Discussion of Bonaparte’s Status on Elba with Minister Dandré
Dandré reports that all servants of his majesty should approve of the latest intelligence from Elba. He describes Bonaparte as mortally wearied, spending his days watching miners work at Porto-Longone. The king interjects with a sardonic comment about Bonaparte’s skin disease, “prurigo,” which torments him. Dandré adds that they are almost assured Bonaparte will soon be insane—sometimes weeping bitterly, sometimes laughing boisterously, spending hours on the seashore skipping stones. Louis XVIII counters that these might equally be symptoms of wisdom, recalling how great captains of antiquity like Scipio Africanus amused themselves similarly. The king then reveals the supposed “conversion” of Napoleon—how at a recent review, Napoleon dismissed veterans wishing to return to France, exhorting them to “serve the good king.” Blacas remains skeptical of these reassurances, insisting that either the minister is deceived or he himself is, though he cannot decide which.
Blacas Secures Approval to Present Marseilles Informant Villefort
Blacas informs the king that his messenger, who has traveled two hundred and twenty leagues in barely three days, is comparable to the stag fleeing the wolf in Horace’s poetry. He compares the young man to the stag for enduring such hardship to bring useful information. Louis XVIII jokes about rewarding poorly this poor young man when he has a telegraph that transmits messages in three or four hours. Blacas mentions that M. de Salvieux, his brother’s chamberlain, has recommended this messenger from Marseilles. Upon hearing the name “Villefort,” Louis XVIII betrays sudden uneasiness. He reveals he knows Villefort as a man of strong and elevated understanding who is ambitious, and to attain his ambition would sacrifice everything—even his own father. The king confirms that this is Noirtier’s son—Noirtier the Girondin, the senator. Despite this damning heritage, Louis XVIII agrees to receive Villefort immediately, and Blacas departs to fetch him.
The original text of this work is in the public domain. This page focuses on a guided summary article, reading notes, selected quotes, and visual learning materials for educational purposes.