World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 76 Introduction (1)
Albert was alone with Monte Cristo. "Monsieur Count," he said, "permit me first to be your guide, to show you what a typical house looks like for a single young man. You are used to living in big and beautiful houses in Italy, so let's do the math, a If the house of a young man in Paris is not the worst, how much square footage should he usually live in. For you, this is also a kind of investigation. We will look at each house one by one. The windows can be opened at any time so that you can also breathe. "

Monte Cristo had already seen the dining room and drawing room on the ground floor, so Albert led the count to his art studio.The reader will remember that this was the room Albert admired most.Monte Cristo is a veritable connoisseur. He is familiar with all the things that Albert has piled up here, such as old wooden cabinets, Japanese porcelain, oriental fabrics, Venetian glassware, and weapons from all over the world. Recognize what era, country and origin it is from.Mersef expected him to explain, but instead the Count gave him a lesson in archaeology, mineralogy, and natural history.They went down to the second floor, and Albert invited the visitor into the drawing-room.On the wall of the living room are paintings by modern painters, including Dupre's landscape paintings, long reeds, tall trees, lowing cows and magnificent sky; Arabian knights painted by Delacroix , white robes, gleaming belts, weapons inlaid with filigree patterns, fierce horses biting each other, and knights wielding hammers fighting each other; there is a group of small tempera painted by Boulanger, depicting Notre Dame de Paris, painter's brushstrokes Emotional, can compete with poets; there are oil paintings of Dia, the flowers drawn by the artist are more magnificent than real flowers, and the sun is more brilliant than real ones; there are sketches of Decan, like the works of Salvatore Roza Just as lifelike, but more poetic; there are pastel drawings of Giraud and Miller, children painted like angels, and women painted as teenage girls; The sketches are all works drawn by the painter on the back of a camel or with a pencil in a few seconds under the dome of the mosque: in short, they are all excellent works of modern art, which are enough to be lost or disappeared in the art of the past dynasties. It is comparable to the masterpieces of the ancient times, and can make up for the gaps.

Albert thought that at least this time he could show the foreigners from afar something new, but he was surprised that the guests didn’t have to look up the paintings and sign them—some of them just signed abbreviations, and they could say everything immediately. The name of the author of the painting.It is not difficult to see that he is not only familiar with the names of every painter, but also has research on their styles and has his own opinions.

They passed from the drawing-room to Albert's bedroom.The room was furnished as a model of elegant simplicity, except for a portrait signed by Leopold Robert, framed in unpolished gold, which looked very elegant.The portrait attracted the Count of Monte Cristo's eyes from the very beginning, and he walked into the room, took three hurried steps, and stopped in front of the portrait.The painting is a young woman, 25 or [-] years old, with a brown complexion, and a pair of bright eyes like fire hidden under the sad eyelids.She wore a Catalan fisherwoman's dainty blouse and a red and black corset, and she had gold pins in her hair.She stared at the vast sea, and the blue waves under the blue sky made her beautiful figure look like a fish falling into the sky.The light in the room was dim, otherwise Albert would have noticed that the count's cheeks turned pale, and his shoulders and chest trembled as if suddenly touched.There was silence in the room, and Monte Cristo's gaze remained firmly on the painting.

"Your mistress is very handsome, Viscount," said Monte Cristo with great calmness. "This dress, probably a ball-gown, makes her even more beautiful."

"Ah, sir," said Albert, "if you had seen the other picture next to it, I could not excuse you for such an omission. You do not know my mother, sir, and it is she you see in the picture, My mother asked someone to draw it seven or eight years ago. The costume seems to have been drawn out of imagination. It was painted, no doubt to be an unexpected present for the count when he came home. But my father did not like it, beyond all comprehension. It is very valuable, and you You see, it's a masterpiece by Leopold Robert, but my father always grieves when he sees it. Really, let's talk straight between us, my dear count, my father, Monsieur Moserve, is One of the most diligent nobles in the Senate, and a general famous for his military theory, but his artistic taste was not flattering. My mother was not like that, she was a good painter herself, and she really I can't put it down, but in order not to annoy Mr. Moserf, so I hang the painting here. My father also has a portrait, and I want to show you, it was painted by Gero. Please forgive me for talking about this for you Family matters, but since I have the honor of introducing you to the count, I will tell you about it, so that when you see him, you will not accidentally praise the picture. Besides, the picture is tormenting, Because my mother rarely comes to my house without looking at it, and as for the time when she looks at the painting without crying, it is rare. This painting brings a little cloud to my house, but it is between the count and the countess. The only cloud is that they have been married for more than 1830 years, and they are always as harmonious as their wedding day."

