English
WhenAlbertfoundhimselfalonewithMonteCristo,“Mydearcount,”saidhe,“allowmetocommencemyservicesasciceronebyshowingyouaspecimenofabachelor’sapartment.
You,whoareaccustomedtothepalacesofItaly,canamuseyourselfbycalculatinginhowmanysquarefeetayoungmanwhoisnottheworstlodgedinPariscanlive.
Aswepassfromoneroomtoanother,Iwillopenthewindowstoletyoubreathe.”
MonteCristohadalreadyseenthebreakfast–roomandthesalonontheground–floor.
Albertledhimfirsttohisatelier,whichwas,aswehavesaid,hisfavoriteapartment.
MonteCristoquicklyappreciatedallthatAlberthadcollectedhere—oldcabinets,Japaneseporcelain,Orientalstuffs,Venetianglass,armsfromallpartsoftheworld—everythingwasfamiliartohim;andatthefirstglanceherecognizedtheirdate,theircountry,andtheirorigin.
Morcerfhadexpectedheshouldbetheguide;onthecontrary,itwashewho,underthecount’sguidance,followedacourseofarchaeology,mineralogy,andnaturalhistory.
Theydescendedtothefirstfloor;Albertledhisguestintothesalon.
Thesalonwasfilledwiththeworksofmodernartists;therewerelandscapesbyDupre,withtheirlongreedsandtalltrees,theirlowingoxenandmarvellousskies;Delacroix’sArabiancavaliers,withtheirlongwhiteburnouses,theirshiningbelts,theirdamaskedarms,theirhorses,whotoreeachotherwiththeirteethwhiletheirriderscontendedfiercelywiththeirmaces;aquarellesofBoulanger,representingNotreDamedePariswiththatvigorthatmakestheartisttherivalofthepoet;therewerepaintingsbyDiaz,whomakeshisflowersmorebeautifulthanflowers,hissunsmorebrilliantthanthesun;designsbyDecamp,asvividlycoloredasthoseofSalvatorRosa,butmorepoetic;pastelsbyGiraudandMuller,representingchildrenlikeangelsandwomenwiththefeaturesofavirgin;sketchestornfromthealbumofDauzats’“TravelsintheEast,”thathadbeenmadeinafewsecondsonthesaddleofacamel,orbeneaththedomeofamosque—inaword,allthatmodernartcangiveinexchangeandasrecompensefortheartlostandgonewithageslongsincepast.
Albertexpectedtohavesomethingnewthistimetoshowtothetraveller,but,tohisgreatsurprise,thelatter,withoutseekingforthesignatures,manyofwhich,indeed,wereonlyinitials,namedinstantlytheauthorofeverypictureinsuchamannerthatitwaseasytoseethateachnamewasnotonlyknowntohim,butthateachstyleassociatedwithithadbeenappreciatedandstudiedbyhim.
Fromthesalontheypassedintothebed–chamber;itwasamodeloftasteandsimpleelegance.
Asingleportrait,signedbyLeopoldRobert,shoneinitscarvedandgildedframe.
ThisportraitattractedtheCountofMonteCristo’sattention,forhemadethreerapidstepsinthechamber,andstoppedsuddenlybeforeit.
Itwastheportraitofayoungwomanoffiveorsixandtwenty,withadarkcomplexion,andlightandlustrouseyes,veiledbeneathlonglashes.
SheworethepicturesquecostumeoftheCatalanfisherwomen,aredandblackbodice,andgoldenpinsinherhair.
Shewaslookingatthesea,andherformwasoutlinedontheblueoceanandsky.
ThelightwassofaintintheroomthatAlbertdidnotperceivethepallorthatspreaditselfoverthecount’svisage,orthenervousheavingofhischestandshoulders.
Silenceprevailedforaninstant,duringwhichMonteCristogazedintentlyonthepicture.
