English
NosoonerhadVillefortleftthesalon,thanheassumedthegraveairofamanwhoholdsthebalanceoflifeanddeathinhishands.
Now,inspiteofthemobilityofhiscountenance,thecommandofwhich,likeafinishedactor,hehadcarefullystudiedbeforetheglass,itwasbynomeanseasyforhimtoassumeanairofjudicialseverity.
Excepttherecollectionofthelineofpoliticshisfatherhadadopted,andwhichmightinterfere,unlessheactedwiththegreatestprudence,withhisowncareer,GerarddeVillefortwasashappyasamancouldbe.
Alreadyrich,heheldahighofficialsituation,thoughonlytwenty–seven.
Hewasabouttomarryayoungandcharmingwoman,whomheloved,notpassionately,butreasonably,asbecameadeputyattorneyoftheking;andbesidesherpersonalattractions,whichwereverygreat,MademoiselledeSaint–Meran’sfamilypossessedconsiderablepoliticalinfluence,whichtheywould,ofcourse,exertinhisfavor.
Thedowryofhiswifeamountedtofiftythousandcrowns,andhehad,besides,theprospectofseeingherfortuneincreasedtohalfamillionatherfather’sdeath.
TheseconsiderationsnaturallygaveVillefortafeelingofsuchcompletefelicitythathismindwasfairlydazzledinitscontemplation.
Atthedoorhemetthecommissaryofpolice,whowaswaitingforhim.
ThesightofthisofficerrecalledVillefortfromthethirdheaventoearth;hecomposedhisface,aswehavebeforedescribed,andsaid,“Ihavereadtheletter,sir,andyouhaveactedrightlyinarrestingthisman;nowinformmewhatyouhavediscoveredconcerninghimandtheconspiracy.”
“Weknownothingasyetoftheconspiracy,monsieur;allthepapersfoundhavebeensealedupandplacedonyourdesk.
TheprisonerhimselfisnamedEdmondDantes,mateonboardthethree–masterthePharaon,tradingincottonwithAlexandriaandSmyrna,andbelongingtoMorrel&Son,ofMarseilles.”
“Beforeheenteredthemerchantservice,hadheeverservedinthemarines?”
“Oh,no,monsieur,heisveryyoung.”
“Howold?”
“Nineteenortwentyatthemost.”
Atthismoment,andasVilleforthadarrivedatthecorneroftheRuedesConseils,aman,whoseemedtohavebeenwaitingforhim,approached;itwasM.Morrel.
“Ah,M.deVillefort,”criedhe,“Iamdelightedtoseeyou.Someofyourpeoplehavecommittedthestrangestmistake—theyhavejustarrestedEdmondDantes,mateofmyvessel.”
“Iknowit,monsieur,”repliedVillefort,“andIamnowgoingtoexaminehim.”
“Oh,”saidMorrel,carriedawaybyhisfriendship,“youdonotknowhim,andIdo.
Heisthemostestimable,themosttrustworthycreatureintheworld,andIwillventuretosay,thereisnotabetterseamaninallthemerchantservice.
Oh,M.deVillefort,Ibeseechyourindulgenceforhim.”
Villefort,aswehaveseen,belongedtothearistocraticpartyatMarseilles,Morreltotheplebeian;thefirstwasaroyalist,theothersuspectedofBonapartism.
VillefortlookeddisdainfullyatMorrel,andreplied,—
“Youareaware,monsieur,thatamanmaybeestimableandtrustworthyinprivatelife,andthebestseamaninthemerchantservice,andyetbe,politicallyspeaking,agreatcriminal.Isitnottrue?”
Themagistratelaidemphasisonthesewords,asifhewishedtoapplythemtotheownerhimself,whilehiseyesseemedtoplungeintotheheartofonewho,intercedingforanother,hadhimselfneedofindulgence.
Morrelreddened,forhisownconsciencewasnotquiteclearonpolitics;besides,whatDanteshadtoldhimofhisinterviewwiththegrand–marshal,andwhattheemperorhadsaidtohim,embarrassedhim.Hereplied,however,—
“Ientreatyou,M.deVillefort,be,asyoualwaysare,kindandequitable,andgivehimbacktoussoon.”Thisgiveussoundedrevolutionaryinthedeputy’sears.
“Ah,ah,”murmuredhe,“isDantesthenamemberofsomeCarbonarisociety,thathisprotectorthusemploysthecollectiveform?
