基督山伯爵 英文版 The Count of Monte Cristo
大仲马 Alexandre Dumas père
Chapter 41 Page 2
"If you ask me for a day, count, I know what to anticipate;it will not be a house I shall see, but a palace. You havedecidedly some genius at your control."
"Ma foi, spread that idea," replied the Count of MonteCristo, putting his foot on the velvet-lined steps of hissplendid carriage, "and that will be worth something to meamong the ladies." As he spoke, he sprang into the vehicle,the door was closed, but not so rapidly that Monte Cristofailed to perceive the almost imperceptible movement whichstirred the curtains of the apartment in which he had leftMadame de Morcerf. When Albert returned to his mother, hefound her in the boudoir reclining in a large velvetarm-chair, the whole room so obscure that only the shiningspangle, fastened here and there to the drapery, and theangles of the gilded frames of the pictures, showed withsome degree of brightness in the gloom. Albert could not seethe face of the countess, as it was covered with a thin veilshe had put on her head, and which fell over her features inmisty folds, but it seemed to him as though her voice hadaltered. He could distinguish amid the perfumes of the rosesand heliotropes in the flower-stands, the sharp and fragrantodor of volatile salts, and he noticed in one of the chasedcups on the mantle-piece the countess's smelling-bottle,taken from its shagreen case, and exclaimed in a tone ofuneasiness, as he entered, -- "My dear mother, have you beenill during my absence?"
"No, no, Albert, but you know these roses, tuberoses, andorange-flowers throw out at first, before one is used tothem, such violent perfumes."
"Then, my dear mother," said Albert, putting his hand to thebell, "they must be taken into the ante-chamber. You arereally ill, and just now were so pale as you came into theroom" --
"Was I pale, Albert?"
"Yes; a pallor that suits you admirably, mother, but whichdid not the less alarm my father and myself."
"Did your father speak of it?" inquired Mercedes eagerly.
"No, madame; but do you not remember that he spoke of thefact to you?"
"Yes, I do remember," replied the countess. A servantentered, summoned by Albert's ring of the bell. "Take theseflowers into the anteroom or dressing-room," said theviscount; "they make the countess ill." The footman obeyedhis orders. A long pause ensued, which lasted until all theflowers were removed. "What is this name of Monte Cristo?"inquired the countess, when the servant had taken away thelast vase of flowers, "is it a family name, or the name ofthe estate, or a simple title?"
"I believe, mother, it is merely a title. The countpurchased an island in the Tuscan archipelago, and, as hetold you to-day, has founded a commandery. You know the samething was done for Saint Stephen of Florence, Saint George,Constantinian of Parma, and even for the Order of Malta.Except this, he has no pretension to nobility, and callshimself a chance count, although the general opinion at Romeis that the count is a man of very high distinction."
"His manners are admirable," said the countess, "at least,as far as I could judge in the few minutes he remainedhere."
"They are perfect mother, so perfect, that they surpass byfar all I have known in the leading aristocracy of the threeproudest nobilities of Europe -- the English, the Spanish,and the German." The countess paused a moment; then, after aslight hesitation, she resumed, -- "You have seen, my dearAlbert -- I ask the question as a mother -- you have seen M.de Monte Cristo in his house, you are quicksighted, havemuch knowledge of the world, more tact than is usual at yourage, do you think the count is really what he appears tobe?"
"What does he appear to be?"
"Why, you have just said, -- a man of high distinction."
"I told you, my dear mother, he was esteemed such."
mother, but whichdid not the.
"But what is your own opinion, Albert?"
"I must tell you that I have not come to any decided opinionrespecting him, but I think him a Maltese."
"I do not ask you of his origin but what he is."
"Ah, what he is; that is quite another thing. I have seen somany remarkable things in him, that if you would have mereally say what I think, I shall reply that I really do lookupon him as one of Byron's heroes, whom misery has markedwith a fatal brand; some Manfred, some Lara, some Werner,one of those wrecks, as it were, of some ancient family,who, disinherited of their patrimony, have achieved one bythe force of their adventurous genius, which has placed themabove the laws of society."
