基督山伯爵 英文版 The Count of Monte Cristo
大仲马 Alexandre Dumas père
Chapter 36 Page 1
The Carnival at Rome.
When Franz recovered his senses, he saw Albert drinking aglass of water, of which, to judge from his pallor, he stoodin great need; and the count, who was assuming hismasquerade costume. He glanced mechanically towards thesquare -- the scene was wholly changed; scaffold,executioners, victims, all had disappeared; only the peopleremained, full of noise and excitement. The bell of MonteCitorio, which only sounds on the pope's decease and theopening of the Carnival, was ringing a joyous peal. "Well,"asked he of the count, "what has, then, happened?"
"Nothing," replied the count; "only, as you see, theCarnival his commenced. Make haste and dress yourself."
"In fact," said Franz, "this horrible scene has passed awaylike a dream."
"It is but a dream, a nightmare, that has disturbed you."
"Yes, that I have suffered; but the culprit?"
"That is a dream also; only he has remained asleep, whileyou have awakened; and who knows which of you is the mostfortunate?"
"But Peppino -- what has become of him?"
"Peppino is a lad of sense, who, unlike most men, who arehappy in proportion as they are noticed, was delighted tosee that the general attention was directed towards hiscompanion. He profited by this distraction to slip awayamong the crowd, without even thanking the worthy priestswho accompanied him. Decidedly man is an ungrateful andegotistical animal. But dress yourself; see, M. de Morcerfsets you the example." Albert was drawing on the satinpantaloon over his black trousers and varnished boots."Well, Albert," said Franz, "do you feel much inclined tojoin the revels? Come, answer frankly."
"Ma foi, no," returned Albert. "But I am really glad to haveseen such a sight; and I understand what the count said --that when you have once habituated yourself to a similarspectacle, it is the only one that causes you any emotion."
"Without reflecting that this is the only moment in whichyou can study character," said the count; "on the steps ofthe scaffold death tears off the mask that has been wornthrough life, and the real visage is disclosed. It must beallowed that Andrea was not very handsome, the hideousscoundrel! Come, dress yourselves, gentlemen, dressyourselves." Franz felt it would be ridiculous not to followhis two companions' example. He assumed his costume, andfastened on the mask that scarcely equalled the pallor ofhis own face. Their toilet finished, they descended; thecarriage awaited them at the door, filled with sweetmeatsand bouquets. They fell into the line of carriages. It isdifficult to form an idea of the perfect change that hadtaken place. Instead of the spectacle of gloomy and silentdeath, the Piazza del Popolo presented a spectacle of gayand noisy mirth and revelry. A crowd of masks flowed in fromall sides, emerging from the doors, descending from thewindows. From every street and every corner drove carriagesfilled with clowns, harlequins, dominoes, mummers,pantomimists, Transteverins, knights, and peasants,screaming, fighting, gesticulating, throwing eggs filledwith flour, confetti, nosegays, attacking, with theirsarcasms and their missiles, friends and foes, companionsand strangers, indiscriminately, and no one took offence, ordid anything but laugh. Franz and Albert were like men who,to drive away a violent sorrow, have recourse to wine, andwho, as they drink and become intoxicated, feel a thick veildrawn between the past and the present. They saw, or rathercontinued to see, the image of what they had witnessed; butlittle by little the general vertigo seized them, and theyfelt themselves obliged to take part in the noise andconfusion. A handful of confetti that came from aneighboring carriage, and which, while it covered Morcerfand his two companions with dust, pricked his neck and thatportion of his face uncovered by his mask like a hundredpins, incited him to join in the general combat, in whichall the masks around him were engaged. He rose in his turn,and seizing handfuls of confetti and sweetmeats, with whichthe carriage was filled, cast them with all the force andskill he was master of.
