English
AtthesamemomentM.deVillefort’svoicewasheardcallingfromhisstudy,“Whatisthematter?”
MorrellookedatNoirtierwhohadrecoveredhisself–command,andwithaglanceindicatedtheclosetwhereoncebeforeundersomewhatsimilarcircumstances,hehadtakenrefuge.
Hehadonlytimetogethishatandthrowhimselfbreathlessintotheclosetwhentheprocureur’sfootstepwasheardinthepassage.
Villefortsprangintotheroom,rantoValentine,andtookherinhisarms.
“Aphysician,aphysician,—M.d’Avrigny!”
criedVillefort;“orratherIwillgoforhimmyself.”
Heflewfromtheapartment,andMorrelatthesamemomentdartedoutattheotherdoor.
Hehadbeenstrucktotheheartbyafrightfulrecollection—theconversationhehadheardbetweenthedoctorandVillefortthenightofMadamedeSaint–Meran’sdeath,recurredtohim;thesesymptoms,toalessalarmingextent,werethesamewhichhadprecededthedeathofBarrois.
AtthesametimeMonteCristo’svoiceseemedtoresoundinhisearwiththewordshehadheardonlytwohoursbefore,“Whateveryouwant,Morrel,cometome;Ihavegreatpower.”
Morerapidlythanthought,hedarteddowntheRueMatignon,andthencetotheAvenuedesChampsElysees.
MeanwhileM.deVillefortarrivedinahiredcabrioletatM.d’Avrigny’sdoor.
Herangsoviolentlythattheporterwasalarmed.
Villefortranup–stairswithoutsayingaword.
Theporterknewhim,andlethimpass,onlycallingtohim,“Inhisstudy,MonsieurProcureur—inhisstudy!”
Villefortpushed,orratherforced,thedooropen.“Ah,”saidthedoctor,“isityou?”
“Yes,”saidVillefort,closingthedoorafterhim,“itisI,whoamcomeinmyturntoaskyouifwearequitealone.Doctor,myhouseisaccursed!”
“What?”saidthelatterwithapparentcoolness,butwithdeepemotion,“haveyouanotherinvalid?”
“Yes,doctor,”criedVillefort,clutchinghishair,“yes!”
D’Avrigny’slookimplied,“Itoldyouitwouldbeso.”
Thenheslowlyutteredthesewords,“Whoisnowdyinginyourhouse?
WhatnewvictimisgoingtoaccuseyouofweaknessbeforeGod?”
AmournfulsobburstfromVillefort’sheart;heapproachedthedoctor,andseizinghisarm,—”Valentine,”saidhe,“itisValentine’sturn!”
“Yourdaughter?”criedd’Avrignywithgriefandsurprise.
“Youseeyouweredeceived,”murmuredthemagistrate;“comeandseeher,andonherbedofagonyentreatherpardonforhavingsuspectedher.”
“Eachtimeyouhaveappliedtome,”saidthedoctor,“ithasbeentoolate;stillIwillgo.Butletusmakehaste,sir;withtheenemiesyouhavetodowiththereisnotimetobelost.”
“Oh,thistime,doctor,youshallnothavetoreproachmewithweakness.ThistimeIwillknowtheassassin,andwillpursuehim.”
“Letustryfirsttosavethevictimbeforewethinkofrevengingher,”saidd’Avrigny.“Come.”
ThesamecabrioletwhichhadbroughtVilleforttookthembackatfullspeed,andatthismomentMorrelrappedatMonteCristo’sdoor.
ThecountwasinhisstudyandwasreadingwithanangrylooksomethingwhichBertucciohadbroughtinhaste.
HearingthenameofMorrel,whohadlefthimonlytwohoursbefore,thecountraisedhishead,arose,andsprangtomeethim.“Whatisthematter,Maximilian?”
askedhe;“youarepale,andtheperspirationrollsfromyourforehead.”Morrelfellintoachair.
“Yes,”saidhe,“Icamequickly;Iwantedtospeaktoyou.”
“Areallyourfamilywell?”askedthecount,withanaffectionatebenevolence,whosesinceritynoonecouldforamomentdoubt.
“Thankyou,count—thankyou,”saidtheyoungman,evidentlyembarrassedhowtobegintheconversation;“yes,everyoneinmyfamilyiswell.”
“Somuchthebetter;yetyouhavesomethingtotellme?”repliedthecountwithincreasedanxiety.
“Yes,”saidMorrel,“itistrue;Ihavebutnowleftahousewheredeathhasjustentered,toruntoyou.”
“AreyouthencomefromM.deMorcerf’s?”askedMonteCristo.
“No,”saidMorrel;“issomeonedeadinhishouse?”
“Thegeneralhasjustblownhisbrainsout,”repliedMonteCristowithgreatcoolness.
“Oh,whatadreadfulevent!”criedMaximilian.
“Notforthecountess,orforAlbert,”saidMonteCristo;“adeadfatherorhusbandisbetterthanadishonoredone,—bloodwashesoutshame.”
“Poorcountess,”saidMaximilian,“Ipityherverymuch;sheissonobleawoman!”
“PityAlbertalso,Maximilian;forbelievemeheistheworthysonofthecountess.Butletusreturntoyourself.Youhavehastenedtome—canIhavethehappinessofbeingusefultoyou?”
“Yes,Ineedyourhelp:thatisIthoughtlikeamadmanthatyoucouldlendmeyourassistanceinacasewhereGodalonecansuccorme.”
“Tellmewhatitis,”repliedMonteCristo.
“Oh,”saidMorrel,“Iknownot,indeed,ifImayrevealthissecrettomortalears,butfatalityimpelsme,necessityconstrainsme,count”—Morrelhesitated.“DoyouthinkIloveyou?”
saidMonteCristo,takingtheyoungman’shandaffectionatelyinhis.
“Oh,youencourageme,andsomethingtellsmethere,”placinghishandonhisheart,“thatIoughttohavenosecretfromyou.”
“Youareright,Morrel;Godisspeakingtoyourheart,andyourheartspeakstoyou.Tellmewhatitsays.”
“Count,willyouallowmetosendBaptistintoinquireaftersomeoneyouknow?”
“Iamatyourservice,andstillmoremyservants.”
“Oh,Icannotliveifsheisnotbetter.”
“ShallIringforBaptistin?”
“No,Iwillgoandspeaktohimmyself.”Morrelwentout,calledBaptistin,andwhisperedafewwordstohim.Thevaletrandirectly.“Well,haveyousent?”askedMonteCristo,seeingMorrelreturn.
“Yes,andnowIshallbemorecalm.”
“YouknowIamwaiting,”saidMonteCristo,smiling.
“Yes,andIwilltellyou.OneeveningIwasinagarden;aclumpoftreesconcealedme;noonesuspectedIwasthere.
Twopersonspassednearme—allowmetoconcealtheirnamesforthepresent;theywerespeakinginanundertone,andyetIwassointerestedinwhattheysaidthatIdidnotloseasingleword.”
“Thisisagloomyintroduction,ifImayjudgefromyourpallorandshuddering,Morrel.”
“Oh,yes,verygloomy,myfriend.Someonehadjustdiedinthehousetowhichthatgardenbelonged.
OneofthepersonswhoseconversationIoverheardwasthemasterofthehouse;theother,thephysician.
Theformerwasconfidingtothelatterhisgriefandfear,foritwasthesecondtimewithinamonththatdeathhadsuddenlyandunexpectedlyenteredthathousewhichwasapparentlydestinedtodestructionbysomeexterminatingangel,asanobjectofGod’sanger.”
“Ah,indeed?”saidMonteCristo,lookingearnestlyattheyoungman,andbyanimperceptiblemovementturninghischair,sothatheremainedintheshadewhilethelightfellfullonMaximilian’sface.
“Yes,”continuedMorrel,“deathhadenteredthathousetwicewithinonemonth.”
“Andwhatdidthedoctoranswer?”askedMonteCristo.
“Hereplied—hereplied,thatthedeathwasnotanaturalone,andmustbeattributed”—
“Towhat?”
“Topoison.”
“Indeed?”saidMonteCristowithaslightcoughwhichinmomentsofextremeemotionhelpedhimtodisguiseablush,orhispallor,ortheintenseinterestwithwhichhelistened;“indeed,Maximilian,didyouhearthat?”
“Yes,mydearcount,Iheardit;andthedoctoraddedthatifanotherdeathoccurredinasimilarwayhemustappealtojustice.”
