第32章

The Evening of the Betrothal.

Villefort had, as we have said, hastened back to Madame de Saint-Meran's in the Place du Grand Cours, and on entering the house found that the guests whom he had left at table were taking coffee in the salon.Renee was, with all the rest of the company, anxiously awaiting him, and his entrance was followed by a general exclamation.

"Well, Decapitator, Guardian of the State, Royalist, Brutus, what is the matter?" said one."Speak out.""Are we threatened with a fresh Reign of Terror?" asked another.

"Has the Corsican ogre broken loose?" cried a third.

"Marquise," said Villefort, approaching his future mother-in-law, "I request your pardon for thus leaving you.

Will the marquis honor me by a few moments' private conversation?""Ah, it is really a serious matter, then?" asked the marquis, remarking the cloud on Villefort's brow.

"So serious that I must take leave of you for a few days;so," added he, turning to Renee, "judge for yourself if it be not important.""You are going to leave us?" cried Renee, unable to hide her emotion at this unexpected announcement.

"Alas," returned Villefort, "I must!"

"Where, then, are you going?" asked the marquise.

"That, madame, is an official secret; but if you have any commissions for Paris, a friend of mine is going there to-night, and will with pleasure undertake them." The guests looked at each other.

"You wish to speak to me alone?" said the marquis.

"Yes, let us go to the library, please." The marquis took his arm, and they left the salon.

"Well," asked he, as soon as they were by themselves, "tell me what it is?""An affair of the greatest importance, that demands my immediate presence in Paris.Now, excuse the indiscretion, marquis, but have you any landed property?""All my fortune is in the funds; seven or eight hundred thousand francs.""Then sell out -- sell out, marquis, or you will lose it all.""But how can I sell out here?"

"You have it broker, have you not?"

"Yes."

"Then give me a letter to him, and tell him to sell out without an instant's delay, perhaps even now I shall arrive too late.""The deuce you say!" replied the marquis, "let us lose no time, then!"And, sitting down, he wrote a letter to his broker, ordering him to sell out at the market price.

"Now, then," said Villefort, placing the letter in his pocketbook, "I must have another!""To whom?"

"To the king."

"To the king?"

"Yes."

"I dare not write to his majesty."

"I do not ask you to write to his majesty, but ask M.de Salvieux to do so.I want a letter that will enable me to reach the king's presence without all the formalities of demanding an audience; that would occasion a loss of precious time.""But address yourself to the keeper of the seals; he has the right of entry at the Tuileries, and can procure you audience at any hour of the day or night.""Doubtless; but there is no occasion to divide the honors of my discovery with him.The keeper would leave me in the background, and take all the glory to himself.I tell you, marquis, my fortune is made if I only reach the Tuileries the first, for the king will not forget the service I do him.""In that case go and get ready.I will call Salvieux and make him write the letter.""Be as quick as possible, I must be on the road in a quarter of an hour.""Tell your coachman to stop at the door.""You will present my excuses to the marquise and Mademoiselle Renee, whom I leave on such a day with great regret.""You will find them both here, and can make your farewells in person.""A thousand thanks -- and now for the letter."The marquis rang, a servant entered.

"Say to the Comte de Salvieux that I would like to see him.""Now, then, go," said the marquis.

"I shall be gone only a few moments."

Villefort hastily quitted the apartment, but reflecting that the sight of the deputy procureur running through the streets would be enough to throw the whole city into confusion, he resumed his ordinary pace.At his door he perceived a figure in the shadow that seemed to wait for him.It was Mercedes, who, hearing no news of her lover, had come unobserved to inquire after him.

As Villefort drew near, she advanced and stood before him.

Dantes had spoken of Mercedes, and Villefort instantly recognized her.Her beauty and high bearing surprised him, and when she inquired what had become of her lover, it seemed to him that she was the judge, and he the accused.

"The young man you speak of," said Villefort abruptly, "is a great criminal.and I can do nothing for him, mademoiselle."Mercedes burst into tears, and, as Villefort strove to pass her, again addressed him.

"But, at least, tell me where he is, that I may know whether he is alive or dead," said she.

"I do not know; he is no longer in my hands," replied Villefort.