English
Itwasevidentthatonesentimentaffectedalltheguestsonenteringthedining–room.
Eachoneaskedwhatstrangeinfluencehadbroughtthemtothishouse,andyetastonished,evenuneasythoughtheywere,theystillfeltthattheywouldnotliketobeabsent.
Therecentevents,thesolitaryandeccentricpositionofthecount,hisenormous,nay,almostincrediblefortune,shouldhavemademencautious,andhavealtogetherpreventedladiesvisitingahousewheretherewasnooneoftheirownsextoreceivethem;andyetcuriosityhadbeenenoughtoleadthemtooverleaptheboundsofprudenceanddecorum.
Andallpresent,evenincludingCavalcantiandhisson,notwithstandingthestiffnessoftheoneandthecarelessnessoftheother,werethoughtful,onfindingthemselvesassembledatthehouseofthisincomprehensibleman.
MadameDanglarshadstartedwhenVillefort,onthecount’sinvitation,offeredhisarm;andVillefortfeltthathisglancewasuneasybeneathhisgoldspectacles,whenhefeltthearmofthebaronesspressuponhisown.
Noneofthishadescapedthecount,andevenbythismerecontactofindividualsthescenehadalreadyacquiredconsiderableinterestforanobserver.
M.deVilleforthadontherighthandMadameDanglars,onhisleftMorrel.
ThecountwasseatedbetweenMadamedeVillefortandDanglars;theotherseatswerefilledbyDebray,whowasplacedbetweenthetwoCavalcanti,andbyChateau–Renaud,seatedbetweenMadamedeVillefortandMorrel.
Therepastwasmagnificent;MonteCristohadendeavoredcompletelytooverturntheParisianideas,andtofeedthecuriosityasmuchastheappetiteofhisguests.
ItwasanOrientalfeastthatheofferedtothem,butofsuchakindastheArabianfairiesmightbesupposedtoprepare.
EverydeliciousfruitthatthefourquartersoftheglobecouldprovidewasheapedinvasesfromChinaandjarsfromJapan.
Rarebirds,retainingtheirmostbrilliantplumage,enormousfish,spreaduponmassivesilverdishes,togetherwitheverywineproducedintheArchipelago,AsiaMinor,ortheCape,sparklinginbottles,whosegrotesqueshapeseemedtogiveanadditionalflavortothedraught,—allthese,likeoneofthedisplayswithwhichApiciusofoldgratifiedhisguests,passedinreviewbeforetheeyesoftheastonishedParisians,whounderstoodthatitwaspossibletoexpendathousandlouisuponadinnerfortenpersons,butonlyontheconditionofeatingpearls,likeCleopatra,ordrinkingrefinedgold,likeLorenzode’Medici.
MonteCristonoticedthegeneralastonishment,andbeganlaughingandjokingaboutit.
“Gentlemen,”hesaid,“youwilladmitthat,whenarrivedatacertaindegreeoffortune,thesuperfluitiesoflifeareallthatcanbedesired;andtheladieswillallowthat,afterhavingrisentoacertaineminenceofposition,theidealalonecanbemoreexalted.
Now,tofollowoutthisreasoning,whatisthemarvellous?—thatwhichwedonotunderstand.Whatisitthatwereallydesire?—thatwhichwecannotobtain.
Now,toseethingswhichIcannotunderstand,toprocureimpossibilities,thesearethestudyofmylife.
Igratifymywishesbytwomeans—mywillandmymoney.
Itakeasmuchinterestinthepursuitofsomewhimasyoudo,M.Danglars,inpromotinganewrailwayline;you,M.deVillefort,incondemningaculprittodeath;you,M.Debray,inpacifyingakingdom;you,M.deChateau–Renaud,inpleasingawoman;andyou,Morrel,inbreakingahorsethatnoonecanride.
Forexample,youseethesetwofish;onebroughtfiftyleaguesbeyondSt.Petersburg,theotherfiveleaguesfromNaples.
Isitnotamusingtoseethembothonthesametable?”
“Whatarethetwofish?”askedDanglars.
“M.Chateau–Renaud,whohaslivedinRussia,willtellyouthenameofone,andMajorCavalcanti,whoisanItalian,willtellyouthenameoftheother.”
“Thisoneis,Ithink,asterlet,”saidChateau–Renaud.
“Andthatone,ifImistakenot,alamprey.”
“Justso.Now,M.Danglars,askthesegentlemenwheretheyarecaught.”
