基督山伯爵 英文版 The Count of Monte Cristo
大仲马 Alexandre Dumas père
Chapter 37 Page 2
"Let us go on; Peppino will have warned the sentry of ourcoming." One of the two men was Peppino, and the other abandit on the lookout. Franz and the count advanced, and thebandit saluted them. "Your excellency," said Peppino,addressing the count, "if you will follow me, the opening ofthe catacombs is close at hand."
"Go on, then," replied the count. They came to an openingbehind a clump of bushes and in the midst of a pile ofrocks, by which a man could scarcely pass. Peppino glidedfirst into this crevice; after they got along a few pacesthe passage widened. Peppino passed, lighted his torch, andturned to see if they came after him. The count firstreached an open space and Franz followed him closely. Thepassageway sloped in a gentle descent, enlarging as theyproceeded; still Franz and the count were compelled toadvance in a stooping posture, and were scarcely able toproceed abreast of one another. They went on a hundred andfifty paces in this way, and then were stopped by, "Whocomes there?" At the same time they saw the reflection of atorch on a carbine barrel.
"A friend!" responded Peppino; and, advancing alone towardsthe sentry, he said a few words to him in a low tone; andthen he, like the first, saluted the nocturnal visitors,making a sign that they might proceed.
Behind the sentinel was a staircase with twenty steps. Franzand the count descended these, and found themselves in amortuary chamber. Five corridors diverged like the rays of astar, and the walls, dug into niches, which were arrangedone above the other in the shape of coffins, showed thatthey were at last in the catacombs. Down one of thecorridors, whose extent it was impossible to determine, raysof light were visible. The count laid his hand on Franz'sshoulder. "Would you like to see a camp of bandits inrepose?" he inquired.
"Exceedingly," replied Franz.
"Come with me, then. Peppino, put out the torch." Peppinoobeyed, and Franz and the count were in utter darkness,except that fifty paces in advance of them a reddish glare,more evident since Peppino had put out his torch, wasvisible along the wall. They advanced silently, the countguiding Franz as if he had the singular faculty of seeing inthe dark. Franz himself, however, saw his way more plainlyin proportion as he went on towards the light, which servedin some manner as a guide. Three arcades were before them,and the middle one was used as a door. These arcades openedon one side into the corridor where the count and Franzwere, and on the other into a large square chamber, entirelysurrounded by niches similar to those of which we havespoken. In the midst of this chamber were four stones, whichhad formerly served as an altar, as was evident from thecross which still surmounted them. A lamp, placed at thebase of a pillar, lighted up with its pale and flickeringflame the singular scene which presented itself to the eyesof the two visitors concealed in the shadow. A man wasseated with his elbow leaning on the column, and was readingwith his back turned to the arcades, through the openings ofwhich the new-comers contemplated him. This was the chief ofthe band, Luigi Vampa. Around him, and in groups, accordingto their fancy, lying in their mantles, or with their backsagainst a sort of stone bench, which went all round thecolumbarium, were to be seen twenty brigands or more, eachhaving his carbine within reach. At the other end, silent,scarcely visible, and like a shadow, was a sentinel, who waswalking up and down before a grotto, which was onlydistinguishable because in that spot the darkness seemedmore dense than elsewhere. When the count thought Franz hadgazed sufficiently on this picturesque tableau, he raisedhis finger to his lips, to warn him to be silent, and,ascending the three steps which led to the corridor of thecolumbarium, entered the chamber by the middle arcade, andadvanced towards Vampa, who was so intent on the book beforehim that he did not hear the noise of his footsteps.
"Who comes there?" cried the sentinel, who was lessabstracted, and who saw by the lamp-light a shadowapproaching his chief. At this challenge, Vampa rosequickly, drawing at the same moment a pistol from hisgirdle. In a moment all the bandits were on their feet, andtwenty carbines were levelled at the count. "Well," said hein a voice perfectly calm, and no muscle of his countenancedisturbed, "well, my dear Vampa, it appears to me that youreceive a friend with a great deal of ceremony."
