Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.1-10
`
` "There's what you want on that table," said the waiter. `
` `
` "Bring them here." The waiter did as he was desired. `
` `
` "When one thinks," said Caderousse, letting his hand drop on `
` the paper, "there is here wherewithal to kill a man more `
` sure than if we waited at the corner of a wood to `
` assassinate him! I have always had more dread of a pen, a `
` bottle of ink, and a sheet of paper, than of a sword or `
` pistol." `
` `
` "The fellow is not so drunk as he appears to be," said `
` Danglars. "Give him some more wine, Fernand." Fernand filled `
` Caderousse's glass, who, like the confirmed toper he was, `
` lifted his hand from the paper and seized the glass. `
` `
` The Catalan watched him until Caderousse, almost overcome by `
` this fresh assault on his senses, rested, or rather dropped, `
` his glass upon the table. `
` `
` "Well!" resumed the Catalan, as he saw the final glimmer of `
` Caderousse's reason vanishing before the last glass of wine. `
` `
` "Well, then, I should say, for instance," resumed Danglars, `
` "that if after a voyage such as Dantes has just made, in `
` which he touched at the Island of Elba, some one were to `
` denounce him to the king's procureur as a Bonapartist agent" `
` -- `
` `
` "I will denounce him!" exclaimed the young man hastily. `
` `
` "Yes, but they will make you then sign your declaration, and `
` confront you with him you have denounced; I will supply you `
` with the means of supporting your accusation, for I know the `
` fact well. But Dantes cannot remain forever in prison, and `
` one day or other he will leave it, and the day when he comes `
` out, woe betide him who was the cause of his incarceration!" `
` `
` "Oh, I should wish nothing better than that he would come `
` and seek a quarrel with me." `
` `
` "Yes, and Mercedes! Mercedes, who will detest you if you `
` have only the misfortune to scratch the skin of her dearly `
` beloved Edmond!" `
` `
` "True!" said Fernand. `
` `
` "No, no," continued Danglars; "if we resolve on such a step, `
` it would be much better to take, as I now do, this pen, dip `
` it into this ink, and write with the left hand (that the `
` writing may not be recognized) the denunciation we propose." `
` And Danglars, uniting practice with theory, wrote with his `
` left hand, and in a writing reversed from his usual style, `
` and totally unlike it, the following lines, which he handed `
` to Fernand, and which Fernand read in an undertone: -- `
` `
` "The honorable, the king's attorney, is informed by a friend `
` of the throne and religion, that one Edmond Dantes, mate of `
` the ship Pharaon, arrived this morning from Smyrna, after `
` having touched at Naples and Porto-Ferrajo, has been `
` intrusted by Murat with a letter for the usurper, and by the `
` usurper with a letter for the Bonapartist committee in `
` Paris. Proof of this crime will be found on arresting him, `
` for the letter will be found upon him, or at his father's, `
` or in his cabin on board the Pharaon." `
` `
` "Very good," resumed Danglars; "now your revenge looks like `
` common-sense, for in no way can it revert to yourself, and `
` the matter will thus work its own way; there is nothing to `
` do now but fold the letter as I am doing, and write upon it, `
` `To the king's attorney,' and that's all settled." And `
` Danglars wrote the address as he spoke. `
` `
` "Yes, and that's all settled!" exclaimed Caderousse, who, by `
` a last effort of intellect, had followed the reading of the `
` letter, and instinctively comprehended all the misery which `
` such a denunciation must entail. "Yes, and that's all `
` settled; only it will be an infamous shame;" and he `
` stretched out his hand to reach the letter. `
` `
` "Yes," said Danglars, taking it from beyond his reach; "and `
` as what I say and do is merely in jest, and I, amongst the `
` first and foremost, should be sorry if anything happened to `
` Dantes -- the worthy Dantes -- look here!" And taking the `
` letter, he squeezed it up in his hands and threw it into a `
` corner of the arbor. `
` `
` "All right!" said Caderousse. "Dantes is my friend, and I `
` won't have him ill-used." `
` `
` "And who thinks of using him ill? Certainly neither I nor `
` Fernand," said Danglars, rising and looking at the young `
` man, who still remained seated, but whose eye was fixed on `
` the denunciatory sheet of paper flung into the corner. `
