Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
forfeiting the gratitude of the king, he had made a friend `
` of one on whom, in case of necessity, he might rely. `
` `
` "'Tis well," resumed the king. "And now, gentlemen," he `
` continued, turning towards M. de Blacas and the minister of `
` police, "I have no further occasion for you, and you may `
` retire; what now remains to do is in the department of the `
` minister of war." `
` `
` "Fortunately, sire," said M. de Blacas, "we can rely on the `
` army; your majesty knows how every report confirms their `
` loyalty and attachment." `
` `
` "Do not mention reports, duke, to me, for I know now what `
` confidence to place in them. Yet, speaking of reports, `
` baron, what have you learned with regard to the affair in `
` the Rue Saint-Jacques?" `
` `
` "The affair in the Rue Saint-Jacques!" exclaimed Villefort, `
` unable to repress an exclamation. Then, suddenly pausing, he `
` added, "Your pardon, sire, but my devotion to your majesty `
` has made me forget, not the respect I have, for that is too `
` deeply engraved in my heart, but the rules of etiquette." `
` `
` "Go on, go on, sir," replied the king; "you have to-day `
` earned the right to make inquiries here." `
` `
` "Sire," interposed the minister of police, "I came a moment `
` ago to give your majesty fresh information which I had `
` obtained on this head, when your majesty's attention was `
` attracted by the terrible event that has occurred in the `
` gulf, and now these facts will cease to interest your `
` majesty." `
` `
` "On the contrary, sir, -- on the contrary," said Louis `
` XVIII., "this affair seems to me to have a decided `
` connection with that which occupies our attention, and the `
` death of General Quesnel will, perhaps, put us on the direct `
` track of a great internal conspiracy." At the name of `
` General Quesnel, Villefort trembled. `
` `
` "Everything points to the conclusion, sire," said the `
` minister of police, "that death was not the result of `
` suicide, as we first believed, but of assassination. General `
` Quesnel, it appears, had just left a Bonapartist club when `
` he disappeared. An unknown person had been with him that `
` morning, and made an appointment with him in the Rue `
` Saint-Jacques; unfortunately, the general's valet, who was `
` dressing his hair at the moment when the stranger entered, `
` heard the street mentioned, but did not catch the number." `
` As the police minister related this to the king, Villefort, `
` who looked as if his very life hung on the speaker's lips, `
` turned alternately red and pale. The king looked towards `
` him. `
` `
` "Do you not think with me, M. de Villefort, that General `
` Quesnel, whom they believed attached to the usurper, but who `
` was really entirely devoted to me, has perished the victim `
` of a Bonapartist ambush?" `
` `
` "It is probable, sire," replied Villefort. "But is this all `
` that is known?" `
` `
` "They are on the track of the man who appointed the meeting `
` with him." `
` `
` "On his track?" said Villefort. `
` `
` "Yes, the servant has given his description. He is a man of `
` from fifty to fifty-two years of age, dark, with black eyes `
` covered with shaggy eyebrows, and a thick mustache. He was `
` dressed in a blue frock-coat, buttoned up to the chin, and `
` wore at his button-hole the rosette of an officer of the `
` Legion of Honor. Yesterday a person exactly corresponding `
` with this description was followed, but he was lost sight of `
` at the corner of the Rue de la Jussienne and the Rue `
` Coq-Heron." Villefort leaned on the back of an arm-chair, `
` for as the minister of police went on speaking he felt his `
` legs bend under him; but when he learned that the unknown `
` had escaped the vigilance of the agent who followed him, he `
` breathed again. `
` `
` "Continue to seek for this man, sir," said the king to the `
` minister of police; "for if, as I am all but convinced, `
` General Quesnel, who would have been so useful to us at this `
` moment, has been murdered, his assassins, Bonapartists or `
` not, shall be cruelly punished." It required all Villefort's `
` coolness not to betray the terror with which this `
` declaration of the king inspired him. `
` `
` "How strange," continued the king, with some asperity; "the `
` police think that they have disposed of the whole matter `
` when they say, `A murder has been committed,' and especially `
` so when they can add, `And we are on the track of the guilty `
` persons.'" `
` `
` "Sire, your majesty will, I trust, be amply satisfied on `
` this point at least." `
` `
` "We shall see. I will no longer detain you, M. de Villefort, `
` for you must be fatigued after so long a journey; go and `
` rest. Of course you stopped at your father's?" A feeling of `
` faintness came over Villefort. `
` `
` "No, sire," he replied, "I alighted at the Hotel de Madrid, `
` in the Rue de Tournon." `
` `
` "But you have seen him?" `
` `
` "Sire, I went straight to the Duc de Blacas." `
` `
` "But you will see him, then?" `
` `
` "I think not, sire." `
` `
` "Ah, I forgot," said Louis, smiling in a manner which proved `
` that all these questions were not made without a motive; "I `
` forgot you and M. Noirtier are not on the best terms `
` possible, and that is another sacrifice made to the royal `
` cause, and for which you should be recompensed." `
` `
` "Sire, the kindness your majesty deigns to evince towards me `
` is a recompense which so far surpasses my utmost ambition `
