Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.1-10
Morrel," said Dantes, approaching, "the vessel now rides at `
` anchor, and I am at your service. You hailed me, I think?" `
` `
` Danglars retreated a step or two. "I wished to inquire why `
` you stopped at the Island of Elba?" `
` `
` "I do not know, sir; it was to fulfil the last instructions `
` of Captain Leclere, who, when dying, gave me a packet for `
` Marshal Bertrand." `
` `
` "Then did you see him, Edmond?" `
` `
` "Who?" `
` `
` "The marshal." `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` Morrel looked around him, and then, drawing Dantes on one `
` side, he said suddenly -- "And how is the emperor?" `
` `
` "Very well, as far as I could judge from the sight of him." `
` `
` "You saw the emperor, then?" `
` `
` "He entered the marshal's apartment while I was there." `
` `
` "And you spoke to him?" `
` `
` "Why, it was he who spoke to me, sir," said Dantes, with a `
` smile. `
` `
` "And what did he say to you?" `
` `
` "Asked me questions about the vessel, the time she left `
` Marseilles, the course she had taken, and what was her `
` cargo. I believe, if she had not been laden, and I had been `
` her master, he would have bought her. But I told him I was `
` only mate, and that she belonged to the firm of Morrel `
` Son. `Ah, yes,' he said, `I know them. The Morrels have been `
` shipowners from father to son; and there was a Morrel who `
` served in the same regiment with me when I was in garrison `
` at Valence.'" `
` `
` "Pardieu, and that is true!" cried the owner, greatly `
` delighted. "And that was Policar Morrel, my uncle, who was `
` afterwards a captain. Dantes, you must tell my uncle that `
` the emperor remembered him, and you will see it will bring `
` tears into the old soldier's eyes. Come, come," continued `
` he, patting Edmond's shoulder kindly, "you did very right, `
` Dantes, to follow Captain Leclere's instructions, and touch `
` at Elba, although if it were known that you had conveyed a `
` packet to the marshal, and had conversed with the emperor, `
` it might bring you into trouble." `
` `
` "How could that bring me into trouble, sir?" asked Dantes; `
` "for I did not even know of what I was the bearer; and the `
` emperor merely made such inquiries as he would of the first `
` comer. But, pardon me, here are the health officers and the `
` customs inspectors coming alongside." And the young man went `
` to the gangway. As he departed, Danglars approached, and `
` said, -- `
` `
` "Well, it appears that he has given you satisfactory reasons `
` for his landing at Porto-Ferrajo?" `
` `
` "Yes, most satisfactory, my dear Danglars." `
` `
` "Well, so much the better," said the supercargo; "for it is `
` not pleasant to think that a comrade has not done his duty." `
` `
` "Dantes has done his," replied the owner, "and that is not `
` saying much. It was Captain Leclere who gave orders for this `
` delay." `
` `
` "Talking of Captain Leclere, has not Dantes given you a `
` letter from him?" `
` `
` "To me? -- no -- was there one?" `
` `
` "I believe that, besides the packet, Captain Leclere `
` confided a letter to his care." `
` `
` "Of what packet are you speaking, Danglars?" `
` `
` "Why, that which Dantes left at Porto-Ferrajo." `
` `
` "How do you know he had a packet to leave at Porto-Ferrajo?" `
` `
` Danglars turned very red. `
` `
` "I was passing close to the door of the captain's cabin, `
` which was half open, and I saw him give the packet and `
` letter to Dantes." `
` `
` "He did not speak to me of it," replied the shipowner; "but `
` if there be any letter he will give it to me." `
` `
` Danglars reflected for a moment. "Then, M. Morrel, I beg of `
` you," said he, "not to say a word to Dantes on the subject. `
` I may have been mistaken." `
` `
` At this moment the young man returned; Danglars withdrew. `
` `
` "Well, my dear Dantes, are you now free?" inquired the `
` owner. `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "You have not been long detained." `
` `
` "No. I gave the custom-house officers a copy of our bill of `
` lading; and as to the other papers, they sent a man off with `
` the pilot, to whom I gave them." `
` `
` "Then you have nothing more to do here?" `
` `
` "No -- everything is all right now." `
` `
` "Then you can come and dine with me?" `
` `
` "I really must ask you to excuse me, M. Morrel. My first `
` visit is due to my father, though I am not the less grateful `
` for the honor you have done me." `
` `
` "Right, Dantes, quite right. I always knew you were a good `
