M. Noirtier was a true prophet, and things progressedrapidly, as he had predicted. Every one knows the history ofthe famous return from Elba, a return which wasunprecedented in the past, and will probably remain withouta counterpart in the future.

Louis XVIII. made but a faint attempt to parry thisunexpected blow; the monarchy he had scarcely reconstructedtottered on its precarious foundation, and at a sign fromthe emperor the incongruous structure of ancient prejudicesand new ideas fell to the ground. Villefort, therefore,gained nothing save the king's gratitude (which was ratherlikely to injure him at the present time) and the cross ofthe Legion of Honor, which he had the prudence not to wear,although M. de Blacas had duly forwarded the brevet.

Napoleon would, doubtless, have deprived Villefort of hisoffice had it not been for Noirtier, who was all powerful atcourt, and thus the Girondin of '93 and the Senator of 1806protected him who so lately had been his protector. AllVillefort's influence barely enabled him to stifle thesecret Dantes had so nearly divulged. The king's procureuralone was deprived of his office, being suspected ofroyalism.

However, scarcely was the imperial power established - thatis, scarcely had the emperor re-entered the Tuileries andbegun to issue orders from the closet into which we haveintroduced our readers, - he found on the table there LouisXVIII.'s half-filled snuff-box, - scarcely had thisoccurred when Marseilles began, in spite of the authorities,to rekindle the flames of civil war, always smouldering inthe south, and it required but little to excite the populaceto acts of far greater violence than the shouts and insultswith which they assailed the royalists whenever theyventured abroad.

Owing to this change, the worthy shipowner became at thatmoment - we will not say all powerful, because Morrel was aprudent and rather a timid man, so much so, that many of themost zealous partisans of Bonaparte accused him of"moderation" - but sufficiently influential to make ademand in favor of Dantes.

Villefort retained his place, but his marriage was put offuntil a more favorable opportunity. If the emperor remainedon the throne, Gerard required a different alliance to aidhis career; if Louis XVIII. returned, the influence of M. deSaint-Meran, like his own, could be vastly increased, andthe marriage be still more suitable. The deputy-procureurwas, therefore, the first magistrate of Marseilles, when onemorning his door opened, and M. Morrel was announced.

Any one else would have hastened to receive him; butVillefort was a man of ability, and he knew this would be asign of weakness. He made Morrel wait in the ante-chamber,although he had no one with him, for the simple reason thatthe king's procureur always makes every one wait, and afterpassing a quarter of an hour in reading the papers, heordered M. Morrel to be admitted.

Morrel expected Villefort would be dejected; he found him ashe had found him six weeks before, calm, firm, and full ofthat glacial politeness, that most insurmountable barrierwhich separates the well-bred from the vulgar man.

He had entered Villefort's office expecting that themagistrate would tremble at the sight of him; on thecontrary, he felt a cold shudder all over him when he sawVillefort sitting there with his elbow on his desk, and hishead leaning on his hand. He stopped at the door; Villefortgazed at him as if he had some difficulty in recognizinghim; then, after a brief interval, during which the honestshipowner turned his hat in his hands, -

"M. Morrel, I believe?" said Villefort.

"Yes, sir."

"Come nearer," said the magistrate, with a patronizing waveof the hand, "and tell me to what circumstance I owe thehonor of this visit."

"Do you not guess, monsieur?" asked Morrel.

"Not in the least; but if I can serve you in any way I shallbe delighted."

"Everything depends on you."

"Explain yourself, pray."

"Monsieur," said Morrel, recovering his assurance as heproceeded, "do you recollect that a few days before thelanding of his majesty the emperor, I came to intercede fora young man, the mate of my ship, who was accused of beingconcerned in correspondence with the Island of Elba? Whatwas the other day a crime is to-day a title to favor. Youthen served Louis XVIII., and you did not show any favor - it was your duty; to-day you serve Napoleon, and you oughtto protect him - it is equally your duty; I come,therefore, to ask what has become of him?"

Villefort by a strong effort sought to control himself."What is his name?" said he. "Tell me his name."

"Edmond Dantes."

Villefort would probably have rather stood opposite themuzzle of a pistol at five-and-twenty paces than have heardthis name spoken; but he did not blanch.

