LITMIR.BIZ

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      (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

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