World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 206 Departure (2)
"How could it be? You are looking in the opposite direction!"

The count smiled, as he always did when he didn't feel like answering.He then looked over at the veiled woman, saw her walk around the corner and disappear.Then the count turned to Maximilian and said: "Dear friend, don't you have anything to do here?"

"I want to visit my father's tomb," replied Morrel hoarsely.

"Very well, you go, just wait for me there, I will go there to find you."

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"Yes, I also have a place to pay my respects."

Morrel stretched out his hand, and placed it feebly in the earl's outstretched hand, then shook his head with an indescribable sadness, parted from the earl, and walked towards the east of the city.Mr. Monte Cristo stood in place, watching Maximilian gradually go away, until he could no longer see him, then he walked towards Maihang Lane. The small building he was looking for was mentioned in the beginning of this book. already familiar.

This small building is still there, and in front of it is still a street where idle Maasai people like to stroll, and the streets are still lined with linden trees.The walls of the small building are covered with large tracts of grape vines, and on the wall stones that have been scorched yellow by the scorching sun in the south, there are scorched, cracked and weather-beaten branches hanging on the left and right branches.The two steps in front of the door of the building have been trampled to shine.The gate is made of three planks, and the seams crack every year, but they have never been filled with putty and never repainted, so we have to wait patiently every year, and wait for the weather to return slowly. close.Although this small building has been in disrepair for a long time, it has its own charm, and although its appearance is bleak, it has its own joy.Old Dantès lived in this small building back then, but he only lived in the small room on the top floor, but now the count has given the whole building to Mercedes.

The long-veiled woman whom Monte Cristo had just seen on the quay came straight to this little building after leaving the side of the ship which was about to set sail.Monte Cristo was walking to the corner of the street when he saw the back of the woman from a distance. The woman just stepped through the door of the building, closed the door, and disappeared.Monte Cristo was very familiar with the polished steps in front of the building door since he was a child. He knew better than anyone how to open the old wooden door. He only needed to insert a round-headed iron nail into the crack of the door and pull the latch inside. That's it.So he neither knocked nor called, opened the door and walked in, as if he was a friend who came and went often, or someone who lived in this building.

Stepping through the gate is a brick path, and at the other end of the path is a small garden, which is brightly illuminated by the warm sunlight.It was in this small garden that Mercedes had found the money that the Count had carefully buried 24 years ago at the place the Count had told her about.There are several big trees growing in the front half of the garden. You can see these big trees from a distance without entering the gate.After entering the door, Monte Cristo stood at the door and heard a whimpering sigh. He raised his eyes and followed the sound. In front of him was the green shade of Virginia frangipani, with lush branches and tiny purple flowers. slender.Monte Cristo saw Mercedes sitting in the shade with her head bowed and weeping.Here she faces the sky alone, her veil has been taken off, her face is deeply buried in her hands, and the laments and sobs that have been pent up in her chest for a long time in front of her son just now are vented to her heart's content.Monte Cristo took a few steps forward, the sand rustling under his feet.Mercedes raised her head, saw a man standing in front of her, and cried out in horror.

"Madame," said the count, "I can no longer bring you happiness, but I can give you comfort. Will you accept the comfort of a friend?"

"It is indeed unfortunate for me," said Mercedes, "that I am alone in the world. . . I had only one son, and he left me."

"He did right, madam," answered the count, "he had a noble heart, and knew that every man should do his own service to his country, some by his wits, some by his art, some by his strength." , someone contributes his own blood. If he is always by your side, he can only waste his life in mediocrity, and he can't accompany you to endure humiliation, he can only blame others for his inaction. Get up and turn bad luck into good fortune, and he'll be on his way, and you should let him fight to rebuild your futures, madam. I can boast to you that he'll be taken care of properly."

"Oh!" said the poor woman, shaking her head sadly, "I pray from the bottom of my heart for God to give me a son for the good fortune you mentioned, but I don't have this fate for myself. What a wonderful thing , both my own and those around me are now broken, I only feel that I am dying, thank you, Monsieur Earl, for bringing me back to the place where I was very happy, and where one is happy, one should Where are you going to die?"

"Alas!" said Monte Cristo, "these words of yours, Madame, poured into my heart like scalding bitter waters, which you ought to reproach me, but which make me bitter and burning all the more. Your pain I caused it, why don't you blame me, but pity me? You make me feel more painful..."