“Youhavethereamostcharmingmistress,viscount,”saidthecountinaperfectlycalmtone;“andthiscostume—aballcostume,doubtless—becomesheradmirably.”
“Ah,monsieur,”returnedAlbert,“Iwouldneverforgiveyouthismistakeifyouhadseenanotherpicturebesidethis.
Youdonotknowmymother;sheitiswhomyouseehere.
Shehadherportraitpaintedthussixoreightyearsago.
Thiscostumeisafancyone,itappears,andtheresemblanceissogreatthatIthinkIstillseemymotherthesameasshewasin1830.
Thecountesshadthisportraitpaintedduringthecount’sabsence.
Shedoubtlessintendedgivinghimanagreeablesurprise;but,strangetosay,thisportraitseemedtodispleasemyfather,andthevalueofthepicture,whichis,asyousee,oneofthebestworksofLeopoldRobert,couldnotovercomehisdisliketoit.
Itistrue,betweenourselves,thatM.deMorcerfisoneofthemostassiduouspeersattheLuxembourg,ageneralrenownedfortheory,butamostmediocreamateurofart.
Itisdifferentwithmymother,whopaintsexceedinglywell,andwho,unwillingtopartwithsovaluableapicture,gaveittometoputhere,whereitwouldbelesslikelytodispleaseM.deMorcerf,whoseportrait,byGros,Iwillalsoshowyou.
Excusemytalkingoffamilymatters,butasIshallhavethehonorofintroducingyoutothecount,Itellyouthistopreventyoumakinganyallusionstothispicture.
Thepictureseemstohaveamaligninfluence,formymotherrarelycomesherewithoutlookingatit,andstillmorerarelydoesshelookatitwithoutweeping.
Thisdisagreementistheonlyonethathasevertakenplacebetweenthecountandcountess,whoarestillasmuchunited,althoughmarriedmorethantwentyyears,asonthefirstdayoftheirwedding.”
MonteCristoglancedrapidlyatAlbert,asiftoseekahiddenmeaninginhiswords,butitwasevidenttheyoungmanutteredtheminthesimplicityofhisheart.
“Now,”saidAlbert,“thatyouhaveseenallmytreasures,allowmetoofferthemtoyou,unworthyastheyare.
Consideryourselfasinyourownhouse,andtoputyourselfstillmoreatyourease,prayaccompanymetotheapartmentsofM.deMorcerf,hewhomIwrotefromRomeanaccountoftheservicesyourenderedme,andtowhomIannouncedyourpromisedvisit,andImaysaythatboththecountandcountessanxiouslydesiretothankyouinperson.
YouaresomewhatblaseIknow,andfamilysceneshavenotmucheffectonSinbadtheSailor,whohasseensomanyothers.
However,acceptwhatIproposetoyouasaninitiationintoParisianlife—alifeofpoliteness,visiting,andintroductions.”
MonteCristobowedwithoutmakinganyanswer;heacceptedtheofferwithoutenthusiasmandwithoutregret,asoneofthoseconventionsofsocietywhicheverygentlemanlooksuponasaduty.
Albertsummonedhisservant,andorderedhimtoacquaintM.andMadamedeMorcerfofthearrivaloftheCountofMonteCristo.Albertfollowedhimwiththecount.
Whentheyarrivedattheante–chamber,abovethedoorwasvisibleashield,which,byitsrichornamentsanditsharmonywiththerestofthefurniture,indicatedtheimportancetheownerattachedtothisblazon.
MonteCristostoppedandexamineditattentively.
“Azuresevenmerlets,or,placedbender,”saidhe.
“Theseare,doubtless,yourfamilyarms?
Excepttheknowledgeofblazons,thatenablesmetodecipherthem,Iamveryignorantofheraldry—I,acountofafreshcreation,fabricatedinTuscanybytheaidofacommanderyofSt.Stephen,andwhowouldnothavetakenthetroublehadInotbeentoldthatwhenyoutravelmuchitisnecessary.
