The Mysteries of Udolpho

Pirates’ Haunting Hoax

To prevent detection of their use of the vaults, the pirates had deliberately fostered the belief that the château was haunted. They had discovered the private way to the long-shut-up north apartments and used it to produce strange nocturnal noises, so terrifying the housekeeper and her husband that they abandoned the castle, allowing the haunting rumors to spread unchecked through the countryside.

Rescue by Count De Villefort

While confined at the fort, Ludovico discovered that the banditti were connected with Spanish smugglers and mountain banditti engaged in various traffics. When the Count arrived unexpectedly, Ludovico kept out of sight to avoid betraying the château’s secret, but upon overhearing a diabolical plan to murder and plunder the entire party, he contrived to warn the Count’s attendants. He revealed himself at the critical moment, calling out to the Count to defend himself, and after a hard battle with the Chevalier St. Foix, they conquered the ruffians.

Explanation of the Housekeeper’s Fright

Ludovico explains the earlier fright of the housekeeper: one of the pirates, caught in the bedroom by approaching footsteps, had hidden in the bed and, when the housekeeper came near, raised his face above the counterpane to terrify her into flight, escaping undiscovered. Emily cannot help smiling at the deception that had so unsettled her, recognizing how readily a mind given over to superstition can be impressed by trifles.

Unresolved Mystery of Midnight Music

Emily remains perplexed, however, by the mysterious midnight music heard near Château-le-Blanc, which Ludovico cannot explain. He only knows that the pirates laughed about it and said they believed the devil was in league with them there—a remark Annette greets with triumphant vindication of her own beliefs, while Emily smilingly concedes that the devil’s spirits were indeed busy in that part of the château.

Pirates’ Schemes After the Count’s Arrival

Ludovico believes the pirates intended to continue their schemes at the château only long enough to remove the stores deposited in the vaults. Working only at night and carrying on other schemes as well, they had emptied the vaults by no more than half when they took him away. They gloried in the opportunity Ludovico’s disappearance gave them to confirm the superstitious reports, carefully leaving the north chambers as they had found them, and laughing in their jocose moods at the consternation they supposed the castle’s inhabitants to have suffered.

Near Betrayal of the Pirate Plot

Once, when the pirates were about to repeat their alarming noises in the north chambers, they heard voices in the bedroom and nearly betrayed themselves. The Count, who was present with Mons. Henri, has since told Ludovico that he and his son heard extraordinary sounds of lamentation—the pirates’ usual stratagem for spreading terror. Alarmed at the implications for his family’s peace, the Count enjoined silence upon his son and made no further mention of the incident.

CHAPTER XIV

Emily reflects on the change that had come over the Count after his vigil in the north room and, after making further enquiries into the strange affair, dismisses Ludovico to attend to the accommodation of her friends. In the evening, the lame Theresa arrives to deliver a ring entrusted to her by Valancourt, and though the sight of it moves Emily deeply and recalls happier days, she positively refuses to accept it, forbears to explain the reasons that have determined her conduct, and warns Theresa against repeating any future message from him; to relieve her troubled mind, Emily then busies herself with preparations for a journey into Languedoc, resolves to settle Annette and Ludovico on part of her estate if their affection proves unchanged, and turns her thoughts to disposing of her Thoulouse property in order to repurchase her father’s ancestral domain from M. Quesnel.

Emily Discovers the Count’s Spirits’ Cause

Emily recollects the change that had appeared in the Count’s spirits after the night he watched in the north room and now perceives the cause of it. After making further enquiries into the strange affair, she dismisses Ludovico and goes to give orders for the accommodation of her friends on the following day.