English
Wewillnowrelatewhatwaspassinginthehouseoftheking’sattorneyafterthedepartureofMadameDanglarsandherdaughter,andduringthetimeoftheconversationbetweenMaximilianandValentine,whichwehavejustdetailed.
M.deVillefortenteredhisfather’sroom,followedbyMadamedeVillefort.
Bothofthevisitors,aftersalutingtheoldmanandspeakingtoBarrois,afaithfulservant,whohadbeentwenty–fiveyearsinhisservice,tooktheirplacesoneithersideoftheparalytic.
M.Noirtierwassittinginanarm–chair,whichmoveduponcasters,inwhichhewaswheeledintotheroominthemorning,andinthesamewaydrawnoutagainatnight.
Hewasplacedbeforealargeglass,whichreflectedthewholeapartment,andso,withoutanyattempttomove,whichwouldhavebeenimpossible,hecouldseeallwhoenteredtheroomandeverythingwhichwasgoingonaroundhim.
M.Noirtier,althoughalmostasimmovableasacorpse,lookedatthenew–comerswithaquickandintelligentexpression,perceivingatonce,bytheirceremoniouscourtesy,thattheywerecomeonbusinessofanunexpectedandofficialcharacter.
Sightandhearingweretheonlysensesremaining,andthey,liketwosolitarysparks,remainedtoanimatethemiserablebodywhichseemedfitfornothingbutthegrave;itwasonly,however,bymeansofoneofthesesensesthathecouldrevealthethoughtsandfeelingsthatstilloccupiedhismind,andthelookbywhichhegaveexpressiontohisinnerlifewaslikethedistantgleamofacandlewhichatravellerseesbynightacrosssomedesertplace,andknowsthatalivingbeingdwellsbeyondthesilenceandobscurity.
Noirtier’shairwaslongandwhite,andflowedoverhisshoulders;whileinhiseyes,shadedbythickblacklashes,wasconcentrated,asitoftenhappenswithanorganwhichisusedtotheexclusionoftheothers,alltheactivity,address,force,andintelligencewhichwereformerlydiffusedoverhiswholebody;andsoalthoughthemovementofthearm,thesoundofthevoice,andtheagilityofthebody,werewanting,thespeakingeyesufficedforall.
Hecommandedwithit;itwasthemediumthroughwhichhisthankswereconveyed.
Inshort,hiswholeappearanceproducedonthemindtheimpressionofacorpsewithlivingeyes,andnothingcouldbemorestartlingthantoobservetheexpressionofangerorjoysuddenlylightinguptheseorgans,whiletherestoftherigidandmarble–likefeatureswereutterlydeprivedofthepowerofparticipation.
Threepersonsonlycouldunderstandthislanguageofthepoorparalytic;thesewereVillefort,Valentine,andtheoldservantofwhomwehavealreadyspoken.
ButasVillefortsawhisfatherbutseldom,andthenonlywhenabsolutelyobliged,andashenevertookanypainstopleaseorgratifyhimwhenhewasthere,alltheoldman’shappinesswascentredinhisgranddaughter.
Valentine,bymeansofherlove,herpatience,andherdevotion,hadlearnedtoreadinNoirtier’slookallthevariedfeelingswhichwerepassinginhismind.
Tothisdumblanguage,whichwassounintelligibletoothers,sheansweredbythrowingherwholesoulintotheexpressionofhercountenance,andinthismannerweretheconversationssustainedbetweenthebloominggirlandthehelplessinvalid,whosebodycouldscarcelybecalledalivingone,butwho,nevertheless,possessedafundofknowledgeandpenetration,unitedwithawillaspowerfulaseveralthoughcloggedbyabodyrenderedutterlyincapableofobeyingitsimpulses.
Valentinehadsolvedtheproblem,andwasableeasilytounderstandhisthoughts,andtoconveyherowninreturn,and,throughheruntiringanddevotedassiduity,itwasseldomthat,intheordinarytransactionsofevery–daylife,shefailedtoanticipatethewishesoftheliving,thinkingmind,orthewantsofthealmostinanimatebody.
