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Hollidew, Simmons and Company had joined in a conspiracy to purchase them throughout the county at a nominal sum and reap the benefits of the large enhancement. The death of the former had interrupted that satisfactory scheme; now Valentine Simmons had conceived the plan of gathering all the profit to himself. And, Gordon admitted, he had nearly succeeded ... nearly.
"Edward, you naughty boy," exclaimed Madame de Villefort, snatching the mutilated book from the urchin's grasp, "you are positively past bearing; you really disturb the conversation; go, leave us, and join your sister Valentine in dear grandpapa Noirtier's room." "The album," said Edward sulkily. "What do you mean? the album!" "I want the album." "How dare you tear out the drawings?"
The colour of his face was the colour of the misty cloud that haunts the steps of evening on an autumn day grey, as if it clothed processes of decay and desolation. Years seemed to crouch upon him like lean dogs upon a doorstep. Within a few months he had stepped from boyhood to the creaking threshold of premature age. The change in Valentine was far less marked to a careless eye.
The vehemence of his mental debate slew his power of observation of normal things. He forgot what he was waiting for. He forgot to expect Dr. Levillier. Two visions alternated in glaring contrast before the eyes of his brain life with Valentine, and life without him. It is so we watch the trance, or death, we know not which, of those whom we love, with a greedy, beautiful selfishness.
The threads of Zurdoki's crafty policy had been woven together in the letter deciphered by Valentine Kalondai, and Zurdoki was one of those who were perpetually urging the ambitious George Rakoczy to conquer Poland. The governorship of Cracow was the prize reserved for himself, and the prospect of the loss of that lucrative post piqued him exceedingly.
At the station at Aix we found Blythe awaiting us, and when he had taken the seat beside me we set out by way of Duren to Cologne, and on to Cassel, a long and bitterly cold journey. It was not until we were dining together late the following night in the comfortable old König von Preussen, at Cassel, that Valentine revealed the truth to me.
The question came at once with his hand-grasp. "No," Julian said. "I shunted the papers, tried to give myself up entirely to the sea, as the doctor advised. What has there been?" "Oh, a good deal. I may as well tell it to you, or no doubt Lady Crichton will. People exaggerate so much." "Why what is there to exaggerate about?" "The inquest was held," Valentine answered.
"Good-bye, doctor." "Good-bye, Valentine." Julian held out his hand to grasp his friend's, but Valentine began looping up the curtain and did not take it. In his gentlest voice he said to Julian: "Good-bye, dear Julian, good-bye. The dawn is on our friendship, Julian." "Yes, Valentine." Valentine added, after a moment of apparent reflection: "Take Rip away with you just for to-night.
The vision flashed across my mind in the midst of the storm. I saw him just as plainly as if he had been there. It was dreadful. The nightcap came over his forehead, down to his eyebrows, and he said to me, pressing my hand; "At last, Valentine; you are mine; do you love me? oh! tell me, do you love me?"
"I should have thought you were old enough to find some more sensible amusement than putting pieces of penny toys in your boots. You may laugh at Valentine if you like, but I can tell you this, he's very fond of you, and that's the reason why he doesn't like to see you in trouble." "I know he is," returned the boy briskly. "He's a brick; and I like him better than any other chap in the school."
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