第455章

"I say that Valentine is dead!" replied d'Avrigny, in a voice terrible in its solemn calm.

M.de Villefort staggered and buried his head in the bed.On the exclamation of the doctor and the cry of the father, the servants all fled with muttered imprecations; they were heard running down the stairs and through the long passages, then there was a rush in the court, afterwards all was still; they had, one and all, deserted the accursed house.

Just then, Madame de Villefort, in the act of slipping on her dressing-gown, threw aside the drapery and for a moment stood motionless, as though interrogating the occupants of the room, while she endeavored to call up some rebellious tears.On a sudden she stepped, or rather bounded, with outstretched arms, towards the table.She saw d'Avrigny curiously examining the glass, which she felt certain of having emptied during the night.It was now a third full, just as it was when she threw the contents into the ashes.

The spectre of Valentine rising before the poisoner would have alarmed her less.It was, indeed, the same color as the draught she had poured into the glass, and which Valentine had drank; it was indeed the poison, which could not deceive M.d'Avrigny, which he now examined so closely; it was doubtless a miracle from heaven, that, notwithstanding her precautions, there should be some trace, some proof remaining to reveal the crime.While Madame de Villefort remained rooted to the spot like a statue of terror, and Villefort, with his head hidden in the bedclothes, saw nothing around him, d'Avrigny approached the window, that he might the better examine the contents of the glass, and dipping the tip of his finger in, tasted it."Ah," he exclaimed, "it is no longer brucine that is used; let me see what it is!"Then he ran to one of the cupboards in Valentine's room, which had been transformed into a medicine closet, and taking from its silver case a small bottle of nitric acid, dropped a little of it into the liquor, which immediately changed to a blood-red color."Ah," exclaimed d'Avrigny, in a voice in which the horror of a judge unveiling the truth was mingled with the delight of a student making a discovery.Madame de Villefort was overpowered, her eyes first flashed and then swam, she staggered towards the door and disappeared.Directly afterwards the distant sound of a heavy weight falling on the ground was heard, but no one paid any attention to it; the nurse was engaged in watching the chemical analysis, and Villefort was still absorbed in grief.M.d'Avrigny alone had followed Madame de Villefort with his eyes, and watched her hurried retreat.He lifted up the drapery over the entrance to Edward's room, and his eye reaching as far as Madame de Villefort's apartment, he beheld her extended lifeless on the floor."Go to the assistance of Madame de Villefort," he said to the nurse.

"Madame de Villefort is ill."

"But Mademoiselle de Villefort " -- stammered the nurse.

"Mademoiselle de Villefort no longer requires help," said d'Avrigny, "since she is dead.""Dead, -- dead!" groaned forth Villefort, in a paroxysm of grief, which was the more terrible from the novelty of the sensation in the iron heart of that man.

"Dead!" repeated a third voice."Who said Valentine was dead?"The two men turned round, and saw Morrel standing at the door, pale and terror-stricken.This is what had happened.

At the usual time, Morrel had presented himself at the little door leading to Noirtier's room.Contrary to custom, the door was open, and having no occasion to ring he entered.He waited for a moment in the hall and called for a servant to conduct him to M.Noirtier; but no one answered, the servants having, as we know, deserted the house.Morrel had no particular reason for uneasiness; Monte Cristo had promised him that Valentine should live, and so far he had always fulfilled his word.Every night the count had given him news, which was the next morning confirmed by Noirtier.

Still this extraordinary silence appeared strange to him, and he called a second and third time; still no answer.Then he determined to go up.Noirtier's room was opened, like all the rest.The first thing he saw was the old man sitting in his arm-chair in his usual place, but his eyes expressed alarm, which was confirmed by the pallor which overspread his features.

"How are you, sir?" asked Morrel, with a sickness of heart.

"Well," answered the old man, by closing his eyes; but his appearance manifested increasing uneasiness.

"You are thoughtful, sir," continued Morrel; "you want something; shall I call one of the servants?""Yes," replied Noirtier.

Morrel pulled the bell, but though he nearly broke the cord no one answered.He turned towards Noirtier; the pallor and anguish expressed on his countenance momentarily increased.

"Oh," exclaimed Morrel, "why do they not come? Is any one ill in the house?" The eyes of Noirtier seemed as though they would start from their sockets."What is the matter?

You alarm me.Valentine? Valentine?"

"Yes, yes," signed Noirtier.Maximilian tried to speak, but he could articulate nothing; he staggered, and supported himself against the wainscot.Then he pointed to the door.

"Yes, yes, yes!" continued the old man.Maximilian rushed up the little staircase, while Noirtier's eyes seemed to say, -- "Quicker, quicker!"In a minute the young man darted through several rooms, till at length he reached Valentine's.There was no occasion to push the door, it was wide open.A sob was the only sound he heard.He saw as though in a mist, a black figure kneeling and buried in a confused mass of white drapery.A terrible fear transfixed him.It was then he heard a voice exclaim "Valentine is dead!" and another voice which, like an echo repeated, -- "Dead, -- dead!"