Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.
Chapter 2. Father and Son
We will leave Danglars (the shipowner's clerk, later a rich banker) struggling with the demon (an evil spirit) of hatred (deep hate), and endeavoring (an earnest attempt) to insinuate (insinuating: hinting slyly) in the ear (the organ of hearing) of the shipowner (a man who owns ships) some evil suspicions (distrustful doubt) against his comrade (a companion), and follow Dantès (the young sailor this story follows), who, after having traversed (to cross over) La Canebière (the chief street of Marseilles), took the Rue de Noailles (a great French noble family), and entering a small house, on the left of the Allées (walks, in French) de Meilhan (a street of Marseilles), rapidly (fast) ascended (to climb up) four flights of a dark staircase (a flight of stairs), holding the baluster (one of the short posts holding a stair rail) with one hand, while with the other he repressed (to hold down) the beatings (hitting) of his heart, and paused (a brief stop) before a half-open (partly open) door, from which he could see the whole of a small room.
This room was occupied (to hold; to fill) by Dantès’ father. The news of the arrival (a coming) of the Pharaon (the name of Morrel's ship) had not yet reached the old man, who, mounted (to go up; also to get on a horse) on a chair, was amusing (entertained; smiling) himself by training with trembling (to shake finely) hand the nasturtiums (a garden plant with round leaves and bright flowers) and sprays (flying drops) of clematis (the climbing flowering vine) that clambered (to climb with effort) over the trellis (trellis: a frame of crossed strips for plants) at his window. Suddenly, he felt an arm thrown around his body, and a well-known (known by many) voice behind him exclaimed (to cry out), “Father—dear father!”
The old man uttered (complete; to speak) a cry, and turned round; then, seeing his son, he fell into his arms, pale (light in color; whitish) and trembling (to shake finely).
“What ails (to be sick) you, my dearest father? Are you ill?” inquired (to ask) the young man, much alarmed (frightened).
“No, no, my dear Edmond (the first name of the young sailor this story follows)—my boy—my son!—no; but I did not expect you; and joy, the surprise of seeing you so suddenly—Ah, I feel as if I were going to die.”
“Come, come, cheer (a shout of joy; good spirits) up, my dear father! ’Tis I—really I! They say joy never hurts, and so I came to you without any warning. Come now, do smile, instead of looking at me so solemnly (with grave seriousness). Here I am back again, and we are going to be happy.”
“Yes, yes, my boy, so we will—so we will,” replied the old man; “but how shall we be happy? Shall you never leave me again? Come, tell me all the good fortune (wealth; luck) that has befallen (to happen to) you.”
“God forgive (to stop holding a wrong against someone) me,” said the young man, “for rejoicing (to be glad) at happiness (the state of joy) derived (to draw from a source) from the misery (deep unhappiness) of others, but, Heaven knows, I did not seek this good fortune (wealth; luck); it has happened, and I really cannot pretend (to make believe) to lament (to mourn aloud) it. The good Captain Leclere (the captain of the Pharaon at the start of this story) is dead, father, and it is probable (likely) that, with the aid of M. Morrel (the shipowner of Marseilles who employs Dantès), I shall have his place. Do you understand, father? Only imagine me a captain at twenty, with a hundred louis pay, and a share in the profits! Is this not more than a poor sailor (a man who works a ship) like me could have hoped (to jump on one foot) for?”
“Yes, my dear boy,” replied the old man, “it is very fortunate (favored by fortune).”
“Well, then, with the first money I touch, I mean you to have a small house, with a garden in which to plant clematis (the climbing flowering vine), nasturtiums (a garden plant with round leaves and bright flowers), and honeysuckle (the sweet climbing flower). But what ails (to be sick) you, father? Are you not well?”
“’Tis nothing, nothing; it will soon pass away”—and as he said so the old man’s strength failed him, and he fell backwards (toward the back).
“Come, come,” said the young man, “a glass of wine, father, will revive (to bring back to life) you. Where do you keep your wine?”
“No, no; thanks. You need not look for it; I do not want it,” said the old man.
“Yes, yes, father, tell me where it is,” and he opened two or three cupboards (a shelved cabinet).
“It is no use (use: habit; custom — the old sense here),” said the old man, “there is no wine.”
“What, no wine?” said Dantès, turning pale (light in color; whitish), and looking alternately (turn and turn about) at the hollow (empty inside; a dip in the ground) cheeks (the side of the face) of the old man and the empty cupboards (a shelved cabinet). “What, no wine? Have you wanted money, father?”
