English
ThefirstwordsthatAlbertutteredtohisfriend,onthefollowingmorning,containedarequestthatFranzwouldaccompanyhimonavisittothecount;true,theyoungmanhadwarmlyandenergeticallythankedthecountonthepreviousevening;butservicessuchashehadrenderedcouldneverbetoooftenacknowledged.
Franz,whoseemedattractedbysomeinvisibleinfluencetowardsthecount,inwhichterrorwasstrangelymingled,feltanextremereluctancetopermithisfriendtobeexposedalonetothesingularfascinationthatthismysteriouspersonageseemedtoexerciseoverhim,andthereforemadenoobjectiontoAlbert’srequest,butatonceaccompaniedhimtothedesiredspot,and,afterashortdelay,thecountjoinedtheminthesalon.
“Mydearcount,”saidAlbert,advancingtomeethim,“permitmetorepeatthepoorthanksIofferedlastnight,andtoassureyouthattheremembranceofallIowetoyouwillneverbeeffacedfrommymemory;believeme,aslongasIlive,Ishallneverceasetodwellwithgratefulrecollectiononthepromptandimportantserviceyourenderedme;andalsotorememberthattoyouIamindebtedevenformylife.”
“Myverygoodfriendandexcellentneighbor,”repliedthecount,withasmile,“youreallyexaggeratemytriflingexertions.
Youowemenothingbutsometrifleof20,000.
francs,whichyouhavebeensavedoutofyourtravellingexpenses,sothatthereisnotmuchofascorebetweenus;—butyoumustreallypermitmetocongratulateyouontheeaseandunconcernwithwhichyouresignedyourselftoyourfate,andtheperfectindifferenceyoumanifestedastotheturneventsmighttake.”
“Uponmyword,”saidAlbert,“IdeservenocreditforwhatIcouldnothelp,namely,adeterminationtotakeeverythingasIfoundit,andtoletthosebanditssee,thatalthoughmengetintotroublesomescrapesallovertheworld,thereisnonationbuttheFrenchthatcansmileeveninthefaceofgrimDeathhimself.
Allthat,however,hasnothingtodowithmyobligationstoyou,andInowcometoaskyouwhether,inmyownperson,myfamily,orconnections,Icaninanywayserveyou?
Myfather,theComtedeMorcerf,althoughofSpanishorigin,possessesconsiderableinfluence,bothatthecourtofFranceandMadrid,andIunhesitatinglyplacethebestservicesofmyself,andalltowhommylifeisdear,atyourdisposal.”
“MonsieurdeMorcerf,”repliedthecount,“youroffer,farfromsurprisingme,ispreciselywhatIexpectedfromyou,andIacceptitinthesamespiritofheartysinceritywithwhichitismade;—nay,Iwillgostillfurther,andsaythatIhadpreviouslymadeupmymindtoaskagreatfavoratyourhands.”
“Oh,praynameit.”
“IamwhollyastrangertoParis—itisacityIhaveneveryetseen.”
“Isitpossible,”exclaimedAlbert,“thatyouhavereachedyourpresentagewithoutvisitingthefinestcapitalintheworld?Icanscarcelycreditit.”
“Nevertheless,itisquitetrue;still,IagreewithyouinthinkingthatmypresentignoranceofthefirstcityinEuropeisareproachtomeineveryway,andcallsforimmediatecorrection;but,inallprobability,Ishouldhaveperformedsoimportant,sonecessaryaduty,asthatofmakingmyselfacquaintedwiththewondersandbeautiesofyourjustlycelebratedcapital,hadIknownanypersonwhowouldhaveintroducedmeintothefashionableworld,butunfortunatelyIpossessednoacquaintancethere,and,ofnecessity,wascompelledtoabandontheidea.”
“Sodistinguishedanindividualasyourself,”criedAlbert,“couldscarcelyhaverequiredanintroduction.”
“Youaremostkind;butasregardsmyself,IcanfindnomeritIpossess,savethat,asamillionaire,ImighthavebecomeapartnerinthespeculationsofM.AguadoandM.Rothschild;butasmymotiveintravellingtoyourcapitalwouldnothavebeenforthepleasureofdabblinginstocks,Istayedawaytillsomefavorablechanceshouldpresentitselfofcarryingmywishintoexecution.
Youroffer,however,smoothsalldifficulties,andIhaveonlytoaskyou,mydearM.deMorcerf”(thesewordswereaccompaniedbyamostpeculiarsmile),“whetheryouundertake,uponmyarrivalinFrance,toopentomethedoorsofthatfashionableworldofwhichIknownomorethanaHuronoranativeofCochin–China?”
