017 - The Count of Monte Cristo - The Abbes Chamber

Episode Transcript

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Chapter seventeen of the Count of MonteCristo by Alexandre Dumin. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Chapterseventeen the Abbe's Chamber. After having passed
with tolerable ease through the subterranean passage, which however, did not admit of

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their holding themselves erect, the twofriends reached the further end of the corridor
into which the Abbe's cell opened.From that point the passage became much narrower,
and barely permitted one to creak throughon hands and knees. The floor
of the Abbe's cell was paved,and it had been by raising one of
the stones in the most obscure cornerthat Faria had to be enable to commence

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the laborious task of which Dante hadwitnessed the completion. As he entered the
chamber of his friend, Dante castaround one eager and searching glance in quest
of the expected marbles. But nothingmore than common met his view. It
is well, said the Abbe,we have some hours before us. It

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is now just a quarter past twelveo'clock. Instinctively, Dantes turned round to
observe by what watch or clock theAbbe had been able so accurately to specify
the hour. Look at this rayof light which enters by my window,
said the Abbe, and then observethe lines are traced on the wall.

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Well by means of these lines,which are in accordance with the double motion
of the Earth and the ellipse itdescribes around the Sun, I am enabled
to ascertain the precise hour with moreminuteness than if I possessed a watch,
for that might be broken or derangedin its movements. While the Sun and
the Earth never vary in their appointedpaths. This last explanation was wholly lost

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upon Dantes. He could always imagine, from seeing the sun rise from behind
the mountains and set in the Mediterranean, that it moved, and the earth
a double movement of the globe heinhabited, and of which he could feel.
Nothing appeared to him perfectly impossible.Each word that fell from his companion's
lips seemed fraught with the mysteries ofscience, as worthy of digging out,

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as of the gold and diamonds inthe mines of Guzarat and Golconda, which
he could just recollect, having visitedduring a voyage made in his earliest youth.
Come, said he to the Abbe, I am anxious to see your
treasures. The Abbe smiled, and, proceeding to the disused fireplace, raised
by the help of his chisel,a long stone which had doubtless been the

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hearth beneath which was a cavity ofconsiderable depth, serving as a safety pository
of the articles mentioned to Dante.What do you wish to see, thirst
asked the Abbe, Oh, yourgreat work on the monarchy of Italy.
Faria then drew forth from his hidingplace three or four rolls of linen,

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laid one over the other like foldsof papyrus. These rolls consisted of slips
of cloth about four inches wide andeighteen long. They were all carefully numbered
and closely covered with writing so legiblethat Dantes could easily read it, as
well as make out the sense itbeing in Italian, a language he,

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as a provencal perfectly understood. There, said he, there is the work
a complete I wrote to the wordPhoenix at the end of the sixty eighth
a strip. About a week ago, I have torn up two of my
shirts and as many handkerchiefs as Iwas master of to complete of the precious
pages. Should I ever get outof prison and find in all Italy a

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print or courageous enough to publish whatI have composed, my literary reputation is
forever secured, I see, answeredDantes. Now let me behold the curious
pens with which you have written yourwork. Look, said Faria, showing
to the young man a slender stick, about six inches long and much resembling

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the size of the handle of afine painting brush, to the end of
which was tied by a piece ofthread, one of those cartilages of which
the Abbe had before spoken to Dantes. It was pointed and divided at the
nib like an ordinary pen. Dantesexamined it with intense admiration, then looked

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around to see the instrument with whichit had been shaped so correctly into form.
Ah, yes, sir, saidFaria, the pen knife. And
that's my masterpiece. I made itas well, that this larger knife out
of an old iron candlestick. Thepen knife was sharp and keen as a
razor. As for the other knife, it would serve a double purpose,

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and with it one cut and thrust. Dantes examined the various articles shown to
him with the same attention that hehad bestowed on the curiosities and strange tools
exhibited in the shops at Marseilles,as the works of the savages in the
South Seas from whence I had beenbrought by the different trading vessels. As

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for the ink, said Parria,I told you I have managed to obtain
that, and I only just madeit from time to time as I require
it. One king still puzzles me, observed Dantes. And that is how
you managed to do all this bydaylight. I worked at night, also

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replied Faria night. Why for Heaven'ssake are your eyes like cats that you
can see to work in the dark? Indeed they are not. But God
has supplied a man with the intelligencethat enables him to overcome the limitations of
natural conditions. I furnish myself witha light, you did, pray?

