English
WewillleaveDanglarsstrugglingwiththedemonofhatred,andendeavoringtoinsinuateintheearoftheshipownersomeevilsuspicionsagainsthiscomrade,andfollowDantes,who,afterhavingtraversedLaCanebiere,tooktheRuedeNoailles,andenteringasmallhouse,ontheleftoftheAlleesdeMeillan,rapidlyascendedfourflightsofadarkstaircase,holdingthebalusterwithonehand,whilewiththeotherherepressedthebeatingsofhisheart,andpausedbeforeahalf–opendoor,fromwhichhecouldseethewholeofasmallroom.
ThisroomwasoccupiedbyDantes’father.
ThenewsofthearrivalofthePharaonhadnotyetreachedtheoldman,who,mountedonachair,wasamusinghimselfbytrainingwithtremblinghandthenasturtiumsandspraysofclematisthatclamberedoverthetrellisathiswindow.
Suddenly,hefeltanarmthrownaroundhisbody,andawell–knownvoicebehindhimexclaimed,“Father—dearfather!”
Theoldmanutteredacry,andturnedround;then,seeinghisson,hefellintohisarms,paleandtrembling.
“Whatailsyou,mydearestfather?Areyouill?”inquiredtheyoungman,muchalarmed.
“No,no,mydearEdmond—myboy—myson!—no;butIdidnotexpectyou;andjoy,thesurpriseofseeingyousosuddenly—Ah,IfeelasifIweregoingtodie.”
“Come,come,cheerup,mydearfather!‘TisI—reallyI!
Theysayjoyneverhurts,andsoIcametoyouwithoutanywarning.
Comenow,dosmile,insteadoflookingatmesosolemnly.
HereIambackagain,andwearegoingtobehappy.”
“Yes,yes,myboy,sowewill—sowewill,”repliedtheoldman;“buthowshallwebehappy?Shallyouneverleavemeagain?Come,tellmeallthegoodfortunethathasbefallenyou.”
“Godforgiveme,”saidtheyoungman,“forrejoicingathappinessderivedfromthemiseryofothers,but,Heavenknows,Ididnotseekthisgoodfortune;ithashappened,andIreallycannotpretendtolamentit.
ThegoodCaptainLeclereisdead,father,anditisprobablethat,withtheaidofM.Morrel,Ishallhavehisplace.Doyouunderstand,father?
Onlyimaginemeacaptainattwenty,withahundredlouispay,andashareintheprofits!
Isthisnotmorethanapoorsailorlikemecouldhavehopedfor?”
“Yes,mydearboy,”repliedtheoldman,“itisveryfortunate.”
“Well,then,withthefirstmoneyItouch,Imeanyoutohaveasmallhouse,withagardeninwhichtoplantclematis,nasturtiums,andhoneysuckle.Butwhatailsyou,father?Areyounotwell?”
”’Tisnothing,nothing;itwillsoonpassaway”—andashesaidsotheoldman’sstrengthfailedhim,andhefellbackwards.
“Come,come,”saidtheyoungman,“aglassofwine,father,willreviveyou.Wheredoyoukeepyourwine?”
“No,no;thanks.Youneednotlookforit;Idonotwantit,”saidtheoldman.
“Yes,yes,father,tellmewhereitis,”andheopenedtwoorthreecupboards.
“Itisnouse,”saidtheoldman,“thereisnowine.”
“What,nowine?”saidDantes,turningpale,andlookingalternatelyatthehollowcheeksoftheoldmanandtheemptycupboards.“What,nowine?Haveyouwantedmoney,father?”
“IwantnothingnowthatIhaveyou,”saidtheoldman.
“Yet,”stammeredDantes,wipingtheperspirationfromhisbrow,—”yetIgaveyoutwohundredfrancswhenIleft,threemonthsago.”
“Yes,yes,Edmond,thatistrue,butyouforgotatthattimealittledebttoourneighbor,Caderousse.
