English
IftheCountofMonteCristohadbeenforalongtimefamiliarwiththewaysofParisiansociety,hewouldhaveappreciatedbetterthesignificanceofthestepwhichM.deVilleforthadtaken.
Standingwellatcourt,whetherthekingregnantwasoftheolderoryoungerbranch,whetherthegovernmentwasdoctrinaireliberal,orconservative;lookeduponbyallasamanoftalent,sincethosewhohaveneverexperiencedapoliticalcheckaregenerallysoregarded;hatedbymany,butwarmlysupportedbyothers,withoutbeingreallylikedbyanybody,M.deVillefortheldahighpositioninthemagistracy,andmaintainedhiseminencelikeaHarlayoraMole.
Hisdrawing–room,undertheregeneratinginfluenceofayoungwifeandadaughterbyhisfirstmarriage,scarcelyeighteen,wasstilloneofthewell–regulatedParissalonswheretheworshipoftraditionalcustomsandtheobservanceofrigidetiquettewerecarefullymaintained.
Afreezingpoliteness,astrictfidelitytogovernmentprinciples,aprofoundcontemptfortheoriesandtheorists,adeep–seatedhatredofideality,—theseweretheelementsofprivateandpubliclifedisplayedbyM.deVillefort.
Hewasnotonlyamagistrate,hewasalmostadiplomatist.
Hisrelationswiththeformercourt,ofwhichhealwaysspokewithdignityandrespect,madehimrespectedbythenewone,andheknewsomanythings,thatnotonlywashealwayscarefullyconsidered,butsometimesconsulted.
PerhapsthiswouldnothavebeensohaditbeenpossibletogetridofM.deVillefort;but,likethefeudalbaronswhorebelledagainsttheirsovereign,hedweltinanimpregnablefortress.
Thisfortresswashispostasking’sattorney,alltheadvantagesofwhichheexploitedwithmarvellousskill,andwhichhewouldnothaveresignedbuttobemadedeputy,andthustoreplaceneutralitybyopposition.
OrdinarilyM.deVillefortmadeandreturnedveryfewvisits.
Hiswifevisitedforhim,andthiswasthereceivedthingintheworld,wheretheweightyandmultifariousoccupationsofthemagistratewereacceptedasanexcuseforwhatwasreallyonlycalculatedpride,amanifestationofprofessedsuperiority—infact,theapplicationoftheaxiom,“Pretendtothinkwellofyourself,andtheworldwillthinkwellofyou,”anaxiomahundredtimesmoreusefulinsocietynowadaysthanthatoftheGreeks,“Knowthyself,”aknowledgeforwhich,inourdays,wehavesubstitutedthelessdifficultandmoreadvantageousscienceofknowingothers.
TohisfriendsM.deVillefortwasapowerfulprotector;tohisenemies,hewasasilent,butbitteropponent;forthosewhowereneithertheonenortheother,hewasastatueofthelaw–mademan.
Hehadahaughtybearing,alookeithersteadyandimpenetrableorinsolentlypiercingandinquisitorial.
Foursuccessiverevolutionshadbuiltandcementedthepedestaluponwhichhisfortunewasbased.
M.deVilleforthadthereputationofbeingtheleastcuriousandtheleastwearisomemaninFrance.
Hegaveaballeveryyear,atwhichheappearedforaquarterofanhouronly,—thatistosay,fiveandfortyminuteslessthanthekingisvisibleathisballs.
Hewasneverseenatthetheatres,atconcerts,orinanyplaceofpublicresort.
Occasionally,butseldom,heplayedatwhist,andthencarewastakentoselectpartnersworthyofhim—sometimestheywereambassadors,sometimesarchbishops,orsometimesaprince,orapresident,orsomedowagerduchess.
SuchwasthemanwhosecarriagehadjustnowstoppedbeforetheCountofMonteCristo’sdoor.
ThevaletdechambreannouncedM.deVillefortatthemomentwhenthecount,leaningoveralargetable,wastracingonamaptheroutefromSt.PetersburgtoChina.
