English
Somedaysafterthismeeting,AlbertdeMorcerfvisitedtheCountofMonteCristoathishouseintheChampsElysees,whichhadalreadyassumedthatpalace–likeappearancewhichthecount’sprincelyfortuneenabledhimtogiveeventohismosttemporaryresidences.
HecametorenewthethanksofMadameDanglarswhichhadbeenalreadyconveyedtothecountthroughthemediumofaletter,signed“BaronneDanglars,neeHerminedeServieux.”
AlbertwasaccompaniedbyLucienDebray,who,joininginhisfriend’sconversation,addedsomepassingcompliments,thesourceofwhichthecount’stalentforfinesseeasilyenabledhimtoguess.
HewasconvincedthatLucien’svisitwasduetoadoublefeelingofcuriosity,thelargerhalfofwhichsentimentemanatedfromtheRuedelaChausseed’Antin.
Inshort,MadameDanglars,notbeingablepersonallytoexamineindetailthedomesticeconomyandhouseholdarrangementsofamanwhogaveawayhorsesworth30,000francsandwhowenttotheoperawithaGreekslavewearingdiamondstotheamountofamillionofmoney,haddeputedthoseeyes,bywhichshewasaccustomedtosee,togiveherafaithfulaccountofthemodeoflifeofthisincomprehensibleperson.
ButthecountdidnotappeartosuspectthattherecouldbetheslightestconnectionbetweenLucien’svisitandthecuriosityofthebaroness.
“YouareinconstantcommunicationwiththeBaronDanglars?”thecountinquiredofAlbertdeMorcerf.
“Yes,count,youknowwhatItoldyou?”
“Allremainsthesame,then,inthatquarter?”
“Itismorethaneverasettledthing,”saidLucien,—and,consideringthatthisremarkwasallthathewasatthattimecalledupontomake,headjustedtheglasstohiseye,andbitingthetopofhisgoldheadedcane,begantomakethetouroftheapartment,examiningthearmsandthepictures.
“Ah,”saidMonteCristo“Ididnotexpectthattheaffairwouldbesopromptlyconcluded.”
“Oh,thingstaketheircoursewithoutourassistance.
Whileweareforgettingthem,theyarefallingintotheirappointedorder;andwhen,again,ourattentionisdirectedtothem,wearesurprisedattheprogresstheyhavemadetowardstheproposedend.
MyfatherandM.DanglarsservedtogetherinSpain,myfatherinthearmyandM.Danglarsinthecommissariatdepartment.
Itwastherethatmyfather,ruinedbytherevolution,andM.Danglars,whoneverhadpossessedanypatrimony,bothlaidthefoundationsoftheirdifferentfortunes.”
“Yes,”saidMonteCristo“IthinkM.DanglarsmentionedthatinavisitwhichIpaidhim;and,”continuedhe,castingaside–glanceatLucien,whowasturningovertheleavesofanalbum,“MademoiselleEugenieispretty—IthinkIrememberthattobehername.”
“Verypretty,orrather,verybeautiful,”repliedAlbert,“butofthatstyleofbeautywhichIdonotappreciate;Iamanungratefulfellow.”
“Youspeakasifyouwerealreadyherhusband.”
“Ah,”returnedAlbert,inhisturnlookingaroundtoseewhatLucienwasdoing.
“Really,”saidMonteCristo,loweringhisvoice,“youdonotappeartometobeveryenthusiasticonthesubjectofthismarriage.”
“MademoiselleDanglarsistoorichforme,”repliedMorcerf,“andthatfrightensme.”
“Bah,”exclaimedMonteCristo,“that’safinereasontogive.Areyounotrichyourself?”
“Myfather’sincomeisabout50,000francsperannum;andhewillgiveme,perhaps,tenortwelvethousandwhenImarry.”
“That,perhaps,mightnotbeconsideredalargesum,inParisespecially,”saidthecount;“buteverythingdoesnotdependonwealth,anditisafinethingtohaveagoodname,andtooccupyahighstationinsociety.
Yournameiscelebrated,yourpositionmagnificent;andthentheComtedeMorcerfisasoldier,anditispleasingtoseetheintegrityofaBayardunitedtothepovertyofaDuguesclin;disinterestednessisthebrightestrayinwhichanobleswordcanshine.
