Chapter 5 The Marriage-Feast
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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 Rииserve, 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
Rииserve. 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 Dantииs 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 group advancing towards them, composed of
the betrothed pair, a party of young girls in attendance on the bride, by
whose side walked Dantииs'
father; the whole brought up by Fernand, whose lips wore their usual
sinister smile. Neither
Mercижdииs nor Edmond observed the strange
expression of his countenance; they were so happy that they were conscious
only of the sunshine and the presence of each other. Having
acquitted themselves of their errand, and exchanged a hearty shake of the
hand with Edmond, Danglars and Caderousse took their places beside Fernand
and old Dantииs,--the
latter of whom attracted universal notice. The old man was attired in a
suit of glistening watered silk, trimmed with steel buttons, beautifully
cut and polished. His thin but wiry legs were arrayed in a pair of richly
embroidered clocked stockings, evidently of English manufacture, while
from his three-cornered hat depended a long streaming knot of white and
blue ribbons. Thus he came along, supporting himself on a curiously carved
stick, his aged countenance lit up with happiness, looking for all the
world like one of the aged dandies of 1796, parading the newly opened
gardens of the Tuileries and Luxembourg. Beside him glided Caderousse,
whose desire to partake of the good things provided for the wedding-party
had induced him to become reconciled to the Dantииs,
father and son, although there still lingered in his mind a faint and
unperfect recollection of the events of the preceding night; just as the
brain retains on waking in the morning the dim and misty outline of a
dream. As
Danglars approached the disappointed lover, he cast on him a look of deep
meaning, while Fernand, as he slowly paced behind the happy pair, who
seemed, in their own unmixed content, to have entirely forgotten that such
a being as himself existed, was pale and abstracted; occasionally,
however, a deep flush would overspread his countenance, and a nervous
contraction distort his features, while, with an agitated and restless
gaze, he would glance in the direction of Marseilles, like one who either
anticipated or foresaw some great and important event. Dantииs himself was simply, but
becomingly, clad in the dress peculiar to the merchant service--a costume
somewhat between a military and a civil garb; and with his fine
countenance, radiant with joy and happiness, a more perfect specimen of
manly beauty could scarcely be imagined. Lovely
as the Greek girls of Cyprus or Chios, Mercижdииs
boasted the same bright flashing eyes of jet, and ripe, round, coral lips.
She moved with the light, free step of an Arlesienne or an Andalusian. One
more practiced in the arts of great cities would have hid her blushes
beneath a veil, or, at least, have cast down her thickly fringed lashes,
so as to have concealed the liquid lustre of her animated eyes; but, on
the contrary, the delighted girl looked around her with a smile that
seemed to say: "If you are my friends, rejoice with me, for I am very
happy." As
soon as the bridal party came in sight of La Rииserve, M. Morrel descended and came forth to meet
it, followed by the soldiers and sailors there assembled, to whom he had
repeated the promise already given, that Dantииs should be the successor to the late Captain
Leclere. Edmond, at the approach of his patron, respectfully placed the
arm of his affianced bride within that of M. Morrel, who, forthwith
conducting her up the flight of wooden steps leading to the chamber in
which the feast was prepared, was gayly followed by the guests, beneath
whose heavy tread the slight structure creaked and groaned for the space
of several minutes. "Father,"
said Mercижdииs, stopping when she had reached
the centre of the table, "sit, I pray you, on my right hand; on my
left I will place him who has ever been as a brother to me," pointing
with a soft and gentle smile to Fernand; but her words and look seemed to
inflict the direst torture on him, for his lips became ghastly pale, and
even beneath the dark hue of his complexion the blood might be seen
retreating as though some sudden pang drove it back to the heart. During
this time, Dantииs,
at the opposite side of the table, had been occupied in similarly placing
his most honored guests. M. Morrel was seated at his right hand, Danglars
