World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 104 Andra Cavallecanti (2)
Andra sighed. "But," said he, "as long as I am in Paris, there is no circumstance which would compel me to leave, and I shall surely get the money you are talking about?"

"Ah, that's for sure."

"From my father?" Andra asked uneasily.

"Yes, but under the security of Lord Weymar, who, at your father's request, has opened a credit account drawing 5000 francs a month with Monsieur Tangra, one of the most reliable bankers in Paris. "

"Is my father going to live in Paris for a long time?" Andra asked anxiously.

"Only for a few days," replied Monte Cristo; "he has official business, and his vacation can only be two or three weeks."

"Ah, my dear father!" said Andra, evidently very pleased at the news of his immediate departure.

"Therefore," said Monte Cristo, pretending not to understand the meaning behind his words, "so I do not want to delay the reunion of father and son, are you going to embrace that venerable Monsieur Cavalle-Conti? "

"I don't think you can doubt it?"

"Well, please go into the drawing room, my dear friend, your father is waiting for you there."

Andra bowed deeply to the count, and then walked into the living room.Monte Cristo followed him with his eyes until he entered the drawing room, and then he pressed a spring in the frame of a picture, which stretched to the sides, revealing a cleverly designed slit, from which one could see at a glance the living room.As soon as Andra entered the living room, she closed the door behind her and walked towards the major.The major heard approaching footsteps and rose to his feet.

"Ah, sir, dear father," said Andra, speaking loudly so that the count could hear through the closed door, "is it really you?"

"Good day, my dear son," said the major solemnly.

"After being separated for so many years," said Andra, still looking towards the door, "how lucky to be reunited now!"

"Yes, long-term separation of flesh and blood."

"Shall we have a hug, sir?" said Andra.

"Of course you will, my son," said the major.

So the two embraced like actors on the stage of the French Theater, that is to say, they just put their heads on their shoulders.

"That's how we got together!" said Andra.

"We are reunited," repeated the major.

"Will we never be separated again?"

"We have to leave. I think, my dear son, you have taken France as your second home?"

"That's because," said the young man, "I would despair of leaving Paris."

"And myself, you know, I cannot live without Lucca, so I want to go back to Italy as soon as possible."

"But before you go, my very dear father will surely give me all the birth certificates."

"I will definitely give it to you. I came here just to do this. It took me a lot of trouble to see you, so I can give you the certificate. We can't start looking for each other from scratch. Wouldn't this ruin my dying years?" Did you get in?"

"What about the documents?"

"This is."

Andra couldn't wait to grab his father's marriage certificate and his own baptism certificate, and hastily opened all the certificates, which is reasonable for a real son.He read the two certificates again, and he read them quickly and proficiently, which showed that he was very experienced in reading these things, and it also showed that he was really concerned about this matter.When he had finished reading, an indescribable joy glowed on his brow, and he looked straight at the major with a curious smile on his lips. "Ah," he said in pure Tuscany, "there is no hard labor in Italy, is there?"

The major straightened himself up. "Why do you ask that?" he said.

"In Italy there is no sanction for forgery of such documents? In France, my dear father, half of that is enough to send us to Toulon for five years of hard labor."

"Really?" said the visitor, Luca, trying to look majestic.

"My dear Mr. Cavalle Conti," Andra said while patting the major's arm, "how much did they give you to pretend to be my father?" What did the major want to say, and Andra lowered his voice. The voice continued: "Hush! I can show you how to see if everyone can trust me. They give me 5 francs a year to be your son, so you should understand, I will never come out and deny it." , saying that you are not my father." The major glanced around anxiously. "Hey, don't worry, it's just us," Andra continued, "and we speak Italian."

"Well, myself," said Luca's visitor, "they give me fifty thousand francs in one lump sum."

"Mr. Cavalleconti," said Andra, "do you believe in fairy tales?"

"No, I didn't believe it before, but I should believe it now."

"Do you believe it, is there any proof?"

The major fished a handful of gold coins from the purse in his trousers. "Look, it's all tangible and visible."

"You think I can trust what they promise me?"

"I think so."

"The Earl is a good man, will he do what he says?"

"Every sentence will be done, but you have to understand that in order to have this good result, we have to perform our play well."

"how?……"

"I play the role of a kind father..."

"I play the filial son."

"Because they want you to be my offspring..."

"who are they?"

"My God, I don't know anything. It's the people who write to you anyway. Didn't you get a letter?"

"Yes."

"Who wrote it?"

"An elder named Buzzoni."

"You don't know him?"

"I've never seen one."

"What did the letter say?"

"You won't sell me?"

"I promise not to betray you, our interests are the same."

"Well, read it yourself." Then the major handed the young man a letter.

Andra read in a low voice:
Your family is poor, and it will be the same in your later years.Even if you don't want to get rich, at least you don't want to rely on others, right?You and the Marquis of Corcinari had a son who was kidnapped at the age of 5 and has since been separated from you.Go to Paris as soon as you see the letter, and claim your son from the Count of Monte Cristo at No. 30 Champs Elysees.Your son's name is Andra Cavallecanti.

I wholeheartedly help you, in order to avoid your doubts, I enclose with this letter:
2400. A coupon of [-] Tuscan livres, please cash it at Mr. Gozzi in Florence;

4.8. A letter of introduction to the Count of Monte Cristo, stating that I have transferred [-] francs to your account.

Please arrive at the earl at 5:26pm on May 7th.

