English
MeanwhileM.Cavalcantitheelderhadreturnedtohisservice,notinthearmyofhismajestytheEmperorofAustria,butatthegaming–tableofthebathsofLucca,ofwhichhewasoneofthemostassiduouscourtiers.
Hehadspenteveryfarthingthathadbeenallowedforhisjourneyasarewardforthemajesticandsolemnmannerinwhichhehadmaintainedhisassumedcharacteroffather.
M.AndreaathisdepartureinheritedallthepaperswhichprovedthathehadindeedthehonorofbeingthesonoftheMarquisBartolomeoandtheMarchionessOlivaCorsinari.
HewasnowfairlylaunchedinthatParisiansocietywhichgivessuchreadyaccesstoforeigners,andtreatsthem,notastheyreallyare,butastheywishtobeconsidered.
Besides,whatisrequiredofayoungmaninParis?
Tospeakitslanguagetolerably,tomakeagoodappearance,tobeagoodgamester,andtopayincash.
TheyarecertainlylessparticularwithaforeignerthanwithaFrenchman.
Andreahad,then,inafortnight,attainedaveryfairposition.
Hewascalledcount,hewassaidtopossess50,000livresperannum;andhisfather’simmenseriches,buriedinthequarriesofSaravezza,wereaconstanttheme.
Alearnedman,beforewhomthelastcircumstancewasmentionedasafact,declaredhehadseenthequarriesinquestion,whichgavegreatweighttoassertionshithertosomewhatdoubtful,butwhichnowassumedthegarbofreality.
SuchwasthestateofsocietyinParisattheperiodwebringbeforeourreaders,whenMonteCristowentoneeveningtopayM.Danglarsavisit.
M.Danglarswasout,butthecountwasaskedtogoandseethebaroness,andheacceptedtheinvitation.
Itwasneverwithoutanervousshudder,sincethedinneratAuteuil,andtheeventswhichfollowedit,thatMadameDanglarsheardMonteCristo’snameannounced.
Ifhedidnotcome,thepainfulsensationbecamemostintense;if,onthecontrary,heappeared,hisnoblecountenance,hisbrillianteyes,hisamiability,hispoliteattentioneventowardsMadameDanglars,soondispelledeveryimpressionoffear.
Itappearedimpossibletothebaronessthatamanofsuchdelightfullypleasingmannersshouldentertainevildesignsagainsther;besides,themostcorruptmindsonlysuspectevilwhenitwouldanswersomeinterestedend—uselessinjuryisrepugnanttoeverymind.
WhenMonteCristoenteredtheboudoir,—towhichwehavealreadyonceintroducedourreaders,andwherethebaronesswasexaminingsomedrawings,whichherdaughterpassedtoherafterhavinglookedatthemwithM.Cavalcanti,—hispresencesoonproduceditsusualeffect,anditwaswithsmilesthatthebaronessreceivedthecount,althoughshehadbeenalittledisconcertedattheannouncementofhisname.
Thelattertookinthewholesceneataglance.
Thebaronesswaspartiallyrecliningonasofa,Eugeniesatnearher,andCavalcantiwasstanding.
Cavalcanti,dressedinblack,likeoneofGoethe’sheroes,withvarnishedshoesandwhitesilkopen–workedstockings,passedawhiteandtolerablynice–lookinghandthroughhislighthair,andsodisplayedasparklingdiamond,thatinspiteofMonteCristo’sadvicethevainyoungmanhadbeenunabletoresistputtingonhislittlefinger.
ThismovementwasaccompaniedbykillingglancesatMademoiselleDanglars,andbysighslaunchedinthesamedirection.
MademoiselleDanglarswasstillthesame—cold,beautiful,andsatirical.
Notoneoftheseglances,noronesigh,waslostonher;theymighthavebeensaidtofallontheshieldofMinerva,whichsomephilosophersassertprotectedsometimesthebreastofSappho.
Eugeniebowedcoldlytothecount,andavailedherselfofthefirstmomentwhentheconversationbecameearnesttoescapetoherstudy,whenceverysoontwocheerfulandnoisyvoicesbeingheardinconnectionwithoccasionalnotesofthepianoassuredMonteCristothatMademoiselleDanglarspreferredtohissocietyandtothatofM.CavalcantithecompanyofMademoiselleLouised’Armilly,hersingingteacher.
