Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.1-10
Pharaon;" then turning towards Edmond, who was walking away, `
` "A pleasant journey," he cried. `
` `
` "Thank you," said Edmond with a friendly nod, and the two `
` lovers continued on their way, as calm and joyous as if they `
` were the very elect of heaven. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 4 `
` Conspiracy. `
` `
` Danglars followed Edmond and Mercedes with his eyes until `
` the two lovers disappeared behind one of the angles of Fort `
` Saint Nicolas, then turning round, he perceived Fernand, who `
` had fallen, pale and trembling, into his chair, while `
` Caderousse stammered out the words of a drinking-song. `
` `
` "Well, my dear sir," said Danglars to Fernand, "here is a `
` marriage which does not appear to make everybody happy." `
` `
` "It drives me to despair," said Fernand. `
` `
` "Do you, then, love Mercedes?" `
` `
` "I adore her!" `
` `
` "For long?" `
` `
` "As long as I have known her -- always." `
` `
` "And you sit there, tearing your hair, instead of seeking to `
` remedy your condition; I did not think that was the way of `
` your people." `
` `
` "What would you have me do?" said Fernand. `
` `
` "How do I know? Is it my affair? I am not in love with `
` Mademoiselle Mercedes; but for you -- in the words of the `
` gospel, seek, and you shall find." `
` `
` "I have found already." `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "I would stab the man, but the woman told me that if any `
` misfortune happened to her betrothed, she would kill `
` herself." `
` `
` "Pooh! Women say those things, but never do them." `
` `
` "You do not know Mercedes; what she threatens she will do." `
` `
` "Idiot!" muttered Danglars; "whether she kill herself or `
` not, what matter, provided Dantes is not captain?" `
` `
` "Before Mercedes should die," replied Fernand, with the `
` accents of unshaken resolution, "I would die myself!" `
` `
` "That's what I call love!" said Caderousse with a voice more `
` tipsy than ever. "That's love, or I don't know what love `
` is." `
` `
` "Come," said Danglars, "you appear to me a good sort of `
` fellow, and hang me, I should like to help you, but" -- `
` `
` "Yes," said Caderousse, "but how?" `
` `
` "My dear fellow," replied Danglars, "you are three parts `
` drunk; finish the bottle, and you will be completely so. `
` Drink then, and do not meddle with what we are discussing, `
` for that requires all one's wit and cool judgment." `
` `
` "I -- drunk!" said Caderousse; "well that's a good one! I `
` could drink four more such bottles; they are no bigger than `
` cologne flasks. Pere Pamphile, more wine!" and Caderousse `
` rattled his glass upon the table. `
` `
` "You were saying, sir" -- said Fernand, awaiting with great `
` anxiety the end of this interrupted remark. `
` `
` "What was I saying? I forget. This drunken Caderousse has `
` made me lose the thread of my sentence." `
` `
` "Drunk, if you like; so much the worse for those who fear `
` wine, for it is because they have bad thoughts which they `
` are afraid the liquor will extract from their hearts;" and `
` Caderousse began to sing the two last lines of a song very `
` popular at the time, -- `
` `
` `Tous les mechants sont beuveurs d'eau; `
` C'est bien prouve par le deluge.'* `
` `
` * "The wicked are great drinkers of water `
` As the flood proved once for all." `
` `
` "You said, sir, you would like to help me, but" -- `
` `
` "Yes; but I added, to help you it would be sufficient that `
` Dantes did not marry her you love; and the marriage may `
` easily be thwarted, methinks, and yet Dantes need not die." `
` `
` "Death alone can separate them," remarked Fernand. `
` `
` "You talk like a noodle, my friend," said Caderousse; "and `
` here is Danglars, who is a wide-awake, clever, deep fellow, `
` who will prove to you that you are wrong. Prove it, `
` Danglars. I have answered for you. Say there is no need why `
` Dantes should die; it would, indeed, be a pity he should. `
` Dantes is a good fellow; I like Dantes. Dantes, your `
` health." `
` `
` Fernand rose impatiently. "Let him run on," said Danglars, `
` restraining the young man; "drunk as he is, he is not much `
` out in what he says. Absence severs as well as death, and if `
` the walls of a prison were between Edmond and Mercedes they `
` would be as effectually separated as if he lay under a `
` tombstone." `
` `
` "Yes; but one gets out of prison," said Caderousse, who, `
` with what sense was left him, listened eagerly to the `
` conversation, "and when one gets out and one's name is `
` Edmond Dantes, one seeks revenge" -- `
` `
` "What matters that?" muttered Fernand. `
` `
` "And why, I should like to know," persisted Caderousse, `
` "should they put Dantes in prison? he has not robbed or `
` killed or murdered." `
` `
` "Hold your tongue!" said Danglars. `
` `
` "I won't hold my tongue!" replied Caderousse; "I say I want `
` to know why they should put Dantes in prison; I like Dantes; `
` Dantes, your health!" and he swallowed another glass of `
` wine. `
` `
` Danglars saw in the muddled look of the tailor the progress `