Hewas,ifIrecollect,arrestedinatavern,incompanywithagreatmanyothers.”
Thenheadded,“Monsieur,youmayrestassuredIshallperformmydutyimpartially,andthatifhebeinnocentyoushallnothaveappealedtomeinvain;shouldhe,however,beguilty,inthispresentepoch,impunitywouldfurnishadangerousexample,andImustdomyduty.”
Ashehadnowarrivedatthedoorofhisownhouse,whichadjoinedthePalaisdeJustice,heentered,afterhaving,coldlysalutedtheshipowner,whostood,asifpetrified,onthespotwhereVilleforthadlefthim.
Theante–chamberwasfullofpoliceagentsandgendarmes,inthemidstofwhom,carefullywatched,butcalmandsmiling,stoodtheprisoner.
Villeforttraversedtheante–chamber,castasideglanceatDantes,andtakingapacketwhichagendarmeofferedhim,disappeared,saying,“Bringintheprisoner.”
RapidashadbeenVillefort’sglance,ithadservedtogivehimanideaofthemanhewasabouttointerrogate.
Hehadrecognizedintelligenceinthehighforehead,courageinthedarkeyeandbentbrow,andfranknessinthethicklipsthatshowedasetofpearlyteeth.
Villefort’sfirstimpressionwasfavorable;buthehadbeensooftenwarnedtomistrustfirstimpulses,thatheappliedthemaximtotheimpression,forgettingthedifferencebetweenthetwowords.
Hestifled,therefore,thefeelingsofcompassionthatwererising,composedhisfeatures,andsatdown,grimandsombre,athisdesk.AninstantafterDantesentered.
Hewaspale,butcalmandcollected,andsalutinghisjudgewitheasypoliteness,lookedroundforaseat,asifhehadbeeninM.Morrel’ssalon.
ItwasthenthatheencounteredforthefirsttimeVillefort’slook,—thatlookpeculiartothemagistrate,who,whileseemingtoreadthethoughtsofothers,betraysnothingofhisown.
“Whoandwhatareyou?”demandedVillefort,turningoverapileofpapers,containinginformationrelativetotheprisoner,thatapoliceagenthadgiventohimonhisentry,andthat,already,inanhour’stime,hadswelledtovoluminousproportions,thankstothecorruptespionageofwhich“theaccused”isalwaysmadethevictim.
“MynameisEdmondDantes,”repliedtheyoungmancalmly;“IammateofthePharaon,belongingtoMessrs.Morrel&Son.”
“Yourage?”continuedVillefort.
“Nineteen,”returnedDantes.
“Whatwereyoudoingatthemomentyouwerearrested?”
“Iwasatthefestivalofmymarriage,monsieur,”saidtheyoungman,hisvoiceslightlytremulous,sogreatwasthecontrastbetweenthathappymomentandthepainfulceremonyhewasnowundergoing;sogreatwasthecontrastbetweenthesombreaspectofM.deVillefortandtheradiantfaceofMercedes.
“Youwereatthefestivalofyourmarriage?”saidthedeputy,shudderinginspiteofhimself.
“Yes,monsieur;IamonthepointofmarryingayounggirlIhavebeenattachedtoforthreeyears.”
Villefort,impassiveashewas,wasstruckwiththiscoincidence;andthetremulousvoiceofDantes,surprisedinthemidstofhishappiness,struckasympatheticchordinhisownbosom—healsowasonthepointofbeingmarried,andhewassummonedfromhisownhappinesstodestroythatofanother.
“Thisphilosophicreflection,”thoughthe,“willmakeagreatsensationatM.deSaint–Meran’s;”andhearrangedmentally,whileDantesawaitedfurtherquestions,theantithesisbywhichoratorsoftencreateareputationforeloquence.
Whenthisspeechwasarranged,VillefortturnedtoDantes.
“Goon,sir,”saidhe.
“Whatwouldyouhavemesay?”
“Givealltheinformationinyourpower.”
“Tellmeonwhichpointyoudesireinformation,andIwilltellallIknow;only,”addedhe,withasmile,“IwarnyouIknowverylittle.”
“Haveyouservedundertheusurper?”
“IwasabouttobemusteredintotheRoyalMarineswhenhefell.”
“Itisreportedyourpoliticalopinionsareextreme,”saidVillefort,whohadneverheardanythingofthekind,butwasnotsorrytomakethisinquiry,asifitwereanaccusation.
