English
AyearafterLouisXVIII.’srestoration,avisitwasmadebytheinspector–generalofprisons.
Dantesinhiscellheardthenoiseofpreparation,—soundsthatatthedepthwherehelaywouldhavebeeninaudibletoanybuttheearofaprisoner,whocouldhearthesplashofthedropofwaterthateveryhourfellfromtheroofofhisdungeon.
Heguessedsomethinguncommonwaspassingamongtheliving;buthehadsolongceasedtohaveanyintercoursewiththeworld,thathelookeduponhimselfasdead.
Theinspectorvisited,oneafteranother,thecellsanddungeonsofseveraloftheprisoners,whosegoodbehaviororstupidityrecommendedthemtotheclemencyofthegovernment.
Heinquiredhowtheywerefed,andiftheyhadanyrequesttomake.
Theuniversalresponsewas,thatthefarewasdetestable,andthattheywantedtobesetfree.
Theinspectoraskediftheyhadanythingelsetoaskfor.Theyshooktheirheads.Whatcouldtheydesirebeyondtheirliberty?Theinspectorturnedsmilinglytothegovernor.
“Idonotknowwhatreasongovernmentcanassignfortheseuselessvisits;whenyouseeoneprisoner,youseeall,—alwaysthesamething,—illfedandinnocent.Arethereanyothers?”
“Yes;thedangerousandmadprisonersareinthedungeons.”
“Letusvisitthem,”saidtheinspectorwithanairoffatigue.“Wemustplaythefarcetotheend.Letusseethedungeons.”
“Letusfirstsendfortwosoldiers,”saidthegovernor.
“Theprisonerssometimes,throughmereuneasinessoflife,andinordertobesentencedtodeath,commitactsofuselessviolence,andyoumightfallavictim.”
“Takeallneedfulprecautions,”repliedtheinspector.
Twosoldierswereaccordinglysentfor,andtheinspectordescendedastairway,sofoul,sohumid,sodark,astobeloathsometosight,smell,andrespiration.
“Oh,”criedtheinspector,“whocanlivehere?”
“Amostdangerousconspirator,amanweareorderedtokeepthemoststrictwatchover,asheisdaringandresolute.”
“Heisalone?”
“Certainly.”
“Howlonghishebeenthere?”
“Nearlyayear.”
“Washeplacedherewhenhefirstarrived?”
“No;notuntilheattemptedtokilltheturnkey,whotookhisfoodtohim.”
“Tokilltheturnkey?”
“Yes,theveryonewhoislightingus.Isitnottrue,Antoine?”askedthegovernor.
“Trueenough;hewantedtokillme!”returnedtheturnkey.
“Hemustbemad,”saidtheinspector.
“Heisworsethanthat,—heisadevil!”returnedtheturnkey.
“ShallIcomplainofhim?”demandedtheinspector.
“Oh,no;itisuseless.Besides,heisalmostmadnow,andinanotheryearhewillbequiteso.”
“Somuchthebetterforhim,—hewillsufferless,”saidtheinspector.Hewas,asthisremarkshows,amanfullofphilanthropy,andineverywayfitforhisoffice.
“Youareright,sir,”repliedthegovernor;“andthisremarkprovesthatyouhavedeeplyconsideredthesubject.
Nowwehaveinadungeonabouttwentyfeetdistant,andtowhichyoudescendbyanotherstair,anabbe,formerlyleaderofapartyinItaly,whohasbeenheresince1811,andin1813hewentmad,andthechangeisastonishing.
Heusedtoweep,henowlaughs;hegrewthin,henowgrowsfat.
Youhadbetterseehim,forhismadnessisamusing.”
“Iwillseethemboth,”returnedtheinspector;“Imustconscientiouslyperformmyduty.”Thiswastheinspector’sfirstvisit;hewishedtodisplayhisauthority.
“Letusvisitthisonefirst,”addedhe.
“Byallmeans,”repliedthegovernor,andhesignedtotheturnkeytoopenthedoor.
