which makes me uneasy?
EDMOND
Oh—we suffered a great misfortune, Mr. Morel.
MOREL
A great misfortune. You frighten me. What happened?
EDMOND
At Civita Vecchia we lost Captain Leclere.
MOREL
Our poor captain. And how did this misfortune occur, Edmond? Did he fall into the sea?
EDMOND
No, sir. After three days of horrible suffering, a brain fever carried him off.
MOREL
And how did this happen to him?
EDMOND
My God, sir, in the most unforeseen manner. After a long conversation with the Harbor Master, Captain Leclere left Naples in a state of great agitation. Within twenty-four hours, the fever took him—three days later, he was dead.
MOREL
Truly it’s strange.
EDMOND
This misfortune threw us in consternation. Death is terrible anywhere, yet more so, when one is lost in the immensity and tossed between the sea and the sky.
MOREL
You gave him a proper funeral?
EDMOND
Yes, Mr. Morel—he resides softly, wrapped in his hammock off the isle of Giglio with 36 cannon balls at his head and his feet. We bring back to his widow his cross and his sword. It was worthwhile to spend ten years fighting the English and make 3 voyages around the world—to die in his bed!
MOREL
What do you want my dear Edmond! It’s sad, I am well aware. But still, we are all mortal—the old must make way for the new, without that there would be no progress—now, Edmond, let us see the invoices.
EDMOND
Hold on, here right now is Mr. Danglars, your accountant, who is just leaving his cabin and who will give you all the receipts you could want. As for me, Mr. Morel, with your permission, I need to oversee the anchoring and put the boat in ship-shape.
MOREL
Go, my friend, go.
(Edmond goes off.)
MOREL
(aside)
There’s a worthy and honest young man. If he doesn’t prosper, there is no justice in heaven.
DANGLARS
An irreparable misfortune, sir, that is the word. Where will we find his like again? An old sailor like him—admirably suited to be entrusted with the interests of a firm as important as yours.
MOREL
I believe you exaggerate, Danglars, not the loss we have suffered, but the difficulty we will have in repairing it. There’s no necessity to be an old sailor, you see, to know his job—and we have Dantès, who does his without the need to consult anyone.
DANGLARS
(with irritation)
Yes, yes, he’s young—and he doesn’t doubt himself—still, hardly had Captain Leclere died than he took command of the Pharaoh and cost us a day and a half at Elba instead of returning directly to Marseille.
MOREL
As to taking command of the boat, that was his duty as Chief Mate and he was right to do so. But as for wasting a day and a half at Elba—he was wrong unless the ship needed repairs.
DANGLARS
The boat was as well as I am and as I hope you are, Mr. Morel. And the day and a half was lost from pure caprice, for the pleasure of going ashore.
MOREL
You are certain?
DANGLARS
By Jove, I am!
MOREL
(turning)
Dantès! Come here, if you would.
EDMOND
Pardon, Monsieur Morel, I will be with you in a moment.
(ordering)
Lower the flag to half mast. Put the flagstaff down. Cross the yards.
DANGLARS
You see, he already thinks he is captain, my word of honor.
MOREL
It’s all but done.
DANGLARS
Yes, save for your signature, Mr. Morel.
MOREL
Damnation, why shouldn’t I let him have the position? He’s young, I am aware, but despite his youth, he appears to me to be very experienced in his job.
DANGLARS
You find him so?
(Edmond comes in.)
EDMOND
There—now that the ship is anchored here, I am all yours. You called me, I believe?
MOREL
Yes, my friend. I wanted to ask you why you stopped at the Isle of Elba?
EDMOND
I myself do not know, sir.
MOREL
What—you don’t know?
EDMOND
Yes, it was to complete the list of recommendations of Captain Leclere who, dying, gave me a package for the Grand Marshal.
MOREL
You saw him, Edmond?
EDMOND
Who?
MOREL
The Grand Marshal.
EDMOND
Yes.
MOREL
Hush!
