to re6visit this spot, at the istance of *any years, yo% +ill, perhaps, re*e*ber an %n erstan the feelin,s of yo%r father(3 0a y 1lanche, affecte by these +or s, re*aine silent/ she looke for+ar to the perio , +hich the Co%nt anticipate , an consi erin,, that he, +ho no+ spoke, +o%l then probably be no *ore, her eyes, bent to the ,ro%n , +ere file +ith tears( 'he ,ave her han to her father, +ho, s*ilin, affectionately, rose fro* his chair, an +ent to a +in o+ to conceal his e*otion( The fati,%es of the ay *a e the party separate at an early ho%r, +hen 1lanche retire thro%,h a lon, oak ,allery to her cha*ber, +hose spacio%s an lofty +alls, hi,h anti4%ate case*ents, an , +hat +as the effect of these, its ,loo*y air, i not reconcile her to its re*ote

sit%ation, in this antient b%il in,( The f%rnit%re, also, +as of antient ate/ the be +as of bl%e a*ask, tri**e +ith tarnishe ,ol lace, an its lofty tester rose in the for* of a canopy, +hence the c%rtains escen e , like those of s%ch tents as are so*eti*es represente in ol pict%res, an , in ee , *%ch rese*blin, those, e-hibite on the fa e tapestry, +ith +hich the cha*ber +as h%n,( To 1lanche, every ob.ect here +as *atter of c%riosity/ an , takin, the li,ht fro* her +o*an to e-a*ine the tapestry, she perceive , that it represente scenes fro* the +ars of Troy, tho%,h the al*ost colo%rless +orste no+ *ocke the ,lo+in, actions they once ha painte ( 'he la%,he at the l% icro%s abs%r ity she observe , till, recollectin,, that the han s, +hich ha +ove it, +ere, like the poet, +hose tho%,hts of fire they ha atte*pte to e-press, lon, since *o%l ere into %st, a train of *elancholy i eas passe over her *in , an she al*ost +ept( Havin, ,iven her +o*an a strict in.%nction to a+aken her, before s%n6rise, she is*isse her/ an then, to issipate the ,loo*, +hich reflection ha cast %pon her spirits, opene one of the hi,h case*ents, an +as a,ain cheere by the face of livin, nat%re( The sha o+y earth, the air, an ocean7all +as still( Alon, the eep serene of the heavens, a fe+ li,ht clo% s floate slo+ly, thro%,h +hose skirts the stars no+ see*e to tre*ble, an no+ to e*er,e +ith p%rer splen o%r( 1lanche3s tho%,hts arose invol%ntarily to the Great A%thor of the s%bli*e ob.ects she conte*plate , an she breathe a prayer of finer evotion, than any she ha ever %ttere beneath the va%lte roof of a cloister( At this case*ent, she re*aine till the ,loo*s of *i ni,ht +ere stretche over the prospect( 'he then retire to her pillo+, an , 3+ith ,ay visions of to6 *orro+,3 to those s+eet sl%*bers, +hich health an happy innocence only kno+(
To%!orro to fresh oods and pastures ne #

#HAPTER *I
<hat transport to retrace our early plays, 7ur easy bliss, hen each thing joy supplied The oods, the !ountains and the arbling !aBe 7f the ild brooks> T87M47:

1lanche3s sl%*bers contin%e , till lon, after the ho%r, +hich she ha so i*patiently anticipate , for her +o*an, fati,%e +ith travellin,, i not call her, till breakfast +as nearly rea y( Her isappoint*ent, ho+ever, +as instantly for,otten, +hen, on openin, the case*ent, she sa+, on one han , the +i e sea sparklin, in the *ornin, rays, +ith its stealin, sails an ,lancin, oars/ an , on the other, the fresh +oo s, the plains far6 stretchin, an the bl%e *o%ntains, all ,lo+in, +ith the splen o%r of ay( As she inspire the p%re bree8e, health sprea a eeper bl%sh %pon her co%ntenance, an pleas%re ance in her eyes( 3:ho co%l first invent convents?3 sai she, 3an +ho co%l first pers%a e people to ,o into the*B an to *ake reli,ion a pretence, too, +here all that sho%l inspire it, is so caref%lly sh%t o%t? Go is best please +ith the ho*a,e of a ,ratef%l heart, an , +hen +e vie+ his ,lories, +e feel *ost ,ratef%l( I never felt so *%ch evotion, %rin, the *any %ll years I +as in the convent, as I have one in the fe+ ho%rs, that I have been here, +here I nee only look on all aro%n *e7 to a ore Go in *y in*ost heart?3 'ayin, this, she left the +in o+, bo%n e alon, the ,allery, an , in the ne-t *o*ent, +as in the breakfast roo*, +here the Co%nt +as alrea y seate ( The cheerf%lness of a bri,ht s%nshine ha isperse the *elancholy ,loo*s of his reflections, a pleasant s*ile +as on his co%ntenance, an he spoke in an enlivenin, voice to 1lanche, +hose heart echoe back the tones( Henri an , soon after, the Co%ntess +ith &a e*oiselle 1earn appeare , an the +hole party see*e to ackno+le ,e the infl%ence of the scene/ even the Co%ntess +as so *%ch re6ani*ate as to receive the

civilities of her h%sban +ith co*placency, an b%t once for,ot her ,oo 6h%*o%r, +hich +as +hen she aske +hether they ha any nei,hbo%rs, +ho +ere likely to *ake THI' 1AR1AROA' 'POT *ore tolerable, an +hether the Co%nt believe it possible for her to e-ist here, +itho%t so*e a*%se*entB 'oon after breakfast the party isperse / the Co%nt, or erin, his ste+ar to atten hi* in the library, +ent to s%rvey the con ition of his pre*ises, an to visit so*e of his tenants/ Henri hastene +ith alacrity to the shore to e-a*ine a boat, that +as to bear the* on a little voya,e in the evenin, an to s%perinten the a .%st*ent of a silk a+nin,/ +hile the Co%ntess, atten e by &a e*oiselle 1earn, retire to an apart*ent on the *o ern si e of the chatea%, +hich +as fitte %p +ith airy ele,ance/ an , as the +in o+s opene %pon balconies, that fronte the sea, she +as there save fro* a vie+ of the HORRI< Pyrenees( Here, +hile she recline on a sofa, an , castin, her lan,%i eyes over the ocean, +hich appeare beyon the +oo 6tops, in %l,e in the l%-%ries of E99AI, her co*panion rea alo% a senti*ental novel, on so*e fashionable syste* of philosophy, for the Co%ntess +as herself so*e+hat of a PHI0O'OPHER, especially as to I9)I<E0IT2, an a*on, a certain circle her opinions +ere +aite for +ith i*patience, an receive as octrines( The 0a y 1lanche, *ean+hile, hastene to in %l,e, a*i st the +il +oo 6+alks aro%n the chatea%, her ne+ enth%sias*, +here, as she +an ere %n er the sha es, her ,ay spirits ,ra %ally yiel e to pensive co*placency( 9o+, she *ove +ith sole*n steps, beneath the ,loo* of thickly inter+oven branches, +here the fresh e+ still h%n, %pon every flo+er, that peepe fro* a*on, the ,rass/ an no+ trippe sportively alon, the path, on +hich the s%nbea*s arte an the chec4%ere folia,e tre*ble 7+here the ten er ,reens of the beech, the acacia an the *o%ntain6ash, *in,lin, +ith the sole*n tints of the ce ar, the pine an cypress, e-hibite as fine a contrast of colo%rin,, as the *a.estic oak an oriental plane i

of for*, to the feathery li,htness of the cork tree an the +avin, ,race of the poplar( Havin, reache a r%stic seat, +ithin a eep recess of the +oo s, she reste a+hile, an , as her eyes ca%,ht, thro%,h a istant openin,, a ,li*pse of the bl%e +aters of the &e iterranean, +ith the +hite sail, ,li in, on its boso*, or of the broa *o%ntain, ,lo+in, beneath the *i 6 ay s%n, her *in e-perience so*e+hat of that e-4%isite eli,ht, +hich a+akens the fancy, an lea s to poetry( The h%* of bees alone broke the stillness aro%n her, as, +ith other insects of vario%s h%es, they sporte ,aily in the sha e, or sippe s+eets fro* the fresh flo+ers; an , +hile 1lanche +atche a b%tter6fly, flittin, fro* b% to b% , she in %l,e herself in i*a,inin, the pleas%res of its short ay, till she ha co*pose the follo+in, stan8as(
T8E BUTTER%)&$ T7 854 &7DE <hat bo ery dell, ith fragrant breath, 3ourts thee to stay thy airy flightA :or seek again the purple heath, 4o oft the scene of gay delightE &ong 5="e atch=d i= the lily=s bell, <hose hiteness stole the !orning=s bea!A :o fluttering sounds thy co!ing tell, :o a"ing ings, at distance, glea!# But fountain fresh, nor breathing gro"e, :or sunny !ead, nor blosso!=d tree, 4o s eet as lily=s cell shall pro"e,? The bo er of constant lo"e and !e# <hen April buds begin to blo , The pri!%rose, and the hare%bell blue, That on the "erdant !oss bank gro , <ith "iolet cups, that eep in de A <hen anton gales breathe through the shade, And shake the bloo!s, and steal their s eets, And s ell the song of e"=ry glade, 5 range the forest=s green retreats' There, through the tangled ood% alks play, <here no rude urchin paces near, <here sparely peeps the sultry day, And light de s freshen all the air# 8igh on a sun%bea! oft 5 sport 7=er bo er and fountain, "ale and hillA 7ft e"=ry blushing flo =ret court, That hangs its head o=er inding rill#

But And 8er And

these 5=ll lea"e to be thy guide, she thee, here the jas!ine spreads sno y leaf, here !ay%flo =rs hide, rose%buds rear their peeping heads#

<ith !e the !ountain=s su!!it scale, And taste the ild%thy!e=s honied bloo!, <hose fragrance, floating on the gale, 7ft leads !e to the cedar=s gloo!# $et, yet, no sound co!es in the breeBe> <hat shade thus dares to te!pt thy stayE 7nce, !e alone thou ish=d to please, And ith !e only thou ouldst stray# But, hile thy long delay 5 !ourn, And chide the s eet shades for their guile, Thou !ay=st be true, and they forlorn, And fairy fa"ours court thy s!ile# The tiny Cueen of fairy%land, <ho kno s thy speed, hath sent thee far, To bring, or ere the night% atch stand, Rich essence for her shado y car' Perchance her acorn%cups to fill <ith nectar fro! the 5ndian rose, 7r gather, near so!e haunted rill, May%de s, that lull to sleep &o"e=s

oes'

7r, o=er the !ountains, bade thee fly, To tell her fairy lo"e to speed, <hen e"=ning steals upon the sky, To dance along the t ilight !ead# But no 5 see thee sailing lo , Gay as the brightest flo =rs of spring, Thy coat of blue and jet 5 kno , And ell thy gold and purple ing# Borne on the gale, thou co!=st to !eA 7> elco!e, elco!e to !y ho!e> 5n lily=s cell e=ll li"e in glee, Together o=er the !ountains roa!>

:hen 0a y 1lanche ret%rne to the chatea%, instea of ,oin, to the apart*ent of the Co%ntess, she a*%se herself +ith +an erin, over that part of the e ifice, +hich she ha not yet e-a*ine , of +hich the *ost antient first attracte her c%riosity/ for, tho%,h +hat she ha seen of the *o ern +as ,ay an ele,ant, there +as so*ethin, in the for*er *ore interestin, to her i*a,ination( Havin, passe %p the ,reat stair6case, an thro%,h the oak ,allery, she entere %pon a lon, s%ite

of cha*bers, +hose +alls +ere either h%n, +ith tapestry, or +ainscote +ith ce ar, the f%rnit%re of +hich looke al*ost as antient as the roo*s the*selves/ the spacio%s fire6places, +here no *ark of social cheer re*aine , presente an i*a,e of col esolation/ an the +hole s%ite ha so *%ch the air of ne,lect an esertion, that it see*e , as if the venerable persons, +hose portraits h%n, %pon the +alls, ha been the last to inhabit the*( On leavin, these roo*s, she fo%n herself in another ,allery, one en of +hich +as ter*inate by a back stair6case, an the other by a oor, that see*e to co**%nicate +ith the north6si e of the chatea%, b%t +hich bein, fastene , she escen e the stair6case, an , openin, a oor in the +all, a fe+ steps o+n, fo%n herself in a s*all s4%are roo*, that for*e part of the +est t%rret of the castle( Three +in o+s presente each a separate an bea%tif%l prospect/ that to the north, overlookin, 0an,%e oc/ another to the +est, the hills ascen in, to+ar s the Pyrenees, +hose a+f%l s%**its cro+ne the lan scape/ an a thir , frontin, the so%th, ,ave the &e iterranean, an a part of the +il shores of Ro%sillon, to the eye( Havin, left the t%rret, an escen e the narro+ stair6 case, she fo%n herself in a %sky passa,e, +here she +an ere , %nable to fin her +ay, till i*patience yiel e to apprehension, an she calle for assistance( Presently steps approache , an li,ht ,li**ere thro%,h a oor at the other e-tre*ity of the passa,e, +hich +as opene +ith ca%tion by so*e person, +ho i not vent%re beyon it, an +ho* 1lanche observe in silence, till the oor +as closin,, +hen she calle alo% , an , hastenin, to+ar s it, perceive the ol ho%sekeeper( 3<ear *a3a*selle? is it yo%B3 sai <orothee, 3Ho+ co%l yo% fin yo%r +ay hitherB3 Ha 1lanche been less occ%pie by her o+n fears, she +o%l probably have observe the stron, e-pressions of terror an s%rprise on <orothee3s co%ntenance, +ho no+ le her thro%,h a lon, s%ccession of passa,es an roo*s, that looke as if they ha been %ninhabite for a cent%ry, till they reache that appropriate to the

ho%sekeeper, +here <orothee entreate she +o%l sit o+n an take refresh*ent( 1lanche accepte the s+eet *eats, offere to her, *entione her iscovery of the pleasant t%rret, an her +ish to appropriate it to her o+n %se( :hether <orothee3s taste +as not so sensible to the bea%ties of lan scape as her yo%n, la y3s, or that the constant vie+ of lovely scenery ha ea ene it, she forbore to praise the s%b.ect of 1lanche3s enth%sias*, +hich, ho+ever, her silence i not repress( To 0a y 1lanche3s en4%iry of +hither the oor she ha fo%n fastene at the en of the ,allery le , she replie , that it opene to a s%ite of roo*s, +hich ha not been entere , %rin, *any years, 3)or,3 a e she, 3*y late la y ie in one of the*, an I co%l never fin in *y heart to ,o into the* since(3 1lanche, tho%,h she +ishe to see these cha*bers, forbore, on observin, that <orothee3s eyes +ere fille +ith tears, to ask her to %nlock the*, an , soon after, +ent to ress for inner, at +hich the +hole party *et in ,oo spirits an ,oo h%*o%r, e-cept the Co%ntess, +hose vacant *in , overco*e by the lan,%or of i leness, +o%l neither s%ffer her to be happy herself, or to contrib%te to the happiness of others( &a e*oiselle 1earn, atte*ptin, to be +itty, irecte her ba ina,e a,ainst Henri, +ho ans+ere , beca%se he co%l not +ell avoi it, rather than fro* any inclination to notice her, +hose liveliness so*eti*es a*%se , b%t +hose conceit an insensibility often is,%ste hi*( The cheerf%lness, +ith +hich 1lanche re.oine the party, vanishe , on her reachin, the *ar,in of the sea/ she ,a8e +ith apprehension %pon the i**ense e-panse of +aters, +hich, at a istance, she ha behel only +ith eli,ht an astonish*ent, an it +as by a stron, effort, that she so far overca*e her fears as to follo+ her father into the boat( As she silently s%rveye the vast hori8on, ben in, ro%n the istant ver,e of the ocean, an e*otion of s%bli*est rapt%re str%,,le to overco*e a sense of personal an,er( A li,ht bree8e playe on the +ater, an on the silk a+nin, of the boat, an +ave the folia,e of the rece in, +oo s, that cro+ne the cliffs,

for *any *iles, an +hich the Co%nt s%rveye +ith the pri e of conscio%s property, as +ell as +ith the eye of taste( At so*e istance, a*on, these +oo s, stoo a pavilion, +hich ha once been the scene of social ,aiety, an +hich its sit%ation still *a e one of ro*antic bea%ty( Thither, the Co%nt ha or ere coffee an other refresh*ent to be carrie , an thither the sailors no+ steere their co%rse, follo+in, the +in in,s of the shore ro%n *any a +oo y pro*ontory an circlin, bay/ +hile the pensive tones of horns an other +in instr%*ents, playe by the atten ants in a istant boat, echoe a*on, the rocks, an ie alon, the +aves( 1lanche ha no+ s%b %e her fears/ a eli,htf%l tran4%illity stole over her *in , an hel her in silence/ an she +as too happy even to re*e*ber the convent, or her for*er sorro+s, as s%b.ects of co*parison +ith her present felicity( The Co%ntess felt less %nhappy than she ha one, since the *o*ent of her leavin, Paris/ for her *in +as no+ %n er so*e e,ree of restraint/ she feare to in %l,e its +ay+ar h%*o%rs, an even +ishe to recover the Co%nt3s ,oo opinion( On his fa*ily, an on the s%rro%n in, scene, he looke +ith te*pere pleas%re an benevolent satisfaction, +hile his son e-hibite the ,ay spirits of yo%th, anticipatin, ne+ eli,hts, an re,retless of those, that +ere passe ( After near an ho%r3s ro+in,, the party lan e , an ascen e a little path, over,ro+n +ith ve,etation( At a little istance fro* the point of the e*inence, +ithin the sha o+y recess of the +oo s, appeare the pavilion, +hich 1lanche perceive , as she ca%,ht a ,li*pse of its portico bet+een the trees, to be b%ilt of varie,ate *arble( As she follo+e the Co%ntess, she often t%rne her eyes +ith rapt%re to+ar s the ocean, seen beneath the ark folia,e, far belo+, an fro* thence %pon the eep +oo s, +hose silence an i*penetrable ,loo* a+akene e*otions *ore sole*n, b%t scarcely less eli,htf%l(

The pavilion ha been prepare , as far as +as possible, on a very short notice, for the reception of its visitors/ b%t the fa e colo%rs of its painte +alls an ceilin,, an the ecaye rapery of its once *a,nificent f%rnit%re, eclare ho+ lon, it ha been ne,lecte , an aban one to the e*pire of the chan,in, seasons( :hile the party partook of a collation of fr%it an coffee, the horns, place in a istant part of the +oo s, +here an echo s+eetene an prolon,e their *elancholy tones, broke softly on the stillness of the scene( This spot see*e to attract even the a *iration of the Co%ntess, or, perhaps, it +as *erely the pleas%re of plannin, f%rnit%re an ecorations, that *a e her +ell so lon, on the necessity of repairin, an a ornin, it/ +hile the Co%nt, never happier than +hen he sa+ her *in en,a,e by nat%ral an si*ple ob.ects, ac4%iesce in all her esi,ns, concernin, the pavilion( The paintin,s on the +alls an cove ceilin, +ere to be rene+e , the canopies an sofas +ere to be of li,ht ,reen a*ask/ *arble stat%es of +oo 6ny*phs, bearin, on their hea s baskets of livin, flo+ers, +ere to a orn the recesses bet+een the +in o+s, +hich, escen in, to the ,ro%n , +ere to a *it to every part of the roo*, an it +as of octa,onal for*, the vario%s lan scape( One +in o+ opene %pon a ro*antic ,la e, +here the eye rove a*on, the +oo y recesses, an the scene +as bo%n e only by a len,thene po*p of ,roves/ fro* another, the +oo s rece in, isclose the istant s%**its of the Pyrenees/ a thir fronte an aven%e, beyon +hich the ,rey to+ers of Chatea%6le6 1lanc, an a pict%res4%e part of its r%in +ere seen partially a*on, the folia,e/ +hile a fo%rth ,ave, bet+een the trees, a ,li*pse of the ,reen past%res an villa,es, that iversify the banks of the A% e( The &e iterranean, +ith the bol cliffs, that overlooke its shores, +ere the ,ran ob.ects of a fifth +in o+, an the others ,ave, in ifferent points of vie+, the +il scenery of the +oo s( After +an erin,, for so*e ti*e, in these, the party ret%rne to the shore an e*barke / an , the bea%ty of the evenin, te*ptin, the* to e-ten their e-c%rsion,

they procee e f%rther %p the bay( A ea cal* ha s%ccee e the li,ht bree8e, that +afte the* hither, an the *en took to their oars( Aro%n , the +aters +ere sprea into one vast e-panse of polishe *irror, reflectin, the ,rey cliffs an feathery +oo s, that over6 h%n, its s%rface, the ,lo+ of the +estern hori8on an the ark clo% s, that ca*e slo+ly fro* the east( 1lanche love to see the ippin, oars i*print the +ater, an to +atch the sprea in, circles they left, +hich ,ave a tre*%lo%s *otion to the reflecte lan scape, +itho%t estroyin, the har*ony of its feat%res( Above the arkness of the +oo s, her eye no+ ca%,ht a cl%ster of hi,h to+ers, to%che +ith the splen o%r of the settin, rays/ an , soon after, the horns bein, then silent, she hear the faint s+ell of choral voices fro* a istance( 3:hat voices are those, %pon the airB3 sai the Co%nt, lookin, ro%n , an listenin,/ b%t the strain ha cease ( 3It see*e to be a vesper6hy*n, +hich I have often hear in *y convent,3 sai 1lanche( 3:e are near the *onastery, then,3 observe the Co%nt/ an , the boat soon after o%blin, a lofty hea 6lan , the *onastery of 't( Claire appeare , seate near the *ar,in of the sea, +here the cliffs, s% enly sinkin,, for*e a lo+ shore +ithin a s*all bay, al*ost encircle +ith +oo s, a*on, +hich partial feat%res of the e ifice +ere seen/7the ,reat ,ate an ,othic +in o+ of the hall, the cloisters an the si e of a chapel *ore re*ote/ +hile a venerable arch, +hich ha once le to a part of the fabric, no+ e*olishe , stoo a *a.estic r%in etache fro* the *ain b%il in,, beyon +hich appeare a ,ran perspective of the +oo s( On the ,rey +alls, the *oss ha fastene , an , ro%n the pointe +in o+s of the chapel, the ivy an the briony h%n, in *any a fantastic +reath( All +itho%t +as silent an forsaken/ b%t, +hile 1lanche ,a8e +ith a *iration on this venerable pile, +hose effect +as hei,htene by the stron, li,hts an sha o+s thro+n ath+art it by a clo% y s%n6set, a so%n of *any

voices, slo+ly chantin,, arose fro* +ithin( The Co%nt ba e his *en rest on their oars( The *onks +ere sin,in, the hy*n of vespers, an so*e fe*ale voices *in,le +ith the strain, +hich rose by soft e,rees, till the hi,h or,an an the choral so%n s s+elle into f%ll an sole*n har*ony( The strain, soon after, roppe into s% en silence, an +as rene+e in a lo+ an still *ore sole*n key, till, at len,th, the holy chor%s ie a+ay, an +as hear no *ore(71lanche si,he , tears tre*ble in her eyes, an her tho%,hts see*e +afte +ith the so%n s to heaven( :hile a rapt stillness prevaile in the boat, a train of friars, an then of n%ns, veile in +hite, iss%e fro* the cloisters, an passe , %n er the sha e of the +oo s, to the *ain bo y of the e ifice( The Co%ntess +as the first of her party to a+aken fro* this pa%se of silence( 3These is*al hy*ns an friars *ake one 4%ite *elancholy,3 sai she/ 3t+ili,ht is co*in, on/ pray let %s ret%rn, or it +ill be ark before +e ,et ho*e(3 The co%nt, lookin, %p, no+ perceive , that the t+ili,ht of evenin, +as anticipate by an approachin, stor*( In the east a te*pest +as collectin,/ a heavy ,loo* ca*e on, opposin, an contrastin, the ,lo+in, splen o%r of the settin, s%n( The cla*oro%s sea6fo+l ski**e in fleet circles %pon the s%rface of the sea, ippin, their li,ht pinions in the +ave, as they fle a+ay in search of shelter( The boat*en p%lle har at their oars/ b%t the th%n er, that no+ *%ttere at a istance, an the heavy rops, that be,an to i*ple the +ater, *a e the Co%nt eter*ine to p%t back to the *onastery for shelter, an the co%rse of the boat +as i**e iately chan,e ( As the clo% s approache the +est, their l%ri arkness chan,e to a eep r% y ,lo+, +hich, by reflection, see*e to fire the tops of the +oo s an the shattere to+ers of the *onastery( The appearance of the heavens alar*e the Co%ntess an &a e*oiselle 1earn, +hose e-pressions of apprehension istresse the Co%nt, an perple-e his *en/ +hile 1lanche contin%e silent, no+ a,itate +ith

fear, an no+ +ith a *iration, as she vie+e the ,ran e%r of the clo% s, an their effect on the scenery, an listene to the lon,, lon, peals of th%n er, that rolle thro%,h the air( The boat havin, reache the la+n before the *onastery, the Co%nt sent a servant to anno%nce his arrival, an to entreat shelter of the '%perior, +ho, soon after, appeare at the ,reat ,ate, atten e by several *onks, +hile the servant ret%rne +ith a *essa,e, e-pressive at once of hospitality an pri e, b%t of pri e is,%ise in s%b*ission( The party i**e iately ise*barke , an , havin, hastily crosse the la+n7for the sho+er +as no+ heavy7+ere receive at the ,ate by the '%perior, +ho, as they entere , stretche forth his han s an ,ave his blessin,/ an they passe into the ,reat hall, +here the la y abbess +aite , atten e by several n%ns, clothe , like herself, in black, an veile in +hite( The veil of the abbess +as, ho+ever, thro+n half back, an iscovere a co%ntenance, +hose chaste i,nity +as s+eetene by the s*ile of +elco*e, +ith +hich she a resse the Co%ntess, +ho* she le , +ith 1lanche an &a e*oiselle 1earn, into the convent parlo%r, +hile the Co%nt an Henri +ere con %cte by the '%perior to the refectory( The Co%ntess, fati,%e an iscontente , receive the politeness of the abbess +ith careless ha%,htiness, an ha follo+e her, +ith in olent steps, to the parlo%r, over +hich the painte case*ents an +ainscot of larch6+oo thre+, at all ti*es, a *elancholy sha e, an +here the ,loo* of evenin, no+ lo%re al*ost to arkness( :hile the la y abbess or ere refresh*ent, an converse +ith the Co%ntess, 1lanche +ith re+ to a +in o+, the lo+er panes of +hich, bein, +itho%t paintin,, allo+e her to observe the pro,ress of the stor* over the &e iterranean, +hose ark +aves, that ha so lately slept, no+ ca*e bol ly s+ellin,, in lon, s%ccession, to the shore, +here they b%rst in +hite foa*, an thre+ %p a hi,h spray over the rocks( A re s%lph%reo%s tint oversprea the lon, line of clo% s, that h%n, above the +estern hori8on, beneath +hose ark

skirts the s%n lookin, o%t, ill%*ine the istant shores of 0an,%e oc, as +ell as the t%fte s%**its of the nearer +oo s, an she a partial ,lea* on the +estern +aves( The rest of the scene +as in eep ,loo*, e-cept +here a s%n6bea*, artin, bet+een the clo% s, ,lance on the +hite +in,s of the sea6fo+l, that circle hi,h a*on, the*, or to%che the s+ellin, sail of a vessel, +hich +as seen labo%rin, in the stor*( 1lanche, for so*e ti*e, an-io%sly +atche the pro,ress of the bark, as it thre+ the +aves in foa* aro%n it, an , as the li,htnin,s flashe , looke to the openin, heavens, +ith *any a si,h for the fate of the poor *ariners( The s%n, at len,th, set, an the heavy clo% s, +hich ha lon, i*pen e , roppe over the splen o%r of his co%rse/ the vessel, ho+ever, +as yet i*ly seen, an 1lanche contin%e to observe it, till the 4%ick s%ccession of flashes, li,htin, %p the ,loo* of the +hole hori8on, +arne her to retire fro* the +in o+, an she .oine the Abbess, +ho, havin, e-ha%ste all her topics of conversation +ith the Co%ntess, ha no+ leis%re to notice her( 1%t their isco%rse +as interr%pte by tre*en o%s peals of th%n er/ an the bell of the *onastery soon after rin,in, o%t, s%**one the inhabitants to prayer( As 1lanche passe the +in o+, she ,ave another look to the ocean, +here, by the *o*entary flash, that ill%*ine the vast bo y of the +aters, she istin,%ishe the vessel she ha observe before, a*i st a sea of foa*, breakin, the billo+s, the *ast no+ bo+in, to the +aves, an then risin, hi,h in air( 'he si,he fervently as she ,a8e , an then follo+e the 0a y Abbess an the Co%ntess to the chapel( &ean+hile, so*e of the Co%nt3s servants, havin, ,one by lan to the chatea% for carria,es, ret%rne soon after vespers ha concl% e , +hen, the stor* bein, so*e+hat abate , the Co%nt an his fa*ily ret%rne ho*e( 1lanche +as s%rprise to iscover ho+ *%ch the +in in,s of the shore ha eceive her, concernin, the istance of the chatea% fro* the *onastery, +hose vesper bell she ha hear , on the prece in, evenin,, fro* the +in o+s of the +est saloon, an +hose

to+ers she +o%l also have seen fro* thence, ha not t+ili,ht veile the*( On their arrival at the chatea%, the Co%ntess, affectin, *ore fati,%e, than she really felt, +ith re+ to her apart*ent, an the Co%nt, +ith his a%,hter an Henri, +ent to the s%pper6roo*, +here they ha not been lon,, +hen they hear , in a pa%se of the ,%st, a firin, of ,%ns, +hich the Co%nt %n erstan in, to be si,nals of istress fro* so*e vessel in the stor*, +ent to a +in o+, that opene to+ar s the &e iterranean, to observe f%rther/ b%t the sea +as no+ involve in %tter arkness, an the lo% ho+lin,s of the te*pest ha a,ain overco*e every other so%n ( 1lanche, re*e*berin, the bark, +hich she ha before seen, no+ .oine her father, +ith tre*blin, an-iety( In a fe+ *o*ents, the report of ,%ns +as a,ain borne alon, the +in , an as s% enly +afte a+ay/ a tre*en o%s b%rst of th%n er follo+e , an , in the flash, that ha prece e it, an +hich see*e to 4%iver over the +hole s%rface of the +aters, a vessel +as iscovere , tossin, a*i st the +hite foa* of the +aves at so*e istance fro* the shore( I*penetrable arkness a,ain involve the scene, b%t soon a secon flash she+e the bark, +ith one sail %nf%rle , rivin, to+ar s the coast( 1lanche h%n, %pon her father3s ar*, +ith looks f%ll of the a,ony of %nite terror an pity, +hich +ere %nnecessary to a+aken the heart of the Co%nt, +ho ,a8e %pon the sea +ith a piteo%s e-pression, an , perceivin,, that no boat co%l live in the stor*, forbore to sen one/ b%t he ,ave or ers to his people to carry torches o%t %pon the cliffs, hopin, they *i,ht prove a kin of beacon to the vessel, or, at least, +arn the cre+ of the rocks they +ere approachin,( :hile Henri +ent o%t to irect on +hat part of the cliffs the li,hts sho%l appear, 1lanche re*aine +ith her father, at the +in o+, catchin,, every no+ an then, as the li,htnin,s flashe , a ,li*pse of the vessel/ an she soon sa+, +ith revivin, hope, the torches fla*in, on the blackness of ni,ht, an , as they +ave over the cliffs, castin, a re ,lea* on the ,aspin, billo+s( :hen the firin, of ,%ns +as repeate , the torches +ere

tosse hi,h in the air, as if ans+erin, the si,nal, an the firin, +as then re o%ble / b%t, tho%,h the +in bore the so%n a+ay, she fancie , as the li,htnin,s ,lance , that the vessel +as *%ch nearer the shore( The Co%nt3s servants +ere no+ seen, r%nnin, to an fro, on the rocks/ so*e vent%rin, al*ost to the point of the cra,s, an ben in, over, hel o%t their torches fastene to lon, poles/ +hile others, +hose steps co%l be trace only by the co%rse of the li,hts, escen e the steep an an,ero%s path, that +o%n to the *ar,in of the sea, an , +ith lo% halloos, haile the *ariners, +hose shrill +histle, an then feeble voices, +ere hear , at intervals, *in,lin, +ith the stor*( '% en sho%ts fro* the people on the rocks increase the an-iety of 1lanche to an al*ost intolerable e,ree; b%t her s%spense, concernin, the fate of the *ariners, +as soon over, +hen Henri, r%nnin, breathless into the roo*, tol that the vessel +as anchore in the bay belo+, b%t in so shattere a con ition, that it +as feare she +o%l part before the cre+ co%l ise*bark( The Co%nt i**e iately ,ave or ers for his o+n boats to assist in brin,in, the* to shore, an that s%ch of these %nfort%nate stran,ers as co%l not be acco**o ate in the a .acent ha*let sho%l be entertaine at the chatea%( A*on, the latter, +ere E*ily 't( A%bert, &onsie%r <% Pont, 0% ovico an Annette, +ho, havin, e*barke at 0e,horn an reache &arseilles, +ere fro* thence crossin, the G%lf of 0yons, +hen this stor* overtook the*( They +ere receive by the Co%nt +ith his %s%al beni,nity, +ho, tho%,h E*ily +ishe to have procee e i**e iately to the *onastery of 't( Claire, +o%l not allo+ her to leave the chatea%, that ni,ht/ an , in ee , the terror an fati,%e she ha s%ffere +o%l scarcely have per*itte her to ,o farther( In &onsie%r <% Pont the Co%nt iscovere an ol ac4%aintance, an *%ch .oy an con,rat%lation passe bet+een the*, after +hich E*ily +as intro %ce by na*e to the Co%nt3s fa*ily, +hose hospitable benevolence issipate the little e*barrass*ent, +hich her sit%ation ha occasione her, an the party +ere

soon seate at the s%pper6table( The %naffecte kin ness of 1lanche an the lively .oy she e-presse on the escape of the stran,ers, for +ho* her pity ha been so *%ch intereste , ,ra %ally revive E*ily3s lan,%i spirits/ an <% Pont, relieve fro* his terrors for her an for hi*self, felt the f%ll contrast, bet+een his late sit%ation on a ark an tre*en o%s ocean, an his present one, in a cheerf%l *ansion, +here he +as s%rro%n e +ith plenty, ele,ance an s*iles of +elco*e( Annette, *ean+hile, in the servants3 hall, +as tellin, of all the an,ers she ha enco%ntere , an con,rat%latin, herself so heartily %pon her o+n an 0% ovico3s escape, an on her present co*forts, that she often *a e all that part of the chatea% rin, +ith *erri*ent an la%,hter( 0% ovico3s spirits +ere as ,ay as her o+n, b%t he ha iscretion eno%,h to restrain the*, an trie to check hers, tho%,h in vain, till her la%,hter, at len,th, ascen e to &2 0A<23' cha*ber, +ho sent to en4%ire +hat occasione so *%ch %proar in the chatea%, an to co**an silence( E*ily +ith re+ early to seek the repose she so *%ch re4%ire , b%t her pillo+ +as lon, a sleepless one( On this her ret%rn to her native co%ntry, *any interestin, re*e*brances +ere a+akene / all the events an s%fferin,s she ha e-perience , since she 4%itte it, ca*e in lon, s%ccession to her fancy, an +ere chase only by the i*a,e of Valanco%rt, +ith +ho* to believe herself once *ore in the sa*e lan , after they ha been so lon,, an so istantly separate , ,ave her e*otions of in escribable .oy, b%t +hich after+ar s yiel e to an-iety an apprehension, +hen she consi ere the lon, perio , that ha elapse , since any letter ha passe bet+een the*, an ho+ *%ch *i,ht have happene in this interval to affect her f%t%re peace( 1%t the tho%,ht, that Valanco%rt *i,ht be no+ no *ore, or, if livin,, *i,ht have for,otten her, +as so very terrible to her heart, that she +o%l scarcely s%ffer herself to pa%se %pon the possibility( 'he eter*ine to infor* hi*, on the follo+in, ay, of her arrival in )rance, +hich it +as scarcely possible he co%l kno+ b%t by a

letter fro* herself, an , after soothin, her spirits +ith the hope of soon hearin,, that he +as +ell, an %nchan,e in his affections, she, at len,th, s%nk to repose(

#HAPTER *II
7ft oo=d the glea! of 3ynthia, sil"er%bright, 5n cloisters di!, far fro! the haunts of folly, <ith freedo! by !y side, and soft%ey=d !elancholy# GRA$

The 0a y 1lanche +as so *%ch intereste for E*ily, that, %pon hearin, she +as ,oin, to resi e in the nei,hbo%rin, convent, she re4%este the Co%nt +o%l invite her to len,then her stay at the chatea%( 3An yo% kno+, *y ear sir,3 a e 1lanche, 3ho+ eli,hte I shall be +ith s%ch a co*panion/ for, at present, I have no frien to +alk, or to rea +ith, since &a e*oiselle 1earn is *y *a**a3s frien only(3 The Co%nt s*ile at the yo%thf%l si*plicity, +ith +hich his a%,hter yiel e to first i*pressions/ an , tho%,h he chose to +arn her of their an,er, he silently appla% e the benevolence, that co%l th%s rea ily e-pan in confi ence to a stran,er( He ha observe E*ily, +ith attention, on the prece in, evenin,, an +as as *%ch please +ith her, as it +as possible he co%l be +ith any person, on so short an ac4%aintance( The *ention, *a e of her by &ons( <% Pont, ha also ,iven hi* a favo%rable i*pression of E*ily/ b%t, e-tre*ely ca%tio%s as to those, +ho* he intro %ce to the inti*acy of his a%,hter, he eter*ine , on hearin, that the for*er +as no stran,er at the convent of 't( Claire, to visit the abbess, an , if her acco%nt correspon e +ith his +ish, to invite E*ily to pass so*e ti*e at the chatea%( On this s%b.ect, he +as infl%ence by a consi eration of the 0a y 1lanche3s +elfare, still *ore than by either a +ish to obli,e her,

or to befrien the orphan E*ily, for +ho*, ho+ever, he felt consi erably intereste ( On the follo+in, *ornin,, E*ily +as too *%ch fati,%e to appear/ b%t &ons( <% Pont +as at the breakfast6table, +hen the Co%nt entere the roo*, +ho presse hi*, as his for*er ac4%aintance, an the son of a very ol frien , to prolon, his stay at the chatea%/ an invitation, +hich <% Pont +illin,ly accepte , since it +o%l allo+ hi* to be near E*ily/ an , tho%,h he +as not conscio%s of enco%ra,in, a hope, that she +o%l ever ret%rn his affection, he ha not fortit% e eno%,h to atte*pt, at present, to overco*e it( E*ily, +hen she +as so*e+hat recovere , +an ere +ith her ne+ frien over the ,ro%n s belon,in, to the chatea%, as *%ch eli,hte +ith the s%rro%n in, vie+s, as 1lanche, in the benevolence of her heart, ha +ishe / fro* thence she perceive , beyon the +oo s, the to+ers of the *onastery, an re*arke , that it +as to this convent she esi,ne to ,o( 3Ah?3 sai 1lanche +ith s%rprise, 3I a* b%t .%st release fro* a convent, an +o%l yo% ,o into oneB If yo% co%l kno+ +hat pleas%re I feel in +an erin, here, at liberty,7an in seein, the sky an the fiel s, an the +oo s all ro%n *e, I think yo% +o%l not(3 E*ily, s*ilin, at the +ar*th, +ith +hich the 0a y 1lanche spoke, observe , that she i not *ean to confine herself to a convent for life( 39o, yo% *ay not inten it no+,3 sai 1lanche/ 3b%t yo% o not kno+ to +hat the n%ns *ay pers%a e yo% to consent; I kno+ ho+ kin they +ill appear, an ho+ happy, for I have seen too *%ch of their art(3 :hen they ret%rne to the chatea%, 0a y 1lanche con %cte E*ily to her favo%rite t%rret, an fro* thence they ra*ble thro%,h the ancient cha*bers, +hich 1lanche ha visite before( E*ily +as a*%se by observin, the str%ct%re of these apart*ents, an the fashion of their ol b%t still *a,nificent f%rnit%re, an by co*parin, the* +ith those of the castle of A olpho, +hich +ere yet *ore anti4%e an ,rotes4%e( 'he +as also intereste by <orothee the ho%se6keeper,

+ho atten e the*, +hose appearance +as al*ost as anti4%e as the ob.ects aro%n her, an +ho see*e no less intereste by E*ily, on +ho* she fre4%ently ,a8e +ith so *%ch eep attention, as scarcely to hear +hat +as sai to her( :hile E*ily looke fro* one of the case*ents, she perceive , +ith s%rprise, so*e ob.ects, that +ere fa*iliar to her *e*ory/7the fiel s an +oo s, +ith the ,lea*in, brook, +hich she ha passe +ith 0a Voisin, one evenin,, soon after the eath of &onsie%r 't( A%bert, in her +ay fro* the *onastery to her cotta,e/ an she no+ kne+ this to be the chatea%, +hich he ha then avoi e , an concernin, +hich he ha roppe so*e re*arkable hints( 'hocke by this iscovery, yet scarcely kno+in, +hy, she *%se for so*e ti*e in silence, an re*e*bere the e*otion, +hich her father ha betraye on fin in, hi*self so near this *ansion, an so*e other circ%*stances of his con %ct, that no+ ,reatly intereste her( The *%sic, too, +hich she ha for*erly hear , an , respectin, +hich 0a Voisin ha ,iven s%ch an o acco%nt, occ%rre to her, an , esiro%s of kno+in, *ore concernin, it, she aske <orothee +hether it ret%rne at *i ni,ht, as %s%al, an +hether the *%sician ha yet been iscovere ( 32es, *a3a*selle,3 replie <orothee, 3that *%sic is still hear , b%t the *%sician has never been fo%n o%t, nor ever +ill, I believe/ tho%,h there are so*e people, +ho can ,%ess(3 3In ee ?3 sai E*ily, 3then +hy o they not p%rs%e the en4%iryB3 3Ah, yo%n, la y? en4%iry eno%,h has been *a e7b%t +ho can p%rs%e a spiritB3 E*ily s*ile , an , re*e*berin, ho+ lately she ha s%ffere herself to be le a+ay by s%perstition, eter*ine no+ to resist its conta,ion/ yet, in spite of her efforts, she felt a+e *in,le +ith her c%riosity, on this s%b.ect/ an 1lanche, +ho ha hitherto listene in

silence, no+ en4%ire +hat this *%sic +as, an ho+ lon, it ha been hear ( 3Ever since the <orothee( eath of *y la y, *a a*,3 replie

3:hy, the place is not ha%nte , s%relyB3 sai 1lanche, bet+een .estin, an serio%sness( 3I have hear that *%sic al*ost ever since *y ear la y ie ,3 contin%e <orothee, 3an never before then( 1%t that is nothin, to so*e thin,s I co%l tell of(3 3<o, pray, tell the*, then,3 sai 0a y 1lanche, no+ *ore in earnest than in .est( 3I a* *%ch intereste , for I have hear sister Henriette, an sister 'ophie, in the convent, tell of s%ch stran,e appearances, +hich they the*selves ha +itnesse ?3 32o% never hear , *y la y, I s%ppose, +hat *a e %s leave the chatea%, an ,o an live in a cotta,e,3 sai <orothee( 39ever?3 replie 1lanche +ith i*patience( 39or the reason, that *y lor , the &ar4%is37<orothee checke herself, hesitate , an then en eavo%re to chan,e the topic/ b%t the c%riosity of 1lanche +as too *%ch a+akene to s%ffer the s%b.ect th%s easily to escape her, an she presse the ol ho%se6keeper to procee +ith her acco%nt, %pon +ho*, ho+ever, no entreaties co%l prevail/ an it +as evi ent, that she +as alar*e for the i*pr% ence, into +hich she ha alrea y betraye herself( 3I perceive,3 sai E*ily, s*ilin,, 3that all ol *ansions are ha%nte / I a* lately co*e fro* a place of +on ers/ b%t %nl%ckily, since I left it, I have hear al*ost all of the* e-plaine (3 1lanche +as silent/ <orothee looke ,rave, an si,he / an E*ily felt herself still incline to believe *ore of the +on erf%l, than she chose to ackno+le ,e( @%st then, she re*e*bere the spectacle she ha +itnesse in a cha*ber of A olpho, an , by an o kin of coinci ence, the alar*in, +or s, that ha acci entally *et her eye in the &'( papers, +hich she ha estroye , in obe ience to the co**an of her father/ an she sh% ere at the *eanin, they see*e to

i*part, al*ost as *%ch as at the horrible appearance, isclose by the black veil( The 0a y 1lanche, *ean+hile, %nable to prevail +ith <orothee to e-plain the s%b.ect of her late hints, ha esire , on reachin, the oor, that ter*inate the ,allery, an +hich she fo%n fastene on the prece in, ay, to see the s%ite of roo*s beyon ( 3<ear yo%n, la y,3 sai the ho%sekeeper, 3I have tol yo% *y reason for not openin, the*/ I have never seen the*, since *y ear la y ie / an it +o%l ,o har +ith *e to see the* no+( Pray, *a a*, o not ask *e a,ain(3 3Certainly I +ill not,3 replie 1lanche, 3if that is really yo%r ob.ection(3 3Alas? it is,3 sai the ol +o*an; 3+e all love her +ell, an I shall al+ays ,rieve for her( Ti*e r%ns ro%n ? it is no+ *any years, since she ie / b%t I re*e*ber every thin,, that happene then, as if it +as b%t yester ay( &any thin,s, that have passe of late years, are ,one 4%ite fro* *y *e*ory, +hile those so lon, a,o, I can see as if in a ,lass(3 'he pa%se , b%t after+ar s, as they +alke %p the ,allery, a e to E*ily, 3this yo%n, la y so*eti*es brin,s the late &archioness to *y *in / I can re*e*ber, +hen she looke .%st as bloo*in,, an very like her, +hen she s*iles( Poor la y? ho+ ,ay she +as, +hen she first ca*e to the chatea%?3 3An +as she not ,ay, after+ar sB3 sai 1lanche( <orothee shook her hea / an E*ily observe her, +ith eyes stron,ly e-pressive of the interest she no+ felt( 30et %s sit o+n in this +in o+,3 sai the 0a y 1lanche, on reachin, the opposite en of the ,allery; 3an pray, <orothee, if it is not painf%l to yo%, tell %s so*ethin, *ore abo%t the &archioness( I sho%l like to look into the ,lass yo% spoke of .%st no+, an see a fe+ of the circ%*stances, +hich yo% say often pass over it(3 39o, *y la y,3 replie <orothee/ 3if yo% kne+ as *%ch as I o, yo% +o%l not, for yo% +o%l fin there a is*al train of the*/ I often +ish I co%l sh%t the* o%t, b%t they +ill rise to *y *in ( I see *y ear la y

on her eath6be ,7her very look,7an re*e*ber all she sai 7it +as a terrible scene?3 3:hy +as it so terribleB3 sai E*ily +ith e*otion( 3Ah, ear yo%n, la y? is not eath al+ays terribleB3 replie <orothee( To so*e f%rther en4%iries of 1lanche <orothee +as silent/ an E*ily, observin, the tears in her eyes, forbore to %r,e the s%b.ect, an en eavo%re to +ith ra+ the attention of her yo%n, frien to so*e ob.ect in the ,ar ens, +here the Co%nt, +ith the Co%ntess an &onsie%r <% Pont, appearin,, they +ent o+n to .oin the*( :hen he perceive E*ily, he a vance to *eet her, an presente her to the Co%ntess, in a *anner so beni,n, that it recalle *ost po+erf%lly to her *in the i ea of her late father, an she felt *ore ,ratit% e to hi*, than e*barrass*ent to+ar s the Co%ntess, +ho, ho+ever, receive her +ith one of those fascinatin, s*iles, +hich her caprice so*eti*es allo+e her to ass%*e, an +hich +as no+ the res%lt of a conversation the Co%nt ha hel +ith her, concernin, E*ily( :hatever this *i,ht be, or +hatever ha passe in his conversation +ith the la y abbess, +ho* he ha .%st visite , estee* an kin ness +ere stron,ly apparent in his *anner, +hen he a resse E*ily, +ho e-perience that s+eet e*otion, +hich arises fro* the conscio%sness of possessin, the approbation of the ,oo / for to the Co%nt3s +orth she ha been incline to yiel her confi ence al*ost fro* the first *o*ent, in +hich she ha seen hi*( 1efore she co%l finish her ackno+le ,*ents for the hospitality she ha receive , an *ention of her esi,n of ,oin, i**e iately to the convent, she +as interr%pte by an invitation to len,then her stay at the chatea%, +hich +as presse by the Co%nt an the Co%ntess, +ith an appearance of s%ch frien ly sincerity, that, tho%,h she *%ch +ishe to see her ol frien s at the *onastery, an to si,h, once *ore, over her father3s ,rave, she consente to re*ain a fe+ ays at the chatea%(

To the abbess, ho+ever, she i**e iately +rote, *entionin, her arrival in 0an,%e oc an her +ish to be receive into the convent, as a boar er/ she also sent letters to &onsie%r 5%esnel an to Valanco%rt, +ho* she *erely infor*e of her arrival in )rance/ an , as she kne+ not +here the latter *i,ht be statione , she irecte her letter to his brother3s seat in Gascony( In the evenin,, 0a y 1lanche an &ons( <% Pont +alke +ith E*ily to the cotta,e of 0a Voisin, +hich she ha no+ a *elancholy pleas%re in approachin,, for ti*e ha softene her ,rief for the loss of 't( A%bert, tho%,h it co%l not annihilate it, an she felt a soothin, sa ness in in %l,in, the recollections, +hich this scene recalle ( 0a Voisin +as still livin,, an see*e to en.oy, as *%ch as for*erly, the tran4%il evenin, of a bla*eless life( He +as sittin, at the oor of his cotta,e, +atchin, so*e of his ,ran chil ren, playin, on the ,rass before hi*, an , no+ an then, +ith a la%,h, or a co**en ation, enco%ra,in, their sports( He i**e iately recollecte E*ily, +ho* he +as *%ch please to see, an she +as as re.oice to hear, that he ha not lost one of his fa*ily, since her epart%re( 32es, *a3a*selle,3 sai the ol *an, 3+e all live *errily to,ether still, thank Go ? an I believe there is not a happier fa*ily to be fo%n in 0an,%e oc, than o%rs(3 E*ily i not tr%st herself in the cha*ber, +here 't( A%bert ie / an , after half an ho%r3s conversation +ith 0a Voisin an his fa*ily, she left the cotta,e( <%rin, these the first ays of her stay at Chatea%6le6 1lanc, she +as often affecte , by observin, the eep, b%t silent *elancholy, +hich, at ti*es, stole over <% Pont/ an E*ily, pityin, the self6 el%sion, +hich isar*e hi* of the +ill to epart, eter*ine to +ith ra+ herself as soon as the respect she o+e the Co%nt an Co%ntess <e Villefort +o%l per*it( The e.ection of his frien soon alar*e the an-iety of the Co%nt, to +ho* <% Pont, at len,th, confi e the secret of his hopeless affection, +hich, ho+ever, the for*er co%l only co**iserate, tho%,h he secretly eter*ine to befrien his s%it, if an opport%nity of oin, so

sho%l ever occ%r( Consi erin, the an,ero%s sit%ation of <% Pont, he b%t feebly oppose his intention of leavin, Chatea%6le61lanc, on the follo+in, ay, b%t re+ fro* hi* a pro*ise of a lon,er visit, +hen he co%l ret%rn +ith safety to his peace( E*ily herself, tho%,h she co%l not enco%ra,e his affection, estee*e hi* both for the *any virt%es he possesse , an for the services she ha receive fro* hi*/ an it +as not +itho%t ten er e*otions of ,ratit% e an pity, that she no+ sa+ hi* epart for his fa*ily seat in Gascony/ +hile he took leave of her +ith a co%ntenance so e-pressive of love an ,rief, as to interest the Co%nt *ore +ar*ly in his ca%se than before( In a fe+ ays, E*ily also left the chatea%, b%t not before the Co%nt an Co%ntess ha receive her pro*ise to repeat her visit very soon/ an she +as +elco*e by the abbess, +ith the sa*e *aternal kin ness she ha for*erly e-perience , an by the n%ns, +ith *%ch e-pression of re,ar ( The +ell6kno+n scenes of the convent occasione her *any *elancholy recollections, b%t +ith these +ere *in,le others, that inspire ,ratit% e for havin, escape the vario%s an,ers, that ha p%rs%e her, since she 4%itte it, an for the ,oo , +hich she yet possesse / an , tho%,h she once *ore +ept over her father3s ,rave, +ith tears of ten er affection, her ,rief +as softene fro* its for*er ac%teness( 'o*e ti*e after her ret%rn to the *onastery, she receive a letter fro* her %ncle, &ons( 5%esnel, in ans+er to infor*ation that she ha arrive in )rance, an to her en4%iries, concernin, s%ch of her affairs as he ha %n ertaken to con %ct %rin, her absence, especially as to the perio for +hich 0a Vallee ha been let, +hither it +as her +ish to ret%rn, if it sho%l appear, that her inco*e +o%l per*it her to o so( The reply of &ons( 5%esnel +as col an for*al, as she e-pecte , e-pressin, neither concern for the evils she s%ffere , nor pleas%re, that she +as no+ re*ove fro* the*/ nor i he allo+ the opport%nity to pass, of reprovin, her for her re.ection of Co%nt &orano, +ho* he affecte still to believe a *an of hono%r an fort%ne/

nor of vehe*ently eclai*in, a,ainst &ontoni, to +ho* he ha al+ays, till no+, felt hi*self to be inferior( On E*ily3s pec%niary concerns, he +as not very e-plicit/ he infor*e her, ho+ever, that the ter*, for +hich 0a Vallee ha been en,a,e , +as nearly e-pire / b%t, +itho%t invitin, her to his o+n ho%se, a e , that her circ%*stances +o%l by no *eans allo+ her to resi e there, an earnestly a vise her to re*ain, for the present, in the convent of 't( Claire( To her en4%iries respectin, poor ol Theresa, her late father3s servant, he ,ave no ans+er( In the postscript to his letter, &onsie%r 5%esnel *entione &( &otteville, in +hose han s the late 't( A%bert ha place the chief of his personal property, as bein, likely to arran,e his affairs nearly to the satisfaction of his cre itors, an that E*ily +o%l recover *%ch *ore of her fort%ne, than she ha for*erly reason to e-pect( The letter also inclose to E*ily an or er %pon a *erchant at 9arbonne, for a s*all s%* of *oney( The tran4%illity of the *onastery, an the liberty she +as s%ffere to en.oy, in +an erin, a*on, the +oo s an shores of this eli,htf%l province, ,ra %ally restore her spirits to their nat%ral tone, e-cept that an-iety +o%l so*eti*es intr% e, concernin, Valanco%rt, as the ti*e approache , +hen it +as possible that she *i,ht receive an ans+er to her letter(

#HAPTER *III
As hen a a"e, that fro! a cloud i!pends, And, s ell=d ith te!pests, on the ship descends, <hite are the decks ith foa!A the inds aloud, 8o l o=er the !asts, and sing through e"=ry shroud' Pale, tre!bling, tir=d, the sailors freeBe ith fears, And instant death on e"=ry a"e appears# P7PE=4 87MER

The 0a y 1lanche, *ean+hile, +ho +as left *%ch alone, beca*e i*patient for the co*pany of her ne+

frien , +ho* she +ishe to observe sharin, in the eli,ht she receive fro* the bea%tif%l scenery aro%n ( 'he ha no+ no person, to +ho* she co%l e-press her a *iration an co**%nicate her pleas%res, no eye, that sparkle to her s*ile, or co%ntenance, that reflecte her happiness/ an she beca*e spiritless an pensive( The Co%nt, observin, her issatisfaction, rea ily yiel e to her entreaties, an re*in e E*ily of her pro*ise visit/ b%t the silence of Valanco%rt, +hich +as no+ prolon,e far beyon the perio , +hen a letter *i,ht have arrive fro* Est%viere, oppresse E*ily +ith severe an-iety, an , ren erin, her averse to society, she +o%l +illin,ly have eferre her acceptance of this invitation, till her spirits sho%l be relieve ( The Co%nt an his fa*ily, ho+ever, presse to see her/ an , as the circ%*stances, that pro*pte her +ish for solit% e, co%l not be e-plaine , there +as an appearance of caprice in her ref%sal, +hich she co%l not persevere in, +itho%t offen in, the frien s, +hose estee* she val%e ( At len,th, therefore, she ret%rne %pon a secon visit to Chatea%6le61lanc( Here the frien ly *anner of Co%nt <e Villefort enco%ra,e E*ily to *ention to hi* her sit%ation, respectin, the estates of her late a%nt, an to cons%lt hi* on the *eans of recoverin, the*( He ha little o%bt, that the la+ +o%l eci e in her favo%r, an , a visin, her to apply to it, offere first to +rite to an a vocate at Avi,non, on +hose opinion he tho%,ht he co%l rely( His kin ness +as ,ratef%lly accepte by E*ily, +ho, soothe by the co%rtesy she aily e-perience , +o%l have been once *ore happy, co%l she have been ass%re of Valanco%rt3s +elfare an %naltere affection( 'he ha no+ been above a +eek at the chatea%, +itho%t receivin, intelli,ence of hi*, an , tho%,h she kne+, that, if he +as absent fro* his brother3s resi ence, it +as scarcely probable her letter ha yet reache hi*, she co%l not forbear to a *it o%bts an fears, that estroye her peace( A,ain she +o%l consi er of all, that *i,ht have happene in the lon, perio , since her first secl%sion at A olpho, an her *in +as so*eti*es so over+hel*e +ith an apprehension, that Valanco%rt +as no *ore, or that he live no lon,er for

her, that the co*pany even of 1lanche beca*e intolerably oppressive, an she +o%l sit alone in her apart*ent for ho%rs to,ether, +hen the en,a,e*ents of the fa*ily allo+e her to o so, +itho%t incivility( In one of these solitary ho%rs, she %nlocke a little bo-, +hich containe so*e letters of Valanco%rt, +ith so*e ra+in,s she ha sketche , %rin, her stay in T%scany, the latter of +hich +ere no lon,er interestin, to her/ b%t, in the letters, she no+, +ith *elancholy in %l,ence, *eant to retrace the ten erness, that ha so often soothe her, an ren ere her, for a *o*ent, insensible of the istance, +hich separate her fro* the +riter( 1%t their effect +as no+ chan,e / the affection they e-presse appeale so forcibly to her heart, +hen she consi ere that it ha , perhaps, yiel e to the po+ers of ti*e an absence, an even the vie+ of the han 6+ritin, recalle so *any painf%l recollections, that she fo%n herself %nable to ,o thro%,h the first she ha opene , an sat *%sin,, +ith her cheek restin, on her ar*, an tears stealin, fro* her eyes, +hen ol <orothee entere the roo* to infor* her, that inner +o%l be rea y, an ho%r before the %s%al ti*e( E*ily starte on perceivin, her, an hastily p%t %p the papers, b%t not before <orothee ha observe both her a,itation an her tears( 3Ah, *a3a*selle?3 sai she, 3yo%, +ho are so yo%n,,7 have yo% reason for sorro+B3 E*ily trie to s*ile, b%t +as %nable to speak( 3Alas? ear yo%n, la y, +hen yo% co*e to *y a,e, yo% +ill not +eep at trifles/ an s%rely yo% have nothin, serio%s, to ,rieve yo%(3 39o, <orothee, nothin, of any conse4%ence,3 replie E*ily( <orothee, no+ stoopin, to pick %p so*ethin,, that ha roppe fro* a*on, the papers, s% enly e-clai*e , 3Holy &ary? +hat is it I seeB3 an then, tre*blin,, sat o+n in a chair, that stoo by the table( 3:hat is it yo% o seeB3 sai E*ily, alar*e by her *anner, an lookin, ro%n the roo*(

3It is herself,3 sai <orothee, 3her very self? .%st as she looke a little before she ie ?3 E*ily, still *ore alar*e , be,an no+ to fear, that <orothee +as sei8e +ith s% en phrensy, b%t entreate her to e-plain herself( 3That pict%re?3 sai she, 3+here i yo% fin it, la yB it is *y blesse *istress herself?3 'he lai on the table the *iniat%re, +hich E*ily ha lon, a,o fo%n a*on, the papers her father ha en.oine her to estroy, an over +hich she ha once seen hi* she s%ch ten er an affectin, tears/ an , recollectin, all the vario%s circ%*stances of his con %ct, that ha lon, perple-e her, her e*otions increase to an e-cess, +hich eprive her of all po+er to ask the 4%estions she tre*ble to have ans+ere , an she co%l only en4%ire, +hether <orothee +as certain the pict%re rese*ble the late *archioness( 3O, *a3a*selle?3 sai she, 3ho+ ca*e it to strike *e so, the instant I sa+ it, if it +as not *y la y3s likenessB Ah?3 a e she, takin, %p the *iniat%re, 3these are her o+n bl%e eyes7lookin, so s+eet an so *il / an there is her very look, s%ch as I have often seen it, +hen she ha sat thinkin, for a lon, +hile, an then, the tears +o%l often steal o+n her cheeks7b%t she never +o%l co*plain? It +as that look so *eek, as it +ere, an resi,ne , that %se to break *y heart an *ake *e love her so?3 3<orothee?3 sai E*ily sole*nly, 3I a* intereste in the ca%se of that ,rief, *ore so, perhaps, than yo% *ay i*a,ine/ an I entreat, that yo% +ill no lon,er ref%se to in %l,e *y c%riosity/7it is not a co**on one(3 As E*ily sai this, she re*e*bere the papers, +ith +hich the pict%re ha been fo%n , an ha scarcely a o%bt, that they ha concerne the &archioness e Villeroi/ b%t +ith this s%pposition ca*e a scr%ple, +hether she o%,ht to en4%ire f%rther on a s%b.ect, +hich *i,ht prove to be the sa*e, that her father ha so caref%lly en eavo%re to conceal( Her c%riosity, concernin, the &archioness, po+erf%l as it +as, it is

probable she +o%l no+ have resiste , as she ha for*erly one, on %n+arily observin, the fe+ terrible +or s in the papers, +hich ha never since been erase fro* her *e*ory, ha she been certain that the history of that la y +as the s%b.ect of those papers, or, that s%ch si*ple partic%lars only as it +as probable <orothee co%l relate +ere incl% e in her father3s co**an ( :hat +as kno+n to her co%l be no secret to *any other persons/ an , since it appeare very %nlikely, that 't( A%bert sho%l atte*pt to conceal +hat E*ily *i,ht learn by or inary *eans, she at len,th concl% e , that, if the papers ha relate to the story of the &archioness, it +as not those circ%*stances of it, +hich <orothee co%l isclose, that he ha tho%,ht s%fficiently i*portant to +ish to have conceale ( 'he, therefore, no lon,er hesitate to *ake the en4%iries, that *i,ht lea to the ,ratification of her c%riosity( 3Ah, *a3a*selle?3 sai <orothee, 3it is a sa story, an cannot be tol no+; b%t +hat a* I sayin,B I never +ill tell it( &any years have passe , since it happene / an I never love to talk of the &archioness to any bo y, b%t *y h%sban ( He live in the fa*ily, at that ti*e, as +ell as *yself, an he kne+ *any partic%lars fro* *e, +hich nobo y else i / for I +as abo%t the person of *y la y in her last illness, an sa+ an hear as *%ch, or *ore than *y lor hi*self( '+eet saint? ho+ patient she +as? :hen she ie , I tho%,ht I co%l have ie +ith her?3 3<orothee,3 sai E*ily, interr%ptin, her, 3+hat yo% shall tell, yo% *ay epen %pon it, shall never be isclose by *e( I have, I repeat it, partic%lar reasons for +ishin, to be infor*e on this s%b.ect, an a* +illin, to bin *yself, in the *ost sole*n *anner, never to *ention +hat yo% shall +ish *e to conceal(3 <orothee see*e s%rprise at the earnestness of E*ily3s *anner, an , after re,ar in, her for so*e *o*ents, in silence, sai , 32o%n, la y? that look of yo%rs plea s for yo%7it is so like *y ear *istress3s, that I can al*ost fancy I see her before *e/ if yo% +ere her a%,hter, yo% co%l not re*in *e of her *ore( 1%t inner +ill be rea y7ha yo% not better ,o o+nB3

32o% +ill first pro*ise to ,rant *y re4%est,3 sai E*ily( 3An o%,ht not yo% first to tell *e, *a3a*selle, ho+ this pict%re fell into yo%r han s, an the reasons yo% say yo% have for c%riosity abo%t *y la yB3 3:hy, no, <orothee,3 replie E*ily, recollectin, herself, 3I have also partic%lar reasons for observin, silence, on these s%b.ects, at least, till I kno+ f%rther/ an , re*e*ber, I o not pro*ise ever to speak %pon the*/ therefore, o not let *e in %ce yo% to satisfy *y c%riosity, fro* an e-pectation, that I shall ,ratify yo%rs( :hat I *ay .% ,e proper to conceal, oes not concern *yself alone, or I sho%l have less scr%ple in revealin, it; let a confi ence in *y hono%r alone pers%a e yo% to isclose +hat I re4%est(3 3:ell, la y?3 replie <orothee, after a lon, pa%se, %rin, +hich her eyes +ere fi-e %pon E*ily, 3yo% see* so *%ch intereste ,7an this pict%re an that face of yo%rs *ake *e think yo% have so*e reason to be so,7that I +ill tr%st yo%7an tell so*e thin,s, that I never tol before to any bo y, b%t *y h%sban , tho%,h there are people, +ho have s%specte as *%ch( I +ill tell yo% the partic%lars of *y la y3s eath, too, an so*e of *y o+n s%spicions/ b%t yo% *%st first pro*ise *e by all the saints37 E*ily, interr%ptin, her, sole*nly pro*ise never to reveal +hat sho%l be confi e to her, +itho%t <orothee3s consent( 31%t there is the horn, *a3a*selle, so%n in, for inner,3 sai <orothee/ 3I *%st be ,one(3 3:hen shall I see yo% a,ainB3 en4%ire E*ily( <orothee *%se , an then replie , 3:hy, *a a*, it *ay *ake people c%rio%s, if it is kno+n I a* so *%ch in yo%r apart*ent, an that I sho%l be sorry for/ so I +ill co*e +hen I a* least likely to be observe ( I have little leis%re in the ay, an I shall have a ,oo eal to say/ so, if yo% please, *a3a*, I +ill co*e, +hen the fa*ily are all in be (3 3That +ill s%it *e very +ell,3 replie 3Re*e*ber, then, to6ni,ht37 E*ily;

