Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
"As happy as it is permitted to a human creature to be," `
` replied Maximilian. "She married the man she loved, who `
` remained faithful to us in our fallen fortunes -- Emmanuel `
` Herbaut." Monte Cristo smiled imperceptibly. "I live there `
` during my leave of absence," continued Maximilian; "and I `
` shall be, together with my brother-in-law Emmanuel, at the `
` disposition of the Count, whenever he thinks fit to honor `
` us." `
` `
` "One minute," cried Albert, without giving Monte Cristo the `
` time to reply. "Take care, you are going to immure a `
` traveller, Sinbad the Sailor, a man who comes to see Paris; `
` you are going to make a patriarch of him." `
` `
` "Oh, no," said Morrel; "my sister is five and twenty, my `
` brother-in-law is thirty, they are gay, young, and happy. `
` Besides, the count will be in his own house, and only see `
` them when he thinks fit to do so." `
` `
` "Thanks, monsieur," said Monte Cristo; "I shall content `
` myself with being presented to your sister and her husband, `
` if you will do me the honor to introduce me; but I cannot `
` accept the offer of any one of these gentlemen, since my `
` habitation is already prepared." `
` `
` "What," cried Morcerf; "you are, then, going to an hotel -- `
` that will be very dull for you." `
` `
` "Was I so badly lodged at Rome?" said Monte Cristo smiling. `
` `
` "Parbleu, at Rome you spent fifty thousand piastres in `
` furnishing your apartments, but I presume that you are not `
` disposed to spend a similar sum every day." `
` `
` "It is not that which deterred me," replied Monte Cristo; `
` "but as I determined to have a house to myself, I sent on my `
` valet de chambre, and he ought by this time to have bought `
` the house and furnished it." `
` `
` "But you have, then, a valet de chambre who knows Paris?" `
` said Beauchamp. `
` `
` "It is the first time he has ever been in Paris. He is `
` black, and cannot speak," returned Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "It is Ali!" cried Albert, in the midst of the general `
` surprise. `
` `
` "Yes, Ali himself, my Nubian mute, whom you saw, I think, at `
` Rome." `
` `
` "Certainly," said Morcerf; "I recollect him perfectly. But `
` how could you charge a Nubian to purchase a house, and a `
` mute to furnish it? -- he will do everything wrong." `
` `
` "Undeceive yourself, monsieur," replied Monte Cristo; "I am `
` quite sure, that, on the contrary, he will choose everything `
` as I wish. He knows my tastes, my caprices, my wants. He has `
` been here a week, with the instinct of a hound, hunting by `
` himself. He will arrange everything for me. He knew, that I `
` should arrive to-day at ten o'clock; he was waiting for me `
` at nine at the Barriere de Fontainebleau. He gave me this `
` paper; it contains the number of my new abode; read it `
` yourself," and Monte Cristo passed a paper to Albert. "Ah, `
` that is really original," said Beauchamp. `
` `
` "And very princely," added Chateau-Renaud. `
` `
` "What, do you not know your house?" asked Debray. `
` `
` "No," said Monte Cristo; "I told you I did not wish to be `
` behind my time; I dressed myself in the carriage, and `
` descended at the viscount's door." The young men looked at `
` each other; they did not know if it was a comedy Monte `
` Cristo was playing, but every word he uttered had such an `
` air of simplicity, that it was impossible to suppose what he `
` said was false -- besides, why should he tell a falsehood? `
` "We must content ourselves, then," said Beauchamp, "with `
` rendering the count all the little services in our power. I, `
` in my quality of journalist, open all the theatres to him." `
` `
` "Thanks, monsieur," returned Monte Cristo, "my steward has `
` orders to take a box at each theatre." `
` `
` "Is your steward also a Nubian?" asked Debray. `
` `
` "No, he is a countryman of yours, if a Corsican is a `
` countryman of any one's. But you know him, M. de Morcerf." `
` `
` "Is it that excellent M. Bertuccio, who understands hiring `
` windows so well?" `
` `
` "Yes, you saw him the day I had the honor of receiving you; `
` he has been a soldier, a smuggler -- in fact, everything. I `
` would not be quite sure that he has not been mixed up with `
` the police for some trifle -- a stab with a knife, for `
