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Morrelwas,infact,veryhappy.M.Noirtierhadjustsentforhim,andhewasinsuchhastetoknowthereasonofhisdoingsothathehadnotstoppedtotakeacab,placinginfinitelymoredependenceonhisowntwolegsthanonthefourlegsofacab–horse.
HehadthereforesetoffatafuriousratefromtheRueMeslay,andwashasteningwithrapidstridesinthedirectionoftheFaubourgSaint–Honore.
Morreladvancedwithafirm,manlytread,andpoorBarroisfollowedhimashebestmight.
Morrelwasonlythirty–one,Barroiswassixtyyearsofage;Morrelwasdeeplyinlove,andBarroiswasdyingwithheatandexertion.
Thesetwomen,thusopposedinageandinterests,resembledtwopartsofatriangle,presentingtheextremesofseparation,yetneverthelesspossessingtheirpointofunion.
ThispointofunionwasNoirtier,anditwashewhohadjustsentforMorrel,withtherequestthatthelatterwouldlosenotimeincomingtohim—acommandwhichMorrelobeyedtotheletter,tothegreatdiscomfitureofBarrois.
Onarrivingatthehouse,Morrelwasnotevenoutofbreath,forlovelendswingstoourdesires;butBarrois,whohadlongforgottenwhatitwastolove,wassorelyfatiguedbytheexpeditionhehadbeenconstrainedtouse.
TheoldservantintroducedMorrelbyaprivateentrance,closedthedoorofthestudy,andsoontherustlingofadressannouncedthearrivalofValentine.
Shelookedmarvellouslybeautifulinherdeepmourningdress,andMorrelexperiencedsuchintensedelightingazinguponherthathefeltasifhecouldalmosthavedispensedwiththeconversationofhergrandfather.
Buttheeasy–chairoftheoldmanwasheardrollingalongthefloor,andhesoonmadehisappearanceintheroom.
NoirtieracknowledgedbyalookofextremekindnessandbenevolencethethankswhichMorrellavishedonhimforhistimelyinterventiononbehalfofValentineandhimself—aninterventionwhichhadsavedthemfromdespair.
Morrelthencastontheinvalidaninterrogativelookastothenewfavorwhichhedesignedtobestowonhim.
Valentinewassittingatalittledistancefromthem,timidlyawaitingthemomentwhensheshouldbeobligedtospeak.Noirtierfixedhiseyesonher.“AmItosaywhatyoutoldme?”askedValentine.
Noirtiermadeasignthatshewastodoso.
“MonsieurMorrel,”saidValentinetotheyoungman,whowasregardingherwiththemostintenseinterest,“mygrandfather,M.Noirtier,hadathousandthingstosay,whichhetoldmethreedaysago;andnow,hehassentforyou,thatImayrepeatthemtoyou.
Iwillrepeatthem,then;andsincehehaschosenmeashisinterpreter,Iwillbefaithfultothetrust,andwillnotalterawordofhisintentions.”
“Oh,Iamlisteningwiththegreatestimpatience,”repliedtheyoungman;“speak,Ibegofyou.”
Valentinecastdownhereyes;thiswasagoodomenforMorrel,forheknewthatnothingbuthappinesscouldhavethepowerofthusovercomingValentine.
“Mygrandfatherintendsleavingthishouse,”saidshe,“andBarroisislookingoutsuitableapartmentsforhiminanother.”
“Butyou,MademoiselledeVillefort,—you,whoarenecessarytoM.Noirtier’shappiness”—
“I?”interruptedValentine;“Ishallnotleavemygrandfather,—thatisanunderstoodthingbetweenus.Myapartmentwillbeclosetohis.
Now,M.deVillefortmusteithergivehisconsenttothisplanorhisrefusal;inthefirstcase,Ishallleavedirectly,andinthesecond,IshallwaittillIamofage,whichwillbeinabouttenmonths.
ThenIshallbefree,Ishallhaveanindependentfortune,and”—
“Andwhat?”demandedMorrel.
“Andwithmygrandfather’sconsentIshallfulfilthepromisewhichIhavemadeyou.”
Valentinepronouncedtheselastfewwordsinsuchalowtone,thatnothingbutMorrel’sintenseinterestinwhatshewassayingcouldhaveenabledhimtohearthem.
“HaveInotexplainedyourwishes,grandpapa?”saidValentine,addressingNoirtier.“Yes,”lookedtheoldman.
