Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
visit. Ali was his principal attendant during this nocturnal `
` survey. Having given various orders to Bertuccio relative to `
` the improvements and alterations he desired to make in the `
` house, the Count, drawing out his watch, said to the `
` attentive Nubian, "It is half-past eleven o'clock; Haidee `
` will soon he here. Have the French attendants been summoned `
` to await her coming?" Ali extended his hands towards the `
` apartments destined for the fair Greek, which were so `
` effectually concealed by means of a tapestried entrance, `
` that it would have puzzled the most curious to have divined `
` their existence. Ali, having pointed to the apartments, held `
` up three fingers of his right hand, and then, placing it `
` beneath his head, shut his eyes, and feigned to sleep. "I `
` understand," said Monte Cristo, well acquainted with Ali's `
` pantomime; "you mean to tell me that three female attendants `
` await their new mistress in her sleeping-chamber." Ali, with `
` considerable animation, made a sign in the affirmative. `
` `
` "Madame will be tired to-night," continued Monte Cristo, `
` "and will, no doubt, wish to rest. Desire the French `
` attendants not to weary her with questions, but merely to `
` pay their respectful duty and retire. You will also see that `
` the Greek servants hold no communication with those of this `
` country." He bowed. Just at that moment voices were heard `
` hailing the concierge. The gate opened, a carriage rolled `
` down the avenue, and stopped at the steps. The count hastily `
` descended, presented himself at the already opened carriage `
` door, and held out his hand to a young woman, completely `
` enveloped in a green silk mantle heavily embroidered with `
` gold. She raised the hand extended towards her to her lips, `
` and kissed it with a mixture of love and respect. Some few `
` words passed between them in that sonorous language in which `
` Homer makes his gods converse. The young woman spoke with an `
` expression of deep tenderness, while the count replied with `
` an air of gentle gravity. Preceded by Ali, who carried a `
` rose-colored flambeau in his hand, the new-comer, who was no `
` other than the lovely Greek who had been Monte Cristo's `
` companion in Italy, was conducted to her apartments, while `
` the count retired to the pavilion reserved for himself. In `
` another hour every light in the house was extinguished, and `
` it might have been thought that all its inmates slept. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 46 `
` Unlimited Credit. `
` `
` About two o'clock the following day a calash, drawn by a `
` pair of magnificent English horses, stopped at the door of `
` Monte Cristo and a person, dressed in a blue coat, with `
` buttons of a similar color, a white waistcoat, over which `
` was displayed a massive gold chain, brown trousers, and a `
` quantity of black hair descending so low over his eyebrows `
` as to leave it doubtful whether it were not artificial so `
` little did its jetty glossiness assimilate with the deep `
` wrinkles stamped on his features -- a person, in a word, `
` who, although evidently past fifty, desired to be taken for `
` not more than forty, bent forwards from the carriage door, `
` on the panels of which were emblazoned the armorial bearings `
` of a baron, and directed his groom to inquire at the `
` porter's lodge whether the Count of Monte Cristo resided `
` there, and if he were within. While waiting, the occupant of `
` the carriage surveyed the house, the garden as far as he `
` could distinguish it, and the livery of servants who passed `
` to and fro, with an attention so close as to be somewhat `
` impertinent. His glance was keen but showed cunning rather `
` than intelligence; his lips were straight, and so thin that, `
` as they closed, they were drawn in over the teeth; his `
` cheek-bones were broad and projecting, a never-failing proof `
` of audacity and craftiness; while the flatness of his `
` forehead, and the enlargement of the back of his skull, `
` which rose much higher than his large and coarsely shaped `
` ears, combined to form a physiognomy anything but `
` prepossessing, save in the eyes of such as considered that `
` the owner of so splendid an equipage must needs be all that `
` was admirable and enviable, more especially when they gazed `
` on the enormous diamond that glittered in his shirt, and the `
` red ribbon that depended from his button-hole. `
` `
` The groom, in obedience to his orders, tapped at the window `
` of the porter's lodge, saying, "Pray, does not the Count of `
` Monte Cristo live here?" `
` `
` "His excellency does reside here," replied the concierge; `
` "but" -- added he, glancing an inquiring look at Ali. Ali `
` returned a sign in the negative. "But what?" asked the `
` groom. `
` `
` "His excellency does not receive visitors to-day." `
` `
` "Then here is my master's card, -- the Baron Danglars. You `
` will take it to the count, and say that, although in haste `
` to attend the Chamber, my master came out of his way to have `
` the honor of calling upon him." `
` `
` "I never speak to his excellency," replied the concierge; `
` "the valet de chambre will carry your message." The groom `
