The Count of Monte Cristo. Alexandre Dumas

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ Monsieur Noirtier, Rue Coq-Héron, Paris.”

      Had a thunderbolt fallen into the room, Villefort could not have been more stupefied. He sank into his seat, and hastily turning over the packet, drew forth the fatal letter, at which he glanced with an expression of terror.

      “M. Noirtier, Rue Coq-Héron, No. 13,” murmured he, growing still paler.

      “Yes,” said Dantès; “do you then know him?”

      “No,” replied Villefort; “a faithful servant of the king does not know conspirators.”

      “It is a conspiracy, then?” asked Dantès, who, after believing himself free, now began to feel a tenfold alarm. “I have already told you, however, sir, I was ignorant of the contents of the letter.”

      “Yes, but you knew the name of the person to whom it was addressed?” said Villefort.

      “I was forced to read the address to know whom to give it.”

      “Have you shown this letter to any one?” asked Villefort, becoming still more pale.

      “To no one, on my honour.”

      “Everybody is ignorant that you are the bearer of a letter from the Isle of Elba, and addressed to M. Noirtier?”

      “Everybody, except the person who gave it to me.”

      “This is too much,” murmured Villefort.

      Villefort’s brow darkened more and more, his white lips and clenched teeth filled Dantès with apprehension.

      After reading the letter, Villefort covered his face with his hands.

      “Oh!” said Dantès timidly, “what is the matter?”

      Villefort made no answer, but raised his head at the expiration of a few seconds, and again perused the letter.

      “You give me your honour that you are ignorant of the contents of this letter?”

      “I give you my honour, sir,” said Dantès, “but what is the matter? You are ill;—shall I ring for assistance?—shall I call?”

      “No,” said Villefort, rising hastily; “stay where you are. It is for me to give orders here, and not you.”

      “Monsieur,” replied Dantès proudly, “it was only to summon assistance for you.”

      “I want none; it was a temporary indisposition. Attend to yourself; answer me.”

      Dantès waited, expecting a question, but in vain. Villefort fell back on his chair, passed his hand over his brow, moist with perspiration, and, for the third time, read the letter.

      “Oh! if he knows the contents of this!” murmured he, “and that Noirtier is the father of Villefort, I am lost!” And he fixed his eyes upon Edmond as if he would have penetrated his thoughts.

      “Oh! it is impossible to doubt it,” cried he suddenly.

      “In Heaven’s name!” cried the unhappy young man, “if you doubt me, question me; I will answer you.”

      Villefort made a violent effort, and in a tone he strove to render firm:

      “Sir,” said he, “I am no longer able, as I had hoped, to restore you immediately to liberty; before doing so, I must consult the judge of instruction; but you see how I behave towards you.”

      “Oh! monsieur,” cried Dantès, “you have been rather a friend than a judge.”

      “Well, I must detain you some time longer, but I will strive to make it as short as possible. The principal charge against you is this letter, and you see———”

      Villefort approached the fire, cast it in, and waited until it was entirely consumed.

      “You see, I destroy it?”

      “Oh!” exclaimed Dantès, “you are goodness itself.”

      “Listen,” continued Villefort, “you can now have confidence in me after what I have done.”

      “Oh! order me, and I will obey.”

      “Listen! this is not an order, but a counsel I give you.”

      “Speak, and I will follow your advice.”

      “I shall detain you until this evening in the Palais de Justice. Should any one else interrogate you, do not breathe a word of this letter.”

      “I promise.”

      It was Villefort who seemed to entreat, and the prisoner who reassured him.

      “You see,” continued he, “the letter is destroyed; you and I alone knew of its existence: should you, therefore, be questioned, deny all knowledge of it.”

      “Fear nothing, I will deny it.”

      “It was the only letter you had?”

      “It was.”

      “Swear it.”

      “I swear it.”

      Villefort rang. An agent of police entered. Villefort whispered some words in his ear, to which the officer replied by a motion of his head.

      “Follow him,” said Villefort to Dantès.

      Dantès saluted Villefort and retired.

      Hardly had the door closed, than Villefort threw himself into a chair.

      “Alas! alas!” murmured he, “if the procureur du roi had been at Marseilles, I should have been ruined. This accursed letter would have destroyed all my hopes. Oh! my father, must your past career always interfere with my successes?”

      Suddenly a light passed over his face, a smile played round his mouth, and his lips became unclenched.

      “This will do,” said he, “and from this letter, which might have ruined me, I will make my fortune.”

      And after having assured himself the prisoner was gone, the deputy procureur hastened to the house of his bride.

       8 The Château d’If

      THE COMMISSARY OF police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantès right and the other on his left. A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they traversed a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder.

      The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,—a sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules.

      After СКАЧАТЬ