Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.75-117
`
` "Monsieur, I told you that I considered it best to avoid all `
` explanation." `
` `
` "Then, sir, I am patiently to submit to your refusal?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, although I assure you the refusal is as painful `
` for me to give as it is for you to receive, for I had `
` reckoned on the honor of your alliance, and the breaking off `
` of a marriage contract always injures the lady more than the `
` gentleman." `
` `
` "Enough, sir," said Morcerf, "we will speak no more on the `
` subject." And clutching his gloves in anger, he left the `
` apartment. Danglars observed that during the whole `
` conversation Morcerf had never once dared to ask if it was `
` on his own account that Danglars recalled his word. That `
` evening he had a long conference with several friends; and `
` M. Cavalcanti, who had remained in the drawing-room with the `
` ladies, was the last to leave the banker's house. `
` `
` The next morning, as soon as he awoke, Danglars asked for `
` the newspapers; they were brought to him; he laid aside `
` three or four, and at last fixed on the Impartial, the paper `
` of which Beauchamp was the chief editor. He hastily tore off `
` the cover, opened the journal with nervous precipitation, `
` passed contemptuously over the Paris jottings, and arriving `
` at the miscellaneous intelligence, stopped with a malicious `
` smile, at a paragraph headed "We hear from Yanina." "Very `
` good," observed Danglars, after having read the paragraph; `
` "here is a little article on Colonel Fernand, which, if I am `
` not mistaken, would render the explanation which the Comte `
` de Morcerf required of me perfectly unnecessary." `
` `
` At the same moment, that is, at nine o'clock in the morning, `
` Albert de Morcerf, dressed in a black coat buttoned up to `
` his chin, might have been seen walking with a quick and `
` agitated step in the direction of Monte Cristo's house in `
` the Champs Elysees. When he presented himself at the gate `
` the porter informed him that the Count had gone out about `
` half an hour previously. "Did he take Baptistin with him?" `
` `
` "No, my lord." `
` `
` "Call him, then; I wish to speak to him." The concierge went `
` to seek the valet de chambre, and returned with him in an `
` instant. `
` `
` "My good friend," said Albert, "I beg pardon for my `
` intrusion, but I was anxious to know from your own mouth if `
` your master was really out or not." `
` `
` "He is really out, sir," replied Baptistin. `
` `
` "Out, even to me?" `
` `
` "I know how happy my master always is to receive the `
` vicomte," said Baptistin; "and I should therefore never `
` think of including him in any general order." `
` `
` "You are right; and now I wish to see him on an affair of `
` great importance. Do you think it will be long before he `
` comes in?" `
` `
` "No, I think not, for he ordered his breakfast at ten `
` o'clock." `
` `
` "Well, I will go and take a turn in the Champs Elysees, and `
` at ten o'clock I will return here; meanwhile, if the count `
` should come in, will you beg him not to go out again without `
` seeing me?" `
` `
` "You may depend on my doing so, sir," said Baptistin. `
` `
` Albert left the cab in which he had come at the count's `
` door, intending to take a turn on foot. As he was passing `
` the Allee des Veuves, he thought he saw the count's horses `
` standing at Gosset's shooting-gallery; he approached, and `
` soon recognized the coachman. "Is the count shooting in the `
` gallery?" said Morcerf. `
` `
` "Yes, sir," replied the coachman. While he was speaking, `
` Albert had heard the report of two or three pistol-shots. He `
` entered, and on his way met the waiter. "Excuse me, my `
` lord," said the lad; "but will you have the kindness to wait `
` a moment?" `
` `
` "What for, Philip?" asked Albert, who, being a constant `
` visitor there, did not understand this opposition to his `
` entrance. `
` `
` "Because the person who is now in the gallery prefers being `
` alone, and never practices in the presence of any one." `
` `
` "Not even before you, Philip? Then who loads his pistol?" `
` `
` "His servant." `
` `
` "A Nubian?" `
` `
` "A negro." `
` `
` "It is he, then." `
` `
` "Do you know this gentleman?" `
` `
` "Yes, and I am come to look for him; he is a friend of `
` mine." `
` `
` "Oh, that is quite another thing, then. I will go `
` immediately and inform him of your arrival." And Philip, `
` urged by his own curiosity, entered the gallery; a second `
` afterwards, Monte Cristo appeared on the threshold. "I ask `
` your pardon, my dear count," said Albert, "for following you `
` here, and I must first tell you that it was not the fault of `
` your servants that I did so; I alone am to blame for the `
` indiscretion. I went to your house, and they told me you `
` were out, but that they expected you home at ten o'clock to `
` breakfast. I was walking about in order to pass away the `
` time till ten o'clock, when I caught sight of your carriage `
` and horses." `
` `
` "What you have just said induces me to hope that you intend `
` breakfasting with me." `
` `
` "No, thank you, I am thinking of other things besides `
