Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.1-10
`
` "I understand," replied Fernand, "you can endure your own `
` wretchedness patiently, but you are afraid to share mine. `
` Well, Mercedes, beloved by you, I would tempt fortune; you `
` would bring me good luck, and I should become rich. I could `
` extend my occupation as a fisherman, might get a place as `
` clerk in a warehouse, and become in time a dealer myself." `
` `
` "You could do no such thing, Fernand; you are a soldier, and `
` if you remain at the Catalans it is because there is no war; `
` so remain a fisherman, and contented with my friendship, as `
` I cannot give you more." `
` `
` "Well, I will do better, Mercedes. I will be a sailor; `
` instead of the costume of our fathers, which you despise, I `
` will wear a varnished hat, a striped shirt, and a blue `
` jacket, with an anchor on the buttons. Would not that dress `
` please you?" `
` `
` "What do you mean?" asked Mercedes, with an angry glance, -- `
` "what do you mean? I do not understand you?" `
` `
` "I mean, Mercedes, that you are thus harsh and cruel with `
` me, because you are expecting some one who is thus attired; `
` but perhaps he whom you await is inconstant, or if he is `
` not, the sea is so to him." `
` `
` "Fernand," cried Mercedes, "I believed you were `
` good-hearted, and I was mistaken! Fernand, you are wicked to `
` call to your aid jealousy and the anger of God! Yes, I will `
` not deny it, I do await, and I do love him of whom you `
` speak; and, if he does not return, instead of accusing him `
` of the inconstancy which you insinuate, I will tell you that `
` he died loving me and me only." The young girl made a `
` gesture of rage. "I understand you, Fernand; you would be `
` revenged on him because I do not love you; you would cross `
` your Catalan knife with his dirk. What end would that `
` answer? To lose you my friendship if he were conquered, and `
` see that friendship changed into hate if you were victor. `
` Believe me, to seek a quarrel with a man is a bad method of `
` pleasing the woman who loves that man. No, Fernand, you will `
` not thus give way to evil thoughts. Unable to have me for `
` your wife, you will content yourself with having me for your `
` friend and sister; and besides," she added, her eyes `
` troubled and moistened with tears, "wait, wait, Fernand; you `
` said just now that the sea was treacherous, and he has been `
` gone four months, and during these four months there have `
` been some terrible storms." `
` `
` Fernand made no reply, nor did he attempt to check the tears `
` which flowed down the cheeks of Mercedes, although for each `
` of these tears he would have shed his heart's blood; but `
` these tears flowed for another. He arose, paced a while up `
` and down the hut, and then, suddenly stopping before `
` Mercedes, with his eyes glowing and his hands clinched, -- `
` "Say, Mercedes," he said, "once for all, is this your final `
` determination?" `
` `
` "I love Edmond Dantes," the young girl calmly replied, "and `
` none but Edmond shall ever be my husband." `
` `
` "And you will always love him?" `
` `
` "As long as I live." `
` `
` Fernand let fall his head like a defeated man, heaved a sigh `
` that was like a groan, and then suddenly looking her full in `
` the face, with clinched teeth and expanded nostrils, said, `
` -- "But if he is dead" -- `
` `
` "If he is dead, I shall die too." `
` `
` "If he has forgotten you" -- `
` `
` "Mercedes!" called a joyous voice from without, -- `
` "Mercedes!" `
` `
` "Ah," exclaimed the young girl, blushing with delight, and `
` fairly leaping in excess of love, "you see he has not `
` forgotten me, for here he is!" And rushing towards the door, `
` she opened it, saying, "Here, Edmond, here I am!" `
` `
` Fernand, pale and trembling, drew back, like a traveller at `
` the sight of a serpent, and fell into a chair beside him. `
` Edmond and Mercedes were clasped in each other's arms. The `
` burning Marseilles sun, which shot into the room through the `
` open door, covered them with a flood of light. At first they `
` saw nothing around them. Their intense happiness isolated `
` them from all the rest of the world, and they only spoke in `
` broken words, which are the tokens of a joy so extreme that `
` they seem rather the expression of sorrow. Suddenly Edmond `
` saw the gloomy, pale, and threatening countenance of `
` Fernand, as it was defined in the shadow. By a movement for `
` which he could scarcely account to himself, the young `
` Catalan placed his hand on the knife at his belt. `
` `
