Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.75-117
projects; for you surely would not wish to compromise one `
` who from this day regards herself as destined, honorably and `
` happily, to bear your name?" `
` `
` Morrel looked obedience to her commands. Noirtier regarded `
` the lovers with a look of ineffable tenderness, while `
` Barrois, who had remained in the room in the character of a `
` man privileged to know everything that passed, smiled on the `
` youthful couple as he wiped the perspiration from his bald `
` forehead. "How hot you look, my good Barrois," said `
` Valentine. `
` `
` "Ah, I have been running very fast, mademoiselle, but I must `
` do M. Morrel the justice to say that he ran still faster." `
` Noirtier directed their attention to a waiter, on which was `
` placed a decanter containing lemonade and a glass. The `
` decanter was nearly full, with the exception of a little, `
` which had been already drunk by M. Noirtier. `
` `
` "Come, Barrois," said the young girl, "take some of this `
` lemonade; I see you are coveting a good draught of it." `
` `
` "The fact is, mademoiselle," said Barrois, "I am dying with `
` thirst, and since you are so kind as to offer it me, I `
` cannot say I should at all object to drinking your health in `
` a glass of it." `
` `
` "Take some, then, and come back immediately." Barrois took `
` away the waiter, and hardly was he outside the door, which `
` in his haste he forgot to shut, than they saw him throw back `
` his head and empty to the very dregs the glass which `
` Valentine had filled. Valentine and Morrel were exchanging `
` their adieux in the presence of Noirtier when a ring was `
` heard at the door-bell. It was the signal of a visit. `
` Valentine looked at her watch. `
` `
` "It is past noon," said she, "and to-day is Saturday; I dare `
` say it is the doctor, grandpapa." Noirtier looked his `
` conviction that she was right in her supposition. "He will `
` come in here, and M. Morrel had better go, -- do you not `
` think so, grandpapa?" `
` `
` "Yes," signed the old man. `
` `
` "Barrois," cried Valentine, "Barrois!" `
` `
` "I am coming, mademoiselle," replied he. "Barrois will open `
` the door for you," said Valentine, addressing Morrel. "And `
` now remember one thing, Monsieur Officer, that my `
` grandfather commands you not to take any rash or ill-advised `
` step which would be likely to compromise our happiness." `
` `
` "I promised him to wait," replied Morrel; "and I will wait." `
` `
` At this moment Barrois entered. "Who rang?" asked Valentine. `
` `
` "Doctor d'Avrigny," said Barrois, staggering as if he would `
` fall. `
` `
` "What is the matter, Barrois?" said Valentine. The old man `
` did not answer, but looked at his master with wild staring `
` eyes, while with his cramped hand he grasped a piece of `
` furniture to enable him to stand upright. "He is going to `
` fall!" cried Morrel. The rigors which had attacked Barrois `
` gradually increased, the features of the face became quite `
` altered, and the convulsive movement of the muscles appeared `
` to indicate the approach of a most serious nervous disorder. `
` Noirtier, seeing Barrois in this pitiable condition, showed `
` by his looks all the various emotions of sorrow and sympathy `
` which can animate the heart of man. Barrois made some steps `
` towards his master. `
` `
` "Ah, sir," said he, "tell me what is the matter with me. I `
` am suffering -- I cannot see. A thousand fiery darts are `
` piercing my brain. Ah, don't touch me, pray don't." By this `
` time his haggard eyes had the appearance of being ready to `
` start from their sockets; his head fell back, and the lower `
` extremities of the body began to stiffen. Valentine uttered `
` a cry of horror; Morrel took her in his arms, as if to `
` defend her from some unknown danger. "M. d'Avrigny, M. `
` d'Avrigny," cried she, in a stifled voice. "Help, help!" `
` Barrois turned round and with a great effort stumbled a few `
` steps, then fell at the feet of Noirtier, and resting his `
` hand on the knee of the invalid, exclaimed, "My master, my `
` good master!" At this moment M. de Villefort, attracted by `
` the noise, appeared on the threshold. Morrel relaxed his `
` hold of Valentine, and retreating to a distant corner of the `
` room remained half hidden behind a curtain. Pale as if he `
` had been gazing on a serpent, he fixed his terrified eye on `
` the agonized sufferer. `
` `
` Noirtier, burning with impatience and terror, was in despair `
` at his utter inability to help his old domestic, whom he `
` regarded more in the light of a friend than a servant. One `
` might by the fearful swelling of the veins of his forehead `
` and the contraction of the muscles round the eye, trace the `
` terrible conflict which was going on between the living `
