Page:The Count of Monte-Cristo (1887 Volume 3).djvu/182

 

ONSIEUR AND MADAME DE VILLEFORT found on their return that the Count of Monte-Cristo, who had come to visit them in their absence, had been ushered into the drawing-room, and was still awaiting them there. Madame de Villefort, too agitated to receive him at once, retired to her bedroom, whilst the procureur du roi who could better depend upon himself, proceeded at once to the drawing-room.

Although Villefort, to all outward view, had completely masked his feelings, he could not dissipate the cloud on his brow, so that the count immediately remarked his somber and thoughtful air.

"Ma foi!" said Monte-Cristo, after the first compliments were over, "what is the matter with you, M. de Villefort? Have I arrived at the moment that you were drawing up some case of capital indictment?"

Villefort tried to smile.

"No, M. le Comte," he replied, "I am the only victim in this case. It is I who lose my cause; and it is ill-luck, obstinacy, and folly which have caused it to be decided against me."

"To what do you allude?" said Monte-Cristo, with well-feigned interest. "Have you really met with some great misfortune?"

"Oh! M. le Comte," said Villefort, with a bitter smile, "it is only a loss of money which I have sustained nothing worth mentioning."

"True," said Monte-Cristo, "the loss of a sum of money becomes almost immaterial with a fortune such as you possess, and a philosophic and elevated mind like yours."

"It is not so much the loss of the money which vexes me," said Villefort, "though, after all, nine hundred thousand francs are worth regretting; but I am the more annoyed with this fate, chance, or whatever you please to call the power which has destroyed my hopes of fortune,