Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
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`
` Chapter 11 `
` The Corsican Ogre. `
` `
` At the sight of this agitation Louis XVIII. pushed from him `
` violently the table at which he was sitting. `
` `
` "What ails you, baron?" he exclaimed. "You appear quite `
` aghast. Has your uneasiness anything to do with what M. de `
` Blacas has told me, and M. de Villefort has just confirmed?" `
` M. de Blacas moved suddenly towards the baron, but the `
` fright of the courtier pleaded for the forbearance of the `
` statesman; and besides, as matters were, it was much more to `
` his advantage that the prefect of police should triumph over `
` him than that he should humiliate the prefect. `
` `
` "Sire" -- stammered the baron. `
` `
` "Well, what is it?" asked Louis XVIII. The minister of `
` police, giving way to an impulse of despair, was about to `
` throw himself at the feet of Louis XVIII., who retreated a `
` step and frowned. `
` `
` "Will you speak?" he said. `
` `
` "Oh, sire, what a dreadful misfortune! I am, indeed, to be `
` pitied. I can never forgive myself!" `
` `
` "Monsieur," said Louis XVIII., "I command you to speak." `
` `
` "Well, sire, the usurper left Elba on the 26th February, and `
` landed on the 1st of March." `
` `
` "And where? In Italy?" asked the king eagerly. `
` `
` "In France, sire, -- at a small port, near Antibes, in the `
` Gulf of Juan." `
` `
` "The usurper landed in France, near Antibes, in the Gulf of `
` Juan, two hundred and fifty leagues from Paris, on the 1st `
` of March, and you only acquired this information to-day, the `
` 4th of March! Well, sir, what you tell me is impossible. You `
` must have received a false report, or you have gone mad." `
` `
` "Alas, sire, it is but too true!" Louis made a gesture of `
` indescribable anger and alarm, and then drew himself up as `
` if this sudden blow had struck him at the same moment in `
` heart and countenance. `
` `
` "In France!" he cried, "the usurper in France! Then they did `
` not watch over this man. Who knows? they were, perhaps, in `
` league with him." `
` `
` "Oh, sire," exclaimed the Duc de Blacas, "M. Dandre is not a `
` man to be accused of treason! Sire, we have all been blind, `
` and the minister of police has shared the general blindness, `
` that is all." `
` `
` "But" -- said Villefort, and then suddenly checking himself, `
` he was silent; then he continued, "Your pardon, sire," he `
` said, bowing, "my zeal carried me away. Will your majesty `
` deign to excuse me?" `
` `
` "Speak, sir, speak boldly," replied Louis. "You alone `
` forewarned us of the evil; now try and aid us with the `
` remedy." `
` `
` "Sire," said Villefort, "the usurper is detested in the `
` south; and it seems to me that if he ventured into the `
` south, it would be easy to raise Languedoc and Provence `
` against him." `
` `
` "Yes, assuredly," replied the minister; "but he is advancing `
` by Gap and Sisteron." `
` `
` "Advancing -- he is advancing!" said Louis XVIII. "Is he `
` then advancing on Paris?" The minister of police maintained `
` a silence which was equivalent to a complete avowal. `
` `
` "And Dauphine, sir?" inquired the king, of Villefort. "Do `
` you think it possible to rouse that as well as Provence?" `
` `
` "Sire, I am sorry to tell your majesty a cruel fact; but the `
` feeling in Dauphine is quite the reverse of that in Provence `
` or Languedoc. The mountaineers are Bonapartists, sire." `
` `
` "Then," murmured Louis, "he was well informed. And how many `
` men had he with him?" `
` `
` "I do not know, sire," answered the minister of police. `
` `
` "What, you do not know! Have you neglected to obtain `
` information on that point? Of course it is of no `
` consequence," he added, with a withering smile. `
` `
` "Sire, it was impossible to learn; the despatch simply `
` stated the fact of the landing and the route taken by the `
` usurper." `
` `
` "And how did this despatch reach you?" inquired the king. `
` The minister bowed his head, and while a deep color `
` overspread his cheeks, he stammered out, -- `
` `
` "By the telegraph, sire." -- Louis XVIII. advanced a step, `
` and folded his arms over his chest as Napoleon would have `
` done. `
` `
` "So then," he exclaimed, turning pale with anger, "seven `
` conjoined and allied armies overthrew that man. A miracle of `
` heaven replaced me on the throne of my fathers after `
` five-and-twenty years of exile. I have, during those `
