Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.75-117
"No, certainly not," said the count with a haughty `
` expression. `
` `
` "She is very amiable, then, is she not?" said Albert. `
` `
` "It is not to be called amiability, it is her duty; a slave `
` does not dictate to a master." `
` `
` "Come; you are joking yourself now. Are there any more `
` slaves to be had who bear this beautiful name?" `
` `
` "Undoubtedly." `
` `
` "Really, count, you do nothing, and have nothing like other `
` people. The slave of the Count of Monte Cristo! Why, it is a `
` rank of itself in France, and from the way in which you `
` lavish money, it is a place that must be worth a hundred `
` thousand francs a year." `
` `
` "A hundred thousand francs! The poor girl originally `
` possessed much more than that; she was born to treasures in `
` comparison with which those recorded in the `Thousand and `
` One Nights' would seem but poverty." `
` `
` "She must be a princess then." `
` `
` "You are right; and she is one of the greatest in her `
` country too." `
` `
` "I thought so. But how did it happen that such a great `
` princess became a slave?" `
` `
` "How was it that Dionysius the Tyrant became a schoolmaster? `
` The fortune of war, my dear viscount, -- the caprice of `
` fortune; that is the way in which these things are to be `
` accounted for." `
` `
` "And is her name a secret?" `
` `
` "As regards the generality of mankind it is; but not for `
` you, my dear viscount, who are one of my most intimate `
` friends, and on whose silence I feel I may rely, if I `
` consider it necessary to enjoin it -- may I not do so?" `
` `
` "Certainly; on my word of honor." `
` `
` "You know the history of the pasha of Yanina, do you not?" `
` `
` "Of Ali Tepelini?* Oh, yes; it was in his service that my `
` father made his fortune." `
` `
` "True, I had forgotten that." `
` `
` * Ali Pasha, "The Lion," was born at Tepelini, an Albanian `
` village at the foot of the Klissoura Mountains, in 1741. By `
` diplomacy and success in arms he became almost supreme ruler `
` of Albania, Epirus, and adjacent territory. Having aroused `
` the enmity of the Sultan, he was proscribed and put to death `
` by treachery in 1822, at the age of eighty. -- Ed. `
` `
` "Well, what is Haidee to Ali Tepelini?" `
` `
` "Merely his daughter." `
` `
` "What? the daughter of Ali Pasha?" `
` `
` "Of Ali Pasha and the beautiful Vasiliki." `
` `
` "And your slave?" `
` `
` "Ma foi, yes." `
` `
` "But how did she become so?" `
` `
` "Why, simply from the circumstance of my having bought her `
` one day, as I was passing through the market at `
` Constantinople." `
` `
` "Wonderful! Really, my dear count, you seem to throw a sort `
` of magic influence over all in which you are concerned; when `
` I listen to you, existence no longer seems reality, but a `
` waking dream. Now, I am perhaps going to make an imprudent `
` and thoughtless request, but" -- `
` `
` "Say on." `
` `
` "But, since you go out with Haidee, and sometimes even take `
` her to the opera" -- `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "I think I may venture to ask you this favor." `
` `
` "You may venture to ask me anything." `
` `
` "Well then, my dear count, present me to your princess." `
` `
` "I will do so; but on two conditions." `
` `
` "I accept them at once." `
` `
` "The first is, that you will never tell any one that I have `
` granted the interview." `
` `
` "Very well," said Albert, extending his hand; "I swear I `
` will not." `
` `
` "The second is, that you will not tell her that your father `
` ever served hers." `
` `
` "I give you my oath that I will not." `
` `
` "Enough, viscount; you will remember those two vows, will `
` you not? But I know you to be a man of honor." The count `
` again struck the gong. Ali reappeared. "Tell Haidee," said `
` he, "that I will take coffee with her, and give her to `
` understand that I desire permission to present one of my `
` friends to her." Ali bowed and left the room. "Now, `
` understand me," said the count, "no direct questions, my `
` dear Morcerf; if you wish to know anything, tell me, and I `
` will ask her." `
` `
` "Agreed." Ali reappeared for the third time, and drew back `
` the tapestried hanging which concealed the door, to signify `
` to his master and Albert that they were at liberty to pass `
` on. "Let us go in," said Monte Cristo. `
` `
` Albert passed his hand through his hair, and curled his `
` mustache, then, having satisfied himself as to his personal `
` appearance, followed the count into the room, the latter `
` having previously resumed his hat and gloves. Ali was `
` stationed as a kind of advanced guard, and the door was kept `
` by the three French attendants, commanded by Myrtho. Haidee `
` was awaiting her visitors in the first room of her `
` apartments, which was the drawing-room. Her large eyes were `
` dilated with surprise and expectation, for it was the first `
` time that any man, except Monte Cristo, had been accorded an `
` entrance into her presence. She was sitting on a sofa placed `
` in an angle of the room, with her legs crossed under her in `
` the Eastern fashion, and seemed to have made for herself, as `
` it were, a kind of nest in the rich Indian silks which `
` enveloped her. Near her was the instrument on which she had `
` just been playing; it was elegantly fashioned, and worthy of `
