Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
unforseen events might not open his prison door, and restore `
` him to liberty? Then he raised to his lips the repast that, `
` like a voluntary Tantalus, he refused himself; but he `
` thought of his oath, and he would not break it. He persisted `
` until, at last, he had not sufficient strength to rise and `
` cast his supper out of the loophole. The next morning he `
` could not see or hear; the jailer feared he was dangerously `
` ill. Edmond hoped he was dying. `
` `
` Thus the day passed away. Edmond felt a sort of stupor `
` creeping over him which brought with it a feeling almost of `
` content; the gnawing pain at his stomach had ceased; his `
` thirst had abated; when he closed his eyes he saw myriads of `
` lights dancing before them like the will-o'-the-wisps that `
` play about the marshes. It was the twilight of that `
` mysterious country called Death! `
` `
` Suddenly, about nine o'clock in the evening, Edmond heard a `
` hollow sound in the wall against which he was lying. `
` `
` So many loathsome animals inhabited the prison, that their `
` noise did not, in general, awake him; but whether abstinence `
` had quickened his faculties, or whether the noise was really `
` louder than usual, Edmond raised his head and listened. It `
` was a continual scratching, as if made by a huge claw, a `
` powerful tooth, or some iron instrument attacking the `
` stones. `
` `
` Although weakened, the young man's brain instantly responded `
` to the idea that haunts all prisoners -- liberty! It seemed `
` to him that heaven had at length taken pity on him, and had `
` sent this noise to warn him on the very brink of the abyss. `
` Perhaps one of those beloved ones he had so often thought of `
` was thinking of him, and striving to diminish the distance `
` that separated them. `
` `
` No, no, doubtless he was deceived, and it was but one of `
` those dreams that forerun death! `
` `
` Edmond still heard the sound. It lasted nearly three hours; `
` he then heard a noise of something falling, and all was `
` silent. `
` `
` Some hours afterwards it began again, nearer and more `
` distinct. Edmond was intensely interested. Suddenly the `
` jailer entered. `
` `
` For a week since he had resolved to die, and during the four `
` days that he had been carrying out his purpose, Edmond had `
` not spoken to the attendant, had not answered him when he `
` inquired what was the matter with him, and turned his face `
` to the wall when he looked too curiously at him; but now the `
` jailer might hear the noise and put an end to it, and so `
` destroy a ray of something like hope that soothed his last `
` moments. `
` `
` The jailer brought him his breakfast. Dantes raised himself `
` up and began to talk about everything; about the bad quality `
` of the food, about the coldness of his dungeon, grumbling `
` and complaining, in order to have an excuse for speaking `
` louder, and wearying the patience of his jailer, who out of `
` kindness of heart had brought broth and white bread for his `
` prisoner. `
` `
` Fortunately, he fancied that Dantes was delirious; and `
` placing the food on the rickety table, he withdrew. Edmond `
` listened, and the sound became more and more distinct. `
` `
` "There can be no doubt about it," thought he; "it is some `
` prisoner who is striving to obtain his freedom. Oh, if I `
` were only there to help him!" Suddenly another idea took `
` possession of his mind, so used to misfortune, that it was `
` scarcely capable of hope -- the idea that the noise was made `
` by workmen the governor had ordered to repair the `
` neighboring dungeon. `
` `
` It was easy to ascertain this; but how could he risk the `
` question? It was easy to call his jailer's attention to the `
` noise, and watch his countenance as he listened; but might `
` he not by this means destroy hopes far more important than `
` the short-lived satisfaction of his own curiosity? `
` Unfortunately, Edmond's brain was still so feeble that he `
` could not bend his thoughts to anything in particular. `
` `
` He saw but one means of restoring lucidity and clearness to `
` his judgment. He turned his eyes towards the soup which the `
` jailer had brought, rose, staggered towards it, raised the `
` vessel to his lips, and drank off the contents with a `
` feeling of indescribable pleasure. He had often heard that `
` shipwrecked persons had died through having eagerly devoured `
` too much food. Edmond replaced on the table the bread he was `
` about to devour, and returned to his couch -- he did not `
` wish to die. He soon felt that his ideas became again `
` collected -- he could think, and strengthen his thoughts by `
` reasoning. Then he said to himself, "I must put this to the `
` test, but without compromising anybody. If it is a workman, `
` I need but knock against the wall, and he will cease to `