Astotheservant,hehad,aswehavesaid,beenwithhismasterforfiveandtwentyyears,thereforeheknewallhishabits,anditwasseldomthatNoirtierfounditnecessarytoaskforanything,sopromptwasheinadministeringtoallthenecessitiesoftheinvalid.
VillefortdidnotneedthehelpofeitherValentineorthedomesticinordertocarryonwithhisfatherthestrangeconversationwhichhewasabouttobegin.
Aswehavesaid,heperfectlyunderstoodtheoldman’svocabulary,andifhedidnotuseitmoreoften,itwasonlyindifferenceandennuiwhichpreventedhimfromsodoing.
HethereforeallowedValentinetogointothegarden,sentawayBarrois,andafterhavingseatedhimselfathisfather’srighthand,whileMadamedeVillefortplacedherselfontheleft,headdressedhimthus:—
“Itrustyouwillnotbedispleased,sir,thatValentinehasnotcomewithus,orthatIdismissedBarrois,forourconferencewillbeonewhichcouldnotwithproprietybecarriedoninthepresenceofeither.
MadamedeVillefortandIhaveacommunicationtomaketoyou.”
Noirtier’sfaceremainedperfectlypassiveduringthislongpreamble,while,onthecontrary,Villefort’seyewasendeavoringtopenetrateintotheinmostrecessesoftheoldman’sheart.
“Thiscommunication,”continuedtheprocureur,inthatcoldanddecisivetonewhichseemedatoncetoprecludealldiscussion,“will,wearesure,meetwithyourapprobation.”
Theeyeoftheinvalidstillretainedthatvacancyofexpressionwhichpreventedhissonfromobtaininganyknowledgeofthefeelingswhichwerepassinginhismind;helistened,nothingmore.
“Sir,”resumedVillefort,“wearethinkingofmarryingValentine.”
Hadtheoldman’sfacebeenmouldedinwaxitcouldnothaveshownlessemotionatthisnewsthanwasnowtobetracedthere.
“Themarriagewilltakeplaceinlessthanthreemonths,”saidVillefort.
Noirtier’seyestillretaineditsinanimateexpression.
MadamedeVillefortnowtookherpartintheconversationandadded,—”Wethoughtthisnewswouldpossessaninterestforyou,sir,whohavealwaysentertainedagreataffectionforValentine;itthereforeonlynowremainsforustotellyouthenameoftheyoungmanforwhomsheisdestined.
Itisoneofthemostdesirableconnectionswhichcouldpossiblybeformed;hepossessesfortune,ahighrankinsociety,andeverypersonalqualificationlikelytorenderValentinesupremelyhappy,—hisname,moreover,cannotbewhollyunknowntoyou.
ItisM.FranzdeQuesnel,Barond’Epinay.”
Whilehiswifewasspeaking,Villeforthadnarrowlywatchedtheoldman’scountenance.
WhenMadamedeVillefortpronouncedthenameofFranz,thepupilofM.Noirtier’seyebegantodilate,andhiseyelidstrembledwiththesamemovementthatmaybeperceivedonthelipsofanindividualabouttospeak,andhedartedalightningglanceatMadamedeVillefortandhisson.
Theprocureur,whoknewthepoliticalhatredwhichhadformerlyexistedbetweenM.Noirtierandtheelderd’Epinay,wellunderstoodtheagitationandangerwhichtheannouncementhadproduced;but,feigningnottoperceiveeither,heimmediatelyresumedthenarrativebegunbyhiswife.
“Sir,”saidhe,“youareawarethatValentineisabouttoenterhernineteenthyear,whichrendersitimportantthatsheshouldlosenotimeinformingasuitablealliance.
Nevertheless,youhavenotbeenforgotteninourplans,andwehavefullyascertainedbeforehandthatValentine’sfuturehusbandwillconsent,nottoliveinthishouse,forthatmightnotbepleasantfortheyoungpeople,butthatyoushouldlivewiththem;sothatyouandValentine,whoaresoattachedtoeachother,wouldnotbeseparated,andyouwouldbeabletopursueexactlythesamecourseoflifewhichyouhavehithertodone,andthus,insteadoflosing,youwillbeagainerbythechange,asitwillsecuretoyoutwochildreninsteadofone,towatchoverandcomfortyou.”
