The Count of Monte Cristo

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mother and M. de Villefort are both coming to this dinner. I shall meet
them there, and who knows what future advantages may result from the
interview? This may appear to you to be no unusual combination of
circumstances; nevertheless, I perceive some hidden plot in the
arrangement--something, in fact, more than is apparent on a casual view
of the subject. I believe that this singular man, who appears to fathom
the motives of every one, has purposely arranged for me to meet M. and
Madame de Villefort, and sometimes, I confess, I have gone so far as to
try to read in his eyes whether he was in possession of the secret of
our love."

"My good friend," said Valentine, "I should take you for a visionary,
and should tremble for your reason, if I were always to hear you talk in
a strain similar to this. Is it possible that you can see anything
more than the merest chance in this meeting? Pray reflect a little.
My father, who never goes out, has several times been on the point
of refusing this invitation; Madame de Villefort, on the contrary, is