Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
"It is very clear, notwithstanding," replied the young man, `
` with an artlessness wholly free from affectation; "tell her `
` some fine morning an unheard-of piece of intelligence -- `
` some telegraphic despatch, of which you alone are in `
` possession; for instance, that Henri IV. was seen yesterday `
` at Gabrielle's. That would boom the market; she will buy `
` heavily, and she will certainly lose when Beauchamp `
` announces the following day, in his gazette, `The report `
` circulated by some usually well-informed persons that the `
` king was seen yesterday at Gabrielle's house, is totally `
` without foundation. We can positively assert that his `
` majesty did not quit the Pont-Neuf.'" Lucien half smiled. `
` Monte Cristo, although apparently indifferent, had not lost `
` one word of this conversation, and his penetrating eye had `
` even read a hidden secret in the embarrassed manner of the `
` secretary. This embarrassment had completely escaped Albert, `
` but it caused Lucien to shorten his visit; he was evidently `
` ill at ease. The count, in taking leave of him, said `
` something in a low voice, to which he answered, "Willingly, `
` count; I accept." The count returned to young Morcerf. `
` `
` "Do you not think, on reflection," said he to him, "that you `
` have done wrong in thus speaking of your mother-in-law in `
` the presence of M. Debray?" `
` `
` "My dear count," said Morcerf, "I beg of you not to apply `
` that title so prematurely." `
` `
` "Now, speaking without any exaggeration, is your mother `
` really so very much averse to this marriage?" `
` `
` "So much so that the baroness very rarely comes to the `
` house, and my mother, has not, I think, visited Madame `
` Danglars twice in her whole life." `
` `
` "Then," said the count, "I am emboldened to speak openly to `
` you. M. Danglars is my banker; M. de Villefort has `
` overwhelmed me with politeness in return for a service which `
` a casual piece of good fortune enabled me to render him. I `
` predict from all this an avalanche of dinners and routs. `
` Now, in order not to presume on this, and also to be `
` beforehand with them, I have, if agreeable to you, thought `
` of inviting M. and Madame Danglars, and M. and Madame de `
` Villefort, to my country-house at Auteuil. If I were to `
` invite you and the Count and Countess of Morcerf to this `
` dinner, I should give it the appearance of being a `
` matrimonial meeting, or at least Madame de Morcerf would `
` look upon the affair in that light, especially if Baron `
` Danglars did me the honor to bring his daughter. In that `
` case your mother would hold me in aversion, and I do not at `
` all wish that; on the contrary, I desire to stand high in `
` her esteem." `
` `
` "Indeed, count," said Morcerf, "I thank you sincerely for `
` having used so much candor towards me, and I gratefully `
` accept the exclusion which you propose. You say you desire `
` my mother's good opinion; I assure you it is already yours `
` to a very unusual extent." `
` `
` "Do you think so?" said Monte Cristo, with interest. `
` `
` "Oh, I am sure of it; we talked of you an hour after you `
` left us the other day. But to return to what we were saying. `
` If my mother could know of this attention on your part -- `
` and I will venture to tell her -- I am sure that she will be `
` most grateful to you; it is true that my father will be `
` equally angry." The count laughed. "Well," said he to `
` Morcerf, "but I think your father will not be the only angry `
` one; M. and Madame Danglars will think me a very `
` ill-mannered person. They know that I am intimate with you `
` -- that you are, in fact; one of the oldest of my Parisian `
` acquaintances -- and they will not find you at my house; `
` they will certainly ask me why I did not invite you. Be sure `
` to provide yourself with some previous engagement which `
` shall have a semblance of probability, and communicate the `
` fact to me by a line in writing. You know that with bankers `
` nothing but a written document will be valid." `
` `
` "I will do better than that," said Albert; "my mother is `
` wishing to go to the sea-side -- what day is fixed for your `
` dinner?" `
` `
` "Saturday." `
` `
` "This is Tuesday -- well, to-morrow evening we leave, and `
` the day after we shall be at Treport. Really, count, you `
` have a delightful way of setting people at their ease." `
` `
` "Indeed, you give me more credit than I deserve; I only wish `
