English
TheCountofMonteCristoenteredtheadjoiningroom,whichBaptistinhaddesignatedasthedrawing–room,andfoundthereayoungman,ofgracefuldemeanorandelegantappearance,whohadarrivedinacababouthalfanhourpreviously.
Baptistinhadnotfoundanydifficultyinrecognizingthepersonwhopresentedhimselfatthedoorforadmittance.
Hewascertainlythetallyoungmanwithlighthair,redbeard,blackeyes,andbrilliantcomplexion,whomhismasterhadsoparticularlydescribedtohim.
Whenthecountenteredtheroomtheyoungmanwascarelesslystretchedonasofa,tappinghisbootwiththegold–headedcanewhichheheldinhishand.
Onperceivingthecountherosequickly.“TheCountofMonteCristo,Ibelieve?”saidhe.
“Yes,sir,andIthinkIhavethehonorofaddressingCountAndreaCavalcanti?”
“CountAndreaCavalcanti,”repeatedtheyoungman,accompanyinghiswordswithabow.
“Youarechargedwithaletterofintroductionaddressedtome,areyounot?”saidthecount.
“Ididnotmentionthat,becausethesignatureseemedtomesostrange.”
“Thelettersigned‘SinbadtheSailor,’isitnot?”
“Exactlyso.Now,asIhaveneverknownanySinbad,withtheexceptionoftheonecelebratedinthe‘ThousandandOneNights’”—
“Well,itisoneofhisdescendants,andagreatfriendofmine;heisaveryrichEnglishman,eccentricalmosttoinsanity,andhisrealnameisLordWilmore.”
“Ah,indeed?Thenthatexplainseverythingthatisextraordinary,”saidAndrea.“Heis,then,thesameEnglishmanwhomImet—at—ah—yes,indeed.Well,monsieur,Iamatyourservice.”
“Ifwhatyousaybetrue,”repliedthecount,smiling,“perhapsyouwillbekindenoughtogivemesomeaccountofyourselfandyourfamily?”
“Certainly,Iwilldoso,”saidtheyoungman,withaquicknesswhichgaveproofofhisreadyinvention.
“Iam(asyouhavesaid)theCountAndreaCavalcanti,sonofMajorBartolomeoCavalcanti,adescendantoftheCavalcantiwhosenamesareinscribedinthegoldenbookatFlorence.
Ourfamily,althoughstillrich(formyfather’sincomeamountstohalfamillion),hasexperiencedmanymisfortunes,andImyselfwas,attheageoffiveyears,takenawaybythetreacheryofmytutor,sothatforfifteenyearsIhavenotseentheauthorofmyexistence.
SinceIhavearrivedatyearsofdiscretionandbecomemyownmaster,Ihavebeenconstantlyseekinghim,butallinvain.
AtlengthIreceivedthisletterfromyourfriend,whichstatesthatmyfatherisinParis,andauthorizesmetoaddressmyselftoyouforinformationrespectinghim.”
“Really,allyouhaverelatedtomeisexceedinglyinteresting,”saidMonteCristo,observingtheyoungmanwithagloomysatisfaction;“andyouhavedonewelltoconformineverythingtothewishesofmyfriendSinbad;foryourfatherisindeedhere,andisseekingyou.”
Thecountfromthemomentoffirstenteringthedrawing–room,hadnotoncelostsightoftheexpressionoftheyoungman’scountenance;hehadadmiredtheassuranceofhislookandthefirmnessofhisvoice;butatthesewords,sonaturalinthemselves,“Yourfatherisindeedhere,andisseekingyou,”youngAndreastarted,andexclaimed,“Myfather?Ismyfatherhere?”
“Mostundoubtedly,”repliedMonteCristo;“yourfather,MajorBartolomeoCavalcanti.”
Theexpressionofterrorwhich,forthemoment,hadoverspreadthefeaturesoftheyoungman,hadnowdisappeared.“Ah,yes,thatisthename,certainly.MajorBartolomeoCavalcanti.
