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WemayeasilyconceivewhereMorrel’sappointmentwas.
OnleavingMonteCristohewalkedslowlytowardsVillefort’s;wesayslowly,forMorrelhadmorethanhalfanhourtosparetogofivehundredsteps,buthehadhastenedtotakeleaveofMonteCristobecausehewishedtobealonewithhisthoughts.
Heknewhistimewell—thehourwhenValentinewasgivingNoirtierhisbreakfast,andwassurenottobedisturbedintheperformanceofthispiousduty.
NoirtierandValentinehadgivenhimleavetogotwiceaweek,andhewasnowavailinghimselfofthatpermission.
Hehadarrived;Valentinewasexpectinghim.
Uneasyandalmostcrazed,sheseizedhishandandledhimtohergrandfather.
Thisuneasiness,amountingalmosttofrenzy,arosefromthereportMorcerf’sadventurehadmadeintheworld,fortheaffairattheoperawasgenerallyknown.
NooneatVillefort’sdoubtedthataduelwouldensuefromit.
Valentine,withherwoman’sinstinct,guessedthatMorrelwouldbeMonteCristo’ssecond,andfromtheyoungman’swell–knowncourageandhisgreataffectionforthecount,shefearedthathewouldnotcontenthimselfwiththepassivepartassignedtohim.
Wemayeasilyunderstandhoweagerlytheparticularswereaskedfor,given,andreceived;andMorrelcouldreadanindescribablejoyintheeyesofhisbeloved,whensheknewthattheterminationofthisaffairwasashappyasitwasunexpected.
“Now,”saidValentine,motioningtoMorreltositdownnearhergrandfather,whileshetookherseatonhisfootstool,—”nowletustalkaboutourownaffairs.
Youknow,Maximilian,grandpapaoncethoughtofleavingthishouse,andtakinganapartmentawayfromM.deVillefort’s.”
“Yes,”saidMaximilian,“Irecollecttheproject,ofwhichIhighlyapproved.”
“Well,”saidValentine,“youmayapproveagain,forgrandpapaisagainthinkingofit.”
“Bravo,”saidMaximilian.
“Anddoyouknow,”saidValentine,“whatreasongrandpapagivesforleavingthishouse.”
NoirtierlookedatValentinetoimposesilence,butshedidnotnoticehim;herlooks,hereyes,hersmile,wereallforMorrel.
“Oh,whatevermaybeM.Noirtier’sreason,”answeredMorrel,“Icanreadilybelieveittobeagoodone.”
“Anexcellentone,”saidValentine.“HepretendstheairoftheFaubourgSt.Honoreisnotgoodforme.”
“Indeed?”saidMorrel;“inthatM.Noirtiermayberight;youhavenotseemedtobewellforthelastfortnight.”
“Notvery,”saidValentine.“Andgrandpapahasbecomemyphysician,andIhavethegreatestconfidenceinhim,becauseheknowseverything.”
“Doyouthenreallysuffer?”askedMorrelquickly.
“Oh,itmustnotbecalledsuffering;Ifeelageneraluneasiness,thatisall.
Ihavelostmyappetite,andmystomachfeelsasifitwerestrugglingtogetaccustomedtosomething.”
NoirtierdidnotloseawordofwhatValentinesaid.
“Andwhattreatmentdoyouadoptforthissingularcomplaint?”
“Averysimpleone,”saidValentine.“Iswalloweverymorningaspoonfulofthemixturepreparedformygrandfather.
WhenIsayonespoonful,Ibeganbyone—nowItakefour.Grandpapasaysitisapanacea.”
Valentinesmiled,butitwasevidentthatshesuffered.
Maximilian,inhisdevotedness,gazedsilentlyather.
Shewasverybeautiful,butherusualpallorhadincreased;hereyesweremorebrilliantthanever,andherhands,whichweregenerallywhitelikemother–of–pearl,nowmoreresembledwax,towhichtimewasaddingayellowishhue.
FromValentinetheyoungmanlookedtowardsNoirtier.
Thelatterwatchedwithstrangeanddeepinteresttheyounggirl,absorbedbyheraffection,andhealso,likeMorrel,followedthosetracesofinwardsufferingwhichwassolittleperceptibletoacommonobserverthattheyescapedthenoticeofeveryonebutthegrandfatherandthelover.
