Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.75-117
read for yourself." And Albert handed over the paper to the `
` count, who read as follows: -- `
` `
` "A correspondent at Yanina informs us of a fact of which `
` until now we had remained in ignorance. The castle which `
` formed the protection of the town was given up to the Turks `
` by a French officer named Fernand, in whom the grand vizier, `
` Ali Tepelini, had reposed the greatest confidence." `
` `
` "Well," said Monte Cristo, "what do you see in that to annoy `
` you?" `
` `
` "What do I see in it?" `
` `
` "Yes; what does it signify to you if the castle of Yanina `
` was given up by a French officer?" `
` `
` "It signifies to my father, the Count of Morcerf, whose `
` Christian name is Fernand!" `
` `
` "Did your father serve under Ali Pasha?" `
` `
` "Yes; that is to say, he fought for the independence of the `
` Greeks, and hence arises the calumny." `
` `
` "Oh, my dear viscount, do talk reason!" `
` `
` "I do not desire to do otherwise." `
` `
` "Now, just tell me who the devil should know in France that `
` the officer Fernand and the Count of Morcerf are one and the `
` same person? and who cares now about Yanina, which was taken `
` as long ago as the year 1822 or 1823?" `
` `
` "That just shows the meanness of this slander. They have `
` allowed all this time to elapse, and then all of a sudden `
` rake up events which have been forgotten to furnish `
` materials for scandal, in order to tarnish the lustre of our `
` high position. I inherit my father's name, and I do not `
` choose that the shadow of disgrace should darken it. I am `
` going to Beauchamp, in whose journal this paragraph appears, `
` and I shall insist on his retracting the assertion before `
` two witnesses." `
` `
` "Beauchamp will never retract." `
` `
` "Then he must fight." `
` `
` "No he will not, for he will tell you, what is very true, `
` that perhaps there were fifty officers in the Greek army `
` bearing the same name." `
` `
` "We will fight, nevertheless. I will efface that blot on my `
` father's character. My father, who was such a brave soldier, `
` whose career was so brilliant" -- `
` `
` "Oh, well, he will add, `We are warranted in believing that `
` this Fernand is not the illustrious Count of Morcerf, who `
` also bears the same Christian name.'" `
` `
` "I am determined not to be content with anything short of an `
` entire retractation." `
` `
` "And you intend to make him do it in the presence of two `
` witnesses, do you?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "You do wrong." `
` `
` "Which means, I suppose, that you refuse the service which I `
` asked of you?" `
` `
` "You know my theory regarding duels; I told you my opinion `
` on that subject, if you remember, when we were at Rome." `
` `
` "Nevertheless, my dear count, I found you this morning `
` engaged in an occupation but little consistent with the `
` notions you profess to entertain." `
` `
` "Because, my dear fellow, you understand one must never be `
` eccentric. If one's lot is cast among fools, it is necessary `
` to study folly. I shall perhaps find myself one day called `
` out by some harebrained scamp, who has no more real cause of `
` quarrel with me than you have with Beauchamp; he may take me `
` to task for some foolish trifle or other, he will bring his `
` witnesses, or will insult me in some public place, and I am `
` expected to kill him for all that." `
` `
` "You admit that you would fight, then? Well, if so, why do `
` you object to my doing so?" `
` `
` "I do not say that you ought not to fight, I only say that a `
` duel is a serious thing, and ought not to be undertaken `
` without due reflection." `
` `
` "Did he reflect before he insulted my father?" `
` `
` "If he spoke hastily, and owns that he did so, you ought to `
` be satisfied." `
` `
` "Ah, my dear count, you are far too indulgent." `
` `
` "And you are far too exacting. Supposing, for instance, and `
` do not be angry at what I am going to say" -- `
` `
` "Well." `
` `
` "Supposing the assertion to be really true?" `
` `
` "A son ought not to submit to such a stain on his father's `
` honor." `
` `
` "Ma foi, we live in times when there is much to which we `
` must submit." `
` `
` "That is precisely the fault of the age." `
` `
` "And do you undertake to reform it?" `
` `
` "Yes, as far as I am personally concerned." `
