The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume II

by Jules Lermina

  CHAPTER XXI

  EXCITED

  The street-singer was resting in the beautiful boudoir of the youngcountess, Irene de Salves. The poor child lay under lace covers, andIrene's tenderness and attachment had banished her melancholy.

  After the terrible scene in the Fougereuse mansion, the young countess,with the help of Arthur, brought Louison to a carriage, and, to MadameUrsula's horror, she gave the young girl her own room and bed. ForFanfaro's sister nothing could be good enough, and the young countessmade Louison as comfortable as possible.

  After the young girl had rested a few hours, she felt much stronger, butwith this feeling the recollection of what she had gone throughreturned, and in a trembling voice she asked Irene:

  "Who saved me?"

  "Don't you know?" asked the countess, blushing. "It was Fanfaro."

  "Fanfaro? Who is that?"

  Irene looked at her in astonishment. Was it possible that Louison didnot know her own brother, or had the excitement of the last days crazedher mind?

  "Won't you tell me who Fanfaro is?" asked Louison, urgently.

  "Don't you really know your own brother?" asked Irene in surprise.

  "My brother?"

  Louison laid her hand on her head and became thoughtful.

  "I had a brother once," she said, pensively; "he was a few years olderthan I, and did everything to please me, but it is long ago since I sawJacques--many, many years."

  "Jacques and Fanfaro are identical," replied Irene, softly.

  She had been told this by her cousin Arthur, who took a great interestin the brother and sister.

  "Fanfaro," repeated Louison, pensively. "Ah! now I know who this man is.He belongs to a company of acrobats who give performances in the Placedu Chateau d'Eau. They have all such peculiar names. One of them isnamed Firejaws--"

  "Perfectly right; he is Fanfaro's foster-father, and Fanfaro is yourbrother."

  "Who told you so?"

  "He, himself; he begged me to care for his sister."

  "But why does he not come? I long to see him."

  Irene, too, longed to see Fanfaro.

  "Let me speak a little about him," said Louison, vivaciously; "perhapsFanfaro is identical with Jacques; he must be twenty years of age."

  "That may be so."

  "And then he must be very handsome. Jacques was a very pretty boy."

  "That is correct, too," replied Irene, blushing.

  "Has he black eyes and dark, curly hair?"

  "I think so," stammered Irene, who knew all these details, yet did notwish to confess it.

  "You think so," repeated Louison; "you haven't looked carefully at him?"

  "I--I--" stammered the countess, in confusion; "what do you look at mefor?"

  A smile flitted across Louison's lips, but she kept silent, and Irenethanked God, as Madame Ursula now came in and softly said:

  "Irene, a word."

  "What is the matter?" asked the countess, hastily.

  "There is a man outside who would like to speak to you."

  "His name?"

  "Bobichel--"

  "Bobichel? Ah! bring him in the next room directly!"

  Madame Ursula nodded and disappeared, while Irene turned to Louison andsaid in explanation:

  "Excuse me a moment; I will not leave you long alone."

  She went to the next room, where Bobichel was already awaiting her. Hedid not look as jolly as usual, and, twirling his cap between hisfingers in an embarrassed way, he began:

  "Mademoiselle, excuse me for disturbing you, but--"

  "You come from him--from Fanfaro?" said Irene, blushing.

  "Unfortunately no," replied Bobichel, sorrowfully; "I was not allowed tosee him."

  "Who sent you here?"

  "His foster-father--Girdel."

  "Why does he not come personally?"

  "I do not know. I have something to give you."

  "What is it?"

  "Here it is," said Bobichel, pulling a small package out of his pocketand handing it to Irene.

  The young countess hastily unfolded the package. It contained twoletters, one of which was addressed to "Mademoiselle Irene," while theother bore, in clear, firm letters, her full name, "Countess Irene deSalves."

  Without accounting for her feelings, Irene feverishly broke the lastletter. Did she suspect from whom it came?

