We may easily conceive where Morrel's appointment was. Onleaving Monte Cristo he walked slowly towards Villefort's;we say slowly, for Morrel had more than half an hour tospare to go five hundred steps, but he had hastened to takeleave of Monte Cristo because he wished to be alone with histhoughts. He knew his time well - the hour when Valentinewas giving Noirtier his breakfast, and was sure not to bedisturbed in the performance of this pious duty. Noirtierand Valentine had given him leave to go twice a week, and hewas now availing himself of that permission. He had arrived;Valentine was expecting him. Uneasy and almost crazed, sheseized his hand and led him to her grandfather. Thisuneasiness, amounting almost to frenzy, arose from thereport Morcerf's adventure had made in the world, for theaffair at the opera was generally known. No one atVillefort's doubted that a duel would ensue from it.Valentine, with her woman's instinct, guessed that Morrelwould be Monte Cristo's second, and from the young man'swell-known courage and his great affection for the count,she feared that he would not content himself with thepassive part assigned to him. We may easily understand howeagerly the particulars were asked for, given, and received;and Morrel could read an indescribable joy in the eyes ofhis beloved, when she knew that the termination of thisaffair was as happy as it was unexpected.

"Now," said Valentine, motioning to Morrel to sit down nearher grandfather, while she took her seat on his footstool,- "now let us talk about our own affairs. You know,Maximilian, grandpapa once thought of leaving this house,and taking an apartment away from M. de Villefort's."

"Yes," said Maximilian, "I recollect the project, of which Ihighly approved."

"Well," said Valentine, "you may approve again, forgrandpapa is again thinking of it."

"Bravo," said Maximilian.

"And do you know," said Valentine, "what reason grandpapagives for leaving this house." Noirtier looked at Valentineto impose silence, but she did not notice him; her looks,her eyes, her smile, were all for Morrel.

"Oh, whatever may be M. Noirtier's reason," answered Morrel,"I can readily believe it to be a good one."

"An excellent one," said Valentine. "He pretends the air ofthe Faubourg St. Honore is not good for me."

"Indeed?" said Morrel; "in that M. Noirtier may be right;you have not seemed to be well for the last fortnight."

"Not very," said Valentine. "And grandpapa has become myphysician, and I have the greatest confidence in him,because he knows everything."

"Do you then really suffer?" asked Morrel quickly.

"Oh, it must not be called suffering; I feel a generaluneasiness, that is all. I have lost my appetite, and mystomach feels as if it were struggling to get accustomed tosomething." Noirtier did not lose a word of what Valentinesaid. "And what treatment do you adopt for this singularcomplaint?"

"A very simple one," said Valentine. "I swallow everymorning a spoonful of the mixture prepared for mygrandfather. When I say one spoonful, I began by one - nowI take four. Grandpapa says it is a panacea." Valentinesmiled, but it was evident that she suffered.

Maximilian, in his devotedness, gazed silently at her. Shewas very beautiful, but her usual pallor had increased; hereyes were more brilliant than ever, and her hands, whichwere generally white like mother-of-pearl, now moreresembled wax, to which time was adding a yellowish hue.From Valentine the young man looked towards Noirtier. Thelatter watched with strange and deep interest the younggirl, absorbed by her affection, and he also, like Morrel,followed those traces of inward suffering which was solittle perceptible to a common observer that they escapedthe notice of every one but the grandfather and the lover.

"But," said Morrel, "I thought this mixture, of which younow take four spoonfuls, was prepared for M. Noirtier?"

"I know it is very bitter," said Valentine; "so bitter, thatall I drink afterwards appears to have the same taste."Noirtier looked inquiringly at his granddaughter. "Yes,grandpapa," said Valentine; "it is so. Just now, before Icame down to you, I drank a glass of sugared water; I lefthalf, because it seemed so bitter." Noirtier turned pale,and made a sign that he wished to speak. Valentine rose tofetch the dictionary. Noirtier watched her with evidentanguish. In fact, the blood was rushing to the young girl'shead already, her cheeks were becoming red. "Oh," cried she,without losing any of her cheerfulness, "this is singular! Ican't see! Did the sun shine in my eyes?" And she leanedagainst the window.

