The Count of Monte-Cristo/Volume 3/Chapter 56
CHAPTER LVI
ANDREA CAVALCANTI
HE Count of Monte-Cristo entered the adjoining room, which Baptistin had designated as the blue drawing-room, and found there a young man, of graceful demeanor and elegant appearance, who had arrived in a fiacreabout half an hour previously. Baptistin had not found any difficulty in recognizing him. He was certainly the tall young man with light hair, red beard, black eyes, and brilliant complexion, whom his master had so particularly described to him. When the count entered the room the young man was carelessly stretched on a sofa, tapping his boot with the gold-headed cane which he held in his hand. On perceiving the count he rose quickly.
"The Count of Monte-Cristo, I believe," said he.
"Yes, sir, and I think I have the honor of addressing M. le Vicomte Andrea Cavalcanti?"
"Vicomte Andrea Cavalcanti," repeated the young man, accompanying his words with a bow.
"You are charged with a letter of introduction addressed to me, are you not?" said the count.
"I did not mention that, because the signature seemed to me so strange."
"Sindbad the Sailor, is it not?"
"Exactly so. Now, as I have never known any Sindbad, with the exception of the one in the 'Arabian Nights'"
"Well! it is one of his descendants, and a great friend of mine; he is a very rich Englishman, eccentric almost to insanity; and his real name is Lord Wilmore."
"Ah! indeed! then that explains everything," said Andrea; "that is extraordinary. He is, then, the same Englishman whom I met—at—yes, very well! M. le Comte, I am at your service." "If what you say be true," replied the count, smiling, "perhaps you will be kind enough to give me some account of yourself and your family?"
"Certainly, I will do so," said the young man, with a quickness which gave proof of his good memory. "I am, as you have said, the Vicomte Andrea Cavalcanti, son of Major Bartolomeo Cavalcanti, a descendant of the Cavalcanti, whose names are inscribed in the golden book at Florence. Our family, although still rich (for my father's income amounts to half a million), has experienced many misfortunes, and I myself was, at the age of five years, taken away by the treachery of my tutor, so that for fifteen years I have not seen the author of my existence. Since I have arrived at years of discretion and become my own master, I have been constantly seeking him, but all in vain. At length I received this letter from your friend Sindbad, which states that my father is in Paris, and authorizes me to address myself to you for information respecting him."
"Really, all you have related to me is exceedingly interesting," said Monte-Cristo, observing with a gloomy satisfaction this youth, beautiful as a fallen angel, "and you have done well to conform in everything to the wishes of my friend Sindbad; for your father is indeed here, and is seeking you."
The count, from the moment of his first entering the drawing-room, had not once lost sight of the expression of the young man's countenance; he had admired the assurance of his look and the firmness of his voice; but at these words so natural in themselves, "Your father is indeed here, and is seeking you," young Andrea started, and exclaimed:
"My father! is my father here?"
"Most undoubtedly," replied Monte-Cristo; "your father, the Major Bartolomeo Cavalcanti." The expression of terror which for the moment had overspread the features of the young man had now disappeared.
"Ah! yes, that is the name, certainly. Major Bartolomeo Cavalcanti. And you really mean to say, M. le Comte, that my dear father is here!"
"Yes, sir; and I can even add that I have only just left his company. The history which he related to me of his lost son touched me to the quick; indeed, his griefs, hopes, and fears, on that subject might furnish material for a most touching and pathetic poem. At length, he one day received a letter, stating that the parties who had deprived him of his son now offered to restore him, or at least to give notice where he might be found, on condition of receiving a large sum of money, by way of ransom. Your father did not hesitate an instant, and the sum was sent to the frontier of Piedmont, with a passport signed for Italy. You were in the south of France, I think?"
"Yes," replied Andrea, with an embarrassed air, "1 was in the south of France."
"A carriage was to await you at Nice?"
"Precisely so; and it conveyed me from Nice to Genoa, from Genoa
to Turin, from Turin to Chambéry, from Chambéry to Pont-de-Beauvoisin, and from Pont-de-Beauvoisin to Paris."
"Indeed! then your father ought to have met with you on the road, for it is exactly the same route which he himself took, and that is how we have been able to trace your journey to this place." "But," said Andrea, "if my father had met me, I doubt if he would have recognized me; I must be somewhat altered since he last saw me."
