Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.1-10
as they passed before the light he saw the barrels of their `
` muskets shine. `
` `
` They waited upwards of ten minutes. Certain Dantes could not `
` escape, the gendarmes released him. They seemed awaiting `
` orders. The orders came. `
` `
` "Where is the prisoner?" said a voice. `
` `
` "Here," replied the gendarmes. `
` `
` "Let him follow me; I will take him to his cell." `
` `
` "Go!" said the gendarmes, thrusting Dantes forward. `
` `
` The prisoner followed his guide, who led him into a room `
` almost under ground, whose bare and reeking walls seemed as `
` though impregnated with tears; a lamp placed on a stool `
` illumined the apartment faintly, and showed Dantes the `
` features of his conductor, an under-jailer, ill-clothed, and `
` of sullen appearance. `
` `
` "Here is your chamber for to-night," said he. "It is late, `
` and the governor is asleep. To-morrow, perhaps, he may `
` change you. In the meantime there is bread, water, and fresh `
` straw; and that is all a prisoner can wish for. Goodnight." `
` And before Dantes could open his mouth -- before he had `
` noticed where the jailer placed his bread or the water -- `
` before he had glanced towards the corner where the straw `
` was, the jailer disappeared, taking with him the lamp and `
` closing the door, leaving stamped upon the prisoner's mind `
` the dim reflection of the dripping walls of his dungeon. `
` `
` Dantes was alone in darkness and in silence -- cold as the `
` shadows that he felt breathe on his burning forehead. With `
` the first dawn of day the jailer returned, with orders to `
` leave Dantes where he was. He found the prisoner in the same `
` position, as if fixed there, his eyes swollen with weeping. `
` He had passed the night standing, and without sleep. The `
` jailer advanced; Dantes appeared not to perceive him. He `
` touched him on the shoulder. Edmond started. `
` `
` "Have you not slept?" said the jailer. `
` `
` "I do not know," replied Dantes. The jailer stared. `
` `
` "Are you hungry?" continued he. `
` `
` "I do not know." `
` `
` "Do you wish for anything?" `
` `
` "I wish to see the governor." The jailer shrugged his `
` shoulders and left the chamber. `
` `
` Dantes followed him with his eyes, and stretched forth his `
` hands towards the open door; but the door closed. All his `
` emotion then burst forth; he cast himself on the ground, `
` weeping bitterly, and asking himself what crime he had `
` committed that he was thus punished. `
` `
` The day passed thus; he scarcely tasted food, but walked `
` round and round the cell like a wild beast in its cage. One `
` thought in particular tormented him: namely, that during his `
` journey hither he had sat so still, whereas he might, a `
` dozen times, have plunged into the sea, and, thanks to his `
` powers of swimming, for which he was famous, have gained the `
` shore, concealed himself until the arrival of a Genoese or `
` Spanish vessel, escaped to Spain or Italy, where Mercedes `
` and his father could have joined him. He had no fears as to `
` how he should live -- good seamen are welcome everywhere. He `
` spoke Italian like a Tuscan, and Spanish like a Castilian; `
` he would have been free, and happy with Mercedes and his `
` father, whereas he was now confined in the Chateau d'If, `
` that impregnable fortress, ignorant of the future destiny of `
` his father and Mercedes; and all this because he had trusted `
` to Villefort's promise. The thought was maddening, and `
` Dantes threw himself furiously down on his straw. The next `
` morning at the same hour, the jailer came again. `
` `
` "Well," said the jailer, "are you more reasonable to-day?" `
` Dantes made no reply. `
` `
` "Come, cheer up; is there anything that I can do for you?" `
` `
` "I wish to see the governor." `
` `
` "I have already told you it was impossible." `
` `
` "Why so?" `
` `
` "Because it is against prison rules, and prisoners must not `
` even ask for it." `
` `
` "What is allowed, then?" `
` `
` "Better fare, if you pay for it, books, and leave to walk `
` about." `
` `
` "I do not want books, I am satisfied with my food, and do `
` not care to walk about; but I wish to see the governor." `
` `
` "If you worry me by repeating the same thing, I will not `
` bring you any more to eat." `
` `
` "Well, then," said Edmond, "if you do not, I shall die of `
` hunger -- that is all." `
` `
` The jailer saw by his tone he would be happy to die; and as `
` every prisoner is worth ten sous a day to his jailer, he `
` replied in a more subdued tone. `
` `
` "What you ask is impossible; but if you are very well `
` behaved you will be allowed to walk about, and some day you `
` will meet the governor, and if he chooses to reply, that is `
` his affair." `
` `
` "But," asked Dantes, "how long shall I have to wait?" `
` `
` "Ah, a month -- six months -- a year." `
` `
` "It is too long a time. I wish to see him at once." `
` `
` "Ah," said the jailer, "do not always brood over what is `
` impossible, or you will be mad in a fortnight." `
` `
` "You think so?" `
` `
` "Yes; we have an instance here; it was by always offering a `
` million of francs to the governor for his liberty that an `
` abbe became mad, who was in this chamber before you." `
