oment when she should
be obliged to speak. Noirtier fixed his eyes on her. "Am I to say what
you told me?" asked Valentine. Noirtier made a sign that she was to do
so.

"Monsieur Morrel," said Valentine to the young man, who was regarding
her with the most intense interest, "my grandfather, M. Noirtier, had a
thousand things to say, which he told me three days ago; and now, he has
sent for you, that I may repeat them to you. I will repeat them, then;
and since he has chosen me as his interpreter, I will be faithful to the
trust, and will not alter a word of his intentions."

"Oh, I am listening with the greatest impatience," replied the young
man; "speak, I beg of you." Valentine cast down her eyes; this was a
good omen for Morrel, for he knew that nothing but happiness could have
the power of thus overcoming Valentine. "My grandfather intends leaving
this house," said she, "and Barrois is looking out suitable apartments
for him in another."

"But you, Mademoiselle de Villefort,--you, who are necessary to M.
Noirtier's happiness"--

"I?" interrupted Valentine; "I shall not leave my grandfather,--that is
an understood thing between us. My apartment will be close to his.
Now, M. de Villefort must either give his consent to this plan or his
refusal; in the first case, I shall leave directly, and in the second,
I shall wait till I am of age, which will be in about ten months. Then I
shall be free, I shall have an independent fortune, and"--

"And what?" demanded Morrel.

"And with my grandfather's consent I shall fulfil the promise which I
have made you." Valentine pronounced these last few words in such a low
tone, that nothing but Morrel's intense interest in what she was saying
could have enabled him to hear them. "Have I not explained your wishes,
grandpapa?" said Valentine, addressing Noirtier. "Yes," looked the old
man.--"Once under my grandfather's roof, M. Morrel can visit me in the
presence of my good and worthy protector, if we still feel that the
union we contemplated will be likely to insure our future comfort and
happiness; in that case I shall expect M. Morrel to come and claim me
at my own hands. But, alas, I have heard it said that hearts inflamed
by obstacles to their desire grew cold in time of security; I trust we
shall never find it so in our experience!"

"Oh," cried Morrel, almost tempted to throw himself on his knees before
Noirtier and Valentine, and to adore them as two superior beings, "wha