English
“Asthejewellerreturnedtotheapartment,hecastaroundhimascrutinizingglance—buttherewasnothingtoexcitesuspicion,ifitdidnotexist,ortoconfirmit,ifitwerealreadyawakened.
Caderousse’shandsstillgraspedthegoldandbank–notes,andLaCarcontecalleduphersweetestsmileswhilewelcomingthereappearanceoftheirguest.
‘Well,well,’saidthejeweller,‘youseem,mygoodfriends,tohavehadsomefearsrespectingtheaccuracyofyourmoney,bycountingitoversocarefullydirectlyIwasgone.’
—’Oh,no,’answeredCaderousse,‘thatwasnotmyreason,Icanassureyou;butthecircumstancesbywhichwehavebecomepossessedofthiswealtharesounexpected,astomakeusscarcelycreditourgoodfortune,anditisonlybyplacingtheactualproofofourrichesbeforeoureyesthatwecanpersuadeourselvesthatthewholeaffairisnotadream.’Thejewellersmiled.
—’Haveyouanyotherguestsinyourhouse?’inquiredhe.
—’Nobodybutourselves,’repliedCaderousse;‘thefactis,wedonotlodgetravellers—indeed,ourtavernissonearthetown,thatnobodywouldthinkofstoppinghere.
—’ThenIamafraidIshallverymuchinconvenienceyou.’—’Inconvenienceus?
Notatall,mydearsir,’saidLaCarconteinhermostgraciousmanner.‘Notatall,Iassureyou.’
—’Butwherewillyoumanagetostowme?’—’Inthechamberoverhead.’
—’Surelythatiswhereyouyourselvessleep?’
—’Nevermindthat;wehaveasecondbedintheadjoiningroom.’
Caderoussestaredathiswifewithmuchastonishment.
“Thejeweller,meanwhile,washummingasongashestoodwarminghisbackatthefireLaCarcontehadkindledtodrythewetgarmentsofherguest;andthisdone,shenextoccupiedherselfinarranginghissupper,byspreadinganapkinattheendofthetable,andplacingonittheslenderremainsoftheirdinner,towhichsheaddedthreeorfourfresh–laideggs.
Caderoussehadoncemorepartedwithhistreasure—thebanknoteswerereplacedinthepocket–book,thegoldputbackintothebag,andthewholecarefullylockedinthecupboard.
Hethenbeganpacingtheroomwithapensiveandgloomyair,glancingfromtimetotimeatthejeweller,whostoodreekingwiththesteamfromhiswetclothes,andmerelychanginghisplaceonthewarmhearth,toenablethewholeofhisgarmentstobedried.
”’There,’saidLaCarconte,assheplacedabottleofwineonthetable,‘supperisreadywheneveryouare.’—’Andyou?’askedJoannes.
—’Idon’twantanysupper,’saidCaderousse.
—’Wedinedsoverylate,’hastilyinterposedLaCarconte.
—’ThenitseemsIamtoeatalone,’remarkedthejeweller.
—’Oh,weshallhavethepleasureofwaitinguponyou,’answeredLaCarconte,withaneagerattentionshewasnotaccustomedtomanifesteventoguestswhopaidforwhattheytook.
“FromtimetotimeCaderoussedartedonhiswifekeen,searchingglances,butrapidasthelightningflash.Thestormstillcontinued.
‘There,there,’saidLaCarconte;‘doyouhearthat?
uponmyword,youdidwelltocomeback.’
—’Nevertheless,’repliedthejeweller,‘ifbythetimeIhavefinishedmysupperthetempesthasatallabated,Ishallmakeanotherstart.’
—’It’sthemistral,’saidCaderousse,‘anditwillbesuretolasttillto–morrowmorning.’Hesighedheavily.
—’Well,’saidthejeweller,asheplacedhimselfattable,‘allIcansayis,somuchtheworseforthosewhoareabroad.’
—’Yes,’chimedinLaCarconte,‘theywillhaveawretchednightofit.’
“Thejewellerbeganeatinghissupper,andthewoman,whowasordinarilysoquerulousandindifferenttoallwhoapproachedher,wassuddenlytransformedintothemostsmilingandattentivehostess.
