English
ItwasreallytheCountofMonteCristowhohadjustarrivedatMadamedeVillefort’sforthepurposeofreturningtheprocureur’svisit,andathisname,asmaybeeasilyimagined,thewholehousewasinconfusion.
MadamedeVillefort,whowasaloneinherdrawing–roomwhenthecountwasannounced,desiredthathersonmightbebroughtthitherinstantlytorenewhisthankstothecount;andEdward,whoheardthisgreatpersonagetalkedoffortwowholedays,madeallpossiblehastetocometohim,notfromobediencetohismother,oroutofanyfeelingofgratitudetothecount,butfromsheercuriosity,andthatsomechanceremarkmightgivehimtheopportunityformakingoneoftheimpertinentspeecheswhichmadehismothersay,—”Oh,thatnaughtychild!
ButIcan’tbeseverewithhim,heisreallysobright.”
Aftertheusualcivilities,thecountinquiredafterM.deVillefort.
“Myhusbanddineswiththechancellor,”repliedtheyounglady;“hehasjustgone,andIamsurehe’llbeexceedinglysorrynottohavehadthepleasureofseeingyoubeforehewent.”
Twovisitorswhoweretherewhenthecountarrived,havinggazedathimwithalltheireyes,retiredafterthatreasonabledelaywhichpolitenessadmitsandcuriosityrequires.“WhatisyoursisterValentinedoing?”
inquiredMadamedeVillefortofEdward;“tellsomeonetobidhercomehere,thatImayhavethehonorofintroducinghertothecount.”
“Youhaveadaughter,then,madame?”inquiredthecount;“veryyoung,Ipresume?”
“ThedaughterofM.deVillefortbyhisfirstmarriage,”repliedtheyoungwife,“afinewell–growngirl.”
“Butmelancholy,”interruptedMasterEdward,snatchingthefeathersoutofthetailofasplendidparroquetthatwasscreamingonitsgildedperch,inordertomakeaplumeforhishat.
MadamedeVillefortmerelycried,—”Bestill,Edward!”
Shethenadded,—”Thisyoungmadcapis,however,verynearlyright,andmerelyre–echoeswhathehasheardmesaywithpainahundredtimes;forMademoiselledeVillefortis,inspiteofallwecandotorouseher,ofamelancholydispositionandtaciturnhabit,whichfrequentlyinjuretheeffectofherbeauty.Butwhatdetainsher?Go,Edward,andsee.”
“Becausetheyarelookingforherwheresheisnottobefound.”
“Andwherearetheylookingforher?”
“WithgrandpapaNoirtier.”
“Anddoyouthinksheisnotthere?”
“No,no,no,no,no,sheisnotthere,”repliedEdward,singinghiswords.
“Andwhereisshe,then?Ifyouknow,whydon’tyoutell?”
“Sheisunderthebigchestnut–tree,”repliedthespoiledbrat,ashegave,inspiteofhismother’scommands,livefliestotheparrot,whichseemedkeenlytorelishsuchfare.
MadamedeVillefortstretchedoutherhandtoring,intendingtodirectherwaiting–maidtothespotwhereshewouldfindValentine,whentheyoungladyherselfenteredtheapartment.
Sheappearedmuchdejected;andanypersonwhoconsideredherattentivelymighthaveobservedthetracesofrecenttearsinhereyes.
Valentine,whomwehaveintherapidmarchofournarrativepresentedtoourreaderswithoutformallyintroducingher,wasatallandgracefulgirlofnineteen,withbrightchestnuthair,deepblueeyes,andthatreposefulairofquietdistinctionwhichcharacterizedhermother.
Herwhiteandslenderfingers,herpearlyneck,hercheekstintedwithvaryinghuesremindedoneofthelovelyEnglishwomenwhohavebeensopoeticallycomparedintheirmannertothegracefulnessofaswan.
Sheenteredtheapartment,andseeingnearherstepmotherthestrangerofwhomshehadalreadyheardsomuch,salutedhimwithoutanygirlishawkwardness,orevenloweringhereyes,andwithanelegancethatredoubledthecount’sattention.Herosetoreturnthesalutation.
“MademoiselledeVillefort,mydaughter–in–law,”saidMadamedeVilleforttoMonteCristo,leaningbackonhersofaandmotioningtowardsValentinewithherhand.
“AndM.deMonteCristo,KingofChina,EmperorofCochin–China,”saidtheyoungimp,lookingslylytowardshissister.
MadamedeVillefortatthisreallydidturnpale,andwasverynearlyangrywiththishouseholdplague,whoansweredtothenameofEdward;butthecount,onthecontrary,smiled,andappearedtolookattheboycomplacently,whichcausedthematernalhearttoboundagainwithjoyandenthusiasm.
“But,madame,”repliedthecount,continuingtheconversation,andlookingbyturnsatMadamedeVillefortandValentine,“haveInotalreadyhadthehonorofmeetingyourselfandmademoisellebefore?
