A mournful sob burst from Villefort's heart; he approached the doctor, and seizing his arm:
"Valentine!" said he, "it is Valentine's turn!"
"Your daughter!" cried d'Avrigny, with grief and surprise.
"You see you were deceived," murmured the magistrate; "come and see her, and on her bed of agony entreat her pardon for having suspected her."
"Each time you have applied to me," said the doctor, "it has been too late; still I will go. But let us make haste, sir; with the enemies you have to do with there is no time to be lost."
"Oh! this time, doctor, you shall not have to reproach me with weakness. This time I will know the assassin, and will pursue him."
"Let us try first to save the victim before we think of revenging her," said d'Avrigny. "Come."
The same cab which had brought Villefort took them back at full speed, at the very moment when Morrel rapped at Monte-Cristo's door.
The count was in his cabinet, and was reading, with an angry look, something which Bertuccio had brought in haste. Hearing Morrel announced, who had left him only two hours before, the count raised his head. He, as well as the count, had evidently been much tried during those two hours, for the young man had left him smiling, and returned with a disturbed air. The count rose, and sprang to meet him.
"What is the matter, Maximilian?" asked he; "you are pale, and the perspiration rolls from your forehead." Morrel fell, rather than sat down on a chair.
"Yes," said he, "I came quickly; I wanted to speak to you."
"Is all your family well?" asked the count, with an affectionate benevolence, whose sincerity no one could for a moment doubt.
"Thank you, count―thank you," said the young man, evidently embarrassed how to begin the conversation; "yes, every one in my family is well."
"So much the better; yet you have something to tell me?" replied the count, with increased anxiety.
"Yes," said Morrel, "it is true; I have just left a house where death has just entered, to run to you."
"Are you then come from M. de Morcerf?" asked Monte-Cristo.
"No," said Morrel; "is some one dead in his house?"
"The general has just blown his brains out," replied Monte-Cristo, with great coolness.
"Oh! what a dreadful event!" cried Maximilian.
"Not for the countess, nor for Albert," said Monte-Cristo; "a dead father or husband is better than a dishonored one: blood washes out shame."