MonteCristolistened,orappearedtodoso,withthegreatestcalmness.
“Well,”saidMaximilian,“deathcameathirdtime,andneitherthemasterofthehousenorthedoctorsaidaword.
Deathisnow,perhaps,strikingafourthblow.
Count,whatamIboundtodo,beinginpossessionofthissecret?”
“Mydearfriend,”saidMonteCristo,“youappeartoberelatinganadventurewhichweallknowbyheart.
Iknowthehousewhereyouheardit,oroneverysimilartoit;ahousewithagarden,amaster,aphysician,andwheretherehavebeenthreeunexpectedandsuddendeaths.
Well,Ihavenotinterceptedyourconfidence,andyetIknowallthataswellasyou,andIhavenoconscientiousscruples.No,itdoesnotconcernme.
YousayanexterminatingangelappearstohavedevotedthathousetoGod’sanger—well,whosaysyoursuppositionisnotreality?
Donotnoticethingswhichthosewhoseinterestitistoseethempassover.
IfitisGod’sjustice,insteadofhisanger,whichiswalkingthroughthathouse,Maximilian,turnawayyourfaceandlethisjusticeaccomplishitspurpose.”Morrelshuddered.
Therewassomethingmournful,solemn,andterribleinthecount’smanner.
“Besides,”continuedhe,insochangedatonethatnoonewouldhavesupposeditwasthesamepersonspeaking—”besides,whosaysthatitwillbeginagain?”
“Ithasreturned,count,”exclaimedMorrel;“thatiswhyIhastenedtoyou.”
“Well,whatdoyouwishmetodo?Doyouwishme,forinstance,togiveinformationtotheprocureur?”
MonteCristoutteredthelastwordswithsomuchmeaningthatMorrel,startingup,criedout,“YouknowofwhomIspeak,count,doyounot?”
“Perfectlywell,mygoodfriend;andIwillproveittoyoubyputtingthedotstothe‘i,’orratherbynamingthepersons.
YouwerewalkingoneeveninginM.deVillefort’sgarden;fromwhatyourelate,IsupposeittohavebeentheeveningofMadamedeSaint–Meran’sdeath.
YouheardM.deVilleforttalkingtoM.d’AvrignyaboutthedeathofM.deSaint–Meran,andthatnolesssurprising,ofthecountess.
M.d’Avrignysaidhebelievedtheybothproceededfrompoison;andyou,honestman,haveeversincebeenaskingyourheartandsoundingyourconsciencetoknowifyououghttoexposeorconcealthissecret.Whydoyoutormentthem?
‘Conscience,whathastthoutodowithme?’asSternesaid.
Mydearfellow,letthemsleepon,iftheyareasleep;letthemgrowpaleintheirdrowsiness,iftheyaredisposedtodoso,andpraydoyouremaininpeace,whohavenoremorsetodisturbyou.”
DeepgriefwasdepictedonMorrel’sfeatures;heseizedMonteCristo’shand.“Butitisbeginningagain,Isay!”
“Well,”saidtheCount,astonishedathisperseverance,whichhecouldnotunderstand,andlookingstillmoreearnestlyatMaximilian,“letitbeginagain,—itislikethehouseoftheAtreidae;[*]Godhascondemnedthem,andtheymustsubmittotheirpunishment.
Theywillalldisappear,likethefabricschildrenbuildwithcards,andwhichfall,onebyone,underthebreathoftheirbuilder,eveniftherearetwohundredofthem.
ThreemonthssinceitwasM.deSaint–Meran;MadamedeSaint–Merantwomonthssince;theotherdayitwasBarrois;to–day,theoldNoirtier,oryoungValentine.”“Youknewit?”
criedMorrel,insuchaparoxysmofterrorthatMonteCristostarted,—hewhomthefallingheavenswouldhavefoundunmoved;“youknewit,andsaidnothing?”
*IntheoldGreeklegendtheAtreidae,orchildrenof
Atreus,weredoomedtopunishmentbecauseoftheabominable
crimeoftheirfather.TheAgamemnonofAeschylusisbased
onthislegend.
“Andwhatisittome?”repliedMonteCristo,shrugginghisshoulders;“doIknowthosepeople?
andmustIlosetheonetosavetheother?
