002 - The Count of Monte Cristo - Father and Son

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Chapter two of the Count of MonteCristo by Alexandre Duma. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain recording byDavid Clarke. Chapter two, Father and
Son, We will leave danglars strugglingwith the demon of hatred and endeavoring to

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insinuate in the ear of the shipowner some evil suspicions against his comrade,
and followed Dantes, who, afterhaving traversed La Canabiere, took the Rue
de Noys and entered a small houseon the left of the Allee de Maan,
rapidly ascended four flights of a darkstaircase, holding the baluster with one

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hand, while with the other herepressed the beatings of his heart, and
paused before a half open door,from which he could see the whole of
a small room. This room wasoccupied by Dante's father. The news of
the arrival of the Pharaoh had notyet reached the old man, who mounted

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on a chair, was amusing himselfby training with trembling hand the nasturtiums and
sprays of clematis that clambered over thetrellis at his window. Suddenly he felt
an arm thrown around his body,and a well known voice behind him exclaimed
a father, a dear father.The old man uttered a cry and turned

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round. Then seeing his son,he fell into his arms, pale and
trembling. What ails you, mydearest father, Are you ill? Inquired
the young man, much alarmed.No, no, my dear Edmond,
my boy, my son. No, but I did not expect you,

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and joy the surprise of seeing youso suddenly I feel as if I am
going to die. Come come cheerup, my dear father. It is
I really I they say, joynever hurts, and so I came to
you without any warning. Come now, do smile instead of looking at me

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so solemnly. Here I am backagain, and we are going to be
happy. Yes, yes, myboy, so we will. So we
will, replied the old man.But how shall we be happy? Shall
you never leave me again? Cometell me all the good fortune that has

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befallen you. God forgive me,said the young man, for rejoicing at
happiness derived from the misery of others. But Evan knows I did not seek
this good fortune. It has happened, and I really cannot pretend to lament
it. The good Captain le Claireis dead. Father, and it is

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probable that, with the aid ofMonsieur Morrel I shall have his place.
Do you understand, father, onlyvulging me a captain at twenty with a
hundred louis pay and a share inthe profits. Is this not more than
a poor sailor like me could havehoped for? Yes, my dear boy,

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replied the old man, it isvery fortunate. Well, then,
with the first money I touch,I mean you to have a small house
with a garden in which to plantcalamatis, nastuccham and anicucle But what ails
you, father, are you notwell? Is nothing? Nothing? It

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will soon pass away. And ashe said so, the old man's strength
failed him, and he fell backwards. Come, come, said the young
man. A glass of wine,father will revive you. Where do you
keep your wine? No, nothanks, you need not look for it.
I do not want it, saidthe old man. Yes, yes,

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Father, tell me where it is. And he opened two or three
cupboards. It is no use,said the old man. There is no
wine. What no wine, saidDante, turning pale and looking alternately at
the hollow cheeks of the old manand the empty cupboards. What no wine?

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Have you wanted? Money? Father, I want nothing now that I
have you, said the old man. Yet, stammered Dante, wiping the
perspiration from his brow. Yet Igave you two hundred francs when I left
three months ago. Yes, yes, Edmund, that is true. But

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you forgot at the time a littledebt to a neighbor god Rouse. He
reminded me of it, telling meif I did not pay for you,
he would be paid by Missieur Morrel. And so you see, lest he
might do you an injury. Well, why I paid him, but cried

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Dante. It was one hundred andforty franc iowed Cadroousse. Yes, stammered
the old man, And you paidhim out of the two hundred francs I
left you. The old man nodded. So that you have lived for three
months on sixty francs, muttered Edmond. You know how little I require,

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said the old man. Heaven,pardon me, cried Edmond, falling on
his knees before his father. Whatare you doing? You have wounded me
to the heart. Never mind it, for I see you once more,
said the old man. And nowit's all over, Everything is all right

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again. Yes, I am here, said the young man, with a
promising future, and a little money. Here, father, here, he
said, take this, take itand send for something immediately. And he
emptied his pockets on the table,the contents consisting of a dozen gold pieces,