Atthesoundofthekeyturninginthelock,andthecreakingofthehinges,Dantes,whowascrouchedinacornerofthedungeon,whencehecouldseetherayoflightthatcamethroughanarrowirongratingabove,raisedhishead.
Seeingastranger,escortedbytwoturnkeysholdingtorchesandaccompaniedbytwosoldiers,andtowhomthegovernorspokebareheaded,Dantes,whoguessedthetruth,andthatthemomenttoaddresshimselftothesuperiorauthoritieswascome,sprangforwardwithclaspedhands.
Thesoldiersinterposedtheirbayonets,fortheythoughtthathewasabouttoattacktheinspector,andthelatterrecoiledtwoorthreesteps.
Dantessawthathewaslookeduponasdangerous.
Then,infusingallthehumilityhepossessedintohiseyesandvoice,headdressedtheinspector,andsoughttoinspirehimwithpity.
Theinspectorlistenedattentively;then,turningtothegovernor,observed,“Hewillbecomereligious—heisalreadymoregentle;heisafraid,andretreatedbeforethebayonets—madmenarenotafraidofanything;ImadesomecuriousobservationsonthisatCharenton.”
Then,turningtotheprisoner,“Whatisityouwant?”saidhe.
“IwanttoknowwhatcrimeIhavecommitted—tobetried;andifIamguilty,tobeshot;ifinnocent,tobesetatliberty.”
“Areyouwellfed?”saidtheinspector.
“Ibelieveso;Idon’tknow;it’sofnoconsequence.
Whatmattersreally,notonlytome,buttoofficersofjusticeandtheking,isthataninnocentmanshouldlanguishinprison,thevictimofaninfamousdenunciation,todieherecursinghisexecutioners.”
“Youareveryhumbleto–day,”remarkedthegovernor;“youarenotsoalways;theotherday,forinstance,whenyoutriedtokilltheturnkey.”
“Itistrue,sir,andIbeghispardon,forhehisalwaysbeenverygoodtome,butIwasmad.”
“Andyouarenotsoanylonger?”
“No;captivityhassubduedme—Ihavebeenheresolong.”
“Solong?—whenwereyouarrested,then?”askedtheinspector.
“The28thofFebruary,1815,athalf–pasttwointheafternoon.”
“To–dayisthe30thofJuly,1816,—whyitisbutseventeenmonths.”
“Onlyseventeenmonths,”repliedDantes.
“Oh,youdonotknowwhatisseventeenmonthsinprison!
—seventeenagesrather,especiallytoamanwho,likeme,hadarrivedatthesummitofhisambition—toaman,who,likeme,wasonthepointofmarryingawomanheadored,whosawanhonorablecareeropenedbeforehim,andwholosesallinaninstant—whoseeshisprospectsdestroyed,andisignorantofthefateofhisaffiancedwife,andwhetherhisagedfatherbestillliving!
Seventeenmonthscaptivitytoasailoraccustomedtotheboundlessocean,isaworsepunishmentthanhumancrimeevermerited.
Havepityonme,then,andaskforme,notintelligence,butatrial;notpardon,butaverdict—atrial,sir,Iaskonlyforatrial;that,surely,cannotbedeniedtoonewhoisaccused!”
“Weshallsee,”saidtheinspector;then,turningtothegovernor,“Onmyword,thepoordeviltouchesme.Youmustshowmetheproofsagainsthim.”
“Certainly;butyouwillfindterriblecharges.”
“Monsieur,”continuedDantes,“Iknowitisnotinyourpowertoreleaseme;butyoucanpleadforme—youcanhavemetried—andthatisallIask.
Letmeknowmycrime,andthereasonwhyIwascondemned.Uncertaintyisworsethanall.”
“Goonwiththelights,”saidtheinspector.
“Monsieur,”criedDantes,“Icantellbyyourvoiceyouaretouchedwithpity;tellmeatleasttohope.”
