The Count of Monte Cristo

第一百十五章 Luigi Vampa’s Bill of Fare

Danglars awakens in a whitewashed bandit cell and discovers he has been captured by the brigands of whom Albert de Morcerf spoke. Despite his initial fears, he finds his money untouched: one hundred louis in his pocket and his letter of credit for 5,050,000 francs in his pocket-book. Realizing the bandits intend to hold him for ransom, he wisely decides to wait patiently for their demands.

Danglars Awakens in Captivity

The Parisian banker wakes to discover himself in a cell resembling an unpleasant dream. After checking that he is neither wounded nor robbed, he confirms his valuables remain intact. His Breguet watch shows half past five, the only indication of time in his dark cell. Following the advice he half-remembered from Don Quixote, he wisely chooses to wait for the bandits to make their terms known rather than demand explanations.

The Ogre-like Sentinel

A gigantic bandit with large eyes, thick lips, flat nose, and disheveled red hair replaces the first sentinel. Danglars jokes that the man resembles an ogre but jokes he is too old and tough to be good eating. The bandit proceeds to devour black bread, cheese, and onions, which initially disgusts the refined banker but gradually arouses his appetite as hunger sets in over the following hours.

Peppino the Gaoler

Peppino, whom Danglars recognizes as his former guide, arrives with an epicure’s spread of chick-peas stewed with bacon, Villetri grapes, and Orvieto wine. When Danglars requests dinner, Peppino explains that anything can be obtained by paying for it. Danglars assumes the prices must be reasonable, recalling that poultry is cheap in Italy—perhaps worth only twelve sous in Rome.