The Count of Monte Cristo

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Valentine was at a ball; so he only said that she had gone out with her
step-mother, and that she should be fetched. "This instant, sir--this
instant, I beseech you!" said the old lady. Villefort placed the arm
of Madame de Saint-Meran within his own, and conducted her to his
apartment. "Rest yourself, mother," he said.

The marchioness raised her head at this word, and beholding the man who
so forcibly reminded her of her deeply-regretted child, who still
lived for her in Valentine, she felt touched at the name of mother, and
bursting into tears, she fell on her knees before an arm-chair, where
she buried her venerable head. Villefort left her to the care of the
women, while old Barrois ran, half-scared, to his master; for nothing
frightens old people so much as when death relaxes its vigilance over
them for a moment in order to strike some other old person. Then,
while Madame de Saint-Meran remained on her knees, praying fervently,
Villefort sent for a cab, and went himself to fetch his wife and
daughter from Madame de Morcerf's. He was so pale when he appeared at