English
AtthesametimethatthesteamerdisappearedbehindCapeMorgion,amantravellingpostontheroadfromFlorencetoRomehadjustpassedthelittletownofAquapendente.
Hewastravellingfastenoughtocoveragreatdealofgroundwithoutexcitingsuspicion.
Thismanwasdressedinagreatcoat,orratherasurtout,alittleworseforthejourney,butwhichexhibitedtheribbonoftheLegionofHonorstillfreshandbrilliant,adecorationwhichalsoornamentedtheundercoat.
Hemightberecognized,notonlybythesesigns,butalsofromtheaccentwithwhichhespoketothepostilion,asaFrenchman.
AnotherproofthathewasanativeoftheuniversalcountrywasapparentinthefactofhisknowingnootherItalianwordsthanthetermsusedinmusic,andwhichlikethe“goddam”ofFigaro,servedallpossiblelinguisticrequirements.“Allegro!”
hecalledouttothepostilionsateveryascent.“Moderato!”hecriedastheydescended.
AndheavenknowstherearehillsenoughbetweenRomeandFlorencebythewayofAquapendente!
Thesetwowordsgreatlyamusedthementowhomtheywereaddressed.
OnreachingLaStorta,thepointfromwhenceRomeisfirstvisible,thetravellerevincednoneoftheenthusiasticcuriositywhichusuallyleadsstrangerstostandupandendeavortocatchsightofthedomeofSt.Peter’s,whichmaybeseenlongbeforeanyotherobjectisdistinguishable.
No,hemerelydrewapocketbookfromhispocket,andtookfromitapaperfoldedinfour,andafterhavingexamineditinamanneralmostreverential,hesaid—”Good!Ihaveitstill!”
ThecarriageenteredbythePortodelPopolo,turnedtotheleft,andstoppedattheHoteld’Espagne.
OldPastrini,ourformeracquaintance,receivedthetravelleratthedoor,hatinhand.
Thetravelleralighted,orderedagooddinner,andinquiredtheaddressofthehouseofThomson&French,whichwasimmediatelygiventohim,asitwasoneofthemostcelebratedinRome.
ItwassituatedintheViadeiBanchi,nearSt.Peter’s.
InRome,aseverywhereelse,thearrivalofapost–chaiseisanevent.
TenyoungdescendantsofMariusandtheGracchi,barefootedandoutatelbows,withonehandrestingonthehipandtheothergracefullycurvedabovethehead,staredatthetraveller,thepost–chaise,andthehorses;tothesewereaddedaboutfiftylittlevagabondsfromthePapalStates,whoearnedapittancebydivingintotheTiberathighwaterfromthebridgeofSt.Angelo.
Now,asthesestreetArabsofRome,morefortunatethanthoseofParis,understandeverylanguage,moreespeciallytheFrench,theyheardthetravellerorderanapartment,adinner,andfinallyinquirethewaytothehouseofThomson&French.
Theresultwasthatwhenthenew–comerleftthehotelwiththecicerone,amandetachedhimselffromtherestoftheidlers,andwithouthavingbeenseenbythetraveller,andappearingtoexcitenoattentionfromtheguide,followedthestrangerwithasmuchskillasaParisianpoliceagentwouldhaveused.
TheFrenchmanhadbeensoimpatienttoreachthehouseofThomson&Frenchthathewouldnotwaitforthehorsestobeharnessed,butleftwordforthecarriagetoovertakehimontheroad,ortowaitforhimatthebankers’door.
Hereacheditbeforethecarriagearrived.
TheFrenchmanentered,leavingintheanteroomhisguide,whoimmediatelyenteredintoconversationwithtwoorthreeoftheindustriousidlerswhoarealwaystobefoundinRomeatthedoorsofbanking–houses,churches,museums,ortheatres.
WiththeFrenchman,themanwhohadfollowedhimenteredtoo;theFrenchmanknockedattheinnerdoor,andenteredthefirstroom;hisshadowdidthesame.