Monte Cristo cast a quick glance at Albert, as if to see if there were any hidden meaning in the words, but it was evident that the young man's words came from a very frank heart.

"Now," said Albert, "you have seen all my treasures, Monsieur Count, though they are not of real value, but please allow me to offer them up. Please do it as you please, as in your own palace. Same. Come with me to my father, Monsieur Mocerf, to whom I wrote when I was in Rome to tell you how you could help me, and to tell him that you promised to come to the house. I can say, Count and Countess I am eagerly looking forward to the opportunity of thanking you in person. I know you are not very social, Mr. Earl, and family fun does not bring much enthusiasm to Samba the Sailor, because you have seen the world. But life in Paris, that is, entertainment, visits, and company, I would like to give you a little hint, please agree."

Monte Cristo made no answer, but bowed, and accepted the proposal, not with enthusiasm, but without displeasure, as a social courtesy, which is the duty of every well-bred and refined person.So Albert called his valet and told him to report to Mr. and Mrs. Mocerf that the Count of Monte Cristo was about to pay a visit.As soon as the servant left, Albert and the count followed.When they came to the waiting room, they saw a coat of arms hanging on the door leading to the living room. There were gorgeous patterns around the coat of arms, and the furnishings in the same room were harmonious and commensurate. It can be seen that the owner of the mansion attaches great importance to this coat of arms. Monte Cristo Standing in front of the coat of arms, he looked up carefully.

"Blue sky with seven golden thrushes lined up in a row, this is undoubtedly the coat of arms of your house, sir?" asked Monte Cristo, "I only know a little about coats of arms, and I can recognize them a little, but I am ignorant of the whole study of heraldry. My count, with the help of the House of the Chevaliers of Saint-Etienne, made up such a title by the Tuscan authorities on a whim. They made me As an aristocratic lord, I have repeatedly told me that it is absolutely necessary for people who often travel abroad to have this thing. Anyway, even if it is to avoid customs inquiries, you must write something on the license plate of the carriage. Excuse me, I I asked you this question."

"There's nothing wrong with your question, sir," said the simple, self-assured Mosef. "You guessed right. This is the coat of arms of my family, that is to say, it belongs to my father's family. However, you can also see that there is another coat of arms next to it, with a silver arrow tower on it, which belongs to my mother's family. According to my mother's family Genealogy, I'm Spanish, but the Mercerves are French and, I've heard, one of the oldest families in the south of France."

"Yes," said Monte Cristo, "that is what the thrush on it means. Almost all who go on an armed pilgrimage to try to conquer, or have conquered, the Holy Land carry arms or draw crosses to symbolize their devotion." mission, or with migratory birds, to show that they traveled long distances in the hope that they would be unstoppable by faith. It is likely that someone from your ancestors participated in the Crusades, let’s say the one of St. Louis’s own, and we can go back to the In the 13th century, it was also quite remarkable."

"It's possible," said Mocerf, "that there is a genealogy somewhere in my father's study, and you can read it. I have written several notes on this genealogy before, that is, the French genealogist Ozzie (1592-1660). He Ruogu, a French scholar (1704-1780), participated in the compilation of the "Encyclopedia" hosted by Diderot. It will also be of great benefit to read. Now I have no such thoughts, but I have to ask Please mention, Monsieur Count, for this is also my duty as a tour guide, and under our popular government people are beginning to be enthusiastic about these things again."

"Okay! So, your government should excavate something meaningful from your own history, which is better than the four plaques I saw on your monument, which have no heraldic meaning. As for You, Viscount," continued Monte Cristo, turning to Mocerf, "you are more fortunate than your government, because your coat of arms is not only beautiful but also interesting. Yes, you are both a Provençal and a Spaniards. So, if the portrait you just showed me is realistic, there is a reason why the noble Catalan lady is brown and beautiful. tone."

