World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 154 The Retired Baker's Room (3)
"My God! Get me ink and paper, and just draw a picture."

"There are all these things," said Cuderos hastily, and he went over and took from an old desk a blank sheet of paper, a bottle of ink, and a pen. "Here," continued Cuderos, "draw it all on this piece of paper, my son."

Andra picked up the brush, with an imperceptible smile on her mouth. "This building, I have already told you, one side is the courtyard and the other is the garden, so it looks like this, do you see it clearly?" Andra said while drawing the garden, courtyard and small building.

"Is the wall high?"

"Not high, at most eight or nine feet."

"It's not prudent."

"In the courtyard there are potted orange trees, lawns, and flower beds."

"Is there a burglar trap?"

"No."

"Where's the stable?"

"On the west side of the iron gate, look, here." Andra said, and kept drawing.

"Now let's see what the ground floor looks like," Cuderos said.

"The ground floor has a dining room, two living rooms, a pinball room, a staircase in the front hall, and a small, narrow hidden staircase."

"Where are the windows?"

"The windows are magnificent. Not only are they beautiful, but they are also very spacious. My dear fellow, they are so. I imagine a man of your stature can get through any pane."

"What the hell, what's the need for the stairs when you have windows like that?"

"You know a fart! What you want is wealth."

"Are there shutters?"

"Yes, there are shutters, but they are never used. The Count of Monte Cristo is a strange man, and he likes to look at the sky even at night."

"Where does the servant sleep?"

"Well, they live in the same house. You see, there's a very nice garage on the right hand side of the door, and that's for a ladder. Well, there's a whole row of rooms above the garage, where the servants sleep, and in the servants' rooms There is a bell, keep in touch with the room in the main building."

"Damn it! And the bell!"

"What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything. I said that these bells cost a lot of money. I ask you, what's the use of these bells?"

"There used to be a dog that wandered in the yard when it was dark, but it was sent to the villa at Auteuil. You know that place. Haven't you been there?"

"Correct."

"Yesterday I said to him: 'You are so careless, Monsieur Comte, because when you go to Auteuil, your servants will follow you, and the house will be deserted.' 'Well!' he said. Ask me, 'What will happen then?' 'Well, if this goes on like this, maybe someday someone will come and steal from you.'”

"How did he say?"

"Do you want to know what he said?"

"Yes!"

"He said, 'Okay! It's none of my business whether they steal or not?'"

"Andra, now there is a kind of writing desk with mechanisms."

"How to bring the mechanism?"

"Really, this mechanism can catch thieves with iron bars, and it can play ditties. I was told that there was such a thing at the last exposition."

"His writing desk is nothing special, it's made of mahogany. I see that the key to the drawer is always hanging on the desk."

"Did no one steal from him?"

"No, those who serve him are loyal to him."

"There's always cash in that desk, eh?"

"Maybe there is... I don't know what's inside."

"Then where is this desk?"

"On the second floor."

"Draw me another picture of the second floor, little brother, haven't you already drawn me the ground floor?"

"It's easy." So Andra picked up a brush and started drawing again. "Look, there is an anteroom and a living room on the second floor; the library and study are on the right side of the living room, and the bedroom and bathroom are on the left side of the living room. The precious writing desk is in this bathroom."

"Is there only one window in the bathroom?"

"Two windows, one here, and one here." Andra marked the position of the bathroom with two windows as she spoke. From the picture he drew, the bathroom is at the corner and is square. , flanked by a rectangular bedroom, larger than the bathroom.

Caderos seemed to be thinking about something. "Does he often go to Auteuil?" he asked.

"Two or three times a week, for example, tomorrow he will spend a day and a night there."

"Are you sure?"

"He invited me there for dinner."

"It's wonderful! That's life," said Cuderosse. "A house in the city and a house in the country!"

"That's called being rich."

"Are you going to dinner?"

"Probably will go."

"You're going to have dinner there, and you're going to spend the night there?"

"I am glad to see that I am at home with the count."

Caderos looked at Andra, as if trying to see what was going on in the young man's mind.But Andra took out a cigar box from her pocket, opened the box and took out a Havana cigar, lighted the cigar calmly, and began to smoke in a serious manner.

"When will you want the five hundred francs?" Andra asked Caderos.

"If you have it with you, give it now."

Andra took out 25 gold louis from her pocket.

"Gold coins?" said Caderos. "No, thank you!"

"Okay! Don't you even look down on me?"

"On the contrary, I like it very much, but I don't want it."

