The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 7 (1/2)
The Marquis went on speaking in so low a voice that no one but the servant could possibly hear
CHAPTER VI
FRATERNAL THOUGHTS
When the Marquise, her daughter-in-law, and grandson left the salon, a servant attached especially to the service of the Vicomte approached
”Madame la Vicomtesse,” said Cyprien, ”my master wishes to see you; he is in his chamber”
”Go, my child,” interposed the Marquise, ”but leave the boy with me, for I hate to be alone in these rooms which are drearier than a cloister”
The Vicoin, and concealed under an air of languid indifference the enerally without expression, but on occasion they grew dark and flashed fire
She had married the Vicoh position at the French Court, knoell ereueses would ensure her princely luxury The Vicomtesse was both proud and avaricious, and her nature rebelled at the smallest check to her secret aspirations Her only son came into the world hopelessly deforiven neither physical nor moral beauty She labored to make him as selfish and indifferent as herself She deterrew to man's estate, he should be feared rather than pitied, and to do this it was necessary that he should be iht from his cradle to hate France When his res, the traitors, was near at hand, she was filled with bitter joy
None of these people realized the work that had been going on for twenty years, and had little idea of the changes that had taken place They ignored the to the old condition
The Vicoer for these results There was but one shadow on their brilliant future The fortune of the Vicoereues family remained, but the Vicomte ell aware that his father had contracted an early e, and that of this union a son was born, hom, to be sure, the old Marquis seean to realize that the father's love had outlived this separation; and, ard to himself; he did not love his father, and knew that his father did not love hiereues was also well aware of the tender reverence in which Simonne was held by the Marquis, and was convinced that the peasant's son was not forgotten
Where was Simon? Were he to appear it would be ruin for the Vicodalena fully realized this, she snatched her son in her arms, and said to his father:
”If you are not weak and childish, this Simon will never despoil our son!”
De Talizac understood her
We resume our recital at the moment when the Vico on the couch He signed to her to close the door The Marquis was the living iular features became in his face bony and repulsive
”Well?” said the Vico up to the couch
”I am wounded,” he answered ”The man escaped me”
His wife frowned
”Really!” she said, ”one h to conquer a lacquey!”
”Hush!+” cried the Vico fire, ”do you think that I require you to remind me of the shame of my defeat? I have been for days, as you well know, on the track of the hound I hid by the wayside to-night, like a murderer, and I saw him press his hand to his breast as if to assure hie which undoubtedly contained the secret so necessary to the safety of our future By what miracle the fellow escaped, I can't divine I saw him fall forward, but he suddenly fired at me--but I did at all events as I promised you to do--”
”I can only say that our son is ruined!”
”No, not yet; listen to me Pierre is with my father at this moment; hasten and listen to the conversation”