` breakfast just now; perhaps we may take that meal at a later `
` hour and in worse company." `
` `
` "What on earth are you talking of?" `
` `
` "I am to fight to-day." `
` `
` "For what?" `
` `
` "I am going to fight" -- `
` `
` "Yes, I understand that, but what is the quarrel? People `
` fight for all sorts of reasons, you know." `
` `
` "I fight in the cause of honor." `
` `
` "Ah, that is something serious." `
` `
` "So serious, that I come to beg you to render me a service." `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "To be my second." `
` `
` "That is a serious matter, and we will not discuss it here; `
` let us speak of nothing till we get home. Ali, bring me some `
` water." The count turned up his sleeves, and passed into the `
` little vestibule where the gentlemen were accustomed to wash `
` their hands after shooting. "Come in, my lord," said Philip `
` in a low tone, "and I will show you something droll." `
` Morcerf entered, and in place of the usual target, he saw `
` some playing-cards fixed against the wall. At a distance `
` Albert thought it was a complete suit, for he counted from `
` the ace to the ten. "Ah, ha," said Albert, "I see you were `
` preparing for a game of cards." `
` `
` "No," said the count, "I was making a suit." `
` `
` "How?" said Albert. `
` `
` "Those are really aces and twos which you see, but my shots `
` have turned them into threes, fives, sevens, eights, nines, `
` and tens." Albert approached. In fact, the bullets had `
` actually pierced the cards in the exact places which the `
` painted signs would otherwise have occupied, the lines and `
` distances being as regularly kept as if they had been ruled `
` with pencil. "Diable," said Morcerf. `
` `
` "What would you have, my dear viscount?" said Monte Cristo, `
` wiping his hands on the towel which Ali had brought him; "I `
` must occupy my leisure moments in some way or other. But `
` come, I am waiting for you." Both men entered Monte Cristo's `
` carriage, which in the course of a few minutes deposited `
` them safely at No. 30. Monte Cristo took Albert into his `
` study, and pointing to a seat, placed another for himself. `
` "Now let us talk the matter over quietly," said the count. `
` `
` "You see I am perfectly composed," said Albert. `
` `
` "With whom are you going to fight?" `
` `
` "With Beauchamp." `
` `
` "One of your friends!" `
` `
` "Of course; it is always with friends that one fights." `
` `
` "I suppose you have some cause of quarrel?" `
` `
` "I have." `
` `
` "What has he done to you?" `
` `
` "There appeared in his journal last night -- but wait, and `
` read for yourself." And Albert handed over the paper to the `
`
` "Monsieur, I told you that I considered it best to avoid all `
` explanation." `
` `
` "Then, sir, I am patiently to submit to your refusal?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, although I assure you the refusal is as painful `
` for me to give as it is for you to receive, for I had `
` reckoned on the honor of your alliance, and the breaking off `
` of a marriage contract always injures the lady more than the `
` gentleman." `
` `
` "Enough, sir," said Morcerf, "we will speak no more on the `
` subject." And clutching his gloves in anger, he left the `
` apartment. Danglars observed that during the whole `
` conversation Morcerf had never once dared to ask if it was `
` on his own account that Danglars recalled his word. That `
` evening he had a long conference with several friends; and `
` M. Cavalcanti, who had remained in the drawing-room with the `
` ladies, was the last to leave the banker's house. `
` `
` The next morning, as soon as he awoke, Danglars asked for `
` the newspapers; they were brought to him; he laid aside `
` three or four, and at last fixed on the Impartial, the paper `
` of which Beauchamp was the chief editor. He hastily tore off `
` the cover, opened the journal with nervous precipitation, `
` passed contemptuously over the Paris jottings, and arriving `
` at the miscellaneous intelligence, stopped with a malicious `
` smile, at a paragraph headed "We hear from Yanina." "Very `
` good," observed Danglars, after having read the paragraph; `
` "here is a little article on Colonel Fernand, which, if I am `
` not mistaken, would render the explanation which the Comte `
` de Morcerf required of me perfectly unnecessary." `
` `
` At the same moment, that is, at nine o'clock in the morning, `
` Albert de Morcerf, dressed in a black coat buttoned up to `
` his chin, might have been seen walking with a quick and `
` agitated step in the direction of Monte Cristo's house in `
` the Champs Elysees. When he presented himself at the gate `
` the porter informed him that the Count had gone out about `
` half an hour previously. "Did he take Baptistin with him?" `
` `
` "No, my lord." `
` `
` "Call him, then; I wish to speak to him." The concierge went `
` to seek the valet de chambre, and returned with him in an `
` instant. `
` `
` "My good friend," said Albert, "I beg pardon for my `
` intrusion, but I was anxious to know from your own mouth if `
` your master was really out or not." `
` `
` "He is really out, sir," replied Baptistin. `
` `
` "Out, even to me?" `
` `
` "I know how happy my master always is to receive the `
