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The Count of Monte Cristo `
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by Alexandre Dumas [Pere] `
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Chapter 1 `
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Marseilles -- The Arrival. `
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On the 24th of February, 1815, the look-out at Notre-Dame de `
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la Garde signalled the three-master, the Pharaon from `
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Smyrna, Trieste, and Naples. `
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As usual, a pilot put off immediately, and rounding the `
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Chateau d'If, got on board the vessel between Cape Morgion `
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and Rion island. `
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Immediately, and according to custom, the ramparts of Fort `
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Saint-Jean were covered with spectators; it is always an `
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event at Marseilles for a ship to come into port, especially `
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when this ship, like the Pharaon, has been built, rigged, `
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and laden at the old Phocee docks, and belongs to an owner `
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of the city. `
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The ship drew on and had safely passed the strait, which `
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some volcanic shock has made between the Calasareigne and `
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Jaros islands; had doubled Pomegue, and approached the `
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harbor under topsails, jib, and spanker, but so slowly and `
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sedately that the idlers, with that instinct which is the `
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forerunner of evil, asked one another what misfortune could `
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have happened on board. However, those experienced in `
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navigation saw plainly that if any accident had occurred, it `
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was not to the vessel herself, for she bore down with all `
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the evidence of being skilfully handled, the anchor `
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a-cockbill, the jib-boom guys already eased off, and `
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standing by the side of the pilot, who was steering the `
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Pharaon towards the narrow entrance of the inner port, was a `
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young man, who, with activity and vigilant eye, watched `
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every motion of the ship, and repeated each direction of the `
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pilot. `
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The vague disquietude which prevailed among the spectators `
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had so much affected one of the crowd that he did not await `
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the arrival of the vessel in harbor, but jumping into a `
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small skiff, desired to be pulled alongside the Pharaon, `
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which he reached as she rounded into La Reserve basin. `
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When the young man on board saw this person approach, he `
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left his station by the pilot, and, hat in hand, leaned over `
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the ship's bulwarks. `
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He was a fine, tall, slim young fellow of eighteen or `
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twenty, with black eyes, and hair as dark as a raven's wing; `
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and his whole appearance bespoke that calmness and `
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resolution peculiar to men accustomed from their cradle to `
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contend with danger. `
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"Ah, is it you, Dantes?" cried the man in the skiff. "What's `
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the matter? and why have you such an air of sadness aboard?" `
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"A great misfortune, M. Morrel," replied the young man, -- `
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"a great misfortune, for me especially! Off Civita Vecchia `
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we lost our brave Captain Leclere." `
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"And the cargo?" inquired the owner, eagerly. `
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"Is all safe, M. Morrel; and I think you will be satisfied `
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on that head. But poor Captain Leclere -- " `
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"What happened to him?" asked the owner, with an air of `
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considerable resignation. "What happened to the worthy `
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captain?" `
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"He died." `
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"Fell into the sea?" `
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"No, sir, he died of brain-fever in dreadful agony." Then `
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turning to the crew, he said, "Bear a hand there, to take in `
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sail!" `
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All hands obeyed, and at once the eight or ten seamen who `
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composed the crew, sprang to their respective stations at `
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the spanker brails and outhaul, topsail sheets and halyards, `
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the jib downhaul, and the topsail clewlines and buntlines. `
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The young sailor gave a look to see that his orders were `
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promptly and accurately obeyed, and then turned again to the `
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owner. `
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"And how did this misfortune occur?" inquired the latter, `
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resuming the interrupted conversation. `
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"Alas, sir, in the most unexpected manner. After a long talk `
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with the harbor-master, Captain Leclere left Naples greatly `
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disturbed in mind. In twenty-four hours he was attacked by a `
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fever, and died three days afterwards. We performed the `
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usual burial service, and he is at his rest, sewn up in his `
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hammock with a thirty-six pound shot at his head and his `
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heels, off El Giglio island. We bring to his widow his sword `
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and cross of honor. It was worth while, truly," added the `
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young man with a melancholy smile, "to make war against the `
