Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.40-74
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` Chapter 40 `
` The Breakfast. `
` `
` "And what sort of persons do you expect to breakfast?" said `
` Beauchamp. `
` `
` "A gentleman, and a diplomatist." `
` `
` "Then we shall have to wait two hours for the gentleman, and `
` three for the diplomatist. I shall come back to dessert; `
` keep me some strawberries, coffee, and cigars. I shall take `
` a cutlet on my way to the Chamber." `
` `
` "Do not do anything of the sort; for were the gentleman a `
` Montmorency, and the diplomatist a Metternich, we will `
` breakfast at eleven; in the meantime, follow Debray's `
` example, and take a glass of sherry and a biscuit." `
` `
` "Be it so; I will stay; I must do something to distract my `
` thoughts." `
` `
` "You are like Debray, and yet it seems to me that when the `
` minister is out of spirits, the opposition ought to be `
` joyous." `
` `
` "Ah, you do not know with what I am threatened. I shall hear `
` this morning that M. Danglars make a speech at the Chamber `
` of Deputies, and at his wife's this evening I shall hear the `
` tragedy of a peer of France. The devil take the `
` constitutional government, and since we had our choice, as `
` they say, at least, how could we choose that?" `
` `
` "I understand; you must lay in a stock of hilarity." `
` `
` "Do not run down M. Danglars' speeches," said Debray; "he `
` votes for you, for he belongs to the opposition." `
` `
` "Pardieu, that is exactly the worst of all. I am waiting `
` until you send him to speak at the Luxembourg, to laugh at `
` my ease." `
` `
` "My dear friend," said Albert to Beauchamp, "it is plain `
` that the affairs of Spain are settled, for you are most `
` desperately out of humor this morning. Recollect that `
` Parisian gossip has spoken of a marriage between myself and `
` Mlle. Eugenie Danglars; I cannot in conscience, therefore, `
` let you run down the speeches of a man who will one day say `
` to me, `Vicomte, you know I give my daughter two millions.'" `
` `
` "Ah, this marriage will never take place," said Beauchamp. `
` "The king has made him a baron, and can make him a peer, but `
` he cannot make him a gentleman, and the Count of Morcerf is `
` too aristocratic to consent, for the paltry sum of two `
` million francs, to a mesalliance. The Viscount of Morcerf `
` can only wed a marchioness." `
` `
` "But two million francs make a nice little sum," replied `
` Morcerf. `
` `
` "It is the social capital of a theatre on the boulevard, or `
` a railroad from the Jardin des Plantes to La Rapee." `
` `
` "Never mind what he says, Morcerf," said Debray, "do you `
` marry her. You marry a money-bag label, it is true; well, `
` but what does that matter? It is better to have a blazon `
` less and a figure more on it. You have seven martlets on `
` your arms; give three to your wife, and you will still have `
` four; that is one more than M. de Guise had, who so nearly `
` became King of France, and whose cousin was Emperor of `
` Germany." `
` `
` "On my word, I think you are right, Lucien," said Albert `
` absently. `
` `
` "To be sure; besides, every millionaire is as noble as a `
` bastard -- that is, he can be." `
` `
` "Do not say that, Debray," returned Beauchamp, laughing, `
` "for here is Chateau-Renaud, who, to cure you of your mania `
` for paradoxes, will pass the sword of Renaud de Montauban, `
` his ancestor, through your body." `
` `
` "He will sully it then," returned Lucien; "for I am low -- `
` very low." `
` `
` "Oh, heavens," cried Beauchamp, "the minister quotes `
` Beranger, what shall we come to next?" `
` `
` "M. de Chateau-Renaud -- M. Maximilian Morrel," said the `
` servant, announcing two fresh guests. `
` `
` "Now, then, to breakfast," said Beauchamp; "for, if I `
` remember, you told me you only expected two persons, `
` Albert." `
` `
` "Morrel," muttered Albert -- "Morrel -- who is he?" But `
` before he had finished, M. de Chateau-Renaud, a handsome `
` young man of thirty, gentleman all over, -- that is, with `
` the figure of a Guiche and the wit of a Mortemart, -- took `
