World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 113 Ghost (1)
From the outside, the house at Auteuil contained nothing of splendor, nor did it suggest that it was the residence of the illustrious Count of Monte Cristo.But this unpretentious appearance is the owner's own wish. He actually ordered that the appearance should not be changed in any way, but as long as you look inside the house, the owner's intention is clear at a glance.This is indeed the case, as soon as the door of the small building is opened, it is a strange sight to see the clouds and waves.

Mr. Beticio also changed his previous style, not only in the elegant style of furnishing, but also in carrying out the master's orders vigorously and resolutely.Once upon a time, because the trees blocked the sight of Louis XIV, the Duke of Antin cut down all the trees on the entire road overnight, but Mr. Beticio planted trees in the bare courtyard in just three days. The upright and gorgeous white poplars were covered with large lumps of mud to cover the roots, and fig trees were buried, so that the front of the small building became shady with trees.The stone road in front of the building used to be overgrown with weeds, and the road was almost invisible, but now it has become a large lawn, which was just laid with turf in the morning, forming a large carpet of green grass.Just after watering, there are still glistening drops of water hanging on the grass.In fact, all the arrangements were ordered by the count. The count personally drew a picture for Beticio, indicating where the trees should be planted, how many trees should be planted in total, and the shape and area of ​​the lawn that should be transformed from the flagstone road.Looking at the house now, I can no longer recognize what it was like before. Even Beticio said that he couldn't recognize the house because of the lush green frame on the small building.The housekeeper would not be offended if the garden could be restored.But the earl had issued an order first, and not a single plant or tree in the garden should be moved.Beticio had no choice but to adorn the anterooms, all the staircases, and all the mantelpieces with flowers.

What can best show that the owner is knowledgeable, well-informed, commanding well, the housekeeper is quick-witted, and able to do things effectively is that this house, which has been closed for 20 years, was still gloomy and desolate the day before, and there was a breath of time in the house. That kind of astringent smell, but within a day, the whole house is full of vitality, and the fragrance that the owner loves is flowing, which makes people feel refreshed.As soon as the earl enters the small building, he can reach out for his books and weapons, open his eyes and see his beloved paintings, in the waiting room there are puppies he likes to pet, and his precious birds are chirping. .Just like the palace of Sleeping Beauty in the forest, this small building has woken up from a protracted slumber. The room is full of vitality, singing is lingering, and joy is everywhere.This seems to be the house we lingered for a long time, but when misfortune came, we had to bid farewell, but unconsciously left a little bit of missing.

In the bright and beautiful courtyard, the servants shuttled back and forth happily, some of them were working in the kitchen, and they slid down the stairs that had just been repaired the day before, as if they had been living in this small building for many years; some were working in the garage. They are alive, but I saw that the carriages in the carriage garage were numbered and arranged in an orderly manner, as if they had been parked there for 50 years.The horses in the stables were grazing, and neighed at the sound of the groom, who spoke to the horses more respectfully than many servants to their masters.

There is a partition wall in the middle of the study, which just divides the room into two. There are nearly 2000 books in it, one of which is dedicated to modern novels, and the new books just published the day before have also been put on the shelves. The red gilded spines are lined up side by side. It looks very dignified.In the other corner of the small building, the one corresponding to the study room is a flower room, in which there are various blooming exotic flowers in Japanese porcelain pots.The flower room was colorful and fragrant. There was a billiards table in the middle, as if someone was playing an hour ago, and there were still a few unscored balls on the flannel.Beticio, who has an extraordinary shot, dared not easily change only one room in the whole small building.This is the room on the left corner of the second floor, leading directly to the grand staircase in the center of the building, and there is also a dark room for going up and down.The servants were always curious when they passed this room, but Beticio was always frightened.

At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the count was accompanied by Ali to the villa of Auteuil.Beticio had been waiting for the count for a long time. He was anxious and uneasy. He hoped to get a few words of praise, but he was afraid of seeing the count frown.Monte Cristo got out of the car in the courtyard, looked up and down the small building, and then walked around the garden.He just watched silently, without saying a word of praise, but he didn't show any dissatisfaction either.The count's bedroom was at the top of the small building, and at the other end of the building was the room with the door always closed.When the count came to his bedroom, the Brazilian incense wood cabinet he noticed when he first visited the house was still there. He pointed to the drawer of the cabinet, and then he said: "This is just to put gloves. .”