Asforme,IconsidertheunionwithMademoiselleDanglarsamostsuitableone;shewillenrichyou,andyouwillennobleher.”
Albertshookhishead,andlookedthoughtful.
“Thereisstillsomethingelse,”saidhe.
“Iconfess,”observedMonteCristo,“thatIhavesomedifficultyincomprehendingyourobjectiontoayoungladywhoisbothrichandbeautiful.”
“Oh,”saidMorcerf,“thisrepugnance,ifrepugnanceitmaybecalled,isnotallonmyside.”
“Whencecanitarise,then?foryoutoldmeyourfatherdesiredthemarriage.”
“Itismymotherwhodissents;shehasaclearandpenetratingjudgment,anddoesnotsmileontheproposedunion.
Icannotaccountforit,butsheseemstoentertainsomeprejudiceagainsttheDanglars.”
“Ah,”saidthecount,inasomewhatforcedtone,“thatmaybeeasilyexplained;theComtessedeMorcerf,whoisaristocracyandrefinementitself,doesnotrelishtheideaofbeingalliedbyyourmarriagewithoneofignoblebirth;thatisnaturalenough.”
“Idonotknowifthatisherreason,”saidAlbert,“butonethingIdoknow,thatifthismarriagebeconsummated,itwillrenderherquitemiserable.
Therewastohavebeenameetingsixweeksagoinordertotalkoverandsettletheaffair;butIhadsuchasuddenattackofindisposition”—
“Real?”interruptedthecount,smiling.
“Oh,realenough,fromanxietydoubtless,—atanyratetheypostponedthematterfortwomonths.Thereisnohurry,youknow.
Iamnotyettwenty–one,andEugenieisonlyseventeen;butthetwomonthsexpirenextweek.Itmustbedone.
Mydearcount,youcannotimaginehowmymindisharassed.
Howhappyyouareinbeingexemptfromallthis!”
“Well,andwhyshouldnotyoubefree,too?Whatpreventsyoufrombeingso?”
“Oh,itwillbetoogreatadisappointmenttomyfatherifIdonotmarryMademoiselleDanglars.”
“Marryherthen,”saidthecount,withasignificantshrugoftheshoulders.
“Yes,”repliedMorcerf,“butthatwillplungemymotherintopositivegrief.”
“Thendonotmarryher,”saidthecount.
“Well,Ishallsee.Iwilltryandthinkoverwhatisthebestthingtobedone;youwillgivemeyouradvice,willyounot,andifpossibleextricatemefrommyunpleasantposition?
Ithink,ratherthangivepaintomydearmother,Iwouldruntheriskofoffendingthecount.”
MonteCristoturnedaway;heseemedmovedbythislastremark.
“Ah,”saidhetoDebray,whohadthrownhimselfintoaneasy–chairatthefarthestextremityofthesalon,andwhoheldapencilinhisrighthandandanaccountbookinhisleft,“whatareyoudoingthere?AreyoumakingasketchafterPoussin?”
“Oh,no,”wasthetranquilresponse;“Iamtoofondofarttoattemptanythingofthatsort.Iamdoingalittlesuminarithmetic.”
“Inarithmetic?”
“Yes;Iamcalculating—bytheway,Morcerf,thatindirectlyconcernsyou—IamcalculatingwhatthehouseofDanglarsmusthavegainedbythelastriseinHaitibonds;from206theyhaverisento409inthreedays,andtheprudentbankerhadpurchasedat206;thereforehemusthavemade300,000livres.”
“Thatisnothisbiggestscoop,”saidMorcerf;“didhenotmakeamillioninSpaniardsthislastyear?”
“Mydearfellow,”saidLucien,“hereistheCountofMonteCristo,whowillsaytoyou,astheItaliansdo,—
”’Danaroesantita,Metadellameta.’[]“Whentheytellmesuchthings,Ionlyshrugmyshouldersandsaynothing.”
“Moneyandsanctity,Eachinamoiety.
“ButyouwerespeakingofHaitians?”saidMonteCristo.
“Ah,Haitians,—thatisquiteanotherthing!
HaitiansaretheecarteofFrenchstock–jobbing.
Wemaylikebouillotte,delightinwhist,beenrapturedwithboston,andyetgrowtiredofthemall;butwealwayscomebacktoecarte—itisnotonlyagame,itisahors–d’oeuvre!
