intelligent creatures, united by the indissoluble ties of maternal
and filial love, had succeeded in tacitly understanding one
another, and economizing their stores, and Albert had been able to
tell his mother without extorting a change of countenance, —
"Mother, we have no more money."
Mercedes had never known misery; she had often, in her youth,
spoken of poverty, but between want and necessity, those synonymous
words, there is a wide difference. Amongst the Catalans, Mercedes
wished for a thousand things, but still she never really wanted
any. So long as the nets were good, they caught fish; and so long
as they sold their fish, they were able to buy twine for new nets.
And then, shut out from friendship, having but one affection, which
could not be mixed up with her ordinary pursuits, she thought of
herself — of no one but herself. Upon the little she earned she
lived as well as she could; now there were two to be supported, and
nothing to live upon.
Winter approached. Mercedes had no fire in that cold and naked
room — she, who was accustomed to stoves which heated the house
from the hall to the boudoir; she had not even one little flower —
she whose apartment had been a conservatory of costly exotics. But
she had her son. Hitherto the excitement of fulfilling a duty had
sustained them. Excitement, like enthusiasm, sometimes renders us
unconscious to the things of earth. But the excitement had calmed
down, and they felt themselves obliged to descend from dreams to
reality; after having exhausted the ideal, they found they must
talk of the actual.
"Mother," exclaimed Albert, just as Madame Danglars was
descending the stairs, "let us reckon our riches, if you please; I
want capital to build my plans upon."
"Capital — nothing!" replied Mercedes with a mournful smile.
"No, mother, — capital 3,000 francs. And I have an idea of our
leading a delightful life upon this 3,000 francs."
"Child!" sighed Mercedes.
"Alas, dear mother," said the young man, "I have unhappily spent"Child!" sighed Mercedes.
"Alas, dear mother," said the young man, "I have unhappily spent
too much of your money not to know the value of it. These 3,000
francs are enormous, and I intend building upon this foundation a
miraculous certainty for the future."
"You say this, my dear boy; but do you think we ought to accept
these 3,000 francs?" said Mercedes, coloring.
"I think so," answered Albert in a firm tone. "We will accept
them the more readily, since we have them not here; you know they
are buried in the garden of the little house in the Allees de
Meillan, at Marseilles. With 200 francs we can reach
Marseilles."
"With 200 francs? — are you sure, Albert?"
"Oh, as for that, I have made inquiries respecting the
diligences and steamboats, and my calculations are made. You will
take your place in the coupe to Chalons. You see, mother, I treat
you handsomely for thirty-five francs." Albert then took a pen, and
wrote: —
Frs. Coupe, thirty-five francs … … … … … … … … … . 35 From
Chalons to Lyons you will go on by the steamboat — six
francs … … … … … … … … … … … … … .. 6 From Lyons to Avignon
(still by steamboat), sixteen francs … … … … … … … … … … … … …
16 From Avignon to Marseilles, seven franc… … … … … . 7 Expenses on
the road, about fifty francs … … … … . 50 Total… … … … … … … …
… … … … … … … … 114 frs.
"Let us put down 120," added Albert, smiling. "You see I am
generous, am I not, mother?"
"But you, my poor child?"
"I? do you not see that I reserve eighty francs for myself? A
young man does not require luxuries; besides, I know what
travelling is."
"With a post-chaise and valet de chambre?"
"Any way, mother."
"Well, be it so. But these 200 francs?"
"Here they are, and 200 more besides. See, I have sold my watch
for 100 francs, and the guard and seals for 300. How fortunate that
the ornaments were worth more than the watch. Still the same story
of superfluities! Now I think we are rich, since instead of the 114
francs we require for the journey we find ourselves in possession
of 250."francs we require for the journey we find ourselves in possession
of 250."
"But we owe something in this house?"
"Thirty francs; but I pay that out of my 150 francs, — that is
understood, — and as I require only eighty francs for my journey,
you see I am overwhelmed with luxury. But that is not all. What do
you say to this, mother?"
And Albert took out of a little pocket-book with golden clasps,
a remnant of his old fancies, or perhaps a tender souvenir from one
of the mysterious and veiled ladies who used to knock at his little
door, — Albert took out of this pocket-book a note of 1,000
francs.
"What is this?" asked Mercedes.
"A thousand francs."
"But whence have you obtained them?"
"Listen to me, mother, and do not yield too much to agitation."
And Albert, rising, kissed his mother on both cheeks, then stood
looking at her. "You cannot imagine, mother, how beautiful I think
you!" said the young man, impressed with a profound feeling of
filial love. "You are, indeed, the most beautiful and most noble
woman I ever saw!"
"Dear child!" said Mercedes, endeavoring in vain to restrain a
tear which glistened in the corner of her eye. "Indeed, you only
wanted misfortune to change my love for you to admiration. I am not
unhappy while I possess my son!"
"Ah, just so," said Albert; "here begins the trial. Do you know
the decision we have come to, mother?"
"Have we come to any?"
"Yes; it is decided that you are to live at Marseilles, and that
I am to leave for Africa, where I will earn for myself the right to
use the name I now bear, instead of the one I have thrown aside."
Mercedes sighed. "Well, mother, I yesterday engaged myself as
substitute in the Spahis,"* added the young man, lowering his eyes
with a certain feeling of shame, for even he was unconscious of the
sublimity of his self-abasement. "I thought my body was my own, and
that I might sell it. I yesterday took the place of another. I sold
myself for more than I thought I was worth," he added, attempting
to smile; "I fetched 2,000 francs."