refuge, — refuse to admit certain persons at least."
"What is your errand, then, with me, sir?"
"I mean," said Albert, drawing near, and without apparently
noticing Cavalcanti, who stood with his back towards the fireplace
— "I mean to propose a meeting in some retired corner where no one
will interrupt us for ten minutes; that will be sufficient — where
two men having met, one of them will remain on the ground."
Danglars turned pale; Cavalcanti moved a step forward, and Albert
turned towards him. "And you, too," said he, "come, if you like,
monsieur; you have a claim, being almost one of the family, and I
will give as many rendezvous of that kind as I can find persons
willing to accept them." Cavalcanti looked at Danglars with a
stupefied air, and the latter, making an effort, arose and stepped
between the two young men. Albert's attack on Andrea had placed him
on a different footing, and he hoped this visit had another cause
than that he had at first supposed.
"Indeed, sir," said he to Albert, "if you are come to quarrel
with this gentleman because I have preferred him to you, I shall
resign the case to the king's attorney."
"You mistake, sir," said Morcerf with a gloomy smile; "I am not
referring in the least to matrimony, and I only addressed myself to
M. Cavalcanti because he appeared disposed to interfere between us.
In one respect you are right, for I am ready to quarrel with every
one to-day; but you have the first claim, M. Danglars."
"Sir," replied Danglars, pale with anger and fear, "I warn you,
when I have the misfortune to meet with a mad dog, I kill it; and
far from thinking myself guilty of a crime, I believe I do society
a kindness. Now, if you are mad and try to bite me, I will kill you
without pity. Is it my fault that your father has dishonored
himself?"
"Yes, miserable wretch!" cried Morcerf, "it is your fault."
Danglars retreated a few steps. "My fault?" said he; "you must be
mad! What do I know of the Grecian affair? Have I travelled in thatmad! What do I know of the Grecian affair? Have I travelled in that
country? Did I advise your father to sell the castle of Yanina — to
betray" —
"Silence!" said Albert, with a thundering voice. "No; it is not
you who have directly made this exposure and brought this sorrow on
us, but you hypocritically provoked it."
"I?"
"Yes; you! How came it known?"
"I suppose you read it in the paper in the account from
Yanina?"
"Who wrote to Yanina?"
"To Yanina?"
"Yes. Who wrote for particulars concerning my father?"
"I imagine any one may write to Yanina."
"But one person only wrote!"
"One only?"
"Yes; and that was you!"
"I, doubtless, wrote. It appears to me that when about to marry
your daughter to a young man, it is right to make some inquiries
respecting his family; it is not only a right, but a duty."
"You wrote, sir, knowing what answer you would receive."
"I, indeed? I assure you," cried Danglars, with a confidence and
security proceeding less from fear than from the interest he really
felt for the young man, "I solemnly declare to you, that I should
never have thought of writing to Yanina, did I know anything of Ali
Pasha's misfortunes."
"Who, then, urged you to write? Tell me."
"Pardieu, it was the most simple thing in the world. I was
speaking of your father's past history. I said the origin of his
fortune remained obscure. The person to whom I addressed my
scruples asked me where your father had acquired his property? I
answered, `In Greece.' — `Then,' said he, `write to Yanina.'"
"And who thus advised you?"
"No other than your friend, Monte Cristo."
"The Count of Monte Cristo told you to write to Yanina?"
"Yes; and I wrote, and will show you my correspondence, if you
like." Albert and Beauchamp looked at each other. "Sir," said
Beauchamp, who had not yet spoken, "you appear to accuse the count,
who is absent from Paris at this moment, and cannot justify
himself."
"I accuse no one, sir," said Danglars; "I relate, and I will
repeat before the count what I have said to you."repeat before the count what I have said to you."
"Does the count know what answer you received?"
"Yes; I showed it to him."
"Did he know my father's Christian name was Fernand, and his
family name Mondego?"
"Yes, I had told him that long since, and I did only what any
other would have done in my circumstances, and perhaps less. When,
the day after the arrival of this answer, your father came by the
advice of Monte Cristo to ask my daughter's hand for you, I
decidedly refused him, but without any explanation or exposure. In
short, why should I have any more to do with the affair? How did
the honor or disgrace of M. de Morcerf affect me? It neither
increased nor decreased my income."
Albert felt the blood mounting to his brow; there was no doubt
upon the subject. Danglars defended himself with the baseness, but
at the same time with the assurance, of a man who speaks the truth,
at least in part, if not wholly — not for conscience' sake, but
through fear. Besides, what was Morcerf seeking? It was not whether
Danglars or Monte Cristo was more or less guilty; it was a man who
would answer for the offence, whether trifling or serious; it was a
man who would fight, and it was evident Danglars would not fight.
And, in addition to this, everything forgotten or unperceived
before presented itself now to his recollection. Monte Cristo knew
everything, as he had bought the daughter of Ali Pasha; and,
knowing everything, he had advised Danglars to write to Yanina. The
answer known, he had yielded to Albert's wish to be introduced to
Haidee, and allowed the conversation to turn on the death of Ali,
and had not opposed Haidee's recital (but having, doubtless, warned
the young girl, in the few Romaic words he spoke to her, not to
implicate Morcerf's father). Besides, had he not begged of Morcerf
not to mention his father's name before Haidee? Lastly, he had
taken Albert to Normandy when he knew the final blow was near.
There could be no doubt that all had been calculated and previouslyThere could be no doubt that all had been calculated and previously
arranged; Monte Cristo then was in league with his father's
enemies. Albert took Beauchamp aside, and communicated these ideas
to him.
"You are right," said the latter; "M. Danglars has only been a
secondary agent in this sad affair, and it is of M. de Monte Cristo
that you must demand an explanation." Albert turned. "Sir," said he
to Danglars, "understand that I do not take a final leave of you; I
must ascertain if your insinuations are just, and am going now to
inquire of the Count of Monte Cristo." He bowed to the banker, and
went out with Beauchamp, without appearing to notice Cavalcanti.
Danglars accompanied him to the door, where he again assured Albert
that no motive of personal hatred had influenced him against the
Count of Morcerf.