` Albert's hand. "My dear Albert," said he, "let me introduce `
` to you M. Maximilian Morrel, captain of Spahis, my friend; `
` and what is more -- however the man speaks for himself ---my `
` preserver. Salute my hero, viscount." And he stepped on one `
` side to give place to a young man of refined and dignified `
` bearing, with large and open brow, piercing eyes, and black `
` mustache, whom our readers have already seen at Marseilles, `
` under circumstances sufficiently dramatic not to be `
` forgotten. A rich uniform, half French, half Oriental, set `
` off his graceful and stalwart figure, and his broad chest `
` was decorated with the order of the Legion of Honor. The `
` young officer bowed with easy and elegant politeness. `
` "Monsieur," said Albert with affectionate courtesy, "the `
` count of Chateau-Renaud knew how much pleasure this `
` introduction would give me; you are his friend, be ours `
` also." `
` `
` "Well said," interrupted Chateau-Renaud; "and pray that, if `
` you should ever be in a similar predicament, he may do as `
` much for you as he did for me." `
` `
` "What has he done?" asked Albert. `
` `
` "Oh, nothing worth speaking of," said Morrel; "M. de `
` Chateau-Renaud exaggerates." `
` `
` "Not worth speaking of?" cried Chateau-Renaud; "life is not `
` worth speaking of! -- that is rather too philosophical, on `
` my word, Morrel. It is very well for you, who risk your life `
` every day, but for me, who only did so once" -- `
` `
` "We gather from all this, baron, that Captain Morrel saved `
` your life." `
` `
` "Exactly so." `
` `
` "On what occasion?" asked Beauchamp. `
` `
` "Beauchamp, my good fellow, you know I am starving," said `
` Debray: "do not set him off on some long story." `
` `
` "Well, I do not prevent your sitting down to table," replied `
` Beauchamp, "Chateau-Renaud can tell us while we eat our `
` breakfast." `
` `
` "Gentlemen," said Morcerf, "it is only a quarter past ten, `
` and I expect some one else." `
` `
` "Ah, true, a diplomatist!" observed Debray. `
` `
` "Diplomat or not, I don't know; I only know that he charged `
` himself on my account with a mission, which he terminated so `
` entirely to my satisfaction, that had I been king, I should `
` have instantly created him knight of all my orders, even had `
` I been able to offer him the Golden Fleece and the Garter." `
` `
` "Well, since we are not to sit down to table," said Debray, `
` "take a glass of sherry, and tell us all about it." `
` `
` "You all know that I had the fancy of going to Africa." `
` `
` "It is a road your ancestors have traced for you," said `
` Albert gallantly. `
` `
` "Yes? but I doubt that your object was like theirs -- to `
` rescue the Holy Sepulchre." `
` `
` "You are quite right, Beauchamp," observed the young `
` aristocrat. "It was only to fight as an amateur. I cannot `
` bear duelling since two seconds, whom I had chosen to `
` arrange an affair, forced me to break the arm of one of my `
` best friends, one whom you all know -- poor Franz d'Epinay." `
` `
` "Ah, true," said Debray, "you did fight some time ago; about `
` what?" `
` `
` "The devil take me, if I remember," returned Chateau-Renaud. `
` "But I recollect perfectly one thing, that, being unwilling `
` to let such talents as mine sleep, I wished to try upon the `
` Arabs the new pistols that had been given to me. In `
` consequence I embarked for Oran, and went from thence to `
` Constantine, where I arrived just in time to witness the `
` raising of the siege. I retreated with the rest, for eight `
` and forty hours. I endured the rain during the day, and the `
` cold during the night tolerably well, but the third morning `
` my horse died of cold. Poor brute -- accustomed to be `
` covered up and to have a stove in the stable, the Arabian `
` finds himself unable to bear ten degrees of cold in Arabia." `
` `
` "That's why you want to purchase my English horse," said `
` Debray, "you think he will bear the cold better." `
` `
` "You are mistaken, for I have made a vow never to return to `
` Africa." `
` `
` "You were very much frightened, then?" asked Beauchamp. `
` `
