-known courage
and his great affection for the count, she feared that he would not
content himself with the passive part assigned to him. We may easily
understand how eagerly the particulars were asked for, given, and
received; and Morrel could read an indescribable joy in the eyes of his
beloved, when she knew that the termination of this affair was as happy
as it was unexpected.

"Now," said Valentine, motioning to Morrel to sit down near her
grandfather, while she took her seat on his footstool,--"now let us talk
about our own affairs. You know, Maximilian, grandpapa once thought
of leaving this house, and taking an apartment away from M. de
Villefort's."

"Yes," said Maximilian, "I recollect the project, of which I highly
approved."

"Well," said Valentine, "you may approve again, for grandpapa is again
thinking of it."

"Bravo," said Maximilian.

"And do you know," said Valentine, "what reason grandpapa gives for
leaving this house." Noirtier looked at Valentine to impose silence,
but she did not notice him; her looks, her eyes, her smile, were all for
Morrel.

"Oh, whatever may be M. Noirtier's reason," answered Morrel, "I can
readily believe it to be a good one."

"An excellent one," said Valentine. "He pretends the air of the Faubourg
St. Honore is not good for me."

"Indeed?" said Morrel; "in that M. Noirtier may be right; you have not
seemed to be well for the last fortnight."

"Not very," said Valentine. "And grandpapa has become my physician, and
I have the greatest confidence in him, because he knows everything."

"Do you then really suffer?" asked Morrel quickly.

"Oh, it must not be called suffering; I feel a general uneasiness, that
is all. I have lost my appetite, and my stomach feels as if it were
struggling to get accustomed to something." Noirtier did not lose a
word of what Valentine said. "And what treatment do you adopt for this
singular complaint?"

"A very simple one," said Valentine. "I swallow every morning a spoonful
of the mixture prepared for my grandfather. When I say one spoonful,
I began by one--now I take four. Grandpapa says it is a panacea."
Valentine smiled, but it was evident that she suffered.

Maximilian, in his devotedness, gazed silently at her. She was very
beautiful, but her usual pallor had increased; her eyes were more
brilliant than ever, and her hands, which were generally white like
mother-of-pearl, now more resembled wax, to which time was adding a
yel