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"My friend," said she, "how came you here? Alas, I would say you are welcome, had not death opened the way for you into this house"

"Valentine," said Morrel with a treht, and did not see you coh the garden, when voices conversing about the fatal event"-"What voices?" asked Valentine Morrel shuddered as he thought of the conversation of the doctor and M de Villefort, and he thought he could see through the sheet the extended hands, the stiff neck, and the purple lips

"Your servants," said he, "ere repeating the whole of the sorrowful story; fro the failure of our plan to coo away"

"No," said Valentine, "you ht meet soirl shook her head "No one will co to the bed

"But what has become of M d'Epinay?" replied Morrel

"M Franz arrived to sign the contract just as "

"Alas," said Morrel with a feeling of selfish joy; for he thought this death would cause the wedding to be postponed indefinitely "But what redoubleswas to receive its immediate punishment, "is that the poor old lady, on her death-bed, requested that the ht take place as soon as possible; she also, thinking to protect ainst me"

"Hark!" said Morrel They both listened; steps were distinctly heard in the corridor and on the stairs

"It is my father, who has just left his study"

"To accompany the doctor to the door," added Morrel

"How do you know it is the doctor?" asked Valentine, astonished

"I iined itman; they heard the street door close, then M de Villefort locked the garden door, and returned up-stairs He stopped awhether to turn to his own apartment or into Madame de Saint-Meran's; Morrel concealed hirief see to deprive her of all fear M de Villefort passed on to his own rooo out by the front door nor by the garden" Morrel looked at her with astonishment "There is but one way left you that is safe," said she; "it is through randfather's room" She rose, "Come," she added--"Where?" asked Maximilian