English
M.andMadamedeVillefortfoundontheirreturnthattheCountofMonteCristo,whohadcometovisitthemintheirabsence,hadbeenusheredintothedrawing–room,andwasstillawaitingthemthere.
MadamedeVillefort,whohadnotyetsufficientlyrecoveredfromherlateemotiontoallowofherentertainingvisitorssoimmediately,retiredtoherbedroom,whiletheprocureur,whocouldbetterdependuponhimself,proceededatoncetothesalon.
AlthoughM.deVillefortflatteredhimselfthat,toalloutwardview,hehadcompletelymaskedthefeelingswhichwerepassinginhismind,hedidnotknowthatthecloudwasstillloweringonhisbrow,somuchsothatthecount,whosesmilewasradiant,immediatelynoticedhissombreandthoughtfulair.
“Mafoi,”saidMonteCristo,afterthefirstcomplimentswereover,“whatisthematterwithyou,M.deVillefort?
HaveIarrivedatthemomentwhenyouweredrawingupanindictmentforacapitalcrime?”Villeforttriedtosmile.
“No,count,”hereplied,“Iamtheonlyvictiminthiscase.
ItisIwholosemycause,anditisill–luck,obstinacy,andfollywhichhavecausedittobedecidedagainstme.”
“Towhatdoyourefer?”saidMonteCristowithwell–feignedinterest.“Haveyoureallymetwithsomegreatmisfortune?”
“Oh,no,monsieur,”saidVillefortwithabittersmile;“itisonlyalossofmoneywhichIhavesustained—nothingworthmentioning,Iassureyou.”
“True,”saidMonteCristo,“thelossofasumofmoneybecomesalmostimmaterialwithafortunesuchasyoupossess,andtooneofyourphilosophicspirit.”
“Itisnotsomuchthelossofthemoneythatvexesme,”saidVillefort,“though,afterall,900,000francsareworthregretting;butIamthemoreannoyedwiththisfate,chance,orwhateveryoupleasetocallthepowerwhichhasdestroyedmyhopesandmyfortune,andmayblasttheprospectsofmychildalso,asitisalloccasionedbyanoldmanrelapsedintosecondchildhood.”
“Whatdoyousay?”saidthecount;“900,000francs?Itisindeedasumwhichmightberegrettedevenbyaphilosopher.Andwhoisthecauseofallthisannoyance?”
“Myfather,asItoldyou.”
“M.Noirtier?ButIthoughtyoutoldmehehadbecomeentirelyparalyzed,andthatallhisfacultieswerecompletelydestroyed?”
“Yes,hisbodilyfaculties,forhecanneithermovenorspeak,neverthelesshethinks,acts,andwillsinthemannerIhavedescribed.
Ilefthimaboutfiveminutesago,andheisnowoccupiedindictatinghiswilltotwonotaries.”
“Buttodothishemusthavespoken?”
“Hehasdonebetterthanthat—hehasmadehimselfunderstood.”
“Howwassuchathingpossible?”
“Bythehelpofhiseyes,whicharestillfulloflife,and,asyouperceive,possessthepowerofinflictingmortalinjury.”
“Mydear,”saidMadamedeVillefort,whohadjustenteredtheroom,“perhapsyouexaggeratetheevil.”
“Good–morning,madame,”saidthecount,bowing.
MadamedeVillefortacknowledgedthesalutationwithoneofhermostgracioussmiles.
“WhatisthisthatM.deVilleforthasbeentellingme?”
demandedMonteCristo“andwhatincomprehensiblemisfortune”—
“Incomprehensibleisnottheword,”interruptedtheprocureur,shrugginghisshoulders.“Itisanoldman’scaprice.”
“Andistherenomeansofmakinghimrevokehisdecision?”
“Yes,”saidMadamedeVillefort;“anditisstillentirelyinthepowerofmyhusbandtocausethewill,whichisnowinprejudiceofValentine,tobealteredinherfavor.”
Thecount,whoperceivedthatM.andMadamedeVillefortwerebeginningtospeakinparables,appearedtopaynoattentiontotheconversation,andfeignedtobebusilyengagedinwatchingEdward,whowasmischievouslypouringsomeinkintothebird’swater–glass.
“Mydear,”saidVillefort,inanswertohiswife,“youknowIhaveneverbeenaccustomedtoplaythepatriarchinmyfamily,norhaveIeverconsideredthatthefateofauniversewastobedecidedbymynod.
Nevertheless,itisnecessarythatmywillshouldberespectedinmyfamily,andthatthefollyofanoldmanandthecapriceofachildshouldnotbeallowedtooverturnaprojectwhichIhaveentertainedforsomanyyears.