"Dantes," repeated he, "Edmond Dantes."

"Yes, monsieur." Villefort opened a large register, thenwent to a table, from the table turned to his registers, andthen, turning to Morrel, -

"Are you quite sure you are not mistaken, monsieur?" saidhe, in the most natural tone in the world.

Had Morrel been a more quick-sighted man, or better versedin these matters, he would have been surprised at the king'sprocureur answering him on such a subject, instead ofreferring him to the governors of the prison or the prefectof the department. But Morrel, disappointed in hisexpectations of exciting fear, was conscious only of theother's condescension. Villefort had calculated rightly.

"No," said Morrel; "I am not mistaken. I have known him forten years, the last four of which he was in my service. Donot you recollect, I came about six weeks ago to plead forclemency, as I come to-day to plead for justice. Youreceived me very coldly. Oh, the royalists were very severewith the Bonapartists in those days."

"Monsieur," returned Villefort, "I was then a royalist,because I believed the Bourbons not only the heirs to thethrone, but the chosen of the nation. The miraculous returnof Napoleon has conquered me, the legitimate monarch is hewho is loved by his people."

"That's right!" cried Morrel. "I like to hear you speakthus, and I augur well for Edmond from it."

"Wait a moment," said Villefort, turning over the leaves ofa register; "I have it - a sailor, who was about to marry ayoung Catalan girl. I recollect now; it was a very seriouscharge."

"How so?"

"You know that when he left here he was taken to the Palaisde Justice."

"Well?"

"I made my report to the authorities at Paris, and a weekafter he was carried off."

"Carried off!" said Morrel. "What can they have done withhim?"

"Oh, he has been taken to Fenestrelles, to Pignerol, or tothe Sainte-Marguerite islands. Some fine morning he willreturn to take command of your vessel."

"Come when he will, it shall be kept for him. But how is ithe is not already returned? It seems to me the first care ofgovernment should be to set at liberty those who havesuffered for their adherence to it."

"Do not be too hasty, M. Morrel," replied Villefort. "Theorder of imprisonment came from high authority, and theorder for his liberation must proceed from the same source;and, as Napoleon has scarcely been reinstated a fortnight,the letters have not yet been forwarded."

"But," said Morrel, "is there no way of expediting all theseformalities - of releasing him from arrest?"

"There has been no arrest."

"How?"

"It is sometimes essential to government to cause a man'sdisappearance without leaving any traces, so that no writtenforms or documents may defeat their wishes."

"It might be so under the Bourbons, but at present" -

"It has always been so, my dear Morrel, since the reign ofLouis XIV. The emperor is more strict in prison disciplinethan even Louis himself, and the number of prisoners whosenames are not on the register is incalculable." Had Morreleven any suspicions, so much kindness would have dispelledthem.

"Well, M. de Villefort, how would you advise me to act?"asked he.

"Petition the minister."

"Oh, I know what that is; the minister receives two hundredpetitions every day, and does not read three."

"That is true; but he will read a petition countersigned andpresented by me."

"And will you undertake to deliver it?"

"With the greatest pleasure. Dantes was then guilty, and nowhe is innocent, and it is as much my duty to free him as itwas to condemn him." Villefort thus forestalled any dangerof an inquiry, which, however improbable it might be, if itdid take place would leave him defenceless.

"But how shall I address the minister?"

"Sit down there," said Villefort, giving up his place toMorrel, "and write what I dictate."

"Will you be so good?"

"Certainly. But lose no time; we have lost too muchalready."

"That is true. Only think what the poor fellow may even nowbe suffering." Villefort shuddered at the suggestion; but hehad gone too far to draw back. Dantes must be crushed togratify Villefort's ambition.

Villefort dictated a petition, in which, from an excellentintention, no doubt, Dantes' patriotic services wereexaggerated, and he was made out one of the most activeagents of Napoleon's return. It was evident that at thesight of this document the minister would instantly releasehim. The petition finished, Villefort read it aloud.

"That will do," said he; "leave the rest to me."

"Will the petition go soon?"

"To-day."

"Countersigned by you?"

