an awkward and unpleasant thing to have to report to those who were
awaiting her return in the chamber of her father-in-law. She
therefore contented herself with saying that M. Noirtier having at the
commencement of the discussion been attacked by a sort of apoplectic
fit, the affair would necessarily be deferred for some days longer. This
news, false as it was following so singularly in the train of the two
similar misfortunes which had so recently occurred, evidently astonished
the auditors, and they retired without a word. During this time
Valentine, at once terrified and happy, after having embraced and
thanked the feeble old man for thus breaking with a single blow the
chain which she had been accustomed to consider as irrefragable, asked
leave to retire to her own room, in order to recover her composure.
Noirtier looked the permission which she solicited. But instead of going
to her own room, Valentine, having once gained her liberty, entered the
gallery, and, opening a small door at the end of it, found herself at
once in the garden.
In the midst of all the strange events which had crowded one on the
other, an indefinable sentiment of dread had taken possession of
Valentine's mind. She expected every moment that she should see Morrel
appear, pale and trembling, to forbid the signing of the contract, like
the Laird of Ravenswood in "The Bride of Lammermoor." It was high time
for her to make her appearance at the gate, for Maximilian had long
awaited her coming. He had half guessed what was going on when he saw
Franz quit the cemetery with M. de Villefort. He followed M. d'Epinay,
saw him enter, afterwards go out, and then re-enter with Albert and
Chateau-Renaud. He had no longer any doubts as to the nature of the
conference; he therefore quickly went to the gate in the clover-patch,
prepared to hear the result of the proceedings, and very certain that
Valentine would hasten to him the first moment she should be set at
liberty. He was not mistaken; peering through the crevices of the wooden
partition, he soon discovered the young girl, who cast aside all her
usual precautions and walked at once to the barrier. The first glance
which Maximilian directed towards her entirely reassured him, and the
first words she spoke made his heart bound with delight.
"We are saved!" said Valentine. "Saved?" repeated Morrel, not being able
to conceive such intense happiness; "by whom?"
"By my grandfather. Oh, Morrel, pray love him for all his goodness to
us!" Morrel swore to love him with all his soul; and at that moment he
could safely promise to do so, for he felt as though it were not enough
to love him merely as a friend or even as a father. "But tell me,
Valentine, how has it all been effected? What strange means has he used
to compass this blessed end?"
Valentine was on the point of relating all that had passed, but she
suddenly remembered that in doing so she must reveal a terrible secret
which concerned others as well as her grandfather, and she said, "At
some future time I will tell you all about it."
"But when will that be?"
"When I am your wife."
The conversation had now turned upon a topic so pleasing to Morrel,
that he was ready to accede to anything that Valentine thought fit to
propose, and he likewise felt that a piece of intelligence such as he
just heard ought to be more than sufficient to content him for one day.
However, he would not leave without the promise of seeing Valentine
again the next night. Valentine promised all that Morrel required of
her, and certainly it was less difficult now for her to believe that she
should marry Maximilian than it was an hour ago to assure herself that
she should not marry Franz.
During the time occupied by the interview we have just detailed, Madame
de Villefort had gone to visit M. Noirtier. The old man looked at her
with that stern and forbidding expression with which he was accustomed
to receive her.
"Sir," said she, "it is superfluous for me to tell you that Valentine's
marriage is broken off, since it was here that the affair was
concluded." Noirtier's countenance remained immovable. "But one thing
I can tell you, of which I do not think you are aware; that is, that
I have always been opposed to this marriage, and that the contract
was entered into entirely without my consent or approbation." Noirtier
regarded his daughter-in-law with the look of a man desiring an
explanation. "Now that this marriage, which I know you so much disliked,
is done away with, I come to you on an errand which neither M. de
Villefort nor Valentine could consistently undertake." Noirtier's
eyes demanded the nature of her mission. "I come to entreat you, sir,"
continued Madame de Villefort, "as the only one who has the right of
doing so, inasmuch as I am the only one who will receive no personal
benefit from the transaction,--I come to entreat you to restore, not
your love, for that she has always possessed, but to restore your
fortune to your granddaughter."
There was a doubtful expression in Noirtier's eyes; he was evidently
trying to discover the motive of this proceeding, and he could not
succeed in doing so. "May I hope, sir," said Madame de Villefort, "that
your intentions accord with my request?" Noirtier made a sign that they
did. "In that case, sir," rejoined Madame de Villefort, "I will leave
you overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness at your prompt acquiescence
to my wishes." She then bowed to M. Noirtier and retired.
The next day M. Noirtier sent for the notary; the first will was torn
up and a second made, in which he left the whole of his fortune to
Valentine, on condition that she should never be separated from him. It
was then generally reported that Mademoiselle de Villefort, the heiress
of the marquis and marchioness of Saint-Meran, had regained the
good graces of her grandfather, and that she would ultimately be in
possession of an income of 300,000 livres.
While all the proceedings relative to the dissolution of the
marriage-contract were being carried on at the house of M. de Villefort,
Monte Cristo had paid his visit to the Count of Morcerf, who, in order
to lose no time in responding to M. Danglars' wishes, and at the same
time to pay all due deference to his position in society, donned his
uniform of lieutenant-general, which he ornamented with all his crosses,
and thus attired, ordered his finest horses and drove to the Rue de la
Chausse d'Antin.
Danglars was balancing his monthly accounts, and it was perhaps not the
most favorable moment for finding him in his best humor. At the first
sight of his old friend, Danglars assumed his majestic air, and settled
himself in his easy-chair. Morcerf, usually so stiff and formal,
accosted the banker in an affable and smiling manner, and, feeling sure
that the overture he was about make would be well received, he did not
consider it necessary to adopt any manoeuvres in order to gain his end,
but went at once straight to the point.
