第319章

The Inquiry.

M.de Villefort kept the promise he had made to Madame Danglars, to endeavor to find out how the Count of Monte Cristo had discovered the history of the house at Auteuil.

He wrote the same day for the required information to M.de Boville, who, from having been an inspector of prisons, was promoted to a high office in the police; and the latter begged for two days time to ascertain exactly who would be most likely to give him full particulars.At the end of the second day M.de Villefort received the following note: --"The person called the Count of Monte Cristo is an intimate acquaintance of Lord Wilmore, a rich foreigner, who is sometimes seen in Paris and who is there at this moment; he is also known to the Abbe Busoni, a Sicilian priest, of high repute in the East, where he has done much good."M.de Villefort replied by ordering the strictest inquiries to be made respecting these two persons; his orders were executed, and the following evening he received these details: --"The abbe, who was in Paris only for a month, inhabited a small two-storied house behind Saint-Sulpice; there were two rooms on each floor and he was the only tenant.The two lower rooms consisted of a dining-room, with a table, chairs, and side-board of walnut, -- and a wainscoted parlor, without ornaments, carpet, or timepiece.It was evident that the abbe limited himself to objects of strict necessity.He preferred to use the sitting-room upstairs, which was more library than parlor, and was furnished with theological books and parchments, in which he delighted to bury himself for months at a time, according to his valet de chambre.His valet looked at the visitors through a sort of wicket; and if their faces were unknown to him or displeased him, he replied that the abbe was not in Paris, an answer which satisfied most persons, because the abbe was known to be a great traveller.Besides, whether at home or not, whether in Paris or Cairo, the abbe always left something to give away, which the valet distributed through this wicket in his master's name.The other room near the library was a bedroom.A bed without curtains, four arm-chairs, and a couch, covered with yellow Utrecht velvet, composed, with a prie-Dieu, all its furniture.Lord Wilmore resided in Rue Fontaine-Saint-George.He was one of those English tourists who consume a large fortune in travelling.He hired the apartment in which he lived furnished, passed only a few hours in the day there, and rarely slept there.One of his peculiarities was never to speak a word of French, which he however wrote with great facility."The day after this important information had been given to the king's attorney, a man alighted from a carriage at the corner of the Rue Ferou, and rapping at an olive-green door, asked if the Abbe Busoni were within."No, he went out early this morning," replied the valet.

"I might not always be content with that answer," replied the visitor, "for I come from one to whom everyone must be at home.But have the kindness to give the Abbe Busoni" --"I told you he was not at home," repeated the valet."Then on his return give him that card and this sealed paper.Will he be at home at eight o'clock this evening?""Doubtless, unless he is at work, which is the same as if he were out.""I will come again at that time," replied the visitor, who then retired.

At the appointed hour the same man returned in the same carriage, which, instead of stopping this time at the end of the Rue Ferou, drove up to the green door.He knocked, and it opened immediately to admit him.From the signs of respect the valet paid him, he saw that his note had produced a good effect."Is the abbe at home?" asked he.

"Yes; he is at work in his library, but he expects you, sir," replied the valet.The stranger ascended a rough staircase, and before a table, illumined by a lamp whose light was concentrated by a large shade while the rest of the apartment was in partial darkness, he perceived the abbe in a monk's dress, with a cowl on his head such as was used by learned men of the Middle Ages."Have I the honor of addressing the Abbe Busoni?" asked the visitor.

"Yes, sir," replied the abbe; "and you are the person whom M.de Boville, formerly an inspector of prisons, sends to me from the prefect of police?""Exactly, sir."

"One of the agents appointed to secure the safety of Paris?""Yes, sir"" replied the stranger with a slight hesitation, and blushing.

The abbe replaced the large spectacles, which covered not only his eyes but his temples, and sitting down motioned to his visitor to do the same."I am at your service, sir,"said the abbe, with a marked Italian accent.

"The mission with which I am charged, sir," replied the visitor, speaking with hesitation, "is a confidential one on the part of him who fulfils it, and him by whom he is employed." The abbe bowed."Your probity," replied the stranger, "is so well known to the prefect that he wishes as a magistrate to ascertain from you some particulars connected with the public safety, to ascertain which I am deputed to see you.It is hoped that no ties of friendship or humane consideration will induce you to conceal the truth.""Provided, sir, the particulars you wish for do not interfere with my scruples or my conscience.I am a priest, sir, and the secrets of confession, for instance, must remain between me and God, and not between me and human justice.""Do not alarm yourself, monsieur, we will duly respect your conscience."At this moment the abbe pressed down his side of the shade and so raised it on the other, throwing a bright light on the stranger's face, while his own remained obscured.

"Excuse me, abbe," said the envoy of the prefect of the police, "but the light tries my eyes very much." The abbe lowered the shade."Now, sir, I am listening -- go on.""I will come at once to the point.Do you know the Count of Monte Cristo?""You mean Monsieur Zaccone, I presume?"