Chapter 15 Chapter 6 The Estuary of the Cattaro
The thing is that in this world, bad luck rules everything, and it just happened to arrange the Batori family and the Dronta family in the same city of Lajuz.Not only that, but it brought the two closer together by having them both live on Stratton Street.Therefore, Sawa Doronta and Pierre Bathory were able to meet, meet and fall in love-Pierre is the son of the informant victim, and Sawa is the informer's daughter!
Dr. Antekit had been thinking this way since the young engineer left.
"Pierre went away full of hope," he sighed over and over again, "he didn't dare to expect too much, and it was I who gave him this hope!"
Is the doctor the kind of person who can fight relentlessly against misfortune?Does he feel capable of directing the affairs of the world according to his will?Does he have this power to fight against fate, this spiritual drive?
"No! I must fight!" he cried out in his heart: "this love is a disgrace and a crime! If Pierre Bathory becomes the husband of Savoy Dronta, even if he finds out about it one day I can no longer avenge my father! He can only die in pain and despair! When necessary, I will tell him all of this!...I will tell him what that family has done to his family! ...This kind of love, no matter what, I want to let it shatter!"
In fact, such a combination is terribly frightening.
We will not forget that the doctor said in his conversation with Madame Bathory that the three leaders of the rebellion in Trieste were the victims of a loathsome conspiracy which was discussed in court. It was exposed, and the doctor later learned the details from a slip of the tongue of a guard at Pierre Castle.
We also know that for some reason Madame Bathory did not mention this betrayal to her son.Moreover, she didn't know who did it.She still doesn't know that one of the two spies is a rich man who lives in Lajuz City, Stratton Street, which is very close to her home!The doctor did not tell her the name of the spy.why?Undoubtedly, it is too early to reveal them.But the doctor knew both of them, he knew that one of the spies was Silas Doronta, and the other was Sakani.The reason why he kept the secret was because he wanted to get Pierre's help and to bring justice together with him to punish the murderer of his father, for his father's two companions, Ladisla Zatemar and Mathias Count Sandorf has revenge!
Once the doctor told Pierre all this, he had to suffer a severe blow.So the doctor must not tell him the truth.
"What does it matter!" He kept repeating, "I must destroy this kind of love!"
Dr. Antekit had made up his mind, but what to do?Tell Madame Bathory and her son all about the Trieste banker's past?But does he have physical evidence of this betrayal?No, because Sandov, Bathory, and Zatmar, who held the physical evidence, have all died.Wouldn't the Bathory family have been forewarned, and word spread throughout the city to expose this shameful act?By the way, that was enough to open a new gulf between Pierre and the girl—this time, an unbridgeable gulf.But once the secret is revealed, isn't it afraid that Duolongta will try to escape from Rajuz?
The doctor, of course, did not want the banker to go away, but he insisted on keeping the spies in Laguiz until justice was done.
In this case, the development of things will be different from the doctor's pre-conceived idea.
After weighing the pros and cons, the doctor decided not to take action against Duolongta directly, but to implement emergency measures first.The first thing to do was to get Pierre out of the city, and to keep him here would ruin his reputation.right!He should be kept far away, and no one should know his whereabouts.Once Pierre listens to him, he will tell Pierre everything he knows about Doronta and his accomplice Sakani, and let him fight side by side with him.This is urgent.
To this end, the doctor sent a telegram to dispatch a very fast speedboat from the mouth of the Cataro River south of Laguz on the Adriatic Sea.It was a Tornikov boat, the model for modern torpedo boats.This long spindle-like steel thing, forty-one meters long and seventy-one tons displacing, had neither a mast nor an air hole, and had only one deck on the outside, and one for the helmsman, with portholes that could be modified according to the needs of the sea. Sealed metal operating compartment.It can travel fast underwater and in the waves, faster than all torpedo boats in Europe and America, and can easily reach fifty kilometers per hour.Therefore, people call it the God Ship of the Four Seas.It can sail from the tip of the Spolati Islands to the farthest coast in a very short time.
