登陆注册
5382900000326

第326章

"Are you not married?" asked the countess."I married?"exclaimed Monte Cristo, shuddering; "who could have told you so?""No one told me you were, but you have frequently been seen at the opera with a young and lovely woman.""She is a slave whom I bought at Constantinople, madame, the daughter of a prince.I have adopted her as my daughter, having no one else to love in the world.""You live alone, then?"

"I do."

"You have no sister -- no son -- no father?""I have no one."

"How can you exist thus without any one to attach you to life?""It is not my fault, madame.At Malta, I loved a young girl, was on the point of marrying her, when war came and carried me away.I thought she loved me well enough to wait for me, and even to remain faithful to my memory.When I returned she was married.This is the history of most men who have passed twenty years of age.Perhaps my heart was weaker than the hearts of most men, and I suffered more than they would have done in my place; that is all." The countess stopped for a moment, as if gasping for breath."Yes," she said, "and you have still preserved this love in your heart -- one can only love once -- and did you ever see her again?""Never."

"Never?"

"I never returned to the country where she lived.""To Malta?"

"Yes; Malta."

"She is, then, now at Malta?"

"I think so."

"And have you forgiven her for all she has made you suffer?""Her, -- yes."

"But only her; do you then still hate those who separated you?""I hate them? Not at all; why should I?" The countess placed herself before Monte Cristo, still holding in her hand a portion of the perfumed grapes."Take some," she said.

"Madame, I never eat Muscatel grapes," replied Monte Cristo, as if the subject had not been mentioned before.The countess dashed the grapes into the nearest thicket, with a gesture of despair."Inflexible man!" she murmured.Monte Cristo remained as unmoved as if the reproach had not been addressed to him.Albert at this moment ran in."Oh, mother," he exclaimed, "such a misfortune his happened!""What? What has happened?" asked the countess, as though awakening from a sleep to the realities of life; "did you say a misfortune? Indeed, I should expect misfortunes.""M.de Villefort is here."

"Well?"

"He comes to fetch his wife and daughter.""Why so?"

"Because Madame de Saint-Meran is just arrived in Paris, bringing the news of M.de Saint-Meran's death, which took place on the first stage after he left Marseilles.Madame de Villefort, who was in very good spirits, would neither believe nor think of the misfortune, but Mademoiselle Valentine, at the first words, guessed the whole truth, notwithstanding all the precautions of her father; the blow struck her like a thunderbolt, and she fell senseless.""And how was M.de Saint-Meran related to Mademoiselle de Villefort?" said the count.

"He was her grandfather on the mother's side.He was coming here to hasten her marriage with Franz.""Ah, indeed?"

"So Franz must wait.Why was not M.de Saint-Meran also grandfather to Mademoiselle Danglars?""Albert, Albert," said Madame de Morcerf, in a tone of mild reproof, "what are you saying? Ah, count, he esteems you so highly, tell him that he has spoken amiss." And she took two or three steps forward.Monte Cristo watched her with an air so thoughtful, and so full of affectionate admiration, that she turned back and grasped his hand; at the same time she seized that of her son, and joined them together.

"We are friends; are we not?" she asked.

"Oh, madame, I do not presume to call myself your friend, but at all times I am your most respectful servant." The countess left with an indescribable pang in her heart, and before she had taken ten steps the count saw her raise her handkerchief to her eyes."Do not my mother and you agree?"asked Albert, astonished.

"On the contrary," replied the count, "did you not hear her declare that we were friends?" They re-entered the drawing-room, which Valentine and Madame de Villefort had just quitted.It is perhaps needless to add that Morrel departed almost at the same time.

