World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 78 Mr. Beticio
By this time the count had arrived at his lodgings.It took him 6 minutes to go this way, but these 6 minutes have already attracted a group of young people to watch all the way.These young people knew that they couldn't afford the price of the car and the horses, so they galloped all over the horses, all wanting to see who this rich and rich old man was, who actually paid the price of each horse. Open to 10000 francs.

The house that Ali chose for Monte Cristo as his residence in the city is located on the right side of the Champs-Elysées, with a courtyard on one side and a garden on the other. The dense bushes in the center of the courtyard just block part of the front of the small building. Extend the trails left and right like two arms outstretched.The carriage comes in through the iron gate, and you can follow the left and right paths to the steps in front of the building.On the steps, there are pots of porcelain flower pots with flowers blooming on each step.The small building is surrounded by an open space, and besides the gate, there is another gate in the Rue Pontieux.

Before the coachman could call for the porter, the hinges of the big iron door rattled.It turned out that the servant had seen the count coming. No matter where he went, whether it was Paris or Rome, the servant could serve the count as fast as lightning.So the coachman drove into the gate, and then the car drove around the small path that looked like a half circle, but the speed did not slow down. The sound of the wheels rolling on the small path and sandy road did not stop, but the iron gate was closed again.The carriage stopped on the left side of the steps, and two people rushed to the door to greet him immediately.One was Ali, who smiled so brightly and cheerfully when he saw his master that he felt rewarded whenever Monte Cristo looked at him.The other bowed respectfully, extended his arm to the count again, and helped him out of the carriage.

"Thank you, Monsieur Beticio," said the count, stepping briskly down the third step, "where's the notary?"

"He's in the little parlour, sir," said Beticio.

"What about the business card? I told you to print it as soon as you have the room number."

"Mr. Earl, it's ready. I found the best engraver at the Royal Palace Market and asked him to engrave the plate in front of me. As soon as the first business card is printed, it will be sent to the Rue d'Antin as soon as you ordered. 7 Baron Tanglar and MP, and the rest are on the mantelpiece in your lordship's bedroom."

"Very well. What time is it?"

"4 o'clock."

Monte Cristo handed gloves, hat, and cane to the French servant who had hurried out of the anteroom at the count's house to call for a carriage, and Beticio led the way into the small drawing room. "The marble in the waiting room is too bad, I hope you can replace them all." Beticio immediately bowed.As the steward had said, the notary was already waiting in the small drawing room.This man looked exactly like a second-class notary clerk in Paris, but he had already mentioned the position of notary in the suburbs, and it was impossible to climb up.

"Monsieur, I want to buy a country house. Are you entrusted with the deed of sale?" asked Monte Cristo.

"Yes, Monsieur the Count," replied the notary.

"Is the deed of sale ready?"

"It has been written, Monsieur Count."

"Did you bring it?"

"This is."

"Very well, where is the house I have bought?" asked Monte Cristo casually, as if he were asking Beticio, or a notary.The butler seemed to say that he did not know, and the notary looked at the count in amazement.

"What!" said the notary, "the Earl doesn't even know where the house he wants to buy is?"

"I don't know, I really don't know," said the count.

"Hasn't Monsieur the Earl seen that house?"

"Hell, how did I go to see that house? I just came from Cadiz this morning. I have never been to Paris before, and this is the first time I have set foot on French soil."

"That's a different matter," said the notary. "The house the Comte bought is at Auteuil."

Upon hearing this sentence, Beticio's face turned pale.

"How to get to Auteuil?" asked Monte Cristo.

"It's only two steps from here, Monsieur Comte," said the notary. "It's not far past Passy, ​​which is very beautiful, right in the middle of the Bois de Boulogne."

"So close!" said Monte Cristo, "it cannot be called a country. How did you choose a house for me near the gates of Paris, Monsieur Beticio?"

"Me?" The housekeeper hurriedly shouted, "No, Mr. Earl definitely didn't ask me to choose this house. Mr. Earl can think about it again. You might as well recall it and see if you remember anything wrong."

"Ah, indeed," said Monte Cristo, "I now think of it. I read the advertisement in the newspaper, saying 'country houses,' which were a misnomer, and I was charmed."

"It's still too late," said Beticio hastily, "as long as Your Excellency tells me to look elsewhere, I'll be sure to find better ones, whether it's in Anyen, or Fontenan, or Bellevue. can be found."

