基督山伯爵 英文版 The Count of Monte Cristo
大仲马 Alexandre Dumas père
Chapter 5 Page 2
Dantes descended the staircase, preceded by the magistrate,and followed by the soldiers. A carriage awaited him at thedoor; he got in, followed by two soldiers and themagistrate, and the vehicle drove off towards Marseilles.
"Adieu, adieu, dearest Edmond!" cried Mercedes, stretchingout her arms to him from the balcony.
The prisoner heard the cry, which sounded like the sob of abroken heart, and leaning from the coach he called out,"Good-by, Mercedes -- we shall soon meet again!" Then thevehicle disappeared round one of the turnings of Fort SaintNicholas.
"Wait for me here, all of you!" cried M. Morrel; "I willtake the first conveyance I find, and hurry to Marseilles,whence I will bring you word how all is going on."
"That's right!" exclaimed a multitude of voices, "go, andreturn as quickly as you can!"
This second departure was followed by a long and fearfulstate of terrified silence on the part of those who wereleft behind. The old father and Mercedes remained for sometime apart, each absorbed in grief; but at length the twopoor victims of the same blow raised their eyes, and with asimultaneous burst of feeling rushed into each other's arms.
Meanwhile Fernand made his appearance, poured out forhimself a glass of water with a trembling hand; then hastilyswallowing it, went to sit down at the first vacant place,and this was, by mere chance, placed next to the seat onwhich poor Mercedes had fallen half fainting, when releasedfrom the warm and affectionate embrace of old Dantes.Instinctively Fernand drew back his chair.
"He is the cause of all this misery -- I am quite sure ofit," whispered Caderousse, who had never taken his eyes offFernand, to Danglars.
"I don't think so," answered the other; he's too stupid toimagine such a scheme. I only hope the mischief will fallupon the head of whoever wrought it."
"You don't mention those who aided and abetted the deed,"said Caderousse.
"Surely," answered Danglars, "one cannot be held responsiblefor every chance arrow shot into the air."
"You can, indeed, when the arrow lights point downward onsomebody's head."
Meantime the subject of the arrest was being canvassed inevery different form.
"What think you, Danglars," said one of the party, turningtowards him, "of this event?"
"Why," replied he, "I think it just possible Dantes may havebeen detected with some trifling article on board shipconsidered here as contraband."
"But how could he have done so without your knowledge,Danglars, since you are the ship's supercargo?"
"Why, as for that, I could only know what I was toldrespecting the merchandise with which the vessel was laden.I know she was loaded with cotton, and that she took in herfreight at Alexandria from Pastret's warehouse, and atSmyrna from Pascal's; that is all I was obliged to know, andI beg I may not be asked for any further particulars."
"Now I recollect," said the afflicted old father; "my poorboy told me yesterday he had got a small case of coffee, andanother of tobacco for me!"
"There, you see," exclaimed Danglars. "Now the mischief isout; depend upon it the custom-house people went rummagingabout the ship in our absence, and discovered poor Dantes'hidden treasures."
Mercedes, however, paid no heed to this explanation of herlover's arrest. Her grief, which she had hitherto tried torestrain, now burst out in a violent fit of hystericalsobbing.
"Come, come," said the old man, "be comforted, my poorchild; there is still hope!"
"Hope!" repeated Danglars.
"Hope!" faintly murmured Fernand, but the word seemed to dieaway on his pale agitated lips, and a convulsive spasmpassed over his countenance.
"Good news! good news!" shouted forth one of the partystationed in the balcony on the lookout. "Here comes M.Morrel back. No doubt, now, we shall hear that our friend isreleased!"
Mercedes and the old man rushed to meet the shipowner andgreeted him at the door. He was very pale.
"What news?" exclaimed a general burst of voices.
"Alas, my friends," replied M. Morrel, with a mournful shakeof his head, "the thing has assumed a more serious aspectthan I expected."
"Oh, indeed -- indeed, sir, he is innocent!" sobbed forthMercedes.
"That I believe!" answered M. Morrel; "but still he ischarged" --
"With what?" inquired the elder Dantes.
"With being an agent of the Bonapartist faction!" Many ofour readers may be able to recollect how formidable such anaccusation became in the period at which our story is dated.
A despairing cry escaped the pale lips of Mercedes; the oldman sank into a chair.
"Ah, Danglars!" whispered Caderousse, "you have deceived me-- the trick you spoke of last night has been played; but Icannot suffer a poor old man or an innocent girl to die ofgrief through your fault. I am determined to tell them allabout it."
"Be silent, you simpleton!" cried Danglars, grasping him bythe arm, "or I will not answer even for your own safety. Whocan tell whether Dantes be innocent or guilty? The vesseldid touch at Elba, where he quitted it, and passed a wholeday in the island. Now, should any letters or otherdocuments of a compromising character be found upon him,will it not be taken for granted that all who uphold him arehis accomplices?"
With the rapid instinct of selfishness, Caderousse readilyperceived the solidity of this mode of reasoning; he gazed,doubtfully, wistfully, on Danglars, and then cautionsupplanted generosity.
"Suppose we wait a while, and see what comes of it," saidhe, casting a bewildered look on his companion.
"To be sure!" answered Danglars. "Let us wait, by all means.If he be innocent, of course he will be set at liberty; ifguilty, why, it is no use involving ourselves in aconspiracy."
"Let us go, then. I cannot stay here any longer."
"With all my heart!" replied Danglars, pleased to find theother so tractable. "Let us take ourselves out of the way,and leave things for the present to take their course."
