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"But to do this he must have spoken?"

"He has done better than that--he haspossible?"

"By the help of his eyes, which are still full of life, and, as you perceive, possess the power of inflicting mortal injury"

"My dear," said Madame de Villefort, who had just entered the roo,Madaed the salutation with one of her racious s me?" demanded Monte Cristo "and what incomprehensible misfortune"-"Incomprehensible is not the word," interrupted the procureur, shrugging his shoulders "It is an oldhim revoke his decision?"

"Yes," said Madame de Villefort; "and it is still entirely in the power of my husband to cause the will, which is now in prejudice of Valentine, to be altered in her favor" The count, who perceived that M and Mada to speak in parables, appeared to pay no attention to the conversation, and feigned to be busily engaged in watching Edward, as lass "My dear," said Villefort, in answer to his wife, "you know I have never been accustomed to play the patriarch in my family, nor have I ever considered that the fate of a universe was to be decided by my nod Nevertheless, it is necessary that my will should be respected in my family, and that the folly of an old man and the caprice of a child should not be allowed to overturn a project which I have entertained for so many years The Baron d'Epinay was my friend, as you know, and an alliance with his son is the ed"

"Do you think," said Madaue with hie, and I should not be at all surprised if e have just seen and heard is nothing but the execution of a plan concerted between them"

"Madame," said Villefort, "believe me, a fortune of 900,000 francs is not so easily renounced"

"She could, nevertheless, make up her mind to renounce the world, sir, since it is only about a year ago that she herself proposed entering a convent"

"Never e shall be consu your father's wishes to the contrary?" said Mada a new point of attack "That is a serious thing" Monte Cristo, who pretended not to be listening, heard however, every word that was said "Madame," replied Villefort "I can truly say that I have always entertained a high respect forof relationship was added the consciousness of his moral superiority The name of father is sacred in two senses; he should be reverenced as the author of our being and as a ht to obey But, under the present circu the wisdom of an old er on the son It would be ridiculous in ulate my conduct by such caprices I shall still continue to preserve the same respect toward M Noirtier; I will suffer, without complaint, the pecuniary deprivation to which he has subjected me; but I shall remain firm in my determination, and the world shall see which party has reason on his side Consequently I shall hter to the Baron Franz d'Epinay, because I consider it would be a proper and eligible match for her to hter's hand on whomever I please"