` `
` "In this case," replied Caderousse, "let's have some more `
` wine. I wish to drink to the health of Edmond and the lovely `
` Mercedes." `
` `
` "You have had too much already, drunkard," said Danglars; `
` "and if you continue, you will be compelled to sleep here, `
` because unable to stand on your legs." `
` `
` "I?" said Caderousse, rising with all the offended dignity `
` of a drunken man, "I can't keep on my legs? Why, I'll wager `
` I can go up into the belfry of the Accoules, and without `
` staggering, too!" `
` `
` "Done!" said Danglars, "I'll take your bet; but to-morrow -- `
` to-day it is time to return. Give me your arm, and let us `
` go." `
` `
` "Very well, let us go," said Caderousse; "but I don't want `
` your arm at all. Come, Fernand, won't you return to `
` Marseilles with us?" `
` `
` "No," said Fernand; "I shall return to the Catalans." `
` `
` "You're wrong. Come with us to Marseilles -- come along." `
` `
` "I will not." `
` `
` "What do you mean? you will not? Well, just as you like, my `
` prince; there's liberty for all the world. Come along, `
` Danglars, and let the young gentleman return to the Catalans `
` if he chooses." `
` `
` Danglars took advantage of Caderousse's temper at the `
` moment, to take him off towards Marseilles by the Porte `
` Saint-Victor, staggering as he went. `
` `
` When they had advanced about twenty yards, Danglars looked `
` back and saw Fernand stoop, pick up the crumpled paper, and `
` putting it into his pocket then rush out of the arbor `
` towards Pillon. `
` `
` "Well," said Caderousse, "why, what a lie he told! He said `
` he was going to the Catalans, and he is going to the city. `
` Hallo, Fernand!" `
` `
` "Oh, you don't see straight," said Danglars; "he's gone `
` right enough." `
` `
` "Well," said Caderousse, "I should have said not -- how `
` treacherous wine is!" `
` `
` "Come, come," said Danglars to himself, "now the thing is at `
` work and it will effect its purpose unassisted." `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 5 `
` The Marriage-Feast. `
` `
` The morning's sun rose clear and resplendent, touching the `
` foamy waves into a network of ruby-tinted light. `
` `
` The feast had been made ready on the second floor at La `
` Reserve, with whose arbor the reader is already familiar. `
` The apartment destined for the purpose was spacious and `
` lighted by a number of windows, over each of which was `
` written in golden letters for some inexplicable reason the `
` name of one of the principal cities of France; beneath these `
` windows a wooden balcony extended the entire length of the `
` house. And although the entertainment was fixed for twelve `
` o'clock, an hour previous to that time the balcony was `
` filled with impatient and expectant guests, consisting of `
` the favored part of the crew of the Pharaon, and other `
` personal friends of the bride-groom, the whole of whom had `
` arrayed themselves in their choicest costumes, in order to `
` do greater honor to the occasion. `
` `
` Various rumors were afloat to the effect that the owners of `
` the Pharaon had promised to attend the nuptial feast; but `
` all seemed unanimous in doubting that an act of such rare `
` and exceeding condescension could possibly be intended. `
` `
` Danglars, however, who now made his appearance, accompanied `
` by Caderousse, effectually confirmed the report, stating `
` that he had recently conversed with M. Morrel, who had `
` himself assured him of his intention to dine at La Reserve. `
` `
` In fact, a moment later M. Morrel appeared and was saluted `
` with an enthusiastic burst of applause from the crew of the `
` Pharaon, who hailed the visit of the shipowner as a sure `
` indication that the man whose wedding feast he thus `
` delighted to honor would ere long be first in command of the `
` ship; and as Dantes was universally beloved on board his `
` vessel, the sailors put no restraint on their tumultuous joy `
` at finding that the opinion and choice of their superiors so `
` exactly coincided with their own. `
` `
` With the entrance of M. Morrel, Danglars and Caderousse were `
` despatched in search of the bride-groom to convey to him the `
` intelligence of the arrival of the important personage whose `
` coming had created such a lively sensation, and to beseech `
` him to make haste. `
` `
` Danglars and Caderousse set off upon their errand at full `
` speed; but ere they had gone many steps they perceived a `
