Stories to remember - Chapter 23

HAYDEE

Three years later, in 1832, the Count of Monte Cristo was in Constantinople.

At the court of the Sultan Mahmoud in that city there lived a young girl who was thirteen years old. Her name was Haydee and she was a slave. Seven years before, Haydee had been sold to the Sultan's slave merchant, El-Kobbir.

Now the Count of Monte Cristo was talking to that same slave merchant. El-Kobbir told the Count how, on behalf of the Sultan, he had bought the girl from a French officer.

'Do you remember the officer's name?' asked Monte Cristo.

'It was the Colonel Fernand Mondego,' replied El-Kobbir. 'He was the commander of the troops of Ali Tebelin, Pacha of Janina.'

'Do you think it would be possible for me to purchase this girl from the Sultan?'

'Everything is possible if you can pay enough. The price will be very high,' said El-Kobbir.

A few days later, the Count of Monte Cristo gave El-Kobbir an emerald worth eight hundred thousand livres. El-Kobbir passed on this valuable jewel to the Sultan in exchange for the slave girl, Haydee.

At the same time, the Count bought another slave; a big strong man called Ali. Ali was dumb, because his tongue had been cut out by the Sultan.

In the years that followed, Monte Cristo looked after Haydee as a father would his daughter. He discovered that she was the daughter of the Pacha of Janina. He also found out from her now Colonel Fernand Mondego had betrayed her father, seized his fortune, and sold her and her mother into slavery. Her mother had died on their arrival at Constantinople.

For the next few years, Monte Cristo and Haydee lived in the East. Haydee was given everything she desired, and lived in great luxury. During this time, the Count found out the whole history of Fernand Mondego and his betrayal of Haydee 's father. This same Fernand, who had betrayed Edmond Dante many years ago, had likewise betrayed Prince Ali Tebelin, the Pacha of Janina, who had trusted him.

Soon after this, the Count of Monnte Cristo returned to Europe, taking Haydee and the slave Ali with him. Bertuccio, the steward, went with them. They went to live in the underground palace on the island of Monte Cristo. Here, the Count wrote again to his old friend, the captain of the smuggling ship, the Young Amelia. The island of Monte Cristo became a smugglers' meeting place. Smugglers and bandits who were hiding from the police were often given shelter in the Count's palace.

Before long, there was hardly a well-known smuggler or bandit in Italy who did not have to thank the Count for some help or service that he had received. In return, if ever the Count needed anything from them, they were ready to help him.