Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
returning home. Anticipating your wishes, I have desired the `
` same horses you came with to be put to one of my carriages, `
` and Ali, he whom you think so very ugly," continued he, `
` addressing the boy with a smiling air, "will have the honor `
` of driving you home, while your coachman remains here to `
` attend to the necessary repairs of your calash. As soon as `
` that important business is concluded, I will have a pair of `
` my own horses harnessed to convey it direct to Madame `
` Danglars." `
` `
` "I dare not return with those dreadful horses," said Madame `
` de Villefort. `
` `
` "You will see," replied Monte Cristo, "that they will be as `
` different as possible in the hands of Ali. With him they `
` will be gentle and docile as lambs." Ali had, indeed, given `
` proof of this; for, approaching the animals, who had been `
` got upon their legs with considerable difficulty, he rubbed `
` their foreheads and nostrils with a sponge soaked in `
` aromatic vinegar, and wiped off the sweat and foam that `
` covered their mouths. Then, commencing a loud whistling `
` noise, he rubbed them well all over their bodies for several `
` minutes; then, undisturbed by the noisy crowd collected `
` round the broken carriage, Ali quietly harnessed the `
` pacified animals to the count's chariot, took the reins in `
` his hands, and mounted the box, when to the utter `
` astonishment of those who had witnessed the ungovernable `
` spirit and maddened speed of the same horses, he was `
` actually compelled to apply his whip in no very gentle `
` manner before he could induce them to start; and even then `
` all that could be obtained from the celebrated "dappled `
` grays," now changed into a couple of dull, sluggish, stupid `
` brutes, was a slow, pottering pace, kept up with so much `
` difficulty that Madame de Villefort was more than two hours `
` returning to her residence in the Faubourg St. Honore. `
` `
` Scarcely had the first congratulations upon her marvellous `
` escape been gone through when she wrote the following letter `
` to Madame Danglars: -- `
` `
` Dear Hermine, -- I have just had a wonderful escape from the `
` most imminent danger, and I owe my safety to the very Count `
` of Monte Cristo we were talking about yesterday, but whom I `
` little expected to see to-day. I remember how unmercifully I `
` laughed at what I considered your eulogistic and exaggerated `
` praises of him; but I have now ample cause to admit that `
` your enthusiastic description of this wonderful man fell far `
` short of his merits. Your horses got as far as Ranelagh, `
` when they darted forward like mad things, and galloped away `
` at so fearful a rate, that there seemed no other prospect `
` for myself and my poor Edward but that of being dashed to `
` pieces against the first object that impeded their progress, `
` when a strange-looking man, -- an Arab, a negro, or a `
` Nubian, at least a black of some nation or other -- at a `
` signal from the count, whose domestic he is, suddenly seized `
` and stopped the infuriated animals, even at the risk of `
` being trampled to death himself; and certainly he must have `
` had a most wonderful escape. The count then hastened to us, `
` and took us into his house, where he speedily recalled my `
` poor Edward to life. He sent us home in his own carriage. `
` Yours will be returned to you to-morrow. You will find your `
` horses in bad condition, from the results of this accident; `
` they seem thoroughly stupefied, as if sulky and vexed at `
` having been conquered by man. The count, however, his `
` commissioned me to assure you that two or three days' rest, `
` with plenty of barley for their sole food during that time, `
` will bring them back to as fine, that is as terrifying, a `
` condition as they were in yesterday. Adieu! I cannot return `
` you many thanks for the drive of yesterday; but, after all, `
` I ought not to blame you for the misconduct of your horses, `
` more especially as it procured me the pleasure of an `
` introduction to the Count of Monte Cristo, -- and certainly `
` that illustrious personage, apart from the millions he is `
` said to be so very anxious to dispose of, seemed to me one `
` of those curiously interesting problems I, for one, delight `
` in solving at any risk, even if it were to necessitate `
` another drive to the Bois behind your horses. Edward endured `
