Villefort became livid; Madame Danglars fell into a long seat placed near the chimney.
"Oh!" said Madame de Villefort, smiling, "are you courageous enough to sit down upon the very seat perhaps upon which the crime was committed?"
Madame Danglars rose suddenly.
"And then," said Monte-Cristo, "this is not all."
"What is there more?" said Debray, who had not failed to notice the agitation of Madame Danglars.
"Ah! what else is there?" said Danglars; "for, at present, I cannot say that I have seen anything extraordinary. What do you say, M. Cavalcanti!"
"Ah!" said he, "we have at Pisa the tower of Ugolino; at Ferrara, the prison of Tasso; at Rimini, the room of Francesca and Paolo."
"Yes, but you have not this little staircase," said Monte-Cristo, opening a door concealed by the drapery. "Look at it, and tell me what you think of it."
"What a wicked-looking, crooked staircase," said Chateau-Renaud, smiling.
"I do not know whether the wine of Chios produces melancholy, but certainly everything appears to me black in this house," said Debray.
Ever since Valentine's dowry had been mentioned, Morrel had been silent and sad.
"Can you imagine," said Monte-Cristo, "some Othello or Abbe de Ganges, one stormy, dark night, descending these stairs step by step, carrying a load, which he wishes to hide from the sight of man, if not from God?"
Madame Danglars half fainted on the arm of Villefort, who was obliged to support himself against the wall.
"Ah, madame," cried Debray, "what is the matter with you? how pale you look!"
"This is what is the matter with her," said Madame de Villefort; "it is very simple; M. de Monte-Cristo is relating horrible stories to us, doubtless intending to frighten us to death."
"Yes," said Villefort, "really, count, you frighten the ladies."
"What is the matter?" asked Debray, in a whisper, of Madame Danglars.
"Nothing," she replied, with a violent effort. "I want air! that is all."
"Will you come into the garden?" said Debray, advancing toward the back staircase.
"No, no!" she answered, "I would rather remain here."
