English
InthehouseintheRueduHelder,whereAlberthadinvitedtheCountofMonteCristo,everythingwasbeingpreparedonthemorningofthe21stofMaytodohonortotheoccasion.
AlbertdeMorcerfinhabitedapavilionsituatedatthecornerofalargecourt,anddirectlyoppositeanotherbuilding,inwhichweretheservants’apartments.
Twowindowsonlyofthepavilionfacedthestreet;threeotherwindowslookedintothecourt,andtwoatthebackintothegarden.
Betweenthecourtandthegarden,builtintheheavystyleoftheimperialarchitecture,wasthelargeandfashionabledwellingoftheCountandCountessofMorcerf.
Ahighwallsurroundedthewholeofthehotel,surmountedatintervalsbyvasesfilledwithflowers,andbrokeninthecentrebyalargegateofgildediron,whichservedasthecarriageentrance.
Asmalldoor,closetothelodgeoftheconcierge,gaveingressandegresstotheservantsandmasterswhentheywereonfoot.
Itwaseasytodiscoverthatthedelicatecareofamother,unwillingtopartfromherson,andyetawarethatayoungmanoftheviscount’sagerequiredthefullexerciseofhisliberty,hadchosenthishabitationforAlbert.
Therewerenotlacking,however,evidencesofwhatwemaycalltheintelligentegoismofayouthwhoischarmedwiththeindolent,carelesslifeofanonlyson,andwholivesasitwereinagildedcage.
Bymeansofthetwowindowslookingintothestreet,Albertcouldseeallthatpassed;thesightofwhatisgoingonisnecessarytoyoungmen,whoalwayswanttoseetheworldtraversetheirhorizon,evenifthathorizonisonlyapublicthoroughfare.
Then,shouldanythingappeartomeritamoreminuteexamination,AlbertdeMorcerfcouldfollowuphisresearchesbymeansofasmallgate,similartothatclosetotheconcierge’sdoor,andwhichmeritsaparticulardescription.
Itwasalittleentrancethatseemednevertohavebeenopenedsincethehousewasbuilt,soentirelywasitcoveredwithdustanddirt;butthewell–oiledhingesandlockstoldquiteanotherstory.
Thisdoorwasamockerytotheconcierge,fromwhosevigilanceandjurisdictionitwasfree,and,likethatfamousportalinthe“ArabianNights,”openingatthe“Sesame”ofAliBaba,itwaswonttoswingbackwardatacabalisticwordoraconcertedtapfromwithoutfromthesweetestvoicesorwhitestfingersintheworld.
Attheendofalongcorridor,withwhichthedoorcommunicated,andwhichformedtheante–chamber,was,ontheright,Albert’sbreakfast–room,lookingintothecourt,andontheleftthesalon,lookingintothegarden.
Shrubsandcreepingplantscoveredthewindows,andhidfromthegardenandcourtthesetwoapartments,theonlyroomsintowhich,astheywereontheground–floor,thepryingeyesofthecuriouscouldpenetrate.
Ontheflooraboveweresimilarrooms,withtheadditionofathird,formedoutoftheante–chamber;thesethreeroomswereasalon,aboudoir,andabedroom.
Thesalondown–stairswasonlyanAlgeriandivan,fortheuseofsmokers.
Theboudoirup–stairscommunicatedwiththebed–chamberbyaninvisibledooronthestaircase;itwasevidentthateveryprecautionhadbeentaken.
Abovethisfloorwasalargeatelier,whichhadbeenincreasedinsizebypullingdownthepartitions—apandemonium,inwhichtheartistandthedandystroveforpreeminence.
TherewerecollectedandpiledupallAlbert’ssuccessivecaprices,hunting–horns,bass–viols,flutes—awholeorchestra,forAlberthadhadnotatastebutafancyformusic;easels,palettes,brushes,pencils—formusichadbeensucceededbypainting;foils,boxing–gloves,broadswords,andsingle–sticks—for,followingtheexampleofthefashionableyoungmenofthetime,AlbertdeMorcerfcultivated,withfarmoreperseverancethanmusicanddrawing,thethreeartsthatcompleteadandy’seducation,i.e.,fencing,boxing,andsingle–stick;anditwasherethathereceivedGrisier,Cook,andCharlesLeboucher.
