Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
weapon in his hand. I was afraid, not of a struggle, but of `
` a failure. When he was only a few paces from me, I saw that `
` what I had taken for a weapon was only a spade. I was still `
` unable to divine for what reason M. de Villefort had this `
` spade in his hands, when he stopped close to the thicket `
` where I was, glanced round, and began to dig a hole in the `
` earth. I then perceived that he was hiding something under `
` his mantle, which he laid on the grass in order to dig more `
` freely. Then, I confess, curiosity mingled with hatred; I `
` wished to see what Villefort was going to do there, and I `
` remained motionless, holding my breath. Then an idea crossed `
` my mind, which was confirmed when I saw the procureur lift `
` from under his mantle a box, two feet long, and six or eight `
` inches deep. I let him place the box in the hole he had `
` made, then, while he stamped with his feet to remove all `
` traces of his occupation, I rushed on him and plunged my `
` knife into his breast, exclaiming, -- `I am Giovanni `
` Bertuccio; thy death for my brother's; thy treasure for his `
` widow; thou seest that my vengeance is more complete than I `
` had hoped.' I know not if he heard these words; I think he `
` did not, for he fell without a cry. I felt his blood gush `
` over my face, but I was intoxicated, I was delirious, and `
` the blood refreshed, instead of burning me. In a second I `
` had disinterred the box; then, that it might not be known I `
` had done so, I filled up the hole, threw the spade over the `
` wall, and rushed through the door, which I double-locked, `
` carrying off the key." `
` `
` "Ah," said Monte Cristo "it seems to me this was nothing but `
` murder and robbery." `
` `
` "No, your excellency," returned Bertuccio; "it was a `
` vendetta followed by restitution." `
` `
` "And was the sum a large one?" `
` `
` "It was not money." `
` `
` "Ah, I recollect," replied the count; "did you not say `
` something of an infant?" `
` `
` "Yes, excellency; I hastened to the river, sat down on the `
` bank, and with my knife forced open the lock of the box. In `
` a fine linen cloth was wrapped a new-born child. Its purple `
` visage, and its violet-colored hands showed that it had `
` perished from suffocation, but as it was not yet cold, I `
` hesitated to throw it into the water that ran at my feet. `
` After a moment I fancied that I felt a slight pulsation of `
` the heart, and as I had been assistant at the hospital at `
` Bastia, I did what a doctor would have done -- I inflated `
` the lungs by blowing air into them, and at the expiration of `
` a quarter of an hour, it began to breathe, and cried feebly. `
` In my turn I uttered a cry, but a cry of joy. `God has not `
` cursed me then,' I cried, `since he permits me to save the `
` life of a human creature, in exchange for the life I have `
` taken away.'" `
` `
` "And what did you do with the child?" asked Monte Cristo. `
` "It was an embarrassing load for a man seeking to escape." `
` `
` "I had not for a moment the idea of keeping it, but I knew `
` that at Paris there was an asylum where they receive such `
` creatures. As I passed the city gates I declared that I had `
` found the child on the road, and I inquired where the asylum `
` was; the box confirmed my statement, the linen proved that `
` the infant belonged to wealthy parents, the blood with which `
` I was covered might have proceeded from the child as well as `
` from any one else. No objection was raised, but they pointed `
` out the asylum, which was situated at the upper end of the `
` Rue d'Enfer, and after having taken the precaution of `
` cutting the linen in two pieces, so that one of the two `
` letters which marked it was on the piece wrapped around the `
` child, while the other remained in my possession, I rang the `
` bell, and fled with all speed. A fortnight after I was at `
` Rogliano, and I said to Assunta, -- `Console thyself, `
` sister; Israel is dead, but he is avenged.' She demanded `
` what I meant, and when I had told her all, -- `Giovanni,' `
` said she, `you should have brought this child with you; we `
` would have replaced the parents it has lost, have called it `
` Benedetto, and then, in consequence of this good action, God `
` would have blessed us.' In reply I gave her the half of the `
` linen I had kept in order to reclaim him if we became rich." `
` `
` "What letters were marked on the linen?" said Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "An H and an N, surmounted by a baron's coronet." `
` `
` "By heaven, M. Bertuccio, you make use of heraldic terms; `
` where did you study heraldry?" `
` `
` "In your service, excellency, where everything is learned." `
` `
` "Go on, I am curious to know two things." `
` `
` "What are they, your excellency ?" `
` `
` "What became of this little boy? for I think you told me it `
` was a boy, M. Bertuccio." `
` `
` "No excellency, I do not recollect telling you that." `
` `
` "I thought you did; I must have been mistaken." `
` `
