[Count of Monte Cristo] Love and hatred

chapter134

When the servant came to report the visit of the Count of Monte Cristo, Villefort was stunned for a moment.

After a series of misfortunes in his family, the former grandeur of the city was no longer there, and among the few guests who were still willing to visit, the Count of Monte Cristo was by no means the one he expected to see.

It was this person who unearthed the deepest secrets in his heart in the villa that once belonged to him.For this reason, he investigated the earl, but the conclusion he reached was puzzling.It can be concluded that no matter in which period, no matter what, no matter what kind of environment, this earl from a foreign country has never had anything to do with himself.Why, then, should he inquire into such a tragic, secret, and useless fact?

Perhaps because there were too many doubts in his heart, after the count came in, Villefort exchanged a few words with him, and then returned to the study on the grounds that he was busy with business.On the contrary, Madame de Villefort was much more enthusiastic.

It happened that Valentine also came into the drawing room, and Madame de Villefort introduced her to the count.As Maximilian had often mentioned the Count of Monte Cristo, Valentine also felt admiration for this long-known guest.She saluted the earl graciously, without even lowering her eyelids. Her graceful manner won the earl's favor.

The Count of Monte Cristo hurriedly stood up and returned the salute.It wasn't the first time he had seen this girl, but it was indeed the first time he had noticed her.

Valentine is very beautiful. This kind of beauty is different from the mature beauty of her stepmother, but a kind of pure beauty that only belongs to girls. It reminds people of Psyche in the oil painting.It's just that her face is really pale, and her slender fingers are a little dark like old white wax, so her whole person presents a sickly aesthetic feeling.

The count knew why she looked so haggard.After a little thought, he turned to Madame de Villefort, and said, "Madame de Villefort, I think I must have had the honor of meeting you and Mademoiselle somewhere before. This idea has been in my mind for a long time, and when Mademoiselle de Villefort came in At that time, there was another ray of light in my chaotic memory, please forgive my poor memory."

"I don't think so, sir," chuckled Madame de Villefort. "Valentine is not very sociable, and we seldom go out."

"Then madam, as you said, I haven't been in Paris for a long time, maybe I didn't meet you and the lady in social occasions, but I do have such memories, please allow me to think about it again", the Count of Monte Cristo Putting his hands on his forehead, he seemed to be concentrating on thinking, "Oh, I remembered, it's not in Paris, but in another place, it seems to be related to a certain religious festival..."

"Oh, is it?" replied Madame de Villefort carelessly.

"I still remember that it was a very hot day, the lady was walking in the garden full of daisies, and you were sitting alone under the arbor made of vines..." the count looked at Valentine sometimes, sometimes Looking at Madame de Villefort, "Please help me to think about it. When talking about this, do you recall some past events?"

"Perhaps the Count met us in Italy." Valentine pondered for a moment. "Two years ago, Dr. Avrini was worried that my lungs were not good, so he appointed me to go to Naples to breathe fresh air. I still I remember that on the day of Spirit Day, we happened to pass by Rubisha, so we took a rest in the garden of Posti Hotel."

"That's right, it was in Birusha," the count blinked, "madame, when Mademoiselle de Villefort was away, you sat on the stone bench under the grape arbor at the Hotel Posti and had a long conversation with a man. A long time, no?"

"We have been there, but I don't remember meeting the Count," said Madame de Villefort doubtfully. "I only remember talking there to a doctor in a woolen cloak. He cured the innkeeper of his jaundice." , because I was concerned about Valentine's condition, I chatted with him a few words."

"That's right, Madame de Villefort, that person is me. Probably because I cured the innkeeper's disease, they call me a doctor." The count evoked a stern and charming smile, "I still remember the time when I was with you We talked for a long time, we talked about Dante's "Divine Comedy", talked about local customs, and also talked about the legendary poisonous water of Zaphna..."

When the Count said the last thing, Madame de Villefort's face changed completely.

Valentine noticed this, and she also noticed that the count was looking at her expectantly, as if wanting to remind her of something.But she couldn't hear what they were saying.

At this moment, Madame de Villefort suddenly seized her by the arm and shook her out of her trance.

"Valentine, you must be ill," said Madame de Villefort in a worried tone, "your face turns pale and red two or three times a minute."

"Me?" said Valentine hastily. "Oh, don't worry, I've been like this for several days."

"I think you'd better go back to your room and rest," urged Madame de Villefort. "You are really ill, and the count will understand you. Go and drink a glass of water, it will restore your spirits."

Valentine nodded, bowed deeply to her guests, and turned to leave.As she walked out the count sighed in a voice only he could hear.

