English
Dantespassedthroughallthestagesoftorturenaturaltoprisonersinsuspense.
Hewassustainedatfirstbythatprideofconsciousinnocencewhichisthesequencetohope;thenhebegantodoubthisowninnocence,whichjustifiedinsomemeasurethegovernor’sbeliefinhismentalalienation;andthen,relaxinghissentimentofpride,headdressedhissupplications,nottoGod,buttoman.Godisalwaysthelastresource.
Unfortunates,whooughttobeginwithGod,donothaveanyhopeinhimtilltheyhaveexhaustedallothermeansofdeliverance.
Dantesaskedtoberemovedfromhispresentdungeonintoanother;forachange,howeverdisadvantageous,wasstillachange,andwouldaffordhimsomeamusement.
Heentreatedtobeallowedtowalkabout,tohavefreshair,books,andwritingmaterials.
Hisrequestswerenotgranted,buthewentonaskingallthesame.
Heaccustomedhimselftospeakingtothenewjailer,althoughthelatterwas,ifpossible,moretaciturnthantheoldone;butstill,tospeaktoaman,eventhoughmute,wassomething.
Dantesspokeforthesakeofhearinghisownvoice;hehadtriedtospeakwhenalone,butthesoundofhisvoiceterrifiedhim.
Often,beforehiscaptivity,Dantes’mindhadrevoltedattheideaofassemblagesofprisoners,madeupofthieves,vagabonds,andmurderers.
Henowwishedtobeamongstthem,inordertoseesomeotherfacebesidesthatofhisjailer;hesighedforthegalleys,withtheinfamouscostume,thechain,andthebrandontheshoulder.
Thegalley–slavesbreathedthefreshairofheaven,andsaweachother.Theywereveryhappy.
Hebesoughtthejaileronedaytolethimhaveacompanion,wereiteventhemadabbe.
Thejailer,thoughroughandhardenedbytheconstantsightofsomuchsuffering,wasyetaman.
Atthebottomofhishearthehadoftenhadafeelingofpityforthisunhappyyoungmanwhosufferedso;andhelaidtherequestofnumber34beforethegovernor;butthelattersapientlyimaginedthatDanteswishedtoconspireorattemptanescape,andrefusedhisrequest.
Danteshadexhaustedallhumanresources,andhethenturnedtoGod.
Allthepiousideasthathadbeensolongforgotten,returned;herecollectedtheprayershismotherhadtaughthim,anddiscoveredanewmeaningineveryword;forinprosperityprayersseembutameremedleyofwords,untilmisfortunecomesandtheunhappysuffererfirstunderstandsthemeaningofthesublimelanguageinwhichheinvokesthepityofheaven!
Heprayed,andprayedaloud,nolongerterrifiedatthesoundofhisownvoice,forhefellintoasortofecstasy.
HelaideveryactionofhislifebeforetheAlmighty,proposedtaskstoaccomplish,andattheendofeveryprayerintroducedtheentreatyofteneraddressedtomanthantoGod:“Forgiveusourtrespassesasweforgivethemthattrespassagainstus.”
Yetinspiteofhisearnestprayers,Dantesremainedaprisoner.
Thengloomsettledheavilyuponhim.Danteswasamanofgreatsimplicityofthought,andwithouteducation;hecouldnot,therefore,inthesolitudeofhisdungeon,traverseinmentalvisionthehistoryoftheages,bringtolifethenationsthathadperished,andrebuildtheancientcitiessovastandstupendousinthelightoftheimagination,andthatpassbeforetheeyeglowingwithcelestialcolorsinMartin’sBabylonianpictures.
Hecouldnotdothis,hewhosepastlifewassoshort,whosepresentsomelancholy,andhisfuturesodoubtful.
Nineteenyearsoflighttoreflectuponineternaldarkness!
Nodistractioncouldcometohisaid;hisenergeticspirit,thatwouldhaveexaltedinthusrevisitingthepast,wasimprisonedlikeaneagleinacage.
