(gentle music) - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Duma. Volume one, chapter 60. It learned Italian. - Seasoning in his arms, the friend so long and ardently desired, Dante's almost carried him towards the window in order to obtain a better view of his features by the aid of the perfect light that struggled through the grating. He was a man of small stature, with air blanched rather by suffering and sorrow than by age. He had a deep set, penetrating eye, almost buried beneath the thick gray eyebrow and a long beard reaching down to his breast. His thin face, deeply furrowed by care and the bold outline of his strongly marked features, be tokened a man more accustomed to exercise his mental faculties than his physical strength. Large drops of perspiration were now standing on his brow, while the garments that hung about him were so wracked that one could only guess at the pattern upon which they had originally been fashioned. The stranger might have numbered 60 or 65 years, but a certain business and appearance of vigor in his movements made it probable that he was aged more from captivity than the course of time. He received the enthusiastic greeting of his young acquaintance with evident pleasure, as though his chilled affections were rekindled and invigorated by his contact with one so warm and ardent. He thanked him with grateful cordiality for his kindly welcome, although he must at that moment have been suffering bitterly to find another dungeon where he had fondly reckoned on discovering a means of regaining his liberty. "Let us first see," said he, "whether it is possible to remove the traces "of my entrance here. "Our future tranquility depends upon our jailers "being entirely ignorant of it. "At fencing to the opening, he stooped and raised "to stone easily in spite of its weight, "then fitting it into its place," he said, "You removed this stone very carelessly, "but I suppose you had no tools to aid you. "Why?" exclaimed Dante's, with astonishment. "Do you possess any? "I make myself some and with the exception of a fire. "I have all that are necessary, "a chisel, pincers and lever." "Oh, how I should like to see these products "of your industry and patients. "Well, in the first place, here is my chisel." So saying he displayed a sharp, strong blade with a handle made of beechwood. And with what did you contrive to make that? In quiet Dante's, with one of the clams of my best dad. And this very tool has suffised me to hollow out the road by which I came hither. It distance of about 50 feet. 50 feet responded Dante's, almost terrified. Do not speak so loud, young man, don't speak so loud. It frequently occurs in a state prison like this that persons are stationed outside the doors of the cells purposely to overhear the conversation of the prisoners. But they believe I am shut up alone here. That makes no difference. And you say that you dump your way at distance of 50 feet to get here. I do. That is about the distance that separates your chamber from mine. Only, unfortunately, I did not curve a right. For once of the necessary geometrical instruments to calculate my scale of proportion, instead of taking an ellipsis of 40 feet, I made it 50. I expected, as I told you, to reach the outer wall, pierce through it, and throw myself into the sea. I have, however, kept along the corridor in which your chamber opens instead of going beneath it. My labor is all in vain, for I find that the corridor looks into a courtyard filled with soldiers. "That's true," said Dante's. "But the corridor you speak of only bounds one side of myself. There are three others. Do you know anything of their situation?" This one is built against a solid rock, and it would take 10 experienced miners, duly furnished with the requisite tools, as many years took perforated. This adjoins the lower part of the governor's apartments, and where we to work our way through. We should only get into sun lock-up setters, where we must necessarily be recaptured. The fourth and last side of your cell faces on. Faces on, stop a minute. Now, where does it face? The wall of which he spoke was the one in which was fixed the loophole by which light was submitted to the chamber. This loophole, which gradually diminished in size, as it approached the outside, to an opening through which a child could not have passed, for better security, furnished with three iron bars, so as to quiet all apprehensions, even in the mind of the most suspicious jailer, as to the possibility of prisoners escape. As the stranger asked the question, he dragged the table beneath the window. "Firm up," said he did not miss. The young men who made, mounted on the table, and defining the wishes of his companion, placed his back securely