“But,”saidMorrel,“Ithoughtthismixture,ofwhichyounowtakefourspoonfuls,waspreparedforM.Noirtier?”
“Iknowitisverybitter,”saidValentine;“sobitter,thatallIdrinkafterwardsappearstohavethesametaste.”
Noirtierlookedinquiringlyathisgranddaughter.
“Yes,grandpapa,”saidValentine;“itisso.
Justnow,beforeIcamedowntoyou,Idrankaglassofsugaredwater;Ilefthalf,becauseitseemedsobitter.”
Noirtierturnedpale,andmadeasignthathewishedtospeak.Valentinerosetofetchthedictionary.
Noirtierwatchedherwithevidentanguish.
Infact,thebloodwasrushingtotheyounggirl’sheadalready,hercheekswerebecomingred.
“Oh,”criedshe,withoutlosinganyofhercheerfulness,“thisissingular!Ican’tsee!Didthesunshineinmyeyes?”Andsheleanedagainstthewindow.
“Thesunisnotshining,”saidMorrel,morealarmedbyNoirtier’sexpressionthanbyValentine’sindisposition.Herantowardsher.Theyounggirlsmiled.“Cheerup,”saidshetoNoirtier.
“Donotbealarmed,Maximilian;itisnothing,andhasalreadypassedaway.Butlisten!
DoInothearacarriageinthecourt–yard?”
SheopenedNoirtier’sdoor,rantoawindowinthepassage,andreturnedhastily.
“Yes,”saidshe,“itisMadameDanglarsandherdaughter,whohavecometocallonus.
Good–by;—Imustrunaway,fortheywouldsendhereforme,or,rather,farewelltillIseeyouagain.
Staywithgrandpapa,Maximilian;Ipromiseyounottopersuadethemtostay.”
Morrelwatchedherasshelefttheroom;heheardherascendthelittlestaircasewhichledbothtoMadamedeVillefort’sapartmentsandtohers.
Assoonasshewasgone,NoirtiermadeasigntoMorreltotakethedictionary.
Morrelobeyed;guidedbyValentine,hehadlearnedhowtounderstandtheoldmanquickly.
Accustomed,however,ashewastothework,hehadtorepeatmostofthelettersofthealphabetandtofindeverywordinthedictionary,sothatitwastenminutesbeforethethoughtoftheoldmanwastranslatedbythesewords,“FetchtheglassofwaterandthedecanterfromValentine’sroom.”
MorrelrangimmediatelyfortheservantwhohadtakenBarrois’ssituation,andinNoirtier’snamegavethatorder.Theservantsoonreturned.
Thedecanterandtheglasswerecompletelyempty.
Noirtiermadeasignthathewishedtospeak.“Whyaretheglassanddecanterempty?”
askedhe;“Valentinesaidsheonlydrankhalftheglassful.”
Thetranslationofthisnewquestionoccupiedanotherfiveminutes.
“Idonotknow,”saidtheservant,“butthehousemaidisinMademoiselleValentine’sroom:perhapsshehasemptiedthem.”
“Askher,”saidMorrel,translatingNoirtier’sthoughtthistimebyhislook.
Theservantwentout,butreturnedalmostimmediately.
“MademoiselleValentinepassedthroughtheroomtogotoMadamedeVillefort’s,”saidhe;“andinpassing,asshewasthirsty,shedrankwhatremainedintheglass;asforthedecanter,MasterEdwardhademptiedthattomakeapondforhisducks.”
Noirtierraisedhiseyestoheaven,asagamblerdoeswhostakeshisallononestroke.
Fromthatmomenttheoldman’seyeswerefixedonthedoor,anddidnotquitit.
ItwasindeedMadameDanglarsandherdaughterwhomValentinehadseen;theyhadbeenusheredintoMadamedeVillefort’sroom,whohadsaidshewouldreceivethemthere.
ThatiswhyValentinepassedthroughherroom,whichwasonalevelwithValentine’s,andonlyseparatedfromitbyEdward’s.