Besides,youmusthavesomethingonthepanelsofyourcarriage,toescapebeingsearchedbythecustom–houseofficers.
Excusemyputtingsuchaquestiontoyou.”
“Itisnotindiscreet,”returnedMorcerf,withthesimplicityofconviction.“Youhaveguessedrightly.
Theseareourarms,thatis,thoseofmyfather,buttheyare,asyousee,joinedtoanothershield,whichhasgules,asilvertower,whicharemymother’s.
ByhersideIamSpanish,butthefamilyofMorcerfisFrench,and,Ihaveheard,oneoftheoldestofthesouthofFrance.”
“Yes,”repliedMonteCristo“theseblazonsprovethat.
AlmostallthearmedpilgrimsthatwenttotheHolyLandtookfortheirarmseitheracross,inhonoroftheirmission,orbirdsofpassage,insignofthelongvoyagetheywereabouttoundertake,andwhichtheyhopedtoaccomplishonthewingsoffaith.
OneofyourancestorshadjoinedtheCrusades,andsupposingittobeonlythatofSt.Louis,thatmakesyoumounttothethirteenthcentury,whichistolerablyancient.”
“Itispossible,”saidMorcerf;“myfatherhasinhisstudyagenealogicaltreewhichwilltellyouallthat,andonwhichImadecommentariesthatwouldhavegreatlyedifiedHozierandJaucourt.
AtpresentInolongerthinkofit,andyetImusttellyouthatwearebeginningtooccupyourselvesgreatlywiththesethingsunderourpopulargovernment.”
“Well,then,yourgovernmentwoulddowelltochoosefromthepastsomethingbetterthanthethingsthatIhavenoticedonyourmonuments,andwhichhavenoheraldicmeaningwhatever.
Asforyou,viscount,”continuedMonteCristotoMorcerf,“youaremorefortunatethanthegovernment,foryourarmsarereallybeautiful,andspeaktotheimagination.
Yes,youareatoncefromProvenceandSpain;thatexplains,iftheportraityoushowedmebelike,thedarkhueIsomuchadmiredonthevisageofthenobleCatalan.”
ItwouldhaverequiredthepenetrationofOedipusortheSphinxtohavedivinedtheironythecountconcealedbeneaththesewords,apparentlyutteredwiththegreatestpoliteness.
Morcerfthankedhimwithasmile,andpushedopenthedoorabovewhichwerehisarms,andwhich,aswehavesaid,openedintothesalon.
Inthemostconspicuouspartofthesalonwasanotherportrait.
Itwasthatofaman,fromfivetoeightandthirty,intheuniformofageneralofficer,wearingthedoubleepauletofheavybullion,thatindicatessuperiorrank,theribbonoftheLegionofHonoraroundhisneck,whichshowedhewasacommander,andontherightbreast,thestarofagrandofficeroftheorderoftheSaviour,andontheleftthatofthegrandcrossofCharlesIII.,whichprovedthatthepersonrepresentedbythepicturehadservedinthewarsofGreeceandSpain,or,whatwasjustthesamethingasregardeddecorations,hadfulfilledsomediplomaticmissioninthetwocountries.
MonteCristowasengagedinexaminingthisportraitwithnolesscarethanhehadbestowedupontheother,whenanotherdooropened,andhefoundhimselfoppositetotheCountofMorcerfinperson.
Hewasamanoffortytoforty–fiveyears,butheseemedatleastfifty,andhisblackmustacheandeyebrowscontrastedstrangelywithhisalmostwhitehair,whichwascutshort,inthemilitaryfashion.
Hewasdressedinplainclothes,andworeathisbutton–holetheribbonsofthedifferentorderstowhichhebelonged.
Heenteredwithatolerablydignifiedstep,andsomelittlehaste.
MonteCristosawhimadvancetowardshimwithoutmakingasinglestep.
