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"Sire, sire," murmured the minister, "for pity's"-"Approach, M de Villefort," resuto a conversation on which depended the destiny of a kingdom "Approach, and tell monsieur that it is possible to know beforehand all that he has not known"

"Sire, it was really impossible to learn secrets which that man concealed froreat word, sir Unfortunately, there are great words, as there are great men; I have measured theents, spies, and fifteen hundred thousand francs for secret service ues froentleentleistrate, who learned more than you with all your police, and ould have saved raph" The look of the minister of police was turned with concentrated spite on Villefort, who bent his head in modest triumph

"I do not mean that for you, Blacas," continued Louis XVIII; "for if you have discovered nothing, at least you have had the good sense to persevere in your suspicions Any other than yourself would have considered the disclosure of M de Villefort insignificant, or else dictated by venal ambition," These words were an allusion to the sentiments which the minister of police had uttered with so much confidence an hour before

Villefort understood the king's intent Any other person would, perhaps, have been overcoht of praise; but he feared to make for hih he saw that Dandre was irrevocably lost In fact, the minister, who, in the plenitude of his power, had been unable to unearth Napoleon's secret, ate Dantes and so lay bare thethis, Villefort came to the rescue of the crest-fallento crush him

"Sire," said Villefort, "the suddenness of this event must prove to your majesty that the issue is in the hands of Providence; what your majesty is pleased to attribute toto chance, and I have profited by that chance, like a good and devoted servant--that's all Do not attribute to me more than I deserve, sire, that your majesty may never have occasion to recall the first opinion you have been pleased to for man by an eloquent look, and Villefort understood that he had succeeded in his design; that is to say, that without forfeiting the gratitude of the king, he had ht rely