English
AstheprocureurhadtoldMadameDanglars,Valentinewasnotyetrecovered.
Boweddownwithfatigue,shewasindeedconfinedtoherbed;anditwasinherownroom,andfromthelipsofMadamedeVillefort,thatsheheardallthestrangeeventswehaverelated,—wemeantheflightofEugenieandthearrestofAndreaCavalcanti,orratherBenedetto,togetherwiththeaccusationofmurderpronouncedagainsthim.
ButValentinewassoweakthatthisrecitalscarcelyproducedthesameeffectitwouldhavedonehadshebeeninherusualstateofhealth.
Indeed,herbrainwasonlytheseatofvagueideas,andconfusedforms,mingledwithstrangefancies,alonepresentedthemselvesbeforehereyes.
DuringthedaytimeValentine’sperceptionsremainedtolerablyclear,owingtotheconstantpresenceofM.Noirtier,whocausedhimselftobecarriedtohisgranddaughter’sroom,andwatchedherwithhispaternaltenderness;Villefortalso,onhisreturnfromthelawcourts,frequentlypassedanhourortwowithhisfatherandchild.
Atsixo’clockVillefortretiredtohisstudy,ateightM.d’Avrignyhimselfarrived,bringingthenightdraughtpreparedfortheyounggirl,andthenM.Noirtierwascarriedaway.
Anurseofthedoctor’schoicesucceededthem,andneverlefttillabouttenoreleveno’clock,whenValentinewasasleep.
Asshewentdown–stairsshegavethekeysofValentine’sroomtoM.deVillefort,sothatnoonecouldreachthesick–roomexceptingthroughthatofMadamedeVillefortandlittleEdward.
EverymorningMorrelcalledonNoirtiertoreceivenewsofValentine,and,extraordinaryasitseemed,eachdayfoundhimlessuneasy.
Certainly,thoughValentinestilllaboredunderdreadfulnervousexcitement,shewasbetter;andmoreover,MonteCristohadtoldhimwhen,halfdistracted,hehadrushedtothecount’shouse,thatifshewerenotdeadintwohoursshewouldbesaved.
Nowfourdayshadelapsed,andValentinestilllived.
ThenervousexcitementofwhichwespeakpursuedValentineeveninhersleep,orratherinthatstateofsomnolencewhichsucceededherwakinghours;itwasthen,inthesilenceofnight,inthedimlightshedfromthealabasterlamponthechimney–piece,thatshesawtheshadowspassandrepasswhichhoveroverthebedofsickness,andfanthefeverwiththeirtremblingwings.
Firstshefanciedshesawherstepmotherthreateningher,thenMorrelstretchedhisarmstowardsher;sometimesmerestrangers,liketheCountofMonteCristocametovisither;eventheveryfurniture,inthesemomentsofdelirium,seemedtomove,andthisstatelastedtillaboutthreeo’clockinthemorning,whenadeep,heavyslumberovercametheyounggirl,fromwhichshedidnotawaketilldaylight.
OntheeveningofthedayonwhichValentinehadlearnedoftheflightofEugenieandthearrestofBenedetto,—VilleforthavingretiredaswellasNoirtierandd’Avrigny,—herthoughtswanderedinaconfusedmaze,alternatelyreviewingherownsituationandtheeventsshehadjustheard.
Eleveno’clockhadstruck.Thenurse,havingplacedthebeveragepreparedbythedoctorwithinreachofthepatient,andlockedthedoor,waslisteningwithterrortothecommentsoftheservantsinthekitchen,andstoringhermemorywithallthehorriblestorieswhichhadforsomemonthspastamusedtheoccupantsoftheante–chambersinthehouseoftheking’sattorney.
Meanwhileanunexpectedscenewaspassingintheroomwhichhadbeensocarefullylocked.
Tenminuteshadelapsedsincethenursehadleft;Valentine,whoforthelasthourhadbeensufferingfromthefeverwhichreturnednightly,incapableofcontrollingherideas,wasforcedtoyieldtotheexcitementwhichexhausteditselfinproducingandreproducingasuccessionandrecurrenceofthesamefanciesandimages.
Thenight–lampthrewoutcountlessrays,eachresolvingitselfintosomestrangeformtoherdisorderedimagination,whensuddenlybyitsflickeringlightValentinethoughtshesawthedoorofherlibrary,whichwasintherecessbythechimney–piece,openslowly,thoughsheinvainlistenedforthesoundofthehingesonwhichitturned.
AtanyothertimeValentinewouldhaveseizedthesilkenbell–pullandsummonedassistance,butnothingastonishedherinherpresentsituation.
Herreasontoldherthatallthevisionsshebeheldwerebutthechildrenofherimagination,andtheconvictionwasstrengthenedbythefactthatinthemorningnotracesremainedofthenocturnalphantoms,whodisappearedwiththecomingofdaylight.
Frombehindthedoorahumanfigureappeared,butthegirlwastoofamiliarwithsuchapparitionstobealarmed,andthereforeonlystared,hopingtorecognizeMorrel.
Thefigureadvancedtowardsthebedandappearedtolistenwithprofoundattention.