“Mypoliticalopinions!”repliedDantes.“Alas,sir,Ineverhadanyopinions.
Iamhardlynineteen;Iknownothing;Ihavenoparttoplay.
IfIobtainthesituationIdesire,IshalloweittoM.Morrel.
Thusallmyopinions—Iwillnotsaypublic,butprivate—areconfinedtothesethreesentiment,—Ilovemyfather,IrespectM.Morrel,andIadoreMercedes.
This,sir,isallIcantellyou,andyouseehowuninterestingitis.”
AsDantesspoke,Villefortgazedathisingenuousandopencountenance,andrecollectedthewordsofRenee,who,withoutknowingwhotheculpritwas,hadbesoughthisindulgenceforhim.
Withthedeputy’sknowledgeofcrimeandcriminals,everywordtheyoungmanutteredconvincedhimmoreandmoreofhisinnocence.
Thislad,forhewasscarcelyaman,—simple,natural,eloquentwiththateloquenceoftheheartneverfoundwhensoughtfor;fullofaffectionforeverybody,becausehewashappy,andbecausehappinessrenderseventhewickedgood—extendedhisaffectioneventohisjudge,spiteofVillefort’sseverelookandsternaccent.Dantesseemedfullofkindness.
“Pardieu,”saidVillefort,“heisanoblefellow.
IhopeIshallgainRenee’sfavoreasilybyobeyingthefirstcommandsheeverimposedonme.
Ishallhaveatleastapressureofthehandinpublic,andasweetkissinprivate.”
Fullofthisidea,Villefort’sfacebecamesojoyous,thatwhenheturnedtoDantes,thelatter,whohadwatchedthechangeonhisphysiognomy,wassmilingalso.
“Sir,”saidVillefort,“haveyouanyenemies,atleast,thatyouknow.”
“Ihaveenemies?”repliedDantes;“mypositionisnotsufficientlyelevatedforthat.
Asformydisposition,thatis,perhaps,somewhattoohasty;butIhavestriventorepressit.
Ihavehadtenortwelvesailorsunderme,andifyouquestionthem,theywilltellyouthattheyloveandrespectme,notasafather,forIamtooyoung,butasanelderbrother.”
“Butyoumayhaveexcitedjealousy.Youareabouttobecomecaptainatnineteen—anelevatedpost;youareabouttomarryaprettygirl,wholovesyou;andthesetwopiecesofgoodfortunemayhaveexcitedtheenvyofsomeone.”
“Youareright;youknowmenbetterthanIdo,andwhatyousaymaypossiblybethecase,Iconfess;butifsuchpersonsareamongmyacquaintancesIprefernottoknowit,becausethenIshouldbeforcedtohatethem.”
“Youarewrong;youshouldalwaysstrivetoseeclearlyaroundyou.
Youseemaworthyyoungman;Iwilldepartfromthestrictlineofmydutytoaidyouindiscoveringtheauthorofthisaccusation.
Hereisthepaper;doyouknowthewriting?”
Ashespoke,Villefortdrewtheletterfromhispocket,andpresentedittoDantes.Dantesreadit.
Acloudpassedoverhisbrowashesaid,—
“No,monsieur,Idonotknowthewriting,andyetitistolerablyplain.Whoeverdiditwriteswell.
Iamveryfortunate,”addedhe,lookinggratefullyatVillefort,“tobeexaminedbysuchamanasyou;forthisenviouspersonisarealenemy.”
Andbytherapidglancethattheyoungman’seyesshotforth,Villefortsawhowmuchenergylayhidbeneaththismildness.
“Now,”saidthedeputy,“answermefrankly,notasaprisonertoajudge,butasonemantoanotherwhotakesaninterestinhim,whattruthisthereintheaccusationcontainedinthisanonymousletter?”
AndVillefortthrewdisdainfullyonhisdesktheletterDanteshadjustgivenbacktohim.
“Noneatall.Iwilltellyoutherealfacts.Iswearbymyhonorasasailor,bymyloveforMercedes,bythelifeofmyfather”—
“Speak,monsieur,”saidVillefort.Then,internally,“IfReneecouldseeme,Ihopeshewouldbesatisfied,andwouldnolongercallmeadecapitator.”
“Well,whenwequittedNaples,CaptainLeclerewasattackedwithabrainfever.