“I want nothing now that I have you,” said the old man.
“Yet,” stammered (to speak with halting breaks) Dantès, wiping (to rub clean) the perspiration (sweat) from his brow (the forehead),—“yet I gave you two hundred francs (the French coin) when I left, three months ago.”
“Yes, yes, Edmond, that is true, but you forgot at that time a little debt to our neighbor (one who lives near), Caderousse (a tailor of Marseilles, neighbour to the Dantès family). He reminded (to bring back to mind) me of it, telling me if I did not pay for you, he would be paid by M. Morrel; and so, you see, lest (for fear that) he might do you an injury——”
“Well?”
“Why, I paid him.”
“But,” cried Dantès, “it was a hundred and forty francs (the French coin) I owed (to be in debt for) Caderousse.”
“Yes,” stammered (to speak with halting breaks) the old man.
“And you paid him out of the two hundred francs (the French coin) I left you?”
The old man nodded (to bow the head slightly).
“So that you have lived for three months on sixty (sixty) francs (the French coin),” muttered (to speak low in the throat) Edmond.
“You know how little I require,” said the old man.
“Heaven pardon (to let off a punishment) me,” cried Edmond, falling on his knees (the leg's middle joint) before his father.
“What are you doing?”
“You have wounded (a bodily hurt) me to the heart.”
“Never mind it, for I see you once more,” said the old man; “and now it’s all over—everything is all right again.”
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“Yes, here I am,” said the young man, “with a promising (giving hope) future and a little money. Here, father, here!” he said, “take this—take it, and send for something immediately.” And he emptied his pockets (the sewn-in pouch) on the table, the contents consisting (to be made of) of a dozen (twelve) gold pieces, five or six five-franc (worth five francs) pieces, and some smaller coin (a piece of money). The countenance (the face; composure) of old Dantès brightened (to make brighter).
“Whom does this belong (to be one's own; to be part of) to?” he inquired (to ask).
“To me, to you, to us! Take it; buy some provisions (supplies; a made arrangement); be happy, and tomorrow we shall have more.”
“Gently (with mild softness), gently (with mild softness),” said the old man, with a smile; “and by your leave I will use (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) your purse (a money bag) moderately (in due measure), for they would say, if they saw me buy too many things at a time, that I had been obliged (to compel; bind by duty) to await (to wait for) your return, in order to be able to purchase them.”
“Do as you please; but, first of all, pray (to speak to God) have a servant (one who serves), father. I will not have you left alone so long. I have some smuggled (to bring in secretly) coffee and most capital tobacco (the smoking leaf), in a small chest in the hold, which you shall have tomorrow. But, hush (to make or become quiet), here comes somebody.”
“’Tis Caderousse, who has heard of your arrival (a coming), and no doubt comes to congratulate (to wish joy on a success) you on your fortunate (favored by fortune) return.”
“Ah, lips (the mouth's edge) that say one thing, while the heart thinks another,” murmured (to speak in a low soft flow) Edmond. “But, never mind, he is a neighbor (one who lives near) who has done us a service on a time, so he’s welcome.”
As Edmond paused (a brief stop), the black and bearded (wearing a beard) head of Caderousse appeared at the door. He was a man of twenty-five (twenty-five) or six, and held a piece of cloth (woven fabric), which, being a tailor (a maker of clothes), he was about to make into a coat-lining (the cloth lining a coat).
“What, is it you, Edmond, back again?” said he, with a broad Marseillaise (the French national song; also a woman of Marseilles) accent (the tone of one's speech), and a grin (a wide smile) that displayed his ivory-white (white like tusk) teeth.
“Yes, as you see, neighbor (one who lives near) Caderousse; and ready to be agreeable (pleasant) to you in any and every way,” replied Dantès, but ill-concealing (hiding badly) his coldness (cold lack of warmth) under this cloak (a loose outer wrap) of civility (polite courtesy).
“Thanks—thanks; but, fortunately (by good luck), I do not want for anything; and it chances that at times there are others who have need of me.” Dantès made a gesture (a meaning movement). “I do not allude (to hint at) to you, my boy. No!—no! I lent (to give on loan) you money, and you returned it; that’s like good neighbors (one who lives near), and we are quits.”
“We are never quits with those who oblige (to compel; bind by duty) us,” was Dantès’ reply; “for when we do not owe (to be in debt for) them money, we owe (to be in debt for) them gratitude (thankfulness).”
