"And I caught it, mamma; don't you remember?" interposed Edward; "and I pulled three such beautiful feathers out of his tail."
"You, madanie, remained under the arbor formed by the vine; do you not remember that whilst you were seated on a stone bench, and whilst, as I told you, Mademoiselle de Villefort and your young son were absent, you conversed for a considerable time with somebody?"
"Yes, in truth, yes," answered Madame de Villefort, turning very red, "I do remember conversing with a man wrapped in a long woolen mantle; he was a medical man, I think."
"Precisely so, madame; this man was myself; for a fortnight I had been at that hotel, during which period I had cured my valet-de-chambre of a fever, and my landlord of the jaundice, so that I really acquired the reputation as a skillful physician. We discoursed a long time, madame, on different subjects,—of Perugino, of Raffaelle, of manners, customs, of the famous aqua Tofana, of which they had told you, I think you said, that certain individuals had preserved the secret."
"Yes, true," replied Madanie de Villefort, with a kind of uneasiness, "I remember now."
"I do not recollect now all the various subjects of which we discoursed, madame," continued the count, with perfect calmness; "but I perfectly remember that, falling into the error which others had enter tained respecting me, you consulted me as to the health of Mademoiselle de Villefort."
"Yes; really, sir, you are in fact a medical man," said Madame de Villefort, "since you have cured the sick."
"Moliere or Beaumarchais would reply to you, madame, that it was precisely because I was not, that I had cured my patients; for myself, I am content to say to you that I have studied chemistry and the natural sciences somewhat deeply, but still only as an amateur, you understand." At this moment the clock struck six.
"It is six o'clock," said Madame de Villefort, evidently agitated. "Valentine, will you not go and see if your grandpapa will have his dinner?"
Valentine rose, and saluting the count, left the apartment, without replying a single word.
"Oh, madame!" said the count, when Valentine had left the room, "was it on my account you sent Mademoiselle de Villefort away?"
"By no means," she replied quickly; "but this is the hour when we give to M. Noirtier the sad repast which supports his sad existence. You are aware, sir; of the deplorable condition of my husband's father?"
"Yes, madame, M. de Villefort spoke of it to me—a paralysis, I think."