3Aye, that is +ell re*e*bere ,3 sai <orothee, 3I fear I cannot co*e to6ni,ht, *a a*, for there +ill be the ance of the vinta,e, an it +ill be late, before the servants ,o to rest/ for, +hen they once set in to ance, they +ill keep it %p, in the cool of the air, till *ornin,/ at least, it %se to be so in *y ti*e(3 3Ah? is it the ance of the vinta,eB3 sai E*ily, +ith a eep si,h, re*e*berin,, that it +as on the evenin, of this festival, in the prece in, year, that 't( A%bert an herself ha arrive in the nei,hbo%rhoo of Chatea%6le6 1lanc( 'he pa%se a *o*ent, overco*e by the s% en recollection, an then, recoverin, herself, a e 731%t this ance is in the open +oo s/ yo%, therefore, +ill not be +ante , an can easily co*e to *e(3 <orothee replie , that she ha been acc%sto*e to be present at the ance of the vinta,e, an she i not +ish to be absent no+/ 3b%t if I can ,et a+ay, *a a*, I +ill,3 sai she( E*ily then hastene to the inin,6roo*, +here the Co%nt con %cte hi*self +ith the co%rtesy, +hich is inseparable fro* tr%e i,nity, an of +hich the Co%ntess fre4%ently practise little, tho%,h her *anner to E*ily +as an e-ception to her %s%al habit( 1%t, if she retaine fe+ of the orna*ental virt%es, she cherishe other 4%alities, +hich she see*e to consi er inval%able( 'he ha is*isse the ,race of *o esty, b%t then she kne+ perfectly +ell ho+ to *ana,e the stare of ass%rance/ her *anners ha little of the te*pere s+eetness, +hich is necessary to ren er the fe*ale character interestin,, b%t she co%l occasionally thro+ into the* an affectation of spirits, +hich see*e to tri%*ph over every person, +ho approache her( In the co%ntry, ho+ever, she ,enerally affecte an ele,ant lan,%or, that pers%a e her al*ost to faint, +hen her favo%rite rea to her a story of fictitio%s sorro+/ b%t her co%ntenance s%ffere no chan,e, +hen livin, ob.ects of istress solicite her charity, an her heart beat +ith no transport to the tho%,ht of ,ivin, the* instant relief/7 she +as a stran,er to the hi,hest l%-%ry, of +hich, perhaps, the h%*an *in can be sensible, for her

benevolence ha never yet calle s*iles %pon the face of *isery( In the evenin,, the Co%nt, +ith all his fa*ily, e-cept the Co%ntess an &a e*oiselle 1earn, +ent to the +oo s to +itness the festivity of the peasants( The scene +as in a ,la e, +here the trees, openin,, for*e a circle ro%n the t%rf they hi,hly oversha o+e / bet+een their branches, vines, loa e +ith ripe cl%sters, +ere h%n, in ,ay festoons/ an , beneath, +ere tables, +ith fr%it, +ine, cheese an other r%ral fare,7 an seats for the Co%nt an his fa*ily( At a little istance, +ere benches for the el er peasants, fe+ of +ho*, ho+ever, co%l forbear to .oin the .oc%n ance, +hich be,an soon after s%n6set, +hen several of si-ty trippe it +ith al*ost as *%ch ,lee an airy li,htness, as those of si-teen( The *%sicians, +ho sat carelessly on the ,rass, at the foot of a tree, see*e inspire by the so%n of their o+n instr%*ents, +hich +ere chiefly fl%tes an a kin of lon, ,%itar( 1ehin , stoo a boy, flo%rishin, a ta*borine, an ancin, a solo, e-cept that, as he so*eti*es ,aily tosse the instr%*ent, he trippe a*on, the other ancers, +hen his antic ,est%res calle forth a broa er la%,h, an hei,htene the r%stic spirit of the scene( The Co%nt +as hi,hly eli,hte +ith the happiness he +itnesse , to +hich his bo%nty ha lar,ely contrib%te , an the 0a y 1lanche .oine the ance +ith a yo%n, ,entle*an of her father3s party( <% Pont re4%este E*ily3s han , b%t her spirits +ere too *%ch epresse , to per*it her to en,a,e in the present festivity, +hich calle to her re*e*brance that of the prece in, year, +hen 't( A%bert +as livin,, an of the *elancholy scenes, +hich ha i**e iately follo+e it( Overco*e by these recollections, she, at len,th, left the spot, an +alke slo+ly into the +oo s, +here the softene *%sic, floatin, at a istance, soothe her *elancholy *in ( The *oon thre+ a *ello+ li,ht a*on, the folia,e/ the air +as bal*y an cool, an E*ily, lost in tho%,ht, strolle on, +itho%t observin,

+hither, till she perceive the so%n s sinkin, afar off, an an a+f%l stillness ro%n her, e-cept that, so*eti*es, the ni,htin,ale be,%ile the silence +ith
&iCuid notes, that close the eye of day#

At len,th, she fo%n herself near the aven%e, +hich, on the ni,ht of her father3s arrival, &ichael ha atte*pte to pass in search of a ho%se, +hich +as still nearly as +il an esolate as it ha then appeare / for the Co%nt ha been so *%ch en,a,e in irectin, other i*prove*ents, that he ha ne,lecte to ,ive or ers, concernin, this e-tensive approach, an the roa +as yet broken, an the trees overloa e +ith their o+n l%-%riance( As she stoo s%rveyin, it, an re*e*berin, the e*otions, +hich she ha for*erly s%ffere there, she s% enly recollecte the fi,%re, that ha been seen stealin, a*on, the trees, an +hich ha ret%rne no ans+er to &ichael3s repeate calls/ an she e-perience so*e+hat of the fear, that ha then assaile her, for it i not appear i*probable, that these eep +oo s +ere occasionally the ha%nt of ban itti( 'he, therefore, t%rne back, an +as hastily p%rs%in, her +ay to the ancers, +hen she hear steps approachin, fro* the aven%e/ an , bein, still beyon the call of the peasants on the ,reen, for she co%l neither hear their voices, or their *%sic, she 4%ickene her pace/ b%t the persons follo+in, ,aine fast %pon her, an , at len,th, istin,%ishin, the voice of Henri, she +alke leis%rely, till he ca*e %p( He e-presse so*e s%rprise at *eetin, her so far fro* the co*pany/ an , on her sayin,, that the pleasant *oon6li,ht ha be,%ile her to +alk farther than she inten e , an e-cla*ation b%rst fro* the lips of his co*panion, an she tho%,ht she hear Valanco%rt speak? It +as, in ee , he? an the *eetin, +as s%ch as *ay be i*a,ine , bet+een persons so affectionate, an so lon, separate as they ha been( In the .oy of these *o*ents, E*ily for,ot all her past s%fferin,s, an Valanco%rt see*e to have for,otten, that any person b%t E*ily e-iste / +hile Henri +as a silent an astonishe spectator of the scene(

Valanco%rt aske a tho%san 4%estions, concernin, herself an &ontoni, +hich there +as no+ no ti*e to ans+er/ b%t she learne , that her letter ha been for+ar e to hi*, at Paris, +hich he ha previo%sly 4%itte , an +as ret%rnin, to Gascony, +hither the letter also ret%rne , +hich, at len,th, infor*e hi* of E*ily3s arrival, an on the receipt of +hich he ha i**e iately set o%t for 0an,%e oc( On reachin, the *onastery, +hence she ha ate her letter, he fo%n , to his e-tre*e isappoint*ent, that the ,ates +ere alrea y close for the ni,ht/ an believin,, that he sho%l not see E*ily, till the *orro+, he +as ret%rnin, to his little inn, +ith the intention of +ritin, to her, +hen he +as overtaken by Henri, +ith +ho* he ha been inti*ate at Paris, an +as le to her, +ho* he +as secretly la*entin, that he sho%l not see, till the follo+in, ay( E*ily, +ith Valanco%rt an Henri, no+ ret%rne to the ,reen, +here the latter presente Valanco%rt to the Co%nt, +ho, she fancie , receive hi* +ith less than his %s%al beni,nity, tho%,h it appeare , that they +ere not stran,ers to each other( He +as invite , ho+ever, to partake of the iversions of the evenin,/ an , +hen he ha pai his respects to the Co%nt, an +hile the ancers contin%e their festivity, he seate hi*self by E*ily, an converse , +itho%t restraint( The li,hts, +hich +ere h%n, a*on, the trees, %n er +hich they sat, allo+e her a *ore perfect vie+ of the co%ntenance she ha so fre4%ently in absence en eavo%re to recollect, an she perceive , +ith so*e re,ret, that it +as not the sa*e as +hen last she sa+ it( There +as all its +onte intelli,ence an fire/ b%t it ha lost *%ch of the si*plicity, an so*e+hat of the open benevolence, that %se to characterise it( 'till, ho+ever, it +as an interestin, co%ntenance/ b%t E*ily tho%,ht she perceive , at intervals, an-iety contract, an *elancholy fi- the feat%res of Valanco%rt/ so*eti*es, too, he fell into a *o*entary *%sin,, an then appeare an-io%s to issipate tho%,ht/ +hile, at others, as he fi-e his eyes on E*ily, a kin of s% en istraction see*e to cross his *in ( In her he

perceive the sa*e ,oo ness an bea%tif%l si*plicity, that ha char*e hi*, on their first ac4%aintance( The bloo* of her co%ntenance +as so*e+hat fa e , b%t all its s+eetness re*aine , an it +as ren ere *ore interestin,, than ever, by the faint e-pression of *elancholy, that so*eti*es *in,le +ith her s*ile( At his re4%est, she relate the *ost i*portant circ%*stances, that ha occ%rre to her, since she left )rance, an e*otions of pity an in i,nation alternately prevaile in his *in , +hen he hear ho+ *%ch she ha s%ffere fro* the villany of &ontoni( &ore than once, +hen she +as speakin, of his con %ct, of +hich the ,%ilt +as rather softene , than e-a,,erate , by her representation, he starte fro* his seat, an +alke a+ay, apparently overco*e as *%ch by self acc%sation as by resent*ent( Her s%fferin,s alone +ere *entione in the fe+ +or s, +hich he co%l a ress to her, an he listene not to the acco%nt, +hich she +as caref%l to ,ive as istinctly as possible, of the present loss of &a a*e &ontoni3s estates, an of the little reason there +as to e-pect their restoration( At len,th, Valanco%rt re*aine lost in tho%,ht, an then so*e secret ca%se see*e to overco*e hi* +ith an,%ish( A,ain he abr%ptly left her( :hen he ret%rne , she perceive , that he ha been +eepin,, an ten erly be,,e , that he +o%l co*pose hi*self( 3&y s%fferin,s are all passe no+,3 sai she, 3for I have escape fro* the tyranny of &ontoni, an I see yo% +ell7let *e also see yo% happy(3 Valanco%rt +as *ore a,itate , than before( 3I a* %n+orthy of yo%, E*ily,3 sai he, 3I a* %n+orthy of yo%/37+or s, by his *anner of %tterin, +hich E*ily +as then *ore shocke than by their i*port( 'he fi-e on hi* a *o%rnf%l an en4%irin, eye( 3<o not look th%s on *e,3 sai he, t%rnin, a+ay an pressin, her han / 3I cannot bear those looks(3 3I +o%l ask,3 sai E*ily, in a ,entle, b%t a,itate voice, 3the *eanin, of yo%r +or s/ b%t I perceive, that the 4%estion +o%l istress yo% no+( 0et %s talk on other s%b.ects( To6*orro+, perhaps, yo% *ay be *ore co*pose ( Observe those *oon li,ht +oo s, an the

to+ers, +hich appear obsc%rely in the perspective( 2o% %se to be a ,reat a *irer of lan scape, an I have hear yo% say, that the fac%lty of erivin, consolation, %n er *isfort%ne, fro* the s%bli*e prospects, +hich neither oppression, or poverty +ith6hol fro* %s, +as the pec%liar blessin, of the innocent(3 Valanco%rt +as eeply affecte ( 32es,3 replie he, 3I ha once a taste for innocent an ele,ant eli,hts7I ha once an %ncorr%pte heart(3 Then, checkin, hi*self, he a e , 3<o yo% re*e*ber o%r .o%rney to,ether in the PyreneesB3 3Can I for,et itB3 sai E*ily(73:o%l that I co%l ?3 he replie /73that +as the happiest perio of *y life( I then love , +ith enth%sias*, +hatever +as tr%ly ,reat, or ,oo (3 It +as so*e ti*e before E*ily co%l repress her tears, an try to co**an her e*otions( 3If yo% +ish to for,et that .o%rney,3 sai she, 3it *%st certainly be *y +ish to for,et it also(3 'he pa%se , an then a e , 32o% *ake *e very %neasy/ b%t this is not the ti*e for f%rther en4%iry/7yet, ho+ can I bear to believe, even for a *o*ent, that yo% are less +orthy of *y estee* than for*erlyB I have still s%fficient confi ence in yo%r can o%r, to believe, that, +hen I shall ask for an e-planation, yo% +ill ,ive it *e(3732es,3 sai Valanco%rt, 3yes, E*ily; I have not yet lost *y can o%r; if I ha , I co%l better have is,%ise *y e*otions, on learnin, +hat +ere yo%r s%fferin,s7 yo%r virt%es, +hile I7I7b%t I +ill say no *ore( I i not *ean to have sai even so *%ch7I have been s%rprise into the self6acc%sation( Tell *e, E*ily, that yo% +ill not for,et that .o%rney7+ill not +ish to for,et it, an I +ill be cal*( I +o%l not lose the re*e*brance of it for the +hole earth(3 3Ho+ contra ictory is this?3 sai E*ily/73b%t +e *ay be overhear ( &y recollection of it shall epen %pon yo%rs/ I +ill en eavo%r to for,et, or to recollect it, as yo% *ay o( 0et %s .oin the Co%nt(373Tell *e first,3 sai Valanco%rt, 3that yo% for,ive the %neasiness I have occasione yo%, this evenin,, an that yo% +ill still love *e(373I sincerely for,ive yo%,3 replie E*ily( 32o% best kno+ +hether I shall contin%e to love yo%, for yo%

kno+ +hether yo% eserve *y estee*( At present, I +ill believe that yo% o( It is %nnecessary to say,3 a e she, observin, his e.ection, 3ho+ *%ch pain it +o%l ,ive *e to believe other+ise(7The yo%n, la y, +ho approaches, is the Co%nt3s a%,hter(3 Valanco%rt an E*ily no+ .oine the 0a y 1lanche/ an the party, soon after, sat o+n +ith the Co%nt, his son, an the Chevalier <% Pont, at a ban4%et, sprea %n er a ,ay a+nin,, beneath the trees( At the table also +ere seate several of the *ost venerable of the Co%nt3s tenants, an it +as a festive repast to all b%t Valanco%rt an E*ily( :hen the Co%nt retire to the chatea%, he i not invite Valanco%rt to acco*pany hi*, +ho, therefore, took leave of E*ily, an retire to his solitary inn for the ni,ht; *ean+hile, she soon +ith re+ to her o+n apart*ent, +here she *%se , +ith eep an-iety an concern, on his behavio%r, an on the Co%nt3s reception of hi*( Her attention +as th%s so +holly en,a,e , that she for,ot <orothee an her appoint*ent, till *ornin, +as far a vance , +hen, kno+in, that the ,oo ol +o*an +o%l not co*e, she retire , for a fe+ ho%rs, to repose( On the follo+in, ay, +hen the Co%nt ha acci entally .oine E*ily in one of the +alks, they talke of the festival of the prece in, evenin,, an this le hi* to a *ention of Valanco%rt( 3That is a yo%n, *an of talents,3 sai he/ 3yo% +ere for*erly ac4%ainte +ith hi*, I perceive(3 E*ily sai , that she +as( 3He +as intro %ce to *e, at Paris,3 sai the Co%nt, 3an I +as *%ch please +ith hi*, on o%r first ac4%aintance(3 He pa%se , an E*ily tre*ble , bet+een the esire of hearin, *ore an the fear of she+in, the Co%nt, that she felt an interest on the s%b.ect( 3&ay I ask,3 sai he, at len,th, 3ho+ lon, yo% have kno+n &onsie%r Valanco%rtB373:ill yo% allo+ *e to ask yo%r reason for the 4%estion, sirB3 sai she/ 3an I +ill ans+er it i**e iately(373Certainly,3 sai the Co%nt, 3that is b%t .%st( I +ill tell yo% *y reason( I cannot b%t perceive, that &onsie%r Valanco%rt a *ires yo%/ in that, ho+ever, there is nothin, e-traor inary/ every person, +ho sees yo%, *%st o the sa*e( I a* above %sin,

co**on6place co*pli*ents/ I speak +ith sincerity( :hat I fear, is, that he is a favo%re a *irer(373:hy o yo% fear it, sirB3 sai E*ily, en eavo%rin, to conceal her e*otion(731eca%se,3 replie the Co%nt, 3I think hi* not +orthy of yo%r favo%r(3 E*ily, ,reatly a,itate , entreate f%rther e-planation( 3I +ill ,ive it,3 sai he, 3if yo% +ill believe, that nothin, b%t a stron, interest in yo%r +elfare co%l in %ce *e to ha8ar that assertion(373I *%st believe so, sir,3 replie E*ily( 31%t let %s rest %n er these trees,3 sai the Co%nt, observin, the paleness of her co%ntenance/ 3here is a seat7yo% are fati,%e (3 They sat o+n, an the Co%nt procee e ( 3&any yo%n, la ies, circ%*stance as yo% are, +o%l think *y con %ct, on this occasion, an on so short an ac4%aintance, i*pertinent, instea of frien ly/ fro* +hat I have observe of yo%r te*per an %n erstan in,, I o not fear s%ch a ret%rn fro* yo%( O%r ac4%aintance has been short, b%t lon, eno%,h to *ake *e estee* yo%, an feel a lively interest in yo%r happiness( 2o% eserve to be very happy, an I tr%st that yo% +ill be so(3 E*ily si,he softly, an bo+e her thanks( The Co%nt pa%se a,ain( 3I a* %npleasantly circ%*stance ,3 sai he/ 3b%t an opport%nity of ren erin, yo% i*portant service shall overco*e inferior consi erations( :ill yo% infor* *e of the *anner of yo%r first ac4%aintance +ith the Chevalier Valanco%rt, if the s%b.ect is not too painf%lB3 E*ily briefly relate the acci ent of their *eetin, in the presence of her father, an then so earnestly entreate the Co%nt not to hesitate in eclarin, +hat he kne+, that he perceive the violent e*otion, a,ainst +hich she +as conten in,, an , re,ar in, her +ith a look of ten er co*passion, consi ere ho+ he *i,ht co**%nicate his infor*ation +ith least pain to his an-io%s a% itor( 3The Chevalier an *y son,3 sai he, 3+ere intro %ce to each other, at the table of a brother officer, at +hose ho%se I also *et hi*, an invite hi* to *y o+n, +henever he sho%l be isen,a,e ( I i not then kno+, that he ha for*e an ac4%aintance +ith a set of *en, a is,race to their species, +ho live by pl%n er

an pass their lives in contin%al eba%chery( I kne+ several of the Chevalier3s fa*ily, resi ent at Paris, an consi ere the* as s%fficient ple ,es for his intro %ction to *y o+n( 1%t yo% are ill/ I +ill leave the s%b.ect(3739o, sir,3 sai E*ily, 3I be, yo% +ill procee ; I a* only istresse (373O902?3 sai the Co%nt, +ith e*phasis/ 3ho+ever, I +ill procee ( I soon learne , that these, his associates, ha ra+n hi* into a co%rse of issipation, fro* +hich he appeare to have neither the po+er, nor the inclination, to e-tricate hi*self( He lost lar,e s%*s at the ,a*in,6table/ he beca*e infat%ate +ith play/ an +as r%ine ( I spoke ten erly of this to his frien s, +ho ass%re *e, that they ha re*onstrate +ith hi*, till they +ere +eary( I after+ar s learne , that, in consi eration of his talents for play, +hich +ere ,enerally s%ccessf%l, +hen %noppose by the tricks of villany,7that in consi eration of these, the party ha initiate hi* into the secrets of their tra e, an allotte hi* a share of their profits(3 3I*possible?3 sai E*ily s% enly/ 3b%t7par on *e, sir, I scarcely kno+ +hat I say/ allo+ for the istress of *y *in ( I *%st, in ee , I *%st believe, that yo% have not been tr%ly infor*e ( The Chevalier ha , o%btless, ene*ies, +ho *isrepresente hi*(373I sho%l be *ost happy to believe so,3 replie the Co%nt, 3b%t I cannot( 9othin, short of conviction, an a re,ar for yo%r happiness, co%l have %r,e *e to repeat these %npleasant reports(3 E*ily +as silent( 'he recollecte Valanco%rt3s sayin,s, on the prece in, evenin,, +hich iscovere the pan,s of self6reproach, an see*e to confir* all that the Co%nt ha relate ( 2et she ha not fortit% e eno%,h to are conviction( Her heart +as over+hel*e +ith an,%ish at the *ere s%spicion of his ,%ilt, an she co%l not en %re a belief of it( After a silence, the Co%nt sai , 3I perceive, an can allo+ for, yo%r +ant of conviction( It is necessary I sho%l ,ive so*e proof of +hat I have asserte / b%t this I cannot o, +itho%t s%b.ectin, one, +ho is very ear to *e, to an,er(373:hat is the an,er yo% apprehen , sirB3 sai E*ily/ 3if I can prevent it, yo% *ay safely confi e in

*y hono%r(373On yo%r hono%r I a* certain I can rely,3 sai the Co%nt/ 3b%t can I tr%st yo%r fortit% eB <o yo% think yo% can resist the solicitation of a favo%re a *irer, +hen he plea s, in affliction, for the na*e of one, +ho has robbe hi* of a blessin,B373I shall not be e-pose to s%ch a te*ptation, sir,3 sai E*ily, +ith *o est pri e, 3for I cannot favo%r one, +ho* I *%st no lon,er estee*( I, ho+ever, rea ily ,ive *y +or (3 Tears, in the *ean ti*e, contra icte her first assertion/ an she felt, that ti*e an effort only co%l era icate an affection, +hich ha been for*e on virt%o%s estee*, an cherishe by habit an iffic%lty( 3I +ill tr%st yo% then,3 sai the Co%nt, 3for conviction is necessary to yo%r peace, an cannot, I perceive, be obtaine , +itho%t this confi ence( &y son has too often been an eye6+itness of the Chevalier3s ill con %ct/ he +as very near bein, ra+n in by it/ he +as, in ee , ra+n in to the co**ission of *any follies, b%t I resc%e hi* fro* ,%ilt an estr%ction( @% ,e then, &a e*oiselle 't( A%bert, +hether a father, +ho ha nearly lost his only son by the e-a*ple of the Chevalier, has not, fro* conviction, reason to +arn those, +ho* he estee*s, a,ainst tr%stin, their happiness in s%ch han s( I have *yself seen the Chevalier en,a,e in eep play +ith *en, +ho* I al*ost sh% ere to look %pon( If yo% still o%bt, I +ill refer yo% to *y son(3 3I *%st not o%bt +hat yo% have yo%rself +itnesse ,3 replie E*ily, sinkin, +ith ,rief, 3or +hat yo% assert( 1%t the Chevalier has, perhaps, been ra+n only into a transient folly, +hich he *ay never repeat( If yo% ha kno+n the .%stness of his for*er principles, yo% +o%l allo+ for *y present incre %lity(3 3Alas?3 observe the Co%nt, 3it is iffic%lt to believe that, +hich +ill *ake %s +retche ( 1%t I +ill not sooth yo% by flatterin, an false hopes( :e all kno+ ho+ fascinatin, the vice of ,a*in, is, an ho+ iffic%lt it is, also, to con4%er habits/ the Chevalier *i,ht, perhaps, refor* for a +hile, b%t he +o%l soon relapse into issipation7for I fear, not only the bon s of habit +o%l be po+erf%l, b%t that his *orals are corr%pte (

An 7+hy sho%l I conceal fro* yo%, that play is not his only viceB he appears to have a taste for every vicio%s pleas%re(3 The Co%nt hesitate an pa%se / +hile E*ily en eavo%re to s%pport herself, as, +ith increasin, pert%rbation, she e-pecte +hat he *i,ht f%rther say( A lon, pa%se of silence ens%e , %rin, +hich he +as visibly a,itate / at len,th, he sai , 3It +o%l be a cr%el elicacy, that co%l prevail +ith *e to be silent7an I +ill infor* yo%, that the Chevalier3s e-trava,ance has bro%,ht hi* t+ice into the prisons of Paris, fro* +hence he +as last e-tricate , as I +as tol %pon a%thority, +hich I cannot o%bt, by a +ell6kno+n Parisian Co%ntess, +ith +ho* he contin%e to resi e, +hen I left Paris(3 He pa%se a,ain/ an , lookin, at E*ily, perceive her co%ntenance chan,e, an that she +as fallin, fro* the seat/ he ca%,ht her, b%t she ha fainte , an he calle lo% ly for assistance( They +ere, ho+ever, beyon the hearin, of his servants at the chatea%, an he feare to leave her +hile he +ent thither for assistance, yet kne+ not ho+ other+ise to obtain it/ till a fo%ntain at no ,reat istance ca%,ht his eye, an he en eavo%re to s%pport E*ily a,ainst the tree, %n er +hich she ha been sittin,, +hile he +ent thither for +ater( 1%t a,ain he +as perple-e , for he ha nothin, near hi*, in +hich +ater co%l be bro%,ht/ b%t +hile, +ith increase an-iety, he +atche her, he tho%,ht he perceive in her co%ntenance sy*pto*s of ret%rnin, life( It +as lon,, ho+ever, before she revive , an then she fo%n herself s%pporte 7not by the Co%nt, b%t by Valanco%rt, +ho +as observin, her +ith looks of earnest apprehension, an +ho no+ spoke to her in a tone, tre*%lo%s +ith his an-iety( At the so%n of his +ell6kno+n voice, she raise her eyes, b%t presently close the*, an a faintness a,ain ca*e over her( The Co%nt, +ith a look so*e+hat stern, +ave hi* to +ith ra+/ b%t he only si,he heavily, an calle on the na*e of E*ily, as he a,ain hel the +ater, that ha

been bro%,ht, to her lips( On the Co%nt3s repeatin, his action, an acco*panyin, it +ith +or s, Valanco%rt ans+ere hi* +ith a look of eep resent*ent, an ref%se to leave the place, till she sho%l revive, or to resi,n her for a *o*ent to the care of any person( In the ne-t instant, his conscience see*e to infor* hi* of +hat ha been the s%b.ect of the Co%nt3s conversation +ith E*ily, an in i,nation flashe in his eyes/ b%t it +as 4%ickly represse , an s%ccee e by an e-pression of serio%s an,%ish, that in %ce the Co%nt to re,ar hi* +ith *ore pity than resent*ent, an the vie+ of +hich so *%ch affecte E*ily, +hen she a,ain revive , that she yiel e to the +eakness of tears( 1%t she soon restraine the*, an , e-ertin, her resol%tion to appear recovere , she rose, thanke the Co%nt an Henri, +ith +ho* Valanco%rt ha entere the ,ar en, for their care, an *ove to+ar s the chatea%, +itho%t noticin, Valanco%rt, +ho, heart6str%ck by her *anner, e-clai*e in a lo+ voice73Goo Go ? ho+ have I eserve thisB7+hat has been sai , to occasion this chan,eB3 E*ily, +itho%t replyin,, b%t +ith increase e*otion, 4%ickene her steps( 3:hat has th%s isor ere yo%, E*ilyB3 sai he, as he still +alke by her si e; 3,ive *e a fe+ *o*ents3 conversation, I entreat yo%/7I a* very *iserable?3 Tho%,h this +as spoken in a lo+ voice, it +as overhear by the Co%nt, +ho i**e iately replie , that &a e*oiselle 't( A%bert +as then too *%ch in ispose , to atten to any conversation, b%t that he +o%l vent%re to pro*ise she +o%l see &onsie%r Valanco%rt on the *orro+, if she +as better( Valanco%rt3s cheek +as cri*sone ; he looke ha%,htily at the Co%nt, an then at E*ily, +ith s%ccessive e-pressions of s%rprise, ,rief an s%pplication, +hich she co%l neither *is%n erstan , or resist, an she sai lan,%i ly73I shall be better to*orro+, an if yo% +ish to accept the Co%nt3s per*ission, I +ill see yo% then(3 3'ee *e?3 e-clai*e Valanco%rt, as he thre+ a ,lance of *in,le pri e an resent*ent %pon the Co%nt/ an

then, see*in, to recollect hi*self, he a e 731%t I +ill co*e, *a a*/ I +ill accept the Co%nt3s PER&I''IO9(3 :hen they reache the oor of the chatea%, he lin,ere a *o*ent, for his resent*ent +as no+ fle / an then, +ith a look so e-pressive of ten erness an ,rief, that E*ily3s heart +as not proof a,ainst it, he ba e her ,oo *ornin,, an , bo+in, sli,htly to the Co%nt, isappeare ( E*ily +ith re+ to her o+n apart*ent, %n er s%ch oppression of heart as she ha sel o* kno+n, +hen she en eavo%re to recollect all that the Co%nt ha tol , to e-a*ine the probability of the circ%*stances he hi*self believe , an to consi er of her f%t%re con %ct to+ar s Valanco%rt( 1%t, +hen she atte*pte to think, her *in ref%se contro%l, an she co%l only feel that she +as *iserable( One *o*ent, she s%nk %n er the conviction, that Valanco%rt +as no lon,er the sa*e, +ho* she ha so ten erly love , the i ea of +ho* ha hitherto s%pporte her %n er affliction, an cheere her +ith the hope of happier ays,7b%t a fallen, a +orthless character, +ho* she *%st teach herself to espise7if she co%l not for,et( Then, %nable to en %re this terrible s%pposition, she re.ecte it, an is aine to believe hi* capable of con %ct, s%ch as the Co%nt ha escribe , to +ho* she believe he ha been *isrepresente by so*e artf%l ene*y/ an there +ere *o*ents, +hen she even vent%re to o%bt the inte,rity of the Co%nt hi*self, an to s%spect, that he +as infl%ence by so*e selfish *otive, to break her connection +ith Valanco%rt( 1%t this +as the error of an instant, only/ the Co%nt3s character, +hich she ha hear spoken of by <% Pont an *any other persons, an ha herself observe , enable her to .% ,e, an forba e the s%pposition/ ha her confi ence, in ee , been less, there appeare to be no te*ptation to betray hi* into con %ct so treachero%s, an so cr%el( 9or i reflection s%ffer her to preserve the hope, that Valanco%rt ha been *is6represente to the Co%nt, +ho ha sai , that he spoke chiefly fro* his o+n observation, an fro* his son3s e-perience( 'he *%st

part fro* Valanco%rt, therefore, for ever7for +hat of either happiness or tran4%illity co%l she e-pect +ith a *an, +hose tastes +ere e,enerate into lo+ inclinations, an to +ho* vice +as beco*e habit%alB +ho* she *%st no lon,er estee*, tho%,h the re*e*brance of +hat he once +as, an the lon, habit of lovin, hi*, +o%l ren er it very iffic%lt for her to espise hi*( 3O Valanco%rt?3 she +o%l e-clai*, 3havin, been separate so lon,7 o +e *eet, only to be *iserable7only to part for everB3 A*i st all the t%*%lt of her *in , she re*e*bere pertinacio%sly the see*in, can o%r an si*plicity of his con %ct, on the prece in, ni,ht/ an , ha she are to tr%st her o+n heart, it +o%l have le her to hope *%ch fro* this( 'till she co%l not resolve to is*iss hi* for ever, +itho%t obtainin, f%rther proof of his ill con %ct/ yet she sa+ no probability of proc%rin, it, if, in ee , proof *ore positive +as possible( 'o*ethin,, ho+ever, it +as necessary to eci e %pon, an she al*ost eter*ine to be ,%i e in her opinion solely by the *anner, +ith +hich Valanco%rt sho%l receive her hints concernin, his late con %ct( Th%s passe the ho%rs till inner6ti*e, +hen E*ily, str%,,lin, a,ainst the press%re of her ,rief, rie her tears, an .oine the fa*ily at table, +here the Co%nt preserve to+ar s her the *ost elicate attention/ b%t the Co%ntess an &a e*oiselle 1earn, havin, looke , for a *o*ent, +ith s%rprise, on her e.ecte co%ntenance, be,an, as %s%al, to talk of trifles, +hile the eyes of 0a y 1lanche aske *%ch of her frien , +ho co%l only reply by a *o%rnf%l s*ile( E*ily +ith re+ as soon after inner as possible, an +as follo+e by the 0a y 1lanche, +hose an-io%s en4%iries, ho+ever, she fo%n herself 4%ite %ne4%al to ans+er, an +ho* she entreate to spare her on the s%b.ect of her istress( To converse on any topic, +as no+, in ee , so e-tre*ely painf%l to her, that she soon ,ave %p the atte*pt, an 1lanche left her, +ith pity of the sorro+, +hich she perceive she ha no po+er to ass%a,e(

E*ily secretly eter*ine to ,o to her convent in a ay or t+o/ for co*pany, especially that of the Co%ntess an &a e*oiselle 1earn, +as intolerable to her, in the present state of her spirits/ an , in the retire*ent of the convent, as +ell as the kin ness of the abbess, she hope to recover the co**an of her *in , an to teach it resi,nation to the event, +hich, she too plainly perceive , +as approachin,( To have lost Valanco%rt by eath, or to have seen hi* *arrie to a rival, +o%l , she tho%,ht, have ,iven her less an,%ish, than a conviction of his %n+orthiness, +hich *%st ter*inate in *isery to hi*self, an +hich robbe her even of the solitary i*a,e her heart so lon, ha cherishe ( These painf%l reflections +ere interr%pte , for a *o*ent, by a note fro* Valanco%rt, +ritten in evi ent istraction of *in , entreatin,, that she +o%l per*it hi* to see her on the approachin, evenin,, instea of the follo+in, *ornin,/ a re4%est, +hich occasione her so *%ch a,itation, that she +as %nable to ans+er it( 'he +ishe to see hi*, an to ter*inate her present state of s%spense, yet shr%nk fro* the intervie+, an , incapable of eci in, for herself, she, at len,th, sent to be, a fe+ *o*ents3 conversation +ith the Co%nt in his library, +here she elivere to hi* the note, an re4%este his a vice( After rea in, it, he sai , that, if she believe herself +ell eno%,h to s%pport the intervie+, his opinion +as, that, for the relief of both parties, it o%,ht to take place, that evenin,( 3His affection for yo% is, %n o%bte ly, a very sincere one,3 a e the Co%nt/ 3an he appears so *%ch istresse , an yo%, *y a*iable frien , are so ill at ease7that the sooner the affair is eci e , the better(3 E*ily replie , therefore, to Valanco%rt, that she +o%l see hi*, an then e-erte herself in en eavo%rs to attain fortit% e an co*pos%re, to bear her thro%,h the approachin, scene7a scene so afflictin,ly the reverse of any, to +hich she ha looke for+ar ?

%OLUME )

#HAPTER I
5s all the council that e t o ha"e shared, the hours that e ha"e spent, <hen e ha"e chid the hasty%footed ti!e )or parting us?7h> and is all forgotE And ill you rend our ancient lo"e asunderE M5(4UMMER :5G8T=4 (REAM

In the evenin,, +hen E*ily +as at len,th infor*e , that Co%nt <e Villefort re4%este to see her, she ,%esse that Valanco%rt +as belo+, an , en eavo%rin, to ass%*e co*pos%re an to recollect all her spirits, she rose an left the apart*ent/ b%t on reachin, the oor of the library, +here she i*a,ine hi* to be, her e*otion ret%rne +ith s%ch ener,y, that, fearin, to tr%st herself in the roo*, she ret%rne into the hall, +here she contin%e for a consi erable ti*e, %nable to co**an her a,itate spirits( :hen she co%l recall the*, she fo%n in the library Valanco%rt, seate +ith the Co%nt, +ho both rose on her entrance/ b%t she i not are to look at Valanco%rt, an the Co%nt, havin, le her to a chair, i**e iately +ith re+( E*ily re*aine +ith her eyes fi-e on the floor, %n er s%ch oppression of heart, that she co%l not speak, an +ith iffic%lty breathe / +hile Valanco%rt thre+ hi*self into a chair besi e her, an , si,hin, heavily, contin%e silent, +hen, ha she raise her eyes, she +o%l have perceive the violent e*otions, +ith +hich he +as a,itate (

At len,th, in a tre*%lo%s voice, he sai , 3I have solicite to see yo% this evenin,, that I *i,ht, at least, be spare the f%rther tort%re of s%spense, +hich yo%r altere *anner ha occasione *e, an +hich the hints I have .%st receive fro* the Co%nt have in part e-plaine ( I perceive I have ene*ies, E*ily, +ho envie *e *y late happiness, an +ho have been b%sy in searchin, o%t the *eans to estroy it; I perceive, too, that ti*e an absence have +eakene the affection yo% once felt for *e, an that yo% can no+ easily be ta%,ht to for,et *e(3 His last +or s faltere , an E*ily, less able to speak than before, contin%e silent( 3O +hat a *eetin, is this?3 e-clai*e Valanco%rt, startin, fro* his seat, an pacin, the roo* +ith h%rrie steps, 3+hat a *eetin, is this, after o%r lon,7lon, separation?3 A,ain he sat o+n, an , after the str%,,le of a *o*ent, he a e in a fir* b%t espairin, tone, 3This is too *%ch7I cannot bear it? E*ily, +ill yo% not speak to *eB3 He covere his face +ith his han , as if to conceal his e*otion, an took E*ily3s, +hich she i not +ith ra+( Her tears co%l no lon,er be restraine / an , +hen he raise his eyes an perceive that she +as +eepin,, all his ten erness ret%rne , an a ,lea* of hope appeare to cross his *in , for he e-clai*e , 3O? yo% o pity *e, then, yo% o love *e? 2es, yo% are still *y o+n E*ily 7let *e believe those tears, that tell *e so?3 E*ily no+ *a e an effort to recover her fir*ness, an , hastily ryin, the*, 32es,3 sai she, 3I o pity yo%7I +eep for yo%7b%t, o%,ht I to think of yo% +ith affectionB 2o% *ay re*e*ber, that yester6evenin, I sai , I ha still s%fficient confi ence in yo%r can o%r to believe, that, +hen I sho%l re4%est an e-planation of yo%r +or s, yo% +o%l ,ive it( This e-planation is no+ %nnecessary, I %n erstan the* too +ell/ b%t prove, at least, that yo%r can o%r is eservin, of the confi ence I ,ive it, +hen I ask yo%, +hether yo% are conscio%s of bein, the sa*e esti*able Valanco%rt7+ho* I once love (3

3Once love ?3 crie he,73the sa*e7the sa*e?3 He pa%se in e-tre*e e*otion, an then a e , in a voice at once sole*n, an e.ecte ,739o7I a* not the sa*e?7I a* lost7I a* no lon,er +orthy of yo%?3 He a,ain conceale his face( E*ily +as too *%ch affecte by this honest confession to reply i**e iately, an , +hile she str%,,le to overco*e the plea in,s of her heart, an to act +ith the ecisive fir*ness, +hich +as necessary for her f%t%re peace, she perceive all the an,er of tr%stin, lon, to her resol%tion, in the presence of Valanco%rt, an +as an-io%s to concl% e an intervie+, that tort%re the* both/ yet, +hen she consi ere , that this +as probably their last *eetin,, her fortit% e s%nk at once, an she e-perience only e*otions of ten erness an of espon ency( Valanco%rt, *ean+hile, lost in e*otions of re*orse an ,rief, +hich he ha neither the po+er, or the +ill to e-press, sat insensible al*ost of the presence of E*ily, his feat%res still conceale , an his breast a,itate by conv%lsive si,hs( 3'pare *e the necessity,3 sai E*ily, recollectin, her fortit% e, 3spare *e the necessity of *entionin, those circ%*stances of yo%r con %ct, +hich obli,e *e to break o%r connection forever(7:e *%st part, I no+ see yo% for the last ti*e(3 3I*possible?3 crie Valanco%rt, ro%se fro* his eep silence, 32o% cannot *ean +hat yo% say?7yo% cannot *ean to thro+ *e fro* yo% forever?3 3:e *%st part,3 repeate E*ily, +ith e*phasis,73an that forever? 2o%r o+n con %ct has *a e this necessary(3 3This is the Co%nt3s eter*ination,3 sai he ha%,htily, 3not yo%rs, an I shall en4%ire by +hat a%thority he interferes bet+een %s(3 He no+ rose, an +alke abo%t the roo* in ,reat e*otion( 30et *e save yo% fro* this error,3 sai E*ily, not less a,itate 73it is *y eter*ination, an , if yo% reflect a *o*ent on yo%r late con %ct, yo% +ill perceive, that *y f%t%re peace re4%ires it(3

32o%r f%t%re peace re4%ires, that +e sho%l part7part forever?3 sai Valanco%rt, 3Ho+ little i I ever e-pect to hear yo% say so?3 3An ho+ little i I e-pect, that it +o%l be necessary for *e to say so?3 re.oine E*ily, +hile her voice softene into ten erness, an her tears flo+e a,ain( 73That yo%7yo%, Valanco%rt, +o%l ever fall fro* *y estee*?3 He +as silent a *o*ent, as if over+hel*e by the conscio%sness of no lon,er eservin, this estee*, as +ell as the certainty of havin, lost it, an then, +ith i*passione ,rief, la*ente the cri*inality of his late con %ct an the *isery to +hich it ha re %ce hi*, till, overco*e by a recollection of the past an a conviction of the f%t%re, he b%rst into tears, an %ttere only eep an broken si,hs( The re*orse he ha e-presse , an the istress he s%ffere co%l not be +itnesse by E*ily +ith in ifference, an , ha she not calle to her recollection all the circ%*stances, of +hich Co%nt <e Villefort ha infor*e her, an all he ha sai of the an,er of confi in, in repentance, for*e %n er the infl%ence of passion, she *i,ht perhaps have tr%ste to the ass%rances of her heart, an have for,otten his *iscon %ct in the ten erness, +hich that repentance e-cite ( Valanco%rt, ret%rnin, to the chair besi e her, at len,th, sai , in a cal* voice, 33Tis tr%e, I a* fallen7fallen fro* *y o+n estee*? b%t co%l yo%, E*ily, so soon, so s% enly resi,n, if yo% ha not before cease to love *e, or, if yo%r con %ct +as not ,overne by the esi,ns, I +ill say, the selfish esi,ns of another person? :o%l yo% not other+ise be +illin, to hope for *y refor*ation7an co%l yo% bear, by estran,in, *e fro* yo%, to aban on *e to *isery7to *yself?37 E*ily +ept alo% (739o, E*ily7no7yo% +o%l not o this, if yo% still love *e( 2o% +o%l fin yo%r o+n happiness in savin, *ine(3 3There are too *any probabilities a,ainst that hope,3 sai E*ily, 3to .%stify *e in tr%stin, the co*fort of *y

+hole life to it( &ay I not also ask, +hether yo% co%l +ish *e to o this, if yo% really love *eB3 3Really love yo%?3 e-clai*e Valanco%rt73is it possible yo% can o%bt *y love? 2et it is reasonable, that yo% sho%l o so, since yo% see, that I a* less rea y to s%ffer the horror of partin, +ith yo%, than that of involvin, yo% in *y r%in( 2es, E*ily7I a* r%ine 7irreparably r%ine 7I a* involve in ebts, +hich I can never ischar,e?3 Valanco%rt3s look, +hich +as +il , as he spoke this, soon settle into an e-pression of ,loo*y espair/ an E*ily, +hile she +as co*pelle to a *ire his sincerity, sa+, +ith %n%tterable an,%ish, ne+ reasons for fear in the s% enness of his feelin,s an the e-tent of the *isery, in +hich they *i,ht involve hi*( After so*e *in%tes, she see*e to conten a,ainst her ,rief an to str%,,le for fortit% e to concl% e the intervie+( 3I +ill not prolon, these *o*ents,3 sai she, 3by a conversation, +hich can ans+er no ,oo p%rpose( Valanco%rt, fare+ell?3 32o% are not ,oin,B3 sai he, +il ly interr%ptin, her 732o% +ill not leave *e th%s7yo% +ill not aban on *e even before *y *in has s%,,este any possibility of co*pro*ise bet+een the last in %l,ence of *y espair an the en %rance of *y loss?3 E*ily +as terrifie by the sternness of his look, an sai , in a soothin, voice, 32o% have yo%rself ackno+le ,e , that it is necessary +e sho%l part/7if yo% +ish, that I sho%l believe yo% love *e, yo% +ill repeat the ackno+le ,*ent(3739ever7never,3 crie he73I +as istracte +hen I *a e it( O? E*ily7this is too *%ch/ 7tho%,h yo% are not eceive as to *y fa%lts, yo% *%st be el% e into this e-asperation a,ainst the*( The Co%nt is the barrier bet+een %s/ b%t he shall not lon, re*ain so(3 32o% are, in ee , istracte ,3 sai E*ily, 3the Co%nt is not yo%r ene*y/ on the contrary, he is *y frien , an that *i,ht, in so*e e,ree, in %ce yo% to consi er hi* as yo%rs(3732o%r frien ?3 sai Valanco%rt, hastily, 3ho+ lon, has he been yo%r frien , that he can so easily *ake yo% for,et yo%r loverB :as it he, +ho reco**en e to yo%r favo%r the &onsie%r <% Pont,

+ho, yo% say, acco*panie yo% fro* Italy, an +ho, I say, has stolen yo%r affectionsB 1%t I have no ri,ht to 4%estion yo%/7yo% are yo%r o+n *istress( <% Pont, perhaps, *ay not lon, tri%*ph over *y fallen fort%nes?3 E*ily, *ore fri,htene than before by the frantic looks of Valanco%rt, sai , in a tone scarcely a% ible, 3)or heaven3s sake be reasonable7be co*pose ( &onsie%r <% Pont is not yo%r rival, nor is the Co%nt his a vocate( 2o% have no rival/ nor, e-cept yo%rself, an ene*y( &y heart is +r%n, +ith an,%ish, +hich *%st increase +hile yo%r frantic behavio%r she+s *e, *ore than ever, that yo% are no lon,er the Valanco%rt I have been acc%sto*e to love(3 He *a e no reply, b%t sat +ith his ar*s reste on the table an his face conceale by his han s/ +hile E*ily stoo , silent an tre*blin,, +retche for herself an rea in, to leave hi* in this state of *in ( 3O e-cess of *isery?3 he s% enly e-clai*e , 3that I can never la*ent *y s%fferin,s, +itho%t acc%sin, *yself, nor re*e*ber yo%, +itho%t recollectin, the folly an the vice, by +hich I have lost yo%? :hy +as I force to Paris, an +hy i I yiel to all%re*ents, +hich +ere to *ake *e espicable for ever? O? +hy cannot I look back, +itho%t interr%ption, to those ays of innocence an peace, the ays of o%r early love?37The recollection see*e to *elt his heart, an the fren8y of espair yiel e to tears( After a lon, pa%se, t%rnin, to+ar s her an takin, her han , he sai , in a softene voice, 3E*ily, can yo% bear that +e sho%l part7can yo% resolve to ,ive %p an heart, that loves yo% like *ine7an heart, +hich, tho%,h it has erre 7+i ely erre , is not irretrievable fro* error, as, yo% +ell kno+, it never can be retrievable fro* loveB3 E*ily *a e no reply, b%t +ith her tears( 3Can yo%,3 contin%e he, 3can yo% for,et all o%r for*er ays of happiness an confi ence7+hen I ha not a tho%,ht, that I *i,ht +ish to conceal fro* yo%7+hen I ha no taste7no pleas%res, in +hich yo% i not participateB3 3O o not lea *e to the re*e*brance of those ays,3 sai E*ily, 3%nless yo% can teach *e to for,et the present/ I o not *ean to reproach yo%/ if I i , I

sho%l be spare these tears/ b%t +hy +ill yo% ren er yo%r present s%fferin,s *ore conspic%o%s, by contrastin, the* +ith yo%r for*er virt%esB3 3Those virt%es,3 sai Valanco%rt, 3*i,ht, perhaps, a,ain be *ine, if yo%r affection, +hich n%rt%re the*, +as %nchan,e /7b%t I fear, in ee , I see, that yo% can no lon,er love *e/ else the happy ho%rs, +hich +e have passe to,ether, +o%l plea for *e, an yo% co%l not look back %pon the* %n*ove ( 2et, +hy sho%l I tort%re *yself +ith the re*e*brance7+hy o I lin,er hereB A* I not r%ine 7+o%l it not be *a ness to involve yo% in *y *isfort%nes, even if yo%r heart +as still *y o+nB I +ill not istress yo% f%rther( 2et, before I ,o,3 a e he, in a sole*n voice, 3let *e repeat, that, +hatever *ay be *y estiny7+hatever I *ay be oo*e to s%ffer, I *%st al+ays love yo%7*ost fon ly love yo%? I a* ,oin,, E*ily, I a* ,oin, to leave yo%7to leave yo%, forever?3 As he spoke the last +or s, his voice tre*ble , an he thre+ hi*self a,ain into the chair, fro* +hich he ha risen( E*ily +as %tterly %nable to leave the roo*, or to say fare+ell( All i*pression of his cri*inal con %ct an al*ost of his follies +as obliterate fro* her *in , an she +as sensible only of pity an ,rief( 3&y fortit% e is ,one,3 sai Valanco%rt at len,th/ 3I can no lon,er even str%,,le to recall it( I cannot no+ leave yo%7I cannot bi yo% an eternal fare+ell/ say, at least, that yo% +ill see *e once a,ain(3 E*ily3s heart +as so*e+hat relieve by the re4%est, an she en eavo%re to believe, that she o%,ht not to ref%se it( 2et she +as e*barrasse by recollectin,, that she +as a visitor in the ho%se of the Co%nt, +ho co%l not be please by the ret%rn of Valanco%rt( Other consi erations, ho+ever, soon overca*e this, an she ,rante his re4%est, on the con ition, that he +o%l neither think of the Co%nt, as his ene*y, nor <% Pont as his rival( He then left her, +ith a heart, so *%ch li,htene by this short respite, that he al*ost lost every for*er sense of *isfort%ne( E*ily +ith re+ to her o+n roo*, that she *i,ht co*pose her spirits an re*ove the traces of her tears,

+hich +o%l enco%ra,e the censorio%s re*arks of the Co%ntess an her favo%rite, as +ell as e-cite the c%riosity of the rest of the fa*ily( 'he fo%n it, ho+ever, i*possible to tran4%illi8e her *in , fro* +hich she co%l not e-pel the re*e*brance of the late scene +ith Valanco%rt, or the conscio%sness, that she +as to see hi* a,ain, on the *orro+( This *eetin, no+ appeare *ore terrible to her than the last, for the in,en%o%s confession he ha *a e of his ill con %ct an his e*barrasse circ%*stances, +ith the stren,th an ten erness of affection, +hich this confession iscovere , ha eeply i*presse her, an , in spite of all she ha hear an believe to his isa vanta,e, her estee* be,an to ret%rn( It fre4%ently appeare to her i*possible, that he co%l have been ,%ilty of the epravities, reporte of hi*, +hich, if not inconsistent +ith his +ar*th an i*pet%osity, +ere entirely so +ith his can o%r an sensibility( :hatever +as the cri*inality, +hich ha ,iven rise to the reports, she co%l not no+ believe the* to be +holly tr%e, nor that his heart +as finally close a,ainst the char*s of virt%e( The eep conscio%sness, +hich he felt as +ell as e-presse of his errors, see*e to .%stify the opinion/ an , as she %n erstoo not the instability of yo%thf%l ispositions, +hen oppose by habit, an that professions fre4%ently eceive those, +ho *ake, as +ell as those, +ho hear the*, she *i,ht have yiel e to the flatterin, pers%asions of her o+n heart an the plea in,s of Valanco%rt, ha she not been ,%i e by the s%perior pr% ence of the Co%nt( He represente to her, in a clear li,ht, the an,er of her present sit%ation, that of listenin, to pro*ises of a*en *ent, *a e %n er the infl%ence of stron, passion, an the sli,ht hope, +hich co%l attach to a connection, +hose chance of happiness reste %pon the retrieval of r%ine circ%*stances an the refor* of corr%pte habits( On these acco%nts, he la*ente , that E*ily ha consente to a secon intervie+, for he sa+ ho+ *%ch it +o%l shake her resol%tion an increase the iffic%lty of her con4%est(

Her *in +as no+ so entirely occ%pie by nearer interests, that she for,ot the ol ho%sekeeper an the pro*ise history, +hich so lately ha e-cite her c%riosity, b%t +hich <orothee +as probably not very an-io%s to isclose, for ni,ht ca*e/ the ho%rs passe / an she i not appear in E*ily3s cha*ber( :ith the latter it +as a sleepless an is*al ni,ht/ the *ore she s%ffere her *e*ory to +ell on the late scenes +ith Valanco%rt, the *ore her resol%tion ecline , an she +as obli,e to recollect all the ar,%*ents, +hich the Co%nt ha *a e %se of to stren,then it, an all the precepts, +hich she ha receive fro* her ecease father, on the s%b.ect of self6co**an , to enable her to act, +ith pr% ence an i,nity, on this the *ost severe occasion of her life( There +ere *o*ents, +hen all her fortit% e forsook her, an +hen, re*e*berin, the confi ence of for*er ti*es, she tho%,ht it i*possible, that she co%l reno%nce Valanco%rt( His refor*ation then appeare certain/ the ar,%*ents of Co%nt <e Villefort +ere for,otten/ she rea ily believe all she +ishe , an +as +illin, to enco%nter any evil, rather than that of an i**e iate separation( Th%s passe the ni,ht in ineffect%al str%,,les bet+een affection an reason, an she rose, in the *ornin,, +ith a *in , +eakene an irresol%te, an a fra*e, tre*blin, +ith illness(

#HAPTER II
3o!e, eep ith !eA?past hope, past cure, past help> R7ME7 A:( 9U&5ET

Valanco%rt, *ean+hile, s%ffere the tort%res of re*orse an espair( The si,ht of E*ily ha rene+e all the ar o%r, +ith +hich he first love her, an +hich ha s%ffere a te*porary abate*ent fro* absence an the passin, scenes of b%sy life( :hen, on the receipt of her letter, he set o%t for 0an,%e oc, he then kne+, that his o+n folly ha involve hi* in r%in, an it +as no part

of his esi,n to conceal this fro* her( 1%t he la*ente only the elay +hich his ill6con %ct *%st ,ive to their *arria,e, an i not foresee, that the infor*ation co%l in %ce her to break their connection forever( :hile the prospect of this separation over+hel*e his *in , before st%n, +ith self6reproach, he a+aite their secon intervie+, in a state little short of istraction, yet +as still incline to hope, that his plea in,s *i,ht prevail %pon her not to e-act it( In the *ornin,, he sent to kno+ at +hat ho%r she +o%l see hi*/ an his note arrive , +hen she +as +ith the Co%nt, +ho ha so%,ht an opport%nity of a,ain conversin, +ith her of Valanco%rt/ for he perceive the e-tre*e istress of her *in , an feare , *ore than ever, that her fortit% e +o%l esert her( E*ily havin, is*isse the *essen,er, the Co%nt ret%rne to the s%b.ect of their late conversation, %r,in, his fear of Valanco%rt3s entreaties, an a,ain pointin, o%t to her the len,thene *isery, that *%st ens%e, if she sho%l ref%se to enco%nter so*e present %neasiness( His repeate ar,%*ents co%l , in ee , alone have protecte her fro* the affection she still felt for Valanco%rt, an she resolve to be ,overne by the*( The ho%r of intervie+, at len,th, arrive ( E*ily +ent to it, at least, +ith co*pos%re of *anner, b%t Valanco%rt +as so *%ch a,itate , that he co%l not speak, for several *in%tes, an his first +or s +ere alternately those of la*entation, entreaty, an self6reproach( After+ar , he sai , 3E*ily, I have love yo%7I o love yo%, better than *y life/ b%t I a* r%ine by *y o+n con %ct( 2et I +o%l seek to entan,le yo% in a connection, that *%st be *iserable for yo%, rather than s%b.ect *yself to the p%nish*ent, +hich is *y %e, the loss of yo%( I a* a +retch, b%t I +ill be a villain no lon,er(7I +ill not en eavo%r to shake yo%r resol%tion by the plea in,s of a selfish passion( I resi,n yo%, E*ily, an +ill en eavo%r to fin consolation in consi erin,, that, tho%,h I a* *iserable, yo%, at least, *ay be happy( The *erit of the sacrifice is, in ee , not *y o+n, for I sho%l never have attaine stren,th of

*in to s%rren er yo%, if yo%r pr% ence ha e*an e it(3

not

He pa%se a *o*ent, +hile E*ily atte*pte to conceal the tears, +hich ca*e to her eyes( 'he +o%l have sai , 32o% speak no+, as yo% +ere +ont to o,3 b%t she checke herself(73)or,ive *e, E*ily,3 sai he, 3all the s%fferin,s I have occasione yo%, an , so*eti*es, +hen yo% think of the +retche Valanco%rt, re*e*ber, that his only consolation +o%l be to believe, that yo% are no lon,er %nhappy by his folly(3 The tears no+ fell fast %pon her cheek, an he +as relapsin, into the phrensy of espair, +hen E*ily en eavo%re to recall her fortit% e an to ter*inate an intervie+, +hich only see*e to increase the istress of both( Perceivin, her tears an that she +as risin, to ,o, Valanco%rt str%,,le , once *ore, to overco*e his o+n feelin,s an to sooth hers( 3The re*e*brance of this sorro+,3 sai he, 3shall in f%t%re be *y protection( O? never a,ain +ill e-a*ple, or te*ptation have po+er to se %ce *e to evil, e-alte as I shall be by the recollection of yo%r ,rief for *e(3 E*ily +as so*e+hat co*forte by this ass%rance( 3:e are no+ partin, for ever,3 sai she/ 3b%t, if *y happiness is ear to yo%, yo% +ill al+ays re*e*ber, that nothin, can contrib%te to it *ore, than to believe, that yo% have recovere yo%r o+n estee*(3 Valanco%rt took her han / 7his eyes +ere covere +ith tears, an the fare+ell he +o%l have spoken +as lost in si,hs( After a fe+ *o*ents, E*ily sai , +ith iffic%lty an e*otion, 3)are+ell, Valanco%rt, *ay yo% be happy?3 'he repeate her 3fare+ell,3 an atte*pte to +ith ra+ her han , b%t he still hel it an bathe it +ith his tears( 3:hy prolon, these *o*entsB3 sai E*ily, in a voice scarcely a% ible, 3they are too painf%l to %s both(3 3This is too7too *%ch,3 e-clai*e Valanco%rt, resi,nin, her han an thro+in, hi*self into a chair, +here he covere his face +ith his han s an +as overco*e, for so*e *o*ents, by conv%lsive si,hs( After a lon, pa%se, %rin, +hich E*ily +ept in silence, an Valanco%rt see*e str%,,lin, +ith his ,rief, she a,ain rose to take leave of hi*( Then, en eavo%rin, to

recover his co*pos%re, 3I a* a,ain afflictin, yo%,3 sai he, 3b%t let the an,%ish I s%ffer plea for *e(3 He then a e , in a sole*n voice, +hich fre4%ently tre*ble +ith the a,itation of his heart, 3)are+ell, E*ily, yo% +ill al+ays be the only ob.ect of *y ten erness( 'o*eti*es yo% +ill think of the %nhappy Valanco%rt, an it +ill be +ith pity, tho%,h it *ay not be +ith estee*( O? +hat is the +hole +orl to *e, +itho%t yo% 7+itho%t yo%r estee*?3 He checke hi*self73I a* fallin, a,ain into the error I have .%st la*ente ( I *%st not intr% e lon,er %pon yo%r patience, or I shall relapse into espair(3 He once *ore ba e E*ily a ie%, presse her han to his lips, looke at her, for the last ti*e, an h%rrie o%t of the roo*( E*ily re*aine in the chair, +here he ha left her, oppresse +ith a pain at her heart, +hich scarcely per*itte her to breathe, an listenin, to his epartin, steps, sinkin, fainter an fainter, as he crosse the hall( 'he +as, at len,th, ro%se by the voice of the Co%ntess in the ,ar en, an , her attention bein, then a+akene , the first ob.ect, +hich str%ck her si,ht, +as the vacant chair, +here Valanco%rt ha sat( The tears, +hich ha been, for so*e ti*e, represse by the kin of astonish*ent, that follo+e his epart%re, no+ ca*e to her relief, an she +as, at len,th, s%fficiently co*pose to ret%rn to her o+n roo*(

#HAPTER III
This is no !ortal business, nor no sound That the earth o es> 48A;E4PEARE

:e no+ ret%rn to the *ention of &ontoni, +hose ra,e an isappoint*ent +ere soon lost in nearer interests, than any, +hich the %nhappy E*ily ha a+akene ( His epre ations havin, e-cee e their %s%al li*its, an reache an e-tent, at +hich neither the ti*i ity of the

then co**ercial senate of Venice, nor their hope of his occasional assistance +o%l per*it the* to connive, the sa*e effort, it +as resolve , sho%l co*plete the s%ppression of his po+er an the correction of his o%tra,es( :hile a corps of consi erable stren,th +as %pon the point of receivin, or ers to *arch for A olpho, a yo%n, officer, pro*pte partly by resent*ent, for so*e in.%ry, receive fro* &ontoni, an partly by the hope of istinction, solicite an intervie+ +ith the &inister, +ho irecte the enterprise( To hi* he represente , that the sit%ation of A olpho ren ere it too stron, to be taken by open force, e-cept after so*e te io%s operations/ that &ontoni ha lately she+n ho+ capable he +as of a in, to its stren,th all the a vanta,es, +hich co%l be erive fro* the skill of a co**an er/ that so consi erable a bo y of troops, as that allotte to the e-pe ition, co%l not approach A olpho +itho%t his kno+le ,e, an that it +as not for the hono%r of the rep%blic to have a lar,e part of its re,%lar force e*ploye , for s%ch a ti*e as the sie,e of A olpho +o%l re4%ire, %pon the attack of a han f%l of ban itti( The ob.ect of the e-pe ition, he tho%,ht, *i,ht be acco*plishe *%ch *ore safely an spee ily by *in,lin, contrivance +ith force( It +as possible to *eet &ontoni an his party, +itho%t their +alls, an to attack the* then/ or, by approachin, the fortress, +ith the secrecy, consistent +ith the *arch of s*aller bo ies of troops, to take a vanta,e either of the treachery, or ne,li,ence of so*e of his party, an to r%sh %ne-pecte ly %pon the +hole even in the castle of A olpho( This a vice +as serio%sly atten e to, an the officer, +ho ,ave it, receive the co**an of the troops, e*an e for his p%rpose( His first efforts +ere accor in,ly those of contrivance alone( In the nei,hbo%rhoo of A olpho, he +aite , till he ha sec%re the assistance of several of the con ottieri, of +ho* he fo%n none, that he a resse , %n+illin, to p%nish their i*perio%s *aster an to sec%re their o+n par on fro* the senate( He learne also the n%*ber of

&ontoni3s troops, an that it ha been *%ch increase , since his late s%ccesses( The concl%sion of his plan +as soon effecte ( Havin, ret%rne +ith his party, +ho receive the +atch6+or an other assistance fro* their frien s +ithin, &ontoni an his officers +ere s%rprise by one ivision, +ho ha been irecte to their apart*ent, +hile the other *aintaine the sli,ht co*bat, +hich prece e the s%rren er of the +hole ,arrison( A*on, the persons, sei8e +ith &ontoni, +as Orsino, the assassin, +ho ha .oine hi* on his first arrival at A olpho, an +hose conceal*ent ha been *a e kno+n to the senate by Co%nt &orano, after the %ns%ccessf%l atte*pt of the latter to carry off E*ily( It +as, in ee , partly for the p%rpose of capt%rin, this *an, by +ho* one of the senate ha been *%r ere , that the e-pe ition +as %n ertaken, an its s%ccess +as so acceptable to the*, that &orano +as instantly release , not+ithstan in, the political s%spicions, +hich &ontoni, by his secret acc%sation, ha e-cite a,ainst hi*( The celerity an ease, +ith +hich this +hole transaction +as co*plete , prevente it fro* attractin, c%riosity, or even fro* obtainin, a place in any of the p%blishe recor s of that ti*e/ so that E*ily, +ho re*aine in 0an,%e oc, +as i,norant of the efeat an si,nal h%*iliation of her late persec%tor( Her *in +as no+ occ%pie +ith s%fferin,s, +hich no effort of reason ha yet been able to contro%l( Co%nt <e Villefort, +ho sincerely atte*pte +hatever benevolence co%l s%,,est for softenin, the*, so*eti*es allo+e her the solit% e she +ishe for, so*eti*es le her into frien ly parties, an constantly protecte her, as *%ch as possible, fro* the shre+ en4%iries an critical conversation of the Co%ntess( He often invite her to *ake e-c%rsions, +ith hi* an his a%,hter, %rin, +hich he converse entirely on 4%estions, s%itable to her taste, +itho%t appearin, to cons%lt it, an th%s en eavo%re ,ra %ally to +ith ra+ her fro* the s%b.ect of her ,rief, an to a+ake other interests in her *in ( E*ily, to +ho* he appeare as the enli,htene frien an protector of her yo%th, soon felt for hi* the ten er affection of a a%,hter, an her

heart e-pan e to her yo%n, frien 1lanche, as to a sister, +hose kin ness an si*plicity co*pensate for the +ant of *ore brilliant 4%alities( It +as lon, before she co%l s%fficiently abstract her *in fro* Valanco%rt to listen to the story, pro*ise by ol <orothee, concernin, +hich her c%riosity ha once been so eeply intereste / b%t <orothee, at len,th, re*in e her of it, an E*ily esire , that she +o%l co*e, that ni,ht, to her cha*ber( 'till her tho%,hts +ere e*ploye by consi erations, +hich +eakene her c%riosity, an <orothee3s tap at the oor, soon after t+elve, s%rprise her al*ost as *%ch as if it ha not been appointe ( 3I a* co*e, at last, la y,3 sai she/ 3I +on er +hat it is *akes *y ol li*bs shake so, to6ni,ht( I tho%,ht, once or t+ice, I sho%l have roppe , as I +as a6co*in,(3 E*ily seate her in a chair, an esire , that she +o%l co*pose her spirits, before she entere %pon the s%b.ect, that ha bro%,ht her thither( 3Alas,3 sai <orothee, 3it is thinkin, of that, I believe, +hich has ist%rbe *e so( In *y +ay hither too, I passe the cha*ber, +here *y ear la y ie , an every thin, +as so still an ,loo*y abo%t *e, that I al*ost fancie I sa+ her, as she appeare %pon her eath6be (3 E*ily no+ re+ her chair near to <orothee, +ho +ent on( 3It is abo%t t+enty years since *y la y &archioness ca*e a bri e to the chatea%( O? I +ell re*e*ber ho+ she looke , +hen she ca*e into the ,reat hall, +here +e servants +ere all asse*ble to +elco*e her, an ho+ happy *y lor the &ar4%is see*e ( Ah? +ho +o%l have tho%,ht then?71%t, as I +as sayin,, *a3a*selle, I tho%,ht the &archioness, +ith all her s+eet looks, i not look happy at heart, an so I tol *y h%sban , an he sai it +as all fancy/ so I sai no *ore, b%t I *a e *y re*arks, for all that( &y la y &archioness +as then abo%t yo%r a,e, an , as I have often tho%,ht, very like yo%( :ell? *y lor the &ar4%is kept open ho%se, for a lon, ti*e, an ,ave s%ch entertain*ents an there +ere s%ch ,ay oin,s as have never been in the chatea% since( I +as yo%n,er, *a3a*selle, then, than I a* no+, an +as as ,ay at the

best of the*( I re*e*ber I ance +ith Philip, the b%tler, in a pink ,o+n, +ith yello+ ribbons, an a coif, not s%ch as they +ear no+, b%t plaite hi,h, +ith ribbons all abo%t it( It +as very beco*in, tr%ly/7*y lor , the &ar4%is, notice *e( Ah? he +as a ,oo 6 nat%re ,entle*an then7+ho +o%l have tho%,ht that he?37 31%t the &archioness, <orothee,3 sai E*ily, 3yo% +as tellin, *e of her(3 3O yes, *y la y &archioness, I tho%,ht she i not see* happy at heart, an once, soon after the *arria,e, I ca%,ht her cryin, in her cha*ber/ b%t, +hen she sa+ *e, she rie her eyes, an preten e to s*ile( I i not are then to ask +hat +as the *atter/ b%t, the ne-t ti*e I sa+ her cryin,, I i , an she see*e isplease /7so I sai no *ore( I fo%n o%t, so*e ti*e after, ho+ it +as( Her father, it see*s, ha co**an e her to *arry *y lor , the &ar4%is, for his *oney, an there +as another noble*an, or else a chevalier, that she like better an that +as very fon of her, an she frette for the loss of hi*, I fancy, b%t she never tol *e so( &y la y al+ays trie to conceal her tears fro* the &ar4%is, for I have often seen her, after she has been so sorro+f%l, look so cal* an s+eet, +hen he ca*e into the roo*? 1%t *y lor , all of a s% en, ,re+ ,loo*y an fretf%l, an very %nkin so*eti*es to *y la y( This afflicte her very *%ch, as I sa+, for she never co*plaine , an she %se to try so s+eetly to obli,e hi* an to brin, hi* into a ,oo h%*o%r, that *y heart has often ache to see it( 1%t he %se to be st%bborn, an ,ive her harsh ans+ers, an then, +hen she fo%n it all in vain, she +o%l ,o to her o+n roo*, an cry so? I %se to hear her in the anti6roo*, poor ear la y? b%t I sel o* vent%re to ,o to her( I %se , so*eti*es, to think *y lor +as .ealo%s( To be s%re *y la y +as ,reatly a *ire , b%t she +as too ,oo to eserve s%spicion( A*on, the *any chevaliers, that visite at the chatea%, there +as one, that I al+ays tho%,ht see*e .%st s%ite for *y la y/ he +as so co%rteo%s, yet so spirite , an there +as s%ch a ,race, as it +ere, in all he i , or sai ( I al+ays observe , that,

