The Count of Monte-Cristo/Volume 3/Chapter 63
CHAPTER LXIII
THE DINNER
T was evident that one sentiment pervaded the whole of the guests on entering the dining-room, Each one asked himself what strange influence had conducted them to this house; and yet astonished, even uneasy though they were, they still felt they would not like to be absent. The recent events, the solitary and eccentric position of the count, his enormous, nay, almost incredible fortune, should have made men cautious, and have altogether prevented ladies visiting a house where there was no one of their own sex to receive them; and yet both men and women, had passed the bounds of prudence and decorum.
Stimulated by an invincible curiosity, there were none present, even including Cavalcanti and his son, notwithstanding the stiffness of the one and the carelessness of the other, who were not thoughtful, on finding themselves assembled at the house of this incomprehensible man, Madame Danglars had started when Villefort, on the count's invitation, offered his arm; and Villefort felt that his glance was uneasy beneath his gold spectacles, when he felt the arm of the baroness press upon his own. None of this had escaped the count, and even by this mere contact of individuals the scene had already acquired considerable interest for an observer.
Villefort had on the right hand Madame Danglars, on his left Morrel. The count was seated between Madame de Villefort and Danglars; the other seats were filled by Debray, who was placed between the two Cavalcanti, and by Chateau-Renaud, seated between Madame de Villefort and Morrel.
The repast was magnificent; Monte-Cristo had endeavored completely to overturn the Parisian ideas, and to feed the curiosity as much as the appetite of his guests. It was an Oriental feast that he offered to them, but of such a kind as the Arabian fairies might be supposed to prepare. Every delicious fruit that the four quarters of the globe could provide was heaped in vases from China and jars from Japan. Rare birds, retaining their most brilliant plumage, enormous fish, spread upon massive silver dishes, together with every wine produced in the Archipelago, Asia Minor, or the Cape, sparkling in bottles whose grotesque shape seemed to give an additional flavor to the wine,—all these, like one of those displays with which Apicius of old gratified his guests, passed in review before these Parisians, who understood that it was possible to expend five thousand dollars upon a dinner for ten persons, but only on the condition of eating pearls, like Cleopatra, or drinking beaten gold, like Lorenzo de Medici.
Monte-Cristo noticed the general astonishment, and began laughing and joking about it.
"Gentlemen," he said, "you will admit that, when arrived at a certain degree of fortune, the superfluities of life are all that can be desired; and the ladies will allow that, after having risen to a certain eminence of position, the ideal alone can be more exalted. Now, to follow out this reasoning, what is the marvelous? that which we do not under stand. What is it that we really desire? that which we cannot obtain. Now, to see things which I cannot understand, to procure impossibilities, these are the study of my life. I gratify my wishes by two means—my will and my money. I take as much interest in the pursuit of some whim as you do, M. Danglars, in forming a new railway line; you, M. de Villefort, in condemning a culprit to death; you, M. Debray, in pacifying a kingdom; you, M. de Chateau-Renaud, in pleasing a woman; and you, Morrel, in breaking a horse that no one can ride. For example, you see these two fish, one brought fifty leagues beyond St. Petersburg, the other five leagues from Naples. Is it not amusing to see them both on the same table?"
"What are the two fish?" asked Danglars.
"M. Chateau-Renaud, who has lived in Russia, will tell you the name of one, and Major Cavalcanti, who is an Italian, will tell you the name of the other."
"This one is, I think, a sterlet," said Chateau-Renaud.
"And that one, if I mistake riot, a lamprey," said Cavalcanti.
"Just so. Now, M. Danglars, ask these gentlemen where they are caught."
"Sterlets," said Chateau-Renaud, "are only found in the Volga."
"And," said Cavalcanti, "I know that Lake Fusaro alone supplies lampreys of that size."
"Exactly; one comes from the Volga, and the other from Lake Fusaro.""Impossible!" cried all the guests simultaneously.
"Well, this is just what amuses me," said Monte-Cristo. "I am like Nero—cupitor impossibilium; and that it is which is amusing you, at this moment. This fish, which seems so exquisite to you, is very likely no better than perch or salmon; but it seemed impossible to procure it, and here it is."
"But how could you have these fish brought to France?"
