A year after Louis XVIII.'s restoration, a visit was made bythe inspector-general of prisons. Dantes in his cell heardthe noise of preparation, - sounds that at the depth wherehe lay would have been inaudible to any but the ear of aprisoner, who could hear the plash of the drop of water thatevery hour fell from the roof of his dungeon. He guessedsomething uncommon was passing among the living; but he hadso long ceased to have any intercourse with the world, thathe looked upon himself as dead.

The inspector visited, one after another, the cells anddungeons of several of the prisoners, whose good behavior orstupidity recommended them to the clemency of thegovernment. He inquired how they were fed, and if they hadany request to make. The universal response was, that thefare was detestable, and that they wanted to be set free.

The inspector asked if they had anything else to ask for.They shook their heads. What could they desire beyond theirliberty? The inspector turned smilingly to the governor.

"I do not know what reason government can assign for theseuseless visits; when you see one prisoner, you see all, - always the same thing, - ill fed and innocent. Are thereany others?"

"Yes; the dangerous and mad prisoners are in the dungeons."

"Let us visit them," said the inspector with an air offatigue. "We must play the farce to the end. Let us see thedungeons."

"Let us first send for two soldiers," said the governor."The prisoners sometimes, through mere uneasiness of life,and in order to be sentenced to death, commit acts ofuseless violence, and you might fall a victim."

"Take all needful precautions," replied the inspector.

Two soldiers were accordingly sent for, and the inspectordescended a stairway, so foul, so humid, so dark, as to beloathsome to sight, smell, and respiration.

"Oh," cried the inspector, "who can live here?"

"A most dangerous conspirator, a man we are ordered to keepthe most strict watch over, as he is daring and resolute."

"He is alone?"

"Certainly."

"How long has he been there?"

"Nearly a year."

"Was he placed here when he first arrived?"

"No; not until he attempted to kill the turnkey, who tookhis food to him."

"To kill the turnkey?"

"Yes, the very one who is lighting us. Is it not true,Antoine?" asked the governor.

"True enough; he wanted to kill me!" returned the turnkey.

"He must be mad," said the inspector.

"He is worse than that, - he is a devil!" returned theturnkey.

"Shall I complain of him?" demanded the inspector.

"Oh, no; it is useless. Besides, he is almost mad now, andin another year he will be quite so."

"So much the better for him, - he will suffer less," saidthe inspector. He was, as this remark shows, a man full ofphilanthropy, and in every way fit for his office.

"You are right, sir," replied the governor; "and this remarkproves that you have deeply considered the subject. Now wehave in a dungeon about twenty feet distant, and to whichyou descend by another stair, an abbe, formerly leader of aparty in Italy, who has been here since 1811, and in 1813 hewent mad, and the change is astonishing. He used to weep, henow laughs; he grew thin, he now grows fat. You had bettersee him, for his madness is amusing."

"I will see them both," returned the inspector; "I mustconscientiously perform my duty." This was the inspector'sfirst visit; he wished to display his authority.

"Let us visit this one first," added he.

"By all means," replied the governor, and he signed to theturnkey to open the door. At the sound of the key turning inthe lock, and the creaking of the hinges, Dantes, who wascrouched in a corner of the dungeon, whence he could see theray of light that came through a narrow iron grating above,raised his head. Seeing a stranger, escorted by two turnkeysholding torches and accompanied by two soldiers, and to whomthe governor spoke bareheaded, Dantes, who guessed thetruth, and that the moment to address himself to thesuperior authorities was come, sprang forward with claspedhands.

The soldiers interposed their bayonets, for they thoughtthat he was about to attack the inspector, and the latterrecoiled two or three steps. Dantes saw that he was lookedupon as dangerous. Then, infusing all the humility hepossessed into his eyes and voice, he addressed theinspector, and sought to inspire him with pity.

The inspector listened attentively; then, turning to thegovernor, observed, "He will become religious - he isalready more gentle; he is afraid, and retreated before thebayonets - madmen are not afraid of anything; I made somecurious observations on this at Charenton." Then, turning tothe prisoner, "What is it you want?" said he.

"I want to know what crime I have committed - to be tried;and if I am guilty, to be shot; if innocent, to be set atliberty."

"Are you well fed?" said the inspector.

"I believe so; I don't know; it's of no consequence. Whatmatters really, not only to me, but to officers of justiceand the king, is that an innocent man should languish inprison, the victim of an infamous denunciation, to die herecursing his executioners."

"You are very humble to-day," remarked the governor; "youare not so always; the other day, for instance, when youtried to kill the turnkey."

"It is true, sir, and I beg his pardon, for he has alwaysbeen very good to me, but I was mad."

"And you are not so any longer?"

"No; captivity has subdued me - I have been here so long."

"So long? - when were you arrested, then?" asked theinspector.

"The 28th of February, 1815, at half-past two in theafternoon."

"To-day is the 30th of July, 1816, - why it is butseventeen months."