Theprocureurenteredwiththesamegraveandmeasuredstephewouldhaveemployedinenteringacourtofjustice.
Hewasthesameman,orratherthedevelopmentofthesameman,whomwehaveheretoforeseenasassistantattorneyatMarseilles.
Nature,accordingtoherway,hadmadenodeviationinthepathhehadmarkedoutforhimself.
Frombeingslenderhehadnowbecomemeagre;oncepale,hewasnowyellow;hisdeep–seteyeswerehollow,andthegoldspectaclesshieldinghiseyesseemedtobeanintegralportionofhisface.
Hedressedentirelyinblack,withtheexceptionofhiswhitetie,andhisfuneralappearancewasonlymitigatedbytheslightlineofredribbonwhichpassedalmostimperceptiblythroughhisbutton–hole,andappearedlikeastreakofbloodtracedwithadelicatebrush.
Althoughmasterofhimself,MonteCristo,scrutinizedwithirrepressiblecuriositythemagistratewhosesalutehereturned,andwho,distrustfulbyhabit,andespeciallyincredulousastosocialprodigies,wasmuchmoredespisedtolookupon“thenoblestranger,”asMonteCristowasalreadycalled,asanadventurerinsearchofnewfields,oranescapedcriminal,ratherthanasaprinceoftheHolySee,orasultanoftheThousandandOneNights.
“Sir,”saidVillefort,inthesqueakytoneassumedbymagistratesintheiroratoricalperiods,andofwhichtheycannot,orwillnot,divestthemselvesinsociety,“sir,thesignalservicewhichyouyesterdayrenderedtomywifeandsonhasmadeitadutyformetoofferyoumythanks.
Ihavecome,therefore,todischargethisduty,andtoexpresstoyoumyoverwhelminggratitude.”
Andashesaidthis,the“eyesevere”ofthemagistratehadlostnothingofitshabitualarrogance.
Hespokeinavoiceoftheprocureur–general,withtherigidinflexibilityofneckandshoulderswhichcausedhisflattererstosay(aswehavebeforeobserved)thathewasthelivingstatueofthelaw.
“Monsieur,”repliedthecount,withachillingair,“Iamveryhappytohavebeenthemeansofpreservingasontohismother,fortheysaythatthesentimentofmaternityisthemostholyofall;andthegoodfortunewhichoccurredtome,monsieur,mighthaveenabledyoutodispensewithadutywhich,initsdischarge,confersanundoubtedlygreathonor;forIamawarethatM.deVillefortisnotusuallylavishofthefavorwhichhenowbestowsonme,—afavorwhich,howeverestimable,isunequaltothesatisfactionwhichIhaveinmyownconsciousness.”
Villefort,astonishedatthisreply,whichhebynomeansexpected,startedlikeasoldierwhofeelstheblowlevelledathimoverthearmorhewears,andacurlofhisdisdainfullipindicatedthatfromthatmomenthenotedinthetabletsofhisbrainthattheCountofMonteCristowasbynomeansahighlybredgentleman.
Heglancedaround,inordertoseizeonsomethingonwhichtheconversationmightturn,andseemedtofalleasilyonatopic.
HesawthemapwhichMonteCristohadbeenexaminingwhenheentered,andsaid,“Youseemgeographicallyengaged,sir?
Itisarichstudyforyou,who,asIlearn,haveseenasmanylandsasaredelineatedonthismap.”
“Yes,sir,”repliedthecount;“Ihavesoughttomakeofthehumanrace,takeninthemass,whatyoupracticeeverydayonindividuals—aphysiologicalstudy.
Ihavebelieveditwasmucheasiertodescendfromthewholetoapartthantoascendfromaparttothewhole.
Itisanalgebraicaxiom,whichmakesusproceedfromaknowntoanunknownquantity,andnotfromanunknowntoaknown;butsitdown,sir,Ibegofyou.”
