Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.75-117
"Come, Caderousse, no nonsense!" said he. `
` `
` "Don't alarm yourself, my little Benedetto, but just point `
` out to me some means of gaining those thirty thousand francs `
` without your assistance, and I will contrive it." `
` `
` "Well, I'll see -- I'll try to contrive some way," said `
` Andrea. `
` `
` "Meanwhile you will raise my monthly allowance to five `
` hundred francs, my little fellow? I have a fancy, and mean `
` to get a housekeeper." `
` `
` "Well, you shall have your five hundred francs," said `
` Andrea; "but it is very hard for me, my poor Caderousse -- `
` you take advantage" -- `
` `
` "Bah," said Caderousse, "when you have access to countless `
` stores." One would have said Andrea anticipated his `
` companion's words, so did his eye flash like lightning, but `
` it was but for a moment. "True," he replied, "and my `
` protector is very kind." `
` `
` "That dear protector," said Caderousse; "and how much does `
` he give you monthly?" `
` `
` "Five thousand francs." `
` `
` "As many thousands as you give me hundreds! Truly, it is `
` only bastards who are thus fortunate. Five thousand francs `
` per month! What the devil can you do with all that?" `
` `
` "Oh, it is no trouble to spend that; and I am like you, I `
` want capital." `
` `
` "Capital? -- yes -- I understand -- every one would like `
` capital." `
` `
` "Well, and I shall get it." `
` `
` "Who will give it to you -- your prince?" `
` `
` "Yes, my prince. But unfortunately I must wait." `
` `
` "You must wait for what?" asked Caderousse. `
` `
` "For his death." `
` `
` "The death of your prince?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "Because he has made his will in my favor." `
` `
` "Indeed?" `
` `
` "On my honor." `
` `
` "For how much?" `
` `
` "For five hundred thousand." `
` `
` "Only that? It's little enough." `
` `
` "But so it is." `
` `
` "No it cannot be!" `
` `
` "Are you my friend, Caderousse?" `
` `
` "Yes, in life or death." `
` `
` "Well, I will tell you a secret." `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "But remember" -- `
` `
` "Ah, pardieu, mute as a carp." `
` `
` "Well, I think" -- Andrea stopped and looked around. `
` `
` "You think? Do not fear; pardieu, we are alone." `
` `
` "I think I have discovered my father." `
` `
` "Your true father?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Not old Cavalcanti?" `
` `
` "No, for he has gone again; the true one, as you say." `
` `
` "And that father is" -- `
` `
` "Well, Caderousse, it is Monte Cristo." `
` `
` "Bah!" `
` `
` "Yes, you understand, that explains all. He cannot `
` acknowledge me openly, it appears, but he does it through M. `
` Cavalcanti, and gives him fifty thousand francs for it." `
` `
` "Fifty thousand francs for being your father? I would have `
` done it for half that, for twenty thousand, for fifteen `
` thousand; why did you not think of me, ungrateful man?" `
` `
` "Did I know anything about it, when it was all done when I `
` was down there?" `
` `
` "Ah, truly? And you say that by his will" -- `
` `
` "He leaves me five hundred thousand livres." `
` `
` "Are you sure of it?" `
` `
` "He showed it me; but that is not all -- there is a codicil, `
` as I said just now." `
` `
` "Probably." `
` `
` "And in that codicil he acknowledges me." `
` `
` "Oh, the good father, the brave father, the very honest `
` father!" said Caderousse, twirling a plate in the air `
` between his two hands. `
` `
` "Now say if I conceal anything from you?" `
` `
` "No, and your confidence makes you honorable in my opinion; `
` and your princely father, is he rich, very rich?" `
` `
` "Yes, he is that; he does not himself know the amount of his `
` fortune." `
` `
` "Is it possible?" `
` `
` "It is evident enough to me, who am always at his house. The `
` other day a banker's clerk brought him fifty thousand francs `
` in a portfolio about the size of your plate; yesterday his `
` banker brought him a hundred thousand francs in gold." `
` Caderousse was filled with wonder; the young man's words `
` sounded to him like metal, and he thought he could hear the `
` rushing of cascades of louis. "And you go into that house?" `
` cried he briskly. `
` `
` "When I like." `
` `
` Caderousse was thoughtful for a moment. It was easy to `
` perceive he was revolving some unfortunate idea in his mind. `
` Then suddenly, -- "How I should like to see all that," cried `
` he; "how beautiful it must be!" `
` `
` "It is, in fact, magnificent," said Andrea. `
` `
` "And does he not live in the Champs-Elysees?" `
` `
` "Yes, No. 30." `
` `
` "Ah," said Caderousse, "No. 30." `
` `
` "Yes, a fine house standing alone, between a court-yard and `
` a garden, -- you must know it." `
` `
` "Possibly; but it is not the exterior I care for, it is the `
` interior. What beautiful furniture there must be in it!" `
` `
` "Have you ever seen the Tuileries?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Well, it surpasses that." `
` `
` "It must be worth one's while to stoop, Andrea, when that `
` good M. Monte Cristo lets fall his purse." `
` `
` "It is not worth while to wait for that," said Andrea; `
` "money is as plentiful in that house as fruit in an `
` orchard." `
` `
` "But you should take me there one day with you." `
` `
` "How can I? On what plea?" `
` `
` "You are right; but you have made my mouth water. I must `
` absolutely see it; I shall find a way." `
` `
` "No nonsense, Caderousse!" `
` `
` "I will offer myself as floor-polisher." `
` `
` "The rooms are all carpeted." `
` `
` "Well, then, I must be contented to imagine it." `
` `
` "That is the best plan, believe me." `
` `