The strife had fairly begun, and the recollection of whatthey had seen half an hour before was gradually effaced fromthe young men's minds, so much were they occupied by the gayand glittering procession they now beheld. As for the Countof Monte Cristo, he had never for an instant shown anyappearance of having been moved. Imagine the large andsplendid Corso, bordered from one end to the other withlofty palaces, with their balconies hung with carpets, andtheir windows with flags. At these balconies are threehundred thousand spectators -- Romans, Italians, strangersfrom all parts of the world, the united aristocracy ofbirth, wealth, and genius. Lovely women, yielding to theinfluence of the scene, bend over their balconies, or leanfrom their windows, and shower down confetti, which arereturned by bouquets; the air seems darkened with thefalling confetti and flying flowers. In the streets thelively crowd is dressed in the most fantastic costumes --gigantic cabbages walk gravely about, buffaloes' heads bellowfrom men's shoulders, dogs walk on their hind legs; in themidst of all this a mask is lifted, and, as in Callot'sTemptation of St. Anthony, a lovely face is exhibited, whichwe would fain follow, but from which we are separated bytroops of fiends. This will give a faint idea of theCarnival at Rome. At the second turn the Count stopped thecarriage, and requested permission to withdraw, leaving thevehicle at their disposal. Franz looked up -- they wereopposite the Rospoli Palace. At the centre window, the onehung with white damask with a red cross, was a blue domino,beneath which Franz's imagination easily pictured thebeautiful Greek of the Argentina. "Gentlemen," said thecount, springing out, "when you are tired of being actors,and wish to become spectators of this scene, you know youhave places at my windows. In the meantime, dispose of mycoachman, my carriage, and my servants." We have forgottento mention, that the count's coachman was attired in abear-skin, exactly resembling Odry's in "The Bear and thePasha;" and the two footmen behind were dressed up as greenmonkeys, with spring masks, with which they made grimaces atevery one who passed. Franz thanked the count for hisattention. As for Albert, he was busily occupied throwingbouquets at a carriage full of Roman peasants that waspassing near him. Unfortunately for him, the line ofcarriages moved on again, and while he descended the Piazzadel Popolo, the other ascended towards the Palazzo diVenezia. "Ah, my dear fellow," said he to Franz; "you didnot see?"
"What?"
"There, -- that calash filled with Roman peasants."
"No."
"Well, I am convinced they are all charming women."
"How unfortunate that you were masked, Albert," said Franz;"here was an opportunity of making up for pastdisappointments."
"Oh," replied he, half laughing, half serious; "I hope theCarnival will not pass without some amends in one shape orthe other."
But, in spite of Albert's hope, the day passed unmarked byany incident, excepting two or three encounters with thecarriage full of Roman peasants. At one of these encounters,accidentally or purposely, Albert's mask fell off. Heinstantly rose and cast the remainder of the bouquets intothe carriage. Doubtless one of the charming females Alberthad detected beneath their coquettish disguise was touchedby his gallantry; for, as the carriage of the two friendspassed her, she threw a bunch of violets. Albert seized it,and as Franz had no reason to suppose it was meant for him,he suffered Albert to retain it. Albert placed it in hisbutton-hole, and the carriage went triumphantly on.
"Well," said Franz to him; "there is the beginning of anadventure."
"Laugh if you please -- I really think so. So I will notabandon this bouquet."
"Pardieu," returned Franz, laughing, "in token of youringratitude." The jest, however, soon appeared to becomeearnest; for when Albert and Franz again encountered thecarriage with the contadini, the one who had thrown theviolets to Albert, clapped her hands when she beheld them inhis button-hole. "Bravo, bravo," said Franz; "things gowonderfully. Shall I leave you? Perhaps you would preferbeing alone?"
"No," replied he; "I will not be caught like a fool at afirst disclosure by a rendezvous under the clock, as theysay at the opera-balls. If the fair peasant wishes to carrymatters any further, we shall find her, or rather, she willfind us to-morrow; then she will give me some sign or other,and I shall know what I have to do."