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Tell me how I separated the fatterfrom the meat served to me, melted
it and so made oil. Hereis my lamp, so saying the Abbe
exhibited a sort of torch very similarto those used in public illuminations. But
light. Here are two flints anda piece of burnt linen and matches I

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pretended that I had a disorder ofthe skin, and asked for a little
sulfur, which was readily supplied.Dantes laid the different things he had been
looking at on the table, andstood with his head drooping on his breast,
as though overwhelmed by the perseverance andstrength of Faria's mind. You have
not seen all yet, continued Faria, for I do not think it wise

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to trust all my treasures in thesame hiding place. Let us shut this
one up. They put the stoneback in its place, The abbe,
sprinkled a little dust over it toconceal the traces of its having been removed,
rubbed his foot well on it tomake it assume the same appearance as
the other, and then, goingtowards his bed, he removed it from
the spot. It stood behind thehead of the bed and concealed by a

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stone, fitting in so closely asto defy all suspicion. Was a hollow
space, and in this space aladder of cords between twenty five and thirty
eight feet in length. Dante closelyand eagerly examined it. He found it
firm, solid, and compact enoughto bear any weight who supplied you with

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the materials for making this wonderful work. I tore up a several of my
shirts and ripped out the seams inthe seats of my bed during my three
years in prison and at Fenestrelle.And when I was removed to the Chateau
d'If, I managed to bring theravelings with me, so that I had
been able to finish my work here. And was it not discovered that your

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sheets were unhemmed? Oh no,for when I had taken out the thread
I required, I hemmed at theedges over again. With what with this
needle? Said the abbe, Asopening his ragged vestments, he showed Dantes
a long, sharp fishbone with asmall perforated eye for the thread, a

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small portion of which still remained init. I once a thought, continued
Faria, of removing these iron marsand letting myself down from the window,
which, as you see, issomewhat wider than yours, although I should
have enlarged it, still more preparatoryto my flight. However, I discovered
that I should merely have dropped intoa sort of inner court, and I

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therefore renounced the project altogether as toofull of risk. And danger. Nevertheless,
I carefully preserved my ladder against oneof those unforeseen opportunities of which I
spoke just now, and which certainchance frequently brings about. While affecting to
be deeply engaged in examining the ladder, the mind of Dantes was in fact

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busily occupied by the idea that aperson so intelligent, in g genious,
and clear sighted as the Abbe mightprobably be able to solve the dark mystery
of his own misfortunes where he himselfcould see nothing. What are you thinking
of, asked the Abbe, smilingly, imputing the deep abstraction in which his

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visitors plunged to the excess of hisawe and wonder I was reflecting in the
first place, replied Dantes, uponthe enormous degree of intelligence and ability you
must have employed to reach the highperfection to which you have attained, What
would you not have accomplished if youhad been free persedly nothing at all?

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The overflow of my brain would probably, in a state of freedom, have
evaporated in a thousand volleys. Misfortuneis needed to bring to light the treasures
of the human intellect. Compression isneeded to explode the gunpowder. Captivity has
brought my mental faculties to our focus. And you are well aware that from

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the collision of clouds, electricity isproduced. From electricity, lightning from lightning
illumination. No, replied Dantes,I know nothing. Some of your words
are to me quite empty of meaning. You must be blessed, indeed,
to possessed the knowledge you have theabbe smiled, well, said he.

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But you had another subject for yourthoughts, did you not say so just
now? I did you have toldme as yet? But one of them
let me hear the other. Itwas this, that while you had related
to me all the particulars of yourpast life, you were perfectly unacquainted with
mine. Your life, my youngerfriend, has not been enough sufficient lengths

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to admit of your having passed throughany very important events. It has been
long enough to inflict on me agreat and undeserved misfortune. I would fain
fix the source of it on manthat I may no longer vent reproaches upon
heaven. Then you profess ignorance ofthe crime with which you are charged.

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I do indeed, and this Iswear by the two beings most dear to
me upon Earth, My father andMercedes, come, said the Abbe,
closing his hiding place and pushing thebed back to its original situation. Let
me hear your story. Dantes obeyedand commenced what he called his history,

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but which consisted only of the accountof a voyage to India and two or
three voyages to the Levant, untilhe arrived at the recital of his last
cruise with the death of Captain leClare, and the receipt of a packet
to be delivered by himself to theGrand Marshal. His interview with that personage
and his receiving in place of thepacket brought a letter addressed to a Monsieur

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Noratier. His arrival at Marseilles andinterview with his father, his affection for
Mercedes and their natural feast, hisarrest and subsequent examination, his temporary detention
at the Palais de Justice, andhis final imprisonment in the Chateau d'If.
From this point everything was a blankto Dante. He knew nothing more,

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not even the length of time hehad been imprisoned. His recital finished,
the Abbe reflected long and earnestly thereis, said he at the end of
his meditations, a clever maxim whichbears upon what I was saying to you
some little while ago, and thatis that unless a wicked ideas take root