Faith,no,forbetweentheculpritandthevictimIhavenochoice.”
“ButI,”criedMorrel,groaningwithsorrow,“Iloveher!”
“Youlove?—whom?”criedMonteCristo,startingtohisfeet,andseizingthetwohandswhichMorrelwasraisingtowardsheaven.
“Ilovemostfondly—Ilovemadly—Iloveasamanwhowouldgivehislife–bloodtospareheratear—IloveValentinedeVillefort,whoisbeingmurderedatthismoment!Doyouunderstandme?
Iloveher;andIaskGodandyouhowIcansaveher?”
MonteCristoutteredacrywhichthoseonlycanconceivewhohaveheardtheroarofawoundedlion.
“Unhappyman,”criedhe,wringinghishandsinhisturn;“youloveValentine,—thatdaughterofanaccursedrace!”
NeverhadMorrelwitnessedsuchanexpression—neverhadsoterribleaneyeflashedbeforehisface—neverhadthegeniusofterrorhehadsooftenseen,eitheronthebattle–fieldorinthemurderousnightsofAlgeria,shakenaroundhimmoredreadfulfire.Hedrewbackterrified.
AsforMonteCristo,afterthisebullitionheclosedhiseyesasifdazzledbyinternallight.
Inamomentherestrainedhimselfsopowerfullythatthetempestuousheavingofhisbreastsubsided,asturbulentandfoamingwavesyieldtothesun’sgenialinfluencewhenthecloudhaspassed.
Thissilence,self–control,andstrugglelastedabouttwentyseconds,thenthecountraisedhispallidface.
“See,”saidhe,“mydearfriend,howGodpunishesthemostthoughtlessandunfeelingmenfortheirindifference,bypresentingdreadfulscenestotheirview.
I,whowaslookingon,aneagerandcuriousspectator,—I,whowaswatchingtheworkingofthismournfultragedy,—I,wholikeawickedangelwaslaughingattheevilmencommittedprotectedbysecrecy(asecretiseasilykeptbytherichandpowerful),IaminmyturnbittenbytheserpentwhosetortuouscourseIwaswatching,andbittentotheheart!”
Morrelgroaned.“Come,come,”continuedthecount,“complaintsareunavailing,beaman,bestrong,befullofhope,forIamhereandwillwatchoveryou.”Morrelshookhisheadsorrowfully.“Itellyoutohope.Doyouunderstandme?”criedMonteCristo.
“RememberthatIneverutteredafalsehoodandamneverdeceived.
Itistwelveo’clock,Maximilian;thankheaventhatyoucameatnoonratherthanintheevening,orto–morrowmorning.
Listen,Morrel—itisnoon;ifValentineisnotnowdead,shewillnotdie.”
“Howso?”criedMorrel,“whenIleftherdying?”
MonteCristopressedhishandstohisforehead.
Whatwaspassinginthatbrain,soloadedwithdreadfulsecrets?
Whatdoestheangeloflightortheangelofdarknesssaytothatmind,atonceimplacableandgenerous?Godonlyknows.
MonteCristoraisedhisheadoncemore,andthistimehewascalmasachildawakingfromitssleep.“Maximilian,”saidhe,“returnhome.
Icommandyounottostir—attemptnothing,nottoletyourcountenancebetrayathought,andIwillsendyoutidings.Go.”
“Oh,count,youoverwhelmmewiththatcoolness.Haveyou,then,poweragainstdeath?Areyousuperhuman?Areyouanangel?”
Andtheyoungman,whohadnevershrunkfromdanger,shrankbeforeMonteCristowithindescribableterror.
ButMonteCristolookedathimwithsomelancholyandsweetasmile,thatMaximilianfeltthetearsfillinghiseyes.
“Icandomuchforyou,myfriend,”repliedthecount.“Go;Imustbealone.”
Morrel,subduedbytheextraordinaryascendancyMonteCristoexercisedovereverythingaroundhim,didnotendeavortoresistit.Hepressedthecount’shandandleft.
HestoppedonemomentatthedoorforBaptistin,whomhesawintheRueMatignon,andwhowasrunning.
