Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.1-10
us. It's not polite not to reply to friends who ask news of `
` your health." `
` `
` "My health is well enough," said Fernand, clinching his `
` hands without raising his head. `
` `
` "Ah, you see, Danglars," said Caderousse, winking at his `
` friend, "this is how it is; Fernand, whom you see here, is a `
` good and brave Catalan, one of the best fishermen in `
` Marseilles, and he is in love with a very fine girl, named `
` Mercedes; but it appears, unfortunately, that the fine girl `
` is in love with the mate of the Pharaon; and as the Pharaon `
` arrived to-day -- why, you understand!" `
` `
` "No; I do not understand," said Danglars. `
` `
` "Poor Fernand has been dismissed," continued Caderousse. `
` `
` "Well, and what then?" said Fernand, lifting up his head, `
` and looking at Caderousse like a man who looks for some one `
` on whom to vent his anger; "Mercedes is not accountable to `
` any person, is she? Is she not free to love whomsoever she `
` will?" `
` `
` "Oh, if you take it in that sense," said Caderousse, "it is `
` another thing. But I thought you were a Catalan, and they `
` told me the Catalans were not men to allow themselves to be `
` supplanted by a rival. It was even told me that Fernand, `
` especially, was terrible in his vengeance." `
` `
` Fernand smiled piteously. "A lover is never terrible," he `
` said. `
` `
` "Poor fellow!" remarked Danglars, affecting to pity the `
` young man from the bottom of his heart. "Why, you see, he `
` did not expect to see Dantes return so suddenly -- he `
` thought he was dead, perhaps; or perchance faithless! These `
` things always come on us more severely when they come `
` suddenly." `
` `
` "Ah, ma foi, under any circumstances," said Caderousse, who `
` drank as he spoke, and on whom the fumes of the wine began `
` to take effect, -- "under any circumstances Fernand is not `
` the only person put out by the fortunate arrival of Dantes; `
` is he, Danglars?" `
` `
` "No, you are right -- and I should say that would bring him `
` ill-luck." `
` `
` "Well, never mind," answered Caderousse, pouring out a glass `
` of wine for Fernand, and filling his own for the eighth or `
` ninth time, while Danglars had merely sipped his. "Never `
` mind -- in the meantime he marries Mercedes -- the lovely `
` Mercedes -- at least he returns to do that." `
` `
` During this time Danglars fixed his piercing glance on the `
` young man, on whose heart Caderousse's words fell like `
` molten lead. `
` `
` "And when is the wedding to be?" he asked. `
` `
` "Oh, it is not yet fixed!" murmured Fernand. `
` `
` "No, but it will be," said Caderousse, "as surely as Dantes `
` will be captain of the Pharaon -- eh, Danglars?" `
` `
` Danglars shuddered at this unexpected attack, and turned to `
` Caderousse, whose countenance he scrutinized, to try and `
` detect whether the blow was premeditated; but he read `
` nothing but envy in a countenance already rendered brutal `
` and stupid by drunkenness. `
` `
` "Well," said he, filling the glasses, "let us drink to `
` Captain Edmond Dantes, husband of the beautiful Catalane!" `
` `
` Caderousse raised his glass to his mouth with unsteady hand, `
` and swallowed the contents at a gulp. Fernand dashed his on `
` the ground. `
` `
` "Eh, eh, eh!" stammered Caderousse. "What do I see down `
` there by the wall, in the direction of the Catalans? Look, `
` Fernand, your eyes are better than mine. I believe I see `
` double. You know wine is a deceiver; but I should say it was `
` two lovers walking side by side, and hand in hand. Heaven `
` forgive me, they do not know that we can see them, and they `
` are actually embracing!" `
` `
` Danglars did not lose one pang that Fernand endured. `
` `
` "Do you know them, Fernand?" he said. `
` `
` "Yes," was the reply, in a low voice. "It is Edmond and `
` Mercedes!" `
` `
` "Ah, see there, now!" said Caderousse; "and I did not `
` recognize them! Hallo, Dantes! hello, lovely damsel! Come `
` this way, and let us know when the wedding is to be, for `
` Fernand here is so obstinate he will not tell us." `
` `
` "Hold your tongue, will you?" said Danglars, pretending to `
` restrain Caderousse, who, with the tenacity of drunkards, `
` leaned out of the arbor. "Try to stand upright, and let the `
` lovers make love without interruption. See, look at Fernand, `