"Yes, sir," said Beticio excitedly, "open the drawer, and there are gloves inside."

Among the other furniture, everything the count was looking for, such as small bottles of perfume, cigars, curios, etc., were also available. "Good!" repeated the count.Beticio felt very grateful and withdrew.It is not difficult to see how powerful, how powerful, and how real the earl's influence was on those around him.

At 6 o'clock sharply, there was the sound of horses' hooves approaching slowly at the gate, and the cavalry captain stationed in North Africa came riding his Medea.Monte Cristo stood on the steps of the building, smiling, waiting for him.

"I was the first to arrive, sure enough!" exclaimed Morrel. "I have purposely arrived a little earlier than the others, in order to have a private conversation with you. Julie and Emmanuel send you their regards." Oh, look, how beautiful it is here! Tell me, Count, will your men take care of my horses?"

"Don't worry, my dear Maximilian, they are experts."

"I mean the horse needs to be mopped. Do you know how it goes? It's a whirlwind!"

"Of course, I am fully convinced that it is a horse worth five thousand francs!" said Monte Cristo, as if a father were speaking to his son.

"Do you regret it?" said Morrel, smiling brightly.

"I? I want to regret it, but God won't let it!" replied the count. "No, I will only regret it if the horse is not good."

"It is indeed a fine horse, my dear count. Monsieur Chateau-Renoir is the best horseman in all France, and Monsieur Debray rides a fine Arabian horse from their Ministry of the Interior, but they are still running after me. , You see, they can't outrun me. Behind them are the two horses of Baroness Tangla, who are also galloping all the way, running six miles an hour."

"So they are right behind you?" said Monte Cristo.

"Look, here they come."

Sure enough, at this moment, a two-seater four-wheeled carriage was drawn by two horses with hot breath from their nostrils, and the other two panting horses, both ridden by people, came to the iron gate of the villa. The gate was opened immediately, the carriage turned a corner and stopped in front of the steps in front of the building, and the two riders behind also stopped.Debray jumped off his horse at once, and came to the door of the carriage.He held out his hand to the baroness, who, alighting from the carriage, made a gesture to Debray, but no one except Monte Cristo noticed it.The Earl could see every move clearly, and in this signal gesture, he saw a small white slip of paper, just like the gesture, slipping from Mrs Tanglar's hand without anyone noticing. It was passed to the secretary of the minister.Passing and receiving are so skillful, it seems that this has long been a habit.The banker got out of the carriage after his wife, and looked as pale as if he had emerged not from his own carriage, but from some grave.Mrs. Tangra quickly looked around, but only Monte Cristo knew what this look meant.The lady looked around and saw the entire courtyard, the colonnade and the front of the small building. She was slightly moved in her heart, but she suppressed it, her face remained the same and she was not moved by it.As she mounted the steps, she said to Morrel: "Sir, if you were my friend, I must ask you if this horse is for sale."

Morrel smiled awkwardly, and turned towards Monte Cristo, as if begging him to save him.The Count understood. "Oh, ma'am," said he, "why don't you come to me with such a request?"

"You, sir," said the baroness, "can't ask anything at all, because you are too responsive. So, if you want to ask, you must ask M. Morrel."

"Unfortunately," went on the count, "I can attest that M. Morrel must not give up his horse, since his reputation depends upon his keeping it."

"how could be?"

"He has made a bet that Medea will be subdued within six months. Now you will understand, baroness, that if he gets rid of the horse before six months, it is not just a bet to him, but a loss to him." And say he's afraid. I think there's nothing more sacred in the world than to accommodate the capriciousness of a beautiful woman, but even a captain of the North African cavalry can't bear to be told whether he's brave or not. Four."

"You see, madame..." said Morrel, throwing a grateful smile at Monte Cristo.

"Besides, I think," Tangra said, although there was a clumsy smile on his face, but he still couldn't hide the rudeness in his voice, "you already have enough horses."

(End of this chapter)