Hadtheunhappymanonwhomshelavishedherassiduitiesbeenpreviouslyacquaintedwithher,sosuddenanalterationmightwellhaveexcitedsuspicioninhismind,oratleasthavegreatlyastonishedhim.
Caderousse,meanwhile,continuedtopacetheroomingloomysilence,sedulouslyavoidingthesightofhisguest;butassoonasthestrangerhadcompletedhisrepast,theagitatedinn–keeperwenteagerlytothedoorandopenedit.‘Ibelievethestormisover,’saidhe.
Butasiftocontradicthisstatement,atthatinstantaviolentclapofthunderseemedtoshakethehousetoitsveryfoundation,whileasuddengustofwind,mingledwithrain,extinguishedthelampheheldinhishand.
Tremblingandawe–struck,Caderoussehastilyshutthedoorandreturnedtohisguest,whileLaCarcontelightedacandlebythesmoulderingashesthatglimmeredonthehearth.
‘Youmustbetired,’saidshetothejeweller;‘Ihavespreadapairofwhitesheetsonyourbed;goupwhenyouareready,andsleepwell.’
“Joannesstayedforawhiletoseewhetherthestormseemedtoabateinitsfury,butabriefspaceoftimesufficedtoassurehimthat,insteadofdiminishing,theviolenceoftherainandthundermomentarilyincreased;resigninghimself,therefore,towhatseemedinevitable,hebadehishostgood–night,andmountedthestairs.
HepassedovermyheadandIheardtheflooringcreakbeneathhisfootsteps.
Thequick,eagerglanceofLaCarcontefollowedhimasheascended,whileCaderousse,onthecontrary,turnedhisback,andseemedmostanxiouslytoavoidevenglancingathim.
“Allthesecircumstancesdidnotstrikemeaspainfullyatthetimeastheyhavesincedone;infact,allthathadhappened(withtheexceptionofthestoryofthediamond,whichcertainlydidwearanairofimprobability),appearednaturalenough,andcalledforneitherapprehensionnormistrust;but,wornoutasIwaswithfatigue,andfullypurposingtoproceedonwardsdirectlythetempestabated,Ideterminedtoobtainafewhours’sleep.
OverheadIcouldaccuratelydistinguisheverymovementofthejeweller,who,aftermakingthebestarrangementsinhispowerforpassingacomfortablenight,threwhimselfonhisbed,andIcouldhearitcreakandgroanbeneathhisweight.
Insensiblymyeyelidsgrewheavy,deepsleepstoleoverme,andhavingnosuspicionofanythingwrong,Isoughtnottoshakeitoff.
IlookedintothekitchenoncemoreandsawCaderoussesittingbythesideofalongtableupononeofthelowwoodenstoolswhichincountryplacesarefrequentlyusedinsteadofchairs;hisbackwasturnedtowardsme,sothatIcouldnotseetheexpressionofhiscountenance—neithershouldIhavebeenabletodosohadhebeenplaceddifferently,ashisheadwasburiedbetweenhistwohands.
LaCarcontecontinuedtogazeonhimforsometime,thenshrugginghershoulders,shetookherseatimmediatelyoppositetohim.
Atthismomenttheexpiringembersthrewupafreshflamefromthekindlingofapieceofwoodthatlaynear,andabrightlightflashedovertheroom.
LaCarcontestillkepthereyesfixedonherhusband,butashemadenosignofchanginghisposition,sheextendedherhard,bonyhand,andtouchedhimontheforehead.
“Caderousseshuddered.Thewoman’slipsseemedtomove,asthoughsheweretalking;butbecauseshemerelyspokeinanundertone,ormysensesweredulledbysleep,Ididnotcatchawordsheuttered.
Confusedsightsandsoundsseemedtofloatbeforeme,andgraduallyIfellintoadeep,heavyslumber.
HowlongIhadbeeninthisunconsciousstateIknownot,whenIwassuddenlyarousedbythereportofapistol,followedbyafearfulcry.
