World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 92 Edai (2)
"He was a businessman, Monsieur Earl, and took over the company from his late father. When Mr. Morrel died, he left 50 francs of property. I inherited half of it and the other half to my sister, because the children in the family are only the two of us. When they married, my brother-in-law had no property, but he was a man of high integrity, very clever and able, with a perfect reputation, and he was determined to earn as much for himself as his wife. He worked hard, and finally I have accumulated 25 francs and worked hard for 6 years. Really, I am telling the truth, Mr. Earl, their performance is really touching. Both of them are diligent and hardworking, and they are in the same boat. They are so successful, but they are determined not to change the old traditions of their parents’ careers. It took them six full years to reach the property that newcomers can obtain in two to three years. So far, the city of Marseilles is still full of praise. Such perseverance and Such dedication is really commendable. Finally one day, when Julie was paying the promissory note, Emmanuel came to find Julie.

"'Julie,' said he, 'here is a volume of 100 francs that Cocles has just sent me, which is just enough to make up the quarter of a million francs we are expected to earn. Will you let us keep this little money from now on? Live your life. Listen to me, the annual turnover of the company is a million, and the profit is 25 francs. If we like, we can sell the business for 100 francs in an hour. This is a letter from M. Delaunay, he issued This money buys our company to merge with him. You think about how to do it well.'

"'My dear,' said my sister, 'the Morrel company should be run by the Morrel family. Wouldn't it be worth the three hundred thousand francs to save my father's name from commercial misfortune? ?'

"'I thought so too,' replied Emmanuel, 'but I must hear your opinion.'

"'Ah, my dear, it is my idea that we have all the dues, all the promissory notes paid, the last fortnight's bills can be settled, and the business office can be closed, so we Bills should be settled and closed at last.' And so they said, and it was three o'clock in the afternoon, and a client came in, wishing to insure two boats, for fifteen thousand francs for the business of net profit.

"'Sir,' said Manuel, 'for this insurance business, please speak to our colleague, M. Delaunay, we are out of business.'

"'When does it start?' the client asks in amazement.

"'A quarter of an hour ago.'

"So, sir," Maximilian continued with a slight smile, "my sister and brother-in-law earn only 2.5 livres a year."

Listening to Maximilian's recounting of these past events, the Count felt more and more at ease.At this time, Maximilian had finished speaking, and Emmanuel also came over in a dress and a hat. He seemed to know the identity of the guest, bowed politely, and then walked with the count in the small garden for a while. After the circle, lead the guests into the building.

There was a scent of flowers in the living room. It turned out that a large vase was filled with flowers. The vase was a Japanese porcelain vase with simple and natural ears.Julie was now fully dressed and her hair was combed beautifully.This grooming took 10 minutes of effort.She greeted the count when he entered the drawing-room.Birds chirped from the birdcages next to the living room, and the blue velvet curtains were fringed with clusters of gorse and acacia flowers.In this small and elegant leisure room, everything, from the graceful singing of birds to the smiling face of the owner, is permeated with a peaceful atmosphere.As soon as the count entered the small building, he was immersed in a happy atmosphere, so after some pleasantries, he fell into silent meditation, forgetting that everyone was still waiting for him to resume the topic.Realizing that it would be almost rude not to speak any more, he struggled to break out of his contemplation. "Madame," he said at last, "forgive me for being so excited, you may find it strange, because the peace and happiness I see here, which you are accustomed to, are very new to me. It can also appear on people's faces, so that I only look at you and your husband."

"Yes, we are, sir," replied Julie, "but we have suffered, and few have paid so dearly for our happiness."

There was a look of curiosity on the earl's face.

"Oh, as Chateau-Renaud said to you that day, this is a history of family changes." Maximilian said, "As for you, Monsieur Count, you are used to seeing terrible bad luck and brilliant glory. It is not very interesting to talk about these trivial matters in the family. But, as Julie said just now, we have indeed suffered great misfortunes. Of course, these misfortunes are only the narrow world of our family..."

"Then, God, as with all men, at last gives you consolation and compensation for these misfortunes?" asked Monte Cristo.

"Yes, Monsieur Count," said Julie, "we may say so. For God treats us as God's elect. God sent an angel for us."

A blush came to the Count's cheeks, and he coughed, and by means of this he took out his handkerchief and covered his mouth to conceal his agitation.