Andyoureallymeantosay;monsieur,thatmydearfatherishere?”
“Yes,sir;andIcanevenaddthatIhaveonlyjustlefthiscompany.
Thehistorywhichherelatedtomeofhislostsontouchedmetothequick;indeed,hisgriefs,hopes,andfearsonthatsubjectmightfurnishmaterialforamosttouchingandpatheticpoem.
Atlength,heonedayreceivedaletter,statingthattheabductorsofhissonnowofferedtorestorehim,oratleasttogivenoticewherehemightbefound,onconditionofreceivingalargesumofmoney,bywayofransom.
Yourfatherdidnothesitateaninstant,andthesumwassenttothefrontierofPiedmont,withapassportsignedforItaly.
YouwereinthesouthofFrance,Ithink?”
“Yes,”repliedAndrea,withanembarrassedair,“IwasinthesouthofFrance.”
“AcarriagewastoawaityouatNice?”
“Preciselyso;anditconveyedmefromNicetoGenoa,fromGenoatoTurin,fromTurintoChambery,fromChamberytoPont–de–Beauvoisin,andfromPont–de–BeauvoisintoParis.”
“Indeed?Thenyourfatheroughttohavemetwithyouontheroad,foritisexactlythesameroutewhichhehimselftook,andthatishowwehavebeenabletotraceyourjourneytothisplace.”
“But,”saidAndrea,“ifmyfatherhadmetme,Idoubtifhewouldhaverecognizedme;Imustbesomewhatalteredsincehelastsawme.”
“Oh,thevoiceofnature,”saidMonteCristo.
“True,”interruptedtheyoungman,“Ihadnotlookeduponitinthatlight.”
“Now,”repliedMonteCristo“thereisonlyonesourceofuneasinessleftinyourfather’smind,whichisthis—heisanxioustoknowhowyouhavebeenemployedduringyourlongabsencefromhim,howyouhavebeentreatedbyyourpersecutors,andiftheyhaveconductedthemselvestowardsyouwithallthedeferenceduetoyourrank.
Finally,heisanxioustoseeifyouhavebeenfortunateenoughtoescapethebadmoralinfluencetowhichyouhavebeenexposed,andwhichisinfinitelymoretobedreadedthananyphysicalsuffering;hewishestodiscoverifthefineabilitieswithwhichnaturehadendowedyouhavebeenweakenedbywantofculture;and,inshort,whetheryouconsideryourselfcapableofresumingandretainingintheworldthehighpositiontowhichyourrankentitlesyou.”
“Sir!”exclaimedtheyoungman,quiteastounded,“Ihopenofalsereport”—
“Asformyself,IfirstheardyouspokenofbymyfriendWilmore,thephilanthropist.
Ibelievehefoundyouinsomeunpleasantposition,butdonotknowofwhatnature,forIdidnotask,notbeinginquisitive.
Yourmisfortunesengagedhissympathies,soyouseeyoumusthavebeeninteresting.
Hetoldmethathewasanxioustorestoreyoutothepositionwhichyouhadlost,andthathewouldseekyourfatheruntilhefoundhim.
Hedidseek,andhasfoundhim,apparently,sinceheisherenow;and,finally,myfriendapprisedmeofyourcoming,andgavemeafewotherinstructionsrelativetoyourfuturefortune.
IamquiteawarethatmyfriendWilmoreispeculiar,butheissincere,andasrichasagold–mine,consequently,hemayindulgehiseccentricitieswithoutanyfearoftheirruininghim,andIhavepromisedtoadheretohisinstructions.
Now,sir,praydonotbeoffendedatthequestionIamabouttoputtoyou,asitcomesinthewayofmydutyasyourpatron.
Iwouldwishtoknowifthemisfortuneswhichhavehappenedtoyou—misfortunesentirelybeyondyourcontrol,andwhichinnodegreediminishmyregardforyou—Iwouldwishtoknowiftheyhavenot,insomemeasure,contributedtorenderyouastrangertotheworldinwhichyourfortuneandyournameentitleyoutomakeaconspicuousfigure?”
