English
Beyondabare,weather–wornwall,aboutahundredpacesfromthespotwherethetwofriendssatlookingandlisteningastheydranktheirwine,wasthevillageoftheCatalans.
LongagothismysteriouscolonyquittedSpain,andsettledonthetongueoflandonwhichitistothisday.
Whenceitcamenooneknew,anditspokeanunknowntongue.
Oneofitschiefs,whounderstoodProvencal,beggedthecommuneofMarseillestogivethemthisbareandbarrenpromontory,where,likethesailorsofold,theyhadruntheirboatsashore.
Therequestwasgranted;andthreemonthsafterwards,aroundthetwelveorfifteensmallvesselswhichhadbroughtthesegypsiesofthesea,asmallvillagesprangup.
Thisvillage,constructedinasingularandpicturesquemanner,halfMoorish,halfSpanish,stillremains,andisinhabitedbydescendantsofthefirstcomers,whospeakthelanguageoftheirfathers.
Forthreeorfourcenturiestheyhaveremaineduponthissmallpromontory,onwhichtheyhadsettledlikeaflightofseabirds,withoutmixingwiththeMarseillaisepopulation,intermarrying,andpreservingtheiroriginalcustomsandthecostumeoftheirmother–countryastheyhavepreserveditslanguage.
Ourreaderswillfollowusalongtheonlystreetofthislittlevillage,andenterwithusoneofthehouses,whichissunburnedtothebeautifuldead–leafcolorpeculiartothebuildingsofthecountry,andwithincoatedwithwhitewash,likeaSpanishposada.
Ayoungandbeautifulgirl,withhairasblackasjet,hereyesasvelvetyasthegazelle’s,wasleaningwithherbackagainstthewainscot,rubbinginherslenderdelicatelymouldedfingersabunchofheathblossoms,theflowersofwhichshewaspickingoffandstrewingonthefloor;herarms,baretotheelbow,brown,andmodelledafterthoseoftheArlesianVenus,movedwithakindofrestlessimpatience,andshetappedtheearthwithherarchedandsupplefoot,soastodisplaythepureandfullshapeofherwell–turnedleg,initsredcotton,grayandblueclocked,stocking.
Atthreepacesfromher,seatedinachairwhichhebalancedontwolegs,leaninghiselbowonanoldworm–eatentable,wasatallyoungmanoftwenty,ortwo–and–twenty,whowaslookingatherwithanairinwhichvexationanduneasinessweremingled.
Hequestionedherwithhiseyes,butthefirmandsteadygazeoftheyounggirlcontrolledhislook.
“Yousee,Mercedes,”saidtheyoungman,“hereisEastercomeroundagain;tellme,isthisthemomentforawedding?”
“Ihaveansweredyouahundredtimes,Fernand,andreallyyoumustbeverystupidtoaskmeagain.”
“Well,repeatit,—repeatit,Ibegofyou,thatImayatlastbelieveit!
Tellmeforthehundredthtimethatyourefusemylove,whichhadyourmother’ssanction.
Makemeunderstandonceforallthatyouaretriflingwithmyhappiness,thatmylifeordeatharenothingtoyou.
Ah,tohavedreamedfortenyearsofbeingyourhusband,Mercedes,andtolosethathope,whichwastheonlystayofmyexistence!”
“AtleastitwasnotIwhoeverencouragedyouinthathope,Fernand,”repliedMercedes;“youcannotreproachmewiththeslightestcoquetry.
Ihavealwayssaidtoyou,‘Iloveyouasabrother;butdonotaskfrommemorethansisterlyaffection,formyheartisanother’s.’Isnotthistrue,Fernand?”
“Yes,thatisverytrue,Mercedes,”repliedtheyoungman,“Yes,youhavebeencruellyfrankwithme;butdoyouforgetthatitisamongtheCatalansasacredlawtointermarry?”
“Youmistake,Fernand;itisnotalaw,butmerelyacustom,and,Iprayofyou,donotcitethiscustominyourfavor.
Youareincludedintheconscription,Fernand,andareonlyatlibertyonsufferance,liableatanymomenttobecalledupontotakeuparms.
