Againheclimbedtherockyheighthehadascendedthepreviousevening,andstrainedhisviewtocatcheverypeculiarityofthelandscape;butitworethesamewild,barrenaspectwhenseenbytheraysofthemorningsunwhichithaddonewhensurveyedbythefadingglimmerofeve.
Descendingintothegrotto,heliftedthestone,filledhispocketswithgems,puttheboxtogetheraswellandsecurelyashecould,sprinkledfreshsandoverthespotfromwhichithadbeentaken,andthencarefullytroddowntheearthtogiveiteverywhereauniformappearance;then,quittingthegrotto,hereplacedthestone,heapingonitbrokenmassesofrocksandroughfragmentsofcrumblinggranite,fillingtheintersticeswithearth,intowhichhedeftlyinsertedrapidlygrowingplants,suchasthewildmyrtleandfloweringthorn,thencarefullywateringthesenewplantations,hescrupulouslyeffacedeverytraceoffootsteps,leavingtheapproachtothecavernassavage–lookinganduntroddenashehadfoundit.
TowaitatMonteCristoforthepurposeofwatchinglikeadragonoverthealmostincalculablerichesthathadthusfallenintohispossessionsatisfiednotthecravingsofhisheart,whichyearnedtoreturntodwellamongmankind,andtoassumetherank,power,andinfluencewhicharealwaysaccordedtowealth—thatfirstandgreatestofalltheforceswithinthegraspofman.
FromadistanceDantesrecognizedtherigandhandlingofTheYoungAmelia,anddragginghimselfwithaffecteddifficultytowardsthelanding–place,hemethiscompanionswithanassurancethat,althoughconsiderablybetterthanwhentheyquittedhim,hestillsufferedacutelyfromhislateaccident.
Tothisquestionthesmugglersrepliedthat,althoughsuccessfulinlandingtheircargoinsafety,theyhadscarcelydonesowhentheyreceivedintelligencethataguard–shiphadjustquittedtheportofToulonandwascrowdingallsailtowardsthem.
Thisobligedthemtomakeallthespeedtheycouldtoevadetheenemy,whentheycouldbutlamenttheabsenceofDantes,whosesuperiorskillinthemanagementofavesselwouldhaveavailedthemsomaterially.
Infact,thepursuingvesselhadalmostovertakenthemwhen,fortunately,nightcameon,andenabledthemtodoubletheCapeofCorsica,andsoeludeallfurtherpursuit.
Uponthewhole,however,thetriphadbeensufficientlysuccessfultosatisfyallconcerned;whilethecrew,andparticularlyJacopo,expressedgreatregretsthatDanteshadnotbeenanequalsharerwiththemselvesintheprofits,whichamountedtonolessasumthanfiftypiastreseach.
Edmondpreservedthemostadmirableself–command,notsufferingthefaintestindicationofasmiletoescapehimattheenumerationofallthebenefitshewouldhavereapedhadhebeenabletoquittheisland;butasTheYoungAmeliahadmerelycometoMonteCristotofetchhimaway,heembarkedthatsameevening,andproceededwiththecaptaintoLeghorn.
ArrivedatLeghorn,herepairedtothehouseofaJew,adealerinpreciousstones,towhomhedisposedoffourofhissmallestdiamondsforfivethousandfrancseach.
Danteshalffearedthatsuchvaluablejewelsinthehandsofapoorsailorlikehimselfmightexcitesuspicion;butthecunningpurchaseraskednotroublesomequestionsconcerningabargainbywhichhegainedaroundprofitofatleasteightypercent.
ThefollowingdayDantespresentedJacopowithanentirelynewvessel,accompanyingthegiftbyadonationofonehundredpiastres,thathemightprovidehimselfwithasuitablecrewandotherrequisitesforhisoutfit,uponconditionthathewouldgoatoncetoMarseillesforthepurposeofinquiringafteranoldmannamedLouisDantes,residingintheAlleesdeMeillan,andalsoayoungwomancalledMercedes,aninhabitantoftheCatalanvillage.
Jacopocouldscarcelybelievehissensesatreceivingthismagnificentpresent,whichDanteshastenedtoaccountforbysayingthathehadmerelybeenasailorfromwhimandadesiretospitehisfamily,whodidnotallowhimasmuchmoneyashelikedtospend;butthatonhisarrivalatLeghornhehadcomeintopossessionofalargefortune,lefthimbyanuncle,whosesoleheirhewas.
