Inthiscase,however,althoughtheoccasionoftheentertainmentwassimilar,thecompanywasstrikinglydissimilar.
Insteadofarudemixtureofsailors,soldiers,andthosebelongingtothehumblestgradeoflife,thepresentassemblywascomposedoftheveryflowerofMarseillessociety,—magistrateswhohadresignedtheirofficeduringtheusurper’sreign;officerswhohaddesertedfromtheimperialarmyandjoinedforceswithConde;andyoungermembersoffamilies,broughtuptohateandexecratethemanwhomfiveyearsofexilewouldconvertintoamartyr,andfifteenofrestorationelevatetotherankofagod.
Theguestswerestillattable,andtheheatedandenergeticconversationthatprevailedbetrayedtheviolentandvindictivepassionsthatthenagitatedeachdwelleroftheSouth,whereunhappily,forfivecenturiesreligiousstrifehadlonggivenincreasedbitternesstotheviolenceofpartyfeeling.
Theemperor,nowkingofthepettyIslandofElba,afterhavingheldsovereignswayoverone–halfoftheworld,countingashissubjectsasmallpopulationoffiveorsixthousandsouls,—afterhavingbeenaccustomedtohearthe“ViveNapoleons”ofahundredandtwentymillionsofhumanbeings,utteredintendifferentlanguages,—waslookeduponhereasaruinedman,separatedforeverfromanyfreshconnectionwithFranceorclaimtoherthrone.
Themagistratesfreelydiscussedtheirpoliticalviews;themilitarypartofthecompanytalkedunreservedlyofMoscowandLeipsic,whilethewomencommentedonthedivorceofJosephine.
Itwasnotoverthedownfalloftheman,butoverthedefeatoftheNapoleonicidea,thattheyrejoiced,andinthistheyforesawforthemselvesthebrightandcheeringprospectofarevivifiedpoliticalexistence.
Anoldman,decoratedwiththecrossofSaintLouis,nowroseandproposedthehealthofKingLouisXVIII.ItwastheMarquisdeSaint–Meran.
Thistoast,recallingatoncethepatientexileofHartwellandthepeace–lovingKingofFrance,exciteduniversalenthusiasm;glasseswereelevatedintheairal’Anglais,andtheladies,snatchingtheirbouquetsfromtheirfairbosoms,strewedthetablewiththeirfloraltreasures.
“Ah,”saidtheMarquisedeSaint–Meran,awomanwithastern,forbiddingeye,thoughstillnobleanddistinguishedinappearance,despiteherfiftyyears—”ah,theserevolutionists,whohavedrivenusfromthoseverypossessionstheyafterwardspurchasedforameretrifleduringtheReignofTerror,wouldbecompelledtoown,weretheyhere,thatalltruedevotionwasonourside,sincewewerecontenttofollowthefortunesofafallingmonarch,whilethey,onthecontrary,madetheirfortunebyworshippingtherisingsun;yes,yes,theycouldnothelpadmittingthattheking,forwhomwesacrificedrank,wealth,andstationwastrulyour‘Louisthewell–beloved,’whiletheirwretchedusurperhisbeen,andeverwillbe,tothemtheirevilgenius,their‘Napoleontheaccursed.’
“Marquise,marquise!”interposedtheoldnoblemanwhohadproposedthetoast,“lettheyoungpeoplealone;letmetellyou,onone’sweddingdaytherearemoreagreeablesubjectsofconversationthandrypolitics.”
“Nevermind,dearestmother,”saidayoungandlovelygirl,withaprofusionoflightbrownhair,andeyesthatseemedtofloatinliquidcrystal,”’tisallmyfaultforseizinguponM.deVillefort,soastopreventhislisteningtowhatyousaid.
“IfthemarquisewilldeigntorepeatthewordsIbutimperfectlycaught,Ishallbedelightedtoanswer,”saidM.deVillefort.
“Nevermind,Renee,”repliedthemarquise,withalookoftendernessthatseemedoutofkeepingwithherharshdryfeatures;but,howeverallotherfeelingsmaybewitheredinawoman’snature,thereisalwaysonebrightsmilingspotinthedesertofherheart,andthatistheshrineofmaternallove.“Iforgiveyou.