Itseemedasifhisfeetwererootedtotheground,andhiseyesontheCountofMorcerf.
“Father,”saidtheyoungman,“IhavethehonorofpresentingtoyoutheCountofMonteCristo,thegenerousfriendwhomIhadthegoodfortunetomeetinthecriticalsituationofwhichIhavetoldyou.”
“Youaremostwelcome,monsieur,”saidtheCountofMorcerf,salutingMonteCristowithasmile,“andmonsieurhasrenderedourhouse,inpreservingitsonlyheir,aservicewhichinsureshimoureternalgratitude.”
Ashesaidthesewords,thecountofMorcerfpointedtoachair,whileheseatedhimselfinanotheroppositethewindow.
MonteCristo,intakingtheseatMorcerfofferedhim,placedhimselfinsuchamannerastoremainconcealedintheshadowofthelargevelvetcurtains,andreadonthecarewornandlividfeaturesofthecountawholehistoryofsecretgriefswrittenineachwrinkletimehadplantedthere.
“Thecountess,”saidMorcerf,“wasathertoiletwhenshewasinformedofthevisitshewasabouttoreceive.
Shewill,however,beinthesalonintenminutes.”
“Itisagreathonortome,”returnedMonteCristo,“tobethus,onthefirstdayofmyarrivalinParis,broughtincontactwithamanwhosemeritequalshisreputation,andtowhomfortunehasforoncebeenequitable,buthasshenotstillontheplainsofMetidja,orinthemountainsofAtlas,amarshal’sstafftoofferyou?”
“Oh,”repliedMorcerf,reddeningslightly,“Ihavelefttheservice,monsieur.
MadeapeerattheRestoration,IservedthroughthefirstcampaignundertheordersofMarshalBourmont.
Icould,therefore,expectahigherrank,andwhoknowswhatmighthavehappenedhadtheelderbranchremainedonthethrone?
ButtheRevolutionofJulywas,itseems,sufficientlyglorioustoallowitselftobeungrateful,anditwassoforallservicesthatdidnotdatefromtheimperialperiod.
Itenderedmyresignation,forwhenyouhavegainedyourepauletsonthebattle–field,youdonotknowhowtomanoeuvreontheslipperygroundsofthesalons.
Ihavehungupmysword,andcastmyselfintopolitics.
Ihavedevotedmyselftoindustry;Istudytheusefularts.
DuringthetwentyyearsIserved,Ioftenwishedtodoso,butIhadnotthetime.”
“Thesearetheideasthatrenderyournationsuperiortoanyother,”returnedMonteCristo.
“Agentlemanofhighbirth,possessorofanamplefortune,youhaveconsentedtogainyourpromotionasanobscuresoldier,stepbystep—thisisuncommon;thenbecomegeneral,peerofFrance,commanderoftheLegionofHonor,youconsenttoagaincommenceasecondapprenticeship,withoutanyotherhopeoranyotherdesirethanthatofonedaybecomingusefultoyourfellow–creatures;this,indeed,ispraiseworthy,—nay,more,itissublime.”
Albertlookedonandlistenedwithastonishment;hewasnotusedtoseeMonteCristogiveventtosuchburstsofenthusiasm.
“Alas,”continuedthestranger,doubtlesstodispeltheslightcloudthatcoveredMorcerf’sbrow,“wedonotactthusinItaly;wegrowaccordingtoourraceandourspecies,andwepursuethesamelines,andoftenthesameuselessness,allourlives.”
“But,monsieur,”saidtheCountofMorcerf,“foramanofyourmerit,Italyisnotacountry,andFranceopensherarmstoreceiveyou;respondtohercall.
Francewillnot,perhaps,bealwaysungrateful.
Shetreatsherchildrenill,butshealwayswelcomesstrangers.”
“Ah,father,”saidAlbertwithasmile,“itisevidentyoudonotknowtheCountofMonteCristo;hedespisesallhonors,andcontentshimselfwiththosewrittenonhispassport.”
