[Count of Monte Cristo] Love and hatred

chapter116

Suddenly there was a sudden sound of footsteps in the corridor, and Plum Tess hurriedly hid behind a stone statue of Venus.It was Bertuccio, the count's steward, who came.

"Didn't I ask you not to come in and disturb me tonight?" the count said angrily.

"My lord, we have a visitor," explained Bertuccio.

"Just say I'm not here."

"But it's the Viscount Morcerf," Bertuccio said hesitantly.

The count hesitated for two seconds, "Let him in."

Bertuccio is ordered to leave.Plum Tess came out from behind the stone statue, "What is he doing so late?"

"I don't know either." The count frowned, "You haven't met Albert yet, have you?"

"Yes, since I came to Paris, Morcerf's son has been playing outside, and he didn't come back until a few days ago," Mei Tess replied with her arms folded.

"Then now is just an opportunity," the count smiled sternly.

Plum Tess understood and hid behind the stone statue. A minute later, Bertuccio led Albert into the drawing room.

"Oh, Your Excellency, I'm sorry to disturb you so late," Albert said with a smile, "My father, Count Morcerf, wanted to thank you in person, but he happened to be in Parliament that morning. So he asked me to convey the apology on his behalf." , and once again invite you to honor me and come to my house as a guest."

The count keenly smelled the sweet scent in the air, "Viscount Morcerf, you don't seem to come from home?"

Albert showed an embarrassed look, but soon returned to normal, "Actually, I came from my mother. She just came back from a trip to Italy and was busy planning a dance. In fact, she just came from Danglars. Madam heard about your charitable deeds and wanted to see you very much."

The earl looked at Albert for two seconds with scrutiny. He believed that Morcerf's wife went abroad to hand over to the Duke of Buckingham.However, he did not show the slightest emotion in front of Albert, "Then, when she officially prepares to hold a ball, I will be very happy to go."

"I'm glad you can say that." Albert glanced at the table inadvertently and found two tea trays. He asked suspiciously, "Your Excellency, it seems that you have a visitor just now?"

"No," said the Count of Monte Cristo at once, "it is for you. By the way, do you like to smoke with tea?"

"Of course," Albert nodded suspiciously.

Then the count turned, rang the bell again, and a few seconds later a secret door opened.Ali came in with two long chimneys, which were already filled with fine Turkish tobacco.

This time Albert completely believed the earl's words, "It's amazing. Your Excellency, I really admire you. It's not that you are rich, because maybe someone is richer than you, and it's not just your wisdom. Maybe Beaumarchais and you No match. I adore you because of the way your servants serve you, without much talking, just ring the bell and they give you what your heart desires, as if by magic Like."

"Oh, it's nothing, it's actually very simple," the Count of Monte Cristo replied, "When the guests come, I will ring the bell to remind Ali, and he will prepare the tea and deliver it when I ring the bell again. And he knows that I usually have the habit of smoking when drinking tea or coffee, and his country treats guests with chimneys, so he brought two long chimneys."

Albert nodded, then took a sip of tea.Because the tea was served earlier, the temperature was just right, which made him admire even more, "Your Excellency, what kind of tea is this? It tastes faintly fragrant."

"In fact, it is a special kind of scented tea made by oriental people with roses and tea leaves," the earl spread his hands.

Albert took a closer look and found that it was indeed a rose. He felt that if he continued to discuss this topic, he would only show his ignorance in front of the count, so he turned to compliment the count on the furnishings in the living room, and the count responded one by one.

After the two smoked for a while, Albert was ready to take his leave.Before leaving, he asked tentatively, "Your Excellency, when I came just now, your housekeeper said that you were not at home."

"Oh, yes," explained the count, "I often read in my study at night and don't like to be disturbed. Baron Danglars also complained when I first visited him because he was rejected by the porter once." .”

"But you are willing to make an exception to see me."

"Yes, because you are my friend."

"Yes, of course we are friends." Albert showed a satisfied smile.The two exchanged some polite words before the count let Bertuccio lead Albert away.

But as soon as they left, the count immediately rang the bell and told the black slave Ali to go upstairs to the study to light the lamp, and then he blew on the candles in the living room, so that from downstairs, he should have arrived in the study.

Immediately afterwards, the count stood in front of the window, gently raised the curtain a gap, and peeped downstairs with his eyes that could see through the darkness.I saw Albert and Bertuccio standing in the vestibule talking. Although he couldn't hear what they were saying, he could clearly feel that it was an unpleasant conversation.And it was probably Albert who said it, but it seemed more like a threat.