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in a naturally depraved mind, humannature in a right and wholesome state revolts
at crime. Still from an artificialcivilization have originated once vices and falser tastes,
which occasionally become so powerful as tostifle within us all good feelings and
ultimately to lead us into guilt andwickedness. From this view of things then

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comes the axiom that if you visitto discover the author of any bad action,
seek first to discover the person towhom the perpetration of that bad action
could be in any way advantageous.And now to apply it in your case,
to whom could your disappearance have beenserviceable to no one? By heaven,

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I was very insignificant person. Donot speak at us for your reply.
Events is neither logic nor philosophy.Everything is relative, my dear young
friend, From the king who standsin the way of his successor to the
employee who keeps his rival out ofa place. Now, in the event

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of the king's death, his successorinherits a crown. When the employee dies,
the supernumerary steps into his shoes andreceives a salary of twelve thousand livres.
Well, these twelve thousand livres arehis civilist and are as essential to
him as the twelve millions of aking. Every one, from the highest

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to the lowest degree as is placedon the social ladder, and is beset
by stormy passions and conflicting interests,as in descart theory of pressure and impulsion.
But these forces increase as we gohigher, so that we have a
spiral which, in defiance of reason, rests upon the apex and not on
the base. Now let us returnto your particular world. You say you

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were on the point of being madea captain of the Pharaohan. Yes,
and about to become the husband ofa young and lovely girl. Yes.
Now could any one have had anyinterest in preventing the accomplishment of these two
things? But let us first settlea question as to its being the interest

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of any one to hinder you frombeing captain of the Pharaohen, what say
you? I cannot believe such wasthe case. I was generally liked on
board, and had the sailors possessedthe right of selecting a captain themselves.
I feel convinced that choice would havefallen on me. There was only one

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person among the crew who had anyfeeling of ill will towards me. I
had quarreled with him some time previously, and had even challenged him to fight
me, but he refused. Nowwe are getting on. And what was
this man's name, Danglars or whatrank did he hold on board? He

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was super cargo. And had youbeen a captain, should you have retained
him in his employment? Not ifthe choice had remained with me, for
I had frequently observed inaccuracies in hisaccounts. Good again, now, then,
tell me was any person present duringyour last conversation with Captain le Clare?

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No, we were quite alone.Could your conversation have been overheard by
any one? It might, forthe cabin door was open. And stay
now I recollect Dan Blas himself passedby just as Captain Leclaire was giving me
the packet for the Grand Marshal.That's a better, cried the abbe.

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Now we are on the right ascent. Did you take anybody with you when
you put into the port of Elba. Nobody. Somebody there received your pocket
and gave you a letter in placeof it. I think, yes,
the Grand Marshal did. And whatdid you do with that letter? Put
it into my portfolio? You hadyour portfolio with you then? Now how

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could a sailor find room in hispocket for a portfolio large enough to contain
an official letter? You are right, it was left on board. Then
it was not to tell your returnerto the ship that you put the letter
in the portfolio? No, andwhat did you do with the same letter
while returning from the port to Farrayuto the vessel? I carried it in

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my hand, so that when youwent on board the Pharaoh everybody could see
that you held a letter in yourhand. Yes, Danglars as well as
the rest Danglars as well as others. Now, listen to me and try
to recall every circumstance attending your arrest. Do you recollect the words in which

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the information against you was formulated?Oh? Yes, I read it over
three times and the words sank deeplyinto my memory. Repeat it to me,
don't. They paused a moment andsaid, this is it, word
for word. The king's attorney isinformed by a friend to the Throne and

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Religion that one Edmond Dante mate onboard the Fherowhen this day arrived from Smyena,
after having touched at Naples and PotoFarayo has been entrusted by Murat with
a packet for the Usurper, againby the usurper with a letter for the
bonapartist Gloup in Paris. This proofof his guilt may be procured by his

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immediate arrest, as the letter willbe found either about his person at his
father's residence or in his cabin onboard the Ferohen. The Abbe shrugged his
shoulders. The thing is clear asday, said he. And you must
have had a very confiding nature aswell as a good heart not to have

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suspected the origin of the whole affair. Do you really think so? That
would indeed be infamous? How diddanglars usually write in a handsome running hand?
And how was the annamous letter writtenbackhanded? Again, the Abbe smiled,

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disguised, It was very boldly written, if disguised, stop a bite,
said the Abbe, taking up whathe called his pen, and after
dipping it into the ink, hewrote on a piece of prepared linen with
his left hand the first two orthree words of the accusation. Dantes drew
back and gazed on the abbe withsensation almost amounting to terror. Are very

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astonishing, cried he at length.Why your writing exactly resembles that of the
accusation simply because of that accusation hadbeen written with the left hand. And
I have noticed that what that?While the writing of different persons done with
the right hand varies, that performedwith the left hand is invariably uniform.

