Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
therein the receipt of the cash, and I will hand you over `
` the money." He rose, gave his seat to M. de Boville, who `
` took it without ceremony, and quickly drew up the required `
` assignment, while the Englishman counted out the bank-notes `
` on the other side of the desk. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 29 `
` The House of Morrel Son. `
` `
` Any one who had quitted Marseilles a few years previously, `
` well acquainted with the interior of Morrel's warehouse, and `
` had returned at this date, would have found a great change. `
` Instead of that air of life, of comfort, and of happiness `
` that permeates a flourishing and prosperous business `
` establishment -- instead of merry faces at the windows, busy `
` clerks hurrying to and fro in the long corridors -- instead `
` of the court filled with bales of goods, re-echoing with the `
` cries and the jokes of porters, one would have immediately `
` perceived all aspect of sadness and gloom. Out of all the `
` numerous clerks that used to fill the deserted corridor and `
` the empty office, but two remained. One was a young man of `
` three or four and twenty, who was in love with M. Morrel's `
` daughter, and had remained with him in spite of the efforts `
` of his friends to induce him to withdraw; the other was an `
` old one-eyed cashier, called "Cocles," or "Cock-eye," a `
` nickname given him by the young men who used to throng this `
` vast now almost deserted bee-hive, and which had so `
` completely replaced his real name that he would not, in all `
` probability, have replied to any one who addressed him by `
` it. `
` `
` Cocles remained in M. Morrel's service, and a most singular `
` change had taken place in his position; he had at the same `
` time risen to the rank of cashier, and sunk to the rank of a `
` servant. He was, however, the same Cocles, good, patient, `
` devoted, but inflexible on the subject of arithmetic, the `
` only point on which he would have stood firm against the `
` world, even against M. Morrel; and strong in the `
` multiplication-table, which he had at his fingers' ends, no `
` matter what scheme or what trap was laid to catch him. In `
` the midst of the disasters that befell the house, Cocles was `
` the only one unmoved. But this did not arise from a want of `
` affection; on the contrary, from a firm conviction. Like the `
` rats that one by one forsake the doomed ship even before the `
` vessel weighs anchor, so all the numerous clerks had by `
` degrees deserted the office and the warehouse. Cocles had `
` seen them go without thinking of inquiring the cause of `
` their departure. Everything was as we have said, a question `
` of arithmetic to Cocles, and during twenty years he had `
` always seen all payments made with such exactitude, that it `
` seemed as impossible to him that the house should stop `
` payment, as it would to a miller that the river that had so `
` long turned his mill should cease to flow. `
` `
` Nothing had as yet occurred to shake Cocles' belief; the `
` last month's payment had been made with the most scrupulous `
` exactitude; Cocles had detected an overbalance of fourteen `
` sous in his cash, and the same evening he had brought them `
` to M. Morrel, who, with a melancholy smile, threw them into `
` an almost empty drawer, saying: -- `
` `
` "Thanks, Cocles; you are the pearl of cashiers." `
` `
` Cocles went away perfectly happy, for this eulogium of M. `
` Morrel, himself the pearl of the honest men of Marseilles, `
` flattered him more than a present of fifty crowns. But since `
` the end of the month M. Morrel had passed many an anxious `
` hour. In order to meet the payments then due; he had `
` collected all his resources, and, fearing lest the report of `
` his distress should get bruited abroad at Marseilles when he `
` was known to be reduced to such an extremity, he went to the `
` Beaucaire fair to sell his wife's and daughter's jewels and `
` a portion of his plate. By this means the end of the month `
` was passed, but his resources were now exhausted. Credit, `
` owing to the reports afloat, was no longer to be had; and to `
` meet the one hundred thousand francs due on the 10th of the `
` present month, and the one hundred thousand francs due on `
` the 15th of the next month to M. de Boville, M. Morrel had, `
` in reality, no hope but the return of the Pharaon, of whose `
` departure he had learnt from a vessel which had weighed `
` anchor at the same time, and which had already arrived in `
` harbor. But this vessel which, like the Pharaon, came from `
` Calcutta, had been in for a fortnight, while no intelligence `
` had been received of the Pharaon. `
` `
` Such was the state of affairs when, the day after his `
` interview with M. de Boville, the confidential clerk of the `
` house of Thomson French of Rome, presented himself at M. `
` Morrel's. Emmanuel received him; this young man was alarmed `
` by the appearance of every new face, for every new face `
` might be that of a new creditor, come in anxiety to question `