Icouldnothelpthinkingsojustnow;theideacameovermymind,andasmademoiselleenteredthesightofherwasanadditionalrayoflightthrownonaconfusedremembrance;excusetheremark.”
“Idonotthinkitlikely,sir;MademoiselledeVillefortisnotveryfondofsociety,andweveryseldomgoout,”saidtheyounglady.
“ThenitwasnotinsocietythatImetwithmademoiselleoryourself,madame,orthischarminglittlemerryboy.
Besides,theParisianworldisentirelyunknowntome,for,asIbelieveItoldyou,IhavebeeninParisbutveryfewdays.
No,—but,perhaps,youwillpermitmetocalltomind—stay!”
TheCountplacedhishandonhisbrowasiftocollecthisthoughts.
“No—itwassomewhere—awayfromhere—itwas—Idonotknow—butitappearsthatthisrecollectionisconnectedwithalovelyskyandsomereligiousfete;mademoisellewasholdingflowersinherhand,theinterestingboywaschasingabeautifulpeacockinagarden,andyou,madame,wereunderthetrellisofsomearbor.
Praycometomyaid,madame;donotthesecircumstancesappealtoyourmemory?”
“No,indeed,”repliedMadamedeVillefort;“andyetitappearstome,sir,thatifIhadmetyouanywhere,therecollectionofyoumusthavebeenimprintedonmymemory.”
“PerhapsthecountsawusinItaly,”saidValentinetimidly.
“Yes,inItaly;itwasinItalymostprobably,”repliedMonteCristo;“youhavetravelledtheninItaly,mademoiselle?”
“Yes;madameandIweretheretwoyearsago.Thedoctors,anxiousformylungs,hadprescribedtheairofNaples.WewentbyBologna,Perugia,andRome.”
“Ah,yes—true,mademoiselle,”exclaimedMonteCristoasifthissimpleexplanationwassufficienttorevivetherecollectionhesought.
“ItwasatPerugiaonCorpusChristiDay,inthegardenoftheHoteldesPostes,whenchancebroughtustogether;you,MadamedeVillefort,andherson;Inowrememberhavinghadthehonorofmeetingyou.”
“IperfectlywellrememberPerugia,sir,andtheHoteldesPostes,andthefestivalofwhichyouspeak,”saidMadamedeVillefort,“butinvaindoItaxmymemory,ofwhosetreacheryIamashamed,forIreallydonotrecalltomindthatIeverhadthepleasureofseeingyoubefore.”
“Itisstrange,butneitherdoIrecollectmeetingwithyou,”observedValentine,raisingherbeautifuleyestothecount.
“ButIrememberitperfectly,”interposedthedarlingEdward.
“Iwillassistyourmemory,madame,”continuedthecount;“thedayhadbeenburninghot;youwerewaitingforhorses,whichweredelayedinconsequenceofthefestival.
Mademoisellewaswalkingintheshadeofthegarden,andyoursondisappearedinpursuitofthepeacock.”
“AndIcaughtit,mamma,don’tyouremember?”interposedEdward,“andIpulledthreesuchbeautifulfeathersoutofhistail.”
“You,madame,remainedunderthearbor;doyounotremember,thatwhileyouwereseatedonastonebench,andwhile,asItoldyou,MademoiselledeVillefortandyouryoungsonwereabsent,youconversedforaconsiderabletimewithsomebody?”
“Yes,intruth,yes,”answeredtheyounglady,turningveryred,“Idorememberconversingwithapersonwrappedinalongwoollenmantle;hewasamedicalman,Ithink.”
“Preciselyso,madame;thismanwasmyself;forafortnightIhadbeenatthathotel,duringwhichperiodIhadcuredmyvaletdechambreofafever,andmylandlordofthejaundice,sothatIreallyacquiredareputationasaskilfulphysician.
Wediscoursedalongtime,madame,ondifferentsubjects;ofPerugino,ofRaffaelle,ofmanners,customs,ofthefamousaquatofana,ofwhichtheyhadtoldyou,Ithinkyousaid,thatcertainindividualsinPerugiahadpreservedthesecret.”
“Yes,true,”repliedMadamedeVillefort,somewhatuneasily,“Iremembernow.”
“Idonotrecollectnowallthevarioussubjectsofwhichwediscoursed,madame,”continuedthecountwithperfectcalmness;“butIperfectlyrememberthat,fallingintotheerrorwhichothershadentertainedrespectingme,youconsultedmeastothehealthofMademoiselledeVillefort.”
“Yes,really,sir,youwereinfactamedicalman,”saidMadamedeVillefort,“sinceyouhadcuredthesick.”
“MoliereorBeaumarchaiswouldreplytoyou,madame,thatitwaspreciselybecauseIwasnot,thatIhadcuredmypatients;formyself,IamcontenttosaytoyouthatIhavestudiedchemistryandthenaturalsciencessomewhatdeeply,butstillonlyasanamateur,youunderstand.”—Atthismomenttheclockstrucksix.
“Itissixo’clock,”saidMadamedeVillefort,evidentlyagitated.