Heclungtooneidea—thatofhishappiness,destroyed,withoutapparentcause,byanunheard–offatality;heconsideredandreconsideredthisidea,devouredit(sotospeak),astheimplacableUgolinodevourstheskullofArchbishopRogerintheInfernoofDante.
Ragesupplantedreligiousfervor.Dantesutteredblasphemiesthatmadehisjailerrecoilwithhorror,dashedhimselffuriouslyagainstthewallsofhisprison,wreakedhisangeruponeverything,andchieflyuponhimself,sothattheleastthing,—agrainofsand,astraw,orabreathofairthatannoyedhim,ledtoparoxysmsoffury.
ThentheletterthatVilleforthadshowedtohimrecurredtohismind,andeverylinegleamedforthinfierylettersonthewalllikethemenetekelupharsinofBelshazzar.
Hetoldhimselfthatitwastheenmityofman,andnotthevengeanceofheaven,thathadthusplungedhimintothedeepestmisery.
Heconsignedhisunknownpersecutorstothemosthorribletortureshecouldimagine,andfoundthemallinsufficient,becauseaftertorturecamedeath,andafterdeath,ifnotrepose,atleasttheboonofunconsciousness.
Bydintofconstantlydwellingontheideathattranquillitywasdeath,andifpunishmentweretheendinviewothertorturesthandeathmustbeinvented,hebegantoreflectonsuicide.
Unhappyhe,who,onthebrinkofmisfortune,broodsoverideaslikethese!
Beforehimisadeadseathatstretchesinazurecalmbeforetheeye;buthewhounwarilyventureswithinitsembracefindshimselfstrugglingwithamonsterthatwoulddraghimdowntoperdition.
Oncethusensnared,unlesstheprotectinghandofGodsnatchhimthence,allisover,andhisstrugglesbuttendtohastenhisdestruction.
Thisstateofmentalanguishis,however,lessterriblethanthesufferingsthatprecedeorthepunishmentthatpossiblywillfollow.
Thereisasortofconsolationatthecontemplationoftheyawningabyss,atthebottomofwhichliedarknessandobscurity.
Edmondfoundsomesolaceintheseideas.
Allhissorrows,allhissufferings,withtheirtrainofgloomyspectres,fledfromhiscellwhentheangelofdeathseemedabouttoenter.
Dantesreviewedhispastlifewithcomposure,and,lookingforwardwithterrortohisfutureexistence,chosethatmiddlelinethatseemedtoaffordhimarefuge.
“Sometimes,”saidhe,“inmyvoyages,whenIwasamanandcommandedothermen,Ihaveseentheheavensovercast,thesearageandfoam,thestormarise,and,likeamonstrousbird,beatingthetwohorizonswithitswings.
ThenIfeltthatmyvesselwasavainrefuge,thattrembledandshookbeforethetempest.
Soonthefuryofthewavesandthesightofthesharprocksannouncedtheapproachofdeath,anddeaththenterrifiedme,andIusedallmyskillandintelligenceasamanandasailortostruggleagainstthewrathofGod.
ButIdidsobecauseIwashappy,becauseIhadnotcourteddeath,becausetobecastuponabedofrocksandseaweedseemedterrible,becauseIwasunwillingthatI,acreaturemadefortheserviceofGod,shouldserveforfoodtothegullsandravens.
Butnowitisdifferent;Ihavelostallthatboundmetolife,deathsmilesandinvitesmetorepose;Idieaftermyownmanner,Idieexhaustedandbroken–spirited,asIfallasleepwhenIhavepacedthreethousandtimesroundmycell.”
Nosoonerhadthisideatakenpossessionofhimthanhebecamemorecomposed,arrangedhiscouchtothebestofhispower,atelittleandsleptless,andfoundexistencealmostsupportable,becausehefeltthathecouldthrowitoffatpleasure,likeaworn–outgarment.
Twomethodsofself–destructionwereathisdisposal.
Hecouldhanghimselfwithhishandkerchieftothewindowbars,orrefusefoodanddieofstarvation.Butthefirstwasrepugnanttohim.
