Chapter 11
Then he reasoned that the success of this investment would make her ten times as secure as she was now, so he followed Danglars’ example. The two men spent the next few weeks envisioning themselves the richest men in Paris, except for Monte Cristo.
During the next two months, reports of cargo shipments began to come in. Storms had wrecked ships. Cargoes had been captured by the smugglers. And men who had once been trusted with transporting cash had vanished with it. Though somewhat disturbed by these reports, Danglars and Villefort remained happy and confident of their great wealth to come from the diamond mine. Then the news came. The diamond mine was a fraud!
Danglars, pale and trembling, rushed to Monte Cristo’s house. The Count was having late breakfast and ordered coffee and fruit be brought for Danglars.
Danglars gasped, “Count, how can you sit there so calmly and eat? We are ruined! The diamond mine was a fraud!”
Edmond smiled and said, “I heard a rumour some time ago that it might be. Through Thomson and French in Rome I sold my shares. I have lost nothing. This fruit is really excellent. Please try some.”
Danglars sank down in a chair. “Why didn’t you tell me? I am ruined, ruined!”
Edmond pretended surprise and uttered, “Oh, I didn’t know you were investing in my choices. You have my sympathy. Jacopo, I will have more coffee.”
Danglars rushed home. Without speaking to his family, he packed a suitcase with his clothes and his wife’s jewellery. He raced to the bank and ordered all available cash brought to him. Neither the jewels nor money belonged to him, since he had already used both to gain credit in order to invest in the mine. With this fortune Danglars fled from Paris.
When Villefort arrived at the bank, he found the employees in a turmoil. No one had given them instructions, but with no money available they had been forced to shut the doors of the bank. In Danglars’ office Villefort found the report on the diamond mine. At this crushing blow, Villefort felt his mind waver. He fell into a chair and stared unseeing at the wall.
For five hours, no one could rouse Villefort until the butler from his house suddenly appeared and spoke to him. Villefort’ s wife had heard that something was wrong at the bank. Since her husband had not come home to tell her what the matter was, she had sent their butler for news. Remembering his wife and his beloved son, Edward, Villefort pulled himself together. He reminded himself that he still had his position with the government. Also, he was determined to ask for his old position as Assistant Prosecutor again. Between the two, he could continue to support his family though, of course, not in their present high style. In time, he might be able to amass another fortune. Leaning on the butler’s shoulder, Villefort made his way home.
Villefort went directly to his wife’s room. She was in bed recovering from a nervous spell, but sat up trembling when her husband staggered in. Gently, he told her what had happened and that they must move and make a new life. He promised her and their delicate Edward every care. He would work night and day to regain their lost position in life.
His wife seemed to take the news well. Villefort was still so shocked himself that he did not notice the terrible fear that suddenly flamed in her eyes. But she spoke calmly and asked that Edward be sent to her so that she might have the pleasure of watching him at his lessons. Villefort left his wife and son together and went to lie down. A half-hour later, he was awakened by the butler, who was weeping and holding out a note to Villefort.
In a trance Villefort read the note, in which his wife bade him good-bye and asked forgiveness. “I must take Edward where he will be safe forever. I know that security for him and me no longer lies in your house,” she wrote.
Running to his wife’s room, Villefort saw her slumped in death, cradling Edward, also dead, in her arms. She had poisoned herself and the boy.
At this sight, Villefort’s mind snapped.
He began screaming and running about the room. He was so maddened that he did not notice the Count of Monte Cristo enter the room until he was standing beside him.
“You have ruined me,” he shouted at Edmond, “You are the instrument of the devil.”
“No,” replied Edmond solemnly, “I am the instrument of your own past evil. Look at me carefully, Villefort, and see if you can see a young, innocent sailor whom you betrayed with a smile and kind words!”
Villefort started back, putting out his hand to ward Edmond off. “It cannot be! No, you cannot be.” He could not go on.
“Yes, I am Edmond Dantes,” thundered Edmond “and you deserve your fate.”
Villefort started to groan and weep. “I admit it. I deserved it, but they did not!” He sank to his knees beside the bodies of his wife and son.
Now it was Edmond’s turn to gasp. He bowed his head for a moment and murmured, “You are right. I had no hatred of them, only of you, Villefort.”
Villefort looked up with a mad gleam in his eyes. “Not Villefort, Noirtier. Noirtier! Noirtier! Noirtier!” He chirped his father’ name like a bird, over and over.
A doctor had now arrived, and he shook his head sadly at Villefort, who was dancing and capering about the room.
“He is quite mad,” said the doctor, “He must be bound or else he will hurt himself.”
Edmond drove off with Villefort’s screams and chirps trailing after his carriage. When he arrived home, he was greeted by Jacopo with the news that Danglars had been located.
“And as you ordered, sir, I had some of my old smuggling friends prepare a reception for him.”
And they had! The smugglers had stopped Danglars’ carriage along the road and dragged him from it, along with his precious suitcase. He was tossed into a bedroom in a farmhouse, but not harmed. At first, Danglars was terrified, but he soon regained his confidence and demanded food and drink.
“Food has to be paid for here,” said his guard, “Likewise, drink. Can you pay?”
“Of course, I can pay,” answered Danglars with scorn, “Bring me meat and wine.”
The man counted on his fingers and uttered, “That will cost ten thousand Francs.”
For a moment, Danglars was speechless. Then, he cursed the man and announced he would rather starve than pay such a sum. He held out for two days and two nights until he got weak and thirsty. Then Danglars paid the ten thousand Francs and was given a fine meal.
This pattern went on for a month. Soon Danglars was down to his last thousand Francs. After a lifetime of greed, he could not bear the thought of being penniless. He held out for a week. Feeling close to death, Danglars realized his foolishness. Creeping to the door with his money in hand, he called weakly to the guard to bring water and food. But it wasn’t his guard who entered the room. It was a stranger whose face was hidden by his cloak.
“Do you suffer?” asked the stranger.
“Yes, I am starving,” said Danglars.
“I know an old man who starved through your doing,” said the man, “Do you repent?”
“I don’t know who you mean, but yes; I repent I repent,” said Danglars weakly.
Edmond Dantes decided to show mercy because he was sorry for what had happened to Villefort’s wife and son. He dropped his cloak and uttered, “I forgive you.”
“The Count of Monte Cristo!” cried Danglars.
“No Monsieur; I am Edmond Dantes.”
Danglars gave a terrible gasp and fell backward. He trembled all over and wept.
Edmond looked at him with contempt and turned to the guard. “Feed him and let him go with his thousand francs. 1 want him out of my life for ever.”
Paris never heard of Baron Danglars again.
