World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 175 The True Love (2)
"Hmph! what does it matter to me?" said Monte Cristo, shrugging his shoulders. "What have I to do with these people? Am I supposed to protect anyone? Well, I don't, because the murderers among them Whether it is the victim or the victim, I will always look at it with cold eyes."

"But I, myself!" exclaimed Morrel, distressed, "I am, I love her!"

"Who do you love?" cried Monte Cristo, jumping up, grabbing Morrel and twisting his upraised hands.

"I love her madly, madly, and I would give all my blood to keep her from shedding a single tear. I love Valentine Villefort, and at this very moment someone is trying to kill her. Listen! Is that clear? I love her, and I pray to God, and I implore you to tell me, how can I save her?"

Monte Cristo gave a roar, such a roar that only one who has heard the mournful roar of the wounded lion can imagine. "Terrible!" he cried, rubbing his hands together anxiously in his turn. "Terrible! You should be in love with Valentine! You should be in love with the daughter of this odious family!"

Never had Morrel seen such an expression, never had such terrible eyes, burning with such blazing fire, be seen before him.On the field of battle, in the bloody nights of Algeria, time and time again he saw the God of Terror looming before his eyes, but never before had the God of Terror waved such ghastly lights around him.He couldn't help taking a step back in a panic.

As for Monte Cristo, after a sidelong glance and a roar, he closed his eyes for a moment, as if he had been dazzled by the light of a fire in the depths of his soul.In that instant, he reflected on himself with a strong willpower, and his chest, which was heaving violently like a strong wind, slowly calmed down.Like dark clouds, the turbulent and white-flowered waves turn into ripples under the sun.This kind of silence, this kind of meditation, this kind of struggle in the heart is probably only 20 seconds.Then the count raised his pale face. "See," said he, with hardly audible change in his tone, "see, my dear friend, how God knows how to bring before his eyes shocking scenes, so that those who like to talk and watch the fire from the other side can see it, so that Punish them for their hard-heartedness. I just watched with cold eyes, ruthless and curious, I watched the tragic tragedy play out one after another. I was like a bad friend with malicious intentions, secretly hiding behind a secret ——As long as you have money and power, it is not difficult to keep secrets from leaking out. I laughed at the despicable behavior of those people. I watched the poisonous snake crawling forward, but now I feel that I am bitten by this poisonous snake and it's biting my heart."

Morrel moaned hoarsely.

"Oh, oh," went on the count, "that's enough moaning, come on manly. Be strong, be hopeful, because I'm here, because I'm looking after you."

Morrel shook his head sadly.

"I tell you hope! Do you understand me?" cried Monte Cristo. "You know, I never make promises, I never deceive myself. It is twelve o'clock at noon, Maximilian, By God, you came at noon, and did not wait till this evening or tomorrow morning. Listen to me again, Morrel, it is twelve noon, and if Valentine is not dead now, she is not. died."

"Oh! my God! my God!" cried Morrel; "she was dying when I went away!"

Monte Cristo passed his hand over his forehead.What is this brain with amazing secrets thinking?What does the angel who brings light or darkness say to this heart that is both pitiless and benevolent?Only God knows!

Monte Cristo raised his head again, but this time his face was as serene as a child's just waking up. "Maximilian," he said, "go home in peace, I ask you not to take a step further, not to try anything, not to show the slightest worry on your face, and I will tell you the news. Go away. "

"My God! my God!" said Morrel, "you are so calm, count, that I am terrified. Can you bring the dead back to life? Are you really above mortals? Are you an angel? Are you an angel?" God?" The young man who never took a step back from danger, felt an indescribable terror in his heart, and took a step back facing Monte Cristo.

But Monte Cristo glanced at Morrel, and with a smile so sweet and tender as to be melancholy, that Maximilian felt tears welling up in his eyes.

"I can handle myself well, my friend," said the count. "Go back, I want to be alone for a while."