M.Danglarssoldyesterdayat405,andpockets300,000francs.
Hadhebutwaitedtillto–day,thepricewouldhavefallento205,andinsteadofgaining300,000francs,hewouldhavelost20or25,000.”
“Andwhathascausedthesuddenfallfrom409to206?”askedMonteCristo.“Iamprofoundlyignorantofallthesestock–jobbingintrigues.”
“Because,”saidAlbert,laughing,“onepieceofnewsfollowsanother,andthereisoftengreatdissimilaritybetweenthem.”
“Ah,”saidthecount,“IseethatM.Danglarsisaccustomedtoplayatgainingorlosing300,000francsinaday;hemustbeenormouslyrich.”
“Itisnothewhoplays!”exclaimedLucien;“itisMadameDanglars:sheisindeeddaring.”
“Butyouwhoareareasonablebeing,Lucien,andwhoknowhowlittledependenceistobeplacedonthenews,sinceyouareatthefountain–head,surelyyououghttopreventit,”saidMorcerf,withasmile.
“HowcanI,ifherhusbandfailsincontrollingher?”askedLucien;“youknowthecharacterofthebaroness—noonehasanyinfluencewithher,andshedoespreciselywhatshepleases.”
“Ah,ifIwereinyourplace”—saidAlbert.
“Well?”
“Iwouldreformher;itwouldberenderingaservicetoherfutureson–in–law.”
“Howwouldyousetaboutit?”
“Ah,thatwouldbeeasyenough—Iwouldgiveheralesson.”
“Alesson?”
“Yes.Yourpositionassecretarytotheministerrendersyourauthoritygreatonthesubjectofpoliticalnews;youneveropenyourmouthbutthestockbrokersimmediatelystenographyourwords.
Causehertoloseahundredthousandfrancs,andthatwouldteachherprudence.”
“Idonotunderstand,”stammeredLucien.
“Itisveryclear,notwithstanding,”repliedtheyoungman,withanartlessnesswhollyfreefromaffectation;“tellhersomefinemorninganunheard–ofpieceofintelligence—sometelegraphicdespatch,ofwhichyoualoneareinpossession;forinstance,thatHenriIV.wasseenyesterdayatGabrielle’s.
Thatwouldboomthemarket;shewillbuyheavily,andshewillcertainlylosewhenBeauchampannouncesthefollowingday,inhisgazette,‘Thereportcirculatedbysomeusuallywell–informedpersonsthatthekingwasseenyesterdayatGabrielle’shouse,istotallywithoutfoundation.
WecanpositivelyassertthathismajestydidnotquitthePont–Neuf.’”Lucienhalfsmiled.
MonteCristo,althoughapparentlyindifferent,hadnotlostonewordofthisconversation,andhispenetratingeyehadevenreadahiddensecretintheembarrassedmannerofthesecretary.
ThisembarrassmenthadcompletelyescapedAlbert,butitcausedLucientoshortenhisvisit;hewasevidentlyillatease.
Thecount,intakingleaveofhim,saidsomethinginalowvoice,towhichheanswered,“Willingly,count;Iaccept.”ThecountreturnedtoyoungMorcerf.
“Doyounotthink,onreflection,”saidhetohim,“thatyouhavedonewronginthusspeakingofyourmother–in–lawinthepresenceofM.Debray?”
“Mydearcount,”saidMorcerf,“Ibegofyounottoapplythattitlesoprematurely.”
“Now,speakingwithoutanyexaggeration,isyourmotherreallysoverymuchaversetothismarriage?”
“Somuchsothatthebaronessveryrarelycomestothehouse,andmymother,hasnot,Ithink,visitedMadameDanglarstwiceinherwholelife.”
“Then,”saidthecount,“Iamemboldenedtospeakopenlytoyou.
M.Danglarsismybanker;M.deVilleforthasoverwhelmedmewithpolitenessinreturnforaservicewhichacasualpieceofgoodfortuneenabledmetorenderhim.
Ipredictfromallthisanavalancheofdinnersandrouts.
Now,inordernottopresumeonthis,andalsotobebeforehandwiththem,Ihave,ifagreeabletoyou,thoughtofinvitingM.andMadameDanglars,andM.andMadamedeVillefort,tomycountry–houseatAuteuil.
