English
WerememberthattheAbbeBusoniremainedalonewithNoirtierinthechamberofdeath,andthattheoldmanandthepriestwerethesoleguardiansoftheyounggirl’sbody.
PerhapsitwastheChristianexhortationsoftheabbe,perhapshiskindcharity,perhapshispersuasivewords,whichhadrestoredthecourageofNoirtier,foreversincehehadconversedwiththepriesthisviolentdespairhadyieldedtoacalmresignationwhichsurprisedallwhoknewhisexcessiveaffectionforValentine.
M.deVilleforthadnotseenhisfathersincethemorningofthedeath.
Thewholeestablishmenthadbeenchanged;anothervaletwasengagedforhimself,anewservantforNoirtier,twowomenhadenteredMadamedeVillefort’sservice,—infact,everywhere,totheconciergeandcoachmen,newfaceswerepresentedtothedifferentmastersofthehouse,thuswideningthedivisionwhichhadalwaysexistedbetweenthemembersofthesamefamily.
Theassizes,also,wereabouttobegin,andVillefort,shutupinhisroom,exertedhimselfwithfeverishanxietyindrawingupthecaseagainstthemurdererofCaderousse.
Thisaffair,likeallthoseinwhichtheCountofMonteCristohadinterfered,causedagreatsensationinParis.
Theproofswerecertainlynotconvincing,sincetheyresteduponafewwordswrittenbyanescapedgalley–slaveonhisdeath–bed,andwhomighthavebeenactuatedbyhatredorrevengeinaccusinghiscompanion.
Butthemindoftheprocureurwasmadeup;hefeltassuredthatBenedettowasguilty,andhehopedbyhisskillinconductingthisaggravatedcasetoflatterhisself–love,whichwasabouttheonlyvulnerablepointleftinhisfrozenheart.
ThecasewasthereforepreparedowingtotheincessantlaborofVillefort,whowishedittobethefirstonthelistinthecomingassizes.
Hehadbeenobligedtosecludehimselfmorethanever,toevadetheenormousnumberofapplicationspresentedtohimforthepurposeofobtainingticketsofadmissiontothecourtonthedayoftrial.
AndthensoshortatimehadelapsedsincethedeathofpoorValentine,andthegloomwhichovershadowedthehousewassorecent,thatnoonewonderedtoseethefathersoabsorbedinhisprofessionalduties,whichweretheonlymeanshehadofdissipatinghisgrief.
OnceonlyhadVillefortseenhisfather;itwasthedayafterthatuponwhichBertucciohadpaidhissecondvisittoBenedetto,whenthelatterwastolearnhisfather’sname.
Themagistrate,harassedandfatigued,haddescendedtothegardenofhishouse,andinagloomymood,similartothatinwhichTarquinloppedoffthetallestpoppies,hebeganknockingoffwithhiscanethelonganddyingbranchesoftherose–trees,which,placedalongtheavenue,seemedlikethespectresofthebrilliantflowerswhichhadbloomedinthepastseason.
Morethanoncehehadreachedthatpartofthegardenwherethefamousboardedgatestoodoverlookingthedesertedenclosure,alwaysreturningbythesamepath,tobeginhiswalkagain,atthesamepaceandwiththesamegesture,whenheaccidentallyturnedhiseyestowardsthehouse,whenceheheardthenoisyplayofhisson,whohadreturnedfromschooltospendtheSundayandMondaywithhismother.
Whiledoingso,heobservedM.Noirtieratoneoftheopenwindows,wheretheoldmanhadbeenplacedthathemightenjoythelastraysofthesunwhichyetyieldedsomeheat,andwasnowshininguponthedyingflowersandredleavesofthecreeperwhichtwinedaroundthebalcony.
TheeyeoftheoldmanwasriveteduponaspotwhichVillefortcouldscarcelydistinguish.
Hisglancewassofullofhate,offerocity,andsavageimpatience,thatVillefortturnedoutofthepathhehadbeenpursuing,toseeuponwhatpersonthisdarklookwasdirected.
Thenhesawbeneathathickclumpoflinden–trees,whichwerenearlydivestedoffoliage,MadamedeVillefortsittingwithabookinherhand,theperusalofwhichshefrequentlyinterruptedtosmileuponherson,ortothrowbackhiselasticball,whichheobstinatelythrewfromthedrawing–roomintothegarden.