` instance." `
` `
` "And you have chosen this honest citizen for your steward," `
` said Debray. "Of how much does he rob you every year?" `
` `
` "On my word," replied the count, "not more than another. I `
` am sure he answers my purpose, knows no impossibility, and `
` so I keep him." `
` `
` "Then," continued Chateau-Renaud, "since you have an `
` establishment, a steward, and a hotel in the Champs Elysees, `
` you only want a mistress." Albert smiled. He thought of the `
` fair Greek he had seen in the count's box at the Argentina `
` and Valle theatres. "I have something better than that," `
` said Monte Cristo; "I have a slave. You procure your `
` mistresses from the opera, the Vaudeville, or the Varietes; `
` I purchased mine at Constantinople; it cost me more, but I `
` have nothing to fear." `
` `
` "But you forget," replied Debray, laughing, "that we are `
` Franks by name and franks by nature, as King Charles said, `
` and that the moment she puts her foot in France your slave `
` becomes free." `
` `
` "Who will tell her?" `
` `
` "The first person who sees her." `
` `
` "She only speaks Romaic." `
` `
` "That is different." `
` `
` "But at least we shall see her," said Beauchamp, "or do you `
` keep eunuchs as well as mutes?" `
` `
` "Oh, no," replied Monte Cristo; "I do not carry brutalism so `
` far. Every one who surrounds me is free to quit me, and when `
` they leave me will no longer have any need of me or any one `
` else; it is for that reason, perhaps, that they do not quit `
` me." They had long since passed to dessert and cigars. `
` `
` "My dear Albert," said Debray, rising, "it is half-past two. `
` Your guest is charming, but you leave the best company to go `
` into the worst sometimes. I must return to the minister's. I `
` will tell him of the count, and we shall soon know who he `
` is." `
` `
` "Take care," returned Albert; "no one has been able to `
` accomplish that." `
` `
` "Oh, we have three millions for our police; it is true they `
` are almost always spent beforehand, but, no matter, we shall `
` still have fifty thousand francs to spend for this purpose." `
` `
` "And when you know, will you tell me?" `
` `
` "I promise you. Au revoir, Albert. Gentlemen, good morning." `
` `
` As he left the room, Debray called out loudly, "My `
` carriage." `
` `
` "Bravo," said Beauchamp to Albert; "I shall not go to the `
` Chamber, but I have something better to offer my readers `
` than a speech of M. Danglars." `
` `
` "For heaven's sake, Beauchamp," returned Morcerf, "do not `
` deprive me of the merit of introducing him everywhere. Is he `
` not peculiar?" `
` `
` "He is more than that," replied Chateau-Renaud; "he is one `
` of the most extraordinary men I ever saw in my life. Are you `
` coming, Morrel?" `
` `
` "Directly I have given my card to the count, who has `
` promised to pay us a visit at Rue Meslay, No. 14." `
` `
` "Be sure I shall not fail to do so," returned the count, `
` bowing. And Maximilian Morrel left the room with the Baron `
` de Chateau-Renaud, leaving Monte Cristo alone with Morcerf. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 41 `
` The Presentation. `
` `
` When Albert found himself alone with Monte Cristo, "My dear `
` count," said he, "allow me to commence my services as `
` cicerone by showing you a specimen of a bachelor's `
` apartment. You, who are accustomed to the palaces of Italy, `
` can amuse yourself by calculating in how many square feet a `
` young man who is not the worst lodged in Paris can live. As `
` we pass from one room to another, I will open the windows to `
` let you breathe." Monte Cristo had already seen the `
` breakfast-room and the salon on the ground-floor. Albert led `
` him first to his atelier, which was, as we have said, his `
` favorite apartment. Monte Cristo quickly appreciated all `
` that Albert had collected here -- old cabinets, Japanese `
` porcelain, Oriental stuffs, Venetian glass, arms from all `
` parts of the world -- everything was familiar to him; and at `
` the first glance he recognized their date, their country, `
` and their origin. Morcerf had expected he should be the `
` guide; on the contrary, it was he who, under the count's `
` guidance, followed a course of archaeology, mineralogy, and `
` natural history. They descended to the first floor; Albert `