—”Onceundermygrandfather’sroof,M.Morrelcanvisitmeinthepresenceofmygoodandworthyprotector,ifwestillfeelthattheunionwecontemplatedwillbelikelytoinsureourfuturecomfortandhappiness;inthatcaseIshallexpectM.Morreltocomeandclaimmeatmyownhands.
But,alas,Ihavehearditsaidthatheartsinflamedbyobstaclestotheirdesiregrewcoldintimeofsecurity;Itrustweshallneverfinditsoinourexperience!”
“Oh,”criedMorrel,almosttemptedtothrowhimselfonhiskneesbeforeNoirtierandValentine,andtoadorethemastwosuperiorbeings,“whathaveIeverdoneinmylifetomeritsuchunboundedhappiness?”
“Untilthattime,”continuedtheyounggirlinacalmandself–possessedtoneofvoice,“wewillconformtocircumstances,andbeguidedbythewishesofourfriends,solongasthosewishesdonottendfinallytoseparateus;inaword,andIrepeatit,becauseitexpressesallIwishtoconvey,—wewillwait.”
“AndIsweartomakeallthesacrificeswhichthiswordimposes,sir,”saidMorrel,“notonlywithresignation,butwithcheerfulness.”
“Therefore,”continuedValentine,lookingplayfullyatMaximilian,“nomoreinconsiderateactions—nomorerashprojects;foryousurelywouldnotwishtocompromiseonewhofromthisdayregardsherselfasdestined,honorablyandhappily,tobearyourname?”
Morrellookedobediencetohercommands.
Noirtierregardedtheloverswithalookofineffabletenderness,whileBarrois,whohadremainedintheroominthecharacterofamanprivilegedtoknoweverythingthatpassed,smiledontheyouthfulcoupleashewipedtheperspirationfromhisbaldforehead.
“Howhotyoulook,mygoodBarrois,”saidValentine.
“Ah,Ihavebeenrunningveryfast,mademoiselle,butImustdoM.Morrelthejusticetosaythatheranstillfaster.”
Noirtierdirectedtheirattentiontoawaiter,onwhichwasplacedadecantercontaininglemonadeandaglass.
Thedecanterwasnearlyfull,withtheexceptionofalittle,whichhadbeenalreadydrunkbyM.Noirtier.
“Come,Barrois,”saidtheyounggirl,“takesomeofthislemonade;Iseeyouarecovetingagooddraughtofit.”
“Thefactis,mademoiselle,”saidBarrois,“Iamdyingwiththirst,andsinceyouaresokindastoofferitme,IcannotsayIshouldatallobjecttodrinkingyourhealthinaglassofit.”
“Takesome,then,andcomebackimmediately.”
Barroistookawaythewaiter,andhardlywasheoutsidethedoor,whichinhishasteheforgottoshut,thantheysawhimthrowbackhisheadandemptytotheverydregstheglasswhichValentinehadfilled.
ValentineandMorrelwereexchangingtheiradieuxinthepresenceofNoirtierwhenaringwasheardatthedoor–bell.Itwasthesignalofavisit.Valentinelookedatherwatch.
“Itispastnoon,”saidshe,“andto–dayisSaturday;Idaresayitisthedoctor,grandpapa.”
Noirtierlookedhisconvictionthatshewasrightinhersupposition.
“Hewillcomeinhere,andM.Morrelhadbettergo,—doyounotthinkso,grandpapa?”
“Yes,”signedtheoldman.
“Barrois,”criedValentine,“Barrois!”
“Iamcoming,mademoiselle,”repliedhe.
“Barroiswillopenthedoorforyou,”saidValentine,addressingMorrel.
“Andnowrememberonething,MonsieurOfficer,thatmygrandfathercommandsyounottotakeanyrashorill–advisedstepwhichwouldbelikelytocompromiseourhappiness.”
“Ipromisedhimtowait,”repliedMorrel;“andIwillwait.”
AtthismomentBarroisentered.“Whorang?”askedValentine.
“Doctord’Avrigny,”saidBarrois,staggeringasifhewouldfall.
“Whatisthematter,Barrois?”saidValentine.
Theoldmandidnotanswer,butlookedathismasterwithwildstaringeyes,whilewithhiscrampedhandhegraspedapieceoffurnituretoenablehimtostandupright.“Heisgoingtofall!”criedMorrel.
