登陆注册
5382900000168

第168章

"All the nobility of Rome will be present, and if your fair incognita belong to the higher class of society, she must go there.""Whether she goes there or not, my opinion is still the same," returned Albert."You have read the letter?""Yes."

"You know how imperfectly the women of the mezzo cito are educated in Italy?" (This is the name of the lower class.)"Yes."

"Well, read the letter again.Look at the writing, and find if you can, any blemish in the language or orthography."(The writing was, in reality, charming, and the orthography irreproachable.) "You are born to good fortune," said Franz, as he returned the letter.

"Laugh as much as you will," replied Albert, "I am in love.""You alarm me," cried Franz."I see that I shall not only go alone to the Duke of Bracciano's, but also return to Florence alone.""If my unknown be as amiable as she is beautiful," said Albert, "I shall fix myself at Rome for six weeks, at least.

I adore Rome, and I have always had a great taste for archaeology.""Come, two or three more such adventures, and I do not despair of seeing you a member of the Academy." Doubtless Albert was about to discuss seriously his right to the academic chair when they were informed that dinner was ready.Albert's love had not taken away his appetite.He hastened with Franz to seat himself, free to recommence the discussion after dinner.After dinner, the Count of Monte Cristo was announced.They had not seen him for two days.

Signor Pastrini informed them that business had called him to Civita Vecchia.He had started the previous evening, and had only returned an hour since.He was charming.Whether he kept a watch over himself, or whether by accident he did not sound the acrimonious chords that in other circumstances had been touched, he was to-night like everybody else.The man was an enigma to Franz.The count must feel sure that Franz recognized him; and yet he had not let fall a single word indicating any previous acquaintance between them.On his side, however great Franz's desire was to allude to their former interview, the fear of being disagreeable to the man who had loaded him and his friend with kindness prevented him from mentioning it.The count had learned that the two friends had sent to secure a box at the Argentina Theatre, and were told they were all let.In consequence, he brought them the key of his own -- at least such was the apparent motive of his visit.Franz and Albert made some difficulty, alleging their fear of depriving him of it; but the count replied that, as he was going to the Palli Theatre, the box at the Argentina Theatre would he lost if they did not profit by it.This assurance determined the two friends to accept it.

Franz had by degrees become accustomed to the count's pallor, which had so forcibly struck him at their first meeting.He could not refrain from admiring the severe beauty of his features, the only defect, or rather the principal quality of which was the pallor.Truly, a Byronic hero! Franz could not, we will not say see him, but even think of him without imagining his stern head upon Manfred's shoulders, or beneath Lara's helmet.His forehead was marked with the line that indicates the constant presence of bitter thoughts; he had the fiery eyes that seem to penetrate to the very soul, and the haughty and disdainful upper lip that gives to the words it utters a peculiar character that impresses them on the minds of those to whom they are addressed.The count was no longer young.He was at least forty; and yet it was easy to understand that he was formed to rule the young men with whom he associated at present.

And, to complete his resemblance with the fantastic heroes of the English poet, the count seemed to have the power of fascination.Albert was constantly expatiating on their good fortune in meeting such a man.Franz was less enthusiastic;but the count exercised over him also the ascendency a strong mind always acquires over a mind less domineering.He thought several times of the project the count had of visiting Paris; and he had no doubt but that, with his eccentric character, his characteristic face, and his colossal fortune, he would produce a great effect there.And yet he did not wish to be at Paris when the count was there.

The evening passed as evenings mostly pass at Italian theatres; that is, not in listening to the music, but in paying visits and conversing.The Countess G---- wished to revive the subject of the count, but Franz announced he had something far newer to tell her, and, in spite of Albert's demonstrations of false modesty, he informed the countess of the great event which had preoccupied them for the last three days.As similar intrigues are not uncommon in Italy, if we may credit travellers, the comtess did not manifest the least incredulity, but congratulated Albert on his success.They promised, upon separating, to meet at the Duke of Bracciano's ball, to which all Rome was invited.The heroine of the bouquet kept her word; she gave Albert no sign of her existence the morrow or the day after.

At length Tuesday came, the last and most tumultuous day of the Carnival.On Tuesday, the theatres open at ten o'clock in the morning, as Lent begins after eight at night.On Tuesday, all those who through want of money, time, or enthusiasm, have not been to see the Carnival before, mingle in the gayety, and contribute to the noise and excitement.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 魔医归来

    魔医归来

    饱经风霜的相陪,干柴烈火的碰撞,转眼相忘于江湖,留下的只有怨恨。前世的风晚竹为保玄皇宗不惜大陆任何代价,换来的是被至亲挚爱折磨致死,形神聚毁。曾毁天灭地,改变御灵大陆运作轨迹的‘诛魂灵魅’,一朝重生,成了修为尽失相貌丑陋的废柴别人嘲我太癫狂,我笑他人看不穿。再弃正途,修炼邪术,绘箓召万物邪灵,修肉白骨,救天下苍生,却独独救不了自己
  • 拈花一笑不负卿

