Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.1-10
`
` "So that you have lived for three months on sixty francs," `
` muttered Edmond. `
` `
` "You know how little I require," said the old man. `
` `
` "Heaven pardon me," cried Edmond, falling on his knees `
` before his father. `
` `
` "What are you doing?" `
` `
` "You have wounded me to the heart." `
` `
` "Never mind it, for I see you once more," said the old man; `
` "and now it's all over -- everything is all right again." `
` `
` "Yes, here I am," said the young man, "with a promising `
` future and a little money. Here, father, here!" he said, `
` "take this -- take it, and send for something immediately." `
` And he emptied his pockets on the table, the contents `
` consisting of a dozen gold pieces, five or six five-franc `
` pieces, and some smaller coin. The countenance of old Dantes `
` brightened. `
` `
` "Whom does this belong to?" he inquired. `
` `
` "To me, to you, to us! Take it; buy some provisions; be `
` happy, and to-morrow we shall have more." `
` `
` "Gently, gently," said the old man, with a smile; "and by `
` your leave I will use your purse moderately, for they would `
` say, if they saw me buy too many things at a time, that I `
` had been obliged to await your return, in order to be able `
` to purchase them." `
` `
` "Do as you please; but, first of all, pray have a servant, `
` father. I will not have you left alone so long. I have some `
` smuggled coffee and most capital tobacco, in a small chest `
` in the hold, which you shall have to-morrow. But, hush, here `
` comes somebody." `
` `
` "'Tis Caderousse, who has heard of your arrival, and no `
` doubt comes to congratulate you on your fortunate return." `
` `
` "Ah, lips that say one thing, while the heart thinks `
` another," murmured Edmond. "But, never mind, he is a `
` neighbor who has done us a service on a time, so he's `
` welcome." `
` `
` As Edmond paused, the black and bearded head of Caderousse `
` appeared at the door. He was a man of twenty-five or six, `
` and held a piece of cloth, which, being a tailor, he was `
` about to make into a coat-lining. `
` `
` "What, is it you, Edmond, back again?" said he, with a broad `
` Marseillaise accent, and a grin that displayed his `
` ivory-white teeth. `
` `
` "Yes, as you see, neighbor Caderousse; and ready to be `
` agreeable to you in any and every way," replied Dantes, but `
` ill-concealing his coldness under this cloak of civility. `
` `
` "Thanks -- thanks; but, fortunately, I do not want for `
` anything; and it chances that at times there are others who `
` have need of me." Dantes made a gesture. "I do not allude to `
` you, my boy. No! -- no! I lent you money, and you returned `
` it; that's like good neighbors, and we are quits." `
` `
` "We are never quits with those who oblige us," was Dantes' `
` reply; "for when we do not owe them money, we owe them `
` gratitude." `
` `
` "What's the use of mentioning that? What is done is done. `
` Let us talk of your happy return, my boy. I had gone on the `
` quay to match a piece of mulberry cloth, when I met friend `
` Danglars. `You at Marseilles?' -- `Yes,' says he. `
` `
` "`I thought you were at Smyrna.' -- `I was; but am now back `
` again.' `
` `
` "`And where is the dear boy, our little Edmond?' `
` `
` "`Why, with his father, no doubt,' replied Danglars. And so `
` I came," added Caderousse, "as fast as I could to have the `
` pleasure of shaking hands with a friend." `
` `
` "Worthy Caderousse!" said the old man, "he is so much `
` attached to us." `
` `
` "Yes, to be sure I am. I love and esteem you, because honest `
` folks are so rare. But it seems you have come back rich, my `
` boy," continued the tailor, looking askance at the handful `
` of gold and silver which Dantes had thrown on the table. `
` `
` The young man remarked the greedy glance which shone in the `
` dark eyes of his neighbor. "Eh," he said, negligently. "this `