` the accident with miraculous courage -- he did not utter a `
` single cry, but fell lifeless into my arms; nor did a tear `
` fall from his eyes after it was over. I doubt not you will `
` consider these praises the result of blind maternal `
` affection, but there is a soul of iron in that delicate, `
` fragile body. Valentine sends many affectionate remembrances `
` to your dear Eugenie. I embrace you with all my heart. `
` `
` Heloise de Villefort. `
` `
` P.S. -- Do pray contrive some means for me to meet the Count `
` of Monte Cristo at your house. I must and will see him `
` again. I have just made M. de Villefort promise to call on `
` him, and I hope the visit will be returned. `
` `
` That night the adventure at Auteuil was talked of `
` everywhere. Albert related it to his mother; Chateau-Renaud `
` recounted it at the Jockey Club, and Debray detailed it at `
` length in the salons of the minister; even Beauchamp `
` accorded twenty lines in his journal to the relation of the `
` count's courage and gallantry, thereby celebrating him as `
` the greatest hero of the day in the eyes of all the feminine `
` members of the aristocracy. Vast was the crowd of visitors `
` and inquiring friends who left their names at the residence `
` of Madame de Villefort, with the design of renewing their `
` visit at the right moment, of hearing from her lips all the `
` interesting circumstances of this most romantic adventure. `
` As for M. de Villefort, he fulfilled the predictions of `
` Heloise to the letter, -- donned his dress suit, drew on a `
` pair of white gloves, ordered the servants to attend the `
` carriage dressed in their full livery, and drove that same `
` night to No. 30 in the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 48 `
` Ideology. `
` `
` If the Count of Monte Cristo had been for a long time `
` familiar with the ways of Parisian society, he would have `
` appreciated better the significance of the step which M. de `
` Villefort had taken. Standing well at court, whether the `
` king regnant was of the older or younger branch, whether the `
` government was doctrinaire liberal, or conservative; looked `
` upon by all as a man of talent, since those who have never `
` experienced a political check are generally so regarded; `
` hated by many, but warmly supported by others, without being `
` really liked by anybody, M. de Villefort held a high `
` position in the magistracy, and maintained his eminence like `
` a Harlay or a Mole. His drawing-room, under the regenerating `
` influence of a young wife and a daughter by his first `
` marriage, scarcely eighteen, was still one of the `
` well-regulated Paris salons where the worship of traditional `
` customs and the observance of rigid etiquette were carefully `
` maintained. A freezing politeness, a strict fidelity to `
` government principles, a profound contempt for theories and `
` theorists, a deep-seated hatred of ideality, -- these were `
` the elements of private and public life displayed by M. de `
` Villefort. `
` `
` He was not only a magistrate, he was almost a diplomatist. `
` His relations with the former court, of which he always `
` spoke with dignity and respect, made him respected by the `
` new one, and he knew so many things, that not only was he `
` always carefully considered, but sometimes consulted. `
` Perhaps this would not have been so had it been possible to `
` get rid of M. de Villefort; but, like the feudal barons who `
` rebelled against their sovereign, he dwelt in an impregnable `
` fortress. This fortress was his post as king's attorney, all `
` the advantages of which he exploited with marvellous skill, `
` and which he would not have resigned but to be made deputy, `
` and thus to replace neutrality by opposition. Ordinarily M. `
` de Villefort made and returned very few visits. His wife `
` visited for him, and this was the received thing in the `
` world, where the weighty and multifarious occupations of the `
` magistrate were accepted as an excuse for what was really `
` only calculated pride, a manifestation of professed `
` superiority -- in fact, the application of the axiom, `
` "Pretend to think well of yourself, and the world will think `
` well of you," an axiom a hundred times more useful in `
` society nowadays than that of the Greeks, "Know thyself," a `
` knowledge for which, in our days, we have substituted the `
` less difficult and more advantageous science of knowing `
` others. `
` `
