Stories to remember - Chapter 1

The Count of 

Monte Cristo

-By Alexandre Dumas

CHARACTERS

Edmond Dante:                  later Count of Monte Cristo, also disguised as Father Busoni and Lord Wilmore

Mercedes:                           fiance of Dante, later Countess Morcerf.

Monsieur Morrel:              owner of the "Pharaon".

Fernand Mondego:            later Count Morcerf.

Danglars:                           later Baron Danglars.

Caderousse:                       A neighbour of Dante's father.

De Villefort:                      Assistant State Prosecutor

Monsieur Noirtier:            Father of De Villefort

Renee:                                Bride of De Villefort

The Abbe Faria:                An old priest imprisoned in the Chateau d'if.

Jacopo:                               A sailor on the "Young Amelia"

Bertuccio:                          A smuggler, later servant to Dante.

Haydee:                              A princess, daughter of Prince Ali Tebelin, Pacha of Janina.

Albert Morcerf;                  Son of Fernand and Mercedes.

Franz Epinay:                    friend of Albert Morcerf.

Eugenie:                             Daughter of Danglars.

Benedetto:                          Son of De Villefort, disguised as Andrea Cavalcanti

Ali:                                     A deaf mute, servant to Dante.

Prologue

It was the 24th February 1815. The sun shone softly on the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea around the island of Elba. Napoleon Bonaparte, once the absolute master of France, was now king only of this small island. He who had ruled over one hundred and twenty million subjects now reigned over the six thousand inhabitants of Elba.

In France, the Bourbons had returned to the throne in the person of Louis XVIII, younger brother of the beheaded Louis XVI.

 Friends in Paris were plotting to bring back Napoleon as ruler of France. Napoleon himself was also busy with plans for his glorious return.

Chapter 1

A SHIP ARRIVES

On the French Mediterranean coast at Marseilles, sun-shine brightened the gilded figure of a Madonna. High above the harbour, from the top of the church of Notre Dame de la Garde, this golden Madonna looked down towards the sea. Seamen called her the 'Protector of the Sailors'.

At the entrance to the harbour stood the massive Fort St.Jean. Out to sea, on a barren rock, stood another Fortress, the Chateau d'if. This was a prison - a grey stone castle standing bleak against the sky. It had no windows, but only tiny slits let in the stonework. Its gateways were barred with rods of iron. No prisoner was ever known to escape from this grim place.

On this sunny day a three-masted sailing ship, the Pharaon, coming from Smyrna, Trieste and Naples, could be seen just beyond the Chateau d'if. Slowly the ship approached the harbour. Passing the Fort St.Jean, she sailed in towards the quay where many people were waiting. She dropped her anchor.

The first man to go aboard was her owner, Monsieur Morrel. He immediately approached a dark-haired good-looking young man of about twenty who appeared to be in command.

'Ah, it is you, Edmond Dante!' said Monsieur Morrel. 'What has happened?'

'We have had a great misfortune,' replied the young man. 'Our good Captain Leclere died during the voyage. We buried him at sea.'

Then he explained to the owner how he, as chief officer, had taken over command of the ship after the captain died.

At that moment a customs officer came on board, and Dante went to meet him.

Monsieur Morrel turned to his supercargo, Danglars, an ugly man about twenty-five years old, who was heartily disliked by the rest of the crew. Danglars, jealous of young Dante, began to complain about the conduct of the voyage since the death of the captain. He said that a day and a half had been wasted by stopping at the island of Elba instead of coming straight to Marseilles.

Monsieur Morrel called to Dante and asked him why the ship had stopped at the island of Elba. The young man explained that Captain Leclere, before he died, had given him a package to deliver to one of Napoleon's generals. He had sailed to Elba to deliver it. Whilst on the island, he had also seen Napoleon himself.

Monsieur Morrel turned to Danglars. 'You see,' he said, 'there was a good reason for going to elba. Dante was carrying out the last wish of a dying man. He has also brought my ship safely back to Marseilles with her cargo undamaged.'

Then he spoke to Dante.

'Dante,' he said, 'I shall appoint you captain of the Pharaon for her next voyage.'

