painted thus six or eight years ago. This costume is a fancy one,
it appears, and the resemblance is so great that I think I still
see my mother the same as she was in 1830. The countess had this
portrait painted during the count's absence. She doubtless intended
giving him an agreeable surprise; but, strange to say, this
portrait seemed to displease my father, and the value of the
picture, which is, as you see, one of the best works of Leopold
Robert, could not overcome his dislike to it. It is true, between
ourselves, that M. de Morcerf is one of the most assiduous peers at
the Luxembourg, a general renowned for theory, but a most mediocre
amateur of art. It is different with my mother, who paints
exceedingly well, and who, unwilling to part with so valuable a
picture, gave it to me to put here, where it would be less likely
to displease M. de Morcerf, whose portrait, by Gros, I will also
show you. Excuse my talking of family matters, but as I shall have
the honor of introducing you to the count, I tell you this to
prevent you making any allusions to this picture. The picture seems
to have a malign influence, for my mother rarely comes here without
looking at it, and still more rarely does she look at it without
weeping. This disagreement is the only one that has ever taken
place between the count and countess, who are still as much united,
although married more than twenty years, as on the first day of
their wedding."
Monte Cristo glanced rapidly at Albert, as if to seek a hidden
meaning in his words, but it was evident the young man uttered them
in the simplicity of his heart. "Now," said Albert, "that you have
seen all my treasures, allow me to offer them to you, unworthy as
they are. Consider yourself as in your own house, and to put
yourself still more at your ease, pray accompany me to the
apartments of M. de Morcerf, he whom I wrote from Rome an account
of the services you rendered me, and to whom I announced your
promised visit, and I may say that both the count and countesspromised visit, and I may say that both the count and countess
anxiously desire to thank you in person. You are somewhat blase I
know, and family scenes have not much effect on Sinbad the Sailor,
who has seen so many others. However, accept what I propose to you
as an initiation into Parisian life — a life of politeness,
visiting, and introductions." Monte Cristo bowed without making any
answer; he accepted the offer without enthusiasm and without
regret, as one of those conventions of society which every
gentleman looks upon as a duty. Albert summoned his servant, and
ordered him to acquaint M. and Madame de Morcerf of the arrival of
the Count of Monte Cristo. Albert followed him with the count. When
they arrived at the ante-chamber, above the door was visible a
shield, which, by its rich ornaments and its harmony with the rest
of the furniture, indicated the importance the owner attached to
this blazon. Monte Cristo stopped and examined it attentively.
"Azure seven merlets, or, placed bender," said he. "These are,
doubtless, your family arms? Except the knowledge of blazons, that
enables me to decipher them, I am very ignorant of heraldry — I, a
count of a fresh creation, fabricated in Tuscany by the aid of a
commandery of St. Stephen, and who would not have taken the trouble
had I not been told that when you travel much it is necessary.
Besides, you must have something on the panels of your carriage, to
escape being searched by the custom-house officers. Excuse my
putting such a question to you."
"It is not indiscreet," returned Morcerf, with the simplicity of
conviction. "You have guessed rightly. These are our arms, that is,
those of my father, but they are, as you see, joined to another
shield, which has gules, a silver tower, which are my mother's. By
her side I am Spanish, but the family of Morcerf is French, and, I
have heard, one of the oldest of the south of France."
"Yes," replied Monte Cristo "these blazons prove that. Almost
all the armed pilgrims that went to the Holy Land took for theirall the armed pilgrims that went to the Holy Land took for their
arms either a cross, in honor of their mission, or birds of
passage, in sign of the long voyage they were about to undertake,
and which they hoped to accomplish on the wings of faith. One of
your ancestors had joined the Crusades, and supposing it to be only
that of St. Louis, that makes you mount to the thirteenth century,
which is tolerably ancient."
"It is possible," said Morcerf; "my father has in his study a
genealogical tree which will tell you all that, and on which I made
commentaries that would have greatly edified Hozier and Jaucourt.
At present I no longer think of it, and yet I must tell you that we
are beginning to occupy ourselves greatly with these things under
our popular government."
"Well, then, your government would do well to choose from the
past something better than the things that I have noticed on your
monuments, and which have no heraldic meaning whatever. As for you,
viscount," continued Monte Cristo to Morcerf, "you are more
fortunate than the government, for your arms are really beautiful,
and speak to the imagination. Yes, you are at once from Provence
and Spain; that explains, if the portrait you showed me be like,
the dark hue I so much admired on the visage of the noble Catalan."
It would have required the penetration of Oedipus or the Sphinx to
have divined the irony the count concealed beneath these words,
apparently uttered with the greatest politeness. Morcerf thanked
him with a smile, and pushed open the door above which were his
arms, and which, as we have said, opened into the salon. In the
most conspicuous part of the salon was another portrait. It was
that of a man, from five to eight and thirty, in the uniform of a
general officer, wearing the double epaulet of heavy bullion, that
indicates superior rank, the ribbon of the Legion of Honor around
his neck, which showed he was a commander, and on the right breast,
the star of a grand officer of the order of the Saviour, and on the