World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 68 St. Sebastian's Mausoleum (1)
The change like now is really changing at will, the joy suddenly turns into sadness, the impression is too strong, Franz may have never experienced it in his life, as if a certain nightshade breathed out a breath of magic, and the whole city of Rome instantly changed. It became a huge tomb.It happened that the moon was waning, and the moon would not rise until 11 o'clock in the evening, so it was really dark now, and the streets Franz traveled all the way were completely dark.Fortunately, the journey was not too far, and after 10 minutes, his carriage, or more precisely, the earl's carriage, had stopped in front of the London Hotel.The supper was ready, and Franz, who had promised in advance that he did not intend to return soon, did not wait for him, but took it up by himself.Prosper Pastrini, who always saw them dining together, asked Albert why he was away, and Franz simply replied that Albert had received an invitation the day before yesterday and had gone to the dinner.All the long-lived candles were suddenly extinguished, darkness replaced light, and after the uproar was complete silence, Franz could not help but feel a kind of sadness in his heart, and he ate quietly alone.The hotel owner was very considerate and caring, and came over several times to ask him if he had any orders.

Franz decided to wait as long as possible for Albert to come back, so he ordered the carriage to come to pick him up at eleven o'clock, and told Master Pastrini to come and tell Albert as soon as he returned to the hotel, no matter what happened. .At eleven o'clock Albert had not returned.Franz dressed and left the hotel, saying hello to the proprietor that he had been at the Ducal Braciano's all night.The Ducal Palace of Braciano is one of the most charming residences in Rome. The Duchess is from the noble Roman family of the Colonna family. Pope Martin V and many cardinals from the 11th to 11th centuries all came from this family.The heirs of the last generation received guests with hospitality and thoughtfulness, so their family's balls were quite famous throughout Europe.Franz and Albert had come to Rome with letters of introduction to the duke, and Franz's first question upon his arrival was to ask what his companion was doing.Franz replied that he and Albert had parted ways just as the wick was about to go out, and that Albert had disappeared into Motherlot Street.

"Then he didn't come back?" asked the Duke.

"I waited for him till this time," replied Franz.

"Do you know where he went?"

"No, I don't know very well, maybe it's a tryst."

"Ah!" said the duke, "it's not a good thing to stay out on a day like this, or a night like this, is it, Countess?"

These words were addressed to the Countess Gris, who was walking slowly, leaning on the arm of the Duke's brother, Mr. Torlonia. "I don't think so. It's a very charming evening," replied the countess. "There's only one thing people here have to complain about. It goes by so quickly."

"So," continued the duke with a slight smile, "I'm not talking about the people here, what danger they have, it's just that the gentlemen will fall in love with you, and the ladies will be sick with envy when they see you so beautiful, I mean Those who still roam the streets of Rome."

"Oh, good God," asked the countess, "who else is running about in Rome at this hour, except at the ball?"

"One of our friends, Albert Mecerf, Countess, was separated from me at about seven o'clock this evening in pursuit of his unknown beauty," said Franz. see him."

"What? Don't you know where he is?"

"I don't know at all."

"Is he armed?"

"He's just dressed as a clown."

"You shouldn't have let him go," said the duke to Franz. "You know more about Rome than he does."

"Oh, yes! That would undoubtedly mean stopping the third horse who won today's horse race." Franz replied, "Besides, look, what will happen to him?"

"It's hard to say! It's a gloomy evening, and Tibble's just around Motherlow Street."

Franz felt a shudder run through his veins when he saw that the duke and countess felt the same as his own anxiety. "So I called the hotel first, Monsieur Duke, and told them that I had the honor of spending the night at your house today," said Franz. "They will come to inform me as soon as Albert returns."

"Ah, you see," said the prince, "I think this servant is looking for you."

The duke guessed right, for the servant came up to Franz as soon as he saw him. "Your Excellency," said the servant, "the proprietor of the London Hotel has sent to tell you that a messenger for Viscount Mercerf is waiting for you."

"Message to Viscount Mercerf?" cried Franz.

"Yes."

"what kind of person?"

"I do not know."

"Why didn't he come here and give me the letter?"

"The person sent by the restaurant didn't tell me the details."

"Where are the people in the restaurant?"

"As soon as he saw me coming into the ballroom to look for you, the man left."

"Oh, my God!" said the countess to Franz, "go at once, something may have happened to him, the poor young man."

"I'm going right there," said Franz.

"Will you come back and write us a letter?" said the countess.

"If the matter is not serious, I will come back. Otherwise, I can't even tell what will happen to me."

"You must be careful in everything," said the countess.

"Oh! Take it easy."

Franz took his hat and hurried away.He had already let his carriage go, and asked the coachman to come and pick him up at two o'clock in the morning.Fortunately, the Ducal Palace of Braciano is adjacent to the Street of Curr and the Square of the Holy Apostles on the other side, and it is only 10 minutes away from the London Hotel.As Franz was approaching the hotel, he saw a man standing in the middle of the road, and he realized at once that this man was carrying a letter for Albert.The man, wrapped in a large cloak, came towards Franz, and, to Franz's astonishment, it was the man who spoke to him first.