"Oh! the voice of nature," said Monte-Cristo.
"True," iuteiTUpted the young man, "I had not looked upon it in that point of view."
"Now," replied Monte-Cristo, "there is only one source of uneasiness left in your father's mind, which is this—he is anxious to know how you have been employed during your long absence from him; how you have been treated by your persecutors; and if they have conducted them selves toward you with all the deference due to your rank. Finally, he is anxious to see if you have been fortunate enough to escape the bad moral influence to which you have been exposed, and which is infinitely more to be dreaded than any physical suffering; he wishes to discover if the fine abilities with which nature had endowed you have been weakened by want of culture; and, in short, whether you consider yourself capable of resuming and retaining in the world the high position to which your rank entitles you."
"Sir," exclaimed the young man quite astounded, "I hope no false report"
"As for myself, I first heard you spoken of by my friend Wilmore, the philanthropist. I believe he found you in some unpleasant position, but do not know of what nature, for I did not ask, not being inquisitive. Your misfortunes engaged his sympathies; so you see you must have been interesting. He told me that he was anxious to restore you to the position which you had lost, and that he would seek your father until he found him. He did seek, and has found him, apparently, since he is here now; and, finally, my friend apprised me of your coming, and gave me a few other instructions relative to your future fortune. I am quite aware that my friend Wilmore is an original, but he is sincere, and as rich as a gold mine; consequently he may indulge in eccentricities without any fear of their ruining him, and I have promised to adhere to his instructions. Now, sir, pray do not be offended at the question I am about to put to you, as it comes in the way of my duty as your patron. I would wish to know if the misfortunes which have happened to you—misfortunes entirely beyond your control, and which in no degree diminish my regard for you,—I would wish to know if they have not in some measure contributed to render you a stranger to the world in which your fortune and your name entitle you to make a conspicuous figure?"
"Sir," returned the young man, with a reassurance of manner, "make your mind easy on this score. Those who took me from my father, and who always intended, sooner or later, to sell me again to him, as they have now done, calculated that, in order to make the most of their bargain, it would be politic to leave me in possession of all my personal and hereditary worth, and even to increase the value, if possible. I have, therefore, received a very good education, and have been treated by these kidnappers very much as the slaves were treated in Asia Minor, whose masters made them grammarians, doctors, and philosophers, in order that they might fetch a higher price in the Roman market."
Monte-Cristo smiled with satisfaction; it appeared as if he had not expected so much from M. Andrea Cavalcanti."
"Besides," continued the young man, "if there did appear some defect in education, or offense against the established forms of etiquette, I suppose they would be excused, in consideration of the misfortunes which accompanied my birth, and followed me through my youth."
"Well," said Monte-Cristo, in an indifferent tone, "you will do as you please, viscount, for you are the master of your own actions, and are the person most concerned in the matter; but if I were you, I would not divulge a word of these adventures. Your history is quite a romance, and the world, which delights in romances contained in two covers of yellow paper, strangely mistrusts those which are bound in living parchment, even though they be gilded like yourself. This is the kind of difficulty which I wished to represent to you, M. le Vicomte. You would hardly have recited your touching history than it would go forth to the world, and be deemed unlikely and unnatural. You would be no longer a lost child found, but you would be looked upon as an upstart, who had sprung up like a mushroom in the night. You might excite a little curiosity, but it is not every one who likes to be made the center of observation and the subject of unpleasant remark."
"I agree with you, M. le Comte," said the young man, turning pale, and, in spite of himself, trembling beneath the scrutinizing look of his companion, "such consequences would be extremely unpleasant."
"Nevertheless, you must not exaggerate the evil," said Monte-Cristo, "or by endeavoring to avoid one fault you will fall into another. You must resolve upon one simple and single line of conduct; and for a man of your intelligence, this plan is as easy as it is necessary; you must form honorable friendships, and by that means counteract the prejudice which may attach to the obscurity of your former life." Andrea visibly changed countenance.
