Our readers must now allow us to transport them again to theenclosure surrounding M. de Villefort's house, and, behindthe gate, half screened from view by the largechestnut-trees, which on all sides spread their luxuriantbranches, we shall find some people of our acquaintance.This time Maximilian was the first to arrive. He wasintently watching for a shadow to appear among the trees,and awaiting with anxiety the sound of a light step on thegravel walk. At length, the long-desired sound was heard,and instead of one figure, as he had expected, he perceivedthat two were approaching him. The delay had been occasionedby a visit from Madame Danglars and Eugenie, which had beenprolonged beyond the time at which Valentine was expected.That she might not appear to fail in her promise toMaximilian, she proposed to Mademoiselle Danglars that theyshould take a walk in the garden, being anxious to show thatthe delay, which was doubtless a cause of vexation to him,was not occasioned by any neglect on her part. The youngman, with the intuitive perception of a lover, quicklyunderstood the circumstances in which she was involuntarilyplaced, and he was comforted. Besides, although she avoidedcoming within speaking distance, Valentine arranged so thatMaximilian could see her pass and repass, and each time shewent by, she managed, unperceived by her companion, to castan expressive look at the young man, which seemed to say,"Have patience! You see it is not my fault." And Maximilianwas patient, and employed himself in mentally contrastingthe two girls, - one fair, with soft languishing eyes, afigure gracefully bending like a weeping willow; the other abrunette, with a fierce and haughty expression, and asstraight as a poplar. It is unnecessary to state that, inthe eyes of the young man, Valentine did not suffer by thecontrast. In about half an hour the girls went away, andMaximilian understood that Mademoiselle Danglars' visit hadat last come to an end. In a few minutes Valentinere-entered the garden alone. For fear that any one should beobserving her return, she walked slowly; and instead ofimmediately directing her steps towards the gate, she seatedherself on a bench, and, carefully casting her eyes around,to convince herself that she was not watched, she presentlyarose, and proceeded quickly to join Maximilian.

"Good-evening, Valentine," said a well-known voice.

"Good-evening, Maximilian; I know I have kept you waiting,but you saw the cause of my delay."

"Yes, I recognized Mademoiselle Danglars. I was not awarethat you were so intimate with her."

"Who told you we were intimate, Maximilian?"

"No one, but you appeared to be so. From the manner in whichyou walked and talked together, one would have thought youwere two school-girls telling your secrets to each other."

"We were having a confidential conversation," returnedValentine; "she was owning to me her repugnance to themarriage with M. de Morcerf; and I, on the other hand, wasconfessing to her how wretched it made me to think ofmarrying M. d'Epinay."

"Dear Valentine!"

"That will account to you for the unreserved manner whichyou observed between me and Eugenie, as in speaking of theman whom I could not love, my thoughts involuntarilyreverted to him on whom my affections were fixed."

"Ah, how good you are to say so, Valentine! You possess aquality which can never belong to Mademoiselle Danglars. Itis that indefinable charm which is to a woman what perfumeis to the flower and flavor to the fruit, for the beauty ofeither is not the only quality we seek."

"It is your love which makes you look upon everything inthat light."

"No, Valentine, I assure you such is not the case. I wasobserving you both when you were walking in the garden, and,on my honor, without at all wishing to depreciate the beautyof Mademoiselle Danglars, I cannot understand how any mancan really love her."

"The fact is, Maximilian, that I was there, and my presencehad the effect of rendering you unjust in your comparison."

"No; but tell me - it is a question of simple curiosity,and which was suggested by certain ideas passing in my mindrelative to Mademoiselle Danglars" -

"I dare say it is something disparaging which you are goingto say. It only proves how little indulgence we may expectfrom your sex," interrupted Valentine.

"You cannot, at least, deny that you are very harsh judgesof each other."

"If we are so, it is because we generally judge under theinfluence of excitement. But return to your question."

"Does Mademoiselle Danglars object to this marriage with M.de Morcerf on account of loving another?"

"I told you I was not on terms of strict intimacy withEugenie."

"Yes, but girls tell each other secrets without beingparticularly intimate; own, now, that you did question heron the subject. Ah, I see you are smiling."