` To his friends M. de Villefort was a powerful protector; to `
` his enemies, he was a silent, but bitter opponent; for those `
` who were neither the one nor the other, he was a statue of `
` the law-made man. He had a haughty bearing, a look either `
` steady and impenetrable or insolently piercing and `
` inquisitorial. Four successive revolutions had built and `
` cemented the pedestal upon which his fortune was based. M. `
` de Villefort had the reputation of being the least curious `
` and the least wearisome man in France. He gave a ball every `
` year, at which he appeared for a quarter of an hour only, -- `
` that is to say, five and forty minutes less than the king is `
` visible at his balls. He was never seen at the theatres, at `
` concerts, or in any place of public resort. Occasionally, `
` but seldom, he played at whist, and then care was taken to `
` select partners worthy of him -- sometimes they were `
` ambassadors, sometimes archbishops, or sometimes a prince, `
` or a president, or some dowager duchess. Such was the man `
` whose carriage had just now stopped before the Count of `
` Monte Cristo's door. The valet de chambre announced M. de `
` Villefort at the moment when the count, leaning over a large `
` table, was tracing on a map the route from St. Petersburg to `
` China. `
` `
` The procureur entered with the same grave and measured step `
` he would have employed in entering a court of justice. He `
` was the same man, or rather the development of the same man, `
` whom we have heretofore seen as assistant attorney at `
` Marseilles. Nature, according to her way, had made no `
` deviation in the path he had marked out for himself. From `
` being slender he had now become meagre; once pale, he was `
` now yellow; his deep-set eyes were hollow, and the gold `
` spectacles shielding his eyes seemed to be an integral `
` portion of his face. He dressed entirely in black, with the `
` exception of his white tie, and his funeral appearance was `
` only mitigated by the slight line of red ribbon which passed `
` almost imperceptibly through his button-hole, and appeared `
` like a streak of blood traced with a delicate brush. `
` Although master of himself, Monte Cristo, scrutinized with `
` irrepressible curiosity the magistrate whose salute he `
`
` same horses you came with to be put to one of my carriages, `
` and Ali, he whom you think so very ugly," continued he, `
` addressing the boy with a smiling air, "will have the honor `
` of driving you home, while your coachman remains here to `
` attend to the necessary repairs of your calash. As soon as `
` that important business is concluded, I will have a pair of `
` my own horses harnessed to convey it direct to Madame `
` Danglars." `
` `
` "I dare not return with those dreadful horses," said Madame `
` de Villefort. `
` `
` "You will see," replied Monte Cristo, "that they will be as `
` different as possible in the hands of Ali. With him they `
` will be gentle and docile as lambs." Ali had, indeed, given `
` proof of this; for, approaching the animals, who had been `
` got upon their legs with considerable difficulty, he rubbed `
` their foreheads and nostrils with a sponge soaked in `
` aromatic vinegar, and wiped off the sweat and foam that `
` covered their mouths. Then, commencing a loud whistling `
` noise, he rubbed them well all over their bodies for several `
` minutes; then, undisturbed by the noisy crowd collected `
` round the broken carriage, Ali quietly harnessed the `
` pacified animals to the count's chariot, took the reins in `
` his hands, and mounted the box, when to the utter `
` astonishment of those who had witnessed the ungovernable `
` spirit and maddened speed of the same horses, he was `
` actually compelled to apply his whip in no very gentle `
` manner before he could induce them to start; and even then `
` all that could be obtained from the celebrated "dappled `
` grays," now changed into a couple of dull, sluggish, stupid `
` brutes, was a slow, pottering pace, kept up with so much `
` difficulty that Madame de Villefort was more than two hours `
` returning to her residence in the Faubourg St. Honore. `
` `
` Scarcely had the first congratulations upon her marvellous `
` escape been gone through when she wrote the following letter `
` to Madame Danglars: -- `
` `
` Dear Hermine, -- I have just had a wonderful escape from the `
` most imminent danger, and I owe my safety to the very Count `