"I would offer myself as your surety and friendly adviser," said Monte-Cristo, "did I not possess a moral distrust of my best friends, and a sort of inclination to lead others to doubt them too therefore, in departing from this rule, I should (as the actors say) be playing a part quite out of my line, and should, therefore, run the risk of being hissed, which would be an act of folly."
"However, M. le Comte," said Andrea, "in consideration of Lord Wilmore, by whom I was recommended to you "
"Yes, certainly," inteiTUpted Monte-Cristo; "but Lord Wilmore did not omit to inform me, my dear M. Andrea, that the season of your youth was rather a stormy one. Ah!" said the count, watching Andrea's countenance, "I do not demand any confession from you; it is precisely to avoid that necessity that your father was sent for from Lucca. You shall soon see him; he is a little stiff and pompous in his manner, and he is disfigured by his uniform; but when it becomes known that he is in the Austrian service, all that will be pardoned. We are not generally very severe with the Austrian s. In short, you will find your father a very presentable person, I assure you."
"Ah, sir, you have given me confidence; it is so long since we were separated, that I have not the least remembrance of him; and, besides, you know that in the eyes of the world a large fortune covers nil defects."
"He is a millionaire his income is five hundred thousand francs."
"Then," said the young man, with anxiety, "I shall be sure to be placed in an agreeable position."
"One of the most agreeable possible, my dear sir; he will allow you an income of fifty thousand livres per annum during the whole time of your stay in Paris."
"Then in that case I shall always choose to remain there."
"You cannot control circumstances, my dear sir; 'man proposes, and God disposes.'" Andrea sighed.
"But," said he, "so long as I do remain in Paris, and nothing forces me to quit it, do you mean to tell me that I may rely on receiving the sum you just now mentioned to me?"
"You may."
"Shall I receive it from my father?" asked Andrea, with some uneasiness.
"Yes, you will receive it from your father personally, but Lord Wilmore will be the security for the money. He has, at the request of your father, opened an account of five thousand francs a month at M. Daiglars', which is one of the safest banks in Paris."
"And does my father mean to remain long in Paris?" asked Andrea.
"Only a few days," replied Monte-Cristo. "His service does not allow him to absent himself more than two or three weeks together."
"Ah! my dear father!" exclaimed Andrea, evidently charmed with the idea of his speedy departure.
"Therefore," said Monte-Cristo, feigning to mistake his meaning—"therefore I will not, for another instant, retard the pleasure of your meeting. Are you prepared to embrace your worthy father?"
"I hope you do not doubt it."
"Go, then, into the drawing-room, my young friend, where you will find your father awaiting you." Andrea made a low bow to the count, and entered the adjoining room. Monte-Cristo watched him till he disappeared, and then touched a spring made to look like a picture, which, in sliding partially from the frame, discovered to view a small interstice, which was so cleverly contrived that it revealed all that was passing in the drawing-room now occupied by Cavalcanti and Andrea. The young man closed the door behind him, and advanced toward the major, who had risen when he heard steps approaching.
"Ah! my dear father!" said Andrea, in a loud voice, in order that the count might hear him in the next room, "is it really you?"
"How do you do, my dear son?" said the major gravely.
"After so many years of painful separation," said Andrea, in the same tone of voice, and glancing toward the door, "what a happiness it is to meet again!"
"Indeed it is, after so long a separation."
"Will you not embrace me, sir?" said Andrea.
"If you wish it, my son," said the major. And the two men embraced each other after the fashion of actors on the stage; that is to say, each rested his head on the other's shoulder.
"Then we are once more reunited?" said Andrea.
"Once more!" replied the major.
"Never more to be separated?"
"Why, as to that I think, my dear son, you must be by this time so accustomed to France as to look upon it almost as a second country."
"The fact is," said the young man, "that I should be exceedingly grieved to leave it."
"As for me, you must know I cannot possibly live out of Lucca; therefore I shall return to Italy as soon as I can."
"But before you leave France, my dear father, I hope you will put me in possession of the documents which will be necessary to prove my descent."
"Certainly, I am come expressly on that account; it has cost me much trouble to find you, but I had resolved on giving them into your hands; and if I had to recommence my search, it would occupy all the few remaining years of my life."
"Where are these papers, then?" said Andrea.
"Here they are."