Weakandtotteringfootstepsresoundedacrossthechamberaboveme,andthenextinstantadull,heavyweightseemedtofallpowerlessonthestaircase.
Ihadnotyetfullyrecoveredconsciousness,whenagainIheardgroans,mingledwithhalf–stifledcries,asiffrompersonsengagedinadeadlystruggle.
Acrymoreprolongedthantheothersandendinginaseriesofgroanseffectuallyrousedmefrommydrowsylethargy.
Hastilyraisingmyselfononearm,Ilookedaround,butallwasdark;anditseemedtomeasiftherainmusthavepenetratedthroughtheflooringoftheroomabove,forsomekindofmoistureappearedtofall,dropbydrop,uponmyforehead,andwhenIpassedmyhandacrossmybrow,Ifeltthatitwaswetandclammy.
“Tothefearfulnoisesthathadawakenedmehadsucceededthemostperfectsilence—unbroken,savebythefootstepsofamanwalkingaboutinthechamberabove.
Thestaircasecreaked,hedescendedintotheroombelow,approachedthefireandlitacandle.
ThemanwasCaderousse—hewaspaleandhisshirtwasallblood.
Havingobtainedthelight,hehurriedup–stairsagain,andoncemoreIheardhisrapidanduneasyfootsteps.
Amomentlaterhecamedownagain,holdinginhishandthesmallshagreencase,whichheopened,toassurehimselfitcontainedthediamond,—seemedtohesitateastowhichpocketheshouldputitin,then,asifdissatisfiedwiththesecurityofeitherpocket,hedepositeditinhisredhandkerchief,whichhecarefullyrolledroundhishead.
Afterthishetookfromhiscupboardthebank–notesandgoldhehadputthere,thrusttheoneintothepocketofhistrousers,andtheotherintothatofhiswaistcoat,hastilytiedupasmallbundleoflinen,andrushingtowardsthedoor,disappearedinthedarknessofthenight.
“Thenallbecameclearandmanifesttome,andIreproachedmyselfwithwhathadhappened,asthoughImyselfhaddonetheguiltydeed.
IfanciedthatIstillheardfaintmoans,andimaginingthattheunfortunatejewellermightnotbequitedead,Ideterminedtogotohisrelief,bywayofatoninginsomeslightdegree,notforthecrimeIhadcommitted,butforthatwhichIhadnotendeavoredtoprevent.
ForthispurposeIappliedallthestrengthIpossessedtoforceanentrancefromthecrampedspotinwhichIlaytotheadjoiningroom.
Thepoorlyfastenedboardswhichalonedividedmefromityieldedtomyefforts,andIfoundmyselfinthehouse.
Hastilysnatchingupthelightedcandle,Ihurriedtothestaircase;aboutmidwayabodywaslyingquiteacrossthestairs.ItwasthatofLaCarconte.
ThepistolIhadheardhaddoubtlessbeenfiredather.
Theshothadfrightfullylaceratedherthroat,leavingtwogapingwoundsfromwhich,aswellasthemouth,thebloodwaspouringinfloods.Shewasstonedead.
Istrodepasther,andascendedtothesleepingchamber,whichpresentedanappearanceofthewildestdisorder.
Thefurniturehadbeenknockedoverinthedeadlystrugglethathadtakenplacethere,andthesheets,towhichtheunfortunatejewellerhaddoubtlessclung,weredraggedacrosstheroom.
Themurderedmanlayonthefloor,hisheadleaningagainstthewall,andabouthimwasapoolofbloodwhichpouredforthfromthreelargewoundsinhisbreast;therewasafourthgash,inwhichalongtableknifewasplungeduptothehandle.
“Istumbledoversomeobject;Istoopedtoexamine—itwasthesecondpistol,whichhadnotgoneoff,probablyfromthepowderbeingwet.
Iapproachedthejeweller,whowasnotquitedead,andatthesoundofmyfootstepsandthecreakingofthefloor,heopenedhiseyes,fixedthemonmewithananxiousandinquiringgaze,movedhislipsasthoughtryingtospeak,then,overcomebytheeffort,fellbackandexpired.
