World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 50 September 9th (5)
"Really?" Julie murmured.

"Yes, I will go with you."

"You don't see that I'm the only one going?" said Julie.

"You alone can do no wrong," replied the young man. "I can wait for you at the corner of the Museumstrasse, and if I am troubled by your delay, I will come to you. I assure you." , as long as you tell me who bullies you, I will let him suffer!"

"Then, Emmanuel," said the girl hesitantly, "I must do what the letter says?"

"Yes, didn't the person who sent the letter tell you that this is related to your father's safety?"

"But, after all, Emmanuel, what danger is he in?" asked the girl.

Emmanuel hesitated for a moment, and at last he felt that there was no time to delay, and that the girl had to make a decisive decision. "Listen," he said, "it's September 9th, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"At 11 o'clock today, your father will pay a promissory note for about 30 francs."

"Yes, we all know that."

"But," said Emmanuel, "he has less than fifteen thousand francs in his coffer."

"Is something going to happen?"

"The thing is, if your father can't find someone to help him by eleven o'clock today, at twelve o'clock he will have to declare bankruptcy."

"Oh! Let's go! Let's go!" the girl shouted, pulling the young man along and running away.

At this time, Mrs. Morrel explained the situation to her son in detail.Maximilian knew that since his father's successive misfortunes, the family's expenditures were quite different from before, but he didn't expect things to come to this point.He was suddenly out of his wits, and after a while he burst out of the apartment and hurried up the stairs.He thought his father would be in the office at this time, so he knocked on the office door, but there was no sound.He was still waiting outside the office door, but when he heard the bedroom suite door open, he turned and caught sight of his father.It turned out that M. Morrel did not go up to his office again, but went back to his bedroom, and did not come out until this time.M. Morrel uttered an exclamation at the sight of Maximilian, not knowing that his son had returned home.At this moment he froze on the spot, standing motionless, only holding tightly with his left arm to something hidden under his coat.Maximilian hurried downstairs, threw himself on his father and hugged his father's neck tightly, but he shrank back suddenly, and immediately stretched out his right hand to press his father's chest.

"Father," he said, turning pale, "why did you stuff two pistols under your clothes?"

"Well, that's what worries me," said Morrel.

"Daddy! Daddy! My God!" cried the young man, "what on earth are these guns for?"

"Maximilian," Morrel replied, looking at his son, "you have grown up and are a man of integrity, come on, and I will tell you about the situation." Morrel took a firm step He went upstairs to the office, but Maximilian who followed behind was faltering.Morrel opened the door, closed it as soon as his son had entered, then crossed the anteroom to the desk, placed two pistols on one corner of the table, and pointed to an open book. account book.The financial situation of the company was recorded in the ledger: half an hour later Morrel had to pay 287500 francs, but his current balance was only 15257 francs.

"See for yourself," said Morrel.

The young man looked over the accounts and became at a loss for a moment.Morrel was silent beside him, since the numbers had passed the ruthless judgment, what was there to do?
"To overcome this disaster," said the young man after a while, "have you tried everything, father?"

"Yes," replied Morrel.

"Is there no more money to count on?"

"Not at all."

"Have all the working capital been filled in?"

"It's all gone."

"In half an hour," said Maximilian darkly, "our family will be disgraced."

"Blood washes away shame."

"You're right, Dad, I understand you." So he reached for the pistol, "One for you, one for me, thank you!"

Morrel took him by the hand and said: "Your mother... your sister... who will support them?"

The young man shuddered all over his body, "Dad," he said, "are you trying to say that I should live?"

"Yes, I want you to live," continued Morrel, "because it is your duty. Maximilian, you have a cool head and a strong will... Maximilian, you are not ordinary people, I I have nothing to advise you, and I have nothing to enjoin you, but I have only one thing to say to you, that you should think about your situation from the sidelines, and then make your own judgment."

The young man thought for a moment, with an extremely noble and helpless look in his eyes, and then slowly and painfully took off the epaulettes and badges. "Well," he said, holding out his hand to Morrel, "you will die in peace, and I will live in this world!" Morrel almost fell to his knees before his son, but Maximilian hurriedly stopped him. , In an instant, two noble hearts beat together.

"You know, it's not my fault."

Maximilian smiled slightly, and then said: "I know, Dad, you are the most upright and kind-hearted person I have ever met in my life."

"Very well, all that has to be said has been said, and now you go back to your mother and sister."

"Father," the young man knelt down on one knee and said, "bless me!"