at his left; while, at a sign from Edmond, the rest of the company ranged
themselves as they found it most agreeable. Then
they began to pass around the dusky, piquant, Arlesian sausages, and
lobsters in their dazzling red cuirasses, prawns of large size and
brilliant color, the echinus with its prickly outside and dainty morsel
within, the clovis, esteemed by the epicures of the South as more than
rivalling the exquisite flavor of the oyster,--all the delicacies, in
fact, that are cast up by the wash of waters on the sandy beach, and
styled by the grateful fishermen "fruits of the sea." "A
pretty silence truly!" said the old father of the bride-groom, as he
carried to his lips a glass of wine of the hue and brightness of the
topaz, and which had just been placed before Mercижdииs
herself. "Now, would anybody think that this room contained a happy,
merry party, who desire nothing better than to laugh and dance the hours
away?" "Ah,"
sighed Caderousse, "a man cannot always feel happy because he is
about to be married." "The
truth is," replied Dantииs,
"that I am too happy for noisy mirth; if that is what you meant by
your observation, my worthy friend, you are right; joy takes a strange
effect at times, it seems to oppress us almost the same as sorrow." Danglars
looked towards Fernand, whose excitable nature received and betrayed each
fresh impression. "Why,
what ails you?" asked he of Edmond. "Do you fear any approaching
evil? I should say that you were the happiest man alive at this
instant." "And
that is the very thing that alarms me," returned Dantииs. "Man does not appear to
me to be intended to enjoy felicity so unmixed; happiness is like the
enchanted palaces we read of in our childhood, where fierce, fiery dragons
defend the entrance and approach; and monsters of all shapes and kinds,
requiring to be overcome ere victory is ours. I own that I am lost in
wonder to find myself promoted to an honor of which I feel myself
unworthy--that of being the husband of Mercижdииs." "Nay,
nay!" cried Caderousse, smiling, "you have not attained that
honor yet. Mercижdииs is not yet your wife. Just
assume the tone and manner of a husband, and see how she will remind you
that your hour is not yet come!" The
bride blushed, while Fernand, restless and uneasy, seemed to start at
every fresh sound, and from time to time wiped away the large drops of
perspiration that gathered on his brow. "Well,
never mind that, neighbor Caderousse; it is not worth while to contradict
me for such a trifle as that. 'Tis true that Mercижdииs
is not actually my wife; but," added he, drawing out his watch,
"in an hour and a half she will be." A
general exclamation of surprise ran round the table, with the exception of
the elder Dantииs,
whose laugh displayed the still perfect beauty of his large white teeth.
Mercижdииs looked pleased and gratified, while Fernand
grasped the handle of his knife with a convulsive clutch. "In
an hour?" inquired Danglars, turning pale. "How is that, my
friend?" "Why,
thus it is," replied Dantииs.
"Thanks to the influence of M. Morrel, to whom, next to my father, I
owe every blessing I enjoy, every difficulty his been removed. We have
purchased permission to waive the usual delay; and at half-past two
o'clock the mayor of Marseilles will be waiting for us at the city hall.
Now, as a quarter-past one has already struck, I do not consider I have
asserted too much in saying, that, in another hour and thirty minutes Mercижdииs
will have become Madame Dantииs."
Fernand
closed his eyes, a burning sensation passed across his brow, and he was
compelled to support himself by the table to prevent his falling from his
chair; but in spite of all his efforts, he could not refrain from uttering
a deep groan, which, however, was lost amid the noisy felicitations of the
company. "Upon
my word," cried the old man, "you make short work of this kind
of affair. Arrived here only yesterday morning, and married to-day at
three o'clock! Commend me to a sailor for going the quick way to
work!" "But,"
asked Danglars, in a timid tone, "how did you manage about the other
formalities--the contract--the settlement?" "The
contract," answered Dantииs,
laughingly, "it didn't take long to fix that. Mercижdииs has no fortune; I have none to settle on her. So,
you see, our papers were quickly written out, and certainly do not come
very expensive." This joke elicited a fresh burst of applause. "So
that what we presumed to be merely the betrothal feast turns out to be the
actual wedding dinner!" said Danglars. "No,
no," answered Dantииs;
"don't imagine I am going to put you off in that shabby manner.
