(upbeat music) This episode is brought to you by Experian. Are you paying for subscriptions you don't use, but can't find the time or energy to cancel them? Experian could cancel unwanted subscriptions for you, saving you an average of $270 per year, and plenty of time. Download the Experian app. Results will vary, not all subscriptions are eligible. Savings are not guaranteed. Paid membership with connected payment account required. (dramatic music) Are you ready for some high adventure? Coming up next on the Mutual Audio Network. (dramatic music) - The following audio drama is rated PG for parental guidance. - Chapter 65 of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 65, a conjugal scene. At the Place Louis Counts, the three young people separated. That is to say, Morale went to the boulevard, Chateau Renault to the Pondola revolution, and a parade to the K. Most probably Miguel and Chateau Renault returned to their domestic hearths, as they say in the gallery of the chamber in well-turned speeches, and in the theatre of the Rue Richelieu in well-written pieces. But it was not the case with debris. When he reached the wicket of the Louvre, he turned to the left, galloped across the carousel, passed through the Rue Saint-Rouche, and issuing from the Rue de la Michaudier, he arrived at Monsieur d'Anglaire's door just at the same time that Ville Falls Landau, after having deposited him, and his wife at the Fobour Saint Honoré, stopped to leave the Baroness at her own house. De Brey, with the air of a man familiar with the house, entered first into the court, through his bridle into the hands of a footman, and returned to the door to receive Madame d'Anglaire, to whom he offered his arm, to conduct her to her apartments. The gate once closed, and De Brey and the Baroness alone in the court, he asked, "What was the matter with you, Ermin? "And why were you so affected at that story "or rather fable, which the count related?" "Because I have been in such shocking spirits "all the evening, my friend," said the Baroness. "No, Ermin," replied De Brey. "You cannot make me believe that. "On the contrary, "you were in excellent spirits when you arrived at the Counts. "Missieur d'Anglaire was disagreeable certainly, "but I know how much you care for this ill humour, "someone has vexed you. "I will allow no one to annoy you. "You are deceived, Lucian. "'I assure you,' replied Madame d'Anglaire, "and what I have told you is really the case, "added to the ill humour you remarked, "but which I did not think it worth a while to allude to. "It was evident that Madame d'Anglaire "was suffering from that nervous irritability, "which women frequently cannot account for, "even to themselves. "All that as De Brey had guessed, "she had experienced some secret agitation "that she would not acknowledge to anyone. "Being a man who knew that the former of these symptoms "was one of the inherent penalties of womanhood, "he did not then press his inquiries, "but waited for a more appropriate opportunity "when he should again interrogate her "or receive an avowal proprio motu. "At the door of her apartment, "the Baroness met Mademoiselle Cornelie, "her confidential maid. "What is my daughter doing?" asked Madame d'Anglaire. "She practised all the evening and then went to bed." replied Mademoiselle Cornelie. "Yet I think I hear her piano. "It is Mademoiselle Louise Darmey, who is playing, "while Mademoiselle d'Anglaire is in bed." "Well," said Madame d'Anglaire, "come and address me." They entered the bedroom. De Brey stretched himself upon a large couch, and Madame d'Anglaire passed her into her dressing room with Mademoiselle Cornelie. "My dear Mr. Lucian," said Madame d'Anglaire, "through the door." "You are always complaining that Eugenie "will not address a word to you." "My damn," said Lucian, playing with a little dog. You recognised him as a friend of the house, expected to be caressed. "I am not the only one who makes similar complaints. "I think I heard Marc Cef say that he could not extract "a word from his betrothed." "True," said Madame d'Anglaire. "Yet I think this will all pass off, "and that you will one day see or enter your study." "My study? "At least that of the minister." "Why so?" To ask for an engagement at the opera. "Really, I never saw such an infatuation for music. "It is quite ridiculous for a young lady of fashion." De Brey smiled. "Well," said he, "let her come with your consent "and that of the baron, and we would try and give her "an engagement, though we are very poor "to pay such talent as hers." "Go, Cornelli," said Madame d'Anglaire. "I do not require you any longer." Cornelli obeyed, and the next minute Madame d'Anglaire left her room in a charming, loose dress and came and sat down close to De Brey. Then she began thoughtfully to caress the little spaniel. Lucian looked at her for a moment in silence. "Come, Ermine," he said, after a short time, "Anser candidly, something vexes you. "Is it not so?" "Nothing," answered the baroness. And yet as she could scarcely breathe, she rose and went towards a looking-glass. "I am frightful tonight," she said. De Brey rose, smiling and was about to contradict the baroness