MonteCristopointedtoachair,whichtheprocureurwasobligedtotakethetroubletomoveforwardshimself,whilethecountmerelyfellbackintohisown,onwhichhehadbeenkneelingwhenM.Villefortentered.
Thusthecountwashalfwayturnedtowardshisvisitor,havinghisbacktowardsthewindow,hiselbowrestingonthegeographicalchartwhichfurnishedthethemeofconversationforthemoment,—aconversationwhichassumed,asinthecaseoftheinterviewswithDanglarsandMorcerf,aturnanalogoustothepersons,ifnottothesituation.
“Ah,youphilosophize,”repliedVillefort,afteramoment’ssilence,duringwhich,likeawrestlerwhoencountersapowerfulopponent,hetookbreath;“well,sir,really,if,likeyou,Ihadnothingelsetodo,Ishouldseekamoreamusingoccupation.”
“Why,intruth,sir,”wasMonteCristo’sreply,“manisbutanuglycaterpillarforhimwhostudieshimthroughasolarmicroscope;butyousaid,Ithink,thatIhadnothingelsetodo.Now,really,letmeask,sir,haveyou?
—doyoubelieveyouhaveanythingtodo?
ortospeakinplainterms,doyoureallythinkthatwhatyoudodeservesbeingcalledanything?”
Villefort’sastonishmentredoubledatthissecondthrustsoforciblymadebyhisstrangeadversary.
Itwasalongtimesincethemagistratehadheardaparadoxsostrong,orrather,tosaythetruthmoreexactly,itwasthefirsttimehehadeverheardofit.Theprocureurexertedhimselftoreply.
“Sir,”heresponded,“youareastranger,andIbelieveyousayyourselfthataportionofyourlifehasbeenspentinOrientalcountries,soyouarenotawarehowhumanjustice,soexpeditionsinbarbarouscountries,takeswithusaprudentandwell–studiedcourse.”
“Oh,yes—yes,Ido,sir;itisthepedeclaudooftheancients.
Iknowallthat,foritiswiththejusticeofallcountriesespeciallythatIhaveoccupiedmyself—itiswiththecriminalprocedureofallnationsthatIhavecomparednaturaljustice,andImustsay,sir,thatitisthelawofprimitivenations,thatis,thelawofretaliation,thatIhavemostfrequentlyfoundtobeaccordingtothelawofGod.”
“Ifthislawwereadopted,sir,”saidtheprocureur,“itwouldgreatlysimplifyourlegalcodes,andinthatcasethemagistrateswouldnot(asyoujustobserved)havemuchtodo.”
“Itmay,perhaps,cometothisintime,”observedMonteCristo;“youknowthathumaninventionsmarchfromthecomplextothesimple,andsimplicityisalwaysperfection.”
“Inthemeanwhile,”continuedthemagistrate,“ourcodesareinfullforce,withalltheircontradictoryenactmentsderivedfromGalliccustoms,Romanlaws,andFrankusages;theknowledgeofallwhich,youwillagree,isnottobeacquiredwithoutextendedlabor;itneedstediousstudytoacquirethisknowledge,and,whenacquired,astrongpowerofbraintoretainit.”
“Iagreewithyouentirely,sir;butallthatevenyouknowwithrespecttotheFrenchcode,Iknow,notonlyinreferencetothatcode,butasregardsthecodesofallnations.
TheEnglish,Turkish,Japanese,Hindulaws,areasfamiliartomeastheFrenchlaws,andthusIwasright,whenIsaidtoyou,thatrelatively(youknowthateverythingisrelative,sir)—thatrelativelytowhatIhavedone,youhaveverylittletodo;butthatrelativelytoallIhavelearned,youhaveyetagreatdealtolearn.”
“Butwithwhatmotivehaveyoulearnedallthis?”inquiredVillefort,inastonishment.MonteCristosmiled.
“Really,sir,”heobserved,“Iseethatinspiteofthereputationwhichyouhaveacquiredasasuperiorman,youlookateverythingfromthematerialandvulgarviewofsociety,beginningwithman,andendingwithman—thatistosay,inthemostrestricted,mostnarrowviewwhichitispossibleforhumanunderstandingtoembrace.”