“Starlets,”saidChateau–Renaud,“areonlyfoundintheVolga.”
“And,”saidCavalcanti,“IknowthatLakeFusaroalonesupplieslampreysofthatsize.”
“Exactly;onecomesfromtheVolga,andtheotherfromLakeFusaro.”
“Impossible!”criedalltheguestssimultaneously.
“Well,thisisjustwhatamusesme,”saidMonteCristo.
“IamlikeNero—cupitorimpossibilium;andthatiswhatisamusingyouatthismoment.
Thisfish,whichseemssoexquisitetoyou,isverylikelynobetterthanperchorsalmon;butitseemedimpossibletoprocureit,andhereitis.”
“ButhowcouldyouhavethesefishbroughttoFrance?”
“Oh,nothingmoreeasy.Eachfishwasbroughtoverinacask—onefilledwithriverherbsandweeds,theotherwithrushesandlakeplants;theywereplacedinawagonbuiltonpurpose,andthusthesterletlivedtwelvedays,thelampreyeight,andbothwerealivewhenmycookseizedthem,killingonewithmilkandtheotherwithwine.Youdonotbelieveme,M.Danglars!”
“Icannothelpdoubting,”answeredDanglarswithhisstupidsmile.
“Baptistin,”saidthecount,“havetheotherfishbroughtin—thesterletandthelampreywhichcameintheothercasks,andwhichareyetalive.”
Danglarsopenedhisbewilderedeyes;thecompanyclappedtheirhands.
Fourservantscarriedintwocaskscoveredwithaquaticplants,andineachofwhichwasbreathingafishsimilartothoseonthetable.
“Butwhyhavetwoofeachsort?”askedDanglars.
“Merelybecauseonemighthavedied,”carelesslyansweredMonteCristo.
“Youarecertainlyanextraordinaryman,”saidDanglars;“andphilosophersmaywellsayitisafinethingtoberich.”
“Andtohaveideas,”addedMadameDanglars.
“Oh,donotgivemecreditforthis,madame;itwasdonebytheRomans,whomuchesteemedthem,andPlinyrelatesthattheysentslavesfromOstiatoRome,whocarriedontheirheadsfishwhichhecallsthemulus,andwhich,fromthedescription,mustprobablybethegoldfish.
Itwasalsoconsideredaluxurytohavethemalive,itbeinganamusingsighttoseethemdie,for,whendying,theychangecolorthreeorfourtimes,andliketherainbowwhenitdisappears,passthroughalltheprismaticshades,afterwhichtheyweresenttothekitchen.
Theiragonyformedpartoftheirmerit—iftheywerenotseenalive,theyweredespisedwhendead.”
“Yes,”saidDebray,“butthenOstiaisonlyafewleaguesfromRome.”
“True,”saidMonteCristo;“butwhatwouldbetheuseoflivingeighteenhundredyearsafterLucullus,ifwecandonobetterthanhecould?”
ThetwoCavalcantiopenedtheirenormouseyes,buthadthegoodsensenottosayanything.
“Allthisisveryextraordinary,”saidChateau–Renaud;“still,whatIadmirethemost,Iconfess,isthemarvellouspromptitudewithwhichyourordersareexecuted.
Isitnottruethatyouonlyboughtthishousefiveorsixdaysago?”
“Certainlynotlonger.”
“Well,Iamsureitisquitetransformedsincelastweek.
IfIrememberrightly,ithadanotherentrance,andthecourt–yardwaspavedandempty;whileto–daywehaveasplendidlawn,borderedbytreeswhichappeartobeahundredyearsold.”
“Whynot?Iamfondofgrassandshade,”saidMonteCristo.
“Yes,”saidMadamedeVillefort,“thedoorwastowardstheroadbefore,andonthedayofmymiraculousescapeyoubroughtmeintothehousefromtheroad,Iremember.”
“Yes,madame,”saidMonteCristo;“butIpreferredhavinganentrancewhichwouldallowmetoseetheBoisdeBoulogneovermygate.”
“Infourdays,”saidMorrel;“itisextraordinary!”
“Indeed,”saidChateau–Renaud,“itseemsquitemiraculoustomakeanewhouseoutofanoldone;foritwasveryold,anddulltoo.
IrecollectcomingformymothertolookatitwhenM.deSaint–Meranadvertiseditforsaletwoorthreeyearsago.”
“M.deSaint–Meran?”saidMadamedeVillefort;“thenthishousebelongedtoM.deSaint–Meranbeforeyouboughtit?”
“Itappearsso,”repliedMonteCristo.