` of Monte Cristo we were talking about yesterday, but whom I `
` little expected to see to-day. I remember how unmercifully I `
` laughed at what I considered your eulogistic and exaggerated `
` praises of him; but I have now ample cause to admit that `
` your enthusiastic description of this wonderful man fell far `
` short of his merits. Your horses got as far as Ranelagh, `
` when they darted forward like mad things, and galloped away `
` at so fearful a rate, that there seemed no other prospect `
` for myself and my poor Edward but that of being dashed to `
` pieces against the first object that impeded their progress, `
` when a strange-looking man, -- an Arab, a negro, or a `
` Nubian, at least a black of some nation or other -- at a `
` signal from the count, whose domestic he is, suddenly seized `
` and stopped the infuriated animals, even at the risk of `
` being trampled to death himself; and certainly he must have `
` had a most wonderful escape. The count then hastened to us, `
` and took us into his house, where he speedily recalled my `
` poor Edward to life. He sent us home in his own carriage. `
` Yours will be returned to you to-morrow. You will find your `
` horses in bad condition, from the results of this accident; `
` they seem thoroughly stupefied, as if sulky and vexed at `
` having been conquered by man. The count, however, his `
` commissioned me to assure you that two or three days' rest, `
` with plenty of barley for their sole food during that time, `
` will bring them back to as fine, that is as terrifying, a `
` condition as they were in yesterday. Adieu! I cannot return `
` you many thanks for the drive of yesterday; but, after all, `
` I ought not to blame you for the misconduct of your horses, `
` more especially as it procured me the pleasure of an `
` introduction to the Count of Monte Cristo, -- and certainly `
` that illustrious personage, apart from the millions he is `
` said to be so very anxious to dispose of, seemed to me one `
` of those curiously interesting problems I, for one, delight `
` in solving at any risk, even if it were to necessitate `
` another drive to the Bois behind your horses. Edward endured `
` the accident with miraculous courage -- he did not utter a `
` single cry, but fell lifeless into my arms; nor did a tear `
` fall from his eyes after it was over. I doubt not you will `
` consider these praises the result of blind maternal `
` affection, but there is a soul of iron in that delicate, `
` fragile body. Valentine sends many affectionate remembrances `
` to your dear Eugenie. I embrace you with all my heart. `
` `
` Heloise de Villefort. `
` `
` P.S. -- Do pray contrive some means for me to meet the Count `
` of Monte Cristo at your house. I must and will see him `
` again. I have just made M. de Villefort promise to call on `
` him, and I hope the visit will be returned. `
` `
` That night the adventure at Auteuil was talked of `
` everywhere. Albert related it to his mother; Chateau-Renaud `
` recounted it at the Jockey Club, and Debray detailed it at `
` length in the salons of the minister; even Beauchamp `
` accorded twenty lines in his journal to the relation of the `
` count's courage and gallantry, thereby celebrating him as `
` the greatest hero of the day in the eyes of all the feminine `
` members of the aristocracy. Vast was the crowd of visitors `
` and inquiring friends who left their names at the residence `
` of Madame de Villefort, with the design of renewing their `
` visit at the right moment, of hearing from her lips all the `
` interesting circumstances of this most romantic adventure. `
` As for M. de Villefort, he fulfilled the predictions of `
` Heloise to the letter, -- donned his dress suit, drew on a `
` pair of white gloves, ordered the servants to attend the `
` carriage dressed in their full livery, and drove that same `
` night to No. 30 in the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 48 `
` Ideology. `
` `
` If the Count of Monte Cristo had been for a long time `
` familiar with the ways of Parisian society, he would have `
` appreciated better the significance of the step which M. de `
` Villefort had taken. Standing well at court, whether the `
` king regnant was of the older or younger branch, whether the `
` government was doctrinaire liberal, or conservative; looked `
` upon by all as a man of talent, since those who have never `
` experienced a political check are generally so regarded; `