Villefortbecamepale;heunderstoodtheoldman’smeaning.
Noirtiercontinuedtolookatthesameobject,butsuddenlyhisglancewastransferredfromthewifetothehusband,andVilleforthimselfhadtosubmittothesearchinginvestigationofeyes,which,whilechangingtheirdirectionandeventheirlanguage,hadlostnoneoftheirmenacingexpression.
MadamedeVillefort,unconsciousofthepassionsthatexhaustedtheirfireoverherhead,atthatmomentheldherson’sball,andwasmakingsignstohimtoreclaimitwithakiss.
Edwardbeggedforalongwhile,thematernalkissprobablynotofferingsufficientrecompenseforthetroublehemusttaketoobtainit;howeveratlengthhedecided,leapedoutofthewindowintoaclusterofheliotropesanddaisies,andrantohismother,hisforeheadstreamingwithperspiration.
MadamedeVillefortwipedhisforehead,pressedherlipsuponit,andsenthimbackwiththeballinonehandandsomebonbonsintheother.
Villefort,drawnbyanirresistibleattraction,likethatofthebirdtotheserpent,walkedtowardsthehouse.
Asheapproachedit,Noirtier’sgazefollowedhim,andhiseyesappearedofsuchafierybrightnessthatVillefortfeltthempiercetothedepthsofhisheart.
Inthatearnestlookmightbereadadeepreproach,aswellasaterriblemenace.
ThenNoirtierraisedhiseyestoheaven,asthoughtoremindhissonofaforgottenoath.
“Itiswell,sir,”repliedVillefortfrombelow,—”itiswell;havepatiencebutonedaylonger;whatIhavesaidIwilldo.”
Noirtierseemedtobecalmedbythesewords,andturnedhiseyeswithindifferencetotheotherside.
Villefortviolentlyunbuttonedhisgreat–coat,whichseemedtostranglehim,andpassinghislividhandacrosshisforehead,enteredhisstudy.
Thenightwascoldandstill;thefamilyhadallretiredtorestbutVillefort,whoaloneremainedup,andworkedtillfiveo’clockinthemorning,reviewingthelastinterrogatoriesmadethenightbeforebytheexaminingmagistrates,compilingthedepositionsofthewitnesses,andputtingthefinishingstroketothedeedofaccusation,whichwasoneofthemostenergeticandbestconceivedofanyhehadyetdelivered.
Thenextday,Monday,wasthefirstsittingoftheassizes.
Themorningdawneddullandgloomy,andVillefortsawthedimgraylightshineuponthelineshehadtracedinredink.
Themagistratehadsleptforashorttimewhilethelampsentforthitsfinalstruggles;itsflickeringsawokehim,andhefoundhisfingersasdampandpurpleasthoughtheyhadbeendippedinblood.
Heopenedthewindow;abrightyellowstreakcrossedthesky,andseemedtodivideinhalfthepoplars,whichstoodoutinblackreliefonthehorizon.
Intheclover–fieldsbeyondthechestnut–trees,alarkwasmountinguptoheaven,whilepouringoutherclearmorningsong.
ThedampsofthedewbathedtheheadofVillefort,andrefreshedhismemory.
“To–day,”hesaidwithaneffort,—”to–daythemanwhoholdsthebladeofjusticemuststrikewhereverthereisguilt.”
InvoluntarilyhiseyeswanderedtowardsthewindowofNoirtier’sroom,wherehehadseenhimtheprecedingnight.
Thecurtainwasdrawn,andyettheimageofhisfatherwassovividtohismindthatheaddressedtheclosedwindowasthoughithadbeenopen,andasifthroughtheopeninghehadbeheldthemenacingoldman.
“Yes,”hemurmured,—”yes,besatisfied.”
Hisheaddroppeduponhischest,andinthispositionhepacedhisstudy;thenhethrewhimself,dressedashewas,uponasofa,lesstosleepthantoresthislimbs,crampedwithcoldandstudy.Bydegreeseveryoneawoke.
Villefort,fromhisstudy,heardthesuccessivenoiseswhichaccompanythelifeofahouse,—theopeningandshuttingofdoors,theringingofMadamedeVillefort’sbell,tosummonthewaiting–maid,mingledwiththefirstshoutsofthechild,whorosefulloftheenjoymentofhisage.
