World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 122 Marriage Plan (2)
"If there is no inconvenience, can you tell me how much to give to that young man?"

"Five thousand francs a month."

"Sixty thousand francs a year, I expected." Monte Cristo shrugged his shoulders and said, "The Cavalle-Conti family are all cheapskates. How can a young man live on five thousand francs a month?"

"But you know, if the young man wants a few thousand francs more..."

"Not a dime overdrafted, and the old man will pay you if it is overdrafted money. You don't know these Italian millionaires, they are real misers every single one of them. Where is this credit account from?" Guaranteed by a commercial firm?"

"Ah, Fang Qi's firm is a guarantee. This is a very good firm in Florence."

"I'm not saying you're going to lose money, far from it, but you have to pay attention, everything is done according to the terms of the guarantee."

"So you don't trust this Cavallecanti?"

"Me! As long as he signs, I can pay him 1000 million. This is the second-class property I just told you, my dear Mr. Tangra."

"So rich, and yet so simple! I always thought he was just an ordinary major."

"You're still flattering him, because, you're right, he's really ugly. When I first saw him, he really gave me the impression that he looked like a bad old man, like an ordinary tablet An old lieutenant with epaulets. But Italians are all like that, and if they don't impress as Oriental magicians, they're about as good as Jewish old men."

"That young man is stronger." Tangra said.

"Yeah, maybe a little shy, but overall I think he looks good. I'm worried about him, too."

"why?"

"Because the time you met him at my villa, he was probably going out into society for the first time, at least that's what I was told. He traveled a little with a very strict governess, but never Never been to Paris."

"It is customary for the Italian nobles to marry within the nobles, isn't it?" Tangra asked casually, "They like to accumulate property through marriage."

"They usually do that, that's how it is, but Cavalle-Conti has his own unique way of doing things differently. I always feel that he brought his son to France because he wanted his son to marry in France."

"Do you think so?"

"I can be sure."

"Have you heard any mention of his property?"

"That's all I hear, except some say he has millions and others say he's penniless."

"What do you think?"

"You can't rely on this as evidence, it's completely personal opinion."

"Anyway..."

"My own opinion is that these were all the officials of the frontiers or the generals who commanded the army, because the Cavalle Conti family once led the army and served in several provinces. So I said, my opinion is, They buried millions in some remote place, this kind of place only the eldest son knows, and the eldest son tells the next eldest son, so it is passed down from generation to generation. The evidence is that they are all sallow and dry, just like the republic era they hid Florin (the name of the Florentine gold coin.), they looked at these gold coins from left to right, and they all looked like gold coins."

"That's right," Tang La said, "That's right, and no one knows if these people have any real estate."

"If there is, it is very rare, and I know it very well, because I only know that this Cavalle Conti has a very beautiful mansion in Lucca."

"Ah, he has a mansion!" Tangla said with a smile, "This is already very remarkable."

"Yes. Besides, he rents the building to the Ministry of Finance, and lives in a humble little house. Oh! As I told you, I think the old fellow is a miser."

"Oh, oh, you don't compliment him."

"Listen, I only barely knew him, I think I only saw him three times in total. I only found out about him after the Elder Buzzoni and himself told me. This morning he spoke to me about Some of his son's thoughts, listening to his voice, I think he doesn't want to see his big money lying in Italy, because the country is dead and lifeless. He wants to find a way to let him Millions of money in France or some money in England. But please be aware that although I personally trust Elder Buzzoni extremely, I am not responsible for what happened."

"No problem, thank you for introducing me to the client, a name that will add to my client list. I also introduced the Cavalle Conti family to my cashier supervisor and he was flattered to hear it. By the way, this is pure It's just asking about the customs of foreign countries, for people like them, when the son gets married, do they have to share some property with the son?"

"Well, my God! That's not necessarily the case. I know an Italian prince, Forbe Goldfields, a great family in Tuscany. The marriages of his sons will be as soon as he likes them." Give them millions, and if it goes against his wishes, then give them only a small annuity, at most 30 crowns a month. Take Andra, for example, if he marries according to his father's idea, the old man will Will give him 100 million, 200 million or 300 million. If, for example, he marries some banker's daughter, the old fellow will definitely be interested in the business name of his in-laws. Or for example, the married daughter-in-law, Papa Cavalle-Conti doesn't like it, so goodbye, the old guy will hold the key of his safe tightly in his hand, and then turn the lock of the safe twice to lock it firmly, The little boy Andra had to play cards and roll dice like a Parisian libertine.
"The lad is looking for a princess from Bavaria or Peru. He wants some isolated kingdom, the El Dorado of dreams."