However, the Doc's speedboat was significantly different from the Tornikov speedboat.The doctor's speedboat does not use superheated steam, but electricity.The doctor invented a powerful battery that can store electrical energy at extremely high voltages to provide driving power.Therefore, this speedboat is named after electricity, plus a number.For example, "Electric Power No. 2" has just received an order at the mouth of the Cataro River.
The doctor's order has been issued, just wait for the action.At the same time, he notified Boscade and Matiff that there was a mission recently.
The two friends were not to mention how happy they were when they finally had the opportunity to show their loyalty.
They greeted their new assignments with beaming faces, only a dark cloud cast a shadow over their smiling faces.
Boscade was to stay in Laguze, watching over the mansion in Stratton Street and the house in Via Marinella, while Martief was to follow the doctor to Cattaro.This time they're breaking up - for the first time, two partners in need who have been inseparable for years!Therefore, Matiff became restless at the thought that Burskard would not be by his side.
"Don't worry, my Matiff, don't worry!" Boscard reassured him. "It won't be long! One play is enough! For, if I guess correctly, it's celebrity A famous play by the director, in which both of us will play important roles!...Trust me! Don't complain that your part is not good enough!"
"Is that right?"
"I'm sure! Oh! It's not a love scene! Don't look at you as a sentimental stupid big man, you can't play this role! It's not a traitor, your face is too fat to play it! ... But you can Play a hero, and come out at the end to punish the evil and promote the good!"
"Like what we used to do in the show booth?"
"Exactly! Yes! I think you have entered the role now, my Matiff! Then you will appear in front of the traitors, open your big hands, catch them straight, and the play will be over! … If You acted nimbly and acted wonderfully, how much extra applause you will attract and how much money you will earn!"
"Yes, it must be so," replied Hercules, "but we still have to score now!"
"Oh! It's only a few days! But you have to promise me that you won't wear down your body during the few days we broke up! You have to eat six meals a day and grow fat! My Matiff! Hug me now, and you'd better just act like a play, or you'll kill me! . . . Oh, hell! You gotta get used to comedy when you're alive! … Hug me one more time, don't forget your little Biscade, and I won't forget my big Matiff!"
This is the moving scene of two friends saying goodbye to each other when they are separated from each other.Sure enough, Matiff stayed on the boat alone, feeling panicked.On the same day, his companion was sent to Laguze by the doctor, and his mission was to follow Pierre Bathory, monitor the Doronta mansion, and find out everything.
During the long period of Bescade's post on Stratton Street, he would have met the foreign woman who had the same mission as him; and if the Moroccan woman had not left Laguiz after sending the telegram , If you go to the agreed place to meet Sarkani, the two of them must have met.Now that she was gone, nothing could stand in the way of Boscade, who would be able to accomplish this secret mission by his own dexterity.
Of course, Pierre would never have imagined that someone was watching him so close, let alone that Boscade would take the place of the female spy to see all his actions.After talking and heart-to-heart with the doctor, Pierre was full of confidence.Why should he keep his conversation with the doctor aboard the Sawalena hidden from his mother now?Didn't she already see through his mind?Couldn't she see that a new change had taken place in her son, that his cares and frustrations had been swept away by hope and happiness?
Pierre confesses everything to his mother.He told her who the girl he loved was and how he had refused to leave Lacuz for her sake.What a big deal he is in now!Hadn't Dr. Antekit told him to hope?
"That is why you have been tormented, my child!" said Madame Bathory. "May God bless you and grant you the happiness you have never had before!"
Mrs. Bathory lives in seclusion in her own house in Marinella Alley and rarely goes out.She is a devout Hungarian Catholic and practices a strictly religious practice.The only time I went out was when I went to church with the old servant for mass.The Church of the Saviour, belonging to the Franciscan monastery, is almost on the corner of Stratton Street.She had never heard of the Dorronta family, nor had she looked up when she passed the Dorronta mansion on her way to church, so she did not know the old Trieste banker's daughter.
Pierre described the girl's heart and appearance to his mother, told her where he first saw the girl, and how he had reassured him of their mutual admiration.Enthusiastically, he told his mother all the details.Madame Bathory was not surprised to see such passion in her son's tender, warm heart.
