banish to punish someone by sending them away somewhere
ally a person that is on your side and helps you in a fight
power the feeling of being able to make other people do what you want
horror the feeling of being badly surprised and afraid
release to set free
9lwffie
iper evemu
f M M onsieur Villefort was another man who was planning ^ f to marry his fiancee soon. As the crown prosecutor, he wanted a wife who would help him become an imporUmt person in Marseille. Now that Napoleon was banished, people who had helped him become Emperor, like Villeforfs own father, were losing their jobs, homes, money and friends. Villefort hoped that no one would remember his father's interest in Napoleon, and he was clever enough to see that, from now on. only allies of the King would have power and make money. So he had chosen as his fiancee Renee Saint-Meran. who was beautiful and rich, and whose parents loved the King.
He was at a dinner party at their large house in the most expensive part of Marseille, when a letter was brought to him. He opened it at once and read it.
'Aha!' he said. 'This is serious. It seems there are still people who want to bring back the banished Emperor Napoleon!' 'Can that be possible?' said several people in horror. 'Yes. This letter tells me that a man called Edmond Dantes has visited the Emperor on Elba and has a letter for Napoleon's allies in Paris. The police have arrested him, and I must go to question him.'
'Poor young man!' cried Renee. 'Don't be too hard on him!' 'I must do what is necessary, dear Renee. But I'll return soon.' And Renee gave him her sweetest smile as he went out.
When he arrived at his office, he ordered the police to bring in their prisoner. As he questioned Dantes, he watched the young man's open, honest face and confident smile. 'He can't be a criminal!' he thought. Renee will be happy when she hears that I've released him!'
He smiled kindly at Dantes. 'You'll be free very soon, my
friend,' he said.   I'll just look at the letter that you were
carrying.'
'Thank you, Monsieur! Here it is.'
Villefort looked down at the envelope, and went white with horror. It was addressed to Monsieur Noirtier, his father! He fell back in his chair.
'Monsieur, are you ill?' cried Dantes.
'I'm asking the questions, not you.' said Villefort, trying to think fast. 'Does anyone else know of this letter? Anyone at all?'
'No. Monsieur! But - what's the matter? Can I go now?'
'I'm afraid I must keep you a little longer. But first I'm going to destroy this letter. Then no one can say you're the King's enemy!' He threw the letter on the lire, where it burned brightly for a few seconds.
'Monsieur, you're a very good friend to me!'
envelope a paper cover that you put a letter in
Villefort looked down at the envelope.
cell a small room in a prison or police station
row to move a boat through water using long pieces of wood with flat ends
chateau /fie'tsu/ the French word for 'castle'
God an important being who never dies, and who decides what happens in the world
'Now remember. Dantes, if anyone asks about that letter, say you know nothing about it. Don't forget - it's important!'
'I won't forget, Monsieur. Thank you!'
Villefort called a police officer to the room, and whispered an order to him. 'Follow this officer.' he told Dantes. who smiled gratefully at Villefort as he went out.
When he was alone. Villefort put his head in his shaking hands. 'The letter is gone now but Dantes read the name and address on the envelope. If anyone learns that my father is still one of Napoleon's allies. I'll lose my job at once!' he thought. 'They could even put me to death! But perhaps nobody will find out now.'
Dantes was taken to a police cell, where he waited for several hours. Then, to his great surprise, he was taken to the port by four large policemen carrying guns. They pushed him into a small boat, which they started rowing out to sea.
'What's happening?' asked Dantes. 'Monsieur Villefort promised he would release me!'
'We don't know anything about that,' said one of the men. 'We're just obeying our orders.'
'But where are you taking me? Tell me!'
'Haven't you guessed? Look around you!'
Dantes lifted his eyes, and suddenly saw a frightening black shape right in front of the boat. It was the Chateau d'If. a castle on a small rocky island, and it was well known to everybody in Marseille as a prison. No prisoner ever left it alive. He cried out in horror, 'My God! The Chateau d'If. Why are we going there?'
The policemen just smiled, and continued rowing. But that's a prison for the worst criminals, enemies of France! You can't take me there! I've done nothing wrong!'
Just then the boat touched the rock, and the policemen carried Dantes, who was fighting and shouting wildly, into the castle. Soon he found himself alone in a dark, silent underground cell.
He could not understand what had happened, and he felt that he was going mad.
As Villefort was returning to the Saint-Merans' dinner party, he was stopped in the street by a beautiful dark-haired girl.
Please tell me where Edmond Dantes is, Monsieur,' she said, her voice breaking with sadness.
'I can't tell you that - he's a criminal,' replied Villefort coldly, pushing Mercedes to one side. For a moment he felt worried about Dantes - to keep himself safe he had sent an honest young man to prison for life and destroyed any hope of happiness for Edmond and his fiancee. He knew that he had the power to put matters right. But the moment passed, and he did nothing.
The next day. Villefort travelled to Paris to tell the King that Napoleon was planning to escape from Elba. He hoped the King would be grateful for this information and reward him richly, but he was unlucky. While he was at the palace, news of the Emperor's escape was brought to the King, and the King was too busy worrying about his own future to think about rewarding the crown prosecutor.
In the next two weeks, many Frenchmen hurried to join Napoleon's army as it moved northwards, and finally the King had to leave Paris for a safer country. Napoleon became Emperor again.
Now Villefort had to be careful if he wanted to keep his job - people knew that he had spoken against the Emperor. Renee Saint-Meran was no longer the right wife for him and his plans for a wedding were soon forgotten. And when Monsieur Morrel. the owner of the Pharaon, asked him repeatedly about Dantes. he always pretended to be warmly interested in Edmond, but, sadly, unable to help. He hoped that no one would ever find out about the terrible thing that he had done.
mad crazy
reward to give money to someone for their help
READING CHECK
Put these sentences in the correct order. Number them 1-9.
a CD Morrel comes many times to ask Villefort about Edmond.
b O Villefort sees that Edmond is a good man and decides that he can go free.
c [0 Villefort is at a dinner party with the family of his fiancee.
Villefort quickly burns the letter, e □ Villefort goes to question Edmond about a letter from Napoleon, f O Villefort sees that the letter from Napoleon is to his father, g C] Villefort secretly sends Edmond to prison.
Napoleon becomes Emperor again and Villefort decides not to marry.
Mercedes comes to ask Villefort about Edmond.
WORD WORK
Use words from Chapter 2 in the correct form to complete the sentences.
a The English and Germans were ...G.Nie.S......fighting against the French at the
Battle of Waterloo.
b At the beginning of the story Napoleon was..................on the island of Elba.
c Villefort sees his father's name on the..................of a letter from Napoleon.
d Villefort's face goes white with..................when he thinks of the danger that he
is in.
e Villefort decides that he cannot..................Dantes
f Villefort has the..................to send men to the Chateau d'lf.
g Some policemen..................a small boat out to the island prison.
h Dantes must live in one of the small................. there
i When Dantes arrives at the prison he nearly goes j  He calls out to..................to help him.
k Villefort hopes that the king will..................him for information about
Napoleon's plan to return to France.
GUESS WHAT
What do you think happens in the next chapter? Match the people with the sentences.
yiWeforr « Napoleon *
is sent away to the island of Saint Helena, stays in prison for many years. . marries Renee de Saint-Meran. .joins the French army . leaves Marseille and goes to live in Spain.
12
13
r