` and follow his example; he is well-behaved!" `
` `
` Fernand, probably excited beyond bearing, pricked by `
` Danglars, as the bull is by the bandilleros, was about to `
` rush out; for he had risen from his seat, and seemed to be `
` collecting himself to dash headlong upon his rival, when `
` Mercedes, smiling and graceful, lifted up her lovely head, `
` and looked at them with her clear and bright eyes. At this `
` Fernand recollected her threat of dying if Edmond died, and `
` dropped again heavily on his seat. Danglars looked at the `
` two men, one after the other, the one brutalized by liquor, `
` the other overwhelmed with love. `
` `
` "I shall get nothing from these fools," he muttered; "and I `
` am very much afraid of being here between a drunkard and a `
` coward. Here's an envious fellow making himself boozy on `
` wine when he ought to be nursing his wrath, and here is a `
` fool who sees the woman he loves stolen from under his nose `
` and takes on like a big baby. Yet this Catalan has eyes that `
` glisten like those of the vengeful Spaniards, Sicilians, and `
` Calabrians, and the other has fists big enough to crush an `
` ox at one blow. Unquestionably, Edmond's star is in the `
` ascendant, and he will marry the splendid girl -- he will be `
` captain, too, and laugh at us all, unless" -- a sinister `
` smile passed over Danglars' lips -- "unless I take a hand in `
` the affair," he added. `
` `
` "Hallo!" continued Caderousse, half-rising, and with his `
` fist on the table, "hallo, Edmond! do you not see your `
` friends, or are you too proud to speak to them?" `
` `
` "No, my dear fellow!" replied Dantes, "I am not proud, but I `
` am happy, and happiness blinds, I think, more than pride." `
` `
` "Ah, very well, that's an explanation!" said Caderousse. `
` "How do you do, Madame Dantes?" `
` `
` Mercedes courtesied gravely, and said -- "That is not my `
` name, and in my country it bodes ill fortune, they say, to `
` call a young girl by the name of her betrothed before he `
` becomes her husband. So call me Mercedes, if you please." `
` `
` "We must excuse our worthy neighbor, Caderousse," said `
` Dantes, "he is so easily mistaken." `
` `
` "So, then, the wedding is to take place immediately, M. `
` Dantes," said Danglars, bowing to the young couple. `
` `
` "As soon as possible, M. Danglars; to-day all preliminaries `
` will be arranged at my father's, and to-morrow, or next day `
` at latest, the wedding festival here at La Reserve. My `
` friends will be there, I hope; that is to say, you are `
` invited, M. Danglars, and you, Caderousse." `
` `
` "And Fernand," said Caderousse with a chuckle; "Fernand, `
` too, is invited!" `
` `
` "My wife's brother is my brother," said Edmond; "and we, `
` Mercedes and I, should be very sorry if he were absent at `
` such a time." `
` `
` Fernand opened his mouth to reply, but his voice died on his `
` lips, and he could not utter a word. `
` `
` "To-day the preliminaries, to-morrow or next day the `
` ceremony! You are in a hurry, captain!" `
` `
` "Danglars," said Edmond, smiling, "I will say to you as `
` Mercedes said just now to Caderousse, `Do not give me a `
` title which does not belong to me'; that may bring me bad `
` luck." `
` `
` "Your pardon," replied Danglars, "I merely said you seemed `
` in a hurry, and we have lots of time; the Pharaon cannot be `
` under weigh again in less than three months." `
` `
` "We are always in a hurry to be happy, M. Danglars; for when `
` we have suffered a long time, we have great difficulty in `
` believing in good fortune. But it is not selfishness alone `
` that makes me thus in haste; I must go to Paris." `
` `
` "Ah, really? -- to Paris! and will it be the first time you `
` have ever been there, Dantes?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Have you business there?" `
` `
` "Not of my own; the last commission of poor Captain Leclere; `
` you know to what I allude, Danglars -- it is sacred. `
` Besides, I shall only take the time to go and return." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, I understand," said Danglars, and then in a low `
` tone, he added, "To Paris, no doubt to deliver the letter `
` which the grand marshal gave him. Ah, this letter gives me `
` an idea -- a capital idea! Ah; Dantes, my friend, you are `
` not yet registered number one on board the good ship `