“Theyhad,however,whatsuppliedtheplaceofthosefinequalities,”repliedtheyoungman,“andthatwasfanaticism.
NapoleonistheMahometoftheWest,andisworshippedbyhiscommonplacebutambitionsfollowers,notonlyasaleaderandlawgiver,butalsoasthepersonificationofequality.”
Come,come,donotstripthelatterofhisjustrightstobestowthemontheCorsican,who,tomymind,hasusurpedquiteenough.”
“Nay,madame;Iwouldplaceeachoftheseheroesonhisrightpedestal—thatofRobespierreonhisscaffoldinthePlaceLouisQuinze;thatofNapoleononthecolumnofthePlaceVendome.
Theonlydifferenceconsistsintheoppositecharacteroftheequalityadvocatedbythesetwomen;oneistheequalitythatelevates,theotheristheequalitythatdegrades;onebringsakingwithinreachoftheguillotine,theotherelevatesthepeopletoalevelwiththethrone.
Observe,”saidVillefort,smiling,“Idonotmeantodenythatboththesemenwererevolutionaryscoundrels,andthatthe9thThermidorandthe4thofApril,intheyear1814,wereluckydaysforFrance,worthyofbeinggratefullyrememberedbyeveryfriendtomonarchyandcivilorder;andthatexplainshowitcomestopassthat,fallen,asItrustheisforever,Napoleonhasstillretainedatrainofparasiticalsatellites.
Still,marquise,ithasbeensowithotherusurpers—Cromwell,forinstance,whowasnothalfsobadasNapoleon,hadhispartisansandadvocates.”
”’Tistrue,madame,”answeredhe,“thatmyfatherwasaGirondin,buthewasnotamongthenumberofthosewhovotedfortheking’sdeath;hewasanequalsuffererwithyourselfduringtheReignofTerror,andhadwell–nighlosthisheadonthesamescaffoldonwhichyourfatherperished.”
“True,”repliedthemarquise,withoutwincingintheslightestdegreeatthetragicremembrancethuscalledup;“butbearinmind,ifyouplease,thatourrespectiveparentsunderwentpersecutionandproscriptionfromdiametricallyoppositeprinciples;inproofofwhichImayremark,thatwhilemyfamilyremainedamongthestanchestadherentsoftheexiledprinces,yourfatherlostnotimeinjoiningthenewgovernment;andthatwhiletheCitizenNoirtierwasaGirondin,theCountNoirtierbecameasenator.”
“Dearmother,”interposedRenee,“youknowverywellitwasagreedthatallthesedisagreeablereminiscencesshouldforeverbelaidaside.”
“Sufferme,also,madame,”repliedVillefort,“toaddmyearnestrequesttoMademoiselledeSaint–Meran’s,thatyouwillkindlyallowtheveilofobliviontocoverandconcealthepast.
Hewas—nay,probablymaystillbe—aBonapartist,andiscalledNoirtier;I,onthecontrary,amastanchroyalist,andstylemyselfdeVillefort.
Letwhatmayremainofrevolutionarysapexhaustitselfanddieawaywiththeoldtrunk,andcondescendonlytoregardtheyoungshootwhichhasstartedupatadistancefromtheparenttree,withouthavingthepower,anymorethanthewish,toseparateentirelyfromthestockfromwhichitsprung.”
Come,now,IhavehopesofobtainingwhatIhavebeenforyearsendeavoringtopersuadethemarquisetopromise;namely,aperfectamnestyandforgetfulnessofthepast.”
Remember,also,Villefort,thatwehavepledgedourselvestohismajestyforyourfealtyandstrictloyalty,andthatatourrecommendationthekingconsentedtoforgetthepast,asIdo”(andheresheextendedtohimherhand)—”asInowdoatyourentreaty.
Butbearinmind,thatshouldtherefallinyourwayanyoneguiltyofconspiringagainstthegovernment,youwillbesomuchthemoreboundtovisittheoffencewithrigorouspunishment,asitisknownyoubelongtoasuspectedfamily.”
