English
WehaveseenhowquietlyMademoiselleDanglarsandMademoiselled’Armillyaccomplishedtheirtransformationandflight;thefactbeingthateveryonewastoomuchoccupiedinhisorherownaffairstothinkoftheirs.
Wewillleavethebankercontemplatingtheenormousmagnitudeofhisdebtbeforethephantomofbankruptcy,andfollowthebaroness,whoafterbeingmomentarilycrushedundertheweightoftheblowwhichhadstruckher,hadgonetoseekherusualadviser,LucienDebray.
Thebaronesshadlookedforwardtothismarriageasameansofriddingherofaguardianshipwhich,overagirlofEugenie’scharacter,couldnotfailtoberatheratroublesomeundertaking;forinthetacitrelationswhichmaintainthebondoffamilyunion,themother,tomaintainherascendancyoverherdaughter,mustneverfailtobeamodelofwisdomandatypeofperfection.
Now,MadameDanglarsfearedEugenie’ssagacityandtheinfluenceofMademoiselled’Armilly;shehadfrequentlyobservedthecontemptuousexpressionwithwhichherdaughterlookeduponDebray,—anexpressionwhichseemedtoimplythatsheunderstoodallhermother’samorousandpecuniaryrelationshipswiththeintimatesecretary;moreover,shesawthatEugeniedetestedDebray,—notonlybecausehewasasourceofdissensionandscandalunderthepaternalroof,butbecauseshehadatonceclassedhiminthatcatalogueofbipedswhomPlatoendeavorstowithdrawfromtheappellationofmen,andwhomDiogenesdesignatedasanimalsupontwolegswithoutfeathers.
Unfortunately,inthisworldofours,eachpersonviewsthingsthroughacertainmedium,andsoispreventedfromseeinginthesamelightasothers,andMadameDanglars,therefore,verymuchregrettedthatthemarriageofEugeniehadnottakenplace,notonlybecausethematchwasgood,andlikelytoinsurethehappinessofherchild,butbecauseitwouldalsosetheratliberty.
SheranthereforetoDebray,who,afterhavingliketherestofPariswitnessedthecontractsceneandthescandalattendingit,hadretiredinhastetohisclub,wherehewaschattingwithsomefriendsupontheeventswhichservedasasubjectofconversationforthree–fourthsofthatcityknownasthecapitaloftheworld.
AttheprecisetimewhenMadameDanglars,dressedinblackandconcealedinalongveil,wasascendingthestairsleadingtoDebray’sapartments,—notwithstandingtheassurancesoftheconciergethattheyoungmanwasnotathome,—Debraywasoccupiedinrepellingtheinsinuationsofafriend,whotriedtopersuadehimthataftertheterriblescenewhichhadjusttakenplaceheought,asafriendofthefamily,tomarryMademoiselleDanglarsandhertwomillions.
Debraydidnotdefendhimselfverywarmly,fortheideahadsometimescrossedhismind;still,whenherecollectedtheindependent,proudspiritofEugenie,hepositivelyrejecteditasutterlyimpossible,thoughthesamethoughtagaincontinuallyrecurredandfoundaresting–placeinhisheart.
Tea,play,andtheconversation,whichhadbecomeinterestingduringthediscussionofsuchseriousaffairs,lastedtilloneo’clockinthemorning.
MeanwhileMadameDanglars,veiledanduneasy,awaitedthereturnofDebrayinthelittlegreenroom,seatedbetweentwobasketsofflowers,whichshehadthatmorningsent,andwhich,itmustbeconfessed,Debrayhadhimselfarrangedandwateredwithsomuchcarethathisabsencewashalfexcusedintheeyesofthepoorwoman.
Attwentyminutesoftwelve,MadameDanglars,tiredofwaiting,returnedhome.
Womenofacertaingradearelikeprosperousgrisettesinonerespect,theyseldomreturnhomeaftertwelveo’clock.
ThebaronessreturnedtothehotelwithasmuchcautionasEugenieusedinleavingit;sheranlightlyup–stairs,andwithanachingheartenteredherapartment,contiguous,asweknow,tothatofEugenie.
Shewasfearfulofexcitinganyremark,andbelievedfirmlyinherdaughter’sinnocenceandfidelitytothepaternalroof.
ShelistenedatEugenie’sdoor,andhearingnosoundtriedtoenter,buttheboltswereinplace.
