o has just left his study."

"To accompany the doctor to the door," added Morrel.

"How do you know it is the doctor?" asked Valentine, astonished.

"I imagined it must be," said Morrel. Valentine looked at the young man;
they heard the street door close, then M. de Villefort locked the garden
door, and returned up-stairs. He stopped a moment in the anteroom, as
if hesitating whether to turn to his own apartment or into Madame
de Saint-Meran's; Morrel concealed himself behind a door; Valentine
remained motionless, grief seeming to deprive her of all fear. M. de
Villefort passed on to his own room. "Now," said Valentine, "you can
neither go out by the front door nor by the garden." Morrel looked at
her with astonishment. "There is but one way left you that is safe,"
said she; "it is through my grandfather's room." She rose, "Come," she
added.--"Where?" asked Maximilian.

"To my grandfather's room."

"I in M. Noirtier's apartment?"

"Yes."

"Can you mean it, Valentine?"

"I have long wished it; he is my only remaining friend and we both need
his help,--come."

"Be careful, Valentine," said Morrel, hesitating to comply with the
young girl's wishes; "I now see my error--I acted like a madman in
coming in here. Are you sure you are more reasonable?"

"Yes," said Valentine; "and I have but one scruple,--that of leaving my
dear grandmother's remains, which I had undertaken to watch."

"Valentine," said Morrel, "death is in itself sacred."

"Yes," said Valentine; "besides, it will not be for long." She then
crossed the corridor, and led the way down a narrow staircase to M.
Noirtier's room; Morrel followed her on tiptoe; at the door they found
the old servant. "Barrois," said Valentine, "shut the door, and let
no one come in." She passed first. Noirtier, seated in his chair, and
listening to every sound, was watching the door; he saw Valentine, and
his eye brightened. There was something grave and solemn in the approach
of the young girl which struck the old man, and immediately his bright
eye began to interrogate. "Dear grandfather." said she hurriedly, "you
know poor grandmamma died an hour since, and now I have no friend in the
world but you." His expressive eyes evinced the greatest tenderness. "To
you alone, then, may I confide my sorrows and my hopes?" The paralytic
motioned "Yes." Valentine took Maximilian's hand. "Look attentively,
then, at this gentleman." The old man fixed his scrutinizing gaze with
sli