English
MonteCristoutteredajoyfulexclamationonseeingtheyoungmentogether.“Ah,ha!”saidhe,“Ihopeallisover,explainedandsettled.”
“Yes,”saidBeauchamp;“theabsurdreportshavediedaway,andshouldtheyberenewed,Iwouldbethefirsttoopposethem;soletusspeaknomoreofit.”
“Albertwilltellyou,”repliedthecount“thatIgavehimthesameadvice.Look,”addedhe.“Iamfinishingthemostexecrablemorning’swork.”
“Whatisit?”saidAlbert;“arrangingyourpapers,apparently.”
“Mypapers,thankGod,no,—mypapersareallincapitalorder,becauseIhavenone;butM.Cavalcanti’s.”
“M.Cavalcanti’s?”askedBeauchamp.
“Yes;doyounotknowthatthisisayoungmanwhomthecountisintroducing?”saidMorcerf.
“Letusnotmisunderstandeachother,”repliedMonteCristo;“Iintroducenoone,andcertainlynotM.Cavalcanti.”
“Andwho,”saidAlbertwithaforcedsmile,“istomarryMademoiselleDanglarsinsteadofme,whichgrievesmecruelly.”
“What?CavalcantiisgoingtomarryMademoiselleDanglars?”askedBeauchamp.
“Certainly;doyoucomefromtheendoftheworld?”saidMonteCristo;“you,ajournalist,thehusbandofrenown?ItisthetalkofallParis.”
“Andyou,count,havemadethismatch?”askedBeauchamp.
“I?Silence,purveyorofgossip,donotspreadthatreport.Imakeamatch?No,youdonotknowme;Ihavedoneallinmypowertoopposeit.”
“Ah,Iunderstand,”saidBeauchamp,“onourfriendAlbert’saccount.”
“Onmyaccount?”saidtheyoungman;“oh,no,indeed,thecountwilldomethejusticetoassertthatIhave,onthecontrary,alwaysentreatedhimtobreakoffmyengagement,andhappilyitisended.
ThecountpretendsIhavenothimtothank;—sobeit—IwillerectanaltarDeoignoto.”
“Listen,”saidMonteCristo;“Ihavehadlittletodowithit,forIamatvariancebothwiththefather–in–lawandtheyoungman;thereisonlyMademoiselleEugenie,whoappearsbutlittlecharmedwiththethoughtsofmatrimony,andwho,seeinghowlittleIwasdisposedtopersuadehertorenounceherdearliberty,retainsanyaffectionforme.”
“Anddoyousaythisweddingisathand?”
“Oh,yes,inspiteofallIcouldsay.Idonotknowtheyoungman;heissaidtobeofgoodfamilyandrich,butInevertrusttovagueassertions.
IhavewarnedM.DanglarsofittillIamtired,butheisfascinatedwithhisLuccanese.
IhaveeveninformedhimofacircumstanceIconsiderveryserious;theyoungmanwaseithercharmedbyhisnurse,stolenbygypsies,orlostbyhistutor,Iscarcelyknowwhich.
ButIdoknowhisfatherlostsightofhimformorethantenyears;whathedidduringthesetenyears,Godonlyknows.Well,allthatwasuseless.
Theyhavecommissionedmetowritetothemajortodemandpapers,andheretheyare.
Isendthem,butlikePilate—washingmyhands.”
“AndwhatdoesMademoiselled’Armillysaytoyouforrobbingherofherpupil?”
“Oh,well,Idon’tknow;butIunderstandthatsheisgoingtoItaly.
MadameDanglarsaskedmeforlettersofrecommendationfortheimpresari;IgaveherafewlinesforthedirectoroftheValleTheatre,whoisundersomeobligationtome.Butwhatisthematter,Albert?
youlookdull;areyou,afterall,unconsciouslyinlovewithMademoiselleEugenie?”
“Iamnotawareofit,”saidAlbert,smilingsorrowfully.Beauchampturnedtolookatsomepaintings.“But,”continuedMonteCristo,“youarenotinyourusualspirits?”
“Ihaveadreadfulheadache,”saidAlbert.
“Well,mydearviscount,”saidMonteCristo,“Ihaveaninfallibleremedytoproposetoyou.”
“Whatisthat?”askedtheyoungman.
“Achange.”