` energetic mind and the inanimate and helpless body. Barrois, `
` his features convulsed, his eyes suffused with blood, and `
` his head thrown back, was lying at full length, beating the `
` floor with his hands, while his legs had become so stiff, `
` that they looked as if they would break rather than bend. A `
` slight appearance of foam was visible around the mouth, and `
` he breathed painfully, and with extreme difficulty. `
` `
` Villefort seemed stupefied with astonishment, and remained `
` gazing intently on the scene before him without uttering a `
` word. He had not seen Morrel. After a moment of dumb `
` contemplation, during which his face became pale and his `
` hair seemed to stand on end, he sprang towards the door, `
` crying out, "Doctor, doctor! come instantly, pray come!" `
` `
` "Madame, madame!" cried Valentine, calling her step-mother, `
` and running up-stairs to meet her; "come quick, quick! -- `
` and bring your bottle of smelling-salts with you." `
` `
` "What is the matter?" said Madame de Villefort in a harsh `
` and constrained tone. `
` `
` "Oh, come, come!" `
` `
` "But where is the doctor?" exclaimed Villefort; "where is `
` he?" Madame de Villefort now deliberately descended the `
` staircase. In one hand she held her handkerchief, with which `
` she appeared to be wiping her face, and in the other a `
` bottle of English smelling-salts. Her first look on entering `
` the room was at Noirtier, whose face, independent of the `
` emotion which such a scene could not fail of producing, `
` proclaimed him to be in possession of his usual health; her `
` second glance was at the dying man. She turned pale, and her `
` eye passed quickly from the servant and rested on the `
` master. `
` `
` "In the name of heaven, madame," said Villefort, "where is `
` the doctor? He was with you just now. You see this is a fit `
` of apoplexy, and he might be saved if he could but be bled!" `
` `
` "Has he eaten anything lately?" asked Madame de Villefort, `
` eluding her husband's question. "Madame," replied Valentine, `
` "he has not even breakfasted. He has been running very fast `
` on an errand with which my grandfather charged him, and when `
` he returned, took nothing but a glass of lemonade." `
` `
` "Ah," said Madame de Villefort, "why did he not take wine? `
` Lemonade was a very bad thing for him." `
` `
` "Grandpapa's bottle of lemonade was standing just by his `
` side; poor Barrois was very thirsty, and was thankful to `
` drink anything he could find." Madame de Villefort started. `
` Noirtier looked at her with a glance of the most profound `
` scrutiny. "He has such a short neck," said she. "Madame," `
` said Villefort, "I ask where is M. d'Avrigny? In God's name `
` answer me!" `
` `
` "He is with Edward, who is not quite well," replied Madame `
` de Villefort, no longer being able to avoid answering. `
` `
` Villefort rushed up-stairs to fetch him. "Take this," said `
` Madame de Villefort, giving her smelling-bottle to `
` Valentine. "They will, no doubt, bleed him; therefore I will `
` retire, for I cannot endure the sight of blood;" and she `
` followed her husband up-stairs. Morrel now emerged from his `
` hiding-place, where he had remained quite unperceived, so `
` great had been the general confusion. "Go away as quick as `
` you can, Maximilian," said Valentine, "and stay till I send `
` for you. Go." `
` `
` Morrel looked towards Noirtier for permission to retire. The `
` old man, who had preserved all his usual coolness, made a `
` sign to him to do so. The young man pressed Valentine's hand `
` to his lips, and then left the house by a back staircase. At `
` the same moment that he quitted the room, Villefort and the `
` doctor entered by an opposite door. Barrois was now showing `
` signs of returning consciousness. The crisis seemed past, a `
` low moaning was heard, and he raised himself on one knee. `
` D'Avrigny and Villefort laid him on a couch. "What do you `
` prescribe, doctor?" demanded Villefort. "Give me some water `
` and ether. You have some in the house, have you not?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Send for some oil of turpentine and tartar emetic." `
` `
` Villefort immediately despatched a messenger. "And now let `
` every one retire." `
` `
` "Must I go too?" asked Valentine timidly. `
` `
` "Yes, mademoiselle, you especially," replied the doctor `
` abruptly. `
` `
` Valentine looked at M. d'Avrigny with astonishment, kissed `
` her grandfather on the forehead, and left the room. The `
` doctor closed the door after her with a gloomy air. "Look, `
` look, doctor," said Villefort, "he is quite coming round `
` again; I really do not think, after all, it is anything of `
` consequence." M. d'Avrigny answered by a melancholy smile. `
` "How do you feel, Barrois?" asked he. "A little better, `
` sir." `