` `
` "How long has he left it?" `
` `
` "Two years." `
` `
` "Was he liberated, then?" `
` `
` "No; he was put in a dungeon." `
` `
` "Listen!" said Dantes. "I am not an abbe, I am not mad; `
` perhaps I shall be, but at present, unfortunately, I am not. `
` I will make you another offer." `
` `
` "What is that?" `
` `
` "I do not offer you a million, because I have it not; but I `
` will give you a hundred crowns if, the first time you go to `
` Marseilles, you will seek out a young girl named Mercedes, `
` at the Catalans, and give her two lines from me." `
` `
` "If I took them, and were detected, I should lose my place, `
` which is worth two thousand francs a year; so that I should `
` be a great fool to run such a risk for three hundred." `
` `
` "Well," said Dantes, "mark this; if you refuse at least to `
` tell Mercedes I am here, I will some day hide myself behind `
` the door, and when you enter I will dash out your brains `
` with this stool." `
` `
` "Threats!" cried the jailer, retreating and putting himself `
` on the defensive; "you are certainly going mad. The abbe `
` began like you, and in three days you will be like him, mad `
` enough to tie up; but, fortunately, there are dungeons `
` here." Dantes whirled the stool round his head. `
` `
` "All right, all right," said the jailer; "all right, since `
` you will have it so. I will send word to the governor." `
` `
` "Very well," returned Dantes, dropping the stool and sitting `
` on it as if he were in reality mad. The jailer went out, and `
` returned in an instant with a corporal and four soldiers. `
` `
` "By the governor's orders," said he, "conduct the prisoner `
` to the tier beneath." `
` `
` "To the dungeon, then," said the corporal. `
` `
` "Yes; we must put the madman with the madmen." The soldiers `
` seized Dantes, who followed passively. `
` `
` He descended fifteen steps, and the door of a dungeon was `
` opened, and he was thrust in. The door closed, and Dantes `
` advanced with outstretched hands until he touched the wall; `
` he then sat down in the corner until his eyes became `
` accustomed to the darkness. The jailer was right; Dantes `
` wanted but little of being utterly mad. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 9 `
` The Evening of the Betrothal. `
` `
` Villefort had, as we have said, hastened back to Madame de `
` Saint-Meran's in the Place du Grand Cours, and on entering `
` the house found that the guests whom he had left at table `
` were taking coffee in the salon. Renee was, with all the `
` rest of the company, anxiously awaiting him, and his `
` entrance was followed by a general exclamation. `
` `
` "Well, Decapitator, Guardian of the State, Royalist, Brutus, `
`
` muskets shine. `
` `
` They waited upwards of ten minutes. Certain Dantes could not `
` escape, the gendarmes released him. They seemed awaiting `
` orders. The orders came. `
` `
` "Where is the prisoner?" said a voice. `
` `
` "Here," replied the gendarmes. `
` `
` "Let him follow me; I will take him to his cell." `
` `
` "Go!" said the gendarmes, thrusting Dantes forward. `
` `
` The prisoner followed his guide, who led him into a room `
` almost under ground, whose bare and reeking walls seemed as `
` though impregnated with tears; a lamp placed on a stool `
` illumined the apartment faintly, and showed Dantes the `
` features of his conductor, an under-jailer, ill-clothed, and `
` of sullen appearance. `
` `
` "Here is your chamber for to-night," said he. "It is late, `
` and the governor is asleep. To-morrow, perhaps, he may `
` change you. In the meantime there is bread, water, and fresh `
` straw; and that is all a prisoner can wish for. Goodnight." `
` And before Dantes could open his mouth -- before he had `
` noticed where the jailer placed his bread or the water -- `
` before he had glanced towards the corner where the straw `
` was, the jailer disappeared, taking with him the lamp and `
` closing the door, leaving stamped upon the prisoner's mind `
` the dim reflection of the dripping walls of his dungeon. `
` `
` Dantes was alone in darkness and in silence -- cold as the `
` shadows that he felt breathe on his burning forehead. With `
` the first dawn of day the jailer returned, with orders to `
` leave Dantes where he was. He found the prisoner in the same `
` position, as if fixed there, his eyes swollen with weeping. `
` He had passed the night standing, and without sleep. The `
` jailer advanced; Dantes appeared not to perceive him. He `
` touched him on the shoulder. Edmond started. `
` `
` "Have you not slept?" said the jailer. `
` `
` "I do not know," replied Dantes. The jailer stared. `
` `
` "Are you hungry?" continued he. `
` `
` "I do not know." `
` `
` "Do you wish for anything?" `
` `
` "I wish to see the governor." The jailer shrugged his `
` shoulders and left the chamber. `
` `
` Dantes followed him with his eyes, and stretched forth his `
` hands towards the open door; but the door closed. All his `
` emotion then burst forth; he cast himself on the ground, `
` weeping bitterly, and asking himself what crime he had `
` committed that he was thus punished. `
` `
` The day passed thus; he scarcely tasted food, but walked `
` round and round the cell like a wild beast in its cage. One `
` thought in particular tormented him: namely, that during his `
