The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (books to read to improve english txt) đ
- Author: Alexandre Dumas
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âNo, monsieur, I do not know the writing, and yet it is tolerably plain. Whoever did it writes well. I am very fortunate,â added he, looking gratefully at Villefort, âto be examined by such a man as you; for this envious person is a real enemy.â And by the rapid glance that the young manâs eyes shot forth, Villefort saw how much energy lay hid beneath this mildness.
âNow,â said the deputy, âanswer me frankly, not as a prisoner to a judge, but as one man to another who takes an interest in him, what truth is there in the accusation contained in this anonymous letter?â And Villefort threw disdainfully on his desk the letter Dantès had just given back to him.
âNone at all. I will tell you the real facts. I swear by my honor as a sailor, by my love for MercĂŠdès, by the life of my fatherâââ
âSpeak, monsieur,â said Villefort. Then, internally, âIf RenĂŠe could see me, I hope she would be satisfied, and would no longer call me a decapitator.â
âWell, when we quitted Naples, Captain Leclere was attacked with a brain fever. As we had no doctor on board, and he was so anxious to arrive at Elba, that he would not touch at any other port, his disorder rose to such a height, that at the end of the third day, feeling he was dying, he called me to him. âMy dear Dantès,â said he, âswear to perform what I am going to tell you, for it is a matter of the deepest importance.â
ââI swear, captain,â replied I.
ââWell, as after my death the command devolves on you as mate, assume the command, and bear up for the Island of Elba, disembark at Porto-Ferrajo, ask for the grand-marshal, give him this letterâperhaps they will give you another letter, and charge you with a commission. You will accomplish what I was to have done, and derive all the honor and profit from it.â
ââI will do it, captain; but perhaps I shall not be admitted to the grand-marshalâs presence as easily as you expect?â
ââHere is a ring that will obtain audience of him, and remove every difficulty,â said the captain. At these words he gave me a ring. It was timeâtwo hours after he was delirious; the next day he died.â
âAnd what did you do then?â
âWhat I ought to have done, and what everyone would have done in my place. Everywhere the last requests of a dying man are sacred; but with a sailor the last requests of his superior are commands. I sailed for the Island of Elba, where I arrived the next day; I ordered everybody to remain on board, and went on shore alone. As I had expected, I found some difficulty in obtaining access to the grand-marshal; but I sent the ring I had received from the captain to him, and was instantly admitted. He questioned me concerning Captain Leclereâs death; and, as the latter had told me, gave me a letter to carry on to a person in Paris. I undertook it because it was what my captain had bade me do. I landed here, regulated the affairs of the vessel, and hastened to visit my affianced bride, whom I found more lovely than ever. Thanks to M. Morrel, all the forms were got over; in a word I was, as I told you, at my marriage feast; and I should have been married in an hour, and tomorrow I intended to start for Paris, had I not been arrested on this charge which you as well as I now see to be unjust.â
âAh,â said Villefort, âthis seems to me the truth. If you have been culpable, it was imprudence, and this imprudence was in obedience to the orders of your captain. Give up this letter you have brought from Elba, and pass your word you will appear should you be required, and go and rejoin your friends.
âI am free, then, sir?â cried Dantès joyfully.
âYes; but first give me this letter.â
âYou have it already, for it was taken from me with some others which I see in that packet.â
âStop a moment,â said the deputy, as Dantès took his hat and gloves. âTo whom is it addressed?â
âTo Monsieur Noirtier, Rue Coq-HĂŠron, Paris.â Had a thunderbolt fallen into the room, Villefort could not have been more stupefied. He sank into his seat, and hastily turning over the packet, drew forth the fatal letter, at which he glanced with an expression of terror.
âM. Noirtier, Rue Coq-HĂŠron, No. 13,â murmured he, growing still paler.
âYes,â said Dantès; âdo you know him?â
âNo,â replied Villefort; âa faithful servant of the king does not know conspirators.â
âIt is a conspiracy, then?â asked Dantès, who after believing himself free, now began to feel a tenfold alarm. âI have, however, already told you, sir, I was entirely ignorant of the contents of the letter.â
âYes; but you knew the name of the person to whom it was addressed,â said Villefort.
âI was forced to read the address to know to whom to give it.â
âHave you shown this letter to anyone?â asked Villefort, becoming still more pale.
âTo no one, on my honor.â
âEverybody is ignorant that you are the bearer of a letter from the Island of Elba, and addressed to M. Noirtier?â
âEverybody, except the person who gave it to me.â
âAnd that was too much, far too much,â murmured Villefort. Villefortâs brow darkened more and more, his white lips and clenched teeth filled Dantès with apprehension. After reading the letter, Villefort covered his face with his hands.
âOh,â said Dantès timidly, âwhat is the matter?â Villefort made no answer, but raised his head at the expiration of a few seconds, and again perused the letter.