However, when Pierre told her about the family situation of the Doronta family, when she learned that the girl would be one of the richest heirs in the city of Laguiz, she could not hide her anxiety.Would a banker agree to betroth his only daughter to a young man with no property and even no prospects?
Pierre felt that there was no need to care about Duolongta's indifferent and arrogant attitude towards him so far, he just repeated the doctor's words excitedly.The doctor assured him again and again that he could and must trust his father's friend, that he had a paternal passion for himself--Mrs. son!Eventually, like her son, and Paulik, who felt compelled to speak out, she began to feel hopeful.There was a hint of happiness in this modest house in Marinella Alley.
One Sunday afterward, in the church of the Franciscan monastery, Pierre felt the joy of seeing the Tower of Savoy d'Oron again.When Savoy saw Pierre's radiant face, the always sad girl brightened up.The two exchanged glances with each other, and were inseparable from each other.When Sawa returned to the mansion, she was deeply affected, and the happy face of the young guy always appeared in her mind.
Pierre did not see the doctor again, he expected to be invited again, to visit the yacht again.But a few days passed, but no invitation letter was received.
He thought: "The doctor must want to know first! ... He may personally or send someone to Rajuz to find out about the situation of the Doronta family! ... Maybe he also wants to get to know Sava! ... It is very likely that he Have seen Sawa's father, and heard his opinion on the matter! ... In short, if he writes a line, even a single word—especially this word: 'Come!' I will be overjoyed."
The word "coming" did not come.This time, Madame Bathory had a hard time calming her distraught son.Pierre was greatly disappointed.In spite of his mother's uneasiness, it was her turn to encourage him not to lose hope.The doctor will know that the door of the house in Marinella Lane is open for him. Even if he does not care about Pierre's marriage, he has already shown his concern for this family many times. Is he visiting again?
Pierre lived like a year.He finally couldn't take it anymore.He must go to see Dr. Antekit, desperately.An irresistible force drove him straight to Gravosa.Once on board the yacht, even if it was too early, the doctor would understand his restlessness and forgive his rashness.
At eight o'clock in the morning on June 7th Pierre left the house without saying a word.When he left Rajuz, he went straight to Gravosa at a brisk pace.It would have been difficult to keep up with him, but for the quickness of Boscade's dexterity.When Pierre arrived at the pier, he looked towards the place where the "Savarena" was moored the last time he came, and couldn't help being stunned.
The "Sava Lena" is gone.
Pierre looked all over the place to see if it had been relocated...and couldn't find it.
A sailor was walking on the quay, and Pierre hurriedly asked him where Dr. Anteket's yacht had gone.
The sailor replied that the "Sawarena" had pulled anchor the night before and set sail.Just as people didn't know where it came from at the beginning, they don't know where it is going now.
The yacht is gone!Doctor Antekit arrived mysteriously and disappeared mysteriously!
Pierre went back to Laguez again.This time, he was disappointed.
Of course, if someone accidentally leaked the news and let the young man know that the yacht was going to Cattaro, he would definitely chase after it without hesitation.In fact, it was useless to force the past. The "Shava Lena" stopped at the mouth of the river and did not enter the port.Accompanied by Matiff, the doctor went ashore in a small boat.After that, the yacht immediately went out to sea, and I don't know where it went.
In Europe, and perhaps in the whole Old World, nowhere is the mountain and hydrology of the Cattaro estuary more peculiar.
It is not a river as people imagine, it is a city, the capital of the region, and the seat of the bishop's palace.As for the mouth of the river, it consists of six bays, one after the other, connected by narrow channels, which can be crossed in only six hours.These small lakes are scattered like pearls between the coast and mountain shores, the last one, at the foot of the Norris, is the frontier of the Austrian Empire.Once out of the border, it is the Turkish Empire.
After a quick sail, the doctor disembarked at the mouth of the river.An electric boat has long been waiting here to send the doctor to the innermost harbor.Around Cape Ostrow, passing Castle-Niovo Mountain, through the scenery of the city and church, and then from Storivo and the famous pilgrimage site of Bailasto Mountain and Dahl Lisano, where the Matthias, Turks, and Albanians lived, passed by, and the boat passed through one small lake after another, and came to this last circular harbor.Cattaro City was built deep in the harbor.
