Cristo, leaning back on her sofa and motioning towards Valentine
with her hand. "And M. de Monte Cristo, King of China, Emperor of
Cochin-China," said the young imp, looking slyly towards his
sister.
Madame de Villefort at this really did turn pale, and was very
nearly angry with this household plague, who answered to the name
of Edward; but the count, on the contrary, smiled, and appeared to
look at the boy complacently, which caused the maternal heart to
bound again with joy and enthusiasm.
"But, madame," replied the count, continuing the conversation,
and looking by turns at Madame de Villefort and Valentine, "have I
not already had the honor of meeting yourself and mademoiselle
before? I could not help thinking so just now; the idea came over
my mind, and as mademoiselle entered the sight of her was an
additional ray of light thrown on a confused remembrance; excuse
the remark."
"I do not think it likely, sir; Mademoiselle de Villefort is not
very fond of society, and we very seldom go out," said the young
lady.
"Then it was not in society that I met with mademoiselle or
yourself, madame, or this charming little merry boy. Besides, the
Parisian world is entirely unknown to me, for, as I believe I told
you, I have been in Paris but very few days. No, — but, perhaps,
you will permit me to call to mind — stay!" The Count placed his
hand on his brow as if to collect his thoughts. "No — it was
somewhere — away from here — it was — I do not know — but it
appears that this recollection is connected with a lovely sky and
some religious fete; mademoiselle was holding flowers in her hand,
the interesting boy was chasing a beautiful peacock in a garden,
and you, madame, were under the trellis of some arbor. Pray come to
my aid, madame; do not these circumstances appeal to your
memory?"
"No, indeed," replied Madame de Villefort; "and yet it appears
to me, sir, that if I had met you anywhere, the recollection of you
must have been imprinted on my memory."
"Perhaps the count saw us in Italy," said Valentine timidly."Perhaps the count saw us in Italy," said Valentine timidly.
"Yes, in Italy; it was in Italy most probably," replied Monte
Cristo; "you have travelled then in Italy, mademoiselle?"
"Yes; madame and I were there two years ago. The doctors,
anxious for my lungs, had prescribed the air of Naples. We went by
Bologna, Perugia, and Rome."
"Ah, yes — true, mademoiselle," exclaimed Monte Cristo as if
this simple explanation was sufficient to revive the recollection
he sought. "It was at Perugia on Corpus Christi Day, in the garden
of the Hotel des Postes, when chance brought us together; you,
Madame de Villefort, and her son; I now remember having had the
honor of meeting you."
"I perfectly well remember Perugia, sir, and the Hotel des
Postes, and the festival of which you speak," said Madame de
Villefort, "but in vain do I tax my memory, of whose treachery I am
ashamed, for I really do not recall to mind that I ever had the
pleasure of seeing you before."
"It is strange, but neither do I recollect meeting with you,"
observed Valentine, raising her beautiful eyes to the count.
"But I remember it perfectly," interposed the darling
Edward.
"I will assist your memory, madame," continued the count; "the
day had been burning hot; you were waiting for horses, which were
delayed in consequence of the festival. Mademoiselle was walking in
the shade of the garden, and your son disappeared in pursuit of the
peacock."
"And I caught it, mamma, don't you remember?" interposed Edward,
"and I pulled three such beautiful feathers out of his tail."
"You, madame, remained under the arbor; do you not remember,
that while you were seated on a stone bench, and while, as I told
you, Mademoiselle de Villefort and your young son were absent, you
conversed for a considerable time with somebody?"
"Yes, in truth, yes," answered the young lady, turning very red,
"I do remember conversing with a person wrapped in a long woollen
mantle; he was a medical man, I think."
"Precisely so, madame; this man was myself; for a fortnight I"Precisely so, madame; this man was myself; for a fortnight I
had been at that hotel, during which period I had cured my valet de
chambre of a fever, and my landlord of the jaundice, so that I
really acquired a reputation as a skilful physician. We discoursed
a long time, madame, on different subjects; of Perugino, of
Raffaelle, of manners, customs, of the famous aquatofana, of which
they had told you, I think you said, that certain individuals in
Perugia had preserved the secret."
"Yes, true," replied Madame de Villefort, somewhat uneasily, "I
remember now."
"I do not recollect now all the various subjects of which we
discoursed, madame," continued the count with perfect calmness;
"but I perfectly remember that, falling into the error which others
had entertained respecting me, you consulted me as to the health of
Mademoiselle de Villefort."
"Yes, really, sir, you were in fact a medical man," said Madame
de Villefort, "since you had cured the sick."
"Moliere or Beaumarchais would reply to you, madame, that it was
precisely because I was not, that I had cured my patients; for
myself, I am content to say to you that I have studied chemistry
and the natural sciences somewhat deeply, but still only as an
amateur, you understand." — At this moment the clock struck six.
"It is six o'clock," said Madame de Villefort, evidently agitated.
"Valentine, will you not go and see if your grandpapa will have his
dinner?" Valentine rose, and saluting the count, left the apartment
without speaking.
"Oh, madame," said the count, when Valentine had left the room,
"was it on my account that you sent Mademoiselle de Villefort
away?"
"By no means," replied the young lady quickly; "but this is the
hour when we usually give M. Noirtier the unwelcome meal that
sustains his pitiful existence. You are aware, sir, of the
deplorable condition of my husband's father?"
"Yes, madame, M. de Villefort spoke of it to me — a paralysis, I
think."
"Alas, yes; the poor old gentleman is entirely helpless; the