Heremindedmeofit,tellingmeifIdidnotpayforyou,hewouldbepaidbyM.Morrel;andso,yousee,lesthemightdoyouaninjury”—
“Well?”
“Why,Ipaidhim.”
“But,”criedDantes,“itwasahundredandfortyfrancsIowedCaderousse.”
“Yes,”stammeredtheoldman.
“AndyoupaidhimoutofthetwohundredfrancsIleftyou?”
Theoldmannodded.
“Sothatyouhavelivedforthreemonthsonsixtyfrancs,”mutteredEdmond.
“YouknowhowlittleIrequire,”saidtheoldman.
“Heavenpardonme,”criedEdmond,fallingonhiskneesbeforehisfather.
“Whatareyoudoing?”
“Youhavewoundedmetotheheart.”
“Nevermindit,forIseeyouoncemore,”saidtheoldman;“andnowit’sallover—everythingisallrightagain.”
“Yes,hereIam,”saidtheyoungman,“withapromisingfutureandalittlemoney.Here,father,here!”
hesaid,“takethis—takeit,andsendforsomethingimmediately.”
Andheemptiedhispocketsonthetable,thecontentsconsistingofadozengoldpieces,fiveorsixfive–francpieces,andsomesmallercoin.
ThecountenanceofoldDantesbrightened.
“Whomdoesthisbelongto?”heinquired.
“Tome,toyou,tous!Takeit;buysomeprovisions;behappy,andto–morrowweshallhavemore.”
“Gently,gently,”saidtheoldman,withasmile;“andbyyourleaveIwilluseyourpursemoderately,fortheywouldsay,iftheysawmebuytoomanythingsatatime,thatIhadbeenobligedtoawaityourreturn,inordertobeabletopurchasethem.”
“Doasyouplease;but,firstofall,prayhaveaservant,father.Iwillnothaveyouleftalonesolong.
Ihavesomesmuggledcoffeeandmostcapitaltobacco,inasmallchestinthehold,whichyoushallhaveto–morrow.But,hush,herecomessomebody.”
”’TisCaderousse,whohasheardofyourarrival,andnodoubtcomestocongratulateyouonyourfortunatereturn.”
“Ah,lipsthatsayonething,whiletheheartthinksanother,”murmuredEdmond.“But,nevermind,heisaneighborwhohasdoneusaserviceonatime,sohe’swelcome.”
AsEdmondpaused,theblackandbeardedheadofCaderousseappearedatthedoor.
Hewasamanoftwenty–fiveorsix,andheldapieceofcloth,which,beingatailor,hewasabouttomakeintoacoat–lining.
“What,isityou,Edmond,backagain?”saidhe,withabroadMarseillaiseaccent,andagrinthatdisplayedhisivory–whiteteeth.
“Yes,asyousee,neighborCaderousse;andreadytobeagreeabletoyouinanyandeveryway,”repliedDantes,butill–concealinghiscoldnessunderthiscloakofcivility.
“Thanks—thanks;but,fortunately,Idonotwantforanything;anditchancesthatattimesthereareotherswhohaveneedofme.”Dantesmadeagesture.“Idonotalludetoyou,myboy.
NoIlentyoumoney,andyoureturnedit;that’slikegoodneighbors,andwearequits.”
“Weareneverquitswiththosewhoobligeus,”wasDantes’reply;“forwhenwedonotowethemmoney,weowethemgratitude.”
“What’stheuseofmentioningthat?Whatisdoneisdone.
Letustalkofyourhappyreturn,myboy.
Ihadgoneonthequaytomatchapieceofmulberrycloth,whenImetfriendDanglars.‘YouatMarseilles?’—’Yes,’sayshe.
”’IthoughtyouwereatSmyrna.’—’Iwas;butamnowbackagain.’
”’Andwhereisthedearboy,ourlittleEdmond?’
