The Count of Monte Cristo

splendent, touching the foamy waves

nexplicable reason the name of one of the principal cities of France; beneath these windows a wooden balcony extended the entire length of the house. And although the entertainment was fixed for twelve o'clock, an hour previous to that time the balcony was fill

romised to attend the nuptial feast; but all seemed unanimous in doubting tha

fectually confirmed the report, stating that he had recently conversed with M

s a sure indication that the man whose wedding feast he thus delighted to honor would ere long be first in command of the ship; and as Dantès was universally beloved o

e bride-groom to convey to him the intelligence of the arrival of the important persona

group advancing towards them, composed of the betrothed pair, a party of young girls in attendance on the bride,

of his countenance; they were so happy that they were cons

ichly embroidered clocked stockings, evidently of English manufacture, while from his three-cornered hat depended a long streaming knot of white and blue ribbons. Thus he came along, supporting himself on a curiously carved stick, his aged countenance lit up with happiness, looking for all the world like one of the aged dandies of 1796, parading the newly opened gardens of the Tuileries

o have entirely forgotten that such a being as himself existed, was pale and abstracted; occasionally, however, a deep flush would overspread his countenance, and a nervous contraction d

-a costume somewhat between a military and a civil garb; and with his fine countenance, radian

Andalusian. One more practiced in the arts of great cities would have hid her blushes beneath a veil, or, at least, have cast down her thickly fringed lashes, so as to have concealed the li

Dantès should be the successor to the late Captain Leclere. Edmond, at the approach of his patron, respectfully placed the arm of his affianced bride within that of M. Morrel, who, forthwith conducting her up the

been as a brother to me," pointing with a soft and gentle smile to Fernand; but her words and look seemed to inflict the direst torture on him, for his lips

ng his most honored guests. M. Morrel was seated at his right hand, Danglars at his left; while,

he echinus with its prickly outside and dainty morsel within, the clovis, esteemed by the epicures of the South as more than rivalling the exquisite flavor of

hue and brightness of the topaz, and which had just been placed before Mercédès herself. "Now, would anybody thin

cannot always feel happy becau

s what you meant by your observation, my worthy friend, you are right; joy take

whose excitable nature received a

u fear any approaching evil? I should say that y

ed palaces we read of in our childhood, where fierce, fiery dragons defend the entrance and approach; and monsters of all shapes and kinds, requiring to be overcom

yet. Mercédès is not yet your wife. Just assume the tone and manner of a

to start at every fresh sound, and from time to time wiped a

ct me for such a trifle as that. 'Tis true that Mercédès is not actually my wi

, whose laugh displayed the still perfect beauty of his large white teeth. Mercédès looked pl

anglars, turning pale. "

We have purchased permission to waive the usual delay; and at half-past two o'clock the mayor of Marseilles will be waiting for us at the city hall. Now, as a quarte

self by the table to prevent his falling from his chair; but in spite of all his efforts, he could not r

f affair. Arrived here only yesterday morning, and married to-day at t

"how did you manage about the other form

no fortune; I have none to settle on her. So, you see, our papers were quickly written out

the betrothal feast turns out to be the

or Paris; four days to go, and the same to return, with one day to discharge the commission intrusted to me, is all th

e commencement of the repast, had commented upon the silence that prevailed, now found it difficult, amid the general din

responded by a look of grateful pleasure; while Mercédès gl

e trammels of etiquette. Such as at the commencement of the repast had not been able to seat themselves according to their inclination rose unceremoniously, and sou

e tortures of the damned; unable to rest, he was among the first to quit the table, and, as though seeking to avoid the

, whom Fernand seemed most anxious to avoi

faced every feeling of envy or jealousy at Dantès' good fortune,--"upon my word, Dantès is a downright good fellow, and when I see him sitting there besid

be tempted to do; but when I saw how completely he had mastered his feelings, even so far as to become one of his rival'

the beauty of the bride is concerned. Upon my soul, that future captain

voice of Mercédès; "two o'clock has just struck, an

ed Dantès, eagerly quitting th

d by the whole party, w

At the same instant his ear caught a sort of indistinct sound on the stairs, followed by the measured tread of soldiery, with the clanking of swords and military accoutrements; then came a hum and buzz as of many voices

truck upon the panel of the door. The comp

prevent it, the door was opened, and a magistrate, wearing his official scarf, presented himself, followed by

