Stories to remember - Chapter 28

WISHING YOU ALL MY READERS 

A VERY HAPPY DIWALI 

AND 

A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

CADEROUSSE AND CAVALCANTI

'Why do you come to disturb me?' repeated Cavalcanti to the man in the carriage. 

'And you, my boy,' said the man, who was none other than Caderousse, 'why have you deceived me?'

'How have I deceived you?'

'Why, when we escaped together from prison, you told me that you were going to work in Italy, but you have come to Paris.'

'Does that annoy you?'

'No, it doesn't annoy me. You seem to be rich. I think you can help me!'

'You are mistaken,' said Andrea.

'Oh, I don't think so,' replied Caderousse. 'Here you are, with your new carriage, a groom, and fine clothes. You must have discovered a gold mine.'

'It isn't my fault if I have had good luck.'

'So, you have had good luck, have you? This horse and carriage, the groom and the fine clothes, are not hired? Good!'

'You must have known that before you spoke to me,' said Andrea. 'If I had been wearing a red handkerchief like yours on my head, with torn and dirty clothes, you wouldn't have spoken to me.'

'Come, my boy, you wrong me; but at any rate, now that I have found you, I can also be well dressed. I know how good and kind hearted you are. If you have two coats, you can give me one. You know I used to divide my soup and beans with you when you were hungry!'

'True,' said Andrea.

'What an appetite you used to have! Is it as good now?'

'Oh, yes!' replied Andrea, laughing uncertainly.

'And you were a sly fellow,' said Caderousse. 'You always had little purses and money boxes which you tried to hide from your poor friend Caderousse. But luckily he had a sharp nose, that friend Caderousse.'

'Oh, that's all in the past,' said Andrea. 'Why are you bothering me with that?'

'Ah! You are only twenty-three. You can forget the past. I am fifty. I cannot forget it. But tell me, Benedetto, where did you get all these fine things?'

'I've been lucky. I have found my fortune.'

'Your fortune! And how did you find that?'

'My good friend, the Count of Monte Cristo, helped me to find it.'

'A Count, and a rich one too, eh?'

'Yes, but you had better not say anything to him. I don't think he is very patient.'

'Oh, I don't want to speak to him,' replied Caderousse, 'but as you know him, you can help me to get rich without spending anything yourself.'

'Come, Caderousse, no nonsense!' said Andrea.

'But you would not have to spend anything.'

'Do you want me to rob the Count, to spoil all my good fortune, and to be sent to prison again?'

'Don't be alarmed, my little Benedetto, just show me how to get some money without your help, and I will manage it. What is the Count's house like?'

'It is a palace.'

'A palace, eh? You should take me to see it.'

'I can't do that.'

'You are right, but I would like to see it. I shall find a way.'

'No nonsense, Caderousse!'

'Well, I shall have to imagine what it looks like. Try to help me.'

Andrea suddenly had an idea.

'I should need a pen and ink and paper to make a plan,' he said.

'I have them all with me,' said Caderousse, pulling writing materials out of his dirty clothes. Andrea took the pen, with a little smile, and began to draw a plan of the Count of Monte Cristo's house. When it was finished, Caderousse said, 'Does the Count live in this house always?'

'Oh, no,' replied Andrea. 'He often goes to his country house outside Paris. When he goes there, he leaves this house empty. I am sure he will be robbed some day.'

'Where does he keep his money?' asked Caderousse.

'I don't know, but I think he keeps it in a desk in a room on the first floor.'

'Draw me a plan of the first floor, as you have drawn the one of the ground floor, my boy.'

'That's very easy,' said Andrea, taking the pen again.

'On the first floor there is a bedroom and a dressing room here, and on that side we have a drawing room, a library and a study. The desk is here, in the dressing room.'

'Is there a window in the dressing room?'

'Two, one here and one there.'

Andrea sketched two windows in the room. Caderousse became thoughtful.

'Does the Count often go to his country house?' he asked.

'Yes, tomorrow he is going there for two days.'

'Are you sure?'

'Quite sure. The Count tells me everything. He is very fond of me. I think he is going to leave all his fortune to me when he dies.'

'Ah, you lucky fellow!' said Caderousse.

'Yes,' replied Andrea, 'but when that happens, I shall remember all my old friends.'

'You will? Well then, until that time, you can at least give me a little present. Give me that diamond ring you have on your finger.'

Andrea took the ring off his finger and gave it to Caderousse. Caderousse took it and scraped it across the lamp glass of Andrea's carriage. He found that it cut the glass.

'It is a real diamond,' he said.

'Of course! What did you think?' said Andrea. 'Now what else do you want from me?'

'Nothing! I shall go home now. Goodbye, dear Benedetto!'

And Caderousse slipped away as quietly as he had come.