servants, standing in the doorway, not daring to
approach nearer, were looking at Noirtier's old servant, who had heard
the noise from his master's room, and run there also, remaining behind
the others. Villefort rose, and ran towards his mother-in-law, for it
was she.

"Why, what can have happened?" he exclaimed, "what has thus disturbed
you? Is M. de Saint-Meran with you?"

"M. de Saint-Meran is dead," answered the old marchioness, without
preface and without expression; she appeared to be stupefied. Villefort
drew back, and clasping his hands together, exclaimed--"Dead!--so
suddenly?"

"A week ago," continued Madame de Saint-Meran, "we went out together in
the carriage after dinner. M. de Saint-Meran had been unwell for some
days; still, the idea of seeing our dear Valentine again inspired him
with courage, and notwithstanding his illness he would leave. At six
leagues from Marseilles, after having eaten some of the lozenges he is
accustomed to take, he fell into such a deep sleep, that it appeared to
me unnatural; still I hesitated to wake him, although I fancied that
his face was flushed, and that the veins of his temples throbbed more
violently than usual. However, as it became dark, and I could no longer
see, I fell asleep; I was soon aroused by a piercing shriek, as from
a person suffering in his dreams, and he suddenly threw his head back
violently. I called the valet, I stopped the postilion, I spoke to M.
de Saint-Meran, I applied my smelling-salts; but all was over, and I
arrived at Aix by the side of a corpse." Villefort stood with his mouth
half open, quite stupefied.

"Of course you sent for a doctor?"

"Immediately; but, as I have told you, it was too late."

"Yes; but then he could tell of what complaint the poor marquis had
died."

"Oh, yes, sir, he told me; it appears to have been an apoplectic
stroke."

"And what did you do then?"

"M. de Saint-Meran had always expressed a desire, in case his death
happened during his absence from Paris, that his body might be brought
to the family vault. I had him put into a leaden coffin, and I am
preceding him by a few days."

"Oh, my poor mother," said Villefort, "to have such duties to perform at
your age after such a blow!"

"God has supported me through all; and then, my dear marquis, he would
certainly have done everything for me that I performed for him. It is
true that since I left him, I seem to have lost my senses. I cannot cry;
at my age