The Electric Power Two was moored a few feet from the city.On this beautiful June night, the sea was dark and still, without a ripple.
The doctor doesn't want to live on the boat.Perhaps for the purpose of implementing the plan in the future, he didn't want people to know that he was the owner of the boat.He therefore disembarked in Cattaro with Matif, intending to find a hotel in the city.
The boat that had brought them disappeared in the darkness and sailed into the depths of a small bay on the right side of the harbor to take cover.In Cattaro, the doctor is as unknown as hiding in the darkest corners of the world.A stranger, among the Yugoslavs of this affluent Dalmatian county, would hardly be recognized.Looking from the bay, the city of Cattaro seems to be located at the bottom of the deep concave Nori Mountain, facing the sea in front, and several rows of houses are built on the sharp-angled coast of the sea.As far as the eye can see, the sharp angle extends all the way to the inside of the valley, where the forest is deep and the trees are dense, and it is green from far to near, which is really pleasing to the eye.In the harbor, various cruise ships—mostly Lloyd's ships, as well as large ships from the Adriatic Sea came to berth.
In the evening, the doctor was busy looking for a place to live.Matiff followed him all the time, without asking where he got off the boat just now.It didn't matter to him whether he was in Dalmatia or China.He is like a loyal hunting dog, he will follow his master wherever he goes.He was nothing but the doctor's spare tool, a talking lathe or drill.
The two crossed the quincunx-shaped bushes on the pier and the fortified Cattaro city wall, and then walked into the narrow and ascending street, where four or five thousand people lived.It's time to close the gates of the city - the city is usually only open until eight o'clock in the evening, except for the days when the big passenger ships arrive in Hong Kong.
The doctor immediately realized that it was difficult to find a hotel in the city, so he had to find a landlord who would let the suites out--landlords in Cattaro like to do this kind of profitable business.
Both the landlord and the house were found.In a fairly tidy alley there was a house with a ground floor quite spacious enough for the doctor and his companions.They moved in immediately.It was agreed in advance that the landlord would provide Matif with meals.Seeing that Matiff's appetite is amazing, the landlord asks for a lot of money, and both parties are happy when they settle the bill.
As for Dr. Antekit, he preferred to eat out.
The next day, the doctor sent Mattif to do whatever he wanted, while he wandered to the post office to see if there was any letter or telegram from him.He has agreed in advance.Letters and telegrams only indicate the initials of their own names.It turned out to be nothing.So he went out of town and wandered around.He soon found a decent restaurant.The Austrian officers and staff in the city of Cattaro often come here to have dinner and chat. They feel that if they are not imprisoned in this miserable place, they are at least in exile.
Now the doctor just waits for the time to act.Here is his plan.
He made up his mind to take Pierre away.But yachts are difficult to get hold of while in Laguz.In Gravosa, everyone knew the young engineer, and the Savarena and her owner were in full view, so even if things went well, news would leak out quickly.In addition, the yacht is just a sailing ship, once a steamer in the harbor chases it, it will be overtaken immediately.
It was different in Cattaro, where the conditions for kidnapping Pierre were extremely favorable.The doctor could bring Pierre here without difficulty, he had only to write and send Pierre, and he would come immediately.Here, no one knows the doctor and Pierre. As soon as he boards the ship, the "Electricity" will sail out to sea. Erased by nostalgia.
The plan of action was so simple—there were only two or three days until the final date fixed by the doctor—when the plan would be completed and Pierre and Savoy would be separated forever.
The next day, June 9th, there was a letter from Boscade.The letter stated that there was nothing new about the Duolongta mansion.As for Pierre, he went to Gravosa to see the doctor less than twelve hours after the yacht set sail, and he has not been seen since that day.
But Pierre could not have left Laguze, so he must still be at home.Boscade guessed that the departure of the "Sava Lena" made the young engineer change his usual habits, especially after returning home that day, he must have been disheartened and hopeless, so he stayed behind closed doors. Out.He was absolutely right.