Onceasoldier,whatwouldyoudowithme,apoororphan,forlorn,withoutfortune,withnothingbutahalf–ruinedhutandafewraggednets,themiserableinheritanceleftbymyfathertomymother,andbymymothertome?
Shehasbeendeadayear,andyouknow,Fernand,Ihavesubsistedalmostentirelyonpubliccharity.
SometimesyoupretendIamusefultoyou,andthatisanexcusetosharewithmetheproduceofyourfishing,andIacceptit,Fernand,becauseyouarethesonofmyfather’sbrother,becausewewerebroughtuptogether,andstillmorebecauseitwouldgiveyousomuchpainifIrefuse.
ButIfeelverydeeplythatthisfishwhichIgoandsell,andwiththeproduceofwhichIbuytheflaxIspin,—Ifeelverykeenly,Fernand,thatthisischarity.”
“Andifitwere,Mercedes,poorandloneasyouare,yousuitmeaswellasthedaughterofthefirstshipownerortherichestbankerofMarseilles!
Whatdosuchaswedesirebutagoodwifeandcarefulhousekeeper,andwherecanIlookforthesebetterthaninyou?”
“Fernand,”answeredMercedes,shakingherhead,“awomanbecomesabadmanager,andwhoshallsayshewillremainanhonestwoman,whenshelovesanothermanbetterthanherhusband?
Restcontentwithmyfriendship,forIsayoncemorethatisallIcanpromise,andIwillpromisenomorethanIcanbestow.”
“Iunderstand,”repliedFernand,“youcanendureyourownwretchednesspatiently,butyouareafraidtosharemine.
Well,Mercedes,belovedbyyou,Iwouldtemptfortune;youwouldbringmegoodluck,andIshouldbecomerich.
Icouldextendmyoccupationasafisherman,mightgetaplaceasclerkinawarehouse,andbecomeintimeadealermyself.”
“Youcoulddonosuchthing,Fernand;youareasoldier,andifyouremainattheCatalansitisbecausethereisnowar;soremainafisherman,andcontentedwithmyfriendship,asIcannotgiveyoumore.”
“Well,Iwilldobetter,Mercedes.Iwillbeasailor;insteadofthecostumeofourfathers,whichyoudespise,Iwillwearavarnishedhat,astripedshirt,andabluejacket,withananchoronthebuttons.Wouldnotthatdresspleaseyou?”
“Whatdoyoumean?”askedMercedes,withanangryglance,—”whatdoyoumean?Idonotunderstandyou?”
“Imean,Mercedes,thatyouarethusharshandcruelwithme,becauseyouareexpectingsomeonewhoisthusattired;butperhapshewhomyouawaitisinconstant,orifheisnot,theseaissotohim.”
“Fernand,”criedMercedes,“Ibelievedyouweregood–hearted,andIwasmistaken!
Fernand,youarewickedtocalltoyouraidjealousyandtheangerofGod!
Yes,Iwillnotdenyit,Idoawait,andIdolovehimofwhomyouspeak;and,ifhedoesnotreturn,insteadofaccusinghimoftheinconstancywhichyouinsinuate,Iwilltellyouthathediedlovingmeandmeonly.”Theyounggirlmadeagestureofrage.
“Iunderstandyou,Fernand;youwouldberevengedonhimbecauseIdonotloveyou;youwouldcrossyourCatalanknifewithhisdirk.Whatendwouldthatanswer?
Toloseyoumyfriendshipifhewereconquered,andseethatfriendshipchangedintohateifyouwerevictor.
Believeme,toseekaquarrelwithamanisabadmethodofpleasingthewomanwholovesthatman.
No,Fernand,youwillnotthusgivewaytoevilthoughts.
Unabletohavemeforyourwife,youwillcontentyourselfwithhavingmeforyourfriendandsister;andbesides,”sheadded,hereyestroubledandmoistenedwithtears,“wait,wait,Fernand;yousaidjustnowthattheseawastreacherous,andhehasbeengonefourmonths,andduringthesefourmonthstherehavebeensometerriblestorms.”
