Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
your excellency?" `
` `
` "Vaguely; I was far from France at that period. Go on." `
` `
` "As I entered Nimes, I literally waded in blood; at every `
` step you encountered dead bodies and bands of murderers, who `
` killed, plundered, and burned. At the sight of this `
` slaughter and devastation I became terrified, not for myself `
` -- for I, a simple Corsican fisherman, had nothing to fear; `
` on the contrary, that time was most favorable for us `
` smugglers -- but for my brother, a soldier of the empire, `
` returning from the army of the Loire, with his uniform and `
` his epaulets, there was everything to apprehend. I hastened `
` to the inn-keeper. My misgivings had been but too true. My `
` brother had arrived the previous evening at Nimes, and, at `
` the very door of the house where he was about to demand `
` hospitality, he had been assassinated. I did all in my power `
` to discover the murderers, but no one durst tell me their `
` names, so much were they dreaded. I then thought of that `
` French justice of which I had heard so much, and which `
` feared nothing, and I went to the king's attorney." `
` `
` "And this king's attorney was named Villefort?" asked Monte `
` Cristo carelessly. `
` `
` "Yes, your excellency; he came from Marseilles, where he had `
` been deputy-procureur. His zeal had procured him `
` advancement, and he was said to be one of the first who had `
` informed the government of the departure from the Island of `
` Elba." `
` `
` "Then," said Monte Cristo "you went to him?" `
` `
` "`Monsieur,' I said, `my brother was assassinated yesterday `
` in the streets of Nimes, I know not by whom, but it is your `
` duty to find out. You are the representative of justice `
` here, and it is for justice to avenge those she has been `
` unable to protect.' -- `Who was your brother?' asked he. -- `
` `A lieutenant in the Corsican battalion.' -- `A soldier of `
` the usurper, then?' -- `A soldier of the French army.' -- `
` `Well,' replied he, `he has smitten with the sword, and he `
` has perished by the sword.' -- `You are mistaken, monsieur,' `
` I replied; `he has perished by the poniard.' -- `What do you `
` want me to do?' asked the magistrate. -- `I have already `
` told you -- avenge him.' -- `On whom?' -- `On his `
` murderers.' -- `How should I know who they are?' -- `Order `
` them to be sought for.' -- `Why, your brother has been `
` involved in a quarrel, and killed in a duel. All these old `
` soldiers commit excesses which were tolerated in the time of `
` the emperor, but which are not suffered now, for the people `
` here do not like soldiers of such disorderly conduct.' -- `
` `Monsieur,' I replied, `it is not for myself that I entreat `
` your interference -- I should grieve for him or avenge him, `
` but my poor brother had a wife, and were anything to happen `
` to me, the poor creature would perish from want, for my `
` brother's pay alone kept her. Pray, try and obtain a small `
` government pension for her.' `
` `
` "`Every revolution has its catastrophes,' returned M. de `
` Villefort; `your brother has been the victim of this. It is `
` a misfortune, and government owes nothing to his family. If `
` we are to judge by all the vengeance that the followers of `
` the usurper exercised on the partisans of the king, when, in `
` their turn, they were in power, your brother would be `
` to-day, in all probability, condemned to death. What has `
` happened is quite natural, and in conformity with the law of `
` reprisals.' -- `What,' cried I, `do you, a magistrate, speak `
` thus to me?' -- `All these Corsicans are mad, on my honor,' `
` replied M. de Villefort; `they fancy that their countryman `
` is still emperor. You have mistaken the time, you should `
` have told me this two months ago, it is too late now. Go `
` now, at once, or I shall have you put out.' `
` `
` "I looked at him an instant to see if there was anything to `
` hope from further entreaty. But he was a man of stone. I `
` approached him, and said in a low voice, `Well, since you `
` know the Corsicans so well, you know that they always keep `
` their word. You think that it was a good deed to kill my `
` brother, who was a Bonapartist, because you are a royalist. `
` Well, I, who am a Bonapartist also, declare one thing to `
` you, which is, that I will kill you. From this moment I `
` declare the vendetta against you, so protect yourself as `
