Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
the famous return from Elba, a return which was `
` unprecedented in the past, and will probably remain without `
` a counterpart in the future. `
` `
` Louis XVIII. made but a faint attempt to parry this `
` unexpected blow; the monarchy he had scarcely reconstructed `
` tottered on its precarious foundation, and at a sign from `
` the emperor the incongruous structure of ancient prejudices `
` and new ideas fell to the ground. Villefort, therefore, `
` gained nothing save the king's gratitude (which was rather `
` likely to injure him at the present time) and the cross of `
` the Legion of Honor, which he had the prudence not to wear, `
` although M. de Blacas had duly forwarded the brevet. `
` `
` Napoleon would, doubtless, have deprived Villefort of his `
` office had it not been for Noirtier, who was all powerful at `
` court, and thus the Girondin of '93 and the Senator of 1806 `
` protected him who so lately had been his protector. All `
` Villefort's influence barely enabled him to stifle the `
` secret Dantes had so nearly divulged. The king's procureur `
` alone was deprived of his office, being suspected of `
` royalism. `
` `
` However, scarcely was the imperial power established -- that `
` is, scarcely had the emperor re-entered the Tuileries and `
` begun to issue orders from the closet into which we have `
` introduced our readers, -- he found on the table there Louis `
` XVIII.'s half-filled snuff-box, -- scarcely had this `
` occurred when Marseilles began, in spite of the authorities, `
` to rekindle the flames of civil war, always smouldering in `
` the south, and it required but little to excite the populace `
` to acts of far greater violence than the shouts and insults `
` with which they assailed the royalists whenever they `
` ventured abroad. `
` `
` Owing to this change, the worthy shipowner became at that `
` moment -- we will not say all powerful, because Morrel was a `
` prudent and rather a timid man, so much so, that many of the `
` most zealous partisans of Bonaparte accused him of `
` "moderation" -- but sufficiently influential to make a `
` demand in favor of Dantes. `
` `
` Villefort retained his place, but his marriage was put off `
` until a more favorable opportunity. If the emperor remained `
` on the throne, Gerard required a different alliance to aid `
` his career; if Louis XVIII. returned, the influence of M. de `
` Saint-Meran, like his own, could be vastly increased, and `
` the marriage be still more suitable. The deputy-procureur `
` was, therefore, the first magistrate of Marseilles, when one `
` morning his door opened, and M. Morrel was announced. `
` `
` Any one else would have hastened to receive him; but `
` Villefort was a man of ability, and he knew this would be a `
` sign of weakness. He made Morrel wait in the ante-chamber, `
` although he had no one with him, for the simple reason that `
` the king's procureur always makes every one wait, and after `
` passing a quarter of an hour in reading the papers, he `
` ordered M. Morrel to be admitted. `
` `
` Morrel expected Villefort would be dejected; he found him as `
` he had found him six weeks before, calm, firm, and full of `
` that glacial politeness, that most insurmountable barrier `
` which separates the well-bred from the vulgar man. `
` `
` He had entered Villefort's office expecting that the `
` magistrate would tremble at the sight of him; on the `
` contrary, he felt a cold shudder all over him when he saw `
` Villefort sitting there with his elbow on his desk, and his `
` head leaning on his hand. He stopped at the door; Villefort `
` gazed at him as if he had some difficulty in recognizing `
` him; then, after a brief interval, during which the honest `
` shipowner turned his hat in his hands, -- `
` `
` "M. Morrel, I believe?" said Villefort. `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "Come nearer," said the magistrate, with a patronizing wave `
` of the hand, "and tell me to what circumstance I owe the `
` honor of this visit." `
` `
` "Do you not guess, monsieur?" asked Morrel. `
` `
` "Not in the least; but if I can serve you in any way I shall `
` be delighted." `
` `
` "Everything depends on you." `
` `
` "Explain yourself, pray." `
` `
` "Monsieur," said Morrel, recovering his assurance as he `
` proceeded, "do you recollect that a few days before the `