The earl said this passage on the surface very politely, but if you want to guess the sarcasm mixed in by the earl, you have to have the ancient Greek myth of Oedipus or the Sphinx. .Oedipus finally guessed the riddle, and the Sphinx turned into a stone statue.My intelligence.Mosef smiled slightly as a thank you to the count, then walked in front of the count to lead the way, and pushed open the door under the coat of arms.We have already said that beyond the door is the living room.

There is also a portrait hanging in the most eye-catching place in the living room.The painting is a man, aged 35-38, wearing a general uniform, wearing double tassel epaulets, indicating a high level of military rank, and a ribbon of the Medal of Honor hanging around his neck, indicating that he was awarded the Knight Medal , there is a Salvation Army Second Class medal on the right side of his chest, and the Grand Cross of Charles III on the left, indicating that the person in the portrait participated in the Spanish War and the Greek War, or—in fact, it is the same thing from the medal itself, he was in the These two countries have completed a diplomatic mission.Just as he had been looking at the portrait just now, Monte Cristo was concentrating on the present one, when suddenly a side door of the living room opened, and it was the Count of Mocerf who came before him.

Count Mercerf was between forty and forty-five, but looked to be at least fifty, with a black mustache and eyebrows, and his hair, cropped in the military fashion, had turned almost entirely white, forming a peculiar pattern of black and white. control.He wore civilian clothes, with a sash hanging from the buttonhole, with different ribbons indicating the various medals he had received.He came in with a strong step, but a little haste.Monte Cristo watched him coming towards him, but he did not move a step.It seemed that his feet had been nailed to the floor.And his eyes were locked on the face of Earl Mosef.

"Father," said the young man, "it is my honor to present to you the Count of Monte Cristo, a generous friend whom I had the honor to meet in a difficult situation that you know."

"Welcome to the humble house, sir." said the Earl of Mocerf, and greeted Monte Cristo with a slight smile. "Sir saved the only heir for my family. We should be eternally grateful for this kind deed."

As he spoke, Count Mecerf showed Monte Cristo the seat, while he himself sat down facing the window.Monte Cristo sat down on the chair that Count Mercerf pointed to, but he deliberately sat in the shadow of the large velvet curtain so that he could clearly see Count Mercerf's tired and worried face. A history of hidden worries is read from the folds left behind by shifting and turning.

"When the viscount came to tell the distinguished guests that they are here," Mosef said, "the countess is dressing. She will go downstairs at once, and she will be in the living room in ten minutes."

"I am very honored," said Monte Cristo, "on the first day I came to Paris, I met a man who had achieved both success and fame. This is the only time that fate has not been cast in secret. Moreover, in the middle of Algeria on the Mitija plain Plains. Or in the Atlas Mountains, did not fate also prepare a marshal's scepter for you?"

"Ah!" replied Mocerf, his face flushed a little, "I have retired, sir. I was appointed a member of the House of Peers during the Restoration, and was the first member of the House of Lords. 1773), worked for Napoleon. In 1846, he betrayed Napoleon and voted for Louis XVIII. In 1815, he served as Minister of War. In 1829, he led the French army to occupy Algiers. I can be promoted in the army. If the royal family The eldest son has always held the throne, who knows what the situation is! But the July Revolution refers to the July Revolution in France in 1930. The revolution lasted only 1830 days (July 3, 7, and 27), also known as the Glorious Three-Day Revolution .It seemed honorable, but it turned out to be ungrateful, and all the previous achievements of the empire were forgotten, so I resigned and retired. Winning epaulets on the battlefield alone, but I can't do much on the smooth living room floor. I now Hang up your sword to engage in politics, dedicate yourself to industry, and study practical skills. I really want to do this in the 28 years I have been in the army, but I always suffer from lack of time.”

"That is the reason why your country is superior to other nations, sir," said Monte Cristo. "You are a gentleman, born of a distinguished family, and of a wealthy family, but it is indeed admirable for you to start from the lowest rank of an unknown soldier. .and then you are a General, a Peer, and a Legion of Honor, and you can start again from the beginning, and you have nothing to ask or ask for, but that you will be useful to your fellow men someday. . . . How beautiful it is, sir, and, I might even say, how noble it is."

Albert, who looked at Monte Cristo and listened to him, could not help being amazed, for he was not used to seeing Monte Cristo's thoughts so passionate.

(End of this chapter)