“Thatisthemostjustremark,”repliedthestranger,“Ieverheardmadeconcerningmyself.”
“Youhavebeenfreetochooseyourcareer,”observedtheCountofMorcerf,withasigh;“andyouhavechosenthepathstrewedwithflowers.”
“Precisely,monsieur,”repliedMonteCristowithoneofthosesmilesthatapaintercouldneverrepresentoraphysiologistanalyze.
“IfIdidnotfeartofatigueyou,”saidthegeneral,evidentlycharmedwiththecount’smanners,“IwouldhavetakenyoutotheChamber;thereisadebateverycurioustothosewhoarestrangerstoourmodernsenators.”
“Ishallbemostgrateful,monsieur,ifyouwill,atsomefuturetime,renewyouroffer,butIhavebeenflatteredwiththehopeofbeingintroducedtothecountess,andIwillthereforewait.”
“Ah,hereismymother,”criedtheviscount.
MonteCristo,turnedroundhastily,andsawMadamedeMorcerfattheentranceofthesalon,atthedooroppositetothatbywhichherhusbandhadentered,paleandmotionless;whenMonteCristoturnedround,sheletfallherarm,whichforsomeunknownreasonhadbeenrestingonthegildeddoor–post.
Shehadbeentheresomemoments,andhadheardthelastwordsofthevisitor.
Thelatterroseandbowedtothecountess,whoinclinedherselfwithoutspeaking.
“Ah,goodheavens,madame,”saidthecount,“areyouill,orisittheheatoftheroomthataffectsyou?”
“Areyouill,mother?”criedtheviscount,springingtowardsher.
Shethankedthembothwithasmile.“No,”returnedshe,“butIfeelsomeemotiononseeing,forthefirsttime,themanwithoutwhoseinterventionweshouldhavebeenintearsanddesolation.
Monsieur,”continuedthecountess,advancingwiththemajestyofaqueen,“Iowetoyouthelifeofmyson,andforthisIblessyou.
Now,IthankyouforthepleasureyougivemeinthusaffordingmetheopportunityofthankingyouasIhaveblessedyou,fromthebottomofmyheart.”
Thecountbowedagain,butlowerthanbefore;HewasevenpalerthanMercedes.
“Madame,”saidhe,“thecountandyourselfrecompensetoogenerouslyasimpleaction.
Tosaveaman,tospareafather’sfeelings,oramother’ssensibility,isnottodoagoodaction,butasimpledeedofhumanity.”
Atthesewords,utteredwiththemostexquisitesweetnessandpoliteness,MadamedeMorcerfreplied.
“Itisveryfortunateformyson,monsieur,thathefoundsuchafriend,andIthankGodthatthingsarethus.”
AndMercedesraisedherfineeyestoheavenwithsoferventanexpressionofgratitude,thatthecountfanciedhesawtearsinthem.M.deMorcerfapproachedher.“Madame,”saidhe.
“Ihavealreadymademyexcusestothecountforquittinghim,andIprayyoutodosoalso.
Thesittingcommencesattwo;itisnowthree,andIamtospeak.”
“Go,then,andmonsieurandIwillstriveourbesttoforgetyourabsence,”repliedthecountess,withthesametoneofdeepfeeling.
“Monsieur,”continuedshe,turningtoMonteCristo,“willyoudousthehonorofpassingtherestofthedaywithus?”
“Believeme,madame,Ifeelmostgratefulforyourkindness,butIgotoutofmytravellingcarriageatyourdoorthismorning,andIamignoranthowIaminstalledinParis,whichIscarcelyknow;thisisbutatriflinginquietude,Iknow,butonethatmaybeappreciated.”
“Weshallhavethepleasureanothertime,”saidthecountess;“youpromisethat?”
MonteCristoinclinedhimselfwithoutanswering,butthegesturemightpassforassent.
