English
Twodaysafter,aconsiderablecrowdwasassembled,towardsteno’clockinthemorning,aroundthedoorofM.deVillefort’shouse,andalongfileofmourning–coachesandprivatecarriagesextendedalongtheFaubourgSaint–HonoreandtheRuedelaPepiniere.
Amongthemwasoneofaverysingularform,whichappearedtohavecomefromadistance.
Itwasakindofcoveredwagon,paintedblack,andwasoneofthefirsttoarrive.
Inquirywasmade,anditwasascertainedthat,byastrangecoincidence,thiscarriagecontainedthecorpseoftheMarquisdeSaint–Meran,andthatthosewhohadcomethinkingtoattendonefuneralwouldfollowtwo.Theirnumberwasgreat.
TheMarquisdeSaint–Meran,oneofthemostzealousandfaithfuldignitariesofLouisXVIII.
andKingCharlesX.,hadpreservedagreatnumberoffriends,andthese,addedtothepersonageswhomtheusagesofsocietygaveVillefortaclaimon,formedaconsiderablebody.
Dueinformationwasgiventotheauthorities,andpermissionobtainedthatthetwofuneralsshouldtakeplaceatthesametime.
Asecondhearse,deckedwiththesamefunerealpomp,wasbroughttoM.deVillefort’sdoor,andthecoffinremovedintoitfromthepost–wagon.
ThetwobodiesweretobeinterredinthecemeteryofPere–la–Chaise,whereM.deVilleforthadlongsincehadatombpreparedforthereceptionofhisfamily.
TheremainsofpoorReneewerealreadydepositedthere,andnow,aftertenyearsofseparation,herfatherandmotherweretobereunitedwithher.
TheParisians,alwayscurious,alwaysaffectedbyfunerealdisplay,lookedonwithreligioussilencewhilethesplendidprocessionaccompaniedtotheirlastabodetwoofthenumberoftheoldaristocracy—thegreatestprotectorsofcommerceandsinceredevoteestotheirprinciples.
Inoneofthemourning–coachesBeauchamp,Debray,andChateau–Renaudweretalkingoftheverysuddendeathofthemarchioness.
“IsawMadamedeSaint–MeranonlylastyearatMarseilles,whenIwascomingbackfromAlgiers,”saidChateau–Renaud;“shelookedlikeawomandestinedtolivetobeahundredyearsold,fromherapparentsoundhealthandgreatactivityofmindandbody.Howoldwasshe?”
“Franzassuredme,”repliedAlbert,“thatshewassixty–sixyearsold.
Butshehasnotdiedofoldage,butofgrief;itappearsthatsincethedeathofthemarquis,whichaffectedherverydeeply,shehasnotcompletelyrecoveredherreason.”
“Butofwhatdisease,then,didshedie?”askedDebray.
“Itissaidtohavebeenacongestionofthebrain,orapoplexy,whichisthesamething,isitnot?”
“Nearly.”
“Itisdifficulttobelievethatitwasapoplexy,”saidBeauchamp.
“MadamedeSaint–Meran,whomIoncesaw,wasshort,ofslenderform,andofamuchmorenervousthansanguinetemperament;griefcouldhardlyproduceapoplexyinsuchaconstitutionasthatofMadamedeSaint–Meran.”
“Atanyrate,”saidAlbert,“whateverdiseaseordoctormayhavekilledher,M.deVillefort,orrather,MademoiselleValentine,—or,stillrather,ourfriendFranz,inheritsamagnificentfortune,amounting,Ibelieve,to80,000livresperannum.”
“AndthisfortunewillbedoubledatthedeathoftheoldJacobin,Noirtier.”
“Thatisatenaciousoldgrandfather,”saidBeauchamp.“Tenacempropositivirum.
Ithinkhemusthavemadeanagreementwithdeathtooutliveallhisheirs,andheappearslikelytosucceed.
HeresemblestheoldConventionalistof‘93,whosaidtoNapoleon,in1814,‘Youbendbecauseyourempireisayoungstem,weakenedbyrapidgrowth.
TaketheRepublicforatutor;letusreturnwithrenewedstrengthtothebattle–field,andIpromiseyou500,000soldiers,anotherMarengo,andasecondAusterlitz.
