TheeveningofthedayonwhichtheCountofMorcerfhadleftDanglars’housewithfeelingsofshameandangerattherejectionoftheprojectedalliance,M.AndreaCavalcanti,withcurledhair,mustachesinperfectorder,andwhitegloveswhichfittedadmirably,hadenteredthecourtyardofthebanker’shouseinLaChausseed’Antin. Hehadnotbeenmorethantenminutesinthedrawing–roombeforehedrewDanglarsasideintotherecessofabow–window,and,afteraningeniouspreamble,relatedtohimallhisanxietiesandcaressincehisnoblefather’sdeparture. Heacknowledgedtheextremekindnesswhichhadbeenshownhimbythebanker’sfamily,inwhichhehadbeenreceivedasason,andwhere,besides,hiswarmestaffectionshadfoundanobjectonwhichtocentreinMademoiselleDanglars. Danglarslistenedwiththemostprofoundattention;hehadexpectedthisdeclarationforthelasttwoorthreedays,andwhenatlastitcamehiseyesglistenedasmuchastheyhadloweredonlisteningtoMorcerf. Hewouldnot,however,yieldimmediatelytotheyoungman’srequest,butmadeafewconscientiousobjections. “Areyounotratheryoung,M.Andrea,tothinkofmarrying?” “Ithinknot,sir,”repliedM.Cavalcanti;“inItalythenobilitygenerallymarryyoung.Lifeissouncertain,thatweoughttosecurehappinesswhileitiswithinourreach.” “Well,sir,”saidDanglars,“incaseyourproposals,whichdomehonor,areacceptedbymywifeanddaughter,bywhomshallthepreliminaryarrangementsbesettled? Soimportantanegotiationshould,Ithink,beconductedbytherespectivefathersoftheyoungpeople.” “Sir,myfatherisamanofgreatforesightandprudence. ThinkingthatImightwishtosettleinFrance,heleftmeathisdeparture,togetherwiththepapersestablishingmyidentity,aletterpromising,ifheapprovedofmychoice,150,000livresperannumfromthedayIwasmarried. SofarasIcanjudge,Isupposethistobeaquarterofmyfather’srevenue.” “I,”saidDanglars,“havealwaysintendedgivingmydaughter500,000francsasherdowry;sheis,besides,mysoleheiress.” “Allwouldthenbeeasilyarrangedifthebaronessandherdaughterarewilling. Weshouldcommandanannuityof175,000livres. Supposing,also,Ishouldpersuadethemarquistogivememycapital,whichisnotlikely,butstillispossible,wewouldplacethesetwoorthreemillionsinyourhands,whosetalentmightmakeitrealizetenpercent.” “Inevergivemorethanfourpercent,andgenerallyonlythreeandahalf;buttomyson–in–lawIwouldgivefive,andwewouldsharetheprofit.” “Verygood,father–in–law,”saidCavalcanti,yieldingtohislow–bornnature,whichwouldescapesometimesthroughthearistocraticglosswithwhichhesoughttoconcealit. Correctinghimselfimmediately,hesaid,“Excuseme,sir;hopealonemakesmealmostmad,—whatwillnotrealitydo?” “But,”saidDanglars,—who,onhispart,didnotperceivehowsoontheconversation,whichwasatfirstdisinterested,wasturningtoabusinesstransaction,—”thereis,doubtless,apartofyourfortuneyourfathercouldnotrefuseyou?” “Which?”askedtheyoungman. “Thatyouinheritfromyourmother.” “Truly,frommymother,LeonoraCorsinari.” “Indeed,sir,”saidAndrea,“IassureyouIhavenevergiventhesubjectathought,butIsupposeitmusthavebeenatleasttwomillions.” Danglarsfeltasmuchovercomewithjoyasthemiserwhofindsalosttreasure,orastheshipwreckedmarinerwhofeelshimselfonsolidgroundinsteadofintheabysswhichheexpectedwouldswallowhimup. “Well,sir,”saidAndrea,bowingtothebankerrespectfully,“mayIhope?” “Youmaynotonlyhope,”saidDanglars,“butconsideritasettledthing,ifnoobstaclearisesonyourpart.” “Iam,indeed,rejoiced,”saidAndrea. “But,”saidDanglarsthoughtfully,“howisitthatyourpatron,M.deMonteCristo,didnotmakehisproposalforyou?”Andreablushedimperceptibly. “Ihavejustleftthecount,sir,”saidhe;“heis,doubtless,adelightfulmanbutinconceivablypeculiarinhisideas.Heesteemsmehighly. Heeventoldmehehadnottheslightestdoubtthatmyfatherwouldgivemethecapitalinsteadoftheinterestofmyproperty. Hehaspromisedtousehisinfluencetoobtainitforme;buthealsodeclaredthatheneverhadtakenonhimselftheresponsibilityofmakingproposalsforanother,andheneverwould. Imust,however,dohimthejusticetoaddthatheassuredmeifeverhehadregrettedtherepugnancehefelttosuchastepitwasonthisoccasion,becausehethoughttheprojectedunionwouldbeahappyandsuitableone. Besides,ifhewilldonothingofficially,hewillansweranyquestionsyouproposetohim. Andnow,”continuedhe,withoneofhismostcharmingsmiles,“havingfinishedtalkingtothefather–in–law,Imustaddressmyselftothebanker.” “Andwhatmayyouhavetosaytohim?”saidDanglars,laughinginhisturn. “Thatthedayafterto–morrowIshallhavetodrawuponyouforaboutfourthousandfrancs;butthecount,expectingmybachelor’srevenuecouldnotsufficeforthecomingmonth’soutlay,hasofferedmeadraftfortwentythousandfrancs. Itbearshissignature,asyousee,whichisall–sufficient.” “Bringmeamillionsuchasthat,”saidDanglars,“Ishallbewellpleased,”puttingthedraftinhispocket. “Fixyourownhourforto–morrow,andmycashiershallcallonyouwithacheckforeightythousandfrancs.” “Atteno’clockthen,ifyouplease;Ishouldlikeitearly,asIamgoingintothecountryto–morrow.” “Verywell,atteno’clock;youarestillattheHoteldesPrinces?” Thefollowingmorning,withthebanker’susualpunctuality,theeightythousandfrancswereplacedintheyoungman’shandsashewasonthepointofstarting,afterhavinglefttwohundredfrancsforCaderousse. Hewentoutchieflytoavoidthisdangerousenemy,andreturnedaslateaspossibleintheevening. Butscarcelyhadhesteppedoutofhiscarriagewhentheportermethimwithaparcelinhishand. “Sir,”saidhe,“thatmanhasbeenhere.” “Whatman?”saidAndreacarelessly,apparentlyforgettinghimwhomhebuttoowellrecollected. “Himtowhomyourexcellencypaysthatlittleannuity.” “Oh,”saidAndrea,“myfather’soldservant.Well,yougavehimthetwohundredfrancsIhadleftforhim?” “Yes,yourexcellency.”Andreahadexpressedawishtobethusaddressed. “But,”continuedtheporter,“hewouldnottakethem.” Andreaturnedpale,butasitwasdarkhispallorwasnotperceptible.“What?hewouldnottakethem?”saidhewithslightemotion. “No,hewishedtospeaktoyourexcellency;Itoldhimyouweregoneout,andaftersomedisputehebelievedmeandgavemethisletter,whichhehadbroughtwithhimalreadysealed.” “Giveitme,”saidAndrea,andhereadbythelightofhiscarriage–lamp,—”YouknowwhereIlive;Iexpectyoutomorrowmorningatnineo’clock.” Andreaexamineditcarefully,toascertainiftheletterhadbeenopened,orifanyindiscreeteyeshadseenitscontents;butitwassocarefullyfolded,thatnoonecouldhavereadit,andthesealwasperfect.“Verywell,”saidhe.