基督山伯爵英文版
The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas père
Chapter 1
Marilles -- The ArrivalOn the 24th of February, 1815, the look-out at Notre-Dame de la Garde signalled the three-master, the Pharaon from Smyrna, Trieste, and NaplesAs usual, a pilot put off immediately, and rounding the Chateau d'If, got on board the vesl between Cape Morgion and Rion islandImmediately, and according to custom, the ramparts of Fort Saint-Jean were covered with spectators; it is always an event at Marilles for a ship to come into port, especially when this ship, like the Pharaon, has been built, rigged, and laden at the old Phocee docks, and belongs to an owner of the cityThe ship drew on and had safely pasd the strait, which some volcanic shock has made between the Calasareigne and Jaros islands; had doubled Pomegue, and approached the harbor under topsails, jib, and spanker, but so slowly and dately that the idlers, with that instinct which is the forerunner of evil, asked one another what misfortune could have happened on board. However, tho experienced in navigation saw plainly that if any accident had occurred, it was not to the vesl herlf,
for she bore down with all the evidence of being skilfully handled, the anchor a-cockbill, the jib-boom guys already ead off, and standing by the side of the pilot, who was steering the Pharaon towards the narrow entrance of the inner port, was a young man, who, with
activity and vigilant eye, watched every motion of the ship, and repeated each direction of the pilotThe vague disquietude which prevailed among the spectators had so much affected one of the crowd that he did not await the arrival of the vesl in harbor, but jumping into a small skiff, desired to be pulled alongside the Pharaon, which he reached as she rounded into La Rerve basinWhen the young man on board saw this person approach, he left his station by the pilot, and, hat in hand, leaned over the ship's bulwarksHe was a fine, tall, slim young fellow of eighteen or twenty, with black eyes, and hair as dark as a raven's wing; and his whole appearance bespoke that calmness and resolution peculiar to men accustomed from their cradle to contend with danger"Ah, is it you, Dantes?" cried the man in the skiff. "What's the matter? and why have you such an air of sadness aboard?"
"A great misfortune, M. Morrel," replied the young man, -- "a great misfortune, for me especially! Off Civita Vecchia we lost our brave Captain Leclere."
"And the cargo?" inquired the owner, eagerly"Is all safe, M. Morrel; and I think you will be satisfied on that head. But poor Captain Leclere -- "
"What happened to him?" asked the owner, with an air of considerable resignation. "What happened to the worthy captain?"
"He died."
"Fell into the a?"
"No, sir, he died of brain-fever in dreadful agony." Then turning to the crew, he said, "Bear a hand there, to take in sail!"
All hands obeyed, and at once the eight or ten amen who compod the crew, sprang to their respective stations at the spanker brails and outhaul, topsail sheets and halyards, the jib downhaul, and the topsail clewlines and buntlines. The young sailor gave a look to e that his orders were promptly and accurately obeyed, and then turned again to the owner"And how did this misfortune occur?" inquired the latter, resuming the interrupted conversation"Alas, sir, in the most unexpected manner. After a long talk with the harbor-master, Captain Leclere left Naples greatly disturbed in min
d. In twenty-four hours he was attacked by a fever, and died three days afterwards. We performed the usual burial rvice, and he is at his rest, wn up in his hammock with a thirty-six pound shot at his head and his heels, off El Giglio island. We bring to his widow his sword and cross of honor. It was worth while, truly," added the young man with a melancholy smile, "to make war against the English for ten years, and to die in his bed at last, like everybody el."
"Why, you e, Edmond," replied the owner, who appeared more comforted at every moment, "we are all mortal, and the old must make way for the young. If not, why, there would be no promotion; and since you assure me that the cargo -- "
"Is all safe and sound, M. Morrel, take my word for it; and I advi you not to take 25,000 francs for the profits of the voyage."
Then, as they were just passing the Round Tower, the young man shouted: "Stand by there to lower the topsails and jib; brail up the spanker!"
The order was executed as promptly as it would have been on board a man-of-war"Let go -- and clue up!" At this last command all the sails were
lowered, and the vesl moved almost imperceptibly onwards"Now, if you will come on board, M. Morrel," said Dantes, obrving the owner's impatience, "here is your supercargo, M. Danglars, coming out of his cabin, who will furnish you with every particular. As for me, I must look after the anchoring, and dress the ship in mourning."
The owner did not wait for a cond invitation. He ized a rope which Dantes flung to him, and with an activity that would have done credit to a sailor, climbed up the side of the ship, while the young man, going to his task, left the conversation to Danglars, who now came towards the owner. He was a man of twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, of unpreposssing countenance, obquious to his superiors, insolent to his subordinates; and this, in addition to his position as responsible agent on board, which is always obnoxious to the sailors, made him as much disliked by the crew as Edmond Dantes was beloved by them"Well, M. Morrel," said Danglars, "you have heard of the misfortune that has befallen us?"
"Yes -- yes: poor Captain Leclere! He was a brave and an honest man."
"And a first-rate aman, one who had en long and honorable rvice, as became a man charged with the interests of a hou so important as that of Morrel & Son," replied Danglars"But," replied the
owner, glancing after Dantes, who was watching the anchoring of his vesl, "it ems to me that a sailor needs not be so old as you say, Danglars, to understand his business, for our friend Edmond ems to understand it thoroughly, and not to require instruction from any one."
"Yes," said Danglars, darting at Edmond a look gleaming with hate. "Yes, he is young, and youth is invariably lf-confident. Scarcely was
the captain's breath out of his body when he assumed the command without consulting any one, and he caud us to lo a day and a half at the Island of Elba, instead of making for Marilles direct."
"As to taking command of the vesl," replied Morrel, "that was his duty as captain's mate; as to losing a day and a half off the Island of Elba, he was wrong, unless the vesl needed repairs."
"The vesl was in as good condition as I am, and as, I hope you are, M. Morrel, and this day and a half was lost from pure whim, for the pleasure of going ashore, and nothing el."
"Dantes," said the shipowner, turning towards the young man, "come this way!"
"In a moment, sir," answered Dantes, "and I'm with you." Then calling to the crew, he said -- "Let go!"
The anchor was instantly dropped, and the chain ran rattling through the port-hole. Dantes continued at his post in spite of the prence of the pilot, until this manoeuvre was completed, and then he added, "Half-mast the colors, and square the yards!"
"You e," said Danglars, "he fancies himlf captain already, upon my word."
"And so, in fact, he is," said the owner"Except your signature and your partner's, M. Morrel."
"And why should he not have this?" asked the owner; "he is young, it is true, but he ems to me a thorough aman, and of full experience."
A cloud pasd over Danglars' brow. "Your pardon, M. Morrel," said Dantes, approaching, "the vesl now rides at anchor, and I am at your