Ideasdonotbecomeextinct,sire;theyslumbersometimes,butonlyrevivethestrongerbeforetheysleepentirely.’Ideasandmenappearedthesametohim.
Onethingonlypuzzlesme,namely,howFranzd’Epinaywilllikeagrandfatherwhocannotbeseparatedfromhiswife.ButwhereisFranz?”
“Inthefirstcarriage,withM.deVillefort,whoconsidershimalreadyasoneofthefamily.”
Suchwastheconversationinalmostallthecarriages;thesetwosuddendeaths,soquicklyfollowingeachother,astonishedeveryone,butnoonesuspectedtheterriblesecretwhichM.d’Avrignyhadcommunicated,inhisnocturnalwalktoM.deVillefort.
Theyarrivedinaboutanhouratthecemetery;theweatherwasmild,butdull,andinharmonywiththefuneralceremony.
Amongthegroupswhichflockedtowardsthefamilyvault,Chateau–RenaudrecognizedMorrel,whohadcomealoneinacabriolet,andwalkedsilentlyalongthepathborderedwithyew–trees.“Youhere?”
saidChateau–Renaud,passinghisarmsthroughtheyoungcaptain’s;“areyouafriendofVillefort’s?
HowisitthatIhavenevermetyouathishouse?”
“IamnoacquaintanceofM.deVillefort’s.”answeredMorrel,“butIwasofMadamedeSaint–Meran.”AlbertcameuptothematthismomentwithFranz.
“Thetimeandplacearebutill–suitedforanintroduction.”
saidAlbert;“butwearenotsuperstitious.
M.Morrel,allowmetopresenttoyouM.Franzd’Epinay,adelightfultravellingcompanion,withwhomImadethetourofItaly.
MydearFranz,M.MaximilianMorrel,anexcellentfriendIhaveacquiredinyourabsence,andwhosenameyouwillhearmementioneverytimeImakeanyallusiontoaffection,wit,oramiability.”
Morrelhesitatedforamoment;hefeareditwouldbehypocriticaltoaccostinafriendlymannerthemanwhomhewastacitlyopposing,buthisoathandthegravityofthecircumstancesrecurredtohismemory;hestruggledtoconcealhisemotionandbowedtoFranz.
“MademoiselledeVillefortisindeepsorrow,isshenot?”saidDebraytoFranz.
“Extremely,”repliedhe;“shelookedsopalethismorning,Iscarcelyknewher.”
TheseapparentlysimplewordspiercedMorreltotheheart.
ThismanhadseenValentine,andspokentoher!
Theyoungandhigh–spiritedofficerrequiredallhisstrengthofmindtoresistbreakinghisoath.
HetookthearmofChateau–Renaud,andturnedtowardsthevault,wheretheattendantshadalreadyplacedthetwocoffins.
“Thisisamagnificenthabitation,”saidBeauchamp,lookingtowardsthemausoleum;“asummerandwinterpalace.
Youwill,inturn,enterit,mydeard’Epinay,foryouwillsoonbenumberedasoneofthefamily.
I,asaphilosopher,shouldlikealittlecountry–house,acottagedownthereunderthetrees,withoutsomanyfree–stonesovermypoorbody.
Indying,IwillsaytothosearoundmewhatVoltairewrotetoPiron:‘Eorus,andallwillbeover.’
Butcome,Franz,takecourage,yourwifeisanheiress.”
“Indeed,Beauchamp,youareunbearable.Politicshasmadeyoulaughateverything,andpoliticalmenhavemadeyoudisbelieveeverything.
Butwhenyouhavethehonorofassociatingwithordinarymen,andthepleasureofleavingpoliticsforamoment,trytofindyouraffectionateheart,whichyouleavewithyourstickwhenyougototheChamber.”
“Buttellme,”saidBeauchamp,“whatislife?IsitnotahallinDeath’santeroom?”
“IamprejudicedagainstBeauchamp,”saidAlbert,drawingFranzaway,andleavingtheformertofinishhisphilosophicaldissertationwithDebray.
