Chapter 2: Return of the Pharaon: II
As soon as Dantès was out of earshot, Danglars slithered over to Morrel. "So, he gave you a good explanation for that little detour to Elba?"
"Absolutely. Very reasonable."
"Good, good," Danglars said, though his tone suggested otherwise. "Hate to think one of our guys wasn’t doing his job properly."
"Dantès did exactly what he was supposed to do," Morrel replied firmly. "Captain Leclere gave those orders."
"Speaking of the captain, didn’t Dantès give you a letter from him?"
"A letter? To me? No, should there have been one?"
"I thought maybe... besides that package, the captain might have trusted him with a letter too."
Morrel’s brow furrowed. "What package?"
"The one Dantès dropped off at Elba."
"How the hell do you know about any package?"
Danglars’ face went red. "I, uh... I was walking past the captain’s cabin. Door was cracked open. I saw him hand Dantès both a package and a letter."
"He never mentioned any letter to me," Morrel said slowly. "But if there is one, I’m sure he’ll give it to me."
Danglars fidgeted. "Look, Boss, do me a favor, don’t mention this to Dantès, okay? I might’ve been mistaken about what I saw."
Just then, Dantès returned. Danglars quickly made himself scarce.
"All done with the paperwork?" Morrel asked.
"Yep, smooth as butter. Gave customs a copy of our shipping manifest, and sent all the other documents with the harbor pilot."
"So you’re free to go?"
"Free as a bird."
"Perfect! Come have dinner with me then."
"I appreciate the offer, Boss, but I’ve got to pass. Need to see my father first, though I’m grateful you asked."
"Of course! Family first. I’ve always known you were a good son, Dantès."
Dantès hesitated. "How... how is my father doing? Have you heard anything?"
"I think he’s doing well, though I haven’t seen him recently."
"Yeah, he keeps to himself in that little apartment of his."
"Well, that’s probably a good sign, means he hasn’t been wanting for anything while you were gone."
Dantès smiled, but there was sadness in it. "My father’s got too much pride. Even if he was down to his last coin, I doubt he’d ask anyone for help. Except maybe God."
"Fair enough. After you visit him, we’ll expect you for dinner then."
"Actually, I’ll have to take a rain check on that too. After I see my father, there’s someone else I really need to visit."
Morrel’s face broke into a knowing grin. "Ah, right! That beautiful girl Mercedes down in the fishing district. She’s been asking about you."
Dantès’ cheeks reddened.
"Ha! I’m not surprised she’s eager to see you. She came by my office three times asking for news about your ship. Damn, Edmond, you’ve got yourself quite the stunning girlfriend!"
"She’s not my girlfriend," Dantès said seriously. "She’s my fiancée."
"Sometimes that’s the same thing," Morrel chuckled.
"Not for us, it isn’t."
"Alright, alright, I won’t keep you any longer. You’ve handled everything perfectly on this voyage, you deserve all the personal time you need. Do you need any money?"
"Nah, I’m good. I’ve got nearly three months of pay coming to me."
"Smart man, Edmond."
"More like I’ve got a poor father to support."
"Right, right. I know what a good son you are. Now get going and see him! I’ve got a son too, and I’d be pissed as hell at anyone who kept him away from me after three months at sea."
"So I can go?"
"Unless there’s something else you need to tell me."
"Nothing comes to mind."
"Captain Leclere didn’t give you any letter for me before he died?"
"He couldn’t write by then, too weak. But that reminds me, I need to ask for some time off."
"For the wedding?"
"Yeah, and I also need to make a trip to Paris."
"Take all the time you need, Dantès. It’ll take six weeks just to unload all this cargo, and we won’t be ready to sail again for another three months after that. Just make sure you’re back by then, the Pharaon can’t sail without her captain."
Dantès’ eyes lit up like fireworks. "Her captain? Wait, are you serious? Are you really planning to make me captain of the Pharaon?"
"If it were just up to me, we’d shake hands right now and call it done. But I’ve got a business partner, and you know what they say, ’When you have a partner, you have a master.’ Still, you’ve already got my vote, and I’ll work on getting you the other one. I’ll do everything I can."
Tears welled up in Dantès’ eyes as he grabbed Morrel’s hand. "Boss... thank you. Not just for me, but for my father and Mercedes too."
"You’ve earned it, Edmond. Good things happen to people who deserve them. Go see your father, then your girl, and after that come find me."
"Want me to row you back to shore?"
"No thanks, I’m staying here to go over the books with Danglars. Speaking of which, how did he do on this trip? Any problems?"
Dantès paused, choosing his words carefully. "Depends what you mean. As a friend? Hell no. Guy’s hated my guts ever since I made that stupid suggestion about stopping at Monte Cristo to settle an argument we had. I was an idiot for suggesting it, and he was smart to say no. But as far as doing his job? Yeah, he’s competent. No complaints there."
"But if you become captain of the Pharaon, would you want Danglars to stay on?"
"Captain or first mate, I’ll always respect whoever you and your partner trust to run things."
"Good answer. You really are a stand-up guy. Now get out of here, I can see you’re dying to leave."
"I can go?"
"Go already!"
"Can I borrow your boat?"
"Of course."
"Thanks for everything, Boss. I owe you big time!"
"Hope to see you soon, Edmond. Good luck!"
Dantès jumped into the small rowboat, settling into the back seat and telling the rowers to take him to the main waterfront district. The two sailors dipped their oars and the little boat shot forward, weaving between the hundreds of ships packed into the narrow channel that connected the harbor mouth to the busy Orleans Wharf.
Morrel watched with a smile as Dantès leaped onto the dock and disappeared into the crowd.
Even at this hour, the famous Canebière street was swarming with people, it stayed busy from five in the morning until nine at night. The locals were so damn proud of that street they’d say with complete seriousness, "If Paris had the Canebière, Paris would be a second Marseille."
When Morrel turned around, he found Danglars standing behind him, supposedly waiting for orders but clearly having watched Dantès leave.
The difference between how the two men had observed the young sailor couldn’t have been more obvious. One with warmth and pride, the other with something much darker.