Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.75-117
"Who?" `
` `
` "Haidee." `
` `
` "Who told you that?" `
` `
` "Alas, I guess it. But go on, Beauchamp. You see I am calm `
` and strong. And yet we must be drawing near the disclosure." `
` `
` "M. de Morcerf," continued Beauchamp, "looked at this woman `
` with surprise and terror. Her lips were about to pass his `
` sentence of life or death. To the committee the adventure `
` was so extraordinary and curious, that the interest they had `
` felt for the count's safety became now quite a secondary `
` matter. The president himself advanced to place a seat for `
` the young lady; but she declined availing herself of it. As `
` for the count, he had fallen on his chair; it was evident `
` that his legs refused to support him. `
` `
` "`Madame,' said the president, `you have engaged to furnish `
` the committee with some important particulars respecting the `
` affair at Yanina, and you have stated that you were an `
` eyewitness of the event.' -- `I was, indeed,' said the `
` stranger, with a tone of sweet melancholy, and with the `
` sonorous voice peculiar to the East. `
` `
` "`But allow me to say that you must have been very young `
` then.' -- `I was four years old; but as those events deeply `
` concerned me, not a single detail has escaped my memory.' -- `
` `In what manner could these events concern you? and who are `
` you, that they should have made so deep an impression on `
` you?' -- `On them depended my father's life,' replied she. `
` `I am Haidee, the daughter of Ali Tepelini, pasha of Yanina, `
` and of Vasiliki, his beloved wife.' `
` `
` "The blush of mingled pride and modesty which suddenly `
` suffused the cheeks of the young woman, the brilliancy of `
` her eye, and her highly important communication, produced an `
` indescribable effect on the assembly. As for the count, he `
` could not have been more overwhelmed if a thunderbolt had `
` fallen at his feet and opened an immense gulf before him. `
` `Madame,' replied the president, bowing with profound `
` respect, `allow me to ask one question; it shall be the `
` last: Can you prove the authenticity of what you have now `
` stated?' -- `I can, sir,' said Haidee, drawing from under `
` her veil a satin satchel highly perfumed; `for here is the `
` register of my birth, signed by my father and his principal `
` officers, and that of my baptism, my father having consented `
` to my being brought up in my mother's faith, -- this latter `
` has been sealed by the grand primate of Macedonia and `
` Epirus; and lastly (and perhaps the most important), the `
` record of the sale of my person and that of my mother to the `
` Armenian merchant El-Kobbir, by the French officer, who, in `
` his infamous bargain with the Porte, had reserved as his `
` part of the booty the wife and daughter of his benefactor, `
` whom he sold for the sum of four hundred thousand francs.' A `
` greenish pallor spread over the count's cheeks, and his eyes `
` became bloodshot at these terrible imputations, which were `
` listened to by the assembly with ominous silence. `
` `
` "Haidee, still calm, but with a calmness more dreadful than `
` the anger of another would have been, handed to the `
` president the record of her sale, written in Arabic. It had `
` been supposed some of the papers might be in the Arabian, `
` Romaic, or Turkish language, and the interpreter of the `
` House was in attendance. One of the noble peers, who was `
` familiar with the Arabic language, having studied it during `
` the famous Egyptian campaign, followed with his eye as the `
` translator read aloud: -- `
` `
` "`I, El-Kobbir, a slave-merchant, and purveyor of the harem `
` of his highness, acknowledge having received for `
` transmission to the sublime emperor, from the French lord, `
` the Count of Monte Cristo, an emerald valued at eight `
` hundred thousand francs; as the ransom of a young Christian `
` slave of eleven years of age, named Haidee, the acknowledged `
` daughter of the late lord Ali Tepelini, pasha of Yanina, and `
` of Vasiliki, his favorite; she having been sold to me seven `
` years previously, with her mother, who had died on arriving `
` at Constantinople, by a French colonel in the service of the `