Fernandmadenoreply,nordidheattempttocheckthetearswhichfloweddownthecheeksofMercedes,althoughforeachofthesetearshewouldhaveshedhisheart’sblood;butthesetearsflowedforanother.
Hearose,pacedawhileupanddownthehut,andthen,suddenlystoppingbeforeMercedes,withhiseyesglowingandhishandsclinched,—”Say,Mercedes,”hesaid,“onceforall,isthisyourfinaldetermination?”
“IloveEdmondDantes,”theyounggirlcalmlyreplied,“andnonebutEdmondshalleverbemyhusband.”
“Andyouwillalwayslovehim?”
“AslongasIlive.”
Fernandletfallhisheadlikeadefeatedman,heavedasighthatwaslikeagroan,andthensuddenlylookingherfullintheface,withclinchedteethandexpandednostrils,said,—”Butifheisdead”—
“Ifheisdead,Ishalldietoo.”
“Ifhehasforgottenyou”—
“Mercedes!”calledajoyousvoicefromwithout,—”Mercedes!”
“Ah,”exclaimedtheyounggirl,blushingwithdelight,andfairlyleapinginexcessoflove,“youseehehasnotforgottenme,forhereheis!”
Andrushingtowardsthedoor,sheopenedit,saying,“Here,Edmond,hereIam!”
Fernand,paleandtrembling,drewback,likeatravelleratthesightofaserpent,andfellintoachairbesidehim.
EdmondandMercedeswereclaspedineachother’sarms.
TheburningMarseillessun,whichshotintotheroomthroughtheopendoor,coveredthemwithafloodoflight.Atfirsttheysawnothingaroundthem.
Theirintensehappinessisolatedthemfromalltherestoftheworld,andtheyonlyspokeinbrokenwords,whicharethetokensofajoysoextremethattheyseemrathertheexpressionofsorrow.
SuddenlyEdmondsawthegloomy,pale,andthreateningcountenanceofFernand,asitwasdefinedintheshadow.
Byamovementforwhichhecouldscarcelyaccounttohimself,theyoungCatalanplacedhishandontheknifeathisbelt.
“Ah,yourpardon,”saidDantes,frowninginhisturn;“Ididnotperceivethattherewerethreeofus.”Then,turningtoMercedes,heinquired,“Whoisthisgentleman?”
“Onewhowillbeyourbestfriend,Dantes,forheismyfriend,mycousin,mybrother;itisFernand—themanwhom,afteryou,Edmond,Ilovethebestintheworld.Doyounotrememberhim?”
“Yes!”saidDantes,andwithoutrelinquishingMercedeshandclaspedinoneofhisown,heextendedtheothertotheCatalanwithacordialair.
ButFernand,insteadofrespondingtothisamiablegesture,remainedmuteandtrembling.
EdmondthencasthiseyesscrutinizinglyattheagitatedandembarrassedMercedes,andthenagainonthegloomyandmenacingFernand.
Thislooktoldhimall,andhisangerwaxedhot.
“Ididnotknow,whenIcamewithsuchhastetoyou,thatIwastomeetanenemyhere.”
“Anenemy!”criedMercedes,withanangrylookathercousin.
“Anenemyinmyhouse,doyousay,Edmond!
IfIbelievedthat,IwouldplacemyarmunderyoursandgowithyoutoMarseilles,leavingthehousetoreturntoitnomore.”
Fernand’seyedartedlightning.“Andshouldanymisfortuneoccurtoyou,dearEdmond,”shecontinuedwiththesamecalmnesswhichprovedtoFernandthattheyounggirlhadreadtheveryinnermostdepthsofhissinisterthought,“ifmisfortuneshouldoccurtoyou,IwouldascendthehighestpointoftheCapedeMorgionandcastmyselfheadlongfromit.”
Fernandbecamedeadlypale.“Butyouaredeceived,Edmond,”shecontinued.“Youhavenoenemyhere—thereisnoonebutFernand,mybrother,whowillgraspyourhandasadevotedfriend.”
