{"product_id":"2940014467575","title":"The Count of Monte Cristo","description":"Chapter 1. Marseilles--The Arrival.\u003cbr\u003eOn the 24th of February, 1815, the look-out at Notre-Dame de la Garde\u003cbr\u003esignalled the three-master, the Pharaon from Smyrna, Trieste, and\u003cbr\u003eNaples.\u003cbr\u003eAs usual, a pilot put off immediately, and rounding the Chateau d'If,\u003cbr\u003egot on board the vessel between Cape Morgion and Rion island.\u003cbr\u003eImmediately, and according to custom, the ramparts of Fort Saint-Jean\u003cbr\u003ewere covered with spectators; it is always an event at Marseilles for\u003cbr\u003ea\u003cbr\u003eship to come into port, especially when this ship, like the Pharaon,\u003cbr\u003ehas\u003cbr\u003ebeen built, rigged, and laden at the old Phocee docks, and belongs to\u003cbr\u003ean\u003cbr\u003eowner of the city.\u003cbr\u003eThe ship drew on and had safely passed the strait, which some volcanic\u003cbr\u003eshock has made between the Calasareigne and Jaros islands; had doubled\u003cbr\u003ePomegue, and approached the harbor under topsails, jib, and spanker,\u003cbr\u003ebut\u003cbr\u003eso slowly and sedately that the idlers, with that instinct which is\u003cbr\u003ethe forerunner of evil, asked one another what misfortune could have\u003cbr\u003ehappened on board. However, those experienced in navigation saw\u003cbr\u003eplainly\u003cbr\u003ethat if any accident had occurred, it was not to the vessel herself,\u003cbr\u003efor she bore down with all the evidence of being skilfully handled,\u003cbr\u003ethe\u003cbr\u003eanchor a-cockbill, the jib-boom guys already eased off, and standing\u003cbr\u003eby\u003cbr\u003ethe side of the pilot, who was steering the Pharaon towards the narrow\u003cbr\u003eentrance of the inner port, was a young man, who, with activity and\u003cbr\u003evigilant eye, watched every motion of the ship, and repeated each\u003cbr\u003edirection of the pilot.\u003cbr\u003eThe vague disquietude which prevailed among the spectators had so much\u003cbr\u003eaffected one of the crowd that he did not await the arrival of the\u003cbr\u003evessel in harbor, but jumping into a small skiff, desired to be pulled\u003cbr\u003ealongside the Pharaon, which he reached as she rounded into La Reserve\u003cbr\u003ebasin.\u003cbr\u003ePage 1\u003cbr\u003eThe Count of Monte Cristo\u003cbr\u003eWhen the young man on board saw this person approach, he left his\u003cbr\u003estation by the pilot, and, hat in hand, leaned over the ship's\u003cbr\u003ebulwarks.\u003cbr\u003eHe was a fine, tall, slim young fellow of eighteen or twenty, with\u003cbr\u003eblack eyes, and hair as dark as a raven's wing; and his whole\u003cbr\u003eappearance\u003cbr\u003ebespoke that calmness and resolution peculiar to men accustomed from\u003cbr\u003etheir cradle to contend with danger.\u003cbr\u003e\"Ah, is it you, Dantes?\" cried the man in the skiff. \"What's the\u003cbr\u003ematter?\u003cbr\u003eand why have you such an air of sadness aboard?\"\u003cbr\u003e\"A great misfortune, M. Morrel,\" replied the young man,--\"a great\u003cbr\u003emisfortune, for me especially! Off Civita Vecchia we lost our brave\u003cbr\u003eCaptain Leclere.\"\u003cbr\u003e\"And the cargo?\" inquired the owner, eagerly.\u003cbr\u003e\"Is all safe, M. Morrel; and I think you will be satisfied on that\u003cbr\u003ehead.\u003cbr\u003eBut poor Captain Leclere--\"\u003cbr\u003e\"What happened to him?\" asked the owner, with an air of considerable\u003cbr\u003eresignation. \"What happened to the worthy captain?\"\u003cbr\u003e\"He died.\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Fell into the sea?\"\u003cbr\u003e\"No, sir, he died of brain-fever in dreadful agony.\" Then turning to\u003cbr\u003ethe\u003cbr\u003ecrew, he said, \"Bear a hand there, to take in sail!\"\u003cbr\u003eAll hands obeyed, and at once the eight or ten seamen who composed the\u003cbr\u003ecrew, sprang to their respective stations at the spanker brails and\u003cbr\u003eouthaul, topsail sheets and halyards, the jib downhaul, and the\u003cbr\u003etopsail\u003cbr\u003eclewlines and buntlines. The young sailor gave a look to see that his\u003cbr\u003eorders were promptly and accurately obeyed, and then turned again to\u003cbr\u003ethe\u003cbr\u003eowner.\u003cbr\u003e\"And how did this misfortune occur?\" inquired the latter, resuming the\u003cbr\u003einterrupted conversation.\u003cbr\u003e\"Alas, sir, in the most unexpected manner. After a long talk with the\u003cbr\u003eharbor-master, Captain Leclere left Naples greatly disturbed in mind.\u003cbr\u003eIn twenty-four hours he was attacked by a fever, and died three days\u003cbr\u003eafterwards. We performed the usual burial service, and he is at his\u003cbr\u003erest, sewn up in his hammock with a thirty-six pound shot at his head\u003cbr\u003ePage 2\u003cbr\u003eThe Count of Monte Cristo\u003cbr\u003eand his heels, off El Giglio island. We bring to his widow his sword\u003cbr\u003eand\u003cbr\u003ecross of honor. It was worth while, truly,\" added the young man with a\u003cbr\u003emelancholy smile, \"to make war against the English for ten years, and\u003cbr\u003eto\u003cbr\u003edie in his bed at last, like everybody else.\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Why, you see, Edmond,\" replied the owner, who appeared more comforted\u003cbr\u003eat every moment, \"we are all mortal, and the old must make way for the\u003cbr\u003eyoung. If not, why, there would be no promotion; and since you assure\u003cbr\u003eme\u003cbr\u003ethat the cargo--\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Is all safe and sound, M. Morrel, take my word for it; and I advise\u003cbr\u003eyou\u003cbr\u003enot to take 25,000 francs for the profits of the voyage.\"\u003cbr\u003eThen, as they were just passing the Round Tower, the young man\u003cbr\u003eshouted:\u003cbr\u003e\"Stand by there to lower the topsails and jib; brail up the spanker!\"\u003cbr\u003eThe order was executed as promptly as it would have been on board a\u003cbr\u003eman-of-war.\u003cbr\u003e\"Let go--and clue up!\" ...","brand":"All classic book warehouse","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47070613373168,"sku":"2940014467575","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940014467575_p0.jpg?v=1763608857","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940014467575","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}