World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 169 Duel (2)
A chilling smile flitted across the earl's lips. "Morrel," said he, "you saw it just now, and don't forget it."

"So," said Morrel, "whether it is possible to save Albert's life or not, I shall have to see whether you are excited or not."

"I will be excited?" said Monte Cristo.

"Or if you can be magnanimous, my friend. I have as much confidence in your marksmanship as you do, and I want to discuss with you a matter which would be ridiculous for me to discuss with anyone else." gone."

"what's up?"

"You can just break his arm and hurt him, but don't kill him."

"Listen carefully to what I say, Morrel," said the count. "I need no one to persuade me to be merciful to Mr. Mercerf, but to Mr. Mercerf, I can tell you clearly. Having said that, the matter will definitely not be resolved, he will go back with his two friends safe and sound, as for me..."

"Yes, and what about you?"

"Oh! That's very different. They'll have to carry me back."

"As for?" Morrel couldn't help exclaiming.

"It turned out as I have just told you, my dear Morrel, that it was Monsieur Mocerf who beat me to death."

Morrel looked at the count as if in bewilderment. "What has happened since last night, Count?"

"Like the battle of Philip in Macedonia in 42 BC, Brutus was defeated and committed suicide. Like what happened to Brutus the night before, I met a ghost."

"And what about the ghost?"

"The ghost said to me, Morrel, that I have had enough."

Maximilian and Emmanuel couldn't help but looked at each other, while Monte Cristo took out his watch and took a look.

"Let's go," said he. "It's 7:05, and the duel is at eight o'clock."

The carriage was ready and waiting outside, and Monte Cristo got into it with his two witnesses.When going out through the corridor, Monte Cristo stopped in front of a door and listened. Maximilian and Emmanuel took a few steps forward with great interest. They seemed to vaguely hear someone inside the door. Weeping, someone seemed to be sighing outside the door. At exactly eight o'clock they arrived at the place of the duel.

"Here we are," said Morrel, poking his head out of the window, "and we're ahead of them."

"Excuse me, sir," said Baptistan, who had come along with his master and was so frightened that he didn't know how to describe it, "but I seem to see a carriage parked in the bushes over there."

The count jumped out of the carriage briskly, and then stretched out his hand to take Emmanuel and Maximilian out of the carriage.Maximilian took the count's hand with both hands and said: "It's great, I am very happy to shake hands with a man who has been kind to others all his life."

"No," Emmanuel said, "I saw two young men walking up and down, as if they were waiting for someone."

Monte Cristo pulled Morrel, not out of the way, but behind his brother-in-law. "Maximilian, do you have someone in mind?" the count asked.Morrel looked at Monte Cristo in amazement. "I don't want to pry into your private affairs, my dear friend. I'm just asking. You just have to tell me whether you have it or not. That's all I want to ask."

"I have fallen in love with a girl, Count."

"Love her very much?"

"Love her more than my life."

"Well," said Monte Cristo, "another hope has failed." Then he sighed, and said softly: "Poor Eddie!"

"Really, count," cried Morrel, "if I hadn't known you very well, I should not think you brave enough in your present appearance!"

"Because I thought I might part with one life, and I sighed. Oh, Morrel, does not a warrior know what it means to be brave? Am I a man who loves life and fears death? Between life and death I pass 20 years, life or death is nothing to me? Besides, you can rest assured that this kind of cowardice, if it is cowardice, I only reveal it to you alone. I know that this world is a living room. When you leave this drawing room, you should be polite and dignified, that is to say, you should bow and pay your respects, and you should pay your losses at cards."

"Excellent," said Morrel, "that's very concise. By the way, have you brought your weapon?"

"Am I carrying a weapon? For what? I think the gentlemen will."

"I'll ask," said Morrel.

"Okay, but don't take it too seriously, you know what I mean?"

"Oh, don't worry!"

Morrel walked towards Beauchamp and Chateau-Renaud, and Beauchamp and Chateau-Renaud saw Morrel passing by, and they took a few steps to meet him.All three of them bowed and saluted. Although they could not be said to be cordial, they were at least polite.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," said Morrel, "I have not seen Mr. Mocerf."