` landing of his majesty the emperor, I came to intercede for `
` a young man, the mate of my ship, who was accused of being `
` concerned in correspondence with the Island of Elba? What `
` was the other day a crime is to-day a title to favor. You `
` then served Louis XVIII., and you did not show any favor -- `
` it was your duty; to-day you serve Napoleon, and you ought `
` to protect him -- it is equally your duty; I come, `
` therefore, to ask what has become of him?" `
` `
` Villefort by a strong effort sought to control himself. `
` "What is his name?" said he. "Tell me his name." `
` `
` "Edmond Dantes." `
` `
` Villefort would probably have rather stood opposite the `
` muzzle of a pistol at five-and-twenty paces than have heard `
` this name spoken; but he did not blanch. `
` `
` "Dantes," repeated he, "Edmond Dantes." `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur." Villefort opened a large register, then `
` went to a table, from the table turned to his registers, and `
` then, turning to Morrel, -- `
` `
` "Are you quite sure you are not mistaken, monsieur?" said `
` he, in the most natural tone in the world. `
` `
` Had Morrel been a more quick-sighted man, or better versed `
` in these matters, he would have been surprised at the king's `
` procureur answering him on such a subject, instead of `
` referring him to the governors of the prison or the prefect `
` of the department. But Morrel, disappointed in his `
` expectations of exciting fear, was conscious only of the `
` other's condescension. Villefort had calculated rightly. `
` `
` "No," said Morrel; "I am not mistaken. I have known him for `
` ten years, the last four of which he was in my service. Do `
` not you recollect, I came about six weeks ago to plead for `
` clemency, as I come to-day to plead for justice. You `
` received me very coldly. Oh, the royalists were very severe `
` with the Bonapartists in those days." `
` `
` "Monsieur," returned Villefort, "I was then a royalist, `
` because I believed the Bourbons not only the heirs to the `
` throne, but the chosen of the nation. The miraculous return `
` of Napoleon has conquered me, the legitimate monarch is he `
` who is loved by his people." `
` `
` "That's right!" cried Morrel. "I like to hear you speak `
` thus, and I augur well for Edmond from it." `
` `
` "Wait a moment," said Villefort, turning over the leaves of `
` a register; "I have it -- a sailor, who was about to marry a `
` young Catalan girl. I recollect now; it was a very serious `
` charge." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "You know that when he left here he was taken to the Palais `
` de Justice." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "I made my report to the authorities at Paris, and a week `
` after he was carried off." `
` `
` "Carried off!" said Morrel. "What can they have done with `
` him?" `
` `
` "Oh, he has been taken to Fenestrelles, to Pignerol, or to `
` the Sainte-Marguerite islands. Some fine morning he will `
` return to take command of your vessel." `
` `
` "Come when he will, it shall be kept for him. But how is it `
` he is not already returned? It seems to me the first care of `
` government should be to set at liberty those who have `
` suffered for their adherence to it." `
` `
` "Do not be too hasty, M. Morrel," replied Villefort. "The `
` order of imprisonment came from high authority, and the `
` order for his liberation must proceed from the same source; `
` and, as Napoleon has scarcely been reinstated a fortnight, `
` the letters have not yet been forwarded." `
` `
` "But," said Morrel, "is there no way of expediting all these `
` formalities -- of releasing him from arrest?" `
` `
` "There has been no arrest." `
` `
` "How?" `
` `
` "It is sometimes essential to government to cause a man's `
` disappearance without leaving any traces, so that no written `
` forms or documents may defeat their wishes." `
` `
` "It might be so under the Bourbons, but at present" -- `
` `
` "It has always been so, my dear Morrel, since the reign of `
` Louis XIV. The emperor is more strict in prison discipline `
` than even Louis himself, and the number of prisoners whose `
` names are not on the register is incalculable." Had Morrel `
` even any suspicions, so much kindness would have dispelled `
` them. `
` `
` "Well, M. de Villefort, how would you advise me to act?" `
