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 tumultuousI 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.
"Mademoiselle," said he, "you have a sacred duty to fulfil in
your deceased grandmother's room, will you allow me the honor of a
few minutes' conversation with M. Noirtier?"
"That is it," said the old man's eye. Then he looked anxiously
at Valentine.
"Do you fear he will not understand?"
"Yes."
"Oh, we have so often spoken of you, that he knows exactly how I
talk to you." Then turning to Maximilian, with an adorable smile;
although shaded by sorrow, — "He knows everything I know," said
she.
Valentine arose, placed a chair for Morrel, requested Barrois
not to admit any one, and having tenderly embraced her grandfather,
and sorrowfully taken leave of Morrel, she went away. To prove to
Noirtier that he was in Valentine's confidence and knew all their
secrets, Morrel took the dictionary, a pen, and some paper, and
placed them all on a table where there was a light.
"But first," said Morrel, "allow me, sir, to tell you who I am,
how much I love Mademoiselle Valentine, and what are my designs
respecting her." Noirtier made a sign that he would listen.
It was an imposing sight to witness this old man, apparently a
mere useless burden, becoming the sole protector, support, and
adviser of the lovers who were both young, beautiful, and strong.
His remarkably noble and austere expression struck Morrel, who
began his story with trembling. He related the manner in which he
had become acquainted with Valentine, and how he had loved her, and
that Valentine, in her solitude and her misfortune, had accepted
the offer of his devotion. He told him his birth, his position, his
fortune, and more than once, when he consulted the look of thefortune, and more than once, when he consulted the look of the
paralytic, that look answered, "That is good, proceed."
"And now," said Morrel, when he had finished the first part of
his recital, "now I have told you of my love and my hopes, may I
inform you of my intentions?"
"Yes," signified the old man.
"This was our resolution; a cabriolet was in waiting at the
gate, in which I intended to carry off Valentine to my sister's
house, to marry her, and to wait respectfully M. de Villefort's
pardon."
"No," said Noirtier.
"We must not do so?"
"No."
"You do not sanction our project?"
"No."
"There is another way," said Morrel. The old man's interrogative
eye said, "What?"
"I will go," continued Maximilian, "I will seek M. Franz
d'Epinay — I am happy to be able to mention this in Mademoiselle de
Villefort's absence — and will conduct myself toward him so as to
compel him to challenge me." Noirtier's look continued to
interrogate. "You wish to know what I will do?"
"Yes."
"I will find him, as I told you. I will tell him the ties which
bind me to Mademoiselle Valentine; if he be a sensible man, he will
prove it by renouncing of his own accord the hand of his betrothed,
and will secure my friendship, and love until death; if he refuse,
either through interest or ridiculous pride, after I have proved to
him that he would be forcing my wife from me, that Valentine loves
me, and will have no other, I will fight with him, give him every
advantage, and I shall kill him, or he will kill me; if I am
victorious, he will not marry Valentine, and if I die, I am very
sure Valentine will not marry him." Noirtier watched, with
indescribable pleasure, this noble and sincere countenance, on
which every sentiment his tongue uttered was depicted, adding by
the expression of his fine features all that coloring adds to a
sound and faithful drawing. Still, when Morrel had finished, he
shut his eyes several times, which was his manner of saying
"No."
"No?" said Morrel; "you disapprove of this second project, as
you did of the first?"