“What’s the use (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) of mentioning that? What is done is done. Let us talk of your happy return, my boy. I had gone on the quay (a stone landing place at the water's edge) to match a piece of mulberry (a dark purple fruit) cloth (woven fabric), when I met friend Danglars. ‘You at Marseilles?’—‘Yes,’ says he.
“‘I thought you were at Smyrna.’—‘I was; but am now back again.’
“‘And where is the dear boy, our little Edmond?’
“‘Why, with his father, no doubt,’ replied Danglars. And so I came,” added Caderousse, “as fast as I could to have the pleasure of shaking (to move quickly to and fro) hands with a friend.”
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“Worthy (deserving) Caderousse!” said the old man, “he is so much attached to us.”
“Yes, to be sure I am. I love and esteem (high regard) you, because honest folks are so rare. But it seems you have come back rich, my boy,” continued the tailor (a maker of clothes), looking askance (sideways, with doubt or fear) at the handful (as much as a hand holds) of gold and silver which Dantès had thrown on the table.
The young man remarked (to say; to notice) the greedy (wanting more than one's share) glance (a quick look) which shone (to give light) in the dark eyes of his neighbor (one who lives near). “Eh,” he said, negligently (with careless neglect), “this money is not mine. I was expressing to my father my fears that he had wanted many things in my absence (being away), and to convince (to bring to belief) me he emptied his purse (a money bag) on the table. Come, father” added Dantès, “put this money back in your box—unless neighbor (one who lives near) Caderousse wants anything, and in that case it is at his service.”
“No, my boy, no,” said Caderousse. “I am not in any want, thank God, my living is suited to my means. Keep your money—keep it, I say;—one never has too much;—but, at the same time, my boy, I am as much obliged (to compel; bind by duty) by your offer as if I took advantage of it.”
“It was offered with good will,” said Dantès.
“No doubt, my boy; no doubt. Well, you stand well with M. Morrel I hear,—you insinuating (insinuating: hinting slyly) dog, you!”
“M. Morrel has always been exceedingly (extremely) kind to me,” replied Dantès.
“Then you were wrong to refuse (to say no) to dine (to eat dinner) with him.”
“What, did you refuse (to say no) to dine (to eat dinner) with him?” said old Dantès; “and did he invite (to bid to come) you to dine (to eat dinner)?”
“Yes, my dear father,” replied Edmond, smiling at his father’s astonishment (great surprise) at the excessive (too much) honor paid to his son.
“And why did you refuse (to say no), my son?” inquired (to ask) the old man.
“That I might the sooner see you again, my dear father,” replied the young man. “I was most anxious (full of worry) to see you.”
“But it must have vexed (to annoy; trouble) M. Morrel, good, worthy (deserving) man,” said Caderousse. “And when you are looking forward to be captain, it was wrong to annoy (to irritate) the owner.”
“But I explained to him the cause of my refusal (saying no),” replied Dantès, “and I hope he fully understood it.”
“Yes, but to be captain one must do a little flattery (false pleasing praise) to one’s patrons (a protector and supporter).”
“I hope to be captain without that,” said Dantès.
“So much the better—so much the better! Nothing will give greater pleasure to all your old friends; and I know one down there behind the Saint Nicolas (a French man's name) citadel (the fortress of a city) who will not be sorry to hear it.”
“Mercédès (the Catalan girl Dantès is to marry)?” said the old man.
“Yes, my dear father, and with your permission, now I have seen you, and know you are well and have all you require, I will ask your consent (agreement given) to go and pay a visit to the Catalans (the fishing village of Catalans near Marseilles).”
“Go, my dear boy,” said old Dantès; “and Heaven bless (to ask good for) you in your wife, as it has blessed (to ask good for) me in my son!”
“His wife!” said Caderousse; “why, how fast you go on, father Dantès; she is not his wife yet, as it seems to me.”
“No, but according to all probability (likelihood) she soon will be,” replied Edmond.
“Yes—yes,” said Caderousse; “but you were right to return as soon as possible, my boy.”
“And why?”
“Because Mercédès is a very fine girl, and fine girls never lack followers (one who follows); she particularly has them by dozens (twelve).”
“Really?” answered Edmond, with a smile which had in it traces (a left mark; to follow the track) of slight (small; to treat as of no account) uneasiness (uncomfortable worry).
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“Ah, yes,” continued Caderousse, “and capital offers, too; but you know, you will be captain, and who could refuse (to say no) you then?”
