登陆注册
5382900000420

第420章

"Oh," exclaimed Haidee, "is it not yet over?""I know not if it is finished, my beloved child," said Monte Cristo, taking the young girl's hands; "but I do know you have nothing more to fear.""But it is the wretched" --

"That man cannot injure me, Haidee," said Monte Cristo; "it was his son alone that there was cause to fear.""And what I have suffered," said the young girl, "you shall never know, my lord." Monte Cristo smiled."By my father's tomb," said he, extending his hand over the head of the young girl, "I swear to you, Haidee, that if any misfortune happens, it will not be to me.""I believe you, my lord, as implicitly as if God had spoken to me," said the young girl, presenting her forehead to him.

Monte Cristo pressed on that pure beautiful forehead a kiss which made two hearts throb at once, the one violently, the other heavily."Oh," murmured the count, "shall I then be permitted to love again? Ask M.de Morcerf into the drawing-room," said he to Baptistin, while he led the beautiful Greek girl to a private staircase.

We must explain this visit, which although expected by Monte Cristo, is unexpected to our readers.While Mercedes, as we have said, was making a similar inventory of her property to Albert's, while she was arranging her jewels, shutting her drawers, collecting her keys, to leave everything in perfect order, she did not perceive a pale and sinister face at a glass door which threw light into the passage, from which everything could be both seen and heard.He who was thus looking, without being heard or seen, probably heard and saw all that passed in Madame de Morcerf's apartments.From that glass door the pale-faced man went to the count's bedroom and raised with a constricted hand the curtain of a window overlooking the court-yard.He remained there ten minutes, motionless and dumb, listening to the beating of his own heart.For him those ten minutes were very long.It was then Albert, returning from his meeting with the count, perceived his father watching for his arrival behind a curtain, and turned aside.The count's eye expanded; he knew Albert had insulted the count dreadfully, and that in every country in the world such an insult would lead to a deadly duel.Albert returned safely -- then the count was revenged.

An indescribable ray of joy illumined that wretched countenance like the last ray of the sun before it disappears behind the clouds which bear the aspect, not of a downy couch, but of a tomb.But as we have said, he waited in vain for his son to come to his apartment with the account of his triumph.He easily understood why his son did not come to see him before he went to avenge his father's honor; but when that was done, why did not his son come and throw himself into his arms?

It was then, when the count could not see Albert, that he sent for his servant, who he knew was authorized not to conceal anything from him.Ten minutes afterwards, General Morcerf was seen on the steps in a black coat with a military collar, black pantaloons, and black gloves.He had apparently given previous orders, for as he reached the bottom step his carriage came from the coach-house ready for him.The valet threw into the carriage his military cloak, in which two swords were wrapped, and, shutting the door, he took his seat by the side of the coachman.The coachman stooped down for his orders.

"To the Champs Elysees," said the general; "the Count of Monte Cristo's.Hurry!" The horses bounded beneath the whip;and in five minutes they stopped before the count's door.M.

de Morcerf opened the door himself, and as the carriage rolled away he passed up the walk, rang, and entered the open door with his servant.

A moment afterwards, Baptistin announced the Count of Morcerf to Monte Cristo, and the latter, leading Haidee aside, ordered that Morcerf be asked into the drawing-room.

The general was pacing the room the third time when, in turning, he perceived Monte Cristo at the door."Ah, it is M.de Morcerf," said Monte Cristo quietly; "I thought I had not heard aright.""Yes, it is I," said the count, whom a frightful contraction of the lips prevented from articulating freely.

"May I know the cause which procures me the pleasure of seeing M.de Morcerf so early?""Had you not a meeting with my son this morning?" asked the general.

"I had," replied the count.

"And I know my son had good reasons to wish to fight with you, and to endeavor to kill you.""Yes, sir, he had very good ones; but you see that in spite of them he has not killed me, and did not even fight.""Yet he considered you the cause of his father's dishonor, the cause of the fearful ruin which has fallen on my house.""It is true, sir," said Monte Cristo with his dreadful calmness; "a secondary cause, but not the principal.""Doubtless you made, then, some apology or explanation?""I explained nothing, and it is he who apologized to me.""But to what do you attribute this conduct?""To the conviction, probably, that there was one more guilty than I.""And who was that?"

"His father."

"That may be," said the count, turning pale; "but you know the guilty do not like to find themselves convicted.""I know it, and I expected this result."

"You expected my son would be a coward?" cried the count.

"M.Albert de Morcerf is no coward!" said Monte Cristo.

