Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
"Oh, things take their course without our assistance. While `
` we are forgetting them, they are falling into their `
` appointed order; and when, again, our attention is directed `
` to them, we are surprised at the progress they have made `
` towards the proposed end. My father and M. Danglars served `
` together in Spain, my father in the army and M. Danglars in `
` the commissariat department. It was there that my father, `
` ruined by the revolution, and M. Danglars, who never had `
` possessed any patrimony, both laid the foundations of their `
` different fortunes." `
` `
` "Yes," said Monte Cristo "I think M. Danglars mentioned that `
` in a visit which I paid him; and," continued he, casting a `
` side-glance at Lucien, who was turning over the leaves of an `
` album, "Mademoiselle Eugenie is pretty -- I think I remember `
` that to be her name." `
` `
` "Very pretty, or rather, very beautiful," replied Albert, `
` "but of that style of beauty which I do not appreciate; I am `
` an ungrateful fellow." `
` `
` "You speak as if you were already her husband." `
` `
` "Ah," returned Albert, in his turn looking around to see `
` what Lucien was doing. `
` `
` "Really," said Monte Cristo, lowering his voice, "you do not `
` appear to me to be very enthusiastic on the subject of this `
` marriage." `
` `
` "Mademoiselle Danglars is too rich for me," replied Morcerf, `
` "and that frightens me." `
` `
` "Bah," exclaimed Monte Cristo, "that's a fine reason to `
` give. Are you not rich yourself?" `
` `
` "My father's income is about 50,000 francs per annum; and he `
` will give me, perhaps, ten or twelve thousand when I marry." `
` `
` "That, perhaps, might not be considered a large sum, in `
` Paris especially," said the count; "but everything does not `
` depend on wealth, and it is a fine thing to have a good `
` name, and to occupy a high station in society. Your name is `
` celebrated, your position magnificent; and then the Comte de `
` Morcerf is a soldier, and it is pleasing to see the `
` integrity of a Bayard united to the poverty of a Duguesclin; `
` disinterestedness is the brightest ray in which a noble `
` sword can shine. As for me, I consider the union with `
` Mademoiselle Danglars a most suitable one; she will enrich `
` you, and you will ennoble her." Albert shook his head, and `
` looked thoughtful. "There is still something else," said he. `
` `
` "I confess," observed Monte Cristo, "that I have some `
` difficulty in comprehending your objection to a young lady `
` who is both rich and beautiful." `
` `
` "Oh," said Morcerf, "this repugnance, if repugnance it may `
` be called, is not all on my side." `
` `
` "Whence can it arise, then? for you told me your father `
` desired the marriage." `
` `
` "It is my mother who dissents; she has a clear and `
` penetrating judgment, and does not smile on the proposed `
` union. I cannot account for it, but she seems to entertain `
` some prejudice against the Danglars." `
` `
` "Ah," said the count, in a somewhat forced tone, "that may `
` be easily explained; the Comtesse de Morcerf, who is `
` aristocracy and refinement itself, does not relish the idea `
` of being allied by your marriage with one of ignoble birth; `
` that is natural enough." `
` `
` "I do not know if that is her reason," said Albert, "but one `
` thing I do know, that if this marriage be consummated, it `
` will render her quite miserable. There was to have been a `
` meeting six weeks ago in order to talk over and settle the `
` affair; but I had such a sudden attack of indisposition" -- `
` `
` "Real?" interrupted the count, smiling. `
` `
` "Oh, real enough, from anxiety doubtless, -- at any rate `
` they postponed the matter for two months. There is no hurry, `
` you know. I am not yet twenty-one, and Eugenie is only `
` seventeen; but the two months expire next week. It must be `
` done. My dear count, you cannot imagine how my mind is `
` harassed. How happy you are in being exempt from all this!" `
` `
` "Well, and why should not you be free, too? What prevents `
` you from being so?" `
` `