Andrea seized the certificate of his father's marriage and his own baptismal register, and after having opened them with all the eagerness which might be expected under the circumstances, he read them with a facility which proved that he was accustomed to similar documents, and with an expression which plainly denoted an unusual interest in the contents. When he had perused the documents, an indefinable expression of pleasure lighted up his countenance, and looking at the major with a most peculiar smile, he said, in very excellent Tuscan:
"Then there is no longer any such thing in Italy as the galleys?"
"Why? what do you mean?"
"I mean that if there were, it would be impossible to draw up with impunity such deeds as these. In France, my dear sir, for half of this you would be quickly dispatched to Toulon for five years, for change of air."
"Will you be good enough to explain your meaning?" said the major, endeavoring as much as possible to assume an air of the greatest majesty.
"My dear M. Cavalcanti," said Andrea, taking the major by the arm in a confidential manner, "how much are you paid for being my father?" The major was about to speak, when Andrea continued in a low voice: "Nonsense! I am going to set you an example of confidence; they give me fifty thousand francs a year to be your son; consequently you can understand that it is not at all likely I shall ever deny my parent." The major looked anxiously around him.
"Make yourself easy, we are quite alone," said Andrea; "besides, we are conversing in Italian."
"Well, then," replied the major, "they paid me fifty thousand francs down."
"M. Cavalcanti," said Andrea, "do you believe in fairy-tales?"
"I used not to do so, but I really feel now almost obliged to have faith in them."
"You have, then, been induced to alter your opinion; you have had some proofs of their truth?" The major drew from his pocket a handful of gold.
"Most palpable proofs," said he, "as you may perceive."
"You think, then, that I may rely on the count's promises?"
"Certainly I do."
"You are sure he will keep his word with me?"
"To the letter; but at the same time, remember, we must continue to play our respective parts. I as a tender father"
"And I as a dutiful son, as they choose that I shall be descended from you."
"Who do you mean by they?"
"Ma foi! I can hardly tell, but I was alluding to those who wrote the letter; you received one, did you not f"
"Yes."
"From whom?"
"From a certain Abbe Busoni."
"Have you any knowledge of him?"
"No, I have never seen him."
"What did he say in the letter?"
"You will promise not to betray me?"
"Rest assured of that; you well know that our interests are the same."
"Then read for yourself." And the major gave a letter into the young man's hand.
Andrea read in a low voice:
"'You are poor; a miserable old age awaits you. Would you like to become rich, or at least independent? Set out immediately for Paris, and demand of the Count of Monte-Cristo, Avenue des Champs Elysées, No. 30, the son whom you had by the Marquise Corsinari, and who was taken from you at five years of age. This son is named Andrea Cavulcanti. In order that you may not doubt the kind intention the writer of this letter, you will find inclosed an order for two thousand four hundred francs, payable in Florence, at the house of M. Gozzi; also, a letter of introduction to M. le Comte de Monte-Cristo, on whom I give you a draft of forty-eight thousand francs. Remember to go to the count on the 26th of May at seven o'clock in the evening.
"It is the same."
"What do you mean?" said the major.
"I was going to say that I received a letter almost to the same effect."
"You?"
"Yes."
"From the Abbé Busoni?"
"No."
"From whom, then?"
"From an Englishman called Lord Wilmore, who takes the name of Sindbad the Sailor."
"And of whom you have no more knowledge than I of the Abbé Busoni?"
"You are mistaken; there I am in advance of you."
"You have seen him, then?"
"Yes, once."
"Where?"
"Ah! that is just what I cannot tell you; if I did, I should make you as wise as myself, which it is not my intention to do."
"And what did the letter contain?"
"Read it."
"You are poor, and your future prospects are dark and gloomy. Do you wish for a name? should you like to be rich, and your own master?'"
"Ma foi!" said the young man; was it possible there could be twoanswers to such a question?"
"'Take the post-chaise which you will find waiting at the Porte de Gênes, as you leave Nice; pass through Turin, Chambéry, and Pont-de-Beauvoisin. Go to the Count of Monte-Cristo, Avenue des Champs Elysees, on the 26th of May, at seven o'clock in the evening, and demand of him your father. You are the son of the Marquis Cavalcanti and the Marquise Oliva Corsinan. The marquis will give you some papers which will certify this fact, and authorize you to appear under that name in the Parisian world. As to your rank, an annual income of fifty thousand livres icill enable you to support it admirably. I inclose a draft for five thousand livres, payable on N. Ferrea, banker at Nice, and also a letter of introduction to the Count of Monte- Cristo, whom I have directed to supply all your wants.
