The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Duma
chapter 8 the chatau D the commissary of police as he traversed the antichamber made a sign to two
jeams who placed themselves one on Dante's right and the other on his left a door that communicated
with the pet de Justice was opened and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors whose
appearance might have made even the Bold shudder the P dece communicated with the prison a somber
edifice that from its graded Windows looked on the clock t
ower of the akul after numberless
windings Dante saw a door with an iron Wicket the commissary took up an iron Mallet and knocked
Thrice every blow seeming to Dante as if struck on his heart the door opened the two jeams gently
pushed him forward and and the door closed with a loud sound behind him the air he inhaled was no
longer pure but thick and midic he was in prison he was conducted to a tolerably neat chamber but
graded and barred and its appearance therefore did not greatly alarm hi
m besides the words of vfor
who seemed to interest himself so much resounded still in his ears like a promise of Freedom it
was 4:00 when Dante was placed in this chamber it was as we have said the 1st of March and
the Prisoner was soon buried in darkness the obscurity augmented the acuteness of his hearing
at the slightest sound he rose and hastened to the door convinced they were about to liberate him
but the sound died away and Dante sank again into his seat at last about 10:00 and just
as Dante
began to despair steps were heard in the corridor a key turned in the lock the bolts creaked and
the Massy o door flew open and a flood of light from two torches pervaded the apartment by the
torch light Dante saw the glittering Sabers and carbines of four jeams he had Advanced at first
but stopped at the sight of this display of force are you come to fetch me asked he yes replied
A jeand by the orders of the deputy procura I believe so the conviction that they came from
Miss de v
for relieved all Dante's apprehensions he Advanced calmly and placed himself in the center
of the escort a carriage waited at the door The Coachman was on the box and a police officer sat
beside him is this carriage for me said Dante it is for you replied the jam Dante was about to
speak but feeling himself urged forward and having not neither the power nor the intention to
resist he mounted the steps and was in an instant seated inside between two jeams the two others
took their places opp
osite and the carriage rolled heavily over the Stones The Prisoner glanced at
the windows they were graded he had changed his prison for another that was conveying him he knew
not with through the grading however Dante saw they were passing through the ru casri and by the
r Sal laon and the rout tagami to the port soon he saw the light of La conen The Carriage stopped
the officer descended approached the guard housee a dozen soldiers came out and formed themselves
in order Dante saw the ref
lection of their muskets By the Light of the lamps on The Quay can all
this force be summoned on my account thought he the officer opened the door which was locked and
without speaking a word answered Dante's question for he saw between the ranks of the soldiers a
passage formed from The Carriage to the port the two jeams who were opposite to him descended
first then he was ordered to a light and the jeams on each side of him followed his example
they Advanced towards a boat which a custom
house officer held by a chain near The Quay the soldiers
looked at Dantes with an air of stupid curiosity in an instant he was placed in the stern sheets
of the boat between the jeams while the officer stationed himself at the bow a shove sent the boat
a drift and four sturdy Orsen impelled it rapidly towards the Pilon a shout from the boat the chain
that closes the mouth of the port was lowered and in a second they were as Dantes knew in the Fri
outside the Inner Harbor the prisoner's firs
t feeling was of a joy at again breathing the pure
air for air is freedom but he soon sighed for he passed before lav where he had that morning been
so happy and now through the open Windows came the laughter and rry of a ball Dante folded his hands
raised his eyes to heaven and prayed fervently the boat continued her Voyage they had passed the Tet
de Mor were now off the anaro and about to double the battery this maneuver was incomprehensible to
Dante whether are you taking me asked he you
will soon know but but still we are forbidden to give
you any explanation Dante trained in discipline knew that nothing would be more absurd than
to question subordinates who were forbidden to reply and so he remained silent the most vague
and wild thoughts passed through his mind the boat they were in could not make a long Voyage
there was there was no vessel at anchor outside the harbor he thought perhaps they were going
to leave him on some distant point he was not bound nor had they ma
de any attempt to handcuff
him this seemed good augury besides had not the deputy who had been so kind to him told him that
provided he did not pronounce the dreaded name of noer he had nothing to apprehend had not vfor in
his presence destroyed the fatal letter the only proof against him he waited silently striving to
pierce through the darkness they had left the EO with the lighthouse stood on the right and
were now opposite the P Catalan it seemed to the prisoner that he should distingui
sh a feminine