Elder Buzzoni

"now it's right."

"What? That's right? What do you mean?" asked the major.

"I mean, I got a letter that was pretty much the same thing."

"you?"

"yes, I."

"Written by Elder Buzzoni?"

"not him."

"Who is that?"

"An Englishman, Lord Weymar, who called himself Samba the Sailor."

"I don't know Elder Buzzoni, and you don't necessarily know the Englishman either?"

"You are wrong, I know more than you."

"Have you seen the man?"

"Yes, I met once."

"where?"

"Oh, that's exactly what I can't tell you, and it wouldn't be necessary if you knew as much as I do."

"What did your letter say? . . . "

"You read it yourself?"

Your family is poor, and so will your future.Do you want to be an aristocrat, free and rich?
"Of course I want to!" The young man said while shaking on tiptoe, "This kind of question is really...!"

Leaving Nice from the Porte Genoa, you will see a stagecoach with horses ready, please get on it and go to Turin, Chambery and Ponte de Boisin on May 5th at 26:7 p.m. See your father at the Count of Monte Cristo on the Champs Elysées.You are in fact the son of the Marquis Bartolomeo Cavalleconti and the Marquise Oliva Corcinari, as confirmed by the papers that the Marquis has given you, which also allows you to enter the Parisian Society under this surname. junction.As for your status, in view of your annual income of 5 livres, it is decent enough to maintain.

Enclosed is a coupon of 5000 livres, which can be cashed at the banker of Nice, Mr. Ferrat, and a letter of introduction from the Count of Monte Cristo. All your expenses have been entrusted to the Count in advance.

sailor samba
"Ah," continued the major, "this is very beautiful."

"is not that right?"

"Have you seen the count?"

"I just came from him."

"He agrees with all of them?"

"All approved."

"Do you see what's going on here?"

"Not at all."

"There must always be someone to fall for."

"It's not you and me anyway?"

"of course not."

"That's all right!..."

"We care about it, don't we?"

"That's right. I'm about to say this. Let's play the show to the end. It must be watertight."

"That's it. You see, I'm perfectly qualified to be your partner."

"I never doubted it, my dear father."

"You can also live up to me, my dear son."

Monte Cristo took advantage of this moment to enter the drawing-room.At the sound of his steps, the two fell together, and when Monte Cristo saw them they were embracing.

"Oh, Marquis," said Monte Cristo, "it seems that your wish will be over if you find your son."

"Ah, Monsieur Count, I'm so overjoyed that I can't speak."

"And you, young man?"

"Ah, Monsieur Count, I can't breathe with joy."

"What a happy father! what a happy boy!" said the count.

"There is only one thing that worries me," said the major. "I must leave Paris very soon."

"Oh, my dear Monsieur Cavalle-Conti," said Monte Cristo, "I hope you will not go away at once, for I have not had time to introduce you to friends."

"I will obey the count's orders," said the major.

"Now I say, young man, if you have anything to say, just say it to your face."

"Whose face?"

"In front of your father, tell him whether you have enough money."

"Oh," said Andra, "you've touched my heart."

"Are you listening, major?" said Monte Cristo.

"Of course I'm listening."

"Very well, but do you understand?"

"Of course I understand."

"Your son said he still needs money."

"What do you think I should do?"

"Hey, just give him some!"

"I?"

"Yes, you." Then Monte Cristo came between them. "Take it!" he said to Andra, pushing a wad of banknotes into the young man's hand.

"what is this?"

"My father's reply."

"My father's?"

"Yes, didn't you just imply that you want money?"

"Yes, what about the money?"

"Is this the money? He asked me to give you this wad."

"Is it counted in my income?"

"No, this is your resettlement fee."

"Oh, dear father!"

"Be quiet," said Monte Cristo; "you see, he doesn't want me to say that he gave it to me."

"I appreciate the attention to detail," Andra said, stuffing bills into the wallet on her trouser waist.

"Very well," said Monte Cristo, "you may go now, everybody."

"When will we have the honor to see Monsieur the Count again?" asked Cavalle-Conti.

"Ah, yes," asked Andra, "when will we have the honor?"

"If it's convenient for you, Saturday... Yes, that's it, Saturday. I happened to be having a dinner at my villa at 28 Rue La Fontaine in Auteuil, among them Mr. Tangra, who has all your money." Withdrawal. I introduced you to him, and he should also know you, so that he can pay you later.”

"Frock coat?" asked the major in a low voice.

"A frock coat. A uniform, with an ankh and trouser legs tied up."

"What about me?" Andra asked.

"Oh, you, it's very simple: black trousers, polished boots, white vest, black jacket, or blue, and a big cravat. You can have your clothes made at Boland or Veronique. .If you don't know their address, Baptistan can tell you. The less you dress ostentatiously, the better, because you're rich. If you want a horse, you can go to Deverde's, if You want to buy a four-wheeled carriage, you can go to Baptiste to buy it."

"What time do we arrive?" the young man asked.

"Around 6:[-]."

"Yes, we'll go," said the major, holding out his hat.

Both the Cavalle-Conti and his son bowed to the count, and went away together.The Count went to the window and watched them cross the courtyard arm in arm. "That's right," said he, "these two are quite shameless, and it's a pity they're not real father and son!" Then he pondered for a moment in dismay, "I'd better go to Morrel's," said he, " I find hate more diabolical than hatred."

(End of this chapter)