ThesuperioreducationofDantesgaveanairofsuchextremeprobabilitytothisstatementthatitneveronceoccurredtoJacopotodoubtitsaccuracy.
ThetermforwhichEdmondhadengagedtoserveonboardTheYoungAmeliahavingexpired,Dantestookleaveofthecaptain,whoatfirsttriedallhispowersofpersuasiontoinducehimtoremainasoneofthecrew,buthavingbeentoldthehistoryofthelegacy,heceasedtoimportunehimfurther.
ThefollowingmorningJacoposetsailforMarseilles,withdirectionsfromDantestojoinhimattheIslandofMonteCristo.
HavingseenJacopofairlyoutoftheharbor,DantesproceededtomakehisfinaladieusonboardTheYoungAmelia,distributingsoliberalagratuityamonghercrewastosecureforhimthegoodwishesofall,andexpressionsofcordialinterestinallthatconcernedhim.
Atthemomentofhisarrivalasmallyachtwasundertrialinthebay;thisyachthadbeenbuiltbyorderofanEnglishman,who,havingheardthattheGenoeseexcelledallotherbuildersalongtheshoresoftheMediterraneanintheconstructionoffast–sailingvessels,wasdesirousofpossessingaspecimenoftheirskill;thepriceagreeduponbetweentheEnglishmanandtheGenoesebuilderwasfortythousandfrancs.
Dantes,struckwiththebeautyandcapabilityofthelittlevessel,appliedtoitsownertotransferittohim,offeringsixtythousandfrancs,uponconditionthatheshouldbeallowedtotakeimmediatepossession.
Theproposalwastooadvantageoustoberefused,themoresoasthepersonforwhomtheyachtwasintendedhadgoneuponatourthroughSwitzerland,andwasnotexpectedbackinlessthanthreeweeksoramonth,bywhichtimethebuilderreckoneduponbeingabletocompleteanother.Abargainwasthereforestruck.
DantesledtheowneroftheyachttothedwellingofaJew;retiredwiththelatterforafewminutestoasmallbackparlor,andupontheirreturntheJewcountedouttotheshipbuilderthesumofsixtythousandfrancsinbrightgoldpieces.
Thedelightedbuilderthenofferedhisservicesinprovidingasuitablecrewforthelittlevessel,butthisDantesdeclinedwithmanythanks,sayinghewasaccustomedtocruiseaboutquitealone,andhisprincipalpleasureconsistedinmanaginghisyachthimself;theonlythingthebuildercouldobligehiminwouldbetocontriveasortofsecretclosetinthecabinathisbed’shead,theclosettocontainthreedivisions,soconstructedastobeconcealedfromallbuthimself.
Thebuildercheerfullyundertookthecommission,andpromisedtohavethesesecretplacescompletedbythenextday,Dantesfurnishingthedimensionsandplaninaccordancewithwhichtheyweretobeconstructed.
ThefollowingdayDantessailedwithhisyachtfromGenoa,undertheinspectionofanimmensecrowddrawntogetherbycuriositytoseetherichSpanishnoblemanwhopreferredmanaginghisownyacht.
Theboat,indeed,seemedtobeanimatedwithalmosthumanintelligence,sopromptlydiditobeytheslightesttouch;andDantesrequiredbutashorttrialofhisbeautifulcrafttoacknowledgethattheGenoesehadnotwithoutreasonattainedtheirhighreputationintheartofshipbuilding.
Thespectatorsfollowedthelittlevesselwiththeireyesaslongasitremainedvisible;theythenturnedtheirconjecturesuponherprobabledestination.
SomeinsistedshewasmakingforCorsica,otherstheIslandofElba;betswereofferedtoanyamountthatshewasboundforSpain;whileAfricawaspositivelyreportedbymanypersonsasherintendedcourse;butnoonethoughtofMonteCristo.
YetthitheritwasthatDantesguidedhisvessel,andatMonteCristohearrivedatthecloseofthesecondday;hisboathadprovedherselfafirst–classsailer,andhadcomethedistancefromGenoainthirty–fivehours.
Danteshadcarefullynotedthegeneralappearanceoftheshore,and,insteadoflandingattheusualplace,hedroppedanchorinthelittlecreek.