“Indeed?”saidAlbert.
“Yes;andasIamjustnowexcessivelyannoyed,Ishallgofromhome.Shallwegotogether?”
“Youannoyed,count?”saidBeauchamp;“andbywhat?”
“Ah,youthinkverylightlyofit;Ishouldliketoseeyouwithabriefpreparinginyourhouse.”
“Whatbrief?”
“TheoneM.deVillefortispreparingagainstmyamiableassassin—somebrigandescapedfromthegallowsapparently.”
“True,”saidBeauchamp;“Isawitinthepaper.WhoisthisCaderousse?”
“Someprovincial,itappears.M.deVillefortheardofhimatMarseilles,andM.Danglarsrecollectshavingseenhim.
Consequently,theprocureurisveryactiveintheaffair,andtheprefectofpoliceverymuchinterested;and,thankstothatinterest,forwhichIamverygrateful,theysendmealltherobbersofParisandtheneighborhood,underpretenceoftheirbeingCaderousse’smurderers,sothatinthreemonths,ifthiscontinue,everyrobberandassassininFrancewillhavetheplanofmyhouseathisfingers’end.
Iamresolvedtodesertthemandgotosomeremotecorneroftheearth,andshallbehappyifyouwillaccompanyme,viscount.”
“Willingly.”
“Thenitissettled?”
“Yes,butwhere?”
“Ihavetoldyou,wheretheairispure,whereeverysoundsoothes,whereoneissuretobehumbled,howeverproudmaybehisnature.
Ilovethathumiliation,I,whoammasteroftheuniverse,aswasAugustus.”
“Butwhereareyoureallygoing?”
“Tosea,viscount;youknowIamasailor.
Iwasrockedwhenaninfantinthearmsofoldocean,andonthebosomofthebeautifulAmphitrite;Ihavesportedwiththegreenmantleoftheoneandtheazurerobeoftheother;Ilovetheseaasamistress,andpineifIdonotoftenseeher.”
“Letusgo,count.”
“Tosea?”
“Yes.”
“Youacceptmyproposal?”
“Ido.”
“Well,Viscount,therewillbeinmycourt–yardthiseveningagoodtravellingbritzka,withfourpost–horses,inwhichonemayrestasinabed.
M.Beauchamp,itholdsfourverywell,willyouaccompanyus?”
“Thankyou,Ihavejustreturnedfromsea.”
“What?youhavebeentosea?”
“Yes;IhavejustmadealittleexcursiontotheBorromeanIslands.”(*)“Whatofthat?comewithus,”saidAlbert.
*LakeMaggiore.
“No,dearMorcerf;youknowIonlyrefusewhenthethingisimpossible.Besides,itisimportant,”addedheinalowtone,“thatIshouldremaininParisjustnowtowatchthepaper.”
“Ah,youareagoodandanexcellentfriend,”saidAlbert;“yes,youareright;watch,watch,Beauchamp,andtrytodiscovertheenemywhomadethisdisclosure.”
AlbertandBeauchampparted,thelastpressureoftheirhandsexpressingwhattheirtonguescouldnotbeforeastranger.
“Beauchampisaworthyfellow,”saidMonteCristo,whenthejournalistwasgone;“ishenot,Albert?”
“Yes,andasincerefriend;Ilovehimdevotedly.Butnowwearealone,—althoughitisimmaterialtome,—wherearewegoing?”
“IntoNormandy,ifyoulike.”
“Delightful;shallwebequiteretired?havenosociety,noneighbors?”
“Ourcompanionswillberiding–horses,dogstohuntwith,andafishing–boat.”
“ExactlywhatIwishfor;Iwillapprisemymotherofmyintention,andreturntoyou.”
“ButshallyoubeallowedtogointoNormandy?”
“ImaygowhereIplease.”
“Yes,Iamawareyoumaygoalone,sinceIoncemetyouinItaly—buttoaccompanythemysteriousMonteCristo?”
“Youforget,count,thatIhaveoftentoldyouofthedeepinterestmymothertakesinyou.”
”’Womanisfickle.’saidFrancisI.;‘womanislikeawaveofthesea,’saidShakespeare;boththegreatkingandthegreatpoetoughttohaveknownwoman’snaturewell.”
“Woman’s,yes;mymotherisnotwoman,butawoman.”
