English
M.Noirtierwasatrueprophet,andthingsprogressedrapidly,ashehadpredicted.
EveryoneknowsthehistoryofthefamousreturnfromElba,areturnwhichwasunprecedentedinthepast,andwillprobablyremainwithoutacounterpartinthefuture.
LouisXVIII.madebutafaintattempttoparrythisunexpectedblow;themonarchyhehadscarcelyreconstructedtotteredonitsprecariousfoundation,andatasignfromtheemperortheincongruousstructureofancientprejudicesandnewideasfelltotheground.
Villefort,therefore,gainednothingsavetheking’sgratitude(whichwasratherlikelytoinjurehimatthepresenttime)andthecrossoftheLegionofHonor,whichhehadtheprudencenottowear,althoughM.deBlacashaddulyforwardedthebrevet.
Napoleonwould,doubtless,havedeprivedVillefortofhisofficehaditnotbeenforNoirtier,whowasallpowerfulatcourt,andthustheGirondinof‘93andtheSenatorof1806protectedhimwhosolatelyhadbeenhisprotector.
AllVillefort’sinfluencebarelyenabledhimtostiflethesecretDanteshadsonearlydivulged.
Theking’sprocureuralonewasdeprivedofhisoffice,beingsuspectedofroyalism.
However,scarcelywastheimperialpowerestablished—thatis,scarcelyhadtheemperorre–enteredtheTuileriesandbeguntoissueordersfromtheclosetintowhichwehaveintroducedourreaders,—hefoundonthetablethereLouisXVIII.
’shalf–filledsnuff–box,—scarcelyhadthisoccurredwhenMarseillesbegan,inspiteoftheauthorities,torekindletheflamesofcivilwar,alwayssmoulderinginthesouth,anditrequiredbutlittletoexcitethepopulacetoactsoffargreaterviolencethantheshoutsandinsultswithwhichtheyassailedtheroyalistswhenevertheyventuredabroad.
Owingtothischange,theworthyshipownerbecameatthatmoment—wewillnotsayallpowerful,becauseMorrelwasaprudentandratheratimidman,somuchso,thatmanyofthemostzealouspartisansofBonaparteaccusedhimof“moderation”—butsufficientlyinfluentialtomakeademandinfavorofDantes.
Villefortretainedhisplace,buthismarriagewasputoffuntilamorefavorableopportunity.
Iftheemperorremainedonthethrone,Gerardrequiredadifferentalliancetoaidhiscareer;ifLouisXVIII.
returned,theinfluenceofM.deSaint–Meran,likehisown,couldbevastlyincreased,andthemarriagebestillmoresuitable.
Thedeputy–procureurwas,therefore,thefirstmagistrateofMarseilles,whenonemorninghisdooropened,andM.Morrelwasannounced.
Anyoneelsewouldhavehastenedtoreceivehim;butVillefortwasamanofability,andheknewthiswouldbeasignofweakness.
HemadeMorrelwaitintheante–chamber,althoughhehadnoonewithhim,forthesimplereasonthattheking’sprocureuralwaysmakeseveryonewait,andafterpassingaquarterofanhourinreadingthepapers,heorderedM.Morreltobeadmitted.
MorrelexpectedVillefortwouldbedejected;hefoundhimashehadfoundhimsixweeksbefore,calm,firm,andfullofthatglacialpoliteness,thatmostinsurmountablebarrierwhichseparatesthewell–bredfromthevulgarman.
HehadenteredVillefort’sofficeexpectingthatthemagistratewouldtrembleatthesightofhim;onthecontrary,hefeltacoldshudderalloverhimwhenhesawVillefortsittingtherewithhiselbowonhisdesk,andhisheadleaningonhishand.
Hestoppedatthedoor;Villefortgazedathimasifhehadsomedifficultyinrecognizinghim;then,afterabriefinterval,duringwhichthehonestshipownerturnedhishatinhishands,—
“M.Morrel,Ibelieve?”saidVillefort.
