English
MeanwhileMonteCristohadalsoreturnedtotownwithEmmanuelandMaximilian.Theirreturnwascheerful.
Emmanueldidnotconcealhisjoyatthepeacefulterminationoftheaffair,andwasloudinhisexpressionsofdelight.
Morrel,inacornerofthecarriage,allowedhisbrother–in–law’sgayetytoexpenditselfinwords,whilehefeltequalinwardjoy,which,however,betrayeditselfonlyinhiscountenance.
AttheBarriereduTronetheymetBertuccio,whowaswaitingthere,motionlessasasentinelathispost.
MonteCristoputhisheadoutofthewindow,exchangedafewwordswithhiminalowtone,andthestewarddisappeared.
“Count,”saidEmmanuel,whentheywereattheendofthePlaceRoyale,“putmedownatmydoor,thatmywifemaynothaveasinglemomentofneedlessanxietyonmyaccountoryours.”
“Ifitwerenotridiculoustomakeadisplayofourtriumph,Iwouldinvitethecounttoourhouse;besidesthat,hedoubtlesshassometremblinghearttocomfort.
Sowewilltakeleaveofourfriend,andlethimhastenhome.”
“Stopamoment,”saidMonteCristo;“donotletmelosebothmycompanions.
Return,Emmanuel,toyourcharmingwife,andpresentmybestcomplimentstoher;anddoyou,Morrel,accompanymetotheChampsElysees.”
“Willingly,”saidMaximilian;“particularlyasIhavebusinessinthatquarter.”
“Shallwewaitbreakfastforyou?”askedEmmanuel.
“No,”repliedtheyoungman.Thedoorwasclosed,andthecarriageproceeded.“SeewhatgoodfortuneIbroughtyou!”saidMorrel,whenhewasalonewiththecount.“Haveyounotthoughtso?”
“Yes,”saidMonteCristo;“forthatreasonIwishedtokeepyounearme.”
“Itismiraculous!”continuedMorrel,answeringhisownthoughts.
“What?”saidMonteCristo.
“Whathasjusthappened.”
“Yes,”saidtheCount,“youareright—itismiraculous.”
“ForAlbertisbrave,”resumedMorrel.
“Verybrave,”saidMonteCristo;“Ihaveseenhimsleepwithaswordsuspendedoverhishead.”
“AndIknowhehasfoughttwoduels,”saidMorrel.“Howcanyoureconcilethatwithhisconductthismorning?”
“Allowingtoyourinfluence,”repliedMonteCristo,smiling.
“ItiswellforAlbertheisnotinthearmy,”saidMorrel.
“Why?”
“Anapologyontheground!”saidtheyoungcaptain,shakinghishead.
“Come,”saidthecountmildly,“donotentertaintheprejudicesofordinarymen,Morrel!
Acknowledge,thatifAlbertisbrave,hecannotbeacoward;hemustthenhavehadsomereasonforactingashedidthismorning,andconfessthathisconductismoreheroicthanotherwise.”
“Doubtless,doubtless,”saidMorrel;“butIshallsay,liketheSpaniard,‘Hehasnotbeensobraveto–dayashewasyesterday.’”
“Youwillbreakfastwithme,willyounot,Morrel?”saidthecount,toturntheconversation.
“No;Imustleaveyouatteno’clock.”
“Yourengagementwasforbreakfast,then?”saidthecount.
Morrelsmiled,andshookhishead.“Stillyoumustbreakfastsomewhere.”
“ButifIamnothungry?”saidtheyoungman.
“Oh,”saidthecount,“Ionlyknowtwothingswhichdestroytheappetite,—grief—andasIamhappytoseeyouverycheerful,itisnotthat—andlove.
Nowafterwhatyoutoldmethismorningofyourheart,Imaybelieve”—
“Well,count,”repliedMorrelgayly,“Iwillnotdisputeit.”
“Butyouwillnotmakemeyourconfidant,Maximilian?”saidthecount,inatonewhichshowedhowgladlyhewouldhavebeenadmittedtothesecret.
“IshowedyouthismorningthatIhadaheart,didInot,count?”
MonteCristoonlyansweredbyextendinghishandtotheyoungman.
“Well,”continuedthelatter,“sincethatheartisnolongerwithyouintheBoisdeVincennes,itiselsewhere,andImustgoandfindit.”
“Go,”saidthecountdeliberately;“go,dearfriend,butpromisemeifyoumeetwithanyobstacletorememberthatIhavesomepowerinthisworld,thatIamhappytousethatpowerinthebehalfofthoseIlove,andthatIloveyou,Morrel.”
“Iwillrememberit,”saidtheyoungman,“asselfishchildrenrecollecttheirparentswhentheywanttheiraid.WhenIneedyourassistance,andthemomentarrives,Iwillcometoyou,count.”
