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The Count of Monte Cristo
Abridged Edition
Alexandre Dumas
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eBook - ePub
The Count of Monte Cristo
Abridged Edition
Alexandre Dumas
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"A piece of perfect storytelling." â Robert Louis Stevenson. First published in 1844, The Count of Monte Cristo remains one of literature's greatest adventures. Based on actual events, this sweeping historical romance, considered to be Dumas' finest work, recounts the story of Edmond DantĂšs, a gallant young sailor whose life takes a bitter turn when, during the final days of Napoleon's reign, he is falsely accused of treason and condemned to lifelong imprisonment. After languishing for many years in a fetid dungeon, he makes his dramatic escape. In a labyrinthine tale plump with themes of justice, vengeance, lost love, and mercy and forgiveness, DantĂšs is now free to play out his elaborate plans of revenge on those who betrayed him.
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Sujet
LiteratureSous-sujet
ClassicsCHAPTER I
MARSEILLESâTHE ARRIVAL
ON THE 24th of February, 1815, the watch-tower of Notre-Dame de la Garde signalled the arrival of the three-master Pharaon, from Smyrna, Trieste, and Naples.
The usual crowd of curious spectators immediately filled the quay of Fort Saint-Jean, for at Marseilles the arrival of a ship is always a great event, especially when that ship, as was the case with the Pharaon, has been built, rigged, and laden in the dockyard of old Phocaea and belongs to a shipowner of their own town.
Meanwhile the vessel drew on, and was approaching the harbour under topsails, jib, and foresail, but so slowly and with such an air of melancholy that the spectators, always ready to sense misfortune, began to ask one another what ill-luck had overtaken those on board. However, those experienced in navigation soon saw that if there had been any ill-luck, the ship had not been the sufferer, for she advanced in perfect condition and under skilful handling; the anchor was ready to be dropped, the bowsprit shrouds loose. Beside the pilot, who was steering the Pharaon through the narrow entrance to the port, there stood a young man, quick of gesture and keen of eye, who watched every movement of the ship while repeating each of the pilotâs orders.
The vague anxiety that prevailed among the crowd affected one of the spectators so much that he could not wait until the ship reached the port; jumping into a small boat, he ordered the boatman to row him alongside the Pharaon, which he reached opposite the creek of La RĂ©serve.
On seeing this man approach, the young sailor left his post beside the pilot, and, hat in hand, leant over the shipâs bulwarks. He was a tall, lithe young man of about twenty years of age, with fine dark eyes and hair as black as ebony; his whole manner bespoke that air of calm resolution peculiar to those who, from their childhood, have been accustomed to face danger.
âAh, is that you, DantĂšs!â cried the man in the boat. âYou are looking pretty gloomy on board. What has happened?â
âA great misfortune, Monsieur Morrel,â replied the young man, âa great misfortune, especially for me! We lost our brave Captain LeclĂšre off Civita Vecchia.â
âWhat happened to him?â asked the shipowner. âWhat has happened to our worthy captain?â
âHe died of brain-fever in dreadful agony. Alas, monsieur, the whole thing was most unexpected. After a long conversation with the harbour-master, Captain LeclĂšre left Naples in a great state of agitation. In twenty-four hours he was in high fever, and died three days afterwards. We performed the usual burial service. He is now at rest off the Isle of El Giglio, sewn up in his hammock, with a thirty-six-pounder shot at his head and another at his heels. We have brought home his sword and his cross of honour to his widow. But was it worth his while,â added the young man, with a sad smile, âto wage war against the English for ten long years only to die in his bed like everybody else?â
âWell, well, Monsieur Edmond,â replied the owner, who appeared more comforted with every moment, âwe are all mortal, and the old must make way for the young, otherwise there would be no promotion. And the cargo . . . ?â
âIs all safe and sound, Monsieur Morrel, take my word for it. It has been a voyage that will bring you in a good twenty-five thousand francs!â
As they were just past the Round Tower the young man shouted out: âReady there! Lower topsails, foresail, and jib!â
The order was executed as promptly as on board a man-of-war.
âLower away! and brail all!â
At this last order, all the sails were lowered and the ship moved on almost imperceptibly.