AndatthesewordstheyounggirlfixedherimperiouslookontheCatalan,who,asiffascinatedbyit,cameslowlytowardsEdmond,andofferedhimhishand.
Hishatred,likeapowerlessthoughfuriouswave,wasbrokenagainstthestrongascendancywhichMercedesexercisedoverhim.
Scarcely,however,hadhetouchedEdmond’shandthanhefelthehaddoneallhecoulddo,andrushedhastilyoutofthehouse.
“Oh,”heexclaimed,runningfuriouslyandtearinghishair—”Oh,whowilldelivermefromthisman?Wretched—wretchedthatIam!”
“Hallo,Catalan!Hallo,Fernand!whereareyourunningto?”exclaimedavoice.
Theyoungmanstoppedsuddenly,lookedaroundhim,andperceivedCaderoussesittingattablewithDanglars,underanarbor.
“Well”,saidCaderousse,“whydon’tyoucome?Areyoureallyinsuchahurrythatyouhavenotimetopassthetimeofdaywithyourfriends?”
“Particularlywhentheyhavestillafullbottlebeforethem,”addedDanglars.Fernandlookedatthembothwithastupefiedair,butdidnotsayaword.
“Heseemsbesotted,”saidDanglars,pushingCaderoussewithhisknee.“Arewemistaken,andisDantestriumphantinspiteofallwehavebelieved?”
“Why,wemustinquireintothat,”wasCaderousse’sreply;andturningtowardstheyoungman,said,“Well,Catalan,can’tyoumakeupyourmind?”
Fernandwipedawaytheperspirationsteamingfromhisbrow,andslowlyenteredthearbor,whoseshadeseemedtorestoresomewhatofcalmnesstohissenses,andwhosecoolnesssomewhatofrefreshmenttohisexhaustedbody.
“Good–day,”saidhe.“Youcalledme,didn’tyou?”Andhefell,ratherthansatdown,ononeoftheseatswhichsurroundedthetable.
“Icalledyoubecauseyouwererunninglikeamadman,andIwasafraidyouwouldthrowyourselfintothesea,”saidCaderousse,laughing.
“Why,whenamanhasfriends,theyarenotonlytoofferhimaglassofwine,but,moreover,topreventhisswallowingthreeorfourpintsofwaterunnecessarily!”
Fernandgaveagroan,whichresembledasob,anddroppedhisheadintohishands,hiselbowsleaningonthetable.
“Well,Fernand,Imustsay,”saidCaderousse,beginningtheconversation,withthatbrutalityofthecommonpeopleinwhichcuriositydestroysalldiplomacy,“youlookuncommonlylikearejectedlover;”andheburstintoahoarselaugh.
“Bah!”saidDanglars,“aladofhismakewasnotborntobeunhappyinlove.Youarelaughingathim,Caderousse.”
“No,”hereplied,“onlyharkhowhesighs!Come,come,Fernand,”saidCaderousse,“holdupyourhead,andanswerus.It’snotpolitenottoreplytofriendswhoasknewsofyourhealth.”
“Myhealthiswellenough,”saidFernand,clinchinghishandswithoutraisinghishead.
“Ah,yousee,Danglars,”saidCaderousse,winkingathisfriend,“thisishowitis;Fernand,whomyouseehere,isagoodandbraveCatalan,oneofthebestfishermeninMarseilles,andheisinlovewithaveryfinegirl,namedMercedes;butitappears,unfortunately,thatthefinegirlisinlovewiththemateofthePharaon;andasthePharaonarrivedto–day—why,youunderstand!”
“No;Idonotunderstand,”saidDanglars.
“PoorFernandhasbeendismissed,”continuedCaderousse.
“Well,andwhatthen?”saidFernand,liftinguphishead,andlookingatCaderousselikeamanwholooksforsomeoneonwhomtoventhisanger;“Mercedesisnotaccountabletoanyperson,isshe?
Isshenotfreetolovewhomsoevershewill?”
“Oh,ifyoutakeitinthatsense,”saidCaderousse,“itisanotherthing.
ButIthoughtyouwereaCatalan,andtheytoldmetheCatalanswerenotmentoallowthemselvestobesupplantedbyarival.
