This episode is brought to you by Snapple, want to know another Snapple fact? The first hot air balloon passengers were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster. Ridiculous! Check out Snapple.com to find ridiculously flavored Snapple near you. Are you ready for some high adventure? Coming up next on the Mutual Audio Network. The following audio drama is rated PG for Parental Guidance. Chapter 63 of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. This Libre Fox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 63. The Dinner. It was evident that one sentiment affected all the guests on entering the dining room. Each one asked what strange influence had brought them to this house, and yet, astonished, even uneasy, though they were, they still felt that they would not like to be absent. The recent events, the solitary and eccentric position of the count, is enormous. Nay, almost incredible fortune, should have made men cautious, and have altogether prevented ladies visiting a house where there was no one of their own sex to receive them. And yet, curiosity had been enough to lead them to over-leap the bounds of prudence and decorum. And all present, even including Cavall Canty and his son, notwithstanding the stiffness of the one and the carelessness of the other, were thoughtful on finding themselves assembled at the house of this incomprehensible man. Madame d'Anglaire had started when Villefort on the Count's invitation offered his arm, and Villefort felt that his glance was uneasy beneath his gold spectacles when he felt the arm of the Baroness pressed upon his own. None of this had escaped the count, and even by this mere contact of individuals, the scene had already acquired considerable interest for an observer. Miss Jorda Villefort had, on the right hand, Madame d'Anglaire, on his left, Mirel. The count was seated between Madame d'Anglaire and d'Anglaire. The other seats were filled by De Beret, who was placed between the two Cavall Canty, and by Chaturano, seated between Madame d'Anglaire and Mirel. The repast was magnificent. Monte Cristo had endeavoured completely to overturn the Parisian ideas and to feed the curiosity as much as the appetite of his guests. It was an oriental feast that he offered to them, but of such a kind as the Arabian fairies might be supposed to prepare. Every delicious fruit that the four quarters of the globe could provide was heaped in vases from China and jars from Japan. Rare birds, retaining their most brilliant plumage, enormous fish spread upon massive silver dishes, together with every wine produced in the archipelago, Asia Minor, or the Cape, sparkling in bottles whose grotesque shape seemed to give an additional flavour to the draft. All these, like one of the displays with which Apicius of old gratified his guests, passed in view before the eyes of the astonished Parisians, who understood that it was possible to expend a thousand Louis upon a dinner for ten persons, but only on the condition of eating pearls like Cleopatra, or drinking refined gold like Lorenzo de Medici. Monte Cristo noticed the general astonishment and began laughing and joking about it. "Gentlemen," he said, "you will admit that when arrived at a certain degree of fortune, the superfluities of life are all that can be desired, and the ladies will allow that, after having risen to a certain eminence of position, the ideal alone can be more exalted. Now, to follow out this reasoning, what is the marvellous? That which we do not understand? What is it that we really desire? That which we cannot obtain? Now, to see things which I cannot understand, to procure impossibilities, these are the study of my life. I gratify my wishes by two means, my will, and my money. I take as much interest in the pursuit of some whim as you do, Monsieur Donglar, in promoting a new railway line. You miss your de ville for in condemning a culprit to death. You miss your debre in pacifying a kingdom. You miss your de chatoreno in pleasing a woman, and you, moral, in breaking a horse that no one can ride. For example, you see these two fish, one brought from 50 leagues beyond St. Petersburg, the other five leagues from Naples. Is it not amusing to see them both on the same table? What are the two fish as Donglar? Miss your chateoreno, who has lived in Russia will tell you the name of one, and Major Cavalcanti, who is in Italian, will tell you the name of the other. This one is, I think, a starlet, said chateoreno. And that one, if I mistake not, a lamprey. Just so. Now, Miss your donglar, ask these gentlemen where they are caught. Sterelet, said chateoreno, are only found in the Volga. And, said Cavalcanti, I know that Lake Fusaro alone supplies lampreys of that size. Exactly. One comes from the Volga, and the other from Lake Fusaro. "Impossible," cried all the guests simultaneously. "Well, this is just what amuses me," said Monte Cristo. "I am like Nero cubitore in possibility, and that is what is amusing you at this moment. This fish, which seems so exquisite to you, is very likely no better than perch or salmon, but it seemed impossible to procure