Morrel held his son's head in both hands, pulled him to lean against him, then kissed his son's head several times, and said, "Oh, yes, yes, in my own name, in my family's three generations Bless you in the name of the irreproachable man, listen, this is what three generations have to say in my voice: God can rebuild the mansions that bad luck destroys. Seeing me pass away like this, even the hard-hearted I will sympathize with you, if you don’t give me time, maybe I will give it to you again, try your best to never say that disgraceful thing, do it, start your career. Young people, you must be enthusiastic and enterprising, and fight bravely. To survive, you, your mother, and your sister must save money and save money. In this way, as long as the accumulation of wealth will gradually increase, what I owe can be repaid, and what you have in your hands can also be filled. One day you can be in this office Say, my father died because he didn't do what I can do today, but he died peacefully because he died knowing I would, and think about it, the day of restoration will be How beautiful, how great and majestic."

"Oh, papa, papa," cried the young man, "you can avoid this dead end!"

"It would be different if I had stayed. If I had lived, concern would have turned to suspicion, pity would have turned to violence. If I had lived, I would have been nothing but a man with a debt to pay, a broken man. On the other hand, if I were dead, Maximilian, think about it, my body would be the body of a righteous and unfortunate man. Living, my best friend would stay far away from my house; Dead, the whole city of Marseilles will send me to my final resting place with tears; alive, you will be ashamed of my name; Out of helplessness, he breaks his promise.'”

The young man groaned, but he seemed determined to endure the humiliation, because he was persuaded again, not emotionally, but intellectually.

"Now," said Morrel, "leave me here alone, and try to get your mother and sister away."

"Don't you want to see your sister again?" Maximilian asked.The youth vaguely harbored the last ray of hope for the reunion of father and daughter, so he came up with this idea.

Morrel merely shook his head. "I saw her this morning," said he, "and said good-bye to her."

"Do you have any special instructions for me, Dad?" Maximilian asked with a sob.

"Yes, my dear son, an unforgettable commandment."

"Speak, Dad."

"Only Thomson & French have sympathy for me. They may be benevolent, they may be selfish, but I don't need to guess people's hearts. The representative of this firm will come in ten minutes. Withdrawing a promissory note for 10 francs, he gave me—I want to make it clear, on his own initiative and not by promise—a three-month reprieve. The firm should pay off first, my boy, the representative's Kindness will never be forgotten.”

"I remember, papa," said Maximilian.

"Now let us say good-bye again," said Morrel. "Go, go, I need to be here alone. The will is in the writing-table in my bedroom. Go find it yourself."

The young man just stood, but refused to move. He felt that he should go, but he didn't have the strength to go.

"Listen, Maximilian," said the father, "if I were a soldier like you, and now you ordered me to attack a certain blockhouse, and you knew that I would be killed if I rushed up, wouldn't you Say to me like you did just now: 'Come on, Dad, because if you don't go, you're going to tarnish your reputation, and it's better to fight to the death than to be humiliated'?"

"Yes, yes," said the young man, "yes." So trembling, he hugged Morrel tightly, "Okay, Dad." After saying that, he rushed out of the office.

After his son had gone, Morrel stood still for a moment, with his eyes fixed on the door, then reached for the bell cord, and rang the bell.Presently Cocles came to the office, and he was no longer the same Cocles, who had been overwhelmed by a stubborn thought for three days, and was ashamed at the thought that the Morrels and Sons would not be able to pay. It was the first time in 20 years that he felt the humiliation of not being able to hold his head up.

"My lord Cocles," said Morrel, in an indescribable tone, "you will be kindly waited in the anteroom for a gentleman who came three months ago, as you know. , this is a representative of Thomson & French, let me know when he comes."

Cocles didn't speak, just nodded, and went to the waiting room to sit down and wait for someone.

Morrel slumped into his chair and looked at the wall clock. He had seven minutes left, and these were the last seven minutes.The hands on the clock moved at an incredible speed, and he seemed to be able to see the hands advancing.

This person, he is still young after all, his ideas may not be correct, but at least he has his unique side, now he is about to say goodbye to everything he loves in the world, and abandon the life that brings warmth to his family, at the last moment of his life He must have a lot of thoughts, beyond words to describe.However, although his forehead was covered with beads of sweat, he still endured humiliation and shame, and although his eyes were filled with tears, he still looked up to the sky. We can also get a little idea of ​​his thoughts.The hands of the clock continued to move forward, and both pistols were loaded.He reached for one and murmured his daughter's name.Then he put down the deadly weapon again, picked up a pen and wrote a few words, as if he felt that he hadn't finished saying goodbye to his beloved daughter.Then he turned his face to the wall clock again, and now he was no longer counting the minutes, but counting the seconds.He picked up the pistol again, opened his mouth slightly, fixed his eyes on the hands of the wall clock, and then pulled the bolt to load the pistol. He could not help but shudder when he heard the sound.Sweat was beading his brow again, but it was colder, and his heart had been torn apart so cruelly by grief.He heard the hinges of the door on the staircase rattling, and then the office door was pushed open, and the clock was about to strike eleven.He did not turn around, but waited for Cocles to say "Representative of Thomson & French."He was raising his pistol, the muzzle gradually approaching his mouth...