` returned to the carriage. "Well?" asked Danglars. The man, `
` somewhat crest-fallen by the rebuke he had received, `
` repeated what the concierge had said. "Bless me," murmured `
` Baron Danglars, "this must surely be a prince instead of a `
` count by their styling him `excellency,' and only venturing `
` to address him by the medium of his valet de chambre. `
` However, it does not signify; he has a letter of credit on `
` me, so I must see him when he requires his money." `
` `
` Then, throwing himself back in his carriage, Danglars called `
` out to his coachman, in a voice that might be heard across `
` the road, "To the Chamber of Deputies." `
` `
` Apprised in time of the visit paid him, Monte Cristo had, `
` from behind the blinds of his pavilion, as minutely observed `
` the baron, by means of an excellent lorgnette, as Danglars `
` himself had scrutinized the house, garden, and servants. `
` "That fellow has a decidedly bad countenance," said the `
` count in a tone of disgust, as he shut up his glass into its `
` ivory case. "How comes it that all do not retreat in `
` aversion at sight of that flat, receding, serpent-like `
` forehead, round, vulture-shaped head, and sharp-hooked nose, `
` like the beak of a buzzard? Ali," cried he, striking at the `
` same time on the brazen gong. Ali appeared. "Summon `
` Bertuccio," said the count. Almost immediately Bertuccio `
` entered the apartment. "Did your excellency desire to see `
` me?" inquired he. "I did," replied the count. "You no doubt `
` observed the horses standing a few minutes since at the `
` door?" `
` `
` "Certainly, your excellency. I noticed them for their `
` remarkable beauty." `
` `
` "Then how comes it," said Monte Cristo with a frown, "that, `
` when I desired you to purchase for me the finest pair of `
` horses to be found in Paris, there is another pair, fully as `
` fine as mine, not in my stables?" At the look of `
` displeasure, added to the angry tone in which the count `
` spoke, Ali turned pale and held down his head. "It is not `
` your fault, my good Ali," said the count in the Arabic `
` language, and with a gentleness none would have thought him `
` capable of showing, either in voice or face -- "it is not `
` your fault. You do not understand the points of English `
` horses." The countenance of poor Ali recovered its serenity. `
` "Permit me to assure your excellency," said Bertuccio, "that `
` the horses you speak of were not to be sold when I purchased `
` yours." Monte Cristo shrugged his shoulders. "It seems, sir `
` steward," said he, "that you have yet to learn that all `
` things are to be sold to such as care to pay the price." `
` `
` "His excellency is not, perhaps, aware that M. Danglars gave `
` 16,000 francs for his horses?" `
` `
` "Very well. Then offer him double that sum; a banker never `
` loses an opportunity of doubling his capital." `
` `
` "Is your excellency really in earnest?" inquired the `
` steward. Monte Cristo regarded the person who durst presume `
` to doubt his words with the look of one equally surprised `
` and displeased. "I have to pay a visit this evening," `
` replied he. "I desire that these horses, with completely new `
` harness, may be at the door with my carriage." Bertuccio `
` bowed, and was about to retire; but when he reached the `
` door, he paused, and then said, "At what o'clock does your `
` excellency wish the carriage and horses to be ready?" `
` `
` "At five o'clock," replied the count. `
` `
` "I beg your excellency's pardon," interposed the steward in `
` a deprecating manner, "for venturing to observe that it is `
` already two o'clock." `
` `
` "I am perfectly aware of that fact," answered Monte Cristo `
` calmly. Then, turning towards Ali, he said, "Let all the `
` horses in my stables be led before the windows of your young `
` lady, that she may select those she prefers for her `
` carriage. Request her also to oblige me by saying whether it `
` is her pleasure to dine with me; if so, let dinner be served `
` in her apartments. Now, leave me, and desire my valet de `
` chambre to come hither." Scarcely had Ali disappeared when `
` the valet entered the chamber. "Monsieur Baptistin," said `
` the count, "you have been in my service one year, the time I `
` generally give myself to judge of the merits or demerits of `
` those about me. You suit me very well." Baptistin bowed low. `
` "It only remains for me to know whether I also suit you?" `
` `
` "Oh, your excellency!" exclaimed Baptistin eagerly. `
` `
` "Listen, if you please, till I have finished speaking," `
` replied Monte Cristo. "You receive 1,500 francs per annum `
` for your services here -- more than many a brave subaltern, `
` who continually risks his life for his country, obtains. You `
` live in a manner far superior to many clerks who work ten `
` times harder than you do for their money. Then, though `
` yourself a servant, you have other servants to wait upon `
` you, take care of your clothes, and see that your linen is `
` duly prepared for you. Again, you make a profit upon each `
` article you purchase for my toilet, amounting in the course `
` of a year to a sum equalling your wages." `
` `
` "Nay, indeed, your excellency." `
` `
` "I am not condemning you for this, Monsieur Baptistin; but `
