DEPEND ONLY ON YOURSELF
Arrived at the Hotel de l'Univers, the count sent his card to Monsieur
Beauchamp, and as the answer of the journalist was that the count's
visit would be very agreeable to him, he went at once to Monsieur
Beauchamp.
"Welcome in Marseilles, count," was the salute he received from the
Parisian. "I am glad to see you again."
"I am also glad," returned the count, taking the proffered hand and
shaking it heartily. "Well, what news in the political world?"
"Pah! let us not speak about that. On the 24th of February, as you are
aware of, the Republic was proclaimed, and at first I really believed we
had made an excellent bargain; but the joy was only of short duration.
The people are but a makeshift to the leaders; they are asked to make
sacrifices, yet not for themselves, but for others, and in the end--No,
I had better drop this topic, for I really get vexed for nothing at all,
and I only came here in order to forget! Tell me, rather, how I can
serve you; and, if I am not mistaken, you take an interest in Madame de
Morcerf?"
"Yes; but how do you come to know all this?"
"Oh--I know you, dear count. Wherever there is any grief to alleviate, a
heroic act to accomplish, the Count of Monte-Cristo is always on the
spot."
"You have a good opinion of me," said the count, deprecatingly; "and
then, who was it that took care that the Zouave Coucou was sent here in
order to console the poor mother?"
"Pah, that was only Christian duty; and besides, Captain Joliette bears
among his superiors an excellent name. He was always the first in the
midst of the enemy's fire, and his modesty, in spite of his bravery, has
become proverbial among his comrades."
"And his disappearance?"
"For myself and all others this disappearance is really a puzzle. The
Arabs seldom take prisoners, and I greatly fear that he has been dragged
into the desert and killed."
"Do you, perhaps, know of what race the Bedouins were who attacked the
expedition?" inquired Monte-Cristo, considering.
"If I am not mistaken, they were Yavaregs."
"Tell me what you think of the capture of Abd-el-Kader. Are you now of
opinion that Algiers will be pacified?"
"Oh, no; either early or late there will probably be found another
leader who, under pretence of avenging Abd-el-Kader, will renew the
combat, for the Bedouins never submit."
"Your views tally exactly with mine, and I may almost say, to my sorrow,
you are in the right. The leader whose appearance you expect is already
announced!"
"You joke--should I be such a good prophet? But what is the reason that
the ministry knows nothing of his existence?"
"Oh, a ministry fares in this respect the same as the husband of a
frivolous woman: all others know more of what concerns him most than he
himself."
"You may be right. What is the name of the new Bedouin leader?"
"Mohammed ben Abdallah."
"This name is quite strange to me. Are you not, perhaps, mistaken?"
"No," replied Monte-Cristo, coolly, "I know what I am speaking about.
The man whose name I mentioned has sworn to accept the bloody heirloom
of Abd-el-Kader and before four weeks have elapsed the revolutionary
flag will again wave throughout all parts of the desert."
"Well, I shall not doubt any further; but tell me, in what connection
does the soon-expected rising of the Kabyles stand with the
disappearance of Albert?"
"Who is able to tell, Monsieur Beauchamp? But now I come to the chief
point of my visit. You have influence in Paris?"
"Oh, dear count, had you only something to ask!"
"Perhaps I have. I should like to obtain an indefinite furlough for the
Zouave Coucou."
"That shall be granted to you, you may rest assured."
"Thanks, more I do not want."
"But it is hardly worth while your applying to one who am in power for
the moment, a support of the Republic, in order to obtain such a
bagatelle. Consider, you may perhaps think of something else."
"Yes, and have almost forgotten it," said the count smiling, while he
tore a leaf from his pocketbook and quickly wrote a few words.
"So," turning to Beauchamp, "permit me to hand you a small contribution
for the poor of Paris--"
"Dear count," interrupted the journalist, quite moved, "if you consider
a million francs a small contribution, then I should like to see your
large ones."
"My dear friend," said the count, almost sorrowfully, "what is a million
to me with my great wealth? The sun of a poor person overweighs my gift
a thousandfold."
"Are you indeed so very rich?"
"So rich that in this respect I envy those who have yet anything to wish
for."
"Well, who knows whether you may not one day find somebody richer than
you. In the meantime I thank you in the name of our working-women, for
while the men in the service of the Republic sacrifice their time the
families at home are obliged to suffer."
