"That’s true," Mada Danglars agreed with startling simplicity. "If the Morcerfs hadn’t hesitated, my daughter would have married Albert. The general was counting on it, he even tried to pressure Monsieur Danglars. We had a narrow escape."
"But," Valentine ventured timidly, "does the father’s sha really transfer to the son? Albert seems completely innocent of the treason his father committed."
"Excuse ," Eugénie said coldly, "but Albert claims and deserves his share of the bla. After challenging Monte Cristo at the opera yesterday, he apparently apologized this morning."
"Impossible!" Mada de Villefort gasped.
"It’s true, my dear," Mada Danglars confird. "I heard it from Monsieur Debray, who witnessed the whole thing."
Valentine knew the truth too, but remained silent. A single thought had struck her, Morrel was waiting in Grandfather’s room.
Lost in contemplation, Valentine stopped following the conversation entirely. She couldn’t have repeated a word of what had been said in the last few minutes. Suddenly, Mada Danglars’ hand pressed against her arm, jolting her back to awareness.
"What is it?" Valentine asked, startled as if shocked by electricity.
"My dear Valentine," the baroness said with concern, "you’re clearly not well."
Valentine pressed her hand to her burning forehead. "I’m fine..."
"Look at yourself in that mirror. You’ve turned pale, then flushed, three or four tis in the last minute."
"You’re really pale!" Eugénie added.
"Don’t worry. I’ve been like this for days." Despite her innocence, Valentine recognized an opportunity to escape. Mada de Villefort ca to her aid.
"Go rest, Valentine," she said gently. "You’re obviously suffering, and these ladies will understand. Drink so pure water, it will help."
Valentine kissed Eugénie, nodded to Mada Danglars, who was already preparing to leave, and hurried out.
"That poor child," Mada de Villefort said after Valentine left. "She worries . I wouldn’t be surprised if she had so serious illness."
Valentine rushed through Edward’s room in a strange, excited state she didn’t quite understand, barely noticing the child’s mischief. She crossed her own room and reached the small staircase.
Three steps from the bottom, already hearing Morrel’s voice, a cloud suddenly passed over her vision. Her foot went rigid, missing the step. Her hands couldn’t grip the railing. She fell against the wall, lost her balance completely, and tumbled to the floor.
Morrel rushed to the door, threw it open, and found Valentine crumpled at the bottom of the stairs. Moving like lightning, he scooped her into his arms and placed her in a chair.
Valentine’s eyes fluttered open.
"How clumsy of ," she said with feverish energy. "I forgot there were three more steps before the landing."
"Are you hurt?" Morrel asked anxiously. "What can I do, Valentine?"
Valentine glanced around, seeing the terror in her grandfather’s eyes.
"Don’t worry, dear Grandfather," she said, attempting a smile. "It’s nothing. Just a dizzy spell."
"Another dizzy spell," Morrel said, gripping his hands together. "Please, Valentine, take this seriously."
"But no," Valentine insisted. "I told you, it’s already passed. Now let tell you the news, Eugénie’s getting married in a week! There’s going to be a grand engagent party in three days. We’re all invited: Father, Mada de Villefort, and . At least, that’s what I understood."
"When will it be our turn?" Morrel asked intensely. "Valentine, you have so much influence over your grandfather. Make him answer, when? Soon?"
"And you," Valentine replied, "expect to push Grandfather’s mory and speed up his decision-making?"
"Yes!" Morrel cried. "Please, hurry. As long as you’re not mine, Valentine, I’ll always fear losing you."
"Oh," Valentine said with a convulsive movent, "you’re too timid for an officer, Maximilian. For a soldier who supposedly never knows fear. Ha... ha... ha!"
Her laugh ca out forced and lancholy. Her arms went rigid and twisted. Her head fell back against the chair. She went completely still.
The scream of terror that should have burst from Noirtier’s lips seed trapped, visible only in his eyes.
Morrel understood instantly, they needed help. He rang the bell violently.
