in this amusement! But I wonder she is not here. I should have been pleased to see her, for I like her very much."
"And I hate her," said Château-Renaud.
"Why!"
"I do not know. Why do we love? Why do we hate? I detest her, from antipathy."
"Or, rather, by instinct."
"Perhaps so. But to return to what you were saying, Beauchamp."
"Well! do you know why people die so thick in M. de Villefort's house?"
"Thick is good," said Château-Renaud.
"My dear fellow, the word is found in Saint-Simon."
"But the thing is found at M. de Villefort's. Let us return to the subject."
"Talking of that," said Debray, "I have not lost sight of that house of mourning for three months, and only two days ago madame was making inquiries about that house."
"Who is madame?" asked Château-Renaud.
"The minister's wife, pardieu?"
"Oh, your pardon! I never visit ministers; I leave that to the princes."
"Really, you were before only sparkling, but now you are brilliant; take compassion on us, or, like Jupiter, you will burn us."
"I will not speak again!" said Château-Renaud; "pray have compassion upon me, and do not take up every word I say."
"Come, let us endeavor to hear the end of your story, Beauchamp: I told you that yesterday madame made inquiries of me upon the subject: enlighten me, and I will then communicate my information to her."
"Well, gentlemen, the reason people die so thick at M. de Villefort's is, that there is an assassin in the house!"
The two young men shuddered, for the same idea had more than once occurred to them.
"And who is the assassin?" they asked together.
"Young Edward!" A burst of laughter from the auditors did not in the least disconcert the speaker, who continued: "Yes, gentlemen; Edward, who is quite an adept in the art of killing."
"You are jesting."
"Not at all. I yesterday engaged a servant, who had just left M. de Villefort—I intend sending him away to-morrow, for he eats so enormously, to make up for the fast imposed upon him by his terror in that house. Well! listen to me."