` money is not mine. I was expressing to my father my fears `
` that he had wanted many things in my absence, and to `
` convince me he emptied his purse on the table. Come, father" `
` added Dantes, "put this money back in your box -- unless `
` neighbor Caderousse wants anything, and in that case it is `
` at his service." `
` `
` "No, my boy, no," said Caderousse. "I am not in any want, `
` thank God, my living is suited to my means. Keep your money `
` -- keep it, I say; -- one never has too much; -- but, at the `
` same time, my boy, I am as much obliged by your offer as if `
` I took advantage of it." `
` `
` "It was offered with good will," said Dantes. `
` `
` "No doubt, my boy; no doubt. Well, you stand well with M. `
` Morrel I hear, -- you insinuating dog, you!" `
` `
` "M. Morrel has always been exceedingly kind to me," replied `
` Dantes. `
` `
` "Then you were wrong to refuse to dine with him." `
` `
` "What, did you refuse to dine with him?" said old Dantes; `
` "and did he invite you to dine?" `
` `
` "Yes, my dear father," replied Edmond, smiling at his `
` father's astonishment at the excessive honor paid to his `
` son. `
` `
` "And why did you refuse, my son?" inquired the old man. `
` `
` "That I might the sooner see you again, my dear father," `
` replied the young man. "I was most anxious to see you." `
` `
` "But it must have vexed M. Morrel, good, worthy man," said `
` Caderousse. "And when you are looking forward to be captain, `
` it was wrong to annoy the owner." `
` `
` "But I explained to him the cause of my refusal," replied `
` Dantes, "and I hope he fully understood it." `
` `
` "Yes, but to be captain one must do a little flattery to `
` one's patrons." `
` `
` "I hope to be captain without that," said Dantes. `
` `
` "So much the better -- so much the better! Nothing will give `
` greater pleasure to all your old friends; and I know one `
` down there behind the Saint Nicolas citadel who will not be `
` sorry to hear it." `
` `
` "Mercedes?" said the old man. `
` `
` "Yes, my dear father, and with your permission, now I have `
` seen you, and know you are well and have all you require, I `
` will ask your consent to go and pay a visit to the `
` Catalans." `
` `
` "Go, my dear boy," said old Dantes: "and heaven bless you in `
` your wife, as it has blessed me in my son!" `
` `
` "His wife!" said Caderousse; "why, how fast you go on, `
` father Dantes; she is not his wife yet, as it seems to me." `
` `
` "So, but according to all probability she soon will be," `
` replied Edmond. `
` `
` "Yes -- yes," said Caderousse; "but you were right to return `
` as soon as possible, my boy." `
` `
` "And why?" `
` `
` "Because Mercedes is a very fine girl, and fine girls never `
` lack followers; she particularly has them by dozens." `
` `
` "Really?" answered Edmond, with a smile which had in it `
` traces of slight uneasiness. `
` `
` "Ah, yes," continued Caderousse, "and capital offers, too; `
` but you know, you will be captain, and who could refuse you `
` then?" `
` `
` "Meaning to say," replied Dantes, with a smile which but `
` ill-concealed his trouble, "that if I were not a captain" -- `
` `
` "Eh -- eh!" said Caderousse, shaking his head. `
` `
` "Come, come," said the sailor, "I have a better opinion than `
` you of women in general, and of Mercedes in particular; and `
` I am certain that, captain or not, she will remain ever `
` faithful to me." `
` `
` "So much the better -- so much the better," said Caderousse. `
` "When one is going to be married, there is nothing like `
` implicit confidence; but never mind that, my boy, -- go and `
` announce your arrival, and let her know all your hopes and `
` prospects." `
` `
` "I will go directly," was Edmond's reply; and, embracing his `
` father, and nodding to Caderousse, he left the apartment. `
` `
` Caderousse lingered for a moment, then taking leave of old `
` Dantes, he went downstairs to rejoin Danglars, who awaited `