“Iwillnotdetainyou,monsieur,”continuedthecountess;“Iwouldnothaveourgratitudebecomeindiscreetorimportunate.”
“MydearCount,”saidAlbert,“IwillendeavortoreturnyourpolitenessatRome,andplacemycoupeatyourdisposaluntilyourownbeready.”
“Athousandthanksforyourkindness,viscount,”returnedtheCountofMonteCristo“butIsupposethatM.BertucciohassuitablyemployedthefourhoursandahalfIhavegivenhim,andthatIshallfindacarriageofsomesortreadyatthedoor.”
Albertwasusedtothecount’smannerofproceeding;heknewthat,likeNero,hewasinsearchoftheimpossible,andnothingastonishedhim,butwishingtojudgewithhisowneyeshowfarthecount’sordershadbeenexecuted,heaccompaniedhimtothedoorofthehouse.MonteCristowasnotdeceived.
AssoonasheappearedintheCountofMorcerf’sante–chamber,afootman,thesamewhoatRomehadbroughtthecount’scardtothetwoyoungmen,andannouncedhisvisit,sprangintothevestibule,andwhenhearrivedatthedoortheillustrioustravellerfoundhiscarriageawaitinghim.
ItwasacoupeofKoller’sbuilding,andwithhorsesandharnessforwhichDrakehad,totheknowledgeofallthelionsofParis,refusedonthepreviousdaysevenhundredguineas.
“Monsieur,”saidthecounttoAlbert,“Idonotaskyoutoaccompanymetomyhouse,asIcanonlyshowyouahabitationfittedupinahurry,andIhave,asyouknow,areputationtokeepupasregardsnotbeingtakenbysurprise.
Giveme,therefore,onemoredaybeforeIinviteyou;Ishallthenbecertainnottofailinmyhospitality.”
“Ifyouaskmeforaday,count,Iknowwhattoanticipate;itwillnotbeahouseIshallsee,butapalace.Youhavedecidedlysomegeniusatyourcontrol.”
“Mafoi,spreadthatidea,”repliedtheCountofMonteCristo,puttinghisfootonthevelvet–linedstepsofhissplendidcarriage,“andthatwillbeworthsomethingtomeamongtheladies.”
Ashespoke,hesprangintothevehicle,thedoorwasclosed,butnotsorapidlythatMonteCristofailedtoperceivethealmostimperceptiblemovementwhichstirredthecurtainsoftheapartmentinwhichhehadleftMadamedeMorcerf.
WhenAlbertreturnedtohismother,hefoundherintheboudoirreclininginalargevelvetarm–chair,thewholeroomsoobscurethatonlytheshiningspangle,fastenedhereandtheretothedrapery,andtheanglesofthegildedframesofthepictures,showedwithsomedegreeofbrightnessinthegloom.
Albertcouldnotseethefaceofthecountess,asitwascoveredwithathinveilshehadputonherhead,andwhichfelloverherfeaturesinmistyfolds,butitseemedtohimasthoughhervoicehadaltered.
Hecoulddistinguishamidtheperfumesoftherosesandheliotropesintheflower–stands,thesharpandfragrantodorofvolatilesalts,andhenoticedinoneofthechasedcupsonthemantle–piecethecountess’ssmelling–bottle,takenfromitsshagreencase,andexclaimedinatoneofuneasiness,asheentered,—”Mydearmother,haveyoubeenillduringmyabsence?”
“No,no,Albert,butyouknowtheseroses,tuberoses,andorange–flowersthrowoutatfirst,beforeoneisusedtothem,suchviolentperfumes.”
“Then,mydearmother,”saidAlbert,puttinghishandtothebell,“theymustbetakenintotheante–chamber.Youarereallyill,andjustnowweresopaleasyoucameintotheroom”—
“WasIpale,Albert?”
