World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 90 Controversy (2)
"Excuse me, Monsieur," continued Villefort, utterly astonished, "forgive me for coming to pay my respects, but knowing very little of the person I am addressing, whose knowledge and realm are far beyond the common sense and realm of ordinary people. We are the poor degenerates of civilization, and it seems to us to be against the norm, because a gentleman like you has endless wealth - at least that's the rumor, mind you, I'm not asking, I'm just following what others say That, I said, was contrary to the norm, when a blessed star of infinite wealth wastes his time in social speculations and philosophical fantasies, which are really only used to comfort poor souls who have no life to enjoy earthly wealth. "

"Oh, sir," said the Count, "you have attained the eminence which you now occupy, and do you not admit that you have never even encountered an exception? You need a keen and reliable eye, and have you never used it?" Do your eyes discern what kind of person is in front of you? A judge is not necessarily the best enforcer, and besides, the case is complicated and confusing, the judge is not necessarily the most cunning interpreter, and human beings Souls are made of alloys with different compositions, shouldn't the judge be the steel probe and touchstone to test the soul?"

"Monsieur," said Villefort, "you have knocked me out of my wits; indeed, I have never heard you so eloquent."

"That's because you are always confined to the ordinary, because you never dare to fly into the realm that God has opened for beings who are not seen by the naked eye and imagined by extraordinary people."

"Sir, do you think that this kind of realm really exists, and that those extraordinary and invisible creatures are also among us?"

"Why not? You can't live without air, but do you see the air you breathe?"

"So, we can't see these creatures you mentioned?"

"No, when God allowed them to take form, you could see them, touch them, walk past them, talk to them, and they would answer you."

"Ah," said Villefort, smiling, "I will tell you the truth, if such a creature should come into contact with me, I should very much like to be told."

"You have had your wish, sir, because you were informed just now, and I am still reminding you."

"You yourself?"

"I am such a remarkable creature, and so, sir, I do not think I have hitherto been equaled in position. A king's dominions are always limited, either by mountains, or by rivers, or by customs. Changed, or the language is different. And my kingdom is as big as the world, because I am neither Italian, nor French, Indian, American, or Spanish, I am at home, and there is no country that can be said to see I was born, and only God knows which country will see me die. I adopt every custom, and know every language. I speak French as fluently and purely as you, and you think I am French, don't you, ah, my Nubian nigger Ali thinks I'm an Arab, my steward Beticio thinks I'm a Roman, my slave girl Eddie thinks I'm a Greek. So you'll understand , since I belong to no country, claim the protection of any government, and recognize no one as my brother, then the hesitation that stops the strong and the weak does not help me, I will neither Paralyzed, and not flinching. I have only two adversaries, but not victors, that is not what I mean, for I am stoic, and I can make them subdue. My two adversaries, one is space, one is It's time. The third enemy is the most terrifying, that is, I am also a mortal person. Only this situation can stop me on the way forward and fail to achieve my expected goal. Apart from this, everything is in my plan Amongst. All kinds of circumstances that people call chance, such as downfall. Sudden changes in wind and clouds, storms on flat ground, etc., I have anticipated. If I have some situations that may encounter me, I will never be depressed by them. As long as I will not die, I will never change the way I am. That's why I will tell you things you have never heard, words that even a king can't say, because kings need you and others fear you .In such a nondescriptly organized society like ours, who doesn't say to himself, 'Maybe one day I'll deal with a prosecutor'!"

"And you yourself, Monsieur, don't you want to say the same? Since you live in France, you are of course bound by French law."

"I am well aware of that, sir," replied Monte Cristo, "but when I am going to a country, I first investigate, in my own way, what I might expect from it, or what I might expect from it. Worrying people, so that I can know these people very well, even better than they know themselves, the end result must be that when I deal with prosecutors, prosecutors, no matter who they are, must not be as calm as I am .”

"That is to say," said Villefort hesitantly, "in view of the cowardice of human nature, so, as you can see, all human beings are . . . at fault."

"Fault...or crime," said Monte Cristo casually.

"You don't recognize anyone as your brother, you say it yourself, and you alone, of all men," said Villefort, with an air of nervousness, "are you the only one who is perfect?"

"By no means perfect," replied the count, "but merely blind. But if you do not like the subject, sir, we shall leave it at that. I shall not be ruined by your laws, nor shall you." Not to be terrified because I have double vision."

"No, no, monsieur," said Villefort hastily, fearing that he might appear to be fleeing, "no, you have lifted me above the level of ordinary people by your distinguished and, so to speak, sublime remarks. We're not chatting, we're discussing. But you know, the Sorbonne, formerly the University of Paris. A theologian who lectures, or a philosopher who debates, sometimes speaks the hard truth. Let's say we're talking about social theology And religious philosophy, although there is a saying that is very harsh, but I still want to say to you: My brother, you are arrogant, you are above others, but above you there is God."

"Above all, monsieur," replied Monte Cristo, with such gravity that Villefort shuddered involuntarily, "I strut before men, and a snake, even if it is not crushed, passes by something. I always hold my head high. But before God, I am humbled, and my wealth and everything I have are God-given."

"In this way, Monsieur Count, I admire you," said Villefort, who had been referring to the foreigner as "Sir" in this strange conversation, and now changed his name to the nobleman for the first time, "Yes, and I would like to address the foreigner at the same time. You say, if you are really powerful, if you are really superior, if you are really holy or invisible, and you are right, the holy and the invisible are almost the same, so be proud, sir. This is the governing law .But surely you have some kind of ambition?"

