The Count of Monte Cristo

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.