Itwasthen,especiallywhileconversingwithMadameDanglars,andapparentlyabsorbedbythecharmoftheconversation,thatthecountnoticedM.AndreaCavalcanti’ssolicitude,hismanneroflisteningtothemusicatthedoorhedarednotpass,andofmanifestinghisadmiration.Thebankersoonreturned.
HisfirstlookwascertainlydirectedtowardsMonteCristo,butthesecondwasforAndrea.
Asforhiswife,hebowedtoher,assomehusbandsdototheirwives,butinawaythatbachelorswillnevercomprehend,untilaveryextensivecodeispublishedonconjugallife.
“Havenottheladiesinvitedyoutojointhematthepiano?”saidDanglarstoAndrea.
“Alas,no,sir,”repliedAndreawithasigh,stillmoreremarkablethantheformerones.
Danglarsimmediatelyadvancedtowardsthedoorandopenedit.
Thetwoyoungladieswereseenseatedonthesamechair,atthepiano,accompanyingthemselves,eachwithonehand,afancytowhichtheyhadaccustomedthemselves,andperformedadmirably.
Mademoiselled’Armilly,whomtheythenperceivedthroughtheopendoorway,formedwithEugenieoneofthetableauxvivantsofwhichtheGermansaresofond.
Shewassomewhatbeautiful,andexquisitelyformed—alittlefairy–likefigure,withlargecurlsfallingonherneck,whichwasrathertoolong,asPeruginosometimesmakeshisVirgins,andhereyesdullfromfatigue.
Shewassaidtohaveaweakchest,andlikeAntoniainthe“CremonaViolin,”shewoulddieonedaywhilesinging.
MonteCristocastonerapidandcuriousglanceroundthissanctum;itwasthefirsttimehehadeverseenMademoiselled’Armilly,ofwhomhehadheardmuch.
“Well,”saidthebankertohisdaughter,“arewethenalltobeexcluded?”
Hethenledtheyoungmanintothestudy,andeitherbychanceormanoeuvrethedoorwaspartiallyclosedafterAndrea,sothatfromtheplacewheretheysatneithertheCountnorthebaronesscouldseeanything;butasthebankerhadaccompaniedAndrea,MadameDanglarsappearedtotakenonoticeofit.
ThecountsoonheardAndrea’svoice,singingaCorsicansong,accompaniedbythepiano.
Whilethecountsmiledathearingthissong,whichmadehimlosesightofAndreaintherecollectionofBenedetto,MadameDanglarswasboastingtoMonteCristoofherhusband’sstrengthofmind,whothatverymorninghadlostthreeorfourhundredthousandfrancsbyafailureatMilan.
Thepraisewaswelldeserved,forhadnotthecounthearditfromthebaroness,orbyoneofthosemeansbywhichhekneweverything,thebaron’scountenancewouldnothaveledhimtosuspectit.
“Hem,”thoughtMonteCristo,“hebeginstoconcealhislosses;amonthsinceheboastedofthem.”
Thenaloud,—”Oh,madame,M.Danglarsissoskilful,hewillsoonregainattheBoursewhatheloseselsewhere.”
“Iseethatyouparticipateinaprevalenterror,”saidMadameDanglars.“Whatisit?”saidMonteCristo.
“ThatM.Danglarsspeculates,whereasheneverdoes.”
“Truly,madame,IrecollectM.Debraytoldme—apropos,whatisbecomeofhim?Ihaveseennothingofhimthelastthreeorfourdays.”
“NorI,”saidMadameDanglars;“butyoubeganasentence,sir,anddidnotfinish.”
“Which?”
“M.Debrayhadtoldyou”—
“Ah,yes;hetoldmeitwasyouwhosacrificedtothedemonofspeculation.”
“Iwasonceveryfondofit,butIdonotindulgenow.”
“Thenyouarewrong,madame.Fortuneisprecarious;andifIwereawomanandfatehadmademeabanker’swife,whatevermightbemyconfidenceinmyhusband’sgoodfortune,stillinspeculationyouknowthereisgreatrisk.
Well,Iwouldsecureformyselfafortuneindependentofhim,evenifIacquireditbyplacingmyinterestsinhandsunknowntohim.”
MadameDanglarsblushed,inspiteofallherefforts.
“Stay,”saidMonteCristo,asthoughhehadnotobservedherconfusion,“IhaveheardofaluckyhitthatwasmadeyesterdayontheNeapolitanbonds.”
“Ihavenone—norhaveIeverpossessedany;butreallywehavetalkedlongenoughofmoney,count,weareliketwostockbrokers;haveyouheardhowfateispersecutingthepoorVilleforts?”