Villefortalsorang;hisnewvaletbroughthimthepapers,andwiththemacupofchocolate.
“Whatareyoubringingme?”saidhe.
“Acupofchocolate.”
“Ididnotaskforit.Whohaspaidmethisattention?”
“Mymistress,sir.Shesaidyouwouldhavetospeakagreatdealinthemurdercase,andthatyoushouldtakesomethingtokeepupyourstrength;”andthevaletplacedthecuponthetablenearesttothesofa,whichwas,likealltherest,coveredwithpapers.Thevaletthenlefttheroom.
Villefortlookedforaninstantwithagloomyexpression,then,suddenly,takingitupwithanervousmotion,heswalloweditscontentsatonedraught.
Itmighthavebeenthoughtthathehopedthebeveragewouldbemortal,andthathesoughtfordeathtodeliverhimfromadutywhichhewouldratherdiethanfulfil.
Hethenrose,andpacedhisroomwithasmileitwouldhavebeenterribletowitness.
Thechocolatewasinoffensive,forM.deVillefortfeltnoeffects.
Thebreakfast–hourarrived,butM.deVillefortwasnotattable.Thevaletre–entered.
“MadamedeVillefortwishestoremindyou,sir,”hesaid,“thateleveno’clockhasjuststruck,andthatthetrialcommencesattwelve.”
“Well,”saidVillefort,“whatthen?”
“MadamedeVillefortisdressed;sheisquiteready,andwishestoknowifsheistoaccompanyyou,sir?”
“Whereto?”
“TothePalais.”
“Whattodo?”
“Mymistresswishesmuchtobepresentatthetrial.”
“Ah,”saidVillefort,withastartlingaccent;“doesshewishthat?”
—Themandrewbackandsaid,“Ifyouwishtogoalone,sir,Iwillgoandtellmymistress.”
Villefortremainedsilentforamoment,anddentedhispalecheekswithhisnails.
“Tellyourmistress,”heatlengthanswered,“thatIwishtospeaktoher,andIbegshewillwaitformeinherownroom.”
“Yes,sir.”
“Thencometodressandshaveme.”
“Directly,sir.”Thevaletre–appearedalmostinstantly,and,havingshavedhismaster,assistedhimtodressentirelyinblack.Whenhehadfinished,hesaid,—
“Mymistresssaidsheshouldexpectyou,sir,assoonasyouhadfinisheddressing.”
“Iamgoingtoher.”AndVillefort,withhispapersunderhisarmandhatinhand,directedhisstepstowardtheapartmentofhiswife.
Atthedoorhepausedforamomenttowipehisdamp,palebrow.Hethenenteredtheroom.
MadamedeVillefortwassittingonanottomanandimpatientlyturningovertheleavesofsomenewspapersandpamphletswhichyoungEdward,bywayofamusinghimself,wastearingtopiecesbeforehismothercouldfinishreadingthem.
Shewasdressedtogoout,herbonnetwasplacedbesideheronachair,andhergloveswereonherhands.
“Ah,hereyouare,monsieur,”shesaidinhernaturallycalmvoice;“buthowpaleyouare!Haveyoubeenworkingallnight?Whydidyounotcomedowntobreakfast?
Well,willyoutakeme,orshallItakeEdward?”
MadamedeVilleforthadmultipliedherquestionsinordertogainoneanswer,buttoallherinquiriesM.deVillefortremainedmuteandcoldasastatue.
“Edward,”saidVillefort,fixinganimperiousglanceonthechild,“goandplayinthedrawing–room,mydear;Iwishtospeaktoyourmamma.”
MadamedeVillefortshudderedatthesightofthatcoldcountenance,thatresolutetone,andtheawfullystrangepreliminaries.
Edwardraisedhishead,lookedathismother,andthen,findingthatshedidnotconfirmtheorder,begancuttingofftheheadsofhisleadensoldiers.
“Edward,”criedM.deVillefort,soharshlythatthechildstartedupfromthefloor,“doyouhearme?—Go!”
Thechild,unaccustomedtosuchtreatment,arose,paleandtrembling;itwouldbedifficulttosaywhetherhisemotionwerecausedbyfearorpassion.
Hisfatherwentuptohim,tookhiminhisarms,andkissedhisforehead.“Go,”hesaid:“go,mychild.”Edwardranout.