"Oh, nothing more easy. Each fish was brought over in a cask one filled with river herbs and weeds, the other with rushes and lake plants; they were placed in a wagon built on purpose; and thus the sterlet lived twelve days, the lamprey eight; and both were alive when my cook seized them, killing one with milk and the other with wine. You do not believe me, M. Danglars!"
"I cannot help doubting," answered Danglars, with his stupid smile.
"Baptistin," said the count, "have the other fish brought in the sterlet and the lamprey which came in the other casks, and which are yet alive."
Danglars opened his bewildered eyes; the company clapped their hands. Four servants carried in two casks covered with aquatic plants, and in each of which was breathing a fish similar to those on the table.
"But why have two of each sort?" asked Danglars.
"Merely because one might have died," carelessly answered Monte-Cristo.
"You are certainly an extraordinary man," said Danglars; "and philosophers may well say it is a fine thing to be rich."
"And to have ideas," added Madame Danglars.
"Oh, do not give me credit for this, madame; it was done by the Romans, who much esteemed them; and Pliny relates that they sent slaves from Ostia to Rome, who carried on their heads fish which he calls the mulus, and which, from the description, must probably be the dory. It was also considered a luxury to have them alive, it being an amusing sight to see them die; for, when dying, they change color three or four times, and, like the rainbow when it disappears, pass through all the prismatic shades; after which they were sent to the kitchen. Their agony formed part of their merit; if they were not seen alive, they were despised when dead."
"Yes," said Debray; "but then Ostia is only a few leagues from Rome."
"True," said Monte-Cristo; "but what would be the use of living one thousand eight hundred years after Lucullus, if we can do no better than he could?"
The two Cavalcanti opened their enormous eyes, but had the good sense not to say anything.
"All this is very extraordinary," said Chateau-Renaud; "still, what I admire the most, I confess, is the marvelous promptitude with which your orders are executed. Is it not true that you only bought this house five or six days ago."
"Certainly not longer."
"Well, I am sure it is quite transformed since last week. If I remember rightly, it had another entrance, and the court-yard was paved and empty; while to-day we have a splendid lawn, bordered by trees which appear to be a hundred years old."
"Why not? I am fond of grass and shade," said Monte-Cristo.
"Yes," said Madame de Villefort, "the door was toward the road before; and on the day of my miraculous escape you brought me into the house from the road, I remember."
"Yes, madame," said Monte-Cristo; "but I preferred having an entrance which would allow me to see the Bois de Boulogne over my gate."
"In four days!" said Morrel; "it is extraordinary!"
"Indeed," said Chateau-Renaud, "it seems quite miraculous to make a new house out of an old one; for it was very old, and dull too. I recollect coming for my mother to look at it when M. de Saint-Meran advertised it for sale two or three years ago."
"M. de Saint-Meran!" said Madame de Villefort; "then this house belonged to M. de Saint-Meran before you bought it?"
"It appears so," replied Monte-Cristo.
"How? do you not know of whom you purchased it?"
"No, indeed; my steward transacts all this business for me."
"It is certainly ten years since the house had been occupied," said Chateau-Renaud, "and it was quite melancholy to look at it, with the blinds closed, the doors locked, and the weeds in the court. Really, if the house had not belonged to the father-in-law of the procureur du roi one might have thought it some accursed place where a horrible crime had been committed."
Villefort, who had hitherto not tasted the three or four glasses of rare wine which were placed before him, here took one and drank it off. Monte-Cristo allowed a short time to elapse, and then said:
"It is singular, baron, but the same idea came across me the first time I entered it; it looked so gloomy I should never have bought it if my steward had not acted for me. Perhaps the fellow had been bribed by the notary."
"It is probable," stammered out Villefort; "but believe me, I have nothing to do with this corruption. This house is part of the marriage portion of Valentine, and M. de Saint-Meran wished to sell it; for, if it had remained another year or two uninhabited, it would have fallen to ruin."
It was Morrel's turn to become pale.
"There was, above all, one room," continued Monte-Cristo, "very plain in appearance, hung with red damask, which, I know not why, appeared to me quite dramatic."
"Why so?" said Debray; "why dramatic?"
"Can we account for instinct?" said Monte-Cristo. "Are there not some places where we seem to breathe sadness? why, we cannot tell It is a chain of recollections an idea which carries you back to other times, to other places which, very likely, have no connection with the present time and place. And there is something in this room which reminds me forcibly of the chamber of the Marchioness de Ganges or Desdemona. Stay, since we have finished dinner, I will show it to you, and then we will take coffee in the garden. After dinner, the play."
