Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
aright; for want of the necessary geometrical instruments to `
` calculate my scale of proportion, instead of taking an `
` ellipsis of forty feet, I made it fifty. I expected, as I `
` told you, to reach the outer wall, pierce through it, and `
` throw myself into the sea; I have, however, kept along the `
` corridor on which your chamber opens, instead of going `
` beneath it. My labor is all in vain, for I find that the `
` corridor looks into a courtyard filled with soldiers." `
` `
` "That's true," said Dantes; "but the corridor you speak of `
` only bounds one side of my cell; there are three others -- `
` do you know anything of their situation?" `
` `
` "This one is built against the solid rock, and it would take `
` ten experienced miners, duly furnished with the requisite `
` tools, as many years to perforate it. This adjoins the lower `
` part of the governor's apartments, and were we to work our `
` way through, we should only get into some lock-up cellars, `
` where we must necessarily be recaptured. The fourth and last `
` side of your cell faces on -- faces on -- stop a minute, now `
` where does it face?" `
` `
` The wall of which he spoke was the one in which was fixed `
` the loophole by which light was admitted to the chamber. `
` This loophole, which gradually diminished in size as it `
` approached the outside, to an opening through which a child `
` could not have passed, was, for better security, furnished `
` with three iron bars, so as to quiet all apprehensions even `
` in the mind of the most suspicious jailer as to the `
` possibility of a prisoner's escape. As the stranger asked `
` the question, he dragged the table beneath the window. `
` `
` "Climb up," said he to Dantes. The young man obeyed, mounted `
` on the table, and, divining the wishes of his companion, `
` placed his back securely against the wall and held out both `
` hands. The stranger, whom as yet Dantes knew only by the `
` number of his cell, sprang up with an agility by no means to `
` be expected in a person of his years, and, light and steady `
` on his feet as a cat or a lizard, climbed from the table to `
` the outstretched hands of Dantes, and from them to his `
` shoulders; then, bending double, for the ceiling of the `
` dungeon prevented him from holding himself erect, he managed `
` to slip his head between the upper bars of the window, so as `
` to be able to command a perfect view from top to bottom. `
` `
` An instant afterwards he hastily drew back his head, saying, `
` "I thought so!" and sliding from the shoulders of Dantes as `
` dextrously as he had ascended, he nimbly leaped from the `
` table to the ground. `
` `
` "What was it that you thought?" asked the young man `
` anxiously, in his turn descending from the table. `
` `
` The elder prisoner pondered the matter. "Yes," said he at `
` length, "it is so. This side of your chamber looks out upon `
` a kind of open gallery, where patrols are continually `
` passing, and sentries keep watch day and night." `
` `
` "Are you quite sure of that?" `
` `
` "Certain. I saw the soldier's shape and the top of his `
` musket; that made me draw in my head so quickly, for I was `
` fearful he might also see me." `
` `
` "Well?" inquired Dantes. `
` `
` "You perceive then the utter impossibility of escaping `
` through your dungeon?" `
` `
` "Then," pursued the young man eagerly -- `
` `
` "Then," answered the elder prisoner, "the will of God be `
` done!" and as the old man slowly pronounced those words, an `
` air of profound resignation spread itself over his careworn `
` countenance. Dantes gazed on the man who could thus `
` philosophically resign hopes so long and ardently nourished `
` with an astonishment mingled with admiration. `
` `
` "Tell me, I entreat of you, who and what you are?" said he `
` at length; "never have I met with so remarkable a person as `
` yourself." `
` `
` "Willingly," answered the stranger; "if, indeed, you feel `
` any curiosity respecting one, now, alas, powerless to aid `
` you in any way." `
` `
` "Say not so; you can console and support me by the strength `
` of your own powerful mind. Pray let me know who you really `
` are?" `
` `
` The stranger smiled a melancholy smile. "Then listen," said `
` he. "I am the Abbe Faria, and have been imprisoned as you `
` know in this Chateau d'If since the year 1811; previously to `
` which I had been confined for three years in the fortress of `
` Fenestrelle. In the year 1811 I was transferred to Piedmont `
` in France. It was at this period I learned that the destiny `
` which seemed subservient to every wish formed by Napoleon, `
` had bestowed on him a son, named king of Rome even in his `
` cradle. I was very far then from expecting the change you `