“Sir,”returnedtheyoungman,withareassuranceofmanner,“makeyourmindeasyonthisscore.
Thosewhotookmefrommyfather,andwhoalwaysintended,soonerorlater,tosellmeagaintomyoriginalproprietor,astheyhavenowdone,calculatedthat,inordertomakethemostoftheirbargain,itwouldbepolitictoleavemeinpossessionofallmypersonalandhereditaryworth,andeventoincreasethevalue,ifpossible.
Ihave,therefore,receivedaverygoodeducation,andhavebeentreatedbythesekidnappersverymuchastheslavesweretreatedinAsiaMinor,whosemastersmadethemgrammarians,doctors,andphilosophers,inorderthattheymightfetchahigherpriceintheRomanmarket.”
MonteCristosmiledwithsatisfaction;itappearedasifhehadnotexpectedsomuchfromM.AndreaCavalcanti.
“Besides,”continuedtheyoungman,“iftheredidappearsomedefectineducation,oroffenceagainsttheestablishedformsofetiquette,Isupposeitwouldbeexcused,inconsiderationofthemisfortuneswhichaccompaniedmybirth,andfollowedmethroughmyyouth.”
“Well,”saidMonteCristoinanindifferenttone,“youwilldoasyouplease,count,foryouarethemasterofyourownactions,andarethepersonmostconcernedinthematter,butifIwereyou,Iwouldnotdivulgeawordoftheseadventures.
Yourhistoryisquitearomance,andtheworld,whichdelightsinromancesinyellowcovers,strangelymistruststhosewhichareboundinlivingparchment,eventhoughtheybegildedlikeyourself.
ThisisthekindofdifficultywhichIwishedtorepresenttoyou,mydearcount.
Youwouldhardlyhaverecitedyourtouchinghistorybeforeitwouldgoforthtotheworld,andbedeemedunlikelyandunnatural.
Youwouldbenolongeralostchildfound,butyouwouldbelookeduponasanupstart,whohadsprunguplikeamushroominthenight.
Youmightexcitealittlecuriosity,butitisnoteveryonewholikestobemadethecentreofobservationandthesubjectofunpleasantremark.”
“Iagreewithyou,monsieur,”saidtheyoungman,turningpale,and,inspiteofhimself,tremblingbeneaththescrutinizinglookofhiscompanion,“suchconsequenceswouldbeextremelyunpleasant.”
“Nevertheless,youmustnotexaggeratetheevil,”saidMonteCristo,“forbyendeavoringtoavoidonefaultyouwillfallintoanother.
Youmustresolveupononesimpleandsinglelineofconduct,andforamanofyourintelligence,thisplanisaseasyasitisnecessary;youmustformhonorablefriendships,andbythatmeanscounteracttheprejudicewhichmayattachtotheobscurityofyourformerlife.”Andreavisiblychangedcountenance.
“Iwouldoffermyselfasyoursuretyandfriendlyadviser,”saidMonteCristo,“didInotpossessamoraldistrustofmybestfriends,andasortofinclinationtoleadotherstodoubtthemtoo;therefore,indepartingfromthisrule,Ishould(astheactorssay)beplayingapartquiteoutofmyline,andshould,therefore,runtheriskofbeinghissed,whichwouldbeanactoffolly.”
“However,yourexcellency,”saidAndrea,“inconsiderationofLordWilmore,bywhomIwasrecommendedtoyou—”
“Yes,certainly,”interruptedMonteCristo;“butLordWilmoredidnotomittoinformme,mydearM.Andrea,thattheseasonofyouryouthwasratherastormyone.
Ah,”saidthecount,watchingAndrea’scountenance,“Idonotdemandanyconfessionfromyou;itispreciselytoavoidthatnecessitythatyourfatherwassentforfromLucca.Youshallsoonseehim.
