Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
learned. Memory makes the one, philosophy the other." `
` `
` "But cannot one learn philosophy?" `
` `
` "Philosophy cannot be taught; it is the application of the `
` sciences to truth; it is like the golden cloud in which the `
` Messiah went up into heaven." `
` `
` "Well, then," said Dantes, "What shall you teach me first? I `
` am in a hurry to begin. I want to learn." `
` `
` "Everything," said the abbe. And that very evening the `
` prisoners sketched a plan of education, to be entered upon `
` the following day. Dantes possessed a prodigious memory, `
` combined with an astonishing quickness and readiness of `
` conception; the mathematical turn of his mind rendered him `
` apt at all kinds of calculation, while his naturally `
` poetical feelings threw a light and pleasing veil over the `
` dry reality of arithmetical computation, or the rigid `
` severity of geometry. He already knew Italian, and had also `
` picked up a little of the Romaic dialect during voyages to `
` the East; and by the aid of these two languages he easily `
` comprehended the construction of all the others, so that at `
` the end of six months he began to speak Spanish, English, `
` and German. In strict accordance with the promise made to `
` the abbe, Dantes spoke no more of escape. Perhaps the `
` delight his studies afforded him left no room for such `
` thoughts; perhaps the recollection that he had pledged his `
` word (on which his sense of honor was keen) kept him from `
` referring in any way to the possibilities of flight. Days, `
` even months, passed by unheeded in one rapid and instructive `
` course. At the end of a year Dantes was a new man. Dantes `
` observed, however, that Faria, in spite of the relief his `
` society afforded, daily grew sadder; one thought seemed `
` incessantly to harass and distract his mind. Sometimes he `
` would fall into long reveries, sigh heavily and `
` involuntarily, then suddenly rise, and, with folded arms, `
` begin pacing the confined space of his dungeon. One day he `
` stopped all at once, and exclaimed, "Ah, if there were no `
` sentinel!" `
` `
` "There shall not be one a minute longer than you please," `
` said Dantes, who had followed the working of his thoughts as `
` accurately as though his brain were enclosed in crystal so `
` clear as to display its minutest operations. `
` `
` "I have already told you," answered the abbe, "that I loathe `
` the idea of shedding blood." `
` `
` "And yet the murder, if you choose to call it so, would be `
` simply a measure of self-preservation." `
` `
` "No matter! I could never agree to it." `
` `
` "Still, you have thought of it?" `
` `
` "Incessantly, alas!" cried the abbe. `
` `
` "And you have discovered a means of regaining our freedom, `
` have you not?" asked Dantes eagerly. `
` `
` "I have; if it were only possible to place a deaf and blind `
` sentinel in the gallery beyond us." `
` `
` "He shall be both blind and deaf," replied the young man, `
` with an air of determination that made his companion `
` shudder. `
` `
` "No, no," cried the abbe; "impossible!" Dantes endeavored to `
` renew the subject; the abbe shook his head in token of `
` disapproval, and refused to make any further response. Three `
` months passed away. `
` `
` "Are you strong?" the abbe asked one day of Dantes. The `
` young man, in reply, took up the chisel, bent it into the `
` form of a horseshoe, and then as readily straightened it. `
` `
` "And will you engage not to do any harm to the sentry, `
` except as a last resort?" `
` `
` "I promise on my honor." `
` `
` "Then," said the abbe, "we may hope to put our design into `
` execution." `
` `
` "And how long shall we be in accomplishing the necessary `
` work?" `
` `
` "At least a year." `
` `
` "And shall we begin at once?" `
` `
` "At once." `
` `
` "We have lost a year to no purpose!" cried Dantes. `
` `
` "Do you consider the last twelve months to have been `
` wasted?" asked the abbe. `
` `
` "Forgive me!" cried Edmond, blushing deeply. `
` `
` "Tut, tut!" answered the abbe, "man is but man after all, `
` and you are about the best specimen of the genus I have ever `
` known. Come, let me show you my plan." The abbe then showed `
` Dantes the sketch he had made for their escape. It consisted `
` of a plan of his own cell and that of Dantes, with the `
` passage which united them. In this passage he proposed to `
` drive a level as they do in mines; this level would bring `
` the two prisoners immediately beneath the gallery where the `
` sentry kept watch; once there, a large excavation would be `
` made, and one of the flag-stones with which the gallery was `
` paved be so completely loosened that at the desired moment `
