Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
yet without which you could not for a moment exist?" `
` `
` "Then we do not see those beings to whom you allude?" `
` `
` "Yes, we do; you see them whenever God pleases to allow them `
` to assume a material form. You touch them, come in contact `
` with them, speak to them, and they reply to you." `
` `
` "Ah," said Villefort, smiling, "I confess I should like to `
` be warned when one of these beings is in contact with me." `
` `
` "You have been served as you desire, monsieur, for you were `
` warned just now, and I now again warn you." `
` `
` "Then you yourself are one of these marked beings?" `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur, I believe so; for until now, no man has `
` found himself in a position similar to mine. The dominions `
` of kings are limited either by mountains or rivers, or a `
` change of manners, or an alteration of language. My kingdom `
` is bounded only by the world, for I am not an Italian, or a `
` Frenchman, or a Hindu, or an American, or a Spaniard -- I am `
` a cosmopolite. No country can say it saw my birth. God alone `
` knows what country will see me die. I adopt all customs, `
` speak all languages. You believe me to be a Frenchman, for I `
` speak French with the same facility and purity as yourself. `
` Well, Ali, my Nubian, believes me to be an Arab; Bertuccio, `
` my steward, takes me for a Roman; Haidee, my slave, thinks `
` me a Greek. You may, therefore, comprehend, that being of no `
` country, asking no protection from any government, `
` acknowledging no man as my brother, not one of the scruples `
` that arrest the powerful, or the obstacles which paralyze `
` the weak, paralyzes or arrests me. I have only two `
` adversaries -- I will not say two conquerors, for with `
` perseverance I subdue even them, -- they are time and `
` distance. There is a third, and the most terrible -- that is `
` my condition as a mortal being. This alone can stop me in my `
` onward career, before I have attained the goal at which I `
` aim, for all the rest I have reduced to mathematical terms. `
` What men call the chances of fate -- namely, ruin, change, `
` circumstances -- I have fully anticipated, and if any of `
` these should overtake me, yet it will not overwhelm me. `
` Unless I die, I shall always be what I am, and therefore it `
` is that I utter the things you have never heard, even from `
` the mouths of kings -- for kings have need, and other `
` persons have fear of you. For who is there who does not say `
` to himself, in a society as incongruously organized as ours, `
` `Perhaps some day I shall have to do with the king's `
` attorney'?" `
` `
` "But can you not say that, sir? The moment you become an `
` inhabitant of France, you are naturally subjected to the `
` French law." `
` `
` "I know it sir," replied Monte Cristo; "but when I visit a `
` country I begin to study, by all the means which are `
` available, the men from whom I may have anything to hope or `
` to fear, till I know them as well as, perhaps better than, `
` they know themselves. It follows from this, that the king's `
` attorney, be he who he may, with whom I should have to deal, `
` would assuredly be more embarrassed than I should." `
` `
` "That is to say," replied Villefort with hesitation, "that `
` human nature being weak, every man, according to your creed, `
` has committed faults." `
` `
` "Faults or crimes," responded Monte Cristo with a negligent `
` air. `
` `
` "And that you alone, amongst the men whom you do not `
` recognize as your brothers -- for you have said so," `
` observed Villefort in a tone that faltered somewhat -- "you `
` alone are perfect." `
` `
` "No, not perfect," was the count's reply; "only `
` impenetrable, that's all. But let us leave off this strain, `
` sir, if the tone of it is displeasing to you; I am no more `
` disturbed by your justice than are you by my second-sight." `
` `
` "No, no, -- by no means," said Villefort, who was afraid of `
` seeming to abandon his ground. "No; by your brilliant and `
` almost sublime conversation you have elevated me above the `
` ordinary level; we no longer talk, we rise to dissertation. `
` But you know how the theologians in their collegiate chairs, `
` and philosophers in their controversies, occasionally say `
` cruel truths; let us suppose for the moment that we are `
` theologizing in a social way, or even philosophically, and I `
` will say to you, rude as it may seem, `My brother, you `
` sacrifice greatly to pride; you may be above others, but `
` above you there is God.'" `
` `
` "Above us all, sir," was Monte Cristo's response, in a tone `
` and with an emphasis so deep that Villefort involuntarily `
` shuddered. "I have my pride for men -- serpents always ready `
` to threaten every one who would pass without crushing them `
` under foot. But I lay aside that pride before God, who has `
` taken me from nothing to make me what I am." `
` `
` "Then, count, I admire you," said Villefort, who, for the `
