World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 188 Maximilian (1)
Villefort stood up, feeling a little ashamed to be caught in such a sigh. Twenty-five years of his dreadful occupation had given him a somewhat surly temper.For a moment he looked bewildered, and looked at Morrel. "Who are you, sir," said he, "and don't you understand that outsiders are not allowed in like this when there is a funeral at home? Please go, sir, please get out!"

But Morrel still stood motionless at the door, gazing intently at the horrible and untidy bed and the bloodless face on which it lay.

"Go out, do you hear?" cried Villefort, while Avrini went up to persuade Morrel to go.

Morrel, in a dazed state, looked at the body in the room, at Villefort and Avrini, and at the whole room.He seemed to be hesitating, and opened his mouth, but although he was overwhelmed with emotions, he was at a loss for words for a moment, so he grabbed his hair with both hands, turned and left.For a moment Villefort and Avrini forgot their sorrow and concern, and watched him go away, and then they looked at each other with a look that seemed to say: "This is a madman."

But before 5 minutes had elapsed, the stairs creaked as if being pressed by something heavy. Looking again, it turned out that it was Morrel who, with a strength beyond ordinary people, took Nouacquier and his wheelchair together. They hugged together and carried the old man up to the second floor.On reaching the landing, he put down the wheelchair and hurried into Valentine's room.Being able to do such a thing was because the young man was out of breath for a while, and his strength suddenly increased by 10 times under extreme excitement.But still more horrifying was the face of Noirquier, which Morrel pushed towards Valentine's bedside, for the wisdom of resourcefulness and judgment was revealed in this face, for the eyes took the place of the rest of the organs. All functions are even more piercing.So, seeing this pale face, with two fires shining from its eyes, Villefort thought it was a terrible apparition.Every time he came into contact with his father, something terrible happened.

"Look at what they've done!" cried Morrel, putting one hand on the back of the wheelchair that had just been pushed beside Valentine's bed, and pointing with the other. Come on, grandpa, look at it!"

Villefort stepped back involuntarily, and looked in amazement at the young man, who was very strange to him, but who called Noirquier his grandfather.At this moment, the whole soul of the old man seemed to pour into his eyes.His eyes were red and bloodshot, the veins on his neck were bulging, and he seemed to have a sudden epilepsy. There were streaks of purple and blue on his neck, cheeks and temples. There was a roar.But it can be said that his whole body is roaring, this is a silent roar, which is creepy; this is a silent shout, which is heart-piercing.Affini hurried over and gave the old man a little sedative.

"Sir!" cried Morrel, seizing the paralyzed old man by the immobile hand, "they ask me who I am and what right I have to come here. Oh, you know, tell me! Tell me!"

The young man whimpered and could not continue.As for the old man, he was panting heavily one after another, and his chest heaved violently. His appearance was like the anxiety and pain before dying.Tears finally flowed from Nouakier's eyes, he was considered luckier than the young man who wanted to cry but couldn't cry.His stiff head could not be lowered, but his eyes were closed.

"Speak," Morrel choked, "tell them I am her fiancé! Tell them she is my noble friend, the only one I love in this world! Speak, say Oh, tell them the dead are mine!"

The young man suddenly knelt down in front of the bed, clutching the bed tightly with his hands convulsively, with a tragic and terrifying look, as if a huge supporting force was suddenly shattered.Such grief was heartbreaking, and Avrini turned his face away, not wanting others to see his agitated expression.Villefort didn't ask any more questions, he was already attracted by a kind of magnetism-when we weep for a loved one, if we find someone who loves the lost relative, this magnetism will attract us, to that person Favored, Villefort held out his hand to the young man.But Morrel saw nothing, he took Valentine's cold hand, and he wanted to cry, but he could not cry, but bit the sheet and sobbed.

For a moment there was only whimpering, cursing, and prayers in the room, but amidst this humming, the hoarse, pathetic panting of Noirakier was most distinctly heard, as if he Every time you take a breath, the vitality in your chest will decrease by one point.Villefort, who had more self-control than the others, had given up his place to Maximilian, so to speak, now spoke.