` it would give way beneath the feet of the soldier, who, `
` stunned by his fall, would be immediately bound and gagged `
` by Dantes before he had power to offer any resistance. The `
` prisoners were then to make their way through one of the `
` gallery windows, and to let themselves down from the outer `
` walls by means of the abbe's ladder of cords. Dantes' eyes `
` sparkled with joy, and he rubbed his hands with delight at `
` the idea of a plan so simple, yet apparently so certain to `
` succeed. `
` `
` That very day the miners began their labors, with a vigor `
` and alacrity proportionate to their long rest from fatigue `
` and their hopes of ultimate success. Nothing interrupted the `
` progress of the work except the necessity that each was `
` under of returning to his cell in anticipation of the `
` turnkey's visits. They had learned to distinguish the almost `
` imperceptible sound of his footsteps as he descended towards `
` their dungeons, and happily, never failed of being prepared `
` for his coming. The fresh earth excavated during their `
` present work, and which would have entirely blocked up the `
` old passage, was thrown, by degrees and with the utmost `
` precaution, out of the window in either Faria's or Dantes' `
` cell, the rubbish being first pulverized so finely that the `
` night wind carried it far away without permitting the `
` smallest trace to remain. More than a year had been consumed `
` in this undertaking, the only tools for which had been a `
` chisel, a knife, and a wooden lever; Faria still continuing `
` to instruct Dantes by conversing with him, sometimes in one `
` language, sometimes in another; at others, relating to him `
` the history of nations and great men who from time to time `
` have risen to fame and trodden the path of glory. `
` `
` The abbe was a man of the world, and had, moreover, mixed in `
` the first society of the day; he wore an air of melancholy `
` dignity which Dantes, thanks to the imitative powers `
` bestowed on him by nature, easily acquired, as well as that `
` outward polish and politeness he had before been wanting in, `
` and which is seldom possessed except by those who have been `
` placed in constant intercourse with persons of high birth `
` and breeding. At the end of fifteen months the level was `
` finished, and the excavation completed beneath the gallery, `
` and the two workmen could distinctly hear the measured tread `
` of the sentinel as he paced to and fro over their heads. `
` `
` Compelled, as they were, to await a night sufficiently dark `
` to favor their flight, they were obliged to defer their `
` final attempt till that auspicious moment should arrive; `
` their greatest dread now was lest the stone through which `
` the sentry was doomed to fall should give way before its `
` right time, and this they had in some measure provided `
` against by propping it up with a small beam which they had `
` discovered in the walls through which they had worked their `
` way. Dantes was occupied in arranging this piece of wood `
` when he heard Faria, who had remained in Edmond's cell for `
` the purpose of cutting a peg to secure their rope-ladder, `
` call to him in a tone indicative of great suffering. Dantes `
` hastened to his dungeon, where he found him standing in the `
` middle of the room, pale as death, his forehead streaming `
` with perspiration, and his hands clinched tightly together. `
` `
` "Gracious heavens!" exclaimed Dantes, "what is the matter? `
` what has happened?" `
` `
` "Quick! quick!" returned the abbe, "listen to what I have to `
` say." Dantes looked in fear and wonder at the livid `
` countenance of Faria, whose eyes, already dull and sunken, `
` were surrounded by purple circles, while his lips were white `
` as those of a corpse, and his very hair seemed to stand on `
` end. `
` `
` "Tell me, I beseech you, what ails you?" cried Dantes, `
` letting his chisel fall to the floor. `
` `
` "Alas," faltered out the abbe, "all is over with me. I am `
` seized with a terrible, perhaps mortal illness; I can feel `
` that the paroxysm is fast approaching. I had a similar `
` attack the year previous to my imprisonment. This malady `
` admits but of one remedy; I will tell you what that is. Go `
` into my cell as quickly as you can; draw out one of the feet `
` that support the bed; you will find it has been hollowed out `
` for the purpose of containing a small phial you will see `
` there half-filled with a red-looking fluid. Bring it to me `
` -- or rather -- no, no! -- I may be found here, therefore `
` help me back to my room while I have the strength to drag `
` myself along. Who knows what may happen, or how long the `
` attack may last?" `
` `
` In spite of the magnitude of the misfortune which thus `
