011 - The Count of Monte Cristo - The Corsican Ogre

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter eleven of the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumart.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, Chapter eleven
the Corsican Ogre. At the sight of this agitation, Louis
the eighteenth pushed from him violently the table at which
he was sitting. What ails you, Baron? He exclaimed, You

(00:25):
be a quite aghast, as your uneasiness anything to do
with what Monsieur de Blacar has told me, and Monsieur
de Villefort has just confirmed. Monsieur de Blacar moved suddenly
towards the Baron, But the fright of the courtier pleaded
for the forbearance of the statesman. And besides, as matters were,
it was much more to his advantage that the Prefect

(00:48):
of Police should triumph over him than that he should
humiliate the prefect, Sire, stammered the Baron. Well, what is it,
asked Louis eighteenth. The Minister of Police, giving way to
an impulse of despair, was about to throw himself at
the feet of Louis eighteenth. He retreated a step and frowned.

(01:09):
Will you speak? He said, oh sire, what a dreadful misfortune?
I am indeed to be pitied. I can never forgive myself, monsieur,
said Louis eighteenth. I command you to speak a well, sire.
The Usurper left elbas on the twenty sixth of February

(01:31):
and landed on the first of March. And where in Italy,
asked the king eagerly in France, Sir, at a small
port near Antibe, in the Gulf of Juan. The Usurper
landed in France, near Antib in the Gulf of Juan,
two hundred and fifty leagues from Paris, on the first

(01:54):
of March. And you only acquired this information to day,
the fourth of March. Well, Sir, what you tell me
is impossible. You must have received a false report, or
you have gone mad alas, sire, it is but too true.
Lewis made a gesture of indescribable anger and alarm, and

(02:15):
then drew himself up, as if this sudden blow had
struck him at the same moment in heart and countenance
in France, he cried the Usurper. In France, then they
did not watch over this man, who knows they were
perhaps in league with him? Oh, sire, exclaimed the Duc

(02:36):
de blacois, Monsieur d'andre is not a man to be
accused of treason. Sire, we have all been blind, and
the Minister of Police as shared the general blindness. That
is all, but said Villefort, and then, suddenly checking himself,
he was silent. Then he continued, your pardon, sire, he said,

(02:59):
Now Mazille carried me away, Will your majesty deign to
excuse me? Speak? Sir, speak, boldly replied Louis, you alone
for wunded us of the evil. Now try and aid
us with the remedy, Sire, said Villefort. The usurper is

(03:21):
detested in the south, and it seems to me that
if he ventured into the south it would be easy
to raise a longer dock and provence against him. Yes, assuredly,
replied the minister. But he is advancing by gap, and
sisteron advancing, he is advancing, said Louis eighteenth easy then

(03:43):
advancing on Paris. The Minister of Police maintained the silence,
which was equivalent to a complete avowal, and Dauphin Sir
inquired the King of Villefort, do you think it possible
to rouse that as well as sire? I am sorry
to tell your majesty a cruel fact. But the feeling

(04:06):
in Dauphine is quite the reverse of that in Provence
or longer Duck. The mountaineers are bonapartists, Sire, then murmured Louis.
He was well informed, and how many men had he
with him? I do not know, Sire, answered the Minister
of Police. What you do not know? Have you neglected

(04:31):
to obtain information on that point? Of course, it is
of no consequence, he added, with a withering smile. Sire,
it was impossible to learn. The dispatch simply stated the
fact of the landing and the route taken by the usurper.
And how did this despatch he reach you, inquired the king.

(04:53):
The minister bowed his head, and, while a deep color
overspread his cheeks, he stammered out by the telegraph, Sire.
Louis eighteenth advanced a step and folded his arms over
his chest, as Napoleon would have done so. Then he exclaimed,
turning pale with anger, seven conjoined and allied armies overthrow

(05:17):
that man. A miracle of heaven replaced me on the
throne of my father's after five and twenty years of exile.
I have during those five and twenty years spared no
pains to understand the people of France and the interest
which were confided to me. And now, when I see
the fruition of my wishes almost within reach, the power

(05:40):
I hold in my hands bursts and shatters me to atoms. Sire,
it is a fatality, murmured the minister, feeling that the
pressure of circumstances, however light a thing to destiny, was
too much for any human strength to endure. What our
enemies say of us is then true. We have learnt nothing,

(06:02):
forgotten nothing. If I were betrayed as he was, I
would console myself. But to be in the midst of
persons elevated by myself to places of honor, who ought
to watch over me more carefully than of over themselves.
For my fortune is theirs before me, there were nothing.
After me, they will be nothing and perish miserably from

(06:26):
incapacity ineptitude. Oh, yes, sir, you are right, it is fatality,
the minister quailed. Before this outburst of sarcasm, Monsieur de
Blaca wiped the moisture from his brow. Villefort smiled within himself,
for he felt his increased importance to fall continued King Louis,

(06:52):
who at the first glance had sounded the abyss on
which the monarchy hung, suspended to fall, and learn of
them fall by my telegraph. Ohy, I'd rather mount the
scaffold of my brother Louis sixteenth than thus descend the
staircase at the tuillery, driven away by ridicule. Ridicule, Sir,

(07:13):
Why you know not its power in France, and yet
you ought to know it? Sire? Sire, murmured the minister.
For pity's approach, Monsieur de Villefort resumed the king, addressing
the young man, who motionless and breathless, was listening to
a conversation on which depended the destiny of a kingdom.

