The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (books to read to improve english txt) đ
- Author: Alexandre Dumas
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âIt was not the one she wished for most, but it seemed as if a part of her past life had returned to her.
âMercĂ©dĂšs seized Fernandâs hands with a transport which he took for love, but which was only joy at being no longer alone in the world, and seeing at last a friend, after long hours of solitary sorrow. And then, it must be confessed, Fernand had never been hatedâhe was only not precisely loved. Another possessed all MercĂ©dĂšsâ heart; that other was absent, had disappeared, perhaps was dead. At this last thought MercĂ©dĂšs burst into a flood of tears, and wrung her hands in agony; but the thought, which she had always repelled before when it was suggested to her by another, came now in full force upon her mind; and then, too, old DantĂšs incessantly said to her, âOur Edmond is dead; if he were not, he would return to us.â
âThe old man died, as I have told you; had he lived, MercĂ©dĂšs, perchance, had not become the wife of another, for he would have been there to reproach her infidelity. Fernand saw this, and when he learned of the old manâs death he returned. He was now a lieutenant. At his first coming he had not said a word of love to MercĂ©dĂšs; at the second he reminded her that he loved her.
âMercĂ©dĂšs begged for six months more in which to await and mourn for Edmond.â
âSo that,â said the abbĂ©, with a bitter smile, âthat makes eighteen months in all. What more could the most devoted lover desire?â Then he murmured the words of the English poet, ââFrailty, thy name is woman.ââ
âSix months afterwards,â continued Caderousse, âthe marriage took place in the church of Accoules.â
âThe very church in which she was to have married Edmond,â murmured the priest; âthere was only a change of bridegrooms.â
âWell, MercĂ©dĂšs was married,â proceeded Caderousse; âbut although in the eyes of the world she appeared calm, she nearly fainted as she passed La RĂ©serve, where, eighteen months before, the betrothal had been celebrated with him whom she might have known she still loved, had she looked to the bottom of her heart. Fernand, more happy, but not more at his easeâfor I saw at this time he was in constant dread of Edmondâs returnâFernand was very anxious to get his wife away, and to depart himself. There were too many unpleasant possibilities associated with the Catalans, and eight days after the wedding they left Marseilles.â
âDid you ever see MercĂ©dĂšs again?â inquired the priest.
âYes, during the Spanish war, at Perpignan, where Fernand had left her; she was attending to the education of her son.â
The abbĂ© started. âHer son?â said he.
âYes,â replied Caderousse, âlittle Albert.â
âBut, then, to be able to instruct her child,â continued the abbĂ©, âshe must have received an education herself. I understood from Edmond that she was the daughter of a simple fisherman, beautiful but uneducated.â
âOh,â replied Caderousse, âdid he know so little of his lovely betrothed? MercĂ©dĂšs might have been a queen, sir, if the crown were to be placed on the heads of the loveliest and most intelligent. Fernandâs fortune was already waxing great, and she developed with his growing fortune. She learned drawing, musicâeverything. Besides, I believe, between ourselves, she did this in order to distract her mind, that she might forget; and she only filled her head in order to alleviate the weight on her heart. But now her position in life is assured,â continued Caderousse; âno doubt fortune and honors have comforted her; she is rich, a countess, and yetâââ
Caderousse paused.
âAnd yet what?â asked the abbĂ©.
âYet, I am sure, she is not happy,â said Caderousse.
âWhat makes you believe this?â
âWhy, when I found myself utterly destitute, I thought my old friends would, perhaps, assist me. So I went to Danglars, who would not even receive me. I called on Fernand, who sent me a hundred francs by his valet-de-chambre.â
âThen you did not see either of them?â
âNo, but Madame de Morcerf saw me.â
âHow was that?â
âAs I went away a purse fell at my feetâit contained five-and-twenty louis; I raised my head quickly, and saw MercĂ©dĂšs, who at once shut the blind.â
âAnd M. de Villefort?â asked the abbĂ©.
âOh, he never was a friend of mine, I did not know him, and I had nothing to ask of him.â
âDo you not know what became of him, and the share he had in Edmondâs misfortunes?â
âNo; I only know that some time after Edmondâs arrest, he married Mademoiselle de Saint-MĂ©ran, and soon after left Marseilles; no doubt he has been as lucky as the rest; no doubt he is as rich as Danglars, as high in station as Fernand. I only, as you see, have remained poor, wretched, and forgotten.â
âYou are mistaken, my friend,â replied the abbĂ©; âGod may seem sometimes to forget for a time, while his justice reposes, but there always comes a moment when he remembersâand beholdâa proof!â
As he spoke, the abbĂ© took the diamond from his pocket, and giving it to Caderousse, said, âHere, my friend, take this diamond, it is yours.â
âWhat, for me only?â cried Caderousse, âah, sir, do not jest with me!â
âThis diamond was to have been shared among his friends. Edmond had one friend only, and thus it cannot be divided. Take the diamond, then, and sell it; it is worth fifty thousand francs, and I repeat my wish that this sum may suffice to release you from your wretchedness.â
âOh, sir,â said Caderousse, putting out one hand timidly, and with the other wiping away the perspiration which bedewed his brow,ââOh, sir, do not make a jest of the happiness or despair of a man.â
âI know what happiness and what despair are, and I never make a jest of such feelings. Take it, then, but in exchangeâââ
Caderousse, who touched the diamond, withdrew his hand.
