登陆注册
5382900000316

第316章

A Summer Ball.

The same day during the interview between Madame Danglars and the procureur, a travelling-carriage entered the Rue du Helder, passed through the gateway of No.27, and stopped in the yard.In a moment the door was opened, and Madame de Morcerf alighted, leaning on her son's arm.Albert soon left her, ordered his horses, and having arranged his toilet, drove to the Champs Elysees, to the house of Monte Cristo.

The count received him with his habitual smile.It was a strange thing that no one ever appeared to advance a step in that man's favor.Those who would, as it were, force a passage to his heart, found an impassable barrier.Morcerf, who ran towards him with open arms, was chilled as he drew near, in spite of the friendly smile, and simply held out his hand.Monte Cristo shook it coldly, according to his invariable practice."Here I am, dear count.""Welcome home again."

"I arrived an hour since."

"From Dieppe?"

"No, from Treport."

"Indeed?"

"And I have come at once to see you."

"That is extremely kind of you," said Monte Cristo with a tone of perfect indifference.

"And what is the news?"

"You should not ask a stranger, a foreigner, for news.""I know it, but in asking for news, I mean, have you done anything for me?""Had you commissioned me?" said Monte Cristo, feigning uneasiness.

"Come, come," said Albert, "do not assume so much indifference.It is said, sympathy travels rapidly, and when at Treport, I felt the electric shock; you have either been working for me or thinking of me.""Possibly," said Monte Cristo, "I have indeed thought of you, but the magnetic wire I was guiding acted, indeed, without my knowledge.""Indeed? Pray tell me how it happened?"

"Willingly.M.Danglars dined with me."

"I know it; to avoid meeting him, my mother and I left town.""But he met here M.Andrea Cavalcanti."

"Your Italian prince?"

"Not so fast; M.Andrea only calls himself count.""Calls himself, do you say?"

"Yes, calls himself."

"Is he not a count?"

"What can I know of him? He calls himself so.I, of course, give him the same title, and every one else does likewise.""What a strange man you are! What next? You say M.Danglars dined here?""Yes, with Count Cavalcanti, the marquis his father, Madame Danglars, M.and Madame de Villefort, -- charming people, --M.Debray, Maximilian Morrel, and M.de Chateau-Renaud.""Did they speak of me?"

"Not a word."

"So much the worse."

"Why so? I thought you wished them to forget you?""If they did not speak of me, I am sure they thought about me, and I am in despair.""How will that affect you, since Mademoiselle Danglars was not among the number here who thought of you? Truly, she might have thought of you at home.""I have no fear of that; or, if she did, it was only in the same way in which I think of her.""Touching sympathy! So you hate each other?" said the count.

"Listen," said Morcerf -- "if Mademoiselle Danglars were disposed to take pity on my supposed martyrdom on her account, and would dispense with all matrimonial formalities between our two families, I am ready to agree to the arrangement.In a word, Mademoiselle Danglars would make a charming mistress -- but a wife -- diable!""And this," said Monte Cristo, "is your opinion of your intended spouse?""Yes; it is rather unkind, I acknowledge, but it is true.

But as this dream cannot be realized, since Mademoiselle Danglars must become my lawful wife, live perpetually with me, sing to me, compose verses and music within ten paces of me, and that for my whole life, it frightens me.One may forsake a mistress, but a wife, -- good heavens! There she must always be; and to marry Mademoiselle Danglars would be awful.""You are difficult to please, viscount."

"Yes, for I often wish for what is impossible.""What is that?"

"To find such a wife as my father found." Monte Cristo turned pale, and looked at Albert, while playing with some magnificent pistols.

"Your father was fortunate, then?" said he.

"You know my opinion of my mother, count; look at her, --still beautiful, witty, more charming than ever.For any other son to have stayed with his mother for four days at Treport, it would have been a condescension or a martyrdom, while I return, more contented, more peaceful -- shall I say more poetic! -- than if I had taken Queen Mab or Titania as my companion.""That is an overwhelming demonstration, and you would make every one vow to live a single life.""Such are my reasons for not liking to marry Mademoiselle Danglars.Have you ever noticed how much a thing is heightened in value when we obtain possession of it? The diamond which glittered in the window at Marle's or Fossin's shines with more splendor when it is our own; but if we are compelled to acknowledge the superiority of another, and still must retain the one that is inferior, do you not know what we have to endure?""Worldling," murmured the count.

"Thus I shall rejoice when Mademoiselle Eugenie perceives Iam but a pitiful atom, with scarcely as many hundred thousand francs as she has millions." Monte Cristo smiled.

