Chapter 68 A Summer Ball
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THE
SAME DAY during the interview between Madame Danglars and the procureur, a
travelling-carriage entered the Rue du Helder, passed through the gateway
of No. 27, and stopped in the yard. In a moment the door was opened, and
Madame de Morcerf alighted, leaning on her son's arm. Albert soon left
her, ordered his horses, and having arranged his toilet, drove to the
Champs Elysижes, to the house of Monte Cristo.
The count received him with his habitual smile. It was a strange thing
that no one ever appeared to advance a step in that man's favor. Those who
would, as it were, force a passage to his heart, found an impassable
barrier. Morcerf, who ran towards him with open arms, was chilled as he
drew near, in spite of the friendly smile, and simply held out his hand.
Monte Cristo shook it coldly, according to his invariable practice.
"Here I am, dear count." "Welcome
home again." "I
arrived an hour since." "From
Dieppe?" "No,
from Trижport."
"Indeed?"
"And
I have come at once to see you." "That
is extremely kind of you," said Monte Cristo with a tone of perfect
indifference. "And
what is the news?" "You
should not ask a stranger, a foreigner, for news." "I
know it, but in asking for news, I mean, have you done anything for
me?" "Had
you commissioned me?" said Monte Cristo, feigning uneasiness. "Come,
come," said Albert, "do not assume so much indifference. It is
said, sympathy travels rapidly, and when at Trижport, I felt the electric shock; you have either
been working for me or thinking of me." "Possibly,"
said Monte Cristo, "I have indeed thought of you, but the magnetic
wire I was guiding acted, indeed, without my knowledge." "Indeed?
Pray tell me how it happened?" "Willingly.
M. Danglars dined with me." "I
know it; to avoid meeting him, my mother and I left town." "But
he met here M. Andrea Cavalcanti." "Your
Italian prince?" "Not
so fast; M. Andrea only calls himself count." "Calls
himself, do you say?" "Yes,
calls himself." "Is
he not a count?" "What
can I know of him? He calls himself so. I, of course, give him the same
title, and every one else does likewise." "What
a strange man you are! What next? You say M. Danglars dined here?" "Yes,
with Count Cavalcanti, the marquis his father, Madame Danglars, M. and
Madame de Villefort,--charming people,--M. Debray, Maximilian Morrel, and
M. de Chateau-Renaud." "Did
they speak of me?" "Not
a word." "So
much the worse." "Why
so? I thought you wished them to forget you?" "If
they did not speak of me, I am sure they thought about me, and I am in
despair." "How
will that affect you, since Mademoiselle Danglars was not among the number
here who thought of you? Truly, she might have thought of you at
home." "I
have no fear of that; or, if she did, it was only in the same way in which
I think of her." "Touching
sympathy! So you hate each other?" said the count. "Listen,"
said Morcerf--"if Mademoiselle Danglars were disposed to take pity on
my supposed martyrdom on her account, and would dispense with all
matrimonial formalities between our two families, I am ready to agree to
the arrangement. In a word, Mademoiselle Danglars would make a charming
mistress--but a wife--diable!" "And
this," said Monte Cristo, "is your opinion of your intended
spouse?" "Yes;
it is rather unkind, I acknowledge, but it is true. But as this dream
cannot be realized, since Mademoiselle Danglars must become my lawful
wife, live perpetually with me, sing to me, compose verses and music
within ten paces of me, and that for my whole life, it frightens me. One
may forsake a mistress, but a wife,--good heavens! There she must always
be; and to marry Mademoiselle Danglars would be awful." "You
are difficult to please, viscount." "Yes,
for I often wish for what is impossible." "What
is that?" "To
find such a wife as my father found." Monte Cristo turned pale, and
looked at Albert, while playing with some magnificent pistols. "Your
father was fortunate, then?" said he. "You
know my opinion of my mother, count; look at her,--still beautiful, witty,
more charming than ever. For any other son to have stayed with his mother
for four days at Trижport,