upon this latter point when the door opened suddenly. Monsieur d'Anglaire appeared. De Brey reseated himself. At the noise of the door, Madame d'Anglaire turned around and looked upon her husband with an astonishment. She took no trouble to conceal. "Good evening, Madame," said the banker. "Good evening, Monsieur d'Anglaire." Probably the baroness thought this unexpected visit signified a desire to make up for the sharp words he'd uttered during the day. Assuming a dignified air, she turned round to de Brey without answering her husband. "Read me something, Monsieur d'Abre," she said. De Brey, who was slightly disturbed at this visit, recovered himself when he saw the calmness of the baroness and took up a book marked by a mother of pearl knife inlaid with gold. "Excuse me," said the banker. "But you will tie yourself, Bagoness, "by such late hours." And Monsieur d'Abrey lived some distance from here. De Brey was petrified. Not only to hear d'Anglaire speak so calmly and politely, but because it was apparent that beneath outward politeness, there really looked a determined spirit of opposition to anything his wife might wish to do. The baroness was also surprised and showed her astonishment by a look which would doubtless have had some effect upon her husband, if he had not been intently occupied with the paper, where he was looking to see the closing stock quotations. The result was that the proud look entirely failed of its purpose. "Missier Lucian," said the baroness, "I assure you, "I have no desire to sleep and that I have a thousand things "to tell you this evening which you must listen to "even though you slept while hearing me. "I am at your service, madam," replied Lucian coldly. "My dear Missier d'Abrey," said the banker, "do not kill yourself tonight, "listening to the follies of madam d'Anglaire, "for you can hear them as well tomorrow. "But I claim tonight and will devote it, "if you will allow me to talk over some serious matters "with my wife." This time the blow was so well aimed and hit so directly that Lucian and the baroness were staggered and they interrogated each other with their eyes as if to seek help against his aggression. But the irresistible will of the master of the house prevailed and the husband was victorious. "Do not think I wish to turn you out, "my dear d'Abrey," continued d'Anglaire. "Oh no, not at all. "An unexpected occurrence forces me to ask my wife "to have a little conversation with me. "It is so rarely I make such a request. "I am sure you cannot grudge it to me." D'Abrey muttered something bowed and went out, knocking himself against the edge of the door like Nathan in Ataly. "It is extraordinary," he said when the door was closed behind him. "How easily these husbands will be ridiculed "again an advantage of us?" Lucian, having left, d'Anglaire took his place on the sofa, closed the open book and placing himself in a dreadfully dictatorial attitude. He began playing with the dog but the animal not liking him as well as the barre and attempting to bite him. d'Anglaire seized him by the skin of his neck and threw him upon a couch on the other side of the room. The animal uttered a cry during the transit but arrived at its destination. It crouched behind the cushions and stupefied at such unusual treatment remained silent and motionless. "Do you know, sir?" asked the barre Nis. "That you are improving. "Generally you are only rude "but tonight you are brutal. "It is because I am in a worse humor than usual," replied D'Anglaire. Armin looked at the banker with supreme disdain. His glances frequently exasperated the pride of d'Anglaire but this evening he took no notice of them. "And what have I to do with your ill humor?" said the marinesse. Irritated at the impassibility of our husband. "Do these things concern me? "Keep your ill humor at home in your money boxes "or since you have plaques whom you pay, vent it upon them." "Not so," replied D'Anglaire. "Your advice is wrong so I shall not follow it. "My money boxes are my battle-loss "as I think miss your damages "and I will not retard its course or disturb its calm. "My clarks are honest men who earn my fortune, "my pay much below their desserts. "If I may value them according to what they bring in, "therefore I shall not get into a passion with them. "Those with whom I will be in a passion "are those who eat my dinners, mount my horses "and exhaust my fortune. "And pray, who are the persons who exhaust your fortune? "Explain yourself more clearly, my big sir. "Or make yourself easy. "I am not speaking riddles and you will soon know what I mean. "The people who exhaust my fortune are those who draw out "700,000 franc in the course of an hour. "I do not understand you, sir," said the Baroness, trying to disguise the agitation of her voice and the flush of her face. "You understand me perfectly on the contrary," said D'Anglaire. "But if you will persist, I will tell you "that I have just lost 700,000 franc "upon the Spanish loan. "And pray," asked the Baroness, "I am irresponsible for this loss." "Why not?" "Is it my fault you have lost 700,000 franc?" "Certainly it is not mine." "Once for all, sir," replied the Baroness sharply. "I