(07:35):
Approach and tell Monsieur that it is possible to know
beforehand all that he has not known. Sire, It was
really impossible to learn secrets which that man concealed from
all the world. Really impossible. Yes, that is a great word, sir.
Unfortunately there are great words, as there are great men.

(08:00):
I have measured them. Really impossible for a minister who
was an office agents spies and fifteen hundred thousand francs
for secret service money to know what is going on
at sixty leagues from the coast of France. Well, then
see here is a gentleman who had none of these
resources at his disposal, a gentleman only a simple magistrate,

(08:25):
who learned more than you with all your police, and
who would have saved my crown if, like you, he
had the power of directing a telegraph. The look of
the Minister of Police was turned with concentrated spite on Villefort,
who bent his head in modest triumph. I do not

(08:46):
mean that for you, Blaca, continued Louis eighteenth. For if
you have discovered nothing, at least you have had the
good sense to persevere in your suspicions. Any other than
yourself would have considered the disclosed Monsieur de Villefort insignificant,
or as dictated by venal ambition. These words were an

(09:07):
allusion to the sentiments which the Minister of Police had
uttered with so much confidence an hour before. Villefort understood
the king's intent. Any other person would perhaps have been
overcome by such an intoxicating draft of praise. But he
feared to make for himself a mortal enemy of the
police minister. Although he saw that d'andre was irrevocably lost.

(09:33):
In fact, the minister, who, in the plenitude of his power,
had been unable to unearth Napoleon's secret, might, in despair
at his own downfall, interrogate Dante and so lay bare
the motives of Villefort's plot. Realizing this, Villefort came to
the rescue of the crestfallen minister instead of aiding to
crush him. Sire, said Villefort, the suddenness of this event

(09:59):
must prove to your Majesty that the issue is in
the hands of providence. What your Majesty is pleased to
attribute to me as profound perspicacity is simply owing to chance.
And I have profited by that chance like a good
and devoted servant. That's all. Do not attribute to me

(10:20):
more than I deserve, Sire, that your Majesty may never
have occasion to recall the first opinion you have pleased
to form of me. The Minister of Police thanked the
young man by an eloquent look, and Villefort understood that
he had succeeded in his design. That is to say that,
without forfaiting the gratitude of the King, he had made

(10:41):
a friend of one on whom, in case of necessity
he might rely. It is well resumed the King, and
now gentlemen, he continued, turning towards Monsieur de Blacas and
the Minister of Police. I have no further occasion for you,
and you may retire. What now remains to do is

(11:01):
in the department of the Minister of War. Fortunately, Sire,
said Monsieur de Blacas. We can rely on the army.
Your Majesty knows how every report confirms a loyalty and attachment.
Do not mention reports, Duke to me, for I know

(11:22):
now what confidence took place in them. Yet, speaking of reports, Baron,
what have you learned with regard to the affair in
the Rue Saint Jacques? The affair in the Rue Saint Jacques?
Exclaimed villefort unable to repress an exclamation, then, suddenly pausing,
he added, your pardon, Sire, but my devotion to your

(11:45):
Majesty has made me forget not a respect I have,
for that is too deeply engraved in my heart. But
the rules of etiquette go on go on, sir, replied
the King. You have to day and the right to
make inquiries. Here, Sire, interposed the Minister of Police. I

(12:07):
came a moment ago to give your majesty fresh information
which I had obtained on his head when your Majesty's
attention was attracted by the terrible event that has occurred
in the Gulf. And now these facts will cease to
interest your Majesty. On the contrary, Sir, On the contrary,

(12:29):
said Louis eighteenth, this affair seems to me to have
a decided connection with that which occupies our attention, and
the death of General Kennel will perhaps put us on
the direct track of a great internal conspiracy. At the
name of General Kennel, Villefort trembled. Everything points to the conclusion, Sire,

(12:54):
said the Minister of Police, that death was not the
result of suicide, as we first believed, but of assassination.
General Cannel, it appears, had just left a bonapartists club
when he disappeared. An unknown person has been with him
that morning and made an appointment with him in the

(13:14):
Rue Saint Jacques. Unfortunately, the general's valet, who was dressing
his hair at the moment when the stranger entered, heard
the street mentioned but did not catch the number. As
the police minister related this to the King, Villefort, who
looked as if his very life hung on the speaker's
lips turned alternately red and pale. The King looked towards him.

