E-text prepared by Juergen Lohnert, Martin Pettit, and the Project
Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
Transcriber's Note:
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected, and
inconsistent spelling has been made consistent.
This volume does not have any illustrations.
The Works of Alexandre Dumas in Thirty Volumes
THE SON OF MONTE-CRISTO
VOLUME ONE
Illustrated with Drawings on Wood by
Eminent French and American Artists
[Illustration: Publisher's logo]
New York
P. F. Collier and Son
MCMIV
CONTENTS
I. A MARRIAGE CONTRACT AND ITS END 3
II. A CALM BRIDE 8
III. A FAMILY TRAGEDY 13
IV. A PECULIAR TRIAL 16
V. THE RESULT OF THE CATASTROPHE 20
VI. BENEDETTO, THE MURDERER 23
VII. A MIRACLE 29
VIII. THE SENTENCE OF DEATH 35
IX. THE EDITORIAL ROOMS 43
X. PONTOON NO. 2 50
XI. THE DEAD LIVE 55
XII. THE CONFESSION 59
XIII. FORGIVENESS 72
XIV. THE RAT-KING 78
XV. IN THE BAGNIO 88
XVI. THE ESCAPE 94
XVII. IN THE MOUNTAIN PASS OF OLIOLLES 98
XVIII. THE MOTHER 107
XIX. ON THE SEA 111
XX. MONTE-CRISTO 116
XXI. WITH THE PANDURS 127
XXII. THE QUEEN OF FLOWERS 132
XXIII. GREEN, WHITE AND RED 138
XXIV. A FIGHT IN THE STREETS 150
XXV. THE MASKS FALL 152
XXVI. LOVE OF COUNTRY 156
XXVII. SHADOWS OF THE PAST 160
XXVIII. THE CONSPIRATORS 164
XXIX. FATHER AND SON 168
XXX. IN THE WELL 178
XXXI. SPERO 186
XXXII. ECARTE 194
XXXIII. FORWARD! 198
XXXIV. SERGEANT COUCOU 204
XXXV. MISS CLARY 207
XXXVI. A MOTHER 215
XXXVII. THE RING 218
XXXVIII. "SEARCH FOR THE WIFE!" 226
XXXIX. DEPEND ONLY ON YOURSELF 233
XL. THE SACRIFICE 240
XLI. HOW AND WHERE COUCOU TOOK LEAVE 249
XLII. IN THE SPIDER'S WEB 263
XLIII. MANUELITA 273
XLIV. THE HUMORS OF A LADY-MILLIONNAIRE 291
XLV. MALDAR 305
XLVI. MISS CLARY'S SECRET 310
XLVII. AN AMERICAN WAGER 314
XLVIII. THE WEDDING BREAKFAST 325
XLIX. MALDAR'S FAREWELL 331
L. THE HOLY SIGNAL 336
LI. UARGLA 340
LII. CAPTAIN JOLIETTE 342
LIII. THE LION IN CONFLICT WITH THE LION 345
LIV. MEDJE 352
LV. "DO NOT DIE, CAPTAIN!" 363
LVI. THE FLIGHT 368
LVII. AT THE FOOT OF THE KIOBEH 370
LVIII. MONTE-CRISTO BECOMES EDMOND DANTES 374
LIX. EDMOND DANTES 377
LX. SECRETS 381
THE SON OF MONTE-CRISTO
CHAPTER I
A MARRIAGE CONTRACT AND ITS END
In the month of July of the year 1829, a man created a great sensation
in Paris, and even attracted the attention of the lions of society.
Where he came from--who he was--what was his past life--none knew; and
the mystery surrounding him only tended to make the hero of the season
more interesting.
The Count of Monte-Cristo, from Italy--from Malta--no one knew
whence--had unlimited credit with the banking house of Danglars, one of
the largest in Paris; owned the finest mansion--a superb villa--at
Auteuil, and the handsomest turnout on the road, which he presented to a
banker's wife, without letting any one know his reason for doing so; all
this was sufficient to make him the central point around which revolved
the social gossip of the day. But, besides this, the handsome stranger
makes his appearance at the theatres in the company of a lady in Grecian
dress, whose transcendent beauty and countless diamonds awake alike
admiration and cupidity. Like moths around the flame, society flutters
about the legendary count, and it is principally the golden youth who
find in him their centre of attraction. Among the latter were more
especially Albert Morcerf, the son of a general, Debray, a young and
talented attaché at the Foreign Office, Beauchamp, and Chateau-Renaud,
who served as the asteroids of the new star in the Parisian sky.