  "Countess, you are brave and noble!" wrote Fanfaro, "and therefore I dare to ask you to take care of my sister, whom I barely rescued from death. The hour is near at hand in which my sentence will be pronounced. You have never doubted me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! I have fought for the rights of humanity, and I hope at some future time to be enrolled among those to whom right is preferable to material things. One thing, however, I know now: a powerful enemy pursues me with his hatred, and if the sentence should turn out differently from what this enemy expects, he will find the means to make me harmless. I therefore say farewell to you--if forever, who can say? Irene, do not despair, eternal heavenly justice stands above human passions. But if I should succumb, I will die peacefully, knowing that my mother and my sister will not be deserted."

  The letter bore no signature. Irene read again and again the words ofher beloved, and hot tears fell on the paper.

  Bobichel, deeply affected, observed the young girl, and to console herhe said:

  "Who knows, he might not be found guilty anyhow?"

  "Whom are you talking of? Who will be found guilty?" came from afrightened voice behind Irene, and as the latter hastily turned round,she saw Louison, who, enveloped in a soft shawl and pale as a spectre,stood in the doorway.

  "Louison, how did you get here?" cried Irene, beside herself. "O God! Iam neglecting you. Quick, go to your room again, you shall know allto-morrow."

  "Sister," whispered Louison, softly, "why do you wish to concealsomething from me which I already know? Tell me what has happened toFanfaro? I know danger threatens him, and two can bear the heaviestburden easier than one."

  "Yes, you are right," replied Irene, embracing Louison, and, gentlyleading her to her room, she sat down beside her and hastily told herwhat she knew about the conspiracy and the part Fanfaro took in it.Bobichel put in a word here and there, and when Irene had finished hesaid with a smile:

  "Mademoiselle, in your eagerness to read one of the letters you forgotto open the other."

  "That's so!" exclaimed Irene blushing, and unfolding Girdel's letter sheread the following words, written in an original orthographical style:

  "We must reskue Fanfaro and this is only posibel in one way. You have great inflooence; try to make the thing which Popichel will give you all right, but not until after the trial, which will take place in two days. I trust in you. GIRDEL."

  "What answer shall I bring master!" asked the clown after Irene had readthe letter.

  "That I will do as he says," replied Irene. "Where is the thing Girdelintrusted to you?"

  "Here," said Bobichel, handing the young lady a pin with a pretty largehead; and as Irene, amazed, looked inquiringly at him, he quickly toreoff the head and showed her a small hollow in which a note lay.

  "You see, mademoiselle," he laughingly said, "prestidigitation issometimes of use. And now good-by. I will tell master that he struck theright person."

  He disappeared, and the two young girls looked after him filled with newhope.

  From the time that the old Countess of Salves had informed the Marquiseof Fougereuse that under existing circumstances a marriage between herdaughter and the Vicomte de Talizac was out of the question, violentscenes had taken place in the Fougereuse mansion.

  Financial ruin could now hardly be averted, and, far from accusing herson of being the cause of this shipwreck of her plans, Madeleine placedthe blame entirely on her husband. It was already whispered in courtcircles that the newly appointed captain in the Life Guards and Knightof
St. Louis would lose his position, and though the other youngnoblemen were no better than the vicomte, they had the advantage thatthis was not universally known.

  The marquis and Madeleine had just been having a quarrel, and themarquis, pale and exhausted, lay back in his chair, when Count Fernandode Velletri was announced. The marquis bathed his face and forehead incold water, and ordered the Italian to be sent up. He attached greatimportance to this visit, for Simon had told him that Velletri was amember of the Society of Jesus, and a man of great influence.

  Velletri entered and his appearance was so different from what itordinarily was that the marquis looked at him in amazement. He wore along black coat, a black cravat, and a round hat of the same color.These things marked Velletri at once as a member of an ecclesiasticalsociety. The dark cropped hair lay thick at the temples, and his eyeswere cast down. The Italian was inch by inch a typical Jesuit, and hissharp look made the marquis tremble. He knew Loyola's pupils and their"energy."

  Velletri bowed slightly to the marquis, and then said in a cold voice:

  "Marquis, I begged for an interview with you which I desire principallyfor your own good. Are we undisturbed here?"

  "Entirely so," replied the marquis, coldly.

  The Italian sat down in a chair which the marquis had shoved toward him,and began in a business tone:

  "Marquis, it is probably not unknown to you that the conduct of yourson, the Vicomte de Talizac, compromises his own position and that ofhis family. I--"

  "But, count," interrupted the marquis vivaciously, "you were the chum ofmy son, and you even encouraged his dissipations."