"You say" --
"I say that Monte Cristo is an island in the midst of theMediterranean, without inhabitants or garrison, the resortof smugglers of all nations, and pirates of every flag. Whoknows whether or not these industrious worthies do not payto their feudal lord some dues for his protection?"
"That is possible," said the countess, reflecting.
"Never mind," continued the young man, "smuggler or not, youmust agree, mother dear, as you have seen him, that theCount of Monte Cristo is a remarkable man, who will have thegreatest success in the salons of Paris. Why, this verymorning, in my rooms, he made his entree amongst us bystriking every man of us with amazement, not even exceptingChateau-Renaud."
"And what do you suppose is the count's age?" inquiredMercedes, evidently attaching great importance to thisquestion.
"Thirty-five or thirty-six, mother."
"So young, -- it is impossible," said Mercedes, replying atthe same time to what Albert said as well as to her ownprivate reflection.
"It is the truth, however. Three or four times he has saidto me, and certainly without the slightest premeditation,`at such a period I was five years old, at another ten yearsold, at another twelve,' and I, induced by curiosity, whichkept me alive to these details, have compared the dates, andnever found him inaccurate. The age of this singular man,who is of no age, is then, I am certain, thirty-five.Besides, mother, remark how vivid his eye, how raven-blackhis hair, and his brow, though so pale, is free fromwrinkles, -- he is not only vigorous, but also young." Thecountess bent her head, as if beneath a heavy wave of bitterthoughts. "And has this man displayed a friendship for you,Albert?" she asked with a nervous shudder.
"I am inclined to think so."
"And -- do -- you -- like -- him?"
"Why, he pleases me in spite of Franz d'Epinay, who tries toconvince me that he is a being returned from the otherworld." The countess shuddered. "Albert," she said, in avoice which was altered by emotion, "I have always put youon your guard against new acquaintances. Now you are a man,and are able to give me advice; yet I repeat to you, Albert,be prudent."
"Why, my dear mother, it is necessary, in order to make youradvice turn to account, that I should know beforehand what Ihave to distrust. The count never plays, he only drinks purewater tinged with a little sherry, and is so rich that hecannot, without intending to laugh at me, try to borrowmoney. What, then, have I to fear from him?"
"You are right," said the countess, "and my fears areweakness, especially when directed against a man who hassaved your life. How did your father receive him, Albert? Itis necessary that we should be more than complaisant to thecount. M. de Morcerf is sometimes occupied, his businessmakes him reflective, and he might, without intending it" --
"Nothing could be in better taste than my father's demeanor,madame," said Albert; "nay, more, he seemed greatlyflattered at two or three compliments which the count veryskilfully and agreeably paid him with as much ease as if hehad known him these thirty years. Each of these littletickling arrows must have pleased my father," added Albertwith a laugh. "And thus they parted the best possiblefriends, and M. de Morcerf even wished to take him to theChamber to hear the speakers." The countess made no reply.She fell into so deep a revery that her eyes graduallyclosed. The young man, standing up before her, gazed uponher with that filial affection which is so tender andendearing with children whose mothers are still young andhandsome. Then, after seeing her eyes closed, and hearingher breathe gently, he believed she had dropped asleep, andleft the apartment on tiptoe, closing the door after himwith the utmost precaution. "This devil of a fellow," hemuttered, shaking his head; "I said at the time he wouldcreate a sensation here, and I measure his effect by aninfallible thermometer. My mother has noticed him, and hemust therefore, perforce, be remarkable." He went down tothe stables, not without some slight annoyance, when heremembered that the Count of Monte Cristo had laid his handson a "turnout" which sent his bays down to second place inthe opinion of connoisseurs. "Most decidedly," said he, "menare not equal, and I must beg my father to develop thistheorem in the Chamber of Peers."