Thisappallingsightalmostbereftmeofmysenses,andfindingthatIcouldnolongerbeofservicetoanyoneinthehouse,myonlydesirewastofly.
Irushedtowardsthestaircase,clutchingmyhair,andutteringagroanofhorror.
Uponreachingtheroombelow,Ifoundfiveorsixcustom–houseofficers,andtwoorthreegendarmes—allheavilyarmed.Theythrewthemselvesuponme.
Imadenoresistance;Iwasnolongermasterofmysenses.
WhenIstrovetospeak,afewinarticulatesoundsaloneescapedmylips.
“AsInoticedthesignificantmannerinwhichthewholepartypointedtomyblood–stainedgarments,Iinvoluntarilysurveyedmyself,andthenIdiscoveredthatthethickwarmdropsthathadsobedewedmeasIlaybeneaththestaircasemusthavebeenthebloodofLaCarconte.
IpointedtothespotwhereIhadconcealedmyself.‘Whatdoeshemean?’askedagendarme.
OneoftheofficerswenttotheplaceIdirected.
‘Hemeans,’repliedthemanuponhisreturn,‘thathegotinthatway;’andheshowedtheholeIhadmadewhenIbrokethrough.
“ThenIsawthattheytookmefortheassassin.
Irecoveredforceandenergyenoughtofreemyselffromthehandsofthosewhoheldme,whileImanagedtostammerforth—’Ididnotdoit!Indeed,indeedIdidnot!’
Acoupleofgendarmesheldthemuzzlesoftheircarbinesagainstmybreast.
—’Stirbutastep,’saidthey,‘andyouareadeadman.’
—’Whyshouldyouthreatenmewithdeath,’criedI,‘whenIhavealreadydeclaredmyinnocence?’
—’Tush,tush,’criedthemen;‘keepyourinnocentstoriestotelltothejudgeatNimes.
Meanwhile,comealongwithus;andthebestadvicewecangiveyouistodosounresistingly.’
Alas,resistancewasfarfrommythoughts.
Iwasutterlyoverpoweredbysurpriseandterror;andwithoutawordIsufferedmyselftobehandcuffedandtiedtoahorse’stail,andthustheytookmetoNimes.
“Ihadbeentrackedbyacustoms–officer,whohadlostsightofmenearthetavern;feelingcertainthatIintendedtopassthenightthere,hehadreturnedtosummonhiscomrades,whojustarrivedintimetohearthereportofthepistol,andtotakemeinthemidstofsuchcircumstantialproofsofmyguiltasrenderedallhopesofprovingmyinnocenceutterlyfutile.
Oneonlychancewasleftme,thatofbeseechingthemagistratebeforewhomIwastakentocauseeveryinquirytobemadefortheAbbeBusoni,whohadstoppedattheinnofthePontduGardonthatmorning.
IfCaderoussehadinventedthestoryrelativetothediamond,andthereexistednosuchpersonastheAbbeBusoni,then,indeed,Iwaslostpastredemption,or,atleast,mylifehunguponthefeeblechanceofCaderoussehimselfbeingapprehendedandconfessingthewholetruth.
Twomonthspassedawayinhopelessexpectationonmypart,whileImustdothemagistratethejusticetosaythatheusedeverymeanstoobtaininformationofthepersonIdeclaredcouldexculpatemeifhewould.
Caderoussestillevadedallpursuit,andIhadresignedmyselftowhatseemedmyinevitablefate.
Mytrialwastocomeonattheapproachingassizes;when,onthe8thofSeptember—thatistosay,preciselythreemonthsandfivedaysaftertheeventswhichhadperilledmylife—theAbbeBusoni,whomIneverventuredtobelieveIshouldsee,presentedhimselfattheprisondoors,sayingheunderstoodoneoftheprisonerswishedtospeaktohim;headded,thathavinglearnedatMarseillestheparticularsofmyimprisonment,hehastenedtocomplywithmydesire.
YoumayeasilyimaginewithwhateagernessIwelcomedhim,andhowminutelyIrelatedthewholeofwhatIhadseenandheard.