+henever he ha been there, the &ar4%is +as *ore ,loo*y an *y la y *ore tho%,htf%l, an it ca*e into *y hea , that this +as the chevalier she o%,ht to have *arrie , b%t I never co%l learn for certain(3 3:hat +as the chevalier3s na*e, <orotheeB3 sai E*ily( 3:hy that I +ill not tell even to yo%, *a3a*selle, for evil *ay co*e of it( I once hear fro* a person, +ho is since ea , that the &archioness +as not in la+ the +ife of the &ar4%is, for that she ha before been privately *arrie to the ,entle*an she +as so *%ch attache to, an +as after+ar s afrai to o+n it to her father, +ho +as a very stern *an/ b%t this see*s very %nlikely, an I never ,ave *%ch faith to it( As I +as sayin,, the &ar4%is +as *ost o%t of h%*o%r, as I tho%,ht, +hen the chevalier I spoke of ha been at the chatea%, an , at last, his ill treat*ent of *y la y *a e her 4%ite *iserable( He +o%l see har ly any visitors at the castle, an *a e her live al*ost by herself( I +as her constant atten ant, an sa+ all she s%ffere , b%t still she never co*plaine ( 3After *atters ha ,one on th%s, for near a year, *y la y +as taken ill, an I tho%,ht her lon, frettin, ha *a e her so,7b%t, alas? I fear it +as +orse than that(3 3:orse? <orothee,3 sai E*ily, 3can that be possibleB3 3I fear it +as so, *a a*, there +ere stran,e appearances( 1%t I +ill only tell +hat happene ( &y lor , the &ar4%is73 3H%sh, <orothee, +hat so%n s +ere thoseB3 sai E*ily( <orothee chan,e co%ntenance, an , +hile they both listene , they hear , on the stillness of the ni,ht, *%sic of %nco**on s+eetness( 3I have s%rely hear that voice before?3 sai E*ily, at len,th( 3I have often hear it, an at this sa*e ho%r,3 sai <orothee, sole*nly, 3an , if spirits ever brin, *%sic7 that is s%rely the *%sic of one?3 E*ily, as the so%n s re+ nearer, kne+ the* to be the sa*e she ha for*erly hear at the ti*e of her father3s

eath, an , +hether it +as the re*e*brance they no+ revive of that *elancholy event, or that she +as str%ck +ith s%perstitio%s a+e, it is certain she +as so *%ch affecte , that she ha nearly fainte ( 3I think I once tol yo%, *a a*,3 sai <orothee, 3that I first hear this *%sic, soon after *y la y3s eath? I +ell re*e*ber the ni,ht?37 3Hark? it co*es a,ain?3 sai E*ily, 3let %s open the +in o+, an listen(3 They i so/ b%t, soon, the so%n s floate ,ra %ally a+ay into istance, an all +as a,ain still/ they see*e to have s%nk a*on, the +oo s, +hose t%fte tops +ere visible %pon the clear hori8on, +hile every other feat%re of the scene +as involve in the ni,ht6sha e, +hich, ho+ever, allo+e the eye an in istinct vie+ of so*e ob.ects in the ,ar en belo+( As E*ily leane on the +in o+, ,a8in, +ith a kin of thrillin, a+e %pon the obsc%rity beneath, an then %pon the clo% less arch above, enli,htene only by the stars, <orothee, in a lo+ voice, res%*e her narrative( 3I +as sayin,, *a3a*selle, that I +ell re*e*ber +hen first I hear that *%sic( It +as one ni,ht, soon after *y la y3s eath, that I ha sat %p later than %s%al, an I on3t kno+ ho+ it +as, b%t I ha been thinkin, a ,reat eal abo%t *y poor *istress, an of the sa scene I ha lately +itnesse ( The chatea% +as 4%ite still, an I +as in the cha*ber at a ,oo istance fro* the rest of the servants, an this, +ith the *o%rnf%l thin,s I ha been thinkin, of, I s%ppose, *a e *e lo+ spirite , for I felt very lonely an forlorn, as it +ere, an listene often, +ishin, to hear a so%n in the chatea%, for yo% kno+, *a3a*selle, +hen one can hear people *ovin,, one oes not so *%ch *in , abo%t one3s fears( 1%t all the servants +ere ,one to be , an I sat, thinkin, an thinkin,, till I +as al*ost afrai to look ro%n the roo*, an *y poor la y3s co%ntenance often ca*e to *y *in , s%ch as I ha seen her +hen she +as yin,, an , once or t+ice, I al*ost tho%,ht I sa+ her before *e,7+hen s% enly I hear s%ch s+eet *%sic? It see*e .%st at *y +in o+, an I shall never for,et +hat I felt( I ha not po+er to *ove fro* *y chair, b%t

then, +hen I tho%,ht it +as *y ear la y3s voice, the tears ca*e to *y eyes( I ha often hear her sin,, in her life6ti*e, an to be s%re she ha a very fine voice/ it ha *a e *e cry to hear her, *any a ti*e, +hen she has sat in her oriel, of an evenin,, playin, %pon her l%te s%ch sa son,s, an sin,in, so( O? it +ent to one3s heart? I have listene in the anti6cha*ber, for the ho%r to,ether, an she +o%l so*eti*es sit playin,, +ith the +in o+ open, +hen it +as s%**er ti*e, till it +as 4%ite ark, an +hen I have ,one in, to sh%t it, she has har ly see*e to kno+ +hat ho%r it +as( 1%t, as I sai , *a a*,3 contin%e <orothee, 3+hen first I hear the *%sic, that ca*e .%st no+, I tho%,ht it +as *y late la y3s, an I have often tho%,ht so a,ain, +hen I have hear it, as I have one at intervals, ever since( 'o*eti*es, *any *onths have ,one by, b%t still it has ret%rne (3 3It is e-traor inary,3 observe E*ily, 3that no person has yet iscovere the *%sician(3 3Aye, *a3a*selle, if it ha been any thin, earthly it +o%l have been iscovere lon, a,o, b%t +ho co%l have co%ra,e to follo+ a spirit, an if they ha , +hat ,oo co%l it oB7for spirits, 2OA F9O:, *a3a*, can take any shape, or no shape, an they +ill be here, one *in%te, an , the ne-t perhaps, in a 4%ite ifferent place?3 3Pray res%*e yo%r story of the &archioness,3 sai E*ily, 3an ac4%aint *e +ith the *anner of her eath(3 3I +ill, *a3a*,3 sai <orothee, 3b%t shall +e leave the +in o+B3 3This cool air refreshes *e,3 replie E*ily, 3an I love to hear it creep alon, the +oo s, an to look %pon this %sky lan scape( 2o% +as speakin, of *y lor , the &ar4%is, +hen the *%sic interr%pte %s(3 32es, *a a*, *y lor , the &ar4%is, beca*e *ore an *ore ,loo*y/ an *y la y ,re+ +orse an +orse, till, one ni,ht, she +as taken very ill, in ee ( I +as calle %p, an , +hen I ca*e to her be si e, I +as shocke to see her co%ntenance7it +as so chan,e ? 'he looke

piteo%sly %p at *e, an esire I +o%l call the &ar4%is a,ain, for he +as not yet co*e, an tell hi* she ha so*ethin, partic%lar to say to hi*( At last, he ca*e, an he i , to be s%re, see* very sorry to see her, b%t he sai very little( &y la y tol hi* she felt herself to be yin,, an +ishe to speak +ith hi* alone, an then I left the roo*, b%t I shall never for,et his look as I +ent(3 3:hen I ret%rne , I vent%re to re*in *y lor abo%t sen in, for a octor, for I s%ppose he ha for,ot to o so, in his ,rief/ b%t *y la y sai it +as then too late/ b%t *y lor , so far fro* thinkin, so, see*e to think li,ht of her isor er7till she +as sei8e +ith s%ch terrible pains? O, I never shall for,et her shriek? &y lor then sent off a *an an horse for the octor, an +alke abo%t the roo* an all over the chatea% in the ,reatest istress/ an I stai by *y ear la y, an i +hat I co%l to ease her s%fferin,s( 'he ha intervals of ease, an in one of these she sent for *y lor a,ain/ +hen he ca*e, I +as ,oin,, b%t she esire I +o%l not leave her( O? I shall never for,et +hat a scene passe 7 I can har ly bear to think of it no+? &y lor +as al*ost istracte , for *y la y behave +ith so *%ch ,oo ness, an took s%ch pains to co*fort hi*, that, if he ever ha s%ffere a s%spicion to enter his hea , he *%st no+ have been convince he +as +ron,( An to be s%re he i see* to be over+hel*e +ith the tho%,ht of his treat*ent of her, an this affecte her so *%ch, that she fainte a+ay( 3:e then ,ot *y lor o%t of the roo*/ he +ent into his library, an thre+ hi*self on the floor, an there he stai , an +o%l hear no reason, that +as talke to hi*( :hen *y la y recovere , she en4%ire for hi*, b%t, after+ar s, sai she co%l not bear to see his ,rief, an esire +e +o%l let her ie 4%ietly( 'he ie in *y ar*s, *a3a*selle, an she +ent off as peacef%lly as a chil , for all the violence of her isor er +as passe (3 <orothee pa%se , an +ept, an E*ily +ept +ith her/ for she +as *%ch affecte by the ,oo ness of the late &archioness, an by the *eek patience, +ith +hich she ha s%ffere (

3:hen the octor ca*e,3 res%*e <orothee, 3alas? he ca*e too late/ he appeare ,reatly shocke to see her, for soon after her eath a fri,htf%l blackness sprea all over her face( :hen he ha sent the atten ants o%t of the roo*, he aske *e several o 4%estions abo%t the &archioness, partic%larly concernin, the *anner, in +hich she ha been sei8e , an he often shook his hea at *y ans+ers, an see*e to *ean *ore, than he chose to say( 1%t I %n erstoo hi* too +ell( Ho+ever, I kept *y re*arks to *yself, an only tol the* to *y h%sban , +ho ba e *e hol *y ton,%e( 'o*e of the other servants, ho+ever, s%specte +hat I i , an stran,e reports +ere +hispere abo%t the nei,hbo%rhoo , b%t nobo y are to *ake any stir abo%t the*( :hen *y lor hear that *y la y +as ea , he sh%t hi*self %p, an +o%l see nobo y b%t the octor, +ho %se to be +ith hi* alone, so*eti*es for an ho%r to,ether/ an , after that, the octor never talke +ith *e a,ain abo%t *y la y( :hen she +as b%rie in the ch%rch of the convent, at a little istance yon er, if the *oon +as %p yo% *i,ht see the to+ers here, *a3a*selle, all *y lor 3s vassals follo+e the f%neral, an there +as not a ry eye a*on, the*, for she ha one a eal of ,oo a*on, the poor( &y lor , the &ar4%is, I never sa+ any bo y so *elancholy as he +as after+ar s, an so*eti*es he +o%l be in s%ch fits of violence, that +e al*ost tho%,ht he ha lost his senses( He i not stay lon, at the chatea%, b%t .oine his re,i*ent, an , soon after, all the servants, e-cept *y h%sban an I, receive notice to ,o, for *y lor +ent to the +ars( I never sa+ hi* after, for he +o%l not ret%rn to the chatea%, tho%,h it is s%ch a fine place, an never finishe those fine roo*s he +as b%il in, on the +est si e of it, an it has, in a *anner, been sh%t %p ever since, till *y lor the Co%nt ca*e here(3 3The eath of the &archioness appears e-traor inary,3 sai E*ily, +ho +as an-io%s to kno+ *ore than she are to ask( 32es, *a a*,3 replie <orothee, 3it +as e-traor inary/ I have tol yo% all I sa+, an yo% *ay easily ,%ess +hat

I think, I cannot say *ore, beca%se I +o%l not sprea reports, that *i,ht offen *y lor the Co%nt(3 32o% are very ri,ht,3 sai E*ily/73+here i the &ar4%is ieB373In the north of )rance, I believe, *a3a*selle,3 replie <orothee( 3I +as very ,la , +hen I hear *y lor the Co%nt +as co*in,, for this ha been a sa esolate place, these *any years, an +e hear s%ch stran,e noises, so*eti*es, after *y la y3s eath, that, as I tol yo% before, *y h%sban an I left it for a nei,hbo%rin, cotta,e( An no+, la y, I have tol yo% all this sa history, an all *y tho%,hts, an yo% have pro*ise , yo% kno+, never to ,ive the least hint abo%t it(373I have,3 sai E*ily, 3an I +ill be faithf%l to *y pro*ise, <orothee/7+hat yo% have tol has intereste *e *ore than yo% can i*a,ine( I only +ish I co%l prevail %pon yo% to tell the na*e of the chevalier, +ho* yo% tho%,ht so eservin, of the &archioness(3 <orothee, ho+ever, stea ily ref%se to o this, an then ret%rne to the notice of E*ily3s likeness to the late &archioness( 3There is another pict%re of her,3 a e she, 3han,in, in a roo* of the s%ite, +hich +as sh%t %p( It +as ra+n, as I have hear , before she +as *arrie , an is *%ch *ore like yo% than the *iniat%re(3 :hen E*ily e-presse a stron, esire to see this, <orothee replie , that she i not like to open those roo*s/ b%t E*ily re*in e her, that the Co%nt ha talke the other ay of or erin, the* to be opene / of +hich <orothee see*e to consi er *%ch, an then she o+ne , that she sho%l feel less, if she +ent into the* +ith E*ily first, than other+ise, an at len,th pro*ise to she+ the pict%re( The ni,ht +as too far a vance an E*ily +as too *%ch affecte by the narrative of the scenes, +hich ha passe in those apart*ents, to +ish to visit the* at this ho%r, b%t she re4%este that <orothee +o%l ret%rn on the follo+in, ni,ht, +hen they +ere not likely to be observe , an con %ct her thither( 1esi es her +ish to e-a*ine the portrait, she felt a thrillin, c%riosity to see the cha*ber, in +hich the &archioness ha ie , an +hich <orothee ha sai re*aine , +ith the be an f%rnit%re, .%st as +hen the corpse +as re*ove for

inter*ent( The sole*n e*otions, +hich the e-pectation of vie+in, s%ch a scene ha a+akene , +ere in %nison +ith the present tone of her *in , epresse by severe isappoint*ent( Cheerf%l ob.ects rather a e to, than re*ove this epression/ b%t, perhaps, she yiel e too *%ch to her *elancholy inclination, an i*pr% ently la*ente the *isfort%ne, +hich no virt%e of her o+n co%l have ta%,ht her to avoi , tho%,h no effort of reason co%l *ake her look %n*ove %pon the self6 e,ra ation of hi*, +ho* she ha once estee*e an love ( <orothee pro*ise to ret%rn, on the follo+in, ni,ht, +ith the keys of the cha*bers, an then +ishe E*ily ,oo repose, an eparte ( E*ily, ho+ever, contin%e at the +in o+, *%sin, %pon the *elancholy fate of the &archioness an listenin,, in a+f%l e-pectation, for a ret%rn of the *%sic( 1%t the stillness of the ni,ht re*aine lon, %nbroken, e-cept by the *%r*%rin, so%n s of the +oo s, as they +ave in the bree8e, an then by the istant bell of the convent, strikin, one( 'he no+ +ith re+ fro* the +in o+, an , as she sat at her be 6si e, in %l,in, *elancholy reveries, +hich the loneliness of the ho%r assiste , the stillness +as s% enly interr%pte not by *%sic, b%t by very %nco**on so%n s, that see*e to co*e either fro* the roo*, a .oinin, her o+n, or fro* one belo+( The terrible catastrophe, that ha been relate to her, to,ether +ith the *ysterio%s circ%*stances, sai to have since occ%rre in the chatea%, ha so *%ch shocke her spirits, that she no+ s%nk, for a *o*ent, %n er the +eakness of s%perstition( The so%n s, ho+ever, i not ret%rn, an she retire , to for,et in sleep the isastro%s story she ha hear (

#HAPTER I%
:o it is the ti!e of night, That, the gra"es all gaping ide, E"ery one lets forth his spite,

5n the church% ay path to glide# 48A;E4PEARE

On the ne-t ni,ht, abo%t the sa*e ho%r as before, <orothee ca*e to E*ily3s cha*ber, +ith the keys of that s%ite of roo*s, +hich ha been partic%larly appropriate to the late &archioness( These e-ten e alon, the north si e of the chatea%, for*in, part of the ol b%il in,/ an , as E*ily3s roo* +as in the so%th, they ha to pass over a ,reat e-tent of the castle, an by the cha*bers of several of the fa*ily, +hose observations <orothee +as an-io%s to avoi , since it *i,ht e-cite en4%iry, an raise reports, s%ch as +o%l isplease the Co%nt( 'he, therefore, re4%este , that E*ily +o%l +ait half an ho%r, before they vent%re forth, that they *i,ht be certain all the servants +ere ,one to be ( It +as nearly one, before the chatea% +as perfectly still, or <orothee tho%,ht it pr% ent to leave the cha*ber( In this interval, her spirits see*e to be ,reatly affecte by the re*e*brance of past events, an by the prospect of enterin, a,ain %pon places, +here these ha occ%rre , an in +hich she ha not been for so *any years( E*ily too +as affecte , b%t her feelin,s ha *ore of sole*nity, an less of fear( )ro* the silence, into +hich reflection an e-pectation ha thro+n the*, they, at len,th, ro%se the*selves, an left the cha*ber( <orothee, at first, carrie the la*p, b%t her han tre*ble so *%ch +ith infir*ity an alar*, that E*ily took it fro* her, an offere her ar*, to s%pport her feeble steps( They ha to escen the ,reat stair6case, an , after passin, over a +i e e-tent of the chatea%, to ascen another, +hich le to the s%ite of roo*s they +ere in 4%est of( They steppe ca%tio%sly alon, the open corri or, that ran ro%n the ,reat hall, an into +hich the cha*bers of the Co%nt, Co%ntess, an the 0a y 1lanche, opene , an , fro* thence, escen in, the chief stair6case, they crosse the hall itself( Procee in, thro%,h the servants hall, +here the yin, e*bers of a +oo fire still ,li**ere on the hearth, an the s%pper table +as s%rro%n e by chairs, that obstr%cte their passa,e, they ca*e to the foot of the back stair6case(

Ol <orothee here pa%se , an looke aro%n / 30et %s listen,3 sai she, 3if any thin, is stirrin,/ &a3a*selle, o yo% hear any voiceB3 39one,3 sai E*ily, 3there certainly is no person %p in the chatea%, besi es o%rselves(3739o, *a3a*selle,3 sai <orothee, 3b%t I have never been here at this ho%r before, an , after +hat I kno+, *y fears are not +on erf%l(373:hat o yo% kno+B3 sai E*ily(73O, *a3a*selle, +e have no ti*e for talkin, no+/ let %s ,o on( That oor on the left is the one +e *%st open(3 They procee e , an , havin, reache the top of the stair6case, <orothee applie the key to the lock( 3Ah,3 sai she, as she en eavo%re to t%rn it, 3so *any years have passe since this +as opene , that I fear it +ill not *ove(3 E*ily +as *ore s%ccessf%l, an they presently entere a spacio%s an ancient cha*ber( 3Alas?3 e-clai*e <orothee, as she entere , 3the last ti*e I passe thro%,h this oor7I follo+e *y poor la y3s corpse?3 E*ily, str%ck +ith the circ%*stance, an affecte by the %sky an sole*n air of the apart*ent, re*aine silent, an they passe on thro%,h a lon, s%ite of roo*s, till they ca*e to one *ore spacio%s than the rest, an rich in the re*ains of fa e *a,nificence( 30et %s rest here a+hile, *a a*,3 sai <orothee faintly, 3+e are ,oin, into the cha*ber, +here *y la y ie ? that oor opens into it( Ah, *a3a*selle? +hy i yo% pers%a e *e to co*eB3 E*ily re+ one of the *assy ar*6chairs, +ith +hich the apart*ent +as f%rnishe , an be,,e <orothee +o%l sit o+n, an try to co*pose her spirits( 3Ho+ the si,ht of this place brin,s all that passe for*erly to *y *in ?3 sai <orothee/ 3it see*s as if it +as b%t yester ay since all that sa affair happene ?3 3Hark? +hat noise is thatB3 sai E*ily( <orothee, half startin, fro* her chair, looke ro%n the apart*ent, an they listene 7b%t, every thin, re*ainin, still, the ol +o*an spoke a,ain %pon the s%b.ect of her sorro+( 3This saloon, *a3a*selle, +as in

*y la y3s ti*e the finest apart*ent in the chatea%, an it +as fitte %p accor in, to her o+n taste( All this ,ran f%rnit%re, b%t yo% can no+ har ly see +hat it is for the %st, an o%r li,ht is none of the best7ah? ho+ I have seen this roo* li,hte %p in *y la y3s ti*e?7all this ,ran f%rnit%re ca*e fro* Paris, an +as *a e after the fashion of so*e in the 0o%vre there, e-cept those lar,e ,lasses, an they ca*e fro* so*e o%tlan ish place, an that rich tapestry( Ho+ the colo%rs are fa e alrea y?7since I sa+ it last?3 3I %n erstoo , that +as t+enty years a,o,3 observe E*ily( 3Thereabo%t, *a a*,3 sai <orothee, 3an +ell re*e*bere , b%t all the ti*e bet+een then an no+ see*s as nothin,( That tapestry %se to be ,reatly a *ire at, it tells the stories o%t of so*e fa*o%s book, or other, b%t I have for,ot the na*e(3 E*ily no+ rose to e-a*ine the fi,%res it e-hibite , an iscovere , by verses in the Provencal ton,%e, +ro%,ht %n erneath each scene, that it e-hibite stories fro* so*e of the *ost celebrate ancient ro*ances( <orothee3s spirits bein, no+ *ore co*pose , she rose, an %nlocke the oor that le into the late &archioness3s apart*ent, an E*ily passe into a lofty cha*ber, h%n, ro%n +ith ark arras, an so spacio%s, that the la*p she hel %p i not she+ its e-tent/ +hile <orothee, +hen she entere , ha roppe into a chair, +here, si,hin, eeply, she scarcely tr%ste herself +ith the vie+ of a scene so affectin, to her( It +as so*e ti*e before E*ily perceive , thro%,h the %sk, the be on +hich the &archioness +as sai to have ie / +hen, a vancin, to the %pper en of the roo*, she iscovere the hi,h canopie tester of ark ,reen a*ask, +ith the c%rtains escen in, to the floor in the fashion of a tent, half ra+n, an re*ainin, apparently, as they ha been left t+enty years before/ an over the +hole be in, +as thro+n a co%nterpane, or pall, of black velvet, that h%n, o+n to the floor( E*ily sh% ere , as she hel the la*p over it, an looke +ithin the ark c%rtains, +here she al*ost e-pecte to have seen a h%*an face,

an , s% enly re*e*berin, the horror she ha s%ffere %pon iscoverin, the yin, &a a*e &ontoni in the t%rret6cha*ber of A olpho, her spirits fainte , an she +as t%rnin, fro* the be , +hen <orothee, +ho ha no+ reache it, e-clai*e , 3Holy Vir,in? *ethinks I see *y la y stretche %pon that pall7as +hen last I sa+ her?3 E*ily, shocke by this e-cla*ation, looke invol%ntarily a,ain +ithin the c%rtains, b%t the blackness of the pall only appeare / +hile <orothee +as co*pelle to s%pport herself %pon the si e of the be , an presently tears bro%,ht her so*e relief( 3Ah?3 sai she, after she ha +ept a+hile, 3it +as here I sat on that terrible ni,ht, an hel *y la y3s han , an hear her last +or s, an sa+ all her s%fferin,s7 HERE she ie in *y ar*s?3 3<o not in %l,e these painf%l recollections,3 sai E*ily, 3let %s ,o( 'he+ *e the pict%re yo% *entione , if it +ill not too *%ch affect yo%(3 3It han,s in the oriel,3 sai <orothee risin,, an ,oin, to+ar s a s*all oor near the be 3s hea , +hich she opene , an E*ily follo+e +ith the li,ht, into the closet of the late &archioness( 3Alas? there she is, *a3a*selle,3 sai <orothee, pointin, to a portrait of a la y, 3there is her very self? .%st as she looke +hen she ca*e first to the chatea%( 2o% see, *a a*, she +as all bloo*in, like yo%, then7an so soon to be c%t off?3 :hile <orothee spoke, E*ily +as attentively e-a*inin, the pict%re, +hich bore a stron, rese*blance to the *iniat%re, tho%,h the e-pression of the co%ntenance in each +as so*e+hat ifferent/ b%t still she tho%,ht she perceive so*ethin, of that pensive *elancholy in the portrait, +hich so stron,ly characterise the *iniat%re( 3Pray, *a3a*selle, stan besi e the pict%re, that I *ay look at yo% to,ether,3 sai <orothee, +ho, +hen the re4%est +as co*plie +ith, e-clai*e a,ain at the rese*blance( E*ily also, as she ,a8e %pon it, tho%,ht

that she ha so*e+here seen a person very like it, tho%,h she co%l not no+ recollect +ho this +as( In this closet +ere *any *e*orials of the eparte &archioness/ a robe an several articles of her ress +ere scattere %pon the chairs, as if they ha .%st been thro+n off( On the floor +ere a pair of black satin slippers, an , on the ressin,6table, a pair of ,loves an a lon, black veil, +hich, as E*ily took it %p to e-a*ine, she perceive +as roppin, to pieces +ith a,e( 3Ah?3 sai <orothee, observin, the veil, 3*y la y3s han lai it there/ it has never been *ove since?3 E*ily, sh% erin,, i**e iately lai it o+n a,ain( 3I +ell re*e*ber seein, her take it off,3 contin%e <orothee, 3it +as on the ni,ht before her eath, +hen she ha ret%rne fro* a little +alk I ha pers%a e her to take in the ,ar ens, an she see*e refreshe by it( I tol her ho+ *%ch better she looke , an I re*e*ber +hat a lan,%i s*ile she ,ave *e/ b%t, alas? she little tho%,ht, or I either, that she +as to ie, that ni,ht(3 <orothee +ept a,ain, an then, takin, %p the veil, thre+ it s% enly over E*ily, +ho sh% ere to fin it +rappe ro%n her, escen in, even to her feet, an , as she en eavo%re to thro+ it off, <orothee intreate that she +o%l keep it on for one *o*ent( 3I tho%,ht,3 a e she, 3ho+ like yo% +o%l look to *y ear *istress in that veil/7*ay yo%r life, *a3a*selle, be a happier one than hers?3 E*ily, havin, isen,a,e herself fro* the veil, lai it a,ain on the ressin,6table, an s%rveye the closet, +here every ob.ect, on +hich her eye fi-e , see*e to speak of the &archioness( In a lar,e oriel +in o+ of painte ,lass, stoo a table, +ith a silver cr%cifi-, an a prayer6book open/ an E*ily re*e*bere +ith e*otion +hat <orothee ha *entione concernin, her c%sto* of playin, on her l%te in this +in o+, before she observe the l%te itself, lyin, on a corner of the table, as if it ha been carelessly place there by the han , that ha so often a+akene it(

3This is a sa forlorn place?3 sai <orothee, 3for, +hen *y ear la y ie , I ha no heart to p%t it to ri,hts, or the cha*ber either/ an *y lor never ca*e into the roo*s after, so they re*ain .%st as they i +hen *y la y +as re*ove for inter*ent(3 :hile <orothee spoke, E*ily +as still lookin, on the l%te, +hich +as a 'panish one, an re*arkably lar,e/ an then, +ith a hesitatin, han , she took it %p, an passe her fin,ers over the chor s( They +ere o%t of t%ne, b%t %ttere a eep an f%ll so%n ( <orothee starte at their +ell6kno+n tones, an , seein, the l%te in E*ily3s han , sai , 3This is the l%te *y la y &archioness love so? I re*e*ber +hen last she playe %pon it7it +as on the ni,ht that she ie ( I ca*e as %s%al to %n ress her, an , as I entere the be 6 cha*ber, I hear the so%n of *%sic fro* the oriel, an perceivin, it +as *y la y3s, +ho +as sittin, there, I steppe softly to the oor, +hich stoo a little open, to listen/ for the *%sic7tho%,h it +as *o%rnf%l7+as so s+eet? There I sa+ her, +ith the l%te in her han , lookin, %p+ar s, an the tears fell %pon her cheeks, +hile she s%n, a vesper hy*n, so soft, an so sole*n? an her voice tre*ble , as it +ere, an then she +o%l stop for a *o*ent, an +ipe a+ay her tears, an ,o on a,ain, lo+er than before( O? I ha often listene to *y la y, b%t never hear any thin, so s+eet as this/ it *a e *e cry, al*ost, to hear it( 'he ha been at prayers, I fancy, for there +as the book open on the table besi e her7aye, an there it lies open still? Pray, let %s leave the oriel, *a3a*selle,3 a e <orothee, 3this is a heart6 breakin, place?3 Havin, ret%rne into the cha*ber, she esire to look once *ore %pon the be , +hen, as they ca*e opposite to the open oor, lea in, into the saloon, E*ily, in the partial ,lea*, +hich the la*p thre+ into it, tho%,ht she sa+ so*ethin, ,li e alon, into the obsc%rer part of the roo*( Her spirits ha been *%ch affecte by the s%rro%n in, scene, or it is probable this circ%*stance, +hether real or i*a,inary, +o%l not have affecte her in the e,ree it i / b%t she en eavo%re to conceal her

e*otion fro* <orothee, +ho, ho+ever, observin, her co%ntenance chan,e, en4%ire if she +as ill( 30et %s ,o,3 sai E*ily, faintly, 3the air of these roo*s is %n+holeso*e/3 b%t, +hen she atte*pte to o so, consi erin, that she *%st pass thro%,h the apart*ent +here the phanto* of her terror ha appeare , this terror increase , an , too faint to s%pport herself, she sa o+n on the si e of the be ( <orothee, believin, that she +as only affecte by a consi eration of the *elancholy catastrophe, +hich ha happene on this spot, en eavo%re to cheer her/ an then, as they sat to,ether on the be , she be,an to relate other partic%lars concernin, it, an this +itho%t reflectin,, that it *i,ht increase E*ily3s e*otion, b%t beca%se they +ere partic%larly interestin, to herself( 3A little before *y la y3s eath,3 sai she, 3+hen the pains +ere ,one off, she calle *e to her, an stretchin, o%t her han to *e, I sat o+n .%st there7+here the c%rtain falls %pon the be ( Ho+ +ell I re*e*ber her look at the ti*e7 eath +as in it?7I can al*ost fancy I see her no+(7There she lay, *a3a*selle7her face +as %pon the pillo+ there? This black co%nterpane +as not %pon the be then/ it +as lai on, after her eath, an she +as lai o%t %pon it(3 E*ily t%rne to look +ithin the %sky c%rtains, as if she co%l have seen the co%ntenance of +hich <orothee spoke( The e ,e of the +hite pillo+ only appeare above the blackness of the pall, b%t, as her eyes +an ere over the pall itself, she fancie she sa+ it *ove( :itho%t speakin,, she ca%,ht <orothee3s ar*, +ho, s%rprise by the action, an by the look of terror that acco*panie it, t%rne her eyes fro* E*ily to the be , +here, in the ne-t *o*ent she, too, sa+ the pall slo+ly lifte , an fall a,ain( E*ily atte*pte to ,o, b%t <orothee stoo fi-e an ,a8in, %pon the be / an , at len,th, sai 73It is only the +in , that +aves it, *a3a*selle/ +e have left all the oors open; see ho+ the air +aves the la*p, too(7It is only the +in (3

'he ha scarcely %ttere these +or s, +hen the pall +as *ore violently a,itate than before/ b%t E*ily, so*e+hat asha*e of her terrors, steppe back to the be , +illin, to be convince that the +in only ha occasione her alar*/ +hen, as she ,a8e +ithin the c%rtains, the pall *ove a,ain, an , in the ne-t *o*ent, the apparition of a h%*an co%ntenance rose above it( 'crea*in, +ith terror, they both fle , an ,ot o%t of the cha*ber as fast as their tre*blin, li*bs +o%l bear the*, leavin, open the oors of all the roo*s, thro%,h +hich they passe ( :hen they reache the stair6case, <orothee thre+ open a cha*ber oor, +here so*e of the fe*ale servants slept, an s%nk breathless on the be / +hile E*ily, eprive of all presence of *in , *a e only a feeble atte*pt to conceal the occasion of her terror fro* the astonishe servants/ an , tho%,h <orothee, +hen she co%l speak, en eavo%re to la%,h at her o+n fri,ht, an +as .oine by E*ily, no re*onstrances co%l prevail +ith the servants, +ho ha 4%ickly taken the alar*, to pass even the re*ain er of the ni,ht in a roo* so near to these terrific cha*bers( <orothee havin, acco*panie E*ily to her o+n apart*ent, they then be,an to talk over, +ith so*e e,ree of coolness, the stran,e circ%*stance, that ha .%st occ%rre / an E*ily +o%l al*ost have o%bte her o+n perceptions, ha not those of <orothee atteste their tr%th( Havin, no+ *entione +hat she ha observe in the o%ter cha*ber, she aske the ho%sekeeper, +hether she +as certain no oor ha been left %nfastene , by +hich a person *i,ht secretly have entere the apart*entsB <orothee replie , that she ha constantly kept the keys of the several oors in her o+n possession/ that, +hen she ha ,one her ro%n s thro%,h the castle, as she fre4%ently i , to e-a*ine if all +as safe, she ha trie these oors a*on, the rest, an ha al+ays fo%n the* fastene ( It +as, therefore, i*possible, she a e , that any person co%l have ,ot a *ittance into the apart*ents/ an , if they co%l 7it +as very i*probable they sho%l have chose to sleep in a place so col an forlorn(

E*ily observe , that their visit to these cha*bers ha , perhaps, been +atche , an that so*e person, for a frolic, ha follo+e the* into the roo*s, +ith a esi,n to fri,hten the*, an , +hile they +ere in the oriel, ha taken the opport%nity of concealin, hi*self in the be ( <orothee allo+e , that this +as possible, till she recollecte , that, on enterin, the apart*ents, she ha t%rne the key of the o%ter oor, an this, +hich ha been one to prevent their visit bein, notice by any of the fa*ily, +ho *i,ht happen to be %p, *%st effect%ally have e-cl% e every person, e-cept the*selves, fro* the cha*bers/ an she no+ persiste in affir*in,, that the ,hastly co%ntenance she ha seen +as nothin, h%*an, b%t so*e rea f%l apparition( E*ily +as very sole*nly affecte ( Of +hatever nat%re *i,ht be the appearance she ha +itnesse , +hether h%*an or s%pernat%ral, the fate of the ecease &archioness +as a tr%th not to be o%bte / an this %nacco%ntable circ%*stance, occ%rrin, in the very scene of her s%fferin,s, affecte E*ily3s i*a,ination +ith a s%perstitio%s a+e, to +hich, after havin, etecte the fallacies at A olpho, she *i,ht not have yiel e , ha she been i,norant of the %nhappy story, relate by the ho%sekeeper( Her she no+ sole*nly con.%re to conceal the occ%rrence of this ni,ht, an to *ake li,ht of the terror she ha alrea y betraye , that the Co%nt *i,ht not be istresse by reports, +hich +o%l certainly sprea alar* an conf%sion a*on, his fa*ily( 3Ti*e,3 she a e , 3*ay e-plain this *ysterio%s affair/ *ean+hile let %s +atch the event in silence(3 <orothee rea ily ac4%iesce / b%t she no+ recollecte that she ha left all the oors of the north s%ite of roo*s open, an , not havin, co%ra,e to ret%rn alone to lock even the o%ter one, E*ily, after so*e effort, so far con4%ere her o+n fears, that she offere to acco*pany her to the foot of the back stair6case, an to +ait there +hile <orothee ascen e , +hose resol%tion bein, re6ass%re by this circ%*stance, she consente to ,o, an they left E*ily3s apart*ent to,ether(

9o so%n ist%rbe the stillness, as they passe alon, the halls an ,alleries/ b%t, on reachin, the foot of the back stair6case, <orothee3s resol%tion faile a,ain/ havin,, ho+ever, pa%se a *o*ent to listen, an no so%n bein, hear above, she ascen e , leavin, E*ily belo+, an , scarcely s%fferin, her eye to ,lance +ithin the first cha*ber, she fastene the oor, +hich sh%t %p the +hole s%ite of apart*ents, an ret%rne to E*ily( As they steppe alon, the passa,e, lea in, into the ,reat hall, a so%n of la*entation +as hear , +hich see*e to co*e fro* the hall itself, an they stoppe in ne+ alar* to listen, +hen E*ily presently istin,%ishe the voice of Annette, +ho* she fo%n crossin, the hall, +ith another fe*ale servant, an so terrifie by the report, +hich the other *ai s ha sprea , that, believin, she co%l be safe only +here her la y +as, she +as ,oin, for ref%,e to her apart*ent( E*ily3s en eavo%rs to la%,h, or to ar,%e her o%t of these terrors, +ere e4%ally vain, an , in co*passion to her istress, she consente that she sho%l re*ain in her roo* %rin, the ni,ht(

#HAPTER %
8ail, !ildly%pleasing 4olitude> 3o!panion of the ise and good? This is the bal!y breath of !orn, 9ust as the de %bent rose is born# But chief hen e"ening scenes decay And the faint landscape s i!s a ay, Thine is the doubtful, soft decline, And that best hour of !using thine# T87M47:

E*ily3s in.%nctions to Annette to be silent on the s%b.ect of her terror +ere ineffect%al, an the occ%rrence of the prece in, ni,ht sprea s%ch alar* a*on, the servants, +ho no+ all affir*e , that they ha fre4%ently hear %nacco%ntable noises in the

chatea%, that a report soon reache the Co%nt of the north si e of the castle bein, ha%nte ( He treate this, at first, +ith ri ic%le, b%t, perceivin,, that it +as pro %ctive of serio%s evil, in the conf%sion it occasione a*on, his ho%sehol , he forba e any person to repeat it, on pain of p%nish*ent( The arrival of a party of his frien s soon +ith re+ his tho%,hts entirely fro* this s%b.ect, an his servants ha no+ little leis%re to broo over it, e-cept, in ee , in the evenin,s after s%pper, +hen they all asse*ble in their hall, an relate stories of ,hosts, till they feare to look ro%n the roo*/ starte , if the echo of a closin, oor *%r*%re alon, the passa,e, an ref%se to ,o sin,ly to any part of the castle( On these occasions Annette *a e a istin,%ishe fi,%re( :hen she tol not only of all the +on ers she ha +itnesse , b%t of all that she ha i*a,ine , in the castle of A olpho, +ith the story of the stran,e isappearance of 'i,nora 0a%rentini, she *a e no triflin, i*pression on the *in of her attentive a% itors( Her s%spicions, concernin, &ontoni, she +o%l also have freely isclose , ha not 0% ovico, +ho +as no+ in the service of the Co%nt, pr% ently checke her lo4%acity, +henever it pointe to that s%b.ect( A*on, the visitors at the chatea% +as the 1aron e 'aint )oi-, an ol frien of the Co%nt, an his son, the Chevalier 't( )oi-, a sensible an a*iable yo%n, *an, +ho, havin, in the prece in, year seen the 0a y 1lanche, at Paris, ha beco*e her eclare a *irer( The frien ship, +hich the Co%nt ha lon, entertaine for his father, an the e4%ality of their circ%*stances *a e hi* secretly approve of the connection/ b%t, thinkin, his a%,hter at this ti*e too yo%n, to fi- her choice for life, an +ishin, to prove the sincerity an stren,th of the Chevalier3s attach*ent, he then re.ecte his s%it, tho%,h +itho%t forbi in, his f%t%re hope( This yo%n, *an no+ ca*e, +ith the 1aron, his father, to clai* the re+ar of a stea y affection, a clai*, +hich the Co%nt a *itte an +hich 1lanche i not re.ect(

:hile these visitors +ere at the chatea%, it beca*e a scene of ,aiety an splen o%r( The pavilion in the +oo s +as fitte %p an fre4%ente , in the fine evenin,s, as a s%pper6roo*, +hen the ho%r %s%ally concl% e +ith a concert, at +hich the Co%nt an Co%ntess, +ho +ere scientific perfor*ers, an the Chevaliers Henri an 't( )oi-, +ith the 0a y 1lanche an E*ily, +hose voices an fine taste co*pensate for the +ant of *ore skilf%l e-ec%tion, %s%ally assiste ( 'everal of the Co%nt3s servants perfor*e on horns an other instr%*ents, so*e of +hich, place at a little istance a*on, the +oo s, spoke, in s+eet response, to the har*ony, that procee e fro* the pavilion( At any other perio , these parties +o%l have been eli,htf%l to E*ily/ b%t her spirits +ere no+ oppresse +ith a *elancholy, +hich she perceive that no kin of +hat is calle a*%se*ent ha po+er to issipate, an +hich the ten er an , fre4%ently, pathetic, *elo y of these concerts so*eti*es increase to a very painf%l e,ree( 'he +as partic%larly fon of +alkin, in the +oo s, that h%n, on a pro*ontory, overlookin, the sea( Their l%-%riant sha e +as soothin, to her pensive *in , an , in the partial vie+s, +hich they affor e of the &e iterranean, +ith its +in in, shores an passin, sails, tran4%il bea%ty +as %nite +ith ,ran e%r( The paths +ere r% e an fre4%ently over,ro+n +ith ve,etation, b%t their tastef%l o+ner +o%l s%ffer little to be one to the*, an scarcely a sin,le branch to be loppe fro* the venerable trees( On an e*inence, in one of the *ost se4%estere parts of these +oo s, +as a r%stic seat, for*e of the tr%nk of a ecaye oak, +hich ha once been a noble tree, an of +hich *any lofty branches still flo%rishin, %nite +ith beech an pines to over6canopy the spot( 1eneath their eep %*bra,e, the eye passe over the tops of other +oo s, to the &e iterranean, an , to the left, thro%,h an openin,, +as seen a r%ine +atch6to+er, stan in, on a point of rock, near the sea, an risin, fro* a*on, the t%fte folia,e(

Hither E*ily often ca*e alone in the silence of evenin,, an , soothe by the scenery an by the faint *%r*%r, that rose fro* the +aves, +o%l sit, till arkness obli,e her to ret%rn to the chatea%( )re4%ently, also, she visite the +atch6to+er, +hich co**an e the entire prospect, an , +hen she leane a,ainst its broken +alls, an tho%,ht of Valanco%rt, she not once i*a,ine , +hat +as so tr%e, that this to+er ha been al*ost as fre4%ently his resort, as her o+n, since his estran,e*ent fro* the nei,hbo%rin, chatea%( One evenin,, she lin,ere here to a late ho%r( 'he ha sat on the steps of the b%il in,, +atchin,, in tran4%il *elancholy, the ,ra %al effect of evenin, over the e-tensive prospect, till the ,ray +aters of the &e iterranean an the *assy +oo s +ere al*ost the only feat%res of the scene, that re*aine visible/ +hen, as she ,a8e alternately on these, an on the *il bl%e of the heavens, +here the first pale star of evenin, appeare , she personifie the ho%r in the follo+in, lines;7
47:G 7) T8E EDE:5:G 87UR &ast of the 8ours, that track the fading (ay, 5 !o"e along the real!s of t ilight air, And hear, re!ote, the choral song decay 7f sister%ny!phs, ho dance around his car# Then, as 5 follo through the aBure "oid, 8is partial splendour fro! !y straining eye 4inks in the depth of spaceA !y only guide 8is faint ray da ning on the farthest skyA 4a"e that s eet, lingering strain of gayer 8ours, <hose close !y "oice prolongs in dying notes, <hile !ortals on the green earth o n its po =rs, As do n ard on the e"ening gale it floats# <hen fades along the <est the 4un=s last bea!, As, eary, to the nether orld he goes, And !ountain%su!!its catch the purple glea!, And slu!bering ocean faint and fainter glo s, 4ilent upon the globe=s broad shade 5 steal, And o=er its dry turf shed the cooling de s, And e"=ry fe"er=d herb and flo =ret heal, And all their fragrance on the air diffuse# <here=er 5 !o"e, a tranCuil pleasure reignsA 7=er all the scene the dusky tints 5 send, That forests ild and !ountains, stretching plains

And peopled to ns, in soft confusion blend# <ide o=er the orld 5 aft the fresh=ning ind, &o breathing through the oods and t ilight "ale, 5n hispers soft, that oo the pensi"e !ind 7f hi!, ho lo"es !y lonely steps to hail# 8is tender oaten reed 5 atch to hear, 4tealing its s eetness o=er so!e plaining rill, 7r soothing ocean=s a"e, hen stor!s are near, 7r s elling in the breeBe fro! distant hill> 5 ake the fairy el"es, ho shun <hen, fro! their blosso!=d beds, And spy !y pale star, leading on )orth to their ga!es and re"elry the lightA they slily peep, the night,? they leapA

4end all the prison=d s eets abroad in air, That ith the! slu!ber=d in the flo =ret=s cellA Then to the shores and !oon%light brooks repair, Till the high larks their !atin%carol s ell# The ood%ny!phs hail !y airs and te!per=d shade, <ith ditties soft and lightly sporti"e dance, 7n ri"er !argin of so!e bo =ry glade, And stre their fresh buds as !y steps ad"ance' But, s ift 5 pass, and distant regions trace, )or !oon%bea!s sil"er all the eastern cloud, And (ay=s last cri!son "estige fades apaceA (o n the steep est 5 fly fro! Midnight=s shroud#

The *oon +as no+ risin, o%t of the sea( 'he +atche its ,ra %al pro,ress, the e-ten in, line of ra iance it thre+ %pon the +aters, the sparklin, oars, the sail faintly silvere , an the +oo 6tops an the battle*ents of the +atch6to+er, at +hose foot she +as sittin,, .%st tinte +ith the rays( E*ily3s spirits +ere in har*ony +ith this scene( As she sat *e itatin,, so%n s stole by her on the air, +hich she i**e iately kne+ to be the *%sic an the voice she ha for*erly hear at *i ni,ht, an the e*otion of a+e, +hich she felt, +as not %n*i-e +ith terror, +hen she consi ere her re*ote an lonely sit%ation( The so%n s re+ nearer( 'he +o%l have risen to leave the place, b%t they see*e to co*e fro* the +ay she *%st have taken to+ar s the chatea%, an she a+aite the event in tre*blin, e-pectation( The so%n s contin%e to approach, for so*e ti*e, an then cease ( E*ily sat listenin,, ,a8in, an %nable to *ove, +hen she sa+ a fi,%re e*er,e fro* the sha e of the +oo s an pass

alon, the bank, at so*e little istance before her( It +ent s+iftly, an her spirits +ere so overco*e +ith a+e, that, tho%,h she sa+, she i not *%ch observe it( Havin, left the spot, +ith a resol%tion never a,ain to visit it alone, at so late an ho%r, she be,an to approach the chatea%, +hen she hear voices callin, her fro* the part of the +oo , +hich +as nearest to it( They +ere the sho%ts of the Co%nt3s servants, +ho +ere sent to search for her/ an +hen she entere the s%pper6roo*, +here he sat +ith Henri an 1lanche, he ,ently reproache her +ith a look, +hich she bl%she to have eserve ( This little occ%rrence eeply i*presse her *in , an , +hen she +ith re+ to her o+n roo*, it recalle so forcibly the circ%*stances she ha +itnesse , a fe+ ni,hts before, that she ha scarcely co%ra,e to re*ain alone( 'he +atche to a late ho%r, +hen, no so%n havin, rene+e her fears, she, at len,th, s%nk to repose( 1%t this +as of short contin%ance, for she +as ist%rbe by a lo% an %n%s%al noise, that see*e to co*e fro* the ,allery, into +hich her cha*ber opene ( Groans +ere istinctly hear , an , i**e iately after, a ea +ei,ht fell a,ainst the oor, +ith a violence, that threatene to b%rst it open( 'he calle lo% ly to kno+ +ho +as there, b%t receive no ans+er, tho%,h, at intervals, she still tho%,ht she hear so*ethin, like a lo+ *oanin,( )ear eprive her of the po+er to *ove( 'oon after, she hear footsteps in a re*ote part of the ,allery, an , as they approache , she calle *ore lo% ly than before, till the steps pa%se at her oor( 'he then istin,%ishe the voices of several of the servants, +ho see*e too *%ch en,a,e by so*e circ%*stance +itho%t, to atten to her calls/ b%t, Annette soon after enterin, the roo* for +ater, E*ily %n erstoo , that one of the *ai s ha fainte , +ho* she i**e iately esire the* to brin, into her roo*, +here she assiste to restore her( :hen this ,irl ha recovere her speech, she affir*e , that, as she +as passin, %p the back stair6 case, in the +ay to her cha*ber, she ha seen an apparition on the secon lan in,6place/ she hel the la*p lo+, she sai , that she *i,ht pick her +ay, several

of the stairs bein, infir* an even ecaye , an it +as %pon raisin, her eyes, that she sa+ this appearance( It stoo for a *o*ent in the corner of the lan in,6place, +hich she +as approachin,, an then, ,li in, %p the stairs, vanishe at the oor of the apart*ent, that ha been lately opene ( 'he hear after+ar s a hollo+ so%n ( 3Then the evil has ,ot a key to that apart*ent,3 sai <orothee, 3for it co%l be nobo y b%t he/ I locke the oor *yself?3 The ,irl, sprin,in, o+n the stairs an passin, %p the ,reat stair6case, ha r%n, +ith a faint screa*, till she reache the ,allery, +here she fell, ,roanin,, at E*ily3s oor( Gently chi in, her for the alar* she ha occasione , E*ily trie to *ake her asha*e of her fears/ b%t the ,irl persiste in sayin,, that she ha seen an apparition, till she +ent to her o+n roo*, +hither she +as acco*panie by all the servants present, e-cept <orothee, +ho, at E*ily3s re4%est, re*aine +ith her %rin, the ni,ht( E*ily +as perple-e , an <orothee +as terrifie , an *entione *any occ%rrences of for*er ti*es, +hich ha lon, since confir*e her s%perstitions/ a*on, these, accor in, to her belief, she ha once +itnesse an appearance, like that .%st escribe , an on the very sa*e spot, an it +as the re*e*brance of it, that ha *a e her pa%se, +hen she +as ,oin, to ascen the stairs +ith E*ily, an +hich ha increase her rel%ctance to open the north apart*ents( :hatever *i,ht be E*ily3s opinions, she i not isclose the*, b%t listene attentively to all that <orothee co**%nicate , +hich occasione her *%ch tho%,ht an perple-ity( )ro* this ni,ht the terror of the servants increase to s%ch an e-cess, that several of the* eter*ine to leave the chatea%, an re4%este their ischar,e of the Co%nt, +ho, if he ha any faith in the s%b.ect of their alar*, tho%,ht proper to isse*ble it, an , an-io%s to avoi the inconvenience that threatene hi*, e*ploye ri ic%le an then ar,%*ent to convince the* they ha

nothin, to apprehen fro* s%pernat%ral a,ency( 1%t fear ha ren ere their *in s inaccessible to reason/ an it +as no+, that 0% ovico prove at once his co%ra,e an his ,ratit% e for the kin ness he ha receive fro* the Co%nt, by offerin, to +atch, %rin, a ni,ht, in the s%ite of roo*s, rep%te to be ha%nte ( He feare , he sai , no spirits, an , if any thin, of h%*an for* appeare 7he +o%l prove that he rea e that as little( The Co%nt pa%se %pon the offer, +hile the servants, +ho hear it, looke %pon one another in o%bt an a*a8e*ent, an Annette, terrifie for the safety of 0% ovico, e*ploye tears an entreaties to iss%a e hi* fro* his p%rpose( 32o% are a bol fello+,3 sai the Co%nt, s*ilin,, 3Think +ell of +hat yo% are ,oin, to enco%nter, before yo% finally eter*ine %pon it( Ho+ever, if yo% persevere in yo%r resol%tion, I +ill accept yo%r offer, an yo%r intrepi ity shall not ,o %nre+ar e (3 3I esire no re+ar , yo%r e-cellen8a,3 replie 0% ovico, 3b%t yo%r approbation( 2o%r e-cellen8a has been s%fficiently ,oo to *e alrea y/ b%t I +ish to have ar*s, that I *ay be e4%al to *y ene*y, if he sho%l appear(3 32o%r s+or cannot efen yo% a,ainst a ,host,3 replie the Co%nt, thro+in, a ,lance of irony %pon the other servants, 3neither can bars, or bolts/ for a spirit, yo% kno+, can ,li e thro%,h a keyhole as easily as thro%,h a oor(3 3Give *e a s+or , *y lor Co%nt,3 sai 0% ovico, 3an I +ill lay all the spirits, that shall attack *e, in the re sea(3 3:ell,3 sai the Co%nt, 3yo% shall have a s+or , an ,oo cheer, too/ an yo%r brave co*ra es here +ill, perhaps, have co%ra,e eno%,h to re*ain another ni,ht in the chatea%, since yo%r bol ness +ill certainly, for this ni,ht, at least, confine all the *alice of the spectre to yo%rself(3

C%riosity no+ str%,,le +ith fear in the *in s of several of his fello+ servants, an , at len,th, they resolve to a+ait the event of 0% ovico3s rashness( E*ily +as s%rprise an concerne , +hen she hear of his intention, an +as fre4%ently incline to *ention +hat she ha +itnesse in the north apart*ents to the Co%nt, for she co%l not entirely ivest herself of fears for 0% ovico3s safety, tho%,h her reason represente these to be abs%r ( The necessity, ho+ever, of concealin, the secret, +ith +hich <orothee ha entr%ste her, an +hich *%st have been *entione , +ith the late occ%rrence, in e-c%se for her havin, so privately visite the north apart*ents, kept her entirely silent on the s%b.ect of her apprehension/ an she trie only to sooth Annette, +ho hel , that 0% ovico +as certainly to be estroye / an +ho +as *%ch less affecte by E*ily3s consolatory efforts, than by the *anner of ol <orothee, +ho often, as she e-clai*e 0% ovico, si,he , an thre+ %p her eyes to heaven(

#HAPTER %I
$e gods of Cuiet, and of sleep profound> <hose soft do!inion o=er this castle s ays, And all the idely%silent places round, )orgi"e !e, if !y tre!bling pen displays <hat ne"er yet as sung in !ortal lays# T87M47:

The Co%nt ,ave or ers for the north apart*ents to be opene an prepare for the reception of 0% ovico/ b%t <orothee, re*e*berin, +hat she ha lately +itnesse there, feare to obey, an , not one of the other servants arin, to vent%re thither, the roo*s re*aine sh%t %p till the ti*e +hen 0% ovico +as to retire thither for the ni,ht, an ho%r, for +hich the +hole ho%sehol +aite +ith i*patience( After s%pper, 0% ovico, by the or er of the Co%nt, atten e hi* in his closet, +here they re*aine alone

for near half an ho%r, an , on leavin, +hich, his 0or elivere to hi* a s+or ( 3It has seen service in *ortal 4%arrels,3 sai the Co%nt, .ocosely, 3yo% +ill %se it hono%rably, no o%bt, in a spirit%al one( To*orro+, let *e hear that there is not one ,host re*ainin, in the chatea%(3 0% ovico receive it +ith a respectf%l bo+( 32o% shall be obeye , *y 0or ,3 sai he/ 3I +ill en,a,e, that no spectre shall ist%rb the peace of the chatea% after this ni,ht(3 They no+ ret%rne to the s%pper6roo*, +here the Co%nt3s ,%ests a+aite to acco*pany hi* an 0% ovico to the oor of the north apart*ents, an <orothee, bein, s%**one for the keys, elivere the* to 0% ovico, +ho then le the +ay, follo+e by *ost of the inhabitants of the chatea%( Havin, reache the back stair6case, several of the servants shr%nk back, an ref%se to ,o f%rther, b%t the rest follo+e hi* to the top of the stair6case, +here a broa lan in,6place allo+e the* to flock ro%n hi*, +hile he applie the key to the oor, %rin, +hich they +atche hi* +ith as *%ch ea,er c%riosity as if he ha been perfor*in, so*e *a,ical rite( 0% ovico, %nacc%sto*e to the lock, co%l not t%rn it, an <orothee, +ho ha lin,ere far behin , +as calle for+ar , %n er +hose han the oor opene slo+ly, an , her eye ,lancin, +ithin the %sky cha*ber, she %ttere a s% en shriek, an retreate ( At this si,nal of alar*, the ,reater part of the cro+ h%rrie o+n the stairs, an the Co%nt, Henri an 0% ovico +ere left alone to p%rs%e the en4%iry, +ho instantly r%she into the apart*ent, 0% ovico +ith a ra+n s+or , +hich he ha .%st ti*e to ra+ fro* the scabbar , the Co%nt +ith the la*p in his han , an Henri carryin, a basket, containin, provisions for the co%ra,eo%s a vent%rer( Havin, looke hastily ro%n the first roo*, +here nothin, appeare to .%stify alar*, they passe on to the secon / an , here too all bein, 4%iet, they procee e to a thir +ith a *ore te*pere step( The Co%nt ha no+ leis%re to s*ile at the isco*pos%re, into +hich he ha

been s%rprise , an to ask 0% ovico in +hich roo* he esi,ne to pass the ni,ht( 3There are several cha*bers beyon these, yo%r e-cellen8a,3 sai 0% ovico, pointin, to a oor, 3an in one of the* is a be , they say( I +ill pass the ni,ht there, an +hen I a* +eary of +atchin,, I can lie o+n(3 3Goo /3 sai the Co%nt/ 3let %s ,o on( 2o% see these roo*s she+ nothin,, b%t a*p +alls an ecayin, f%rnit%re( I have been so *%ch en,a,e since I ca*e to the chatea%, that I have not looke into the* till no+( Re*e*ber, 0% ovico, to tell the ho%sekeeper, to6 *orro+, to thro+ open these +in o+s( The a*ask han,in,s are roppin, to pieces, I +ill have the* taken o+n, an this anti4%e f%rnit%re re*ove (3 3<ear sir?3 sai Henri, 3here is an ar*6chair so *assy +ith ,il in,, that it rese*bles one of the state chairs at the 0o%vre, *ore then any thin, else(3 32es,3 sai the Co%nt, stoppin, a *o*ent to s%rvey it, 3there is a history belon,in, to that chair, b%t I have not ti*e to tell it(70et %s pass on( This s%ite r%ns to a ,reater e-tent than I ha i*a,ine / it is *any years since I +as in the*( 1%t +here is the be 6roo* yo% speak of, 0% ovicoB7these are only anti6cha*bers to the ,reat ra+in,6roo*( I re*e*ber the* in their splen o%r?3 3The be , *y 0or ,3 replie 0% ovico, 3they tol *e, +as in a roo* that opens beyon the saloon, an ter*inates the s%ite(3 3O, here is the saloon,3 sai the Co%nt, as they entere the spacio%s apart*ent, in +hich E*ily an <orothee ha reste ( He here stoo for a *o*ent, s%rveyin, the reli4%es of fa e ,ran e%r, +hich it e-hibite 7the s%*pt%o%s tapestry7the lon, an lo+ sophas of velvet, +ith fra*es heavily carve an ,il e 7the floor inlai +ith s*all s4%ares of fine *arble, an covere in the centre +ith a piece of very rich tapestry6 +ork7the case*ents of painte ,lass, an the lar,e Venetian *irrors, of a si8e an 4%ality, s%ch as at that

perio )rance co%l not *ake, +hich reflecte , on every si e, the spacio%s apart*ent( These ha for*erly also reflecte a ,ay an brilliant scene, for this ha been the state6roo* of the chatea%, an here the &archioness ha hel the asse*blies, that *a e part of the festivities of her n%ptials( If the +an of a *a,ician co%l have recalle the vanishe ,ro%ps, *any of the* vanishe even fro* the earth? that once ha passe over these polishe *irrors, +hat a varie an contraste pict%re +o%l they have e-hibite +ith the present? 9o+, instea of a bla8e of li,hts, an a splen i an b%sy cro+ , they reflecte only the rays of the one ,li**erin, la*p, +hich the Co%nt hel %p, an +hich scarcely serve to she+ the three forlorn fi,%res, that stoo s%rveyin, the roo*, an the spacio%s an %sky +alls aro%n the*( 3Ah?3 sai the Co%nt to Henri, a+akin, fro* his eep reverie, 3ho+ the scene is chan,e since last I sa+ it? I +as a yo%n, *an, then, an the &archioness +as alive an in her bloo*/ *any other persons +ere here, too, +ho are no+ no *ore? There stoo the orchestra/ here +e trippe in *any a spri,htly *a8e7the +alls echoin, to the ance? 9o+, they reso%n only one feeble voice7an even that +ill, ere lon,, be hear no *ore? &y son, re*e*ber, that I +as once as yo%n, as yo%rself, an that yo% *%st pass a+ay like those, +ho have prece e yo%7like those, +ho, as they s%n, an ance in this once ,ay apart*ent, for,ot, that years are *a e %p of *o*ents, an that every step they took carrie the* nearer to their ,raves( 1%t s%ch reflections are %seless, I ha al*ost sai cri*inal, %nless they teach %s to prepare for eternity, since, other+ise, they clo% o%r present happiness, +itho%t ,%i in, %s to a f%t%re one( 1%t eno%,h of this/ let %s ,o on(3 0% ovico no+ opene the oor of the be 6roo*, an the Co%nt, as he entere , +as str%ck +ith the f%nereal appearance, +hich the ark arras ,ave to it( He approache the be , +ith an e*otion of sole*nity, an , perceivin, it to be covere +ith the pall of black velvet, pa%se / 3:hat can this *eanB3 sai he, as he ,a8e %pon it(

3I have hear , *y 0or ,3 sai 0% ovico, as he stoo at the feet, lookin, +ithin the canopie c%rtains, 3that the 0a y &archioness e Villeroi ie in this cha*ber, an re*aine here till she +as re*ove to be b%rie / an this, perhaps, 'i,nor, *ay acco%nt for the pall(3 The Co%nt *a e no reply, b%t stoo for a fe+ *o*ents en,a,e in tho%,ht, an evi ently *%ch affecte ( Then, t%rnin, to 0% ovico, he aske hi* +ith a serio%s air, +hether he tho%,ht his co%ra,e +o%l s%pport hi* thro%,h the ni,htB 3If yo% o%bt this,3 a e the Co%nt, 3 o not be asha*e to o+n it/ I +ill release yo% fro* yo%r en,a,e*ent, +itho%t e-posin, yo% to the tri%*phs of yo%r fello+6servants(3 0% ovico pa%se / pri e, an so*ethin, very like fear, see*e str%,,lin, in his breast/ pri e, ho+ever, +as victorio%s/7he bl%she , an his hesitation cease ( 39o, *y 0or ,3 sai he, 3I +ill ,o thro%,h +ith +hat I have be,%n/ an I a* ,ratef%l for yo%r consi eration( On that hearth I +ill *ake a fire, an , +ith the ,oo cheer in this basket, I o%bt not I shall o +ell(3 31e it so,3 sai the Co%nt/ 3b%t ho+ +ill yo% be,%ile the te io%sness of the ni,ht, if yo% o not sleepB3 3:hen I a* +eary, *y 0or ,3 replie 0% ovico, 3I shall not fear to sleep/ in the *ean+hile, I have a book, that +ill entertain *e(3 3:ell,3 sai the Co%nt, 3I hope nothin, +ill ist%rb yo%/ b%t if yo% sho%l be serio%sly alar*e in the ni,ht, co*e to *y apart*ent( I have too *%ch confi ence in yo%r ,oo sense an co%ra,e, to believe yo% +ill be alar*e on sli,ht ,ro%n s/ or s%ffer the ,loo* of this cha*ber, or its re*ote sit%ation, to overco*e yo% +ith i eal terrors( To6*orro+, I shall have to thank yo% for an i*portant service/ these roo*s shall then be thro+n open, an *y people +ill be convince of their error( Goo ni,ht, 0% ovico/ let *e see yo% early in the *ornin,, an re*e*ber +hat I lately sai to yo%(3 3I +ill, *y 0or / ,oo ni,ht to yo%r e-cellen8a/ let *e atten yo% +ith the li,ht(3

He li,hte the Co%nt an Henri thro%,h the cha*bers to the o%ter oor/ on the lan in,6place stoo a la*p, +hich one of the affri,hte servants ha left, an Henri, as he took it %p, a,ain ba e 0% ovico ,oo ni,ht, +ho, havin, respectf%lly ret%rne the +ish, close the oor %pon the*, an fastene it( Then, as he retire to the be 6cha*ber, he e-a*ine the roo*s, thro%,h +hich he passe , +ith *ore *in%teness than he ha one before, for he apprehen e , that so*e person *i,ht have conceale hi*self in the*, for the p%rpose of fri,htenin, hi*( 9o one, ho+ever, b%t hi*self, +as in these cha*bers, an , leavin, open the oors, thro%,h +hich he passe , he ca*e a,ain to the ,reat ra+in,6roo*, +hose spacio%sness an silent ,loo* so*e+hat a+e hi*( )or a *o*ent he stoo , lookin, back thro%,h the lon, s%ite of roo*s he ha 4%itte , an , as he t%rne , perceivin, a li,ht an his o+n fi,%re, reflecte in one of the lar,e *irrors, he starte ( Other ob.ects too +ere seen obsc%rely on its ark s%rface, b%t he pa%se not to e-a*ine the*, an ret%rne hastily into the be 6roo*, as he s%rveye +hich, he observe the oor of the oriel, an opene it( All +ithin +as still( On lookin, ro%n , his eye +as arreste by the portrait of the ecease &archioness, %pon +hich he ,a8e , for a consi erable ti*e, +ith ,reat attention an so*e s%rprise/ an then, havin, e-a*ine the closet, he ret%rne into the be 6roo*, +here he kin le a +oo fire, the bri,ht bla8e of +hich revive his spirits, +hich ha be,%n to yiel to the ,loo* an silence of the place, for ,%sts of +in alone broke at intervals this silence( He no+ re+ a s*all table an a chair near the fire, took a bottle of +ine, an so*e col provision o%t of his basket, an re,ale hi*self( :hen he ha finishe his repast, he lai his s+or %pon the table, an , not feelin, ispose to sleep, re+ fro* his pocket the book he ha spoken of( 7It +as a vol%*e of ol Provencal tales( Havin, stirre the fire %pon the hearth, he be,an to rea , an his attention +as soon +holly occ%pie by the scenes, +hich the pa,e isclose (

