Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Investigation

Mr. Villefort kept his promise to Madame Danglars, and tried his best to investigate how the Count of Monte Cristo discovered the history of Villa Auteuil.He wrote on the same day to Mr. Bowery (who had risen from warden to minister of police) asking him for the information he needed; Investigate, and then probably give him the information he needs.The following evening, M. de Villefort received the following note: "The Count of Monte Cristo has two good friends, one is Lord Weimar, a wealthy foreigner, whose whereabouts are uncertain, and is at present in Paris; the other is Bouchard. Father Ni, is an Italian priest who has done many good deeds in the East and is quite praised by people there."

M. de Villefort wrote back ordering a close investigation of all circumstances concerning the two persons.His order was promptly carried out, and the next night he received a detailed report: "The abbe has been in Paris for a month, and lives in a small rented house behind the church of Saint-Sulmos, There are two floors, with two rooms on each floor. One of the next two rooms is the dining room, and the house has a table, chairs, and a walnut cupboard; the other is a paneled room. The parlor had no frescoes, rugs, or clocks. The priest evidently bought only what was absolutely necessary. The priest loved the upstairs sitting room, which was filled with theological books and classics, and for a month he had often buried himself in them. so that the room looked more like a study than a living room. His servant first looked at the visitor through a doorway, and if he did not know or like the visitor, he replied that the priest was not in Paris— —This answer will satisfy most people, because the priest is known to be a great traveler. And, whether at home or not, whether in Paris or Cairo, the priest always leaves something to give to visitors, and the servant uses In the name of his master, things were distributed through the door opening. The other room next to the study was the bedroom. The only furniture was a bed without a curtain, four armchairs, and a nightcap with a thick yellow velvet cushion.

Lord Waymar lived in St. Georgie Street.He is an English traveler who spends a lot of money on his travels.His house and furniture were rented, and he was only there for a few hours during the day, and rarely overnight.He has a strange temper, that is, he never speaks a word of French, but he can write pure French. " On the day after the prosecutor had these details, a man got out of his car at the corner of Ferro Street, went to knock on a dark green door, and asked to see Father Busoni. "Not at home, he went out early this morning." The servant replied. "This answer does not satisfy me," replied the visitor, "for no one can say that he is not at home to the man who sent me, and I beg you to take the trouble to tell the Abbe Busoni—"

"I have told you that he is not at home!" said the servant again. "Give him this card and this sealed letter, then, when he comes back. Is he at eight o'clock this evening?" "Of course he is. Unless he's working, then he's just going out." "Then I'll come back tonight at eight o'clock." The visitor left after finishing speaking. Sure enough, when the appointed time came, the man still came in the carriage, but this time the carriage did not stop at the end of Ferro Street, but in front of the green door. As soon as he knocked, the door opened and he walked in.He saw, by the respectful and courteous manner in which the servants had treated him, that the letter had had the desired effect. "Is the priest at home?" he asked.

"Yes, he is working in the study, and he is waiting for you, sir," answered the page.Ascending a steep staircase, the visitor saw the priest seated at the table. There was a lamp on the table with a large shade, which concentrated the light on the table and made the rest of the room quite dark, and he saw that the priest was wearing a monk's robe and a turban like that worn by medieval scholars. "Nice meeting, good meeting, is your Excellency the Abbe Busoni?" asked the visitor. "Yes, sir," answered the abbe, "and are you an emissary from Mr. Bowery, the ex-warden and present superintendent of police?"

"Exactly, sir." "An emissary in charge of security in Paris?" "Yes, Your Excellency." The visitor hesitated for a moment, and his face was a little red. The priest fixed his spectacles, which covered not only his eyes but also his cheekbones, and sat down again, beckoning the visitor to take his place. "I am at your command, sir," said the priest, with a distinct Italian accent. "My mission, Your Excellency," said the visitor, "is confidential to those who complete this mission, and to those who are the object of this mission."

The priest bowed. "Your integrity," the visitor went on, "the superintendent has heard of it for a long time, and now, as a judge, he hopes to learn from you a little about the situation of social order. In order to learn about these things, he entrusts me to see you. I hope Let no friendship or favor prevent you from concealing the truth." "My lord, so long as your knowledge does not disturb my conscience. I am a priest, my lord, and the secrets of confession, for example, must be kept by me and by God. Referees, not courts reserved for humans. "Don't worry, Monsieur, we will respect your peace of conscience."

At this moment, the priest lowered the lampshade on the side closer to him, and raised the other side, so that the visitor's face was illuminated, while he himself remained in the dark. "I'm sorry, Monsieur," said the emissary of the Superintendent of Police, "but the light is too harsh." The priest lowered the shade of the lamp. "Now, sir," he said, "I am listening. Please speak!" "Let me speak frankly. Do you know the Count of Monte Cristo?" "I suppose you mean Mr. Chai Kang?" "Chai Kang! So he's not called Monte Cristo?"