The doctor decided to act the next day, and wrote a letter to Pierre—asking him to leave immediately and go to Cattaro to see the doctor.
A sudden accident changed the whole plan, and the doctor finally achieved his goal due to accidental reasons.
It was nearly eight o'clock in the evening, at Cattaro, when the doctor heard that the great steamer Saxonia had come in.The passenger ship was from Westport in Bryn.There she stopped for passengers and then set off, passing through Cattaro, Laguz, Zara, and other Austrian ports on the Adriatic coast, terminating in Trieste.
The doctor was standing on the side of the trestle bridge for passengers to get on and off the ship, and under the afterglow of the setting sun, his eyes suddenly fell on a tourist, for whom someone was carrying luggage ashore.
"He! . . . here! . . . in Cattaro!"
If the doctor hadn't tried his best to restrain and suppress the burning anger in these two eyes, these words would have blurted out.
This person is Sarkani.Fifteen years have passed since he worked as an accountant in the family of Earl Zatmal.He is no longer the street bum of Sri Este we saw at the beginning of the story, at least in terms of clothes.Now, he wears a sumptuous traveling suit over a smart trench coat and carries a case with brass buttons, suggesting that the old Tripoli broker is used to a life of comfort and luxury.
For fifteen years, Sarkani has been living a life of luxury and prostitution because he shared half of Count Sandov's huge property with the banker.How much money does he have left?I'm afraid even his best friend can't tell.In short, he looked sad and uneasy.But he is used to scheming, so it is not easy to find out what is on his mind.
"Where did he come from?... Where is he going?" The doctor kept asking himself, staring at him.
Where Sarkani came from, you only need to ask the purser of the Saxonia to know that this passenger is on the ship in the west port of Brin.But did he come from the north of Italy, or from the south?This is unknown.Actually he came from the port of Syracuse.When he received the telegram from the Moroccan woman, he set off from Sicily for Cattaro.
In fact, Cattaro was the pre-agreed meeting place.The woman felt that her mission had been fulfilled in Rajuz, so she came to Cattaro and waited for Saccani.
The woman was standing on the pier waiting for the passenger ship to arrive.The doctor found her, saw Saqqani walking towards her, and even heard the woman say to Saqqani in Arabic:
"it's time!"
Sakani nodded yes.Then, watching the porter deposit his luggage at the customs, he led the Moroccan woman to the right and walked around the city wall instead of entering the city gate.
The doctor hesitated for a moment.Will Sarkani slip from under his nose?Should I be staring at him?
As soon as the doctor turned around, he saw that Matif was idle and was watching the passengers on and off the Saxonia as if he was watching a show.He made a gesture, and the Hercules immediately ran over.
"Matif," the doctor pointed to Sarkani who was going away, and asked, "Did you see that man?"
"yes."
"If I tell you to catch him, will you do it?"
"yes."
"If he resists, you subdue him and don't let him run away."
"yes."
"Remember, I want to live!"
"yes."
Matiff couldn't speak, but he spoke clearly.The doctor can trust him.As long as he is ordered, he will act immediately.
As for the Moroccan woman, just tie her up, gag her, and throw her away.When Sarkani gets on the "Electric Horn", even if she yells, it won't help.
The sky is gloomy, although not completely dark, but it is very beneficial to carry out the plan.
Sakani and the woman kept walking along the wall, not knowing that someone was following them.They haven't spoken yet, obviously wanting to find a safe place to talk.They walked all the way to the south gate.The city gate faces a road leading directly to the mountains on the Austrian border.
In front of the city gate is a famous market for the Montenegrin people, where they engage in black market transactions, and only a few people are allowed to enter the city after they are disarmed.Every two days every week, these mountain people from Niegu and Setigne would walk for five or six hours to bring some eggs, potatoes, poultry, and even large bundles of firewood to sell here.
It happened to be Tuesday, and several groups of people slept in the market because the transaction was too late.There were more than 30 of them, some were walking around, some were chatting and arguing, some were already lying down to sleep, and some of them, like the Albanians, put a lamb through a wooden pole and roasted it on a charcoal fire .
