English
Atthebanker’sdoorBeauchampstoppedMorcerf.“Listen,”saidhe;“justnowItoldyouitwasofM.deMonteCristoyoumustdemandanexplanation.”
“Yes;andwearegoingtohishouse.”
“Reflect,Morcerf,onemomentbeforeyougo.”
“OnwhatshallIreflect?”
“Ontheimportanceofthestepyouaretaking.”
“IsitmoreseriousthangoingtoM.Danglars?”
“Yes;M.Danglarsisamoney–lover,andthosewholovemoney,youknow,thinktoomuchofwhattheyrisktobeeasilyinducedtofightaduel.
Theotheris,onthecontrary,toallappearanceatruenobleman;butdoyounotfeartofindhimabully?”
“Ionlyfearonething;namely,tofindamanwhowillnotfight.”
“Donotbealarmed,”saidBeauchamp;“hewillmeetyou.Myonlyfearisthathewillbetoostrongforyou.”
“Myfriend,”saidMorcerf,withasweetsmile,“thatiswhatIwish.Thehappiestthingthatcouldoccurtome,wouldbetodieinmyfather’sstead;thatwouldsaveusall.”
“Yourmotherwoulddieofgrief.”
“Mypoormother!”saidAlbert,passinghishandacrosshiseyes,“Iknowshewould;butbettersothandieofshame.”
“Areyouquitedecided,Albert?”
“Yes;letusgo.”
“Butdoyouthinkweshallfindthecountathome?”
“Heintendedreturningsomehoursafterme,anddoubtlessheisnowathome.”
TheyorderedthedrivertotakethemtoNo.30Champs–Elysees.
Beauchampwishedtogoinalone,butAlbertobservedthatasthiswasanunusualcircumstancehemightbeallowedtodeviatefromtheusualetiquetteinaffairsofhonor.
ThecausewhichtheyoungmanespousedwasonesosacredthatBeauchamphadonlytocomplywithallhiswishes;heyieldedandcontentedhimselfwithfollowingMorcerf.
Albertsprangfromtheporter’slodgetothesteps.HewasreceivedbyBaptistin.
Thecounthad,indeed,justarrived,buthewasinhisbath,andhadforbiddenthatanyoneshouldbeadmitted.“Butafterhisbath?”askedMorcerf.
“Mymasterwillgotodinner.”
“Andafterdinner?”
“Hewillsleepanhour.”
“Then?”
“Heisgoingtotheopera.”
“Areyousureofit?”askedAlbert.
“Quite,sir;mymasterhasorderedhishorsesateighto’clockprecisely.”
“Verygood,”repliedAlbert;“thatisallIwishedtoknow.”
Then,turningtowardsBeauchamp,“Ifyouhaveanythingtoattendto,Beauchamp,doitdirectly;ifyouhaveanyappointmentforthisevening,deferittilltomorrow.
Idependonyoutoaccompanymetotheopera;andifyoucan,bringChateau–Renaudwithyou.”
BeauchampavailedhimselfofAlbert’spermission,andlefthim,promisingtocallforhimataquarterbeforeeight.
Onhisreturnhome,AlbertexpressedhiswishtoFranzDebray,andMorrel,toseethemattheoperathatevening.
Thenhewenttoseehismother,whosincetheeventsofthedaybeforehadrefusedtoseeanyone,andhadkeptherroom.
Hefoundherinbed,overwhelmedwithgriefatthispublichumiliation.
ThesightofAlbertproducedtheeffectwhichmightnaturallybeexpectedonMercedes;shepressedherson’shandandsobbedaloud,buthertearsrelievedher.
Albertstoodonemomentspeechlessbythesideofhismother’sbed.
Itwasevidentfromhispalefaceandknitbrowsthathisresolutiontorevengehimselfwasgrowingweaker.
“Mydearmother,”saidhe,“doyouknowifM.deMorcerfhasanyenemy?”
Mercedesstarted;shenoticedthattheyoungmandidnotsay“myfather.”
“Myson,”shesaid,“personsinthecount’ssituationhavemanysecretenemies.
Thosewhoareknownarenotthemostdangerous.”
“Iknowit,andappealtoyourpenetration.Youareofsosuperioramind,nothingescapesyou.”