"On my word," said Franz, "you are wise as Nestor andprudent as Ulysses, and your fair Circe must be very skilfulor very powerful if she succeed in changing you into a beastof any kind." Albert was right; the fair unknown hadresolved, doubtless, to carry the intrigue no farther; foralthough the young men made several more turns, they did notagain see the calash, which had turned up one of theneighboring streets. Then they returned to the RospoliPalace; but the count and the blue domino had alsodisappeared; the two windows, hung with yellow damask, werestill occupied by the persons whom the count had invited. Atthis moment the same bell that had proclaimed the beginningof the mascherata sounded the retreat. The file on the Corsobroke the line, and in a second all the carriages haddisappeared. Franz and Albert were opposite the Via delleMaratte; the coachman, without saying a word, drove up it,passed along the Piazza di Spagni and the Rospoli Palace andstopped at the door of the hotel. Signor Pastrini came tothe door to receive his guests. Franz hastened to inquireafter the count, and to express regret that he had notreturned in sufficient time; but Pastrini reassured him bysaying that the Count of Monte Cristo had ordered a secondcarriage for himself, and that it had gone at four o'clockto fetch him from the Rospoli Palace. The count had,moreover, charged him to offer the two friends the key ofhis box at the Argentina. Franz questioned Albert as to hisintentions; but Albert had great projects to put intoexecution before going to the theatre; and instead of makingany answer, he inquired if Signor Pastrini could procure hima tailor. "A tailor," said the host; "and for what?"
"To make us between now and to-morrow two Roman peasantcostumes," returned Albert. The host shook his head. "Tomake you two costumes between now and to-morrow? I ask yourexcellencies' pardon, but this is quite a French demand; forthe next week you will not find a single tailor who wouldconsent to sew six buttons on a waistcoat if you paid him acrown a piece for each button."
"Then I must give up the idea?"
"No; we have them ready-made. Leave all to me; andto-morrow, when you awake, you shall find a collection ofcostumes with which you will be satisfied."
"My dear Albert," said Franz, "leave all to our host; he hasalready proved himself full of resources; let us dinequietly, and afterwards go and see `The Algerian Captive.'"
"Agreed," returned Albert; "but remember, Signor Pastrini,that both my friend and myself attach the greatestimportance to having to-morrow the costumes we have askedfor." The host again assured them they might rely on him,and that their wishes should be attended to; upon whichFranz and Albert mounted to their apartments, and proceededto disencumber themselves of their costumes. Albert, as hetook off his dress, carefully preserved the bunch ofviolets; it was his token reserved for the morrow. The twofriends sat down to table; but they could not refrain fromremarking the difference between the Count of Monte Cristo'stable and that of Signor Pastrini. Truth compelled Franz, inspite of the dislike he seemed to have taken to the count,to confess that the advantage was not on Pastrini's side.During dessert, the servant inquired at what time theywished for the carriage. Albert and Franz looked at eachother, fearing really to abuse the count's kindness. Theservant understood them. "His excellency the Count of MonteCristo had," he said, "given positive orders that thecarriage was to remain at their lordships' orders all day,and they could therefore dispose of it without fear ofindiscretion."
They resolved to profit by the count's courtesy, and orderedthe horses to be harnessed, while they substituted eveningdress for that which they had on, and which was somewhat theworse for the numerous combats they had sustained. Thisprecaution taken, they went to the theatre, and installedthemselves in the count's box. During the first act, theCountess G---- entered. Her first look was at the box whereshe had seen the count the previous evening, so that sheperceived Franz and Albert in the place of the very personconcerning whom she had expressed so strange an opinion toFranz. Her opera-glass was so fixedly directed towards them,that Franz saw it would be cruel not to satisfy hercuriosity; and, availing himself of one of the privileges ofthe spectators of the Italian theatres, who use their boxesto hold receptions, the two friends went to pay theirrespects to the countess. Scarcely had they entered, whenshe motioned to Franz to assume the seat of honor. Albert,in his turn, sat behind.
"Well," said she, hardly giving Franz time to sit down, "itseems you have nothing better to do than to make theacquaintance of this new Lord Ruthven, and you are alreadythe best friends in the world."
"Without being so far advanced as that, my dear countess,"returned Franz, "I cannot deny that we have abused his goodnature all day."
"All day?"
"Yes; this morning we breakfasted with him; we rode in hiscarriage all day, and now we have taken possession of hisbox."
"You know him, then?"
"Yes, and no."
"How so?"
"It is a long story."
'Tell it to me."
"It would frighten you too much."
"So much the more reason."