Heisalittlestiffandpompousinhismanner,andheisdisfiguredbyhisuniform;butwhenitbecomesknownthathehasbeenforeighteenyearsintheAustrianservice,allthatwillbepardoned.
WearenotgenerallyveryseverewiththeAustrians.
Inshort,youwillfindyourfatheraverypresentableperson,Iassureyou.”
“Ah,sir,youhavegivenmeconfidence;itissolongsincewewereseparated,thatIhavenottheleastremembranceofhim,and,besides,youknowthatintheeyesoftheworldalargefortunecoversalldefects.”
“Heisamillionaire—hisincomeis500,000francs.”
“Then,”saidtheyoungman,withanxiety,“Ishallbesuretobeplacedinanagreeableposition.”
“Oneofthemostagreeablepossible,mydearsir;hewillallowyouanincomeof50,000livresperannumduringthewholetimeofyourstayinParis.”
“TheninthatcaseIshallalwayschoosetoremainthere.”
“Youcannotcontrolcircumstances,mydearsir;‘manproposes,andGoddisposes.’”Andreasighed.
“But,”saidhe,“solongasIdoremaininParis,andnothingforcesmetoquitit,doyoumeantotellmethatImayrelyonreceivingthesumyoujustnowmentionedtome?”
“Youmay.”
“ShallIreceiveitfrommyfather?”askedAndrea,withsomeuneasiness.
“Yes,youwillreceiveitfromyourfatherpersonally,butLordWilmorewillbethesecurityforthemoney.
Hehas,attherequestofyourfather,openedanaccountof6,000.
francsamonthatM.Danglars’,whichisoneofthesafestbanksinParis.”
“AnddoesmyfathermeantoremainlonginParis?”askedAndrea.
“Onlyafewdays,”repliedMonteCristo.“Hisservicedoesnotallowhimtoabsenthimselfmorethantwoorthreeweekstogether.”
“Ah,mydearfather!”exclaimedAndrea,evidentlycharmedwiththeideaofhisspeedydeparture.
“Therefore,”saidMonteCristofeigningtomistakehismeaning—”thereforeIwillnot,foranotherinstant,retardthepleasureofyourmeeting.Areyoupreparedtoembraceyourworthyfather?”
“Ihopeyoudonotdoubtit.”
“Go,then,intothedrawing–room,myyoungfriend,whereyouwillfindyourfatherawaitingyou.”
Andreamadealowbowtothecount,andenteredtheadjoiningroom.
MonteCristowatchedhimtillhedisappeared,andthentouchedaspringinapanelmadetolooklikeapicture,which,inslidingpartlyfromtheframe,discoveredtoviewasmallopening,socleverlycontrivedthatitrevealedallthatwaspassinginthedrawing–roomnowoccupiedbyCavalcantiandAndrea.
Theyoungmanclosedthedoorbehindhim,andadvancedtowardsthemajor,whohadrisenwhenheheardstepsapproachinghim.“Ah,mydearfather!”
saidAndreainaloudvoice,inorderthatthecountmighthearhiminthenextroom,“isitreallyyou?”
“Howdoyoudo,mydearson?”saidthemajorgravely.
“Aftersomanyyearsofpainfulseparation,”saidAndrea,inthesametoneofvoice,andglancingtowardsthedoor,“whatahappinessitistomeetagain!”
“Indeeditis,aftersolongaseparation.”
“Willyounotembraceme,sir?”saidAndrea.
“Ifyouwishit,myson,”saidthemajor;andthetwomenembracedeachotherafterthefashionofactorsonthestage;thatistosay,eachrestedhisheadontheother’sshoulder.
“Thenweareoncemorereunited?”saidAndrea.
“Oncemore,”repliedthemajor.
“Nevermoretobeseparated?”
“Why,astothat—Ithink,mydearson,youmustbebythistimesoaccustomedtoFranceastolookuponitalmostasasecondcountry.”