"Those who have been born in the house of kings and who have never had a care in their lives," said Emmanuel, "do not know what happiness is in life. Likewise, those who have never been in the midst of stormy seas have to hold four The man who takes a plank to escape death does not realize how precious a clear sky is."

Monte Cristo got up silently, for the trembling of his voice would have revealed his agitation when he spoke, and he paced slowly a few more steps.

"You may be amused by our display, Monsieur Count," said Maximilian, keeping his eyes on Monte Cristo.

"No, no," said Monte Cristo.With a pale face, he covered his beating heart with one hand, and pointed to a crystal cover with the other hand. It turned out that there was a silk money bag carefully lined with black velvet under the crystal cover. He said to the young man, "I I just can't see what the purse is for, it looks like it has a piece of paper on one side and a pretty nice diamond on the other."

Maximilian's expression suddenly became very solemn, and he replied: "This thing, Mr. Earl, this is the most precious treasure in our family."

"Yes, the diamond is quite a fine one," said Monte Cristo.

"Well, it's estimated at 10 francs, but my brother didn't mean how much the diamond was worth. He meant that what was in the purse represented the angel we were just telling you about."

"That's exactly what I don't understand, but I shouldn't ask, Madame," said Monte Cristo, bowing himself. "Forgive my rashness, but I didn't mean to."

"How presumptuous? Oh, on the contrary, Monsieur Count, you have given us the opportunity to talk about the matter in detail. If we keep the kindness embodied in this purse a secret Then we won’t put it outside for people to see. Oh, we really want to tell everyone in the world, so that we can move our unknown benefactor to come out and show us.”

"Oh, that's right," said Monte Cristo, his voice hoarse.

"Sir," Maximilian lifted the crystal cover, kissed the silk purse reverently, and said, "Someone once touched this thing. Thanks to this person, my father was saved from death. We We shall not be bankrupt, and our surname shall not be dishonored. Thanks to this benefactor, we children who are destined to drink the wind and drink the dew and wash our faces with tears, can today hear the praise of our happiness. This letter "Maximilian took out a letter from the purse and handed it to the count, and continued, "this letter was written by this benefactor on the day my father decided to commit suicide in despair. The benefactor by his name generously gave it to my sister as a dowry."

Monte Cristo opened the letter, and read it with an indescribable joy.As all readers know, this letter is addressed to Julie and is signed by Samba the Sailor.

"You said you don't know the name? You have never known who the person who saved you is?"

"Well, sir, we have not had the privilege of shaking hands with him, and we are not too much to ask God to grant us such a favor. The whole thing seems to be followed, but mysterious, at least we Still don't know why, it seems to be controlled by a magic hand like a wizard, invisible to our naked eyes, but powerful."

"Oh," said Julie, "I'm not completely desperate. Now I kiss the purse that the hand touched, but one day I will kiss the hand. Four years ago Penelon was in Rias Mr. Count, Penelon is that venerable sailor with the shovel that you saw just now. When he was in Trieste, he saw an Englishman on the pier about to board a yacht, and he recognized that it was the Englishman who came to see my father on June 1829, 6 and gave it to me on September 5. He also wrote the letter. Penelon was sure it was the man, but he dared not go up and speak."

"An Englishman!" said Monte Cristo thoughtfully, and his uneasiness increased with each glance that Julie cast. "An Englishman, you say?"

"Yes," went on Maximilian, "an Englishman who came to our house claiming to be a representative of Thomson & French in Rome, so that day at M. When Sheng-French Company had your account, you saw that I suddenly trembled. We have just said that this happened in 1829. For the sake of heaven, sir, do you know this Englishman? ?”

"But didn't you tell me that Thomson & French has always denied helping you?"

"That's it."

"Then, it's possible that this Englishman has received favors from your father, but your father doesn't remember it. The British use the name of the firm to repay your father. Is this the case?"

"We can make all sorts of hypotheses, sir, and a situation like this could even be called a miracle."

"What's his name?" asked Monte Cristo.

"He left no other name," said Julie, looking intently at the count, "but signed this letter at the bottom: Samba the Sailor."

