Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.75-117
"You are right; it is not you who should apprise M. `
` Danglars, it is I." `
` `
` "Do not do so, reverend sir." `
` `
` "Why not?" `
` `
` "Because you would bring us to ruin." `
` `
` "And you think that to save such villains as you I will `
` become an abettor of their plot, an accomplice in their `
` crimes?" `
` `
` "Reverend sir," said Caderousse, drawing still nearer. `
` `
` "I will expose all." `
` `
` "To whom?" `
` `
` "To M. Danglars." `
` `
` "By heaven!" cried Caderousse, drawing from his waistcoat an `
` open knife, and striking the count in the breast, "you shall `
` disclose nothing, reverend sir!" To Caderousse's great `
` astonishment, the knife, instead of piercing the count's `
` breast, flew back blunted. At the same moment the count `
` seized with his left hand the assassin's wrist, and wrung it `
` with such strength that the knife fell from his stiffened `
` fingers, and Caderousse uttered a cry of pain. But the `
` count, disregarding his cry, continued to wring the bandit's `
` wrist, until, his arm being dislocated, he fell first on his `
` knees, then flat on the floor. The count then placed his `
` foot on his head, saying, "I know not what restrains me from `
` crushing thy skull, rascal." `
` `
` "Ah, mercy -- mercy!" cried Caderousse. The count withdrew `
` his foot. "Rise!" said he. Caderousse rose. `
` `
` "What a wrist you have, reverend sir!" said Caderousse. `
` stroking his arm, all bruised by the fleshy pincers which `
` had held it; "what a wrist!" `
` `
` "Silence! God gives me strength to overcome a wild beast `
` like you; in the name of that God I act, -- remember that, `
` wretch, -- and to spare thee at this moment is still serving `
` him." `
` `
` "Oh!" said Caderousse, groaning with pain. `
` `
` "Take this pen and paper, and write what I dictate." `
` `
` "I don't know how to write, reverend sir." `
` `
` "You lie! Take this pen, and write!" Caderousse, awed by the `
` superior power of the abbe, sat down and wrote: -- `
` `
` Sir, -- The man whom you are receiving at your house, and to `
` whom you intend to marry your daughter, is a felon who `
` escaped with me from confinement at Toulon. He was No. 59, `
` and I No. 58. He was called Benedetto, but he is ignorant of `
` his real name, having never known his parents. `
` `
` "Sign it!" continued the count. `
` `
` "But would you ruin me?" `
` `
` "If I sought your ruin, fool, I should drag you to the first `
` guard-house; besides, when that note is delivered, in all `
` probability you will have no more to fear. Sign it, then!" `
` `
` Caderousse signed it. "The address, `To monsieur the Baron `
` Danglars, banker, Rue de la Chaussee d'Antin.'" Caderousse `
` wrote the address. The abbe took the note. "Now," said he, `
` "that suffices -- begone!" `
` `
` "Which way?" `
` `
` "The way you came." `
` `
` "You wish me to get out at that window?" `
` `
` "You got in very well." `
` `
` "Oh, you have some design against me, reverend sir." `
` `
` "Idiot! what design can I have?" `
` `
` "Why, then, not let me out by the door?" `
` `
` "What would be the advantage of waking the porter?" -- `
` `
` "Ah, reverend sir, tell me, do you wish me dead?" `
` `
` "I wish what God wills." `
` `
` "But swear that you will not strike me as I go down." `
` `
` "Cowardly fool!" `
` `
` "What do you intend doing with me?" `
` `
` "I ask you what can I do? I have tried to make you a happy `
` man, and you have turned out a murderer." `
` `
` "Oh, monsieur," said Caderousse, "make one more attempt -- `
` try me once more!" `
` `
` "I will," said the count. "Listen -- you know if I may be `
` relied on." `
` `
` "Yes," said Caderousse. `
` `
` "If you arrive safely at home" -- `
` `
` "What have I to fear, except from you?" `
` `
` "If you reach your home safely, leave Paris, leave France, `
` and wherever you may be, so long as you conduct yourself `
` well, I will send you a small annuity; for, if you return `
` home safely, then" -- `
` `
` "Then?" asked Caderousse, shuddering. `
` `
` "Then I shall believe God has forgiven you, and I will `
` forgive you too." `
` `
` "As true as I am a Christian," stammered Caderousse, "you `
` will make me die of fright!" `
` `
` "Now begone," said the count, pointing to the window. `
` `
` Caderousse, scarcely yet relying on this promise, put his `
` legs out of the window and stood on the ladder. "Now go `
` down," said the abbe, folding his arms. Understanding he had `
` nothing more to fear from him, Caderousse began to go down. `
` Then the count brought the taper to the window, that it `
` might be seen in the Champs-Elysees that a man was getting `
` out of the window while another held a light. `
` `
` "What are you doing, reverend sir? Suppose a watchman should `
` pass?" And he blew out the light. He then descended, but it `
` was only when he felt his foot touch the ground that he was `
` satisfied of his safety. `
` `
` Monte Cristo returned to his bedroom, and, glancing rapidly `
` from the garden to the street, he saw first Caderousse, who `
` after walking to the end of the garden, fixed his ladder `
