A WEDDING PARTY AGAIN
The home of Baron Danglars was brightly lighted and gaily decorated for the betrothal party of Andrea Cavalcanti and Eugenie Danglars. the baron had decided, now that he had lost nearly all his money, that Eugenie and Cavalcanti must marry as soon as possible. Then he would be able to borrow money from his son-in-law, whom he imagined to be a very rich man. With this money, he could try to get back some of the fortune he had lost.
Eugenie was at the party, wearing a simple white dress. She wore no jewellery; her only ornament was a white rose, half hidden in her black hair. Andrea was also there, smartly dressed and looking very pleased with himself. He didn't know of the large losses the baron had suffered on the stock exchange. If he had, he might not have looked so happy. The Count of Monte Cristo, and all Danglars' friends, except one, were there. The missing guest was Villefort. Someone asked why he had not come.
'Ah,' said Monte Cristo, 'I'm afraid it's my fault.'
'Your fault?' said Madame Danglars. 'What do you mean?'
Andrea pricked up his ears.
'Yes, it's my fault,' replied Monte Cristo, 'but I couldn't help it. Do you remember I had a burglar in my house some time ago? He was stabbed to death when running away. Just before he died, he signed a note saying that he had been stabbed by a man named Benedetto. But the police haven't been able to find this Benedetto anywhere.' Andrea was still listening, but he began to edge away a little. Now Danglars came closer.
'Are you talking about the burglar who was murdered outside your house, Count?' he said.
'Yes,' replied Monte Cristo, 'he was a man named Caderousse, who had been a prisoner.'
Danglars turned pale when he heard the name of the man he had known long ago in Marseilles.
'When the police examined his wounds,' said Monte Cristo, 'they threw his clothes into a corner. Afterwards they took away everything except a waistcoat which they didn't notice. This waistcoat was found only today in my house. One of my servants brought it to me. It was covered with blood, so I knew it must be the waistcoat of this Caderousse. There was a letter in one of the pockets. It was addressed to you, Baron Danglars.'
'To me!' said Danglars.
'Yes, indeed! I could just read your name under all the blood covering the letter.'
'Where is it? What did it say?' asked Danglars.
'I could see it had some connection with the murder, so I didn't read it, but handed it over to the police.'
Andrea Cavalcanti now began to move to the other side of the room.
'So you see,' went on Monte Cristo, 'that's why the State Prosecutor, Monsieur Villefort, couldn't come here today. He has been called by the police to look at the letter.'
Now Andrea had disappeared into another room.
A few seconds later, to everyone's surprise, a group of soldiers marched into the room and guards were placed at the doors, so that nobody could escape.
'What is this?' said Danglars. 'What are you doing here, in my house?'
'Which of you gentlemen is Andrea Cavalcanti?' said the officer in charge of the soldiers.
Everyone looked around the room. Andrea was not to be seen.
'Why do you want Andrea Cavalcanti?' asked Danglars.
'He is an escaped prisoner and he is wanted for the murder of a man named Caderousse.'
Madame Danglars fainted, and all the guests cried out in horror.
Danglars felt as though his world was falling to pieces. He had lost his money and now he was losing his rich son-in-law.
The soldiers could not find Andrea in the house, but he was caught by the guards outside, just as he was getting into his carriage. He was arrested and taken to prison.
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