Meanwhile,Villefortandd’Avrignyhadmadeallpossiblehaste,Valentinehadnotrevivedfromherfaintingfitontheirarrival,andthedoctorexaminedtheinvalidwithallthecarethecircumstancesdemanded,andwithaninterestwhichtheknowledgeofthesecretintensifiedtwofold.
Villefort,closelywatchinghiscountenanceandhislips,awaitedtheresultoftheexamination.
Noirtier,palerthaneventheyounggirl,moreeagerthanVillefortforthedecision,waswatchingalsointentlyandaffectionately.
Atlastd’Avrignyslowlyutteredthesewords:—”sheisstillalive!”
“Still?”criedVillefort;“oh,doctor,whatadreadfulwordisthat.”
“Yes,”saidthephysician,“Irepeatit;sheisstillalive,andIamastonishedatit.”
“Butisshesafe?”askedthefather.
“Yes,sinceshelives.”Atthatmomentd’Avrigny’sglancemetNoirtier’seye.
Itglistenedwithsuchextraordinaryjoy,sorichandfullofthought,thatthephysicianwasstruck.
Heplacedtheyounggirlagainonthechair,—herlipswerescarcelydiscernible,theyweresopaleandwhite,aswellasherwholeface,—andremainedmotionless,lookingatNoirtier,whoappearedtoanticipateandcommendallhedid.
“Sir,”saidd’AvrignytoVillefort,“callMademoiselleValentine’smaid,ifyouplease.”
Villefortwenthimselftofindher;andd’AvrignyapproachedNoirtier.“Haveyousomethingtotellme?”askedhe.
Theoldmanwinkedhiseyesexpressively,whichwemayrememberwashisonlywayofexpressinghisapproval.
“Privately?”
“Yes.”
“Well,Iwillremainwithyou.”AtthismomentVillefortreturned,followedbythelady’smaid;andafterhercameMadamedeVillefort.
“Whatisthematter,then,withthisdearchild?
shehasjustleftme,andshecomplainedofbeingindisposed,butIdidnotthinkseriouslyofit.”
Theyoungwomanwithtearsinhereyesandeverymarkofaffectionofatruemother,approachedValentineandtookherhand.
D’AvrignycontinuedtolookatNoirtier;hesawtheeyesoftheoldmandilateandbecomeround,hischeeksturnpaleandtremble;theperspirationstoodindropsuponhisforehead.
“Ah,”saidhe,involuntarilyfollowingNoirtier’seyes,whichwerefixedonMadamedeVillefort,whorepeated,—”Thispoorchildwouldbebetterinbed.Come,Fanny,wewillputhertobed.”
M.d’Avrigny,whosawthatwouldbeameansofhisremainingalonewithNoirtier,expressedhisopinionthatitwasthebestthingthatcouldbedone;butheforbadethatanythingshouldbegiventoherexceptwhatheordered.
TheycarriedValentineaway;shehadrevived,butcouldscarcelymoveorspeak,soshakenwasherframebytheattack.
Shehad,however,justpowertogiveonepartinglooktohergrandfather,whoinlosingherseemedtoberesigninghisverysoul.
D’Avrignyfollowedtheinvalid,wroteaprescription,orderedVilleforttotakeacabriolet,goinpersontoachemist’stogettheprescribedmedicine,bringithimself,andwaitforhiminhisdaughter’sroom.
Then,havingrenewedhisinjunctionnottogiveValentineanything,hewentdownagaintoNoirtier,shutthedoorscarefully,andafterconvincinghimselfthatnoonewaslistening,—”Doyou,”saidhe,“knowanythingofthisyounglady’sillness?”
“Yes,”saidtheoldman.
“Wehavenotimetolose;Iwillquestion,anddoyouanswerme.”Noirtiermadeasignthathewasreadytoanswer.“Didyouanticipatetheaccidentwhichhashappenedtoyourgranddaughter?”
“Yes.”D’Avrignyreflectedamoment;thenapproachingNoirtier,—”PardonwhatIamgoingtosay,”addedhe,“butnoindicationshouldbeneglectedinthisterriblesituation.DidyouseepoorBarroisdie?”Noirtierraisedhiseyestoheaven.“Doyouknowofwhathedied!”
askedd’Avrigny,placinghishandonNoirtier’sshoulder.
“Yes,”repliedtheoldman.
