of the doctor and his father, he only saw an expression as
inflexible as that of Maximilian. "Yes," indicated the old man.
"Assuredly," said d'Avrigny.
"Sir," said Villefort, striving to struggle against this triple
force and his own emotion, — "sir, you are deceived; no one commits
crimes here. I am stricken by fate. It is horrible, indeed, but no
one assassinates."
The eyes of Noirtier lighted up with rage, and d'Avrigny
prepared to speak. Morrel, however, extended his arm, and commanded
silence. "And I say that murders are committed here," said Morrel,
whose voice, though lower in tone, lost none of its terrible
distinctness: "I tell you that this is the fourth victim within the
last four months. I tell you, Valentine's life was attempted by
poison four days ago, though she escaped, owing to the precautions
of M. Noirtier. I tell you that the dose has been double, the
poison changed, and that this time it has succeeded. I tell you
that you know these things as well as I do, since this gentleman
has forewarned you, both as a doctor and as a friend."
"Oh, you rave, sir," exclaimed Villefort, in vain endeavoring to
escape the net in which he was taken.
"I rave?" said Morrel; "well, then, I appeal to M. d'Avrigny
himself. Ask him, sir, if he recollects the words he uttered in the
garden of this house on the night of Madame de Saint-Meran's death.
You thought yourselves alone, and talked about that tragical death,
and the fatality you mentioned then is the same which has caused
the murder of Valentine." Villefort and d'Avrigny exchanged looks.
"Yes, yes," continued Morrel; "recall the scene, for the words you
thought were only given to silence and solitude fell into my ears.
Certainly, after witnessing the culpable indolence manifested by M.
de Villefort towards his own relations, I ought to have denounced
him to the authorities; then I should not have been an accomplice
to thy death, as I now am, sweet, beloved Valentine; but the
accomplice shall become the avenger. This fourth murder is apparentaccomplice shall become the avenger. This fourth murder is apparent
to all, and if thy father abandon thee, Valentine, it is I, and I
swear it, that shall pursue the assassin." And this time, as though
nature had at least taken compassion on the vigorous frame, nearly
bursting with its own strength, the words of Morrel were stifled in
his throat; his breast heaved; the tears, so long rebellious,
gushed from his eyes; and he threw himself weeping on his knees by
the side of the bed.
Then d'Avrigny spoke. "And I, too," he exclaimed in a low voice,
"I unite with M. Morrel in demanding justice for crime; my blood
boils at the idea of having encouraged a murderer by my cowardly
concession."
"Oh, merciful heavens!" murmured Villefort. Morrel raised his
head, and reading the eyes of the old man, which gleamed with
unnatural lustre, — "Stay," he said, "M. Noirtier wishes to
speak."
"Yes," indicated Noirtier, with an expression the more terrible,
from all his faculties being centred in his glance.
"Do you know the assassin?" asked Morrel.
"Yes," replied Noirtier.
"And will you direct us?" exclaimed the young man. "Listen, M.
d'Avrigny, listen!" Noirtier looked upon Morrel with one of those
melancholy smiles which had so often made Valentine happy, and thus
fixed his attention. Then, having riveted the eyes of his
interlocutor on his own, he glanced towards the door.
"Do you wish me to leave?" said Morrel, sadly.
"Yes," replied Noirtier.
"Alas, alas, sir, have pity on me!"
The old man's eyes remained fixed on the door.
"May I, at least, return?" asked Morrel.
"Yes."
"Must I leave alone?"
"No."
"Whom am I to take with me? The procureur?"
"No."
"The doctor?"
"Yes."
"You wish to remain alone with M. de Villefort?"
"Yes."
"But can he understand you?"
"Yes."
"Oh," said Villefort, inexpressibly delighted to think that the
inquiries were to be made by him alone, — "oh, be satisfied, I can
understand my father." D'Avrigny took the young man's arm, and led
him out of the room. A more than deathlike silence then reigned inhim out of the room. A more than deathlike silence then reigned in
the house. At the end of a quarter of an hour a faltering footstep
was heard, and Villefort appeared at the door of the apartment
where d'Avrigny and Morrel had been staying, one absorbed in
meditation, the other in grief. "You can come," he said, and led
them back to Noirtier. Morrel looked attentively on Villefort. His
face was livid, large drops rolled down his face, and in his
fingers he held the fragments of a quill pen which he had torn to
atoms.
"Gentlemen," he said in a hoarse voice, "give me your word of
honor that this horrible secret shall forever remain buried amongst
ourselves!" The two men drew back.
"I entreat you." — continued Villefort.
"But," said Morrel, "the culprit — the murderer — the
assassin."
"Do not alarm yourself, sir; justice will be done," said
Villefort. "My father has revealed the culprit's name; my father
thirsts for revenge as much as you do, yet even he conjures you as
I do to keep this secret. Do you not, father?"
"Yes," resolutely replied Noirtier. Morrel suffered an
exclamation of horror and surprise to escape him. "Oh, sir," said
Villefort, arresting Maximilian by the arm, "if my father, the
inflexible man, makes this request, it is because he knows, be
assured, that Valentine will be terribly revenged. Is it not so,
father?" The old man made a sign in the affirmative. Villefort
continued: "He knows me, and I have pledged my word to him. Rest
assured, gentlemen, that within three days, in a less time than
justice would demand, the revenge I shall have taken for the murder
of my child will be such as to make the boldest heart tremble;" and
as he spoke these words he ground his teeth, and grasped the old
man's senseless hand.
"Will this promise be fulfilled, M. Noirtier?" asked Morrel,
while d'Avrigny looked inquiringly.
"Yes," replied Noirtier with an expression of sinister joy.
"Swear, then," said Villefort, joining the hands of Morrel and
d'Avrigny, "swear that you will spare the honor of my house, and