“But you, Mademoiselle de Villefort⁠—you, who are necessary to M. Noirtier’s happiness⁠—”

“I?” interrupted Valentine; “I shall not leave my grandfather⁠—that is an understood thing between us. My apartment will be close to his. Now, M. de Villefort must either give his consent to this plan or his refusal; in the first case, I shall leave directly, and in the second, I shall wait till I am of age, which will be in about ten months. Then I shall be free, I shall have an independent fortune, and”⁠—

“And what?” demanded Morrel.

“And with my grandfather’s consent I shall fulfil the promise which I have made you.”

Valentine pronounced these last few words in such a low tone, that nothing but Morrel’s intense interest in what she was saying could have enabled him to hear them.