World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 101 Major Cavalle Conti (1)
Monte Cristo resigned from the banquet proposed by Albert on the grounds of the major's visit, but what the count himself and Baptistan said were true. A short time after seven o'clock struck, that is, two hours after Betticio had been sent to Auteuil, a cab pulled up in front of the house, and the passengers had just alighted by the iron gate. Feeling ashamed, he drove away in a hurry.The man who disembarked from the carriage was about fifty-two, and wore a gown with a black ribbed pectoral, a style that seemed to have long flourished in Europe.He was wearing a pair of loose blue woolen trousers, and the boots on his feet were clean, but the shoe polish was so black that it was hard to see what was going on, and the soles were a little thicker.He wore suede gloves, a hat somewhat like a gendarme cap, and a white ribbon rolled over a black cravat that would have looked like an ancient torture iron if he hadn't worn it around his neck with all his attention to fashion. collar.Dressed in such a unique way, the man came to the iron gate and rang the bell, asking if this was No. 7 Champs-Elysées where the Count of Monte Cristo lived.As soon as the porter replied yes, he entered the door, closed the door behind him, and walked straight to the steps in front of the building.

The appearance of this man was small, his cheeks were thin, his hair was gray, and his bushy beard had also turned gray, which completely matched the appearance of the guest who had promised to come, so Batistein, who had already been waiting in the lobby downstairs, immediately went to see him. recognized.Thus, as soon as he announced his name to the shrewd servant, Monte Cristo knew that he had arrived.The guest was led to the simplest living room in the building, where the count was already waiting, and when he saw the guest coming in, he greeted him with a smile. "Ah, my dear sir," said he, "you are very welcome, I am expecting you."

"Is that so?" said Luca's guest, "Your Excellency is waiting for me?"

"Yes, they reported to me that you were coming at seven o'clock this evening."

"Are you reporting my coming? So you already know about it?"

"Of course i!

"Oh, that's great! To tell you the truth, I'm afraid I've missed something on this point."

"how?"

"I'm afraid they forgot to report to you."

"Oh, no!"

"But surely you are right?"

"There must be nothing wrong."

"Your Excellency, the person waiting at 7 o'clock tonight is me?"

"It's you, it's fine, let's check it out."

"Oh, since you were really expecting me," said Luca, "there's no need."

"No, check!" said Monte Cristo.Luca's visitor seemed a little flustered. "Well," continued Monte Cristo, "are you not the Marquis Bartolomeo Cavalleconti?"

"Bartolomeo Cavallecanti," Lucca's visitor repeated the name with delight, "that's right."

"A former major from Austria?"

"Am I a major?" asked the old soldier timidly.

"Yes," said Monte Cristo, "it is a major, and by that name you are called in France by your rank in Italy."

"Well," said visitor Luca, "I'm really looking forward to it myself, you know..."

"Besides, you didn't come here for your own sake."

"Oh, of course it is."

"You were recommended to me through someone else."

"Yes."

"It was introduced by the outstanding Buzzoni elder."

"Exactly," said the major cheerfully.

"You also brought a letter?"

"The letter is here."

"Yes, you see, isn't it all right? Give me the letter." Monte Cristo took the letter, and then opened it to read.The major stared at the count in amazement, then looked around every part of the living room curiously, and finally his eyes naturally fell on the count again. "That's right... my dear elder, 'Major Cavalle-Conti, a venerable nobleman of Lucca, heir of the Cavalle-Conti family of Florence'" Monte Cristo then read the letter aloud, "'his The property is an annual income of half a million.'" Monte Cristo raised his eyes from the letter, saluted, and said, "Half a million, yo! My dear Mr. Cavalle-Conti."

"Is there 50?" Luca asked.

"It's all written in capital letters. There is no mistake. Elder Buzzoni is the most clear about the properties of the rich families in Europe."

"Let's say it's half a million," Luca said. "But, I swear by the name, I didn't expect so much."

"That's because your steward is the thief who stole you, and that's all you can do, my dear Monsieur Cavalle-Conti, and you'll have to get by with this kind of thing."

"You reminded me," said Luca's visitor solemnly, "I must get the slicker away."

Monte Cristo went on to read the letter: "'There is still one shortcoming. I always feel that my family is weak.'"

"Oh, my God, yes, just one thing," said Lucca, with a sigh.

"'The Search for the Lost Son!'"

"My beloved son."

"'Abducted in infancy, either by enemies of the Herald House, or by the Bohemians!'"

"He was five years old, sir," said Luca's visitor, with a deep sigh, and his eyes skyward.