MadameDanglarsthenconcludedthattheyounggirlhadbeenovercomewiththeterribleexcitementoftheevening,andhadgonetobedandtosleep.Shecalledthemaidandquestionedher.
“MademoiselleEugenie,”saidthemaid,“retiredtoherapartmentwithMademoiselled’Armilly;theythentookteatogether,afterwhichtheydesiredmetoleave,sayingthattheyneededmenolonger.”
Sincethenthemaidhadbeenbelow,andlikeeveryoneelseshethoughttheyoungladieswereintheirownroom;MadameDanglars,therefore,wenttobedwithoutashadowofsuspicion,andbegantomuseovertherecentevents.
Inproportionashermemorybecameclearer,theoccurrencesoftheeveningwererevealedintheirtruelight;whatshehadtakenforconfusionwasatumult;whatshehadregardedassomethingdistressing,wasinrealityadisgrace.
AndthenthebaronessrememberedthatshehadfeltnopityforpoorMercedes,whohadbeenafflictedwithassevereablowthroughherhusbandandson.
“Eugenie,”shesaidtoherself,“islost,andsoarewe.
Theaffair,asitwillbereported,willcoveruswithshame;forinasocietysuchasourssatireinflictsapainfulandincurablewound.
HowfortunatethatEugenieispossessedofthatstrangecharacterwhichhassooftenmademetremble!”
Andherglancewasturnedtowardsheaven,whereamysteriousprovidencedisposesallthings,andoutofafault,nay,evenavice,sometimesproducesablessing.
Andthenherthoughts,cleavingthroughspacelikeabirdintheair,restedonCavalcanti.
ThisAndreawasawretch,arobber,anassassin,andyethismannersshowedtheeffectsofasortofeducation,ifnotacompleteone;hehadbeenpresentedtotheworldwiththeappearanceofanimmensefortune,supportedbyanhonorablename.
Howcouldsheextricateherselffromthislabyrinth?
Towhomwouldsheapplytohelpheroutofthispainfulsituation?
Debray,towhomshehadrun,withthefirstinstinctofawomantowardsthemansheloves,andwhoyetbetraysher,—Debraycouldbutgiveheradvice,shemustapplytosomeonemorepowerfulthanhe.
ThebaronessthenthoughtofM.deVillefort.
ItwasM.deVillefortwhohadremorselesslybroughtmisfortuneintoherfamily,asthoughtheyhadbeenstrangers.
But,no;onreflection,theprocureurwasnotamercilessman;anditwasnotthemagistrate,slavetohisduties,butthefriend,theloyalfriend,whoroughlybutfirmlycutintotheverycoreofthecorruption;itwasnottheexecutioner,butthesurgeon,whowishedtowithdrawthehonorofDanglarsfromignominiousassociationwiththedisgracedyoungmantheyhadpresentedtotheworldastheirson–in–law.
AndsinceVillefort,thefriendofDanglars,hadactedinthisway,noonecouldsupposethathehadbeenpreviouslyacquaintedwith,orhadlenthimselfto,anyofAndrea’sintrigues.
Villefort’sconduct,therefore,uponreflection,appearedtothebaronessasifshapedfortheirmutualadvantage.
Buttheinflexibilityoftheprocureurshouldstopthere;shewouldseehimthenextday,andifshecouldnotmakehimfailinhisdutiesasamagistrate,shewould,atleast,obtainalltheindulgencehecouldallow.
Shewouldinvokethepast,recalloldrecollections;shewouldsupplicatehimbytheremembranceofguilty,yethappydays.
M.deVillefortwouldstifletheaffair;hehadonlytoturnhiseyesononeside,andallowAndreatofly,andfollowupthecrimeunderthatshadowofguiltcalledcontemptofcourt.
Andafterthisreasoningsheslepteasily.
Atnineo’clocknextmorningshearose,andwithoutringingforhermaidorgivingtheleastsignofheractivity,shedressedherselfinthesamesimplestyleasonthepreviousnight;thenrunningdown–stairs,sheleftthehotel,walkedtotheRuedeProvence,calledacab,anddrovetoM.deVillefort’shouse.
Forthelastmonththiswretchedhousehadpresentedthegloomyappearanceofalazarettoinfectedwiththeplague.
