Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
and has visited with me, that is, in... `
` Island of Monte Cristo, all I poss... `
` jewels, diamonds, gems; that I alone... `
` may amount to nearly two mil... `
` will find on raising the twentieth ro... `
` creek to the east in a right line. Two open... `
` in these caves; the treasure is in the furthest a... `
` which treasure I bequeath and leave en... `
` as my sole heir. `
` "25th April, 1498. `
` "Caes... `
` `
` "And now," said the abbe, "read this other paper;" and he `
` presented to Dantes a second leaf with fragments of lines `
` written on it, which Edmond read as follows: -- `
` `
` "...ing invited to dine by his Holiness `
` ...content with making me pay for my hat, `
` ...serves for me the fate of Cardinals Caprara `
` ...I declare to my nephew, Guido Spada `
` ...ried in a place he knows `
` ...the caves of the small `
` ...essed of ingots, gold, money, `
` ...know of the existence of this treasure, which `
` ...lions of Roman crowns, and which he `
` ...ck from the small `
` ...ings have been made `
` ...ngle in the second; `
` ...tire to him `
` ...ar Spada." `
` `
` Faria followed him with an excited look. "and now," he said, `
` when he saw that Dantes had read the last line, "put the two `
` fragments together, and judge for yourself." Dantes obeyed, `
` and the conjointed pieces gave the following: -- `
` `
` "This 25th day of April, 1498, be...ing invited to dine by `
` his Holiness Alexander VI., and fearing that not...content `
` with making me pay for my hat, he may desire to become my `
` heir, and re...serves for me the fate of Cardinals Caprara `
` and Bentivoglio, who were poisoned...I declare to my nephew, `
` Guido Spada, my sole heir, that I have bu...ried in a place `
` he knows and has visited with me, that is, in...the caves of `
` the small Island of Monte Cristo all I poss...ssed of `
` ingots, gold, money, jewels, diamonds, gems; that I `
` alone...know of the existence of this treasure, which may `
` amount to nearly two mil...lions of Roman crowns, and which `
` he will find on raising the twentieth ro...ck from the small `
` creek to the east in a right line. Two open...ings have been `
` made in these caves; the treasure is in the furthest `
` a...ngle in the second; which treasure I bequeath and leave `
` en...tire to him as my sole heir. `
` "25th April, 1498. `
` "Caes...ar Spada." `
` `
` "Well, do you comprehend now?" inquired Faria. `
` `
` "It is the declaration of Cardinal Spada, and the will so `
` long sought for," replied Edmond, still incredulous. `
` `
` "Yes; a thousand times, yes!" `
` `
` "And who completed it as it now is?" `
` `
` "I did. Aided by the remaining fragment, I guessed the rest; `
` measuring the length of the lines by those of the paper, and `
` divining the hidden meaning by means of what was in part `
` revealed, as we are guided in a cavern by the small ray of `
` light above us." `
` `
` "And what did you do when you arrived at this conclusion?" `
` `
` "I resolved to set out, and did set out at that very `
` instant, carrying with me the beginning of my great work, `
` the unity of the Italian kingdom; but for some time the `
` imperial police (who at this period, quite contrary to what `
` Napoleon desired so soon as he had a son born to him, wished `
` for a partition of provinces) had their eyes on me; and my `
` hasty departure, the cause of which they were unable to `
` guess, having aroused their suspicions, I was arrested at `
` the very moment I was leaving Piombino. `
` `
` "Now," continued Faria, addressing Dantes with an almost `
` paternal expression, "now, my dear fellow, you know as much `
` as I do myself. If we ever escape together, half this `
` treasure is yours; if I die here, and you escape alone, the `
` whole belongs to you." `
` `
` "But," inquired Dantes hesitating, "has this treasure no `
` more legitimate possessor in the world than ourselves?" `
` `
` "No, no, be easy on that score; the family is extinct. The `
` last Count of Spada, moreover, made me his heir, bequeathing `
` to me this symbolic breviary, he bequeathed to me all it `
` contained; no, no, make your mind satisfied on that point. `
` If we lay hands on this fortune, we may enjoy it without `
` remorse." `
` `
` "And you say this treasure amounts to" -- `
` `
` "Two millions of Roman crowns; nearly thirteen millions of `
` our money."* `
` `
` * $2,600,000 in 1894. `
` `
` "Impossible!" said Dantes, staggered at the enormous amount. `
` `
` "Impossible? and why?" asked the old man. "The Spada family `
` was one of the oldest and most powerful families of the `
` fifteenth century; and in those times, when other `
