第339章

Morrel could not resist this; he was not exemplary for piety, he was not easily impressed, but Valentine suffering, weeping, wringing her hands before him, was more than he could bear in silence.He sighed, and whispered a name, and the head bathed in tears and pressed on the velvet cushion of the chair -- a head like that of a Magdalen by Correggio -- was raised and turned towards him.Valentine perceived him without betraying the least surprise.A heart overwhelmed with one great grief is insensible to minor emotions.Morrel held out his hand to her.Valentine, as her only apology for not having met him, pointed to the corpse under the sheet, and began to sob again.Neither dared for some time to speak in that room.They hesitated to break the silence which death seemed to impose; at length Valentine ventured.

"My friend," said she, "how came you here? Alas, I would say you are welcome, had not death opened the way for you into this house.""Valentine," said Morrel with a trembling voice, "I had waited since half-past eight, and did not see you come; Ibecame uneasy, leaped the wall, found my way through the garden, when voices conversing about the fatal event" --"What voices ?" asked Valentine.Morrel shuddered as he thought of the conversation of the doctor and M.de Villefort, and he thought he could see through the sheet the extended hands, the stiff neck, and the purple lips.

"Your servants," said he, "who were repeating the whole of the sorrowful story; from them I learned it all.""But it was risking the failure of our plan to come up here, love.""Forgive me," replied Morrel; "I will go away.""No," said Valentine, "you might meet some one; stay.""But if any one should come here" --

The young girl shook her head."No one will come," said she;"do not fear, there is our safeguard," pointing to the bed.

"But what has become of M.d'Epinay?" replied Morrel.

"M.Franz arrived to sign the contract just as my dear grandmother was dying.""Alas," said Morrel with a feeling of selfish joy; for he thought this death would cause the wedding to be postponed indefinitely."But what redoubles my sorrow," continued the young girl, as if this feeling was to receive its immediate punishment, "is that the poor old lady, on her death-bed, requested that the marriage might take place as soon as possible; she also, thinking to protect me, was acting against me.""Hark!" said Morrel.They both listened; steps were distinctly heard in the corridor and on the stairs.

"It is my father, who has just left his study.""To accompany the doctor to the door," added Morrel.

"How do you know it is the doctor?" asked Valentine, astonished.

"I imagined it must be," said Morrel.Valentine looked at the young man; they heard the street door close, then M.de Villefort locked the garden door, and returned up-stairs.He stopped a moment in the anteroom, as if hesitating whether to turn to his own apartment or into Madame de Saint-Meran's; Morrel concealed himself behind a door;Valentine remained motionless, grief seeming to deprive her of all fear.M.de Villefort passed on to his own room.

"Now," said Valentine, "you can neither go out by the front door nor by the garden." Morrel looked at her with astonishment."There is but one way left you that is safe,"said she; "it is through my grandfather's room." She rose, "Come," she added.-- "Where?" asked Maximilian.

"To my grandfather's room."

"I in M.Noirtier's apartment?"

"Yes."

"Can you mean it, Valentine?"

"I have long wished it; he is my only remaining friend and we both need his help, -- come.""Be careful, Valentine," said Morrel, hesitating to comply with the young girl's wishes; "I now see my error -- I acted like a madman in coming in here.Are you sure you are more reasonable?""Yes," said Valentine; "and I have but one scruple, -- that of leaving my dear grandmother's remains, which I had undertaken to watch.""Valentine," said Morrel, "death is in itself sacred.""Yes," said Valentine; "besides, it will not be for long."She then crossed the corridor, and led the way down a narrow staircase to M.Noirtier's room; Morrel followed her on tiptoe; at the door they found the old servant."Barrois,"said Valentine, "shut the door, and let no one come in." She passed first.Noirtier, seated in his chair, and listening to every sound, was watching the door; he saw Valentine, and his eye brightened.There was something grave and solemn in the approach of the young girl which struck the old man, and immediately his bright eye began to interrogate."Dear grandfather." said she hurriedly, "you know poor grandmamma died an hour since, and now I have no friend in the world but you." His expressive eyes evinced the greatest tenderness."To you alone, then, may I confide my sorrows and my hopes?" The paralytic motioned "Yes." Valentine took Maximilian's hand."Look attentively, then, at this gentleman." The old man fixed his scrutinizing gaze with slight astonishment on Morrel."It is M.Maximilian Morrel,"said she; "the son of that good merchant of Marseilles, whom you doubtless recollect.""Yes," said the old man."He brings an irreproachable name, which Maximilian is likely to render glorious, since at thirty years of age he is a captain, an officer of the Legion of Honor." The old man signified that he recollected him."Well, grandpapa," said Valentine, kneeling before him, and pointing to Maximilian, "I love him, and will be only his; were I compelled to marry another, I would destroy myself."The eyes of the paralytic expressed a multitude of tumultuous thoughts."You like M.Maximilian Morrel, do you not, grandpapa?" asked Valentine.

"Yes."

"And you will protect us, who are your children, against the will of my father?" -- Noirtier cast an intelligent glance at Morrel, as if to say, "perhaps I may." Maximilian understood him.