Thetwoladiesenteredthedrawing–roomwiththatsortofofficialstiffnesswhichpreludesaformalcommunication.
Amongworldlypeoplemanneriscontagious.
MadamedeVillefortreceivedthemwithequalsolemnity.
Valentineenteredatthismoment,andtheformalitieswereresumed.
“Mydearfriend,”saidthebaroness,whilethetwoyoungpeoplewereshakinghands,“IandEugeniearecometobethefirsttoannouncetoyoutheapproachingmarriageofmydaughterwithPrinceCavalcanti.”Danglarskeptupthetitleofprince.
Thepopularbankerfoundthatitansweredbetterthancount.
“Allowmetopresentyoumysincerecongratulations,”repliedMadamedeVillefort.
“PrinceCavalcantiappearstobeayoungmanofrarequalities.”
“Listen,”saidthebaroness,smiling;“speakingtoyouasafriendIcansaythattheprincedoesnotyetappearallhewillbe.
HehasabouthimalittleofthatforeignmannerbywhichFrenchpersonsrecognize,atfirstsight,theItalianorGermannobleman.
Besides,hegivesevidenceofgreatkindnessofdisposition,muchkeennessofwit,andastosuitability,M.Danglarsassuresmethathisfortuneismajestic—thatishisword.”
“Andthen,”saidEugenie,whileturningovertheleavesofMadamedeVillefort’salbum,“addthatyouhavetakenagreatfancytotheyoungman.”
“And,”saidMadamedeVillefort,“Ineednotaskyouifyousharethatfancy.”
“I?”repliedEugeniewithherusualcandor.
“Oh,nottheleastintheworld,madame!
Mywishwasnottoconfinemyselftodomesticcares,orthecapricesofanyman,buttobeanartist,andconsequentlyfreeinheart,inperson,andinthought.”
EugeniepronouncedthesewordswithsofirmatonethatthecolormountedtoValentine’scheeks.
Thetimidgirlcouldnotunderstandthatvigorousnaturewhichappearedtohavenoneofthetimiditiesofwoman.
“Atanyrate,”saidshe,“sinceIamtobemarriedwhetherIwillornot,IoughttobethankfultoprovidenceforhavingreleasedmefrommyengagementwithM.AlbertdeMorcerf,orIshouldthisdayhavebeenthewifeofadishonoredman.”
“Itistrue,”saidthebaroness,withthatstrangesimplicitysometimesmetwithamongfashionableladies,andofwhichplebeianintercoursecanneverentirelydeprivethem,—”itisverytruethathadnottheMorcerfshesitated,mydaughterwouldhavemarriedMonsieurAlbert.
Thegeneraldependedmuchonit;heevencametoforceM.Danglars.Wehavehadanarrowescape.”
“But,”saidValentine,timidly,“doesallthefather’sshamerevertupontheson?MonsieurAlbertappearstomequiteinnocentofthetreasonchargedagainstthegeneral.”
“Excuseme,”saidtheimplacableyounggirl,“MonsieurAlbertclaimsandwelldeserveshisshare.
ItappearsthatafterhavingchallengedM.deMonteCristoattheOperayesterday,heapologizedonthegroundto–day.”
“Impossible,”saidMadamedeVillefort.
“Ah,mydearfriend,”saidMadameDanglars,withthesamesimplicitywebeforenoticed,“itisafact.
IhearditfromM.Debray,whowaspresentattheexplanation.”
Valentinealsoknewthetruth,butshedidnotanswer.
AsinglewordhadremindedherthatMorrelwasexpectingherinM.Noirtier’sroom.
Deeplyengagedwithasortofinwardcontemplation,Valentinehadceasedforamomenttojoinintheconversation.
Shewould,indeed,havefounditimpossibletorepeatwhathadbeensaidthelastfewminutes,whensuddenlyMadameDanglars’hand,pressedonherarm,arousedherfromherlethargy.
“Whatisit?”saidshe,startingatMadameDanglars’touchasshewouldhavedonefromanelectricshock.“Itis,mydearValentine,”saidthebaroness,“thatyouare,doubtless,suffering.”
“I?”saidtheyounggirl,passingherhandacrossherburningforehead.
