absorbed in their separate griefs; but at length the two poor victims of the same blow raised their eyes, and with a simultaneous burst of feeling rushed into each other's arms.
Meanwhile Fernand made his reappearance, poured out for himself a glass of water, which he drank, and went to sit down on a chair.
This was, by mere chance, placed next to the seat on which poor Mercédès had fallen when released from the embrace of old Dantès.
Instinctively, Fernand drew back his chair.
"He has done it," whispered Caderousse, who had never taken his eyes off Fernand, to Danglars.
"I do not think so," answered the other; "he is too stupid. In any case, let the mischief fall upon the head of whoever wrought it."
"You don't mention him who advised it," said Caderousse.
"Pooh!" replied Danglars; "who can be responsible for every random word?"
"But if the random word hits the mark?"
Meantime the subject of the arrest was being canvassed in every different form.
"What think you, Danglars," said one of the party, "of the affair?"
"Why," replied he, "I think he may have brought in some smuggled goods."
"But how could he have done so without your knowledge, Danglars, who were the ship's supercargo?"
"Why, as for that, I could only know what I was told respecting the merchandise. I know she was loaded with cotton, and that she took in her freight at Alexandria from the magazine of M. Pastret, and at Smyrna from M. Pascal's. Don't ask me anything more."
"Now I recollect!" said the afflicted old father; "my poor boy told me yesterday he had got a small case of coffee, and another of tobacco for me!"
"There, you see!" exclaimed Danglars. The custom-house people have been to the ship in our absence, and discovered poor Dantès' hidden treasures."
Mercédès, however, did not believe a word of this. Her grief, hitherto restrained, now burst out in sobs.
"Come, come — hope!" said the old man, hardly knowing what he said.
"Hope!" repeated Danglars.
"Hope!" faintly murmured Fernand; but the word choked him, his lips quivered, and no sound escaped them.
"Good news!" shouted forth one of the party stationed in the balcony on the look-out. "Here comes M. Morrel back. No doubt, now, he brings us good news."
