The Mysteries of Udolpho

Mysterious Post-Death Occurrences at the Estate

After the Marchioness was buried at the nearby convent church, strange, unsettling unexplained noises began echoing through the château and its surrounding grounds. Frightened by these eerie occurrences, Dorothée and her husband eventually abandoned the main château to move to a neighboring cottage, and rumors of the estate’s strange events spread through the local neighborhood via whispered gossip, though no one dared to raise a public fuss about them out of fear of offending the Marquis.

Emily’s Curiosity About the Chevalier and Sealed Portrait

Emily is deeply intrigued by Dorothée’s vague hints that a mysterious chevalier was closely connected to the late Marchioness, and begs Dorothée to share the chevalier’s name, but Dorothée firmly refuses to disclose the detail to avoid offending the Count. Dorothée also mentions a pre-marriage portrait of the Marchioness hanging in a sealed suite of rooms that bears a far stronger resemblance to Emily than the Marchioness’s existing miniature, which sparks Emily’s strong desire to view the portrait in person.

Plan to Visit the Sealed Chambers the Next Night

Emily declines to visit the sealed chambers late at night when they might be observed by others, so she asks Dorothée to return the following night with the keys to the rooms to show her the portrait. Emily is also eager to see the chamber where the Marchioness died, which Dorothée says has been left exactly as it was when the Marchioness’s corpse was removed for burial, with the original bed and furniture still in place.

Emily’s Melancholy Reflections and Superstitious Unease

After Dorothée leaves, Emily remains at her window musing on the Marchioness’s tragic fate, listening for the return of the eerie music Dorothée mentioned, but hears only the rustling of the woods in the breeze and the distant convent bell striking one. When she retires to her bed, she is suddenly disturbed by strange, unidentifiable sounds coming from the room adjoining hers or from below, which shake her already fragile spirits and leave her momentarily susceptible to superstitious fear. The sounds do not return, and she eventually falls asleep to forget the distressing story she has just heard.

CHAPTER IV

Now it is the time of night, That, the graves all gaping wide, Every one lets forth his sprite, In the church-way path to glide. SHAKESPEARE

Opening Shakespeare Verse on Night and Grave Sprites

Now it is the time of night, That, the graves all gaping wide, Every one lets forth his sprite, In the church-way path to glide. SHAKESPEARE

Dorothée Brings Keys to the Late Marchioness’s Suite

On the next night, about the same hour as before, Dorothée came to Emily’s chamber, with the keys of that suite of rooms, which had been particularly appropriated to the late Marchioness. These extended along the north side of the château, forming part of the old building; and, as Emily’s room was in the south, they had to pass over a great extent of the castle, and by the chambers of several of the family, whose observations Dorothée was anxious to avoid, since it might excite enquiry, and raise reports, such as would displease the Count.

Delaying Departure Until the Château Is Quiet

She, therefore, requested, that Emily would wait half an hour, before they ventured forth, that they might be certain all the servants were gone to bed. It was nearly one, before the château was perfectly still, or Dorothée thought it prudent to leave the chamber. In this interval, her spirits seemed to be greatly affected by the remembrance of past events, and by the prospect of entering again upon places, where these had occurred, and in which she had not been for so many years. Emily too was affected, but her feelings had more of solemnity, and less of fear. From the silence, into which reflection and expectation had thrown them, they, at length, roused themselves, and left the chamber. Dorothée, at first, carried the lamp, but her hand trembled so much with infirmity and alarm, that Emily took it from her, and offered her arm, to support her feeble steps.