English
Theeveningpassedon;MadamedeVillefortexpressedadesiretoreturntoParis,whichMadameDanglarshadnotdaredtodo,notwithstandingtheuneasinesssheexperienced.
Onhiswife’srequest,M.deVillefortwasthefirsttogivethesignalofdeparture.
HeofferedaseatinhislandautoMadameDanglars,thatshemightbeunderthecareofhiswife.
AsforM.Danglars,absorbedinaninterestingconversationwithM.Cavalcanti,hepaidnoattentiontoanythingthatwaspassing.
WhileMonteCristohadbeggedthesmelling–bottleofMadamedeVillefort,hehadnoticedtheapproachofVilleforttoMadameDanglars,andhesoonguessedallthathadpassedbetweenthem,thoughthewordshadbeenutteredinsolowavoiceashardlytobeheardbyMadameDanglars.
Withoutopposingtheirarrangements,heallowedMorrel,Chateau–Renaud,andDebraytoleaveonhorseback,andtheladiesinM.deVillefort’scarriage.
Danglars,moreandmoredelightedwithMajorCavalcanti,hadofferedhimaseatinhiscarriage.
AndreaCavalcantifoundhistilburywaitingatthedoor;thegroom,ineveryrespectacaricatureoftheEnglishfashion,wasstandingontiptoetoholdalargeiron–grayhorse.
Andreahadspokenverylittleduringdinner;hewasanintelligentlad,andhefearedtouttersomeabsurditybeforesomanygrandpeople,amongstwhom,withdilatingeyes,hesawtheking’sattorney.
ThenhehadbeenseizeduponbyDanglars,who,witharapidglanceatthestiff–neckedoldmajorandhismodestson,andtakingintoconsiderationthehospitalityofthecount,madeuphismindthathewasinthesocietyofsomenabobcometoParistofinishtheworldlyeducationofhisheir.
Hecontemplatedwithunspeakabledelightthelargediamondwhichshoneonthemajor’slittlefinger;forthemajor,likeaprudentman,incaseofanyaccidenthappeningtohisbank–notes,hadimmediatelyconvertedthemintoanavailableasset.
Then,afterdinner,onthepretextofbusiness,hequestionedthefatherandsonupontheirmodeofliving;andthefatherandson,previouslyinformedthatitwasthroughDanglarstheonewastoreceivehis48,000francsandtheother50,000livresannually,weresofullofaffabilitythattheywouldhaveshakenhandsevenwiththebanker’sservants,somuchdidtheirgratitudeneedanobjecttoexpenditselfupon.
Onethingabovealltherestheightenedtherespect,nayalmosttheveneration,ofDanglarsforCavalcanti.
Thelatter,faithfultotheprincipleofHorace,niladmirari,hadcontentedhimselfwithshowinghisknowledgebydeclaringinwhatlakethebestlampreyswerecaught.
Thenhehadeatensomewithoutsayingawordmore;Danglars,therefore,concludedthatsuchluxurieswerecommonatthetableoftheillustriousdescendantoftheCavalcanti,whomostlikelyinLuccafedupontroutbroughtfromSwitzerland,andlobsterssentfromEngland,bythesamemeansusedbythecounttobringthelampreysfromLakeFusaro,andthesterletfromtheVolga.
ThusitwaswithmuchpolitenessofmannerthatheheardCavalcantipronouncethesewords,“To–morrow,sir,Ishallhavethehonorofwaitinguponyouonbusiness.”
“AndI,sir,”saidDanglars,“shallbemosthappytoreceiveyou.”
UponwhichheofferedtotakeCavalcantiinhiscarriagetotheHoteldesPrinces,ifitwouldnotbedeprivinghimofthecompanyofhisson.
TothisCavalcantirepliedbysayingthatforsometimepasthissonhadlivedindependentlyofhim,thathehadhisownhorsesandcarriages,andthatnothavingcometogether,itwouldnotbedifficultforthemtoleaveseparately.
Themajorseatedhimself,therefore,bythesideofDanglars,whowasmoreandmorecharmedwiththeideasoforderandeconomywhichruledthisman,andyetwho,beingabletoallowhisson60,000francsayear,mightbesupposedtopossessafortuneof500,000or600,000livres.
AsforAndrea,hebegan,bywayofshowingoff,toscoldhisgroom,who,insteadofbringingthetilburytothestepsofthehouse,hadtakenittotheouterdoor,thusgivinghimthetroubleofwalkingthirtystepstoreachit.
Thegroomheardhimwithhumility,tookthebitoftheimpatientanimalwithhislefthand,andwiththerightheldoutthereinstoAndrea,who,takingthemfromhim,restedhispolishedbootlightlyonthestep.
Atthatmomentahandtouchedhisshoulder.