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You have evidently seen and observed everything. Let us proceed. Oh yes,
yes, now as regards that thesecond question I am listening, Was there
any person whose interest it was toprevent your marriage with Mercedes? Yes,
a young man who loved her.And his name was fernand This is a

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Spanish name. I think he wasa Catalan. You imagine him capable of
writing the letter? Oh no,you would more likely have got rid of
me by sticking a knife into me. That is, in a strict accordance
with the Spanish character. An assassinationthey will unhesitatingly commit, but an act

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of cowardice never Besides, said Dantes, the various circumstances mentioned in the letter
were wholly unknown to him. Youhad never spoken of them yourself to any
one, to no one, noteven to your mistress. No, not
even to my betrothed. Then itis a Danglars, I feel quite sure

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of it. Now, wait alittle pray. Was Danglars acquainted with Fernand?
No? Yes he was, NowI recollect. What do you have?
Seen? Them? Both sitting atthe table together under an arbor at
Peerre Pontfield's, the evening before theday fixed for my wedding. They were

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in earnest conversation. Danglars was jokingin a friendly way, but Fernand looked
pale and agitated. Were they alone? There was a third person with them
whom I knew perfectly well, anddo what, in all probability made their
acquaintance. He was a tailor namedCaderousse. But he was very drunk.

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Stay stay, How strange that itshould not have occurred to me before?
I remember quite well that on thetable round which they were sitting were pens,
ink and paper. Oh, theheartless, treacherous scoundrels, exclaimed Dantes,
pressing his hand to his throbbing brows. Is there anything else I can

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assist you in discovering, besides thevillainy of your friends, inquired the Abbe
with a laugh. Yes, yes, replied Dantes eagerly. I would beg
of you, who see so completelyto the depths of things, and to
whom the greatest mystery seems but aneasy riddle to explain to me how it

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was that I underwent no second examination, was never brought to trial, and
above all was condemned without ever havinghad sentence passed on me. That is
altogether a different and more serious martyr, responded the Abbe. The ways of
justice are frequently too dark and mysteriousto be easily penetrated. All we have

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either too done in the matter hasbeen child's play. If you wish me
to enter upon the more difficult partof the business, you must assist me
by the most minute information on everypoint. Pray, ask me whatever question
you please, for in good truth, you see more clearly into my life
than I do myself. In thefirst place, Then who examined you?

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The King's attorney is deputy or amagistrate. The deputy was he young or
older, about six or seven andtwenty years of age? I should say
so, answered the abbe or enoughto be ambitious, but too young to
be corrupt? And how did hetreat you with more of mildness than severity?

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Did you tell him your whole story? I did? And did his
conduct change at all in the courseof your examination? He did appear much
disturbed when he read the letter thathad brought me into this scrape. He
seemed quite overcome by my misfortune,by your misfortune. Yes, then you

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feel quite sure that it was themisfortune he deplored. He gave me one
great proof of his sympathy at anyrate, and that he burnt the sole
evidence that could at all have criminatedme. What the accusation? No,
the letter? Are you sure Isaw it done? That alters the case?

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This man might, after all bea great scoundrel than you have thought
possible. Upon my word, saidDantes, you make me shudder. Is
the world filled with tigers and crocodile? Yes? And remember that the two
legged tigers and crocodiles are more dangerousthan the other. Never mind, let

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us go on with all my heart. You tell me he burned the letter?
He did, saying, at thesame time, you see, I
thus destroy the only proof existing againstyou. This action is somewhat too sublime
to be natural, you think,so, I am sure of it.

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To whom was this letter addressed toMonsieur Noirtier numerou tres coqueron Paris? Now?
Can you conceive of any interest thatyour heroic deputy could possibly have had
in the destruction of that letter?Why it is not altogether impossible he might
have had, for he made mepromise several times never to speak of that

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letter to anyone, assuring me heso admirevised me for my own interest.
And more than this, he insistson my taking a solemn oath to utter
the name mentioned in the address.Noirtier repeated, the abbe noirtier, and
you a person of that name atthe court of the Queen of Etturia,

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a noirtier who had been Ajerandan duringthe revolution. What was your deputy called
de Villefort? The Abbe burst intoa fit of laughter, while Dantes gazed
on him in utter astonishment. Whatails you said? He? At length?
Do you see that array of sunlight? I do well. The whole

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thing is more clear to me thanthat some beam is to you, poor
fellow, poor young man. Andyou tell me this magistrate expressed great sympathy
and commiseration for you. He did, and the worthy man destroyed your compromising
letter. Yes, and then madeyou swear never to utter the name of

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Noirtier. Yes, why you poorshure de sight, it'simputon. Can you
not guess who this Noirtier was?Whose very name he was so careful to
keep concealed? Noirtier was his father. Had a thunderbolt fallen at the feet

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of Dante, or hell opened itsyawning gulf before him, he could not
have been more completely transfixed with horrorthan he was at the sound of these
unexpected words starting up. He claspedhis hands around his head, as though
to prevent his very brain from bursting, and exclaimed his father, his father.

