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Emily meets with Barnadine, who guides her through the castle. In a chilling room, Emily glimpses a bloody body before fainting. Upon awakening, she is being carried out of the castle but is intercepted by Montoni and his men, thanks to Annette's alert. Emily is returned safely but traumatized. The next morning, Emily appears to have recovered, and Annette reveals her suspicion of Barnadine, leading to her informing Montoni. Emily notices an influx of fierce soldiers at the castle, unaware of their outlaw status as condottieri. Mysterious music echoes through the castle at night. During a meeting with Montoni, Emily learns that her aunt is still alive but unwell. Emily visits Madame Montoni in the east turret, shocked by her condition. Emily convinces Montoni to relocate his wife, but he pressures her to sign over the estates to him. Madame Montoni refuses and confides in Emily about the estate documents. Shortly after, she passes away. Immediately after the burial, Montoni tries to deceive Emily into signing papers, but she resists. Montoni is accompanied by questionable women from Venice, making Emily feel unprotected. She contemplates signing over the estate for safety but ponders the possibility of Valancourt's captivity in the castle. Emily's inquiries are interrupted by Annette's distracted explanations about a strange figure and troops preparing for battle.
About the author
English novelist Ann Radcliffe (née Ward; 9 July 1764 - 7 February 1823) is credited with creating Gothic fiction. She was the only child of haberdasher William Ward and Ann Oates and was born in London. Young Radcliffe started writing, and she became well-known for her atmospheric, suspenseful books that mixed aspects of romance and horror. She wed writer and editor William Radcliffe in 1787. She achieved enormous popularity with her two well-known works, "The Mysteries of Udolpho" (1794) and "The Italian" (1797). Strong characters, frightening locations, and evocative descriptions were all hallmarks of Radcliffe's books. She received accolades for using psychological suspense rather than supernatural components to create a feeling of horror. While Radcliffe was alive, she was quite well-liked, but certain literary groups also had criticism for her. Her writings were criticized for being too romantic and sensational. Even yet, Radcliffe's books impacted the Gothic subgenre and provided authors like Jane Austen and Edgar Allan Poe with inspiration. Early in the 19th century, Radcliffe's writing career came to an end, and she had a tranquil life until her death in 1823. Even today, people acknowledge and appreciate her influence on literature and her role in the development of Gothic fiction
