019 - The Count of Monte Cristo - The Third Attack

Episode Transcript

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Chapter nineteen of the Count of MonteCristo by Alexandre Duma. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Chapternineteen. The third attack. Now that
this treasure, which had so longbeen the object of the Abbe's meditations,
could ensure the future happiness of him, whom Faria really loved as a son,

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it had double its value in hiseyes, and every day he expatiated
on the amount, explaining to Danteall the good which with thirteen or fourteen
millions of francs a man could doin these days to his friends. And
then dantes countenance became gloomy, forthe oath of vengeance he had taken recurred
to his memory, and he reflectedhow much ill in these times a man

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with thirteen or fourteen million could doto his enemies. The Abbe did not
know the island of Monte Cristo,but Dantes knew it and had often passed
it. Situated twenty five miles fromPianosa, between Corsica and the island of
Elba, and at once touched there. This island was, always, had

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been, and still is completely deserted. It is a rock of almost conical
form which looks as though it hadbeen thrust up by volcanic force from the
depths to the surface of the ocean. Dante drew a plan of the island
for Paria, and Faria gave Dantesadvice as to the means he should employ
to recover the treasure, but Dantewas far from being as enthusiastic and confident

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as the old man. It waspast a question now that Faria was not
a lunatic, and the way inwhich he had achieved the discovery, which
had given rise to the suspicion ofhis madness, increased Edmond's admiration of him.
But at the same time Dante couldnot believe that the deposit, supposing
it had ever existed, still existed, and though he considered the treasure as

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by no means chimerical, he yetbelieved it was no longer there. However,
as if fate resolved on depriving theprisoners of their last chance and making
them understand that they were condemned toperpetual imprisonment, a new misfortune befell them.
The gallery on the sea side,which had long been in ruins,

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was rebuilt. They had repaired itcompletely and stopped up with vast masses of
stone, the whole Dante had partlyfilled in. But for this precaution,
which it will be remembered, theAbbe had made to Edmond, the misfortune
would have been still greater, fortheir attempt to escape would have been detected,
and they would undoubtedly have been separated. Thus anew, a stronger and

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more inexorable barrier was interposed to cutoff the realization of their hopes. You
see, said the young man,with an air of sorrowful resignation, to
Faria, that God deems it rightto take from ye any claim to merit
for what you call my devotion toyou. I have promised to remain forever
with you, and now I couldnot break my promise. If I would,

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the treasure will be no more minethan yours, and neither of us
will quit this prison. But myreal treasure is not that, my dear
friend, which awaits me beneath thesomber rocks of Monte Cristo. It is
your presence, are living together fiveor six hours a day in spite of
our jails. It is the raysof intelligence you have elicited from my brain,

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the language you have implanted in mymemory, and which have taken root
there with all their philological ramifications,These different scians that you have made so
easy to me by the depth ofthe knowledge you possess of them, and
the clearness of the principles to whichyou have reduced them. This is my
treasure, my beloved friend, andwith this you have made me rich and

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happy. Believe me and take comfort. This is better for me than tons
of gold and cases of diamonds,even were they not as problematical as the
clouds we see in the morning floatingover the sea, which we take for
terra firma, and which evaporate andvanish as we draw near to them.

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Do I view, as long aspossible near me to hear your eloquent speech,
which embellishes my mind, strengthens mysoul, and makes my own frame
capable of great and terrible things ifI should ever be free. So feels
my whole existence that the despair towhich I was just on the point of
yielding when I knew you, asno longer any hold over me. And

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this this is my fortune, notchimerical but actual. I owe you my
real good, my present abbiness,and all the sovereigns of the earth,
even Caesar Borgia himself could not depriveme of this. Thus, if not
actually happy, yet, the daysthese two unfortunate passed together went quickly.

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Paria, who for so long atime had kept silence as to the treasure,
now perpetually talked of it, ashe had prophesied would be the case.
He remained paralyzed in the right armand the left leg, and had
given up all hope of ever enjoyingit himself. But he was continually thinking
over some means of escape for hisyoung companion, and anticipating the pleasure he

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would enjoy. For fear the lettermight be some day lost or stolen,
he compelled Dantes to learn it byheart, and Dante knew it from the
first to the last word. Thenhe destroyed the second portion, assured that
if the first were seized, noone would be able to discover its real
meaning. Whole hours passed while Fariawas giving instructions to Dante, instructions which

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were to serve him when he wasat liberty. Then, once free from
the day and hour and moment.When he was so, he could have
but only one thought, which wasto gain Monte Cristo by some means,
and remain there alone under some pretextwhich would arouse no suspicions, and once
there to endeavor to find the wonderfulcaverns and search in the appointed spot.