` opportunities for investment were wanting, such `
` accumulations of gold and jewels were by no means rare; `
` there are at this day Roman families perishing of hunger, `
` though possessed of nearly a million in diamonds and jewels, `
` handed down by entail, and which they cannot touch." Edmond `
` thought he was in a dream -- he wavered between incredulity `
` and joy. `
` `
` "I have only kept this secret so long from you," continued `
` Faria, "that I might test your character, and then surprise `
` you. Had we escaped before my attack of catalepsy, I should `
` have conducted you to Monte Cristo; now," he added, with a `
` sigh, "it is you who will conduct me thither. Well, Dantes, `
` you do not thank me?" `
` `
` "This treasure belongs to you, my dear friend," replied `
` Dantes, "and to you only. I have no right to it. I am no `
` relation of yours." `
` `
` "You are my son, Dantes," exclaimed the old man. "You are `
` the child of my captivity. My profession condemns me to `
` celibacy. God has sent you to me to console, at one and the `
` same time, the man who could not be a father, and the `
` prisoner who could not get free." And Faria extended the arm `
` of which alone the use remained to him to the young man who `
` threw himself upon his neck and wept. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 19 `
` The Third Attack. `
` `
` Now that this treasure, which had so long been the object of `
` the abbe's meditations, could insure the future happiness of `
` him whom Faria really loved as a son, it had doubled its `
` value in his eyes, and every day he expatiated on the `
` amount, explaining to Dantes all the good which, with `
` thirteen or fourteen millions of francs, a man could do in `
` these days to his friends; and then Dantes' countenance `
` became gloomy, for the oath of vengeance he had taken `
` recurred to his memory, and he reflected how much ill, in `
` these times, a man with thirteen or fourteen millions could `
` do to his enemies. `
` `
` The abbe did not know the Island of Monte Cristo; but Dantes `
` knew it, and had often passed it, situated twenty-five miles `
` from Pianosa, between Corsica and the Island of Elba, and `
` had once touched there. This island was, always had been, `
` and still is, completely deserted. It is a rock of almost `
` conical form, which looks as though it had been thrust up by `
` volcanic force from the depth to the surface of the ocean. `
` Dantes drew a plan of the island for Faria, and Faria gave `
` Dantes advice as to the means he should employ to recover `
` the treasure. But Dantes was far from being as enthusiastic `
` and confident as the old man. It was past a question now `
` that Faria was not a lunatic, and the way in which he had `
` achieved the discovery, which had given rise to the `
` suspicion of his madness, increased Edmond's admiration of `
` him; but at the same time Dantes could not believe that the `
` deposit, supposing it had ever existed, still existed; and `
` though he considered the treasure as by no means chimerical, `
` he yet believed it was no longer there. `
` `
` However, as if fate resolved on depriving the prisoners of `
` their last chance, and making them understand that they were `
` condemned to perpetual imprisonment, a new misfortune befell `
` them; the gallery on the sea side, which had long been in `
` ruins, was rebuilt. They had repaired it completely, and `
` stopped up with vast masses of stone the hole Dantes had `
` partly filled in. But for this precaution, which, it will be `
` remembered, the abbe had made to Edmond, the misfortune `
` would have been still greater, for their attempt to escape `
` would have been detected, and they would undoubtedly have `
` been separated. Thus a new, a stronger, and more inexorable `
` barrier was interposed to cut off the realization of their `
` hopes. `
` `
` "You see," said the young man, with an air of sorrowful `
` resignation, to Faria, "that God deems it right to take from `
` me any claim to merit for what you call my devotion to you. `
` I have promised to remain forever with you, and now I could `
` not break my promise if I would. The treasure will be no `
` more mine than yours, and neither of us will quit this `
` prison. But my real treasure is not that, my dear friend, `
` which awaits me beneath the sombre rocks of Monte Cristo, it `
` is your presence, our living together five or six hours a `
` day, in spite of our jailers; it is the rays of intelligence `
` you have elicited from my brain, the languages you have `
` implanted in my memory, and which have taken root there with `
` all their philological ramifications. These different `