` "Oh, it will be too great a disappointment to my father if I `
` do not marry Mademoiselle Danglars." `
` `
` "Marry her then," said the count, with a significant shrug `
` of the shoulders. `
` `
` "Yes," replied Morcerf, "but that will plunge my mother into `
` positive grief." `
` `
` "Then do not marry her," said the count. `
` `
` "Well, I shall see. I will try and think over what is the `
` best thing to be done; you will give me your advice, will `
` you not, and if possible extricate me from my unpleasant `
` position? I think, rather than give pain to my dear mother, `
` I would run the risk of offending the count." Monte Cristo `
` turned away; he seemed moved by this last remark. "Ah," said `
` he to Debray, who had thrown himself into an easy-chair at `
` the farthest extremity of the salon, and who held a pencil `
` in his right hand and an account book in his left, "what are `
` you doing there? Are you making a sketch after Poussin?" `
` `
` "Oh, no," was the tranquil response; "I am too fond of art `
` to attempt anything of that sort. I am doing a little sum in `
` arithmetic." `
` `
` "In arithmetic?" `
` `
` "Yes; I am calculating -- by the way, Morcerf, that `
` indirectly concerns you -- I am calculating what the house `
` of Danglars must have gained by the last rise in Haiti `
` bonds; from 206 they have risen to 409 in three days, and `
` the prudent banker had purchased at 206; therefore he must `
` have made 300,000 livres." `
` `
` "That is not his biggest scoop," said Morcerf; "did he not `
` make a million in Spaniards this last year?" `
` `
` "My dear fellow," said Lucien, "here is the Count of Monte `
` Cristo, who will say to you, as the Italians do, -- `
` `
` "`Danaro e santita, `
` Meta della meta.'* `
` `
` * "Money and sanctity, `
` Each in a moiety. `
` `
` "When they tell me such things, I only shrug my shoulders `
` and say nothing." `
` `
` "But you were speaking of Haitians?" said Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "Ah, Haitians, -- that is quite another thing! Haitians are `
` the ecarte of French stock-jobbing. We may like bouillotte, `
` delight in whist, be enraptured with boston, and yet grow `
` tired of them all; but we always come back to ecarte -- it `
` is not only a game, it is a hors-d'oeuvre! M. Danglars sold `
` yesterday at 405, and pockets 300,000 francs. Had he but `
` waited till to-day, the price would have fallen to 205, and `
` instead of gaining 300,000 francs, he would have lost 20 or `
` 25,000." `
` `
` "And what has caused the sudden fall from 409 to 206?" asked `
` Monte Cristo. "I am profoundly ignorant of all these `
` stock-jobbing intrigues." `
` `
` "Because," said Albert, laughing, "one piece of news follows `
` another, and there is often great dissimilarity between `
` them." `
` `
` "Ah," said the count, "I see that M. Danglars is accustomed `
` to play at gaining or losing 300,000 francs in a day; he `
` must be enormously rich." `
` `
` "It is not he who plays!" exclaimed Lucien; "it is Madame `
` Danglars: she is indeed daring." `
` `
` "But you who are a reasonable being, Lucien, and who know `
` how little dependence is to be placed on the news, since you `
` are at the fountain-head, surely you ought to prevent it," `
` said Morcerf, with a smile. `
` `
` "How can I, if her husband fails in controlling her?" asked `
` Lucien; "you know the character of the baroness -- no one `
` has any influence with her, and she does precisely what she `
` pleases." `
` `
` "Ah, if I were in your place" -- said Albert. `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "I would reform her; it would be rendering a service to her `
` future son-in-law." `
` `
` "How would you set about it?" `
` `
` "Ah, that would be easy enough -- I would give her a `
` lesson." `
` `
` "A lesson?" `
` `
` "Yes. Your position as secretary to the minister renders `
` your authority great on the subject of political news; you `
` never open your mouth but the stockbrokers immediately `
` stenograph your words. Cause her to lose a hundred thousand `
` francs, and that would teach her prudence." `
` `
` "I do not understand," stammered Lucien. `
` `