it would have been a condescension or a martyrdom, while I return, more
contented, more peaceful--shall I say more poetic!--than if I had taken
Queen Mab or Titania as my companion." "That
is an overwhelming demonstration, and you would make every one vow to live
a single life." "Such
are my reasons for not liking to marry Mademoiselle Danglars. Have you
ever noticed how much a thing is heightened in value when we obtain
possession of it? The diamond which glittered in the window at Marle's or
Fossin's shines with more splendor when it is our own; but if we are
compelled to acknowledge the superiority of another, and still must retain
the one that is inferior, do you not know what we have to endure?" "Worldling,"
murmured the count. "Thus
I shall rejoice when Mademoiselle Eugижnie perceives I am but a pitiful atom, with scarcely
as many hundred thousand francs as she has millions." Monte Cristo
smiled. "One plan occurred to me," continued Albert; "Franz
likes all that is eccentric; I tried to make him fall in love with
Mademoiselle Danglars; but in spite of four letters, written in the most
alluring style, he invariably answered: 'My eccentricity may be great, but
it will not make me break my promise.'" "That
is what I call devoted friendship, to recommend to another one whom you
would not marry yourself." Albert smiled.--"Apropos,"
continued he, "Franz is coming soon, but it will not interest you;
you dislike him, I think?" "I?"
said Monte Cristo; "my dear Viscount, how have you discovered that I
did not like M. Franz! I like every one." "And
you include me in the expression every one--many thanks!" "Let
us not mistake," said Monte Cristo; "I love every one as God
commands us to love our neighbor, as Christians; but I thoroughly hate but
a few. Let us return to M. Franz d'Epinay. Did you say he was
coming?" "Yes;
summoned by M. de Villefort, who is apparently as anxious to get
Mademoiselle Valentine married as M. Danglars is to see Mademoiselle Eugижnie settled. It must be a very
irksome office to be the father of a grown-up daughter; it seems to make
one feverish, and to raise one's pulse to ninety beats a minute until the
deed is done." "But
M. d'Epinay, unlike you, bears his misfortune patiently." "Still
more, he talks seriously about the matter, puts on a white tie, and speaks
of his family. He entertains a very high opinion of M. and Madame de
Villefort." "Which
they deserve, do they not?" "I
believe they do. M. de Villefort has always passed for a severe but a just
man." "There
is, then, one," said Monte Cristo, "whom you do not condemn like
poor Danglars?" "Because
I am not compelled to marry his daughter perhaps," replied Albert,
laughing. "Indeed,
my dear sir," said Monte Cristo, "you are revoltingly
foppish." "I
foppish? how do you mean?" "Yes;
pray take a cigar, and cease to defend yourself, and to struggle to escape
marrying Mademoiselle Danglars. Let things take their course; perhaps you
may not have to retract." "Bah,"
said Albert, staring. "Doubtless,
my dear viscount, you will not be taken by force; and seriously, do you
wish to break off your engagement?" "I
would give a hundred thousand francs to be able to do so." "Then
make yourself quite easy. M. Danglars would give double that sum to attain
the same end." "Am
I, indeed, so happy?" said Albert, who still could not prevent an
almost imperceptible cloud passing across his brow. "But, my dear
count, has M. Danglars any reason?" "Ah,
there is your proud and selfish nature. You would expose the self-love of
another with a hatchet, but you shrink if your own is attacked with a
needle." "But
yet M. Danglars appeared"-- "Delighted
with you, was he not? Well, he is a man of bad taste, and is still more
enchanted with another. I know not whom; look and judge for
yourself." "Thank
you, I understand. But my mother--no, not my mother; I mistake--my father
intends giving a ball." "A
ball at this season?" "Summer
balls are fashionable." "If
they were not, the countess has only to wish it, and they would become
so." "You
are right; You know they are select affairs; those who remain in Paris in
July must be true Parisians. Will you take charge of our invitation to
Messieurs Cavalcanti?" "When
will it take place?" "On
Saturday." "M.