âAnd you say that you are ignorant of the contents of this letter?â
âI give you my word of honor, sir,â said Dantès; âbut what is the matter? You are illâshall I ring for assistance?âshall I call?â
âNo,â said Villefort, rising hastily; âstay where you are. It is for me to give orders here, and not you.â
âMonsieur,â replied Dantès proudly, âit was only to summon assistance for you.â
âI want none; it was a temporary indisposition. Attend to yourself; answer me.â Dantès waited, expecting a question, but in vain. Villefort fell back on his chair, passed his hand over his brow, moist with perspiration, and, for the third time, read the letter.
âOh, if he knows the contents of this!â murmured he, âand that Noirtier is the father of Villefort, I am lost!â And he fixed his eyes upon Edmond as if he would have penetrated his thoughts.
âOh, it is impossible to doubt it,â cried he, suddenly.
âIn heavenâs name!â cried the unhappy young man, âif you doubt me, question me; I will answer you.â Villefort made a violent effort, and in a tone he strove to render firm:
âSir,â said he, âI am no longer able, as I had hoped, to restore you immediately to liberty; before doing so, I must consult the trial justice; what my own feeling is you already know.â
âOh, monsieur,â cried Dantès, âyou have been rather a friend than a judge.â
âWell, I must detain you some time longer, but I will strive to make it as short as possible. The principal charge against you is this letter, and you seeâââ Villefort approached the fire, cast it in, and waited until it was entirely consumed.
âYou see, I destroy it?â
âOh,â exclaimed Dantès, âyou are goodness itself.â
âListen,â continued Villefort; âyou can now have confidence in me after what I have done.â
âOh, command, and I will obey.â
âListen; this is not a command, but advice I give you.â
âSpeak, and I will follow your advice.â
âI shall detain you until this evening in the Palais de Justice. Should anyone else interrogate you, say to him what you have said to me, but do not breathe a word of this letter.â
âI promise.â It was Villefort who seemed to entreat, and the prisoner who reassured him.
âYou see,â continued he, glancing toward the grate, where fragments of burnt paper fluttered in the flames, âthe letter is destroyed; you and I alone know of its existence; should you, therefore, be questioned, deny all knowledge of itâdeny it boldly, and you are saved.â
âBe satisfied; I will deny it.â
âIt was the only letter you had?â
âIt was.â
âSwear it.â
âI swear it.â
Villefort rang. A police agent entered. Villefort whispered some words in his ear, to which the officer replied by a motion of his head.
âFollow him,â said Villefort to Dantès. Dantès saluted Villefort and retired. Hardly had the door closed when Villefort threw himself half-fainting into a chair.
âAlas, alas,â murmured he, âif the procureur himself had been at Marseilles I should have been ruined. This accursed letter would have destroyed all my hopes. Oh, my father, must your past career always interfere with my successes?â Suddenly a light passed over his face, a smile played round his set mouth, and his haggard eyes were fixed in thought.
âThis will do,â said he, âand from this letter, which might have ruined me, I will make my fortune. Now to the work I have in hand.â And after having assured himself that the prisoner was gone, the deputy procureur hastened to the house of his betrothed.
Chapter 8. The Château dâIf
The commissary of police, as he traversed the antechamber, made a sign to two gendarmes, who placed themselves one on Dantèsâ right and the other on his left. A door that communicated with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder. The Palais de Justice communicated with the prison,âa sombre edifice, that from its grated windows looks on the clock-tower of the Accoules. After numberless windings, Dantès saw a door with an iron wicket. The commissary took up an iron mallet and knocked thrice, every blow seeming to Dantès as if struck on his heart. The door opened, the two gendarmes gently pushed him forward, and the door closed with a loud sound behind him. The air he inhaled was no longer pure, but thick and mephitic,âhe was in prison.
He was conducted to a tolerably neat chamber, but grated and barred, and its appearance, therefore, did not greatly alarm him; besides, the words of Villefort, who seemed to interest himself so much, resounded still in his ears like a promise of freedom. It was four oâclock when Dantès was placed in this chamber. It was, as we have said, the 1st of March, and the prisoner was soon buried in darkness. The obscurity augmented the acuteness of his hearing; at the slightest sound he rose and hastened to the door, convinced they were about to liberate him, but the sound died away, and Dantès sank again into his seat. At last, about ten oâclock, and just as Dantès began to despair, steps were heard in the corridor, a key turned in the lock, the bolts creaked, the massy oaken door flew open, and a flood of light from two torches pervaded the apartment.
By the torchlight Dantès saw the glittering sabres and carbines of four gendarmes. He had advanced at first, but stopped at the sight of this display of force.
âAre you come to fetch me?â asked he.
âYes,â replied a gendarme.
âBy the orders of the deputy procureur?â
âI believe so.â The conviction that they came from M. de Villefort relieved all Dantèsâ apprehensions; he advanced calmly, and placed himself in the centre of the escort. A carriage waited at the door, the coachman was on the box, and a police officer sat beside him.
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