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five or six five franc pieces,and some smaller coin. The countenance
of old Dante brightened. Ohm doesthis belong to? He inquired to me,
to you, to us take it, buy some provisions, Be happy,
and tomorrow we shall have more.Gently, gently said the old man

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with a smile. And by yourleave, I will use your purse moderately,
For they would say, if theysaw me buy too many things at
a time, that I had beenobliged to await your return in order to
be able to purchase them. Doas you please, but first of all,

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pray have a servant. Father.I would not have you left alone
so long. I have some smuggledcoffee and most capital tobacco in a small
chest in the hold, which youshall have tomorrow. But hush, here
comes somebody. It is Caderousse,who has heard of your arrival, and

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no doubt comes to congratulate you onyour fortunate return. Ah lips that say
one thing, while the hat thinksanother murmured Edmond, But never mind,
he is a neighbor who has doneas a service on a time, so
he is welcome. As Edmond paused, the black and bearded head of Caderousse

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appeared at the door. He wasa man of twenty five or six and
held a piece of cloth, which, being a tailor, he was about
to make into a coat lining.What is it you, Edmond back again,
said he with a broad Marseill's accentand a grin displayed his ivory white
teeth. Yes, yes, asyou see, neighbor, Cadault. I'm

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ready to be agreeable to you inany and every way, replied Dantes,
but ill, concealing his coldness underhis cloak of civility. Thanks. Thanks,
but unfortunately I do not want foranything, and it chances that at
times there are others who have nearof me. Dante made a gesture,
I do not allude to you,my boy. No, no, I

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lent you money and you returned it. That's like good neighbors, and we
are quits. We are never quitswith those who oblige us, was Dantes
reply. For when we do notowe them money, we owe them gratitude.
What's the use of mentioning that whatis done is done. Let us
talk of your happy return, myboy. I had gone on the key

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to match a piece of mulberry clothwhen I met friend Danglars. You at
Marseilles, yes, he says,I thought you are at Smyrna. I
was. But now I am backagain. And where is the dear boy
a little Edmond. Why with hisfather, no doubt, replied Danglars.

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And so I came, added Caderousse, so fast as I could to have
the pleasure of shaking hands with afriend worthy god Russe, said the old
man. He is so much attachedto us. Yes, to be sure,
I am. I love and esteemyou, because honest folks are so

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rare. But it seems you havecome back rich, my boy, continued
the tailor, looking askance at thehandful of gold and silver which Dante had
thrown on the table. The youngman remarked the greedy glance which shone in
the dark eyes of his neighbor.Eh, he said, negligently, this
money is not mine. I wasexpressing to my father my fears that he

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had wanted many things in my absence, and to convince me, he emptied
his purse on the table. Come, father, said Dante, put this
money back in your box, unlessneighbor Carus wants anything, and in that
case it is at his service.No, no, my boy, no,

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said Caderouse. I am not inany want. Thank God, my
living is suited to my means.Keep your money, keep it, I
say, one never has too much. But at the same time, my
boy, I am as much obligedby your offer as if I took advantage
of it. It was offered withgood will, said Dantes. No doubt,

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my boy, no doubt. Wellyou stand well with Monsieur Morrel.
Are here? Are you? Insinuatingdog? You and Monsieur Morrel has always
been exceedingly kind to me, repliedDantes. Then you were wrong to refuse
to dine with him. What didyou refuse to dine with him? Said

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old Dantes? And did he inviteyou to dine? Yes, my father
replied Edmond, smiling at his father'sastonishment at the excessive honor paid to his
son. And why did you refuse? My son, inquired the old man,
That I might sooner see you again, my dear father replied the young

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man, I was most anxious tosee you, But it must have vexed,
monsieur merrel, good worthy man,said Caderousse, And when you are
looking forward to be captain, itwas wrong to annoy the honor. But
I explained to him the cause ofmy refusal, replied Dantes, and I
hope he fully understood it. Yes, but to be captain once must do