“Messrs.Thomson&French?”inquiredthestranger.
Anattendantaroseatasignfromaconfidentialclerkatthefirstdesk.“WhomshallIannounce?”saidtheattendant.
“BaronDanglars.”
“Followme,”saidtheman.Adooropened,throughwhichtheattendantandthebarondisappeared.
ThemanwhohadfollowedDanglarssatdownonabench.
Theclerkcontinuedtowriteforthenextfiveminutes;themanpreservedprofoundsilence,andremainedperfectlymotionless.
Thenthepenoftheclerkceasedtomoveoverthepaper;heraisedhishead,andappearingtobeperfectlysureofprivacy,—”Ah,ha,”hesaid,“hereyouare,Peppino!”
“Yes,”wasthelaconicreply.“Youhavefoundoutthatthereissomethingworthhavingaboutthislargegentleman?”
“Thereisnogreatmeritduetome,forwewereinformedofit.”
“Youknowhisbusinesshere,then.”
“Pardieu,hehascometodraw,butIdon’tknowhowmuch!”
“Youwillknowpresently,myfriend.”
“Verywell,onlydonotgivemefalseinformationasyoudidtheotherday.”
“Whatdoyoumean?—ofwhomdoyouspeak?WasittheEnglishmanwhocarriedoff3,000crownsfromheretheotherday?”
“No;hereallyhad3,000crowns,andwefoundthem.ImeantheRussianprince,whoyousaidhad30,000livres,andweonlyfound22,000.”
“Youmusthavesearchedbadly.”
“LuigiVampahimselfsearched.”
“Indeed?Butyoumustletmemakemyobservations,ortheFrenchmanwilltransacthisbusinesswithoutmyknowingthesum.”
Peppinonodded,andtakingarosaryfromhispocketbegantomutterafewprayerswhiletheclerkdisappearedthroughthesamedoorbywhichDanglarsandtheattendanthadgoneout.
Attheexpirationoftenminutestheclerkreturnedwithabeamingcountenance.“Well?”askedPeppinoofhisfriend.
“Joy,joy—thesumislarge!”
“Fiveorsixmillions,isitnot?”
“Yes,youknowtheamount.”
“OnthereceiptoftheCountofMonteCristo?”
“Why,howcameyoutobesowellacquaintedwithallthis?”
“Itoldyouwewereinformedbeforehand.”
“Thenwhydoyouapplytome?”
“ThatImaybesureIhavetherightman.”
“Yes,itisindeedhe.Fivemillions—aprettysum,eh,Peppino?”
“Hush—hereisourman!”Theclerkseizedhispen,andPeppinohisbeads;onewaswritingandtheotherprayingwhenthedooropened.
Danglarslookedradiantwithjoy;thebankeraccompaniedhimtothedoor.PeppinofollowedDanglars.
Accordingtothearrangements,thecarriagewaswaitingatthedoor.Theguideheldthedooropen.
Guidesareusefulpeople,whowillturntheirhandstoanything.
Danglarsleapedintothecarriagelikeayoungmanoftwenty.
Theciceronereclosedthedoor,andsprangupbythesideofthecoachman.Peppinomountedtheseatbehind.
“WillyourexcellencyvisitSt.Peter’s?”askedthecicerone.
“IdidnotcometoRometosee,”saidDanglarsaloud;thenheaddedsoftly,withanavaricioussmile,“Icametotouch!”andherappedhispocket–book,inwhichhehadjustplacedaletter.
“Thenyourexcellencyisgoing”—
“Tothehotel.”
“CasaPastrini!”saidtheciceronetothecoachman,andthecarriagedroverapidlyon.