"The sun is not shining," said Morrel, more alarmed byNoirtier's expression than by Valentine's indisposition. Heran towards her. The young girl smiled. "Cheer up," said sheto Noirtier. "Do not be alarmed, Maximilian; it is nothing,and has already passed away. But listen! Do I not hear acarriage in the court-yard?" She opened Noirtier's door, ranto a window in the passage, and returned hastily. "Yes,"said she, "it is Madame Danglars and her daughter, who havecome to call on us. Good-by; - I must run away, for theywould send here for me, or, rather, farewell till I see youagain. Stay with grandpapa, Maximilian; I promise you not topersuade them to stay."

Morrel watched her as she left the room; he heard her ascendthe little staircase which led both to Madame de Villefort'sapartments and to hers. As soon as she was gone, Noirtiermade a sign to Morrel to take the dictionary. Morrel obeyed;guided by Valentine, he had learned how to understand theold man quickly. Accustomed, however, as he was to the work,he had to repeat most of the letters of the alphabet and tofind every word in the dictionary, so that it was tenminutes before the thought of the old man was translated bythese words, "Fetch the glass of water and the decanter fromValentine's room."

Morrel rang immediately for the servant who had takenBarrois's situation, and in Noirtier's name gave that order.The servant soon returned. The decanter and the glass werecompletely empty. Noirtier made a sign that he wished tospeak. "Why are the glass and decanter empty?" asked he;"Valentine said she only drank half the glassful." Thetranslation of this new question occupied another fiveminutes. "I do not know," said the servant, "but thehousemaid is in Mademoiselle Valentine's room: perhaps shehas emptied them."

"Ask her," said Morrel, translating Noirtier's thought thistime by his look. The servant went out, but returned almostimmediately. "Mademoiselle Valentine passed through the roomto go to Madame de Villefort's," said he; "and in passing,as she was thirsty, she drank what remained in the glass; asfor the decanter, Master Edward had emptied that to make apond for his ducks." Noirtier raised his eyes to heaven, asa gambler does who stakes his all on one stroke. From thatmoment the old man's eyes were fixed on the door, and didnot quit it.

It was indeed Madame Danglars and her daughter whomValentine had seen; they had been ushered into Madame deVillefort's room, who had said she would receive them there.That is why Valentine passed through her room, which was ona level with Valentine's, and only separated from it byEdward's. The two ladies entered the drawing-room with thatsort of official stiffness which preludes a formalcommunication. Among worldly people manner is contagious.Madame de Villefort received them with equal solemnity.Valentine entered at this moment, and the formalities wereresumed. "My dear friend," said the baroness, while the twoyoung people were shaking hands, "I and Eugenie are come tobe the first to announce to you the approaching marriage ofmy daughter with Prince Cavalcanti." Danglars kept up thetitle of prince. The popular banker found that it answeredbetter than count. "Allow me to present you my sincerecongratulations," replied Madame de Villefort. "PrinceCavalcanti appears to be a young man of rare qualities."

"Listen," said the baroness, smiling; "speaking to you as afriend I can say that the prince does not yet appear all hewill be. He has about him a little of that foreign manner bywhich French persons recognize, at first sight, the Italianor German nobleman. Besides, he gives evidence of greatkindness of disposition, much keenness of wit, and as tosuitability, M. Danglars assures me that his fortune ismajestic - that is his word."

"And then," said Eugenie, while turning over the leaves ofMadame de Villefort's album, "add that you have taken agreat fancy to the young man."

"And," said Madame de Villefort, "I need not ask you if youshare that fancy."

"I?" replied Eugenie with her usual candor. "Oh, not theleast in the world, madame! My wish was not to confinemyself to domestic cares, or the caprices of any man, but tobe an artist, and consequently free in heart, in person, andin thought." Eugenie pronounced these words with so firm atone that the color mounted to Valentine's cheeks. The timidgirl could not understand that vigorous nature whichappeared to have none of the timidities of woman.

"At any rate," said she, "since I am to be married whether Iwill or not, I ought to be thankful to providence for havingreleased me from my engagement with M. Albert de Morcerf, orI should this day have been the wife of a dishonored man."

"It is true," said the baroness, with that strangesimplicity sometimes met with among fashionable ladies, andof which plebeian intercourse can never entirely deprivethem, - "it is very true that had not the Morcerfshesitated, my daughter would have married Monsieur Albert.The general depended much on it; he even came to force M.Danglars. We have had a narrow escape."

"But," said Valentine, timidly, "does all the father's shamerevert upon the son? Monsieur Albert appears to me quiteinnocent of the treason charged against the general."

