Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.75-117
`
` "I shall remember old friends, I can tell you that." `
` `
` "Yes, since you have such a good memory." `
` `
` "What do you want? It looks as if you were trying to fleece `
` me?" `
` `
` "I? What an idea! I, who am going to give you another piece `
` of good advice." `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "To leave behind you the diamond you have on your finger. We `
` shall both get into trouble. You will ruin both yourself and `
` me by your folly." `
` `
` "How so?" said Andrea. `
` `
` "How? You put on a livery, you disguise yourself as a `
` servant, and yet keep a diamond on your finger worth four or `
` five thousand francs." `
` `
` "You guess well." `
` `
` "I know something of diamonds; I have had some." `
` `
` "You do well to boast of it," said Andrea, who, without `
` becoming angry, as Caderousse feared, at this new extortion, `
` quietly resigned the ring. Caderousse looked so closely at `
` it that Andrea well knew that he was examining to see if all `
` the edges were perfect. `
` `
` "It is a false diamond," said Caderousse. `
` `
` "You are joking now," replied Andrea. `
` `
` "Do not be angry, we can try it." Caderousse went to the `
` window, touched the glass with it, and found it would cut. `
` `
` "Confiteor," said Caderousse, putting the diamond on his `
` little finger; "I was mistaken; but those thieves of `
` jewellers imitate so well that it is no longer worth while `
` to rob a jeweller's shop -- it is another branch of industry `
` paralyzed." `
` `
` "Have you finished?" said Andrea, -- "do you want anything `
` more? -- will you have my waistcoat or my hat? Make free, `
` now you have begun." `
` `
` "No; you are, after all, a good companion; I will not detain `
` you, and will try to cure myself of my ambition." `
` `
` "But take care the same thing does not happen to you in `
` selling the diamond you feared with the gold." `
` `
` "I shall not sell it -- do not fear." `
` `
` "Not at least till the day after to-morrow," thought the `
` young man. `
` `
` "Happy rogue," said Caderousse; "you are going to find your `
` servants, your horses, your carriage, and your betrothed!" `
` `
` "Yes," said Andrea. `
` `
` "Well, I hope you will make a handsome wedding-present the `
` day you marry Mademoiselle Danglars." `
` `
` "I have already told you it is a fancy you have taken in `
` your head." `
` `
` "What fortune has she?" `
` `
` "But I tell you" -- `
` `
` "A million?" Andrea shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "Let it be a million," said Caderousse; "you can never have `
` so much as I wish you." `
` `
` "Thank you," said the young man. `
` `
` "Oh, I wish it you with all my heart!" added Caderousse with `
` his hoarse laugh. "Stop, let me show you the way." `
` `
` "It is not worth while." `
` `
` "Yes, it is." `
` `
` "Why?" `
` `
` "Because there is a little secret, a precaution I thought it `
` desirable to take, one of Huret Fitchet's locks, revised `
` and improved by Gaspard Caderousse; I will manufacture you a `
` similar one when you are a capitalist." `
` `
` "Thank you," said Andrea; "I will let you know a week `
` beforehand." They parted. Caderousse remained on the landing `
` until he had not only seen Andrea go down the three stories, `
` but also cross the court. Then he returned hastily, shut his `
` door carefully, and began to study, like a clever architect, `
` the plan Andrea had left him. `
` `
` "Dear Benedetto," said he, "I think he will not be sorry to `
` inherit his fortune, and he who hastens the day when he can `
` touch his five hundred thousand will not be his worst `
` friend." `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 82 `
` The Burglary. `
` `
` The day following that on which the conversation we have `
` related took place, the Count of Monte Cristo set out for `
` Auteuil, accompanied by Ali and several attendants, and also `
` taking with him some horses whose qualities he was desirous `
` of ascertaining. He was induced to undertake this journey, `
` of which the day before he had not even thought and which `
` had not occurred to Andrea either, by the arrival of `
` Bertuccio from Normandy with intelligence respecting the `
` house and sloop. The house was ready, and the sloop which `
` had arrived a week before lay at anchor in a small creek `
` with her crew of six men, who had observed all the requisite `
` formalities and were ready again to put to sea. `
` `
` The count praised Bertuccio's zeal, and ordered him to `
` prepare for a speedy departure, as his stay in France would `
` not be prolonged more than a month. "Now," said he, "I may `
` require to go in one night from Paris to Treport; let eight `
` fresh horses be in readiness on the road, which will enable `
` me to go fifty leagues in ten hours." `
` `
` "Your highness had already expressed that wish," said `
` Bertuccio, "and the horses are ready. I have bought them, `
` and stationed them myself at the most desirable posts, that `
` is, in villages, where no one generally stops." `
` `
` "That's well," said Monte Cristo; "I remain here a day or `
` two -- arrange accordingly." As Bertuccio was leaving the `
` room to give the requisite orders, Baptistin opened the `
` door: he held a letter on a silver waiter. `
` `
` "What are you doing here?" asked the count, seeing him `