Danteshadalwaysentertainedthegreatesthorrorofpirates,whoarehunguptotheyard–arm;hewouldnotdiebywhatseemedaninfamousdeath.
Heresolvedtoadoptthesecond,andbeganthatdaytocarryouthisresolve.
Nearlyfouryearshadpassedaway;attheendofthesecondhehadceasedtomarkthelapseoftime.
Dantessaid,“Iwishtodie,”andhadchosenthemannerofhisdeath,andfearfulofchanginghismind,hehadtakenanoathtodie.
“Whenmymorningandeveningmealsarebrought,”thoughthe,“Iwillcastthemoutofthewindow,andtheywillthinkthatIhaveeatenthem.”
Hekepthisword;twiceadayhecastout,throughthebarredaperture,theprovisionshisjailerbroughthim—atfirstgayly,thenwithdeliberation,andatlastwithregret.
Nothingbuttherecollectionofhisoathgavehimstrengthtoproceed.
Hungermadeviandsoncerepugnant,nowacceptable;heheldtheplateinhishandforanhouratatime,andgazedthoughtfullyatthemorselofbadmeat,oftaintedfish,ofblackandmouldybread.
Itwasthelastyearningforlifecontendingwiththeresolutionofdespair;thenhisdungeonseemedlesssombre,hisprospectslessdesperate.
Hewasstillyoung—hewasonlyfourorfiveandtwenty—hehadnearlyfiftyyearstolive.
Whatunforseeneventsmightnotopenhisprisondoor,andrestorehimtoliberty?
Thenheraisedtohislipstherepastthat,likeavoluntaryTantalus,herefusedhimself;buthethoughtofhisoath,andhewouldnotbreakit.
Hepersisteduntil,atlast,hehadnotsufficientstrengthtoriseandcasthissupperoutoftheloophole.
Thenextmorninghecouldnotseeorhear;thejailerfearedhewasdangerouslyill.Edmondhopedhewasdying.
Thusthedaypassedaway.Edmondfeltasortofstuporcreepingoverhimwhichbroughtwithitafeelingalmostofcontent;thegnawingpainathisstomachhadceased;histhirsthadabated;whenheclosedhiseyeshesawmyriadsoflightsdancingbeforethemlikethewill–o’–the–wispsthatplayaboutthemarshes.
ItwasthetwilightofthatmysteriouscountrycalledDeath!
Suddenly,aboutnineo’clockintheevening,Edmondheardahollowsoundinthewallagainstwhichhewaslying.
Somanyloathsomeanimalsinhabitedtheprison,thattheirnoisedidnot,ingeneral,awakehim;butwhetherabstinencehadquickenedhisfaculties,orwhetherthenoisewasreallylouderthanusual,Edmondraisedhisheadandlistened.
Itwasacontinualscratching,asifmadebyahugeclaw,apowerfultooth,orsomeironinstrumentattackingthestones.
Althoughweakened,theyoungman’sbraininstantlyrespondedtotheideathathauntsallprisoners—liberty!
Itseemedtohimthatheavenhadatlengthtakenpityonhim,andhadsentthisnoisetowarnhimontheverybrinkoftheabyss.
Perhapsoneofthosebelovedoneshehadsooftenthoughtofwasthinkingofhim,andstrivingtodiminishthedistancethatseparatedthem.
No,no,doubtlesshewasdeceived,anditwasbutoneofthosedreamsthatforerundeath!
Edmondstillheardthesound.Itlastednearlythreehours;hethenheardanoiseofsomethingfalling,andallwassilent.
Somehoursafterwardsitbeganagain,nearerandmoredistinct.Edmondwasintenselyinterested.Suddenlythejailerentered.
Foraweeksincehehadresolvedtodie,andduringthefourdaysthathehadbeencarryingouthispurpose,Edmondhadnotspokentotheattendant,hadnotansweredhimwhenheinquiredwhatwasthematterwithhim,andturnedhisfacetothewallwhenhelookedtoocuriouslyathim;butnowthejailermighthearthenoiseandputanendtoit,andsodestroyarayofsomethinglikehopethatsoothedhislastmoments.