"Monsieur," he said to Maximilian, "you love Valentine, and you say you are her fiancé, but I do not know that you are in love, nor that you are engaged. But, as her father, I I can forgive you, because I can see that you are hurting so much, and your pain is from the heart, and it is true. Besides, I am crying, and I don't have the heart to get angry. But you I also see that the angel you expected has passed away, and the love of the world has no meaning for her, because at this moment, what she admires and admires is God. The remains that she left us are lingering, sir, to you Farewell to the dead body, you wish to have her hand, you can hold it for the last time, and then bid her farewell, and now Valentine only needs the priest's blessing."

"You are mistaken, monsieur," said Morrel, raising one leg and kneeling on one knee, feeling his pain as never before, "you are mistaken, Valentine is dead, but she not only needs The priest blessed her, and she needs someone to avenge her. M. de Villefort, send for the priest, and I will avenge her."

"What do you mean, monsieur?" whispered Villefort, who shuddered at the sight of Morrel again suddenly lost in a trance.

"I mean," continued Morrel, "that you have a double status, sir. As a father you have shed enough tears, and as a prosecutor you should begin to perform your duties." Noirquier's eyes Shining all of a sudden, Avrini walked up to the two of them. "Sir," continued Morrel, watching the expressions on the faces of the three persons, "I know what I mean, and you know what I mean as well as I do. Valanti Na was murdered." Villefort bowed his head, Avrini took a step forward, and Noirquier agreed with his eyes. "However, sir," continued Morrel, "in our time, even if a person is not so young, so beautiful, and so lovely as Valentine, if he dies suddenly, the living must ask the insider. So, Monsieur Prosecutor," Morrel continued, his tone becoming more and more severe, "don't be soft-hearted! I want to expose the crime to you, and you should go and find out who the murderer is! "

After speaking, he pressed Villefort with ruthless eyes, and Villefort looked at Noirquier now and Avrini with begging eyes.But in his father, in the doctor, Villefort found no sympathy, he saw only the firmness of Morrel's eyes in both of them.

"Yes." The old man gestured with his eyes.

"Of course!" Affini said.

"Monsieur," replied Villefort, trying to resist the wishes of the three men and his own feelings, "monsieur, you are mistaken; no crime has occurred in my family; I have only suffered bad luck, and God has chastened me. It's scary to think about, but no one wants to kill."

Noirquier's eyes lit up with anger, and Avrini opened his mouth to speak.Morrel raised his hand, not to be told.

"And I might as well tell you that someone is killing people here!" Morrel said, although his voice was lowered, but the tone was still palpitating. "Let me tell you, this is the fourth murderer in four months." I tell you that four days ago someone tried to kill Valentine with poison, and it was only because M. Noirquier was on guard that he failed! I tell you, The man doubled the dose, or substituted another poison, and this time he succeeded! I tell you, you know all this as well as I do, because this gentleman, as a doctor and a friend, has already told You."

"Oh! you are talking nonsense, monsieur," said Villefort, knowing that he was in a desperate situation, but trying to struggle in vain.

"I am talking nonsense!" exclaimed Morrel. "Well, then, I will ask Monsieur Avrini to tell you. You can ask him, sir, if he remembers the death of Madame de Saint-Meran." What did he say that night in your garden, that is, in the back garden of this mansion. You, you and he, thought it was just you two, and talked about the tragic death of Madame de Saint-Méran You speak of misfortune, and you absurdly attribute God to God, and you are only right in one thing, and that is that you have allowed Valentine to be murdered."

Villefort and Avrini looked at each other.

"Yes, yes, just think about what was said," continued Morrel. "I heard every word of what you thought you said in the dead of night, when no one else was there. Of course, that day In the evening I saw M. de Villefort cover up and condone crimes committed by his family. I should have reported to the authorities, and I would not have become your accomplice to your murder, Valentine! My beloved Valentine! But this accomplice I will avenge you. This fourth murder is so blatant, it is now seen, and if your father leaves you alone, Valentine, and I am here, I am here, I swear to you, Never let that murderer go."

This time, as if the heavens were merciful, and finally felt pity for this tough guy who was dying of pain. Morrel said the last words, his throat was choked, and a sob burst out of his chest, and the tears that had been stagnated for a long time rushed out of his eyes. He went limp all at once, and fell on his knees beside Valentine's bed, weeping bitterly.

(End of this chapter)