Tenminutesafterwardsthebaronenteredhisapartment,andPeppinostationedhimselfonthebenchoutsidethedoorofthehotel,afterhavingwhisperedsomethingintheearofoneofthedescendantsofMariusandtheGracchiwhomwenoticedatthebeginningofthechapter,whoimmediatelyrandowntheroadleadingtotheCapitolathisfullestspeed.
Danglarswastiredandsleepy;hethereforewenttobed,placinghispocketbookunderhispillow.
Peppinohadalittlesparetime,sohehadagameofmorawiththefacchini,lostthreecrowns,andthentoconsolehimselfdrankabottleofOrvieto.
ThenextmorningDanglarsawokelate,thoughhewenttobedsoearly;hehadnotsleptwellforfiveorsixnights,evenifhehadsleptatall.
Hebreakfastedheartily,andcaringlittle,ashesaid,forthebeautiesoftheEternalCity,orderedpost–horsesatnoon.
ButDanglarshadnotreckonedupontheformalitiesofthepoliceandtheidlenessoftheposting–master.
Thehorsesonlyarrivedattwoo’clock,andtheciceronedidnotbringthepassporttillthree.
AllthesepreparationshadcollectedanumberofidlersroundthedoorofSignorPastrini’s;thedescendantsofMariusandtheGracchiwerealsonotwanting.
Thebaronwalkedtriumphantlythroughthecrowd,whoforthesakeofgainstyledhim“yourexcellency.”
AsDanglarshadhithertocontentedhimselfwithbeingcalledabaron,hefeltratherflatteredatthetitleofexcellency,anddistributedadozensilvercoinsamongthebeggars,whowereready,fortwelvemore,tocallhim“yourhighness.”
“Whichroad?”askedthepostilioninItalian.“TheAnconaroad,”repliedthebaron.
SignorPastriniinterpretedthequestionandanswer,andthehorsesgallopedoff.
DanglarsintendedtravellingtoVenice,wherehewouldreceiveonepartofhisfortune,andthenproceedingtoVienna,wherehewouldfindtherest,hemeanttotakeuphisresidenceinthelattertown,whichhehadbeentoldwasacityofpleasure.
HehadscarcelyadvancedthreeleaguesoutofRomewhendaylightbegantodisappear.
Danglarshadnotintendedstartingsolate,orhewouldhaveremained;heputhisheadoutandaskedthepostilionhowlongitwouldbebeforetheyreachedthenexttown.
“Noncapisco”(donotunderstand),wasthereply.
Danglarsbenthishead,whichhemeanttoimply,“Verywell.”Thecarriageagainmovedon.
“Iwillstopatthefirstposting–house,”saidDanglarstohimself.
Hestillfeltthesameself–satisfactionwhichhehadexperiencedthepreviousevening,andwhichhadprocuredhimsogoodanight’srest.
HewasluxuriouslystretchedinagoodEnglishcalash,withdoublesprings;hewasdrawnbyfourgoodhorses,atfullgallop;heknewtherelaytobeatadistanceofsevenleagues.
Whatsubjectofmeditationcouldpresentitselftothebanker,sofortunatelybecomebankrupt?
DanglarsthoughtfortenminutesabouthiswifeinParis;anothertenminutesabouthisdaughtertravellingwithMademoiselled’Armilly;thesameperiodwasgiventohiscreditors,andthemannerinwhichheintendedspendingtheirmoney;andthen,havingnosubjectleftforcontemplation,heshuthiseyes,andfellasleep.
Nowandthenajoltmoreviolentthantherestcausedhimtoopenhiseyes;thenhefeltthathewasstillbeingcarriedwithgreatrapidityoverthesamecountry,thicklystrewnwithbrokenaqueducts,whichlookedlikegranitegiantspetrifiedwhilerunningarace.
Butthenightwascold,dull,andrainy,anditwasmuchmorepleasantforatravellertoremaininthewarmcarriagethantoputhisheadoutofthewindowtomakeinquiriesofapostilionwhoseonlyanswerwas“Noncapisco.”