` the head of the house. The young man, wishing to spare his `
` employer the pain of this interview, questioned the `
` new-comer; but the stranger declared that he had nothing to `
` say to M. Emmanuel, and that his business was with M. Morrel `
` in person. Emmanuel sighed, and summoned Cocles. Cocles `
` appeared, and the young man bade him conduct the stranger to `
` M. Morrel's apartment. Cocles went first, and the stranger `
` followed him. On the staircase they met a beautiful girl of `
` sixteen or seventeen, who looked with anxiety at the `
` stranger. `
` `
` "M. Morrel is in his room, is he not, Mademoiselle Julie?" `
` said the cashier. `
` `
` "Yes; I think so, at least," said the young girl `
` hesitatingly. "Go and see, Cocles, and if my father is `
` there, announce this gentleman." `
` `
` "It will be useless to announce me, mademoiselle," returned `
` the Englishman. "M. Morrel does not know my name; this `
` worthy gentleman has only to announce the confidential clerk `
` of the house of Thomson French of Rome, with whom your `
` father does business." `
` `
` The young girl turned pale and continued to descend, while `
` the stranger and Cocles continued to mount the staircase. `
` She entered the office where Emmanuel was, while Cocles, by `
` the aid of a key he possessed, opened a door in the corner `
` of a landing-place on the second staircase, conducted the `
` stranger into an ante-chamber, opened a second door, which `
` he closed behind him, and after having left the clerk of the `
` house of Thomson French alone, returned and signed to him `
` that he could enter. The Englishman entered, and found `
` Morrel seated at a table, turning over the formidable `
` columns of his ledger, which contained the list of his `
` liabilities. At the sight of the stranger, M. Morrel closed `
` the ledger, arose, and offered a seat to the stranger; and `
` when he had seen him seated, resumed his own chair. Fourteen `
` years had changed the worthy merchant, who, in his `
` thirty-sixth year at the opening of this history, was now in `
` his fiftieth; his hair had turned white, time and sorrow had `
` ploughed deep furrows on his brow, and his look, once so `
` firm and penetrating, was now irresolute and wandering, as `
` if he feared being forced to fix his attention on some `
` particular thought or person. The Englishman looked at him `
` with an air of curiosity, evidently mingled with interest. `
` "Monsieur," said Morrel, whose uneasiness was increased by `
` this examination, "you wish to speak to me?" `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur; you are aware from whom I come?" `
` `
` "The house of Thomson French; at least, so my cashier `
` tells me." `
` `
` "He has told you rightly. The house of Thomson French had `
` 300,000 or 400,000 francs to pay this month in France; and, `
` knowing your strict punctuality, have collected all the `
` bills bearing your signature, and charged me as they became `
` due to present them, and to employ the money otherwise." `
` Morrel sighed deeply, and passed his hand over his forehead, `
` which was covered with perspiration. `
` `
` "So then, sir," said Morrel, "you hold bills of mine?" `
` `
` "Yes, and for a considerable sum." `
` `
` "What is the amount?" asked Morrel with a voice he strove to `
` render firm. `
` `
` "Here is," said the Englishman, taking a quantity of papers `
` from his pocket, "an assignment of 200,000 francs to our `
` house by M. de Boville, the inspector of prisons, to whom `
` they are due. You acknowledge, of course, that you owe this `
` sum to him?" `
` `
` "Yes; he placed the money in my hands at four and a half per `
` cent nearly five years ago." `
` `
` "When are you to pay?" `
` `
` "Half the 15th of this month, half the 15th of next." `
` `
` "Just so; and now here are 32,500 francs payable shortly; `
` they are all signed by you, and assigned to our house by the `
` holders." `
` `
` "I recognize them," said Morrel, whose face was suffused, as `
` he thought that, for the first time in his life, he would be `
` unable to honor his own signature. "Is this all?" `
` `
` "No, I have for the end of the month these bills which have `
` been assigned to us by the house of Pascal, and the house of `
` Wild Turner of Marseilles, amounting to nearly 55,000 `
` francs; in all, 287,500 francs." It is impossible to `
` describe what Morrel suffered during this enumeration. "Two `
` hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred francs," `
` repeated he. `
` `
` "Yes, sir," replied the Englishman. "I will not," continued `
` he, after a moment's silence, "conceal from you, that while `
` your probity and exactitude up to this moment are `
` universally acknowledged, yet the report is current in `
` Marseilles that you are not able to meet your liabilities." `
` At this almost brutal speech Morrel turned deathly pale. `
` "Sir," said he, "up to this time -- and it is now more than `
` four-and-twenty years since I received the direction of this `
` house from my father, who had himself conducted it for five `
