The Count of Monte Cristo

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.

第七十三章 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.