Mercédès might have been a queen, sir, if the crown were to be placed on the head of the loveliest and most intelligent. Her fortune had already become great, and she became great with her fortune. She learned drawing, music — everything. Besides, I believe, between ourselves, she did this in order to distract her mind, that she might forget; and she only filled her head thus in order to alleviate the weight on her heart. But now everything must be told," continued Caderousse; "no doubt fortune and honors have comforted her; she is rich, a countess, and yet———"
Caderousse paused.
"And yet what?" asked the abbé.
"Yet, I am sure she is not happy," said Caderousse.
"What makes you believe this?"
"Why, when I have found myself very wretched, I have thought my old friends would perhaps assist me. So I went to Danglars, who would not even receive me. I called on Fernand, who sent me a hundred francs by his valet-de-chambre."
"Then you did not see either of them?"
"No; but Madame de Morcerf saw me."
"How was that?"
"As I went away, a purse fell at my feet — it contained five-and-twenty louis; I raised my head quickly, and saw Mercédès, who shut the blind directly."
"And M. de Villefort?" asked the abbé.
"Oh, he never was a friend of mine; I did not know him, and I had nothing to ask of him."
"Do you not know what became of him, and the share he had in Edmond's misfortunes?"
"No; I only know that some time after having arrested him, he married Mademoiselle de Saint-Méran, and soon after left Marseilles; no doubt he has been as lucky as the rest; no doubt he is as rich as Danglars, as high in station as Fernand. I only, as you see, have remained poor, wretched, and forgotten."
"You are mistaken, my friend," replied the abbé; "God may seem sometimes to forget for a while, whilst his justice reposes, but there always comes a moment when he remembers — and behold! a proof."
As he spoke, the abbé took the diamond from his pocket, and giving it to Caderousse, said:
"Here, my friend, take this diamond; it is yours."
"What, for me only?" cried Caderousse; "ah! sir, do not jest with me!"
"This diamond was to have been shared amongst his friends.
