登陆注册
5382900000383

第383章

The man, hearing nothing more, stood erect, and while Monte Cristo was completing his disguise had advanced straight to the secretary, whose lock was beginning to crack under his nightingale.

"Try again," whispered the count, who depended on the secret spring, which was unknown to the picklock, clever as he might be -- "try again, you have a few minutes' work there."And he advanced to the window.The man whom he had seen seated on a fence had got down, and was still pacing the street; but, strange as it appeared, he cared not for those who might pass from the avenue of the Champs-Elysees or by the Faubourg St.Honore; his attention was engrossed with what was passing at the count's, and his only aim appeared to be to discern every movement in the dressing-room.

Monte Cristo suddenly struck his finger on his forehead and a smile passed over his lips; then drawing near to Ali, he whispered, --"Remain here, concealed in the dark, and whatever noise you hear, whatever passes, only come in or show yourself if Icall you." Ali bowed in token of strict obedience.Monte Cristo then drew a lighted taper from a closet, and when the thief was deeply engaged with his lock, silently opened the door, taking care that the light should shine directly on his face.The door opened so quietly that the thief heard no sound; but, to his astonishment, the room was suddenly illuminated.He turned.

"Ah, good-evening, my dear M.Caderousse," said Monte Cristo; "what are you doing here, at such an hour?""The Abbe Busoni!" exclaimed Caderousse; and, not knowing how this strange apparition could have entered when he had bolted the doors, he let fall his bunch of keys, and remained motionless and stupefied.The count placed himself between Caderousse and the window, thus cutting off from the thief his only chance of retreat."The Abbe Busoni!"repeated Caderousse, fixing his haggard gaze on the count.

"Yes, undoubtedly, the Abbe Busoni himself," replied Monte Cristo."And I am very glad you recognize me, dear M.

Caderousse; it proves you have a good memory, for it must be about ten years since we last met." This calmness of Busoni, combined with his irony and boldness, staggered Caderousse.

"The abbe, the abbe!" murmured he, clinching his fists, and his teeth chattering.

"So you would rob the Count of Monte Cristo?" continued the false abbe.

"Reverend sir," murmured Caderousse, seeking to regain the window, which the count pitilessly blocked -- "reverend sir, I don't know -- believe me -- I take my oath" --"A pane of glass out," continued the count, "a dark lantern, a bunch of false keys, a secretary half forced -- it is tolerably evident" --Caderousse was choking; he looked around for some corner to hide in, some way of escape.

"Come, come," continued the count, "I see you are still the same, -- an assassin.""Reverend sir, since you know everything, you know it was not I -- it was La Carconte; that was proved at the trial, since I was only condemned to the galleys.""Is your time, then, expired, since I find you in a fair way to return there?""No, reverend sir; I have been liberated by some one.""That some one has done society a great kindness.""Ah," said Caderousse, "I had promised" --"And you are breaking your promise!" interrupted Monte Cristo.

"Alas, yes!" said Caderousse very uneasily.

"A bad relapse, that will lead you, if I mistake not, to the Place de Greve.So much the worse, so much the worse --diavolo, as they say in my country."

"Reverend sir, I am impelled" --

"Every criminal says the same thing."

"Poverty" --

"Pshaw!" said Busoni disdainfully; "poverty may make a man beg, steal a loaf of bread at a baker's door, but not cause him to open a secretary in a house supposed to be inhabited.

And when the jeweller Johannes had just paid you 40,000francs for the diamond I had given you, and you killed him to get the diamond and the money both, was that also poverty?""Pardon, reverend sir," said Caderousse; "you have saved my life once, save me again!""That is but poor encouragement."

"Are you alone, reverend sir, or have you there soldiers ready to seize me?""I am alone," said the abbe, "and I will again have pity on you, and will let you escape, at the risk of the fresh miseries my weakness may lead to, if you tell me the truth.""Ah, reverend sir," cried Caderousse, clasping his hands, and drawing nearer to Monte Cristo, "I may indeed say you are my deliverer!""You mean to say you have been freed from confinement?""Yes, that is true, reverend sir."

"Who was your liberator?"

"An Englishman."

"What was his name?"

"Lord Wilmore."

"I know him; I shall know if you lie."

"Ah, reverend sir, I tell you the simple truth.""Was this Englishman protecting you?"

"No, not me, but a young Corsican, my companion.""What was this young Corsican's name?"

"Benedetto."

"Is that his Christian name?"

"He had no other; he was a foundling."

"Then this young man escaped with you?"

"He did."

"In what way?"

"We were working at St.Mandrier, near Toulon.Do you know St.Mandrier?""I do."

"In the hour of rest, between noon and one o'clock" --"Galley-slaves having a nap after dinner! We may well pity the poor fellows!" said the abbe.

"Nay," said Caderousse, "one can't always work -- one is not a dog.""So much the better for the dogs," said Monte Cristo.

"While the rest slept, then, we went away a short distance;we severed our fetters with a file the Englishman had given us, and swam away.""And what is become of this Benedetto?"

"I don't know."

"You ought to know."

"No, in truth; we parted at Hyeres." And, to give more weight to his protestation, Caderousse advanced another step towards the abbe, who remained motionless in his place, as calm as ever, and pursuing his interrogation."You lie,"said the Abbe Busoni, with a tone of irresistible authority.

"Reverend sir!"

"You lie! This man is still your friend, and you, perhaps, make use of him as your accomplice.""Oh, reverend sir!"

"Since you left Toulon what have you lived on? Answer me!""On what I could get."