IfeltsomedegreeofnervousnessasIentereduponthehistoryofthediamond,but,tomyinexpressibleastonishment,heconfirmeditineveryparticular,andtomyequalsurprise,heseemedtoplaceentirebeliefinallIsaid.
Andthenitwasthat,wonbyhismildcharity,seeingthathewasacquaintedwithallthehabitsandcustomsofmyowncountry,andconsideringalsothatpardonfortheonlycrimeofwhichIwasreallyguiltymightcomewithadoublepowerfromlipssobenevolentandkind,Ibesoughthimtoreceivemyconfession,underthesealofwhichIrecountedtheAuteuilaffairinallitsdetails,aswellaseveryothertransactionofmylife.
ThatwhichIhaddonebytheimpulseofmybestfeelingsproducedthesameeffectasthoughithadbeentheresultofcalculation.
MyvoluntaryconfessionoftheassassinationatAuteuilprovedtohimthatIhadnotcommittedthatofwhichIstoodaccused.
Whenhequittedme,hebademebeofgoodcourage,andtorelyuponhisdoingallinhispowertoconvincemyjudgesofmyinnocence.
“Ihadspeedyproofsthattheexcellentabbewasengagedinmybehalf,fortherigorsofmyimprisonmentwerealleviatedbymanytriflingthoughacceptableindulgences,andIwastoldthatmytrialwastobepostponedtotheassizesfollowingthosenowbeingheld.
IntheinterimitpleasedprovidencetocausetheapprehensionofCaderousse,whowasdiscoveredinsomedistantcountry,andbroughtbacktoFrance,wherehemadeafullconfession,refusingtomakethefactofhiswife’shavingsuggestedandarrangedthemurderanyexcuseforhisownguilt.
Thewretchedmanwassentencedtothegalleysforlife,andIwasimmediatelysetatliberty.”
“Andthenitwas,Ipresume,”saidMonteCristo“thatyoucametomeasthebearerofaletterfromtheAbbeBusoni?”
“Itwas,yourexcellency;thebenevolentabbetookanevidentinterestinallthatconcernedme.
”’Yourmodeoflifeasasmuggler,’saidhetomeoneday,‘willbetheruinofyou;ifyougetout,don’ttakeitupagain.’—’Buthow,’inquiredI,‘amItomaintainmyselfandmypoorsister?’
”’Aperson,whoseconfessorIam,’repliedhe,‘andwhoentertainsahighregardforme,appliedtomeashorttimesincetoprocurehimaconfidentialservant.Wouldyoulikesuchapost?
Ifso,Iwillgiveyoualetterofintroductiontohim.’
—’Oh,father,’Iexclaimed,‘youareverygood.’
”’ButyoumustswearsolemnlythatIshallneverhavereasontorepentmyrecommendation.’
Iextendedmyhand,andwasabouttopledgemyselfbyanypromisehewoulddictate,buthestoppedme.
‘Itisunnecessaryforyoutobindyourselfbyanyvow,’saidhe;‘IknowandadmiretheCorsicannaturetoowelltofearyou.
Here,takethis,’continuedhe,afterrapidlywritingthefewlinesIbroughttoyourexcellency,anduponreceiptofwhichyoudeignedtoreceivemeintoyourservice,andproudlyIaskwhetheryourexcellencyhaseverhadcausetorepenthavingdoneso?”
“No,”repliedthecount;“Itakepleasureinsayingthatyouhaveservedmefaithfully,Bertuccio;butyoumighthaveshownmoreconfidenceinme.”
“I,yourexcellency?”
“Yes;you.Howcomesit,thathavingbothasisterandanadoptedson,youhaveneverspokentomeofeither?”
“Alas,Ihavestilltorecountthemostdistressingperiodofmylife.
AnxiousasyoumaysupposeIwastobeholdandcomfortmydearsister,IlostnotimeinhasteningtoCorsica,butwhenIarrivedatRoglianoIfoundahouseofmourning,theconsequencesofascenesohorriblethattheneighborsrememberandspeakofittothisday.
