A police agent entered.

Villefort whispered some words in his ear, to which the officer replied by a motion of his head.
"Follow him," said Villefort to Dantes.

Dantes saluted Villefort and retired.

Hardly had the door closed when Villefort threw himself half-fainting into a chair.
"Alas, alas," murmured he, "if the procureur himself had been at Marseilles I should have been ruined.

This accursed letter would have destroyed all my hopes.