` "Well, yes, and I had good reason to be so," replied `
`
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 40 `
` The Breakfast. `
` `
` "And what sort of persons do you expect to breakfast?" said `
` Beauchamp. `
` `
` "A gentleman, and a diplomatist." `
` `
` "Then we shall have to wait two hours for the gentleman, and `
` three for the diplomatist. I shall come back to dessert; `
` keep me some strawberries, coffee, and cigars. I shall take `
` a cutlet on my way to the Chamber." `
` `
` "Do not do anything of the sort; for were the gentleman a `
` Montmorency, and the diplomatist a Metternich, we will `
` breakfast at eleven; in the meantime, follow Debray's `
` example, and take a glass of sherry and a biscuit." `
` `
` "Be it so; I will stay; I must do something to distract my `
` thoughts." `
` `
` "You are like Debray, and yet it seems to me that when the `
` minister is out of spirits, the opposition ought to be `
` joyous." `
` `
` "Ah, you do not know with what I am threatened. I shall hear `
` this morning that M. Danglars make a speech at the Chamber `
` of Deputies, and at his wife's this evening I shall hear the `
` tragedy of a peer of France. The devil take the `
` constitutional government, and since we had our choice, as `
` they say, at least, how could we choose that?" `
` `
` "I understand; you must lay in a stock of hilarity." `
` `
` "Do not run down M. Danglars' speeches," said Debray; "he `
` votes for you, for he belongs to the opposition." `
` `
` "Pardieu, that is exactly the worst of all. I am waiting `
` until you send him to speak at the Luxembourg, to laugh at `
` my ease." `
` `
` "My dear friend," said Albert to Beauchamp, "it is plain `
` that the affairs of Spain are settled, for you are most `
` desperately out of humor this morning. Recollect that `
` Parisian gossip has spoken of a marriage between myself and `
` Mlle. Eugenie Danglars; I cannot in conscience, therefore, `
` let you run down the speeches of a man who will one day say `
` to me, `Vicomte, you know I give my daughter two millions.'" `
` `
` "Ah, this marriage will never take place," said Beauchamp. `
` "The king has made him a baron, and can make him a peer, but `
` he cannot make him a gentleman, and the Count of Morcerf is `
` too aristocratic to consent, for the paltry sum of two `
` million francs, to a mesalliance. The Viscount of Morcerf `
` can only wed a marchioness." `
` `
` "But two million francs make a nice little sum," replied `
` Morcerf. `
` `
` "It is the social capital of a theatre on the boulevard, or `
` a railroad from the Jardin des Plantes to La Rapee." `
` `
` "Never mind what he says, Morcerf," said Debray, "do you `
` marry her. You marry a money-bag label, it is true; well, `
` but what does that matter? It is better to have a blazon `
` less and a figure more on it. You have seven martlets on `
` your arms; give three to your wife, and you will still have `
` four; that is one more than M. de Guise had, who so nearly `
` became King of France, and whose cousin was Emperor of `
` Germany." `
` `
` "On my word, I think you are right, Lucien," said Albert `
` absently. `
` `
` "To be sure; besides, every millionaire is as noble as a `
` bastard -- that is, he can be." `
` `
` "Do not say that, Debray," returned Beauchamp, laughing, `
` "for here is Chateau-Renaud, who, to cure you of your mania `
` for paradoxes, will pass the sword of Renaud de Montauban, `
` his ancestor, through your body." `
` `
` "He will sully it then," returned Lucien; "for I am low -- `
` very low." `
` `
` "Oh, heavens," cried Beauchamp, "the minister quotes `
` Beranger, what shall we come to next?" `
` `
` "M. de Chateau-Renaud -- M. Maximilian Morrel," said the `
` servant, announcing two fresh guests. `
` `
` "Now, then, to breakfast," said Beauchamp; "for, if I `
` remember, you told me you only expected two persons, `
` Albert." `
` `
` "Morrel," muttered Albert -- "Morrel -- who is he?" But `
` before he had finished, M. de Chateau-Renaud, a handsome `
` young man of thirty, gentleman all over, -- that is, with `
` the figure of a Guiche and the wit of a Mortemart, -- took `
` Albert's hand. "My dear Albert," said he, "let me introduce `