Monte-Cristo looked inquiringly at his guests. Madame de Villefort rose, Monte-Cristo did the same, and the rest followed their example. Villefort and Madame Danglars remained for a moment, as if rooted to their seats; they interrogated each other with cold, glazed eyes.
"Did you hear?" said Madame Danglars.
"We must go," replied Villefort, offering his arm.
Every one else was already scattered in different parts of the house, urged by curiosity; for they thought the visit would not be limited to the one room, and that, at the same time, they would obtain a view of the rest of the building, of which Monte-Cristo had created a palace. Each one went out by the open doors. Monte-Cristo waited for the two who remained; then, when they had passed, he closed the march with a smile, which, if they could have understood it, would have alarmed them much more than a visit to the room they were about to enter. They therefore began by walking through the apartments, many of which were fitted up in the Eastern style, with cushions and divans instead of beds, and pipes instead of furniture. The drawing-rooms were decorated with the rarest pictures by the. old masters; the boudoirs hung with draperies from China, of fanciful colors, fantastic design, and wonderful texture. At length they arrived at the famous room. There was nothing particular about it, excepting that, although daylight had disappeared, it was not lighted, and everything in it remained antique, while the rest of the rooms had been re-decorated. These two causes were enough to give it a gloomy tinge.
"Oh!" cried Madame de Villefort, "it is really frightful."
Madame Danglars tried to utter a few words, but was not heard. Many observations were made, the result of which was the unanimous opinion that there was a sinister appearance in the room.
"Is it not so?" asked Monte-Cristo. "Look at that large, clumsy bed, hung with such gloomy, blood-colored drapery! And those two crayon portraits, that have faded from the damp; do they not seem to say, with their pale lips and staring eyes, 'We have seen!'" Villefort became livid; Madame Danglars fell into a long seat placed near the chimney.
"Oh!" said Madame de Villefort, smiling, "are you courageous enough to sit down upon the very seat perhaps upon which the crime was committed?"
Madame Danglars rose suddenly.
"And then," said Monte-Cristo, "this is not all."
"What is there more?" said Debray, who had not failed to notice the agitation of Madame Danglars.
"Ah! what else is there?" said Danglars; "for, at present, I cannot say that I have seen anything extraordinary. What do you say, M. Cavalcanti!"
"Ah!" said he, "we have at Pisa the tower of Ugolino; at Ferrara, the prison of Tasso; at Rimini, the room of Francesca and Paolo."
"Yes, but you have not this little staircase," said Monte-Cristo, opening a door concealed by the drapery. "Look at it, and tell me what you think of it."
"What a wicked-looking, crooked staircase," said Chateau-Renaud, smiling.
"I do not know whether the wine of Chios produces melancholy, but certainly everything appears to me black in this house," said Debray.
Ever since Valentine's dowry had been mentioned, Morrel had been silent and sad.
"Can you imagine," said Monte-Cristo, "some Othello or Abbe de Ganges, one stormy, dark night, descending these stairs step by step, carrying a load, which he wishes to hide from the sight of man, if not from God?"
Madame Danglars half fainted on the arm of Villefort, who was obliged to support himself against the wall.
"Ah, madame," cried Debray, "what is the matter with you? how pale you look!"
"This is what is the matter with her," said Madame de Villefort; "it is very simple; M. de Monte-Cristo is relating horrible stories to us, doubtless intending to frighten us to death."
"Yes," said Villefort, "really, count, you frighten the ladies."
"What is the matter?" asked Debray, in a whisper, of Madame Danglars.
"Nothing," she replied, with a violent effort. "I want air! that is all."
"Will you come into the garden?" said Debray, advancing toward the back staircase.
"No, no!" she answered, "I would rather remain here."
"Are you really frightened, madame?" said Monte-Cristo.
"Oh, no, sir," said Madame Danglars; "but you suppose scenes in a manner which gives them the appearance of reality."
"Ah, yes!" said Monte-Cristo, smiling; "it is all a matter of the
imagination. Why should we not imagine this the apartment of an honest family-woman? And this bed with red hangings, a bed visited by the goddess Lucina? And that mysterious staircase, the passage through which, not to disturb their sleep, the doctor and nurse pass, or even the father carrying the sleeping child?" Here Madame Danglars, instead of being calmed by the soft picture, uttered a groan and fainted.