"You still make a profit when you exchange it, idiot, you can earn 5 sous for a gold coin."

"That's right, but after the money is exchanged, they will keep an eye on the old guy Cuderos, and then grab him and ask him to explain the tenant who pays the rent with gold coins. Don't be confused, little brother, give it all to silver coins." , I want ordinary coins with the head of any emperor on it, and anyone can have a coin of 5 francs."

"You know, I don't take five hundred francs with me, or I'll have to hire a porter."

"Well, you keep the money first, and you hand it over to the concierge. The concierge is a good man. I'll go get it."

"today?"

"No, tomorrow, I don't have time today."

"Well, well. I'll leave the money there when I go to Auteuil to-morrow."

"Do you mean what you say?"

"It definitely counts."

"I thought, this maid can be found first, you know?"

"Just look for it, but it should be over. Huh? You don't want to pester me anymore, do you?"

"Not anymore."

At this time, Caderos's face was gloomy, and Andra couldn't help but feel nervous. He was afraid that he would have to watch Caderos's face change, so he pretended to be extraordinarily happy and relaxed.

"Look how happy you are," said Caderousse, "as if your inheritance has come!"

"Unfortunately not yet! However, as long as I get it..."

"how?"

"How? Friends will never forget, I don't want to say more now."

"Yes, you have a good memory, don't you?"

"What? I thought you were trying to knock me off."

"Me? Well, where are you thinking? I, on the contrary, would like to give you a piece of advice."

"What advice?"

"Leave me the diamond ring you're wearing. Do you want them to arrest us both by wearing it? You want to ruin us both, why are you so foolish?"

"Why?" Andra asked.

"How could it be! You put on a livery and dressed yourself as a servant, but the ring on your finger is a diamond ring of four or five thousand francs!"

"Oh, you're really accurate! Why don't you go into the auction valuation business?"

"Evaluate a diamond or something. I'm still good at it. I've had diamonds before."

"I said, just blow it up." Andra said, Caderos was really afraid that he would blackmail Andra again, but Andra was not only not angry, but also happy Take off the ring.

Carderos took the ring and inspected it carefully, and Andra knew very well in his heart that Carderos was actually looking at whether the edges and corners would be sharp if the diamond was cut into glass.

"The diamond is fake," Cuderos said.

"Forget it," said Andra, "you're joking again, aren't you?"

"Oh! Don't be angry, you can try it." After finishing speaking, Carderos walked towards the window and scratched the glass with a diamond, only to hear the glass squeak, "The real thing!" Carderos said. Ross said, putting the ring on his little finger, "I didn't see it just now, but these guys who sell fake jewelry make fakes look like real ones, but no one dares to buy the real ones in jewelry stores." Stealing, another business has been ruined."

"Hey!" said Andra, "are you finished? Is there anything else you want from me? Do you want my coat? Do you want my hat? Don't be shy, you're asking for it anyway." thing."

"No, your partner is really good. I won't keep you. If I have any wishful thinking, I'll find a way to cure myself."

"But you have to be careful, you are afraid of accidents when exchanging gold coins, and nothing will happen to you if you sell this diamond."

"I won't sell this diamond, so don't worry."

"Yes, at least not for today and tomorrow." Andra thought to herself.

"Lucky you rascal!" said Caderousse, "you'll have servants, horses, carts, fiancées when you get back."

"That's right," Andra said.

"Hey, when you really marry my friend Tangla's daughter, I hope you can give me a generous gift."

"I told you. It was your own imagination."

"How much is the dowry?"

"But listen to me..."

"100?"

Andra shrugged.

"Let's say a million," Cuderos said. "You'll never get as much money as I want you to get."

"Thank you."

"Oh! I mean it sincerely," continued Caderos, laughing, "wait a minute, and I'll see you out."

"no need."

"I have to send you off."

"Then why bother?"

"Oh! for there is a little catch on the door, which is a safety measure, and I think it must be taken. The lock on the door is the one that Gaspard Caderos dismantled and improved." Lock Huray-Fichet. When you get rich, I'll give you one too."

"Thank you," said Andra, "I told you a week in advance."

They parted, and Cuderos stood on the landing, keeping his eyes on Andra, first down the three flights of stairs, then across the courtyard.Then Cuderos hurried back to his own room.Close the door carefully, and study carefully the floor plan that Andra left him like a seasoned architect. "My dear Benedetto," said he, "I don't think he will be offended if he inherits a fortune, if a friend can give him the half million francs in advance." , Such a friend is not always the worst among his friends."

(End of this chapter)