Theyoungmanturnedround,thinkingthatDanglarsorMonteCristohadforgottensomethingtheywishedtotellhim,andhadreturnedjustastheywerestarting.
Butinsteadofeitherofthese,hesawnothingbutastrangeface,sunburnt,andencircledbyabeard,witheyesbrilliantascarbuncles,andasmileuponthemouthwhichdisplayedaperfectsetofwhiteteeth,pointedandsharpasthewolf’sorjackal’s.
Aredhandkerchiefencircledhisgrayhead;tornandfilthygarmentscoveredhislargebonylimbs,whichseemedasthough,likethoseofaskeleton,theywouldrattleashewalked;andthehandwithwhichheleanedupontheyoungman’sshoulder,andwhichwasthefirstthingAndreasaw,seemedofgiganticsize.
Didtheyoungmanrecognizethatfacebythelightofthelanterninhistilbury,orwashemerelystruckwiththehorribleappearanceofhisinterrogator?
Wecannotsay;butonlyrelatethefactthatheshudderedandsteppedbacksuddenly.“Whatdoyouwantofme?”heasked.
“Pardonme,myfriend,ifIdisturbyou,”saidthemanwiththeredhandkerchief,“butIwanttospeaktoyou.”
“Youhavenorighttobegatnight,”saidthegroom,endeavoringtoridhismasterofthetroublesomeintruder.
“Iamnotbegging,myfinefellow,”saidtheunknowntotheservant,withsoironicalanexpressionoftheeye,andsofrightfulasmile,thathewithdrew;“Ionlywishtosaytwoorthreewordstoyourmaster,whogavemeacommissiontoexecuteaboutafortnightago.”
“Come,”saidAndrea,withsufficientnerveforhisservantnottoperceivehisagitation,“whatdoyouwant?Speakquickly,friend.”
Themansaid,inalowvoice:“Iwish—IwishyoutosparemethewalkbacktoParis.
Iamverytired,andasIhavenoteatensogoodadinnerasyou,Icanscarcelystand.”
Theyoungmanshudderedatthisstrangefamiliarity.
“Tellme,”hesaid—”tellmewhatyouwant?”
“Well,then,Iwantyoutotakemeupinyourfinecarriage,andcarrymeback.”Andreaturnedpale,butsaidnothing.
“Yes,”saidtheman,thrustinghishandsintohispockets,andlookingimpudentlyattheyouth;“Ihavetakenthewhimintomyhead;doyouunderstand,MasterBenedetto?”
Atthisname,nodoubt,theyoungmanreflectedalittle,forhewenttowardshisgroom,saying,“Thismanisright;Ididindeedchargehimwithacommission,theresultofwhichhemusttellme;walktothebarrier,theretakeacab,thatyoumaynotbetoolate.”Thesurprisedgroomretired.
“Letmeatleastreachashadyspot,”saidAndrea.
“Oh,asforthat,I’lltakeyoutoasplendidplace,”saidthemanwiththehandkerchief;andtakingthehorse’sbitheledthetilburywhereitwascertainlyimpossibleforanyonetowitnessthehonorthatAndreaconferreduponhim.
“Don’tthinkIwantthegloryofridinginyourfinecarriage,”saidhe;“oh,no,it’sonlybecauseIamtired,andalsobecauseIhavealittlebusinesstotalkoverwithyou.”
“Come,stepin,”saidtheyoungman.Itwasapitythisscenehadnotoccurredindaylight,foritwascurioustoseethisrascalthrowinghimselfheavilydownonthecushionbesidetheyoungandelegantdriverofthetilbury.
Andreadrovepastthelasthouseinthevillagewithoutsayingawordtohiscompanion,whosmiledcomplacently,asthoughwell–pleasedtofindhimselftravellinginsocomfortableavehicle.
OnceoutofAuteuil,Andrealookedaround,inordertoassurehimselfthathecouldneitherbeseennorheard,andthen,stoppingthehorseandcrossinghisarmsbeforetheman,heasked,—”Now,tellmewhyyoucometodisturbmytranquillity?”
“Letmeaskyouwhyyoudeceivedme?”
“HowhaveIdeceivedyou?”
”’How,’doyouask?WhenwepartedatthePontduVar,youtoldmeyouweregoingtotravelthroughPiedmontandTuscany;butinsteadofthat,youcometoParis.”
“Howdoesthatannoyyou?”
“Itdoesnot;onthecontrary,Ithinkitwillanswermypurpose.”
“So,”saidAndrea,“youarespeculatinguponme?”
“Whatfinewordsheuses!”
“Iwarnyou,MasterCaderousse,thatyouaremistaken.”
“Well,well,don’tbeangry,myboy;youknowwellenoughwhatitistobeunfortunate;andmisfortunesmakeusjealous.