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Yes, his father, replied theabbe his writer. Name was Noirtier
de Villefort. At this instant,a bright light shot through the mind of
Dantes and cleared up all that hadbeen dark and obscure before the change that
had come over Villefort during the examination. The destruction of the letter the exacted

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promise, the almost supplicating tones ofthe magistrate, who seemed rather to implore
mercy than to pronounce punishment all returnedwith a stunning force to his memory.
He cried out and staggered against thewall like a drunken man. Then he
hurried to the opening that led fromthe Abbe's cell to his own, and
said, I must be alone tothink over all this. When he regained

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his dungeon, he threw himself onhis bed, where the turnkey found him
in the evening visit, sitting withfixed gaze and contracted features, dumb and
motionless as a statue. During thesehours of profound meditation, which to him
had seemed only minutes, he hadformed a fearful resolution and bound himself to

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its fulfillment by a solemn oath.Dantes was at length roused from his reverie
by the voice of Pariah, who, having also been visited by his jailer,
had come to invite his fellow suffererto share his supper. The reputation
of being out of his mind,though harmlessly and even amusingly so, had

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procured for the Abbe unusual privileges.He was supplied with bread of a finer,
whiter quality than the usual prison fare, and even regaled each Sunday with
a small quantity of wine. Nowthis was a Sunday, and the Abbe
had come to ask his young companionto share the luxuries with him. Dantes

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followed. His features were no longercontracted, and now wore their usual expression.
But there was that in his wholeappearance that bespoke one who had come
to a fixed and desperate resolve.Far he had bent on him his penetrating
eye. I regret, and nowsaid he, having helped you in your

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late inquiries, or having given youthe information I did, Why so,
inquired Dantes, Because it has instilleda new passion in your heart, that
of vengeance. Dantes smiled. Letus talk of something else, said he
again. The Abbe looked at him, then mournfully shook his head, but

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in accordance with Dante's request, hebegan to speak of other matters. The
elder prisoner was one of those personswhose conversation, like that of all who
had experienced many trials, contained manyuseful and important hints, as well as
sound information. But it was neveregotistical, for that unfortunate man never alluded

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to his own sorrows. Dantes listenedwith admiring attention to all he said.
Some of his remarks corresponded with whathe already knew, or applied to the
sort of knowledge his nautical life hadenabled him to acquire a part of the
good. Abbe's words, however,were wholly incomprehensible to him, But like
the aurora which guides the navigator innorthern latitudes, new vistas to the inquiring

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mind of the listener, and gavefantastic glimpses of new horizons, enabling him
justly to estimate the delight and intellectualmind would have in following one so richly
gifted as Pharia along the heights oftruth, where he was so much at
home. You must teach me asmall part of what you know, said

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Dantes, if only to prevent yourgrowing weary of me. I can well
believe that so learned a person asyourself would prefer absolute solitude to being tormented
with the company of one as ignorantand uninformed as myself. If you will
only agree to my request, Ipromise you never to mention another word about

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escaping. The Abbe smiled, alasmy boy said he humor. Knowledge is
confined within very narrow limits. Andwhen I have taught to you mathematics physics,
history, and the three or fourmore than lane wages with which I
am acquainted. You will know asmuch as I do myself. Now.

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It will scarcely require two years forme to communicate to you the stock of
learning I possess. Two years,exclaimed Dantes, do you really believe I
can acquire all these things in soshort a time? Not their application,
certainly, but that their principles.You may to learn is not to know.

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There are the learners, and thelearned. Memory makes the one philosophy
the other. But cannot one learnphilosophy. Philosophy cannot be a taught It
is the application of the sciences totruth. It is like the golden cloud
in which the Messiah went up intoheaven. Well, then said Dantes,

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what shall you teach me first?I am in a hurry to begin.
I want to learn everything, saidthe Abbe, And that very evening the
prisoners sketched a plan of education tobe entered upon the following day. Dante
possessed a prodigious memory, combined withan astonishing quickness and readiness of conception.

