some other old person. Then, while Madame de Saint-Meran remained
on her knees, praying fervently, Villefort sent for a cab, and went
himself to fetch his wife and daughter from Madame de Morcerf's. He
was so pale when he appeared at the door of the ball-room, that
Valentine ran to him, saying —
"Oh, father, some misfortune has happened!"
"Your grandmamma has just arrived, Valentine," said M. de
Villefort.
"And grandpapa?" inquired the young girl, trembling with
apprehension. M. de Villefort only replied by offering his arm to
his daughter. It was just in time, for Valentine's head swam, and
she staggered; Madame de Villefort instantly hastened to her
assistance, and aided her husband in dragging her to the carriage,
saying — "What a singular event! Who could have thought it? Ah,
yes, it is indeed strange!" And the wretched family departed,
leaving a cloud of sadness hanging over the rest of the evening. At
the foot of the stairs, Valentine found Barrois awaiting her.
"M. Noirtier wishes to see you to-night, he said, in an
undertone.
"Tell him I will come when I leave my dear grandmamma," she
replied, feeling, with true delicacy, that the person to whom she
could be of the most service just then was Madame de Saint-Meran.
Valentine found her grandmother in bed; silent caresses, heartwrung
sobs, broken sighs, burning tears, were all that passed in this sad
interview, while Madame de Villefort, leaning on her husband's arm,
maintained all outward forms of respect, at least towards the poor
widow. She soon whispered to her husband, "I think it would be
better for me to retire, with your permission, for the sight of me
appears still to afflict your mother-in-law." Madame de Saint-Meran
heard her. "Yes, yes," she said softly to Valentine, "let her
leave; but do you stay." Madame de Villefort left, and Valentine
remained alone beside the bed, for the procureur, overcome with
astonishment at the unexpected death, had followed his wife.
Meanwhile, Barrois had returned for the first time to old Noirtier,Meanwhile, Barrois had returned for the first time to old Noirtier,
who having heard the noise in the house, had, as we have said, sent
his old servant to inquire the cause; on his return, his quick
intelligent eye interrogated the messenger. "Alas, sir," exclaimed
Barrois, "a great misfortune has happened. Madame de Saint-Meran
has arrived, and her husband is dead!"
M. de Saint-Meran and Noirtier had never been on strict terms of
friendship; still, the death of one old man always considerably
affects another. Noirtier let his head fall upon his chest,
apparently overwhelmed and thoughtful; then he closed one eye, in
token of inquiry. "Mademoiselle Valentine?" Noirtier nodded his
head. "She is at the ball, as you know, since she came to say
good-by to you in full dress." Noirtier again closed his left eye.
"Do you wish to see her?" Noirtier again made an affirmative sign.
"Well, they have gone to fetch her, no doubt, from Madame de
Morcerf's; I will await her return, and beg her to come up here. Is
that what you wish for?"
"Yes," replied the invalid.
Barrois, therefore, as we have seen, watched for Valentine, and
informed her of her grandfather's wish. Consequently, Valentine
came up to Noirtier, on leaving Madame de Saint-Meran, who in the
midst of her grief had at last yielded to fatigue and fallen into a
feverish sleep. Within reach of her hand they placed a small table
upon which stood a bottle of orangeade, her usual beverage, and a
glass. Then, as we have said, the young girl left the bedside to
see M. Noirtier. Valentine kissed the old man, who looked at her
with such tenderness that her eyes again filled with tears, whose
sources he thought must be exhausted. The old gentleman continued
to dwell upon her with the same expression. "Yes, yes," said
Valentine, "you mean that I have yet a kind grandfather left, do
you not." The old man intimated that such was his meaning. "Ah,
yes, happily I have," replied Valentine. "Without that, what would
become of me?"yes, happily I have," replied Valentine. "Without that, what would
become of me?"
It was one o'clock in the morning. Barrois, who wished to go to
bed himself, observed that after such sad events every one stood in
need of rest. Noirtier would not say that the only rest he needed
was to see his child, but wished her good-night, for grief and
fatigue had made her appear quite ill. The next morning she found
her grandmother in bed; the fever had not abated, on the contrary
her eyes glistened and she appeared to be suffering from violent
nervous irritability. "Oh, dear grandmamma, are you worse?"
exclaimed Valentine, perceiving all these signs of agitation.
"No, my child, no," said Madame de Saint-Meran; "but I was
impatiently waiting for your arrival, that I might send for your
father."
"My father?" inquired Valentine, uneasily.
"Yes, I wish to speak to him." Valentine durst not oppose her
grandmother's wish, the cause of which she did not know, and an
instant afterwards Villefort entered. "Sir," said Madame de
Saint-Meran, without using any circumlocution, and as if fearing
she had no time to lose, "you wrote to me concerning the marriage
of this child?"
"Yes, madame," replied Villefort, "it is not only projected but
arranged."
"Your intended son-in-law is named M. Franz d'Epinay?"
"Yes, madame."
"Is he not the son of General d'Epinay who was on our side, and
who was assassinated some days before the usurper returned from the
Island of Elba?"
"The same."
"Does he not dislike the idea of marrying the granddaughter of a
Jacobin?"
"Our civil dissensions are now happily extinguished, mother,"
said Villefort; "M. d'Epinay was quite a child when his father
died, he knows very little of M. Noirtier, and will meet him, if
not with pleasure, at least with indifference."
"Is it a suitable match?"
"In every respect."
"And the young man?"
"Is regarded with universal esteem."
"You approve of him?"
"He is one of the most well-bred young men I know." During the
whole of this conversation Valentine had remained silent. "Well,