Several days passed while Emily waited anxiously for news. Ludovico could learn only that there was indeed a prisoner held in the room Emily had described. The soldiers told him that the prisoner was a Frenchman who had been captured during one of their battles with a group of his countrymen.
During this uncertain time, Emily managed to avoid the unwanted attention of Bertolini and Verezzi by remaining mostly inside her room. Only occasionally, in the evening, did she dare walk along the nearby corridor.
Montoni seemed to keep his latest promise, even though he had broken his earlier one. Emily believed that only his protection had allowed her to remain safe. Because of this, she no longer felt an urgent need to escape from the castle until she could discover the truth about Valancourt.
On the fourth day, Ludovico came to her with hopeful news.
“Signora,” he said, “I think I may soon be able to enter the prisoner’s room. Tomorrow night, the guard will be a soldier I have known for some time.”
His plan succeeded. Pretending to carry water to the prisoner, Ludovico entered the room. However, because he had wisely hidden his true purpose from the guard, he could speak with the prisoner only briefly.
Emily waited nervously in her room. Ludovico had promised to return in the evening with Annette, and after several hours of painful waiting, he finally appeared.
The moment Emily spoke the name “Valancourt,” her voice failed her. She could only stand trembling, waiting for his answer.
“The Chevalier would not tell me his name, Signora,” Ludovico replied. “But when I mentioned yours, he seemed overwhelmed with happiness. Yet he was not as surprised as I expected.”
“Does he remember me?” Emily cried.
“O! It must be Monsieur Valancourt!” Annette exclaimed impatiently.
Ludovico understood her meaning and continued.
“Yes, Signora. The Chevalier does remember you. I believe he has great affection for you, and I even dared to tell him that you have the same feelings for him.”
Emily’s eyes filled with emotion.
“He asked how you learned that he was in the castle and whether you had sent me to speak with him. I could not answer the first question, but I answered the second. When he heard that you had sent me, he became filled with joy again. I feared his happiness would reveal everything to the guard.”
“But how does he look?” Emily interrupted. “Is he suffering from sadness or illness because of his imprisonment?”
“As for sadness, Signora, I saw none,” Ludovico replied. “He seemed happier than anyone I have ever seen. His face showed nothing but joy. I believe he is well, though I did not ask.”
“Did he send me any message?” Emily asked.
“Yes, Signora. And something more.”
Ludovico searched his pockets anxiously.
“Surely I have not lost it,” he murmured.
“The Chevalier told me he would have written to you if he had possessed paper and ink. He was preparing a long message when the guard entered. But before that happened, he gave me this.”
Ludovico took a small portrait from his coat and handed it to Emily.
She received it with trembling hands.
It was a miniature painting of herself.
It was the very portrait her mother had lost so strangely at the fishing house in La Vallée.
Tears of happiness and tenderness filled Emily’s eyes as Ludovico continued.
“He said, ‘Tell your lady that this picture has been my companion and my only comfort through all my suffering. Tell her I have kept it next to my heart. I send it back to her as proof of an affection that will never die. I would not surrender it for all the riches in the world except to her. And now I give it to her only because I hope to receive it again from her own hands.’”
Ludovico paused.
“He was about to say more, but the guard entered and stopped him. Before that, he asked me to find a way for him to meet you. When I told him I doubted I could persuade the guards, he said that perhaps it was not as impossible as I believed. He asked me to bring back your answer.”
“How can I ever reward you for your kindness, Ludovico?” Emily said. “But at present I have nothing to give you. When can you see him again?”
“That depends on the guards,” Ludovico replied. “There are only one or two among them whom I would trust enough to ask.”
“I do not need to tell you how important this is to me,” Emily said. “When you see him, tell him I have received the picture, and that I understand the feelings he wished to express. Tell him I have suffered greatly, and that I still suffer.”
She stopped.
“But shall I tell him you will meet him?” Ludovico asked.
“Certainly,” Emily replied.
“But when and where?”
“That must depend on circumstances,” Emily answered. “The time and place must be chosen according to his opportunities.”
“There is only one safe place,” Annette interrupted. “This corridor. And the hour must be when all the gentlemen are asleep—if they ever sleep at all!”
Emily gently stopped her.
“You may tell him these circumstances, Ludovico. Let him decide what is safest. Tell him my feelings have not changed. But most importantly, see him again as soon as possible. I shall wait for your return with great anxiety.”
That night Emily went to bed, but she could not sleep. Her happiness kept her awake just as grief had done before.
Montoni and his castle disappeared from her thoughts like a terrible dream. Once again, she imagined herself surrounded by beauty and happiness.
