English
Threedaysafterthescenewehavejustdescribed,namelytowardsfiveo’clockintheafternoonofthedayfixedforthesignatureofthecontractbetweenMademoiselleEugenieDanglarsandAndreaCavalcanti,—whomthebankerpersistedincallingprince,—afreshbreezewasstirringtheleavesinthelittlegardeninfrontoftheCountofMonteCristo’shouse,andthecountwaspreparingtogoout.
Whilehishorseswereimpatientlypawingtheground,—heldinbythecoachman,whohadbeenseatedaquarterofanhouronhisbox,—theelegantphaetonwithwhichwearefamiliarrapidlyturnedtheangleoftheentrance–gate,andcastoutonthedoorstepsM.AndreaCavalcanti,asdeckedupandgayasifheweregoingtomarryaprincess.
Heinquiredafterthecountwithhisusualfamiliarity,andascendinglightlytothesecondstorymethimatthetopofthestairs.
Thecountstoppedonseeingtheyoungman.
AsforAndrea,hewaslaunched,andwhenhewasoncelaunchednothingstoppedhim.
“Ah,goodmorning,mydearcount,”saidhe.
“Ah,M.Andrea,”saidthelatter,withhishalf–jestingtone;“howdoyoudo.”
“Charmingly,asyousee.Iamcometotalktoyouaboutathousandthings;but,firsttellme,wereyougoingoutorjustreturned?”
“Iwasgoingout,sir.”
“Then,inordernottohinderyou,Iwillgetupwithyouifyoupleaseinyourcarriage,andTomshallfollowwithmyphaetonintow.”
“No,”saidthecount,withanimperceptiblesmileofcontempt,forhehadnowishtobeseenintheyoungman’ssociety,—”no;Ipreferlisteningtoyouhere,mydearM.Andrea;wecanchatbetterin–doors,andthereisnocoachmantooverhearourconversation.”
Thecountreturnedtoasmalldrawing–roomonthefirstfloor,satdown,andcrossinghislegsmotionedtotheyoungmantotakeaseatalso.Andreaassumedhisgayestmanner.
“Youknow,mydearcount,”saidhe,“theceremonyistotakeplacethisevening.
Atnineo’clockthecontractistobesignedatmyfather–in–law’s.”
“Ah,indeed?”saidMonteCristo.
“What;isitnewstoyou?HasnotM.Danglarsinformedyouoftheceremony?”
“Oh,yes,”saidthecount;“Ireceivedaletterfromhimyesterday,butIdonotthinkthehourwasmentioned.”
“Possiblymyfather–in–lawtrustedtoitsgeneralnotoriety.”
“Well,”saidMonteCristo,“youarefortunate,M.Cavalcanti;itisamostsuitableallianceyouarecontracting,andMademoiselleDanglarsisahandsomegirl.”
“Yes,indeedsheis,”repliedCavalcanti,inaverymodesttone.
“Aboveall,sheisveryrich,—atleast,Ibelieveso,”saidMonteCristo.
“Veryrich,doyouthink?”repliedtheyoungman.
“Doubtless;itissaidM.Danglarsconcealsatleasthalfofhisfortune.”
“Andheacknowledgesfifteenortwentymillions,”saidAndreawithalooksparklingwithjoy.
“Withoutreckoning,”addedMonteCristo,“thatheisontheeveofenteringintoasortofspeculationalreadyinvogueintheUnitedStatesandinEngland,butquitenovelinFrance.”
“Yes,yes,Iknowwhatyoumean,—therailway,ofwhichhehasobtainedthegrant,isitnot?”
“Precisely;itisgenerallybelievedhewillgaintenmillionsbythataffair.”
“Tenmillions!Doyouthinkso?Itismagnificent!”
saidCavalcanti,whowasquiteconfoundedatthemetallicsoundofthesegoldenwords.
“Withoutreckoning,”repliedMonteCristo,“thatallhisfortunewillcometoyou,andjustlytoo,sinceMademoiselleDanglarsisanonlydaughter.