“Isitpossiblethatyoudonotknowofwhomyoupurchasedit?”
“Quiteso;mystewardtransactsallthisbusinessforme.”
“Itiscertainlytenyearssincethehousehadbeenoccupied,”saidChateau–Renaud,“anditwasquitemelancholytolookatit,withtheblindsclosed,thedoorslocked,andtheweedsinthecourt.
Really,ifthehousehadnotbelongedtothefather–in–lawoftheprocureur,onemighthavethoughtitsomeaccursedplacewhereahorriblecrimehadbeencommitted.”
Villefort,whohadhithertonottastedthethreeorfourglassesofrarewinewhichwereplacedbeforehim,heretookone,anddrankitoff.
MonteCristoallowedashorttimetoelapse,andthensaid,“Itissingular,baron,butthesameideacameacrossmethefirsttimeIcamehere;itlookedsogloomyIshouldneverhaveboughtitifmystewardhadnottakenthematterintohisownhands.
Perhapsthefellowhadbeenbribedbythenotary.”
“Itisprobable,”stammeredoutVillefort,tryingtosmile;“butIcanassureyouthatIhadnothingtodowithanysuchproceeding.
ThishouseispartofValentine’smarriage–portion,andM.deSaint–Meranwishedtosellit;forifithadremainedanotheryearortwouninhabiteditwouldhavefallentoruin.”ItwasMorrel’sturntobecomepale.
“Therewas,aboveall,oneroom,”continuedMonteCristo,“veryplaininappearance,hungwithreddamask,which,Iknownotwhy,appearedtomequitedramatic.”
“Whyso?”saidDanglars;“whydramatic?”
“Canweaccountforinstinct?”saidMonteCristo.
“Aretherenotsomeplaceswhereweseemtobreathesadness?—why,wecannottell.
Itisachainofrecollections—anideawhichcarriesyoubacktoothertimes,tootherplaces—which,verylikely,havenoconnectionwiththepresenttimeandplace.
AndthereissomethinginthisroomwhichremindsmeforciblyofthechamberoftheMarquisedeGanges[*]orDesdemona.
Stay,sincewehavefinisheddinner,Iwillshowittoyou,andthenwewilltakecoffeeinthegarden.Afterdinner,theplay.”
MonteCristolookedinquiringlyathisguests.
MadamedeVillefortrose,MonteCristodidthesame,andtherestfollowedtheirexample.
VillefortandMadameDanglarsremainedforamoment,asifrootedtotheirseats;theyquestionedeachotherwithvagueandstupidglances.“Didyouhear?”saidMadameDanglars.
“Wemustgo,”repliedVillefort,offeringhisarm.
Theothers,attractedbycuriosity,werealreadyscatteredindifferentpartsofthehouse;fortheythoughtthevisitwouldnotbelimitedtotheoneroom,andthat,atthesametime,theywouldobtainaviewoftherestofthebuilding,ofwhichMonteCristohadcreatedapalace.Eachonewentoutbytheopendoors.
MonteCristowaitedforthetwowhoremained;then,whentheyhadpassed,hebroughtuptherear,andonhisfacewasasmile,which,iftheycouldhaveunderstoodit,wouldhavealarmedthemmuchmorethanavisittotheroomtheywereabouttoenter.
Theybeganbywalkingthroughtheapartments,manyofwhichwerefittedupintheEasternstyle,withcushionsanddivansinsteadofbeds,andpipesinsteadoffurniture.
Thedrawing–roomsweredecoratedwiththerarestpicturesbytheoldmasters,theboudoirshungwithdraperiesfromChina,offancifulcolors,fantasticdesign,andwonderfultexture.
Atlengththeyarrivedatthefamousroom.
Therewasnothingparticularaboutit,exceptingthat,althoughdaylighthaddisappeared,itwasnotlighted,andeverythinginitwasold–fashioned,whiletherestoftheroomshadbeenredecorated.
Thesetwocauseswereenoughtogiveitagloomyaspect.“Oh.”
criedMadamedeVillefort,“itisreallyfrightful.”
MadameDanglarstriedtoutterafewwords,butwasnotheard.
Manyobservationsweremade,theimportofwhichwasaunanimousopinionthattherewassomethingsinisterabouttheroom.“Isitnotso?”askedMonteCristo.
“Lookatthatlargeclumsybed,hungwithsuchgloomy,blood–coloreddrapery!
