基督山伯爵 英文版 The Count of Monte Cristo
大仲马 Alexandre Dumas père
Chapter 18 Page 2
"But beneath my fingers, as if by magic, in proportion asthe fire ascended, I saw yellowish characters appear on thepaper. I grasped it in my hand, put out the flame as quicklyas I could, lighted my taper in the fire itself, and openedthe crumpled paper with inexpressible emotion, recognizing,when I had done so, that these characters had been traced inmysterious and sympathetic ink, only appearing when exposedto the fire; nearly one-third of the paper had been consumedby the flame. It was that paper you read this morning; readit again, Dantes, and then I will complete for you theincomplete words and unconnected sense."
Faria, with an air of triumph, offered the paper to Dantes,who this time read the following words, traced with an inkof a reddish color resembling rust: --
"This 25th day of April, 1498, be...Alexander VI., and fearing that not...he may desire to become my heir, and re...and Bentivoglio, who were poisoned,...my sole heir, that I have bu...and has visited with me, that is, in...Island of Monte Cristo, all I poss...jewels, diamonds, gems; that I alone...may amount to nearly two mil...will find on raising the twentieth ro...creek to the east in a right line. Two open...in these caves; the treasure is in the furthest a...which treasure I bequeath and leave en...as my sole heir."25th April, 1498."Caes...
"And now," said the abbe, "read this other paper;" and hepresented to Dantes a second leaf with fragments of lineswritten on it, which Edmond read as follows: --
"...ing invited to dine by his Holiness...content with making me pay for my hat,...serves for me the fate of Cardinals Caprara...I declare to my nephew, Guido Spada...ried in a place he knows...the caves of the small...essed of ingots, gold, money,...know of the existence of this treasure, which...lions of Roman crowns, and which he...ck from the small...ings have been made...ngle in the second;...tire to him...ar Spada."
Faria followed him with an excited look. "and now," he said,when he saw that Dantes had read the last line, "put the twofragments together, and judge for yourself." Dantes obeyed,and the conjointed pieces gave the following: --
"This 25th day of April, 1498, be...ing invited to dine byhis Holiness Alexander VI., and fearing that not...contentwith making me pay for my hat, he may desire to become myheir, and re...serves for me the fate of Cardinals Capraraand Bentivoglio, who were poisoned...I declare to my nephew,Guido Spada, my sole heir, that I have bu...ried in a placehe knows and has visited with me, that is, in...the caves ofthe small Island of Monte Cristo all I poss...ssed ofingots, gold, money, jewels, diamonds, gems; that Ialone...know of the existence of this treasure, which mayamount to nearly two mil...lions of Roman crowns, and whichhe will find on raising the twentieth ro...ck from the smallcreek to the east in a right line. Two open...ings have beenmade in these caves; the treasure is in the furthesta...ngle in the second; which treasure I bequeath and leaveen...tire to him as my sole heir."25th April, 1498."Caes...ar Spada."
"Well, do you comprehend now?" inquired Faria.
"It is the declaration of Cardinal Spada, and the will solong sought for," replied Edmond, still incredulous.
"Yes; a thousand times, yes!"
"And who completed it as it now is?"
"I did. Aided by the remaining fragment, I guessed the rest;measuring the length of the lines by those of the paper, anddivining the hidden meaning by means of what was in partrevealed, as we are guided in a cavern by the small ray oflight above us."
"And what did you do when you arrived at this conclusion?"
"I resolved to set out, and did set out at that veryinstant, carrying with me the beginning of my great work,the unity of the Italian kingdom; but for some time theimperial police (who at this period, quite contrary to whatNapoleon desired so soon as he had a son born to him, wishedfor a partition of provinces) had their eyes on me; and myhasty departure, the cause of which they were unable toguess, having aroused their suspicions, I was arrested atthe very moment I was leaving Piombino.
"Now," continued Faria, addressing Dantes with an almostpaternal expression, "now, my dear fellow, you know as muchas I do myself. If we ever escape together, half thistreasure is yours; if I die here, and you escape alone, thewhole belongs to you."
"But," inquired Dantes hesitating, "has this treasure nomore legitimate possessor in the world than ourselves?"
"No, no, be easy on that score; the family is extinct. Thelast Count of Spada, moreover, made me his heir, bequeathingto me this symbolic breviary, he bequeathed to me all itcontained; no, no, make your mind satisfied on that point.If we lay hands on this fortune, we may enjoy it withoutremorse."
"And you say this treasure amounts to" --
"Two millions of Roman crowns; nearly thirteen millions ofour money."*
* $2,600,000 in 1894.
"Impossible!" said Dantes, staggered at the enormous amount.
"Impossible? and why?" asked the old man. "The Spada familywas one of the oldest and most powerful families of thefifteenth century; and in those times, when otheropportunities for investment were wanting, suchaccumulations of gold and jewels were by no means rare;there are at this day Roman families perishing of hunger,though possessed of nearly a million in diamonds and jewels,handed down by entail, and which they cannot touch." Edmondthought he was in a dream -- he wavered between incredulityand joy.
"I have only kept this secret so long from you," continuedFaria, "that I might test your character, and then surpriseyou. Had we escaped before my attack of catalepsy, I shouldhave conducted you to Monte Cristo; now," he added, with asigh, "it is you who will conduct me thither. Well, Dantes,you do not thank me?"
"This treasure belongs to you, my dear friend," repliedDantes, "and to you only. I have no right to it. I am norelation of yours."
"You are my son, Dantes," exclaimed the old man. "You arethe child of my captivity. My profession condemns me tocelibacy. God has sent you to me to console, at one and thesame time, the man who could not be a father, and theprisoner who could not get free." And Faria extended the armof which alone the use remained to him to the young man whothrew himself upon his neck and wept.