` him at the corner of the Rue Senac. `
`
` "So that you have lived for three months on sixty francs," `
` muttered Edmond. `
` `
` "You know how little I require," said the old man. `
` `
` "Heaven pardon me," cried Edmond, falling on his knees `
` before his father. `
` `
` "What are you doing?" `
` `
` "You have wounded me to the heart." `
` `
` "Never mind it, for I see you once more," said the old man; `
` "and now it's all over -- everything is all right again." `
` `
` "Yes, here I am," said the young man, "with a promising `
` future and a little money. Here, father, here!" he said, `
` "take this -- take it, and send for something immediately." `
` And he emptied his pockets on the table, the contents `
` consisting of a dozen gold pieces, five or six five-franc `
` pieces, and some smaller coin. The countenance of old Dantes `
` brightened. `
` `
` "Whom does this belong to?" he inquired. `
` `
` "To me, to you, to us! Take it; buy some provisions; be `
` happy, and to-morrow we shall have more." `
` `
` "Gently, gently," said the old man, with a smile; "and by `
` your leave I will use your purse moderately, for they would `
` say, if they saw me buy too many things at a time, that I `
` had been obliged to await your return, in order to be able `
` to purchase them." `
` `
` "Do as you please; but, first of all, pray have a servant, `
` father. I will not have you left alone so long. I have some `
` smuggled coffee and most capital tobacco, in a small chest `
` in the hold, which you shall have to-morrow. But, hush, here `
` comes somebody." `
` `
` "'Tis Caderousse, who has heard of your arrival, and no `
` doubt comes to congratulate you on your fortunate return." `
` `
` "Ah, lips that say one thing, while the heart thinks `
` another," murmured Edmond. "But, never mind, he is a `
` neighbor who has done us a service on a time, so he's `
` welcome." `
` `
` As Edmond paused, the black and bearded head of Caderousse `
` appeared at the door. He was a man of twenty-five or six, `
` and held a piece of cloth, which, being a tailor, he was `
` about to make into a coat-lining. `
` `
` "What, is it you, Edmond, back again?" said he, with a broad `
` Marseillaise accent, and a grin that displayed his `
` ivory-white teeth. `
` `
` "Yes, as you see, neighbor Caderousse; and ready to be `
` agreeable to you in any and every way," replied Dantes, but `
` ill-concealing his coldness under this cloak of civility. `
` `
` "Thanks -- thanks; but, fortunately, I do not want for `
` anything; and it chances that at times there are others who `
` have need of me." Dantes made a gesture. "I do not allude to `
` you, my boy. No! -- no! I lent you money, and you returned `
` it; that's like good neighbors, and we are quits." `
` `
` "We are never quits with those who oblige us," was Dantes' `
` reply; "for when we do not owe them money, we owe them `
` gratitude." `
` `
` "What's the use of mentioning that? What is done is done. `
` Let us talk of your happy return, my boy. I had gone on the `
` quay to match a piece of mulberry cloth, when I met friend `
` Danglars. `You at Marseilles?' -- `Yes,' says he. `
` `
` "`I thought you were at Smyrna.' -- `I was; but am now back `
` again.' `
` `
` "`And where is the dear boy, our little Edmond?' `
` `
` "`Why, with his father, no doubt,' replied Danglars. And so `
` I came," added Caderousse, "as fast as I could to have the `
` pleasure of shaking hands with a friend." `
` `
` "Worthy Caderousse!" said the old man, "he is so much `
` attached to us." `
` `
` "Yes, to be sure I am. I love and esteem you, because honest `
` folks are so rare. But it seems you have come back rich, my `
` boy," continued the tailor, looking askance at the handful `
` of gold and silver which Dantes had thrown on the table. `
` `
` The young man remarked the greedy glance which shone in the `
` dark eyes of his neighbor. "Eh," he said, negligently. "this `
` money is not mine. I was expressing to my father my fears `