Sometimes they were joined at those famous dinners which only a
Monte-Cristo understood how to give, by a Count Andrea Cavalcanti, who
at first appeared there with his father, Major Cavalcanti. Although he
was a stranger, he was received in society through his acquaintance with
Monte-Cristo and with Baron Danglars, in whose banking house he had a
large sum on deposit.
The young count, a perfect Apollo, with classically-cut features, did
not fail to produce an impression upon Eugenie, a proud, black-eyed
brunette, the only daughter of the millionnaire Danglars; and as the
millions of the father, in conjunction with the peculiar beauty of the
daughter, began to interest the count, it was not long before they
thought of marriage. Danglars, who had been a heavy loser in certain
speculations of which the public was ignorant, hoped to rehabilitate
himself with the millions of his prospective son-in-law, and therefore
there was nothing to prevent the marriage of the proud Eugenie and the
handsome Andrea.
One July evening, representatives of the high financial society, and a
few members of the aristocracy, were invited to Danglars' house to
witness the signing of the marriage contract of the only daughter of the
house with the Italian, Count Andrea Cavalcanti, of the princely house
of Cavalcanti. At five o'clock, when the guests arrived, they found all
the rooms in the mansion brilliant with wax-lights.
The bride was simply yet tastefully attired: a white satin dress
trimmed with lace of the same color; a single white rose, which was half
hidden in her raven black hair, formed the only ornament of the young
lady, whose jewels, it was well known, represented a fortune. The young
count was surrounded by representatives of the gilded youth, who give
the tone in the Jockey Club, and are the recognized authorities for all
Europe in questions of taste, fashion, and sport.
Baron Danglars was the centre of a group of bankers, to whom he
developed his celebrated projects which had increased his millions,
taking good care, however, not to mention his losses. Madame Danglars,
the handsome mother of the pretty Eugenie, was surrounded by a circle of
young and old cavaliers, who paid court to her with the greatest
ceremony, and whose adorations were accepted by the lady as a tribute
due her, although it could not be denied that she favored the young
attaché Debray.
The lawyers were already there, yet the ceremony appeared to be
purposely delayed, as if they were waiting for the arrival of a missing
guest. And this was indeed the case.
When the footman announced the Count of Monte-Cristo a stir was created
among the guests. The star of the evening was overwhelmed with
questions, which he paid no attention to, but quietly busied himself
with the three representatives of the Danglars family.
The way he observed the young Count Cavalcanti was very strange, though
very few noticed it, as the Count of Monte-Cristo was relating a robbery
which had been committed in his house, in which one of the thieves had
been murdered, most probably by his own comrade. No one noticed the
pallor of Count Cavalcanti, as they were too much interested in
Monte-Cristo's story. When he had finished, the ceremony was proceeded
with.
The marriage contract between Mademoiselle Eugenie and Count Andrea
Cavalcanti was read, the millions mentioned therein causing a sensation
even among the cream of the financial and aristocratic world, and the
signing of the paper was next in order. This circumstance recalled to
Madame Danglars the absence of a friend of the house, the procureur du
roi Villefort, and she asked Monte-Cristo whether he knew where he was.
"I am indirectly the cause of the absence of the procureur du roi," said
the count, as if to apologize. "The man who was murdered in my house was
recognized as a former galley-slave named Caderousse, and a letter was
found in his pocket which bore a remarkable address."
Every one crowded around the count, while the young bridegroom slowly
walked toward a neighboring room.
"Could you tell us the address?" asked Madame Danglars.
"Certainly," replied the count. "You will all laugh over it. It was none
other than that of the hero of our reunion to-night--Count Andrea
Cavalcanti."
The surprised guests turned around as if to exact an explanation from
the latter. He had, however, already left the room. The servants were
searching all over the house for him, when a new commotion was heard.
The dazed servants returned from their search, and behind them appeared
a detective accompanied by several policemen.
"I am looking for a man named Andrea Cavalcanti," said the detective,
in the well-known monotonous way which never fails to make an impression
even upon those who are not principals.
"By what right?" asked Danglars, who could not suppress his uneasiness.
"Andrea Cavalcanti is charged with having murdered the galley-slave
Caderousse, with whom he was formerly chained in the galleys."
Like lightning from a clear sky this announcement fell upon the
aristocratic assembly. Madame Danglars fainted, the policemen searched
the house, but could not find the culprit, the guests ran here and there
like a flock of sheep surprised by a fox, the servants stood motionless
with dazed faces, consternation and confusion reigned supreme.