The Mysteries of Udolpho

Montoni’s Secret Meetings with Orsino and Altered Demeanor

Montoni ceases to mention his planned trip to Udolpho, and is rarely home except when Count Morano or Signor Orsino are visiting; a coolness has developed between him and Cavigni, though Cavigni still lives in his household. Montoni meets with Orsino in private for hours on end, and the secretive nature of these meetings, combined with Montoni frequently skipping his beloved gambling outings to attend them, unsettle Emily, who has learned troubling details of Orsino’s character. After these meetings, Montoni is often distracted and grim, or suddenly intense and fiery, leading Emily to feel a mix of curiosity and fear at the unknown business occupying her uncle’s mind, though she dares not share her concerns with her aunt, who sees only Montoni’s usual sternness.

M. Quesnel’s Invitation to Villa Miarenti

A second letter from M. Quesnel arrives, announcing that he and his wife have taken up residence at their new Villa Miarenti, sharing further details of the good fortune that brought him to Italy, and earnestly requesting that Montoni, his wife, and Emily visit him at the estate.

Valancourt’s Letter Recounting His La Vallée Visits

Around the same time, Emily receives a long-awaited letter from Valancourt, who delayed sending it for weeks as a comfort during their separation. He writes of lingering in Toulouse after her departure to wander the sites they shared, then moving to his brother’s château near La Vallée, where he visited frequently to explore the grounds, meet with her former servant Theresa, and sit under her favourite plane tree, recalling their past conversations and tender moments. He describes the letter as a record of his thoughts and feelings over the past month, written to feel close to her during their time apart.

Valancourt Reports La Vallée Is Let and Theresa Dismissed

Towards the end of his letter, Valancourt shares upsetting news: La Vallée has been let to a stranger without Emily’s knowledge, and Theresa has been dismissed from her decades of service at the château, given only a week’s notice by M. Quesnel, who did not inform Emily of the decision. Valancourt adds that he has received a summons to rejoin his regiment, and though he tried to learn more about the new tenant, he could only confirm he is a gentleman; he laments being shut out from the beloved, familiar scenes of La Vallée.

Emily’s Distress Over La Vallée and Theresa’s Fate

The letter moves Emily to tears of joy at learning Valancourt still loves her, and distress at the news of La Vallée. She is shocked that M. Quesnel let the château without consulting her, violating the solemn promise she made to her father on his deathbed never to dispose of the property, and furious that he dismissed Theresa, her father’s loyal servant of many years, without warning. She resolves to advocate for Theresa and confront Quesnel over his decisions, and wonders if he mentioned the matter in his letter to Montoni, who soon sends for her to attend him in his study.

Montoni Requests Emily Attend Him in His Study

When Emily arrives at Montoni’s study, he tells her he has just written a reply to M. Quesnel’s recent letter, and wishes to speak with her about a subject that was raised in it.

CHAPITRE III.

This chapter centers on the fallout of Montoni’s coerced marriage arrangement for Emily with Count Morano. It opens with a tense exchange between Emily and Montoni, where he dismisses her moral objections as childish sentiment and insists she submit to the practical match, forcing her to concede it is too late to reject the plan. He demands she add a formal acknowledgment of her acquiescence to her unfinished letter to her uncle Quesnel, and announces he will take her and Madame Montoni to Miarenti in a few days to finalize the affair. The chapter then follows Emily as she navigates unwanted advances from Morano, a public dispute over a critical misunderstanding of the agreement, Montoni’s violent insistence she comply, and her private, anguished reflections on her isolated, powerless situation.