` that I have nothing more to ask for." `
` `
` "Never mind, sir, we will not forget you; make your mind `
` easy. In the meanwhile" (the king here detached the cross of `
` the Legion of Honor which he usually wore over his blue `
` coat, near the cross of St. Louis, above the order of `
` Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel and St. Lazare, and gave it to `
` Villefort) -- "in the meanwhile take this cross." `
` `
` "Sire," said Villefort, "your majesty mistakes; this is an `
` officer's cross." `
` `
` "Ma foi," said Louis XVIII., "take it, such as it is, for I `
` have not the time to procure you another. Blacas, let it be `
` your care to see that the brevet is made out and sent to M. `
` de Villefort." Villefort's eyes were filled with tears of `
` joy and pride; he took the cross and kissed it. `
` `
` "And now," he said, "may I inquire what are the orders with `
` which your majesty deigns to honor me?" `
` `
` "Take what rest you require, and remember that if you are `
` not able to serve me here in Paris, you may be of the `
` greatest service to me at Marseilles." `
` `
` "Sire," replied Villefort, bowing, "in an hour I shall have `
` quitted Paris." `
` `
` "Go, sir," said the king; "and should I forget you (kings' `
` memories are short), do not be afraid to bring yourself to `
` my recollection. Baron, send for the minister of war. `
` Blacas, remain." `
` `
` "Ah, sir," said the minister of police to Villefort, as they `
` left the Tuileries, "you entered by luck's door -- your `
` fortune is made." `
` `
` "Will it be long first?" muttered Villefort, saluting the `
` minister, whose career was ended, and looking about him for `
` a hackney-coach. One passed at the moment, which he hailed; `
` he gave his address to the driver, and springing in, threw `
` himself on the seat, and gave loose to dreams of ambition. `
` `
` Ten minutes afterwards Villefort reached his hotel, ordered `
` horses to be ready in two hours, and asked to have his `
` breakfast brought to him. He was about to begin his repast `
` when the sound of the bell rang sharp and loud. The valet `
` opened the door, and Villefort heard some one speak his `
` name. `
` `
` "Who could know that I was here already?" said the young `
` man. The valet entered. `
` `
` "Well," said Villefort, "what is it? -- Who rang? -- Who `
` asked for me?" `
` `
` "A stranger who will not send in his name." `
` `
` "A stranger who will not send in his name! What can he want `
` with me?" `
` `
` "He wishes to speak to you." `
` `
` "To me?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Did he mention my name?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "What sort of person is he?" `
` `
` "Why, sir, a man of about fifty." `
` `
` "Short or tall?" `
` `
` "About your own height, sir." `
`
` of one on whom, in case of necessity, he might rely. `
` `
` "'Tis well," resumed the king. "And now, gentlemen," he `
` continued, turning towards M. de Blacas and the minister of `
` police, "I have no further occasion for you, and you may `
` retire; what now remains to do is in the department of the `
` minister of war." `
` `
` "Fortunately, sire," said M. de Blacas, "we can rely on the `
` army; your majesty knows how every report confirms their `
` loyalty and attachment." `
` `
` "Do not mention reports, duke, to me, for I know now what `
` confidence to place in them. Yet, speaking of reports, `
` baron, what have you learned with regard to the affair in `
` the Rue Saint-Jacques?" `
` `
` "The affair in the Rue Saint-Jacques!" exclaimed Villefort, `
` unable to repress an exclamation. Then, suddenly pausing, he `
` added, "Your pardon, sire, but my devotion to your majesty `
` has made me forget, not the respect I have, for that is too `
` deeply engraved in my heart, but the rules of etiquette." `
` `
` "Go on, go on, sir," replied the king; "you have to-day `
` earned the right to make inquiries here." `
` `
` "Sire," interposed the minister of police, "I came a moment `
` ago to give your majesty fresh information which I had `
` obtained on this head, when your majesty's attention was `
` attracted by the terrible event that has occurred in the `
` gulf, and now these facts will cease to interest your `
` majesty." `
` `
` "On the contrary, sir, -- on the contrary," said Louis `
` XVIII., "this affair seems to me to have a decided `
` connection with that which occupies our attention, and the `
` death of General Quesnel will, perhaps, put us on the direct `
` track of a great internal conspiracy." At the name of `
` General Quesnel, Villefort trembled. `
` `
` "Everything points to the conclusion, sire," said the `
` minister of police, "that death was not the result of `
` suicide, as we first believed, but of assassination. General `
` Quesnel, it appears, had just left a Bonapartist club when `
` he disappeared. An unknown person had been with him that `
` morning, and made an appointment with him in the Rue `
` Saint-Jacques; unfortunately, the general's valet, who was `
` dressing his hair at the moment when the stranger entered, `
` heard the street mentioned, but did not catch the number." `
` As the police minister related this to the king, Villefort, `
` who looked as if his very life hung on the speaker's lips, `
` turned alternately red and pale. The king looked towards `
` him. `
` `
` "Do you not think with me, M. de Villefort, that General `
` Quesnel, whom they believed attached to the usurper, but who `
` was really entirely devoted to me, has perished the victim `
