WithouthavingbeenintheschooloftheAbbeFaria,theworthymasterofTheYoungAmelia(thenameoftheGenoesetartan)knewasmatteringofallthetonguesspokenontheshoresofthatlargelakecalledtheMediterranean,fromtheArabictotheProvencal,andthis,whileitsparedhiminterpreters,personsalwaystroublesomeandfrequentlyindiscreet,gavehimgreatfacilitiesofcommunication,eitherwiththevesselshemetatsea,withthesmallboatssailingalongthecoast,orwiththepeoplewithoutname,country,oroccupation,whoarealwaysseenonthequaysofseaports,andwholivebyhiddenandmysteriousmeanswhichwemustsupposetobeadirectgiftofprovidence,astheyhavenovisiblemeansofsupport.
Hewasverywellknowntothecustomsofficersofthecoast;andastherewasbetweentheseworthiesandhimselfaperpetualbattleofwits,hehadatfirstthoughtthatDantesmightbeanemissaryoftheseindustriousguardiansofrightsandduties,whoperhapsemployedthisingeniousmeansoflearningsomeofthesecretsofhistrade.
ButtheskilfulmannerinwhichDanteshadhandledtheluggerhadentirelyreassuredhim;andthen,whenhesawthelightplumeofsmokefloatingabovethebastionoftheChateaud’If,andheardthedistantreport,hewasinstantlystruckwiththeideathathehadonboardhisvesselonewhosecomingandgoing,likethatofkings,wasaccompaniedwithsalutesofartillery.
Thismadehimlessuneasy,itmustbeowned,thanifthenew–comerhadprovedtobeacustomsofficer;butthissuppositionalsodisappearedlikethefirst,whenhebeheldtheperfecttranquillityofhisrecruit.
Edmondthushadtheadvantageofknowingwhattheownerwas,withouttheownerknowingwhohewas;andhowevertheoldsailorandhiscrewtriedto“pump”him,theyextractednothingmorefromhim;hegaveaccuratedescriptionsofNaplesandMalta,whichheknewaswellasMarseilles,andheldstoutlytohisfirststory.
ThustheGenoese,subtleashewas,wasdupedbyEdmond,inwhosefavorhismilddemeanor,hisnauticalskill,andhisadmirabledissimulation,pleaded.
Moreover,itispossiblethattheGenoesewasoneofthoseshrewdpersonswhoknownothingbutwhattheyshouldknow,andbelievenothingbutwhattheyshouldbelieve.
HereEdmondwastoundergoanothertrial;hewastofindoutwhetherhecouldrecognizehimself,ashehadnotseenhisownfaceforfourteenyears.
AshehadtwentytimestouchedatLeghorn,herememberedabarberinSt.FerdinandStreet;hewenttheretohavehisbeardandhaircut.
Thebarbergazedinamazementatthismanwiththelong,thickandblackhairandbeard,whichgavehisheadtheappearanceofoneofTitian’sportraits.
Atthisperioditwasnotthefashiontowearsolargeabeardandhairsolong;nowabarberwouldonlybesurprisedifamangiftedwithsuchadvantagesshouldconsentvoluntarilytodeprivehimselfofthem.
Whentheoperationwasconcluded,andEdmondfeltthathischinwascompletelysmooth,andhishairreducedtoitsusuallength,heaskedforahand–glass.
Hewasnow,aswehavesaid,three–and–thirtyyearsofage,andhisfourteenyears’imprisonmenthadproducedagreattransformationinhisappearance.
DanteshadenteredtheChateaud’Ifwiththeround,open,smilingfaceofayoungandhappyman,withwhomtheearlypathsoflifehavebeensmooth,andwhoanticipatesafuturecorrespondingwithhispast.Thiswasnowallchanged.