IfIweretoinviteyouandtheCountandCountessofMorcerftothisdinner,Ishouldgiveittheappearanceofbeingamatrimonialmeeting,oratleastMadamedeMorcerfwouldlookupontheaffairinthatlight,especiallyifBaronDanglarsdidmethehonortobringhisdaughter.
Inthatcaseyourmotherwouldholdmeinaversion,andIdonotatallwishthat;onthecontrary,Idesiretostandhighinheresteem.”
“Indeed,count,”saidMorcerf,“Ithankyousincerelyforhavingusedsomuchcandortowardsme,andIgratefullyaccepttheexclusionwhichyoupropose.
Yousayyoudesiremymother’sgoodopinion;Iassureyouitisalreadyyourstoaveryunusualextent.”
“Doyouthinkso?”saidMonteCristo,withinterest.
“Oh,Iamsureofit;wetalkedofyouanhourafteryouleftustheotherday.Buttoreturntowhatweweresaying.
Ifmymothercouldknowofthisattentiononyourpart—andIwillventuretotellher—Iamsurethatshewillbemostgratefultoyou;itistruethatmyfatherwillbeequallyangry.”Thecountlaughed.
“Well,”saidhetoMorcerf,“butIthinkyourfatherwillnotbetheonlyangryone;M.andMadameDanglarswillthinkmeaveryill–manneredperson.
TheyknowthatIamintimatewithyou—thatyouare,infact;oneoftheoldestofmyParisianacquaintances—andtheywillnotfindyouatmyhouse;theywillcertainlyaskmewhyIdidnotinviteyou.
Besuretoprovideyourselfwithsomepreviousengagementwhichshallhaveasemblanceofprobability,andcommunicatethefacttomebyalineinwriting.
Youknowthatwithbankersnothingbutawrittendocumentwillbevalid.”
“Iwilldobetterthanthat,”saidAlbert;“mymotheriswishingtogotothesea–side—whatdayisfixedforyourdinner?”
“Saturday.”
“ThisisTuesday—well,to–morroweveningweleave,andthedayafterweshallbeatTreport.Really,count,youhaveadelightfulwayofsettingpeopleattheirease.”
“Indeed,yougivememorecreditthanIdeserve;Ionlywishtodowhatwillbeagreeabletoyou,thatisall.”
“Whenshallyousendyourinvitations?”
“Thisveryday.”
“Well,IwillimmediatelycallonM.Danglars,andtellhimthatmymotherandmyselfmustleaveParisto–morrow.Ihavenotseenyou,consequentlyIknownothingofyourdinner.”
“Howfoolishyouare!HaveyouforgottenthatM.Debrayhasjustseenyouatmyhouse?”
“Ah,true.”
“Fixitthisway.Ihaveseenyou,andinvitedyouwithoutanyceremony,whenyouinstantlyansweredthatitwouldbeimpossibleforyoutoaccept,asyouweregoingtoTreport.”
“Well,then,thatissettled;butyouwillcomeandcallonmymotherbeforeto–morrow?”
“Beforeto–morrow?—thatwillbeadifficultmattertoarrange,besides,Ishalljustbeinthewayofallthepreparationsfordeparture.”
“Well,youcandobetter.Youwereonlyacharmingmanbefore,but,ifyouaccedetomyproposal,youwillbeadorable.”
“WhatmustIdotoattainsuchsublimity?”
“Youareto–dayfreeasair—comeanddinewithme;weshallbeasmallparty—onlyyourself,mymother,andI.
Youhavescarcelyseenmymother;youshallhaveanopportunityofobservinghermoreclosely.
Sheisaremarkablewoman,andIonlyregretthattheredoesnotexistanotherlikeher,abouttwentyyearsyounger;inthatcase,Iassureyou,therewouldverysoonbeaCountessandViscountessofMorcerf.
Astomyfather,youwillnotseehim;heisofficiallyengaged,anddineswiththechiefreferendary.
Wewilltalkoverourtravels;andyou,whohaveseenthewholeworld,willrelateyouradventures—youshalltellusthehistoryofthebeautifulGreekwhowaswithyoutheothernightattheOpera,andwhomyoucallyourslave,andyettreatlikeaprincess.WewilltalkItalianandSpanish.
