The Mysteries of Udolpho

The Superior and Abbess

The Countess, fatigued and discontent, receives the abbess’s politeness with careless haughtiness as they move to the parlour, a room with painted larch wood casements and wainscot that cast a permanent melancholy shade, now deepened by the gloom of the approaching evening.

Blanche at the Window

Blanche steps to an unpainted lower window pane, where she watches the storm over the Mediterranean: dark waves crash against the shore in white foam, sulphureous red clouds hang over the western horizon, and a distant vessel labours in the rough seas. She watches the vessel anxiously through lightning flashes, sighing for the safety of its crew.

Summons to Chapel

As the sun sets and storm clouds cover its light, Blanche continues to watch the struggling vessel until a close lightning flash prompts her to leave the window. She joins the abbess and Countess, just as a tremendous clap of thunder sounds and the monastery bell rings to summon all inhabitants to prayer. Passing the window again, Blanche sees the vessel in a flash of lightning, its mast bowing to the waves, before following the group to the chapel.

The Distressed Vessel

After vespers concludes, the Count’s servants return from the château with carriages, and the storm having abated slightly, the party prepares to leave. At the château, the group hears repeated gunfire, which the Count recognizes as distress signals from a vessel caught in the storm. Lightning flashes reveal the vessel tossing in the waves, then later show it with a single sail unfurled, driving towards the shore, causing Blanche great fear and pity for the crew.

Guns in the Night

Gunfire sounds again, followed by a burst of thunder and a lightning flash that shows the vessel much closer to the coast. The Count orders torches to be placed on the cliffs as a beacon to warn the crew of the rocks and guide them to safety. Henri directs where the lights are positioned, and Blanche watches from the window as the torches flame against the dark night, lighting the waves; when the vessel fires guns again, the torches are waved in response, and the firing is redoubled as the vessel appears to draw nearer to shore.

Torches on the Cliffs

The Count’s servants rush along the clifftops, holding torches fastened to long poles over the crags, while others descend the steep, dangerous path to the water’s edge, shouting halloos to the mariners. The mariners’ faint whistles and voices can be heard intermittently through the storm, and sudden shouts from the clifftop servants heighten Blanche’s anxiety for the crew’s fate.

The Anchored Bark

Henri returns breathless to report that the vessel has anchored in the bay below the château, but is so badly damaged it risks breaking apart before the crew can disembark. The Count immediately orders his own boats to assist the survivors, and arranges for any shipwrecked people who cannot be accommodated in the nearby hamlet to be housed at the château.

The Shipwrecked Party

The survivors brought to the château are identified as Emily St. Aubert, Monsieur Du Pont, Ludovico, and Annette, who were crossing the Gulf of Lyons from Leghorn via Marseilles when the storm struck. The Count receives them with his usual kindness, and refuses to let Emily continue to the monastery of St. Claire that night, as she is too exhausted and traumatized by the shipwreck to travel further.

Du Pont’s Recognition

The Count recognizes Du Pont as an old acquaintance, and the two share warm congratulations and reunion. Emily is introduced to the Count’s family, whose hospitable kindness eases the embarrassment of her situation, and the entire group is soon seated at the supper table.

At the Supper Table

At supper, Blanche’s genuine kindness and open joy at the strangers’ escape lifts Emily’s low spirits, while Du Pont, relieved of his fear for Emily’s safety and his own, is deeply affected by the contrast between the terror of the storm-tossed sea and the warm, welcoming comfort of the château, with its plenty and friendly company.