Theovalfacewaslengthened,hissmilingmouthhadassumedthefirmandmarkedlineswhichbetokenresolution;hiseyebrowswerearchedbeneathabrowfurrowedwiththought;hiseyeswerefullofmelancholy,andfromtheirdepthsoccasionallysparkledgloomyfiresofmisanthropyandhatred;hiscomplexion,solongkeptfromthesun,hadnowthatpalecolorwhichproduces,whenthefeaturesareencircledwithblackhair,thearistocraticbeautyofthemanofthenorth;theprofoundlearninghehadacquiredhadbesidesdiffusedoverhisfeaturesarefinedintellectualexpression;andhehadalsoacquired,beingnaturallyofagoodlystature,thatvigorwhichaframepossesseswhichhassolongconcentratedallitsforcewithinitself.
Astohisvoice,prayers,sobs,andimprecationshadchangeditsothatattimesitwasofasingularlypenetratingsweetness,andatothersroughandalmosthoarse.
Moreover,frombeingsolongintwilightordarkness,hiseyeshadacquiredthefacultyofdistinguishingobjectsinthenight,commontothehyenaandthewolf.
Edmondsmiledwhenhebeheldhimself:itwasimpossiblethathisbestfriend—if,indeed,hehadanyfriendleft—couldrecognizehim;hecouldnotrecognizehimself.
ThemasterofTheYoungAmelia,whowasverydesirousofretainingamongsthiscrewamanofEdmond’svalue,hadofferedtoadvancehimfundsoutofhisfutureprofits,whichEdmondhadaccepted.
Hisnextcareonleavingthebarber’swhohadachievedhisfirstmetamorphosiswastoenterashopandbuyacompletesailor’ssuit—agarb,asweallknow,verysimple,andconsistingofwhitetrousers,astripedshirt,andacap.
Itwasinthiscostume,andbringingbacktoJacopotheshirtandtrousershehadlenthim,thatEdmondreappearedbeforethecaptainofthelugger,whohadmadehimtellhisstoryoverandoveragainbeforehecouldbelievehim,orrecognizeintheneatandtrimsailorthemanwiththickandmattedbeard,hairtangledwithseaweed,andbodysoakinginseabrine,whomhehadpickedupnakedandnearlydrowned.
Attractedbyhisprepossessingappearance,herenewedhisoffersofanengagementtoDantes;butDantes,whohadhisownprojects,wouldnotagreeforalongertimethanthreemonths.
HehadscarcelybeenaweekatLeghornbeforetheholdofhisvesselwasfilledwithprintedmuslins,contrabandcottons,Englishpowder,andtobaccoonwhichtheexcisehadforgottentoputitsmark.
ThemasterwastogetallthisoutofLeghornfreeofduties,andlanditontheshoresofCorsica,wherecertainspeculatorsundertooktoforwardthecargotoFrance.
Theysailed;Edmondwasagaincleavingtheazureseawhichhadbeenthefirsthorizonofhisyouth,andwhichhehadsooftendreamedofinprison.
Thenextmorninggoingondeck,ashealwaysdidatanearlyhour,thepatronfoundDantesleaningagainstthebulwarksgazingwithintenseearnestnessatapileofgraniterocks,whichtherisingsuntingedwithrosylight.ItwastheIslandofMonteCristo.
Dantesthought,astheypassedsocloselytotheislandwhosenamewassointerestingtohim,thathehadonlytoleapintotheseaandinhalfanhourbeatthepromisedland.
Butthenwhatcouldhedowithoutinstrumentstodiscoverhistreasure,withoutarmstodefendhimself?Besides,whatwouldthesailorssay?Whatwouldthepatronthink?Hemustwait.
Fortunately,Danteshadlearnedhowtowait;hehadwaitedfourteenyearsforhisliberty,andnowhewasfreehecouldwaitatleastsixmonthsorayearforwealth.
Itistrue,theletteroftheCardinalSpadawassingularlycircumstantial,andDantesrepeatedittohimself,fromoneendtotheother,forhehadnotforgottenaword.