The Co%nt, *ean+hile, ha ret%rne to the s%pper6 roo*, +hither those of the party, +ho ha atten e hi* to the north apart*ent, ha retreate , %pon hearin, <orothee3s screa*, an +ho +ere no+ earnest in their en4%iries concernin, those cha*bers( The Co%nt rallie his ,%ests on their precipitate retreat, an on the s%perstitio%s inclination +hich ha occasione it, an this le to the 4%estion, :hether the spirit, after it has 4%itte the bo y, is ever per*itte to revisit the earth/ an if it is, +hether it +as possible for spirits to beco*e visible to the sense( The 1aron +as of opinion, that the first +as probable, an the last +as possible, an he en eavo%re to .%stify this opinion by respectable a%thorities, both ancient an *o ern, +hich he 4%ote ( The Co%nt, ho+ever, +as eci e ly a,ainst hi*, an a lon, conversation ens%e , in +hich the %s%al ar,%*ents on these s%b.ects +ere on both si es bro%,ht for+ar +ith skill, an isc%sse +ith can o%r, b%t +itho%t convertin, either party to the opinion of his opponent( The effect of their conversation on their a% itors +as vario%s( Tho%,h the Co%nt ha *%ch the s%periority of the 1aron in point of ar,%*ent, he ha consi erably fe+er a herents/ for that love, so nat%ral to the h%*an *in , of +hatever is able to isten its fac%lties +ith +on er an astonish*ent, attache the *a.ority of the co*pany to the si e of the 1aron/ an , tho%,h *any of the Co%nt3s propositions +ere %nans+erable, his opponents +ere incline to believe this the conse4%ence of their o+n +ant of kno+le ,e, on so abstracte a s%b.ect, rather than that ar,%*ents i not e-ist, +hich +ere forcible eno%,h to con4%er his( 1lanche +as pale +ith attention, till the ri ic%le in her father3s ,lance calle a bl%sh %pon her co%ntenance, an she then en eavo%re to for,et the s%perstitio%s tales she ha been tol in her convent( &ean+hile, E*ily ha been listenin, +ith eep attention to the isc%ssion of +hat +as to her a very interestin, 4%estion, an , re*e*berin, the appearance she ha +itnesse in the apart*ent of the late &archioness, she +as fre4%ently chille +ith a+e( 'everal ti*es she +as

on the point of *entionin, +hat she ha seen, b%t the fear of ,ivin, pain to the Co%nt, an the rea of his ri ic%le, restraine her/ an , a+aitin, in an-io%s e-pectation the event of 0% ovico3s intrepi ity, she eter*ine that her f%t%re silence sho%l epen %pon it( :hen the party ha separate for the ni,ht, an the Co%nt retire to his ressin,6roo*, the re*e*brance of the esolate scenes he ha lately +itnesse in his o+n *ansion eeply affecte hi*, b%t at len,th he +as aro%se fro* his reverie an his silence( 3:hat *%sic is that I hearB37sai he s% enly to his valet, 3:ho plays at this late ho%rB3 The *an *a e no reply, an the Co%nt contin%e to listen, an then a e , 3That is no co**on *%sician/ he to%ches the instr%*ent +ith a elicate han / +ho is it, PierreB3 3&y lor ?3 sai the *an, hesitatin,ly( 3:ho plays that instr%*entB3 repeate the Co%nt( 3<oes not yo%r lor ship kno+, thenB3 sai the valet( 3:hat *ean yo%B3 sai the Co%nt, so*e+hat sternly( 39othin,, *y 0or , I *eant nothin,,3 re.oine the *an s%b*issively73Only7that *%sic7,oes abo%t the ho%se at *i ni,ht often, an I tho%,ht yo%r lor ship *i,ht have hear it before(3 3&%sic ,oes abo%t the ho%se at *i ni,ht? Poor fello+? 7 oes nobo y ance to the *%sic, tooB3 3It is not in the chatea%, I believe, *y 0or / the so%n s co*e fro* the +oo s, they say, tho%,h they see* so near/7b%t then a spirit can o any thin,?3 3Ah, poor fello+?3 sai the Co%nt, 3I perceive yo% are as silly as the rest of the*/ to6*orro+, yo% +ill be convince of yo%r ri ic%lo%s error( 1%t hark?7+hat voice is thatB3 3O *y 0or ? that is the voice +e often hear +ith the *%sic(3

3Often?3 sai the Co%nt, 3Ho+ often, prayB It is a very fine one(3 3:hy, *y 0or , I *yself have not hear it *ore than t+o or three ti*es, b%t there are those +ho have live here lon,er, that have hear it often eno%,h(3 3:hat a s+ell +as that?3 e-clai*e the Co%nt, as he still listene , 3An no+, +hat a yin, ca ence? This is s%rely so*ethin, *ore than *ortal?3 3That is +hat they say, *y 0or ,3 sai the valet/ 3they say it is nothin, *ortal, that %tters it/ an if I *i,ht say *y tho%,hts37 3Peace?3 sai the Co%nt, an he listene till the strain ie a+ay( 3This is stran,e?3 sai he, as he t%rne fro* the +in o+, 3Close the case*ents, Pierre(3 Pierre obeye , an the Co%nt soon after is*isse hi*, b%t i not so soon lose the re*e*brance of the *%sic, +hich lon, vibrate in his fancy in tones of *eltin, s+eetness, +hile s%rprise an perple-ity en,a,e his tho%,hts( 0% ovico, *ean+hile, in his re*ote cha*ber, hear , no+ an then, the faint echo of a closin, oor, as the fa*ily retire to rest, an then the hall clock, at a ,reat istance, strike t+elve( 3It is *i ni,ht,3 sai he, an he looke s%spicio%sly ro%n the spacio%s cha*ber( The fire on the hearth +as no+ nearly e-pirin,, for his attention havin, been en,a,e by the book before hi*, he ha for,otten every thin, besi es/ b%t he soon a e fresh +oo , not beca%se he +as col , tho%,h the ni,ht +as stor*y, b%t beca%se he +as cheerless/ an , havin, a,ain tri**e his la*p, he po%re o%t a ,lass of +ine, re+ his chair nearer to the cracklin, bla8e, trie to be eaf to the +in , that ho+le *o%rnf%lly at the case*ents, en eavo%re to abstract his *in fro* the *elancholy, that +as stealin, %pon hi*, an a,ain took %p his book( It ha been lent to hi* by <orothee, +ho ha for*erly picke it %p in an obsc%re corner of the &ar4%is3s library, an +ho, havin, opene it an perceive so*e of the *arvels it relate , ha caref%lly

preserve it for her o+n entertain*ent, its con ition ,ivin, her so*e e-c%se for etainin, it fro* its proper station( The a*p corner into +hich it ha fallen, ha ca%se the cover to be isfi,%re an *o%l y, an the leaves to be so iscolo%re +ith spots, that it +as not +itho%t iffic%lty the letters co%l be trace ( The fictions of the Provencal +riters, +hether ra+n fro* the Arabian le,en s, bro%,ht by the 'aracens into 'pain, or reco%ntin, the chivalric e-ploits perfor*e by the cr%sa ers, +ho* the Tro%ba ors acco*panie to the east, +ere ,enerally splen i an al+ays *arvello%s, both in scenery an inci ent/ an it is not +on erf%l, that <orothee an 0% ovico sho%l be fascinate by inventions, +hich ha captivate the careless i*a,ination in every rank of society, in a for*er a,e( 'o*e of the tales, ho+ever, in the book no+ before 0% ovico, +ere of si*ple str%ct%re, an e-hibite nothin, of the *a,nificent *achinery an heroic *anners, +hich %s%ally characteri8e the fables of the t+elfth cent%ry, an of this escription +as the one he no+ happene to open, +hich, in its ori,inal style, +as of ,reat len,th, b%t +hich *ay be th%s shortly relate ( The rea er +ill perceive, that it is stron,ly tinct%re +ith the s%perstition of the ti*es( THE PROVE9CA0 TA0E 3There live , in the province of 1reta,ne, a noble 1aron, fa*o%s for his *a,nificence an co%rtly hospitalities( His castle +as ,race +ith la ies of e-4%isite bea%ty, an thron,e +ith ill%strio%s kni,hts/ for the hono%r he pai to feats of chivalry invite the brave of istant co%ntries to enter his lists, an his co%rt +as *ore splen i than those of *any princes( Ei,ht *instrels +ere retaine in his service, +ho %se to sin, to their harps ro*antic fictions, taken fro* the Arabians, or a vent%res of chivalry, that befel kni,hts %rin, the cr%sa es, or the *artial ee s of the 1aron, their lor /7+hile he, s%rro%n e by his kni,hts an la ies, ban4%ete in the ,reat hall of his castle, +here the costly tapestry, that a orne the +alls +ith pict%re e-ploits of his ancestors, the case*ents of painte ,lass, enriche +ith ar*orial bearin,s, the ,or,eo%s

banners, that +ave alon, the roof, the s%*pt%o%s canopies, the prof%sion of ,ol an silver, that ,littere on the si eboar s, the n%*ero%s ishes, that covere the tables, the n%*ber an ,ay liveries of the atten ants, +ith the chivalric an splen i attire of the ,%ests, %nite to for* a scene of *a,nificence, s%ch as +e *ay not hope to see in these <EGE9ERATE <A2'( 3Of the 1aron, the follo+in, a vent%re is relate ( One ni,ht, havin, retire late fro* the ban4%et to his cha*ber, an is*isse his atten ants, he +as s%rprise by the appearance of a stran,er of a noble air, b%t of a sorro+f%l an e.ecte co%ntenance( 1elievin,, that this person ha been secrete in the apart*ent, since it appeare i*possible he co%l have lately passe the anti6roo*, %nobserve by the pa,es in +aitin,, +ho +o%l have prevente this intr%sion on their lor , the 1aron, callin, lo% ly for his people, re+ his s+or , +hich he ha not yet taken fro* his si e, an stoo %pon his efence( The stran,er slo+ly a vancin,, tol hi*, that there +as nothin, to fear/ that he ca*e +ith no hostile esi,n, b%t to co**%nicate to hi* a terrible secret, +hich it +as necessary for hi* to kno+( 3The 1aron, appease by the co%rteo%s *anners of the stran,er, after s%rveyin, hi*, for so*e ti*e, in silence, ret%rne his s+or into the scabbar , an esire hi* to e-plain the *eans, by +hich he ha obtaine access to the cha*ber, an the p%rpose of this e-traor inary visit( 3:itho%t ans+erin, either of these en4%iries, the stran,er sai , that he co%l not then e-plain hi*self, b%t that, if the 1aron +o%l follo+ hi* to the e ,e of the forest, at a short istance fro* the castle +alls, he +o%l there convince hi*, that he ha so*ethin, of i*portance to isclose( 3This proposal a,ain alar*e the 1aron, +ho co%l scarcely believe, that the stran,er *eant to ra+ hi* to so solitary a spot, at this ho%r of the ni,ht, +itho%t harbo%rin, a esi,n a,ainst his life, an he ref%se to

,o, observin,, at the sa*e ti*e, that, if the stran,er3s p%rpose +as an hono%rable one, he +o%l not persist in ref%sin, to reveal the occasion of his visit, in the apart*ent +here they +ere( 3:hile he spoke this, he vie+e the stran,er still *ore attentively than before, b%t observe no chan,e in his co%ntenance, or any sy*pto*, that *i,ht inti*ate a conscio%sness of evil esi,n( He +as habite like a kni,ht, +as of a tall an *a.estic stat%re, an of i,nifie an co%rteo%s *anners( 'till, ho+ever, he ref%se to co**%nicate the s%b.ect of his erran in any place, b%t that he ha *entione , an , at the sa*e ti*e, ,ave hints concernin, the secret he +o%l isclose, that a+akene a e,ree of sole*n c%riosity in the 1aron, +hich, at len,th, in %ce hi* to consent to follo+ the stran,er, on certain con itions( 3E'ir kni,ht,E sai he, EI +ill atten yo% to the forest, an +ill take +ith *e only fo%r of *y people, +ho shall +itness o%r conference(E 3To this, ho+ever, the Fni,ht ob.ecte ( 3E:hat I +o%l isclose,E sai he, +ith sole*nity, Eis to yo% alone( There are only three livin, persons, to +ho* the circ%*stance is kno+n/ it is of *ore conse4%ence to yo% an yo%r ho%se, than I shall no+ e-plain( In f%t%re years, yo% +ill look back to this ni,ht +ith satisfaction or repentance, accor in,ly as yo% no+ eter*ine( As yo% +o%l hereafter prosper7follo+ *e/ I ple ,e yo% the hono%r of a kni,ht, that no evil shall befall yo%/7if yo% are contente to are f%t%rity 7re*ain in yo%r cha*ber, an I +ill epart as I ca*e(E 3E'ir kni,ht,E replie the 1aron, Eho+ is it possible, that *y f%t%re peace can epen %pon *y present eter*inationBE 3EThat is not no+ to be tol ,E sai the stran,er, EI have e-plaine *yself to the %t*ost( It is late/ if yo% follo+ *e it *%st be 4%ickly/7yo% +ill o +ell to consi er the alternative(E

3The 1aron *%se , an , as he looke %pon the kni,ht, he perceive his co%ntenance ass%*e a sin,%lar sole*nity(3 CHere 0% ovico tho%,ht he hear a noise, an he thre+ a ,lance ro%n the cha*ber, an then hel %p the la*p to assist his observation/ b%t, not perceivin, any thin, to confir* his alar*, he took %p the book a,ain an p%rs%e the story(D 3The 1aron pace his apart*ent, for so*e ti*e, in silence, i*presse by the last +or s of the stran,er, +hose e-traor inary re4%est he feare to ,rant, an feare , also, to ref%se( At len,th, he sai , E'ir kni,ht, yo% are %tterly %nkno+n to *e/ tell *e yo%rself,7is it reasonable, that I sho%l tr%st *yself alone +ith a stran,er, at this ho%r, in a solitary forestB Tell *e, at least, +ho yo% are, an +ho assiste to secrete yo% in this cha*ber(E 3The kni,ht fro+ne at these latter +or s, an +as a *o*ent silent/ then, +ith a co%ntenance so*e+hat stern, he sai , 3EI a* an En,lish kni,ht/ I a* calle 'ir 1evys of 0ancaster,7an *y ee s are not %nkno+n at the Holy City, +hence I +as ret%rnin, to *y native lan , +hen I +as beni,hte in the nei,hbo%rin, forest(E 3E2o%r na*e is not %nkno+n to fa*e,E sai the 1aron, EI have hear of it(E =The Fni,ht looke ha%,htily(> E1%t +hy, since *y castle is kno+n to entertain all tr%e kni,hts, i not yo%r heral anno%nce yo%B :hy i yo% not appear at the ban4%et, +here yo%r presence +o%l have been +elco*e , instea of hi in, yo%rself in *y castle, an stealin, to *y cha*ber, at *i ni,htBE 3The stran,er fro+ne , an t%rne a+ay in silence/ b%t the 1aron repeate the 4%estions( 3EI co*e not,E sai the Fni,ht, Eto ans+er en4%iries, b%t to reveal facts( If yo% +o%l kno+ *ore, follo+ *e, an a,ain I ple ,e the hono%r of a Fni,ht, that yo% shall ret%rn in safety(71e 4%ick in yo%r eter*ination 7I *%st be ,one(E

3After so*e f%rther hesitation, the 1aron eter*ine to follo+ the stran,er, an to see the res%lt of his e-traor inary re4%est/ he, therefore, a,ain re+ forth his s+or , an , takin, %p a la*p, ba e the Fni,ht lea on( The latter obeye , an , openin, the oor of the cha*ber, they passe into the anti6roo*, +here the 1aron, s%rprise to fin all his pa,es asleep, stoppe , an , +ith hasty violence, +as ,oin, to repri*an the* for their carelessness, +hen the Fni,ht +ave his han , an looke so e-pressively %pon the 1aron, that the latter restraine his resent*ent, an passe on( 3The Fni,ht, havin, escen e a stair6case, opene a secret oor, +hich the 1aron ha believe +as kno+n only to hi*self, an , procee in, thro%,h several narro+ an +in in, passa,es, ca*e, at len,th, to a s*all ,ate, that opene beyon the +alls of the castle( &ean+hile, the 1aron follo+e in silence an a*a8e*ent, on perceivin, that these secret passa,es +ere so +ell kno+n to a stran,er, an felt incline to ret%rn fro* an a vent%re, that appeare to partake of treachery, as +ell as an,er( Then, consi erin, that he +as ar*e , an observin, the co%rteo%s an noble air of his con %ctor, his co%ra,e ret%rne , he bl%she , that it ha faile hi* for a *o*ent, an he resolve to trace the *ystery to its so%rce( 3He no+ fo%n hi*self on the heathy platfor*, before the ,reat ,ates of his castle, +here, on lookin, %p, he perceive li,hts ,li**erin, in the ifferent case*ents of the ,%ests, +ho +ere retirin, to sleep/ an , +hile he shivere in the blast, an looke on the ark an esolate scene aro%n hi*, he tho%,ht of the co*forts of his +ar* cha*ber, ren ere cheerf%l by the bla8e of +oo , an felt, for a *o*ent, the f%ll contrast of his present sit%ation(3 CHere 0% ovico pa%se a *o*ent, an , lookin, at his o+n fire, ,ave it a bri,htenin, stir(D 3The +in +as stron,, an the 1aron +atche his la*p +ith an-iety, e-pectin, every *o*ent to see it e-tin,%ishe / b%t, tho%,h the fla*e +avere , it i not

e-pire, an he still follo+e the stran,er, +ho often si,he as he +ent, b%t i not speak( 3:hen they reache the bor ers of the forest, the Fni,ht t%rne , an raise his hea , as if he *eant to a ress the 1aron, b%t then, closin, his lips in silence, he +alke on( 3As they entere , beneath the ark an sprea in, bo%,hs, the 1aron, affecte by the sole*nity of the scene, hesitate +hether to procee , an e*an e ho+ *%ch f%rther they +ere to ,o( The Fni,ht replie only by a ,est%re, an the 1aron, +ith hesitatin, steps an a s%spicio%s eye, follo+e thro%,h an obsc%re an intricate path, till, havin, procee e a consi erable +ay, he a,ain e*an e +hither they +ere ,oin,, an ref%se to procee %nless he +as infor*e ( 3As he sai this, he looke at his o+n s+or , an at the Fni,ht alternately, +ho shook his hea , an +hose e.ecte co%ntenance isar*e the 1aron, for a *o*ent, of s%spicion( 3EA little f%rther is the place, +hither I +o%l lea yo%,E sai the stran,er/ Eno evil shall befall yo%7I have s+orn it on the hono%r of a kni,ht(E 3The 1aron, re6ass%re , a,ain follo+e in silence, an they soon arrive at a eep recess of the forest, +here the ark an lofty chesn%ts entirely e-cl% e the sky, an +hich +as so over,ro+n +ith %n er+oo , that they procee e +ith iffic%lty( The Fni,ht si,he eeply as he passe , an so*eti*es pa%se / an havin,, at len,th, reache a spot, +here the trees cro+ e into a knot, he t%rne , an , +ith a terrific look, pointin, to the ,ro%n , the 1aron sa+ there the bo y of a *an, stretche at its len,th, an +elterin, in bloo / a ,hastly +o%n +as on the forehea , an eath appeare alrea y to have contracte the feat%res( 3The 1aron, on perceivin, the spectacle, starte in horror, looke at the Fni,ht for e-planation, an +as then ,oin, to raise the bo y an e-a*ine if there +ere yet any re*ains of life/ b%t the stran,er, +avin, his

han , fi-e %pon hi* a look so earnest an *o%rnf%l, as not only *%ch s%rprise hi*, b%t *a e hi* esist( 31%t, +hat +ere the 1aron3s e*otions, +hen, on hol in, the la*p near the feat%res of the corpse, he iscovere the e-act rese*blance of the stran,er his con %ctor, to +ho* he no+ looke %p in astonish*ent an en4%iryB As he ,a8e , he perceive the co%ntenance of the Fni,ht chan,e, an be,in to fa e, till his +hole for* ,ra %ally vanishe fro* his astonishe sense? :hile the 1aron stoo , fi-e to the spot, a voice +as hear to %tter these +or s;73 C0% ovico starte , an lai o+n the book, for he tho%,ht he hear a voice in the cha*ber, an he looke to+ar the be , +here, ho+ever, he sa+ only the ark c%rtains an the pall( He listene , scarcely arin, to ra+ his breath, b%t hear only the istant roarin, of the sea in the stor*, an the blast, that r%she by the case*ents/ +hen, concl% in,, that he ha been eceive by its si,hin,s, he took %p his book to finish the story(D 3:hile the 1aron stoo , fi-e to the spot, a voice +as hear to %tter these +or s;7G =G This repetition see*s to be intentional( 0% ovico is pickin, %p the threa (> 3The bo y of 'ir 1evys of 0ancaster, a noble kni,ht of En,lan , lies before yo%( He +as, this ni,ht, +aylai an *%r ere , as he .o%rneye fro* the Holy City to+ar s his native lan ( Respect the hono%r of kni,hthoo an the la+ of h%*anity/ inter the bo y in christian ,ro%n , an ca%se his *%r erers to be p%nishe ( As ye observe, or ne,lect this, shall peace an happiness, or +ar an *isery, li,ht %pon yo% an yo%r ho%se for ever?3 3The 1aron, +hen he recovere fro* the a+e an astonish*ent, into +hich this a vent%re ha thro+n hi*, ret%rne to his castle, +hither he ca%se the bo y of 'ir 1evys to be re*ove / an , on the follo+in, ay, it +as interre , +ith the hono%rs of kni,hthoo , in the

chapel of the castle, atten e by all the noble kni,hts an la ies, +ho ,race the co%rt of 1aron e 1r%nne(3 0% ovico, havin, finishe this story, lai asi e the book, for he felt ro+sy, an , after p%ttin, *ore +oo on the fire an takin, another ,lass of +ine, he repose hi*self in the ar*6chair on the hearth( In his rea* he still behel the cha*ber +here he really +as, an , once or t+ice, starte fro* i*perfect sl%*bers, i*a,inin, he sa+ a *an3s face, lookin, over the hi,h back of his ar*chair( This i ea ha so stron,ly i*presse hi*, that, +hen he raise his eyes, he al*ost e-pecte to *eet other eyes, fi-e %pon his o+n, an he 4%itte his seat an looke behin the chair, before he felt perfectly convince , that no person +as there( Th%s close the ho%r(

#HAPTER %II
Enjoy the honey%hea"y de of slu!berA Thou hast no figures, nor no fantasies, <hich busy care dra s in the brains of !enA Therefore thou sleep=st so sound# 48A;E4PEARE

The Co%nt, +ho ha slept little %rin, the ni,ht, rose early, an , an-io%s to speak +ith 0% ovico, +ent to the north apart*ent/ b%t, the o%ter oor havin, been fastene , on the prece in, ni,ht, he +as obli,e to knock lo% ly for a *ittance( 9either the knockin,, or his voice +as hear / b%t, consi erin, the istance of this oor fro* the be 6roo*, an that 0% ovico, +earie +ith +atchin,, ha probably fallen into a eep sleep, the Co%nt +as not s%rprise on receivin, no ans+er, an , leavin, the oor, he +ent o+n to +alk in his ,ro%n s( It +as a ,ray a%t%*nal *ornin,( The s%n, risin, over Provence, ,ave only a feeble li,ht, as his rays str%,,le thro%,h the vapo%rs that ascen e fro* the sea, an floate heavily over the +oo 6tops, +hich +ere no+

varie +ith *any a *ello+ tint of a%t%*n( The stor* +as passe , b%t the +aves +ere yet violently a,itate , an their co%rse +as trace by lon, lines of foa*, +hile not a bree8e fl%ttere in the sails of the vessels, near the shore, that +ere +ei,hin, anchor to epart( The still ,loo* of the ho%r +as pleasin, to the Co%nt, an he p%rs%e his +ay thro%,h the +oo s, s%nk in eep tho%,ht( E*ily also rose at an early ho%r, an took her c%sto*ary +alk alon, the bro+ of the pro*ontory, that overh%n, the &e iterranean( Her *in +as no+ not occ%pie +ith the occ%rrences of the chatea%, an Valanco%rt +as the s%b.ect of her *o%rnf%l tho%,hts/ +ho* she ha not yet ta%,ht herself to consi er +ith in ifference, tho%,h her .% ,*ent constantly reproache her for the affection, that lin,ere in her heart, after her estee* for hi* +as eparte ( Re*e*brance fre4%ently ,ave her his partin, look an the tones of his voice, +hen he ha ba e her a last fare+el/ an , so*e acci ental associations no+ recallin, these circ%*stances to her fancy, +ith pec%liar ener,y, she she bitter tears to the recollection( Havin, reache the +atch6to+er, she seate herself on the broken steps, an , in *elancholy e.ection, +atche the +aves, half hi in vapo%r, as they ca*e rollin, to+ar s the shore, an thre+ %p their li,ht spray ro%n the rocks belo+( Their hollo+ *%r*%r an the obsc%rin, *ists, that ca*e in +reaths %p the cliffs, ,ave a sole*nity to the scene, +hich +as in har*ony +ith the te*per of her *in , an she sat, ,iven %p to the re*e*brance of past ti*es, till this beca*e too painf%l, an she abr%ptly 4%itte the place( On passin, the little ,ate of the +atch6to+er, she observe letters, en,rave on the stone postern, +hich she pa%se to e-a*ine, an , tho%,h they appeare to have been r% ely c%t +ith a pen6knife, the characters +ere fa*iliar to her/ at len,th, reco,ni8in, the han 6+ritin, of Valanco%rt, she rea , +ith tre*blin, an-iety the follo+in, lines, entitle 'HIP:RECF

=Til sole!n !idnight> 7n this lonely steep, Beneath this atch%to =r=s desolated all, <here !ystic shapes the onderer appall, 5 restA and "ie belo the desert deep, As through te!pestuous clouds the !oon=s cold light Glea!s on the a"e# Die less, the inds of night <ith loud !ysterious force the billo s s eep, And sullen roar the surges, far belo # 5n the still pauses of the gust 5 hear The "oice of spirits, rising s eet and slo , And oft a!ong the clouds their for!s appear# But hark> hat shriek of death co!es in the gale, And in the distant ray hat gli!!ering sail Bends to the stor!E?:o sinks the note of fear> Ah> retched !ariners>?no !ore shall day Unclose his cheering eye to light ye on your ay>

)ro* these lines it appeare , that Valanco%rt ha visite the to+er/ that he ha probably been here on the prece in, ni,ht, for it +as s%ch an one as they escribe , an that he ha left the b%il in, very lately, since it ha not lon, been li,ht, an +itho%t li,ht it +as i*possible these letters co%l have been c%t( It +as th%s even probable, that he *i,ht be yet in the ,ar ens( As these reflections passe rapi ly over the *in of E*ily, they calle %p a variety of conten in, e*otions, that al*ost overca*e her spirits/ b%t her first i*p%lse +as to avoi hi*, an , i**e iately leavin, the to+er, she ret%rne , +ith hasty steps, to+ar s the chatea%( As she passe alon,, she re*e*bere the *%sic she ha lately hear near the to+er, +ith the fi,%re, +hich ha appeare , an , in this *o*ent of a,itation, she +as incline to believe, that she ha then hear an seen Valanco%rt/ b%t other recollections soon convince her of her error( On t%rnin, into a thicker part of the +oo s, she perceive a person, +alkin, slo+ly in the ,loo* at so*e little istance, an , her *in en,a,e by the i ea of hi*, she starte an pa%se , i*a,inin, this to be Valanco%rt( The person a vance +ith 4%icker steps, an , before she co%l recover recollection eno%,h to avoi hi*, he spoke, an she then kne+ the voice of the Co%nt, +ho e-presse so*e s%rprise, on fin in, her +alkin, at so early an ho%r, an *a e a feeble effort to rally her on her love of solit% e( 1%t he soon perceive this to be *ore a s%b.ect of concern than of li,ht la%,hter, an , chan,in,

his *anner, affectionately e-post%late +ith E*ily, on th%s in %l,in, %navailin, re,ret/ +ho, tho%,h she ackno+le ,e the .%stness of all he sai , co%l not restrain her tears, +hile she i so, an he presently 4%itte the topic( E-pressin, s%rprise at not havin, yet hear fro* his frien , the A vocate at Avi,non, in ans+er to the 4%estions propose to hi*, respectin, the estates of the late &a a*e &ontoni, he, +ith frien ly 8eal, en eavo%re to cheer E*ily +ith hopes of establishin, her clai* to the*/ +hile she felt, that the estates co%l no+ contrib%te little to the happiness of a life, in +hich Valanco%rt ha no lon,er an interest( :hen they ret%rne to the chatea%, E*ily retire to her apart*ent, an Co%nt <e Villefort to the oor of the north cha*bers( This +as still fastene , b%t, bein, no+ eter*ine to aro%se 0% ovico, he rene+e his calls *ore lo% ly than before, after +hich a total silence ens%e , an the Co%nt, fin in, all his efforts to be hear ineffect%al, at len,th be,an to fear, that so*e acci ent ha befallen 0% ovico, +ho* terror of an i*a,inary bein, *i,ht have eprive of his senses( He, therefore, left the oor +ith an intention of s%**onin, his servants to force it open, so*e of +ho* he no+ hear *ovin, in the lo+er part of the chatea%( To the Co%nt3s en4%iries, +hether they ha seen or hear 0% ovico, they replie in affri,ht, that not one of the* ha vent%re on the north si e of the chatea%, since the prece in, ni,ht( 3He sleeps so%n ly then,3 sai the Co%nt, 3an is at s%ch a istance fro* the o%ter oor, +hich is fastene , that to ,ain a *ittance to the cha*bers it +ill be necessary to force it( 1rin, an instr%*ent, an follo+ *e(3 The servants stoo *%te an e.ecte , an it +as not till nearly all the ho%sehol +ere asse*ble , that the Co%nt3s or ers +ere obeye ( In the *ean ti*e, <orothee +as tellin, of a oor, that opene fro* a ,allery, lea in, fro* the ,reat stair6case into the last anti6roo* of the saloon, an , this bein, *%ch nearer to the be 6cha*ber, it appeare probable, that 0% ovico *i,ht be easily a+akene by an atte*pt to open it(

Thither, therefore, the Co%nt +ent, b%t his voice +as as ineffect%al at this oor as it ha prove at the re*oter one/ an no+, serio%sly intereste for 0% ovico, he +as hi*self ,oin, to strike %pon the oor +ith the instr%*ent, +hen he observe its sin,%lar bea%ty, an +ith6hel the blo+( It appeare , on the first ,lance, to be of ebony, so ark an close +as its ,rain an so hi,h its polish/ b%t it prove to be only of larch +oo , of the ,ro+th of Provence, then fa*o%s for its forests of larch( The bea%ty of its polishe h%e an of its elicate carvin,s eter*ine the Co%nt to spare this oor, an he ret%rne to that lea in, fro* the back stair6case, +hich bein,, at len,th, force , he entere the first anti6 roo*, follo+e by Henri an a fe+ of the *ost co%ra,eo%s of his servants, the rest a+aitin, the event of the en4%iry on the stairs an lan in,6place( All +as silent in the cha*bers, thro%,h +hich the Co%nt passe , an , havin, reache the saloon, he calle lo% ly %pon 0% ovico/ after +hich, still receivin, no ans+er, he thre+ open the oor of the be 6roo*, an entere ( The profo%n stillness +ithin confir*e his apprehensions for 0% ovico, for not even the breathin,s of a person in sleep +ere hear / an his %ncertainty +as not soon ter*inate , since the sh%tters bein, all close , the cha*ber +as too ark for any ob.ect to be istin,%ishe in it( The Co%nt ba e a servant open the*, +ho, as he crosse the roo* to o so, st%*ble over so*ethin,, an fell to the floor, +hen his cry occasione s%ch panic a*on, the fe+ of his fello+s, +ho ha vent%re th%s far, that they instantly fle , an the Co%nt an Henri +ere left to finish the a vent%re( Henri then spr%n, across the roo*, an , openin, a +in o+6sh%tter, they perceive , that the *an ha fallen over a chair near the hearth, in +hich 0% ovico ha been sittin,/7for he sat there no lon,er, nor co%l any +here be seen by the i*perfect li,ht, that +as a *itte into the apart*ent( The Co%nt, serio%sly alar*e , no+ opene other sh%tters, that he *i,ht be enable to

e-a*ine f%rther, an , 0% ovico not yet appearin,, he stoo for a *o*ent, s%spen e in astonish*ent an scarcely tr%stin, his senses, till, his eyes ,lancin, on the be , he a vance to e-a*ine +hether he +as there asleep( 9o person, ho+ever, +as in it, an he procee e to the oriel, +here every thin, re*aine as on the prece in, ni,ht, b%t 0% ovico +as no +here to be fo%n ( The Co%nt no+ checke his a*a8e*ent, consi erin,, that 0% ovico *i,ht have left the cha*bers, %rin, the ni,ht, overco*e by the terrors, +hich their lonely esolation an the recollecte reports, concernin, the*, ha inspire ( 2et, if this ha been the fact, the *an +o%l nat%rally have so%,ht society, an his fello+ servants ha all eclare they ha not seen hi*/ the oor of the o%ter roo* also ha been fo%n fastene , +ith the key on the insi e/ it +as i*possible, therefore, for hi* to have passe thro%,h that, an all the o%ter oors of this s%ite +ere fo%n , on e-a*ination, to be bolte an locke , +ith the keys also +ithin the*( The Co%nt, bein, then co*pelle to believe, that the la ha escape thro%,h the case*ents, ne-t e-a*ine the*, b%t s%ch as opene +i e eno%,h to a *it the bo y of a *an +ere fo%n to be caref%lly sec%re either by iron bars, or by sh%tters, an no vesti,e appeare of any person havin, atte*pte to pass the*/ neither +as it probable, that 0% ovico +o%l have inc%rre the ris4%e of breakin, his neck, by leapin, fro* a +in o+, +hen he *i,ht have +alke safely thro%,h a oor( The Co%nt3s a*a8e*ent i not a *it of +or s/ b%t he ret%rne once *ore to e-a*ine the be 6roo*, +here +as no appearance of isor er, e-cept that occasione by the late overthro+ of the chair, near +hich ha stoo a s*all table, an on this 0% ovico3s s+or , his la*p, the book he ha been rea in,, an the re*nant of his flask of +ine still re*aine ( At the foot of the table, too, +as the basket +ith so*e fra,*ents of provision an +oo ( Henri an the servant no+ %ttere their astonish*ent +itho%t reserve, an , tho%,h the Co%nt sai little, there

+as a serio%sness in his *anner, that e-presse *%ch( It appeare , that 0% ovico *%st have 4%itte these roo*s by so*e conceale passa,e, for the Co%nt co%l not believe, that any s%pernat%ral *eans ha occasione this event, yet, if there +as any s%ch passa,e, it see*e ine-plicable +hy he sho%l retreat thro%,h it, an it +as e4%ally s%rprisin,, that not even the s*allest vesti,e sho%l appear, by +hich his pro,ress co%l be trace ( In the roo*s every thin, re*aine as *%ch in or er as if he ha .%st +alke o%t by the co**on +ay( The Co%nt hi*self assiste in liftin, the arras, +ith +hich the be 6cha*ber, saloon an one of the anti6 roo*s +ere h%n,, that he *i,ht iscover if any oor ha been conceale behin it/ b%t, after a laborio%s search, none +as fo%n , an he, at len,th, 4%itte the apart*ents, havin, sec%re the oor of the last anti6 cha*ber, the key of +hich he took into his o+n possession( He then ,ave or ers, that strict search sho%l be *a e for 0% ovico not only in the chatea%, b%t in the nei,hbo%rhoo , an , retirin, +ith Henri to his closet, they re*aine there in conversation for a consi erable ti*e, an +hatever +as the s%b.ect of it, Henri fro* this ho%r lost *%ch of his vivacity, an his *anners +ere partic%larly ,rave an reserve , +henever the topic, +hich no+ a,itate the Co%nt3s fa*ily +ith +on er an alar*, +as intro %ce ( On the isappearin, of 0% ovico, 1aron 't( )oisee*e stren,thene in all his for*er opinions concernin, the probability of apparitions, tho%,h it +as iffic%lt to iscover +hat connection there co%l possibly be bet+een the t+o s%b.ects, or to acco%nt for this effect other+ise than by s%pposin,, that the *ystery atten in, 0% ovico, by e-citin, a+e an c%riosity, re %ce the *in to a state of sensibility, +hich ren ere it *ore liable to the infl%ence of s%perstition in ,eneral( It is, ho+ever, certain, that fro* this perio the 1aron an his a herents beca*e *ore bi,ote to their o+n syste*s than before, +hile the terrors of the Co%nt3s servants increase to an e-cess, that occasione *any of the* to 4%it the *ansion

i**e iately, an the rest re*aine only till others co%l be proc%re to s%pply their places( The *ost stren%o%s search after 0% ovico prove %ns%ccessf%l, an , after several ays of in efati,able en4%iry, poor Annette ,ave herself %p to espair, an the other inhabitants of the chatea% to a*a8e*ent( E*ily, +hose *in ha been eeply affecte by the isastro%s fate of the late &archioness an +ith the *ysterio%s connection, +hich she fancie ha e-iste bet+een her an 't( A%bert, +as partic%larly i*presse by the late e-traor inary event, an *%ch concerne for the loss of 0% ovico, +hose inte,rity an faithf%l services clai*e both her estee* an ,ratit% e( 'he +as no+ very esiro%s to ret%rn to the 4%iet retire*ent of her convent, b%t every hint of this +as receive +ith real sorro+ by the 0a y 1lanche, an affectionately set asi e by the Co%nt, for +ho* she felt *%ch of the respectf%l love an a *iration of a a%,hter, an to +ho*, by <orothee3s consent, she, at len,th, *entione the appearance, +hich they ha +itnesse in the cha*ber of the ecease &archioness( At any other perio , he +o%l have s*ile at s%ch a relation, an have believe , that its ob.ect ha e-iste only in the iste*pere fancy of the relater/ b%t he no+ atten e to E*ily +ith serio%sness, an , +hen she concl% e , re4%este of her a pro*ise, that this occ%rrence sho%l rest in silence( 3:hatever *ay be the ca%se an the i*port of these e-traor inary occ%rrences,3 a e the Co%nt, 3ti*e only can e-plain the*( I shall keep a +ary eye %pon all that passes in the chatea%, an shall p%rs%e every possible *eans of iscoverin, the fate of 0% ovico( &ean+hile, +e *%st be pr% ent an be silent( I +ill *yself +atch in the north cha*bers, b%t of this +e +ill say nothin,, till the ni,ht arrives, +hen I p%rpose oin, so(3 The Co%nt then sent for <orothee, an re4%ire of her also a pro*ise of silence, concernin, +hat she ha alrea y, or *i,ht in f%t%re +itness of an e-traor inary nat%re/ an this ancient servant no+ relate to hi* the partic%lars of the &archioness e Villeroi3s eath, +ith so*e of +hich he appeare to be alrea y ac4%ainte ,

+hile by others he +as evi ently s%rprise an a,itate ( After listenin, to this narrative, the Co%nt retire to his closet, +here he re*aine alone for several ho%rs/ an , +hen he a,ain appeare , the sole*nity of his *anner s%rprise an alar*e E*ily, b%t she ,ave no %tterance to her tho%,hts( On the +eek follo+in, the isappearance of 0% ovico, all the Co%nt3s ,%ests took leave of hi*, e-cept the 1aron, his son &ons( 't( )oi-, an E*ily/ the latter of +ho* +as soon after e*barrasse an istresse by the arrival of another visitor, &ons( <% Pont, +hich *a e her eter*ine %pon +ith ra+in, to her convent i**e iately( The eli,ht, that appeare in his co%ntenance, +hen he *et her, tol that he bro%,ht back the sa*e ar o%r of passion, +hich ha for*erly banishe hi* fro* Chatea%6le61lanc( He +as receive +ith reserve by E*ily, an +ith pleas%re by the Co%nt, +ho presente hi* to her +ith a s*ile, that see*e inten e to plea his ca%se, an +ho i not hope the less for his frien , fro* the e*barrass*ent she betraye ( 1%t &( <% Pont, +ith tr%er sy*pathy, see*e to %n erstan her *anner, an his co%ntenance 4%ickly lost its vivacity, an s%nk into the lan,%or of espon ency( On the follo+in, ay, ho+ever, he so%,ht an opport%nity of eclarin, the p%rport of his visit, an rene+e his s%it/ a eclaration, +hich +as receive +ith real concern by E*ily, +ho en eavo%re to lessen the pain she *i,ht inflict by a secon re.ection, +ith ass%rances of estee* an frien ship/ yet she left hi* in a state of *in , that clai*e an e-cite her ten erest co*passion/ an , bein, *ore sensible than ever of the i*propriety of re*ainin, lon,er at the chatea%, she i**e iately so%,ht the Co%nt, an co**%nicate to hi* her intention of ret%rnin, to the convent( 3&y ear E*ily,3 sai he 3I observe, +ith e-tre*e concern, the ill%sion yo% are enco%ra,in,7an ill%sion co**on to yo%n, an sensible *in s( 2o%r heart has receive a severe shock/ yo% believe yo% can never

entirely recover it, an yo% +ill enco%ra,e this belief, till the habit of in %l,in, sorro+ +ill s%b %e the stren,th of yo%r *in , an iscolo%r yo%r f%t%re vie+s +ith *elancholy an re,ret( 0et *e issipate this ill%sion, an a+aken yo% to a sense of yo%r an,er(3 E*ily s*ile *o%rnf%lly, 3I kno+ +hat yo% +o%l say, *y ear sir,3 sai she, 3an a* prepare to ans+er yo%( I feel, that *y heart can never kno+ a secon affection/ an that I *%st never hope even to recover its tran4%illity7if I s%ffer *yself to enter into a secon en,a,e*ent(3 3I kno+, that yo% feel all this,3 replie the Co%nt/ 3an I kno+, also, that ti*e +ill overco*e these feelin,s, %nless yo% cherish the* in solit% e, an , par on *e, +ith ro*antic ten erness( Then, in ee , ti*e +ill only confir* habit( I a* partic%larly e*po+ere to speak on this s%b.ect, an to sy*pathi8e in yo%r s%fferin,s,3 a e the Co%nt, +ith an air of sole*nity, 3for I have kno+n +hat it is to love, an to la*ent the ob.ect of *y love( 2es,3 contin%e he, +hile his eyes fille +ith tears, 3I have s%ffere ?7b%t those ti*es have passe a+ay7lon, passe ? an I can no+ look back %pon the* +itho%t e*otion(3 3&y ear sir,3 sai E*ily, ti*i ly, 3+hat *ean those tearsB7they speak, I fear, another lan,%a,e7they plea for *e(3 3They are +eak tears, for they are %seless ones,3 replie the Co%nt, ryin, the*, 3I +o%l have yo% s%perior to s%ch +eakness( These, ho+ever, are only faint traces of a ,rief, +hich, if it ha not been oppose by lon, contin%e effort, *i,ht have le *e to the ver,e of *a ness? @% ,e, then, +hether I have not ca%se to +arn yo% of an in %l,ence, +hich *ay pro %ce so terrible an effect, an +hich *%st certainly, if not oppose , overclo% the years, that other+ise *i,ht be happy( &( <% Pont is a sensible an a*iable *an, +ho has lon, been ten erly attache to yo%/ his fa*ily an fort%ne are %ne-ceptionable/7after +hat I have sai , it is %nnecessary to a , that I sho%l re.oice in yo%r felicity, an that I think &( <% Pont +o%l pro*ote it(

<o not +eep, E*ily,3 contin%e the Co%nt, takin, her han , 3there I' happiness reserve for yo%(3 He +as silent a *o*ent/ an then a e , in a fir*er voice, 3I o not +ish, that yo% sho%l *ake a violent effort to overco*e yo%r feelin,s/ all I, at present, ask, is, that yo% +ill check the tho%,hts, that +o%l lea yo% to a re*e*brance of the past/ that yo% +ill s%ffer yo%r *in to be en,a,e by present ob.ects/ that yo% +ill allo+ yo%rself to believe it possible yo% *ay yet be happy/ an that yo% +ill so*eti*es think +ith co*placency of poor <% Pont, an not con e*n hi* to the state of espon ency, fro* +hich, *y ear E*ily, I a* en eavo%rin, to +ith ra+ yo%(3 3Ah? *y ear sir,3 sai E*ily, +hile her tears still fell, 3 o not s%ffer the benevolence of yo%r +ishes to *islea &ons( <% Pont +ith an e-pectation that I can ever accept his han ( If I %n erstan *y o+n heart, this never can be/ yo%r instr%ction I can obey in al*ost every other partic%lar, than that of a optin, a contrary belief(3 30eave *e to %n erstan yo%r heart,3 replie the Co%nt, +ith a faint s*ile( 3If yo% pay *e the co*pli*ent to be ,%i e by *y a vice in other instances, I +ill par on yo%r incre %lity, respectin, yo%r f%t%re con %ct to+ar s &ons( <% Pont( I +ill not even press yo% to re*ain lon,er at the chatea% than yo%r o+n satisfaction +ill per*it/ b%t tho%,h I forbear to oppose yo%r present retire*ent, I shall %r,e the clai*s of frien ship for yo%r f%t%re visits(3 Tears of ,ratit% e *in,le +ith those of ten er re,ret, +hile E*ily thanke the Co%nt for the *any instances of frien ship she ha receive fro* hi*/ pro*ise to be irecte by his a vice %pon every s%b.ect b%t one, an ass%re hi* of the pleas%re, +ith +hich she sho%l , at so*e f%t%re perio , accept the invitation of the Co%ntess an hi*self7If &ons( <% Pont +as not at the chatea%( The Co%nt s*ile at this con ition( 31e it so,3 sai he, 3*ean+hile the convent is so near the chatea%, that *y a%,hter an I shall often visit yo%/ an if, so*eti*es,

+e sho%l are to brin, yo% another visitor7+ill yo% for,ive %sB3 E*ily looke istresse , an re*aine silent( 3:ell,3 re.oine the Co%nt, 3I +ill p%rs%e this s%b.ect no f%rther, an *%st no+ entreat yo%r for,iveness for havin, presse it th%s far( 2o% +ill, ho+ever, o *e the .%stice to believe, that I have been %r,e only by a sincere re,ar for yo%r happiness, an that of *y a*iable frien &ons( <% Pont(3 E*ily, +hen she left the Co%nt, +ent to *ention her inten e epart%re to the Co%ntess, +ho oppose it +ith polite e-pressions of re,ret/ after +hich, she sent a note to ac4%aint the la y abbess, that she sho%l ret%rn to the convent/ an thither she +ith re+ on the evenin, of the follo+in, ay( &( <% Pont, in e-tre*e re,ret, sa+ her epart, +hile the Co%nt en eavo%re to cheer hi* +ith a hope, that E*ily +o%l so*eti*es re,ar hi* +ith a *ore favo%rable eye( 'he +as please to fin herself once *ore in the tran4%il retire*ent of the convent, +here she e-perience a rene+al of all the *aternal kin ness of the abbess, an of the sisterly attentions of the n%ns( A report of the late e-traor inary occ%rrence at the chatea% ha alrea y reache the*, an , after s%pper, on the evenin, of her arrival, it +as the s%b.ect of conversation in the convent parlo%r, +here she +as re4%este to *ention so*e partic%lars of that %nacco%ntable event( E*ily +as ,%ar e in her conversation on this s%b.ect, an briefly relate a fe+ circ%*stances concernin, 0% ovico, +hose isappearance, her a% itors al*ost %nani*o%sly a,ree , ha been effecte by s%pernat%ral *eans( 3A belief ha so lon, prevaile ,3 sai a n%n, +ho +as calle sister )rances, 3that the chatea% +as ha%nte , that I +as s%rprise , +hen I hear the Co%nt ha the te*erity to inhabit it( Its for*er possessor, I fear, ha so*e ee of conscience to atone for/ let %s hope, that the virt%es of its present o+ner +ill preserve hi* fro* the p%nish*ent %e to the errors of the last, if, in ee , he +as a cri*inal(3

3Of +hat cri*e, then, +as he s%specte B3 sai &a e*oiselle )ey ea%, a boar er at the convent(

30et %s pray for his so%l?3 sai a n%n, +ho ha till no+ sat in silent attention( 3If he +as cri*inal, his p%nish*ent in this +orl +as s%fficient(3 There +as a *i-t%re of +il ness an sole*nity in her *anner of eliverin, this, +hich str%ck E*ily e-cee in,ly/ b%t &a e*oiselle repeate her 4%estion, +itho%t noticin, the sole*n ea,erness of the n%n( 3I are not pres%*e to say +hat +as his cri*e,3 replie sister )rances/ 3b%t I have hear *any reports of an e-traor inary nat%re, respectin, the late &ar4%is e Villeroi, an a*on, others, that, soon after the eath of his la y, he 4%itte Chatea%6le61lanc, an never after+ar s ret%rne to it( I +as not here at the ti*e, so I can only *ention it fro* report, an so *any years have passe since the &archioness ie , that fe+ of o%r sisterhoo , I believe, can o *ore(3 31%t I can,3 sai the n%n, +ho ha before spoke, an +ho* they calle sister A,nes( 32o% then,3 sai &a e*oiselle )ey ea%, 3are possibly ac4%ainte +ith circ%*stances, that enable yo% to .% ,e, +hether he +as cri*inal or not, an +hat +as the cri*e i*p%te to hi*(3 3I a*,3 replie the n%n/ 3b%t +ho shall are to scr%tini8e *y tho%,hts7+ho shall are to pl%ck o%t *y opinionB Go only is his .% ,e, an to that .% ,e he is ,one?3 E*ily looke +ith s%rprise at sister )rances, +ho ret%rne her a si,nificant ,lance( 3I only re4%este yo%r opinion,3 sai &a e*oiselle )ey ea%, *il ly/ 3if the s%b.ect is ispleasin, to yo%, I +ill rop it(3 3<ispleasin,?37sai the n%n, +ith e*phasis(73:e are i le talkers/ +e o not +ei,h the *eanin, of the +or s +e %se/ <I'P0EA'I9G is a poor +or ( I +ill ,o pray(3 As she sai this she rose fro* her seat, an +ith a profo%n si,h 4%itte the roo*(

3:hat can be the *eanin, of thisB3 sai E*ily, +hen she +as ,one( 3It is nothin, e-traor inary,3 replie sister )rances, 3she is often th%s/ b%t she ha no *eanin, in +hat she says( Her intellects are at ti*es eran,e ( <i yo% never see her th%s beforeB3 39ever,3 sai E*ily( 3I have, in ee , so*eti*es, tho%,ht, that there +as the *elancholy of *a ness in her look, b%t never before perceive it in her speech( Poor so%l, I +ill pray for her?3 32o%r prayers then, *y a%,hter, +ill %nite +ith o%rs,3 observe the la y abbess, 3she has nee of the*(3 3<ear la y,3 sai &a e*oiselle )ey ea%, a ressin, the abbess, 3+hat is yo%r opinion of the late &ar4%isB The stran,e circ%*stances, that have occ%rre at the chatea%, have so *%ch a+akene *y c%riosity, that I shall be par one the 4%estion( :hat +as his i*p%te cri*e, an +hat the p%nish*ent, to +hich sister A,nes all% e B3 3:e *%st be ca%tio%s of a vancin, o%r opinion,3 sai the abbess, +ith an air of reserve, *in,le +ith sole*nity, 3+e *%st be ca%tio%s of a vancin, o%r opinion on so elicate a s%b.ect( I +ill not take %pon *e to prono%nce, that the late &ar4%is +as cri*inal, or to say +hat +as the cri*e of +hich he +as s%specte / b%t, concernin, the p%nish*ent o%r a%,hter A,nes hinte , I kno+ of none he s%ffere ( 'he probably all% e to the severe one, +hich an e-asperate conscience can inflict( 1e+are, *y chil ren, of inc%rrin, so terrible a p%nish*ent7it is the p%r,atory of this life? The late &archioness I kne+ +ell/ she +as a pattern to s%ch as live in the +orl / nay, o%r sacre or er nee not have bl%she to copy her virt%es? O%r holy convent receive her *ortal part/ her heavenly spirit, I o%bt not, ascen e to its sanct%ary?3 As the abbess spoke this, the last bell of vespers str%ck %p, an she rose( 30et %s ,o, *y chil ren,3 sai she, 3an interce e for the +retche / let %s ,o an confess o%r

sins, an en eavo%r to p%rify o%r so%ls for the heaven, to +hich 'HE is ,one?3 E*ily +as affecte by the sole*nity of this e-hortation, an , re*e*berin, her father, 3The heaven, to +hich HE, too, is ,one?3 sai she, faintly, as she s%ppresse her si,hs, an follo+e the abbess an the n%ns to the chapel(

#HAPTER %III
Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin da!n=d, Bring ith thee airs fro! hea"en, or blasts fro! hell, Be thy intents icked, or charitable, 5 ill speak to thee# 8AM&ET

Co%nt e Villefort, at len,th, receive a letter fro* the a vocate at Avi,non, enco%ra,in, E*ily to assert her clai* to the estates of the late &a a*e &ontoni/ an , abo%t the sa*e ti*e, a *essen,er arrive fro* &onsie%r 5%esnel +ith intelli,ence, that *a e an appeal to the la+ on this s%b.ect %nnecessary, since it appeare , that the only person, +ho co%l have oppose her clai*, +as no+ no *ore( A frien of &onsie%r 5%esnel, +ho resi e at Venice, ha sent hi* an acco%nt of the eath of &ontoni +ho ha been bro%,ht to trial +ith Orsino, as his s%ppose acco*plice in the *%r er of the Venetian noble*an( Orsino +as fo%n ,%ilty, con e*ne an e-ec%te %pon the +heel, b%t, nothin, bein, iscovere to cri*inate &ontoni, an his collea,%es, on this char,e, they +ere all release , e-cept &ontoni, +ho, bein, consi ere by the senate as a very an,ero%s person, +as, for other reasons, or ere a,ain into confine*ent, +here, it +as sai , he ha ie in a o%btf%l an *ysterio%s *anner, an not +itho%t s%spicion of havin, been poisone ( The a%thority, fro* +hich &( 5%esnel ha receive this infor*ation, +o%l not allo+

hi* to o%bt its tr%th, an he tol E*ily, that she ha no+ only to lay clai* to the estates of her late a%nt, to sec%re the*, an a e , that he +o%l hi*self assist in the necessary for*s of this b%siness( The ter*, for +hich 0a Vallee ha been let bein, no+ also nearly e-pire , he ac4%ainte her +ith the circ%*stance, an a vise her to take the roa thither, thro%,h Tholo%se, +here he pro*ise to *eet her, an +here it +o%l be proper for her to take possession of the estates of the late &a a*e &ontoni/ a in,, that he +o%l spare her any iffic%lties, that *i,ht occ%r on that occasion fro* the +ant of kno+le ,e on the s%b.ect, an that he believe it +o%l be necessary for her to be at Tholo%se, in abo%t three +eeks fro* the present ti*e( An increase of fort%ne see*e to have a+akene this s% en kin ness in &( 5%esnel to+ar s his niece, an it appeare , that he entertaine *ore respect for the rich heiress, than he ha ever felt co*passion for the poor an %nfrien e orphan( The pleas%re, +ith +hich she receive this intelli,ence, +as clo% e +hen she consi ere , that he, for +hose sake she ha once re,rette the +ant of fort%ne, +as no lon,er +orthy of sharin, it +ith her/ b%t, re*e*berin, the frien ly a *onition of the Co%nt, she checke this *elancholy reflection, an en eavo%re to feel only ,ratit% e for the %ne-pecte ,oo , that no+ atten e her/ +hile it for*e no inconsi erable part of her satisfaction to kno+, that 0a Vallee, her native ho*e, +hich +as en eare to her by it3s havin, been the resi ence of her parents, +o%l soon be restore to her possession( There she *eant to fi- her f%t%re resi ence, for, tho%,h it co%l not be co*pare +ith the chatea% at Tholo%se, either for e-tent, or *a,nificence, its pleasant scenes an the ten er re*e*brances, that ha%nte the*, ha clai*s %pon her heart, +hich she +as not incline to sacrifice to ostentation( 'he +rote i**e iately to thank &( 5%esnel for the active interest he took in her concerns, an to say, that she +o%l *eet hi* at Tholo%se at the appointe ti*e( :hen Co%nt e Villefort, +ith 1lanche, ca*e to the convent to ,ive E*ily the a vice of the a vocate, he

+as infor*e of the contents of &( 5%esnel3s letter, an ,ave her his sincere con,rat%lations, on the occasion/ b%t she observe , that, +hen the first e-pression of satisfaction ha fa e fro* his co%ntenance, an %n%s%al ,ravity s%ccee e , an she scarcely hesitate to en4%ire its ca%se( 3It has no ne+ occasion,3 replie the Co%nt/ 3I a* harasse an perple-e by the conf%sion, into +hich *y fa*ily is thro+n by their foolish s%perstition( I le reports are floatin, ro%n *e, +hich I can neither a *it to be tr%e, or prove to be false/ an I a*, also, very an-io%s abo%t the poor fello+, 0% ovico, concernin, +ho* I have not been able to obtain infor*ation( Every part of the chatea% an every part of the nei,hbo%rhoo , too, has, I believe, been searche , an I kno+ not +hat f%rther can be one, since I have alrea y offere lar,e re+ar s for the iscovery of hi*( The keys of the north apart*ent I have not s%ffere to be o%t of *y possession, since he isappeare , an I *ean to +atch in those cha*bers, *yself, this very ni,ht(3 E*ily, serio%sly alar*e for the Co%nt, %nite her entreaties +ith those of the 0a y 1lanche, to iss%a e hi* fro* his p%rpose( 3:hat sho%l I fearB3 sai he( 3I have no faith in s%pernat%ral co*bats, an for h%*an opposition I shall be prepare / nay, I +ill even pro*ise not to +atch alone(3 31%t +ho, ear sir, +ill have co%ra,e eno%,h to +atch +ith yo%B3 sai E*ily( 3&y son,3 replie the Co%nt( 3If I a* not carrie off in the ni,ht,3 a e he, s*ilin,, 3yo% shall hear the res%lt of *y a vent%re, to*orro+(3 The Co%nt an 0a y 1lanche, shortly after+ar s, took leave of E*ily, an ret%rne to the chatea%, +here he infor*e Henri of his intention, +ho, not +itho%t so*e secret rel%ctance, consente to be the partner of his +atch/ an , +hen the esi,n +as *entione after s%pper, the Co%ntess +as terrifie , an the 1aron, an

&( <% Pont .oine +ith her in entreatin,, that he +o%l not te*pt his fate, as 0% ovico ha one( 3:e kno+ not,3 a e the 1aron, 3the nat%re, or the po+er of an evil spirit/ an that s%ch a spirit ha%nts those cha*bers can no+, I think, scarcely be o%bte ( 1e+are, *y lor , ho+ yo% provoke its ven,eance, since it has alrea y ,iven %s one terrible e-a*ple of its *alice( I allo+ it *ay be probable, that the spirits of the ea are per*itte to ret%rn to the earth only on occasions of hi,h i*port/ b%t the present i*port *ay be yo%r estr%ction(3 The Co%nt co%l not forbear s*ilin,/ 3<o yo% think then, 1aron,3 sai he, 3that *y estr%ction is of s%fficient i*portance to ra+ back to earth the so%l of the eparte B Alas? *y ,oo frien , there is no occasion for s%ch *eans to acco*plish the estr%ction of any in ivi %al( :herever the *ystery rests, I tr%st I shall, this ni,ht, be able to etect it( 2o% kno+ I a* not s%perstitio%s(3 3I kno+ that yo% are incre %lo%s,3 interr%pte 1aron( the

3:ell, call it +hat yo% +ill, I *ean to say, that, tho%,h yo% kno+ I a* free fro* s%perstition7if any thin, s%pernat%ral has appeare , I o%bt not it +ill appear to *e, an if any stran,e event han,s over *y ho%se, or if any e-traor inary transaction has for*erly been connecte +ith it, I shall probably be *a e ac4%ainte +ith it( At all events I +ill invite iscovery/ an , that I *ay be e4%al to a *ortal attack, +hich in ,oo tr%th, *y frien , is +hat I *ost e-pect, I shall take care to be +ell ar*e (3 The Co%nt took leave of his fa*ily, for the ni,ht, +ith an ass%*e ,aiety, +hich b%t ill conceale the an-iety, that epresse his spirits, an retire to the north apart*ents, acco*panie by his son an follo+e by the 1aron, &( <% Pont an so*e of the o*estics, +ho all ba e hi* ,oo ni,ht at the o%ter oor( In these cha*bers every thin, appeare as +hen he ha last been here/ even in the be 6roo* no alteration +as visible, +here he li,hte his o+n fire, for none of the

o*estics co%l be prevaile %pon to vent%re thither( After caref%lly e-a*inin, the cha*ber an the oriel, the Co%nt an Henri re+ their chairs %pon the hearth, set a bottle of +ine an a la*p before the*, lai their s+or s %pon the table, an , stirrin, the +oo into a bla8e, be,an to converse on in ifferent topics( 1%t Henri +as often silent an abstracte , an so*eti*es thre+ a ,lance of *in,le a+e an c%riosity ro%n the ,loo*y apart*ent/ +hile the Co%nt ,ra %ally cease to converse, an sat either lost in tho%,ht, or rea in, a vol%*e of Tacit%s, +hich he ha bro%,ht to be,%ile the te io%sness of the ni,ht(

#HAPTER I%
Gi"e thy thoughts no tongue# 48A;E4PEARE

The 1aron 't( )oi-, +ho* an-iety for his frien ha kept a+ake, rose early to en4%ire the event of the ni,ht, +hen, as he passe the Co%nt3s closet, hearin, steps +ithin, he knocke at the oor, an it +as opene by his frien hi*self( Re.oicin, to see hi* in safety, an c%rio%s to learn the occ%rrences of the ni,ht, he ha not i**e iately leis%re to observe the %n%s%al ,ravity, that oversprea the feat%res of the Co%nt, +hose reserve ans+ers first occasione hi* to notice it( The Co%nt, then s*ilin,, en eavo%re to treat the s%b.ect of his c%riosity +ith levity, b%t the 1aron +as serio%s, an p%rs%e his en4%iries so closely, that the Co%nt, at len,th, res%*in, his ,ravity, sai , 3:ell, *y frien , press the s%b.ect no f%rther, I entreat yo%/ an let *e re4%est also, that yo% +ill hereafter be silent %pon any thin, yo% *ay think e-traor inary in *y f%t%re con %ct( I o not scr%ple to tell yo%, that I a* %nhappy, an that the +atch of the last ni,ht has not assiste *e to iscover 0% ovico/ %pon every occ%rrence of the ni,ht yo% *%st e-c%se *y reserve(3

31%t +here is HenriB3 sai the 1aron, +ith s%rprise an isappoint*ent at this enial( 3He is +ell in his o+n apart*ent,3 replie the Co%nt( 32o% +ill not 4%estion hi* on this topic, *y frien , since yo% kno+ *y +ish(3 3Certainly not,3 sai the 1aron, so*e+hat cha,rine , 3since it +o%l be ispleasin, to yo%/ b%t *ethinks, *y frien , yo% *i,ht rely on *y iscretion, an rop this %n%s%al reserve( Ho+ever, yo% *%st allo+ *e to s%spect, that yo% have seen reason to beco*e a convert to *y syste*, an are no lon,er the incre %lo%s kni,ht yo% lately appeare to be(3 30et %s talk no *ore %pon this s%b.ect,3 sai the Co%nt/ 3yo% *ay be ass%re , that no or inary circ%*stance has i*pose this silence %pon *e to+ar s a frien , +ho* I have calle so for near thirty years/ an *y present reserve cannot *ake yo% 4%estion either *y estee*, or the sincerity of *y frien ship(3 3I +ill not o%bt either,3 sai the 1aron, 3tho%,h yo% *%st allo+ *e to e-press *y s%rprise, at this silence(3 3To *e I +ill allo+ it,3 replie the Co%nt, 3b%t I earnestly entreat that yo% +ill forbear to notice it to *y fa*ily, as +ell as every thin, re*arkable yo% *ay observe in *y con %ct to+ar s the*(3 The 1aron rea ily pro*ise this, an , after conversin, for so*e ti*e on ,eneral topics, they escen e to the breakfast6roo*, +here the Co%nt *et his fa*ily +ith a cheerf%l co%ntenance, an eva e their en4%iries by e*ployin, li,ht ri ic%le, an ass%*in, an air of %nco**on ,aiety, +hile he ass%re the*, that they nee not apprehen any evil fro* the north cha*bers, since Henri an hi*self ha been per*itte to ret%rn fro* the* in safety( Henri, ho+ever, +as less s%ccessf%l in is,%isin, his feelin,s( )ro* his co%ntenance an e-pression of terror +as not entirely fa e / he +as often silent an tho%,htf%l, an +hen he atte*pte to la%,h at the ea,er en4%iries of &a e*oiselle 1earn, it +as evi ently only an atte*pt(