“Thefactis,”saidtheyoungman,“thatIshouldbeexceedinglygrievedtoleaveit.”
“Asforme,youmustknowIcannotpossiblyliveoutofLucca;thereforeIshallreturntoItalyassoonasIcan.”
“ButbeforeyouleaveFrance,mydearfather,Ihopeyouwillputmeinpossessionofthedocumentswhichwillbenecessarytoprovemydescent.”
“Certainly;Iamcomeexpresslyonthataccount;ithascostmemuchtroubletofindyou,butIhadresolvedongivingthemintoyourhands,andifIhadtorecommencemysearch,itwouldoccupyallthefewremainingyearsofmylife.”
“Wherearethesepapers,then?”
“Heretheyare.”
Andreaseizedthecertificateofhisfather’smarriageandhisownbaptismalregister,andafterhavingopenedthemwithalltheeagernesswhichmightbeexpectedunderthecircumstances,hereadthemwithafacilitywhichprovedthathewasaccustomedtosimilardocuments,andwithanexpressionwhichplainlydenotedanunusualinterestinthecontents.
Whenhehadperusedthedocuments,anindefinableexpressionofpleasurelighteduphiscountenance,andlookingatthemajorwithamostpeculiarsmile,hesaid,inveryexcellentTuscan,—”Thenthereisnolongeranysuchthing,inItalyasbeingcondemnedtothegalleys?”
Themajordrewhimselfuptohisfullheight.
“Why?—whatdoyoumeanbythatquestion?”
“Imeanthatiftherewere,itwouldbeimpossibletodrawupwithimpunitytwosuchdeedsasthese.
InFrance,mydearsir,halfsuchapieceofeffronteryasthatwouldcauseyoutobequicklydespatchedtoToulonforfiveyears,forchangeofair.”
“Willyoubegoodenoughtoexplainyourmeaning?”saidthemajor,endeavoringasmuchaspossibletoassumeanairofthegreatestmajesty.
“MydearM.Cavalcanti,”saidAndrea,takingthemajorbythearminaconfidentialmanner,“howmuchareyoupaidforbeingmyfather?”
Themajorwasabouttospeak,whenAndreacontinued,inalowvoice.
“Nonsense,Iamgoingtosetyouanexampleofconfidence,theygiveme50,000francsayeartobeyourson;consequently,youcanunderstandthatitisnotatalllikelyIshalleverdenymyparent.”Themajorlookedanxiouslyaroundhim.
“Makeyourselfeasy,wearequitealone,”saidAndrea;“besides,weareconversinginItalian.”
“Well,then,”repliedthemajor,“theypaidme50,000francsdown.”
“MonsieurCavalcanti,”saidAndrea,“doyoubelieveinfairytales?”
“Iusednottodoso,butIreallyfeelnowalmostobligedtohavefaithinthem.”
“Youhave,then,beeninducedtoalteryouropinion;youhavehadsomeproofsoftheirtruth?”Themajordrewfromhispocketahandfulofgold.“Mostpalpableproofs,”saidhe,“asyoumayperceive.”
“Youthink,then,thatImayrelyonthecount’spromises?”
“CertainlyIdo.”
“Youaresurehewillkeephiswordwithme?”
“Totheletter,butatthesametime,remember,wemustcontinuetoplayourrespectiveparts.I,asatenderfather”—
“AndIasadutifulson,astheychoosethatIshallbedescendedfromyou.”
“Whomdoyoumeanbythey?”
“Mafoi,Icanhardlytell,butIwasalludingtothosewhowrotetheletter;youreceivedone,didyounot?”
“Yes.”
“Fromwhom?”
“FromacertainAbbeBusoni.”
“Haveyouanyknowledgeofhim?”
“No,Ihaveneverseenhim.”
“Whatdidhesayintheletter?”
“Youwillpromisenottobetrayme?”
“Restassuredofthat;youwellknowthatourinterestsarethesame.”