form on the beach for it was there mexes dwelt how was it that a presentiment did not warn mexes
that her lover was within 300 yard of her one light alone was visible and on saw that it came
from Mercedes chamber Mercedes was the only one awake in the whole settlement a loud cry could
be heard by her but Pride restrained him and he did not utter it what would his guards think
if they had heard him shout like a madman he remained silent his eyes fixed upon the light
the boat w
ent on but the prisoner thought only of mexes an intervening elevation of land hid
the light Dante turned and perceived that they had gone out to sea while he had been absorbed in
thought they had shipped their ores and hoisted sail the boat was now moving with the wind in
spite of his repugnance to address the guards Dante turned to the nearest jeand and taking his
hand comrade said he I adjure you as a Christian and a soldier to tell me where we are going I am
captain Dante a loyal French
man though accused of of treason tell me where you are conducting me and
I promise you on my honor I will submit to my fate the jeand looked irresolutely at his companion who
returned for an answer a sign that said I see no great harm in telling him now the je replied
you are a native a mar and a sailor and yet you do not know where you are going on my honor I
have no idea have you no idea what whatever none at all that is impossible I swear to you it is
true tell me I entreat but my orders
your orders do not forbid you telling me what I must know in
10 minutes in half an hour or an hour you see I cannot Escape even if I intended unless you are
blind or have never been outside the harbor you must know I do not look around you then Dante Rose
and looked forward when he saw rise within a 100 yards of him the black and frowning rock on which
stands the chat de this Gloomy Fortress which has for more than 300 years furnished food for so many
wild Legends seemed to Dante like a sc
affold to a male Factor the shatow de cried he what are we
going there for the jarm smiled I'm not going there to be impressed prisoned said Dante it is
only used for political prisoners I have committed no crime are there any magistrates or judges at
the chat there are only said the je a governor a Garrison turnkeys and good thick walls come
come do not look so astonished or you will make me think you are laughing at me in return for my
good nature Dante pressed the Jam's hand as though he
would crush it you think then said he that I
am taken to the chatau de to be imprisoned there it is probable but there is no occasion to squeeze
so hard without any inquiry without any formality all the formalities have been gone through the
inquiry is already made and so in spite of Miss V's promises I do not know what Miss vfor promised
you said the jeand but I know we are taking you to the o but what are you doing help comrade help
by a rapid movement which the jeams practiced eye had p
erceived Dante sprang forward to precipitate
himself into the sea but four vigorous arms seized him as his feet quitted the bottom of the boat
he fell back cursing with rage good said the jeam placing his knee on his chest believe softspoken
gentleman again harky my friend I have disobeyed my first order but I will not disobey the second
and if you move I will blow your brains out and he leveled his carbine at Dante who felt
the muzzle against his Temple for a moment the idea of struggling
crossed his mind and of so
ending the unexpected evil that had overtaken him but he be thought him of Miss V for's promises
and besides death in a boat from the hand of a jandarm seemed too terrible he remained Motionless
but nashing his teeth and ringing his hands with Fury at this moment the boat came to a landing
with a violent shock one of the sailors leaped on Shore a cord creaked as it ran through a
pulley and Dante guessed they were at the end of The Voyage and that they were moing t
he boat
his guards taking him by the arms and coat collar forced him to rise and dragged him towards the
steps that led to the gate of the Fortress while the police officer carrying a musket with fixed
bayonet followed behind Dante made no resistance he was like a man in a dream he saw soldiers drawn
up on the embankment he knew vaguely that he was ascending a flight of steps he was conscious that
he passed through a door and that the door closed behind him but all this indistinctly as thro
ugh a
Mist he did not even see the ocean that terrible bar against Freedom which the prisoners look upon
with utter despair they halted for a minute during which he strove to collect his thoughts he looked
around he was in a court surrounded by high walls he heard the measured tread of Sentinels and as
they passed before the light he saw the barrels of their muskets shine they waited upwards of 10
minutes certain Dante could not escape the sharms released him they seemed awaiting orders the
orders came where is the prisoner said a voice here replied the garms let him follow me I will
take him to his cell go said the jeams thrusting Dante forward the prisoner followed his guide who
led him into a room almost underground whose bare and wreaking walls seemed as though impregnated
with tears a lamp placed on a stool illumined the apartment faintly and showed Dante the features
of his conductor an under Jailer ill- clothed and of sullen appearance here's your chamber for
tonight
said he it is late and the governor is asleep tomorrow perhaps he may change you in the
meantime there is bread water and fresh straw and that is all a prisoner can wish for good night and
