The Mysteries of Udolpho

Emily and Valancourt are sad to part ways. St. Aubert consoles Emily, noting to himself that Valancourt reminds him of his younger self. Emily is concerned about St. Aubert’s continuing bad health. The St. Auberts head to Perpignan, where letters from M. Quesnel are awaiting St. Aubert. Emily looks through a book of Petrarch’s poems, which she took from Valancourt. He has underlined several evocative passages, indicating his love for her.

In Perpignan, St. Aubert appears shattered after reading the letters from M. Quesnel. M. Quesnel has confirmed the bad news he had brought earlier on his visit to the chateau: St. Aubert has lost almost all of his fortune. He tells Emily his biggest fear is she will lose the comfortable life to which she is accustomed. Emily reassures her father that poverty cannot “deprive [them] of […] the affection [they] have for each other” (99). As long as she has the chateau at La Vallee, she will be happy.

St. Aubert and Emily travel along a road with a view of the beautiful Pyrenees mountains. They reach the plains of Languedoc, where St. Aubert privately laments that the wonders of life will soon be lost to him.