“Whathashappened?”saidthecount,simulatingtotalignorance.
“YouknowtheMarquisofSaint–MerandiedafewdaysafterhehadsetoutonhisjourneytoParis,andthemarchionessafewdaysafterherarrival?”
“Yes,”saidMonteCristo,“Ihaveheardthat;but,asClaudiussaidtoHamlet,‘itisalawofnature;theirfathersdiedbeforethem,andtheymournedtheirloss;theywilldiebeforetheirchildren,whowill,intheirturn,grieveforthem.’”
“Butthatisnotall.”
“Notall!”
“No;theyweregoingtomarrytheirdaughter”—
“ToM.Franzd’Epinay.Isitbrokenoff?”
“Yesterdaymorning,itappears,Franzdeclinedthehonor.”
“Indeed?Andisthereasonknown?”
“No.”
“Howextraordinary!AndhowdoesM.deVillefortbearit?”
“Asusual.Likeaphilosopher.”Danglarsreturnedatthismomentalone.“Well,”saidthebaroness,“doyouleaveM.Cavalcantiwithyourdaughter?”
“AndMademoiselled’Armilly,”saidthebanker;“doyouconsiderhernoone?”Then,turningtoMonteCristo,hesaid,“PrinceCavalcantiisacharmingyoungman,ishenot?Butishereallyaprince?”
“Iwillnotanswerforit,”saidMonteCristo.“Hisfatherwasintroducedtomeasamarquis,soheoughttobeacount;butIdonotthinkhehasmuchclaimtothattitle.”
“Why?”saidthebanker.“Ifheisaprince,heiswrongnottomaintainhisrank;Idonotlikeanyonetodenyhisorigin.”
“Oh,youareathoroughdemocrat,”saidMonteCristo,smiling.
“Butdoyouseetowhatyouareexposingyourself?”saidthebaroness.
“If,perchance,M.deMorcerfcame,hewouldfindM.Cavalcantiinthatroom,wherehe,thebetrothedofEugenie,hasneverbeenadmitted.”
“Youmaywellsay,perchance,”repliedthebanker;“forhecomessoseldom,itwouldseemonlychancethatbringshim.”
“Butshouldhecomeandfindthatyoungmanwithyourdaughter,hemightbedispleased.”
“He?Youaremistaken.M.Albertwouldnotdousthehonortobejealous;hedoesnotlikeEugeniesufficiently.Besides,Icarenotforhisdispleasure.”
“Still,situatedasweare”—
“Yes,doyouknowhowwearesituated?Athismother’sballhedancedoncewithEugenie,andM.Cavalcantithreetimes,andhetooknonoticeofit.”
ThevaletannouncedtheVicomteAlbertdeMorcerf.
Thebaronessrosehastily,andwasgoingintothestudy,whenDanglarsstoppedher.“Letheralone,”saidhe.Shelookedathiminamazement.
MonteCristoappearedtobeunconsciousofwhatpassed.
Albertentered,lookingveryhandsomeandinhighspirits.
Hebowedpolitelytothebaroness,familiarlytoDanglars,andaffectionatelytoMonteCristo.
Thenturningtothebaroness:“MayIaskhowMademoiselleDanglarsis?”saidhe.
“Sheisquitewell,”repliedDanglarsquickly;“sheisatthepianowithM.Cavalcanti.”
Albertretainedhiscalmandindifferentmanner;hemightfeelperhapsannoyed,butheknewMonteCristo’seyewasonhim.
“M.Cavalcantihasafinetenorvoice,”saidhe,“andMademoiselleEugenieasplendidsoprano,andthensheplaysthepianolikeThalberg.Theconcertmustbeadelightfulone.”
“Theysuiteachotherremarkablywell,”saidDanglars.Albertappearednottonoticethisremark,whichwas,however,sorudethatMadameDanglarsblushed.
“I,too,”saidtheyoungman,“amamusician—atleast,mymastersusedtotellmeso;butitisstrangethatmyvoiceneverwouldsuitanyother,andasopranolessthanany.”
Danglarssmiled,andseemedtosay,“Itisofnoconsequence.”
Then,hopingdoubtlesstoeffecthispurpose,hesaid,—”Theprinceandmydaughterwereuniversallyadmiredyesterday.
Youwerenotoftheparty,M.deMorcerf?”
“Whatprince?”askedAlbert.“PrinceCavalcanti,”saidDanglars,whopersistedingivingtheyoungmanthattitle.