Thejailerbroughthimhisbreakfast.Dantesraisedhimselfupandbegantotalkabouteverything;aboutthebadqualityofthefood,aboutthecoldnessofhisdungeon,grumblingandcomplaining,inordertohaveanexcuseforspeakinglouder,andwearyingthepatienceofhisjailer,whooutofkindnessofhearthadbroughtbrothandwhitebreadforhisprisoner.
Fortunately,hefanciedthatDanteswasdelirious;andplacingthefoodonthericketytable,hewithdrew.Edmondlistened,andthesoundbecamemoreandmoredistinct.
“Therecanbenodoubtaboutit,”thoughthe;“itissomeprisonerwhoisstrivingtoobtainhisfreedom.Oh,ifIwereonlytheretohelphim!”
Suddenlyanotherideatookpossessionofhismind,sousedtomisfortune,thatitwasscarcelycapableofhope—theideathatthenoisewasmadebyworkmenthegovernorhadorderedtorepairtheneighboringdungeon.
Itwaseasytoascertainthis;buthowcouldheriskthequestion?
Itwaseasytocallhisjailer’sattentiontothenoise,andwatchhiscountenanceashelistened;butmighthenotbythismeansdestroyhopesfarmoreimportantthantheshort–livedsatisfactionofhisowncuriosity?
Unfortunately,Edmond’sbrainwasstillsofeeblethathecouldnotbendhisthoughtstoanythinginparticular.
Hesawbutonemeansofrestoringlucidityandclearnesstohisjudgment.
Heturnedhiseyestowardsthesoupwhichthejailerhadbrought,rose,staggeredtowardsit,raisedthevesseltohislips,anddrankoffthecontentswithafeelingofindescribablepleasure.
Hehadoftenheardthatshipwreckedpersonshaddiedthroughhavingeagerlydevouredtoomuchfood.
Edmondreplacedonthetablethebreadhewasabouttodevour,andreturnedtohiscouch—hedidnotwishtodie.
Hesoonfeltthathisideasbecameagaincollected—hecouldthink,andstrengthenhisthoughtsbyreasoning.
Thenhesaidtohimself,“Imustputthistothetest,butwithoutcompromisinganybody.
Ifitisaworkman,Ineedbutknockagainstthewall,andhewillceasetowork,inordertofindoutwhoisknocking,andwhyhedoesso;butashisoccupationissanctionedbythegovernor,hewillsoonresumeit.
If,onthecontrary,itisaprisoner,thenoiseImakewillalarmhim,hewillcease,andnotbeginagainuntilhethinkseveryoneisasleep.”
Edmondroseagain,butthistimehislegsdidnottremble,andhissightwasclear;hewenttoacornerofhisdungeon,detachedastone,andwithitknockedagainstthewallwherethesoundcame.Hestruckthrice.
Atthefirstblowthesoundceased,asifbymagic.
Edmondlistenedintently;anhourpassed,twohourspassed,andnosoundwasheardfromthewall—allwassilentthere.
Fullofhope,Edmondswallowedafewmouthfulsofbreadandwater,and,thankstothevigorofhisconstitution,foundhimselfwell–nighrecovered.
Thedaypassedawayinuttersilence—nightcamewithoutrecurrenceofthenoise.
“Itisaprisoner,”saidEdmondjoyfully.Thenightpassedinperfectsilence.Edmonddidnotclosehiseyes.
Inthemorningthejailerbroughthimfreshprovisions—hehadalreadydevouredthoseofthepreviousday;heatetheselisteninganxiouslyforthesound,walkingroundandroundhiscell,shakingtheironbarsoftheloophole,restoringvigorandagilitytohislimbsbyexercise,andsopreparinghimselfforhisfuturedestiny.
Atintervalshelistenedtolearnifthenoisehadnotbegunagain,andgrewimpatientattheprudenceoftheprisoner,whodidnotguesshehadbeendisturbedbyacaptiveasanxiousforlibertyashimself.
Threedayspassed—seventy–twolongtedioushourswhichhecountedoffbyminutes!
