After confessing at the assizes, Villefort leaves the Palais through a crowd that parts in sympathy rather than insult, grief shielding him like sublime poetry. Stupefied, he sheds his magisterial robe as an unbearable Nessus garment, wakes his coachman, and orders the carriage toward the Faubourg Saint-Honoré while murmuring God. A fan his wife left in the seat pierces him: an hour since he condemned her as judge, she may already be preparing to die.
He races home planning confession and flight, hoping she will live to educate Edward. Servants stand silent; he finds Edward's room empty, bursts the bolted door, and finds Héloïse erect and pale with a crystal bottle in her hand. It is done, monsieur, she says, and falls dead. Edward was sent to her room half an hour ago; Villefort leaps the corpse and finds the child cold on the blue satin couch. A note reads that a good mother cannot depart without her son. Still the hand of God, he cries, and seeks Noirtier's room where Abbé Busoni waits.
Busoni removes his wig; Monte Cristo then Edmond Dantès names Marseilles, the marriage day, and the Château d'If. Villefort drags him upstairs to the bodies and asks whether he is well avenged. Monte Cristo cannot revive Edward, lays the child by its mother, and finds Villefort digging madly in the garden crying it is not here. He flees the accursed house doubting his right to judge, meets Morrel, and says they leave Paris tomorrow, adding God grant I may not have done too much already.
Coming Up in Chapter 112
After Monte Cristo flees the poisoned house, Paris will discuss the falls of Morcerf, Danglars, and Villefort while he collects Morrel from Rue Meslay, murmurs Adieu from Villejuif, and steams toward Marseilles.