The housemaid from Valentine’s room and the servant who’d replaced Barrois rushed in simultaneously. Valentine looked so pale, so cold, so lifeless that without waiting for explanation, they were seized by the sa dread that perated the entire house. They ran into the hallway, crying for help.
Mada Danglars and Eugénie were just leaving. They heard the commotion.
"I told you so!" Mada de Villefort exclaid. "Poor child!"
At that mont, Monsieur de Villefort’s voice called from his study, "What’s happening?"
Morrel glanced at Noirtier, who had regained his composure. A single look indicated the closet where Morrel had once hidden under similar circumstances. He barely had ti to grab his hat and throw himself breathlessly inside before the prosecutor’s footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Villefort burst into the room, ran to Valentine, and gathered her in his arms.
"A doctor! Get Doctor d’Avrigny!" he shouted. "No, I’ll go myself!"
He flew from the room. Morrel simultaneously darted out the other door, struck to his core by a terrifying mory, the conversation he’d overheard between the doctor and Villefort the night Mada de Saint-Méran died. These symptoms, though less severe, matched those that preceded Barrois’ death.
Monte Cristo’s words from just two hours ago echoed in his mind: "Whatever you need, Morrel, co to . I have great power."
Faster than thought itself, Morrel raced down the street toward the Count’s estate.
anwhile, Villefort arrived at Doctor d’Avrigny’s house in a hired cab. He rang the bell so violently the porter jumped in alarm. Villefort didn’t bother with explanations, simply ran upstairs.
The porter recognized him and let him pass, calling after him: "In his study, Monsieur Prosecutor! In his study!"
Villefort pushed, no, forced the door open.
"Ah," the doctor said. "Is it you?"
"Yes," Villefort said, slamming the door behind him. "I’ve co to ask if we’re alone. Doctor, my house is cursed!"
"What?" d’Avrigny asked with apparent calm, though deep emotion flickered in his eyes. "You have another sick person?"
"Yes, doctor!" Villefort cried, clutching his hair. "Yes!"
D’Avrigny’s look said clearly: I warned you this would happen.
He spoke slowly and deliberately, "Who is dying in your house now? What new victim will accuse you of weakness before God?"
A mournful sob burst from Villefort’s chest. He grabbed the doctor’s arm.
"Valentine," he whispered. "It’s Valentine’s turn."
"Your daughter!" d’Avrigny cried, genuine grief and surprise in his voice.
"You see? You were wrong about ," Villefort said bitterly. "Co see her. At her bedside, beg her forgiveness for suspecting her."
"Every ti you’ve called ," the doctor replied, "it’s been too late. But I’ll co. Let’s hurry, sir. With the enemy you’re dealing with, there’s no ti to waste."
"This ti, doctor, you won’t accuse of weakness. This ti I’ll identify the murderer and hunt them down."
"Let’s try to save the victim before thinking about revenge," d’Avrigny said. "Co."
The sa cab that brought Villefort carried them back at full speed. At that exact mont, Morrel was pounding on Monte Cristo’s door.
The Count was in his study, reading with visible anger sothing Bertuccio had rushed to bring him. Hearing that Morrel, who’d left only two hours ago, had returned, the Count’s head snapped up. He rose and rushed to et him.
"What’s wrong, Maximilian?" he asked. "You’re pale, and there’s sweat on your forehead."
Morrel collapsed into a chair.
"Yes," he gasped. "I ca quickly. I needed to talk to you."
"Is your family well?" the Count asked with such genuine, affectionate concern that no one could doubt his sincerity.
"Thank you, Count. Yes, everyone’s fine."
"Good. But you have sothing to tell ?" The Count’s anxiety increased.
"Yes," Morrel said. "I just left a house where death has entered. I ca straight here."
"Are you coming from Monsieur de Morcerf’s house?" Monte Cristo asked.
"No. Did soone die there?"
"The general just shot himself in the head," Monte Cristo replied with disturbing coolness.
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