Aswehadnodoctoronboard,andhewassoanxioustoarriveatElba,thathewouldnottouchatanyotherport,hisdisorderrosetosuchaheight,thatattheendofthethirdday,feelinghewasdying,hecalledmetohim.
‘MydearDantes,’saidhe,‘sweartoperformwhatIamgoingtotellyou,foritisamatterofthedeepestimportance.’
”’Iswear,captain,’repliedI.
”’Well,asaftermydeaththecommanddevolvesonyouasmate,assumethecommand,andbearupfortheIslandofElba,disembarkatPorto–Ferrajo,askforthegrand–marshal,givehimthisletter—perhapstheywillgiveyouanotherletter,andchargeyouwithacommission.
YouwillaccomplishwhatIwastohavedone,andderiveallthehonorandprofitfromit.’
”’Iwilldoit,captain;butperhapsIshallnotbeadmittedtothegrandmarshal’spresenceaseasilyasyouexpect?’
”’Hereisaringthatwillobtainaudienceofhim,andremoveeverydifficulty,’saidthecaptain.Atthesewordshegavemearing.
Itwastime—twohoursafterhewasdelirious;thenextdayhedied.”
“Andwhatdidyoudothen?”
“WhatIoughttohavedone,andwhateveryonewouldhavedoneinmyplace.
Everywherethelastrequestsofadyingmanaresacred;butwithasailorthelastrequestsofhissuperiorarecommands.
IsailedfortheIslandofElba,whereIarrivedthenextday;Iorderedeverybodytoremainonboard,andwentonshorealone.
AsIhadexpected,Ifoundsomedifficultyinobtainingaccesstothegrand–marshal;butIsenttheringIhadreceivedfromthecaptaintohim,andwasinstantlyadmitted.
HequestionedmeconcerningCaptainLeclere’sdeath;and,asthelatterhadtoldme,gavemealettertocarryontoapersoninParis.
Iundertookitbecauseitwaswhatmycaptainhadbademedo.
Ilandedhere,regulatedtheaffairsofthevessel,andhastenedtovisitmyaffiancedbride,whomIfoundmorelovelythanever.
ThankstoM.Morrel,alltheformsweregotover;inawordIwas,asItoldyou,atmymarriage–feast;andIshouldhavebeenmarriedinanhour,andto–morrowIintendedtostartforParis,hadInotbeenarrestedonthischargewhichyouaswellasInowseetobeunjust.”
“Ah,”saidVillefort,“thisseemstomethetruth.
Ifyouhavebeenculpable,itwasimprudence,andthisimprudencewasinobediencetotheordersofyourcaptain.
GiveupthisletteryouhavebroughtfromElba,andpassyourwordyouwillappearshouldyouberequired,andgoandrejoinyourfriends.
“Iamfree,then,sir?”criedDantesjoyfully.
“Yes;butfirstgivemethisletter.”
“Youhaveitalready,foritwastakenfrommewithsomeotherswhichIseeinthatpacket.”
“Stopamoment,”saidthedeputy,asDantestookhishatandgloves.“Towhomisitaddressed?”
“ToMonsieurNoirtier,RueCoq–Heron,Paris.”
Hadathunderboltfallenintotheroom,Villefortcouldnothavebeenmorestupefied.
Hesankintohisseat,andhastilyturningoverthepacket,drewforththefatalletter,atwhichheglancedwithanexpressionofterror.
“M.Noirtier,RueCoq–Heron,No.13,”murmuredhe,growingstillpaler.
“Yes,”saidDantes;“doyouknowhim?”
“No,”repliedVillefort;“afaithfulservantofthekingdoesnotknowconspirators.”
“Itisaconspiracy,then?”askedDantes,whoafterbelievinghimselffree,nowbegantofeelatenfoldalarm.
“Ihave,however,alreadytoldyou,sir,Iwasentirelyignorantofthecontentsoftheletter.”
“Yes;butyouknewthenameofthepersontowhomitwasaddressed,”saidVillefort.
“Iwasforcedtoreadtheaddresstoknowtowhomtogiveit.”
“Haveyoushownthislettertoanyone?”askedVillefort,becomingstillmorepale.
“Tonoone,onmyhonor.”
“EverybodyisignorantthatyouarethebearerofaletterfromtheIslandofElba,andaddressedtoM.Noirtier?”
“Everybody,exceptthepersonwhogaveittome.”
“Andthatwastoomuch,fartoomuch,”murmuredVillefort.
