Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
guarded by the dog, he called to his wife, `Hello, `
` Carconte,' said he, `the worthy priest has not deceived us; `
` the diamond is real.' An exclamation of joy was heard, and `
` the staircase creaked beneath a feeble step. `What do you `
` say?' asked his wife, pale as death. `
` `
` "`I say that the diamond is real, and that this gentleman, `
` one of the first jewellers of Paris, will give us 50,000 `
` francs for it. Only, in order to satisfy himself that it `
` really belongs to us, he wishes you to relate to him, as I `
` have done already, the miraculous manner in which the `
` diamond came into our possession. In the meantime please to `
` sit down, monsieur, and I will fetch you some refreshment.' `
` The jeweller examined attentively the interior of the inn `
` and the apparent poverty of the persons who were about to `
` sell him a diamond that seemed to have come from the casket `
` of a prince. `Relate your story, madame,' said he, wishing, `
` no doubt, to profit by the absence of the husband, so that `
` the latter could not influence the wife's story, to see if `
` the two recitals tallied. `
` `
` "`Oh,' returned she, `it was a gift of heaven. My husband `
` was a great friend, in 1814 or 1815, of a sailor named `
` Edmond Dantes. This poor fellow, whom Caderousse had `
` forgotten, had not forgotten him, and at his death he `
` bequeathed this diamond to him.' -- `But how did he obtain `
` it?' asked the jeweller; `had he it before he was `
` imprisoned?' -- `No, monsieur; but it appears that in prison `
` he made the acquaintance of a rich Englishman, and as in `
` prison he fell sick, and Dantes took the same care of him as `
` if he had been his brother, the Englishman, when he was set `
` free, gave this stone to Dantes, who, less fortunate, died, `
` and, in his turn, left it to us, and charged the excellent `
` abbe, who was here this morning, to deliver it.' -- `The `
` same story,' muttered the jeweller; `and improbable as it `
` seemed at first, it may be true. There's only the price we `
` are not agreed about.' -- `How not agreed about?' said `
` Caderousse. `I thought we agreed for the price I asked.' -- `
` `That is,' replied the jeweller, `I offered 40,000 francs.' `
` -- `Forty thousand,' cried La Carconte; `we will not part `
` with it for that sum. The abbe told us it was worth 50,000 `
` without the setting.' `
` `
` "`What was the abbe's name?' asked the indefatigable `
` questioner. -- `The Abbe Busoni,' said La Carconte. -- `He `
` was a foreigner?' -- `An Italian, from the neighborhood of `
` Mantua, I believe.' -- `Let me see this diamond again,' `
` replied the jeweller; `the first time you are often mistaken `
` as to the value of a stone.' Caderousse took from his pocket `
` a small case of black shagreen, opened, and gave it to the `
` jeweller. At the sight of the diamond, which was as large as `
` a hazel-nut, La Carconte's eyes sparkled with cupidity." `
` `
` "And what did you think of this fine story, eavesdropper?" `
` said Monte Cristo; "did you credit it?" `
` `
` "Yes, your excellency. I did not look on Caderousse as a bad `
` man, and I thought him incapable of committing a crime, or `
` even a theft." `
` `
` "That did more honor to your heart than to your experience, `
` M. Bertuccio. Had you known this Edmond Dantes, of whom they `
` spoke?" `
` `
` "No, your excellency, I had never heard of him before, and `
` never but once afterwards, and that was from the Abbe Busoni `
` himself, when I saw him in the prison at Nimes." `
` `
` "Go on." `
` `
` "The jeweller took the ring, and drawing from his pocket a `
` pair of steel pliers and a small set of copper scales, he `
` took the stone out of its setting, and weighed it carefully. `
` `I will give you 45,000,' said he, `but not a sou more; `
` besides, as that is the exact value of the stone, I brought `
` just that sum with me.' -- `Oh, that's no matter,' replied `
` Caderousse, `I will go back with you to fetch the other `
` 5,000 francs.' -- `No,' returned the jeweller, giving back `
` the diamond and the ring to Caderousse -- `no, it is worth `
` no more, and I am sorry I offered so much, for the stone has `
` a flaw in it, which I had not seen. However, I will not go `
` back on my word, and I will give 45,000.' -- `At least, `
` replace the diamond in the ring,' said La Carconte sharply. `
` -- `Ah, true,' replied the jeweller, and he reset the stone. `