` well as you can, for the next time we meet your last hour `
` has come.' And before he had recovered from his surprise, I `
` opened the door and left the room." `
` `
` "Well, well," said Monte Cristo, "such an innocent looking `
` person as you are to do those things, M. Bertuccio, and to a `
` king's attorney at that! But did he know what was meant by `
` the terrible word `vendetta'?" `
` `
` "He knew so well, that from that moment he shut himself in `
` his house, and never went out unattended, seeking me high `
` and low. Fortunately, I was so well concealed that he could `
` not find me. Then he became alarmed, and dared not stay any `
` longer at Nimes, so he solicited a change of residence, and, `
` as he was in reality very influential, he was nominated to `
` Versailles. But, as you know, a Corsican who has sworn to `
` avenge himself cares not for distance, so his carriage, fast `
` as it went, was never above half a day's journey before me, `
` who followed him on foot. The most important thing was, not `
` to kill him only -- for I had an opportunity of doing so a `
` hundred times -- but to kill him without being discovered -- `
` at least, without being arrested. I no longer belonged to `
` myself, for I had my sister-in-law to protect and provide `
` for. For three months I watched M. de Villefort, for three `
` months he took not a step out-of-doors without my following `
` him. At length I discovered that he went mysteriously to `
` Auteuil. I followed him thither, and I saw him enter the `
` house where we now are, only, instead of entering by the `
` great door that looks into the street, he came on horseback, `
` or in his carriage, left the one or the other at the little `
` inn, and entered by the gate you see there." Monte Cristo `
` made a sign with his head to show that he could discern in `
` the darkness the door to which Bertuccio alluded. "As I had `
` nothing more to do at Versailles, I went to Auteuil, and `
` gained all the information I could. If I wished to surprise `
` him, it was evident this was the spot to lie in wait for `
` him. The house belonged, as the concierge informed your `
` excellency, to M. de Saint-Meran, Villefort's father-in-law. `
` M. de Saint-Meran lived at Marseilles, so that this country `
` house was useless to him, and it was reported to be let to a `
` young widow, known only by the name of `the baroness.' `
` `
` "One evening, as I was looking over the wall, I saw a young `
` and handsome woman who was walking alone in that garden, `
` which was not overlooked by any windows, and I guessed that `
` she was awaiting M. de Villefort. When she was sufficiently `
` near for me to distinguish her features, I saw she was from `
` eighteen to nineteen, tall and very fair. As she had a loose `
` muslin dress on and as nothing concealed her figure, I saw `
` she would ere long become a mother. A few moments after, the `
` little door was opened and a man entered. The young woman `
` hastened to meet him. They threw themselves into each `
` other's arms, embraced tenderly, and returned together to `
` the house. The man was M. de Villefort; I fully believed `
` that when he went out in the night he would be forced to `
` traverse the whole of the garden alone." `
` `
` "And," asked the count, "did you ever know the name of this `
` woman?" `
` `
` "No, excellency," returned Bertuccio; "you will see that I `
` had no time to learn it." `
` `
` "Go on." `
` `
` "That evening," continued Bertuccio, "I could have killed `
` the procureur, but as I was not sufficiently acquainted with `
` the neighborhood, I was fearful of not killing him on the `
` spot, and that if his cries were overheard I might be taken; `
` so I put it off until the next occasion, and in order that `
` nothing should escape me, I took a chamber looking into the `
` street bordered by the wall of the garden. Three days after, `
` about seven o'clock in the evening, I saw a servant on `
` horseback leave the house at full gallop, and take the road `
` to Sevres. I concluded that he was going to Versailles, and `
` I was not deceived. Three hours later, the man returned `
` covered with dust, his errand was performed, and two minutes `
` after, another man on foot, muffled in a mantle, opened the `
` little door of the garden, which he closed after him. I `
` descended rapidly; although I had not seen Villefort's face, `
` I recognized him by the beating of my heart. I crossed the `
