third time; still no answer. Then he determined to go up.
Noirtier's room was opened, like all the rest. The first thing he saw
was the old man sitting in his arm-chair in his usual place, but his
eyes expressed alarm, which was confirmed by the pallor which overspread
his features.

"How are you, sir?" asked Morrel, with a sickness of heart.

"Well," answered the old man, by closing his eyes; but his appearance
manifested increasing uneasiness.

"You are thoughtful, sir," continued Morrel; "you want something; shall
I call one of the servants?"

"Yes," replied Noirtier.

Morrel pulled the bell, but though he nearly broke the cord no one
answered. He turned towards Noirtier; the pallor and anguish expressed
on his countenance momentarily increased.

"Oh," exclaimed Morrel, "why do they not come? Is any one ill in the
house?" The eyes of Noirtier seemed as though they would start from
their sockets. "What is the matter? You alarm me. Valentine? Valentine?"

"Yes, yes," signed Noirtier. Maximilian tried to speak, but he could
articulate nothing; he staggered, and supported himself against the
wainscot. Then he pointed to the door.

"Yes, yes, yes!" continued the old man. Maximilian rushed up the little
staircase, while Noirtier's eyes seemed to say,--"Quicker, quicker!"

In a minute the young man darted through several rooms, till at length
he reached Valentine's. There was no occasion to push the door, it was
wide open. A sob was the only sound he heard. He saw as though in a
mist, a black figure kneeling and buried in a confused mass of white
drapery. A terrible fear transfixed him. It was then he heard a voice
exclaim "Valentine is dead!" and another voice which, like an echo
repeated,--"Dead,--dead!"

Chapter 103. Maximilian.

Villefort rose, half ashamed of being surprised in such a paroxysm
of grief. The terrible office he had held for twenty-five years had
succeeded in making him more or less than man. His glance, at first
wandering, fixed itself upon Morrel. "Who are you, sir," he asked, "that
forget that this is not the manner to enter a house stricken with death?
Go, sir, go!" But Morrel remained motionless; he could not detach his
eyes from that disordered bed, and the pale corpse of the young girl
who was lying on it. "Go!--do you hear?" said Villefort, while d'Avrigny
advanced to lead Morrel out. Maximilian stared for a moment at the
corpse, gazed all around the room, then upon the two men; h