7 The carnival at Rome

Chapter 7 The carnival at Rome Almost one year after Edmond's escape from prison, a carriage clattered up to the most magnificent hotel in Rome. Two young men stepped out. One was Beauchamp, a writer from Paris. The other was Albert Mondego, the son of Mercedes and Fernand. "This is the finest hotel in Rome!" Albert declared. "Surely it is the perfect place to watch the carnival."

第七章罗马的狂欢节爱德蒙从监狱里逃出来差不多一年后，一辆马车辚辚地驶进了罗马最豪华的旅馆。 两个年轻人走了出来。 其中一个是来自巴黎的作家波尚。 另一个是阿尔贝·蒙台哥，美塞苔丝和弗尔南多的儿子。 “这是罗马最好的旅馆！”艾伯特说。 “这当然是观看狂欢节的最佳地点。”

But inside, Albert's smile disappeared. "I'm afraid all of our rooms have been taken," the hotel manager said. "By one man." "What sort of man would take over an entire hotel?" asked Beauchamp. Albert was already marching upstairs to find out. He had boasted to his friends that he'd be staying in this hotel, and would look like a fool if he was not. But before he could decide which door to knock on, one of them flew open. A servant bowed. "Gentlemen," he said, "the Count of Monte Cristo is expecting you." "Expecting us?" Albert said. "What a peculiar thing."

但在心里，艾伯特的笑容消失了。 “恐怕我们所有的房间都有人了，”酒店经理说。 “一个人干的。”“什么样的人会接管整个旅馆呢？”波尚问。 阿尔伯特已经上楼去一探究竟了。 他曾向朋友们吹嘘说，他要住在这家旅馆里，如果他不住，就会显得像个傻瓜。 但还没等他决定敲哪扇门，其中一扇门就飞开了。 一个仆人鞠了个躬。“先生们，”他说，“基督山伯爵正在等着你们呢。” “希望我们?”艾伯特说。 “真奇怪。”

Inside, the room was decorated like a palace, with tapestries on the walls and magnificent paintings in golden frames. Albert had never seen such luxury. "My father knows all of Europe's noblemen," he told Beauchamp, "but I've never heard of the Count of Monte Cristo. Who is this man?" A door flew open and in swept Edmond Dantes. His face was disguised by a neat beard and he wore a velvet cloak, intricately

在里面，房间装饰得像宫殿一样，墙上挂着挂毯，还有金框里的宏伟画作。 阿尔贝从来没有见过这样的奢侈。 “我父亲认识欧洲所有的贵族，”他对波尚说，“但我从来没有听说过基督山伯爵。 这个人是谁？”一扇门突然开了，爱德蒙·唐太斯走了进来。 他的脸被整齐的胡须遮住了，他穿着一件天鹅绒斗篷，很复杂

embroidered with gold. He introduced himself as the Count of Monte Cristo. "Gentlemen," the Count said, bowing gracefully, "I hoped you would join me to watch the carnival from my balcony." As the Count led the way, Albert whispered to Beauchamp. "How mysterious! His skin is as white as snow. It is as if he has been living underground."

绣着金子。他介绍自己是基督山伯爵。 “先生们，”伯爵说，优雅地鞠了一躬，“我希望你们能和我一起在我的阳台上观看狂欢节。” 伯爵在前面领路时，阿尔贝低声对波尚说。 “多么神秘!他的皮肤像雪一样白。 好像他一直住在地下似的。”

Fireworks fizzed into the sky as the carnival began. Costumed performers paraded through the streets, dancing, juggling and singing songs. As Albert and Beauchamp watched, the Count charmed them with tales of his travels around the world. "But it is Paris that I would most like to visit," he said. "My dear Count," Albert said. "I live in Paris! You must come and visit." "I would love to," said the Count. "Can you recommend a banker in the city to look after my money?" "There is none finer than Baron Danglars," Albert replied. "And you can meet my father too, Fernand Mondego." A muscle twitched in the Count's neck. "Perfect," he said. "I will come in exactly one month, at three o'clock." As more fireworks exploded over the balcony, Albert leaned to Beauchamp. "What a magnificent man!" he whispered. "I cannot wait for him to meet my parents."

随着狂欢节的开始，烟花冒着嘶嘶声飞向天空。 盛装的表演者在街上游行，跳舞，耍杂耍，唱歌。 在阿尔贝和波尚的注视下，伯爵用他周游世界的故事迷住了他们。 “但我最想去的是巴黎，”他说。 “我亲爱的伯爵，”阿尔贝说。 “我住在巴黎！”你一定要来看我。” “我很愿意。”伯爵说。 “你能推荐一个城里的银行家来管我的钱吗？”“没有比腾格拉尔男爵更好的了。”阿尔贝回答。 “您也可以见见我的父亲，弗尔南多·蒙台哥。” 伯爵脖子上的肌肉抽搐了一下。 “太好了，”他说。“我将在整整一个月的三点钟来。” 当更多的焰火在阳台上爆炸时，阿尔贝向波尚凑了凑身子。 “多么了不起的人啊！”他低声说。 “我迫不及待地想让他见见我的父母。”