TheBarond’Epinaywasmyfriend,asyouknow,andanalliancewithhissonisthemostsuitablethingthatcouldpossiblybearranged.”
“Doyouthink,”saidMadamedeVillefort,“thatValentineisinleaguewithhim?
Shehasalwaysbeenopposedtothismarriage,andIshouldnotbeatallsurprisedifwhatwehavejustseenandheardisnothingbuttheexecutionofaplanconcertedbetweenthem.”
“Madame,”saidVillefort,“believeme,afortuneof900,000.francsisnotsoeasilyrenounced.”
“Shecould,nevertheless,makeuphermindtorenouncetheworld,sir,sinceitisonlyaboutayearagothatsheherselfproposedenteringaconvent.”
“Nevermind,”repliedVillefort;“Isaythatthismarriageshallbeconsummated.”
“Notwithstandingyourfather’swishestothecontrary?”
saidMadamedeVillefort,selectinganewpointofattack.“Thatisaseriousthing.”
MonteCristo,whopretendednottobelistening,heardhowever,everywordthatwassaid.
“Madame,”repliedVillefort“IcantrulysaythatIhavealwaysentertainedahighrespectformyfather,because,tothenaturalfeelingofrelationshipwasaddedtheconsciousnessofhismoralsuperiority.
Thenameoffatherissacredintwosenses;heshouldbereverencedastheauthorofourbeingandasamasterwhomweoughttoobey.
But,underthepresentcircumstances,Iamjustifiedindoubtingthewisdomofanoldmanwho,becausehehatedthefather,ventshisangerontheson.
Itwouldberidiculousinmetoregulatemyconductbysuchcaprices.
IshallstillcontinuetopreservethesamerespecttowardM.Noirtier;Iwillsuffer,withoutcomplaint,thepecuniarydeprivationtowhichhehassubjectedme;butIshallremainfirminmydetermination,andtheworldshallseewhichpartyhasreasononhisside.
ConsequentlyIshallmarrymydaughtertotheBaronFranzd’Epinay,becauseIconsideritwouldbeaproperandeligiblematchforhertomake,and,inshort,becauseIchoosetobestowmydaughter’shandonwhomeverIplease.”
“What?”saidthecount,theapprobationofwhoseeyeVilleforthadfrequentlysolicitedduringthisspeech.“What?
DoyousaythatM.NoirtierdisinheritsMademoiselledeVillefortbecausesheisgoingtomarryM.leBaronFranzd’Epinay?”
“Yes,sir,thatisthereason,”saidVillefort,shrugginghisshoulders.
“Theapparentreason,atleast,”saidMadamedeVillefort.
“Therealreason,madame,Icanassureyou;Iknowmyfather.”
“ButIwanttoknowinwhatwayM.d’Epinaycanhavedispleasedyourfathermorethananyotherperson?”
“IbelieveIknowM.Franzd’Epinay,”saidthecount;“ishenotthesonofGeneraldeQuesnel,whowascreatedBarond’EpinaybyCharlesX.?”
“Thesame,”saidVillefort.
“Well,butheisacharmingyoungman,accordingtomyideas.”
“Heis,whichmakesmebelievethatitisonlyanexcuseofM.Noirtiertopreventhisgranddaughtermarrying;oldmenarealwayssoselfishintheiraffection,”saidMadamedeVillefort.
“But,”saidMonteCristo“doyounotknowanycauseforthishatred?”
“Ah,mafoi,whoistoknow?”
“Perhapsitissomepoliticaldifference?”
“MyfatherandtheBarond’EpinaylivedinthestormytimesofwhichIonlysawtheending,”saidVillefort.
“WasnotyourfatheraBonapartist?”askedMonteCristo;“IthinkIrememberthatyoutoldmesomethingofthatkind.”
“MyfatherhasbeenaJacobinmorethananythingelse,”saidVillefort,carriedbyhisemotionbeyondtheboundsofprudence;“andthesenator’srobe,whichNapoleoncastonhisshoulders,onlyservedtodisguisetheoldmanwithoutinanydegreechanginghim.
Whenmyfatherconspired,itwasnotfortheemperor,itwasagainsttheBourbons;forM.Noirtierpossessedthispeculiarity,heneverprojectedanyUtopianschemeswhichcouldneverberealized,butstroveforpossibilities,andheappliedtotherealizationofthesepossibilitiestheterribletheoriesofTheMountain,—theoriesthatnevershrankfromanymeansthatweredeemednecessarytobringaboutthedesiredresult.”
