The Count of Monte Cristo, Part One. Александр Дюма
(Dantès and Edmond leave.)
CADEROUSSE
(alone)
I am sure of one thing—it’s that this money was brought by the little fellow—and that the old boaster hasn’t a trace of a sou in the house.
Anyway we are going to see. Ah, they are going down the street to Meilhan. Very Good! For people who are disgustingly rich here’s an armoire that’s stupidly furnished. Look at it. Yes, it’s so! That’s a bottle but it is empty. At home with me, there are no empty bottles so long as my purse is full—and I judge others by myself. A scrap of bread. I am not deceived. The old boy was completely broke and the gold was brought by the little fellow. When one thinks what the proud do!
DANGLARS
Caderousse! Caderousse!
CADEROUSSE
Ah, it’s Danglars. To whom I gave a meeting at my home and who found the door locked! Hey, Danglars, come up, come up. No one is here. Come here!
DANGLARS
(entering)
Where are they then?
CADEROUSSE
They left. I am the master of the house.
DANGLARS
Well—did you see him?
CADEROUSSE
I left him.
DANGLARS
Has he spoken of his hope of being captain?
CADEROUSSE
He spoke of it as if he already was.
DANGLARS
Patience! Patience! He presses a little too much.
CADEROUSSE
It seems the thing has been promised by Mr. Morel.
DANGLARS
Which makes him very happy?
CADEROUSSE
Meaning that he is insolent. He already offered me his services as if he were a great person.
DANGLARS
Is he still in love with the pretty Catalan?
CADEROUSSE
Madly amorous. He went there—but either I deceive myself or there will be some disagreement there.
DANGLARS
Explain yourself.
CADEROUSSE
What’s the use?
DANGLARS
It’s more important than you think. You don’t like Edmond.
CADEROUSSE
I don’t love the arrogant.
DANGLARS
Well, what do you know relative to the Catalan?
CADEROUSSE
Well, I know that every time Mercédès comes to town, she is accompanied by a big stud of a Catalan with a black eye, red complexion—very brown, very ardent and whom she calls “my cousin”.
DANGLARS
Ah, truly! And do you believe this cousin is paying court to her?
CADEROUSSE
I think so. What the devil do you expect of a big boy of twenty and a pretty girl of seventeen?
DANGLARS
And you say Dantès went to the Catalan?
CADEROUSSE
He left in front of my eyes.
DANGLARS
If we were to go the same way? We would stop at the Reserve and drink a glass of Lamalga where we would get some information.
CADEROUSSE
Who would give it to us?
DANGLARS
We will be on the way and we will see from his face what has happened.
CADEROUSSE
Let’s go! But you are paying?
DANGLARS
Certainly! Are you coming?
CADEROUSSE
Here I am!
(A stranger enters.)
STRANGER
Pardon, gentlemen.
CADEROUSSE
What is it?
DANGLARS
What do you want?
STRANGER
Is this where the Captain of the Pharaoh lives?
DANGLARS
The mate, you mean!
STRANGER
Captain or mate, so be it! The one who was in charge of the ship during the voyage.
DANGLARS
Yes, sir, this is where he lives.
CADEROUSSE
Or rather his father.
STRANGER
Never mind! And he is not home?
CADEROUSSE
He just went out.
DANGLARS
Is it something in which one can act for him?
STRANGER
I want to ask some information from him.
DANGLARS
About what?
STRANGER
On the course the ship took.
DANGLARS
I can tell you that.
STRANGER
You?
DANGLARS
Yes—I am comptroller aboard the Pharaoh. What information do you wish?
STRANGER
Ah! Very simple. I wanted to know if, in its course, the boat had stopped at Porto Ferraio.
DANGLARS
Yes, sir.
STRANGER
Thanks.
DANGLARS
Well?
STRANGER
What?
DANGLARS
That’s all you wish to know?
STRANGER
Yes.
DANGLARS
What more do you want?
STRANGER
I want nothing else. Good day, gentlemen.
(The stranger leaves.)
CADEROUSSE
Well, there’s a character.
DANGLARS
There’s something strange in all this, Caderousse. Come, come.
CADEROUSSE
Wait a while.
DANGLARS
The old caitiff didn’t he tell me to close his door? As if he had something to lose from this