In the evenin,, the Co%nt calle , as he ha pro*ise , at the convent, an E*ily +as s%rprise to perceive a *i-t%re of playf%l ri ic%le an of reserve in his *ention of the north apart*ent( Of +hat ha occ%rre there, ho+ever, he sai nothin,, an , +hen she vent%re to re*in hi* of his pro*ise to tell her the res%lt of his en4%iries, an to ask if he ha receive any proof, that those cha*bers +ere ha%nte , his look beca*e sole*n, for a *o*ent, then, see*in, to recollect hi*self, he s*ile , an sai , 3&y ear E*ily, o not s%ffer *y la y abbess to infect yo%r ,oo %n erstan in, +ith these fancies/ she +ill teach yo% to e-pect a ,host in every ark roo*( 1%t believe *e,3 a e he, +ith a profo%n si,h, 3the apparition of the ea co*es not on li,ht, or sportive erran s, to terrify, or to s%rprise the ti*i (3 He pa%se , an fell into a *o*entary tho%,htf%lness, an then a e , 3:e +ill say no *ore on this s%b.ect(3 'oon after, he took leave, an , +hen E*ily .oine so*e of the n%ns, she +as s%rprise to fin the* ac4%ainte +ith a circ%*stance, +hich she ha caref%lly avoi e to *ention, an e-pressin, their a *iration of his intrepi ity in havin, are to pass a ni,ht in the apart*ent, +hence 0% ovico ha isappeare / for she ha not consi ere +ith +hat rapi ity a tale of +on er circ%lates( The n%ns ha ac4%ire their infor*ation fro* peasants, +ho bro%,ht fr%it to the *onastery, an +hose +hole attention ha been fi-e , since the isappearance of 0% ovico, on +hat +as passin, in the castle( E*ily listene in silence to the vario%s opinions of the n%ns, concernin, the con %ct of the Co%nt, *ost of +ho* con e*ne it as rash an pres%*pt%o%s, affir*in,, that it +as provokin, the ven,eance of an evil spirit, th%s to intr% e %pon its ha%nts( 'ister )rances conten e , that the Co%nt ha acte +ith the bravery of a virt%o%s *in ( He kne+ hi*self ,%iltless of a%,ht, that sho%l provoke a ,oo spirit, an i not fear the spells of an evil one, since he co%l clai* the protection of an hi,her Po+er, of Hi*, +ho

can co**an innocent(

the +icke , an

+ill protect the

3The ,%ilty cannot clai* that protection?3 sai sister A,nes, 3let the Co%nt look to his con %ct, that he o not forfeit his clai*? 2et +ho is he, that shall are to call hi*self innocent?7all earthly innocence is b%t co*parative( 2et still ho+ +i e as%n er are the e-tre*es of ,%ilt, an to +hat an horrible epth *ay +e fall? Oh?37 The n%n, as she concl% e , %ttere a sh% erin, si,h, that startle E*ily, +ho, lookin, %p, perceive the eyes of A,nes fi-e on hers, after +hich the sister rose, took her han , ,a8e earnestly %pon her co%ntenance, for so*e *o*ents, in silence, an then sai , 32o% are yo%n,7yo% are innocent? I *ean yo% are yet innocent of any ,reat cri*e?71%t yo% have passions in yo%r heart,7scorpions/ they sleep no+7be+are ho+ yo% a+aken the*?7they +ill stin, yo%, even %nto eath?3 E*ily, affecte by these +or s an by the sole*nity, +ith +hich they +ere elivere , co%l not s%ppress her tears( 3Ah? is it soB3 e-clai*e A,nes, her co%ntenance softenin, fro* its sternness73so yo%n,, an so %nfort%nate? :e are sisters, then in ee ( 2et, there is no bon of kin ness a*on, the ,%ilty,3 she a e , +hile her eyes res%*e their +il e-pression, 3no ,entleness, 7no peace, no hope? I kne+ the* all once7*y eyes co%l +eep7b%t no+ they b%rn, for no+, *y so%l is fi-e , an fearless?7I la*ent no *ore?3 3Rather let %s repent, an pray,3 sai another n%n( 3:e are ta%,ht to hope, that prayer an penitence +ill +ork o%r salvation( There is hope for all +ho repent?3 3:ho repent an t%rn to the tr%e faith,3 observe sister )rances( 3)or all b%t *e?3 replie A,nes sole*nly, +ho pa%se , an then abr%ptly a e , 3&y hea b%rns, I believe I a* not +ell( O? co%l I strike fro* *y *e*ory all for*er scenes7the fi,%res, that rise %p, like f%ries, to

tor*ent *e?7I see the*, +hen I sleep, an , +hen I a* a+ake, they are still before *y eyes? I see the* no+7 no+?3 'he stoo in a fi-e attit% e of horror, her strainin, eyes *ovin, slo+ly ro%n the roo*, as if they follo+e so*ethin,( One of the n%ns ,ently took her han , to lea her fro* the parlo%r( A,nes beca*e cal*, re+ her other han across her eyes, looke a,ain, an , si,hin, eeply, sai , 3They are ,one7they are ,one? I a* feverish, I kno+ not +hat I say( I a* th%s, so*eti*es, b%t it +ill ,o off a,ain, I shall soon be better( :as not that the vesper6bellB3 39o,3 replie )rances, 3the evenin, service is passe ( 0et &ar,aret lea yo% to yo%r cell(3 32o% are ri,ht,3 replie sister A,nes, 3I shall be better there( Goo ni,ht, *y sisters, re*e*ber *e in yo%r orisons(3 :hen they ha +ith ra+n, )rances, observin, E*ily3s e*otion, sai , 3<o not be alar*e , o%r sister is often th%s eran,e , tho%,h I have not lately seen her so frantic/ her %s%al *oo is *elancholy( This fit has been co*in, on, for several ays/ secl%sion an the c%sto*ary treat*ent +ill restore her(3 31%t ho+ rationally she converse , at first?3 observe E*ily, 3her i eas follo+e each other in perfect or er(3 32es,3 replie the n%n, 3this is nothin, ne+/ nay, I have so*eti*es kno+n her ar,%e not only +ith *etho , b%t +ith ac%teness, an then, in a *o*ent, start off into *a ness(3 3Her conscience see*s afflicte ,3 sai E*ily, 3 i yo% ever hear +hat circ%*stance re %ce her to this eplorable con itionB3 3I have,3 replie the n%n, +ho sai no *ore till E*ily repeate the 4%estion, +hen she a e in a lo+ voice, an lookin, si,nificantly to+ar s the other boar ers, 3I cannot tell yo% no+, b%t, if yo% think it +orth yo%r +hile, co*e to *y cell, to6ni,ht, +hen o%r sisterhoo are at rest, an yo% shall hear *ore/ b%t re*e*ber +e

rise to *i ni,ht prayers, an co*e either before, or after *i ni,ht(3 E*ily pro*ise to re*e*ber, an , the abbess soon after appearin,, they spoke no *ore of the %nhappy n%n( The Co%nt *ean+hile, on his ret%rn ho*e, ha fo%n &( <% Pont in one of those fits of espon ency, +hich his attach*ent to E*ily fre4%ently occasione hi*, an attach*ent, that ha s%bsiste too lon, to be easily s%b %e , an +hich ha alrea y o%tlive the opposition of his frien s( &( <% Pont ha first seen E*ily in Gascony, %rin, the lifeti*e of his parent, +ho, on iscoverin, his son3s partiality for &a e*oiselle 't( A%bert, his inferior in point of fort%ne, forba e hi* to eclare it to her fa*ily, or to think of her *ore( <%rin, the life of his father, he ha observe the first co**an , b%t ha fo%n it i*practicable to obey the secon , an ha , so*eti*es, soothe his passion by visitin, her favo%rite ha%nts, a*on, +hich +as the fishin,6ho%se, +here, once or t+ice, he a resse her in verse, concealin, his na*e, in obe ience to the pro*ise he ha ,iven his father( There too he playe the pathetic air, to +hich she ha listene +ith s%ch s%rprise an a *iration/ an there he fo%n the *iniat%re, that ha since cherishe a passion fatal to his repose( <%rin, his e-pe ition into Italy, his father ie / b%t he receive his liberty at a *o*ent, +hen he +as the least enable to profit by it, since the ob.ect, that ren ere it *ost val%able, +as no lon,er +ithin the reach of his vo+s( 1y +hat acci ent he iscovere E*ily, an assiste to release her fro* a terrible i*prison*ent, has alrea y appeare , an also the %navailin, hope, +ith +hich he then enco%ra,e his love, an the fr%itless efforts, that he ha since *a e to overco*e it( The Co%nt still en eavo%re , +ith frien ly 8eal, to sooth hi* +ith a belief, that patience, perseverance an pr% ence +o%l finally obtain for hi* happiness an E*ily; 3Ti*e,3 sai he, 3+ill +ear a+ay the *elancholy i*pression, +hich isappoint*ent has left on her *in , an she +ill be sensible of yo%r *erit( 2o%r services

have alrea y a+akene her ,ratit% e, an yo%r s%fferin,s her pity/ an tr%st *e, *y frien , in a heart so sensible as hers, ,ratit% e an pity lea to love( :hen her i*a,ination is resc%e fro* its present el%sion, she +ill rea ily accept the ho*a,e of a *in like yo%rs(3 <% Pont si,he , +hile he listene to these +or s/ an , en eavo%rin, to hope +hat his frien believe , he +illin,ly yiel e to an invitation to prolon, his visit at the chatea%, +hich +e no+ leave for the *onastery of 't( Claire( :hen the n%ns ha retire to rest, E*ily stole to her appoint*ent +ith sister )rances, +ho* she fo%n in her cell, en,a,e in prayer, before a little table, +here appeare the i*a,e she +as a ressin,, an , above, the i* la*p that ,ave li,ht to the place( T%rnin, her eyes, as the oor opene , she beckone to E*ily to co*e in, +ho, havin, one so, seate herself in silence besi e the n%n3s little *attress of stra+, till her orisons sho%l concl% e( The latter soon rose fro* her knees, an , takin, o+n the la*p an placin, it on the table, E*ily perceive there a h%*an sc%ll an bones, lyin, besi e an ho%r6,lass/ b%t the n%n, +itho%t observin, her e*otion, sat o+n on the *attress by her, sayin,, 32o%r c%riosity, sister, has *a e yo% p%nct%al, b%t yo% have nothin, re*arkable to hear in the history of poor A,nes, of +ho* I avoi e to speak in the presence of *y lay6sisters, only beca%se I +o%l not p%blish her cri*e to the*(3 3I shall consi er yo%r confi ence in *e as a favo%r,3 sai E*ily, 3an +ill not *is%se it(3 3'ister A,nes,3 res%*e the n%n, 3is of a noble fa*ily, as the i,nity of her air *%st alrea y have infor*e yo%, b%t I +ill not ishono%r their na*e so *%ch as to reveal it( 0ove +as the occasion of her cri*e an of her *a ness( 'he +as belove by a ,entle*an of inferior fort%ne, an her father, as I have hear , besto+in, her on a noble*an, +ho* she islike , an ill6,overne passion prove her estr%ction(7Every obli,ation of virt%e an of %ty +as for,otten, an she prophane

her *arria,e vo+s/ b%t her ,%ilt +as soon etecte , an she +o%l have fallen a sacrifice to the ven,eance of her h%sban , ha not her father contrive to convey her fro* his po+er( 1y +hat *eans he i this, I never co%l learn/ b%t he secrete her in this convent, +here he after+ar s prevaile +ith her to take the veil, +hile a report +as circ%late in the +orl , that she +as ea , an the father, to save his a%,hter, assiste the r%*o%r, an e*ploye s%ch *eans as in %ce her h%sban to believe she ha beco*e a victi* to his .ealo%sy( 2o% look s%rprise ,3 a e the n%n, observin, E*ily3s co%ntenance/ 3I allo+ the story is %nco**on, b%t not, I believe, +itho%t a parallel(3 3Pray procee ,3 sai E*ily, 3I a* intereste (3 3The story is alrea y tol ,3 res%*e the n%n, 3I have only to *ention, that the lon, str%,,le, +hich A,nes s%ffere , bet+een love, re*orse an a sense of the %ties she ha taken %pon herself in beco*in, of o%r or er, at len,th %nsettle her reason( At first, she +as frantic an *elancholy by 4%ick alternatives/ then, she s%nk into a eep an settle *elancholy, +hich still, ho+ever, has, at ti*es, been interr%pte by fits of +il ness, an , of late, these have a,ain been fre4%ent(3 E*ily +as affecte by the history of the sister, so*e parts of +hose story bro%,ht to her re*e*brance that of the &archioness e Villeroi, +ho ha also been co*pelle by her father to forsake the ob.ect of her affections, for a noble*an of his choice/ b%t, fro* +hat <orothee ha relate , there appeare no reason to s%ppose, that she ha escape the ven,eance of a .ealo%s h%sban , or to o%bt for a *o*ent the innocence of her con %ct( 1%t E*ily, +hile she si,he over the *isery of the n%n, co%l not forbear she in, a fe+ tears to the *isfort%nes of the &archioness/ an , +hen she ret%rne to the *ention of sister A,nes, she aske )rances if she re*e*bere her in her yo%th, an +hether she +as then bea%tif%l( 3I +as not here at the ti*e, +hen she took the vo+s,3 replie )rances, 3+hich is so lon, a,o, that fe+ of the present sisterhoo , I believe, +ere +itnesses of the

cere*ony/ nay, ever o%r la y *other i not then presi e over the convent; b%t I can re*e*ber, +hen sister A,nes +as a very bea%tif%l +o*an( 'he retains that air of hi,h rank, +hich al+ays istin,%ishe her, b%t her bea%ty, yo% *%st perceive, is fle / I can scarcely iscover even a vesti,e of the loveliness, that once ani*ate her feat%res(3 3It is stran,e,3 sai E*ily, 3b%t there are *o*ents, +hen her co%ntenance has appeare fa*iliar to *y *e*ory? 2o% +ill think *e fancif%l, an I think *yself so, for I certainly never sa+ sister A,nes, before I ca*e to this convent, an I *%st, therefore, have seen so*e person, +ho* she stron,ly rese*bles, tho%,h of this I have no recollection(3 32o% have been intereste by the eep *elancholy of her co%ntenance,3 sai )rances, 3an its i*pression has probably el% e yo%r i*a,ination/ for I *i,ht as reasonably think I perceive a likeness bet+een yo% an A,nes, as yo%, that yo% have seen her any +here b%t in this convent, since this has been her place of ref%,e, for nearly as *any years as *ake yo%r a,e(3 3In ee ?3 sai E*ily( 32es,3 re.oine )rances, 3an +hy circ%*stance e-cite yo%r s%rpriseB3 oes that

E*ily i not appear to notice this 4%estion, b%t re*aine tho%,htf%l, for a fe+ *o*ents, an then sai , 3It +as abo%t that sa*e perio that the &archioness e Villeroi e-pire (3 3That is an o re*ark,3 sai )rances( E*ily, recalle fro* her reverie, s*ile , an ,ave the conversation another t%rn, b%t it soon ca*e back to the s%b.ect of the %nhappy n%n, an E*ily re*aine in the cell of sister )rances, till the *i 6ni,ht bell aro%se her/ +hen, apolo,i8in, for havin, interr%pte the sister3s repose, till this late ho%r, they 4%itte the cell to,ether( E*ily ret%rne to her cha*ber, an the n%n, bearin, a ,li**erin, taper, +ent to her evotion in the chapel(

'everal ays follo+e , %rin, +hich E*ily sa+ neither the Co%nt, or any of his fa*ily/ an , +hen, at len,th, he appeare , she re*arke , +ith concern, that his air +as %n%s%ally ist%rbe ( 3&y spirits are harasse ,3 sai he, in ans+er to her an-io%s en4%iries, 3an I *ean to chan,e *y resi ence, for a little +hile, an e-peri*ent, +hich, I hope, +ill restore *y *in to its %s%al tran4%illity( &y a%,hter an *yself +ill acco*pany the 1aron 't( )oi- to his chatea%( It lies in a valley of the Pyrenees, that opens to+ar s Gascony, an I have been thinkin,, E*ily, that, +hen yo% set o%t for 0a Vallee, +e *ay ,o part of the +ay to,ether/ it +o%l be a satisfaction to *e to ,%ar yo% to+ar s yo%r ho*e(3 'he thanke the Co%nt for his frien ly consi eration, an la*ente , that the necessity for her ,oin, first to Tholo%se +o%l ren er this plan i*practicable( 31%t, +hen yo% are at the 1aron3s resi ence,3 she a e , 3yo% +ill be only a short .o%rney fro* 0a Vallee, an I think, sir, yo% +ill not leave the co%ntry +itho%t visitin, *e/ it is %nnecessary to say +ith +hat pleas%re I sho%l receive yo% an the 0a y 1lanche(3 3I o not o%bt it,3 replie the Co%nt, 3an I +ill not eny *yself an 1lanche the pleas%re of visitin, yo%, if yo%r affairs sho%l allo+ yo% to be at 0a Vallee, abo%t the ti*e +hen +e can *eet yo% there(3 :hen E*ily sai that she sho%l hope to see the Co%ntess also, she +as not sorry to learn that this la y +as ,oin,, acco*panie by &a e*oiselle 1earn, to pay a visit, for a fe+ +eeks, to a fa*ily in lo+er 0an,%e oc( The Co%nt, after so*e f%rther conversation on his inten e .o%rney an on the arran,e*ent of E*ily3s, took leave/ an *any ays i not s%ccee this visit, before a secon letter fro* &( 5%esnel infor*e her, that he +as then at Tholo%se, that 0a Vallee +as at liberty, an that he +ishe her to set off for the for*er place, +here he a+aite her arrival, +ith all possible ispatch, since his o+n affairs presse hi* to ret%rn to Gascony( E*ily i not hesitate to obey hi*, an ,

havin, taken an affectin, leave of the Co%nt3s fa*ily, in +hich &( <% Pont +as still incl% e , an of her frien s at the convent, she set o%t for Tholo%se, atten e by the %nhappy Annette, an ,%ar e by a stea y servant of the Co%nt(

#HAPTER *
&ull=d in the countless cha!bers of the brain, 7ur thoughts are link=d by !any a hidden chain' A ake but one, and lo> hat !yriads rise> Each sta!ps its i!age as the other flies> P&EA4URE4 7) MEM7R$

E*ily p%rs%e her .o%rney, +itho%t any acci ent, alon, the plains of 0an,%e oc to+ar s the north6+est/ an , on this her ret%rn to Tholo%se, +hich she ha last left +ith &a a*e &ontoni, she tho%,ht *%ch on the *elancholy fate of her a%nt, +ho, b%t for her o+n i*pr% ence, *i,ht no+ have been livin, in happiness there? &ontoni, too, often rose to her fancy, s%ch as she ha seen hi* in his ays of tri%*ph, bol , spirite an co**an in,/ s%ch also as she ha since behel hi* in his ays of ven,eance/ an no+, only a fe+ short *onths ha passe 7an he ha no lon,er the po+er, or the +ill to afflict/7he ha beco*e a clo of earth, an his life +as vanishe like a sha o+? E*ily co%l have +ept at his fate, ha she not re*e*bere his cri*es/ for that of her %nfort%nate a%nt she i +eep, an all sense of her errors +as overco*e by the recollection of her *isfort%nes( Other tho%,hts an other e*otions s%ccee e , as E*ily re+ near the +ell6kno+n scenes of her early love, an consi ere , that Valanco%rt +as lost to her an to hi*self, for ever( At len,th, she ca*e to the bro+ of the hill, +hence, on her epart%re for Italy, she ha ,iven a fare+ell look to this belove lan scape, a*on,st +hose +oo s an fiel s she ha so often +alke +ith Valanco%rt, an +here he +as then to inhabit, +hen she +o%l be far, far a+ay? 'he sa+,

once *ore, that chain of the Pyrenees, +hich overlooke 0a Vallee, risin,, like faint clo% s, on the hori8on( 3There, too, is Gascony, e-ten e at their feet?3 sai she, 3O *y father,7*y *other? An there, too, is the Garonne?3 she a e , ryin, the tears, that obsc%re her si,ht,73an Tholo%se, an *y a%nt3s *ansion7 an the ,roves in her ,ar en?7O *y frien s? are ye all lost to *e7*%st I never, never see ye *ore?3 Tears r%she a,ain to her eyes, an she contin%e to +eep, till an abr%pt t%rn in the roa ha nearly occasione the carria,e to overset, +hen, lookin, %p, she perceive another part of the +ell6kno+n scene aro%n Tholo%se, an all the reflections an anticipations, +hich she ha s%ffere , at the *o*ent, +hen she ba e it last a ie%, ca*e +ith recollecte force to her heart( 'he re*e*bere ho+ an-io%sly she ha looke for+ar to the f%t%rity, +hich +as to eci e her happiness concernin, Valanco%rt, an +hat epressin, fears ha assaile her/ the very +or s she ha %ttere , as she +ith re+ her last look fro* the prospect, ca*e to her *e*ory( 3Co%l I b%t be certain,3 she ha then sai , 3that I sho%l ever ret%rn, an that Valanco%rt +o%l still live for *e7I sho%l ,o in peace?3 9o+, that f%t%rity, so an-io%sly anticipate , +as arrive , she +as ret%rne 7b%t +hat a reary blank appeare ?7Valanco%rt no lon,er live for her? 'he ha no lon,er even the *elancholy satisfaction of conte*platin, his i*a,e in her heart, for he +as no lon,er the sa*e Valanco%rt she ha cherishe there7 the solace of *any a *o%rnf%l ho%r, the ani*atin, frien , that ha enable her to bear %p a,ainst the oppression of &ontoni7the istant hope, that ha bea*e over her ,loo*y prospect? On perceivin, this belove i ea to be an ill%sion of her o+n creation, Valanco%rt see*e to be annihilate , an her so%l sickene at the blank, that re*aine ( His *arria,e +ith a rival, even his eath, she tho%,ht she co%l have en %re +ith *ore fortit% e, than this iscovery/ for then, a*i st all her ,rief, she co%l have looke in secret %pon the i*a,e of ,oo ness, +hich her fancy

ha ra+n of hi*, an co*fort +o%l have *in,le +ith her s%fferin,? <ryin, her tears, she looke , once *ore, %pon the lan scape, +hich ha e-cite the*, an perceive , that she +as passin, the very bank, +here she ha taken leave of Valanco%rt, on the *ornin, of her epart%re fro* Tholo%se, an she no+ sa+ hi*, thro%,h her ret%rnin, tears, s%ch as he ha appeare , +hen she looke fro* the carria,e to ,ive hi* a last a ie%7sa+ hi* leanin, *o%rnf%lly a,ainst the hi,h trees, an re*e*bere the fi-e look of *in,le ten erness an an,%ish, +ith +hich he ha then re,ar e her( This recollection +as too *%ch for her heart, an she s%nk back in the carria,e, nor once looke %p, till it stoppe at the ,ates of +hat +as no+ her o+n *ansion( These bein, opene , an by the servant, to +hose care the chatea% ha been entr%ste , the carria,e rove into the co%rt, +here, ali,htin,, she hastily passe thro%,h the ,reat hall, no+ silent an solitary, to a lar,e oak parlo%r, the co**on sittin, roo* of the late &a a*e &ontoni, +here, instea of bein, receive by &( 5%esnel, she fo%n a letter fro* hi*, infor*in, her that b%siness of conse4%ence ha obli,e hi* to leave Tholo%se t+o ays before( E*ily +as, %pon the +hole, not sorry to be spare his presence, since his abr%pt epart%re appeare to in icate the sa*e in ifference, +ith +hich he ha for*erly re,ar e her( This letter infor*e her, also, of the pro,ress he ha *a e in the settle*ent of her affairs, an concl% e +ith irections, concernin, the for*s of so*e b%siness, +hich re*aine for her to transact( 1%t &( 5%esnel3s %nkin ness i not lon, occ%py her tho%,hts, +hich ret%rne the re*e*brance of the persons she ha been acc%sto*e to see in this *ansion, an chiefly of the ill6,%i e an %nfort%nate &a a*e &ontoni( In the roo*, +here she no+ sat, she ha breakfaste +ith her on the *ornin, of their epart%re for Italy/ an the vie+ of it bro%,ht *ost forcibly to her recollection all she ha herself s%ffere , at that ti*e, an the *any ,ay e-pectations, +hich her a%nt ha for*e , respectin, the .o%rney before her( :hile E*ily3s *in +as th%s

en,a,e , her eyes +an ere %nconscio%sly to a lar,e +in o+, that looke %pon the ,ar en, an here ne+ *e*orials of the past spoke to her heart, for she sa+ e-ten e before her the very aven%e, in +hich she ha parte +ith Valanco%rt, on the eve of her .o%rney/ an all the an-iety, the ten er interest he ha she+n, concernin, her f%t%re happiness, his earnest re*onstrances a,ainst her co**ittin, herself to the po+er of &ontoni, an the tr%th of his affection, ca*e afresh to her *e*ory( At this *o*ent, it appeare al*ost i*possible, that Valanco%rt co%l have beco*e %n+orthy of her re,ar , an she o%bte all that she ha lately hear to his isa vanta,e, an even his o+n +or s, +hich ha confir*e Co%nt <e Villefort3s report of hi*( Overco*e by the recollections, +hich the vie+ of this aven%e occasione , she t%rne abr%ptly fro* the +in o+, an s%nk into a chair besi e it, +here she sat, ,iven %p to ,rief, till the entrance of Annette, +ith coffee, aro%se her( 3<ear *a a*, ho+ *elancholy this place looks no+,3 sai Annette, 3to +hat it %se to o? It is is*al co*in, ho*e, +hen there is nobo y to +elco*e one?3 This +as not the *o*ent, in +hich E*ily co%l bear the re*ark/ her tears fell a,ain, an , as soon as she ha taken the coffee, she retire to her apart*ent, +here she en eavo%re to repose her fati,%e spirits( 1%t b%sy *e*ory +o%l still s%pply her +ith the visions of for*er ti*es; she sa+ Valanco%rt interestin, an benevolent, as he ha been +ont to appear in the ays of their early love, an , a*i st the scenes, +here she ha believe that they sho%l so*eti*es pass their years to,ether?7b%t, at len,th, sleep close these afflictin, scenes fro* her vie+( On the follo+in, *ornin,, serio%s occ%pation recovere her fro* s%ch *elancholy reflections/ for, bein, esiro%s of 4%ittin, Tholo%se, an of hastenin, on to 0a Vallee, she *a e so*e en4%iries into the con ition of the estate, an i**e iately ispatche a part of the necessary b%siness concernin, it, accor in, to the irections of &ons( 5%esnel( It re4%ire a stron, effort to abstract her tho%,hts fro* other interests

s%fficiently to atten to this, b%t she +as re+ar e for her e-ertions by a,ain e-periencin,, that e*ploy*ent is the s%rest anti ote to sorro+( This ay +as evote entirely to b%siness/ an , a*on, other concerns, she e*ploye *eans to learn the sit%ation of all her poor tenants, that she *i,ht relieve their +ants, or confir* their co*forts( In the evenin,, her spirits +ere so *%ch stren,thene , that she tho%,ht she co%l bear to visit the ,ar ens, +here she ha so often +alke +ith Valanco%rt/ an , kno+in,, that, if she elaye to o so, their scenes +o%l only affect her the *ore, +henever they sho%l be vie+e , she took a vanta,e of the present state of her *in , an entere the*( Passin, hastily the ,ate lea in, fro* the co%rt into the ,ar ens, she h%rrie %p the ,reat aven%e, scarcely per*ittin, her *e*ory to +ell for a *o*ent on the circ%*stance of her havin, here parte +ith Valanco%rt, an soon 4%itte this for other +alks less interestin, to her heart( These bro%,ht her, at len,th, to the fli,ht of steps, that le fro* the lo+er ,ar en to the terrace, on seein, +hich, she beca*e a,itate , an hesitate +hether to ascen , b%t, her resol%tion ret%rnin,, she procee e ( 3Ah?3 sai E*ily, as she ascen e , 3these are the sa*e hi,h trees, that %se to +ave over the terrace, an these the sa*e flo+ery thickets7the lib%rn%*, the +il rose, an the cerinthe7+hich +ere +ont to ,ro+ beneath the*? Ah? an there, too, on that bank, are the very plants, +hich Valanco%rt so caref%lly reare ?7O, +hen last I sa+ the*?37she checke the tho%,ht, b%t co%l not restrain her tears, an , after +alkin, slo+ly on for a fe+ *o*ents, her a,itation, %pon the vie+ of this +ell6 kno+n scene, increase so *%ch, that she +as obli,e to stop, an lean %pon the +all of the terrace( It +as a *il , an bea%tif%l evenin,( The s%n +as settin, over the e-tensive lan scape, to +hich his bea*s, slopin, fro* beneath a ark clo% , that overh%n, the +est, ,ave rich an partial colo%rin,, an to%che the t%fte s%**its of the ,roves, that rose fro* the ,ar en belo+,

+ith a yello+ ,lea*( E*ily an Valanco%rt ha often a *ire to,ether this scene, at the sa*e ho%r/ an it +as e-actly on this spot, that, on the ni,ht prece in, her epart%re for Italy, she ha listene to his re*onstrances a,ainst the .o%rney, an to the plea in,s of passionate affection( 'o*e observations, +hich she *a e on the lan scape, bro%,ht this to her re*e*brance, an +ith it all the *in%te partic%lars of that conversation/7the alar*in, o%bts he ha e-presse concernin, &ontoni, o%bts, +hich ha since been fatally confir*e / the reasons an entreaties he ha e*ploye to prevail +ith her to consent to an i**e iate *arria,e/ the ten erness of his love, the paro-ys*s of this ,rief, an the conviction that he ha repeate ly e-presse , that they sho%l never *eet a,ain in happiness? All these circ%*stances rose afresh to her *in , an a+akene the vario%s e*otions she ha then s%ffere ( Her ten erness for Valanco%rt beca*e as po+erf%l as in the *o*ents, +hen she tho%,ht, that she +as partin, +ith hi* an happiness to,ether, an +hen the stren,th of her *in ha enable her to tri%*ph over present s%fferin,, rather than to eserve the reproach of her conscience by en,a,in, in a clan estine *arria,e(73Alas?3 sai E*ily, as these recollections ca*e to her *in , 3an +hat have I ,aine by the fortit% e I then practise B7 a* I happy no+B7He sai , +e sho%l *eet no *ore in happiness/ b%t, O? he little tho%,ht his o+n *iscon %ct +o%l separate %s, an lea to the very evil he then rea e ?3 Her reflections increase her an,%ish, +hile she +as co*pelle to ackno+le ,e, that the fortit% e she ha for*erly e-erte , if it ha not con %cte her to happiness, ha save her fro* irretrievable *isfort%ne 7fro* Valanco%rt hi*self? 1%t in these *o*ents she co%l not con,rat%late herself on the pr% ence, that ha save her/ she co%l only la*ent, +ith bitterest an,%ish, the circ%*stances, +hich ha conspire to betray Valanco%rt into a co%rse of life so ifferent fro* that, +hich the virt%es, the tastes, an the p%rs%its of his early years ha pro*ise / b%t she still love hi*

too +ell to believe, that his heart +as even no+ eprave , tho%,h his con %ct ha been cri*inal( An observation, +hich ha fallen fro* &( 't( A%bert *ore than once, no+ occ%rre to her( 3This yo%n, *an,3 sai he, speakin, of Valanco%rt, 3has never been at Paris/3 a re*ark, that ha s%rprise her at the ti*e it +as %ttere , b%t +hich she no+ %n erstoo , an she e-clai*e sorro+f%lly, 3O Valanco%rt? if s%ch a frien as *y father ha been +ith yo% at Paris7yo%r noble, in,en%o%s nat%re +o%l not have fallen?3 The s%n +as no+ set, an , recallin, her tho%,hts fro* their *elancholy s%b.ect, she contin%e her +alk/ for the pensive sha e of t+ili,ht +as pleasin, to her, an the ni,htin,ales fro* the s%rro%n in, ,roves be,an to ans+er each other in the lon,6 ra+n, plaintive note, +hich al+ays to%che her heart/ +hile all the fra,rance of the flo+ery thickets, that bo%n e the terrace, +as a+akene by the cool evenin, air, +hich floate so li,htly a*on, their leaves, that they scarcely tre*ble as it passe ( E*ily ca*e, at len,th, to the steps of the pavilion, that ter*inate the terrace, an +here her last intervie+ +ith Valanco%rt, before her epart%re fro* Tholo%se, ha so %ne-pecte ly taken place( The oor +as no+ sh%t, an she tre*ble , +hile she hesitate +hether to open it/ b%t her +ish to see a,ain a place, +hich ha been the chief scene of her for*er happiness, at len,th overco*in, her rel%ctance to enco%nter the painf%l re,ret it +o%l rene+, she entere ( The roo* +as obsc%re by a *elancholy sha e/ b%t thro%,h the open lattices, arkene by the han,in, folia,e of the vines, appeare the %sky lan scape, the Garonne reflectin, the evenin, li,ht, an the +est still ,lo+in,( A chair +as place near one of the balconies, as if so*e person ha been sittin, there, b%t the other f%rnit%re of the pavilion re*aine e-actly as %s%al, an E*ily tho%,ht it looke as if it ha not once been *ove since she set o%t for Italy( The silent an eserte air of the place a e sole*nity to her e*otions, for she hear only the lo+ +hisper of the bree8e, as it shook the leaves of the vines, an the very faint *%r*%r of the Garonne(

'he seate herself in a chair, near the lattice, an yiel e to the sa ness of her heart, +hile she recollecte the circ%*stances of her partin, intervie+ +ith Valanco%rt, on this spot( It +as here too, that she ha passe so*e of the happiest ho%rs of her life +ith hi*, +hen her a%nt favo%re the connection, for here she ha often sat an +orke , +hile he converse , or rea / an she no+ +ell re*e*bere +ith +hat iscri*inatin, .% ,*ent, +ith +hat te*pere ener,y, he %se to repeat so*e of the s%bli*est passa,es of their favo%rite a%thors/ ho+ often he +o%l pa%se to a *ire +ith her their e-cellence, an +ith +hat ten er eli,ht he +o%l listen to her re*arks, an correct her taste( 3An is it possible,3 sai E*ily, as these recollections ret%rne 73is it possible, that a *in , so s%sceptible of +hatever is ,ran an bea%tif%l, co%l stoop to lo+ p%rs%its, an be s%b %e by frivolo%s te*ptationsB3 'he re*e*bere ho+ often she ha seen the s% en tear start in his eye, an ha hear his voice tre*ble +ith e*otion, +hile he relate any ,reat or benevolent action, or repeate a senti*ent of the sa*e character( 3An s%ch a *in ,3 sai she, 3s%ch a heart, +ere to be sacrifice to the habits of a ,reat city?3 These recollections beco*in, too painf%l to be en %re , she abr%ptly left the pavilion, an , an-io%s to escape fro* the *e*orials of her eparte happiness, ret%rne to+ar s the chatea%( As she passe alon, the terrace, she perceive a person, +alkin,, +ith a slo+ step, an a e.ecte air, %n er the trees, at so*e istance( The t+ili,ht, +hich +as no+ eep, +o%l not allo+ her to istin,%ish +ho it +as, an she i*a,ine it to be one of the servants, till, the so%n of her steps see*in, to reach hi*, he t%rne half ro%n , an she tho%,ht she sa+ Valanco%rt? :hoever it +as, he instantly str%ck a*on, the thickets on the left, an isappeare , +hile E*ily, her eyes fi-e on the place, +hence he ha vanishe , an her fra*e tre*blin, so e-cessively, that she co%l scarcely s%pport herself, re*aine , for so*e *o*ents, %nable

to 4%it the spot, an scarcely conscio%s of e-istence( :ith her recollection, her stren,th ret%rne , an she h%rrie to+ar the ho%se, +here she i not vent%re to en4%ire +ho ha been in the ,ar ens, lest she sho%l betray her e*otion/ an she sat o+n alone, en eavo%rin, to recollect the fi,%re, air an feat%res of the person she ha .%st seen( Her vie+ of hi*, ho+ever, ha been so transient, an the ,loo* ha ren ere it so i*perfect, that she co%l re*e*ber nothin, +ith e-actness/ yet the ,eneral appearance of his fi,%re, an his abr%pt epart%re, *a e her still believe, that this person +as Valanco%rt( 'o*eti*es, in ee , she tho%,ht, that her fancy, +hich ha been occ%pie by the i ea of hi*, ha s%,,este his i*a,e to her %ncertain si,ht; b%t this con.ect%re +as fleetin,( If it +as hi*self +ho* she ha seen, she +on ere *%ch, that he sho%l be at Tholo%se, an *ore, ho+ he ha ,aine a *ittance into the ,ar en/ b%t as often as her i*patience pro*pte her to en4%ire +hether any stran,er ha been a *itte , she +as restraine by an %n+illin,ness to betray her o%bts/ an the evenin, +as passe in an-io%s con.ect%re, an in efforts to is*iss the s%b.ect fro* her tho%,hts( 1%t, these en eavo%rs +ere ineffect%al, an a tho%san inconsistent e*otions assaile her, +henever she fancie that Valanco%rt *i,ht be near her/ no+, she rea e it to be tr%e, an no+ she feare it to be false/ an , +hile she constantly trie to pers%a e herself, that she +ishe the person, +ho* she ha seen, *i,ht not be Valanco%rt, her heart as constantly contra icte her reason( The follo+in, ay +as occ%pie by the visits of several nei,hbo%rin, fa*ilies, for*erly inti*ate +ith &a a*e &ontoni, +ho ca*e to con ole +ith E*ily on her eath, to con,rat%late her %pon the ac4%isition of these estates, an to en4%ire abo%t &ontoni, an concernin, the stran,e reports they ha hear of her o+n sit%ation/ all +hich +as one +ith the %t*ost ecor%*, an the visitors eparte +ith as *%ch co*pos%re as they ha arrive (

E*ily +as +earie by these for*alities, an is,%ste by the s%bservient *anners of *any persons, +ho ha tho%,ht her scarcely +orthy of co**on attention, +hile she +as believe to be a epen ant on &a a*e &ontoni( 3'%rely,3 sai she, 3there is so*e *a,ic in +ealth, +hich can th%s *ake persons pay their co%rt to it, +hen it oes not even benefit the*selves( Ho+ stran,e it is, that a fool or a knave, +ith riches, sho%l be treate +ith *ore respect by the +orl , than a ,oo *an, or a +ise *an in poverty?3 It +as evenin,, before she +as left alone, an she then +ishe to have refreshe her spirits in the free air of her ,ar en/ b%t she feare to ,o thither, lest she sho%l *eet a,ain the person, +ho* she ha seen on the prece in, ni,ht, an he sho%l prove to be Valanco%rt( The s%spense an an-iety she s%ffere , on this s%b.ect, she fo%n all her efforts %nable to contro%l, an her secret +ish to see Valanco%rt once *ore, tho%,h %nseen by hi*, po+erf%lly pro*pte her to ,o, b%t pr% ence an a elicate pri e restraine her, an she eter*ine to avoi the possibility of thro+in, herself in his +ay, by forbearin, to visit the ,ar ens, for several ays( :hen, after near a +eek, she a,ain vent%re thither, she *a e Annette her co*panion, an confine her +alk to the lo+er ,ro%n s, b%t often starte as the leaves r%stle in the bree8e, i*a,inin,, that so*e person +as a*on, the thickets/ an , at the t%rn of every alley, she looke for+ar +ith apprehensive e-pectation( 'he p%rs%e her +alk tho%,htf%lly an silently, for her a,itation +o%l not s%ffer her to converse +ith Annette, to +ho*, ho+ever, tho%,ht an silence +ere so intolerable, that she i not scr%ple at len,th to talk to her *istress( 3<ear *a a*,3 sai she, 3+hy o yo% start soB one +o%l think yo% kne+ +hat has happene (3 3:hat has happene B3 sai E*ily, in a falterin, voice, an tryin, to co**an her e*otion(

3The ni,ht before last, yo% kno+, *a a*37 3I kno+ nothin,, Annette,3 replie her la y in a *ore h%rrie voice( 3The ni,ht before last, *a a*, there +as a robber in the ,ar en(3 3A robber?3 sai E*ily, in an ea,er, yet o%btin, tone( 3I s%ppose he +as a robber, *a a*( :hat else co%l he beB3 3:here i yo% see hi*, AnnetteB3 re.oine E*ily, lookin, ro%n her, an t%rnin, back to+ar s the chatea%( 3It +as not I that sa+ hi*, *a a*, it +as @ean the ,ar ener( It +as t+elve o3clock at ni,ht, an , as he +as co*in, across the co%rt to ,o the back +ay into the ho%se, +hat sho%l he see7b%t so*ebo y +alkin, in the aven%e, that fronts the ,ar en ,ate? 'o, +ith that, @ean ,%esse ho+ it +as, an he +ent into the ho%se for his ,%n(3 3His ,%n?3 e-clai*e E*ily( 32es, *a a*, his ,%n/ an then he ca*e o%t into the co%rt to +atch hi*( Presently, he sees hi* co*e slo+ly o+n the aven%e, an lean over the ,ar en ,ate, an look %p at the ho%se for a lon, ti*e/ an I +arrant he e-a*ine it +ell, an settle +hat +in o+ he sho%l break in at(3 31%t the ,%n,3 sai E*ily73the ,%n?3 32es, *a a*, all in ,oo ti*e( Presently, @ean says, the robber opene the ,ate, an +as co*in, into the co%rt, an then he tho%,ht proper to ask hi* his b%siness; so he calle o%t a,ain, an ba e hi* say +ho he +as, an +hat he +ante ( 1%t the *an +o%l o neither/ b%t t%rne %pon his heel, an passe into the ,ar en a,ain( @ean kne+ then +ell eno%,h ho+ it +as, an so he fire after hi*(3 3)ire ?3 e-clai*e E*ily( 32es, *a a*, fire off his ,%n/ b%t, Holy Vir,in? +hat *akes yo% look so pale, *a a*B The *an +as not

kille ,7I are say/ b%t if he +as, his co*ra es carrie hi* off; for, +hen @ean +ent in the *ornin,, to look for the bo y, it +as ,one, an nothin, to be seen b%t a track of bloo on the ,ro%n ( @ean follo+e it, that he *i,ht fin o%t +here the *an ,ot into the ,ar en, b%t it +as lost in the ,rass, an 37 Annette +as interr%pte ; for E*ily3s spirits ie a+ay, an she +o%l have fallen to the ,ro%n , if the ,irl ha not ca%,ht her, an s%pporte her to a bench, close to the*( :hen, after a lon, absence, her senses ret%rne , E*ily esire to be le to her apart*ent/ an , tho%,h she tre*ble +ith an-iety to en4%ire f%rther on the s%b.ect of her alar*, she fo%n herself too ill at present, to are the intelli,ence +hich it +as possible she *i,ht receive of Valanco%rt( Havin, is*isse Annette, that she *i,ht +eep an think at liberty, she en eavo%re to recollect the e-act air of the person, +ho* she ha seen on the terrace, an still her fancy ,ave her the fi,%re of Valanco%rt( 'he ha , in ee , scarcely a o%bt, that it +as he +ho* she ha seen, an at +ho* the ,ar ener ha fire ; for the *anner of the latter person, as escribe by Annette, +as not that of a robber/ nor i it appear probable, that a robber +o%l have co*e alone, to break into a ho%se so spacio%s as this( :hen E*ily tho%,ht herself s%fficiently recovere , to listen to +hat @ean *i,ht have to relate, she sent for hi*/ b%t he co%l infor* her of no circ%*stance, that *i,ht lea to a kno+le ,e of the person, +ho ha been shot, or of the conse4%ence of the +o%n / an , after severely repri*an in, hi*, for havin, fire +ith b%llets, an or erin, ili,ent en4%iry to be *a e in the nei,hbo%rhoo for the iscovery of the +o%n e person, she is*isse hi*, an herself re*aine in the sa*e state of terrible s%spense( All the ten erness she ha ever felt for Valanco%rt, +as recalle by the sense of his an,er/ an the *ore she consi ere the s%b.ect, the *ore her conviction stren,thene , that it +as he, +ho ha visite the ,ar ens, for the p%rpose of soothin, the *isery of isappointe affection, a*i st the scenes of his for*er happiness(

3<ear *a a*,3 sai Annette, +hen she ret%rne , 3I never sa+ yo% so affecte before? I are say the *an is not kille (3 E*ily sh% ere , an la*ente bitterly the rashness of the ,ar ener in havin, fire ( 3I kne+ yo% +o%l be an,ry eno%,h abo%t that, *a a*, or I sho%l have tol yo% before/ an he kne+ so too/ for, says he, EAnnette, say nothin, abo%t this to *y la y( 'he lies on the other si e of the ho%se, so i not hear the ,%n, perhaps/ b%t she +o%l be an,ry +ith *e, if she kne+, seein, there is bloo ( 1%t then,E says he, Eho+ is one to keep the ,ar en clear, if one is afrai to fire at a robber, +hen one sees hi*BE3 39o *ore of this,3 sai E*ily, 3pray leave *e(3 Annette obeye , an E*ily ret%rne to the a,oni8in, consi erations, that ha assaile her before, b%t +hich she, at len,th, en eavo%re to sooth by a ne+ re*ark( If the stran,er +as Valanco%rt, it +as certain he ha co*e alone, an it appeare , therefore, that he ha been able to 4%it the ,ar ens, +itho%t assistance/ a circ%*stance +hich i not see* probable, ha his +o%n been an,ero%s( :ith this consi eration, she en eavo%re to s%pport herself, %rin, the en4%iries, that +ere *akin, by her servants in the nei,hbo%rhoo / b%t ay after ay ca*e, an still close in %ncertainty, concernin, this affair; an E*ily, s%fferin, in silence, at len,th, roope , an s%nk %n er the press%re of her an-iety( 'he +as attacke by a slo+ fever, an +hen she yiel e to the pers%asion of Annette to sen for *e ical a vice, the physicians prescribe little besi e air, ,entle e-ercise an a*%se*ent; b%t ho+ +as this last to be obtaine B 'he, ho+ever, en eavo%re to abstract her tho%,hts fro* the s%b.ect of her an-iety, by e*ployin, the* in pro*otin, that happiness in others, +hich she ha lost herself/ an , +hen the evenin, +as fine, she %s%ally took an airin,, incl% in, in her ri e the cotta,es of so*e of her tenants, on +hose con ition she *a e s%ch observations, as often enable her, %naske , to f%lfil their +ishes(

Her in isposition an the b%siness she en,a,e in, relative to this estate, ha alrea y protracte her stay at Tholo%se, beyon the perio she ha for*erly fi-e for her epart%re to 0a Vallee/ an no+ she +as %n+illin, to leave the only place, +here it see*e possible, that certainty co%l be obtaine on the s%b.ect of her istress( 1%t the ti*e +as co*e, +hen her presence +as necessary at 0a Vallee, a letter fro* the 0a y 1lanche no+ infor*in, her, that the Co%nt an herself, bein, then at the chatea% of the 1aron 't( )oi-, p%rpose to visit her at 0a Vallee, on their +ay ho*e, as soon as they sho%l be infor*e of her arrival there( 1lanche a e , that they *a e this visit, +ith the hope of in %cin, her to ret%rn +ith the* to Chatea%6le6 1lanc( E*ily, havin, replie to the letter of her frien , an sai that she sho%l be at 0a Vallee in a fe+ ays, *a e hasty preparations for the .o%rney/ an , in th%s leavin, Tholo%se, en eavo%re to s%pport herself +ith a belief, that, if any fatal acci ent ha happene to Valanco%rt, she *%st in this interval have hear of it( On the evenin, before her epart%re, she +ent to take leave of the terrace an the pavilion( The ay ha been s%ltry, b%t a li,ht sho+er, that fell .%st before s%n6set, ha coole the air, an ,iven that soft ver %re to the +oo s an past%res, +hich is so refreshin, to the eye/ +hile the rain rops, still tre*blin, on the shr%bs, ,littere in the last yello+ ,lea*, that li,hte %p the scene, an the air +as fille +ith fra,rance, e-hale by the late sho+er, fro* herbs an flo+ers an fro* the earth itself( 1%t the lovely prospect, +hich E*ily behel fro* the terrace, +as no lon,er vie+e by her +ith eli,ht/ she si,he eeply as her eye +an ere over it, an her spirits +ere in a state of s%ch e.ection, that she co%l not think of her approachin, ret%rn to 0a Vallee, +itho%t tears, an see*e to *o%rn a,ain the eath of her father, as if it ha been an event of yester ay( Havin, reache the pavilion, she seate herself at the open lattice, an , +hile her eyes settle on the istant *o%ntains, that overlooke Gascony, still ,lea*in, on the hori8on, tho%,h the s%n ha no+ left

the plains belo+, 3Alas?3 sai she, 3I ret%rn to yo%r lon,6 lost scenes, b%t shall *eet no *ore the parents, that +ere +ont to ren er the* eli,htf%l?7no *ore shall see the s*ile of +elco*e, or hear the +ell6kno+n voice of fon ness;7all +ill no+ be col an silent in +hat +as once *y happy ho*e(3 Tears stole o+n her cheek, as the re*e*brance of +hat that ho*e ha been, ret%rne to her/ b%t, after in %l,in, her sorro+ for so*e ti*e, she checke it, acc%sin, herself of in,ratit% e in for,ettin, the frien s, that she possesse , +hile she la*ente those that +ere eparte / an she, at len,th, left the pavilion an the terrace, +itho%t havin, observe a sha o+ of Valanco%rt or of any other person(

#HAPTER *I
Ah happy hills> ah pleasing shade> Ah fields belo"=d in "ain> <here once !y careless childhood stray=d, A stranger yet to pain> 5 feel the gales, that fro! ye blo , A !o!entary bliss besto , As a"ing fresh their gladso!e ing, My eary soul they see! to sooth# GRA$

On the follo+in, *ornin,, E*ily left Tholo%se at an early ho%r, an reache 0a Vallee abo%t s%n6set( :ith the *elancholy she e-perience on the revie+ of a place +hich ha been the resi ence of her parents, an the scene of her earliest eli,ht, +as *in,le , after the first shock ha s%bsi e , a ten er an %n escribable pleas%re( )or ti*e ha so far bl%nte the ac%teness of her ,rief, that she no+ co%rte every scene, that a+akene the *e*ory of her frien s/ in every roo*, +here she ha been acc%sto*e to see the*, they al*ost see*e to live a,ain/ an she felt that 0a Vallee +as still her happiest ho*e( One of the first apart*ents she visite , +as that, +hich ha been her father3s library, an here she seate herself in his ar*6chair,

an , +hile she conte*plate , +ith te*pere resi,nation, the pict%re of past ti*es, +hich her *e*ory ,ave, the tears she she co%l scarcely be calle those of ,rief( 'oon after her arrival, she +as s%rprise by a visit fro* the venerable &( 1arrea%-, +ho ca*e i*patiently to +elco*e the a%,hter of his late respecte nei,hbo%r, to her lon,6 eserte ho*e( E*ily +as co*forte by the presence of an ol frien , an they passe an interestin, ho%r in conversin, of for*er ti*es, an in relatin, so*e of the circ%*stances, that ha occ%rre to each, since they parte ( The evenin, +as so far a vance , +hen &( 1arrea%left E*ily, that she co%l not visit the ,ar en that ni,ht/ b%t, on the follo+in, *ornin,, she trace its lon,6 re,rette scenes +ith fon i*patience/ an , as she +alke beneath the ,roves, +hich her father ha plante , an +here she ha so often sa%ntere in affectionate conversation +ith hi*, his co%ntenance, his s*ile, even the accents of his voice, ret%rne +ith e-actness to her fancy, an her heart *elte to the ten er recollections( This, too, +as his favo%rite season of the year, at +hich they ha often to,ether a *ire the rich an varie,ate tints of these +oo s an the *a,ical effect of a%t%*nal li,hts %pon the *o%ntains/ an no+, the vie+ of these circ%*stances *a e *e*ory elo4%ent( As she +an ere pensively on, she fancie the follo+in, a ress
T7 AUTUM: 4 eet Autu!n> ho thy !elancholy grace 4teals on !y heart, as through these shades 5 ind> 4ooth=d by thy breathing sigh, 5 fondly trace Each lonely i!age of the pensi"e !ind> &o"=d scenes, lo"=d friends?long lost> around !e rise, And ake the !elting thought, the tender tear> That tear, that thought, hich !ore than !irth 5 priBe? 4 eet as the gradual tint, that paints thy year> Thy fare el s!ile, ith fond regret, 5 "ie , Thy bea!ing lights, soft gliding o=er the oodsA Thy distant landscape, touch=d ith yello hue

<hile falls the lengthen=d glea!A thy inding floods, :o "eil=d in shade, sa"e here the skiff=s hite sails 4 ell to the breeBe, and catch thy strea!ing ray# But no , e=en no >?the partial "ision fails, And the a"e s!iles, as s eeps the cloud a ay> E!ble! of life>?Thus checCuer=d is its plan, Thus joy succeeds to grief?thus s!iles the "aried !an>

One of E*ily3s earliest en4%iries, after her arrival at 0a Vallee, +as concernin, Theresa, her father3s ol servant, +ho* it *ay be re*e*bere that &( 5%esnel ha t%rne fro* the ho%se +hen it +as let, +itho%t any provision( An erstan in, that she live in a cotta,e at no ,reat istance, E*ily +alke thither, an , on approachin,, +as please to see, that her habitation +as pleasantly sit%ate on a ,reen slope, sheltere by a t%ft of oaks, an ha an appearance of co*fort an e-tre*e neatness( 'he fo%n the ol +o*an +ithin, pickin, vine6stalks, +ho, on perceivin, her yo%n, *istress, +as nearly overco*e +ith .oy( 3Ah? *y ear yo%n, la y?3 sai she, 3I tho%,ht I sho%l never see yo% a,ain in this +orl , +hen I hear yo% +as ,one to that o%tlan ish co%ntry( I have been har ly %se , since yo% +ent/ I little tho%,ht they +o%l have t%rne *e o%t of *y ol *aster3s fa*ily in *y ol a,e?3 E*ily la*ente the circ%*stance, an then ass%re her, that she +o%l *ake her latter ays co*fortable, an e-presse satisfaction, on seein, her in so pleasant an habitation( Theresa thanke her +ith tears, a in,, 32es, *a e*oiselle, it is a very co*fortable ho*e, thanks to the kin frien , +ho took *e o%t of *y istress, +hen yo% +as too far off to help *e, an place *e here? I little tho%,ht?7b%t no *ore of that73 3An +ho +as this kin frien B3 sai E*ily; 3+hoever it +as, I shall consi er hi* as *ine also(3 3Ah, *a e*oiselle? that frien forba *e to bla8on the ,oo ee 7I *%st not say, +ho it +as( 1%t ho+ yo% are altere since I sa+ yo% last? 2o% look so pale no+, an so thin, too/ b%t then, there is *y ol *aster3s

s*ile? 2es, that +ill never leave yo%, any *ore than the ,oo ness, that %se to *ake hi* s*ile( Alas6a6 ay? the poor lost a frien in ee , +hen he ie ?3 E*ily +as affecte by this *ention of her father, +hich Theresa observin,, chan,e the s%b.ect( 3I hear , *a e*oiselle,3 sai she, 3that &a a*e Cheron *arrie a forei,n ,entle*an, after all, an took yo% abroa / ho+ oes she oB3 E*ily no+ *entione her eath( 3Alas?3 sai Theresa, 3if she ha not been *y *aster3s sister, I sho%l never have love her/ she +as al+ays so cross( 1%t ho+ oes that ear yo%n, ,entle*an o, &( Valanco%rtB he +as an han so*e yo%th, an a ,oo one/ is he +ell, *a e*oiselleB3 E*ily +as *%ch a,itate ( 3A blessin, on hi*?3 contin%e Theresa( 3Ah, *y ear yo%n, la y, yo% nee not look so shy/ I kno+ all abo%t it( <o yo% think I o not kno+, that he loves yo%B :hy, +hen yo% +as a+ay, *a e*oiselle, he %se to co*e to the chatea% an +alk abo%t it, so isconsolate? He +o%l ,o into every roo* in the lo+er part of the ho%se, an , so*eti*es, he +o%l sit hi*self o+n in a chair, +ith his ar*s across, an his eyes on the floor, an there he +o%l sit, an think, an think, for the ho%r to,ether( He %se to be very fon of the so%th parlo%r, beca%se I tol hi* it %se to be yo%rs/ an there he +o%l stay, lookin, at the pict%res, +hich I sai yo% re+, an playin, %pon yo%r l%te, that h%n, %p by the +in o+, an rea in, in yo%r books, till s%nset, an then he *%st ,o back to his brother3s chatea%( An then73 3It is eno%,h, Theresa,3 sai E*ily(73Ho+ lon, have yo% live in this cotta,e7an ho+ can I serve yo%B :ill yo% re*ain here, or ret%rn an live +ith *eB3 39ay, *a e*oiselle,3 sai Theresa, 3 o not be so shy to yo%r poor ol servant( I a* s%re it is no is,race to like s%ch a ,oo yo%n, ,entle*an(3 A eep si,h escape fro* E*ily(

3Ah? ho+ he i love to talk of yo%? I love hi* for that( 9ay, for that *atter, he like to hear *e talk, for he i not say *%ch hi*self( 1%t I soon fo%n o%t +hat he ca*e to the chatea% abo%t( Then, he +o%l ,o into the ,ar en, an o+n to the terrace, an sit %n er that ,reat tree there, for the ay to,ether, +ith one of yo%r books in his han / b%t he i not rea *%ch, I fancy/ for one ay I happene to ,o that +ay, an I hear so*ebo y talkin,( :ho can be hereB says I; I a* s%re I let nobo y into the ,ar en, b%t the Chevalier( 'o I +alke softly, to see +ho it co%l be/ an behol ? it +as the Chevalier hi*self, talkin, to hi*self abo%t yo%( An he repeate yo%r na*e, an si,he so? an sai he ha lost yo% for ever, for that yo% +o%l never ret%rn for hi*( I tho%,ht he +as o%t in his reckonin, there, b%t I sai nothin,, an stole a+ay(3 39o *ore of this triflin,,3 sai E*ily, a+akenin, fro* her reverie; 3it ispleases *e(3 31%t, +hen &( 5%esnel let the chatea%, I tho%,ht it +o%l have broke the Chevalier3s heart(3 3Theresa,3 sai E*ily serio%sly, 3yo% *%st na*e the Chevalier no *ore?3 39ot na*e hi*, *a e*oiselle?3 crie Theresa; 3+hat ti*es are co*e %p no+B :hy, I love the Chevalier ne-t to *y ol *aster an yo%, *a e*oiselle(3 3Perhaps yo%r love +as not +ell besto+e , then,3 replie E*ily, tryin, to conceal her tears/ 3b%t, ho+ever that *i,ht be, +e shall *eet no *ore(3 3&eet no *ore?7not +ell besto+e ?3 e-clai*e Theresa( 3:hat o I hearB 9o, *a e*oiselle, *y love +as +ell besto+e , for it +as the Chevalier Valanco%rt, +ho ,ave *e this cotta,e, an has s%pporte *e in *y ol a,e, ever since &( 5%esnel t%rne *e fro* *y *aster3s ho%se(3 3The Chevalier Valanco%rt?3 sai e-tre*ely( E*ily, tre*blin,

32es, *a e*oiselle, he hi*self, tho%,h he *a e *e pro*ise not to tell/ b%t ho+ co%l one help, +hen one hear hi* ill spoken ofB Ah? ear yo%n, la y, yo% *ay

+ell +eep, if yo% have behave %nkin ly to hi*, for a *ore ten er heart than his never yo%n, ,entle*an ha ( He fo%n *e o%t in *y istress, +hen yo% +as too far off to help *e/ an &( 5%esnel ref%se to o so, an ba e *e ,o to service a,ain7Alas? I +as too ol for that?7The Chevalier fo%n *e, an bo%,ht *e this cotta,e, an ,ave *e *oney to f%rnish it, an ba e *e seek o%t another poor +o*an to live +ith *e/ an he or ere his brother3s ste+ar to pay *e, every 4%arter, that +hich has s%pporte *e in co*fort( Think then, *a e*oiselle, +hether I have not reason to speak +ell of the Chevalier( An there are others, +ho co%l have affor e it better than he; an I a* afrai he has h%rt hi*self by his ,enerosity, for 4%arter ay is ,one by lon, since, an no *oney for *e? 1%t o not +eep so, *a e*oiselle; yo% are not sorry s%rely to hear of the poor Chevalier3s ,oo nessB3 3'orry?3 sai E*ily, an +ept the *ore( 31%t ho+ lon, is it since yo% have seen hi*B3 39ot this *any a ay, *a e*oiselle(3 3:hen i yo% hear of hi*B3 en4%ire increase e*otion( E*ily, +ith

3Alas? never since he +ent a+ay so s% enly into 0an,%e oc/ an he +as b%t .%st co*e fro* Paris then, or I sho%l have seen hi*, I a* s%re( 5%arter ay is ,one by lon, since, an , as I sai , no *oney for *e/ an I be,in to fear so*e har* has happene to hi*; an if I +as not so far fro* Est%viere an so la*e, I sho%l have ,one to en4%ire before this ti*e/ an I have nobo y to sen so far(3 E*ily3s an-iety, as to the fate of Valanco%rt, +as no+ scarcely en %rable, an , since propriety +o%l not s%ffer her to sen to the chatea% of his brother, she re4%este that Theresa +o%l i**e iately hire so*e person to ,o to his ste+ar fro* herself, an , +hen he aske for the 4%artera,e %e to her, to *ake en4%iries concernin, Valanco%rt( 1%t she first *a e Theresa pro*ise never to *ention her na*e in this affair, or ever +ith that of the Chevalier Valanco%rt/ an her for*er faithf%lness to &( 't( A%bert in %ce E*ily to

confi e in her ass%rances( Theresa no+ .oyf%lly %n ertook to proc%re a person for this erran , an then E*ily, after ,ivin, her a s%* of *oney to s%pply her +ith present co*forts, ret%rne , +ith spirits heavily oppresse , to her ho*e, la*entin,, *ore than ever, that an heart, possesse of so *%ch benevolence as Valanco%rt3s, sho%l have been conta*inate by the vices of the +orl , b%t affecte by the elicate affection, +hich his kin ness to her ol servant e-presse for herself(

#HAPTER *II
&ight thickens, and the cro Makes ing to the rooky ood' Good things of day begin to droop, and dro BeA <hile night=s black agents to their preys do rouBe# MA3BET8

&ean+hile Co%nt <e Villefort an 0a y 1lanche ha passe a pleasant fortni,ht at the chatea% e 't( )oi-, +ith the 1aron an 1aroness, %rin, +hich they *a e fre4%ent e-c%rsions a*on, the *o%ntains, an +ere eli,hte +ith the ro*antic +il ness of Pyrenean scenery( It +as +ith re,ret, that the Co%nt ba e a ie% to his ol frien s, altho%,h +ith the hope of bein, soon %nite +ith the* in one fa*ily/ for it +as settle that &( 't( )oi-, +ho no+ atten e the* into Gascony, sho%l receive the han of the 0a y 1lanche, %pon their arrival at Chatea%6le61lanc( As the roa , fro* the 1aron3s resi ence to 0a Vallee, +as over so*e of the +il est tract of the Pyrenees, an +here a carria,e6 +heel ha never passe , the Co%nt hire *%les for hi*self an his fa*ily, as +ell as a co%ple of sto%t ,%i es, +ho +ere +ell ar*e , infor*e of all the passes of the *o%ntains, an +ho boaste , too, that they +ere ac4%ainte +ith every brake an in,le in the +ay, co%l tell the na*es of all the hi,hest points of this chain of Alps, kne+ every forest, that sprea alon, their narro+ vallies, the shallo+est part of every torrent

they *%st cross, an the e-act istance of every ,oat6 her 3s an h%nter3s cabin they sho%l have occasion to pass,7+hich last article of learnin, re4%ire no very capacio%s *e*ory, for even s%ch si*ple inhabitants +ere b%t thinly scattere over these +il s( The Co%nt left the chatea% e 't( )oi-, early in the *ornin,, +ith an intention of passin, the ni,ht at a little inn %pon the *o%ntains, abo%t half +ay to 0a Vallee, of +hich his ,%i es ha infor*e hi*/ an , tho%,h this +as fre4%ente chiefly by 'panish *%leteers, on their ro%te into )rance, an , of co%rse, +o%l affor only sorry acco**o ation, the Co%nt ha no alternative, for it +as the only place like an inn, on the roa ( After a ay of a *iration an fati,%e, the travellers fo%n the*selves, abo%t s%n6set, in a +oo y valley, overlooke , on every si e, by abr%pt hei,hts( They ha procee e for *any lea,%es, +itho%t seein, a h%*an habitation, an ha only hear , no+ an then, at a istance, the *elancholy tinklin, of a sheep6bell/ b%t no+ they ca%,ht the notes of *erry *%sic, an presently sa+, +ithin a little ,reen recess a*on, the rocks, a ,ro%p of *o%ntaineers, trippin, thro%,h a ance( The Co%nt, +ho co%l not look %pon the happiness, any *ore than on the *isery of others, +ith in ifference, halte to en.oy this scene of si*ple pleas%re( The ,ro%p before hi* consiste of )rench an 'panish peasants, the inhabitants of a nei,hbo%rin, ha*let, so*e of +ho* +ere perfor*in, a spri,htly ance, the +o*en +ith castanets in their han s, to the so%n s of a l%te an a ta*borine, till, fro* the brisk *elo y of )rance, the *%sic softene into a slo+ *ove*ent, to +hich t+o fe*ale peasants ance a 'panish Pavan( The Co%nt, co*parin, this +ith the scenes of s%ch ,aiety as he ha +itnesse at Paris, +here false taste painte the feat%res, an , +hile it vainly trie to s%pply the ,lo+ of nat%re, conceale the char*s of ani*ation 7+here affectation so often istorte the air, an vice perverte the *anners7si,he to think, that nat%ral ,races an innocent pleas%res flo%rishe in the +il s of

solit% e, +hile they roope a*i st the conco%rse of polishe society( 1%t the len,thenin, sha o+s re*in e the travellers, that they ha no ti*e to lose/ an , leavin, this .oyo%s ,ro%p, they p%rs%e their +ay to+ar s the little inn, +hich +as to shelter the* fro* the ni,ht( The rays of the settin, s%n no+ thre+ a yello+ ,lea* %pon the forests of pine an chesn%t, that s+ept o+n the lo+er re,ion of the *o%ntains, an ,ave resplen ent tints to the sno+y points above( 1%t soon, even this li,ht fa e fast, an the scenery ass%*e a *ore tre*en o%s appearance, investe +ith the obsc%rity of t+ili,ht( :here the torrent ha been seen, it +as no+ only hear / +here the +il cliffs ha isplaye every variety of for* an attit% e, a ark *ass of *o%ntains no+ alone appeare / an the vale, +hich far, far belo+ ha opene its rea f%l chas*, the eye co%l no lon,er fatho*( A *elancholy ,lea* still lin,ere on the s%**its of the hi,hest Alps, overlookin, the eep repose of evenin,, an see*in, to *ake the stillness of the ho%r *ore a+f%l( 1lanche vie+e the scene in silence, an listene +ith enth%sias* to the *%r*%r of the pines, that e-ten e in ark lines alon, the *o%ntains, an to the faint voice of the i8ar , a*on, the rocks, that ca*e at intervals on the air( 1%t her enth%sias* s%nk into apprehension, +hen, as the sha o+s eepene , she looke %pon the o%btf%l precipice, that bor ere the roa , as +ell as on the vario%s fantastic for*s of an,er, that ,li**ere thro%,h the obsc%rity beyon it/ an she aske her father, ho+ far they +ere fro* the inn, an +hether he i not consi er the roa to be an,ero%s at this late ho%r( The Co%nt repeate the first 4%estion to the ,%i es, +ho ret%rne a o%btf%l ans+er, a in,, that, +hen it +as arker, it +o%l be safest to rest, till the *oon rose( 3It is scarcely safe to procee no+,3 sai the Co%nt/ b%t the ,%i es, ass%rin, hi* that there +as no an,er, +ent on( 1lanche, revive by this ass%rance, a,ain in %l,e a pensive pleas%re, as she +atche the pro,ress of t+ili,ht ,ra %ally sprea in, its tints over the +oo s an *o%ntains, an stealin, fro* the eye

every *in%ter feat%re of the scene, till the ,ran o%tlines of nat%re alone re*aine ( Then fell the silent e+s, an every +il flo+er, an aro*atic plant, that bloo*e a*on, the cliffs, breathe forth its s+eetness/ then, too, +hen the *o%ntain6bee ha crept into its blosso*e be , an the h%* of every little insect, that ha floate ,aily in the s%n6bea*, +as h%she , the so%n of *any strea*s, not hear till no+, *%r*%re at a istance(7The bats alone, of all the ani*als inhabitin, this re,ion, see*e a+ake/ an , +hile they flitte across the silent path, +hich 1lanche +as p%rs%in,, she re*e*bere the follo+in, lines, +hich E*ily ha ,iven her;
T7 T8E BAT )ro! haunt of !an, fro! day=s obtrusi"e glare, Thou shroud=st thee in the ruin=s i"y=d to =r# 7r in so!e shado y glen=s ro!antic bo =r, <here iBard for!s their !ystic char!s prepare, <here 8orror lurks, and e"er%boding 3are> But, at the s eet and silent e"=ning hour, <hen clos=d in sleep is e"=ry languid flo =r, Thou lo"=st to sport upon the t ilight air, Mocking the eye, that ould thy course pursue, 5n !any a anton%round, elastic, gay, Thou flit=st ath art the pensi"e and=rer=s ay, As his lone footsteps print the !ountain%de # )ro! 5ndian isles thou co!=st, ith 4u!!er=s car, T ilight thy lo"e?thy guide her bea!ing star>

To a +ar* i*a,ination, the %bio%s for*s, that float, half veile in arkness, affor a hi,her eli,ht, than the *ost istinct scenery, that the s%n can she+( :hile the fancy th%s +an ers over lan scapes partly of its o+n creation, a s+eet co*placency steals %pon the *in , an
Refines it all to subtlest feeling, Bids the tear of rapture roll#