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The mathematical turn of his mind renderedhim apt at all kinds of calculation,
while his naturally poetical feelings threw alight and pleasing veil over the dry reality
of arithmetical computation or the rigid severityof geometry. He already knew Italian,
and had also picked up a littleof the Romaic dialect during voyages to the

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east, and by the aid ofthese two languages he easily comprehended the construction
of all the others, so thatat the end of six months he began
to speak Spanish, English, andGerman in strict accordance with the promise made
of the Abbe. Dantes spoke nomore of escape. Perhaps the delight his
studies afforded him left no room forsuch thoughts, as the recollection that he

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had pledged his word, on whichhis sense of honor was keen, kept
him from referring in any way tothe possibilities of flight. Days, even
months passed by unheeded. In onerapid and instructive course. At the end
of a year, Dantes was anew man. Dantes observed, however,

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that Faria, in spite of therelief his society afforded, daily, grew
sadder. One thought seemed incessantly toharass and distract his mind. Sometimes he
would fall into long revery, sighheavily and involuntarily, then suddenly rise and,
with folded arms, begin pacing theconfined space of his dungeon. One

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day he stopped all at once andexclaimed, Ah, if there were no
centinen, there shall not be onea minute longer than you please, said
Dantes, who had followed the workingof his thoughts as accurately as though his
brain were enclosed in crystal, soclear as to display its minutest operations.

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I have already told you, answeredthe Abbe, that I loathe that the
idea of shedding blood, And yetthe murder, if you choose to call
it so, would be simply ameasure of self preservation, No matter I
could never agree to it. Stillyou have thought of it incessantly, alas

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cried the Abbe. And you havediscovered a means of regaining our freedom,
have you not, asked Dantes?Eagerly, I have. If it were
only possible to place a deaf andblind sentinel in the gallery beyond us,
he shall be both blind and deaf, replied the young man, with an
air of determination that made his companionshudder. No, No, cried the

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Abbe impossible. Dantes endeavored to renewthe subject. The Abbe shook his head
in token of disapproval and refused tomake any further response. Three months passed
away. Are you strong, theAbbe asked one day of Dantes. The
young man, in reply, tookup the chisel, bent it into the

(36:19):
form of a horseshoe, and thenas readily straightened it. And you will
engage not to do any harm tothe sentry, except as a last resort,
I promise on my honor, thensaid the Abbe. We may hope
to put our design into execution.And how long shall we be in accomplishing

(36:40):
the unnecessary work? At least ayear? And shall we begin at once
at the once we have lost ayear to no purpose? Cried Dantes.
Do you consider the last twelve monthsto have been wasted? Asked the Abbe.
Forgive me? Cried Edmond, blushingdeeply. Tut dut answered the Abbe.

(37:06):
Man is but a man, afterall, and you are about the
best a specimen of the genus Ihave ever known. Come let me show
you my plan. The Abbe thenshowed Dantes the sketch he had made for
their escape. It consisted of aplan of his own cell and that of
Dantes, with the passage which unitedthem. In this passage, he proposed

(37:27):
to drive a level, as theydo in minds. This level would bring
the two prisoners immediately beneath the gallery, where the sentry kept watch. Once
there, a large excavation would bemade, and one of the flagstones with
which the gallery was paved to beso completely loosened that at the desired moment
it would give way beneath the feetof the soldier, who, stunned by

(37:49):
his fall, would be immediately boundand gagged by Dantes before he had power
to offer any resistance. The prisonerswere then to make their way through one
of the gallery windows and to letthemselves down from the outer walls by means
of the abbe's ladder of cords.Dantes eyes sparkled with joy, and he
rubbed his hands with delight at theidea of a plan so simple yet apparently

(38:14):
so certain to succeed. That veryday, the miners began their labours with
a vigor and alacrity proportional to theirlong rest from fatigue and their hopes of
ultimate success. Nothing interrupted the progressof the work except the necessity that each
was under of returning to his cellin anticipation of the turnkey's visits. They

(38:37):
had learned to distinguish the almost imperceptiblesound of his footsteps as he descended towards
their dungeons, and happily never failedof being prepared for his coming. The
fresh earth excavated during their present work, and which would have entirely blocked up
the old passage, was thrown bydegrees and with the utmost precaution, out

(38:58):
of the window in either dantes cell, the rubbish being first pulverized so finely
that the night wind carried it faraway without permitting the smallest trace to remain.
More than a year had been consumedin this undertaking, the only tools
for which had been a chisel,a knife, and a wooden lever.

(39:20):
Paria still continued to instruct Dantes byconversing with him, sometimes in one language,
sometimes in another, at others,relating to him the history of nations
and great men who from time totime have risen to fame and trodden the
path of glory. The Abbe wasa man of the world, and had
moreover mixed in the first society ofthe day, he wore an air of

(39:43):
melancholy dignity, which Dante, thanksto the imitative powers bestowed on him by
nature, easily acquired, as wellas that outward polish and politeness he had
before been wanting him, and whichis seldom possessed except by those who have
been placed in constant intercourse with personsof high birth and breeding. At the

