English
WeawakefromeverysleepexcepttheonedreadedbyDanglars.Heawoke.
ToaParisianaccustomedtosilkencurtains,wallshungwithvelvetdrapery,andthesoftperfumeofburningwood,thewhitesmokeofwhichdiffusesitselfingracefulcurvesaroundtheroom,theappearanceofthewhitewashedcellwhichgreetedhiseyesonawakeningseemedlikethecontinuationofsomedisagreeabledream.
Butinsuchasituationasinglemomentsufficestochangethestrongestdoubtintocertainty.
“Yes,yes,”hemurmured,“IaminthehandsofthebrigandsofwhomAlbertdeMorcerfspoke.”
Hisfirstideawastobreathe,thathemightknowwhetherhewaswounded.
Heborrowedthisfrom“DonQuixote,”theonlybookhehadeverread,butwhichhestillslightlyremembered.
“No,”hecried,“theyhavenotwounded,butperhapstheyhaverobbedme!”
andhethrusthishandsintohispockets.
Theywereuntouched;thehundredlouishehadreservedforhisjourneyfromRometoVenicewereinhistrouserspocket,andinthatofhisgreat–coathefoundthelittlenote–casecontaininghisletterofcreditfor5,050,000francs.“Singularbandits!”
heexclaimed;“theyhaveleftmemypurseandpocket–book.
AsIwassayinglastnight,theyintendmetoberansomed.Hallo,hereismywatch!Letmeseewhattimeitis.”
Danglars’watch,oneofBreguet’srepeaters,whichhehadcarefullywounduponthepreviousnight,struckhalfpastfive.
Withoutthis,Danglarswouldhavebeenquiteignorantofthetime,fordaylightdidnotreachhiscell.
Shouldhedemandanexplanationfromthebandits,orshouldhewaitpatientlyforthemtoproposeit?
Thelastalternativeseemedthemostprudent,sohewaiteduntiltwelveo’clock.
Duringallthistimeasentinel,whohadbeenrelievedateighto’clock,hadbeenwatchinghisdoor.
Danglarssuddenlyfeltastronginclinationtoseethepersonwhokeptwatchoverhim.
Hehadnoticedthatafewrays,notofdaylight,butfromalamp,penetratedthroughtheill–joinedplanksofthedoor;heapproachedjustasthebrigandwasrefreshinghimselfwithamouthfulofbrandy,which,owingtotheleathernbottlecontainingit,sentforthanodorwhichwasextremelyunpleasanttoDanglars.“Faugh!”
heexclaimed,retreatingtothefarthercornerofhiscell.
Attwelvethismanwasreplacedbyanotherfunctionary,andDanglars,wishingtocatchsightofhisnewguardian,approachedthedooragain.
Hewasanathletic,giganticbandit,withlargeeyes,thicklips,andaflatnose;hisredhairfellindishevelledmasseslikesnakesaroundhisshoulders.
“Ah,ha,”criedDanglars,“thisfellowismorelikeanogrethananythingelse;however,Iamrathertoooldandtoughtobeverygoodeating!”
WeseethatDanglarswascollectedenoughtojest;atthesametime,asthoughtodisprovetheogreishpropensities,themantooksomeblackbread,cheese,andonionsfromhiswallet,whichhebegandevouringvoraciously.
“MayIbehanged,”saidDanglars,glancingatthebandit’sdinnerthroughthecrevicesofthedoor,—”mayIbehangedifIcanunderstandhowpeoplecaneatsuchfilth!”
andhewithdrewtoseathimselfuponhisgoat–skin,whichremindedhimofthesmellofthebrandy.
Butthemysteriesofnatureareincomprehensible,andtherearecertaininvitationscontainedineventhecoarsestfoodwhichappealveryirresistiblytoafastingstomach.
Danglarsfelthisownnottobeverywellsuppliedjustthen,andgraduallythemanappearedlessugly,thebreadlessblack,andthecheesemorefresh,whilethosedreadfulvulgaronionsrecalledtohismindcertainsaucesandside–dishes,whichhiscookpreparedinaverysuperiormannerwheneverhesaid,“MonsieurDeniseau,letmehaveanicelittlefricasseeto–day.”
Hegotupandknockedonthedoor;thebanditraisedhishead.
Danglarsknewthathewasheard,soheredoubledhisblows.“Checosa?”askedthebandit.