` work, in order to find out who is knocking, and why he does `
` so; but as his occupation is sanctioned by the governor, he `
` will soon resume it. If, on the contrary, it is a prisoner, `
` the noise I make will alarm him, he will cease, and not `
` begin again until he thinks every one is asleep." `
` `
` Edmond rose again, but this time his legs did not tremble, `
` and his sight was clear; he went to a corner of his dungeon, `
` detached a stone, and with it knocked against the wall where `
` the sound came. He struck thrice. At the first blow the `
` sound ceased, as if by magic. `
` `
` Edmond listened intently; an hour passed, two hours passed, `
` and no sound was heard from the wall -- all was silent `
` there. `
` `
` Full of hope, Edmond swallowed a few mouthfuls of bread and `
` water, and, thanks to the vigor of his constitution, found `
` himself well-nigh recovered. `
` `
` The day passed away in utter silence -- night came without `
` recurrence of the noise. `
` `
` "It is a prisoner," said Edmond joyfully. The night passed `
` in perfect silence. Edmond did not close his eyes. `
` `
` In the morning the jailer brought him fresh provisions -- he `
` had already devoured those of the previous day; he ate these `
` listening anxiously for the sound, walking round and round `
` his cell, shaking the iron bars of the loophole, restoring `
` vigor and agility to his limbs by exercise, and so preparing `
` himself for his future destiny. At intervals he listened to `
` learn if the noise had not begun again, and grew impatient `
` at the prudence of the prisoner, who did not guess he had `
` been disturbed by a captive as anxious for liberty as `
` himself. `
` `
` Three days passed -- seventy-two long tedious hours which he `
` counted off by minutes! `
` `
` At length one evening, as the jailer was visiting him for `
` the last time that night, Dantes, with his ear for the `
` hundredth time at the wall, fancied he heard an almost `
` imperceptible movement among the stones. He moved away, `
` walked up and down his cell to collect his thoughts, and `
` then went back and listened. `
` `
` The matter was no longer doubtful. Something was at work on `
` the other side of the wall; the prisoner had discovered the `
` danger, and had substituted a lever for a chisel. `
` `
` Encouraged by this discovery, Edmond determined to assist `
` the indefatigable laborer. He began by moving his bed, and `
` looked around for anything with which he could pierce the `
` wall, penetrate the moist cement, and displace a stone. `
` `
` He saw nothing, he had no knife or sharp instrument, the `
` window grating was of iron, but he had too often assured `
` himself of its solidity. All his furniture consisted of a `
` bed, a chair, a table, a pail, and a jug. The bed had iron `
` clamps, but they were screwed to the wood, and it would have `
` required a screw-driver to take them off. The table and `
` chair had nothing, the pail had once possessed a handle, but `
` that had been removed. `
` `
` Dantes had but one resource, which was to break the jug, and `
` with one of the sharp fragments attack the wall. He let the `
` jug fall on the floor, and it broke in pieces. `
` `
` Dantes concealed two or three of the sharpest fragments in `
` his bed, leaving the rest on the floor. The breaking of his `
` jug was too natural an accident to excite suspicion. Edmond `
` had all the night to work in, but in the darkness he could `
` not do much, and he soon felt that he was working against `
` something very hard; he pushed back his bed, and waited for `
` day. `
` `
` All night he heard the subterranean workman, who continued `
` to mine his way. Day came, the jailer entered. Dantes told `
` him that the jug had fallen from his hands while he was `
` drinking, and the jailer went grumblingly to fetch another, `
` without giving himself the trouble to remove the fragments `
` of the broken one. He returned speedily, advised the `
` prisoner to be more careful, and departed. `
` `
` Dantes heard joyfully the key grate in the lock; he listened `
` until the sound of steps died away, and then, hastily `
` displacing his bed, saw by the faint light that penetrated `
` into his cell, that he had labored uselessly the previous `
` evening in attacking the stone instead of removing the `
` plaster that surrounded it. `
` `
` The damp had rendered it friable, and Dantes was able to `
` break it off -- in small morsels, it is true, but at the end `
` of half an hour he had scraped off a handful; a `
` mathematician might have calculated that in two years, `
` supposing that the rock was not encountered, a passage `
` twenty feet long and two feet broad, might be formed. `
` `
` The prisoner reproached himself with not having thus `
` employed the hours he had passed in vain hopes, prayer, and `
` despondency. During the six years that he had been `
