Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.1-10
`
` "And, moreover, my dear duke," continued the minister of `
` police, "we are almost assured that, in a very short time, `
` the usurper will be insane." `
` `
` "Insane?" `
` `
` "Raving mad; his head becomes weaker. Sometimes he weeps `
` bitterly, sometimes laughs boisterously, at other time he `
` passes hours on the seashore, flinging stones in the water `
` and when the flint makes `duck-and-drake' five or six times, `
` he appears as delighted as if he had gained another Marengo `
` or Austerlitz. Now, you must agree that these are `
` indubitable symptoms of insanity." `
` `
` "Or of wisdom, my dear baron -- or of wisdom," said Louis `
` XVIII., laughing; "the greatest captains of antiquity amused `
` themselves by casting pebbles into the ocean -- see `
` Plutarch's life of Scipio Africanus." `
` `
` M. de Blacas pondered deeply between the confident monarch `
` and the truthful minister. Villefort, who did not choose to `
` reveal the whole secret, lest another should reap all the `
` benefit of the disclosure, had yet communicated enough to `
` cause him the greatest uneasiness. `
` `
` "Well, well, Dandre," said Louis XVIII., "Blacas is not yet `
` convinced; let us proceed, therefore, to the usurper's `
` conversion." The minister of police bowed. `
` `
` "The usurper's conversion!" murmured the duke, looking at `
` the king and Dandre, who spoke alternately, like Virgil's `
` shepherds. "The usurper converted!" `
` `
` "Decidedly, my dear duke." `
` `
` "In what way converted?" `
` `
` "To good principles. Tell him all about it, baron." `
` `
` "Why, this is the way of it," said the minister, with the `
` gravest air in the world: "Napoleon lately had a review, and `
` as two or three of his old veterans expressed a desire to `
` return to France, he gave them their dismissal, and exhorted `
` them to `serve the good king.' These were his own words, of `
` that I am certain." `
` `
` "Well, Blacas, what think you of this?" inquired the king `
` triumphantly, and pausing for a moment from the voluminous `
` scholiast before him. `
` `
` "I say, sire, that the minister of police is greatly `
` deceived or I am; and as it is impossible it can be the `
` minister of police as he has the guardianship of the safety `
` and honor of your majesty, it is probable that I am in `
` error. However, sire, if I might advise, your majesty will `
` interrogate the person of whom I spoke to you, and I will `
` urge your majesty to do him this honor." `
` `
` "Most willingly, duke; under your auspices I will receive `
` any person you please, but you must not expect me to be too `
` confiding. Baron, have you any report more recent than this `
` dated the 20th February. -- this is the 4th of March?" `
` `
` "No, sire, but I am hourly expecting one; it may have `
` arrived since I left my office." `
` `
` "Go thither, and if there be none -- well, well," continued `
` Louis XVIII., "make one; that is the usual way, is it not?" `
` and the king laughed facetiously. `
` `
` "Oh, sire," replied the minister, "we have no occasion to `
` invent any; every day our desks are loaded with most `
` circumstantial denunciations, coming from hosts of people `
` who hope for some return for services which they seek to `
` render, but cannot; they trust to fortune, and rely upon `
` some unexpected event in some way to justify their `
` predictions." `
` `
` "Well, sir, go"; said Louis XVIII., "and remember that I am `
` waiting for you." `
` `
` "I will but go and return, sire; I shall be back in ten `
` minutes." `
` `
` "And I, sire," said M. de Blacas, "will go and find my `
` messenger." `
` `
` "Wait, sir, wait," said Louis XVIII. "Really, M. de Blacas, `
` I must change your armorial bearings; I will give you an `
` eagle with outstretched wings, holding in its claws a prey `
` which tries in vain to escape, and bearing this device -- `
` Tenax." `
` `
` "Sire, I listen," said De Blacas, biting his nails with `
` impatience. `
` `
` "I wish to consult you on this passage, `Molli fugiens `
` anhelitu,' you know it refers to a stag flying from a wolf. `
` Are you not a sportsman and a great wolf-hunter? Well, then, `
` what do you think of the molli anhelitu?" `
` `
` "Admirable, sire; but my messenger is like the stag you `
` refer to, for he has posted two hundred and twenty leagues `
` in scarcely three days." `
` `
` "Which is undergoing great fatigue and anxiety, my dear `
` duke, when we have a telegraph which transmits messages in `
` three or four hours, and that without getting in the least `
` out of breath." `
` `
` "Ah, sire, you recompense but badly this poor young man, who `
` has come so far, and with so much ardor, to give your `
` majesty useful information. If only for the sake of M. de `
` Salvieux, who recommends him to me, I entreat your majesty `
` to receive him graciously." `
` `
` "M. de Salvieux, my brother's chamberlain?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire." `
` `
` "He is at Marseilles." `
` `
` "And writes me thence." `
` `