Atlengthoneevening,asthejailerwasvisitinghimforthelasttimethatnight,Dantes,withhisearforthehundredthtimeatthewall,fanciedheheardanalmostimperceptiblemovementamongthestones.
Hemovedaway,walkedupanddownhiscelltocollecthisthoughts,andthenwentbackandlistened.
Thematterwasnolongerdoubtful.Somethingwasatworkontheothersideofthewall;theprisonerhaddiscoveredthedanger,andhadsubstitutedaleverforachisel.
Encouragedbythisdiscovery,Edmonddeterminedtoassisttheindefatigablelaborer.
Hebeganbymovinghisbed,andlookedaroundforanythingwithwhichhecouldpiercethewall,penetratethemoistcement,anddisplaceastone.
Hesawnothing,hehadnoknifeorsharpinstrument,thewindowgratingwasofiron,buthehadtoooftenassuredhimselfofitssolidity.
Allhisfurnitureconsistedofabed,achair,atable,apail,andajug.
Thebedhadironclamps,buttheywerescrewedtothewood,anditwouldhaverequiredascrew–drivertotakethemoff.
Thetableandchairhadnothing,thepailhadoncepossessedahandle,butthathadbeenremoved.
Danteshadbutoneresource,whichwastobreakthejug,andwithoneofthesharpfragmentsattackthewall.Heletthejugfallonthefloor,anditbrokeinpieces.
Dantesconcealedtwoorthreeofthesharpestfragmentsinhisbed,leavingtherestonthefloor.
Thebreakingofhisjugwastoonaturalanaccidenttoexcitesuspicion.
Edmondhadallthenighttoworkin,butinthedarknesshecouldnotdomuch,andhesoonfeltthathewasworkingagainstsomethingveryhard;hepushedbackhisbed,andwaitedforday.
Allnightheheardthesubterraneanworkman,whocontinuedtominehisway.Daycame,thejailerentered.
Dantestoldhimthatthejughadfallenfromhishandswhilehewasdrinking,andthejailerwentgrumblinglytofetchanother,withoutgivinghimselfthetroubletoremovethefragmentsofthebrokenone.
Hereturnedspeedily,advisedtheprisonertobemorecareful,anddeparted.
Dantesheardjoyfullythekeygrateinthelock;helisteneduntilthesoundofstepsdiedaway,andthen,hastilydisplacinghisbed,sawbythefaintlightthatpenetratedintohiscell,thathehadlaboreduselesslythepreviouseveninginattackingthestoneinsteadofremovingtheplasterthatsurroundedit.
Thedamphadrendereditfriable,andDanteswasabletobreakitoff—insmallmorsels,itistrue,butattheendofhalfanhourhehadscrapedoffahandful;amathematicianmighthavecalculatedthatintwoyears,supposingthattherockwasnotencountered,apassagetwentyfeetlongandtwofeetbroad,mightbeformed.
Theprisonerreproachedhimselfwithnothavingthusemployedthehourshehadpassedinvainhopes,prayer,anddespondency.
Duringthesixyearsthathehadbeenimprisoned,whatmighthenothaveaccomplished?
Inthreedayshehadsucceeded,withtheutmostprecaution,inremovingthecement,andexposingthestone–work.
Thewallwasbuiltofroughstones,amongwhich,togivestrengthtothestructure,blocksofhewnstonewereatintervalsimbedded.
Itwasoneofthesehehaduncovered,andwhichhemustremovefromitssocket.
Dantesstrovetodothiswithhisnails,buttheyweretooweak.Thefragmentsofthejugbroke,andafteranhourofuselesstoil,hepaused.
Washetobethusstoppedatthebeginning,andwashetowaitinactiveuntilhisfellowworkmanhadcompletedhistask?
Suddenlyanideaoccurredtohim—hesmiled,andtheperspirationdriedonhisforehead.
ThejaileralwaysbroughtDantes’soupinanironsaucepan;thissaucepancontainedsoupforbothprisoners,forDanteshadnoticedthatitwaseitherquitefull,orhalfempty,accordingastheturnkeygaveittohimortohiscompanionfirst.