` imprisoned, what might he not have accomplished? `
` `
`
` him to liberty? Then he raised to his lips the repast that, `
` like a voluntary Tantalus, he refused himself; but he `
` thought of his oath, and he would not break it. He persisted `
` until, at last, he had not sufficient strength to rise and `
` cast his supper out of the loophole. The next morning he `
` could not see or hear; the jailer feared he was dangerously `
` ill. Edmond hoped he was dying. `
` `
` Thus the day passed away. Edmond felt a sort of stupor `
` creeping over him which brought with it a feeling almost of `
` content; the gnawing pain at his stomach had ceased; his `
` thirst had abated; when he closed his eyes he saw myriads of `
` lights dancing before them like the will-o'-the-wisps that `
` play about the marshes. It was the twilight of that `
` mysterious country called Death! `
` `
` Suddenly, about nine o'clock in the evening, Edmond heard a `
` hollow sound in the wall against which he was lying. `
` `
` So many loathsome animals inhabited the prison, that their `
` noise did not, in general, awake him; but whether abstinence `
` had quickened his faculties, or whether the noise was really `
` louder than usual, Edmond raised his head and listened. It `
` was a continual scratching, as if made by a huge claw, a `
` powerful tooth, or some iron instrument attacking the `
` stones. `
` `
` Although weakened, the young man's brain instantly responded `
` to the idea that haunts all prisoners -- liberty! It seemed `
` to him that heaven had at length taken pity on him, and had `
` sent this noise to warn him on the very brink of the abyss. `
` Perhaps one of those beloved ones he had so often thought of `
` was thinking of him, and striving to diminish the distance `
` that separated them. `
` `
` No, no, doubtless he was deceived, and it was but one of `
` those dreams that forerun death! `
` `
` Edmond still heard the sound. It lasted nearly three hours; `
` he then heard a noise of something falling, and all was `
` silent. `
` `
` Some hours afterwards it began again, nearer and more `
` distinct. Edmond was intensely interested. Suddenly the `
` jailer entered. `
` `
` For a week since he had resolved to die, and during the four `
` days that he had been carrying out his purpose, Edmond had `
` not spoken to the attendant, had not answered him when he `
` inquired what was the matter with him, and turned his face `
` to the wall when he looked too curiously at him; but now the `
` jailer might hear the noise and put an end to it, and so `
` destroy a ray of something like hope that soothed his last `
` moments. `
` `
` The jailer brought him his breakfast. Dantes raised himself `
` up and began to talk about everything; about the bad quality `
` of the food, about the coldness of his dungeon, grumbling `
` and complaining, in order to have an excuse for speaking `
` louder, and wearying the patience of his jailer, who out of `
` kindness of heart had brought broth and white bread for his `
` prisoner. `
` `
` Fortunately, he fancied that Dantes was delirious; and `
` placing the food on the rickety table, he withdrew. Edmond `
` listened, and the sound became more and more distinct. `
` `
` "There can be no doubt about it," thought he; "it is some `
` prisoner who is striving to obtain his freedom. Oh, if I `
` were only there to help him!" Suddenly another idea took `
` possession of his mind, so used to misfortune, that it was `
` scarcely capable of hope -- the idea that the noise was made `
` by workmen the governor had ordered to repair the `
` neighboring dungeon. `
` `
` It was easy to ascertain this; but how could he risk the `
` question? It was easy to call his jailer's attention to the `
` noise, and watch his countenance as he listened; but might `
` he not by this means destroy hopes far more important than `
` the short-lived satisfaction of his own curiosity? `
` Unfortunately, Edmond's brain was still so feeble that he `
` could not bend his thoughts to anything in particular. `
` `
` He saw but one means of restoring lucidity and clearness to `
` his judgment. He turned his eyes towards the soup which the `
` jailer had brought, rose, staggered towards it, raised the `
` vessel to his lips, and drank off the contents with a `
` feeling of indescribable pleasure. He had often heard that `
` shipwrecked persons had died through having eagerly devoured `
` too much food. Edmond replaced on the table the bread he was `
` about to devour, and returned to his couch -- he did not `
` wish to die. He soon felt that his ideas became again `
` collected -- he could think, and strengthen his thoughts by `
` reasoning. Then he said to himself, "I must put this to the `
` test, but without compromising anybody. If it is a workman, `
` I need but knock against the wall, and he will cease to `
` work, in order to find out who is knocking, and why he does `