` Pharaon;" then turning towards Edmond, who was walking away, `
`
` your health." `
` `
` "My health is well enough," said Fernand, clinching his `
` hands without raising his head. `
` `
` "Ah, you see, Danglars," said Caderousse, winking at his `
` friend, "this is how it is; Fernand, whom you see here, is a `
` good and brave Catalan, one of the best fishermen in `
` Marseilles, and he is in love with a very fine girl, named `
` Mercedes; but it appears, unfortunately, that the fine girl `
` is in love with the mate of the Pharaon; and as the Pharaon `
` arrived to-day -- why, you understand!" `
` `
` "No; I do not understand," said Danglars. `
` `
` "Poor Fernand has been dismissed," continued Caderousse. `
` `
` "Well, and what then?" said Fernand, lifting up his head, `
` and looking at Caderousse like a man who looks for some one `
` on whom to vent his anger; "Mercedes is not accountable to `
` any person, is she? Is she not free to love whomsoever she `
` will?" `
` `
` "Oh, if you take it in that sense," said Caderousse, "it is `
` another thing. But I thought you were a Catalan, and they `
` told me the Catalans were not men to allow themselves to be `
` supplanted by a rival. It was even told me that Fernand, `
` especially, was terrible in his vengeance." `
` `
` Fernand smiled piteously. "A lover is never terrible," he `
` said. `
` `
` "Poor fellow!" remarked Danglars, affecting to pity the `
` young man from the bottom of his heart. "Why, you see, he `
` did not expect to see Dantes return so suddenly -- he `
` thought he was dead, perhaps; or perchance faithless! These `
` things always come on us more severely when they come `
` suddenly." `
` `
` "Ah, ma foi, under any circumstances," said Caderousse, who `
` drank as he spoke, and on whom the fumes of the wine began `
` to take effect, -- "under any circumstances Fernand is not `
` the only person put out by the fortunate arrival of Dantes; `
` is he, Danglars?" `
` `
` "No, you are right -- and I should say that would bring him `
` ill-luck." `
` `
` "Well, never mind," answered Caderousse, pouring out a glass `
` of wine for Fernand, and filling his own for the eighth or `
` ninth time, while Danglars had merely sipped his. "Never `
` mind -- in the meantime he marries Mercedes -- the lovely `
` Mercedes -- at least he returns to do that." `
` `
` During this time Danglars fixed his piercing glance on the `
` young man, on whose heart Caderousse's words fell like `
` molten lead. `
` `
` "And when is the wedding to be?" he asked. `
` `
` "Oh, it is not yet fixed!" murmured Fernand. `
` `
` "No, but it will be," said Caderousse, "as surely as Dantes `
` will be captain of the Pharaon -- eh, Danglars?" `
` `
` Danglars shuddered at this unexpected attack, and turned to `
` Caderousse, whose countenance he scrutinized, to try and `
` detect whether the blow was premeditated; but he read `
` nothing but envy in a countenance already rendered brutal `
` and stupid by drunkenness. `
` `
` "Well," said he, filling the glasses, "let us drink to `
` Captain Edmond Dantes, husband of the beautiful Catalane!" `
` `
` Caderousse raised his glass to his mouth with unsteady hand, `
` and swallowed the contents at a gulp. Fernand dashed his on `
` the ground. `
` `
` "Eh, eh, eh!" stammered Caderousse. "What do I see down `
` there by the wall, in the direction of the Catalans? Look, `
` Fernand, your eyes are better than mine. I believe I see `
` double. You know wine is a deceiver; but I should say it was `
` two lovers walking side by side, and hand in hand. Heaven `
` forgive me, they do not know that we can see them, and they `
` are actually embracing!" `
` `
` Danglars did not lose one pang that Fernand endured. `
` `
` "Do you know them, Fernand?" he said. `
` `
` "Yes," was the reply, in a low voice. "It is Edmond and `
` Mercedes!" `
` `
` "Ah, see there, now!" said Caderousse; "and I did not `
` recognize them! Hallo, Dantes! hello, lovely damsel! Come `
` this way, and let us know when the wedding is to be, for `
` Fernand here is so obstinate he will not tell us." `
` `
` "Hold your tongue, will you?" said Danglars, pretending to `
` restrain Caderousse, who, with the tenacity of drunkards, `
` leaned out of the arbor. "Try to stand upright, and let the `
` lovers make love without interruption. See, look at Fernand, `
` and follow his example; he is well-behaved!" `
` `