` "Ah, your pardon," said Dantes, frowning in his turn; "I did `
` not perceive that there were three of us." Then, turning to `
` Mercedes, he inquired, "Who is this gentleman?" `
` `
` "One who will be your best friend, Dantes, for he is my `
` friend, my cousin, my brother; it is Fernand -- the man `
` whom, after you, Edmond, I love the best in the world. Do `
` you not remember him?" `
` `
` "Yes!" said Dantes, and without relinquishing Mercedes hand `
` clasped in one of his own, he extended the other to the `
` Catalan with a cordial air. But Fernand, instead of `
` responding to this amiable gesture, remained mute and `
` trembling. Edmond then cast his eyes scrutinizingly at the `
` agitated and embarrassed Mercedes, and then again on the `
` gloomy and menacing Fernand. This look told him all, and his `
` anger waxed hot. `
` `
` "I did not know, when I came with such haste to you, that I `
` was to meet an enemy here." `
` `
` "An enemy!" cried Mercedes, with an angry look at her `
` cousin. "An enemy in my house, do you say, Edmond! If I `
` believed that, I would place my arm under yours and go with `
` you to Marseilles, leaving the house to return to it no `
` more." `
` `
` Fernand's eye darted lightning. "And should any misfortune `
` occur to you, dear Edmond," she continued with the same `
` calmness which proved to Fernand that the young girl had `
` read the very innermost depths of his sinister thought, "if `
` misfortune should occur to you, I would ascend the highest `
` point of the Cape de Morgion and cast myself headlong from `
` it." `
` `
` Fernand became deadly pale. "But you are deceived, Edmond," `
` she continued. "You have no enemy here -- there is no one `
` but Fernand, my brother, who will grasp your hand as a `
` devoted friend." `
` `
` And at these words the young girl fixed her imperious look `
` on the Catalan, who, as if fascinated by it, came slowly `
` towards Edmond, and offered him his hand. His hatred, like a `
` powerless though furious wave, was broken against the strong `
` ascendancy which Mercedes exercised over him. Scarcely, `
` however, had he touched Edmond's hand than he felt he had `
` done all he could do, and rushed hastily out of the house. `
` `
` "Oh," he exclaimed, running furiously and tearing his hair `
` -- "Oh, who will deliver me from this man? Wretched -- `
` wretched that I am!" `
` `
` "Hallo, Catalan! Hallo, Fernand! where are you running to?" `
` exclaimed a voice. `
` `
` The young man stopped suddenly, looked around him, and `
` perceived Caderousse sitting at table with Danglars, under `
` an arbor. `
` `
` "Well", said Caderousse, "why don't you come? Are you really `
` in such a hurry that you have no time to pass the time of `
` day with your friends?" `
` `
` "Particularly when they have still a full bottle before `
` them," added Danglars. Fernand looked at them both with a `
` stupefied air, but did not say a word. `
` `
` "He seems besotted," said Danglars, pushing Caderousse with `
` his knee. "Are we mistaken, and is Dantes triumphant in `
` spite of all we have believed?" `
` `
` "Why, we must inquire into that," was Caderousse's reply; `
` and turning towards the young man, said, "Well, Catalan, `
` can't you make up your mind?" `
` `
` Fernand wiped away the perspiration steaming from his brow, `
` and slowly entered the arbor, whose shade seemed to restore `
` somewhat of calmness to his senses, and whose coolness `
` somewhat of refreshment to his exhausted body. `
` `
` "Good-day," said he. "You called me, didn't you?" And he `
` fell, rather than sat down, on one of the seats which `
` surrounded the table. `
` `
` "I called you because you were running like a madman, and I `
` was afraid you would throw yourself into the sea," said `
` Caderousse, laughing. "Why, when a man has friends, they are `
` not only to offer him a glass of wine, but, moreover, to `
` prevent his swallowing three or four pints of water `
` unnecessarily!" `
` `
` Fernand gave a groan, which resembled a sob, and dropped his `
` head into his hands, his elbows leaning on the table. `
` `
` "Well, Fernand, I must say," said Caderousse, beginning the `
` conversation, with that brutality of the common people in `
` which curiosity destroys all diplomacy, "you look uncommonly `
` like a rejected lover;" and he burst into a hoarse laugh. `
` `
` "Bah!" said Danglars, "a lad of his make was not born to be `
` unhappy in love. You are laughing at him, Caderousse." `
` `
` "No," he replied, "only hark how he sighs! Come, come, `
` Fernand," said Caderousse, "hold up your head, and answer `
` us. It's not polite not to reply to friends who ask news of `