` that he had wanted many things in my absence, and to `
` convince me he emptied his purse on the table. Come, father" `
` added Dantes, "put this money back in your box -- unless `
` neighbor Caderousse wants anything, and in that case it is `
` at his service." `
` `
` "No, my boy, no," said Caderousse. "I am not in any want, `
` thank God, my living is suited to my means. Keep your money `
` -- keep it, I say; -- one never has too much; -- but, at the `
` same time, my boy, I am as much obliged by your offer as if `
` I took advantage of it." `
` `
` "It was offered with good will," said Dantes. `
` `
` "No doubt, my boy; no doubt. Well, you stand well with M. `
` Morrel I hear, -- you insinuating dog, you!" `
` `
` "M. Morrel has always been exceedingly kind to me," replied `
` Dantes. `
` `
` "Then you were wrong to refuse to dine with him." `
` `
` "What, did you refuse to dine with him?" said old Dantes; `
` "and did he invite you to dine?" `
` `
` "Yes, my dear father," replied Edmond, smiling at his `
` father's astonishment at the excessive honor paid to his `
` son. `
` `
` "And why did you refuse, my son?" inquired the old man. `
` `
` "That I might the sooner see you again, my dear father," `
` replied the young man. "I was most anxious to see you." `
` `
` "But it must have vexed M. Morrel, good, worthy man," said `
` Caderousse. "And when you are looking forward to be captain, `
` it was wrong to annoy the owner." `
` `
` "But I explained to him the cause of my refusal," replied `
` Dantes, "and I hope he fully understood it." `
` `
` "Yes, but to be captain one must do a little flattery to `
` one's patrons." `
` `
` "I hope to be captain without that," said Dantes. `
` `
` "So much the better -- so much the better! Nothing will give `
` greater pleasure to all your old friends; and I know one `
` down there behind the Saint Nicolas citadel who will not be `
` sorry to hear it." `
` `
` "Mercedes?" said the old man. `
` `
` "Yes, my dear father, and with your permission, now I have `
` seen you, and know you are well and have all you require, I `
` will ask your consent to go and pay a visit to the `
` Catalans." `
` `
` "Go, my dear boy," said old Dantes: "and heaven bless you in `
` your wife, as it has blessed me in my son!" `
` `
` "His wife!" said Caderousse; "why, how fast you go on, `
` father Dantes; she is not his wife yet, as it seems to me." `
` `
` "So, but according to all probability she soon will be," `
` replied Edmond. `
` `
` "Yes -- yes," said Caderousse; "but you were right to return `
` as soon as possible, my boy." `
` `
` "And why?" `
` `
` "Because Mercedes is a very fine girl, and fine girls never `
` lack followers; she particularly has them by dozens." `
` `
` "Really?" answered Edmond, with a smile which had in it `
` traces of slight uneasiness. `
` `
` "Ah, yes," continued Caderousse, "and capital offers, too; `
` but you know, you will be captain, and who could refuse you `
` then?" `
` `
` "Meaning to say," replied Dantes, with a smile which but `
` ill-concealed his trouble, "that if I were not a captain" -- `
` `
` "Eh -- eh!" said Caderousse, shaking his head. `
` `
` "Come, come," said the sailor, "I have a better opinion than `
` you of women in general, and of Mercedes in particular; and `
` I am certain that, captain or not, she will remain ever `
` faithful to me." `
` `
` "So much the better -- so much the better," said Caderousse. `
` "When one is going to be married, there is nothing like `
` implicit confidence; but never mind that, my boy, -- go and `
` announce your arrival, and let her know all your hopes and `
` prospects." `
` `
` "I will go directly," was Edmond's reply; and, embracing his `
` father, and nodding to Caderousse, he left the apartment. `
` `
` Caderousse lingered for a moment, then taking leave of old `
` Dantes, he went downstairs to rejoin Danglars, who awaited `
` him at the corner of the Rue Senac. `
`