The istant note of a torrent, the +eak tre*blin, of the bree8e a*on, the +oo s, or the far6off so%n of a h%*an voice, no+ lost an hear a,ain, are circ%*stances, +hich +on erf%lly hei,hten the enth%siastic tone of the *in ( The yo%n, 't( )oi-, +ho sa+ the presentations of a fervi fancy, an felt +hatever enth%sias* co%l s%,,est, so*eti*es

interr%pte the silence, +hich the rest of the party see*e by *%t%al consent to preserve, re*arkin, an pointin, o%t to 1lanche the *ost strikin, effect of the ho%r %pon the scenery/ +hile 1lanche, +hose apprehensions +ere be,%ile by the conversation of her lover, yiel e to the taste so con,enial to his, an they converse in a lo+ restraine voice, the effect of the pensive tran4%illity, +hich t+ili,ht an the scene inspire , rather than of any fear, that they sho%l be hear ( 1%t, +hile the heart +as th%s soothe to ten erness, 't( )oi- ,ra %ally *in,le , +ith his a *iration of the co%ntry, a *ention of his affection/ an he contin%e to speak, an 1lanche to listen, till the *o%ntains, the +oo s, an the *a,ical ill%sions of t+ili,ht, +ere re*e*bere no *ore( The sha o+s of evenin, soon shifte to the ,loo* of ni,ht, +hich +as so*e+hat anticipate by the vapo%rs, that, ,atherin, fast ro%n the *o%ntains, rolle in ark +reaths alon, their si es/ an the ,%i es propose to rest, till the *oon sho%l rise, a in,, that they tho%,ht a stor* +as co*in, on( As they looke ro%n for a spot, that *i,ht affor so*e kin of shelter, an ob.ect +as perceive obsc%rely thro%,h the %sk, on a point of rock, a little +ay o+n the *o%ntain, +hich they i*a,ine to be a h%nter3s or a shepher 3s cabin, an the party, +ith ca%tio%s steps, procee e to+ar s it( Their labo%r, ho+ever, +as not re+ar e , or their apprehensions soothe / for, on reachin, the ob.ect of their search, they iscovere a *on%*ental cross, +hich *arke the spot to have been poll%te by *%r er( The arkness +o%l not per*it the* to rea the inscription/ b%t the ,%i es kne+ this to be a cross, raise to the *e*ory of a Co%nt e 1eliar , +ho ha been *%r ere here by a hor e of ban itti, that ha infeste this part of the Pyrenees, a fe+ years before/ an the %nco**on si8e of the *on%*ent see*e to .%stify the s%pposition, that it +as erecte for a person of so*e istinction( 1lanche sh% ere , as she listene to so*e horri partic%lars of the Co%nt3s fate, +hich one of the ,%i es relate in a lo+, restraine tone, as if

the so%n of his o+n voice fri,htene hi*/ b%t, +hile they lin,ere at the cross, atten in, to his narrative, a flash of li,htnin, ,lance %pon the rocks, th%n er *%ttere at a istance, an the travellers, no+ alar*e , 4%itte this scene of solitary horror, in search of shelter( Havin, re,aine their for*er track, the ,%i es, as they passe on, en eavo%re to interest the Co%nt by vario%s stories of robbery, an even of *%r er, +hich ha been perpetrate in the very places they *%st %navoi ably pass, +ith acco%nts of their o+n a%ntless co%ra,e an +on erf%l escapes( The chief ,%i e, or rather he, +ho +as the *ost co*pletely ar*e , ra+in, forth one of the fo%r pistols, that +ere t%cke into his belt, s+ore, that it ha shot three robbers +ithin the year( He then bran ishe a clasp6knife of enor*o%s len,th, an +as ,oin, to reco%nt the +on erf%l e-ec%tion it ha one, +hen 't( )oi-, perceivin,, that 1lanche +as terrifie , interr%pte hi*( The Co%nt, *ean+hile, secretly la%,hin, at the terrible histories an e-trava,ant boastin,s of the *an, resolve to h%*o%r hi*, an , tellin, 1lanche in a +hisper, his esi,n, be,an to reco%nt so*e e-ploits of his o+n, +hich infinitely e-cee e any relate by the ,%i e( To these s%rprisin, circ%*stances he so artf%lly ,ave the colo%rin, of tr%th, that the co%ra,e of the ,%i es +as visibly affecte by the*, +ho contin%e silent, lon, after the Co%nt ha cease to speak( The lo4%acity of the chief hero th%s lai asleep, the vi,ilance of his eyes an ears see*e *ore thoro%,hly a+akene , for he listene , +ith *%ch appearance of an-iety, to the eep th%n er, +hich *%r*%re at intervals, an often pa%se , as the bree8e, that +as no+ risin,, r%she a*on, the pines( 1%t, +hen he *a e a s% en halt before a t%ft of cork trees, that pro.ecte over the roa , an re+ forth a pistol, before he +o%l vent%re to brave the ban itti +hich *i,ht l%rk behin it, the Co%nt co%l no lon,er refrain fro* la%,hter( Havin, no+, ho+ever, arrive at a level spot, so*e+hat sheltere fro* the air, by overhan,in, cliffs an by a +oo of larch, that rose over the precipice on

the left, an the ,%i es bein, yet i,norant ho+ far they +ere fro* the inn, the travellers eter*ine to rest, till the *oon sho%l rise, or the stor* isperse( 1lanche, recalle to a sense of the present *o*ent, looke on the s%rro%n in, ,loo*, +ith terror/ b%t ,ivin, her han to 't( )oi-, she ali,hte , an the +hole party entere a kin of cave, if s%ch it co%l be calle , +hich +as only a shallo+ cavity, for*e by the c%rve of i*pen in, rocks( A li,ht bein, str%ck, a fire +as kin le , +hose bla8e affor e so*e e,ree of cheerf%lness, an no s*all co*fort, for, tho%,h the ay ha been hot, the ni,ht air of this *o%ntaino%s re,ion +as chillin,/ a fire +as partly necessary also to keep off the +olves, +ith +hich those +il s +ere infeste ( Provisions bein, sprea %pon a pro.ection of the rock, the Co%nt an his fa*ily partook of a s%pper, +hich, in a scene less r% e, +o%l certainly have been tho%,ht less e-cellent( :hen the repast +as finishe , 't( )oi-, i*patient for the *oon, sa%ntere alon, the precipice, to a point, that fronte the east/ b%t all +as yet +rapt in ,loo*, an the silence of ni,ht +as broken only by the *%r*%rin, of +oo s, that +ave far belo+, or by istant th%n er, an , no+ an then, by the faint voices of the party he ha 4%itte ( He vie+e , +ith e*otions of a+f%l s%bli*ity, the lon, vol%*es of s%lph%reo%s clo% s, that floate alon, the %pper an *i le re,ions of the air, an the li,htnin,s that flashe fro* the*, so*eti*es silently, an , at others, follo+e by s%llen peals of th%n er, +hich the *o%ntains feebly prolon,e , +hile the +hole hori8on, an the abyss, on +hich he stoo , +ere iscovere in the *o*entary li,ht( Apon the s%ccee in, arkness, the fire, +hich ha been kin le in the cave, thre+ a partial ,lea*, ill%*inin, so*e points of the opposite rocks, an the s%**its of pine6+oo s, that h%n, beetlin, on the cliffs belo+, +hile their recesses see*e to fro+n in eeper sha e( 't( )oi- stoppe to observe the pict%re, +hich the party in the cave presente , +here the ele,ant for* of 1lanche +as finely contraste by the *a.estic fi,%re of the Co%nt, +ho +as seate by her on a r% e stone, an

each +as ren ere *ore i*pressive by the ,rotes4%e habits an stron, feat%res of the ,%i es an other atten ants, +ho +ere in the back ,ro%n of the piece( The effect of the li,ht, too, +as interestin,/ on the s%rro%n in, fi,%res it thre+ a stron,, tho%,h pale ,lea*, an ,littere on their bri,ht ar*s/ +hile %pon the folia,e of a ,i,antic larch, that i*pen e its sha e over the cliff above, appeare a re , %sky tint, eepenin, al*ost i*perceptibly into the blackness of ni,ht( :hile 't( )oi- conte*plate the scene, the *oon, broa an yello+, rose over the eastern s%**its, fro* a*on, e*battle clo% s, an she+e i*ly the ,ran e%r of the heavens, the *ass of vapo%rs, that rolle half +ay o+n the precipice beneath, an the o%btf%l *o%ntains(
<hat dreadful pleasure> there to stand subli!e, &ike ship reck=d !ariner on desert coast, And "ie th=enor!ous aste of "apour, tost 5n billo s length=ning to th=horiBon round> T8E M5:4TRE&

)ro* this ro*antic reverie he +as a+akene by the voices of the ,%i es, repeatin, his na*e, +hich +as reverbe fro* cliff to cliff, till an h%n re ton,%es see*e to call hi*/ +hen he soon 4%iete the fears of the Co%nt an the 0a y 1lanche, by ret%rnin, to the cave( As the stor*, ho+ever, see*e approachin,, they i not 4%it their place of shelter/ an the Co%nt, seate bet+een his a%,hter an 't( )oi-, en eavo%re to ivert the fears of the for*er, an converse on s%b.ects, relatin, to the nat%ral history of the scene, a*on, +hich they +an ere ( He spoke of the *ineral an fossile s%bstances, fo%n in the epths of these *o%ntains,7the veins of *arble an ,ranite, +ith +hich they abo%n e , the strata of shells, iscovere near their s%**its, *any tho%san fatho* above the level of the sea, an at a vast istance fro* its present shore/7of the tre*en o%s chas*s an caverns of the rocks, the ,rotes4%e for* of the *o%ntains, an the vario%s phaeno*ena, that see* to sta*p %pon the +orl the history of the el%,e( )ro* the nat%ral history he escen e to the *ention of events an

circ%*stances, connecte +ith the civil story of the Pyrenees/ na*e so*e of the *ost re*arkable fortresses, +hich )rance an 'pain ha erecte in the passes of these *o%ntains/ an ,ave a brief acco%nt of so*e celebrate sie,es an enco%nters in early ti*es, +hen A*bition first fri,htene 'olit% e fro* these her eep recesses, *a e her *o%ntains, +hich before ha echoe only to the torrent3s roar, tre*ble +ith the clan, of ar*s, an , +hen *an3s first footsteps in her sacre ha%nts ha left the print of bloo ? As 1lanche sat, attentive to the narrative, that ren ere the scenes o%bly interestin,, an resi,ne to sole*n e*otion, +hile she consi ere , that she +as on the very ,ro%n , once poll%te by these events, her reverie +as s% enly interr%pte by a so%n , that ca*e in the +in ( 7It +as the istant bark of a +atch6 o,( The travellers listene +ith ea,er hope, an , as the +in ble+ stron,er, fancie , that the so%n ca*e fro* no ,reat istance/ an , the ,%i es havin, little o%bt, that it procee e fro* the inn they +ere in search of, the Co%nt eter*ine to p%rs%e his +ay( The *oon no+ affor e a stron,er, tho%,h still an %ncertain li,ht, as she *ove a*on, broken clo% s/ an the travellers, le by the so%n , reco**ence their .o%rney alon, the bro+ of the precipice, prece e by a sin,le torch, that no+ conten e +ith the *oon6li,ht/ for the ,%i es, believin, they sho%l reach the inn soon after s%n6set, ha ne,lecte to provi e *ore( In silent ca%tion they follo+e the so%n , +hich +as hear b%t at intervals, an +hich, after so*e ti*e entirely cease ( The ,%i es en eavo%re , ho+ever, to point their co%rse to the 4%arter, +hence it ha iss%e , b%t the eep roarin, of a torrent soon sei8e their attention, an presently they ca*e to a tre*en o%s chas* of the *o%ntain, +hich see*e to forbi all f%rther pro,ress( 1lanche ali,hte fro* her *%le, as i the Co%nt an 't( )oi-, +hile the ,%i es traverse the e ,e in search of a bri ,e, +hich, ho+ever r% e, *i,ht convey the* to the opposite si e, an they, at len,th, confesse , +hat the Co%nt ha be,%n to s%spect, that they ha been, for so*e ti*e,

o%btf%l of their +ay, an +ere no+ certain only, that they ha lost it( At a little istance, +as iscovere a r% e an an,ero%s passa,e, for*e by an enor*o%s pine, +hich, thro+n across the chas*, %nite the opposite precipices, an +hich ha been felle probably by the h%nter, to facilitate his chace of the i8ar , or the +olf( The +hole party, the ,%i es e-cepte , sh% ere at the prospect of crossin, this alpine bri ,e, +hose si es affor e no kin of efence, an fro* +hich to fall +as to ie( The ,%i es, ho+ever, prepare to lea over the *%les, +hile 1lanche stoo tre*blin, on the brink, an listenin, to the roar of the +aters, +hich +ere seen escen in, fro* rocks above, overh%n, +ith lofty pines, an thence precipitatin, the*selves into the eep abyss, +here their +hite s%r,es ,lea*e faintly in the *oon6li,ht( The poor ani*als procee e over this perilo%s bri ,e +ith instinctive ca%tion, neither fri,htene by the noise of the cataract, or eceive by the ,loo*, +hich the i*pen in, folia,e thre+ ath+art their +ay( It +as no+, that the solitary torch, +hich ha been hitherto of little service, +as fo%n to be an inesti*able treas%re/ an 1lanche, terrifie , shrinkin,, b%t en eavo%rin, to re6collect all her fir*ness an presence of *in , prece e by her lover an s%pporte by her father, follo+e the re ,lea* of the torch, in safety, to the opposite cliff( As they +ent on, the hei,hts contracte , an for*e a narro+ pass, at the botto* of +hich, the torrent they ha .%st crosse , +as hear to th%n er( 1%t they +ere a,ain cheere by the bark of a o,, keepin, +atch, perhaps, over the flocks of the *o%ntains, to protect the* fro* the ni,htly escent of the +olves( The so%n +as *%ch nearer than before, an , +hile they re.oice in the hope of soon reachin, a place of repose, a li,ht +as seen to ,li**er at a istance( It appeare at a hei,ht consi erably above the level of their path, an +as lost an seen a,ain, as if the +avin, branches of trees so*eti*es e-cl% e an then a *itte its rays( The ,%i es hallooe +ith all their stren,th, b%t the so%n of no h%*an voice +as hear in ret%rn, an , at

len,th, as a *ore effect%al *eans of *akin, the*selves kno+n, they fire a pistol( 1%t, +hile they listene in an-io%s e-pectation, the noise of the e-plosion +as alone hear , echoin, a*on, the rocks, an it ,ra %ally s%nk into silence, +hich no frien ly hint of *an ist%rbe ( The li,ht, ho+ever, that ha been seen before, no+ beca*e plainer, an , soon after, voices +ere hear in istinctly on the +in / b%t, %pon the ,%i es repeatin, the call, the voices s% enly cease , an the li,ht isappeare ( The 0a y 1lanche +as no+ al*ost sinkin, beneath the press%re of an-iety, fati,%e an apprehension, an the %nite efforts of the Co%nt an 't( )oi- co%l scarcely s%pport her spirits( As they contin%e to a vance, an ob.ect +as perceive on a point of rock above, +hich, the stron, rays of the *oon then fallin, on it, appeare to be a +atch6to+er( The Co%nt, fro* its sit%ation an so*e other circ%*stances, ha little o%bt, that it +as s%ch, an believin,, that the li,ht ha procee e fro* thence, he en eavo%re to re6ani*ate his a%,hter3s spirits by the near prospect of shelter an repose, +hich, ho+ever r% e the acco**o ation, a r%ine +atch6to+er *i,ht affor ( 39%*ero%s +atch6to+ers have been erecte a*on, the Pyrenees,3 sai the Co%nt, an-io%s only to call 1lanche3s attention fro* the s%b.ect of her fears/ 3an the *etho , by +hich they ,ive intelli,ence of the approach of the ene*y, is, yo% kno+, by fires, kin le on the s%**its of these e ifices( 'i,nals have th%s, so*eti*es, been co**%nicate fro* post to post, alon, a frontier line of several h%n re *iles in len,th( Then, as occasion *ay re4%ire, the l%rkin, ar*ies e*er,e fro* their fortresses an the forests, an *arch forth, to efen , perhaps, the entrance of so*e ,ran pass, +here, plantin, the*selves on the hei,hts, they assail their astonishe ene*ies, +ho +in alon, the ,len belo+, +ith fra,*ents of the shattere cliff, an po%r eath an efeat %pon the*( The ancient forts, an +atch6to+ers, overlookin, the ,ran passes of the Pyrenees, are caref%lly preserve / b%t so*e of those in inferior stations have been s%ffere to fall into ecay,

an are no+ fre4%ently converte into the *ore peacef%l habitation of the h%nter, or the shepher , +ho, after a ay of toil, retires hither, an , +ith his faithf%l o,s, for,ets, near a cheerf%l bla8e, the labo%r of the chace, or the an-iety of collectin, his +an erin, flocks, +hile he is sheltere fro* the ni,htly stor*(3 31%t are they al+ays th%s peacef%lly inhabite B3 sai the 0a y 1lanche( 39o,3 replie the Co%nt, 3they are so*eti*es the asyl%* of )rench an 'panish s*%,,lers, +ho cross the *o%ntains +ith contraban ,oo s fro* their respective co%ntries, an the latter are partic%larly n%*ero%s, a,ainst +ho* stron, parties of the kin,3s troops are so*eti*es sent( 1%t the esperate resol%tion of these a vent%rers, +ho, kno+in,, that, if they are taken, they *%st e-piate the breach of the la+ by the *ost cr%el eath, travel in lar,e parties, +ell ar*e , often a%nts the co%ra,e of the sol iers( The s*%,,lers, +ho seek only safety, never en,a,e, +hen they can possibly avoi it/ the *ilitary, also, +ho kno+, that in these enco%nters, an,er is certain, an ,lory al*ost %nattainable, are e4%ally rel%ctant to fi,ht/ an en,a,e*ent, therefore, very sel o* happens, b%t, +hen it oes, it never concl% es till after the *ost esperate an bloo y conflict( 2o% are inattentive, 1lanche,3 a e the Co%nt; 3I have +earie yo% +ith a %ll s%b.ect/ b%t see, yon er, in the *oon6li,ht, is the e ifice +e have been in search of, an +e are fort%nate to be so near it, before the stor* b%rsts(3 1lanche, lookin, %p, perceive , that they +ere at the foot of the cliff, on +hose s%**it the b%il in, stoo , b%t no li,ht no+ iss%e fro* it/ the barkin, of the o, too ha , for so*e ti*e, cease , an the ,%i es be,an to o%bt, +hether this +as really the ob.ect of their search( )ro* the istance, at +hich they s%rveye it, she+n i*perfectly by a clo% y *oon, it appeare to be of *ore e-tent than a sin,le +atch6to+er/ b%t the iffic%lty +as ho+ to ascen the hei,ht, +hose abr%pt eclivities see*e to affor no kin of path+ay(

:hile the ,%i es carrie for+ar the torch to e-a*ine the cliff, the Co%nt, re*ainin, +ith 1lanche an 't( )oi- at its foot, %n er the sha o+ of the +oo s, en eavo%re a,ain to be,%ile the ti*e by conversation, b%t a,ain an-iety abstracte the *in of 1lanche/ an he then cons%lte , apart +ith 't( )oi-, +hether it +o%l be a visable, sho%l a path be fo%n , to vent%re to an e ifice, +hich *i,ht possibly harbo%r ban itti( They consi ere , that their o+n party +as not s*all, an that several of the* +ere +ell ar*e / an , after en%*eratin, the an,ers, to be inc%rre by passin, the ni,ht in the open +il , e-pose , perhaps, to the effects of a th%n er6stor*, there re*aine not a o%bt, that they o%,ht to en eavo%r to obtain a *ittance to the e ifice above, at any ha8ar respectin, the inhabitants it *i,ht harbo%r/ b%t the arkness, an the ea silence, that s%rro%n e it, appeare to contra ict the probability of its bein, inhabite at all( A sho%t fro* the ,%i es aro%se their attention, after +hich, in a fe+ *in%tes, one of the Co%nt3s servants ret%rne +ith intelli,ence, that a path +as fo%n , an they i**e iately hastene to .oin the ,%i es, +hen they all ascen e a little +in in, +ay c%t in the rock a*on, thickets of +arf +oo , an , after *%ch toil an so*e an,er, reache the s%**it, +here several r%ine to+ers, s%rro%n e by a *assy +all, rose to their vie+, partially ill%*ine by the *oon6li,ht( The space aro%n the b%il in, +as silent, an apparently forsaken, b%t the Co%nt +as ca%tio%s/ 3'tep softly,3 sai he, in a lo+ voice, 3+hile +e reconnoitre the e ifice(3 Havin, procee e silently alon, for so*e paces, they stoppe at a ,ate, +hose portals +ere terrible even in r%ins, an , after a *o*ent3s hesitation, passe on to the co%rt of entrance, b%t pa%se a,ain at the hea of a terrace, +hich, branchin, fro* it, ran alon, the bro+ of a precipice( Over this, rose the *ain bo y of the e ifice, +hich +as no+ seen to be, not a +atch6to+er, b%t one of those ancient fortresses, that, fro* a,e an ne,lect, ha fallen to ecay( &any parts of it, ho+ever, appeare to be still entire/ it +as b%ilt of ,rey stone, in the heavy 'a-on6,othic style, +ith enor*o%s ro%n

to+ers, b%ttresses of proportionable stren,th, an the arch of the lar,e ,ate, +hich see*e to open into the hall of the fabric, +as ro%n , as +as that of a +in o+ above( The air of sole*nity, +hich *%st so stron,ly have characteri8e the pile even in the ays of its early stren,th, +as no+ consi erably hei,htene by its shattere battle*ents an half6 e*olishe +alls, an by the h%,e *asses of r%in, scattere in its +i e area, no+ silent an ,rass ,ro+n( In this co%rt of entrance stoo the ,i,antic re*ains of an oak, that see*e to have flo%rishe an ecaye +ith the b%il in,, +hich it still appeare fro+nin,ly to protect by the fe+ re*ainin, branches, leafless an *oss6,ro+n, that cro+ne its tr%nk, an +hose +i e e-tent tol ho+ enor*o%s the tree ha been in a for*er a,e( This fortress +as evi ently once of ,reat stren,th, an , fro* its sit%ation on a point of rock, i*pen in, over a eep ,len, ha been of ,reat po+er to annoy, as +ell as to resist/ the Co%nt, therefore, as he stoo s%rveyin, it, +as so*e+hat s%rprise , that it ha been s%ffere , ancient as it +as, to sink into r%ins, an its present lonely an eserte air e-cite in his breast e*otions of *elancholy a+e( :hile he in %l,e , for a *o*ent, these e*otions, he tho%,ht he hear a so%n of re*ote voices steal %pon the stillness, fro* +ithin the b%il in,, the front of +hich he a,ain s%rveye +ith scr%tini8in, eyes, b%t yet no li,ht +as visible( He no+ eter*ine to +alk ro%n the fort, to that re*ote part of it, +hence he tho%,ht the voices ha arisen, that he *i,ht e-a*ine +hether any li,ht co%l be iscerne there, before he vent%re to knock at the ,ate/ for this p%rpose, he entere %pon the terrace, +here the re*ains of cannon +ere yet apparent in the thick +alls, b%t he ha not procee e *any paces, +hen his steps +ere s% enly arreste by the lo% barkin, of a o, +ithin, an +hich he fancie to be the sa*e, +hose voice ha been the *eans of brin,in, the travellers thither( It no+ appeare certain, that the place +as inhabite , an the Co%nt ret%rne to cons%lt a,ain +ith 't( )oi-, +hether he sho%l try to obtain a *ittance, for its +il aspect ha so*e+hat shaken his for*er resol%tion/ b%t, after a secon cons%ltation, he s%b*itte to the

consi erations, +hich before eter*ine hi*, an +hich +ere stren,thene by the iscovery of the o,, that ,%ar e the fort, as +ell as by the stillness that perva e it( He, therefore, or ere one of his servants to knock at the ,ate, +ho +as a vancin, to obey hi*, +hen a li,ht appeare thro%,h the loop6hole of one of the to+ers, an the Co%nt calle lo% ly, b%t, receivin, no ans+er, he +ent %p to the ,ate hi*self, an str%ck %pon it +ith an iron6pointe pole, +hich ha assiste hi* to cli*b the steep( :hen the echoes ha cease , that this blo+ ha a+akene , the rene+e barkin,,7 an there +ere no+ *ore than one o,,7+as the only so%n , that +as hear ( The Co%nt steppe back, a fe+ paces, to observe +hether the li,ht +as in the to+er, an , perceivin,, that it +as ,one, he ret%rne to the portal, an ha lifte the pole to strike a,ain, +hen a,ain he fancie he hear the *%r*%r of voices +ithin, an pa%se to listen( He +as confir*e in the s%pposition, b%t they +ere too re*ote, to be hear other+ise than in a *%r*%r, an the Co%nt no+ let the pole fall heavily %pon the ,ate/ +hen al*ost i**e iately a profo%n silence follo+e ( It +as apparent, that the people +ithin ha hear the so%n , an their ca%tion in a *ittin, stran,ers ,ave hi* a favo%rable opinion of the*( 3They are either h%nters or shepher s,3 sai he, 3+ho, like o%rselves, have probably so%,ht shelter fro* the ni,ht +ithin these +alls, an are fearf%l of a *ittin, stran,ers, lest they sho%l prove robbers( I +ill en eavo%r to re*ove their fears(3 'o sayin,, he calle alo% , 3:e are frien s, +ho ask shelter fro* the ni,ht(3 In a fe+ *o*ents, steps +ere hear +ithin, +hich approache , an a voice then en4%ire 73:ho callsB3 3)rien s,3 repeate the Co%nt/ 3open the ,ates, an yo% shall kno+ *ore(37'tron, bolts +ere no+ hear to be %n ra+n, an a *an, ar*e +ith a h%ntin, spear, appeare ( 3:hat is it yo% +ant at this ho%rB3 sai he( The Co%nt beckone his atten ants, an then ans+ere , that he +ishe to en4%ire the +ay to the nearest cabin( 3Are yo% so little ac4%ainte +ith these *o%ntains,3 sai the *an, 3as not to kno+, that there is none, +ithin several lea,%esB I cannot she+ yo% the +ay/ yo% *%st seek it7there3s a *oon(3 'ayin,

this, he +as closin, the ,ate, an the Co%nt +as t%rnin, a+ay, half isappointe an half afrai , +hen another voice +as hear fro* above, an , on lookin, %p, he sa+ a li,ht, an a *an3s face, at the ,rate of the portal( 3'tay, frien , yo% have lost yo%r +ayB3 sai the voice( 32o% are h%nters, I s%ppose, like o%rselves; I +ill be +ith yo% presently(3 The voice cease , an the li,ht isappeare ( 1lanche ha been alar*e by the appearance of the *an, +ho ha opene the ,ate, an she no+ entreate her father to 4%it the place/ b%t the Co%nt ha observe the h%nter3s spear, +hich he carrie / an the +or s fro* the to+er enco%ra,e hi* to a+ait the event( The ,ate +as soon opene , an several *en in h%nters3 habits, +ho ha hear above +hat ha passe belo+, appeare , an , havin, listene so*e ti*e to the Co%nt, tol hi* he +as +elco*e to rest there for the ni,ht( They then presse hi*, +ith *%ch co%rtesy, to enter, an to partake of s%ch fare as they +ere abo%t to sit o+n to( The Co%nt, +ho ha observe the* attentively +hile they spoke, +as ca%tio%s, an so*e+hat s%spicio%s/ b%t he +as also +eary, fearf%l of the approachin, stor*, an of enco%nterin, alpine hei,hts in the obsc%rity of ni,ht/ bein, like+ise so*e+hat confi ent in the stren,th an n%*ber of his atten ants, he, after so*e f%rther consi eration, eter*ine to accept the invitation( :ith this resol%tion he calle his servants, +ho, a vancin, ro%n the to+er, behin +hich so*e of the* ha silently listene to this conference, follo+e their 0or , the 0a y 1lanche, an 't( )oi- into the fortress( The stran,ers le the* on to a lar,e an r% e hall, partially seen by a fire that bla8e at its e-tre*ity, ro%n +hich fo%r *en, in the h%nter3s ress, +ere seate , an on the hearth +ere several o,s stretche in sleep( In the *i le of the hall stoo a lar,e table, an over the fire so*e part of an ani*al +as boilin,( As the Co%nt approache , the *en arose, an the o,s, half raisin, the*selves, looke fiercely at the stran,ers, b%t, on hearin, their *asters3 voices, kept their post%res on the hearth(

1lanche looke ro%n this ,loo*y an spacio%s hall/ then at the *en, an to her father, +ho, s*ilin, cheerf%lly at her, a resse hi*self to the h%nters( 3This is an hospitable hearth,3 sai he, 3the bla8e of a fire is revivin, after havin, +an ere so lon, in these reary +il s( 2o%r o,s are tire / +hat s%ccess have yo% ha B3 3'%ch as +e %s%ally have,3 replie one of the *en, +ho ha been seate in the hall, 3+e kill o%r ,a*e +ith tolerable certainty(3 3These are fello+ h%nters,3 sai one of the *en +ho ha bro%,ht the Co%nt hither, 3that have lost their +ay, an I have tol the* there is roo* eno%,h in the fort for %s all(3 3Very tr%e, very tr%e,3 replie his co*panion, 3:hat l%ck have yo% ha in the chace, brothersB :e have kille t+o i8ar s, an that, yo% +ill say, is pretty +ell(3 32o% *istake, frien ,3 sai the Co%nt, 3+e are not h%nters, b%t travellers/ b%t, if yo% +ill a *it %s to h%nters3 fare, +e shall be +ell contente , an +ill repay yo%r kin ness(3 3'it o+n then, brother,3 sai one of the *en; 3@ac4%es, lay *ore f%el on the fire, the ki +ill soon be rea y/ brin, a seat for the la y too( &a3a*selle, +ill yo% taste o%r bran yB it is tr%e 1arcelona, an as bri,ht as ever flo+e fro* a ke,(3 1lanche ti*i ly s*ile , an +as ,oin, to ref%se, +hen her father prevente her, by takin,, +ith a ,oo h%*o%re air, the ,lass offere to his a%,hter/ an &ons( 't( )oi-, +ho +as seate ne-t her, presse her han , an ,ave her an enco%ra,in, look, b%t her attention +as en,a,e by a *an, +ho sat silently by the fire, observin, 't( )oi-, +ith a stea y an earnest eye( 32o% lea a .olly life here,3 sai the Co%nt( 3The life of a h%nter is a pleasant an a healthy one/ an the repose is s+eet, +hich s%ccee s to yo%r labo%r(3 32es,3 replie one of his hosts, 3o%r life is pleasant eno%,h( :e live here only %rin, the s%**er, an a%t%*nal *onths/ in +inter, the place is reary, an the s+oln torrents, that escen fro* the hei,hts, p%t a stop to the chace(3 33Tis a life of liberty an en.oy*ent,3 sai the Co%nt; 3I sho%l like to pass a *onth in yo%r +ay very +ell(3

3:e fin e*ploy*ent for o%r ,%ns too,3 sai a *an +ho stoo behin the Co%nt; 3here are plenty of bir s, of elicio%s flavo%r, that fee %pon the +il thy*e an herbs, that ,ro+ in the vallies( 9o+ I think of it, there is a brace of bir s h%n, %p in the stone ,allery/ ,o fetch the*, @ac4%es, +e +ill have the* resse (3 The Co%nt no+ *a e en4%iry, concernin, the *etho of p%rs%in, the chace a*on, the rocks an precipices of these ro*antic re,ions, an +as listenin, to a c%rio%s etail, +hen a horn +as so%n e at the ,ate( 1lanche looke ti*i ly at her father, +ho contin%e to converse on the s%b.ect of the chace, b%t +hose co%ntenance +as so*e+hat e-pressive of an-iety, an +ho often t%rne his eyes to+ar s that part of the hall nearest the ,ate( The horn so%n e a,ain, an a lo% halloo s%ccee e ( 3These are so*e of o%r co*panions, ret%rne fro* their ay3s labo%r,3 sai a *an, ,oin, la8ily fro* his seat to+ar s the ,ate/ an in a fe+ *in%tes, t+o *en appeare , each +ith a ,%n over his sho%l er, an pistols in his belt( 3:hat cheer, *y la sB +hat cheerB3 sai they, as they approache ( 3:hat l%ckB3 ret%rne their co*panions; 3have yo% bro%,ht ho*e yo%r s%pperB 2o% shall have none else(3 3Hah? +ho the evil have yo% bro%,ht ho*eB3 sai they in ba 'panish, on perceivin, the Co%nt3s party, 3are they fro* )rance, or 'painB7+here i yo% *eet +ith the*B3 3They *et +ith %s, an a *erry *eetin, too,3 replie his co*panion alo% in ,oo )rench( 3This chevalier, an his party, ha lost their +ay, an aske a ni,ht3s lo ,in, in the fort(3 The others *a e no reply, b%t thre+ o+n a kin of knapsack, an re+ forth several brace of bir s( The ba, so%n e heavily as it fell to the ,ro%n , an the ,litter of so*e bri,ht *etal +ithin ,lance on the eye of the Co%nt, +ho no+ s%rveye , +ith a *ore en4%irin, look, the *an, that hel the knapsack( He +as a tall rob%st fi,%re, of a har co%ntenance, an ha short black hair, c%rlin, in his neck( Instea of the h%nter3s ress, he +ore a fa e *ilitary %nifor*/ san als +ere lace on his broa le,s, an a kin of short tro+sers h%n, fro* his +aist( On his hea he

+ore a leathern cap, so*e+hat rese*blin, in shape an ancient Ro*an hel*et/ b%t the bro+s that sco+le beneath it, +o%l have characteri8e those of the barbarians, +ho con4%ere Ro*e, rather than those of a Ro*an sol ier( The Co%nt, at len,th, t%rne a+ay his eyes, an re*aine silent an tho%,htf%l, till, a,ain raisin, the*, he perceive a fi,%re stan in, in an obsc%re part of the hall, fi-e in attentive ,a8e on 't( )oi-, +ho +as conversin, +ith 1lanche, an i not observe this/ b%t the Co%nt, soon after, sa+ the sa*e *an lookin, over the sho%l er of the sol ier as attentively at hi*self( He +ith re+ his eye, +hen that of the Co%nt *et it, +ho felt *istr%st ,atherin, fast %pon his *in , b%t feare to betray it in his co%ntenance, an , forcin, his feat%res to ass%*e a s*ile, a resse 1lanche on so*e in ifferent s%b.ect( :hen he a,ain looke ro%n , he perceive , that the sol ier an his co*panion +ere ,one( The *an, +ho +as calle @ac4%es, no+ ret%rne fro* the stone ,allery( 3A fire is li,hte there,3 sai he, 3an the bir s are ressin,/ the table too is sprea there, for that place is +ar*er than this(3 His co*panions approve of the re*oval, an invite their ,%ests to follo+ to the ,allery, of +ho* 1lanche appeare istresse , an re*aine seate , an 't( )oilooke at the Co%nt, +ho sai , he preferre the co*fortable bla8e of the fire he +as then near( The h%nters, ho+ever, co**en e the +ar*th of the other apart*ent, an presse his re*oval +ith s%ch see*in, co%rtesy, that the Co%nt, half o%btin,, an half fearf%l of betrayin, his o%bts, consente to ,o( The lon, an r%ino%s passa,es, thro%,h +hich they +ent, so*e+hat a%nte hi*, b%t the th%n er, +hich no+ b%rst in lo% peals above, *a e it an,ero%s to 4%it this place of shelter, an he forbore to provoke his con %ctors by she+in, that he istr%ste the*( The h%nters le the +ay, +ith a la*p/ the Co%nt an 't( )oi-, +ho +ishe to please their hosts by so*e instances of fa*iliarity, carrie each a seat, an 1lanche follo+e , +ith falterin, steps( As she passe on, part of her ress ca%,ht on a nail in the +all, an , +hile she stoppe ,

so*e+hat too scr%p%lo%sly, to isen,a,e it, the Co%nt, +ho +as talkin, to 't( )oi-, an neither of +ho* observe the circ%*stance, follo+e their con %ctor ro%n an abr%pt an,le of the passa,e, an 1lanche +as left behin in arkness( The th%n er prevente the* fro* hearin, her call b%t, havin, isen,a,e her ress, she 4%ickly follo+e , as she tho%,ht, the +ay they ha taken( A li,ht, that ,li**ere at a istance, confir*e this belief, an she procee e to+ar s an open oor, +hence it iss%e , con.ect%rin, the roo* beyon to be the stone ,allery the *en ha spoken of( Hearin, voices as she a vance , she pa%se +ithin a fe+ paces of the cha*ber, that she *i,ht be certain +hether she +as ri,ht, an fro* thence, by the li,ht of a la*p, that h%n, fro* the ceilin,, observe fo%r *en, seate ro%n a table, over +hich they leane in apparent cons%ltation( In one of the* she istin,%ishe the feat%res of hi*, +ho* she ha observe , ,a8in, at 't( )oi-, +ith s%ch eep attention/ an +ho +as no+ speakin, in an earnest, tho%,h restraine voice, till, one of his co*panions see*in, to oppose hi*, they spoke to,ether in a lo% an harsher tone( 1lanche, alar*e by perceivin, that neither her father, or 't( )oi- +ere there, an terrifie at the fierce co%ntenances an *anners of these *en, +as t%rnin, hastily fro* the cha*ber, to p%rs%e her search of the ,allery, +hen she hear one of the *en say; 30et all isp%te en here( :ho talks of an,erB )ollo+ *y a vice, an there +ill be none7sec%re THE&, an the rest are an easy prey(3 1lanche, str%ck +ith these +or s, pa%se a *o*ent, to hear *ore( 3There is nothin, to be ,ot by the rest,3 sai one of his co*panions, 3I a* never for bloo +hen I can help it7 ispatch the t+o others, an o%r b%siness is one/ the rest *ay ,o(3 3&ay they soB3 e-clai*e the first r%ffian, +ith a tre*en o%s oath73:hat? to tell ho+ +e have ispose of their *asters, an to sen the kin,3s troops to ra, %s to the +heel? 2o% +as al+ays a choice a viser7I +arrant +e have not yet for,ot 't( Tho*as3s eve last year(3

1lanche3s heart no+ s%nk +ith horror( Her first i*p%lse +as to retreat fro* the oor, b%t, +hen she +o%l have ,one, her tre*blin, fra*e ref%se to s%pport her, an , havin, tottere a fe+ paces, to a *ore obsc%re part of the passa,e, she +as co*pelle to listen to the rea f%l co%ncils of those, +ho, she +as no lon,er s%ffere to o%bt, +ere ban itti( In the ne-t *o*ent, she hear the follo+in, +or s, 3:hy yo% +o%l not *%r er the +hole GA9GB3 3I +arrant o%r lives are as ,oo as theirs,3 replie his co*ra e( 3If +e on3t kill the*, they +ill han, %s; better they sho%l ie than +e be han,e (3 31etter, better,3 crie his co*ra es( 3To co**it *%r er, is a hopef%l +ay of escapin, the ,allo+s?3 sai the first r%ffian73*any an honest fello+ has r%n his hea into the noose that +ay, tho%,h(3 There +as a pa%se of so*e *o*ents, %rin, +hich they appeare to be consi erin,( 3Confo%n those fello+s,3 e-clai*e one of the robbers i*patiently, 3they o%,ht to have been here by this ti*e/ they +ill co*e back presently +ith the ol story, an no booty; if they +ere here, o%r b%siness +o%l be plain an easy( I see +e shall not be able to o the b%siness to6ni,ht, for o%r n%*bers are not e4%al to the ene*y, an in the *ornin, they +ill be for *archin, off, an ho+ can +e etain the* +itho%t forceB3 3I have been thinkin, of a sche*e, that +ill o,3 sai one of his co*ra es; 3if +e can ispatch the t+o chevaliers silently, it +ill be easy to *aster the rest(3 3That3s a pla%sible sche*e, in ,oo faith,3 sai another +ith a s*ile of scorn73If I can eat *y +ay thro%,h the prison +all, I shall be at liberty?7Ho+ can +e ispatch the* 'I0E9T02B3 31y poison,3 replie his co*panions( 3:ell sai ? that +ill o,3 sai the secon r%ffian, 3that +ill ,ive a lin,erin, eath too, an satisfy *y reven,e( These barons shall take care ho+ they a,ain te*pt o%r ven,eance(3

3I kne+ the son, the *o*ent I sa+ hi*,3 sai the *an, +ho* 1lanche ha observe ,a8in, on 't( )oi-, 3tho%,h he oes not kno+ *e/ the father I ha al*ost for,otten(3 3:ell, yo% *ay say +hat yo% +ill,3 sai the thir r%ffian, 3b%t I on3t believe he is the 1aron, an I a* as likely to kno+ as any of yo%, for I +as one of the*, that attacke hi*, +ith o%r brave la s, that s%ffere (3 3An +as not I anotherB3 sai the first r%ffian, 3I tell yo% he is the 1aron/ b%t +hat oes it si,nify +hether he is or notB7shall +e let all this booty ,o o%t of o%r han sB It is not often +e have s%ch l%ck at this( :hile +e r%n the chance of the +heel for s*%,,lin, a fe+ po%n s of tobacco, to cheat the kin,3s *an%factory, an of breakin, o%r necks o+n the precipices in the chace of o%r foo / an , no+ an then, rob a brother s*%,,ler, or a stra,,lin, pil,ri*, of +hat scarcely repays %s the po+ er +e fire at the*, shall +e let s%ch a pri8e as this ,oB :hy they have eno%,h abo%t the* to keep %s for 73 3I a* not for that, I a* not for that,3 replie the thir robber, 3let %s *ake the *ost of the*; only, if this is the 1aron, I sho%l like to have a flash the *ore at hi*, for the sake of o%r brave co*ra es, that he bro%,ht to the ,allo+s(3 3Aye, aye, flash as *%ch as yo% +ill,3 re.oine the first *an, 3b%t I tell yo% the 1aron is a taller *an(3 3Confo%n yo%r 4%ibblin,,3 sai the secon r%ffian, 3shall +e let the* ,o or notB If +e stay here *%ch lon,er, they +ill take the hint, an *arch off +itho%t o%r leave( 0et the* be +ho they +ill, they are rich, or +hy all those servantsB <i yo% see the rin,, he, yo% call the 1aron, ha on his fin,erB7it +as a ia*on / b%t he has not ,ot it on no+; he sa+ *e lookin, at it, I +arrant, an took it off(3 3Aye, an then there is the pict%re/ i yo% see thatB 'he has not taken that off,3 observe the first r%ffian, 3it han,s at her neck/ if it ha not sparkle so, I sho%l not have fo%n it o%t, for it +as al*ost hi by her ress/

those are ia*on s too, an a rare *any of the* there *%st be, to ,o ro%n s%ch a lar,e pict%re(3 31%t ho+ are +e to *ana,e this b%sinessB3 sai the secon r%ffian; 3let %s talk of that, there is no fear of there bein, booty eno%,h, b%t ho+ are +e to sec%re itB3 3Aye, aye,3 sai his co*ra es, 3let %s talk of that, an re*e*ber no ti*e is to be lost(3 3I a* still for poison,3 observe the thir , 3b%t consi er their n%*ber/ +hy there are nine or ten of the*, an ar*e too/ +hen I sa+ so *any at the ,ate, I +as not for lettin, the* in, yo% kno+, nor yo% either(3 3I tho%,ht they *i,ht be so*e of o%r ene*ies,3 replie the secon , 3I i not so *%ch *in n%*bers(3 31%t yo% *%st *in the* no+,3 re.oine his co*ra e, 3or it +ill be +orse for yo%( :e are not *ore than si-, an ho+ can +e *aster ten by open forceB I tell yo% +e *%st ,ive so*e of the* a ose, an the rest *ay then be *ana,e (3 3I3ll tell yo% a better +ay,3 re.oine the other i*patiently, 3 ra+ closer(3 1lanche, +ho ha listene to this conversation, in an a,ony, +hich it +o%l be i*possible to escribe, co%l no lon,er istin,%ish +hat +as sai , for the r%ffians no+ spoke in lo+ere voices/ b%t the hope, that she *i,ht save her frien s fro* the plot, if she co%l fin her +ay 4%ickly to the*, s% enly re6ani*ate her spirits, an lent her stren,th eno%,h to t%rn her steps in search of the ,allery( Terror, ho+ever, an arkness conspire a,ainst her, an , havin, *ove a fe+ yar s, the feeble li,ht, that iss%e fro* the cha*ber, no lon,er even conten e +ith the ,loo*, an , her foot st%*blin, over a step that crosse the passa,e, she fell to the ,ro%n ( The noise startle the ban itti, +ho beca*e s% enly silent, an then all r%she to the passa,e, to e-a*ine +hether any person +as there, +ho *i,ht have overhear their co%ncils( 1lanche sa+ the* approachin,, an perceive their fierce an ea,er looks; b%t, before she co%l raise herself, they

iscovere an sei8e her, an , as they ra,,e her to+ar s the cha*ber they ha 4%itte , her screa*s re+ fro* the* horrible threatenin,s( Havin, reache the roo*, they be,an to cons%lt +hat they sho%l o +ith her( 30et %s first kno+ +hat she ha hear ,3 sai the chief robber( 3Ho+ lon, have yo% been in the passa,e, la y, an +hat bro%,ht yo% thereB3 30et %s first sec%re that pict%re,3 sai one of his co*ra es, approachin, the tre*blin, 1lanche( 3)air la y, by yo%r leave that pict%re is *ine/ co*e, s%rren er it, or I shall sei8e it(3 1lanche, entreatin, their *ercy, i**e iately ,ave %p the *iniat%re, +hile another of the r%ffians fiercely interro,ate her, concernin, +hat she ha overhear of their conversation, +hen, her conf%sion an terror too plainly tellin, +hat her ton,%e feare to confess, the r%ffians looke e-pressively %pon one another, an t+o of the* +ith re+ to a re*ote part of the roo*, as if to cons%lt f%rther( 3These are ia*on s, by 't( Peter?3 e-clai*e the fello+, +ho ha been e-a*inin, the *iniat%re, 3an here is a very pretty pict%re too, 3faith/ as han so*e a yo%n, chevalier, as yo% +o%l +ish to see by a s%**er3s s%n( 0a y, this is yo%r spo%se, I +arrant, for it is the spark, that +as in yo%r co*pany .%st no+(3 1lanche, sinkin, +ith terror, con.%re hi* to have pity on her, an , eliverin, hi* her p%rse, pro*ise to say nothin, of +hat ha passe , if he +o%l s%ffer her to ret%rn to her frien s( He s*ile ironically, an +as ,oin, to reply, +hen his attention +as calle off by a istant noise/ an , +hile he listene , he ,raspe the ar* of 1lanche *ore fir*ly, as if he feare she +o%l escape fro* hi*, an she a,ain shrieke for help( The approachin, so%n s calle the r%ffians fro* the other part of the cha*ber( 3:e are betraye ,3 sai they/ 3b%t let %s listen a *o*ent, perhaps it is only o%r co*ra es co*e in fro* the *o%ntains, an if so, o%r +ork is s%re/ listen?3

A istant ischar,e of shot confir*e this s%pposition for a *o*ent, b%t, in the ne-t, the for*er so%n s ra+in, nearer, the clashin, of s+or s, *in,le +ith the voices of lo% contention an +ith heavy ,roans, +ere istin,%ishe in the aven%e lea in, to the cha*ber( :hile the r%ffians prepare their ar*s, they hear the*selves calle by so*e of their co*ra es afar off, an then a shrill horn +as so%n e +itho%t the fortress, a si,nal, it appeare , they too +ell %n erstoo / for three of the*, leavin, the 0a y 1lanche to the care of the fo%rth, instantly r%she fro* the cha*ber( :hile 1lanche, tre*blin,, an nearly faintin,, +as s%pplicatin, for release, she hear a*i the t%*%lt, that approache , the voice of 't( )oi-, an she ha scarcely rene+e her shriek, +hen the oor of the roo* +as thro+n open, an he appeare , *%ch isfi,%re +ith bloo , an p%rs%e by several r%ffians( 1lanche neither sa+, or hear any *ore/ her hea s+a*, her si,ht faile , an she beca*e senseless in the ar*s of the robber, +ho ha etaine her( :hen she recovere , she perceive , by the ,loo*y li,ht, that tre*ble ro%n her, that she +as in the sa*e cha*ber, b%t neither the Co%nt, 't( )oi-, or any other person appeare , an she contin%e , for so*e ti*e, entirely still, an nearly in a state of st%pefaction( 1%t, the rea f%l i*a,es of the past ret%rnin,, she en eavo%re to raise herself, that she *i,ht seek her frien s, +hen a s%llen ,roan, at a little istance, re*in e her of 't( )oi-, an of the con ition, in +hich she ha seen hi* enter this roo*/ then, startin, fro* the floor, by a s% en effort of horror, she a vance to the place +hence the so%n ha procee e , +here a bo y +as lyin, stretche %pon the pave*ent, an +here, by the ,li**erin, li,ht of a la*p, she iscovere the pale an isfi,%re co%ntenance of 't( )oi-( Her horrors, at that *o*ent, *ay be easily i*a,ine ( He +as speechless/ his eyes +ere half close , an , on the han , +hich she ,raspe in the a,ony of espair, col a*ps ha settle ( :hile she vainly repeate his na*e, an calle for assistance, steps approache , an a person entere the cha*ber,

+ho, she soon perceive , +as not the Co%nt, her father/ b%t, +hat +as her astonish*ent, +hen, s%pplicatin, hi* to ,ive his assistance to 't( )oi-, she iscovere 0% ovico? He scarcely pa%se to reco,nise her, b%t i**e iately bo%n %p the +o%n s of the Chevalier, an , perceivin,, that he ha fainte probably fro* loss of bloo , ran for +ater/ b%t he ha been absent only a fe+ *o*ents, +hen 1lanche hear other steps approachin,, an , +hile she +as al*ost frantic +ith apprehension of the r%ffians, the li,ht of a torch flashe %pon the +alls, an then Co%nt <e Villefort appeare , +ith an affri,hte co%ntenance, an breathless +ith i*patience, callin, %pon his a%,hter( At the so%n of his voice, she rose, an ran to his ar*s, +hile he, lettin, fall the bloo y s+or he hel , presse her to his boso* in a transport of ,ratit% e an .oy, an then hastily en4%ire for 't( )oi-, +ho no+ ,ave so*e si,ns of life( 0% ovico soon after ret%rnin, +ith +ater an bran y, the for*er +as applie to his lips, an the latter to his te*ples an han s, an 1lanche, at len,th, sa+ hi* %nclose his eyes, an then hear hi* en4%ire for her/ b%t the .oy she felt, on this occasion, +as interr%pte by ne+ alar*s, +hen 0% ovico sai it +o%l be necessary to re*ove &ons( 't( )oii**e iately, an a e , 3The ban itti, that are o%t, *y 0or , +ere e-pecte ho*e, an ho%r a,o, an they +ill certainly fin %s, if +e elay( That shrill horn, they kno+, is never so%n e by their co*ra es b%t on *ost esperate occasions, an it echoes a*on, the *o%ntains for *any lea,%es ro%n ( I have kno+n the* bro%,ht ho*e by its so%n even fro* the Pie e &elicant( Is any bo y stan in, +atch at the ,reat ,ate, *y 0or B3 39obo y,3 replie the Co%nt/ 3the rest of *y people are no+ scattere abo%t, I scarcely kno+ +here( Go, 0% ovico, collect the* to,ether, an look o%t yo%rself, an listen if yo% hear the feet of *%les(3 0% ovico then h%rrie a+ay, an the Co%nt cons%lte as to the *eans of re*ovin, 't( )oi-, +ho co%l not have borne the *otion of a *%le, even if his stren,th +o%l have s%pporte hi* in the sa le(

:hile the Co%nt +as tellin,, that the ban itti, +ho* they ha fo%n in the fort, +ere sec%re in the %n,eon, 1lanche observe that he +as hi*self +o%n e , an that his left ar* +as entirely %seless/ b%t he s*ile at her an-iety, ass%rin, her the +o%n +as triflin,( The Co%nt3s servants, e-cept t+o +ho kept +atch at the ,ate, no+ appeare , an , soon after, 0% ovico( 3I think I hear *%les co*in, alon, the ,len, *y 0or ,3 sai he, 3b%t the roarin, of the torrent belo+ +ill not let *e be certain/ ho+ever, I have bro%,ht +hat +ill serve the Chevalier,3 he a e , she+in, a bear3s skin, fastene to a co%ple of lon, poles, +hich ha been a apte for the p%rpose of brin,in, ho*e s%ch of the ban itti as happene to be +o%n e in their enco%nters( 0% ovico sprea it on the ,ro%n , an , placin, the skins of several ,oats %pon it, *a e a kin of be , into +hich the Chevalier, +ho +as ho+ever no+ *%ch revive , +as ,ently lifte / an , the poles bein, raise %pon the sho%l ers of the ,%i es, +hose footin, a*on, these steeps co%l best be epen e %pon, he +as borne alon, +ith an easy *otion( 'o*e of the Co%nt3s servants +ere also +o%n e 7b%t not *aterially, an , their +o%n s bein, bo%n %p, they no+ follo+e to the ,reat ,ate( As they passe alon, the hall, a lo% t%*%lt +as hear at so*e istance, an 1lanche +as terrifie ( 3It is only those villains in the %n,eon, *y 0a y,3 sai 0% ovico( 3They see* to be b%rstin, it open,3 sai the Co%nt( 39o, *y 0or ,3 replie 0% ovico, 3it has an iron oor/ +e have nothin, to fear fro* the*/ b%t let *e ,o first, an look o%t fro* the ra*part(3 They 4%ickly follo+e hi*, an fo%n their *%les bro+sin, before the ,ates, +here the party listene an-io%sly, b%t hear no so%n , e-cept that of the torrent belo+ an of the early bree8e, si,hin, a*on, the branches of the ol oak, that ,re+ in the co%rt/ an they +ere no+ ,la to perceive the first tints of a+n over the *o%ntain6tops( :hen they ha *o%nte their *%les, 0% ovico, %n ertakin, to be their ,%i e, le the* by an easier path, than that by +hich they ha for*erly ascen e , into the ,len( 3:e *%st avoi that

valley to the east, *y 0or ,3 sai he, 3or +e *ay *eet the ban itti/ they +ent o%t that +ay in the *ornin,(3 The travellers, soon after, 4%itte this ,len, an fo%n the*selves in a narro+ valley that stretche to+ar s the north6+est( The *ornin, li,ht %pon the *o%ntains no+ stren,thene fast, an ,ra %ally iscovere the ,reen hillocks, that skirte the +in in, feet of the cliffs, t%fte +ith cork tree, an ever6,reen oak( The th%n er6clo% s bein, isperse , ha left the sky perfectly serene, an 1lanche +as revive by the fresh bree8e, an by the vie+ of ver %re, +hich the late rain ha bri,htene ( 'oon after, the s%n arose, +hen the rippin, rocks, +ith the shr%bs that frin,e their s%**its, an *any a t%rfy slope belo+, sparkle in his rays( A +reath of *ist +as seen, floatin, alon, the e-tre*ity of the valley, b%t the ,ale bore it before the travellers, an the s%n6bea*s ,ra %ally re+ it %p to+ar s the s%**it of the *o%ntains( They ha procee e abo%t a lea,%e, +hen, 't( )oi- havin, co*plaine of e-tre*e faintness, they stoppe to ,ive hi* refresh*ent, an , that the *en, +ho bore hi*, *i,ht rest( 0% ovico ha bro%,ht fro* the fort so*e flasks of rich 'panish +ine, +hich no+ prove a revivin, cor ial not only to 't( )oi- b%t to the +hole party, tho%,h to hi* it ,ave only te*porary relief, for it fe the fever, that b%rne in his veins, an he co%l neither is,%ise in his co%ntenance the an,%ish he s%ffere , or s%ppress the +ish, that he +as arrive at the inn, +here they ha esi,ne to pass the prece in, ni,ht( :hile they th%s repose the*selves %n er the sha e of the ark ,reen pines, the Co%nt esire 0% ovico to e-plain shortly, by +hat *eans he ha isappeare fro* the north apart*ent, ho+ he ca*e into the han s of the ban itti, an ho+ he ha contrib%te so essentially to serve hi* an his fa*ily, for to hi* he .%stly attrib%te their present eliverance( 0% ovico +as ,oin, to obey hi*, +hen s% enly they hear the echo of a pistol6shot, fro* the +ay they ha passe , an they rose in alar*, hastily to p%rs%e their ro%te(

#HAPTER *III
Ah hy did )ate his steps decoy 5n stor!y paths to roa!, Re!ote fro! all congenial joy> BEATT5E

E*ily, *ean +hile, +as still s%fferin, an-iety as to the fate of Valanco%rt/ b%t Theresa, havin,, at len,th, fo%n a person, +ho* she co%l entr%st on her erran to the ste+ar , infor*e her, that the *essen,er +o%l ret%rn on the follo+in, ay/ an E*ily pro*ise to be at the cotta,e, Theresa bein, too la*e to atten her( In the evenin,, therefore, E*ily set o%t alone for the cotta,e, +ith a *elancholy forebo in,, concernin, Valanco%rt, +hile, perhaps, the ,loo* of the ho%r *i,ht contrib%te to epress her spirits( It +as a ,rey a%t%*nal evenin, to+ar s the close of the season/ heavy *ists partially obsc%re the *o%ntains, an a chillin, bree8e, that si,he a*on, the beech +oo s, stre+e her path +ith so*e of their last yello+ leaves( These, circlin, in the blast an foretellin, the eath of the year, ,ave an i*a,e of esolation to her *in , an , in her fancy, see*e to anno%nce the eath of Valanco%rt( Of this she ha , in ee , *ore than once so stron, a presenti*ent, that she +as on the point of ret%rnin, ho*e, feelin, herself %ne4%al to an enco%nter +ith the certainty she anticipate , b%t, conten in, +ith her e*otions, she so far co**an e the*, as to be able to procee ( :hile she +alke *o%rnf%lly on, ,a8in, on the lon, vol%*es of vapo%r, that po%re %pon the sky, an +atchin, the s+allo+s, tosse alon, the +in , no+ isappearin, a*on, te*pest%o%s clo% s, an then e*er,in,, for a *o*ent, in circles %pon the cal*er air, the afflictions an vicissit% es of her late life see*e po%rtraye in these fleetin, i*a,es/7th%s ha she been tosse %pon the stor*y sea of *isfort%ne for the

last year, +ith b%t short intervals of peace, if peace that co%l be calle , +hich +as only the elay of evils( An no+, +hen she ha escape fro* so *any an,ers, +as beco*e in epen ent of the +ill of those, +ho ha oppresse her, an fo%n herself *istress of a lar,e fort%ne, no+, +hen she *i,ht reasonably have e-pecte happiness, she perceive that she +as as istant fro* it as ever( 'he +o%l have acc%se herself of +eakness an in,ratit% e in th%s s%fferin, a sense of the vario%s blessin,s she possesse to be overco*e by that of a sin,le *isfort%ne, ha this *isfort%ne affecte herself alone/ b%t, +hen she ha +ept for Valanco%rt even as livin,, tears of co*passion ha *in,le +ith those of re,ret, an +hile she la*ente a h%*an bein, e,ra e to vice, an conse4%ently to *isery, reason an h%*anity clai*e these tears, an fortit% e ha not yet ta%,ht her to separate the* fro* those of love/ in the present *o*ents, ho+ever, it +as not the certainty of his ,%ilt, b%t the apprehension of his eath =of a eath also, to +hich she herself, ho+ever innocently, appeare to have been in so*e e,ree instr%*ental> that oppresse her( This fear increase , as the *eans of certainty concernin, it approache / an , +hen she ca*e +ithin vie+ of Theresa3s cotta,e, she +as so *%ch isor ere , an her resol%tion faile her so entirely, that, %nable to procee , she reste on a bank, besi e her path/ +here, as she sat, the +in that ,roane s%llenly a*on, the lofty branches above, see*e to her *elancholy i*a,ination to bear the so%n s of istant la*entation, an , in the pa%ses of the ,%st, she still fancie she hear the feeble an far6off notes of istress( Attention convince her, that this +as no *ore than fancy/ b%t the increasin, ,loo*, +hich see*e the s% en close of ay, soon +arne her to epart, an , +ith falterin, steps, she a,ain *ove to+ar the cotta,e( Thro%,h the case*ent appeare the cheerf%l bla8e of a +oo fire, an Theresa, +ho ha observe E*ily approachin,, +as alrea y at the oor to receive her(

3It is a col evenin,, *a a*,3 sai she, 3stor*s are co*in, on, an I tho%,ht yo% +o%l like a fire( <o take this chair by the hearth(3 E*ily, thankin, her for this consi eration, sat o+n, an then, lookin, in her face, on +hich the +oo fire thre+ a ,lea*, she +as str%ck +ith its e-pression, an , %nable to speak, s%nk back in her chair +ith a co%ntenance so f%ll of +oe, that Theresa instantly co*prehen e the occasion of it, b%t she re*aine silent( 3Ah?3 sai E*ily, at len,th, 3it is %nnecessary for *e to ask the res%lt of yo%r en4%iry, yo%r silence, an that look, s%fficiently e-plain it/7he is ea ?3 3Alas? *y ear yo%n, la y,3 replie Theresa, +hile tears fille her eyes, 3this +orl is *a e %p of tro%ble? the rich have their share as +ell as the poor? 1%t +e *%st all en eavo%r to bear +hat Heaven pleases(3 3He is ea , then?37interr%pte E*ily73Valanco%rt is ea ?3 3A6+ell6a6 ay? I fear he is,3 replie Theresa( 32o% fear?3 sai E*ily, 3 o yo% only fearB3 3Alas? yes, *a a*, I fear he is? neither the ste+ar , or any of the Epo%rville fa*ily, have hear of hi* since he left 0an,%e oc, an the Co%nt is in ,reat affliction abo%t hi*, for he says he +as al+ays p%nct%al in +ritin,, b%t that no+ he has not receive a line fro* hi*, since he left 0an,%e oc/ he appointe to be at ho*e, three +eeks a,o, b%t he has neither co*e, or +ritten, an they fear so*e acci ent has befallen hi*( Alas? that ever I sho%l live to cry for his eath? I a* ol , an *i,ht have ie +itho%t bein, *isse , b%t he37E*ily +as faint, an aske for so*e +ater, an Theresa, alar*e by the voice, in +hich she spoke, hastene to her assistance, an , +hile she hel the +ater to E*ily3s lips, contin%e , 3&y ear yo%n, *istress, o not take it so to heart/ the Chevalier *ay be alive an +ell, for all this/ let %s hope the best?3 3O no? I cannot hope,3 sai E*ily, 3I a* ac4%ainte +ith circ%*stances, that +ill not s%ffer *e to hope( I a* so*e+hat better no+, an can hear +hat yo% have to

say( Tell *e, I entreat, the partic%lars of +hat yo% kno+(3 3'tay, till yo% are a little better, *a e*oiselle, yo% look sa ly?3 3O no, Theresa, tell *e all, +hile I have the po+er to hear it,3 sai E*ily, 3tell *e all, I con.%re yo%?3 3:ell, *a a*, I +ill then/ b%t the ste+ar i not say *%ch, for Richar says he see*e shy of talkin, abo%t &ons( Valanco%rt, an +hat he ,athere +as fro* Gabriel, one of the servants, +ho sai he ha hear it fro* *y lor 3s ,entle*an(3 3:hat i he hearB3 sai E*ily( 3:hy, *a a*, Richar has b%t a ba *e*ory, an co%l not re*e*ber half of it, an , if I ha not aske hi* a ,reat *any 4%estions, I sho%l have hear little in ee ( 1%t he says that Gabriel sai , that he an all the other servants +ere in ,reat tro%ble abo%t &( Valanco%rt, for that he +as s%ch a kin yo%n, ,entle*an, they all love hi*, as +ell as if he ha been their o+n brother7an no+, to think +hat +as beco*e of hi*? )or he %se to be so co%rteo%s to the* all, an , if any of the* ha been in fa%lt, &( Valanco%rt +as the first to pers%a e *y lor to for,ive the*( An then, if any poor fa*ily +as in istress, &( Valanco%rt +as the first, too, to relieve the*, tho%,h so*e folks, not a ,reat +ay off, co%l have affor e that *%ch better than he( An then, sai Gabriel, he +as so ,entle to every bo y, an , for all he ha s%ch a noble look +ith hi*, he never +o%l co**an , an call abo%t hi*, as so*e of yo%r 4%ality people o, an +e never *in e hi* the less for that( 9ay, says Gabriel, for that *atter, +e *in e hi* the *ore, an +o%l all have r%n to obey hi* at a +or , sooner than if so*e folks ha tol %s +hat to o at f%ll len,th/ aye, an +ere *ore afrai of ispleasin, hi*, too, than of the*, that %se ro%,h +or s to %s(3 E*ily, +ho no lon,er consi ere it to be an,ero%s to listen to praise, besto+e on Valanco%rt, i not atte*pt to interr%pt Theresa, b%t sat, attentive to her

+or s, tho%,h al*ost over+hel*e +ith ,rief( 3&y 0or ,3 contin%e Theresa, 3frets abo%t &( Valanco%rt sa ly, an the *ore, beca%se, they say, he ha been rather harsh a,ainst hi* lately( Gabriel says he ha it fro* *y 0or 3s valet, that &( Valanco%rt ha CO&PORTE< hi*self +il ly at Paris, an ha spent a ,reat eal of *oney, *ore a ,reat eal than *y 0or like , for he loves *oney better than &( Valanco%rt, +ho ha been le astray sa ly( 9ay, for that *atter, &( Valanco%rt ha been p%t into prison at Paris, an *y 0or , says Gabriel, ref%se to take hi* o%t, an sai he eserve to s%ffer/ an , +hen ol Gre,oire, the b%tler, hear of this, he act%ally bo%,ht a +alkin,6stick to take +ith hi* to Paris, to visit his yo%n, *aster/ b%t the ne-t thin, +e hear is, that &( Valanco%rt is co*in, ho*e( O, it +as a .oyf%l ay +hen he ca*e/ b%t he +as sa ly altere , an *y 0or looke very cool %pon hi*, an he +as very sa , in ee ( An , soon after, he +ent a+ay a,ain into 0an,%e oc, an , since that ti*e, +e have never seen hi*(3 Theresa pa%se , an E*ily, si,hin, eeply, re*aine +ith her eyes fi-e %pon the floor, +itho%t speakin,( After a lon, pa%se, she en4%ire +hat f%rther Theresa ha hear ( 32et +hy sho%l I askB3 she a e / 3+hat yo% have alrea y tol is too *%ch( O Valanco%rt? tho% art ,one7forever ,one? an I7I have *%r ere thee?3 These +or s, an the co%ntenance of espair +hich acco*panie the*, alar*e Theresa, +ho be,an to fear, that the shock of the intelli,ence E*ily ha .%st receive , ha affecte her senses( 3&y ear yo%n, la y, be co*pose ,3 sai she, 3an o not say s%ch fri,htf%l +or s( 2o% *%r er &( Valanco%rt,7 ear heart?3 E*ily replie only by a heavy si,h( 3<ear la y, it breaks *y heart to see yo% look so,3 sai Theresa, 3 o not sit +ith yo%r eyes %pon the ,ro%n , an all so pale an *elancholy/ it fri,htens *e to see yo%(3 E*ily +as still silent, an i not appear to hear any thin, that +as sai to her( 31esi es, *a e*oiselle,3 contin%e Theresa, 3&( Valanco%rt *ay be alive an *erry yet, for +hat +e kno+(3