“Come,come,”saidDanglars,tappinghisfingersagainstthedoor,“Ithinkitisquitetimetothinkofgivingmesomethingtoeat!”
Butwhetherhedidnotunderstandhim,orwhetherhehadreceivednoordersrespectingthenourishmentofDanglars,thegiant,withoutanswering,wentonwithhisdinner.
Danglars’feelingswerehurt,andnotwishingtoputhimselfunderobligationstothebrute,thebankerthrewhimselfdownagainonhisgoat–skinanddidnotbreatheanotherword.
Fourhourspassedbyandthegiantwasreplacedbyanotherbandit.
Danglars,whoreallybegantoexperiencesundrygnawingsatthestomach,arosesoftly,againappliedhiseyetothecrackofthedoor,andrecognizedtheintelligentcountenanceofhisguide.
Itwas,indeed,Peppinowhowaspreparingtomountguardascomfortablyaspossiblebyseatinghimselfoppositetothedoor,andplacingbetweenhislegsanearthenpan,containingchick–peasestewedwithbacon.
NearthepanhealsoplacedaprettylittlebasketofVilletrigrapesandaflaskofOrvieto.Peppinowasdecidedlyanepicure.
Danglarswatchedthesepreparationsandhismouthwatered.
“Come,”hesaidtohimself,“letmetryifhewillbemoretractablethantheother;”andhetappedgentlyatthedoor.
“Onyva,”(coming)exclaimedPeppino,whofromfrequentingthehouseofSignorPastriniunderstoodFrenchperfectlyinallitsidioms.
Danglarsimmediatelyrecognizedhimasthemanwhohadcalledoutinsuchafuriousmanner,“Putinyourhead!”
Butthiswasnotthetimeforrecrimination,soheassumedhismostagreeablemannerandsaidwithagracioussmile,—”Excuseme,sir,butaretheynotgoingtogivemeanydinner?”
“Doesyourexcellencyhappentobehungry?”
“Happentobehungry,—that’sprettygood,whenIhaven’teatenfortwenty–fourhours!”mutteredDanglars.Thenheaddedaloud,“Yes,sir,Iamhungry—veryhungry.”
“Whatwouldyourexcellencylike?”andPeppinoplacedhispanontheground,sothatthesteamrosedirectlyunderthenostrilsofDanglars.“Giveyourorders.”
“Haveyoukitchenshere?”
“Kitchens?—ofcourse—completeones.”
“Andcooks?”
“Excellent!”
“Well,afowl,fish,game,—itsignifieslittle,sothatIeat.”
“Asyourexcellencypleases.Youmentionedafowl,Ithink?”
“Yes,afowl.”Peppino,turningaround,shouted,“Afowlforhisexcellency!”
Hisvoiceyetechoedinthearchwaywhenahandsome,graceful,andhalf–nakedyoungmanappeared,bearingafowlinasilverdishonhishead,withouttheassistanceofhishands.
“IcouldalmostbelievemyselfattheCafedeParis,”murmuredDanglars.
“Here,yourexcellency,”saidPeppino,takingthefowlfromtheyoungbanditandplacingitontheworm–eatentable,whichwiththestoolandthegoat–skinbedformedtheentirefurnitureofthecell.Danglarsaskedforaknifeandfork.
“Here,excellency,”saidPeppino,offeringhimalittlebluntknifeandaboxwoodfork.
Danglarstooktheknifeinonehandandtheforkintheother,andwasabouttocutupthefowl.
“Pardonme,excellency,”saidPeppino,placinghishandonthebanker’sshoulder;“peoplepayherebeforetheyeat.Theymightnotbesatisfied,and”—
“Ah,ha,”thoughtDanglars,“thisisnotsomuchlikeParis,exceptthatIshallprobablybeskinned!Nevermind,I’llfixthatallright.
IhavealwaysheardhowcheappoultryisinItaly;IshouldthinkafowlisworthabouttwelvesousatRome.
—There,”hesaid,throwingalouisdown.
Peppinopickedupthelouis,andDanglarsagainpreparedtocarvethefowl.
“Stayamoment,yourexcellency,”saidPeppino,rising;“youstillowemesomething.”
“Isaidtheywouldskinme,”thoughtDanglars;butresolvingtoresisttheextortion,hesaid,“Come,howmuchdoIoweyouforthisfowl?”
“Yourexcellencyhasgivenmealouisonaccount.”