"Hate you, blame you, to you, Edmond? A man spared my son's life, and I hate him? Blame him? Is it just because you swore to the sky that you were determined to kill Mersef? Is the son you are proud of? Oh! Take a look at me, can you see if there is any reproach on my face?"

The count looked up at Mercedes, and Mercedes raised her body slightly, stretching out her hands to the count.

"Oh! take a good look at me," continued Mercedes, with the utmost sorrow. "Anyone who looks into my eyes today knows that there is no brilliance. It is not what it used to be when I came to Edmond. When Dantès smiled, what a look! Edmond was waiting for me upstairs, at the window of the top floor where his old father lived... Since then, how many painful days have passed. Days go by, and an abyss is dug between me and the good old days. Let me blame you, Edmond, let me hate you, my friend! No, I blame myself , it is I who I want to hate! Oh! I am a poor and wretched creature!" She put her hands together, looked up to the sky, and cried, "I have been punished! I was so pious, so innocent. , so affectionate, I once had these three blessings like an angel, but I am so sad that I have doubts about God!"

Monte Cristo took a step towards her, and held out his hand silently to her.

"No," she said, gently withdrawing her hand, "no, my friend, do not touch me. You have forgiven me, but of those you have punished, I have been the most guilty. Out of hatred, out of greed, out of selfishness, and I, out of cowardice. They all have their own plans, but I live in peace. No, don't shake my hand, Edmond, you I want to say a few gentle and considerate words, I have already noticed, you better not say it. These words should be reserved for another person to hear, and I am no longer worthy of hearing such words. You have a look, "So , she turned her face to Monte Cristo, "Look, misfortune has made my hair gray, my eyes have shed so many tears, and the eye sockets have turned purple and black, and a scar has been carved on my forehead." You, Edmond, are just the opposite, you are still so young, handsome, and full of pride. Your faith is always there, your courage is always there, you are always in the heart of God, and God always cares and supports you. And I, cowardly and cowardly, I forsook God, and God forsaken me, and that was my end."

Mercedes burst into tears, and the woman's heart was broken at the remembrance of all that had happened.Monte Cristo took her hand, and kissed it reverently, a kiss which, she felt, was devoid of passion, as if the Count were kissing only the hand of a marble statue of a Virgin.

"Some people have a rough life," she continued, "it's all predestined, and the happiness of a lifetime is broken just because of one wrong step. At the beginning, I thought you were no longer alive, and I should have died too. I put the right Your grief is always hidden in your heart, what's the use of it? It can only make a 39-year-old woman age 50, what else can it do? Of all the people, I am the only one who recognizes For you, what use is it for me to recognize you, except to save my son's life? Shouldn't I save that man's life? Although he has committed a lot of crimes, I promised to be his wife after all! But I let him die. What can I say, my God! I caused his death too. I was cowardly, indifferent, and despised him. Sworn traitor! I came here with my son, but what's the point? I abandoned him here, because I let him go alone, because I sent him to Africa without mercy Land of men. Oh! I tell you, I am a coward! I have abandoned my love, and like those treacherous men, I have brought misfortune to those around me!"

"No, Mercedes," said Monte Cristo, "no, you must not belittle yourself. No, you are a noble and holy woman, and your pain has softened my heart. But behind me We can't see, we can't recognize, the God who has been enraged. God has appointed me. When I blew this thunder, God has no intention of stopping me. Oh! I have been prostrate at God's feet for 10 years, and now I can pray to God to be my witness that I would have sacrificed my life for you and the plans that flowed from it. But I can tell you proudly, Mercedes, that God needs me, and so do I. I survived. Please think about the past, look at the present, and try to guess the future again. Take a good look, am I not a tool of God? The most terrible misfortune, the most painful torture, those who love me don’t care about me, People who didn't know me persecuted me, and that was the first step in my life. Then, suddenly, after captivity, loneliness and suffering, I got air and freedom, a fortune so glorious, so magical And such a great wealth. I am not blind, of course I can see that God sent me from God's grand plans. Since then, I feel that this huge wealth is a sacred trust, and since then, I have not in the slightest Thought of the pleasures of life. But even you, poor woman, you have had the chance to taste the sweetness of life. I never had a moment, never a moment, I always felt as if I were in heaven A cloud of fire, driven by the wind, flies away to burn the accursed cities. I am like an adventurous captain again, embarking on a great ship, about to embark on a dangerous voyage, a treacherous expedition. I have food and guns All loaded, with every plan of attack and defense. I condition my body to the most strenuous activity and my mind to the cruelest blows. I train my arms to Killing, my eyes can see others being tortured, and my mouth can smile at the most horrific sights. I used to be kind, simple and honest, and I didn’t think of old evils, but I became obsessed with Revenge and hatred, the city is extremely deep, ruthless, or, I have become like the fate that has neither eyes nor ears, hard-hearted, ruthless. So I stepped on the road that has unfolded before my eyes On the journey, I trekked through mountains and rivers, and reached the end, and the people I met on the journey were all destroyed."