tell you I will not hear cash named. "It is a style of language I never heard "in the house of my parents or in that of my first husband." "Oh, I can well believe that. "For neither of them was worth a penny." "The better reason for my not being conversant "with the slang of the bank, "which is here dining in my ears for morning to night, "that noise of jingling crowns "which are constantly being counted and recounted "is odious to me. "I only know one thing I dislike more, "which is the sound of your voice." "Really?" said Donglaar. "Well, this surprises me, "for I thought you took the liveliest interest "in all my affairs." "Why, what could put such an idea into your head?" "Yourself?" "Ah, what next?" "Most assuredly." "I should like to know upon what occasion "or mondure. "That is very easily done. "Last February you were the first who told me of the Haitian funds. "You had dreamed that a ship had entered the harbor at Avra. "That this ship brought news that a payment we had looked upon "as lost was going to be made. "I know how clear sighted your dreams are. "I therefore purchased immediately as many shells as I could "of the Haitian debt. "And I gained 400,000 wrong by it, "of which 100,000 have been honestly paid to you. "You spent it as you pleased. "That was your business. "In March there was a question about a grant to a railway. "Three companies presented themselves, "each offering equal securities. "You told me that you're instinct, "and although you pretend to know nothing about speculations, "I think on the contrary that your comprehension "is very clear upon certain affairs. "Well, you told me that your instinct led you to believe "the grant would be given to the company called the Southern. "I bought two thirds of the shares of that company. "As you had foreseen, the shares trebled in value "and I picked up a million, from which 250,000 wrong "were paid to you for pin money. "How have you spent this 250,000 wrong? "It is no business of mine. "When are you coming to the point?" cried the Baroness, shivering with anger and impatience. "Patience madam, I am coming to it. "That's fortunate. In April, you went to die in at the ministers. "You had a private conversation respecting Spanish affairs "on the expulsion of Don Carlos. "I bought some Spanish shares. "The expulsion took place and I pocketed 600,000 wrong. "The day Charles sank, repassed the bidar sower. "Of those 600,000 wrong, "you took 50,000 crowns. "They were yours. "You disposed of them according to your fancy "and I ask no questions. "But it is not the less true that you have this year "received 500,000 leave." "Well, sir, and what then?" "Yes, it was just after this, that you spoiled everything." "Really, your manner of speaking, it expresses my meaning, "and that is all I want. "Well, three days after that you talked politics with Miss. "You're the bray, and you fancied from his words "that Don Carlos had returned to Spain. "Well, I sold my shares. "The news got out and I no longer sold. "I gave them away. "Next day I find the news was false, "and by this false report I have lost 700,000 wrong." "Well, well, since I gave you a fourth of my gains, "I think you owe me a fourth of my losses. "The fourth of 700,000 wrong is 175,000 wrong." "What you say is absurd, "and I cannot see why Monsieur Dobre's name is mixed up in Safer." "Because if you do not possess the 175,000 wrong I reclaim, "you must have lent them to your friends, "and Monsieur Dobre is one of your friends." "For shame!" exclaimed Baroness. "Oh, let us have no gestures, "no screams, no modern drama, "or you will obliged me to tell you that I see Dobre leave here, "pocketing the whole of the 500,000 leave "where you have handed over to him this year." While he smiles to himself, saying that he has found what the most skillful players have never discovered, that is a roulette where he wins without playing, and is no loser when he loses. The Baroness became enraged. "Wetch!" she cried. "Will you dare to tell me you did not know what you now reproach me with?" "I do not say that I did know it, "and I do not say that I did not know it. "I merely tell you to look into my conduct during the last four years "that we have ceased to be husband and wife, "and see whether it has not always been consistent. "Some time after our rupture, you wish to study music "under the celebrated baritone "who made such a successful appearance at the theatre Italian. "At the same time, I felt inclined to learn dancing of the dancers "who acquired such a reputation in London. "This cost me, on your account and mine, 100,000 wrong. "I said nothing, for we must have peace in the house, "and 100,000 wrong, for a lady and gentleman "to be properly instructed in music and dancing are not too much. "Well, you soon became tired of singing, "and you take a fancy to study diplomacy with the minister secretary. "You understand, it signifies nothing to me "so long as you pay for your lessons out of your own cash box. "But today, I find you are drawing on mine, "and that your apprenticeship may cost me 700,000 from per month. "Stop there, madam, for this cannot last. "Either the diplomaist must give his lessons gratty, "and I