”’Why,withhisfather,nodoubt,’repliedDanglars.AndsoIcame,”addedCaderousse,“asfastasIcouldtohavethepleasureofshakinghandswithafriend.”
“WorthyCaderousse!”saidtheoldman,“heissomuchattachedtous.”
“Yes,tobesureIam.Iloveandesteemyou,becausehonestfolksaresorare.
Butitseemsyouhavecomebackrich,myboy,”continuedthetailor,lookingaskanceatthehandfulofgoldandsilverwhichDanteshadthrownonthetable.
Theyoungmanremarkedthegreedyglancewhichshoneinthedarkeyesofhisneighbor.
“Eh,”hesaid,negligently,“thismoneyisnotmine.
Iwasexpressingtomyfathermyfearsthathehadwantedmanythingsinmyabsence,andtoconvincemeheemptiedhispurseonthetable.
Come,father”addedDantes,“putthismoneybackinyourbox—unlessneighborCaderoussewantsanything,andinthatcaseitisathisservice.”
“No,myboy,no,”saidCaderousse.“Iamnotinanywant,thankGod,mylivingissuitedtomymeans.
Keepyourmoney—keepit,Isay;—oneneverhastoomuch;—but,atthesametime,myboy,IamasmuchobligedbyyourofferasifItookadvantageofit.”
“Itwasofferedwithgoodwill,”saidDantes.
“Nodoubt,myboy;nodoubt.Well,youstandwellwithM.MorrelIhear,—youinsinuatingdog,you!”
“M.Morrelhasalwaysbeenexceedinglykindtome,”repliedDantes.
“Thenyouwerewrongtorefusetodinewithhim.”
“What,didyourefusetodinewithhim?”saidoldDantes;“anddidheinviteyoutodine?”
“Yes,mydearfather,”repliedEdmond,smilingathisfather’sastonishmentattheexcessivehonorpaidtohisson.
“Andwhydidyourefuse,myson?”inquiredtheoldman.
“ThatImightthesoonerseeyouagain,mydearfather,”repliedtheyoungman.“Iwasmostanxioustoseeyou.”
“ButitmusthavevexedM.Morrel,good,worthyman,”saidCaderousse.“Andwhenyouarelookingforwardtobecaptain,itwaswrongtoannoytheowner.”
“ButIexplainedtohimthecauseofmyrefusal,”repliedDantes,“andIhopehefullyunderstoodit.”
“Yes,buttobecaptainonemustdoalittleflatterytoone’spatrons.”
“Ihopetobecaptainwithoutthat,”saidDantes.
“Somuchthebetter—somuchthebetter!Nothingwillgivegreaterpleasuretoallyouroldfriends;andIknowonedowntherebehindtheSaintNicolascitadelwhowillnotbesorrytohearit.”
“Mercedes?”saidtheoldman.
“Yes,mydearfather,andwithyourpermission,nowIhaveseenyou,andknowyouarewellandhaveallyourequire,IwillaskyourconsenttogoandpayavisittotheCatalans.”
“Go,mydearboy,”saidoldDantes:“andheavenblessyouinyourwife,asithasblessedmeinmyson!”
“Hiswife!”saidCaderousse;“why,howfastyougoon,fatherDantes;sheisnothiswifeyet,asitseemstome.”
“So,butaccordingtoallprobabilityshesoonwillbe,”repliedEdmond.
“Yes—yes,”saidCaderousse;“butyouwererighttoreturnassoonaspossible,myboy.”
“Andwhy?”
“BecauseMercedesisaveryfinegirl,andfinegirlsneverlackfollowers;sheparticularlyhasthembydozens.”
“Really?”answeredEdmond,withasmilewhichhadinittracesofslightuneasiness.
“Ah,yes,”continuedCaderousse,“andcapitaloffers,too;butyouknow,youwillbecaptain,andwhocouldrefuseyouthen?”
“Meaningtosay,”repliedDantes,withasmilewhichbutill–concealedhistrouble,“thatifIwerenotacaptain”—
“Eh—eh!”saidCaderousse,shakinghishead.