同类推荐
  • Father Goriot

    Father Goriot

    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。
  • 登游齐山

    登游齐山

    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。
  • 明伦汇编人事典志愿部

    明伦汇编人事典志愿部

    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。
  • Merry Wives of Windsor

    Merry Wives of Windsor

    I thank you for my venison, Master Shallow. SHALLOW Master Page, I am glad to see you: much good do it your good heart!汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 沈氏女科辑要

    沈氏女科辑要

    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
  • 育儿指南

    育儿指南

    本书是儿童家庭教育的必备书,指导父母掌握教育孩子的正确方法,了解孩子身体及心理素质状况,促进和孩子的沟通和交流,针对性地对孩子实施各类教育训练,从而收到事半功倍的教育效果。本书集科学性,实用性,操作性于一身,角度新颖,通俗易懂,易于操作。本书按宝宝的不同成长阶段,分别讲解了0~1个月、1~3个月、4~6个月、7~9个月、10~12个月宝宝的发育状况、生活护理、日常喂养、体格锻炼、早期教育、容易出现的问题以及常见疾病的防治等知识。
  • 饮流斋说瓷

    饮流斋说瓷

    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。
  • 七喜

    七喜

    顾敏再次见到七喜是在三年后的一家西餐厅里和一个男人用餐。此时,她刚从美国回来,一个熟悉的身影映入她的眼帘,尽管那个身影穿着朴素的工作装,正埋头打扫卫生。可是,顾敏还是一眼认出了她。顾敏觉得有种恍若隔世的感觉,三年前,自从因为腹中孩子的去留问题,两个人产生了激烈的分歧。七喜从此杳无音信。上帝却让她三年后,重新遇到了七喜,遇到了已经不是她印象中的七喜了。顾敏努力寻找她心目中那个少女的七喜,那个清纯如水的七喜,那个把爱情当泡饭吃的七喜,那个爱幻想也爱浪漫的七喜。
  • 西游之暗黑世界

    西游之暗黑世界

    悟空:若这天容不下我,那我便捅破这天!我若成佛,则这世间无魔!我若成魔,便要杀尽那诸佛!
  • 渊海子平

    渊海子平

    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。
  • 漫天飞舞的信(下)

    漫天飞舞的信(下)

    12岁,开始给自己划定私人空间,不再喜欢和爸爸妈妈一起旅游。12岁,男生和男生在一起,女生和女生在一起。彼此互相熟悉,却不再像从前那样热情。12岁,既想吸引所有人的目光,又想躲到一个没人发现的地方。12岁,突然有一肚子话想跟谁说说,可是一开口,却发现自己一句话也不想说。12岁,左手梦想,右手秘密。12岁,下一站,就是每个人都会经历的青春。
  • 刀纵天穹

    刀纵天穹

    谢尘重生了,只不过身上又多了一个屠龙刀灵。这里是一个崇尚天赋的大陆,只有拥有本命灵,才有机会成为大陆的强者。但在谢尘看来,大陆的强者?蝼蚁尔!生而不俗,谢尘必将看得更远,站得更高!问吾名,斗灵大陆,妖刀重生。宣我志,混沌归墟,刀纵天穹!————————————————————————新书《星海虫神》已发,推荐力作中有直通车,欢迎新老朋友光临捧场。
  • 穿越:古代的花魁日子

    穿越:古代的花魁日子

    她意外的穿越,还做了妓院的花魁。领着一票美女,转型上演舞台剧,青楼变剧场,美女成姐妹。当她遇上帅气的王上、丑丑的黑衣人、弱不禁风的四王爷,该如何选择?还是谁也不选,还是照单全收,或者,追求那向往已久的自由?周旋在三个美男间,她该何去何从……
  • 帝凰谋

    帝凰谋

    一朝穿越,她成为了唐府的窝囊二小姐。一次偶然,她遇到了他。世人皆知他薄情寡义,却独独对她上心。殊不知,这一切都只是一盘巨大的棋局。她与他步步为营,助他夺得帝位。然而美梦一朝破碎,真相浮现。她毅然决然离去。他苦苦追寻,与她偶然相见,她问,“你可曾爱过我?”“若可以重来,我愿抛去这万里江山,只守护你一人。”他深情以待。情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 阴阳鬼传

    阴阳鬼传

    一个妖姬成了他的保镖,一个老头成了他的师傅,一个少女成了他的挚爱。