` its mistress. On perceiving Monte Cristo, she arose and `
` welcomed him with a smile peculiar to herself, expressive at `
` once of the most implicit obedience and also of the deepest `
` love. Monte Cristo advanced towards her and extended his `
` hand, which she as usual raised to her lips. `
` `
` Albert had proceeded no farther than the door, where he `
` remained rooted to the spot, being completely fascinated by `
` the sight of such surpassing beauty, beheld as it was for `
` the first time, and of which an inhabitant of more northern `
` climes could form no adequate idea. `
` `
` "Whom do you bring?" asked the young girl in Romaic, of `
` Monte Cristo; "is it a friend, a brother, a simple `
` acquaintance, or an enemy." `
` `
` "A friend," said Monte Cristo in the same language. `
` `
` "What is his name?" `
` `
` "Count Albert; it is the same man whom I rescued from the `
` hands of the banditti at Rome." `
` `
` "In what language would you like me to converse with him?" `
` `
` Monte Cristo turned to Albert. "Do you know modern Greek," `
` asked he. `
` `
` "Alas, no," said Albert; "nor even ancient Greek, my dear `
` count; never had Homer or Plato a more unworthy scholar than `
` myself." `
` `
` "Then," said Haidee, proving by her remark that she had `
` quite understood Monte Cristo's question and Albert's `
` answer, "then I will speak either in French or Italian, if `
` my lord so wills it." `
` `
` Monte Cristo reflected one instant. "You will speak in `
` Italian," said he. Then, turning towards Albert, -- "It is a `
` pity you do not understand either ancient or modern Greek, `
` both of which Haidee speaks so fluently; the poor child will `
` be obliged to talk to you in Italian, which will give you `
` but a very false idea of her powers of conversation." The `
` count made a sign to Haidee to address his visitor. "Sir," `
` she said to Morcerf, "you are most welcome as the friend of `
` my lord and master." This was said in excellent Tuscan, and `
` with that soft Roman accent which makes the language of `
` Dante as sonorous as that of Homer. Then, turning to Ali, `
` she directed him to bring coffee and pipes, and when he had `
` left the room to execute the orders of his young mistress `
` she beckoned Albert to approach nearer to her. Monte Cristo `
` and Morcerf drew their seats towards a small table, on which `
` were arranged music, drawings, and vases of flowers. Ali `
` then entered bringing coffee and chibouques; as to M. `
` Baptistin, this portion of the building was interdicted to `
` him. Albert refused the pipe which the Nubian offered him. `
` "Oh, take it -- take it," said the count; "Haidee is almost `
` as civilized as a Parisian; the smell of an Havana is `
`
` expression. `
` `
` "She is very amiable, then, is she not?" said Albert. `
` `
` "It is not to be called amiability, it is her duty; a slave `
` does not dictate to a master." `
` `
` "Come; you are joking yourself now. Are there any more `
` slaves to be had who bear this beautiful name?" `
` `
` "Undoubtedly." `
` `
` "Really, count, you do nothing, and have nothing like other `
` people. The slave of the Count of Monte Cristo! Why, it is a `
` rank of itself in France, and from the way in which you `
` lavish money, it is a place that must be worth a hundred `
` thousand francs a year." `
` `
` "A hundred thousand francs! The poor girl originally `
` possessed much more than that; she was born to treasures in `
` comparison with which those recorded in the `Thousand and `
` One Nights' would seem but poverty." `
` `
` "She must be a princess then." `
` `
` "You are right; and she is one of the greatest in her `
` country too." `
` `
` "I thought so. But how did it happen that such a great `
` princess became a slave?" `
` `
` "How was it that Dionysius the Tyrant became a schoolmaster? `
` The fortune of war, my dear viscount, -- the caprice of `
` fortune; that is the way in which these things are to be `
` accounted for." `
` `
` "And is her name a secret?" `
` `
` "As regards the generality of mankind it is; but not for `
` you, my dear viscount, who are one of my most intimate `
` friends, and on whose silence I feel I may rely, if I `
` consider it necessary to enjoin it -- may I not do so?" `
` `
` "Certainly; on my word of honor." `
` `
` "You know the history of the pasha of Yanina, do you not?" `
` `
` "Of Ali Tepelini?* Oh, yes; it was in his service that my `
` father made his fortune." `
` `
` "True, I had forgotten that." `
` `
` * Ali Pasha, "The Lion," was born at Tepelini, an Albanian `
` village at the foot of the Klissoura Mountains, in 1741. By `
` diplomacy and success in arms he became almost supreme ruler `
` of Albania, Epirus, and adjacent territory. Having aroused `
` the enmity of the Sultan, he was proscribed and put to death `
` by treachery in 1822, at the age of eighty. -- Ed. `
` `
` "Well, what is Haidee to Ali Tepelini?" `
` `
` "Merely his daughter." `
` `
` "What? the daughter of Ali Pasha?" `
` `
` "Of Ali Pasha and the beautiful Vasiliki." `
` `
` "And your slave?" `
` `
` "Ma foi, yes." `
` `
` "But how did she become so?" `
` `
` "Why, simply from the circumstance of my having bought her `
` one day, as I was passing through the market at `
` Constantinople." `
` `
` "Wonderful! Really, my dear count, you seem to throw a sort `