A week passed before Ludovico could visit the prisoner again. The guards during that time were men he did not trust, and he feared drawing attention by asking to see the prisoner.
During those days, he told Emily frightening stories about what was happening inside the castle. There were fights, arguments, and drunken celebrations even more disturbing than the conflicts themselves.
From what Ludovico revealed, Emily began to fear that Montoni never intended to release her. She also feared that he had returned to the terrible plans she had once suspected.
Her name was often mentioned during conversations between Bertolini and Verezzi, and the two men frequently argued whenever it was discussed.
Montoni had lost large sums of money to Verezzi, creating the horrifying possibility that he might try to use Emily as payment for his debt. But Emily did not know that Montoni had also once encouraged Bertolini’s hopes of gaining her favor after Bertolini had done him an important service.
She could not understand the reason for their quarrels.
Yet the cause mattered little to her. She felt danger approaching from every direction. Her requests to Ludovico to arrange both an escape and another meeting with the prisoner became more urgent than ever.
At last, Ludovico returned with better news.
“I have seen the Chevalier again,” he said. “He has advised me to trust one of the prison guards, Sebastian. The man has already shown kindness and has promised to allow the Chevalier to enter the castle for half an hour tomorrow night, while Montoni and his companions are occupied with their drinking.”
Ludovico smiled.
“Sebastian knows he risks little by helping him escape. Even if the Chevalier gets beyond the prison doors, leaving the castle would still seem almost impossible.”
Then his expression became serious.
“But the Chevalier asked me to come to you immediately. He begs that you allow him to visit you tonight, even if only for a moment. He says he cannot remain under the same roof with you without seeing you.”
Emily could barely contain herself.
The thought of seeing Valancourt again overwhelmed her so deeply that she could not answer at once.
At last, she considered every possible place for their meeting. The corridor near her room seemed the safest, though she feared encountering Montoni’s guests returning to their rooms.
Still, compared with the dangers surrounding her, this risk seemed small.
The arrangement was made.
Valancourt would meet her in the corridor at whatever hour Ludovico believed safest.
Emily spent the entire evening between hope and fear.
Never since arriving at Udolpho had she watched the sunset with such happiness. She listened to the great clock marking each passing hour and rejoiced every time another moment brought her closer to seeing Valancourt.
“O Valancourt!” she whispered. “After everything I have suffered, after our long separation, when I believed I would never see you again, we shall finally meet!”
At midnight, Emily opened her door and listened.
From far away came only the sounds of laughter and disorder.
“They are occupied for the night,” she thought. “Valancourt will soon come.”
She walked restlessly through the room, often approaching the window to listen for the lute.
At last, a familiar melody floated through the darkness.
Emily’s heart trembled.
The music stopped.
Soon afterward, she heard footsteps in the corridor.
They were the quick, hopeful footsteps she had imagined so many times.
Unable to control herself, she opened the door and rushed forward.
A man entered.
She fell into his arms.
His voice and face immediately convinced her that he was Valancourt.
Overcome with emotion, she fainted.
When she recovered, she found herself supported by the stranger. His face showed deep tenderness and concern.
Emily could not speak.
She burst into tears and pulled away from him.
The stranger looked confused and disappointed. He turned toward Ludovico, seeking an explanation.
Annette quickly provided one.
“O sir!” she cried through her tears. “You are not the Chevalier we expected! We thought you were Monsieur Valancourt. But you are not him!”
The stranger looked deeply troubled.
He tried to speak, but his words failed.
Then, striking his forehead in despair, he walked away.
Suddenly Annette looked up.
“But perhaps the other Chevalier is still below,” she said. “Perhaps Valancourt is still there.”
Emily raised her head.
“No,” Ludovico replied. “Monsieur Valancourt was never below. If this gentleman is not Valancourt, then he was never here.”
Turning to the stranger, Ludovico said:
“If you had trusted me with your name, this mistake would never have happened.”
“You are right,” the stranger replied in broken Italian. “But it was extremely important that my name remain hidden from Montoni.”
Then, speaking French, he addressed Emily.
“Madam, will you allow me to apologize for the pain I have caused you? I would also like to explain my name and the circumstances that led to this misunderstanding. I am French. I am your countryman. We meet here in a foreign land.”
Emily hesitated.
Finally, she asked Ludovico to wait on the staircase and kept Annette beside her.
The stranger moved farther down the corridor.
“My name is Du Pont,” he said. “I am from Gascony, your own province. I have known of you for a long time, though you have not known me. I have admired you—and why should I hide it?—I have loved you for many years.”