` five-and-twenty years, spared no pains to understand the `
` people of France and the interests which were confided to `
` me; and now, when I see the fruition of my wishes almost `
` within reach, the power I hold in my hands bursts, and `
` shatters me to atoms!" `
` `
` "Sire, it is fatality!" murmured the minister, feeling that `
` the pressure of circumstances, however light a thing to `
` destiny, was too much for any human strength to endure. `
` `
` "What our enemies say of us is then true. We have learnt `
` nothing, forgotten nothing! If I were betrayed as he was, I `
` would console myself; but to be in the midst of persons `
` elevated by myself to places of honor, who ought to watch `
` over me more carefully than over themselves, -- for my `
` fortune is theirs -- before me they were nothing -- after me `
` they will be nothing, and perish miserably from incapacity `
` -- ineptitude! Oh, yes, sir, you are right -- it is `
` fatality!" `
` `
` The minister quailed before this outburst of sarcasm. M. de `
` Blacas wiped the moisture from his brow. Villefort smiled `
` within himself, for he felt his increased importance. `
` `
` "To fall," continued King Louis, who at the first glance had `
` sounded the abyss on which the monarchy hung suspended, -- `
` "to fall, and learn of that fall by telegraph! Oh, I would `
` rather mount the scaffold of my brother, Louis XVI., than `
` thus descend the staircase at the Tuileries driven away by `
` ridicule. Ridicule, sir -- why, you know not its power in `
` France, and yet you ought to know it!" `
` `
` "Sire, sire," murmured the minister, "for pity's" -- `
` `
` "Approach, M. de Villefort," resumed the king, addressing `
` the young man, who, motionless and breathless, was listening `
` to a conversation on which depended the destiny of a `
` kingdom. "Approach, and tell monsieur that it is possible to `
` know beforehand all that he has not known." `
` `
` "Sire, it was really impossible to learn secrets which that `
` man concealed from all the world." `
` `
` "Really impossible! Yes -- that is a great word, sir. `
` Unfortunately, there are great words, as there are great `
` men; I have measured them. Really impossible for a minister `
` who has an office, agents, spies, and fifteen hundred `
` thousand francs for secret service money, to know what is `
` going on at sixty leagues from the coast of France! Well, `
` then, see, here is a gentleman who had none of these `
` resources at his disposal -- a gentleman, only a simple `
` magistrate, who learned more than you with all your police, `
` and who would have saved my crown, if, like you, he had the `
` power of directing a telegraph." The look of the minister of `
` police was turned with concentrated spite on Villefort, who `
` bent his head in modest triumph. `
` `
` "I do not mean that for you, Blacas," continued Louis `
` XVIII.; "for if you have discovered nothing, at least you `
` have had the good sense to persevere in your suspicions. Any `
` other than yourself would have considered the disclosure of `
` M. de Villefort insignificant, or else dictated by venal `
` ambition," These words were an allusion to the sentiments `
` which the minister of police had uttered with so much `
` confidence an hour before. `
` `
` Villefort understood the king's intent. Any other person `
` would, perhaps, have been overcome by such an intoxicating `
` draught of praise; but he feared to make for himself a `
` mortal enemy of the police minister, although he saw that `
` Dandre was irrevocably lost. In fact, the minister, who, in `
` the plenitude of his power, had been unable to unearth `
` Napoleon's secret, might in despair at his own downfall `
` interrogate Dantes and so lay bare the motives of `
` Villefort's plot. Realizing this, Villefort came to the `
` rescue of the crest-fallen minister, instead of aiding to `
` crush him. `
` `
` "Sire," said Villefort, "the suddenness of this event must `
` prove to your majesty that the issue is in the hands of `
` Providence; what your majesty is pleased to attribute to me `
` as profound perspicacity is simply owing to chance, and I `
` have profited by that chance, like a good and devoted `
` servant -- that's all. Do not attribute to me more than I `
` deserve, sire, that your majesty may never have occasion to `
` recall the first opinion you have been pleased to form of `
` me." The minister of police thanked the young man by an `
` eloquent look, and Villefort understood that he had `
` succeeded in his design; that is to say, that without `