"Monte Cristo is the name of a place, or rather, of a rock, not a surname." "Well, since M. Monte Cristo and M. Chacon are one, we need not argue literally." "Definitely alone." "Let's just talk about Mr. Chai Kang." "Ok." "I just asked you if you knew him?" "I know him very well." "Who is he?" "Son of a wealthy Maltese shipbuilder." "I know, that's what the report says. But, you know, the Police Department won't be satisfied with a vague report. "But," replied the priest, smiling mildly, "everyone must believe the report when it corresponds to the facts—others must believe it, and the police department must believe it."

"But are you sure of that?" "What do you mean?" "My lord, I have no doubts about your honesty. I just ask you, can you be sure of this?" "I know his father, Mr. Chai Kang." "Ah, ah!" "When I was a kid, I used to play with his son in the dock." "But where did he get the title of Earl?" "You know that's available." "in Italy?" "Everywhere." "And his fortune, according to popular accounts, is practically unlimited—" "Oh, on that point," said the priest, "'infinity' is a good use."

"How much do you think he has?" "About 150,000 to 200,000 livres a year in interest." "That's reasonable," said the visitor. "I've heard he has three or four millions!" "An annual revenue of twenty million livres is four million copies." "But I heard he has four million interest income every year." "Oh, that's unbelievable." "You know the island of Monte Cristo?" "Of course, any Frenchman who comes by sea from Palermo, Naples, or Rome knows the island, because they must pass by it to see it." "It is said to be a charming place." "That's a rocky mountain." "Why did the count buy a rock mountain?" "In order to be a count. In Italy, if you want to be a count, you must have a land." "You must have heard of Mr. Chai Kang's adventures in his youth, right?" "The father?" "No, his son." "I don't know exactly. I didn't see my young friend at that time." "Did he go to the army?" "I seem to recall that he was a soldier." "Which branch of the military do you join?" "navy." "As a priest, did he ever confess to you?" "No, sir, I think he's a Lutheran." "A Lutheran?" "I said I thought so, but I didn't confirm it, and I thought France had freedom of belief." "Of course, what we are now investigating is not his beliefs, but his actions. On behalf of the Superintendent of Police, I beg you to tell me everything you know about him." "He was considered a benevolent man. He was knighted by the Pope for his services to the Christians of the East - an honor traditionally reserved only for princes. He also had half a dozen honorable orders The medals are all souvenirs from the kings of the eastern countries to repay his various contributions." "Does he wear those medals?" "No, but he is very proud of it. He said that what he likes is the reward for the benefactor of mankind, not the reward for the destroyer of mankind." "Then he's a Quaker?" "Exactly. He's a Quaker, only he never wears those queer clothes." "Does he have any friends?" "Yes, everyone who knows him is his friend." "But are there any enemies?" "only one." "What's that man's name?" "Lord Wilmar." "Where is he?" "He's in Paris now." "Can he give me some news?" "He can give you important news. He spent some time with Chakang in India" "Do you know where he lives?" "Probably in the area of ​​Anton Avenue, but I don't know the street name or house number." "You're not on good terms with that Englishman, are you?" "I love Chai Kang, he hates Chai Kang, so our relationship is not very good." "Do you think that the Count of Monte Cristo had never been to France before this visit to Paris?" "For this question, I can assure you. No, sir, he has never been here, because he asked me about the situation in France half a year ago." Since I don't know when I will return to Paris, I will introduce Kaval Mr. Conti went to see him. " "Andre?" "No, his father, Bartomio." "My lord, I now have but one question to ask. In the name of my personality, humanity, and religion, I ask you to answer me frankly." "Excuse me, Your Excellency." "Do you know the purpose of M. Monte Cristo's purchase of a house in Auteuil?" "Of course he does, he told me." "For what purpose, sir?" "He's going to open a mental hospital like the one Baron Pisani has in Palermo. Do you know that mental hospital?" "I heard it before." "It's a wonderful institution." Having said this, the priest bowed, indicating that he would continue his research work.The visitor did not know whether he understood what the priest meant, or whether he had no other questions to ask.He got up, and the abbé escorted him to the door. "You are a great philanthropist," said the visitor. "Although you are said to be very rich, I would take the liberty of donating something to the poor. Would you like to accept my donation?" "Thank you, Your Excellency. There is only one thing in the world that I value very much, and that is, what I give must come entirely from my own financial resources." "but--" "I can't change my resolution, but you will always find it if you look for it yourself. Alas! You have so much to give to." The priest bowed again as he opened the door, and the visitor also bowed and left.The carriage set off again, and this time it came to D. Georgie Street, where it stopped at number five, where Lord Weymar lived.The visitor had written to Lord Waymar, promising to call at ten o'clock. It was ten minutes to ten when the Inspector-General's emissary arrived, and was told by the servant that Lord Waymar was not home yet, but that he, being a very punctual man, would be back at ten. The visitor waited in the drawing-room, which was furnished like any other let-out furnished room.There