Danglarsthereforecontinuedtosleep,sayingtohimselfthathewouldbesuretoawakeattheposting–house.Thecarriagestopped.
Danglarsfanciedthattheyhadreachedthelong–desiredpoint;heopenedhiseyesandlookedthroughthewindow,expectingtofindhimselfinthemidstofsometown,oratleastvillage;buthesawnothingexceptwhatseemedlikearuin,wherethreeorfourmenwentandcamelikeshadows.
Danglarswaitedamoment,expectingthepostiliontocomeanddemandpaymentwiththeterminationofhisstage.
Heintendedtakingadvantageoftheopportunitytomakefreshinquiriesofthenewconductor;butthehorseswereunharnessed,andothersputintheirplaces,withoutanyoneclaimingmoneyfromthetraveller.
Danglars,astonished,openedthedoor;butastronghandpushedhimback,andthecarriagerolledon.Thebaronwascompletelyroused.“Eh?”
hesaidtothepostilion,“eh,miocaro?”
ThiswasanotherlittlepieceofItalianthebaronhadlearnedfromhearinghisdaughtersingItalianduetswithCavalcanti.Butmiocarodidnotreply.Danglarsthenopenedthewindow.
“Come,myfriend,”hesaid,thrustinghishandthroughtheopening,“wherearewegoing?”
“Dentrolatesta!”answeredasolemnandimperiousvoice,accompaniedbyamenacinggesture.
Danglarsthoughtdentrolatestameant,“Putinyourhead!”
HewasmakingrapidprogressinItalian.
Heobeyed,notwithoutsomeuneasiness,which,momentarilyincreasing,causedhismind,insteadofbeingasunoccupiedasitwaswhenhebeganhisjourney,tofillwithideaswhichwereverylikelytokeepatravellerawake,moreespeciallyoneinsuchasituationasDanglars.
Hiseyesacquiredthatqualitywhichinthefirstmomentofstrongemotionenablesthemtoseedistinctly,andwhichafterwardsfailsfrombeingtoomuchtaxed.
Beforewearealarmed,weseecorrectly;whenwearealarmed,weseedouble;andwhenwehavebeenalarmed,weseenothingbuttrouble.
Danglarsobservedamaninacloakgallopingattherighthandofthecarriage.
“Somegendarme!”heexclaimed.
“CanIhavebeeninterceptedbyFrenchtelegramstothepontificalauthorities?”Heresolvedtoendhisanxiety.“Whereareyoutakingme?”heasked.
“Dentrolatesta,”repliedthesamevoice,withthesamemenacingaccent.
Danglarsturnedtotheleft;anothermanonhorsebackwasgallopingonthatside.
“Decidedly,”saidDanglars,withtheperspirationonhisforehead,“Imustbeunderarrest.”
Andhethrewhimselfbackinthecalash,notthistimetosleep,buttothink.Directlyafterwardsthemoonrose.
Hethensawthegreataqueducts,thosestonephantomswhichhehadbeforeremarked,onlythentheywereontherighthand,nowtheywereontheleft.
Heunderstoodthattheyhaddescribedacircle,andwerebringinghimbacktoRome.“Oh,unfortunate!”
hecried,“theymusthaveobtainedmyarrest.”
Thecarriagecontinuedtorollonwithfrightfulspeed.
Anhourofterrorelapsed,foreveryspottheypassedshowedthattheywereontheroadback.
Atlengthhesawadarkmass,againstwhichitseemedasifthecarriagewasabouttodash;butthevehicleturnedtooneside,leavingthebarrierbehindandDanglarssawthatitwasoneoftherampartsencirclingRome.
“Mondieu!”criedDanglars,“wearenotreturningtoRome;thenitisnotjusticewhichispursuingme!Graciousheavens;anotherideapresentsitself—whatiftheyshouldbe”—
Hishairstoodonend.Herememberedthoseinterestingstories,solittlebelievedinParis,respectingRomanbandits;herememberedtheadventuresthatAlbertdeMorcerfhadrelatedwhenitwasintendedthatheshouldmarryMademoiselleEugenie.