Actingbymyadvice,mypoorsisterhadrefusedtocomplywiththeunreasonabledemandsofBenedetto,whowascontinuallytormentingherformoney,aslongashebelievedtherewasasouleftinherpossession.
Onemorningthathehaddemandedmoney,threateningherwiththeseverestconsequencesifshedidnotsupplyhimwithwhathedesired,hedisappearedandremainedawayallday,leavingthekind–heartedAssunta,wholovedhimasifhewereherownchild,toweepoverhisconductandbewailhisabsence.
Eveningcame,andstill,withallthepatientsolicitudeofamother,shewatchedforhisreturn.
“Astheeleventhhourstruck,heenteredwithaswaggeringair,attendedbytwoofthemostdissoluteandrecklessofhisbooncompanions.
Shestretchedoutherarmstohim,buttheyseizedholdofher,andoneofthethree—noneotherthantheaccursedBenedettoexclaimed,—’Puthertotortureandshe’llsoontelluswherehermoneyis.’
“Itunfortunatelyhappenedthatourneighbor,Vasilio,wasatBastia,leavingnopersoninhishousebuthiswife;nohumancreaturebesidecouldhearorseeanythingthattookplacewithinourdwelling.
TwoheldpoorAssunta,who,unabletoconceivethatanyharmwasintendedtoher,smiledinthefaceofthosewhoweresoontobecomeherexecutioners.
Thethirdproceededtobarricadethedoorsandwindows,thenreturned,andthethreeunitedinstiflingthecriesofterrorincitedbythesightofthesepreparations,andthendraggedAssuntafeetforemosttowardsthebrazier,expectingtowringfromheranavowalofwherehersupposedtreasurewassecreted.
Inthestruggleherclothescaughtfire,andtheywereobligedtoletgotheirholdinordertopreservethemselvesfromsharingthesamefate.
Coveredwithflames,Assuntarushedwildlytothedoor,butitwasfastened;sheflewtothewindows,buttheywerealsosecured;thentheneighborsheardfrightfulshrieks;itwasAssuntacallingforhelp.
Thecriesdiedawayingroans,andnextmorning,assoonasVasilio’swifecouldmusterupcouragetoventureabroad,shecausedthedoorofourdwellingtobeopenedbythepublicauthorities,whenAssunta,althoughdreadfullyburnt,wasfoundstillbreathing;everydrawerandclosetinthehousehadbeenforcedopen,andthemoneystolen.
BenedettoneveragainappearedatRogliano,neitherhaveIsincethatdayeitherseenorheardanythingconcerninghim.
“ItwassubsequentlytothesedreadfuleventsthatIwaitedonyourexcellency,towhomitwouldhavebeenfollytohavementionedBenedetto,sincealltraceofhimseemedentirelylost;orofmysister,sinceshewasdead.”
“Andinwhatlightdidyouviewtheoccurrence?”inquiredMonteCristo.
“AsapunishmentforthecrimeIhadcommitted,”answeredBertuccio.“Oh,thoseVillefortsareanaccursedrace!”
“Trulytheyare,”murmuredthecountinalugubrioustone.
“Andnow,”resumedBertuccio,“yourexcellencymay,perhaps,beabletocomprehendthatthisplace,whichIrevisitforthefirsttime—thisgarden,theactualsceneofmycrime—musthavegivenrisetoreflectionsofnoveryagreeablenature,andproducedthatgloomanddepressionofspiritswhichexcitedthenoticeofyourexcellency,whowaspleasedtoexpressadesiretoknowthecause.
AtthisinstantashudderpassesovermeasIreflectthatpossiblyIamnowstandingontheverygraveinwhichliesM.deVillefort,bywhosehandthegroundwasdugtoreceivethecorpseofhischild.”
“Everythingispossible,”saidMonteCristo,risingfromthebenchonwhichhehadbeensitting;“even,”headdedinaninaudiblevoice,“eventhattheprocureurbenotdead.
TheAbbeBusonididrighttosendyoutome,”hewentoninhisordinarytone,“andyouhavedonewellinrelatingtomethewholeofyourhistory,asitwillpreventmyforminganyerroneousopinionsconcerningyouinfuture.