is no special place, a fireplace with two new-style porcelain vases on the mantelpiece: a wall clock with a statue of a love prodigy ready to go; A picture of Homer walking blind, on the other side a picture of Baileys begging; gray paste wallpaper; red curtains trimmed with black.This was Lord Waymar's drawing-room.Several lamps were lit in the room, but the light from the frosted glass lampshade seemed very faint, as if it had been specially arranged in consideration of the fact that the police chief's emissary could not stand strong light. At five strokes, the door opened, and Lord Waymar appeared at the door.He was a little above average height, with a thin dark red mustache, a very pale complexion, and his fair hair was graying.His clothes were thoroughly English—that is, a high-necked blue coat of 1811 with gilt buttons; a woolen waistcoat; The usual one is three inches shorter, but it has a sling on the sole, so it won't slip on your knees.As soon as he came in, he said in English: "Your Excellency, you know I don't speak French." "I know you don't like to talk in our language," replied the emissary. "But you may speak French," replied Lord Waymar, "for I understand it, though I do not speak it." "And I," replied the visitor in English, "I know some English too, and can converse in English. You need not be inconvenienced." "Oh!" said Lord Waymar, in that tone which only a true Briton can understand. When the emissary produced his letter of introduction, Lord Waymar looked over it with English indifference, and said, still in English, "I understand, I quite understand." So start asking questions.Those questions were similar to those asked to the Abbe Busoni.But because Lord Weimar was the earl's enemy, his answer was not as cautious as the priest's, but he answered casually and directly.He spoke of the youth of Monte Cristo, and said that at the age of twenty the Count had served in the army of a small kingdom in India against the English; Fight him.In that war, Chai Kang became a prisoner and was escorted to England, where he was kept in a prisoner ship. On the way, he escaped by diving.Since then, he began to travel everywhere, duel everywhere, and have romantic incidents everywhere.He served in the Greek army during the time of civil strife in Greece.During that service he discovered a silver mine on Mount Thessaly, but he kept his mouth shut and kept it from everyone.After the battle of Navarino, the Greek government was in a stable situation. He asked King Otto for the mining rights in that area, and the king gave him.He thus became very rich.According to Lord Waymar's opinion, his income amounted to as much as a million or two millions a year, but that property was precarious, and once the silver mines ran out his luck would end. "Then," said the visitor, "do you know the purpose of his coming to France?" "He has come to speculate on railways," said Lord Waymar. "He is an experienced pharmacologist, and an equally good physicist. He has invented a new telegraphic technique which he is seeking to promote. His new discovery." "How much does he spend each year?" asked the Superintendent's emissary. "Not more than five or six hundred thousand francs," said Lord Weimar. "He's a miser." The Englishman said this, evidently out of hatred for him, who accused the Count of being miserly, since he was otherwise blameless. "Do you know the house he bought at Auteuil?" "of course I know." "What do you know?" "Do you want to know why he bought that house?" "yes." "The count is a speculator, and he will surely ruin himself by those utopian experiments. He thinks that near the house he bought, there is a hot spring like Baneris, Rochon, and Cades. He wanted to convert his house into a 'boarding sanatorium' as the Germans call it. He had dug the whole garden two or three times in an unsuccessful attempt to find the source of the hot spring, so he would soon turn the neighboring house into a Buy them all. I hate him, I hope his railroads, his telegraph technology, his search for hot springs will ruin him, and I'm waiting to see him fail, and soon he will." "Why do you hate him so much?" "While in England he seduced a friend's wife of mine." "Why don't you take revenge on him?" "Three times I have dueled him," said the Englishman, "first with a pistol, then with a sword, and third with a two-handed sword." "What were the results of those duels?? "The first time, he broke my arm. The second time, he stabbed me in the chest. The third time, he gave me this scar." The Englishman turned up the collar of his shirt to reveal a The scar is still bright red, which proves that it is a new wound. "So I have a sworn hatred against him, and he will definitely die in my hands." "But," said the emissary, "it seems to me that you cannot kill him." "Oh!" said the Englishman, "I practice shooting every day, and every other day Grisel comes to my house." It was all that the visitor wanted to know, or rather, all that the Englishman seemed to know.The emissary of the Superintendent of Police rose to his feet and took his leave, bowing to Lord Weimar, who returned the salute emphatically in English manner.When he heard the sound of the door closing, he went back to the bedroom and tore off his fair hair, his dark red mustache, his false chin and his scar with one hand, revealing the Count of Monte Cristo again. That black hair and those white teeth.As for the person who returned to M. de Villefort's house, it was not the emissary of the prefect of police, but M. de Villefort himself.Although the prosecutor didn't find any news that really satisfied him, he was relieved a lot. For the first time since going to Auteuil for the dinner, he slept soundly and soundly for the night.