Emily does not like Barnardine’s proposal of meeting him alone on the terrace at midnight. Since she is eager to see her aunt, she decides to go, but with Annette hiding nearby. Barnardine takes Emily to the east turret through a long, winding way. He asks her to wait in a dark chamber at the landing while he tells Madame Montoni of her niece’s arrival. Emily is suspicious of this turn of events and looks around the chamber for an escape route. She discovers a rotting corpse and faints. When she recovers, she finds herself surrounded by ruffians attempting to take her away from the castle. Barnardine, who is involved in the kidnapping attempt, exhorts the men to move quickly. Montoni arrives on the scene and chases away the men. Emily asks Montoni for an audience, and he says he will talk to her later. An anxious Emily is taken to her room and begs Annette never to forsake her.

Emily recovers from the previous night’s trauma. Annette tells Emily it was she who called Montoni’s men, having overheard Barnardine summon strangers to kidnap Emily. Annette and Emily believe Count Morano may be behind the abduction attempt.