(40:05):
end of fifteen months, the levelwas finished and the excavation completed beneath the
gallery, and the two workmen coulddistinctly hear the measured tread of the Sentinel
as he paced to and fro overtheir heads. Compelled as they were,
to await a night sufficiently dark tofavor their flight, they were obliged to
defer their final attempt till that auspiciousmoment should arrive. Their greatest dread now

(40:31):
was lest the stone through which thesentry was doomed to fall should give way
before its right time, and thisthey had in some measure provided against by
propping it up with a small beam, which they had discovered in the walls
through which they had worked their way. Dante was occupied in arranging this piece
of wood when he heard Faire,who had remained in Edmond's cell for the

(40:53):
purpose of cutting a peg to securetheir rope. Ladder called to him in
a tone indicative of great Dantes hastenedto his dungeon, where he found him
standing in the middle of the room, pale as death, his forehead streaming
with perspiration, and his hands clinchedtightly together. Gracious heavens, exclaimed Dantes,

(41:15):
what is the matter? What hashappened? Quak quik, returned the
Abbe. Listen to what I haveto say. Dantes looked in fear and
wonder at the livid countenance of Pariah, whose eyes, all a dull and
sunken, were surrounded by purple circles, while his lips were white as those

(41:36):
of a corpse, and his veryhair seemed to stand on end. Tell
me, I beseech you, whatails? You? Cried Dantes, letting
his chisel fall to the floor.Alas faltered the Abbe. All is over
with me. I am seized witha terrible, perhaps mortal illness. I

(41:57):
can feel that the paroxysm is fasterroaching. I had a similar attack the
year previous to my imprisonment. Thismalady admits, but of one remedy.
I will tell you what it is. Go into my cell as quickly as
you can. Draw out one ofthe feet that supports the bed. You

(42:19):
will found it has been hollowed outfor the purpose of containing a small file.
You will see there are filled witha red looking fluid. Bring it
to me, or rather, no, no, I may be found here
therefore helping me back to my room, or while I have the strength to
drag myself along, who knows whatmay happen or how long he attack my

(42:42):
last. In spite of the magnitudeof the misfortune, which thus suddenly frustrated
his hopes, Dante did not losehis presence of mind, but descended into
the passage, dragging his unfortunate companionwith him, then half carrying, half
supporting him. He managed to reachthe aba chamber, when he immediately laid
the sufferer on his bed. Thankssaid the poor abbe, shivering as though

(43:07):
his veins were filled with ice.I am about to be seized with a
feet of catalepsy, and when itcomes to its height, I shall probably
lie still and motionless, as thoughdead, uttering neither sigh nor groan.
On the other hand, the symptomsmay be much more violent, and cause
me to fall into fearful convulsions,foam at the mouth, and cry out

(43:29):
loudly. Take care my cries arenot heard, for if they are,
it is more than probable I shallbe removed to another part of the priason,
and we be separated forever on abecome quite motionless, cold and ragid
as a corpse. Then, andthen not before, be careful about this.

(43:50):
Force open my teeth with a knifepoor formed eight to ten drops of
the liquor contained in the file downon my throat, and I may perhaps
a revive, perhaps, exclaimed Dante, in greased, stricken tones. Help
Ebb cried the abbe I I die. So sudden and violent was the fit

(44:14):
that the unfortunate prisoner was unable tocomplete the sentence. A violent convulsion shook
his whole frame, His eyes startedfrom their sockets, his mouth was drawn
on one side, his cheeks becamepurple. He struggled, foamed, dashed
himself about, and uttered the mostdreadful cries, which, however, Dante
prevented from being heard by covering hishead with the blanket. The fit lasted

(44:37):
two hours, then, more helplessthan an infant and colder and paler than
marble, more crushed and broken thana reed trampled under foot. He fell
back, doubled up in one lastconvulsion, and became as rigid as a
corpse. Edmond waited till life seemedextinct in the body of his friend,

(44:59):
then take picking up the knife,He, with difficulty, forced open the
closely fixed jaws, carefully administered theappointed number of drops, and anxiously awaited
the result. An hour passed away, and the old man gave no sign
of returning animation. Dante began tofear he had delayed too long, ere
he had administered the remedy, and, thrusting his hands into his hair,

(45:22):
continued gazing on the lifeless features ofhis friend. At length, a slight
color or tinged livid cheeks. Consciousnessreturned to the dull, open eyeballs.
A faint sigh issued from the lips, and the sufferer made a feeble effort
to move. He is saved.He is saved, cried Dante, in

(45:45):
a paroxysm of delight. The sickman was not yet able to speak,
but he pointed with evident anxiety,towards the door. Dantes listened and plainly
distinguished. The approaching steps of thejailer was therefore near seven o'clock, but
Edmond's anxiety had put all thoughts oftime out of his head. The young