“Oh,thatIdo,andwithinfinitepleasure,”answeredAlbert;“andsomuchthemorereadilyasaletterreceivedthismorningfrommyfathersummonsmetoParis,inconsequenceofatreatyofmarriage(mydearFranz,donotsmile,Ibegofyou)withafamilyofhighstanding,andconnectedwiththeverycreamofParisiansociety.”
“Connectedbymarriage,youmean,”saidFranz,laughingly.
“Well,nevermindhowitis,”answeredAlbert,“itcomestothesamethingintheend.
PerhapsbythetimeyoureturntoParis,Ishallbequiteasober,staidfatherofafamily!
AmostedifyingrepresentativeIshallmakeofallthedomesticvirtues—don’tyouthinkso?
Butasregardsyourwishtovisitourfinecity,mydearcount,Icanonlysaythatyoumaycommandmeandminetoanyextentyouplease.”
“Thenitissettled,”saidthecount,“andIgiveyoumysolemnassurancethatIonlywaitedanopportunitylikethepresenttorealizeplansthatIhavelongmeditated.”
FranzdidnotdoubtthattheseplanswerethesameconcerningwhichthecounthaddroppedafewwordsinthegrottoofMonteCristo,andwhiletheCountwasspeakingtheyoungmanwatchedhimclosely,hopingtoreadsomethingofhispurposeinhisface,buthiscountenancewasinscrutableespeciallywhen,asinthepresentcase,itwasveiledinasphinx–likesmile.
“Buttellmenow,count,”exclaimedAlbert,delightedattheideaofhavingtochaperonsodistinguishedapersonasMonteCristo;“tellmetrulywhetheryouareinearnest,orifthisprojectofvisitingParisismerelyoneofthechimericalanduncertainaircastlesofwhichwemakesomanyinthecourseofourlives,butwhich,likeahousebuiltonthesand,isliabletobeblownoverbythefirstpuffofwind?”
“Ipledgeyoumyhonor,”returnedthecount,“thatImeantodoasIhavesaid;bothinclinationandpositivenecessitycompelmetovisitParis.”
“Whendoyouproposegoingthither?”
“Haveyoumadeupyourmindwhenyoushallbethereyourself?”
“CertainlyIhave;inafortnightorthreeweeks’time,thatistosay,asfastasIcangetthere!”
“Nay,”saidtheCount;“IwillgiveyouthreemonthsereIjoinyou;youseeImakeanampleallowanceforalldelaysanddifficulties.
“Andinthreemonths’time,”saidAlbert,“youwillbeatmyhouse?”
“Shallwemakeapositiveappointmentforaparticulardayandhour?”inquiredthecount;“onlyletmewarnyouthatIamproverbialformypunctiliousexactitudeinkeepingmyengagements.”
“Dayforday,hourforhour,”saidAlbert;“thatwillsuitmetoadot.”
“Sobeit,then,”repliedthecount,andextendinghishandtowardsacalendar,suspendednearthechimney–piece,hesaid,“to–dayisthe21stofFebruary;”anddrawingouthiswatch,added,“itisexactlyhalf–pastteno’clock.
Nowpromisemetorememberthis,andexpectmethe21stofMayatthesamehourintheforenoon.”
“Capital,”exclaimedAlbert;“yourbreakfastshallbewaiting.”
“Wheredoyoulive?”
“No.27,RueduHelder.”
“Haveyoubachelor’sapartmentsthere?Ihopemycomingwillnotputyoutoanyinconvenience.”
“Iresideinmyfather’shouse,butoccupyapavilionatthefarthersideofthecourt–yard,entirelyseparatedfromthemainbuilding.”
“Quitesufficient,”repliedthecount,as,takingouthistablets,hewrotedown“No.27,RueduHelder,21stMay,half–pastteninthemorning.”
“Nowthen,”saidthecount,returninghistabletstohispocket,“makeyourselfperfectlyeasy;thehandofyourtime–piecewillnotbemoreaccurateinmarkingthetimethanmyself.”
“ShallIseeyouagaineremydeparture?”askedAlbert.
“Thatdepends;whendoyouleave?”
“To–morrowevening,atfiveo’clock.”
“InthatcaseImustsayadieutoyou,asIamcompelledtogotoNaples,andshallnotreturnhitherbeforeSaturdayeveningorSundaymorning.
Andyou,baron,”pursuedthecount,addressingFranz,“doyoualsodepartto–morrow?”
“Yes.”
“ForFrance?”
“No,forVenice;IshallremaininItalyforanotheryearortwo.”
“ThenweshallnotmeetinParis?”
“IfearIshallnothavethathonor.”
“Well,sincewemustpart,”saidthecount,holdingoutahandtoeachoftheyoungmen,“allowmetowishyoubothasafeandpleasantjourney.”
