The Castle of Otranto

MANFRED, prince of Otranto, had one son and one daughter: the latter a most beautiful virgin, aged eighteen, was called Matilda. Conrad, the son, was three years younger, a homely youth, sickly, and of no promising disposition; yet he was the darling of his father, who never showed any symptoms of affection to Matilda. Manfred had contracted a marriage for his son with the Marquis of Vicenza’s daughter, Isabella: and she had already been delivered by her guardians into the hands of Manfred, that he might celebrate the wedding as soon as...