"In a moment, sir," answered Dantès, "and I'm with you!"
Then, railing to the crew, he said, "Let go!"
The anchor was instantly dropped, and the chain ran rattling through the port-hole. Dantès continued at his post, in spite of the presence of the pilot, until this manœuvre was completed, and then he added:
"Lower the pennant half-mast high; put the ensign in a weft, and slope the yards!"
"You see," said Danglars, "he fancies himself captain already, upon my word."
"And so, in fact, he is," said the owner.
"Except your signature and your partner's, M. Morrel."
"And why should he not have this?" asked the owner; "he is young, it is true, but he seems to me a thorough seaman, and of full experience."
A cloud passed over Danglars's brow.
"Your pardon, M. Morrel," said Dantès approaching; "the ship now rides at anchor, and I am at your service. You called me, I think?"
Danglars retreated a step or two.
"I wished to inquire why you stopped at the Isle of Elba."
"I do not know, sir; it was to fulfill a last instruction of Captain Leclere, who, when dying, gave me a packet for the Maréchal Bertrand."
"Then, did you see him, Edmond?"
"Who?"
"The maréchal."
"Yes."
Morrel looked around him, and then, drawing Dantès on one side, he said suddenly —
"And how is the Emperor?"
"Very well, as far as I could judge from my eyes."
"You saw the Emperor, then?"
"He entered the maréchal's apartment whilst I was there."
"And you spoke to him?"
"Why, it was he who spoke to me, sir," said Dantès, with a smile.
"And what did he say to you?"
"Asked me questions about the ship,—the time she left Marseilles, the course she had taken, and what was her cargo. I believe, if she had been in ballast, and I had been her master, he would have bought her. But I told him I was only mate, and that she belonged to the firm of Morrel and Son. 'Ah! ah!' he said, 'I know them! The Morrels have been shipowners from father to son; and there was a Morrel who served in the same regiment with me when I was in garrison a Valence.'"