“Well,Irelyuponyourpromise.Good–by,then.”
“Good–by,tillwemeetagain.”TheyhadarrivedintheChampsElysees.
MonteCristoopenedthecarriage–door,Morrelsprangoutonthepavement,Bertucciowaswaitingonthesteps.
MorreldisappeareddowntheAvenuedeMarigny,andMonteCristohastenedtojoinBertuccio.
“Well?”askedhe.
“Sheisgoingtoleaveherhouse,”saidthesteward.
“Andherson?”
“Florentin,hisvalet,thinksheisgoingtodothesame.”
“Comethisway.”MonteCristotookBertucciointohisstudy,wrotetheletterwehaveseen,andgaveittothesteward.“Go,”saidhequickly.“Butfirst,letHaideebeinformedthatIhavereturned.”
“HereIam,”saidtheyounggirl,whoatthesoundofthecarriagehadrundown–stairsandwhosefacewasradiantwithjoyatseeingthecountreturnsafely.Bertuccioleft.
Everytransportofadaughterfindingafather,allthedelightofamistressseeinganadoredlover,werefeltbyHaideeduringthefirstmomentsofthismeeting,whichshehadsoeagerlyexpected.
Doubtless,althoughlessevident,MonteCristo’sjoywasnotlessintense.
Joytoheartswhichhavesufferedlongislikethedewonthegroundafteralongdrought;boththeheartandthegroundabsorbthatbeneficentmoisturefallingonthem,andnothingisoutwardlyapparent.
MonteCristowasbeginningtothink,whathehadnotforalongtimedaredtobelieve,thatthereweretwoMercedesintheworld,andhemightyetbehappy.
Hiseye,elatewithhappiness,wasreadingeagerlythetearfulgazeofHaidee,whensuddenlythedooropened.Thecountknithisbrow.“M.deMorcerf!”
saidBaptistin,asifthatnamesufficedforhisexcuse.Infact,thecount’sfacebrightened.
“Which,”askedhe,“theviscountorthecount?”
“Thecount.”
“Oh,”exclaimedHaidee,“isitnotyetover?”
“Iknownotifitisfinished,mybelovedchild,”saidMonteCristo,takingtheyounggirl’shands;“butIdoknowyouhavenothingmoretofear.”
“Butitisthewretched”—
“Thatmancannotinjureme,Haidee,”saidMonteCristo;“itwashissonalonethattherewascausetofear.”
“AndwhatIhavesuffered,”saidtheyounggirl,“youshallneverknow,mylord.”MonteCristosmiled.
“Bymyfather’stomb,”saidhe,extendinghishandovertheheadoftheyounggirl,“Isweartoyou,Haidee,thatifanymisfortunehappens,itwillnotbetome.”
“Ibelieveyou,mylord,asimplicitlyasifGodhadspokentome,”saidtheyounggirl,presentingherforeheadtohim.
MonteCristopressedonthatpurebeautifulforeheadakisswhichmadetwoheartsthrobatonce,theoneviolently,theotherheavily.
“Oh,”murmuredthecount,“shallIthenbepermittedtoloveagain?
AskM.deMorcerfintothedrawing–room,”saidhetoBaptistin,whileheledthebeautifulGreekgirltoaprivatestaircase.
Wemustexplainthisvisit,whichalthoughexpectedbyMonteCristo,isunexpectedtoourreaders.
WhileMercedes,aswehavesaid,wasmakingasimilarinventoryofherpropertytoAlbert’s,whileshewasarrangingherjewels,shuttingherdrawers,collectingherkeys,toleaveeverythinginperfectorder,shedidnotperceiveapaleandsinisterfaceataglassdoorwhichthrewlightintothepassage,fromwhicheverythingcouldbebothseenandheard.
Hewhowasthuslooking,withoutbeingheardorseen,probablyheardandsawallthatpassedinMadamedeMorcerf’sapartments.
Fromthatglassdoorthepale–facedmanwenttothecount’sbedroomandraisedwithaconstrictedhandthecurtainofawindowoverlookingthecourt–yard.
Heremainedtheretenminutes,motionlessanddumb,listeningtothebeatingofhisownheart.
Forhimthosetenminuteswereverylong.
ItwasthenAlbert,returningfromhismeetingwiththecount,perceivedhisfatherwatchingforhisarrivalbehindacurtain,andturnedaside.
Thecount’seyeexpanded;heknewAlberthadinsultedthecountdreadfully,andthatineverycountryintheworldsuchaninsultwouldleadtoadeadlyduel.
Albertreturnedsafely—thenthecountwasrevenged.
Anindescribablerayofjoyilluminedthatwretchedcountenancelikethelastrayofthesunbeforeitdisappearsbehindthecloudswhichbeartheaspect,notofadownycouch,butofatomb.