Thehandleofthissaucepanwasofiron;Danteswouldhavegiventenyearsofhislifeinexchangeforit.
ThejailerwasaccustomedtopourthecontentsofthesaucepanintoDantes’plate,andDantes,aftereatinghissoupwithawoodenspoon,washedtheplate,whichthusservedforeveryday.
NowwheneveningcameDantesputhisplateonthegroundnearthedoor;thejailer,asheentered,steppedonitandbrokeit.
ThistimehecouldnotblameDantes.Hewaswrongtoleaveitthere,butthejailerwaswrongnottohavelookedbeforehim.
Thejailer,therefore,onlygrumbled.Thenhelookedaboutforsomethingtopourthesoupinto;Dantes’entiredinnerserviceconsistedofoneplate—therewasnoalternative.
“Leavethesaucepan,”saidDantes;“youcantakeitawaywhenyoubringmemybreakfast.”
Thisadvicewastothejailer’staste,asitsparedhimthenecessityofmakinganothertrip.Heleftthesaucepan.
Danteswasbesidehimselfwithjoy.Herapidlydevouredhisfood,andafterwaitinganhour,lestthejailershouldchangehismindandreturn,heremovedhisbed,tookthehandleofthesaucepan,insertedthepointbetweenthehewnstoneandroughstonesofthewall,andemployeditasalever.
AslightoscillationshowedDantesthatallwentwell.
Attheendofanhourthestonewasextricatedfromthewall,leavingacavityafootandahalfindiameter.
Dantescarefullycollectedtheplaster,carrieditintothecornerofhiscell,andcovereditwithearth.
Then,wishingtomakethebestuseofhistimewhilehehadthemeansoflabor,hecontinuedtoworkwithoutceasing.
Atthedawnofdayhereplacedthestone,pushedhisbedagainstthewall,andlaydown.
Thebreakfastconsistedofapieceofbread;thejailerenteredandplacedthebreadonthetable.
“Well,don’tyouintendtobringmeanotherplate?”saidDantes.
“No,”repliedtheturnkey;“youdestroyeverything.
Firstyoubreakyourjug,thenyoumakemebreakyourplate;ifalltheprisonersfollowedyourexample,thegovernmentwouldberuined.
Ishallleaveyouthesaucepan,andpouryoursoupintothat.
SoforthefutureIhopeyouwillnotbesodestructive.”
Dantesraisedhiseyestoheavenandclaspedhishandsbeneaththecoverlet.
Hefeltmoregratitudeforthepossessionofthispieceofironthanhehadeverfeltforanything.
Hehadnoticed,however,thattheprisonerontheothersidehadceasedtolabor;nomatter,thiswasagreaterreasonforproceeding—ifhisneighborwouldnotcometohim,hewouldgotohisneighbor.
Alldayhetoiledonuntiringly,andbytheeveninghehadsucceededinextractingtenhandfulsofplasterandfragmentsofstone.
Whenthehourforhisjailer’svisitarrived,Dantesstraightenedthehandleofthesaucepanaswellashecould,andplaceditinitsaccustomedplace.
Theturnkeypouredhisrationofsoupintoit,togetherwiththefish—forthriceaweektheprisonersweredeprivedofmeat.
Thiswouldhavebeenamethodofreckoningtime,hadnotDanteslongceasedtodoso.
Havingpouredoutthesoup,theturnkeyretired.
Danteswishedtoascertainwhetherhisneighborhadreallyceasedtowork.
Helistened—allwassilent,asithadbeenforthelastthreedays.
Dantessighed;itwasevidentthathisneighbordistrustedhim.
However,hetoiledonallthenightwithoutbeingdiscouraged;butaftertwoorthreehoursheencounteredanobstacle.
Theironmadenoimpression,butmetwithasmoothsurface;Dantestouchedit,andfoundthatitwasabeam.
Thisbeamcrossed,orratherblockedup,theholeDanteshadmade;itwasnecessary,therefore,todigaboveorunderit.
