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"Yes, first, and then to go to Paris." `
`
`
`
"Very good; have what time you require, Dantes. It will take `
`
quite six weeks to unload the cargo, and we cannot get you `
`
ready for sea until three months after that; only be back `
`
again in three months, for the Pharaon," added the owner, `
`
patting the young sailor on the back, "cannot sail without `
`
her captain." `
`
`
`
"Without her captain!" cried Dantes, his eyes sparkling with `
`
animation; "pray mind what you say, for you are touching on `
`
the most secret wishes of my heart. Is it really your `
`
intention to make me captain of the Pharaon?" `
`
`
`
"If I were sole owner we'd shake hands on it now, my dear `
`
Dantes, and call it settled; but I have a partner, and you `
`
know the Italian proverb -- Chi ha compagno ha padrone -- `
`
`He who has a partner has a master.' But the thing is at `
`
least half done, as you have one out of two votes. Rely on `
`
me to procure you the other; I will do my best." `
`
`
`
"Ah, M. Morrel," exclaimed the young seaman, with tears in `
`
his eyes, and grasping the owner's hand, "M. Morrel, I thank `
`
you in the name of my father and of Mercedes." `
`
`
`
"That's all right, Edmond. There's a providence that watches `
`
over the deserving. Go to your father: go and see Mercedes, `
`
and afterwards come to me." `
`
`
`
"Shall I row you ashore?" `
`
`
`
"No, thank you; I shall remain and look over the accounts `
`
with Danglars. Have you been satisfied with him this `
`
voyage?" `
`
`
`
"That is according to the sense you attach to the question, `
`
sir. Do you mean is he a good comrade? No, for I think he `
`
never liked me since the day when I was silly enough, after `
`
a little quarrel we had, to propose to him to stop for ten `
`
minutes at the island of Monte Cristo to settle the dispute `
`
-- a proposition which I was wrong to suggest, and he quite `
`
right to refuse. If you mean as responsible agent when you `
`
ask me the question, I believe there is nothing to say `
`
against him, and that you will be content with the way in `
`
which he has performed his duty." `
`
`
`
"But tell me, Dantes, if you had command of the Pharaon `
`
should you be glad to see Danglars remain?" `
`
`
`
"Captain or mate, M. Morrel, I shall always have the `
`
greatest respect for those who possess the owners' `
`
confidence." `
`
`
`
"That's right, that's right, Dantes! I see you are a `
`
thoroughly good fellow, and will detain you no longer. Go, `
`
for I see how impatient you are." `
`
`
`
"Then I have leave?" `
`
`
`
"Go, I tell you." `
`
`
`
"May I have the use of your skiff?" `
`
`
`
"Certainly." `
`
`
`
"Then, for the present, M. Morrel, farewell, and a thousand `
`
thanks!" `
`
`
`
"I hope soon to see you again, my dear Edmond. Good luck to `
`
you." `
`
`
`
The young sailor jumped into the skiff, and sat down in the `
`
stern sheets, with the order that he be put ashore at La `
`
Canebiere. The two oarsmen bent to their work, and the `
`
little boat glided away as rapidly as possible in the midst `
`
of the thousand vessels which choke up the narrow way which `
`
leads between the two rows of ships from the mouth of the `
`
harbor to the Quai d'Orleans. `
`
`
`
The shipowner, smiling, followed him with his eyes until he `
`
saw him spring out on the quay and disappear in the midst of `
`
the throng, which from five o'clock in the morning until `
`
nine o'clock at night, swarms in the famous street of La `
`
Canebiere, -- a street of which the modern Phocaeans are so `
`
proud that they say with all the gravity in the world, and `
`
with that accent which gives so much character to what is `
`
said, "If Paris had La Canebiere, Paris would be a second `
`
Marseilles." On turning round the owner saw Danglars behind `
`
him, apparently awaiting orders, but in reality also `
`
watching the young sailor, -- but there was a great `
`
difference in the expression of the two men who thus `
`
followed the movements of Edmond Dantes. `
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
Chapter 2 `
`
Father and Son. `
`
`
`
We will leave Danglars struggling with the demon of hatred, `