He paused.
“My family may not be unknown to you. We lived only a few miles from La Vallée. I sometimes had the happiness of seeing you during visits in the neighborhood.”
“I will not repeat how deeply you affected me, or how often I visited your favorite fishing house. I will only say that I once possessed a treasure that meant everything to me.”
Emily understood immediately.
The portrait.
“I gave that treasure to your messenger recently, hoping for a result very different from what has happened. I will not excuse my actions. I only ask your forgiveness and request the return of the picture I foolishly stole.”
Emily calmly interrupted him.
“Sir, after what has happened tonight concerning Monsieur Valancourt, I believe you must understand that I cannot return the picture. It would not be generosity. It would be unfair to myself.”
She paused.
“I respect your good opinion of me, but this misunderstanding has made further explanation unnecessary.”
“It does, madam,” Du Pont said sadly.
After a moment, he continued.
“Though I cannot have your love, perhaps you will allow me to prove my friendship. Accept my help. I am also a prisoner, but I would risk much more to rescue you from this place of corruption.”
“You already deserve my gratitude,” Emily replied. “Your desire to help me is enough. But you must leave soon. It comforts me to know that I have a countryman willing to protect me.”
Du Pont respectfully took her hand and kissed it.
“Allow me one final sigh for your happiness,” he said, “and allow me to admire an affection I cannot overcome.”
At that moment, a noise came from Emily’s room.
The door opened.
A man rushed out.
It was Verezzi.
“I will teach you how to overcome it!” he shouted.
He drew a dagger and attacked Du Pont.
Du Pont had no weapon, but he stepped aside and seized Verezzi’s arm. After a fierce struggle, he forced the dagger away.
Emily and Annette fled down the corridor, calling for Ludovico.
But he was no longer at the staircase.
Then Emily heard noise from the main hall and realized danger was increasing.
She sent Annette to search for Ludovico and returned to where Du Pont and Verezzi were still fighting.
She begged them to stop.
At last, Du Pont threw Verezzi to the ground, where he lay unconscious.
Emily urged Du Pont to escape before Montoni arrived.
But he refused.
“I cannot leave you unprotected,” he said.
Then they heard footsteps approaching.
“You are lost!” Emily cried. “These are Montoni’s men!”
Du Pont stood firm.
A moment later, Ludovico appeared.
“Follow me!” he whispered urgently. “If you value your lives, follow me now!”
Emily asked what had happened.
“I cannot explain,” Ludovico replied. “There is no time. Run!”
They followed him through hidden passages beneath the castle.
Soon they found Annette waiting.
The gates had been opened for a group of travelers arriving from the mountains, but Ludovico feared they would soon close.
As they moved forward, Emily heard confusion and shouting from the inner courtyard.
“Our only hope is this disorder,” Ludovico whispered. “While everyone is distracted, we may pass through unnoticed.”
At the small door leading to the outer courtyard, Ludovico stopped.
“Wait here. I will see whether the gates are open.”
He handed the lamp to Du Pont.
“If you hear me speaking, extinguish the light and remain silent.”
Ludovico stepped outside.
They listened.
Soon they heard him speaking with a guard.
The sound of Emily’s dog barking made Du Pont nervous.
“This dog will betray us,” he whispered.
“I fear he already has,” Emily replied.
But Du Pont caught the animal and held it quietly.
Ludovico cleverly distracted the guard, pretending to help him obtain wine.
The soldier finally left his post.
Ludovico hurried back.
“The courtyard is clear,” he whispered.
They moved quickly.
Before leaving, Ludovico seized two horses that had wandered away from their riders.
They passed through the gates without being stopped.
They were free.
Emily, Du Pont, and Annette traveled on foot while Ludovico rode one horse and led another.
They entered the dark forest roads beneath the rising moon.
Emily could hardly believe what had happened.
Freedom seemed almost impossible.
Behind them, they heard distant cries and saw lights moving near the castle.
Their escape had been discovered.
Du Pont urged his horse forward.
Soon the sounds faded behind them.
They decided to travel toward Tuscany and eventually reach the Mediterranean, where they could find a ship to France.
For the first time in many months, Emily felt hope.
She was returning toward her homeland.
She was moving closer to Valancourt.
Yet the night had brought too many emotions for happiness to come easily.
Du Pont silently watched her with sadness and affection.
Annette dreamed of returning to France and of marrying Ludovico.
Ludovico congratulated himself on saving Emily and Annette, escaping Udolpho, and successfully deceiving the guard.