“Alouisonaccountforafowl?”
“Certainly;andyourexcellencynowowesme4,999louis.”
Danglarsopenedhisenormouseyesonhearingthisgiganticjoke.
“Come,come,thisisverydroll—veryamusing—Iallow;but,asIamveryhungry,prayallowmetoeat.Stay,hereisanotherlouisforyou.”
“Thenthatwillmakeonly4,998louismore,”saidPeppinowiththesameindifference.“Ishallgetthemallintime.”
“Oh,asforthat,”saidDanglars,angryatthisprolongationofthejest,—”asforthatyouwon’tgetthematall.Gotothedevil!
Youdonotknowwithwhomyouhavetodeal!”
Peppinomadeasign,andtheyouthhastilyremovedthefowl.
Danglarsthrewhimselfuponhisgoat–skin,andPeppino,reclosingthedoor,againbeganeatinghispeaseandbacon.
ThoughDanglarscouldnotseePeppino,thenoiseofhisteethallowednodoubtastohisoccupation.
Hewascertainlyeating,andnoisilytoo,likeanill–bredman.“Brute!”saidDanglars.
Peppinopretendednottohearhim,andwithouteventurninghisheadcontinuedtoeatslowly.
Danglars’stomachfeltsoempty,thatitseemedasifitwouldbeimpossibleevertofillitagain;stillhehadpatienceforanotherhalf–hour,whichappearedtohimlikeacentury.Heagainaroseandwenttothedoor.
“Come,sir,donotkeepmestarvinghereanylonger,buttellmewhattheywant.”
“Nay,yourexcellency,itisyouwhoshouldtelluswhatyouwant.Giveyourorders,andwewillexecutethem.”
“Thenopenthedoordirectly.”Peppinoobeyed.“Nowlookhere,Iwantsomethingtoeat!Toeat—doyouhear?”
“Areyouhungry?”
“Come,youunderstandme.”
“Whatwouldyourexcellencyliketoeat?”
“Apieceofdrybread,sincethefowlsarebeyondallpriceinthisaccursedplace.”
“Bread?Verywell.Hallo,there,somebread!”hecalled.Theyouthbroughtasmallloaf.“Howmuch?”askedDanglars.
“Fourthousandninehundredandninety–eightlouis,”saidPeppino;“Youhavepaidtwolouisinadvance.”
“What?Onehundredthousandfrancsforaloaf?”
“Onehundredthousandfrancs,”repeatedPeppino.
“Butyouonlyasked100,000francsforafowl!”
“Wehaveafixedpriceforallourprovisions.Itsignifiesnothingwhetheryoueatmuchorlittle—whetheryouhavetendishesorone—itisalwaysthesameprice.”
“What,stillkeepingupthissillyjest?Mydearfellow,itisperfectlyridiculous—stupid!Youhadbettertellmeatoncethatyouintendstarvingmetodeath.”
“Oh,dear,no,yourexcellency,unlessyouintendtocommitsuicide.Payandeat.”
“AndwhatamItopaywith,brute?”saidDanglars,enraged.“DoyousupposeIcarry100,000francsinmypocket?”
“Yourexcellencyhas5,050,000francsinyourpocket;thatwillbefiftyfowlsat100,000francsapiece,andhalfafowlforthe50,000.”
Danglarsshuddered.Thebandagefellfromhiseyes,andheunderstoodthejoke,whichhedidnotthinkquitesostupidashehaddonejustbefore.
“Come,”hesaid,“ifIpayyouthe100,000francs,willyoubesatisfied,andallowmetoeatatmyease?”
“Certainly,”saidPeppino.
“ButhowcanIpaythem?”
“Oh,nothingeasier;youhaveanaccountopenwithMessrs.Thomson&French,ViadeiBanchi,Rome;givemeadraftfor4,998louisonthesegentlemen,andourbankershalltakeit.”
Danglarsthoughtitaswelltocomplywithagoodgrace,sohetookthepen,ink,andpaperPeppinoofferedhim,wrotethedraft,andsignedit.
“Here,”hesaid,“hereisadraftatsight.”
“Andhereisyourfowl.”Danglarssighedwhilehecarvedthefowl;itappearedverythinforthepriceithadcost.
AsforPeppino,heexaminedthepaperattentively,putitintohispocket,andcontinuedeatinghispease.
Share this article to
FINISH