World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 107 M. Noirquier Villefort
Now let's go back and talk about the twists and turns in the prosecutor's office after Mrs. Tangla and Miss left, and at the same time as the sweet talk just described.

M. Villefort came to his father's room, and Madame Villefort followed, and as for Valentine, the reader already knew where she was.The couple bowed to the old man, and asked the old servant Baruwa who had followed the old man for 25 years to step down, and then both sat down beside the old man.At this moment M. Noirquier was sitting in a wheelchair.Every morning, the servants put him into the wheelchair and take him down again in the evening. There is a large mirror in front of the wheelchair he sits in, which reflects the entire suite. Went out and what the people around him were doing.Monsieur Noirquier, who was as immobile as a corpse, just looked at his son and daughter-in-law with quick-witted eyes, and the politeness of both of them also showed the old man that they had come to discuss some unexpected and serious business.

Three-quarters of the old man's body should have gone into the grave, but the two senses, sight and hearing, were still alive like sparks, and the inner life, although animating this stone-like body, could only Can be revealed through one of the senses.His gaze that reveals his inner life is like a distant light, telling the night traveler lost in the wilderness that there are still awake people in this silence and darkness.

The old man Nouakier has black eyes, a pair of black eyebrows on the eye sockets, and long white hair hanging down to his shoulders.His eyes, as they usually do when one sense has been substituted for all the others, contained all the activity, all the alertness, all the strength, all the wisdom that had formerly permeated the body and soul.It is true that his arms can no longer move, his voice can no longer speak, his body can no longer move, but his powerful eyes have replaced everything, he commands with his eyes, and he expresses gratitude with his eyes.In short, it was a dead body whose only eyes were alive, and sometimes the upper part of this marble face was ablaze with anger, or flashed with joy, which could not help but be daunting.There were only three people in the whole house who could understand the words of the poor paralyzed old man: Villefort, Valentine, and the old servant of whom we have just been speaking.But Villefort seldom came to see his father, it can even be said that he only came here when he had to, and even if he came to see his father, although he understood the old man's words, he was unwilling to try to make the old man happy and satisfied, so the old man's happiness Pinned entirely on his granddaughter.Valentine, out of filial piety, love, and patience, had learned to read all Noirquier's thoughts from the eyes of the old man.To others, the old man's words were neither sound nor intelligible, but Valentine always answered, using every tone of voice, every expression, and all her heart, so that the girl and the old man's speech The conversation was still full of emotion.Although the old man is only a mass of flesh and blood, he is almost only dying, but he is still knowledgeable, insightful, and has all the perseverance that a soul can have in a body that is incapacitated.

Valentine solved this wonderful problem of understanding, not only being able to understand the thoughts of the old man, but also allowing the old man to understand the thoughts of the girl herself.With her own efforts, Valentine's wishes for the living soul of the old man, and the needs of this almost dead body, were rarely inaccurately understood in daily life.As for the old servant, as we have already said, he has served his master for twenty-five years and knows all his habits, so that Noirquier rarely asks for anything himself.

Villefort had come to have this strange conversation with his father, but he did not need the help of Valentine and the old servant.As we have said, he himself understood perfectly what the old man said, and the reason why he did not come to talk very often was that he was too lazy or simply indifferent to his father.So he sent Valentine to the garden on purpose, and sent Baroy away, who sat down on his father's right, and Madame de Villefort on her left.

"Monsieur," said Villefort, "you must not be surprised that Valentine did not come up, and Baroy was told by me to go away, because we cannot discuss things in front of girls or servants. Madame de Villefort and I have something to talk to you about myself."

When Villefort said this opening sentence, Noirquier's face remained expressionless, but Villefort was on the contrary. He seemed to want to see the depths of the old man's heart at a glance.

"In this matter," continued the prosecutor, in his usual tone of icy coldness, as if he would allow no objection, "Madame de Villefort and myself are convinced that you will approve of it."

The old man's eyes were still expressionless, he just listened, but otherwise did not respond.

"Monsieur," continued Villefort, "we are going to marry Valentine."

If it was a face made of wax, it would not be as cold and unresponsive as the old man's face at this time.

"The wedding will take place in three months," continued Villefort.

The old man's eyes were still lifeless, when Madame de Villefort interrupted hastily and said: "We think this news will be of interest to you, Monsieur, since you seem to have always been fond of Valentine. So now we only have One thing to do, tell you the name of Valentine's fiancé. This marriage is the most respectable for Valentine. The other party has a family property and a noble status. As for us to choose Valentine's Valentina's happiness is absolutely guaranteed by the character and interests of the young man himself. The young man's name is familiar to you, and he is M. Franz Kenel, Baron d'Epinay."

