Stories to remember - Chapter 26

ANDREA CAVALCANTI

One day a young man calling himself Andrea Cavalcanti arrived at the Count of Monte Cristo's house. He had come from Italy with a letter from Father Busoni. The letter told him to go to the Count of Monte Cristo in Paris. The Count would show him Paris and give him any money he needed. Bertuccio saw this young man when he arrived. Very excited, he pulled the Count aside.

'That young man's name is not Andrea Cavalcanti,' he whispered. 'It is Benedetto. I brought him up as my own son and, in the year 1829, he robbed me and ran away from home. I told Father Busoni all about him.'

'I know,' said Monte Cristo, 'but do not worry. I have my own reasons for wanting him to be here. Meanwhile, you had better not let him see you in this house. You can take a holiday and go away for some time.'

Monte Cristo went into the room where Andrea Cavalcanti was waiting to see him.

'Good morning,' said the Count. 'Father Busoni has written to me and told me that you are an Italian noble man wishing to see Paris. As I owe Father Busoni some money, he has asked me to pay all your expenses here, out of the money I owe him.'

Benedetto could not understand why the priest had sent him to Paris, nor why he had been asked to call himself Andrea Cavalcanti and pretend he was a nobleman. But as the Count gave him a thousand francs towards his expenses, with a promise to pay more later, Benedetto did not complain. He decided to act his part as Andrea Cavalcanti as long as he was paid to play it.

A few days later, when Baron Danglars met Andrea Cavalcanti, he showed a great interest in the young man. Cavalcanti seemed to be very wealthy. Danglars began to think that perhaps such a young nobleman might be a better match for his daughter, Eugenie, than Albert Morcerf. One day, he asked Monte Cristo about him.

'I do not know much about Cavalcanti,' said the Count. 'I only know he was sent here by my friend Father Busoni.'

'When young Italian noblemen like Cavalcanti marry, do they receive any fortune from their fathers?' asked Danglars.

'Oh, that depends on whether the son marries the girl of his father's choice. In that case Andrea might get three million francs from his father, who is a very wealthy man. But his father would cut him off with nothing if Andrea married against his wishes.'

'So, I expect that he will marry some princess or other.'

'Oh no, I do not think so,' replied Monte Cristo. 'These Italian noble families often marry into plain families. But do you wish Andrea to marry your daughter, that you are asking so many questions?'

'Upon my word! I think it might be a good idea,' said Danglars.

'But what would Albert Morcerf do about that?' said the Count. 'I thought he was engaged to be married to your daughter.'

'Albert would care very little about it, I think. And as Andrea Cavalcanti belongs to a more noble family than Morcerf, I would prefer him. He has plenty of money too, it seems.'

'But is not the Morcerf family also a noble one?' asked the Count, pretending to be surprised.

'It is not even as noble as my family. I am not a baron by birth, but at least my real name is Danglars.'

'And the Count Morcerf?'

'His real name is not Morcerf.'

'Oh, that is impossible!'

'Listen, my dear Count, I have known Morcerf for the past thirty years. When I was a clerk, he was just a simple fisherman, named Fernand Mondego.'

'Then why do you think of giving your daughter to his son?'

'Because Fernand and Danglars were both poor men who have become rich. We are both equal in worth, except that certain things have been said about him that were never said about me.'

'What are they?'

'Oh, nothing!'

'Ah, yes! What you have told me reminds me that I have heard something about the name of Fernand Mondego in the East.'

'In connection with Ali Tebelin Pacha?'

'Yes, that is right.'

'This is the mystery,' said Danglars. 'I would give anything to find out the truth about it.'

'Well, I suppose you can do that if you wish,' said the Count carelessly.

'How so?'

'You are a banker. You must have your agents everywhere.'

'Of course.'

'Well, why don't you write to your agent in Janina and ask about a French officer named Fernand Mondego? Ask him how this officer was concerned with the downfall of Ali Tebelin.'

'That is a good idea,' said Danglars. 'I will write today.'