Noirtier’slookwasfurious;itwasveryevidentthatsomethingdesperatewaspassingintheoldman’smind,foracryofangerandgriefroseinhisthroat,andnotbeingabletofindventinutterance,appearedalmosttochokehim,forhisfaceandlipsturnedquitepurplewiththestruggle.
Villefortquietlyopenedawindow,saying,“Itisverywarm,andtheheataffectsM.Noirtier.”
Hethenreturnedtohisplace,butdidnotsitdown.
“Thismarriage,”addedMadamedeVillefort,“isquiteagreeabletothewishesofM.d’Epinayandhisfamily;besides,hehadnorelationsnearerthananuncleandaunt,hismotherhavingdiedathisbirth,andhisfatherhavingbeenassassinatedin1815,thatistosay,whenhewasbuttwoyearsold;itnaturallyfollowedthatthechildwaspermittedtochoosehisownpursuits,andhehas,therefore,seldomacknowledgedanyotherauthoritybutthatofhisownwill.”
“Thatassassinationwasamysteriousaffair,”saidVillefort,“andtheperpetratorshavehithertoescapeddetection,althoughsuspicionhasfallenontheheadofmorethanoneperson.”
Noirtiermadesuchaneffortthathislipsexpandedintoasmile.
“Now,”continuedVillefort,“thosetowhomtheguiltreallybelongs,bywhomthecrimewascommitted,onwhoseheadsthejusticeofmanmayprobablydescendhere,andthecertainjudgmentofGodhereafter,wouldrejoiceintheopportunitythusaffordedofbestowingsuchapeace–offeringasValentineonthesonofhimwhoselifetheysoruthlesslydestroyed.”
Noirtierhadsucceededinmasteringhisemotionmorethancouldhavebeendeemedpossiblewithsuchanenfeebledandshatteredframe.
“Yes,Iunderstand,”wasthereplycontainedinhislook;andthislookexpressedafeelingofstrongindignation,mixedwithprofoundcontempt.
Villefortfullyunderstoodhisfather’smeaning,andansweredbyaslightshrugofhisshoulders.
Hethenmotionedtohiswifetotakeleave.
“Nowsir,”saidMadamedeVillefort,“Imustbidyoufarewell.
WouldyoulikemetosendEdwardtoyouforashorttime?”
Ithadbeenagreedthattheoldmanshouldexpresshisapprobationbyclosinghiseyes,hisrefusalbywinkingthemseveraltimes,andifhehadsomedesireorfeelingtoexpress,heraisedthemtoheaven.
IfhewantedValentine,heclosedhisrighteyeonly,andifBarrois,theleft.
AtMadamedeVillefort’spropositionheinstantlywinkedhiseyes.
Provokedbyacompleterefusal,shebitherlipandsaid,“ThenshallIsendValentinetoyou?”
Theoldmanclosedhiseyeseagerly,therebyintimatingthatsuchwashiswish.
M.andMadamedeVillefortbowedandlefttheroom,givingordersthatValentineshouldbesummonedtohergrandfather’spresence,andfeelingsurethatshewouldhavemuchtodotorestorecalmnesstotheperturbedspiritoftheinvalid.
Valentine,withacolorstillheightenedbyemotion,enteredtheroomjustafterherparentshadquittedit.
Onelookwassufficienttotellherthathergrandfatherwassuffering,andthattherewasmuchonhismindwhichhewaswishingtocommunicatetoher.
“Deargrandpapa,”criedshe,“whathashappened?
Theyhavevexedyou,andyouareangry?”
Theparalyticclosedhiseyesintokenofassent.“Whohasdispleasedyou?Isitmyfather?”
“No.”
“MadamedeVillefort?”
“No.”
“Me?”Theformersignwasrepeated.“Areyoudispleasedwithme?”criedValentineinastonishment.M.Noirtieragainclosedhiseyes.
“AndwhathaveIdone,deargrandpapa,thatyoushouldbeangrywithme?”criedValentine.
Therewasnoanswer,andshecontinued.“Ihavenotseenyouallday.Hasanyonebeenspeakingtoyouagainstme?”
