Calico Illustrated Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo
I must ask your leave of absence for some days Dantes replied To marry the lovely Mercedes Yes first and then to go to Paris Dantes said blushing Have what time you require Dantes only be back again in three months The Pharaon cannot sail without her captain Monsieur Morrel exclaimed the young seaman I thank you in the name of my father and Mercedes May I have the use of your boat Certainly Good luck to you The smiling shipowner watched Dantes until he disappeared into the crowd on land Danglars also watched the sailor but he was not smiling 8
2 Conspiracy Later that day Danglars and his neighbor Caderousse sat sharing a bottle of wine Caderousse called out to a young man he saw rushing by them Hello Fernand Where are you running to Fernand Mondego stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow Good day he said He fell down onto one of the seats at the table You were running like a madman I was afraid you would throw yourself into the sea said Caderousse laughing You see Danglars said Caderousse winking at his friend Fernand is good and brave He is in love with a very fine girl named Mercedes Unfortunately the girl is in love with Dantes 9
The Pharaon has arrived today and Fernand has been dismissed When is the wedding Danglars asked It is not yet fixed murmured Mondego No but it will be said Caderousse as surely as Dantes will be captain of the Pharaon Danglars said to Mondego Here is a marriage that does not make everybody happy It drives me to despair said Mondego You appear a good sort of fellow and I should like to help you Danglars said If the walls of a prison were between Edmond and Mercedes they would be separated Absence serves as well as death Why should they put Dantes in prison He has neither robbed nor killed nor murdered asked Caderousse Have you something to get Dantes arrested asked Mondego Find the means and I will execute it provided it does not kill him Waiter called Danglars bring pen ink and paper The waiter did as he was told Danglars 10
wrote these lines with his left hand to disguise his writing Monsieur the public prosecutor is informed by a friend of the throne that Edmond Dantes mate of the ship Pharaon has been entrusted with a letter from the usurper for the Bonapartist committee in Paris Proof of this crime will be found on him at his father’s apartment or in his cabin on board the ship Yes that’s all settled Only it will be an infamous shame exclaimed Caderousse What I do and say is only in jest Danglars said as he squeezed the letter up and tossed it All right said Caderousse Dantes is my friend and I won’t have him ill-used Who thinks of doing so asked Danglars rising Certainly neither I nor Fernand It is time to return Danglars led Caderousse away He glanced back to see Mondego pick up the crumbled paper put it in his pocket and rush away 11
