Stories to remember - Chapter 31

LOOKING FOR THE MURDERER

Again Caderousse called for help. This time, Father Busoni and Ali appeared with lights. The priest sent Ali away quickly to fetch the State Prosecutor and a doctor.

'It's too late,' moaned Caderousse. 'I shall die before they get here!'

'Did you recognise who stabbed you?' said Father Busoni.

'Yes, it was Benedetto. It was he who gave me the plan of this house. I suppose he hoped I'd kill the Count and then he would get all his money, or that the Count would kill me, and then I'd be out of his way. When he saw me coming out of the house, he decided to kill me. I must report him.'

'I'd better write something down for you to sign, in case the State Prosecutor doesn't get here in time.'

'Yes, yes, quickly,' said Caderousse.

Father Busoni wrote :-

I die, murdered by my fellow prisoner, Benedetto.

He then gave the pen to Caderousse, who signed it. 'And now you've not long to live, it's time for you to repent,' said the priest.

'What do you mean?' asked Caderousse.

'I mean that you have lived a wicked life and God has punished you. Many years ago, you betrayed a friend and God began to warn you. You became poor. Later, I came to you with a fortune. I gave you a diamond. This was more than you had ever had before. But you were not satisfied. You wanted to double it. So you murdered a man to get the money and the diamond. Once more, God spared your life, but you had a warning. You were sent to prison. Now you have escaped and committed another crime. But God will not spare your life again. Therefore I say to you, you must repent.'

'Who are you, that you know all about my past life?' said Caderousse.

The priest leaned over and whispered in his ear, 'I have known you for a long time, Caderousse; longer than you think.'

'But who are you?'

'I am Edmond Dante. Do you remember?'

'Edmond Dante!' repeated the dying man. 'Ah, my God! My God! Pardon me! Forgive me! I truly repent for all my sins.'

He sank to the ground and became quiet. As the priest looked at the man, now dead, on the ground, he said quietly, 'Number one!'

Soon afterwards, the State Prosecutor and the police arrived. Father Busoni showed them Caderousse's body. He told them that the Count of Monte Cristo was away in his country home. He had asked his friend the Count for permission to look at some valuable books in the library while he was away. It was when he had been in the library, looking at the books, he had surprised the burglar, who ran away. Afterwards, he heard cries for help outside the house. Running outside, he had found the man lying on the ground, wounded. Father Busoni handed over to the police the note, signed by Caderousse, which said that he had been stabbed by Benedetto.

Caderousse's knife, his lantern, a bunch of keys, and all his clothes except a waistcoat, which could not be found, were taken away by the police.

They then began a search all over Paris for the murderer, Benedetto. They did not know that Benedetto was Andrea Cavalcanti. Benedetto could not be found.