Eveningcame,andEdmondsawtheislandtingedwiththeshadesoftwilight,andthendisappearinthedarknessfromalleyesbuthisown,forhe,withvisionaccustomedtothegloomofaprison,continuedtobeholditlastofall,forheremainedaloneupondeck.
ThenextmornbrokeoffthecoastofAleria;alldaytheycoasted,andintheeveningsawfireslightedonland;thepositionofthesewasnodoubtasignalforlanding,foraship’slanternwashungupatthemast–headinsteadofthestreamer,andtheycametowithinagunshotoftheshore.
DantesnoticedthatthecaptainofTheYoungAmeliahad,ashenearedtheland,mountedtwosmallculverins,which,withoutmakingmuchnoise,canthrowafourounceballathousandpacesorso.
Butonthisoccasiontheprecautionwassuperfluous,andeverythingproceededwiththeutmostsmoothnessandpoliteness.
Fourshallopscameoffwithverylittlenoisealongsidethelugger,which,nodoubt,inacknowledgementofthecompliment,loweredherownshallopintothesea,andthefiveboatsworkedsowellthatbytwoo’clockinthemorningallthecargowasoutofTheYoungAmeliaandonterrafirma.
Thesamenight,suchamanofregularitywasthepatronofTheYoungAmelia,theprofitsweredivided,andeachmanhadahundredTuscanlivres,orabouteightyfrancs.Butthevoyagewasnotended.
TheyturnedthebowsprittowardsSardinia,wheretheyintendedtotakeinacargo,whichwastoreplacewhathadbeendischarged.
ThisnewcargowasdestinedforthecoastoftheDuchyofLucca,andconsistedalmostentirelyofHavanacigars,sherry,andMalagawines.
Theretheyhadabitofaskirmishingettingridoftheduties;theexcisewas,intruth,theeverlastingenemyofthepatronofTheYoungAmelia.
Acustomsofficerwaslaidlow,andtwosailorswounded;Danteswasoneofthelatter,aballhavingtouchedhimintheleftshoulder.
Danteswasalmostgladofthisaffray,andalmostpleasedatbeingwounded,fortheywererudelessonswhichtaughthimwithwhateyehecouldviewdanger,andwithwhatendurancehecouldbearsuffering.
Hehadcontemplateddangerwithasmile,andwhenwoundedhadexclaimedwiththegreatphilosopher,“Pain,thouartnotanevil.”
Hehad,moreover,lookeduponthecustomsofficerwoundedtodeath,and,whetherfromheatofbloodproducedbytheencounter,orthechillofhumansentiment,thissighthadmadebutslightimpressionuponhim.
Danteswasonthewayhedesiredtofollow,andwasmovingtowardstheendhewishedtoachieve;hisheartwasinafairwayofpetrifyinginhisbosom.
Jacopo,seeinghimfall,hadbelievedhimkilled,andrushingtowardshimraisedhimup,andthenattendedtohimwithallthekindnessofadevotedcomrade.
ThisworldwasnotthensogoodasDoctorPanglossbelievedit,neitherwasitsowickedasDantesthoughtit,sincethisman,whohadnothingtoexpectfromhiscomradebuttheinheritanceofhisshareoftheprize–money,manifestedsomuchsorrowwhenhesawhimfall.
Fortunately,aswehavesaid,Edmondwasonlywounded,andwithcertainherbsgatheredatcertainseasons,andsoldtothesmugglersbytheoldSardinianwomen,thewoundsoonclosed.
EdmondthenresolvedtotryJacopo,andofferedhiminreturnforhisattentionashareofhisprize–money,butJacoporefuseditindignantly.
AsaresultofthesympatheticdevotionwhichJacopohadfromthefirstbestowedonEdmond,thelatterwasmovedtoacertaindegreeofaffection.
ButthissufficedforJacopo,whoinstinctivelyfeltthatEdmondhadarighttosuperiorityofposition—asuperioritywhichEdmondhadconcealedfromallothers.