Come,acceptmyinvitation,andmymotherwillthankyou.”
“Athousandthanks,”saidthecount,“yourinvitationismostgracious,andIregretexceedinglythatitisnotinmypowertoacceptit.
Iamnotsomuchatlibertyasyousuppose;onthecontrary,Ihaveamostimportantengagement.”
“Ah,takecare,youwereteachingmejustnowhow,incaseofaninvitationtodinner,onemightcreditablymakeanexcuse.
Irequiretheproofofapre–engagement.
Iamnotabanker,likeM.Danglars,butIamquiteasincredulousasheis.”
“Iamgoingtogiveyouaproof,”repliedthecount,andherangthebell.
“Humph,”saidMorcerf,“thisisthesecondtimeyouhaverefusedtodinewithmymother;itisevidentthatyouwishtoavoidher.”MonteCristostarted.
“Oh,youdonotmeanthat,”saidhe;“besides,herecomestheconfirmationofmyassertion.”
Baptistinentered,andremainedstandingatthedoor.
“Ihadnopreviousknowledgeofyourvisit,hadI?”
“Indeed,youaresuchanextraordinaryperson,thatIwouldnotanswerforit.”
“Atallevents,Icouldnotguessthatyouwouldinvitemetodinner.”
“Probablynot.”
“Well,listen,Baptistin,whatdidItellyouthismorningwhenIcalledyouintomylaboratory?”
“Toclosethedooragainstvisitorsassoonastheclockstruckfive,”repliedthevalet.
“Whatthen?”
“Ah,mydearcount,”saidAlbert.
“No,no,Iwishtodoawaywiththatmysteriousreputationthatyouhavegivenme,mydearviscount;itistiresometobealwaysactingManfred.Iwishmylifetobefreeandopen.Goon,Baptistin.”
“ThentoadmitnooneexceptMajorBartolomeoCavalcantiandhisson.”
“Youhear—MajorBartolomeoCavalcanti—amanwhoranksamongstthemostancientnobilityofItaly,whosenameDantehascelebratedinthetenthcantoof‘TheInferno,’yourememberit,doyounot?
Thenthereishisson,Andrea,acharmingyoungman,aboutyourownage,viscount,bearingthesametitleasyourself,andwhoismakinghisentryintotheParisianworld,aidedbyhisfather’smillions.
Themajorwillbringhissonwithhimthisevening,thecontino,aswesayinItaly;heconfideshimtomycare.
Ifheproveshimselfworthyofit,IwilldowhatIcantoadvancehisinterests.
Youwillassistmeinthework,willyounot?”
“Mostundoubtedly.ThisMajorCavalcantiisanoldfriendofyours,then?”
“Bynomeans.Heisaperfectnobleman,verypolite,modest,andagreeable,suchasmaybefoundconstantlyinItaly,descendantsofveryancientfamilies.
IhavemethimseveraltimesatFlorence,BolognaandLucca,andhehasnowcommunicatedtomethefactofhisarrivalinParis.
Theacquaintancesonemakesintravellinghaveasortofclaimonone;theyeverywhereexpecttoreceivethesameattentionwhichyouoncepaidthembychance,asthoughthecivilitiesofapassinghourwerelikelytoawakenanylastinginterestinfavorofthemaninwhosesocietyyoumayhappentobethrowninthecourseofyourjourney.
ThisgoodMajorCavalcantiiscometotakeasecondviewofParis,whichheonlysawinpassingthroughinthetimeoftheEmpire,whenhewasonhiswaytoMoscow.
Ishallgivehimagooddinner,hewillconfidehissontomycare,Iwillpromisetowatchoverhim,Ishalllethimfollowinwhateverpathhisfollymayleadhim,andthenIshallhavedonemypart.”
“Certainly;IseeyouareamodelMentor,”saidAlbert“Good–by,weshallreturnonSunday.Bytheway,IhavereceivednewsofFranz.”
“Haveyou?IshestillamusinghimselfinItaly?”
“Ibelieveso;however,heregretsyourabsenceextremely.
HesaysyouwerethesunofRome,andthatwithoutyouallappearsdarkandcloudy;Idonotknowifhedoesnotevengosofarastosaythatitrains.”