Monte Cristo had a miraculously great influence on everyone and everything around him, and Morrel was now overwhelmed by it, and he was willing to get rid of it.He shook hands with the count, and left the study.But at the gate of the apartment, he saw Baptistan at the corner of Matheon, hurrying back, so he stopped to wait for Baptistan.

At this moment, Villefort and Avrini hurried to Saint-Honoré.Valentine was not yet awake when they entered the building.The doctor immediately examined the patient, not only because of the cause of the disease, but also because he knew the inside story, the examination was meticulous and meticulous.Villefort fixed his eyes and lips on the doctor, waiting for the result of the examination.Noirquier's face was paler than the girl's, and his heart was more anxious than Villefort himself. He was anxious to know the result of the diagnosis, so he also waited on the sidelines, with a demeanor of keen hearing and compassion.Finally, Avrini spoke up and said calmly, "She's still alive."

"Still!" cried Villefort, "oh, doctor, what a dreadful thing you say!"

"Yes," said the doctor, "I repeat: I am deeply surprised that she is still alive."

"So she's saved?" asked the father.

"Yes, because she's still alive."

At this time, Avrini's eyes met Noirquier's, but the doctor couldn't help being shocked when he saw an unusual, implied and profound joy in the old man's eyes.So he put the girl back on the chair, her lips were as pale as her whole face.Then the doctor stood still, looking towards Noirquier. The doctor's actions at this time had been expected by the old man, and he seemed to have his own thoughts.

"Sir," said Avrini to Villefort, "call for Mademoiselle Valentine's maid."

Villefort was holding his daughter's head, he let go gently, and ran to call the maid.As soon as he went out and closed the door, Avrini went up to Noirquier. "Do you have something to say to me?" he asked.

The old man's expressive eyes blinked once.Presumably the reader will remember that now the old man can only wink to show that he agrees with what others say.

"Only to me?"

"Yes." Nouakiye gestured.

"Okay, I'll stay and talk to you."

At this moment, Villefort returned to the room, followed by the maid, and after the maid came Madame Villefort.

"What is the matter with the darling girl?" cried Madame de Villefort. "When she came out of me she said she was a little ill, but I did not expect it to be so serious."

After speaking, with tears in her eyes, the young woman walked up to Valentine and held her hand, pretending to be a real mother who loves her children.Afrini was always looking at Noirquier, and he saw the old man's eyes widen and then round again, his cheeks turned white and he trembled, his forehead was dripping with sweat.Following Noirquier's gaze, he turned his eyes to Madame de Villefort, and exclaimed involuntarily, "Ah!" while Madame de Villefort was talking endlessly.

"The poor child will do better in bed. Come here, Fanny, and we'll put her to bed."

Avrini felt that it was a good idea to use her idea to stay and talk to Noirquier alone, so he nodded, saying that this was indeed the best thing, but he also ordered the patient not to eat anything except what he ordered. .Madame de Villefort and the maid raised Valentine, and the girl regained consciousness, but after the convulsions just now, her limbs were so weak that she was still unable to move herself, and she had no strength even to speak. Her grandfather gave him a farewell look.The old man looked at it and felt that his granddaughter was carried away, and his soul was also taken away.Avrini followed the patient, wrote a prescription, and told Villefort to hire a cab to go to the pharmacy in person, wait for the pharmacy to prepare the medicine according to the prescription in his presence, bring it back himself, and wait for him in Valentine's room.Then the doctor once again ordered Valentina not to eat anything, and went downstairs to Noirquier's room, closing all the doors carefully, and was relieved when she saw that no one would eavesdrop. Come.

"Well," he said, "you know how your granddaughter is sick?"

"Yes." The old man gestured and replied.

"Listen, we have no time to lose, so let me ask you and answer."

Noirquier signaled that he was waiting to come and ask him.

"Valentine's sudden illness today, you have foreseen it, have you not?"

"Yes."

Avrini thought for a moment, then leaned closer to Noirquier and said: "Excuse me, I have to say something to you, because the situation is so dire that no sign should be ignored. You have seen the poor How did Barois die?"

