o, grandpapa?"

"Yes," signed the old man.

"Barrois," cried Valentine, "Barrois!"

"I am coming, mademoiselle," replied he. "Barrois will open the door for
you," said Valentine, addressing Morrel. "And now remember one thing,
Monsieur Officer, that my grandfather commands you not to take any rash
or ill-advised step which would be likely to compromise our happiness."

"I promised him to wait," replied Morrel; "and I will wait."

At this moment Barrois entered. "Who rang?" asked Valentine.

"Doctor d'Avrigny," said Barrois, staggering as if he would fall.

"What is the matter, Barrois?" said Valentine. The old man did not
answer, but looked at his master with wild staring eyes, while with
his cramped hand he grasped a piece of furniture to enable him to stand
upright. "He is going to fall!" cried Morrel. The rigors which had
attacked Barrois gradually increased, the features of the face became
quite altered, and the convulsive movement of the muscles appeared to
indicate the approach of a most serious nervous disorder. Noirtier,
seeing Barrois in this pitiable condition, showed by his looks all the
various emotions of sorrow and sympathy which can animate the heart of
man. Barrois made some steps towards his master.

"Ah, sir," said he, "tell me what is the matter with me. I am
suffering--I cannot see. A thousand fiery darts are piercing my brain.
Ah, don't touch me, pray don't." By this time his haggard eyes had the
appearance of being ready to start from their sockets; his head fell
back, and the lower extremities of the body began to stiffen. Valentine
uttered a cry of horror; Morrel took her in his arms, as if to defend
her from some unknown danger. "M. d'Avrigny, M. d'Avrigny," cried she,
in a stifled voice. "Help, help!" Barrois turned round and with a great
effort stumbled a few steps, then fell at the feet of Noirtier, and
resting his hand on the knee of the invalid, exclaimed, "My master, my
good master!" At this moment M. de Villefort, attracted by the noise,
appeared on the threshold. Morrel relaxed his hold of Valentine, and
retreating to a distant corner of the room remained half hidden behind
a curtain. Pale as if he had been gazing on a serpent, he fixed his
terrified eye on the agonized sufferer.

Noirtier, burning with impatience and terror, was in despair at his
utter inability to help his old domestic, whom he regarded more in the
light of a friend than a servant. One might by the fearful swe