` vicomte," said Baptistin; "and I should therefore never `
` think of including him in any general order." `
` `
` "You are right; and now I wish to see him on an affair of `
` great importance. Do you think it will be long before he `
` comes in?" `
` `
` "No, I think not, for he ordered his breakfast at ten `
` o'clock." `
` `
` "Well, I will go and take a turn in the Champs Elysees, and `
` at ten o'clock I will return here; meanwhile, if the count `
` should come in, will you beg him not to go out again without `
` seeing me?" `
` `
` "You may depend on my doing so, sir," said Baptistin. `
` `
` Albert left the cab in which he had come at the count's `
` door, intending to take a turn on foot. As he was passing `
` the Allee des Veuves, he thought he saw the count's horses `
` standing at Gosset's shooting-gallery; he approached, and `
` soon recognized the coachman. "Is the count shooting in the `
` gallery?" said Morcerf. `
` `
` "Yes, sir," replied the coachman. While he was speaking, `
` Albert had heard the report of two or three pistol-shots. He `
` entered, and on his way met the waiter. "Excuse me, my `
` lord," said the lad; "but will you have the kindness to wait `
` a moment?" `
` `
` "What for, Philip?" asked Albert, who, being a constant `
` visitor there, did not understand this opposition to his `
` entrance. `
` `
` "Because the person who is now in the gallery prefers being `
` alone, and never practices in the presence of any one." `
` `
` "Not even before you, Philip? Then who loads his pistol?" `
` `
` "His servant." `
` `
` "A Nubian?" `
` `
` "A negro." `
` `
` "It is he, then." `
` `
` "Do you know this gentleman?" `
` `
` "Yes, and I am come to look for him; he is a friend of `
` mine." `
` `
` "Oh, that is quite another thing, then. I will go `
` immediately and inform him of your arrival." And Philip, `
` urged by his own curiosity, entered the gallery; a second `
` afterwards, Monte Cristo appeared on the threshold. "I ask `
` your pardon, my dear count," said Albert, "for following you `
` here, and I must first tell you that it was not the fault of `
` your servants that I did so; I alone am to blame for the `
` indiscretion. I went to your house, and they told me you `
` were out, but that they expected you home at ten o'clock to `
` breakfast. I was walking about in order to pass away the `
` time till ten o'clock, when I caught sight of your carriage `
` and horses." `
` `
` "What you have just said induces me to hope that you intend `
` breakfasting with me." `
` `
` "No, thank you, I am thinking of other things besides `
` breakfast just now; perhaps we may take that meal at a later `
` hour and in worse company." `
` `
` "What on earth are you talking of?" `
` `
` "I am to fight to-day." `
` `
` "For what?" `
` `
` "I am going to fight" -- `
` `
` "Yes, I understand that, but what is the quarrel? People `
` fight for all sorts of reasons, you know." `
` `
` "I fight in the cause of honor." `
` `
` "Ah, that is something serious." `
` `
` "So serious, that I come to beg you to render me a service." `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "To be my second." `
` `
` "That is a serious matter, and we will not discuss it here; `
` let us speak of nothing till we get home. Ali, bring me some `
` water." The count turned up his sleeves, and passed into the `
` little vestibule where the gentlemen were accustomed to wash `
` their hands after shooting. "Come in, my lord," said Philip `
` in a low tone, "and I will show you something droll." `
` Morcerf entered, and in place of the usual target, he saw `
` some playing-cards fixed against the wall. At a distance `
` Albert thought it was a complete suit, for he counted from `
` the ace to the ten. "Ah, ha," said Albert, "I see you were `
` preparing for a game of cards." `
` `
` "No," said the count, "I was making a suit." `
` `
` "How?" said Albert. `
` `
` "Those are really aces and twos which you see, but my shots `
` have turned them into threes, fives, sevens, eights, nines, `
` and tens." Albert approached. In fact, the bullets had `
` actually pierced the cards in the exact places which the `
` painted signs would otherwise have occupied, the lines and `
` distances being as regularly kept as if they had been ruled `
` with pencil. "Diable," said Morcerf. `
` `
` "What would you have, my dear viscount?" said Monte Cristo, `
` wiping his hands on the towel which Ali had brought him; "I `
` must occupy my leisure moments in some way or other. But `
` come, I am waiting for you." Both men entered Monte Cristo's `
` carriage, which in the course of a few minutes deposited `
` them safely at No. 30. Monte Cristo took Albert into his `
` study, and pointing to a seat, placed another for himself. `
` "Now let us talk the matter over quietly," said the count. `
` `
` "You see I am perfectly composed," said Albert. `
` `
` "With whom are you going to fight?" `
` `
` "With Beauchamp." `
` `
` "One of your friends!" `
` `
` "Of course; it is always with friends that one fights." `
` `
` "I suppose you have some cause of quarrel?" `
` `
` "I have." `
` `
` "What has he done to you?" `
` `
` "There appeared in his journal last night -- but wait, and `
` read for yourself." And Albert handed over the paper to the `
`