` hated by many, but warmly supported by others, without being `
` really liked by anybody, M. de Villefort held a high `
` position in the magistracy, and maintained his eminence like `
` a Harlay or a Mole. His drawing-room, under the regenerating `
` influence of a young wife and a daughter by his first `
` marriage, scarcely eighteen, was still one of the `
` well-regulated Paris salons where the worship of traditional `
` customs and the observance of rigid etiquette were carefully `
` maintained. A freezing politeness, a strict fidelity to `
` government principles, a profound contempt for theories and `
` theorists, a deep-seated hatred of ideality, -- these were `
` the elements of private and public life displayed by M. de `
` Villefort. `
` `
` He was not only a magistrate, he was almost a diplomatist. `
` His relations with the former court, of which he always `
` spoke with dignity and respect, made him respected by the `
` new one, and he knew so many things, that not only was he `
` always carefully considered, but sometimes consulted. `
` Perhaps this would not have been so had it been possible to `
` get rid of M. de Villefort; but, like the feudal barons who `
` rebelled against their sovereign, he dwelt in an impregnable `
` fortress. This fortress was his post as king's attorney, all `
` the advantages of which he exploited with marvellous skill, `
` and which he would not have resigned but to be made deputy, `
` and thus to replace neutrality by opposition. Ordinarily M. `
` de Villefort made and returned very few visits. His wife `
` visited for him, and this was the received thing in the `
` world, where the weighty and multifarious occupations of the `
` magistrate were accepted as an excuse for what was really `
` only calculated pride, a manifestation of professed `
` superiority -- in fact, the application of the axiom, `
` "Pretend to think well of yourself, and the world will think `
` well of you," an axiom a hundred times more useful in `
` society nowadays than that of the Greeks, "Know thyself," a `
` knowledge for which, in our days, we have substituted the `
` less difficult and more advantageous science of knowing `
` others. `
` `
` To his friends M. de Villefort was a powerful protector; to `
` his enemies, he was a silent, but bitter opponent; for those `
` who were neither the one nor the other, he was a statue of `
` the law-made man. He had a haughty bearing, a look either `
` steady and impenetrable or insolently piercing and `
` inquisitorial. Four successive revolutions had built and `
` cemented the pedestal upon which his fortune was based. M. `
` de Villefort had the reputation of being the least curious `
` and the least wearisome man in France. He gave a ball every `
` year, at which he appeared for a quarter of an hour only, -- `
` that is to say, five and forty minutes less than the king is `
` visible at his balls. He was never seen at the theatres, at `
` concerts, or in any place of public resort. Occasionally, `
` but seldom, he played at whist, and then care was taken to `
` select partners worthy of him -- sometimes they were `
` ambassadors, sometimes archbishops, or sometimes a prince, `
` or a president, or some dowager duchess. Such was the man `
` whose carriage had just now stopped before the Count of `
` Monte Cristo's door. The valet de chambre announced M. de `
` Villefort at the moment when the count, leaning over a large `
` table, was tracing on a map the route from St. Petersburg to `
` China. `
` `
` The procureur entered with the same grave and measured step `
` he would have employed in entering a court of justice. He `
` was the same man, or rather the development of the same man, `
` whom we have heretofore seen as assistant attorney at `
` Marseilles. Nature, according to her way, had made no `
` deviation in the path he had marked out for himself. From `
` being slender he had now become meagre; once pale, he was `
` now yellow; his deep-set eyes were hollow, and the gold `
` spectacles shielding his eyes seemed to be an integral `
` portion of his face. He dressed entirely in black, with the `
` exception of his white tie, and his funeral appearance was `
` only mitigated by the slight line of red ribbon which passed `
` almost imperceptibly through his button-hole, and appeared `
` like a streak of blood traced with a delicate brush. `
` Although master of himself, Monte Cristo, scrutinized with `
` irrepressible curiosity the magistrate whose salute he `
`