every criminal I condemn seems to me a new living proof that I am not a hideous exception to the rest. Alas, alas, alas! all the world is wicked; let us therefore strike at wickedness!"
Villefort pronounced these last words with a feverish rage, which gave a ferocious eloquence to his words.
"But," said Madame Danglars, resolving to make a last effort, "this young man, though a murderer, is an orphan, abandoned by everybody."
"So much the worse, or rather so much the better; it has been so ordained that he may have none to weep his fate."
"But this is trampling on the weak, sir."
"The weakness of a murderer!"
"His dishonor reflects upon us."
"Is not death in my house?"
"Oh, sir," exclaimed the baroness, "you are without pity for others! Well, then, I tell you they will have no mercy on you!"
"Be it so!" said Villefort, raising his arms to heaven with a threatening gesture.
"At least delay the trial till the next assizes; we shall then have six months before us."
"No, madame," said Villefort; "instructions have been given. There are yet five days left; five days are more than I require. Do you not think that I also long for forgetfulness? While working, and I work night and day while working, I sometimes lose all recollection of the past, and then I experience the same sort of happiness I can imagine the dead to feel; still, it is better than suffering."
"But, sir, he has fled; let him escape inaction is a pardonable offense."
"I tell you it is too late; early this morning the telegraph was employed, and at this very minute———"
"Sir," said the valet-de-chambre, entering the room, "a dragoon has brought this dispatch from the Minister of the Interior."
Villefort seized the letter, and hastily unsealed it. Madame Danglars trembled with fear; Villefort started with joy.
"Arrested!" he exclaimed; "he was taken at Compiègne, and all is over."
Madame Danglars rose from her seat, pale and cold.
"Adieu, sir," she said.
"Adieu, madame!" replied the procureur du roi, as in an almost joyful manner he conducted her to the door. Then, turning to his desk, he said, striking the letter with his right hand:
"Come, I had a forgery, three robberies, and two incendiaries; I only wanted a murder, and here it is. It will be a splendid session!"