AsforthatBenedetto,whosogrosslybeliedhisname,haveyounevermadeanyefforttotraceoutwhitherhehasgone,orwhathasbecomeofhim?”
“No;farfromwishingtolearnwhitherhehasbetakenhimself,IshouldshunthepossibilityofmeetinghimasIwouldawildbeast.
ThankGod,Ihaveneverheardhisnamementionedbyanyperson,andIhopeandbelieveheisdead.”
“Donotthinkso,Bertuccio,”repliedthecount;“forthewickedarenotsoeasilydisposedof,forGodseemstohavethemunderhisspecialwatch–caretomakeoftheminstrumentsofhisvengeance.”
“Sobeit,”respondedBertuccio,“allIaskofheavenisthatImayneverseehimagain.
Andnow,yourexcellency,”headded,bowinghishead,“youknoweverything—youaremyjudgeonearth,astheAlmightyisinheaven;haveyouformenowordsofconsolation?”
“Mygoodfriend,IcanonlyrepeatthewordsaddressedtoyoubytheAbbeBusoni.
Villefortmeritedpunishmentforwhathehaddonetoyou,and,perhaps,toothers.
Benedetto,ifstillliving,willbecometheinstrumentofdivineretributioninsomewayorother,andthenbedulypunishedinhisturn.
Asfarasyouyourselfareconcerned,Iseebutonepointinwhichyouarereallyguilty.
Askyourself,wherefore,afterrescuingtheinfantfromitslivinggrave,youdidnotrestoreittoitsmother?
Therewasthecrime,Bertuccio—thatwaswhereyoubecamereallyculpable.”
“True,excellency,thatwasthecrime,therealcrime,forinthatIactedlikeacoward.
Myfirstduty,directlyIhadsucceededinrecallingthebabetolife,wastorestoreittoitsmother;but,inordertodoso,Imusthavemadecloseandcarefulinquiry,whichwould,inallprobability,haveledtomyownapprehension;andIclungtolife,partlyonmysister’saccount,andpartlyfromthatfeelingofprideinborninourheartsofdesiringtocomeoffuntouchedandvictoriousintheexecutionofourvengeance.
Perhaps,too,thenaturalandinstinctiveloveoflifemademewishtoavoidendangeringmyown.
Andthen,again,Iamnotasbraveandcourageousaswasmypoorbrother.”
Bertucciohidhisfaceinhishandsasheutteredthesewords,whileMonteCristofixedonhimalookofinscrutablemeaning.
Afterabriefsilence,renderedstillmoresolemnbythetimeandplace,thecountsaid,inatoneofmelancholywhollyunlikehisusualmanner,“Inordertobringthisconversationtoafittingtermination(thelastweshalleverholduponthissubject),IwillrepeattoyousomewordsIhaveheardfromthelipsoftheAbbeBusoni.
Forallevilstherearetworemedies—timeandsilence.
Andnowleaveme,MonsieurBertuccio,towalkalonehereinthegarden.
Theverycircumstanceswhichinflictonyou,asaprincipalinthetragicsceneenactedhere,suchpainfulemotions,aretome,onthecontrary,asourceofsomethinglikecontentment,andservebuttoenhancethevalueofthisdwellinginmyestimation.
Thechiefbeautyoftreesconsistsinthedeepshadowoftheirumbrageousboughs,whilefancypicturesamovingmultitudeofshapesandformsflittingandpassingbeneaththatshade.
HereIhaveagardenlaidoutinsuchawayastoaffordthefullestscopefortheimagination,andfurnishedwiththicklygrowntrees,beneathwhoseleafyscreenavisionarylikemyselfmayconjureupphantomsatwill.
Thistome,whoexpectedbuttofindablankenclosuresurroundedbyastraightwall,is,Iassureyou,amostagreeablesurprise.
Ihavenofearofghosts,andIhaveneverhearditsaidthatsomuchharmhadbeendonebythedeadduringsixthousandyearsasiswroughtbythelivinginasingleday.
Retirewithin,Bertuccio,andtranquillizeyourmind.
