The Count of Monte Cristo: Part 70 "The Ball"

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Asia canopy of Heaven which was studded with golden stars but where the last fleeting clouds of a Vanishing storm yet lingered from the apartments on the ground floor might be heard the sound of music with the Whirl of the Walts and Gallop while brilliant streams of light Shone through the openings of the Venetian blinds at this moment the garden was only occupied by about 10 servants who had just received orders from their mistress to prepare the supper the serenity of the weather continuing to increase until now it had been undecided whether the supper should take place in the dining room or under a long tent erected on the lawn but the beautiful blue sky studded with stars had settled the question in favor of the lawn the gardens were illuminated with colored lanterns according to the Italian custom and as is usual in countries where the luxuries of the table the rarest of all luxuries in their complete form are well understood the supper table was loaded with wax lights and flowers at the time the Countess of morer returned to the rooms after giving her orders many guests were arriving more attracted by the Charming Hospitality of the Countess than by the distinguished position of the count for owing to the Good Taste of Mercedes one was sure of finding some devices at her entertainment worthy of describing or even copying in case of need Madame dong in whom the events we have related had caused deep anxiety had hesitated about going to Madame de morer when during the morning her carriage happened to meet that of vfor the latter made a sign and when the carriages had drawn close together said you are going to Madame de morer are you not no replied Madame dlar I am too ill you are wrong replied vfor significantly it is important that you should be seen there do you think so asked the baroness I do in that case I will go and the two carriages passed on towards their different destinations Madame dong therefore came not only beautiful in person but radiant with Splendor she entered by one door at the time when Mercedes appeared at the door the Countess took Alber to meet Madame dong he approached paid her some well-merited compliments on her toilet and offered his arm to conduct her to her seat Alber looked around him you are looking for my daughter said the baroness smiling I confess it replied Alber could you have been so cruel as not to bring her calm yourself she has met mad Mel de vfor and has taken her arm see they are following us both in white dresses one with a bouquet of celeus the other with one of mtis but tell me well what do you wish to know will not The Count of Monte chisto be here tonight 17 replied Alber what do you mean I only mean that the count seems the rage replied the vi count smiling and that you are the 17th person that has asked me the same question the count is in fashion I congratulate him upon it and have you replied to everyone as you have to me ah to be sure I have not answered you be satisfied we shall have this lion we are among the privileged ones were you at the Opera yesterday no he was there uh indeed and did did The Eccentric person commit any new originality can he be seen without doing so Elsa was dancing in the Diablo the Greek princess was in ecstasies after the cachucha he placed a magnificent ring on the stem of a and threw it to the Charming daners who in the third act to do honor to the gift reappeared with it on her finger and the great princess will she be here no you will be deprived of that pleasure her position in the Count's establishment is not sufficiently understood wait leave me here and go and speak to Madame thefor who is trying to attract your attention Alber bowed to Madame dong and advanced towards Madame defor whose lips opened as he approached I wager anything said Alber interrupting her that I know what you are about to say well what is it if I guess rightly will you confess it yes on your honor On My Honor you were going to ask me if The Count of Monte Cristo had arrived or was expected not at all it is not of him that I am now thinking I was going to ask you if you had received any news of Miss France yes yesterday what did he tell you that he was leaving at the same time as his letter well now then the count the count will come of that you may be satisfied you know that he has another name besides Monte Cristo no I did not know it Monte Cristo is the name of an island and he has a family name I never heard it well then I am better informed than than you his name is Zakon it is possible is malti that is also possible the son of a ship owner really you should relate all this aloud you would have the greatest success he served in India discovered a mine in thali and comes to parie to establish a mineral water cure at o well I am sure said Mor this is indeed news am I allowed to repeat it yes but cautiously tell one thing at a time and do not say I told you why so because it is a secret just discovered by whom the police then the news originated at the prefects last night Perry you can understand is astonished at the sight of such unusual Splendor and the police have made inquiries well well nothing more is wanting than to arrest the count as a vagabond on the pretext of his being too rich indeed that doubtless would have happened if his credentials had not been so favorable poor count and is he aware of the danger he has been in I think not then it will be