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Chapter 7 The Examination

Word Count: 3526    |    Released on: 15/03/2018

command of which, like a finished actor, he had carefully studied before the glass, it was by no means easy for him to assume an air of judicial severity. Except the recollection of the

onal attractions, which were very great, Mademoiselle de Saint-Méran's family possessed considerable political influence, which they would, of course, exert in his favor. The dowry of his wife amounted to fifty thousand crowns, and he

the third heaven to earth; he composed his face, as we have before described, and said, "I have read the letter, sir, an

aced on your desk. The prisoner himself is named Edmond Dantès, mate on board the three-master the P

rchant service, had he ev

sieur, he is

w o

r twenty at

rner of the Rue des Conseils, a man, who seemed to hav

u. Some of your people have committed the strangest mistake

plied Villefort, "and I am

estimable, the most trustworthy creature in the world, and I will venture to say, there is not a

es, Morrel to the plebeian; the first was a royalist, the other suspected

thy in private life, and the best seaman in the merchant service,

, interceding for another, had himself need of indulgence. Morrel reddened, for his own conscience was not quite clear on politics; besides, what Dantès h

, kind and equitable, and give him back to us soon." T

in a tavern, in company with a great many others." Then he added, "Monsieur, you may rest assured I shall perform my duty impartially, and that if he be innocent

0

, on the spot where Villefort had left him. The antechamber was full of police agents and gendarmes, in the midst of whom, carefully watched, but calm and smiling, stood th

ad been so often warned to mistrust first impulses, that he applied the maxim to the impression, forgetting the difference between the two words. He stifled, therefore, the feelings of compassion that were rising, composed his features, and sat down, grim and sombre, at his desk. An instant after Dantès entered. He was pa

he prisoner, that a police agent had given to him on his entry, and that, already, in an hour's time, had swell

young man calmly; "I am mate of the Pha

continued

" returne

ng at the moment y

o great was the contrast between that happy moment and the painful ceremony he was now undergoing; so

ur marriage?" said the deputy,

happiness, struck a sympathetic chord in his own bosom-he also was on the point of being married, and he was summoned from his own happiness to destroy that of another. "This philosophic reflection, " thought he, "will make a great

0

sir, " s

ld you ha

information

, and I will tell all I know; only, " added he

rved under t

stered into the Royal

Villefort, who had never heard anything of the kind, but was

sir, is all I can tell you, and you see how uninteresting it is." As Dantès spoke, Villefort gazed at his ingenuous and open countenance, and recollected the words of Renée, who, without knowing who the culprit was, had besought his indulgence for him. With the deputy's knowledge of crime and criminals, every word the young man uttered convinced him more and more of h

mposed on me. I shall have at least a pressure of the hand in public, and a sweet kiss in private." Full of this idea, Villefort's

"have you any enemies, a

rhaps, somewhat too hasty; but I have striven to repress it. I have had ten or twelve sailors under me, and if you quest

teen-an elevated post; you are about to marry a pretty girl, who loves you;

bly be the case, I confess; but if such persons are among my acquaintance

ine of my duty to aid you in discovering the author of this accusation. Here is the paper; do you know the writing?" As he spoke

added he, looking gratefully at Villefort, "to be examined by such a man as you; for this envious person is a real enemy."

r who takes an interest in him, what truth is there in the accusation contained in this anonymous l

s. I swear by my honor as a sailor, by my l

ly, "If Renée could see me, I hope she would be sa

at Elba, that he would not touch at any other port, his disorder rose to such a height, that at the end of the third day, feeling he was dying

captain, '

isembark at Porto-Ferrajo, ask for the grand-marshal, give him this letter-perhaps they will give you another letter, an

shall not be admitted to the grand-mars

difficulty, ' said the captain. At these words he gave me a ring.

did you

in obtaining access to the grand-marshal; but I sent the ring I had received from the captain to him, and was instantly admitted. He questioned me concerning Captain Leclere's death; and, as the latter had told me, gave me a letter to carry on to a person in Paris. I undertook it because it was what my captain had bade me do. I landed here, regulated the affairs o

this imprudence was in obedience to the orders of your captain. Give up this letter you have brought

n, sir?" cried

rst give me

as taken from me with some oth

y, as Dantès took his hat and gl

efort could not have been more stupefied. He sank into his seat, and hastily turning over

ron, No. 13, " murmured

Dantès; "do y

faithful servant of the kin

1

free, now began to feel a tenfold alarm. "I have, however, already t

of the person to whom it was

d the address to kno

to anyone?" asked Villefor

ne, on m

e bearer of a letter from the Island o

pt the person wh

rkened more and more, his white lips and clenched teeth filled Dantès with appr

efort made no answer, but raised his head at the expir

are ignorant of the co

antès; "but what is the matter? You are ill

ly; "stay where you are. It is for

s proudly, "it was only to

waited, expecting a question, but in vain. Villefort fell back on his chair, passed his

