The Mysteries of Udolpho

Though St. Aubert had intended to travel on the next day, he faints after breakfast and is confined to bed. He tells a distraught Emily that he is dying. He needs an urgent promise from her. St. Aubert exhorts Emily to never sell the chateau at La Vallee under any circumstances. She must also find certain papers hidden in the floor of his closet back home and burn them without examining them. He advises Emily to live life with controlled sensibility, but without falling into the trap of apathy. He appoints his sister, Madame Cheron, as Emily’s guardian. A friar administers the last rites to St. Aubert; St. Aubert dies shortly after, leaving Emily inconsolable.

La Voisin tries to comfort Emily but she is lost in grief. She kisses her father’s lips and composes herself. That night, she hears the strange music again. She wonders if the music is played by departed souls and if her father is now one of the spirits. A sister (nun) from a nearby priory visits to take Emily to the convent, so the abbess can comfort her. On the way back from the convent, La Voisin loses his way in the woods, but refuses to seek help from the nearby chateau. Emily wants to know the reason for his fear of the chateau, but La Voisin does not disclose much. St. Aubert is interred at the church of the convent.

After Emily has rested at the convent for some weeks, Madame Cheron sends an attendant to accompany her back to La Vallee. Emily visits her father’s grave, which is close to the monument of the Villerois. Back at La Vallee, Theresa, the housekeeper, comforts Emily. St. Aubert’s dog Manchon looks for his master. 

Madame Cheron invites Emily to her home in Toulouse as Emily’s education is now her responsibility. Emily tells Madame Cheron she wishes to stay at La Vallee for a little longer. Emily feels her happiness now depends on Madame Cheron’s favor, a dependence she does not enjoy. With time, Emily’s “affliction began to soften into melancholy” (157). She often revisits her happy life with her parents. One day, she is reminiscing about her parents in the fishing-house when a stranger appears on the scene. This is Valancourt, who is as surprised to see Emily as she is to see him. Emily tells him about St. Aubert’s passing. Valancourt wishes he had stayed with the St. Auberts. He consoles Emily and escorts her back to the chalet, requesting her for an audience the next morning before he leaves. Emily agrees out of civility. Meanwhile, Emily recalls she still hasn’t found and burnt St. Aubert’s secret papers.

As Emily enters her father’s study, she feels she can see him sitting in his armchair. Such visions have become common in her state of melancholy, but she soon regains her composure and starts retrieving the papers. Though she tries not to read them as per St. Aubert’s injunction, one sentence catches her eye. To remove all further temptation, Emily burns the papers immediately. She finds a miniature portrait of a lady—the same one she saw her father kiss earlier—and decides to keep it. She suspects the lady in the portrait is the Marchioness de Villeroi.

The next morning Valancourt pays Emily a visit and confesses his love for her. He can offer her affection, but his fortune is limited. Although Emily feels drawn to Valancourt, she feels she knows him too little to give him false hope. Valancourt senses her indecision and despairs, but Emily assures him that both she and her late father have always held Valancourt in great esteem. Valancourt reveals that he has been roaming the woods around La Vallee for several days, hoping to see Emily. He will wait for Emily to make up her mind about him.

As Valancourt kisses her hand to say goodbye, Madame Cheron enters the gardens. After Valancourt leaves, Madame Cheron scolds Emily for receiving male guests in her “present unfriended situation” (173). Emily is offended by Madame Cheron’s “coarse speech” (174) and her accusations and tries to distract her. Madame Cheron goes on upbraiding Emily, saying Emily shares her father’s penchant for appearances and has fallen for Valancourt based on only his pleasant looks. She tells Emily she must leave La Vallee immediately to stop gossip about her. Emily says an unhappy goodbye to La Vallee.

Madame Cheron and Emily leave for Toulouse in a carriage. Emily is relieved Madame Cheron has allowed her to bring the dog with her. Valancourt is in Estuviere, thinking about Emily and their possible future together. Valancourt is the younger brother of the Count de Duvarney. Though the Count has had Valancourt educated well, he has not given him an inheritance. Valancourt is in the army; it was during a leave from his regiment that he met the St. Auberts. He now hopes he can advance in the military so that he has enough money to make a formal suit for Emily. Valancourt worries Emily’s family may reject him for being impoverished. In Toulouse, Emily finds her aunt’s attitude cold and contemptuous. She clings to Manchon for comfort and takes succor in the memory of her father’s teachings.

Madame Cheron’s house in Toulouse is surrounded by sprawling gardens, in which Emily likes to stroll in the mornings. Madame Cheron tells Emily she disproves of such solitary walks, which may be Emily’s excuse for seeking assignations with men. Emily is again appalled by her aunt’s words.

Madame Cheron begins arranging dinner parties so Emily can be introduced in society. Emily meets the handsome and arrogant Signor Montoni and his friend, the sprightly Signor Cavigni. Emily begins to weary of the social engagements and decides to skip a party. That night she sees a stranger pass by the house and is struck by his resemblance to Valancourt. She attributes the sightings to her nerves. The next morning, an outraged Madame Cheron tells Emily she has received a letter of proposal for her. Emily recognizes the handwriting as that of Valancourt. Madame Cheron asks Emily not to communicate with Valancourt without her permission. Emily agrees. When Valancourt visits Madame Cheron, she dismisses him rudely. She bids Emily to attend Madame Clairval’s party with her.

Emily is surprised to see Valancourt at the party. Madame Cheron talks ill of Valancourt to Madame Clairval, but is mortified to learn Valancourt is her nephew. With the question of Valancourt’s antecedents settled, Madame Cheron allows him an audience on Emily’s behalf. Meanwhile, Emily notes Montoni paying excessive attention to Madame Cheron. Emily begins to meet Valancourt under Madame Cheron’s supervision. She finds time spent with him peaceful and happy. Montoni courts Madame Cheron.

Madame Clairval and Madame Cheron plan a quick wedding for Emily, each thinking the alliance will help them gain access to the other’s fortune. Emily, who is unaware of the ulterior motives of the older women, is pleasantly surprised at the news. The plans are upturned when Madame Cheron declares she and Montoni have gotten married. Emily and Valancourt’s wedding will be held a little later, and Madame Cheron is to now go by the title of Madame Montoni. Emily and Valancourt are disappointed by the delay. Montoni takes over the household, moving in Cavigni. Montoni decides that the household, including Emily, should move to Italy. He cancels Emily’s proposed engagement to Valancourt, deeming the match to be inferior.

Emily hates the prospect of being separated from Valancourt and going to Italy, a strife-ridden country “where every petty state was at war with its neighbor” (224). Valancourt visits her secretly and begs her to elope with him. Emily confesses that though she loves Valancourt very dearly, in her position a clandestine marriage would be wrong. A heartbroken Valancourt bids her goodbye, asks her to be careful of Montoni, whom he dislikes, and promises that they will be reunited soon.