The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume I | Page 2

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 marriage. Danglars, 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 marriage of the proud Eugenie and the
handsome Andrea.
One July evening, representatives of the high financial society, and a
few members of the aristocracy, were invited to Danglars' house to

witness the signing of the marriage contract of the only daughter 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 rooms in the mansion brilliant with wax-lights.
The bride was simply yet tastefully attired: a white satin dress trimmed
with lace of the same color; a single white rose, which was half hidden
in her raven black hair, formed the only ornament of the young lady,
whose jewels, it was well 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, fashion, and sport.
Baron Danglars was the centre of a group of bankers, to whom he
developed his celebrated projects which had increased his millions,
taking good care, however, not to mention his losses. Madame
Danglars, the handsome mother of the pretty Eugenie, 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 attaché Debray.
The lawyers were already there, yet the ceremony appeared to be
purposely delayed, as if they were waiting for the arrival of a missing
guest. And this was indeed the case.
When the footman announced the Count of Monte-Cristo a stir was
created among the guests. The star of the evening was overwhelmed
with questions, which he paid no attention to, but quietly busied
himself with the three representatives of the Danglars family.
The way he observed the young 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 ceremony
was proceeded with.

The marriage contract between Mademoiselle Eugenie and Count
Andrea Cavalcanti was read, the millions mentioned therein causing a
sensation even among the cream of the financial and aristocratic world,
and the signing of the paper was next in order. This circumstance
recalled to Madame Danglars the absence of a friend of the house, the
procureur du roi Villefort, and she asked Monte-Cristo whether he
knew where he was.
"I am indirectly the cause of the absence of the procureur du roi," said
the count, as if to apologize. "The man who was murdered in my house
was recognized as a former galley-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 bridegroom
slowly walked toward a neighboring room.
"Could you tell us the address?" asked Madame Danglars.
"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 room. The servants were
searching 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 accompanied by several policemen.
"I am looking for a man named Andrea Cavalcanti," said the detective,
in the well-known monotonous way which never fails to make an
impression even upon those who are not principals.
"By what right?" asked Danglars, who could not suppress his
uneasiness.
"Andrea Cavalcanti is charged with having murdered the galley-slave

Caderousse, with whom he was formerly chained in the galleys."
Like lightning from a clear sky this announcement fell upon the
aristocratic assembly. Madame Danglars fainted, the policemen
searched the house, but could not find the culprit, the guests ran here
and there like a flock of sheep surprised by a fox, the servants stood
motionless with dazed faces, consternation and confusion reigned
supreme.
CHAPTER II
A CALM BRIDE
No one among all the company in Danglars' house possessed their
self-possession so