` Vizier Ali Tepelini, named Fernand Mondego. The `
` above-mentioned purchase was made on his highness's account, `
` whose mandate I had, for the sum of four hundred thousand `
` francs. `
` `
` "`Given at Constantinople, by authority of his highness, in `
` the year 1247 of the Hegira. `
` `
` "`Signed El-Kobbir.' `
` `
` "`That this record should have all due authority, it shall `
` bear the imperial seal, which the vendor is bound to have `
` affixed to it.' `
` `
` "Near the merchant's signature there was, indeed, the seal `
` of the sublime emperor. A dreadful silence followed the `
` reading of this document; the count could only stare, and `
` his gaze, fixed as if unconsciously on Haidee, seemed one of `
` fire and blood. `Madame,' said the president, `may reference `
` be made to the Count of Monte Cristo, who is now, I believe, `
` in Paris?' -- `Sir,' replied Haidee, `the Count of Monte `
` Cristo, my foster-father, has been in Normandy the last `
` three days.' `
` `
` "`Who, then, has counselled you to take this step, one for `
` which the court is deeply indebted to you, and which is `
` perfectly natural, considering your birth and your `
` misfortunes?' -- `Sir,' replied Haidee, `I have been led to `
` take this step from a feeling of respect and grief. Although `
` a Christian, may God forgive me, I have always sought to `
` revenge my illustrious father. Since I set my foot in `
` France, and knew the traitor lived in Paris, I have watched `
` carefully. I live retired in the house of my noble `
` protector, but I do it from choice. I love retirement and `
` silence, because I can live with my thoughts and `
` recollections of past days. But the Count of Monte Cristo `
` surrounds me with every paternal care, and I am ignorant of `
` nothing which passes in the world. I learn all in the `
` silence of my apartments, -- for instance, I see all the `
` newspapers, every periodical, as well as every new piece of `
` music; and by thus watching the course of the life of `
` others, I learned what had transpired this morning in the `
` House of Peers, and what was to take place this evening; `
` then I wrote.' `
` `
` "`Then,' remarked the president, `the Count of Monte Cristo `
` knows nothing of your present proceedings?' -- `He is quite `
` unaware of them, and I have but one fear, which is that he `
` should disapprove of what I have done. But it is a glorious `
` day for me,' continued the young girl, raising her ardent `
` gaze to heaven, `that on which I find at last an opportunity `
` of avenging my father!' `
` `
` "The count had not uttered one word the whole of this time. `
` His colleagues looked at him, and doubtless pitied his `
` prospects, blighted under the perfumed breath of a woman. `
` His misery was depicted in sinister lines on his `
` countenance. `M. de Morcerf,' said the president, `do you `
` recognize this lady as the daughter of Ali Tepelini, pasha `
` of Yanina?' -- `No,' said Morcerf, attempting to rise, `it `
` is a base plot, contrived by my enemies.' Haidee, whose eyes `
` had been fixed on the door, as if expecting some one, turned `
` hastily, and, seeing the count standing, shrieked, `You do `
` not know me?' said she. `Well, I fortunately recognize you! `
` You are Fernand Mondego, the French officer who led the `
` troops of my noble father! It is you who surrendered the `
` castle of Yanina! It is you who, sent by him to `
` Constantinople, to treat with the emperor for the life or `
` death of your benefactor, brought back a false mandate `
` granting full pardon! It is you who, with that mandate, `
` obtained the pasha's ring, which gave you authority over `
` Selim, the fire-keeper! It is you who stabbed Selim. It is `
` you who sold us, my mother and me, to the merchant, `
` El-Kobbir! Assassin, assassin, assassin, you have still on `
` your brow your master's blood! Look, gentlemen, all!' `
` `
` "These words had been pronounced with such enthusiasm and `
` evident truth, that every eye was fixed on the count's `
` forehead, and he himself passed his hand across it, as if he `
` felt Ali's blood still lingering there. `You positively `
` recognize M. de Morcerf as the officer, Fernand Mondego?' -- `
` `Indeed I do!' cried Haidee. `Oh, my mother, it was you who `