“AsIamonlyahumbleforeigner,youmustpardonmeifIdonotunderstandallthesubtlerefinementsofyourlanguage.”
“WhatImeantosayis,thatmymotherisnotquicktogiveherconfidence,butwhenshedoessheneverchanges.”
“Ah,yes,indeed,”saidMonteCristowithasigh;“anddoyouthinksheisintheleastinterestedinme?”
“Irepeatit,youmustreallybeaverystrangeandsuperiorman,formymotherissoabsorbedbytheinterestyouhaveexcited,thatwhenIamwithhershespeaksofnooneelse.”
“Anddoesshetrytomakeyoudislikeme?”
“Onthecontrary,sheoftensays,‘Morcerf,Ibelievethecounthasanoblenature;trytogainhisesteem.’”
“Indeed?”saidMonteCristo,sighing.
“Yousee,then,”saidAlbert,“thatinsteadofopposing,shewillencourageme.”
“Adieu,then,untilfiveo’clock;bepunctual,andweshallarriveattwelveorone.”
“AtTreport?”
“Yes;orintheneighborhood.”
“Butcanwetravelforty–eightleaguesineighthours?”
“Easily,”saidMonteCristo.
“Youarecertainlyaprodigy;youwillsoonnotonlysurpasstherailway,whichwouldnotbeverydifficultinFrance,buteventhetelegraph.”
“But,viscount,sincewecannotperformthejourneyinlessthansevenoreighthours,donotkeepmewaiting.”
“Donotfear,Ihavelittletoprepare.”
MonteCristosmiledashenoddedtoAlbert,thenremainedamomentabsorbedindeepmeditation.
Butpassinghishandacrosshisforeheadasiftodispelhisrevery,herangthebelltwiceandBertuccioentered.
“Bertuccio,”saidhe,“IintendgoingthiseveningtoNormandy,insteadofto–morroworthenextday.
Youwillhavesufficienttimebeforefiveo’clock;despatchamessengertoapprisethegroomsatthefirststation.M.deMorcerfwillaccompanyme.”
BertuccioobeyedanddespatchedacouriertoPontoisetosaythetravelling–carriagewouldarriveatsixo’clock.
FromPontoiseanotherexpresswassenttothenextstage,andinsixhoursallthehorsesstationedontheroadwereready.
Beforehisdeparture,thecountwenttoHaidee’sapartments,toldherhisintention,andresignedeverythingtohercare.Albertwaspunctual.
Thejourneysoonbecameinterestingfromitsrapidity,ofwhichMorcerfhadformednopreviousidea.
“Truly,”saidMonteCristo,“withyourposthorsesgoingattherateoftwoleaguesanhour,andthatabsurdlawthatonetravellershallnotpassanotherwithoutpermission,sothataninvalidorill–temperedtravellermaydetainthosewhoarewellandactive,itisimpossibletomove;Iescapethisannoyancebytravellingwithmyownpostilionandhorses;doInot,Ali?”
Thecountputhisheadoutofthewindowandwhistled,andthehorsesappearedtofly.
Thecarriagerolledwithathunderingnoiseoverthepavement,andeveryoneturnedtonoticethedazzlingmeteor.
Ali,smiling,repeatedthesound,graspedthereinswithafirmhand,andspurredhishorses,whosebeautifulmanesfloatedinthebreeze.
Thischildofthedesertwasinhiselement,andwithhisblackfaceandsparklingeyesappeared,inthecloudofdustheraised,likethegeniusofthesimoomandthegodofthehurricane.
“Ineverknewtillnowthedelightofspeed,”saidMorcerf,andthelastclouddisappearedfromhisbrow;“butwherethedevildoyougetsuchhorses?Aretheymadetoorder?”
“Precisely,”saidthecount;“sixyearssinceIboughtahorseinHungaryremarkableforitsswiftness.
Thethirty–twothatweshalluseto–nightareitsprogeny;theyareallentirelyblack,withtheexceptionofastarupontheforehead.”
“Thatisperfectlyadmirable;butwhatdoyoudo,count,withallthesehorses?”
“Yousee,Itravelwiththem.”
“Butyouarenotalwaystravelling.”
“WhenInolongerrequirethem,Bertucciowillsellthem,andheexpectstorealizethirtyorfortythousandfrancsbythesale.”
