World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 136 Promise (4)
"My grandmother had just passed away when Mr. Epinet came to sign the contract."

"Oh!" said Morrel, gloating, thinking himself that it was because of this funeral that Valentine's marriage was now so distant.

"But this adds to my suffering," said the girl, as if Morrel's mood should be punished at once; The marriage is done, and so is she, my God! She thought she was protecting me, but she was actually hurting me."

"Listen!" said Morrel.

Both of them were silent, only heard someone open the door, and then there were footsteps on the wooden floor of the corridor and on the stairs.

"It's my father, coming out of his study," said Valentine.

"He's taking the doctor out," said Morrel.

"How do you know this is the doctor?" asked Valentine in amazement.

"I guessed," said Morrel.

Valentine looked at Morrel.At that moment they heard again the clang of the street gate, and M. de Villefort went to lock the garden door, and went upstairs again.He stopped for a moment in the antechamber, as if hesitating whether to go to his own room or to Madame de Saint-Méran's.Morrel hurried to hide behind a curtain, and Valentine did not move, as if her usual fears had been put aside by her anguish.M. de Villefort went at last to his own room.

"Now," said Valentine, "you cannot go out either by the back door of the garden or by the front door facing the street."

Morrel looked at the girl in amazement.

"Now," continued the girl, "there is only one safe place for you to go. You have to go through my grandfather's flat." She stood up. "Come on," she went on.

"Where are you going?" asked Maximilian.

"To my grandfather's."

"I'm going to Monsieur Noirquier?"

"Correct."

"Think about it, Valentine!"

"I've thought about it a long time ago. Only he can help me in this world. We both need him... Come on."

"Be safe, Valentine," said Morrel, uncertain as to whether he should do as the girl suggested, "be safe, for I see that it is absurd for me to come here. .But you, my dear friend, are you sensible in doing so?"

"Yes," said Valentine, "I have only one concern at the moment. I am at the vigil, and I wonder if it is good to leave my poor grandmother's body in this way."

"Valentine," said Morrel, "the soul itself is sacrosanct."

"Yes," replied the girl, "and I will come as soon as I go, and not long."

Valentine went through the corridor and descended a small narrow staircase, at the bottom of which was Noirquier's room.Morrel followed on tiptoe, and they met the old servant on the landing at the door of the apartment.

"Barois," said Valentine, "close the door and keep no one in," and she went in first.

Noirquier was still sitting in his wheelchair, and he already knew what happened at home from the old servant, so he listened carefully to any sound, and kept looking eagerly at the door.His eyes lit up when he saw Valentine come in.There was a certain seriousness in the girl's gait and manner, which startled the old man, and his bright eyes immediately inquired.

"My dear grandfather," said Valentine hastily, "I have something to say to you. You know, my grandmother died an hour ago, and now no one in the world loves me except you, yes?"

There was infinite warmth in the old man's eyes.

"So I have to confide my worries and hopes to you alone, don't I?"

The paralyzed old man motioned yes.

Valentine took Maximilian's hand. "Then," she said to the old man, "take a good look at this gentleman."

The old man looked a little surprised, and examined Morrel carefully.

"This is Maximilian Morrel," said Valentine. "His father is that dignified Marseilles merchant. You must have heard of it?"

"Yes." The old man motioned.

"Their family name is beyond reproach and Maximilian is adding new luster to it, because at the age of 30 he is already a captain in the North African cavalry and has been awarded the Legion of Honor."

The old man motioned that he still remembered the young man.

"Well, Grandpa," said Valentine, kneeling before the old man, pointing to Maximilian, "I love him, and I belong to him alone! I would rather die if I were forced to marry anyone else." , or I will kill myself."

The eyes of the paralyzed old man clearly showed that he also had mixed feelings at this time.

"You like M. Maximilian Morrel, don't you, grandpa?" asked the girl.

"Yes." The immobile old man motioned.

"We are all your children, you can protect us and don't let my father have his own way, right?"

Noirquier, who had eyes and ears, glanced at Morrel, as if to say: "It depends on him."

