a proper and eligible match for her to make, and, in short, because I choose to bestow my daughter’s hand on whomever I please.”
“What?” said the count, the approbation of whose eye Villefort had frequently solicited during this speech. “What? Do you say that M. Noirtier disinherits Mademoiselle de Villefort because she is going to marry M. le Baron Franz d’Épinay?”
“Yes, sir, that is the reason,” said Villefort, shrugging his shoulders.
“The apparent reason, at least,” said Madame de Villefort.
“The real reason, madame, I can assure you; I know my father.”
“But I want to know in what way M. d’Épinay can have displeased your father more than any other person?”
“I believe I know M. Franz d’Épinay,” said the count; “is he not the son of General de Quesnel, who was created Baron d’Épinay by Charles X ?”
“The same,” said Villefort.
“Well, but he is a charming young man, according to my ideas.”
“He is, which makes me believe that it is only an excuse of M. Noirtier to prevent his granddaughter marrying; old men are always so selfish in their affection,” said Madame de Villefort.
“But,” said Monte Cristo, “do you not know any cause for this hatred?”
“Ah, ma foi! who is to know?”
“Perhaps it is some political difference?”
“My father and the Baron d’Épinay lived in the stormy times of which I only saw the ending,” said Villefort.