Theislandwasutterlydeserted,andborenoevidenceofhavingbeenvisitedsincehewentaway;histreasurewasjustashehadleftit.
Earlyonthefollowingmorninghecommencedtheremovalofhisriches,anderenightfallthewholeofhisimmensewealthwassafelydepositedinthecompartmentsofthesecretlocker.
Aweekpassedby.Dantesemployeditinmanoeuvringhisyachtroundtheisland,studyingitasaskilfulhorsemanwouldtheanimalhedestinedforsomeimportantservice,tillattheendofthattimehewasperfectlyconversantwithitsgoodandbadqualities.
Danteslistenedtothesemelancholytidingswithoutwardcalmness;but,leapinglightlyashore,hesignifiedhisdesiretobequitealone.Inacoupleofhourshereturned.
TwoofthemenfromJacopo’sboatcameonboardtheyachttoassistinnavigatingit,andhegaveordersthatsheshouldbesteereddirecttoMarseilles.
Forhisfather’sdeathhewasinsomemannerprepared;butheknewnothowtoaccountforthemysteriousdisappearanceofMercedes.
Therewere,besides,otherparticularshewasdesirousofascertaining,andthosewereofanaturehealonecouldinvestigateinamannersatisfactorytohimself.
Hislooking–glasshadassuredhim,duringhisstayatLeghorn,thatherannoriskofrecognition;moreover,hehadnowthemeansofadoptinganydisguisehethoughtproper.
Onefinemorning,then,hisyacht,followedbythelittlefishing–boat,boldlyenteredtheportofMarseilles,andanchoredexactlyoppositethespotfromwhence,onthenever–to–be–forgottennightofhisdeparturefortheChateaud’If,hehadbeenputonboardtheboatdestinedtoconveyhimthither.
StillDantescouldnotviewwithoutashuddertheapproachofagendarmewhoaccompaniedtheofficersdeputedtodemandhisbillofhealtheretheyachtwaspermittedtoholdcommunicationwiththeshore;butwiththatperfectself–possessionhehadacquiredduringhisacquaintancewithFaria,DantescoollypresentedanEnglishpassporthehadobtainedfromLeghorn,andasthisgavehimastandingwhichaFrenchpassportwouldnothaveafforded,hewasinformedthatthereexistednoobstacletohisimmediatedebarkation.
ThefirstpersontoattracttheattentionofDantes,ashelandedontheCanebiere,wasoneofthecrewbelongingtothePharaon.
Edmondwelcomedthemeetingwiththisfellow—whohadbeenoneofhisownsailors—asasuremeansoftestingtheextentofthechangewhichtimehadworkedinhisownappearance.
Goingstraighttowardshim,hepropoundedavarietyofquestionsondifferentsubjects,carefullywatchingtheman’scountenanceashedidso;butnotawordorlookimpliedthathehadtheslightestideaofeverhavingseenbeforethepersonwithwhomhewasthenconversing.
Givingthesailorapieceofmoneyinreturnforhiscivility,Dantesproceededonwards;buterehehadgonemanystepsheheardthemanloudlycallinghimtostop.Dantesinstantlyturnedtomeethim.
“Ibegyourpardon,sir,”saidthehonestfellow,inalmostbreathlesshaste,“butIbelieveyoumadeamistake;youintendedtogivemeatwo–francpiece,andsee,yougavemeadoubleNapoleon.”
“Thankyou,mygoodfriend.IseethatIhavemadeatriflingmistake,asyousay;butbywayofrewardingyourhonestyIgiveyouanotherdoubleNapoleon,thatyoumaydrinktomyhealth,andbeabletoaskyourmessmatestojoinyou.”
Soextremewasthesurpriseofthesailor,thathewasunableeventothankEdmond,whoserecedingfigurehecontinuedtogazeafterinspeechlessastonishment.
Dantes,meanwhile,wentonhisway.Eachstephetrodoppressedhisheartwithfreshemotion;hisfirstandmostindeliblerecollectionswerethere;notatree,notastreet,thathepassedbutseemedfilledwithdearandcherishedmemories.
AndthusheproceededonwardstillhearrivedattheendoftheRuedeNoailles,fromwhenceafullviewoftheAlleesdeMeillanwasobtained.
