"Me?" The former sign was repeated.
"Are you displeased with me?" cried Valentine in astonishment. Noirtier again closed his eyes.
"And what have I done, dear grandpapa, that you should be angry with me?" cried Valentine.
There was no answer; and she continued:
"I have not seen you all day. Has any one been speaking to you against me?"
"Yes," said the old man's look, with eagerness.
"Let me think a moment. I do assure you, grandpapa. Ah! M. and Mme. de Villefort have just left this room, have they not!"
"Yes."
"And it was they who told you something which made you angry? What was it then I May I go and ask them, that I may have the opportunity of making my peace with you?"
"No, no!" said Noirtier's look.
"Ah! you frighten me. What can they have said?" And she again tried to think what it could be.
"Ah! I know," said she, lowering her voice, and going close to the old man, "they have been speaking of my marriage, have they not?"
"Yes," replied the angry look.
"I understand; you are displeased at my silence. The reason was, they begged me not to tell you anything of it; they did not even acquaint me with their intentions, and I only discovered them by chance; that is why I have been so reserved with you, dear grandpapa. Pray forgive me."
But there was no look calculated to re-assure her: all it seemed to say was, "It is not only your reserve that afflicts me."
"What is it, then?" asked the young girl. "Perhaps you think I shall abandon you, dear grandpapa, and that I shall forget you when I am married?"
"No."
"They told you, then, that M. d'Epinay consented to our all living together."
"Yes."
"Then why are you still vexed and grieved?" The old man's eyes beamed with an expression of gentle affection.
"Yes, I understand," said Valentine; "it is because you love me." The old man assented.
"And you are afraid I shall be unhappy?"
"Yes."
"You do not like M. Franz?" The eyes repeated several times:
