The Count of Monte Cristo, Illustrated

by Alexandre Dumas

  Chapter 69. The Inquiry

  M. de Villefort kept the promise he had made to Madame Danglars, toendeavor to find out how the Count of Monte Cristo had discovered thehistory of the house at Auteuil. He wrote the same day for the requiredinformation to M. de Boville, who, from having been an inspector ofprisons, was promoted to a high office in the police; and the latterbegged for two days time to ascertain exactly who would be most likelyto give him full particulars. At the end of the second day M. deVillefort received the following note:

  “The person called the Count of Monte Cristo is an intimate acquaintanceof Lord Wilmore, a rich foreigner, who is sometimes seen in Paris andwho is there at this moment; he is also known to the Abbé Busoni, aSicilian priest, of high repute in the East, where he has done muchgood.”

  M. de Villefort replied by ordering the strictest inquiries to be maderespecting these two persons; his orders were executed, and thefollowing evening he received these details:

  “The abbé, who was in Paris only for a month, inhabited a small two-storied house behind Saint-Sulpice; there were two rooms on each floorand 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 wainscotedparlor, without ornaments, carpet, or timepiece. It was evident that theabbé limited himself to objects of strict necessity. He preferred to usethe sitting-room upstairs, which was more library than parlor, and wasfurnished with theological books and parchments, in which he delightedto 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 theirfaces were unknown to him or displeased him, he replied that the abbéwas not in Paris, an answer which satisfied most persons, because theabbé was known to be a great traveller. Besides, whether at home or not,whether in Paris or Cairo, the abbé 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 armchairs, and a couch, covered with yellow Utrecht velvet,composed, with a prie-Dieu, all its furniture.

  “Lord Wilmore resided in Rue Fontaine-Saint-Georges. He was one of thoseEnglish tourists who consume a large fortune in travelling. He hired theapartment in which he lived furnished, passed only a few hours in theday there, and rarely slept there. One of his peculiarities was never tospeak a word of French, which he however wrote with great facility.”

  The day after this important information had been given to the king’sattorney, a man alighted from a carriage at the corner of the Rue Férou,and rapping at an olive-green door, asked if the Abbé Busoni werewithin.

  “No, he went out early this morning,” replied the valet.

  “I might not always be content with that answer,” replied the visitor,“for I come from one to whom everyone must be at home. But have thekindness to give the Abbé Busoni——”

  “I told you he was not at home,” repeated the valet.

  “Then on his return give him that card and this sealed paper. Will he beat home at eight o’clock this evening?”

  “Doubtless, unless he is at work, which is the same as if he were out.”

  “I will come again at that time,” replied the visitor, who then retired.

  At the appointed hour the same man returned in the same carriage, which,instead of stopping this time at the end of the Rue Férou, drove up tothe green door. He knocked, and it opened immediately to admit him. Fromthe signs of respect the valet paid him, he saw that his note hadproduced a good effect.

  “Is the abbé at home?” asked he.

  “Yes; he is at work in his library, but he expects you, sir,” repliedthe valet. The stranger ascended a rough staircase, and before a table,illumined by a lamp whose light was concentrated by a large shade whilethe rest of the apartment was in partial darkness, he perceived the abbéin a monk’s dress, with a cowl on his head such as was used by learnedmen of the Middle Ages.

  “Have I the honor of addressing the Abbé Busoni?” asked the visitor.

  “Yes, sir,” replied the abbé; “and you are the person whom M. deBoville, formerly an inspector of prisons, sends to me from the prefectof police?”

  “Exactly, sir.”

  “One of the agents appointed to secure the safety of Paris?”

  “Yes, sir” replied the stranger with a slight hesitation, and blushing.

  The abbé replaced the large spectacles, which covered not only his eyesbut his temples, and sitting down motioned to his visitor to do thesame. “I am at your service, sir,” said the abbé, with a marked Italianaccent.

  “The mission with which I am charged, sir,” replied the visitor,speaking with hesitation, “is a confidential one on the part of him whofulfils it, and him by whom he is employed.” The abbé bowed. “Yourprobity,” replied the stranger, “is so well known to the prefect that hewishes as a magistrate to ascertain from you some particulars connectedwith the public safety, to ascertain which I am deputed to see you. Itis hoped that no ties of friendship or humane consideration will induceyou to conceal the truth.”

  “Provided, sir, the particulars you wish for do not interfere with myscruples or my conscience. I am a priest, sir, and the secrets ofconfession, for instance, must remain between me and God, and notbetween me and human justice.”

  “Do not alarm yourself, monsieur, we will duly respect your conscience.”

  At this moment the abbé pressed down his side of the shade and so raisedit on the other, throwing a bright light on the stranger’s face, whilehis own remained obscured.

  “Excuse me, abbé,” said the envoy of the prefect of the police, “but thelight tries my eyes very much.” The abbé lowered the shade.

  “Now, sir, I am listening—go on.”

  “I will come at once to the point. Do you know the Count of MonteCristo?”

  “You mean Monsieur Zaccone, I presume?”

  “Zaccone?—is not his name Monte Cristo?”

  “Monte Cristo is the name of an estate, or, rather, of a rock, and not afamily name.”

  “Well, be it so—let us not dispute about words; and since M. de MonteCristo and M. Zaccone are the same——”

  “Absolutely the same.”

  “Let us speak of M. Zaccone.”

  “Agreed.”

  “I asked you if you knew him?”

  “Extremely well.”

  “Who is he?”

  “The son of a rich shipbuilder in Malta.”

  “I know that is the report; but, as you are aware, the police does notcontent itself with vague reports.”

  “However,” replied the abbé, with an affable smile, “when that report isin accordance with the truth, everybody must believe it, the police aswell as all the rest.”

  “Are you sure of what you assert?”

  “What do you mean by that question?”

  “Understand, sir, I do not in the least suspect your veracity; I ask ifyou are certain of it?”

  “I knew his father, M. Zaccone.”

  “Ah, indeed?”

  “And when a child I often played with the son in the timber-yards.”

  “But whence does he derive the title of count?”

  “You are aware that may be bought.”

  “In Italy?”

  “Everywhere.”

  “And his immense riches, whence does he procure them?”

  “They may not be so very great.”

  “How much do you suppose he possesses?”

  “From one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand livres per annum.”

  “That is reasonable,” said the visitor; “I have heard he had three orfour millions.”

  “Two hundred thousand per annum would make four millions of capital.”

  “But I was told he had four millions per annum.”

  “That is not probable.”

  “Do you know this Island of Monte Cristo?”

  “Certainly, everyone who has come from Palermo, Naples, or Rome toFrance by sea must kno
w it, since he has passed close to it and musthave seen it.”

  “I am told it is a delightful place?”

  “It is a rock.”

  “And why has the count bought a rock?”

  “For the sake of being a count. In Italy one must have territorialpossessions to be a count.”

  “You have, doubtless, heard the adventures of M. Zaccone’s youth?”

  “The father’s?”

  “No, the son’s.”

  “I know nothing certain; at that period of his life, I lost sight of myyoung comrade.”

  “Was he in the wars?”

  “I think he entered the service.”

  “In what branch?”

  “In the navy.”

  “Are you not his confessor?”

  “No, sir; I believe he is a Lutheran.”

  “A Lutheran?”

  “I say, I believe such is the case, I do not affirm it; besides, libertyof conscience is established in France.”

  “Doubtless, and we are not now inquiring into his creed, but hisactions; in the name of the prefect of police, I ask you what you knowof him.

  “He passes for a very charitable man. Our holy father, the pope, hasmade him a knight of Jesus Christ for the services he rendered to theChristians in the East; he has five or six rings as testimonials fromEastern monarchs of his services.”

  “Does he wear them?”

  “No, but he is proud of them; he is better pleased with rewards given tothe benefactors of man than to his destroyers.”