` "Does he speak to you of this conspiracy?" `
` `
` "No; but strongly recommends M. de Villefort, and begs me to `
` present him to your majesty." `
` `
` "M. de Villefort!" cried the king, "is the messenger's name `
` M. de Villefort?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire." `
` `
` "And he comes from Marseilles?" `
` `
` "In person." `
` `
` "Why did you not mention his name at once?" replied the `
` king, betraying some uneasiness. `
` `
` "Sire, I thought his name was unknown to your majesty." `
` `
` "No, no, Blacas; he is a man of strong and elevated `
` understanding, ambitious, too, and, pardieu, you know his `
` father's name!" `
` `
` "His father?" `
` `
` "Yes, Noirtier." `
` `
` "Noirtier the Girondin? -- Noirtier the senator?" `
` `
` "He himself." `
` `
` "And your majesty has employed the son of such a man?" `
` `
` "Blacas, my friend, you have but limited comprehension. I `
` told you Villefort was ambitious, and to attain this `
` ambition Villefort would sacrifice everything, even his `
` father." `
` `
` "Then, sire, may I present him?" `
` `
` "This instant, duke! Where is he?" `
` `
` "Waiting below, in my carriage." `
` `
` "Seek him at once." `
` `
` "I hasten to do so." The duke left the royal presence with `
` the speed of a young man; his really sincere royalism made `
` him youthful again. Louis XVIII. remained alone, and turning `
` his eyes on his half-opened Horace, muttered, -- `
` `
` "Justum et tenacem propositi virum." `
` `
` M. de Blacas returned as speedily as he had departed, but in `
` the ante-chamber he was forced to appeal to the king's `
` authority. Villefort's dusty garb, his costume, which was `
` not of courtly cut, excited the susceptibility of M. de `
` Breze, who was all astonishment at finding that this young `
` man had the audacity to enter before the king in such `
` attire. The duke, however, overcame all difficulties with a `
` word -- his majesty's order; and, in spite of the `
` protestations which the master of ceremonies made for the `
` honor of his office and principles, Villefort was `
` introduced. `
` `
` The king was seated in the same place where the duke had `
` left him. On opening the door, Villefort found himself `
` facing him, and the young magistrate's first impulse was to `
` pause. `
` `
` "Come in, M. de Villefort," said the king, "come in." `
` Villefort bowed, and advancing a few steps, waited until the `
` king should interrogate him. `
` `
` "M. de Villefort," said Louis XVIII., "the Duc de Blacas `
` assures me you have some interesting information to `
`
` "And, moreover, my dear duke," continued the minister of `
` police, "we are almost assured that, in a very short time, `
` the usurper will be insane." `
` `
` "Insane?" `
` `
` "Raving mad; his head becomes weaker. Sometimes he weeps `
` bitterly, sometimes laughs boisterously, at other time he `
` passes hours on the seashore, flinging stones in the water `
` and when the flint makes `duck-and-drake' five or six times, `
` he appears as delighted as if he had gained another Marengo `
` or Austerlitz. Now, you must agree that these are `
` indubitable symptoms of insanity." `
` `
` "Or of wisdom, my dear baron -- or of wisdom," said Louis `
` XVIII., laughing; "the greatest captains of antiquity amused `
` themselves by casting pebbles into the ocean -- see `
` Plutarch's life of Scipio Africanus." `
` `
` M. de Blacas pondered deeply between the confident monarch `
` and the truthful minister. Villefort, who did not choose to `
` reveal the whole secret, lest another should reap all the `
` benefit of the disclosure, had yet communicated enough to `
` cause him the greatest uneasiness. `
` `
` "Well, well, Dandre," said Louis XVIII., "Blacas is not yet `
` convinced; let us proceed, therefore, to the usurper's `
` conversion." The minister of police bowed. `
` `
` "The usurper's conversion!" murmured the duke, looking at `
` the king and Dandre, who spoke alternately, like Virgil's `
` shepherds. "The usurper converted!" `
` `
` "Decidedly, my dear duke." `
` `
` "In what way converted?" `
` `
` "To good principles. Tell him all about it, baron." `
` `
` "Why, this is the way of it," said the minister, with the `
` gravest air in the world: "Napoleon lately had a review, and `
` as two or three of his old veterans expressed a desire to `
` return to France, he gave them their dismissal, and exhorted `
` them to `serve the good king.' These were his own words, of `
` that I am certain." `
` `
` "Well, Blacas, what think you of this?" inquired the king `
` triumphantly, and pausing for a moment from the voluminous `
` scholiast before him. `
` `
` "I say, sire, that the minister of police is greatly `
` deceived or I am; and as it is impossible it can be the `
` minister of police as he has the guardianship of the safety `
` and honor of your majesty, it is probable that I am in `
` error. However, sire, if I might advise, your majesty will `
` interrogate the person of whom I spoke to you, and I will `
` urge your majesty to do him this honor." `
` `
` "Most willingly, duke; under your auspices I will receive `