Theninthelongdaysonboardship,whenthevessel,glidingonwithsecurityovertheazuresea,requirednocarebutthehandofthehelmsman,thankstothefavorablewindsthatswelledhersails,Edmond,withachartinhishand,becametheinstructorofJacopo,asthepoorAbbeFariahadbeenhistutor.
Hepointedouttohimthebearingsofthecoast,explainedtohimthevariationsofthecompass,andtaughthimtoreadinthatvastbookopenedoverourheadswhichtheycallheaven,andwhereGodwritesinazurewithlettersofdiamonds.
AndwhenJacopoinquiredofhim,“Whatistheuseofteachingallthesethingstoapoorsailorlikeme?”Edmondreplied,“Whoknows?
Twomonthsandahalfelapsedinthesetrips,andEdmondhadbecomeasskilfulacoasterashehadbeenahardyseaman;hehadformedanacquaintancewithallthesmugglersonthecoast,andlearnedalltheMasonicsignsbywhichthesehalfpiratesrecognizeeachother.
Hehadpassedandre–passedhisIslandofMonteCristotwentytimes,butnotoncehadhefoundanopportunityoflandingthere.Hethenformedaresolution.
AssoonashisengagementwiththepatronofTheYoungAmeliaended,hewouldhireasmallvesselonhisownaccount—forinhisseveralvoyageshehadamassedahundredpiastres—andundersomepretextlandattheIslandofMonteCristo.
Thenhewouldbefreetomakehisresearches,notperhapsentirelyatliberty,forhewouldbedoubtlesswatchedbythosewhoaccompaniedhim.
Butinvaindidherackhisimagination;fertileasitwas,hecouldnotdeviseanyplanforreachingtheislandwithoutcompanionship.
Danteswastossedaboutonthesedoubtsandwishes,whenthepatron,whohadgreatconfidenceinhim,andwasverydesirousofretaininghiminhisservice,tookhimbythearmoneeveningandledhimtoatavernontheViadel’Oglio,wheretheleadingsmugglersofLeghornusedtocongregateanddiscussaffairsconnectedwiththeirtrade.
AlreadyDanteshadvisitedthismaritimeBoursetwoorthreetimes,andseeingallthesehardyfree–traders,whosuppliedthewholecoastfornearlytwohundredleaguesinextent,hehadaskedhimselfwhatpowermightnotthatmanattainwhoshouldgivetheimpulseofhiswilltoallthesecontraryanddivergingminds.
Thistimeitwasagreatmatterthatwasunderdiscussion,connectedwithavesselladenwithTurkeycarpets,stuffsoftheLevant,andcashmeres.
Itwasnecessarytofindsomeneutralgroundonwhichanexchangecouldbemade,andthentotryandlandthesegoodsonthecoastofFrance.
Iftheventurewassuccessfultheprofitwouldbeenormous,therewouldbeagainoffiftyorsixtypiastreseachforthecrew.
ThepatronofTheYoungAmeliaproposedasaplaceoflandingtheIslandofMonteCristo,whichbeingcompletelydeserted,andhavingneithersoldiersnorrevenueofficers,seemedtohavebeenplacedinthemidstoftheoceansincethetimeoftheheathenOlympusbyMercury,thegodofmerchantsandrobbers,classesofmankindwhichweinmoderntimeshaveseparatedifnotmadedistinct,butwhichantiquityappearstohaveincludedinthesamecategory.
AtthementionofMonteCristoDantesstartedwithjoy;herosetoconcealhisemotion,andtookaturnaroundthesmokytavern,whereallthelanguagesoftheknownworldwerejumbledinalinguafranca.
Whenheagainjoinedthetwopersonswhohadbeendiscussingthematter,ithadbeendecidedthattheyshouldtouchatMonteCristoandsetoutonthefollowingnight.
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