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English for ten years, and to die in his bed at last, like `
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everybody else." `
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"Why, you see, Edmond," replied the owner, who appeared more `
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comforted at every moment, "we are all mortal, and the old `
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must make way for the young. If not, why, there would be no `
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promotion; and since you assure me that the cargo -- " `
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"Is all safe and sound, M. Morrel, take my word for it; and `
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I advise you not to take 25,000 francs for the profits of `
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the voyage." `
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Then, as they were just passing the Round Tower, the young `
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man shouted: "Stand by there to lower the topsails and jib; `
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brail up the spanker!" `
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The order was executed as promptly as it would have been on `
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board a man-of-war. `
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"Let go -- and clue up!" At this last command all the sails `
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were lowered, and the vessel moved almost imperceptibly `
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onwards. `
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"Now, if you will come on board, M. Morrel," said Dantes, `
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observing the owner's impatience, "here is your supercargo, `
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M. Danglars, coming out of his cabin, who will furnish you `
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with every particular. As for me, I must look after the `
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anchoring, and dress the ship in mourning." `
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The owner did not wait for a second invitation. He seized a `
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rope which Dantes flung to him, and with an activity that `
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would have done credit to a sailor, climbed up the side of `
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the ship, while the young man, going to his task, left the `
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conversation to Danglars, who now came towards the owner. He `
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was a man of twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, of `
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unprepossessing countenance, obsequious to his superiors, `
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insolent to his subordinates; and this, in addition to his `
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position as responsible agent on board, which is always `
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obnoxious to the sailors, made him as much disliked by the `
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crew as Edmond Dantes was beloved by them. `
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"Well, M. Morrel," said Danglars, "you have heard of the `
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misfortune that has befallen us?" `
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"Yes -- yes: poor Captain Leclere! He was a brave and an `
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honest man." `
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"And a first-rate seaman, one who had seen long and `
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honorable service, as became a man charged with the `
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interests of a house so important as that of Morrel Son," `
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replied Danglars. `
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"But," replied the owner, glancing after Dantes, who was `
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watching the anchoring of his vessel, "it seems to me that a `
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sailor needs not be so old as you say, Danglars, to `
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understand his business, for our friend Edmond seems to `
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understand it thoroughly, and not to require instruction `
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from any one." `
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"Yes," said Danglars, darting at Edmond a look gleaming with `
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hate. "Yes, he is young, and youth is invariably `
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self-confident. Scarcely was the captain's breath out of his `
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body when he assumed the command without consulting any one, `
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and he caused us to lose a day and a half at the Island of `
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Elba, instead of making for Marseilles direct." `
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"As to taking command of the vessel," replied Morrel, "that `
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was his duty as captain's mate; as to losing a day and a `
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half off the Island of Elba, he was wrong, unless the vessel `
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needed repairs." `
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"The vessel was in as good condition as I am, and as, I hope `
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you are, M. Morrel, and this day and a half was lost from `
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pure whim, for the pleasure of going ashore, and nothing `
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else." `
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"Dantes," said the shipowner, turning towards the young man, `
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"come this way!" `
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"In a moment, sir," answered Dantes, "and I'm with you." `
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Then calling to the crew, he said -- "Let go!" `
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The anchor was instantly dropped, and the chain ran rattling `
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through the port-hole. Dantes continued at his post in spite `
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of the presence of the pilot, until this manoeuvre was `
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completed, and then he added, "Half-mast the colors, and `
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square the yards!" `
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"You see," said Danglars, "he fancies himself captain `
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already, upon my word." `
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"And so, in fact, he is," said the owner. `
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"Except your signature and your partner's, M. Morrel." `
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"And why should he not have this?" asked the owner; "he is `
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young, it is true, but he seems to me a thorough seaman, and `
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of full experience." `
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A cloud passed over Danglars' brow. "Your pardon, M. `
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Morrel," said Dantes, approaching, "the vessel now rides at `
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