?" said M. Morrel, addressing the magistrate, whom he evident

rform the task assigned me, it must, nevertheless, be fulfilled. Who among the persons here assembled answers to the name of Edmond Dantès?" Every eye was turned t

he magistrate, "I arrest y

lightly changing color,

inted with the reasons that have rendered such a

y. Old Dantès, however, sprang forward. There are situations which the heart of a father or a mother cannot be made to understand. He prayed and supplicated in terms so moving, that even the officer was touched, and, although firm in his duty, he kindly said, "My worthy friend, let me beg of yo

ed Caderousse, frowningly, of Danglars, w

d at all that is going on, and cannot in the least make out what it is ab

painful catastrophe he had just witnessed appeared effectually to have rent away the vei

a part of the trick you were concerting yesterday? All I can say is, that if it be so, '

have nothing whatever to do with it; besides, you

erousse, "you merely threw it b

--what should you know about

nand?" inquir

o be, to look after his own affairs, most likely. Never mind where he

rendered himself to the officer sent to arrest him, merely saying, "Make yourselves quite easy, my good fellows, there is some l

had now approached the group, "nothing m

the soldiers. A carriage awaited him at the door; he got in, followed by two

cried Mercédès, stretching out h

aning from the coach he called out, "Good-by, Mercédès--we shall soon meet again

l take the first conveyance I find, and hurry to Marsei

ultitude of voices, "go, and

t behind. The old father and Mercédès remained for some time apart, each absorbed in grief; but at length the two poo

went to sit down at the first vacant place, and this was, by mere chance, placed next to the seat on which poor Mercédès had fal

e sure of it," whispered Caderousse, who had n

upid to imagine such a scheme. I only hope the misc

who aided and abetted the

cannot be held responsible for eve

e arrow lights point down

e arrest was being canvass

aid one of the party, turning

ès may have been detected with some trifling arti

hout your knowledge, Danglars, sin

know she was loaded with cotton, and that she took in her freight at Alexandria from Pastret's warehouse, and at

"my poor boy told me yesterday he had got a smal

epend upon it the custom-house people went rummaging about the sh

over's arrest. Her grief, which she had hitherto tried to re

an, "be comforted, my poor c

epeated D

eemed to die away on his pale agitated lips, and

ned in the balcony on the lookout. "Here comes M. Morrel back

o meet the shipowner and greeted

laimed a general

mournful shake of his head, "the thing has a

ir, he is innocent!" s

ered M. Morrel; "but s

inquired the

ur readers may be able to recollect how formidable such an

e pale lips of Mercédès; th

f last night has been played; but I cannot suffer a poor old man or an innocent gi

ès be innocent or guilty? The vessel did touch at Elba, where he quitted it, and passed a whole day in the island. Now, should any letters or

ved the solidity of this mode of reasoning; he gazed, doubtfully,

hat comes of it," said he, casting

If he be innocent, of course he will be set at liberty; if gu

lied Danglars, pleased to find the other so tractable. "Let us take oursel

and protector of Mercédès, led the girl to her home, while the frien

onapartist agent was not slow in

the port for the purpose of gleaning fresh tidings of Dantès, from M. de Villefort, the assistant p

considered the circumstance of his having anchored at

hese suspicions to any

ceal what he thinks on the subject, you are strongly suspected of regretting the abdication of Napoleon. I should have feared to injure both Edmond and yourself, had I divulged my own apprehensions to a

worthy fellow; and I had already thought of your interests in

ible you we

n of you, and if he should have any reluctance to continue you in you

t was hi

ly referred to without entering into particulars, but that whoever possessed the

te!" murmure

. "No one can deny his being a

M. Morrel, "here is the P

t for the next three months, let us hope that ere the e

but in the

rienced captain in the service; and it will be so far advantageous to you to accept my services, that upon Edmond's release from

once to assume the command of the Pharaon, and look carefully to the unloading of

; but do you think we shall be pe

terest in Edmond's favor. I am aware he is a furious royalist; but, in spite of that, and o

"but I hear that he is ambitions,

I will join you there ere long." So saying, the worthy shipowner quitted

se, "the turn things have taken. Do you still

to me a shocking thing that a mere jo

elf, but Fernand; you knew very well that I threw the paper int

id not. I only wish I could see it now as plainly as I saw

o be copied; perhaps, even, he did not take the trouble of recopying it. And now I think of it, by

of Dantès being engag

ng was a joke, nothing more. It seems, however, t

e kind had happened; or, at least, that I had had no hand in it. You wi

be implicated in any way? All we have got to do is, to keep our own counsel, and remain perfectly quiet, not brea

ng his steps towards the Allées de Meillan, moving his head to and fro, and muttering

that fool of a Caderousse can be persuaded to hold his tongue. My only fear is the chance of Dantès being released. But, there, he is in the hands of Justice; and,"