TheVillefortvaultformedasquareofwhitestones,abouttwentyfeethigh;aninteriorpartitionseparatedthetwofamilies,andeachapartmenthaditsentrancedoor.
Herewerenot,asinothertombs,ignobledrawers,oneaboveanother,wherethriftbestowsitsdeadandlabelsthemlikespecimensinamuseum;allthatwasvisiblewithinthebronzegateswasagloomy–lookingroom,separatedbyawallfromthevaultitself.
Thetwodoorsbeforementionedwereinthemiddleofthiswall,andenclosedtheVillefortandSaint–Merancoffins.
TheregriefmightfreelyexpenditselfwithoutbeingdisturbedbythetriflingloungerswhocamefromapicnicpartytovisitPere–la–Chaise,orbyloverswhomakeittheirrendezvous.
Thetwocoffinswereplacedontrestlespreviouslypreparedfortheirreceptionintheright–handcryptbelongingtotheSaint–Meranfamily.
Villefort,Franz,andafewnearrelativesaloneenteredthesanctuary.
Asthereligiousceremonieshadallbeenperformedatthedoor,andtherewasnoaddressgiven,thepartyallseparated;Chateau–Renaud,Albert,andMorrel,wentoneway,andDebrayandBeauchamptheother.
FranzremainedwithM.deVillefort;atthegateofthecemeteryMorrelmadeanexcusetowait;hesawFranzandM.deVillefortgetintothesamemourningcoach,andthoughtthismeetingforbodedevil.
HethenreturnedtoParis,andalthoughinthesamecarriagewithChateau–RenaudandAlbert,hedidnothearonewordoftheirconversation.
AsFranzwasabouttotakeleaveofM.deVillefort,“WhenshallIseeyouagain?”saidthelatter.
“Atwhattimeyouplease,sir,”repliedFranz.
“Assoonaspossible.”
“Iamatyourcommand,sir;shallwereturntogether?”
“Ifnotunpleasanttoyou.”
“Onthecontrary,Ishallfeelmuchpleasure.”
Thus,thefuturefatherandson–in–lawsteppedintothesamecarriage,andMorrel,seeingthempass,becameuneasy.
VillefortandFranzreturnedtotheFaubourgSaint–Honore.
Theprocureur,withoutgoingtoseeeitherhiswifeorhisdaughter,wentatoncetohisstudy,and,offeringtheyoungmanachair,—”M.d’Epinay,”saidhe,“allowmetoremindyouatthismoment,—whichisperhapsnotsoill–chosenasatfirstsightmayappear,forobediencetothewishesofthedepartedisthefirstofferingwhichshouldbemadeattheirtomb,—allowmethentoremindyouofthewishexpressedbyMadamedeSaint–Meranonherdeath–bed,thatValentine’sweddingmightnotbedeferred.
Youknowtheaffairsofthedeceasedareinperfectorder,andherwillbequeathstoValentinetheentirepropertyoftheSaint–Meranfamily;thenotaryshowedmethedocumentsyesterday,whichwillenableustodrawupthecontractimmediately.
Youmaycallonthenotary,M.Deschamps,PlaceBeauveau,FaubourgSaint–Honore,andyouhavemyauthoritytoinspectthosedeeds.”
“Sir,”repliedM.d’Epinay,“itisnot,perhaps,themomentforMademoiselleValentine,whoisindeepdistress,tothinkofahusband;indeed,Ifear”—
“Valentinewillhavenogreaterpleasurethanthatoffulfillinghergrandmother’slastinjunctions;therewillbenoobstaclefromthatquarter,Iassureyou.”
“Inthatcase,”repliedFranz,“asIshallraisenone,youmaymakearrangementswhenyouplease;Ihavepledgedmyword,andshallfeelpleasureandhappinessinadheringtoit.”
“Then,”saidVillefort,“nothingfurtherisrequired.Thecontractwastohavebeensignedthreedayssince;weshallfinditallready,andcansignitto–day.”
“Butthemourning?”saidFranz,hesitating.
“Don’tbeuneasyonthatscore,”repliedVillefort;“noceremonywillbeneglectedinmyhouse.