IthoughtyouwereearningalivinginTuscanyorPiedmontbyactingasfacchinoorcicerone,andIpitiedyousincerely,asIwouldachildofmyown.
YouknowIalwaysdidcallyoumychild.”
“Come,come,whatthen?”
“Patience—patience!”
“Iampatient,butgoon.”
“AllatonceIseeyoupassthroughthebarrierwithagroom,atilbury,andfinenewclothes.Youmusthavediscoveredamine,orelsebecomeastockbroker.”
“Sothat,asyouconfess,youarejealous?”
“No,Iampleased—sopleasedthatIwishedtocongratulateyou;butasIamnotquiteproperlydressed,Ichosemyopportunity,thatImightnotcompromiseyou.”
“Yes,andafineopportunityyouhavechosen!”exclaimedAndrea;“youspeaktomebeforemyservant.”
“HowcanIhelpthat,myboy?IspeaktoyouwhenIcancatchyou.
Youhaveaquickhorse,alighttilbury,youarenaturallyasslipperyasaneel;ifIhadmissedyouto–night,Imightnothavehadanotherchance.”
“Yousee,Idonotconcealmyself.”
“Youarelucky;IwishIcouldsayasmuch,forIdoconcealmyself;andthenIwasafraidyouwouldnotrecognizeme,butyoudid,”addedCaderoussewithhisunpleasantsmile.“Itwasverypoliteofyou.”
“Come,”saidAndrea,“whatdoyouwant?”
“Youdonotspeakaffectionatelytome,Benedetto,myoldfriend,thatisnotright—takecare,orImaybecometroublesome.”
Thismenacesmotheredtheyoungman’spassion.Heurgedthehorseagainintoatrot.
“Youshouldnotspeaksotoanoldfriendlikeme,Caderousse,asyousaidjustnow;youareanativeofMarseilles,Iam”—
“Doyouknowthennowwhatyouare?”
“No,butIwasbroughtupinCorsica;youareoldandobstinate,Iamyoungandwilful.
Betweenpeoplelikeusthreatsareoutofplace,everythingshouldbeamicablyarranged.
Isitmyfaultiffortune,whichhasfrownedonyou,hasbeenkindtome?”
“Fortunehasbeenkindtoyou,then?Yourtilbury,yourgroom,yourclothes,arenotthenhired?Good,somuchthebetter,”saidCaderousse,hiseyessparklingwithavarice.
“Oh,youknewthatwellenoughbeforespeakingtome,”saidAndrea,becomingmoreandmoreexcited.
“IfIhadbeenwearingahandkerchieflikeyoursonmyhead,ragsonmyback,andworn–outshoesonmyfeet,youwouldnothaveknownme.”
“Youwrongme,myboy;nowIhavefoundyou,nothingpreventsmybeingaswell–dressedasanyone,knowing,asIdo,thegoodnessofyourheart.
Ifyouhavetwocoatsyouwillgivemeoneofthem.
Iusedtodividemysoupandbeanswithyouwhenyouwerehungry.”
“True,”saidAndrea.
“Whatanappetiteyouusedtohave!Isitasgoodnow?”
“Oh,yes,”repliedAndrea,laughing.
“Howdidyoucometobediningwiththatprincewhosehouseyouhavejustleft?”
“Heisnotaprince;simplyacount.”
“Acount,andarichonetoo,eh?”
“Yes;butyouhadbetternothaveanythingtosaytohim,forheisnotaverygood–temperedgentleman.”
“Oh,beeasy!Ihavenodesignuponyourcount,andyoushallhavehimalltoyourself.
But,”saidCaderousse,againsmilingwiththedisagreeableexpressionhehadbeforeassumed,“youmustpayforit—youunderstand?”
“Well,whatdoyouwant?”
“Ithinkthatwithahundredfrancsamonth”—
“Well?”
“Icouldlive”—
“Uponahundredfrancs!”
“Come—youunderstandme;butthatwith”—
“With?”
“WithahundredandfiftyfrancsIshouldbequitehappy.”
“Herearetwohundred,”saidAndrea;andheplacedtengoldlouisinthehandofCaderousse.
“Good!”saidCaderousse.
“Applytothestewardonthefirstdayofeverymonth,andyouwillreceivethesamesum.”
“Therenow,againyoudegrademe.”
“Howso?”
“Bymakingmeapplytotheservants,whenIwanttotransactbusinesswithyoualone.”
“Well,beitso,then.Takeitfrommethen,andsolongatleastasIreceivemyincome,youshallbepaidyours.”
“Come,come;Ialwayssaidyouwereafinefellow,anditisablessingwhengoodfortunehappenstosuchasyou.Buttellmeallaboutit?”
“Whydoyouwishtoknow?”askedCavalcanti.
“What?doyouagaindefyme?”
“No;thefactis,Ihavefoundmyfather.”
“What?arealfather?”
