The Count of Monte Cristo

Revelation that Andrea Cavalcanti is awaiting his father

Revelation that Andrea Cavalcanti is awaiting his father The Count announces that he has prepared a surprise: the long-lost son, Andrea, is already in the house, having arrived during their conversation (Baptistin has seated him in the blue drawing-room). The Major, affecting great paternal emotion while clutching the buttons of his coat, claims to have guessed as much. Monte Cristo, reading the Major’s eagerness, offers to go and prepare the young man for the meeting, observing that father and son must be equally impatient. The Count declines to intrude on the reunion, announcing that Andrea will enter alone through that door in a quarter of an hour. He describes the young man in advance—fair-complexioned, pleasing in manners—so that the Major cannot fail to recognize him, even should the “powerful voice of nature” be silent.

第五十五章 Major Cavalcanti

In this scene, the major candidly admits to Monte Cristo that the 2,000 francs sent by the Abbé Busoni has been spent on travel, prompting the count to hand over 8,000 francs on account toward a larger debt of 40,000. Monte Cristo then gently chides the major for his outdated attire, advising him to adopt more current Parisian fashions while assuring him that his luggage has already been forwarded to the Hôtel des Princes on the Rue de Richelieu. The encounter concludes with Monte Cristo urging the major to ready himself to be reunited with his long-lost Andrea before slipping away behind the tapestry, leaving Cavalcanti delighted by the warmth of the reception.