Alexandre Dumas: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 44: The Vendetta. (continued)

"Caderousse and his wife again interchanged a meaning look. It seemed as though they were both inspired at the same time with some horrible thought. `Well, then, a good journey to you,' said Caderousse. -- `Thanks,' replied the jeweller. He then took his cane, which he had placed against an old cupboard, and went out. At the moment when he opened the door, such a gust of wind came in that the lamp was nearly extinguished. `Oh,' said he, `this is very nice weather, and two leagues to go in such a storm.' -- `Remain,' said Caderousse. `You can sleep here.' -- `Yes; do stay,' added La Carconte in a tremulous voice; `we will take every care of you.' -- `No; I must sleep at Beaucaire. So, once more, good-night.' Caderousse followed him slowly to the threshold. `I can see neither heaven nor earth,' said the jeweller, who was outside the door. `Do I turn to the right, or to the left hand?' -- `To the right,' said Caderousse. `You cannot go wrong -- the road is bordered by trees on both sides.' -- `Good -- all right,' said a voice almost lost in the distance. `Close the door,' said La Carconte; `I do not like open doors when it thunders.' -- `Particularly when there is money in the house, eh?' answered Caderousse, double-locking the door.

"He came into the room, went to the cupboard, took out the bag and pocket-book, and both began, for the third time, to count their gold and bank-notes. I never saw such an expression of cupidity as the flickering lamp revealed in those two countenances. The woman, especially, was hideous; her usual feverish tremulousness was intensified, her countenance had become livid, and her eyes resembled burning coals. `Why,' she inquired in a hoarse voice, `did you invite him to sleep here to-night?' -- `Why?' said Caderousse with a shudder; `why, that he might not have the trouble of returning to Beaucaire.' -- `Ah,' responded the woman, with an expression impossible to describe; `I thought it was for something else.' -- `Woman, woman -- why do you have such ideas?' cried Caderousse; `or, if you have them, why don't you keep them to yourself?' -- `Well,' said La Carconte, after a moment's pause, `you are not a man.' -- `What do you mean?' added Caderousse. -- `If you had been a man, you would not have let him go from here.' -- `Woman!' -- `Or else he should not have reached Beaucaire.' -- `Woman!' -- `The road takes a turn -- he is obliged to follow it -- while alongside of the canal there is a shorter road.' -- `Woman! -- you offend the good God. There -- listen!' And at this moment there was a tremendous peal of thunder, while the livid lightning illumined the room, and the thunder, rolling away in the distance, seemed to withdraw unwillingly from the cursed abode. `Mercy!' said Caderousse, crossing himself.