  Velletri laughed maliciously.

  "The Vicomte of Talizac," he said, weighing each word, "is no child anymore, and not influenced either in a bad or good way by any of hiscompanions. If I have apparently taken part in his dissipations, it wasin the first place to prevent something worse and to shield the honor ofthe Fougereuse, which was often at stake."

  "You, count--but I really do not understand," stammered the marquis.

  "It seems to me," interrupted the Italian, sharply, "that we areswerving from the real object of our interview. Let me speak, marquis. Apowerful society, with which I have the honor of being associated, hashad its eye on you for a long time. Your influence, your opinions andyour family connections are such that the society hopes to have in you auseful auxiliary, and I have therefore received the order to makearrangements with you. The society--"

  "You are no doubt speaking of the Society of Jesus?" interrupted themarquis.

  Velletri bowed and continued:

  "Thanks to the assistance of the pious fathers, his majesty has foregonehis original intention of stripping the Vicomte de Talizac of all hishonors--"

  The marquis made a gesture of astonishment, and Velletri went on:

  "The society is even ready to give you the means to put your shatteredfortune on a firm basis again."

  "And the conditions?" stammered Fougereuse hoarsely.

  "I will tell them to you directly; they are not very difficult tofulfil."

  "And should I refuse them?"

  "Do you really intend to refuse them?" asked the Jesuit, softly.

  Fougereuse bit his lips; he had already said too much. The Jesuit was aworthy pupil of his master, and the marquis felt that should he opposehim he would be the loser.

  "What does the society ask of me?" he said, after a pause.

  "Two things--an important service and a guarantee."

  "And what does it offer?"

  "The position of his majesty the king's prime minister."

  The marquis sprang up as if electrified.

  "I have misunderstood you," he said.

  "Not at all; it is a question of the premiership."

  Cold drops of perspiration stood on the marquis's forehead; he knew thesociety had the power to keep its promises. Prime minister! Never in hisdreams had he even thought so high. The position guaranteed to himriches, influence and power.

  "You spoke of an important service and a guarantee," he said, breathingheavily; "please explain yourself more clearly."

  "I will first speak of the service," replied Velletri, calmly; "it is ofsuch a nature that the one intrusted with it can be thankful, for hewill be able to do a great deal of good to His Holiness the Pope and theCatholic world."

  Fougereuse closed his eyes--this outlook was dazzling.

  Fernando de Velletri continued with:

  "Marquis, you are no doubt aware that the Jesuits have been expelledfrom France under the law of 1764. About two years ago, in January,1822, his majesty the king allowed them to stay temporarily in hiskingdom. The good prince did not dare at that time to do more for us.The time has now come to put an end to the oppression under which theJesuits have so long suffered. What we desire is the solemn restorationof all their rights to the fathers. They should hold up their headsunder their true names and enjoy anew all their former privileges. Tosecure this end we must have a law--not a royal edict, a soundconstitutional law--which must be passed by the Chamber of Peers. It isa bold undertaking, and we do not deceive ourselves with regard to thedifficulties to be encountered, and the man who does it must be quickand energetic, but the reward is a magnificent one. The man we shallelevate to the prime ministership will be in possession of great power.Marquis, do you think you have the necessary strength to be this man?"

  Fougereuse had arisen. Excited, flushed with enthusiasm, he looked atVelletri.

  "Yes, I am the man!" he firmly exclaimed, "I will easily overcome everyobstacle, conquer every opposition--"

  "With our assistance," added the Jesuit. "We are already in possessionof a respectable minority, and it will be easy for you, with the aid ofpromises and shrewd insinuations, to win over those who are on thefence. Marquis, the work intrusted to you is a sublime one--"

  "I am yours body and soul," interrupted the marquis impatiently. "Andto-day--"

  "One moment," said the Jesuit, placing his hand lightly on the marquis'sshoulder; "I also spoke about a guarantee."

  "Really," cried Fougereuse sincerely, "I forgot all about that, but Ishould think my word of honor would be sufficient."

  Velletri did not reply to his last observation, but coolly said:

  "The man in whom the society places such entire confidence as to givehim the weapons which must lead to victory must be bound to us by tieswhich cannot be torn asunder."

