d with the Palais de Justice was opened, and they went through a long range of gloomy corridors, whose appearance might have made even the boldest shudder. The Palais de Justice comm
his heart. The door opened, the two gendarmes gently pushed him forward, and the door closed with a l
was placed in this chamber. It was, as we have said, the 1st of March, and the prisoner was soon buried in darkness. The obscurity augmented the acuteness of his hearing; at the slightest sound he rose and hastened to the door, convinced they were about to liberate him, but the sound
d carbines of four gendarmes. He had advanced at firs
e to fetch m
eplied a
s of the depu
pprehensions; he advanced calmly, and placed himself in the centre of the escort. A carri
iage for me?"
ou, " replie
e intention to resist, he mounted the steps, and was in an instant seated inside between two gend
ng him he knew not whither. Through the grating, however, Dantès saw they were passing through the Rue Caiss
, a dozen soldiers came out and formed themselves in order; Dantès saw
be summoned on my ac
rs a passage formed from the carriage to the port. The two gendarmes who were opposite to him descended first, then he was ordered to alight and t
the officer stationed himself at the bow; a shove sent the boat adrift, and four sturdy oarsmen impelled it rapidly towards the Pilon. At a shout from
for he passed before La Réserve, where he had that morning been so happy, and now through the open windows cam
1
Mort, were now off the Anse du Pharo, and about to double
you taking me
ll soon
sti
iscipline, knew that nothing would be more absurd than to question s
oing to leave him on some distant point. He was not bound, nor had they made any attempt to handcuff him; this seemed a good augury. Besides, had not the deputy, who had been so kind to him, t
striving to pierce t
alans. It seemed to the prisoner that he could distinguish a feminine form on the beach, for it was there Mercédès
e only one awake in the whole settlement. A loud cry could be heard by her. But pride restrained
intervening elevation of land hid the light. Dantès turned and perceived that they had got out to sea. While he h
said he, "I adjure you, as a Christian and a soldier, to tell me where we are going. I am Captain Dantès, a loyal Frenchma
o returned for answer a sign that said, "I see no gre
s, and a sailor, and yet you d
or, I have
no idea
e at
s impos
it is true. Tell
my or
must know in ten minutes, in half an hour, or an h
have never been outside
do
lack and frowning rock on which stands the Chateau d'If. This gloomy fortress, which has for more than thre
cried he, "what are
darme s
s only used for political prisoners. I have committed no cri
, and good thick walls. Come, come, do not look so astonished, or you w
ndarme's hand as thou
that I am taken to the Chateau
there is no occasio
quiry, without
e been gone through; the
e of M. de Ville
the gendarme, "but I know we are taking you to the Chat
rang forward to precipitate himself into the sea; but four vigorous arms seized
-spoken gentlemen again! Hark ye, my friend, I have disobeyed my first order, but I will not disobey the second; and if
n him. But he bethought him of M. de Villefort's promise; and, besides, death in a boat from the hand of a g
lors leaped on shore, a cord creaked as it ran through a pulley, and Dantès gu
d dragged him towards the steps that lead to the gate of the fortress, whi
ng a flight of steps; he was conscious that he passed through a door, and that the door closed behind him; but all this indistinctly as
round; he was in a court surrounded by high walls; he heard the measured tread of sen
tès could not escape, the gendarmes released hi
prisoner?" s
eplied the
me; I will take
ndarmes, thrustin
lls seemed as though impregnated with tears; a lamp placed on a stool illumined the apartment faintly,
1
s all a prisoner can wish for. Goodnight." And before Dantès could open his mouth-before he had noticed where the jailer placed his bread or the water-before he had glanced towards the corner
urned, with orders to leave Dantès where he was. He found the prisoner in the same position, as if fixed there, his eyes swollen with weeping. He had p
slept?" said
replied Dantès.
ungry?" co
not
ish for a
o see the
d his shoulders an
but the door closed. All his emotion then burst forth; he cast himself on the ground, we
the shore, concealed himself until the arrival of a Genoese or Spanish vessel, escaped to Spain or Italy, where Mercédès and his father could have joined him. He had no fears as to how he should live-good seamen are welcome everywhere. He spoke Italian like a Tuscan, and Spanish like a Castilian; he would have been free, and happy with Mercédès a
are you more reasonable tod
there anything tha
o see the
y told you it
y s
ison rules, and prisoners
allowed
pay for it, books, an
ith my food, and do not care to walk a
g the same thing, I will not
, "if you do not, I shall
ie; and as every prisoner is worth ten sous a day
you will be allowed to walk about, and some day you will meet
ès, "how long shal
th-six mon
time. I wish to
ays brood over what is impossible,
think
a million of francs to the governor for his liberty that
1
g has he
yea
liberate
s put in a
t mad; perhaps I shall be, but at present, unfort
is t
hundred crowns if, the first time you go to Marseilles, you will seek out a
1
, which is worth two thousand francs a year; so that I sho
Mercédès I am here, I will some day hide myself behind the door
you are certainly going mad. The abbé began like you, and in three days you wil
d the stool r
er; "all right, since you will have it
g on it as if he were in reality mad. The jailer went out, a
" said he, "conduct the pri
n, then, " sai
the madmen." The soldiers seized
Dantès advanced with outstretched hands until he touched the wall; he then sat down in the corner until his