“Whydoyousayso?”
“Because,forinstance,younoticedontheeveningoftheballwegave,thatM.deMonteCristowouldeatnothinginourhouse.”
Mercedesraisedherselfonherfeverisharm.“M.deMonteCristo!”
sheexclaimed;“andhowisheconnectedwiththequestionyouaskedme?”
“Youknow,mother,M.deMonteCristoisalmostanOriental,anditiscustomarywiththeOrientalstosecurefulllibertyforrevengebynoteatingordrinkinginthehousesoftheirenemies.”
“DoyousayM.deMonteCristoisourenemy?”
repliedMercedes,becomingpalerthanthesheetwhichcoveredher.“Whotoldyouso?Why,youaremad,Albert!
M.deMonteCristohasonlyshownuskindness.
M.deMonteCristosavedyourlife;youyourselfpresentedhimtous.
Oh,Ientreatyou,myson,ifyouhadentertainedsuchanidea,dispelit;andmycounseltoyou—nay,myprayer—istoretainhisfriendship.”
“Mother,”repliedtheyoungman,“youhaveespecialreasonsfortellingmetoconciliatethatman.”
“I?”saidMercedes,blushingasrapidlyasshehadturnedpale,andagainbecomingpalerthanever.
“Yes,doubtless;andisitnotthathemayneverdousanyharm?”
Mercedesshuddered,and,fixingonhersonascrutinizinggaze,“Youspeakstrangely,”saidshetoAlbert,“andyouappeartohavesomesingularprejudices.Whathasthecountdone?
ThreedayssinceyouwerewithhiminNormandy;onlythreedayssincewelookedonhimasourbestfriend.”
AnironicalsmilepassedoverAlbert’slips.
Mercedessawitandwiththedoubleinstinctofwomanandmotherguessedall;butasshewasprudentandstrong–mindedsheconcealedbothhersorrowsandherfears.
Albertwassilent;aninstantafter,thecountessresumed:“Youcametoinquireaftermyhealth;IwillcandidlyacknowledgethatIamnotwell.
Youshouldinstallyourselfhere,andcheermysolitude.Idonotwishtobeleftalone.”
“Mother,”saidtheyoungman,“youknowhowgladlyIwouldobeyyourwish,butanurgentandimportantaffairobligesmetoleaveyouforthewholeevening.”
“Well,”repliedMercedes,sighing,“go,Albert;Iwillnotmakeyouaslavetoyourfilialpiety.”
Albertpretendedhedidnothear,bowedtohismother,andquittedher.
Scarcelyhadheshutherdoor,whenMercedescalledaconfidentialservant,andorderedhimtofollowAlbertwhereverheshouldgothatevening,andtocomeandtellherimmediatelywhatheobserved.
Thensherangforherlady’smaid,and,weakasshewas,shedressed,inordertobereadyforwhatevermighthappen.Thefootman’smissionwasaneasyone.
Albertwenttohisroom,anddressedwithunusualcare.
AttenminutestoeightBeauchamparrived;hehadseenChateau–Renaud,whohadpromisedtobeintheorchestrabeforethecurtainwasraised.
BothgotintoAlbert’scoupe;and,astheyoungmanhadnoreasontoconcealwherehewasgoing,hecalledaloud,“Totheopera.”
Inhisimpatiencehearrivedbeforethebeginningoftheperformance.
Chateau–Renaudwasathispost;apprisedbyBeauchampofthecircumstances,herequirednoexplanationfromAlbert.
TheconductofthesoninseekingtoavengehisfatherwassonaturalthatChateau–Renauddidnotseektodissuadehim,andwascontentwithrenewinghisassurancesofdevotion.
Debraywasnotyetcome,butAlbertknewthatheseldomlostasceneattheopera.
Albertwanderedaboutthetheatreuntilthecurtainwasdrawnup.
HehopedtomeetwithM.deMonteCristoeitherinthelobbyoronthestairs.
Thebellsummonedhimtohisseat,andheenteredtheorchestrawithChateau–RenaudandBeauchamp.
Buthiseyesscarcelyquittedtheboxbetweenthecolumns,whichremainedobstinatelyclosedduringthewholeofthefirstact.