Andthosetwocrayonportraits,thathavefadedfromthedampness;dotheynotseemtosay,withtheirpalelipsandstaringeyes,‘Wehaveseen’?”
Villefortbecamelivid;MadameDanglarsfellintoalongseatplacednearthechimney.
“Oh,”saidMadamedeVillefort,smiling,“areyoucourageousenoughtositdownupontheveryseatperhapsuponwhichthecrimewascommitted?”MadameDanglarsrosesuddenly.
*ElisabethdeRossan,MarquisedeGanges,wasoneofthe
famouswomenofthecourtofLouisXIV.whereshewasknown
as“LaBelleProvencale.”ShewasthewidowoftheMarquise
deCastellanewhenshemarrieddeGanges,andhavingthe
misfortunetoexcitetheenmityofhernewbrothers–in–law,
wasforcedbythemtotakepoison;andtheyfinishedheroff
withpistolanddagger.—Ed.
“Andthen,”saidMonteCristo,“thisisnotall.”
“Whatistheremore?”saidDebray,whohadnotfailedtonoticetheagitationofMadameDanglars.
“Ah,whatelseisthere?”saidDanglars;“for,atpresent,IcannotsaythatIhaveseenanythingextraordinary.Whatdoyousay,M.Cavalcanti?”
“Ah,”saidhe,“wehaveatPisa,Ugolino’stower;atFerrara,Tasso’sprison;atRimini,theroomofFrancescaandPaolo.”
“Yes,butyouhavenotthislittlestaircase,”saidMonteCristo,openingadoorconcealedbythedrapery.“Lookatit,andtellmewhatyouthinkofit.”
“Whatawicked–looking,crookedstaircase,”saidChateau–Renaudwithasmile.
“IdonotknowwhetherthewineofChiosproducesmelancholy,butcertainlyeverythingappearstomeblackinthishouse,”saidDebray.
EversinceValentine’sdowryhadbeenmentioned,Morrelhadbeensilentandsad.
“Canyouimagine,”saidMonteCristo,“someOthelloorAbbedeGanges,onestormy,darknight,descendingthesestairsstepbystep,carryingaload,whichhewishestohidefromthesightofman,ifnotfromGod?”
MadameDanglarshalffaintedonthearmofVillefort,whowasobligedtosupporthimselfagainstthewall.
“Ah,madame,”criedDebray,“whatisthematterwithyou?howpaleyoulook!”
“Itisveryevidentwhatisthematterwithher,”saidMadamedeVillefort;“M.deMonteCristoisrelatinghorriblestoriestous,doubtlessintendingtofrightenustodeath.”
“Yes,”saidVillefort,“really,count,youfrightentheladies.”
“Whatisthematter?”askedDebray,inawhisper,ofMadameDanglars.
“Nothing,”sherepliedwithaviolenteffort.“Iwantair,thatisall.”
“Willyoucomeintothegarden?”saidDebray,advancingtowardsthebackstaircase.
“No,no,”sheanswered,“Iwouldratherremainhere.”
“Areyoureallyfrightened,madame?”saidMonteCristo.
“Oh,no,sir,”saidMadameDanglars;“butyousupposescenesinamannerwhichgivesthemtheappearanceofreality.”
“Ah,yes,”saidMonteCristosmiling;“itisallamatterofimagination.
Whyshouldwenotimaginethistheapartmentofanhonestmother?
Andthisbedwithredhangings,abedvisitedbythegoddessLucina?
Andthatmysteriousstaircase,thepassagethroughwhich,nottodisturbtheirsleep,thedoctorandnursepass,oreventhefathercarryingthesleepingchild?”
HereMadameDanglars,insteadofbeingcalmedbythesoftpicture,utteredagroanandfainted.
“MadameDanglarsisill,”saidVillefort;“itwouldbebettertotakehertohercarriage.”
“Oh,monDieu,”saidMonteCristo,“andIhaveforgottenmysmelling–bottle!”
“Ihavemine,”saidMadamedeVillefort;andshepassedovertoMonteCristoabottlefullofthesamekindofredliquidwhosegoodpropertiesthecounthadtestedonEdward.
“Ah,”saidMonteCristo,takingitfromherhand.
“Yes,”shesaid,“atyouradviceIhavemadethetrial.”
“Andhaveyousucceeded?”
“Ithinkso.”
MadameDanglarswascarriedintotheadjoiningroom;MonteCristodroppedaverysmallportionoftheredliquiduponherlips;shereturnedtoconsciousness.
“Ah,”shecried,“whatafrightfuldream!”