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The appointed spot be it remembered,being the farthest angle in the second opening
in the Meanwhile, the hours passed, if not rapidly, at least tolerably.
Faria, as we have said,without having recovered the use of his
hand and foot, had regained allthe clearness of his understanding, and had
gradually, besides the moral instructions wehave detailed, taught his youthful companion the

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patient and sublime duty of a prisonerwho learns to make something from nothing.
They were thus perpetually employed, Faria, that he might not see himself grow
old Dante, for fear of recallingthe almost extinct past, which now only
floated in his memory like a distantlight wondering in the night. So life

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went on for them, as itdoes for those who are not victims of
misfortune, and whose activities glide alongmechanically and tranquility beneath the eye of Providence.
But beneath his superficial calm. Theywere in the heart of the young
man, and perhaps in that ofthe old man, many repressed desires,

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many stifled sighs, which would ventwhen Farioh was left alone, and when
Edmond returned to his cell. Onenight, Edmond awoke suddenly, believing that
he heard someone calling him. Heopened his eyes upon utter darkness, his
name, or rather a plaintive voicewhich assayed to pronounce his name, reached

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him. He sat up in bed, and a cold sweat broke out upon
his brow. Undoubtedly the call camefrom Faria's indungeon. Alas murmured Edmond be
He moved his bed, drew upthe stone, rushed into the passage,
and reached the opposite extremity. Thesecret entrance was open by the light of

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the wretched and wavering lamp of whichwe have spoken. Dantes saw the old
man, pale but yet erect,clinging to the bedstead. His features were
writhing with those horrible symptoms which healready knew, and which had so seriously
alarmed him when he saw them forthe first time. Alas A, my

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dear friend, said Faria, ina resigned tone. You understand a do
you not? And I need notattempt to explain to you. Edmond uttered
a cry of agony, and,quite out of his senses, rushed towards
the door, exclaiming help. Help. Pharia had just sufficient strength to restrain

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him silence, he said, oryou are lost. We must now only
think of you, my dear friend, and so act as to render your
captivity supportable or your flight possible.It would require years to do again what
I have done here, and theresults would be instantly destroyed if our jailers

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knew we have communicated with each other. Besides, be assured, my dear
Edmond, the dungeon I am aboutto leave will not long remain empty.
Some other unfortunate being will soon takemy place, and to him you will
appear like an angel of salvation.Perhaps he will be young, strong and

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enduring like yourself, and will aidyou in your escape. While I have
been but a hindrance, you willno longer have half a dead body tied
to you as a drag to allyour movements. At length, Providence has
done something for you. He restoresto you more than he takes away,

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and it was time I should die. Edmond could only clasp his hands and
exclaim, O, my friend,my friend, speak not thus and then,
resuming all his presence of mind,which had for a moment staggered under
this blow, and his strength whichhad failed at the words of the old
man, he said, Oh,I have saved you once, and I

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will save you a second time.And raising the foot of the bed,
he drew out the file, stilla third filled with the red liquor.
See, he exclaimed, there remainsstill some of the magic draft. Quick,
quick, tell me what I mustdo this time? Are there any
fresh instructions? Speak, my friend, I listen. There is not a

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hope, replied Faria, shaking hishead. But no matter, God wills
it, that man, whom hehas created and in whose heart he has
so profoundly rooted the love of life, should do all in his power to
preserve that existence, which, howeverpainful it may be, is yet always
so dear. Oh yes, yes, exclaimed Dantes. And I tell you

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that I will save you. Yet. Well, then a try the cold
gains upon me. I feel theblood flowing towards my brain. These horrible
chills, which make my teeth chatterand seem to dislocate my bones, begin
to pervade my whole frame. Infive minutes, the malady will reach its
height, and in a quarter ofan hour there'll be nothing left of me

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but a corpse. Oh, exclaimedDantes, his heart wrung with anguish Do
as you did before, Only donot wait so long. All the springs
of life are now exhausted in me, and death, he continued, looking
at his parallized arm and leg hasbut half its work to do. If,

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after having made me swallow twelve dropsinstead of ten, you see that
I do not recover, then pourthe rest down my throat. Now lift
me on my bed, for Ican no longer support myself. Edmond took
the old man in his arms andlaid him on the bed. And now,

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my dear friend, said Pharia,sole consolation of my wretched existence,
you whom Heaven gave me somewhat late, but still gave me a priceless gift,
and for which I am most gratefulat the moment of separating from you,
for ever, I wish you allthe happiness and all the prosperity you
so well deserve. My son,I bless thee. The young man cast

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himself on his knees, leaning hishead against the old man's bed. Listen
now to what I say, inthis my dying moment, the treasure of
the Spaders exists. God grants methe boon of vision, unrestricted by time
or space. I see it inthe depths of the inner cavern. My

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eyes pierce the inmost recesses of theearth, and are dazzled at the sight
of so much of riches. Ifyou do escape, remember that the poor
Abbe, whom all the world calledmad, was not so hasten to Monte
Cristo. Avail yourself of the fortune, for you have indeed suffered long enough.