` son." `
` `
` "And," inquired Dantes, with some hesitation, "do you know `
` how my father is?" `
` `
` "Well, I believe, my dear Edmond, though I have not seen him `
` lately." `
` `
` "Yes, he likes to keep himself shut up in his little room." `
` `
` "That proves, at least, that he has wanted for nothing `
` during your absence." `
` `
` Dantes smiled. "My father is proud, sir, and if he had not a `
` meal left, I doubt if he would have asked anything from `
` anyone, except from Heaven." `
` `
` "Well, then, after this first visit has been made we shall `
` count on you." `
` `
` "I must again excuse myself, M. Morrel, for after this first `
` visit has been paid I have another which I am most anxious `
` to pay." `
` `
` "True, Dantes, I forgot that there was at the Catalans some `
` one who expects you no less impatiently than your father -- `
` the lovely Mercedes." `
` `
` Dantes blushed. `
` `
` "Ah, ha," said the shipowner, "I am not in the least `
` surprised, for she has been to me three times, inquiring if `
` there were any news of the Pharaon. Peste, Edmond, you have `
` a very handsome mistress!" `
` `
` "She is not my mistress," replied the young sailor, gravely; `
` "she is my betrothed." `
` `
` "Sometimes one and the same thing," said Morrel, with a `
` smile. `
` `
` "Not with us, sir," replied Dantes. `
` `
` "Well, well, my dear Edmond," continued the owner, "don't `
` let me detain you. You have managed my affairs so well that `
` I ought to allow you all the time you require for your own. `
` Do you want any money?" `
` `
` "No, sir; I have all my pay to take -- nearly three months' `
` wages." `
` `
` "You are a careful fellow, Edmond." `
` `
` "Say I have a poor father, sir." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, I know how good a son you are, so now hasten away `
` to see your father. I have a son too, and I should be very `
` wroth with those who detained him from me after a three `
` months' voyage." `
` `
` "Then I have your leave, sir?" `
` `
` "Yes, if you have nothing more to say to me." `
` `
` "Nothing." `
` `
` "Captain Leclere did not, before he died, give you a letter `
` for me?" `
` `
` "He was unable to write, sir. But that reminds me that I `
` must ask your leave of absence for some days." `
` `
` "To get married?" `
` `
` "Yes, first, and then to go to Paris." `
`
` anchor, and I am at your service. You hailed me, I think?" `
` `
` Danglars retreated a step or two. "I wished to inquire why `
` you stopped at the Island of Elba?" `
` `
` "I do not know, sir; it was to fulfil the last instructions `
` of Captain Leclere, who, when dying, gave me a packet for `
` Marshal Bertrand." `
` `
` "Then did you see him, Edmond?" `
` `
` "Who?" `
` `
` "The marshal." `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` Morrel looked around him, and then, drawing Dantes on one `
` side, he said suddenly -- "And how is the emperor?" `
` `
` "Very well, as far as I could judge from the sight of him." `
` `
` "You saw the emperor, then?" `
` `
` "He entered the marshal's apartment while I was there." `
` `
` "And you spoke to him?" `
` `
` "Why, it was he who spoke to me, sir," said Dantes, with a `
` smile. `
` `
` "And what did he say to you?" `
` `
` "Asked me questions about the vessel, the time she left `
` Marseilles, the course she had taken, and what was her `
` cargo. I believe, if she had not been laden, and I had been `
` her master, he would have bought her. But I told him I was `
` only mate, and that she belonged to the firm of Morrel `
` Son. `Ah, yes,' he said, `I know them. The Morrels have been `
` shipowners from father to son; and there was a Morrel who `
` served in the same regiment with me when I was in garrison `
` at Valence.'" `
` `
` "Pardieu, and that is true!" cried the owner, greatly `
` delighted. "And that was Policar Morrel, my uncle, who was `
` afterwards a captain. Dantes, you must tell my uncle that `
` the emperor remembered him, and you will see it will bring `
` tears into the old soldier's eyes. Come, come," continued `
` he, patting Edmond's shoulder kindly, "you did very right, `
` Dantes, to follow Captain Leclere's instructions, and touch `
` at Elba, although if it were known that you had conveyed a `
` packet to the marshal, and had conversed with the emperor, `
` it might bring you into trouble." `
` `
` "How could that bring me into trouble, sir?" asked Dantes; `
` "for I did not even know of what I was the bearer; and the `
` emperor merely made such inquiries as he would of the first `
` comer. But, pardon me, here are the health officers and the `
