The Mysteries of Udolpho

Emily Awaits the Proposed Night Meeting

Emily Awaits the Proposed Night Meeting Emily passes the interval in a tumult of hope, joy, anxiety, and impatience, watching the sun set with more pleasure than she has felt since her arrival at the castle. At midnight, she opens her door and hears only distant shouts of riot from the banquet below. She soon hears a lute and a familiar voice, confirming the visitor is approaching, and she advances to meet him in the corridor.

Du Pont Reveals Himself as the Visitor

Du Pont Reveals Himself as the Visitor Emily opens the apartment door to greet the visitor but collapses into the arms of a stranger rather than Valancourt. On reviving, she is overcome with disappointment when the visitor proves not to be her beloved. The stranger, who has concealed his identity from Montoni, addresses her in broken Italian and then in French, requesting a private explanation of his name and the circumstances that led to the error.

Du Pont Confesses His Love for Emily

Du Pont Confesses His Love for Emily The stranger introduces himself as Du Pont, of Gascony, and confesses that he has long admired and loved Emily, having lived within miles of La Vallée and visited her favorite fishing-house. He confesses to having stolen her portrait during that period and now seeks forgiveness and the return of the picture, recognizing that the theft has only nourished his hopeless passion. Emily declines to return the miniature, citing the revelations about Valancourt, and thanks Du Pont for his offered friendship before urging him to leave for his own safety.

Verezzi Attacks Du Pont in Corridor

Verezzi Attacks Du Pont in Corridor A man bursts from the staircase into Emily’s chamber and, crying “I will teach you to conquer it,” draws a stiletto and aims it at the unarmed Du Pont. Du Pont evades the blow, seizes his assailant, and the two men struggle fiercely. Emily flees further down the corridor calling for Ludovico, who has vanished from the staircase, and sends Annette to find him while she returns to watch the combat. Du Pont finally overpowers Verezzi, hurling him to the floor stunned by the force of the fall.

Montoni’s Party Approaches

Montoni’s Party Approaches With Verezzi stunned on the floor, Du Pont refuses to leave Emily unprotected, but she, now more frightened for him than for herself, urgently insists he escape before Montoni or his party arrive. As they argue, footsteps are heard ascending the private staircase, signaling the imminent arrival of Montoni’s carousing companions and the approach of fresh danger.

CHAPITRE IX.

Chapter IX depicts the dramatic escape of Emily, Monsieur Du Pont, Annette, and Ludovico from Udolpho Castle under cover of a disturbance caused by returning mountain men. Ludovico cleverly distracts and deceives the castle sentinel, securing horses and passage through the gates as the fugitives flee into the Apennine wilderness. After acquiring provisions, a stolen purse discovered beneath a saddle resolves their financial distress, and the party resolves to travel to Leghorn for passage to France. Their journey continues through a picturesque pastoral valley toward the Mediterranean, where Emily reflects poignantly on her orphan status and her longing to be in the same country as Valancourt.

Escape from Udolpho Castle

Warned by Ludovico that Montoni’s men have arrived and the gates will soon be shut, Emily, Du Pont, and Annette follow him through vaulted passages and down staircases. Ludovico leads them toward the outer court, taking advantage of the confusion caused by the newly arrived party to attempt their escape.

Evading the Castle Sentinel

In the outer court, Ludovico approaches the sentinel and engages him in conversation, persuading him to leave his post by tempting him with wine from the returning men. He borrows the sentinel’s blunderbuss (trombone) and, through repeated stratagems, keeps the soldier returning to fetch drink, thus clearing the path to the gates. With the court momentarily empty, the fugitives slip through the gates, seizing two stray horses along the way.