The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas [395]
"You are very kind."
"Will M. Danglars be there?"
"He has already been invited by my father. We shall try to persuade the great d'Aguesseau, [11] M. de Villefort, to come, but have not much hope of seeing him."
""Never despair of anything," says the proverb."
"Do you dance, count?"
"I dance?"
"Yes, you; it would not be astonishing."
"That is very well before one is over forty. No, I do not dance, but I like to see others do so. Does Madame de Morcerf dance?"
"Never; you can talk to her, she so delights in your conversation."
"Indeed?"
"Yes, truly; and I assure you. You are the only man of whom I have heard her speak with interest." Albert rose and took his hat; the count conducted him to the door. "I have one thing to reproach myself with," said he, stopping Albert on the steps. "What is it?"
"I have spoken to you indiscreetly about Danglars."
"On the contrary, speak to me always in the same strain about him."
"I am glad to be reassured on that point. Apropos, when do you aspect M. d'Epinay?"
"Five or six days hence at the latest."
"And when is he to be married?"
"Immediately on the arrival of M. and Madame de Saint–Meran."
"Bring him to see me. Although you say I do not like him, I assure you I shall be happy to see him."
"I will obey your orders, my lord."
"Good–by."
"Until Saturday, when I may expect you, may I not?"
"Yes, I promised you." The Count watched Albert, waving his hand to him. When he had mounted his phaeton, Monte Cristo turned, and seeing Bertuccio, "What news?" said he. "She went to the Palais," replied the steward.
"Did she stay long there?"
"An hour and a half."
"Did she return home?"
"Directly."
"Well, my dear Bertuccio," said the count, "I now advise you to go in quest of the little estate I spoke to you of in Normandy." Bertuccio bowed, and as his wishes were in perfect harmony with the order he had received, he started the same evening.
Chapter 69
The Inquiry
M. de Villefort kept the promise he had made to Madame Danglars, to endeavor to find out how the Count of Monte Cristo had discovered the history of the house at Auteuil. He wrote the same day for the required information to M. de Boville, who, from having been an inspector of prisons, was promoted to a high office in the police; and the latter begged for two days time to ascertain exactly who would be most likely to give him full particulars. At the end of the second day M. de Villefort received the following note:—
"The person called the Count of Monte Cristo is an intimate acquaintance of Lord Wilmore, a rich foreigner, who is sometimes seen in Paris and who is there at this moment; he is also known to the Abbe Busoni, a Sicilian priest, of high repute in the East, where he has done much good."
M. de Villefort replied by ordering the strictest inquiries to be made respecting these two persons; his orders were executed, and the following evening he received these details:—
"The abbe, who was in Paris only for a month, inhabited a small two–storied house behind Saint–Sulpice; there were two rooms on each floor and he was the only tenant. The two lower rooms consisted of a dining–room, with a table, chairs, and side–board of walnut,—and a wainscoted parlor, without ornaments, carpet, or timepiece. It was evident that the abbe limited himself to objects of strict necessity. He preferred to use the sitting–room upstairs, which was more library than parlor, and was furnished with theological books and parchments, in which he delighted to bury himself for months at a time, according to his valet de chambre. His valet looked at the visitors through a sort of wicket; and if their faces were unknown to him or displeased him, he replied that the abbe was not in Paris, an answer which satisfied most persons, because the abbe was known to be a great traveller. Besides, whether at home or not, whether in Paris or Cairo, the abbe always left something to give away, which the valet distributed through this wicket in his master's name. The other room near the library was a bedroom. A bed without curtains, four