“Meaning to say,” replied Dantès, with a smile which but ill-concealed (badly hidden) his trouble, “that if I were not a captain——”
“Eh—eh!” said Caderousse, shaking (to move quickly to and fro) his head.
“Come, come,” said the sailor (a man who works a ship), “I have a better opinion than you of women in general, and of Mercédès in particular; and I am certain that, captain or not, she will remain ever faithful (true and loyal) to me.”
“So much the better—so much the better,” said Caderousse. “When one is going to be married, there is nothing like implicit (implicitly: without question) confidence; but never mind that, my boy,—go and announce (to make known) your arrival (a coming), and let her know all your hopes and prospects (the view ahead).”
“I will go directly,” was Edmond’s reply; and, embracing (to hold in the arms) his father, and nodding (to bow the head slightly) to Caderousse, he left the apartment.
Caderousse lingered (to stay on slowly) for a moment, then taking leave of old Dantès, he went downstairs (on the floor below) to rejoin (to join again; to answer) Danglars, who awaited (to wait for) him at the corner of the Rue Senac (a French family name).
“Well,” said Danglars, “did you see him?”
“I have just left him,” answered Caderousse.
“Did he allude (to hint at) to his hope of being captain?”
“He spoke of it as a thing already decided.”
“Indeed!” said Danglars, “he is in too much hurry (to move with haste), it appears to me.”
“Why, it seems M. Morrel has promised him the thing.”
“So that he is quite elated (lifted high in spirits) about it?”
“Why, yes, he is actually insolent (rudely bold) over the matter—has already offered me his patronage (a great man's protection and favors), as if he were a grand personage (a person of importance), and proffered (to hold out an offer) me a loan of money, as though he were a banker (one who keeps and lends money).”
“Which you refused (to say no)?”
“Most assuredly (certainly); although I might easily have accepted it, for it was I who put into his hands the first silver he ever earned; but now M. Dantès has no longer any occasion (a particular time; cause) for assistance—he is about to become a captain.”
“Pooh!” said Danglars, “he is not one yet.”
“Ma foi (a small weakness)! it will be as well if he is not,” answered Caderousse; “for if he should be, there will be really no speaking to him.”
“If we choose,” replied Danglars, “he will remain what he is; and perhaps become even less than he is.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing—I was speaking to myself. And is he still in love with the Catalane (a woman of the Catalan village near Marseilles)?”
“Over head and ears (the organ of hearing); but, unless I am much mistaken (in error), there will be a storm in that quarter.”
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“Explain yourself.”
“Why should I?”
“It is more important than you think, perhaps. You do not like Dantès?”
“I never like upstarts (a person newly risen).”
“Then tell me all you know about the Catalane.”
“I know nothing for certain; only I have seen things which induce (to lead into; bring about) me to believe, as I told you, that the future captain will find some annoyance (irritation) in the vicinity (the neighborhood) of the Vieilles (old, in French, used in street names) Infirmeries (the rooms where the sick are tended, in French).”
“What have you seen?—come, tell me!”
“Well, every time I have seen Mercédès come into the city she has been accompanied (to go along with) by a tall, strapping (tall and strongly built), black-eyed (with black eyes) Catalan (of Catalonia in Spain; also the fishing village near Marseilles), with a red complexion (the color of the face), brown skin, and fierce (savagely violent) air, whom she calls cousin (an uncle's or aunt's child).”
“Really; and you think this cousin (an uncle's or aunt's child) pays her attentions?”
“I only suppose so. What else can a strapping (tall and strongly built) chap (a fellow) of twenty-one (twenty-one) mean with a fine wench (a country girl) of seventeen?”
“And you say that Dantès has gone to the Catalans?”
“He went before I came down.”
“Let us go the same way; we will stop at La Réserve (a tavern near Marseilles), and we can drink a glass of La Malgue (a place near Marseilles), whilst (while) we wait for news.”
“Come along,” said Caderousse; “but you pay the score.”
“Of course,” replied Danglars; and going quickly to the designated (named or marked out) place, they called for a bottle of wine, and two glasses.
Père (father, in French) Pamphile (a French man's name) had seen Dantès pass not ten minutes before; and assured (to promise; make sure) that he was at the Catalans, they sat down under the budding (a leaf or flower not yet open) foliage (the leaves of trees) of the planes and sycamores (a large spreading tree), in the branches of which the birds were singing their welcome to one of the first days of spring.