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Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe du Roule, struck the hour ofof a few carriages all was silent Then Valentine's attention was engrossed by the clock in her roo thes of her heart; and still she doubted,--the inoffensive Valentine could not iine that any one should desire her death Why should they? To what end? What had she done to excite theasleep One terrible idea pressed upon her mind,--that some one existed in the world who had attempted to assassinate her, and as about to endeavor to do so again Supposing this person, wearied at the inefficacy of the poison, should, as Monte Cristo intimated, have recourse to steel!--What if the count should have no time to run to her rescue!--What if her last ain see Morrel! When this terrible chain of ideas presented itself, Valentine was nearly persuaded to ring the bell, and call for help But through the door she fancied she saw the luminous eye of the count--that eye which lived in her memory, and the recollection overwhelmed her with so ratitude could ever repay his adventurous and devoted friendship

Twenty minutes, twenty tedious minutes, passed thus, then ten more, and at last the clock struck the half-hour Just then the sound of finger-nails slightly grating against the door of the library infor, and recommended her to do the same; at the same time, on the opposite side, that is towards Edward's roo of the floor; she listened attentively, holding her breath till she was nearly suffocated; the lock turned, and the door slowly opened Valentine had raised herself upon her elbow, and had scarcely time to throw herself down on the bed and shade her eyes with her ar with indescribable terror, she awaited the event

Some one approached the bed and drew back the curtains Valentine suular respiration which announces tranquil sleep "Valentine!" said a low voice Still silent: Valentine had pro that Valentine heard the allass she had just elance over her extended ar a liquor fro this short tiht degree, for the woman, disturbed, stopped and leaned over the bed, in order the better to ascertain whether Valentine slept--it was Madame de Villefort