` `
` "Will you drink some of this ether and water?" `
`
` who from this day regards herself as destined, honorably and `
` happily, to bear your name?" `
` `
` Morrel looked obedience to her commands. Noirtier regarded `
` the lovers with a look of ineffable tenderness, while `
` Barrois, who had remained in the room in the character of a `
` man privileged to know everything that passed, smiled on the `
` youthful couple as he wiped the perspiration from his bald `
` forehead. "How hot you look, my good Barrois," said `
` Valentine. `
` `
` "Ah, I have been running very fast, mademoiselle, but I must `
` do M. Morrel the justice to say that he ran still faster." `
` Noirtier directed their attention to a waiter, on which was `
` placed a decanter containing lemonade and a glass. The `
` decanter was nearly full, with the exception of a little, `
` which had been already drunk by M. Noirtier. `
` `
` "Come, Barrois," said the young girl, "take some of this `
` lemonade; I see you are coveting a good draught of it." `
` `
` "The fact is, mademoiselle," said Barrois, "I am dying with `
` thirst, and since you are so kind as to offer it me, I `
` cannot say I should at all object to drinking your health in `
` a glass of it." `
` `
` "Take some, then, and come back immediately." Barrois took `
` away the waiter, and hardly was he outside the door, which `
` in his haste he forgot to shut, than they saw him throw back `
` his head and empty to the very dregs the glass which `
` Valentine had filled. Valentine and Morrel were exchanging `
` their adieux in the presence of Noirtier when a ring was `
` heard at the door-bell. It was the signal of a visit. `
` Valentine looked at her watch. `
` `
` "It is past noon," said she, "and to-day is Saturday; I dare `
` say it is the doctor, grandpapa." Noirtier looked his `
` conviction that she was right in her supposition. "He will `
` come in here, and M. Morrel had better go, -- do you not `
` think so, grandpapa?" `
` `
` "Yes," signed the old man. `
` `
` "Barrois," cried Valentine, "Barrois!" `
` `
` "I am coming, mademoiselle," replied he. "Barrois will open `
` the door for you," said Valentine, addressing Morrel. "And `
` now remember one thing, Monsieur Officer, that my `
` grandfather commands you not to take any rash or ill-advised `
` step which would be likely to compromise our happiness." `
` `
` "I promised him to wait," replied Morrel; "and I will wait." `
` `
` At this moment Barrois entered. "Who rang?" asked Valentine. `
` `
` "Doctor d'Avrigny," said Barrois, staggering as if he would `
` fall. `
` `
` "What is the matter, Barrois?" said Valentine. The old man `
` did not answer, but looked at his master with wild staring `
` eyes, while with his cramped hand he grasped a piece of `
` furniture to enable him to stand upright. "He is going to `
` fall!" cried Morrel. The rigors which had attacked Barrois `
` gradually increased, the features of the face became quite `
` altered, and the convulsive movement of the muscles appeared `
` to indicate the approach of a most serious nervous disorder. `
` Noirtier, seeing Barrois in this pitiable condition, showed `
` by his looks all the various emotions of sorrow and sympathy `
` which can animate the heart of man. Barrois made some steps `
` towards his master. `
` `
` "Ah, sir," said he, "tell me what is the matter with me. I `
` am suffering -- I cannot see. A thousand fiery darts are `
` piercing my brain. Ah, don't touch me, pray don't." By this `
` time his haggard eyes had the appearance of being ready to `
` start from their sockets; his head fell back, and the lower `
` extremities of the body began to stiffen. Valentine uttered `
` a cry of horror; Morrel took her in his arms, as if to `
` defend her from some unknown danger. "M. d'Avrigny, M. `
` d'Avrigny," cried she, in a stifled voice. "Help, help!" `
` Barrois turned round and with a great effort stumbled a few `
` steps, then fell at the feet of Noirtier, and resting his `
` hand on the knee of the invalid, exclaimed, "My master, my `
` good master!" At this moment M. de Villefort, attracted by `
` the noise, appeared on the threshold. Morrel relaxed his `
` hold of Valentine, and retreating to a distant corner of the `
` room remained half hidden behind a curtain. Pale as if he `
` had been gazing on a serpent, he fixed his terrified eye on `
` the agonized sufferer. `
` `
` Noirtier, burning with impatience and terror, was in despair `
` at his utter inability to help his old domestic, whom he `
` regarded more in the light of a friend than a servant. One `
` might by the fearful swelling of the veins of his forehead `
` and the contraction of the muscles round the eye, trace the `
` terrible conflict which was going on between the living `
` energetic mind and the inanimate and helpless body. Barrois, `