Atthismomentarayoflightglancedacrossthefaceofthemidnightvisitor.
“Itisnothe,”shemurmured,andwaited,intheassurancethatthiswasbutadream,forthemantodisappearorassumesomeotherform.
Still,shefeltherpulse,andfindingitthrobviolentlysherememberedthatthebestmethodofdispellingsuchillusionswastodrink,foradraughtofthebeveragepreparedbythedoctortoallayherfeverseemedtocauseareactionofthebrain,andforashorttimeshesufferedless.
Valentinethereforereachedherhandtowardstheglass,butassoonashertremblingarmleftthebedtheapparitionadvancedmorequicklytowardsher,andapproachedtheyounggirlsocloselythatshefanciedsheheardhisbreath,andfeltthepressureofhishand.
Thistimetheillusion,orratherthereality,surpassedanythingValentinehadbeforeexperienced;shebegantobelieveherselfreallyaliveandawake,andthebeliefthatherreasonwasthistimenotdeceivedmadehershudder.
Thepressureshefeltwasevidentlyintendedtoarrestherarm,andsheslowlywithdrewit.
Thenthefigure,fromwhomshecouldnotdetachhereyes,andwhoappearedmoreprotectingthanmenacing,tooktheglass,andwalkingtowardsthenight–lighthelditup,asiftotestitstransparency.
Thisdidnotseemsufficient;theman,orrathertheghost—forhetrodsosoftlythatnosoundwasheard—thenpouredoutaboutaspoonfulintotheglass,anddrankit.
Valentinewitnessedthisscenewithasentimentofstupefaction.
Everyminuteshehadexpectedthatitwouldvanishandgiveplacetoanothervision;buttheman,insteadofdissolvinglikeashadow,againapproachedher,andsaidinanagitatedvoice,“Nowyoumaydrink.”
Valentineshuddered.Itwasthefirsttimeoneofthesevisionshadeveraddressedherinalivingvoice,andshewasabouttoutteranexclamation.Themanplacedhisfingeronherlips.“TheCountofMonteCristo!”shemurmured.
Itwaseasytoseethatnodoubtnowremainedintheyounggirl’smindastotherealityofthescene;hereyesstartedwithterror,herhandstrembled,andsherapidlydrewthebedclothesclosertoher.
Still,thepresenceofMonteCristoatsuchanhour,hismysterious,fanciful,andextraordinaryentranceintoherroomthroughthewall,mightwellseemimpossibilitiestohershatteredreason.
“Donotcallanyone—donotbealarmed,”saidtheCount;“donotletashadeofsuspicionoruneasinessremaininyourbreast;themanstandingbeforeyou,Valentine(forthistimeitisnoghost),isnothingmorethanthetenderestfatherandthemostrespectfulfriendyoucoulddreamof.”
Valentinecouldnotreply;thevoicewhichindicatedtherealpresenceofabeingintheroom,alarmedhersomuchthatshefearedtoutterasyllable;stilltheexpressionofhereyesseemedtoinquire,“Ifyourintentionsarepure,whyareyouhere?”
Thecount’smarvelloussagacityunderstoodallthatwaspassingintheyounggirl’smind.
“Listentome,”hesaid,“or,rather,lookuponme;lookatmyface,palereventhanusual,andmyeyes,redwithweariness—forfourdaysIhavenotclosedthem,forIhavebeenconstantlywatchingyou,toprotectandpreserveyouforMaximilian.”
ThebloodmountedrapidlytothecheeksofValentine,forthenamejustannouncedbythecountdispelledallthefearwithwhichhispresencehadinspiredher.“Maximilian!”
sheexclaimed,andsosweetdidthesoundappeartoher,thatsherepeatedit—”Maximilian!—hashethenownedalltoyou?”
“Everything.Hetoldmeyourlifewashis,andIhavepromisedhimthatyoushalllive.”
“YouhavepromisedhimthatIshalllive?”
“Yes.”
“But,sir,youspokeofvigilanceandprotection.Areyouadoctor?”
“Yes;thebestyoucouldhaveatthepresenttime,believeme.”
“Butyousayyouhavewatched?”saidValentineuneasily;“wherehaveyoubeen?—Ihavenotseenyou.”
Thecountextendedhishandtowardsthelibrary.
“Iwashiddenbehindthatdoor,”hesaid,“whichleadsintothenexthouse,whichIhaverented.”
Valentineturnedhereyesaway,and,withanindignantexpressionofprideandmodestfear,exclaimed:“Sir,Ithinkyouhavebeenguiltyofanunparalleledintrusion,andthatwhatyoucallprotectionismorelikeaninsult.”
“Valentine,”heanswered,“duringmylongwatchoveryou,allIhaveobservedhasbeenwhatpeoplevisitedyou,whatnourishmentwasprepared,andwhatbeveragewasserved;then,whenthelatterappeareddangeroustome,Ientered,asIhavenowdone,andsubstituted,intheplaceofthepoison,ahealthfuldraught;which,insteadofproducingthedeathintended,causedlifetocirculateinyourveins.”