(13:41):
Do you not think with me, Monsieur de Villefort, that
General Cannel, whom they believe attached to the usurper but
was really entirely devoted to me, has perished, the victim
of a bonapartist ambush. It is probable, sire, replied Villefort.
But is this all that is known? They are on

(14:03):
the track of the man who appointed the meeting with him.
On his track, said Villefort. Yes, the servant has given
his description. He is a man of from fifty to
fifty two years of age, dark with black eyes, covered
with shaggy eyebrows, and a thick mustache. He was dressed

(14:25):
in a blue frock coat buttoned up to the chin,
and wore at his buttonol the rosette of an officer
of the Legion of Honor. Yesterday, a person exactly corresponding
with this description was followed, but he was lost sight
of at the corner of the Rue de la Jouciennese
and the Rue coq Eron. Villefort leaned on the back

(14:48):
of an armchair for as the Reminister of Police went
on speaking, he felt his legs bend under him. But
when he learned that the unknown had escaped the vigilance
of the agent who followed him, he breathed again, Continue
to seek for this man, Sir, said the King to
the Minister of Police. For if, as I am all

(15:10):
but convinced General Gunnell would have been so useful to
us at this moment, has been murdered, his assassins, bonapartists
or not, shall be cruelly punished. It required all Villefort's
coolness not to betray the terror with which this declaration

(15:30):
of the king inspired him. How strange, continued the King,
with some asperity. The police think that they have disposed
of the old matter when they say a murder has
been committed, and especially so when they can add and
we are on the track of the guilty persons. Sire,

(15:52):
your majesty, will I trust be amply satisfied on this point,
at least we shall see you will no longer detain you,
Monsieur de Villefort, for you must be fatigued after so
long a journey. Go and rest, of course you can
stop at your father's. A feeling of faintness came over Villefort. No, Sire,

(16:17):
he replied, I alighted at the Hotel de Madrid in
the Rue de Tournau. But you have seen him, Sire.
I went straight to the Duc de Blacas. But you
will see him then. I think not, sire. Ah, I forgot,
said Louis, smiling in a manner which proved that all

(16:38):
these questions were not made without a motive. I forgot.
You and Monsieur Noirtier are not on the best terms possible,
and that is another sacrifice made to the royal cause,
and for which you should be recompensed. Sire. The kindness
of your majesty deigns to evince towards me is a

(16:59):
recompense which so far surpasses my uttermost ambition, that I
have nothing more to ask for. Never mind, sir, we
will not forget you. Make your mind easy. In the meanwhile,
the King he had detached the cross of the Legion
of Honor, which he usually wore over his blue coat,
near the cross of Saint Louis, above the order of

(17:21):
Notre Dame du Mont Carmel and Saint Lazarre, and gave
it to Villefort. In the meanwhile, take this cross, sire,
said Villefort, Your majesty mistakes. This is an officer's cross,
ma FOI said Louis eighteenth. Take it such as it is,

(17:42):
for I have not the time to procure you another blacca.
Let it be your care to see that the brevet
is made out and sent to Monsieur de Villefort. Villefort's
eyes were filled with tears of joy and pride. He
took the cross and kissed it, And now he said,
may I inquire what are your orders with which your

(18:05):
Majesty deigns to honor me? Take what rest you require,
and remember that if you are not able to serve
me here in Paris, you maybe of the greatest service
to me at Marseilles. Sire replied Villefort, bowing. In an hour,
I shall have quitted Paris. Go, sir, said the king.

(18:27):
And should I forget you, King's memories are short, do
not be afraid to bring yourself to my recollection. Baron
send for the Minister of War Blacas. Remain ah, Sir,
said the Minister of Police to Villefort. As I left
the tuillery, you enter the by Luck's door. Your fortune

(18:50):
is made, will it be long? First? Muttered Villefort, saluting
the minister whose career was ended, and looking about him
for a hackney coach one passed at the moment, which
he hailed. He gave his address to the driver, and
springing in, threw himself on the seat and gave loose
to dreams of ambition. Ten minutes afterwards, Villefort reached his hotel,

(19:17):
ordered horses to be ready in two hours, and asked
to have his breakfast brought to him. He was about
to begin his repast when the sound of the bell
rang sharp and loud. The valet opened the door, and
Villefort heard some one speak his name. Who could know
that I was here already? Said the young man. The

(19:37):
valet entered, Well, said Villefort, What is it who rang
who asked for me? A stranger you will not send
his name? A stranger who will not send in his name?
What can he want with me? He wishes to speak
to you? To me? Yes? Did he mention my name? Yes?

(20:03):
What sort of person is he? Why? Sir? A man
of about fifty short or tall, about your own height, sir,
dark affair, dark, very dark, with black eyes, black hair,
black eyebrows, and how dressed? Asked Villefort quickly, in a

(20:26):
blue frock coat buttoned up close decorated with the legion
of honor, it is, he said Villefort, turning pale e Pardieu,
said the individual whose description we have twice given entering
the door, What a great deal of ceremony? Is it

(20:47):
the custom in Marseilles for sons to keep their fathers
awaiting in their antere rooms? Father, cried Villefort. Then I
was not deceived. I felt sure. Sp you well, then,
if you felt so sure, replied the newcomer, putting his

(21:07):
cane in a corner and his hat on a chair,
allow me to say, my dear Gerard, that it was
not very filial of you to keep me waiting at
the door. Leave us, Germaine, said Villefort. The servant quitted
the apartment with evident signs of astonishment. End of Chapter eleven.