Confirmation of Barrois’s Poisoning
The chemical reaction leaves no doubt. D’Avrigny formally declares that the unfortunate Barrois has been poisoned and vows to maintain this assertion before God and man. Villefort, speechless and horrified, sinks into a chair, overcome by the mounting evidence against his household.
第八十章 The Accusation
In this chapter, Dr. d’Avrigny confronts Villefort with the devastating accusation that his daughter Valentine is the poisoner responsible for the deaths of M. and Madame de Saint-Méran and the attempted murder of M. Noirtier, whose servant Barrois died accidentally after drinking the poisoned lemonade meant for his master. The doctor methodically traces the pattern of crimes, explaining that Valentine prepared all the medicines and draughts that killed her grandparents, and that she was only spared because Noirtier’s system had become acclimated to the poison through d’Avrigny’s own medical treatments. Villefort, torn between his duty as a magistrate and his love for his daughter, collapses and refuses to condemn her, even threatening to kill himself if d’Avrigny is mistaken. After a tense exchange where d’Avrigny announces he will wait and will no longer attend if anyone falls ill in the house, he departs with instructions to dispose of the cup of violet syrup, and all of Villefort’s servants subsequently quit, declaring that death is in the house. Notably, Villefort observes what he perceives as a cold, satisfied smile flickering across his wife’s thin lips as they watch Valentine weeping.
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