The Count of Monte Cristo

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"Ah, my dear doctor," said the procureur, "heaven declares itself
against my house! What a dreadful death--what a blow! Seek not to
console me; alas, nothing can alleviate so great a sorrow--the wound is
too deep and too fresh! Dead, dead!" The cold sweat sprang to the young
man's brow, and his teeth chattered. Who could be dead in that house,
which Villefort himself had called accursed? "My dear M. de Villefort,"
replied the doctor, with a tone which redoubled the terror of the young
man, "I have not led you here to console you; on the contrary"--

"What can you mean?" asked the procureur, alarmed.

"I mean that behind the misfortune which has just happened to you, there
is another, perhaps, still greater."

"Can it be possible?" murmured Villefort, clasping his hands. "What are
you going to tell me?"