M.deVillefortwenttothedoor,whichheclosedbehindthechild,andbolted.“Dearme!”
saidtheyoungwoman,endeavoringtoreadherhusband’sinmostthoughts,whileasmilepassedoverhercountenancewhichfrozetheimpassibilityofVillefort;“whatisthematter?”
“Madame,wheredoyoukeepthepoisonyougenerallyuse?”saidthemagistrate,withoutanyintroduction,placinghimselfbetweenhiswifeandthedoor.
MadamedeVillefortmusthaveexperiencedsomethingofthesensationofabirdwhich,lookingup,seesthemurderoustrapclosingoveritshead.
Ahoarse,brokentone,whichwasneitheracrynorasigh,escapedfromher,whileshebecamedeadlypale.
“Monsieur,”shesaid,“I—Idonotunderstandyou.”
And,inherfirstparoxysmofterror,shehadraisedherselffromthesofa,inthenext,strongerverylikelythantheother,shefelldownagainonthecushions.
“Iaskedyou,”continuedVillefort,inaperfectlycalmtone,“whereyouconcealthepoisonbytheaidofwhichyouhavekilledmyfather–in–law,M.deSaint–Meran,mymother–in–law,MadamedeSaint–Meran,Barrois,andmydaughterValentine.”
“Ah,sir,”exclaimedMadamedeVillefort,claspingherhands,“whatdoyousay?”
“Itisnotforyoutointerrogate,buttoanswer.”
“Isittothejudgeortothehusband?”stammeredMadamedeVillefort.“Tothejudge—tothejudge,madame!”
Itwasterribletobeholdthefrightfulpallorofthatwoman,theanguishofherlook,thetremblingofherwholeframe.
“Ah,sir,”shemuttered,“ah,sir,”andthiswasall.
“Youdonotanswer,madame!”exclaimedtheterribleinterrogator.
Thenheadded,withasmileyetmoreterriblethanhisanger,“Itistrue,then;youdonotdenyit!”Shemovedforward.“Andyoucannotdenyit!”
addedVillefort,extendinghishandtowardher,asthoughtoseizeherinthenameofjustice.
“Youhaveaccomplishedthesedifferentcrimeswithimpudentaddress,butwhichcouldonlydeceivethosewhoseaffectionsforyoublindedthem.
SincethedeathofMadamedeSaint–Meran,Ihaveknownthatapoisonerlivedinmyhouse.M.d’Avrignywarnedmeofit.
AfterthedeathofBarroismysuspicionsweredirectedtowardsanangel,—thosesuspicionswhich,evenwhenthereisnocrime,arealwaysaliveinmyheart;butafterthedeathofValentine,therehasbeennodoubtinmymind,madame,andnotonlyinmine,butinthoseofothers;thusyourcrime,knownbytwopersons,suspectedbymany,willsoonbecomepublic,and,asItoldyoujustnow,younolongerspeaktothehusband,buttothejudge.”
Theyoungwomanhidherfaceinherhands.“Oh,sir,”shestammered,“Ibeseechyou,donotbelieveappearances.”
“Areyou,then,acoward?”criedVillefort,inacontemptuousvoice.
“ButIhavealwaysobservedthatpoisonerswerecowards.
Canyoubeacoward,—youwhohavehadthecouragetowitnessthedeathoftwooldmenandayounggirlmurderedbyyou?”
“Sir!sir!”
“Canyoubeacoward?”continuedVillefort,withincreasingexcitement,“you,whocouldcount,onebyone,theminutesoffourdeathagonies?
You,whohavearrangedyourinfernalplans,andremovedthebeverageswithatalentandprecisionalmostmiraculous?
Haveyou,then,whohavecalculatedeverythingwithsuchnicety,haveyouforgottentocalculateonething—Imeanwheretherevelationofyourcrimeswillleadyouto?
Oh,itisimpossible—youmusthavesavedsomesurer,moresubtleanddeadlypoisonthananyother,thatyoumightescapethepunishmentthatyoudeserve.
Youhavedonethis—Ihopeso,atleast.”
MadamedeVillefortstretchedoutherhands,andfellonherknees.
“Iunderstand,”hesaid,“youconfess;butaconfessionmadetothejudges,aconfessionmadeatthelastmoment,extortedwhenthecrimecannotbedenied,diminishesnotthepunishmentinflictedontheguilty!”