“Pray,sir,explainyourself,”saidVillefort,moreandmoreastonished,“Ireallydo—not—understandyou—perfectly.”
“Isay,sir,thatwiththeeyesfixedonthesocialorganizationofnations,youseeonlythespringsofthemachine,andlosesightofthesublimeworkmanwhomakesthemact;Isaythatyoudonotrecognizebeforeyouandaroundyouanybutthoseoffice–holderswhosecommissionshavebeensignedbyaministerorking;andthatthemenwhomGodhasputabovethoseoffice–holders,ministers,andkings,bygivingthemamissiontofollowout,insteadofaposttofill—Isaythattheyescapeyournarrow,limitedfieldofobservation.
Itisthusthathumanweaknessfails,fromitsdebilitatedandimperfectorgans.
Tobiastooktheangelwhorestoredhimtolightforanordinaryyoungman.
ThenationstookAttila,whowasdoomedtodestroythem,foraconquerorsimilartootherconquerors,anditwasnecessaryforbothtorevealtheirmissions,thattheymightbeknownandacknowledged;onewascompelledtosay,‘IamtheangeloftheLord’;andtheother,‘IamthehammerofGod,’inorderthatthedivineessenceinbothmightberevealed.”
“Then,”saidVillefort,moreandmoreamazed,andreallysupposinghewasspeakingtoamysticoramadman,“youconsideryourselfasoneofthoseextraordinarybeingswhomyouhavementioned?”
“Andwhynot?”saidMonteCristocoldly.
“Yourpardon,sir,”repliedVillefort,quiteastounded,“butyouwillexcusemeif,whenIpresentedmyselftoyou,IwasunawarethatIshouldmeetwithapersonwhoseknowledgeandunderstandingsofarsurpasstheusualknowledgeandunderstandingofmen.
Itisnotusualwithuscorruptedwretchesofcivilizationtofindgentlemenlikeyourself,possessors,asyouare,ofimmensefortune—atleast,soitissaid—andIbegyoutoobservethatIdonotinquire,Imerelyrepeat;—itisnotusual,Isay,forsuchprivilegedandwealthybeingstowastetheirtimeinspeculationsonthestateofsociety,inphilosophicalreveries,intendedatbesttoconsolethosewhomfatehasdisinheritedfromthegoodsofthisworld.”
“Really,sir,”retortedthecount,“haveyouattainedtheeminentsituationinwhichyouare,withouthavingadmitted,orevenwithouthavingmetwithexceptions?
anddoyouneveruseyoureyes,whichmusthaveacquiredsomuchfinesseandcertainty,todivine,ataglance,thekindofmanbywhomyouareconfronted?
Shouldnotamagistratebenotmerelythebestadministratorofthelaw,butthemostcraftyexpounderofthechicaneryofhisprofession,asteelprobetosearchhearts,atouchstonetotrythegoldwhichineachsoulismingledwithmoreorlessofalloy?”
“Sir,”saidVillefort,“uponmyword,youovercomeme.Ireallyneverheardapersonspeakasyoudo.”
“Becauseyouremaineternallyencircledinaroundofgeneralconditions,andhaveneverdaredtoraiseyourwingsintothoseuppersphereswhichGodhaspeopledwithinvisibleorexceptionalbeings.”
“Andyouallowthen,sir,thatspheresexist,andthatthesemarkedandinvisiblebeingsmingleamongstus?”
“Whyshouldtheynot?Canyouseetheairyoubreathe,andyetwithoutwhichyoucouldnotforamomentexist?”
“Thenwedonotseethosebeingstowhomyouallude?”
“Yes,wedo;youseethemwheneverGodpleasestoallowthemtoassumeamaterialform.Youtouchthem,comeincontactwiththem,speaktothem,andtheyreplytoyou.”
“Ah,”saidVillefort,smiling,“IconfessIshouldliketobewarnedwhenoneofthesebeingsisincontactwithme.”