"No, these famous Italian families often marry Xiaojiabiyu. Like Jupiter, the main god in Roman mythology, they like marriages outside the clan. You ask me these questions, dear Mr. Tangra, do you want to be a matchmaker for Andra? "

"To tell you the truth," Tang La said, "I think this business is pretty good. I was originally in business."

"I don't think it's with Miss Tanglar? You won't let Albert kill this poor Andrara?"

"Albert!" said Tangra, shrugging his shoulders. "Ah, yes, he has not given much thought to this matter."

"I suppose he's engaged to the daughter?"

"That is to say, Mr. Mercerf and I have talked about this marriage, but Mrs. Mercerf and Albert..."

"You can't say that this marriage is not happy?"

"Oh, I think Miss Tanglar is perfectly worthy of Mr. Moserf."

"Miss Tanglar's dowry will be very considerable. I have no doubts. If there are no false news in the telegram, it will be even more so."

"Oh, it's not just about the dowry. But, by the way, one thing."

"Speak!"

"Why didn't you invite Mosef and his parents for your treat this time?"

"I asked him too, but he said he was going to Dieppe with Mrs. Mocerf, and the doctor suggested that Mrs. Mercerf go there to breathe the fresh sea air."

"Yes, yes," Tangla said with a smile, "it's good for her."

"why?"

"Because that's the air she breathed when she was young."

Monte Cristo didn't seem to understand the meaning of this witty remark, so he didn't ask any more questions. "But no matter what," the count said, "although Albert is not as rich as Miss Tanglar, you can't deny that he has a very good family background, right?"

"It can be said that, but I'm also self-admired about my family background." Tang La said.

"Of course, your name is well-known. People think that your title makes your family name more glorious, but it is actually your family name that makes this title more beautiful. However, you are a smart person, and you don't know that according to some It is a deep-rooted prejudice that is difficult to eliminate, and a noble family with a history of 500 years is more impressive than a noble family with a 20-year seal."

"It is for this reason," said Tangra, trying to put on a sneer, "that I am most interested in Mr. Andra Cavalcanti, and Mr. Albert Mocerf. Only after that."

"But," said Monte Cristo, "I don't think the Mocerfs are any less inferior than the Cavalle-Conti."

"Mercerf family!... Let's put it this way, my dear count," Tangra said, "you are a gentleman, aren't you?"

"I suppose so."

"Also, do you know heraldry?"

"It's just a first pass."

"Very good! Please take a look at my coat of arms, which is even more solemn than Mosef's coat of arms."

"why?"

"Because, although I am not a hereditary baron, at least my surname is Tanglar."

"Please go on."

"And his last name is not Mosef."

"What? Isn't his last name Mosef?"

"Not at all."

"There is such a thing!"

"My baron was canonized, so I am really a baron, and his earl was awarded by himself, so he is not actually an earl."

"This is impossible."

"Listen to me, my dear count." Tangra continued, "Mr. Moserf is my friend, or rather, my old acquaintance for 30 years. You also know me, Doesn't care much about my coat of arms, because I never forgot my origins."

"It shows either humility or pride," said Monte Cristo.

"Well! When I was a clerk in the firm, Mosef was just a fisherman."

"What was his name at that time?"

"Fernan."

"What about your full name?"

"Fernand Mondego."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course! He used to sell me fish, so I knew him."

"Since this is the case, why did you promise your daughter to their family?"

"Because Fernan and Tangla are both upstarts. Both have titles of nobility and have made a fortune. In fact, they are all equal. But there are differences. People have something to say about him, but they have nothing to criticize about me."

"What about him?"

"there is nothing."

"Oh, yes, I see. The name Fernand Mondego comes to mind after you say that. I heard it mentioned in Greece."

"Did you mention it when talking about Governor Ali?"

"Not bad."

"This is a mystery." Tangra said, "I'll tell you the truth, as long as I solve the mystery, I will take as long as I want."

"If you really want to, it's actually not difficult."

"how?"

"You must have some clients in Greece?"

"Of course there is."

"And in Ioannina?"

"I have clients everywhere..."

"Very well! Send a letter to the client of Ioannina and ask him what role a Frenchman named Fernand played in the death of Ali-Terberin."

"You are right!" Tang Gela hurriedly stood up and said, "I will write today."

"Write it."

"I'll write it right away."

"If your news is indeed a scandal..."

"I will definitely tell you."

"It's troublesome for you."

Tang Gela hurried out of the living room, and ran to his carriage in three steps at a time.

(End of this chapter)