同类推荐
  • 板桥杂记

    板桥杂记

    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。
  • 天豹图

    天豹图

    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 Metal Monster

    The Metal Monster

    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。
  • 缁门世谱

    缁门世谱

    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。
  • 黄帝阴符经集解

    黄帝阴符经集解

    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
  • 都市重生之八朝争雄

    都市重生之八朝争雄

    一觉醒来,赵翼发现这个世界彻底变了!大唐工业集团董事长于昨日正式卸任,原大唐汽车公司总经理李世民,正式接任大唐集团董事长一职,并兼任集团总裁职位……近日大秦军工集团董事长兼总裁嬴政宣布,凤鸣中程火箭发射巢正式定型……届时将弥补我军……——军事频道大汉教育集团董事长刘秀……——教育周刊这个世界怎么了?当他的商业帝国成为第八王朝的时候,却发现这个世界的秘密远不止如此!新人新书,求收藏!求推荐票!
  • 破解戒毒难

    破解戒毒难

    一本从实践中来,通过总结、提炼上升为理论成果,具有指导性作用和操作性较强的戒毒专著。书中对新形势下的戒毒康复进行了有益探索,一是对《禁毒法》实施前后的戒毒康复进行了回顾和总结,在戒毒理念、方法、措施等方面有所创新和发展。二是戒毒康复理念上的创新。三是博采众长,总结了一些好的经验和做法。
  • 你有点天真

    你有点天真

    她是个坏女孩,也是个好女孩,以前她不懂爱,只想着行侠仗义,现在的她害怕爱,不想再带给别人伤害。而他的出现,就像一束光,那么耀眼又那么炙热,让她深陷其中。
  • 来自阿尔特里亚的英雄们

    来自阿尔特里亚的英雄们

    这是一本综漫小说emmm……首卷《超神学院》,以上!PS:目前更新随缘……
  • 废材逆天召唤师

    废材逆天召唤师

    她穿到了一个性格嚣张狠毒,琴棋书画样样不精被誉为草包再加上毫无灵力修炼的再度被誉为废材且同名同姓的冰熏儿身上!性格嚣张狠毒?抱歉,姐还不知道什么是嚣张狠毒,能吃吗?琴棋书画样样不精?很对不起的,她琴棋书画样样精通且背诗兵法和打战!废材?sorry,她的灵力是无色的,她还是个全系魔法师!练器师?她就是!战神?她就是!武神?她也拿了!至于召唤师嘛~她随手一挥就整万只的魔兽来到她的身边了。【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 老年人不生病的生活方式

    老年人不生病的生活方式

    本书根据全新的健康理念,结合老年人的身心特点,针对老年人的居家环境、日常膳食、科学运动、婚姻与性生活、更年期保健、心理与健康、用药与生活细节、常见病的防治、家庭常规护理等方面的需求,详细地介绍了养生保健的知识。旨在帮助老年人建立正确的健康观念。了解合理的饮食、健康运动和科学的生活方式。教会老年朋友如何预防和应对疾病的困扰。以帮助老年人提高自我保健水平,从而延年益寿,快乐健康地享受晚年。
  • 神影仙迹

    神影仙迹

    大神道:“你救救我吧!我给你钱。”姬云道:“莫慌,你先等等~!佛曰:“求你了,把金莲还我吧!”姬云道:“里面的莲子做成羹真好吃,明天吃完了还你!”仙帝泣声道:“女婿,魔王那厮好坏呀!你一定要教训他!”姬云答道:“恩……把鞋给我擦干净,我要出门咯!”一个神州大陆的绝世奇才强势的修真人生,金钱,名誉,实力,势力,全都不在话下,诙谐,爆笑的情节令人不禁捧腹……
  • 玩宝大师

    玩宝大师

    玩物丧志,玩宝得志。一个籍籍无名的古玩小贩,却终究要变成一代宗师。尘封的奇珍异宝,隐秘的掌眼传承,在古玩的世界里,历史从未失声。叵测的尔虞我诈,纷乱的暗流汹涌,在滚滚的暴利中,人心没有天平。有个群,提倡正版:433316878。
  • 他在远方等待黎明

    他在远方等待黎明

    文案1,土情话“呆瓜,你说花儿好看,还是我好看?”“花儿”“…我不好看吗?”“好看’“那为什么说花好看?”“因为婉心就是我的花儿呀!”文案2,万有‘磁力’第一次,她拍了他一下,手粘在他身上抽不开。第二次,她被某股力量牵引,腾出房门,跃进他屋内,如吸铁磁一般吸附在他的背上,动弹不得。第三次,她将房门紧锁,他出现在身旁,笑眯眯说:“婉心,你又把我吸过来了”她:“……”文案3,“你要记住,在这莽莽穹苍之中,有一个,你永远都不能忘记的仇人”她的声音沉重洪戾,似穿透了亿万年的时光,永世长存。文案4,时光空间里的漂浮,没有让他迷失她在的方向。无际的等待,只为那一点黎明之光。
  • 一爱到底

    一爱到底

    一只可爱的小羊被一只凶狠腹黑的大灰狼偷偷拐回家当媳妇儿圈养的故事。