“Thenreadforyourself;”andthemajorgavealetterintotheyoungman’shand.Andreareadinalowvoice—
“Youarepoor;amiserableoldageawaitsyou.
Wouldyouliketobecomerich,oratleastindependent?
SetoutimmediatelyforParis,anddemandoftheCountofMonteCristo,AvenuedesChampsElysees,No.30,thesonwhomyouhadbytheMarchesaCorsinari,andwhowastakenfromyouatfiveyearsofage.ThissonisnamedAndreaCavalcanti.
Inorderthatyoumaynotdoubtthekindintentionofthewriterofthisletter,youwillfindenclosedanorderfor2,400francs,payableinFlorence,atSignorGozzi’s;alsoaletterofintroductiontotheCountofMonteCristo,onwhomIgiveyouadraftof48,000francs.
Remembertogotothecountonthe26thMayatseveno’clockintheevening.
(Signed)
“AbbeBusoni.”
“Itisthesame.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”saidthemajor.
“IwasgoingtosaythatIreceivedaletteralmosttothesameeffect.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“FromtheAbbeBusoni?”
“No.”
“Fromwhom,then?”
“FromanEnglishman,calledLordWilmore,whotakesthenameofSinbadtheSailor.”
“AndofwhomyouhavenomoreknowledgethanIoftheAbbeBusoni?”
“Youaremistaken;thereIamaheadofyou.”
“Youhaveseenhim,then?”
“Yes,once.”
“Where?”
“Ah,thatisjustwhatIcannottellyou;ifIdid,Ishouldmakeyouaswiseasmyself,whichitisnotmyintentiontodo.”
“Andwhatdidthelettercontain?”
“Readit.”
”’Youarepoor,andyourfutureprospectsaredarkandgloomy.Doyouwishforaname?shouldyouliketoberich,andyourownmaster?’”
“Mafoi,”saidtheyoungman;“wasitpossibletherecouldbetwoanswerstosuchaquestion?”
“Takethepost–chaisewhichyouwillfindwaitingatthePortedeGenes,asyouenterNice;passthroughTurin,Chambery,andPont–de–Beauvoisin.
GototheCountofMonteCristo,AvenuedesChampsElysees,onthe26thofMay,atseveno’clockintheevening,anddemandofhimyourfather.
YouarethesonoftheMarcheseCavalcantiandtheMarchesaOlivaCorsinari.
Themarquiswillgiveyousomepaperswhichwillcertifythisfact,andauthorizeyoutoappearunderthatnameintheParisianworld.
Astoyourrank,anannualincomeof50,000livreswillenableyoutosupportitadmirably.
Iencloseadraftfor5,000livres,payableonM.Ferrea,bankeratNice,andalsoaletterofintroductiontotheCountofMonteCristo,whomIhavedirectedtosupplyallyourwants.
“SinbadtheSailor.”
“Humph,”saidthemajor;“verygood.Youhaveseenthecount,yousay?”
“Ihaveonlyjustlefthim.”
“Andhasheconformedtoallthattheletterspecified?”
“Hehas.”
“Doyouunderstandit?”
“Notintheleast.”
“Thereisadupesomewhere.”
“Atallevents,itisneitheryounorI.”
“Certainlynot.”
“Well,then”—
“Why,itdoesnotmuchconcernus,doyouthinkitdoes?”
“No;Iagreewithyouthere.Wemustplaythegametotheend,andconsenttobeblindfold.”
“Ah,youshallsee;IpromiseyouIwillsustainmyparttoadmiration.”
“Ineveroncedoubtedyourdoingso.”MonteCristochosethismomentforre–enteringthedrawing–room.
Onhearingthesoundofhisfootsteps,thetwomenthrewthemselvesineachother’sarms,andwhiletheywereinthemidstofthisembrace,thecountentered.
“Well,marquis,”saidMonteCristo,“youappeartobeinnowaydisappointedinthesonwhomyourgoodfortunehasrestoredtoyou.”
