基督山伯爵 英文版 The Count of Monte Cristo
大仲马 Alexandre Dumas père
Chapter 31 Page 2
"You are a born diplomat," returned Franz; "go and try."
Meanwhile the sailors had collected dried sticks andbranches with which they made a fire. Franz waitedimpatiently, inhaling the aroma of the roasted meat, whenthe captain returned with a mysterious air.
"Well," said Franz, "anything new? -- do they refuse?"
"On the contrary," returned Gaetano, "the chief, who wastold you were a young Frenchman, invites you to sup withhim."
"Well," observed Franz, "this chief is very polite, and Isee no objection -- the more so as I bring my share of thesupper."
"His house? Has he built one here, then?"
"No; but he has a very comfortable one all the same, so theysay."
"You know this chief, then?"
"I have heard talk of him."
"Favorably or otherwise?"
"Both."
"The deuce! -- and what is this condition?"
"That you are blindfolded, and do not take off the bandageuntil he himself bids you." Franz looked at Gaetano, to see,if possible, what he thought of this proposal. "Ah," repliedhe, guessing Franz's thought, "I know this is a seriousmatter."
"What should you do in my place?"
"I, who have nothing to lose, -- I should go."
"You would accept?"
"Yes, were it only out of curiosity."
"There is something very peculiar about this chief, then?"
"Listen," said Gaetano, lowering his voice, "I do not knowif what they say is true" -- he stopped to see if any onewas near.
"What do they say?"
"That this chief inhabits a cavern to which the Pitti Palaceis nothing."
"What nonsense!" said Franz, reseating himself.
"It is no nonsense; it is quite true. Cama, the pilot of theSaint Ferdinand, went in once, and he came back amazed,vowing that such treasures were only to be heard of in fairytales."
highness's yataghan to pieces?
"Do you know," observed Franz, "that with such stories youmake me think of Ali Baba's enchanted cavern?"
"I tell you what I have been told."
"Then you advise me to accept?"
"Oh, I don't say that; your excellency will do as youplease; I should be sorry to advise you in the matter."Franz pondered the matter for a few moments, concluded thata man so rich could not have any intention of plundering himof what little he had, and seeing only the prospect of agood supper, accepted. Gaetano departed with the reply.Franz was prudent, and wished to learn all he possibly couldconcerning his host. He turned towards the sailor, who,during this dialogue, had sat gravely plucking thepartridges with the air of a man proud of his office, andasked him how these men had landed, as no vessel of any kindwas visible.
"Never mind that," returned the sailor, "I know theirvessel."
"Is it a very beautiful vessel?"
"I would not wish for a better to sail round the world."
"Of what burden is she?"
"About a hundred tons; but she is built to stand anyweather. She is what the English call a yacht."
"Where was she built?"
"I know not; but my own opinion is she is a Genoese."
"And how did a leader of smugglers," continued Franz,"venture to build a vessel designed for such a purpose atGenoa?"
"I did not say that the owner was a smuggler," replied thesailor.
"No; but Gaetano did, I thought."
"Gaetano had only seen the vessel from a distance, he hadnot then spoken to any one."
"And if this person be not a smuggler, who is he?"
"A wealthy signor, who travels for his pleasure."
"Come," thought Franz, "he is still more mysterious, sincethe two accounts do not agree."
"What is his name?"
"If you ask him he says Sinbad the Sailor; but I doubt if itbe his real name."
"Sinbad the Sailor?"
"Yes."
"And where does he reside?"
"On the sea."
"What country does he come from?"
"I do not know."
"Have you ever seen him?"
"Sometimes."
"What sort of a man is he?"
"Your excellency will judge for yourself."
"Where will he receive me?"
"No doubt in the subterranean palace Gaetano told you of."
"Have you never had the curiosity, when you have landed andfound this island deserted, to seek for this enchantedpalace?"
"Oh, yes, more than once, but always in vain; we examinedthe grotto all over, but we never could find the slightesttrace of any opening; they say that the door is not openedby a key, but a magic word."
"Decidedly," muttered Franz, "this is an Arabian Nights'adventure."