Noirtier is the father of Villefort, I am lost!" And he fixed h

le to doubt it, " c

doubt me, question me; I will answer you." Villefort made

ore you immediately to liberty; before doing so, I must consul

ntès, "you have been rath

1

as possible. The principal charge against you is this letter, and you see--" Vill

, I dest

Dantès, "you are

; "you can now have confidence

nd, and I

ot a command, but

will follow

ice. Should anyone else interrogate you, say to him what you

who seemed to entreat, and t

red in the flames, "the letter is destroyed; you and I alone know of its existence; should

ied; I wil

only lette

wa

ear

wear

fort whispered some words in his ear, to whic

d Villefort and retired. Hardly had the door closed wh

letter would have destroyed all my hopes. Oh, my father, must your past career always interfere with my successes?"

ake my fortune. Now to the work I have in hand." And after having assured himself tha

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Contents

Chapter 1 Marseilles-The Arrival Chapter 2 Father and Son Chapter 3 The Catalans Chapter 4 Conspiracy Chapter 5 The Marriage Feast Chapter 6 The Deputy Procureur du Roi Chapter 7 The Examination Chapter 8 The Chateau d'If Chapter 9 The Evening of the Betrothal Chapter 10 The King's Closet at the Tuileries Chapter 11 The Corsican Ogre
Chapter 12 Father and Son
Chapter 13 The Hundred Days
Chapter 14 The Two Prisoners
Chapter 15 Number 34 and Number 27
Chapter 16 A Learned Italian
Chapter 17 The Abbé's Chamber
Chapter 18 The Treasure
Chapter 19 The Third Attack
Chapter 20 The Cemetery of the Chateau d'If
Chapter 21 The Island of Tiboulen
Chapter 22 The Smugglers
Chapter 23 The Island of Monte Cristo
Chapter 24 The Secret Cave
Chapter 25 The Unknown
Chapter 26 The Pont du Gard Inn
Chapter 27 The Story
Chapter 28 The Prison Register
Chapter 29 The House of Morrel & Son
Chapter 30 The Fifth of September
Chapter 31 Italy Sinbad the Sailor
Chapter 32 The Waking
Chapter 33 Roman Bandits
Chapter 34 The Colosseum
Chapter 35 La Mazzolata
Chapter 36 The Carnival at Rome
Chapter 37 The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian
Chapter 38 The Rendezvous
Chapter 39 The Guests
Chapter 40 The Breakfast
Chapter 41 The Presentation
Chapter 42 Monsieur Bertuccio
Chapter 43 The House at Auteuil
Chapter 44 The Vendetta
Chapter 45 The Rain of Blood
Chapter 46 Unlimited Credit
Chapter 47 The Dappled Grays
Chapter 48 Ideology
Chapter 49 Haydée
Chapter 50 The Morrel Family
Chapter 51 Pyramus and Thisbe
Chapter 52 Toxicology
Chapter 53 Robert le Diable
Chapter 54 A Flurry in Stocks
Chapter 55 Major Cavalcanti
Chapter 56 Andrea Cavalcanti
Chapter 57 In the Lucern Patch
Chapter 58 M. Noirtier de Villefort
Chapter 59 The Will
Chapter 60 The Telegraph
Chapter 61 How a Gardener May Get Rid of the Dormice that Eat His Peaches
Chapter 62 Ghosts
Chapter 63 The Dinner
Chapter 64 The Beggar
Chapter 65 A Conjugal Scene
Chapter 66 Matrimonial Projects
Chapter 67 The Office of the King's Attorney
Chapter 68 A Summer Ball
Chapter 69 The Inquiry
Chapter 70 The Ball
Chapter 71 Bread and Salt
Chapter 72 Madame de Saint-Méran
Chapter 73 The Promise
Chapter 74 The Villefort Family Vault
Chapter 75 A Signed Statement
Chapter 76 Progress of Cavalcanti the Younger
Chapter 77 Haydée
Chapter 78 We hear From Yanina
Chapter 79 The Lemonade
Chapter 80 The Accusation
Chapter 81 The Room of the Retired Baker
Chapter 82 The Burglary
Chapter 83 The Hand of God
Chapter 84 Beauchamp
Chapter 85 The Journey
Chapter 86 The Trial
Chapter 87 The Challenge
Chapter 88 The Insult
Chapter 89 The Night
Chapter 90 The Meeting
Chapter 91 Mother and Son
Chapter 92 The Suicide
Chapter 93 Valentine
Chapter 94 Maximilian's Avowal
Chapter 95 Father and Daughter
Chapter 96 The Contract
Chapter 97 The Departure for Belgium
Chapter 98 The Bell and Bottle Tavern
Chapter 99 The Law
Chapter 100 The Apparition
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