MademoiselledeVillefortmayretireduringtheprescribedthreemonthstoherestateofSaint–Meran;Isayhers,forsheinheritsitto–day.
There,afterafewdays,ifyoulike,thecivilmarriageshallbecelebratedwithoutpomporceremony.
MadamedeSaint–Meranwishedherdaughtershouldbemarriedthere.
Whenthatisover,you,sir,canreturntoParis,whileyourwifepassesthetimeofhermourningwithhermother–in–law.”
“Asyouplease,sir,”saidFranz.
“Then,”repliedM.deVillefort,“havethekindnesstowaithalfanhour;Valentineshallcomedownintothedrawing–room.
IwillsendforM.Deschamps;wewillreadandsignthecontractbeforeweseparate,andthiseveningMadamedeVillefortshallaccompanyValentinetoherestate,wherewewillrejointheminaweek.”
“Sir,”saidFranz,“Ihaveonerequesttomake.”
“Whatisit?”
“IwishAlbertdeMorcerfandRaouldeChateau–Renaudtobepresentatthissignature;youknowtheyaremywitnesses.”
“Halfanhourwillsufficetoapprisethem;willyougoforthemyourself,orshallyousend?”
“Iprefergoing,sir.”
“Ishallexpectyou,then,inhalfanhour,baron,andValentinewillbeready.”Franzbowedandlefttheroom.
Scarcelyhadthedoorclosed,whenM.deVillefortsenttotellValentinetobereadyinthedrawing–roominhalfanhour,asheexpectedthenotaryandM.d’Epinayandhiswitnesses.
Thenewscausedagreatsensationthroughoutthehouse;MadamedeVillefortwouldnotbelieveit,andValentinewasthunderstruck.
Shelookedaroundforhelp,andwouldhavegonedowntohergrandfather’sroom,butonthestairsshemetM.deVillefort,whotookherarmandledherintothedrawing–room.
Intheanteroom,ValentinemetBarrois,andlookeddespairinglyattheoldservant.
Amomentlater,MadamedeVillefortenteredthedrawing–roomwithherlittleEdward.
Itwasevidentthatshehadsharedthegriefofthefamily,forshewaspaleandlookedfatigued.
Shesatdown,tookEdwardonherknees,andfromtimetotimepressedthischild,onwhomheraffectionsappearedcentred,almostconvulsivelytoherbosom.
Twocarriagesweresoonheardtoenterthecourtyard.
Onewasthenotary’s;theother,thatofFranzandhisfriends.
Inamomentthewholepartywasassembled.
Valentinewassopaleonemighttracetheblueveinsfromhertemples,roundhereyesanddownhercheeks.Franzwasdeeplyaffected.
Chateau–RenaudandAlbertlookedateachotherwithamazement;theceremonywhichwasjustconcludedhadnotappearedmoresorrowfulthandidthatwhichwasabouttobegin.
MadamedeVilleforthadplacedherselfintheshadowbehindavelvetcurtain,andassheconstantlybentoverherchild,itwasdifficulttoreadtheexpressionofherface.M.deVillefortwas,asusual,unmoved.
Thenotary,afterhavingaccordingtothecustomarymethodarrangedthepapersonthetable,takenhisplaceinanarmchair,andraisedhisspectacles,turnedtowardsFranz:
“AreyouM.FranzdeQuesnel,barond’Epinay?”askedhe,althoughheknewitperfectly.
“Yes,sir,”repliedFranz.Thenotarybowed.
“Ihave,then,toinformyou,sir,attherequestofM.deVillefort,thatyourprojectedmarriagewithMademoiselledeVilleforthaschangedthefeelingofM.Noirtiertowardshisgrandchild,andthathedisinheritsherentirelyofthefortunehewouldhavelefther.
Letmehastentoadd,”continuedhe,“thatthetestator,havingonlytherighttoalienateapartofhisfortune,andhavingalienateditall,thewillwillnotbearscrutiny,andisdeclarednullandvoid.”
“Yes.”saidVillefort;“butIwarnM.d’Epinay,thatduringmylife–timemyfather’swillshallneverbequestioned,mypositionforbiddinganydoubttobeentertained.”