` "Try, at least, to give me an idea of what it is." `
`
` `
` "Don't alarm yourself, my little Benedetto, but just point `
` out to me some means of gaining those thirty thousand francs `
` without your assistance, and I will contrive it." `
` `
` "Well, I'll see -- I'll try to contrive some way," said `
` Andrea. `
` `
` "Meanwhile you will raise my monthly allowance to five `
` hundred francs, my little fellow? I have a fancy, and mean `
` to get a housekeeper." `
` `
` "Well, you shall have your five hundred francs," said `
` Andrea; "but it is very hard for me, my poor Caderousse -- `
` you take advantage" -- `
` `
` "Bah," said Caderousse, "when you have access to countless `
` stores." One would have said Andrea anticipated his `
` companion's words, so did his eye flash like lightning, but `
` it was but for a moment. "True," he replied, "and my `
` protector is very kind." `
` `
` "That dear protector," said Caderousse; "and how much does `
` he give you monthly?" `
` `
` "Five thousand francs." `
` `
` "As many thousands as you give me hundreds! Truly, it is `
` only bastards who are thus fortunate. Five thousand francs `
` per month! What the devil can you do with all that?" `
` `
` "Oh, it is no trouble to spend that; and I am like you, I `
` want capital." `
` `
` "Capital? -- yes -- I understand -- every one would like `
` capital." `
` `
` "Well, and I shall get it." `
` `
` "Who will give it to you -- your prince?" `
` `
` "Yes, my prince. But unfortunately I must wait." `
` `
` "You must wait for what?" asked Caderousse. `
` `
` "For his death." `
` `
` "The death of your prince?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "Because he has made his will in my favor." `
` `
` "Indeed?" `
` `
` "On my honor." `
` `
` "For how much?" `
` `
` "For five hundred thousand." `
` `
` "Only that? It's little enough." `
` `
` "But so it is." `
` `
` "No it cannot be!" `
` `
` "Are you my friend, Caderousse?" `
` `
` "Yes, in life or death." `
` `
` "Well, I will tell you a secret." `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "But remember" -- `
` `
` "Ah, pardieu, mute as a carp." `
` `
` "Well, I think" -- Andrea stopped and looked around. `
` `
` "You think? Do not fear; pardieu, we are alone." `
` `
` "I think I have discovered my father." `
` `
` "Your true father?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Not old Cavalcanti?" `
` `
` "No, for he has gone again; the true one, as you say." `
` `
` "And that father is" -- `
` `
` "Well, Caderousse, it is Monte Cristo." `
` `
` "Bah!" `
` `
` "Yes, you understand, that explains all. He cannot `
` acknowledge me openly, it appears, but he does it through M. `
` Cavalcanti, and gives him fifty thousand francs for it." `
` `
` "Fifty thousand francs for being your father? I would have `
` done it for half that, for twenty thousand, for fifteen `
` thousand; why did you not think of me, ungrateful man?" `
` `
` "Did I know anything about it, when it was all done when I `
` was down there?" `
` `
` "Ah, truly? And you say that by his will" -- `
` `
` "He leaves me five hundred thousand livres." `
` `
` "Are you sure of it?" `
` `
` "He showed it me; but that is not all -- there is a codicil, `
` as I said just now." `
` `
` "Probably." `
` `
` "And in that codicil he acknowledges me." `
` `
` "Oh, the good father, the brave father, the very honest `
` father!" said Caderousse, twirling a plate in the air `
` between his two hands. `
` `
` "Now say if I conceal anything from you?" `
` `
` "No, and your confidence makes you honorable in my opinion; `
` and your princely father, is he rich, very rich?" `
` `
` "Yes, he is that; he does not himself know the amount of his `
` fortune." `
` `
` "Is it possible?" `
` `
` "It is evident enough to me, who am always at his house. The `
` other day a banker's clerk brought him fifty thousand francs `
` in a portfolio about the size of your plate; yesterday his `
` banker brought him a hundred thousand francs in gold." `
` Caderousse was filled with wonder; the young man's words `
` sounded to him like metal, and he thought he could hear the `
` rushing of cascades of louis. "And you go into that house?" `
` cried he briskly. `
` `
` "When I like." `
` `
` Caderousse was thoughtful for a moment. It was easy to `
` perceive he was revolving some unfortunate idea in his mind. `
` Then suddenly, -- "How I should like to see all that," cried `
` he; "how beautiful it must be!" `
` `
` "It is, in fact, magnificent," said Andrea. `
` `
` "And does he not live in the Champs-Elysees?" `
` `
` "Yes, No. 30." `
` `
` "Ah," said Caderousse, "No. 30." `
` `
` "Yes, a fine house standing alone, between a court-yard and `
` a garden, -- you must know it." `
` `
` "Possibly; but it is not the exterior I care for, it is the `
` interior. What beautiful furniture there must be in it!" `
` `
` "Have you ever seen the Tuileries?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Well, it surpasses that." `
` `
` "It must be worth one's while to stoop, Andrea, when that `
` good M. Monte Cristo lets fall his purse." `
` `
` "It is not worth while to wait for that," said Andrea; `
` "money is as plentiful in that house as fruit in an `
` orchard." `
` `
` "But you should take me there one day with you." `
` `
` "How can I? On what plea?" `
` `
` "You are right; but you have made my mouth water. I must `
` absolutely see it; I shall find a way." `
` `
` "No nonsense, Caderousse!" `
` `
` "I will offer myself as floor-polisher." `
` `
` "The rooms are all carpeted." `
` `
` "Well, then, I must be contented to imagine it." `
` `
` "That is the best plan, believe me." `
` `
` "Try, at least, to give me an idea of what it is." `
`