Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell,
Be thy intents wicked, or charitable,
I will speak to thee.
HAMLET
Count de Villefort, at length, received a letter from the advocate at Avignon, encouraging Emily to assert her claim to the estates of the late Madame Montoni; and, about the same time, a messenger arrived from Monsieur Quesnel with intelligence, that made an appeal to the law on this subject unnecessary, since it appeared, that the only person, who could have opposed her claim, was now no more. A friend of Monsieur Quesnel, who resided at Venice, had sent him an account of the death of Montoni who had been brought to trial with Orsino, as his supposed accomplice1 in the murder of the Venetian nobleman. Orsino was found guilty, condemned2 and executed upon the wheel, but, nothing being discovered to criminate Montoni, and his colleagues, on this charge, they were all released, except Montoni, who, being considered by the senate as a very dangerous person, was, for other reasons, ordered again into confinement3, where, it was said, he had died in a doubtful and mysterious manner, and not without suspicion of having been poisoned. The authority, from which M. Quesnel had received this information, would not allow him to doubt its truth, and he told Emily, that she had now only to lay claim to the estates of her late aunt, to secure them, and added, that he would himself assist in the necessary forms of this business. The term, for which La Vallee had been let being now also nearly expired, he acquainted her with the circumstance, and advised her to take the road thither4, through Tholouse, where he promised to meet her, and where it would be proper for her to take possession of the estates of the late Madame Montoni; adding, that he would spare her any difficulties, that might occur on that occasion from the want of knowledge on the subject, and that he believed it would be necessary for her to be at Tholouse, in about three weeks from the present time.
An increase of fortune seemed to have awakened5 this sudden kindness in M. Quesnel towards his niece, and it appeared, that he entertained more respect for the rich heiress, than he had ever felt compassion6 for the poor and unfriended orphan7.
The pleasure, with which she received this intelligence, was clouded when she considered, that he, for whose sake she had once regretted the want of fortune, was no longer worthy8 of sharing it with her; but, remembering the friendly admonition of the Count, she checked this melancholy9 reflection, and endeavoured to feel only gratitude10 for the unexpected good, that now attended her; while it formed no inconsiderable part of her satisfaction to know, that La Vallee, her native home, which was endeared to her by it’s having been the residence of her parents, would soon be restored to her possession. There she meant to fix her future residence, for, though it could not be compared with the chateau11 at Tholouse, either for extent, or magnificence, its pleasant scenes and the tender remembrances, that haunted them, had claims upon her heart, which she was not inclined to sacrifice to ostentation12. She wrote immediately to thank M. Quesnel for the active interest he took in her concerns, and to say, that she would meet him at Tholouse at the appointed time.
When Count de Villefort, with Blanche, came to the convent to give Emily the advice of the advocate, he was informed of the contents of M. Quesnel’s letter, and gave her his sincere congratulations, on the occasion; but she observed, that, when the first expression of satisfaction had faded from his countenance13, an unusual gravity succeeded, and she scarcely hesitated to enquire14 its cause.
‘It has no new occasion,’ replied the Count; ‘I am harassed15 and perplexed16 by the confusion, into which my family is thrown by their foolish superstition17. Idle reports are floating round me, which I can neither admit to be true, or prove to be false; and I am, also, very anxious about the poor fellow, Ludovico, concerning whom I have not been able to obtain information. Every part of the chateau and every part of the neighbourhood, too, has, I believe, been searched, and I know not what further can be done, since I have already offered large rewards for the discovery of him. The keys of the north apartment I have not suffered to be out of my possession, since he disappeared, and I mean to watch in those chambers18, myself, this very night.’
Emily, seriously alarmed for the Count, united her entreaties20 with those of the Lady Blanche, to dissuade21 him from his purpose.
‘What should I fear?’ said he. ‘I have no faith in supernatural combats, and for human opposition22 I shall be prepared; nay23, I will even promise not to watch alone.’
‘But who, dear sir, will have courage enough to watch with you?’ said Emily.
‘My son,’ replied the Count. ‘If I am not carried off in the night,’ added he, smiling, ‘you shall hear the result of my adventure, tomorrow.’
The Count and Lady Blanche, shortly afterwards, took leave of Emily, and returned to the chateau, where he informed Henri of his intention, who, not without some secret reluctance24, consented to be the partner of his watch; and, when the design was mentioned after supper, the Countess was terrified, and the Baron25, and M. Du Pont joined with her in entreating26, that he would not tempt27 his fate, as Ludovico had done. ‘We know not,’ added the Baron, ‘the nature, or the power of an evil spirit; and that such a spirit haunts those chambers can now, I think, scarcely be doubted. Beware, my lord, how you provoke its vengeance28, since it has already given us one terrible example of its malice29. I allow it may be probable, that the spirits of the dead are permitted to return to the earth only on occasions of high import; but the present import may be your destruction.’
The Count could not forbear smiling; ‘Do you think then, Baron,’ said he, ‘that my destruction is of sufficient importance to draw back to earth the soul of the departed? Alas30! my good friend, there is no occasion for such means to accomplish the destruction of any individual. Wherever the mystery rests, I trust I shall, this night, be able to detect it. You know I am not superstitious31.’
‘I know that you are incredulous,’ interrupted the Baron.
‘Well, call it what you will, I mean to say, that, though you know I am free from superstition — if any thing supernatural has appeared, I doubt not it will appear to me, and if any strange event hangs over my house, or if any extraordinary transaction has formerly32 been connected with it, I shall probably be made acquainted with it. At all events I will invite discovery; and, that I may be equal to a mortal attack, which in good truth, my friend, is what I most expect, I shall take care to be well armed.’
The Count took leave of his family, for the night, with an assumed gaiety, which but ill concealed33 the anxiety, that depressed34 his spirits, and retired35 to the north apartments, accompanied by his son and followed by the Baron, M. Du Pont and some of the domestics, who all bade him good night at the outer door. In these chambers every thing appeared as when he had last been here; even in the bed-room no alteration36 was visible, where he lighted his own fire, for none of the domestics could be prevailed upon to venture thither. After carefully examining the chamber19 and the oriel, the Count and Henri drew their chairs upon the hearth37, set a bottle of wine and a lamp before them, laid their swords upon the table, and, stirring the wood into a blaze, began to converse38 on indifferent topics. But Henri was often silent and abstracted, and sometimes threw a glance of mingled39 awe40 and curiosity round the gloomy apartment; while the Count gradually ceased to converse, and sat either lost in thought, or reading a volume of Tacitus, which he had brought to beguile41 the tediousness of the night.
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1
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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2
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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3
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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4
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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5
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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6
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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7
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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8
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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9
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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10
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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11
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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12
ostentation
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| n.夸耀，卖弄 | |
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13
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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14
enquire
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| v.打听，询问；调查，查问 | |
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15
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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16
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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17
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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18
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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19
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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20
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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21
dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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22
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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23
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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24
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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25
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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26
entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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27
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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28
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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29
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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30
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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31
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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32
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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33
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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34
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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35
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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36
alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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37
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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38
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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39
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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40
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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41
beguile
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| vt.欺骗，消遣 | |
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