World Literature Classics Library: The Count of Monte Cristo

Chapter 47 Morrel and Sons (1)
Anyone who left Marseilles a few years ago and is familiar with the inside story of Morrel and Sons, returning to see the firm now, will feel that too much has changed before and after.

In the past, this business was thriving, filled with an atmosphere that can be said to be full of vitality, rich and lucky; in the past, behind the curtains, there were happy faces, and staff members with quills in their ears in the corridor Shuttle back and forth; in the past, packs of goods in the courtyard of the commercial firm were crowded, brokers were bustling with laughter, but now what visitors see at a glance is an indescribable bleakness and stagnation.The corridors are already deserted, and the courtyard is already empty.The staff who had previously crowded the business rooms were walking and hiding, but now there are only two people left.One was a young man of twenty-three and four, named Emmanuel Raymond, who fell in love with M. Morrel's daughter, and stayed on despite his parents' efforts to make him resign.The other is the cashier, this is an old bachelor, a one-eyed man, everyone calls him Cocles (an ancient Roman hero who lost one eye due to a battle injury.).The business room that is empty now was buzzing all day long, like a beehive. Every room was full of young people. "Cocles" was the nickname given to the old cashier by these young people. , Called too much, but no one called his real name anymore, and now whoever calls him by his real name, in all likelihood, he will not answer.

Cocles had always been in the service of M. Morrel, but a curious change had taken place in the status of this honest and honest man. He was promoted to cashier on the one hand, and descended to the status of servant on the other.But he was still the old Cocles, kind, patient, loyal, always scrupulous in his calculations, and this was the only point in which he would contradict the whole world, even Mr. Morrel.He only has a ninety-nine table in his heart, so no matter what method is used to deceive him, and no matter what wrong account he is led to, he will know it at a glance.

Everyone in the Morrel Company was frowning, but Cocles was the only one who remained calm.But readers should not be misunderstood, it is not that he is unfeeling like this, on the contrary, it is out of a firm belief.It is said that if a ship is destined to sink at sea, the mice will gradually slip away, and when the ship weighs anchor, the selfish passengers will be gone.The situation is too similar now.We have already said that the staff, large and small, who had been living at the hands of Morrel and Sons, said goodbye to the offices and warehouses.But Kerex watched all these people go away, and never thought of asking them why they were going away.We've said that for Cocles it all comes down to numbers.He has been with Morrel for more than 20 years, and he has seen that the company's accounts are never falsified and that payments are always made on time.If it is said that the mill relies on the abundant river water to drive the millstone, the miller would never believe that the river will stop flowing. Cocles, like the miller, would not believe that the Morrel Company would delay the payment and pay the bill. No payment.Indeed, nothing has happened so far that can shake Cocles' belief. Until the end of last month, the company's due payments have been paid accurately and on time.Cocles also found out the wrong account of the 14 sous that Mr. Morrel himself had missed. On the same day, he gave the extra 14 sous to Mr. Morrel. Mr. Morrel accepted the money with a wry smile and threw it away. Into the almost empty drawer, said: "Very well, Cocles, you are the jewel of the cashiers." Cocles was very happy when he went back, M. Morrel is the jewel of the honest men of Marseilles , Cocles was more happy to have this compliment than to receive a gift of 50 crowns.

Although he was sent away with dignity last month, Mr. Morrel's life was very difficult after the end of the month.In order to meet the day at the end of the month, he has collected all the money.Fearing that news of his plight would spread throughout Marseilles if anyone saw him in this desperate state, he went alone to the Beaucaire market, and took away several of his wife and daughter. A piece of jewelry and some of his silverware were sold.Relying on the money from the painful sale, the reputation of the Morrels and Sons was finally preserved, but there was no money left in the cash drawer.There were gossip outside, and the money that could be borrowed was also scared away. Moreover, people are selfish in the first place, so they hide away and refuse to lend to him at this time.But Mr. Morrel has to pay Mr. Powell the 15 francs due on the 10th of this month and another 15 francs due on the 10th of the next month. He really has nothing to do but wait for the "King of Egypt" to return. hope.A ship that weighed anchor at the same time as the "King of Egypt" had sailed back safely, and the ship brought a letter saying that the "King of Egypt" had sailed back.Both that ship and the King of Egypt had returned from Calcutta, where they had been a fortnight before, and still nothing had been heard from the King of Egypt.