“Doyouthinkhediedanaturaldeath?”AsortofsmilewasdiscernibleonthemotionlesslipsofNoirtier.
“ThenyouhavethoughtthatBarroiswaspoisoned?”
“Yes.”
“Doyouthinkthepoisonhefellavictimtowasintendedforhim?”
“No.”
“DoyouthinkthesamehandwhichunintentionallystruckBarroishasnowattackedValentine?”
“Yes.”
“Thenwillshedietoo?”askedd’Avrigny,fixinghispenetratinggazeonNoirtier.
Hewatchedtheeffectofthisquestionontheoldman.
“No,”repliedhewithanairoftriumphwhichwouldhavepuzzledthemostcleverdiviner.“Thenyouhope?”saidd’Avrigny,withsurprise.
“Yes.”
“Whatdoyouhope?”Theoldmanmadehimunderstandwithhiseyesthathecouldnotanswer.
“Ah,yes,itistrue,”murmuredd’Avrigny.
Then,turningtoNoirtier,—”Doyouhopetheassassinwillbetried?”
“No.”
“ThenyouhopethepoisonwilltakenoeffectonValentine?”
“Yes.”
“Itisnonewstoyou,”addedd’Avrigny,“totellyouthatanattempthasbeenmadetopoisonher?”
Theoldmanmadeasignthatheentertainednodoubtuponthesubject.
“ThenhowdoyouhopeValentinewillescape?”
Noirtierkepthiseyessteadfastlyfixedonthesamespot.
D’Avrignyfollowedthedirectionandsawthattheywerefixedonabottlecontainingthemixturewhichhetookeverymorning.“Ah,indeed?”
saidd’Avrigny,struckwithasuddenthought,“hasitoccurredtoyou”—Noirtierdidnotlethimfinish.“Yes,”saidhe.
“Topreparehersystemtoresistpoison?”
“Yes.”
“Byaccustomingherbydegrees”—
“Yes,yes,yes,”saidNoirtier,delightedtobeunderstood.
“Ofcourse.IhadtoldyouthattherewasbrucineinthemixtureIgiveyou.”
“Yes.”
“Andbyaccustominghertothatpoison,youhaveendeavoredtoneutralizetheeffectofasimilarpoison?”Noirtier’sjoycontinued.
“Andyouhavesucceeded,”exclaimedd’Avrigny.
“WithoutthatprecautionValentinewouldhavediedbeforeassistancecouldhavebeenprocured.
Thedosehasbeenexcessive,butshehasonlybeenshakenbyit;andthistime,atanyrate,Valentinewillnotdie.”
Asuperhumanjoyexpandedtheoldman’seyes,whichwereraisedtowardsheavenwithanexpressionofinfinitegratitude.AtthismomentVillefortreturned.
“Here,doctor,”saidhe,“iswhatyousentmefor.”
“Wasthispreparedinyourpresence?”
“Yes,”repliedtheprocureur.
“Haveyounotletitgooutofyourhands?”
“No.”D’Avrignytookthebottle,pouredsomedropsofthemixtureitcontainedinthehollowofhishand,andswallowedthem.
“Well,”saidhe,“letusgotoValentine;Iwillgiveinstructionstoeveryone,andyou,M.deVillefort,willyourselfseethatnoonedeviatesfromthem.”
Atthemomentwhend’AvrignywasreturningtoValentine’sroom,accompaniedbyVillefort,anItalianpriest,ofseriousdemeanorandcalmandfirmtone,hiredforhisusethehouseadjoiningthehotelofM.deVillefort.
Nooneknewhowthethreeformertenantsofthathouseleftit.
Abouttwohoursafterwardsitsfoundationwasreportedtobeunsafe;butthereportdidnotpreventthenewoccupantestablishinghimselftherewithhismodestfurniturethesamedayatfiveo’clock.
Theleasewasdrawnupforthree,six,ornineyearsbythenewtenant,who,accordingtotheruleoftheproprietor,paidsixmonthsinadvance.
Thisnewtenant,who,aswehavesaid,wasanItalian,wascalledIlSignorGiacomoBusoni.
Workmenwereimmediatelycalledin,andthatsamenightthepassengersattheendofthefaubourgsawwithsurprisethatcarpentersandmasonswereoccupiedinrepairingthelowerpartofthetotteringhouse.
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