` "No, you were not, for it was in reality a little boy. But `
` your excellency wished to know two things; what was the `
` second?" `
` `
` "The second was the crime of which you were accused when you `
` asked for a confessor, and the Abbe Busoni came to visit you `
` at your request in the prison at Nimes." `
` `
` "The story will be very long, excellency." `
` `
` "What matter? you know I take but little sleep, and I do not `
` suppose you are very much inclined for it either." Bertuccio `
` bowed, and resumed his story. `
` `
` "Partly to drown the recollections of the past that haunted `
` me, partly to supply the wants of the poor widow, I eagerly `
` returned to my trade of smuggler, which had become more easy `
` since that relaxation of the laws which always follows a `
` revolution. The southern districts were ill-watched in `
` particular, in consequence of the disturbances that were `
` perpetually breaking out in Avignon, Nimes, or Uzes. We `
` profited by this respite on the part of the government to `
` make friends everywhere. Since my brother's assassination in `
` the streets of Nimes, I had never entered the town; the `
` result was that the inn-keeper with whom we were connected, `
` seeing that we would no longer come to him, was forced to `
` come to us, and had established a branch to his inn, on the `
` road from Bellegarde to Beaucaire, at the sign of the Pont `
` du Gard. We had thus, at Aigues-Mortes, Martigues, or Bouc, `
` a dozen places where we left our goods, and where, in case `
` of necessity, we concealed ourselves from the gendarmes and `
` custom-house officers. Smuggling is a profitable trade, when `
` a certain degree of vigor and intelligence is employed; as `
` for myself, brought up in the mountains, I had a double `
` motive for fearing the gendarmes and custom-house officers, `
` as my appearance before the judges would cause an inquiry, `
` and an inquiry always looks back into the past. And in my `
` past life they might find something far more grave than the `
` selling of smuggled cigars, or barrels of brandy without a `
` permit. So, preferring death to capture, I accomplished the `
` most astonishing deeds, and which, more than once, showed me `
` that the too great care we take of our bodies is the only `
` obstacle to the success of those projects which require `
` rapid decision, and vigorous and determined execution. In `
` reality, when you have once devoted your life to your `
` enterprises, you are no longer the equal of other men, or, `
` rather, other men are no longer your equals, and whosoever `
` has taken this resolution, feels his strength and resources `
` doubled." `
` `
` "Philosophy, M. Bertuccio," interrupted the Count; "you have `
` done a little of everything in your life." `
` `
` "Oh, excellency," `
` `
` "No, no; but philosophy at half-past ten at night is `
` somewhat late; yet I have no other observation to make, for `
` what you say is correct, which is more than can be said for `
` all philosophy." `
` `
` "My journeys became more and more extensive and more `
` productive. Assunta took care of all, and our little fortune `
` increased. One day as I was setting off on an expedition, `
` `Go,' said she; `at your return I will give you a surprise.' `
` I questioned her, but in vain; she would tell me nothing, `
` and I departed. Our expedition lasted nearly six weeks; we `
` had been to Lucca to take in oil, to Leghorn for English `
` cottons, and we ran our cargo without opposition, and `
` returned home full of joy. When I entered the house, the `
` first thing I beheld in the middle of Assunta's chamber was `
` a cradle that might be called sumptuous compared with the `
` rest of the furniture, and in it a baby seven or eight `
` months old. I uttered a cry of joy; the only moments of `
` sadness I had known since the assassination of the procureur `
` were caused by the recollection that I had abandoned this `
` child. For the assassination itself I had never felt any `
` remorse. Poor Assunta had guessed all. She had profited by `
` my absence, and furnished with the half of the linen, and `
` having written down the day and hour at which I had `
` deposited the child at the asylum, had set off for Paris, `
` and had reclaimed it. No objection was raised, and the `
` infant was given up to her. Ah, I confess, your excellency, `
` when I saw this poor creature sleeping peacefully in its `
` cradle, I felt my eyes filled with tears. `Ah, Assunta,' `
` cried I, `you are an excellent woman, and heaven will bless `
` you.'" `
` `
` "This," said Monte Cristo, "is less correct than your `
` philosophy, -- it is only faith." `
` `
` "Alas, your excellency is right," replied Bertuccio, "and `
` God made this infant the instrument of our punishment. Never `
` did a perverse nature declare itself more prematurely, and `
` yet it was not owing to any fault in his bringing up. He was `
` a most lovely child, with large blue eyes, of that deep `
` color that harmonizes so well with the blond complexion; `
` only his hair, which was too light, gave his face a most `