“Valentine,willyounotgoandseeifyourgrandpapawillhavehisdinner?”
Valentinerose,andsalutingthecount,lefttheapartmentwithoutspeaking.
“Oh,madame,”saidthecount,whenValentinehadlefttheroom,“wasitonmyaccountthatyousentMademoiselledeVillefortaway?”
“Bynomeans,”repliedtheyoungladyquickly;“butthisisthehourwhenweusuallygiveM.Noirtiertheunwelcomemealthatsustainshispitifulexistence.
Youareaware,sir,ofthedeplorableconditionofmyhusband’sfather?”
“Yes,madame,M.deVillefortspokeofittome—aparalysis,Ithink.”
“Alas,yes;thepooroldgentlemanisentirelyhelpless;themindaloneisstillactiveinthishumanmachine,andthatisfaintandflickering,likethelightofalampabouttoexpire.
Butexcuseme,sir,fortalkingofourdomesticmisfortunes;Iinterruptedyouatthemomentwhenyouweretellingmethatyouwereaskilfulchemist.”
“No,madame,Ididnotsayasmuchasthat,”repliedthecountwithasmile;“quitethecontrary.
Ihavestudiedchemistrybecause,havingdeterminedtoliveineasternclimatesIhavebeendesirousoffollowingtheexampleofKingMithridates.”
“MithridatesrexPonticus,”saidtheyoungscamp,ashetoresomebeautifulportraitsoutofasplendidalbum,“theindividualwhotookcreaminhiscupofpoisoneverymorningatbreakfast.”
“Edward,younaughtyboy,”exclaimedMadamedeVillefort,snatchingthemutilatedbookfromtheurchin’sgrasp,“youarepositivelypastbearing;youreallydisturbtheconversation;go,leaveus,andjoinyoursisterValentineindeargrandpapaNoirtier’sroom.”
“Thealbum,”saidEdwardsulkily.
“Whatdoyoumean?—thealbum!”
“Iwantthealbum.”
“Howdareyoutearoutthedrawings?”
“Oh,itamusesme.”
“Go—goatonce.”
“Iwon’tgounlessyougivemethealbum,”saidtheboy,seatinghimselfdoggedlyinanarm–chair,accordingtohishabitofnevergivingway.
“Takeit,then,andpraydisturbusnolonger,”saidMadamedeVillefort,givingthealbumtoEdward,whothenwenttowardsthedoor,ledbyhismother.Thecountfollowedherwithhiseyes.
“Letusseeifsheshutsthedoorafterhim,”hemuttered.
MadamedeVillefortclosedthedoorcarefullyafterthechild,thecountappearingnottonoticeher;thencastingascrutinizingglancearoundthechamber,theyoungwifereturnedtoherchair,inwhichsheseatedherself.
“Allowmetoobserve,madame,”saidthecount,withthatkindtonehecouldassumesowell,“youarereallyveryseverewiththatdearcleverchild.”
“Oh,sometimesseverityisquitenecessary,”repliedMadamedeVillefort,withallamother’srealfirmness.
“ItwashisCorneliusNeposthatMasterEdwardwasrepeatingwhenhereferredtoKingMithridates,”continuedthecount,“andyouinterruptedhiminaquotationwhichprovesthathistutorhasbynomeansneglectedhim,foryoursonisreallyadvancedforhisyears.”
“Thefactis,count,”answeredthemother,agreeablyflattered,“hehasgreataptitude,andlearnsallthatissetbeforehim.
Hehasbutonefault,heissomewhatwilful;butreally,onreferringforthemomenttowhathesaid,doyoutrulybelievethatMithridatesusedtheseprecautions,andthattheseprecautionswereefficacious?”
“Ithinkso,madame,becauseImyselfhavemadeuseofthem,thatImightnotbepoisonedatNaples,atPalermo,andatSmyrna—thatistosay,onthreeseveraloccasionswhen,butfortheseprecautions,Imusthavelostmylife.”
“Andyourprecautionsweresuccessful?”
“Completelyso.”
“Yes,IremembernowyourmentioningtomeatPerugiasomethingofthissort.”
“Indeed?”saidthecountwithanairofsurprise,remarkablywellcounterfeited;“Ireallydidnotremember.”
“Iinquiredofyouifpoisonsactedequally,andwiththesameeffect,onmenoftheNorthasonmenoftheSouth;andyouansweredmethatthecoldandsluggishhabitsoftheNorthdidnotpresentthesameaptitudeastherichandenergetictemperamentsofthenativesoftheSouth.”
“Andthatisthecase,”observedMonteCristo.“IhaveseenRussiansdevour,withoutbeingvisiblyinconvenienced,vegetablesubstanceswhichwouldinfalliblyhavekilledaNeapolitanoranArab.”
“AndyoureallybelievetheresultwouldbestillmoresurewithusthanintheEast,andinthemidstofourfogsandrainsamanwouldhabituatehimselfmoreeasilythaninawarmlatitudetothisprogressiveabsorptionofpoison?”
