Chapter 165: Chapter 165

"So what’s your point?"

"Patience, patience!"

"I’m being patient. Continue."

"Then suddenly I see you ride through the gate with a groom, a fancy carriage, and expensive new clothes. You must have struck gold or become a stockbroker."

"So you admit you’re jealous?"

"No, I’m happy for you, so happy I wanted to congratulate you. But since I’m not exactly dressed for the occasion, I chose my moment carefully so I wouldn’t embarrass you."

"Yes, what perfect timing!" Andrea exclaimed sarcastically. "You approach me right in front of my servant."

"What choice did I have, boy? I talk to you when I can catch you. You’ve got a fast horse and a light carriage, and you’re naturally slippery as an eel. If I’d missed you tonight, I might never get another chance."

"As you can see, I’m not hiding from anyone."

"Lucky you. I wish I could say the same, I have to hide. Plus, I was afraid you wouldn’t recognize me, but you did," Caderousse added with his unpleasant smile. "Very polite of you."

"What do you want?" Andrea asked flatly.

"You’re not very affectionate toward me, Benedetto, my old friend. That’s not right. Be careful, or I might become difficult."

The threat dampened the young man’s anger. He urged the horse forward again at a trot.

"You shouldn’t talk like that to an old friend, Caderousse, as you said yourself. You’re from Marseilles, and I’m-"

"So you know where you’re from now?"

"No, but I was raised in Corsica. You’re old and stubborn, I’m young and headstrong. Between people like us, threats are pointless. Everything should be settled amicably. Is it my fault that fortune has smiled on me while frowning on you?"

"Fortune’s been good to you, then? Your carriage, your groom, your clothes, none of it’s rented? Good, even better," Caderousse said, his eyes sparkling with greed.

"You knew that before you even spoke to me," Andrea said, growing more agitated. "If I’d been wearing a rag on my head like yours, with torn clothes on my back and worn-out shoes on my feet, you wouldn’t have recognized me."

"You’re wrong, boy. Now that I’ve found you, nothing stops me from dressing as well as anyone, knowing how good-hearted you are. If you have two coats, you’ll give me one. I used to share my soup and beans with you when you were hungry."

"True," Andrea admitted.

"What an appetite you had! Still the same?"

"Oh yes," Andrea replied, laughing despite himself.

"How did you end up dining with that prince whose house you just left?"

"He’s not a prince, just a count."

"A count, and a rich one, right?"

"Yes, but you’d better stay away from him. He’s not the easiest person to deal with."

"Don’t worry! I have no designs on your count. You can keep him all to yourself. But," Caderousse said, that disagreeable smile returning, "you’ll have to pay for it. Understand?"

"I think with a hundred francs a month-"

"I could survive-" For more chapters visıt novel~fire~net

"On a hundred francs?"

"Look, you understand what I mean. But with-"

"With a hundred and fifty francs, I’d be quite comfortable."

"Here’s two hundred," Andrea said, placing ten gold coins in Caderousse’s hand.

"Visit the steward on the first of every month, and you’ll receive the same amount."

"There you go, insulting me again."

"By making me deal with servants when I want to do business with you directly."

"Fine, fine. Take it from me then. As long as I’m receiving my income, you’ll get yours."

"That’s more like it! I always said you were a good guy, and it’s a blessing when good fortune comes to someone like you. But tell me everything!"

"Why do you want to know?" Cavalcanti asked.

"What, defying me again?"

"No, the truth is, I found my father."

"What? A real father?"

"Yes, as long as he keeps paying me-"

"You’ll honor and believe in him. That’s the spirit! What’s his name?"

"Is he happy with you?"

"So far, I seem to be serving his purposes."

"And who found this father for you?"

"The Count of Monte Cristo."

"The man whose house you just left?"

"I wish you’d try to get me a position with him as the grandfather, since he’s the one with all the money!"

"I’ll mention you to him. Meanwhile, what are your plans?"

"How kind of you to worry about me."

"Since you’re so interested in my affairs, I think it’s my turn to ask you some questions."

"Fair enough. Well, I’ll rent a room in a respectable house, wear a decent coat, shave every day, and read the papers at a café. In the evenings, I’ll go to the theater. I’ll look like some retired shopkeeper. That’s what I’m aiming for."

"If you actually follow through with this plan and stay on the straight path, that would be ideal."

"You think so? And you, what will you become? Part of the aristocracy?"

"Ah, who knows?" Andrea said.

"Maybe Major Cavalcanti already is, though I suppose hereditary titles don’t matter much anymore."

"No politics, Caderousse. Now that you have what you want and we understand each other, jump down from the carriage and disappear."

"Not so fast, my friend."

"Think about it for a moment. With this red headscarf, barely any shoes, no papers, and ten gold coins in my pocket, not counting what was already there, making about two hundred francs total, I’d definitely get arrested at the city gate. Then to defend myself, I’d have to say you gave me the money. That would trigger an investigation, they’d discover I left Toulon prison without proper authorization, and I’d be escorted right back to the Mediterranean coast. I’d become simply Prisoner Number 106 again, and goodbye to my dream of looking like a retired shopkeeper! No, no, my boy. I prefer to remain honorably in the capital."

Andrea scowled. The reputed son of Major Cavalcanti was definitely a willful person. He pulled back on the reins for a moment, threw a quick glance around, and then his hand slipped into his pocket, where it began toying with a pistol.

But Caderousse, who’d never taken his eyes off his companion, reached behind his back and opened a long Spanish knife he always carried for emergencies. The two "friends," as we can see, were well-matched and understood each other perfectly.

Andrea’s hand left his pocket harmlessly and moved up to stroke his red mustache, which he played with for a moment.

"Good Caderousse," he said. "How happy you’ll be."

"I’ll do my best," said the former innkeeper, closing his knife.

"Well then, we’ll go into the city. But how will you get through the gate without raising suspicion? It seems to me you’re in more danger riding than walking."

"Wait," Caderousse said. "We’ll figure it out."

He grabbed the large overcoat with the wide collar that the groom had left in the carriage and put it on. Then he took off Andrea’s hat and placed it on his own head. Finally, he adopted the casual posture of a servant whose master drives himself.

"But tell me," Andrea said, "am I supposed to ride bareheaded?"

"Come on," Caderousse said. "It’s so windy your hat could easily have blown off."

"Enough of this," Cavalcanti said.

"What are you waiting for?" Caderousse asked. "I hope I’m not the problem."

"Quiet," Andrea said.

They passed through the gate without incident. At the first cross street, Andrea stopped his horse, and Caderousse jumped out.

"Well!" Andrea said. "What about my servant’s coat and my hat?"

"Ah," Caderousse replied. "You wouldn’t want me to risk catching cold, would you?"

"But what am I supposed to do?"

"You? Oh, you’re young, while I’m getting old. Goodbye, Benedetto!"

He ran into a courtyard and disappeared.

"Alas," Andrea sighed. "No one can be completely happy in this world."