“ButnomonarchinEuropewillbewealthyenoughtopurchasethem.”
“ThenhewillsellthemtosomeEasternvizier,whowillemptyhiscofferstopurchasethem,andrefillthembyapplyingthebastinadotohissubjects.”
“Count,mayIsuggestoneideatoyou?”
“Certainly.”
“Itisthat,nexttoyou,BertucciomustbetherichestgentlemaninEurope.”
“Youaremistaken,viscount;Ibelievehehasnotafrancinhispossession.”
“Thenhemustbeawonder.Mydearcount,ifyoutellmemanymoremarvellousthings,IwarnyouIshallnotbelievethem.”
“Icountenancenothingthatismarvellous,M.Albert.Tellme,whydoesastewardrobhismaster?”
“Because,Isuppose,itishisnaturetodoso,fortheloveofrobbing.”
“Youaremistaken;itisbecausehehasawifeandfamily,andambitiousdesiresforhimselfandthem.
Alsobecauseheisnotsureofalwaysretaininghissituation,andwishestoprovideforthefuture.
Now,M.Bertuccioisaloneintheworld;heusesmypropertywithoutaccountingfortheusehemakesofit;heissurenevertoleavemyservice.”
“Why?”
“BecauseIshouldnevergetabetter.”
“Probabilitiesaredeceptive.”
“ButIdealincertainties;heisthebestservantoverwhomonehasthepoweroflifeanddeath.”
“DoyoupossessthatrightoverBertuccio?”
“Yes.”
Therearewordswhichcloseaconversationwithanirondoor;suchwasthecount’s“yes.”
Thewholejourneywasperformedwithequalrapidity;thethirty–twohorses,dispersedoversevenstages,broughtthemtotheirdestinationineighthours.
Atmidnighttheyarrivedatthegateofabeautifulpark.
Theporterwasinattendance;hehadbeenapprisedbythegroomofthelaststageofthecount’sapproach.
AthalfpasttwointhemorningMorcerfwasconductedtohisapartments,whereabathandsupperwereprepared.
Theservantwhohadtravelledatthebackofthecarriagewaitedonhim;Baptistin,whorodeinfront,attendedthecount.
Albertbathed,tookhissupper,andwenttobed.
Allnighthewaslulledbythemelancholynoiseofthesurf.
Onrising,hewenttohiswindow,whichopenedonaterrace,havingtheseainfront,andatthebackaprettyparkboundedbyasmallforest.
Inacreeklayalittlesloop,withanarrowkeelandhighmasts,bearingonitsflagtheMonteCristoarmswhichwereamountainonaseaazure,withacrossgulesontheshield.
Aroundtheschoonerlayanumberofsmallfishing–boatsbelongingtothefishermenoftheneighboringvillage,likehumblesubjectsawaitingordersfromtheirqueen.
There,asineveryspotwhereMonteCristostopped,ifbutfortwodays,luxuryaboundedandlifewentonwiththeutmostease.
Albertfoundinhisanteroomtwoguns,withalltheaccoutrementsforhunting;aloftyroomontheground–floorcontainingalltheingeniousinstrumentstheEnglish—eminentinpiscatorypursuits,sincetheyarepatientandsluggish—haveinventedforfishing.
ThedaypassedinpursuingthoseexercisesinwhichMonteCristoexcelled.
Theykilledadozenpheasantsinthepark,asmanytroutinthestream,dinedinasummer–houseoverlookingtheocean,andtookteainthelibrary.
Towardstheeveningofthethirdday.Albert,completelyexhaustedwiththeexercisewhichinvigoratedMonteCristo,wassleepinginanarm–chairnearthewindow,whilethecountwasdesigningwithhisarchitecttheplanofaconservatoryinhishouse,whenthesoundofahorseatfullspeedonthehighroadmadeAlbertlookup.
Hewasdisagreeablysurprisedtoseehisownvaletdechambre,whomhehadnotbrought,thathemightnotinconvenienceMonteCristo.
“Florentinhere!”criedhe,startingup;“ismymotherill?”Andhehastenedtothedoor.
MonteCristowatchedandsawhimapproachthevalet,whodrewasmallsealedparcelfromhispocket,containinganewspaperandaletter.“Fromwhomisthis?”saidheeagerly.“FromM.Beauchamp,”repliedFlorentin.