"Only seventeen months," replied Dantes. "Oh, you do notknow what is seventeen months in prison! - seventeen agesrather, especially to a man who, like me, had arrived at thesummit of his ambition - to a man, who, like me, was on thepoint of marrying a woman he adored, who saw an honorablecareer opened before him, and who loses all in an instant - who sees his prospects destroyed, and is ignorant of thefate of his affianced wife, and whether his aged father bestill living! Seventeen months captivity to a sailoraccustomed to the boundless ocean, is a worse punishmentthan human crime ever merited. Have pity on me, then, andask for me, not intelligence, but a trial; not pardon, but averdict - a trial, sir, I ask only for a trial; that,surely, cannot be denied to one who is accused!"

"We shall see," said the inspector; then, turning to thegovernor, "On my word, the poor devil touches me. You mustshow me the proofs against him."

"Certainly; but you will find terrible charges."

"Monsieur," continued Dantes, "I know it is not in yourpower to release me; but you can plead for me - you canhave me tried - and that is all I ask. Let me know mycrime, and the reason why I was condemned. Uncertainty isworse than all."

"Go on with the lights," said the inspector.

"Monsieur," cried Dantes, "I can tell by your voice you aretouched with pity; tell me at least to hope."

"I cannot tell you that," replied the inspector; "I can onlypromise to examine into your case."

"Oh, I am free - then I am saved!"

"Who arrested you?"

"M. Villefort. See him, and hear what he says."

"M. Villefort is no longer at Marseilles; he is now atToulouse."

"I am no longer surprised at my detention," murmured Dantes,"since my only protector is removed."

"Had M. de Villefort any cause of personal dislike to you?"

"None; on the contrary, he was very kind to me."

"I can, then, rely on the notes he has left concerning you?"

"Entirely."

"That is well; wait patiently, then." Dantes fell on hisknees, and prayed earnestly. The door closed; but this timea fresh inmate was left with Dantes - hope.

"Will you see the register at once," asked the governor, "orproceed to the other cell?"

"Let us visit them all," said the inspector. "If I once wentup those stairs. I should never have the courage to comedown again."

"Ah, this one is not like the other, and his madness is lessaffecting than this one's display of reason."

"What is his folly?"

"He fancies he possesses an immense treasure. The first yearhe offered government a million of francs for his release;the second, two; the third, three; and so on progressively.He is now in his fifth year of captivity; he will ask tospeak to you in private, and offer you five millions."

"How curious! - what is his name?"

"The Abbe Faria."

"No. 27," said the inspector.

"It is here; unlock the door, Antoine." The turnkey obeyed,and the inspector gazed curiously into the chamber of the"mad abbe."

In the centre of the cell, in a circle traced with afragment of plaster detached from the wall, sat a man whosetattered garments scarcely covered him. He was drawing inthis circle geometrical lines, and seemed as much absorbedin his problem as Archimedes was when the soldier ofMarcellus slew him.

He did not move at the sound of the door, and continued hiscalculations until the flash of the torches lighted up withan unwonted glare the sombre walls of his cell; then,raising his head, he perceived with astonishment the numberof persons present. He hastily seized the coverlet of hisbed, and wrapped it round him.

"What is it you want?" said the inspector.

"I, monsieur," replied the abbe with an air of surprise - "I want nothing."

"You do not understand," continued the inspector; "I am senthere by government to visit the prison, and hear therequests of the prisoners."

"Oh, that is different," cried the abbe; "and we shallunderstand each other, I hope."

"There, now," whispered the governor, "it is just as I toldyou."

"Monsieur," continued the prisoner, "I am the Abbe Faria,born at Rome. I was for twenty years Cardinal Spada'ssecretary; I was arrested, why, I know not, toward thebeginning of the year 1811; since then I have demanded myliberty from the Italian and French government."

"Why from the French government?"

"Because I was arrested at Piombino, and I presume that,like Milan and Florence, Piombino has become the capital ofsome French department."

"Ah," said the inspector, "you have not the latest news fromItaly?"

"My information dates from the day on which I was arrested,"returned the Abbe Faria; "and as the emperor had created thekingdom of Rome for his infant son, I presume that he hasrealized the dream of Machiavelli and Caesar Borgia, whichwas to make Italy a united kingdom."

"Monsieur," returned the inspector, "providence has changedthis gigantic plan you advocate so warmly."

"It is the only means of rendering Italy strong, happy, andindependent."

"Very possibly; only I am not come to discuss politics, butto inquire if you have anything to ask or to complain of."

"The food is the same as in other prisons, - that is, verybad; the lodging is very unhealthful, but, on the whole,passable for a dungeon; but it is not that which I wish tospeak of, but a secret I have to reveal of the greatestimportance."

"We are coming to the point," whispered the governor.

"It is for that reason I am delighted to see you," continuedthe abbe, "although you have disturbed me in a mostimportant calculation, which, if it succeeded, wouldpossibly change Newton's system. Could you allow me a fewwords in private."

"What did I tell you?" said the governor.

"You knew him," returned the inspector with a smile.

"What you ask is impossible, monsieur," continued he,addressing Faria.

"But," said the abbe, "I would speak to you of a large sum,amounting to five millions."

"The very sum you named," whispered the inspector in histurn.

