ink anything he could
find." Madame de Villefort started. Noirtier looked at her with a glance
of the most profound scrutiny. "He has such a short neck," said she.
"Madame," said Villefort, "I ask where is M. d'Avrigny? In God's name
answer me!"

"He is with Edward, who is not quite well," replied Madame de Villefort,
no longer being able to avoid answering.

Villefort rushed up-stairs to fetch him. "Take this," said Madame de
Villefort, giving her smelling-bottle to Valentine. "They will, no
doubt, bleed him; therefore I will retire, for I cannot endure the sight
of blood;" and she followed her husband up-stairs. Morrel now emerged
from his hiding-place, where he had remained quite unperceived, so
great had been the general confusion. "Go away as quick as you can,
Maximilian," said Valentine, "and stay till I send for you. Go."

Morrel looked towards Noirtier for permission to retire. The old man,
who had preserved all his usual coolness, made a sign to him to do so.
The young man pressed Valentine's hand to his lips, and then left the
house by a back staircase. At the same moment that he quitted the room,
Villefort and the doctor entered by an opposite door. Barrois was now
showing signs of returning consciousness. The crisis seemed past, a
low moaning was heard, and he raised himself on one knee. D'Avrigny and
Villefort laid him on a couch. "What do you prescribe, doctor?" demanded
Villefort. "Give me some water and ether. You have some in the house,
have you not?"

"Yes."

"Send for some oil of turpentine and tartar emetic."

Villefort immediately despatched a messenger. "And now let every one
retire."

"Must I go too?" asked Valentine timidly.

"Yes, mademoiselle, you especially," replied the doctor abruptly.

Valentine looked at M. d'Avrigny with astonishment, kissed her
grandfather on the forehead, and left the room. The doctor closed the
door after her with a gloomy air. "Look, look, doctor," said Villefort,
"he is quite coming round again; I really do not think, after all, it is
anything of consequence." M. d'Avrigny answered by a melancholy smile.
"How do you feel, Barrois?" asked he. "A little better, sir."

"Will you drink some of this ether and water?"

"I will try; but don't touch me."

"Why not?"

"Because I feel that if you were only to touch me with the tip of your
finger the fit would return."

"Drink."

Barrois took the glass, and, raising it to his purple lips, took about
half of