` street, and stopped at a post placed at the angle of the `
` wall, and by means of which I had once before looked into `
` the garden. This time I did not content myself with looking, `
` but I took my knife out of my pocket, felt that the point `
` was sharp, and sprang over the wall. My first care was to `
` run to the door; he had left the key in it, taking the `
` simple precaution of turning it twice in the lock. Nothing, `
` then, preventing my escape by this means, I examined the `
` grounds. The garden was long and narrow; a stretch of smooth `
` turf extended down the middle, and at the corners were `
` clumps of trees with thick and massy foliage, that made a `
` background for the shrubs and flowers. In order to go from `
` the door to the house, or from the house to the door, M. de `
` Villefort would be obliged to pass by one of these clumps of `
` trees. `
` `
` "It was the end of September; the wind blew violently. The `
` faint glimpses of the pale moon, hidden momentarily by `
` masses of dark clouds that were sweeping across the sky, `
` whitened the gravel walks that led to the house, but were `
` unable to pierce the obscurity of the thick shrubberies, in `
` which a man could conceal himself without any fear of `
` discovery. I hid myself in the one nearest to the path `
` Villefort must take, and scarcely was I there when, amidst `
` the gusts of wind, I fancied I heard groans; but you know, `
` or rather you do not know, your excellency, that he who is `
` about to commit an assassination fancies that he hears low `
` cries perpetually ringing in his ears. Two hours passed `
` thus, during which I imagined I heard moans repeatedly. `
` Midnight struck. As the last stroke died away, I saw a faint `
` light shine through the windows of the private staircase by `
` which we have just descended. The door opened, and the man `
` in the mantle reappeared. The terrible moment had come, but `
` I had so long been prepared for it that my heart did not `
` fail in the least. I drew my knife from my pocket again, `
` opened it, and made ready to strike. The man in the mantle `
` advanced towards me, but as he drew near I saw that he had a `
` weapon in his hand. I was afraid, not of a struggle, but of `
`
` `
` "Vaguely; I was far from France at that period. Go on." `
` `
` "As I entered Nimes, I literally waded in blood; at every `
` step you encountered dead bodies and bands of murderers, who `
` killed, plundered, and burned. At the sight of this `
` slaughter and devastation I became terrified, not for myself `
` -- for I, a simple Corsican fisherman, had nothing to fear; `
` on the contrary, that time was most favorable for us `
` smugglers -- but for my brother, a soldier of the empire, `
` returning from the army of the Loire, with his uniform and `
` his epaulets, there was everything to apprehend. I hastened `
` to the inn-keeper. My misgivings had been but too true. My `
` brother had arrived the previous evening at Nimes, and, at `
` the very door of the house where he was about to demand `
` hospitality, he had been assassinated. I did all in my power `
` to discover the murderers, but no one durst tell me their `
` names, so much were they dreaded. I then thought of that `
` French justice of which I had heard so much, and which `
` feared nothing, and I went to the king's attorney." `
` `
` "And this king's attorney was named Villefort?" asked Monte `
` Cristo carelessly. `
` `
` "Yes, your excellency; he came from Marseilles, where he had `
` been deputy-procureur. His zeal had procured him `
` advancement, and he was said to be one of the first who had `
` informed the government of the departure from the Island of `
` Elba." `
` `
` "Then," said Monte Cristo "you went to him?" `
` `
` "`Monsieur,' I said, `my brother was assassinated yesterday `
` in the streets of Nimes, I know not by whom, but it is your `
` duty to find out. You are the representative of justice `
` here, and it is for justice to avenge those she has been `
` unable to protect.' -- `Who was your brother?' asked he. -- `
` `A lieutenant in the Corsican battalion.' -- `A soldier of `
` the usurper, then?' -- `A soldier of the French army.' -- `
` `Well,' replied he, `he has smitten with the sword, and he `
` has perished by the sword.' -- `You are mistaken, monsieur,' `
` I replied; `he has perished by the poniard.' -- `What do you `
` want me to do?' asked the magistrate. -- `I have already `