Villefort’sbrowdarkenedmoreandmore,hiswhitelipsandclinchedteethfilledDanteswithapprehension.
Afterreadingtheletter,Villefortcoveredhisfacewithhishands.
“Oh,”saidDantestimidly,“whatisthematter?”Villefortmadenoanswer,butraisedhisheadattheexpirationofafewseconds,andagainperusedtheletter.
“Andyousaythatyouareignorantofthecontentsofthisletter?”
“Igiveyoumywordofhonor,sir,”saidDantes;“butwhatisthematter?Youareill—shallIringforassistance?—shallIcall?”
“No,”saidVillefort,risinghastily;“staywhereyouare.Itisformetogiveordershere,andnotyou.”
“Monsieur,”repliedDantesproudly,“itwasonlytosummonassistanceforyou.”
“Iwantnone;itwasatemporaryindisposition.Attendtoyourself;answerme.”
Danteswaited,expectingaquestion,butinvain.
Villefortfellbackonhischair,passedhishandoverhisbrow,moistwithperspiration,and,forthethirdtime,readtheletter.
“Oh,ifheknowsthecontentsofthis!”murmuredhe,“andthatNoirtieristhefatherofVillefort,Iamlost!”AndhefixedhiseyesuponEdmondasifhewouldhavepenetratedhisthoughts.
“Oh,itisimpossibletodoubtit,”criedhe,suddenly.
“Inheaven’sname!”criedtheunhappyyoungman,“ifyoudoubtme,questionme;Iwillansweryou.”Villefortmadeaviolenteffort,andinatonehestrovetorenderfirm,—
“Sir,”saidhe,“Iamnolongerable,asIhadhoped,torestoreyouimmediatelytoliberty;beforedoingso,Imustconsultthetrialjustice;whatmyownfeelingisyoualreadyknow.”
“Oh,monsieur,”criedDantes,“youhavebeenratherafriendthanajudge.”
“Well,Imustdetainyousometimelonger,butIwillstrivetomakeitasshortaspossible.
Theprincipalchargeagainstyouisthisletter,andyousee”—Villefortapproachedthefire,castitin,andwaiteduntilitwasentirelyconsumed.
“Yousee,Idestroyit?”
“Oh,”exclaimedDantes,“youaregoodnessitself.”
“Listen,”continuedVillefort;“youcannowhaveconfidenceinmeafterwhatIhavedone.”
“Oh,command,andIwillobey.”
“Listen;thisisnotacommand,butadviceIgiveyou.”
“Speak,andIwillfollowyouradvice.”
“IshalldetainyouuntilthiseveninginthePalaisdeJustice.Shouldanyoneelseinterrogateyou,saytohimwhatyouhavesaidtome,butdonotbreatheawordofthisletter.”
“Ipromise.”ItwasVillefortwhoseemedtoentreat,andtheprisonerwhoreassuredhim.
“Yousee,”continuedhe,glancingtowardthegrate,wherefragmentsofburntpaperflutteredintheflames,“theletterisdestroyed;youandIaloneknowofitsexistence;shouldyou,therefore,bequestioned,denyallknowledgeofit—denyitboldly,andyouaresaved.”
“Besatisfied;Iwilldenyit.”
“Itwastheonlyletteryouhad?”
“Itwas.”
“Swearit.”
“Iswearit.”
Villefortrang.Apoliceagententered.Villefortwhisperedsomewordsinhisear,towhichtheofficerrepliedbyamotionofhishead.
“Followhim,”saidVilleforttoDantes.DantessalutedVillefortandretired.HardlyhadthedoorclosedwhenVillefortthrewhimselfhalf–faintingintoachair.
“Alas,alas,”murmuredhe,“iftheprocureurhimselfhadbeenatMarseillesIshouldhavebeenruined.
Thisaccursedletterwouldhavedestroyedallmyhopes.
Oh,myfather,mustyourpastcareeralwaysinterferewithmysuccesses?”
Suddenlyalightpassedoverhisface,asmileplayedroundhissetmouth,andhishaggardeyeswerefixedinthought.
“Thiswilldo,”saidhe,“andfromthisletter,whichmighthaveruinedme,Iwillmakemyfortune.NowtotheworkIhaveinhand.”
Andafterhavingassuredhimselfthattheprisonerwasgone,thedeputyprocureurhastenedtothehouseofhisbetrothed.
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