“Thepunishment?”exclaimedMadamedeVillefort,“thepunishment,monsieur?Twiceyouhavepronouncedthatword!”
“Certainly.Didyouhopetoescapeitbecauseyouwerefourtimesguilty?
Didyouthinkthepunishmentwouldbewithheldbecauseyouarethewifeofhimwhopronouncesit?
—No,madame,no;thescaffoldawaitsthepoisoner,whoevershemaybe,unless,asIjustsaid,thepoisonerhastakentheprecautionofkeepingforherselfafewdropsofherdeadliestpotion.”
MadamedeVillefortutteredawildcry,andahideousanduncontrollableterrorspreadoverherdistortedfeatures.
“Oh,donotfearthescaffold,madame,”saidthemagistrate;“Iwillnotdishonoryou,sincethatwouldbedishonortomyself;no,ifyouhaveheardmedistinctly,youwillunderstandthatyouarenottodieonthescaffold.”
“No,Idonotunderstand;whatdoyoumean?”
stammeredtheunhappywoman,completelyoverwhelmed.
“Imeanthatthewifeofthefirstmagistrateinthecapitalshallnot,byherinfamy,soilanunblemishedname;thatsheshallnot,withoneblow,dishonorherhusbandandherchild.”
“No,no—oh,no!”
“Well,madame,itwillbealaudableactiononyourpart,andIwillthankyouforit!”
“Youwillthankme—forwhat?”
“Forwhatyouhavejustsaid.”
“WhatdidIsay?Oh,mybrainwhirls;Inolongerunderstandanything.Oh,myGod,myGod!”Andsherose,withherhairdishevelled,andherlipsfoaming.
“HaveyouansweredthequestionIputtoyouonenteringtheroom?
—wheredoyoukeepthepoisonyougenerallyuse,madame?”
MadamedeVillefortraisedherarmstoheaven,andconvulsivelystruckonehandagainsttheother.
“No,no,”shevociferated,“no,youcannotwishthat!”
“WhatIdonotwish,madame,isthatyoushouldperishonthescaffold.Doyouunderstand?”askedVillefort.
“Oh,mercy,mercy,monsieur!”
“WhatIrequireis,thatjusticebedone.
Iamontheearthtopunish,madame,”headded,withaflamingglance;“anyotherwoman,wereitthequeenherself,Iwouldsendtotheexecutioner;buttoyouIshallbemerciful.
ToyouIwillsay,‘Haveyounot,madame,putasidesomeofthesurest,deadliest,mostspeedypoison?’”
“Oh,pardonme,sir;letmelive!”
“Sheiscowardly,”saidVillefort.
“ReflectthatIamyourwife!”
“Youareapoisoner.”
“Inthenameofheaven!”
“No!”
“Inthenameoftheloveyouonceboreme!”
“No,no!”
“Inthenameofourchild!Ah,forthesakeofourchild,letmelive!”
“No,no,no,Itellyou;oneday,ifIallowyoutolive,youwillperhapskillhim,asyouhavetheothers!”
“I?—Ikillmyboy?”
criedthedistractedmother,rushingtowardVillefort;“Ikillmyson?Ha,ha,ha!”
andafrightful,demoniaclaughfinishedthesentence,whichwaslostinahoarserattle.
MadamedeVillefortfellatherhusband’sfeet.Heapproachedher.
“Thinkofit,madame,”hesaid;“if,onmyreturn,justicehisnotbeensatisfied,Iwilldenounceyouwithmyownmouth,andarrestyouwithmyownhands!”
Shelistened,panting,overwhelmed,crushed;hereyealonelived,andglaredhorribly.“Doyouunderstandme?”hesaid.
“Iamgoingdowntheretopronouncethesentenceofdeathagainstamurderer.
IfIfindyoualiveonmyreturn,youshallsleepto–nightintheconciergerie.”
MadamedeVillefortsighed;hernervesgaveway,andshesunkonthecarpet.
Theking’sattorneyseemedtoexperienceasensationofpity;helookeduponherlessseverely,and,bowingtoher,saidslowly,“Farewell,madame,farewell!”
ThatfarewellstruckMadamedeVillefortliketheexecutioner’sknife.Shefainted.
Theprocureurwentout,afterhavingdouble–lockedthedoor.
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