After more than an hour of quiet travel, they saw lights on a distant mountain.
Ludovico believed they came from a nearby town.
But Annette suddenly remembered a serious problem.
“What shall we do for money?” she asked. “Neither my lady nor I have a single coin. Montoni made sure of that.”
The travelers soon discovered that their situation was worse than expected.
Du Pont had lost almost all his money when captured.
The rest had gone to the helpful guard.
Ludovico had barely enough for basic necessities.
Their poverty threatened their journey.
Yet they continued onward through lonely valleys and forgotten roads.
At last, they heard sheep bells and knew they were near human habitation.
They entered a beautiful mountain valley that seemed like a scene from ancient poetry.
By morning, they reached the small town they had been seeking.
After some difficulty, they found shelter.
Emily’s appearance caused surprise because she had no hat, having only managed to take her veil when escaping.
Ludovico discovered that he had barely enough money even for food.
Du Pont explained their situation to the honest innkeeper, who agreed to help them because he hated Montoni.
The man could lend them horses but had no money to offer.
Then Ludovico suddenly rushed into the room.
He had discovered a small bag hidden beneath the saddle of one of the horses.
It contained money.
The treasure had belonged to one of Montoni’s bandits, whose horse had wandered away during the night.
This unexpected fortune was enough to continue the journey.
Du Pont decided he would accompany Emily all the way to France.
They chose Leghorn as their destination because it was the nearest important port.
After buying Emily a simple straw hat and replacing their tired horses, they continued their journey.
As they descended toward the Arno valley, Emily saw the beauty of Tuscany.
The landscape was filled with forests, gardens, vineyards, olive trees, and elegant villas.
Far away, Florence appeared beneath the bright sky.
The Mediterranean shimmered in the distance.
Emily felt joy at the thought of returning to France.
But sadness followed.
She had no home waiting for her.
No parents would welcome her.
She would return only to mourn at her father’s grave.
Still, the thought that Valancourt was somewhere in France gave her comfort.
Later, they rested beneath trees beside a clear spring.
Annette and Ludovico gathered fruit while Emily and Du Pont sat quietly beneath the shade.
When the heat passed, they continued their journey.
Du Pont told Emily how he had become Montoni’s prisoner.
He explained that he had entered Italy while serving his country and had been captured during a battle with Montoni’s men.
Only later did he discover that the Montoni he feared was the same man who had married Emily’s aunt.
He also revealed that a kind guard had allowed him occasional freedom.
Through a hidden passage inside the castle walls, he had secretly reached the terrace.
There, he had seen Emily’s window.
“I thought you might be there,” he said.
Emily suddenly understood.
“You were the figure that frightened me on the terrace!”
Du Pont apologized.
He explained that he had only wanted to see her and had once heard her voice.
Later, he had used an old lute to send music toward her window, hoping she might hear him.
“Yes,” Emily whispered. “It was I who called.”
Du Pont then told her about a secret passage where he had overheard Montoni discussing the mysterious death of the former lady of the castle.
The conversation had convinced him that Montoni was capable of terrible crimes.
Fearing for Emily, he had tried to frighten Montoni and his companions by repeating their words in a ghostly voice.
The plan had worked.
The men had fled in terror.
Emily listened carefully.
She remembered the strange events and admitted that she too had been frightened.
They continued speaking of France and their future plans.
Emily told him she intended to stay temporarily in a convent in Languedoc, where she had once been treated kindly. From there, she planned to write to her relative Monsieur Quesnel and explain everything.
Du Pont gave her hope that Montoni had not permanently taken her estates.
For the first time in many months, Emily felt a true spark of happiness.
They continued traveling until they reached Pisa.
The city was lively, filled with sounds of sailors, ships, and music.
Du Pont searched for a ship sailing directly to France, but none was leaving soon.
The next day, they continued toward Leghorn.
There they found several French ships, including one sailing soon to Marseille.
Du Pont immediately arranged their passage.
Emily was overwhelmed with relief.
She was finally returning to France.
Du Pont also learned that his own regiment had already returned there, allowing him to travel without conflict.
During their stay at Leghorn, he never spoke of his love for Emily, knowing it would only trouble her.
She could not love him, but she respected and pitied him.
Together they walked along the coast and watched ships arrive and depart.
The sight of separated lovers and families inspired Emily to write a poem about a sailor who leaves his beloved, only to be lost at sea.
The song told of love, hope, farewell, and the sorrow of never meeting again.
As Emily looked toward the waves that would carry her home, she felt that after so much suffering, she was finally moving toward a new beginning.