"Madame Danglars is ill," said Villefort; "it would be better to take her to her carriage."
"Oh! and I have forgotten my smelling-bottle!" said Monte-Cristo.
"I have mine," said Madame de Villefort; and she passed over to Monte-Cristo a bottle full of the same kind of red liquid whose good properties the count had tested on Edward.
"Ah!" said Monte-Cristo, taking it from her hand.
"Yes," she said, "at your advice I have tried."
"And have you succeeded?"
"I think so."
Madame Danglars was carried into the adjoining room; Monte-Cristo dropped a very small portion of the red liquid upon her lips; she returned to consciousness.
"Ah!" she cried, "what a frightful dream!"
Villefort pressed her hand to let her know it was not a dream. Danglars was sought, but, little interested in poetical ideas, he had gone into the garden, and was talking with Major Cavalcanti on the projected railway from Leghorn to Florence. Monte-Cristo seemed in despair. He took the arm of Madame Danglars, and conducted her into the garden, where they found Danglars taking coffee between the Cavalcanti.
"Really, madame," he said, "did I alarm you much?"
"Oh, no, sir," she answered, "but, you know, things impress us differently, according to the mood of our minds." Villefort forced a laugh.
"And then, you know," he said, "an idea, a supposition, is sufficient."
"Well," said Monte-Cristo, "you may believe me if you like, but it is belief that a crime has been committed in this house."
"Take care!" said Madame de Villefort, "the procureur du roi is here."
"Ah!" replied Monte-Cristo, "since that is the case, I will take advantage of his presence to make my declaration."
"Your declaration!" said Villefort.
"Yes, before witnesses."
"Oh, this is very interesting," said Debray; "if there really has been a crime, we will investigate it."
"There has been a crime," said Monte-Cristo. "Come this way, gentlemen; come, M. Villefort, for a declaration, to be available, should be made before the competent authorities."
He then took Villefort's arm, and, at the same time, holding that of Madame Danglars under his own, he dragged the procureur to the plantain tree, where the shade was thickest. All the other guests followed."Stay," said Monte-Cristo, "here, in this very spot" (and he stamped upon the ground), "I had the earth dug up and fresh mold put in to refresh these old trees; well, my man, digging, found a box, or rather the iron-work of a box, in the midst of which was the skeleton of a newly born infant."
Monte-Cristo felt the arm of Madame Danglars stiffen, while that of Villefort trembled.
"A newly born infant!" repeated Debray; "this affair becomes serious."
"Well," said Château-Renaud, "I was not wrong just now, then, when I said that houses had souls and faces like men, and that their exteriors carried the impress of their characters. This house was gloomy because it was remorseful; it was remorseful because it concealed a crime."
"Who said it was a crime?" asked Villefort, with a last effort.
"How? is it not a crime to bury a living child in a garden?" cried Monte-Cristo. "And, pray, what do you call such an action?"
"But who said it was buried alive?"
"Why bury it there if it were dead? This garden has never been a cemetery."
"What is done to infanticides in this country?" asked Major Cavalcanti, innocently.
"Oh, their heads are just cut off," said Danglars.
"Ah! indeed!" said Cavalcanti.
"I think so; am I not right, M. de Villefort?" asked Monte-Cristo.
"Yes, count," replied Villefort, in a voice now scarcely human.
Monte-Cristo saw that the two persons for whom he had prepared this scheme could scarcely bear it; so, not wishing to carry it too far he said:
"Come, gentlemen, some coffee; we seem to have forgotten it." And he conducted the guests back to the table on the lawn.
"Indeed, count," said Madame Danglars, "I am ashamed to own it, but all your frightful stories have so upset me, that I must beg you to let me sit down." And she fell into a chair.
Monte-Cristo bowed, and went to Madame de Villefort.
"I think Madame Danglars again requires your bottle," he said. But before Madame de Villefort could reach her friend, the prorurcur had found time to whisper to Madame Danglars, "I must speak to you."
"When?"
"To-morrow."
"Where?"
"In my office, or in the court, if you like; that is the surest place."
"I will come."
At this moment Madame de Villefort approached.
"Thanks, my dear friend," said Madame Danglars, trying to smile; "it is over now, and I am much better."