第355章

piano, to be attacked by Haidee's guzla.""Haidee -- what an adorable name! Are there, then, really women who bear the name of Haidee anywhere but in Byron's poems?""Certainly there are.Haidee is a very uncommon name in France, but is common enough in Albania and Epirus; it is as it you said, for example, Chastity, Modesty, Innocence, --it is a kind of baptismal name, as you Parisians call it.""Oh, that is charming," said Albert, "how I should like to hear my countrywomen called Mademoiselle Goodness, Mademoiselle Silence, Mademoiselle Christian Charity! Only think, then, if Mademoiselle Danglars, instead of being called Claire-Marie-Eugenie, had been named Mademoiselle Chastity-Modesty-Innocence Danglars; what a fine effect that would have produced on the announcement of her marriage!""Hush," said the count, "do not joke in so loud a tone;Haidee may hear you, perhaps."

"And you think she would be angry?"

"No, certainly not," said the count with a haughty expression.

"She is very amiable, then, is she not?" said Albert.

"It is not to be called amiability, it is her duty; a slave does not dictate to a master.""Come; you are joking yourself now.Are there any more slaves to be had who bear this beautiful name?""Undoubtedly."

"Really, count, you do nothing, and have nothing like other people.The slave of the Count of Monte Cristo! Why, it is a rank of itself in France, and from the way in which you lavish money, it is a place that must be worth a hundred thousand francs a year.""A hundred thousand francs! The poor girl originally possessed much more than that; she was born to treasures in comparison with which those recorded in the `Thousand and One Nights' would seem but poverty.""She must be a princess then."

"You are right; and she is one of the greatest in her country too.""I thought so.But how did it happen that such a great princess became a slave?""How was it that Dionysius the Tyrant became a schoolmaster?

The fortune of war, my dear viscount, -- the caprice of fortune; that is the way in which these things are to be accounted for.""And is her name a secret?"

"As regards the generality of mankind it is; but not for you, my dear viscount, who are one of my most intimate friends, and on whose silence I feel I may rely, if Iconsider it necessary to enjoin it -- may I not do so?""Certainly; on my word of honor."

"You know the history of the pasha of Yanina, do you not?""Of Ali Tepelini?* Oh, yes; it was in his service that my father made his fortune.""True, I had forgotten that."

* Ali Pasha, "The Lion," was born at Tepelini, an Albanian village at the foot of the Klissoura Mountains, in 1741.By diplomacy and success in arms he became almost supreme ruler of Albania, Epirus, and adjacent territory.Having aroused the enmity of the Sultan, he was proscribed and put to death by treachery in 1822, at the age of eighty.-- Ed.

"Well, what is Haidee to Ali Tepelini?"

"Merely his daughter."

"What? the daughter of Ali Pasha?"

"Of Ali Pasha and the beautiful Vasiliki.""And your slave?"

"Ma foi, yes."

"But how did she become so?"

"Why, simply from the circumstance of my having bought her one day, as I was passing through the market at Constantinople.""Wonderful! Really, my dear count, you seem to throw a sort of magic influence over all in which you are concerned; when I listen to you, existence no longer seems reality, but a waking dream.Now, I am perhaps going to make an imprudent and thoughtless request, but" --"Say on."

"But, since you go out with Haidee, and sometimes even take her to the opera" --"Well?"

"I think I may venture to ask you this favor.""You may venture to ask me anything."

"Well then, my dear count, present me to your princess.""I will do so; but on two conditions."

"I accept them at once."

"The first is, that you will never tell any one that I have granted the interview.""Very well," said Albert, extending his hand; "I swear Iwill not."

"The second is, that you will not tell her that your father ever served hers.""I give you my oath that I will not."

"Enough, viscount; you will remember those two vows, will you not? But I know you to be a man of honor." The count again struck the gong.Ali reappeared."Tell Haidee," said he, "that I will take coffee with her, and give her to understand that I desire permission to present one of my friends to her." Ali bowed and left the room."Now, understand me," said the count, "no direct questions, my dear Morcerf; if you wish to know anything, tell me, and Iwill ask her."

"Agreed." Ali reappeared for the third time, and drew back the tapestried hanging which concealed the door, to signify to his master and Albert that they were at liberty to pass on."Let us go in," said Monte Cristo.

Albert passed his hand through his hair, and curled his mustache, then, having satisfied himself as to his personal appearance, followed the count into the room, the latter having previously resumed his hat and gloves.Ali was stationed as a kind of advanced guard, and the door was kept by the three French attendants, commanded by Myrtho.Haidee was awaiting her visitors in the first room of her apartments, which was the drawing-room.Her large eyes were dilated with surprise and expectation, for it was the first time that any man, except Monte Cristo, had been accorded an entrance into her presence.She was sitting on a sofa placed in an angle of the room, with her legs crossed under her in the Eastern fashion, and seemed to have made for herself, as it were, a kind of nest in the rich Indian silks which enveloped her.Near her was the instrument on which she had just been playing; it was elegantly fashioned, and worthy of its mistress.On perceiving Monte Cristo, she arose and welcomed him with a smile peculiar to herself, expressive at once of the most implicit obedience and also of the deepest love.Monte Cristo advanced towards her and extended his hand, which she as usual raised to her lips.