it, and here it is. But how could you have these fish brought to France?" "Oh, nothing more easy. Each fish was brought over in a cask. One filled with river, herbs, and weeds. The other with rashes and lake plants. They were placed in a wagon built on purpose, and thus the stairlet lived twelve days. The lamprey ate, and both were alive when my cook seized, and, killing one with milk, and the other with wine. "You do not believe me, Miss Yordonglar." "I cannot help dolting," answered Donglar with his stupid smile. "Baptistein," said the Count, "have the other fish brought in. The stairlet and the lamprey which came in the other cask, and which are yet alive." Donglar opened his bewildered eyes. The company clapped their hands. Four servants carried in two casks covered with aquatic plants, and in each of which was breathing a fish similar to those on the table. "But why have two of each sort?" asked Donglar. "Merely because one might have died," carelessly answered Monte Cristo. "You are certainly an extraordinary man," said Donglar, "and philosophers may well say it is a fine thing to be rich." "And to have ideas," added Madame Donglar. "Oh, do not give me credit for this, Madame." It was done by the Romans, who much esteemed them, and Pliny relates that they sent slaves from Austria to Rome, who carried on their heads fish, which he calls the mules, and which from description must probably be the goldfish. It was also considered a luxury to have them alive, it being an amusing sight to see them die, for when dying they changed color three or four times, and like the rainbow when it disappears, passed through all the prismatic shades, after which they were sent to the kitchen. Their agony formed part of their merit. If they were not seen alive, they were despised when dead." "Yes," said Dibre, "but then Austria is only a few leagues from Rome." "True," said Monte Cristo. "But what would be the use of living eighteen hundred years after Lusulus, if we can do no better than he could?" The two Cavalcante opened an enormous eyes, "but had the good sense not to say anything." "All this is very extraordinary," said Chaturano. "Still, what I admire the most, I confess, is the marvelous promptitude with which your orders are executed. Is it not true that you only brought this house five or six days ago?" "Certainly not longer." "Well, I am sure it is quite transformed since last week. If I remember rightly, it had another entrance, and the courtyard was paved and empty. Well, today we have a splendid lawn, bordered by trees which appear to be a hundred years old." "Why not? I am fond of grass and shade," said Monte Cristo. "Yes," said Madame de Villefort. "The door was toward the road before, and on the day of my miraculous escape, you brought me into the house from the road. I remember." "Yes, Madame," said Monte Cristo, "but I preferred having an entrance which would allow me to see the waddable lawnier over my gate." "In four days," said Morrell, "it is extraordinary." "Indeed," said Chaturano, "it seems quite miraculous to make a new house out of an old one. For it was very old, and dull, too. I recollect coming from my mother to look at it when Miss Yoder Sammeron advertised it for sale two or three years ago." "Miss Yoder Sammeron?" said Madame de Villefort. "Then this house belonged to Miss Yoder Sammeron before you bought it?" "It appears so," replied Monte Cristo. "Is it possible that you do not know of whom you purchased it?" "Quite so. My steward transacts all this business for me." "It is certainly ten years since the house had been occupied," said Chaturano, "and it was quite melancholy to look at it, with the blinds closed, the doors locked and the weeds in the court." "Really, if the house had not belonged to the father-in-law of the Prochirerer, one might have thought it some accursed place, where a horrible crime had been committed to." Villefort, who had hitherto not tasted the three of four glasses of rare wine, which were placed before him, here tuck one and drank it off. Monte Cristo allowed a short time to elapse, and then said, "It is singular, Baron, but the same idea came across me the first time I came here." "It looked so gloomy I should never have bought it if my steward had not taken the matter into his own hands." "Perhaps the fellow had been bribed by the notary." "It is probable," stammered out Villefort, trying to smile. "But I can assure you that I had nothing to do with any such proceeding." "This house is part of Valentin's marriage-portion, and Monsieur de Sammarón wished to sell it. For, if it had remained another year or two uninhabited, it would have fallen to ruin." It was Morell's turn to become pale. "There was, above all, one room," continued Monte Cristo. A very plain in appearance, hung with red a mask, which, why not not why, appeared to me quite dramatic. "Why so?" said Donglar. "Why, dramatic?" "Can we account, for instinct?" said Monte Cristo. "Are there not some places where we seem to breathe sadness? Why we cannot tell? It is a chain of recollections, an idea which carries you back to other times, to other places, which