Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.1-10

The Count of Monte Cristo `
` `
` by Alexandre Dumas [Pere] `
` `
` `
` Chapter 1 `
` Marseilles -- The Arrival. `
` `
` On the 24th of February, 1815, the look-out at Notre-Dame de `
` la Garde signalled the three-master, the Pharaon from `
` Smyrna, Trieste, and Naples. `
` `
` As usual, a pilot put off immediately, and rounding the `
` Chateau d'If, got on board the vessel between Cape Morgion `
` and Rion island. `
` `
` Immediately, and according to custom, the ramparts of Fort `
` Saint-Jean were covered with spectators; it is always an `
` event at Marseilles for a ship to come into port, especially `
` when this ship, like the Pharaon, has been built, rigged, `
` and laden at the old Phocee docks, and belongs to an owner `
` of the city. `
` `
` The ship drew on and had safely passed the strait, which `
` some volcanic shock has made between the Calasareigne and `
` Jaros islands; had doubled Pomegue, and approached the `
` harbor under topsails, jib, and spanker, but so slowly and `
` sedately that the idlers, with that instinct which is the `
` forerunner of evil, asked one another what misfortune could `
` have happened on board. However, those experienced in `
` navigation saw plainly that if any accident had occurred, it `
` was not to the vessel herself, for she bore down with all `
` the evidence of being skilfully handled, the anchor `
` a-cockbill, the jib-boom guys already eased off, and `
` standing by the side of the pilot, who was steering the `
` Pharaon towards the narrow entrance of the inner port, was a `
` young man, who, with activity and vigilant eye, watched `
` every motion of the ship, and repeated each direction of the `
` pilot. `
` `
` The vague disquietude which prevailed among the spectators `
` had so much affected one of the crowd that he did not await `
` the arrival of the vessel in harbor, but jumping into a `
` small skiff, desired to be pulled alongside the Pharaon, `
` which he reached as she rounded into La Reserve basin. `
` `
` When the young man on board saw this person approach, he `
` left his station by the pilot, and, hat in hand, leaned over `
` the ship's bulwarks. `
` `
` He was a fine, tall, slim young fellow of eighteen or `
` twenty, with black eyes, and hair as dark as a raven's wing; `
` and his whole appearance bespoke that calmness and `
` resolution peculiar to men accustomed from their cradle to `
` contend with danger. `
` `
` "Ah, is it you, Dantes?" cried the man in the skiff. "What's `
` the matter? and why have you such an air of sadness aboard?" `
` `
` "A great misfortune, M. Morrel," replied the young man, -- `
` "a great misfortune, for me especially! Off Civita Vecchia `
` we lost our brave Captain Leclere." `
` `
` "And the cargo?" inquired the owner, eagerly. `
` `
` "Is all safe, M. Morrel; and I think you will be satisfied `
` on that head. But poor Captain Leclere -- " `
` `
` "What happened to him?" asked the owner, with an air of `
` considerable resignation. "What happened to the worthy `
` captain?" `
` `
` "He died." `
` `
` "Fell into the sea?" `
` `
` "No, sir, he died of brain-fever in dreadful agony." Then `
` turning to the crew, he said, "Bear a hand there, to take in `
` sail!" `
` `
` All hands obeyed, and at once the eight or ten seamen who `
` composed the crew, sprang to their respective stations at `
` the spanker brails and outhaul, topsail sheets and halyards, `
` the jib downhaul, and the topsail clewlines and buntlines. `
` The young sailor gave a look to see that his orders were `
` promptly and accurately obeyed, and then turned again to the `
` owner. `
` `
` "And how did this misfortune occur?" inquired the latter, `
` resuming the interrupted conversation. `
` `
` "Alas, sir, in the most unexpected manner. After a long talk `
` with the harbor-master, Captain Leclere left Naples greatly `
` disturbed in mind. In twenty-four hours he was attacked by a `
` fever, and died three days afterwards. We performed the `
` usual burial service, and he is at his rest, sewn up in his `
` hammock with a thirty-six pound shot at his head and his `
` heels, off El Giglio island. We bring to his widow his sword `
` and cross of honor. It was worth while, truly," added the `
` young man with a melancholy smile, "to make war against the `