ItwasthefirsttimethehandofFranzhadcomeincontactwiththatofthemysteriousindividualbeforehim,andunconsciouslyheshudderedatitstouch,foritfeltcoldandicyasthatofacorpse.
“Letusunderstandeachother,”saidAlbert;“itisagreed—isitnot?
—thatyouaretobeatNo.27,intheRueduHelder,onthe21stofMay,athalf–pastteninthemorning,andyourwordofhonorpassedforyourpunctuality?”
“The21stofMay,athalf–pastteninthemorning,RueduHelder,No.27,”repliedtheCount.
Theyoungmenthenrose,andbowingtothecount,quittedtheroom.“Whatisthematter?”
askedAlbertofFranz,whentheyhadreturnedtotheirownapartments;“youseemmorethancommonlythoughtful.”
“Iwillconfesstoyou,Albert,”repliedFranz,“thecountisaverysingularperson,andtheappointmentyouhavemadetomeethiminParisfillsmewithathousandapprehensions.”
“Mydearfellow,”exclaimedAlbert,“whatcantherepossiblybeinthattoexciteuneasiness?Why,youmusthavelostyoursenses.”
“WhetherIaminmysensesornot,”answeredFranz,“thatisthewayIfeel.”
“Listentome,Franz,”saidAlbert;“Iamgladthattheoccasionhaspresenteditselfforsayingthistoyou,forIhavenoticedhowcoldyouareinyourbearingtowardsthecount,whilehe,ontheotherhand,hasalwaysbeencourtesyitselftous.
Haveyouanythingparticularagainsthim?”
“Possibly.”
“Didyouevermeethimpreviouslytocominghither?”
“Ihave.”
“Andwhere?”
“WillyoupromisemenottorepeatasinglewordofwhatIamabouttotellyou?”
“Ipromise.”
“Uponyourhonor?”
“Uponmyhonor.”
“Thenlistentome.”FranzthenrelatedtohisfriendthehistoryofhisexcursiontotheIslandofMonteCristoandofhisfindingapartyofsmugglersthere,andthetwoCorsicanbanditswiththem.
Hedweltwithconsiderableforceandenergyonthealmostmagicalhospitalityhehadreceivedfromthecount,andthemagnificenceofhisentertainmentinthegrottoofthe“ThousandandOneNights.”
Herecounted,withcircumstantialexactitude,alltheparticularsofthesupper,thehashish,thestatues,thedream,andhow,athisawakening,thereremainednoproofortraceofalltheseevents,savethesmallyacht,seeninthedistanthorizondrivingunderfullsailtowardPorto–Vecchio.
ThenhedetailedtheconversationoverheardbyhimattheColosseum,betweenthecountandVampa,inwhichthecounthadpromisedtoobtainthereleaseofthebanditPeppino,—anengagementwhich,asourreadersareaware,hemostfaithfullyfulfilled.
Atlasthearrivedattheadventureoftheprecedingnight,andtheembarrassmentinwhichhefoundhimselfplacedbynothavingsufficientcashbysixorsevenhundredpiastrestomakeupthesumrequired,andfinallyofhisapplicationtothecountandthepicturesqueandsatisfactoryresultthatfollowed.
Albertlistenedwiththemostprofoundattention.
“Well,”saidhe,whenFranzhadconcluded,“whatdoyoufindtoobjecttoinallyouhaverelated?
Thecountisfondoftravelling,and,beingrich,possessesavesselofhisown.
GobuttoPortsmouthorSouthampton,andyouwillfindtheharborscrowdedwiththeyachtsbelongingtosuchoftheEnglishascanaffordtheexpense,andhavethesamelikingforthisamusement.
Now,bywayofhavingaresting–placeduringhisexcursions,avoidingthewretchedcookery—whichhasbeentryingitsbesttopoisonmeduringthelastfourmonths,whileyouhavemanfullyresisteditseffectsforasmanyyears,—andobtainingabedonwhichitispossibletoslumber,MonteCristohasfurnishedforhimselfatemporaryabodewhereyoufirstfoundhim;but,topreventthepossibilityoftheTuscangovernmenttakingafancytohisenchantedpalace,andtherebydeprivinghimoftheadvantagesnaturallyexpectedfromsolargeanoutlayofcapital,hehaswiselyenoughpurchasedtheisland,andtakenitsname.
Justaskyourself,mygoodfellow,whethertherearenotmanypersonsofouracquaintancewhoassumethenamesoflandsandpropertiestheyneverintheirlivesweremastersof?”
“But,”saidFranz,“theCorsicanbanditsthatwereamongthecrewofhisvessel?”
“Why,reallythethingseemstomesimpleenough.