To-morrow morning I start for Paris; four days to go, and the same to
return, with one day to discharge the commission intrusted to me, is all
the time I shall be absent. I shall be back here by the first of March,
and on the second I give my real marriage feast." This
prospect of fresh festivity redoubled the hilarity of the guests to such a
degree, that the elder Dantииs,
who, at the commencement of the repast, had commented upon the silence
that prevailed, now found it difficult, amid the general din of voices, to
obtain a moment's tranquillity in which to drink to the health and
prosperity of the bride and bride-groom. Dantииs, perceiving the affectionate
eagerness of his father, responded by a look of grateful pleasure; while
Mercижdииs glanced at the clock and made an expressive
gesture to Edmond. Around
the table reigned that noisy hilarity which usually prevails at such a
time among people sufficiently free from the demands of social position
not to feel the trammels of etiquette. Such as at the commencement of the
repast had not been able to seat themselves according to their inclination
rose unceremoniously, and sought out more agreeable companions. Everybody
talked at once, without waiting for a reply and each one seemed to be
contented with expressing his or her own thoughts. Fernand's
paleness appeared to have communicated itself to Danglars. As for Fernand
himself, he seemed to be enduring the tortures of the damned; unable to
rest, he was among the first to quit the table, and, as though seeking to
avoid the hilarious mirth that rose in such deafening sounds, he
continued, in utter silence, to pace the farther end of the salon. Caderousse
approached him just as Danglars, whom Fernand seemed most anxious to
avoid, had joined him in a corner of the room. "Upon
my word," said Caderousse, from whose mind the friendly treatment of
Dantииs, united with the effect of the
excellent wine he had partaken of, had effaced every feeling of envy or
jealousy at Dantииs'
good fortune,--"upon my word, Dantииs is a downright good fellow, and when I see him
sitting there beside his pretty wife that is so soon to be. I cannot help
thinking it would have been a great pity to have served him that trick you
were planning yesterday." "Oh,
there was no harm meant," answered Danglars; "at first I
certainly did feel somewhat uneasy as to what Fernand might be tempted to
do; but when I saw how completely he had mastered his feelings, even so
far as to become one of his rival's attendants, I knew there was no
further cause for apprehension." Caderousse looked full at Fernand--he
was ghastly pale. "Certainly,"
continued Danglars, "the sacrifice was no trifling one, when the
beauty of the bride is concerned. Upon my soul, that future captain of
mine is a lucky dog! Gad, I only wish he would let me take his
place." "Shall
we not set forth?" asked the sweet, silvery voice of Mercижdииs; "two o'clock has just struck, and you know
we are expected in a quarter of an hour." "To
be sure!--to be sure!" cried Dantииs, eagerly quitting the table; "let us go
directly!" His
words were re-echoed by the whole party, with vociferous cheers. At
this moment Danglars, who had been incessantly observing every change in
Fernand's look and manner, saw him stagger and fall back, with an almost
convulsive spasm, against a seat placed near one of the open windows. At
the same instant his ear caught a sort of indistinct sound on the stairs,
followed by the measured tread of soldiery, with the clanking of swords
and military accoutrements; then came a hum and buzz as of many voices, so
as to deaden even the noisy mirth of the bridal party, among whom a vague
feeling of curiosity and apprehension quelled every disposition to talk,
and almost instantaneously the most deathlike stillness prevailed. The
sounds drew nearer. Three blows were struck upon the panel of the door.
The company looked at each other in consternation. "I
demand admittance," said a loud voice outside the room, "in the
name of the law!" As no attempt was made to prevent it, the door was
opened, and a magistrate, wearing his official scarf, presented himself,
followed by four soldiers and a corporal. Uneasiness now yielded to the
most extreme dread on the part of those present. "May
I venture to inquire the reason of this unexpected visit?" said M.
Morrel, addressing the magistrate, whom he evidently knew; "there is
doubtless some mistake easily explained." "If
it be so," replied the magistrate, "rely upon every reparation
being made; meanwhile, I am the bearer of an order of arrest, and although
I most reluctantly perform the task assigned me, it must, nevertheless, be
fulfilled. Who among the persons here assembled answers to the name of
Edmond Dantииs?" Every eye was turned
towards the young man who, spite of the agitation he could not but feel,
advanced with dignity, and said, in a firm voice, "I am he; what is
your pleasure with me?" "Edmond
Dantииs,"
replied the magistrate, "I arrest you in the name of the law!" "Me!"
repeated Edmond, slightly changing color, "and wherefore, I
pray?" "I
cannot inform you, but you will be duly acquainted with the reasons that
have rendered such a step necessary at the preliminary examination." M.
