The Count of Monte Cristo (Unabridged Penguin) by Alexandre Dumas Read Free Book Online

one, Monsieur. But that reminds me: I wanted to ask you for a fortnight’s leave.’
    ‘To get married?’
    ‘Firstly, then to go to Paris.’
    ‘Very well! Have as much time as you want, Dantès. It will take us a good six weeks to unload the vessel and we shall hardly be ready to put to sea again within three months… In three months’ time, however, you must be there. The
Pharaon
,’ the shipowner continued, putting a hand across the young sailor’s shoulders, ‘cannot set sail without its captain.’
    ‘Without its captain!’ Dantès cried, his eyes lighting up with joy. ‘Be very careful what you are saying, Monsieur, because you have just touched on the most secret of my heart’s desires. Can it be that you intend to appoint me captain of the
Pharaon
?’
    ‘If it was up to me alone, I should grasp your hand, my dear Dantès, and say to you: “the matter is settled!” But I have a partner, and you know the Italian proverb:
chi ha compagno, ha padrone
. 4 But, at least, we are half-way there, since you already have one of the two votes you need. Leave it to me to get you the other, and I shall do my best.’
    ‘Oh, Monsieur Morrel!’ the young sailor cried, with tears in his eyes, grasping the shipowner’s hands. ‘Monsieur Morrel, I thank you, on behalf of my father and of Mercédès.’
    ‘Fine, Edmond, fine! There is a God in heaven who looks after honest folk. Go and see your father, go and see Mercédès, then when that’s done, come and see me.’
    ‘But don’t you want me to accompany you back to land?’
    ‘No, thank you. I shall stay here to settle my accounts with Danglars. Were you happy with him during the voyage?’
    ‘It depends on what you understand by that question, Monsieur. If you mean, as a good companion, no, because I think that he has not liked me since the day when I had the folly, after a trifling dispute between us, to suggest that we should stop for ten minutes on the isle of Monte Cristo to settle the matter. It was wrong of me to propose that, and he was right to refuse. If you are asking meabout him as a supercargo, I think there is nothing to say, and that you will be satisfied with the manner in which his duties have been carried out.’
    ‘Come now, Dantès,’ the shipowner asked, ‘if you were captain of the
Pharaon
, would you be pleased to keep Danglars?’
    ‘Whether as captain or as first mate, Monsieur Morrel,’ Dantès replied, ‘I shall always have the highest regard for those who enjoy the confidence of my owners.’
    ‘Well, well, Dantès, you are clearly a fine lad, in every respect. Let me detain you no longer, for I can see that you are on tenterhooks.’
    ‘I may take my leave?’ asked Dantès.
    ‘Go on, I’m telling you.’
    ‘Will you permit me to use your boat?’
    ‘Take it.’
    ‘Au revoir, Monsieur Morrel, and thank you a thousand times.’
    ‘Au revoir, dear Edmond, and good luck!’
    The young sailor leapt into the boat, seated himself in the stern and gave the order to row across to the Canebière. Two sailors immediately bent over their oars and the vessel proceeded as fast as it could, among the thousand small boats that obstruct the sort of narrow alleyway leading, between two lines of ships, from the harbour entrance to the Quai d’Orléans.
    The shipowner looked after him, smiling, until the boat touched land and he saw him leap on to the cobbled quay, where he was instantly lost in the variegated crowd that, from five in the morning until nine in the evening, throngs the famous street known as La Canebière: the modern inhabitants of this old Phocean colony are so proud of it that they proclaim, with all the seriousness in the world, in that accent which gives such savour to everything they say: ‘If Paris had the Canebière, Paris would be a little Marseille.’
    Turning, the shipowner saw Danglars standing behind him, apparently awaiting orders but in reality, like him, watching the young sailor’s departure. Yet