"Poor father!" Monte Cristo said, and continued to read the letter: "'In order to fulfill his suspense and wish him a happy life, Mr. Earl, I have told him that although he has been looking for a son for 15 years, but you have helped him, If you lose a child, you will find it again.'”

Lucca looked straight at Monte Cristo with an indescribable apprehension.

"I can do it," said Monte Cristo.

The major rose to his feet. "Ah, ah," said he, "then the letter is true from beginning to end?"

"You have doubts, my dear Monsieur Bartolomeo?"

"No, no doubts! How can there be doubts! A man as calm and prudent as the elder Buzzoni would never joke about such a thing. But you haven't read the whole letter, my lord." .”

"Ah, so it is," said Monte Cristo, "and a postscript."

"Yes," followed Luca's visitor, "and...a post...postscript."

"'In order to avoid the embarrassment of Major Cavalle-Conti's bank withdrawal, I send him a 2000-franc money order for travel expenses, and a 4.8-franc promissory note payable to me by your office is also at his disposal.'"

The Major watched anxiously while Monte Cristo read the postscript.

"Okay!" The count just said lightly.

"He said yes," murmured Luca's visitor, "so ... sir ..." he went on.

"So..." asked Monte Cristo.

"So, this postscript..."

"Uh, what's up with the postscript?"

"Is it the same as the text of the letter, you have agreed?"

"Of course I4.8 Jia Sha Ke Da Shrimp Hip Pancreatin's surname is Song Yuci, but I can't remember whether the amount I should pay him is 4.8 livres (the above is [-] francs.), and my account with the elder is not A few banknotes. Oh, I suppose you take this postscript very seriously, my dear Monsieur Cavallecanti?"

"I'll tell you the truth," Luca said, "I completely believe in Elder Buzzoni's signature, so I didn't bring any more money with me. If I can't get the money here, then I will It's going to be a mess in Paris."

"Is it possible for a man like you to get into trouble somewhere?" said Monte Cristo. "Forget it!"

"Hey, I don't know anyone," said Luca the visitor.

"But you are known."

"Yes, other people know me, so..."

"Finish, my dear Monsieur Cavallecanti!"

"So you can pay me the 4.8 livres?"

"As long as you talk."

The major rolled his eyes wide open in a mixture of surprise and delight.

"But please sit down," said Monte Cristo; "to tell the truth, I don't know what I did to keep you standing for a quarter of an hour."

"You're welcome." The major pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Now," said the count, "please use something, a glass of Zeres, a wine from Porto, Porto, Portugal. Or Alicante, a wine from the province of Aliette, Spain.?"

"Alicante, since you invited me, I will not be polite, I like to drink this wine."

"I've got a nice one here, and I want another biscuit, don't you?"

"Since you're being so polite to me, I'll ask for a biscuit."

Monte Cristo rang the bell, and Battistan entered.The Count went up to him. "How?..." he asked in a low voice.

"That young man has arrived." The valet also replied in a low voice.

"Very well, where did you take him?"

"As Your Excellency ordered, lead to the blue living room."

"Very well, you go and get some wine and biscuits."

Baptistan walked out.

"Honestly," said visitor Luca, "I'm sorry to trouble you."

"You're welcome!" said Monte Cristo.

Baptistan returned to the living room with glasses, wine and biscuits.The count first poured out a full glass, then poured only a few drops into the second glass.The wine was the color of a ruby, and the bottle in which it was contained was covered with spider webs and other markings.If the wrinkles on the human face can indicate advanced age, but these spider threads and marks are more reliable, indicating that the wine is indeed an old wine.The major, right about the host and guest, took up the full glass of wine and a biscuit.The count ordered Baptistan to put the tray by the guest's hand. At this time, the guest pursed his lips and began to take a sip, smiling happily, and dipped the biscuit in the wine glass slightly.

"Well, sir," said Monte Cristo, "you live in Lucca in Italy, you are rich, you are noble, you are generally respected, you have everything, and you live very happily."

"There's everything, sir," said the major, devouring a biscuit greedily, "perfect."

"There is only one defect in your happiness?"

"Yes, there is only one shortcoming."

"That's why the lost child hasn't been found yet."

"Ah," said the major, picking up the second biscuit, "it's so worrying to me." The venerable Luca visitor lifted his eyes to the sky, and sighed forcefully.

"Now, I have a question to ask, my dear Monsieur Cavalle-Conti," said Monte Cristo, "who is this son who is so memorable? I am told that you have always been single. "

"That's what they think, sir," said the major, "and I myself..."

(End of this chapter)