At the *ention of his na*e, E*ily raise her eyes, an fi-e the*, in a +il ,a8e, %pon Theresa, as if she +as en eavo%rin, to %n erstan +hat ha been sai ( 3Aye, *y ear la y,3 sai Theresa, *istakin, the *eanin, of this consi erate air, 3&( Valanco%rt *ay be alive an *erry yet(3 On the repetition of these +or s, E*ily co*prehen e their i*port, b%t, instea of pro %cin, the effect inten e , they see*e only to hei,hten her istress( 'he rose hastily fro* her chair, pace the little roo*, +ith 4%ick steps, an , often si,hin, eeply, claspe her han s, an sh% ere ( &ean+hile, Theresa, +ith si*ple, b%t honest affection, en eavo%re to co*fort her/ p%t *ore +oo on the fire, stirre it %p into a bri,hter bla8e, s+ept the hearth, set the chair, +hich E*ily ha left, in a +ar*er sit%ation, an then re+ forth fro* a c%pboar a flask of +ine( 3It is a stor*y ni,ht, *a a*,3 sai she, 3an blo+s col 7 o co*e nearer the fire, an take a ,lass of this +ine/ it +ill co*fort yo%, as it has one *e, often an often, for it is not s%ch +ine as one ,ets every ay/ it is rich 0an,%e oc, an the last of si- flasks that &( Valanco%rt sent *e, the ni,ht before he left Gascony for Paris( They have serve *e, ever since, as cor ials, an I never rink it, b%t I think of hi*, an +hat kin +or s he sai to *e +hen he ,ave the*( Theresa, says he, yo% are not yo%n, no+, an sho%l have a ,lass of ,oo +ine, no+ an then( I +ill sen yo% a fe+ flasks, an , +hen yo% taste the*, yo% +ill so*eti*es re*e*ber *e yo%r frien ( 2es7those +ere his very +or s7*e yo%r frien ?3 E*ily still pace the roo*, +itho%t see*in, to hear +hat Theresa sai , +ho contin%e speakin,( 3An I have re*e*bere hi*, often eno%,h, poor yo%n, ,entle*an?7for he ,ave *e this roof for a shelter, an that, +hich has s%pporte *e( Ah? he is in heaven, +ith *y blesse *aster, if ever saint +as?3 Theresa3s voice faltere / she +ept, an set o+n the flask, %nable to po%r o%t the +ine( Her ,rief see*e to recall E*ily fro* her o+n, +ho +ent to+ar s her, b%t then stoppe , an , havin, ,a8e on her, for a *o*ent,

t%rne s% enly a+ay, as if over+hel*e by the reflection, that it +as Valanco%rt, +ho* Theresa la*ente ( :hile she yet pace the roo*, the still, soft note of an oboe, or fl%te, +as hear *in,lin, +ith the blast, the s+eetness of +hich affecte E*ily3s spirits/ she pa%se a *o*ent in attention/ the ten er tones, as they s+elle alon, the +in , till they +ere lost a,ain in the r% er ,%st, ca*e +ith a plaintiveness, that to%che her heart, an she *elte into tears( 3Aye,3 sai Theresa, ryin, her eyes, 3there is Richar , o%r nei,hbo%r3s son, playin, on the oboe/ it is sa eno%,h, to hear s%ch s+eet *%sic no+(3 E*ily contin%e to +eep, +itho%t replyin,( 3He often plays of an evenin,,3 a e Theresa, 3an , so*eti*es, the yo%n, folks ance to the so%n of his oboe( 1%t, ear yo%n, la y? o not cry so/ an pray take a ,lass of this +ine,3 contin%e she, po%rin, so*e into a ,lass, an han in, it to E*ily, +ho rel%ctantly took it( 3Taste it for &( Valanco%rt3s sake,3 sai Theresa, as E*ily lifte the ,lass to her lips, 3for he ,ave it *e, yo% kno+, *a a*(3 E*ily3s han tre*ble , an she spilt the +ine as she +ith re+ it fro* her lips( 3)or +hose sake? 7+ho ,ave the +ineB3 sai she in a falterin, voice( 3&( Valanco%rt, ear la y( I kne+ yo% +o%l be please +ith it( It is the last flask I have left(3 E*ily set the +ine %pon the table, an b%rst into tears, +hile Theresa, isappointe an alar*e , trie to co*fort her/ b%t she only +ave her han , entreate she *i,ht be left alone, an +ept the *ore( A knock at the cotta,e oor prevente Theresa fro* i**e iately obeyin, her *istress, an she +as ,oin, to open it, +hen E*ily, checkin, her, re4%este she +o%l not a *it any person/ b%t, after+ar s, recollectin,, that she ha or ere her servant to atten her ho*e, she sai it +as only Philippe, an en eavo%re to restrain her tears, +hile Theresa opene the oor(

A voice, that spoke +itho%t, re+ E*ily3s attention( 'he listene , t%rne her eyes to the oor, +hen a person no+ appeare , an i**e iately a bri,ht ,lea*, that flashe fro* the fire, iscovere 7Valanco%rt? E*ily, on perceivin, hi*, starte fro* her chair, tre*ble , an , sinkin, into it a,ain, beca*e insensible to all aro%n her( A screa* fro* Theresa no+ tol , that she kne+ Valanco%rt, +ho* her i*perfect si,ht, an the %skiness of the place ha prevente her fro* i**e iately recollectin,/ b%t his attention +as i**e iately calle fro* her to the person, +ho* he sa+, fallin, fro* a chair near the fire/ an , hastenin, to her assistance,7he perceive , that he +as s%pportin, E*ily? The vario%s e*otions, that sei8e hi* %pon th%s %ne-pecte ly *eetin, +ith her, fro* +ho* he ha believe he ha parte for ever, an on behol in, her pale an lifeless in his ar*s7*ay, perhaps, be i*a,ine , tho%,h they co%l neither be then e-presse , or no+ escribe , any *ore than E*ily3s sensations, +hen, at len,th, she %nclose her eyes, an , lookin, %p, a,ain sa+ Valanco%rt( The intense an-iety, +ith +hich he re,ar e her, +as instantly chan,e to an e-pression of *in,le .oy an ten erness, as his eye *et hers, an he perceive , that she +as revivin,( 1%t he co%l only e-clai*, 3E*ily?3 as he silently +atche her recovery, +hile she averte her eye, an feebly atte*pte to +ith ra+ her han / b%t, in these the first *o*ents, +hich s%ccee e to the pan,s his s%ppose eath ha occasione her, she for,ot every fa%lt, +hich ha for*erly clai*e in i,nation, an behol in, Valanco%rt s%ch as he ha appeare , +hen he +on her early affection, she e-perience e*otions of only ten erness an .oy( This, alas? +as b%t the s%nshine of a fe+ short *o*ents/ recollections rose, like clo% s, %pon her *in , an , arkenin, the ill%sive i*a,e, that possesse it, she a,ain behel Valanco%rt, e,ra e 7 Valanco%rt %n+orthy of the estee* an ten erness she ha once besto+e %pon hi*/ her spirits faltere , an , +ith ra+in, her han , she t%rne fro* hi* to conceal

her ,rief, +hile he, yet *ore e*barrasse an a,itate , re*aine silent( A sense of +hat she o+e to herself restraine her tears, an ta%,ht her soon to overco*e, in so*e e,ree, the e*otions of *in,le .oy an sorro+, that conten e at her heart, as she rose, an , havin, thanke hi* for the assistance he ha ,iven her, ba e Theresa ,oo evenin,( As she +as leavin, the cotta,e, Valanco%rt, +ho see*e s% enly a+akene as fro* a rea*, entreate , in a voice, that plea e po+erf%lly for co*passion, a fe+ *o*ents attention( E*ily3s heart, perhaps, plea e as po+erf%lly, b%t she ha resol%tion eno%,h to resist both, to,ether +ith the cla*oro%s entreaties of Theresa, that she +o%l not vent%re ho*e alone in the ark, an ha alrea y opene the cotta,e oor, +hen the peltin, stor* co*pelle her to obey their re4%ests( 'ilent an e*barrasse , she ret%rne to the fire, +hile Valanco%rt, +ith increasin, a,itation, pace the roo*, as if he +ishe , yet feare , to speak, an Theresa e-presse +itho%t restraint her .oy an +on er %pon seein, hi*( 3<ear heart? sir,3 sai she, 3I never +as so s%rprise an over.oye in *y life( :e +ere in ,reat trib%lation before yo% ca*e, for +e tho%,ht yo% +as ea , an +ere talkin,, an la*entin, abo%t yo%, .%st +hen yo% knocke at the oor( &y yo%n, *istress there +as cryin,, fit to break her heart73 E*ily looke +ith *%ch ispleas%re at Theresa, b%t, before she co%l speak, Valanco%rt, %nable to repress the e*otion, +hich Theresa3s i*pr% ent iscovery occasione , e-clai*e , 3O *y E*ily? a* I then still ear to yo%? <i yo%, in ee , hono%r *e +ith a tho%,ht7a tearB O heavens? yo% +eep7yo% +eep no+?3 3Theresa, sir,3 sai E*ily, +ith a reserve air, an tryin, to con4%er her tears, 3has reason to re*e*ber yo% +ith ,ratit% e, an she +as concerne , beca%se she ha not lately hear of yo%( Allo+ *e to thank yo% for the kin ness yo% have she+n her, an to say, that, since I

a* no+ %pon the spot, she *%st not be f%rther in ebte to yo%(33 3E*ily,3 sai Valanco%rt, no lon,er *aster of his e*otions, 3is it th%s yo% *eet hi*, +ho* once yo% *eant to hono%r +ith yo%r han 7th%s yo% *eet hi*, +ho has love yo%7s%ffere for yo%B72et +hat o I sayB Par on *e, par on *e, *a e*oiselle 't( A%bert, I kno+ not +hat I %tter( I have no lon,er any clai* %pon yo%r re*e*brance7I have forfeite every pretension to yo%r estee*, yo%r love( 2es? let *e not for,et, that I once possesse yo%r affections, tho%,h to kno+ that I have lost the*, is *y severest affliction( Affliction7 o I call it?7that is a ter* of *il ness(3 3<ear heart?3 sai Theresa, preventin, E*ily fro* replyin,, 3talk of once havin, her affections? :hy, *y ear yo%n, la y loves yo% no+, better than she oes any bo y in the +hole +orl , tho%,h she preten s to eny it(3 3This is ins%pportable?3 sai E*ily/ 3Theresa, yo% kno+ not +hat yo% say( 'ir, if yo% respect *y tran4%illity, yo% +ill spare *e fro* the contin%ance of this istress(3 3I o respect yo%r tran4%illity too *%ch, vol%ntarily to interr%pt it,3 replie Valanco%rt, in +hose boso* pri e no+ conten e +ith ten erness/ 3an +ill not be a vol%ntary intr% er( I +o%l have entreate a fe+ *o*ents attention7yet I kno+ not for +hat p%rpose( 2o% have cease to estee* *e, an to reco%nt to yo% *y s%fferin,s +ill e,ra e *e *ore, +itho%t e-citin, even yo%r pity( 2et I have been, O E*ily? I a* in ee very +retche ?3 a e Valanco%rt, in a voice, that softene fro* sole*nity into ,rief( 3:hat? is *y ear yo%n, *aster ,oin, o%t in all this rain?3 sai Theresa( 39o, he shall not stir a step( <ear? ear? to see ho+ ,entlefolks can affor to thro+ a+ay their happiness? 9o+, if yo% +ere poor people, there +o%l be none of this( To talk of %n+orthiness, an not carin, abo%t one another, +hen I kno+ there are not s%ch a kin 6hearte la y an ,entle*an in the +hole

province, nor any that love one another half so +ell, if the tr%th +as spoken?3 E*ily, in e-tre*e ve-ation, no+ rose fro* her chair, 3I *%st be ,one,3 sai she, 3the stor* is over(3 3'tay, E*ily, stay, *a e*oiselle 't( A%bert?3 sai Valanco%rt, s%**onin, all his resol%tion, 3I +ill no lon,er istress yo% by *y presence( )or,ive *e, that I i not sooner obey yo%, an , if yo% can, so*eti*es, pity one, +ho, in losin, yo%7has lost all hope of peace? &ay yo% be happy, E*ily, ho+ever +retche I re*ain, happy as *y fon est +ish +o%l have yo%?3 His voice faltere +ith the last +or s, an his co%ntenance chan,e , +hile, +ith a look of ineffable ten erness an ,rief, he ,a8e %pon her for an instant, an then 4%itte the cotta,e( 3<ear heart? ear heart?3 crie Theresa, follo+in, hi* to the oor, 3+hy, &onsie%r Valanco%rt? ho+ it rains? +hat a ni,ht is this to t%rn hi* o%t in? :hy it +ill ,ive hi* his eath/ an it +as b%t no+ yo% +as cryin,, *a e*oiselle, beca%se he +as ea ( :ell? yo%n, la ies o chan,e their *in in a *in%te, as one *ay say?3 E*ily *a e no reply, for she hear not +hat +as sai , +hile, lost in sorro+ an tho%,ht, she re*aine in her chair by the fire, +ith her eyes fi-e , an the i*a,e of Valanco%rt still before the*( 3&( Valanco%rt is sa ly altere ? *a a*,3 sai Theresa/ 3he looks so thin to +hat he %se to o, an so *elancholy, an then he +ears his ar* in a slin,(3 E*ily raise her eyes at these +or s, for she ha not observe this last circ%*stance, an she no+ i not o%bt, that Valanco%rt ha receive the shot of her ,ar ener at Tholo%se/ +ith this conviction her pity for hi* ret%rnin,, she bla*e herself for havin, occasione hi* to leave the cotta,e, %rin, the stor*( 'oon after her servants arrive +ith the carria,e, an E*ily, havin, cens%re Theresa for her tho%,htless conversation to Valanco%rt, an strictly char,in, her

never to repeat any hints of the sa*e kin to hi*, +ith re+ to her ho*e, tho%,htf%l an isconsolate( &ean+hile, Valanco%rt ha ret%rne to a little inn of the villa,e, +hither he ha arrive only a fe+ *o*ents before his visit to Theresa3s cotta,e, on the +ay fro* Tholo%se to the chatea% of the Co%nt e <%varney, +here he ha not been since he ba e a ie% to E*ily at Chatea%6le61lanc, in the nei,hbo%rhoo of +hich he ha lin,ere for a consi erable ti*e, %nable to s%**on resol%tion eno%,h to 4%it a place, that containe the ob.ect *ost ear to his heart( There +ere ti*es, in ee , +hen ,rief an espair %r,e hi* to appear a,ain before E*ily, an , re,ar less of his r%ine circ%*stances, to rene+ his s%it( Pri e, ho+ever, an the ten erness of his affection, +hich co%l not lon, en %re the tho%,ht of involvin, her in his *isfort%nes, at len,th, so far tri%*phe over passion, that he relin4%ishe this esperate esi,n, an 4%itte Chatea%6le61lanc( 1%t still his fancy +an ere a*on, the scenes, +hich ha +itnesse his early love, an , on his +ay to Gascony, he stoppe at Tholo%se, +here he re*aine +hen E*ily arrive , concealin,, yet in %l,in, his *elancholy in the ,ar ens, +here he ha for*erly passe +ith her so *any happy ho%rs/ often rec%rrin,, +ith vain re,ret, to the evenin, before her epart%re for Italy, +hen she ha so %ne-pecte ly *et hi* on the terrace, an en eavo%rin, to recall to his *e*ory every +or an look, +hich ha then char*e hi*, the ar,%*ents he ha e*ploye to iss%a e her fro* the .o%rney, an the ten erness of their last fare+el( In s%ch *elancholy recollections he ha been in %l,in,, +hen E*ily %ne-pecte ly arrive to hi* on this very terrace, the evenin, after her arrival at Tholo%se( His e*otions, on th%s seein, her, can scarcely be i*a,ine / b%t he so far overca*e the first pro*ptin,s of love, that he forbore to iscover hi*self, an abr%ptly 4%itte the ,ar ens( 'till, ho+ever, the vision he ha seen ha%nte his *in / he beca*e *ore +retche than before, an the only solace of his sorro+ +as to ret%rn in the silence of the ni,ht/ to follo+ the paths +hich he believe her steps ha presse , %rin,

the ay/ an , to +atch ro%n the habitation +here she repose ( It +as in one of these *o%rnf%l +an erin,s, that he ha receive by the fire of the ,ar ener, +ho *istook hi* for a robber, a +o%n in his ar*, +hich ha etaine hi* at Tholo%se till very lately, %n er the han s of a s%r,eon( There, re,ar less of hi*self an careless of his frien s, +hose late %nkin ness ha %r,e hi* to believe, that they +ere in ifferent as to his fate, he re*aine , +itho%t infor*in, the* of his sit%ation/ an no+, bein, s%fficiently recovere to bear travellin,, he ha taken 0a Vallee in his +ay to Est%viere, the Co%nt3s resi ence, partly for the p%rpose of hearin, of E*ily, an of bein, a,ain near her, an partly for that of en4%irin, into the sit%ation of poor ol Theresa, +ho, he ha reason to s%ppose, ha been eprive of her stipen , s*all as it +as, an +hich en4%iry ha bro%,ht hi* to her cotta,e, +hen E*ily happene to be there( This %ne-pecte intervie+, +hich ha at once she+n hi* the ten erness of her love an the stren,th of her resol%tion, rene+e all the ac%teness of the espair, that ha atten e their for*er separation, an +hich no effort of reason co%l teach hi*, in these *o*ents, to s%b %e( Her i*a,e, her look, the tones of her voice, all +elt on his fancy, as po+erf%lly as they ha late appeare to his senses, an banishe fro* his heart every e*otion, e-cept those of love an espair( 1efore the evenin, concl% e , he ret%rne to Theresa3s cotta,e, that he *i,ht hear her talk of E*ily, an be in the place, +here she ha so lately been( The .oy, felt an e-presse by that faithf%l servant, +as 4%ickly chan,e to sorro+, +hen she observe , at one *o*ent, his +il an phrensie look, an , at another, the ark *elancholy, that overh%n, hi*( After he ha listene , an for a consi erable ti*e, to all she ha to relate, concernin, E*ily, he ,ave Theresa nearly all the *oney he ha abo%t hi*, tho%,h she repeate ly ref%se it, eclarin,, that her *istress ha a*ply s%pplie her +ants/ an then, ra+in, a rin, of val%e fro* his fin,er, he elivere it her +ith a sole*n char,e to present it to E*ily, of +ho* he entreate , as

a last favo%r, that she +o%l preserve it for his sake, an so*eti*es, +hen she looke %pon it, re*e*ber the %nhappy ,iver( Theresa +ept, as she receive the rin,, b%t it +as *ore fro* sy*pathy, than fro* any presenti*ent of evil/ an before she co%l reply, Valanco%rt abr%ptly left the cotta,e( 'he follo+e hi* to the oor, callin, %pon his na*e an entreatin, hi* to ret%rn/ b%t she receive no ans+er, an sa+ hi* no *ore(

#HAPTER *I%
3all up hi!, that left half told The story of 3a!buscan bold# M5&T7:

On the follo+in, *ornin,, as E*ily sat in the parlo%r a .oinin, the library, reflectin, on the scene of the prece in, ni,ht, Annette r%she +il ly into the roo*, an , +itho%t speakin,, s%nk breathless into a chair( It +as so*e ti*e before she co%l ans+er the an-io%s en4%iries of E*ily, as to the occasion of her e*otion, b%t, at len,th, she e-clai*e , 3I have seen his ,host, *a a*, I have seen his ,host?3 3:ho o yo% *eanB3 sai i*patience( E*ily, +ith e-tre*e

3It ca*e in fro* the hall, *a a*,3 contin%e Annette, 3as I +as crossin, to the parlo%r(3 3:ho are yo% speakin, ofB3 repeate E*ily, 3:ho ca*e in fro* the hallB 3It +as resse .%st as I have seen hi*, often an often,3 a e Annette( 3Ah? +ho co%l have tho%,ht73 E*ily3s patience +as no+ e-ha%ste , an she +as repri*an in, her for s%ch i le fancies, +hen a servant entere the roo*, an infor*e her, that a stran,er +itho%t be,,e leave to speak +ith her(

It i**e iately occ%rre to E*ily, that this stran,er +as Valanco%rt, an she tol the servant to infor* hi*, that she +as en,a,e , an co%l not see any person( The servant, havin, elivere his *essa,e, ret%rne +ith one fro* the stran,er, %r,in, the first re4%est, an sayin,, that he ha so*ethin, of conse4%ence to co**%nicate/ +hile Annette, +ho ha hitherto sat silent an a*a8e , no+ starte %p, an cryin,, 3It is 0% ovico?7it is 0% ovico?3 ran o%t of the roo*( E*ily ba e the servant follo+ her, an , if it really +as 0% ovico, to she+ hi* into the parlo%r( In a fe+ *in%tes, 0% ovico appeare , acco*panie by Annette, +ho, as .oy ren ere her for,etf%l of all r%les of ecor%* to+ar s her *istress, +o%l not s%ffer any person to be hear , for so*e ti*e, b%t herself( E*ily e-presse s%rprise an satisfaction, on seein, 0% ovico in safety, an the first e*otions increase , +hen he elivere letters fro* Co%nt <e Villefort an the 0a y 1lanche, infor*in, her of their late a vent%re, an of their present sit%ation at an inn a*on, the Pyrenees, +here they ha been etaine by the illness of &ons( 't( )oi-, an the in isposition of 1lanche, +ho a e , that the 1aron 't( )oi- +as .%st arrive to atten his son to his chatea%, +here he +o%l re*ain till the perfect recovery of his +o%n s, an then ret%rn to 0an,%e oc, b%t that her father an herself p%rpose to be at 0a Vallee, on the follo+in, ay( 'he a e , that E*ily3s presence +o%l be e-pecte at the approachin, n%ptials, an be,,e she +o%l be prepare to procee , in a fe+ ays to Chatea%6le61lanc( )or an acco%nt of 0% ovico3s a vent%re, she referre her to hi*self/ an E*ily, tho%,h *%ch intereste , concernin, the *eans, by +hich he ha isappeare fro* the north apart*ents, ha the forbearance to s%spen the ,ratification of her c%riosity, till he ha taken so*e refresh*ent, an ha converse +ith Annette, +hose .oy, on seein, hi* in safety, co%l not have been *ore e-trava,ant, ha he arisen fro* the ,rave( &ean+hile, E*ily per%se a,ain the letters of her frien s, +hose e-pressions of estee* an kin ness +ere very necessary consolations to her heart,

a+akene as it +as by the late intervie+ to e*otions of keener sorro+ an re,ret( The invitation to Chatea%6le61lanc +as presse +ith so *%ch kin ness by the Co%nt an his a%,hter, +ho stren,thene it by a *essa,e fro* the Co%ntess, an the occasion of it +as so i*portant to her frien , that E*ily co%l not ref%se to accept it, nor, tho%,h she +ishe to re*ain in the 4%iet sha es of her native ho*e, co%l she avoi perceivin, the i*propriety of re*ainin, there alone, since Valanco%rt +as a,ain in the nei,hbo%rhoo ( 'o*eti*es, too, she tho%,ht, that chan,e of scenery an the society of her frien s *i,ht contrib%te, *ore than retire*ent, to restore her to tran4%illity( :hen 0% ovico a,ain appeare , she esire hi* to ,ive a etail of his a vent%re in the north apart*ents, an to tell by +hat *eans he beca*e a co*panion of the ban itti, +ith +ho* the Co%nt ha fo%n hi*( He i**e iately obeye , +hile Annette, +ho ha not yet ha leis%re to ask hi* *any 4%estions, on the s%b.ect, prepare to listen, +ith a co%ntenance of e-tre*e c%riosity, vent%rin, to re*in her la y of her incre %lity, concernin, spirits, in the castle of A olpho, an of her o+n sa,acity in believin, in the*/ +hile E*ily, bl%shin, at the conscio%sness of her late cre %lity, observe , that, if 0% ovico3s a vent%re co%l .%stify Annette3s s%perstition, he ha probably not been here to relate it( 0% ovico s*ile at Annette, an bo+e to E*ily, an then be,an as follo+s; 32o% *ay re*e*ber, *a a*, that, on the ni,ht, +hen I sat %p in the north cha*ber, *y lor , the Co%nt, an &ons( Henri acco*panie *e thither, an that, +hile they re*aine there, nothin, happene to e-cite any alar*( :hen they +ere ,one I *a e a fire in the be 6 roo*, an , not bein, incline to sleep, I sat o+n on the hearth +ith a book I ha bro%,ht +ith *e to ivert *y *in ( I confess I i so*eti*es look ro%n the cha*ber, +ith so*ethin, like apprehension73

3O very like it, I are say,3 interr%pte Annette, 3an I are say too, if the tr%th +as kno+n, yo% shook fro* hea to foot(3 39ot 4%ite so ba as that,3 replie 0% ovico, s*ilin,, 3b%t several ti*es, as the +in +histle ro%n the castle, an shook the ol case*ents, I i fancy I hear o noises, an , once or t+ice, I ,ot %p an looke abo%t *e/ b%t nothin, +as to be seen, e-cept the ,ri* fi,%res in the tapestry, +hich see*e to fro+n %pon *e, as I looke at the*( I ha sat th%s for above an ho%r,3 contin%e 0% ovico, 3+hen a,ain I tho%,ht I hear a noise, an ,lance *y eyes ro%n the roo*, to iscover +hat it ca*e fro*, b%t, not perceivin, any thin,, I be,an to rea a,ain, an , +hen I ha finishe the story I +as %pon, I felt ro+sy, an roppe asleep( 1%t presently I +as a+akene by the noise I ha hear before, an it see*e to co*e fro* that part of the cha*ber, +here the be stoo / an then, +hether it +as the story I ha been rea in, that affecte *y spirits, or the stran,e reports, that ha been sprea of these apart*ents, I on3t kno+, b%t, +hen I looke to+ar s the be a,ain, I fancie I sa+ a *an3s face +ithin the %sky c%rtains(3 At the *ention of this, E*ily tre*ble , an looke an-io%sly, re*e*berin, the spectacle she ha herself +itnesse there +ith <orothee( 3I confess, *a a*, *y heart i fail *e, at that instant,3 contin%e 0% ovico, 3b%t a ret%rn of the noise re+ *y attention fro* the be , an I then istinctly hear a so%n , like that of a key, t%rnin, in a lock, b%t +hat s%rprise *e *ore +as, that I sa+ no oor +here the so%n see*e to co*e fro*( In the ne-t *o*ent, ho+ever, the arras near the be +as slo+ly lifte , an a person appeare behin it, enterin, fro* a s*all oor in the +all( He stoo for a *o*ent as if half retreatin,, +ith his hea ben in, %n er the arras +hich conceale the %pper part of his face e-cept his eyes sco+lin, beneath the tapestry as he hel it/ an then, +hile he raise it hi,her, I sa+ the face of another *an behin , lookin, over his sho%l er( I kno+ not ho+ it +as, b%t, tho%,h *y s+or +as %pon the table before *e, I ha

not the po+er .%st then to sei8e it, b%t sat 4%ite still, +atchin, the*, +ith *y eyes half sh%t as if I +as asleep( I s%ppose they tho%,ht *e so, an +ere ebatin, +hat they sho%l o, for I hear the* +hisper, an they stoo in the sa*e post%re for the val%e of a *in%te, an then, I tho%,ht I perceive other faces in the %skiness beyon the oor, an hear lo% er +hispers(3 3This oor s%rprises *e,3 sai E*ily, 3beca%se I %n erstoo , that the Co%nt ha ca%se the arras to be lifte , an the +alls e-a*ine , s%spectin,, that they *i,ht have conceale a passa,e thro%,h +hich yo% ha eparte (3 3It oes not appear so e-traor inary to *e, *a a*,3 replie 0% ovico, 3that this oor sho%l escape notice, beca%se it +as for*e in a narro+ co*part*ent, +hich appeare to be part of the o%t+ar +all, an , if the Co%nt ha not passe over it, he *i,ht have tho%,ht it +as %seless to search for a oor +here it see*e as if no passa,e co%l co**%nicate +ith one/ b%t the tr%th +as, that the passa,e +as for*e +ithin the +all itself( 71%t, to ret%rn to the *en, +ho* I sa+ obsc%rely beyon the oor, an +ho i not s%ffer *e to re*ain lon, in s%spense, concernin, their esi,n( They all r%she into the roo*, an s%rro%n e *e, tho%,h not before I ha snatche %p *y s+or to efen *yself( 1%t +hat co%l one *an o a,ainst fo%rB They soon isar*e *e, an , havin, fastene *y ar*s, an ,a,,e *y *o%th, force *e thro%,h the private oor, leavin, *y s+or %pon the table, to assist, as they sai , those +ho sho%l co*e in the *ornin, to look for *e, in fi,htin, a,ainst the ,hosts( They then le *e thro%,h *any narro+ passa,es, c%t, as I fancie , in the +alls, for I ha never seen the* before, an o+n several fli,hts of steps, till +e ca*e to the va%lts %n erneath the castle/ an then openin, a stone oor, +hich I sho%l have taken for the +all itself, +e +ent thro%,h a lon, passa,e, an o+n other steps c%t in the soli rock, +hen another oor elivere %s into a cave( After t%rnin, an t+inin, abo%t, for so*e ti*e, +e reache the *o%th of it, an I fo%n *yself on the sea6

beach at the foot of the cliffs, +ith the chatea% above( A boat +as in +aitin,, into +hich the r%ffians ,ot, forcin, *e alon, +ith the*, an +e soon reache a s*all vessel, that +as at anchor, +here other *en appeare , +hen settin, *e aboar , t+o of the fello+s +ho ha sei8e *e, follo+e , an the other t+o ro+e back to the shore, +hile +e set sail( I soon fo%n o%t +hat all this *eant, an +hat +as the b%siness of these *en at the chatea%( :e lan e in Ro%sillon, an , after lin,erin, several ays abo%t the shore, so*e of their co*ra es ca*e o+n fro* the *o%ntains, an carrie *e +ith the* to the fort, +here I re*aine till *y 0or so %ne-pecte ly arrive , for they ha taken ,oo care to prevent *y r%nnin, a+ay, havin, blin fol e *e, %rin, the .o%rney, an , if they ha not one this, I think I never co%l have fo%n *y roa to any to+n, thro%,h the +il co%ntry +e traverse ( After I reache the fort I +as +atche like a prisoner, an never s%ffere to ,o o%t, +itho%t t+o or three co*panions, an I beca*e so +eary of life, that I often +ishe to ,et ri of it(3 3:ell, b%t they let yo% talk,3 sai Annette, 3they i not ,a,, yo% after they ,ot yo% a+ay fro* the chatea%, so I on3t see +hat reason there +as to be so very +eary of livin,/ to say nothin, abo%t the chance yo% ha of seein, *e a,ain(3 0% ovico s*ile , an E*ily also, +ho en4%ire +hat +as the *otive of these *en for carryin, hi* off( 3I soon fo%n o%t, *a a*,3 res%*e 0% ovico, 3that they +ere pirates, +ho ha , %rin, *any years, secrete their spoil in the va%lts of the castle, +hich, bein, so near the sea, s%ite their p%rpose +ell( To prevent etection they ha trie to have it believe , that the chatea% +as ha%nte , an , havin, iscovere the private +ay to the north apart*ents, +hich ha been sh%t %p ever since the eath of the la y *archioness, they easily s%ccee e ( The ho%sekeeper an her h%sban , +ho +ere the only persons, that ha inhabite the castle, for so*e years, +ere so terrifie by the stran,e noises they hear in the ni,hts, that they +o%l live there no lon,er/ a report soon +ent abroa , that it

+as ha%nte , an the +hole co%ntry believe this the *ore rea ily, I s%ppose, beca%se it ha been sai , that the la y *archioness ha ie in a stran,e +ay, an beca%se *y lor never +o%l ret%rn to the place after+ar s(3 31%t +hy,3 sai E*ily, 3+ere not these pirates contente +ith the cave7+hy i they think it necessary to eposit their spoil in the castleB3 3The cave, *a a*,3 replie 0% ovico, 3+as open to any bo y, an their treas%res +o%l not lon, have re*aine %n iscovere there, b%t in the va%lts they +ere sec%re so lon, as the report prevaile of their bein, ha%nte ( Th%s then, it appears, that they bro%,ht at *i ni,ht, the spoil they took on the seas, an kept it till they ha opport%nities of isposin, of it to a vanta,e( The pirates +ere connecte +ith 'panish s*%,,lers an ban itti, +ho live a*on, the +il s of the Pyrenees, an carry on vario%s kin s of traffic, s%ch as nobo y +o%l think of/ an +ith this esperate hor e of ban itti I re*aine , till *y lor arrive ( I shall never for,et +hat I felt, +hen I first iscovere hi*7I al*ost ,ave hi* %p for lost? b%t I kne+, that, if I she+e *yself, the ban itti +o%l iscover +ho he +as, an probably *%r er %s all, to prevent their secret in the chatea% bein, etecte ( I, therefore, kept o%t of *y lor 3s si,ht, b%t ha a strict +atch %pon the r%ffians, an eter*ine , if they offere hi* or his fa*ily violence, to iscover *yself, an fi,ht for o%r lives( 'oon after, I overhear so*e of the* layin, a *ost iabolical plan for the *%r er an pl%n er of the +hole party, +hen I contrive to speak to so*e of *y lor 3s atten ants, tellin, the* +hat +as ,oin, for+ar , an +e cons%lte +hat +as best to be one/ *ean+hile *y lor , alar*e at the absence of the 0a y 1lanche, e*an e her, an the r%ffians havin, ,iven so*e %nsatisfactory ans+er, *y lor an &ons( 't( )oi- beca*e f%rio%s, so then +e tho%,ht it a ,oo ti*e to iscover the plot, an r%shin, into the cha*ber, I calle o%t, ETreachery? *y lor co%nt, efen yo%rself?E His lor ship an the chevalier re+ their s+or s irectly, an a har battle +e ha ,

b%t +e con4%ere at last, as, *a a*, yo% are alrea y infor*e of by *y 0or Co%nt(3 3This is an e-traor inary a vent%re,3 sai E*ily, 3an *%ch praise is %e, 0% ovico, to yo%r pr% ence an intrepi ity( There are so*e circ%*stances, ho+ever, concernin, the north apart*ents, +hich still perple*e/ b%t, perhaps, yo% *ay be able to e-plain the*( <i yo% ever hear the ban itti relate any thin, e-traor inary of these roo*sB3 39o, *a a*,3 replie 0% ovico, 3I never hear the* speak abo%t the roo*s, e-cept to la%,h at the cre %lity of the ol ho%sekeeper, +ho once +as very near catchin, one of the pirates/ it +as since the Co%nt arrive at the chatea%, he sai , an he la%,he heartily as he relate the trick he ha playe off(3 A bl%sh oversprea E*ily3s cheek, an she i*patiently esire 0% ovico to e-plain hi*self( 3:hy, *y la y,3 sai he, 3as this fello+ +as, one ni,ht in the be 6roo*, he hear so*ebo y approachin, thro%,h the ne-t apart*ent, an not havin, ti*e to lift %p the arras, an %nfasten the oor, he hi hi*self in the be .%st by( There he lay for so*e ti*e in as ,reat a fri,ht, I s%ppose73 3As yo% +as in,3 interr%pte Annette, 3+hen yo% sat %p so bol ly to +atch by yo%rself(3 3Aye,3 sai 0% ovico, 3in as ,reat a fri,ht as he ever *a e any bo y else s%ffer/ an presently the ho%sekeeper an so*e other person ca*e %p to the be , +hen he, thinkin, they +ere ,oin, to e-a*ine it, betho%,ht hi*, that his only chance of escapin, etection, +as by terrifyin, the*/ so he lifte %p the co%nterpane, b%t that i not o, till he raise his face above it, an then they both set off, he sai , as if they ha seen the evil, an he ,ot o%t of the roo*s %n iscovere (3 E*ily co%l not forbear s*ilin, at this e-planation of the eception, +hich ha ,iven her so *%ch s%perstitio%s terror, an +as s%rprise , that she co%l have s%ffere herself to be th%s alar*e , till she

consi ere , that, +hen the *in has once be,%n to yiel to the +eakness of s%perstition, trifles i*press it +ith the force of conviction( 'till, ho+ever, she re*e*bere +ith a+e the *ysterio%s *%sic, +hich ha been hear , at *i ni,ht, near Chatea%6le61lanc, an she aske 0% ovico if he co%l ,ive any e-planation of it/ b%t he co%l not( 3I only kno+, *a a*,3 he a e , 3that it i not belon, to the pirates, for I have hear the* la%,h abo%t it, an say, they believe the evil +as in lea,%e +ith the* there(3 32es, I +ill ans+er for it he +as,3 sai Annette, her co%ntenance bri,htenin,, 3I +as s%re all alon,, that he or his spirits ha so*ethin, to o +ith the north apart*ents, an no+ yo% see, *a a*, I a* ri,ht at last(3 3It cannot be enie , that his spirits +ere very b%sy in that part of the chatea%,3 replie E*ily, s*ilin,( 31%t I a* s%rprise , 0% ovico, that these pirates sho%l persevere in their sche*es, after the arrival of the Co%nt/ +hat co%l they e-pect b%t certain etectionB3 3I have reason to believe, *a a*,3 replie 0% ovico, 3that it +as their intention to persevere no lon,er than +as necessary for the re*oval of the stores, +hich +ere eposite in the va%lts/ an it appeare , that they ha been e*ploye in oin, so fro* +ithin a short perio after the Co%nt3s arrival/ b%t, as they ha only a fe+ ho%rs in the ni,ht for this b%siness, an +ere carryin, on other sche*es at the sa*e ti*e, the va%lts +ere not above half e*ptie , +hen they took *e a+ay( They ,lorie e-cee in,ly in this opport%nity of confir*in, the s%perstitio%s reports, that ha been sprea of the north cha*bers, +ere caref%l to leave every thin, there as they ha fo%n it, the better to pro*ote the eception, an fre4%ently, in their .ocose *oo s, +o%l la%,h at the consternation, +hich they believe the inhabitants of the castle ha s%ffere %pon *y isappearin,, an it +as to prevent the possibility of *y betrayin, their secret, that they ha re*ove *e to s%ch a istance( )ro* that perio they consi ere

the chatea% as nearly their o+n/ b%t I fo%n fro* the isco%rse of their co*ra es, that, tho%,h they +ere ca%tio%s, at first, in she+in, their po+er there, they ha once very nearly betraye the*selves( Goin,, one ni,ht, as +as their c%sto*, to the north cha*bers to repeat the noises, that ha occasione s%ch alar* a*on, the servants, they hear , as they +ere abo%t to %nfasten the secret oor, voices in the be 6roo*( &y lor has since tol *e, that hi*self an &( Henri +ere then in the apart*ent, an they hear very e-traor inary so%n s of la*entation, +hich it see*s +ere *a e by these fello+s, +ith their %s%al esi,n of sprea in, terror/ an *y lor has o+ne , he then felt so*e+hat *ore, than s%rprise/ b%t, as it +as necessary to the peace of his fa*ily, that no notice sho%l be taken, he +as silent on the s%b.ect, an en.oine silence to his son(3 E*ily, recollectin, the chan,e, that ha appeare in the spirits of the Co%nt, after the ni,ht, +hen he ha +atche in the north roo*, no+ perceive the ca%se of it/ an , havin, *a e so*e f%rther en4%iries %pon this stran,e affair, she is*isse 0% ovico, an +ent to ,ive or ers for the acco**o ation of her frien s, on the follo+in, ay( In the evenin,, Theresa, la*e as she +as, ca*e to eliver the rin,, +ith +hich Valanco%rt ha entr%ste her, an , +hen she presente it, E*ily +as *%ch affecte , for she re*e*bere to have seen hi* +ear it often in happier ays( 'he +as, ho+ever, *%ch isplease , that Theresa ha receive it, an positively ref%se to accept it herself, tho%,h to have one so +o%l have affor e her a *elancholy pleas%re( Theresa entreate , e-post%late , an then escribe the istress of Valanco%rt, +hen he ha ,iven the rin,, an repeate the *essa,e, +ith +hich he ha co**issione her to eliver it/ an E*ily co%l not conceal the e-tre*e sorro+ this recital occasione her, b%t +ept, an re*aine lost in tho%,ht( 3Alas? *y ear yo%n, la y?3 sai Theresa, 3+hy sho%l all this beB I have kno+n yo% fro* yo%r infancy, an it *ay +ell be s%ppose I love yo%, as if yo% +as *y

o+n, an +ish as *%ch to see yo% happy( &( Valanco%rt, to be s%re, I have not kno+n so lon,, b%t then I have reason to love hi*, as tho%,h he +as *y o+n son( I kno+ ho+ +ell yo% love one another, or +hy all this +eepin, an +ailin,B3 E*ily +ave her han for Theresa to be silent, +ho, isre,ar in, the si,nal, contin%e , 3An ho+ *%ch yo% are alike in yo%r te*pers an +ays, an , that, if yo% +ere *arrie , yo% +o%l be the happiest co%ple in the +hole province7 then +hat is there to prevent yo%r *arryin,B <ear ear? to see ho+ so*e people flin, a+ay their happiness, an then cry an la*ent abo%t it, .%st as if it +as not their o+n oin,, an as if there +as *ore pleas%re in +ailin, an +eepin,, than in bein, at peace( 0earnin,, to be s%re, is a fine thin,, b%t, if it teaches folks no better than that, +hy I ha rather be +itho%t it/ if it +o%l teach the* to be happier, I +o%l say so*ethin, to it, then it +o%l be learnin, an +is o* too(3 A,e an lon, services ha ,iven Theresa a privile,e to talk, b%t E*ily no+ en eavo%re to check her lo4%acity, an , tho%,h she felt the .%stness of so*e of her re*arks, i not choose to e-plain the circ%*stances, that ha eter*ine her con %ct to+ar s Valanco%rt( 'he, therefore, only tol Theresa, that it +o%l *%ch isplease her to hear the s%b.ect rene+e / that she ha reasons for her con %ct, +hich she i not think it proper to *ention, an that the rin, *%st be ret%rne , +ith an ass%rance, that she co%l not accept it +ith propriety/ an , at the sa*e ti*e, she forba e Theresa to repeat any f%t%re *essa,e fro* Valanco%rt, as she val%e her estee* an kin ness( Theresa +as afflicte , an *a e another atte*pt, tho%,h feeble, to interest her for Valanco%rt, b%t the %n%s%al ispleas%re, e-presse in E*ily3s co%ntenance, soon obli,e her to esist, an she eparte in +on er an la*entation( To relieve her *in , in so*e e,ree, fro* the painf%l recollections, that intr% e %pon it, E*ily b%sie herself in preparations for the .o%rney into 0an,%e oc, an , +hile Annette, +ho assiste her, spoke +ith .oy an affection of the safe ret%rn of 0% ovico, she +as

consi erin, ho+ she *i,ht best pro*ote their happiness, an eter*ine , if it appeare , that his affection +as as %nchan,e as that of the si*ple an honest Annette, to ,ive her a *arria,e portion, an settle the* on so*e part of her estate( These consi erations le her to the re*e*brance of her father3s paternal o*ain, +hich his affairs ha for*erly co*pelle hi* to ispose of to &( 5%esnel, an +hich she fre4%ently +ishe to re,ain, beca%se 't( A%bert ha la*ente , that the chief lan s of his ancestors ha passe into another fa*ily, an beca%se they ha been his birth6place an the ha%nt of his early years( To the estate at Tholo%se she ha no pec%liar attach*ent, an it +as her +ish to ispose of this, that she *i,ht p%rchase her paternal o*ains, if &( 5%esnel co%l be prevaile on to part +ith the*, +hich, as he talke *%ch of livin, in Italy, i not appear very i*probable(

#HAPTER *%
4 eet is the breath of "ernal sho er, The bees= collected treasures s eet, 4 eet !usic=s !elting fall, but s eeter yet The still, s!all "oice of gratitude# GRA$

On the follo+in, ay, the arrival of her frien revive the roopin, E*ily, an 0a Vallee beca*e once *ore the scene of social kin ness an of ele,ant hospitality( Illness an the terror she ha s%ffere ha stolen fro* 1lanche *%ch of her spri,htliness, b%t all her affectionate si*plicity re*aine , an , tho%,h she appeare less bloo*in,, she +as not less en,a,in, than before( The %nfort%nate a vent%re on the Pyrenees ha *a e the Co%nt very an-io%s to reach ho*e, an , after little *ore than a +eek3s stay at 0a Vallee, E*ily prepare to set o%t +ith her frien s for 0an,%e oc, assi,nin, the care of her ho%se, %rin, her absence, to Theresa( On the evenin,, prece in, her epart%re, this ol servant bro%,ht a,ain the rin, of Valanco%rt, an ,

+ith tears, entreate her *istress to receive it, for that she ha neither seen, or hear of &( Valanco%rt, since the ni,ht +hen he elivere it to her( As she sai this, her co%ntenance e-presse *ore alar*, than she are to %tter/ b%t E*ily, checkin, her o+n propensity to fear, consi ere , that he ha probably ret%rne to the resi ence of his brother, an , a,ain ref%sin, to accept the rin,, ba e Theresa preserve it, till she sa+ hi*, +hich, +ith e-tre*e rel%ctance, she pro*ise to o( On the follo+in, ay, Co%nt <e Villefort, +ith E*ily an the 0a y 1lanche, left 0a Vallee, an , on the ens%in, evenin,, arrive at the Chatea%6le61lanc, +here the Co%ntess, Henri, an &( <% Pont, +ho* E*ily +as s%rprise to fin there, receive the* +ith *%ch .oy an con,rat%lation( 'he +as concerne to observe, that the Co%nt still enco%ra,e the hopes of his frien , +hose co%ntenance eclare , that his affection ha s%ffere no abate*ent fro* absence/ an +as *%ch istresse , +hen, on the secon evenin, after her arrival, the Co%nt, havin, +ith ra+n her fro* the 0a y 1lanche, +ith +ho* she +as +alkin,, rene+e the s%b.ect of &( <% Pont3s hopes( The *il ness, +ith +hich she listene to his intercessions at first, eceivin, hi*, as to her senti*ents, he be,an to believe, that, her affection for Valanco%rt bein, overco*e, she +as, at len,th, ispose to think favo%rably of &( <% Pont/ an , +hen she after+ar s convince hi* of his *istake, he vent%re , in the earnestness of his +ish to pro*ote +hat he consi ere to be the happiness of t+o persons, +ho* he so *%ch estee*e , ,ently to re*onstrate +ith her, on th%s s%fferin, an ill6place affection to poison the happiness of her *ost val%able years( Observin, her silence an the eep e.ection of her co%ntenance, he concl% e +ith sayin,, 3I +ill not say *ore no+, b%t I +ill still believe, *y ear &a e*oiselle 't( A%bert, that yo% +ill not al+ays re.ect a person, so tr%ly esti*able as *y frien <% Pont(3 He spare her the pain of replyin,, by leavin, her/ an she strolle on, so*e+hat isplease +ith the Co%nt

for havin, persevere to plea for a s%it, +hich she ha repeate ly re.ecte , an lost a*i st the *elancholy recollections, +hich this topic ha revive , till she ha insensibly reache the bor ers of the +oo s, that screene the *onastery of 't( Clair, +hen, perceivin, ho+ far she ha +an ere , she eter*ine to e-ten her +alk a little farther, an to en4%ire abo%t the abbess an so*e of her frien s a*on, the n%ns( Tho%,h the evenin, +as no+ ra+in, to a close, she accepte the invitation of the friar, +ho opene the ,ate, an , an-io%s to *eet so*e of her ol ac4%aintances, procee e to+ar s the convent parlo%r( As she crosse the la+n, that slope fro* the front of the *onastery to+ar s the sea, she +as str%ck +ith the pict%re of repose, e-hibite by so*e *onks, sittin, in the cloisters, +hich e-ten e %n er the bro+ of the +oo s, that cro+ne this e*inence/ +here, as they *e itate , at this t+ili,ht ho%r, holy s%b.ects, they so*eti*es s%ffere their attention to be relieve by the scene before the*, nor tho%,ht it profane to look at nat%re, no+ that it ha e-chan,e the brilliant colo%rs of ay for the sober h%e of evenin,( 1efore the cloisters, ho+ever, sprea an ancient chesn%t, +hose a*ple branches +ere esi,ne to screen the f%ll *a,nificence of a scene, that *i,ht te*pt the +ish to +orl ly pleas%res/ b%t still, beneath the ark an sprea in, folia,e, ,lea*e a +i e e-tent of ocean, an *any a passin, sail/ +hile, to the ri,ht an left, thick +oo s +ere seen stretchin, alon, the +in in, shores( 'o *%ch as this ha been a *itte , perhaps, to ,ive to the secl% e votary an i*a,e of the an,ers an vicissit% es of life, an to console hi*, no+ that he ha reno%nce its pleas%res, by the certainty of havin, escape its evils( As E*ily +alke pensively alon,, consi erin, ho+ *%ch s%fferin, she *i,ht have escape , ha she beco*e a votaress of the or er, an re*aine in this retire*ent fro* the ti*e of her father3s eath, the vesper6bell str%ck %p, an the *onks retire slo+ly to+ar the chapel, +hile she, p%rs%in, her +ay, entere the ,reat hall, +here an %n%s%al silence see*e to rei,n( The parlo%r too, +hich opene fro* it, she

fo%n vacant, b%t, as the evenin, bell +as so%n in,, she believe the n%ns ha +ith ra+n into the chapel, an sat o+n to rest, for a *o*ent, before she ret%rne to the chatea%, +here, ho+ever, the increasin, ,loo* *a e her no+ an-io%s to be( 9ot *any *in%tes ha elapse , before a n%n, enterin, in haste, en4%ire for the abbess, an +as retirin,, +itho%t recollectin, E*ily, +hen she *a e herself kno+n, an then learne , that a *ass +as ,oin, to be perfor*e for the so%l of sister A,nes, +ho ha been eclinin,, for so*e ti*e, an +ho +as no+ believe to be yin,( Of her s%fferin,s the sister ,ave a *elancholy acco%nt, an of the horrors, into +hich she ha fre4%ently starte , b%t +hich ha no+ yiel e to a e.ection so ,loo*y, that neither the prayers, in +hich she +as .oine by the sisterhoo , or the ass%rances of her confessor, ha po+er to recall her fro* it, or to cheer her *in even +ith a *o*entary ,lea* of co*fort( To this relation E*ily listene +ith e-tre*e concern, an , recollectin, the fren8ie *anners an the e-pressions of horror, +hich she ha herself +itnesse of A,nes, to,ether +ith the history, that sister )rances ha co**%nicate , her co*passion +as hei,htene to a very painf%l e,ree( As the evenin, +as alrea y far a vance , E*ily i not no+ esire to see her, or to .oin in the *ass, an , after leavin, *any kin re*e*brances +ith the n%n, for her ol frien s, she 4%itte the *onastery, an ret%rne over the cliffs to+ar s the chatea%, *e itatin, %pon +hat she ha .%st hear , till, at len,th she force her *in %pon less interestin, s%b.ects( The +in +as hi,h, an as she re+ near the chatea%, she often pa%se to listen to its a+f%l so%n , as it s+ept over the billo+s, that beat belo+, or ,roane alon, the s%rro%n in, +oo s/ an , +hile she reste on a cliff at a short istance fro* the chatea%, an looke %pon the +i e +aters, seen i*ly beneath the last sha e of t+ili,ht, she tho%,ht of the follo+in, a ress;
T7 T8E <5:(4

Die less, through hea"en=s "ast "ault your course ye steer, Unkno n fro! hence ye co!e, or hither go> Mysterious po =rs> 5 hear ye !ur!ur lo , Till s ells your loud gust on !y startled ear, And, a ful> see!s to say?so!e God is near> 5 lo"e to list your !idnight "oices float 5n the dread stor!, that o=er the ocean rolls, And, hile their char! the angry a"e controuls, Mi@ ith its sullen roar, and sink re!ote# Then, rising in the pause, a s eeter note, The dirge of spirits, ho your deeds be ail, A s eeter note oft s ells hile sleeps the gale> But soon, ye sightless po =rs> your rest is o=er, 4ole!n and slo , ye rise upon the air, 4peak in the shrouds, and bid the sea%boy fear, And the faint% arbled dirge?is heard no !ore> 7h> then 5 deprecate your a ful reign> The loud la!ent yet bear not on your breath> Bear not the crash of bark far on the !ain, Bear not the cry of !en, ho cry in "ain, The cre =s dread chorus sinking into death> 7h> gi"e not these, ye po =rs> 5 ask alone, As rapt 5 cli!b these dark ro!antic steeps, The ele!ental ar, the billo =s !oanA 5 ask the still, s eet tear, that listening )ancy eeps>

#HAPTER *%I
Unnatural deeds (o breed unnatural troubles' infected !inds To their deaf pillo s ill discharge their secrets# More needs she the di"ine, than the physician# MA3BET8

On the follo+in, evenin,, the vie+ of the convent to+ers, risin, a*on, the sha o+y +oo s, re*in e E*ily of the n%n, +hose con ition ha so *%ch affecte her/ an , an-io%s to kno+ ho+ she +as, as +ell as to see so*e of her for*er frien s, she an the 0a y 1lanche e-ten e their +alk to the *onastery( At the ,ate stoo a carria,e, +hich, fro* the heat of the horses, appeare to have .%st arrive / b%t a *ore than co**on stillness perva e the co%rt an the cloisters, thro%,h +hich E*ily an 1lanche passe in their +ay to the ,reat hall, +here a n%n, +ho +as crossin, to the

stair6case, replie to the en4%iries of the for*er, that sister A,nes +as still livin,, an sensible, b%t that it +as tho%,ht she co%l not s%rvive the ni,ht( In the parlo%r, they fo%n several of the boar ers, +ho re.oice to see E*ily, an tol her *any little circ%*stances that ha happene in the convent since her epart%re, an +hich +ere interestin, to her only beca%se they relate to persons, +ho* she ha re,ar e +ith affection( :hile they th%s converse the abbess entere the roo*, an e-presse *%ch satisfaction at seein, E*ily, b%t her *anner +as %n%s%ally sole*n, an her co%ntenance e.ecte ( 3O%r ho%se,3 sai she, after the first sal%tations +ere over, 3is tr%ly a ho%se of *o%rnin,7a a%,hter is no+ payin, the ebt of nat%re(72o% have hear , perhaps, that o%r a%,hter A,nes is yin,B3 E*ily e-presse her sincere concern( 3Her eath presents to %s a ,reat an a+f%l lesson,3 contin%e the abbess/ 3let %s rea it, an profit by it/ let it teach %s to prepare o%rselves for the chan,e, that a+aits %s all? 2o% are yo%n,, an have it yet in yo%r po+er to sec%re Ethe peace that passeth all %n erstan in,E7the peace of conscience( Preserve it in yo%r yo%th, that it *ay co*fort yo% in a,e/ for vain, alas? an i*perfect are the ,oo ee s of o%r latter years, if those of o%r early life have been evil?3 E*ily +o%l have sai , that ,oo ee s, she hope , +ere never vain/ b%t she consi ere that it +as the abbess +ho spoke, an she re*aine silent( 3The latter ays of A,nes,3 res%*e the abbess, 3have been e-e*plary/ +o%l they *i,ht atone for the errors of her for*er ones? Her s%fferin,s no+, alas? are ,reat/ let %s believe, that they +ill *ake her peace hereafter? I have left her +ith her confessor, an a ,entle*an, +ho* she has lon, been an-io%s to see, an +ho is .%st arrive fro* Paris( They, I hope, +ill be able to a *inister the repose, +hich her *in has hitherto +ante (3 E*ily fervently .oine in the +ish(

3<%rin, her illness, she has so*eti*es na*e yo%,3 res%*e the abbess/ 3perhaps, it +o%l co*fort her to see yo%/ +hen her present visitors have left her, +e +ill ,o to her cha*ber, if the scene +ill not be too *elancholy for yo%r spirits( 1%t, in ee , to s%ch scenes, ho+ever painf%l, +e o%,ht to acc%sto* o%rselves, for they are sal%tary to the so%l, an prepare %s for +hat +e are o%rselves to s%ffer(3 E*ily beca*e ,rave an tho%,htf%l/ for this conversation bro%,ht to her recollection the yin, *o*ents of her belove father, an she +ishe once *ore to +eep over the spot, +here his re*ains +ere b%rie ( <%rin, the silence, +hich follo+e the abbess3 speech, *any *in%te circ%*stances atten in, his last ho%rs occ%rre to her7his e*otion on perceivin, hi*self to be in the nei,hbo%rhoo of Chatea%6le6 1lanc7his re4%est to be interre in a partic%lar spot in the ch%rch of this *onastery7an the sole*n char,e he ha elivere to her to estroy certain papers, +itho%t e-a*inin, the*(7'he recollecte also the *ysterio%s an horrible +or s in those *an%scripts, %pon +hich her eye ha invol%ntarily ,lance / an , tho%,h they no+, an , in ee , +henever she re*e*bere the*, revive an e-cess of painf%l c%riosity, concernin, their f%ll i*port, an the *otives for her father3s co**an , it +as ever her chief consolation, that she ha strictly obeye hi* in this partic%lar( 0ittle *ore +as sai by the abbess, +ho appeare too *%ch affecte by the s%b.ect she ha lately left, to be +illin, to converse, an her co*panions ha been for so*e ti*e silent fro* the sa*e ca%se, +hen this ,eneral reverie +as interr%pte by the entrance of a stran,er, &onsie%r 1onnac, +ho ha .%st 4%itte the cha*ber of sister A,nes( He appeare *%ch ist%rbe , b%t E*ily fancie , that his co%ntenance ha *ore the e-pression of horror, than of ,rief( Havin, ra+n the abbess to a istant part of the roo*, he converse +ith her for so*e ti*e, %rin, +hich she see*e to listen +ith earnest attention, an he to speak +ith ca%tion, an a *ore than co**on e,ree of interest( :hen he

ha concl% e , he bo+e silently to the rest of the co*pany, an 4%itte the roo*( The abbess, soon after, propose ,oin, to the cha*ber of sister A,nes, to +hich E*ily consente , tho%,h not +itho%t so*e rel%ctance, an 0a y 1lanche re*aine +ith the boar ers belo+( At the oor of the cha*ber they *et the confessor, +ho*, as he lifte %p his hea on their approach, E*ily observe to be the sa*e that ha atten e her yin, father/ b%t he passe on, +itho%t noticin, her, an they entere the apart*ent, +here, on a *attress, +as lai sister A,nes, +ith one n%n +atchin, in the chair besi e her( Her co%ntenance +as so *%ch chan,e , that E*ily +o%l scarcely have recollecte her, ha she not been prepare to o so; it +as ,hastly, an oversprea +ith ,loo*y horror/ her i* an hollo+ eyes +ere fi-e on a cr%cifi-, +hich she hel %pon her boso*/ an she +as so *%ch en,a,e in tho%,ht, as not to perceive the abbess an E*ily, till they stoo at the be 6si e( Then, t%rnin, her heavy eyes, she fi-e the*, in +il horror, %pon E*ily, an , screa*in,, e-clai*e , 3Ah? that vision co*es %pon *e in *y yin, ho%rs?3 E*ily starte back in terror, an looke for e-planation to the abbess, +ho *a e her a si,nal not to be alar*e , an cal*ly sai to A,nes, 3<a%,hter, I have bro%,ht &a e*oiselle 't( A%bert to visit yo%; I tho%,ht yo% +o%l be ,la to see her(3 A,nes *a e no reply/ b%t, still ,a8in, +il ly %pon E*ily, e-clai*e , 3It is her very self? Oh? there is all that fascination in her look, +hich prove *y estr%ction? :hat +o%l yo% have7+hat is it yo% ca*e to e*an 7Retrib%tionB7It +ill soon be yo%rs 7it is yo%rs alrea y( Ho+ *any years have passe , since last I sa+ yo%? &y cri*e is b%t as yester ay(7 2et I a* ,ro+n ol beneath it/ +hile yo% are still yo%n, an bloo*in,7bloo*in, as +hen yo% force *e to co**it that *ost abhorre ee ? O? co%l I once for,et it?7yet +hat +o%l that availB7the ee is one?3

E*ily, e-tre*ely shocke , +o%l no+ have left the roo*/ b%t the abbess, takin, her han , trie to s%pport her spirits, an be,,e she +o%l stay a fe+ *o*ents, +hen A,nes +o%l probably be cal*, +ho* no+ she trie to sooth( 1%t the latter see*e to isre,ar her, +hile she still fi-e her eyes on E*ily, an a e , 3:hat are years of prayers an repentanceB they cannot +ash o%t the fo%lness of *%r er?72es, *%r er? :here is he7+here is heB70ook there7look there?7see +here he stalks alon, the roo*? :hy o yo% co*e to tor*ent *e no+B3 contin%e A,nes, +hile her strainin, eyes +ere bent on air, 3+hy +as not I p%nishe beforeB 7O? o not fro+n so sternly? Hah? there a,ain? 3til she herself? :hy o yo% look so piteo%sly %pon *e7an s*ile, tooB s*ile on *e? :hat ,roan +as thatB3 A,nes s%nk o+n, apparently lifeless, an E*ily, %nable to s%pport herself, leane a,ainst the be , +hile the abbess an the atten ant n%n +ere applyin, the %s%al re*e ies to A,nes( 3Peace,3 sai the abbess, +hen E*ily +as ,oin, to speak, 3the eliri%* is ,oin, off, she +ill soon revive( :hen +as she th%s before, a%,hterB3 39ot of *any +eeks, *a a*,3 replie the n%n, 3b%t her spirits have been *%ch a,itate by the arrival of the ,entle*an she +ishe so *%ch to see(3 32es,3 observe the abbess, 3that has %n o%bte ly occasione this paro-ys* of fren8y( :hen she is better, +e +ill leave her to repose(3 E*ily very rea ily consente , b%t, tho%,h she co%l no+ ,ive little assistance, she +as %n+illin, to 4%it the cha*ber, +hile any *i,ht be necessary( :hen A,nes recovere her senses, she a,ain fi-e her eyes on E*ily, b%t their +il e-pression +as ,one, an a ,loo*y *elancholy ha s%ccee e ( It +as so*e *o*ents before she recovere s%fficient spirits to speak/ she then sai feebly73The likeness is +on erf%l?7s%rely it *%st be so*ethin, *ore than fancy( Tell *e, I con.%re yo%,3 she a e , a ressin, E*ily, 3tho%,h yo%r na*e is 't( A%bert, are yo% not the a%,hter of the &archionessB3

3:hat &archionessB3 sai E*ily, in e-tre*e s%rprise/ for she ha i*a,ine , fro* the cal*ness of A,nes3s *anner, that her intellects +ere restore ( The abbess ,ave her a si,nificant ,lance, b%t she repeate the 4%estion( 3:hat &archionessB3 e-clai*e A,nes, 3I kno+ b%t of one7the &archioness e Villeroi(3 E*ily, re*e*berin, the e*otion of her late father, %pon the %ne-pecte *ention of this la y, an his re4%est to be lai near to the to*b of the Villerois, no+ felt ,reatly intereste , an she entreate A,nes to e-plain the reason of her 4%estion( The abbess +o%l no+ have +ith ra+n E*ily fro* the roo*, +ho bein,, ho+ever, etaine by a stron, interest, repeate her entreaties( 31rin, *e that casket, sister,3 sai A,nes/ 3I +ill she+ her to yo%/ yet yo% nee only look in that *irror, an yo% +ill behol her/ yo% s%rely are her a%,hter; s%ch strikin, rese*blance is never fo%n b%t a*on, near relations(3 The n%n bro%,ht the casket, an A,nes, havin, irecte her ho+ to %nlock it, she took thence a *iniat%re, in +hich E*ily perceive the e-act rese*blance of the pict%re, +hich she ha fo%n a*on, her late father3s papers( A,nes hel o%t her han to receive it/ ,a8e %pon it earnestly for so*e *o*ents in silence/ an then, +ith a co%ntenance of eep espair, thre+ %p her eyes to Heaven, an praye in+ar ly( :hen she ha finishe , she ret%rne the *iniat%re to E*ily( 3Feep it,3 sai she, 3I be4%eath it to yo%, for I *%st believe it is yo%r ri,ht( I have fre4%ently observe the rese*blance bet+een yo%/ b%t never, till this ay, i it strike %pon *y conscience so po+erf%lly? 'tay, sister, o not re*ove the casket7there is another pict%re I +o%l she+(3 E*ily tre*ble +ith e-pectation, an the abbess a,ain +o%l have +ith ra+n her( 3A,nes is still isor ere ,3 sai she, 3yo% observe ho+ she +an ers( In these *oo s she says any thin,, an oes not scr%ple, as yo%

have +itnesse , to acc%se herself of the *ost horrible cri*es(3 E*ily, ho+ever, tho%,ht she perceive so*ethin, *ore than *a ness in the inconsistencies of A,nes, +hose *ention of the &archioness, an pro %ction of her pict%re, ha intereste her so *%ch, that she eter*ine to obtain f%rther infor*ation, if possible, respectin, the s%b.ect of it( The n%n ret%rne +ith the casket, an , A,nes pointin, o%t to her a secret ra+er, she took fro* it another *iniat%re( 3Here,3 sai A,nes, as she offere it to E*ily, 3learn a lesson for yo%r vanity, at least/ look +ell at this pict%re, an see if yo% can iscover any rese*blance bet+een +hat I +as, an +hat I a*(3 E*ily i*patiently receive the *iniat%re, +hich her eyes ha scarcely ,lance %pon, before her tre*blin, han s ha nearly s%ffere it to fall7it +as the rese*blance of the portrait of 'i,nora 0a%rentini, +hich she ha for*erly seen in the castle of A olpho 7the la y, +ho ha isappeare in so *ysterio%s a *anner, an +ho* &ontoni ha been s%specte of havin, ca%se to be *%r ere ( In silent astonish*ent, E*ily contin%e to ,a8e alternately %pon the pict%re an the yin, n%n, en eavo%rin, to trace a rese*blance bet+een the*, +hich no lon,er e-iste ( 3:hy o yo% look so sternly on *eB3 sai *istakin, the nat%re of E*ily3s e*otion( A,nes,

3I have seen this face before,3 sai E*ily, at len,th/ 3+as it really yo%r rese*blanceB3 32o% *ay +ell ask that 4%estion,3 replie the n%n,73b%t it +as once estee*e a strikin, likeness of *e( 0ook at *e +ell, an see +hat ,%ilt has *a e *e( I then +as innocent/ the evil passions of *y nat%re slept( 'ister?3 a e she sole*nly, an stretchin, forth her col , a*p han to E*ily, +ho sh% ere at its to%ch 73'ister? be+are of the first in %l,ence of the passions/ be+are of the first? Their co%rse, if not checke then, is rapi 7their force is %ncontro%lable7

they lea %s +e kno+ not +hither7they lea %s perhaps to the co**ission of cri*es, for +hich +hole years of prayer an penitence cannot atone?7'%ch *ay be the force of even a sin,le passion, that it overco*es every other, an sears %p every other approach to the heart( Possessin, %s like a fien , it lea s %s on to the acts of a fien , *akin, %s insensible to pity an to conscience( An , +hen its p%rpose is acco*plishe , like a fien , it leaves %s to the tort%re of those feelin,s, +hich its po+er ha s%spen e 7not annihilate ,7to the tort%res of co*passion, re*orse, an conscience( Then, +e a+aken as fro* a rea*, an perceive a ne+ +orl aro%n %s7+e ,a8e in astonish*ent, an horror7b%t the ee is co**itte / not all the po+ers of heaven an earth %nite can %n o it7an the spectres of conscience +ill not fly? :hat are riches7,ran e%r7health itself, to the l%-%ry of a p%re conscience, the health of the so%l/7an +hat the s%fferin,s of poverty, isappoint*ent, espair7to the an,%ish of an afflicte one? O? ho+ lon, is it since I kne+ that l%-%ry? I believe , that I ha s%ffere the *ost a,oni8in, pan,s of h%*an nat%re, in love, .ealo%sy, an espair7b%t these pan,s +ere ease, co*pare +ith the stin,s of conscience, +hich I have since en %re ( I taste too +hat +as calle the s+eet of reven,e7b%t it +as transient, it e-pire even +ith the ob.ect, that provoke it( Re*e*ber, sister, that the passions are the see s of vices as +ell as of virt%es, fro* +hich either *ay sprin,, accor in,ly as they are n%rt%re ( Anhappy they +ho have never been ta%,ht the art to ,overn the*?3 3Alas? %nhappy?3 sai the abbess, 3an ill6infor*e of o%r holy reli,ion?3 E*ily listene to A,nes, in silent a+e, +hile she still e-a*ine the *iniat%re, an beca*e confir*e in her opinion of its stron, rese*blance to the portrait at A olpho( 3This face is fa*iliar to *e,3 sai she, +ishin, to lea the n%n to an e-planation, yet fearin, to iscover too abr%ptly her kno+le ,e of A olpho( 32o% are *istaken,3 replie A,nes, 3yo% certainly never sa+ that pict%re before(3

