World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 153 The Retired Baker's Room (2)
"Yes, you said you wanted to meet me, but are you really guilty? What do you think?"

"I really can't bear it. Besides, I thought of an idea."

Andra couldn't help but shuddered, as soon as Caderos had any ideas, Andra would panic and shudder.

"It's miserable, you see it too?" said Caderos. "I look forward to the end of the month."

"Ah!" Andra was determined to see what his partner was up to, so she said very openly, "Isn't a person's life spent in hope? For example, I, I don't hope and I can hope." What's up? So, I've got to be patient, don't I?"

"Yes, but instead of the measly 200 francs you're looking forward to, you're looking at five or six thousand, maybe 10000, or even 12000, because you can play tricks, you guy, you're always sneaking around over there." For a few bucks, trying to hide it from your poor friend Caderousse, who luckily has a good nose."

"Okay, you're talking nonsense again," Andra said, "Are you going to talk about the past again? But, let me ask you, what's the use of talking all this time?"

"What's the use? You're only 21 years old, of course you can forget about the past, but I'm 50 years old, I can't stop talking about the past. Forget it, let's not talk about it, or say business."

"Really."

"I mean, if I were you..."

"What's the matter?"

"I'll take his hand."

"What? You just come to him?"

"By the way, I asked for a six-month advance on the grounds that I wanted to participate in the election and wanted to buy a manor. Then I took the six-month advance and left."

"Ah, ah, ah," said Andra, "that's not a bad idea, it might be all right!"

"My dear friend," Caderos said, "you can eat the food I cook, but you have to listen to my ideas. You don't have to use your hands or your brains. You can't suffer no matter what."

"That's good! But," said Andra, "since you have such an idea, why don't you do it yourself? Why don't you advance the money for half a year, or even a year, and then go to Brussels to hide? That's the way , you don’t have to pretend to be a retired baker, you can pretend to be someone who went bankrupt due to poor management, which is very profitable.”

"But, hell, I only have 1200 francs, so you have the heart to let me hide?"

"Ah! Caderos," said Andra, "you are greedy! Two months ago you were starving."

"The appetite is growing," said Cuderos, now grinning like a giggling monkey or a snarling tiger, "so," he said with a mouth that was out of proportion to his age. He took a big bite of the bread with his big white and sharp teeth, and continued, "I thought of a way."

When Andra heard Cuderos's solution, he was more disturbed than hearing his idea, because the idea was only a seedling, but when it came to a solution, it would have to bear fruit. "Let's see how it goes," he said. "It's sure to be delicious!"

"No! We used tricks to get out of that old man's place over there. Who came up with the idea? Huh? It was me, let me tell you straight. What about here?"

"I'm not saying it's bad," Andra replied, "Sometimes you really have tricks, but whatever it is, let's see what you can do."

"That's right," continued Caderos, "can you let me get fifteen thousand francs without paying a dime yourself? No, fifteen thousand francs is not enough. I need at least thirty thousand francs to be a decent person." Francs?"

"Impossible," Andra replied flatly, "No, I can't do it."

"It seems that you didn't understand what I meant," Cuderos said coldly with a calm look, "I made it very clear, you don't need to pay a penny."

"You want me to steal and ruin my own business, and then we'll get mixed up and let them take us there again, don't you?"

"Well, me," said Cuderos, "just get me up again, that's all. You know, I'm a queer guy, and sometimes I miss my friends, and I'm not like you. Without a heart, I will not go to see them until I die!"

This time Andra didn't just shudder, his face turned pale. "Well, Caderos, stop talking nonsense," he said.

"Don't talk, don't worry, my little Benedetto. But you have to think of some tricks for me, let me get these 3 francs, you don't have to touch your hands, the matter is up to me." Let’s do it, that’s what happened.”

"Okay then! Think about it and see if there is any chance." Andra said.

"But now you have to give me 500 francs a month. I have been thinking about it for a long time. I always want to hire a maid."

"Very well! I'll give you the five hundred francs you asked for," said Andra, "but I'm at a disadvantage, my poor Caderos... You're a nuisance..."

"Hey!" said Cuderos, "the money in the cash drawer is inexhaustible, so you can get it."

As if Andra was waiting for his partner to say such a word, a light flashed in his eyes, but in a moment they were dimmed again. "It is true," answered Andra, "my guardian has been very kind to me."

"What an amiable protector!" said Caderousse, "so he gives you every month--"

"Five thousand francs," said Andra.

