Dumas_Count_of_Monte_Cristo.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
go and tell
what you have done for me." slowly, though without any
hesitation, only waiting to press the count's hand
fervently, he swallowed the mysterious substance offered by
. they were both silent. , mute and
attentive, brought the pipes and coffee, and disappeared.
degrees, the light of the lamps gradually faded in the hands
of the marble statues which held them, and the perfumes
appeared less powerful to . opposite to him,
watched him in the shadow, and saw
nothing but the bright eyes of the count. overpowering
sadness took possession of the young man, his hands relaxed
their hold, the objects in the room gradually lost their
form and color, and his disturbed vision seemed to perceive
doors and curtains open in the walls.
"," he cried, " feel that am dying; thanks!"
made a last effort to extend his hand, but it fell powerless
beside him. it appeared to him that
smiled, not with the strange and fearful expression which
had sometimes revealed to him the secrets of his heart, but
with the benevolent kindness of a father for a child. the
same time the count appeared to increase in stature, his
form, nearly double its usual height, stood out in relief
against the red tapestry, his black hair was thrown back,
and he stood in the attitude of an avenging angel. ,
overpowered, turned around in the arm-chair; a delicious
torpor permeated every vein. change of ideas presented
themselves to his brain, like a new design on the
kaleidoscope. , prostrate, and breathless, he
became unconscious of outward objects; he seemed to be
entering that vague delirium preceding death. wished once
again to press the count's hand, but his own was immovable.
wished to articulate a last farewell, but his tongue lay
motionless and heavy in his throat, like a stone at the
mouth of a sepulchre. his languid eyes closed,
and still through his eyelashes a well-known form seemed to
move amid the obscurity with which he thought himself
enveloped.
count had just opened a door. a brilliant
light from the next room, or rather from the palace
adjoining, shone upon the room in which he was gently
gliding into his last sleep. he saw a woman of
marvellous beauty appear on the threshold of the door
separating the two rooms. , and sweetly smiling, she
looked like an angel of mercy conjuring the angel of
vengeance. " it heaven that opens before me?" thought the
dying man; "that angel resembles the one have lost."
pointed out to the young woman, who advanced
towards him with clasped hands and a smile upon her lips.
", !" he mentally ejaculated; but his lips
uttered no sound, and as though all his strength were
centred in that internal emotion, he sighed and closed his
eyes. rushed towards him; his lips again moved.
" is calling you," said the count; "he to whom you have
confided your destiny -- he from whom death would have
separated you, calls you to him. , vanquished
death. , , you will never again be
separated on earth, since he has rushed into death to find
you. me, you would both have died. accept my
atonement in the preservation of these two existences!"
seized the count's hand, and in her irresistible
impulse of joy carried it to her lips.
", thank me again!" said the count; "tell me till you are
weary, that have restored you to happiness; you do not
know how much require this assurance."
", yes, yes, thank you with all my heart," said
; "and if you doubt the sincerity of my gratitude,
oh, then, ask ! ask my beloved sister , who ever
since our departure from , has caused me to wait
patiently for this happy day, while talking to me of you."
" then love ?" asked with an emotion
he in vain endeavored to dissimulate.
", yes, with all my soul."
", then, listen, ," said the count; " have a
favor to ask of you."
" me? , am happy enough for that?"
"; you have called your sister, -- let her become
so indeed, ; render her all the gratitude you fancy
that you owe to me; protect her, for" (the count's voice was
thick with emotion) "henceforth she will be alone in the
world."
" in the world!" repeated a voice behind the count,
"and why?"
turned around; was standing pale,
motionless, looking at the count with an expression of
fearful amazement.
" to-morrow, , you will be free; you will then
assume your proper position in society, for will not allow
my destiny to overshadow yours. of a prince,
restore to you the riches and name of your father."
became pale, and lifting her transparent hands to
heaven, exclaimed in a voice stifled with tears, " you
leave me, my lord?"
", , you are young and beautiful; forget even my
name, and be happy."
" is well," said ; "your order shall be executed, my
lord; will forget even your name, and be happy." she
stepped back to retire.
", heavens," exclaimed , who was supporting the
head of on her shoulder, "do you not see how pale she
is? you not see how she suffers?"
answered with a heartrending expression, " should
he understand this, my sister? is my master, and am his
slave; he has the right to notice nothing."
count shuddered at the tones of a voice which penetrated
the inmost recesses of his heart; his eyes met those of the
young girl and he could not bear their brilliancy. ",
heavens," exclaimed , "can my suspicions be
correct? , would it please you not to leave me?"
