"True," interrupted the young man, "I had not looked upon it in that light.""Now," replied Monte Cristo "there is only one source of uneasiness left in your father's mind, which is this -- he is anxious to know how you have been employed during your long absence from him, how you have been treated by your persecutors, and if they have conducted themselves towards you with all the deference due to your rank.Finally, he is anxious to see if you have been fortunate enough to escape the bad moral influence to which you have been exposed, and which is infinitely more to be dreaded than any physical suffering; he wishes to discover if the fine abilities with which nature had endowed you have been weakened by want of culture; and, in short, whether you consider yourself capable of resuming and retaining in the world the high position to which your rank entitles you.""Sir!" exclaimed the young man, quite astounded, "I hope no false report" --"As for myself, I first heard you spoken of by my friend Wilmore, the philanthropist.I believe he found you in some unpleasant position, but do not know of what nature, for Idid not ask, not being inquisitive.Your misfortunes engaged his sympathies, so you see you must have been interesting.
He told me that he was anxious to restore you to the position which you had lost, and that he would seek your father until he found him.He did seek, and has found him, apparently, since he is here now; and, finally, my friend apprised me of your coming, and gave me a few other instructions relative to your future fortune.I am quite aware that my friend Wilmore is peculiar, but he is sincere, and as rich as a gold-mine, consequently, he may indulge his eccentricities without any fear of their ruining him, and Ihave promised to adhere to his instructions.Now, sir, pray do not be offended at the question I am about to put to you, as it comes in the way of my duty as your patron.I would wish to know if the misfortunes which have happened to you -- misfortunes entirely beyond your control, and which in no degree diminish my regard for you -- I would wish to know if they have not, in some measure, contributed to render you a stranger to the world in which your fortune and your name entitle you to make a conspicuous figure?""Sir," returned the young man, with a reassurance of manner, "make your mind easy on this score.Those who took me from my father, and who always intended, sooner or later, to sell me again to my original proprietor, as they have now done, calculated that, in order to make the most of their bargain, it would be politic to leave me in possession of all my personal and hereditary worth, and even to increase the value, if possible.I have, therefore, received a very good education, and have been treated by these kidnappers very much as the slaves were treated in Asia Minor, whose masters made them grammarians, doctors, and philosophers, in order that they might fetch a higher price in the Roman market."Monte Cristo smiled with satisfaction; it appeared as if he had not expected so much from M.Andrea Cavalcanti.