Therestofthefurnitureofthisprivilegedapartmentconsistedofoldcabinets,filledwithChineseporcelainandJapanesevases,LuccadellaRobbiafaience,andPalissyplatters;ofoldarm–chairs,inwhichperhapshadsatHenryIV.orSully,LouisXIII.
orRichelieu—fortwoofthesearm–chairs,adornedwithacarvedshield,onwhichwereengravedthefleur–de–lisofFranceonanazurefieldevidentlycamefromtheLouvre,or,atleast,someroyalresidence.
Overthesedarkandsombrechairswerethrownsplendidstuffs,dyedbeneathPersia’ssun,orwovenbythefingersofthewomenofCalcuttaorofChandernagor.
Whatthesestuffsdidthere,itwasimpossibletosay;theyawaited,whilegratifyingtheeyes,adestinationunknowntotheirownerhimself;inthemeantimetheyfilledtheplacewiththeirgoldenandsilkyreflections.
InthecentreoftheroomwasaRollerandBlanchet“babygrand”pianoinrosewood,butholdingthepotentialitiesofanorchestrainitsnarrowandsonorouscavity,andgroaningbeneaththeweightofthechefs–d’oeuvreofBeethoven,Weber,Mozart,Haydn,Gretry,andPorpora.
Onthewalls,overthedoors,ontheceiling,wereswords,daggers,Malaycreeses,maces,battle–axes;gilded,damasked,andinlaidsuitsofarmor;driedplants,minerals,andstuffedbirds,theirflame–coloredwingsoutspreadinmotionlessflight,andtheirbeaksforeveropen.
ThiswasAlbert’sfavoriteloungingplace.
However,themorningoftheappointment,theyoungmanhadestablishedhimselfinthesmallsalondown–stairs.
There,onatable,surroundedatsomedistancebyalargeandluxuriousdivan,everyspeciesoftobaccoknown,—fromtheyellowtobaccoofPetersburgtotheblackofSinai,andsoonalongthescalefromMarylandandPorto–Rico,toLatakia,—wasexposedinpotsofcrackledearthenwareofwhichtheDutcharesofond;besidethem,inboxesoffragrantwood,wereranged,accordingtotheirsizeandquality,pueros,regalias,havanas,andmanillas;and,inanopencabinet,acollectionofGermanpipes,ofchibouques,withtheirambermouth–piecesornamentedwithcoral,andofnarghiles,withtheirlongtubesofmorocco,awaitingthecapriceorthesympathyofthesmokers.
Alberthadhimselfpresidedatthearrangement,or,rather,thesymmetricalderangement,which,aftercoffee,theguestsatabreakfastofmoderndayslovetocontemplatethroughthevaporthatescapesfromtheirmouths,andascendsinlongandfancifulwreathstotheceiling.
Ataquartertoten,avaletentered;hecomposed,withalittlegroomnamedJohn,andwhoonlyspokeEnglish,allAlbert’sestablishment,althoughthecookofthehotelwasalwaysathisservice,andongreatoccasionsthecount’schasseuralso.
Thisvalet,whosenamewasGermain,andwhoenjoyedtheentireconfidenceofhisyoungmaster,heldinonehandanumberofpapers,andintheotherapacketofletters,whichhegavetoAlbert.
Albertglancedcarelesslyatthedifferentmissives,selectedtwowritteninasmallanddelicatehand,andenclosedinscentedenvelopes,openedthemandperusedtheircontentswithsomeattention.“Howdidtheseletterscome?”saidhe.
“Onebythepost,MadameDanglars’footmanlefttheother.”
“LetMadameDanglarsknowthatIaccepttheplacesheoffersmeinherbox.
Wait;then,duringtheday,tellRosathatwhenIleavetheOperaIwillsupwithherasshewishes.
Takehersixbottlesofdifferentwine—Cyprus,sherry,andMalaga,andabarrelofOstendoysters;getthematBorel’s,andbesureyousaytheyareforme.”
“Atwhato’clock,sir,doyoubreakfast?”
“Whattimeisitnow?”
“Aquartertoten.”
“Verywell,athalfpastten.Debraywill,perhaps,beobligedtogototheminister—andbesides”(Albertlookedathistablets),“itisthehourItoldthecount,21stMay,athalfpastten;andthoughIdonotmuchrelyuponhispromise,Iwishtobepunctual.Isthecountessupyet?”
“Ifyouwish,Iwillinquire.”
