ion. He told
him his birth, his position, his fortune, and more than once, when he
consulted the look of the paralytic, that look answered, "That is good,
proceed."

"And now," said Morrel, when he had finished the first part of his
recital, "now I have told you of my love and my hopes, may I inform you
of my intentions?"

"Yes," signified the old man.

"This was our resolution; a cabriolet was in waiting at the gate, in
which I intended to carry off Valentine to my sister's house, to marry
her, and to wait respectfully M. de Villefort's pardon."

"No," said Noirtier.

"We must not do so?"

"No."

"You do not sanction our project?"

"No."

"There is another way," said Morrel. The old man's interrogative eye
said, "What?"

"I will go," continued Maximilian, "I will seek M. Franz d'Epinay--I
am happy to be able to mention this in Mademoiselle de Villefort's
absence--and will conduct myself toward him so as to compel him to
challenge me." Noirtier's look continued to interrogate. "You wish to
know what I will do?"

"Yes."

"I will find him, as I told you. I will tell him the ties which bind me
to Mademoiselle Valentine; if he be a sensible man, he will prove it by
renouncing of his own accord the hand of his betrothed, and will secure
my friendship, and love until death; if he refuse, either through
interest or ridiculous pride, after I have proved to him that he would
be forcing my wife from me, that Valentine loves me, and will have no
other, I will fight with him, give him every advantage, and I shall
kill him, or he will kill me; if I am victorious, he will not marry
Valentine, and if I die, I am very sure Valentine will not marry him."
Noirtier watched, with indescribable pleasure, this noble and sincere
countenance, on which every sentiment his tongue uttered was depicted,
adding by the expression of his fine features all that coloring adds to
a sound and faithful drawing. Still, when Morrel had finished, he shut
his eyes several times, which was his manner of saying "No."

"No?" said Morrel; "you disapprove of this second project, as you did of
the first?"

"I do," signified the old man.

"But what then must be done?" asked Morrel. "Madame de Saint-Meran's
last request was, that the marriage might not be delayed; must I let
things take their course?" Noirtier did not move. "I understand," said
Morrel; "I am to wait."

"Yes."

"But delay may ruin our plan, sir," replied the young man. "Alone