“Yes;apallorthatsuitsyouadmirably,mother,butwhichdidnotthelessalarmmyfatherandmyself.”
“Didyourfatherspeakofit?”inquiredMercedeseagerly.
“No,madame;butdoyounotrememberthathespokeofthefacttoyou?”
“Yes,Idoremember,”repliedthecountess.
Aservantentered,summonedbyAlbert’sringofthebell.
“Taketheseflowersintotheanteroomordressing–room,”saidtheviscount;“theymakethecountessill.”Thefootmanobeyedhisorders.
Alongpauseensued,whichlasteduntilalltheflowerswereremoved.“WhatisthisnameofMonteCristo?”
inquiredthecountess,whentheservanthadtakenawaythelastvaseofflowers,“isitafamilyname,orthenameoftheestate,orasimpletitle?”
“Ibelieve,mother,itismerelyatitle.
ThecountpurchasedanislandintheTuscanarchipelago,and,ashetoldyouto–day,hasfoundedacommandery.
YouknowthesamethingwasdoneforSaintStephenofFlorence,SaintGeorge,ConstantinianofParma,andevenfortheOrderofMalta.
Exceptthis,hehasnopretensiontonobility,andcallshimselfachancecount,althoughthegeneralopinionatRomeisthatthecountisamanofveryhighdistinction.”
“Hismannersareadmirable,”saidthecountess,“atleast,asfarasIcouldjudgeinthefewminutesheremainedhere.”
“Theyareperfectmother,soperfect,thattheysurpassbyfarallIhaveknownintheleadingaristocracyofthethreeproudestnobilitiesofEurope—theEnglish,theSpanish,andtheGerman.”
Thecountesspausedamoment;then,afteraslighthesitation,sheresumed,—”Youhaveseen,mydearAlbert—Iaskthequestionasamother—youhaveseenM.deMonteCristoinhishouse,youarequicksighted,havemuchknowledgeoftheworld,moretactthanisusualatyourage,doyouthinkthecountisreallywhatheappearstobe?”
“Whatdoesheappeartobe?”
“Why,youhavejustsaid,—amanofhighdistinction.”
“Itoldyou,mydearmother,hewasesteemedsuch.”
“Butwhatisyourownopinion,Albert?”
“ImusttellyouthatIhavenotcometoanydecidedopinionrespectinghim,butIthinkhimaMaltese.”
“Idonotaskyouofhisoriginbutwhatheis.”
“Ah,whatheis;thatisquiteanotherthing.
Ihaveseensomanyremarkablethingsinhim,thatifyouwouldhavemereallysaywhatIthink,IshallreplythatIreallydolookuponhimasoneofByron’sheroes,whommiseryhasmarkedwithafatalbrand;someManfred,someLara,someWerner,oneofthosewrecks,asitwere,ofsomeancientfamily,who,disinheritedoftheirpatrimony,haveachievedonebytheforceoftheiradventurousgenius,whichhasplacedthemabovethelawsofsociety.”
“Yousay”—
“IsaythatMonteCristoisanislandinthemidstoftheMediterranean,withoutinhabitantsorgarrison,theresortofsmugglersofallnations,andpiratesofeveryflag.
Whoknowswhetherornottheseindustriousworthiesdonotpaytotheirfeudallordsomeduesforhisprotection?”
“Thatispossible,”saidthecountess,reflecting.
“Nevermind,”continuedtheyoungman,“smugglerornot,youmustagree,motherdear,asyouhaveseenhim,thattheCountofMonteCristoisaremarkableman,whowillhavethegreatestsuccessinthesalonsofParis.
Why,thisverymorning,inmyrooms,hemadehisentreeamongstusbystrikingeverymanofuswithamazement,notevenexceptingChateau–Renaud.”
“Andwhatdoyousupposeisthecount’sage?”inquiredMercedes,evidentlyattachinggreatimportancetothisquestion.
“Thirty–fiveorthirty–six,mother.”
