“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 re-appeared 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.”