“Well,”saidMonteCristo,“itisjustasIthought;itwaspoliticswhichbroughtNoirtierandM.d’Epinayintopersonalcontact.
AlthoughGenerald’EpinayservedunderNapoleon,didhenotstillretainroyalistsentiments?
AndwashenotthepersonwhowasassassinatedoneeveningonleavingaBonapartistmeetingtowhichhehadbeeninvitedonthesuppositionthathefavoredthecauseoftheemperor?”
Villefortlookedatthecountalmostwithterror.“AmImistaken,then?”saidMonteCristo.
“No,sir,thefactswerepreciselywhatyouhavestated,”saidMadamedeVillefort;“anditwastopreventtherenewalofoldfeudsthatM.deVillefortformedtheideaofunitinginthebondsofaffectionthetwochildrenoftheseinveterateenemies.”
“Itwasasublimeandcharitablethought,”saidMonteCristo,“andthewholeworldshouldapplaudit.
ItwouldbenobletoseeMademoiselleNoirtierdeVillefortassumingthetitleofMadameFranzd’Epinay.”
VillefortshudderedandlookedatMonteCristoasifhewishedtoreadinhiscountenancetherealfeelingswhichhaddictatedthewordshehadjustuttered.
Butthecountcompletelybaffledtheprocureur,andpreventedhimfromdiscoveringanythingbeneaththenever–varyingsmilehewassoconstantlyinthehabitofassuming.
“Although,”saidVillefort,“itwillbeaseriousthingforValentinetolosehergrandfather’sfortune,IdonotthinkthatM.d’Epinaywillbefrightenedatthispecuniaryloss.
Hewill,perhaps,holdmeingreateresteemthanthemoneyitself,seeingthatIsacrificeeverythinginordertokeepmywordwithhim.
Besides,heknowsthatValentineisrichinrightofhermother,andthatshewill,inallprobability,inheritthefortuneofM.andMadamedeSaint–Meran,hermother’sparents,whobothlovehertenderly.”
“AndwhoarefullyaswellworthlovingandtendingasM.Noirtier,”saidMadamedeVillefort;“besides,theyaretocometoParisinaboutamonth,andValentine,aftertheaffrontshehasreceived,neednotconsideritnecessarytocontinuetoburyherselfalivebybeingshutupwithM.Noirtier.”
Thecountlistenedwithsatisfactiontothistaleofwoundedself–loveanddefeatedambition.
“Butitseemstome,”saidMonteCristo,“andImustbeginbyaskingyourpardonforwhatIamabouttosay,thatifM.NoirtierdisinheritsMademoiselledeVillefortbecausesheisgoingtomarryamanwhosefatherhedetested,hecannothavethesamecauseofcomplaintagainstthisdearEdward.”
“True,”saidMadamedeVillefort,withanintonationofvoicewhichitisimpossibletodescribe;“isitnotunjust—shamefullyunjust?
PoorEdwardisasmuchM.Noirtier’sgrandchildasValentine,andyet,ifshehadnotbeengoingtomarryM.Franz,M.Noirtierwouldhaveleftherallhismoney;andsupposingValentinetobedisinheritedbyhergrandfather,shewillstillbethreetimesricherthanhe.”Thecountlistenedandsaidnomore.
“Count,”saidVillefort,“wewillnotentertainyouanylongerwithourfamilymisfortunes.
Itistruethatmypatrimonywillgotoendowcharitableinstitutions,andmyfatherwillhavedeprivedmeofmylawfulinheritancewithoutanyreasonfordoingso,butIshallhavethesatisfactionofknowingthatIhaveactedlikeamanofsenseandfeeling.
M.d’Epinay,towhomIhadpromisedtheinterestofthissum,shallreceiveit,evenifIendurethemostcruelprivations.”
“However,”saidMadamedeVillefort,returningtotheoneideawhichincessantlyoccupiedhermind,“perhapsitwouldbebettertoexplainthisunluckyaffairtoM.d’Epinay,inordertogivehimtheopportunityofhimselfrenouncinghisclaimtothehandofMademoiselledeVillefort.”
“Ah,thatwouldbeagreatpity,”saidVillefort.
“Agreatpity,”saidMonteCristo.
“Undoubtedly,”saidVillefort,moderatingthetonesofhisvoice,“amarriageonceconcertedandthenbrokenoff,throwsasortofdiscreditonayounglady;thenagain,theoldreports,whichIwassoanxioustoputanendto,willinstantlygainground.