` asked he. `
` `
` "Petition the minister." `
` `
`
` unprecedented in the past, and will probably remain without `
` a counterpart in the future. `
` `
` Louis XVIII. made but a faint attempt to parry this `
` unexpected blow; the monarchy he had scarcely reconstructed `
` tottered on its precarious foundation, and at a sign from `
` the emperor the incongruous structure of ancient prejudices `
` and new ideas fell to the ground. Villefort, therefore, `
` gained nothing save the king's gratitude (which was rather `
` likely to injure him at the present time) and the cross of `
` the Legion of Honor, which he had the prudence not to wear, `
` although M. de Blacas had duly forwarded the brevet. `
` `
` Napoleon would, doubtless, have deprived Villefort of his `
` office had it not been for Noirtier, who was all powerful at `
` court, and thus the Girondin of '93 and the Senator of 1806 `
` protected him who so lately had been his protector. All `
` Villefort's influence barely enabled him to stifle the `
` secret Dantes had so nearly divulged. The king's procureur `
` alone was deprived of his office, being suspected of `
` royalism. `
` `
` However, scarcely was the imperial power established -- that `
` is, scarcely had the emperor re-entered the Tuileries and `
` begun to issue orders from the closet into which we have `
` introduced our readers, -- he found on the table there Louis `
` XVIII.'s half-filled snuff-box, -- scarcely had this `
` occurred when Marseilles began, in spite of the authorities, `
` to rekindle the flames of civil war, always smouldering in `
` the south, and it required but little to excite the populace `
` to acts of far greater violence than the shouts and insults `
` with which they assailed the royalists whenever they `
` ventured abroad. `
` `
` Owing to this change, the worthy shipowner became at that `
` moment -- we will not say all powerful, because Morrel was a `
` prudent and rather a timid man, so much so, that many of the `
` most zealous partisans of Bonaparte accused him of `
` "moderation" -- but sufficiently influential to make a `
` demand in favor of Dantes. `
` `
` Villefort retained his place, but his marriage was put off `
` until a more favorable opportunity. If the emperor remained `
` on the throne, Gerard required a different alliance to aid `
` his career; if Louis XVIII. returned, the influence of M. de `
` Saint-Meran, like his own, could be vastly increased, and `
` the marriage be still more suitable. The deputy-procureur `
` was, therefore, the first magistrate of Marseilles, when one `
` morning his door opened, and M. Morrel was announced. `
` `
` Any one else would have hastened to receive him; but `
` Villefort was a man of ability, and he knew this would be a `
` sign of weakness. He made Morrel wait in the ante-chamber, `
` although he had no one with him, for the simple reason that `
` the king's procureur always makes every one wait, and after `
` passing a quarter of an hour in reading the papers, he `
` ordered M. Morrel to be admitted. `
` `
` Morrel expected Villefort would be dejected; he found him as `
` he had found him six weeks before, calm, firm, and full of `
` that glacial politeness, that most insurmountable barrier `
` which separates the well-bred from the vulgar man. `
` `
` He had entered Villefort's office expecting that the `
` magistrate would tremble at the sight of him; on the `
` contrary, he felt a cold shudder all over him when he saw `
` Villefort sitting there with his elbow on his desk, and his `
` head leaning on his hand. He stopped at the door; Villefort `
` gazed at him as if he had some difficulty in recognizing `
` him; then, after a brief interval, during which the honest `
` shipowner turned his hat in his hands, -- `
` `
` "M. Morrel, I believe?" said Villefort. `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "Come nearer," said the magistrate, with a patronizing wave `
` of the hand, "and tell me to what circumstance I owe the `
` honor of this visit." `
` `
` "Do you not guess, monsieur?" asked Morrel. `
` `
` "Not in the least; but if I can serve you in any way I shall `
` be delighted." `
` `
` "Everything depends on you." `
` `
` "Explain yourself, pray." `
` `
` "Monsieur," said Morrel, recovering his assurance as he `
` proceeded, "do you recollect that a few days before the `
` landing of his majesty the emperor, I came to intercede for `
