Why?
CADEROUSSE
Because Mercédès is a pretty girl, and pretty girls do not lack admirers—her especially. They follow her by the dozen—but you are going to be captain, to you she will give preference.
EDMOND
Which means that if I were not—
CADEROUSSE
Eh! Eh!
EDMOND
Come, come, neighbor, I have a better opinion than you of women in general and of Mercédès in particular—and I am convinced that, captain or not, she will remain faithful to me.
CADEROUSSE
So much the better! So much the better! When one is going to marry it is always good to have faith. But never mind, believe me, little fellow, don’t lose any time in announcing your arrival.
EDMOND
I am going.
DANTÈS
And I, I will accompany you to La Cannebierre—I want to part with you only at the last possible moment.
CADEROUSSE
I must ask your permission to stay here an instant, Father Dantès. This devil Carconte bored no doubt, that I didn’t return, left in her turn—and she has taken the key—so that I am locked out.
DANTÈS
Stay, neighbor, stay. You know you are at home here.
CADEROUSSE
Thanks.
EDMOND
Come, Father.
CADEROUSSE
Give my best to Mercédès, little fellow.
EDMOND
I will add them to those I am going to give her.
DANTÈS
When you leave, lock the door.
CADEROUSSE
Be easy.
(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
