World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 209 Pepino (1)
Just as the Count's motorboat disappeared behind Cape Merchon, someone was traveling from Florence to Rome in a carriage hired by a post station, and happened to pass through a small town called Aguapondant.The carriage traveled quickly along the way, but not so fast as to be suspicious.The traveler wore a frock coat, or rather a short cape, which had been scuffed badly by the walk, but which still showed the bright Ribbon of the transparent Medal of Honor.Judging from his attire and sash, and the accent he spoke to the coachman, he was probably a Frenchman.It is also shown that he was indeed born in the land of the lingua franca, that he knew nothing of Italian except these musical terms of Italian origin, which, like Figaro's French play, A character from The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais.Said damn the original text is English.All the same, it can replace all the wit of a language.So, when going uphill, he shouted to the coachman: "Allegro!" The original text is Italian, a musical term.When going downhill, he said: "Medium speed!" The original text is Italian, a musical term.God only knows how many ascents and descents there were on the way from Florence to Rome via Aguapondente.But along the way, when he said this, all the coachmen couldn't help laughing.

When the ancient city of Rome comes into view, that is, when the car arrives at Storta and you can see the city of Rome at a glance, the famous big dome of St. Peter's Church first appears.As long as it is a foreigner, it is usually very excited, and it will stand up from the car seat and look at the big dome curiously, but this foreigner is not, he is neither excited nor curious.No, he just took out a wallet from his coat pocket, and took out a piece of paper folded in four from the wallet. He carefully, almost as if reverently, opened the paper, and squeezed it tightly. Then he folded it again, and said lightly, "Very good, I didn't lose it."

The carriage passed through Porta Popolo, then turned left, and drove to the Spanish Hotel (chapters 31 to 36) which is the London Hotel next to the Plaza de España.Stop at the door.Our old acquaintance, Boss Pastrini, hat in one hand, stood at the door to welcome the guests.The guest alighted from the carriage, ordered a good supper to be prepared for him, and then inquired for the address of Thomson & French.The boss blurted out and gave the address, because this is one of the most famous business houses in Rome.The firm was on the Rue des Bankes, near the Church of Saint-Pierre.

In Rome, like other cities, a stagecoach is an earth-shattering event.Mallory was an ancient Roman statesman and commander (157-86 BC).And the brothers of Gracchi, namely Tiberius Semproni Gracchus (162-133 BC) and Guyo Semproni Gracchus (153-121 BC), both were ancient Roman politicians.The 10 or so young descendants of the family are all barefoot and barefoot, with one hand on their waist, one arm playfully bent, and their hands on top of their heads. horse.Apart from these waifs in this great city of the first rank, there were about fifty spectators under the Pope, who were at St. Angers when the Tiber swelled. While blowing smoke rings from the bridge, they spit into the Tiber River.However, the waifs and idlers in Rome are more fortunate than those in Paris. They can understand the languages ​​of various countries, let alone French, so they understand everything. After dinner, I finally asked about the address of Thomson & French.In this way, when the new guest comes out of the hotel, he is not only accompanied by a tour guide who is stalking him, but also a person quietly slips out of the crowd watching the excitement and follows the guest quietly, like Paris. Like a spy from the police station, he was watching behind him without anyone noticing, but the guests didn't pay attention at all, and the tour guide didn't seem to pay attention either.

The Frenchman was so anxious to get to Thomson & French that he could not wait so long for the harness to be harnessed, so the buggy had to chase him down the road after it was harnessed, or simply wait at the door of the firm. he.When the Frenchman reached the firm, the carriage had not caught up.He entered the firm and told the tour guide to wait in the front hall.As soon as the guide stopped, he chatted with two or three people nearby, busy people who didn't have any serious work, or rather, these people did all kinds of work, working all day in banks, churches, etc. in the streets of Rome. , Monuments, museums and theaters.When the Frenchman entered the firm just now, the man who had slipped out of the crowd of onlookers slipped into the firm.The Frenchman rang the rope bell in the business room, then walked into the first room on the side, and the shadow behind him rang the bell in the same way, and walked into that room.

"Are Mr. Thomson and Mr. Ferencise there?" asked the gringo.

The confidant who was sitting solemnly in front of the first desk made a gesture, and a servant-like man stood up immediately. "What's your name?" asked the servant, making his way to meet the gringo.

"Mr. Baron Tanglar." The visitor replied.

"Follow me," said the servant.

A door opened, through which the footman and the baron entered the inner room.The person who came in after Tang La sat down on a waiting bench.The clerk bowed his head and wrote for about 5 minutes, and during these 5 minutes, the person on the bench sat quietly and motionless.Then, the sound of the clerk's quill rustling on the paper stopped suddenly, the clerk raised his head, looked around carefully, and saw that there were indeed only the two of them in the room.

"Ha! ha!" said he, "here you come, Pepino!"

"Yes!" Pepino's answer was concise.

"Did you catch any scent on the rich man?"

"This guy didn't make us spend any effort, we already knew it."

"You can really ask, so you know what he's doing here?"

"Of course, he came to withdraw money, but I don't know how much."

"I can tell you in a moment, my friend."