Although he broke up with Mel last night, for her sake, the count still decided to visit Villefort's family.Judging from the observation just now, Valentine's condition is not good, but at least Madame de Villefort hasn't attacked her yet.He wanted to remind her of Tophna's murder of King Bondigus with colorless and odorless poisonous water, but Valentine didn't pay attention.

Maybe he should find another opportunity.

The count glanced at the clock on the wall. He couldn't stay too long, or it would arouse suspicion.So in the limited time, he must collect as much information as possible.

After thinking about it for a while, he excused the taste of the tea as a bit bland, and cleverly tricked out the fact that the kitchen servants had been replaced. It turned out that the original servants of the Villefort family had resigned collectively.

This is not surprising, after all, people died in this house one after another, especially the identity of the last victim was also a servant, which means that the god of death treats everyone in the house without distinction, and of course they dare not stay here anymore.It's just that those servants didn't know that the god of death they thought was actually a person, and every time she took away a life, she had a very strong purpose.

And now, this man was sitting opposite the Count of Monte Cristo.

This beautiful lady is not yet 30 years old, and the knowledge she has mastered is rare among men of her age, not to mention she has a mind to match it.

When the count mentioned the last prescription, he thought she would change the subject with a guilty conscience.Unexpectedly, Mrs. Villefort praised in an extremely sincere tone, "Oh, sir, the medicine you gave me last time is very effective. Last time Madame Danglars fainted, I used this medicine to wake up she."

The count looked at her eyes, faintly feeling like he was meeting his opponent.Just as he was about to ask the next question, there was a burst of shouting in the corridor.

Something has happened to Valentine!The manservant who replaced Barrois found the lady fainted in Noirtier's room. Her cold and lifeless face made him feel the atmosphere of terror in the room without approaching him, so he hurried out to call for help. .

"I told you!" cried Madame de Villefort. "Poor child!"

There was a disturbance in the master's house, and the Count of Monte Cristo should have left, but at this time Villefort rushed out to find a doctor, and Mrs. Villefort was busy taking care of her stepdaughter, so he stood in the living room and listened intently to the news in the corridor. Come on.

At this moment, a complex emotion was surging in his heart.Could it be that girl also... She was talking to him in the living room just now, she didn't expect it to be so fast... But what's wrong with her?Her only fault is that she was born into this sinful family.

The count wanted to go to that room, but he suppressed his inner impulse.It wasn't until the hostess started yelling, too, that he realized something was wrong.

"A robber has come in!" cried Madame de Villefort, stepping back. "Oh, my lord count, help me!"

robber?Could it be Mel?Given their conversation last night, it seemed possible.

The count felt his heart was gripped by something, and rushed in without hesitation, only to see a young man in the dim room, gently picked up Valentine from the carpet, and put her on the bed in a comfortable posture. On the chair, the movements are surprisingly gentle.Then the man half-kneeled on the edge of the chair, held Valentine's slender arms, and stared at her, with half despair and half nostalgia in his eyes.

After witnessing this scene, is there anything you don't understand?The man was not a robber at all, but the girl's lover.Perhaps it was the heartbreaking cry that infected the earl, and he walked over slowly.

When he finally saw the young man's face clearly, his eyes widened in surprise.That was Maximilian, son of his benefactor M. Morel!

Why is it him?

Inwardly the count uttered a cry such as only those who have heard the roar of a wounded lion can imagine.He had watched the tragedy as a relentless and curious bystander.And now, he was also bitten by the Chilian Snake who was watching the action, and it was biting his heart!

Mel said he would regret it, but he didn't expect it to come true so soon.He wanted revenge, but he hurt his benefactor's child!

At this time, Villefort and Dr. Avrini also rushed over, and they were also surprised by the strange intruder.

"Who are you?" asked Villefort, turning to Maximilian.

Maximilian made no answer, but looked motionless at the pale face of the young girl lying in the chair.

More than 20 years of career as a judge has deprived Villefort of some of his humanity. Instead of caring about his daughter's situation immediately, he focused his attention on this man who offended him, "Your Excellency, don't you know a Can't outsiders just come in like this in a house that has been hit by the god of death? Please get out!"

The Count of Monte Cristo glanced at Villefort, then walked over, ready to lead Maximilian away.Only then did Maximilian come back to his senses. He broke free from the count's hand and came to the owner of the room, the paralyzed old man Noirtier, pointing to Valentine and shouting in despair, "Grandpa, look! Look what they did?"

Villefort drew back a step, and looked in amazement at the young man, who he did not recognize, but whose name was Grande Noirtier.At this moment the whole thought of the old man seemed to be reflected in his eyes, which were red with excitement, and Alford was instinctively frightened.

"Grandpa!" cried Maximilian in a hoarse voice, grabbing the hand of the paralyzed old man. "He asked me who I was, and said I had no right to be here! Oh, you know, tell them! Tell them! I am Valentine's lover, tell them she is my one and only!"