` to do what will be agreeable to you, that is all." `
` `
` "When shall you send your invitations?" `
` `
` "This very day." `
` `
` "Well, I will immediately call on M. Danglars, and tell him `
` that my mother and myself must leave Paris to-morrow. I have `
` not seen you, consequently I know nothing of your dinner." `
` `
` "How foolish you are! Have you forgotten that M. Debray has `
` just seen you at my house?" `
` `
` "Ah, true," `
` `
` "Fix it this way. I have seen you, and invited you without `
` any ceremony, when you instantly answered that it would be `
` impossible for you to accept, as you were going to Treport." `
` `
` "Well, then, that is settled; but you will come and call on `
` my mother before to-morrow?" `
` `
` "Before to-morrow? -- that will be a difficult matter to `
` arrange, besides, I shall just be in the way of all the `
` preparations for departure." `
` `
` "Well, you can do better. You were only a charming man `
` before, but, if you accede to my proposal, you will be `
` adorable." `
` `
` "What must I do to attain such sublimity?" `
` `
` "You are to-day free as air -- come and dine with me; we `
` shall be a small party -- only yourself, my mother, and I. `
` You have scarcely seen my mother; you shall have an `
` opportunity of observing her more closely. She is a `
` remarkable woman, and I only regret that there does not `
` exist another like her, about twenty years younger; in that `
` case, I assure you, there would very soon be a Countess and `
` Viscountess of Morcerf. As to my father, you will not see `
` him; he is officially engaged, and dines with the chief `
` referendary. We will talk over our travels; and you, who `
` have seen the whole world, will relate your adventures -- `
` you shall tell us the history of the beautiful Greek who was `
` with you the other night at the Opera, and whom you call `
` your slave, and yet treat like a princess. We will talk `
` Italian and Spanish. Come, accept my invitation, and my `
` mother will thank you." `
` `
` "A thousand thanks," said the count, "your invitation is `
` most gracious, and I regret exceedingly that it is not in my `
` power to accept it. I am not so much at liberty as you `
` suppose; on the contrary, I have a most important `
` engagement." `
` `
` "Ah, take care, you were teaching me just now how, in case `
` of an invitation to dinner, one might creditably make an `
` excuse. I require the proof of a pre-engagement. I am not a `
` banker, like M. Danglars, but I am quite as incredulous as `
` he is." `
` `
` "I am going to give you a proof," replied the count, and he `
` rang the bell. `
` `
` "Humph," said Morcerf, "this is the second time you have `
` refused to dine with my mother; it is evident that you wish `
` to avoid her." Monte Cristo started. "Oh, you do not mean `
` that," said he; "besides, here comes the confirmation of my `
` assertion." Baptistin entered, and remained standing at the `
` door. "I had no previous knowledge of your visit, had I?" `
` `
` "Indeed, you are such an extraordinary person, that I would `
` not answer for it." `
` `
` "At all events, I could not guess that you would invite me `
` to dinner." `
` `
` "Probably not." `
` `
` "Well, listen, Baptistin, what did I tell you this morning `
` when I called you into my laboratory?" `
` `
` "To close the door against visitors as soon as the clock `
` struck five," replied the valet. `
` `
` "What then?" `
` `
` "Ah, my dear count," said Albert. `
` `
` "No, no, I wish to do away with that mysterious reputation `
` that you have given me, my dear viscount; it is tiresome to `
` be always acting Manfred. I wish my life to be free and `
` open. Go on, Baptistin." `
` `
` "Then to admit no one except Major Bartolomeo Cavalcanti and `
` his son." `
` `
` "You hear -- Major Bartolomeo Cavalcanti -- a man who ranks `
` amongst the most ancient nobility of Italy, whose name Dante `
` has celebrated in the tenth canto of `The Inferno,' you `
` remember it, do you not? Then there is his son, Andrea, a `
` charming young man, about your own age, viscount, bearing `
` the same title as yourself, and who is making his entry into `
` the Parisian world, aided by his father's millions. The `
` major will bring his son with him this evening, the contino, `
` as we say in Italy; he confides him to my care. If he proves `
` himself worthy of it, I will do what I can to advance his `
` interests. You will assist me in the work, will you not?" `
` `