` so; but as his occupation is sanctioned by the governor, he `
` will soon resume it. If, on the contrary, it is a prisoner, `
` the noise I make will alarm him, he will cease, and not `
` begin again until he thinks every one is asleep." `
` `
` Edmond rose again, but this time his legs did not tremble, `
` and his sight was clear; he went to a corner of his dungeon, `
` detached a stone, and with it knocked against the wall where `
` the sound came. He struck thrice. At the first blow the `
` sound ceased, as if by magic. `
` `
` Edmond listened intently; an hour passed, two hours passed, `
` and no sound was heard from the wall -- all was silent `
` there. `
` `
` Full of hope, Edmond swallowed a few mouthfuls of bread and `
` water, and, thanks to the vigor of his constitution, found `
` himself well-nigh recovered. `
` `
` The day passed away in utter silence -- night came without `
` recurrence of the noise. `
` `
` "It is a prisoner," said Edmond joyfully. The night passed `
` in perfect silence. Edmond did not close his eyes. `
` `
` In the morning the jailer brought him fresh provisions -- he `
` had already devoured those of the previous day; he ate these `
` listening anxiously for the sound, walking round and round `
` his cell, shaking the iron bars of the loophole, restoring `
` vigor and agility to his limbs by exercise, and so preparing `
` himself for his future destiny. At intervals he listened to `
` learn if the noise had not begun again, and grew impatient `
` at the prudence of the prisoner, who did not guess he had `
` been disturbed by a captive as anxious for liberty as `
` himself. `
` `
` Three days passed -- seventy-two long tedious hours which he `
` counted off by minutes! `
` `
` At length one evening, as the jailer was visiting him for `
` the last time that night, Dantes, with his ear for the `
` hundredth time at the wall, fancied he heard an almost `
` imperceptible movement among the stones. He moved away, `
` walked up and down his cell to collect his thoughts, and `
` then went back and listened. `
` `
` The matter was no longer doubtful. Something was at work on `
` the other side of the wall; the prisoner had discovered the `
` danger, and had substituted a lever for a chisel. `
` `
` Encouraged by this discovery, Edmond determined to assist `
` the indefatigable laborer. He began by moving his bed, and `
` looked around for anything with which he could pierce the `
` wall, penetrate the moist cement, and displace a stone. `
` `
` He saw nothing, he had no knife or sharp instrument, the `
` window grating was of iron, but he had too often assured `
` himself of its solidity. All his furniture consisted of a `
` bed, a chair, a table, a pail, and a jug. The bed had iron `
` clamps, but they were screwed to the wood, and it would have `
` required a screw-driver to take them off. The table and `
` chair had nothing, the pail had once possessed a handle, but `
` that had been removed. `
` `
` Dantes had but one resource, which was to break the jug, and `
` with one of the sharp fragments attack the wall. He let the `
` jug fall on the floor, and it broke in pieces. `
` `
` Dantes concealed two or three of the sharpest fragments in `
` his bed, leaving the rest on the floor. The breaking of his `
` jug was too natural an accident to excite suspicion. Edmond `
` had all the night to work in, but in the darkness he could `
` not do much, and he soon felt that he was working against `
` something very hard; he pushed back his bed, and waited for `
` day. `
` `
` All night he heard the subterranean workman, who continued `
` to mine his way. Day came, the jailer entered. Dantes told `
` him that the jug had fallen from his hands while he was `
` drinking, and the jailer went grumblingly to fetch another, `
` without giving himself the trouble to remove the fragments `
` of the broken one. He returned speedily, advised the `
` prisoner to be more careful, and departed. `
` `
` Dantes heard joyfully the key grate in the lock; he listened `
` until the sound of steps died away, and then, hastily `
` displacing his bed, saw by the faint light that penetrated `
` into his cell, that he had labored uselessly the previous `
` evening in attacking the stone instead of removing the `
` plaster that surrounded it. `
` `
` The damp had rendered it friable, and Dantes was able to `
` break it off -- in small morsels, it is true, but at the end `
` of half an hour he had scraped off a handful; a `
` mathematician might have calculated that in two years, `
` supposing that the rock was not encountered, a passage `
` twenty feet long and two feet broad, might be formed. `
` `
` The prisoner reproached himself with not having thus `
` employed the hours he had passed in vain hopes, prayer, and `
` despondency. During the six years that he had been `
` imprisoned, what might he not have accomplished? `
` `
`