“Didhesendyou?”
“Yes,sir;hesentformetohishouse,gavememoneyformyjourney,procuredahorse,andmademepromisenottostoptillIhadreachedyou,Ihavecomeinfifteenhours.”
Albertopenedtheletterwithfear,utteredashriekonreadingthefirstline,andseizedthepaper.
Hissightwasdimmed,hislegssankunderhim,andhewouldhavefallenhadnotFlorentinsupportedhim.
“Pooryoungman,”saidMonteCristoinalowvoice;“itisthentruethatthesinofthefathershallfallonthechildrentothethirdandfourthgeneration.”
MeanwhileAlberthadrevived,and,continuingtoread,hethrewbackhishead,saying,“Florentin,isyourhorsefittoreturnimmediately?”
“Itisapoorlamepost–horse.”
“Inwhatstatewasthehousewhenyouleft?”
“Allwasquiet,butonreturningfromM.Beauchamp’s,Ifoundmadameintears:shehadsentformetoknowwhenyouwouldreturn.
ItoldhermyordersfromM.Beauchamp;shefirstextendedherarmstopreventme,butafteramoment’sreflection,‘Yes,go,Florentin,’saidshe,‘andmayhecomequickly.’”
“Yes,mymother,”saidAlbert,“Iwillreturn,andwoetotheinfamouswretch!ButfirstofallImustgetthere.”
HewentbacktotheroomwherehehadleftMonteCristo.
Fiveminuteshadsufficedtomakeacompletetransformationinhisappearance.
Hisvoicehadbecomeroughandhoarse;hisfacewasfurrowedwithwrinkles;hiseyesburnedundertheblue–veinedlids,andhetotteredlikeadrunkenman.
“Count,”saidhe,“Ithankyouforyourhospitality,whichIwouldgladlyhaveenjoyedlonger;butImustreturntoParis.”
“Whathashappened?”
“Agreatmisfortune,moreimportanttomethanlife.Don’tquestionme,Ibegofyou,butlendmeahorse.”
“Mystablesareatyourcommand,viscount;butyouwillkillyourselfbyridingonhorseback.Takeapost–chaiseoracarriage.”
“No,itwoulddelayme,andIneedthefatigueyouwarnmeof;itwilldomegood.”
Albertreeledasifhehadbeenshot,andfellonachairnearthedoor.
MonteCristodidnotseethissecondmanifestationofphysicalexhaustion;hewasatthewindow,calling,“Ali,ahorseforM.deMorcerf—quick!heisinahurry!”
ThesewordsrestoredAlbert;hedartedfromtheroom,followedbythecount.“Thankyou!”
criedhe,throwinghimselfonhishorse.“Returnassoonasyoucan,Florentin.
MustIuseanypasswordtoprocureahorse?”
“Onlydismount;anotherwillbeimmediatelysaddled.”Alberthesitatedamoment.
“Youmaythinkmydeparturestrangeandfoolish,”saidtheyoungman;“youdonotknowhowaparagraphinanewspapermayexasperateone.
Readthat,”saidhe,“whenIamgone,thatyoumaynotbewitnessofmyanger.”
Whilethecountpickedupthepaperheputspurstohishorse,whichleapedinastonishmentatsuchanunusualstimulus,andshotawaywiththerapidityofanarrow.
Thecountwatchedhimwithafeelingofcompassion,andwhenhehadcompletelydisappeared,readasfollows:—
“TheFrenchofficerintheserviceofAliPashaofYaninaalludedtothreeweekssinceintheImpartial,whonotonlysurrenderedthecastleofYanina,butsoldhisbenefactortotheTurks,styledhimselftrulyatthattimeFernand,asouresteemedcontemporarystates;buthehassinceaddedtohisChristiannameatitleofnobilityandafamilyname.
HenowcallshimselftheCountofMorcerf,andranksamongthepeers.”
Thustheterriblesecret,whichBeauchamphadsogenerouslydestroyed,appearedagainlikeanarmedphantom;andanotherpaper,derivingitsinformationfromsomemalicioussource,hadpublishedtwodaysafterAlbert’sdepartureforNormandythefewlineswhichhadrenderedtheunfortunateyoungmanalmostcrazy.
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