“Icannottellyouthat,”repliedtheinspector;“Icanonlypromisetoexamineintoyourcase.”
“Oh,Iamfree—thenIamsaved!”
“Whoarrestedyou?”
“M.Villefort.Seehim,andhearwhathesays.”
“M.VillefortisnolongeratMarseilles;heisnowatToulouse.”
“Iamnolongersurprisedatmydetention,”murmuredDantes,“sincemyonlyprotectorisremoved.”
“HadM.deVillefortanycauseofpersonaldisliketoyou?”
“None;onthecontrary,hewasverykindtome.”
“Ican,then,relyonthenoteshehasleftconcerningyou?”
“Entirely.”
“Thatiswell;waitpatiently,then.”Dantesfellonhisknees,andprayedearnestly.Thedoorclosed;butthistimeafreshinmatewasleftwithDantes—hope.
“Willyouseetheregisteratonce,”askedthegovernor,“orproceedtotheothercell?”
“Letusvisitthemall,”saidtheinspector.“IfIoncewentupthosestairs.Ishouldneverhavethecouragetocomedownagain.”
“Ah,thisoneisnotliketheother,andhismadnessislessaffectingthanthisone’sdisplayofreason.”
“Whatishisfolly?”
“Hefancieshepossessesanimmensetreasure.
Thefirstyearheofferedgovernmentamillionoffrancsforhisrelease;thesecond,two;thethird,three;andsoonprogressively.
Heisnowinhisfifthyearofcaptivity;hewillasktospeaktoyouinprivate,andofferyoufivemillions.”
“Howcurious!—whatishisname?”
“TheAbbeFaria.”
“No.27,”saidtheinspector.
“Itishere;unlockthedoor,Antoine.”Theturnkeyobeyed,andtheinspectorgazedcuriouslyintothechamberofthe“madabbe.”
Inthecentreofthecell,inacircletracedwithafragmentofplasterdetachedfromthewall,satamanwhosetatteredgarmentsscarcelycoveredhim.
Hewasdrawinginthiscirclegeometricallines,andseemedasmuchabsorbedinhisproblemasArchimedeswaswhenthesoldierofMarcellusslewhim.
Hedidnotmoveatthesoundofthedoor,andcontinuedhiscalculationsuntiltheflashofthetorcheslightedupwithanunwontedglarethesombrewallsofhiscell;then,raisinghishead,heperceivedwithastonishmentthenumberofpersonspresent.
Hehastilyseizedthecoverletofhisbed,andwrappeditroundhim.
“Whatisityouwant?”saidtheinspector.
“I,monsieur,”repliedtheabbewithanairofsurprise—”Iwantnothing.”
“Youdonotunderstand,”continuedtheinspector;“Iamsentherebygovernmenttovisittheprison,andheartherequestsoftheprisoners.”
“Oh,thatisdifferent,”criedtheabbe;“andweshallunderstandeachother,Ihope.”
“There,now,”whisperedthegovernor,“itisjustasItoldyou.”
“Monsieur,”continuedtheprisoner,“IamtheAbbeFaria,bornatRome.
IwasfortwentyyearsCardinalSpada’ssecretary;Iwasarrested,why,Iknownot,towardthebeginningoftheyear1811;sincethenIhavedemandedmylibertyfromtheItalianandFrenchgovernment.”
“WhyfromtheFrenchgovernment?”
“BecauseIwasarrestedatPiombino,andIpresumethat,likeMilanandFlorence,PiombinohasbecomethecapitalofsomeFrenchdepartment.”
“Ah,”saidtheinspector,“youhavenotthelatestnewsfromItaly?”
“MyinformationdatesfromthedayonwhichIwasarrested,”returnedtheAbbeFaria;“andastheemperorhadcreatedthekingdomofRomeforhisinfantson,IpresumethathehasrealizedthedreamofMachiavelliandCaesarBorgia,whichwastomakeItalyaunitedkingdom.”
