"That's true," Madame Danglars agreed with startling simplicity. "If the Morcerfs hadn't hesitated, my daughter would have married Albert. The general was counting on it, he even tried to pressure Monsieur Danglars. We had a narrow escape."
"But," Valentine ventured timidly, "does the father's shame really transfer to the son? Albert seems completely innocent of the treason his father committed."
"Excuse me," Eugénie said coldly, "but Albert claims and deserves his share of the blame. After challenging Monte Cristo at the opera yesterday, he apparently apologized this morning."
"Impossible!" Madame de Villefort gasped.
"It's true, my dear," Madame Danglars confirmed. "I heard it from Monsieur Debray, who witnessed the whole thing."
Valentine knew the truth too, but remained silent. A single thought had struck her, Morrel was waiting in Grandfather's room.