`
` "I understand," replied Fernand, "you can endure your own `
` wretchedness patiently, but you are afraid to share mine. `
` Well, Mercedes, beloved by you, I would tempt fortune; you `
` would bring me good luck, and I should become rich. I could `
` extend my occupation as a fisherman, might get a place as `
` clerk in a warehouse, and become in time a dealer myself." `
` `
` "You could do no such thing, Fernand; you are a soldier, and `
` if you remain at the Catalans it is because there is no war; `
` so remain a fisherman, and contented with my friendship, as `
` I cannot give you more." `
` `
` "Well, I will do better, Mercedes. I will be a sailor; `
` instead of the costume of our fathers, which you despise, I `
` will wear a varnished hat, a striped shirt, and a blue `
` jacket, with an anchor on the buttons. Would not that dress `
` please you?" `
` `
` "What do you mean?" asked Mercedes, with an angry glance, -- `
` "what do you mean? I do not understand you?" `
` `
` "I mean, Mercedes, that you are thus harsh and cruel with `
` me, because you are expecting some one who is thus attired; `
` but perhaps he whom you await is inconstant, or if he is `
` not, the sea is so to him." `
` `
` "Fernand," cried Mercedes, "I believed you were `
` good-hearted, and I was mistaken! Fernand, you are wicked to `
` call to your aid jealousy and the anger of God! Yes, I will `
` not deny it, I do await, and I do love him of whom you `
` speak; and, if he does not return, instead of accusing him `
` of the inconstancy which you insinuate, I will tell you that `
` he died loving me and me only." The young girl made a `
` gesture of rage. "I understand you, Fernand; you would be `
` revenged on him because I do not love you; you would cross `
` your Catalan knife with his dirk. What end would that `
` answer? To lose you my friendship if he were conquered, and `
` see that friendship changed into hate if you were victor. `
` Believe me, to seek a quarrel with a man is a bad method of `
` pleasing the woman who loves that man. No, Fernand, you will `
` not thus give way to evil thoughts. Unable to have me for `
` your wife, you will content yourself with having me for your `
` friend and sister; and besides," she added, her eyes `
` troubled and moistened with tears, "wait, wait, Fernand; you `
` said just now that the sea was treacherous, and he has been `
` gone four months, and during these four months there have `
` been some terrible storms." `
` `
` Fernand made no reply, nor did he attempt to check the tears `
` which flowed down the cheeks of Mercedes, although for each `
` of these tears he would have shed his heart's blood; but `
` these tears flowed for another. He arose, paced a while up `
` and down the hut, and then, suddenly stopping before `
` Mercedes, with his eyes glowing and his hands clinched, -- `
` "Say, Mercedes," he said, "once for all, is this your final `
` determination?" `
` `
` "I love Edmond Dantes," the young girl calmly replied, "and `
` none but Edmond shall ever be my husband." `
` `
` "And you will always love him?" `
` `
` "As long as I live." `
` `
` Fernand let fall his head like a defeated man, heaved a sigh `
` that was like a groan, and then suddenly looking her full in `
` the face, with clinched teeth and expanded nostrils, said, `
` -- "But if he is dead" -- `
` `
` "If he is dead, I shall die too." `
` `
` "If he has forgotten you" -- `
` `
` "Mercedes!" called a joyous voice from without, -- `
` "Mercedes!" `
` `
` "Ah," exclaimed the young girl, blushing with delight, and `
` fairly leaping in excess of love, "you see he has not `
` forgotten me, for here he is!" And rushing towards the door, `
` she opened it, saying, "Here, Edmond, here I am!" `
` `
` Fernand, pale and trembling, drew back, like a traveller at `
` the sight of a serpent, and fell into a chair beside him. `
` Edmond and Mercedes were clasped in each other's arms. The `
` burning Marseilles sun, which shot into the room through the `
` open door, covered them with a flood of light. At first they `
` saw nothing around them. Their intense happiness isolated `
` them from all the rest of the world, and they only spoke in `
` broken words, which are the tokens of a joy so extreme that `
` they seem rather the expression of sorrow. Suddenly Edmond `
` saw the gloomy, pale, and threatening countenance of `
` Fernand, as it was defined in the shadow. By a movement for `
` which he could scarcely account to himself, the young `
` Catalan placed his hand on the knife at his belt. `
` `
` "Ah, your pardon," said Dantes, frowning in his turn; "I did `