  “He is a Quaker then?”

  “Exactly, he is a Quaker, with the exception of the peculiar dress.”

  “Has he any friends?”

  “Yes, everyone who knows him is his friend.”

  “But has he any enemies?”

  “One only.”

  “What is his name?”

  “Lord Wilmore.”

  “Where is he?”

  “He is in Paris just now.”

  “Can he give me any particulars?”

  “Important ones; he was in India with Zaccone.”

  “Do you know his abode?”

  “It’s somewhere in the Chaussée d’Antin; but I know neither the streetnor the number.”

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  “Are you at variance with the Englishman?”

  “I love Zaccone, and he hates him; we are consequently not friends.”

  “Do you think the Count of Monte Cristo had ever been in France beforehe made this visit to Paris?”

  “To that question I can answer positively; no, sir, he had not, becausehe applied to me six months ago for the particulars he required, and asI did not know when I might again come to Paris, I recommended M.Cavalcanti to him.”

  “Andrea?”

  “No, Bartolomeo, his father.”

  “Now, sir, I have but one question more to ask, and I charge you, in thename of honor, of humanity, and of religion, to answer me candidly.”

  “What is it, sir?”

  “Do you know with what design M. de Monte Cristo purchased a house atAuteuil?”

  “Certainly, for he told me.”

  “What is it, sir?”

  “To make a lunatic asylum of it, similar to that founded by the Count ofPisani at Palermo. Do you know about that institution?”

  “I have heard of it.”

  “It is a magnificent charity.” Having said this, the abbé bowed to implyhe wished to pursue his studies.

  The visitor either understood the abbé’s meaning, or had no morequestions to ask; he arose, and the abbé accompanied him to the door.

  “You are a great almsgiver,” said the visitor, “and although you aresaid to be rich, I will venture to offer you something for your poorpeople; will you accept my offering?”

  “I thank you, sir; I am only jealous in one thing, and that is that therelief I give should be entirely from my own resources.”

  “However——”

  “My resolution, sir, is unchangeable, but you have only to search foryourself and you will find, alas, but too many objects upon whom toexercise your benevolence.”

  The abbé once more bowed as he opened the door, the stranger bowed andtook his leave, and the carriage conveyed him straight to the house ofM. de Villefort. An hour afterwards the carriage was again ordered, andthis time it went to the Rue Fontaine-Saint-Georges, and stopped at No.5, where Lord Wilmore lived. The stranger had written to Lord Wilmore,requesting an interview, which the latter had fixed for ten o’clock. Asthe envoy of the prefect of police arrived ten minutes before ten, hewas told that Lord Wilmore, who was precision and punctualitypersonified, was not yet come in, but that he would be sure to return asthe clock struck.

  The visitor was introduced into the drawing-room, which was like allother furnished drawing-rooms. A mantle-piece, with two modern Sèvresvases, a timepiece representing Cupid with his bent bow, a mirror withan engraving on each side—one representing Homer carrying his guide, theother, Belisarius begging—a grayish paper; red and black tapestry—suchwas the appearance of Lord Wilmore’s drawing-room.

  It was illuminated by lamps with ground-glass shades which gave only afeeble light, as if out of consideration for the envoy’s weak sight.After ten minutes’ expectation the clock struck ten; at the fifth strokethe door opened and Lord Wilmore appeared. He was rather above themiddle height, with thin reddish whiskers, light complexion and lighthair, turning rather gray. He was dressed with all the Englishpeculiarity, namely, in a blue coat, with gilt buttons and high collar,in the fashion of 1811, a white kerseymere waistcoat, and nankeenpantaloons, three inches too short, but which were prevented by strapsfrom slipping up to the knee. His first remark on entering was:

  “You know, sir, I do not speak French?”

  “I know you do not like to converse in our language,” replied the envoy.

  “But you may use it,” replied Lord Wilmore; “I understand it.”

