prepared to receive them, dressed in black, and installed
in his arm-chair. When the three persons he expected had entered, he
looked at the door, which his valet immediately closed.

"Listen," whispered Villefort to Valentine, who could not conceal her
joy; "if M. Noirtier wishes to communicate anything which would delay
your marriage, I forbid you to understand him." Valentine blushed,
but did not answer. Villefort, approaching Noirtier--"Here is M. Franz
d'Epinay," said he; "you requested to see him. We have all wished for
this interview, and I trust it will convince you how ill-formed are your
objections to Valentine's marriage."

Noirtier answered only by a look which made Villefort's blood run cold.
He motioned to Valentine to approach. In a moment, thanks to her habit
of conversing with her grandfather, she understood that he asked for a
key. Then his eye was fixed on the drawer of a small chest between the
windows. She opened the drawer, and found a key; and, understanding that
was what he wanted, again watched his eyes, which turned toward an old
secretary which had been neglected for many years and was supposed to
contain nothing but useless documents. "Shall I open the secretary?"
asked Valentine.

"Yes," said the old man.

"And the drawers?"

"Yes."

"Those at the side?"

"No."

"The middle one?"

"Yes." Valentine opened it and drew out a bundle of papers. "Is that
what you wish for?" asked she.

"No."

She took successively all the other papers out till the drawer was
empty. "But there are no more," said she. Noirtier's eye was fixed on
the dictionary. "Yes, I understand, grandfather," said the young girl.

He pointed to each letter of the alphabet. At the letter S the old man
stopped her. She opened, and found the word "secret."

"Ah, is there a secret spring?" said Valentine.

"Yes," said Noirtier.

"And who knows it?" Noirtier looked at the door where the servant had
gone out. "Barrois?" said she.

"Yes."

"Shall I call him?"

"Yes."

Valentine went to the door, and called Barrois. Villefort's impatience
during this scene made the perspiration roll from his forehead, and
Franz was stupefied. The old servant came. "Barrois," said Valentine,
"my grandfather has told me to open that drawer in the secretary, but
there is a secret spring in it, which you know--will you open it?"

Barrois looked at the old man. "Obey," said Noirtier's intelligent eye.
Barrois touched a spring, the