(46:06):
man sprang to the entrance, dartedthrough it, carefully drawing the stone over
the opening, and hurried to hiscell. He had scarcely done so before
the door opened, and the jailersaw the prisoner seated as usual on the
side of his bed, almost beforethe key had turned in the lock,
and before the departing steps of thejailer had died away in the long corridor,
he had to traverse Dante, whoserestless anxiety concerning his friend left in

(46:30):
no desire to touch the food revoltbrought to him, hurried back to the
abbe's chamber, and, raising thestone by pressing his head against it,
was soon beside the sick man's couch. Pharia had now fully regained his consciousness,
but he still lay helpless and exhausted. I did not expect to see
you again, said he feebly toDantes. And do I not, asked

(46:53):
the young man, did you fancyyourself dying? No? I hadn't noticed
such idea, but knowing that allwas ready for flight. I thought you
might have made your escape. Thedeep glow of indignation suffused the cheeks of
Dantes without you. Did you reallythink me capable of that? At least,

(47:17):
said the Abbe. I now seehow wrong such an opinion would have
been. Alas alas, I amfearfully exhausted and debilitated by this attack.
Be of good cheer, replied Dantes. Your strength will return. And as

(47:38):
he spoke, he seated himself nearthe bed beside Pharia and took his hands.
The Abbe shook his head. Thelast attack, I had said,
he lasted but half an hour,and after it I was hungry and got
up without help. Now I canmove neither my right arm nor leg,

(48:00):
and my head seems uncomfortable, whichshows that there has been a suffusion of
blood on the brain. The thirdattack will either carry me off or leave
me paralyzed for life. No,no, cried Dantes, you are mistaken.
You will not die, and yourthird attack, if indeed you should

(48:22):
have another, will find you atliberty. We shall save you another time,
as we have done this, onlywith a better chance of success,
because we shall be able to commandevery requisite assistance, my good heir,
Edmond answered, the abbe be notdeceived. The attack, which has just

(48:44):
passed away, condemns me forever tothe walls of a prison. None can
fly from a dungeon who cannot walkwell. We will wait a week,
a month, two months, ifneed be, and meanwhile your strength will
return. Everything is in readiness forour flight, and we can select any

(49:07):
time we choose. As soon asyou feel able to swim, we will
go. I shall never swim again, replied Pariah. This arm is paralyzed,
not for a timer, but forever lift it, and a judge
if I am mistaken. The youngman raised the arm, which fell back

(49:28):
by its own weight, perfectly inanimateand helpless. A sigh escaped him.
You are convinced to now, Edmund, Are you not asked the abbe depend
upon it? I know what Isay. Since the first attack I experienced
of this malady, I have continuallyreflected on it. Indeed I expected it,

(49:52):
for it is a family inheritance.Both my father and grandfather died of
it in a third attack. Thephysician who prepared me for remedy I have
twice successfully taken, was no otherthan the celebrated Cabanni, and he predicted
a similar end for me. Thephysician may be mistaken, exclaimed Dantes.

(50:16):
And as for your poor alm,what difference will that make? I can
take you on my shoulders and swimfor both of us, my son,
said the abbe. You, whoare a sailor and a swimmer, must
know as well as I do,that a man so loaded would sink before
he had done fifty strokes. Cease, then, to allow yourself to be

(50:40):
duped by faint oaps that even yourown excellent heart refuses to believe in.
Here, I shall remain till thehour of my deliverance arrives, and that,
in all human probability will be thehour of my death. As for
you, who are young and active, delay not on my account but a

(51:05):
fly. Go I give you backyour promise. It is well, said
Dantes, Then I shall also remain. Then, rising and extending his hand
with an air of solemnity over theold man's head, he slowly added,
by the blood of Christ, Iswear never to leave you while you live.

(51:29):
Paria gazed fondly on his noble minded, single hearted, high principled young
friend, and read in his countenanceample confirmation of the sincerity of his devotion
and the loyalty of his purpose.Thanks, murmured the invalid, extending one
hand. I accept you may oneof these days read by the reward of

(51:53):
your disinterested devotion. But as Icannot and you will not quit this place,
it becomes necessary to fill up theexcavation beneath the soldier's gallery. He
might by chance hear the hollow soundof his footsteps and call the attention of
his officer to this circumstance. Thatwould bring about a discovery which would inevitably

(52:17):
lead to our being separated. Gothen, and set about this work,
in which unhappily I can offer youno assistance. Keep at it all night,
if necessary, and do not returnhere tomorrow till after the jailer is
visited me. I shall have somethingof the greatest importance to communicate to you.

(52:42):
Dantes took the hand of the abbein his and affectionately pressed it.
Farias smiled encouragingly on him, andthe young man retired to his task in
the spirit of obedience and respect whichhe had sworn to show towards his aged
friend. End of Chapter seventeen