World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 93
Saint-Honoré is a residential area for the wealthy, with row upon row of luxurious residences, and a mansion at the back of the middle section is even more magnificent. Behind the building is a large garden, where chestnut trees grow densely, and the tops of the trees have pierced through the city wall. Generally tall walls.Every spring, pink and snow-white poppy flowers fall colorfully. At this time, the large stone basins on the top of the square columns on both sides of the iron gate built in the Louis XIV era are full of petals.Although the entrance to the garden is majestic, it has long been abandoned. However, the geraniums in the stone flower pots on both sides are still graceful, with marble-striped branches and purple flowers swaying in the wind.For many years, the owner of the mansion has only used that small building. The courtyard with many trees on the street and the garden behind the iron gate are deserted, and there used to be dozens of acres of land on the other side of the iron gate. The very lush vegetable garden was originally the property of this mansion.However, speculators were speculating like a devil, and a line was drawn at the end of the vegetable garden, which meant that a road was to be built, and before the ground was broken, a shiny iron sign was erected, marking the name of the place.The owner of the mansion originally planned to sell this orchard and build a house along the road, so as to compete with the Parisian artery now called Rue Saint-Nore.

But in speculative business, people make money to make things happen. Although the name of Malu has been established, the road construction has not been done.The buyer of the vegetable garden paid a penny, but the land in his hand could not be resold at the price he wanted. However, he believed that one day the land price would rise, which would not only make up for the existing losses, but also The principal of bad debts can also be fully recovered, so the enclosed land is temporarily leased to some vegetable farmers, and the annual fee is 500 francs.In this way, the investment can only recover 5% interest.Looking at it now, this profit is indeed very small, because now many people earn 5 cents of profit and think it is not much profit.

As we said, the iron gate on the garden side, facing the vegetable garden, is no longer in use, and its hinges are rusted.In addition, in order to prevent those vulgar vegetable farmers from polluting the courtyard of this noble mansion, a six-foot-high wooden plank was nailed to the iron fence.It is true that the boards are not nailed perfectly, and there are gaps that allow people to peek in, but this building is a strict family mansion, and there is no fear of prying eyes.There are no cabbages, radishes, beans, or melons in the vegetable garden, but a large area of ​​alfalfa, and the whole garden is full of this kind of crops, which shows that there are still people thinking about this abandoned land.There is a low and small gate on the side where the road is planned to be built, and you enter this open space surrounded by walls.Since nothing can be grown in the land, the vegetable farmers who leased the land have returned their rent one after another. Therefore, the land that was originally [-]% interest in the past week is now unable to get back a penny.

On the side facing the building, as we have already said, the wall is covered with branches and branches of chestnut trees, but the branches and forks are mixed with branches of other trees squeezed in to compete for air. And blooming flowers.In one corner, where the foliage is so dense that daylight hardly penetrates, there is a large stone bench and some garden chairs inside. It seems that this is a place for trysts, or someone in the building likes to come and relax.The building is only about a hundred steps away from here, but looking through the green shade from here, you can only see the faint shadow of the building.In short, it makes sense to look at this mysterious and secluded place. Not only does the sun not shine in, but even in the hottest days of summer, it is always cool and refreshing, and you can hear the chirping of birds. The building and the road are relatively far away, which means that it is far away from troubles and hustle and bustle.

The weather in Paris is still full of spring, windy and warm.One evening, on the stone bench in the corner lay a book, a parasol, a sewing basket, and a linen handkerchief with a newly embroidered head.Not far from the stone bench, a young woman stood in front of the wooden plank next to the iron gate, with her eyes on the partition of the iron gate, looking through the cracks in the plank towards the barren vegetable garden we all know.At about this time the little door at the edge of the clearing opened and closed slightly, and a young man entered.He is tall and strong, wearing a coarse cloth overalls and a velvet cap on his head, but his black mustache, beard and hair are extremely neatly combed, which does not match the civilian clothes on him. .As he entered, he took a quick look around, convinced himself that no one was watching him, closed the door behind him, and hurried towards the iron gate.The girl saw the person she was waiting for, but it was likely that she was frightened by the attire, and hurried back a few steps.However, the young man's eyes, which are obviously possessed by lovers, have already seen the snow-white skirt and the blue belt fluttering through the crack of the partition, and he rushed to the partition in a hurry, sticking his mouth on a crack. "Don't be afraid, Valentine, it's me."