will tolerate him, or he must never set his foot again in my house. "Do you understand, madam? "Oh, this is too much!" cried, I mean, choking. "You are worse than despicable!" "But," continued Donglar, "I find you did not even pause there. "Insult! You are right. Let us leave these facts alone and reason, "coolie. I have never interfered in your affairs, "excepting for your good. Treat me in the same way. "You say you have nothing to do with my cash box. Be it so. Do as you like with your own, "but do not feel or empty mine. Besides, how do I know that this was not a political trick, "that the ministering rage that seeing me in the opposition, "and jealous of the popular sympathy I excite, "has not concerted with Missio Dobre to ruin me? "A probable thing, why not? Who ever heard of such an occurrence as this? "A false telegraphic dispatch. It is almost impossible for wrong signals "to be made as they were in the last two telegrams. "It was done on purpose for me. I am sure of it." "Sir," said the Baroness humbly, "are you not aware that the man employed there was dismissed, "that they talked of going to law with him? That orders were issued to arrest him, "and that this order would have been put into execution "if he had not escaped by flight, which proves that he is either mad or guilty. "It was a mistake. Yes, which made fools laugh, "which caused the minister to have a sleepless night, "which has caused the minister secretaries to blacken several sheets of paper, "by which has cost me 700,000 from. "But, sir," said Amin suddenly, "if all this is, as you say, caused by Missio Dobre, "why, instead of going direct to him, do you come and tell me of it? "Why, to accuse the man, do you address the woman? "Do I know, Missio Dobre? Do I wish to know him? "Do I wish to know that he gives advice? Do I wish to follow it? "Do I speculate? No, you do all this, not I. "Still, it seems to me that as you profit by it," Dongla shrugged his shoulders. "Foolish creature," he exclaimed. "Women fancy they are talent because they have managed "two or three intrigues without being the talk of Paris. "But know that if you had even hidden your irregularities from your husband, "was but the commencement of the art, for generally husbands will not see, "you will then have been but a faint imitation of most of your friends among the women of the world. "But it has not been so with me, I see, and always I've seen during the last 16 years, "you may perhaps have hidden a thought, but not a step, not an action, "not a fault has escaped me, while you flattered yourself upon your address "and firmly believed you had deceived me. What has been the result? "That thanks to my pretended ignorance, there is none of your friends "from Monsieur de Vilthog to Monsieur de Brey, who has not trembled before me. "There is not one who has not treated me as the master of the house, "the only title I desire with respect to you. "There is not one, in fact, who would have dared to speak of me as I've spoken of them this day. "I will allow you to make me hateful, but I will prevent you rendering me ridiculous "and above all, I forbid you to ruin me. "The Baroness had been tolerably composed until the name of Vilthog had been pronounced. "Then she became pale, and rising as if touched by a spring, "she stretched out her hands as though conjuring in her apparition. "She then took two or three steps towards her husband "as though to tear the secret from him, of which she was ignorant, "or which she withheld from some odious calculation. "Odeus, as all his calculations were, "Monsieur de Vilthog, what do you mean?" "I mean that Monsieur de Nargan, your first husband, "ne being neither a philosopher nor a banker, or perhaps being both "and seeing there was nothing to be got out of a king's attorney, "dire of grief or anger at finding, after an absence of nine months, "that you had been on Santa's seas. "I am brutal. "I not only allow it, but boast of it. "It is one of the reasons of my success in commercial business. "Why did he kill himself instead of you? "Because he had no cash to save. "My life belongs to my cash. "Monsieur de Breas made me lose 700,000 from. "Let him bear his share of the loss, and we will go on as before. "If not, let him become bankrupt for the 250,000 leave, "and do as all bankrupts do, disappear. "He is a charming fellow, I allow. "When his news is correct, but when it is not, "there are 50 others in the world who would do better than he. "Merendon Blau was rooted to the spot. "She made a violent effort to reply to this last attack, "but she fell upon a chair thinking of Vilfor, "of the dinner scene, of the strange series of misfortunes, "which had taken place in her house during the last few days, "and changed the usual calm of her establishment "to a scene of scandalous debate. "Dong Blau did not even look at her, though she did her best to faint. "He shut the bedroom door after him, without adding another word, "and returned to his apartments. "And when Madame Dong Blau recovered from her half-fainting condition, "she could almost believe that she had had a disagreeable dream." End of chapter 65. 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