Butaswehavesaid,hewaitedinvainforhissontocometohisapartmentwiththeaccountofhistriumph.
Heeasilyunderstoodwhyhissondidnotcometoseehimbeforehewenttoavengehisfather’shonor;butwhenthatwasdone,whydidnothissoncomeandthrowhimselfintohisarms?
Itwasthen,whenthecountcouldnotseeAlbert,thathesentforhisservant,whoheknewwasauthorizednottoconcealanythingfromhim.
Tenminutesafterwards,GeneralMorcerfwasseenonthestepsinablackcoatwithamilitarycollar,blackpantaloons,andblackgloves.
Hehadapparentlygivenpreviousorders,forashereachedthebottomstephiscarriagecamefromthecoach–housereadyforhim.
Thevaletthrewintothecarriagehismilitarycloak,inwhichtwoswordswerewrapped,and,shuttingthedoor,hetookhisseatbythesideofthecoachman.
Thecoachmanstoopeddownforhisorders.
“TotheChampsElysees,”saidthegeneral;“theCountofMonteCristo’s.Hurry!”
Thehorsesboundedbeneaththewhip;andinfiveminutestheystoppedbeforethecount’sdoor.
M.deMorcerfopenedthedoorhimself,andasthecarriagerolledawayhepassedupthewalk,rang,andenteredtheopendoorwithhisservant.
Amomentafterwards,BaptistinannouncedtheCountofMorcerftoMonteCristo,andthelatter,leadingHaideeaside,orderedthatMorcerfbeaskedintothedrawing–room.
Thegeneralwaspacingtheroomthethirdtimewhen,inturning,heperceivedMonteCristoatthedoor.
“Ah,itisM.deMorcerf,”saidMonteCristoquietly;“IthoughtIhadnotheardaright.”
“Yes,itisI,”saidthecount,whomafrightfulcontractionofthelipspreventedfromarticulatingfreely.
“MayIknowthecausewhichprocuresmethepleasureofseeingM.deMorcerfsoearly?”
“Hadyounotameetingwithmysonthismorning?”askedthegeneral.
“Ihad,”repliedthecount.
“AndIknowmysonhadgoodreasonstowishtofightwithyou,andtoendeavortokillyou.”
“Yes,sir,hehadverygoodones;butyouseethatinspiteofthemhehasnotkilledme,anddidnotevenfight.”
“Yetheconsideredyouthecauseofhisfather’sdishonor,thecauseofthefearfulruinwhichhasfallenonmyhouse.”
“Itistrue,sir,”saidMonteCristowithhisdreadfulcalmness;“asecondarycause,butnottheprincipal.”
“Doubtlessyoumade,then,someapologyorexplanation?”
“Iexplainednothing,anditishewhoapologizedtome.”
“Buttowhatdoyouattributethisconduct?”
“Totheconviction,probably,thattherewasonemoreguiltythanI.”
“Andwhowasthat?”
“Hisfather.”
“Thatmaybe,”saidthecount,turningpale;“butyouknowtheguiltydonotliketofindthemselvesconvicted.”
“Iknowit,andIexpectedthisresult.”
“Youexpectedmysonwouldbeacoward?”criedthecount.
“M.AlbertdeMorcerfisnocoward!”saidMonteCristo.
“Amanwhoholdsaswordinhishand,andseesamortalenemywithinreachofthatsword,anddoesnotfight,isacoward!WhyishenotherethatImaytellhimso?”
“Sir.”repliedMonteCristocoldly,“Ididnotexpectthatyouhadcomeheretorelatetomeyourlittlefamilyaffairs.GoandtellM.Albertthat,andhemayknowwhattoansweryou.”
“Oh,no,no,”saidthegeneral,smilingfaintly,“Ididnotcomeforthatpurpose;youareright.
IcametotellyouthatIalsolookuponyouasmyenemy.
IcametotellyouthatIhateyouinstinctively;thatitseemsasifIhadalwaysknownyou,andalwayshatedyou;and,inshort,sincetheyoungpeopleofthepresentdaywillnotfight,itremainsforustodoso.Doyouthinkso,sir?”
“Certainly.AndwhenItoldyouIhadforeseentheresult,itisthehonorofyourvisitIalludedto.”
“Somuchthebetter.Areyouprepared?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Youknowthatweshallfighttilloneofusisdead,”saidthegeneral,whoseteethwereclinchedwithrage.“Untiloneofusdies,”repeatedMonteCristo,movinghisheadslightlyupanddown.
“Letusstart,then;weneednowitnesses.”
“Verytrue,”saidMonteCristo;“itisunnecessary,weknoweachothersowell!”
“Onthecontrary,”saidthecount,“weknowsolittleofeachother.”
“Indeed?”saidMonteCristo,withthesameindomitablecoolness;“letussee.