“Poison—death!”exclaimedValentine,halfbelievingherselfundertheinfluenceofsomefeverishhallucination;“whatareyousaying,sir?”
“Hush,mychild,”saidMonteCristo,againplacinghisfingeruponherlips,“Ididsaypoisonanddeath.
Butdrinksomeofthis;”andthecounttookabottlefromhispocket,containingaredliquid,ofwhichhepouredafewdropsintotheglass.
“Drinkthis,andthentakenothingmoreto–night.”
Valentinestretchedoutherhand,butscarcelyhadshetouchedtheglasswhenshedrewbackinfear.
MonteCristotooktheglass,drankhalfitscontents,andthenpresentedittoValentine,whosmiledandswallowedtherest.
“Oh,yes,”sheexclaimed,“Irecognizetheflavorofmynocturnalbeveragewhichrefreshedmesomuch,andseemedtoeasemyachingbrain.Thankyou,sir,thankyou!”
“Thisishowyouhavelivedduringthelastfournights,Valentine,”saidthecount.“But,oh,howIpassedthattime!
Oh,thewretchedhoursIhaveendured—thetorturetowhichIhavesubmittedwhenIsawthedeadlypoisonpouredintoyourglass,andhowItrembledlestyoushoulddrinkitbeforeIcouldfindtimetothrowitaway!”
“Sir,”saidValentine,attheheightofherterror,“yousayyouenduredtortureswhenyousawthedeadlypoisonpouredintomyglass;butifyousawthis,youmustalsohaveseenthepersonwhopouredit?”
“Yes.”Valentineraisedherselfinbed,anddrewoverherchest,whichappearedwhiterthansnow,theembroideredcambric,stillmoistwiththecolddewsofdelirium,towhichwerenowaddedthoseofterror.“Yousawtheperson?”repeatedtheyounggirl.“Yes,”repeatedthecount.
“Whatyoutellmeishorrible,sir.Youwishtomakemebelievesomethingtoodreadful.What?
—attempttomurdermeinmyfather’shouse,inmyroom,onmybedofsickness?
Oh,leaveme,sir;youaretemptingme—youmakemedoubtthegoodnessofprovidence—itisimpossible,itcannotbe!”
“Areyouthefirstthatthishandhasstricken?
HaveyounotseenM.deSaint–Meran,MadamedeSaint–Meran,Barrois,allfall?
wouldnotM.Noirtieralsohavefallenavictim,hadnotthetreatmenthehasbeenpursuingforthelastthreeyearsneutralizedtheeffectsofthepoison?”
“Oh,heaven,”saidValentine;“isthisthereasonwhygrandpapahasmademeshareallhisbeveragesduringthelastmonth?”
“Andhavetheyalltastedofaslightlybitterflavor,likethatofdriedorange–peel?”
“Oh,yes,yes!”
“Thenthatexplainsall,”saidMonteCristo.
“Yourgrandfatherknows,then,thatapoisonerliveshere;perhapsheevensuspectstheperson.
Hehasbeenfortifyingyou,hisbelovedchild,againstthefataleffectsofthepoison,whichhasfailedbecauseyoursystemwasalreadyimpregnatedwithit.
Buteventhiswouldhaveavailedlittleagainstamoredeadlymediumofdeathemployedfourdaysago,whichisgenerallybuttoofatal.”
“Butwho,then,isthisassassin,thismurderer?”
“Letmealsoaskyouaquestion.Haveyouneverseenanyoneenteryourroomatnight?”
“Oh,yes;Ihavefrequentlyseenshadowspassclosetome,approach,anddisappear;butItookthemforvisionsraisedbymyfeverishimagination,andindeedwhenyouenteredIthoughtIwasundertheinfluenceofdelirium.”
“Thenyoudonotknowwhoitisthatattemptsyourlife?”
“No,”saidValentine;“whocoulddesiremydeath?”
“Youshallknowitnow,then,”saidMonteCristo,listening.
“Howdoyoumean?”saidValentine,lookinganxiouslyaround.
“Becauseyouarenotfeverishordeliriousto–night,butthoroughlyawake;midnightisstriking,whichisthehourmurdererschoose.”
“Oh,heavens,”exclaimedValentine,wipingoffthedropswhichrandownherforehead.
Midnightstruckslowlyandsadly;everyhourseemedtostrikewithleadenweightupontheheartofthepoorgirl.
“Valentine,”saidthecount,“summonupallyourcourage;stillthebeatingsofyourheart;donotletasoundescapeyou,andfeigntobeasleep;thenyouwillsee.”Valentineseizedthecount’shand.
“IthinkIhearanoise,”shesaid;“leaveme.”
“Good–by,forthepresent,”repliedthecount,walkingupontiptoetowardsthelibrarydoor,andsmilingwithanexpressionsosadandpaternalthattheyounggirl’sheartwasfilledwithgratitude.
Beforeclosingthedoorheturnedaroundoncemore,andsaid,“Notamovement—notaword;letthemthinkyouasleep,orperhapsyoumaybekilledbeforeIhavethepowerofhelpingyou.”
Andwiththisfearfulinjunctionthecountdisappearedthroughthedoor,whichnoiselesslyclosedafterhim.
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