Edmond Dantes Part 35

"At length I awoke, as from a dream. I saw my error. My whole life had been a lie. I saw that G.o.d by a miracle had bestowed on me untold riches for a n.o.bler purpose than to make his creatures wretched. I saw that if I would be happy I must make others happy, and to this end--the happiness, not the misery, of my race--must my wealth and power be devoted. To this end, then, did I devote myself, and to this end, for six years, have I been devoted--to make myself happy by making others happy--you among the rest, dear, dear Mercedes," he added, pressing her to his bosom. "And am I then so disinterested?"

"But why should you achieve triumphs for others to enjoy, Edmond?" asked the wife.

"You refer to the Provisional Government," said Dantes with a smile.

"Well, I see I must tell you all, even though by the revelation I prove myself utterly unworthy of the praise of disinterestedness. I may tell you, love--you my second self--without danger of being charged with egotism, what I might not say to others. Our friend Lamartine is the actual head of this Government. I had but to a.s.sent to the urgent entreaties to secure that position for myself. These appointments seem the result of nomination by the people. Yet they are not!"

"And why did you refuse to head the Government, Edmond?"

"I am ashamed to confess to you that I feared to accept," said Dantes after a pause. "My own selfishness, not, alas! my disinterestedness, has kept me from the post of peril. Perhaps, indeed, I can do far more for the cause of my race as I am than I could by sacrificing myself for office and position; at least, I hope so."

"Is the position of your friends then so perilous?" asked Mercedes.

"Dearest, they stand upon a volcano!" said Dantes, solemnly.

"Ha!" cried the lady in alarm.

"Mercedes--Mercedes!" continued Dantes with enthusiasm, "I sometimes am startled with the idea that to me have been entrusted the awful powers of foreknowledge, of prophecy, so fearfully true have some of my predictions proved! The events of the past week I foresaw and foretold, even to minute circ.u.mstances and the hours of their occurrence. And now--glorious as is the triumph that France and the cause of man have achieved--I perceive in the dim future a sea of commotion! All is not yet settled. Within one month, revolution will succeed revolution throughout Europe! Berlin, Vienna, and Madrid, perhaps also St.

Petersburg, London, and all the cities of Italy, will be in revolt. All Europe must and will feel the events of the past week in Paris. Europe must be free!"

"And our friends--Lamartine--Louis Blanc?"

"Within six months Louis Blanc will be an exile, and Lamartine--he may be in a dungeon or on a scaffold!"

"Ah!" exclaimed Mercedes, clinging yet more closely to her husband.

"But the cause of human happiness, human right and human freedom will live forever! That must be, will be eternal--as eternal, my adored Mercedes, as is our own deathless love!"

CHAPTER XXVII.

ESPeRANCE AND ZULEIKA.

During the whole period of the memorable Revolution Zuleika never once saw her brother, though she was burning with a desire to have an interview with him on the subject that had caused the separation between her young Italian lover and herself. Esperance made his home behind the barricades, from the time the struggle began until the people finally triumphed; gun in hand, he fought as heroically as the most devoted workman, fearlessly exposing himself whenever the troops pressed his comrades in arms and always in the thick of the fight. Begrimed with dust and powder, his garments torn by bullets and bayonet thrusts, his hat battered and rent, he encouraged the people by word and example, constantly shouting "Vive la Republique," and contending for liberty with the bravery of a lion and a persistency that never flagged. He, however, escaped without a single scratch, returning to the paternal mansion utterly worn out, but altogether unhurt, proud of having done his duty as a man and a patriot, and of having sustained the glorious cause for which his father was working heart and soul.

As he was slowly and wearily wending his way homeward, he suddenly encountered M. Dantes and his friend Lamartine in the Rue Richelieu; his gun was on his shoulder, and in his tattered attire, with the dust and powder on his face and hands, he had the exact appearance of an insurrectionist and a barricader. He touched his hat in military fas.h.i.+on to M. Dantes and his ill.u.s.trious companion, and was about pa.s.sing on when his father recognized him and, ragged and begrimed as he was, threw his arms enthusiastically about his neck. M. Lamartine watched the Deputy from Ma.r.s.eilles and could not restrain an expression of astonishment at his singular behavior. M. Dantes smiled and, taking Esperance by the hand, said:

"M. Lamartine, you will, I know, make every allowance for me when you learn that this young man, who has been fighting behind the barricades with the people, is my son!"

The head of the Provisional Government instantly grew as enthusiastic as M. Dantes himself; he grasped Esperance's free hand and, shaking it with the utmost cordiality, exclaimed:

"Your son, M. Dantes! Let me congratulate you! Why he is a perfect hero!"

"I have but followed my father's teachings and done what he would have done had he been my age and unable to serve the great cause of human freedom in a more effective way!"

M. Dantes' eyes sparkled with joy and a faint shade of color appeared upon his pale cheeks.

"What is your name, young patriot?" asked M. Lamartine, his excitement and enthusiasm continuing to hold possession of him.

"Esperance," was the reply.

"Esperance--hope--the name is both appropriate and auspicious; with such heroic young men as you fighting for our cause there is, indeed, hope, and of the brightest and best kind!" cried Lamartine.

"Nay, nay," said M. Dantes, "do not flatter the boy; he has but done his duty."

"Believe me, I do not flatter him," returned Lamartine; "I have simply told him the truth; in time he will rival the devotion and achievements of his n.o.ble father!"

"Enough, enough," said the Deputy, modestly; "we deserve only the credit of executing G.o.d's will--we are merely instruments in His omnipotent hand!" he added, impressively.

"And such instruments are exactly what we need in the present crisis.

G.o.d grant us plenty of them!"

The next morning Zuleika encountered Esperance on the stairway; she led him into the salon, and, when they were seated, said:

"My brother, I have a question to ask of you."

A shadow crossed the young man's brow, and he quickly asked:

"Is it about the Viscount Ma.s.setti?"

"Yes."

"Then I must refuse to answer!"

"But the matter concerns my happiness, nay, my very life itself; think of that before you finally refuse to answer my question!"

Esperance hastily and excitedly arose from his chair and stood in front of his sister.

"Zuleika," said he, in an agitated tone, "beware of that man--beware of Giovanni Ma.s.setti!"

"Beware of Giovanni, Esperance--and why?"

The young man began to pace the salon with short and nervous steps; his hands twitched convulsively, and his face had suddenly a.s.sumed the whiteness of chalk.

"Zuleika, Zuleika," he murmured, "I cannot, I cannot tell you why! It would crash you to the very earth and make you blush with shame that you had ever listened to the seductive tones of that doubly false Italian's voice!"

"But, Esperance," said Zuleika, "papa certainly knows all about Giovanni; if he did not altogether approve of his character and conduct, he would never have consented to admit him as a suitor for my hand!"

"A suitor for your hand, Zuleika! My G.o.d! has he then dared----"

"He has done nothing that an upright and honorable man should not do!"

interrupted Zuleika, warmly. "He did not even call here until he had written to papa and obtained his full permission to do so."

"Zuleika," said Esperance, approaching his sister and taking her hand, "no doubt Giovanni Ma.s.setti has conducted himself in all respects toward you like a perfect gentleman, but, nevertheless, he is not fit to be my sister's husband."

"But papa----"