9 The Count's party

Chapter 9 The Count's party For the next few weeks, there was only one name that interested anyone in Paris society- the Count of Monte Cristo. At plays, operas and dinners, everyone asked about this mysterious man and his magnificent wealth. As if to answer, the Count threw a lavish party at his new house. All the richest nobles arrived dressed in their most stylish clothes and dripping with jewels. But everyone's eyes were on the Count, as he moved gracefully among his guests.

在接下来的几个星期里，巴黎社交界的人只对一个名字感兴趣，那就是基督山伯爵。 在戏剧、歌剧和宴会上，每个人都问起这个神秘的人和他的巨额财富。 似乎是为了回答这个问题，伯爵在他的新房子里举行了一场盛大的宴会。 所有最富有的贵族都穿着最时髦的衣服，佩戴着珠宝。 但是每个人的目光都集中在伯爵身上，他优雅地在客人之间走来走去。

None of the guests studied their host closer than Mercedes. As the Count passed, she took his arm. "It is hot in here, Count," she said. "Perhaps you would take a walk with me in the garden?" For a second, the Count's calm smile vanished and panic flashed across his face. Mercedes took his arm and they strolled among elegant fountains and lime trees hung with twinkling Chinese lanterns.

没有一个客人比梅塞苔丝更仔细地打量他们的主人。 伯爵走过时，她挽起他的胳膊。 “这里太热了，伯爵。”她说。 “也许你愿意和我到花园里去散散步？”刹那间，伯爵平静的笑容消失了，恐慌在他的脸上闪过。 美塞苔丝挽着他的胳膊，他们漫步在优雅的喷泉和挂着闪烁的中国灯笼的酸橙树之间。

"Albert tells me that you have sailed all over the world Count," Mercedes said. "I wonder if you ever met a sailor named Edmond Dantes?" The Count flinched. "I have not madame. Is he a friend?" "He was a man I loved. But I was told that he died in prison, many years ago." The Count flinched again. His jaw clenched. "Who told you that?" he demanded. But before Mercedes could reply, Danglars interrupted their walk. "Excuse me Count," he asked, "but I wonder if you have given any thought to my services as a banker?" The Count turned. He looked at Danglars with awful calmness. "Very well Baron," he said, "the time has come. Follow me." The Count led Danglars into his drawing room, where he opened a wooden chest. "I would like you to look after my entire fortune," he said. Danglars' eyes glinted with greed. The chest was filled with diamonds, rubies and emeralds that glimmered like a rainbow in the gaslight.

“阿尔贝告诉我，伯爵，您曾经驾船环游过世界。” “我不知道您见过一个叫爱德蒙·唐太斯的水手吗？”伯爵畏缩了一下。 “我没有，夫人。他是你的朋友吗？”“他是我爱的人。 但我听说他多年前就死在监狱里了。” 伯爵又退缩了。他的下巴紧咬着。 “谁告诉你的？”他质问道。 美塞苔丝还没来得及回答，腾格拉尔就打断了他们的散步。 “对不起，伯爵，”他问道，“我不知道您是否考虑过我作为银行家的服务？”伯爵转过身来。 他平静得可怕地望着腾格拉尔。 “很好，男爵，”他说，“时机到了。 跟我来。”伯爵把腾格拉尔领进客厅，打开一只木箱。 “我想让你照看我的全部财产，”他说。 腾格拉尔的眼睛里闪烁着贪婪的光芒。 箱子里装满了钻石、红宝石和祖母绿，在煤气灯下闪烁着彩虹般的光芒。

"Can you take them to your bank immediately?" asked the Count. Without another word, Danglars picked up the chest and carried it from the room. The Count smiled grimly. His plan for revenge had begun. "Your greed ruined my life Danglars," he said to himself. "Now watch as it ruins your own."

“您能马上把它们送到您的银行去吗？”伯爵问道。 腾格拉尔二话没说，拿起那只箱子，把它带出了房间。 伯爵苦笑了一下。他的复仇计划开始了。 “你的贪婪毁了我的生活，腾格拉尔，”他自言自语道。 “现在看着它毁了你自己的。”