The count told Maisette what he had seen.

"Obviously, the two of them knew each other before," Mei Tess commented.

"Yes." The Count of Monte Cristo pondered for a while, "I thought Bertuccio was only related to Villefort, but I didn't expect him to have an intersection with Albert."

"I also noticed something," Mei Tess said, "Albert seems to be an adult, but according to what we know, Morcerf's wedding was held after he returned from Greece. big kid."

"Actually I have the same misgivings," said the Count of Monte Cristo, "and the boy Albert is very handsome, unlike his father at all."

"Have you met Morcerf?" Maisettes asked suspiciously.

"Oh, no, but I saw him in the portrait in Albert's room," the Count of Monte Cristo said immediately, "but any speculation is meaningless now, it seems that we can only find a breakthrough from Bertuccio. "

"But how are we going to get Bertuccio to talk?"

"I'll find a way," said the count confidently.That's why he bought the Villa Auteuil, he knew of the crimes Bertuccio had committed there, and he had the means to make him tell everything.

Seeing Albert's carriage going away, the black slave Ali returned to the living room with a lamp on.He is the only trusted servant of the Earl, and the only person around the Earl who knows the true relationship between him and Mei Tess.

He removed the used tea from the table, and with a sign, asked the Count if he would like a new one.Because the previous atmosphere had been completely destroyed, Mei Tess said first, "Thank you, Ali. Don't bother."

Ali bowed and left.The two sat down again and began to talk about the topic.

"You shouldn't have brought the Crown Blue Diamond back into the world," Mae Tess said disapprovingly.

"I need to be remembered by all the people in Paris." The Count folded his hands, "Isn't this a perfect way?"

"But it's too high-profile. Anyone who has knowledge of that period of history will recognize that diamond." Mei Tess frowned, "If you don't make it, the king's people will also follow you."

"I'm not worried about this. At least it will allow me to realize my plan more quickly. You see, Danglars is completely at my feet now." The Count of Monte Cristo smiled, "Besides, don't you Cooperate with my plan and raise the price of that diamond to 50 francs?"

"I just..."

"I just want to snatch that diamond at the auction," the Count of Monte Cristo raised his eyebrows, "or, to steal the limelight of the Count of Monte Cristo and the danger behind it. But I know that all your money has been invested, I don't have that much liquidity on hand, so I won't let you get away with it."

"You..." At that moment, Plum Tess was moved, "Listen, I don't want to accuse you, I just... worry about you."

"I understand." The earl's blue eyes sparkled, "but what I need more is your trust. I want you to believe in me and believe that I can do everything well."

Plum Tess was silent for two seconds, and finally nodded.

"Where is that diamond now?"

"That diamond was cursed, I gave it back to Busoni and told him to hide it," the earl spread his hands.But when he talked about "curse", there was a glint of haze in his eyes.The diamond that originally belonged to Louis XVI and Queen Mary was indeed an ominous thing, but he was not afraid of its curse.In fact, it carried his curse too, the curse of all his enemies.

"By the way, you have been investigating Villefort for the past few days, have you found any clues?" the count asked curiously.

"Villefort has a lover, and the prisoner Amile in prison has confirmed this," Maisette said in a tone of resentment. "When Villefort's ex-wife encountered an accident outside the hotel, Villefort is just having a tryst with his lover."

"So, it's because his ex-wife ruined his good deed, so..."

"It should be like this," Mei Tess nodded.

Hearing this news, the count couldn't help feeling a little sympathetic to Villefort's ex-wife.After all, during those dark days in the prison of Château d'If, only two people came to visit him, one was Maisette, and the other was Villefort's ex-wife.But this is also a fateful arrangement. The woman in Villefort's family who had shown kindness to him is dead. In this way, he will have fewer scruples when he takes revenge.

"But I still don't know who his lover is."

Plum Tess fell into deep thought.She had seen that woman once at the Oyt Villa, but it was only a short glance at that time, she did not see her face clearly, and after a long time, the appearance of that woman must have changed a lot.

What's more, how can she be sure that Villefort has only had her as a lover in these years?