  “And I,” replied the visitor, changing his idiom, “know enough ofEnglish to keep up the conversation. Do not put yourself to theslightest inconvenience.”

  “Aw?” said Lord Wilmore, with that tone which is only known to nativesof Great Britain.

  The envoy presented his letter of introduction, which the latter readwith English coolness, and having finished:

  “I understand,” said he, “perfectly.”

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  Then began the questions, which were similar to those which had beenaddressed to the Abbé Busoni. But as Lord Wilmore, in the character ofthe count’s enemy, was less restrained in his answers, they were morenumerous; he described the youth of Monte Cristo, who he said, at tenyears of age, entered the service of one of the petty sovereigns ofIndia who make war on the English. It was there Wilmore had first methim and fought against him; and in that war Zaccone had been takenprisoner, sent to England, and consigned to the hulks, whence he hadescaped by swimming. Then began his travels, his duels, his caprices;then the insurrection in Greece broke out, and he had served in theGrecian ranks. While in that service he had discovered a silver mine inthe mountains of Thessaly, but he had been careful to conceal it fromeveryone. After the battle of Navarino, when the Greek government wasconsolidated, he asked of King Otho a mining grant for that district,which was given him. Hence that immense fortune, which, in LordWilmore’s opinion, possibly amounted to one or two millions per annum,—aprecarious fortune, which might be momentarily lost by the failure ofthe mine.

  “But,” asked the visitor, “do you know why he came to France?”

  “He is speculating in railways,” said Lord Wilmore, “and as he is anexpert chemist and physicist, he has invented a new system oftelegraphy, which he is seeking to bring to perfection.”

  “How much does he spend yearly?” asked the prefect.

  “Not more than five or six hundred thousand francs,” said Lord Wilmore;“he is a miser.” Hatred evidently inspired the Englishman, who, knowingno other reproach to bring on the count, accused him of avarice.

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�Do you know his house at Auteuil?”

  “Certainly.”

  “What do you know respecting it?”

  “Do you wish to know why he bought it?”

  “Yes.”

  “The count is a speculator, who will certainly ruin himself inexperiments. He supposes there is in the neighborhood of the house hehas bought a mineral spring equal to those at Bagnères, Luchon, andCauterets. He is going to turn his house into a Badhaus, as the Germansterm it. He has already dug up all the garden two or three times to findthe famous spring, and, being unsuccessful, he will soon purchase allthe contiguous houses. Now, as I dislike him, and hope his railway, hiselectric telegraph, or his search for baths, will ruin him, I amwatching for his discomfiture, which must soon take place.”

  “What was the cause of your quarrel?”

  “When he was in England he seduced the wife of one of my friends.”

  “Why do you not seek revenge?”

  “I have already fought three duels with him,” said the Englishman, “thefirst with the pistol, the second with the sword, and the third with thesabre.”

  “And what was the result of those duels?”

  “The first time, he broke my arm; the second, he wounded me in thebreast; and the third time, made this large wound.” The Englishmanturned down his shirt-collar, and showed a scar, whose redness proved itto be a recent one. “So that, you see, there is a deadly feud betweenus.”

  “But,” said the envoy, “you do not go about it in the right way to killhim, if I understand you correctly.”

  “Aw?” said the Englishman, “I practice shooting every day, and everyother day Grisier comes to my house.”

  This was all the visitor wished to ascertain, or, rather, all theEnglishman appeared to know. The agent arose, and having bowed to LordWilmore, who returned his salutation with the stiff politeness of theEnglish, he retired. Lord Wilmore, having heard the door close afterhim, returned to his bedroom, where with one hand he pulled off hislight hair, his red whiskers, his false jaw, and his wound, to resumethe black hair, dark complexion, and pearly teeth of the Count of MonteCristo.

  It was M. de Villefort, and not the prefect, who returned to the houseof M. de Villefort. The procureur felt more at ease, although he hadlearned nothing really satisfactory, and, for the first time since thedinner-party at Auteuil, he slept soundly.