Besides,yourownfortune,asyourfatherassuredme,isalmostequaltothatofyourbetrothed.Butenoughofmoneymatters.
Doyouknow,M.Andrea,Ithinkyouhavemanagedthisaffairratherskilfully?”
“Notbadly,byanymeans,”saidtheyoungman;“Iwasbornforadiplomatist.”
“Well,youmustbecomeadiplomatist;diplomacy,youknow,issomethingthatisnottobeacquired;itisinstinctive.Haveyoulostyourheart?”
“Indeed,Ifearit,”repliedAndrea,inthetoneinwhichhehadheardDoranteorValerereplytoAlceste[*]attheTheatreFrancais.
“Isyourlovereturned?”“Isupposeso,”saidAndreawithatriumphantsmile,“sinceIamaccepted.ButImustnotforgetonegrandpoint.”
*InMoliere’scomedy,LeMisanthrope.
“Which?”
“ThatIhavebeensingularlyassisted.”
“Nonsense.”
“Ihave,indeed.”
“Bycircumstances?”
“No;byyou.”
“Byme?Notatall,prince,”saidMonteCristolayingamarkedstressonthetitle,“whathaveIdoneforyou?Arenotyourname,yoursocialposition,andyourmeritsufficient?”
“No,”saidAndrea,—”no;itisuselessforyoutosayso,count.Imaintainthatthepositionofamanlikeyouhasdonemorethanmyname,mysocialposition,andmymerit.”
“Youarecompletelymistaken,sir,”saidMonteCristocoldly,whofelttheperfidiousmanoeuvreoftheyoungman,andunderstoodthebearingofhiswords;“youonlyacquiredmyprotectionaftertheinfluenceandfortuneofyourfatherhadbeenascertained;for,afterall,whoprocuredforme,whohadneverseeneitheryouoryourillustriousfather,thepleasureofyouracquaintance?
—twoofmygoodfriends,LordWilmoreandtheAbbeBusoni.
Whatencouragedmenottobecomeyoursurety,buttopatronizeyou?
—yourfather’sname,sowellknowninItalyandsohighlyhonored.Personally,Idonotknowyou.”
ThiscalmtoneandperfecteasemadeAndreafeelthathewas,forthemoment,restrainedbyamoremuscularhandthanhisown,andthattherestraintcouldnotbeeasilybrokenthrough.
“Oh,thenmyfatherhasreallyaverylargefortune,count?”
“Itappearsso,sir,”repliedMonteCristo.
“Doyouknowifthemarriagesettlementhepromisedmehascome?”
“Ihavebeenadvisedofit.”
“Butthethreemillions?”
“Thethreemillionsareprobablyontheroad.”
“ThenIshallreallyhavethem?”
“Oh,well,”saidthecount,“Idonotthinkyouhaveyetknownthewantofmoney.”
Andreawassosurprisedthatheponderedthematterforamoment.
Then,arousingfromhisrevery,—”Now,sir,Ihaveonerequesttomaketoyou,whichyouwillunderstand,evenifitshouldbedisagreeabletoyou.”
“Proceed,”saidMonteCristo.
“Ihaveformedanacquaintance,thankstomygoodfortune,withmanynotedpersons,andhave,atleastforthemoment,acrowdoffriends.
Butmarrying,asIamabouttodo,beforeallParis,Ioughttobesupportedbyanillustriousname,andintheabsenceofthepaternalhandsomepowerfuloneoughttoleadmetothealtar;now,myfatherisnotcomingtoParis,ishe?
Heisold,coveredwithwounds,andsuffersdreadfully,hesays,intravelling.”
“Indeed?”
“Well,Iamcometoaskafavorofyou.”
“Ofme?”
“Yes,ofyou.”
“Andpraywhatmayitbe?”
“Well,totakehispart.”
“Ah,mydearsir!What?
—afterthevariedrelationsIhavehadthehappinesstosustaintowardsyou,canitbethatyouknowmesolittleastoasksuchathing?
