Page 173 (1/1)

If Valentine could have seen the treitated countenance of Franz when he quitted the chamber of M Noirtier, even she would have been constrained to pity hiiven utterance to a few incoherent sentences, and then retired to his study, where he received about two hours afterwards the following letter:-"After all the disclosures which were , M Noirtier de Villefortformed between his family and that of M Franz d'Epinay M d'Epinay must say that he is shocked and astonished that M de Villefort, who appeared to be aware of all the circu, should not have anticipated hiistrate at this hly unnerved by the recent inauspicious combination of circumstances, would have supposed for an instant that he had anticipated the annoyance; although it certainly never had occurred to him that his father would carry candor, or rather rudeness, so far as to relate such a history And in justice to Villefort, it must be understood that M Noirtier, who never cared for the opinion of his son on any subject, had always omitted to explain the affair to Villefort, so that he had all his life entertained the belief that General de Quesnel, or the Baron d'Epinay, as he was alternately styled, according as the speaker wished to identify him by his own family name, or by the title which had been conferred on him, fell the victim of assassination, and not that he was killed fairly in a duel This harsh letter, coenerally so polite and respectful, struck a mortal blow at the pride of Villefort Hardly had he read the letter, when his wife entered The sudden departure of Franz, after being summoned by M Noirtier, had so much astonished every one, that the position of Madame de Villefort, left alone with the notary and the witnesses, beca Deterer, she arose and left the rooo and make some inquiries into the cause of his sudden disappearance

M de Villefort's communications on the subject were very limited and concise; he told her, in fact, that an explanation had taken place between M Noirtier, M d'Epinay, and hie of Valentine and Franz would consequently be broken off This was an aard and unpleasant thing to have to report to those ere awaiting her return in the chamber of her father-in-law She therefore contented herself with saying that M Noirtier having at the commencement of the discussion been attacked by a sort of apoplectic fit, the affair would necessarily be deferred for soularly in the train of the two similar misfortunes which had so recently occurred, evidently astonished the auditors, and they retired without a word During this ti e with a single blow the chain which she had been accustoable, asked leave to retire to her own room, in order to recover her composure Noirtier looked the per to her own rooallery, and, opening a sarden