` let your profits end here. It would be long indeed ere you `
`
` survey. Having given various orders to Bertuccio relative to `
` the improvements and alterations he desired to make in the `
` house, the Count, drawing out his watch, said to the `
` attentive Nubian, "It is half-past eleven o'clock; Haidee `
` will soon he here. Have the French attendants been summoned `
` to await her coming?" Ali extended his hands towards the `
` apartments destined for the fair Greek, which were so `
` effectually concealed by means of a tapestried entrance, `
` that it would have puzzled the most curious to have divined `
` their existence. Ali, having pointed to the apartments, held `
` up three fingers of his right hand, and then, placing it `
` beneath his head, shut his eyes, and feigned to sleep. "I `
` understand," said Monte Cristo, well acquainted with Ali's `
` pantomime; "you mean to tell me that three female attendants `
` await their new mistress in her sleeping-chamber." Ali, with `
` considerable animation, made a sign in the affirmative. `
` `
` "Madame will be tired to-night," continued Monte Cristo, `
` "and will, no doubt, wish to rest. Desire the French `
` attendants not to weary her with questions, but merely to `
` pay their respectful duty and retire. You will also see that `
` the Greek servants hold no communication with those of this `
` country." He bowed. Just at that moment voices were heard `
` hailing the concierge. The gate opened, a carriage rolled `
` down the avenue, and stopped at the steps. The count hastily `
` descended, presented himself at the already opened carriage `
` door, and held out his hand to a young woman, completely `
` enveloped in a green silk mantle heavily embroidered with `
` gold. She raised the hand extended towards her to her lips, `
` and kissed it with a mixture of love and respect. Some few `
` words passed between them in that sonorous language in which `
` Homer makes his gods converse. The young woman spoke with an `
` expression of deep tenderness, while the count replied with `
` an air of gentle gravity. Preceded by Ali, who carried a `
` rose-colored flambeau in his hand, the new-comer, who was no `
` other than the lovely Greek who had been Monte Cristo's `
` companion in Italy, was conducted to her apartments, while `
` the count retired to the pavilion reserved for himself. In `
` another hour every light in the house was extinguished, and `
` it might have been thought that all its inmates slept. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 46 `
` Unlimited Credit. `
` `
` About two o'clock the following day a calash, drawn by a `
` pair of magnificent English horses, stopped at the door of `
` Monte Cristo and a person, dressed in a blue coat, with `
` buttons of a similar color, a white waistcoat, over which `
` was displayed a massive gold chain, brown trousers, and a `
` quantity of black hair descending so low over his eyebrows `
` as to leave it doubtful whether it were not artificial so `
` little did its jetty glossiness assimilate with the deep `
` wrinkles stamped on his features -- a person, in a word, `
` who, although evidently past fifty, desired to be taken for `
` not more than forty, bent forwards from the carriage door, `
` on the panels of which were emblazoned the armorial bearings `
` of a baron, and directed his groom to inquire at the `
` porter's lodge whether the Count of Monte Cristo resided `
` there, and if he were within. While waiting, the occupant of `
` the carriage surveyed the house, the garden as far as he `
` could distinguish it, and the livery of servants who passed `
` to and fro, with an attention so close as to be somewhat `
` impertinent. His glance was keen but showed cunning rather `
` than intelligence; his lips were straight, and so thin that, `
` as they closed, they were drawn in over the teeth; his `
` cheek-bones were broad and projecting, a never-failing proof `
` of audacity and craftiness; while the flatness of his `
` forehead, and the enlargement of the back of his skull, `
` which rose much higher than his large and coarsely shaped `
` ears, combined to form a physiognomy anything but `
` prepossessing, save in the eyes of such as considered that `
` the owner of so splendid an equipage must needs be all that `
` was admirable and enviable, more especially when they gazed `
` on the enormous diamond that glittered in his shirt, and the `
` red ribbon that depended from his button-hole. `
` `
` The groom, in obedience to his orders, tapped at the window `
` of the porter's lodge, saying, "Pray, does not the Count of `
` Monte Cristo live here?" `
` `
` "His excellency does reside here," replied the concierge; `
` "but" -- added he, glancing an inquiring look at Ali. Ali `
` returned a sign in the negative. "But what?" asked the `
` groom. `
` `
` "His excellency does not receive visitors to-day." `
` `
` "Then here is my master's card, -- the Baron Danglars. You `
` will take it to the count, and say that, although in haste `
` to attend the Chamber, my master came out of his way to have `
` the honor of calling upon him." `
` `
` "I never speak to his excellency," replied the concierge; `
` "the valet de chambre will carry your message." The groom `
` returned to the carriage. "Well?" asked Danglars. The man, `