` -- `No matter,' observed Caderousse, replacing the box in `
` his pocket, `some one else will purchase it.' -- `Yes,' `
` continued the jeweller; `but some one else will not be so `
` easy as I am, or content himself with the same story. It is `
` not natural that a man like you should possess such a `
` diamond. He will inform against you. You will have to find `
` the Abbe Busoni; and abbes who give diamonds worth two `
` thousand louis are rare. The law would seize it, and put you `
` in prison; if at the end of three or four months you are set `
` at liberty, the ring will be lost, or a false stone, worth `
` three francs, will be given you, instead of a diamond worth `
` 50,000 or perhaps 55,000 francs; from which you must allow `
` that one runs considerable risk in purchasing.' Caderousse `
` and his wife looked eagerly at each other. -- `No,' said `
` Caderousse, `we are not rich enough to lose 5,000 francs.' `
` -- `As you please, my dear sir,' said the, jeweller; `I had, `
` however, as you see, brought you the money in bright coin.' `
` And he drew from his pocket a handful of gold, and held it `
` sparkling before the dazzled eyes of the innkeeper, and in `
` the other hand he held a packet of bank-notes. `
` `
` "There was evidently a severe struggle in the mind of `
` Caderousse; it was plain that the small shagreen case, which `
` he turned over and over in his hand, did not seem to him `
` commensurate in value to the enormous sum which fascinated `
` his gaze. He turned towards his wife. `What do you think of `
` this?' he asked in a low voice. -- `Let him have it -- let `
` him have it,' she said. `If he returns to Beaucaire without `
` the diamond, he will inform against us, and, as he says, who `
` knows if we shall ever again see the Abbe Busoni? -- in all `
` probability we shall never see him.' -- `Well, then, so I `
` will!' said Caderousse; `so you may have the diamond for `
` 45,000 francs. But my wife wants a gold chain, and I want a `
` pair of silver buckles.' The jeweller drew from his pocket a `
` long flat box, which contained several samples of the `
` articles demanded. `Here,' he said, `I am very `
` straightforward in my dealings -- take your choice.' The `
` woman selected a gold chain worth about five louis, and the `
` husband a pair of buckles, worth perhaps fifteen francs. -- `
` `I hope you will not complain now?' said the jeweller. `
` `
` "`The abbe told me it was worth 50,000 francs,' muttered `
` Caderousse. `Come, come -- give it to me! What a strange `
` fellow you are,' said the jeweller, taking the diamond from `
` his hand. `I give you 45,000 francs -- that is, 2,500 livres `
` of income, -- a fortune such as I wish I had myself, and you `
` are not satisfied!' -- `And the five and forty thousand `
` francs,' inquired Caderousse in a hoarse voice, `where are `
` they? Come -- let us see them.' -- `Here they are,' replied `
` the jeweller, and he counted out upon the table 15,000 `
` francs in gold, and 30,000 francs in bank-notes. `
` `
` "`Wait while I light the lamp,' said La Carconte; `it is `
` growing dark, and there may be some mistake.' In fact, night `
` had come on during this conversation, and with night the `
` storm which had been threatening for the last half-hour. The `
` thunder growled in the distance; but it was apparently not `
` heard by the jeweller, Caderousse, or La Carconte, absorbed `
` as they were all three with the demon of gain. I myself `
` felt; a strange kind of fascination at the sight of all this `
` gold and all these bank-notes; it seemed to me that I was in `
` a dream, and, as it always happens in a dream, I felt myself `
` riveted to the spot. Caderousse counted and again counted `
` the gold and the notes, then handed them to his wife, who `
` counted and counted them again in her turn. During this `
` time, the jeweller made the diamond play and sparkle in the `
` lamplight, and the gem threw out jets of light which made `
` him unmindful of those which -- precursors of the storm -- `
` began to play in at the windows. `Well,' inquired the `
` jeweller, `is the cash all right?' `
` `
` "`Yes,' said Caderousse. `Give me the pocket-book, La `
` Carconte, and find a bag somewhere.' `
` `
` "La Carconte went to a cupboard, and returned with an old `
` leathern pocket-book and a bag. From the former she took `
` some greasy letters, and put in their place the bank-notes, `
