World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 69 St. Sebastian's Mausoleum (2)
"Very well. This is your chance. It will be hard to find another better one. Is your carriage here?"

"No."

"It doesn't matter, no matter day or night, they always have a car ready for me to use."

"Even the horses are harnessed?"

"Yes, I'm a very whim-prone person. Let me tell you, sometimes I just get up, or just finished dinner, or it's the middle of the night, and I suddenly want to go somewhere, and I start. Go." The count rang the bell, and his valet came at once. "Order to prepare the carriage," he said, "take away all the pistols in the gun pockets on the carriage, and let Ali drive without waking the coachman." After a while, the carriage was heard rumbling to a stop at the door of the hotel, and the count He took out his watch and looked at it. "At half-past twelve," said he, "we'd be there in time if we left at five o'clock in the morning, but our late departure might disturb your friend's night, so it's better to get there quickly and get him out of those very Christian rescued me. You still want to go with me, don't you?"

"Now I want to go even more."

"Very well, let's go, then."

Franz went downstairs with the count, followed by Pepino.The carriage has stopped at the door.Ali was waiting in his seat, and Franz recognized the mute slave in the cave of Monte Cristo.Both Franz and the count got into the hansom, Pepino took a seat beside Ali, and the carriage drove on at full speed.Ali had been instructed beforehand, for he himself was seen driving from the Rue de Cull, through the Vasino camp, onto the St. Gritchley Road, and then to the San Sebastian Gate.When they got there, the gatekeeper stopped him, but the Count of Monte Cristo took out a license signed by the governor of Rome. With this license, he could enter or leave the city at any time of day and night, so the spike gate on the gate was lifted, and the gatekeeper Rewarded with a gold louis, the carriage left the city gate.The road that the carriage followed was the ancient Appiana Avenue (the passage built by the ancient Roman consul Clauhuis (in power twice in 307 BC and 269 BC).), and the roadside is full of graves.The moon was gradually rising, and Franz felt that from time to time he saw a sentry flashing out of a certain ruin under the moonlight, but after a gesture with Pepino, the sentry hid back in the dark and disappeared.When they were approaching the Colosseum de Cala, the carriage stopped, Pepino came and opened the door, and the count and Franz got out.

"We shall be there in ten minutes," said the count to Franz.Then, the count pulled Pepino aside and gave some instructions in a low voice.Pepino took the torch from the trunk of the carriage and walked away immediately.The fields of Rome are undulating. Franz watched the shepherd Peppino walking along a path on the uneven ground, and the tall crimson pastures ahead, like a giant lion standing on his back. mane, and finally Pepino disappeared into the grass. 10 minutes passed. "Now let us go with him," said the count.Franz and the count also went up the path, and after walking a hundred paces, they descended the slope to the bottom of a small valley, when they found two men talking in the shadows.

"Shall we go on?" Franz asked the count, "or shall we wait here?"

"Go forward, Pepino will inform the sentinel that we are going over."

One of those two men was Pepino, the other a robber on watch.Franz and the count walked by, and the grass thief saluted.

"Your Excellency," said Pepino to the count, "please come with me, the entrance to the mausoleum is not far away."

"Very well," said the count, "you go first."

Sure enough, there were several large rocks behind a bush, and there was a corridor in the middle, just enough for a person to walk through.Pepino led the way through the crevice, but within a few steps the tunnel opened up.At this moment he stopped, lit the torch, and turned to see if the count and the others followed.The count entered the transom-like passage first, and Franz followed.Here is a gentle slope, and the terrain in front gradually decreases and gradually opens up. However, Franz and the count still have to bend over to walk.The two barely crossed the passage side by side. They walked another 150 steps in this way, and then they heard a loud "Which one?" Carbine guns. "One of our own!" Pepino replied, and then walked towards the sentinel alone, whispering a few words to him.Like the sentry just now, this one saluted the two midnight visitors and signaled that they could go straight ahead.

Behind the sentinel was a stone staircase with more than 20 steps. Franz and the count walked down the 20 steps and came to a place that looked like a fork in a cemetery.The five roads ahead scattered like the light of a star, and coffin-like niches were dug up and down the stone walls, and it seemed that they had finally entered the mausoleum.There are several caves, and it is not clear how deep they are. One of them can see the light coming in from the outside during the day.The count put his hand on Franz's shoulder and said, "Do you want to see the bandit's rest camp?"

"Of course!" replied Franz.

"Well, please come with me... Pepino, put out the torch."