Askmetolendyouhalfamillionand,althoughsuchaloanissomewhatrare,onmyhonor,youwouldannoymeless!
Know,then,whatIthoughtIhadalreadytoldyou,thatinparticipationinthisworld’saffairs,moreespeciallyintheirmoralaspects,theCountofMonteCristohasneverceasedtoentertainthescruplesandeventhesuperstitionsoftheEast.
I,whohaveaseraglioatCairo,oneatSmyrna,andoneatConstantinople,presideatawedding?—never!”
“Thenyourefuseme?”
“Decidedly;andwereyoumysonormybrotherIwouldrefuseyouinthesameway.”
“Butwhatmustbedone?”saidAndrea,disappointed.
“Yousaidjustnowthatyouhadahundredfriends.”
“Verytrue,butyouintroducedmeatM.Danglars’.”
“Notatall!Letusrecalltheexactfacts.Youmethimatadinnerpartyatmyhouse,andyouintroducedyourselfathishouse;thatisatotallydifferentaffair.”
“Yes,but,bymymarriage,youhaveforwardedthat.”
“I?—notintheleast,Ibegyoutobelieve.RecollectwhatItoldyouwhenyouaskedmetoproposeyou.‘Oh,Inevermakematches,mydearprince,itismysettledprinciple.’”Andreabithislips.
“But,atleast,youwillbethere?”
“WillallParisbethere?”
“Oh,certainly.”
“Well,likeallParis,Ishallbetheretoo,”saidthecount.
“Andwillyousignthecontract?”
“Iseenoobjectiontothat;myscruplesdonotgothusfar.”
“Well,sinceyouwillgrantmenomore,Imustbecontentwithwhatyougiveme.Butonewordmore,count.”
“Whatisit?”
“Advice.”
“Becareful;adviceisworsethanaservice.”
“Oh,youcangivemethiswithoutcompromisingyourself.”
“Tellmewhatitis.”
“Ismywife’sfortunefivehundredthousandlivres?”
“ThatisthesumM.Danglarshimselfannounced.”
“MustIreceiveit,orleaveitinthehandsofthenotary?”
“Thisisthewaysuchaffairsaregenerallyarrangedwhenitiswishedtodothemstylishly:Yourtwosolicitorsappointameeting,whenthecontractissigned,forthenextorthefollowingday;thentheyexchangethetwoportions,forwhichtheyeachgiveareceipt;then,whenthemarriageiscelebrated,theyplacetheamountatyourdisposalasthechiefmemberofthealliance.”
“Because,”saidAndrea,withacertainill–concealeduneasiness,“IthoughtIheardmyfather–in–lawsaythatheintendedembarkingourpropertyinthatfamousrailwayaffairofwhichyouspokejustnow.”
“Well,”repliedMonteCristo,“itwillbetheway,everybodysays,oftreblingyourfortuneintwelvemonths.BaronDanglarsisagoodfather,andknowshowtocalculate.”
“Inthatcase,”saidAndrea,“everythingisallright,exceptingyourrefusal,whichquitegrievesme.”
“Youmustattributeitonlytonaturalscruplesundersimilarcircumstances.”
“Well,”saidAndrea,“letitbeasyouwish.Thisevening,then,atnineo’clock.”
“Adieutillthen.”NotwithstandingaslightresistanceonthepartofMonteCristo,whoselipsturnedpale,butwhopreservedhisceremonioussmile,Andreaseizedthecount’shand,pressedit,jumpedintohisphaeton,anddisappeared.
Thefourorfiveremaininghoursbeforenineo’clockarrived,Andreaemployedinriding,payingvisits,—designedtoinducethoseofwhomhehadspokentoappearatthebanker’sintheirgayestequipages,—dazzlingthembypromisesofsharesinschemeswhichhavesinceturnedeverybrain,andinwhichDanglarswasjusttakingtheinitiative.
Infact,athalf–pasteightintheeveningthegrandsalon,thegalleryadjoining,andthethreeotherdrawing–roomsonthesamefloor,werefilledwithaperfumedcrowd,whosympathizedbutlittleintheevent,butwhoallparticipatedinthatloveofbeingpresentwhereverthereisanythingfreshtobeseen.