“Yes,sir.”
“Comenearer,”saidthemagistrate,withapatronizingwaveofthehand,“andtellmetowhatcircumstanceIowethehonorofthisvisit.”
“Doyounotguess,monsieur?”askedMorrel.
“Notintheleast;butifIcanserveyouinanywayIshallbedelighted.”
“Everythingdependsonyou.”
“Explainyourself,pray.”
“Monsieur,”saidMorrel,recoveringhisassuranceasheproceeded,“doyourecollectthatafewdaysbeforethelandingofhismajestytheemperor,Icametointercedeforayoungman,themateofmyship,whowasaccusedofbeingconcernedincorrespondencewiththeIslandofElba?
Whatwastheotherdayacrimeisto–dayatitletofavor.
YouthenservedLouisXVIII.,andyoudidnotshowanyfavor—itwasyourduty;to–dayyouserveNapoleon,andyououghttoprotecthim—itisequallyyourduty;Icome,therefore,toaskwhathasbecomeofhim?”
Villefortbyastrongeffortsoughttocontrolhimself.“Whatishisname?”saidhe.“Tellmehisname.”
“EdmondDantes.”
Villefortwouldprobablyhaveratherstoodoppositethemuzzleofapistolatfive–and–twentypacesthanhaveheardthisnamespoken;buthedidnotblanch.
“Dantes,”repeatedhe,“EdmondDantes.”
“Yes,monsieur.”Villefortopenedalargeregister,thenwenttoatable,fromthetableturnedtohisregisters,andthen,turningtoMorrel,—
“Areyouquitesureyouarenotmistaken,monsieur?”saidhe,inthemostnaturaltoneintheworld.
HadMorrelbeenamorequick–sightedman,orbetterversedinthesematters,hewouldhavebeensurprisedattheking’sprocureuransweringhimonsuchasubject,insteadofreferringhimtothegovernorsoftheprisonortheprefectofthedepartment.
ButMorrel,disappointedinhisexpectationsofexcitingfear,wasconsciousonlyoftheother’scondescension.Villeforthadcalculatedrightly.
“No,”saidMorrel;“Iamnotmistaken.Ihaveknownhimfortenyears,thelastfourofwhichhewasinmyservice.
Donotyourecollect,Icameaboutsixweeksagotopleadforclemency,asIcometo–daytopleadforjustice.Youreceivedmeverycoldly.
Oh,theroyalistswereveryseverewiththeBonapartistsinthosedays.”
“Monsieur,”returnedVillefort,“Iwasthenaroyalist,becauseIbelievedtheBourbonsnotonlytheheirstothethrone,butthechosenofthenation.
ThemiraculousreturnofNapoleonhasconqueredme,thelegitimatemonarchishewhoislovedbyhispeople.”
“That’sright!”criedMorrel.“Iliketohearyouspeakthus,andIaugurwellforEdmondfromit.”
“Waitamoment,”saidVillefort,turningovertheleavesofaregister;“Ihaveit—asailor,whowasabouttomarryayoungCatalangirl.Irecollectnow;itwasaveryseriouscharge.”
“Howso?”
“YouknowthatwhenheleftherehewastakentothePalaisdeJustice.”
“Well?”
“ImademyreporttotheauthoritiesatParis,andaweekafterhewascarriedoff.”
“Carriedoff!”saidMorrel.“Whatcantheyhavedonewithhim?”
“Oh,hehasbeentakentoFenestrelles,toPignerol,ortotheSainte–Margueriteislands.Somefinemorninghewillreturntotakecommandofyourvessel.”
“Comewhenhewill,itshallbekeptforhim.
Buthowisitheisnotalreadyreturned?
Itseemstomethefirstcareofgovernmentshouldbetosetatlibertythosewhohavesufferedfortheiradherencetoit.”
“Donotbetoohasty,M.Morrel,”repliedVillefort.