Peppino put out the torches, and Franz and the count were immediately plunged into darkness, but some fifty paces ahead of them, there were still clusters of reddish flames flickering along the wall, and Peppino put out the torches. Afterwards, those flames were seen more clearly.They walked forward in silence, and the count, who seemed to have a special ability to see things in the dark, led Franz along.The firelight now became a sign for them to distinguish the way.Gradually walking forward, Franz gradually saw the road clearly.You can walk through the first three arcades, but the middle one is used to make the entrance hole.On one side of these three arcades was the passage in which the count and Franz were sitting, and on the other was a square hall, with niches of the kind we have just described dug into the walls on all sides.There are four stones standing in the center of the hall, and a cross on top of the stones, indicating that this was originally an altar.A lamp was hung on a porch pillar, and the two visitors saw the scene in front of them in a dark place with the dim and flickering light, which was very strange.A man in front of him was sitting reading a book, leaning his elbows on the colonnade, his back to the arcade. He didn't know that two new visitors had arrived and were watching him through the doorway of the arcade.This man was the leader of the gang of robbers, Luge Wampa.Around 50 straw thieves surrounded him in all directions, some were lying wrapped in capes, some were leaning on the stone platform where the ashes were placed, and each of them had a carbine in their hand.Going further inside, I vaguely saw a sentinel, like a ghost, pacing back and forth in front of a cave without a sound. In fact, it is said that there is a cave there, just because it looks darker and darker.

When the count thought that Franz had seen enough of this vivid and unique scene, he put his finger on his lips, reminded Franz to be silent, and went up the three steps from the passage to the columbarium. Go through the central arcade towards Wampa.Wampa was so engrossed in his book that he heard no sound of the Count's footsteps passing by.But the sentinel wasn't so preoccupied. He saw the black shadow behind the leader getting bigger and bigger from the light, so he shouted, "Which one?" Shoot the pistol.In an instant, all the thieves stood up, and the guns of the 20 carbine were aimed at the earl.

"Good fellow!" said the Count calmly, not only in a very calm voice, but also with an unshakable countenance. "Not bad! My dear Wampa, I think this is an honorable reception!"

"Put down the gun!" The leader waved his hand and ordered loudly, then took off his hat respectfully with the other hand, then turned around, and said to the special person in charge of the scene, "I hope you will forgive me, Monsieur Count, far from expecting your presence, I did not recognize you."

"It seems that you have a bad memory for everything, Wampa," said the count. "Not only do you not remember people's faces, but you also cannot remember the terms you have negotiated with others."

"What condition have I forgotten, Monsieur the Count?" asked the robber, as if he had done something wrong and now only wanted to make it right.

"Hasn't it already been agreed?" said the count, "that you must be a god, not only to me, but to my friends."

"But in what matter have I broken my word, sir?"

"You kidnap Viscount Albert Mercerf here tonight, yes!" continued the count, in a tone that made Franz shudder. "This young man is my friend, this young man is my fellow Stayed at a hotel, and the young man drove eight days in my carriage through the Rue de Chur. But, I repeat, you kidnapped him here, and," said the count, drawing the letter from his pocket. , "You also asked him for a ransom, as if he was nothing more than a nobody."

"Why didn't you tell me these things? What do you want to do?" The leader turned to his people and said, those guys were forced to retreat by his gaze, "Our lives are in the hands of Mr. Earl, but you let me tell Mr. Break your promise, what is your intention? I swear by the blood of Christ, if any one of you knows in advance that this young man is your friend, I will blow his head off with my own hands."

"Yes," said the count, turning to Franz, "I tell you that there is a misunderstanding here."

"You didn't come alone?" Wampa asked anxiously.

"I came with this man, who received the letter, and I want to prove to him that Luge Wampa means what he says. Come here, sir," continued the count to Franz, "and this is Luge Wampa. Ri Wampa, he wants to explain it to you himself, and it pains him to misunderstand him."

Franz came over, and the bandit leader also took a few steps towards Franz. "Welcome, Your Excellency," the bandit leader said to Franz, "You must have heard the count's words and my reply just now, but I want to say one more thing, although I set a ransom of 4000 piastres for your friend , but I personally don't want that to happen."

"But," said Franz, looking around anxiously, "I don't see my friend. Where is he?"

"I hope he's all right?" asked the Count, frowning.

"There he is," said Wampa, pointing to the recess guarded by a bandit in front of him. "I should go and declare him free myself." The bandit leader walked towards the place where he said Albert was being held. Ziz and the Earl followed suit. "What are the hostages doing?" Wangpa asked the guard grass thief.

"Oh, chief," replied the grasshopper, "I don't know, I haven't heard from him for an hour."

"Come here, sir!" said Wampa.

The Count and Franz took seven or eight steps, Wampa leading the way, unbolted the door, and pushed it open.Inside was a lamp identical to the one that illuminated the columbarium.Then, by this dim light, they saw Albert lying in a corner, sleeping soundly, wrapped in a cloak lent to him by a robber.

"All right!" the count continued, smiling in his own way, "it's not bad for a man who is going to be shot at seven o'clock tomorrow morning."

If Wampa looked at Albert in his dream with admiration, it could be seen that he was not without emotion for such a fearless spirit. "You are quite right, Monsieur Count," said he, "that man is worthy of your friend." He went up to Albert, and patted the shoulder. "Your Excellency," he said, "please wake up!"