“Yes,lookatyourselfinthatglass;youhaveturnedpaleandthenredsuccessively,threeorfourtimesinoneminute.”
“Indeed,”criedEugenie,“youareverypale!”
“Oh,donotbealarmed;Ihavebeensoformanydays.”
Artlessasshewas,theyounggirlknewthatthiswasanopportunitytoleave,andbesides,MadamedeVillefortcametoherassistance.
“Retire,Valentine,”saidshe;“youarereallysuffering,andtheseladieswillexcuseyou;drinkaglassofpurewater,itwillrestoreyou.”
ValentinekissedEugenie,bowedtoMadameDanglars,whohadalreadyrisentotakeherleave,andwentout.
“Thatpoorchild,”saidMadamedeVillefortwhenValentinewasgone,“shemakesmeveryuneasy,andIshouldnotbeastonishedifshehadsomeseriousillness.”
Meanwhile,Valentine,inasortofexcitementwhichshecouldnotquiteunderstand,hadcrossedEdward’sroomwithoutnoticingsometrickofthechild,andthroughherownhadreachedthelittlestaircase.
Shewaswithinthreestepsofthebottom;shealreadyheardMorrel’svoice,whensuddenlyacloudpassedoverhereyes,herstiffenedfootmissedthestep,herhandshadnopowertoholdthebaluster,andfallingagainstthewallshelostherbalancewhollyandtoppledtothefloor.
Morrelboundedtothedoor,openedit,andfoundValentinestretchedoutatthebottomofthestairs.
Quickasaflash,heraisedherinhisarmsandplacedherinachair.Valentineopenedhereyes.
“Oh,whataclumsythingIam,”saidshewithfeverishvolubility;“Idon’tknowmyway.Iforgottherewerethreemorestepsbeforethelanding.”
“Youhavehurtyourself,perhaps,”saidMorrel.“WhatcanIdoforyou,Valentine?”
Valentinelookedaroundher;shesawthedeepestterrordepictedinNoirtier’seyes.
“Don’tworry,deargrandpapa,”saidshe,endeavoringtosmile;“itisnothing—itisnothing;Iwasgiddy,thatisall.”
“Anotherattackofgiddiness,”saidMorrel,claspinghishands.“Oh,attendtoit,Valentine,Ientreatyou.”
“Butno,”saidValentine,—”no,Itellyouitisallpast,anditwasnothing.
Now,letmetellyousomenews;Eugenieistobemarriedinaweek,andinthreedaysthereistobeagrandfeast,abetrothalfestival.
Weareallinvited,myfather,MadamedeVillefort,andI—atleast,Iunderstooditso.”
“Whenwillitbeourturntothinkofthesethings?Oh,Valentine,youwhohavesomuchinfluenceoveryourgrandpapa,trytomakehimanswer—Soon.”
“Anddoyou,”saidValentine,“dependonmetostimulatethetardinessandarousethememoryofgrandpapa?”
“Yes,”criedMorrel,“makehaste.Solongasyouarenotmine,Valentine,IshallalwaysthinkImayloseyou.”
“Oh,”repliedValentinewithaconvulsivemovement,“oh,indeed,Maximilian,youaretootimidforanofficer,forasoldierwho,theysay,neverknowsfear.Ah,ha,ha!”
sheburstintoaforcedandmelancholylaugh,herarmsstiffenedandtwisted,herheadfellbackonherchair,andsheremainedmotionless.
ThecryofterrorwhichwasstoppedonNoirtier’slips,seemedtostartfromhiseyes.
Morrelunderstoodit;heknewhemustcallassistance.
Theyoungmanrangthebellviolently;thehousemaidwhohadbeeninMademoiselleValentine’sroom,andtheservantwhohadreplacedBarrois,raninatthesamemoment.
Valentinewassopale,socold,soinanimatethatwithoutlisteningtowhatwassaidtothemtheywereseizedwiththefearwhichpervadedthathouse,andtheyflewintothepassagecryingforhelp.
MadameDanglarsandEugenieweregoingoutatthatmoment;theyheardthecauseofthedisturbance.“Itoldyouso!”exclaimedMadamedeVillefort.“Poorchild!”
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