“Youhavebeenservedasyoudesire,monsieur,foryouwerewarnedjustnow,andInowagainwarnyou.”
“Thenyouyourselfareoneofthesemarkedbeings?”
“Yes,monsieur,Ibelieveso;foruntilnow,nomanhasfoundhimselfinapositionsimilartomine.
Thedominionsofkingsarelimitedeitherbymountainsorrivers,orachangeofmanners,oranalterationoflanguage.
Mykingdomisboundedonlybytheworld,forIamnotanItalian,oraFrenchman,oraHindu,oranAmerican,oraSpaniard—Iamacosmopolite.Nocountrycansayitsawmybirth.
Godaloneknowswhatcountrywillseemedie.
Iadoptallcustoms,speakalllanguages.
YoubelievemetobeaFrenchman,forIspeakFrenchwiththesamefacilityandpurityasyourself.
Well,Ali,myNubian,believesmetobeanArab;Bertuccio,mysteward,takesmeforaRoman;Haidee,myslave,thinksmeaGreek.
Youmay,therefore,comprehend,thatbeingofnocountry,askingnoprotectionfromanygovernment,acknowledgingnomanasmybrother,notoneofthescruplesthatarrestthepowerful,ortheobstacleswhichparalyzetheweak,paralyzesorarrestsme.
Ihaveonlytwoadversaries—Iwillnotsaytwoconquerors,forwithperseveranceIsubdueeventhem,—theyaretimeanddistance.
Thereisathird,andthemostterrible—thatismyconditionasamortalbeing.
Thisalonecanstopmeinmyonwardcareer,beforeIhaveattainedthegoalatwhichIaim,foralltherestIhavereducedtomathematicalterms.
Whatmencallthechancesoffate—namely,ruin,change,circumstances—Ihavefullyanticipated,andifanyoftheseshouldovertakeme,yetitwillnotoverwhelmme.
UnlessIdie,IshallalwaysbewhatIam,andthereforeitisthatIutterthethingsyouhaveneverheard,evenfromthemouthsofkings—forkingshaveneed,andotherpersonshavefearofyou.
Forwhoistherewhodoesnotsaytohimself,inasocietyasincongruouslyorganizedasours,‘PerhapssomedayIshallhavetodowiththeking’sattorney’?”
“Butcanyounotsaythat,sir?ThemomentyoubecomeaninhabitantofFrance,youarenaturallysubjectedtotheFrenchlaw.”
“Iknowitsir,”repliedMonteCristo;“butwhenIvisitacountryIbegintostudy,byallthemeanswhichareavailable,themenfromwhomImayhaveanythingtohopeortofear,tillIknowthemaswellas,perhapsbetterthan,theyknowthemselves.
Itfollowsfromthis,thattheking’sattorney,behewhohemay,withwhomIshouldhavetodeal,wouldassuredlybemoreembarrassedthanIshould.”
“Thatistosay,”repliedVillefortwithhesitation,“thathumannaturebeingweak,everyman,accordingtoyourcreed,hascommittedfaults.”
“Faultsorcrimes,”respondedMonteCristowithanegligentair.
“Andthatyoualone,amongstthemenwhomyoudonotrecognizeasyourbrothers—foryouhavesaidso,”observedVillefortinatonethatfalteredsomewhat—”youaloneareperfect.”
“No,notperfect,”wasthecount’sreply;“onlyimpenetrable,that’sall.
Butletusleaveoffthisstrain,sir,ifthetoneofitisdispleasingtoyou;Iamnomoredisturbedbyyourjusticethanareyoubymysecond–sight.”
“No,no,—bynomeans,”saidVillefort,whowasafraidofseemingtoabandonhisground.
“No;byyourbrilliantandalmostsublimeconversationyouhaveelevatedmeabovetheordinarylevel;wenolongertalk,werisetodissertation.
