Morano’s Discovery at Venice
On the morning of Emily’s journey, Count Morano arrives at Montoni’s Venetian mansion at the appointed hour to claim his bride. He is astonished to find the portico empty and the great door opened only by an old woman, who informs him that Montoni and his family departed early that morning for the Terra-firma. Exploring the silent, deserted apartments convinces him the story is true; in a rage he seizes and threatens the old woman, who, when recovered from her fright, tells him all she knows: Montoni has gone to his castle on the Apennine.
Montoni’s True Motives
Once his rage subsides, Morano’s conscience suggests that Montoni may have divined his intentions. In fact, Montoni had long suspected Morano’s circumstances were not the affluent ones he had been made to believe. Montoni had been moved by purely selfish motives—avarice (he had stipulated that Emily’s Gascony estate be handed over to him on her marriage) and pride in an alliance with a Venetian nobleman. The evening before the intended nuptials, he obtained certain evidence of the Count’s distressed affairs and inferred that Morano meant to defraud him of the estate. Morano’s failure to keep the appointment to sign the securing instrument confirmed this view. Montoni immediately resolved to remove Emily to Udolpho beyond Morano’s reach, calculating that if the Count truly meant honorably he would follow and sign the writings; should he do so, Montoni would not scruple to sacrifice her to a ruined man for the sake of the profit, and he concealed his motive from Emily lest revived hope make her less tractable.
The Pursuit Across the Apennines
With these considerations, Montoni had left Venice; and with motives of rage and wounded pride, Morano soon after set out in pursuit, crossing the rugged Apennines toward the castle with a friend and a number of attendants, determined either to obtain Emily or to exact full revenge on Montoni.
Morano’s Confrontation with Montoni
When Morano’s arrival is announced, Montoni at first admits him, supposing the Count has come to fulfil his engagement; but the enraged countenance of Morano instantly undeceives him. After a partial exchange of explanations, Morano persists in demanding Emily and reproaching Montoni without ever naming the original stipulation. Wearied of the dispute, Montoni defers the matter to the morrow, and the Count retires with some hope suggested by Montoni’s apparent indecision.
The Abduction Plot
In the silence of his own apartment, however, Morano’s hope vanishes as he recalls Montoni’s character and past duplicity. He confides to his valet his design of carrying Emily off, and sends the man back to Montoni’s servants to find a willing accomplice. The valet chooses shrewdly, picking a servant whom Montoni had once treated harshly and who is now eager for revenge. This man conducts Cesario through a private passage to the staircase leading to Emily’s chamber, shows him a short way out of the building, and procures him keys to secure his retreat.
Carlo’s Discovery and Emily’s Rescue
Meanwhile, old Carlo overhears two of Morano’s servants, who have been waiting with the carriage beyond the castle walls, expressing surprise at their master’s sudden and secret departure. From their surmises Carlo draws a just conclusion, but before disclosing his fears to Montoni he seeks further confirmation. He and a fellow-servant station themselves at the door of Emily’s apartment, almost betrayed by the growling of the dog, and listen until they are convinced that Morano is in the room and understand his scheme. Carlo immediately alarms Montoni, thereby rescuing Emily from the Count’s designs.
Mysterious Strangers at the Castle
On the following morning Montoni appears as usual, his wounded arm in a sling, and goes about the ramparts overseeing repairs before receiving several newly arrived strangers in a private apartment for nearly an hour. He then orders Carlo to lodge them in the former upper-servants’ quarters and to provide refreshment. Meanwhile Emily, relieved to be rid of Morano’s addresses, sits at a window to draw, and observes the strangers on the rampart below. Their singular dress and fierce air fix her attention, and she sketches them into her landscape as banditti; the spirit of the group, she finds, has the truth of nature.
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