` first time in this strange conversation, used the `
` aristocratic form to the unknown personage, whom, until now, `
` he had only called monsieur. "Yes, and I say to you, if you `
` are really strong, really superior, really pious, or `
` impenetrable, which you were right in saying amounts to the `
` same thing -- then be proud, sir, for that is the `
` characteristic of predominance. Yet you have unquestionably `
` some ambition." `
` `
` "I have, sir." `
` `
` "And what may it be?" `
` `
` "I too, as happens to every man once in his life, have been `
` taken by Satan into the highest mountain in the earth, and `
` when there he showed me all the kingdoms of the world, and `
` as he said before, so said he to me, `Child of earth, what `
` wouldst thou have to make thee adore me?' I reflected long, `
` for a gnawing ambition had long preyed upon me, and then I `
` replied, `Listen, -- I have always heard of providence, and `
` yet I have never seen him, or anything that resembles him, `
` or which can make me believe that he exists. I wish to be `
` providence myself, for I feel that the most beautiful, `
` noblest, most sublime thing in the world, is to recompense `
` and punish.' Satan bowed his head, and groaned. `You `
` mistake,' he said, `providence does exist, only you have `
` never seen him, because the child of God is as invisible as `
` the parent. You have seen nothing that resembles him, `
` because he works by secret springs, and moves by hidden `
` ways. All I can do for you is to make you one of the agents `
` of that providence.' The bargain was concluded. I may `
` sacrifice my soul, but what matters it?" added Monte Cristo. `
` "If the thing were to do again, I would again do it." `
` Villefort looked at Monte Cristo with extreme amazement. `
` "Count," he inquired, "have you any relations?" `
` `
` "No, sir, I am alone in the world." `
` `
` "So much the worse." `
` `
` "Why?" asked Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "Because then you might witness a spectacle calculated to `
` break down your pride. You say you fear nothing but death?" `
` `
` "I did not say that I feared it; I only said that death `
` alone could check the execution of my plans." `
` `
` "And old age?" `
` `
` "My end will be achieved before I grow old." `
` `
` "And madness?" `
` `
` "I have been nearly mad; and you know the axiom, -- non bis `
` in idem. It is an axiom of criminal law, and, consequently, `
` you understand its full application." `
` `
` "Sir," continued Villefort, "there is something to fear `
` besides death, old age, and madness. For instance, there is `
` apoplexy -- that lightning-stroke which strikes but does not `
` destroy you, and yet which brings everything to an end. You `
` are still yourself as now, and yet you are yourself no `
` longer; you who, like Ariel, verge on the angelic, are but `
` an inert mass, which, like Caliban, verges on the brutal; `
` and this is called in human tongues, as I tell you, neither `
` more nor less than apoplexy. Come, if so you will, count, `
` and continue this conversation at my house, any day you may `
` be willing to see an adversary capable of understanding and `
` anxious to refute you, and I will show you my father, M. `
` Noirtier de Villefort, one of the most fiery Jacobins of the `
` French Revolution; that is to say, he had the most `
` remarkable audacity, seconded by a most powerful `
` organization -- a man who has not, perhaps, like yourself `
` seen all the kingdoms of the earth, but who has helped to `
` overturn one of the greatest; in fact, a man who believed `
` himself, like you, one of the envoys, not of God, but of a `
` supreme being; not of providence, but of fate. Well, sir, `
` the rupture of a blood-vessel on the lobe of the brain has `
` destroyed all this, not in a day, not in an hour, but in a `
` second. M. Noirtier, who, on the previous night, was the old `
` Jacobin, the old senator, the old Carbonaro, laughing at the `
` guillotine, the cannon, and the dagger -- M. Noirtier, `
` playing with revolutions -- M. Noirtier, for whom France was `
` a vast chess-board, from which pawns, rooks, knights, and `
` queens were to disappear, so that the king was checkmated -- `
` M. Noirtier, the redoubtable, was the next morning `poor M. `
` Noirtier,' the helpless old man, at the tender mercies of `
` the weakest creature in the household, that is, his `
` grandchild, Valentine; a dumb and frozen carcass, in fact, `
` living painlessly on, that time may be given for his frame `
` to decompose without his consciousness of its decay." `
` `
` "Alas, sir," said Monte Cristo "this spectacle is neither `
` strange to my eye nor my thought. I am something of a `
` physician, and have, like my fellows, sought more than once `
` for the soul in living and in dead matter; yet, like `
` providence, it has remained invisible to my eyes, although `
` present to my heart. A hundred writers since Socrates, `
` Seneca, St. Augustine, and Gall, have made, in verse and `
` prose, the comparison you have made, and yet I can well `