against the wall and held out both hands. The stranger, whom as yet Dontes knew only by the number of his cell, sprang up with an agility, by no means to be expected in the person of his years, and light and steady on his feet as a cat or a lizard, climbed from the table to the outstretched hands of Dontes, and from them to his shoulders. Then, bending double, for the ceiling of the dungeon prevented him from holding himself erect. He managed to slip his head between the upper bars of the window, so as to be able to command a perfect view from top to bottom. An instant afterwards, he hastily drew back his head, saying, "I thought so," and sliding from the shoulders of Dontes, as dexterously as he had ascended, he nimbly leaped from the table to the ground. "What was it that you thought?" asked a young man anxiously, and his turn to sending from the table. "The elder prisoner pondered the matter." "Yes," said he at length. "It is so. "This side of the chamber looks out "upon a kind of open gallery, "where patrols are continually passing, "and centuries keep watch day and night. "Are you quite sure of that? "Certainly. "I saw the soldier's shape in the top of his musket. "That made me draw in my head so quickly, "for I was fearful he might also see me." Well, in quiet Dontes, you perceive then that utter impossibility of escaping through your dungeon. Then, pursue the young man eagerly. "Then," answered the elder prisoner, "the will of God be done. "And as the old man slowly pronounced those words, "an air of profound resonations spread itself "over his care-worn countless. "Dontes gazed on the man who could thus philosophically "resign hope so long and ardently nourished "with an astonishment mingled with admiration. "Tell me and treat you, who and what you are," said he at length. "Never have I met with so remarkable a person as yourself. "Willingly," answered the stranger, "if indeed you feel any curiosity respecting one, "now alas powerless to aid you in any way. "Say not so. "You can console and support me by the strength "of your own powerful mind. "Pray let me know who you really are." The stranger smiled and melancholy smiled. "Then listen," said he. "I am the Abbe Fari. "And have been present, as you know, "in this shuttle diff since the year 1811, "previously to which I had been confined "for three years in the fortress of Finnisterre. "In the year 1811 I was transferred to Piedmont in France. "It was at this period I learned that the destiny "which seemed subservient to every wish formed by Napoleon "had bestowed on him a son, "named King of Rome even in his cradle. "I was very far then from expecting the change "you have just informed me of, "namely that four years afterwards this colossus of power "would be overthrown. "Then two reigns in France at this moment. "Napoleon second? "No, Louis 18th. "The brother of Louis 16th. "How inscrutable are the ways or providence. "For what great and mysterious purpose "has it pleased heaven to abase the man "once so elevated and raise up him "who was so abased? "Don't his whole attention was riveted on a man "who could thus forget his own misfortunes "while occupying him so with the destinies of others. "Yes, yes, continued he. "Twill be the same as it was in England." After Charles first, Cromwell. After Cromwell, Charles second, and then James second, and then some son-in-law relation, some prince of orange, a stat holder who becomes a king. "Then new concessions to the people. "Then a constitution. "Then liberty. "Ah, my friend," said the other, turning towards Dante's and surveying him with the kindling gaze of the providence. "You are young. "You will see all this come to pass. "Probably, if ever I get out of prison. "True," replied Farron. "We are prisoners, but I forget this sometimes. "And there are even moments where my mental vision "transports me beyond these walls, "and I fancy myself at liberty. "But wherefore are you here? "Because in 1807 I dreamed of the very plan "the podium tried to realize in 1811, "because, like Machiavelli, "I decided to alter the political phase of Italy, "and instead of allowing it to be split up "into a quantity of petty principalities. "Each held by some weak or tyrannical rule, "I sought to form one large, compact, and powerful empire. "And lastly, because I fancied I had found my Caesar Borgian "in a crowned simpleton, "who feigned to enter into my views only to betray me. "It was the plan of Alexander VI and Clement VII, "but it will never succeed now. "For they attempted it fluently, "and the podium was unable to complete his work. "Italy seems fated to misfortune, "and the old man bowed his hand. "Dontes could not understand men risking his life "for such matters. "Napoleon certainly