"This morning," replied Chateau-Renoir, "he sent to tell us that he was coming directly to meet us at the duel."

"Ah!" said Morrel.

Beauchamp took out his watch and looked at it. "Five minutes after eight is not quite late, Monsieur Morrel," said he.

"Oh!" replied Morrel, "that's not what I meant."

"Besides," Chateau-Renoir interrupted at once, "is there a car that isn't coming right?"

Sure enough, a carriage was galloping from a main road towards their intersection.

"Gentlemen," said Morrel, "you must have brought your pistols; M. Monte Cristo has renounced his right to use his own."

"We expected the air of the Count, Monsieur Morrel," said Beauchamp; "I have some pistols with me, which I bought eight or nine days ago, for purposes like today. Yes. These are new guns, no one has used them yet. Would you like to have a look at them?"

"Oh! Monsieur Beauchamp," said Morrel, bowing, "you have assured me that Monsieur Mecerf never used these guns, and you know that I am satisfied with your words. Yes or no?"

"You two," said Chateau-Renaud, "it's not Messeff who is coming in this car, but, oh, it's Franz and Debray." It was these two young men who came over, and Chateau Torreno shook hands with them one by one, and said, "You two are here too, what wind is this blowing here?"

"Because," said Debray, "Albert sent for us this morning."

Both Beauchamp and Chateau-Renoir felt astonished, and they couldn't help but glanced at each other.

"Gentlemen," said Morrel, "I seem to understand what is going on."

"Please say!"

"Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from Mr. Mocerf asking me to go to the opera."

"I got it too," said Debray.

"I have it too," said Franz.

"We have also received it." Chateau-Leno and Beauchamp said at the same time.

"He wrote to mean that we were there when he provoked," said Morrel, "and now he wants us to be there when he fights."

"That's right," said the young men in unison. "That's right, Herr Maximilian. In all respects, you are right."

"But everyone has been invited," murmured Chateau-Renaud, "but Albert himself did not come. He was already ten minutes late."

"Here he is," said Beauchamp, "and he is riding a horse. You see, this horse is riding like flying, and behind him is his servant."

"It's too rash!" Chateau-Renaud said, "He is dueling with a pistol, how can he come on horseback? I have repeatedly told him!"

"Also, you see," said Beauchamp, "with a bow tie on the collar, and a white vest underneath, why not just draw a black dot on the chest? Wouldn't it be easier, and more Are you happy?"

While the five young men were talking in a circle, Albert rode his horse to a distance of ten paces from them. He reined in his horse and jumped off. A young man walks away.His face was pale, his eyes were red and swollen, and it could be seen that he had not closed his eyes for a second all night.Uncharacteristically, his face was gloomy and sad, with a look of loss. "Gentlemen," he said, "I am very grateful for the kindness of your invitation to come." As soon as Mocerf approached, Morrel stepped back a dozen steps, and stood aside. "You too, Monsieur Morrel," continued Albert, "thank you very much. Please come here, we are all friends."

"Monsieur," said Maximilian, "perhaps you do not know that I am a witness of M. Monte Cristo."

"I'm not sure, but I expected it. Great, the more honorable people here, the happier I'll be."

"Monsieur Morrel," said Chateau-Renoir, "you may inform the Count of Monte Cristo that Monsieur Mocerf has arrived, and we are at his command."

Morrel was going to pass the message, and Beauchamp took out the pistol case from the carriage.

"Wait a moment, gentlemen," said Albert, "I would like to say a few words to the Count of Monte Cristo."

"Separately?" asked Morrel.

"No, sir, in front of everybody."

The witnesses whom Albert had invited looked at each other in astonishment, Franz and Debray muttered something in low tones, and Morrel, delighted at the sudden event, immediately went to the count, who Walk with Emmanuel on a nearby parallel path.

"What is he trying to do to me?" asked Monte Cristo.

"I don't know, but he asked to speak to you."

"Oh!" said Monte Cristo, "I hope he will not take the risk of insulting again!"