“Poorman,heisaworthycreature.” Helefttheportertoponderonthesewords,notknowingwhichmosttoadmire,themasterortheservant. “Takeoutthehorsesquickly,andcomeuptome,”saidAndreatohisgroom. IntwosecondstheyoungmanhadreachedhisroomandburntCaderousse’sletter. Theservantenteredjustashehadfinished. “Youareaboutmyheight,Pierre,”saidhe. “Ihavethathonor,yourexcellency.” “Youhadanewliveryyesterday?” “Ihaveanengagementwithaprettylittlegirlforthisevening,anddonotwishtobeknown;lendmeyourliverytillto–morrow.Imaysleep,perhaps,ataninn.”Pierreobeyed. Fiveminutesafter,Andrealeftthehotel,completelydisguised,tookacabriolet,andorderedthedrivertotakehimtotheChevalRouge,atPicpus. ThenextmorningheleftthatinnashehadlefttheHoteldesPrinces,withoutbeingnoticed,walkeddowntheFaubourgSt.Antoine,alongtheboulevardtoRueMenilmontant,andstoppingatthedoorofthethirdhouseontheleftlookedforsomeoneofwhomtomakeinquiryintheporter’sabsence. “Forwhomareyoulooking,myfinefellow?” askedthefruiteressontheoppositeside. “MonsieurPailletin,ifyouplease,mygoodwoman,”repliedAndrea. “Aretiredbaker?”askedthefruiteress. “Helivesattheendoftheyard,ontheleft,onthethirdstory.” Andreawentasshedirectedhim,andonthethirdfloorhefoundahare’spaw,which,bythehastyringingofthebell,itwasevidenthepulledwithconsiderableill–temper. AmomentafterCaderousse’sfaceappearedatthegratinginthedoor. “Ah,youarepunctual,”saidhe,ashedrewbackthedoor. “Confoundyouandyourpunctuality!”saidAndrea,throwinghimselfintoachairinamannerwhichimpliedthathewouldratherhaveflungitattheheadofhishost. “Come,come,mylittlefellow,don’tbeangry. See,Ihavethoughtaboutyou—lookatthegoodbreakfastwearegoingtohave;nothingbutwhatyouarefondof.” Andrea,indeed,inhaledthescentofsomethingcookingwhichwasnotunwelcometohim,hungryashewas;itwasthatmixtureoffatandgarlicpeculiartoprovincialkitchensofaninferiororder,addedtothatofdriedfish,andaboveall,thepungentsmellofmuskandcloves. Theseodorsescapedfromtwodeepdisheswhichwerecoveredandplacedonastove,andfromacopperpanplacedinanoldironpot. InanadjoiningroomAndreasawalsoatolerablycleantablepreparedfortwo,twobottlesofwinesealed,theonewithgreen,theotherwithyellow,asupplyofbrandyinadecanter,andameasureoffruitinacabbage–leaf,cleverlyarrangedonanearthenwareplate. “Whatdoyouthinkofit,mylittlefellow?”saidCaderousse.“Ay,thatsmellsgood! YouknowIusedtobeafamouscook;doyourecollecthowyouusedtolickyourfingers? Youwereamongthefirstwhotastedanyofmydishes,andIthinkyourelishedthemtolerably.” Whilespeaking,Caderoussewentonpeelingafreshsupplyofonions. “But,”saidAndrea,ill–temperedly,“bymyfaith,ifitwasonlytobreakfastwithyou,thatyoudisturbedme,Iwishthedevilhadtakenyou!” “Myboy,”saidCaderoussesententiously,“onecantalkwhileeating. Andthen,youungratefulbeing,youarenotpleasedtoseeanoldfriend?Iamweepingwithjoy.” Hewastrulycrying,butitwouldhavebeendifficulttosaywhetherjoyortheonionsproducedthegreatesteffectonthelachrymalglandsoftheoldinn–keeperofthePont–du–Gard. “Holdyourtongue,hypocrite,”saidAndrea;“youloveme!” “Yes,Ido,ormaythedeviltakeme.Iknowitisaweakness,”saidCaderousse,“butitoverpowersme.” “Andyetithasnotpreventedyoursendingformetoplaymesometrick.” “Come,”saidCaderousse,wipinghislargeknifeonhisapron,“ifIdidnotlikeyou,doyouthinkIshouldendurethewretchedlifeyouleadme?Thinkforamoment. Youhaveyourservant’sclotheson—youthereforekeepaservant;Ihavenone,andamobligedtopreparemyownmeals. Youabusemycookerybecauseyoudineatthetabled’hoteoftheHoteldesPrinces,ortheCafedeParis. Well,Itoocouldkeepaservant;Itoocouldhaveatilbury;ItoocoulddinewhereIlike;butwhydoInot? BecauseIwouldnotannoymylittleBenedetto. Come,justacknowledgethatIcould,eh?” Thisaddresswasaccompaniedbyalookwhichwasbynomeansdifficulttounderstand. “Well,”saidAndrea,“admittingyourlove,whydoyouwantmetobreakfastwithyou?” “ThatImayhavethepleasureofseeingyou,mylittlefellow.” “Whatistheuseofseeingmeafterwehavemadeallourarrangements?” “Eh,dearfriend,”saidCaderousse,“arewillsevermadewithoutcodicils? Butyoufirstcametobreakfast,didyounot? Well,sitdown,andletusbeginwiththesepilchards,andthisfreshbutter;whichIhaveputonsomevine–leavestopleaseyou,wickedone. Ah,yes;youlookatmyroom,myfourstrawchairs,myimages,threefrancseach.Butwhatdoyouexpect?ThisisnottheHoteldesPrinces.” “Come,youaregrowingdiscontented,youarenolongerhappy;you,whoonlywishtolivelikearetiredbaker.”Caderoussesighed.“Well,whathaveyoutosay?youhaveseenyourdreamrealized.” “Icanstillsayitisadream;aretiredbaker,mypoorBenedetto,isrich—hehasanannuity.” “Yes,sinceIbringyouyourtwohundredfrancs.”Caderousseshruggedhisshoulders. “Itishumiliating,”saidhe,“thustoreceivemoneygivengrudgingly,—–anuncertainsupplywhichmaysoonfail. YouseeIamobligedtoeconomize,incaseyourprosperityshouldcease. Well,myfriend,fortuneisinconstant,asthechaplainoftheregimentsaid. Iknowyourprosperityisgreat,yourascal;youaretomarrythedaughterofDanglars.” “Yes,tobesure;mustIsayBaronDanglars?ImightaswellsayCountBenedetto. Hewasanoldfriendofmineandifhehadnotsobadamemoryheoughttoinvitemetoyourwedding,seeinghecametomine. Yes,yes,tomine;gad,hewasnotsoproudthen,—hewasanunder–clerktothegoodM.Morrel. IhavedinedmanytimeswithhimandtheCountofMorcerf,soyouseeIhavesomehighconnectionsandwereItocultivatethemalittle,wemightmeetinthesamedrawing–rooms.” “Come,yourjealousyrepresentseverythingtoyouinthewronglight.” “Thatisallveryfine,Benedettomio,butIknowwhatIamsaying. PerhapsImayonedayputonmybestcoat,andpresentingmyselfatthegreatgate,introducemyself.Meanwhileletussitdownandeat.” Caderoussesettheexampleandattackedthebreakfastwithgoodappetite,praisingeachdishhesetbeforehisvisitor. Thelatterseemedtohaveresignedhimself;hedrewthecorks,andpartooklargelyofthefishwiththegarlicandfat. “Ah,mate,”saidCaderousse,“youaregettingonbettertermswithyouroldlandlord!” “Faith,yes,”repliedAndrea,whosehungerprevailedovereveryotherfeeling. “SomuchthatIwonderhowamanwhocancookthuscancomplainofhardliving.” “Doyousee,”saidCaderousse,“allmyhappinessismarredbyonethought?” “ThatIamdependentonanother,Iwhohavealwaysgainedmyownlivelihoodhonestly.” “Donotletthatdisturbyou,Ihaveenoughfortwo.” “No,truly;youmaybelievemeifyouwill;attheendofeverymonthIamtormentedbyremorse.” “Somuchso,thatyesterdayIwouldnottakethetwohundredfrancs.” “Yes,youwishedtospeaktome;butwasitindeedremorse,tellme?” “Trueremorse;and,besides,anideahadstruckme.” Andreashuddered;healwaysdidsoatCaderousse’sideas.