` sciences that you have made so easy to me by the depth of `
`
` Island of Monte Cristo, all I poss... `
` jewels, diamonds, gems; that I alone... `
` may amount to nearly two mil... `
` will find on raising the twentieth ro... `
` creek to the east in a right line. Two open... `
` in these caves; the treasure is in the furthest a... `
` which treasure I bequeath and leave en... `
` as my sole heir. `
` "25th April, 1498. `
` "Caes... `
` `
` "And now," said the abbe, "read this other paper;" and he `
` presented to Dantes a second leaf with fragments of lines `
` written on it, which Edmond read as follows: -- `
` `
` "...ing invited to dine by his Holiness `
` ...content with making me pay for my hat, `
` ...serves for me the fate of Cardinals Caprara `
` ...I declare to my nephew, Guido Spada `
` ...ried in a place he knows `
` ...the caves of the small `
` ...essed of ingots, gold, money, `
` ...know of the existence of this treasure, which `
` ...lions of Roman crowns, and which he `
` ...ck from the small `
` ...ings have been made `
` ...ngle in the second; `
` ...tire to him `
` ...ar Spada." `
` `
` Faria followed him with an excited look. "and now," he said, `
` when he saw that Dantes had read the last line, "put the two `
` fragments together, and judge for yourself." Dantes obeyed, `
` and the conjointed pieces gave the following: -- `
` `
` "This 25th day of April, 1498, be...ing invited to dine by `
` his Holiness Alexander VI., and fearing that not...content `
` with making me pay for my hat, he may desire to become my `
` heir, and re...serves for me the fate of Cardinals Caprara `
` and Bentivoglio, who were poisoned...I declare to my nephew, `
` Guido Spada, my sole heir, that I have bu...ried in a place `
` he knows and has visited with me, that is, in...the caves of `
` the small Island of Monte Cristo all I poss...ssed of `
` ingots, gold, money, jewels, diamonds, gems; that I `
` alone...know of the existence of this treasure, which may `
` amount to nearly two mil...lions of Roman crowns, and which `
` he will find on raising the twentieth ro...ck from the small `
` creek to the east in a right line. Two open...ings have been `
` made in these caves; the treasure is in the furthest `
` a...ngle in the second; which treasure I bequeath and leave `
` en...tire to him as my sole heir. `
` "25th April, 1498. `
` "Caes...ar Spada." `
` `
` "Well, do you comprehend now?" inquired Faria. `
` `
` "It is the declaration of Cardinal Spada, and the will so `
` long sought for," replied Edmond, still incredulous. `
` `
` "Yes; a thousand times, yes!" `
` `
` "And who completed it as it now is?" `
` `
` "I did. Aided by the remaining fragment, I guessed the rest; `
` measuring the length of the lines by those of the paper, and `
` divining the hidden meaning by means of what was in part `
` revealed, as we are guided in a cavern by the small ray of `
` light above us." `
` `
` "And what did you do when you arrived at this conclusion?" `
` `
` "I resolved to set out, and did set out at that very `
` instant, carrying with me the beginning of my great work, `
` the unity of the Italian kingdom; but for some time the `
` imperial police (who at this period, quite contrary to what `
` Napoleon desired so soon as he had a son born to him, wished `
` for a partition of provinces) had their eyes on me; and my `
` hasty departure, the cause of which they were unable to `
` guess, having aroused their suspicions, I was arrested at `
` the very moment I was leaving Piombino. `
` `
` "Now," continued Faria, addressing Dantes with an almost `
` paternal expression, "now, my dear fellow, you know as much `
` as I do myself. If we ever escape together, half this `
` treasure is yours; if I die here, and you escape alone, the `
` whole belongs to you." `
` `
` "But," inquired Dantes hesitating, "has this treasure no `
` more legitimate possessor in the world than ourselves?" `
` `
` "No, no, be easy on that score; the family is extinct. The `
` last Count of Spada, moreover, made me his heir, bequeathing `
` to me this symbolic breviary, he bequeathed to me all it `
` contained; no, no, make your mind satisfied on that point. `
` If we lay hands on this fortune, we may enjoy it without `
` remorse." `
` `
` "And you say this treasure amounts to" -- `
` `
` "Two millions of Roman crowns; nearly thirteen millions of `
` our money."* `
` `
` * $2,600,000 in 1894. `
` `
` "Impossible!" said Dantes, staggered at the enormous amount. `
` `
` "Impossible? and why?" asked the old man. "The Spada family `
` was one of the oldest and most powerful families of the `
` fifteenth century; and in those times, when other `
` opportunities for investment were wanting, such `