Sakani and his female companion hid here, as if they had been familiar with this place for a long time.Indeed, they can talk freely here, and even spend the night here, without having to look for uncertain lodgings.Since the woman had come to Cattaro, she had never bothered to find another lodging.
The doctor and Matif walked into the dark market one after the other.There were only a few crackling fires in the depths of the market, but there were no flames or lights.In this case, it was difficult to catch Sarkani, so he had to wait until he left before dawn.The doctor felt very sorry, just now, why didn't he do anything on the way from the port to the south gate?But it is too late now, and we can only wait for new opportunities to arise.
In any case, the boat is moored behind a rock less than 200 meters away from the market, and not far in front, about two chains away. There are dots of flames flashing to indicate the mooring position.
Sakani and the Moroccan woman had taken refuge in a dark corner, next to a group of sleeping mountain men.If the doctor hadn't been wearing a trench coat and blending into the crowd without attracting any attention, the conversation between Sakani and his female companion would not have been heard by anyone.Matiff concealed himself as much as possible and kept a proper distance so that he could get the signal and act immediately.
Saqani and his girlfriend thought that no one here could understand their Arabic.But they miscalculated, because the doctor is here.He is familiar with various dialects of the East and Africa, and can understand their conversations word for word.
"Did you get my telegram in Syracuse?" asked the Moroccan woman.
"Got it, Namir," Sarkani replied, "so I came with Zirona the next day."
"Where is Zirona?"
"He's on the outskirts of Cattaro, busy organizing new gangs."
"You have to go to Rajuz tomorrow, Sakani, you must see Shanna Doronta!"
"I have to go tomorrow? I have to see her? Are you mistaken, Namir! I'm afraid it's not the time yet? …"
"It's time! The banker's daughter..."
"The banker's daughter!" Sakani imitated in a strange way, and the doctor couldn't help trembling.
"Yes!...It's his daughter!" Namir replied.
"What's the matter?" Sakani sneered, "She fell in love without my permission?"
"This will surprise you, Sakani! It's absolutely true! But if I tell you who wants to marry Shanna Dronta, you won't believe it!"
"Probably a down-and-out gentleman who wants to make a comeback with his father-in-law's million-dollar fortune!"
"Exactly," Namir went on, "a young man of noble birth and poor family..."
"What's the name of this presumptuous fellow?..."
"Pierre Bathory!"
"Pierre Bathory!" Saccani exclaimed, "Pierre Bathory wants to marry Silas Dronta's daughter!"
"Calm down, Sakani!" Namir calmed down his companion, adding: "It is no longer a secret to me that Silas Dronta's daughter is in love with Etienne Batory's son. , but maybe Silas Dronta doesn't know?"
"He!...wouldn't know?..." Sakani asked.
"Yeah, besides, he will definitely never agree..."
"I'm not sure about this!" Sakani replied: "Duolong Tower can do anything... If he had changed his mind in fifteen years, even if it was just for the peace of conscience, he would have agreed to this. A marriage! . . . Luckily I'm still here, ready to mess up his tricks. Tomorrow I'm going to Laguiz!"
"Great!" Namir felt that her words had an impact on Sarkani, and couldn't help but happily responded.
"Duolongta's daughter can only marry me, not anyone else! Did you hear that, Namir? I still rely on her to make a fortune again!"
What should be heard, the doctor has heard.As for what else the foreign woman and Sakani would say, it didn't matter to the doctor.
A villain came to marry another villain and forced him to agree to the marriage. This is God intervening justice in the world.From now on, there is no need to worry about Pierre, this rival will kick him away.That being the case, there is no need to ask Pierre to come to Cattaro, let alone arrest this man who wants to be the son-in-law of Dorronta.
"Let these scoundrels get married and form a family!" The doctor thought, "Let's wait and see what happens in the future!"
Then, he signaled to Mattif, who was following him, and walked away.
Mattif did not ask the doctor why he wanted to catch the passenger of the Saxonia in the first place, nor why he gave up now.
The next day, June 10th, at nearly eight-thirty in the evening, Laguz.The door of the great hall of the Doron Tower Mansion on Stratton Street opened, and a servant reported loudly:
"Mr. Sarkani is here!"
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