“Sir,”saidFranz,“IregretmuchthatsuchaquestionhasbeenraisedinthepresenceofMademoiselleValentine;Ihaveneverinquiredtheamountofherfortune,which,howeverlimiteditmaybe,exceedsmine.
MyfamilyhassoughtconsiderationinthisalliancewithM.deVillefort;allIseekishappiness.”
Valentineimperceptiblythankedhim,whiletwosilenttearsrolleddownhercheeks.
“Besides,sir,”saidVillefort,addressinghimselftohisfutureson–in–law,“exceptingthelossofaportionofyourhopes,thisunexpectedwillneednotpersonallywoundyou;M.Noirtier’sweaknessofmindsufficientlyexplainsit.
ItisnotbecauseMademoiselleValentineisgoingtomarryyouthatheisangry,butbecauseshewillmarry,aunionwithanyotherwouldhavecausedhimthesamesorrow.
Oldageisselfish,sir,andMademoiselledeVilleforthasbeenafaithfulcompaniontoM.Noirtier,whichshecannotbewhenshebecomestheBaronessd’Epinay.
Myfather’smelancholystatepreventsourspeakingtohimonanysubjects,whichtheweaknessofhismindwouldincapacitatehimfromunderstanding,andIamperfectlyconvincedthatatthepresenttime,although,heknowsthathisgranddaughterisgoingtobemarried,M.Noirtierhasevenforgottenthenameofhisintendedgrandson.”
M.deVilleforthadscarcelysaidthis,whenthedooropened,andBarroisappeared.
“Gentlemen,”saidhe,inatonestrangelyfirmforaservantspeakingtohismastersundersuchsolemncircumstances,—”gentlemen,M.NoirtierdeVillefortwishestospeakimmediatelytoM.FranzdeQuesnel,barond’Epinay;”he,aswellasthenotary,thattheremightbenomistakeintheperson,gaveallhistitlestothebride–groomelect.
Villefortstarted,MadamedeVillefortlethersonslipfromherknees,Valentinerose,paleanddumbasastatue.
AlbertandChateau–Renaudexchangedasecondlook,morefullofamazementthanthefirst.ThenotarylookedatVillefort.“Itisimpossible,”saidtheprocureur.
“M.d’Epinaycannotleavethedrawing–roomatpresent.”
“Itisatthismoment,”repliedBarroiswiththesamefirmness,“thatM.Noirtier,mymaster,wishestospeakonimportantsubjectstoM.Franzd’Epinay.”
“GrandpapaNoirtiercanspeaknow,then,”saidEdward,withhishabitualquickness.
However,hisremarkdidnotmakeMadamedeVillefortevensmile,somuchwaseverymindengaged,andsosolemnwasthesituation.Astonishmentwasatitsheight.
SomethinglikeasmilewasperceptibleonMadamedeVillefort’scountenance.
Valentineinstinctivelyraisedhereyes,asiftothankheaven.
“Praygo,Valentine,”said;M.deVillefort,“andseewhatthisnewfancyofyourgrandfather’sis.”
Valentinerosequickly,andwashasteningjoyfullytowardsthedoor,whenM.deVillefortalteredhisintention.
“Stop,”saidhe;“Iwillgowithyou.”
“Excuseme,sir,”saidFranz,“sinceM.Noirtiersentforme,Iamreadytoattendtohiswish;besides,Ishallbehappytopaymyrespectstohim,nothavingyethadthehonorofdoingso.”
“Pray,sir,”saidVillefortwithmarkeduneasiness,“donotdisturbyourself.”
“Forgiveme,sir,”saidFranzinaresolutetone.
“IwouldnotlosethisopportunityofprovingtoM.Noirtierhowwrongitwouldbeofhimtoencouragefeelingsofdisliketome,whichIamdeterminedtoconquer,whatevertheymaybe,bymydevotion.”
AndwithoutlisteningtoVilleforthearose,andfollowedValentine,whowasrunningdown–stairswiththejoyofashipwreckedmarinerwhofindsarocktoclingto.M.deVillefortfollowedthem.
Chateau–RenaudandMorcerfexchangedathirdlookofstillincreasingwonder.
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