Maximilian took it easy. "Madame," he said, "you have a sacred duty to perform in your grandmother's room. Will you allow me to speak with M. Noirquier for a moment?"

"Yes, yes, that's what it means," said the old man's eyes, and then he looked anxiously at Valentine again.

"You're asking, how does he understand what you mean, don't you, Grandpa?"

"Yes."

"Ah! Don't worry, we've talked about you a lot, so he knows exactly how I talk to you." Then the girl turned to Maximilian and smiled sweetly, though a faint veil remained on her face. Sad, but she smiled very sweetly. "He knows what I know," said the girl.

Valentine stood up, brought Morrel a chair, and after admonishing Baroy not to let anyone in, she embraced her grandfather affectionately, and addressed Morrel with a sense of loss. Say goodbye and leave.In order to show Noirquier that he had Valentine's confidence, and that he knew the little-known manner of conversation between their grandparents, Morrel took his dictionary, quill, and paper, and placed them on a table. on a lighted table.

"First, sir," said Morrel, "permit me to tell of my history, how much I love Valentine, and what I intend for her."

"Please speak." Nouakiya gestured.

Such a scene is indeed breathtaking, when the old man is just a useless burden on the outside, and the two lovers are not only young and strong, but also moving towards life, and yet it is the old man who has become their only one. protector, supporter and arbitrator.The old man's expression is noble and majestic, and his bearing is extraordinary.Morrel, struck with awe, began to speak with trepidation.He talked about how he knew Valentine and how he fell in love with Valentine, and how Valentine accepted his loyalty in loneliness and depression.He told the old man about his life experience, status and property, and he looked into the old man's gaze more than once, but every time the gaze said: "Very well, let's continue."

"Now," asked Morrel, finishing his first sentence, "now that I have told you all about our love and my hopes, shall I speak to you again? My plan?"

"Okay." The old man gestured.

"Well, we've made up our minds, that's it." And he told Noirquier all about their plans, how the chaise was waiting by the fence, how he planned to fetch Valentine. Go, send the girl to his sister's house, and then they get married, and wait steadily, hoping that M. de Villefort will forgive them both.

"Not good." Nouakiye gestured.

"Not good?" continued Morrel. "Isn't it right?"

"Shouldn't."

"So you don't agree with our approach?"

"Disapprove."

"Well, there is another way," said Morrel.

The old man's eyes asked: "What way?"

"I'm going to Monsieur Franz d'Epinet," Maximilian went on, "fortunately I told you that these Miss Valentines are not here, and I'm going to preemptively force him to be a celebrity."

Noirquier's gaze was questioning again.

"You're asking me how to do it, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"I think so: I will go to him first, as I have already told you. I will explain to him my relationship with Mademoiselle Valentine. If he is a noble man, he should be honorable, I will be his best friend from now on, and will never change until death. If I explain to him that he is taking my wife, that Valentine loves me and only me, he or Self-interest, or obstinacy from that ridiculous pride, finally refuses, then I will fight him, I will give him every advantage, and the result will be either his death or my death. If I kill him, He cannot marry Valentine, and if he kills me, I am sure Valentine will never marry him."

Noirquier gazed with indescribable joy at this noble and sincere face, but saw the young man express all kinds of emotions on his face when he spoke, and the expression on this handsome face added to these emotions. A thick stroke, as if dyed with bright colors on a lifelike sketch painting.But as soon as Morrel finished speaking, Noirquier closed his eyes several times in succession, and the reader will know that this was his way of expressing his disagreement.

"No?" said Morrel. "You disapproved of the first method just now, and now you also disapprove of the second?"

"Yes, I don't agree." The old man gestured.

"Then what, monsieur?" asked Morrel. "Madame de Saint-Mérand enjoined on her deathbed that Valentine's marriage must not be delayed. Shall I let it take its course?"

Nouakiye did not respond.

"Yes, I see," said Morrel, "I should wait."

"Yes."

"But delay can only do us no favors, sir," went on the young man, "Valentine is weak in her own right, and they will make her a child and make her obey. It is a miracle that I have come here to inquire. , it is also a miracle that I can meet you, but I can't expect to have such good luck. Please believe me, there are only two ways I told you, either this or that. I am young and conceited, and I hope you can Massive. Please tell me, which method do you think is better? Do you agree with Valentine to come with me?"