`
` "There's what you want on that table," said the waiter. `
` `
` "Bring them here." The waiter did as he was desired. `
` `
` "When one thinks," said Caderousse, letting his hand drop on `
` the paper, "there is here wherewithal to kill a man more `
` sure than if we waited at the corner of a wood to `
` assassinate him! I have always had more dread of a pen, a `
` bottle of ink, and a sheet of paper, than of a sword or `
` pistol." `
` `
` "The fellow is not so drunk as he appears to be," said `
` Danglars. "Give him some more wine, Fernand." Fernand filled `
` Caderousse's glass, who, like the confirmed toper he was, `
` lifted his hand from the paper and seized the glass. `
` `
` The Catalan watched him until Caderousse, almost overcome by `
` this fresh assault on his senses, rested, or rather dropped, `
` his glass upon the table. `
` `
` "Well!" resumed the Catalan, as he saw the final glimmer of `
` Caderousse's reason vanishing before the last glass of wine. `
` `
` "Well, then, I should say, for instance," resumed Danglars, `
` "that if after a voyage such as Dantes has just made, in `
` which he touched at the Island of Elba, some one were to `
` denounce him to the king's procureur as a Bonapartist agent" `
` -- `
` `
` "I will denounce him!" exclaimed the young man hastily. `
` `
` "Yes, but they will make you then sign your declaration, and `
` confront you with him you have denounced; I will supply you `
` with the means of supporting your accusation, for I know the `
` fact well. But Dantes cannot remain forever in prison, and `
` one day or other he will leave it, and the day when he comes `
` out, woe betide him who was the cause of his incarceration!" `
` `
` "Oh, I should wish nothing better than that he would come `
` and seek a quarrel with me." `
` `
` "Yes, and Mercedes! Mercedes, who will detest you if you `
` have only the misfortune to scratch the skin of her dearly `
` beloved Edmond!" `
` `
` "True!" said Fernand. `
` `
` "No, no," continued Danglars; "if we resolve on such a step, `
` it would be much better to take, as I now do, this pen, dip `
` it into this ink, and write with the left hand (that the `
` writing may not be recognized) the denunciation we propose." `
` And Danglars, uniting practice with theory, wrote with his `
` left hand, and in a writing reversed from his usual style, `
` and totally unlike it, the following lines, which he handed `
` to Fernand, and which Fernand read in an undertone: -- `
` `
` "The honorable, the king's attorney, is informed by a friend `
` of the throne and religion, that one Edmond Dantes, mate of `
` the ship Pharaon, arrived this morning from Smyrna, after `
` having touched at Naples and Porto-Ferrajo, has been `
` intrusted by Murat with a letter for the usurper, and by the `
` usurper with a letter for the Bonapartist committee in `
` Paris. Proof of this crime will be found on arresting him, `
` for the letter will be found upon him, or at his father's, `
` or in his cabin on board the Pharaon." `
` `
` "Very good," resumed Danglars; "now your revenge looks like `
` common-sense, for in no way can it revert to yourself, and `
` the matter will thus work its own way; there is nothing to `
` do now but fold the letter as I am doing, and write upon it, `
` `To the king's attorney,' and that's all settled." And `
` Danglars wrote the address as he spoke. `
` `
` "Yes, and that's all settled!" exclaimed Caderousse, who, by `
` a last effort of intellect, had followed the reading of the `
` letter, and instinctively comprehended all the misery which `
` such a denunciation must entail. "Yes, and that's all `
` settled; only it will be an infamous shame;" and he `
` stretched out his hand to reach the letter. `
` `
` "Yes," said Danglars, taking it from beyond his reach; "and `
` as what I say and do is merely in jest, and I, amongst the `
` first and foremost, should be sorry if anything happened to `
` Dantes -- the worthy Dantes -- look here!" And taking the `
` letter, he squeezed it up in his hands and threw it into a `
` corner of the arbor. `
` `
` "All right!" said Caderousse. "Dantes is my friend, and I `
` won't have him ill-used." `
` `
` "And who thinks of using him ill? Certainly neither I nor `
` Fernand," said Danglars, rising and looking at the young `
` man, who still remained seated, but whose eye was fixed on `
` the denunciatory sheet of paper flung into the corner. `
` `