he knew something of, "inasmuch as he had seen and spoken with him, "but of Clement VII and Alexander VI. "He knew nothing. "Are you not?" he asked. "The priest who hear in the shuttle diff "is generally thought to be ill. "Mad, you mean, don't you? "I did not like his say so," answered Dontes, smiling. "Well then," resumed Faria with a bitter smile. "Let me answer your question in full. "By acknowledging that I am the poor, mad prisoner "of the shuttle diff, "for many years permitted to amuse the different fisters "with what is set to be my insanity. "And in all probability, "I should be promoted to the honor of making sport "for the children. "If such innocent beings could be found "in an abode devoted like this to suffering and despair, "Dontes remain for a short time mute and motionless. "At length he said, "then you abandon all hope of escape. "I perceive this utter impossibility, "and I consider it impious to attempt "that which they all might eat evidently "does not approve. "Name, be not discouraged. "Would it not be expecting too much to hope "to succeed at your first attempt? "Why not try to find an opening in another direction "from that which has so unfortunately failed? "Alas, it shows how little notion you can have, "all it has cost me to affect a purpose "so unexpectedly frustrated "that you talk of beginning over again. "In the first place, "I was four years making the tools I persist, "and have been two years scraping and digging out earth, "hard as granite itself. "Then what toil and fatigue "has it not been to remove huge stones "I should once have deemed impossible to loosen? "Hole days have I passed in these titanic efforts, "considering my labor well-repated. "By nighttime I had contrived to carry away "a square inch of this heart-bound cement, "changed by ages into a substance "unyielding as the stones themselves. "Then to conceal the mass of earth and rubbish I dug up, "I was compelled to break through a staircase "and throw the fruits of my labor into the hollow part of it. "But the well is now so completely choked up "that I scarcely think it would be possible "to add another handful of dust "without leading to discovery. "Consider also that I fully believe "I had accomplished the end and aim of my undertaking, "for which I had so exactly husband my strength "as to make it just hold out to determination of my enterprise. "And now, at the moment when I reckoned upon success, "my hopes are forever dashed from me. "No, I repeat again that nothing shall induce me "to renew attempts evidently at farions "with the almighty's pleasure. "Don't test how down his head "that the other might not see how joy "at the thought of having a companion outweigh "the sympathy he felt for the failure of the Abbe's plans. "The Abbe's sag upon Edmund's bed, "while Edmund himself remained standing. "Escape had never once appeared to him. "There are, indeed, some things which appear so impossible "that the mind does not dwell on them for an instant, "to undermine the ground for 50 feet, "to devote three years to a labor which, if successful, "would conduct you to a precipice overhanging the sea, "to plunge into the waves from the heights of 50, 60, "perhaps a hundred feet at the risk of being dashed "to pieces against the rocks. "Should you have been fortunate enough "to have escaped the fire of the sentinels, "and even, supposing all these perils past, "then to have to swim for your life a distance "of at least three miles air you could reach the shore? "Were difficulties so startling and formidable "that Dontes had never even dreamed of such a scheme, "resigning himself rather to death? "But a sight of an old man clinging to life "with so desperate a courage gave a fresh turn to his ideas "and inspired him with new courage. "Another older and less stronger than he had attempted "what he had not had sufficient resolution to undertake "and had failed only because of a mirror in calculation. "This same person, with almost incredible patience "and perseverance, had contrived to provide himself "a tool's requisite for so unparalleled intent. "Another had done all this. "Why, then, was it impossible to Dontes? "Varya had docked his way through 50 feet. "Dontes would take a hundred. "Varya at the age of 50 had devoted three years to the task. "He who was about half as old would sacrifice six. "Varya, a priest, and savant, had not shrunk from the idea "of risking his life by trying to swim a distance "of three miles to one of the islands. "Dame, retin, or lemme, "should a hardy sailor an experienced diver like himself "shrink from a similar task, should he, "who had so often, for mere amusement's sake, "plunged to the bottom of the sea "to fetch up the bright coral branch, "has stated and