Part 13 (1/2)

”The best thing I can do will be to certify the truth of the contents of your petition” And, sitting down, Villefort wrote the certificate at the bottom

”What more is to be done?”

”I will do whatever is necessary” This assurance delighted Morrel, who took leave of Villefort, and hastened to announce to old Dantes that he would soon see his son

As for Villefort, instead of sending to Paris, he carefully preserved the petition that so fearfully compromised Dantes, in the hopes of an event that seemed not unlikely,--that is, a second restoration Dantes remained a prisoner, and heard not the noise of the fall of Louis XVIII's throne, or the stillthe Hundred Days had Morrel renewed his demand, and twice had Villefort soothed him with promises At last there was Waterloo, and Morrel came no more; he had done all that was in his power, and any fresh attempt would only compromise himself uselessly

Louis XVIII remounted the throne; Villefort, to whom Marseilles had becoht and obtained the situation of king's procureur at Toulouse, and a fortnight afterwards he married Madeher at court than ever

And so Dantes, after the Hundred Days and after Waterloo, relars comprehended the full extent of the wretched fate that overwhelmed Dantes; and, when Napoleon returned to France, he, after the manner of mediocre minds, termed the coincidence, ”a decree of Providence” But when Napoleon returned to Paris, Danglars' heart failed him, and he lived in constant fear of Dantes' return on a eance He therefore informed M Morrel of his wish to quit the sea, and obtained a recommendation from him to a Spanish merchant, into whose service he entered at the end of March, that is, ten or twelve days after Napoleon's return He then left for Madrid, and was noexcept that Dantes was absent What had beco the respite the absence of his rival afforded hi Mercedes as to the cause of his absence, partly on plans of eration and abduction, as from time to time he sat sad and motionless on the summit of Cape Pharo, at the spot fro for the apparition of a young and handsoeance Fernand's mind was made up; he would shoot Dantes, and then kill himself But Fernand was mistaken; a man of his disposition never kills hi this time the empire made its last conscription, and everyarms rushed to obey the su with hiht that while he ay, his rival would perhaps return and marry Mercedes Had Fernand really meant to kill himself, he would have done so when he parted from Mercedes His devotion, and the compassion he showed for her misfortunes, produced the effect they always produce on noble ard for Fernand, and this was now strengthened by gratitude

”My brother,” said she as she placed his knapsack on his shoulders, ”be careful of yourself, for if you are killed, I shall be alone in the world” These words carried a ray of hope into Fernand's heart Should Dantes not return, Mercedes ht one day be his

Mercedes was left alone face to face with the vast plain that had never seemed so barren, and the sea that had never seemed so vast Bathed in tears she wandered about the Catalan village So towards Marseilles, at other ti as to whether it were not better to cast herself into the abyss of the ocean, and thus end her woes It was not want of courage that prevented her putting this resolution into execution; but her religious feelings came to her aid and saved her Caderousse was, like Fernand, enrolled in the arht years older, he was merely sent to the frontier Old Dantes, as only sustained by hope, lost all hope at Napoleon's downfall Five months after he had been separated from his son, and almost at the hour of his arrest, he breathed his last in Mercedes' arms M Morrel paid the expenses of his funeral, and a few small debts the poor old man had contracted

There was e; the south was aflame, and to assist, even on his death-bed, the father of so dangerous a Bonapartist as Dantes, was stigmatized as a crime

Chapter 14

The Two Prisoners

A year after Louis XVIII's restoration, a visit was eneral of prisons Dantes in his cell heard the noise of preparation,--sounds that at the depth where he lay would have been inaudible to any but the ear of a prisoner, who could hear the splash of the drop of water that every hour fell fro unco ceased to have any intercourse with the world, that he looked upon himself as dead

The inspector visited, one after another, the cells and dungeons of several of the prisoners, whose good behavior or stupidity recoovernment He inquired how they were fed, and if they had any request to make The universal response was, that the fare was detestable, and that they wanted to be set free

The inspector asked if they had anything else to ask for They shook their heads What could they desire beyond their liberty? The inspector turned sovernn for these useless visits; when you see one prisoner, you see all,--always the sa,--ill fed and innocent Are there any others?”

”Yes; the dangerous and eons”

”Let us visit theue ”We eons”

”Let us first send for two soldiers,” said the governor ”The prisoners soh mere uneasiness of life, and in order to be sentenced to death, coht fall a victim”

”Take all needful precautions,” replied the inspector

Two soldiers were accordingly sent for, and the inspector descended a stairway, so foul, so huht, smell, and respiration

”Oh,” cried the inspector, ”who can live here?”

”A erous conspirator, a man we are ordered to keep theand resolute”

”He is alone?”

”Certainly”

”How long has he been there?”

”Nearly a year”

”Was he placed here when he first arrived?”

”No; not until he attempted to kill the turnkey, who took his food to him”

”To kill the turnkey?”

”Yes, the very one who is lighting us Is it not true, Antoine?” asked the governor

”True enough; he wanted to kill me!” returned the turnkey

”He must be mad,” said the inspector

”He is worse than that,--he is a devil!” returned the turnkey

”Shall I complain of him?” demanded the inspector

”Oh, no; it is useless Besides, he is almost mad now, and in another year he will be quite so”

”So much the better for him,--he will suffer less,” said the inspector He was, as this remark shows, a man full of philanthropy, and in every way fit for his office

”You are right, sir,” replied the governor; ”and this remark proves that you have deeply considered the subject Noe have in a dungeon about twenty feet distant, and to which you descend by another stair, an abbe, formerly leader of a party in Italy, who has been here since 1811, and in 1813 he wentHe used to weep, he now laughs; he grew thin, he nos fat You had better see hi”

”I will see them both,” returned the inspector; ”I must conscientiously perform my duty” This was the inspector's first visit; he wished to display his authority

”Let us visit this one first,” added he

”By all ned to the turnkey to open the door At the sound of the key turning in the lock, and the creaking of the hinges, Dantes, as crouched in a corner of the dungeon, whence he could see the ray of light that ca above, raised his head Seeing a stranger, escorted by two turnkeys holding torches and accoovernor spoke bareheaded, Dantes, who guessed the truth, and that the moment to address hi forith clasped hands

The soldiers interposed their bayonets, for they thought that he was about to attack the inspector, and the latter recoiled two or three steps Dantes saw that he was looked upon as dangerous Then, infusing all the humility he possessed into his eyes and voice, he addressed the inspector, and sought to inspire him with pity

The inspector listened attentively; then, turning to the governor, observed, ”He will becoentle; he is afraid, and retreated before the bayonets--; I made so to the prisoner, ”What is it you want?” said he

”I want to knohat criuilty, to be shot; if innocent, to be set at liberty”

”Are you well fed?” said the inspector