"The best thing I can do will be to certify the truth of thecontents of your petition." And, sitting down, Villefortwrote the certificate at the bottom.

"What more is to be done?"

"I will do whatever is necessary." This assurance delightedMorrel, who took leave of Villefort, and hastened toannounce to old Dantes that he would soon see his son.

As for Villefort, instead of sending to Paris, he carefullypreserved the petition that so fearfully compromised Dantes,in the hopes of an event that seemed not unlikely, - thatis, a second restoration. Dantes remained a prisoner, andheard not the noise of the fall of Louis XVIII.'s throne, orthe still more tragic destruction of the empire.

Twice during the Hundred Days had Morrel renewed his demand,and twice had Villefort soothed him with promises. At lastthere was Waterloo, and Morrel came no more; he had done allthat was in his power, and any fresh attempt would onlycompromise himself uselessly.

Louis XVIII. remounted the throne; Villefort, to whomMarseilles had become filled with remorseful memories,sought and obtained the situation of king's procureur atToulouse, and a fortnight afterwards he married Mademoisellede Saint-Meran, whose father now stood higher at court thanever.

And so Dantes, after the Hundred Days and after Waterloo,remained in his dungeon, forgotten of earth and heaven.Danglars comprehended the full extent of the wretched fatethat overwhelmed Dantes; and, when Napoleon returned toFrance, he, after the manner of mediocre minds, termed thecoincidence, "a decree of Providence." But when Napoleonreturned to Paris, Danglars' heart failed him, and he livedin constant fear of Dantes' return on a mission ofvengeance. He therefore informed M. Morrel of his wish toquit the sea, and obtained a recommendation from him to aSpanish merchant, into whose service he entered at the endof March, that is, ten or twelve days after Napoleon'sreturn. He then left for Madrid, and was no more heard of.

Fernand understood nothing except that Dantes was absent.What had become of him he cared not to inquire. Only, duringthe respite the absence of his rival afforded him, hereflected, partly on the means of deceiving Mercedes as tothe cause of his absence, partly on plans of emigration andabduction, as from time to time he sat sad and motionless onthe summit of Cape Pharo, at the spot from whence Marseillesand the Catalans are visible, watching for the apparition ofa young and handsome man, who was for him also the messengerof vengeance. Fernand's mind was made up; he would shootDantes, and then kill himself. But Fernand was mistaken; aman of his disposition never kills himself, for heconstantly hopes.

During this time the empire made its last conscription, andevery man in France capable of bearing arms rushed to obeythe summons of the emperor. Fernand departed with the rest,bearing with him the terrible thought that while he wasaway, his rival would perhaps return and marry Mercedes. HadFernand really meant to kill himself, he would have done sowhen he parted from Mercedes. His devotion, and thecompassion he showed for her misfortunes, produced theeffect they always produce on noble minds - Mercedes hadalways had a sincere regard for Fernand, and this was nowstrengthened by gratitude.

"My brother," said she as she placed his knapsack on hisshoulders, "be careful of yourself, for if you are killed, Ishall be alone in the world." These words carried a ray ofhope into Fernand's heart. Should Dantes not return,Mercedes might one day be his.

Mercedes was left alone face to face with the vast plainthat had never seemed so barren, and the sea that had neverseemed so vast. Bathed in tears she wandered about theCatalan village. Sometimes she stood mute and motionless asa statue, looking towards Marseilles, at other times gazingon the sea, and debating as to whether it were not better tocast herself into the abyss of the ocean, and thus end herwoes. It was not want of courage that prevented her puttingthis resolution into execution; but her religious feelingscame to her aid and saved her. Caderousse was, like Fernand,enrolled in the army, but, being married and eight yearsolder, he was merely sent to the frontier. Old Dantes, whowas only sustained by hope, lost all hope at Napoleon'sdownfall. Five months after he had been separated from hisson, and almost at the hour of his arrest, he breathed hislast in Mercedes' arms. M. Morrel paid the expenses of hisfuneral, and a few small debts the poor old man hadcontracted.

There was more than benevolence in this action; there wascourage; the south was aflame, and to assist, even on hisdeath-bed, the father of so dangerous a Bonapartist asDantes, was stigmatized as a crime.