ItwaseventoldmethatFernand,especially,wasterribleinhisvengeance.”
Fernandsmiledpiteously.“Aloverisneverterrible,”hesaid.
“Poorfellow!”remarkedDanglars,affectingtopitytheyoungmanfromthebottomofhisheart.
“Why,yousee,hedidnotexpecttoseeDantesreturnsosuddenly—hethoughthewasdead,perhaps;orperchancefaithless!
Thesethingsalwayscomeonusmoreseverelywhentheycomesuddenly.”
“Ah,mafoi,underanycircumstances,”saidCaderousse,whodrankashespoke,andonwhomthefumesofthewinebegantotakeeffect,—”underanycircumstancesFernandisnottheonlypersonputoutbythefortunatearrivalofDantes;ishe,Danglars?”
“No,youareright—andIshouldsaythatwouldbringhimill–luck.”
“Well,nevermind,”answeredCaderousse,pouringoutaglassofwineforFernand,andfillinghisownfortheeighthorninthtime,whileDanglarshadmerelysippedhis.
“Nevermind—inthemeantimehemarriesMercedes—thelovelyMercedes—atleasthereturnstodothat.”
DuringthistimeDanglarsfixedhispiercingglanceontheyoungman,onwhoseheartCaderousse’swordsfelllikemoltenlead.
“Andwhenistheweddingtobe?”heasked.
“Oh,itisnotyetfixed!”murmuredFernand.
“No,butitwillbe,”saidCaderousse,“assurelyasDanteswillbecaptainofthePharaon—eh,Danglars?”
Danglarsshudderedatthisunexpectedattack,andturnedtoCaderousse,whosecountenancehescrutinized,totryanddetectwhethertheblowwaspremeditated;buthereadnothingbutenvyinacountenancealreadyrenderedbrutalandstupidbydrunkenness.
“Well,”saidhe,fillingtheglasses,“letusdrinktoCaptainEdmondDantes,husbandofthebeautifulCatalane!”
Caderousseraisedhisglasstohismouthwithunsteadyhand,andswallowedthecontentsatagulp.Fernanddashedhisontheground.
“Eh,eh,eh!”stammeredCaderousse.
“WhatdoIseedowntherebythewall,inthedirectionoftheCatalans?
Look,Fernand,youreyesarebetterthanmine.IbelieveIseedouble.
Youknowwineisadeceiver;butIshouldsayitwastwoloverswalkingsidebyside,andhandinhand.
Heavenforgiveme,theydonotknowthatwecanseethem,andtheyareactuallyembracing!”
DanglarsdidnotloseonepangthatFernandendured.
“Doyouknowthem,Fernand?”hesaid.
“Yes,”wasthereply,inalowvoice.“ItisEdmondandMercedes!”
“Ah,seethere,now!”saidCaderousse;“andIdidnotrecognizethem!Hallo,Dantes!hello,lovelydamsel!
Comethisway,andletusknowwhentheweddingistobe,forFernandhereissoobstinatehewillnottellus.”
“Holdyourtongue,willyou?”saidDanglars,pretendingtorestrainCaderousse,who,withthetenacityofdrunkards,leanedoutofthearbor.
“Trytostandupright,andlettheloversmakelovewithoutinterruption.
See,lookatFernand,andfollowhisexample;heiswell–behaved!”
Fernand,probablyexcitedbeyondbearing,prickedbyDanglars,asthebullisbythebandilleros,wasabouttorushout;forhehadrisenfromhisseat,andseemedtobecollectinghimselftodashheadlonguponhisrival,whenMercedes,smilingandgraceful,liftedupherlovelyhead,andlookedatthemwithherclearandbrighteyes.
AtthisFernandrecollectedherthreatofdyingifEdmonddied,anddroppedagainheavilyonhisseat.
Danglarslookedatthetwomen,oneaftertheother,theonebrutalizedbyliquor,theotheroverwhelmedwithlove.
“Ishallgetnothingfromthesefools,”hemuttered;“andIamverymuchafraidofbeingherebetweenadrunkardandacoward.