“Pardonme,”saidAlbert,“Iwasnotawarethathewasaprince.
AndPrinceCavalcantisangwithMademoiselleEugenieyesterday?Itmusthavebeencharming,indeed.Iregretnothavingheardthem.
ButIwasunabletoacceptyourinvitation,havingpromisedtoaccompanymymothertoaGermanconcertgivenbytheBaronessofChateau–Renaud.”
Thiswasfollowedbyratheranawkwardsilence.
“MayIalsobeallowed,”saidMorcerf,“topaymyrespectstoMademoiselleDanglars?”
“Waitamoment,”saidthebanker,stoppingtheyoungman;“doyouhearthatdelightfulcavatina?
Ta,ta,ta,ti,ta,ti,ta,ta;itischarming,letthemfinish—onemoment.Bravo,bravi,brava!”
Thebankerwasenthusiasticinhisapplause.
“Indeed,”saidAlbert,“itisexquisite;itisimpossibletounderstandthemusicofhiscountrybetterthanPrinceCavalcantidoes.Yousaidprince,didyounot?
Buthecaneasilybecomeone,ifheisnotalready;itisnouncommonthinginItaly.
Buttoreturntothecharmingmusicians—youshouldgiveusatreat,Danglars,withouttellingthemthereisastranger.
Askthemtosingonemoresong;itissodelightfultohearmusicinthedistance,whenthemusiciansareunrestrainedbyobservation.”
Danglarswasquiteannoyedbytheyoungman’sindifference.HetookMonteCristoaside.“Whatdoyouthinkofourlover?”saidhe.
“Heappearscool.But,thenyourwordisgiven.”
“Yes,doubtlessIhavepromisedtogivemydaughtertoamanwholovesher,butnottoonewhodoesnot.
Seehimthere,coldasmarbleandproudlikehisfather.
Ifhewererich,ifhehadCavalcanti’sfortune,thatmightbepardoned.
Mafoi,Ihaven’tconsultedmydaughter;butifshehasgoodtaste”—
“Oh,”saidMonteCristo,“myfondnessmayblindme,butIassureyouIconsiderMorcerfacharmingyoungmanwhowillrenderyourdaughterhappyandwillsoonerorlaterattainacertainamountofdistinction,andhisfather’spositionisgood.”
“Hem,”saidDanglars.
“Whydoyoudoubt?”
“Thepast—thatobscurityonthepast.”
“Butthatdoesnotaffecttheson.”
“Verytrue.”
“Now,Ibegofyou,don’tgooffyourhead.
It’samonthnowthatyouhavebeenthinkingofthismarriage,andyoumustseethatitthrowssomeresponsibilityonme,foritwasatmyhouseyoumetthisyoungCavalcanti,whomIdonotreallyknowatall.”
“ButIdo.”
“Haveyoumadeinquiry?”
“Isthereanyneedofthat!Doesnothisappearancespeakforhim?Andheisveryrich.”
“Iamnotsosureofthat.”
“Andyetyousaidhehadmoney.”
“Fiftythousandlivres—ameretrifle.”
“Heiswelleducated.”
“Hem,”saidMonteCristoinhisturn.
“Heisamusician.”
“SoareallItalians.”
“Come,count,youdonotdothatyoungmanjustice.”
“Well,Iacknowledgeitannoysme,knowingyourconnectionwiththeMorcerffamily,toseehimthrowhimselfintheway.”Danglarsburstoutlaughing.“WhataPuritanyouare!”saidhe;“thathappenseveryday.”
“Butyoucannotbreakitoffinthisway;theMorcerfsaredependingonthisunion.”
“Indeed.”
“Positively.”
“Thenletthemexplainthemselves;youshouldgivethefatherahint,youaresointimatewiththefamily.”
“I?—wherethedevildidyoufindoutthat?”
“Attheirball;itwasapparentenough.Why,didnotthecountess,theproudMercedes,thedisdainfulCatalane,whowillscarcelyopenherlipstoheroldestacquaintances,takeyourarm,leadyouintothegarden,intotheprivatewalks,andremainthereforhalfanhour?”
“Ah,baron,baron,”saidAlbert,“youarenotlistening—whatbarbarisminamegalomaniaclikeyou!”
“Oh,don’tworryaboutme,SirMocker,”saidDanglars;thenturningtothecounthesaid,“butwillyouundertaketospeaktothefather?”
“Willingly,ifyouwishit.”
“Butletitbedoneexplicitlyandpositively.