` told you -- avenge him.' -- `On whom?' -- `On his `
` murderers.' -- `How should I know who they are?' -- `Order `
` them to be sought for.' -- `Why, your brother has been `
` involved in a quarrel, and killed in a duel. All these old `
` soldiers commit excesses which were tolerated in the time of `
` the emperor, but which are not suffered now, for the people `
` here do not like soldiers of such disorderly conduct.' -- `
` `Monsieur,' I replied, `it is not for myself that I entreat `
` your interference -- I should grieve for him or avenge him, `
` but my poor brother had a wife, and were anything to happen `
` to me, the poor creature would perish from want, for my `
` brother's pay alone kept her. Pray, try and obtain a small `
` government pension for her.' `
` `
` "`Every revolution has its catastrophes,' returned M. de `
` Villefort; `your brother has been the victim of this. It is `
` a misfortune, and government owes nothing to his family. If `
` we are to judge by all the vengeance that the followers of `
` the usurper exercised on the partisans of the king, when, in `
` their turn, they were in power, your brother would be `
` to-day, in all probability, condemned to death. What has `
` happened is quite natural, and in conformity with the law of `
` reprisals.' -- `What,' cried I, `do you, a magistrate, speak `
` thus to me?' -- `All these Corsicans are mad, on my honor,' `
` replied M. de Villefort; `they fancy that their countryman `
` is still emperor. You have mistaken the time, you should `
` have told me this two months ago, it is too late now. Go `
` now, at once, or I shall have you put out.' `
` `
` "I looked at him an instant to see if there was anything to `
` hope from further entreaty. But he was a man of stone. I `
` approached him, and said in a low voice, `Well, since you `
` know the Corsicans so well, you know that they always keep `
` their word. You think that it was a good deed to kill my `
` brother, who was a Bonapartist, because you are a royalist. `
` Well, I, who am a Bonapartist also, declare one thing to `
` you, which is, that I will kill you. From this moment I `
` declare the vendetta against you, so protect yourself as `
` well as you can, for the next time we meet your last hour `
` has come.' And before he had recovered from his surprise, I `
` opened the door and left the room." `
` `
` "Well, well," said Monte Cristo, "such an innocent looking `
` person as you are to do those things, M. Bertuccio, and to a `
` king's attorney at that! But did he know what was meant by `
` the terrible word `vendetta'?" `
` `
` "He knew so well, that from that moment he shut himself in `
` his house, and never went out unattended, seeking me high `
` and low. Fortunately, I was so well concealed that he could `
` not find me. Then he became alarmed, and dared not stay any `
` longer at Nimes, so he solicited a change of residence, and, `
` as he was in reality very influential, he was nominated to `
` Versailles. But, as you know, a Corsican who has sworn to `
` avenge himself cares not for distance, so his carriage, fast `
` as it went, was never above half a day's journey before me, `
` who followed him on foot. The most important thing was, not `
` to kill him only -- for I had an opportunity of doing so a `
` hundred times -- but to kill him without being discovered -- `
` at least, without being arrested. I no longer belonged to `
` myself, for I had my sister-in-law to protect and provide `
` for. For three months I watched M. de Villefort, for three `
` months he took not a step out-of-doors without my following `
` him. At length I discovered that he went mysteriously to `
` Auteuil. I followed him thither, and I saw him enter the `
` house where we now are, only, instead of entering by the `
` great door that looks into the street, he came on horseback, `
` or in his carriage, left the one or the other at the little `
` inn, and entered by the gate you see there." Monte Cristo `
` made a sign with his head to show that he could discern in `
` the darkness the door to which Bertuccio alluded. "As I had `
` nothing more to do at Versailles, I went to Auteuil, and `
` gained all the information I could. If I wished to surprise `
` him, it was evident this was the spot to lie in wait for `
` him. The house belonged, as the concierge informed your `
` excellency, to M. de Saint-Meran, Villefort's father-in-law. `
` M. de Saint-Meran lived at Marseilles, so that this country `