Ihavealreadysuccessfullyconductedseveralpublicprosecutions,andbroughttheoffenderstomeritedpunishment.
“Iam,atleast,fearfulofit.Napoleon,intheIslandofElba,istoonearFrance,andhisproximitykeepsupthehopesofhispartisans.
Marseillesisfilledwithhalf–payofficers,whoaredaily,underonefrivolouspretextorother,gettingupquarrelswiththeroyalists;fromhencearisecontinualandfatalduelsamongthehigherclassesofpersons,andassassinationsinthelower.”
“Youhaveheard,perhaps,”saidtheComtedeSalvieux,oneofM.deSaint–Meran’soldestfriends,andchamberlaintotheComted’Artois,“thattheHolyAlliancepurposeremovinghimfromthence?”
“Somuchthebetter.AsVillefortobserves,itisagreatactoffollytohaveleftsuchamanbetweenCorsica,wherehewasborn,andNaples,ofwhichhisbrother–in–lawisking,andfacetofacewithItaly,thesovereigntyofwhichhecovetedforhisson.”
“Unfortunately,”saidVillefort,“therearethetreatiesof1814,andwecannotmolestNapoleonwithoutbreakingthosecompacts.”
“Oh,well,weshallfindsomewayoutofit,”respondedM.deSalvieux.“Therewasn’tanytroubleovertreatieswhenitwasaquestionofshootingthepoorDucd’Enghien.”
“Well,”saidthemarquise,“itseemsprobablethat,bytheaidoftheHolyAlliance,weshallberidofNapoleon;andwemusttrusttothevigilanceofM.deVilleforttopurifyMarseillesofhispartisans.
Thekingiseitherakingornoking;ifhebeacknowledgedassovereignofFrance,heshouldbeupheldinpeaceandtranquillity;andthiscanbestbeeffectedbyemployingthemostinflexibleagentstoputdowneveryattemptatconspiracy—’tisthebestandsurestmeansofpreventingmischief.”
“Unfortunately,madame,”answeredVillefort,“thestrongarmofthelawisnotcalledupontointerfereuntiltheevilhastakenplace.”
“Oh,M.deVillefort,”criedabeautifulyoungcreature,daughtertotheComtedeSalvieux,andthecherishedfriendofMademoiselledeSaint–Meran,“dotryandgetupsomefamoustrialwhileweareatMarseilles.
“Amusing,certainly,”repliedtheyoungman,“inasmuchas,insteadofsheddingtearsasatthefictitioustaleofwoeproducedatatheatre,youbeholdinalaw–courtacaseofrealandgenuinedistress—adramaoflife.
Theprisonerwhomyouthereseepale,agitated,andalarmed,insteadof—asisthecasewhenacurtainfallsonatragedy—goinghometosuppeacefullywithhisfamily,andthenretiringtorest,thathemayrecommencehismimicwoesonthemorrow,—isremovedfromyoursightmerelytobereconductedtohisprisonanddelivereduptotheexecutioner.
Ofthis,however,beassured,thatshouldanyfavorableopportunitypresentitself,Iwillnotfailtoofferyouthechoiceofbeingpresent.”
“Forshame,M.deVillefort!”saidRenee,becomingquitepale;“don’tyouseehowyouarefrighteningus?—andyetyoulaugh.”
Ihavealreadyrecordedsentenceofdeath,fiveorsixtimes,againstthemoversofpoliticalconspiracies,andwhocansayhowmanydaggersmaybereadysharpened,andonlywaitingafavorableopportunitytobeburiedinmyheart?”
“IndeedIam,”repliedtheyoungmagistratewithasmile;“andintheinterestingtrialthatyoungladyisanxioustowitness,thecasewouldonlybestillmoreaggravated.
Suppose,forinstance,theprisoner,asismorethanprobable,tohaveservedunderNapoleon—well,canyouexpectforaninstant,thatoneaccustomed,atthewordofhiscommander,torushfearlesslyontheverybayonetsofhisfoe,willscruplemoretodriveastilettointotheheartofoneheknowstobehispersonalenemy,thantoslaughterhisfellow–creatures,merelybecausebiddentodosobyoneheisboundtoobey?
