World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 10 Interrogation (1)
As soon as Villefort left the dining room, he immediately put away his beaming face and assumed the solemn air of having the power of life and death.Like a seasoned actor, the acting prosecutor looked in the mirror more than once to study how to change his facial expressions.He is proficient in this kind of doorway, but this time he really took a lot of effort to lock his eyebrows and tighten his face.It is true that other people always remember the political line followed by his father. If he does not turn his back on it, it will affect his own future.But besides that, Gérard Villefort had everything a man could be proud of, he was now rich by his own efforts, and, though only twenty-seven years old, he had a very high official position.He was engaged to a beautiful young woman whom he loved, not from emotion but from reason, for he was acting prosecutor.The fiancée, Ms. Saint-Méran, was not only beautiful, but also came from one of the most powerful families at that time.Her parents have no other children, so all their influence can be used to cultivate this son-in-law.In addition, his fiancée gave him a dowry of 27 ecu, and, to use the matchmaker's tongue-in-cheek phrase, a further 5 ecu could one day be added to the hopeful inheritance.The confluence of these factors made Villefort shine with pride.However, when he faced life quietly and observed the depths of his life for a long time, he seemed to see the dark spots on the sun.

Villefort met the police officer waiting for him at the gate.As soon as he saw this mortal in black uniform, he fell from the third heaven to the earth in an instant.Then, with the face we have just described, he approached the police officer and said: "Here I am, I have seen the letter. You are right, the man should be arrested first. Now Please report what you know about the man himself and the conspiracy."

"With regard to the conspiracy, sir, we have nothing at present. All the papers that have been recovered from him are bound up and sealed on your desk. As for the accused, as you have seen from the denunciation, Edmond Dantès, first mate of the three-masted galleon 'King of Egypt', belonging to Marseilles, Morrel and Son, carrying cotton from Alexandria and Smyrna."

"Did he ever serve in the Navy before he got a job in the Merchant Marine?"

"Well, no, sir. He's very young."

"how old?"

"No more than nineteen or twenty years old."

By this time Villefort had reached the corner of the Rue de la Congrès along the Grand Avenue, and someone seemed to be waiting for him along the way.The man came up to meet him. He was M. Morrel.

"Ah, Monsieur de Villefort!" cried the good Morrel, as soon as he saw the deputy prosecutor, "I am very glad to see you. Do you know that a misunderstanding has arisen out of nowhere, and has never been heard of before?" Such things have just captured my first mate, Edmond Dantès."

"I know about it, monsieur," said Villefort, "and I am going to question him."

"Oh, sir," continued M. Morrel, now restless out of friendship with the young man, "he is accused, and you do not know him, but I know him. Do you know that he The most docile and honest man, I would almost dare say, he knows his work best in our shipping business. Oh, Monsieur de Villefort, I beg you, with all my heart, to take good care of him."

We know that Villefort is a member of the aristocratic society of Marseilles, while Morrel is just a commoner; Villefort is an extreme royalist, but Morrel is suspected of secretly supporting the Napoleonic Party.Villefort cast a contemptuous glance at Morrel, and replied coldly: "You know, sir, that a man may be obedient in private life, honest and reliable in business, and knowledgeable in business, but in politics he can also Heinous crimes, you don't understand these things, do you, sir?"

The judge uttered the last words with a sonorous sound, as if he were referring to the captain himself, and his searching eyes seemed to penetrate the heart of the other man.Morrel was quite bold in coming to intercede, for he should have known that he himself needed forgiveness.Morrel blushed, because he knew that he was not so clear-hearted in terms of political opinions, and Dantès also secretly told him that he had seen the marshal and the emperor had spoken to him, Morrel I beg you, M. de Villefort, you are always just and merciful. I hope you will always be like this, and return this poor Dantès to us as soon as possible."

The words "return to us" sounded a bit revolutionary to the acting prosecutor's ears. "Huh," he murmured, "return it to us... Could it be that Dantès joined some coal party revolutionary organization of the Italian bourgeoisie in the 19th century? A secret organization, why would the person who came to intercede with him say so unknowingly?" What happened to us? I heard he was caught in the hotel, yes, I think it was the police officer, there were a lot of people there, and there was something going on here." And he said aloud, "You can rest assured, sir. You It is not in vain to come to me, and if he is wronged, I will bring justice to the case. But if, on the contrary, he is indeed guilty, then the precedent of impunity is bound to be far worse in these dire times. Therefore, I must It is also a last resort to fulfill my duty."

By this point he had reached the door of his house, which was next to the courthouse.He saluted the captain with cold grace, and entered the house majesticly, leaving the unfortunate captain frozen in place like a fossil.The hall of Villefort's house was already crowded with gendarmes and policemen, with prisoners among them.Although he was guarded, and flaming hatred eyes were cast on him from all sides, he still stood calmly and motionless.Villefort crossed the hall, glanced sideways at Dantès, took a roll of papers handed to him by a policeman, and entered his office, saying: "Take the prisoner."

