World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 214 September 10th (5)
"I mean, Morrel, you want to say goodbye to life, because you don't know what great wealth can bring to life. Morrel, my fortune is nearly a hundred million, and I will give it to you. Yes With this wealth, you can achieve what you want. Are you ambitious and determined to hold the sky? Then you will win, and the world is up to you to choose. You can turn the world upside down and renew everything. Everything is up to you Crazy, it's okay to break the law if necessary, but you have to live."

"Count, you have sworn to me," said Morrel coldly, and, drawing out his watch, he continued: "It is eleven-thirty."

"Morrel! Are you really going to die in my house in my presence?"

"Then let me go," said Maximilian, his face suddenly dark and sad, "otherwise I can think that you love me not really for me, but only for yourself." stand up.

"Well," said Monte Cristo, whose strained face loosened at Morrel's words, "you really think so, Morrel, and it's no use persuading you. Yes! You're really heartbroken." , as you say yourself, only a miracle can heal you. Sit down, Morrel, and wait a little longer."

Morrel sat down again.But the count got up, went to a carefully locked chest, took a key from a gold chain that hung on him, opened the door, and took out a small silver chest carved with fine carvings.On the four corners of the box are engraved four bow-shaped beauties, each of them is sad and mournful, symbolizing the four angels looking forward to ascension to heaven.The count put the casket on the table, and opening it, he took out a locket of solid gold, and pressed a hidden button, and the lid flew open of its own accord.The gold box contains a thick and viscous semi-fluid substance. Since the polished gold of the box itself and the sapphires, rubies and emeralds inlaid on it complement each other, it depends on the color of the semi-fluid substance. I can't figure it out, I can only see sky blue, crimson and golden yellow intertwined, shining crystal.The count scooped up a little with a gilt silver spoon, handed it to Morrel, and gazed at him for a long time.Only then did I see that the thing scooped in the spoon turned out to be light green.

"This is what you ask of me," said the count, "and what I promise you."

"While I am alive," said Morrel, taking the spoon from Monte Cristo, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

The Count took another small spoon and dipped it into the box.

"What are you doing, my friend?" asked Morrel, pressing the count's hand.

"Really, Morrel," said the count, smiling, "God will forgive me, for I am as tired of life as you are, and now is my chance..."

"Put it down!" cried Morrel. "Oh! You love others, and they love you, and you believe that people should have something to dream of. Oh! What I am about to do you cannot do, and it is impossible for you." It is a sin. Farewell, noble and generous friend, I will tell Valentine all that you have done for me."

Slowly but without hesitation, Morrel put his left hand on the count, swallowing, or savoring, the mysterious thing Monte Cristo offered him.Neither of them spoke.Ali came quietly, carefully served the tobacco and shisha pipe, poured the coffee, and stepped back.The lamp held in the hand of the marble statue was gradually dimmed, and Morrel felt that the fragrance from the spice box seemed to be less fragrant.Monte Cristo sat looking at him from the shadows opposite Morrel, who saw only Monte Cristo's shining eyes.Morrel felt his heart break, and he felt the hookah's straw slip from his hand, and everything gradually melted into a blur, with neither shape nor color.His eyes were already blurred, and he could vaguely see door openings and door curtains emerging from the wall. "Friend," he said, "I think I'm dying, thank you."

He tried to shake Monte Cristo's hand for the last time, but the hand had lost all strength and fell limply by his side.It seemed to him now that Monte Cristo was smiling, and it seemed to him that the smile was not so grotesque and terrible as it had been before.How many times in the past he had glimpsed the mysteries of the deep soul in such a smile, and he only felt that Monte Cristo was smiling indulgently like those kind fathers when they see a child who is talking nonsense.Morrel again seemed to see the count almost double his usual size, with his black hair brushed back, and he seemed to stand aside, imposing, like an angel at the Last Judgment who rebukes the wicked.

Morrel's body was already limp and unable to move, he fell back on the chair.A feeling of drowsiness and intoxication permeates every blood vessel, and the thoughts in my mind are full of clouds and waves, as if the kaleidoscope is constantly changing colorful patterns.Morrel lay limp, gasping for breath.He only felt that he was dreaming, but there was no vitality in him, and he felt that he was like a boat with all sails, sailing fast on the wild waves, rushing toward the unknown, but everyone called it The waves of death.He wanted to reach out to shake hands with the count again, but his hand could not move!He wanted to say goodbye for the last time, but his tongue was stuck in his throat like a tombstone at the entrance of a tomb, and he could hardly move it.His eyes were dazed and closed involuntarily, but although the eyelids were lowered, although he felt that it was already dark night, he vaguely saw a shadow moving again.

