"To Monsieur Noirtier, Rue Coq-Heron, Paris." Had a
thunderbolt fallen into the room, Villefort could not have
been more stupefied. He sank into his seat, and hastily
turning over the packet, drew forth the fatal letter, at
which he glanced with an expression of terror.

"M. Noirtier, Rue Coq-Heron, No. 13," murmured he, growing
still paler.

"Yes," said Dantes; "do you know him?"

"No," replied Villefort; "a faithful servant of the king
does not know conspirators."

"It is a conspiracy, then?" asked Dantes, who after
believing himself free, now began to feel a tenfold alarm.
"I have, however, already told you, sir, I was entirely
ignorant of the contents of the letter."

"Yes; but you knew the name of the person to whom it was
addressed," said Villefort.

"I was forced to read the address to know to whom to give
it."

"Have you shown this letter to any one?" asked Villefort,
becoming still more pale.

"To no one, on my honor."