World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 173 Valentina
No doubt the reader will have guessed where Morrel went on business and who he was dating.As the reader expected, Morrel, after parting from Monte Cristo, walked slowly towards the Villefort house.We say "walking" because Morrel had more than half an hour to go, and he had only five hundred steps to go.There was plenty of time, but he was anxious to leave Monte Cristo because he wanted to be alone with his own thoughts earlier.Morrel was very good at his time, and now it was the time when Valentine served Noirquier at lunch, and this moment of filial piety must not be disturbed.Noirquier and Valentine had allowed Morrel to go twice a week, and he was now taking advantage of this opportunity to see Valentine.

Valentine was waiting for Morrel when he arrived.The girl seized Morrel's hand anxiously, almost bewildered, and led him to her grandfather.This uneasiness—as we have said just now, almost to the point of panic—was caused by Mocerf's taking advantage of the moment and causing a commotion in the public circle. Everyone knew about the opera house. There is nothing you don't know about Junction.Everyone in the Villeforts felt that such a thing must lead to a duel, and Valentine, with her feminine instinct, guessed that Morrel would be the witness of Monte Cristo.Moreover, the young man was famous for his bravery, and Valentine knew that he had a deep affection for the count, so she was afraid that Morrel would not just be a witness and testify from the sidelines.The reader, therefore, may imagine that Valentine was impatient to ask this and that, and listened attentively to Morrel's account of the incident.Morrel saw an indescribable joy in the eyes of his sweetheart when the girl heard that the end of the dreadful event was not only comforting but unexpected.

"Now," said Valentine, beckoning Morrel to sit beside the old man, and sitting herself down on the old man's stool, "now let us talk about ourselves. You know, Maximilian." Do you remember, Leanne, that Granddad was thinking of leaving the building for a while, and buying a flat outside M. de Villefort's?"

"Yes," said Maximilian, "of course I remember it, and I was very much in favor of it at the time."

"Excellent!" said Valentine. "You still need your support now, Maximilian, because Grandpa has brought up this matter again."

"Excellent!" said Maximilian.

"Do you know," said Valentine, "what prompted Grandpa to leave this little building?"

Noirquier glanced at her granddaughter, trying to tell her not to say more, but Valentine could no longer look at Noirquier, her eyes, her look, her smile, everything was right now. with Morrel.

"Oh! Whatever M. Noirquier's considerations may be," exclaimed Morrel, "I can say that they are right."

"And absolutely right," said Valentine, "grandpa said that the air at Saint-Honoré is not good for us."

"Exactly," said Morrel. "Listen, Valentine, M. Noirquier may be quite right in what she says. I have not felt in your health for the last fortnight."

"Yes, it's really not very good," replied Valentine, "so grandpa has become my doctor, and grandpa knows everything, and I believe everything he says."

"But what you say, is it true that you are ill, Valentine?" asked Morrel hastily.

"Ah! My God! It's not a disease. I just feel a little out of place all over me, and nothing else. I don't have an appetite for food. I feel flustered in my stomach, as if something can't get used to it."

Noirquier listened to Valentine's words without missing a word.

"What medicine are you using now to treat this inexplicable disease?"

"Oh! very simple," said Valentine, "every morning I take a spoonful of the same potion my grandfather gave me, and I say a spoonful at first, and now I have Four spoonfuls. My grandfather said this potion was a cure-all."

Valentine smiled a little, but there was something about it that seemed melancholy and pained.Maximilian, already intoxicated with love, just looked at Valentine without saying a word.The girl was indeed very beautiful, but her complexion was pale and dull, her piercing eyes looked hotter than usual, and her pearly white hands seemed to be made of white wax that gradually turned yellow with time.Morrel looked from Valentine to Noirquier.The old man has a unique vision and profound insights, and he is very concerned about the girl who is completely immersed in love. Like Morrel, he is always paying attention to this looming disease.The illness was indeed not easy to detect, and no one else could see anything except my grandfather and lover.

"But," said Morrel, "you can now drink four spoonfuls of this liquid, which I suppose was originally prepared for M. Noirquier?"

"I find this medicine very bitter," said Valentine, "so bitter that when I take it and drink anything else, it tastes bitter to me."

Noirquier looked suspiciously at Valentine.

"Yes, Grandfather," said Valentine, "that's it. Before I came downstairs to you, I took a glass of syrup and drank it. Why, I think it tastes too bitter, and I don't want to drink half of it."

Nuwakiye's face turned pale immediately, indicating that he had something to say.Valentine got up and went to the dictionary.Noirquier was always looking at his granddaughter, and it was obvious that he was very anxious.Sure enough, the girl felt blood rushing to her head, and her cheeks instantly turned red.

"Hey!" exclaimed Valentine, still looking cheerful, "that's strange, I feel dazzled! Is the sun just hitting my eyes?" She hastened to press the long window on the window. plug.