"Do not."

"Do you think it better for me to go to Monsieur d'Epinet?"

"Do not."

"But, my God, from where do we expect the deliverance from heaven to come?"

The old man smiled a little with his eyes, as he always did when one spoke of Heaven with him, and there was always a little atheism in the old Jacobin's head.

"By luck?" Morrel continued.

"Do not."

"Depending on you?"

"Yes."

"Depending on you?"

"Yes." The old man gestured again.

"Do you know what I am asking, sir? Forgive me for asking, for my life depends on your answer. Are you the one who saved us?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Can you guarantee it?"

"Yes."

The answer is absolutely affirmative, and the gaze is so resolute, even if it is hard to say anything about the old man's ability, at least there is no doubt about his will.

"Oh! Thank you, sir, thank you very much! However, unless God works a miracle to restore your ability to speak, walk and move, otherwise, trapped in this wheelchair as you are now, unable to speak or move, you How can you object to that marriage?"

A smile flickered across the old man's face, a strange smile that could only be expressed in the eyes on a face that was insensitive.

"So, I should wait patiently?" the young man asked.

"Yes."

"But what about the engagement?"

As before, there was another smile on his face.

"You mean the engagement won't be signed, don't you?"

"Yes." Nouakiye gestured.

"Then even the marriage contract will not be signed!" cried Morrel. "Ah! I beg your pardon, monsieur! When you are overjoyed, you will be half-doubted for a moment. This marriage contract will never be signed?"

"I can't sign it." The paralyzed old man signaled.

Even though the old man's words were firm, Morrel was still dubious.It was a strange promise to be made by an immobilized old man, which could not have come from some strong will, but seemed to be a disorder caused by the decline of organs.Isn't it not uncommon for a madman not to know that he is crazy, but to insist that he can do what he is not capable of doing?A weak man will boast that he has lifted a heavy load, a cowardly man will say that he dared to face a giant, a poor man will say that he is full of gold and jade, and a small farmer will say that he is invincible when he is boastful. .It may be that Noirquier could see that Morrel was still hesitating, or maybe the old man did not fully believe Morrel despite his obedient appearance. In short, Noirquier looked closely at Morrel. lyle.

"Have you anything to say, monsieur?" asked Morrel. "Shall I renew my promise that nothing will be done?"

Noirquier's eyes were determined, and he kept staring at Morrel, as if to say that Morrel could not just promise, and then his gaze moved from Morrel's face to his hand.

"You mean I have to swear, sir?" asked Maximilian.

"Yes," the paralyzed old man signaled, his eyes still solemn, "that's exactly what I mean."

Knowing that the old man took this oath very seriously, Morrel raised his hand. "I swear to you on my honor," said he, "that I await your decision on M. d'Epinet."

"Very good." The old man said with his eyes.

"Now, sir," asked Morrel, "may I be excused?"

"Ok."

"Don't you see Miss Valentine any more?"

"Need not."

Morrel expressed his willingness to obey the old man. "And now," continued Morrel, "will you, sir, allow your grandson-in-law to embrace you as your granddaughter embraced you just now?"

Nouakier's eyes were clear and clear, and there was nothing misleading about it.Morrel kissed the old man's forehead, and put his lips where Valentine's had just kissed.Then he bowed again to the old man, and went out.

On the landing at the door of the house he met Barois.Valentine had already spoken to the old servant, so he waited for Morrel at the door.The old servant led Morrel down a dark corridor to a side door which opened into the garden.In the garden, Morrel found the iron gate himself, climbed up the branches, climbed the fence in a moment, and then descended the ladder a few times to the clover field, where his buggy waited. with.He jumped into the carriage, and after a whole night of great sorrow and joy, he was exhausted, but his heart was much more at ease.It was almost twelve o'clock at midnight when he returned to the Rue de Meyer, and he went to bed at once, and fell asleep like a drunk.

(End of this chapter)