"His excellency waits for you," said a voice, which herecognized as that of the sentinel. He was accompanied bytwo of the yacht's crew. Franz drew his handkerchief fromhis pocket, and presented it to the man who had spoken tohim. Without uttering a word, they bandaged his eyes with acare that showed their apprehensions of his committing someindiscretion. Afterwards he was made to promise that hewould not make the least attempt to raise the bandage. Hepromised. Then his two guides took his arms, and he went on,guided by them, and preceded by the sentinel. After goingabout thirty paces, he smelt the appetizing odor of the kidthat was roasting, and knew thus that he was passing thebivouac; they then led him on about fifty paces farther,evidently advancing towards that part of the shore wherethey would not allow Gaetano to go -- a refusal he could nowcomprehend. Presently, by a change in the atmosphere, heknew that they were entering a cave; after going on for afew seconds more he heard a crackling, and it seemed to himas though the atmosphere again changed, and became balmy andperfumed. At length his feet touched on a thick and softcarpet, and his guides let go their hold of him. There was amoment's silence, and then a voice, in excellent French,although, with a foreign accent, said, "Welcome, sir. I begyou will remove your bandage." It may be supposed, then,Franz did not wait for a repetition of this permission, buttook off the handkerchief, and found himself in the presenceof a man from thirty-eight to forty years of age, dressed ina Tunisian costume -- that is to say, a red cap with a longblue silk tassel, a vest of black cloth embroidered withgold, pantaloons of deep red, large and full gaiters of thesame color, embroidered with gold like the vest, and yellowslippers; he had a splendid cashmere round his waist, and asmall sharp and crooked cangiar was passed through hisgirdle. Although of a paleness that was almost livid, thisman had a remarkably handsome face; his eyes werepenetrating and sparkling; his nose, quite straight, andprojecting direct from the brow, was of the pure Greek type,while his teeth, as white as pearls, were set off toadmiration by the black mustache that encircled them.
His pallor was so peculiar, that it seemed to pertain to onewho had been long entombed, and who was incapable ofresuming the healthy glow and hue of life. He was notparticularly tall, but extremely well made, and, like themen of the south, had small hands and feet. But whatastonished Franz, who had treated Gaetano's description as afable, was the splendor of the apartment in which he foundhimself. The entire chamber was lined with crimson brocade,worked with flowers of gold. In a recess was a kind ofdivan, surmounted with a stand of Arabian swords in silverscabbards, and the handles resplendent with gems; from theceiling hung a lamp of Venetian glass, of beautiful shapeand color, while the feet rested on a Turkey carpet, inwhich they sunk to the instep; tapestry hung before the doorby which Franz had entered, and also in front of anotherdoor, leading into a second apartment which seemed to bebrilliantly illuminated. The host gave Franz time to recoverfrom his surprise, and, moreover, returned look for look,not even taking his eyes off him. "Sir," he said, after apause, "a thousand excuses for the precaution taken in yourintroduction hither; but as, during the greater portion ofthe year, this island is deserted, if the secret of thisabode were discovered. I should doubtless, find on my returnmy temporary retirement in a state of great disorder, whichwould be exceedingly annoying, not for the loss itoccasioned me, but because I should not have the certainty Inow possess of separating myself from all the rest ofmankind at pleasure. Let me now endeavor to make you forgetthis temporary unpleasantness, and offer you what no doubtyou did not expect to find here -- that is to say, atolerable supper and pretty comfortable beds."
"Ma foi, my dear sir," replied Franz, "make no apologies. Ihave always observed that they bandage people's eyes whopenetrate enchanted palaces, for instance, those of Raoul inthe `Huguenots,' and really I have nothing to complain of,for what I see makes me think of the wonders of the `ArabianNights.'"
"Alas, I may say with Lucullus, if I could have anticipatedthe honor of your visit, I would have prepared for it. Butsuch as is my hermitage, it is at your disposal; such as ismy supper, it is yours to share, if you will. Ali, is thesupper ready?" At this moment the tapestry moved aside, anda Nubian, black as ebony, and dressed in a plain whitetunic, made a sign to his master that all was prepared inthe dining-room. "Now," said the unknown to Franz, "I do notknow if you are of my opinion, but I think nothing is moreannoying than to remain two or three hours together withoutknowing by name or appellation how to address one another.Pray observe, that I too much respect the laws ofhospitality to ask your name or title. I only request you togive me one by which I may have the pleasure of addressingyou. As for myself, that I may put you at your ease, I tellyou that I am generally called `Sinbad the Sailor.'"