“Yes,”saidtheoldman’slook,witheagerness.
“Letmethinkamoment.Idoassureyou,grandpapa—Ah—M.andMadamedeVilleforthavejustleftthisroom,havetheynot?”
“Yes.”
“Anditwastheywhotoldyousomethingwhichmadeyouangry?Whatwasitthen?MayIgoandaskthem,thatImayhavetheopportunityofmakingmypeacewithyou?”
“No,no,”saidNoirtier’slook.
“Ah,youfrightenme.Whatcantheyhavesaid?”andsheagaintriedtothinkwhatitcouldbe.
“Ah,Iknow,”saidshe,loweringhervoiceandgoingclosetotheoldman.“Theyhavebeenspeakingofmymarriage,—havetheynot?”
“Yes,”repliedtheangrylook.
“Iunderstand;youaredispleasedatthesilenceIhavepreservedonthesubject.
Thereasonofitwas,thattheyhadinsistedonmykeepingthematterasecret,andbeggedmenottotellyouanythingofit.
Theydidnotevenacquaintmewiththeirintentions,andIonlydiscoveredthembychance,thatiswhyIhavebeensoreservedwithyou,deargrandpapa.Prayforgiveme.”
Buttherewasnolookcalculatedtoreassureher;allitseemedtosaywas,“Itisnotonlyyourreservewhichafflictsme.”
“Whatisit,then?”askedtheyounggirl.“PerhapsyouthinkIshallabandonyou,deargrandpapa,andthatIshallforgetyouwhenIammarried?”
“No.”
“Theytoldyou,then,thatM.d’Epinayconsentedtoouralllivingtogether?”
“Yes.”
“Thenwhyareyoustillvexedandgrieved?”
Theoldman’seyesbeamedwithanexpressionofgentleaffection.
“Yes,Iunderstand,”saidValentine;“itisbecauseyouloveme.”Theoldmanassented.
“AndyouareafraidIshallbeunhappy?”
“Yes.”
“YoudonotlikeM.Franz?”Theeyesrepeatedseveraltimes,“No,no,no.”
“Thenyouarevexedwiththeengagement?”
“Yes.”
“Well,listen,”saidValentine,throwingherselfonherknees,andputtingherarmroundhergrandfather’sneck,“Iamvexed,too,forIdonotloveM.Franzd’Epinay.”
Anexpressionofintensejoyilluminedtheoldman’seyes.
“WhenIwishedtoretireintoaconvent,yourememberhowangryyouwerewithme?”
Ateartrembledintheeyeoftheinvalid.
“Well,”continuedValentine,“thereasonofmyproposingitwasthatImightescapethishatefulmarriage,whichdrivesmetodespair.”
Noirtier’sbreathingcamethickandshort.
“Thentheideaofthismarriagereallygrievesyoutoo?
Ah,ifyoucouldbuthelpme—ifwecouldbothtogetherdefeattheirplan!
Butyouareunabletoopposethem,—you,whosemindissoquick,andwhosewillissofirmarenevertheless,asweakandunequaltothecontestasIammyself.
Alas,you,whowouldhavebeensuchapowerfulprotectortomeinthedaysofyourhealthandstrength,cannowonlysympathizeinmyjoysandsorrows,withoutbeingabletotakeanyactivepartinthem.
However,thisismuch,andcallsforgratitudeandheavenhasnottakenawayallmyblessingswhenitleavesmeyoursympathyandkindness.”
AtthesewordsthereappearedinNoirtier’seyeanexpressionofsuchdeepmeaningthattheyounggirlthoughtshecouldreadthesewordsthere:“Youaremistaken;Icanstilldomuchforyou.”
“Doyouthinkyoucanhelpme,deargrandpapa?”saidValentine.
“Yes.”Noirtierraisedhiseyes,itwasthesignagreedonbetweenhimandValentinewhenhewantedanything.
“Whatisityouwant,deargrandpapa?”saidValentine,andsheendeavoredtorecalltomindallthethingswhichhewouldbelikelytoneed;andastheideaspresentedthemselvestohermind,sherepeatedthemaloud,then,—findingthatallhereffortselicitednothingbutaconstant“No,”—shesaid,“Come,sincethisplandoesnotanswer,Iwillhaverecoursetoanother.”