同类推荐
  • Gaudissart II

    Gaudissart II

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 八识规矩纂释

    八识规矩纂释

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上六壬明鉴符阴经

    太上六壬明鉴符阴经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 万氏秘传外科心法

    万氏秘传外科心法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • English Stories London

    English Stories London

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 邓小平政治制度文明思想探析

    邓小平政治制度文明思想探析

    关于邓小平政治制度文明思想的特征、价值取向、指导思想、基本原则,以及政治制度文明是邓小平政治体制改革的内在要求、政治体制改革是邓小平政治制度文明的根本手段、完善基本政治制度中政治制度文明思想等等。
  • 霸情总裁的替身妻

    霸情总裁的替身妻

    他说:“你是谁?怎么会在我的房里?”凌雨玲却不吃这一套:“就算我是你的第一个男人,也别对我抱有什么想法,否则后果自负。”
  • 攻心36计:男神只宠你

    攻心36计:男神只宠你

    那一年,他是军人,救下了她。这一年,她是心理医生,一心只想救下他。而他,貌似是想拿下她?“炎总,你有病。”“炎总,该吃药了。”“炎总,你脑子……”“女人,我的病,只有你能治!”
  • 陶说说今篇

    陶说说今篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 仙途求归

    仙途求归

    本来一心求仙,为的就是可以更好地保护自己的家人还有朋友。什么儿女情长的,她嗤之以鼻。天大地大,我心依旧。但是有一天,她偶然遇到了他,一眼便沦陷,才知什么是情不自禁。躲也躲不过了,她也不想躲了。“什么?”“我都没说不愿意,你还不愿意了?”“不行!”“我告诉你,你愿意也得愿意,不愿意也得愿意!”没错,她就是这么霸道,谁让他出现在了我的世界里,既然出现了,那就不准在他的世界里消失。至于后果是什么,管不了了,就算万劫不复她也认了。她还就不信了,她还搞不定一个男人了。可是,身后一堆拉着她拖后腿的是怎么回事?不就想好好谈个恋爱吗,还一哭二闹三上吊?简介无能,只能这样了o(╥﹏╥)o
  • 官汤

    官汤

    老藤,本名滕贞甫,系中国作家协会会员,渤海大学客座教授,著有《鼓掌》《儒学笔记》等著作七部,曾获东北文学奖、辽宁文学奖等。现供职于大连市西岗区委。毛克喜欢洗澡,喜欢脱得溜光一头扎进民汤里泥鳅一样钻来钻去。所谓民汤,是艾山温泉流下来的一股小溪,经过白石砬子、黄杏林,再流过一片低洼的长满芦苇的草塘,在草塘的南边汇成一个升腾着热气的水泡子。因为水暖,黄杏村的村民常常来洗澡,就给这水泡子起了民汤这么个有点解嘲味道的名字,意思是来这里洗澡的都是一些草民。
  • 神探狄仁杰之魂行武朝

    神探狄仁杰之魂行武朝

    一个刚出生便被遗弃的孤儿,在孤儿院长大。而不知不觉间穿越到了神探狄仁杰的世界,在这里他拥有了渴望得到的父爱母爱。但是上天又无情的剥夺了他的幸福,从此他如一个孤魂一样行走在这个世上。
  • 儿科常见疾病诊治

    儿科常见疾病诊治

    小儿阶段是人生过程中的基础阶段,健康活泼、朝气蓬勃的小儿不仅给家庭生活增添情趣,也是家庭、国家、民族的幸福与希望。儿科常见病的规范治疗是确保儿童身心健康的重要环节。为确保儿科常见病的诊治效果,我们组织有关专家编写了《儿科常见疾病诊治》一书,目的在于为儿科医务工作者及相关人士提供一些有益的借鉴。
  • 素颜肌密

    素颜肌密

    我们忙工作,忙学习,忙生活,承受着四面八方的压力。我们总在与时间赛跑,不停地赶公交,赶地铁,加班、熬夜如同家常便饭,我们在忙碌中度过每一天。不知不觉中,肌肤出现了问题:眼角开始有细纹;黑眼圈、眼袋越来越明显;痘痘不知道何时淘气地趴在脸上;肌肤干得像沙漠,变得越来越敏感,动不动就发红、紧绷;毛孔越来越粗大;黑头越来越明显……尼可在本书针对14个肌肤问题进行了具体透彻的阐述,从问题肌肤产生的根源到解决之道进行逐一破解,并提供行之有效的保养方案,教会我们彻底解决毛孔、黑头、黑眼圈、眼袋、皱纹等面部肌肤问题,让我们的肌肤光彩照人,健康有弹性!此外,尼可还奉上塑造身材曲线的方法,让我们的美不仅仅是脸部。
  • 韩非子

    韩非子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。