` and thirty years -- never has anything bearing the signature `
`
` the money." He rose, gave his seat to M. de Boville, who `
` took it without ceremony, and quickly drew up the required `
` assignment, while the Englishman counted out the bank-notes `
` on the other side of the desk. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 29 `
` The House of Morrel Son. `
` `
` Any one who had quitted Marseilles a few years previously, `
` well acquainted with the interior of Morrel's warehouse, and `
` had returned at this date, would have found a great change. `
` Instead of that air of life, of comfort, and of happiness `
` that permeates a flourishing and prosperous business `
` establishment -- instead of merry faces at the windows, busy `
` clerks hurrying to and fro in the long corridors -- instead `
` of the court filled with bales of goods, re-echoing with the `
` cries and the jokes of porters, one would have immediately `
` perceived all aspect of sadness and gloom. Out of all the `
` numerous clerks that used to fill the deserted corridor and `
` the empty office, but two remained. One was a young man of `
` three or four and twenty, who was in love with M. Morrel's `
` daughter, and had remained with him in spite of the efforts `
` of his friends to induce him to withdraw; the other was an `
` old one-eyed cashier, called "Cocles," or "Cock-eye," a `
` nickname given him by the young men who used to throng this `
` vast now almost deserted bee-hive, and which had so `
` completely replaced his real name that he would not, in all `
` probability, have replied to any one who addressed him by `
` it. `
` `
` Cocles remained in M. Morrel's service, and a most singular `
` change had taken place in his position; he had at the same `
` time risen to the rank of cashier, and sunk to the rank of a `
` servant. He was, however, the same Cocles, good, patient, `
` devoted, but inflexible on the subject of arithmetic, the `
` only point on which he would have stood firm against the `
` world, even against M. Morrel; and strong in the `
` multiplication-table, which he had at his fingers' ends, no `
` matter what scheme or what trap was laid to catch him. In `
` the midst of the disasters that befell the house, Cocles was `
` the only one unmoved. But this did not arise from a want of `
` affection; on the contrary, from a firm conviction. Like the `
` rats that one by one forsake the doomed ship even before the `
` vessel weighs anchor, so all the numerous clerks had by `
` degrees deserted the office and the warehouse. Cocles had `
` seen them go without thinking of inquiring the cause of `
` their departure. Everything was as we have said, a question `
` of arithmetic to Cocles, and during twenty years he had `
` always seen all payments made with such exactitude, that it `
` seemed as impossible to him that the house should stop `
` payment, as it would to a miller that the river that had so `
` long turned his mill should cease to flow. `
` `
` Nothing had as yet occurred to shake Cocles' belief; the `
` last month's payment had been made with the most scrupulous `
` exactitude; Cocles had detected an overbalance of fourteen `
` sous in his cash, and the same evening he had brought them `
` to M. Morrel, who, with a melancholy smile, threw them into `
` an almost empty drawer, saying: -- `
` `
` "Thanks, Cocles; you are the pearl of cashiers." `
` `
` Cocles went away perfectly happy, for this eulogium of M. `
` Morrel, himself the pearl of the honest men of Marseilles, `
` flattered him more than a present of fifty crowns. But since `
` the end of the month M. Morrel had passed many an anxious `
` hour. In order to meet the payments then due; he had `
` collected all his resources, and, fearing lest the report of `
` his distress should get bruited abroad at Marseilles when he `
` was known to be reduced to such an extremity, he went to the `
` Beaucaire fair to sell his wife's and daughter's jewels and `
` a portion of his plate. By this means the end of the month `
` was passed, but his resources were now exhausted. Credit, `
` owing to the reports afloat, was no longer to be had; and to `
` meet the one hundred thousand francs due on the 10th of the `
` present month, and the one hundred thousand francs due on `
` the 15th of the next month to M. de Boville, M. Morrel had, `
` in reality, no hope but the return of the Pharaon, of whose `
` departure he had learnt from a vessel which had weighed `
` anchor at the same time, and which had already arrived in `
` harbor. But this vessel which, like the Pharaon, came from `
` Calcutta, had been in for a fortnight, while no intelligence `
` had been received of the Pharaon. `
` `
` Such was the state of affairs when, the day after his `
` interview with M. de Boville, the confidential clerk of the `
` house of Thomson French of Rome, presented himself at M. `
` Morrel's. Emmanuel received him; this young man was alarmed `
` by the appearance of every new face, for every new face `
` might be that of a new creditor, come in anxiety to question `
` the head of the house. The young man, wishing to spare his `