Butyouknowhowthetheologiansintheircollegiatechairs,andphilosophersintheircontroversies,occasionallysaycrueltruths;letussupposeforthemomentthatwearetheologizinginasocialway,orevenphilosophically,andIwillsaytoyou,rudeasitmayseem,‘Mybrother,yousacrificegreatlytopride;youmaybeaboveothers,butaboveyouthereisGod.’”
“Aboveusall,sir,”wasMonteCristo’sresponse,inatoneandwithanemphasissodeepthatVillefortinvoluntarilyshuddered.
“Ihavemyprideformen—serpentsalwaysreadytothreateneveryonewhowouldpasswithoutcrushingthemunderfoot.
ButIlayasidethatpridebeforeGod,whohastakenmefromnothingtomakemewhatIam.”
“Then,count,Iadmireyou,”saidVillefort,who,forthefirsttimeinthisstrangeconversation,usedthearistocraticformtotheunknownpersonage,whom,untilnow,hehadonlycalledmonsieur.
“Yes,andIsaytoyou,ifyouarereallystrong,reallysuperior,reallypious,orimpenetrable,whichyouwererightinsayingamountstothesamething—thenbeproud,sir,forthatisthecharacteristicofpredominance.
Yetyouhaveunquestionablysomeambition.”
“Ihave,sir.”
“Andwhatmayitbe?”
“Itoo,ashappenstoeverymanonceinhislife,havebeentakenbySatanintothehighestmountainintheearth,andwhenthereheshowedmeallthekingdomsoftheworld,andashesaidbefore,sosaidhetome,‘Childofearth,whatwouldstthouhavetomaketheeadoreme?’
Ireflectedlong,foragnawingambitionhadlongpreyeduponme,andthenIreplied,‘Listen,—Ihavealwaysheardofprovidence,andyetIhaveneverseenhim,oranythingthatresembleshim,orwhichcanmakemebelievethatheexists.
Iwishtobeprovidencemyself,forIfeelthatthemostbeautiful,noblest,mostsublimethingintheworld,istorecompenseandpunish.’Satanbowedhishead,andgroaned.
‘Youmistake,’hesaid,‘providencedoesexist,onlyyouhaveneverseenhim,becausethechildofGodisasinvisibleastheparent.
Youhaveseennothingthatresembleshim,becauseheworksbysecretsprings,andmovesbyhiddenways.
AllIcandoforyouistomakeyouoneoftheagentsofthatprovidence.’Thebargainwasconcluded.
Imaysacrificemysoul,butwhatmattersit?”addedMonteCristo.
“Ifthethingweretodoagain,Iwouldagaindoit.”
VillefortlookedatMonteCristowithextremeamazement.
“Count,”heinquired,“haveyouanyrelations?”
“No,sir,Iamaloneintheworld.”
“Somuchtheworse.”
“Why?”askedMonteCristo.
“Becausethenyoumightwitnessaspectaclecalculatedtobreakdownyourpride.Yousayyoufearnothingbutdeath?”
“IdidnotsaythatIfearedit;Ionlysaidthatdeathalonecouldchecktheexecutionofmyplans.”
“Andoldage?”
“MyendwillbeachievedbeforeIgrowold.”
“Andmadness?”
“Ihavebeennearlymad;andyouknowtheaxiom,—nonbisinidem.Itisanaxiomofcriminallaw,and,consequently,youunderstanditsfullapplication.”
“Sir,”continuedVillefort,“thereissomethingtofearbesidesdeath,oldage,andmadness.
Forinstance,thereisapoplexy—thatlightning–strokewhichstrikesbutdoesnotdestroyyou,andyetwhichbringseverythingtoanend.
Youarestillyourselfasnow,andyetyouareyourselfnolonger;youwho,likeAriel,vergeontheangelic,arebutaninertmass,which,likeCaliban,vergesonthebrutal;andthisiscalledinhumantongues,asItellyou,neithermorenorlessthanapoplexy.