` understand that a father's sufferings may effect great `
`
` `
` "Then we do not see those beings to whom you allude?" `
` `
` "Yes, we do; you see them whenever God pleases to allow them `
` to assume a material form. You touch them, come in contact `
` with them, speak to them, and they reply to you." `
` `
` "Ah," said Villefort, smiling, "I confess I should like to `
` be warned when one of these beings is in contact with me." `
` `
` "You have been served as you desire, monsieur, for you were `
` warned just now, and I now again warn you." `
` `
` "Then you yourself are one of these marked beings?" `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur, I believe so; for until now, no man has `
` found himself in a position similar to mine. The dominions `
` of kings are limited either by mountains or rivers, or a `
` change of manners, or an alteration of language. My kingdom `
` is bounded only by the world, for I am not an Italian, or a `
` Frenchman, or a Hindu, or an American, or a Spaniard -- I am `
` a cosmopolite. No country can say it saw my birth. God alone `
` knows what country will see me die. I adopt all customs, `
` speak all languages. You believe me to be a Frenchman, for I `
` speak French with the same facility and purity as yourself. `
` Well, Ali, my Nubian, believes me to be an Arab; Bertuccio, `
` my steward, takes me for a Roman; Haidee, my slave, thinks `
` me a Greek. You may, therefore, comprehend, that being of no `
` country, asking no protection from any government, `
` acknowledging no man as my brother, not one of the scruples `
` that arrest the powerful, or the obstacles which paralyze `
` the weak, paralyzes or arrests me. I have only two `
` adversaries -- I will not say two conquerors, for with `
` perseverance I subdue even them, -- they are time and `
` distance. There is a third, and the most terrible -- that is `
` my condition as a mortal being. This alone can stop me in my `
` onward career, before I have attained the goal at which I `
` aim, for all the rest I have reduced to mathematical terms. `
` What men call the chances of fate -- namely, ruin, change, `
` circumstances -- I have fully anticipated, and if any of `
` these should overtake me, yet it will not overwhelm me. `
` Unless I die, I shall always be what I am, and therefore it `
` is that I utter the things you have never heard, even from `
` the mouths of kings -- for kings have need, and other `
` persons have fear of you. For who is there who does not say `
` to himself, in a society as incongruously organized as ours, `
` `Perhaps some day I shall have to do with the king's `
` attorney'?" `
` `
` "But can you not say that, sir? The moment you become an `
` inhabitant of France, you are naturally subjected to the `
` French law." `
` `
` "I know it sir," replied Monte Cristo; "but when I visit a `
` country I begin to study, by all the means which are `
` available, the men from whom I may have anything to hope or `
` to fear, till I know them as well as, perhaps better than, `
` they know themselves. It follows from this, that the king's `
` attorney, be he who he may, with whom I should have to deal, `
` would assuredly be more embarrassed than I should." `
` `
` "That is to say," replied Villefort with hesitation, "that `
` human nature being weak, every man, according to your creed, `
` has committed faults." `
` `
` "Faults or crimes," responded Monte Cristo with a negligent `
` air. `
` `
` "And that you alone, amongst the men whom you do not `
` recognize as your brothers -- for you have said so," `
` observed Villefort in a tone that faltered somewhat -- "you `
` alone are perfect." `
` `
` "No, not perfect," was the count's reply; "only `
` impenetrable, that's all. But let us leave off this strain, `
` sir, if the tone of it is displeasing to you; I am no more `
` disturbed by your justice than are you by my second-sight." `
` `
` "No, no, -- by no means," said Villefort, who was afraid of `
` seeming to abandon his ground. "No; by your brilliant and `
` almost sublime conversation you have elevated me above the `
` ordinary level; we no longer talk, we rise to dissertation. `
` But you know how the theologians in their collegiate chairs, `
` and philosophers in their controversies, occasionally say `
` cruel truths; let us suppose for the moment that we are `
` theologizing in a social way, or even philosophically, and I `
` will say to you, rude as it may seem, `My brother, you `
` sacrifice greatly to pride; you may be above others, but `
` above you there is God.'" `
` `
` "Above us all, sir," was Monte Cristo's response, in a tone `
` and with an emphasis so deep that Villefort involuntarily `
` shuddered. "I have my pride for men -- serpents always ready `
` to threaten every one who would pass without crushing them `
` under foot. But I lay aside that pride before God, who has `
` taken me from nothing to make me what I am." `
` `
` "Then, count, I admire you," said Villefort, who, for the `
` first time in this strange conversation, used the `