Albert stretched, rubbed his eyes again, and then opened them. "Ah! ah!" he said, "it's you, sir! Really, how well you let me sleep. I'm dreaming, it's so beautiful, I'm dancing with the countess at the Torlonian palace Gallup, that's the person..." He took out his watch, which he had kept in his hand so he could keep track of the time, and looked at it. "It's only 01:30!" he said. "What the hell is going to wake me up at this hour?"

"Come to tell Your Excellency that you are free."

"My dear friend," he said leisurely, "remember from now on the motto of Napoleon the Great, 'Do not wake me except with bad news.' If you do not come to wake me, I will I can finish dancing the Gallop, then I will be grateful to you forever... Has my ransom been paid off?"

"No, sir."

"Well! how can I be free then?"

"There is one person I must obey, and he came and ordered you to be released."

"Have you been here yet?"

"Come here."

"Really! This is a very good man!" Albert looked around, and saw Franz. "What?" said he. "It is you, my dear Franz, who have been so loyal to your friend?"

"Not I," replied Franz, "but our neighbour, Monsieur the Count of Monte Cristo."

"Oh, Monsieur Earl," said Albert happily, straightening his bow tie and sleeves again, "you are indeed Alpine View, I hope you can believe that I will always remember it, first of all thank you for borrowing My carriage, and secondly thank you for finishing this matter for me." He held out his hand to the count, who shuddered all over when he stretched out his hand, but still shook hands with Albert.

Seeing such a scene, the bandit leader couldn't help showing a dumbfounded look.He was used to seeing every one of his captives trembling in front of him, but this one did not change his humorous expression from beginning to end.As for Franz, he was very pleased to see that Albert had maintained his national integrity in the face of the robbers. "My dear Albert," said he, "if you will make haste, we will have time to spend the evening at the Torlonia house, and you may resume your interrupted gallop. Thus, You will no longer resent Master Lu Ri, in fact, in this matter, he is a veritable gentleman from the beginning to the end."

"Yes," said Albert, "you are quite right, we can be there at two o'clock. Monsieur Luge," he went on, "is there any other formality required to bid you farewell?" do it?"

"There is no formality, sir," replied the robber, "you are as free as air now."

"Well, I wish you a happy life, let's go, gentlemen, please go."

Then, with Albert in front, Franz and the count behind, they all descended the steps together and passed through the boxy hall, the robbers standing with their hats in their hands and seeing each other off.

"Pepino," said the chief, "give me the torch."

"Well, what are you doing?" asked the count.

"I'm here to see you off," said the leader, "to show a little respect to Your Excellency." He took the lighted torch from the shepherd and walked up to the guests to lead the way. A servant, but like a king surrounded by ambassadors from various countries.At the door, he bent down and bowed. "Monsieur Count," he said, "I beg your pardon once more, and hope that you will not bear any grudge against me for what has just happened."

"There, my dear Wampa," said the count, "your faults are so beautifully remedied that we cannot help thanking you for them."

"Gentlemen," the leader turned to the two young men again, "you may not find my proposal attractive, but if you want to visit again at any time, no matter where I am, I will welcome you Come."

Franz and Albert bowed their thanks.Then the count went out first, followed by Albert, but Franz stayed behind.

"Does Your Excellency have anything to ask me?" Wampa said with a smile.

"Yes, I have something to ask," replied Franz. "I would like to know what is that great book that you were so absorbed in reading when we came in just now?"

"Memoirs of Caesar" is "Memoirs of the Gallic Wars and Civil War" written by Julius Caesar," said the robber. "This is my favorite book."

"Well, you don't want to go?" asked Albert.

"Going," replied Franz, "here I come." And he, too, came out of the transom-like passage.

They had taken a few steps on the level ground when Albert turned and walked back again, saying: "Ah, excuse me, may I borrow a light, sir?" He lit a cigar on Wampa's torch. "Monsieur Count," he said, "now let's go as fast as possible. I really want to spend the rest of the night at the Ducal Palace of Braciano."

They got into the carriage where they had alighted, and the count said one word to Ali in Arabic, and the horses galloped on.It was exactly two o'clock on Albert's watch when the two friends entered the ballroom of the Ducal Palace.As soon as they saw them coming, there was a great commotion in the hall, but they went in together, and all the speculations and uneasiness about Albert were immediately dispelled.

"Ma'am," Viscount Moserf said to the countess, "it was my honor last night to dance the Gallup with you, but I was too late for that kindness. But here is my friend, and he is Honestly, you know that he can tell you that I am late through no fault of my own." At this moment the orchestra played the prelude to the waltz, and Albert put his arms around the countess's waist and disappeared with her In the tumbling vortex of the ballroom.At this moment, Franz thought that the Count of Monte Cristo had shaken Albert's hand just now out of necessity, so he trembled inexplicably.

(End of this chapter)