The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (books to read to improve english txt) đ
- Author: Alexandre Dumas
- Performer: 0140449264
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âYes, doubtless; and is it not that he may never do us any harm?â
MercĂ©dĂšs shuddered, and, fixing on her son a scrutinizing gaze, âYou speak strangely,â said she to Albert, âand you appear to have some singular prejudices. What has the count done? Three days since you were with him in Normandy; only three days since we looked on him as our best friend.â
An ironical smile passed over Albertâs lips. MercĂ©dĂšs saw it and with the double instinct of woman and mother guessed all; but as she was prudent and strong-minded she concealed both her sorrows and her fears. Albert was silent; an instant after, the countess resumed:
âYou came to inquire after my health; I will candidly acknowledge that I am not well. You should install yourself here, and cheer my solitude. I do not wish to be left alone.â
âMother,â said the young man, âyou know how gladly I would obey your wish, but an urgent and important affair obliges me to leave you for the whole evening.â
âWell,â replied MercĂ©dĂšs, sighing, âgo, Albert; I will not make you a slave to your filial piety.â
Albert pretended he did not hear, bowed to his mother, and quitted her. Scarcely had he shut her door, when MercĂ©dĂšs called a confidential servant, and ordered him to follow Albert wherever he should go that evening, and to come and tell her immediately what he observed. Then she rang for her ladyâs maid, and, weak as she was, she dressed, in order to be ready for whatever might happen. The footmanâs mission was an easy one. Albert went to his room, and dressed with unusual care. At ten minutes to eight Beauchamp arrived; he had seen ChĂąteau-Renaud, who had promised to be in the orchestra before the curtain was raised. Both got into Albertâs coupĂ©; and, as the young man had no reason to conceal where he was going, he called aloud, âTo the Opera.â In his impatience he arrived before the beginning of the performance.
ChĂąteau-Renaud was at his post; apprised by Beauchamp of the circumstances, he required no explanation from Albert. The conduct of the son in seeking to avenge his father was so natural that ChĂąteau-Renaud did not seek to dissuade him, and was content with renewing his assurances of devotion. Debray was not yet come, but Albert knew that he seldom lost a scene at the Opera.
Albert wandered about the theatre until the curtain was drawn up. He hoped to meet with M. de Monte Cristo either in the lobby or on the stairs. The bell summoned him to his seat, and he entered the orchestra with ChĂąteau-Renaud and Beauchamp. But his eyes scarcely quitted the box between the columns, which remained obstinately closed during the whole of the first act. At last, as Albert was looking at his watch for about the hundredth time, at the beginning of the second act the door opened, and Monte Cristo entered, dressed in black, and, leaning over the front of the box, looked around the pit. Morrel followed him, and looked also for his sister and brother in-law; he soon discovered them in another box, and kissed his hand to them.
The count, in his survey of the pit, encountered a pale face and threatening eyes, which evidently sought to gain his attention. He recognized Albert, but thought it better not to notice him, as he looked so angry and discomposed. Without communicating his thoughts to his companion, he sat down, drew out his opera-glass, and looked another way. Although apparently not noticing Albert, he did not, however, lose sight of him, and when the curtain fell at the end of the second act, he saw him leave the orchestra with his two friends. Then his head was seen passing at the back of the boxes, and the count knew that the approaching storm was intended to fall on him. He was at the moment conversing cheerfully with Morrel, but he was well prepared for what might happen.
The door opened, and Monte Cristo, turning round, saw Albert, pale and trembling, followed by Beauchamp and ChĂąteau-Renaud.
âWell,â cried he, with that benevolent politeness which distinguished his salutation from the common civilities of the world, âmy cavalier has attained his object. Good-evening, M. de Morcerf.â
The countenance of this man, who possessed such extraordinary control over his feelings, expressed the most perfect cordiality. Morrel only then recollected the letter he had received from the viscount, in which, without assigning any reason, he begged him to go to the Opera, but he understood that something terrible was brooding.
âWe are not come here, sir, to exchange hypocritical expressions of politeness, or false professions of friendship,â said Albert, âbut to demand an explanation.â
The young manâs trembling voice was scarcely audible.
âAn explanation at the Opera?â said the count, with that calm tone and penetrating eye which characterize the man who knows his cause is good. âLittle acquainted as I am with the habits of Parisians, I should not have thought this the place for such a demand.â
âStill, if people will shut themselves up,â said Albert, âand cannot be seen because they are bathing, dining, or asleep, we must avail ourselves of the opportunity whenever they are to be seen.â
âI am not difficult of access, sir; for yesterday, if my memory does not deceive me, you were at my house.â
âYesterday I was at your house, sir,â said the young man; âbecause then I knew not who you were.â
In pronouncing these words Albert had raised his voice so as to be heard by those in the adjoining boxes and in the lobby. Thus the attention of many was attracted by this altercation.
âWhere are you come from, sir? â said Monte Cristo âYou do not appear to be in the possession of your senses.â
âProvided I understand your perfidy, sir, and succeed in making you understand that I will be revenged, I shall be reasonable enough,â said Albert furiously.
âI do not understand you, sir,â replied Monte Cristo; âand if I did, your tone is too high. I am at home here, and I alone have a right to raise my voice above anotherâs. Leave the box, sir!â
Monte Cristo pointed towards the door with the most commanding dignity.