“Come,come,”saidthesailor,“Ihaveabetteropinionthanyouofwomeningeneral,andofMercedesinparticular;andIamcertainthat,captainornot,shewillremaineverfaithfultome.”
“Somuchthebetter—somuchthebetter,”saidCaderousse.
“Whenoneisgoingtobemarried,thereisnothinglikeimplicitconfidence;butnevermindthat,myboy,—goandannounceyourarrival,andletherknowallyourhopesandprospects.”
“Iwillgodirectly,”wasEdmond’sreply;and,embracinghisfather,andnoddingtoCaderousse,helefttheapartment.
Caderousselingeredforamoment,thentakingleaveofoldDantes,hewentdownstairstorejoinDanglars,whoawaitedhimatthecorneroftheRueSenac.
“Well,”saidDanglars,“didyouseehim?”
“Ihavejustlefthim,”answeredCaderousse.
“Didhealludetohishopeofbeingcaptain?”
“Hespokeofitasathingalreadydecided.”
“Indeed!”saidDanglars,“heisintoomuchhurry,itappearstome.”
“Why,itseemsM.Morrelhaspromisedhimthething.”
“Sothatheisquiteelatedaboutit?”
“Why,yes,heisactuallyinsolentoverthematter—hasalreadyofferedmehispatronage,asifhewereagrandpersonage,andprofferedmealoanofmoney,asthoughhewereabanker.”
“Whichyourefused?”
“Mostassuredly;althoughImighteasilyhaveacceptedit,foritwasIwhoputintohishandsthefirstsilverheeverearned;butnowM.Danteshasnolongeranyoccasionforassistance—heisabouttobecomeacaptain.”
“Pooh!”saidDanglars,“heisnotoneyet.”
“Mafoi,itwillbeaswellifheisnot,”answeredCaderousse;“forifheshouldbe,therewillbereallynospeakingtohim.”
“Ifwechoose,”repliedDanglars,“hewillremainwhatheis;andperhapsbecomeevenlessthanheis.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“Nothing—Iwasspeakingtomyself.AndishestillinlovewiththeCatalane?”
“Overheadandears;but,unlessIammuchmistaken,therewillbeastorminthatquarter.”
“Explainyourself.”
“WhyshouldI?”
“Itismoreimportantthanyouthink,perhaps.YoudonotlikeDantes?”
“Ineverlikeupstarts.”
“ThentellmeallyouknowabouttheCatalane.”
“Iknownothingforcertain;onlyIhaveseenthingswhichinducemetobelieve,asItoldyou,thatthefuturecaptainwillfindsomeannoyanceinthevicinityoftheVieillesInfirmeries.”
“Whathaveyouseen?—come,tellme!”
“Well,everytimeIhaveseenMercedescomeintothecityshehasbeenaccompaniedbyatall,strapping,black–eyedCatalan,witharedcomplexion,brownskin,andfierceair,whomshecallscousin.”
“Really;andyouthinkthiscousinpaysherattentions?”
“Ionlysupposeso.Whatelsecanastrappingchapoftwenty–onemeanwithafinewenchofseventeen?”
“AndyousaythatDanteshasgonetotheCatalans?”
“HewentbeforeIcamedown.”
“Letusgothesameway;wewillstopatLaReserve,andwecandrinkaglassofLaMalgue,whilstwewaitfornews.”
“Comealong,”saidCaderousse;“butyoupaythescore.”
“Ofcourse,”repliedDanglars;andgoingquicklytothedesignatedplace,theycalledforabottleofwine,andtwoglasses.
PerePamphilehadseenDantespassnottenminutesbefore;andassuredthathewasattheCatalans,theysatdownunderthebuddingfoliageoftheplanesandsycamores,inthebranchesofwhichthebirdsweresingingtheirwelcometooneofthefirstdaysofspring.
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