“Yes,askherforoneofherliqueurcellarets,mineisincomplete;andtellherIshallhavethehonorofseeingheraboutthreeo’clock,andthatIrequestpermissiontointroducesomeonetoher.”Thevaletlefttheroom.
Albertthrewhimselfonthedivan,toreoffthecoveroftwoorthreeofthepapers,lookedatthetheatreannouncements,madeafaceseeingtheygaveanopera,andnotaballet;huntedvainlyamongsttheadvertisementsforanewtooth–powderofwhichhehadheard,andthrewdown,oneaftertheother,thethreeleadingpapersofParis,muttering,“Thesepapersbecomemoreandmorestupideveryday.”
Amomentafter,acarriagestoppedbeforethedoor,andtheservantannouncedM.LucienDebray.
Atallyoungman,withlighthair,cleargrayeyes,andthinandcompressedlips,dressedinabluecoatwithbeautifullycarvedgoldbuttons,awhiteneckcloth,andatortoiseshelleye–glasssuspendedbyasilkenthread,andwhich,byaneffortofthesuperciliaryandzygomaticmuscles,hefixedinhiseye,entered,withahalf–officialair,withoutsmilingorspeaking.
“Good–morning,Lucien,good–morning,”saidAlbert;“yourpunctualityreallyalarmsme.WhatdoIsay?punctuality!
You,whomIexpectedlast,youarriveatfiveminutestoten,whenthetimefixedwashalf–past!Hastheministryresigned?”
“No,mydearfellow,”returnedtheyoungman,seatinghimselfonthedivan;“reassureyourself;wearetotteringalways,butweneverfall,andIbegintobelievethatweshallpassintoastateofimmobility,andthentheaffairsofthePeninsulawillcompletelyconsolidateus.”
“Ah,true;youdriveDonCarlosoutofSpain.”
“No,no,mydearfellow,donotconfoundourplans.WetakehimtotheothersideoftheFrenchfrontier,andofferhimhospitalityatBourges.”
“AtBourges?”
“Yes,hehasnotmuchtocomplainof;BourgesisthecapitalofCharlesVII.
DoyounotknowthatallParisknewityesterday,andthedaybeforeithadalreadytranspiredontheBourse,andM.Danglars(Idonotknowbywhatmeansthatmancontrivestoobtainintelligenceassoonaswedo)madeamillion!”
“Andyouanotherorder,forIseeyouhaveablueribbonatyourbutton–hole.”
“Yes;theysentmetheorderofCharlesIII.,”returnedDebray,carelessly.
“Come,donotaffectindifference,butconfessyouwerepleasedtohaveit.”
“Oh,itisverywellasafinishtothetoilet.Itlooksveryneatonablackcoatbuttonedup.”
“AndmakesyouresemblethePrinceofWalesortheDukeofReichstadt.”
“Itisforthatreasonyouseemesoearly.”
“BecauseyouhavetheorderofCharlesIII.,andyouwishtoannouncethegoodnewstome?”
“No,becauseIpassedthenightwritingletters,—fiveandtwentydespatches.
Ireturnedhomeatdaybreak,andstrovetosleep;butmyheadachedandIgotuptohavearideforanhour.
AttheBoisdeBoulogne,ennuiandhungerattackedmeatonce,—twoenemieswhorarelyaccompanyeachother,andwhoareyetleaguedagainstme,asortofCarlo–republicanalliance.
Ithenrecollectedyougaveabreakfastthismorning,andhereIam.
Iamhungry,feedme;Iambored,amuseme.”
“Itismydutyasyourhost,”returnedAlbert,ringingthebell,whileLucienturnedover,withhisgold–mountedcane,thepapersthatlayonthetable.
“Germain,aglassofsherryandabiscuit.
Inthemeantime,mydearLucien,herearecigars—contraband,ofcourse—trythem,andpersuadetheministertosellussuchinsteadofpoisoninguswithcabbageleaves.”
“Peste,Iwilldonothingofthekind;themomenttheycomefromgovernmentyouwouldfindthemexecrable.
Besides,thatdoesnotconcernthehomebutthefinancialdepartment.
AddressyourselftoM.Humann,sectionoftheindirectcontributions,corridorA.,No.26.”
“Onmyword,”saidAlbert,“youastonishmebytheextentofyourknowledge.Takeacigar.”