very likely have no connection with the present time and place. And there is something in this room which reminds me forcibly of the chamber of the Marquis de Gondre, or Desdemona. Stay, since we have finished dinner, I will show it to you, and then we will take coffee in the garden. After dinner, the play." Monte Cristo looked inquiringly at his guests. Madame de Vilfor rose. Monte Cristo did the same, and the rest followed their example. Vilfor and Madame Donglar remained for a moment, as if rooted to their seats. They questioned each other with vague and stupid glances. "Did you hear?" said Madame Donglar. "We must go," replied Vilfor, offering his arm. The others, attracted by curiosity, were already scattered in different parts of the house, for they thought the visit would not be limited to the one room, and that, at the same time, they would obtain a view of the rest of the building, of which Monte Cristo had created a palace. Each one went out by the open doors. Monte Cristo waited for the two who remained. Then, when they had passed, he brought up the rear, and on his face was a smile, which, if they could have understood it, would have alarmed them much more than a visit to the room they were about to enter. They began by walking through the apartments, many of which were fitted up in the eastern style, with cushions and divans instead of beds and pipes instead of furniture. The drawing rooms were decorated with the rarest pictures by the old masters. The Boudoir hung with the draperies from China, of fanciful colours, fantastic design, and wonderful texture. At length, they arrived at the famous room. There was nothing particular about it, accepting that, although daylight had disappeared, it was not lighted, and everything in it was old-fashioned, while the rest of the rooms had been redecorated. "These two causes were enough to give it a gloomy aspect." "Oh!" cried Madame de Vilfor. "It is really frightful!" Madame Don Blar tried to utter a few words, but was not heard. Many observations were made, the import of which was a unanimous opinion that there was something sinister about the room. "Is it not so?" asked Monte Cristo. "Look at that large, clumsy bed, hung with such gloomy blood-coloured draperies, and those two crayon portraits that have faded from the dampness. Do not they not seem to say with their pale lips and staring eyes, 'We have seen!' Vilfor became livid. Madame Don Blar fell into a long seat placed near the chimney. "Oh!" said Madame de Vilfor, smiling. "Are you courageous enough to sit down upon the very seat, perhaps, upon which the crime was committed?" Madame Don Blar rose suddenly. "And then," said Monte Cristo, "this is not all. "What is there more?" said de beret, "who had not failed to notice the agitation of Madame Don Blar. "Oh, what else is there?" said Don Blar. "For, at present, I cannot say that I have seen anything extraordinary. "What do you say, Mr. Cavarkanti?" "Ah!" said he. "We have at peace Ujolino's tower, at Ferara Tasso's prison, at Remini, the room of Francesca, and Paolo." "Yes, but you have not this little staircase," said Monte Cristo, opening a door concealed by the drapery. "Look at it, and tell me what you think of it." "What a wicked-looking crooked staircase," said Chateau Remo, with a smile. "I do not know whether the wine of Chios produces melancholy, but certainly everything appears to me black in this house," said de Brei. Ever since Valentin's dowry had been mentioned, Morel had been silent and sad. "Can you imagine?" said Monte Cristo. "Some Othello, or Abbe de Gange, one stormy dark night, descending these stairs step by step, carrying a load which he wishes to hide from the sight of man, if not from God." Madame Don Blar half fainted on the arm of Villefor, who was obliged to support himself against the wall. "Ah, Madame," cried de Brei, "what is the matter with you? How pale you look!" "It is very evident what is the matter with her," said Madame de Villefor. "Missure de Monte Cristo is relating horrible stories to us, doubtless intending to frighten us to death." "Yes," said Villefor. "I really can't. You frighten the ladies." "What is the matter?" asked de Brei in a whisper of Madame Don Blar. "Nothing!" she replied with a violent effort. "I want air. That is all." "Will you come into the garden?" said de Brei, advancing towards the back staircase. "No, no," she answered. "I would rather remain here." "Are you really frightened, Madame?" said Monte Cristo. "Oh, no, sir," said Madame Don Blar. "But you suppose scenes in a manner which gives them the appearance of reality?" "Ah, yes," said Monte Cristo, smiling. "It is all a matter of imagination. Why should we not imagine this the apartment of an honest mother?" And this bed with red hangings, a bed visited by the goddess Lucina, and that mysterious staircase, the passage through which not to disturb their sleep, the doctor and nurse pass, or even the father, carrying the sleeping child. Here, Madame Don Blar, instead of being calmed by the soft picture, uttered a groan and fainted. "Madame Don Blar is ill," said Villefor. "It would