"Humph!" said the major; "very good! You have seen the count, you say!"
"I have only just left him."
"And has he conformed to all which the letter specified?"
"He has."
"Do you understand it?"
"Not in the least."
"There is a dupe somewhere."
"At all events it is neither you nor I."
"Certainly not."
"Well, then"
"Why, it does not much concern us; do you think it does?"
"No! I agree with you there; we must play the game to the end, and consent to be blindfold."
"Ah! you shall see; I promise you I will sustain my part to admiration."
"I never once doubted your doing so." Monte-Cristo chose this moment for reëntering the drawing-room. On hearing the sound of his footsteps, the two men threw themselves in each other's arms; and, in the midst of this embrace, the count entered.
"Well, marquis," said Monte-Cristo, "you appear to be in no way disappointed in the son whom your good fortune has restored to you."
"Ah! M. le Comte, I am overwhelmed with delight."
"And what are your feelings?" said Monte-Cristo, turning to the young man.
"As for me, my heart is overflowing with happiness."
"Happy father! happy son!" said the count.
"There is only one thing which grieves me," observed the major, "and that is the necessity there is for my leaving Paris so soon."
"Ah! my dear M. Cavalcanti, I trust you will not leave before I have had the honor of presenting you to some of my friends."
"I am at your service, sir," replied the major.
"Now, sir," said Monte-Cristo, addressing Andrea, "make your confession.""To whom!"
"Tell M. Cavalcanti something of the state of your finances."
"Ma foi! M. le Comte, you have touched upon a tender chord."
"Do you hear what he says, major?"
"Certainly I do."
"But do you understand?"
"I do."
"Your son says he requires money."
"Well! what would you have me do?" said the major.
"You should furnish him with some, of course," replied Moute-Cristo.
"I?"
"Yes, you!" said the count, at the same time advancing toward Andrea, and slipping a packet of bank-notes into the young man's hand.
"What is this?"
"It is from your father."
"From my father?"
"Yes; did you not tell him just now that you wanted money? Well, then, he deputes me to give you this."
"Am I to consider this as part of my income on account?"
"No! it is for the first expenses of your settling in Paris."
"Ah! how good my dear father is!"
"Silence!" said Monte-Cristo; "he does not wish you to know that it comes from him."
"I fully appreciate his delicacy," said Andrea, cramming the notes hastily into his pocket.
"And now, gentlemen, I wish you good-morning," said Monte-Cristo.
"And when shall we have the honor of seeing you again, M. le Comte?" asked Cavalcanti.
"Ah!" said Andrea, "when may we hope for that pleasure?"
"On Saturday, if you will yes. Let me see Saturday I am to dine at my country-house, at Auteuil, on that day, Rue de la Fontaine, No. 28. Several persons are invited, and amongst others, M. Danglars, your banker. I will introduce you to him; for it will be necessary he should know you, as he is to pay your money."
"Full dress?" said the major, half aloud.
"Oh! yes, certainly," said the count; "uniform, cross, knee-breeches!"
"And I?" demanded Andrea.
"Oh! very simply; black trousers, polished boots, white waistcoat, either a black or blue coat, and a long cravat. Go to Blin or Veronique for your dress. Baptistin will tell you where they live, if you do not know where to address them. The less pretension there is in your dress, the better will be the effect, as you are a rich man. If you mean
to buy any horses, get them of Devedeux; and if you purchase a phaeton, go to Baptiste for it."
"At what hour shall we come?" asked the young man. "About half-past six."
"We will be with you at that time," said the major. The two Cavalcanti bowed to the count, and left the house. Monte-Cristo went to the window, and saw them crossing the street, arm in arm.
"There go two miscreants!" said he. "It is a pity they are not really related! "Then, after an instant of gloomy reflection, "Come, I will go to see the Morrels!" said he; "I think that disgust is even more sickening than hatred."