` `
` "Well, you the?? indeed exacting, my dear fellow!" `
` `
` "Yes, I own it." `
` `
` "Are you quite impervious to good advice?" `
` `
` "Not when it comes from a friend." `
` `
` "And do you account me that title?" `
` `
` "Certainly I do." `
` `
` "Well, then, before going to Beauchamp with your witnesses, `
` seek further information on the subject." `
` `
` "From whom?" `
` `
` "From Haidee." `
` `
` "Why, what can be the use of mixing a woman up in the `
` affair? -- what can she do in it?" `
` `
` "She can declare to you, for example, that your father had `
` no hand whatever in the defeat and death of the vizier; or `
` if by chance he had, indeed, the misfortune to" -- `
` `
` "I have told you, my dear count, that I would not for one `
` moment admit of such a proposition." `
` `
` "You reject this means of information, then?" `
` `
` "I do -- most decidedly." `
` `
` "Then let me offer one more word of advice." `
` `
` "Do so, then, but let it be the last." `
` `
` "You do not wish to hear it, perhaps?" `
` `
` "On the contrary, I request it." `
` `
` "Do not take any witnesses with you when you go to Beauchamp `
` -- visit him alone." `
` `
` "That would be contrary to all custom." `
` `
` "Your case is not an ordinary one." `
` `
` "And what is your reason for advising me to go alone?" `
` `
` "Because then the affair will rest between you and `
` Beauchamp." `
` `
` "Explain yourself." `
` `
` "I will do so. If Beauchamp be disposed to retract, you `
` ought at least to give him the opportunity of doing it of `
` his own free will, -- the satisfaction to you will be the `
` same. If, on the contrary, he refuses to do so, it will then `
` be quite time enough to admit two strangers into your `
` secret." `
` `
` "They will not be strangers, they will be friends." `
` `
` "Ah, but the friends of to-day are the enemies of to-morrow; `
` Beauchamp, for instance." `
` `
` "So you recommend" -- `
` `
` "I recommend you to be prudent." `
` `
` "Then you advise me to go alone to Beauchamp?" `
` `
` "I do, and I will tell you why. When you wish to obtain some `
` concession from a man's self-love, you must avoid even the `
` appearance of wishing to wound it." `
` `
` "I believe you are right." `
` `
`
` count, who read as follows: -- `
` `
` "A correspondent at Yanina informs us of a fact of which `
` until now we had remained in ignorance. The castle which `
` formed the protection of the town was given up to the Turks `
` by a French officer named Fernand, in whom the grand vizier, `
` Ali Tepelini, had reposed the greatest confidence." `
` `
` "Well," said Monte Cristo, "what do you see in that to annoy `
` you?" `
` `
` "What do I see in it?" `
` `
` "Yes; what does it signify to you if the castle of Yanina `
` was given up by a French officer?" `
` `
` "It signifies to my father, the Count of Morcerf, whose `
` Christian name is Fernand!" `
` `
` "Did your father serve under Ali Pasha?" `
` `
` "Yes; that is to say, he fought for the independence of the `
` Greeks, and hence arises the calumny." `
` `
` "Oh, my dear viscount, do talk reason!" `
` `
` "I do not desire to do otherwise." `
` `
` "Now, just tell me who the devil should know in France that `
` the officer Fernand and the Count of Morcerf are one and the `
` same person? and who cares now about Yanina, which was taken `
` as long ago as the year 1822 or 1823?" `
` `
` "That just shows the meanness of this slander. They have `
` allowed all this time to elapse, and then all of a sudden `
` rake up events which have been forgotten to furnish `
` materials for scandal, in order to tarnish the lustre of our `
` high position. I inherit my father's name, and I do not `
` choose that the shadow of disgrace should darken it. I am `
` going to Beauchamp, in whose journal this paragraph appears, `
` and I shall insist on his retracting the assertion before `
` two witnesses." `
` `
` "Beauchamp will never retract." `
` `
` "Then he must fight." `
` `
` "No he will not, for he will tell you, what is very true, `
` that perhaps there were fifty officers in the Greek army `
` bearing the same name." `
` `
` "We will fight, nevertheless. I will efface that blot on my `
` father's character. My father, who was such a brave soldier, `
` whose career was so brilliant" -- `
` `
` "Oh, well, he will add, `We are warranted in believing that `