before Dante could open his mouth before he had noticed where the Jailer placed his bread or the
water before he glanced towards the corner where the straw was the Jailer disappeared taking with
him the lamp and closing the door leaving stamped upon the prisoner's mind the dim reflection of the
dripping w
alls of his dungeon Dante was alone in darkness and in silence cold as the Shadows that
he felt breathe on his burning forehead with the first dawn of day the Jailer returned with orders
to leave Dante where he was he found the prisoner in the same position as if fixed there his eyes
swollen with weeping he had passed the night standing and without sleep the Jailer Advanced
Dante appeared not to perceive him he touched him on the shoulder Edmund started have you not
slept said the Jailer I
do not know replied Dante the Jailer stared are you hungry continued he
I do not know do you wish for anything I wish to see the governor the Jailer Shrugged his
shoulders and left the chamber Dante followed him with his eyes and stretched forth his hands
toward the open door but the door closed all his emotion then burst forth he cast himself on the
ground weeping bitterly and asking himself what crime he had committed that he was thus punished
the day passed thus he scarcely tasted food b
ut walked round and round the cell like a wild beast
in his cage one thought in particular tormented him namely that during his journey hither he had
sat so still whereas he might a dozen times have plunged into the sea and thanks to his powers of
swimming for which he was famous have gained the shore concealed himself until the the arrival
of a genoise or Spanish vessel escaped to Spain or Italy where mexes and his father could have
joined him he had no fears as to how he should live good
seamen are welcome everywhere he spoke
Italian like a Tuscan and Spanish like a castillan he would have been free and happy with Mercedes
and his father whereas now he was confined in the chatau de that impregnable Fortress ignorant
of the future Destiny of his father in Mercedes and all this because he had trusted to V's
promise the thought was maddening and Dante threw himself furiously down on his straw the
next morning at the same hour the Jailer came again well said the Jailer are you
more reasonable
today Dante made no reply come cheer up is there anything that I can do for you I wish to see
the governor I have already told you it is impossible possible why so because it is against
prison rules and prisoners must not even ask for it what is allowed then better fair if you pay
for it books and leave to walk about I do not want books I am satisfied with my food and do not
care to walk about but I wish to see the governor if you worry me by repeating the same thing I
will
not bring you any more to eat well then said Edmund if you do not I shall die of hunger
that is all the Jailer saw by his tone he would be happy to die and as every prisoner is worth
10 SS a day to his Jailer he replied in a more subdued tone what you ask is impossible but if
you are very well behaved you will be allowed to walk about and someday you will meet the governor
and if he chooses to reply that is his affair but asked Dante how long shall I have to wait uh
a month 6 months a year
it is too long a time I wish to see him at once ah said the Jailer do
not always brood over what is impossible or you will be mad in a fortnight you think so yes we
have an instance here it was by always offering a million Franks to the governor for his Liberty
that an Abby became mad who was in this chamber before you how long has he left it 2 years was he
liberated then no he was put in a dungeon listen said Dante I am not an Abbe I am not mad perhaps
I shall be but at present unfortunat
ely I am not I will make you another offer what is that I
do not offer you a million because I have it not but I will give you 100 Crowns if the first
time you go to Mar you will seek out a young girl named Mercedes at the catalans and give her two
lines from me if I took them and were detected I should lose my place which is worth 2,000 Franks
a year so that I should be a great fool to run such a risk for 300 well said Dante mark this if
you refuse at least to tell Mercedes I am here I wil
l someday hide myself behind the door and
when you enter I will Dash out your brains with this stool threats cried the Jailer retreating and
putting himself on the defensive you are certainly going mad the Abbe began like you and in 3 days
you will be like him mad enough to tie up but fortunately there are dungeon here Dante Whirled
the stool round his head all right all right said the Jailer all right since you will have it so I
will send word to the governor very well returned Dante dropp
ing the stool and sitting on it as
as if he were in reality mad the Jailer went out and returned in an instant with a Corporal
and four Soldiers by the governor's orders said he conduct The Prisoner to the tiar beneath
to the dungeon then said the Corporal yes we must put the madman with the madman the soldiers
seized Dante who followed passively he descended 15 Steps and the door of a dungeon was opened
and he was thrust in the door closed and Dante Advanced with outstretched hands until h
e touched
the wall he then sat down in the corner until his eyes became accustomed to the darkness the Jailer
was right Dante wanted but little of being utterly mad end of chapter 8
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