AnAcademicianwouldsaythattheentertainmentsofthefashionableworldarecollectionsofflowerswhichattractinconstantbutterflies,famishedbees,andbuzzingdrones.
Noonecoulddenythattheroomsweresplendidlyilluminated;thelightstreamedforthonthegiltmouldingsandthesilkhangings;andallthebadtasteofdecorations,whichhadonlytheirrichnesstoboastof,shoneinitssplendor.
MademoiselleEugeniewasdressedwithelegantsimplicityinafiguredwhitesilkdress,andawhiterosehalfconcealedinherjetblackhairwasheronlyornament,unaccompaniedbyasinglejewel.
Hereyes,however,betrayedthatperfectconfidencewhichcontradictedthegirlishsimplicityofthismodestattire.
MadameDanglarswaschattingatashortdistancewithDebray,Beauchamp,andChateau–Renaud.
Debraywasadmittedtothehouseforthisgrandceremony,butonthesameplanewitheveryoneelse,andwithoutanyparticularprivilege.
M.Danglars,surroundedbydeputiesandmenconnectedwiththerevenue,wasexplaininganewtheoryoftaxationwhichheintendedtoadoptwhenthecourseofeventshadcompelledthegovernmenttocallhimintotheministry.
Andrea,onwhosearmhungoneofthemostconsummatedandiesoftheopera,wasexplainingtohimrathercleverly,sincehewasobligedtobeboldtoappearatease,hisfutureprojects,andthenewluxurieshemeanttointroducetoParisianfashionswithhishundredandseventy–fivethousandlivresperannum.
Thecrowdmovedtoandfrointheroomslikeanebbandflowofturquoises,rubies,emeralds,opals,anddiamonds.
Asusual,theoldestwomenwerethemostdecorated,andtheugliestthemostconspicuous.
Iftherewasabeautifullily,orasweetrose,youhadtosearchforit,concealedinsomecornerbehindamotherwithaturban,oranauntwithabirdofparadise.
Ateachmoment,inthemidstofthecrowd,thebuzzing,andthelaughter,thedoor–keeper’svoicewasheardannouncingsomenamewellknowninthefinancialdepartment,respectedinthearmy,orillustriousintheliteraryworld,andwhichwasacknowledgedbyaslightmovementinthedifferentgroups.
Butforonewhoseprivilegeitwastoagitatethatoceanofhumanwaves,howmanywerereceivedwithalookofindifferenceorasneerofdisdain!
Atthemomentwhenthehandofthemassivetime–piece,representingEndymionasleep,pointedtonineonitsgoldenface,andthehammer,thefaithfultypeofmechanicalthought,struckninetimes,thenameoftheCountofMonteCristoresoundedinitsturn,andasifbyanelectricshockalltheassemblyturnedtowardsthedoor.
Thecountwasdressedinblackandwithhishabitualsimplicity;hiswhitewaistcoatdisplayedhisexpansivenoblechestandhisblackstockwassingularlynoticeablebecauseofitscontrastwiththedeadlypalenessofhisface.
Hisonlyjewellerywasachain,sofinethattheslendergoldthreadwasscarcelyperceptibleonhiswhitewaistcoat.
Acirclewasimmediatelyformedaroundthedoor.
ThecountperceivedatoneglanceMadameDanglarsatoneendofthedrawing–room,M.Danglarsattheother,andEugenieinfrontofhim.
Hefirstadvancedtowardsthebaroness,whowaschattingwithMadamedeVillefort,whohadcomealone,Valentinebeingstillaninvalid;andwithoutturningaside,soclearwastheroadleftforhim,hepassedfromthebaronesstoEugenie,whomhecomplimentedinsuchrapidandmeasuredterms,thattheproudartistwasquitestruck.
NearherwasMademoiselleLouised’Armilly,whothankedthecountforthelettersofintroductionhehadsokindlygivenherforItaly,whichsheintendedimmediatelytomakeuseof.
