These words were meant to allude to those which the minister of police had uttered with so much confidence an hour before.
Villefort understood the drift of the king. Any other person would perhaps, have been too much overcome by the intoxication of praise but he feared to make for himself a mortal enemy of the police minister, although he perceived Dandré was irrevocably lost. In fact the minister, who, in the plenitude of his power, had been unable to penetrate Napoleon's secret, might in the convulsions of his dying throes penetrate his, Villefort's, secret, for which end he had but to interrogate Dantès. He therefore came to the rescue of the crest-fallen minister instead of aiding to crush him.
"Sire," said Villefort, "the rapidity of the event must prove to your majesty that God alone can prevent it, by raising a tempest; what your majesty is pleased to attribute to me as profound perspicacity is simply owing to chance; and I have profited by that chance, like a good and devoted servant — that's all. Do not attribute to me more than I deserve, sire, that your majesty may never have occasion to recall the first opinion you have been pleased to form of me."
The minister of police thanked the young man by an eloquent look, and Villefort understood that he had succeeded in his design; that is to say, that without forfeiting the gratitude of the king he had made a friend of one on whom, in case of necessity, he might rely.
"'Tis well!" resumed the king. "And now, gentlemen," he continued, turning toward M. de Blacas and the minister of police, "I have no further occasion for you, and you may retire; what now remains to do is in the department of the minister of war."
"Fortunately, sire," said M, de Blacas, "we can rely on the army; your majesty knows how every report confirms their loyalty and attachment."
"Do not mention reports, sir, to me! for I know now what confidence to place in them. Yet, apropos of reports, M. le Baron, what intelligence have you as to our affair in the Rue Saint-Jacques?"
"The affair in the Rue Saint-Jacques!" exclaimed Villefort, unable to repress an exclamation.
Then, suddenly pausing, he added, "Your pardon, sire, but my devotion to your majesty has made me forget, not the respect I have, for that is too deeply engraven in my heart, but the rules of etiquette."
"Say and act, sir!" replied the king; "you have acquired the right to inquire."
"Sire," replied the minister of police, "I came this moment to give your majesty fresh information which I had obtained on this head, when your majesty's attention was attracted by this terrible affair of the Gulf, and now these facts will cease to interest your majesty."