` covered with dust; "I did not send for you, I think?" `
` `
` Baptistin, without answering, approached the count, and `
` presented the letter. "Important and urgent," said he. The `
` count opened the letter, and read: -- `
` `
` "M. de Monte Cristo is apprised that this night a man will `
` enter his house in the Champs-Elysees with the intention of `
` carrying off some papers supposed to be in the secretary in `
` the dressing-room. The count's well-known courage will `
` render unnecessary the aid of the police, whose interference `
` might seriously affect him who sends this advice. The count, `
` by any opening from the bedroom, or by concealing himself in `
` the dressing-room, would be able to defend his property `
` himself. Many attendants or apparent precautions would `
` prevent the villain from the attempt, and M. de Monte Cristo `
` would lose the opportunity of discovering an enemy whom `
` chance has revealed to him who now sends this warning to the `
` count, -- a warning he might not be able to send another `
` time, if this first attempt should fail and another be `
` made." `
` `
` The count's first idea was that this was an artifice -- a `
` gross deception, to draw his attention from a minor danger `
` in order to expose him to a greater. He was on the point of `
` sending the letter to the commissary of police, `
` notwithstanding the advice of his anonymous friend, or `
` perhaps because of that advice, when suddenly the idea `
` occurred to him that it might be some personal enemy, whom `
` he alone should recognize and over whom, if such were the `
` case, he alone would gain any advantage, as Fiesco* had done `
` over the Moor who would have killed him. We know the Count's `
` vigorous and daring mind, denying anything to be impossible, `
` with that energy which marks the great man. From his past `
` life, from his resolution to shrink from nothing, the count `
` had acquired an inconceivable relish for the contests in `
` which he had engaged, sometimes against nature, that is to `
` say, against God, and sometimes against the world, that is, `
` against the devil. `
` `
` * The Genoese conspirator. `
` `
` "They do not want my papers," said Monte Cristo, "they want `
` to kill me; they are no robbers, but assassins. I will not `
` allow the prefect of police to interfere with my private `
` affairs. I am rich enough, forsooth, to distribute his `
` authority on this occasion." The count recalled Baptistin, `
` who had left the room after delivering the letter. "Return `
` to Paris," said he; "assemble the servants who remain there. `
` I want all my household at Auteuil." `
` `
` "But will no one remain in the house, my lord?" asked `
` Baptistin. `
` `
` "Yes, the porter." `
` `
`
` "I shall remember old friends, I can tell you that." `
` `
` "Yes, since you have such a good memory." `
` `
` "What do you want? It looks as if you were trying to fleece `
` me?" `
` `
` "I? What an idea! I, who am going to give you another piece `
` of good advice." `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "To leave behind you the diamond you have on your finger. We `
` shall both get into trouble. You will ruin both yourself and `
` me by your folly." `
` `
` "How so?" said Andrea. `
` `
` "How? You put on a livery, you disguise yourself as a `
` servant, and yet keep a diamond on your finger worth four or `
` five thousand francs." `
` `
` "You guess well." `
` `
` "I know something of diamonds; I have had some." `
` `
` "You do well to boast of it," said Andrea, who, without `
` becoming angry, as Caderousse feared, at this new extortion, `
` quietly resigned the ring. Caderousse looked so closely at `
` it that Andrea well knew that he was examining to see if all `
` the edges were perfect. `
` `
` "It is a false diamond," said Caderousse. `
` `
` "You are joking now," replied Andrea. `
` `
` "Do not be angry, we can try it." Caderousse went to the `
` window, touched the glass with it, and found it would cut. `
` `
` "Confiteor," said Caderousse, putting the diamond on his `
` little finger; "I was mistaken; but those thieves of `
` jewellers imitate so well that it is no longer worth while `
` to rob a jeweller's shop -- it is another branch of industry `
` paralyzed." `
` `
` "Have you finished?" said Andrea, -- "do you want anything `
` more? -- will you have my waistcoat or my hat? Make free, `
` now you have begun." `
` `
` "No; you are, after all, a good companion; I will not detain `
` you, and will try to cure myself of my ambition." `
` `
` "But take care the same thing does not happen to you in `
` selling the diamond you feared with the gold." `
` `
` "I shall not sell it -- do not fear." `
` `
` "Not at least till the day after to-morrow," thought the `
` young man. `
` `
` "Happy rogue," said Caderousse; "you are going to find your `
` servants, your horses, your carriage, and your betrothed!" `
` `
` "Yes," said Andrea. `
` `
` "Well, I hope you will make a handsome wedding-present the `
` day you marry Mademoiselle Danglars." `
` `
` "I have already told you it is a fancy you have taken in `
` your head." `
` `
` "What fortune has she?" `
` `
` "But I tell you" -- `
` `
` "A million?" Andrea shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "Let it be a million," said Caderousse; "you can never have `
` so much as I wish you." `
` `
` "Thank you," said the young man. `
` `
