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Chapter 7 The Examination

Word Count: 3509    |    Released on: 18/11/2017

e 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 th

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

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

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

. Some of your people have committed the strangest mistake-

lied Villefort, "and I am

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

les, Morrel to the plebeian; the first was a royalist, the other suspecte

hy in private life, and the best seaman in the merchant service, an

one who, interceding for another, had himself need of indulgence. Morrel reddened, for his own conscience was not quite clear on politics; beside

, as you always are, kind and equit

d revolutionary in

n 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 y

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

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 Phar

continued

," return

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

sir,"

d you have

information in

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

rved under t

tered into the Royal M

illefort, 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 hi

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, at

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

een--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

ne 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

. I swear by my honor as a sailor, by my lov

y, "If Renée could see me, I hope she would be sat

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,'

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

shall not be admitted to the grand mars

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

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 of

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

n, sir?" cried

rst give me

s taken from me with some other

, as Dantès took his hat and glo

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

ron, No. 13," murmured h

antès; "do yo

faithful servant of the king

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

of the person to whom it was

the address to know

to any one?" asked Villefort

ne, on m

e bearer of a letter from the Island o

pt the person wh

rkened more and more, his white lips and clinched teeth filled Dantès with app

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

are ignorant of the co

tès; "but what is the matter? You are ill--s

y; "stay where you are. It is for m

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

ble to doubt it,"

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

re you immediately to liberty; before doing so, I must consult

tès, "you have been rathe

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

, I dest

antès, "you are g

"you can now have confidence

nd, and I

ot a command, but

will follow

ice. Should any one else interrogate you, say to him what yo

who seemed to entreat, and t

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

ied; I wil

only lette

wa

ar i

wear

fort whispered some words in his ear, to whic

Villefort and retired. Hardly had the door closed whe

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

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

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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 9 The Evening of the Betrothal 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 18 The Treasure
Chapter 19 The Third Attack
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 Compact
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 Haidée
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 Lucerne 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 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 Haidée
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 A Nocturnal Interview
Chapter 90 The Meeting
Chapter 91 Mother and Son
Chapter 92 The Suicide
Chapter 93 Valentine
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
Chapter 101 Locusta
Chapter 102 Valentine
Chapter 103 Maximilian
Chapter 104 Danglars Signature
Chapter 105 The Cemetery of Père-la-Chaise
Chapter 106 Dividing the Proceeds
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