第321章

The visitor was introduced into the drawing-room, which was like all other furnished drawing-rooms.A mantle-piece, with two modern Sevres vases, a timepiece representing Cupid with his bent bow, a mirror with an engraving on each side -- one representing Homer carrying his guide, the other, Belisarius begging -- a grayish paper; red and black tapestry -- such was the appearance of Lord Wilmore's drawing-room.It was illuminated by lamps with ground-glass shades which gave only a feeble light, as if out of consideration for the envoy's weak sight.After ten minutes' expectation the clock struck ten; at the fifth stroke the door opened and Lord Wilmore appeared.He was rather above the middle height, with thin reddish whiskers, light complexion and light hair, turning rather gray.He was dressed with all the English peculiarity, namely, in a blue coat, with gilt buttons and high collar, in the fashion of 1811, a white kerseymere waistcoat, and nankeen pantaloons, three inches too short, but which were prevented by straps from slipping up to the knee.His first remark on entering was, -- "You know, sir, Ido not speak French?"

"I know you do not like to converse in our language,"replied the envoy."But you may use it," replied Lord Wilmore; "I understand it.""And I," replied the visitor, changing his idiom, "know enough of English to keep up the conversation.Do not put yourself to the slightest inconvenience.""Aw?" said Lord Wilmore, with that tone which is only known to natives of Great Britain.

The envoy presented his letter of introduction, which the latter read with English coolness, and having finished, --"I understand," said he, "perfectly."

Then began the questions, which were similar to those which had been addressed to the Abbe Busoni.But as Lord Wilmore, in the character of the count's enemy, was less restrained in his answers, they were more numerous; he described the youth of Monte Cristo, who he said, at ten years of age, entered the service of one of the petty sovereigns of India who make war on the English.It was there Wilmore had first met him and fought against him; and in that war Zaccone had been taken prisoner, sent to England, and consigned to the hulks, whence he had escaped by swimming.Then began his travels, his duels, his caprices; then the insurrection in Greece broke out, and he had served in the Grecian ranks.

While in that service he had discovered a silver mine in the mountains of Thessaly, but he had been careful to conceal it from every one.After the battle of Navarino, when the Greek government was consolidated, he asked of King Otho a mining grant for that district, which was given him.Hence that immense fortune, which, in Lord Wilmore's opinion, possibly amounted to one or two millions per annum, -- a precarious fortune, which might be momentarily lost by the failure of the mine.

"But," asked the visitor, "do you know why he came to France?""He is speculating in railways," said Lord Wilmore, "and as he is an expert chemist and physicist, he has invented a new system of telegraphy, which he is seeking to bring to perfection.""How much does he spend yearly?" asked the prefect.

"Not more than five or six hundred thousand francs," said Lord Wilmore; "he is a miser." Hatred evidently inspired the Englishman, who, knowing no other reproach to bring on the count, accused him of avarice."Do you know his house at Auteuil?""Certainly."

"What do you know respecting it?"

"Do you wish to know why he bought it?"

"Yes."

"The count is a speculator, who will certainly ruin himself in experiments.He supposes there is in the neighborhood of the house he has bought a mineral spring equal to those at Bagneres, Luchon, and Cauterets.He is going to turn his house into a Badhaus, as the Germans term it.He has already dug up all the garden two or three times to find the famous spring, and, being unsuccessful, he will soon purchase all the contiguous houses.Now, as I dislike him, and hope his railway, his electric telegraph, or his search for baths, will ruin him, I am watching for his discomfiture, which must soon take place.""What was the cause of your quarrel?"

"When he was in England he seduced the wife of one of my friends.""Why do you not seek revenge?"

"I have already fought three duels with him," said the Englishman, "the first with the pistol, the second with the sword, and the third with the sabre.""And what was the result of those duels?""The first time, he broke my arm; the second, he wounded me in the breast; and the third time, made this large wound."The Englishman turned down his shirt-collar, and showed a scar, whose redness proved it to be a recent one."So that, you see, there is a deadly feud between us.""But," said the envoy, "you do not go about it in the right way to kill him, if I understand you correctly.""Aw?" said the Englishman, "I practice shooting every day, and every other day Grisier comes to my house."This was all the visitor wished to ascertain, or, rather, all the Englishman appeared to know.The agent arose, and having bowed to Lord Wilmore, who returned his salutation with the stiff politeness of the English, he retired.Lord Wilmore, having heard the door close after him, returned to his bedroom, where with one hand he pulled off his light hair, his red whiskers, his false jaw, and his wound, to resume the black hair, dark complexion, and pearly teeth of the Count of Monte Cristo.It was M.de Villefort, and not the prefect, who returned to the house of M.de Villefort.

The procureur felt more at ease, although he had learned nothing really satisfactory, and, for the first time since the dinner-party at Auteuil, he slept soundly.