"I'm sure that that person is definitely not Villefort's current wife," the count pondered for a moment, "his current wife is still very young, and she and Villefort were married in [-]. When France was at its worst, this marriage was another political investment of Villefort. But this time Villefort bet on the wrong chips. He did not expect that Charles X would fall and be driven out of France, and Mrs. Villefort’s The family has also lost power because of this, and it is useless to him."

"Another poor woman," sighed Mei Tess.

"No, it's not appropriate to use the word poor to describe her," the Count of Monte Cristo commented. "Although there was only a short contact, I could see that she had some brains. After the family lost power, she quickly used a son to make herself Her position has stabilized. But I can see that she still has strong feelings of insecurity that her husband has brought to her."

The count felt vaguely that it was only a matter of time before this anxiety drove Madame de Villefort into some crazy actions.

"You saved Villefort's son and wife, he should come to visit you soon," Maisette said.

"Actually, he has already come this afternoon." The Count of Monte Cristo folded his hands. "We debated the law, and talked about life and death and madness..."

"I believe that in terms of eloquence, he will never be your opponent," Mei Tess said with a smile.

"I wish you had seen that scene," said the Count of Monte Cristo with some pride. "There is nothing more exciting than the sudden change of expression on his face. And I have promised to return to his house."

"We are dealing with Villefort, Morcerf, and Danglars. I hope you promise me not to involve their families." Mei Tess's amber eyes flickered.

"Why not?" retorted the count at once. "Look at the Morcerves. Didn't they earn their living by betraying Haidee's father? And look at Danglars. Everything he did was based on It is obtained by squeezing the blood and sweat of the workers. And Villefort, the blood debt behind him will only be more!"

When talking about the last person, the Count of Monte Cristo emphasized his tone, which made people feel a little terrified.But Mei Tess still persuaded, "I don't know their wives, but their children are innocent. No one can choose their own birth. And I have heard that Villefort's daughter Valentine is a very Kind girl, just like her mother."

"Her mother?" The Count of Monte Cristo narrowed his eyes slightly, "Have you seen her?"

"No." Plum Tess shook her head, "I heard about it."

"Why haven't I heard of it?"

"Because I'm French," Mae Tess replied.

The earl was speechless, he too was French, but Sinbad the sailor was not.He pondered for a long time, but still nodded, "Okay, I promise you."

"I've always known that you are a kind person," Mei Tess smiled.

Kind?The count couldn't help frowning, it was a quality he once had, but he wasn't sure he still had it now.The pure and kind sailor in Marseilles suffered cruel persecution, but now how dare he face the world with a kind heart.

No, he didn't want to think about it right now.

The count walked to the window, opened the curtain, and the bright starlight came through in an instant. "Mel, it's been so long since we met, can we stop talking about this for now?"

Plum Tess nodded, "Okay."

The count nodded in satisfaction, then called Ali and asked him to prepare two pipes.

Plum Tess said with some displeasure, "You know I don't smoke that."

"If you want to get into the social circle in Paris, this is a compulsory course." The count said with a smile, "I didn't like smoking before, and it was Busoni who taught me. Cigarettes often draw the distance between each other more than a conversation or a banquet.”

He pointed to a walnut table in one corner of the room.On that table are famous tobaccos from all over the world, including Maryland, Latakia, and Puerto Rico. In a delicate crock.Next to the crock, there is a row of fragrant wood boxes, which contain high-quality Manila cigars, Purus cigars and Havana cigars.

Mei Tess still shook her head, "Even so, I don't smoke. No matter what time it is, I'm only willing to obey my heart."

"That's not what I want you to smoke," said the count, smiling.He took the hookahs brought by Ali and handed one of them to Mei Tess, "This kind of hookah comes from Haiide's hometown, and I specially prepared it for you. I think you will like it."

Plum Tess took it, and took a sip suspiciously. It didn't have the smell she hated, but a refreshing fruity smell.She suddenly remembered the past in Greece. When she first arrived in Yanina, the poet Byron had shared such a hookah with her.

"How is it?" the count asked expectantly.

Plum Tess smiled.Thinking of the scented tea just now, the earl prepared all of this for her, "Thank you for doing this for me."

"There is no need to say thank you between you and me."

A gust of wind happened to blow in and blew out the candle.At this time, only starlight and moonlight remained in the dark room.

The count looked at Mei Tess, and suddenly remembered the experience in the Roman ruins.

She under the moonlight always made him feel fascinated.

The author has something to say: Thank you Sakura Han and Mei Zi for the nutrient solution, okay~