The Count of Monte Cristo

第五十五章 Major Cavalcanti

Chapter 55. Major Cavalcanti Monte Cristo receives the so-called Major Cavalcanti, an Italian visitor whose arrival was arranged to serve as a pretext for declining Albert Morcerf’s invitation. The Count verifies the man’s identity, reads the letter of introduction from Abbé Busoni, arranges the promised financial credit, supplies the missing legal documents, and coaches the visitor on the backstory he must maintain. The chapter concludes with the revelation that the young man Andrea Cavalcanti, introduced to Parisian society as the Major’s long-lost son, is already waiting in another room of the house.

Arrival of the visitor at Monte Cristo’s residence

Arrival of the visitor at Monte Cristo’s residence At seven o’clock, after Baptistin and M. Bertuccio had cleared the house according to plan, a cab deposits a man of about fifty-two at the gate of No. 30 Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The visitor wears a green surtout with black frogs, blue cloth trousers, heavy-soled boots, buckskin gloves, a gendarme-shaped hat, and a black-and-white striped cravat. Described as “picturesque,” he rings at the gate, confirms he is at Monte Cristo’s residence, enters, and ascends the steps. Baptistin, who has been expecting him, recognizes the white-haired, gray-moustached stranger from a prior description and ushers him into a simple, elegant drawing-room where the Count rises to greet him with a smile.

Verification of the visitor’s identity as Major Cavalcanti

Verification of the visitor’s identity as Major Cavalcanti The Italian introduces himself and the Count confirms he has been precisely informed of the arrival time. Questioning the visitor, Monte Cristo establishes his name as Marquis Bartolomeo Cavalcanti and notes that his visit was suggested not by himself but by the Abbé Busoni, whose letter of introduction the Major carries. The Major timidly allows that the French title “major” may correspond to his Italian military rank, accepting this without protest. Throughout the exchange, the visitor betrays a slight unease beneath the Count’s polite, measured questioning.