` employer the pain of this interview, questioned the `
` new-comer; but the stranger declared that he had nothing to `
` say to M. Emmanuel, and that his business was with M. Morrel `
` in person. Emmanuel sighed, and summoned Cocles. Cocles `
` appeared, and the young man bade him conduct the stranger to `
` M. Morrel's apartment. Cocles went first, and the stranger `
` followed him. On the staircase they met a beautiful girl of `
` sixteen or seventeen, who looked with anxiety at the `
` stranger. `
` `
` "M. Morrel is in his room, is he not, Mademoiselle Julie?" `
` said the cashier. `
` `
` "Yes; I think so, at least," said the young girl `
` hesitatingly. "Go and see, Cocles, and if my father is `
` there, announce this gentleman." `
` `
` "It will be useless to announce me, mademoiselle," returned `
` the Englishman. "M. Morrel does not know my name; this `
` worthy gentleman has only to announce the confidential clerk `
` of the house of Thomson French of Rome, with whom your `
` father does business." `
` `
` The young girl turned pale and continued to descend, while `
` the stranger and Cocles continued to mount the staircase. `
` She entered the office where Emmanuel was, while Cocles, by `
` the aid of a key he possessed, opened a door in the corner `
` of a landing-place on the second staircase, conducted the `
` stranger into an ante-chamber, opened a second door, which `
` he closed behind him, and after having left the clerk of the `
` house of Thomson French alone, returned and signed to him `
` that he could enter. The Englishman entered, and found `
` Morrel seated at a table, turning over the formidable `
` columns of his ledger, which contained the list of his `
` liabilities. At the sight of the stranger, M. Morrel closed `
` the ledger, arose, and offered a seat to the stranger; and `
` when he had seen him seated, resumed his own chair. Fourteen `
` years had changed the worthy merchant, who, in his `
` thirty-sixth year at the opening of this history, was now in `
` his fiftieth; his hair had turned white, time and sorrow had `
` ploughed deep furrows on his brow, and his look, once so `
` firm and penetrating, was now irresolute and wandering, as `
` if he feared being forced to fix his attention on some `
` particular thought or person. The Englishman looked at him `
` with an air of curiosity, evidently mingled with interest. `
` "Monsieur," said Morrel, whose uneasiness was increased by `
` this examination, "you wish to speak to me?" `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur; you are aware from whom I come?" `
` `
` "The house of Thomson French; at least, so my cashier `
` tells me." `
` `
` "He has told you rightly. The house of Thomson French had `
` 300,000 or 400,000 francs to pay this month in France; and, `
` knowing your strict punctuality, have collected all the `
` bills bearing your signature, and charged me as they became `
` due to present them, and to employ the money otherwise." `
` Morrel sighed deeply, and passed his hand over his forehead, `
` which was covered with perspiration. `
` `
` "So then, sir," said Morrel, "you hold bills of mine?" `
` `
` "Yes, and for a considerable sum." `
` `
` "What is the amount?" asked Morrel with a voice he strove to `
` render firm. `
` `
` "Here is," said the Englishman, taking a quantity of papers `
` from his pocket, "an assignment of 200,000 francs to our `
` house by M. de Boville, the inspector of prisons, to whom `
` they are due. You acknowledge, of course, that you owe this `
` sum to him?" `
` `
` "Yes; he placed the money in my hands at four and a half per `
` cent nearly five years ago." `
` `
` "When are you to pay?" `
` `
` "Half the 15th of this month, half the 15th of next." `
` `
` "Just so; and now here are 32,500 francs payable shortly; `
` they are all signed by you, and assigned to our house by the `
` holders." `
` `
` "I recognize them," said Morrel, whose face was suffused, as `
` he thought that, for the first time in his life, he would be `
` unable to honor his own signature. "Is this all?" `
` `
` "No, I have for the end of the month these bills which have `
` been assigned to us by the house of Pascal, and the house of `
` Wild Turner of Marseilles, amounting to nearly 55,000 `
` francs; in all, 287,500 francs." It is impossible to `
` describe what Morrel suffered during this enumeration. "Two `
` hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred francs," `
` repeated he. `
` `
` "Yes, sir," replied the Englishman. "I will not," continued `
` he, after a moment's silence, "conceal from you, that while `
` your probity and exactitude up to this moment are `
` universally acknowledged, yet the report is current in `
` Marseilles that you are not able to meet your liabilities." `
` At this almost brutal speech Morrel turned deathly pale. `
` "Sir," said he, "up to this time -- and it is now more than `
` four-and-twenty years since I received the direction of this `
` house from my father, who had himself conducted it for five `
` and thirty years -- never has anything bearing the signature `
`