` said, "You were free, you had a beloved father, you were `
` destined to be almost a queen. Look well at that man; it is `
` he who raised your father's head on the point of a spear; it `
` is he who sold us; it is he who forsook us! Look well at his `
` right hand, on which he has a large wound; if you forgot his `
` features, you would know him by that hand, into which fell, `
` one by one, the gold pieces of the merchant El-Kobbir!" I `
` know him! Ah, let him say now if he does not recognize me!' `
` Each word fell like a dagger on Morcerf, and deprived him of `
` a portion of his energy; as she uttered the last, he hid his `
` mutilated hand hastily in his bosom, and fell back on his `
` seat, overwhelmed by wretchedness and despair. This scene `
` completely changed the opinion of the assembly respecting `
` the accused count. `
` `
` "`Count of Morcerf,' said the president, `do not allow `
` yourself to be cast down; answer. The justice of the court `
` is supreme and impartial as that of God; it will not suffer `
` you to be trampled on by your enemies without giving you an `
` opportunity of defending yourself. Shall further inquiries `
` be made? Shall two members of the House be sent to Yanina? `
` Speak!' Morcerf did not reply. Then all the members looked `
` at each other with terror. They knew the count's energetic `
` and violent temper; it must be, indeed, a dreadful blow `
` which would deprive him of courage to defend himself. They `
` expected that his stupefied silence would be followed by a `
` fiery outburst. `Well,' asked the president, `what is your `
` decision?' `
` `
` "`I have no reply to make,' said the count in a low tone. `
` `
` "`Has the daughter of Ali Tepelini spoken the truth?' said `
` the president. `Is she, then, the terrible witness to whose `
` charge you dare not plead "Not guilty"? Have you really `
` committed the crimes of which you are accused?' The count `
` looked around him with an expression which might have `
` softened tigers, but which could not disarm his judges. Then `
` he raised his eyes towards the ceiling, but withdrew then, `
` immediately, as if he feared the roof would open and reveal `
`
` `
` "Haidee." `
` `
` "Who told you that?" `
` `
` "Alas, I guess it. But go on, Beauchamp. You see I am calm `
` and strong. And yet we must be drawing near the disclosure." `
` `
` "M. de Morcerf," continued Beauchamp, "looked at this woman `
` with surprise and terror. Her lips were about to pass his `
` sentence of life or death. To the committee the adventure `
` was so extraordinary and curious, that the interest they had `
` felt for the count's safety became now quite a secondary `
` matter. The president himself advanced to place a seat for `
` the young lady; but she declined availing herself of it. As `
` for the count, he had fallen on his chair; it was evident `
` that his legs refused to support him. `
` `
` "`Madame,' said the president, `you have engaged to furnish `
` the committee with some important particulars respecting the `
` affair at Yanina, and you have stated that you were an `
` eyewitness of the event.' -- `I was, indeed,' said the `
` stranger, with a tone of sweet melancholy, and with the `
` sonorous voice peculiar to the East. `
` `
` "`But allow me to say that you must have been very young `
` then.' -- `I was four years old; but as those events deeply `
` concerned me, not a single detail has escaped my memory.' -- `
` `In what manner could these events concern you? and who are `
` you, that they should have made so deep an impression on `
` you?' -- `On them depended my father's life,' replied she. `
` `I am Haidee, the daughter of Ali Tepelini, pasha of Yanina, `
` and of Vasiliki, his beloved wife.' `
` `
` "The blush of mingled pride and modesty which suddenly `
` suffused the cheeks of the young woman, the brilliancy of `
` her eye, and her highly important communication, produced an `
` indescribable effect on the assembly. As for the count, he `
` could not have been more overwhelmed if a thunderbolt had `
` fallen at his feet and opened an immense gulf before him. `
` `Madame,' replied the president, bowing with profound `
` respect, `allow me to ask one question; it shall be the `
` last: Can you prove the authenticity of what you have now `
