"I mean, as I love.You see, I have been a soldier ever since I attained manhood.I reached the age of twenty-nine without loving, for none of the feelings I before then experienced merit the apellation of love.Well, at twenty-nine I saw Valentine; for two years I have loved her, for two years I have seen written in her heart, as in a book, all the virtues of a daughter and wife.Count, to possess Valentine would have been a happiness too infinite, too ecstatic, too complete, too divine for this world, since it has been denied me; but without Valentine the earth is desolate.""I have told you to hope," said the count.
"Then have a care, I repeat, for you seek to persuade me, and if you succeed I should lose my reason, for I should hope that I could again behold Valentine." The count smiled.
"My friend, my father," said Morrel with excitement, "have a care, I again repeat, for the power you wield over me alarms me.Weigh your words before you speak, for my eyes have already become brighter, and my heart beats strongly; be cautious, or you will make me believe in supernatural agencies.I must obey you, though you bade me call forth the dead or walk upon the water.""Hope, my friend," repeated the count.
"Ah," said Morrel, falling from the height of excitement to the abyss of despair -- "ah, you are playing with me, like those good, or rather selfish mothers who soothe their children with honeyed words, because their screams annoy them.No, my friend, I was wrong to caution you; do not fear, I will bury my grief so deep in my heart, I will disguise it so, that you shall not even care to sympathize with me.Adieu, my friend, adieu!""On the contrary," said the count, "after this time you must live with me -- you must not leave me, and in a week we shall have left France behind us.""And you still bid me hope?"
"I tell you to hope, because I have a method of curing you.""Count, you render me sadder than before, if it be possible.
You think the result of this blow has been to produce an ordinary grief, and you would cure it by an ordinary remedy -- change of scene." And Morrel dropped his head with disdainful incredulity."What can I say more?" asked Monte Cristo."I have confidence in the remedy I propose, and only ask you to permit me to assure you of its efficacy.""Count, you prolong my agony."
"Then," said the count, "your feeble spirit will not even grant me the trial I request? Come -- do you know of what the Count of Monte Cristo is capable? do you know that he holds terrestrial beings under his control? nay, that he can almost work a miracle? Well, wait for the miracle I hope to accomplish, or" --"Or?" repeated Morrel.
"Or, take care, Morrel, lest I call you ungrateful.""Have pity on me, count!"
"I feel so much pity towards you, Maximilian, that -- listen to me attentively -- if I do not cure you in a month, to the day, to the very hour, mark my words, Morrel, I will place loaded pistols before you, and a cup of the deadliest Italian poison -- a poison more sure and prompt than that which has killed Valentine.""Will you promise me?"
"Yes; for I am a man, and have suffered like yourself, and also contemplated suicide; indeed, often since misfortune has left me I have longed for the delights of an eternal sleep.""But you are sure you will promise me this?" said Morrel, intoxicated."I not only promise, but swear it!" said Monte Cristo extending his hand.
"In a month, then, on your honor, if I am not consoled, you will let me take my life into my own hands, and whatever may happen you will not call me ungrateful?""In a month, to the day, the very hour and the date are sacred, Maximilian.I do not know whether you remember that this is the 5th of September; it is ten years to-day since Isaved your father's life, who wished to die." Morrel seized the count's hand and kissed it; the count allowed him to pay the homage he felt due to him."In a month you will find on the table, at which we shall be then sitting, good pistols and a delicious draught; but, on the other hand, you must promise me not to attempt your life before that time.""Oh, I also swear it!" Monte Cristo drew the young man towards him, and pressed him for some time to his heart.
"And now," he said, "after to-day, you will come and live with me; you can occupy Haidee's apartment, and my daughter will at least be replaced by my son.""Haidee?" said Morrel, "what has become of her?""She departed last night."
"To leave you?"
"To wait for me.Hold yourself ready then to join me at the Champs Elysees, and lead me out of this house without any one seeing my departure." Maximilian hung his head, and obeyed with childlike reverence.