` led his guest into the salon. The salon was filled with the `
`
` replied Maximilian. "She married the man she loved, who `
` remained faithful to us in our fallen fortunes -- Emmanuel `
` Herbaut." Monte Cristo smiled imperceptibly. "I live there `
` during my leave of absence," continued Maximilian; "and I `
` shall be, together with my brother-in-law Emmanuel, at the `
` disposition of the Count, whenever he thinks fit to honor `
` us." `
` `
` "One minute," cried Albert, without giving Monte Cristo the `
` time to reply. "Take care, you are going to immure a `
` traveller, Sinbad the Sailor, a man who comes to see Paris; `
` you are going to make a patriarch of him." `
` `
` "Oh, no," said Morrel; "my sister is five and twenty, my `
` brother-in-law is thirty, they are gay, young, and happy. `
` Besides, the count will be in his own house, and only see `
` them when he thinks fit to do so." `
` `
` "Thanks, monsieur," said Monte Cristo; "I shall content `
` myself with being presented to your sister and her husband, `
` if you will do me the honor to introduce me; but I cannot `
` accept the offer of any one of these gentlemen, since my `
` habitation is already prepared." `
` `
` "What," cried Morcerf; "you are, then, going to an hotel -- `
` that will be very dull for you." `
` `
` "Was I so badly lodged at Rome?" said Monte Cristo smiling. `
` `
` "Parbleu, at Rome you spent fifty thousand piastres in `
` furnishing your apartments, but I presume that you are not `
` disposed to spend a similar sum every day." `
` `
` "It is not that which deterred me," replied Monte Cristo; `
` "but as I determined to have a house to myself, I sent on my `
` valet de chambre, and he ought by this time to have bought `
` the house and furnished it." `
` `
` "But you have, then, a valet de chambre who knows Paris?" `
` said Beauchamp. `
` `
` "It is the first time he has ever been in Paris. He is `
` black, and cannot speak," returned Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "It is Ali!" cried Albert, in the midst of the general `
` surprise. `
` `
` "Yes, Ali himself, my Nubian mute, whom you saw, I think, at `
` Rome." `
` `
` "Certainly," said Morcerf; "I recollect him perfectly. But `
` how could you charge a Nubian to purchase a house, and a `
` mute to furnish it? -- he will do everything wrong." `
` `
` "Undeceive yourself, monsieur," replied Monte Cristo; "I am `
` quite sure, that, on the contrary, he will choose everything `
` as I wish. He knows my tastes, my caprices, my wants. He has `
` been here a week, with the instinct of a hound, hunting by `
` himself. He will arrange everything for me. He knew, that I `
` should arrive to-day at ten o'clock; he was waiting for me `
` at nine at the Barriere de Fontainebleau. He gave me this `
` paper; it contains the number of my new abode; read it `
` yourself," and Monte Cristo passed a paper to Albert. "Ah, `
` that is really original," said Beauchamp. `
` `
` "And very princely," added Chateau-Renaud. `
` `
` "What, do you not know your house?" asked Debray. `
` `
` "No," said Monte Cristo; "I told you I did not wish to be `
` behind my time; I dressed myself in the carriage, and `
` descended at the viscount's door." The young men looked at `
` each other; they did not know if it was a comedy Monte `
` Cristo was playing, but every word he uttered had such an `
` air of simplicity, that it was impossible to suppose what he `
` said was false -- besides, why should he tell a falsehood? `
` "We must content ourselves, then," said Beauchamp, "with `
` rendering the count all the little services in our power. I, `
` in my quality of journalist, open all the theatres to him." `
` `
` "Thanks, monsieur," returned Monte Cristo, "my steward has `
` orders to take a box at each theatre." `
` `
` "Is your steward also a Nubian?" asked Debray. `
` `
` "No, he is a countryman of yours, if a Corsican is a `
` countryman of any one's. But you know him, M. de Morcerf." `
` `
` "Is it that excellent M. Bertuccio, who understands hiring `
` windows so well?" `
` `
` "Yes, you saw him the day I had the honor of receiving you; `
` he has been a soldier, a smuggler -- in fact, everything. I `
` would not be quite sure that he has not been mixed up with `
` the police for some trifle -- a stab with a knife, for `
` instance." `
` `