“Monsieur,”returnedtheinspector,“providencehaschangedthisgiganticplanyouadvocatesowarmly.”
“ItistheonlymeansofrenderingItalystrong,happy,andindependent.”
“Verypossibly;onlyIamnotcometodiscusspolitics,buttoinquireifyouhaveanythingtoaskortocomplainof.”
“Thefoodisthesameasinotherprisons,—thatis,verybad;thelodgingisveryunhealthful,but,onthewhole,passableforadungeon;butitisnotthatwhichIwishtospeakof,butasecretIhavetorevealofthegreatestimportance.”
“Wearecomingtothepoint,”whisperedthegovernor.
“ItisforthatreasonIamdelightedtoseeyou,”continuedtheabbe,“althoughyouhavedisturbedmeinamostimportantcalculation,which,ifitsucceeded,wouldpossiblychangeNewton’ssystem.
Couldyouallowmeafewwordsinprivate.”
“WhatdidItellyou?”saidthegovernor.
“Youknewhim,”returnedtheinspectorwithasmile.
“Whatyouaskisimpossible,monsieur,”continuedhe,addressingFaria.
“But,”saidtheabbe,“Iwouldspeaktoyouofalargesum,amountingtofivemillions.”
“Theverysumyounamed,”whisperedtheinspectorinhisturn.
“However,”continuedFaria,seeingthattheinspectorwasabouttodepart,“itisnotabsolutelynecessaryforustobealone;thegovernorcanbepresent.”
“Unfortunately,”saidthegovernor,“Iknowbeforehandwhatyouareabouttosay;itconcernsyourtreasures,doesitnot?”
Fariafixedhiseyesonhimwithanexpressionthatwouldhaveconvincedanyoneelseofhissanity.
“Ofcourse,”saidhe;“ofwhatelseshouldIspeak?”
“Mr.Inspector,”continuedthegovernor,“Icantellyouthestoryaswellashe,forithasbeendinnedinmyearsforthelastfourorfiveyears.”
“Thatproves,”returnedtheabbe,“thatyouarelikethoseofHolyWrit,whohavingearshearnot,andhavingeyesseenot.”
“Mydearsir,thegovernmentisrichanddoesnotwantyourtreasures,”repliedtheinspector;“keepthemuntilyouareliberated.”Theabbe’seyesglistened;heseizedtheinspector’shand.
“ButwhatifIamnotliberated,”criedhe,“andamdetainedhereuntilmydeath?thistreasurewillbelost.Hadnotgovernmentbetterprofitbyit?
Iwilloffersixmillions,andIwillcontentmyselfwiththerest,iftheywillonlygivememyliberty.”
“Onmyword,”saidtheinspectorinalowtone,“hadInotbeentoldbeforehandthatthismanwasmad,Ishouldbelievewhathesays.”
“Iamnotmad,”repliedFaria,withthatacutenessofhearingpeculiartoprisoners.
“ThetreasureIspeakofreallyexists,andIoffertosignanagreementwithyou,inwhichIpromisetoleadyoutothespotwhereyoushalldig;andifIdeceiveyou,bringmehereagain,—Iasknomore.”
Thegovernorlaughed.“Isthespotfarfromhere?”
“Ahundredleagues.”
“Itisnotill–planned,”saidthegovernor.
“Ifalltheprisonerstookitintotheirheadstotravelahundredleagues,andtheirguardiansconsentedtoaccompanythem,theywouldhaveacapitalchanceofescaping.”
“Theschemeiswellknown,”saidtheinspector;“andtheabbe’splanhasnoteventhemeritoforiginality.”
ThenturningtoFaria—”Iinquiredifyouarewellfed?”saidhe.
“Sweartome,”repliedFaria,“tofreemeifwhatItellyouprovetrue,andIwillstayherewhileyougotothespot.”
“Areyouwellfed?”repeatedtheinspector.
“Monsieur,yourunnorisk,for,asItoldyou,Iwillstayhere;sothereisnochanceofmyescaping.”