"If you have 1000, you have to draw 100 to me," Caderos continued. "Really, this kind of luck is only available to illegitimate children. 5000 francs a month, my boy, what do you do with so much money?"

"My God, it's going to be spent quickly, so I'd like to have a capital of my own as much as you do."

"Principal? Yes... I understand, everyone wants to have a principal."

"Well, as for me, there will be in the future."

"Who gave it to you? Is it your prince?"

"By the way, it's my prince. Unfortunately, I have to wait now."

"What are you waiting for?" Caderos asked.

"Wait for him to die."

"Wait until your prince dies?"

"Yes."

"why?"

"Because he gave me property in his will."

"Really?"

"I swear on my honor!"

"How much?"

"50 million!"

"That's all? It's really not much."

"I am telling the truth."

"Forget it, it's impossible."

"Caderos, are you my friend?"

"Why do you ask that? We are life and death friends."

"Well, let me tell you a secret."

"Go ahead."

"Then listen."

"Hey, really! I never talk too much."

"That's good! I think..." Andra stopped.He glanced around.

"What do you think? Don't be afraid, really! It's just the two of us here."

"I think I found my dad."

"Really dad?"

"real."

"Not old Cavalle-Conti?"

"No, he came and left. Like you said, is this the real father..."

"This father is..."

"Oh! Caderousse, he is the Count of Monte Cristo."

"Hey!"

"Really, you know, it's all obvious. It doesn't look like he's going to admit me publicly, but he's got Mr. Cavalle-Conti to identify me, and he's paying Mr. Cavalle-Conti for it. Fifty thousand francs."

"You can get 5 francs to be your father! Give me half the price, 2, 1.5, and I will do it! Why don't you think of me, you ungrateful thing?"

"Did I know at the beginning? When the two of us were still there, this matter was arranged."

"Oh, it's true. You said he made a will..."

"He bequeathed me half a million livres."

"Are you sure?"

"He showed it to me, and there are others."

"As I said just now, there are additional contents in the will."

"Maybe."

"What's added?"

"He recognized my son."

"Oh! what a man, what a man, what a wonderful man!" said Caderos, throwing up an empty plate and catching it with both hands.

"How? Are you still saying I'm hiding something from you?"

"Let's not talk about it, you trust me, so I will value you. Your father who is the prince must be very rich, he must be full of gold and jade, right?"

"I think so. He doesn't even know how much money he has."

"How can it be?"

"How is it impossible? I saw it with my own eyes. I could go to him any time. A clerk at the bank sent him fifty thousand francs the other day. The bag was as big as your napkin. Yesterday was one." The banker sent him 5 francs in gold."

Cuderos was dumbfounded, he felt that the young man's voice was clear and loud, like the sound of metal, and he seemed to hear the crackling sound of many golden louis rolling. "Can you get into that house?" he asked stupidly, yelling.

"You can come in anytime."

Cuderos pondered for a while, and it was obvious that some secret idea was going on in his head.Suddenly he cried out loudly: "I really want to see it! It must be very beautiful there!"

"Exactly," said Andra, "very magnificent!"

"Doesn't he live on the Champs Elysees?"

"Yes, No. 30."

"Ah!" said Cuderos, "number 30?"

"Yes, it's a small lonely building with a courtyard in front and a garden in the back. You can tell it just by looking at it."

"I'll recognize it, but what I want to see is not the outside of the house, but the inside. Those gorgeous furniture, um, the inside must be indispensable?"

"Have you been to the Tuileries Palace?"

"No."

"Ah, prettier than that."

"Tell me, Andra, when this good Monte Cristo drops a purse, how wonderful it would be for us to bend down and pick it up!"

"Oh, my God! Don't wait for that," said Andra. "The money in the house is like the fruit in the orchard. It's everywhere."

"Oh, someday you have to take me in for a walk."

"How is it possible? Why did I take you there?"

"You're right, but you've already made my mouth water. I have to go and see anyway, and I have to find a way."

"Don't be silly, Caderousse!"

"I can pretend to be cleaning the floor and come to the door."

"There's carpet all over there."

"Oh, poor thing! I'll just have to think about it."

"This is the best, just listen to me."

"You've got to at least let me know what's going on there."

"What do you want me to say?"

"It's too easy. Is this building big?"

"Neither big nor small."

"How is the room laid out?"

(End of this chapter)