"If you are already aware of the conversation that passed,the wooden partition which interposed between us and you hasproved but a slight security."

"Come, what did she say?"

"She told me that she loved no one," said Valentine; "thatshe disliked the idea of being married; that she wouldinfinitely prefer leading an independent and unfetteredlife; and that she almost wished her father might lose hisfortune, that she might become an artist, like her friend,Mademoiselle Louise d'Armilly."

"Ah, you see" -

"Well, what does that prove?" asked Valentine.

"Nothing," replied Maximilian.

"Then why did you smile?"

"Why, you know very well that you are reflecting onyourself, Valentine."

"Do you want me to go away?"

"Ah, no, no. But do not let us lose time; you are thesubject on which I wish to speak."

"True, we must be quick, for we have scarcely ten minutesmore to pass together."

"Ma foi," said Maximilian, in consternation.

"Yes, you are right; I am but a poor friend to you. What alife I cause you to lead, poor Maximilian, you who areformed for happiness! I bitterly reproach myself, I assureyou."

"Well, what does it signify, Valentine, so long as I amsatisfied, and feel that even this long and painful suspenseis amply repaid by five minutes of your society, or twowords from your lips? And I have also a deep conviction thatheaven would not have created two hearts, harmonizing asours do, and almost miraculously brought us together, toseparate us at last."

"Those are kind and cheering words. You must hope for usboth, Maximilian; that will make me at least partly happy."

"But why must you leave me so soon?"

"I do not know particulars. I can only tell you that Madamede Villefort sent to request my presence, as she had acommunication to make on which a part of my fortunedepended. Let them take my fortune, I am already too rich;and, perhaps, when they have taken it, they will leave me inpeace and quietness. You would love me as much if I werepoor, would you not, Maximilian?"

"Oh, I shall always love you. What should I care for eitherriches or poverty, if my Valentine was near me, and I feltcertain that no one could deprive me of her? But do you notfear that this communication may relate to your marriage?"

"I do not think that is the case."

"However it may be, Valentine, you must not be alarmed. Iassure you that, as long as I live, I shall never love anyone else!"

"You think to reassure me when you say that, Maximilian."

"Pardon me, you are right. I am a brute. But I was going totell you that I met M. de Morcerf the other day."

"Well?"

"Monsieur Franz is his friend, you know."

"What then?"

"Monsieur de Morcerf has received a letter from Franz,announcing his immediate return." Valentine turned pale, andleaned her hand against the gate. "Ah heavens, if it werethat! But no, the communication would not come throughMadame de Villefort."

"Why not?"

"Because - I scarcely know why - but it has appeared as ifMadame de Villefort secretly objected to the marriage,although she did not choose openly to oppose it."

"Is it so? Then I feel as if I could adore Madame deVillefort."

"Do not be in such a hurry to do that," said Valentine, witha sad smile.

"If she objects to your marrying M. d'Epinay, she would beall the more likely to listen to any other proposition."

"No, Maximilian, it is not suitors to which Madame deVillefort objects, it is marriage itself."

"Marriage? If she dislikes that so much, why did she evermarry herself?"

"You do not understand me, Maximilian. About a year ago, Italked of retiring to a convent. Madame de Villefort, inspite of all the remarks which she considered it her duty tomake, secretly approved of the proposition, my fatherconsented to it at her instigation, and it was only onaccount of my poor grandfather that I finally abandoned theproject. You can form no idea of the expression of that oldman's eye when he looks at me, the only person in the worldwhom he loves, and, I had almost said, by whom he is belovedin return. When he learned my resolution, I shall neverforget the reproachful look which he cast on me, and thetears of utter despair which chased each other down hislifeless cheeks. Ah, Maximilian, I experienced, at thatmoment, such remorse for my intention, that, throwing myselfat his feet, I exclaimed, - `Forgive me, pray forgive me,my dear grandfather; they may do what they will with me, Iwill never leave you.' When I had ceased speaking, hethankfully raised his eyes to heaven, but without uttering aword. Ah, Maximilian, I may have much to suffer, but I feelas if my grandfather's look at that moment would more thancompensate for all."

