The Count of Monte Cristo

Morrel Discovers Villefort and d’Avrigny

Unable to wait longer, Morrel leaps over the wall onto Villefort’s property, crosses a path, and hides in a clump of trees from which he can see the house. Its windows are dark except for a moving light in Madame de Saint-Méran’s room and a stationary glow behind red curtains in Madame de Villefort’s bedroom. A voice on the wind freezes him in place just as he is about to cross the flower-garden, and he conceals himself completely to listen.

Doctor Reveals Madame de Saint-Méran’s Poisoning

The moon emerges and Morrel watches Villefort descend the steps with a gentleman in black, whom he recognizes as Doctor d’Avrigny. They stop near the clump of trees, and d’Avrigny quietly informs the procureur that Madame de Saint-Méran’s symptoms—spasms, stiffening limbs, contracted purple mouth—indicate not tetanus but poisoning by a vegetable substance, specifically brucine or strychnine. He suggests that Barrois may have mistakenly administered a dose of brucine intended for M. Noirtier’s paralysis treatment.

Villefort Fears Scandal from Revelation

Villefort is horror-stricken, clutching the doctor and begging to be told he is mistaken, then seeking ways to avoid an inquest. D’Avrigny offers to bring in a trusted colleague to examine the body and identify the cause, but Villefort recoils at the scandal an inquest would bring upon his family and his position as king’s attorney. He pleads with the doctor to recall his words, confessing worldly fears about his many enemies, and implores d’Avrigny’s silence.

CAPÍTULO 73. The Promise

Chapter 73. The Promise Following the death of Madame de Saint-Méran, Doctor d’Avrigny counsels Villefort to bury the dark secret of the poisoning while remaining vigilant. After the men depart, Morrel—concealed in the garden—overhears enough to grasp the tragedy and overcome by love and fear, secretly enters the house. He finds Valentine weeping beside her grandmother’s body, and after a near encounter with Villefort, she leads him to her grandfather Noirtier. There she confesses her love for Morrel and begs for protection. Morrel lays out his plans, but Noirtier rejects both the elopement and the duel with d’Épinay, promising instead that he himself will prevent the marriage contract. Morrel swears on his honor to await the old man’s direction, and is guided out of the estate back to his waiting cabriolet.

Doctor d’Avrigny’s Advice to Villefort

Doctor d’Avrigny’s Advice to Villefort The doctor pledges to bury the terrible secret in their hearts, willing to have his silence attributed to ignorance. He urges Villefort to watch carefully, warning that the evil may not have ended, and promises that once the culprit is identified, he will defer to Villefort’s authority as magistrate. Relieved, Villefort thanks him as his best friend and hurries him toward the house.

Morrel’s Concern for Valentine

Morrel’s Concern for Valentine Once the men have gone, Morrel emerges from beneath the trees, his face pale as a ghost. He reflects on being wonderfully yet terribly protected, but his thoughts turn to Valentine and how she will endure so much sorrow. He looks up at the windows, noting the dimming light of the red-curtained chamber and a shadow at one of the white-curtained windows, where he thinks he hears a sob.

Morrel’s Secret Entry into the Villefort Home

Morrel’s Secret Entry into the Villefort Home Tormented by love and fear and yielding to superstitious fancy, Morrel bounds from his hiding place, crosses the moonlit garden, slips past the orange trees, and finds the door unlatched. He moves through the carpeted staircase in silence, ready to face even Villefort himself. Using Valentine’s earlier description of the house, he reaches the upper floor and follows the sound of a sob.

Valentine Grieves Her Grandmother

Valentine Grieves Her Grandmother Morrel finds Valentine on her knees beside the sheet-covered corpse, her head buried in a cushion, hands clasped above her. She has turned from the window to pray in rapid, broken words. The moon through the blinds casts a sepulchral pallor over the room. Unable to bear her suffering in silence, Morrel whispers her name; she raises her tear-streaked face without surprise, a heart overwhelmed by grief being insensible to lesser emotions.