Noirquier raised his eyes to the sky.

"Do you know the cause of his death?" Avrini asked, putting his hand on Noirquier's shoulder.

"Yes." The old man gestured and replied.

"Do you think he died of natural causes?"

There seemed to be a slight smile on Noirquier's lifeless lips.

"Then it occurred to you that Barois was poisoned, did you not?"

"Yes."

"Do you think that the poison that killed him was deliberately administered for him?"

"Do not."

"Then you now feel that the hand that killed Baroy was meant to kill someone else, and today the hand wants to kill Valentine again, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then Valentina will also be killed?" Avrini asked, his deep eyes fixed on Noirquier, and he waited for the old man to respond to this sentence.

"No." The old man beckoned and replied, with a smug expression on his face, which would make even a discerning prophet be at a loss.

"So you think there is still hope?" Affini asked in surprise.

"Yes."

"What hope?"

The old man signaled with his eyes that he could not answer.

"Ah! Yes, that's what happened," murmured Avrini, and then he asked Noirquier: "Do you think the murderer was able to rein in the precipice?"

"Do not."

"Then you hope that the poison will not work on Valentine?"

"Yes."

"Because I told you that someone tried to poison her," Avrini went on, "but I didn't tell you anything about the result. Is that why?"

The old man indicated with his eyes that he had no doubts that Valentine would not die.

"Then, on what grounds do you think Valentine will be spared?"

Noirquier's eyes were fixed on one side stubbornly, and Avrini followed the old man's gaze, and saw that what the old man was staring at was the medicine bottle that was brought to him every morning.

"Ah! Ah!" said Avrini, and a thought flashed through his mind, "You've already thought..."

Without waiting for the doctor to finish speaking, Nouakier motioned, "Yes."

"Get her used to this poison..."

"Yes."

"Gradually increase the dose..."

"Yes, yes, yes," Noirquier motioned, and the doctor understood him, and he was glad.

"Yes, you heard me say that the potion I gave you contained strychnine, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"You let her get used to this poison first, and then she won't be afraid of any poison, right?"

Once again Noirquier had a smug look on his face.

"Your goal has indeed been achieved!" Avrini shouted. "If it hadn't been for the rainy day, Valentina would have been poisoned to death today. It was useless to rescue her. She must have died a terrible death. This time the poison was very poisonous. Big, but she was only tormented to be very weak, at least this time, Valentine will not die."

The old man raised his eyes to the sky with an expression of extraordinary joy and infinite gratitude, when Villefort entered.

"Here, doctor," he said, "this is what you prescribed."

"Is this potion prepared in front of you?"

"Yes." The prosecutor replied.

"Have you never left your hand?"

"No."

Avrini took the medicine bottle, poured a few drops into his palm, sucked it into his mouth and tasted it first. "Very well," said he, "we will go upstairs to Valentine's room, and I will tell you all what is to be observed, and you must keep an eye on it yourself, M. de Villefort, and no one will violate it."

While Avrini, accompanied by Villefort, was going upstairs to Valentine's room, a dignified, unhurried but firm Italian priest hired the room adjoining Villefort's house. houses.

No one knows exactly what was done. The three tenants of this small building actually moved out after two hours. However, people in this area are rumored that the foundation of this building is not stable, and some people have collapsed. It was dangerous, but the new tenant didn't care. At around 5 o'clock that afternoon, he moved into this small building with a set of simple furniture.The new tenant signed a one-time lease for 3 years, 6 years and 9 years. According to the landlord's practice, he paid 6 months' rent in advance.The new lodger, as we have just said, was an Italian named Giaglimo Buzzoni.He moved in on the front foot, and invited workers on the back foot.That night, a few nocturnal pedestrians who occasionally passed by on the nearby streets were surprised to see a large group of carpenters and bricklayers rushing to repair the foundation of this dilapidated house.

(End of this chapter)