` and from the bag took two or three crowns of six livres `
` each, which, in all probability, formed the entire fortune `
` of the miserable couple. `There,' said Caderousse; `and now, `
` although you have wronged us of perhaps 10,000 francs, will `
` you have your supper with us? I invite you with good-will.' `
` -- `Thank you,' replied the jeweller, `it must be getting `
` late, and I must return to Beaucaire -- my wife will be `
` getting uneasy.' He drew out his watch, and exclaimed, `
` `Morbleu, nearly nine o'clock -- why, I shall not get back `
` to Beaucaire before midnight! Good-night, my friends. If the `
` Abbe Busoni should by any accident return, think of me.' -- `
` `In another week you will have left Beaucaire.' remarked `
` Caderousse, `for the fair ends in a few days.' -- `True, but `
` that makes no difference. Write to me at Paris, to M. `
` Joannes, in the Palais Royal, arcade Pierre, No. 45. I will `
` make the journey on purpose to see him, if it is worth `
` while.' At this moment there was a tremendous clap of `
` thunder, accompanied by a flash of lightning so vivid, that `
` it quite eclipsed the light of the lamp. `
` `
` "`See here,' exclaimed Caderousse. `You cannot think of `
` going out in such weather as this.' -- `Oh, I am not afraid `
` of thunder,' said the jeweller. -- `And then there are `
` robbers,' said La Carconte. `The road is never very safe `
` during fair time.' -- `Oh, as to the robbers,' said Joannes, `
` `here is something for them,' and he drew from his pocket a `
` pair of small pistols, loaded to the muzzle. `Here,' said `
` he, `are dogs who bark and bite at the same time, they are `
` for the two first who shall have a longing for your diamond, `
` Friend Caderousse.' `
` `
` "Caderousse and his wife again interchanged a meaning look. `
` It seemed as though they were both inspired at the same time `
` with some horrible thought. `Well, then, a good journey to `
` you,' said Caderousse. -- `Thanks,' replied the jeweller. He `
` then took his cane, which he had placed against an old `
` cupboard, and went out. At the moment when he opened the `
` door, such a gust of wind came in that the lamp was nearly `
` extinguished. `Oh,' said he, `this is very nice weather, and `
` two leagues to go in such a storm.' -- `Remain,' said `
`
` Carconte,' said he, `the worthy priest has not deceived us; `
` the diamond is real.' An exclamation of joy was heard, and `
` the staircase creaked beneath a feeble step. `What do you `
` say?' asked his wife, pale as death. `
` `
` "`I say that the diamond is real, and that this gentleman, `
` one of the first jewellers of Paris, will give us 50,000 `
` francs for it. Only, in order to satisfy himself that it `
` really belongs to us, he wishes you to relate to him, as I `
` have done already, the miraculous manner in which the `
` diamond came into our possession. In the meantime please to `
` sit down, monsieur, and I will fetch you some refreshment.' `
` The jeweller examined attentively the interior of the inn `
` and the apparent poverty of the persons who were about to `
` sell him a diamond that seemed to have come from the casket `
` of a prince. `Relate your story, madame,' said he, wishing, `
` no doubt, to profit by the absence of the husband, so that `
` the latter could not influence the wife's story, to see if `
` the two recitals tallied. `
` `
` "`Oh,' returned she, `it was a gift of heaven. My husband `
` was a great friend, in 1814 or 1815, of a sailor named `
` Edmond Dantes. This poor fellow, whom Caderousse had `
` forgotten, had not forgotten him, and at his death he `
` bequeathed this diamond to him.' -- `But how did he obtain `
` it?' asked the jeweller; `had he it before he was `
` imprisoned?' -- `No, monsieur; but it appears that in prison `
` he made the acquaintance of a rich Englishman, and as in `
` prison he fell sick, and Dantes took the same care of him as `
` if he had been his brother, the Englishman, when he was set `
` free, gave this stone to Dantes, who, less fortunate, died, `
` and, in his turn, left it to us, and charged the excellent `
` abbe, who was here this morning, to deliver it.' -- `The `
` same story,' muttered the jeweller; `and improbable as it `
` seemed at first, it may be true. There's only the price we `
` are not agreed about.' -- `How not agreed about?' said `
` Caderousse. `I thought we agreed for the price I asked.' -- `
` `That is,' replied the jeweller, `I offered 40,000 francs.' `