“Certainly;itbeingatthesametimeperfectlyunderstoodthatheshouldhavebeendulyfortifiedagainstthepoisontowhichhehadnotbeenaccustomed.”
“Yes,Iunderstandthat;andhowwouldyouhabituateyourself,forinstance,orrather,howdidyouhabituateyourselftoit?”
“Oh,veryeasily.Supposeyouknewbeforehandthepoisonthatwouldbemadeuseofagainstyou;supposethepoisonwas,forinstance,brucine”—
“Brucineisextractedfromthefalseangostura[*]isitnot?”inquiredMadamedeVillefort.
“Precisely,madame,”repliedMonteCristo;“butIperceiveIhavenotmuchtoteachyou.
Allowmetocomplimentyouonyourknowledge;suchlearningisveryrareamongladies.”
“Oh,Iamawareofthat,”saidMadamedeVillefort;“butIhaveapassionfortheoccultsciences,whichspeaktotheimaginationlikepoetry,andarereducibletofigures,likeanalgebraicequation;butgoon,Ibegofyou;whatyousayinterestsmetothegreatestdegree.”
*Brucoeaferruginea.
“Well,”repliedMonteCristo“suppose,then,thatthispoisonwasbrucine,andyouweretotakeamilligrammethefirstday,twomilligrammesthesecondday,andsoon.
Well,attheendoftendaysyouwouldhavetakenacentigramme,attheendoftwentydays,increasinganothermilligramme,youwouldhavetakenthreehundredcentigrammes;thatistosay,adosewhichyouwouldsupportwithoutinconvenience,andwhichwouldbeverydangerousforanyotherpersonwhohadnottakenthesameprecautionsasyourself.
Well,then,attheendofamonth,whendrinkingwaterfromthesamecarafe,youwouldkillthepersonwhodrankwithyou,withoutyourperceiving,otherwisethanfromslightinconvenience,thattherewasanypoisonoussubstancemingledwiththiswater.”
“Doyouknowanyothercounter–poisons?”
“Idonot.”
“Ihaveoftenread,andreadagain,thehistoryofMithridates,”saidMadamedeVillefortinatoneofreflection,“andhadalwaysconsidereditafable.”
“No,madame,contrarytomosthistory,itistrue;butwhatyoutellme,madame,whatyouinquireofme,isnottheresultofachancequery,fortwoyearsagoyouaskedmethesamequestions,andsaidthen,thatforaverylongtimethishistoryofMithridateshadoccupiedyourmind.”
“True,sir.Thetwofavoritestudiesofmyyouthwerebotanyandmineralogy,andsubsequently,whenIlearnedthattheuseofsimplesfrequentlyexplainedthewholehistoryofapeople,andtheentirelifeofindividualsintheEast,asflowersbetokenandsymbolizealoveaffair,IhaveregrettedthatIwasnotaman,thatImighthavebeenaFlamel,aFontana,oraCabanis.”
“Andthemore,madame,”saidMonteCristo,“astheOrientalsdonotconfinethemselves,asdidMithridates,tomakeacuirassofhispoisons,buttheyalsomadethemadagger.
Sciencebecomes,intheirhands,notonlyadefensiveweapon,butstillmorefrequentlyanoffensiveone;theoneservesagainstalltheirphysicalsufferings,theotheragainstalltheirenemies.
Withopium,belladonna,brucaea,snake–wood,andthecherry–laurel,theyputtosleepallwhostandintheirway.
Thereisnotoneofthosewomen,Egyptian,Turkish,orGreek,whomhereyoucall‘goodwomen,’whodonotknowhow,bymeansofchemistry,tostupefyadoctor,andinpsychologytoamazeaconfessor.”
“Really,”saidMadamedeVillefort,whoseeyessparkledwithstrangefireatthisconversation.
“Oh,yes,indeed,madame,”continuedMonteCristo,“thesecretdramasoftheEastbeginwithalovephiltreandendwithadeathpotion—beginwithparadiseandendwith—hell.
Thereareasmanyelixirsofeverykindastherearecapricesandpeculiaritiesinthephysicalandmoralnatureofhumanity;andIwillsayfurther—theartofthesechemistsiscapablewiththeutmostprecisiontoaccommodateandproportiontheremedyandthebanetoyearningsforloveordesiresforvengeance.”
“But,sir,”remarkedtheyoungwoman,“theseEasternsocieties,inthemidstofwhichyouhavepassedaportionofyourexistence,areasfantasticasthetalesthatcomefromtheirstrangeland.
Amancaneasilybeputoutofthewaythere,then;itis,indeed,theBagdadandBassoraofthe‘ThousandandOneNights.’
Thesultansandvizierswhoruleoversocietythere,andwhoconstitutewhatinFrancewecallthegovernment,arereallyHaroun–al–RaschidsandGiaffars,whonotonlypardonapoisoner,butevenmakehimaprimeminister,ifhiscrimehasbeenaningeniousone,andwho,undersuchcircumstances,havethewholestorywritteninlettersofgold,todiverttheirhoursofidlenessandennui.”
