World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 87 Seven Gray Zebra (1)
The Baron in front, the Earl in the rear, passed a long series of rooms, richly furnished but glaringly ill-styled, which made them all the more glaring.They came at last to Madame Tanglar's ladies' drawing-room, a small octagonal room with rose-colored satin wall coverings covered with a thin, soft Indian muslin.The chairs were of old joinery, gilded, and satin of old fashion.The front of the door is painted by the French painter Boucher (1703-1770).Pie shepherd boy.There are also two elegant round pastel paintings hanging in the small living room, which are in harmony with the furnishings in the hall. With this decoration, the small living room becomes the only room with its own characteristics in the entire mansion.The architect of this house was one of the most famous architects in the Empire period, but the layout of the small living room was not according to the master plan made by that master and Mr. Tangra, but by the baroness and Lucien Debray. People are responsible for the decoration and arrangement.According to Mr. Tangla's understanding of the historical period during the French bourgeois revolution, the government was in power from 1795 to 1799, hence the name.The artistic style of the period is very fond of ancient styles, so I don't like the small and stingy layout of the small living room.Normally, however, he only had reason to enter the small drawing room when he was leading guests.In fact, it was not Tangra who introduced the guest, but someone else introduced him, and whether he was welcomed or indifferent here depended on whether the visitor's face could please the baroness.

Although Mrs. Tangla is 36 years old, her beauty is still commendable.She was sitting at this moment in front of her exquisitely inlaid piano, and Lucien Debray sat at the sewing table looking through a picture book.Before the count came, Lucien had enough time to tell the baroness a lot about the count.Readers know how deeply Monte Cristo made an impression on the guests at Albert's lunch table. Although Debray is not an easy-to-impress person, the impression at that time has not yet disappeared in his mind. It was from these impressions that he told the baroness about the count.Mrs. Tangra had heard from Mosef before, and now she has heard from Lucien's introduction. Her curiosity has reached an unbearable level.So at this time, turning on the piano and flipping through the picture album is just a small trick in social situations, so as to cover up the real topic to be discussed.Seeing Mr. Tanglar coming in, the baroness would give him a smile, which is not a common occurrence.The count bowed, and the baroness curtseyed with grandeur and grace.Lucien and the count had known each other not long ago, and they just greeted politely, and Lucien waved his hand to Tangra kindly and casually.

"Barononess," Tangla said, "permit me to introduce you to the Count of Monte Cristo, who has been recommended to me with the greatest enthusiasm by my Roman clients. I only need to say a word, and I can make us in a moment." The beautiful ladies are overwhelmed by it. He is going to live in Paris for a year, and he plans to spend 600 million a year, which means holding a series of balls, banquets and suppers. In such lively occasions, I believe Mr. Earl will not forget We, of course, in our little party, we will never forget the Count."

Although the flattery in the introduction was quite vulgar, it is a rare event that a person who comes to Paris and squanders all the property that a prince can have within a year, so Mrs. Tanglar could not help asking The count glanced at him, and there was a hint of favor in his eyes.

"When did you arrive, sir?" asked the baroness.

"Yesterday morning, ma'am."

"Are you from the end of the world, as usual? I hear that's what happens to you."

"Only from Cadiz this time, madam."

"Oh, it's a very bad season for you to come. Summer in Paris is terrible. There are no balls, no parties, no parties. Italian operas are performed in London, and French operas are performed everywhere except Paris. As for French plays, you also Nowhere, you know. The only entertainment we have now is a few poor races at the Parade Ground and Satori. Have you any horses of your own, Monsieur Earl?"

"As for me, Madame," said Monte Cristo, "I like what Paris has, but I must have the good fortune to find someone who can tell me the truth about the customs of France."

"Do you like horses, Monsieur Count?"

"I have spent part of my life in the East, madam, and you know that there are only two things that Orientals value, namely, horses and beauties."

"Ah, Monsieur Count," said the baroness, "if we start with the beauties, we will be able to please the ladies even more."

"You see, Madame, I was right just now, and I need a teacher to teach me French customs."

At this time, Baroness Tanglar's confidant maid walked into the living room, walked up to her mistress, and whispered something in her ear.Madam Tanglar's face turned pale, "Impossible!" she shouted.

"But it is absolutely true, madam," replied the maid.

Mrs Tanglar then turned to her husband, "Is it true?"

"What's the matter, ma'am?" Tangra asked fearfully.

"The maid said..."

"What did she tell you?"

"She told me that my horses were missing from the stable when my coachman was harnessing them to my cart. What does that mean? I want to ask you."

"Madam," Tangla said, "listen to me."

"Oh, I'll listen to you, sir, because I'd like to know very much what you can say to me. I want these gentlemen to judge us, and I'll tell you what's going on. Two Monsieur," continued the baroness, "the Baron de Tangra has ten horses in his stable, two of which belong to me, and they are very charming, two of the finest horses in Paris. Debray, here are two gray zebras. Well! Just when Madame de Villefort wanted to lend me my carriage, and when I promised her to take my carriage to the Bois de Boulogne to-morrow, the two horses found Gone. Monsieur Donguell probably wanted to make a few thousand francs, so he sold the horse. Oh, my God, these speculators, they're scumbags!"

"Ma'am," Tangla replied, "these two horses are only four years old, and they are too hot-tempered. I have always been worried about you."

"Well, monsieur," said the baroness, "you know very well that last month I had the best coachman in Paris to drive me, and I hope you won't sell both horse and man."

