I was reading about story propulsion techniques HW used for Otranto.
One of them is Interrupted Events.
Often a new event or crisis will arrive before the current one is complete creating the effect of story elements crashing into one another.
I think ch. 2 relies on quite a few interupted events :
Egs.

1. The converse between Matilda and Bianca about the young peasant is interupted by news Isabella has been found.

2. Matilda is about to question the stranger further on Isabella and is about to open the casement, then the bell rings at the postern gate.

3. The event of Theodore's execution is again interrupted.
By the souds of an arrival at the castle gate. Trampling of horse and sounding of brazen trumpet.