"Dear Valentine, you are a perfect angel, and I am sure I donot know what I - sabring right and left among the Bedouins- can have done to merit your being revealed to me, unless,indeed, heaven took into consideration the fact that thevictims of my sword were infidels. But tell me what interestMadame de Villefort can have in your remaining unmarried?"

"Did I not tell you just now that I was rich, Maximilian - too rich? I possess nearly 50,000 livres in right of mymother; my grandfather and my grandmother, the Marquis andMarquise de Saint-Meran, will leave me as much, and M.Noirtier evidently intends making me his heir. My brotherEdward, who inherits nothing from his mother, will,therefore, be poor in comparison with me. Now, if I hadtaken the veil, all this fortune would have descended to myfather, and, in reversion, to his son."

"Ah, how strange it seems that such a young and beautifulwoman should be so avaricious."

"It is not for herself that she is so, but for her son, andwhat you regard as a vice becomes almost a virtue whenlooked at in the light of maternal love."

"But could you not compromise matters, and give up a portionof your fortune to her son?"

"How could I make such a proposition, especially to a womanwho always professes to be so entirely disinterested?"

"Valentine, I have always regarded our love in the light ofsomething sacred; consequently, I have covered it with theveil of respect, and hid it in the innermost recesses of mysoul. No human being, not even my sister, is aware of itsexistence. Valentine, will you permit me to make a confidantof a friend and reveal to him the love I bear you?"

Valentine started. "A friend, Maximilian; and who is thisfriend? I tremble to give my permission."

"Listen, Valentine. Have you never experienced for any onethat sudden and irresistible sympathy which made you feel asif the object of it had been your old and familiar friend,though, in reality, it was the first time you had ever met?Nay, further, have you never endeavored to recall the time,place, and circumstances of your former intercourse, andfailing in this attempt, have almost believed that yourspirits must have held converse with each other in somestate of being anterior to the present, and that you areonly now occupied in a reminiscence of the past?"

"Yes."

"Well, that is precisely the feeling which I experiencedwhen I first saw that extraordinary man."

"Extraordinary, did you say?"

"Yes."

"You have known him for some time, then?"

"Scarcely longer than eight or ten days."

"And do you call a man your friend whom you have only knownfor eight or ten days? Ah, Maximilian, I had hoped you set ahigher value on the title of friend."

"Your logic is most powerful, Valentine, but say what youwill, I can never renounce the sentiment which hasinstinctively taken possession of my mind. I feel as if itwere ordained that this man should be associated with allthe good which the future may have in store for me, andsometimes it really seems as if his eye was able to see whatwas to come, and his hand endowed with the power ofdirecting events according to his own will."

"He must be a prophet, then," said Valentine, smiling.

"Indeed," said Maximilian, "I have often been almost temptedto attribute to him the gift of prophecy; at all events, hehas a wonderful power of foretelling any future good."

"Ah," said Valentine in a mournful tone, "do let me see thisman, Maximilian; he may tell me whether I shall ever beloved sufficiently to make amends for all I have suffered."

"My poor girl, you know him already."

"I know him?"

"Yes; it was he who saved the life of your step-mother andher son."

"The Count of Monte Cristo?"

"The same."

"Ah," cried Valentine, "he is too much the friend of Madamede Villefort ever to be mine."

"The friend of Madame de Villefort! It cannot be; surely,Valentine, you are mistaken?"

"No, indeed, I am not; for I assure you, his power over ourhousehold is almost unlimited. Courted by my step-mother,who regards him as the epitome of human wisdom; admired bymy father, who says he has never before heard such sublimeideas so eloquently expressed; idolized by Edward, who,notwithstanding his fear of the count's large black eyes,runs to meet him the moment he arrives, and opens his hand,in which he is sure to find some delightful present, - M.de Monte Cristo appears to exert a mysterious and almostuncontrollable influence over all the members of ourfamily."