"There is no sunshine," said Morrel, who was disturbed by Valentine's discomfort, but who was more disturbed by the expression on Noirquier's face.He ran at once to Valentine.

The girl smiled. "Don't worry, grandpa," she said, "don't worry too, Maximilian, it's all right, it'll be over in no time. But listen! It sounded like a carriage coming into the yard." , don't you?" She opened Noirquier's door, ran to a window in the corridor, and hurried back to the room. "Yes," she said, "it's Madame Tangra and her daughter who came to see us. Good-bye, I have to go, because they will come here to find me. No, I should have said that I will see you later, and you are here with Grandpa." , Herr Maximilian, I tell you, I will not keep them for long."

Morrel watched her leave the room, saw her close the door behind her, and heard her go up the little staircase that led to Madame de Villefort's room and to her own.No sooner had Valentine gone than Noirquier motioned for Morrel to go and get the dictionary.Morrel went and got the dictionary.Valentine had already taught him, so Morrel soon learned how to read the old man.However, no matter how he mastered the method, he had to memorize a few of the 26 letters first, and then find out each word from the dictionary, so it took him 10 minutes to put together what the old man wanted to say into a complete sentence "Bring the glass and the carafe that are in Valentine's room." Morrel rang the bell, and the servant who replaced Barois entered at once, in the name of Noirquier. I ordered a few words.The servant returned shortly after, the decanter and glass already empty, and Noirquier signaled to him that he had something to say.

"How can the glasses and decanters be empty?" he asked. "Valentine said she drank only half a glass."

It took another 5 minutes to understand the meaning of this sentence.

"I don't know," said the servant, "but Mademoiselle Valentine's maid is in the lady's room, and she may have done it."

"Quickly ask her," said Morrel, who this time guessed what Noirquier meant by his eyes.

The servant backed out, but he came back almost immediately. "Mademoiselle Valentine went to Madame de Villefort's room through her own room," said he. "Miss was just thirsty, so she drank all the water left in the glass. Mr. Edward poured out all the water in the glass bottle. He wanted to make a pond for his ducks."

At this moment, Noirquier, like a desperate gambler, could not help but raise his eyes to the sky.Then, the old man's eyes were fixed on the door, and he would not leave for a moment.

It was indeed Madame Tangra and her daughter that Valentine saw just now. The servant led them into Madame de Villefort's apartment, because Madame de Villefort had ordered her to receive guests in her own apartment, so Valentine Go back to her suite first and then go through.Her room is on the same floor as her stepmother's room, separated only by Edward's room. Mrs. Tangla and her daughter entered the living room of the suite. There is something important to say.People who walk in the same circle can feel a slight change in their words and deeds. When Madame de Villefort saw the seriousness of her guests, she herself assumed an air of seriousness.At this moment Valentine entered the drawing-room, and they all rose, sat down, and curtseyed once more.

"Dear friends," said the baroness, while the two girls beside her were holding hands, "I have brought Eugenie here to be the first to tell you that my daughter will marry Prince Cavalleconti in the near future. .”

Tangla insisted on calling him Prince Cavalleconti, a commoner banker who thought it would be more flavorful to use this title than Earl or something.

"Then allow me to offer you my sincere congratulations," said Madame de Villefort. "It is evident that M. Prince Cavalle-Conti is a young man of rare talent."

"Listen to me," said the baroness, with a slight smile. "As a friend, you know, we don't think this young man has really come into his own. One can tell at a glance that this is an Italian or German gentleman. Judging from his words and deeds, he has a noble heart and a sharp wit. As for whether the marriage is well-matched, Mr. Tangla said that the young man's property is very considerable. His words."

"Besides," said Eugenie, leafing through one of Madame de Villefort's albums, "you may wish to add, Madame, that you have a special interest in this young man."

"Well," said Madame de Villefort, "I don't need to ask you if you like it?"

"Me?" said Eugenie, always with such pride, "oh, there is nothing fancy about it, Madame. My ambition is not to restrain myself to domestic affairs, nor to ask who the man is." , I only know a group of harmony, obedience and obedience. My ambition is to be an artist, I have my own heart, my own personality, my own thoughts, and I will be free all my life.”

Eugenie's words were spoken with such fervor and force that Valentine could not help flushing.It was impossible for this weak and timid girl to understand how a girl could have such a strong personality that seemed to have no feminine shyness.

"Besides," continued Eugenie, "since I must marry, whether I want to or not, I must thank God, who at least first made M. Albert look down on me. If not By the grace of God, I am today the wife of a disreputable man."

"That's true," said the baroness, with the utmost innocence, which is not uncommon among the common people, but it is not always possible for the noble ladies to abandon it, so it is occasionally seen in them, "it is true. Really, my daughter would have married this Mr. Albert if it hadn't been for the Mosev family's breakup. The general wanted to make this marriage very much, and he even came to force Mr. Tanger to marry him, but luckily he didn't agree. "

"But," said Valentine timidly, "does the father's disgrace really affect the son? I think M. Albert is perfectly innocent of the general's treachery."