OnleavingtheseladieshefoundhimselfwithDanglars,whohadadvancedtomeethim.
Havingaccomplishedthesethreesocialduties,MonteCristostopped,lookingaroundhimwiththatexpressionpeculiartoacertainclass,whichseemstosay,“Ihavedonemyduty,nowletothersdotheirs.”
Andrea,whowasinanadjoiningroom,hadsharedinthesensationcausedbythearrivalofMonteCristo,andnowcameforwardtopayhisrespectstothecount.
Hefoundhimcompletelysurrounded;allwereeagertospeaktohim,asisalwaysthecasewiththosewhosewordsarefewandweighty.
Thesolicitorsarrivedatthismomentandarrangedtheirscrawledpapersonthevelvetclothembroideredwithgoldwhichcoveredthetablepreparedforthesignature;itwasagilttablesupportedonlions’claws.
Oneofthenotariessatdown,theotherremainedstanding.
Theywereabouttoproceedtothereadingofthecontract,whichhalfParisassembledwastosign.
Alltooktheirplaces,orrathertheladiesformedacircle,whilethegentlemen(moreindifferenttotherestraintsofwhatBoileaucallsthe“energeticstyle”)commentedonthefeverishagitationofAndrea,onM.Danglars’rivetedattention,Eugenie’scomposure,andthelightandsprightlymannerinwhichthebaronesstreatedthisimportantaffair.
Thecontractwasreadduringaprofoundsilence.
Butassoonasitwasfinished,thebuzzwasredoubledthroughallthedrawing–rooms;thebrilliantsums,therollingmillionswhichweretobeatthecommandofthetwoyoungpeople,andwhichcrownedthedisplayoftheweddingpresentsandtheyounglady’sdiamonds,whichhadbeenmadeinaroomentirelyappropriatedforthatpurpose,hadexercisedtothefulltheirdelusionsovertheenviousassembly.
MademoiselleDanglars’charmswereheightenedintheopinionoftheyoungmen,andforthemomentseemedtooutviethesuninsplendor.
Asfortheladies,itisneedlesstosaythatwhiletheycovetedthemillions,theythoughttheydidnotneedthemforthemselves,astheywerebeautifulenoughwithoutthem.
Andrea,surroundedbyhisfriends,complimented,flattered,beginningtobelieveintherealityofhisdream,wasalmostbewildered.
Thenotarysolemnlytookthepen,flourisheditabovehishead,andsaid,“Gentlemen,weareabouttosignthecontract.”
Thebaronwastosignfirst,thentherepresentativeofM.Cavalcanti,senior,thenthebaroness,afterwardsthe“futurecouple,”astheyarestyledintheabominablephraseologyoflegaldocuments.
Thebarontookthepenandsigned,thentherepresentative.
Thebaronessapproached,leaningonMadamedeVillefort’sarm.
“Mydear,”saidshe,asshetookthepen,“isitnotvexatious?
Anunexpectedincident,intheaffairofmurderandtheftattheCountofMonteCristo’s,inwhichhenearlyfellavictim,deprivesusofthepleasureofseeingM.deVillefort.”
“Indeed?”saidM.Danglars,inthesametoneinwhichhewouldhavesaid,“Oh,well,whatdoIcare?”
“Asamatteroffact,”saidMonteCristo,approaching,“IammuchafraidthatIamtheinvoluntarycauseofhisabsence.”
“What,you,count?”saidMadameDanglars,signing;“ifyouare,takecare,forIshallneverforgiveyou.”Andreaprickeduphisears.
“Butitisnotmyfault,asIshallendeavortoprove.”
Everyonelistenedeagerly;MonteCristowhosorarelyopenedhislips,wasabouttospeak.
“Youremember,”saidthecount,duringthemostprofoundsilence,“thattheunhappywretchwhocametorobmediedatmyhouse;thesuppositionisthathewasstabbedbyhisaccomplice,onattemptingtoleaveit.”
“Yes,”saidDanglars.