“Bynomeans,madame;thefancifulexistsnolongerintheEast.
There,disguisedunderothernames,andconcealedunderothercostumes,arepoliceagents,magistrates,attorneys–general,andbailiffs.
Theyhang,behead,andimpaletheircriminalsinthemostagreeablepossiblemanner;butsomeofthese,likecleverrogues,havecontrivedtoescapehumanjustice,andsucceedintheirfraudulententerprisesbycunningstratagems.
Amongstusasimpleton,possessedbythedemonofhateorcupidity,whohasanenemytodestroy,orsomenearrelationtodisposeof,goesstraighttothegrocer’sordruggist’s,givesafalsename,whichleadsmoreeasilytohisdetectionthanhisrealone,andunderthepretextthattheratspreventhimfromsleeping,purchasesfiveorsixgrammesofarsenic—ifheisreallyacunningfellow,hegoestofiveorsixdifferentdruggistsorgrocers,andtherebybecomesonlyfiveorsixtimesmoreeasilytraced;—then,whenhehasacquiredhisspecific,headministersdulytohisenemy,ornearkinsman,adoseofarsenicwhichwouldmakeamammothormastodonburst,andwhich,withoutrhymeorreason,makeshisvictimuttergroanswhichalarmtheentireneighborhood.
Thenarriveacrowdofpolicemenandconstables.
Theyfetchadoctor,whoopensthedeadbody,andcollectsfromtheentrailsandstomachaquantityofarsenicinaspoon.
Nextdayahundrednewspapersrelatethefact,withthenamesofthevictimandthemurderer.
Thesameeveningthegrocerorgrocers,druggistordruggists,comeandsay,‘ItwasIwhosoldthearsenictothegentleman;’andratherthannotrecognizetheguiltypurchaser,theywillrecognizetwenty.
Thenthefoolishcriminalistaken,imprisoned,interrogated,confronted,confounded,condemned,andcutoffbyhemporsteel;orifshebeawomanofanyconsideration,theylockherupforlife.
ThisisthewayinwhichyouNorthernsunderstandchemistry,madame.
Desrueswas,however,Imustconfess,moreskilful.”
“Whatwouldyouhave,sir?”saidthelady,laughing;“wedowhatwecan.AlltheworldhasnotthesecretoftheMedicisortheBorgias.”
“Now,”repliedthecount,shrugginghisshoulders,“shallItellyouthecauseofallthesestupidities?
Itisbecause,atyourtheatres,bywhatatleastIcouldjudgebyreadingthepiecestheyplay,theyseepersonsswallowthecontentsofaphial,orsuckthebuttonofaring,andfalldeadinstantly.
Fiveminutesafterwardsthecurtainfalls,andthespectatorsdepart.
Theyareignorantoftheconsequencesofthemurder;theyseeneitherthepolicecommissarywithhisbadgeofoffice,northecorporalwithhisfourmen;andsothepoorfoolsbelievethatthewholethingisaseasyaslying.
ButgoalittlewayfromFrance—goeithertoAleppoorCairo,oronlytoNaplesorRome,andyouwillseepeoplepassingbyyouinthestreets—peopleerect,smiling,andfresh–colored,ofwhomAsmodeus,ifyouwereholdingonbytheskirtofhismantle,wouldsay,‘Thatmanwaspoisonedthreeweeksago;hewillbeadeadmaninamonth.’”
“Then,”remarkedMadamedeVillefort,“theyhaveagaindiscoveredthesecretofthefamousaquatofanathattheysaidwaslostatPerugia.”
“Ah,butmadame,doesmankindeverloseanything?
Theartschangeaboutandmakeatouroftheworld;thingstakeadifferentname,andthevulgardonotfollowthem—thatisall;butthereisalwaysthesameresult.
Poisonsactparticularlyonsomeorganoranother—oneonthestomach,anotheronthebrain,anotherontheintestines.
Well,thepoisonbringsonacough,thecoughaninflammationofthelungs,orsomeothercomplaintcataloguedinthebookofscience,which,however,bynomeansprecludesitfrombeingdecidedlymortal;andifitwerenot,wouldbesuretobecomeso,thankstotheremediesappliedbyfoolishdoctors,whoaregenerallybadchemists,andwhichwillactinfavoroforagainstthemalady,asyouplease;andthenthereisahumanbeingkilledaccordingtoalltherulesofartandskill,andofwhomjusticelearnsnothing,aswassaidbyaterriblechemistofmyacquaintance,theworthyAbbeAdelmonteofTaormina,inSicily,whohasstudiedthesenationalphenomenaveryprofoundly.”
“Itisquitefrightful,butdeeplyinteresting,”saidtheyounglady,motionlesswithattention.“Ithought,Imustconfess,thatthesetales,wereinventionsoftheMiddleAges.”
“Yes,nodoubt,butimproveduponbyours.
