The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (books to read to improve english txt) đ
- Author: Alexandre Dumas
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âWell, M. Morrel,â said Danglars, âyou have heard of the misfortune that has befallen us?â
âYesâyes: poor Captain Leclere! He was a brave and an honest man.â
âAnd a first-rate seaman, one who had seen long and honorable service, as became a man charged with the interests of a house so important as that of Morrel & Son,â replied Danglars.
âBut,â replied the owner, glancing after Dantès, who was watching the anchoring of his vessel, âit seems to me that a sailor needs not be so old as you say, Danglars, to understand his business, for our friend Edmond seems to understand it thoroughly, and not to require instruction from anyone.â
âYes,â said Danglars, darting at Edmond a look gleaming with hate. âYes, he is young, and youth is invariably self-confident. Scarcely was the captainâs breath out of his body when he assumed the command without consulting anyone, and he caused us to lose a day and a half at the Island of Elba, instead of making for Marseilles direct.â
âAs to taking command of the vessel,â replied Morrel, âthat was his duty as captainâs mate; as to losing a day and a half off the Island of Elba, he was wrong, unless the vessel needed repairs.â
âThe vessel was in as good condition as I am, and as, I hope you are, M. Morrel, and this day and a half was lost from pure whim, for the pleasure of going ashore, and nothing else.â
âDantès,â said the shipowner, turning towards the young man, âcome this way!â
âIn a moment, sir,â answered Dantès, âand Iâm with you.â Then calling to the crew, he said, âLet go!â
The anchor was instantly dropped, and the chain ran rattling through the port-hole. Dantès continued at his post in spite of the presence of the pilot, until this manĹuvre was completed, and then he added, âHalf-mast the colors, and square the yards!â
âYou see,â said Danglars, âhe fancies himself captain already, upon my word.â
âAnd so, in fact, he is,â said the owner.
âExcept your signature and your partnerâs, M. Morrel.â
âAnd why should he not have this?â asked the owner; âhe is young, it is true, but he seems to me a thorough seaman, and of full experience.â
A cloud passed over Danglarsâ brow.
âYour pardon, M. Morrel,â said Dantès, approaching, âthe vessel now rides at anchor, and I am at your service. You hailed me, I think?â
Danglars retreated a step or two. âI wished to inquire why you stopped at the Island of Elba?â
âI do not know, sir; it was to fulfil the last instructions of Captain Leclere, who, when dying, gave me a packet for Marshal Bertrand.â
âThen did you see him, Edmond?â
âWho?â
âThe marshal.â
âYes.â
Morrel looked around him, and then, drawing Dantès on one side, he said suddenlyâ
âAnd how is the emperor?â
âVery well, as far as I could judge from the sight of him.â
âYou saw the emperor, then?â
âHe entered the marshalâs apartment while I was there.â
âAnd you spoke to him?â
âWhy, it was he who spoke to me, sir,â said Dantès, with a smile.
âAnd what did he say to you?â
âAsked me questions about the vessel, the time she left Marseilles, the course she had taken, and what was her cargo. I believe, if she had not been laden, and I had been her master, he would have bought her. But I told him I was only mate, and that she belonged to the firm of Morrel & Son. âAh, yes,â he said, âI know them. The Morrels have been shipowners from father to son; and there was a Morrel who served in the same regiment with me when I was in garrison at Valence.ââ
âPardieu! and that is true!â cried the owner, greatly delighted. âAnd that was Policar Morrel, my uncle, who was afterwards a captain. Dantès, you must tell my uncle that the emperor remembered him, and you will see it will bring tears into the old soldierâs eyes. Come, come,â continued he, patting Edmondâs shoulder kindly, âyou did very right, Dantès, to follow Captain Leclereâs instructions, and touch at Elba, although if it were known that you had conveyed a packet to the marshal, and had conversed with the emperor, it might bring you into trouble.â
âHow could that bring me into trouble, sir?â asked Dantès; âfor I did not even know of what I was the bearer; and the emperor merely made such inquiries as he would of the first comer. But, pardon me, here are the health officers and the customs inspectors coming alongside.â And the young man went to the gangway. As he departed, Danglars approached, and said,â
âWell, it appears that he has given you satisfactory reasons for his landing at Porto-Ferrajo?â
âYes, most satisfactory, my dear Danglars.â
âWell, so much the better,â said the supercargo; âfor it is not pleasant to think that a comrade has not done his duty.â
âDantès has done his,â replied the owner, âand that is not saying much. It was Captain Leclere who gave orders for this delay.â
âTalking of Captain Leclere, has not Dantès given you a letter from him?â
âTo me?ânoâwas there one?â
âI believe that, besides the packet, Captain Leclere confided a letter to his care.â
âOf what packet are you speaking, Danglars?â
âWhy, that which Dantès left at Porto-Ferrajo.â
âHow do you know he had a packet to leave at Porto-Ferrajo?â
Danglars turned very red.