“Inorderthathiswoundsmightbeexaminedhewasundressed,andhisclotheswerethrownintoacorner,wherethepolicepickedthemup,withtheexceptionofthewaistcoat,whichtheyoverlooked.”
Andreaturnedpale,anddrewtowardsthedoor;hesawacloudrisinginthehorizon,whichappearedtoforebodeacomingstorm.
“Well,thiswaistcoatwasdiscoveredto–day,coveredwithblood,andwithaholeovertheheart.”
Theladiesscreamed,andtwoorthreepreparedtofaint.“Itwasbroughttome.
Noonecouldguesswhatthedirtyragcouldbe;Ialonesuspectedthatitwasthewaistcoatofthemurderedman.
Myvalet,inexaminingthismournfulrelic,feltapaperinthepocketanddrewitout;itwasaletteraddressedtoyou,baron.”
“Tome?”criedDanglars.
“Yes,indeed,toyou;Isucceededindecipheringyournameunderthebloodwithwhichtheletterwasstained,”repliedMonteCristo,amidthegeneraloutburstofamazement.
“But,”askedMadameDanglars,lookingatherhusbandwithuneasiness,“howcouldthatpreventM.deVillefort”—
“Inthissimpleway,madame,”repliedMonteCristo;“thewaistcoatandtheletterwerebothwhatistermedcircumstantialevidence;Ithereforesentthemtotheking’sattorney.
Youunderstand,mydearbaron,thatlegalmethodsarethesafestincriminalcases;itwas,perhaps,someplotagainstyou.”
AndrealookedsteadilyatMonteCristoanddisappearedintheseconddrawing–room.
“Possibly,”saidDanglars;“wasnotthismurderedmananoldgalley–slave?”
“Yes,”repliedthecount;“afelonnamedCaderousse.”Danglarsturnedslightlypale;Andreareachedtheanteroombeyondthelittledrawing–room.
“Butgoonsigning,”saidMonteCristo;“Iperceivethatmystoryhascausedageneralemotion,andIbegtoapologizetoyou,baroness,andtoMademoiselleDanglars.”
Thebaroness,whohadsigned,returnedthepentothenotary.
“PrinceCavalcanti,”saidthelatter;“PrinceCavalcanti,whereareyou?”
“Andrea,Andrea,”repeatedseveralyoungpeople,whowerealreadyonsufficientlyintimatetermswithhimtocallhimbyhisChristianname.
“Calltheprince;informhimthatitishisturntosign,”criedDanglarstooneofthefloorkeepers.
Butatthesameinstantthecrowdofguestsrushedinalarmintotheprincipalsalonasifsomefrightfulmonsterhadenteredtheapartments,quaerensquemdevoret.
Therewas,indeed,reasontoretreat,tobealarmed,andtoscream.
Anofficerwasplacingtwosoldiersatthedoorofeachdrawing–room,andwasadvancingtowardsDanglars,precededbyacommissaryofpolice,girdedwithhisscarf.
MadameDanglarsutteredascreamandfainted.
Danglars,whothoughthimselfthreatened(certainconsciencesarenevercalm),—Danglarsevenbeforehisguestsshowedacountenanceofabjectterror.
“Whatisthematter,sir?”askedMonteCristo,advancingtomeetthecommissioner.
“Whichofyougentlemen,”askedthemagistrate,withoutreplyingtothecount,“answerstothenameofAndreaCavalcanti?”
Acryofastonishmentwasheardfromallpartsoftheroom.Theysearched;theyquestioned.“ButwhothenisAndreaCavalcanti?”askedDanglarsinamazement.
“Agalley–slave,escapedfromconfinementatToulon.”
“Andwhatcrimehashecommitted?”
“Heisaccused,”saidthecommissarywithhisinflexiblevoice,“ofhavingassassinatedthemannamedCaderousse,hisformercompanioninprison,atthemomenthewasmakinghisescapefromthehouseoftheCountofMonteCristo.”
MonteCristocastarapidglancearoundhim.Andreawasgone.
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