"Great, but don't give me false information this time like that day."

"What do you mean? Who are you talking about? Is it the Englishman who took three thousand crowns from here that day?"

"No, the guy did have three thousand crowns on him, and we got them all. I mean the Russian prince."

"how?"

"What? You told us 3 livres, but we only found 2.2."

"You didn't search carefully."

"Lüri Wampa searched it himself."

"So, he may have paid off the debt..."

"The Russians will pay their debts?"

"Then he spent the money."

"Maybe, anyway."

"It must be so. But now you must let me see, or the Frenchman has all his money, and I don't know how much."

Pepino nodded, took out a string of rosary beads from his pocket, and muttered prayers, while the clerk entered the back room through the door that the servant and the baron had just walked through.After about 10 minutes, the staff returned to the outer room happily.

"How is it?" Pepino asked his friend.

"Amazing! Amazing!" said the clerk. "That's a huge amount!"

"Five-six million, isn't it?"

"Yes, you already know the number?"

"The document for the withdrawal is a receipt from the Count of Monte Cristo."

"Do you know the count?"

"He has accounts in Rome, Venice, and Vienna, and he is allowed to withdraw the money in three places."

"Exactly?" the clerk shouted, "Why are you so well-informed?"

"I told you earlier, we knew the situation beforehand."

"Then why are you still asking me?"

"Because I want to find out if this person is the one we're going to settle accounts with."

"That's him... five million. A lot of money, isn't it, Pepino."

"Yes."

"We never want to have that much money in our lives."

"At least," said Pepino calmly, "we have a way of getting the money."

"Shh! That guy is coming."

The clerk took up his pen again, Pepino his rosary, and when the door opened one was writing and the other was praying.Tang Gela happily returned to the outer room, and the manager who accompanied him walked him all the way to the door.As soon as Tanglar left, Pepino followed.According to Tangla's instructions, the carriage arrived at the gate of Thomson-French and waited for him.The tour guide had already opened the car door and waited beside him. The tour guides are very accommodating and they can do whatever they want.Like a 20-year-old young man, Tang La jumped into the carriage briskly.The guide closed the door of the car, got in the car and sat next to the driver.Pepino also got into the car and sat in the back seat of the carriage.

"Would you like to visit the Saint-Pierre Church?" asked the tour guide.

"What is there to do?" replied the baron.

"Sightseeing, of course!"

"I didn't come to Rome for sightseeing," Tangra said loudly, and then with a greedy smile on his lips, he whispered to himself, "I'm here to get money." After speaking, he touched his skin again. A wallet with a cash slip just stuffed into it.

"Then, Your Excellency means to go..."

"restaurant."

"Restaurant Pastrini." Originally in Italian.The guide said to the coachman.

The carriage rented from the post station seemed to be a privately owned carriage, galloping all the way. Ten minutes later, the baron walked into his apartment, and Pepino sat down on a bench near the entrance of the hotel. One of the brothers and descendants bit his ear for a while, and after hearing that, the man ran quickly towards the Temple of Jupiter.

Tangra felt very tired, but he was very satisfied, and he couldn't help feeling drowsy.So he got into bed, put his wallet under the bolster, and was soon asleep.Pepino had nothing to do, so he played boxing games with the porter, and lost 3 crowns, so he drank a small bottle of Orvieto to relieve his depression.

Although Tang La went to bed early, he woke up very late the next day. He slept for five or six nights, but his sleep was restless.He had a hearty meal at noon, but as he himself said, he didn't have much interest in seeing the historic sites of this ancient city, so he ordered the postcoach to leave at 12 noon.However, Tang La is good at everything, but he forgot that the police station has a set of procedures, and he also forgot that the owner of the inn can't be diligent in his work.The carriage didn't come until two o'clock, and the tour guide didn't get his passport back until three o'clock when he went to apply for a visa.These preparations before departure attracted a large number of onlookers, who gathered around the door of Pastrini's restaurant, and the descendants of the Gracchi brothers and Mario would certainly not be left behind.The Baron walked proudly through the crowd, and the onlookers, for a reward, were vying to call him Your Excellency.As you all know, Tangla is a very common man. So far, he has only been called Baron by others, but he has never been respected as Your Excellency, so this title makes him feel very happy, so he sprinkled around 3 coins for these glib guys. Small money, if he is willing to give another 10 coins, these people will definitely call him His Highness instead.

"Which way?" asked the coachman in Italian.

"The way to Ancona," answered the Baron.

The question and answer were all interpreted by the boss Pastrini, and then the carriage drove away.Tangra wanted to go this way to Venice, where he would first withdraw part of the money, and then go to Vienna to withdraw all the saved money.He intended to settle in Vienna, which he had been told was a city of pleasure.

The carriage left the city of Rome, and just after driving more than 20 miles in the countryside, night fell.Tang La did not expect to leave so late, otherwise he would not have left.He asked the coachman how far he was to the next town. "Can't understand".Originally in Italian.replied the coachman.Tang La nodded, meaning to say: "Very good!" The carriage continued to drive forward. "To the station in front," Tang Gela thought, "I won't leave."

(End of this chapter)