Suddenly he heard a cry, it was his daughter's voice.He turned around and caught sight of Julie, the gun in his hand slipped down immediately.

"Father!" the extremely happy girl shouted out of breath, "Saved! You have been saved!" She threw herself into her father's arms, holding up a red silk purse with one hand.

"Saved! My boy!" said Morrel. "What did you say?"

"Yes, saved! Look, look!" said the girl.

Morrel took the purse and shuddered, for he had a vague recollection that it had originally been his.On one side of the purse was a promissory note for 287500 francs, which had been signed for.On the other side of the purse was a diamond as big as a hazelnut, and attached a note on parchment, which read: "Julie's dowry." Morrel touched his forehead with his hand, and he felt that it was dream.At this time, the clock struck 11 times.Every time the Dangdang alarm clock sounded, it was like a steel hammer "dang" hitting his heart.

"Oh, boy," said he, "tell me where you found this purse?"

"Found in the fireplace corner of a miserable little room on the sixth floor of 15 Maihang Lane."

"But," exclaimed Morrel, "the purse is not yours." Julie then showed her father the letter she had received that morning. "Did you go alone?" asked Morrel, after reading the letter.

"Emmanuel accompanied me, papa, and he was promised to meet me at the corner of Museumstrasse, but it's strange that he wasn't there when I came out."

"Monsieur Morrel!" cried a voice from the stairs, "Monsieur Morrel!"

"It's him," said Julie.

At this moment, Emmanuel entered the office, and he was so happy and excited that he couldn't close his mouth. "The King of Egypt!" he cried. "The King of Egypt!"

"Oh, what? The King of Egypt! Are you mad, Emmanuel? The ship is sunk, and you know it."

"The King of Egypt! Sir, the signal says the King of Egypt. The King of Egypt is in port."

Morrel slumped in his chair, unable to support himself, or to gather his energy to make out the whole sequence, for it was so unbelievable, unheard-of, and almost like a fairy tale.At this time his son also came in.

"Father," cried Maximilian, "how can you say that the King of Egypt has sunk? The wharf ⊥ hill has signaled that the King of Egypt is coming in, and it is indeed coming in. "

"Everyone listen to me," Morrel said, "if this is the case, it must be a miracle created by God, it is too impossible, too impossible!" However, the money bag he held in both hands, the receipt Aren't the promissory notes, the brilliant diamond, equally unbelievable?But it's all true!
"Oh, sir," cried Cocles involuntarily, "what's the matter with the King of Egypt?"

"Well," said Morrel, rising, "let us see, and if the news is false, may God have mercy on us."

They all went downstairs, and Madame Morrel waited on the stairs, the poor woman not even having the courage to go up to her office.In a little while they came to the Rue Carnabier.The pier was already crowded with people, and when they saw Morrel, they all made way for him. "'King of Egypt' number! 'King of Egypt' number!" People shouted.

Sure enough, an unheard of miracle was in sight.Right in front of Fort Saint-Jean, a sailboat is anchoring and furling its sails, with large white characters written on the stern: "King of Egypt" (Marseille Morrel & Sons), the size and shape of the ship are the same as that of the other "King of Egypt" Exactly the same, the ships were also loaded with carmine and indigo.On deck Captain Gomart was in command, and Penelon, the old sailor, was waving to M. Morrel.There is nothing to doubt anymore. What I saw and heard with my own eyes is the evidence, and the tens of thousands of people present are all witnesses.

Morrel and his son embraced on the embankment, and the Maasai people who witnessed this miracle applauded and cheered for them.At this time, a man with a full face of black beard was hiding behind a sentry box, looking at the lively scene on the pier from a distance, he was very moved, and he murmured to himself: "Have fun, noble heart. May God bless you for your past and future good deeds, and may my gratitude be as silent and unrecognized as your benevolent deeds." So, with a tinge of joy and happiness, Smiling, he walked out from his hiding place. When everyone was attracted by this rare miracle and no one was paying attention to him, he came to the narrow steps used as a pier by the bank, and even shouted Three times: "Jacopo! Jacopo! Jacopo!" A small boat sailed towards him, picked him up, and escorted him to a luxurious yacht.With a very light leap, like a sailor's, he climbed onto the deck of the yacht, and looked once more at Morrel.At this time, Morrel was so happy that tears filled his eyes, and he was enthusiastically shaking hands with the people around him one by one. His eyes were in a daze, as if he wanted to find the benefactor in the sky that he wanted to thank, but he was unknown.

"And now," said the stranger, "goodbye, kindness, kindness, and gratitude! Goodbye, joy and joyful emotion! I have rewarded the good man... may God grant me the punishment of the wicked!" said After that, he gave a signal, and the yacht seemed to be waiting for the departure signal, and immediately sailed to the sea outside the port.

(End of this chapter)