` not perceive that there were three of us." Then, turning to `
` Mercedes, he inquired, "Who is this gentleman?" `
` `
` "One who will be your best friend, Dantes, for he is my `
` friend, my cousin, my brother; it is Fernand -- the man `
` whom, after you, Edmond, I love the best in the world. Do `
` you not remember him?" `
` `
` "Yes!" said Dantes, and without relinquishing Mercedes hand `
` clasped in one of his own, he extended the other to the `
` Catalan with a cordial air. But Fernand, instead of `
` responding to this amiable gesture, remained mute and `
` trembling. Edmond then cast his eyes scrutinizingly at the `
` agitated and embarrassed Mercedes, and then again on the `
` gloomy and menacing Fernand. This look told him all, and his `
` anger waxed hot. `
` `
` "I did not know, when I came with such haste to you, that I `
` was to meet an enemy here." `
` `
` "An enemy!" cried Mercedes, with an angry look at her `
` cousin. "An enemy in my house, do you say, Edmond! If I `
` believed that, I would place my arm under yours and go with `
` you to Marseilles, leaving the house to return to it no `
` more." `
` `
` Fernand's eye darted lightning. "And should any misfortune `
` occur to you, dear Edmond," she continued with the same `
` calmness which proved to Fernand that the young girl had `
` read the very innermost depths of his sinister thought, "if `
` misfortune should occur to you, I would ascend the highest `
` point of the Cape de Morgion and cast myself headlong from `
` it." `
` `
` Fernand became deadly pale. "But you are deceived, Edmond," `
` she continued. "You have no enemy here -- there is no one `
` but Fernand, my brother, who will grasp your hand as a `
` devoted friend." `
` `
` And at these words the young girl fixed her imperious look `
` on the Catalan, who, as if fascinated by it, came slowly `
` towards Edmond, and offered him his hand. His hatred, like a `
` powerless though furious wave, was broken against the strong `
` ascendancy which Mercedes exercised over him. Scarcely, `
` however, had he touched Edmond's hand than he felt he had `
` done all he could do, and rushed hastily out of the house. `
` `
` "Oh," he exclaimed, running furiously and tearing his hair `
` -- "Oh, who will deliver me from this man? Wretched -- `
` wretched that I am!" `
` `
` "Hallo, Catalan! Hallo, Fernand! where are you running to?" `
` exclaimed a voice. `
` `
` The young man stopped suddenly, looked around him, and `
` perceived Caderousse sitting at table with Danglars, under `
` an arbor. `
` `
` "Well", said Caderousse, "why don't you come? Are you really `
` in such a hurry that you have no time to pass the time of `
` day with your friends?" `
` `
` "Particularly when they have still a full bottle before `
` them," added Danglars. Fernand looked at them both with a `
` stupefied air, but did not say a word. `
` `
` "He seems besotted," said Danglars, pushing Caderousse with `
` his knee. "Are we mistaken, and is Dantes triumphant in `
` spite of all we have believed?" `
` `
` "Why, we must inquire into that," was Caderousse's reply; `
` and turning towards the young man, said, "Well, Catalan, `
` can't you make up your mind?" `
` `
` Fernand wiped away the perspiration steaming from his brow, `
` and slowly entered the arbor, whose shade seemed to restore `
` somewhat of calmness to his senses, and whose coolness `
` somewhat of refreshment to his exhausted body. `
` `
` "Good-day," said he. "You called me, didn't you?" And he `
` fell, rather than sat down, on one of the seats which `
` surrounded the table. `
` `
` "I called you because you were running like a madman, and I `
` was afraid you would throw yourself into the sea," said `
` Caderousse, laughing. "Why, when a man has friends, they are `
` not only to offer him a glass of wine, but, moreover, to `
` prevent his swallowing three or four pints of water `
` unnecessarily!" `
` `
` Fernand gave a groan, which resembled a sob, and dropped his `
` head into his hands, his elbows leaning on the table. `
` `
` "Well, Fernand, I must say," said Caderousse, beginning the `
` conversation, with that brutality of the common people in `
` which curiosity destroys all diplomacy, "you look uncommonly `
` like a rejected lover;" and he burst into a hoarse laugh. `
` `
` "Bah!" said Danglars, "a lad of his make was not born to be `
` unhappy in love. You are laughing at him, Caderousse." `
` `
` "No," he replied, "only hark how he sighs! Come, come, `
` Fernand," said Caderousse, "hold up your head, and answer `
` us. It's not polite not to reply to friends who ask news of `
`