“Madame de Villefort wishes to remind you, sir,” he said, “that eleven o’clock has just struck, and that the trial commences at twelve.”
“Well,” said Villefort, “what then?”
“Madame de Villefort is dressed; she is quite ready, and wishes to know if she is to accompany you, sir?”
“Where to?”
“To the Palais.”
“What to do?”
“My mistress wishes much to be present at the trial.”
“Ah,” said Villefort, with a startling accent; “does she wish that?”
The servant drew back and said, “If you wish to go alone, sir, I will go and tell my mistress.”
Villefort remained silent for a moment, and dented his pale cheeks with his nails.
“Tell your mistress,” he at length answered, “that I wish to speak to her, and I beg she will wait for me in her own room.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then come to dress and shave me.”
“Directly, sir.”
The valet reappeared almost instantly, and, having shaved his master, assisted him to dress entirely in black. When he had finished, he said:
“My mistress said she should expect you, sir, as soon as you had finished dressing.”