AreyounotthesoldierFernandwhodesertedontheeveofthebattleofWaterloo?
AreyounottheLieutenantFernandwhoservedasguideandspytotheFrencharmyinSpain?
AreyounottheCaptainFernandwhobetrayed,sold,andmurderedhisbenefactor,Ali?
AndhavenotalltheseFernands,united,madeLieutenant–General,theCountofMorcerf,peerofFrance?”
“Oh,”criedthegeneral,asitbrandedwithahotiron,“wretch,—toreproachmewithmyshamewhenabout,perhaps,tokillme!
No,IdidnotsayIwasastrangertoyou.
Iknowwell,demon,thatyouhavepenetratedintothedarknessofthepast,andthatyouhaveread,bythelightofwhattorchIknownot,everypageofmylife;butperhapsImaybemorehonorableinmyshamethanyouunderyourpompouscoverings.
No—no,Iamawareyouknowme;butIknowyouonlyasanadventurersewnupingoldandjewellery.
YoucallyourselfinParistheCountofMonteCristo;inItaly,SinbadtheSailor;inMalta,Iforgetwhat.
ButitisyourrealnameIwanttoknow,inthemidstofyourhundrednames,thatImaypronounceitwhenwemeettofight,atthemomentwhenIplungemyswordthroughyourheart.”
TheCountofMonteCristoturneddreadfullypale;hiseyeseemedtoburnwithadevouringfire.
Heleapedtowardsadressing–roomnearhisbedroom,andinlessthanamoment,tearingoffhiscravat,hiscoatandwaistcoat,heputonasailor’sjacketandhat,frombeneathwhichrolledhislongblackhair.
Hereturnedthus,formidableandimplacable,advancingwithhisarmscrossedonhisbreast,towardsthegeneral,whocouldnotunderstandwhyhehaddisappeared,butwhoonseeinghimagain,andfeelinghisteethchatterandhislegssinkunderhim,drewback,andonlystoppedwhenhefoundatabletosupporthisclinchedhand.
“Fernand,”criedhe,“ofmyhundrednamesIneedonlytellyouone,tooverwhelmyou!Butyouguessitnow,doyounot?—or,rather,yourememberit?
For,notwithstandingallmysorrowsandmytortures,Ishowyouto–dayafacewhichthehappinessofrevengemakesyoungagain—afaceyoumustoftenhaveseeninyourdreamssinceyourmarriagewithMercedes,mybetrothed!”
Thegeneral,withhisheadthrownback,handsextended,gazefixed,lookedsilentlyatthisdreadfulapparition;thenseekingthewalltosupporthim,heglidedalongclosetoituntilhereachedthedoor,throughwhichhewentoutbackwards,utteringthissinglemournful,lamentable,distressingcry,—”EdmondDantes!”
Then,withsighswhichwereunlikeanyhumansound,hedraggedhimselftothedoor,reeledacrossthecourt–yard,andfallingintothearmsofhisvalet,hesaidinavoicescarcelyintelligible,—”Home,home.”
Thefreshairandtheshamehefeltathavingexposedhimselfbeforehisservants,partlyrecalledhissenses,buttheridewasshort,andashedrewnearhishouseallhiswretchednessrevived.
Hestoppedatashortdistancefromthehouseandalighted.
Thedoorwaswideopen,ahackney–coachwasstandinginthemiddleoftheyard—astrangesightbeforesonobleamansion;thecountlookedatitwithterror,butwithoutdaringtoinquireitsmeaning,herushedtowardshisapartment.
Twopersonswerecomingdownthestairs;hehadonlytimetocreepintoanalcovetoavoidthem.
ItwasMercedesleaningonherson’sarmandleavingthehouse.
Theypassedclosebytheunhappybeing,who,concealedbehindthedamaskcurtain,almostfeltMercedesdressbrushpasthim,andhisson’swarmbreath,pronouncingthesewords,—”Courage,mother!Come,thisisnolongerourhome!”
Thewordsdiedaway,thestepswerelostinthedistance.
Thegeneraldrewhimselfup,clingingtothecurtain;heutteredthemostdreadfulsobwhicheverescapedfromthebosomofafatherabandonedatthesametimebyhiswifeandson.
Hesoonheardtheclatteroftheironstepofthehackney–coach,thenthecoachman’svoice,andthentherollingoftheheavyvehicleshookthewindows.
Hedartedtohisbedroomtoseeoncemoreallhehadlovedintheworld;butthehackney–coachdroveonandtheheadofneitherMercedesnorhersonappearedatthewindowtotakealastlookatthehouseorthedesertedfatherandhusband.
Andattheverymomentwhenthewheelsofthatcoachcrossedthegatewayareportwasheard,andathicksmokeescapedthroughoneofthepanesofthewindow,whichwasbrokenbytheexplosion.
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