|
Morrel," said Dantes, approaching, "the vessel now rides at `
`
anchor, and I am at your service. You hailed me, I think?" `
`
`
`
Danglars retreated a step or two. "I wished to inquire why `
`
you stopped at the Island of Elba?" `
`
`
`
"I do not know, sir; it was to fulfil the last instructions `
`
of Captain Leclere, who, when dying, gave me a packet for `
`
Marshal Bertrand." `
`
`
`
"Then did you see him, Edmond?" `
`
`
`
"Who?" `
`
`
`
"The marshal." `
`
`
`
"Yes." `
`
`
`
Morrel looked around him, and then, drawing Dantes on one `
`
side, he said suddenly -- "And how is the emperor?" `
`
`
`
"Very well, as far as I could judge from the sight of him." `
`
`
`
"You saw the emperor, then?" `
`
`
`
"He entered the marshal's apartment while I was there." `
`
`
`
"And you spoke to him?" `
`
`
`
"Why, it was he who spoke to me, sir," said Dantes, with a `
`
smile. `
`
`
`
"And what did he say to you?" `
`
`
`
"Asked me questions about the vessel, the time she left `
`
Marseilles, the course she had taken, and what was her `
`
cargo. I believe, if she had not been laden, and I had been `
`
her master, he would have bought her. But I told him I was `
`
only mate, and that she belonged to the firm of Morrel `
`
Son. `Ah, yes,' he said, `I know them. The Morrels have been `
`
shipowners from father to son; and there was a Morrel who `
`
served in the same regiment with me when I was in garrison `
`
at Valence.'" `
`
`
`
"Pardieu, and that is true!" cried the owner, greatly `
`
delighted. "And that was Policar Morrel, my uncle, who was `
`
afterwards a captain. Dantes, you must tell my uncle that `
`
the emperor remembered him, and you will see it will bring `
`
tears into the old soldier's eyes. Come, come," continued `
`
he, patting Edmond's shoulder kindly, "you did very right, `
`
Dantes, to follow Captain Leclere's instructions, and touch `
`
at Elba, although if it were known that you had conveyed a `
`
packet to the marshal, and had conversed with the emperor, `
`
it might bring you into trouble." `
`
`
`
"How could that bring me into trouble, sir?" asked Dantes; `
`
"for I did not even know of what I was the bearer; and the `
`
emperor merely made such inquiries as he would of the first `
`
comer. But, pardon me, here are the health officers and the `
`
customs inspectors coming alongside." And the young man went `
`
to the gangway. As he departed, Danglars approached, and `
`
said, -- `
`
`
`
"Well, it appears that he has given you satisfactory reasons `
`
for his landing at Porto-Ferrajo?" `
`
`
`
"Yes, most satisfactory, my dear Danglars." `
`
`
`
"Well, so much the better," said the supercargo; "for it is `
`
not pleasant to think that a comrade has not done his duty." `
`
`
`
"Dantes has done his," replied the owner, "and that is not `
`
saying much. It was Captain Leclere who gave orders for this `
`
delay." `
`
`
`
"Talking of Captain Leclere, has not Dantes given you a `
`
letter from him?" `
`
`
`
"To me? -- no -- was there one?" `
`
`
`
"I believe that, besides the packet, Captain Leclere `
`
confided a letter to his care." `
`
`
`
"Of what packet are you speaking, Danglars?" `
`
`
`
"Why, that which Dantes left at Porto-Ferrajo." `
`
`
`
"How do you know he had a packet to leave at Porto-Ferrajo?" `
`
`
`
Danglars turned very red. `
`
`
`
"I was passing close to the door of the captain's cabin, `
`
which was half open, and I saw him give the packet and `
`
letter to Dantes." `
`
`
`
"He did not speak to me of it," replied the shipowner; "but `
`
if there be any letter he will give it to me." `
`
`
`
Danglars reflected for a moment. "Then, M. Morrel, I beg of `
`
you," said he, "not to say a word to Dantes on the subject. `
`
I may have been mistaken." `
`
`
`
At this moment the young man returned; Danglars withdrew. `
`
`
`
"Well, my dear Dantes, are you now free?" inquired the `
`
owner. `
`
`
`
"Yes, sir." `
`
`
`
"You have not been long detained." `
`
`
`
"No. I gave the custom-house officers a copy of our bill of `
`
lading; and as to the other papers, they sent a man off with `
`
the pilot, to whom I gave them." `
`
`
`
"Then you have nothing more to do here?" `
`
`
`
"No -- everything is all right now." `
`
`
`
"Then you can come and dine with me?" `
`
`
`
"I really must ask you to excuse me, M. Morrel. My first `
`
visit is due to my father, though I am not the less grateful `
`
for the honor you have done me." `
`
`
`
"Right, Dantes, quite right. I always knew you were a good `
`
son." `
`
`
`
"And," inquired Dantes, with some hesitation, "do you know `
`
how my father is?" `
`
`
`
"Well, I believe, my dear Edmond, though I have not seen him `
`
lately." `
`
`
`
"Yes, he likes to keep himself shut up in his little room." `
`
`
`
"That proves, at least, that he has wanted for nothing `
`
during your absence." `
`
`
`
Dantes smiled. "My father is proud, sir, and if he had not a `
`
meal left, I doubt if he would have asked anything from `
`
anyone, except from Heaven." `
`
`
`
"Well, then, after this first visit has been made we shall `
`
count on you." `
`
`
`
"I must again excuse myself, M. Morrel, for after this first `
`
visit has been paid I have another which I am most anxious `
`
to pay." `
`
`
`
"True, Dantes, I forgot that there was at the Catalans some `
`
one who expects you no less impatiently than your father -- `
`
the lovely Mercedes." `
`
`
`
Dantes blushed. `
`
`
`
"Ah, ha," said the shipowner, "I am not in the least `
`
surprised, for she has been to me three times, inquiring if `
`
there were any news of the Pharaon. Peste, Edmond, you have `
`
a very handsome mistress!" `
`
`
`
"She is not my mistress," replied the young sailor, gravely; `
`
"she is my betrothed." `
`
`
`
"Sometimes one and the same thing," said Morrel, with a `
`
smile. `
`
`
`
"Not with us, sir," replied Dantes. `
`
`
`
"Well, well, my dear Edmond," continued the owner, "don't `
`
let me detain you. You have managed my affairs so well that `
`
I ought to allow you all the time you require for your own. `
`
Do you want any money?" `
`
`
`
"No, sir; I have all my pay to take -- nearly three months' `
`
wages." `
`
`
`
"You are a careful fellow, Edmond." `
`
`
`
"Say I have a poor father, sir." `
`
`
`
"Yes, yes, I know how good a son you are, so now hasten away `
`
to see your father. I have a son too, and I should be very `
`
wroth with those who detained him from me after a three `
`
months' voyage." `
`
`
`
"Then I have your leave, sir?" `
`
`
`
"Yes, if you have nothing more to say to me." `
`
`
`
"Nothing." `
`
`
`
"Captain Leclere did not, before he died, give you a letter `
`
for me?" `
`
`
`
"He was unable to write, sir. But that reminds me that I `
`
must ask your leave of absence for some days." `
`
`
`
"To get married?" `
`
`
`
"Yes, first, and then to go to Paris." `
`
|