"Ground arms," exclaimed the chief, with an imperative signof the hand, while with the other he took off his hatrespectfully; then, turning to the singular personage whohad caused this scene, he said, "Your pardon, yourexcellency, but I was so far from expecting the honor of avisit, that I did not really recognize you."
"It seems that your memory is equally short in everything,Vampa," said the count, "and that not only do you forgetpeople's faces, but also the conditions you make with them."
seems that your memory is equally short in everything,Vampa," said the count.
"What conditions have I forgotten, your excellency?"inquired the bandit, with the air of a man who, havingcommitted an error, is anxious to repair it.
"Was it not agreed," asked the count, "that not only myperson, but also that of my friends, should be respected byyou?"
"And how have I broken that treaty, your excellency?"
Yes, hither."Luigi Vampa, who will.
"You have this evening carried off and conveyed hither theVicomte Albert de Morcerf. Well," continued the count, in atone that made Franz shudder, "this young gentleman is oneof my friends -- this young gentleman lodges in the samehotel as myself -- this young gentleman has been up and downthe Corso for eight hours in my private carriage, and yet, Irepeat to you, you have carried him off, and conveyed himhither, and," added the count, taking the letter from hispocket, "you have set a ransom on him, as if he were anutter stranger."
"Why did you not tell me all this -- you?" inquired thebrigand chief, turning towards his men, who all retreatedbefore his look. "Why have you caused me thus to fail in myword towards a gentleman like the count, who has all ourlives in his hands? By heavens, if I thought one of you knewthat the young gentleman was the friend of his excellency, Iwould blow his brains out with my own hand!"
"Well," said the count, turning towards Franz, "I told youthere was some mistake in this."
"Are you not alone?" asked Vampa with uneasiness.
"I am with the person to whom this letter was addressed, andto whom I desired to prove that Luigi Vampa was a man of hisword. Come, your excellency," the count added, turning toFranz, "here is Luigi Vampa, who will himself express to youhis deep regret at the mistake he has committed." Franzapproached, the chief advancing several steps to meet him."Welcome among us, your excellency," he said to him; "youheard what the count just said, and also my reply; let meadd that I would not for the four thousand piastres at whichI had fixed your friend's ransom, that this had happened."
"But," said Franz, looking round him uneasily, "where is theViscount? -- I do not see him."
"Nothing has happened to him, I hope," said the countfrowningly.
"The prisoner is there," replied Vampa, pointing to thehollow space in front of which the bandit was on guard, "andI will go myself and tell him he is free." The chief wenttowards the place he had pointed out as Albert's prison, andFranz and the count followed him. "What is the prisonerdoing?" inquired Vampa of the sentinel.
"Ma foi, captain," replied the sentry, "I do not know; forthe last hour I have not heard him stir."
"Come in, your excellency," said Vampa. The count and Franzascended seven or eight steps after the chief, who drew backa bolt and opened a door. Then, by the gleam of a lamp,similar to that which lighted the columbarium, Albert was tobe seen wrapped up in a cloak which one of the bandits hadlent him, lying in a corner in profound slumber. "Come,"said the count, smiling with his own peculiar smile, "not sobad for a man who is to be shot at seven o'clock to-morrowmorning." Vampa looked at Albert with a kind of admiration;he was not insensible to such a proof of courage.
"You are right, your excellency," he said; "this must be oneof your friends." Then going to Albert, he touched him onthe shoulder, saying, "Will your excellency please toawaken?" Albert stretched out his arms, rubbed his eyelids,and opened his eyes. "Oh," said he, "is it you, captain? Youshould have allowed me to sleep. I had such a delightfuldream. I was dancing the galop at Torlonia's with theCountess G---- ." Then he drew his watch from his pocket,that he might see how time sped.
"Half-past one only?" said he. "Why the devil do you rouseme at this hour?"
"To tell you that you are free, your excellency."
"My dear fellow," replied Albert, with perfect ease of mind,"remember, for the future, Napoleon's maxim, `Never awakenme but for bad news;' if you had let me sleep on, I shouldhave finished my galop, and have been grateful to you all mylife. So, then, they have paid my ransom?"