After their departure, Fernand, who had now again become thefriend and protector of Mercedes, led the girl to her home,while the friends of Dantes conducted the now half-faintingman back to his abode.
The rumor of Edmond's arrest as a Bonapartist agent was notslow in circulating throughout the city.
"Could you ever have credited such a thing, my dearDanglars?" asked M. Morrel, as, on his return to the portfor the purpose of gleaning fresh tidings of Dantes, from M.de Villefort, the assistant procureur, he overtook hissupercargo and Caderousse. "Could you have believed such athing possible?"
"Why, you know I told you," replied Danglars, "that Iconsidered the circumstance of his having anchored at theIsland of Elba as a very suspicious circumstance."
"And did you mention these suspicions to any person besidemyself?"
"Certainly not!" returned Danglars. Then added in a lowwhisper, "You understand that, on account of your uncle, M.Policar Morrel, who served under the other government, andwho does not altogether conceal what he thinks on thesubject, you are strongly suspected of regretting theabdication of Napoleon. I should have feared to injure bothEdmond and yourself, had I divulged my own apprehensions toa soul. I am too well aware that though a subordinate, likemyself, is bound to acquaint the shipowner with everythingthat occurs, there are many things he ought most carefullyto conceal from all else."
"'Tis well, Danglars -- 'tis well!" replied M. Morrel. "Youare a worthy fellow; and I had already thought of yourinterests in the event of poor Edmond having become captainof the Pharaon."
"Is it possible you were so kind?"
"Yes, indeed; I had previously inquired of Dantes what washis opinion of you, and if he should have any reluctance tocontinue you in your post, for somehow I have perceived asort of coolness between you."
"That he certainly did think he had given you offence in anaffair which he merely referred to without entering intoparticulars, but that whoever possessed the good opinion andconfidence of the ship's owner would have his preferencealso."
"The hypocrite!" murmured Danglars.
"Poor Dantes!" said Caderousse. "No one can deny his being anoble-hearted young fellow."
"But meanwhile," continued M. Morrel, "here is the Pharaonwithout a captain."
"Oh," replied Danglars, "since we cannot leave this port forthe next three months, let us hope that ere the expirationof that period Dantes will be set at liberty."
"No doubt; but in the meantime?"
"I am entirely at your service, M. Morrel," answeredDanglars. "You know that I am as capable of managing a shipas the most experienced captain in the service; and it willbe so far advantageous to you to accept my services, thatupon Edmond's release from prison no further change will berequisite on board the Pharaon than for Dantes and myselfeach to resume our respective posts."
"Thanks, Danglars -- that will smooth over all difficulties.I fully authorize you at once to assume the command of thePharaon, and look carefully to the unloading of her freight.Private misfortunes must never be allowed to interfere withbusiness."
"Be easy on that score, M. Morrel; but do you think we shallbe permitted to see our poor Edmond?"
"I will let you know that directly I have seen M. deVillefort, whom I shall endeavor to interest in Edmond'sfavor. I am aware he is a furious royalist; but, in spite ofthat, and of his being king's attorney, he is a man likeourselves, and I fancy not a bad sort of one."
isreleased!"bring!
"Perhaps not," replied Danglars; "but I hear that he isambitious, and that's rather against him."
"Well, well," returned M. Morrel, "we shall see. But nowhasten on board, I will join you there ere long." So saying,the worthy shipowner quitted the two allies, and proceededin the direction of the Palais de Justice.
"You see," said Danglars, addressing Caderousse, "the turnthings have taken. Do you still feel any desire to stand upin his defence?"
"Not the slightest, but yet it seems to me a shocking thingthat a mere joke should lead to such consequences."
"But who perpetrated that joke, let me ask? neither you normyself, but Fernand; you knew very well that I threw thepaper into a corner of the room -- indeed, I fancied I haddestroyed it."
"Oh, no," replied Caderousse, "that I can answer for, youdid not. I only wish I could see it now as plainly as I sawit lying all crushed and crumpled in a corner of the arbor."
"Well, then, if you did, depend upon it, Fernand picked itup, and either copied it or caused it to be copied; perhaps,even, he did not take the trouble of recopying it. And now Ithink of it, by Heavens, he may have sent the letter itself!Fortunately, for me, the handwriting was disguised."
"Then you were aware of Dantes being engaged in aconspiracy?"
"Not I. As I before said, I thought the whole thing was ajoke, nothing more. It seems, however, that I haveunconsciously stumbled upon the truth."
"Still," argued Caderousse, "I would give a great deal ifnothing of the kind had happened; or, at least, that I hadhad no hand in it. You will see, Danglars, that it will turnout an unlucky job for both of us."
"Nonsense! If any harm come of it, it should fall on theguilty person; and that, you know, is Fernand. How can we beimplicated in any way? All we have got to do is, to keep ourown counsel, and remain perfectly quiet, not breathing aword to any living soul; and you will see that the stormwill pass away without in the least affecting us."
"Amen!" responded Caderousse, waving his hand in token ofadieu to Danglars, and bending his steps towards the Alleesde Meillan, moving his head to and fro, and muttering as hewent, after the manner of one whose mind was overchargedwith one absorbing idea.
"So far, then," said Danglars, mentally, "all has gone as Iwould have it. I am, temporarily, commander of the Pharaon,with the certainty of being permanently so, if that fool ofa Caderousse can be persuaded to hold his tongue. My onlyfear is the chance of Dantes being released. But, there, heis in the hands of Justice; and," added he with a smile,"she will take her own." So saying, he leaped into a boat,desiring to be rowed on board the Pharaon, where M. Morrelhad agreed to meet him.