Whatistheuseoftime,rewardsofmerit,medals,crosses,Monthyonprizes,iftheydonotleadsocietytowardsmorecompleteperfection?
Yetmanwillneverbeperfectuntilhelearnstocreateanddestroy;hedoesknowhowtodestroy,andthatishalfthebattle.”
“So,”addedMadamedeVillefort,constantlyreturningtoherobject,“thepoisonsoftheBorgias,theMedicis,theRenes,theRuggieris,andlater,probably,thatofBarondeTrenck,whosestoryhasbeensomisusedbymoderndramaandromance”—
“Wereobjectsofart,madame,andnothingmore,”repliedthecount.
“Doyousupposethattherealsavantaddresseshimselfstupidlytothemereindividual?Bynomeans.
Scienceloveseccentricities,leapsandbounds,trialsofstrength,fancies,ifImaybeallowedsototermthem.
Thus,forinstance,theexcellentAbbeAdelmonte,ofwhomIspokejustnow,madeinthiswaysomemarvellousexperiments.”
“Really?”
“Yes;Iwillmentiononetoyou.Hehadaremarkablyfinegarden,fullofvegetables,flowers,andfruit.
Fromamongstthesevegetablesheselectedthemostsimple—acabbage,forinstance.
Forthreedayshewateredthiscabbagewithadistillationofarsenic;onthethird,thecabbagebegantodroopandturnyellow.Atthatmomenthecutit.
Intheeyesofeverybodyitseemedfitfortable,andpreserveditswholesomeappearance.
ItwasonlypoisonedtotheAbbeAdelmonte.
Hethentookthecabbagetotheroomwherehehadrabbits—fortheAbbeAdelmontehadacollectionofrabbits,cats,andguinea–pigs,fullyasfineashiscollectionofvegetables,flowers,andfruit.
Well,theAbbeAdelmontetookarabbit,andmadeiteataleafofthecabbage.Therabbitdied.
Whatmagistratewouldfind,orevenventuretoinsinuate,anythingagainstthis?
WhatprocureurhaseverventuredtodrawupanaccusationagainstM.MagendieorM.Flourens,inconsequenceoftherabbits,cats,andguinea–pigstheyhavekilled?—notone.
So,then,therabbitdies,andjusticetakesnonotice.
Thisrabbitdead,theAbbeAdelmontehasitsentrailstakenoutbyhiscookandthrownonthedunghill;onthisdunghillisahen,who,peckingtheseintestines,isinherturntakenill,anddiesnextday.
Atthemomentwhensheisstrugglingintheconvulsionsofdeath,avultureisflyingby(thereareagoodmanyvulturesinAdelmonte’scountry);thisbirddartsonthedeadfowl,andcarriesitawaytoarock,whereitdinesoffitsprey.
Threedaysafterwards,thispoorvulture,whichhasbeenverymuchindisposedsincethatdinner,suddenlyfeelsverygiddywhileflyingaloftintheclouds,andfallsheavilyintoafish–pond.
Thepike,eels,andcarpeatgreedilyalways,aseverybodyknows—well,theyfeastonthevulture.
Nowsupposethatnextday,oneoftheseeels,orpike,orcarp,poisonedatthefourthremove,isservedupatyourtable.
Well,then,yourguestwillbepoisonedatthefifthremove,anddie,attheendofeightortendays,ofpainsintheintestines,sickness,orabscessofthepylorus.
Thedoctorsopenthebodyandsaywithanairofprofoundlearning,‘Thesubjecthasdiedofatumorontheliver,oroftyphoidfever!’”
“But,”remarkedMadamedeVillefort,“allthesecircumstanceswhichyoulinkthustooneanothermaybebrokenbytheleastaccident;thevulturemaynotseethefowl,ormayfallahundredyardsfromthefish–pond.”
“Ah,thatiswheretheartcomesin.TobeagreatchemistintheEast,onemustdirectchance;andthisistobeachieved.”
—MadamedeVillefortwasindeepthought,yetlistenedattentively.
“But,”sheexclaimed,suddenly,“arsenicisindelible,indestructible;inwhatsoeverwayitisabsorbed,itwillbefoundagaininthebodyofthevictimfromthemomentwhenithasbeentakeninsufficientquantitytocausedeath.”
“Preciselyso,”criedMonteCristo—”preciselyso;andthisiswhatIsaidtomyworthyAdelmonte.
Hereflected,smiled,andrepliedtomebyaSicilianproverb,whichIbelieveisalsoaFrenchproverb,‘Myson,theworldwasnotmadeinaday—butinseven.ReturnonSunday.’
OntheSundayfollowingIdidreturntohim.
Insteadofhavingwateredhiscabbagewitharsenic,hehadwatereditthistimewithasolutionofsalts,havingtheirbasisinstrychnine,strychnoscolubrina,asthelearnedtermit.
Now,thecabbagehadnottheslightestappearanceofdiseaseintheworld,andtherabbithadnotthesmallestdistrust;yet,fiveminutesafterwards,therabbitwasdead.
