Volume I Part 11 (1/2)
”If I could only understand,” said the old man meditatively, ”how Monsieur de Villefort ever could have such a daughter”
”Perhaps Valentine's mother, Mademoiselle de St Meran, had a noble nature”
”I hardly think so Of course I did not know Monsieur de Villefort's first wife, but, from what I have heard of her, she was very miserly, and a fit companion for her husband Old Madame de St Meran, too, was not exactly a tender-hearted woman”
”But she loved Valentine dearly,” Morrel reh this love did not prevent her froe Monsieur d'Epinay was of an old aristocratic faood hter No, they were all selfish, and Valentine can congratulate herself for not being like them”
The entrance of the servant, who announced the arrival of Monsieur de Flany, put an end to the conversation The old physician immediately conducted Monsieur de Flahted up when he recognized the district-attorney
”Monsieur de Villefort,” began the district-attorney, bowing low, ”you desired to speak toimportant Do you wish our interview to be private?”
”No,” said Villefort, soleny to remain and act as a witness”
The physician seated himself on the bed, while Monsieur de Fla desk
”Monsieur de Villefort, we are ready”
”Gentlemen,” said the sick man, in a clear, firm voice, ”thanks to me and thanks to my wife, Heloise de Villefort, my family name has becoer wishes to bear it”
”But, Monsieur de Villefort,” interrupted the official
”Let me speak What would you think of a man who, to save himself, condemns another in cold blood to imprisonment for life”
”I would call him a criminal,” said Flambois solemnly
”Well, I a man to life imprisonment and the heavens did not fall; I rose step by step, and for twenty-five years was looked upon as an honorable official whose reputation was above suspicion, although in ht had rotted away in jail was alive and revenged himself upon me The first ho bore my name was my accomplice, the second was a poisoner She murdered every one who stood in her way;fro him alive; as a punishallows”
”No, Monsieur de Villefort, Benedetto's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment,” said Monsieur de Flaallows,” stammered the sick man ”My first and my second wife, Benedetto and , but Valentine, my poor innocent Valentine, did not deserve this shame, and on her account I speak to-day”
”I do not understand you,” said the district-attorney ”Your daughter Valentine--”
”Ah, what fools!” exclaiine that Valentine was entleel be a ht as ny to himself, while Fla Sanscrit
”When I married Renee de St Meran,” continued Monsieur de Villefort, after a short pause, ”I was a young and ambitious official My as also ambitious, and ere fitted in that respect for one another
Unfortunately for us both, there was a clause in the e contract, by which Monsieur and Madaive our first child on its baptism a present of three hundred thousand francs