"If such be the case, my dear Valentine, you must yourselfhave felt, or at all events will soon feel, the effects ofhis presence. He meets Albert de Morcerf in Italy - it isto rescue him from the hands of the banditti; he introduceshimself to Madame Danglars - it is that he may give her aroyal present; your step-mother and her son pass before hisdoor - it is that his Nubian may save them fromdestruction. This man evidently possesses the power ofinfluencing events, both as regards men and things. I neversaw more simple tastes united to greater magnificence. Hissmile is so sweet when he addresses me, that I forget itever can be bitter to others. Ah, Valentine, tell me, if heever looked on you with one of those sweet smiles? if so,depend on it, you will be happy."

"Me?" said the young girl, "he never even glances at me; onthe contrary, if I accidentally cross his path, he appearsrather to avoid me. Ah, he is not generous, neither does hepossess that supernatural penetration which you attribute tohim, for if he did, he would have perceived that I wasunhappy; and if he had been generous, seeing me sad andsolitary, he would have used his influence to my advantage,and since, as you say, he resembles the sun, he would havewarmed my heart with one of his life-giving rays. You say heloves you, Maximilian; how do you know that he does? Allwould pay deference to an officer like you, with a fiercemustache and a long sabre, but they think they may crush apoor weeping girl with impunity."

"Ah, Valentine, I assure you you are mistaken."

"If it were otherwise - if he treated me diplomatically - that is to say, like a man who wishes, by some means orother, to obtain a footing in the house, so that he mayultimately gain the power of dictating to its occupants - he would, if it had been but once, have honored me with thesmile which you extol so loudly; but no, he saw that I wasunhappy, he understood that I could be of no use to him, andtherefore paid no attention to me whatever. Who knows butthat, in order to please Madame de Villefort and my father,he may not persecute me by every means in his power? It isnot just that he should despise me so, without any reason.Ah, forgive me," said Valentine, perceiving the effect whichher words were producing on Maximilian: "I have done wrong,for I have given utterance to thoughts concerning that manwhich I did not even know existed in my heart. I do not denythe influence of which you speak, or that I have not myselfexperienced it, but with me it has been productive of evilrather than good."

"Well, Valentine," said Morrel with a sigh, "we will notdiscuss the matter further. I will not make a confidant ofhim."

"Alas," said Valentine, "I see that I have given you pain. Ican only say how sincerely I ask pardon for having griefedyou. But, indeed, I am not prejudiced beyond the power ofconviction. Tell me what this Count of Monte Cristo has donefor you."

"I own that your question embarrasses me, Valentine, for Icannot say that the count has rendered me any ostensibleservice. Still, as I have already told you I have aninstinctive affection for him, the source of which I cannotexplain to you. Has the sun done anything for me? No; hewarms me with his rays, and it is by his light that I seeyou - nothing more. Has such and such a perfume doneanything for me? No; its odor charms one of my senses - that is all I can say when I am asked why I praise it. Myfriendship for him is as strange and unaccountable as hisfor me. A secret voice seems to whisper to me that theremust be something more than chance in this unexpectedreciprocity of friendship. In his most simple actions, aswell as in his most secret thoughts, I find a relation to myown. You will perhaps smile at me when I tell you that, eversince I have known this man, I have involuntarilyentertained the idea that all the good fortune which hisbefallen me originated from him. However, I have managed tolive thirty years without this protection, you will say; butI will endeavor a little to illustrate my meaning. Heinvited me to dine with him on Saturday, which was a verynatural thing for him to do. Well, what have I learnedsince? That your mother and M. de Villefort are both comingto this dinner. I shall meet them there, and who knows whatfuture advantages may result from the interview? This mayappear to you to be no unusual combination of circumstances;nevertheless, I perceive some hidden plot in the arrangement- something, in fact, more than is apparent on a casualview of the subject. I believe that this singular man, whoappears to fathom the motives of every one, has purposelyarranged for me to meet M. and Madame de Villefort, andsometimes, I confess, I have gone so far as to try to readin his eyes whether he was in possession of the secret ofour love."

"My good friend," said Valentine, "I should take you for avisionary, and should tremble for your reason, if I werealways to hear you talk in a strain similar to this. Is itpossible that you can see anything more than the merestchance in this meeting? Pray reflect a little. My father,who never goes out, has several times been on the point ofrefusing this invitation; Madame de Villefort, on thecontrary, is burning with the desire of seeing thisextraordinary nabob in his own house, therefore, she haswith great difficulty prevailed on my father to accompanyher. No, no; it is as I have said, Maximilian, - there isno one in the world of whom I can ask help but yourself andmy grandfather, who is little better than a corpse."