` "Most undoubtedly. This Major Cavalcanti is an old friend of `
` yours, then?" `
` `
`
` with an artlessness wholly free from affectation; "tell her `
` some fine morning an unheard-of piece of intelligence -- `
` some telegraphic despatch, of which you alone are in `
` possession; for instance, that Henri IV. was seen yesterday `
` at Gabrielle's. That would boom the market; she will buy `
` heavily, and she will certainly lose when Beauchamp `
` announces the following day, in his gazette, `The report `
` circulated by some usually well-informed persons that the `
` king was seen yesterday at Gabrielle's house, is totally `
` without foundation. We can positively assert that his `
` majesty did not quit the Pont-Neuf.'" Lucien half smiled. `
` Monte Cristo, although apparently indifferent, had not lost `
` one word of this conversation, and his penetrating eye had `
` even read a hidden secret in the embarrassed manner of the `
` secretary. This embarrassment had completely escaped Albert, `
` but it caused Lucien to shorten his visit; he was evidently `
` ill at ease. The count, in taking leave of him, said `
` something in a low voice, to which he answered, "Willingly, `
` count; I accept." The count returned to young Morcerf. `
` `
` "Do you not think, on reflection," said he to him, "that you `
` have done wrong in thus speaking of your mother-in-law in `
` the presence of M. Debray?" `
` `
` "My dear count," said Morcerf, "I beg of you not to apply `
` that title so prematurely." `
` `
` "Now, speaking without any exaggeration, is your mother `
` really so very much averse to this marriage?" `
` `
` "So much so that the baroness very rarely comes to the `
` house, and my mother, has not, I think, visited Madame `
` Danglars twice in her whole life." `
` `
` "Then," said the count, "I am emboldened to speak openly to `
` you. M. Danglars is my banker; M. de Villefort has `
` overwhelmed me with politeness in return for a service which `
` a casual piece of good fortune enabled me to render him. I `
` predict from all this an avalanche of dinners and routs. `
` Now, in order not to presume on this, and also to be `
` beforehand with them, I have, if agreeable to you, thought `
` of inviting M. and Madame Danglars, and M. and Madame de `
` Villefort, to my country-house at Auteuil. If I were to `
` invite you and the Count and Countess of Morcerf to this `
` dinner, I should give it the appearance of being a `
` matrimonial meeting, or at least Madame de Morcerf would `
` look upon the affair in that light, especially if Baron `
` Danglars did me the honor to bring his daughter. In that `
` case your mother would hold me in aversion, and I do not at `
` all wish that; on the contrary, I desire to stand high in `
` her esteem." `
` `
` "Indeed, count," said Morcerf, "I thank you sincerely for `
` having used so much candor towards me, and I gratefully `
` accept the exclusion which you propose. You say you desire `
` my mother's good opinion; I assure you it is already yours `
` to a very unusual extent." `
` `
` "Do you think so?" said Monte Cristo, with interest. `
` `
` "Oh, I am sure of it; we talked of you an hour after you `
` left us the other day. But to return to what we were saying. `
` If my mother could know of this attention on your part -- `
` and I will venture to tell her -- I am sure that she will be `
` most grateful to you; it is true that my father will be `
` equally angry." The count laughed. "Well," said he to `
` Morcerf, "but I think your father will not be the only angry `
` one; M. and Madame Danglars will think me a very `
` ill-mannered person. They know that I am intimate with you `
` -- that you are, in fact; one of the oldest of my Parisian `
` acquaintances -- and they will not find you at my house; `
` they will certainly ask me why I did not invite you. Be sure `
` to provide yourself with some previous engagement which `
` shall have a semblance of probability, and communicate the `
` fact to me by a line in writing. You know that with bankers `
` nothing but a written document will be valid." `
` `
` "I will do better than that," said Albert; "my mother is `
` wishing to go to the sea-side -- what day is fixed for your `
` dinner?" `
` `
` "Saturday." `
` `
` "This is Tuesday -- well, to-morrow evening we leave, and `
` the day after we shall be at Treport. Really, count, you `
` have a delightful way of setting people at their ease." `
` `
` "Indeed, you give me more credit than I deserve; I only wish `
` to do what will be agreeable to you, that is all." `
