World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 75: Luncheon (2)
"I will remain true," said Mersef, "but, my dear count, I am afraid that you will be greatly disappointed here, as you are used to the mountain scenery, and have experienced so many impressive events. Your life is full of adventures and storms, but with us it is impossible to encounter any such episodes. Our Chimborazo volcano in Ecuador is 6272 meters above sea level. It is Montmartre, and our Himalayas are Valerian Mountains, our Sahara Desert is the plain of Grenelle, besides, an artesian well was drilled there, so that desert caravans can drink water. We have thieves, although not as many as everyone said, but there are many after all, thieves are afraid The little spy in the police station is far more afraid of the nobleman. Besides, the country of France is so unremarkable, and the city of Paris is so civilized, that you can go through all 85 departments of our country, and I mean 85 departments. Because, obviously, I did not include Corsica in France. In the 85 departments of our country, as long as you see a mountain, you will have an express (a means of transmitting news at that time, and a signal was set up on a higher ground. If you find a slightly darker cave, a gas lamp has already been installed by the police officer. There is only one thing I can do for you. My dear count, for this I At your convenience, I may introduce you myself, or ask my friends to go everywhere. And you need no one to introduce you, because of your name, your wealth, and your intelligence," At this time, Monte Cristo With a sneering smile on his face, he nodded, "You can recommend yourself everywhere, and you are welcomed everywhere. So, there is actually only one thing I can help you with, if it is about a certain living habit in Paris, living customs, market conditions, etc. On the other hand, if you have a place for me, I will obey your orders and find you a comfortable house. In Rome I will live with you on your floor, but I dare not invite you to live in my humble house. Although I don't advocate egoism, I am an out-and-out egoist, because I can't tolerate anyone's shadow here except myself, but the shadow of a woman is another matter."

"Ah!" said the count, "that's why the house must be reserved for a marriage. Yes, sir, you mentioned to me in Rome that you were considering a marriage. Now, I must do it for you soon. Congratulations on the happy event, right?"

"The matter is still under consideration, Monsieur Earl."

"If you think about it, it's possible," Debray said.

"Not exactly!" Mosef said, "My father's intention is very urgent. I hope to introduce you to my wife, or at least my fiancée, Miss Eugenie Tangra soon."

"Eugénie Tangra!" said Monte Cristo, "wait a minute, isn't her father the Baron Tangra?"

"Yes," replied Mosef, "a new baronet."

"Oh, what does it matter?" said Monte Cristo, "as long as his service to the country is commensurate, he deserves the honor."

"He made a huge contribution," Beauchamp said. "Although he is a liberal in his heart, he was the younger brother of King Charles X and Louis XVIII in 1829, and he was the king of France from 1824 to 1830. He raised a sum of 600 million. , So, of course, Charles X made him a baron and awarded him the Medal of Honor. However, he did not hang the medal on the vest as everyone can imagine, but hang it on the button of his coat in a graceful manner The hole is on."

"Ah!" Mosef said with a smile, "Beauchamp, Beauchamp, you can save this kind of story for articles like 'Pirates and Loudness', but please don't laugh at my future father-in-law in front of me." Then Turning to Monte Cristo, he said, "You mentioned the Baron's name just now, as if you knew him?"

"I don't know him," said Monte Cristo casually, "but I may soon see him. For I have gone through Richard & Bronn & Co. in London, Asten & Escriles in Vienna, and Thomson in Rome. The French firm has a loan account with him." Monte Cristo looked at Maximilian Morrel out of the corner of his eye as he spoke of the last firm.If the stranger estimated that Maximilian would react, he was right, because Maximilian trembled as if he had been electrocuted.

"Thomson & French," said he. "You know the firm, sir?"

"My cash in the capital of Christendom is provided by them," replied the count calmly. "Is there anything you would like me to do with them?"

"Oh, Monsieur Earl, we have some investigations that are still fruitless, and you can probably help us to investigate again. That firm has done my company a great service, but for some reason, I don't know, they always deny it. Deny ever helping us."

"At your service, monsieur," replied Monte Cristo, nodding his head.

"Well," said Mocerf, "it's strange that we've been talking about Mr. Tanglars, and we've gotten off the subject. We were talking about finding a suitable residence for the Count of Monte Cristo. Come, gentlemen, let's talk about what's going on." Where should we have an idea? Where shall we place this newcomer to our great Paris?"