" am young," gently replied ; " love the life you
have made so sweet to me, and should be sorry to die."
" mean, then, that if leave you, " --
" should die; yes, my lord."
" you then love me?"
", , he asks if love him. , tell him
if you love ." count felt his heart dilate and
throb; he opened his arms, and , uttering a cry,
sprang into them. ", yes," she cried, " do love you!
love you as one loves a father, brother, husband! love you
as my life, for you are the best, the noblest of created
beings!"
" it be, then, as you wish, sweet angel; has
sustained me in my struggle with my enemies, and has given
me this reward; he will not let me end my triumph in
suffering; wished to punish myself, but he has pardoned
me. me then, ! knows? perhaps your love will
make me forget all that do not wish to remember."
" do you mean, my lord?"
" mean that one word from you has enlightened me more than
twenty years of slow experience; have but you in the
world, ; through you again take hold on life,
through you shall suffer, through you rejoice."
" you hear him, ?" exclaimed ; "he says
that through me he will suffer -- through me, who would
yield my life for his." count withdrew for a moment.
" discovered the truth?" he said; "but whether it be
for recompense or punishment, accept my fate. ,
, come!" and throwing his arm around the young girl's
waist, he pressed the hand of , and disappeared.
hour had nearly passed, during which ,
breathless and motionless, watched steadfastly over .
length she felt his heart beat, a faint breath played
upon his lips, a slight shudder, announcing the return of
life, passed through the young man's frame. length his
eyes opened, but they were at first fixed and
expressionless; then sight returned, and with it feeling and
grief. "," he cried, in an accent of despair, "the count
has deceived me; am yet living; "and extending his hand
towards the table, he seized a knife.
"," exclaimed , with her adorable smile,
"awake, and look at me!" uttered a loud exclamation,
and frantic, doubtful, dazzled, as though by a celestial
vision, he fell upon his knees.
next morning at daybreak, and were
walking arm-in-arm on the sea-shore, relating how
had appeared in her room, explained everything,
revealed the crime, and, finally, how he had saved her life
by enabling her to simulate death. had found the door
of the grotto opened, and gone forth; on the azure dome of
heaven still glittered a few remaining stars. soon
perceived a man standing among the rocks, apparently
awaiting a sign from them to advance, and pointed him out to
. ", it is ," she said, "the captain of the
yacht; "and she beckoned him towards them.
" you wish to speak to us?" asked .
" have a letter to give you from the count."
" the count!" murmured the two young people.
"; read it." opened the letter, and read: --
" , --
" is a felucca for you at anchor. will carry you
to , where awaits his
granddaughter, whom he wishes to bless before you lead her
to the altar. that is in this grotto, my friend, my
house in the , and my chateau at , are
the marriage gifts bestowed by upon the son of
his old master, . de will share
them with you; for entreat her to give to the poor the
immense fortune reverting to her from her father, now a
madman, and her brother who died last with his
mother. the angel who will watch over your future
destiny, , to pray sometimes for a man, who like
thought himself for an instant equal to , but who now
acknowledges with humility that alone
possesses supreme power and infinite wisdom. those
prayers may soften the remorse he feels in his heart. for
you, , this is the secret of my conduct towards you.
is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is
only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more.
who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience
supreme happiness. must have felt what it is to die,
, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of living.
", then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and
never forget that until the day when shall deign to
reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in
these two words, -- ` and hope.' friend,
" , of ."
the perusal of this letter, which informed
for the first time of the madness of her father and the
death of her brother, she became pale, a heavy sigh escaped
from her bosom, and tears, not the less painful because they
were silent, ran down her cheeks; her happiness cost her
very dear. looked around uneasily. "," he said,
"the count's generosity is too overwhelming; will
be satisfied with my humble fortune. is the count,
friend? me to him." pointed towards the horizon.
" do you mean?" asked . " is the count? --
where is ?"
"!" said .
eyes of both were fixed upon the spot indicated by the
sailor, and on the blue line separating the sky from the
, they perceived a large white sail.
"," said ; "gone! -- adieu, my friend -- adieu, my
father!"
"," murmured ; "adieu, my sweet --
adieu, my sister!"
" can say whether we shall ever see them again?" said
with tearful eyes.
"," replied , "has not the count just told
us that all human wisdom is summed up in two words? -- `
and hope.'"