"Obviously there is no such name; it is a pseudonym," said Monte Cristo.Julie looked at him more closely now, trying to pick out something in his voice as he spoke. "Well," he went on, "was he about my build, maybe a little taller, but a little skinnier, with a high bow tie, tight-fitting but tight-fitting clothes, always fully buttoned. with a pencil in your hand all the time?"

"Ah, so you know him?" cried Julie, with a sudden gleam of joy in her eyes.

"No," said Monte Cristo, "I am only guessing. I know a Lord Weymar who is often of such generosity."

"But he doesn't show himself!"

"He's a very eccentric guy who doesn't believe in gratitude."

"Oh," cried Julie, clasping her hands, with sublime passion, "and what does he believe in? Do you believe in bad luck?"

"He didn't believe it either, at least when I knew him." Monte Cristo said, Julie's heartfelt cry tugged at every chord in his heart, "but the facts may later convince him that there is gratitude."

"You know him, sir?" asked Emmanuel.

"Oh, you really know him, sir?" cried Julie. "Please tell us, can you take us to him? Let us see him? Can you tell us where he is? Maximilian Lean, Emmanuel, you say, once we find him, shouldn't we show him that the human heart is grateful?"

Monte Cristo felt that his eyes were filled with tears, and he paced a few more steps in the drawing-room.

"For heaven's sake, sir," said Maximilian, "if you really know anything about this man, tell us all you know."

"Unfortunately," said Monte Cristo, suppressing the emotion in his heart, "if your benefactor were Lord Weimar, I fear you would never see him again. I parted from him at Palermo two or three years ago, when he was To set off for the most grotesque countries, I fear he will never return."

"Oh, sir, you are so cruel!" cried Julie.Monte Cristo's answer shocked the young woman, and she burst into tears.

"Madame," said Monte Cristo solemnly, looking at the two lines of tears streaming down Julie's cheeks, "what I have seen here, if Lord Weimar could have seen it, he would still love life. Because your tears can make him shake hands with human beings." He stretched out his hand to Julie, and Julie also stretched out her hand to the count, and she was deeply attracted by the count's eyes and tone of voice.

"But this Lord Waymar," said Julie, still refusing to give up the last ray of hope, "has always had a country, a family, relatives, and, after all, someone who knows about him? Can't we ..."

"Oh, don't think too much, ma'am," said the Earl. "What I said just now was out of my mouth, and without consideration. Please don't let it lead to wishful thinking. No, Lord Weimar is probably not the benefactor you are looking for. He He's my friend, he doesn't hide anything from me, he'll tell me about such things."

"He didn't say a word?" Julie called.

"Nothing was said."

"Never say a word that makes you think of..."

"there has never been."

"But you mentioned him right away."

"Oh, you know, there's a lot of speculation about things like this."

"Sister, sister," Maximilian excused the count, "Mr. Count is right. You may wish to think about what my father often said to us. The benefactor who brought us good luck was not an Englishman." .”

Monte Cristo couldn't help being startled, and asked hastily: "Monsieur Morrel, what does your father tell you...?"

"My father thinks it is a miracle, sir, and he believes that some benefactor has come out of the grave for us. My father's words are superstitious, but they are indeed touching, sir. I don't believe it myself, but I am far from wanting to go." Destroy the faith in his noble heart. So, he does not know how many times he has meditated alone, whispering the name of a friend - a very precious friend, who has not been heard from. As he lay dying, with eternity The world was approaching, and he realized what the grave was. This idea was only a suspicion, but at this moment he was sure. On his deathbed, he said these last words: "Maximilian, he is Edmond ... Dantès."

The count's face became paler and paler in the past few seconds, and when he heard the last sentence, his paleness was shocking.The blood all over his body rushed to his heart, he could not speak, he just took out his watch, as if he had forgotten the hour, then picked up his hat, bid Madame Ebo a hasty farewell, and talked awkwardly with Emmanuel. Er and Maximilian shook hands. "Ma'am," he said, "please allow me to visit you from time to time. I am very happy in the Zunfu and thank you for your kindness. This is the first time in many years that I have forgotten the time." Then he strode out of the living room .

"The Count of Monte Cristo is really extraordinary," Emmanuel said.

"Yes," said Maximilian, "but I think he has a very good heart and I'm sure he likes us."

"As for me," Julie said, "his voice struck a chord in me, and two or three times I felt that it was not the first time I had heard him."

(End of this chapter)