` forfeiting the gratitude of the king, he had made a friend `
`
` Chapter 11 `
` The Corsican Ogre. `
` `
` At the sight of this agitation Louis XVIII. pushed from him `
` violently the table at which he was sitting. `
` `
` "What ails you, baron?" he exclaimed. "You appear quite `
` aghast. Has your uneasiness anything to do with what M. de `
` Blacas has told me, and M. de Villefort has just confirmed?" `
` M. de Blacas moved suddenly towards the baron, but the `
` fright of the courtier pleaded for the forbearance of the `
` statesman; and besides, as matters were, it was much more to `
` his advantage that the prefect of police should triumph over `
` him than that he should humiliate the prefect. `
` `
` "Sire" -- stammered the baron. `
` `
` "Well, what is it?" asked Louis XVIII. The minister of `
` police, giving way to an impulse of despair, was about to `
` throw himself at the feet of Louis XVIII., who retreated a `
` step and frowned. `
` `
` "Will you speak?" he said. `
` `
` "Oh, sire, what a dreadful misfortune! I am, indeed, to be `
` pitied. I can never forgive myself!" `
` `
` "Monsieur," said Louis XVIII., "I command you to speak." `
` `
` "Well, sire, the usurper left Elba on the 26th February, and `
` landed on the 1st of March." `
` `
` "And where? In Italy?" asked the king eagerly. `
` `
` "In France, sire, -- at a small port, near Antibes, in the `
` Gulf of Juan." `
` `
` "The usurper landed in France, near Antibes, in the Gulf of `
` Juan, two hundred and fifty leagues from Paris, on the 1st `
` of March, and you only acquired this information to-day, the `
` 4th of March! Well, sir, what you tell me is impossible. You `
` must have received a false report, or you have gone mad." `
` `
` "Alas, sire, it is but too true!" Louis made a gesture of `
` indescribable anger and alarm, and then drew himself up as `
` if this sudden blow had struck him at the same moment in `
` heart and countenance. `
` `
` "In France!" he cried, "the usurper in France! Then they did `
` not watch over this man. Who knows? they were, perhaps, in `
` league with him." `
` `
` "Oh, sire," exclaimed the Duc de Blacas, "M. Dandre is not a `
` man to be accused of treason! Sire, we have all been blind, `
` and the minister of police has shared the general blindness, `
` that is all." `
` `
` "But" -- said Villefort, and then suddenly checking himself, `
` he was silent; then he continued, "Your pardon, sire," he `
` said, bowing, "my zeal carried me away. Will your majesty `
` deign to excuse me?" `
` `
` "Speak, sir, speak boldly," replied Louis. "You alone `
` forewarned us of the evil; now try and aid us with the `
` remedy." `
` `
` "Sire," said Villefort, "the usurper is detested in the `
` south; and it seems to me that if he ventured into the `
` south, it would be easy to raise Languedoc and Provence `
` against him." `
` `
` "Yes, assuredly," replied the minister; "but he is advancing `
` by Gap and Sisteron." `
` `
` "Advancing -- he is advancing!" said Louis XVIII. "Is he `
` then advancing on Paris?" The minister of police maintained `
` a silence which was equivalent to a complete avowal. `
` `
` "And Dauphine, sir?" inquired the king, of Villefort. "Do `
` you think it possible to rouse that as well as Provence?" `
` `
` "Sire, I am sorry to tell your majesty a cruel fact; but the `
` feeling in Dauphine is quite the reverse of that in Provence `
` or Languedoc. The mountaineers are Bonapartists, sire." `
` `
` "Then," murmured Louis, "he was well informed. And how many `
` men had he with him?" `
` `
` "I do not know, sire," answered the minister of police. `
` `
` "What, you do not know! Have you neglected to obtain `
` information on that point? Of course it is of no `
` consequence," he added, with a withering smile. `
` `
` "Sire, it was impossible to learn; the despatch simply `
` stated the fact of the landing and the route taken by the `
` usurper." `
` `
` "And how did this despatch reach you?" inquired the king. `
` The minister bowed his head, and while a deep color `
` overspread his cheeks, he stammered out, -- `
` `
` "By the telegraph, sire." -- Louis XVIII. advanced a step, `
` and folded his arms over his chest as Napoleon would have `
` done. `
` `
` "So then," he exclaimed, turning pale with anger, "seven `
` conjoined and allied armies overthrew that man. A miracle of `
` heaven replaced me on the throne of my fathers after `
` five-and-twenty years of exile. I have, during those `
` five-and-twenty years, spared no pains to understand the `