While his wife was speaking, Villefort gazed intently at the old man.He knew very well the eyes of Noirquier, which blinked once when Madame de Villefort said the name of Franz, and then opened as far as possible, as if parted lips were about to speak, and a flash of light appeared in the dilated lids. Let out a light.The prosecutor knew that his father and Franz's father were open enemies, understood the meaning of the fire and excitement in that eye, but he ignored it as if he hadn't seen it, and just took his wife's words.

"Monsieur," he said, "you know very well that Valentine is nearly nineteen years old, and that it is time for her to marry. Although it is Valentine's marriage that we are talking about, we have never forgotten you. We have I have understood clearly that although Valentine's fiancé may not agree to live with us, which will make the young couple feel inconvenient, he at least agrees to spend with you. Valentine loves you the most, and you love her too, That way your habits don't suffer in any way, and taking care of your child turns from one to two."

The fire in the old man's eyes turned red like blood.Some kind of anger must have arisen in the old man's heart, and a roar of pain and anger must have rushed to his throat, but it could not be uttered, it just choked him out of breath.His face was flushed red, and his lips turned blue.

Villefort calmly opened a window, said: "This room is too hot, M. Noirquier will be overheated." Then he came back, but did not sit down again.

"This marriage," continued Madame de Villefort, "is satisfactory to M. d'Epinay and to his family, which, besides, is only an uncle and aunt. His mother died in his birth, and his father died in 1815. He was assassinated in [-], that is to say, he was only two years old at that time, so as long as he agrees, it will be fine."

"The assassination has always been very mysterious," Villefort said. "Although there are many suspects, they can't be settled. So far, we haven't been able to find out who the murderer is."

Noirquier made a great effort, and his lips twitched, as if smiling.

"Therefore," went on Villefort, "those true sinners, who know in their hearts that they have committed a crime, will be struck with the justice of men in their lifetime, and the justice of God after death. It is very fortunate that I can marry my daughter to Monsieur Franz d'Epinet, and thus at last cleanse all suspicion of appearance."

Nouakier tried his best to restrain himself, appearing very calm, and it is really surprising that a damaged body can have such a restraint ability. "Yes, I know it well," he replied, turning his gaze to Villefort, which at the same time revealed the great contempt and the fierce resentment in his heart.Villefort understood the meaning of this look, but his reply was only a slight shrug of the shoulders, and then he motioned to his wife to get up and go.

"Now, monsieur," said Madame de Villefort, "permit me to take my leave, and will you send Edward to come and see you?"

They had already agreed that the old man closed his eyes to express agreement, and blinked several times to express disagreement. If he raised his eyes to the sky, it indicated that he had something to say. If he only closed his right eye, it indicated that his name was Wa Lang. Tina came, closed left eye called Barua.As soon as Madame de Villefort had finished speaking, the old man blinked again and again.Seeing the old man's categorical refusal, Madame de Villefort could only tighten her lips. "Then shall I send you Valentine?" she said.

"Yes." The old man closed his eyes happily.

The Villeforts finished their salutes, then left the room, and ordered Valentine to be called, who had already learned that she should go to M. Noirquier today to discuss something.No sooner had the Villeforts left than Valentine entered the old man's room, flushed with excitement.She looked at it and immediately knew how much pain her grandfather was in, and how much he wanted to say to her.

"Oh, Grandpa," she cried, "what's the matter? They've made you angry, haven't they? Are you still angry?"

"Yes." The old man closed his eyes.

"At whom? My father? No. Madame de Villefort? No. Is it me?"

The old man said so.

"Angry at me?" asked Valentine, greatly astonished.

The old man motioned again and said yes.

"What have I done wrong, dear grandfather?" cried Valentine.

There was no answer, so she went on: "I didn't come to see you today. Did they tell you something about me?"

"Yes." The old man said hastily with his eyes.

"Let me think about that. My God, I swear to you, grandpa. . . ah! . . . M. and Mme. de Villefort just walked away from here, didn't they?"

"Yes."

"It's what they said that made you angry? So what's the matter? Shall I ask them, and then I'll come and explain it to you?"

"No, no," said the old man's gaze.

"Oh, you've frightened me. What can they say, my God!" She thought for a moment. "Oh, I see." She leaned closer to the old man and said in a low voice, "They may have talked about my marriage."

"Yes." Said the angry eyes.

"I see, you hate me for keeping it secret. Oh! Look, they told me over and over again that I must never tell you about it, and they didn't tell me anything, but I only knew when they occasionally said something. It's a little secret, so I haven't told you. Forgive me, dear grandpa."

His gaze became frozen and expressionless again, as if to say: "It's not just your silence that makes me sad."

"And what's that?" asked the girl. "You probably thought I'd leave you alone and forget you as soon as I got married, didn't you, grandpa?"

"No." The old man motioned.

"They told you that M. d'Epinet agreed to live with us?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you angry?"

There was an expression of infinite tenderness in the old man's eyes.