"And I," replied Franz, "will tell you, as I only requirehis wonderful lamp to make me precisely like Aladdin, that Isee no reason why at this moment I should not be calledAladdin. That will keep us from going away from the Eastwhither I am tempted to think I have been conveyed by somegood genius."
"Well, then, Signor Aladdin," replied the singularamphitryon, "you heard our repast announced, will you nowtake the trouble to enter the dining-room, your humbleservant going first to show the way?" At these words, movingaside the tapestry, Sinbad preceded his guest. Franz nowlooked upon another scene of enchantment; the table wassplendidly covered, and once convinced of this importantpoint he cast his eyes around him. The dining-room wasscarcely less striking than the room he had just left; itwas entirely of marble, with antique bas-reliefs ofpriceless value; and at the four corners of this apartment,which was oblong, were four magnificent statues, havingbaskets in their hands. These baskets contained fourpyramids of most splendid fruit; there were Sicilypine-apples, pomegranates from Malaga, oranges from theBalearic Isles, peaches from France, and dates from Tunis.The supper consisted of a roast pheasant garnished withCorsican blackbirds; a boar's ham with jelly, a quarter of akid with tartar sauce, a glorious turbot, and a giganticlobster. Between these large dishes were smaller onescontaining various dainties. The dishes were of silver, andthe plates of Japanese china.
Franz rubbed his eyes in order to assure himself that thiswas not a dream. Ali alone was present to wait at table, andacquitted himself so admirably, that the guest complimentedhis host thereupon. "Yes," replied he, while he did thehonors of the supper with much ease and grace -- "yes, he isa poor devil who is much devoted to me, and does all he canto prove it. He remembers that I saved his life, and as hehas a regard for his head, he feels some gratitude towardsme for having kept it on his shoulders." Ali approached hismaster, took his hand, and kissed it.
"Would it be impertinent, Signor Sinbad," said Franz, "toask you the particulars of this kindness?"
"Oh, they are simple enough," replied the host. "It seemsthe fellow had been caught wandering nearer to the harem ofthe Bey of Tunis than etiquette permits to one of his color,and he was condemned by the bey to have his tongue cut out,and his hand and head cut off; the tongue the first day, thehand the second, and the head the third. I always had adesire to have a mute in my service, so learning the day histongue was cut out, I went to the bey, and proposed to givehim for Ali a splendid double-barreled gun which I knew hewas very desirous of having. He hesitated a moment, he wasso very desirous to complete the poor devil's punishment.But when I added to the gun an English cutlass with which Ihad shivered his highness's yataghan to pieces, the beyyielded, and agreed to forgive the hand and head, but oncondition that the poor fellow never again set foot inTunis. This was a useless clause in the bargain, forwhenever the coward sees the first glimpse of the shores ofAfrica, he runs down below, and can only be induced toappear again when we are out of sight of that quarter of theglobe."
Franz remained a moment silent and pensive, hardly knowingwhat to think of the half-kindness, half-cruelty, with whichhis host related the brief narrative. "And like thecelebrated sailor whose name you have assumed," he said, byway of changing the conversation, "you pass your life intravelling?"
"Yes. I made a vow at a time when I little thought I shouldever be able to accomplish it," said the unknown with asingular smile; "and I made some others also which I hope Imay fulfil in due season." Although Sinbad pronounced thesewords with much calmness, his eyes gave forth gleams ofextraordinary ferocity.
"You have suffered a great deal, sir?" said Franzinquiringly.
Sinbad started and looked fixedly at him, as he replied,"What makes you suppose so?"
"I? -- I live the happiest life possible, the real life of apasha. I am king of all creation. I am pleased with oneplace, and stay there; I get tired of it, and leave it; I amfree as a bird and have wings like one; my attendants obeymy slightest wish. Sometimes I amuse myself by deliveringsome bandit or criminal from the bonds of the law. Then Ihave my mode of dispensing justice, silent and sure, withoutrespite or appeal, which condemns or pardons, and which noone sees. Ah, if you had tasted my life, you would notdesire any other, and would never return to the world unlessyou had some great project to accomplish there."
"Revenge, for instance!" observed Franz.