` English for ten years, and to die in his bed at last, like `
` everybody else." `
` `
` "Why, you see, Edmond," replied the owner, who appeared more `
` comforted at every moment, "we are all mortal, and the old `
` must make way for the young. If not, why, there would be no `
` promotion; and since you assure me that the cargo -- " `
` `
` "Is all safe and sound, M. Morrel, take my word for it; and `
` I advise you not to take 25,000 francs for the profits of `
` the voyage." `
` `
` Then, as they were just passing the Round Tower, the young `
` man shouted: "Stand by there to lower the topsails and jib; `
` brail up the spanker!" `
` `
` The order was executed as promptly as it would have been on `
` board a man-of-war. `
` `
` "Let go -- and clue up!" At this last command all the sails `
` were lowered, and the vessel moved almost imperceptibly `
` onwards. `
` `
` "Now, if you will come on board, M. Morrel," said Dantes, `
` observing the owner's impatience, "here is your supercargo, `
` M. Danglars, coming out of his cabin, who will furnish you `
` with every particular. As for me, I must look after the `
` anchoring, and dress the ship in mourning." `
` `
` The owner did not wait for a second invitation. He seized a `
` rope which Dantes flung to him, and with an activity that `
` would have done credit to a sailor, climbed up the side of `
` the ship, while the young man, going to his task, left the `
` conversation to Danglars, who now came towards the owner. He `
` was a man of twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, of `
` unprepossessing countenance, obsequious to his superiors, `
` insolent to his subordinates; and this, in addition to his `
` position as responsible agent on board, which is always `
` obnoxious to the sailors, made him as much disliked by the `
` crew as Edmond Dantes was beloved by them. `
` `
` "Well, M. Morrel," said Danglars, "you have heard of the `
` misfortune that has befallen us?" `
` `
` "Yes -- yes: poor Captain Leclere! He was a brave and an `
` honest man." `
` `
` "And a first-rate seaman, one who had seen long and `
` honorable service, as became a man charged with the `
` interests of a house so important as that of Morrel Son," `
` replied Danglars. `
` `
` "But," replied the owner, glancing after Dantes, who was `
` watching the anchoring of his vessel, "it seems to me that a `
` sailor needs not be so old as you say, Danglars, to `
` understand his business, for our friend Edmond seems to `
` understand it thoroughly, and not to require instruction `
` from any one." `
` `
` "Yes," said Danglars, darting at Edmond a look gleaming with `
` hate. "Yes, he is young, and youth is invariably `
` self-confident. Scarcely was the captain's breath out of his `
` body when he assumed the command without consulting any one, `
` and he caused us to lose a day and a half at the Island of `
` Elba, instead of making for Marseilles direct." `
` `
` "As to taking command of the vessel," replied Morrel, "that `
` was his duty as captain's mate; as to losing a day and a `
` half off the Island of Elba, he was wrong, unless the vessel `
` needed repairs." `
` `
` "The vessel was in as good condition as I am, and as, I hope `
` you are, M. Morrel, and this day and a half was lost from `
` pure whim, for the pleasure of going ashore, and nothing `
` else." `
` `
` "Dantes," said the shipowner, turning towards the young man, `
` "come this way!" `
` `
` "In a moment, sir," answered Dantes, "and I'm with you." `
` Then calling to the crew, he said -- "Let go!" `
` `
` The anchor was instantly dropped, and the chain ran rattling `
` through the port-hole. Dantes continued at his post in spite `
` of the presence of the pilot, until this manoeuvre was `
` completed, and then he added, "Half-mast the colors, and `
` square the yards!" `
` `
` "You see," said Danglars, "he fancies himself captain `
` already, upon my word." `
` `
` "And so, in fact, he is," said the owner. `
` `
` "Except your signature and your partner's, M. Morrel." `
` `
` "And why should he not have this?" asked the owner; "he is `
` young, it is true, but he seems to me a thorough seaman, and `
` of full experience." `
` `
` A cloud passed over Danglars' brow. "Your pardon, M. `
` Morrel," said Dantes, approaching, "the vessel now rides at `
`