The Count of Monte Cristo

tering the house found that the guests whom he had left at table were taking coffee in the salon. Renée was, wi

e State, Royalist, Brutus, what is

th a fresh Reign of T

ogre broken loos

in-law, "I request your pardon for thus leaving you. Will t

, then?" asked the marquis, remark

a few days; so, " added he, turning to Renée

Renée, unable to hide her emotion

urned Villef

e you going?" as

ions for Paris, a friend of mine is going there tonight, and will

k to me alone?" s

, please." The marquis took hi

n as they were by themsel

my immediate presence in Paris. Now, excuse the indi

e funds; seven or eight

out, marquis, or y

1

an I sell

broker, ha

es

m to sell out without an instant's delay,

plied the marquis, "let

tter to his broker, ordering him

placing the letter in his pock

wh

the

the

es

write to h

nt a letter that will enable me to reach the king's presence without all the for

has the right of entry at the Tuileries, and can pr

ld leave me in the background, and take all the glory to himself. I tell you, marquis, my fortune

dy. I will call Salvieux and

, I must be on the road

achman to sto

rquise and Mademoiselle Renée, whom I

h here, and can make yo

anks—and now f

rang, a serv

Salvieux that I wou

go, " said t

gone only a

ld be enough to throw the whole city into confusion, he resumed his ordinary pace. At his door he perceived a figure in the sh

illefort instantly recognized her. Her beauty and high bearing surprised him, and when she inqu

riminal, and I can do nothing for him, mademoiselle." Mercédès burst

e is, that I may know whether h

1

no longer in my hands,

he pain he felt. But remorse is not thus banished; like Virgil's wounded hero, he carried the arrow in his

such as the ancients figured, furious and terrible, but that slow and consuming agony whose pangs are intensified from hour to hour up to the very moment of death. Then he had a moment's hesitation. He had frequently called for capital punishment on criminals, and owing to his irresist

ealed, but Villefort's was one of those that never close, or if they do, only close to reopen more agonizing than ever. If at this moment the sweet voice of Renée had sounded in his ears pleading for mercy, or the fair Mercédès had entered and said, "In the name of God, I co

t, stood motionless an instant, his hand pressed to his head, muttered a few inarticulate sounds, and then, perceiving that his servant had place

arted when he saw Renée, for he fancied she was again about to plead for Dantès. Alas

er husband. Villefort knew not when he should return, and Renée, far from p

1

uch. Fernand, kneeling by her side, took her hand, and covered it with kisses that Mercédès did not even feel. She passed the night thus. The lamp went out for wa

said she, at length, t

since yesterday, " retur

city; but the report was already in circulation that Dantès was arrested as a Bonapartist agent; and as the most sanguine looked upon any attempt of Napoleon to remount

ing reflection. But he did not succeed, and became too intoxicated to fetch any more drink, and yet not so intoxicated as to forget what had happened. With his elbows on the table he s

en behind the ear, and an inkstand in place of a heart. Everything with him was multiplication or subtraction. The life of a man was to him of far less value

embraced Renée, kissed the marquise's hand, and shaken t

ow what had become of Edmond. But we kn