`
and endeavoring to insinuate in the ear of the shipowner `
`
some evil suspicions against his comrade, and follow Dantes, `
`
who, after having traversed La Canebiere, took the Rue de `
`
Noailles, and entering a small house, on the left of the `
`
Allees de Meillan, rapidly ascended four flights of a dark `
`
staircase, holding the baluster with one hand, while with `
`
the other he repressed the beatings of his heart, and paused `
`
before a half-open door, from which he could see the whole `
`
of a small room. `
`
`
`
This room was occupied by Dantes' father. The news of the `
`
arrival of the Pharaon had not yet reached the old man, who, `
`
mounted on a chair, was amusing himself by training with `
`
trembling hand the nasturtiums and sprays of clematis that `
`
clambered over the trellis at his window. Suddenly, he felt `
`
an arm thrown around his body, and a well-known voice behind `
`
him exclaimed, "Father -- dear father!" `
`
`
`
The old man uttered a cry, and turned round; then, seeing `
`
his son, he fell into his arms, pale and trembling. `
`
`
`
"What ails you, my dearest father? Are you ill?" inquired `
`
the young man, much alarmed. `
`
`
`
"No, no, my dear Edmond -- my boy -- my son! -- no; but I `
`
did not expect you; and joy, the surprise of seeing you so `
`
suddenly -- Ah, I feel as if I were going to die." `
`
`
`
"Come, come, cheer up, my dear father! 'Tis I -- really I! `
`
They say joy never hurts, and so I came to you without any `
`
warning. Come now, do smile, instead of looking at me so `
`
solemnly. Here I am back again, and we are going to be `
`
happy." `
`
`
`
"Yes, yes, my boy, so we will -- so we will," replied the `
`
old man; "but how shall we be happy? Shall you never leave `
`
me again? Come, tell me all the good fortune that has `
`
befallen you." `
`
`
`
"God forgive me," said the young man, "for rejoicing at `
`
happiness derived from the misery of others, but, Heaven `
`
knows, I did not seek this good fortune; it has happened, `
`
and I really cannot pretend to lament it. The good Captain `
`
Leclere is dead, father, and it is probable that, with the `
`
aid of M. Morrel, I shall have his place. Do you understand, `
`
father? Only imagine me a captain at twenty, with a hundred `
`
louis pay, and a share in the profits! Is this not more than `
`
a poor sailor like me could have hoped for?" `
`
`
`
"Yes, my dear boy," replied the old man, "it is very `
`
fortunate." `
`
`
`
"Well, then, with the first money I touch, I mean you to `
`
have a small house, with a garden in which to plant `
`
clematis, nasturtiums, and honeysuckle. But what ails you, `
`
father? Are you not well?" `
`
`
`
"'Tis nothing, nothing; it will soon pass away" -- and as he `
`
said so the old man's strength failed him, and he fell `
`
backwards. `
`
`
`
"Come, come," said the young man, "a glass of wine, father, `
`
will revive you. Where do you keep your wine?" `
`
`
`
"No, no; thanks. You need not look for it; I do not want `
`
it," said the old man. `
`
`
`
"Yes, yes, father, tell me where it is," and he opened two `
`
or three cupboards. `
`
`
`
"It is no use," said the old man, "there is no wine." `
`
`
`
"What, no wine?" said Dantes, turning pale, and looking `
`
alternately at the hollow cheeks of the old man and the `
`
empty cupboards. "What, no wine? Have you wanted money, `
`
father?" `
`
`
`
"I want nothing now that I have you," said the old man. `
`
`
`
"Yet," stammered Dantes, wiping the perspiration from his `
`
brow, -- "yet I gave you two hundred francs when I left, `
`
three months ago." `
`
`
`
"Yes, yes, Edmond, that is true, but you forgot at that time `
`
a little debt to our neighbor, Caderousse. He reminded me of `
`
it, telling me if I did not pay for you, he would be paid by `
`
M. Morrel; and so, you see, lest he might do you an injury" `
`
-- `
`
`
`
"Well?" `
`
`
`
"Why, I paid him." `
`
`
`
"But," cried Dantes, "it was a hundred and forty francs I `
`
owed Caderousse." `
`
`
`
"Yes," stammered the old man. `
`
`
`
"And you paid him out of the two hundred francs I left you?" `
`
`
`
The old man nodded. `
`
`
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