“Theorderofimprisonmentcamefromhighauthority,andtheorderforhisliberationmustproceedfromthesamesource;and,asNapoleonhasscarcelybeenreinstatedafortnight,thelettershavenotyetbeenforwarded.”
“But,”saidMorrel,“istherenowayofexpeditingalltheseformalities—ofreleasinghimfromarrest?”
“Therehasbeennoarrest.”
“How?”
“Itissometimesessentialtogovernmenttocauseaman’sdisappearancewithoutleavinganytraces,sothatnowrittenformsordocumentsmaydefeattheirwishes.”
“ItmightbesoundertheBourbons,butatpresent”—
“Ithasalwaysbeenso,mydearMorrel,sincethereignofLouisXIV.
TheemperorismorestrictinprisondisciplinethanevenLouishimself,andthenumberofprisonerswhosenamesarenotontheregisterisincalculable.”
HadMorrelevenanysuspicions,somuchkindnesswouldhavedispelledthem.
“Well,M.deVillefort,howwouldyouadvisemetoact?”askedhe.
“Petitiontheminister.”
“Oh,Iknowwhatthatis;theministerreceivestwohundredpetitionseveryday,anddoesnotreadthree.”
“Thatistrue;buthewillreadapetitioncountersignedandpresentedbyme.”
“Andwillyouundertaketodeliverit?”
“Withthegreatestpleasure.Danteswasthenguilty,andnowheisinnocent,anditisasmuchmydutytofreehimasitwastocondemnhim.”
Villefortthusforestalledanydangerofaninquiry,which,howeverimprobableitmightbe,ifitdidtakeplacewouldleavehimdefenceless.
“ButhowshallIaddresstheminister?”
“Sitdownthere,”saidVillefort,givinguphisplacetoMorrel,“andwritewhatIdictate.”
“Willyoubesogood?”
“Certainly.Butlosenotime;wehavelosttoomuchalready.”
“Thatistrue.Onlythinkwhatthepoorfellowmayevennowbesuffering.”
Villefortshudderedatthesuggestion;buthehadgonetoofartodrawback.
DantesmustbecrushedtogratifyVillefort’sambition.
Villefortdictatedapetition,inwhich,fromanexcellentintention,nodoubt,Dantes’patrioticserviceswereexaggerated,andhewasmadeoutoneofthemostactiveagentsofNapoleon’sreturn.
Itwasevidentthatatthesightofthisdocumenttheministerwouldinstantlyreleasehim.
Thepetitionfinished,Villefortreaditaloud.
“Thatwilldo,”saidhe;“leavetheresttome.”
“Willthepetitiongosoon?”
“To–day.”
“Countersignedbyyou?”
“ThebestthingIcandowillbetocertifythetruthofthecontentsofyourpetition.”And,sittingdown,Villefortwrotethecertificateatthebottom.
“Whatmoreistobedone?”
“Iwilldowhateverisnecessary.”ThisassurancedelightedMorrel,whotookleaveofVillefort,andhastenedtoannouncetooldDantesthathewouldsoonseehisson.
AsforVillefort,insteadofsendingtoParis,hecarefullypreservedthepetitionthatsofearfullycompromisedDantes,inthehopesofaneventthatseemednotunlikely,—thatis,asecondrestoration.
Dantesremainedaprisoner,andheardnotthenoiseofthefallofLouisXVIII.
’sthrone,orthestillmoretragicdestructionoftheempire.
TwiceduringtheHundredDayshadMorrelrenewedhisdemand,andtwicehadVillefortsoothedhimwithpromises.
AtlasttherewasWaterloo,andMorrelcamenomore;hehaddoneallthatwasinhispower,andanyfreshattemptwouldonlycompromisehimselfuselessly.
LouisXVIII.remountedthethrone;Villefort,towhomMarseilleshadbecomefilledwithremorsefulmemories,soughtandobtainedthesituationofking’sprocureuratToulouse,andafortnightafterwardshemarriedMademoiselledeSaint–Meran,whosefathernowstoodhigheratcourtthanever.