Villefort's glance, brief though it was, was enough to give him an idea of ​​the man whom he was about to interrogate.He had seen intelligence in the broad forehead, courage in the gazing eyes and furrowed brow, and frankness in the thick lips that were half parted, revealing two rows of fangs as white as teeth.This first impression served Dantès well, but Villefort was so often admonished, as if by a trick of subtle stratagems, to guard against first thoughts, if they were satisfactory.Villefort applies this maxim to impressions, ignoring the difference between ideas and impressions.He suppressed the benevolence that was about to cover his heart and attack his mind, put his face in front of the mirror on the important day, and sat down at the desk sullenly and majesticly.Not long after he entered the house, Dantès followed him into the house.The young man's face was still pale, but he was very calm, with a smile on his face.He bowed deliberately and courteously to the judge, and looked about for a seat, as if he had come to the drawing-room of the captain's Morrel's house.Only then did he see Villefort's dark gaze, which is peculiar to judges, because they don't want others to see their inner thoughts, so their eyeballs become two pieces of frosted glass. He realized that in front of him was a judge who kept secrets about his appearance.

"What's your name? What's your occupation?" asked Villefort, leafing through the papers a policeman handed him when he entered the office.The detectives of the police department will quickly make up a lot of crimes for these poor people who are called defendants. In an hour's time, the material will become a thick pile.

"My name is Edmond Dantès, sir," replied the young man in a calm and sonorous voice, "and I am the first mate on board the King of Egypt of Morrel and Sons."

"Age?" continued Villefort.

"19 years old." Dantès replied.

"What were you doing when you were arrested?"

"I am inviting people to dinner for my engagement, sir," said Dantès, his voice a little agitated, and the difference between the festive moment of the engagement party and the gloomy routine going on now was too painful for him. Now, facing Villefort's gloomy face, Mercedes' face seemed to shine even more.

"Are you inviting someone to dinner for your engagement?" said the acting prosecutor, shivering involuntarily.

"Yes, sir, I am about to marry a girl with whom I have been in love for three years."

Although Villefort's usual impassive countenance remained unchanged, he was startled at this coincidence.Dantès, who was in happiness, was suddenly captured, and his words awakened a sympathy in Villefort's heart.He, Villefort, was also about to marry, and his moment of happiness was interrupted, but he came to quench the joy of a young man like himself who had reached out to happiness.He thought in his heart that when I return to the living room of the Marquis de Saint-Meran, I will talk about such a comparison philosophically, and it will definitely achieve good results.Dantès was waiting for Villefort to ask questions, but Villefort followed his own thinking and arranged the corresponding words in advance.It is with the help of these symmetrical words that an orator can say amazing sentences that win applause, and sometimes win a reputation for eloquence.The draft of this little speech was drawn up, and Villefort could not help smiling at the thought of the effect that would be produced. Then he remembered Dantès, and said: "Go on."

"What do you want me to say next?"

"Explain the situation to the court."

"I hope the court will tell me what to explain. I will definitely tell you everything I know. But," he also smiled, and continued, "I declare to the court that I don't know much."

"Have you ever served under the usurpers?"

"By the time I was about to enlist in the Navy, he was gone."

"Some say you are very politically extreme," Villefort said.In fact, there was no political opinion mentioned in the material at all, but he felt at ease to include this as the content of the accusation.

"My political views? Sir! Well, I'm sorry to say that I have nothing to say. I'm only 19 years old. I have the honor to tell you just now that I don't understand anything and can't do anything big. With such a little status, it will be nothing more than that in the future. If the seat I want is really promised to me, I should thank Mr. Morrel. Therefore, all my opinions, it should be explained, are not political opinions, but personal opinions. , not within the circle of three passions. I love my father, I respect Monsieur Morrel, I am very fond of Mercedes. You see, sir, that is all I can tell the court. You see, too, that this It doesn't mean much to the courts."

While Dantès spoke, Villefort, watching his gentle and frank face, vaguely remembered René's words.René was unaware of the existence of such a defendant, but had already interceded for him.From his experience in judging crimes and criminals, the deputy prosecutor had seen that every word of Dantès' words proved the youth's innocence.Indeed, Dantès was a young man who could be called a child, simple, simple, and eloquent, involuntary but genuine.He is full of love for all because he is happy, and happiness makes the wicked good.He even sprinkled his love on the judge, refreshing.In spite of Villefort's bluntness and sternness, Edmond's eyes, tone of voice and gestures were still full of kindness and kindness to the judge who interrogated him.

"Really," thought Villefort, "the lad is very sweet, and it would not be difficult for me to come here to grant René's first intercession. I can also shake her hand in public and in private. A sweet kiss." With this sweet hope, Villefort grew genial.While he was thinking about his thoughts, he looked towards Dantès. Dantès had been paying attention to the movement of the judge's face. At this time, as if the judge was smiling in his heart, a smile appeared on Dantès' face.

"Monsieur," asked Villefort, "are you aware that you have enemies?"

(End of this chapter)