"Yes, I see," said Valentine, "that is because you love me?"

The old man indicated yes.

"Are you afraid that I will be unhappy in the future?"

"yes.

"You don't like Monsieur Franz?"

The old man blinked three or four times, "No, no, no."

"So you're very worried, Grandpa?"

"Yes."

"Well, listen to me," said Valentine, knelt down and put her arms around Noirquier's neck, "I too am troubled, because I don't like M. Franz d'Epinet either."

A gleam of joy flashed in Grandpa's eyes.

"I thought of leaving home and going to a convent, and you were very angry with me, don't you remember?"

A tear wet the old man's dry eyelid.

"Oh!" continued Valentine, "I just want to escape this marriage, and I am hopeless."

Noirquier's breathing became short of breath.

"So this marriage makes you sad, dear grandpa? Oh, my God, if only you could help me, if only the two of us could interrupt their plans! But you have no power To oppose them, you are quick of mind and strong of will, but to fight them you are as weak as I am, or even weaker than I am. Hey! You were my strong protector when you were strong, but today you only To be sympathetic to me is to be happy or sad with me. This is my last happiness, and God has forgotten it and has not taken it away from me with the others."

When Nouakier heard these words, his eyes were filled with a sly and deep look, and the girl felt that she read the following words: "You are wrong, I can still make Xu┒旍 for you! Leopard

"Can you help me, dear grandfather?" said Valentine, as she understood the look.

"Yes." Noirquier raised his eyes to the sky again, which was an agreed action between him and Valentine, indicating that he had something to say.

"What do you want to say, dear grandpa? Let's take a look." Valentine concentrated on thinking for a while, and said aloud when she thought of something, but she saw that she said everything she could say Now, the old man said it was wrong every time, so she said, "Well, use the last trick, I'm so stupid." She memorized the alphabet in alphabetical order, from A to N, one side at a time. Smiling, he looked at the eyes of the paralyzed old man, and when he said N, Nouakiye indicated yes. "Ah!" said Valentine, "the thing you want to say starts with the letter N, so let's look at the words that start with N. Well, let's see, what is it that starts with N? Na, ne, ni, no .”

"Yes, yes, yes." The old man gestured.

"Ah, is it No?"

"Yes."

Valentine brought a dictionary and put it on the sloping desk in front of Noirquier, then opened the dictionary, and seeing the old man's eyes focused on the page, she followed the columns of entries from the top to the bottom with her finger. Swipe across quickly.They have been doing this for six years since Noirquier fell into his present embarrassment, so Valentine does not find it at all inconvenient to look up words now, as quickly as an old man can turn through a dictionary with her own hands. Guess what the old man is thinking.Pointing to the word Notaire (notary), the old man signaled to stop.

"Notary," said Valentine, "you want a notary, grandpa?"

The old man indicated that he really wanted to see the notary.

"Send for the notary?" asked Valentine.

"Yes." The paralyzed old man signaled.

"Does my father want to know?"

"need."

"Are you in a hurry to see the notary?"

"Yes."

"Very well, I will fetch the notary for you at once, dear grandfather. Is there anything else?"

"Nothing."

Valentine ran to rang the bell, called a servant, and ordered M. or Madame de Villefort to come to the grandfather's room. "Are you satisfied?" said Valentine. "Satisfied... I think you will, don't you? It's not easy to find out, is it?" And the girl smiled at the old man as if she were a child.

M. de Villefort entered, accompanied by Barroy. "What can you do, sir?" he asked the paralyzed man.

"Sir," said Valentine, "my grandfather wants to see a notary."

M. de Villefort exchanged glances with the paralyzed old man upon hearing such a strange and even more unexpected request.

"Yes." The old man motioned, his expression very resolute.It seems that with Valentina's support, and the fact that the old servant now knows what he thinks and will support him, the old man is ready to compete with his son.

"You wish to see the notary?" repeated Villefort.

"Yes."

"What's the matter?"

Noirquier didn't answer.

"But what do you want to see the notary?" asked Villefort.

The paralyzed man's eyes are fixed and he expresses that he has nothing to say, that is to say, "I insist on my request."

"Come to disturb us?" said Villefort. "Is it worth the trouble?"

"However," said Barois, who, like all old servants, was obstinate and ready to persevere, "sir wants to see the notary, and it is obvious that he has something to do, and I must go to the notary." Wakier alone will never allow the will of the master to be questioned.

"Yes, I want to see the notary." The old man closed his eyes and said, his expression was full of provocation, as if he was saying again: "Look, who would dare not agree to my idea?"

"Since you must see the notary, sir, of course you will, but I have to explain it clearly to the notary, and you must also explain it clearly, because there will definitely be a lot of laughter at that time."

"It doesn't matter," Baruwa said, "I'd better go get it." The old servant walked out proudly after finishing speaking.

(End of this chapter)