"Saint-Germain," said Chateau-Renaud, "the Comte will find a beautiful mansion there, with a courtyard on one side and a garden on the other."

"Ah, Chateau-le-Naud," said Debray, "you know your gloomy, dull Saint-Germain. You can't listen to him, Monsieur Comte. You should live in the Rue d'Antin, which is Paris as it is called." center of."

"The Rue du Opera," said Beauchamp, "on the second floor, with a balcony. M. the Comte could have someone put cushions of baize in it, and smoke his tobacco in a long Turkish pipe, Or taking his pills while looking down over the capital city panorama."

"Have you no idea, Morrel?" said Chateau-Renaud, "do you not intend to mention anything?"

"I want to mention it," Morrel said with a slight smile, "I have an idea, but you have mentioned several excellent places to Mr. Earl, and I want to wait for the Earl to choose one of them. Now that he No answer, I thought it would be a good idea to provide him with a suite. The whole building is a mansion, not big, but very beautiful. It is completely the mistress of Louis XV in Pompadour, which had a great influence on the politics and culture of the time. Style, My sister just rented it a year ago, and it's on Melai Street."

"You have a sister?" asked the Count of Monte Cristo.

"Yes, sir, a wonderful sister."

"Married?"

"Almost nine years."

"Happy?" asked the count again.

"She has all the happiness that life can enjoy," Maximilian replied, "she is married to the man she loves, and her husband is Emmanuel Ebo (Chapter 29) "Emmanuel Raymond.") and always had a heart for us in our downfall."

Monte Cristo smiled, but it was hardly perceptible to anyone else.

"It's my turn to go on vacation for half a year, and I'll live there." Maximilian continued, "What does the count need to know, I and my brother-in-law Emmanuel are willing to help."

"Wait a moment!" cried Albert, before Monte Cristo could answer. "Pray, what is your purpose, Monsieur Morrel? Such a wandering man, Samba the Sailor, you want to live at home. Lock him up; let him live in simplicity and tranquility for such a tourist in Paris."

"Oh, not so," answered Morrel, smiling. "My sister is twenty-five, and my brother-in-law is thirty; they are both young, lively, and cheerful. Besides, Monsieur the Count lives alone, and whenever he likes to go down to them." Wherever you go, you will meet them."

"Thank you, monsieur, thank you," said Monte Cristo, "if it would be a favor to introduce me to my sister and her brother-in-law, I would be very grateful. But, gentlemen, I do not need your kindness, for my lodgings are ready. gone."

"What?" cried Mosef. "Are you going to a hotel? It's too dull for you."

"Am I living so badly in Rome?" asked Monte Cristo.

"Of course!" said Mocerf, "you spent fifty thousand piastres on furnishing your apartment in Rome, but I don't think you spend such a sum every day."

"It's not for that reason that I don't go to hotels," replied Monte Cristo, "but I want to have a house in Paris, that is to say, my own residence. I sent my valet first, and at this time he A house should be bought and furnished."

"As you say, your valet knows Paris very well!" cried Beauchamp.

"He, like me, came to France for the first time. He is a black man and he can't speak." Monte Cristo said.

"It's Ali!" Everyone couldn't help being amazed, but Albert cried out.

"Yes, sir, it is Ali, my Nubian dumb slave, whom I think you saw in Rome."

"Certainly," said Mocerf, "I remember it very well. But how do you send a Nubian to Paris to buy a house, and a dumb man to furnish it? The unfortunate wretch is not doing enough, not doing well." I have more than enough!"

"Don't worry, monsieur. I think on the contrary. He will buy according to my taste, because, as you know, I have different tastes. He has been in Paris for a week and will rely on the hounds. Skill, search the city by yourself. He is familiar with my preferences, interests and needs, so everything will be arranged according to my requirements. He knows that I will arrive at 10 o'clock today, so I will be at the Palace of Fontainebleau from 9 o'clock. Wait for me at the gate, and he gave me this note with the address of my new house on it, please take it, and you can have a look." So Monte Cristo handed the note to Albert.

"30 Champs-Elysées," Mocerf read.