Someoftheapartmentswereclosedwithinandwithout;theshutterswereonlyopenedtoadmitaminute’sair,showingthescaredfaceofafootman,andimmediatelyafterwardsthewindowwouldbeclosed,likeagravestonefallingonasepulchre,andtheneighborswouldsaytoeachotherinalowvoice,“Willtherebeanotherfuneralto–dayattheprocureur’shouse?”
MadameDanglarsinvoluntarilyshudderedatthedesolateaspectofthemansion;descendingfromthecab,sheapproachedthedoorwithtremblingknees,andrangthebell.
Threetimesdidthebellringwithadull,heavysound,seemingtoparticipate,inthegeneralsadness,beforetheconciergeappearedandpeepedthroughthedoor,whichheopenedjustwideenoughtoallowhiswordstobeheard.
Hesawalady,afashionable,elegantlydressedlady,andyetthedoorremainedalmostclosed.
“Doyouintendopeningthedoor?”saidthebaroness.
“First,madame,whoareyou?”
“WhoamI?Youknowmewellenough.”
“Wenolongerknowanyone,madame.”
“Youmustbemad,myfriend,”saidthebaroness.
“Wheredoyoucomefrom?”
“Oh,thisistoomuch!”
“Madame,thesearemyorders;excuseme.Yourname?”
“ThebaronessDanglars;youhaveseenmetwentytimes.”
“Possibly,madame.Andnow,whatdoyouwant?”
“Oh,howextraordinary!IshallcomplaintoM.deVillefortoftheimpertinenceofhisservants.”
“Madame,thisisprecaution,notimpertinence;nooneentersherewithoutanorderfromM.d’Avrigny,orwithoutspeakingtotheprocureur.”
“Well,Ihavebusinesswiththeprocureur.”
“Isitpressingbusiness?”
“Youcanimagineso,sinceIhavenotevenbroughtmycarriageoutyet.Butenoughofthis—hereismycard,takeittoyourmaster.”
“Madamewillawaitmyreturn?”
“Yes;go.”Theconciergeclosedthedoor,leavingMadameDanglarsinthestreet.
Shehadnotlongtowait;directlyafterwardsthedoorwasopenedwideenoughtoadmither,andwhenshehadpassedthrough,itwasagainshut.
Withoutlosingsightofherforaninstant,theconciergetookawhistlefromhispocketassoonastheyenteredthecourt,andblewit.
Thevaletdechambreappearedonthedoor–steps.
“Youwillexcusethispoorfellow,madame,”hesaid,asheprecededthebaroness,“buthisordersareprecise,andM.deVillefortbeggedmetotellyouthathecouldnotactotherwise.”
Inthecourtshowinghismerchandise,wasatradesmanwhohadbeenadmittedwiththesameprecautions.
Thebaronessascendedthesteps;shefeltherselfstronglyinfectedwiththesadnesswhichseemedtomagnifyherown,andstillguidedbythevaletdechambre,whoneverlostsightofherforaninstant,shewasintroducedtothemagistrate’sstudy.
PreoccupiedasMadameDanglarshadbeenwiththeobjectofhervisit,thetreatmentshehadreceivedfromtheseunderlingsappearedtohersoinsulting,thatshebeganbycomplainingofit.
ButVillefort,raisinghishead,boweddownbygrief,lookedupatherwithsosadasmilethathercomplaintsdieduponherlips.
“Forgivemyservants,”hesaid,“foraterrorIcannotblamethemfor;frombeingsuspectedtheyhavebecomesuspicious.”
MadameDanglarshadoftenheardoftheterrortowhichthemagistratealluded,butwithouttheevidenceofherowneyesightshecouldneverhavebelievedthatthesentimenthadbeencarriedsofar.“Youtoo,then,areunhappy?”shesaid.“Yes,madame,”repliedthemagistrate.
“Thenyoupityme!”
“Sincerely,madame.”
“Andyouunderstandwhatbringsmehere?”
“Youwishtospeaktomeaboutthecircumstancewhichhasjusthappened?”
“Yes,sir,—afearfulmisfortune.”
“Youmeanamischance.”
“Amischance?”repeatedthebaroness.
“Alas,madame,”saidtheprocureurwithhisimperturbablecalmnessofmanner,“Iconsiderthosealonemisfortuneswhichareirreparable.”
“Anddoyousupposethiswillbeforgotten?”
“Everythingwillbeforgotten,madame,”saidVillefort.