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a little flattery to one's patrons.I hope to be captain without that,
said Dantes. So much the better, so much the better. Nothing will
give greater pleasure to all your oldfriends. And I know one down there
behind the San Niccola citadel will notbe sorry to hear it, Mercedes,

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said the old man. Yes,my dear father, And with your permission.
Now I have seen you and knowyou are well and have all you
require, I will ask your consentto go and pay a visit to the
Catalans. Go, my dear boy, said the old Dante. And deven't
bless you in your wife as ithas blessed me in my son his wife,

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said Caderousse. Why how fast yougo on, father Dante. She
is not his wife yet, asit seems to me so, but according
to all probability, she soon willbe replied Edmond. Yes, yes,
said Caderousse. But you are rightto return as soon as possible, my

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boy. And why because Mercedes isa very fan girl, and fangirls never
lack followers, She particularly asked themby the really, answered Edmond, with
a smile which had any traces ofslight uneasiness. Ah, yes, continued

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Caderousse, and the capital of ustoo. But you know you will be
captain, and who could refuse youthen, meaning to say, replied Dante,
with a smile which but ill concealedhis trouble. That if I were
not a captain, hey, saidCaderousse, shaking his head. Come,

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Come, said the sailor. Ihave a better opinion than you of women
in general, and of Mercedes inparticular. And I am certain that captain
or not, she will remain everfaithful to me. So much the better,
So much the better, said Caderousse. When what is going to be
married, There's nothing like implicit confidence. But never mind that, my boy,

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go and announce your arrival and letus know all your ropes and prospects.
I will go directly, was Edmond'sreply, and, embracing his father
and nodding to Caderousse, he leftthe apartment. Caderousse lingered for a moment,
then, taking leave of old Dantes, he went downstairs to rejoin Danglars,

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who awaited him at the corner ofthe Rue Senac Well, said Danglars,
Did you see him? I havejust left him, answered Caderousse.
Did he allude to his hope ofbeing captain? He spoke of it as
a thing already decided. Indeed,said Danglars, he is in too much

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hurry. It appears to me.Why it seems miss Morrel has promised him
the thing, so that he isquite elated about it. Why, yes,
he is actually insolent over the matter. Has already offered me is patronitche
as if he were a grand personage, and offered me a loan of money

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as though he were a banker,which you refused most assuredly, although I
might easily have accepted it, forit was I who put into his hands
the first silver he ever earned.But now Monsieur Dante has no longer any
occasion for assistance. He is aboutto become a captain. Pooh, said

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Danglars. He is not one yet, ma FOI. It'll be as well
if he is not answered Caderousse.For if he should be there will be
really no speaking to him. Ifwe choose, replied Danglars, he will
remain what he is, and perhapsbecome even less than he is. What

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do you mean nothing? I wasspeaking to myself? And is he still
in love with the Catalan? Overhead and ears? But unless I am
much mistaken, there will be astorm in that quarter. Explain yourself.
Why should I? It is moreimportant than you think. Perhaps you do

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not like Conte, I never likeupstarts. Then tell me all you know
about the Catalan. I know nothingfor certain. Only I have seen things
which induce me to believe as Itold you, that the future Captain will
find some annoyance in the vicinity ofthe vie in Vermieri. What have you

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seen? Come? Tell me?Well? Every time I see Mercedes come
into the city, she has beenaccompanied by a tall, strapping, black
eyed Catalan with a red complexion,brown skin, and fierce air, whom
she calls cousin. Really, andyou think this cousin pays her attentions?

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I only suppose. So what elsecan a strapping chap of twenty one mean
with a fine wench of seventeen,and you say that Dante has gone to
the Catalans. He went before Icame down. Let us go the same
way. We will stop at Larazeovand we can drink a glass of La

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malgue whilst we wait for news.Come along, said Cados, But you
pay the score, of course,replied Danglars, and going quickly to the
designated place, they called for abottle of wine and two glasses. Pare
Ponfille had seen Dantes passed not tenminutes before, and assured that he was

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at the Catalans. They sat downunder the budding foliage of the plains and
sycamores in the branches of which thebirds were singing their welcome to one of
the first days of spring. Endof chapter two.