Thefowlpeckedattherabbit,andthenextdaywasadeadhen.
Thistimewewerethevultures;soweopenedthebird,andthistimeallspecialsymptomshaddisappeared,therewereonlygeneralsymptoms.
Therewasnopeculiarindicationinanyorgan—anexcitementofthenervoussystem—thatwasit;acaseofcerebralcongestion—nothingmore.
Thefowlhadnotbeenpoisoned—shehaddiedofapoplexy.
Apoplexyisararediseaseamongfowls,Ibelieve,butverycommonamongmen.”
MadamedeVillefortappearedmoreandmorethoughtful.
“Itisveryfortunate,”sheobserved,“thatsuchsubstancescouldonlybepreparedbychemists;otherwise,alltheworldwouldbepoisoningeachother.”
“Bychemistsandpersonswhohaveatasteforchemistry,”saidMonteCristocarelessly.
“Andthen,”saidMadamedeVillefort,endeavoringbyastruggle,andwitheffort,togetawayfromherthoughts,“howeverskilfullyitisprepared,crimeisalwayscrime,andifitavoidhumanscrutiny,itdoesnotescapetheeyeofGod.
TheOrientalsarestrongerthanweareincasesofconscience,and,veryprudently,havenohell—thatisthepoint.”
“Really,madame,thisisascruplewhichnaturallymustoccurtoapuremindlikeyours,butwhichwouldeasilyyieldbeforesoundreasoning.
ThebadsideofhumanthoughtwillalwaysbedefinedbytheparadoxofJeanJacquesRousseau,—youremember,—themandarinwhoiskilledfivehundredleaguesoffbyraisingthetipofthefinger.
Man’swholelifepassesindoingthesethings,andhisintellectisexhaustedbyreflectingonthem.
Youwillfindveryfewpersonswhowillgoandbrutallythrustaknifeintheheartofafellow–creature,orwilladministertohim,inordertoremovehimfromthesurfaceoftheglobeonwhichwemovewithlifeandanimation,thatquantityofarsenicofwhichwejustnowtalked.
Suchathingisreallyoutofrule—eccentricorstupid.
Toattainsuchapoint,thebloodmustbeheatedtothirty–sixdegrees,thepulsebe,atleast,atninety,andthefeelingsexcitedbeyondtheordinarylimit.
Butsupposeonepass,asispermissibleinphilology,fromtheworditselftoitssoftenedsynonym,then,insteadofcommittinganignobleassassinationyoumakean‘elimination;’youmerelyandsimplyremovefromyourpaththeindividualwhoisinyourway,andthatwithoutshockorviolence,withoutthedisplayofthesufferingswhich,inthecaseofbecomingapunishment,makeamartyrofthevictim,andabutcher,ineverysenseoftheword,ofhimwhoinflictsthem.
Thentherewillbenoblood,nogroans,noconvulsions,andaboveall,noconsciousnessofthathorridandcompromisingmomentofaccomplishingtheact,—thenoneescapestheclutchofthehumanlaw,whichsays,‘Donotdisturbsociety!’
Thisisthemodeinwhichtheymanagethesethings,andsucceedinEasternclimes,wheretherearegraveandphlegmaticpersonswhocareverylittleforthequestionsoftimeinconjuncturesofimportance.”
“Yetconscienceremains,”remarkedMadamedeVillefortinanagitatedvoice,andwithastifledsigh.
“Yes,”answeredMonteCristo“happily,yes,consciencedoesremain;andifitdidnot,howwretchedweshouldbe!
Aftereveryactionrequiringexertion,itisconsciencethatsavesus,foritsuppliesuswithathousandgoodexcuses,ofwhichwealonearejudges;andthesereasons,howsoeverexcellentinproducingsleep,wouldavailusbutverylittlebeforeatribunal,whenweweretriedforourlives.
ThusRichardIII.,forinstance,wasmarvellouslyservedbyhisconscienceaftertheputtingawayofthetwochildrenofEdwardIV.;infact,hecouldsay,‘Thesetwochildrenofacruelandpersecutingking,whohaveinheritedthevicesoftheirfather,whichIalonecouldperceiveintheirjuvenilepropensities—thesetwochildrenareimpedimentsinmywayofpromotingthehappinessoftheEnglishpeople,whoseunhappinessthey(thechildren)wouldinfalliblyhavecaused.’
ThuswasLadyMacbethservedbyherconscience,whenshesoughttogiveherson,andnotherhusband(whateverShakespearemaysay),athrone.
Ah,maternalloveisagreatvirtue,apowerfulmotive—sopowerfulthatitexcusesamultitudeofthings,evenif,afterDuncan’sdeath,LadyMacbethhadbeenatallprickedbyherconscience.”
MadamedeVillefortlistenedwithaviditytotheseappallingmaximsandhorribleparadoxes,deliveredbythecountwiththatironicalsimplicitywhichwaspeculiartohim.