` people of France and the interests which were confided to `
` me; and now, when I see the fruition of my wishes almost `
` within reach, the power I hold in my hands bursts, and `
` shatters me to atoms!" `
` `
` "Sire, it is fatality!" murmured the minister, feeling that `
` the pressure of circumstances, however light a thing to `
` destiny, was too much for any human strength to endure. `
` `
` "What our enemies say of us is then true. We have learnt `
` nothing, forgotten nothing! If I were betrayed as he was, I `
` would console myself; but to be in the midst of persons `
` elevated by myself to places of honor, who ought to watch `
` over me more carefully than over themselves, -- for my `
` fortune is theirs -- before me they were nothing -- after me `
` they will be nothing, and perish miserably from incapacity `
` -- ineptitude! Oh, yes, sir, you are right -- it is `
` fatality!" `
` `
` The minister quailed before this outburst of sarcasm. M. de `
` Blacas wiped the moisture from his brow. Villefort smiled `
` within himself, for he felt his increased importance. `
` `
` "To fall," continued King Louis, who at the first glance had `
` sounded the abyss on which the monarchy hung suspended, -- `
` "to fall, and learn of that fall by telegraph! Oh, I would `
` rather mount the scaffold of my brother, Louis XVI., than `
` thus descend the staircase at the Tuileries driven away by `
` ridicule. Ridicule, sir -- why, you know not its power in `
` France, and yet you ought to know it!" `
` `
` "Sire, sire," murmured the minister, "for pity's" -- `
` `
` "Approach, M. de Villefort," resumed the king, addressing `
` the young man, who, motionless and breathless, was listening `
` to a conversation on which depended the destiny of a `
` kingdom. "Approach, and tell monsieur that it is possible to `
` know beforehand all that he has not known." `
` `
` "Sire, it was really impossible to learn secrets which that `
` man concealed from all the world." `
` `
` "Really impossible! Yes -- that is a great word, sir. `
` Unfortunately, there are great words, as there are great `
` men; I have measured them. Really impossible for a minister `
` who has an office, agents, spies, and fifteen hundred `
` thousand francs for secret service money, to know what is `
` going on at sixty leagues from the coast of France! Well, `
` then, see, here is a gentleman who had none of these `
` resources at his disposal -- a gentleman, only a simple `
` magistrate, who learned more than you with all your police, `
` and who would have saved my crown, if, like you, he had the `
` power of directing a telegraph." The look of the minister of `
` police was turned with concentrated spite on Villefort, who `
` bent his head in modest triumph. `
` `
` "I do not mean that for you, Blacas," continued Louis `
` XVIII.; "for if you have discovered nothing, at least you `
` have had the good sense to persevere in your suspicions. Any `
` other than yourself would have considered the disclosure of `
` M. de Villefort insignificant, or else dictated by venal `
` ambition," These words were an allusion to the sentiments `
` which the minister of police had uttered with so much `
` confidence an hour before. `
` `
` Villefort understood the king's intent. Any other person `
` would, perhaps, have been overcome by such an intoxicating `
` draught of praise; but he feared to make for himself a `
` mortal enemy of the police minister, although he saw that `
` Dandre was irrevocably lost. In fact, the minister, who, in `
` the plenitude of his power, had been unable to unearth `
` Napoleon's secret, might in despair at his own downfall `
` interrogate Dantes and so lay bare the motives of `
` Villefort's plot. Realizing this, Villefort came to the `
` rescue of the crest-fallen minister, instead of aiding to `
` crush him. `
` `
` "Sire," said Villefort, "the suddenness of this event must `
` prove to your majesty that the issue is in the hands of `
` Providence; what your majesty is pleased to attribute to me `
` as profound perspicacity is simply owing to chance, and I `
` have profited by that chance, like a good and devoted `
` servant -- that's all. Do not attribute to me more than I `
` deserve, sire, that your majesty may never have occasion to `
` recall the first opinion you have been pleased to form of `
` me." The minister of police thanked the young man by an `
` eloquent look, and Villefort understood that he had `
` succeeded in his design; that is to say, that without `
` forfeiting the gratitude of the king, he had made a friend `
`