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House at O'Toy Mystery

19:21 recording · EN · 3 speakers

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Brief overview

Monte Cristo lures Bertuccio to the Auteuil house where the steward once took his vengeance on Villefort.

  1. The house was chosen, not stumbled uponMonte Cristo buys No. 28 Rue de la Fontaine at Auteuil and walks his steward through it step by step, watching him break.
  2. Bertuccio's terror is a confession waitingThe Count observes that the devil most obstinate to be expelled is a secret, and reads the steward's pallor and trembling hand as proof of one.
  3. Villefort links the vendetta to the lawThe concierge's account of the Marquis of Saint miron's daughter marrying the king's attorney puts the magistrate Bertuccio calls a villain inside the same walls.
Executive Summary AI
  • Chapter 43 opens with Monte Cristo watching his steward Bertuccio cross himself in the Corsican manner and mutter a prayer, then ordering him to call out Rue de la Fontaine, No. 28 to the coachman, at the far end of the village of Auteuil.
  • At the door the concierge tells them the old master was the Marquis of Saint miron, a staunch follower of the Bourbons who came but seldom and had not been there for five years, and whose only daughter married Monsieur de Villefort, the king's attorney at Nîmes and afterwards at Versailles; she died one and twenty years ago.
  • Lighted only by a carriage lamp, Bertuccio follows the Count down the private staircase but breaks at the garden door, crying that it is impossible and he can go no farther, while the moon struggles through clouds over a badly kept English garden.
  • Monte Cristo presses him coldly, recalling that the Abbe Busoni sent him with a letter of recommendation after his journey in France in 1829, warning that in France gendarmes, judges and scaffolds handle such affairs, and finally dismissing him from his service.
  • Threatened with the scaffold if he leaves, Bertuccio confesses that his vengeance was accomplished in this very house, that the grave of a buried child lies two paces from where the blow fell, and that the upright magistrate Monsieur de Villefort was a villain — proof of which he once had and lost.
Key Quote
“What are you thinking of this evening?”
— Monte Cristo
Key Quote
“a staunch follower of the Bourbons, he had an only daughter who married Monsieur de Villefort,”
— the concierge
Key Quote
“No, monsieur, it is impossible. I can go no farther.”
— Bertuccio

Transcript

0:00 THE HOUSE AT O'TOY Chapter 43 The House at Otoe Monte Cristo noticed, as they descended the staircase, that Bertuccio signed himself in
0:31 the Corsican manner, that is, had formed the sign of the cross in the air with his thumb,
0:37 and, as he seated himself in the carriage, muttered a short prayer.
0:43 Any one but a man of exhaustless thirst for knowledge would have had pity on seeing the steward's extraordinary had continued to augment as they entered the village bertuccio Count, fixing his eyes on the steward to whom he
1:28 gave this order. Bertuccio's forehead was covered with perspiration, however he obeyed, and leaning
1:37 out of the window he cried to the coachman, Rue de la Fontaine, No. 28. No. 28 was situated at the extremity of the village. During the drive,
1:50 night had set in, and darkness gave the surroundings the artificial appearance of a
1:55 scene on the stage. The carriage stopped, the footman sprang off the box and opened the door. Well, said the Count,
2:06 you do not get out, Monsieur Bertuccio,
2:08 you are going to stay in the carriage then?
2:12 What are you thinking of this evening?
2:16 Bertuccio sprang out and offered his shoulder to the Count,
2:20 who this time leaned upon it
2:22 as he descended the three steps of the carriage.
2:47 Knock, said the Count count and announce me bertuccio knocked the door opened to the concierge the notary's order.
2:52 "'The house is sold, then?' demanded the concierge.
2:55 "'And this gentleman is coming to live here?' "'Yes, my friend,' returned the count,
2:59 "'and I will endeavour to give you no cause to regret your old master.'
3:04 "'Oh, monsieur,' said the concierge,
3:07 I shall not have much cause to regret him,
3:10 for he came here but seldom.
3:13 It is five years since he was here last,
3:15 and he did well to sell the house,
3:17 for it did not bring him in anything at all.
3:21 What was the name of your old master?
3:24 said Monte Cristo.
3:32 The Marquis of Saint miron ah i am sure he has not sold the house for what he gave for it the marquis of st miron returned the count the name is not unknown to me the marquis oféran, and he appeared to meditate.
3:52 An old gentleman, continued the concierge, a staunch follower of the Bourbons, he had an only daughter who married Monsieur de Villefort,
3:57 who had been the king's attorney at Nîmes and afterwards at Versailles.
4:02 Monte Cristo glanced at Bertuccio, who became whiter than the wall against which he
4:08 leaned to prevent himself from falling. And is not this daughter dead? demanded Monte Cristo.
4:17 I fancy I have heard, sir. 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 me a light. Shall I accompany you, Monsieur? No, it is unnecessary. Bertuccio will show me a light.
4:50 And Monte Cristo accompanied these words by the gift of two gold pieces, which produced a torrent
4:57 of thanks and blessings from the concierge. Ah, Monsieur, said he, after having vainly searched on the mantelpiece and the shelves i have not got any candles take one of the carriage lamps bertuccio said the count and show me the apartments
5:18 the steward obeyed in silence but it was easy to see from the manner in which the hand that held the light trembled how much it cost him to obey they went over a tolerably large ground floor a the garden ah here is a private staircase said the count that is convenient light me m bertuccio and go first we will see where it leads to the garden. And pray, how do you know that?
6:06 It ought to do so, at least.
6:10 Well, let us be sure of that.
6:14 Bertuccio sighed and went on first.
6:17 The stairs did indeed lead to the garden.
6:21 At the outer door the steward paused.

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