As soon as Dantès was out of earshot, Danglars slithered over to Morrel. "So, he gave you a good explanation for that little detour to Elba?"
"Absolutely. Very reasonable."
"Good, good," Danglars said, though his tone suggested otherwise. "Hate to think one of our guys wasn’t doing his job properly."
"Dantès did exactly what he was supposed to do," Morrel replied firmly. "Captain Leclere gave those orders."
"Speaking of the captain, didn’t Dantès give you a letter from him?"
"A letter? To ? No, should there have been one?"
"I thought maybe... besides that package, the captain might have trusted him with a letter too."
Morrel’s brow furrowed. "What package?"
"The one Dantès dropped off at Elba."
"How the hell do you know about any package?"
Danglars’ face went red. "I, uh... I was walking past the captain’s cabin. Door was cracked open. I saw him hand Dantès both a package and a letter."
"He never ntioned any letter to ," Morrel said slowly. "But if there is one, I’m sure he’ll give it to ."
Danglars fidgeted. "Look, Boss, do a favor, don’t ntion this to Dantès, okay? I might’ve been mistaken about what I saw."
Just then, Dantès returned. Danglars quickly made himself scarce.
"All done with the paperwork?" Morrel asked.
"Yep, smooth as butter. Gave customs a copy of our shipping manifest, and sent all the other docunts with the harbor pilot."
"So you’re free to go?"
"Free as a bird."
"Perfect! Co have dinner with then."
"I appreciate the offer, Boss, but I’ve got to pass. Need to see my father first, though I’m grateful you asked."
"Of course! Family first. I’ve always known you were a good son, Dantès."
Dantès hesitated. "How... how is my father doing? Have you heard anything?"
"I think he’s doing well, though I haven’t seen him recently."
"Yeah, he keeps to himself in that little apartnt of his."
"Well, that’s probably a good sign, ans he hasn’t been wanting for anything while you were gone."
Dantès smiled, but there was sadness in it. "My father’s got too much pride. Even if he was down to his last coin, I doubt he’d ask anyone for help. Except maybe God."
"Fair enough. After you visit him, we’ll expect you for dinner then."
"Actually, I’ll have to take a rain check on that too. After I see my father, there’s soone else I really need to visit."
Morrel’s face broke into a knowing grin. "Ah, right! That beautiful girl rcedes down in the fishing district. She’s been asking about you."
Dantès’ cheeks reddened.
"Ha! I’m not surprised she’s eager to see you. She ca by my office three tis asking for news about your ship. Damn, Edmond, you’ve got yourself quite the stunning girlfriend!"
"She’s not my girlfriend," Dantès said seriously. "She’s my fiancée."
"Sotis that’s the sa thing," Morrel chuckled.
"Not for us, it isn’t."
"Alright, alright, I won’t keep you any longer. You’ve handled everything perfectly on this voyage, you deserve all the personal ti you need. Do you need any money?"
"Nah, I’m good. I’ve got nearly three months of pay coming to ."
"Smart man, Edmond."
"More like I’ve got a poor father to support."
"Right, right. I know what a good son you are. Now get going and see him! I’ve got a son too, and I’d be pissed as hell at anyone who kept him away from after three months at sea."
"So I can go?"
"Unless there’s sothing else you need to tell ."
"Nothing cos to mind."
"Captain Leclere didn’t give you any letter for before he died?"
"He couldn’t write by then, too weak. But that reminds , I need to ask for so ti off."
"For the wedding?"
"Yeah, and I also need to make a trip to Paris."
"Take all the ti you need, Dantès. It’ll take six weeks just to unload all this cargo, and we won’t be ready to sail again for another three months after that. Just make sure you’re back by then, the Pharaon can’t sail without her captain."
Dantès’ eyes lit up like fireworks. "Her captain? Wait, are you serious? Are you really planning to make captain of the Pharaon?"
"If it were just up to , we’d shake hands right now and call it done. But I’ve got a business partner, and you know what they say, ’When you have a partner, you have a master.’ Still, you’ve already got my vote, and I’ll work on getting you the other one. I’ll do everything I can."
Tears welled up in Dantès’ eyes as he grabbed Morrel’s hand. "Boss... thank you. Not just for , but for my father and rcedes too."
"You’ve earned it, Edmond. Good things happen to people who deserve them. Go see your father, then your girl, and after that co find ."
"Want to row you back to shore?"
"No thanks, I’m staying here to go over the books with Danglars. Speaking of which, how did he do on this trip? Any problems?"
Dantès paused, choosing his words carefully. "Depends what you an. As a friend? Hell no. Guy’s hated my guts ever since I made that stupid suggestion about stopping at Monte Cristo to settle an argunt we had. I was an idiot for suggesting it, and he was smart to say no. But as far as doing his job? Yeah, he’s competent. No complaints there."
"But if you beco captain of the Pharaon, would you want Danglars to stay on?"
"Captain or first mate, I’ll always respect whoever you and your partner trust to run things."
"Good answer. You really are a stand-up guy. Now get out of here, I can see you’re dying to leave."
"I can go?"
"Go already!"
"Can I borrow your boat?"
"Of course."
"Thanks for everything, Boss. I owe you big ti!"
"Hope to see you soon, Edmond. Good luck!"
Dantès jumped into the small rowboat, settling into the back seat and telling the rowers to take him to the main waterfront district. The two sailors dipped their oars and the little boat shot forward, weaving between the hundreds of ships packed into the narrow channel that connected the harbor mouth to the busy Orleans Wharf.
Morrel watched with a smile as Dantès leaped onto the dock and disappeared into the crowd.
Even at this hour, the famous Canebière street was swarming with people, it stayed busy from five in the morning until nine at night. The locals were so damn proud of that street they’d say with complete seriousness, "If Paris had the Canebière, Paris would be a second Marseille."
When Morrel turned around, he found Danglars standing behind him, supposedly waiting for orders but clearly having watched Dantès leave.
The difference between how the two n had observed the young sailor couldn’t have been more obvious. One with warmth and pride, the other with sothing much darker.
Reviews
All reviews (0)