"Ah, this is really unbelievable!" Bo Shang couldn't help but exclaimed.

"Very royal," said Chateau-Renoir.

"What? You haven't seen your apartment yet?"

"No," said Monte Cristo, "I told you just now that I didn't want to be late, so I changed my clothes in the carriage and went straight to the Viscount's door before getting out."

The young men couldn't help looking at each other, wondering if Monte Cristo was acting, but his words, although unique, were so natural and straightforward that it was impossible to assume that he was telling a lie, let alone why he told a lie Woolen cloth?
"So," said Beauchamp, "let us do our best to help the count. As a reporter, I can accompany the count to various theaters in Paris."

"Thank you, Monsieur," said Monte Cristo, smiling, "I have ordered my butler to hire me a box at each theatre."

"Is your butler also a Nubian and dumb?" Debray asked.

"No, sir, he is a respectable fellow countryman, because after all, a Corsican has to recognize someone as a compatriot. But you know this man, Monsieur Mocerf."

"Maybe it's that very wonderful Mr. Beticio who is good at renting out windows for a long time?"

"That's right, you met him at my place the day I had the honor of inviting you to lunch. He was a great man, a soldier, a smuggler, and a little bit of everything. Did he do it for a little bit?" For trivial matters, I have had disputes with the police, such as using a knife or something, so I don't know."

"You have chosen for your steward, Monsieur the count, such an honest citizen of the world?" said Debray. "How much does he steal from you every year?"

"Well, to tell you the truth," said the count, "not more than others, I have a good deal. But I am very satisfied with him, and there is nothing he cannot do, so I have kept him."

"Then," said Chateau-Renoir, "you have everything you need for a home, a mansion on the Champs-Elysées, servants, and a housekeeper, and you need a mistress."

Albert smiled slightly, thinking of the Greek beauty he had seen sitting in the earl's box at the Valle Theater and the Argentine Theater.

"My beauty is better than my mistress," said Monte Cristo. "Here is a slave girl. Your mistress is only a play at the opera, Wardville, and fairgrounds, but I bought it in Constantinople, It cost me a lot of money, and because of that, I don't have to worry about it day and night."

"But you forget," said Debray, laughing, "King Charles has said that we French are free in our hearts, not only in words. Your slave girl is free when she sets foot on French soil. "

"Who is going to tell her she is free?" asked Monte Cristo.

"Oh my God, anyone can."

"She only speaks modern Greek."

"That's another matter."

"But at least we can see her?" Boshang asked, "otherwise, do you have eunuchs besides dumb slaves?"

"That's not true," said Monte Cristo, "my Oriental style is not so far. Anyone around me is free to leave me, and when he leaves me, he can ask for nothing from me or anything. People, and maybe for that reason, they won't leave me."

At this time, the host and guest have already eaten sweets and smoked cigars.

"My dear Albert," said Debray, standing up, "it is already 02:30, your distinguished guest is too charming, but there is always a banquet in the world, even if there is food and drink, there is also a time when the banquet is over. Well, I must go back to the minister. I will tell the minister about the count, and we must know all about him."

"It's better to be cautious," Moserf said. "Those who are well-rounded also give up halfway."

"Hey! Our police have three million dollars, which is almost always overdrawn, but it doesn't matter. There are fifty thousand francs to do this."

"After you find out who he is, can you tell me about it?"

"I will tell you. Good-bye, Albert, gentlemen, and I will excuse you."

As soon as Debray was out of the drawing-room, he called out in the anteroom: "Call for my carriage!"

"Okay," Beauchamp said to Albert, "I won't be able to go to the House of Representatives, but I already have something to offer the readers, which is far more exciting than Tanglar's speech."

"Be merciful, Beauchamp," said Mocerf, "and I beg you not to publish a word, and you will not come to claim the credit for introducing him and explaining him. Is he a different man?" ?”

"More than unique?" said Chateau-Renoir. "This is the most grotesque character I have ever seen. Will you go, Morrel?"

"When I leave a card for Monsieur the Earl, he promises to meet us at 14 rue de Merais."

"Don't worry, I will definitely go, sir." The count said with a bow.

Then Maximilian Morrel and Chateau-Renaud went out of the drawing room together, leaving only Monte Cristo with Mocerf.

(End of this chapter)