` of his intoxication, and turning towards Fernand, said, `
` "Well, you understand there is no need to kill him." `
` `
` "Certainly not, if, as you said just now, you have the means `
` of having Dantes arrested. Have you that means?" `
` `
` "It is to be found for the searching. But why should I `
` meddle in the matter? it is no affair of mine." `
` `
` "I know not why you meddle," said Fernand, seizing his arm; `
` "but this I know, you have some motive of personal hatred `
` against Dantes, for he who himself hates is never mistaken `
` in the sentiments of others." `
` `
` "I! -- motives of hatred against Dantes? None, on my word! I `
` saw you were unhappy, and your unhappiness interested me; `
` that's all; but since you believe I act for my own account, `
` adieu, my dear friend, get out of the affair as best you `
` may;" and Danglars rose as if he meant to depart. `
` `
` "No, no," said Fernand, restraining him, "stay! It is of `
` very little consequence to me at the end of the matter `
` whether you have any angry feeling or not against Dantes. I `
` hate him! I confess it openly. Do you find the means, I will `
` execute it, provided it is not to kill the man, for Mercedes `
` has declared she will kill herself if Dantes is killed." `
` `
` Caderousse, who had let his head drop on the table, now `
` raised it, and looking at Fernand with his dull and fishy `
` eyes, he said, -- "Kill Dantes! who talks of killing Dantes? `
` I won't have him killed -- I won't! He's my friend, and this `
` morning offered to share his money with me, as I shared mine `
` with him. I won't have Dantes killed -- I won't!" `
` `
` "And who has said a word about killing him, muddlehead?" `
` replied Danglars. "We were merely joking; drink to his `
` health," he added, filling Caderousse's glass, "and do not `
` interfere with us." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, Dantes' good health!" said Caderousse, emptying `
` his glass, "here's to his health! his health -- hurrah!" `
` `
` "But the means -- the means?" said Fernand. `
` `
` "Have you not hit upon any?" asked Danglars. `
` `
` "No! -- you undertook to do so." `
` `
` "True," replied Danglars; "the French have the superiority `
` over the Spaniards, that the Spaniards ruminate, while the `
` French invent." `
` `
` "Do you invent, then," said Fernand impatiently. `
` `
` "Waiter," said Danglars, "pen, ink, and paper." `
` `
` "Pen, ink, and paper," muttered Fernand. `
` `
` "Yes; I am a supercargo; pen, ink, and paper are my tools, `
` and without my tools I am fit for nothing." `
` `
` "Pen, ink, and paper, then," called Fernand loudly. `
` `
`
` "A pleasant journey," he cried. `
` `
` "Thank you," said Edmond with a friendly nod, and the two `
` lovers continued on their way, as calm and joyous as if they `
` were the very elect of heaven. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 4 `
` Conspiracy. `
` `
` Danglars followed Edmond and Mercedes with his eyes until `
` the two lovers disappeared behind one of the angles of Fort `
` Saint Nicolas, then turning round, he perceived Fernand, who `
` had fallen, pale and trembling, into his chair, while `
` Caderousse stammered out the words of a drinking-song. `
` `
` "Well, my dear sir," said Danglars to Fernand, "here is a `
` marriage which does not appear to make everybody happy." `
` `
` "It drives me to despair," said Fernand. `
` `
` "Do you, then, love Mercedes?" `
` `
` "I adore her!" `
` `
` "For long?" `
` `
` "As long as I have known her -- always." `
` `
` "And you sit there, tearing your hair, instead of seeking to `
` remedy your condition; I did not think that was the way of `
` your people." `
` `
` "What would you have me do?" said Fernand. `
` `
` "How do I know? Is it my affair? I am not in love with `
` Mademoiselle Mercedes; but for you -- in the words of the `
` gospel, seek, and you shall find." `
` `
` "I have found already." `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "I would stab the man, but the woman told me that if any `
` misfortune happened to her betrothed, she would kill `
` herself." `
` `
` "Pooh! Women say those things, but never do them." `
` `
` "You do not know Mercedes; what she threatens she will do." `
` `
` "Idiot!" muttered Danglars; "whether she kill herself or `
` not, what matter, provided Dantes is not captain?" `
` `
` "Before Mercedes should die," replied Fernand, with the `
` accents of unshaken resolution, "I would die myself!" `
` `
` "That's what I call love!" said Caderousse with a voice more `
` tipsy than ever. "That's love, or I don't know what love `
` is." `
` `
` "Come," said Danglars, "you appear to me a good sort of `
` fellow, and hang me, I should like to help you, but" -- `
` `
` "Yes," said Caderousse, "but how?" `
` `
` "My dear fellow," replied Danglars, "you are three parts `
` drunk; finish the bottle, and you will be completely so. `
` Drink then, and do not meddle with what we are discussing, `
` for that requires all one's wit and cool judgment." `
` `
` "I -- drunk!" said Caderousse; "well that's a good one! I `
` could drink four more such bottles; they are no bigger than `