"Is there anything you can do for me?" He said while taking a step back vigilantly.

"Do you have a letter from Viscount Mercerf for me?" asked Franz.

"Are you staying at Pastrini's hotel?"

"Yes."

"Is your Excellency the Viscount's traveling companion?"

"Exactly."

"Excuse me, your honorable name."

"Baron Franz d'Epinet."

"Then this letter is addressed to your Excellency."

"Do you want to answer the letter?" asked Franz, taking the letter from the man.

"Yes, at least your friend would very much like you to write back."

"Well, please come upstairs with me, and I will reply to you right away."

"I'd better wait here." The messenger said with a smile.

"why is that?"

"Your Excellency will understand after reading the letter."

"So, I'll still be looking for you here in a while?"

"Not bad."

So Franz went upstairs to his room, and on the stairs he met Master Pastrini.

"How is it?" Pastrini asked him.

"How about what?" Franz retorted.

"Have you seen the man your friend sent to look for you?" the boss asked Franz.

"Yes, I have seen the man," replied Franz. "Here is the letter he gave me. Please send someone to come and light a candle in my room."

The master ordered the servant to take the candle and go to Franz's room first.Franz noticed that Pastrini looked panic-stricken, and he couldn't wait to read Albert's letter even more impatiently.As soon as the candle was lit, he immediately leaned over and spread out the letter.The letter was written by Albert himself.There was also his signature below, and Franz read it twice, because the contents of the letter were far from what he expected.The letter is transcribed as follows:
Friends who don’t pretend:
Please take a bill of exchange from my wallet as soon as you see the letter, and put the wallet in the side drawer of the desk.If not enough, please add your money order.Go quickly to Torlonia, exchange 4000 piastres immediately and hand them over to the visitor.This money must be delivered to me without any delay.

I don't have much to say.You are someone I can trust, so please.

Your friend
Albert Moserf
PS: I believe now to italian banditti. English: I now believe that there are banditti in Italy.

Below these lines, there are two lines of Italian in unfamiliar handwriting:

If the 6 piastres were not in my hands at 4000 o'clock in the morning, Viscount Albert Mosef was finished at 7 o'clock.

Lucy Wampa
Franz saw the second signature and everything became clear, and he also understood why the messenger refused to go upstairs to his room, for which the street was safer than Franz's room.Albert always refused to believe that there was such a famous bandit leader, and now he really fell into his hands.Without further delay, Franz immediately rushed to the desk, opened the drawer mentioned in the letter, took out his wallet, and took out the money order from it.The total amount of the money order is 6000 piastres, but of the 6000, Albert has already spent 3000. As for Franz, he did not bring the money order at all, because he has always lived in Florence, and this time he only came to Rome for seven or eight days. , only brought a hundred or so gold louis, and now among the hundred or so gold louis, there are at most 50 left unspent.Therefore, the sum of Franz and Albert's money was seven or eight hundred piastres short of what Albert asked for.Yes, in this case, Franz can ask Mr. Torlonia for help.He didn't dare to delay any longer, and was about to rush back to the residence of the Duke of Braciano, when he suddenly had an idea, and he thought of the Count of Monte Cristo.Franz was about to order Boss Pastrini to come up, but he saw that Pastrini was already standing at the door. "My dear Monsieur Pastrini," he said hastily to his boss, "do you think the count will be in his room at this hour?"

"Yes, sir, he has just returned."

"Is he in bed yet?"

"I don't think so."

"Well, please ring his doorbell and ask him if he can come and visit for me."

Boss Pastrini hurried away as ordered, and five minutes later he returned to Franz's room. "The Count awaits your Excellency," said he.

Franz passed the landing, and a servant led him to the count.Franz came to a small study which he had not seen before, surrounded by divans.

"Ah, what kind of wind brings you here at this hour?" said the count. "Absolutely speaking, did you come here to share supper? That's a lot of work, thank you very much."

"No, I've come to talk to you about a very serious matter."

"Talk about something!" said the count, looking at him with that deep look which Franz was accustomed to seeing. "What is it?"

"Is it just the two of us here?"

The count looked at the door and came back again. "There is no one else," he said.

Franz handed Albert's letter to the count, "Please read this letter first."

The count looked it over and said, "Ah! ah!"

"Did you see the postscript?"

"Yes," he said, "I read: 'If the 6 piastres are not in my hands at 4000 o'clock in the morning, Viscount Albert Mosef is finished at 7 o'clock. - Luge Wampa .'"

"What do you think?" asked Franz.

"Do you have the money they want?"

"Yes, but there is still a shortage of 800 piastres."

The count went to his writing desk and opened a drawer full of gold coins. "I think," he said, "you won't go to someone else to save me, will you?"

"You see, on the contrary, I came to you without asking anyone."

"Thank you, take it, please." He beckoned Franz to take it from the drawer himself.