"No, your excellency."
"Well, then, how am I free?"
"A person to whom I can refuse nothing has come to demandyou."
"Come hither?"
"Yes, hither."
"Really? Then that person is a most amiable person." Albertlooked around and perceived Franz. "What," said he, "is ityou, my dear Franz, whose devotion and friendship are thusdisplayed?"
"No, not I," replied Franz, "but our neighbor, the Count ofMonte Cristo."
"Oh. my dear count." said Albert gayly, arranging his cravatand wristbands, "you are really most kind, and I hope youwill consider me as under eternal obligations to you, in thefirst place for the carriage, and in the next for thisvisit," and he put out his hand to the Count, who shudderedas he gave his own, but who nevertheless did give it. Thebandit gazed on this scene with amazement; he was evidentlyaccustomed to see his prisoners tremble before him, and yethere was one whose gay temperament was not for a momentaltered; as for Franz, he was enchanted at the way in whichAlbert had sustained the national honor in the presence ofthe bandit. "My dear Albert," he said, "if you will makehaste, we shall yet have time to finish the night atTorlonia's. You may conclude your interrupted galop, so thatyou will owe no ill-will to Signor Luigi, who has, indeed,throughout this whole affair acted like a gentleman."
"You are decidedly right, and we may reach the Palazzo bytwo o'clock. Signor Luigi," continued Albert, "is there anyformality to fulfil before I take leave of your excellency?"
"None, sir," replied the bandit, "you are as free as air."
"Well, then, a happy and merry life to you. Come, gentlemen,come."
"What are you going to do?" inquired the count.
"I will show you the way back myself," said the captain;"that is the least honor that I can render to yourexcellency." And taking the lighted torch from the hands ofthe herdsman, he preceded his guests, not as a servant whoperforms an act of civility, but like a king who precedesambassadors. On reaching the door, he bowed. "And now, yourexcellency," added he, "allow me to repeat my apologies, andI hope you will not entertain any resentment at what hasoccurred."
"No, my dear Vampa," replied the count; "besides, youcompensate for your mistakes in so gentlemanly a way, thatone almost feels obliged to you for having committed them."
"Gentlemen," added the chief, turning towards the young men,"perhaps the offer may not appear very tempting to you; butif you should ever feel inclined to pay me a second visit,wherever I may be, you shall be welcome." Franz and Albertbowed. The count went out first, then Albert. Franz pausedfor a moment. "Has your excellency anything to ask me?" saidVampa with a smile.
"Yes, I have," replied Franz; "I am curious to know whatwork you were perusing with so much attention as weentered."
"Caesar's `Commentaries,'" said the bandit, "it is myfavorite work."
"Well, are you coming?" asked Albert.
"Yes," replied Franz, "here I am," and he, in his turn, leftthe caves. They advanced to the plain. "Ah, your pardon,"said Albert, turning round; "will you allow me, captain?"And he lighted his cigar at Vampa's torch. "Now, my dearcount," he said, "let us on with all the speed we may. I amenormously anxious to finish my night at the Duke ofBracciano's." They found the carriage where they had leftit. The count said a word in Arabic to Ali, and the horseswent on at great speed. It was just two o'clock by Albert'swatch when the two friends entered into the dancing-room.Their return was quite an event, but as they enteredtogether, all uneasiness on Albert's account ceasedinstantly. "Madame," said the Viscount of Morcerf, advancingtowards the countess, "yesterday you were so condescendingas to promise me a galop; I am rather late in claiming thisgracious promise, but here is my friend, whose character forveracity you well know, and he will assure you the delayarose from no fault of mine." And as at this moment theorchestra gave the signal for the waltz, Albert put his armround the waist of the countess, and disappeared with her inthe whirl of dancers. In the meanwhile Franz was consideringthe singular shudder that had passed over the Count of MonteCristo at the moment when he had been, in some sort, forcedto give his hand to Albert.