Come,ifsoyouwill,count,andcontinuethisconversationatmyhouse,anydayyoumaybewillingtoseeanadversarycapableofunderstandingandanxioustorefuteyou,andIwillshowyoumyfather,M.NoirtierdeVillefort,oneofthemostfieryJacobinsoftheFrenchRevolution;thatistosay,hehadthemostremarkableaudacity,secondedbyamostpowerfulorganization—amanwhohasnot,perhaps,likeyourselfseenallthekingdomsoftheearth,butwhohashelpedtooverturnoneofthegreatest;infact,amanwhobelievedhimself,likeyou,oneoftheenvoys,notofGod,butofasupremebeing;notofprovidence,butoffate.
Well,sir,theruptureofablood–vesselonthelobeofthebrainhasdestroyedallthis,notinaday,notinanhour,butinasecond.
M.Noirtier,who,onthepreviousnight,wastheoldJacobin,theoldsenator,theoldCarbonaro,laughingattheguillotine,thecannon,andthedagger—M.Noirtier,playingwithrevolutions—M.Noirtier,forwhomFrancewasavastchess–board,fromwhichpawns,rooks,knights,andqueensweretodisappear,sothatthekingwascheckmated—M.Noirtier,theredoubtable,wasthenextmorning‘poorM.Noirtier,’thehelplessoldman,atthetendermerciesoftheweakestcreatureinthehousehold,thatis,hisgrandchild,Valentine;adumbandfrozencarcass,infact,livingpainlesslyon,thattimemaybegivenforhisframetodecomposewithouthisconsciousnessofitsdecay.”
“Alas,sir,”saidMonteCristo“thisspectacleisneitherstrangetomyeyenormythought.
Iamsomethingofaphysician,andhave,likemyfellows,soughtmorethanonceforthesoulinlivingandindeadmatter;yet,likeprovidence,ithasremainedinvisibletomyeyes,althoughpresenttomyheart.
AhundredwriterssinceSocrates,Seneca,St.Augustine,andGall,havemade,inverseandprose,thecomparisonyouhavemade,andyetIcanwellunderstandthatafather’ssufferingsmayeffectgreatchangesinthemindofason.
Iwillcallonyou,sir,sinceyoubidmecontemplate,fortheadvantageofmypride,thisterriblespectacle,whichmusthavebeensogreatasourceofsorrowtoyourfamily.”
“Itwouldhavebeensounquestionably,hadnotGodgivenmesolargeacompensation.
Incontrastwiththeoldman,whoisdragginghiswaytothetomb,aretwochildrenjustenteringintolife—Valentine,thedaughterbymyfirstwife—MademoiselleReneedeSaint–Meran—andEdward,theboywhoselifeyouhavethisdaysaved.”
“Andwhatisyourdeductionfromthiscompensation,sir?”inquiredMonteCristo.
“Mydeductionis,”repliedVillefort,“thatmyfather,ledawaybyhispassions,hascommittedsomefaultunknowntohumanjustice,butmarkedbythejusticeofGod.
ThatGod,desirousinhismercytopunishbutoneperson,hasvisitedthisjusticeonhimalone.”
MonteCristowithasmileonhislips,utteredinthedepthsofhissoulagroanwhichwouldhavemadeVillefortflyhadhebutheardit.
“Adieu,sir,”saidthemagistrate,whohadrisenfromhisseat;“Ileaveyou,bearingaremembranceofyou—aremembranceofesteem,whichIhopewillnotbedisagreeabletoyouwhenyouknowmebetter;forIamnotamantoboremyfriends,asyouwilllearn.
Besides,youhavemadeaneternalfriendofMadamedeVillefort.”
Thecountbowed,andcontentedhimselfwithseeingVilleforttothedoorofhiscabinet,theprocureurbeingescortedtohiscarriagebytwofootmen,who,onasignalfromtheirmaster,followedhimwitheverymarkofattention.
Whenhehadgone,MonteCristobreathedaprofoundsigh,andsaid,—”Enoughofthispoison,letmenowseektheantidote.”
Thensoundinghisbell,hesaidtoAli,whoentered,“Iamgoingtomadam’schamber—havethecarriagereadyatoneo’clock.”
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