World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 67 Roman Carnival (3)
"Yes." Franz still only replied.

"That's good! Read the letter again, look at the handwriting, and find for me any grammatical or spelling mistakes."

"You were born well," said Franz, returning the note to Albert.

"You may laugh at all you want," continued Albert; "I am in love."

"Oh, my God! I'm so flustered by what you say, and I see that I'm the only one not only going to the ball at the Ducal Palace, but I'm the only one going back to Florence."

"If my nameless beauty is not only gorgeous, but also gentle and lovely, I can tell you that I will stay in Rome for at least six weeks. I like Rome very much, and besides, I have always been very interested in archaeology. .”

"Well, one or two more meetings like this, I think you have a good chance of becoming a member of the Archaeological Society."

Albert was, no doubt, eager to speak seriously of his membership of the Society, when it was announced that supper was ready.As far as Albert was concerned, good luck and good luck did not contradict each other, and he and Franz immediately rushed to the table. As for the discussion of membership in the society, we will talk about it after dinner.After dinner, he came to announce the visit of the Count of Monte Cristo. The two young men had not seen him for two days. Boss Pastrini said that he had gone to Civitavecchia on business.He left yesterday evening and returned an hour ago.

The count looked amiable.Perhaps it was his maturity, or perhaps his sharp tongue, although he had shown his harsh nature a couple of times, but never had the opportunity to really arouse it, in short, he was hardly different from the average person.To Franz this man was indeed a mystery.It was impossible for the count not to have expected Franz to recognize him, but since their reunion he had never said a word that he remembered seeing Franz somewhere else.However, although Franz wanted to hint a few words about their previous meeting, he was afraid that if he said it, it would displease the count, and the count was so devoted to him and his friend, so he always restrained himself. Not to mention, just like the earl, he adopted a cautious and restrained attitude.The count heard that the two friends had wanted to book a box at the Teatro Argentino, but they answered that they were sold out, so he brought them the key to his box.At least on the surface, that was the purpose of his visit.Franz and Albert made excuses, saying that the Count himself could not use it, and they couldn't bear it, but the Count said that he would go to the Parry Theater tonight, and if they didn't use his rented box at the Argentine Theater, it would be for nothing. with.Having said that, the two friends no longer declined.

When Franz saw the count's pale face for the first time, he couldn't help being surprised, but now that he was getting used to seeing it, he couldn't help admitting that the count's face was serious and handsome, and that paleness was the only flaw, and it was possible that it was his main features of .This is exactly the protagonist in Byron's poetic drama. Let alone what Franz thought when he saw him, but whenever he thinks about it, he always feels that this face should be placed in the king of Manfred Sicily (1232-1266) .shoulders or under Lera's helmet.It was a face with a line under its forehead, and it seemed that some bitter past was haunting his mind all the time, with eyes burning with fire that could see all hearts at a glance, with lips proud and mocking, and a casual sentence The words are extraordinary, and everyone who hears them will leave a deep impression on their memory.The Earl was not young, at least forty, yet it was plain to see that youth paled in comparison with him.In fact, the earl has a little resemblance to the characters written by the English poet Byron, and he has the gift of fascination.Albert repeatedly said that he and Franz were lucky to meet such a person. Franz was not so enthusiastic, but he had a taste of the influence that capable people have on those around him.He remembered that the count had expressed his intention to go to Paris two or three times, and he also believed that the count would cause a great sensation in Paris with his eccentric temper, his characteristic face and his pile of wealth.But Franz hoped that when the count went to Paris, he himself would not be in Paris.

On this night, as in all nights in Italian theaters, people do not listen to the singing of the actors in the play, but visit and chat.The Countess de Guerrilla wanted to speak of the Count of Monte Cristo again, but Franz said he had something much newer to tell her, and in spite of Albert's hypocritical modesty he had spent the past three days The countess was told about the event which had disturbed them.This kind of love affair is not uncommon in Italy, at least according to the tourists who have been there. The countess did not show the slightest surprise, and congratulated Albert, saying that although the adventure had only begun, it seemed promising. , In the end, it must be a full moon.When they parted they agreed that since all Rome would be invited to the ball of Duke Braciano, they would all meet at that ball.

The woman who threw the bouquet kept her word, and on the second and third days she did not hear from Albert any more.Tuesday finally came, this is the last day of carnival, and it is also the busiest day. The major theaters will open at 10 o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, because it will be Lent (religious activities before Easter, after 8 o'clock in the evening) Commemorates Christ's 40 days of fasting and penance in the wilderness.).On Tuesday, those who, for lack of money, time, or enthusiasm, had not been able to celebrate the festival in the previous few days, also reveled heartily and reveled, and joined their running and laughter in the tumult and noise that came out of the nest.From two o'clock in the afternoon until five o'clock, Franz and Albert followed the long line of carriages, throwing handfuls of plaster balls at each other with the oncoming traffic and people.Although the carnival on foot walked back and forth between the legs of the horses and the wheels, there was no crowding, no accidents, no quarrels or scolding and fighting.Italians are indeed a remarkable nation in this regard. The author of this book has lived in Italy for five or six years, and has never seen a festival that ruined the scenery because of these things. But in our France, as long as it is a festival, there is no There will be no such disappointment.