The unknown fixed on the young man one of those looks whichpenetrate into the depth of the heart and thoughts. "And whyrevenge?" he asked.
"Because," replied Franz, "you seem to me like a man who,persecuted by society, has a fearful account to settle withit."
"Ah," responded Sinbad, laughing with his singular laughwhich displayed his white and sharp teeth. "You have notguessed rightly. Such as you see me I am, a sort ofphilosopher, and one day perhaps I shall go to Paris torival Monsieur Appert, and the little man in the bluecloak."
"And will that be the first time you ever took thatjourney?"
"Yes; it will. I must seem to you by no means curious, but Iassure you that it is not my fault I have delayed it so long-- it will happen one day or the other."
"And do you propose to make this journey very shortly?"
"I do not know; it depends on circumstances which depend oncertain arrangements."
"I should like to be there at the time you come, and I willendeavor to repay you, as far as lies in my power, for yourliberal hospitality displayed to me at Monte Cristo."
"I should avail myself of your offer with pleasure," repliedthe host, "but, unfortunately, if I go there, it will be, inall probability, incognito."
The supper appeared to have been supplied solely for Franz,for the unknown scarcely touched one or two dishes of thesplendid banquet to which his guest did ample justice. ThenAli brought on the dessert, or rather took the baskets fromthe hands of the statues and placed them on the table.Between the two baskets he placed a small silver cup with asilver cover. The care with which Ali placed this cup on thetable roused Franz's curiosity. He raised the cover and sawa kind of greenish paste, something like preserved angelica,but which was perfectly unknown to him. He replaced the lid,as ignorant of what the cup contained as he was before hehad looked at it, and then casting his eyes towards his hosthe saw him smile at his disappointment. "You cannot guess,"said he, "what there is in that small vase, can you?"
"No, I really cannot."
"Well, then, that green preserve is nothing less than theambrosia which Hebe served at the table of Jupiter."
"But," replied Franz, "this ambrosia, no doubt, in passingthrough mortal hands has lost its heavenly appellation andassumed a human name; in vulgar phrase, what may you termthis composition, for which, to tell the truth, I do notfeel any particular desire?"
"Ah, thus it is that our material origin is revealed," criedSinbad; "we frequently pass so near to happiness withoutseeing, without regarding it, or if we do see and regard it,yet without recognizing it. Are you a man for thesubstantials, and is gold your god? taste this, and themines of Peru, Guzerat, and Golconda are opened to you. Areyou a man of imagination -- a poet? taste this, and theboundaries of possibility disappear; the fields of infinitespace open to you, you advance free in heart, free in mind,into the boundless realms of unfettered revery. Are youambitious, and do you seek after the greatnesses of theearth? taste this, and in an hour you will be a king, not aking of a petty kingdom hidden in some corner of Europe likeFrance, Spain, or England, but king of the world, king ofthe universe, king of creation; without bowing at the feetof Satan, you will be king and master of all the kingdoms ofthe earth. Is it not tempting what I offer you, and is itnot an easy thing, since it is only to do thus? look!" Atthese words he uncovered the small cup which contained thesubstance so lauded, took a teaspoonful of the magicsweetmeat, raised it to his lips, and swallowed it slowlywith his eyes half shut and his head bent backwards. Franzdid not disturb him whilst he absorbed his favoritesweetmeat, but when he had finished, he inquired, -- "What,then, is this precious stuff?"
"Did you ever hear," he replied, "of the Old Man of theMountain, who attempted to assassinate Philip Augustus?"
"Of course I have."
"Well, you know he reigned over a rich valley which wasoverhung by the mountain whence he derived his picturesquename. In this valley were magnificent gardens planted byHassen-ben-Sabah, and in these gardens isolated pavilions.Into these pavilions he admitted the elect, and there, saysMarco Polo, gave them to eat a certain herb, whichtransported them to Paradise, in the midst of ever-bloomingshrubs, ever-ripe fruit, and ever-lovely virgins. What thesehappy persons took for reality was but a dream; but it was adream so soft, so voluptuous, so enthralling, that they soldthemselves body and soul to him who gave it to them, andobedient to his orders as to those of a deity, struck downthe designated victim, died in torture without a murmur,believing that the death they underwent was but a quicktransition to that life of delights of which the holy herb,now before you had given them a slight foretaste."