[Count of Monte Cristo] Love and hatred

r086

On the streets of Marseilles, an exotic visitor wearing a bright blue coat, white vest and purple flower trousers appeared. He is a senior employee of the Thomson French Bank in Rome. A promissory note for seven thousand five hundred francs.

All the creditors were surprised at his visit, for they all felt that the bills would soon become worthless.However, they didn't say much, they just guessed in their hearts that this mysterious bank might want to hasten the downfall of a rival firm, so they sold the promissory note readily.

In fact, Thomson French Bank never sent a staff member to Marseilles, France, to buy promissory notes of a company that was about to go bankrupt.

And that person was Edmund pretending to be.

With mixed feelings, he returned to the Morrells and Sons, whom he was very familiar with.This company is completely different from what he remembered. The office was full of staff before, but now there are only two people left. The other is the one-eyed accountant Cocles, who is an old man of Morell Company, but The conscientious accountant was only concentrating on his own accounts, and did not pay attention to the visiting man; the other was Emmanuel, who was in love with Mr. Morel's young daughter, despite the efforts of his friends to persuade him to resign and leave here. , but he stayed on.

It was Emmanuel who received Edmund.It can be said that during this period of time, every strange face is a new creditor who heard the news and asked the boss. In order to save Mr. Morel from the pain of this meeting, he wanted to shirk this meeting.

But Edmund said, "I need to speak to Mr. Morel personally."

Emmanuel had no choice but to report this time.When he saw Morel again, Edmund found that his regular customer was very different.His gray hair was combed back neatly, and he also had a thin mustache. Although his handsome face could be seen vaguely, deep wrinkles had already been carved on his forehead by the weather.And his gaze, which was once so firm and sharp, now seems hesitant and hesitant.

Edmund's eyes were a little wet at that moment, but he quickly covered it up and explained why he came.

Morrel soon learned that the bank behind this strange Englishman had become his biggest creditor.If he couldn't repay this large sum of money, Morel's company would be discredited.

"Sir, if my ship comes back safe and sound, I can pay. For when it arrives, I can restore my credit, which has been lost by so many past accidents," said Morel honestly. " But if the Queen of Egypt is also lost, my last hope is lost."

The atmosphere fell into a brief silence.

Just then, a young girl knocked on the door and walked in.

"Yuli, what's the matter with you?" Morel asked anxiously.

You Li threw herself into her father's arms with tears all over her face, "Father, forgive me for bringing you bad news."

"Has the Queen of Egypt sunk?" Morrell forced a voice out of his throat.

Yuli nodded.

"Where's my crew?"

"They were rescued by the Kelundan ship that just entered the port, and they are now outside," Yuli said.

Morel raised his hands to heaven with an expression of resignation and sublime gratitude. "Thank you," he murmured, "at least God hit me alone!"

Edmund opened his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he suppressed his inner emotions.

After a deep sigh, Morrel said, "My children, invite them in."

Yuli quickly entered the room with a group of sailors.At the head was Penelon, the first mate, who remained at Palomar because their captain, Gaumard, fell ill with anxiety.He uneasily explained to the owner the reason for the sinking of the Queen of Egypt, but the owner did not blame them, but asked the accountant Cocles to pay each of them a salary of two hundred francs.

"Mr. Morel, we have discussed everything. We will take fifty francs this time, and we can wait for the rest until next time."

"Thank you, my friends," said Morel heartily, "take it! This is the last time I will pay you."

"What?" Penelon almost swallowed the clump of tobacco in his mouth, "Mr. Morel, are you angry with us and sending us away?

"No, that's not the case," Morrel shook his head resignedly. "I don't have a boat now."

"We can wait for you to rebuild it," Penelon said.

"I'm afraid I don't have the money to build any more ships," Morell said with a wry smile, "so I can't accept your kindness."

Penelon pondered for a moment, "Mr. Morel, the company has no money, so we can't ask for the money this time either."

"Enough, my friends," said Morel bitterly, "I can afford to pay your wages, Cocles, go with them, and do as I order."

Cocles responded falsely, ready to take the sailors out. "Wait, Mr. Morel," said Penelon, "at least we shall meet again?"