` cologne flasks. Pere Pamphile, more wine!" and Caderousse `
` rattled his glass upon the table. `
` `
` "You were saying, sir" -- said Fernand, awaiting with great `
` anxiety the end of this interrupted remark. `
` `
` "What was I saying? I forget. This drunken Caderousse has `
` made me lose the thread of my sentence." `
` `
` "Drunk, if you like; so much the worse for those who fear `
` wine, for it is because they have bad thoughts which they `
` are afraid the liquor will extract from their hearts;" and `
` Caderousse began to sing the two last lines of a song very `
` popular at the time, -- `
` `
` `Tous les mechants sont beuveurs d'eau; `
` C'est bien prouve par le deluge.'* `
` `
` * "The wicked are great drinkers of water `
` As the flood proved once for all." `
` `
` "You said, sir, you would like to help me, but" -- `
` `
` "Yes; but I added, to help you it would be sufficient that `
` Dantes did not marry her you love; and the marriage may `
` easily be thwarted, methinks, and yet Dantes need not die." `
` `
` "Death alone can separate them," remarked Fernand. `
` `
` "You talk like a noodle, my friend," said Caderousse; "and `
` here is Danglars, who is a wide-awake, clever, deep fellow, `
` who will prove to you that you are wrong. Prove it, `
` Danglars. I have answered for you. Say there is no need why `
` Dantes should die; it would, indeed, be a pity he should. `
` Dantes is a good fellow; I like Dantes. Dantes, your `
` health." `
` `
` Fernand rose impatiently. "Let him run on," said Danglars, `
` restraining the young man; "drunk as he is, he is not much `
` out in what he says. Absence severs as well as death, and if `
` the walls of a prison were between Edmond and Mercedes they `
` would be as effectually separated as if he lay under a `
` tombstone." `
` `
` "Yes; but one gets out of prison," said Caderousse, who, `
` with what sense was left him, listened eagerly to the `
` conversation, "and when one gets out and one's name is `
` Edmond Dantes, one seeks revenge" -- `
` `
` "What matters that?" muttered Fernand. `
` `
` "And why, I should like to know," persisted Caderousse, `
` "should they put Dantes in prison? he has not robbed or `
` killed or murdered." `
` `
` "Hold your tongue!" said Danglars. `
` `
` "I won't hold my tongue!" replied Caderousse; "I say I want `
` to know why they should put Dantes in prison; I like Dantes; `
` Dantes, your health!" and he swallowed another glass of `
` wine. `
` `
` Danglars saw in the muddled look of the tailor the progress `
` of his intoxication, and turning towards Fernand, said, `
` "Well, you understand there is no need to kill him." `
` `
` "Certainly not, if, as you said just now, you have the means `
` of having Dantes arrested. Have you that means?" `
` `
` "It is to be found for the searching. But why should I `
` meddle in the matter? it is no affair of mine." `
` `
` "I know not why you meddle," said Fernand, seizing his arm; `
` "but this I know, you have some motive of personal hatred `
` against Dantes, for he who himself hates is never mistaken `
` in the sentiments of others." `
` `
` "I! -- motives of hatred against Dantes? None, on my word! I `
` saw you were unhappy, and your unhappiness interested me; `
` that's all; but since you believe I act for my own account, `
` adieu, my dear friend, get out of the affair as best you `
` may;" and Danglars rose as if he meant to depart. `
` `
` "No, no," said Fernand, restraining him, "stay! It is of `
` very little consequence to me at the end of the matter `
` whether you have any angry feeling or not against Dantes. I `
` hate him! I confess it openly. Do you find the means, I will `
` execute it, provided it is not to kill the man, for Mercedes `
` has declared she will kill herself if Dantes is killed." `
` `
` Caderousse, who had let his head drop on the table, now `
` raised it, and looking at Fernand with his dull and fishy `
` eyes, he said, -- "Kill Dantes! who talks of killing Dantes? `
` I won't have him killed -- I won't! He's my friend, and this `
` morning offered to share his money with me, as I shared mine `
` with him. I won't have Dantes killed -- I won't!" `
` `
` "And who has said a word about killing him, muddlehead?" `
` replied Danglars. "We were merely joking; drink to his `
` health," he added, filling Caderousse's glass, "and do not `
` interfere with us." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, Dantes' good health!" said Caderousse, emptying `
` his glass, "here's to his health! his health -- hurrah!" `
` `
` "But the means -- the means?" said Fernand. `
` `
` "Have you not hit upon any?" asked Danglars. `
` `
` "No! -- you undertook to do so." `
` `
` "True," replied Danglars; "the French have the superiority `
` over the Spaniards, that the Spaniards ruminate, while the `
` French invent." `
` `
` "Do you invent, then," said Fernand impatiently. `
` `
` "Waiter," said Danglars, "pen, ink, and paper." `
` `
` "Pen, ink, and paper," muttered Fernand. `
` `
` "Yes; I am a supercargo; pen, ink, and paper are my tools, `
` and without my tools I am fit for nothing." `
` `
` "Pen, ink, and paper, then," called Fernand loudly. `
` `
`