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A violent convulsion attacked the old man. Dantes raised his head and saw
Faria's eyes injected with blood. Itseemed as if a flow of blood had
ascended from the chest to the head. Adieu, Adieu, murmured the old
man, clasping Edmond's hand convulsively.Hachieu. Oh no, no, not

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yet, he cried, Do notforsake me, Oh succor him. Help,
help, help, Hush, hush, murmured the dying man. That
they may not separate us if yousave me, you are right, Oh,
yes, yes, be assured,I shall save you. Besides,

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although you suffer much, you donot seem to be in such agony as
you were before. Do not amistake. I suffer less, because there
is in me less strength to endure. At your age, Oh your faith
in life. It is the privilegeof youth to believe and hope. But
old men see death more clearly.Oh tis here tis, here tis over.

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My sight is gone, My sensesfail your hand. Dante adieu,
adieu, and raising himself by afinal effort in which he summoned all his
faculties, he said, Monte Cristo, forget not Monte Cristo, and he

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fell back on the bed. Thecrisis was terrible, and a rigid form
with twisted limbs, swollen eyelids andlips flecked with bloody foam, lay on
the bed of torture in place ofthe intellectual being who so lately rested there.
Dante took the lamp, placed iton a projecting stone above the bed,

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whence its tremulous light fell with strangeand fantastic ray on the distorted countenance
and motionless, stiffened body. Withsteady gaze, he awaited confidently the moment
for administering the restorative. When hebelieved at the right moment it arrived,
he took the knife, pried openthe teeth, which offered less resistance than

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before, counted one after the othertwelve drops, and watched the file contained
perhaps twice as much more. Hewaited ten minutes, a quarter of an
hour, half an hour. Nochange took, trembling, his hair erect,
his brow bathed with perspiration. Hecounted the seconds by the beating of

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his heart. Then he thought itwas time to make the last trial,
and he put the file to thepurple lips of faria, and, without
having occasion to force open his jaws, which had remained extended, he poured
the whole of the liquid down histhroat. The draft produced a galvanic effect.

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A violent trembling pervaded the old man'slimbs. His eyes opened until it
was fearful to gaze upon them.He heaved a sigh which resembled a shriek,
and then his convulsed body returned graduallyto its former immobility, the eyes
remaining open half an hour, anhour, an hour and a half elapsed,

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And during this period of anguish,Edmond leaned over his friend, his
hand applied to his heart, andfelt the body gradually grow cold, and
the heart's pulsation become more and moredeep and dull, until at length it
stopped. The last movement of theheart ceased, the face became livid.

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The eyes remained open, but theeyeballs were glazed. It was six o'clock
in the morning. The dawn wasjust breaking, and its feeble ray came
into the dungeon and paled the ineffectuallight of the lamp. Strange shadows passed
over the countenance of the dead man, and at times gave it the appearance

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of life. While a struggle betweenday and night lasted, Dantes still doubted,
but as soon as the daylight gainedthe pre eminence, he saw that
he was alone with a corpse.Then an invincible and extreme terror seized upon
him, and he dared not againpress the hand that hung out of bed.

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He dared no longer to gaze onthose fixed and vacant eyes, which
he tried many times to close,but in vain they opened again. As
soon as shut. He extinguished thelamp, carefully concealed it, and then
went away, closing as well ashe could the entrance to the secret passage
by the large stone. As hedescended, it was time for the jailer

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was coming. On this occasion,he began his rounds at dantes cell and
on leaving him, he went onto Faria's dungeon, taking thither breakfast and
some linen. Nothing betokened that theman knew anything of what had occurred.
He went on his way. Danteswas then seized with an indescribable desire to

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know what was going on in thedungeon of his unfortunate friend. He therefore
returned by the subterraneous gallery, andarrived in time to hear the exclamations of
the turnkey, who called out forhelp. Other turnkeys came, and then
was heard the regular tramp of soldiers. Last of all came the governor.

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Edmond heard the creaking of the bedas they moved the corpse, heard the
voice of the governor, who askedthem to throw water on the dead man's
face, And, seeing that inspite of this application the prisoner did not
recover, they sent for the doctor. The governor then went out, and
words of pity fell on Dantes.Listening, ears mingled with brutal laughter.

