第27章

"None at all.I will tell you the real facts.I swear by my honor as a sailor, by my love for Mercedes, by the life of my father" --"Speak, monsieur," said Villefort.Then, internally, "If Renee could see me, I hope she would be satisfied, and would no longer call me a decapitator.""Well, when we quitted Naples, Captain Leclere was attacked with a brain fever.As we had no doctor on board, and he was so anxious to arrive at Elba, that he would not touch at any other port, his disorder rose to such a height, that at the end of the third day, feeling he was dying, he called me to him.`My dear Dantes,' said he, `swear to perform what I am going to tell you, for it is a matter of the deepest importance.'

"`I swear, captain,' replied I.

"`Well, as after my death the command devolves on you as mate, assume the command, and bear up for the Island of Elba, disembark at Porto-Ferrajo, ask for the grand-marshal, give him this letter -- perhaps they will give you another letter, and charge you with a commission.You will accomplish what I was to have done, and derive all the honor and profit from it.'

"`I will do it, captain; but perhaps I shall not be admitted to the grand marshal's presence as easily as you expect?'

"`Here is a ring that will obtain audience of him, and remove every difficulty,' said the captain.At these words he gave me a ring.It was time -- two hours after he was delirious; the next day he died.""And what did you do then?"

"What I ought to have done, and what every one would have done in my place.Everywhere the last requests of a dying man are sacred; but with a sailor the last requests of his superior are commands.I sailed for the Island of Elba, where I arrived the next day; I ordered everybody to remain on board, and went on shore alone.As I had expected, Ifound some difficulty in obtaining access to the grand-marshal; but I sent the ring I had received from the captain to him, and was instantly admitted.He questioned me concerning Captain Leclere's death; and, as the latter had told me, gave me a letter to carry on to a person in Paris.

I undertook it because it was what my captain had bade me do.I landed here, regulated the affairs of the vessel, and hastened to visit my affianced bride, whom I found more lovely than ever.Thanks to M.Morrel, all the forms were got over; in a word I was, as I told you, at my marriage-feast; and I should have been married in an hour, and to-morrow I intended to start for Paris, had I not been arrested on this charge which you as well as I now see to be unjust.""Ah," said Villefort, "this seems to me the truth.If you have been culpable, it was imprudence, and this imprudence was in obedience to the orders of your captain.Give up this letter you have brought from Elba, and pass your word you will appear should you be required, and go and rejoin your friends.

"I am free, then, sir?" cried Dantes joyfully.

"Yes; but first give me this letter."

"You have it already, for it was taken from me with some others which I see in that packet.""Stop a moment," said the deputy, as Dantes took his hat and gloves."To whom is it addressed?""To Monsieur Noirtier, Rue Coq-Heron, Paris." Had a thunderbolt fallen into the room, Villefort could not have been more stupefied.He sank into his seat, and hastily turning over the packet, drew forth the fatal letter, at which he glanced with an expression of terror.

"M.Noirtier, Rue Coq-Heron, No.13," murmured he, growing still paler.

"Yes," said Dantes; "do you know him?"

"No," replied Villefort; "a faithful servant of the king does not know conspirators.""It is a conspiracy, then?" asked Dantes, who after believing himself free, now began to feel a tenfold alarm.

"I have, however, already told you, sir, I was entirely ignorant of the contents of the letter.""Yes; but you knew the name of the person to whom it was addressed," said Villefort.

"I was forced to read the address to know to whom to give it.""Have you shown this letter to any one?" asked Villefort, becoming still more pale.