emily disdained to reply, and still endeavoured to liberate herself.
'promise, that you will come,' he continued, 'and i will release you immediately; but first give me a reward for so doing.'
'who are you?' demanded emily, in a tone of mingled terror and indignation, while she still struggled for liberty--'who are you, that have the cruelty thus to insult me?'
'why call me cruel?' said the man, 'i would remove you from this dreary solitude to a merry party below.do you not know me?'
emily now faintly remembered, that he was one of the officers who were with montoni when she attended him in the morning.'i thank you for the kindness of your intention,' she replied, without appearing to understand him, 'but i wish for nothing so much as that you would leave me.'
'charming emily!' said he, 'give up this foolish whim for solitude, and come with me to the company, and eclipse the beauties who make part of it; you, only, are worthy of my love.' he attempted to kiss her hand, but the strong impulse of her indignation gave her power to liberate herself, and she fled towards the chamber.she closed the door, before he reached it, having secured which, she sunk in a chair, overcome by terror and by the exertion she had made, while she heard his voice, and his attempts to open the door, without having the power to raise herself.at length, she perceived him depart, and had remained, listening, for a considerable time, and was somewhat revived by not hearing any sound, when suddenly she remembered the door of the private stair-case, and that he might enter that way, since it was fastened only on the other side.she then employed herself in endeavouring to secure it, in the manner she had formerly done.it appeared to her, that montoni had already commenced his scheme of vengeance, by withdrawing from her his protection, and she repented of the rashness, that had made her brave the power of such a man.to retain the estates seemed to be now utterly impossible, and to preserve her life, perhaps her honour, she resolved, if she should escape the horrors of this night, to give up all claims to the estates, on the morrow, provided montoni would suffer her to depart from udolpho.