"Excuse me," said the implacable young girl, "MonsieurAlbert claims and well deserves his share. It appears thatafter having challenged M. de Monte Cristo at the Operayesterday, he apologized on the ground to-day."

"Impossible," said Madame de Villefort.

"Ah, my dear friend," said Madame Danglars, with the samesimplicity we before noticed, "it is a fact. I heard it fromM. Debray, who was present at the explanation." Valentinealso knew the truth, but she did not answer. A single wordhad reminded her that Morrel was expecting her in M.Noirtier's room. Deeply engaged with a sort of inwardcontemplation, Valentine had ceased for a moment to join inthe conversation. She would, indeed, have found itimpossible to repeat what had been said the last fewminutes, when suddenly Madame Danglars' hand, pressed on herarm, aroused her from her lethargy.

"What is it?" said she, starting at Madame Danglars, touchas she would have done from an electric shock. "It is, mydear Valentine," said the baroness, "that you are,doubtless, suffering."

"I?" said the young girl, passing her hand across herburning forehead.

"Yes, look at yourself in that glass; you have turned paleand then red successively, three or four times in oneminute."

"Indeed," cried Eugenie, "you are very pale!"

"Oh, do not be alarmed; I have been so for many days."Artless as she was, the young girl knew that this was anopportunity to leave, and besides, Madame de Villefort cameto her assistance. "Retire, Valentine," said she; "you arereally suffering, and these ladies will excuse you; drink aglass of pure water, it will restore you." Valentine kissedEugenie, bowed to Madame Danglars, who had already risen totake her leave, and went out. "That poor child," said Madamede Villefort when Valentine was gone, "she makes me veryuneasy, and I should not be astonished if she had someserious illness."

Meanwhile, Valentine, in a sort of excitement which shecould not quite understand, had crossed Edward's roomwithout noticing some trick of the child, and through herown had reached the little staircase. She was within threesteps of the bottom; she already heard Morrel's voice, whensuddenly a cloud passed over her eyes, her stiffened footmissed the step, her hands had no power to hold thebaluster, and falling against the wall she lost her balancewholly and toppled to the floor. Morrel bounded to the door,opened it, and found Valentine stretched out at the bottomof the stairs. Quick as a flash, he raised her in his armsand placed her in a chair. Valentine opened her eyes.

"Oh, what a clumsy thing I am," said she with feverishvolubility; "I don't know my way. I forgot there were threemore steps before the landing."

"You have hurt yourself, perhaps," said Morrel. "What can Ido for you, Valentine?" Valentine looked around her; she sawthe deepest terror depicted in Noirtier's eyes. "Don'tworry, dear grandpapa," said she, endeavoring to smile; "itis nothing - it is nothing; I was giddy, that is all."

"Another attack of giddiness," said Morrel, clasping hishands. "Oh, attend to it, Valentine, I entreat you."

"But no," said Valentine, - "no, I tell you it is all past,and it was nothing. Now, let me tell you some news; Eugenieis to be married in a week, and in three days there is to bea grand feast, a betrothal festival. We are all invited, myfather, Madame de Villefort, and I - at least, I understoodit so."

"When will it be our turn to think of these things? Oh,Valentine, you who have so much influence over yourgrandpapa, try to make him answer - Soon."

"And do you," said Valentine, "depend on me to stimulate thetardiness and arouse the memory of grandpapa?"

"Yes," cried Morrel, "make haste. So long as you are notmine, Valentine, I shall always think I may lose you."

"Oh," replied Valentine with a convulsive movement, "oh,indeed, Maximilian, you are too timid for an officer, for asoldier who, they say, never knows fear. Ah, ha, ha!" sheburst into a forced and melancholy laugh, her arms stiffenedand twisted, her head fell back on her chair, and sheremained motionless. The cry of terror which was stopped onNoirtier's lips, seemed to start from his eyes. Morrelunderstood it; he knew he must call assistance. The youngman rang the bell violently; the housemaid who had been inMademoiselle Valentine's room, and the servant who hadreplaced Barrois, ran in at the same moment. Valentine wasso pale, so cold, so inanimate that without listening towhat was said to them they were seized with the fear whichpervaded that house, and they flew into the passage cryingfor help. Madame Danglars and Eugenie were going out at thatmoment; they heard the cause of the disturbance. "I told youso!" exclaimed Madame de Villefort. "Poor child!"