Here’sanenviousfellowmakinghimselfboozyonwinewhenheoughttobenursinghiswrath,andhereisafoolwhoseesthewomanhelovesstolenfromunderhisnoseandtakesonlikeabigbaby.
YetthisCatalanhaseyesthatglistenlikethoseofthevengefulSpaniards,Sicilians,andCalabrians,andtheotherhasfistsbigenoughtocrushanoxatoneblow.
Unquestionably,Edmond’sstarisintheascendant,andhewillmarrythesplendidgirl—hewillbecaptain,too,andlaughatusall,unless”—asinistersmilepassedoverDanglars’lips—”unlessItakeahandintheaffair,”headded.
“Hallo!”continuedCaderousse,half–rising,andwithhisfistonthetable,“hallo,Edmond!doyounotseeyourfriends,orareyoutooproudtospeaktothem?”
“No,mydearfellow!”repliedDantes,“Iamnotproud,butIamhappy,andhappinessblinds,Ithink,morethanpride.”
“Ah,verywell,that’sanexplanation!”saidCaderousse.“Howdoyoudo,MadameDantes?”
Mercedescourtesiedgravely,andsaid—”Thatisnotmyname,andinmycountryitbodesillfortune,theysay,tocallayounggirlbythenameofherbetrothedbeforehebecomesherhusband.SocallmeMercedes,ifyouplease.”
“Wemustexcuseourworthyneighbor,Caderousse,”saidDantes,“heissoeasilymistaken.”
“So,then,theweddingistotakeplaceimmediately,M.Dantes,”saidDanglars,bowingtotheyoungcouple.
“Assoonaspossible,M.Danglars;to–dayallpreliminarieswillbearrangedatmyfather’s,andto–morrow,ornextdayatlatest,theweddingfestivalhereatLaReserve.
Myfriendswillbethere,Ihope;thatistosay,youareinvited,M.Danglars,andyou,Caderousse.”
“AndFernand,”saidCaderoussewithachuckle;“Fernand,too,isinvited!”
“Mywife’sbrotherismybrother,”saidEdmond;“andwe,MercedesandI,shouldbeverysorryifhewereabsentatsuchatime.”
Fernandopenedhismouthtoreply,buthisvoicediedonhislips,andhecouldnotutteraword.
“To–daythepreliminaries,to–morrowornextdaytheceremony!Youareinahurry,captain!”
“Danglars,”saidEdmond,smiling,“IwillsaytoyouasMercedessaidjustnowtoCaderousse,‘Donotgivemeatitlewhichdoesnotbelongtome’;thatmaybringmebadluck.”
“Yourpardon,”repliedDanglars,“Imerelysaidyouseemedinahurry,andwehavelotsoftime;thePharaoncannotbeunderweighagaininlessthanthreemonths.”
“Wearealwaysinahurrytobehappy,M.Danglars;forwhenwehavesufferedalongtime,wehavegreatdifficultyinbelievingingoodfortune.
Butitisnotselfishnessalonethatmakesmethusinhaste;ImustgotoParis.”
“Ah,really?—toParis!andwillitbethefirsttimeyouhaveeverbeenthere,Dantes?”
“Yes.”
“Haveyoubusinessthere?”
“Notofmyown;thelastcommissionofpoorCaptainLeclere;youknowtowhatIallude,Danglars—itissacred.Besides,Ishallonlytakethetimetogoandreturn.”
“Yes,yes,Iunderstand,”saidDanglars,andtheninalowtone,headded,“ToParis,nodoubttodelivertheletterwhichthegrandmarshalgavehim.
Ah,thislettergivesmeanidea—acapitalidea!
Ah;Dantes,myfriend,youarenotyetregisterednumberoneonboardthegoodshipPharaon;”thenturningtowardsEdmond,whowaswalkingaway,“Apleasantjourney,”hecried.
“Thankyou,”saidEdmondwithafriendlynod,andthetwoloverscontinuedontheirway,ascalmandjoyousasiftheyweretheveryelectofheaven.
Share this article to
FINISH