` `
` "When shall you send your invitations?" `
` `
` "This very day." `
` `
` "Well, I will immediately call on M. Danglars, and tell him `
` that my mother and myself must leave Paris to-morrow. I have `
` not seen you, consequently I know nothing of your dinner." `
` `
` "How foolish you are! Have you forgotten that M. Debray has `
` just seen you at my house?" `
` `
` "Ah, true," `
` `
` "Fix it this way. I have seen you, and invited you without `
` any ceremony, when you instantly answered that it would be `
` impossible for you to accept, as you were going to Treport." `
` `
` "Well, then, that is settled; but you will come and call on `
` my mother before to-morrow?" `
` `
` "Before to-morrow? -- that will be a difficult matter to `
` arrange, besides, I shall just be in the way of all the `
` preparations for departure." `
` `
` "Well, you can do better. You were only a charming man `
` before, but, if you accede to my proposal, you will be `
` adorable." `
` `
` "What must I do to attain such sublimity?" `
` `
` "You are to-day free as air -- come and dine with me; we `
` shall be a small party -- only yourself, my mother, and I. `
` You have scarcely seen my mother; you shall have an `
` opportunity of observing her more closely. She is a `
` remarkable woman, and I only regret that there does not `
` exist another like her, about twenty years younger; in that `
` case, I assure you, there would very soon be a Countess and `
` Viscountess of Morcerf. As to my father, you will not see `
` him; he is officially engaged, and dines with the chief `
` referendary. We will talk over our travels; and you, who `
` have seen the whole world, will relate your adventures -- `
` you shall tell us the history of the beautiful Greek who was `
` with you the other night at the Opera, and whom you call `
` your slave, and yet treat like a princess. We will talk `
` Italian and Spanish. Come, accept my invitation, and my `
` mother will thank you." `
` `
` "A thousand thanks," said the count, "your invitation is `
` most gracious, and I regret exceedingly that it is not in my `
` power to accept it. I am not so much at liberty as you `
` suppose; on the contrary, I have a most important `
` engagement." `
` `
` "Ah, take care, you were teaching me just now how, in case `
` of an invitation to dinner, one might creditably make an `
` excuse. I require the proof of a pre-engagement. I am not a `
` banker, like M. Danglars, but I am quite as incredulous as `
` he is." `
` `
` "I am going to give you a proof," replied the count, and he `
` rang the bell. `
` `
` "Humph," said Morcerf, "this is the second time you have `
` refused to dine with my mother; it is evident that you wish `
` to avoid her." Monte Cristo started. "Oh, you do not mean `
` that," said he; "besides, here comes the confirmation of my `
` assertion." Baptistin entered, and remained standing at the `
` door. "I had no previous knowledge of your visit, had I?" `
` `
` "Indeed, you are such an extraordinary person, that I would `
` not answer for it." `
` `
` "At all events, I could not guess that you would invite me `
` to dinner." `
` `
` "Probably not." `
` `
` "Well, listen, Baptistin, what did I tell you this morning `
` when I called you into my laboratory?" `
` `
` "To close the door against visitors as soon as the clock `
` struck five," replied the valet. `
` `
` "What then?" `
` `
` "Ah, my dear count," said Albert. `
` `
` "No, no, I wish to do away with that mysterious reputation `
` that you have given me, my dear viscount; it is tiresome to `
` be always acting Manfred. I wish my life to be free and `
` open. Go on, Baptistin." `
` `
` "Then to admit no one except Major Bartolomeo Cavalcanti and `
` his son." `
` `
` "You hear -- Major Bartolomeo Cavalcanti -- a man who ranks `
` amongst the most ancient nobility of Italy, whose name Dante `
` has celebrated in the tenth canto of `The Inferno,' you `
` remember it, do you not? Then there is his son, Andrea, a `
` charming young man, about your own age, viscount, bearing `
` the same title as yourself, and who is making his entry into `
` the Parisian world, aided by his father's millions. The `
` major will bring his son with him this evening, the contino, `
` as we say in Italy; he confides him to my care. If he proves `
` himself worthy of it, I will do what I can to advance his `
` interests. You will assist me in the work, will you not?" `
` `
` "Most undoubtedly. This Major Cavalcanti is an old friend of `
` yours, then?" `
` `
`