` suddenly frustrated his hopes, Dantes did not lose his `
`
` `
` "But cannot one learn philosophy?" `
` `
` "Philosophy cannot be taught; it is the application of the `
` sciences to truth; it is like the golden cloud in which the `
` Messiah went up into heaven." `
` `
` "Well, then," said Dantes, "What shall you teach me first? I `
` am in a hurry to begin. I want to learn." `
` `
` "Everything," said the abbe. And that very evening the `
` prisoners sketched a plan of education, to be entered upon `
` the following day. Dantes possessed a prodigious memory, `
` combined with an astonishing quickness and readiness of `
` conception; the mathematical turn of his mind rendered him `
` apt at all kinds of calculation, while his naturally `
` poetical feelings threw a light and pleasing veil over the `
` dry reality of arithmetical computation, or the rigid `
` severity of geometry. He already knew Italian, and had also `
` picked up a little of the Romaic dialect during voyages to `
` the East; and by the aid of these two languages he easily `
` comprehended the construction of all the others, so that at `
` the end of six months he began to speak Spanish, English, `
` and German. In strict accordance with the promise made to `
` the abbe, Dantes spoke no more of escape. Perhaps the `
` delight his studies afforded him left no room for such `
` thoughts; perhaps the recollection that he had pledged his `
` word (on which his sense of honor was keen) kept him from `
` referring in any way to the possibilities of flight. Days, `
` even months, passed by unheeded in one rapid and instructive `
` course. At the end of a year Dantes was a new man. Dantes `
` observed, however, that Faria, in spite of the relief his `
` society afforded, daily grew sadder; one thought seemed `
` incessantly to harass and distract his mind. Sometimes he `
` would fall into long reveries, sigh heavily and `
` involuntarily, then suddenly rise, and, with folded arms, `
` begin pacing the confined space of his dungeon. One day he `
` stopped all at once, and exclaimed, "Ah, if there were no `
` sentinel!" `
` `
` "There shall not be one a minute longer than you please," `
` said Dantes, who had followed the working of his thoughts as `
` accurately as though his brain were enclosed in crystal so `
` clear as to display its minutest operations. `
` `
` "I have already told you," answered the abbe, "that I loathe `
` the idea of shedding blood." `
` `
` "And yet the murder, if you choose to call it so, would be `
` simply a measure of self-preservation." `
` `
` "No matter! I could never agree to it." `
` `
` "Still, you have thought of it?" `
` `
` "Incessantly, alas!" cried the abbe. `
` `
` "And you have discovered a means of regaining our freedom, `
` have you not?" asked Dantes eagerly. `
` `
` "I have; if it were only possible to place a deaf and blind `
` sentinel in the gallery beyond us." `
` `
` "He shall be both blind and deaf," replied the young man, `
` with an air of determination that made his companion `
` shudder. `
` `
` "No, no," cried the abbe; "impossible!" Dantes endeavored to `
` renew the subject; the abbe shook his head in token of `
` disapproval, and refused to make any further response. Three `
` months passed away. `
` `
` "Are you strong?" the abbe asked one day of Dantes. The `
` young man, in reply, took up the chisel, bent it into the `
` form of a horseshoe, and then as readily straightened it. `
` `
` "And will you engage not to do any harm to the sentry, `
` except as a last resort?" `
` `
` "I promise on my honor." `
` `
` "Then," said the abbe, "we may hope to put our design into `
` execution." `
` `
` "And how long shall we be in accomplishing the necessary `
` work?" `
` `
` "At least a year." `
` `
` "And shall we begin at once?" `
` `
` "At once." `
` `
` "We have lost a year to no purpose!" cried Dantes. `
` `
` "Do you consider the last twelve months to have been `
` wasted?" asked the abbe. `
` `
` "Forgive me!" cried Edmond, blushing deeply. `
` `
` "Tut, tut!" answered the abbe, "man is but man after all, `
` and you are about the best specimen of the genus I have ever `
` known. Come, let me show you my plan." The abbe then showed `
` Dantes the sketch he had made for their escape. It consisted `
` of a plan of his own cell and that of Dantes, with the `
` passage which united them. In this passage he proposed to `
` drive a level as they do in mines; this level would bring `
` the two prisoners immediately beneath the gallery where the `
` sentry kept watch; once there, a large excavation would be `
` made, and one of the flag-stones with which the gallery was `
` paved be so completely loosened that at the desired moment `
` it would give way beneath the feet of the soldier, who, `