attained the same project. "He could do it in an hour. "And how many times had he, for pure pastime, "continued in a water for more than twice as long? "At once, Dontes resolved to follow the brave example "of his energetic companion. "And remember that what has once been done "may be done again." After continuing some time in profound meditation, the young man suddenly explained, "I have found what you were in search for. "Varya started. "Have you, indeed, cried he, "raising his head with quick anxiety? "Pray, let me know what it is you have discovered. "The corridor through which you have bored your way "from the cell you occupy here, "extends in the same direction as the outer gallery. "Does it not? "It does. "And it's not about 15 feet from it. "About that. "Well then, I will tell you what we must do. "We must pierce through the corridor "by forming a side opening about the middle, "as it were the top part of a cross. "This time you will lay your plans more accurately. "We shall get out into the gallery you have described. "Kill the sentinel who got it and make our escape. "All we require to ensure success is courage "and that you possess and strength, "which I am not deficient in. "As for patience, you have abundantly proved yours. "You shall now see me prove mine." "One instant, my dear friend," replied the abbey, "it is clear you do not understand the nature "of the courage with which I am endowed. "And what use I intend baking of my strength. "As for patience, I consider that I have abundantly exercised "that in beginning every morning the task of the night before, "and every night renewing the task of the day. "But then, young man, then I thought I could not be doing "anything displeasing to the Almighty "in trying to set an innocent being at liberty. "One who had committed no offense "and merited no condemnation. "And have your notions changed?" asked Dante's with much surprise. "Do you think yourself more guilty "in making the attempts since you have encountered me? "No, neither do I wish to incur guilt. "In third too, I have fancied myself "mearly waging war against circumstances, not men. "I have thought it no sin to bore through a wall "or destroy a staircase, but I cannot so easily persuade myself "to appear as a heart or take away a life. "A slight movement of surprise escaped, don't it? "Is it possible, sent he, that where your liberty "is at stake you can allow any such scruple "to deter you from obtaining it? "Tell me," replied Fari. "What has hindered you from knocking down your jailer "with a piece of wood torn from your bedstead, "dressing yourself in his clothes and endeavoring to escape? "Simply the fact that the idea never occurred to me," answered Dante's, "because," said the old man, "the natural repentance to the commission of such a crime "prevented you from thinking of it. "And so it ever is because in simple and allowable things "our natural instincts keep us from deviating "from the strict line of duty. "The tiger, whose nature teaches him to delight "in shedding blood, needs but the sense of smell "to show him when his praise within his reach. "And by following this instinct, "he is unable to measure the leap necessary "to permit him to spring on his victim. "But man, on the contrary, loaves the idea of blood. "It is not alone that the laws of social life "inspire him with a shrinking dread of taking life, "his natural construction and physiological formation. "Dante's was confused and silent at this explanation "of the thoughts which had unconsciously been working "in his mind, or rather so, "for there are two distinct sorts of ideas, "those that proceed from the head "and those that emanate from the heart. "Since my imprisonment," said Farri, "I have thought over all the most celebrated cases "of escape on record. "They have rarely been successful. "Those that have been crowned with full success "have been long meditated upon and carefully arranged, "such, for instance, as the escape of the deuce "to both form from the Chateau de Fonsen. "That of the Abedupu Choir from Fort La Fag, "of Latu from the Bastille. "Then there are those for which charm "sometimes affords opportunity, "and those are the best of all. "Let us therefore, wait patiently "for some favorable moment, "and when it presents itself, profit by it. "Ah!" said Tantes. "You might well endure the tedious delay. "You were constantly employed in the task you set yourself, "and when we read with Toil, "you had your hopes to refresh and encourage you. "I assure you," replied the old man, "I did not turn to that source for recreation or support. "What did you do then?" I wrote or studied. "Will you then permit it the use of pens, ink, and paper? "Oh, no," answered the Abedup. "I had none but