“Theyarerobbers,perhaps,”hemuttered.
Justthenthecarriagerolledonsomethingharderthangravelroad.
Danglarshazardedalookonbothsidesoftheroad,andperceivedmonumentsofasingularform,andhismindnowrecalledallthedetailsMorcerfhadrelated,andcomparingthemwithhisownsituation,hefeltsurethathemustbeontheAppianWay.
Ontheleft,inasortofvalley,heperceivedacircularexcavation.ItwasCaracalla’scircus.
Onawordfromthemanwhorodeatthesideofthecarriage,itstopped.Atthesametimethedoorwasopened.“Scendi!”exclaimedacommandingvoice.
Danglarsinstantlydescended;althoughhedidnotyetspeakItalian,heunderstooditverywell.
Moredeadthanalive,helookedaroundhim.
Fourmensurroundedhim,besidesthepostilion.
“Diqua,”saidoneofthemen,descendingalittlepathleadingoutoftheAppianWay.
Danglarsfollowedhisguidewithoutopposition,andhadnooccasiontoturnaroundtoseewhetherthethreeotherswerefollowinghim.
Stillitappearedasthoughtheywerestationedatequaldistancesfromoneanother,likesentinels.
Afterwalkingforabouttenminutes,duringwhichDanglarsdidnotexchangeasinglewordwithhisguide,hefoundhimselfbetweenahillockandaclumpofhighweeds;threemen,standingsilent,formedatriangle,ofwhichhewasthecentre.
Hewishedtospeak,buthistonguerefusedtomove.“Avanti!”
saidthesamesharpandimperativevoice.
ThistimeDanglarshaddoublereasontounderstand,forifthewordandgesturehadnotexplainedthespeaker’smeaning,itwasclearlyexpressedbythemanwalkingbehindhim,whopushedhimsorudelythathestruckagainsttheguide.
ThisguidewasourfriendPeppino,whodashedintothethicketofhighweeds,throughapathwhichnonebutlizardsorpolecatscouldhaveimaginedtobeanopenroad.
Peppinostoppedbeforeapitoverhungbythickhedges;thepit,halfopen,affordedapassagetotheyoungman,whodisappearedliketheevilspiritsinthefairytales.
ThevoiceandgestureofthemanwhofollowedDanglarsorderedhimtodothesame.
Therewasnolongeranydoubt,thebankruptwasinthehandsofRomanbanditti.
Danglarsacquittedhimselflikeamanplacedbetweentwodangerouspositions,andwhoisrenderedbravebyfear.
Notwithstandinghislargestomach,certainlynotintendedtopenetratethefissuresoftheCampagna,hesliddownlikePeppino,andclosinghiseyesfelluponhisfeet.
Ashetouchedtheground,heopenedhiseyes.Thepathwaswide,butdark.
Peppino,whocaredlittleforbeingrecognizednowthathewasinhisownterritories,struckalightandlitatorch.
TwoothermendescendedafterDanglarsformingtherearguard,andpushingDanglarswheneverhehappenedtostop,theycamebyagentledeclivitytotheintersectionoftwocorridors.
Thewallswerehollowedoutinsepulchres,oneabovetheother,andwhichseemedincontrastwiththewhitestonestoopentheirlargedarkeyes,likethosewhichweseeonthefacesofthedead.
Asentinelstrucktheringsofhiscarbineagainsthislefthand.“Whocomesthere?”hecried.
“Afriend,afriend!”saidPeppino;“butwhereisthecaptain?”