Atlast,asAlbertwaslookingathiswatchforaboutthehundredthtime,atthebeginningofthesecondactthedooropened,andMonteCristoentered,dressedinblack,and,leaningoverthefrontofthebox,lookedaroundthepit.
Morrelfollowedhim,andlookedalsoforhissisterandbrotherin–law;hesoondiscoveredtheminanotherbox,andkissedhishandtothem.
Thecount,inhissurveyofthepit,encounteredapalefaceandthreateningeyes,whichevidentlysoughttogainhisattention.
HerecognizedAlbert,butthoughtitbetternottonoticehim,ashelookedsoangryanddiscomposed.
Withoutcommunicatinghisthoughtstohiscompanion,hesatdown,drewouthisopera–glass,andlookedanotherway.
AlthoughapparentlynotnoticingAlbert,hedidnot,however,losesightofhim,andwhenthecurtainfellattheendofthesecondact,hesawhimleavetheorchestrawithhistwofriends.
Thenhisheadwasseenpassingatthebackoftheboxes,andthecountknewthattheapproachingstormwasintendedtofallonhim.
HewasatthemomentconversingcheerfullywithMorrel,buthewaswellpreparedforwhatmighthappen.
Thedooropened,andMonteCristo,turninground,sawAlbert,paleandtrembling,followedbyBeauchampandChateau–Renaud.
“Well,”criedhe,withthatbenevolentpolitenesswhichdistinguishedhissalutationfromthecommoncivilitiesoftheworld,“mycavalierhasattainedhisobject.Good–evening,M.deMorcerf.”
Thecountenanceofthisman,whopossessedsuchextraordinarycontroloverhisfeelings,expressedthemostperfectcordiality.
Morrelonlythenrecollectedtheletterhehadreceivedfromtheviscount,inwhich,withoutassigninganyreason,hebeggedhimtogototheopera,butheunderstoodthatsomethingterriblewasbrooding.
“Wearenotcomehere,sir,toexchangehypocriticalexpressionsofpoliteness,orfalseprofessionsoffriendship,”saidAlbert,“buttodemandanexplanation.”
Theyoungman’stremblingvoicewasscarcelyaudible.“Anexplanationattheopera?”
saidthecount,withthatcalmtoneandpenetratingeyewhichcharacterizethemanwhoknowshiscauseisgood.
“LittleacquaintedasIamwiththehabitsofParisians,Ishouldnothavethoughtthistheplaceforsuchademand.”
“Still,ifpeoplewillshutthemselvesup,”saidAlbert,“andcannotbeseenbecausetheyarebathing,dining,orasleep,wemustavailourselvesoftheopportunitywhenevertheyaretobeseen.”
“Iamnotdifficultofaccess,sir;foryesterday,ifmymemorydoesnotdeceiveme,youwereatmyhouse.”
“YesterdayIwasatyourhouse,sir,”saidtheyoungman;“becausethenIknewnotwhoyouwere.”
InpronouncingthesewordsAlberthadraisedhisvoicesoastobeheardbythoseintheadjoiningboxesandinthelobby.
Thustheattentionofmanywasattractedbythisaltercation.“Whereareyoucomefrom,sir?
Youdonotappeartobeinthepossessionofyoursenses.”
“ProvidedIunderstandyourperfidy,sir,andsucceedinmakingyouunderstandthatIwillberevenged,Ishallbereasonableenough,”saidAlbertfuriously.
“Idonotunderstandyou,sir,”repliedMonteCristo;“andifIdid,yourtoneistoohigh.
Iamathomehere,andIalonehavearighttoraisemyvoiceaboveanother’s.Leavethebox,sir!”
MonteCristopointedtowardsthedoorwiththemostcommandingdignity.
“Ah,Ishallknowhowtomakeyouleaveyourhome!”
repliedAlbert,claspinginhisconvulsedgrasptheglove,whichMonteCristodidnotlosesightof.
“Well,well,”saidMonteCristoquietly,“Iseeyouwishtoquarrelwithme;butIwouldgiveyouonepieceofadvice,whichyouwilldowelltokeepinmind.
Itisinpoortastetomakeadisplayofachallenge.