“Soyoung,—itisimpossible,”saidMercedes,replyingatthesametimetowhatAlbertsaidaswellastoherownprivatereflection.
“Itisthetruth,however.Threeorfourtimeshehassaidtome,andcertainlywithouttheslightestpremeditation,‘atsuchaperiodIwasfiveyearsold,atanothertenyearsold,atanothertwelve,’andI,inducedbycuriosity,whichkeptmealivetothesedetails,havecomparedthedates,andneverfoundhiminaccurate.
Theageofthissingularman,whoisofnoage,isthen,Iamcertain,thirty–five.
Besides,mother,remarkhowvividhiseye,howraven–blackhishair,andhisbrow,thoughsopale,isfreefromwrinkles,—heisnotonlyvigorous,butalsoyoung.”
Thecountessbentherhead,asifbeneathaheavywaveofbitterthoughts.
“Andhasthismandisplayedafriendshipforyou,Albert?”sheaskedwithanervousshudder.
“Iaminclinedtothinkso.”
“And—do—you—like—him?”
“Why,hepleasesmeinspiteofFranzd’Epinay,whotriestoconvincemethatheisabeingreturnedfromtheotherworld.”Thecountessshuddered.
“Albert,”shesaid,inavoicewhichwasalteredbyemotion,“Ihavealwaysputyouonyourguardagainstnewacquaintances.
Nowyouareaman,andareabletogivemeadvice;yetIrepeattoyou,Albert,beprudent.”
“Why,mydearmother,itisnecessary,inordertomakeyouradviceturntoaccount,thatIshouldknowbeforehandwhatIhavetodistrust.
Thecountneverplays,heonlydrinkspurewatertingedwithalittlesherry,andissorichthathecannot,withoutintendingtolaughatme,trytoborrowmoney.What,then,haveItofearfromhim?”
“Youareright,”saidthecountess,“andmyfearsareweakness,especiallywhendirectedagainstamanwhohassavedyourlife.
Howdidyourfatherreceivehim,Albert?
Itisnecessarythatweshouldbemorethancomplaisanttothecount.
M.deMorcerfissometimesoccupied,hisbusinessmakeshimreflective,andhemight,withoutintendingit”—
“Nothingcouldbeinbettertastethanmyfather’sdemeanor,madame,”saidAlbert;“nay,more,heseemedgreatlyflatteredattwoorthreecomplimentswhichthecountveryskilfullyandagreeablypaidhimwithasmucheaseasifhehadknownhimthesethirtyyears.
Eachoftheselittleticklingarrowsmusthavepleasedmyfather,”addedAlbertwithalaugh.
“Andthustheypartedthebestpossiblefriends,andM.deMorcerfevenwishedtotakehimtotheChambertohearthespeakers.”Thecountessmadenoreply.
Shefellintosodeepareverythathereyesgraduallyclosed.
Theyoungman,standingupbeforeher,gazeduponherwiththatfilialaffectionwhichissotenderandendearingwithchildrenwhosemothersarestillyoungandhandsome.
Then,afterseeinghereyesclosed,andhearingherbreathegently,hebelievedshehaddroppedasleep,andlefttheapartmentontiptoe,closingthedoorafterhimwiththeutmostprecaution.
“Thisdevilofafellow,”hemuttered,shakinghishead;“Isaidatthetimehewouldcreateasensationhere,andImeasurehiseffectbyaninfalliblethermometer.
Mymotherhasnoticedhim,andhemusttherefore,perforce,beremarkable.”
Hewentdowntothestables,notwithoutsomeslightannoyance,whenherememberedthattheCountofMonteCristohadlaidhishandsona“turnout”whichsenthisbaysdowntosecondplaceintheopinionofconnoisseurs.
“Mostdecidedly,”saidhe,“menarenotequal,andImustbegmyfathertodevelopthistheoremintheChamberofPeers.”
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