"Is it really necessary to send this money to Luge Wampa?" asked the young man, who was now looking intently at the count.

"Of course it is necessary!" said the count. "You can judge for yourself, the postscript has made it very clear."

"I think, if you think about it, you'll find some way to close the deal with a single gesture of your hand."

"How could it be?" asked the count in amazement.

"For example, if we went to Luge Wampa together, I am sure he would not refuse our request to release Albert."

"Me? You say, why can I order a robber?"

"Didn't you just do him a favor you'll never forget?"

"What help?"

"Didn't you save Pepino's life?"

"Oh, oh, who told you that?"

"You don't have to care, anyway, I know."

The earl was silent for a moment, but frowned. "If I go to Wampa, will you go with me?"

"As long as you don't find it annoying, I will accompany you."

"Well, let's do it this way. It's a fine day, and a walk in the Roman countryside will be beneficial and harmless."

"Do you want to bring a weapon?"

"What is it for?"

"What about the money?"

"No need. Where is the messenger?"

"on the street."

"Is he waiting for an answer?"

"Yes."

"We need to know where we are going, and I will call him."

"It's useless, he refused to come up just now."

"He may not want to come to you, but he will have no trouble coming to me." The count went to the window of the small study on the street, whistled in a certain way, and the man in the cloak came from Walk out from the edge of the wall and stand in the middle of the road. "Come up!" said the count, as if giving orders to a servant.The man who sent the letter obeyed immediately, not only without hesitation, but also as if he was obedient. He strode up the four stone steps in front of the door, walked into the restaurant, and arrived at the door of the small study in 5 seconds. . "Ah, it is you, Pepino!" said the count.However, this Pepino didn't say a word, just plopped down on his knees, took the count's hand and kissed it several times.

"Well," said the count, "you have not forgotten that I saved your life. It is incredible, after all, it was a week ago."

"No, sir, I will never forget." Pepino replied, his tone full of gratitude.

"Forever, that's a long time! But it's nice that you can think of eternity. Get up and answer." Pepino glanced anxiously at Franz. "Oh, in the presence of this lordship, just talk," said the count, "he is my friend." Then the count, turning to Franz, said in French, "I give you this title, please. Never mind, because to earn the trust of this person, we have to."

"Just say it in my presence," repeated Franz, "I am a friend of the count."

"That's great," said Pepino, turning to the count. "Your Excellency, just ask, and I will answer all your questions."

"How did Viscount Albert fall into Lu Ri's hands?"

"Your Excellency, the Frenchman's carriage has crossed Teresa's carriage several times."

"Is she the leader's lover?"

"Yes. The Frenchman gave her a wink. Teresa teased the Frenchman and returned the wink. The Frenchman threw some flowers at Therese, and Therese threw some bouquets at the Frenchman." .Of course, this is all agreed by the leader, and he himself is in this carriage."

"What?" cried Franz. "Luige Wampa is in the carriage of the Roman peasant girl?"

"He drove it disguised as a coachman," replied Pepino.

"And what happened next?" asked the Count.

"Later, the French took off his mask, and Teresa also took off hers, which was also agreed by the leader. The French said to meet and talk, and Teresa also agreed. But, in San Giacomo Beppo met him on the church steps, not Teresa."

"What!" Franz interrupted Pepino, "the peasant girl who went up to snatch his longevity candle is..."

"A boy of fifteen," replied Pepino, "but your friend is not ashamed of being deceived this time, and there are many people who have been fooled by Beppo, really."

"So Beppo led him outside the walls, didn't he?"

"Exactly. A carriage was already waiting at the corner of the Rue Marcello, so Beppo got into the carriage and asked the Frenchman to follow. To Beppo, sit next to him. Beppo told him that he was going to take him to a villa a mile away from Rome, and the Frenchman told Beppo that he would follow him even to the end of the world. Drove up Via Ripata, then out of Porta San Paolo. The Frenchman was not honest when the carriage reached the country for 200 paces, indeed. Bepo put two pistols to his neck, and the coachman immediately pulled the horse. stop, turned from his seat, and held the Frenchman with his gun. We had four brothers in ambush on the bank of the Alemo when they rushed up and blocked the carriage door. The French really wanted to resist, I I heard later that he almost strangled Beppo, but the five men he faced were all armed, and he couldn't stand it, so he had to surrender. The brothers drove him out of the wagon and escorted him along the creek. Go to Teresa and Luge, they are waiting in the tomb of San Sebastian."

"That's right!" said the count, turning to Franz. "I think this story is as good as the others. You know about such things. What do you think?"

"I say," replied Franz, "that it would seem very funny to me that the story was about someone else than poor Albert."

"Really," said the count, "if you don't come here to see me, your friend will have to spend a little on this beautiful occasion. But don't worry, he's only been frightened."

"Should we still go to him?" asked Franz.

"Of course! Besides, the place where he is is very beautiful. Have you ever been to the tomb of St. Sebastian?"

"No, I've never been there, but I've always wanted to see it someday."

(End of this chapter)