` stunned by his fall, would be immediately bound and gagged `
` by Dantes before he had power to offer any resistance. The `
` prisoners were then to make their way through one of the `
` gallery windows, and to let themselves down from the outer `
` walls by means of the abbe's ladder of cords. Dantes' eyes `
` sparkled with joy, and he rubbed his hands with delight at `
` the idea of a plan so simple, yet apparently so certain to `
` succeed. `
` `
` That very day the miners began their labors, with a vigor `
` and alacrity proportionate to their long rest from fatigue `
` and their hopes of ultimate success. Nothing interrupted the `
` progress of the work except the necessity that each was `
` under of returning to his cell in anticipation of the `
` turnkey's visits. They had learned to distinguish the almost `
` imperceptible sound of his footsteps as he descended towards `
` their dungeons, and happily, never failed of being prepared `
` for his coming. The fresh earth excavated during their `
` present work, and which would have entirely blocked up the `
` old passage, was thrown, by degrees and with the utmost `
` precaution, out of the window in either Faria's or Dantes' `
` cell, the rubbish being first pulverized so finely that the `
` night wind carried it far away without permitting the `
` smallest trace to remain. More than a year had been consumed `
` in this undertaking, the only tools for which had been a `
` chisel, a knife, and a wooden lever; Faria still continuing `
` to instruct Dantes by conversing with him, sometimes in one `
` language, sometimes in another; at others, relating to him `
` the history of nations and great men who from time to time `
` have risen to fame and trodden the path of glory. `
` `
` The abbe was a man of the world, and had, moreover, mixed in `
` the first society of the day; he wore an air of melancholy `
` dignity which Dantes, thanks to the imitative powers `
` bestowed on him by nature, easily acquired, as well as that `
` outward polish and politeness he had before been wanting in, `
` and which is seldom possessed except by those who have been `
` placed in constant intercourse with persons of high birth `
` and breeding. At the end of fifteen months the level was `
` finished, and the excavation completed beneath the gallery, `
` and the two workmen could distinctly hear the measured tread `
` of the sentinel as he paced to and fro over their heads. `
` `
` Compelled, as they were, to await a night sufficiently dark `
` to favor their flight, they were obliged to defer their `
` final attempt till that auspicious moment should arrive; `
` their greatest dread now was lest the stone through which `
` the sentry was doomed to fall should give way before its `
` right time, and this they had in some measure provided `
` against by propping it up with a small beam which they had `
` discovered in the walls through which they had worked their `
` way. Dantes was occupied in arranging this piece of wood `
` when he heard Faria, who had remained in Edmond's cell for `
` the purpose of cutting a peg to secure their rope-ladder, `
` call to him in a tone indicative of great suffering. Dantes `
` hastened to his dungeon, where he found him standing in the `
` middle of the room, pale as death, his forehead streaming `
` with perspiration, and his hands clinched tightly together. `
` `
` "Gracious heavens!" exclaimed Dantes, "what is the matter? `
` what has happened?" `
` `
` "Quick! quick!" returned the abbe, "listen to what I have to `
` say." Dantes looked in fear and wonder at the livid `
` countenance of Faria, whose eyes, already dull and sunken, `
` were surrounded by purple circles, while his lips were white `
` as those of a corpse, and his very hair seemed to stand on `
` end. `
` `
` "Tell me, I beseech you, what ails you?" cried Dantes, `
` letting his chisel fall to the floor. `
` `
` "Alas," faltered out the abbe, "all is over with me. I am `
` seized with a terrible, perhaps mortal illness; I can feel `
` that the paroxysm is fast approaching. I had a similar `
` attack the year previous to my imprisonment. This malady `
` admits but of one remedy; I will tell you what that is. Go `
` into my cell as quickly as you can; draw out one of the feet `
` that support the bed; you will find it has been hollowed out `
` for the purpose of containing a small phial you will see `
` there half-filled with a red-looking fluid. Bring it to me `
` -- or rather -- no, no! -- I may be found here, therefore `
` help me back to my room while I have the strength to drag `
` myself along. Who knows what may happen, or how long the `
` attack may last?" `
` `
` In spite of the magnitude of the misfortune which thus `
` suddenly frustrated his hopes, Dantes did not lose his `
`