TherigorswhichhadattackedBarroisgraduallyincreased,thefeaturesofthefacebecamequitealtered,andtheconvulsivemovementofthemusclesappearedtoindicatetheapproachofamostseriousnervousdisorder.
Noirtier,seeingBarroisinthispitiablecondition,showedbyhislooksallthevariousemotionsofsorrowandsympathywhichcananimatetheheartofman.
Barroismadesomestepstowardshismaster.
“Ah,sir,”saidhe,“tellmewhatisthematterwithme.Iamsuffering—Icannotsee.
Athousandfierydartsarepiercingmybrain.Ah,don’ttouchme,praydon’t.”
Bythistimehishaggardeyeshadtheappearanceofbeingreadytostartfromtheirsockets;hisheadfellback,andthelowerextremitiesofthebodybegantostiffen.
Valentineutteredacryofhorror;Morreltookherinhisarms,asiftodefendherfromsomeunknowndanger.
“M.d’Avrigny,M.d’Avrigny,”criedshe,inastifledvoice.“Help,help!”
Barroisturnedroundandwithagreateffortstumbledafewsteps,thenfellatthefeetofNoirtier,andrestinghishandonthekneeoftheinvalid,exclaimed,“Mymaster,mygoodmaster!”
AtthismomentM.deVillefort,attractedbythenoise,appearedonthethreshold.
MorrelrelaxedhisholdofValentine,andretreatingtoadistantcorneroftheroomremainedhalfhiddenbehindacurtain.
Paleasifhehadbeengazingonaserpent,hefixedhisterrifiedeyeontheagonizedsufferer.
Noirtier,burningwithimpatienceandterror,wasindespairathisutterinabilitytohelphisolddomestic,whomheregardedmoreinthelightofafriendthanaservant.
Onemightbythefearfulswellingoftheveinsofhisforeheadandthecontractionofthemusclesroundtheeye,tracetheterribleconflictwhichwasgoingonbetweenthelivingenergeticmindandtheinanimateandhelplessbody.
Barrois,hisfeaturesconvulsed,hiseyessuffusedwithblood,andhisheadthrownback,waslyingatfulllength,beatingthefloorwithhishands,whilehislegshadbecomesostiff,thattheylookedasiftheywouldbreakratherthanbend.
Aslightappearanceoffoamwasvisiblearoundthemouth,andhebreathedpainfully,andwithextremedifficulty.
Villefortseemedstupefiedwithastonishment,andremainedgazingintentlyonthescenebeforehimwithoututteringaword.HehadnotseenMorrel.
Afteramomentofdumbcontemplation,duringwhichhisfacebecamepaleandhishairseemedtostandonend,hesprangtowardsthedoor,cryingout,“Doctor,doctor!comeinstantly,praycome!”
“Madame,madame!”criedValentine,callingherstep–mother,andrunningup–stairstomeether;“comequick,quick!—andbringyourbottleofsmelling–saltswithyou.”
“Whatisthematter?”saidMadamedeVillefortinaharshandconstrainedtone.
“Oh,come,come!”
“Butwhereisthedoctor?”exclaimedVillefort;“whereishe?”
MadamedeVillefortnowdeliberatelydescendedthestaircase.
Inonehandsheheldherhandkerchief,withwhichsheappearedtobewipingherface,andintheotherabottleofEnglishsmelling–salts.
HerfirstlookonenteringtheroomwasatNoirtier,whoseface,independentoftheemotionwhichsuchascenecouldnotfailofproducing,proclaimedhimtobeinpossessionofhisusualhealth;hersecondglancewasatthedyingman.
Sheturnedpale,andhereyepassedquicklyfromtheservantandrestedonthemaster.
“Inthenameofheaven,madame,”saidVillefort,“whereisthedoctor?Hewaswithyoujustnow.Youseethisisafitofapoplexy,andhemightbesavedifhecouldbutbebled!”
“Hasheeatenanythinglately?”askedMadamedeVillefort,eludingherhusband’squestion.
“Madame,”repliedValentine,“hehasnotevenbreakfasted.
Hehasbeenrunningveryfastonanerrandwithwhichmygrandfatherchargedhim,andwhenhereturned,tooknothingbutaglassoflemonade.”
“Ah,”saidMadamedeVillefort,“whydidhenottakewine?Lemonadewasaverybadthingforhim.”