` have just informed me of; namely, that four years `
` afterwards, this colossus of power would be overthrown. Then `
` who reigns in France at this moment -- Napoleon II.?" `
` `
` "No, Louis XVIII." `
` `
` "The brother of Louis XVII.! How inscrutable are the ways of `
` providence -- for what great and mysterious purpose has it `
` pleased heaven to abase the man once so elevated, and raise `
` up him who was so abased?" `
` `
` Dantes' whole attention was riveted on a man who could thus `
` forget his own misfortunes while occupying himself with the `
` destinies of others. `
` `
` "Yes, yes," continued he, "'Twill be the same as it was in `
` England. After Charles I., Cromwell; after Cromwell, Charles `
` II., and then James II., and then some son-in-law or `
` relation, some Prince of Orange, a stadtholder who becomes a `
` king. Then new concessions to the people, then a `
` constitution, then liberty. Ah, my friend!" said the abbe, `
` turning towards Dantes, and surveying him with the kindling `
` gaze of a prophet, "you are young, you will see all this `
` come to pass." `
` `
` "Probably, if ever I get out of prison!" `
` `
` "True," replied Faria, "we are prisoners; but I forget this `
` sometimes, and there are even moments when my mental vision `
` transports me beyond these walls, and I fancy myself at `
` liberty." `
` `
` "But wherefore are you here?" `
` `
` "Because in 1807 I dreamed of the very plan Napoleon tried `
` to realize in 1811; because, like Machiavelli, I desired to `
` alter the political face of Italy, and instead of allowing `
` it to be split up into a quantity of petty principalities, `
` each held by some weak or tyrannical ruler, I sought to form `
` one large, compact, and powerful empire; and, lastly, `
` because I fancied I had found my Caesar Borgia in a crowned `
` simpleton, who feigned to enter into my views only to betray `
` me. It was the plan of Alexander VI. and Clement VII., but `
` it will never succeed now, for they attempted it `
` fruitlessly, and Napoleon was unable to complete his work. `
` Italy seems fated to misfortune." And the old man bowed his `
` head. `
` `
` Dantes could not understand a man risking his life for such `
` matters. Napoleon certainly he knew something of, inasmuch `
` as he had seen and spoken with him; but of Clement VII. and `
` Alexander VI. he knew nothing. `
` `
` "Are you not," he asked, "the priest who here in the Chateau `
` d'If is generally thought to be -- ill?" `
` `
` "Mad, you mean, don't you?" `
` `
` "I did not like to say so," answered Dantes, smiling. `
` `
` "Well, then," resumed Faria with a bitter smile, "let me `
` answer your question in full, by acknowledging that I am the `
` poor mad prisoner of the Chateau d'If, for many years `
` permitted to amuse the different visitors with what is said `
` to be my insanity; and, in all probability, I should be `
` promoted to the honor of making sport for the children, if `
` such innocent beings could be found in an abode devoted like `
` this to suffering and despair." `
` `
` Dantes remained for a short time mute and motionless; at `
` length he said, -- "Then you abandon all hope of escape?" `
` `
` "I perceive its utter impossibility; and I consider it `
` impious to attempt that which the Almighty evidently does `
` not approve." `
` `
` "Nay, be not discouraged. Would it not be expecting too much `
` to hope to succeed at your first attempt? Why not try to `
` find an opening in another direction from that which has so `
` unfortunately failed?" `
` `
` "Alas, it shows how little notion you can have of all it has `
` cost me to effect a purpose so unexpectedly frustrated, that `
` you talk of beginning over again. In the first place, I was `
` four years making the tools I possess, and have been two `
` years scraping and digging out earth, hard as granite `
` itself; then what toil and fatigue has it not been to remove `
` huge stones I should once have deemed impossible to loosen. `
` Whole days have I passed in these Titanic efforts, `
` considering my labor well repaid if, by night-time I had `
` contrived to carry away a square inch of this hard-bound `
` cement, changed by ages into a substance unyielding as the `
` stones themselves; then to conceal the mass of earth and `
` rubbish I dug up, I was compelled to break through a `
` staircase, and throw the fruits of my labor into the hollow `
` part of it; but the well is now so completely choked up, `
` that I scarcely think it would be possible to add another `
` handful of dust without leading to discovery. Consider also `
` that I fully believed I had accomplished the end and aim of `
` my undertaking, for which I had so exactly husbanded my `
` strength as to make it just hold out to the termination of `