Displayisnotbecomingtoeveryone,M.deMorcerf.”
Atthisnameamurmurofastonishmentpassedaroundthegroupofspectatorsofthisscene.
TheyhadtalkedofnoonebutMorcerfthewholeday.
Albertunderstoodtheallusioninamoment,andwasabouttothrowhisgloveatthecount,whenMorrelseizedhishand,whileBeauchampandChateau–Renaud,fearingthescenewouldsurpassthelimitsofachallenge,heldhimback.
ButMonteCristo,withoutrising,andleaningforwardinhischair,merelystretchedouthisarmand,takingthedamp,crushedglovefromtheclinchedhandoftheyoungman,“Sir,”saidheinasolemntone,“Iconsideryourglovethrown,andwillreturnittoyouwrappedaroundabullet.
NowleavemeorIwillsummonmyservantstothrowyououtatthedoor.”
Wild,almostunconscious,andwitheyesinflamed,Albertsteppedback,andMorrelclosedthedoor.
MonteCristotookuphisglassagainasifnothinghadhappened;hisfacewaslikemarble,andhisheartwaslikebronze.
Morrelwhispered,“Whathaveyoudonetohim?”
“I?Nothing—atleastpersonally,”saidMonteCristo.
“Buttheremustbesomecauseforthisstrangescene.”
“TheCountofMorcerf’sadventureexasperatestheyoungman.”
“Haveyouanythingtodowithit?”
“ItwasthroughHaideethattheChamberwasinformedofhisfather’streason.”
“Indeed?”saidMorrel.“Ihadbeentold,butwouldnotcreditit,thattheGrecianslaveIhaveseenwithyouhereinthisveryboxwasthedaughterofAliPasha.”
“Itistrue,nevertheless.”
“Then,”saidMorrel,“Iunderstanditall,andthisscenewaspremeditated.”
“Howso?”
“Yes.Albertwrotetorequestmetocometotheopera,doubtlessthatImightbeawitnesstotheinsulthemeanttoofferyou.”
“Probably,”saidMonteCristowithhisimperturbabletranquillity.
“Butwhatshallyoudowithhim?”
“Withwhom?”
“WithAlbert.”
“WhatshallIdowithAlbert?Ascertainly,Maximilian,asInowpressyourhand,Ishallkillhimbeforeteno’clockto–morrowmorning.”
Morrel,inhisturn,tookMonteCristo’shandinbothofhis,andheshudderedtofeelhowcoldandsteadyitwas.
“Ah,Count,”saidhe,“hisfatherloveshimsomuch!”
“Donotspeaktomeofthat,”saidMonteCristo,withthefirstmovementofangerhehadbetrayed;“Iwillmakehimsuffer.”Morrel,amazed,letfallMonteCristo’shand.“Count,count!”saidhe.
“DearMaximilian,”interruptedthecount,“listenhowadorablyDuprezissingingthatline,—“IwasthefirsttodiscoverDuprezatNaples,andthefirsttoapplaudhim.Bravo,bravo!”
Morrelsawitwasuselesstosaymore,andrefrained.
Thecurtain,whichhadrisenatthecloseofthescenewithAlbert,againfell,andarapwasheardatthedoor.
'OMathilde!idoledemoname!'
“Comein,”saidMonteCristowithavoicethatbetrayednottheleastemotion;andimmediatelyBeauchampappeared.
“Good–evening,M.Beauchamp,”saidMonteCristo,asifthiswasthefirsttimehehadseenthejournalistthatevening;“beseated.”
Beauchampbowed,and,sittingdown,“Sir,”saidhe,“IjustnowaccompaniedM.deMorcerf,asyousaw.”
“Andthatmeans,”repliedMonteCristo,laughing,“thatyouhad,probably,justdinedtogether.Iamhappytosee,M.Beauchamp,thatyouaremoresoberthanhewas.”
“Sir,”saidM.Beauchamp,“Albertwaswrong,Iacknowledge,tobetraysomuchanger,andIcome,onmyownaccount,toapologizeforhim.
Andhavingdoneso,entirelyonmyownaccount,beitunderstood,IwouldaddthatIbelieveyoutoogentlemanlytorefusegivinghimsomeexplanationconcerningyourconnectionwithYanina.