Albert was very proud of being dressed as a clown, and the rose-colored ribbon tied around his shoulders fell down and dragged down to the crook of his calf.In order not to cause any confusion, Franz still wears the clothes of Roman peasants.

As evening approached, the noise grew louder.On the road, in the carriage, and by the window, there was not a mouth that was not shouting, and there was not a single arm that was not waving. It was a complete human storm.The cheers are thunder, and the candies, bouquets, eggshells, oranges, and blossoming flowers scattered all over the sky are raindrops. At 3 o'clock, I could faintly hear fireworks going off at the National Square and Palazzo Venezia, which announced that the horse race was about to start.Horse races and long-lived candles are special features of the last days of Carnival.With the sound of flowers exploding, the carriages scattered in all directions and drove into the nearest side streets and alleys they could find.The change of formation was so orderly and rapid that it was unbelievable, and without the police telling anyone where to stand and how to go.The revelers on foot also stood against the wall in front of the buildings, and then there was a sound of horseshoes and scabbards clashing. Fifteen gendarmes rode horses, lined up from left to right on the street of Kuhl, and drove the horses galloping past, clearing the way for the horse racers.When they came all the way to the Palazzo Venezia, the second round of flower explosions sounded like beads, announcing that the Rue de Cours was unimpeded.As soon as the flowers exploded, the streets were full of shouts, which was unheard of.Inspired by the shouts of 15 spectators, and encouraged by the iron fists pounding on the horses like raindrops, seven or eight horses passed by like phantoms, and then the cannons of Fort St. Number one.Then without any other signal, the carriage was dispatched immediately, rushing out of the streets and alleys like a tide, and drove towards the Rue de Culle, just like the turbulent torrents, after being blocked for a while, they rushed to the river that should be poured into it, so this turbulent Crowds of people poured and galloped between the embankments built by the granite buildings.

However, at this time, a new kind of noise and running was added to the crowd, and small merchants selling long-lived candles appeared one after another. The long-lived candles were large and small, the big ones were like Easter candles, and the small ones were just thread candles. This is the finale of the Roman Carnival, and the characters on stage have to think about two incompatible things at all times, one is to keep their own wick alive, and the other is to extinguish other people's wick.Long-lived candles are like life. So far, people have only found one way to broadcast life, and this way is bestowed by God.Man, however, has discovered a thousand ways to take life away, and it may indeed be said that in this inexhaustible work of evil the devil has somewhat assisted man.Fire is needed to light a long-lived candle, but there are thousands of ways to extinguish the long-lived candle. You can blow it with big mouths, you can cover it with a huge candle extinguisher, or you can fan it with an extraordinary fan. Who can do all these things? Describe them one by one?Everyone was rushing to buy long-lived candles, Franz and Albert were no exception.

It was getting dark quickly, and thousands of peddlers shouted over and over again with high-pitched voices: "Buy long-lived candles!" In the shouting, two or three sparks had already been ignited, as if the beginning The signal has been sent. Ten minutes later, 10 candles flickered together, spreading from the Palace of Venice to the National Square, and then from the National Square to the Venice Palace. It was almost like a ghost festival.Without witnessing it with their own eyes, no one can imagine what kind of scene it is.But everyone can imagine, if the sky full of stars has fallen to the world, dotted with this crazy big dance hall, how spectacular it would be!Shouts of joy echoed everywhere, such as could never be heard anywhere else in the world.At this moment, social distinctions are gone.Commoners, kings and grandchildren, country people, city people, all chasing and laughing together, everyone is blowing with their mouths and throwing candle extinguishers, trying to extinguish other people's long-lived candles, and everyone is blowing out their own candles. The long-lived candle was relit.If Fengshen appears at this time, he will definitely be proclaimed as the king of long-lived candles, and the strong north wind will definitely be named the crown prince.

The frantic running with candles lasted for about two hours. Candle lights were everywhere in the street of Chur, as bright as day, and the people watching on the fourth and fifth floors were also clearly illuminated.Albert looked at his watch every five minutes, and the hands finally pointed to seven o'clock.The two friends happened to be on the opposite side of the Rue Pontfiche, and Albert jumped out of the carriage, holding the long-lived candle in his hand.Two or three masked men came over, trying to extinguish the longevity candle, or perhaps to take it away.Albert, who was good at boxing, rolled them one by one on the ground ten paces away, and ran all the way to the church of San Giacomo.The church steps were crowded with masked men and onlookers snatching the torch.Franz followed Albert with his eyes, watching him mount the first step of the steps.A masked person immediately stretched out his arms to him. Judging from the clothes, it was the peasant girl throwing the bouquet.The man snatched Albert's long-lived candle, but Albert did not resist.Franz was too far away to hear what they said, but it was certainly not hostile, for he saw Albert and the peasant girl walking away arm in arm, and he saw them go away in the throng. It's a bit of a way, but you can't see them on Motherlow Street.

Suddenly the bell tolled, announcing the end of the carnival.As if by some magic, or as if a gust of wind blew, all the long-lived candles were extinguished at once, and it was suddenly dark around Franz.At the same time, all the shouting fell silent, as if the wind that swept away the candlelight swept away the noise at the same time.The masked people went home one after another, but they couldn't hear anything except the rumble of the carriage, and couldn't see anything except a few lonely lights that were still on behind the window.Carnival is over.

(End of this chapter)