` singular expression, and added to the vivacity of his look, `
`
` a failure. When he was only a few paces from me, I saw that `
` what I had taken for a weapon was only a spade. I was still `
` unable to divine for what reason M. de Villefort had this `
` spade in his hands, when he stopped close to the thicket `
` where I was, glanced round, and began to dig a hole in the `
` earth. I then perceived that he was hiding something under `
` his mantle, which he laid on the grass in order to dig more `
` freely. Then, I confess, curiosity mingled with hatred; I `
` wished to see what Villefort was going to do there, and I `
` remained motionless, holding my breath. Then an idea crossed `
` my mind, which was confirmed when I saw the procureur lift `
` from under his mantle a box, two feet long, and six or eight `
` inches deep. I let him place the box in the hole he had `
` made, then, while he stamped with his feet to remove all `
` traces of his occupation, I rushed on him and plunged my `
` knife into his breast, exclaiming, -- `I am Giovanni `
` Bertuccio; thy death for my brother's; thy treasure for his `
` widow; thou seest that my vengeance is more complete than I `
` had hoped.' I know not if he heard these words; I think he `
` did not, for he fell without a cry. I felt his blood gush `
` over my face, but I was intoxicated, I was delirious, and `
` the blood refreshed, instead of burning me. In a second I `
` had disinterred the box; then, that it might not be known I `
` had done so, I filled up the hole, threw the spade over the `
` wall, and rushed through the door, which I double-locked, `
` carrying off the key." `
` `
` "Ah," said Monte Cristo "it seems to me this was nothing but `
` murder and robbery." `
` `
` "No, your excellency," returned Bertuccio; "it was a `
` vendetta followed by restitution." `
` `
` "And was the sum a large one?" `
` `
` "It was not money." `
` `
` "Ah, I recollect," replied the count; "did you not say `
` something of an infant?" `
` `
` "Yes, excellency; I hastened to the river, sat down on the `
` bank, and with my knife forced open the lock of the box. In `
` a fine linen cloth was wrapped a new-born child. Its purple `
` visage, and its violet-colored hands showed that it had `
` perished from suffocation, but as it was not yet cold, I `
` hesitated to throw it into the water that ran at my feet. `
` After a moment I fancied that I felt a slight pulsation of `
` the heart, and as I had been assistant at the hospital at `
` Bastia, I did what a doctor would have done -- I inflated `
` the lungs by blowing air into them, and at the expiration of `
` a quarter of an hour, it began to breathe, and cried feebly. `
` In my turn I uttered a cry, but a cry of joy. `God has not `
` cursed me then,' I cried, `since he permits me to save the `
` life of a human creature, in exchange for the life I have `
` taken away.'" `
` `
` "And what did you do with the child?" asked Monte Cristo. `
` "It was an embarrassing load for a man seeking to escape." `
` `
` "I had not for a moment the idea of keeping it, but I knew `
` that at Paris there was an asylum where they receive such `
` creatures. As I passed the city gates I declared that I had `
` found the child on the road, and I inquired where the asylum `
` was; the box confirmed my statement, the linen proved that `
` the infant belonged to wealthy parents, the blood with which `
` I was covered might have proceeded from the child as well as `
` from any one else. No objection was raised, but they pointed `
` out the asylum, which was situated at the upper end of the `
` Rue d'Enfer, and after having taken the precaution of `
` cutting the linen in two pieces, so that one of the two `
` letters which marked it was on the piece wrapped around the `
` child, while the other remained in my possession, I rang the `
` bell, and fled with all speed. A fortnight after I was at `
` Rogliano, and I said to Assunta, -- `Console thyself, `
` sister; Israel is dead, but he is avenged.' She demanded `
` what I meant, and when I had told her all, -- `Giovanni,' `
` said she, `you should have brought this child with you; we `
` would have replaced the parents it has lost, have called it `
` Benedetto, and then, in consequence of this good action, God `
` would have blessed us.' In reply I gave her the half of the `
` linen I had kept in order to reclaim him if we became rich." `
` `
` "What letters were marked on the linen?" said Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "An H and an N, surmounted by a baron's coronet." `
` `
` "By heaven, M. Bertuccio, you make use of heraldic terms; `
` where did you study heraldry?" `
` `
` "In your service, excellency, where everything is learned." `
` `
` "Go on, I am curious to know two things." `
` `
` "What are they, your excellency ?" `
` `
` "What became of this little boy? for I think you told me it `
` was a boy, M. Bertuccio." `
` `
` "No excellency, I do not recollect telling you that." `
` `
` "I thought you did; I must have been mistaken." `
` `
` "No, you were not, for it was in reality a little boy. But `