"Yes, at least I hope so," said Mr. Morel with an almost mournful smile.

As the sailors departed Edmund felt a strong emotion welling up in his heart, but he showed no emotion in the face of Morrel.

He told the desperate Morel in the tone of a bank clerk that he would give him some dates.He knew Morell needed time to prepare, and he needed time to prepare.

In the following period of time, Morel desperately recovered the funds, and even had to sell the silverware in the seller and the jewelry of his wife and daughter, but the debt was still an astronomical figure for him.As for the sailors of the Queen of Egypt, it seems that they have found new jobs, because they are all gone.

The promised day finally came.

Even Maximilian, who joined the army, took leave and returned home.He discovered that Mr. Morel had concealed a gun in his pocket.In France at that time, people valued reputation more than life. Therefore, although he could understand the choice Morel was about to make, as a son, he couldn't just watch him do it.

"Maximilian, my boy. Listen to me, only blood can wash away shame," Morel said helplessly.

"Then let me be with you."

"Maximilian, what are you talking about? If you die too, your mother! Your sisters! Who will support them?" said Morrel angrily.

A shudder ran through Maximilian's body.

He hugged his father tightly and said nothing.The pantomime lasted for a full 2 ​​minutes before Morrell spoke again, breaking the silence, "Maximilian, the time is almost up. From now on, you must face life bravely and make your wealth a little bit more with hardworking hands." A little more so that one day you'll pay off my debt. Now, go downstairs and get your mother and sister out of here, don't let them hear that voice, it's... you Responsibility."

Maximilian reluctantly let Morel go.He nodded with tears in his eyes, "I see, father, I will do as you ask."

"Go, my boy," said Morel sadly.

Maximilian nodded and left the room.

When the pointer on the pendulum clock was about to point to ten o'clock, Mr. Morel shoved the muzzle of the gun into his mouth, ready to die to save his reputation, but at this moment, his daughter Yuli ran away screaming like crazy. Come in, "Father, you are saved, you are saved!"

"My child, what are you talking about?" asked Morrel in surprise.

Before she could answer, another voice came from the corridor, "It's the Queen of Egypt! The Queen of Egypt has entered the port!"

Mr. Morrell recognized the voice of his fellow Eleuman, "The Queen of Egypt? That's impossible. That ship has sunk in India."

At this time, his son Maximilian also came in, "Father, the watchtower has received a signal from the Queen of Egypt, and they said that it is entering the port now. Let's go and have a look!"

Morrel hesitated for two seconds. Although he believed in miracles, he never thought that miracles would happen to him.Whether or not the watchtower was mistaken, he should have a look.

When the family arrived at the pier, it was already full of people.

"The Queen of Egypt! The Queen of Egypt!" said every voice.

Strange to say, on the blue sea not far from them, a beautiful galleon was slowly entering the port.

It is exactly the same as the original Queen of Egypt, except for the statue of Cleopatra VII on the bow, which seems to have been added by Xin Ke.

Just below the statue, there is a line of words painted in white: "Marseille Morel and Son".And judging by the depth of the draft, it must be fully loaded.

And as it drew nearer, Morel saw Marseilles Morel & Sons painted white on the hull.Captain Gaumard was giving orders from the deck, while Penelon was signaling to M. Morel.

For a moment Morrel thought he was dreaming.The whole family hugged excitedly, and all the citizens cheered and applauded.

And our Edmund, after giving a coin to one of the children, and telling him to hand an envelope to Mr. Morel, slowly retreated from the crowd.

Not far away, Morel took the envelope from the child in surprise. He opened it and saw that the promissory note for 28 francs was contained in the envelope, and the promissory note had already been signed for.

"Where did this envelope come from, my child?" asked Morel in surprise.

"It was given to me by a man who called himself Sinbad the Sailor," replied the child.

At this moment, Edmund had already jumped from the ladder on one side of the bank to a small boat moored there.

"Now, I have repaid Mr. Morel." Edmund looked away reluctantly, and looked at the Château d'If in the distance. "Next, I will go to save my father. Wait for me, France Father Leah!"

He gave a signal, and as if only waiting for the signal, the boat sailed out of the harbor at once.