âAnd now, Monsieur Morrel,â said DantĂšs, âhere is your purser, Monsieur Danglars, coming out of his cabin. If you will step on board he will furnish you with every particular. I must look after the anchoring and dress the ship in mourning.â
The owner did not wait to be invited twice. He seized a rope which DantĂšs flung to him, and, with an agility that would have done credit to a sailor, climbed up the ladder attached to the side of the ship, while the young man, returning to his duty, left the conversation to the individual whom he had announced under the name of Danglars, and who now came toward the owner. He was a man of twenty-five or twenty-six, of unprepossessing countenance, obsequious to his superiors, insolent to his subordinates; and besides the fact that he was the purserâand pursers are always unpopular on boardâhe was personally as much disliked by the crew as Edmond DantĂšs was beloved by them.
âWell, Monsieur Morrel,â said Danglars, âyou have heard of the misfortune that has befallen us?â
âYes, yes, poor Captain LeclĂšre! He was a brave and honest man!â
âAnd a first-rate seaman, grown old between sky and ocean, as a man should be who is entrusted with the interests of so important a firm as that of Morrel and Son,â replied Danglars.
âBut,â replied the owner, watching DantĂšs at his work, âit seems to me that a sailor need not be so old to understand his business; our friend Edmond seems to understand it thoroughly, and to require no instructions from anyone.â
âYes,â said Danglars, casting a look of hatred on DantĂšs, âyes, he is young, and youth is never lacking in self-confidence. The captain was hardly dead when, without consulting anyone, he assumed command of the ship, and was the cause of our losing a day and a half off the Isle of Elba instead of making direct for Marseilles.â
âAs captainâs mate, it was his duty to take command, but he acted wrongly in losing a day and a half off Elba unless the ship was in need of repair.â
âThe ship was as right as I am and as I hope you are, Monsieur Morrel; it was nothing more than a whim on his part, and a fancy for going ashore, that caused the delay off Elba.â
âDantĂšs,â called the owner, turning toward the young man, âjust step this way, will you?â
âOne moment, monsieur,â he replied, âand I shall be with you.â Then turning to the crew, he called out: âLet go!â
The anchor was instantly dropped and the chain ran out with a great rattle. In spite of the pilotâs presence DantĂšs remained at his post until this last task was accomplished, and then he added: âLower the flag and pennant to half-mast and slope the yards!â
âYou see,â said Danglars, âhe already imagines himself captain.â
âAnd so he is,â said his companion. âWhy should we not give him the post? I know he is young, but he seems to be an able and thoroughly experienced seaman.â
A cloud passed over Danglarsâ brow.
âYour pardon, Monsieur Morrel,â said DantĂšs, approaching. âNow that the boat is anchored, I am at your service. I believe you called me.â
Danglars retreated a step or two.
âI wished to know the reason of the delay off Elba.â
âI am unaware of the reason, monsieur; I only followed the last instructions of Captain LeclĂšre, who, when dying, gave me a packet for the MarĂ©chal Bertrand.â
âAnd did you see the MarĂ©chal?â
âYes.â
Morrel glanced around him and then drew DantĂšs on one side.
âHow is the Emperor?â he asked eagerly.
âVery well, so far as I could see. He came into the MarĂ©chalâs room while I was there.â
âDid you speak to him?â
âIt was he who spoke to me, monsieur,â said DantĂšs, smiling. âHe asked me some questions about the ship, about the time of her departure for Marseilles, the route she had followed and the cargo she carried. I believe that had she been empty and I the master, he would have bought her; but I told him I was only the mate and that the ship belonged to the firm of Morrel and Son. âAh, ah,â said he. âI know the firm. The Morrels have all been shipowners for generations, and there was a Morrel who served in the same regiment with me when I was garrisoned at Valance.ââ
âQuite true! Quite true!â Monsieur Morrel exclaimed, delighted. âIt was Policar Morrel, my uncle, who afterwards became a captain. DantĂšs, you must tell my uncle that the Emperor still remembers him and you will see tears of joy in the old soldierâs eyes. Well, well!â he added, giving DantĂšs a friendly tap on the shoulder, âyou were quite right in carrying out Captain LeclĂšreâs instructions and putting in at the Isle of Elba, though if it were known that you delivered a packet to the MarĂ©chal and talked with the Emperor you might get into trouble.â
âHow so?â said DantĂšs. âI donât even know what the packet contained, and the Emperor merely made such inquiries as he would of any newcomer. But excuse me, monsieur, for one moment, here are the medical and customs officers coming on board.â
As the young man departed Danglars approached.