` of a Bonapartist ambush?" `
` `
` "It is probable, sire," replied Villefort. "But is this all `
` that is known?" `
` `
` "They are on the track of the man who appointed the meeting `
` with him." `
` `
` "On his track?" said Villefort. `
` `
` "Yes, the servant has given his description. He is a man of `
` from fifty to fifty-two years of age, dark, with black eyes `
` covered with shaggy eyebrows, and a thick mustache. He was `
` dressed in a blue frock-coat, buttoned up to the chin, and `
` wore at his button-hole the rosette of an officer of the `
` Legion of Honor. Yesterday a person exactly corresponding `
` with this description was followed, but he was lost sight of `
` at the corner of the Rue de la Jussienne and the Rue `
` Coq-Heron." Villefort leaned on the back of an arm-chair, `
` for as the minister of police went on speaking he felt his `
` legs bend under him; but when he learned that the unknown `
` had escaped the vigilance of the agent who followed him, he `
` breathed again. `
` `
` "Continue to seek for this man, sir," said the king to the `
` minister of police; "for if, as I am all but convinced, `
` General Quesnel, who would have been so useful to us at this `
` moment, has been murdered, his assassins, Bonapartists or `
` not, shall be cruelly punished." It required all Villefort's `
` coolness not to betray the terror with which this `
` declaration of the king inspired him. `
` `
` "How strange," continued the king, with some asperity; "the `
` police think that they have disposed of the whole matter `
` when they say, `A murder has been committed,' and especially `
` so when they can add, `And we are on the track of the guilty `
` persons.'" `
` `
` "Sire, your majesty will, I trust, be amply satisfied on `
` this point at least." `
` `
` "We shall see. I will no longer detain you, M. de Villefort, `
` for you must be fatigued after so long a journey; go and `
` rest. Of course you stopped at your father's?" A feeling of `
` faintness came over Villefort. `
` `
` "No, sire," he replied, "I alighted at the Hotel de Madrid, `
` in the Rue de Tournon." `
` `
` "But you have seen him?" `
` `
` "Sire, I went straight to the Duc de Blacas." `
` `
` "But you will see him, then?" `
` `
` "I think not, sire." `
` `
` "Ah, I forgot," said Louis, smiling in a manner which proved `
` that all these questions were not made without a motive; "I `
` forgot you and M. Noirtier are not on the best terms `
` possible, and that is another sacrifice made to the royal `
` cause, and for which you should be recompensed." `
` `
` "Sire, the kindness your majesty deigns to evince towards me `
` is a recompense which so far surpasses my utmost ambition `
` that I have nothing more to ask for." `
` `
` "Never mind, sir, we will not forget you; make your mind `
` easy. In the meanwhile" (the king here detached the cross of `
` the Legion of Honor which he usually wore over his blue `
` coat, near the cross of St. Louis, above the order of `
` Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel and St. Lazare, and gave it to `
` Villefort) -- "in the meanwhile take this cross." `
` `
` "Sire," said Villefort, "your majesty mistakes; this is an `
` officer's cross." `
` `
` "Ma foi," said Louis XVIII., "take it, such as it is, for I `
` have not the time to procure you another. Blacas, let it be `
` your care to see that the brevet is made out and sent to M. `
` de Villefort." Villefort's eyes were filled with tears of `
` joy and pride; he took the cross and kissed it. `
` `
` "And now," he said, "may I inquire what are the orders with `
` which your majesty deigns to honor me?" `
` `
` "Take what rest you require, and remember that if you are `
` not able to serve me here in Paris, you may be of the `
` greatest service to me at Marseilles." `
` `
` "Sire," replied Villefort, bowing, "in an hour I shall have `
` quitted Paris." `
` `
` "Go, sir," said the king; "and should I forget you (kings' `
` memories are short), do not be afraid to bring yourself to `
` my recollection. Baron, send for the minister of war. `
` Blacas, remain." `
` `
` "Ah, sir," said the minister of police to Villefort, as they `
` left the Tuileries, "you entered by luck's door -- your `
` fortune is made." `
` `
` "Will it be long first?" muttered Villefort, saluting the `
` minister, whose career was ended, and looking about him for `
` a hackney-coach. One passed at the moment, which he hailed; `
` he gave his address to the driver, and springing in, threw `
` himself on the seat, and gave loose to dreams of ambition. `
` `
` Ten minutes afterwards Villefort reached his hotel, ordered `
` horses to be ready in two hours, and asked to have his `
` breakfast brought to him. He was about to begin his repast `
` when the sound of the bell rang sharp and loud. The valet `
` opened the door, and Villefort heard some one speak his `
` name. `
` `
` "Who could know that I was here already?" said the young `
` man. The valet entered. `
` `
` "Well," said Villefort, "what is it? -- Who rang? -- Who `
` asked for me?" `
` `
` "A stranger who will not send in his name." `
` `
` "A stranger who will not send in his name! What can he want `
` with me?" `
` `
` "He wishes to speak to you." `
` `
` "To me?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Did he mention my name?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "What sort of person is he?" `
` `
` "Why, sir, a man of about fifty." `
` `
` "Short or tall?" `
` `
` "About your own height, sir." `
`