"You're crazy!" Dr. Avrini stepped forward, "Get out of the way, I want to check Valentine's condition."

"No, I won't let you get close to her, because you are the murderer!" After Maximilian finished speaking, he pointed at Villefort again, "You too!"

The Count of Monte Cristo looked at Villefort and the doctor with some doubts. The former showed a guilty look on his face, while the latter showed an expression of extreme pain.

"Monsieur de Villefort, you must remember what you said to the doctor in the garden of this house on the night of Madame de Saint-Meran's death," continued Maximilian, "and you imagined that no one heard you." conversation, but those words were heard by me, the successive misfortunes of this family were not God’s will, everything was committed by a sinner!”

"What nonsense are you talking about?" interrupted Villefort in a rage. "There can be no criminals in my house!"

"Really?" Maximilian kissed Valentine's cold lips for the last time, then slowly picked up the water glass on the table, and said in tears, "Then let me prove it. Valentine Before Na passed out, she only drank this half glass of water..."

The Count of Monte Cristo immediately realized what he was going to do, and rushed over quickly, but when he snatched the cup, Maximilian had already taken a sip while struggling.

Unlike Valentine, the effect of the drug was rapid in Maximilian, and now Villefort had no excuses.The count tried to drag Maximilian away, at first he was still stubborn to stay with Valentine, but then his consciousness gradually became trance, and the Count of Monte Cristo had to take him out of the room.

Before Maximilian completely passed out, the count carried him to his carriage outside the door, and ordered Ali to hurry up and rush to his house on the Champs-Elysées.

At this moment, Valentine is still not awake.The doctor is examining the frail patient very carefully.Villefort watched the doctor's lips closely, waiting for the words to be life or death.Noirtier, whose face was even paler than Valentine's, was absorbed in waiting, more eager than Villefort to know the doctor's decision.

After a while, Avrini's brows finally relaxed, "Thank God, she's still alive!"

A part of the doctor was not surprised, for he had secretly administered the drug to Valentine in small doses, to make her gradually resistant to it.But now is not the time to be happy, after this incident, he will never allow Renee's only daughter to suffer any more harm.

"You see, M. de Villefort," said Dr. Avrini indignantly, "that young man is right. Cowardice has instigated a murderer, and I am very sorry. Now, I ask you to punish the criminal justly. Avenge Mademoiselle Valentine, also for her unknown lover, and three others who died unjustly! "

"But..."

"No but," Dr. Afri clasped his hands, "If you don't do that, I will report you to the authorities, ignoring the murder of your relatives!"

Villefort was finally overwhelmed by the doctor's indignant but determined attitude, and he said despondently, "So who do you suspect?"

"I don't suspect anyone, but there is an adage in jurisprudence to find suspects from people who are only interested in profit."

"Well, doctor," Villefort pondered for a moment, "maybe I already know who the murderer is."

Just now he had noticed, amidst all the weeping, a sinister smile flitting across the thin lips of his lady, as if on a cloudy sky, flitting between two clouds. The Meteor is average.After Maximilian drank the remaining half glass of poisoned water, she disappeared.

Yes, he should have thought it was her. "Doctor Avrigni, I assure you that justice will be served, but please keep this secret for me."

The doctor frowned. He didn't expect that what Villefort cares most now is the honor of the family.He sighed slightly, "Okay, I promise you, as long as you keep your promise."

At this moment Madame de Villefort was locking herself in her room.From the moment Maximilian drank the half glass of water, she guessed that they would doubt her.But she couldn't let this happen, what would little Edward do in the future if he had a mother who was a criminal?

She thought quickly for a few seconds, and finally turned her gaze to the potion used to poison Valentine.If she herself was as sick as Valentine, they would have no doubts about her.

"One drop lives, six drops kills..." Madame de Villefort chanted silently, dripping three drops of medicine into the cup with trembling hands.

By this time, her husband had already started knocking on the door.

Madame de Villefort cast a suspicious glance towards the door; it seemed that she must make the medicine more effective.She took a deep breath, as if making up her mind, then she poured the fourth drop of potion into the water, and poured the rest into the flowerpot.

After doing all this, she opened the window, stared at her little son playing in the garden, and showed a somewhat miserable smile.

Before Villefort broke in, she tightly closed her eyes, picked up the glass, and drank the poisonous water in the glass without hesitation.

The author has something to say: Thank you for the cave king's grenade, it cost a lot, okay~

Thank you Morikawa Tokio, Chaldea Laughing King, and the world's first generation blue king Cang の Mouse for their landmines. It was a waste of money, okay~

Thank you Ming Minmin, Crab Stuffed Orange, and Yinyin's nutrient solution, okay~