"Distribute this money according as you think proper, and if you wish to
favor me do not bestow any of it toward public collections. I dislike
this ostentatious mode of benevolence."
"I am of the same opinion. But now tell me how will you be able to
console Madame de Morcerf?"
"First step here to the window, Monsieur Beauchamp; do you see the yacht
which has her steam up?"
"Yes. What is the matter with that fine ship?"
"It will depart for foreign parts to-morrow morning."
"And what is her destination?"
"Algiers."
"Ah, now I understand--you are sending emissaries for the discovery of
poor Albert."
Monte-Cristo smiled and then said:
"Monsieur Beauchamp, if you desired to accomplish a certain thing to
your satisfaction, how would you go to work?"
"Well, that is very simple, because I should attend to it myself."
"Then you will know whom I am sending to Algiers to find Captain
Joliette."
"Have I understood you right? You are ready to venture into the desert?
Count, you have undertaken a difficult task, and although I do not doubt
your courage nor energy, I must nevertheless say that your resolution is
a very bold one. In Algiers it is not only necessary to combat with men
who hardly deserve the appellation, but also all the dangers of nature
are there arrayed in battle against you! The simoom, the fatal breath of
the desert, has put many a one there under the sand, and bleached bones
caution the wanderer not to set his step on the deceptive ground of the
Sahara!"
"Monsieur Beauchamp," replied the count earnestly, "if you were to know
what I have already gone through you would not discourage me from doing
my duty. What is that to the combat with beasts in human shape which I
have stood victoriously? No, let me go and do my duty; I am not afraid
of the Sahara."
"But the countess and her son?"
A shadow fell across Monte-Cristo's face, but his voice sounded clear
and steady when he replied:
"Visit me this evening, and you shall have my answer."
"With pleasure. Where do you live? Here in some hotel?"
"Oh, no," said Monte-Cristo, smiling; "since a law-court has condemned
me to pay a heavy fine because I had no domicile in France, I have come
to a different conclusion."
"How is that?"
"Well, I possess now in every large town in France a house, and in Paris
and Lyons and other chief towns a palace."
"Excellent--it is only a pity that this expedient is not at everybody's
command. But when did this fine in money take effect? It was not I
suppose in the lawsuits you had against Andrea Cavalcanti, alias
Benedetto? Yes? But do you know what I have heard? Benedetto is said to
have escaped from Toulon. Take care of him; if there is a tiger in human
shape, it is surely Benedetto!"
"I know it, Monsieur Beauchamp," replied the count, reluctantly;
"Benedetto is the embodiment of evil principles--Satan in person! But
one day I shall stretch out my hand and order him to stop--even if I
have to go to the corners of the world to find him, he will not escape
me."
"To that I respond amen. As to the Jackal Coucou, take him quietly with
you. I shall take care to get him an indefinite furlough--he will render
you good service, in the hell of Algiers which he knows as well as his
pocket. But something struck me just now: accident, which often plays
wonderful tricks, might bring you in contact with one of our co-workers,
who, Heaven knows, roves about perhaps in Timbuctoo or even Zanzibar;
he sent me once a few good sketches about Abd-el-Kader, and then became
an adventurer somewhere else."
"And this gentleman's name?"
"Gratillet."
Monte-Cristo wrote the name in his pocketbook and then said:
"If I should happen to find Gratillet, I shall not forget your
recommendation."
"Thanks beforehand. Gratillet is a curious fellow, and I shall not feel
surprised if you meet him in peaceful transactions with a panther. He is
not afraid of any kind of devil."
"Then he is the man for me."
"And if you can prevent his entering upon further follies, you will, no
doubt, do it? I should like to establish a large journal, and Gratillet
is in this case indispensable to me."
"I shall do my utmost; although--the Sahara is great."
"But God is greater. Then I shall be with you this evening. Where can I
find you?"
"Only inquire for the Palace Monte-Cristo, and now adieu till later. Who
knows whether you will not now accompany me to Algeria!"
"Oh, I should certainly not feel indisposed, but my duties chain me to
France; the battles which are still to be fought here require my
presence."
The gentlemen separated, and while the count ordered the porter to show
the Zouave, should he inquire for him, to the palace of Monte-Cristo,
Beauchamp muttered: "If there are any magicians then I have seen one
to-day!"