No,itwillallgowell;M.d’Epinay,ifheisanhonorableman,willconsiderhimselfmorethaneverpledgedtoMademoiselledeVillefort,unlesshewereactuatedbyadecidedfeelingofavarice,butthatisimpossible.”
“IagreewithM.deVillefort,”saidMonteCristo,fixinghiseyesonMadamedeVillefort;“andifIweresufficientlyintimatewithhimtoallowofgivingmyadvice,Iwouldpersuadehim,sinceIhavebeentoldM.d’Epinayiscomingback,tosettlethisaffairatoncebeyondallpossibilityofrevocation.
IwillanswerforthesuccessofaprojectwhichwillreflectsomuchhonoronM.deVillefort.”
Theprocureurarose,delightedwiththeproposition,buthiswifeslightlychangedcolor.
“Well,thatisallthatIwanted,andIwillbeguidedbyacounsellorsuchasyouare,”saidhe,extendinghishandtoMonteCristo.
“Thereforeleteveryoneherelookuponwhathaspassedto–dayasifithadnothappened,andasthoughwehadneverthoughtofsuchathingasachangeinouroriginalplans.”
“Sir,”saidthecount,“theworld,unjustasitis,willbepleasedwithyourresolution;yourfriendswillbeproudofyou,andM.d’Epinay,evenifhetookMademoiselledeVillefortwithoutanydowry,whichhewillnotdo,wouldbedelightedwiththeideaofenteringafamilywhichcouldmakesuchsacrificesinordertokeepapromiseandfulfiladuty.”
Attheconclusionofthesewords,thecountrosetodepart.“Areyougoingtoleaveus,count?”saidMadamedeVillefort.
“IamsorrytosayImustdoso,madame,IonlycametoremindyouofyourpromiseforSaturday.”
“Didyoufearthatweshouldforgetit?”
“Youareverygood,madame,butM.deVilleforthassomanyimportantandurgentoccupations.”
“Myhusbandhasgivenmehisword,sir,”saidMadamedeVillefort;“youhavejustseenhimresolvetokeepitwhenhehaseverythingtolose,andsurelythereismorereasonforhisdoingsowherehehaseverythingtogain.”
“And,”saidVillefort,“isitatyourhouseintheChamps–Elyseesthatyoureceiveyourvisitors?”
“No,”saidMonteCristo,“whichispreciselythereasonwhichrendersyourkindnessmoremeritorious,—itisinthecountry.”
“Inthecountry?”
“Yes.”
“Whereisit,then?NearParis,isitnot?”
“Verynear,onlyhalfaleaguefromtheBarriers,—itisatAuteuil.”
“AtAuteuil?”saidVillefort;“true,MadamedeVilleforttoldmeyoulivedatAuteuil,sinceitwastoyourhousethatshewastaken.AndinwhatpartofAuteuildoyoureside?”
“RuedelaFontaine.”
“RuedelaFontaine!”exclaimedVillefortinanagitatedtone;“atwhatnumber?”
“No.28.”
“Then,”criedVillefort,“wasityouwhoboughtM.deSaint–Meran’shouse!”
“DiditbelongtoM.deSaint–Meran?”demandedMonteCristo.
“Yes,”repliedMadamedeVillefort;“and,wouldyoubelieveit,count”—
“Believewhat?”
“Youthinkthishousepretty,doyounot?”
“Ithinkitcharming.”
“Well,myhusbandwouldneverliveinit.”
“Indeed?”returnedMonteCristo,“thatisaprejudiceonyourpart,M.deVillefort,forwhichIamquiteatalosstoaccount.”
“IdonotlikeAuteuil,sir,”saidtheprocureur,makinganevidentefforttoappearcalm.
“ButIhopeyouwillnotcarryyourantipathysofarastodeprivemeofthepleasureofyourcompany,sir,”saidMonteCristo.
“No,count,—Ihope—IassureyouIshalldomybest,”stammeredVillefort.
“Oh,”saidMonteCristo,“Iallowofnoexcuse.OnSaturday,atsixo’clock.
Ishallbeexpectingyou,andifyoufailtocome,Ishallthink—forhowdoIknowtothecontrary?
—thatthishouse,whichhisremaineduninhabitedfortwentyyears,musthavesomegloomytraditionordreadfullegendconnectedwithit.”
“Iwillcome,count,—Iwillbesuretocome,”saidVilleforteagerly.
“Thankyou,”saidMonteCristo;“nowyoumustpermitmetotakemyleaveofyou.”
“Yousaidbeforethatyouwereobligedtoleaveus,monsieur,”saidMadamedeVillefort,“andyouwereabouttotelluswhywhenyourattentionwascalledtosomeothersubject.”
