"Oh, no!" replied Caderousse, "that I can answer for, you did not. I only wish I could see it now as plainly as I saw it lying all crushed and crumpled in a corner of the arbor."
"Well, then, if you did, depend upon it, Fernand picked it up, and either copied it or caused it to be copied; perhaps, even, he did not take the trouble of recopying it. And now I think of it, by Heavens! he may have sent the letter itself! Fortunately, for me, the handwriting was disguised."
"Then you were aware of Dantès being engaged in a conspiracy?"
"Not a bit in the world! As I before said, I thought the whole thing was a joke, nothing more. It seems, however, that, like Harlequin, I have unconsciously stumbled upon the truth."
"All the same," argued Caderousse, "I would give a great deal if nothing of the kind had happened; or, at least, that I had had no hand in it. You will see, Danglars, that it will turn out an unlucky job for both."
"Nonsense! If any harm comes of it, it should fall on the guilty person; and that, you know, is Feruand. How can harm come to us? All we have got to do is, to keep quiet, not breathing a word to any living soul; and you will see that the storm will pass away without the thunder-bolt striking."
"Amen!" responded Caderousse, waving adieu to Danglars, and bending his steps toward the Allées de Meilhan, moving his head to and fro, and muttering as he went, after the manner of one thoroughly preoccupied.
"So far, then," said Danglars, "all has gone as I would have it. I am, temporarily, commander of the Pharaon, with the certainty of being permanently so, if that fool of a Caderousse can be persuaded to hold his tongue. My only fear is the chance of Dantès being released. But, bah!" added he, with a smile, "Justice is justice; I'll leave it to her."
So saying, he leaped into a boat, desiring to be rowed on board the Pharaon, where M. Morrel, it will be remembered, had appointed to meet him.
