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House at Hauteville

16:12 recording · EN · 1 speaker

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Brief overview

Monte Cristo buys the Hauteville house where Bertuccio's vengeance was done, forcing the terrified steward to confess.

  1. The count chose the house on purposeNumber 28, Rue de la Fontaine is the one house at Hauteville where Bertuccio's crime took place, and the count walks him through it room by room.
  2. Bertuccio's body betrays him before his wordsHis trembling hand on the lamp, his pallor and his refusal to pass the plane tree tell the count more than the confession does.
  3. Dismissal, not violence, breaks the stewardOnly when told he is no longer at the count's service does Bertuccio swear to reveal what even his confessor was not told.
Executive Summary AI
  • The count insists his steward Bertuccio accompany him on a drive beyond the walls, and twenty minutes later they reach the village, where Bertuccio examines every house in feverish anxiety until the count orders the coachman to stop at Rue de la Fontaine, number 28.
  • The concierge explains that the old master was the Marquis of Saint-Méran, a stanch follower of the Bourbons, whose daughter married M. de Villefort, the king's attorney at Nimes and afterwards at Versailles, and that she died one and twenty years ago.
  • Led down the private staircase to the garden, Bertuccio sets down the lantern and refuses to go further, bursting out that it is not natural the house should be number 28, Rue de la Fontaine, the house of the assassination.
  • Under the count's threat that he conforms to French law and will not put himself within its compass for a servant's sake, Bertuccio falls at his feet and admits it was simply vengeance, accomplished in this very house, though not upon the Marquis de Saint-Méran.
  • Told he is no longer in service unless he speaks, Bertuccio swears to tell everything the Abbey Bosoni never heard, names Monsieur de Villefort, the most rigid magistrate on the bench, as the villain, and admits the proof he once had is lost though it might be recovered by careful search.
Key Quote
“Ah, here is a private staircase, said the count. That is convenient.”
— Monte Cristo
Key Quote
“No, Masturo, it is impossible.”
— Bertuccio
Key Quote
“I am sure you would not have forced me to come.”
— Bertuccio

Transcript

0:00 The House at Hauteville montecrucius too noticed as they descended the staircase that petruchio sunned himself in a courteous mannerugnance for the count's projected drive without the walls.
0:47 But the count was too curious to let Bertuccio off from this little journey.
0:52 In twenty minutes they were at Otwill.
0:55 The steward's emotion had continued to augment as they entered the village.
0:59 Bertuccio, crossed in the corner of the carriage, began to examine with a feverish anxiety every house they passed tell them to stop at rue de la fontaine number twenty eight said the count fixing his eyes to the coachman. Rue de La Fontaine, number 28.
1:26 Number 28 was situated at the extremity of the village.
1:31 During the drive, night had set in,
1:33 and darkness gave the surroundings the artificial appearance of a scene on the stage.
1:38 The carriage stopped, the footman sprang off the box and opened the door.
1:43 Well, said the count, you do not get out, Monsieur Bertuccio?
1:48 You are going to stay in the carriage, then?
1:50 What are you thinking of this evening?
1:53 Bertuccio sprang out and offered his shoulder to the Count,
1:56 who, this time, leaned upon it as he descended the three steps of the carriage.
2:02 Knock, said the Count, and announce me.
3:26 Bertuccio knocked, the door opened opened and the concierge appeared what is it asked he it is your new master my good fellow said the footman and he held out to the concierge and this gentleman is coming to live here yes my friend returned the count and i was here last and he did well to sell the house for it did not bring him in anything at all what was the name of your old master said monte cristo the marquis of saint mernan returned the count the name is not unknown to me the marquis of saint mernan and he appeared to meditate an old gentleman continued the concierge a stanch follower of the bourbons who married M. de Villefort, who had been the king's attorney at Nimes and afterwards at Versailles.
3:33 Montecristo glanced at Patricio, who became wider than the wall against which he leaned to prevent himself from falling.
3:39 And is not this daughter dead? demanded Montecristo. I fancy I have heard so.
4:06 Yes, monsieur, one and twenty years ago, and since then we have not seen the poor marquis three times thanks thanks said monte cristo judging from the steward's utter prostration that he could not stretch the cord further without danger of breaking it "'I accompany you, monsieur.' "'No, it is unnecessary. "'Pertuscio will show me a light.' And Montecristo accompanied these words by the gift of two gold pieces,
4:10 which produced a torrent of thanks and blessings from the concierge.
4:14 "'Ah, monsieur,' said he,
4:17 after having vainly searched on the mantelpiece and the shelves,
4:20 "'I have not got any candles.'
4:23 "'Take one of the carriage lamps, Pertuscio count and show me the apartments the steward obeyed in silence but it was easy to see from the manner in which the hand that held the lights trembled how much it cost him to obey thoroughly large ground floor. A second floor consisted of a salon, a bathroom, and two bedrooms.
4:47 Near one of the bedrooms they came to a winding staircase that led down to the garden.
4:53 Ah, here is a private staircase, said the count. That is convenient.
4:59 Light me, Monsieur Bertuccio, and go first. We will see where it leads to.
5:04 Monsieur, replied Bertucciocio it leads to the garden and pray the outer door, the steward paused.
5:28 Go on, Monsieur Bertuccio, said the Count. But he was addressed to there, stupefied, bewildered,
5:35 stunned. His eager eyes glanced around, as if in search of the traces of some terrible event,
5:41 and with his clinched hands he seemed striving to shut out horrible recollections.
5:47 Well,
5:48 insisted the Count.
5:50 No, no,
5:52 cried Ratuccio, setting down the lantern
5:54 at the angle of the interior wall.
5:56 No, Masturo, it is impossible.
5:58 I can go no further.
6:01 What does this mean?
6:03 demanded the irresistible

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