The shadow was actually the Count, who had just opened a door.At this time, Morrel seemed to be in full swing, waiting for the arrival of the dying moment.But the door had just been opened, and from a neighboring room, or rather, from the magnificent palace next door, a golden light shone into the dining-room where Morrel was.At this time, Morrel saw a slim and beautiful woman coming out of the palace, and she was walking towards the door of the restaurant.I saw this woman's face was white, with a sweet smile, like a benevolent angel, coming to drive away the avenging angel. "Has the gate of ascension been opened for me?" thought the dying man suddenly, "the angel in front of me seems to be the one I lost." Monte Cristo pointed to the girl on the sofa where Morrel was lying. With folded hands and a smile on her lips, the girl walked towards Morrel. "Valentine! Valentine!" cried Morrel's soul.But he couldn't make a sound from his mouth, the energy in his body had merged into the depths of his turbulent soul, he sighed and closed his eyes.Valentine hastened to him.Morrel's lips moved slightly again.

"He is calling for you," said the count. "He is calling for you in his sleep. You have entrusted your fate to him, but death will tear you apart! Thanks to my presence, I have conquered death at last! Henceforth , you shall never be parted again in this world, because he went to the grave by himself to find you. Without me, you both died, and now I make you meet again, I saved two lives, God will read and mine!"

Valentine took Monte Cristo's hand, and she was so overjoyed that she could not help raising Monte Cristo's hand to her lips and kissing it.

"Oh! you ought to thank me," said the count; "oh! tell me again, tell me again, tell me again, that I have made you happy! Do you know? I What a need to know that what is in front of me is true."

"Oh! yes, yes, I thank you with all my heart," said Valentine, "and if you still don't believe my thanks, you can ask Eddie, you can ask my dear Sister, she has spoken of you to me since we left France, and advised me to wait patiently for this happy day, and today I am finally looking forward to this glorious day."

"So you love Eddie?" asked Monte Cristo, with an involuntary expression of the emotion in his heart.

"Ah! I love her with all my heart."

"Very well! Listen to me, Valentine," said the count, "I have something to ask."

"Please? Great God! I should have the honor?"

"Yes, you called Ede your sister just now, let her be your sister, Valentine, and you will feel that you owe me, so give her all. Morrel and You, both of you, take good care of her, because," the earl's voice began to choke, "because she will be alone in this world from now on."

"Alone in this world?" cried a voice behind the count. "Why?"

Monte Cristo turned his head away.Eddie was standing aside, her face pale and stern, staring at the count tremblingly.

"Because, my daughter, to-morrow you will be free," replied Monte Cristo, "because you will regain your place in the world, because I do not wish to overshadow yours with mine. You It's the princess! I want to return all your father's wealth and surname to you."

Edai's face was pale, and she stretched out her snow-white hands like a virgin praying for God's protection. With tears in her eyes, she choked up and said, "So you are leaving me, my master?"

"Ede! Ede! You are young and beautiful. You must forget everything, even my name. You should live a happy life."

"Well," said Eddie, "I will obey, my master. I will forget everything, until your name is forgotten, and I will be happy." She took a step back, ready to go away.

"Oh, my God!" cried Valentine, who had passed the sleeping Morrel's head on her shoulder, "you don't see how pale she is? You don't understand why she Sad?"

Ede looked miserable, and said to Valentine: "Why do you want him to understand my intentions, my sister? He is my master, and I am his slave. He has the right to turn a blind eye."

The earl's most secret heartstrings were touched by these words, and he couldn't help shuddering. His eyes met the girl's eyes, but he couldn't stand the blazing fire in those eyes. "My God, my God!" said Monte Cristo, "is it true, Ede, what you make me suppose? Will you be happy with me?"

"I am still young," replied Ede softly, "I love life, and because you have made it so sweet for me, I cannot bear to die."

"So, if I do leave you, Eddie..."

"Then I shall die, my lord, yes!"

"So you love me?"

"Oh! Valentine, he asked me if I loved him! Tell him, Valentine, if you love Maximilian!"

The count suddenly felt his chest expand, and his heart burst into flames.He opened his arms, and Eddie threw herself into the count's arms with a scream.

"Oh! yes, I love you!" she said, "I love you as my own father, brother and husband! I love you as my own life and God, because in my heart you He is the most beautiful, best and noblest person in the world!"

"May your wishes come true, my dear angel!" said the count. "God has inspired me to fight against my enemies, and God has led me to victory. I understand that it is not God's will that I Introspect. I meant to punish myself, but God forgave me. Love me, Eddie! Your love may make me forget all that I ought to forget, who knows?"

"What are you talking about, my master?" asked the girl.

"I'm saying, your words, Edai, are completely better than my 20 years of hard thinking, and suddenly my heart shines brightly. In this world, there is only you in my heart, Edai, with it You, I began to love life again, with you, I can feel pain again, and with you, I can feel happiness again.”