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We'll well, said one the madmenhas gone to look after his treasure.
Good journey to him ha ha,with all his millions, he will not
have enough to pay for his shroud, said another. Oh, added a
third voice, the shrouds of theChateau d'If are not deer, Perhaps,

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said one of the previous speakers.As he was a churchman, they may
go to some expense in his bealf. They may give him the honors of
the sec ha ha ha ha.Edmond did not lose a word, but
comprehended very little of what said.The voices soon ceased, and it seemed
to him as if every one hadleft the cell. Still, he dared

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not enter, as they might haveleft some turnkey to watch the dead.
He remained therefore mute and motionless,hardly venturing to breathe. At the end
of an hour, he heard afaint noise which increased. It was the
governor who returned, followed by thedoctor and other attendants. There was a
moment's silence. It was evident thatthe doctor was examining the dead body.

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The inquiries soon commenced. The doctoranalyzed the symptoms of the malady to which
the prisoner had succumbed, and declaredthat he was dead. Questions and answers
followed, in a nonchalant manner thatmade Dante indignant, for he felt that
all the world should have for thepoor abbe a love and respect equal to
his own. I am very sorryfor what you tell me, said the

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governor, replying to the assurance ofthe doctor that the old man is really
dead, for he was a quiet, inoffensive prisoner, happy in his folly,
and required no watching. Oh,added the turnkey, there was no
occasion for watching him. He wouldhave stadia fifty years. I'll answer for
it, without any attempt to escape. Still, said the Governor. I

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believe it will be requisite, notwithstandingyour certainty, and not that I doubt
your science, but in discharge ofmy official duty, that we should be
perfectly assured that the prisoner is dead. There was a moment of complete silence,
during which Dantes, still listening,knew that the doctor was examining the
corpse a second time. You maymake your mind easy, said the doctor.

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He is dead. I will answerfor that, you know, sir,
said the Governor, persisting that weare not content in such cases as
this with such a simple examination,in spite of all appearances. To be
so kind therefore as to finish yourduty by fulfilling the formalities described by law.

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Let the irons be heated, saidthe doctor. But really it is
a useless precaution. This order toheat the irons made Dantes shudder. He
heard hasty steps, the creaking ofa door, people going and coming,
and some minutes afterwards the turnkey entered, saying, here is the brazier lighted.

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There was a moment's silence, andthen was heard the crackling of burning
flesh, of which the peculiar andnauseut smell penetrated even behind the wall,
where Dantes was listening in horror.The perspiration poured forth upon the young man's
brow, and he felt as ifhe should faint. You see, sir,
he is really dead, said thedoctor. This burn in Niel is

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decisive. The fool is cured ofhis folly and delivered from his captivity.
Wasn't his name, Faria, inquiredone of the officers who accompaned the governor.
Yes, sir, and as hesaid, it was an ancient name.
He was too very learned and Russianenough on all points which did not

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relate to his treasure. But onthat indeed, he was intractable. It
is a sort of melody, whichwe call monomania, said the doctor.
You had never anything to complain of, said the governors to the jailer with
charge of the abbe Never, Sir, replied the jailer. Never. On

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the contrary, he seemed amused mevery much by telling me stories. One
day too, when my wife wasill, he gave me a prescription which
cured her. Aha, said thedoctor. I did not know that I
had a rival. But I hopethe governor that you will show him all
proper respect. Yes, yes,make your mind easy. He shall be

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decently entred in the newest sack wecan find. Will that satisfy you?
Must this last formality take place inyour presence, Sir inquired a turnkey.
Certainly, but make haste. Icannot stay here all day. Other footsteps
going and coming were now heard,and a moment afterwards, the noise of

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rustling canvas reached the Dantes ears.The bed creaked, and the heavy footfall
of a man who lifts a weightsounded on the floor. Then the bed
again creaked under the weight deposited uponit. This evening, said the governor.
Will there be any mass? Askedone of the attendants. That is

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impossible, replied the governor. Thechaplain of the chateau came to me yesterday
to beg for a leave of absencein order to take a trip to Yere
for a week. I told himI would attend to the prison in his
absence. If the poor rabbe hadnot been in such a hurry, he
might have had his requiem. Poopooh, said the doctor, with the

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impiety usual in persons of his profession. He is a churchman. God will
respect his profession and not give thedevil the wicked delight of sending him a
priest. A shout of laughter followedthis brutal jest. Meanwhile, the operation
of putting the body in the sackwas going on this evening, said the

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governor. When the task was ended, at what hour? Inquired a turnkey?
Why about ten or eleven o'clock shouldwe watch by the copse? Of
what use would it be? Shutthe dungeon as if you were alive?
That is all. Then the stepsretreated and the voices died away in the

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distance. The noise of the door, with its creaking hinges and bolts,
ceased, and a silence more somberthan that of solitude ensued the silence of
death, which was all pervasive andstruck its icy chill to the very soul
of Dante. Then he raised theflagstone cautiously with his head, and looked

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carefully around the chamber. It wasempty, and Dantes emerged from the tunnel.
End of Chapter nineteen.