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the piano, accompanying themselves, each with one hand, a `
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fancy to which they had accustomed themselves, and performed `
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admirably. Mademoiselle d'Armilly, whom they then perceived `
`
through the open doorway, formed with Eugenie one of the `
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tableaux vivants of which the Germans are so fond. She was `
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somewhat beautiful, and exquisitely formed -- a little `
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fairy-like figure, with large curls falling on her neck, `
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which was rather too long, as Perugino sometimes makes his `
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Virgins, and her eyes dull from fatigue. She was said to `
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have a weak chest, and like Antonia in the "Cremona Violin," `
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she would die one day while singing. Monte Cristo cast one `
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rapid and curious glance round this sanctum; it was the `
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first time he had ever seen Mademoiselle d'Armilly, of whom `
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he had heard much. "Well," said the banker to his daughter, `
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"are we then all to be excluded?" He then led the young man `
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into the study, and either by chance or manoeuvre the door `
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was partially closed after Andrea, so that from the place `
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where they sat neither the Count nor the baroness could see `
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anything; but as the banker had accompanied Andrea, Madame `
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Danglars appeared to take no notice of it. `
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`
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The count soon heard Andrea's voice, singing a Corsican `
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song, accompanied by the piano. While the count smiled at `
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hearing this song, which made him lose sight of Andrea in `
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the recollection of Benedetto, Madame Danglars was boasting `
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to Monte Cristo of her husband's strength of mind, who that `
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very morning had lost three or four hundred thousand francs `
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by a failure at Milan. The praise was well deserved, for had `
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not the count heard it from the baroness, or by one of those `
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means by which he knew everything, the baron's countenance `
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would not have led him to suspect it. "Hem," thought Monte `
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Cristo, "he begins to conceal his losses; a month since he `
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boasted of them." Then aloud, -- "Oh, madame, M. Danglars is `
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so skilful, he will soon regain at the Bourse what he loses `
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elsewhere." `
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`
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"I see that you participate in a prevalent error," said `
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Madame Danglars. "What is it?" said Monte Cristo. `
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`
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"That M. Danglars speculates, whereas he never does." `
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`
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"Truly, madame, I recollect M. Debray told me -- apropos, `
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what is become of him? I have seen nothing of him the last `
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three or four days." `
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`
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"Nor I," said Madame Danglars; "but you began a sentence, `
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sir, and did not finish." `
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`
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"Which?" `
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`
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"M. Debray had told you" -- `
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`
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"Ah, yes; he told me it was you who sacrificed to the demon `
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of speculation." `
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`
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"I was once very fond of it, but I do not indulge now." `
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`
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"Then you are wrong, madame. Fortune is precarious; and if I `
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were a woman and fate had made me a banker's wife, whatever `
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might be my confidence in my husband's good fortune, still `
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in speculation you know there is great risk. Well, I would `
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secure for myself a fortune independent of him, even if I `
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acquired it by placing my interests in hands unknown to `
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him." Madame Danglars blushed, in spite of all her efforts. `
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"Stay," said Monte Cristo, as though he had not observed her `
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confusion, "I have heard of a lucky hit that was made `
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yesterday on the Neapolitan bonds." `
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`
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"I have none -- nor have I ever possessed any; but really we `
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have talked long enough of money, count, we are like two `
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stockbrokers; have you heard how fate is persecuting the `
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poor Villeforts?" `
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`
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"What has happened?" said the count, simulating total `
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ignorance. `
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`
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"You know the Marquis of Saint-Meran died a few days after `
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he had set out on his journey to Paris, and the marchioness `
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a few days after her arrival?" `
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`
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"Yes," said Monte Cristo, "I have heard that; but, as `
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Claudius said to Hamlet, `it is a law of nature; their `
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fathers died before them, and they mourned their loss; they `
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will die before their children, who will, in their turn, `
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grieve for them.'" `
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`
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"But that is not all." `
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`
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"Not all!" `
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`
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"No; they were going to marry their daughter" -- `
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`
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"To M. Franz d'Epinay. Is it broken off?" `