    拈花一笑不负卿

    大雨,她跪在殿前,做了她这一生最任性的一件事,一如当初她的父亲那样,只为一纸婚书。“我要嫁他,不论如何,我要嫁他,瘸了,瞎了,又如何,我只嫁他!”她抱着决绝的心思,求来的婚书,求来的婚典。————————————————————“你骗我?你根本没有受那么重的伤!”“那又如何,现在,全天下都知道,你非我不嫁!喜服你已经穿上,京城我已经派人四处把守,犹如铜墙铁壁,你,逃不了!”—————————————————————新文推荐《娱乐圈之桃之夭夭》奶狗系小男主,柔软易推倒,可奶可狼,只是狗起来的根本不是人,文已肥,可入手,坚决不亏!
  • 世界宝藏未解之谜(视觉天下)

    世界宝藏未解之谜(视觉天下)

    《探索·发现》编委会编著的《世界宝藏未解之谜》讲述了:财富因为各种各样的原因停驻在时间隧道里,它们或者被深埋在地下,或者被故意隐藏,或者被秘密收藏,而成为富有神秘色彩的宝藏。每个宝藏的背后,都有一个极富传奇色彩的故事,在历史长河中变得更加神秘。那些宝藏究竟在哪里?那些故事又是何等神秘?阅读《世界宝藏未解之谜》寻找宝藏的秘密。
  • 重生之我的阁下

    重生之我的阁下

    我们不叫黑衣人,我们的名字是人类观察员。至于你,你是我们的总司令!你问总司令是干嘛的?当然是认真贯彻《人类保护计划》的核心精神,维护世界和平。记住,这个世界没有神仙!没有上帝!没有妖怪!没有幽灵!没有魔法!没有外星人!也没有超能力!那刚刚咬掉我半只手的东西是什么……
  • 他是朝暮也是归处

    他是朝暮也是归处

    午后阳光正好,睡不着觉,舒晏对他道:“你唱首歌给我吧。”“好,你想听什么?”“就唱你最擅长的那一首吧。”梁昱行眉眼清澈温柔,搂着她的腰,在她耳边浅唱低吟。舒晏搂着他的脖子,靠着他的胸膛,能感觉到他的胸膛微微震动,即使她听不见,她也依然觉得这是这个世上最动听的声音。初次见面,舒晏以为他是个四处漂泊的流浪歌手,可后来才发现原来他并不是。当我抬头仰望这个温柔而又强大的你,我才发现,我对你的爱,已经胜过我的生命。
  • 快穿之真爱系统

    快穿之真爱系统

    【全文完结】【全篇不虐,男女主身心干净,男主都是一个人!一个人!一个人!】凤紫为了和董永在一起,毅然决定穿越到各个世界去做任务。本来她以为完成了系统的任务就可以和董郎永远在一起,但是在她经历了那么多的世界之后却发现真相并没有自己想象的那么简单——自己并不仅仅是天庭的七公主,董郎也不是一个凡人……辣鸡作者简介无能,欢迎观看~【萱萱新书:《快穿:百变男神花样撩!》已发,欢迎跳坑!简介:余归晚:为什么每个世界都能碰到同一个人?某总裁:媳妇儿,这样不好吗?】
  • 诺贝尔文学奖文集:诸神渴了

    诺贝尔文学奖文集:诸神渴了

    诺贝尔文学奖,以其人类理想主义的伟大精神,为世界文学提供了永恒的标准。其中所包含的诗、小说、散文、戏剧、哲学、史学等不同体裁。不同风格的杰作,流光溢彩,各具特色,全面展现了20世纪世界文学的总体各局。这些路数迥异的作家,虽语种不同、观念不同、背景不同,但他们那高擎思想主义旗帜的雄姿是相同的,他们那奋勇求索的自由精神是相同的。而他们的雄姿,无不闪现于他们的作品之中;他们的精神,无不渗透于这些作品的字里行间。这套丛书所承载的,正是他们那令万世崇敬的全部精华。一套丛书,为我们竖起了一座20世纪的文学丰碑。
  • 百善仁心

    百善仁心

    刚刚归来就碰到有人当街杀人?这怎么可以,医者仁心,她正要救人,某人却要横刀截胡?!一个是海归的中医世家千金,一个是新晋商业巨子,一个要救,一个要杀,两个人的命运一不小心就撞到了一起。
  • 渡过仙劫后飞升地球

    渡过仙劫后飞升地球

    唐枫逆天而行,强行飞升仙界,但他却发现仙界早已大变模样。乐山,巨佛像,内藏佛陀金身,仙已死!峨眉,上古仙人化道……仙界即是地球,地球即是仙界。这里曾经究竟发生过什么,为何会变成如今的这幅模样?
  • 我站在桥上看风景

    我站在桥上看风景

    萧水光的初恋还没有开始,便已经结束。从此那个不可能的人成为她心头的朱砂痣,头顶的白月光。岁月流转,她始终活在那个不可能的梦境里。却被人生生拉出来,让她看被忽略的风景。他说:“不管你心里藏着什么秘密,我只想告诉你,你守你的秘密,我会好好守着你。”他强硬地闯入她生活中的每一个细节,让她内心的孤城一寸寸地失守。或许是清冷太久,她虽然并不拒绝暖阳,却怕日光太烈,将夜的时候太难安眠。他跟她,其实就像张爱玲笔下的那一句话,他不过是一个自私的男子,她也不过是一个自私的女人。他们相爱,有失去,有得到。最后,细水长流,碧海无波。