THE CONSPIRATORS
Arriving at the foot of the stairs, Monte-Cristo entered a large hall,
in which several hundred men were assembled. They all rose up from their
seats, and, taking off their hats, greeted the count with loud cries of:
"Long live Italy!"
Monte-Cristo approached a white-haired old man, the Marquis of
Sante-Croce, and asked him to preside over the assembly. Sante-Croce
nodded, and began his address:
"Friends and patriots," he said, "the long-wished-for day has come. Are
you ready to defend the flag?"
"So help us God! Out with the foreigners!" was shouted from all sides.
"Good! Now listen to what our noble friend, the Count of Monte-Cristo,
has to tell us!"
The marquis took his seat, and the count, unrolling a paper, said in an
earnest voice:
"I can bring you a piece of news which Marshal Radetzky has just
received; a revolution has broken out in Vienna, and at this very hour
the viceroy is leaving Milan."
A murmur of astonishment ran through the assembly.
"My couriers," continued the count, "were quicker than the emperor's,
and in consequence of that I am better informed than the officials. The
emperor has bowed to the necessity of the situation, and made important
concessions--"
"No concessions!" said a voice; "we want freedom!"
"Patience," said Monte-Cristo. "The emperor has repealed the censorship;
the new press law is very liberal, and the representatives of the German
and Lombard-Venetian provinces have been convoked."
The astonishment was now general. Loud cries of "Impossible!
impossible!" were heard.
"And when will the convocation take place?" asked Sante-Croce.
"Unfortunately not so soon--on the 3d of July," said the count,
sorrowfully.
Angry murmurs arose.
"They wish to mock us," said a young man. "Radetzky's minions have
murdered my brother; I demand revenge!"
"My mother was wounded at Corsa," said a second. "No compromises: war!"
"Yes, war to the knife!" shouted the whole assembly.
"One moment!" exclaimed Monte-Cristo, in a tone of command. "I know how
angry you all are, and yet counsel you to reflect. A nation which is
eager for independence, is strong and powerful, but your oppressors are
as numerous as sands in the sea. You will conquer, Milan will be free;
but when you have spilled your blood, and piled your bodies up like a
wall, the allies upon whom you count will desert you. You will fall
again into the hands of the enemy, and the heavy yoke will become
heavier. Charles Albert, the king of Sardinia, will betray you as soon
as his ends have been served. Do you still desire to carry out your
ideas?"
Monte-Cristo's words sounded prophetic. The patriots could not
dissimulate the impression they made. But their opinions did not change.
"And if the worst should come!" said one, courageously, "I would rather
die than hesitate any longer. To arms!"
"To arms, then!" repeated the Marquis of Sante-Croce, solemnly, "and may
God be with us!"
"But where is Aslitta? He must lead us," some cried.
La Luciola advanced.
"The patriot Aslitta has been imprisoned," she sorrowfully said; "he is
lying in the citadel."
A cry of rage arose.
"Let us rescue him," came from all sides. "Let us storm the citadel
before they murder him."
"Yes, let us rescue him," said Monte-Cristo. "Let the fight begin
to-morrow! To arms in the name of humanity and freedom!"
Suddenly a man arose from the crowd, who had heretofore remained silent,
and casting a look at the count, he slowly said:
"We hardly know you. What guarantee will you give us that you won't
betray us?"
"The man is right," the count replied. "Sante-Croce, here is my own
child. Take Spero with you. Let him vouch for his father with his head!"
Sante-Croce refused to accept the guarantee, but Monte-Cristo was firm.
The boy, with proudly uplifted head, strode toward the old man and said:
"I shall accompany you. My father has taught me to do my duty."
With enthusiastic cries the patriots crowded about the handsome lad, and
Monte-Cristo felt his heart throb with joy as he looked at Spero.
"And I, too, will accompany you!" exclaimed La Luciola. "Italy must be
freed, and Aslitta rescued."