"Did you hear what he said, Valentine?" cried Ede. "He said he could suffer again with me! But I would have given my life for him! Yes!"

The count pondered for a moment. "Have I realized the truth?" he said. "Oh, my God! Whether it is compensation or punishment, I don't care about it. Since this is the fate, I am ordered to bear it. Come, Eddie, come . . . " Then he put his arm around the girl, shook hands with Valentine, and went away.

Another hour or so passed.During this hour Valentine waited restlessly, saying nothing, her eyes fixed on Morrel.At last she felt Morrel's heart beating again, exhaled a very thin breath, and trembled slightly up and down, indicating that life had returned to the young man.He finally opened his eyes, but at first they looked dull, as if his sanity hadn't recovered.Then he could see things, not only clearly, but clearly.With the restoration of sight comes sanity, and with sanity comes grief.

"Oh!" he cried in despair, "I'm alive! The Count has deceived me!" He stretched out his hand towards the table, and grabbed a knife.

"My friend," said Valentine, with her lovely smile on her lips, "wake up and look at me."

Morrel gave a cry.He seemed to have seen the scene of heaven, and he was ecstatic, but he didn't dare to believe it. He just felt dizzy and fell to his knees with a plop...

At dawn the next day, Morrel and Valentine were walking arm in arm by the sea, and Valentine told Morrel the whole story: how Monte Cristo came into her room, How to reveal the truth to her, how to make her realize that someone is deliberately committing a crime, how to miraculously save her life, but make people think that she is dead.

They did not come out for a walk until they found the door of the grotto open.There were still a few residual stars twinkling in the blue morning sky, and Morrel noticed someone standing beside a pile of half-lit and half-dark cliffs, as if waiting for someone to call him over.Morrel pointed to the man to Valentine.

"Ah! he is Jacopo," said Valentine, "the captain of the yacht." She beckoned him to come towards her and Maximilian.

"Have you something to say to us?" asked Morrel.

"I have a letter from the count for you."

"A letter from the earl?" the two young men whispered at the same time.

"Yes, please read."

Then Morrel opened the letter, and read:

Maximilian of Rites:
The schooner anchored by the shore is for you.Jacopo will take you to Livorno, where Monsieur Noirquier is waiting for his granddaughter, whom he wishes to bless before you take her to church to be married.My friend, all the treasures in this grotto, my lodgings in the Champs-Elysées, and my little chateau at Le Trepo, were gifted by Edmond Dantès to M. Morrel, the ship's master. Wedding gift for son.Please Mme. de Villefort to take half of it, because I beg her to donate to the poor of Paris all the property inherited from her father, now mad, and from her brother, who died with her in September. The stepmother died together.

Morrel, tell the angel who will watch over you throughout your life, and let her pray now and then for a man who once, like Satan, thought he was equal to God, but who has the humility of a Christian, Acknowledge that God alone has supreme power and infinite wisdom.The angel's prayer may assuage the deep-seated regret in this man's heart.

As for you, Morrel, the secret of my doing this to you is this: there is no such thing as happiness or unhappiness in this world, only a comparison of the two.Happiness can only be experienced by those who have experienced extreme unhappiness.Once you thought about death, Maximilian, you will know how wonderful life is.

Live happily ever after, my beloved child, and never forget that until the day when God grants to reveal to mankind the wonderful future, all human wisdom can be summed up in the following words:

Waiting and hoping!
Your friend
Edmond Dantes
Count of Monte Cristo

When reading this letter, Valentine, who knew nothing before, knew that her father had gone mad and her brother had died. Her face suddenly turned pale, and a long sigh of pain rose from her chest, and two lines of tears flowed down her cheeks. Although it was silent, it was sad and heartbreaking. She paid a heavy price for today's happiness.

Morrel looked anxiously about him. "To tell the truth," said he, "the count is too generous, and Valentine is content with my meager fortune. Where is the count, my friend? Take me to him."

Jacopo stretched out his hand and pointed towards the sky.

"What? What do you mean?" asked Valentine. "Where is the count? Where is Eddie?"

"Look!" Jacopo said.

The two young men looked towards the sky of Waterfinger together, where only a long blue line separated the Mediterranean Sea from the sky, and they saw a white sail the size of a seagull's wing.

"He is gone!" cried Morrel. "He is gone! Farewell, my friend, my father!"

"She is gone!" whispered Valentine. "Farewell, my friend! Farewell, my sister!"

"Who knows, will we see them again?" said Morrel, wiping away his tears.

"My friend," said Valentine, "didn't the count tell us just now? All human wisdom can be summed up in these words: wait and hope!"

(End of this chapter)