"Well, baron," said he, "here I am at last; some time has elapsed since
our plans were formed, and they are not yet executed." Morcerf paused at
these words, quietly waiting till the cloud should have dispersed which
had gathered on the brow of Danglars, and which he attributed to his
silence; but, on the contrary, to his great surprise, it grew darker and
darker. "To what do you allude, monsieur?" said Danglars; as if he were
trying in vain to guess at the possible meaning of the general's words.
"Ah," said Morcerf, "I see you are a stickler for forms, my dear sir,
and you would remind me that the ceremonial rites should not be omitted.
Ma foi, I beg your pardon, but as I have but one son, and it is the
first time I have ever thought of marrying him, I am still serving
my apprenticeship, you know; come, I will reform." And Morcerf with a
forced smile arose, and, making a low bow to M. Danglars, said: "Baron,
I have the honor of asking of you the hand of Mademoiselle Eugenie
Danglars for my son, the Vicomte Albert de Morcerf."
But Danglars, instead of receiving this address in the favorable manner
which Morcerf had expected, knit his brow, and without inviting the
count, who was still standing, to take a seat, he said: "Monsieur, it
will be necessary to reflect before I give you an answer."
"To reflect?" said Morcerf, more and more astonished; "have you not had
enough time for reflection during the eight years which have elapsed
since this marriage was first discussed between us?"
"Count," said the banker, "things are constantly occurring in the world
to induce us to lay aside our most established opinions, or at
all events to cause us to remodel them according to the change of
circumstances, which may have placed affairs in a totally different
light to that in which we at first viewed them."
"I do not understand you, baron," said Morcerf.
"What I mean to say is this, sir,--that during the last fortnight
unforeseen circumstances have occurred"--
"Excuse me," said Morcerf, "but is it a play we are acting?"
"A play?"
"Yes, for it is like one; pray let us come more to the point, and
endeavor thoroughly to understand each other."
"That is quite my desire."
"You have seen M. de Monte Cristo have you not?"
"I see him very often," said Danglars, drawing himself up; "he is a
particular friend of mine."
"Well, in one of your late conversations with him, you said that I
appeared to be forgetful and irresolute concerning this marriage, did
you not?"
"I did say so."
"Well, here I am, proving at once that I am really neither the one nor
the other, by entreating you to keep your promise on that score."
Danglars did not answer. "Have you so soon changed your mind," added
Morcerf, "or have you only provoked my request that you may have the
pleasure of seeing me humbled?" Danglars, seeing that if he continued
the conversation in the same tone in which he had begun it, the whole
thing might turn out to his own disadvantage, turned to Morcerf, and
said: "Count, you must doubtless be surprised at my reserve, and I
assure you it costs me much to act in such a manner towards you; but,
believe me when I say that imperative necessity has imposed the painful
task upon me."
"These are all so many empty words, my dear sir," said Morcerf: "they
might satisfy a new acquaintance, but the Comte de Morcerf does not rank
in that list; and when a man like him comes to another, recalls to him
his plighted word, and this man fails to redeem the pledge, he has at
least a right to exact from him a good reason for so doing." Danglars
was a coward, but did not wish to appear so; he was piqued at the tone
which Morcerf had just assumed. "I am not without a good reason for my
conduct," replied the banker.
"What do you mean to say?"
"I mean to say that I have a good reason, but that it is difficult to
explain."
"You must be aware, at all events, that it is impossible for me to
understand motives before they are explained to me; but one thing at
least is clear, which is, that you decline allying yourself with my
family."
"No, sir," said Danglars; "I merely suspend my decision, that is all."
"And do you really flatter yourself that I shall yield to all your
caprices, and quietly and humbly await the time of again being received
into your good graces?"
"Then, count, if you will not wait, we must look upon these projects
as if they had never been entertained." The count bit his lips till the
blood almost started, to prevent the ebullition of anger which his proud
and irritable temper scarcely allowed him to restrain; understanding,
however, that in the present state of things the laugh would decidedly
be against him, he turned from the door, towards which he had been
directing his steps, and again confronted the banker. A cloud settled
on his brow, evincing decided anxiety and uneasiness, instead of the
expression of offended pride which had lately reigned there. "My dear
Danglars," said Morcerf, "we have been acquainted for many years, and
consequently we ought to make some allowance for each other's failings.
You owe me an explanation, and really it is but fair that I should know
what circumstance has occurred to deprive my son of your favor."
"It is from no personal ill-feeling towards the viscount, that is all I
can say, sir," replied Danglars, who resumed his insolent manner as soon
as he perceived that Morcerf was a little softened and calmed down. "And
towards whom do you bear this personal ill-feeling, then?" said Morcerf,
turning pale with anger. The expression of the count's face had not
remained unperceived by the banker; he fixed on him a look of greater
assurance than before, and said: "You may, perhaps, be better satisfied
that I should not go farther into particulars."
A tremor of suppressed rage shook the whole frame of the count, and
making a violent effort over himself, he said: "I have a right to
insist on your giving me an explanation. Is it Madame de Morcerf who
has displeased you? Is it my fortune which you find insufficient? Is it
because my opinions differ from yours?"
"Nothing of the kind, sir," replied Danglars: "if such had been the
case, I only should have been to blame, inasmuch as I was aware of all
these things when I made the engagement. No, do not seek any longer to
discover the reason. I really am quite ashamed to have been the cause of
your undergoing such severe self-examination; let us drop the subject,
and adopt the middle course of delay, which implies neither a rupture