"I see that you are right, logically speaking," saidMaximilian; "but the gentle voice which usually has suchpower over me fails to convince me to-day."

"I feel the same as regards yourself." said Valentine; "andI own that, if you have no stronger proof to give me" -

"I have another," replied Maximilian; "but I fear you willdeem it even more absurd than the first."

"So much the worse," said Valentine, smiling.

"It is, nevertheless, conclusive to my mind. My ten years ofservice have also confirmed my ideas on the subject ofsudden inspirations, for I have several times owed my lifeto a mysterious impulse which directed me to move at onceeither to the right or to the left, in order to escape theball which killed the comrade fighting by my side, while itleft me unharmed."

"Dear Maximilian, why not attribute your escape to myconstant prayers for your safety? When you are away, I nolonger pray for myself, but for you."

"Yes, since you have known me," said Morrel, smiling; "butthat cannot apply to the time previous to our acquaintance,Valentine."

"You are very provoking, and will not give me credit foranything; but let me hear this second proof, which youyourself own to be absurd."

"Well, look through this opening, and you will see thebeautiful new horse which I rode here."

"Ah, what a beautiful creature!" cried Valentine; "why didyou not bring him close to the gate, so that I could talk tohim and pat him?"

"He is, as you see, a very valuable animal," saidMaximilian. "You know that my means are limited, and that Iam what would be designated a man of moderate pretensions.Well, I went to a horse dealer's, where I saw thismagnificent horse, which I have named Medeah. I asked theprice; they told me it was 4,500 francs. I was, therefore,obliged to give it up, as you may imagine, but I own I wentaway with rather a heavy heart, for the horse had looked atme affectionately, had rubbed his head against me and, whenI mounted him, had pranced in the most delightful wayimaginable, so that I was altogether fascinated with him.The same evening some friends of mine visited me, - M. deChateau-Renaud, M. Debray, and five or six other choicespirits, whom you do not know, even by name. They proposed agame of bouillotte. I never play, for I am not rich enoughto afford to lose, or sufficiently poor to desire to gain.But I was at my own house, you understand, so there wasnothing to be done but to send for the cards, which I did.

"Just as they were sitting down to table, M. de Monte Cristoarrived. He took his seat amongst them; they played, and Iwon. I am almost ashamed to say that my gains amounted to5,000 francs. We separated at midnight. I could not defer mypleasure, so I took a cabriolet and drove to the horsedealer's. Feverish and excited, I rang at the door. Theperson who opened it must have taken me for a madman, for Irushed at once to the stable. Medeah was standing at therack, eating his hay. I immediately put on the saddle andbridle, to which operation he lent himself with the bestgrace possible; then, putting the 4,500 francs into thehands of the astonished dealer, I proceeded to fulfil myintention of passing the night in riding in the ChampsElysees. As I rode by the count's house I perceived a lightin one of the windows, and fancied I saw the shadow of hisfigure moving behind the curtain. Now, Valentine, I firmlybelieve that he knew of my wish to possess this horse, andthat he lost expressly to give me the means of procuringhim."

"My dear Maximilian, you are really too fanciful; you willnot love even me long. A man who accustoms himself to livein such a world of poetry and imagination must find far toolittle excitement in a common, every-day sort of attachmentsuch as ours. But they are calling me. Do you hear?"

"Ah, Valentine," said Maximilian, "give me but one fingerthrough this opening in the grating, one finger, thelittlest finger of all, that I may have the happiness ofkissing it."

"Maximilian, we said we would be to each other as twovoices, two shadows."

"As you will, Valentine."

"Shall you be happy if I do what you wish?"

"Oh, yes!" Valentine mounted on a bench, and passed not onlyher finger but her whole hand through the opening.Maximilian uttered a cry of delight, and, springingforwards, seized the hand extended towards him, andimprinted on it a fervent and impassioned kiss. The littlehand was then immediately withdrawn, and the young man sawValentine hurrying towards the house, as though she werealmost terrified at her own sensations.