` "It is very clear, notwithstanding," replied the young man, `
`
` we are forgetting them, they are falling into their `
` appointed order; and when, again, our attention is directed `
` to them, we are surprised at the progress they have made `
` towards the proposed end. My father and M. Danglars served `
` together in Spain, my father in the army and M. Danglars in `
` the commissariat department. It was there that my father, `
` ruined by the revolution, and M. Danglars, who never had `
` possessed any patrimony, both laid the foundations of their `
` different fortunes." `
` `
` "Yes," said Monte Cristo "I think M. Danglars mentioned that `
` in a visit which I paid him; and," continued he, casting a `
` side-glance at Lucien, who was turning over the leaves of an `
` album, "Mademoiselle Eugenie is pretty -- I think I remember `
` that to be her name." `
` `
` "Very pretty, or rather, very beautiful," replied Albert, `
` "but of that style of beauty which I do not appreciate; I am `
` an ungrateful fellow." `
` `
` "You speak as if you were already her husband." `
` `
` "Ah," returned Albert, in his turn looking around to see `
` what Lucien was doing. `
` `
` "Really," said Monte Cristo, lowering his voice, "you do not `
` appear to me to be very enthusiastic on the subject of this `
` marriage." `
` `
` "Mademoiselle Danglars is too rich for me," replied Morcerf, `
` "and that frightens me." `
` `
` "Bah," exclaimed Monte Cristo, "that's a fine reason to `
` give. Are you not rich yourself?" `
` `
` "My father's income is about 50,000 francs per annum; and he `
` will give me, perhaps, ten or twelve thousand when I marry." `
` `
` "That, perhaps, might not be considered a large sum, in `
` Paris especially," said the count; "but everything does not `
` depend on wealth, and it is a fine thing to have a good `
` name, and to occupy a high station in society. Your name is `
` celebrated, your position magnificent; and then the Comte de `
` Morcerf is a soldier, and it is pleasing to see the `
` integrity of a Bayard united to the poverty of a Duguesclin; `
` disinterestedness is the brightest ray in which a noble `
` sword can shine. As for me, I consider the union with `
` Mademoiselle Danglars a most suitable one; she will enrich `
` you, and you will ennoble her." Albert shook his head, and `
` looked thoughtful. "There is still something else," said he. `
` `
` "I confess," observed Monte Cristo, "that I have some `
` difficulty in comprehending your objection to a young lady `
` who is both rich and beautiful." `
` `
` "Oh," said Morcerf, "this repugnance, if repugnance it may `
` be called, is not all on my side." `
` `
` "Whence can it arise, then? for you told me your father `
` desired the marriage." `
` `
` "It is my mother who dissents; she has a clear and `
` penetrating judgment, and does not smile on the proposed `
` union. I cannot account for it, but she seems to entertain `
` some prejudice against the Danglars." `
` `
` "Ah," said the count, in a somewhat forced tone, "that may `
` be easily explained; the Comtesse de Morcerf, who is `
` aristocracy and refinement itself, does not relish the idea `
` of being allied by your marriage with one of ignoble birth; `
` that is natural enough." `
` `
` "I do not know if that is her reason," said Albert, "but one `
` thing I do know, that if this marriage be consummated, it `
` will render her quite miserable. There was to have been a `
` meeting six weeks ago in order to talk over and settle the `
` affair; but I had such a sudden attack of indisposition" -- `
` `
` "Real?" interrupted the count, smiling. `
` `
` "Oh, real enough, from anxiety doubtless, -- at any rate `
` they postponed the matter for two months. There is no hurry, `
` you know. I am not yet twenty-one, and Eugenie is only `
` seventeen; but the two months expire next week. It must be `
` done. My dear count, you cannot imagine how my mind is `
` harassed. How happy you are in being exempt from all this!" `
` `
` "Well, and why should not you be free, too? What prevents `
` you from being so?" `
` `
` "Oh, it will be too great a disappointment to my father if I `