“Yourdaughterwillbemarriedto–morrow,ifnotto–day—inaweek,ifnotto–morrow;andIdonotthinkyoucanregrettheintendedhusbandofyourdaughter.”
MadameDanglarsgazedonVillefort,stupefiedtofindhimsoalmostinsultinglycalm.“AmIcometoafriend?”
sheaskedinatonefullofmournfuldignity.
“Youknowthatyouare,madame,”saidVillefort,whosepalecheeksbecameslightlyflushedashegavehertheassurance.
Andtrulythisassurancecarriedhimbacktodifferenteventsfromthosenowoccupyingthebaronessandhim.
“Well,then,bemoreaffectionate,mydearVillefort,”saidthebaroness.
“Speaktomenotasamagistrate,butasafriend;andwhenIaminbitteranguishofspirit,donottellmethatIoughttobegay.”Villefortbowed.
“WhenIhearmisfortunesnamed,madame,”hesaid,“Ihavewithinthelastfewmonthscontractedthebadhabitofthinkingofmyown,andthenIcannothelpdrawingupanegotisticalparallelinmymind.
Thatisthereasonthatbythesideofmymisfortunesyoursappeartomemeremischances;thatiswhymydreadfulpositionmakesyoursappearenviable.
Butthisannoysyou;letuschangethesubject.Youweresaying,madame”—
“Icametoaskyou,myfriend,”saidthebaroness,“whatwillbedonewiththisimpostor?”
“Impostor,”repeatedVillefort;“certainly,madame,youappeartoextenuatesomecases,andexaggerateothers.Impostor,indeed!
—M.AndreaCavalcanti,orratherM.Benedetto,isnothingmorenorlessthananassassin!”
“Sir,Idonotdenythejusticeofyourcorrection,butthemoreseverelyyouarmyourselfagainstthatunfortunateman,themoredeeplywillyoustrikeourfamily.
Come,forgethimforamoment,andinsteadofpursuinghimlethimgo.”
“Youaretoolate,madame;theordersareissued.”
“Well,shouldhebearrested—dotheythinktheywillarresthim?”
“Ihopeso.”
“Iftheyshouldarresthim(Iknowthatsometimesprisonersaffordmeansofescape),willyouleavehiminprison?”—Theprocureurshookhishead.“Atleastkeephimtheretillmydaughterbemarried.”
“Impossible,madame;justicehasitsformalities.”
“What,evenforme?”saidthebaroness,halfjesting,halfinearnest.“Forall,evenformyselfamongtherest,”repliedVillefort.
“Ah,”exclaimedthebaroness,withoutexpressingtheideaswhichtheexclamationbetrayed.
Villefortlookedatherwiththatpiercingglancewhichreadsthesecretsoftheheart.
“Yes,Iknowwhatyoumean,”hesaid;“yourefertotheterriblerumorsspreadabroadintheworld,thatthedeathswhichhavekeptmeinmourningforthelastthreemonths,andfromwhichValentinehasonlyescapedbyamiracle,havenothappenedbynaturalmeans.”
“Iwasnotthinkingofthat,”repliedMadameDanglarsquickly.
“Yes,youwerethinkingofit,andwithjustice.
Youcouldnothelpthinkingofit,andsayingtoyourself,‘you,whopursuecrimesovindictively,answernow,whyarethereunpunishedcrimesinyourdwelling?’”Thebaronessbecamepale.“Youweresayingthis,wereyounot?”
“Well,Iownit.”
“Iwillansweryou.”
VillefortdrewhisarmchairnearertoMadameDanglars;thenrestingbothhandsuponhisdeskhesaidinavoicemorehollowthanusual:“Therearecrimeswhichremainunpunishedbecausethecriminalsareunknown,andwemightstriketheinnocentinsteadoftheguilty;butwhentheculpritsarediscovered”(Villeforthereextendedhishandtowardalargecrucifixplacedoppositetohisdesk)—”whentheyarediscovered,Isweartoyou,byallIholdmostsacred,thatwhoevertheymaybetheyshalldie.
Now,aftertheoathIhavejusttaken,andwhichIwillkeep,madame,dareyouaskformercyforthatwretch!”
“But,sir,areyousureheisasguiltyastheysay?”
“Listen;thisishisdescription:‘Benedetto,condemned,attheageofsixteen,forfiveyearstothegalleysforforgery.’Hepromisedwell,asyousee—firstarunaway,thenanassassin.”
