to approach nearer, were looking at Noirtier's old servant, who, having heard a noise in his master's room, had run there also, and remained behind the others. Villefort rose, and ran toward his mother-in-law, for it was she.
"Why, what can have happened? "he exclaimed, "what has thus disturbed you? Is M. de Saint-Meran with you?"
"M. de Saint-Meran is dead!" answered the old marchioness, without preface, without expression; she appeared stupefied. Villefort drew back, and clasping his hands together, exclaimed:
"Dead! so suddenly?"
"A week ago," continued Madame de Saint-Meran, "we went out together in the carriage after dinner. M. de Saint-Meran had been unwell for some days; still, the idea of seeing our dear Valentine again inspired him with courage; and, notwithstanding his illness, he would leave; when, at six leagues from Marseilles, after having eaten some of the lozenges he is accustomed to take, he fell into such a deep sleep, that it appeared to me unnatural; still I hesitated to wake him, when I fancied his face became red, and that the veins in his temples throbbed more violently than usual. However, as it became dark, I could no longer see. I fell asleep; soon he uttered a piercing shriek, like a person suffering in his dreams, and suddenly threw his head back. I stopped the postilion, I called M. de Saint-Meran, I applied my smelling-salts; but all was over, and I arrived at Aix by the side of a corpse."
Villefort stood with his mouth half open, quite stupefied.
"Of course, you sent for a doctor?"
"Immediately; but, as I have told you, it was too late."
"Yes; but then he could tell you of what complaint the poor marquis had died."
"Oh, yes, sir, he told me; it appears to have been an apoplectic stroke."
"And what did you do then?"
"M. de Saint-Meran had always expressed a desire, in case of his death happening during his absence from Paris, that his body might be brought to the family vault. I had him put into a leaden coffin, and I am preceding him by a few days."
"Oh! my poor mother!" said Villefort, "to have such duties to perform at your age, after such a blow!"
"God has supported me through all! And then, my dear marquis, he would certainly have done everything for me, all that I have performed for him. It is true that since I left him, I seem to have lost my senses. I cannot cry; at my age they say we have no more tears; still I think that when one is in trouble, we should have the power of weeping.