AndsoDantes,aftertheHundredDaysandafterWaterloo,remainedinhisdungeon,forgottenofearthandheaven.
DanglarscomprehendedthefullextentofthewretchedfatethatoverwhelmedDantes;and,whenNapoleonreturnedtoFrance,he,afterthemannerofmediocreminds,termedthecoincidence,“adecreeofProvidence.”
ButwhenNapoleonreturnedtoParis,Danglars’heartfailedhim,andhelivedinconstantfearofDantes’returnonamissionofvengeance.
HethereforeinformedM.Morrelofhiswishtoquitthesea,andobtainedarecommendationfromhimtoaSpanishmerchant,intowhoseserviceheenteredattheendofMarch,thatis,tenortwelvedaysafterNapoleon’sreturn.
HethenleftforMadrid,andwasnomoreheardof.
FernandunderstoodnothingexceptthatDanteswasabsent.
Whathadbecomeofhimhecarednottoinquire.
Only,duringtherespitetheabsenceofhisrivalaffordedhim,hereflected,partlyonthemeansofdeceivingMercedesastothecauseofhisabsence,partlyonplansofemigrationandabduction,asfromtimetotimehesatsadandmotionlessonthesummitofCapePharo,atthespotfromwhenceMarseillesandtheCatalansarevisible,watchingfortheapparitionofayoungandhandsomeman,whowasforhimalsothemessengerofvengeance.
Fernand’smindwasmadeup;hewouldshootDantes,andthenkillhimself.
ButFernandwasmistaken;amanofhisdispositionneverkillshimself,forheconstantlyhopes.
Duringthistimetheempiremadeitslastconscription,andeverymaninFrancecapableofbearingarmsrushedtoobeythesummonsoftheemperor.
Fernanddepartedwiththerest,bearingwithhimtheterriblethoughtthatwhilehewasaway,hisrivalwouldperhapsreturnandmarryMercedes.
HadFernandreallymeanttokillhimself,hewouldhavedonesowhenhepartedfromMercedes.
Hisdevotion,andthecompassionheshowedforhermisfortunes,producedtheeffecttheyalwaysproduceonnobleminds—MercedeshadalwayshadasincereregardforFernand,andthiswasnowstrengthenedbygratitude.
“Mybrother,”saidsheassheplacedhisknapsackonhisshoulders,“becarefulofyourself,forifyouarekilled,Ishallbealoneintheworld.”
ThesewordscarriedarayofhopeintoFernand’sheart.
ShouldDantesnotreturn,Mercedesmightonedaybehis.
Mercedeswasleftalonefacetofacewiththevastplainthathadneverseemedsobarren,andtheseathathadneverseemedsovast.
BathedintearsshewanderedabouttheCatalanvillage.
Sometimesshestoodmuteandmotionlessasastatue,lookingtowardsMarseilles,atothertimesgazingonthesea,anddebatingastowhetheritwerenotbettertocastherselfintotheabyssoftheocean,andthusendherwoes.
Itwasnotwantofcouragethatpreventedherputtingthisresolutionintoexecution;butherreligiousfeelingscametoheraidandsavedher.
Caderoussewas,likeFernand,enrolledinthearmy,but,beingmarriedandeightyearsolder,hewasmerelysenttothefrontier.
OldDantes,whowasonlysustainedbyhope,lostallhopeatNapoleon’sdownfall.
Fivemonthsafterhehadbeenseparatedfromhisson,andalmostatthehourofhisarrest,hebreathedhislastinMercedes’arms.
M.Morrelpaidtheexpensesofhisfuneral,andafewsmalldebtsthepooroldmanhadcontracted.
Therewasmorethanbenevolenceinthisaction;therewascourage;thesouthwasaflame,andtoassist,evenonhisdeath–bed,thefatherofsodangerousaBonapartistasDantes,wasstigmatizedasacrime.
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