` house was useless to him, and it was reported to be let to a `
` young widow, known only by the name of `the baroness.' `
` `
` "One evening, as I was looking over the wall, I saw a young `
` and handsome woman who was walking alone in that garden, `
` which was not overlooked by any windows, and I guessed that `
` she was awaiting M. de Villefort. When she was sufficiently `
` near for me to distinguish her features, I saw she was from `
` eighteen to nineteen, tall and very fair. As she had a loose `
` muslin dress on and as nothing concealed her figure, I saw `
` she would ere long become a mother. A few moments after, the `
` little door was opened and a man entered. The young woman `
` hastened to meet him. They threw themselves into each `
` other's arms, embraced tenderly, and returned together to `
` the house. The man was M. de Villefort; I fully believed `
` that when he went out in the night he would be forced to `
` traverse the whole of the garden alone." `
` `
` "And," asked the count, "did you ever know the name of this `
` woman?" `
` `
` "No, excellency," returned Bertuccio; "you will see that I `
` had no time to learn it." `
` `
` "Go on." `
` `
` "That evening," continued Bertuccio, "I could have killed `
` the procureur, but as I was not sufficiently acquainted with `
` the neighborhood, I was fearful of not killing him on the `
` spot, and that if his cries were overheard I might be taken; `
` so I put it off until the next occasion, and in order that `
` nothing should escape me, I took a chamber looking into the `
` street bordered by the wall of the garden. Three days after, `
` about seven o'clock in the evening, I saw a servant on `
` horseback leave the house at full gallop, and take the road `
` to Sevres. I concluded that he was going to Versailles, and `
` I was not deceived. Three hours later, the man returned `
` covered with dust, his errand was performed, and two minutes `
` after, another man on foot, muffled in a mantle, opened the `
` little door of the garden, which he closed after him. I `
` descended rapidly; although I had not seen Villefort's face, `
` I recognized him by the beating of my heart. I crossed the `
` street, and stopped at a post placed at the angle of the `
` wall, and by means of which I had once before looked into `
` the garden. This time I did not content myself with looking, `
` but I took my knife out of my pocket, felt that the point `
` was sharp, and sprang over the wall. My first care was to `
` run to the door; he had left the key in it, taking the `
` simple precaution of turning it twice in the lock. Nothing, `
` then, preventing my escape by this means, I examined the `
` grounds. The garden was long and narrow; a stretch of smooth `
` turf extended down the middle, and at the corners were `
` clumps of trees with thick and massy foliage, that made a `
` background for the shrubs and flowers. In order to go from `
` the door to the house, or from the house to the door, M. de `
` Villefort would be obliged to pass by one of these clumps of `
` trees. `
` `
` "It was the end of September; the wind blew violently. The `
` faint glimpses of the pale moon, hidden momentarily by `
` masses of dark clouds that were sweeping across the sky, `
` whitened the gravel walks that led to the house, but were `
` unable to pierce the obscurity of the thick shrubberies, in `
` which a man could conceal himself without any fear of `
` discovery. I hid myself in the one nearest to the path `
` Villefort must take, and scarcely was I there when, amidst `
` the gusts of wind, I fancied I heard groans; but you know, `
` or rather you do not know, your excellency, that he who is `
` about to commit an assassination fancies that he hears low `
` cries perpetually ringing in his ears. Two hours passed `
` thus, during which I imagined I heard moans repeatedly. `
` Midnight struck. As the last stroke died away, I saw a faint `
` light shine through the windows of the private staircase by `
` which we have just descended. The door opened, and the man `
` in the mantle reappeared. The terrible moment had come, but `
` I had so long been prepared for it that my heart did not `
` fail in the least. I drew my knife from my pocket again, `
` opened it, and made ready to strike. The man in the mantle `
` advanced towards me, but as he drew near I saw that he had a `
` weapon in his hand. I was afraid, not of a struggle, but of `
`