The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (books to read to improve english txt) đ
- Author: Alexandre Dumas
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âThen, I suppose,â asked Caderousse, with eager, glowing looks, âthat it was a stone of immense value?â
âWhy, everything is relative,â answered the abbĂ©. âTo one in Edmondâs position the diamond certainly was of great value. It was estimated at fifty thousand francs.â
âBless me!â exclaimed Caderousse, âfifty thousand francs! Surely the diamond was as large as a nut to be worth all that.â
âNo,â replied the abbĂ©, âit was not of such a size as that; but you shall judge for yourself. I have it with me.â
The sharp gaze of Caderousse was instantly directed towards the priestâs garments, as though hoping to discover the location of the treasure. Calmly drawing forth from his pocket a small box covered with black shagreen, the abbĂ© opened it, and displayed to the dazzled eyes of Caderousse the sparkling jewel it contained, set in a ring of admirable workmanship.
âAnd that diamond,â cried Caderousse, almost breathless with eager admiration, âyou say, is worth fifty thousand francs?â
âIt is, without the setting, which is also valuable,â replied the abbĂ©, as he closed the box, and returned it to his pocket, while its brilliant hues seemed still to dance before the eyes of the fascinated innkeeper.
âBut how comes the diamond in your possession, sir? Did Edmond make you his heir?â
âNo, merely his testamentary executor. âI once possessed four dear and faithful friends, besides the maiden to whom I was betrothedâ he said; âand I feel convinced they have all unfeignedly grieved over my loss. The name of one of the four friends is Caderousse.ââ The innkeeper shivered.
ââAnother of the number,ââ continued the abbĂ©, without seeming to notice the emotion of Caderousse, ââis called Danglars; and the third, in spite of being my rival, entertained a very sincere affection for me.ââ
A fiendish smile played over the features of Caderousse, who was about to break in upon the abbĂ©âs speech, when the latter, waving his hand, said, âAllow me to finish first, and then if you have any observations to make, you can do so afterwards. âThe third of my friends, although my rival, was much attached to me,âhis name was Fernand; that of my betrothed wasââStay, stay,â continued the abbĂ©, âI have forgotten what he called her.â
âMercĂ©dĂšs,â said Caderousse eagerly.
âTrue,â said the abbĂ©, with a stifled sigh, âMercĂ©dĂšs it was.â
âGo on,â urged Caderousse.
âBring me a carafe of water,â said the abbĂ©.
Caderousse quickly performed the strangerâs bidding; and after pouring some into a glass, and slowly swallowing its contents, the abbĂ©, resuming his usual placidity of manner, said, as he placed his empty glass on the table:
âWhere did we leave off?â
âThe name of Edmondâs betrothed was MercĂ©dĂšs.â
âTo be sure. âYou will go to Marseilles,â said DantĂšs,âfor you understand, I repeat his words just as he uttered them. Do you understand?â
âPerfectly.â
ââYou will sell this diamond; you will divide the money into five equal parts, and give an equal portion to these good friends, the only persons who have loved me upon earth.ââ
âBut why into five parts?â asked Caderousse; âyou only mentioned four persons.â
âBecause the fifth is dead, as I hear. The fifth sharer in Edmondâs bequest, was his own father.â
âToo true, too true!â ejaculated Caderousse, almost suffocated by the contending passions which assailed him, âthe poor old man did die.â
âI learned so much at Marseilles,â replied the abbĂ©, making a strong effort to appear indifferent; âbut from the length of time that has elapsed since the death of the elder DantĂšs, I was unable to obtain any particulars of his end. Can you enlighten me on that point?â
âI do not know who could if I could not,â said Caderousse. âWhy, I lived almost on the same floor with the poor old man. Ah, yes, about a year after the disappearance of his son the poor old man died.â
âOf what did he die?â
âWhy, the doctors called his complaint gastro-enteritis, I believe; his acquaintances say he died of grief; but I, who saw him in his dying moments, I say he died ofâââ
Caderousse paused.
âOf what?â asked the priest, anxiously and eagerly.
âWhy, of downright starvation.â
âStarvation!â exclaimed the abbĂ©, springing from his seat. âWhy, the vilest animals are not suffered to die by such a death as that. The very dogs that wander houseless and homeless in the streets find some pitying hand to cast them a mouthful of bread; and that a man, a Christian, should be allowed to perish of hunger in the midst of other men who call themselves Christians, is too horrible for belief. Oh, it is impossible!âutterly impossible!â
âWhat I have said, I have said,â answered Caderousse.
âAnd you are a fool for having said anything about it,â said a voice from the top of the stairs. âWhy should you meddle with what does not concern you?â
The two men turned quickly, and saw the sickly countenance of La Carconte peering between the baluster rails; attracted by the sound of voices, she had feebly dragged herself down the stairs, and, seated on the lower step, head on knees, she had listened to the foregoing conversation.