` my enterprise; and now, at the moment when I reckoned upon `
`
` calculate my scale of proportion, instead of taking an `
` ellipsis of forty feet, I made it fifty. I expected, as I `
` told you, to reach the outer wall, pierce through it, and `
` throw myself into the sea; I have, however, kept along the `
` corridor on which your chamber opens, instead of going `
` beneath it. My labor is all in vain, for I find that the `
` corridor looks into a courtyard filled with soldiers." `
` `
` "That's true," said Dantes; "but the corridor you speak of `
` only bounds one side of my cell; there are three others -- `
` do you know anything of their situation?" `
` `
` "This one is built against the solid rock, and it would take `
` ten experienced miners, duly furnished with the requisite `
` tools, as many years to perforate it. This adjoins the lower `
` part of the governor's apartments, and were we to work our `
` way through, we should only get into some lock-up cellars, `
` where we must necessarily be recaptured. The fourth and last `
` side of your cell faces on -- faces on -- stop a minute, now `
` where does it face?" `
` `
` The wall of which he spoke was the one in which was fixed `
` the loophole by which light was admitted to the chamber. `
` This loophole, which gradually diminished in size as it `
` approached the outside, to an opening through which a child `
` could not have passed, was, for better security, furnished `
` with three iron bars, so as to quiet all apprehensions even `
` in the mind of the most suspicious jailer as to the `
` possibility of a prisoner's escape. As the stranger asked `
` the question, he dragged the table beneath the window. `
` `
` "Climb up," said he to Dantes. The young man obeyed, mounted `
` on the table, and, divining the wishes of his companion, `
` placed his back securely against the wall and held out both `
` hands. The stranger, whom as yet Dantes knew only by the `
` number of his cell, sprang up with an agility by no means to `
` be expected in a person of his years, and, light and steady `
` on his feet as a cat or a lizard, climbed from the table to `
` the outstretched hands of Dantes, and from them to his `
` shoulders; then, bending double, for the ceiling of the `
` dungeon prevented him from holding himself erect, he managed `
` to slip his head between the upper bars of the window, so as `
` to be able to command a perfect view from top to bottom. `
` `
` An instant afterwards he hastily drew back his head, saying, `
` "I thought so!" and sliding from the shoulders of Dantes as `
` dextrously as he had ascended, he nimbly leaped from the `
` table to the ground. `
` `
` "What was it that you thought?" asked the young man `
` anxiously, in his turn descending from the table. `
` `
` The elder prisoner pondered the matter. "Yes," said he at `
` length, "it is so. This side of your chamber looks out upon `
` a kind of open gallery, where patrols are continually `
` passing, and sentries keep watch day and night." `
` `
` "Are you quite sure of that?" `
` `
` "Certain. I saw the soldier's shape and the top of his `
` musket; that made me draw in my head so quickly, for I was `
` fearful he might also see me." `
` `
` "Well?" inquired Dantes. `
` `
` "You perceive then the utter impossibility of escaping `
` through your dungeon?" `
` `
` "Then," pursued the young man eagerly -- `
` `
` "Then," answered the elder prisoner, "the will of God be `
` done!" and as the old man slowly pronounced those words, an `
` air of profound resignation spread itself over his careworn `
` countenance. Dantes gazed on the man who could thus `
` philosophically resign hopes so long and ardently nourished `
` with an astonishment mingled with admiration. `
` `
` "Tell me, I entreat of you, who and what you are?" said he `
` at length; "never have I met with so remarkable a person as `
` yourself." `
` `
` "Willingly," answered the stranger; "if, indeed, you feel `
` any curiosity respecting one, now, alas, powerless to aid `
` you in any way." `
` `
` "Say not so; you can console and support me by the strength `
` of your own powerful mind. Pray let me know who you really `
` are?" `
` `
` The stranger smiled a melancholy smile. "Then listen," said `
` he. "I am the Abbe Faria, and have been imprisoned as you `
` know in this Chateau d'If since the year 1811; previously to `
` which I had been confined for three years in the fortress of `
` Fenestrelle. In the year 1811 I was transferred to Piedmont `
` in France. It was at this period I learned that the destiny `
` which seemed subservient to every wish formed by Napoleon, `
` had bestowed on him a son, named king of Rome even in his `
` cradle. I was very far then from expecting the change you `
` have just informed me of; namely, that four years `
