The Count of Monte Cristo

第八十二章 The Burglary

Chapter 82, “The Burglary,” follows the Count of Monte Cristo as he travels to Auteuil, receives an anonymous warning of a nighttime break-in at his Paris residence, and chooses to confront the intruder alone rather than involve the police. Returning secretly to his Champs-Élysées house with his mute servant Ali, the count arms himself and waits. An intruder cuts the glass of the dressing-room window and enters, only to be revealed as Caderousse, a former neighbor and convict whom the count recognizes. Disguised as Abbé Busoni, Monte Cristo blocks Caderousse’s escape and interrogates him, learning that Caderousse was released from the galleys with a young Corsican named Benedetto by an Englishman called Lord Wilmore, and that the two escaped Saint-Mandrier by filing off their fetters and swimming away.

Count’s Journey to Auteuil

The day after a significant conversation, the Count of Monte Cristo departs for Auteuil, accompanied by Ali and several attendants, and brings horses whose qualities he wishes to test. This journey, unplanned the day before, was prompted by Bertuccio’s arrival from Normandy with news that the house and sloop were ready. The sloop, which had arrived a week earlier, lies at anchor in a small creek with a crew of six men prepared to put to sea at short notice.

Bertuccio’s Travel Preparations

The count praises Bertuccio’s diligence and orders him to prepare for a rapid departure, as the count plans to remain in France no longer than a month. He instructs Bertuccio to station eight fresh horses at villages along the road to Tréport so that he can travel fifty leagues in a single night. Bertuccio confirms that the horses have already been purchased and positioned, satisfying the count, who decides to stay at Auteuil a day or two.