"Honey, I will definitely buy you two more identical ones, and as long as I have them, they will be more beautiful, but you must be gentle and calm, so that I won't be so frightened again."

The baroness shrugged her shoulders with a look of extreme contempt, but Tangra pretended not to see this detrimental gesture to the couple, but turned towards Monte Cristo. "To tell you the truth, I regret not having known you sooner, Monsieur Count," said he. "Is your apartment furnished?"

"Of course," said the Count.

"I should give you these two horses. You think, I almost gave them away for nothing. But, as I said just now, I want to let go of them. This kind of horse is suitable for young people."

"Sir," said the count, "I thank you. I have bought horses this morning. They are quite good and not very expensive. Ah, Mr. Debray, if you take a look, I think you understand."

Debray walked towards the window, while Tangla hurried to his wife's side. "Do you know, ma'am," he whispered, "that there is a man who is willing to pay a very high price for these two horses. I don't know what kind of madman, but he wants to lose his fortune, and sent his steward this morning to buy horses, so that I earned 1.6 francs from it. Don't be angry with me, I'll give you 4000 francs and 2000 to Eugenie." Madame Tangra just gave her husband a hard look.

"Oh, my God!" cried Debray.

"What is it?" asked the baroness.

"I am not mistaken, this is your horse, and it is your horse that is harnessed to the earl's carriage."

"My gray zebra?" cried Mrs Tanglar, and ran to the window. "Sure enough, it's these two horses," she said.

Tang Gela was stunned.

"There is such a thing?" said Monte Cristo, also feigning astonishment.

"Inconceivable!" murmured the banker.

The baroness whispered something in Debray's ear, and Debray went on to Monte Cristo. "The baroness asked me to ask you how much her husband sold you for these two horses?"

"But I don't know very well," said the count. "It's all my steward's trick, to surprise me. I think it cost me thirty thousand francs."

Debray went again to tell the baroness what the count had said.Tangra's face turned pale and he was in a state of embarrassment. The Earl looked at it with a sympathetic look. "You see," said the count to him, "how ungrateful women are, and you are so considerate and kind, but the baroness doesn't appreciate it at all. It's not really ungrateful, I should say it's absurd. But it can't be helped." People, what people like is just harmful. Believe me, my dear Baron, the easiest way is to let them have their own way, and if they get hurt themselves, then at least they can only blame themselves .”

Tangra didn't say anything more, he had a premonition that there was going to be a big quarrel at home, and the baroness had already frowned, just like Jupiter, the king of the gods on Mount Olympus, foretelling that a storm was coming.Debray felt that the clouds were gathering, and he excused himself on the pretense of business, while Monte Cristo, seeing that he would be self-defeating if he stayed any longer, bowed to Madame Donglas, and withdrew, leaving the Baron to listen to his wife.

"Very well," thought Monte Cristo, as he withdrew from the drawing-room, "my purpose has been accomplished, the peace of this family is now in my hands, and with a gesture of my hand and a stroke of my foot I may win the hearts of both their husband and wife, What a wish! But," he thought again, "everything is possible, except that I have not been introduced to Mademoiselle Eugénie Tangra, whom I would really like to know. However," he put on his characteristic expression. Smiling, he thought, "I just arrived in Paris, and I still have plenty of time... Let's talk about it later." While thinking, the count got into the carriage and returned to his apartment.

Two hours later, Mrs. Donglas received an enthusiastic letter from the Count of Monte Cristo, saying that he did not want to upset a pretty lady as soon as he stepped into Paris society, and begged to accept this belonging to the Her two horses.The two horses sent back were all wearing the saddle bridle that Mrs. Tanglar had just seen, but there was an extra diamond in the center of each rosette on each horse's ear, which was ordered by the count.Mr. Tangra also received a letter from the count, asking for his permission to give the baroness a gift from a millionaire on a whim, and asking for his understanding that the horse was sent back according to oriental etiquette.

That evening Monte Cristo went to Auteuil accompanied by Ali.About three o'clock in the afternoon next day, Ali heard a brass bell ringing, so he went to the earl's study.

"Ali," said the count, "you often tell me how you can throw the noose, don't you?"

Ali nodded, and puffed out his chest again very proudly.

"Very well! . . . So, can you hold a cow with a lasso?"

Ali nodded.

"Where's the tiger?"

Ali nodded again.

"Where's the lion?"

Ali made a lasso throw and roared like a lion when its neck was strangled.

"Very well, I understand," said Monte Cristo. "Have you ever caught a lion?"

Ali held his head proudly.

"But can you hold back two galloping horses?"

Ali smiled.

"Very well! Listen," said Monte Cristo, "a carriage will pass by in a moment, drawn by the two gray zebras I used yesterday. If you are run over, you will die. Let the carriage stop at my door."

Ali came to the street, drew a line on the stone pavement in front of the door, and then returned to point out the line to the count who had been staring at him.The Earl patted Ali on the shoulder lightly, which was his way of paying Ali a compliment.Then the Nubian negro came to the street corner of the building, leaned against the plinth, and smoked his long pipe, while Monte Cristo retired to his room and put the matter aside.But towards five o'clock, when the count expected the carriage to come, a trace of almost imperceptible anxiety appeared on his face, and he paced up and down a room facing the street, raising his head every few moments. Listen carefully, and go to the window to take a look from time to time.He saw Ali puffing out his cigarette in a calm manner. It seemed that the Nubian black man was devoted to this important job.

(End of this chapter)