"I don't think he meant that," said Morrel.

Accompanied by Maximilian and Emmanuel, the count walked forward, while Albert was followed by the four young men who came from the opposite side. It forms a strange contrast.When they were three steps away from each other, Albert and the count stopped.

"Gentlemen," said Albert, "come here, gentlemen, and I hope that you will hear every word that I have the honor to say to the Count of Monte Cristo, because what I have the honor to say to the Count, no matter How bizarre you all find it, and if anyone wants to know, you should tell them."

"Go ahead, sir," said the count.

"Monsieur," said Albert, in a voice that trembled at first, but then grew more composed, "sir, I have reproached you for revealing the conduct of Monsieur Mecerf at Epirus, For I do not think it is your right to punish Mr. Moserf for whatever crimes he may have committed. But today, sir, I have learned that you do have that right. This prompts me to make an immediate apology to you. Yes, not because Fernand Mondego betrayed the governor of Ali, but because Fernand, a fisherman, betrayed you, and all the unheard of misfortunes that resulted. So, I should say, and I want to declare loudly that you were perfectly justified in avenging my father, and I, his son, thank you for not pursuing too much."

Such a result, the witnesses at the scene never imagined that even if a thunderbolt fell on these people at this time, it would not shock them more than Albert's statement.As for Monte Cristo himself, his eyes were slowly raised to the sky, and an expression of infinite gratitude came over his face.As for the violent Albert, he couldn't overdo his admiration. At the beginning, he witnessed how brave Albert was among the Roman robbers, but now Albert suddenly succumbed to humiliation and humiliation.Monte Cristo not only saw the influence of Mercedes, he also suddenly understood why this noble heart did not object to him making sacrifices, in fact, Mercedes knew in advance that he did not need to make any more sacrifices.

"And now, monsieur," said Albert, "if you think my apology will satisfy you, I beg you to hold out your hand. The infallibility seems to be a rare virtue possessed only by you. Of all the virtues, I think the most important is to admit mistakes. But admitting mistakes is only my business. I am only a man in the world, and you are walking in the will of God. Only an angel can save us If a man's escape from death, and this angel's coming down from heaven, could not make us two friends—what a pity! Destiny is impossible, at least it would make us both respect each other."

Monte Cristo's eyes were moist, his chest heaved frequently, his lips parted slightly, and he stretched out his hand to Albert, who then stretched out his own hand, and shook hands with Monte Cristo tightly with a feeling almost in awe.

"Gentlemen," said Albert, "M. Monte Cristo fully accepts my apology. I was very uncool with him yesterday, and it would have been a great mistake if I had not been calm. I have done wrong, and I have now made up for it. I hope the world won't think me a coward for doing what my conscience demands. But if, for whatever reason, someone tells me something is wrong," continued the young man, holding his head proudly, as if As if challenging both his friend and foe, "I will correct them."

"So, what happened last night?" Beauchamp asked Chateau-Renoir. "It seems that we are playing a very embarrassing role here."

"Indeed, Albert's behavior was too despicable, or else too noble," replied Chateau-Renoir.

"Ah! indeed," said Debray to Franz, "what is this? What? The Count of Monte Cristo has discredited Monsieur Mocerf, and Mercerf's son thinks Monte Cristo deserves it! My family To have 10 such things as Ioannina, I think there is only one thing that is incumbent upon me, and that is to fight 10 times."

As for Monte Cristo, he bowed his head, his arms drooped limply, and the memory of 24 years had overwhelmed him. At this time, what he was thinking of was not Albert, not Beauchamp, Chateau-Renaud, nor those who were present. Which one, all he thought of was that brave woman.It was she who, for the sake of her son's life, begged Monte Cristo to be lenient; in order to fulfill her, Monte Cristo promised to sacrifice her own life; in the end, it was she who, in order to save Monte Cristo's life, resolutely confessed the family secrets, and the young man's heart Therefore, the feeling of filial piety may be wiped out.

"God is everywhere!" he murmured to himself. "Ah! Today I fully believe that I am a messenger sent by God!"

(End of this chapter)