Besides,onerequirestheexcitementofbeinghatefulintheeyesoftheaccused,inordertolashone’sselfintoastateofsufficientvehemenceandpower.
No;myprideistoseetheaccusedpale,agitated,andasthoughbeatenoutofallcomposurebythefireofmyeloquence.”Reneeutteredasmotheredexclamation.
“Oh,asforparricides,andsuchdreadfulpeopleasthat,”interposedRenee,“itmattersverylittlewhatisdonetothem;butasregardspoorunfortunatecreatureswhoseonlycrimeconsistsinhavingmixedthemselvesupinpoliticalintrigues”—
“Why,thatistheveryworstoffencetheycouldpossiblycommit;for,don’tyousee,Renee,thekingisthefatherofhispeople,andhewhoshallplotorcontriveaughtagainstthelifeandsafetyoftheparentofthirty–twomillionsofsouls,isaparricideuponafearfullygreatscale?”
“Idon’tknowanythingaboutthat,”repliedRenee;“but,M.deVillefort,youhavepromisedme—haveyounot?—alwaystoshowmercytothoseIpleadfor.”
“Makeyourselfquiteeasyonthatpoint,”answeredVillefort,withoneofhissweetestsmiles;“youandIwillalwaysconsultuponourverdicts.”
“Mylove,”saidthemarquise,“attendtoyourdoves,yourlap–dogs,andembroidery,butdonotmeddlewithwhatyoudonotunderstand.
“Well,”saidRenee,“Icannothelpregrettingyouhadnotchosensomeotherprofessionthanyourown—aphysician,forinstance.
“Letushope,mychild,”criedthemarquis,“thatM.deVillefortmayprovethemoralandpoliticalphysicianofthisprovince;ifso,hewillhaveachievedanoblework.”
“Madame,”repliedVillefort,withamournfulsmile,“Ihavealreadyhadthehonortoobservethatmyfatherhas—atleast,Ihopeso—abjuredhispasterrors,andthatheis,atthepresentmoment,afirmandzealousfriendtoreligionandorder—abetterroyalist,possibly,thanhisson;forhehastoatoneforpastdereliction,whileIhavenootherimpulsethanwarm,decidedpreferenceandconviction.”
Havingmadethiswell–turnedspeech,Villefortlookedcarefullyaroundtomarktheeffectofhisoratory,muchashewouldhavedonehadhebeenaddressingthebenchinopencourt.
“Doyouknow,mydearVillefort,”criedtheComtedeSalvieux,“thatisexactlywhatImyselfsaidtheotherdayattheTuileries,whenquestionedbyhismajesty’sprincipalchamberlaintouchingthesingularityofanalliancebetweenthesonofaGirondinandthedaughterofanofficeroftheDucdeConde;andIassureyouheseemedfullytocomprehendthatthismodeofreconcilingpoliticaldifferenceswasbaseduponsoundandexcellentprinciples.
Thentheking,who,withoutoursuspectingit,hadoverheardourconversation,interruptedusbysaying,‘Villefort’—observethatthekingdidnotpronouncethewordNoirtier,but,onthecontrary,placedconsiderableemphasisonthatofVillefort—’Villefort,’saidhismajesty,‘isayoungmanofgreatjudgmentanddiscretion,whowillbesuretomakeafigureinhisprofession;Ilikehimmuch,anditgavemegreatpleasuretohearthathewasabouttobecometheson–in–lawoftheMarquisandMarquisedeSaint–Meran.
Ishouldmyselfhaverecommendedthematch,hadnotthenoblemarquisanticipatedmywishesbyrequestingmyconsenttoit.’”
“Isitpossiblethekingcouldhavecondescendedsofarastoexpresshimselfsofavorablyofme?”askedtheenrapturedVillefort.
“Igiveyouhisverywords;andifthemarquischoosestobecandid,hewillconfessthattheyperfectlyagreewithwhathismajestysaidtohim,whenhewentsixmonthsagotoconsulthimuponthesubjectofyourespousinghisdaughter.”