"I am sorry, my dear friend," said the ruthless girl, "Monsieur Albert has brought on his own pain, and it is his own fault. It seems that yesterday he challenged Monsieur Monte Cristo at the Opera, and today, at the duel, he challenged Christ. Mr. Shan apologized."

"Impossible!" said Madame de Villefort.

"Ah! my dear friend," said Mrs. Tanglars, with the same innocence we have just mentioned, "it is true. Mr. Debray told me himself, and he was present when the apology was made."

Valentine also knew about the apology, but she didn't respond.A word aroused her thoughts, and her thoughts went back to Noirquier's room, and she thought of Morrel who was waiting for her there.She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she couldn't take care of the conversation for a while, and she couldn't even remember what they said a few minutes ago.Suddenly, Mrs. Tangla pushed her arm with her hand, which woke her up from her contemplation. "What's the matter, Madame?" Valentine said, and the moment Madame Tangra's fingers touched her, the girl trembled as if she had been electrocuted.

"It appears, my dear Valentine," said the baroness, "that you are not well?"

"Me?" the girl said, touching her hot forehead with her hand.

"Yes, take a look in front of this mirror, your face will turn red and white, three or four times in a minute."

"Really," cried Eugenie, "you are so pale!"

"Oh! Don't worry, Eugenie, I've been like this these days."

The girl, who was no longer cautious, knew now that this was her chance of escape, and that Madame de Villefort was also exonerating her.

"Go back and rest, Valentine," said Madame de Villefort. "You are indeed ill. Madame Tangra and Mademoiselle will forgive you. Drink a glass of water, and you will recover."

Valentine hugged Eugenie, then saluted Madame Tangra who had stood up and was about to say goodbye, and then walked out.

"The poor child," said Madame de Villefort, waiting for Valentine to emerge from the drawing-room, "she worries me so much that I am afraid that something may happen to her."

At this moment, Valentine, in a state of excitement which she did not feel herself, passed through Edward's room, ignoring the boy's unknowable prank, and went through her own room to the foot of the little staircase.She was walking down the stairs, she was still three steps away, and she had heard Morrel's voice, but suddenly she felt that her eyes were blurred, her stiff feet were lost, her hands were powerless to hold the handrail, and her whole body was stuck to the ground. On the partition wall on one side of the stairs, she could no longer take a step, and stumbled and rolled down the last three steps.

Morrel jumped up, opened the door, and saw Valentine lying on the foot of the stairs.He rushed at the speed of lightning, picked up the girl, and placed her on a chair, and Valentine opened her eyes again. "Oh! I'm so clumsy," she said hastily, "I'm so flustered that I forget there are three steps under my feet!"

"Perhaps you are hurt, Valentine?" cried Morrel. "Oh! my God! my God!"

Valentine looked around and saw that Noirquier's eyes were full of panic and uneasiness. "Don't worry, grandpa," she said with a forced smile, "it's nothing, really nothing, I was a little dizzy just now, nothing else."

"Dizzy again!" said Morrel, clasping his hands. "Oh! You must pay attention, Valentine, really pay attention."

"It's all right," said Valentine, "it's all right, really, it's all over and nothing at all. Now listen to me and tell you a piece of news. Eugénie will be married next week, and in three days' time she will be engaged." , they're throwing a big feast, and we're all invited, my father, Madame de Villefort, and me...at least that's what I hear."

"When will it be our turn to discuss such matters? Oh! Valentina, your grandfather listens to you in many matters, and you will let him say: 'Quickly!'"

"So," asked Valentine, "you expect me to hurry things up, and to remind grandpa?"

"Yes," cried Morrel, "my God! my God! You should have said it sooner. As long as you are not mine, I think you will leave me alone."

"Hey!" replied Valentine, trembling convulsively, "Oh! To tell you the truth, Maximilian, you are too timid to be an officer or a soldier. Said soldiers never knew what it was to be afraid. Ha! Ha! Ha!"

She laughed shrill and painfully, her arms stiffened and twisted, her head leaned back on the back of the chair, and then she froze.The exclamation that God wanted him to utter with his mouth burst out of Nouakier's eyes.Morrel understood at once that help must be called at once, and he pulled the bell with all his might.The maid who was in Valentine's apartment and the manservant who replaced Baroy came at the same time.Valentine's face was pale, her body was cold, and she was lifeless. When the two servants saw this scene, they didn't need to listen to what others said. They immediately thought of the terrifying demon haunting this haunted house, and immediately rushed to the corridor and shouted loudly. call for help.

Madame Donglas and Eugenie were leaving at this moment, so they stayed behind to ask why there was such a commotion downstairs. "I have told you," cried Madame de Villefort, "poor girl!"

(End of this chapter)