Граф Монте-Кристо

The Dinner.

           

           Therepastwasmagnificent;MonteCristohadendeavoredcompletelytooverturntheParisianideas,andtofeedthecuriosityasmuchastheappetiteofhisguests.ItwasanOrientalfeastthatheofferedtothem,butofsuchakindastheArabianfairiesmightbesupposedtoprepare.EverydeliciousfruitthatthefourquartersoftheglobecouldprovidewasheapedinvasesfromChinaandjarsfromJapan.Rarebirds,retainingtheirmostbrilliantplumage,enormousfish,spreaduponmassivesilverdishes,togetherwitheverywineproducedintheArchipelago,AsiaMinor,ortheCape,sparklinginbottles,whosegrotesqueshapeseemedtogiveanadditionalflavortothedraughtallthese,likeoneofthedisplayswithwhichApiciusofoldgratifiedhisguests,passedinreviewbeforetheeyesoftheastonishedParisians,whounderstoodthatitwaspossibletoexpendathousandlouisuponadinnerfortenpersons,butonlyontheconditionofeatingpearls,likeCleopatra,ordrinkingrefinedgold,likeLorenzode’Medici.

           MonteCristonoticedthegeneralastonishment,andbeganlaughingandjokingaboutit."Gentlemen,"hesaid,"youwilladmitthat,whenarrivedatacertaindegreeoffortune,thesuperfluitiesoflifeareallthatcanbedesired;andtheladieswillallowthat,afterhavingrisentoacertaineminenceofposition,theidealalonecanbemoreexalted.Now,tofollowoutthisreasoning,whatisthemarvellous?thatwhichwedonotunderstand.Whatisitthatwereallydesire?thatwhichwecannotobtain.

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Страница 1114 из 1932