be better to take her to her carriage." "Oh, Montyur!" said Monte Cristo. "And I have forgotten my smelling bottle." "I have mine," said Madame de Villefor. And she passed over to Monte Cristo, a bottle full of the same kind of red liquid whose good properties the count had tested on Edward. "Ah!" said Monte Cristo, taking it from her hand. "Yes," she said. "At your advice, I have made the trial." "And have you succeeded?" "I think so." Madame Don Blar was carried into the adjoining room. Monte Cristo dropped a very small portion of the red liquid upon her lips. "She returned to consciousness." "Ah!" she cried. "What a fright for dream!" Villefor pressed her hand to let her know it was not a dream. They looked for Monsieur Don Blar, but, as he was not especially interested in practical ideas, he had gone into the garden and was talking with Major Caval Canty on the projected railway from Leghorn to Florence. Monte Cristo seemed in despair. He took the arm of Madame Don Blar and conducted her into the garden, where they found Don Blar taking coffee between the Caval Canty. "Really, Madame," he said, "did I alarm you much?" "Oh, no, sir," she answered. "But, you know, things impress us differently according to the mood of our minds." Villefor forced a laugh. "And then you know," he said, "an idea, a supposition is sufficient." "Well," said Monte Cristo, "you may believe me if you like. But it is my opinion that a crime has been committed in this house." "Take care," said Madame Don Blar. "The king's attorney is here." "Ah!" replied Monte Cristo. "Since that is the case, I will take advantage of his presence to make my declaration." "Your declaration?" said Villefor. "Yes, before witnesses." "Oh, this is very interesting," said Dubre. "If there really has been a crime, we will investigate it." "There has been a crime," said Monte Cristo. "Come this way, gentlemen, come miss your Villefor, for a declaration to be available should be made before the competent authorities." He then took Villefor's arm, and at the same time holding that of Madame Don Blar under his own, he dragged the procurer to the plantain tree where the shade was thickest. All the other guests followed. "Stay," said Monte Cristo, "here in this very spot," and he stamped upon the ground. "I had the earth dug up and fresh mould put in to refresh these old trees. Well, my man digging found a box, or rather the iron work of a box, in the midst of which was the skeleton of a newly born infant." Monte Cristo felt the arm of Madame Don Blar stiffen, while that of Villefor trembled. "A newly born infant," repeated Dubre. "This affair becomes serious." "Well," said Chaturano. "I was not wrong just now, then, when I said that houses had souls and faces like men, and that their exteriors carried the impress of their characters." "This house was gloomy, because it was remorseful." "It was remorseful, because it concealed a crime." "Who said it was a crime?" asked Villefor, with a last effort. "How? Is it not a crime to bury a living child in a garden?" cried Monte Cristo. "And pray, what do you call such an action?" "But who said it was buried alive?" "Why bury it there if it were dead? This garden has never been a cemetery." "What is done to unfanticides in this country?" asked Major Cavillicante innocently. "Oh, their heads are soon cut off," said Don Blar. "Ah, indeed," said Cavillicante. "I think so. Am I not right, to miss you the Villefor?" asked Monte Cristo. "Yes, can't," replied Villefor, in a voice now scarcely human. Monte Cristo, seeing that the two persons for whom he had prepared this scene could scarcely endure it, and not wishing to carry it too far, said, "Come, gentlemen, some coffee. We seem to have forgotten it." And he conducted the guests back to the table on the lawn. "Indeed count," said Madame Don Blar. "I am ashamed to own it, but all your frightful stories have so upset me that I must beg you to let me sit down." And she fell into a chair. Monte Cristo bowed and went to Madame de Villefor. "I think Madame Don Blar again requires your bottle," he said. But before Madame de Villefor could reach her friend, the procurer had found time to whisper to Madame Don Blar. "I must speak to you." "When, tomorrow, where?" "In my office, or in a court, if you like. That is the surest place." "I will be there." At this moment Madame de Villefor approached. "Thanks, my dear friend," said Madame Don Blar, trying to smile. "It is over now, and I am much better." End of chapter 63. Thank you for listening to Thursday Thrillers right here on The Mutual Audio Network. Please consider subscribing to other days of The Mutual Feats, including Monday, matinee for classic live and theatrical audio plays. Tuesday Terrors for Horror Audio Drama. Wednesday Wonders are science fiction and fantasy magazine. Friday Follies are end of the week comedy series, Saturday Story Circle for kids and families alike, and Sunday Showcase, bringing you the very newest in audio releases from our United Artists of Audio right here on The Mutual Audio Network. The Mutual Audio Network, listening and imagining, together. [DING]