“Andwhoisthiswretch?”
“Whocantell?—avagabond,aCorsican.”
“Hasnooneownedhim?”
“Noone;hisparentsareunknown.”
“ButwhowasthemanwhobroughthimfromLucca?”
“Anotherrascallikehimself,perhapshisaccomplice.”Thebaronessclaspedherhands.“Villefort,”sheexclaimedinhersoftestandmostcaptivatingmanner.
“Forheaven’ssake,madame,”saidVillefort,withafirmnessofexpressionnotaltogetherfreefromharshness—”forheaven’ssake,donotaskpardonofmeforaguiltywretch!WhatamI?—thelaw.
Hasthelawanyeyestowitnessyourgrief?
Hasthelawearstobemeltedbyyoursweetvoice?
Hasthelawamemoryforallthosesoftrecollectionsyouendeavortorecall?
No,madame;thelawhascommanded,andwhenitcommandsitstrikes.
YouwilltellmethatIamalivingbeing,andnotacode—aman,andnotavolume.Lookatme,madame—lookaroundme.Havemankindtreatedmeasabrother?Havetheylovedme?Havetheysparedme?
Hasanyoneshownthemercytowardsmethatyounowaskatmyhands?
No,madame,theystruckme,alwaysstruckme!
“Woman,sirenthatyouare,doyoupersistinfixingonmethatfascinatingeye,whichremindsmethatIoughttoblush?
Well,beitso;letmeblushforthefaultsyouknow,andperhaps—perhapsforevenmorethanthose!
Buthavingsinnedmyself,—itmaybemoredeeplythanothers,—IneverresttillIhavetornthedisguisesfrommyfellow–creatures,andfoundouttheirweaknesses.
Ihavealwaysfoundthem;andmore,—Irepeatitwithjoy,withtriumph,—Ihavealwaysfoundsomeproofofhumanperversityorerror.
EverycriminalIcondemnseemstomelivingevidencethatIamnotahideousexceptiontotherest.
Alas,alas,alas;alltheworldiswicked;letusthereforestrikeatwickedness!”
Villefortpronouncedtheselastwordswithafeverishrage,whichgaveaferociouseloquencetohiswords.
“But”’saidMadameDanglars,resolvingtomakealasteffort,“thisyoungman,thoughamurderer,isanorphan,abandonedbyeverybody.”
“Somuchtheworse,orrather,somuchthebetter;ithasbeensoordainedthathemayhavenonetoweephisfate.”
“Butthisistramplingontheweak,sir.”
“Theweaknessofamurderer!”
“Hisdishonorreflectsuponus.”
“Isnotdeathinmyhouse?”
“Oh,sir,”exclaimedthebaroness,“youarewithoutpityforothers,well,then,Itellyoutheywillhavenomercyonyou!”
“Beitso!”saidVillefort,raisinghisarmstoheaven.
“Atleast,delaythetrialtillthenextassizes;weshallthenhavesixmonthsbeforeus.”
“No,madame,”saidVillefort;“instructionshavebeengiven.
Thereareyetfivedaysleft;fivedaysaremorethanIrequire.
DoyounotthinkthatIalsolongforforgetfulness?
Whileworkingnightandday,Isometimesloseallrecollectionofthepast,andthenIexperiencethesamesortofhappinessIcanimaginethedeadfeel;still,itisbetterthansuffering.”
“But,sir,hehasfled;lethimescape—inactionisapardonableoffence.”
“Itellyouitistoolate;earlythismorningthetelegraphwasemployed,andatthisveryminute”—
“Sir,”saidthevaletdechambre,enteringtheroom,“adragoonhasbroughtthisdespatchfromtheministeroftheinterior.”
Villefortseizedtheletter,andhastilybroketheseal.
MadameDanglarstrembledwithfear;Villefortstartedwithjoy.“Arrested!”
heexclaimed;“hewastakenatCompiegne,andallisover.”
MadameDanglarsrosefromherseat,paleandcold.“Adieu,sir,”shesaid.
“Adieu,madame,”repliedtheking’sattorney,asinanalmostjoyfulmannerheconductedhertothedoor.
Then,turningtohisdesk,hesaid,strikingtheletterwiththebackofhisrighthand,“Come,Ihadaforgery,threerobberies,andtwocasesofarson,Ionlywantedamurder,andhereitis.Itwillbeasplendidsession!”
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