Ifhedemandsmydaughterlethimfixtheday—declarehisconditions;inshort,letuseitherunderstandeachother,orquarrel.Youunderstand—nomoredelay.”
“Yes,sir,Iwillgivemyattentiontothesubject.”
“IdonotsaythatIawaitwithpleasurehisdecision,butIdoawaitit.
Abankermust,youknow,beaslavetohispromise.”
AndDanglarssighedasM.Cavalcantihaddonehalfanhourbefore.“Bravi,bravo,brava!”
criedMorcerf,parodyingthebanker,astheselectioncametoanend.
DanglarsbegantolooksuspiciouslyatMorcerf,whensomeonecameandwhisperedafewwordstohim.
“Ishallsoonreturn,”saidthebankertoMonteCristo;“waitforme.
Ishall,perhaps,havesomethingtosaytoyou.”Andhewentout.
Thebaronesstookadvantageofherhusband’sabsencetopushopenthedoorofherdaughter’sstudy,andM.Andrea,whowassittingbeforethepianowithMademoiselleEugenie,starteduplikeajack–in–the–box.
AlbertbowedwithasmiletoMademoiselleDanglars,whodidnotappearintheleastdisturbed,andreturnedhisbowwithherusualcoolness.
Cavalcantiwasevidentlyembarrassed;hebowedtoMorcerf,whorepliedwiththemostimpertinentlookpossible.
ThenAlbertlaunchedoutinpraiseofMademoiselleDanglars’voice,andonhisregret,afterwhathehadjustheard,thathehadbeenunabletobepresentthepreviousevening.
Cavalcanti,beingleftalone,turnedtoMonteCristo.
“Come,”saidMadameDanglars,“leavemusicandcompliments,andletusgoandtaketea.”
“Come,Louise,”saidMademoiselleDanglarstoherfriend.
Theypassedintothenextdrawing–room,whereteawasprepared.
Justastheywerebeginning,intheEnglishfashion,toleavethespoonsintheircups,thedooragainopenedandDanglarsentered,visiblyagitated.
MonteCristoobserveditparticularly,andbyalookaskedthebankerforanexplanation.
“IhavejustreceivedmycourierfromGreece,”saidDanglars.
“Ah,yes,”saidthecount;“thatwasthereasonofyourrunningawayfromus.”
“Yes.”
“HowisKingOthogettingon?”askedAlbertinthemostsprightlytone.
Danglarscastanothersuspiciouslooktowardshimwithoutanswering,andMonteCristoturnedawaytoconcealtheexpressionofpitywhichpassedoverhisfeatures,butwhichwasgoneinamoment.“Weshallgotogether,shallwenot?”saidAlberttothecount.
“Ifyoulike,”repliedthelatter.Albertcouldnotunderstandthebanker’slook,andturningtoMonteCristo,whounderstooditperfectly,—”Didyousee,”saidhe,“howhelookedatme?”
“Yes,”saidthecount;“butdidyouthinktherewasanythingparticularinhislook?”
“Indeed,Idid;andwhatdoeshemeanbyhisnewsfromGreece?”
“HowcanItellyou?”
“BecauseIimagineyouhavecorrespondentsinthatcountry.”MonteCristosmiledsignificantly.
“Stop,”saidAlbert,“herehecomes.IshallcomplimentMademoiselleDanglarsonhercameo,whilethefathertalkstoyou.”
“Ifyoucomplimentheratall,letitbeonhervoice,atleast,”saidMonteCristo.
“No,everyonewoulddothat.”
“Mydearviscount,youaredreadfullyimpertinent.”
AlbertadvancedtowardsEugenie,smiling.
Meanwhile,Danglars,stoopingtoMonteCristo’sear,“Youradvicewasexcellent,”saidhe;“thereisawholehistoryconnectedwiththenamesFernandandYanina.”
“Indeed?”saidMonteCristo.
“Yes,Iwilltellyouall;buttakeawaytheyoungman;Icannotendurehispresence.”
“Heisgoingwithme.ShallIsendthefathertoyou?”
“Immediately.”
“Verywell.”ThecountmadeasigntoAlbertandtheybowedtotheladies,andtooktheirleave,AlbertperfectlyindifferenttoMademoiselleDanglars’contempt,MonteCristoreiteratinghisadvicetoMadameDanglarsontheprudenceabanker’swifeshouldexerciseinprovidingforthefuture.
M.Cavalcantiremainedmasterofthefield.
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