Afteramoment’ssilence,theladyinquired,“Doyouknow,mydearcount,”shesaid,“thatyouareaveryterriblereasoner,andthatyoulookattheworldthroughasomewhatdistemperedmedium?
Haveyoureallymeasuredtheworldbyscrutinies,orthroughalembicsandcrucibles?
Foryoumustindeedbeagreatchemist,andtheelixiryouadministeredtomyson,whichrecalledhimtolifealmostinstantaneously”—
“Oh,donotplaceanyrelianceonthat,madame;onedropofthatelixirsufficedtorecalllifetoadyingchild,butthreedropswouldhaveimpelledthebloodintohislungsinsuchawayastohaveproducedmostviolentpalpitations;sixwouldhavesuspendedhisrespiration,andcausedsyncopemoreseriousthanthatinwhichhewas;tenwouldhavedestroyedhim.
Youknow,madame,howsuddenlyIsnatchedhimfromthosephialswhichhesoimprudentlytouched?”
“Isitthensoterribleapoison?”
“Oh,no.Inthefirstplace,letusagreethatthewordpoisondoesnotexist,becauseinmedicineuseismadeofthemostviolentpoisons,whichbecome,accordingastheyareemployed,mostsalutaryremedies.”
“What,then,isit?”
“Askilfulpreparationofmyfriend’stheworthyAbbeAdelmonte,whotaughtmetheuseofit.”
“Oh,”observedMadamedeVillefort,“itmustbeanadmirableanti–spasmodic.”
“Perfect,madame,asyouhaveseen,”repliedthecount;“andIfrequentlymakeuseofit—withallpossibleprudencethough,beitobserved,”headdedwithasmileofintelligence.
“Mostassuredly,”respondedMadamedeVillefortinthesametone.
“Asforme,sonervous,andsosubjecttofaintingfits,IshouldrequireaDoctorAdelmontetoinventformesomemeansofbreathingfreelyandtranquillizingmymind,inthefearIhaveofdyingsomefinedayofsuffocation.
Inthemeanwhile,asthethingisdifficulttofindinFrance,andyourabbeisnotprobablydisposedtomakeajourneytoParisonmyaccount,ImustcontinuetouseMonsieurPlanche’santi–spasmodics;andmintandHoffman’sdropsareamongmyfavoriteremedies.
HerearesomelozengeswhichIhavemadeuponpurpose;theyarecompoundeddoublystrong.”
MonteCristoopenedthetortoise–shellbox,whichtheladypresentedtohim,andinhaledtheodorofthelozengeswiththeairofanamateurwhothoroughlyappreciatedtheircomposition.
“Theyareindeedexquisite,”hesaid;“butastheyarenecessarilysubmittedtotheprocessofdeglutition—afunctionwhichitisfrequentlyimpossibleforafaintingpersontoaccomplish—Iprefermyownspecific.”
“Undoubtedly,andsoshouldIpreferit,aftertheeffectsIhaveseenproduced;butofcourseitisasecret,andIamnotsoindiscreetastoaskitofyou.”
“ButI,”saidMonteCristo,risingashespoke—”Iamgallantenoughtoofferityou.”
“Howkindyouare.”
“Onlyrememberonething—asmalldoseisaremedy,alargeoneispoison.
Onedropwillrestorelife,asyouhaveseen;fiveorsixwillinevitablykill,andinawaythemoreterribleinasmuchas,pouredintoaglassofwine,itwouldnotintheslightestdegreeaffectitsflavor.
ButIsaynomore,madame;itisreallyasifIwereprescribingforyou.”
Theclockstruckhalf–pastsix,andaladywasannounced,afriendofMadamedeVillefort,whocametodinewithher.
“IfIhadhadthehonorofseeingyouforthethirdorfourthtime,count,insteadofonlyforthesecond,”saidMadamedeVillefort;“ifIhadhadthehonorofbeingyourfriend,insteadofonlyhavingthehappinessofbeingunderanobligationtoyou,Ishouldinsistondetainingyoutodinner,andnotallowmyselftobedauntedbyafirstrefusal.”
“Athousandthanks,madame,”repliedMonteCristo“butIhaveanengagementwhichIcannotbreak.
IhavepromisedtoescorttotheAcademieaGreekprincessofmyacquaintancewhohasneverseenyourgrandopera,andwhoreliesonmetoconductherthither.”
“Adieu,then,sir,anddonotforgettheprescription.”
“Ah,intruth,madame,todothatImustforgetthehour’sconversationIhavehadwithyou,whichisindeedimpossible.”MonteCristobowed,andleftthehouse.
MadamedeVillefortremainedimmersedinthought.
“Heisaverystrangeman,”shesaid,“andinmyopinionishimselftheAdelmontehetalksabout.”
AstoMonteCristotheresulthadsurpassedhisutmostexpectations.
“Good,”saidhe,ashewentaway;“thisisafruitfulsoil,andIfeelcertainthattheseedsownwillnotbecastonbarrenground.”
Nextmorning,faithfultohispromise,hesenttheprescriptionrequested.
Share this article to
FINISH