He was never abandoned, replied Caderousse. The Catalan M. Mercedes-Morel treated him very well, but the poor old man somehow hated Fernand. Caderousse added with a wry smile, "That guy you just called Dantè s a loyal and dear friend."
Isn’t he like this? asked the priest
Jasper: The woman sitting on the stairs grumbled, "What do you want to say?"
Caderousse was obviously not happy to be interrupted. He ignored the woman and said to the priest, "Can a man be loyal to his friends if he wants to take away other people’s wives?" Dantè s, with his golden heart, will believe poor Edmond if he is called good, but fortunately, he never realized that it would be too difficult to forgive them on his deathbed. No matter what others said about Caderousse, his vulgar poetic talk continued, I always felt that the curse of the dead was more terrible than the hatred of the living.
Fool Carl Gunter bitch said
Then you know what Fernand did to Dantè s, the priest asked Caderousse.
I don’t know anyone. I know better
Then say it.
The bitch Jasper Calgon shouted again, Suit yourself. You are the master of the house, but don’t say anything if you listen to me.
All right, all right, my wife Caderousse answered me. I believe you are right. I follow your advice.
So have you decided not to tell what you were going to say just now? asked the priest
Well, what’s the point? Caderousse asked if the poor boy was still alive and begged me. I will tell him frankly who his true friends and enemies are. Maybe I won’t hesitate then, but you tell me that he is gone and he can no longer hold a grudge or revenge. Let him bury all these good and evil together.
Then would you like the priest to say that I will give you what I have prepared to repay my loyal friendship and say to those hypocritical and shameful people?
That’s what Caderousse replied. You’re right. Besides, what is poor Edmond’s legacy to them now? It’s just a drop in the ocean.
You don’t want to see that woman say that those two people can crush you with one finger.
How come? asked the priest. Are these people so rich and powerful?
Don’t you know their life story?
I don’t know. Tell me.
Caderousse thought for a moment and then said no, it was too long to tell the truth.
My good friend, the priest replied that the tone showed that it was up to you whether he would talk about it or not. I respect your cautious attitude. Forget it. I can do my duty with my conscience to fulfill my promise to a dying man. The first thing to do is to dispose of this diamond. As he said, the priest touched the small box from his pocket and let the brilliant light of the diamond shine directly in front of Caderousse. He was dazzled.
Wife, wife, he shouted, his voice was almost hoarse from nervousness. Come and see this valuable diamond.
The diamond, cried the Calgon bitch, got up and walked up the stairs with a fairly firm step. What kind of diamond do you think it is?
Hey, didn’t you hear what we said? Caderousse asked if this diamond was left by poor Edmond Dantè s to sell it and share the money with his father, his fiancee Mercedes Fernand Danglars.
This diamond is worth fifty thousand francs less.
Oh, what a beautiful diamond! cried the woman.
So one fifth of the price of this diamond belongs to us, does Caderousse ask, still staring greedily at the glittering diamond?
Yes, the priest replied, and the other one is for old Dants. I think I can divide it equally among the four living people by the Lord.
What will be given to the four of us? asked Caderousse.
Because you are Edmond’s good friends.
I wouldn’t call those people who sold you and ruined you friends, the woman whispered.
Of course not, Caderousse answered at once, and neither will I. That’s what I told this gentleman just now. I said that I think it is a blasphemy to reward treachery rather than sin.