` against the wall at a different part from where he came in. `
` The count then looking over into the street, saw the man who `
` appeared to be waiting run in the same direction, and place `
` himself against the angle of the wall where Caderousse would `
` come over. Caderousse climbed the ladder slowly, and looked `
` over the coping to see if the street was quiet. No one could `
` be seen or heard. The clock of the Invalides struck one. `
` Then Caderousse sat astride the coping, and drawing up his `
` ladder passed it over the wall; then he began to descend, or `
` rather to slide down by the two stanchions, which he did `
` with an ease which proved how accustomed he was to the `
` exercise. But, once started, he could not stop. In vain did `
` he see a man start from the shadow when he was halfway down `
` -- in vain did he see an arm raised as he touched the `
` ground. Before he could defend himself that arm struck him `
` so violently in the back that he let go the ladder, crying, `
` "Help!" A second blow struck him almost immediately in the `
` side, and he fell, calling, "Help, murder!" Then, as he `
` rolled on the ground, his adversary seized him by the hair, `
` and struck him a third blow in the chest. This time `
` Caderousse endeavored to call again, but he could only utter `
` a groan, and he shuddered as the blood flowed from his three `
` wounds. The assassin, finding that he no longer cried out, `
` lifted his head up by the hair; his eyes were closed, and `
` the mouth was distorted. The murderer, supposing him dead, `
` let fall his head and disappeared. Then Caderousse, feeling `
` that he was leaving him, raised himself on his elbow, and `
` with a dying voice cried with great effort, "Murder! I am `
` dying! Help, reverend sir, -- help!" `
` `
` This mournful appeal pierced the darkness. The door of the `
` back-staircase opened, then the side-gate of the garden, and `
` Ali and his master were on the spot with lights. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 83 `
` The Hand of God. `
` `
` Caderousse continued to call piteously, "Help, reverend sir, `
` help!" `
` `
` "What is the matter?" asked Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "Help," cried Caderousse; "I am murdered!" `
` `
` "We are here; -- take courage." `
` `
` "Ah, it's all over! You are come too late -- you are come to `
` see me die. What blows, what blood!" He fainted. Ali and his `
` master conveyed the wounded man into a room. Monte Cristo `
` motioned to Ali to undress him, and he then examined his `
` dreadful wounds. "My God!" he exclaimed, "thy vengeance is `
` sometimes delayed, but only that it may fall the more `
`
` Danglars, it is I." `
` `
` "Do not do so, reverend sir." `
` `
` "Why not?" `
` `
` "Because you would bring us to ruin." `
` `
` "And you think that to save such villains as you I will `
` become an abettor of their plot, an accomplice in their `
` crimes?" `
` `
` "Reverend sir," said Caderousse, drawing still nearer. `
` `
` "I will expose all." `
` `
` "To whom?" `
` `
` "To M. Danglars." `
` `
` "By heaven!" cried Caderousse, drawing from his waistcoat an `
` open knife, and striking the count in the breast, "you shall `
` disclose nothing, reverend sir!" To Caderousse's great `
` astonishment, the knife, instead of piercing the count's `
` breast, flew back blunted. At the same moment the count `
` seized with his left hand the assassin's wrist, and wrung it `
` with such strength that the knife fell from his stiffened `
` fingers, and Caderousse uttered a cry of pain. But the `
` count, disregarding his cry, continued to wring the bandit's `
` wrist, until, his arm being dislocated, he fell first on his `
` knees, then flat on the floor. The count then placed his `
` foot on his head, saying, "I know not what restrains me from `
` crushing thy skull, rascal." `
` `
` "Ah, mercy -- mercy!" cried Caderousse. The count withdrew `
` his foot. "Rise!" said he. Caderousse rose. `
` `
` "What a wrist you have, reverend sir!" said Caderousse. `
` stroking his arm, all bruised by the fleshy pincers which `
` had held it; "what a wrist!" `
` `
` "Silence! God gives me strength to overcome a wild beast `
` like you; in the name of that God I act, -- remember that, `
` wretch, -- and to spare thee at this moment is still serving `
` him." `
` `
` "Oh!" said Caderousse, groaning with pain. `
` `
` "Take this pen and paper, and write what I dictate." `
` `
` "I don't know how to write, reverend sir." `
` `
` "You lie! Take this pen, and write!" Caderousse, awed by the `
` superior power of the abbe, sat down and wrote: -- `
` `
` Sir, -- The man whom you are receiving at your house, and to `
` whom you intend to marry your daughter, is a felon who `
` escaped with me from confinement at Toulon. He was No. 59, `
` and I No. 58. He was called Benedetto, but he is ignorant of `
` his real name, having never known his parents. `
` `
` "Sign it!" continued the count. `
` `
` "But would you ruin me?" `
` `
` "If I sought your ruin, fool, I should drag you to the first `
` guard-house; besides, when that note is delivered, in all `
` probability you will have no more to fear. Sign it, then!" `
` `