` this Fernand is not the illustrious Count of Morcerf, who `
` also bears the same Christian name.'" `
` `
` "I am determined not to be content with anything short of an `
` entire retractation." `
` `
` "And you intend to make him do it in the presence of two `
` witnesses, do you?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "You do wrong." `
` `
` "Which means, I suppose, that you refuse the service which I `
` asked of you?" `
` `
` "You know my theory regarding duels; I told you my opinion `
` on that subject, if you remember, when we were at Rome." `
` `
` "Nevertheless, my dear count, I found you this morning `
` engaged in an occupation but little consistent with the `
` notions you profess to entertain." `
` `
` "Because, my dear fellow, you understand one must never be `
` eccentric. If one's lot is cast among fools, it is necessary `
` to study folly. I shall perhaps find myself one day called `
` out by some harebrained scamp, who has no more real cause of `
` quarrel with me than you have with Beauchamp; he may take me `
` to task for some foolish trifle or other, he will bring his `
` witnesses, or will insult me in some public place, and I am `
` expected to kill him for all that." `
` `
` "You admit that you would fight, then? Well, if so, why do `
` you object to my doing so?" `
` `
` "I do not say that you ought not to fight, I only say that a `
` duel is a serious thing, and ought not to be undertaken `
` without due reflection." `
` `
` "Did he reflect before he insulted my father?" `
` `
` "If he spoke hastily, and owns that he did so, you ought to `
` be satisfied." `
` `
` "Ah, my dear count, you are far too indulgent." `
` `
` "And you are far too exacting. Supposing, for instance, and `
` do not be angry at what I am going to say" -- `
` `
` "Well." `
` `
` "Supposing the assertion to be really true?" `
` `
` "A son ought not to submit to such a stain on his father's `
` honor." `
` `
` "Ma foi, we live in times when there is much to which we `
` must submit." `
` `
` "That is precisely the fault of the age." `
` `
` "And do you undertake to reform it?" `
` `
` "Yes, as far as I am personally concerned." `
` `
` "Well, you the?? indeed exacting, my dear fellow!" `
` `
` "Yes, I own it." `
` `
` "Are you quite impervious to good advice?" `
` `
` "Not when it comes from a friend." `
` `
` "And do you account me that title?" `
` `
` "Certainly I do." `
` `
` "Well, then, before going to Beauchamp with your witnesses, `
` seek further information on the subject." `
` `
` "From whom?" `
` `
` "From Haidee." `
` `
` "Why, what can be the use of mixing a woman up in the `
` affair? -- what can she do in it?" `
` `
` "She can declare to you, for example, that your father had `
` no hand whatever in the defeat and death of the vizier; or `
` if by chance he had, indeed, the misfortune to" -- `
` `
` "I have told you, my dear count, that I would not for one `
` moment admit of such a proposition." `
` `
` "You reject this means of information, then?" `
` `
` "I do -- most decidedly." `
` `
` "Then let me offer one more word of advice." `
` `
` "Do so, then, but let it be the last." `
` `
` "You do not wish to hear it, perhaps?" `
` `
` "On the contrary, I request it." `
` `
` "Do not take any witnesses with you when you go to Beauchamp `
` -- visit him alone." `
` `
` "That would be contrary to all custom." `
` `
` "Your case is not an ordinary one." `
` `
` "And what is your reason for advising me to go alone?" `
` `
` "Because then the affair will rest between you and `
` Beauchamp." `
` `
` "Explain yourself." `
` `
` "I will do so. If Beauchamp be disposed to retract, you `
` ought at least to give him the opportunity of doing it of `
` his own free will, -- the satisfaction to you will be the `
` same. If, on the contrary, he refuses to do so, it will then `
` be quite time enough to admit two strangers into your `
` secret." `
` `
` "They will not be strangers, they will be friends." `
` `
` "Ah, but the friends of to-day are the enemies of to-morrow; `
` Beauchamp, for instance." `
` `
` "So you recommend" -- `
` `
` "I recommend you to be prudent." `
` `
` "Then you advise me to go alone to Beauchamp?" `
` `
` "I do, and I will tell you why. When you wish to obtain some `
` concession from a man's self-love, you must avoid even the `
` appearance of wishing to wound it." `
` `
` "I believe you are right." `
` `
`