The Count of Monte Cristo

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in believing that the house was not illuminated. Instead of lights at
every window, as is customary on days of ceremony, he saw only a gray
mass, which was veiled also by a cloud, which at that moment obscured
the moon's feeble light. A light moved rapidly from time to time past
three windows of the second floor. These three windows were in Madame de
Saint-Meran's room. Another remained motionless behind some red curtains
which were in Madame de Villefort's bedroom. Morrel guessed all this. So
many times, in order to follow Valentine in thought at every hour in the
day, had he made her describe the whole house, that without having seen
it he knew it all.

This darkness and silence alarmed Morrel still more than Valentine's
absence had done. Almost mad with grief, and determined to venture
everything in order to see Valentine once more, and be certain of the
misfortune he feared, Morrel gained the edge of the clump of trees, and
was going to pass as quickly as possible through the flower-garden, when
the sound of a voice, still at some distance, but which was borne upon