“Itismiserable—doyousee? —alwaystowaittilltheendofthemonth.” —”Oh,”saidAndreaphilosophically,determinedtowatchhiscompanionnarrowly,“doesnotlifepassinwaiting?DoI,forinstance,farebetter?Well,Iwaitpatiently,doInot?” “Yes;becauseinsteadofexpectingtwohundredwretchedfrancs,youexpectfiveorsixthousand,perhapsten,perhapseventwelve,foryoutakecarenottoletanyoneknowtheutmost. Downthere,youalwayshadlittlepresentsandChristmas–boxeswhichyoutriedtohidefromyourpoorfriendCaderousse. Fortunatelyheisacunningfellow,thatfriendCaderousse.” “Thereyouarebeginningagaintoramble,totalkagainandagainofthepast!Butwhatistheuseofteasingmewithgoingalloverthatagain?” “Ah,youareonlyoneandtwenty,andcanforgetthepast;Iamfifty,andamobligedtorecollectit.Butletusreturntobusiness.” “Iwasgoingtosay,ifIwereinyourplace”— “Iwouldaskforsixmonths’inadvance,underpretenceofbeingabletopurchaseafarm,thenwithmysixmonthsIwoulddecamp.” “Well,well,”saidAndrea,“thatisn’tabadidea.” “Mydearfriend,”saidCaderousse,“eatofmybread,andtakemyadvice;youwillbenonetheworseoff,physicallyormorally.” “But,”saidAndrea,“whydoyounotactontheadviceyougaveme? Whydoyounotrealizeasixmonths’,ayear’sadvanceeven,andretiretoBrussels? Insteadoflivingtheretiredbaker,youmightliveasabankrupt,usinghisprivileges;thatwouldbeverygood.” “Buthowthedevilwouldyouhavemeretireontwelvehundredfrancs?” “Ah,Caderousse,”saidAndrea,“howcovetousyouare!Twomonthsagoyouweredyingwithhunger.” “Theappetitegrowsbywhatitfeedson,”saidCaderousse,grinningandshowinghisteeth,likeamonkeylaughingoratigergrowling. “And,”addedhe,bitingoffwithhislargewhiteteethanenormousmouthfulofbread,“Ihaveformedaplan.” Caderousse’splansalarmedAndreastillmorethanhisideas;ideaswerebutthegerm,theplanwasreality. “Letmeseeyourplan;Idaresayitisaprettyone.” “Whynot?WhoformedtheplanbywhichwelefttheestablishmentofM——!eh?wasitnotI?anditwasnobadoneIbelieve,sincehereweare!” “Idonotsay,”repliedAndrea,“thatyounevermakeagoodone;butletusseeyourplan.” “Well,”pursuedCaderousse,“canyouwithoutexpendingonesou,putmeinthewayofgettingfifteenthousandfrancs? No,fifteenthousandarenotenough,—Icannotagainbecomeanhonestmanwithlessthanthirtythousandfrancs.” “No,”repliedAndrea,dryly,“no,Icannot.” “Idonotthinkyouunderstandme,”repliedCaderousse,calmly;“Isaidwithoutyourlayingoutasou.” “Doyouwantmetocommitarobbery,tospoilallmygoodfortune—andyourswithmine—andbothofustobedraggeddownthereagain?” “Itwouldmakeverylittledifferencetome,”saidCaderousse,“ifIwereretaken,Iamapoorcreaturetolivealone,andsometimespineformyoldcomrades;notlikeyou,heartlesscreature,whowouldbegladnevertoseethemagain.” Andreadidmorethantremblethistime,heturnedpale. “Come,Caderousse,nononsense!”saidhe. “Don’talarmyourself,mylittleBenedetto,butjustpointouttomesomemeansofgainingthosethirtythousandfrancswithoutyourassistance,andIwillcontriveit.” “Well,I’llsee—I’lltrytocontrivesomeway,”saidAndrea. “Meanwhileyouwillraisemymonthlyallowancetofivehundredfrancs,mylittlefellow?Ihaveafancy,andmeantogetahousekeeper.” “Well,youshallhaveyourfivehundredfrancs,”saidAndrea;“butitisveryhardforme,mypoorCaderousse—youtakeadvantage”— “Bah,”saidCaderousse,“whenyouhaveaccesstocountlessstores.” OnewouldhavesaidAndreaanticipatedhiscompanion’swords,sodidhiseyeflashlikelightning,butitwasbutforamoment. “True,”hereplied,“andmyprotectorisverykind.” “Thatdearprotector,”saidCaderousse;“andhowmuchdoeshegiveyoumonthly?” “Asmanythousandsasyougivemehundreds!Truly,itisonlybastardswhoarethusfortunate.Fivethousandfrancspermonth!Whatthedevilcanyoudowithallthat?” “Oh,itisnotroubletospendthat;andIamlikeyou,Iwantcapital.” “Capital?