Theunhappyyoungmanhadnotthoughtofthis.“OmyGod,myGod!”
murmuredhe,“Ihavesoearnestlyprayedtoyou,thatIhopedmyprayershadbeenheard.
Afterhavingdeprivedmeofmyliberty,afterhavingdeprivedmeofdeath,afterhavingrecalledmetoexistence,myGod,havepityonme,anddonotletmedieindespair!”
“WhotalksofGodanddespairatthesametime?”
saidavoicethatseemedtocomefrombeneaththeearth,and,deadenedbythedistance,soundedhollowandsepulchralintheyoungman’sears.
Edmond’shairstoodonend,andherosetohisknees.
“Ah,”saidhe,“Ihearahumanvoice.”Edmondhadnotheardanyonespeaksavehisjailerforfourorfiveyears;andajailerisnomantoaprisoner—heisalivingdoor,abarrieroffleshandbloodaddingstrengthtorestraintsofoakandiron.
“Inthenameofheaven,”criedDantes,“speakagain,thoughthesoundofyourvoiceterrifiesme.Whoareyou?”
“Whoareyou?”saidthevoice.
“Anunhappyprisoner,”repliedDantes,whomadenohesitationinanswering.
“Ofwhatcountry?”
“AFrenchman.”
“Yourname?”
“EdmondDantes.”
“Yourprofession?”
“Asailor.”
“Howlonghaveyoubeenhere?”
“Sincethe28thofFebruary,1815.”
“Yourcrime?”
“Iaminnocent.”
“Butofwhatareyouaccused?”
“Ofhavingconspiredtoaidtheemperor’sreturn.”
“What!Fortheemperor’sreturn?—theemperorisnolongeronthethrone,then?”
“HeabdicatedatFontainebleauin1814,andwassenttotheIslandofElba.Buthowlonghaveyoubeenherethatyouareignorantofallthis?”
“Since1811.”
Dantesshuddered;thismanhadbeenfouryearslongerthanhimselfinprison.
“Donotdiganymore,”saidthevoice;“onlytellmehowhighupisyourexcavation?”
“Onalevelwiththefloor.”
“Howisitconcealed?”
“Behindmybed.”
“Hasyourbedbeenmovedsinceyouhavebeenaprisoner?”
“No.”
“Whatdoesyourchamberopenon?”
“Acorridor.”
“Andthecorridor?”
“Onacourt.”
“Alas!”murmuredthevoice.
“Oh,whatisthematter?”criedDantes.
“Ihavemadeamistakeowingtoanerrorinmyplans.Itookthewrongangle,andhavecomeoutfifteenfeetfromwhereIintended.Itookthewallyouareminingfortheouterwallofthefortress.”
“Butthenyouwouldbeclosetothesea?”
“ThatiswhatIhoped.”
“Andsupposingyouhadsucceeded?”
“Ishouldhavethrownmyselfintothesea,gainedoneoftheislandsnearhere—theIsledeDaumeortheIsledeTiboulen—andthenIshouldhavebeensafe.”
“Couldyouhaveswumsofar?”
“Heavenwouldhavegivenmestrength;butnowallislost.”
“All?”
“Yes;stopupyourexcavationcarefully,donotworkanymore,andwaituntilyouhearfromme.”
“Tellme,atleast,whoyouare?”
“Iam—IamNo.27.”
“Youmistrustme,then,”saidDantes.Edmondfanciedheheardabitterlaughresoundingfromthedepths.
“Oh,IamaChristian,”criedDantes,guessinginstinctivelythatthismanmeanttoabandonhim.
“Isweartoyoubyhimwhodiedforusthatnaughtshallinducemetobreatheonesyllabletomyjailers;butIconjureyoudonotabandonme.
Ifyoudo,Isweartoyou,forIhavegottotheendofmystrength,thatIwilldashmybrainsoutagainstthewall,andyouwillhavemydeathtoreproachyourselfwith.”
“Howoldareyou?Yourvoiceisthatofayoungman.”