` afterwards, this colossus of power would be overthrown. Then `
` who reigns in France at this moment -- Napoleon II.?" `
` `
` "No, Louis XVIII." `
` `
` "The brother of Louis XVII.! How inscrutable are the ways of `
` providence -- for what great and mysterious purpose has it `
` pleased heaven to abase the man once so elevated, and raise `
` up him who was so abased?" `
` `
` Dantes' whole attention was riveted on a man who could thus `
` forget his own misfortunes while occupying himself with the `
` destinies of others. `
` `
` "Yes, yes," continued he, "'Twill be the same as it was in `
` England. After Charles I., Cromwell; after Cromwell, Charles `
` II., and then James II., and then some son-in-law or `
` relation, some Prince of Orange, a stadtholder who becomes a `
` king. Then new concessions to the people, then a `
` constitution, then liberty. Ah, my friend!" said the abbe, `
` turning towards Dantes, and surveying him with the kindling `
` gaze of a prophet, "you are young, you will see all this `
` come to pass." `
` `
` "Probably, if ever I get out of prison!" `
` `
` "True," replied Faria, "we are prisoners; but I forget this `
` sometimes, and there are even moments when my mental vision `
` transports me beyond these walls, and I fancy myself at `
` liberty." `
` `
` "But wherefore are you here?" `
` `
` "Because in 1807 I dreamed of the very plan Napoleon tried `
` to realize in 1811; because, like Machiavelli, I desired to `
` alter the political face of Italy, and instead of allowing `
` it to be split up into a quantity of petty principalities, `
` each held by some weak or tyrannical ruler, I sought to form `
` one large, compact, and powerful empire; and, lastly, `
` because I fancied I had found my Caesar Borgia in a crowned `
` simpleton, who feigned to enter into my views only to betray `
` me. It was the plan of Alexander VI. and Clement VII., but `
` it will never succeed now, for they attempted it `
` fruitlessly, and Napoleon was unable to complete his work. `
` Italy seems fated to misfortune." And the old man bowed his `
` head. `
` `
` Dantes could not understand a man risking his life for such `
` matters. Napoleon certainly he knew something of, inasmuch `
` as he had seen and spoken with him; but of Clement VII. and `
` Alexander VI. he knew nothing. `
` `
` "Are you not," he asked, "the priest who here in the Chateau `
` d'If is generally thought to be -- ill?" `
` `
` "Mad, you mean, don't you?" `
` `
` "I did not like to say so," answered Dantes, smiling. `
` `
` "Well, then," resumed Faria with a bitter smile, "let me `
` answer your question in full, by acknowledging that I am the `
` poor mad prisoner of the Chateau d'If, for many years `
` permitted to amuse the different visitors with what is said `
` to be my insanity; and, in all probability, I should be `
` promoted to the honor of making sport for the children, if `
` such innocent beings could be found in an abode devoted like `
` this to suffering and despair." `
` `
` Dantes remained for a short time mute and motionless; at `
` length he said, -- "Then you abandon all hope of escape?" `
` `
` "I perceive its utter impossibility; and I consider it `
` impious to attempt that which the Almighty evidently does `
` not approve." `
` `
` "Nay, be not discouraged. Would it not be expecting too much `
` to hope to succeed at your first attempt? Why not try to `
` find an opening in another direction from that which has so `
` unfortunately failed?" `
` `
` "Alas, it shows how little notion you can have of all it has `
` cost me to effect a purpose so unexpectedly frustrated, that `
` you talk of beginning over again. In the first place, I was `
` four years making the tools I possess, and have been two `
` years scraping and digging out earth, hard as granite `
` itself; then what toil and fatigue has it not been to remove `
` huge stones I should once have deemed impossible to loosen. `
` Whole days have I passed in these Titanic efforts, `
` considering my labor well repaid if, by night-time I had `
` contrived to carry away a square inch of this hard-bound `
` cement, changed by ages into a substance unyielding as the `
` stones themselves; then to conceal the mass of earth and `
` rubbish I dug up, I was compelled to break through a `
` staircase, and throw the fruits of my labor into the hollow `
` part of it; but the well is now so completely choked up, `
` that I scarcely think it would be possible to add another `
` handful of dust without leading to discovery. Consider also `
` that I fully believed I had accomplished the end and aim of `
` my undertaking, for which I had so exactly husbanded my `
` strength as to make it just hold out to the termination of `
` my enterprise; and now, at the moment when I reckoned upon `
`