CHAPTER XIII
FORGIVENESS
Both Villefort and Monsieur de Flambois uttered a cry of astonishment, and while the latter stammered forth an "Impossible," the sick man whispered: "To-day miracles do not occur any more!"
"Gentlemen," said the physician quietly, "you know I am a sensible man; why should I try to tell you a fable?"
"But I was at the funeral," stammered Flambois.
"I also, and yet I tell you the dead woman lives," persisted D'Avigny, "or if we want to call it by its proper name, Valentine de Villefort is dead and the daughter of Naya and the Rajah Duttjah lives."
"Then Valentine must have been buried alive," muttered Villefort, fixing his eyes upon the physician.
"And if that were the case?" said D'Avigny solemnly.
"Then I would say God has done a miracle to save the innocent," said Villefort, the tears starting in his eyes.
"Monsieur de Villefort," said the physician, earnestly, "do you know how Valentine died?"