Atthisspot,sopregnantwithfondandfilialremembrances,hisheartbeatalmosttobursting,hiskneestotteredunderhim,amistfloatedoverhissight,andhadhenotclungforsupporttooneofthetrees,hewouldinevitablyhavefallentothegroundandbeencrushedbeneaththemanyvehiclescontinuallypassingthere.
Recoveringhimself,however,hewipedtheperspirationfromhisbrows,andstoppednotagaintillhefoundhimselfatthedoorofthehouseinwhichhisfatherhadlived.
Thenasturtiumsandotherplants,whichhisfatherhaddelightedtotrainbeforehiswindow,hadalldisappearedfromtheupperpartofthehouse.
Thoughansweredinthenegative,hebeggedsoearnestlytobepermittedtovisitthoseonthefifthfloor,that,indespiteoftheoft–repeatedassuranceoftheconciergethattheywereoccupied,Dantessucceededininducingthemantogouptothetenants,andaskpermissionforagentlemantobeallowedtolookatthem.
Thetenantsofthehumblelodgingwereayoungcouplewhohadbeenscarcelymarriedaweek;andseeingthem,Dantessighedheavily.
NothinginthetwosmallchambersformingtheapartmentsremainedasithadbeeninthetimeoftheelderDantes;theverypaperwasdifferent,whilethearticlesofantiquatedfurniturewithwhichtheroomshadbeenfilledinEdmond’stimehadalldisappeared;thefourwallsaloneremainedashehadleftthem.
Thebedbelongingtothepresentoccupantswasplacedastheformerownerofthechamberhadbeenaccustomedtohavehis;and,inspiteofhiseffortstopreventit,theeyesofEdmondweresuffusedintearsashereflectedthatonthatspottheoldmanhadbreathedhislast,vainlycallingforhisson.
Theyoungcouplegazedwithastonishmentatthesightoftheirvisitor’semotion,andwonderedtoseethelargetearssilentlychasingeachotherdownhisotherwisesternandimmovablefeatures;buttheyfeltthesacrednessofhisgrief,andkindlyrefrainedfromquestioninghimastoitscause,while,withinstinctivedelicacy,theylefthimtoindulgehissorrowalone.
Whenhewithdrewfromthesceneofhispainfulrecollections,theybothaccompaniedhimdownstairs,reiteratingtheirhopethathewouldcomeagainwheneverhepleased,andassuringhimthattheirpoordwellingwouldeverbeopentohim.
AsEdmondpassedthedooronthefourthfloor,hepausedtoinquirewhetherCaderoussethetailorstilldweltthere;buthereceived,forreply,thatthepersoninquestionhadgotintodifficulties,andatthepresenttimekeptasmallinnontheroutefromBellegardetoBeaucaire.
HavingobtainedtheaddressofthepersontowhomthehouseintheAlleesdeMeillanbelonged,Dantesnextproceededthither,and,underthenameofLordWilmore(thenameandtitleinscribedonhispassport),purchasedthesmalldwellingforthesumoftwenty–fivethousandfrancs,atleasttenthousandmorethanitwasworth;buthaditsowneraskedhalfamillion,itwouldunhesitatinglyhavebeengiven.
Theverysamedaytheoccupantsoftheapartmentsonthefifthfloorofthehouse,nowbecomethepropertyofDantes,weredulyinformedbythenotarywhohadarrangedthenecessarytransferofdeeds,etc.,thatthenewlandlordgavethemtheirchoiceofanyoftheroomsinthehouse,withouttheleastaugmentationofrent,uponconditionoftheirgivinginstantpossessionofthetwosmallchamberstheyatpresentinhabited.
ThisstrangeeventarousedgreatwonderandcuriosityintheneighborhoodoftheAlleesdeMeillan,andamultitudeoftheorieswereafloat,noneofwhichwasanywherenearthetruth.
Butwhatraisedpublicastonishmenttoaclimax,andsetallconjectureatdefiance,wastheknowledgethatthesamestrangerwhohadinthemorningvisitedtheAlleesdeMeillanhadbeenseenintheeveningwalkinginthelittlevillageoftheCatalans,andafterwardsobservedtoenterapoorfisherman’shut,andtopassmorethananhourininquiringafterpersonswhohadeitherbeendeadorgoneawayformorethanfifteenorsixteenyears.
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