` somewhat crest-fallen by the rebuke he had received, `
` repeated what the concierge had said. "Bless me," murmured `
` Baron Danglars, "this must surely be a prince instead of a `
` count by their styling him `excellency,' and only venturing `
` to address him by the medium of his valet de chambre. `
` However, it does not signify; he has a letter of credit on `
` me, so I must see him when he requires his money." `
` `
` Then, throwing himself back in his carriage, Danglars called `
` out to his coachman, in a voice that might be heard across `
` the road, "To the Chamber of Deputies." `
` `
` Apprised in time of the visit paid him, Monte Cristo had, `
` from behind the blinds of his pavilion, as minutely observed `
` the baron, by means of an excellent lorgnette, as Danglars `
` himself had scrutinized the house, garden, and servants. `
` "That fellow has a decidedly bad countenance," said the `
` count in a tone of disgust, as he shut up his glass into its `
` ivory case. "How comes it that all do not retreat in `
` aversion at sight of that flat, receding, serpent-like `
` forehead, round, vulture-shaped head, and sharp-hooked nose, `
` like the beak of a buzzard? Ali," cried he, striking at the `
` same time on the brazen gong. Ali appeared. "Summon `
` Bertuccio," said the count. Almost immediately Bertuccio `
` entered the apartment. "Did your excellency desire to see `
` me?" inquired he. "I did," replied the count. "You no doubt `
` observed the horses standing a few minutes since at the `
` door?" `
` `
` "Certainly, your excellency. I noticed them for their `
` remarkable beauty." `
` `
` "Then how comes it," said Monte Cristo with a frown, "that, `
` when I desired you to purchase for me the finest pair of `
` horses to be found in Paris, there is another pair, fully as `
` fine as mine, not in my stables?" At the look of `
` displeasure, added to the angry tone in which the count `
` spoke, Ali turned pale and held down his head. "It is not `
` your fault, my good Ali," said the count in the Arabic `
` language, and with a gentleness none would have thought him `
` capable of showing, either in voice or face -- "it is not `
` your fault. You do not understand the points of English `
` horses." The countenance of poor Ali recovered its serenity. `
` "Permit me to assure your excellency," said Bertuccio, "that `
` the horses you speak of were not to be sold when I purchased `
` yours." Monte Cristo shrugged his shoulders. "It seems, sir `
` steward," said he, "that you have yet to learn that all `
` things are to be sold to such as care to pay the price." `
` `
` "His excellency is not, perhaps, aware that M. Danglars gave `
` 16,000 francs for his horses?" `
` `
` "Very well. Then offer him double that sum; a banker never `
` loses an opportunity of doubling his capital." `
` `
` "Is your excellency really in earnest?" inquired the `
` steward. Monte Cristo regarded the person who durst presume `
` to doubt his words with the look of one equally surprised `
` and displeased. "I have to pay a visit this evening," `
` replied he. "I desire that these horses, with completely new `
` harness, may be at the door with my carriage." Bertuccio `
` bowed, and was about to retire; but when he reached the `
` door, he paused, and then said, "At what o'clock does your `
` excellency wish the carriage and horses to be ready?" `
` `
` "At five o'clock," replied the count. `
` `
` "I beg your excellency's pardon," interposed the steward in `
` a deprecating manner, "for venturing to observe that it is `
` already two o'clock." `
` `
` "I am perfectly aware of that fact," answered Monte Cristo `
` calmly. Then, turning towards Ali, he said, "Let all the `
` horses in my stables be led before the windows of your young `
` lady, that she may select those she prefers for her `
` carriage. Request her also to oblige me by saying whether it `
` is her pleasure to dine with me; if so, let dinner be served `
` in her apartments. Now, leave me, and desire my valet de `
` chambre to come hither." Scarcely had Ali disappeared when `
` the valet entered the chamber. "Monsieur Baptistin," said `
` the count, "you have been in my service one year, the time I `
` generally give myself to judge of the merits or demerits of `
` those about me. You suit me very well." Baptistin bowed low. `
` "It only remains for me to know whether I also suit you?" `
` `
` "Oh, your excellency!" exclaimed Baptistin eagerly. `
` `
` "Listen, if you please, till I have finished speaking," `
` replied Monte Cristo. "You receive 1,500 francs per annum `
` for your services here -- more than many a brave subaltern, `
` who continually risks his life for his country, obtains. You `
` live in a manner far superior to many clerks who work ten `
` times harder than you do for their money. Then, though `
` yourself a servant, you have other servants to wait upon `
` you, take care of your clothes, and see that your linen is `
` duly prepared for you. Again, you make a profit upon each `
` article you purchase for my toilet, amounting in the course `
` of a year to a sum equalling your wages." `
` `
` "Nay, indeed, your excellency." `
` `
` "I am not condemning you for this, Monsieur Baptistin; but `
` let your profits end here. It would be long indeed ere you `
`