39o,3 replie E*ily, 3b%t I have seen one e-tre*ely like it(3 3I*possible,3 sai A,nes, +ho *ay no+ be calle the 0a y 0a%rentini( 3It +as in the castle of A olpho,3 contin%e lookin, ste fastly at her( E*ily,

3Of A olpho?3 e-clai*e 0a%rentini, 3of A olpho in Italy?3 3The sa*e,3 replie E*ily( 32o% kno+ *e then,3 sai 0a%rentini, 3an yo% are the a%,hter of the &archioness(3 E*ily +as so*e+hat s%rprise at this abr%pt assertion( 3I a* the a%,hter of the late &ons( 't( A%bert,3 sai she/ 3an the la y yo% na*e is an %tter stran,er to *e(3 3At least yo% believe so,3 re.oine 0a%rentini( E*ily aske +hat reasons there co%l be to believe other+ise( 3The fa*ily likeness, that yo% bear her,3 sai the n%n( 3The &archioness, it is kno+n, +as attache to a ,entle*an of Gascony, at the ti*e +hen she accepte the han of the &ar4%is, by the co**an of her father( Ill6fate , %nhappy +o*an?3 E*ily, re*e*berin, the e-tre*e e*otion +hich 't( A%bert ha betraye on the *ention of the &archioness, +o%l no+ have s%ffere so*ethin, *ore than s%rprise, ha her confi ence in his inte,rity been less/ as it +as, she co%l not, for a *o*ent, believe +hat the +or s of 0a%rentini insin%ate / yet she still felt stron,ly intereste , concernin, the*, an be,,e , that she +o%l e-plain the* f%rther( 3<o not %r,e *e on that s%b.ect,3 sai the n%n, 3it is to *e a terrible one? :o%l that I co%l blot it fro* *y *e*ory?3 'he si,he eeply, an , after the pa%se of a *o*ent, aske E*ily, by +hat *eans she ha iscovere her na*eB 31y yo%r portrait in the castle of A olpho, to +hich this *iniat%re bears a strikin, rese*blance,3 replie E*ily( 32o% have been at A olpho then?3 sai the n%n, +ith ,reat e*otion( 3Alas? +hat scenes oes the *ention of

it revive in *y fancy7scenes of happiness7of s%fferin,7an of horror?3 At this *o*ent, the terrible spectacle, +hich E*ily ha +itnesse in a cha*ber of that castle, occ%rre to her, an she sh% ere , +hile she looke %pon the n%n 7an recollecte her late +or s7that 3years of prayer an penitence co%l not +ash o%t the fo%lness of *%r er(3 'he +as no+ co*pelle to attrib%te these to another ca%se, than that of eliri%*( :ith a e,ree of horror, that al*ost eprive her of sense, she no+ believe she looke %pon a *%r erer/ all the recollecte behavio%r of 0a%rentini see*e to confir* the s%pposition, yet E*ily +as still lost in a labyrinth of perple-ities, an , not kno+in, ho+ to ask the 4%estions, +hich *i,ht lea to tr%th, she co%l only hint the* in broken sentences( 32o%r s% en epart%re fro* A olpho37sai she( 0a%rentini ,roane ( 3The reports that follo+e it,3 contin%e E*ily73The +est cha*ber7the *o%rnf%l veil7the ob.ect it conceals?7+hen *%r ers are co**itte 73 The n%n shrieke ( 3:hat? there a,ain?3 sai she, en eavo%rin, to raise herself, +hile her startin, eyes see*e to follo+ so*e ob.ect ro%n the roo*73Co*e fro* the ,rave? :hat? 1loo 7bloo too?7There +as no bloo 7tho% canst not say it?79ay, o not s*ile,7 o not s*ile so piteo%sly?3 0a%rentini fell into conv%lsions, as she %ttere the last +or s/ an E*ily, %nable any lon,er to en %re the horror of the scene, h%rrie fro* the roo*, an sent so*e n%ns to the assistance of the abbess( The 0a y 1lanche, an the boar ers, +ho +ere in the parlo%r, no+ asse*ble ro%n E*ily, an , alar*e by her *anner an affri,hte co%ntenance, aske a h%n re 4%estions, +hich she avoi e ans+erin, f%rther, than by sayin,, that she believe sister A,nes +as yin,( They receive this as a s%fficient e-planation of her terror, an ha then leis%re to offer restoratives, +hich, at len,th, so*e+hat revive E*ily,

+hose *in +as, ho+ever, so *%ch shocke +ith the terrible s%r*ises, an perple-e +ith o%bts by so*e +or s fro* the n%n, that she +as %nable to converse, an +o%l have left the convent i**e iately, ha she not +ishe to kno+ +hether 0a%rentini +o%l s%rvive the late attack( After +aitin, so*e ti*e, she +as infor*e , that, the conv%lsions havin, cease , 0a%rentini see*e to be revivin,, an E*ily an 1lanche +ere epartin,, +hen the abbess appeare , +ho, ra+in, the for*er asi e, sai she ha so*ethin, of conse4%ence to say to her, b%t, as it +as late, she +o%l not etain her then, an re4%este to see her on the follo+in, ay( E*ily pro*ise to visit her, an , havin, taken leave, ret%rne +ith the 0a y 1lanche to+ar s the chatea%, on the +ay to +hich the eep ,loo* of the +oo s *a e 1lanche la*ent, that the evenin, +as so far a vance / for the s%rro%n in, stillness an obsc%rity ren ere her sensible of fear, tho%,h there +as a servant to protect her/ +hile E*ily +as too *%ch en,a,e by the horrors of the scene she ha .%st +itnesse , to be affecte by the sole*nity of the sha es, other+ise than as they serve to pro*ote her ,loo*y reverie, fro* +hich, ho+ever, she +as at len,th recalle by the 0a y 1lanche, +ho pointe o%t, at so*e istance, in the %sky path they +ere +in in,, t+o persons slo+ly a vancin,( It +as i*possible to avoi the* +itho%t strikin, into a still *ore secl% e part of the +oo , +hither the stran,ers *i,ht easily follo+/ b%t all apprehension vanishe , +hen E*ily istin,%ishe the voice of &ons( <% Pont, an perceive , that his co*panion +as the ,entle*an, +ho* she ha seen at the *onastery, an +ho +as no+ conversin, +ith so *%ch earnestness as not i**e iately to perceive their approach( :hen <% Pont .oine the la ies, the stran,er took leave, an they procee e to the chatea%, +here the Co%nt, +hen he hear of &ons( 1onnac, clai*e hi* for an ac4%aintance, an , on learnin, the *elancholy occasion of his visit to 0an,%e oc, an that he +as

lo ,e at a s*all inn in the villa,e, be,,e the favo%r of &ons( <% Pont to invite hi* to the chatea%( The latter +as happy to o so, an the scr%ples of reserve, +hich *a e &( 1onnac hesitate to accept the invitation, bein, at len,th overco*e, they +ent to the chatea%, +here the kin ness of the Co%nt an the spri,htliness of his son +ere e-erte to issipate the ,loo*, that overh%n, the spirits of the stran,er( &( 1onnac +as an officer in the )rench service, an appeare to be abo%t fifty/ his fi,%re +as tall an co**an in,, his *anners ha receive the last polish, an there +as so*ethin, in his co%ntenance %nco**only interestin,/ for over feat%res, +hich, in yo%th, *%st have been re*arkably han so*e, +as sprea a *elancholy, that see*e the effect of lon, *isfort%ne, rather than of constit%tion, or te*per( The conversation he hel , %rin, s%pper, +as evi ently an effort of politeness, an there +ere intervals in +hich, %nable to str%,,le a,ainst the feelin,s, that epresse hi*, he relapse into silence an abstraction, fro* +hich, ho+ever, the Co%nt, so*eti*es, +ith re+ hi* in a *anner so elicate an benevolent, that E*ily, +hile she observe hi*, al*ost fancie she behel her late father( The party separate , at an early ho%r, an then, in the solit% e of her apart*ent, the scenes, +hich E*ily ha lately +itnesse , ret%rne to her fancy, +ith rea f%l ener,y( That in the yin, n%n she sho%l have iscovere 'i,nora 0a%rentini, +ho, instea of havin, been *%r ere by &ontoni, +as, as it no+ see*e , herself ,%ilty of so*e rea f%l cri*e, e-cite both horror an s%rprise in a hi,h e,ree/ nor i the hints, +hich she ha roppe , respectin, the *arria,e of the &archioness e Villeroi, an the en4%iries she ha *a e concernin, E*ily3s birth, occasion her a less e,ree of interest, tho%,h it +as of a ifferent nat%re( The history, +hich sister )rances ha for*erly relate , an ha sai to be that of A,nes, it no+ appeare , +as erroneo%s/ b%t for +hat p%rpose it ha been fabricate , %nless the *ore effect%ally to conceal the tr%e story,

E*ily co%l not even ,%ess( Above all, her interest +as e-cite as to the relation, +hich the story of the late &archioness e Villeroi bore to that of her father/ for, that so*e kin of relation e-iste bet+een the*, the ,rief of 't( A%bert, %pon hearin, her na*e , his re4%est to be b%rie near her, an her pict%re, +hich ha been fo%n a*on, his papers, certainly prove ( 'o*eti*es it occ%rre to E*ily, that he *i,ht have been the lover, to +ho* it +as sai the &archioness +as attache , +hen she +as co*pelle to *arry the &ar4%is e Villeroi/ b%t that he ha after+ar s cherishe a passion for her, she co%l not s%ffer herself to believe, for a *o*ent( The papers, +hich he ha so sole*nly en.oine her to estroy, she no+ fancie ha relate to this connection, an she +ishe *ore earnestly than before to kno+ the reasons, that *a e hi* consi er the in.%nction necessary, +hich, ha her faith in his principles been less, +o%l have le to believe, that there +as a *ystery in her birth ishono%rable to her parents, +hich those *an%scripts *i,ht have reveale ( Reflections, si*ilar to these, en,a,e her *in , %rin, the ,reater part of the ni,ht, an +hen, at len,th, she fell into a sl%*ber, it +as only to behol a vision of the yin, n%n, an to a+aken in horrors, like those she ha +itnesse ( On the follo+in, *ornin,, she +as too *%ch in ispose to atten her appoint*ent +ith the abbess, an , before the ay concl% e , she hear , that sister A,nes +as no *ore( &ons( 1onnac receive this intelli,ence, +ith concern/ b%t E*ily observe , that he i not appear so *%ch affecte no+, as on the prece in, evenin,, i**e iately after 4%ittin, the apart*ent of the n%n, +hose eath +as probably less terrible to hi*, than the confession he ha been then calle %pon to +itness( Ho+ever this *i,ht be, he +as perhaps console , in so*e e,ree, by a kno+le ,e of the le,acy be4%eathe hi*, since his fa*ily +as lar,e, an the e-trava,ance of so*e part of it ha lately been the *eans of involvin, hi* in ,reat istress, an even in the horrors of a prison/ an it +as the ,rief he ha s%ffere fro* the +il career of a favo%rite son, +ith

the pec%niary an-ieties an *isfort%nes conse4%ent %pon it, that ha ,iven to his co%ntenance the air of e.ection, +hich ha so *%ch intereste E*ily( To his frien &ons( <% Pont he recite so*e partic%lars of his late s%fferin,s, +hen it appeare , that he ha been confine for several *onths in one of the prisons of Paris, +ith little hope of release, an +itho%t the co*fort of seein, his +ife, +ho ha been absent in the co%ntry, en eavo%rin,, tho%,h in vain, to proc%re assistance fro* his frien s( :hen, at len,th, she ha obtaine an or er for a *ittance, she +as so *%ch shocke at the chan,e, +hich lon, confine*ent an sorro+ ha *a e in his appearance, that she +as sei8e +ith fits, +hich, by their lon, contin%ance, threatene her life( 3O%r sit%ation affecte those, +ho happene to +itness it,3 contin%e &ons( 1onnac, 3an one ,enero%s frien , +ho +as in confine*ent at the sa*e ti*e, after+ar s e*ploye the first *o*ents of his liberty in efforts to obtain *ine( He s%ccee e / the heavy ebt, that oppresse *e, +as ischar,e / an , +hen I +o%l have e-presse *y sense of the obli,ation I ha receive , *y benefactor +as fle fro* *y search( I have reason to believe he +as the victi* of his o+n ,enerosity, an that he ret%rne to the state of confine*ent, fro* +hich he ha release *e/ b%t every en4%iry after hi* +as %ns%ccessf%l( A*iable an %nfort%nate Valanco%rt?3 3Valanco%rt?3 e-clai*e fa*ilyB3 &ons( <% Pont( 3Of +hat &ons(

3The Valanco%rts, Co%nts <%varney,3 replie 1onnac(

The e*otion of &ons( <% Pont, +hen he iscovere the ,enero%s benefactor of his frien to be the rival of his love, can only be i*a,ine / b%t, havin, overco*e his first s%rprise, he issipate the apprehensions of &ons( 1onnac by ac4%aintin, hi*, that Valanco%rt +as at liberty, an ha lately been in 0an,%e oc/ after +hich his affection for E*ily pro*pte hi* to *ake so*e en4%iries, respectin, the con %ct of his rival, %rin, his stay at Paris, of +hich &( 1onnac appeare

to be +ell infor*e ( The ans+ers he receive +ere s%ch as convince hi*, that Valanco%rt ha been *%ch *isrepresente , an , painf%l as +as the sacrifice, he for*e the .%st esi,n of relin4%ishin, his p%rs%it of E*ily to a lover, +ho, it no+ appeare , +as not %n+orthy of the re,ar , +ith +hich she hono%re hi*( The conversation of &ons( 1onnac iscovere , that Valanco%rt, so*e ti*e after his arrival at Paris, ha been ra+n into the snares, +hich eter*ine vice ha sprea for hi*, an that his ho%rs ha been chiefly ivi e bet+een the parties of the captivatin, &archioness an those ,a*in, asse*blies, to +hich the envy, or the avarice, of his brother officers ha spare no art to se %ce hi*( In these parties he ha lost lar,e s%*s, in efforts to recover s*all ones, an to s%ch losses the Co%nt <e Villefort an &ons( Henri ha been fre4%ent +itnesses( His reso%rces +ere, at len,th, e-ha%ste / an the Co%nt, his brother, e-asperate by his con %ct, ref%se to contin%e the s%pplies necessary to his present *o e of life, +hen Valanco%rt, in conse4%ence of acc%*%late ebts, +as thro+n into confine*ent, +here his brother s%ffere hi* to re*ain, in the hope, that p%nish*ent *i,ht effect a refor* of con %ct, +hich ha not yet been confir*e by lon, habit( In the solit% e of his prison, Valanco%rt ha leis%re for reflection, an ca%se for repentance/ here, too, the i*a,e of E*ily, +hich, a*i st the issipation of the city ha been obsc%re , b%t never obliterate fro* his heart, revive +ith all the char*s of innocence an bea%ty, to reproach hi* for havin, sacrifice his happiness an ebase his talents by p%rs%its, +hich his nobler fac%lties +o%l for*erly have ta%,ht hi* to consi er +ere as tasteless as they +ere e,ra in,( 1%t, tho%,h his passions ha been se %ce , his heart +as not eprave , nor ha habit rivete the chains, that h%n, heavily on his conscience/ an , as he retaine that ener,y of +ill, +hich +as necessary to b%rst the*, he, at len,th, e*ancipate hi*self fro* the bon a,e of vice, b%t not till after *%ch effort an severe s%fferin,(

1ein, release by his brother fro* the prison, +here he ha +itnesse the affectin, *eetin, bet+een &ons( 1onnac an his +ife, +ith +ho* he ha been for so*e ti*e ac4%ainte , the first %se of his liberty for*e a strikin, instance of his h%*anity an his rashness/ for +ith nearly all the *oney, .%st receive fro* his brother, he +ent to a ,a*in,6ho%se, an ,ave it as a last stake for the chance of restorin, his frien to free o*, an to his afflicte fa*ily( The event +as fort%nate, an , +hile he ha a+aite the iss%e of this *o*ento%s stake, he *a e a sole*n vo+ never a,ain to yiel to the estr%ctive an fascinatin, vice of ,a*in,( Havin, restore the venerable &ons( 1onnac to his re.oicin, fa*ily, he h%rrie fro* Paris to Est%viere/ an , in the eli,ht of havin, *a e the +retche happy, for,ot, for a +hile, his o+n *isfort%nes( 'oon, ho+ever, he re*e*bere , that he ha thro+n a+ay the fort%ne, +itho%t +hich he co%l never hope to *arry E*ily/ an life, %nless passe +ith her, no+ scarcely appeare s%pportable/ for her ,oo ness, refine*ent, an si*plicity of heart, ren ere her bea%ty *ore enchantin,, if possible, to his fancy, than it ha ever yet appeare ( E-perience ha ta%,ht hi* to %n erstan the f%ll val%e of the 4%alities, +hich he ha before a *ire , b%t +hich the contraste characters he ha seen in the +orl *a e hi* no+ a ore/ an these reflections, increasin, the pan,s of re*orse an re,ret, occasione the eep e.ection, that ha acco*panie hi* even into the presence of E*ily, of +ho* he consi ere hi*self no lon,er +orthy( To the i,no*iny of havin, receive pec%niary obli,ations fro* the &archioness Cha*fort, or any other la y of intri,%e, as the Co%nt <e Villefort ha been infor*e , or of havin, been en,a,e in the epre atin, sche*es of ,a*esters, Valanco%rt ha never s%b*itte / an these +ere so*e of s%ch scan als as often *in,le +ith tr%th, a,ainst the %nfort%nate( Co%nt <e Villefort ha receive the* fro* a%thority +hich he ha no reason to o%bt, an +hich the i*pr% ent con %ct he ha hi*self +itnesse in Valanco%rt, ha certainly in %ce hi* the *ore

rea ily to believe( 1ein, s%ch as E*ily co%l not na*e to the Chevalier, he ha no opport%nity of ref%tin, the*/ an , +hen he confesse hi*self to be %n+orthy of her estee*, he little s%specte , that he +as confir*in, to her the *ost rea f%l cal%*nies( Th%s the *istake ha been *%t%al, an ha re*aine so, +hen &ons( 1onnac e-plaine the con %ct of his ,enero%s, b%t i*pr% ent yo%n, frien to <% Pont, +ho, +ith severe .%stice, eter*ine not only to %n eceive the Co%nt on this s%b.ect, b%t to resi,n all hope of E*ily( '%ch a sacrifice as his love ren ere this, +as eservin, of a noble re+ar , an &ons( 1onnac, if it ha been possible for hi* to for,et the benevolent Valanco%rt, +o%l have +ishe that E*ily *i,ht accept the .%st <% Pont( :hen the Co%nt +as infor*e of the error he ha co**itte , he +as e-tre*ely shocke at the conse4%ence of his cre %lity, an the acco%nt +hich &ons( 1onnac ,ave of his frien 3s sit%ation, +hile at Paris, convince hi*, that Valanco%rt ha been entrappe by the sche*es of a set of issipate yo%n, *en, +ith +ho* his profession ha partly obli,e hi* to associate, rather than by an inclination to vice/ an , char*e by the h%*anity, an noble, tho%,h rash ,enerosity, +hich his con %ct to+ar s &ons( 1onnac e-hibite , he for,ave hi* the transient errors, that ha staine his yo%th, an restore hi* to the hi,h e,ree of estee*, +ith +hich he ha re,ar e hi*, %rin, their early ac4%aintance( 1%t, as the least reparation he co%l no+ *ake Valanco%rt +as to affor hi* an opport%nity of e-plainin, to E*ily his for*er con %ct, he i**e iately +rote, to re4%est his for,iveness of the %nintentional in.%ry he ha one hi*, an to invite hi* to Chatea%6le61lanc( &otives of elicacy +ith6hel the Co%nt fro* infor*in, E*ily of this letter, an of kin ness fro* ac4%aintin, her +ith the iscovery respectin, Valanco%rt, till his arrival sho%l save her fro* the possibility of an-iety, as to its event/ an this preca%tion spare her even severer in4%iet% e, than the Co%nt ha foreseen, since he +as i,norant of the

sy*pto*s of espair, +hich Valanco%rt3s late con %ct ha betraye (

#HAPTER *%II
But in these cases, <e still ha"e judg!ent hereA that e but teach Bloody instructions, hich, being taught, return To plague the in"entor' thus e"en%handed justice 3o!!ends the ingredients of our poison=d chalice To our o n lips# MA3BET8

'o*e circ%*stances of an e-traor inary nat%re no+ +ith re+ E*ily fro* her o+n sorro+s, an e-cite e*otions, +hich partook of both s%rprise an horror( A fe+ ays follo+e that, on +hich 'i,nora 0a%rentini ie , her +ill +as opene at the *onastery, in the presence of the s%periors an &ons( 1onnac, +hen it +as fo%n , that one thir of her personal property +as be4%eathe to the nearest s%rvivin, relative of the late &archioness e Villeroi, an that E*ily +as the person( :ith the secret of E*ily3s fa*ily the abbess ha lon, been ac4%ainte , an it +as in observance of the earnest re4%est of 't( A%bert, +ho +as kno+n to the friar, that atten e hi* on his eath6be , that his a%,hter ha re*aine in i,norance of her relationship to the &archioness( 1%t so*e hints, +hich ha fallen fro* 'i,nora 0a%rentini, %rin, her last intervie+ +ith E*ily, an a confession of a very e-traor inary nat%re, ,iven in her yin, ho%rs, ha *a e the abbess think it necessary to converse +ith her yo%n, frien , on the topic she ha not before vent%re to intro %ce/ an it +as for this p%rpose, that she ha re4%este to see her on the *ornin, that follo+e her intervie+ +ith the n%n( E*ily3s in isposition ha then prevente the inten e conversation/ b%t no+, after the +ill ha been e-a*ine , she receive a s%**ons, +hich she i**e iately obeye , an beca*e infor*e of

circ%*stances, that po+erf%lly affecte her( As the narrative of the abbess +as, ho+ever, eficient in *any partic%lars, of +hich the rea er *ay +ish to be infor*e , an the history of the n%n is *aterially connecte +ith the fate of the &archioness e Villeroi, +e shall o*it the conversation, that passe in the parlo%r of the convent, an *in,le +ith o%r relation a brief history of
&AURE:T5:5 (5 U(7&P87,

:ho +as the only chil of her parents, an heiress of the ancient ho%se of A olpho, in the territory of Venice( It +as the first *isfort%ne of her life, an that +hich le to all her s%ccee in, *isery, that the frien s, +ho o%,ht to have restraine her stron, passions, an *il ly instr%cte her in the art of ,overnin, the*, n%rt%re the* by early in %l,ence( 1%t they cherishe their o+n failin,s in her/ for their con %ct +as not the res%lt of rational kin ness, an , +hen they either in %l,e , or oppose the passions of their chil , they ,ratifie their o+n( Th%s they in %l,e her +ith +eakness, an reprehen e her +ith violence/ her spirit +as e-asperate by their vehe*ence, instea of bein, correcte by their +is o*/ an their oppositions beca*e contest for victory, in +hich the %e ten erness of the parents, an the affectionate %ties of the chil , +ere e4%ally for,otten/ b%t, as ret%rnin, fon ness isar*e the parents3 resent*ent soonest, 0a%rentini +as s%ffere to believe that she ha con4%ere , an her passions beca*e stron,er by every effort, that ha been e*ploye to s%b %e the*( The eath of her father an *other in the sa*e year left her to her o+n iscretion, %n er the an,ero%s circ%*stances atten ant on yo%th an bea%ty( 'he +as fon of co*pany, eli,hte +ith a *iration, yet is ainf%l of the opinion of the +orl , +hen it happene to contra ict her inclinations/ ha a ,ay an brilliant +it, an +as *istress of all the arts of fascination( Her con %ct +as s%ch as *i,ht have been e-pecte , fro* the +eakness of her principles an the stren,th of her passions(

A*on, her n%*ero%s a *irers +as the late &ar4%is e Villeroi, +ho, on his to%r thro%,h Italy, sa+ 0a%rentini at Venice, +here she %s%ally resi e , an beca*e her passionate a orer( E4%ally captivate by the fi,%re an acco*plish*ents of the &ar4%is, +ho +as at that perio one of the *ost istin,%ishe noble*en of the )rench co%rt, she ha the art so effect%ally to conceal fro* hi* the an,ero%s traits of her character an the ble*ishes of her late con %ct, that he solicite her han in *arria,e( 1efore the n%ptials +ere concl% e , she retire to the castle of A olpho, +hither the &ar4%is follo+e , an , +here her con %ct, rela-in, fro* the propriety, +hich she ha lately ass%*e , iscovere to hi* the precipice, on +hich he stoo ( A *in%ter en4%iry than he ha before tho%,ht it necessary to *ake, convince hi*, that he ha been eceive in her character, an she, +ho* he ha esi,ne for his +ife, after+ar s beca*e his *istress( Havin, passe so*e +eeks at A olpho, he +as calle abr%ptly to )rance, +hither he ret%rne +ith e-tre*e rel%ctance, for his heart +as still fascinate by the arts of 0a%rentini, +ith +ho*, ho+ever, he ha on vario%s pretences elaye his *arria,e/ b%t, to reconcile her to this separation, he no+ ,ave repeate pro*ises of ret%rnin, to concl% e the n%ptials, as soon as the affair, +hich th%s s% enly calle hi* to )rance, sho%l per*it( 'oothe , in so*e e,ree, by these ass%rances, she s%ffere hi* to epart/ an , soon after, her relative, &ontoni, arrivin, at A olpho, rene+e the a resses, +hich she ha before ref%se , an +hich she no+ a,ain re.ecte ( &ean+hile, her tho%,hts +ere constantly +ith the &ar4%is e Villeroi, for +ho* she s%ffere all the eliri%* of Italian love, cherishe by the solit% e, to +hich she confine herself/ for she ha no+ lost all taste for the pleas%res of society an the ,aiety of a*%se*ent( Her only in %l,ences +ere to si,h an +eep over a *iniat%re of the &ar4%is/ to visit the scenes, that ha +itnesse their happiness, to po%r forth her heart to hi* in +ritin,, an to co%nt the

+eeks, the ays, +hich *%st intervene before the perio that he ha *entione as probable for his ret%rn( 1%t this perio passe +itho%t brin,in, hi*/ an +eek after +eek follo+e in heavy an al*ost intolerable e-pectation( <%rin, this interval, 0a%rentini3s fancy, occ%pie incessantly by one i ea, beca*e isor ere / an , her +hole heart bein, evote to one ob.ect, life beca*e hatef%l to her, +hen she believe that ob.ect lost( 'everal *onths passe , %rin, +hich she hear nothin, fro* the &ar4%is e Villeroi, an her ays +ere *arke , at intervals, +ith the phrensy of passion an the s%llenness of espair( 'he secl% e herself fro* all visitors, an , so*eti*es, re*aine in her apart*ent, for +eeks to,ether, ref%sin, to speak to every person, e-cept her favo%rite fe*ale atten ant, +ritin, scraps of letters, rea in,, a,ain an a,ain, those she ha receive fro* the &ar4%is, +eepin, over his pict%re, an speakin, to it, for *any ho%rs, %pbrai in,, reproachin, an caressin, it alternately( At len,th, a report reache her, that the &ar4%is ha *arrie in )rance, an , after s%fferin, all the e-tre*es of love, .ealo%sy an in i,nation, she for*e the esperate resol%tion of ,oin, secretly to that co%ntry, an , if the report prove tr%e, of atte*ptin, a eep reven,e( To her favo%rite +o*an only she confi e the plan of her .o%rney, an she en,a,e her to partake of it( Havin, collecte her .e+els, +hich, escen in, to her fro* *any branches of her fa*ily, +ere of i**ense val%e, an all her cash, to a very lar,e a*o%nt, they +ere packe in a tr%nk, +hich +as privately conveye to a nei,hbo%rin, to+n, +hither 0a%rentini, +ith this only servant, follo+e , an thence procee e secretly to 0e,horn, +here they e*barke for )rance( :hen, on her arrival in 0an,%e oc, she fo%n , that the &ar4%is e Villeroi ha been *arrie , for so*e *onths, her espair al*ost eprive her of reason, an she alternately pro.ecte an aban one the horrible esi,n of *%r erin, the &ar4%is, his +ife an herself( At len,th she contrive to thro+ herself in his +ay,

+ith an intention of reproachin, hi*, for his con %ct, an of stabbin, herself in his presence/ b%t, +hen she a,ain sa+ hi*, +ho so lon, ha been the constant ob.ect of her tho%,hts an affections, resent*ent yiel e to love/ her resol%tion faile / she tre*ble +ith the conflict of e*otions, that assaile her heart, an fainte a+ay( The &ar4%is +as not proof a,ainst her bea%ty an sensibility/ all the ener,y, +ith +hich he ha first love , ret%rne , for his passion ha been resiste by pr% ence, rather than overco*e by in ifference/ an , since the hono%r of his fa*ily +o%l not per*it hi* to *arry her, he ha en eavo%re to s%b %e his love, an ha so far s%ccee e , as to select the then &archioness for his +ife, +ho* he love at first +ith a te*pere an rational affection( 1%t the *il virt%es of that a*iable la y i not reco*pense hi* for her in ifference, +hich appeare , not+ithstan in, her efforts to conceal it/ an he ha , for so*e ti*e, s%specte that her affections +ere en,a,e by another person, +hen 0a%rentini arrive in 0an,%e oc( This artf%l Italian soon perceive , that she ha re,aine her infl%ence over hi*, an , soothe by the iscovery, she eter*ine to live, an to e*ploy all her enchant*ents to +in his consent to the iabolical ee , +hich she believe +as necessary to the sec%rity of her happiness( 'he con %cte her sche*e +ith eep issi*%lation an patient perseverance, an , havin, co*pletely estran,e the affections of the &ar4%is fro* his +ife, +hose ,entle ,oo ness an %ni*passione *anners ha cease to please, +hen contraste +ith the captivations of the Italian, she procee e to a+aken in his *in the .ealo%sy of pri e, for it +as no lon,er that of love, an even pointe o%t to hi* the person, to +ho* she affir*e the &archioness ha sacrifice her hono%r/ b%t 0a%rentini ha first e-torte fro* hi* a sole*n pro*ise to forbear aven,in, hi*self %pon his rival( This +as an i*portant part of her plan, for she kne+, that, if his esire of ven,eance +as restraine to+ar s one party, it +o%l b%rn *ore fiercely to+ar s the other, an he *i,ht then, perhaps, be prevaile on to

assist in the horrible act, +hich +o%l release hi* fro* the only barrier, that +ith6hel hi* fro* *akin, her his +ife( The innocent &archioness, *ean+hile, observe , +ith e-tre*e ,rief, the alteration in her h%sban 3s *anners( He beca*e reserve an tho%,htf%l in her presence/ his con %ct +as a%stere, an so*eti*es even r% e/ an he left her, for *any ho%rs to,ether, to +eep for his %nkin ness, an to for* plans for the recovery of his affection( His con %ct afflicte her the *ore, beca%se, in obe ience to the co**an of her father, she ha accepte his han , tho%,h her affections +ere en,a,e to another, +hose a*iable isposition, she ha reason to believe, +o%l have ens%re her happiness( This circ%*stance 0a%rentini ha iscovere , soon after her arrival in )rance, an ha *a e a*ple %se of it in assistin, her esi,ns %pon the &ar4%is, to +ho* she a %ce s%ch see*in, proof of his +ife3s infi elity, that, in the frantic ra,e of +o%n e hono%r, he consente to estroy his +ife( A slo+ poison +as a *inistere , an she fell a victi* to the .ealo%sy an s%btlety of 0a%rentini an to the ,%ilty +eakness of her h%sban ( 1%t the *o*ent of 0a%rentini3s tri%*ph, the *o*ent, to +hich she ha looke for+ar for the co*pletion of all her +ishes, prove only the co**ence*ent of a s%fferin,, that never left her to her yin, ho%r( The passion of reven,e, +hich ha in part sti*%late her to the co**ission of this atrocio%s ee , ie , even at the *o*ent +hen it +as ,ratifie , an left her to the horrors of %navailin, pity an re*orse, +hich +o%l probably have e*poisone all the years she ha pro*ise herself +ith the &ar4%is e Villeroi, ha her e-pectations of an alliance +ith hi* been reali8e ( 1%t he, too, ha fo%n the *o*ent of his reven,e to be that of re*orse, as to hi*self, an etestation, as to the partner of his cri*e/ the feelin,, +hich he ha *istaken for conviction, +as no *ore/ an he stoo astonishe , an a,hast, that no proof re*aine of his +ife3s infi elity, no+ that she ha s%ffere the p%nish*ent of ,%ilt( Even +hen he +as infor*e , that

she +as yin,, he ha felt s% enly an %nacco%ntably reass%re of her innocence, nor +as the sole*n ass%rance she *a e hi* in her last ho%r, capable of affor in, hi* a stron,er conviction of her bla*eless con %ct( In the first horrors of re*orse an espair, he felt incline to eliver %p hi*self an the +o*an, +ho ha pl%n,e hi* into this abyss of ,%ilt, into the han s of .%stice/ b%t, +hen the paro-ys* of his s%fferin, +as over, his intention chan,e ( 0a%rentini, ho+ever, he sa+ only once after+ar s, an that +as, to c%rse her as the insti,ator of his cri*e, an to say, that he spare her life only on con ition, that she passe the rest of her ays in prayer an penance( Over+hel*e +ith isappoint*ent, on receivin, conte*pt an abhorrence fro* the *an, for +hose sake she ha not scr%ple to stain her conscience +ith h%*an bloo , an , to%che +ith horror of the %navailin, cri*e she ha co**itte , she reno%nce the +orl , an retire to the *onastery of 't( Claire, a rea f%l victi* to %nresiste passion( The &ar4%is, i**e iately after the eath of his +ife, 4%itte Chatea%6le61lanc, to +hich he never ret%rne , an en eavo%re to lose the sense of his cri*e a*i st the t%*%lt of +ar, or the issipations of a capital/ b%t his efforts +ere vain/ a eep e.ection h%n, over hi* ever after, for +hich his *ost inti*ate frien co%l not acco%nt, an he, at len,th, ie , +ith a e,ree of horror nearly e4%al to that, +hich 0a%rentini ha s%ffere ( The physician, +ho ha observe the sin,%lar appearance of the %nfort%nate &archioness, after eath, ha been bribe to silence/ an , as the s%r*ises of a fe+ of the servants ha procee e no f%rther than a +hisper, the affair ha never been investi,ate ( :hether this +hisper ever reache the father of the &archioness, an , if it i , +hether the iffic%lty of obtainin, proof eterre hi* fro* prosec%tin, the &ar4%is e Villeroi, is %ncertain/ b%t her eath +as eeply la*ente by so*e part of her fa*ily, an partic%larly by her brother, &( 't( A%bert/ for that +as the e,ree of relationship, +hich ha e-iste bet+een E*ily3s father an the &archioness/ an there is no o%bt, that he s%specte

the *anner of her eath( &any letters passe bet+een the &ar4%is an hi*, soon after the ecease of his belove sister, the s%b.ect of +hich +as not kno+n, b%t there is reason to believe, that they relate to the ca%se of her eath/ an these +ere the papers, to,ether +ith so*e letters of the &archioness, +ho ha confi e to her brother the occasion of her %nhappiness, +hich 't( A%bert ha so sole*nly en.oine his a%,hter to estroy; an an-iety for her peace ha probably *a e hi* forbi her to en4%ire into the *elancholy story, to +hich they all% e ( '%ch, in ee , ha been his affliction, on the pre*at%re eath of this his favo%rite sister, +hose %nhappy *arria,e ha fro* the first e-cite his ten erest pity, that he never co%l hear her na*e , or *ention her hi*self after her eath, e-cept to &a a*e 't( A%bert( )ro* E*ily, +hose sensibility he feare to a+aken, he ha so caref%lly conceale her history an na*e, that she +as i,norant, till no+, that she ever ha s%ch a relative as the &archioness e Villeroi/ an fro* this *otive he ha en.oine silence to his only s%rvivin, sister, &a a*e Cheron, +ho ha scr%p%lo%sly observe his re4%est( It +as over so*e of the last pathetic letters of the &archioness, that 't( A%bert +as +eepin,, +hen he +as observe by E*ily, on the eve of her epart%re fro* 0a Vallee, an it +as her pict%re, +hich he ha so ten erly caresse ( Her isastro%s eath *ay acco%nt for the e*otion he ha betraye , on hearin, her na*e by 0a Voisin, an for his re4%est to be interre near the *on%*ent of the Villerois, +here her re*ains +ere eposite , b%t not those of her h%sban , +ho +as b%rie , +here he ie , in the north of )rance( The confessor, +ho atten e 't( A%bert in his last *o*ents, recollecte hi* to be the brother of the late &archioness, +hen 't( A%bert, fro* ten erness to E*ily, ha con.%re hi* to conceal the circ%*stance, an to re4%est that the abbess, to +hose care he partic%larly reco**en e her, +o%l o the sa*e/ a re4%est, +hich ha been e-actly observe ( 0a%rentini, on her arrival in )rance, ha caref%lly conceale her na*e an fa*ily, an , the better to

is,%ise her real history, ha , on enterin, the convent, ca%se the story to be circ%late , +hich ha i*pose on sister )rances, an it is probable, that the abbess, +ho i not presi e in the convent, at the ti*e of her noviciation, +as also entirely i,norant of the tr%th( The eep re*orse, that sei8e on the *in of 0a%rentini, to,ether +ith the s%fferin,s of isappointe passion, for she still love the &ar4%is, a,ain %nsettle her intellects, an , after the first paro-ys*s of espair +ere passe , a heavy an silent *elancholy ha settle %pon her spirits, +hich s%ffere fe+ interr%ptions fro* fits of phrensy, till the ti*e of her eath( <%rin, *any years, it ha been her only a*%se*ent to +alk in the +oo s near the *onastery, in the solitary ho%rs of ni,ht, an to play %pon a favo%rite instr%*ent, to +hich she so*eti*es .oine the eli,htf%l *elo y of her voice, in the *ost sole*n an *elancholy airs of her native co%ntry, *o %late by all the ener,etic feelin,, that +elt in her heart( The physician, +ho ha atten e her, reco**en e it to the s%perior to in %l,e her in this +hi*, as the only *eans of soothin, her iste*pere fancy/ an she +as s%ffere to +alk in the lonely ho%rs of ni,ht, atten e by the servant, +ho ha acco*panie her fro* Italy/ b%t, as the in %l,ence trans,resse a,ainst the r%les of the convent, it +as kept as secret as possible/ an th%s the *ysterio%s *%sic of 0a%rentini ha co*bine +ith other circ%*stances, to pro %ce a report, that not only the chatea%, b%t its nei,hbo%rhoo , +as ha%nte ( 'oon after her entrance into this holy co**%nity, an before she ha she+n any sy*pto*s of insanity there, she *a e a +ill, in +hich, after be4%eathin, a consi erable le,acy to the convent, she ivi e the re*ain er of her personal property, +hich her .e+els *a e very val%able, bet+een the +ife of &ons( 1onnac, +ho +as an Italian la y an her relation, an the nearest s%rvivin, relative of the late &archioness e Villeroi( As E*ily 't( A%bert +as not only the nearest, b%t the sole relative, this le,acy escen e to her, an th%s e-plaine to her the +hole *ystery of her father3s con %ct(

The rese*blance bet+een E*ily an her %nfort%nate a%nt ha fre4%ently been observe by 0a%rentini, an ha occasione the sin,%lar behavio%r, +hich ha for*erly alar*e her/ b%t it +as in the n%n3s yin, ho%r, +hen her conscience ,ave her perpet%ally the i ea of the &archioness, that she beca*e *ore sensible, than ever, of this likeness, an , in her phrensy, ee*e it no rese*blance of the person she ha in.%re , b%t the ori,inal herself( The bol assertion, that ha follo+e , on the recovery of her senses, that E*ily +as the a%,hter of the &archioness e Villeroi, arose fro* a s%spicion that she +as so/ for, kno+in, that her rival, +hen she *arrie the &ar4%is, +as attache to another lover, she ha scarcely scr%ple to believe, that her hono%r ha been sacrifice , like her o+n, to an %nresiste passion( Of a cri*e, ho+ever, to +hich E*ily ha s%specte , fro* her phrensie confession of *%r er, that she ha been instr%*ental in the castle of A olpho, 0a%rentini +as innocent/ an she ha herself been eceive , concernin, the spectacle, that for*erly occasione her so *%ch terror, an ha since co*pelle her, for a +hile, to attrib%te the horrors of the n%n to a conscio%sness of a *%r er, co**itte in that castle( It *ay be re*e*bere , that, in a cha*ber of A olpho, h%n, a black veil, +hose sin,%lar sit%ation ha e-cite E*ily3s c%riosity, an +hich after+ar s isclose an ob.ect, that ha over+hel*e her +ith horror/ for, on liftin, it, there appeare , instea of the pict%re she ha e-pecte , +ithin a recess of the +all, a h%*an fi,%re of ,hastly paleness, stretche at its len,th, an resse in the habili*ents of the ,rave( :hat a e to the horror of the spectacle, +as, that the face appeare partly ecaye an isfi,%re by +or*s, +hich +ere visible on the feat%res an han s( On s%ch an ob.ect, it +ill be rea ily believe , that no person co%l en %re to look t+ice( E*ily, it *ay be recollecte , ha , after the first ,lance, let the veil rop, an her terror ha prevente her fro* ever after provokin, a rene+al of s%ch s%fferin,, as she ha then e-perience ( Ha she are to look a,ain, her el%sion an her fears +o%l have

vanishe to,ether, an she +o%l have perceive , that the fi,%re before her +as not h%*an, b%t for*e of +a-( The history of it is so*e+hat e-traor inary, tho%,h not +itho%t e-a*ple in the recor s of that fierce severity, +hich *onkish s%perstition has so*eti*es inflicte on *ankin ( A *e*ber of the ho%se of A olpho, havin, co**itte so*e offence a,ainst the prero,ative of the ch%rch, ha been con e*ne to the penance of conte*platin,, %rin, certain ho%rs of the ay, a +a-en i*a,e, *a e to rese*ble a h%*an bo y in the state, to +hich it is re %ce after eath( This penance, servin, as a *e*ento of the con ition at +hich he *%st hi*self arrive, ha been esi,ne to reprove the pri e of the &ar4%is of A olpho, +hich ha for*erly so *%ch e-asperate that of the Ro*ish ch%rch/ an he ha not only s%perstitio%sly observe this penance hi*self, +hich, he ha believe , +as to obtain a par on for all his sins, b%t ha *a e it a con ition in his +ill, that his escen ants sho%l preserve the i*a,e, on pain of forfeitin, to the ch%rch a certain part of his o*ain, that they also *i,ht profit by the h%*iliatin, *oral it conveye ( The fi,%re, therefore, ha been s%ffere to retain its station in the +all of the cha*ber, b%t his escen ants e-c%se the*selves fro* observin, the penance, to +hich he ha been en.oine ( This i*a,e +as so horribly nat%ral, that it is not s%rprisin, E*ily sho%l have *istaken it for the ob.ect it rese*ble , nor, since she ha hear s%ch an e-traor inary acco%nt, concernin, the isappearin, of the late la y of the castle, an ha s%ch e-perience of the character of &ontoni, that she sho%l have believe this to be the *%r ere bo y of the la y 0a%rentini, an that he ha been the contriver of her eath( The sit%ation, in +hich she ha iscovere it, occasione her, at first, *%ch s%rprise an perple-ity/ b%t the vi,ilance, +ith +hich the oors of the cha*ber, +here it +as eposite , +ere after+ar s sec%re , ha co*pelle her to believe, that &ontoni, not arin, to confi e the secret of her eath to any person, ha s%ffere her re*ains to ecay in this obsc%re cha*ber(

The cere*ony of the veil, ho+ever, an the circ%*stance of the oors havin, been left open, even for a *o*ent, ha occasione her *%ch +on er an so*e o%bts/ b%t these +ere not s%fficient to overco*e her s%spicion of &ontoni/ an it +as the rea of his terrible ven,eance, that ha seale her lips in silence, concernin, +hat she ha seen in the +est cha*ber( E*ily, in iscoverin, the &archioness e Villeroi to have been the sister of &ons( 't( A%bert, +as vario%sly affecte / b%t, a*i st the sorro+, +hich she s%ffere for her %nti*ely eath, she +as release fro* an an-io%s an painf%l con.ect%re, occasione by the rash assertion of 'i,nora 0a%rentini, concernin, her birth an the hono%r of her parents( Her faith in 't( A%bert3s principles +o%l scarcely allo+ her to s%spect that he ha acte ishono%rably/ an she felt s%ch rel%ctance to believe herself the a%,hter of any other, than her, +ho* she ha al+ays consi ere an love as a *other, that she +o%l har ly a *it s%ch a circ%*stance to be possible/ yet the likeness, +hich it ha fre4%ently been affir*e she bore to the late &archioness, the for*er behavio%r of <orothee the ol ho%sekeeper, the assertion of 0a%rentini, an the *ysterio%s attach*ent, +hich 't( A%bert ha iscovere , a+akene o%bts, as to his connection +ith the &archioness, +hich her reason co%l neither van4%ish, or confir*( )ro* these, ho+ever, she +as no+ relieve , an all the circ%*stances of her father3s con %ct +ere f%lly e-plaine ; b%t her heart +as oppresse by the *elancholy catastrophe of her a*iable relative, an by the a+f%l lesson, +hich the history of the n%n e-hibite , the in %l,ence of +hose passions ha been the *eans of lea in, her ,ra %ally to the co**ission of a cri*e, fro* the prophecy of +hich in her early years she +o%l have recoile in horror, an e-clai*e 7that it co%l not be?7a cri*e, +hich +hole years of repentance an of the severest penance ha not been able to obliterate fro* her conscience(

#HAPTER *%III
Then, fresh tears 4tood on her cheek, as doth the honey%de Upon a gather=d lily al!ost ither=d 48A;E4PEARE

After the late iscoveries, E*ily +as istin,%ishe at the chatea% by the Co%nt an his fa*ily, as a relative of the ho%se of Villeroi, an receive , if possible, *ore frien ly attention, than ha yet been she+n her( Co%nt <e Villefort3s s%rprise at the elay of an ans+er to his letter, +hich ha been irecte to Valanco%rt, at Est%viere, +as *in,le +ith satisfaction for the pr% ence, +hich ha save E*ily fro* a share of the an-iety he no+ s%ffere , tho%,h, +hen he sa+ her still roopin, %n er the effect of his for*er error, all his resol%tion +as necessary to restrain hi* fro* relatin, the tr%th, that +o%l affor her a *o*entary relief( The approachin, n%ptials of the 0a y 1lanche no+ ivi e his attention +ith this s%b.ect of his an-iety, for the inhabitants of the chatea% +ere alrea y b%sie in preparations for that event, an the arrival of &ons( 't( )oi- +as aily e-pecte ( In the ,aiety, +hich s%rro%n e her, E*ily vainly trie to participate, her spirits bein, epresse by the late iscoveries, an by the an-iety concernin, the fate of Valanco%rt, that ha been occasione by the escription of his *anner, +hen he ha elivere the rin,( 'he see*e to perceive in it the ,loo*y +il ness of espair/ an , +hen she consi ere to +hat that espair *i,ht have %r,e hi*, her heart s%nk +ith terror an ,rief( The state of s%spense, as to his safety, to +hich she believe herself con e*ne , till she sho%l ret%rn to 0a Vallee, appeare ins%pportable, an , in s%ch *o*ents, she co%l not even str%,,le to ass%*e the co*pos%re, that ha left her *in , b%t +o%l often abr%ptly 4%it the co*pany she +as +ith, an en eavo%r to sooth her spirits in the eep solit% es of the +oo s, that

overbro+e the shore( Here, the faint roar of foa*in, +aves, that beat belo+, an the s%llen *%r*%r of the +in a*on, the branches aro%n , +ere circ%*stances in %nison +ith the te*per of her *in / an she +o%l sit on a cliff, or on the broken steps of her favo%rite +atch6to+er, observin, the chan,in, colo%rs of the evenin, clo% s, an the ,loo* of t+ili,ht ra+ over the sea, till the +hite tops of billo+s, ri in, to+ar s the shore, co%l scarcely be iscerne a*i st the arkene +aters( The lines, en,rave by Valanco%rt on this to+er, she fre4%ently repeate +ith *elancholy enth%sias*, an then +o%l en eavo%r to check the recollections an the ,rief they occasione , an to t%rn her tho%,hts to in ifferent s%b.ects( One evenin,, havin, +an ere +ith her l%te to this her favo%rite spot, she entere the r%ine to+er, an ascen e a +in in, staircase, that le to a s*all cha*ber, +hich +as less ecaye than the rest of the b%il in,, an +hence she ha often ,a8e , +ith a *iration, on the +i e prospect of sea an lan , that e-ten e belo+( The s%n +as no+ settin, on that tract of the Pyrenees, +hich ivi e 0an,%e oc fro* Ro%sillon, an , placin, herself opposite to a s*all ,rate +in o+, +hich, like the +oo 6tops beneath, an the +aves lo+er still, ,lea*e +ith the re ,lo+ of the +est, she to%che the chor s of her l%te in sole*n sy*phony, an then acco*panie it +ith her voice, in one of the si*ple an affectin, airs, to +hich, in happier ays, Valanco%rt ha often listene in rapt%re, an +hich she no+ a apte to the follo+in, lines(
T7 ME&A:387&$ 4pirit of lo"e and sorro ?hail> Thy sole!n "oice fro! far 5 hear, Mingling ith e"=ning=s dying gale' 8ail, ith this sadly%pleasing tear> 7> at Thine A ake 4hall this still, this lonely hour, o n s eet hour of closing day, thy lute, hose char!ful po =r call up )ancy to obey'

To paint the ild ro!antic drea!, That !eets the poet=s !using eye, As, on the bank of shado y strea!, 8e breathes to her the fer"id sigh#

7 lonely spirit> let thy song &ead !e through all thy sacred hauntA The !inister=s !oon%light aisles along, <here spectres raise the !idnight chaunt# 5 hear their dirges faintly s ell> Then, sink at once in silence drear, <hile, fro! the pillar=d cloister=s cell, (i!ly their gliding for!s appear> &ead here the pine% oods a"e on high, <hose pathless sod is darkly seen, As the cold !oon, ith tre!bling eye, (arts her long bea!s the lea"es bet een# &ead to the !ountain=s dusky head, <here, far belo , in shade profound, <ide forests, plains and ha!lets spread, And sad the chi!es of "esper sound, 7r guide !e, here the dashing oar 9ust breaks the stillness of the "ale, As slo it tracks the inding shore, To !eet the ocean=s distant sail' To pebbly banks, that :eptune la"es, <ith !easur=d surges, loud and deep, <here the dark cliff bends o=er the a"es, And ild the inds of autu!n s eep# There pause at !idnight=s spectred hour, And list the long%resounding galeA And catch the fleeting !oon%light=s po =r, 7=er foa!ing seas and distant sail#

The soft tran4%illity of the scene belo+, +here the evenin, bree8e scarcely c%rle the +ater, or s+elle the passin, sail, that ca%,ht the last ,lea* of the s%n, an +here, no+ an then, a ippin, oar +as all that ist%rbe the tre*blin, ra iance, conspire +ith the ten er *elo y of her l%te to l%ll her *in into a state of ,entle sa ness, an she s%n, the *o%rnf%l son,s of past ti*es, till the re*e*brances they a+akene +ere too po+erf%l for her heart, her tears fell %pon the l%te, over +hich she roope , an her voice tre*ble , an +as %nable to procee ( Tho%,h the s%n ha no+ s%nk behin the *o%ntains, an even his reflecte li,ht +as fa in, fro* their hi,hest points, E*ily i not leave the +atch6to+er, b%t contin%e to in %l,e her *elancholy reverie, till a footstep, at a little istance, startle her, an , on

lookin, thro%,h the ,rate, she observe a person +alkin, belo+, +ho*, ho+ever, soon perceivin, to be &ons( 1onnac, she ret%rne to the 4%iet tho%,htf%lness his step ha interr%pte ( After so*e ti*e, she a,ain str%ck her l%te, an s%n, her favo%rite air/ b%t a,ain a step ist%rbe her, an , as she pa%se to listen, she hear it ascen in, the stair6case of the to+er( The ,loo* of the ho%r, perhaps, *a e her sensible to so*e e,ree of fear, +hich she *i,ht not other+ise have felt/ for, only a fe+ *in%tes before, she ha seen &ons( 1onnac pass( The steps +ere 4%ick an bo%n in,, an , in the ne-t *o*ent, the oor of the cha*ber opene , an a person entere , +hose feat%res +ere veile in the obsc%rity of t+ili,ht/ b%t his voice co%l not be conceale , for it +as the voice of Valanco%rt? At the so%n , never hear by E*ily, +itho%t e*otion, she starte , in terror, astonish*ent an o%btf%l pleas%re, an ha scarcely behel hi* at her feet, +hen she s%nk into a seat, overco*e by the vario%s e*otions, that conten e at her heart, an al*ost insensible to that voice, +hose earnest an tre*blin, calls see*e as if en eavo%rin, to save her( Valanco%rt, as he h%n, over E*ily, eplore his o+n rash i*patience, in havin, th%s s%rprise her; for +hen he ha arrive at the chatea%, too an-io%s to a+ait the ret%rn of the Co%nt, +ho, he %n erstoo , +as in the ,ro%n s, he +ent hi*self to seek hi*, +hen, as he passe the to+er, he +as str%ck by the so%n of E*ily3s voice, an i**e iately ascen e ( It +as a consi erable ti*e before she revive , b%t, +hen her recollection ret%rne , she rep%lse his attentions, +ith an air of reserve, an en4%ire , +ith as *%ch ispleas%re as it +as possible she co%l feel in these first *o*ents of his appearance, the occasion of his visit( 3Ah E*ily?3 sai Valanco%rt, 3that air, those +or s7 alas? I have, then, little to hope7+hen yo% cease to estee* *e, yo% cease also to love *e?3 3&ost tr%e, sir,3 replie E*ily, en eavo%rin, to co**an her tre*blin, voice/ 3an if yo% ha val%e

*y estee*, yo% +o%l not have ,iven *e this ne+ occasion for %neasiness(3 Valanco%rt3s co%ntenance chan,e s% enly fro* the an-ieties of o%bt to an e-pression of s%rprise an is*ay; he +as silent a *o*ent, an then sai , 3I ha been ta%,ht to hope for a very ifferent reception? Is it, then, tr%e, E*ily, that I have lost yo%r re,ar foreverB a* I to believe, that, tho%,h yo%r estee* for *e *ay ret%rn7yo%r affection never canB Can the Co%nt have *e itate the cr%elty, +hich no+ tort%res *e +ith a secon eathB3 The voice, in +hich he spoke this, alar*e E*ily as *%ch as his +or s s%rprise her, an , +ith tre*blin, i*patience, she be,,e that he +o%l e-plain the*( 3Can any e-planation be necessaryB3 sai Valanco%rt, 3 o yo% not kno+ ho+ cr%elly *y con %ct has been *isrepresente B that the actions of +hich yo% once believe *e ,%ilty =an , O E*ily? ho+ co%l yo% so e,ra e *e in yo%r opinion, even for a *o*ent?> those actions7I hol in as *%ch conte*pt an abhorrence as yo%rselfB Are yo%, in ee , i,norant, that Co%nt e Villefort has etecte the slan ers, that have robbe *e of all I hol ear on earth, an has invite *e hither to .%stify to yo% *y for*er con %ctB It is s%rely i*possible yo% can be %ninfor*e of these circ%*stances, an I a* a,ain tort%rin, *yself +ith a false hope?3 The silence of E*ily confir*e this s%pposition/ for the eep t+ili,ht +o%l not allo+ Valanco%rt to istin,%ish the astonish*ent an o%btin, .oy, that fi-e her feat%res( )or a *o*ent, she contin%e %nable to speak/ then a profo%n si,h see*e to ,ive so*e relief to her spirits, an she sai , 3Valanco%rt? I +as, till this *o*ent, i,norant of all the circ%*stances yo% have *entione / the e*otion I no+ s%ffer *ay ass%re yo% of the tr%th of this, an , that, tho%,h I ha cease to estee*, I ha not ta%,ht *yself entirely to for,et yo%(3

3This *o*ent,3 sai Valanco%rt, in a lo+ voice, an leanin, for s%pport a,ainst the +in o+73this *o*ent brin,s +ith it a conviction that overpo+ers *e?7I a* ear to yo% then7still ear to yo%, *y E*ily?3 3Is it necessary that I sho%l tell yo% soB3 she replie , 3is it necessary, that I sho%l say7these are the first *o*ents of .oy I have kno+n, since yo%r epart%re, an that they repay *e for all those of pain I have s%ffere in the intervalB3 Valanco%rt si,he eeply, an +as %nable to reply/ b%t, as he presse her han to his lips, the tears, that fell over it, spoke a lan,%a,e, +hich co%l not be *istaken, an to +hich +or s +ere ina e4%ate( E*ily, so*e+hat tran4%illi8e , propose ret%rnin, to the chatea%, an then, for the first ti*e, recollecte that the Co%nt ha invite Valanco%rt thither to e-plain his con %ct, an that no e-planation ha yet been ,iven( 1%t, +hile she ackno+le ,e this, her heart +o%l not allo+ her to +ell, for a *o*ent, on the possibility of his %n+orthiness/ his look, his voice, his *anner, all spoke the noble sincerity, +hich ha for*erly istin,%ishe hi*/ an she a,ain per*itte herself to in %l,e the e*otions of a .oy, *ore s%rprisin, an po+erf%l, than she ha ever before e-perience ( 9either E*ily, or Valanco%rt, +ere conscio%s ho+ they reache the chatea%, +hither they *i,ht have been transferre by the spell of a fairy, for any thin, they co%l re*e*ber/ an it +as not, till they ha reache the ,reat hall, that either of the* recollecte there +ere other persons in the +orl besi es the*selves( The Co%nt then ca*e forth +ith s%rprise, an +ith the .oyf%lness of p%re benevolence, to +elco*e Valanco%rt, an to entreat his for,iveness of the in.%stice he ha one hi*/ soon after +hich, &ons( 1onnac .oine this happy ,ro%p, in +hich he an Valanco%rt +ere *%t%ally re.oice to *eet( :hen the first con,rat%lations +ere over, an the ,eneral .oy beca*e so*e+hat *ore tran4%il, the Co%nt +ith re+ +ith Valanco%rt to the library, +here a lon, conversation passe bet+een the*, in +hich the latter

so clearly .%stifie hi*self of the cri*inal parts of the con %ct, i*p%te to hi*, an so can i ly confesse an so feelin,ly la*ente the follies, +hich he ha co**itte , that the Co%nt +as confir*e in his belief of all he ha hope / an , +hile he perceive so *any noble virt%es in Valanco%rt, an that e-perience ha ta%,ht hi* to etest the follies, +hich before he ha only not a *ire , he i not scr%ple to believe, that he +o%l pass thro%,h life +ith the i,nity of a +ise an ,oo *an, or to entr%st to his care the f%t%re happiness of E*ily 't( A%bert, for +ho* he felt the solicit% e of a parent( Of this he soon infor*e her, in a short conversation, +hen Valanco%rt ha left hi*( :hile E*ily listene to a relation of the services, that Valanco%rt ha ren ere &ons( 1onnac, her eyes overflo+e +ith tears of pleas%re, an the f%rther conversation of Co%nt <e Villefort perfectly issipate every o%bt, as to the past an f%t%re con %ct of hi*, to +ho* she no+ restore , +itho%t fear, the estee* an affection, +ith +hich she ha for*erly receive hi*( :hen they ret%rne to the s%pper6roo*, the Co%ntess an 0a y 1lanche *et Valanco%rt +ith sincere con,rat%lations/ an 1lanche, in ee , +as so *%ch re.oice to see E*ily ret%rne to happiness, as to for,et, for a +hile, that &ons( 't( )oi- +as not yet arrive at the chatea%, tho%,h he ha been e-pecte for so*e ho%rs/ b%t her ,enero%s sy*pathy +as, soon after, re+ar e by his appearance( He +as no+ perfectly recovere fro* the +o%n s, receive , %rin, his perilo%s a vent%re a*on, the Pyrenees, the *ention of +hich serve to hei,hten to the parties, +ho ha been involve in it, the sense of their present happiness( 9e+ con,rat%lations passe bet+een the*, an ro%n the s%pper6table appeare a ,ro%p of faces, s*ilin, +ith felicity, b%t +ith a felicity, +hich ha in each a ifferent character( The s*ile of 1lanche +as frank an ,ay, that of E*ily ten er an pensive/ Valanco%rt3s +as rapt%ro%s, ten er an ,ay alternately/ &ons( 't( )oi-3s +as .oyo%s, an that of the Co%nt, as he looke on the s%rro%n in, party, e-presse the te*pere co*placency of benevolence/ +hile the

feat%res of the Co%ntess, Henri, an &ons( 1onnac, iscovere fainter traces of ani*ation( Poor &ons( <% Pont i not, by his presence, thro+ a sha e of re,ret over the co*pany/ for, +hen he ha iscovere , that Valanco%rt +as not %n+orthy of the estee* of E*ily, he eter*ine serio%sly to en eavo%r at the con4%est of his o+n hopeless affection, an ha i**e iately +ith ra+n fro* Chatea%6le61lanc7a con %ct, +hich E*ily no+ %n erstoo , an re+ar e +ith her a *iration an pity( The Co%nt an his ,%ests contin%e to,ether till a late ho%r, yiel in, to the eli,hts of social ,aiety, an to the s+eets of frien ship( :hen Annette hear of the arrival of Valanco%rt, 0% ovico ha so*e iffic%lty to prevent her ,oin, into the s%pper6roo*, to e-press her .oy, for she eclare , that she ha never been so re.oice at any ACCI<E9T as this, since she ha fo%n 0% ovico hi*self(

#HAPTER *I*
:o !y task is s!oothly done, 5 can fly, or 5 can run Huickly to the green earth=s end, <here the bo =d elkin lo doth bend, And, fro! thence, can soar as soon To the corners of the !oon# M5&T7:

The *arria,es of the 0a y 1lanche an E*ily 't( A%bert +ere celebrate , on the sa*e ay, an +ith the ancient baronial *a,nificence, at Chatea%6le61lanc( The feasts +ere hel in the ,reat hall of the castle, +hich, on this occasion, +as h%n, +ith s%perb ne+ tapestry, representin, the e-ploits of Charle*a,ne an his t+elve peers/ here, +ere seen the 'aracens, +ith their horrible visors, a vancin, to battle/ an there, +ere isplaye the +il sole*nities of incantation, an the necro*antic feats, e-hibite by the *a,ician @AR0 before the E*peror( The s%*pt%o%s banners of the

fa*ily of Villeroi, +hich ha lon, slept in %st, +ere once *ore %nf%rle , to +ave over the ,othic points of painte case*ents/ an *%sic echoe , in *any a lin,erin, close, thro%,h every +in in, ,allery an colonna e of that vast e ifice( As Annette looke o+n fro* the corri or %pon the hall, +hose arches an +in o+s +ere ill%*inate +ith brilliant festoons of la*ps, an ,a8e on the splen i resses of the ancers, the costly liveries of the atten ants, the canopies of p%rple velvet an ,ol , an listene to the ,ay strains that floate alon, the va%lte roof, she al*ost fancie herself in an enchante palace, an eclare , that she ha not *et +ith any place, +hich char*e her so *%ch, since she rea the fairy tales/ nay, that the fairies the*selves, at their ni,htly revels in this ol hall, co%l isplay nothin, finer/ +hile ol <orothee, as she s%rveye the scene, si,he , an sai , the castle looke as it +as +ont to o in the ti*e of her yo%th( After ,racin, the festivities of Chatea%6le61lanc, for so*e ays, Valanco%rt an E*ily took leave of their kin frien s, an ret%rne to 0a Vallee, +here the faithf%l Theresa receive the* +ith %nfei,ne .oy, an the pleasant sha es +elco*e the* +ith a tho%san ten er an affectin, re*e*brances/ an , +hile they +an ere to,ether over the scenes, so lon, inhabite by the late &ons( an &a a*e 't( A%bert, an E*ily pointe o%t, +ith pensive affection, their favo%rite ha%nts, her present happiness +as hei,htene , by consi erin,, that it +o%l have been +orthy of their approbation, co%l they have +itnesse it( Valanco%rt le her to the plane6tree on the terrace, +here he ha first vent%re to eclare his love, an +here no+ the re*e*brance of the an-iety he ha then s%ffere , an the retrospect of all the an,ers an *isfort%nes they ha each enco%ntere , since last they sat to,ether beneath its broa branches, e-alte the sense of their present felicity, +hich, on this spot, sacre to the *e*ory of 't( A%bert, they sole*nly vo+e to eserve, as far as possible, by en eavo%rin, to i*itate his benevolence,7by re*e*berin,, that

s%perior attain*ents of every sort brin, +ith the* %ties of s%perior e-ertion,7an by affor in, to their fello+6bein,s, to,ether +ith that portion of or inary co*forts, +hich prosperity al+ays o+es to *isfort%ne, the e-a*ple of lives passe in happy thankf%lness to GO<, an , therefore, in caref%l ten erness to his creat%res( 'oon after their ret%rn to 0a Vallee, the brother of Valanco%rt ca*e to con,rat%late hi* on his *arria,e, an to pay his respects to E*ily, +ith +ho* he +as so *%ch please , as +ell as +ith the prospect of rational happiness, +hich these n%ptials offere to Valanco%rt, that he i**e iately resi,ne to hi* a part of the rich o*ain, the +hole of +hich, as he ha no fa*ily, +o%l of co%rse escen to his brother, on his ecease( The estates, at Tholo%se, +ere ispose of, an E*ily p%rchase of &ons( 5%esnel the ancient o*ain of her late father, +here, havin, ,iven Annette a *arria,e portion, she settle her as the ho%sekeeper, an 0% ovico as the ste+ar / b%t, since both Valanco%rt an herself preferre the pleasant an lon,6love sha es of 0a Vallee to the *a,nificence of Epo%rville, they contin%e to resi e there, passin,, ho+ever, a fe+ *onths in the year at the birth6place of 't( A%bert, in ten er respect to his *e*ory( The le,acy, +hich ha been be4%eathe to E*ily by 'i,nora 0a%rentini, she be,,e Valanco%rt +o%l allo+ her to resi,n to &ons( 1onnac/ an Valanco%rt, +hen she *a e the re4%est, felt all the val%e of the co*pli*ent it conveye ( The castle of A olpho, also, escen e to the +ife of &ons( 1onnac, +ho +as the nearest s%rvivin, relation of the ho%se of that na*e, an th%s affl%ence restore his lon,6oppresse spirits to peace, an his fa*ily to co*fort( O? ho+ .oyf%l it is to tell of happiness, s%ch as that of Valanco%rt an E*ily/ to relate, that, after s%fferin, %n er the oppression of the vicio%s an the is ain of the +eak, they +ere, at len,th, restore to each other7 to the belove lan scapes of their native co%ntry,7to the sec%rest felicity of this life, that of aspirin, to *oral

an labo%rin, for intellect%al i*prove*ent7to the pleas%res of enli,htene society, an to the e-ercise of the benevolence, +hich ha al+ays ani*ate their hearts/ +hile the bo+ers of 0a Vallee beca*e, once *ore, the retreat of ,oo ness, +is o* an o*estic blesse ness? O? %sef%l *ay it be to have she+n, that, tho%,h the vicio%s can so*eti*es po%r affliction %pon the ,oo , their po+er is transient an their p%nish*ent certain/ an that innocence, tho%,h oppresse by in.%stice, shall, s%pporte by patience, finally tri%*ph over *isfort%ne? An , if the +eak han , that has recor e this tale, has, by its scenes, be,%ile the *o%rner of one ho%r of sorro+, or, by its *oral, ta%,ht hi* to s%stain it7the effort, ho+ever h%*ble, has not been vain, nor is the +riter %nre+ar e (

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