` aristocratic form to the unknown personage, whom, until now, `
` he had only called monsieur. "Yes, and I say to you, if you `
` are really strong, really superior, really pious, or `
` impenetrable, which you were right in saying amounts to the `
` same thing -- then be proud, sir, for that is the `
` characteristic of predominance. Yet you have unquestionably `
` some ambition." `
` `
` "I have, sir." `
` `
` "And what may it be?" `
` `
` "I too, as happens to every man once in his life, have been `
` taken by Satan into the highest mountain in the earth, and `
` when there he showed me all the kingdoms of the world, and `
` as he said before, so said he to me, `Child of earth, what `
` wouldst thou have to make thee adore me?' I reflected long, `
` for a gnawing ambition had long preyed upon me, and then I `
` replied, `Listen, -- I have always heard of providence, and `
` yet I have never seen him, or anything that resembles him, `
` or which can make me believe that he exists. I wish to be `
` providence myself, for I feel that the most beautiful, `
` noblest, most sublime thing in the world, is to recompense `
` and punish.' Satan bowed his head, and groaned. `You `
` mistake,' he said, `providence does exist, only you have `
` never seen him, because the child of God is as invisible as `
` the parent. You have seen nothing that resembles him, `
` because he works by secret springs, and moves by hidden `
` ways. All I can do for you is to make you one of the agents `
` of that providence.' The bargain was concluded. I may `
` sacrifice my soul, but what matters it?" added Monte Cristo. `
` "If the thing were to do again, I would again do it." `
` Villefort looked at Monte Cristo with extreme amazement. `
` "Count," he inquired, "have you any relations?" `
` `
` "No, sir, I am alone in the world." `
` `
` "So much the worse." `
` `
` "Why?" asked Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "Because then you might witness a spectacle calculated to `
` break down your pride. You say you fear nothing but death?" `
` `
` "I did not say that I feared it; I only said that death `
` alone could check the execution of my plans." `
` `
` "And old age?" `
` `
` "My end will be achieved before I grow old." `
` `
` "And madness?" `
` `
` "I have been nearly mad; and you know the axiom, -- non bis `
` in idem. It is an axiom of criminal law, and, consequently, `
` you understand its full application." `
` `
` "Sir," continued Villefort, "there is something to fear `
` besides death, old age, and madness. For instance, there is `
` apoplexy -- that lightning-stroke which strikes but does not `
` destroy you, and yet which brings everything to an end. You `
` are still yourself as now, and yet you are yourself no `
` longer; you who, like Ariel, verge on the angelic, are but `
` an inert mass, which, like Caliban, verges on the brutal; `
` and this is called in human tongues, as I tell you, neither `
` more nor less than apoplexy. Come, if so you will, count, `
` and continue this conversation at my house, any day you may `
` be willing to see an adversary capable of understanding and `
` anxious to refute you, and I will show you my father, M. `
` Noirtier de Villefort, one of the most fiery Jacobins of the `
` French Revolution; that is to say, he had the most `
` remarkable audacity, seconded by a most powerful `
` organization -- a man who has not, perhaps, like yourself `
` seen all the kingdoms of the earth, but who has helped to `
` overturn one of the greatest; in fact, a man who believed `
` himself, like you, one of the envoys, not of God, but of a `
` supreme being; not of providence, but of fate. Well, sir, `
` the rupture of a blood-vessel on the lobe of the brain has `
` destroyed all this, not in a day, not in an hour, but in a `
` second. M. Noirtier, who, on the previous night, was the old `
` Jacobin, the old senator, the old Carbonaro, laughing at the `
` guillotine, the cannon, and the dagger -- M. Noirtier, `
` playing with revolutions -- M. Noirtier, for whom France was `
` a vast chess-board, from which pawns, rooks, knights, and `
` queens were to disappear, so that the king was checkmated -- `
` M. Noirtier, the redoubtable, was the next morning `poor M. `
` Noirtier,' the helpless old man, at the tender mercies of `
` the weakest creature in the household, that is, his `
` grandchild, Valentine; a dumb and frozen carcass, in fact, `
` living painlessly on, that time may be given for his frame `
` to decompose without his consciousness of its decay." `
` `
` "Alas, sir," said Monte Cristo "this spectacle is neither `
` strange to my eye nor my thought. I am something of a `
` physician, and have, like my fellows, sought more than once `
` for the soul in living and in dead matter; yet, like `
` providence, it has remained invisible to my eyes, although `
` present to my heart. A hundred writers since Socrates, `
` Seneca, St. Augustine, and Gall, have made, in verse and `
` prose, the comparison you have made, and yet I can well `
` understand that a father's sufferings may effect great `
`