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`
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"Yesterday morning, it appears, Franz declined the honor." `
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`
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"Indeed? And is the reason known?" `
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`
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"No." `
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`
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"How extraordinary! And how does M. de Villefort bear it?" `
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`
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"As usual. Like a philosopher." Danglars returned at this `
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moment alone. "Well," said the baroness, "do you leave M. `
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Cavalcanti with your daughter?" `
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`
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"And Mademoiselle d'Armilly," said the banker; "do you `
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consider her no one?" Then, turning to Monte Cristo, he `
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said, "Prince Cavalcanti is a charming young man, is he not? `
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But is he really a prince?" `
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`
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"I will not answer for it," said Monte Cristo. "His father `
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was introduced to me as a marquis, so he ought to be a `
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count; but I do not think he has much claim to that title." `
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`
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"Why?" said the banker. "If he is a prince, he is wrong not `
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to maintain his rank; I do not like any one to deny his `
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origin." `
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`
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"Oh, you are a thorough democrat," said Monte Cristo, `
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smiling. `
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`
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"But do you see to what you are exposing yourself?" said the `
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baroness. "If, perchance, M. de Morcerf came, he would find `
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M. Cavalcanti in that room, where he, the betrothed of `
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Eugenie, has never been admitted." `
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`
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"You may well say, perchance," replied the banker; "for he `
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comes so seldom, it would seem only chance that brings him." `
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`
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"But should he come and find that young man with your `
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daughter, he might be displeased." `
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`
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"He? You are mistaken. M. Albert would not do us the honor `
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to be jealous; he does not like Eugenie sufficiently. `
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Besides, I care not for his displeasure." `
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`
`
"Still, situated as we are" -- `
`
`
`
"Yes, do you know how we are situated? At his mother's ball `
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he danced once with Eugenie, and M. Cavalcanti three times, `
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and he took no notice of it." The valet announced the `
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Vicomte Albert de Morcerf. The baroness rose hastily, and `
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was going into the study, when Danglars stopped her. "Let `
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her alone," said he. She looked at him in amazement. Monte `
`
Cristo appeared to be unconscious of what passed. Albert `
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entered, looking very handsome and in high spirits. He bowed `
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politely to the baroness, familiarly to Danglars, and `
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affectionately to Monte Cristo. Then turning to the `
`
baroness: "May I ask how Mademoiselle Danglars is?" said he. `
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`
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"She is quite well," replied Danglars quickly; "she is at `
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the piano with M. Cavalcanti." Albert retained his calm and `
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indifferent manner; he might feel perhaps annoyed, but he `
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knew Monte Cristo's eye was on him. "M. Cavalcanti has a `
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fine tenor voice," said he, "and Mademoiselle Eugenie a `
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splendid soprano, and then she plays the piano like `
`
Thalberg. The concert must be a delightful one." `
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`
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"They suit each other remarkably well," said Danglars. `
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Albert appeared not to notice this remark, which was, `
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however, so rude that Madame Danglars blushed. `
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`
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"I, too," said the young man, "am a musician -- at least, my `
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masters used to tell me so; but it is strange that my voice `
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never would suit any other, and a soprano less than any." `
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Danglars smiled, and seemed to say, "It is of no `
`
consequence." Then, hoping doubtless to effect his purpose, `
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he said, -- "The prince and my daughter were universally `
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admired yesterday. You were not of the party, M. de `
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Morcerf?" `
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`
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"What prince?" asked Albert. "Prince Cavalcanti," said `
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Danglars, who persisted in giving the young man that title. `
`
`
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"Pardon me," said Albert, "I was not aware that he was a `
`
prince. And Prince Cavalcanti sang with Mademoiselle Eugenie `
`
yesterday? It must have been charming, indeed. I regret not `
`
having heard them. But I was unable to accept your `
`
invitation, having promised to accompany my mother to a `
`
German concert given by the Baroness of Chateau-Renaud." `
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This was followed by rather an awkward silence. "May I also `
`
be allowed," said Morcerf, "to pay my respects to `
`
Mademoiselle Danglars?" "Wait a moment," said the banker, `
`
stopping the young man; "do you hear that delightful `
`
cavatina? Ta, ta, ta, ti, ta, ti, ta, ta; it is charming, `
`
let them finish -- one moment. Bravo, bravi, brava!" The `
`
banker was enthusiastic in his applause. `
`
`
`
"Indeed," said Albert, "it is exquisite; it is impossible to `
`
understand the music of his country better than Prince `
`
Cavalcanti does. You said prince, did you not? But he can `
`
easily become one, if he is not already; it is no uncommon `
`
thing in Italy. But to return to the charming musicians -- `
`
you should give us a treat, Danglars, without telling them `
`
there is a stranger. Ask them to sing one more song; it is `
`
so delightful to hear music in the distance, when the `
`
musicians are unrestrained by observation." `
`
`
`
Danglars was quite annoyed by the young man's indifference. `
`
He took Monte Cristo aside. "What do you think of our `
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