"No," said Monte Cristo casually, "since the house has already been bought, it will not be refunded."

"Sir is right," said the notary hastily, worried that he would not get his commission. "It's an excellent garden house, with flowing water and lush woods. Although the house has been idle for a long time, it is very comfortable to live in. As for the furniture, although it is a bit old, it is a good thing, especially the old things are popular now , it would be even more valuable. If I may venture to say, I think Mr. Earl should be fashion-conscious.”

"It may be said," said Monte Cristo, "that the house would be worth buying."

"Oh, sir, it's not just a bargain, it's a great opportunity."

"Ah, such a good opportunity cannot be missed," said Monte Cristo. "Where is the deed of sale, Monsieur notary?" He glanced at the condition of the house and the name of the owner on the deed, and signed it hastily. "Bettisio," he went on, "give this gentleman fifty-five thousand francs."

The butler walked out feeling disappointed, and brought back a wad of banknotes, which the notary counted one by one. People like him would only accept the money after counting it face to face.

"Now," asked the count, "is all the formalities completed?"

"It's all there, Monsieur Count."

"Have you brought the key?"

"The key is in the hand of the porter who looks after the house. Here is a note from me telling him that the husband is moving in."

"Very well," said Monte Cristo, nodding to the notary, meaning, "I have nothing to do with you here, and you may go."

"But," said the honest notary sheepishly, "I think Monsieur the Count may be mistaken. Fifty thousand francs, all things considered, will suffice."

"What about your commission?"

"It has already been counted in the money, Monsieur Count."

"But don't you come from Auteuil?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Okay, this should pay you for your hard work." The count said, and then he waved his hand to express his thanks.The notary backed out of the living room, and then bowed so deeply that his forehead almost hit the ground.Since he started working as a notary, it was the first time he met such a client. "Go and see off Monsieur," said the Count to Beticio.So the butler went out after the notary.

The count was alone in the small living room. He took out a locked wallet from his pocket, and took the key from his neck that he never left with him to unlock it.He opened the small book and flipped through it for a while, and finally turned to the page with a few sentences written on it, and checked it with the deed on the table, concentrating on thinking carefully: "Auteuil, 28 Rue Lafontaine That's right," said he, "and now I'm going to see what the confession is, and whether it was frightened out of it by ecclesiastical or worldly means? Either way, I'll know in an hour. Beticio!" he cried, striking the bell with a curved mallet, and there was a long, shrill gong-like sound, "Beticio!" The steward came to the door "Mr. Beticio," said the count, "didn't you tell me before that you had visited France?"

"Yes, some places, my lord."

"You must be familiar with the suburbs of Paris, right?"

"No, sir, I'm not familiar with it." The butler replied, trembling uncontrollably.No emotion could be concealed from Monte Cristo, so he saw it clearly, and knew that the steward was at this moment in a state of confusion.

"It's a pity," said Monte Cristo, "that you have never been to the suburbs of Paris. But I think I will go to see the new house tonight, and you will go with me, and you can tell me a little about it. I am useful."

"To Auteuil?" cried Berticio, his coppery face suddenly turning almost leaden. "Shall I go to Auteuil?"

"Well! I would like to ask you, what is there to panic about when you go to Auteuil? After I live in Auteuil, you have to go there. This is your duty." Beticio said Looking at the majestic gaze of the master, he couldn't help but lower his head, and he stood dumbly without answering. "Well, what's the matter with you? Do you want me to ring the bell again to order the car to be ready?" said Monte Cristo, in a tone almost like Louis XIV saying his famous saying "Yes, I can wait, but I can't wait."

Beticio immediately stepped out of the living room, and when he reached the waiting room, he shouted in a rough voice: "Prepare the car for Your Excellency!"

Monte Cristo wrote two or three letters, and while he was sealing the last, the steward returned to the drawing-room. "The carriage is waiting for Your Excellency at the gate," he said.

"Well, take your gloves and hat," said Monte Cristo.

"Shall I accompany you, Monsieur Count?" cried Beticio.

"Of courseⅢyou should go and take care of it, I'm going to live in this house."

No one dared to argue with the count's order, so the butler said nothing, just followed behind the master.The count got into the car, and then motioned for him to follow. The butler went up and sat down respectfully in the front seat.

(End of this chapter)