“Yes,solongashepaysme”—
“You’llhonorandbelievehim—that’sright.Whatishisname?”
“MajorCavalcanti.”
“Ishepleasedwithyou?”
“SofarIhaveappearedtoanswerhispurpose.”
“Andwhofoundthisfatherforyou?”
“TheCountofMonteCristo.”
“Themanwhosehouseyouhavejustleft?”
“Yes.”
“Iwishyouwouldtryandfindmeasituationwithhimasgrandfather,sinceheholdsthemoney–chest!”
“Well,Iwillmentionyoutohim.Meanwhile,whatareyougoingtodo?”
“I?”“Yes,you.”
“Itisverykindofyoutotroubleyourselfaboutme.”
“Sinceyouinterestyourselfinmyaffairs,Ithinkitisnowmyturntoaskyousomequestions.”
“Ah,true.Well;Ishallrentaroominsomerespectablehouse,wearadecentcoat,shaveeveryday,andgoandreadthepapersinacafe.
Then,intheevening,Ishallgotothetheatre;Ishalllooklikesomeretiredbaker.ThatiswhatIwant.”
“Come,ifyouwillonlyputthisschemeintoexecution,andbesteady,nothingcouldbebetter.”
“Doyouthinkso,M.Bossuet?Andyou—whatwillyoubecome?ApeerofFrance?”
“Ah,”saidAndrea,“whoknows?”
“MajorCavalcantiisalreadyone,perhaps;butthen,hereditaryrankisabolished.”
“Nopolitics,Caderousse.Andnowthatyouhaveallyouwant,andthatweunderstandeachother,jumpdownfromthetilburyanddisappear.”
“Notatall,mygoodfriend.”
“How?Notatall?”
“Why,justthinkforamoment;withthisredhandkerchiefonmyhead,withscarcelyanyshoes,nopapers,andtengoldnapoleonsinmypocket,withoutreckoningwhatwastherebefore—makinginallabouttwohundredfrancs,—why,Ishouldcertainlybearrestedatthebarriers.
Then,tojustifymyself,Ishouldsaythatyougavemethemoney;thiswouldcauseinquiries,itwouldbefoundthatIleftToulonwithoutgivingduenotice,andIshouldthenbeescortedbacktotheshoresoftheMediterranean.
ThenIshouldbecomesimplyNo.106,andgood–bytomydreamofresemblingtheretiredbaker!
No,no,myboy;Ipreferremaininghonorablyinthecapital.”Andreascowled.
Certainly,ashehadhimselfowned,thereputedsonofMajorCavalcantiwasawilfulfellow.
Hedrewupforaminute,threwarapidglancearoundhim,andthenhishandfellinstantlyintohispocket,whereitbeganplayingwithapistol.
But,meanwhile,Caderousse,whohadnevertakenhiseyesoffhiscompanion,passedhishandbehindhisback,andopenedalongSpanishknife,whichhealwayscarriedwithhim,tobereadyincaseofneed.
Thetwofriends,aswesee,wereworthyofandunderstoodoneanother.
Andrea’shandlefthispocketinoffensively,andwascarrieduptotheredmustache,whichitplayedwithforsometime.
“GoodCaderousse,”hesaid,“howhappyyouwillbe.”
“Iwilldomybest,”saidtheinn–keeperofthePontduGard,shuttinguphisknife.
“Well,then,wewillgointoParis.Buthowwillyoupassthroughthebarrierwithoutexcitingsuspicion?Itseemstomethatyouareinmoredangerridingthanonfoot.”
“Wait,”saidCaderousse,“weshallsee.”
Hethentookthegreat–coatwiththelargecollar,whichthegroomhadleftbehindinthetilbury,andputitonhisback;thenhetookoffCavalcanti’shat,whichheplaceduponhisownhead,andfinallyheassumedthecarelessattitudeofaservantwhosemasterdriveshimself.
“But,tellme,”saidAndrea,“amItoremainbareheaded?”
“Pooh,”saidCaderousse;“itissowindythatyourhatcaneasilyappeartohaveblownoff.”
“Come,come;enoughofthis,”saidCavalcanti.
“Whatareyouwaitingfor?”saidCaderousse.“IhopeIamnotthecause.”
“Hush,”saidAndrea.Theypassedthebarrierwithoutaccident.AtthefirstcrossstreetAndreastoppedhishorse,andCaderousseleapedout.
“Well!”saidAndrea,—”myservant’scoatandmyhat?”
“Ah,”saidCaderousse,“youwouldnotlikemetorisktakingcold?”
“ButwhatamItodo?”
“You?Oh,youareyoungwhileIambeginningtogetold.Aurevoir,Benedetto;”andrunningintoacourt,hedisappeared.“Alas,”saidAndrea,sighing,“onecannotbecompletelyhappyinthisworld!”
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