Cavalcanti's father will be gone." "But
the son will be here; will you invite young M. Cavalcanti?" "I
do not know him, viscount." "You
do not know him?" "No,
I never saw him until a few days since, and am not responsible for
him." "But
you receive him at your house?" "That
is another thing: he was recommended to me by a good abbиж, who may be deceived. Give him a
direct invitation, but do not ask me to present him. If he were afterwards
to marry Mademoiselle Danglars, you would accuse me of intrigue, and would
be challenging me,--besides, I may not be there myself." "Where?"
"At
your ball." "Why
should you not be there?" "Because
you have not yet invited me." "But
I come expressly for that purpose." "You
are very kind, but I may be prevented." "If
I tell you one thing, you will be so amiable as to set aside all
impediments." "Tell
me what it is." "My
mother begs you to come." "The
Comtesse de Morcerf?" said Monte Cristo, starting. "Ah,
count," said Albert, "I assure you Madame de Morcerf speaks
freely to me, and if you have not felt those sympathetic fibres of which I
spoke just now thrill within you, you must be entirely devoid of them, for
during the last four days we have spoken of no one else." "You
have talked of me?" "Yes,
that is the penalty of being a living puzzle!" "Then
I am also a puzzle to your mother? I should have thought her too
reasonable to be led by imagination." "A
problem, my dear count, for every one--for my mother as well as others;
much studied, but not solved, you still remain an enigma, do not fear. My
mother is only astonished that you remain so long unsolved. I believe,
while the Countess G----takes you for Lord Ruthven, my mother imagines you
to be Cagliostro or the Count Saint-Germain. The first opportunity you
have, confirm her in her opinion; it will be easy for you, as you have the
philosophy of the one and the wit of the other." "I
thank you for the warning," said the count; "I shall endeavor to
be prepared for all suppositions." "You
will, then, come on Saturday?" "Yes,
since Madame de Morcerf invites me." "You
are very kind." "Will
M. Danglars be there?" "He
has already been invited by my father. We shall try to persuade the great
d'Aguesseau, [1] M. de Villefort, to come, but have not much hope of
seeing him." "'Never
despair of anything,' says the proverb." "Do
you dance, count?" "I
dance?" "Yes,
you; it would not be astonishing." "That
is very well before one is over forty. No, I do not dance, but I like to
see others do so. Does Madame de Morcerf dance?" "Never;
you can talk to her, she so delights in your conversation." "Indeed?"
"Yes,
truly; and I assure you. You are the only man of whom I have heard her
speak with interest." Albert rose and took his hat; the count
conducted him to the door. "I have one thing to reproach myself
with," said he, stopping Albert on the steps. "What is it?"
"I
have spoken to you indiscreetly about Danglars." "On
the contrary, speak to me always in the same strain about him." "I
am glad to be reassured on that point. Apropos, when do you aspect M.
d'Epinay?" "Five
or six days hence at the latest." "And
when is he to be married?" "Immediately
on the arrival of M. and Madame de Saint-Mижran." "Bring
him to see me. Although you say I do not like him, I assure you I shall be
happy to see him." "I
will obey your orders, my lord." "Good-by."
"Until Saturday, when I may expect you, may I not?" "Yes,
I promised you." The Count watched Albert, waving his hand to him.
When he had mounted his phaeton, Monte Cristo turned, and seeing Bertuccio,
"What news?" said he. "She went to the Palais,"
replied the steward. "Did
she stay long there?" "An
hour and a half." "Did
she return home?" "Directly."
"Well,
my dear Bertuccio," said the count, "I now advise you to go in
quest of the little estate I spoke to you of in Normandy." Bertuccio
bowed, and as his wishes were in perfect harmony with the order he had
received, he started the same evening. |
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