ShethenrecitedallthelettersofthealphabetfromAdowntoN.
Whenshearrivedatthatlettertheparalyticmadeherunderstandthatshehadspokentheinitialletterofthethinghewanted.
“Ah,”saidValentine,“thethingyoudesirebeginswiththeletterN;itiswithNthatwehavetodo,then.
Well,letmesee,whatcanyouwantthatbeginswithN?Na—Ne—Ni—No”—
“Yes,yes,yes,”saidtheoldman’seye.
“Ah,itisNo,then?”
“Yes.”Valentinefetchedadictionary,whichsheplacedonadeskbeforeNoirtier;sheopenedit,and,seeingthattheoddman’seyewasthoroughlyfixedonitspages,sheranherfingerquicklyupanddownthecolumns.
DuringthesixyearswhichhadpassedsinceNoirtierfirstfellintothissadstate,Valentine’spowersofinventionhadbeentoooftenputtothetestnottorenderherexpertindevisingexpedientsforgainingaknowledgeofhiswishes,andtheconstantpracticehadsoperfectedherintheartthatsheguessedtheoldman’smeaningasquicklyasifhehimselfhadbeenabletoseekforwhathewanted.
Attheword“Notary,”Noirtiermadeasigntohertostop.
“Notary,”saidshe,“doyouwantanotary,deargrandpapa?”
Theoldmanagainsignifiedthatitwasanotaryhedesired.
“Youwouldwishanotarytobesentforthen?”saidValentine.
“Yes.”
“Shallmyfatherbeinformedofyourwish?”
“Yes.”
“Doyouwishthenotarytobesentforimmediately?”
“Yes.”
“Thentheyshallgoforhimdirectly,deargrandpapa.Isthatallyouwant?”
“Yes.”Valentinerangthebell,andorderedtheservanttotellMonsieurorMadamedeVillefortthattheywererequestedtocometoM.Noirtier’sroom.“Areyousatisfiednow?”inquiredValentine.
“Yes.”
“Iamsureyouare;itisnotverydifficulttodiscoverthat,”—andtheyounggirlsmiledonhergrandfather,asifhehadbeenachild.
M.deVillefortentered,followedbyBarrois.“Whatdoyouwantmefor,sir?”demandedheoftheparalytic.
“Sir,”saidValentine,“mygrandfatherwishesforanotary.”
AtthisstrangeandunexpecteddemandM.deVillefortandhisfatherexchangedlooks.
“Yes,”motionedthelatter,withafirmnesswhichseemedtodeclarethatwiththehelpofValentineandhisoldservant,whobothknewwhathiswisheswere,hewasquitepreparedtomaintainthecontest.“Doyouwishforanotary?”askedVillefort.
“Yes.”
“Whattodo?”
Noirtiermadenoanswer.“Whatdoyouwantwithanotary?”againrepeatedVillefort.
Theinvalid’seyeremainedfixed,bywhichexpressionheintendedtointimatethathisresolutionwasunalterable.“Isittodoussomeillturn?Doyouthinkitisworthwhile?”saidVillefort.
“Still,”saidBarrois,withthefreedomandfidelityofanoldservant,“ifM.Noirtierasksforanotary,Isupposehereallywishesforanotary;thereforeIshallgoatonceandfetchone.”
BarroisacknowledgednomasterbutNoirtier,andneverallowedhisdesiresinanywaytobecontradicted.
“Yes,Idowantanotary,”motionedtheoldman,shuttinghiseyeswithalookofdefiance,whichseemedtosay,“andIshouldliketoseethepersonwhodarestorefusemyrequest.”
“Youshallhaveanotary,asyouabsolutelywishforone,sir,”saidVillefort;“butIshallexplaintohimyourstateofhealth,andmakeexcusesforyou,forthescenecannotfailofbeingamostridiculousone.”
“Nevermindthat,”saidBarrois;“Ishallgoandfetchanotary,nevertheless,”—andtheoldservantdepartedtriumphantlyonhismission.
Share this article to
FINISH