âMind your own business, wife,â replied Caderousse sharply. âThis gentleman asks me for information, which common politeness will not permit me to refuse.â
âPoliteness, you simpleton!â retorted La Carconte. âWhat have you to do with politeness, I should like to know? Better study a little common prudence. How do you know the motives that person may have for trying to extract all he can from you?â
âI pledge you my word, madam,â said the abbĂ©, âthat my intentions are good; and that your husband can incur no risk, provided he answers me candidly.â
âAh, thatâs all very fine,â retorted the woman. âNothing is easier than to begin with fair promises and assurances of nothing to fear; but when poor, silly folks, like my husband there, have been persuaded to tell all they know, the promises and assurances of safety are quickly forgotten; and at some moment when nobody is expecting it, behold trouble and misery, and all sorts of persecutions, are heaped on the unfortunate wretches, who cannot even see whence all their afflictions come.â
âNay, nay, my good woman, make yourself perfectly easy, I beg of you. Whatever evils may befall you, they will not be occasioned by my instrumentality, that I solemnly promise you.â
La Carconte muttered a few inarticulate words, then let her head again drop upon her knees, and went into a fit of ague, leaving the two speakers to resume the conversation, but remaining so as to be able to hear every word they uttered. Again the abbé had been obliged to swallow a draught of water to calm the emotions that threatened to overpower him.
When he had sufficiently recovered himself, he said, âIt appears, then, that the miserable old man you were telling me of was forsaken by everyone. Surely, had not such been the case, he would not have perished by so dreadful a death.â
âWhy, he was not altogether forsaken,â continued Caderousse, âfor MercĂ©dĂšs the Catalan and Monsieur Morrel were very kind to him; but somehow the poor old man had contracted a profound hatred for Fernandâthe very person,â added Caderousse with a bitter smile, âthat you named just now as being one of DantĂšsâ faithful and attached friends.â
âAnd was he not so?â asked the abbĂ©.
âGaspard, Gaspard!â murmured the woman, from her seat on the stairs, âmind what you are saying!â
Caderousse made no reply to these words, though evidently irritated and annoyed by the interruption, but, addressing the abbĂ©, said, âCan a man be faithful to another whose wife he covets and desires for himself? But DantĂšs was so honorable and true in his own nature, that he believed everybodyâs professions of friendship. Poor Edmond, he was cruelly deceived; but it was fortunate that he never knew, or he might have found it more difficult, when on his deathbed, to pardon his enemies. And, whatever people may say,â continued Caderousse, in his native language, which was not altogether devoid of rude poetry, âI cannot help being more frightened at the idea of the malediction of the dead than the hatred of the living.â
âImbecile!â exclaimed La Carconte.
âDo you, then, know in what manner Fernand injured DantĂšs?â inquired the abbĂ© of Caderousse.
âDo I? No one better.â
âSpeak out then, say what it was!â
âGaspard!â cried La Carconte, âdo as you will; you are masterâbut if you take my advice youâll hold your tongue.â
âWell, wife,â replied Caderousse, âI donât know but what youâre right!â
âSo you will say nothing?â asked the abbĂ©.
âWhy, what good would it do?â asked Caderousse. âIf the poor lad were living, and came to me and begged that I would candidly tell which were his true and which his false friends, why, perhaps, I should not hesitate. But you tell me he is no more, and therefore can have nothing to do with hatred or revenge, so let all such feeling be buried with him.â
âYou prefer, then,â said the abbĂ©, âthat I should bestow on men you say are false and treacherous, the reward intended for faithful friendship?â
âThat is true enough,â returned Caderousse. âYou say truly, the gift of poor Edmond was not meant for such traitors as Fernand and Danglars; besides, what would it be to them? no more than a drop of water in the ocean.â
âRemember,â chimed in La Carconte, âthose two could crush you at a single blow!â
âHow so?â inquired the abbĂ©. âAre these persons, then, so rich and powerful?â
âDo you not know their history?â
âI do not. Pray relate it to me!â
Caderousse seemed to reflect for a few moments, then said, âNo, truly, it would take up too much time.â
âWell, my good friend,â returned the abbĂ©, in a tone that indicated utter indifference on his part, âyou are at liberty, either to speak or be silent, just as you please; for my own part, I respect your scruples and admire your sentiments; so let the matter end. I shall do my duty as conscientiously as I can, and fulfil my promise to the dying man. My first business will be to dispose of this diamond.â
So saying, the abbé again drew the small box from his pocket, opened it, and contrived to hold it in such a light, that a bright flash of brilliant hues passed before the dazzled gaze of Caderousse.
âWife, wife!â cried he in a hoarse voice, âcome here!â
âDiamond!â exclaimed La Carconte, rising and descending to the chamber with a tolerably firm step; âwhat diamond are you talking about?â
âWhy, did you not hear all we said?â inquired Caderousse. âIt is a beautiful diamond left by poor Edmond DantĂšs, to be sold, and the money divided between his father, MercĂ©dĂšs, his betrothed bride, Fernand, Danglars, and myself. The jewel is worth at least fifty thousand francs.â
âOh, what a magnificent jewel!â cried the astonished woman.
âThe fifth part of the profits from this stone belongs to us then, does it not?â asked Caderousse.
âIt does,â replied the abbĂ©; âwith the addition of an equal division of that part intended for the elder DantĂšs, which I believe myself at liberty to divide equally with the four survivors.â
âAnd why among us four?â inquired Caderousse.
âAs being the friends Edmond esteemed most faithful and devoted to him.â
âI donât call those friends who betray and ruin you,â murmured the wife in her turn, in a low, muttering voice.
âOf course not!â rejoined Caderousse quickly; âno more do I, and that was what I was observing to this gentleman just now. I said I looked upon it as a sacrilegious profanation to
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