what I made for myself. "You make paper pens and ink?" "Yes." Dantes gazed with admiration, but he had some difficulty in believing. "Vary a source. "When you pay me a visit in my cell, "my dear friend," said he, "I will show you in entire work "the fruits of the thoughts and reflections "of my whole life. "Many of them meditated over in the shades "of the Colosseum at Rome, "and the foot of St. Mark's column at Venice, "and on the boulders of the Anno at Florence, "little imagining at the time that they would be arranged "in order within the walls of Chateau di. "The work I speak of is called "a treatise-owned possibility "of a general monarchy in Italy, "and will make one large quarto for you. "And on what have you written all this? "On two of my shirts, "I invented the preparation that makes linen as smooth "and as easy to write on as parchment. "You are there, a chemist. "Some what? "I know Lavoisier, "and what's the intimate friend of cabinets. "But for such a work, you must have needed books. "Had you any? "I had nearly 5,000 volumes in my library at Rome, "but after reading them over many times, "I found out that with 150 well-chosen books, "a man possesses, "if not a complete summary of all human knowledge, "at least all that a man need to really know. "I devoted three years of my life to reading "and studying these 150 volumes "til I knew them nearly by heart, "so that sins I have been in prison. "A very slight effort of memory has enabled me "to recall their contents as readily "as though the pages were opened before me. "I could recite you the whole of Thucydides, "Zenofen, Klutak, "Titus Livius, "Tacitus, "Shrada, "Jaunins, "Dontae, "Montaine, "Shixby, "Spinoza, "Macuveli, "and Bosphat. "I name only the most important. "You are doublous, "acquainted with a variety of languages, "so as to have been able to read all these. "Yes, I speak five of the modern tongues. "That is to say, "German, French, Italian, English, and Spanish. "By the aid of ancient Greek, "I learned modern Greek. "I don't speak it so well as I could wish, "but I am still trying to improve myself. "Improve yourself," repeated Dontes. "Why? "How can you manage to do so? "Why? "I made a vocabulary of the words I knew, "turned, returned, and arranged them, "so as to enable me to express my thoughts "through their medium. "I know nearly 1,000 words, "which is all that is absolutely necessary, "although I believe there are nearly 100,000 "indictionaries. "I cannot hope to be very fluent, "but I certainly should have no difficulty "in explaining my wants and wishes, "and that would be quite as much as I should ever require. "Stronger grew the wonder of Dontes, "who almost fancied he had to do with one gifted "with supernatural powers, "still hoping to find some imperfection "which might bring him down to a level "with human beings he added, "then if you were not furnished with pens, "how did you manage to write the work you speak of? "I make myself some excellent ones, "which would be universally preferred "to all others if ones know. "You are aware that huge whitings "are served to us on mega days. "Well, I selected the cartilages "of the heads of these fishes, "and you can scarcely imagine the delights "with which I welcome the arrival "of each Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, "as affording me the means of increasing my stock of pens, "for I will freely confess that my historical labours "have been my greatest solace and relief, "while retracing the past, I forget the present, "antra fursing at will the path of history "I cease to remember that I am my silver prisoner. "But the ink set Dontes. "Of what did you make your ink? "There was formerly a fireplace in my dungeon," replied Fari, "but it was closed up long air "I became an occupant of this prison. "Still, it must have been many years in use, "for it was strictly covered with a coating of suit. "This suit I dissolved in a portion "of the wine brought to me every Sunday, "and I assure you a bettering cannot be desired, "for very important notes, "for which closer tension is required. "I pricked one of my fingers and wrote with my own blood. "And when," asked Dontes, "may I see all this, "whenever you please," replied the abbey, "Oh, then let it be directly," exclaimed the young man. "Follow me then," said the abbey, as he re-entered the subterranean passage in which he soon disappeared, followed by Dontes. - Ellipsis. Ellipsis. Now, the omission from speech or writing of a word or words that are superfluous or able to be understood from contextual clues. Dextrously. Dextrously. Ethel. Skillful and competent with the hands. Meigre. Meigre. Adjective. In the Roman Catholic Church, denoting a day on which abstinence from meat is ordered.
