Volume I Part 1 (1/2)
The Son of Monte-Cristo
Volume I
by Alexandre Dumas pere
CHAPTER I
A MARRIAGE CONTRACT AND ITS END
In the reat sensation in Paris, and even attracted the attention of the lions of society
Where he came from--who he as his past life--none knew; and thehi
The Count of Monte-Cristo, from Italy--from Malta--no one knehence--had unlilars, one of the largest in Paris; owned the finest mansion--a superb villa--at Auteuil, and the handsomest turnout on the road, which he presented to a banker's wife, without letting any one know his reason for doing so; all this was sufficient to ossip of the day But, besides this, the handsoer makes his appearance at the theatres in the company of a lady in Grecian dress, whose transcendent beauty and countless diamonds awake alike admiration and cupidity Like endary count, and it is principally the golden youth who find in hi the latter were eneral, Debray, a young and talented attache at the Foreign Office, Beauchamp, and Chateau-Renaud, who served as the asteroids of the new star in the Parisian sky
Sometimes they were joined at those faive, by a Count Andrea Cavalcanti, who at first appeared there with his father, Major Cavalcanti Although he was a stranger, he was received in society through his acquaintance with Monte-Cristo and with Baron Danglars, in whose banking house he had a large su count, a perfect Apollo, with classically-cut features, did not fail to produce an ienie, a proud, black-eyed brunette, the only daughter of the lars; and as the millions of the father, in conjunction with the peculiar beauty of the daughter, began to interest the count, it was not long before they thought of lars, who had been a heavy loser in certain speculations of which the public was ignorant, hoped to rehabilitate himself with the millions of his prospective son-in-law, and therefore there was nothing to prevent the enie and the handsoh financial society, and a few lars' house to witness the signing of the hter of the house with the Italian, Count Andrea Cavalcanti, of the princely house of Cavalcanti At five o'clock, when the guests arrived, they found all the roohts
The bride was simply yet tastefully attired: a white satin dress trile white rose, which was half hidden in her raven black hair, for lady, whose jewels, it ell known, represented a fortune The young count was surrounded by representatives of the gilded youth, who give the tone in the Jockey Club, and are the recognized authorities for all Europe in questions of taste, fashi+on, and sport
Baron Danglars was the centre of a group of bankers, to whom he developed his celebrated projects which had increased his ood care, however, not to lars, the handsoenie, was surrounded by a circle of young and old cavaliers, who paid court to her with the greatest ceremony, and whose adorations were accepted by the lady as a tribute due her, although it could not be denied that she favored the young attache Debray
The lawyers were already there, yet the cere for the arrival of a uest And this was indeed the case
When the footman announced the Count of Monte-Cristo a stir was created a was overwhelmed with questions, which he paid no attention to, but quietly busied hilars fa Count Cavalcanti was very strange, though very few noticed it, as the Count of Monte-Cristo was relating a robbery which had been committed in his house, in which one of the thieves had been murdered, most probably by his own comrade No one noticed the pallor of Count Cavalcanti, as they were too much interested in Monte-Cristo's story When he had finished, the ceree contract between Madeenie and Count Andrea Cavalcanti was read, thethe crea of the paper was next in order This circulars the absence of a friend of the house, the procureur du roi Villefort, and she asked Monte-Cristo whether he knehere he was
”I am indirectly the cause of the absence of the procureur du roi,” said the count, as if to apologize ”The alley-slave named Caderousse, and a letter was found in his pocket which bore a remarkable address”
Every one crowded around the count, while the young bridegroo roolars
”Certainly,” replied the count ”You will all laugh over it It was none other than that of the hero of our reunion to-night--Count Andrea Cavalcanti”
The surprised guests turned around as if to exact an explanation from the latter He had, however, already left the roo all over the house for him, when a new commotion was heard
The dazed servants returned from their search, and behind them appeared a detective acco for a man named Andrea Cavalcanti,” said the detective, in the well-known monotonous hich never fails to make an impression even upon those who are not principals
”By what right?” asked Danglars, who could not suppress his uneasiness