"However," continued Faria, seeing that the inspector wasabout to depart, "it is not absolutely necessary for us tobe alone; the governor can be present."

"Unfortunately," said the governor, "I know beforehand whatyou are about to say; it concerns your treasures, does itnot?" Faria fixed his eyes on him with an expression thatwould have convinced any one else of his sanity.

"Of course," said he; "of what else should I speak?"

"Mr. Inspector," continued the governor, "I can tell you thestory as well as he, for it has been dinned in my ears forthe last four or five years."

"That proves," returned the abbe, "that you are like thoseof Holy Writ, who having ears hear not, and having eyes seenot."

"My dear sir, the government is rich and does not want yourtreasures," replied the inspector; "keep them until you areliberated." The abbe's eyes glistened; he seized theinspector's hand.

"But what if I am not liberated," cried he, "and am detainedhere until my death? this treasure will be lost. Had notgovernment better profit by it? I will offer six millions,and I will content myself with the rest, if they will onlygive me my liberty."

"On my word," said the inspector in a low tone, "had I notbeen told beforehand that this man was mad, I should believewhat he says."

"I am not mad," replied Faria, with that acuteness ofhearing peculiar to prisoners. "The treasure I speak ofreally exists, and I offer to sign an agreement with you, inwhich I promise to lead you to the spot where you shall dig;and if I deceive you, bring me here again, - I ask nomore."

The governor laughed. "Is the spot far from here?"

"A hundred leagues."

"It is not ill-planned," said the governor. "If all theprisoners took it into their heads to travel a hundredleagues, and their guardians consented to accompany them,they would have a capital chance of escaping."

"The scheme is well known," said the inspector; "and theabbe's plan has not even the merit of originality."

Then turning to Faria - "I inquired if you are well fed?"said he.

"Swear to me," replied Faria, "to free me if what I tell youprove true, and I will stay here while you go to the spot."

"Are you well fed?" repeated the inspector.

"Monsieur, you run no risk, for, as I told you, I will stayhere; so there is no chance of my escaping."

"You do not reply to my question," replied the inspectorimpatiently.

"Nor you to mine," cried the abbe. "You will not accept mygold; I will keep it for myself. You refuse me my liberty;God will give it me." And the abbe, casting away hiscoverlet, resumed his place, and continued his calculations.

"What is he doing there?" said the inspector.

"Counting his treasures," replied the governor.

Faria replied to this sarcasm with a glance of profoundcontempt. They went out. The turnkey closed the door behindthem.

"He was wealthy once, perhaps?" said the inspector.

"Or dreamed he was, and awoke mad."

"After all," said the inspector, "if he had been rich, hewould not have been here." So the matter ended for the AbbeFaria. He remained in his cell, and this visit onlyincreased the belief in his insanity.

Caligula or Nero, those treasure-seekers, those desirers ofthe impossible, would have accorded to the poor wretch, inexchange for his wealth, the liberty he so earnestly prayedfor. But the kings of modern times, restrained by the limitsof mere probability, have neither courage nor desire. Theyfear the ear that hears their orders, and the eye thatscrutinizes their actions. Formerly they believed themselvessprung from Jupiter, and shielded by their birth; butnowadays they are not inviolable.

It has always been against the policy of despoticgovernments to suffer the victims of their persecutions toreappear. As the Inquisition rarely allowed its victims tobe seen with their limbs distorted and their flesh laceratedby torture, so madness is always concealed in its cell, fromwhence, should it depart, it is conveyed to some gloomyhospital, where the doctor has no thought for man or mind inthe mutilated being the jailer delivers to him. The verymadness of the Abbe Faria, gone mad in prison, condemned himto perpetual captivity.

The inspector kept his word with Dantes; he examined theregister, and found the following note concerning him: -

Edmond Dantes:

Violent Bonapartist; took an active part in the return fromElba.

The greatest watchfulness and care to be exercised.

This note was in a different hand from the rest, whichshowed that it had been added since his confinement. Theinspector could not contend against this accusation; hesimply wrote, - "Nothing to be done."

This visit had infused new vigor into Dantes; he had, tillthen, forgotten the date; but now, with a fragment ofplaster, he wrote the date, 30th July, 1816, and made a markevery day, in order not to lose his reckoning again. Daysand weeks passed away, then months - Dantes still waited;he at first expected to be freed in a fortnight. Thisfortnight expired, he decided that the inspector would donothing until his return to Paris, and that he would notreach there until his circuit was finished, he thereforefixed three months; three months passed away, then six more.Finally ten months and a half had gone by and no favorablechange had taken place, and Dantes began to fancy theinspector's visit but a dream, an illusion of the brain.

At the expiration of a year the governor was transferred; hehad obtained charge of the fortress at Ham. He took with himseveral of his subordinates, and amongst them Dantes'jailer. A new governor arrived; it would have been tootedious to acquire the names of the prisoners; he learnedtheir numbers instead. This horrible place contained fiftycells; their inhabitants were designated by the numbers oftheir cell, and the unhappy young man was no longer calledEdmond Dantes - he was now number 34.