“Indeedmadame,”saidMonteCristo:“IscarcelyknowifIdaretellyouwhereIamgoing.”
“Nonsense;sayon.”
“Well,then,itistoseeathingonwhichIhavesometimesmusedforhourstogether.”
“Whatisit?”
“Atelegraph.SonowIhavetoldmysecret.”
“Atelegraph?”repeatedMadamedeVillefort.
“Yes,atelegraph.Ihadoftenseenoneplacedattheendofaroadonahillock,andinthelightofthesunitsblackarms,bendingineverydirection,alwaysremindedmeoftheclawsofanimmensebeetle,andIassureyouitwasneverwithoutemotionthatIgazedonit,forIcouldnothelpthinkinghowwonderfulitwasthatthesevarioussignsshouldbemadetocleavetheairwithsuchprecisionastoconveytothedistanceofthreehundredleaguestheideasandwishesofamansittingatatableatoneendofthelinetoanothermansimilarlyplacedattheoppositeextremity,andallthiseffectedbyasimpleactofvolitiononthepartofthesenderofthemessage.
Ibegantothinkofgenii,sylphs,gnomes,inshort,ofalltheministersoftheoccultsciences,untilIlaughedaloudatthefreaksofmyownimagination.
Now,itneveroccurredtometowishforanearerinspectionoftheselargeinsects,withtheirlongblackclaws,forIalwaysfearedtofindundertheirstonewingssomelittlehumangeniusfaggedtodeathwithcabals,factions,andgovernmentintrigues.
ButonefinedayIlearnedthatthemoverofthistelegraphwasonlyapoorwretch,hiredfortwelvehundredfrancsayear,andemployedallday,notinstudyingtheheavenslikeanastronomer,oringazingonthewaterlikeanangler,oreveninenjoyingtheprivilegeofobservingthecountryaroundhim,butallhismonotonouslifewaspassedinwatchinghiswhite–bellied,black–clawedfellowinsect,fourorfiveleaguesdistantfromhim.
AtlengthIfeltadesiretostudythislivingchrysalismoreclosely,andtoendeavortounderstandthesecretpartplayedbytheseinsect–actorswhentheyoccupythemselvessimplywithpullingdifferentpiecesofstring.”
“Andareyougoingthere?”
“Iam.”
“Whattelegraphdoyouintendvisiting?thatofthehomedepartment,oroftheobservatory?”
“Oh,no;IshouldfindtherepeoplewhowouldforcemetounderstandthingsofwhichIwouldprefertoremainignorant,andwhowouldtrytoexplaintome,inspiteofmyself,amysterywhicheventheydonotunderstand.
Mafoi,Ishouldwishtokeepmyillusionsconcerninginsectsunimpaired;itisquiteenoughtohavethosedissipatedwhichIhadformedofmyfellow–creatures.
Ishall,therefore,notvisiteitherofthesetelegraphs,butoneintheopencountrywhereIshallfindagood–naturedsimpleton,whoknowsnomorethanthemachineheisemployedtowork.”
“Youareasingularman,”saidVillefort.
“Whatlinewouldyouadvisemetostudy?”
“Theonethatismostinusejustatthistime.”
“TheSpanishone,youmean,Isuppose?”
“Yes;shouldyoulikealettertotheministerthattheymightexplaintoyou”—
“No,”saidMonteCristo;“since,asItoldyoubefore,Idonotwishtocomprehendit.
ThemomentIunderstandittherewillnolongerexistatelegraphforme;itwillbenothingmorethanasignfromM.Duchatel,orfromM.Montalivet,transmittedtotheprefectofBayonne,mystifiedbytwoGreekwords,tele,graphein.
Itistheinsectwithblackclaws,andtheawfulwordwhichIwishtoretaininmyimaginationinallitspurityandallitsimportance.”
“Gothen;forinthecourseoftwohoursitwillbedark,andyouwillnotbeabletoseeanything.”
“Mafoi,youfrightenme.Whichisthenearestway?Bayonne?”
“Yes;theroadtoBayonne.”
“AndafterwardstheroadtoChatillon?”
“Yes.”
“BythetowerofMontlhery,youmean?”
“Yes.”
“Thankyou.Good–by.
OnSaturdayIwilltellyoumyimpressionsconcerningthetelegraph.”
Atthedoorthecountwasmetbythetwonotaries,whohadjustcompletedtheactwhichwastodisinheritValentine,andwhowereleavingundertheconvictionofhavingdoneathingwhichcouldnotfailofredoundingconsiderablytotheircredit.
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