The girl walked forward. "Oh, sir," said she, "why is it so late to-day? You know, it's almost suppertime, and I managed to get out of it with some ingenuity. My stepmother was always watching me, and I My maid is watching me, and my younger brother is pestering me all the time. I made an excuse that I came here to embroider handkerchiefs, but I was worried that I would not be able to get out of this embroidery work. First, explain why you are late, and then tell me Why do I wear this new suit on a whim, so that I hardly recognize you."

"Dear Valentine," said the young man, "you are beyond my reach, I love you but dare not tell you more, but every time I see you I must tell you Love you so that when we are not together, my voice can gently caress your heart. Now I want to thank you for scolding me, these words are too lovely, for showing me, dare not Say you're waiting for me, but I can say you're thinking of me. You want to know why I'm late, and what motives I have for disguising, and I'm here to tell you, I hope you'll understand. I've found a job .”

"Business! . . . What do you want to say, Maximilian? Are we so happy now that you can talk and laugh about us?"

"Oh," said the young man, "God won't let me make fun of a part of my life, but I'm tired of running in the fields and climbing over walls, and I'm really scared. I hear from your words that one day your father will think me a thief, which will damage the reputation of the whole French army, and I am very worried. There are no castles to besiege, no fortresses to defend, but there are People would be amazed by a cavalry captain walking around here, so I became a vegetable farmer and put on the clothes I work for."

"Well, that's ridiculous."

"On the contrary, I think it's the smartest thing I've ever done in my life, because it keeps us safe."

"Then tell me more carefully."

"Well, I went to the proprietor of the land, and the tenant's lease has expired, so I rented the land. You see the clover is mine now, Valentine, Nothing will prevent me from building a little hut on the grass, and from now on living only twenty paces from you. Oh! I am so happy and happy that I cannot control myself. Think again, Valentine Na, how much did it cost to rent these lands? I can't figure it out, can I? Such a good thing, such happiness, such joy, I probably have to spend ten years of my life in exchange for it, but it cost me, guess what? How much?... 500 francs a year, and paid quarterly! So, you see, there is nothing to worry about in the future. I am on my own ground, I can put the ladder against my wall, I can Look on the wall. I don't have to be afraid of the patrolling police coming to trouble me, because I have the right to say I love you, but it won't hurt if a poor vegetable farmer in overalls and a peaked cap says that. Your pride will do."

Valentine cried out softly, overwhelmed with surprise, but she became sullen again, as if a cloud of jealousy had suddenly eclipsed the sunshine that illuminated her heart. "Hi, Maximilian," she said, "We are too laissez-faire now. This is risking our happiness and pursuing safety too much. Then safety will destroy us."

"You say that to me, my dear Valentine? I have shown you every time since I knew you that I have subordinated my thoughts and my life to yours and yours. life. What gave you confidence in me? It was my happiness, wasn't it? You told me that, by a vague possibility, you felt some great danger threatening you, when I Prove to you that I am loyal and willing to run for you. I don't want anything in return from you, but the happiness of serving you. Since then, have I ever said or done that made you feel annoyed and regretted? Quite a few People are happy to die for you, but you are the only one who has my eyes on me. You tell me, my dear Valentine, that you are engaged to M. d'Epinet, and that your father decided the marriage, so I can't change it, because what M. de Villefort advocates will definitely be done. In this way, I am content to wait in secret. I can wait for everything, but this is not my original will, nor your original will, but Providence and God But you love me and have pity on me, Valentine. You have said all these things to me, and I thank you for such a sweet word, and I ask for nothing more than to repeat it from time to time. , so that I can forget everything."

"This sentence has given you courage, Maximilian, this sentence has brought me a life that is both sweet and unhappy. I can't help asking myself often, because my stepmother was harsh to me and blind to her own children. Which of these two feelings is better for me, I am troubled by partiality, and now, whenever I see you, I taste a happiness fraught with danger?"

"Danger!" exclaimed Maximilian, "you say two words so cruel and so unjust! Have you ever seen a more obedient slave than I am? Will you allow me to say to you once in a while?" Sentence, but you don't want me to walk with you, I obey. I figured out a way to sneak into this vegetable garden, and I can talk to you through this door. Although I can't see you, I am with you after all By the way, tell me, have I ever said since then that I want to reach through the iron gate and touch your skirt? I am young and strong, and this wall is really no obstacle to me, but I have When you never took a step forward and wanted to cross the wall? You refused to forgive me, I never complained, and I never expressed my wish in a loud voice. I kept my word like the knights of old. You have to admit it, Or I'd really say you're being unfair."

(End of this chapter)