Danglars scowled and went away, muttering to himself.

  

    

Stories to remember - Intro

The Count of Monte Cristo 

is among the most popular of the novels of Dumas. Edmond Dante, the hero, had just been made captain of the ship. While he was celebrating his betrothal to his sweetheart Mercedes, he was accused of being a Bonapartist and arrested on a charge of treason. The Assistant State Prosecutor Villefort knew that Dante was innocent. Yet he condemned him to life imprisonment in the notorious prison Chateau d'if to make sure that the particulars of the letter found in the possession of Dante were not made public. The letter was addressed to Villefort's father and if this fact were known, he, a Royalist, would lose his position. Dante, spent seven long years in solitary confinement in the Chateau d'if. Then a strange thing happened. Another prisoner called Abbe Faria was making a tunnel in order to escape. This gave Dante new hope. He too wished to make his escape so that he could have his revenge on his enemies. He blamed four men for his misfortunes : Caderousse, who conspired to ruin him, Fernand who took Mercedes from him, Danglers who became captain of his ship and Villefort who had him shut up in prison without trial. Faria taught him many languages, arts and sciences. One day Faria fell ill and died. But before he died he confided to Dante the story of his priceless treasure given to him by Cardinal Spada. The treasure lay buried in the island of Monte Cristo. Dante was deeply shaken by the death of Faria, but his death pointed a way of escape to him. He transferred Faria's dead body to his own cell and got inside the sack in which the prison guards had tied up Faria's corpse for burial and sewed it up. At night the guards threw the sack into the sea. But Dante ripped open the sack and swam to safety. He was rescued by a pirate ship. He became a sailor on the pirate ship and once visited the island of Monte Cristo. Pretending to have hurt himself too badly to sail, he let himself be left alone on the island. He found the treasure, took enough for his immediate needs, and planned to return to Monte Cristo later. After a few days the pirate ship picked him up and brought him to Genoa. In Genoa Dante left the pirates. He sold some of the jewels he had brought from Monte Cristo. He assumed the name of an English peer Lord Wilmore, bought a fine yacht, sailed to Monte Cristo and carried off Spada's treasure. Dante was now immensely rich.

Assuming the name and disguise of Father Busoni, Dante next visited Caderousse, who now kept an inn; from Caderousse he learned that Fernand had married Mercedes soon after his imprisonment. Fernand had acquired great wealth and title and was now Count Morcerf. Danglers had become a rich banker with the title Baron Danglers. Dante discorered that Danglers was responsible for the death from starvation of his father Old Dante. Villefort also had acquired fame and fortune.

Dante bought the island of Monte Cristo and took the title of the Count of Monte Cristo. Paris was dazzled by his wealth. He and Haydee, the former slave girl, became the talk of the town. Dante carefully planned his revenge on the four men who were responsible for his being sent to the Chateau d'if. The first victim was Caderousse. During Dante first on visit, as Father Busoni, he had given Caderousse a precious diamond as a gift. This awakened Caderousse's greed. Prompted by greed, Caderousse committed robbery and murder and served a prison term. On being released, he tried to rob the Count of Monte Cristo, but was mortally wounded in the process. As the man lay dying, Monte Cristo revealed his real name--Edmond Dante. Dante also brought about the ruin of the rich banker Danglers. Danglers, whose wealth was in Spanish bonds, was reduced to bankruptcy when a false rumour about the Spanish government was circulated by Dante. He fled the country, but fell into the hands of bandits friendly to Dante who taught him something of the agony of hunger. But Dante did not kill him. He also exposed the treachery and betrayal of Fernand through Haydee, Ali Pacha's daughter. Albert, Fernand's son, challenged him to a duel to avenge his father's disgrace. But Dante spared the young man's life. Albert and Mercedes deserted Fernand who, in disgrace and despair, committed suicide. Villefort was also disgraced and spent the rest of his life in a madhouse.

Dante's revenge was now complete. In the company of Haydee, he sailed away towards the island of Monte Cristo.

Despite its faults, The Count of Monte Cristo tells a fascinating tale of adventure, mystery and intrigue. It has been a perennial favourite with young readers and is likely to remain so.