` his features convulsed, his eyes suffused with blood, and `
` his head thrown back, was lying at full length, beating the `
` floor with his hands, while his legs had become so stiff, `
` that they looked as if they would break rather than bend. A `
` slight appearance of foam was visible around the mouth, and `
` he breathed painfully, and with extreme difficulty. `
` `
` Villefort seemed stupefied with astonishment, and remained `
` gazing intently on the scene before him without uttering a `
` word. He had not seen Morrel. After a moment of dumb `
` contemplation, during which his face became pale and his `
` hair seemed to stand on end, he sprang towards the door, `
` crying out, "Doctor, doctor! come instantly, pray come!" `
` `
` "Madame, madame!" cried Valentine, calling her step-mother, `
` and running up-stairs to meet her; "come quick, quick! -- `
` and bring your bottle of smelling-salts with you." `
` `
` "What is the matter?" said Madame de Villefort in a harsh `
` and constrained tone. `
` `
` "Oh, come, come!" `
` `
` "But where is the doctor?" exclaimed Villefort; "where is `
` he?" Madame de Villefort now deliberately descended the `
` staircase. In one hand she held her handkerchief, with which `
` she appeared to be wiping her face, and in the other a `
` bottle of English smelling-salts. Her first look on entering `
` the room was at Noirtier, whose face, independent of the `
` emotion which such a scene could not fail of producing, `
` proclaimed him to be in possession of his usual health; her `
` second glance was at the dying man. She turned pale, and her `
` eye passed quickly from the servant and rested on the `
` master. `
` `
` "In the name of heaven, madame," said Villefort, "where is `
` the doctor? He was with you just now. You see this is a fit `
` of apoplexy, and he might be saved if he could but be bled!" `
` `
` "Has he eaten anything lately?" asked Madame de Villefort, `
` eluding her husband's question. "Madame," replied Valentine, `
` "he has not even breakfasted. He has been running very fast `
` on an errand with which my grandfather charged him, and when `
` he returned, took nothing but a glass of lemonade." `
` `
` "Ah," said Madame de Villefort, "why did he not take wine? `
` Lemonade was a very bad thing for him." `
` `
` "Grandpapa's bottle of lemonade was standing just by his `
` side; poor Barrois was very thirsty, and was thankful to `
` drink anything he could find." Madame de Villefort started. `
` Noirtier looked at her with a glance of the most profound `
` scrutiny. "He has such a short neck," said she. "Madame," `
` said Villefort, "I ask where is M. d'Avrigny? In God's name `
` answer me!" `
` `
` "He is with Edward, who is not quite well," replied Madame `
` de Villefort, no longer being able to avoid answering. `
` `
` Villefort rushed up-stairs to fetch him. "Take this," said `
` Madame de Villefort, giving her smelling-bottle to `
` Valentine. "They will, no doubt, bleed him; therefore I will `
` retire, for I cannot endure the sight of blood;" and she `
` followed her husband up-stairs. Morrel now emerged from his `
` hiding-place, where he had remained quite unperceived, so `
` great had been the general confusion. "Go away as quick as `
` you can, Maximilian," said Valentine, "and stay till I send `
` for you. Go." `
` `
` Morrel looked towards Noirtier for permission to retire. The `
` old man, who had preserved all his usual coolness, made a `
` sign to him to do so. The young man pressed Valentine's hand `
` to his lips, and then left the house by a back staircase. At `
` the same moment that he quitted the room, Villefort and the `
` doctor entered by an opposite door. Barrois was now showing `
` signs of returning consciousness. The crisis seemed past, a `
` low moaning was heard, and he raised himself on one knee. `
` D'Avrigny and Villefort laid him on a couch. "What do you `
` prescribe, doctor?" demanded Villefort. "Give me some water `
` and ether. You have some in the house, have you not?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Send for some oil of turpentine and tartar emetic." `
` `
` Villefort immediately despatched a messenger. "And now let `
` every one retire." `
` `
` "Must I go too?" asked Valentine timidly. `
` `
` "Yes, mademoiselle, you especially," replied the doctor `
` abruptly. `
` `
` Valentine looked at M. d'Avrigny with astonishment, kissed `
` her grandfather on the forehead, and left the room. The `
` doctor closed the door after her with a gloomy air. "Look, `
` look, doctor," said Villefort, "he is quite coming round `
` again; I really do not think, after all, it is anything of `
` consequence." M. d'Avrigny answered by a melancholy smile. `
` "How do you feel, Barrois?" asked he. "A little better, `
` sir." `
` `
` "Will you drink some of this ether and water?" `
`