“Youdonotreplytomyquestion,”repliedtheinspectorimpatiently.
“Noryoutomine,”criedtheabbe.“Youwillnotacceptmygold;Iwillkeepitformyself.
Yourefusememyliberty;Godwillgiveitme.”
Andtheabbe,castingawayhiscoverlet,resumedhisplace,andcontinuedhiscalculations.
“Whatishedoingthere?”saidtheinspector.
“Countinghistreasures,”repliedthegovernor.
Fariarepliedtothissarcasmwithaglanceofprofoundcontempt.Theywentout.Theturnkeyclosedthedoorbehindthem.
“Hewaswealthyonce,perhaps?”saidtheinspector.
“Ordreamedhewas,andawokemad.”
“Afterall,”saidtheinspector,“ifhehadbeenrich,hewouldnothavebeenhere.”SothematterendedfortheAbbeFaria.
Heremainedinhiscell,andthisvisitonlyincreasedthebeliefinhisinsanity.
CaligulaorNero,thosetreasure–seekers,thosedesirersoftheimpossible,wouldhaveaccordedtothepoorwretch,inexchangeforhiswealth,thelibertyhesoearnestlyprayedfor.
Butthekingsofmoderntimes,restrainedbythelimitsofmereprobability,haveneithercouragenordesire.
Theyfeartheearthathearstheirorders,andtheeyethatscrutinizestheiractions.
FormerlytheybelievedthemselvessprungfromJupiter,andshieldedbytheirbirth;butnowadaystheyarenotinviolable.
Ithasalwaysbeenagainstthepolicyofdespoticgovernmentstosufferthevictimsoftheirpersecutionstoreappear.
AstheInquisitionrarelyalloweditsvictimstobeseenwiththeirlimbsdistortedandtheirfleshlaceratedbytorture,somadnessisalwaysconcealedinitscell,fromwhence,shoulditdepart,itisconveyedtosomegloomyhospital,wherethedoctorhasnothoughtformanormindinthemutilatedbeingthejailerdeliverstohim.
TheverymadnessoftheAbbeFaria,gonemadinprison,condemnedhimtoperpetualcaptivity.
TheinspectorkepthiswordwithDantes;heexaminedtheregister,andfoundthefollowingnoteconcerninghim:—
EdmondDantes:
ViolentBonapartist;tookanactivepartinthereturnfromElba.
Thegreatestwatchfulnessandcaretobeexercised.
Thisnotewasinadifferenthandfromtherest,whichshowedthatithadbeenaddedsincehisconfinement.
Theinspectorcouldnotcontendagainstthisaccusation;hesimplywrote,—”Nothingtobedone.”
ThisvisithadinfusednewvigorintoDantes;hehad,tillthen,forgottenthedate;butnow,withafragmentofplaster,hewrotethedate,30thJuly,1816,andmadeamarkeveryday,inordernottolosehisreckoningagain.
Daysandweekspassedaway,thenmonths—Dantesstillwaited;heatfirstexpectedtobefreedinafortnight.
Thisfortnightexpired,hedecidedthattheinspectorwoulddonothinguntilhisreturntoParis,andthathewouldnotreachthereuntilhiscircuitwasfinished,hethereforefixedthreemonths;threemonthspassedaway,thensixmore.
Finallytenmonthsandahalfhadgonebyandnofavorablechangehadtakenplace,andDantesbegantofancytheinspector’svisitbutadream,anillusionofthebrain.
Attheexpirationofayearthegovernorwastransferred;hehadobtainedchargeofthefortressatHam.
Hetookwithhimseveralofhissubordinates,andamongstthemDantes’jailer.
Anewgovernorarrived;itwouldhavebeentootedioustoacquirethenamesoftheprisoners;helearnedtheirnumbersinstead.
Thishorribleplacecontainedfiftycells;theirinhabitantsweredesignatedbythenumbersoftheircell,andtheunhappyyoungmanwasnolongercalledEdmondDantes—hewasnownumber34.
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