“Grandpapa’sbottleoflemonadewasstandingjustbyhisside;poorBarroiswasverythirsty,andwasthankfultodrinkanythinghecouldfind.”MadamedeVillefortstarted.
Noirtierlookedatherwithaglanceofthemostprofoundscrutiny.“Hehassuchashortneck,”saidshe.
“Madame,”saidVillefort,“IaskwhereisM.d’Avrigny?InGod’snameanswerme!”
“HeiswithEdward,whoisnotquitewell,”repliedMadamedeVillefort,nolongerbeingabletoavoidanswering.
Villefortrushedup–stairstofetchhim.
“Takethis,”saidMadamedeVillefort,givinghersmelling–bottletoValentine.
“Theywill,nodoubt,bleedhim;thereforeIwillretire,forIcannotendurethesightofblood;”andshefollowedherhusbandup–stairs.
Morrelnowemergedfromhishiding–place,wherehehadremainedquiteunperceived,sogreathadbeenthegeneralconfusion.
“Goawayasquickasyoucan,Maximilian,”saidValentine,“andstaytillIsendforyou.Go.”
MorrellookedtowardsNoirtierforpermissiontoretire.
Theoldman,whohadpreservedallhisusualcoolness,madeasigntohimtodoso.
TheyoungmanpressedValentine’shandtohislips,andthenleftthehousebyabackstaircase.
Atthesamemomentthathequittedtheroom,Villefortandthedoctorenteredbyanoppositedoor.
Barroiswasnowshowingsignsofreturningconsciousness.
Thecrisisseemedpast,alowmoaningwasheard,andheraisedhimselfononeknee.
D’AvrignyandVillefortlaidhimonacouch.“Whatdoyouprescribe,doctor?”demandedVillefort.“Givemesomewaterandether.
Youhavesomeinthehouse,haveyounot?”
“Yes.”
“Sendforsomeoilofturpentineandtartaremetic.”
Villefortimmediatelydespatchedamessenger.“Andnowleteveryoneretire.”
“MustIgotoo?”askedValentinetimidly.
“Yes,mademoiselle,youespecially,”repliedthedoctorabruptly.
ValentinelookedatM.d’Avrignywithastonishment,kissedhergrandfatherontheforehead,andlefttheroom.
Thedoctorclosedthedoorafterherwithagloomyair.
“Look,look,doctor,”saidVillefort,“heisquitecomingroundagain;Ireallydonotthink,afterall,itisanythingofconsequence.”
M.d’Avrignyansweredbyamelancholysmile.“Howdoyoufeel,Barrois?”askedhe.“Alittlebetter,sir.”
“Willyoudrinksomeofthisetherandwater?”
“Iwilltry;butdon’ttouchme.”
“Whynot?”
“BecauseIfeelthatifyouwereonlytotouchmewiththetipofyourfingerthefitwouldreturn.”
“Drink.”
Barroistooktheglass,and,raisingittohispurplelips,tookabouthalfoftheliquidofferedhim.“Wheredoyousuffer?”askedthedoctor.
“Everywhere.Ifeelcrampsovermywholebody.”
“Doyoufindanydazzlingsensationbeforetheeyes?”
“Yes.”
“Anynoiseintheears?”
“Frightful.”
“Whendidyoufirstfeelthat?”
“Justnow.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yes,likeaclapofthunder.”
“Didyoufeelnothingofityesterdayorthedaybefore?”
“Nothing.”
“Nodrowsiness?”
“None.”
“Whathaveyoueatento–day?”
“Ihaveeatennothing;Ionlydrankaglassofmymaster’slemonade—that’sall;”andBarroisturnedtowardsNoirtier,who,immovablyfixedinhisarm–chair,wascontemplatingthisterriblescenewithoutallowingawordoramovementtoescapehim.
“Whereisthislemonade?”askedthedoctoreagerly.
“Down–stairsinthedecanter.”
“Whereaboutsdownstairs?”
“Inthekitchen.”
“ShallIgoandfetchit,doctor?”inquiredVillefort.
“No,stayhereandtrytomakeBarroisdrinktherestofthisglassofetherandwater.
Iwillgomyselfandfetchthelemonade.”
D’Avrignyboundedtowardsthedoor,flewdownthebackstaircase,andalmostknockeddownMadamedeVillefort,inhishaste,whowasherselfgoingdowntothekitchen.