` stated?' -- `I can, sir,' said Haidee, drawing from under `
` her veil a satin satchel highly perfumed; `for here is the `
` register of my birth, signed by my father and his principal `
` officers, and that of my baptism, my father having consented `
` to my being brought up in my mother's faith, -- this latter `
` has been sealed by the grand primate of Macedonia and `
` Epirus; and lastly (and perhaps the most important), the `
` record of the sale of my person and that of my mother to the `
` Armenian merchant El-Kobbir, by the French officer, who, in `
` his infamous bargain with the Porte, had reserved as his `
` part of the booty the wife and daughter of his benefactor, `
` whom he sold for the sum of four hundred thousand francs.' A `
` greenish pallor spread over the count's cheeks, and his eyes `
` became bloodshot at these terrible imputations, which were `
` listened to by the assembly with ominous silence. `
` `
` "Haidee, still calm, but with a calmness more dreadful than `
` the anger of another would have been, handed to the `
` president the record of her sale, written in Arabic. It had `
` been supposed some of the papers might be in the Arabian, `
` Romaic, or Turkish language, and the interpreter of the `
` House was in attendance. One of the noble peers, who was `
` familiar with the Arabic language, having studied it during `
` the famous Egyptian campaign, followed with his eye as the `
` translator read aloud: -- `
` `
` "`I, El-Kobbir, a slave-merchant, and purveyor of the harem `
` of his highness, acknowledge having received for `
` transmission to the sublime emperor, from the French lord, `
` the Count of Monte Cristo, an emerald valued at eight `
` hundred thousand francs; as the ransom of a young Christian `
` slave of eleven years of age, named Haidee, the acknowledged `
` daughter of the late lord Ali Tepelini, pasha of Yanina, and `
` of Vasiliki, his favorite; she having been sold to me seven `
` years previously, with her mother, who had died on arriving `
` at Constantinople, by a French colonel in the service of the `
` Vizier Ali Tepelini, named Fernand Mondego. The `
` above-mentioned purchase was made on his highness's account, `
` whose mandate I had, for the sum of four hundred thousand `
` francs. `
` `
` "`Given at Constantinople, by authority of his highness, in `
` the year 1247 of the Hegira. `
` `
` "`Signed El-Kobbir.' `
` `
` "`That this record should have all due authority, it shall `
` bear the imperial seal, which the vendor is bound to have `
` affixed to it.' `
` `
` "Near the merchant's signature there was, indeed, the seal `
` of the sublime emperor. A dreadful silence followed the `
` reading of this document; the count could only stare, and `
` his gaze, fixed as if unconsciously on Haidee, seemed one of `
` fire and blood. `Madame,' said the president, `may reference `
` be made to the Count of Monte Cristo, who is now, I believe, `
` in Paris?' -- `Sir,' replied Haidee, `the Count of Monte `
` Cristo, my foster-father, has been in Normandy the last `
` three days.' `
` `
` "`Who, then, has counselled you to take this step, one for `
` which the court is deeply indebted to you, and which is `
` perfectly natural, considering your birth and your `
` misfortunes?' -- `Sir,' replied Haidee, `I have been led to `
` take this step from a feeling of respect and grief. Although `
` a Christian, may God forgive me, I have always sought to `
` revenge my illustrious father. Since I set my foot in `
` France, and knew the traitor lived in Paris, I have watched `
` carefully. I live retired in the house of my noble `
` protector, but I do it from choice. I love retirement and `
` silence, because I can live with my thoughts and `
` recollections of past days. But the Count of Monte Cristo `
` surrounds me with every paternal care, and I am ignorant of `
` nothing which passes in the world. I learn all in the `
` silence of my apartments, -- for instance, I see all the `
` newspapers, every periodical, as well as every new piece of `
` music; and by thus watching the course of the life of `
` others, I learned what had transpired this morning in the `
` House of Peers, and what was to take place this evening; `
` then I wrote.' `
` `