ThenIwilladdtwowordsabouttheyoungGreekgirl.”MonteCristomotionedhimtobesilent.
“Come,”saidhe,laughing,“thereareallmyhopesabouttobedestroyed.”
“Howso?”askedBeauchamp.
“Doubtlessyouwishtomakemeappearaveryeccentriccharacter.
Iam,inyouropinion,aLara,aManfred,aLordRuthven;then,justasIamarrivingattheclimax,youdefeatyourownend,andseektomakeanordinarymanofme.
Youbringmedowntoyourownlevel,anddemandexplanations!
Indeed,M.Beauchamp,itisquitelaughable.”
“Yet,”repliedBeauchamphaughtily,“thereareoccasionswhenprobitycommands”—
“M.Beauchamp,”interposedthisstrangeman,“theCountofMonteCristobowstononebuttheCountofMonteCristohimself.Saynomore,Ientreatyou.
IdowhatIplease,M.Beauchamp,anditisalwayswelldone.”
“Sir,”repliedtheyoungman,“honestmenarenottobepaidwithsuchcoin.Irequirehonorableguaranties.”
“Iam,sir,alivingguaranty,”repliedMonteCristo,motionless,butwithathreateninglook;“wehavebothbloodinourveinswhichwewishtoshed—thatisourmutualguaranty.
Telltheviscountso,andthatto–morrow,beforeteno’clock,Ishallseewhatcolorhisis.”
“ThenIhaveonlytomakearrangementsfortheduel,”saidBeauchamp.
“Itisquiteimmaterialtome,”saidMonteCristo,“anditwasveryunnecessarytodisturbmeattheoperaforsuchatrifle.
InFrancepeoplefightwiththeswordorpistol,inthecolonieswiththecarbine,inArabiawiththedagger.
Tellyourclientthat,althoughIamtheinsultedparty,inordertocarryoutmyeccentricity,Ileavehimthechoiceofarms,andwillacceptwithoutdiscussion,withoutdispute,anything,evencombatbydrawinglots,whichisalwaysstupid,butwithmedifferentfromotherpeople,asIamsuretogain.”
“Suretogain!”repeatedBeauchamp,lookingwithamazementatthecount.
“Certainly,”saidMonteCristo,slightlyshrugginghisshoulders;“otherwiseIwouldnotfightwithM.deMorcerf.Ishallkillhim—Icannothelpit.
Onlybyasinglelinethiseveningatmyhouseletmeknowthearmsandthehour;Idonotliketobekeptwaiting.”
“Pistols,then,ateighto’clock,intheBoisdeVincennes,”saidBeauchamp,quitedisconcerted,notknowingifhewasdealingwithanarrogantbraggadocioorasupernaturalbeing.
“Verywell,sir,”saidMonteCristo.“Nowallthatissettled,doletmeseetheperformance,andtellyourfriendAlbertnottocomeanymorethisevening;hewillhurthimselfwithallhisill–chosenbarbarisms:lethimgohomeandgotosleep.”
Beauchampleftthebox,perfectlyamazed.
“Now,”saidMonteCristo,turningtowardsMorrel,“Imaydependuponyou,mayInot?”
“Certainly,”saidMorrel,“Iamatyourservice,count;still”—
“What?”
“ItisdesirableIshouldknowtherealcause.”
“Thatistosay,youwouldrathernot?”
“No.”
“Theyoungmanhimselfisactingblindfolded,andknowsnotthetruecause,whichisknownonlytoGodandtome;butIgiveyoumyword,Morrel,thatGod,whodoesknowit,willbeonourside.”
“Enough,”saidMorrel;“whoisyoursecondwitness?”
“IknownooneinParis,Morrel,onwhomIcouldconferthathonorbesidesyouandyourbrotherEmmanuel.DoyouthinkEmmanuelwouldobligeme?”
“Iwillanswerforhim,count.”
“Well?thatisallIrequire.To–morrowmorning,atseveno’clock,youwillbewithme,willyounot?”
“Wewill.”
“Hush,thecurtainisrising.Listen!IneverloseanoteofthisoperaifIcanavoidit;themusicofWilliamTellissosweet.”
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