Shecriedout,butd’Avrignypaidnoattentiontoher;possessedwithbutoneidea,heclearedthelastfourstepswithabound,andrushedintothekitchen,wherehesawthedecanteraboutthreepartsemptystillstandingonthewaiter,whereithadbeenleft.
Hedarteduponitasaneaglewouldseizeuponitsprey.
Pantingwithlossofbreath,hereturnedtotheroomhehadjustleft.
MadamedeVillefortwasslowlyascendingthestepswhichledtoherroom.“Isthisthedecanteryouspokeof?”askedd’Avrigny.
“Yes,doctor.”
“Isthisthesamelemonadeofwhichyoupartook?”
“Ibelieveso.”
“Whatdidittastelike?”
“Ithadabittertaste.”
Thedoctorpouredsomedropsofthelemonadeintothepalmofhishand,puthislipstoit,andafterhavingrinsedhismouthasamandoeswhenheistastingwine,hespattheliquorintothefireplace.
“Itisnodoubtthesame,”saidhe.“Didyoudrinksometoo,M.Noirtier?”
“Yes.”
“Anddidyoualsodiscoverabittertaste?”
“Yes.”
“Oh,doctor,”criedBarrois,“thefitiscomingonagain.Oh,dosomethingforme.”Thedoctorflewtohispatient.
“Thatemetic,Villefort—seeifitiscoming.”
Villefortsprangintothepassage,exclaiming,“Theemetic!theemetic!—isitcomeyet?”Nooneanswered.
Themostprofoundterrorreignedthroughoutthehouse.
“IfIhadanythingbymeansofwhichIcouldinflatethelungs,”saidd’Avrigny,lookingaroundhim,“perhapsImightpreventsuffocation.
Butthereisnothingwhichwoulddo—nothing!”
“Oh,sir,”criedBarrois,“areyougoingtoletmediewithouthelp?Oh,Iamdying!Oh,saveme!”
“Apen,apen!”saidthedoctor.
Therewasonelyingonthetable;heendeavoredtointroduceitintothemouthofthepatient,who,inthemidstofhisconvulsions,wasmakingvainattemptstovomit;butthejawsweresoclinchedthatthepencouldnotpassthem.
Thissecondattackwasmuchmoreviolentthanthefirst,andhehadslippedfromthecouchtotheground,wherehewaswrithinginagony.
Thedoctorlefthiminthisparoxysm,knowingthathecoulddonothingtoalleviateit,and,goinguptoNoirtier,saidabruptly,“Howdoyoufindyourself?—well?”
“Yes.”
“Haveyouanyweightonthechest;ordoesyourstomachfeellightandcomfortable—eh?”
“Yes.”
“ThenyoufeelprettymuchasyougenerallydoafteryouhavehadthedosewhichIamaccustomedtogiveyoueverySunday?”
“Yes.”
“DidBarroismakeyourlemonade?”
“Yes.”
“Wasityouwhoaskedhimtodrinksomeofit?”
“No.”
“WasitM.deVillefort?”
“No.”
“Madame?”
“No.”
“Itwasyourgranddaughter,then,wasitnot?”
“Yes.”AgroanfromBarrois,accompaniedbyayawnwhichseemedtocracktheveryjawbones,attractedtheattentionofM.d’Avrigny;heleftM.Noirtier,andreturnedtothesickman.
“Barrois,”saidthedoctor,“canyouspeak?”
Barroismutteredafewunintelligiblewords.
“Tryandmakeanefforttodoso,mygoodman.”saidd’Avrigny.Barroisreopenedhisbloodshoteyes.“Whomadethelemonade?”
“Idid.”
“Didyoubringittoyourmasterdirectlyitwasmade?”
“No.”
“Youleftitsomewhere,then,inthemeantime?”
“Yes;Ileftitinthepantry,becauseIwascalledaway.”
“Whobroughtitintothisroom,then?”
“MademoiselleValentine.”D’Avrignystruckhisforeheadwithhishand.“Graciousheaven,”exclaimedhe.“Doctor,doctor!”criedBarrois,whofeltanotherfitcoming.
“Willtheyneverbringthatemetic?”askedthedoctor.
“Hereisaglasswithonealreadyprepared,”saidVillefort,enteringtheroom.
“Whopreparedit?”