“Really,mydearAlbert,”repliedLucien,lightingamanillaatarose–coloredtaperthatburntinabeautifullyenamelledstand—”howhappyyouaretohavenothingtodo.Youdonotknowyourowngoodfortune!”
“Andwhatwouldyoudo,mydeardiplomatist,”repliedMorcerf,withaslightdegreeofironyinhisvoice,“ifyoudidnothing?What?
privatesecretarytoaminister,plungedatonceintoEuropeancabalsandParisianintrigues;havingkings,and,betterstill,queens,toprotect,partiestounite,electionstodirect;makingmoreuseofyourcabinetwithyourpenandyourtelegraphthanNapoleondidofhisbattle–fieldswithhisswordandhisvictories;possessingfiveandtwentythousandfrancsayear,besidesyourplace;ahorse,forwhichChateau–Renaudofferedyoufourhundredlouis,andwhichyouwouldnotpartwith;atailorwhoneverdisappointsyou;withtheopera,thejockey–club,andotherdiversions,canyounotamuseyourself?
Well,Iwillamuseyou.”
“How?”
“Byintroducingtoyouanewacquaintance.”
“Amanorawoman?”
“Aman.”
“Iknowsomanymenalready.”
“Butyoudonotknowthisman.”
“Wheredoeshecomefrom—theendoftheworld?”
“Fartherstill,perhaps.”
“Thedeuce!Ihopehedoesnotbringourbreakfastwithhim.”
“Oh,no;ourbreakfastcomesfrommyfather’skitchen.Areyouhungry?”
“Humiliatingassuchaconfessionis,Iam.ButIdinedatM.deVillefort’s,andlawyersalwaysgiveyouverybaddinners.Youwouldthinktheyfeltsomeremorse;didyoueverremarkthat?”
“Ah,depreciateotherpersons’dinners;youministersgivesuchsplendidones.”
“Yes;butwedonotinvitepeopleoffashion.
Ifwewerenotforcedtoentertainaparcelofcountryboobiesbecausetheythinkandvotewithus,weshouldneverdreamofdiningathome,Iassureyou.”
“Well,takeanotherglassofsherryandanotherbiscuit.”
“Willingly.YourSpanishwineisexcellent.Youseewewerequiterighttopacifythatcountry.”
“Yes;butDonCarlos?”
“Well,DonCarloswilldrinkBordeaux,andintenyearswewillmarryhissontothelittlequeen.”
“YouwillthenobtaintheGoldenFleece,ifyouarestillintheministry.”
“Ithink,Albert,youhaveadoptedthesystemoffeedingmeonsmokethismorning.”
“Well,youmustallowitisthebestthingforthestomach;butIhearBeauchampinthenextroom;youcandisputetogether,andthatwillpassawaythetime.”
“Aboutwhat?”
“Aboutthepapers.”
“Mydearfriend,”saidLucienwithanairofsovereigncontempt,“doIeverreadthepapers?”
“Thenyouwilldisputethemore.”
“M.Beauchamp,”announcedtheservant.“Comein,comein,”saidAlbert,risingandadvancingtomeettheyoungman.“HereisDebray,whodetestsyouwithoutreadingyou,sohesays.”
“Heisquiteright,”returnedBeauchamp;“forIcriticisehimwithoutknowingwhathedoes.Good–day,commander!”
“Ah,youknowthatalready,”saidtheprivatesecretary,smilingandshakinghandswithhim.
“Pardieu?”
“Andwhatdotheysayofitintheworld?”
“Inwhichworld?wehavesomanyworldsintheyearofgrace1838.”
“Intheentirepoliticalworld,ofwhichyouareoneoftheleaders.”
“Theysaythatitisquitefair,andthatsowingsomuchred,yououghttoreapalittleblue.”
“Come,come,thatisnotbad!”saidLucien.“Whydoyounotjoinourparty,mydearBeauchamp?Withyourtalentsyouwouldmakeyourfortuneinthreeorfouryears.”
“Ionlyawaitonethingbeforefollowingyouradvice;thatis,aministerwhowillholdofficeforsixmonths.
MydearAlbert,oneword,forImustgivepoorLucienarespite.Dowebreakfastordine?
ImustgototheChamber,forourlifeisnotanidleone.”
“Youonlybreakfast;Iawaittwopersons,andtheinstanttheyarriveweshallsitdowntotable.”
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