"At least wait until the story has a conclusion."
"Very well; I prefer complete histories; but tell me how youmade his acquaintance? Did any one introduce you to him?"
"No; it was he who introduced himself to us."
"When?"
"Last night, after we left you."
"Through what medium?"
"The very prosaic one of our landlord."
"He is staying, then, at the Hotel de Londres with you?"
"Not only in the same hotel, but on the same floor."
"What is his name -- for, of course, you know?"
"The Count of Monte Cristo."
"That is not a family name?"
knows which of you is the mostfortunate?"You know him, then!
"No, it is the name of the island he has purchased."
"And he is a count?"
"A Tuscan count."
"Well, we must put up with that," said the countess, who washerself from one of the oldest Venetian families. "What sortof a man is he?"
"Ask the Vicomte de Morcerf."
"You hear, M. de Morcerf, I am referred to you," said thecountess.
"We should be very hard to please, madam," returned Albert,"did we not think him delightful. A friend of ten years'standing could not have done more for us, or with a moreperfect courtesy."
"Come," observed the countess, smiling, "I see my vampire isonly some millionaire, who has taken the appearance of Larain order to avoid being confounded with M. de Rothschild;and you have seen her?"
"Her?"
"The beautiful Greek of yesterday."
"No; we heard, I think, the sound of her guzla, but sheremained perfectly invisible."
"When you say invisible," interrupted Albert, "it is only tokeep up the mystery; for whom do you take the blue domino atthe window with the white curtains?"
"Where was this window with white hangings?" asked thecountess.
"At the Rospoli Palace."
"The count had three windows at the Rospoli Palace?"
"Yes. Did you pass through the Corso?"
"Yes."
"Well, did you notice two windows hung with yellow damask,and one with white damask with a red cross? Those were thecount's windows."
"Why, he must be a nabob. Do you know what those threewindows were worth?"
"Two or three hundred Roman crowns?"
"Two or three thousand."
"The deuce."
"Does his island produce him such a revenue?"
"It does not bring him a baiocco."
"Then why did he purchase it?"
"For a whim."
"He is an original, then?"
"Gentlemen," said he, "although a companion is agreeable,perfect freedom is sometimes still more agreeable. I come tosay that to-day, and for the remainder of the Carnival, Ileave the carriage entirely at your disposal. The host willtell you I have three or four more, so that you will notinconvenience me in any way. Make use of it, I pray you, foryour pleasure or your business."
What?"his name -- for, of course, you know?" culprit?" whim.
The young men wished to decline, but they could find no goodreason for refusing an offer which was so agreeable to them.The Count of Monte Cristo remained a quarter of an hour withthem, conversing on all subjects with the greatest ease. Hewas, as we have already said, perfectly well acquainted withthe literature of all countries. A glance at the walls ofhis salon proved to Franz and Albert that he was aconnoisseur of pictures. A few words he let fall showed themthat he was no stranger to the sciences, and he seemed muchoccupied with chemistry. The two friends did not venture toreturn the count the breakfast he had given them; it wouldhave been too absurd to offer him in exchange for hisexcellent table the very inferior one of Signor Pastrini.They told him so frankly, and he received their excuses withthe air of a man who appreciated their delicacy. Albert wascharmed with the count's manners, and he was only preventedfrom recognizing him for a perfect gentleman by reason ofhis varied knowledge. The permission to do what he likedwith the carriage pleased him above all, for the fairpeasants had appeared in a most elegant carriage thepreceding evening, and Albert was not sorry to be upon anequal footing with them. At half-past one they descended,the coachman and footman had put on their livery over theirdisguises, which gave them a more ridiculous appearance thanever, and which gained them the applause of Franz andAlbert. Albert had fastened the faded bunch of violets tohis button-hole. At the first sound of the bell theyhastened into the Corso by the Via Vittoria. At the secondturn, a bunch of fresh violets, thrown from a carriagefilled with harlequins, indicated to Albert that, likehimself and his friend, the peasants had changed theircostume, also; and whether it was the result of chance, orwhether a similar feeling had possessed them both, while hehad changed his costume they had assumed his.