âI was passing close to the door of the captainâs cabin, which was half open, and I saw him give the packet and letter to Dantès.â
âHe did not speak to me of it,â replied the shipowner; âbut if there be any letter he will give it to me.â
Danglars reflected for a moment. âThen, M. Morrel, I beg of you,â said he, ânot to say a word to Dantès on the subject. I may have been mistaken.â
At this moment the young man returned; Danglars withdrew.
âWell, my dear Dantès, are you now free?â inquired the owner.
âYes, sir.â
âYou have not been long detained.â
âNo. I gave the custom-house officers a copy of our bill of lading; and as to the other papers, they sent a man off with the pilot, to whom I gave them.â
âThen you have nothing more to do here?â
âNoâeverything is all right now.â
âThen you can come and dine with me?â
âI really must ask you to excuse me, M. Morrel. My first visit is due to my father, though I am not the less grateful for the honor you have done me.â
âRight, Dantès, quite right. I always knew you were a good son.â
âAnd,â inquired Dantès, with some hesitation, âdo you know how my father is?â
âWell, I believe, my dear Edmond, though I have not seen him lately.â
âYes, he likes to keep himself shut up in his little room.â
âThat proves, at least, that he has wanted for nothing during your absence.â
Dantès smiled. âMy father is proud, sir, and if he had not a meal left, I doubt if he would have asked anything from anyone, except from Heaven.â
âWell, then, after this first visit has been made we shall count on you.â
âI must again excuse myself, M. Morrel, for after this first visit has been paid I have another which I am most anxious to pay.â
âTrue, Dantès, I forgot that there was at the Catalans someone who expects you no less impatiently than your fatherâthe lovely MercĂŠdès.â
Dantès blushed.
âAh, ha,â said the shipowner, âI am not in the least surprised, for she has been to me three times, inquiring if there were any news of the Pharaon. Peste! Edmond, you have a very handsome mistress!â
âShe is not my mistress,â replied the young sailor, gravely; âshe is my betrothed.â
âSometimes one and the same thing,â said Morrel, with a smile.
âNot with us, sir,â replied Dantès.
âWell, well, my dear Edmond,â continued the owner, âdonât let me detain you. You have managed my affairs so well that I ought to allow you all the time you require for your own. Do you want any money?â
âNo, sir; I have all my pay to takeânearly three monthsâ wages.â
âYou are a careful fellow, Edmond.â
âSay I have a poor father, sir.â
âYes, yes, I know how good a son you are, so now hasten away to see your father. I have a son too, and I should be very wroth with those who detained him from me after a three monthsâ voyage.â
âThen I have your leave, sir?â
âYes, if you have nothing more to say to me.â
âNothing.â
âCaptain Leclere did not, before he died, give you a letter for me?â
âHe was unable to write, sir. But that reminds me that I must ask your leave of absence for some days.â
âTo get married?â
âYes, first, and then to go to Paris.â
âVery good; have what time you require, Dantès. It will take quite six weeks to unload the cargo, and we cannot get you ready for sea until three months after that; only be back again in three months, for the Pharaon,â added the owner, patting the young sailor on the back, âcannot sail without her captain.â
âWithout her captain!â cried Dantès, his eyes sparkling with animation; âpray mind what you say, for you are touching on the most secret wishes of my heart. Is it really your intention to make me captain of the Pharaon?â
âIf I were sole owner weâd shake hands on it now, my dear Dantès, and call it settled; but I have a partner, and you know the Italian proverbâChi ha compagno ha padroneââHe who has a partner has a master.â But the thing is at least half done, as you have one out of two votes. Rely on me to procure you the other; I will do my best.â
âAh, M. Morrel,â exclaimed the young seaman, with tears in his eyes, and grasping the ownerâs hand, âM. Morrel, I thank you in the name of my father and of MercĂŠdès.â
âThatâs all right, Edmond. Thereâs a providence that watches over the deserving. Go to your father; go and see MercĂŠdès, and afterwards come to me.â
âShall I row you ashore?â
âNo, thank you; I shall remain and look over the accounts with Danglars. Have you been satisfied with him this voyage?â
âThat is according to the sense you attach to the question, sir. Do you mean is he a good comrade? No, for I think he never liked me since the day when I was silly enough, after a little quarrel we had, to propose to him to stop for ten minutes at the island of Monte Cristo to settle the disputeâa proposition which I was wrong to suggest, and he quite right to refuse. If you mean as responsible agent when you ask me the question, I believe there is nothing to say against him, and that you will be content with the way in which he has performed his duty.â
âBut tell me, Dantès, if you had command of the Pharaon should you be glad to see Danglars remain?â
âCaptain or mate, M. Morrel, I shall always have the greatest respect for those who possess the ownersâ confidence.â
âThatâs right, thatâs right, Dantès! I see you are a thoroughly good fellow, and will detain you no longer. Go, for I see how impatient you are.â
âThen I have leave?â
âGo, I tell you.â
âMay I have the use of your skiff?â
âCertainly.â
âThen, for the present, M. Morrel, farewell, and a thousand thanks!â
âI hope soon to see you again, my dear Edmond. Good luck to you.â
The young sailor jumped into the skiff, and sat down in the stern sheets, with the order that he be put ashore at La Canebière. The two oarsmen bent to their work, and the little boat glided away as rapidly as
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