` any person you please, but you must not expect me to be too `
` confiding. Baron, have you any report more recent than this `
` dated the 20th February. -- this is the 4th of March?" `
` `
` "No, sire, but I am hourly expecting one; it may have `
` arrived since I left my office." `
` `
` "Go thither, and if there be none -- well, well," continued `
` Louis XVIII., "make one; that is the usual way, is it not?" `
` and the king laughed facetiously. `
` `
` "Oh, sire," replied the minister, "we have no occasion to `
` invent any; every day our desks are loaded with most `
` circumstantial denunciations, coming from hosts of people `
` who hope for some return for services which they seek to `
` render, but cannot; they trust to fortune, and rely upon `
` some unexpected event in some way to justify their `
` predictions." `
` `
` "Well, sir, go"; said Louis XVIII., "and remember that I am `
` waiting for you." `
` `
` "I will but go and return, sire; I shall be back in ten `
` minutes." `
` `
` "And I, sire," said M. de Blacas, "will go and find my `
` messenger." `
` `
` "Wait, sir, wait," said Louis XVIII. "Really, M. de Blacas, `
` I must change your armorial bearings; I will give you an `
` eagle with outstretched wings, holding in its claws a prey `
` which tries in vain to escape, and bearing this device -- `
` Tenax." `
` `
` "Sire, I listen," said De Blacas, biting his nails with `
` impatience. `
` `
` "I wish to consult you on this passage, `Molli fugiens `
` anhelitu,' you know it refers to a stag flying from a wolf. `
` Are you not a sportsman and a great wolf-hunter? Well, then, `
` what do you think of the molli anhelitu?" `
` `
` "Admirable, sire; but my messenger is like the stag you `
` refer to, for he has posted two hundred and twenty leagues `
` in scarcely three days." `
` `
` "Which is undergoing great fatigue and anxiety, my dear `
` duke, when we have a telegraph which transmits messages in `
` three or four hours, and that without getting in the least `
` out of breath." `
` `
` "Ah, sire, you recompense but badly this poor young man, who `
` has come so far, and with so much ardor, to give your `
` majesty useful information. If only for the sake of M. de `
` Salvieux, who recommends him to me, I entreat your majesty `
` to receive him graciously." `
` `
` "M. de Salvieux, my brother's chamberlain?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire." `
` `
` "He is at Marseilles." `
` `
` "And writes me thence." `
` `
` "Does he speak to you of this conspiracy?" `
` `
` "No; but strongly recommends M. de Villefort, and begs me to `
` present him to your majesty." `
` `
` "M. de Villefort!" cried the king, "is the messenger's name `
` M. de Villefort?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire." `
` `
` "And he comes from Marseilles?" `
` `
` "In person." `
` `
` "Why did you not mention his name at once?" replied the `
` king, betraying some uneasiness. `
` `
` "Sire, I thought his name was unknown to your majesty." `
` `
` "No, no, Blacas; he is a man of strong and elevated `
` understanding, ambitious, too, and, pardieu, you know his `
` father's name!" `
` `
` "His father?" `
` `
` "Yes, Noirtier." `
` `
` "Noirtier the Girondin? -- Noirtier the senator?" `
` `
` "He himself." `
` `
` "And your majesty has employed the son of such a man?" `
` `
` "Blacas, my friend, you have but limited comprehension. I `
` told you Villefort was ambitious, and to attain this `
` ambition Villefort would sacrifice everything, even his `
` father." `
` `
` "Then, sire, may I present him?" `
` `
` "This instant, duke! Where is he?" `
` `
` "Waiting below, in my carriage." `
` `
` "Seek him at once." `
` `
` "I hasten to do so." The duke left the royal presence with `
` the speed of a young man; his really sincere royalism made `
` him youthful again. Louis XVIII. remained alone, and turning `
` his eyes on his half-opened Horace, muttered, -- `
` `
` "Justum et tenacem propositi virum." `
` `
` M. de Blacas returned as speedily as he had departed, but in `
` the ante-chamber he was forced to appeal to the king's `
` authority. Villefort's dusty garb, his costume, which was `
` not of courtly cut, excited the susceptibility of M. de `
` Breze, who was all astonishment at finding that this young `
` man had the audacity to enter before the king in such `
` attire. The duke, however, overcame all difficulties with a `
` word -- his majesty's order; and, in spite of the `
` protestations which the master of ceremonies made for the `
` honor of his office and principles, Villefort was `
` introduced. `
` `
` The king was seated in the same place where the duke had `
` left him. On opening the door, Villefort found himself `
` facing him, and the young magistrate's first impulse was to `
` pause. `
` `
` "Come in, M. de Villefort," said the king, "come in." `
` Villefort bowed, and advancing a few steps, waited until the `
` king should interrogate him. `
` `
` "M. de Villefort," said Louis XVIII., "the Duc de Blacas `
` assures me you have some interesting information to `
`