Scarcely had the first congratulations upon her marvellous escape been gone through when she wrote the following letter to Madame Danglars: --Dear Hermine, -- I have just had a wonderful escape from the most imminent danger, and I owe my safety to the very Count of Monte Cristo we were talking about yesterday, but whom Ilittle expected to see to-day.I remember how unmercifully Ilaughed at what I considered your eulogistic and exaggerated praises of him; but I have now ample cause to admit that your enthusiastic description of this wonderful man fell far short of his merits.Your horses got as far as Ranelagh, when they darted forward like mad things, and galloped away at so fearful a rate, that there seemed no other prospect for myself and my poor Edward but that of being dashed to pieces against the first object that impeded their progress, when a strange-looking man, -- an Arab, a negro, or a Nubian, at least a black of some nation or other -- at a signal from the count, whose domestic he is, suddenly seized and stopped the infuriated animals, even at the risk of being trampled to death himself; and certainly he must have had a most wonderful escape.The count then hastened to us, and took us into his house, where he speedily recalled my poor Edward to life.He sent us home in his own carriage.
Yours will be returned to you to-morrow.You will find your horses in bad condition, from the results of this accident;they seem thoroughly stupefied, as if sulky and vexed at having been conquered by man.The count, however, his commissioned me to assure you that two or three days' rest, with plenty of barley for their sole food during that time, will bring them back to as fine, that is as terrifying, a condition as they were in yesterday.Adieu! I cannot return you many thanks for the drive of yesterday; but, after all, I ought not to blame you for the misconduct of your horses, more especially as it procured me the pleasure of an introduction to the Count of Monte Cristo, -- and certainly that illustrious personage, apart from the millions he is said to be so very anxious to dispose of, seemed to me one of those curiously interesting problems I, for one, delight in solving at any risk, even if it were to necessitate another drive to the Bois behind your horses.Edward endured the accident with miraculous courage -- he did not utter a single cry, but fell lifeless into my arms; nor did a tear fall from his eyes after it was over.I doubt not you will consider these praises the result of blind maternal affection, but there is a soul of iron in that delicate, fragile body.Valentine sends many affectionate remembrances to your dear Eugenie.I embrace you with all my heart.
Heloise de Villefort.
P.S.-- Do pray contrive some means for me to meet the Count of Monte Cristo at your house.I must and will see him again.I have just made M.de Villefort promise to call on him, and I hope the visit will be returned.
That night the adventure at Auteuil was talked of everywhere.Albert related it to his mother; Chateau-Renaud recounted it at the Jockey Club, and Debray detailed it at length in the salons of the minister; even Beauchamp accorded twenty lines in his journal to the relation of the count's courage and gallantry, thereby celebrating him as the greatest hero of the day in the eyes of all the feminine members of the aristocracy.Vast was the crowd of visitors and inquiring friends who left their names at the residence of Madame de Villefort, with the design of renewing their visit at the right moment, of hearing from her lips all the interesting circumstances of this most romantic adventure.
As for M.de Villefort, he fulfilled the predictions of Heloise to the letter, -- donned his dress suit, drew on a pair of white gloves, ordered the servants to attend the carriage dressed in their full livery, and drove that same night to No.30 in the Avenue des Champs-Elysees.
