The Count of Monte Cristo

d with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder. The Palais de Justice comm

his heart. The door opened, the two gendarmes gently pushed him forward, and the door closed with a l

was placed in this chamber. It was, as we have said, the 1st of March, and the prisoner was soon buried in darkness. The obscurity augmented the acuteness of his hearing; at the slightest sound he rose and hastened to the door, convinced they were about to liberate him, but the sound

d carbines of four gendarmes. He had advanced at firs

e to fetch m

eplied a

s of the depu

pprehensions; he advanced calmly, and placed himself in the centre of the escort. A carri

iage for me?"

ou, " replie

e intention to resist, he mounted the steps, and was in an instant seated inside between two gend

ng him he knew not whither. Through the grating, however, Dantès saw they were passing through the Rue Caiss

, a dozen soldiers came out and formed themselves in order; Dantès saw

be summoned on my ac

rs a passage formed from the carriage to the port. The two gendarmes who were opposite to him descended first, then he was ordered to alight and t

the officer stationed himself at the bow; a shove sent the boat adrift, and four sturdy oarsmen impelled it rapidly towards the Pilon. At a shout from

for he passed before La Réserve, where he had that morning been so happy, and now through the open windows cam

1

Mort, were now off the Anse du Pharo, and about to double

you taking me

ll soon

sti

iscipline, knew that nothing would be more absurd than to question s

oing to leave him on some distant point. He was not bound, nor had they made any attempt to handcuff him; this seemed a good augury. Besides, had not the deputy, who had been so kind to him, t

striving to pierce t

alans. It seemed to the prisoner that he could distinguish a feminine form on the beach, for it was there Mercédès

e only one awake in the whole settlement. A loud cry could be heard by her. But pride restrained

intervening elevation of land hid the light. Dantès turned and perceived that they had got out to sea. While he h

said he, "I adjure you, as a Christian and a soldier, to tell me where we are going. I am Captain Dantès, a loyal Frenchma

o returned for answer a sign that said, "I see no gre

s, and a sailor, and yet you d

or, I have

no idea

e at

s impos

it is true. Tell

my or

must know in ten minutes, in half an hour, or an h

have never been outside

do

lack and frowning rock on which stands the Chateau d'If. This gloomy fortress, which has for more than thre

cried he, "what are

darme s

s only used for political prisoners. I have committed no cri

, and good thick walls. Come, come, do not look so astonished, or you w

ndarme's hand as thou

that I am taken to the Chateau

there is no occasio

quiry, without

e been gone through; the

e of M. de Ville

the gendarme, "but I know we are taking you to the Chat

rang forward to precipitate himself into the sea; but four vigorous arms seized

-spoken gentlemen again! Hark ye, my friend, I have disobeyed my first order, but I will not disobey the second; and if

n him. But he bethought him of M. de Villefort's promise; and, besides, death in a boat from the hand of a g

lors leaped on shore, a cord creaked as it ran through a pulley, and Dantès gu

d dragged him towards the steps that lead to the gate of the fortress, whi

ng a flight of steps; he was conscious that he passed through a door, and that the door closed behind him; but all this indistinctly as

round; he was in a court surrounded by high walls; he heard the measured tread of sen

tès could not escape, the gendarmes released hi

prisoner?" s

eplied the

me; I will take

ndarmes, thrustin

lls seemed as though impregnated with tears; a lamp placed on a stool illumined the apartment faintly,

1

s all a prisoner can wish for. Goodnight." And before Dantès could open his mouth—before he had noticed where the jailer placed his bread or the water—before he had glanced towards the corner

urned, with orders to leave Dantès where he was. He found the prisoner in the same position, as if fixed there, his eyes swollen with weeping. He had p

slept?" said

replied Dantès.

ungry?" co

not

ish for a

o see the

d his shoulders an

but the door closed. All his emotion then burst forth; he cast himself on the ground, we

the shore, concealed himself until the arrival of a Genoese or Spanish vessel, escaped to Spain or Italy, where Mercédès and his father could have joined him. He had no fears as to how he should live—good seamen are welcome everywhere. He spoke Italian like a Tuscan, and Spanish like a Castilian; he would have been free, and happy with Mercédès a

are you more reasonable tod

there anything tha

o see the

y told you it

y s

ison rules, and prisoners

allowed

pay for it, books, an

ith my food, and do not care to walk a

g the same thing, I will not

, "if you do not, I shall

ie; and as every prisoner is worth ten sous a day

you will be allowed to walk about, and some day you will meet

ès, "how long shal

th—six mon

time. I wish to

ays brood over what is impossible,

think

a million of francs to the governor for his liberty that

1

g has he

yea

liberate

s put in a

t mad; perhaps I shall be, but at present, unfort

is t

hundred crowns if, the first time you go to Marseilles, you will seek out a

1

, which is worth two thousand francs a year; so that I sho

Mercédès I am here, I will some day hide myself behind the door

you are certainly going mad. The abbé began like you, and in three days you wil

d the stool r

er; "all right, since you will have it

g on it as if he were in reality mad. The jailer went out, a

" said he, "conduct the pri

n, then, " sai

the madmen." The soldiers seized

Dantès advanced with outstretched hands until he touched the wall; he then sat down in the corner until his