` "`Then,' remarked the president, `the Count of Monte Cristo `
` knows nothing of your present proceedings?' -- `He is quite `
` unaware of them, and I have but one fear, which is that he `
` should disapprove of what I have done. But it is a glorious `
` day for me,' continued the young girl, raising her ardent `
` gaze to heaven, `that on which I find at last an opportunity `
` of avenging my father!' `
` `
` "The count had not uttered one word the whole of this time. `
` His colleagues looked at him, and doubtless pitied his `
` prospects, blighted under the perfumed breath of a woman. `
` His misery was depicted in sinister lines on his `
` countenance. `M. de Morcerf,' said the president, `do you `
` recognize this lady as the daughter of Ali Tepelini, pasha `
` of Yanina?' -- `No,' said Morcerf, attempting to rise, `it `
` is a base plot, contrived by my enemies.' Haidee, whose eyes `
` had been fixed on the door, as if expecting some one, turned `
` hastily, and, seeing the count standing, shrieked, `You do `
` not know me?' said she. `Well, I fortunately recognize you! `
` You are Fernand Mondego, the French officer who led the `
` troops of my noble father! It is you who surrendered the `
` castle of Yanina! It is you who, sent by him to `
` Constantinople, to treat with the emperor for the life or `
` death of your benefactor, brought back a false mandate `
` granting full pardon! It is you who, with that mandate, `
` obtained the pasha's ring, which gave you authority over `
` Selim, the fire-keeper! It is you who stabbed Selim. It is `
` you who sold us, my mother and me, to the merchant, `
` El-Kobbir! Assassin, assassin, assassin, you have still on `
` your brow your master's blood! Look, gentlemen, all!' `
` `
` "These words had been pronounced with such enthusiasm and `
` evident truth, that every eye was fixed on the count's `
` forehead, and he himself passed his hand across it, as if he `
` felt Ali's blood still lingering there. `You positively `
` recognize M. de Morcerf as the officer, Fernand Mondego?' -- `
` `Indeed I do!' cried Haidee. `Oh, my mother, it was you who `
` said, "You were free, you had a beloved father, you were `
` destined to be almost a queen. Look well at that man; it is `
` he who raised your father's head on the point of a spear; it `
` is he who sold us; it is he who forsook us! Look well at his `
` right hand, on which he has a large wound; if you forgot his `
` features, you would know him by that hand, into which fell, `
` one by one, the gold pieces of the merchant El-Kobbir!" I `
` know him! Ah, let him say now if he does not recognize me!' `
` Each word fell like a dagger on Morcerf, and deprived him of `
` a portion of his energy; as she uttered the last, he hid his `
` mutilated hand hastily in his bosom, and fell back on his `
` seat, overwhelmed by wretchedness and despair. This scene `
` completely changed the opinion of the assembly respecting `
` the accused count. `
` `
` "`Count of Morcerf,' said the president, `do not allow `
` yourself to be cast down; answer. The justice of the court `
` is supreme and impartial as that of God; it will not suffer `
` you to be trampled on by your enemies without giving you an `
` opportunity of defending yourself. Shall further inquiries `
` be made? Shall two members of the House be sent to Yanina? `
` Speak!' Morcerf did not reply. Then all the members looked `
` at each other with terror. They knew the count's energetic `
` and violent temper; it must be, indeed, a dreadful blow `
` which would deprive him of courage to defend himself. They `
` expected that his stupefied silence would be followed by a `
` fiery outburst. `Well,' asked the president, `what is your `
` decision?' `
` `
` "`I have no reply to make,' said the count in a low tone. `
` `
` "`Has the daughter of Ali Tepelini spoken the truth?' said `
` the president. `Is she, then, the terrible witness to whose `
` charge you dare not plead "Not guilty"? Have you really `
` committed the crimes of which you are accused?' The count `
` looked around him with an expression which might have `
` softened tigers, but which could not disarm his judges. Then `
` he raised his eyes towards the ceiling, but withdrew then, `
` immediately, as if he feared the roof would open and reveal `
`