âAh, I shall know how to make you leave your home!â replied Albert, clasping in his convulsed grasp the glove, which Monte Cristo did not lose sight of.
âWell, well,â said Monte Cristo quietly, âI see you wish to quarrel with me; but I would give you one piece of advice, which you will do well to keep in mind. It is in poor taste to make a display of a challenge. Display is not becoming to everyone, M. de Morcerf.â
At this name a murmur of astonishment passed around the group of spectators of this scene. They had talked of no one but Morcerf the whole day. Albert understood the allusion in a moment, and was about to throw his glove at the count, when Morrel seized his hand, while Beauchamp and ChĂąteau-Renaud, fearing the scene would surpass the limits of a challenge, held him back. But Monte Cristo, without rising, and leaning forward in his chair, merely stretched out his arm and, taking the damp, crushed glove from the clenched hand of the young man:
âSir,â said he in a solemn tone, âI consider your glove thrown, and will return it to you wrapped around a bullet. Now leave me or I will summon my servants to throw you out at the door.â
Wild, almost unconscious, and with eyes inflamed, Albert stepped back, and Morrel closed the door. Monte Cristo took up his glass again as if nothing had happened; his face was like marble, and his heart was like bronze. Morrel whispered, âWhat have you done to him?â
âI? Nothingâat least personally,â said Monte Cristo.
âBut there must be some cause for this strange scene.â
âThe Count of Morcerfâs adventure exasperates the young man.â
âHave you anything to do with it?â
âIt was through HaydĂ©e that the Chamber was informed of his fatherâs treason.â
âIndeed?â said Morrel. âI had been told, but would not credit it, that the Grecian slave I have seen with you here in this very box was the daughter of Ali Pasha.â
âIt is true, nevertheless.â
âThen,â said Morrel, âI understand it all, and this scene was premeditated.â
âHow so?â
âYes. Albert wrote to request me to come to the Opera, doubtless that I might be a witness to the insult he meant to offer you.â
âProbably,â said Monte Cristo with his imperturbable tranquillity.
âBut what shall you do with him?â
âWith whom?â
âWith Albert.â
âWhat shall I do with Albert? As certainly, Maximilian, as I now press your hand, I shall kill him before ten oâclock tomorrow morning.â Morrel, in his turn, took Monte Cristoâs hand in both of his, and he shuddered to feel how cold and steady it was.
âAh, count,â said he, âhis father loves him so much!â
âDo not speak to me of that,â said Monte Cristo, with the first movement of anger he had betrayed; âI will make him suffer.â
Morrel, amazed, let fall Monte Cristoâs hand. âCount, count!â said he.
âDear Maximilian,â interrupted the count, âlisten how adorably Duprez is singing that line,â
âI was the first to discover Duprez at Naples, and the first to applaud him. Bravo, bravo!â
Morrel saw it was useless to say more, and refrained. The curtain, which had risen at the close of the scene with Albert, again fell, and a rap was heard at the door.
âCome in,â said Monte Cristo with a voice that betrayed not the least emotion; and immediately Beauchamp appeared. âGood-evening, M. Beauchamp,â said Monte Cristo, as if this was the first time he had seen the journalist that evening; âbe seated.â
Beauchamp bowed, and, sitting down, âSir,â said he, âI just now accompanied M. de Morcerf, as you saw.â
âAnd that means,â replied Monte Cristo, laughing, âthat you had, probably, just dined together. I am happy to see, M. Beauchamp, that you are more sober than he was.â
âSir,â said M. Beauchamp, âAlbert was wrong, I acknowledge, to betray so much anger, and I come, on my own account, to apologize for him. And having done so, entirely on my own account, be it understood, I would add that I believe you too gentlemanly to refuse giving him some explanation concerning your connection with Yanina. Then I will add two words about the young Greek girl.â
Monte Cristo motioned him to be silent. âCome,â said he, laughing, âthere are all my hopes about to be destroyed.â
âHow so?â asked Beauchamp.
âDoubtless you wish to make me appear a very eccentric character. I am, in your opinion, a Lara, a Manfred, a Lord Ruthven; then, just as I am arriving at the climax, you defeat your own end, and seek to make an ordinary man of me. You bring me down to your own level, and demand explanations! Indeed, M. Beauchamp, it is quite laughable.â
âYet,â replied Beauchamp haughtily, âthere are occasions when probity commandsâââ
âM. Beauchamp,â interposed this strange man, âthe Count of Monte Cristo bows to none but the Count of Monte Cristo himself. Say no more, I entreat you. I do what I please, M. Beauchamp, and it is always well done.â
âSir,â replied the young man, âhonest men are not to be paid with such coin. I require honorable guaranties.â
âI am, sir, a living guaranty,â replied Monte Cristo, motionless, but with a threatening look; âwe have both blood in our veins which we wish to shedâthat is our mutual guaranty. Tell the viscount so, and that tomorrow, before ten oâclock, I shall see what color his is.â
âThen I have only to make arrangements for the duel,â said Beauchamp.
âIt is quite immaterial to me,â said Monte Cristo, âand it was very unnecessary to disturb me at the Opera for such a trifle. In France people fight with the sword or pistol, in the colonies with the carbine, in Arabia with the dagger. Tell your client that, although I am the
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