  The marquis's face expressed naive astonishment.

  "The strongest chains," continued the Jesuit, "are, as is well known,the golden ones, and the guarantee we desire is based on this fact.Marquis, I am the secretary of the general of the order, and it is mymission to ask you whether you are ready to assist the societyfinancially by founding new colonies such as the Montrouge andSaint-Acheul houses in Parma and Tuscany?"

  "Certainly," stammered Fougereuse, "I am ready to help the Society ofJesus to the extent of my means, and should like to know beforehand howhigh the sum is that is required. My finances are at present exhaustedand--"

  "Have no fear," interrupted Velletri dryly; "the sum in question is notso immense that you need be frightened about it."

  Fougereuse breathed more freely.

  "To found the houses named only a very modest sum is necessary, not morethan a million!"

  "A million!" stammered the marquis, "a million!"

  "The sum is very small in comparison to the office you buy with it, andonly the particular friendship our order had for you caused it to giveyou the preference, to the exclusion of numerous applicants."

  "But a million!" groaned Fougereuse, "the sum is impossible to secure!If I were to sell or pawn everything, I would not succeed in raising aquarter of this sum."

  "Then you refuse?" asked Velletri.

  "God forbid, only I do not know how I shall satisfy the demand of thesociety. A million is, under the circumstances, a terrible sum!"

  "Marquis, the house of Fougereuse possesses a fortune which is fabulousin comparison to the demands o
f the society."

  "If it were only so," groaned Fougereuse, "but unfortunately you aremistaken; I am ruined, totally ruined!"

  "Impossible! The fortune your father left behind him was too immense tohave been spent in a few years! No matter what your embarrassmentspreviously were, the fortune must have been sufficient to cover them andenrich you enormously besides!" replied Velletri.

  "Count, I was robbed of my legacy--dastardly robbed," whined Fougereuse.

  The Italian rose up angrily.

  "Marquis," said he, "I am not used to bargaining and haggling. I ask youfor the last time, what is your decision? I offer you peace or war.Peace means for you power and influence, while war--"

  "War?" repeated Fougereuse, confused. "I--do not understand you!"

  "Then I will express myself more clearly. When the society reposes itsconfidence in a man like you and discloses its most secret plans, italways has a weapon in the background, to be used in case of necessity.A comrade sometimes becomes an opponent--"

  "I--should I ever become an enemy of the fathers? Oh, you do notbelieve that yourself!"

  "Our measures are such that it cannot be done very easily, anyhow,"replied Velletri, with faint malice; "this is our ultimatum: Either youaccept my proposition and hand over the sum named within five days, orone of our emissaries will place certain papers in the hands of thedistrict-attorney!"

  Fougereuse trembled with fear and his teeth chattered as he stammeringlysaid:

  "I--do not--understand--you."

  "Then listen. The papers are drafts whose signatures have been forged bythe Vicomte de Talizac, and which are in our hands."

  "Drafts? Forged drafts? Impossible--my son is not a criminal!" cried themarquis, desperately.

  "Ask the vicomte," replied Velletri, coldly, and rising, he added:"Marquis, I give you time to consider. As soon as you have made up yourmind, please be so kind as to let me know."

  "One moment, count. Are your conditions unchangeable?"

  "Perfectly so. Inside of the next five days the preliminary steps mustbe taken in the Chamber of Peers--"

  "I will do them to-morrow," cried the marquis, hastily.

  "But only in case you are able to give the necessary guarantee. Marquis,adieu!"

  The Italian went away, and Fougereuse, entirely broken down, remainedbehind.

  He was still sitting thinking deeply, when Simon, who had remainedbehind the curtain and overheard the interview, softly stepped forth,and said:

  "Courage, marquis; there is no reason for despair. Write to the piousfathers that you will satisfy their demands within the required fivedays."

  "But I do not understand--"

  "And yet it is very clear. Fanfaro is in prison--"

  "Even so--he will not be condemned to death."

  "If the judges do not kill him, there are other means."

  "Other means?"

  "Yes, my lord; the legacy of the Fougereuse will fall into your hands,and then the cabinet position is sure."

  "Simon, are you mad?"

  "No, my lord. I will kill Fanfaro!"