` of magic influence over all in which you are concerned; when `
` I listen to you, existence no longer seems reality, but a `
` waking dream. Now, I am perhaps going to make an imprudent `
` and thoughtless request, but" -- `
` `
` "Say on." `
` `
` "But, since you go out with Haidee, and sometimes even take `
` her to the opera" -- `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "I think I may venture to ask you this favor." `
` `
` "You may venture to ask me anything." `
` `
` "Well then, my dear count, present me to your princess." `
` `
` "I will do so; but on two conditions." `
` `
` "I accept them at once." `
` `
` "The first is, that you will never tell any one that I have `
` granted the interview." `
` `
` "Very well," said Albert, extending his hand; "I swear I `
` will not." `
` `
` "The second is, that you will not tell her that your father `
` ever served hers." `
` `
` "I give you my oath that I will not." `
` `
` "Enough, viscount; you will remember those two vows, will `
` you not? But I know you to be a man of honor." The count `
` again struck the gong. Ali reappeared. "Tell Haidee," said `
` he, "that I will take coffee with her, and give her to `
` understand that I desire permission to present one of my `
` friends to her." Ali bowed and left the room. "Now, `
` understand me," said the count, "no direct questions, my `
` dear Morcerf; if you wish to know anything, tell me, and I `
` will ask her." `
` `
` "Agreed." Ali reappeared for the third time, and drew back `
` the tapestried hanging which concealed the door, to signify `
` to his master and Albert that they were at liberty to pass `
` on. "Let us go in," said Monte Cristo. `
` `
` Albert passed his hand through his hair, and curled his `
` mustache, then, having satisfied himself as to his personal `
` appearance, followed the count into the room, the latter `
` having previously resumed his hat and gloves. Ali was `
` stationed as a kind of advanced guard, and the door was kept `
` by the three French attendants, commanded by Myrtho. Haidee `
` was awaiting her visitors in the first room of her `
` apartments, which was the drawing-room. Her large eyes were `
` dilated with surprise and expectation, for it was the first `
` time that any man, except Monte Cristo, had been accorded an `
` entrance into her presence. She was sitting on a sofa placed `
` in an angle of the room, with her legs crossed under her in `
` the Eastern fashion, and seemed to have made for herself, as `
` it were, a kind of nest in the rich Indian silks which `
` enveloped her. Near her was the instrument on which she had `
` just been playing; it was elegantly fashioned, and worthy of `
` its mistress. On perceiving Monte Cristo, she arose and `
` welcomed him with a smile peculiar to herself, expressive at `
` once of the most implicit obedience and also of the deepest `
` love. Monte Cristo advanced towards her and extended his `
` hand, which she as usual raised to her lips. `
` `
` Albert had proceeded no farther than the door, where he `
` remained rooted to the spot, being completely fascinated by `
` the sight of such surpassing beauty, beheld as it was for `
` the first time, and of which an inhabitant of more northern `
` climes could form no adequate idea. `
` `
` "Whom do you bring?" asked the young girl in Romaic, of `
` Monte Cristo; "is it a friend, a brother, a simple `
` acquaintance, or an enemy." `
` `
` "A friend," said Monte Cristo in the same language. `
` `
` "What is his name?" `
` `
` "Count Albert; it is the same man whom I rescued from the `
` hands of the banditti at Rome." `
` `
` "In what language would you like me to converse with him?" `
` `
` Monte Cristo turned to Albert. "Do you know modern Greek," `
` asked he. `
` `
` "Alas, no," said Albert; "nor even ancient Greek, my dear `
` count; never had Homer or Plato a more unworthy scholar than `
` myself." `
` `
` "Then," said Haidee, proving by her remark that she had `
` quite understood Monte Cristo's question and Albert's `
` answer, "then I will speak either in French or Italian, if `
` my lord so wills it." `
` `
` Monte Cristo reflected one instant. "You will speak in `
` Italian," said he. Then, turning towards Albert, -- "It is a `
` pity you do not understand either ancient or modern Greek, `
` both of which Haidee speaks so fluently; the poor child will `
` be obliged to talk to you in Italian, which will give you `
` but a very false idea of her powers of conversation." The `
` count made a sign to Haidee to address his visitor. "Sir," `
` she said to Morcerf, "you are most welcome as the friend of `
` my lord and master." This was said in excellent Tuscan, and `
` with that soft Roman accent which makes the language of `
` Dante as sonorous as that of Homer. Then, turning to Ali, `
` she directed him to bring coffee and pipes, and when he had `
` left the room to execute the orders of his young mistress `
` she beckoned Albert to approach nearer to her. Monte Cristo `
` and Morcerf drew their seats towards a small table, on which `
` were arranged music, drawings, and vases of flowers. Ali `
` then entered bringing coffee and chibouques; as to M. `
` Baptistin, this portion of the building was interdicted to `
` him. Albert refused the pipe which the Nubian offered him. `
` "Oh, take it -- take it," said the count; "Haidee is almost `
` as civilized as a Parisian; the smell of an Havana is `
`