"Well!" said Mercedes, "you needn't say more, Edmond! You must believe that a man who recognizes you by being different can also understand you by being different. Therefore, Edmond, The one who recognizes you, the one who understands you, the one who meets you on your journey, even if you crush you like a glass, will always praise you, Ed. Mon! There is an abyss between me and the past, just as there is an abyss between you and everyone else. What makes me most sad, I can tell you, is to be short and long, because in this world, there is no There is no one like you, no one like you. Now take your leave, Edmond, and let us part."

"Before I leave you, do you wish anything, Mercedes?" asked Monte Cristo.

"I only want one thing, Edmond, that my son be happy."

"Man's life and death are in the hands of God. Please pray and ask God to preserve his life. I will take care of other aspects."

"Thank you, Edmond."

"But what about yourself, Mercedes?"

"Myself, I need nothing. Now I live my life between two tombs, the one of Edmond Dantès, long dead, whom I loved while he lived It is no longer appropriate to say these words from my haggard lips, but I will always remember that no matter what happens, I will never forget the thoughts in my heart. Another tomb is Edmund Don The man Tas killed, I don't regret his death, but I must pray for the dead."

"Your son will be happy, madam," repeated the count.

"Then I shall be content."

"But... I have to say it again... What are you going to do?"

Mercedes smiled wryly. "You won't believe me when I say that I want to live here like Mercedes did, that is, work by myself. All I can do now is pray, but I don't have to work. You That little treasure buried, has been found where you told me. People will ask who I am and what I do, and they won't know what I live on, It doesn't matter! As long as God knows, you know, I know what's going on."

"Mercerdès," said the count, "I do not mean to reproach you, but you are making too great a sacrifice by letting go of the whole estate which M. You are hard-working and thrifty in managing your family.”

"I know you are willing to help me, but I don't want to accept it, Edmond. My son won't."

"Since M. Albert Mocerf does not agree, I will do nothing for you. I will know what he thinks and will do what he wants. However, if he agrees to what I want to do." , will you listen to him and agree?"

"You know, Edmond, I have no thoughts of my own now, and no resolutions of my own, and if I have, it is only a resolution not to make up my mind. God's storm has thrown me overboard, and my will is gone. There is nothing left. I am like a sparrow in the eagle's claws. I am completely in the hands of God. God commanded me not to die, so I am alive. If God sends me help, I will take it, because it is God's will."

"Please note, Madame," said Monte Cristo, "that this is not the way to worship God! God's original intention is that we should understand God, and that God's power can be different from one another, and it is for this reason that God has given us free will."

"It's a pity!" cried Mercedes. "Please don't say such things to me. If I believe that God has endowed me with free will, how can I get out of despair?"

Monte Cristo's face turned pale slightly, and he could not help but lower his head, seeing that Mercedes was so hurt, he was helpless. "Don't you want to say goodbye to me?" he said, holding out his hand to Mercedes.

"On the contrary, I want to say goodbye to you," said Mercedes, pointing solemnly to the sky, "so that I can show you that I still have hope." She touched the earl's hand with her slightly trembling hand, then hurried up the stairs and disappeared from the earl's eyes.

Monte Cristo then left the building slowly and walked towards the quay.At this time, Mercedes was leaning against the window of Dantès' father's small room, but she did not watch Dantès go away. The sailboat in the vast sea, but she couldn't help but softly shouted: "Edmond! Edmond! Edmond!"

(End of this chapter)