Did your father tell you this, too? Mercedes asked eagerly
No, ma ‘am, but don’t you remember what he asked you?
Yes, I remember the countess replied
A servant came in and was called by Abela bell.
Take these flowers to the dressing room in the front hall. The Lord said that the countess smelled bad.
The servant did as he told him, and then there was a long silence in the room until the flowers were moved. What was the name of Monte Cristo? The countess waited for the servant to move the last bottle of flowers before asking if it was a surname, an industrial name or a title.
I believe mom, this is a title. The Earl bought an island in the sea of Tuscany. He told you today to give it to him. You know this kind of thing. Florence Saint Etienne Ebama has done to Qiao Qi Constantine and even Maltese aristocrats, and he didn’t insist on fighting for the title of nobility. He called his title of Earl a fluke, but most Romans think that the Earl is a very noble person.
His manner is really admirable, said the countess. He stayed here for a short time just now, so I can judge.
That can be said to be perfect. Britain, Spain and Germany are claimed to be the three leading aristocrats in Europe, but no one I know can match him.
The countess pondered for a moment, then hesitated a little, and said, "You used to be my dear Albert. I asked this question from the standpoint of a mother. You have been to Mr. Monte Cristo’s house to see you. You have always been keen-eyed and know a lot about the world. You are more alert than your peers. Do you think the count is what he seems?"
What’s his appearance like
You just said that he is a man of noble status.
I told your dear mother that’s what they said.
But what do you think, Albert?
I can tell you that I have no definite opinion about him, but I think he may be Maltese.
I don’t ask him where he is from, but what kind of person he is.
Ah, what kind of person is he? That’s another matter. I have witnessed many amazing things about him. If you ask me to speak frankly, I will say that I really regard him as a protagonist of Byron’s pen. He is a bit like Manfred. Because he can’t share the family heritage, he has to rely on his adventure genius to find a way to get rich, so he will regard the law.
You mean …
I mean, Monte Cristo is an island in the Mediterranean with no residents and no garrison. It is a place frequented by smugglers from all over the world and pirates from all over the world. Who knows if this doer will pay some protection to their landlords?
That’s possible, said the countess thoughtfully
Never mind whether he is a smuggler or not, the young man continued. You have met him, my good mother, and you must agree that the Count of Monte Cristo is an extraordinary figure. He is bound to achieve great success in the Paris world. Hey, it was at my place this morning. It was the first time he stepped into the world, and he was already very surprised. Even Chateau-Renaud was no exception.
How old do you think the count is? asked Meredith, obviously thinking this question is very important.
Thirty-five or six, mom
It’s impossible to be so young that Mercedes said this sentence on the one hand to answer Albert and at the same time to herself.
But this is true several times. He told me that he was five years old, he was ten years old and he was twelve years old. I firmly remembered all these details out of curiosity, and then compared the dates and found that he never said he had missed it. I’m sure this amazing man is thirty-five years old, and mom, look how sharp his eyes are, and his forehead is wrinkled even though he is pale. He is not only strong but also young.
The countess hung her head as if she were buried in a very painful thought. This man is very friendly to you, isn’t he, Albert? She shuddered when she asked this.
I think so.
You, you, him
Gee, he’s very pleasing to me, even though Franz Epinay has always wanted to say that I said he was from some other world.
The countess shuddered in horror. Albert’s voice changed because of her emotion. Before you made a new friend, I always came to ask. Now that you are an adult, you can give me advice, but I still have to tell you that Albert should be careful.
Oh, dear mom, your advice to me. I must know what I am afraid of. The count never plays cards. He drinks water with a little white wine. He is rich. He would never borrow money from me if he didn’t want to mock me. Then what is terrible about him?
You’re right. The countess said that I shouldn’t be worried, especially about a man who saved your life. How did your father receive him? Albert, we should be more courteous to the count. Mr. Morcerf was restless. He was always thinking about other things. He might care that his father’s attitude was no better than that. Albert said that he seemed to be very impressed by the compliments the count said to him. The count said them very cleverly and calmly, as if he had known him for 30 years. The words are like a small arrow scratching an itch. Dad must be very happy in his heart. Albert smiled and said that they had become best friends when they broke up. Dad even wanted to take him to the House of Representatives to listen to the speech.
The countess didn’t speak, she was deeply immersed in a kind of thinking, and her eyes gradually closed. The young man looked at her tenderly in front of her. At this moment, he showed that his mother’s feelings were even more sincere than those of the beautiful children. Later, when he saw that her eyes were closed and heard her breathing evenly, he believed that she was asleep, so he tiptoed out of the room and pulled the door very carefully. He shook his head and said verbally, I told you that he would make a sensation here. I can measure his effect with a 10,000-ling thermometer, and even my mother noticed him. He is sure to be
He went downstairs to the stable and thought that the Count of Monte Cristo had made great efforts to buy a carriage this time, which made his chestnut horse look bad in the eyes of experts. He was a little unhappy. It was true that he said that people were unfair and I must ask my father to discuss this topic in the Senate.
Chapter 4 Mr Bertuccio
At this moment, the count has arrived home. It has been six minutes’ walk, but these six minutes are enough to attract no more than twenty young people to gallop after him. Foreigners, because they all know the price of this carriage, are unable to buy it, but they are eager to see who can afford to buy a horse for 10,000 francs. Ali chose this house to be located on the right side of the Champs Elysé es. This is Monte Cristo’s daily life in the city. In the center of the front yard of the house, a cluster of dense trees covered the house on both sides of the trees. Like two arms, one on the left and the other on the right, breaking up from the entrance of the iron gate and bypassing the front porch, the carriage passed through the doorway, and there was a big porcelain potted flower on every step. There were no neighbors around this lonely house except the gate, and there was a side door. Before the coachman called the porter, the two heavy doors came. They had already seen the Earl’s carriage in Paris, just like in other places. They all came to serve the Earl’s stone road at a flash speed. The carriage had not stopped at the gate, and the carriage stopped at the left porch. At once, two people came to the front of the window to meet Ali, who seemed to want Monte Cristo to look at him with the most sincere and happy smile, and he felt very satisfied. The other bowed respectfully and then reached out to help the count’s car.
Thank you, Monsieur Bertuccio, said the count, jumping briskly three steps on the porch. Where is the notary?
He is in the small living room, replied the adult Bertuccio
Did I tell you to print the business card as soon as you find the room?
The Earl’s Court has been printed. I personally went to the palace market to find the best engraver there. I watched him engrave the first business card and sent it to Baron Danglars’ Court, No.7 Andong Avenue, as you asked. The rest were on the mantel in the adult bedroom.
Good. What time is it?
four o’clock
Monte Cristo gave his hat, cane and gloves to the French valet who greeted the carriage at Count de Morcerf’s house, and Bertuccio led the way into the small living room.
The big stone statue in this front hall is too common, Monte Cristo said, I hope I can ask the Ministry to move out soon.
Bertuccio bowed, and the housekeeper said that the notary was waiting for the count in the small living room. Although he was just a mediocre lawyer, he deliberately pretended to be a country lawyer.
Sir, are you entrusted to sell that country house to my notary? asked Monte Cristo.
It’s Earl Court, replied the notary.