The abbé smiled.
âIn exchange,â he continued, âgive me the red silk purse that M. Morrel left on old DantĂšsâ chimney-piece, and which you tell me is still in your hands.â
Caderousse, more and more astonished, went toward a large oaken cupboard, opened it, and gave the abbé a long purse of faded red silk, round which were two copper runners that had once been gilt. The abbé took it, and in return gave Caderousse the diamond.
âOh, you are a man of God, sir,â cried Caderousse; âfor no one knew that Edmond had given you this diamond, and you might have kept it.â
âWhich,â said the abbĂ© to himself, âyou would have done.â The abbĂ© rose, took his hat and gloves. âWell,â he said, âall you have told me is perfectly true, then, and I may believe it in every particular.â
âSee, sir,â replied Caderousse, âin this corner is a crucifix in holy woodâhere on this shelf is my wifeâs testament; open this book, and I will swear upon it with my hand on the crucifix. I will swear to you by my soulâs salvation, my faith as a Christian, I have told everything to you as it occurred, and as the recording angel will tell it to the ear of God at the day of the last judgment!â
ââTis well,â said the abbĂ©, convinced by his manner and tone that Caderousse spoke the truth. ââTis well, and may this money profit you! Adieu; I go far from men who thus so bitterly injure each other.â
The abbé with difficulty got away from the enthusiastic thanks of Caderousse, opened the door himself, got out and mounted his horse, once more saluted the innkeeper, who kept uttering his loud farewells, and then returned by the road he had travelled in coming.
When Caderousse turned around, he saw behind him La Carconte, paler and trembling more than ever.
âIs, then, all that I have heard really true?â she inquired.
âWhat? That he has given the diamond to us only?â inquired Caderousse, half bewildered with joy; âyes, nothing more true! See, here it is.â
The woman gazed at it a moment, and then said, in a gloomy voice, âSuppose itâs false?â
Caderousse started and turned pale.
âFalse!â he muttered. âFalse! Why should that man give me a false diamond?â
âTo get your secret without paying for it, you blockhead!â
Caderousse remained for a moment aghast under the weight of such an idea.
âOh!â he said, taking up his hat, which he placed on the red handkerchief tied round his head, âwe will soon find out.â
âIn what way?â
âWhy, the fair is on at Beaucaire, there are always jewellers from Paris there, and I will show it to them. Look after the house, wife, and I shall be back in two hours,â and Caderousse left the house in haste, and ran rapidly in the direction opposite to that which the priest had taken.
âFifty thousand francs!â muttered La Carconte when left alone; âit is a large sum of money, but it is not a fortune.â
Chapter 28. The Prison Register
The day after that in which the scene we have just described had taken place on the road between Bellegarde and Beaucaire, a man of about thirty or two-and-thirty, dressed in a bright blue frock coat, nankeen trousers, and a white waistcoat, having the appearance and accent of an Englishman, presented himself before the mayor of Marseilles.
âSir,â said he, âI am chief clerk of the house of Thomson & French, of Rome. We are, and have been these ten years, connected with the house of Morrel & Son, of Marseilles. We have a hundred thousand francs or thereabouts loaned on their securities, and we are a little uneasy at reports that have reached us that the firm is on the brink of ruin. I have come, therefore, express from Rome, to ask you for information.â
âSir,â replied the mayor. âI know very well that during the last four or five years misfortune has seemed to pursue M. Morrel. He has lost four or five vessels, and suffered by three or four bankruptcies; but it is not for me, although I am a creditor myself to the amount of ten thousand francs, to give any information as to the state of his finances. Ask of me, as mayor, what is my opinion of M. Morrel, and I shall say that he is a man honorable to the last degree, and who has up to this time fulfilled every engagement with scrupulous punctuality. This is all I can say, sir; if you wish to learn more, address yourself to M. de Boville, the inspector of prisons, No. 15, Rue de Nouailles; he has, I believe, two hundred thousand francs in Morrelâs hands, and if there be any grounds for apprehension, as this is a greater amount than mine, you will most probably find him better informed than myself.â
The Englishman seemed to appreciate this extreme delicacy, made his bow and went away, proceeding with a characteristic British stride towards the street mentioned.
M. de Boville was in his private room, and the Englishman, on perceiving him, made a gesture of surprise, which seemed to indicate that it was not the first time he had been in his presence. As to M. de Boville, he was in such a state of despair, that it was evident all the faculties of his mind, absorbed in the thought which occupied him at the moment, did not
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