Villefortpressedherhandtoletherknowitwasnotadream.
TheylookedforM.Danglars,but,ashewasnotespeciallyinterestedinpoeticalideas,hehadgoneintothegarden,andwastalkingwithMajorCavalcantiontheprojectedrailwayfromLeghorntoFlorence.MonteCristoseemedindespair.
HetookthearmofMadameDanglars,andconductedherintothegarden,wheretheyfoundDanglarstakingcoffeebetweentheCavalcanti.
“Really,madame,”hesaid,“didIalarmyoumuch?”
“Oh,no,sir,”sheanswered;“butyouknow,thingsimpressusdifferently,accordingtothemoodofourminds.”Villefortforcedalaugh.
“Andthen,youknow,”hesaid,“anidea,asupposition,issufficient.”
“Well,”saidMonteCristo,“youmaybelievemeifyoulike,butitismyopinionthatacrimehasbeencommittedinthishouse.”
“Takecare,”saidMadamedeVillefort,“theking’sattorneyishere.”
“Ah,”repliedMonteCristo,“sincethatisthecase,Iwilltakeadvantageofhispresencetomakemydeclaration.”
“Yourdeclaration?”saidVillefort.
“Yes,beforewitnesses.”
“Oh,thisisveryinteresting,”saidDebray;“iftherereallyhasbeenacrime,wewillinvestigateit.”
“Therehasbeenacrime,”saidMonteCristo.
“Comethisway,gentlemen;come,M.Villefort,foradeclarationtobeavailable,shouldbemadebeforethecompetentauthorities.”
HethentookVillefort’sarm,and,atthesametime,holdingthatofMadameDanglarsunderhisown,hedraggedtheprocureurtotheplantain–tree,wheretheshadewasthickest.Alltheotherguestsfollowed.
“Stay,”saidMonteCristo,“here,inthisveryspot”(andhestampedupontheground),“Ihadtheearthdugupandfreshmouldputin,torefreshtheseoldtrees;well,myman,digging,foundabox,orrather,theiron–workofabox,inthemidstofwhichwastheskeletonofanewlyborninfant.”
MonteCristofeltthearmofMadameDanglarsstiffen,whilethatofVilleforttrembled.
“Anewlyborninfant,”repeatedDebray;“thisaffairbecomesserious!”
“Well,”saidChateau–Renaud,“Iwasnotwrongjustnowthen,whenIsaidthathouseshadsoulsandfaceslikemen,andthattheirexteriorscarriedtheimpressoftheircharacters.
Thishousewasgloomybecauseitwasremorseful:itwasremorsefulbecauseitconcealedacrime.”
“Whosaiditwasacrime?”askedVillefort,withalasteffort.
“How?isitnotacrimetoburyalivingchildinagarden?”criedMonteCristo.“Andpraywhatdoyoucallsuchanaction?”
“Butwhosaiditwasburiedalive?”
“Whyburyitthereifitweredead?Thisgardenhasneverbeenacemetery.”
“Whatisdonetoinfanticidesinthiscountry?”askedMajorCavalcantiinnocently.
“Oh,theirheadsaresooncutoff,”saidDanglars.
“Ah,indeed?”saidCavalcanti.
“Ithinkso;amInotright,M.deVillefort?”askedMonteCristo.
“Yes,count,”repliedVillefort,inavoicenowscarcelyhuman.
MonteCristo,seeingthatthetwopersonsforwhomhehadpreparedthisscenecouldscarcelyendureit,andnotwishingtocarryittoofar,said,“Come,gentlemen,—somecoffee,weseemtohaveforgottenit,”andheconductedtheguestsbacktothetableonthelawn.
“Indeed,count,”saidMadameDanglars,“Iamashamedtoownit,butallyourfrightfulstorieshavesoupsetme,thatImustbegyoutoletmesitdown;”andshefellintoachair.
MonteCristobowed,andwenttoMadamedeVillefort.
“IthinkMadameDanglarsagainrequiresyourbottle,”hesaid.
ButbeforeMadamedeVillefortcouldreachherfriendtheprocureurhadfoundtimetowhispertoMadameDanglars,“Imustspeaktoyou.”
“When?”
“To–morrow.”
“Where?”
“Inmyoffice,orinthecourt,ifyoulike,—thatisthesurestplace.”
“Iwillbethere.”—AtthismomentMadamedeVillefortapproached.“Thanks,mydearfriend,”saidMadameDanglars,tryingtosmile;“itisovernow,andIammuchbetter.”
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