Morrel felt that further resistance or remonstrance was useless. He saw
before him an officer delegated to enforce the law, and perfectly well
knew that it would be as unavailing to seek pity from a magistrate decked
with his official scarf, as to address a petition to some cold marble
effigy. Old Dantииs, however, sprang forward. There
are situations which the heart of a father or a mother cannot be made to
understand. He prayed and supplicated in terms so moving, that even the
officer was touched, and, although firm in his duty, he kindly said,
"My worthy friend, let me beg of you to calm your apprehensions. Your
son has probably neglected some prescribed form or attention in
registering his cargo, and it is more than probable he will be set at
liberty directly he has given the information required, whether touching
the health of his crew, or the value of his freight." "What
is the meaning of all this?" inquired Caderousse, frowningly, of
Danglars, who had assumed an air of utter surprise. "How
can I tell you?" replied he; "I am, like yourself, utterly
bewildered at all that is going on, and cannot in the least make out what
it is about." Caderousse then looked around for Fernand, but he had
disappeared. The
scene of the previous night now came back to his mind with startling
clearness. The painful catastrophe he had just witnessed appeared
effectually to have rent away the veil which the intoxication of the
evening before had raised between himself and his memory. "So,
so," said he, in a hoarse and choking voice, to Danglars, "this,
then, I suppose, is a part of the trick you were concerting yesterday? All
I can say is, that if it be so, 'tis an ill turn, and well deserves to
bring double evil on those who have projected it." "Nonsense,"
returned Danglars, "I tell you again I have nothing whatever to do
with it; besides, you know very well that I tore the paper to
pieces." "No,
you did not!" answered Caderousse, "you merely threw it by--I
saw it lying in a corner." "Hold
your tongue, you fool!--what should you know about it?--why, you were
drunk!" "Where
is Fernand?" inquired Caderousse. "How
do I know?" replied Danglars; "gone, as every prudent man ought
to be, to look after his own affairs, most likely. Never mind where he is,
let you and I go and see what is to be done for our poor friends." During
this conversation, Dantииs,
after having exchanged a cheerful shake of the hand with all his
sympathizing friends, had surrendered himself to the officer sent to
arrest him, merely saying, "Make yourselves quite easy, my good
fellows, there is some little mistake to clear up, that's all, depend upon
it; and very likely I may not have to go so far as the prison to effect
that." "Oh,
to be sure!" responded Danglars, who had now approached the group,
"nothing more than a mistake, I feel quite certain." Dantииs descended the staircase,
preceded by the magistrate, and followed by the soldiers. A carriage
awaited him at the door; he got in, followed by two soldiers and the
magistrate, and the vehicle drove off towards Marseilles. "Adieu,
adieu, dearest Edmond!" cried Mercижdииs,
stretching out her arms to him from the balcony. The
prisoner heard the cry, which sounded like the sob of a broken heart, and
leaning from the coach he called out, "Good-by, Mercижdииs--we shall soon meet again!" Then the vehicle
disappeared round one of the turnings of Fort Saint Nicholas. "Wait
for me here, all of you!" cried M. Morrel; "I will take the
first conveyance I find, and hurry to Marseilles, whence I will bring you
word how all is going on." "That's
right!" exclaimed a multitude of voices, "go, and return as
quickly as you can!" This
second departure was followed by a long and fearful state of terrified
silence on the part of those who were left behind. The old father and Mercижdииs remained for some time apart, each absorbed in
grief; but at length the two poor victims of the same blow raised their
eyes, and with a simultaneous burst of feeling rushed into each other's
arms. Meanwhile
Fernand made his appearance, poured out for himself a glass of water with
a trembling hand; then hastily swallowing it, went to sit down at the
first vacant place, and this was, by mere chance, placed next to the seat
on which poor Mercижdииs had fallen half fainting, when
released from the warm and affectionate embrace of old Dantииs. Instinctively Fernand drew
back his chair. "He
is the cause of all this misery--I am quite sure of it," whispered
Caderousse, who had never taken his eyes off Fernand, to Danglars. "I
don't think so," answered the other; he's too stupid to imagine such
a scheme. I only hope the mischief will fall upon the head of whoever
wrought it." "You
don't mention those who aided and abetted the deed," said Caderousse.