` "And you have chosen this honest citizen for your steward," `
` said Debray. "Of how much does he rob you every year?" `
` `
` "On my word," replied the count, "not more than another. I `
` am sure he answers my purpose, knows no impossibility, and `
` so I keep him." `
` `
` "Then," continued Chateau-Renaud, "since you have an `
` establishment, a steward, and a hotel in the Champs Elysees, `
` you only want a mistress." Albert smiled. He thought of the `
` fair Greek he had seen in the count's box at the Argentina `
` and Valle theatres. "I have something better than that," `
` said Monte Cristo; "I have a slave. You procure your `
` mistresses from the opera, the Vaudeville, or the Varietes; `
` I purchased mine at Constantinople; it cost me more, but I `
` have nothing to fear." `
` `
` "But you forget," replied Debray, laughing, "that we are `
` Franks by name and franks by nature, as King Charles said, `
` and that the moment she puts her foot in France your slave `
` becomes free." `
` `
` "Who will tell her?" `
` `
` "The first person who sees her." `
` `
` "She only speaks Romaic." `
` `
` "That is different." `
` `
` "But at least we shall see her," said Beauchamp, "or do you `
` keep eunuchs as well as mutes?" `
` `
` "Oh, no," replied Monte Cristo; "I do not carry brutalism so `
` far. Every one who surrounds me is free to quit me, and when `
` they leave me will no longer have any need of me or any one `
` else; it is for that reason, perhaps, that they do not quit `
` me." They had long since passed to dessert and cigars. `
` `
` "My dear Albert," said Debray, rising, "it is half-past two. `
` Your guest is charming, but you leave the best company to go `
` into the worst sometimes. I must return to the minister's. I `
` will tell him of the count, and we shall soon know who he `
` is." `
` `
` "Take care," returned Albert; "no one has been able to `
` accomplish that." `
` `
` "Oh, we have three millions for our police; it is true they `
` are almost always spent beforehand, but, no matter, we shall `
` still have fifty thousand francs to spend for this purpose." `
` `
` "And when you know, will you tell me?" `
` `
` "I promise you. Au revoir, Albert. Gentlemen, good morning." `
` `
` As he left the room, Debray called out loudly, "My `
` carriage." `
` `
` "Bravo," said Beauchamp to Albert; "I shall not go to the `
` Chamber, but I have something better to offer my readers `
` than a speech of M. Danglars." `
` `
` "For heaven's sake, Beauchamp," returned Morcerf, "do not `
` deprive me of the merit of introducing him everywhere. Is he `
` not peculiar?" `
` `
` "He is more than that," replied Chateau-Renaud; "he is one `
` of the most extraordinary men I ever saw in my life. Are you `
` coming, Morrel?" `
` `
` "Directly I have given my card to the count, who has `
` promised to pay us a visit at Rue Meslay, No. 14." `
` `
` "Be sure I shall not fail to do so," returned the count, `
` bowing. And Maximilian Morrel left the room with the Baron `
` de Chateau-Renaud, leaving Monte Cristo alone with Morcerf. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 41 `
` The Presentation. `
` `
` When Albert found himself alone with Monte Cristo, "My dear `
` count," said he, "allow me to commence my services as `
` cicerone by showing you a specimen of a bachelor's `
` apartment. You, who are accustomed to the palaces of Italy, `
` can amuse yourself by calculating in how many square feet a `
` young man who is not the worst lodged in Paris can live. As `
` we pass from one room to another, I will open the windows to `
` let you breathe." Monte Cristo had already seen the `
` breakfast-room and the salon on the ground-floor. Albert led `
` him first to his atelier, which was, as we have said, his `
` favorite apartment. Monte Cristo quickly appreciated all `
` that Albert had collected here -- old cabinets, Japanese `
` porcelain, Oriental stuffs, Venetian glass, arms from all `
` parts of the world -- everything was familiar to him; and at `
` the first glance he recognized their date, their country, `
` and their origin. Morcerf had expected he should be the `
` guide; on the contrary, it was he who, under the count's `
` guidance, followed a course of archaeology, mineralogy, and `
` natural history. They descended to the first floor; Albert `
` led his guest into the salon. The salon was filled with the `
`