not the less alarm my father and myself."
"Did your father speak of it?" inquired Mercedes eagerly.
"No, madame; but do you not remember that he spoke of the fact
to you?"
"Yes, I do remember," replied the countess. A servant entered,
summoned by Albert's ring of the bell. "Take these flowers into the
anteroom or dressing-room," said the viscount; "they make the
countess ill." The footman obeyed his orders. A long pause ensued,
which lasted until all the flowers were removed. "What is this name
of Monte Cristo?" inquired the countess, when the servant had taken
away the last vase of flowers, "is it a family name, or the name of
the estate, or a simple title?"
"I believe, mother, it is merely a title. The count purchased an
island in the Tuscan archipelago, and, as he told you to-day, has
founded a commandery. You know the same thing was done for Saint
Stephen of Florence, Saint George, Constantinian of Parma, and even
for the Order of Malta. Except this, he has no pretension to
nobility, and calls himself a chance count, although the general
opinion at Rome is that the count is a man of very high
distinction."
"His manners are admirable," said the countess, "at least, as
far as I could judge in the few minutes he remained here."
"They are perfect mother, so perfect, that they surpass by far
all I have known in the leading aristocracy of the three proudest
nobilities of Europe — the English, the Spanish, and the German."
The countess paused a moment; then, after a slight hesitation, she
resumed, — "You have seen, my dear Albert — I ask the question as a
mother — you have seen M. de Monte Cristo in his house, you are
quicksighted, have much knowledge of the world, more tact than is
usual at your age, do you think the count is really what he appears
to be?"
"What does he appear to be?"
"Why, you have just said, — a man of high distinction."
"I told you, my dear mother, he was esteemed such."
"But what is your own opinion, Albert?"
"I must tell you that I have not come to any decided opinion"I must tell you that I have not come to any decided opinion
respecting him, but I think him a Maltese."
"I do not ask you of his origin but what he is."
"Ah, what he is; that is quite another thing. I have seen so
many remarkable things in him, that if you would have me really say
what I think, I shall reply that I really do look upon him as one
of Byron's heroes, whom misery has marked with a fatal brand; some
Manfred, some Lara, some Werner, one of those wrecks, as it were,
of some ancient family, who, disinherited of their patrimony, have
achieved one by the force of their adventurous genius, which has
placed them above the laws of society."
"You say" —
"I say that Monte Cristo is an island in the midst of the
Mediterranean, without inhabitants or garrison, the resort of
smugglers of all nations, and pirates of every flag. Who knows
whether or not these industrious worthies do not pay to their
feudal lord some dues for his protection?"
"That is possible," said the countess, reflecting.
"Never mind," continued the young man, "smuggler or not, you
must agree, mother dear, as you have seen him, that the Count of
Monte Cristo is a remarkable man, who will have the greatest
success in the salons of Paris. Why, this very morning, in my
rooms, he made his entree amongst us by striking every man of us
with amazement, not even excepting Chateau-Renaud."
"And what do you suppose is the count's age?" inquired Mercedes,
evidently attaching great importance to this question.
"Thirty-five or thirty-six, mother."
"So young, — it is impossible," said Mercedes, replying at the
same time to what Albert said as well as to her own private
reflection.
"It is the truth, however. Three or four times he has said to
me, and certainly without the slightest premeditation, `at such a
period I was five years old, at another ten years old, at another
twelve,' and I, induced by curiosity, which kept me alive to these
details, have compared the dates, and never found him inaccurate.details, have compared the dates, and never found him inaccurate.
The age of this singular man, who is of no age, is then, I am
certain, thirty-five. Besides, mother, remark how vivid his eye,
how raven-black his hair, and his brow, though so pale, is free
from wrinkles, — he is not only vigorous, but also young." The
countess bent her head, as if beneath a heavy wave of bitter
thoughts. "And has this man displayed a friendship for you,
Albert?" she asked with a nervous shudder.
"I am inclined to think so."
"And — do — you — like — him?"
"Why, he pleases me in spite of Franz d'Epinay, who tries to
convince me that he is a being returned from the other world." The
countess shuddered. "Albert," she said, in a voice which was
altered by emotion, "I have always put you on your guard against
new acquaintances. Now you are a man, and are able to give me
advice; yet I repeat to you, Albert, be prudent."
"Why, my dear mother, it is necessary, in order to make your
advice turn to account, that I should know beforehand what I have
to distrust. The count never plays, he only drinks pure water
tinged with a little sherry, and is so rich that he cannot, without
intending to laugh at me, try to borrow money. What, then, have I
to fear from him?"
"You are right," said the countess, "and my fears are weakness,
especially when directed against a man who has saved your life. How
did your father receive him, Albert? It is necessary that we should
be more than complaisant to the count. M. de Morcerf is sometimes
occupied, his business makes him reflective, and he might, without
intending it" —
"Nothing could be in better taste than my father's demeanor,
madame," said Albert; "nay, more, he seemed greatly flattered at
two or three compliments which the count very skilfully and
agreeably paid him with as much ease as if he had known him these
thirty years. Each of these little tickling arrows must have
pleased my father," added Albert with a laugh. "And thus they
parted the best possible friends, and M. de Morcerf even wished toparted the best possible friends, and M. de Morcerf even wished to
take him to the Chamber to hear the speakers." The countess made no
reply. She fell into so deep a revery that her eyes gradually
closed. The young man, standing up before her, gazed upon her with
that filial affection which is so tender and endearing with
children whose mothers are still young and handsome. Then, after
seeing her eyes closed, and hearing her breathe gently, he believed
she had dropped asleep, and left the apartment on tiptoe, closing
the door after him with the utmost precaution. "This devil of a
fellow," he muttered, shaking his head; "I said at the time he
would create a sensation here, and I measure his effect by an
infallible thermometer. My mother has noticed him, and he must
therefore, perforce, be remarkable." He went down to the stables,
not without some slight annoyance, when he remembered that the
Count of Monte Cristo had laid his hands on a "turnout" which sent
his bays down to second place in the opinion of connoisseurs. "Most
decidedly," said he, "men are not equal, and I must beg my father
to develop this theorem in the Chamber of Peers."