"Surely,"
answered Danglars, "one cannot be held responsible for every chance
arrow shot into the air." "You
can, indeed, when the arrow lights point downward on somebody's
head." Meantime
the subject of the arrest was being canvassed in every different form. "What
think you, Danglars," said one of the party, turning towards him,
"of this event?" "Why,"
replied he, "I think it just possible Dantииs may have been detected with some trifling article
on board ship considered here as contraband." "But
how could he have done so without your knowledge, Danglars, since you are
the ship's supercargo?" "Why,
as for that, I could only know what I was told respecting the merchandise
with which the vessel was laden. I know she was loaded with cotton, and
that she took in her freight at Alexandria from Pastret's warehouse, and
at Smyrna from Pascal's; that is all I was obliged to know, and I beg I
may not be asked for any further particulars." "Now
I recollect," said the afflicted old father; "my poor boy told
me yesterday he had got a small case of coffee, and another of tobacco for
me!" "There,
you see," exclaimed Danglars. "Now the mischief is out; depend
upon it the custom-house people went rummaging about the ship in our
absence, and discovered poor Dantииs'
hidden treasures." Mercижdииs, however, paid no heed to this explanation of her
lover's arrest. Her grief, which she had hitherto tried to restrain, now
burst out in a violent fit of hysterical sobbing. "Come,
come," said the old man, "be comforted, my poor child; there is
still hope!" "Hope!"
repeated Danglars. "Hope!"
faintly murmured Fernand, but the word seemed to die away on his pale
agitated lips, and a convulsive spasm passed over his countenance. "Good
news! good news!" shouted forth one of the party stationed in the
balcony on the lookout. "Here comes M. Morrel back. No doubt, now, we
shall hear that our friend is released!" Mercижdииs and the old man rushed to meet the shipowner and
greeted him at the door. He was very pale. "What
news?" exclaimed a general burst of voices. "Alas,
my friends," replied M. Morrel, with a mournful shake of his head,
"the thing has assumed a more serious aspect than I expected." "Oh,
indeed--indeed, sir, he is innocent!" sobbed forth Mercижdииs. "That
I believe!" answered M. Morrel; "but still he is charged"--
"With
what?" inquired the elder Dantииs. "With
being an agent of the Bonapartist faction!" Many of our readers may
be able to recollect how formidable such an accusation became in the
period at which our story is dated. A
despairing cry escaped the pale lips of Mercижdииs;
the old man sank into a chair. "Ah,
Danglars!" whispered Caderousse, "you have deceived me--the
trick you spoke of last night has been played; but I cannot suffer a poor
old man or an innocent girl to die of grief through your fault. I am
determined to tell them all about it." "Be
silent, you simpleton!" cried Danglars, grasping him by the arm,
"or I will not answer even for your own safety. Who can tell whether
Dantииs be innocent or guilty? The
vessel did touch at Elba, where he quitted it, and passed a whole day in
the island. Now, should any letters or other documents of a compromising
character be found upon him, will it not be taken for granted that all who
uphold him are his accomplices?" With
the rapid instinct of selfishness, Caderousse readily perceived the
solidity of this mode of reasoning; he gazed, doubtfully, wistfully, on
Danglars, and then caution supplanted generosity. "Suppose
we wait a while, and see what comes of it," said he, casting a
bewildered look on his companion. "To
be sure!" answered Danglars. "Let us wait, by all means. If he
be innocent, of course he will be set at liberty; if guilty, why, it is no
use involving ourselves in a conspiracy." "Let
us go, then. I cannot stay here any longer." "With all my
heart!" replied Danglars, pleased to find the other so tractable.
"Let us take ourselves out of the way, and leave things for the
present to take their course." After
their departure, Fernand, who had now again become the friend and
protector of Mercижdииs, led the girl to her home,
while the friends of Dantииs
conducted the now half-fainting man back to his abode. The
rumor of Edmond arrest as a Bonapartist agent was not slow in circulating
throughout the city. "Could
you ever have credited such a thing, my dear Danglars?" asked M.
Morrel, as, on his return to the port for the purpose of gleaning fresh
tidings of Dantииs, from M. de Villefort, the
assistant procureur, he overtook his supercargo and Caderousse.
"Could you have believed such a thing possible?" "Why,
you know I told you," replied Danglars, "that I considered the
circumstance of his having anchored at the Island of Elba as a very
suspicious circumstance." "And
did you mention these suspicions to any person beside myself?" "Certainly
not!" returned Danglars. Then added in a low whisper, "You
understand that, on account of your uncle, M. Policar Morrel, who served
under the other government, and who does not altogether conceal what he
thinks on the subject, you are strongly suspected of regretting the
abdication of Napoleon. I should have feared to injure both Edmond and
yourself, had I divulged my own apprehensions to a soul. I am too well
aware that though a subordinate, like myself, is bound to acquaint the
shipowner with everything that occurs, there are many things he ought most
carefully to conceal from all else." "'Tis
well, Danglars--'tis well!" replied M. Morrel. "You are a worthy
fellow; and I had already thought of your interests in the event of poor
Edmond having become captain of the Pharaon." "Is
it possible you were so kind?" "Yes,
indeed; I had previously inquired of Dantииs what was his opinion of you, and if he should have
any reluctance to continue you in your post, for somehow I have perceived
a sort of coolness between you." "And
what was his reply?" "That
he certainly did think he had given you offence in an affair which he
merely referred to without entering into particulars, but that whoever
possessed the good opinion and confidence of the ship's owner would have
his preference also." "The
hypocrite!" murmured Danglars. "Poor
Dantииs!"