“Thatisright,”criedthemarquise.“Ilovetoseeyouthus.Now,then,wereaconspiratortofallintoyourhands,hewouldbemostwelcome.”
“Formypart,dearmother.”interposedRenee,“Itrustyourwisheswillnotprosper,andthatProvidencewillonlypermitpettyoffenders,poordebtors,andmiserablecheatstofallintoM.deVillefort’shands,—thenIshallbecontented.”
“Justthesameasthoughyouprayedthataphysicianmightonlybecalledupontoprescribeforheadaches,measles,andthestingsofwasps,oranyotherslightaffectionoftheepidermis.
Ifyouwishtoseemetheking’sattorney,youmustdesireformesomeofthoseviolentanddangerousdiseasesfromthecureofwhichsomuchhonorredoundstothephysician.”
Atthismoment,andasthoughtheutteranceofVillefort’swishhadsufficedtoeffectitsaccomplishment,aservantenteredtheroom,andwhisperedafewwordsinhisear.
Villefortimmediatelyrosefromtableandquittedtheroomuponthepleaofurgentbusiness;hesoon,however,returned,hiswholefacebeamingwithdelight.
Reneeregardedhimwithfondaffection;andcertainlyhishandsomefeatures,litupastheythenwerewithmorethanusualfireandanimation,seemedformedtoexcitetheinnocentadmirationwithwhichshegazedonhergracefulandintelligentlover.
Well,IatleastresemblethedisciplesofEsculapiusinonething—thatofnotbeingabletocalladaymyown,noteventhatofmybetrothal.”
”’Theking’sattorneyisinformedbyafriendtothethroneandthereligionsinstitutionsofhiscountry,thatonenamedEdmondDantes,mateoftheshipPharaon,thisdayarrivedfromSmyrna,afterhavingtouchedatNaplesandPorto–Ferrajo,hasbeenthebearerofaletterfromMurattotheusurper,andagaintakenchargeofanotherletterfromtheusurpertotheBonapartistclubinParis.
Amplecorroborationofthisstatementmaybeobtainedbyarrestingtheabove–mentionedEdmondDantes,whoeithercarriestheletterforParisaboutwithhim,orhasitathisfather’sabode.
Shoulditnotbefoundinthepossessionoffatherorson,thenitwillassuredlybediscoveredinthecabinbelongingtothesaidDantesonboardthePharaon.’”
“But,”saidRenee,“thisletter,which,afterall,isbutananonymousscrawl,isnotevenaddressedtoyou,buttotheking’sattorney.”
“True;butthatgentlemanbeingabsent,hissecretary,byhisorders,openedhisletters;thinkingthisoneofimportance,hesentforme,butnotfindingme,tookuponhimselftogivethenecessaryordersforarrestingtheaccusedparty.”
“Heisinsafecustody,”answeredVillefort;“andrelyuponit,iftheletterisfound,hewillnotbelikelytobetrustedabroadagain,unlesshegoesforthundertheespecialprotectionoftheheadsman.”
“Come,come,myfriend,”interruptedthemarquise,“donotneglectyourdutytolingerwithus.Youaretheking’sservant,andmustgowhereverthatservicecallsyou.”
“OVillefort!”criedRenee,claspingherhands,andlookingtowardsherloverwithpiteousearnestness,“bemercifulonthisthedayofourbetrothal.”
Theyoungmanpassedroundtothesideofthetablewherethefairpleadersat,andleaningoverherchairsaidtenderly,—
“Togiveyoupleasure,mysweetRenee,Ipromisetoshowallthelenityinmypower;butifthechargesbroughtagainstthisBonapartistheroprovecorrect,why,then,youreallymustgivemeleavetoorderhisheadtobecutoff.”Reneeshuddered.
Sosaying,MadamedeSaint–MeranextendedherdrybonyhandtoVillefort,who,whileimprintingason–in–law’srespectfulsaluteonit,lookedatRenee,asmuchastosay,“Imusttryandfancy‘tisyourdearhandIkiss,asitshouldhavebeen.”
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