“Thechemistwhocameherewithme.”
“Drinkit,”saidthedoctortoBarrois.“Impossible,doctor;itistoolate;mythroatisclosingup.Iamchoking!Oh,myheart!Ah,myhead!—Oh,whatagony!—ShallIsufferlikethislong?”
“No,no,friend,”repliedthedoctor,“youwillsoonceasetosuffer.”
“Ah,Iunderstandyou,”saidtheunhappyman.“MyGod,havemercyuponme!”
and,utteringafearfulcry,Barroisfellbackasifhehadbeenstruckbylightning.
D’Avrignyputhishandtohisheart,andplacedaglassbeforehislips.
“Well?”saidVillefort.
“Gotothekitchenandgetmesomesyrupofviolets.”Villefortwentimmediately.
“Donotbealarmed,M.Noirtier,”saidd’Avrigny;“Iamgoingtotakemypatientintothenextroomtobleedhim;thissortofattackisveryfrightfultowitness.”
AndtakingBarroisunderthearms,hedraggedhimintoanadjoiningroom;butalmostimmediatelyhereturnedtofetchthelemonade.Noirtierclosedlidsrighteye.“YouwantValentine,doyounot?Iwilltellthemtosendhertoyou.”
Villefortreturned,andd’Avrignymethiminthepassage.“Well,howishenow?”askedhe.
“Comeinhere,”saidd’Avrigny,andhetookhimintothechamberwherethesickmanlay.“Ishestillinafit?”saidtheprocureur.
“Heisdead.”
Villefortdrewbackafewsteps,and,claspinghishands,exclaimed,withrealamazementandsympathy,“Dead?—andsosoontoo!”
“Yes,itisverysoon,”saidthedoctor,lookingatthecorpsebeforehim;“butthatoughtnottoastonishyou;MonsieurandMadamedeSaint–Merandiedassoon.
Peopledieverysuddenlyinyourhouse,M.deVillefort.”
“What?”criedthemagistrate,withanaccentofhorrorandconsternation,“areyoustillharpingonthatterribleidea?”
“Still,sir;andIshallalwaysdoso,”repliedd’Avrigny,“forithasneverforoneinstantceasedtoretainpossessionofmymind;andthatyoumaybequitesureIamnotmistakenthistime,listenwelltowhatIamgoingtosay,M.deVillefort.”Themagistratetrembledconvulsively.
“Thereisapoisonwhichdestroyslifealmostwithoutleavinganyperceptibletraces.
Iknowitwell;Ihavestudieditinallitsformsandintheeffectswhichitproduces.
IrecognizedthepresenceofthispoisoninthecaseofpoorBarroisaswellasinthatofMadamedeSaint–Meran.
Thereisawayofdetectingitspresence.
Itrestoresthebluecoloroflitmus–paperreddenedbyanacid,anditturnssyrupofvioletsgreen.
Wehavenolitmus–paper,but,see,heretheycomewiththesyrupofviolets.”
Thedoctorwasright;stepswereheardinthepassage.
M.d’Avrignyopenedthedoor,andtookfromthehandsofthechambermaidacupwhichcontainedtwoorthreespoonfulsofthesyrup,hethencarefullyclosedthedoor.
“Look,”saidhetotheprocureur,whoseheartbeatsoloudlythatitmightalmostbeheard,“hereisinthiscupsomesyrupofviolets,andthisdecantercontainstheremainderofthelemonadeofwhichM.NoirtierandBarroispartook.
Ifthelemonadebepureandinoffensive,thesyrupwillretainitscolor;if,onthecontrary,thelemonadebedruggedwithpoison,thesyrupwillbecomegreen.Lookclosely!”
Thedoctorthenslowlypouredsomedropsofthelemonadefromthedecanterintothecup,andinaninstantalightcloudysedimentbegantoformatthebottomofthecup;thissedimentfirsttookablueshade,thenfromthecolorofsapphireitpassedtothatofopal,andfromopaltoemerald.
Arrivedatthislasthue,itchangednomore.
Theresultoftheexperimentleftnodoubtwhateveronthemind.
“TheunfortunateBarroishasbeenpoisoned,”saidd’Avrigny,“andIwillmaintainthisassertionbeforeGodandman.”
Villefortsaidnothing,butheclaspedhishands,openedhishaggardeyes,and,overcomewithhisemotion,sankintoachair.
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