“Ah,yourexcellency,Iamoverwhelmedwithdelight.”
“Andwhatareyourfeelings?”saidMonteCristo,turningtotheyoungman.
“Asforme,myheartisoverflowingwithhappiness.”
“Happyfather,happyson!”saidthecount.
“Thereisonlyonethingwhichgrievesme,”observedthemajor,“andthatisthenecessityformyleavingParissosoon.”
“Ah,mydearM.Cavalcanti,ItrustyouwillnotleavebeforeIhavehadthehonorofpresentingyoutosomeofmyfriends.”
“Iamatyourservice,sir,”repliedthemajor.
“Now,sir,”saidMonteCristo,addressingAndrea,“makeyourconfession.”
“Towhom?”
“TellM.Cavalcantisomethingofthestateofyourfinances.”
“Mafoi,monsieur,youhavetoucheduponatenderchord.”
“Doyouhearwhathesays,major?”
“CertainlyIdo.”
“Butdoyouunderstand?”
“Ido.”
“Yoursonsaysherequiresmoney.”
“Well,whatwouldyouhavemedo?”saidthemajor.
“Youshouldfurnishhimwithsomeofcourse,”repliedMonteCristo.
“I?”“Yes,you,”saidthecount,atthesametimeadvancingtowardsAndrea,andslippingapacketofbank–notesintotheyoungman’shand.
“Whatisthis?”
“Itisfromyourfather.”
“Frommyfather?”
“Yes;didyounottellhimjustnowthatyouwantedmoney?Well,then,hedeputesmetogiveyouthis.”
“AmItoconsiderthisaspartofmyincomeonaccount?”
“No,itisforthefirstexpensesofyoursettlinginParis.”
“Ah,howgoodmydearfatheris!”
“Silence,”saidMonteCristo;“hedoesnotwishyoutoknowthatitcomesfromhim.”
“Ifullyappreciatehisdelicacy,”saidAndrea,crammingthenoteshastilyintohispocket.
“Andnow,gentlemen,Iwishyougood–morning,”saidMonteCristo.
“Andwhenshallwehavethehonorofseeingyouagain,yourexcellency?”askedCavalcanti.
“Ah,”saidAndrea,“whenmaywehopeforthatpleasure?”
“OnSaturday,ifyouwill—Yes.—Letmesee—Saturday—Iamtodineatmycountryhouse,atAuteuil,onthatday,RuedelaFontaine,No.28.
Severalpersonsareinvited,andamongothers,M.Danglars,yourbanker.
Iwillintroduceyoutohim,foritwillbenecessaryheshouldknowyou,asheistopayyourmoney.”
“Fulldress?”saidthemajor,halfaloud.
“Oh,yes,certainly,”saidthecount;“uniform,cross,knee–breeches.”
“AndhowshallIbedressed?”demandedAndrea.
“Oh,verysimply;blacktrousers,patentleatherboots,whitewaistcoat,eitherablackorbluecoat,andalongcravat.
GotoBlinorVeroniqueforyourclothes.
Baptistinwilltellyouwhere,ifyoudonotknowtheiraddress.
Thelesspretensionthereisinyourattire,thebetterwillbetheeffect,asyouarearichman.
Ifyoumeantobuyanyhorses,getthemofDevedeux,andifyoupurchaseaphaeton,gotoBaptisteforit.”
“Atwhathourshallwecome?”askedtheyoungman.
“Abouthalf–pastsix.”
“Wewillbewithyouatthattime,”saidthemajor.
ThetwoCavalcantibowedtothecount,andleftthehouse.
MonteCristowenttothewindow,andsawthemcrossingthestreet,arminarm.
“Theregotwomiscreants;”saidhe,“itisapitytheyarenotreallyrelated!”
—then,afteraninstantofgloomyreflection,“Come,IwillgotoseetheMorrels,”saidhe;“Ithinkthatdisgustisevenmoresickeningthanhatred.”
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