“There,”saidthesentinel,pointingoverhisshouldertoaspaciouscrypt,hollowedoutoftherock,thelightsfromwhichshoneintothepassagethroughthelargearchedopenings.“Finespoil,captain,finespoil!”
saidPeppinoinItalian,andtakingDanglarsbythecollarofhiscoathedraggedhimtoanopeningresemblingadoor,throughwhichtheyenteredtheapartmentwhichthecaptainappearedtohavemadehisdwelling–place.
“Isthistheman?”askedthecaptain,whowasattentivelyreadingPlutarch’s“LifeofAlexander.”
“Himself,captain—himself.”
“Verywell,showhimtome.”Atthisratherimpertinentorder,PeppinoraisedhistorchtothefaceofDanglars,whohastilywithdrewthathemightnothavehiseyelashesburnt.
Hisagitatedfeaturespresentedtheappearanceofpaleandhideousterror.
“Themanistired,”saidthecaptain,“conducthimtohisbed.”
“Oh,”murmuredDanglars,“thatbedisprobablyoneofthecoffinshollowedinthewall,andthesleepIshallenjoywillbedeathfromoneoftheponiardsIseeglisteninginthedarkness.”
Fromtheirbedsofdriedleavesorwolf–skinsatthebackofthechambernowarosethecompanionsofthemanwhohadbeenfoundbyAlbertdeMorcerfreading“Caesar’sCommentaries,”andbyDanglarsstudyingthe“LifeofAlexander.”
Thebankerutteredagroanandfollowedhisguide;heneithersupplicatednorexclaimed.
Henolongerpossessedstrength,will,power,orfeeling;hefollowedwheretheyledhim.
Atlengthhefoundhimselfatthefootofastaircase,andhemechanicallyliftedhisfootfiveorsixtimes.
Thenalowdoorwasopenedbeforehim,andbendinghisheadtoavoidstrikinghisforeheadheenteredasmallroomcutoutoftherock.
Thecellwasclean,thoughempty,anddry,thoughsituatedatanimmeasurabledistanceundertheearth.
Abedofdriedgrasscoveredwithgoat–skinswasplacedinonecorner.
Danglarsbrighteneduponbeholdingit,fancyingthatitgavesomepromiseofsafety.
“Oh,Godbepraised,”hesaid;“itisarealbed!”
“Ecco!”saidtheguide,andpushingDanglarsintothecell,heclosedthedooruponhim.
AboltgratedandDanglarswasaprisoner.
Iftherehadbeennobolt,itwouldhavebeenimpossibleforhimtopassthroughthemidstofthegarrisonwhoheldthecatacombsofSt.Sebastian,encampedroundamasterwhomourreadersmusthaverecognizedasthefamousLuigiVampa.
Danglars,too,hadrecognizedthebandit,whoseexistencehewouldnotbelievewhenAlbertdeMorcerfmentionedhiminParis;andnotonlydidherecognizehim,butthecellinwhichAlberthadbeenconfined,andwhichwasprobablykeptfortheaccommodationofstrangers.
TheserecollectionsweredweltuponwithsomepleasurebyDanglars,andrestoredhimtosomedegreeoftranquillity.
Sincethebanditshadnotdespatchedhimatonce,hefeltthattheywouldnotkillhimatall.
Theyhadarrestedhimforthepurposeofrobbery,andashehadonlyafewlouisabouthim,hedoubtednothewouldberansomed.
HerememberedthatMorcerfhadbeentaxedat4,000crowns,andasheconsideredhimselfofmuchgreaterimportancethanMorcerfhefixedhisownpriceat8,000crowns.
Eightthousandcrownsamountedto48,000livres;hewouldthenhaveabout5,050,000francsleft.
Withthissumhecouldmanagetokeepoutofdifficulties.
Therefore,tolerablysecureinbeingabletoextricatehimselffromhisposition,providedhewerenotratedattheunreasonablesumof5,050,000francs,hestretchedhimselfonhisbed,andafterturningovertwoorthreetimes,fellasleepwiththetranquillityoftheherowhoselifeLuigiVampawasstudying.
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