said Caderousse. "No one can deny his being a noble-hearted young
fellow." "But
meanwhile," continued M. Morrel, "here is the Pharaon without a
captain." "Oh,"
replied Danglars, "since we cannot leave this port for the next three
months, let us hope that ere the expiration of that period Dantииs will be set at liberty." "No
doubt; but in the meantime?" "I
am entirely at your service, M. Morrel," answered Danglars. "You
know that I am as capable of managing a ship as the most experienced
captain in the service; and it will be so far advantageous to you to
accept my services, that upon Edmond's release from prison no further
change will be requisite on board the Pharaon than for Dantииs
and myself each to resume our respective posts." "Thanks,
Danglars--that will smooth over all difficulties. I fully authorize you at
once to assume the command of the Pharaon, and look carefully to the
unloading of her freight. Private misfortunes must never be allowed to
interfere with business." "Be
easy on that score, M. Morrel; but do you think we shall be permitted to
see our poor Edmond?" "I
will let you know that directly I have seen M. de Villefort, whom I shall
endeavor to interest in Edmond's favor. I am aware he is a furious
royalist; but, in spite of that, and of his being king's attorney, he is a
man like ourselves, and I fancy not a bad sort of one." "Perhaps
not," replied Danglars; "but I hear that he is ambitions, and
that's rather against him." "Well,
well," returned M. Morrel, "we shall see. But now hasten on
board, I will join you there ere long." So saying, the worthy
shipowner quitted the two allies, and proceeded in the direction of the
Palais de Justice. "You
see," said Danglars, addressing Caderousse, "the turn things
have taken. Do you still feel any desire to stand up in his defence?"
"Not
the slightest, but yet it seems to me a shocking thing that a mere joke
should lead to such consequences." "But
who perpetrated that joke, let me ask? neither you nor myself, but
Fernand; you knew very well that I threw the paper into a corner of the
room--indeed, I fancied I had destroyed it." "Oh,
no," replied Caderousse, "that I can answer for, you did not. I
only wish I could see it now as plainly as I saw it lying all crushed and
crumpled in a corner of the arbor." "Well,
then, if you did, depend upon it, Fernand picked it up, and either copied
it or caused it to be copied; perhaps, even, he did not take the trouble
of recopying it. And now I think of it, by Heavens, he may have sent the
letter itself! Fortunately, for me, the handwriting was disguised." "Then
you were aware of Dantииs
being engaged in a conspiracy?" "Not
I. As I before said, I thought the whole thing was a joke, nothing more.
It seems, however, that I have unconsciously stumbled upon the
truth." "Still,"
argued Caderousse, "I would give a great deal if nothing of the kind
had happened; or, at least, that I had had no hand in it. You will see,
Danglars, that it will turn out an unlucky job for both of us." "Nonsense!
If any harm come of it, it should fall on the guilty person; and that, you
know, is Fernand. How can we be implicated in any way? All we have got to
do is, to keep our own counsel, and remain perfectly quiet, not breathing
a word to any living soul; and you will see that the storm will pass away
without in the least affecting us." "Amen!"
responded Caderousse, waving his hand in token of adieu to Danglars, and
bending his steps towards the Allижes
de Meillan, moving his head to and fro, and muttering as he went, after
the manner of one whose mind was overcharged with one absorbing idea. "So
far, then," said Danglars, mentally, "all has gone as I would
have it. I am, temporarily, commander of the Pharaon, with the certainty
of being permanently so, if that fool of a Caderousse can be persuaded to
hold his tongue. My only fear is the chance of Dantииs being released. But, there, he is in the hands of
Justice; and," added he with a smile, "she will take her
own." So saying, he leaped into a boat, desiring to be rowed on board
the Pharaon, where M. Morrel had agreed to meet him. |
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