` a young man, the mate of my ship, who was accused of being `
` concerned in correspondence with the Island of Elba? What `
` was the other day a crime is to-day a title to favor. You `
` then served Louis XVIII., and you did not show any favor -- `
` it was your duty; to-day you serve Napoleon, and you ought `
` to protect him -- it is equally your duty; I come, `
` therefore, to ask what has become of him?" `
` `
` Villefort by a strong effort sought to control himself. `
` "What is his name?" said he. "Tell me his name." `
` `
` "Edmond Dantes." `
` `
` Villefort would probably have rather stood opposite the `
` muzzle of a pistol at five-and-twenty paces than have heard `
` this name spoken; but he did not blanch. `
` `
` "Dantes," repeated he, "Edmond Dantes." `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur." Villefort opened a large register, then `
` went to a table, from the table turned to his registers, and `
` then, turning to Morrel, -- `
` `
` "Are you quite sure you are not mistaken, monsieur?" said `
` he, in the most natural tone in the world. `
` `
` Had Morrel been a more quick-sighted man, or better versed `
` in these matters, he would have been surprised at the king's `
` procureur answering him on such a subject, instead of `
` referring him to the governors of the prison or the prefect `
` of the department. But Morrel, disappointed in his `
` expectations of exciting fear, was conscious only of the `
` other's condescension. Villefort had calculated rightly. `
` `
` "No," said Morrel; "I am not mistaken. I have known him for `
` ten years, the last four of which he was in my service. Do `
` not you recollect, I came about six weeks ago to plead for `
` clemency, as I come to-day to plead for justice. You `
` received me very coldly. Oh, the royalists were very severe `
` with the Bonapartists in those days." `
` `
` "Monsieur," returned Villefort, "I was then a royalist, `
` because I believed the Bourbons not only the heirs to the `
` throne, but the chosen of the nation. The miraculous return `
` of Napoleon has conquered me, the legitimate monarch is he `
` who is loved by his people." `
` `
` "That's right!" cried Morrel. "I like to hear you speak `
` thus, and I augur well for Edmond from it." `
` `
` "Wait a moment," said Villefort, turning over the leaves of `
` a register; "I have it -- a sailor, who was about to marry a `
` young Catalan girl. I recollect now; it was a very serious `
` charge." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "You know that when he left here he was taken to the Palais `
` de Justice." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "I made my report to the authorities at Paris, and a week `
` after he was carried off." `
` `
` "Carried off!" said Morrel. "What can they have done with `
` him?" `
` `
` "Oh, he has been taken to Fenestrelles, to Pignerol, or to `
` the Sainte-Marguerite islands. Some fine morning he will `
` return to take command of your vessel." `
` `
` "Come when he will, it shall be kept for him. But how is it `
` he is not already returned? It seems to me the first care of `
` government should be to set at liberty those who have `
` suffered for their adherence to it." `
` `
` "Do not be too hasty, M. Morrel," replied Villefort. "The `
` order of imprisonment came from high authority, and the `
` order for his liberation must proceed from the same source; `
` and, as Napoleon has scarcely been reinstated a fortnight, `
` the letters have not yet been forwarded." `
` `
` "But," said Morrel, "is there no way of expediting all these `
` formalities -- of releasing him from arrest?" `
` `
` "There has been no arrest." `
` `
` "How?" `
` `
` "It is sometimes essential to government to cause a man's `
` disappearance without leaving any traces, so that no written `
` forms or documents may defeat their wishes." `
` `
` "It might be so under the Bourbons, but at present" -- `
` `
` "It has always been so, my dear Morrel, since the reign of `
` Louis XIV. The emperor is more strict in prison discipline `
` than even Louis himself, and the number of prisoners whose `
` names are not on the register is incalculable." Had Morrel `
` even any suspicions, so much kindness would have dispelled `
` them. `
` `
` "Well, M. de Villefort, how would you advise me to act?" `
` asked he. `
` `
` "Petition the minister." `
` `
`