"I had an ambition."

"What kind of ambition?"

"As it happens to all people once in a lifetime, I was once carried by Satan to the highest mountain in the world. After I went up the mountain, Satan showed me the whole world and said to me as he said to Christ:' Oh, son of men, do you have any plans to show me your respect?" I thought long and hard, for I was already troubled by a strong ambition, and then I replied, "Listen, I always hear Speaking of Providence, but I have never seen Providence, nor seen anything like Providence, so I guess Providence does not exist. I hope to be Providence, because the best, greatest, most noble thing in the world that I know , are rewards and punishments.’ But Satan bowed his head and sighed again. ‘You are mistaken,’ said he, ‘the providence is there, but you cannot see it, for this is the daughter of God, like God, They are also invisible to mortals. You can’t see what the will of heaven looks like, that’s because the power of will is hidden, and the traces of will are looming. All I can do for you is to make you a member of providence Apostle.' Thus we are settled. I may lose my soul for it, but that is all right," continued Monte Cristo, "and if the agreement is to be overthrown, it is my first choice."

Villefort looked at Monte Cristo in great astonishment. "Monsieur," said he, "do you have any relations?"

"No, sir, I am alone in this world."

"that's too regretful."

"Why?" asked Monte Cristo.

"Because you cannot witness a situation that would have overcome your aloofness. Didn't you say that your only fear was death?"

"I didn't say I was afraid of death, but that only death could stop me."

"And what about aging?"

"My mission will be fulfilled without waiting for old age."

"Then crazy?"

"I almost became a lunatic. You know non bis in idem Latin: One crime is not equal to punishment. This is an axiom in criminology, so it is a matter under your jurisdiction."

"Monsieur," continued Villefort, "the dreadful things are not only death, old age, or madness, but also the stroke, for example, which is a kind of bolt from the blue which strikes you without destroying you, but after which all is lost. You It's still the same, but not yourself. You used to be like a character in Eliel Shakespeare. You can approach angels, and now you are just a pile of lifeless meat, like a character in Caliban Shakespeare It is the same as that of animals. As I told you just now, this disease is called apoplexy in humane terms. Someday you want to meet an opponent who understands what you mean and is very eager to contradict you. I I beg you to continue our conversation at the chateau, and I will show you to my father, M. Noirquier Villefort, one of the most violent Jacobins of the French Revolution, that is to say, one of the most powerful. He was a hero of the world who was driven by his organization. Like you, of course, he may not have seen all the kingdoms of the world, but he contributed to shaking a very powerful kingdom in the world; he, like you, called himself a messenger, But not for God but sent by the highest beings, not of providence but of necessity. Ah, sir, a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain destroyed it all, not in a day, not in an hour, but in a second The day before, Monsieur Noirquier, the old Jacobin, ex-senator, old Carbonarist, was still laughing at the guillotine, at the cannon, at the dagger; Monsieur Noirquier was still playing with revolution; Monsieur Noirquier still thought that France was nothing more than a gigantic chessboard in which pawns, rooks, horses and queens had to be eaten, and the king would be checkmate to death; Poor Monsieur Noirquier, an immobile old man at the mercy of the weakest member of the family, his granddaughter Valentine, in short, just a corpse, speechless, expressionless, indifferent Live alive, but it is only to give the body the time it needs to gradually achieve complete decomposition."

"Oh, sir," said Monte Cristo, "I have seen and thought of such cases. I may be called a doctor, and like my colleagues I have more than once searched for souls in living or dead matter. .And the soul is like the will of God. Although it exists in my heart, it is not seen by my naked eyes. From Socrates (Greek philosopher (before 470-before 399).), Seneca (Latin writer (before 60-before 39). ).), St. Augustine, early Christian philosopher (354-403). and Gallo-German physician (1758-1828). Since hundreds of writers have written in their verse or prose what you just said before and after, I can I understand that a father's suffering can have a great influence on a son's physical and mental changes. Sir, since you have invited me warmly, and also to show my humility, I will go to the house to see this terrible, which may make the house sad. dense scene."

"If God did not give me compensation, he has now. Although the old man is trudging towards his grave, two children have come to this world. A Valentine, born to my former wife, Mademoiselle René Saint-Méran. Daughter, one is Edward, the son whose life was saved by you."

"How do you feel about this compensation, monsieur?" asked Monte Cristo.

"I think, monsieur," replied Villefort, "that my father, lost in passion, has committed certain faults, which are unknown to the courts of men, because they belong to the courts of God. God only wants to punish a man. , so only he was punished." At this moment, although Monte Cristo smiled on his lips, he uttered a roar from the bottom of his heart, and if Villefort had heard this roar, he would have run away in fright. "Good-bye, sir," continued the judge, who had long since risen and remained standing, "I bid you my farewell, and I hope that my respect will please you when you know me better. , because I am not vulgar, and not generally unvulgar. Besides, you have formed an eternal friendship with Madame de Villefort."

The count bowed, and then accompanied Villefort to the door of the study, and did not send any more.Villefort went to his carriage, waved his hand, and the two servants walking in front of him immediately opened the door for him.After the prosecutor went away and disappeared, Monte Cristo squeezed a smile from his depressed chest, and said: "Okay, okay, there is a lot of such poison, and my heart has been filled, now I should come." Find an antidote." He rang the brass bell again, "I'm going up to see my wife now," he said to Ali, "I'm ready to use the car in half an hour."

(End of this chapter)