` "Oh, I wish it you with all my heart!" added Caderousse with `
` his hoarse laugh. "Stop, let me show you the way." `
` `
` "It is not worth while." `
` `
` "Yes, it is." `
` `
` "Why?" `
` `
` "Because there is a little secret, a precaution I thought it `
` desirable to take, one of Huret Fitchet's locks, revised `
` and improved by Gaspard Caderousse; I will manufacture you a `
` similar one when you are a capitalist." `
` `
` "Thank you," said Andrea; "I will let you know a week `
` beforehand." They parted. Caderousse remained on the landing `
` until he had not only seen Andrea go down the three stories, `
` but also cross the court. Then he returned hastily, shut his `
` door carefully, and began to study, like a clever architect, `
` the plan Andrea had left him. `
` `
` "Dear Benedetto," said he, "I think he will not be sorry to `
` inherit his fortune, and he who hastens the day when he can `
` touch his five hundred thousand will not be his worst `
` friend." `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 82 `
` The Burglary. `
` `
` The day following that on which the conversation we have `
` related took place, the Count of Monte Cristo set out for `
` Auteuil, accompanied by Ali and several attendants, and also `
` taking with him some horses whose qualities he was desirous `
` of ascertaining. He was induced to undertake this journey, `
` of which the day before he had not even thought and which `
` had not occurred to Andrea either, by the arrival of `
` Bertuccio from Normandy with intelligence respecting the `
` house and sloop. The house was ready, and the sloop which `
` had arrived a week before lay at anchor in a small creek `
` with her crew of six men, who had observed all the requisite `
` formalities and were ready again to put to sea. `
` `
` The count praised Bertuccio's zeal, and ordered him to `
` prepare for a speedy departure, as his stay in France would `
` not be prolonged more than a month. "Now," said he, "I may `
` require to go in one night from Paris to Treport; let eight `
` fresh horses be in readiness on the road, which will enable `
` me to go fifty leagues in ten hours." `
` `
` "Your highness had already expressed that wish," said `
` Bertuccio, "and the horses are ready. I have bought them, `
` and stationed them myself at the most desirable posts, that `
` is, in villages, where no one generally stops." `
` `
` "That's well," said Monte Cristo; "I remain here a day or `
` two -- arrange accordingly." As Bertuccio was leaving the `
` room to give the requisite orders, Baptistin opened the `
` door: he held a letter on a silver waiter. `
` `
` "What are you doing here?" asked the count, seeing him `
` covered with dust; "I did not send for you, I think?" `
` `
` Baptistin, without answering, approached the count, and `
` presented the letter. "Important and urgent," said he. The `
` count opened the letter, and read: -- `
` `
` "M. de Monte Cristo is apprised that this night a man will `
` enter his house in the Champs-Elysees with the intention of `
` carrying off some papers supposed to be in the secretary in `
` the dressing-room. The count's well-known courage will `
` render unnecessary the aid of the police, whose interference `
` might seriously affect him who sends this advice. The count, `
` by any opening from the bedroom, or by concealing himself in `
` the dressing-room, would be able to defend his property `
` himself. Many attendants or apparent precautions would `
` prevent the villain from the attempt, and M. de Monte Cristo `
` would lose the opportunity of discovering an enemy whom `
` chance has revealed to him who now sends this warning to the `
` count, -- a warning he might not be able to send another `
` time, if this first attempt should fail and another be `
` made." `
` `
` The count's first idea was that this was an artifice -- a `
` gross deception, to draw his attention from a minor danger `
` in order to expose him to a greater. He was on the point of `
` sending the letter to the commissary of police, `
` notwithstanding the advice of his anonymous friend, or `
` perhaps because of that advice, when suddenly the idea `
` occurred to him that it might be some personal enemy, whom `
` he alone should recognize and over whom, if such were the `
` case, he alone would gain any advantage, as Fiesco* had done `
` over the Moor who would have killed him. We know the Count's `
` vigorous and daring mind, denying anything to be impossible, `
` with that energy which marks the great man. From his past `
` life, from his resolution to shrink from nothing, the count `
` had acquired an inconceivable relish for the contests in `
` which he had engaged, sometimes against nature, that is to `
` say, against God, and sometimes against the world, that is, `
` against the devil. `
` `
` * The Genoese conspirator. `
` `
` "They do not want my papers," said Monte Cristo, "they want `
` to kill me; they are no robbers, but assassins. I will not `
` allow the prefect of police to interfere with my private `
` affairs. I am rich enough, forsooth, to distribute his `
` authority on this occasion." The count recalled Baptistin, `
` who had left the room after delivering the letter. "Return `
` to Paris," said he; "assemble the servants who remain there. `
` I want all my household at Auteuil." `
` `
` "But will no one remain in the house, my lord?" asked `
` Baptistin. `
` `
` "Yes, the porter." `
` `
`