nz is his friend, you know."

"What then?"

"Monsieur de Morcerf has received a letter from Franz, announcing his
immediate return." Valentine turned pale, and leaned her hand against
the gate. "Ah heavens, if it were that! But no, the communication would
not come through Madame de Villefort."

"Why not?"

"Because--I scarcely know why--but it has appeared as if Madame de
Villefort secretly objected to the marriage, although she did not choose
openly to oppose it."

"Is it so? Then I feel as if I could adore Madame de Villefort."

"Do not be in such a hurry to do that," said Valentine, with a sad
smile.

"If she objects to your marrying M. d'Epinay, she would be all the more
likely to listen to any other proposition."

"No, Maximilian, it is not suitors to which Madame de Villefort objects,
it is marriage itself."

"Marriage? If she dislikes that so much, why did she ever marry
herself?"

"You do not understand me, Maximilian. About a year ago, I talked of
retiring to a convent. Madame de Villefort, in spite of all the remarks
which she considered it her duty to make, secretly approved of the
proposition, my father consented to it at her instigation, and it was
only on account of my poor grandfather that I finally abandoned the
project. You can form no idea of the expression of that old man's eye
when he looks at me, the only person in the world whom he loves, and,
I had almost said, by whom he is beloved in return. When he learned my
resolution, I shall never forget the reproachful look which he cast
on me, and the tears of utter despair which chased each other down his
lifeless cheeks. Ah, Maximilian, I experienced, at that moment,
such remorse for my intention, that, throwing myself at his feet, I
exclaimed,--'Forgive me, pray forgive me, my dear grandfather; they may
do what they will with me, I will never leave you.' When I had ceased
speaking, he thankfully raised his eyes to heaven, but without uttering
a word. Ah, Maximilian, I may have much to suffer, but I feel as if my
grandfather's look at that moment would more than compensate for all."

"Dear Valentine, you are a perfect angel, and I am sure I do not know
what I--sabring right and left among the Bedouins--can have done to
merit your being revealed to me, unless, indeed, heaven took into
consideration the fact that the victims of my sword were infidels. But
tell me what interest Madame de Villefort can have in your remaining
unmarried?"

"D