` "In this case," replied Caderousse, "let's have some more `
` wine. I wish to drink to the health of Edmond and the lovely `
` Mercedes." `
` `
` "You have had too much already, drunkard," said Danglars; `
` "and if you continue, you will be compelled to sleep here, `
` because unable to stand on your legs." `
` `
` "I?" said Caderousse, rising with all the offended dignity `
` of a drunken man, "I can't keep on my legs? Why, I'll wager `
` I can go up into the belfry of the Accoules, and without `
` staggering, too!" `
` `
` "Done!" said Danglars, "I'll take your bet; but to-morrow -- `
` to-day it is time to return. Give me your arm, and let us `
` go." `
` `
` "Very well, let us go," said Caderousse; "but I don't want `
` your arm at all. Come, Fernand, won't you return to `
` Marseilles with us?" `
` `
` "No," said Fernand; "I shall return to the Catalans." `
` `
` "You're wrong. Come with us to Marseilles -- come along." `
` `
` "I will not." `
` `
` "What do you mean? you will not? Well, just as you like, my `
` prince; there's liberty for all the world. Come along, `
` Danglars, and let the young gentleman return to the Catalans `
` if he chooses." `
` `
` Danglars took advantage of Caderousse's temper at the `
` moment, to take him off towards Marseilles by the Porte `
` Saint-Victor, staggering as he went. `
` `
` When they had advanced about twenty yards, Danglars looked `
` back and saw Fernand stoop, pick up the crumpled paper, and `
` putting it into his pocket then rush out of the arbor `
` towards Pillon. `
` `
` "Well," said Caderousse, "why, what a lie he told! He said `
` he was going to the Catalans, and he is going to the city. `
` Hallo, Fernand!" `
` `
` "Oh, you don't see straight," said Danglars; "he's gone `
` right enough." `
` `
` "Well," said Caderousse, "I should have said not -- how `
` treacherous wine is!" `
` `
` "Come, come," said Danglars to himself, "now the thing is at `
` work and it will effect its purpose unassisted." `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 5 `
` The Marriage-Feast. `
` `
` The morning's sun rose clear and resplendent, touching the `
` foamy waves into a network of ruby-tinted light. `
` `
` The feast had been made ready on the second floor at La `
` Reserve, with whose arbor the reader is already familiar. `
` The apartment destined for the purpose was spacious and `
` lighted by a number of windows, over each of which was `
` written in golden letters for some inexplicable reason the `
` name of one of the principal cities of France; beneath these `
` windows a wooden balcony extended the entire length of the `
` house. And although the entertainment was fixed for twelve `
` o'clock, an hour previous to that time the balcony was `
` filled with impatient and expectant guests, consisting of `
` the favored part of the crew of the Pharaon, and other `
` personal friends of the bride-groom, the whole of whom had `
` arrayed themselves in their choicest costumes, in order to `
` do greater honor to the occasion. `
` `
` Various rumors were afloat to the effect that the owners of `
` the Pharaon had promised to attend the nuptial feast; but `
` all seemed unanimous in doubting that an act of such rare `
` and exceeding condescension could possibly be intended. `
` `
` Danglars, however, who now made his appearance, accompanied `
` by Caderousse, effectually confirmed the report, stating `
` that he had recently conversed with M. Morrel, who had `
` himself assured him of his intention to dine at La Reserve. `
` `
` In fact, a moment later M. Morrel appeared and was saluted `
` with an enthusiastic burst of applause from the crew of the `
` Pharaon, who hailed the visit of the shipowner as a sure `
` indication that the man whose wedding feast he thus `
` delighted to honor would ere long be first in command of the `
` ship; and as Dantes was universally beloved on board his `
` vessel, the sailors put no restraint on their tumultuous joy `
` at finding that the opinion and choice of their superiors so `
` exactly coincided with their own. `
` `
` With the entrance of M. Morrel, Danglars and Caderousse were `
` despatched in search of the bride-groom to convey to him the `
` intelligence of the arrival of the important personage whose `
` coming had created such a lively sensation, and to beseech `
` him to make haste. `
` `
` Danglars and Caderousse set off upon their errand at full `
` speed; but ere they had gone many steps they perceived a `
`