“Hisopinionofmeisalteredforthebetter,then?”
“No,hestillpersistsinlookinguponyouasthemostincomprehensibleandmysteriousofbeings.”
“Heisacharmingyoungman,”saidMonteCristo“andIfeltalivelyinterestinhimtheveryfirsteveningofmyintroduction,whenImethiminsearchofasupper,andprevaileduponhimtoacceptaportionofmine.
Heis,Ithink,thesonofGenerald’Epinay?”
“Heis.”
“Thesamewhowassoshamefullyassassinatedin1815?”
“BytheBonapartists.”
“Yes.ReallyIlikehimextremely;istherenotalsoamatrimonialengagementcontemplatedforhim?”
“Yes,heistomarryMademoiselledeVillefort.”
“Indeed?”
“AndyouknowIamtomarryMademoiselleDanglars,”saidAlbert,laughing.
“Yousmile.”
“Yes.”
“Whydoyoudoso?”
“Ismilebecausethereappearstometobeaboutasmuchinclinationfortheconsummationoftheengagementinquestionasthereisformyown.
Butreally,mydearcount,wearetalkingasmuchofwomenastheydoofus;itisunpardonable.”Albertrose.
“Areyougoing?”
“Really,thatisagoodidea!—twohourshaveIbeenboringyoutodeathwithmycompany,andthenyou,withthegreatestpoliteness,askmeifIamgoing.
Indeed,count,youarethemostpolishedmanintheworld.
Andyourservants,too,howverywellbehavedtheyare;thereisquiteastyleaboutthem.
MonsieurBaptistinespecially;Icouldnevergetsuchamanasthat.
Myservantsseemtoimitatethoseyousometimesseeinaplay,who,becausetheyhaveonlyawordortwotosay,aquitthemselvesinthemostawkwardmannerpossible.
Therefore,ifyoupartwithM.Baptistin,givemetherefusalofhim.”
“Byallmeans.”
“Thatisnotall;givemycomplimentstoyourillustriousLuccanese,CavalcanteoftheCavalcanti;andifbyanychanceheshouldbewishingtoestablishhisson,findhimawifeveryrich,verynobleonhermother’ssideatleast,andabaronessinrightofherfather,Iwillhelpyouinthesearch.”
“Ah,ha;youwilldoasmuchasthat,willyou?”
“Yes.”
“Well,really,nothingiscertaininthisworld.”
“Oh,count,whataserviceyoumightrenderme!Ishouldlikeyouahundredtimesbetterif,byyourintervention,Icouldmanagetoremainabachelor,evenwereitonlyfortenyears.”
“Nothingisimpossible,”gravelyrepliedMonteCristo;andtakingleaveofAlbert,hereturnedintothehouse,andstruckthegongthreetimes.Bertuccioappeared.
“MonsieurBertuccio,youunderstandthatIintendentertainingcompanyonSaturdayatAuteuil.”Bertuccioslightlystarted.
“Ishallrequireyourservicestoseethatallbeproperlyarranged.
Itisabeautifulhouse,oratalleventsmaybemadeso.”
“Theremustbeagooddealdonebeforeitcandeservethattitle,yourexcellency,forthetapestriedhangingsareveryold.”
“Letthemallbetakenawayandchanged,then,withtheexceptionofthesleeping–chamberwhichishungwithreddamask;youwillleavethatexactlyasitis.”Bertucciobowed.
“Youwillnottouchthegardeneither;astotheyard,youmaydowhatyoupleasewithit;Ishouldpreferthatbeingalteredbeyondallrecognition.”
“Iwilldoeverythinginmypowertocarryoutyourwishes,yourexcellency.Ishouldbeglad,however,toreceiveyourexcellency’scommandsconcerningthedinner.”
“Really,mydearM.Bertuccio,”saidthecount,“sinceyouhavebeeninParis,youhavebecomequitenervous,andapparentlyoutofyourelement;younolongerseemtounderstandme.”
“Butsurelyyourexcellencywillbesogoodastoinformmewhomyouareexpectingtoreceive?”
“Idonotyetknowmyself,neitherisitnecessarythatyoushoulddoso.‘LucullusdineswithLucullus,’thatisquitesufficient.”Bertucciobowed,andlefttheroom.
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