` -- `Forty thousand,' cried La Carconte; `we will not part `
` with it for that sum. The abbe told us it was worth 50,000 `
` without the setting.' `
` `
` "`What was the abbe's name?' asked the indefatigable `
` questioner. -- `The Abbe Busoni,' said La Carconte. -- `He `
` was a foreigner?' -- `An Italian, from the neighborhood of `
` Mantua, I believe.' -- `Let me see this diamond again,' `
` replied the jeweller; `the first time you are often mistaken `
` as to the value of a stone.' Caderousse took from his pocket `
` a small case of black shagreen, opened, and gave it to the `
` jeweller. At the sight of the diamond, which was as large as `
` a hazel-nut, La Carconte's eyes sparkled with cupidity." `
` `
` "And what did you think of this fine story, eavesdropper?" `
` said Monte Cristo; "did you credit it?" `
` `
` "Yes, your excellency. I did not look on Caderousse as a bad `
` man, and I thought him incapable of committing a crime, or `
` even a theft." `
` `
` "That did more honor to your heart than to your experience, `
` M. Bertuccio. Had you known this Edmond Dantes, of whom they `
` spoke?" `
` `
` "No, your excellency, I had never heard of him before, and `
` never but once afterwards, and that was from the Abbe Busoni `
` himself, when I saw him in the prison at Nimes." `
` `
` "Go on." `
` `
` "The jeweller took the ring, and drawing from his pocket a `
` pair of steel pliers and a small set of copper scales, he `
` took the stone out of its setting, and weighed it carefully. `
` `I will give you 45,000,' said he, `but not a sou more; `
` besides, as that is the exact value of the stone, I brought `
` just that sum with me.' -- `Oh, that's no matter,' replied `
` Caderousse, `I will go back with you to fetch the other `
` 5,000 francs.' -- `No,' returned the jeweller, giving back `
` the diamond and the ring to Caderousse -- `no, it is worth `
` no more, and I am sorry I offered so much, for the stone has `
` a flaw in it, which I had not seen. However, I will not go `
` back on my word, and I will give 45,000.' -- `At least, `
` replace the diamond in the ring,' said La Carconte sharply. `
` -- `Ah, true,' replied the jeweller, and he reset the stone. `
` -- `No matter,' observed Caderousse, replacing the box in `
` his pocket, `some one else will purchase it.' -- `Yes,' `
` continued the jeweller; `but some one else will not be so `
` easy as I am, or content himself with the same story. It is `
` not natural that a man like you should possess such a `
` diamond. He will inform against you. You will have to find `
` the Abbe Busoni; and abbes who give diamonds worth two `
` thousand louis are rare. The law would seize it, and put you `
` in prison; if at the end of three or four months you are set `
` at liberty, the ring will be lost, or a false stone, worth `
` three francs, will be given you, instead of a diamond worth `
` 50,000 or perhaps 55,000 francs; from which you must allow `
` that one runs considerable risk in purchasing.' Caderousse `
` and his wife looked eagerly at each other. -- `No,' said `
` Caderousse, `we are not rich enough to lose 5,000 francs.' `
` -- `As you please, my dear sir,' said the, jeweller; `I had, `
` however, as you see, brought you the money in bright coin.' `
` And he drew from his pocket a handful of gold, and held it `
` sparkling before the dazzled eyes of the innkeeper, and in `
` the other hand he held a packet of bank-notes. `
` `
` "There was evidently a severe struggle in the mind of `
` Caderousse; it was plain that the small shagreen case, which `
` he turned over and over in his hand, did not seem to him `
` commensurate in value to the enormous sum which fascinated `
` his gaze. He turned towards his wife. `What do you think of `
` this?' he asked in a low voice. -- `Let him have it -- let `
` him have it,' she said. `If he returns to Beaucaire without `
` the diamond, he will inform against us, and, as he says, who `
` knows if we shall ever again see the Abbe Busoni? -- in all `
` probability we shall never see him.' -- `Well, then, so I `
` will!' said Caderousse; `so you may have the diamond for `
` 45,000 francs. But my wife wants a gold chain, and I want a `
` pair of silver buckles.' The jeweller drew from his pocket a `
` long flat box, which contained several samples of the `
` articles demanded. `Here,' he said, `I am very `
` straightforward in my dealings -- take your choice.' The `
` woman selected a gold chain worth about five louis, and the `