同类推荐
  • 西征石城记

    西征石城记

    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。
  • 丽史

    丽史

    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。
  • THE MASTERY OF THE AIR

    THE MASTERY OF THE AIR

    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。
  • 佛本行集经

    佛本行集经

    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。
  • A Modest Proposal

    A Modest Proposal

    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
  • 千面好男生

    千面好男生

    他们家有家庭分工。范东的妈妈主要负责范东的上学和生活。范东只知道妈妈没事了就去美容,美容就像做作业,少写一个字都不行。
  • 三线建设纵横谈

    三线建设纵横谈

    本书稿是纪念三线建设50周年学术研讨会的论文集,收录了研讨会的领导讲话、专家发言和入选论文,回顾了三线建设历程,宣传了三线精神,为推动三线建设研究向着更深层次和更高水平发展提供了理论支持。
  • 她是好多大佬的心尖宠

    她是好多大佬的心尖宠

    传闻夜家四小姐智商超群,艳丽四方,却身娇体弱,久病不愈。上有父母爱,下有三位哥哥宠。她可谓是众星环绕着的那颗月。上至权威人士,下至普通百姓,无人不知她,有人盼着她病好,也有人盼着她死亡。面对重重危险,她要如何才能摆脱?
  • 赦免之日

    赦免之日

    本书作者为奥斯卡金奖外语片《入殓师》导演泷田洋二郎重金签约作者,被称为“中国的东野圭吾”!以罪孽洗清罪孽,用死亡救赎死亡。41年,7条人命,9段匪夷所思局中套局的连环故事。当末日终于来临,设局者能否得到赦免?
  • 励志农女之妈咪我要爸爸

    励志农女之妈咪我要爸爸

    明明可以靠脸蛋和身材养活自己,明明可以靠男人幸福一辈子,却偏偏凭自己的能力努力打拼,直至登上女首富榜首。明明知道对方不爱自己,偏偏用下三滥手段将男人俘获,导致鸡飞蛋打,一无所获。有缘相见,缘定今生。寒门农家女周郡菲,初中毕业便辍学,外出打工进豪门当保姆,与有陌生恐惧症的富二代一见钟情,情愫暗定;富二代留学走后,解雇的周郡菲实是被赶走,出豪门遇劫而露宿桥底,当了环卫工,抱养一女。郑俊宇回国后,欲承诺对初恋的许诺,苦寻无果,遭女同学设计迫婚,在寻觅初恋中意外失忆,违心有名无实婚姻;记忆渐恢复,欲解除婚姻,女同学百般刁难,索巨额赔偿。非亲生妈妈,带着身孕嫁入,非亲生妹妹蓄意黏近,情感再起波澜……。
  • 影帝独宠:国民男神太高冷

    影帝独宠:国民男神太高冷

    part1:“作为一个娱乐圈的小透明,就要有一个小透明的自觉,要经得住寂寞耐得住打击”,祁婼握了握拳头,信誓旦旦的说道。旁边的经纪人听到她的话,无语的翻了个白眼,哼笑了一声,“混的都烂到这个份上,我相信你是能受的住打击的”。祁婼:“……”。part2:“我以前混的差,风评又不好,你怎么能看的上我的?”某一天,祁婼心血来潮,看着身边优秀的人问道。旁边的人轻描淡写的看了她一眼,“你现在混的好吗?”祁婼:“……”
  • 驯夫之道,我跟夫君撒撒娇

    驯夫之道,我跟夫君撒撒娇

    明稚凡表示自己再也不相信电视小说里面的剧情了。为毛别人穿越都是各种开挂各种主角光环围绕,不是公主就是千金阁主的,再不济也是守着一片农田发家致富抱得美男归,她呢!她不仅因为灵魂互换变成了男儿身,还要看到那个男痞子嫌弃自己的身材!最过分的是!她还要去追那个男痞子让那个男痞子和她谈恋爱!你说她这到底造的是什么孽?初遇时,愤慨满满。“你他喵的到底是谁?快点把我的身体还给我!”“你来这里这么久都没有照过镜子吗?”“我靠!”
  • 倾颜之泪

    倾颜之泪

    泪,迷了谁的眼?泪,又倾了谁的颜?他说,颜儿,我守三界,护苍生,独独没有守护好你!来世,红尘踏破,惟愿此生,不负苍天不负卿!
  • 折花一朵殿前欢

    折花一朵殿前欢

    闺房乐时,她竟然喊出旁人的名字。夫君受辱,注定不会有她的好日子!可嫡出千金,沦为暖床贱婢,难道还不够?才被关进柴房,怎么就有人迫不及待想她死!这一场大火,倒是烧的宁璞玉清醒过来。认命?呸!她凭什么苟延残喘的活着?她得先站稳脚,再一步一步还击那些算计她的人!明明是一场报复的盛宴,可偏偏总有人不知死活的来搅局……“我的爷,您能不能别每次都来捣乱?”“我的婢,想在爷眼皮子底下兴风作浪,不如跟爷翻云覆雨!”
  • 独域帝凰:枯神骨

    独域帝凰:枯神骨

    枯神骨,竭心力,翻手为云覆手为雨!邪灵亡故,二十一世纪天才特工陨落。重生归来,废柴体质?天生貌丑?笑话!命运之轮转动,阴谋乍现,无妨!我命由我不由天!那夜月色正好,一点薄酒,满天星辰。洛无忧:你,为什么要替别人劳心尽力?顾之寒:不是别人,是你。你的事情,总是记得很清楚。