` customs inspectors coming alongside." And the young man went `
` to the gangway. As he departed, Danglars approached, and `
` said, -- `
` `
` "Well, it appears that he has given you satisfactory reasons `
` for his landing at Porto-Ferrajo?" `
` `
` "Yes, most satisfactory, my dear Danglars." `
` `
` "Well, so much the better," said the supercargo; "for it is `
` not pleasant to think that a comrade has not done his duty." `
` `
` "Dantes has done his," replied the owner, "and that is not `
` saying much. It was Captain Leclere who gave orders for this `
` delay." `
` `
` "Talking of Captain Leclere, has not Dantes given you a `
` letter from him?" `
` `
` "To me? -- no -- was there one?" `
` `
` "I believe that, besides the packet, Captain Leclere `
` confided a letter to his care." `
` `
` "Of what packet are you speaking, Danglars?" `
` `
` "Why, that which Dantes left at Porto-Ferrajo." `
` `
` "How do you know he had a packet to leave at Porto-Ferrajo?" `
` `
` Danglars turned very red. `
` `
` "I was passing close to the door of the captain's cabin, `
` which was half open, and I saw him give the packet and `
` letter to Dantes." `
` `
` "He did not speak to me of it," replied the shipowner; "but `
` if there be any letter he will give it to me." `
` `
` Danglars reflected for a moment. "Then, M. Morrel, I beg of `
` you," said he, "not to say a word to Dantes on the subject. `
` I may have been mistaken." `
` `
` At this moment the young man returned; Danglars withdrew. `
` `
` "Well, my dear Dantes, are you now free?" inquired the `
` owner. `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "You have not been long detained." `
` `
` "No. I gave the custom-house officers a copy of our bill of `
` lading; and as to the other papers, they sent a man off with `
` the pilot, to whom I gave them." `
` `
` "Then you have nothing more to do here?" `
` `
` "No -- everything is all right now." `
` `
` "Then you can come and dine with me?" `
` `
` "I really must ask you to excuse me, M. Morrel. My first `
` visit is due to my father, though I am not the less grateful `
` for the honor you have done me." `
` `
` "Right, Dantes, quite right. I always knew you were a good `
` son." `
` `
` "And," inquired Dantes, with some hesitation, "do you know `
` how my father is?" `
` `
` "Well, I believe, my dear Edmond, though I have not seen him `
` lately." `
` `
` "Yes, he likes to keep himself shut up in his little room." `
` `
` "That proves, at least, that he has wanted for nothing `
` during your absence." `
` `
` Dantes smiled. "My father is proud, sir, and if he had not a `
` meal left, I doubt if he would have asked anything from `
` anyone, except from Heaven." `
` `
` "Well, then, after this first visit has been made we shall `
` count on you." `
` `
` "I must again excuse myself, M. Morrel, for after this first `
` visit has been paid I have another which I am most anxious `
` to pay." `
` `
` "True, Dantes, I forgot that there was at the Catalans some `
` one who expects you no less impatiently than your father -- `
` the lovely Mercedes." `
` `
` Dantes blushed. `
` `
` "Ah, ha," said the shipowner, "I am not in the least `
` surprised, for she has been to me three times, inquiring if `
` there were any news of the Pharaon. Peste, Edmond, you have `
` a very handsome mistress!" `
` `
` "She is not my mistress," replied the young sailor, gravely; `
` "she is my betrothed." `
` `
` "Sometimes one and the same thing," said Morrel, with a `
` smile. `
` `
` "Not with us, sir," replied Dantes. `
` `
` "Well, well, my dear Edmond," continued the owner, "don't `
` let me detain you. You have managed my affairs so well that `
` I ought to allow you all the time you require for your own. `
` Do you want any money?" `
` `
` "No, sir; I have all my pay to take -- nearly three months' `
` wages." `
` `
` "You are a careful fellow, Edmond." `
` `
` "Say I have a poor father, sir." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, I know how good a son you are, so now hasten away `
` to see your father. I have a son too, and I should be very `
` wroth with those who detained him from me after a three `
` months' voyage." `
` `
` "Then I have your leave, sir?" `
` `
` "Yes, if you have nothing more to say to me." `
` `
` "Nothing." `
` `
` "Captain Leclere did not, before he died, give you a letter `
` for me?" `
` `
` "He was unable to write, sir. But that reminds me that I `
` must ask your leave of absence for some days." `
` `
` "To get married?" `
` `
` "Yes, first, and then to go to Paris." `
`