but charitable to inform him when he arrives I will not fail to do so just then a handsome young young man with bright eyes black hair and glossy mustache respectfully bowed to Madame defor Alber extended his hand Madame said Alber allow me to present to you Miss maximilan Morel captain of spah one of our best and above all of our bravest officers I have already had the pleasure of meeting this gentleman at ooi at the house of The Count of Monte chisto replied Madame de vfor turning away with marked coldness of manner this answer and especially the tone in which it was uttered chilled the heart of poor Morel but a recompense was in store for him turning around he saw near the door a beautiful Fair face whose large blue eyes were without any marked expression fixed upon him while the bouquet of myosotis was gently raised to her lips the salutation was so well understood that Morel with the same expression in his eyes placed his handkerchief to his mouth and these two living statues whose hearts beat so violently under their marble aspect separated from each other by the whole length of the room forgot themselves for a moment or rather forgot the world in their Mutual contemplation they might have remained much longer lost in one another without anyone noticing their abstraction the The Count of Monte chisto had just entered we've already said that there was something in the count which attracted Universal attention wherever he appeared it was not the coat un exceptional in its cut though simple and unornamented it was not the plain white waist coat it was not the trousers that displayed the foot so perfectly formed it was none of these things that attracted the attention it was his pale complexion his waving black hair his calm and Serene expression his dark and Melancholy eye his mouth chiseled with such marvelous delicacy which so easily expressed such high disdain these were what fixed the attention of all upon Him many men might have been handsomer but certainly there could be none whose appearance was more significant if the expression may be used everything about the count seemed to have its meaning for the constant habit of thought which he had acquired had given an ease and vigor to the expression of his face and even to the most trifling gesture scarcely to be understood yet the Parisian world is so strange that even all this might not have won attention had there not been connected with it a mysterious story gilded by an immense Fortune meanwhile he Advanced through the assemblage of guests under a battery of curious glances towards Madame de morf who standing before a mantelpiece ornamented with flowers had seen his entrance in a Looking Glass placed opposite the door and was prepared to receive him she turned towards him with a Serene smile just at the moment he was bowing to her no doubt she fancied the count would speak to her while on his side the count thought she was about to address him but both remained silent and after a mere bow Monte chisto directed his steps to Alber who received him cordially have you seen my mother asked Alber I have just had the pleasure replied the count but I have not seen your father see he is down there talking politics with that little group of great Geniuses indeed said Monte Cristo and so those gentlemen down there are men of great talent I should not have guessed it and for what kind of talent are they is celebrated you know there are different sorts the tall harsh looking man is very learned he discovered in the neighborhood of Rome a kind of lizard with a vertebra more than lizards usually have and he immediately laid his Discovery before the Institute the thing was discussed for a long time but finally decided in his favor I can assure you the vertebra made a great noise in the Learned world and the gentleman who was only a night of the Legion of Honor was made an officer come said Monte Cristo this cross seems to me to be wisely awarded I suppose had he found another additional vertebra they would have made him a commander very likely said Alber and who can that person be who has taken it in his head to wrap himself up in a blue coat embroidered with green oh that coat is not his own it is the republics which deputed David to devise a uniform for the [Music] academicians indeed said Monte Cristo so this gentleman is an academician within the last week he has been made one of the Learned assembly and what is his special talent his talent I believe he thrusts pins through the heads of rabbits he makes fowls eat matter and punches the spine marrow out of dogs with whalebone and he is made a member of the Academy of Sciences for this no of the French Academy but what has the French Academy to do with all this I was going to tell you it seems that his experiments have very considerably Advanced the cause of science doubtless know that his style of writing is very good this must be very flattering to the feelings of the rabbits into whose heads he has thrust pins to the fowls whose bones he has dyed red and to the dogs whose spinal marrow he has punched out Alber laughed and the other one demanded the count that one yes the third the one in the dark blue coat yes he is a colleague of the count and one of the most active opponents to the idea of pro providing the Chamber of peers with a uniform he was very successful upon that question he stood badly with the liberal papers but his Noble opposition to the wishes of the court is now getting him into favor with the journalists