ShouldyourconfessorbelessindulgenttoyouinyourdyingmomentsthanyoufoundtheAbbeBusoni,sendforme,ifIamstillonearth,andIwillsootheyourearswithwordsthatshalleffectuallycalmandsootheyourpartingsoulereitgoesforthtotraversetheoceancalledeternity.”
Bertucciobowedrespectfully,andturnedaway,sighingheavily.
MonteCristo,leftalone,tookthreeorfourstepsonwards,andmurmured,“Here,beneaththisplane–tree,musthavebeenwheretheinfant’sgravewasdug.
Thereisthelittledooropeningintothegarden.
Atthiscorneristheprivatestaircasecommunicatingwiththesleepingapartment.
Therewillbenonecessityformetomakeanoteoftheseparticulars,forthere,beforemyeyes,beneathmyfeet,allaroundme,Ihavetheplansketchedwithallthelivingrealityoftruth.”
Aftermakingthetourofthegardenasecondtime,thecountre–enteredhiscarriage,whileBertuccio,whoperceivedthethoughtfulexpressionofhismaster’sfeatures,tookhisseatbesidethedriverwithoututteringaword.
ThecarriageproceededrapidlytowardsParis.
Thatsameevening,uponreachinghisabodeintheChampsElysees,theCountofMonteCristowentoverthewholebuildingwiththeairofonelongacquaintedwitheachnookorcorner.
Nor,althoughprecedingtheparty,didheoncemistakeonedoorforanother,orcommitthesmallesterrorwhenchoosinganyparticularcorridororstaircasetoconducthimtoaplaceorsuiteofroomshedesiredtovisit.
Aliwashisprincipalattendantduringthisnocturnalsurvey.
HavinggivenvariousorderstoBertucciorelativetotheimprovementsandalterationshedesiredtomakeinthehouse,theCount,drawingouthiswatch,saidtotheattentiveNubian,“Itishalf–pasteleveno’clock;Haideewillsoonbehere.
HavetheFrenchattendantsbeensummonedtoawaithercoming?”
AliextendedhishandstowardstheapartmentsdestinedforthefairGreek,whichweresoeffectuallyconcealedbymeansofatapestriedentrance,thatitwouldhavepuzzledthemostcurioustohavedivinedtheirexistence.
Ali,havingpointedtotheapartments,heldupthreefingersofhisrighthand,andthen,placingitbeneathhishead,shuthiseyes,andfeignedtosleep.
“Iunderstand,”saidMonteCristo,wellacquaintedwithAli’spantomime;“youmeantotellmethatthreefemaleattendantsawaittheirnewmistressinhersleeping–chamber.”
Ali,withconsiderableanimation,madeasignintheaffirmative.
“Madamewillbetiredto–night,”continuedMonteCristo,“andwill,nodoubt,wishtorest.
DesiretheFrenchattendantsnottowearyherwithquestions,butmerelytopaytheirrespectfuldutyandretire.
YouwillalsoseethattheGreekservantsholdnocommunicationwiththoseofthiscountry.”Hebowed.
Justatthatmomentvoiceswereheardhailingtheconcierge.
Thegateopened,acarriagerolleddowntheavenue,andstoppedatthesteps.
Thecounthastilydescended,presentedhimselfatthealreadyopenedcarriagedoor,andheldouthishandtoayoungwoman,completelyenvelopedinagreensilkmantleheavilyembroideredwithgold.
Sheraisedthehandextendedtowardshertoherlips,andkisseditwithamixtureofloveandrespect.
SomefewwordspassedbetweentheminthatsonorouslanguageinwhichHomermakeshisgodsconverse.
Theyoungwomanspokewithanexpressionofdeeptenderness,whilethecountrepliedwithanairofgentlegravity.
PrecededbyAli,whocarriedarose–coloredflambeauinhishand,thenew–comer,whowasnootherthanthelovelyGreekwhohadbeenMonteCristo’scompanioninItaly,wasconductedtoherapartments,whilethecountretiredtothepavilionreservedforhimself.
Inanotherhoureverylightinthehousewasextinguished,anditmighthavebeenthoughtthatallitsinmatesslept.
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