` Caderousse signed it. "The address, `To monsieur the Baron `
` Danglars, banker, Rue de la Chaussee d'Antin.'" Caderousse `
` wrote the address. The abbe took the note. "Now," said he, `
` "that suffices -- begone!" `
` `
` "Which way?" `
` `
` "The way you came." `
` `
` "You wish me to get out at that window?" `
` `
` "You got in very well." `
` `
` "Oh, you have some design against me, reverend sir." `
` `
` "Idiot! what design can I have?" `
` `
` "Why, then, not let me out by the door?" `
` `
` "What would be the advantage of waking the porter?" -- `
` `
` "Ah, reverend sir, tell me, do you wish me dead?" `
` `
` "I wish what God wills." `
` `
` "But swear that you will not strike me as I go down." `
` `
` "Cowardly fool!" `
` `
` "What do you intend doing with me?" `
` `
` "I ask you what can I do? I have tried to make you a happy `
` man, and you have turned out a murderer." `
` `
` "Oh, monsieur," said Caderousse, "make one more attempt -- `
` try me once more!" `
` `
` "I will," said the count. "Listen -- you know if I may be `
` relied on." `
` `
` "Yes," said Caderousse. `
` `
` "If you arrive safely at home" -- `
` `
` "What have I to fear, except from you?" `
` `
` "If you reach your home safely, leave Paris, leave France, `
` and wherever you may be, so long as you conduct yourself `
` well, I will send you a small annuity; for, if you return `
` home safely, then" -- `
` `
` "Then?" asked Caderousse, shuddering. `
` `
` "Then I shall believe God has forgiven you, and I will `
` forgive you too." `
` `
` "As true as I am a Christian," stammered Caderousse, "you `
` will make me die of fright!" `
` `
` "Now begone," said the count, pointing to the window. `
` `
` Caderousse, scarcely yet relying on this promise, put his `
` legs out of the window and stood on the ladder. "Now go `
` down," said the abbe, folding his arms. Understanding he had `
` nothing more to fear from him, Caderousse began to go down. `
` Then the count brought the taper to the window, that it `
` might be seen in the Champs-Elysees that a man was getting `
` out of the window while another held a light. `
` `
` "What are you doing, reverend sir? Suppose a watchman should `
` pass?" And he blew out the light. He then descended, but it `
` was only when he felt his foot touch the ground that he was `
` satisfied of his safety. `
` `
` Monte Cristo returned to his bedroom, and, glancing rapidly `
` from the garden to the street, he saw first Caderousse, who `
` after walking to the end of the garden, fixed his ladder `
` against the wall at a different part from where he came in. `
` The count then looking over into the street, saw the man who `
` appeared to be waiting run in the same direction, and place `
` himself against the angle of the wall where Caderousse would `
` come over. Caderousse climbed the ladder slowly, and looked `
` over the coping to see if the street was quiet. No one could `
` be seen or heard. The clock of the Invalides struck one. `
` Then Caderousse sat astride the coping, and drawing up his `
` ladder passed it over the wall; then he began to descend, or `
` rather to slide down by the two stanchions, which he did `
` with an ease which proved how accustomed he was to the `
` exercise. But, once started, he could not stop. In vain did `
` he see a man start from the shadow when he was halfway down `
` -- in vain did he see an arm raised as he touched the `
` ground. Before he could defend himself that arm struck him `
` so violently in the back that he let go the ladder, crying, `
` "Help!" A second blow struck him almost immediately in the `
` side, and he fell, calling, "Help, murder!" Then, as he `
` rolled on the ground, his adversary seized him by the hair, `
` and struck him a third blow in the chest. This time `
` Caderousse endeavored to call again, but he could only utter `
` a groan, and he shuddered as the blood flowed from his three `
` wounds. The assassin, finding that he no longer cried out, `
` lifted his head up by the hair; his eyes were closed, and `
` the mouth was distorted. The murderer, supposing him dead, `
` let fall his head and disappeared. Then Caderousse, feeling `
` that he was leaving him, raised himself on his elbow, and `
` with a dying voice cried with great effort, "Murder! I am `
` dying! Help, reverend sir, -- help!" `
` `
` This mournful appeal pierced the darkness. The door of the `
` back-staircase opened, then the side-gate of the garden, and `
` Ali and his master were on the spot with lights. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 83 `
` The Hand of God. `
` `
` Caderousse continued to call piteously, "Help, reverend sir, `
` help!" `
` `
` "What is the matter?" asked Monte Cristo. `
` `
` "Help," cried Caderousse; "I am murdered!" `
` `
` "We are here; -- take courage." `
` `
` "Ah, it's all over! You are come too late -- you are come to `
` see me die. What blows, what blood!" He fainted. Ali and his `
` master conveyed the wounded man into a room. Monte Cristo `
` motioned to Ali to undress him, and he then examined his `
` dreadful wounds. "My God!" he exclaimed, "thy vengeance is `
` sometimes delayed, but only that it may fall the more `
`