` do not marry Mademoiselle Danglars." `
` `
` "Marry her then," said the count, with a significant shrug `
` of the shoulders. `
` `
` "Yes," replied Morcerf, "but that will plunge my mother into `
` positive grief." `
` `
` "Then do not marry her," said the count. `
` `
` "Well, I shall see. I will try and think over what is the `
` best thing to be done; you will give me your advice, will `
` you not, and if possible extricate me from my unpleasant `
` position? I think, rather than give pain to my dear mother, `
` I would run the risk of offending the count." Monte Cristo `
` turned away; he seemed moved by this last remark. "Ah," said `
` he to Debray, who had thrown himself into an easy-chair at `
` the farthest extremity of the salon, and who held a pencil `
` in his right hand and an account book in his left, "what are `
` you doing there? Are you making a sketch after Poussin?" `
` `
` "Oh, no," was the tranquil response; "I am too fond of art `
` to attempt anything of that sort. I am doing a little sum in `
` arithmetic." `
` `
` "In arithmetic?" `
` `
` "Yes; I am calculating -- by the way, Morcerf, that `
` indirectly concerns you -- I am calculating what the house `
` of Danglars must have gained by the last rise in Haiti `
` bonds; from 206 they have risen to 409 in three days, and `
` the prudent banker had purchased at 206; therefore he must `
` have made 300,000 livres." `
` `
` "That is not his biggest scoop," said Morcerf; "did he not `
` make a million in Spaniards this last year?" `
` `
` "My dear fellow," said Lucien, "here is the Count of Monte `
` Cristo, who will say to you, as the Italians do, -- `
` `
` "`Danaro e santita, `
` Meta della meta.'* `
` `
` * "Money and sanctity, `
` Each in a moiety. `
` `
` "When they tell me such things, I only shrug my shoulders `
` and say nothing." `
` `
` "But you were speaking of Haitians?" said Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "Ah, Haitians, -- that is quite another thing! Haitians are `
` the ecarte of French stock-jobbing. We may like bouillotte, `
` delight in whist, be enraptured with boston, and yet grow `
` tired of them all; but we always come back to ecarte -- it `
` is not only a game, it is a hors-d'oeuvre! M. Danglars sold `
` yesterday at 405, and pockets 300,000 francs. Had he but `
` waited till to-day, the price would have fallen to 205, and `
` instead of gaining 300,000 francs, he would have lost 20 or `
` 25,000." `
` `
` "And what has caused the sudden fall from 409 to 206?" asked `
` Monte Cristo. "I am profoundly ignorant of all these `
` stock-jobbing intrigues." `
` `
` "Because," said Albert, laughing, "one piece of news follows `
` another, and there is often great dissimilarity between `
` them." `
` `
` "Ah," said the count, "I see that M. Danglars is accustomed `
` to play at gaining or losing 300,000 francs in a day; he `
` must be enormously rich." `
` `
` "It is not he who plays!" exclaimed Lucien; "it is Madame `
` Danglars: she is indeed daring." `
` `
` "But you who are a reasonable being, Lucien, and who know `
` how little dependence is to be placed on the news, since you `
` are at the fountain-head, surely you ought to prevent it," `
` said Morcerf, with a smile. `
` `
` "How can I, if her husband fails in controlling her?" asked `
` Lucien; "you know the character of the baroness -- no one `
` has any influence with her, and she does precisely what she `
` pleases." `
` `
` "Ah, if I were in your place" -- said Albert. `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "I would reform her; it would be rendering a service to her `
` future son-in-law." `
` `
` "How would you set about it?" `
` `
` "Ah, that would be easy enough -- I would give her a `
` lesson." `
` `
` "A lesson?" `
` `
` "Yes. Your position as secretary to the minister renders `
` your authority great on the subject of political news; you `
` never open your mouth but the stockbrokers immediately `
` stenograph your words. Cause her to lose a hundred thousand `
` francs, and that would teach her prudence." `
` `
` "I do not understand," stammered Lucien. `
` `
` "It is very clear, notwithstanding," replied the young man, `
`