âWell,â said he, âit would seem that he has given you good reasons for dropping anchor off Porto Ferrajo?â
âMost satisfactory ones, dear Monsieur Danglars.â
âSo much the better,â replied the purser, âfor it is never pleasant to see a comrade neglect his duty.â
âDantĂšs certainly did his, and there is nothing more to be said on the matter. It was Captain LeclĂšre who ordered him to call at Elba.â
âTalking of Captain LeclĂšre, hasnât DantĂšs given you a letter from him?â
âNo, was there one for me?â
âI think that, in addition to the packet, Captain LeclĂšre gave him a letter.â
âWhat packet do you mean, Danglars?â
âThe one DantĂšs delivered at Porto Ferrajo.â
âHow do you know that he had a packet for Porto Ferrajo?â
Danglars turned red.
âI was passing the captainâs door, which was ajar, and saw him give DantĂšs the packet and the letter.â
âHe has not mentioned a letter to me, but if he has one I have no doubt he will give it to me.â
âThen, Monsieur Morrel, pray donât mention it to DantĂšs. Perhaps I am mistaken.â
Just then the young man returned and Danglars retreated as before.
âWell, DantĂšs, have you finished now?â
âYes, monsieur.â
âThen you can come and dine with us?â
âI beg you to excuse me, Monsieur Morrel. I owe my first visit to my father. All the same, I greatly appreciate the honour you pay me.â
âYou are quite right, DantĂšs. I know you are a good son.â
âAnd do you know if my father is quite well?â he asked with some hesitation.
âOh, I believe so, my dear Edmond, but I have not seen him lately. At any rate I am sure that he has not wanted for anything during your absence.â
DantĂšs smiled. âMy father is proud, monsieur, and even had he been in want of everything, I doubt whether he would have asked anything of anybody except God.â
âWell, then, after this first visit has been paid, may we count on you?â
âOnce more I must ask you to excuse me, Monsieur Morrel. There is yet another visit which I am most anxious to pay.â
âTrue, DantĂšs; I had forgotten that there is at the Catalans some one who is awaiting you with as much impatience as your fatherâthe fair MercĂ©dĂšs.â
DantĂšs smiled.
âWell! well!â said the shipowner. âNow I understand why she came to me three times for news of the Pharaon. Upon my word, Edmond, you are to be envied: she is a handsome girl. But donât let me keep you any longer. You have looked after my affairs so well that it is but your due that you should now have time to look after your own. Are you in need of money?â
âNo, thank you, monsieur, I have all my pay from the voyage; that is nearly three monthsâ salary.â
âYou are a careful fellow, Edmond.â
âSay rather that I have a poor father.â
âYes, yes, I know you are a good son. Off you go to your father. I too have a son, and I should be very angry with anyone who kept him away from me after a three monthsâ voyage.â
âI have your leave, monsieur?â said the young man, saluting.
âYes, if you have nothing more to say to me. By the way, before Captain LeclĂšre died, did he not give you a letter for me?â
âHe was unable to write, monsieur. But that reminds me, I shall have to ask you for a fortnightâs leave.â
âTo get married?â
âFirst of all, and then for a journey to Paris.â
âVery well, take what time you need. It will take us quite six weeks to unload the cargo, and we shall not be ready to put to sea again for another three months. But you must be back in three months, for the Pharaon cannot sail without her captain,â he added, patting the young sailor on the back.
âWithout her captain, did you say?â cried DantĂšs, his eyes sparkling with joy. âOh! if you really mean that, monsieur, you are touching on my fondest hopes. Is it really your intention to make me captain of the Pharaon?â
âIf it depended on me alone, my dear DantĂšs, I should give you my hand saying, âIt is settled,â but I have a partner, and you know the Italian proverb, Chi ha compagne ha padrone. But half the battle is won since you already have my vote. Leave it to me to get my partnerâs for you. Now, off you go; I shall remain here awhile and go over the accounts with Danglars. By the by, were you satisfied with him on the voyage?â
âThat depends on what you mean by that question. If you mean as comrade I must say no, for I do not think he has been my friend ever since the day I was foolish enough to propose to him that we should stop for ten minutes at the Isle of Monte Cristo to settle a little dispute. I never ought to have made the suggestion, and he was quite right in refusing. If you mean as purser I have nothing to say against him, and I think you will be satisfied with the way in which he has discharged his duties.â
Thereupon the young sailor jumped into the boat, seated himself in the stern and ordered the oarsmen to put him ashore at the CannebiĂšre. With a smile on his lips M. Morrel glanced after him till he saw him jump ashore. There he was immediately lost in the motley crowd that, from five oâclock in the morning until nine oâclock in the evening, collects in that f...