` to you M. Maximilian Morrel, captain of Spahis, my friend; `
` and what is more -- however the man speaks for himself ---my `
` preserver. Salute my hero, viscount." And he stepped on one `
` side to give place to a young man of refined and dignified `
` bearing, with large and open brow, piercing eyes, and black `
` mustache, whom our readers have already seen at Marseilles, `
` under circumstances sufficiently dramatic not to be `
` forgotten. A rich uniform, half French, half Oriental, set `
` off his graceful and stalwart figure, and his broad chest `
` was decorated with the order of the Legion of Honor. The `
` young officer bowed with easy and elegant politeness. `
` "Monsieur," said Albert with affectionate courtesy, "the `
` count of Chateau-Renaud knew how much pleasure this `
` introduction would give me; you are his friend, be ours `
` also." `
` `
` "Well said," interrupted Chateau-Renaud; "and pray that, if `
` you should ever be in a similar predicament, he may do as `
` much for you as he did for me." `
` `
` "What has he done?" asked Albert. `
` `
` "Oh, nothing worth speaking of," said Morrel; "M. de `
` Chateau-Renaud exaggerates." `
` `
` "Not worth speaking of?" cried Chateau-Renaud; "life is not `
` worth speaking of! -- that is rather too philosophical, on `
` my word, Morrel. It is very well for you, who risk your life `
` every day, but for me, who only did so once" -- `
` `
` "We gather from all this, baron, that Captain Morrel saved `
` your life." `
` `
` "Exactly so." `
` `
` "On what occasion?" asked Beauchamp. `
` `
` "Beauchamp, my good fellow, you know I am starving," said `
` Debray: "do not set him off on some long story." `
` `
` "Well, I do not prevent your sitting down to table," replied `
` Beauchamp, "Chateau-Renaud can tell us while we eat our `
` breakfast." `
` `
` "Gentlemen," said Morcerf, "it is only a quarter past ten, `
` and I expect some one else." `
` `
` "Ah, true, a diplomatist!" observed Debray. `
` `
` "Diplomat or not, I don't know; I only know that he charged `
` himself on my account with a mission, which he terminated so `
` entirely to my satisfaction, that had I been king, I should `
` have instantly created him knight of all my orders, even had `
` I been able to offer him the Golden Fleece and the Garter." `
` `
` "Well, since we are not to sit down to table," said Debray, `
` "take a glass of sherry, and tell us all about it." `
` `
` "You all know that I had the fancy of going to Africa." `
` `
` "It is a road your ancestors have traced for you," said `
` Albert gallantly. `
` `
` "Yes? but I doubt that your object was like theirs -- to `
` rescue the Holy Sepulchre." `
` `
` "You are quite right, Beauchamp," observed the young `
` aristocrat. "It was only to fight as an amateur. I cannot `
` bear duelling since two seconds, whom I had chosen to `
` arrange an affair, forced me to break the arm of one of my `
` best friends, one whom you all know -- poor Franz d'Epinay." `
` `
` "Ah, true," said Debray, "you did fight some time ago; about `
` what?" `
` `
` "The devil take me, if I remember," returned Chateau-Renaud. `
` "But I recollect perfectly one thing, that, being unwilling `
` to let such talents as mine sleep, I wished to try upon the `
` Arabs the new pistols that had been given to me. In `
` consequence I embarked for Oran, and went from thence to `
` Constantine, where I arrived just in time to witness the `
` raising of the siege. I retreated with the rest, for eight `
` and forty hours. I endured the rain during the day, and the `
` cold during the night tolerably well, but the third morning `
` my horse died of cold. Poor brute -- accustomed to be `
` covered up and to have a stove in the stable, the Arabian `
` finds himself unable to bear ten degrees of cold in Arabia." `
` `
` "That's why you want to purchase my English horse," said `
` Debray, "you think he will bear the cold better." `
` `
` "You are mistaken, for I have made a vow never to return to `
` Africa." `
` `
` "You were very much frightened, then?" asked Beauchamp. `
` `
` "Well, yes, and I had good reason to be so," replied `
`