Transcription
chapter 43
franz left nortier's room in such a state of shock that even valentine felt pity for him. viliform muttered a few incoherent words, left hurriedly, and locked himself in his study.
two hours later, he received the following letter:
"in view of the facts revealed this morning, monster nortier to villafor: cannot believe that an alliance is possible between his family and that of monster frosty ebony monster. diabetes is shocked at the thought that monster villafor, who appeared to be aware of the events related to this morning, nevertheless made no move to anticipate him in this conclusion."
this harsh letter from a young man who until then had been so respectful was a deadly blow to the pride of a man like villafor. meanwhile, valentine, happy and frightened at the same time, kissed and thanked her grandfather, who with a single stroke had shattered a chain which she had regarded as unbreakable. then she asked his permission to go to her room to calm her nerves, a permission which he granted with his eyes. but instead of going to her room, she went out into the garden.
maximilian was waiting for her at the grill. he had seen franz and villafor leave the cemetery together after the funeral of monster madame of the saint moran and had suspected what was about to take place. he had therefore taken up his post outside the wall, ready for action, and convinced that valentine would come running out to him at the first opportunity.
at his first sight of her, he felt reassured. at her first words, his heart leaped with joy. "we're saved," said valentine. "saved," repeated maximilian, unable to believe in such good fortune. "who saved us?" "my grandfather." "oh, you must love him!" maximilian swore to love the old man with all his heart. the oath was not difficult for him, because at that moment he did not content himself with loving him as a friend or like a father; he worshipped him like a god.
"how did he do it?" asked maximilian. valentine opened her mouth to tell him everything, but then she realized that the story involved a terrible secret which did not belong entirely to her grandfather. "i'll tell you about it later," she said, "when i'm your wife." this gave the conversation a turn which made maximilian glad to agree to anything. he therefore agreed to content himself with what valentine had already told him, which was enough for one day. he did, however, demand that she promised to see him the following day, which she was glad to do. her outlook had changed completely; it was now easier for her to believe that she would marry maximilian than it had been to believe that she would not marry franz.
the next day, malcolm nortier had the notary called in again. his former will was torn up and a new one made, in which he left his entire fortune to valentine, provided she were not separated from him. a number of people soon calculated that mademoiselle de villa force, sole heiress of monster and madame to saint, and once again restored to her grandfather's good graces, would someday have an income of nearly three hundred thousand francs a year.
while valentine's marriage was being broken off, the count of more there had put on his lieutenant general's uniform, decorated it with all his crosses, asked for his best horses, and set out to pay a visit to barren danglers. the banker was engaged in calculating his monthly balance, and for some time past, this had not been the best time to find him in a good humor. when his old friend entered, he assumed his most majestic air and sat upright in his chair. on the other hand, more serif, who was usually so stiff and formal, was on this occasion smiling and affable.
"well, baron, here i am," he said. "for some time now, we've done nothing to carry out the plans we discussed." "what plans, count?" as danglars, as though vainly seeking to recall what more safe was talking about.
"i see you're a formalist, and that you went to ceremony according to the rules. very well, then," said more serif with a forced smile, stood up, bowed deeply to danglars, and said, "baron denglore's, i have the honor of requesting the hand of your daughter, mademoiselle eugenie denglars, for my son, vi count albert de morser."
but danglars, instead of receiving these words with the favor more serif had expected, frowned and said, "before giving you an answer, count, i must have time to reflect."
"to reflect?" exclaimed more serif, more and more astonished. "haven't you had time to reflect in the eight years since we first discussed this marriage?"
"count, everyday things happen which make us reconsider matters which we once had believed to be completely settled."
"excuse me, baron, but i don't understand what you're saying."
"i'm saying that a certain few circumstances have arisen recently."
"and that those are vague, empty words, baron," said morseraf. "they might satisfy an ordinary man, but the condom or serp is not an ordinary man. when someone withdraws a promise made to him, he has a right to demand that he be given a good reason."
although danglars was a coward, he did not wish to appear to be one. furthermore, he was irritated by the tone in which morseford just spoken to him. "i have a good reason," he replied, "but it would be difficult to tell it to you. in any case, one thing is clear: you refuse to marry your daughter to my son."
"no, i'm only postponing my decision."
"but surely you can't have the arrogance to imagine that i'm going to submit to your whims and humbly await a return of your good graces?"
"if you can't wait, let's consider our plans as cancelled."
merced bit his lip to keep back the outburst which his proud and irritable character inclined him to make. realizing that he was the one who would appear ridiculous in such a scene, he was already on his way out of the room when he changed his mind, turned around, and came back. a cloud had just passed over his face, leaving a trace of vague uneasiness in it, in place of the expression of offended pride that had been there a moment before.
"we've known each other many years, barron," he said, "so we ought to have some consideration for each other. the least you can do is to tell me what unfortunate event has caused my son to lose favor in your eyes."
"it doesn't concern your son personally, that's all i can tell you," replied danglars, becoming insolent again as he saw more serious attitudes softening.
"and whom does it concern, then?" ask more serif uneasily.
danglars looked at him with more self-assurance than he had hitherto shone and said, "be grateful to me for not giving you a more detailed explanation."