` accumulations of gold and jewels were by no means rare; `
` there are at this day Roman families perishing of hunger, `
` though possessed of nearly a million in diamonds and jewels, `
` handed down by entail, and which they cannot touch." Edmond `
` thought he was in a dream -- he wavered between incredulity `
` and joy. `
` `
` "I have only kept this secret so long from you," continued `
` Faria, "that I might test your character, and then surprise `
` you. Had we escaped before my attack of catalepsy, I should `
` have conducted you to Monte Cristo; now," he added, with a `
` sigh, "it is you who will conduct me thither. Well, Dantes, `
` you do not thank me?" `
` `
` "This treasure belongs to you, my dear friend," replied `
` Dantes, "and to you only. I have no right to it. I am no `
` relation of yours." `
` `
` "You are my son, Dantes," exclaimed the old man. "You are `
` the child of my captivity. My profession condemns me to `
` celibacy. God has sent you to me to console, at one and the `
` same time, the man who could not be a father, and the `
` prisoner who could not get free." And Faria extended the arm `
` of which alone the use remained to him to the young man who `
` threw himself upon his neck and wept. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 19 `
` The Third Attack. `
` `
` Now that this treasure, which had so long been the object of `
` the abbe's meditations, could insure the future happiness of `
` him whom Faria really loved as a son, it had doubled its `
` value in his eyes, and every day he expatiated on the `
` amount, explaining to Dantes all the good which, with `
` thirteen or fourteen millions of francs, a man could do in `
` these days to his friends; and then Dantes' countenance `
` became gloomy, for the oath of vengeance he had taken `
` recurred to his memory, and he reflected how much ill, in `
` these times, a man with thirteen or fourteen millions could `
` do to his enemies. `
` `
` The abbe did not know the Island of Monte Cristo; but Dantes `
` knew it, and had often passed it, situated twenty-five miles `
` from Pianosa, between Corsica and the Island of Elba, and `
` had once touched there. This island was, always had been, `
` and still is, completely deserted. It is a rock of almost `
` conical form, which looks as though it had been thrust up by `
` volcanic force from the depth to the surface of the ocean. `
` Dantes drew a plan of the island for Faria, and Faria gave `
` Dantes advice as to the means he should employ to recover `
` the treasure. But Dantes was far from being as enthusiastic `
` and confident as the old man. It was past a question now `
` that Faria was not a lunatic, and the way in which he had `
` achieved the discovery, which had given rise to the `
` suspicion of his madness, increased Edmond's admiration of `
` him; but at the same time Dantes could not believe that the `
` deposit, supposing it had ever existed, still existed; and `
` though he considered the treasure as by no means chimerical, `
` he yet believed it was no longer there. `
` `
` However, as if fate resolved on depriving the prisoners of `
` their last chance, and making them understand that they were `
` condemned to perpetual imprisonment, a new misfortune befell `
` them; the gallery on the sea side, which had long been in `
` ruins, was rebuilt. They had repaired it completely, and `
` stopped up with vast masses of stone the hole Dantes had `
` partly filled in. But for this precaution, which, it will be `
` remembered, the abbe had made to Edmond, the misfortune `
` would have been still greater, for their attempt to escape `
` would have been detected, and they would undoubtedly have `
` been separated. Thus a new, a stronger, and more inexorable `
` barrier was interposed to cut off the realization of their `
` hopes. `
` `
` "You see," said the young man, with an air of sorrowful `
` resignation, to Faria, "that God deems it right to take from `
` me any claim to merit for what you call my devotion to you. `
` I have promised to remain forever with you, and now I could `
` not break my promise if I would. The treasure will be no `
` more mine than yours, and neither of us will quit this `
` prison. But my real treasure is not that, my dear friend, `
` which awaits me beneath the sombre rocks of Monte Cristo, it `
` is your presence, our living together five or six hours a `
` day, in spite of our jailers; it is the rays of intelligence `
` you have elicited from my brain, the languages you have `
` implanted in my memory, and which have taken root there with `
` all their philological ramifications. These different `
` sciences that you have made so easy to me by the depth of `
`