` journey hither he had sat so still, whereas he might, a `
` dozen times, have plunged into the sea, and, thanks to his `
` powers of swimming, for which he was famous, have gained the `
` shore, concealed himself until the arrival of a Genoese or `
` Spanish vessel, escaped to Spain or Italy, where Mercedes `
` and his father could have joined him. He had no fears as to `
` how he should live -- good seamen are welcome everywhere. He `
` spoke Italian like a Tuscan, and Spanish like a Castilian; `
` he would have been free, and happy with Mercedes and his `
` father, whereas he was now confined in the Chateau d'If, `
` that impregnable fortress, ignorant of the future destiny of `
` his father and Mercedes; and all this because he had trusted `
` to Villefort's promise. The thought was maddening, and `
` Dantes threw himself furiously down on his straw. The next `
` morning at the same hour, the jailer came again. `
` `
` "Well," said the jailer, "are you more reasonable to-day?" `
` Dantes made no reply. `
` `
` "Come, cheer up; is there anything that I can do for you?" `
` `
` "I wish to see the governor." `
` `
` "I have already told you it was impossible." `
` `
` "Why so?" `
` `
` "Because it is against prison rules, and prisoners must not `
` even ask for it." `
` `
` "What is allowed, then?" `
` `
` "Better fare, if you pay for it, books, and leave to walk `
` about." `
` `
` "I do not want books, I am satisfied with my food, and do `
` not care to walk about; but I wish to see the governor." `
` `
` "If you worry me by repeating the same thing, I will not `
` bring you any more to eat." `
` `
` "Well, then," said Edmond, "if you do not, I shall die of `
` hunger -- that is all." `
` `
` The jailer saw by his tone he would be happy to die; and as `
` every prisoner is worth ten sous a day to his jailer, he `
` replied in a more subdued tone. `
` `
` "What you ask is impossible; but if you are very well `
` behaved you will be allowed to walk about, and some day you `
` will meet the governor, and if he chooses to reply, that is `
` his affair." `
` `
` "But," asked Dantes, "how long shall I have to wait?" `
` `
` "Ah, a month -- six months -- a year." `
` `
` "It is too long a time. I wish to see him at once." `
` `
` "Ah," said the jailer, "do not always brood over what is `
` impossible, or you will be mad in a fortnight." `
` `
` "You think so?" `
` `
` "Yes; we have an instance here; it was by always offering a `
` million of francs to the governor for his liberty that an `
` abbe became mad, who was in this chamber before you." `
` `
` "How long has he left it?" `
` `
` "Two years." `
` `
` "Was he liberated, then?" `
` `
` "No; he was put in a dungeon." `
` `
` "Listen!" said Dantes. "I am not an abbe, I am not mad; `
` perhaps I shall be, but at present, unfortunately, I am not. `
` I will make you another offer." `
` `
` "What is that?" `
` `
` "I do not offer you a million, because I have it not; but I `
` will give you a hundred crowns if, the first time you go to `
` Marseilles, you will seek out a young girl named Mercedes, `
` at the Catalans, and give her two lines from me." `
` `
` "If I took them, and were detected, I should lose my place, `
` which is worth two thousand francs a year; so that I should `
` be a great fool to run such a risk for three hundred." `
` `
` "Well," said Dantes, "mark this; if you refuse at least to `
` tell Mercedes I am here, I will some day hide myself behind `
` the door, and when you enter I will dash out your brains `
` with this stool." `
` `
` "Threats!" cried the jailer, retreating and putting himself `
` on the defensive; "you are certainly going mad. The abbe `
` began like you, and in three days you will be like him, mad `
` enough to tie up; but, fortunately, there are dungeons `
` here." Dantes whirled the stool round his head. `
` `
` "All right, all right," said the jailer; "all right, since `
` you will have it so. I will send word to the governor." `
` `
` "Very well," returned Dantes, dropping the stool and sitting `
` on it as if he were in reality mad. The jailer went out, and `
` returned in an instant with a corporal and four soldiers. `
` `
` "By the governor's orders," said he, "conduct the prisoner `
` to the tier beneath." `
` `
` "To the dungeon, then," said the corporal. `
` `
` "Yes; we must put the madman with the madmen." The soldiers `
` seized Dantes, who followed passively. `
` `
` He descended fifteen steps, and the door of a dungeon was `
` opened, and he was thrust in. The door closed, and Dantes `
` advanced with outstretched hands until he touched the wall; `
` he then sat down in the corner until his eyes became `
` accustomed to the darkness. The jailer was right; Dantes `
` wanted but little of being utterly mad. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 9 `
` The Evening of the Betrothal. `
` `
` Villefort had, as we have said, hastened back to Madame de `
` Saint-Meran's in the Place du Grand Cours, and on entering `
` the house found that the guests whom he had left at table `
` were taking coffee in the salon. Renee was, with all the `
` rest of the company, anxiously awaiting him, and his `
` entrance was followed by a general exclamation. `
` `
` "Well, Decapitator, Guardian of the State, Royalist, Brutus, `
`