` husband a pair of buckles, worth perhaps fifteen francs. -- `
` `I hope you will not complain now?' said the jeweller. `
` `
` "`The abbe told me it was worth 50,000 francs,' muttered `
` Caderousse. `Come, come -- give it to me! What a strange `
` fellow you are,' said the jeweller, taking the diamond from `
` his hand. `I give you 45,000 francs -- that is, 2,500 livres `
` of income, -- a fortune such as I wish I had myself, and you `
` are not satisfied!' -- `And the five and forty thousand `
` francs,' inquired Caderousse in a hoarse voice, `where are `
` they? Come -- let us see them.' -- `Here they are,' replied `
` the jeweller, and he counted out upon the table 15,000 `
` francs in gold, and 30,000 francs in bank-notes. `
` `
` "`Wait while I light the lamp,' said La Carconte; `it is `
` growing dark, and there may be some mistake.' In fact, night `
` had come on during this conversation, and with night the `
` storm which had been threatening for the last half-hour. The `
` thunder growled in the distance; but it was apparently not `
` heard by the jeweller, Caderousse, or La Carconte, absorbed `
` as they were all three with the demon of gain. I myself `
` felt; a strange kind of fascination at the sight of all this `
` gold and all these bank-notes; it seemed to me that I was in `
` a dream, and, as it always happens in a dream, I felt myself `
` riveted to the spot. Caderousse counted and again counted `
` the gold and the notes, then handed them to his wife, who `
` counted and counted them again in her turn. During this `
` time, the jeweller made the diamond play and sparkle in the `
` lamplight, and the gem threw out jets of light which made `
` him unmindful of those which -- precursors of the storm -- `
` began to play in at the windows. `Well,' inquired the `
` jeweller, `is the cash all right?' `
` `
` "`Yes,' said Caderousse. `Give me the pocket-book, La `
` Carconte, and find a bag somewhere.' `
` `
` "La Carconte went to a cupboard, and returned with an old `
` leathern pocket-book and a bag. From the former she took `
` some greasy letters, and put in their place the bank-notes, `
` and from the bag took two or three crowns of six livres `
` each, which, in all probability, formed the entire fortune `
` of the miserable couple. `There,' said Caderousse; `and now, `
` although you have wronged us of perhaps 10,000 francs, will `
` you have your supper with us? I invite you with good-will.' `
` -- `Thank you,' replied the jeweller, `it must be getting `
` late, and I must return to Beaucaire -- my wife will be `
` getting uneasy.' He drew out his watch, and exclaimed, `
` `Morbleu, nearly nine o'clock -- why, I shall not get back `
` to Beaucaire before midnight! Good-night, my friends. If the `
` Abbe Busoni should by any accident return, think of me.' -- `
` `In another week you will have left Beaucaire.' remarked `
` Caderousse, `for the fair ends in a few days.' -- `True, but `
` that makes no difference. Write to me at Paris, to M. `
` Joannes, in the Palais Royal, arcade Pierre, No. 45. I will `
` make the journey on purpose to see him, if it is worth `
` while.' At this moment there was a tremendous clap of `
` thunder, accompanied by a flash of lightning so vivid, that `
` it quite eclipsed the light of the lamp. `
` `
` "`See here,' exclaimed Caderousse. `You cannot think of `
` going out in such weather as this.' -- `Oh, I am not afraid `
` of thunder,' said the jeweller. -- `And then there are `
` robbers,' said La Carconte. `The road is never very safe `
` during fair time.' -- `Oh, as to the robbers,' said Joannes, `
` `here is something for them,' and he drew from his pocket a `
` pair of small pistols, loaded to the muzzle. `Here,' said `
` he, `are dogs who bark and bite at the same time, they are `
` for the two first who shall have a longing for your diamond, `
` Friend Caderousse.' `
` `
` "Caderousse and his wife again interchanged a meaning look. `
` It seemed as though they were both inspired at the same time `
` with some horrible thought. `Well, then, a good journey to `
` you,' said Caderousse. -- `Thanks,' replied the jeweller. He `
` then took his cane, which he had placed against an old `
` cupboard, and went out. At the moment when he opened the `
` door, such a gust of wind came in that the lamp was nearly `
` extinguished. `Oh,' said he, `this is very nice weather, and `
` two leagues to go in such a storm.' -- `Remain,' said `
`