NobodyknowsbetterthanyourselfthatthebanditsofCorsicaarenotroguesorthieves,butpurelyandsimplyfugitives,drivenbysomesinistermotivefromtheirnativetownorvillage,andthattheirfellowshipinvolvesnodisgraceorstigma;formyownpart,Iprotestthat,shouldIevergotoCorsica,myfirstvisit,ereevenIpresentedmyselftothemayororprefect,shouldbetothebanditsofColomba,ifIcouldonlymanagetofindthem;for,onmyconscience,theyarearaceofmenIadmiregreatly.”
“Still,”persistedFranz,“IsupposeyouwillallowthatsuchmenasVampaandhisbandareregularvillains,whohavenoothermotivethanplunderwhentheyseizeyourperson.
Howdoyouexplaintheinfluencethecountevidentlypossessedoverthoseruffians?”
“Mygoodfriend,asinallprobabilityIownmypresentsafetytothatinfluence,itwouldillbecomemetosearchtoocloselyintoitssource;therefore,insteadofcondemninghimforhisintimacywithoutlaws,youmustgivemeleavetoexcuseanylittleirregularitytheremaybeinsuchaconnection;notaltogetherforpreservingmylife,formyownideawasthatitneverwasinmuchdanger,butcertainlyforsavingme4,000piastres,which,beingtranslated,meansneithermorenorlessthan24,000livresofourmoney—asumatwhich,mostassuredly,IshouldneverhavebeenestimatedinFrance,provingmostindisputably,”addedAlbertwithalaugh,“thatnoprophetishonoredinhisowncountry.”
“Talkingofcountries,”repliedFranz,“ofwhatcountryisthecount,whatishisnativetongue,whencedoeshederivehisimmensefortune,andwhatwerethoseeventsofhisearlylife—alifeasmarvellousasunknown—thathavetincturedhissucceedingyearswithsodarkandgloomyamisanthropy?
Certainlythesearequestionsthat,inyourplace,Ishouldliketohaveanswered.”
“MydearFranz,”repliedAlbert,“when,uponreceiptofmyletter,youfoundthenecessityofaskingthecount’sassistance,youpromptlywenttohim,saying,‘MyfriendAlbertdeMorcerfisindanger;helpmetodeliverhim.’Wasnotthatnearlywhatyousaid?”
“Itwas.”
“Well,then,didheaskyou,‘WhoisM.AlbertdeMorcerf?
howdoeshecomebyhisname—hisfortune?whatarehismeansofexistence?whatishisbirthplace!ofwhatcountryisheanative?’
Tellme,didheputallthesequestionstoyou?”
“Iconfessheaskedmenone.”
“No;hemerelycameandfreedmefromthehandsofSignorVampa,where,Icanassureyou,inspiteofallmyoutwardappearanceofeaseandunconcern,Ididnotveryparticularlycaretoremain.
Now,then,Franz,when,forservicessopromptlyandunhesitatinglyrendered,hebutasksmeinreturntodoforhimwhatisdonedailyforanyRussianprinceorItaliannoblemanwhomaypassthroughParis—merelytointroducehimintosociety—wouldyouhavemerefuse?
Mygoodfellow,youmusthavelostyoursensestothinkitpossibleIcouldactwithsuchcold–bloodedpolicy.”
Andthistimeitmustbeconfessedthat,contrarytotheusualstateofaffairsindiscussionsbetweentheyoungmen,theeffectiveargumentswereallonAlbert’sside.
“Well,”saidFranzwithasigh,“doasyoupleasemydearviscount,foryourargumentsarebeyondmypowersofrefutation.
Still,inspiteofall,youmustadmitthatthisCountofMonteCristoisamostsingularpersonage.”
“Heisaphilanthropist,”answeredtheother;“andnodoubthismotiveinvisitingParisistocompetefortheMonthyonprize,given,asyouareaware,towhoevershallbeprovedtohavemostmateriallyadvancedtheinterestsofvirtueandhumanity.
Ifmyvoteandinterestcanobtainitforhim,Iwillreadilygivehimtheoneandpromisetheother.
Andnow,mydearFranz,letustalkofsomethingelse.
Come,shallwetakeourluncheon,andthenpayalastvisittoSt.Peter’s?”
Franzsilentlyassented;andthefollowingafternoon,athalf–pastfiveo’clock,theyoungmenparted.
AlbertdeMorcerftoreturntoParis,andFranzd’EpinaytopassafortnightatVenice.
But,ereheenteredhistravellingcarriage,Albert,fearingthathisexpectedguestmightforgettheengagementhehadenteredinto,placedinthecareofawaiteratthehotelacardtobedeliveredtotheCountofMonteCristo,onwhich,beneaththenameofVicomteAlbertdeMorcerf,hehadwritteninpencil—”27,RueduHelder,onthe21stMay,half–pasttenA.M.”
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