“Idonotknowmyage,forIhavenotcountedtheyearsIhavebeenhere.AllIdoknowis,thatIwasjustnineteenwhenIwasarrested,the28thofFebruary,1815.”
“Notquitetwenty–six!”murmuredthevoice;“atthatagehecannotbeatraitor.”
“Oh,no,no,”criedDantes.“Isweartoyouagain,ratherthanbetrayyou,Iwouldallowmyselftobehackedinpieces!”
“Youhavedonewelltospeaktome,andaskformyassistance,forIwasabouttoformanotherplan,andleaveyou;butyouragereassuresme.Iwillnotforgetyou.Wait.”
“Howlong?”
“Imustcalculateourchances;Iwillgiveyouthesignal.”
“Butyouwillnotleaveme;youwillcometome,oryouwillletmecometoyou.
Wewillescape,andifwecannotescapewewilltalk;youofthosewhomyoulove,andIofthosewhomIlove.Youmustlovesomebody?”
“No,Iamaloneintheworld.”
“Thenyouwillloveme.Ifyouareyoung,Iwillbeyourcomrade;ifyouareold,Iwillbeyourson.
Ihaveafatherwhoisseventyifheyetlives;IonlylovehimandayounggirlcalledMercedes.
Myfatherhasnotyetforgottenme,Iamsure,butGodaloneknowsifshelovesmestill;IshallloveyouasIlovedmyfather.”
“Itiswell,”returnedthevoice;“to–morrow.”
Thesefewwordswereutteredwithanaccentthatleftnodoubtofhissincerity;Dantesrose,dispersedthefragmentswiththesameprecautionasbefore,andpushedhisbedbackagainstthewall.
Hethengavehimselfuptohishappiness.Hewouldnolongerbealone.
Hewas,perhaps,abouttoregainhisliberty;attheworst,hewouldhaveacompanion,andcaptivitythatissharedisbuthalfcaptivity.
Plaintsmadeincommonarealmostprayers,andprayerswheretwoorthreearegatheredtogetherinvokethemercyofheaven.
AlldayDanteswalkedupanddownhiscell.
Hesatdownoccasionallyonhisbed,pressinghishandonhisheart.
Attheslightestnoiseheboundedtowardsthedoor.
Onceortwicethethoughtcrossedhismindthathemightbeseparatedfromthisunknown,whomhelovedalready;andthenhismindwasmadeup—whenthejailermovedhisbedandstoopedtoexaminetheopening,hewouldkillhimwithhiswaterjug.
Hewouldbecondemnedtodie,buthewasabouttodieofgriefanddespairwhenthismiraculousnoiserecalledhimtolife.
Thejailercameintheevening.Danteswasonhisbed.
Itseemedtohimthatthushebetterguardedtheunfinishedopening.
Doubtlesstherewasastrangeexpressioninhiseyes,forthejailersaid,“Come,areyougoingmadagain?”
Dantesdidnotanswer;hefearedthattheemotionofhisvoicewouldbetrayhim.Thejailerwentawayshakinghishead.
Nightcame;Danteshopedthathisneighborwouldprofitbythesilencetoaddresshim,buthewasmistaken.
Thenextmorning,however,justasheremovedhisbedfromthewall,heheardthreeknocks;hethrewhimselfonhisknees.
“Isityou?”saidhe;“Iamhere.”
“Isyourjailergone?”
“Yes,”saidDantes;“hewillnotreturnuntiltheevening;sothatwehavetwelvehoursbeforeus.”
“Icanwork,then?”saidthevoice.
“Oh,yes,yes;thisinstant,Ientreatyou.”
InamomentthatpartoftheflooronwhichDanteswasrestinghistwohands,ashekneltwithhisheadintheopening,suddenlygaveway;hedrewbacksmartly,whileamassofstonesandearthdisappearedinaholethatopenedbeneaththeaperturehehimselfhadformed.
Thenfromthebottomofthispassage,thedepthofwhichitwasimpossibletomeasure,hesawappear,firstthehead,thentheshoulders,andlastlythebodyofaman,whospranglightlyintohiscell.
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