they talk of making him an ambassador and what are his claims to the peage he has composed two or three comic operas written four or five articles in the CLE and voted five or six years on the ministerial side Bravo VI count said Monte chisto smiling you are a delightful chichiron and now you will do me a favor will you not what is it do not introduce me to any of these gentlemen and should they wish it you will warn me just then the count felt his arm pressed he turned round it was dong ah is it you Baron said he why do you call me Baron said dong you know that I care nothing for my title I am not like you V account you like your title do you not certainly replied Alber seeing that without my title I should be nothing while you sacrificing the baron would still remain the millionaire which seems to me the fact title under the royalty of July replied dong unfortunately said Monte chisto one's title to a millionaire does not last for life like that of Baron peer of France or academician for example the millionaires Frank and pman of Frankfurt who have just become bankrupts indeed said dong becoming pale yes I received the news this evening by aoua I had about a million in their hands but warned in time I withdrew it a month ago I'm on exclaimed dong they have drawn on me for 200,000 Fran well you can throw out the draft their signature is worth 5% yes but it is too late said dong I have honored their bills then said Monte chisto here are 200,000 Franks gone after hush do not mention these things said dong then approaching Monte chisto he added especially before young Miss kavalan after which he smiled and turned towards the young man in question Alber had left the count to speak to his mother dong to converse with young cavalcanti Monte Christo was for an instant alone meanwhile the heat became excessive the footmen were hastening through rooms with waiters loaded with IES Monte chisto wiped the perspiration from his forehead but Drew back when the waiter was presented to him he took no refreshment Madame deor did not lose sight of Monte chisto she saw that he took nothing and even noticed his gesture of refusal Alber she asked did you notice that what mother that the account has never been willing to partake of food under the roof of Miss de Mor yes but then he breakfasted with me indeed he made his first appearance in the world on that occasion but your house is not miss the mors murmured Mercedes And since he has been here I have watched him well well he has taken nothing yet the count is very temperate Mercedes smiled sadly approach him said said she and when the next waiter passes insist upon his taking something but why mother just to please me Alber said Mercedes Alber kissed his mother's hand and Drew near the count another Salva passed loaded like the preceding ones she saw Alber attempt to persuade the count but he obstinately refused Alber rejoined his mother she was very pale well said she you see he refuses yes but why need this annoy you you know Alber ween are singular creatures I should like to have seen the count take something in my house if only an ice perhaps he cannot reconcile himself to the French style of living and might prefer something else oh no I have seen him eat of everything in Italy no doubt he does not feel inclined this evening and besides said the Countess accustoms as he is to burning climates possibly he does not feel the heat as we do I do not think that for he has complained of feeling almost suffocated and asked why the ventian blinds were not opened as well as the windows in a word said Mercedes it was a way of assuring me that his abstinence was intended and she left the room I'm in minute afterwards the blinds were thrown open and through the jesamine and chatis that overhung the window one could see the garden ornamented with lanterns and the supper laid Under the Tent dancers players talkers all uttered an exclamation of Joy everyone inhaled with delight the breeze that floated in at the same time Mercedes reappeared paler than before but with that imperturbable expression of countenance which she sometimes War she went straight to the group of which her husband formed the center do not detain this gentleman here count said she they would prefer I should think to breathe in the garden rather than suffocate here since they are not playing a said a gallant old General who in 1809 had sungan we will not go alone to the Garden then said Mercedes I will lead the way turning towards Monte chisto she added count will you oblige me with your arm the count almost staggered at these simple words then he fixed his eyes on Mercedes it was only a momentary glance but it seemed to the Countess to have lasted for a century so much was expressed in that one look he offered his arm to the Countess she took it or rather just touched it with her little hand and they together descended the steps lined with roded dendrons and Chamas behind them by another Outlet a group of about 20 persons rushed into the garden with loud exclamations of delight end of Chapter 70 this is Thursday Thrillers audio with action on the mutual audio Network join us tomorrow on Mutual with Friday Foles the end of the week collection of Comedy cut-ups you can subscribe to the full Mutual audio Network feed for every day of Audio Drama that fits your fancy or find the Friday Folly feed in your favorite podcast players now that's a lot of [Music] effes the mutual audio Network listen listening and imagining together [Music]