` your excellency wished to know two things; what was the `
` second?" `
` `
` "The second was the crime of which you were accused when you `
` asked for a confessor, and the Abbe Busoni came to visit you `
` at your request in the prison at Nimes." `
` `
` "The story will be very long, excellency." `
` `
` "What matter? you know I take but little sleep, and I do not `
` suppose you are very much inclined for it either." Bertuccio `
` bowed, and resumed his story. `
` `
` "Partly to drown the recollections of the past that haunted `
` me, partly to supply the wants of the poor widow, I eagerly `
` returned to my trade of smuggler, which had become more easy `
` since that relaxation of the laws which always follows a `
` revolution. The southern districts were ill-watched in `
` particular, in consequence of the disturbances that were `
` perpetually breaking out in Avignon, Nimes, or Uzes. We `
` profited by this respite on the part of the government to `
` make friends everywhere. Since my brother's assassination in `
` the streets of Nimes, I had never entered the town; the `
` result was that the inn-keeper with whom we were connected, `
` seeing that we would no longer come to him, was forced to `
` come to us, and had established a branch to his inn, on the `
` road from Bellegarde to Beaucaire, at the sign of the Pont `
` du Gard. We had thus, at Aigues-Mortes, Martigues, or Bouc, `
` a dozen places where we left our goods, and where, in case `
` of necessity, we concealed ourselves from the gendarmes and `
` custom-house officers. Smuggling is a profitable trade, when `
` a certain degree of vigor and intelligence is employed; as `
` for myself, brought up in the mountains, I had a double `
` motive for fearing the gendarmes and custom-house officers, `
` as my appearance before the judges would cause an inquiry, `
` and an inquiry always looks back into the past. And in my `
` past life they might find something far more grave than the `
` selling of smuggled cigars, or barrels of brandy without a `
` permit. So, preferring death to capture, I accomplished the `
` most astonishing deeds, and which, more than once, showed me `
` that the too great care we take of our bodies is the only `
` obstacle to the success of those projects which require `
` rapid decision, and vigorous and determined execution. In `
` reality, when you have once devoted your life to your `
` enterprises, you are no longer the equal of other men, or, `
` rather, other men are no longer your equals, and whosoever `
` has taken this resolution, feels his strength and resources `
` doubled." `
` `
` "Philosophy, M. Bertuccio," interrupted the Count; "you have `
` done a little of everything in your life." `
` `
` "Oh, excellency," `
` `
` "No, no; but philosophy at half-past ten at night is `
` somewhat late; yet I have no other observation to make, for `
` what you say is correct, which is more than can be said for `
` all philosophy." `
` `
` "My journeys became more and more extensive and more `
` productive. Assunta took care of all, and our little fortune `
` increased. One day as I was setting off on an expedition, `
` `Go,' said she; `at your return I will give you a surprise.' `
` I questioned her, but in vain; she would tell me nothing, `
` and I departed. Our expedition lasted nearly six weeks; we `
` had been to Lucca to take in oil, to Leghorn for English `
` cottons, and we ran our cargo without opposition, and `
` returned home full of joy. When I entered the house, the `
` first thing I beheld in the middle of Assunta's chamber was `
` a cradle that might be called sumptuous compared with the `
` rest of the furniture, and in it a baby seven or eight `
` months old. I uttered a cry of joy; the only moments of `
` sadness I had known since the assassination of the procureur `
` were caused by the recollection that I had abandoned this `
` child. For the assassination itself I had never felt any `
` remorse. Poor Assunta had guessed all. She had profited by `
` my absence, and furnished with the half of the linen, and `
` having written down the day and hour at which I had `
` deposited the child at the asylum, had set off for Paris, `
` and had reclaimed it. No objection was raised, and the `
` infant was given up to her. Ah, I confess, your excellency, `
` when I saw this poor creature sleeping peacefully in its `
` cradle, I felt my eyes filled with tears. `Ah, Assunta,' `
` cried I, `you are an excellent woman, and heaven will bless `
` you.'" `
` `
` "This," said Monte Cristo, "is less correct than your `
` philosophy, -- it is only faith." `
` `
` "Alas, your excellency is right," replied Bertuccio, "and `
` God made this infant the instrument of our punishment. Never `
` did a perverse nature declare itself more prematurely, and `
` yet it was not owing to any fault in his bringing up. He was `
` a most lovely child, with large blue eyes, of that deep `
` color that harmonizes so well with the blond complexion; `
` only his hair, which was too light, gave his face a most `
` singular expression, and added to the vivacity of his look, `
`