The Count of Monte Cristo

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thank you a thousand times! But how, unless a miracle should restore
your speech, your gesture, your movement, how can you, chained to that
arm-chair, dumb and motionless, oppose this marriage?" A smile lit up
the old man's face, a strange smile of the eyes in a paralyzed face.
"Then I must wait?" asked the young man.

"Yes."

"But the contract?" The same smile returned. "Will you assure me it
shall not be signed?"

"Yes," said Noirtier.

"The contract shall not be signed!" cried Morrel. "Oh, pardon me, sir; I
can scarcely realize so great a happiness. Will they not sign it?"

"No," said the paralytic. Notwithstanding that assurance, Morrel still