—yes—Iunderstand—everyonewouldlikecapital.” “Whowillgiveittoyou—yourprince?” “Yes,myprince.ButunfortunatelyImustwait.” “Youmustwaitforwhat?”askedCaderousse. “Becausehehasmadehiswillinmyfavor.” “Forfivehundredthousand.” “Onlythat?It’slittleenough.” “Areyoumyfriend,Caderousse?” “Well,Iwilltellyouasecret.” “Ah,pardieu,muteasacarp.” “Well,Ithink”—Andreastoppedandlookedaround. “Youthink?Donotfear;pardieu,wearealone.” “IthinkIhavediscoveredmyfather.” “No,forhehasgoneagain;thetrueone,asyousay.” “Well,Caderousse,itisMonteCristo.” “Yes,youunderstand,thatexplainsall.Hecannotacknowledgemeopenly,itappears,buthedoesitthroughM.Cavalcanti,andgiveshimfiftythousandfrancsforit.” “Fiftythousandfrancsforbeingyourfather?Iwouldhavedoneitforhalfthat,fortwentythousand,forfifteenthousand;whydidyounotthinkofme,ungratefulman?” “DidIknowanythingaboutit,whenitwasalldonewhenIwasdownthere?” “Ah,truly?Andyousaythatbyhiswill”— “Heleavesmefivehundredthousandlivres.” “Heshoweditme;butthatisnotall—thereisacodicil,asIsaidjustnow.” “Andinthatcodicilheacknowledgesme.” “Oh,thegoodfather,thebravefather,theveryhonestfather!”saidCaderousse,twirlingaplateintheairbetweenhistwohands. “NowsayifIconcealanythingfromyou?” “No,andyourconfidencemakesyouhonorableinmyopinion;andyourprincelyfather,isherich,veryrich?” “Yes,heisthat;hedoesnothimselfknowtheamountofhisfortune.” “Itisevidentenoughtome,whoamalwaysathishouse. Theotherdayabanker’sclerkbroughthimfiftythousandfrancsinaportfolioaboutthesizeofyourplate;yesterdayhisbankerbroughthimahundredthousandfrancsingold.” Caderoussewasfilledwithwonder;theyoungman’swordssoundedtohimlikemetal,andhethoughthecouldheartherushingofcascadesoflouis.“Andyougointothathouse?”criedhebriskly. Caderoussewasthoughtfulforamoment.Itwaseasytoperceivehewasrevolvingsomeunfortunateideainhismind. Thensuddenly,—”HowIshouldliketoseeallthat,”criedhe;“howbeautifulitmustbe!” “Itis,infact,magnificent,”saidAndrea. “AnddoeshenotliveintheChamps–Elysees?” “Ah,”saidCaderousse,“No.30.” “Yes,afinehousestandingalone,betweenacourt–yardandagarden,—youmustknowit.” “Possibly;butitisnottheexteriorIcarefor,itistheinterior.Whatbeautifulfurnituretheremustbeinit!” “HaveyoueverseentheTuileries?” “Itmustbeworthone’swhiletostoop,Andrea,whenthatgoodM.MonteCristoletsfallhispurse.” “Itisnotworthwhiletowaitforthat,”saidAndrea;“moneyisasplentifulinthathouseasfruitinanorchard.” “Butyoushouldtakemethereonedaywithyou.” “Youareright;butyouhavemademymouthwater.Imustabsolutelyseeit;Ishallfindaway.” “Iwilloffermyselfasfloor–polisher.” “Theroomsareallcarpeted.” “Well,then,Imustbecontentedtoimagineit.” “Thatisthebestplan,believeme.” “Try,atleast,togivemeanideaofwhatitis.” “Nothingiseasier.Isitlarge?” “Faith,Ishouldrequirepen,ink,andpapertomakeaplan.” “Theyareallhere,”saidCaderousse,briskly. Hefetchedfromanoldsecretaryasheetofwhitepaperandpenandink. “Here,”saidCaderousse,“drawmeallthatonthepaper,myboy.” Andreatookthepenwithanimperceptiblesmileandbegan. “Thehouse,asIsaid,isbetweenthecourtandthegarden;inthisway,doyousee?” Andreadrewthegarden,thecourtandthehouse. “Notmorethaneightortenfeet.” “Thatisnotprudent,”saidCaderousse. “Inthecourtareorange–treesinpots,turf,andclumpsofflowers.” “Areoneithersideofthegate,whichyouseethere.”AndAndreacontinuedhisplan. “Letusseethegroundfloor,”saidCaderousse. “Ontheground–floor,dining–room,twodrawing–rooms,billiard–room,staircaseinthehall,andalittlebackstaircase.” “Magnificentwindows,sobeautiful,solarge,thatIbelieveamanofyoursizeshouldpassthrougheachframe.” “Whythedevilhavetheyanystairswithsuchwindows?” “Yes,buttheyareneverused.ThatCountofMonteCristoisanoriginal,wholovestolookattheskyevenatnight.” “Andwheredotheservantssleep?” “Oh,theyhaveahousetothemselves.Picturetoyourselfaprettycoach–houseattheright–handsidewheretheladdersarekept. Well,overthatcoach–housearetheservants’rooms,withbellscorrespondingwiththedifferentapartments.” “Ah,diable—bellsdidyousay?” “Oh,nothing!Ionlysaytheycostaloadofmoneytohang,andwhatistheuseofthem,Ishouldliketoknow?” “Thereusedtobeadogletlooseintheyardatnight,butithasbeentakentothehouseatAuteuil,tothatyouwentto,youknow.” “Iwassayingtohimonlyyesterday,‘Youareimprudent,MonsieurCount;forwhenyougotoAuteuilandtakeyourservantsthehouseisleftunprotected.’Well,’saidhe,‘whatnext?’ ‘Well,next,somedayyouwillberobbed.’” “Hequietlysaid,‘WhatdoIcareifIam?’” “Andrea,hehassomesecretarywithaspring.” “Yes,whichcatchesthethiefinatrapandplaysatune.Iwastoldthereweresuchatthelastexhibition.” “Hehassimplyamahoganysecretary,inwhichthekeyisalwayskept.” “No;hisservantsarealldevotedtohim.” “Thereoughttobesomemoneyinthatsecretary?” “Theremaybe.Nooneknowswhatthereis.” “Sketchmetheplanofthatfloor,asyouhavedoneofthegroundfloor,myboy.” “Thatisverysimple.”Andreatookthepen. “Onthefirststory,doyousee,thereistheanteroomandthedrawing–room;totherightofthedrawing–room,alibraryandastudy;totheleft,abedroomandadressing–room. Thefamoussecretaryisinthedressing–room.” “Isthereawindowinthedressing–room?” “Two,—onehereandonethere.”Andreasketchedtwowindowsintheroom,whichformedanangleontheplan,andappearedasasmallsquareaddedtotherectangleofthebedroom.Caderoussebecamethoughtful.“DoesheoftengotoAuteuil?”addedhe. “Twoorthreetimesaweek.To–morrow,forinstance,heisgoingtospendthedayandnightthere.” “Hehasinvitedmetodinethere.” “There’salifeforyou,”saidCaderousse;“atownhouseandacountryhouse.” “Thatiswhatitistoberich.” “Whenyoudinethere,doyousleepthere?” “IfIlike;Iamathomethere.”Caderousselookedattheyoungman,asiftogetatthetruthfromthebottomofhisheart. ButAndreadrewacigar–casefromhispocket,tookahavana,quietlylitit,andbegansmoking. “Whendoyouwantyourtwelvehundredfrancs?”saidhetoCaderousse. “Now,ifyouhavethem.”Andreatookfiveandtwentylouisfromhispocket. “Yellowboys?”saidCaderousse;“no,Ithankyou.” “Onthecontrary,Iesteemthem,butwillnothavethem.” “Youcanchangethem,idiot;goldisworthfivesous.” “Exactly;andhewhochangesthemwillfollowfriendCaderousse,layhandsonhim,anddemandwhatfarmerspayhimtheirrentingold. Nononsense,mygoodfellow;silversimply,roundcoinswiththeheadofsomemonarchorotheronthem. Anybodymaypossessafive–francpiece.” “ButdoyousupposeIcarryfivehundredfrancsaboutwithme?Ishouldwantaporter.” “Well,leavethemwithyourporter;heistobetrusted.Iwillcallforthem.” “No,to–morrow;Ishallnothavetimetoday.” “Well,to–morrowIwillleavethemwhenIgotoAuteuil.” “BecauseIshallsecuremyhousekeeperonthestrengthofit.” “Nowseehere,willthatbeall?Eh?Andwillyounottormentmeanymore?” “Never.”CaderoussehadbecomesogloomythatAndreafearedheshouldbeobligedtonoticethechange. Heredoubledhisgayetyandcarelessness. “Howsprightlyyouare,”saidCaderousse;“Onewouldsayyouwerealreadyinpossessionofyourproperty.” “No,unfortunately;butwhenIdoobtainit”— “Ishallrememberoldfriends,Icantellyouthat.” “Yes,sinceyouhavesuchagoodmemory.” “Whatdoyouwant?Itlooksasifyouweretryingtofleeceme?” “I?Whatanidea!I,whoamgoingtogiveyouanotherpieceofgoodadvice.” “Toleavebehindyouthediamondyouhaveonyourfinger.Weshallbothgetintotrouble.Youwillruinbothyourselfandmebyyourfolly.” “How?Youputonalivery,youdisguiseyourselfasaservant,andyetkeepadiamondonyourfingerworthfourorfivethousandfrancs.” “Iknowsomethingofdiamonds;Ihavehadsome.” “Youdowelltoboastofit,”saidAndrea,who,withoutbecomingangry,asCaderoussefeared,atthisnewextortion,quietlyresignedthering. CaderousselookedsocloselyatitthatAndreawellknewthathewasexaminingtoseeifalltheedgeswereperfect. “Itisafalsediamond,”saidCaderousse. “Youarejokingnow,”repliedAndrea. “Donotbeangry,wecantryit.”Caderoussewenttothewindow,touchedtheglasswithit,andfounditwouldcut. “Confiteor,”saidCaderousse,puttingthediamondonhislittlefinger;“Iwasmistaken;butthosethievesofjewellersimitatesowellthatitisnolongerworthwhiletorobajeweller’sshop—itisanotherbranchofindustryparalyzed.” “Haveyoufinished?”saidAndrea,—”doyouwantanythingmore?—willyouhavemywaistcoatormyhat?Makefree,nowyouhavebegun.” “No;youare,afterall,agoodcompanion;Iwillnotdetainyou,andwilltrytocuremyselfofmyambition.” “Buttakecarethesamethingdoesnothappentoyouinsellingthediamondyoufearedwiththegold.” “Ishallnotsellit—donotfear.” “Notatleasttillthedayafterto–morrow,”thoughttheyoungman. “Happyrogue,”saidCaderousse;“youaregoingtofindyourservants,yourhorses,yourcarriage,andyourbetrothed!” “Well,Ihopeyouwillmakeahandsomewedding–presentthedayyoumarryMademoiselleDanglars.” “Ihavealreadytoldyouitisafancyyouhavetakeninyourhead.” “Amillion?”Andreashruggedhisshoulders. “Letitbeamillion,”saidCaderousse;“youcanneverhavesomuchasIwishyou.” “Thankyou,”saidtheyoungman. “Oh,Iwishityouwithallmyheart!”addedCaderoussewithhishoarselaugh.“Stop,letmeshowyoutheway.” “Becausethereisalittlesecret,aprecautionIthoughtitdesirabletotake,oneofHuret&Fitchet’slocks,revisedandimprovedbyGaspardCaderousse;Iwillmanufactureyouasimilaronewhenyouareacapitalist.” “Thankyou,”saidAndrea;“Iwillletyouknowaweekbeforehand.”Theyparted. CaderousseremainedonthelandinguntilhehadnotonlyseenAndreagodownthethreestories,butalsocrossthecourt. Thenhereturnedhastily,shuthisdoorcarefully,andbegantostudy,likeacleverarchitect,theplanAndreahadlefthim. “DearBenedetto,”saidhe,“Ithinkhewillnotbesorrytoinherithisfortune,andhewhohastensthedaywhenhecantouchhisfivehundredthousandwillnotbehisworstfriend.” 