` Fernand, probably excited beyond bearing, pricked by `
` Danglars, as the bull is by the bandilleros, was about to `
` rush out; for he had risen from his seat, and seemed to be `
` collecting himself to dash headlong upon his rival, when `
` Mercedes, smiling and graceful, lifted up her lovely head, `
` and looked at them with her clear and bright eyes. At this `
` Fernand recollected her threat of dying if Edmond died, and `
` dropped again heavily on his seat. Danglars looked at the `
` two men, one after the other, the one brutalized by liquor, `
` the other overwhelmed with love. `
` `
` "I shall get nothing from these fools," he muttered; "and I `
` am very much afraid of being here between a drunkard and a `
` coward. Here's an envious fellow making himself boozy on `
` wine when he ought to be nursing his wrath, and here is a `
` fool who sees the woman he loves stolen from under his nose `
` and takes on like a big baby. Yet this Catalan has eyes that `
` glisten like those of the vengeful Spaniards, Sicilians, and `
` Calabrians, and the other has fists big enough to crush an `
` ox at one blow. Unquestionably, Edmond's star is in the `
` ascendant, and he will marry the splendid girl -- he will be `
` captain, too, and laugh at us all, unless" -- a sinister `
` smile passed over Danglars' lips -- "unless I take a hand in `
` the affair," he added. `
` `
` "Hallo!" continued Caderousse, half-rising, and with his `
` fist on the table, "hallo, Edmond! do you not see your `
` friends, or are you too proud to speak to them?" `
` `
` "No, my dear fellow!" replied Dantes, "I am not proud, but I `
` am happy, and happiness blinds, I think, more than pride." `
` `
` "Ah, very well, that's an explanation!" said Caderousse. `
` "How do you do, Madame Dantes?" `
` `
` Mercedes courtesied gravely, and said -- "That is not my `
` name, and in my country it bodes ill fortune, they say, to `
` call a young girl by the name of her betrothed before he `
` becomes her husband. So call me Mercedes, if you please." `
` `
` "We must excuse our worthy neighbor, Caderousse," said `
` Dantes, "he is so easily mistaken." `
` `
` "So, then, the wedding is to take place immediately, M. `
` Dantes," said Danglars, bowing to the young couple. `
` `
` "As soon as possible, M. Danglars; to-day all preliminaries `
` will be arranged at my father's, and to-morrow, or next day `
` at latest, the wedding festival here at La Reserve. My `
` friends will be there, I hope; that is to say, you are `
` invited, M. Danglars, and you, Caderousse." `
` `
` "And Fernand," said Caderousse with a chuckle; "Fernand, `
` too, is invited!" `
` `
` "My wife's brother is my brother," said Edmond; "and we, `
` Mercedes and I, should be very sorry if he were absent at `
` such a time." `
` `
` Fernand opened his mouth to reply, but his voice died on his `
` lips, and he could not utter a word. `
` `
` "To-day the preliminaries, to-morrow or next day the `
` ceremony! You are in a hurry, captain!" `
` `
` "Danglars," said Edmond, smiling, "I will say to you as `
` Mercedes said just now to Caderousse, `Do not give me a `
` title which does not belong to me'; that may bring me bad `
` luck." `
` `
` "Your pardon," replied Danglars, "I merely said you seemed `
` in a hurry, and we have lots of time; the Pharaon cannot be `
` under weigh again in less than three months." `
` `
` "We are always in a hurry to be happy, M. Danglars; for when `
` we have suffered a long time, we have great difficulty in `
` believing in good fortune. But it is not selfishness alone `
` that makes me thus in haste; I must go to Paris." `
` `
` "Ah, really? -- to Paris! and will it be the first time you `
` have ever been there, Dantes?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Have you business there?" `
` `
` "Not of my own; the last commission of poor Captain Leclere; `
` you know to what I allude, Danglars -- it is sacred. `
` Besides, I shall only take the time to go and return." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, I understand," said Danglars, and then in a low `
` tone, he added, "To Paris, no doubt to deliver the letter `
` which the grand marshal gave him. Ah, this letter gives me `
` an idea -- a capital idea! Ah; Dantes, my friend, you are `
` not yet registered number one on board the good ship `
` Pharaon;" then turning towards Edmond, who was walking away, `
`