'stay, count morano,' said emily, terrified by his words, and by the fury expressed in his eyes, 'i will save you from this error.--of all men, signor montoni is not your rival; though, if i find all other means of saving myself vain, i will try whether my voice may not arouse his servants to my succour.'
'assertion,' replied morano, 'at such a moment, is not to be depended upon.how could i suffer myself to doubt, even for an instant, that he could see you, and not love?--but my first care shall be to convey you from the castle.cesario! ho,--cesario!'
a man now appeared at the door of the stair-case, and other steps were heard ascending.emily uttered a loud shriek, as morano hurried her across the chamber, and, at the same moment, she heard a noise at the door, that opened upon the corridor.the count paused an instant, as if his mind was suspended between love and the desire of vengeance; and, in that instant, the door gave way, and montoni, followed by the old steward and several other persons, burst into the room.
'draw!' cried montoni to the count, who did not pause for a second bidding, but, giving emily into the hands of the people, that appeared from the stair-case, turned fiercely round.'this in thine heart, villain!' said he, as he made a thrust at montoni with his sword, who parried the blow, and aimed another, while some of the persons, who had followed him into the room, endeavoured to part the combatants, and others rescued emily from the hands of morano's servants.
'was it for this, count morano,' said montoni, in a cool sarcastic tone of voice, 'that i received you under my roof, and permitted you, though my declared enemy, to remain under it for the night? was it, that you might repay my hospitality with the treachery of a fiend, and rob me of my niece?'
'who talks of treachery?' said morano, in a tone of unrestrained vehemence.'let him that does, shew an unblushing face of innocence.