It was under these circumstances that the representative of Thomson & French of Rome came to see Mr. Morrel the day after he had concluded the business with Mr. Poviller of which we have been introduced.It was Emmanuel who received him.The young man was terrified when he saw a new face, because a new face would name a new creditor, and he wanted to inquire about the property of the business out of anxiety.The young man, let us put it this way, wanted to stand in the way of his boss, and asked the visitor what he wanted to do, but the visitor stated that he had nothing to discuss with M. Emmanuel, and that he wanted to see M. Morrel himself.Emmanuel sighed and called Cocles.As soon as Cocles came, the youth asked him to bring a guest to Monsieur Morrel.Cocles went first, followed by the guest, and on the stairs they met a beautiful girl of sixteen or seventeen, who looked anxiously at the guest.The girl's expression did not attract Cocles' attention, but the guest saw it clearly.

"Mr. Morrel is in his office, Miss Julie?" asked the cashier.

"Yes, I think so," said the girl hesitantly. "You go and see first, Cocles, and if my father is here, you can inform this gentleman."

"It is unnecessary to inform me myself, madam," said the Englishman, "Mr. Morrel does not know my name. The honorable gentleman has only to say that I am an officer of Thomson & French in Rome, Ben The firm has business dealings with your father's company."

The girl paled, and went downstairs by herself, while Cocles and the guest continued upstairs.The girl entered the business room where Emmanuel was, while Cocles went up to the third-floor landing and opened a door in the corner with a key.This key has always been held by Cocles. If he has something important to ask the boss, he will open the door to look for it, and just in time to tell the boss.After the door was opened, he led the guests into the waiting hall, then opened the second door, closed the door after entering, and let the representative of Thomson & French wait alone for a while, then turned around and came out, signaling to the guests that they could go in .

The Englishman went in, and saw Mr. Morrel sitting at a large table, his face growing pale, with ledgers spread out before him, each column of which was disturbing, for it was all his own. debt.As soon as he saw the visitor, M. Morrel closed the ledger, got up, offered a chair to the visitor, and sat down when he saw him. Fourteen years have produced a great change in the appearance of this venerable businessman, who was thirty-six at the beginning of this book and will soon be fifty, his hair has turned white, and his forehead has been carved Wrinkles from toil, his eyes were so resolute and firm at first, but now they become hesitant and hesitant, as if he is afraid to stand down and think about a problem or look at a person.The Englishman watched him with a mixture of curiosity and evident sympathetic concern.

"Sir," said Morrel, who seemed to be all the more embarrassed by the English scrutiny, "do you wish to speak to me?"

"Yes, sir. Do you understand where I come from?"

"Thomson & French, at least that's what my cashier told me."

"He's quite right, sir. Thomson & French, which has 40 francs to pay in France this month and the next, has bought all the promissory notes signed by you, knowing that you keep your word." , and instructed me to come to your bank to collect money on schedule, in case of use.”

Morrel sighed deeply, and wiped the sweat from his brow with his hands. "So, sir," he asked, "you have with you the promissory note signed by me?"

"Yes, sir, a considerable amount."

"How much?" asked Morrel, making an effort to control his tone of voice.

"Please look at this first," said the Englishman, taking out a wad of bills from his pocket, "this is a transfer bill for 20 francs from Mr. Pouvier, the prison director, to our firm. Monsieur is the creditor of this sum?"

"Yes, sir. It's an investment he's placed with me at four and a half percent interest, and it's been almost five years."

"Your repayment period..."

"Half on the 15th of this month and half on the 15th of the next month."

"Exactly. Let's look at this sum again, 32500 francs, due at the end of this month. This is a promissory note signed by you, which has been transferred to the firm by the bearer."

"I accept the promissory note," said Morrel, flushed with shame, and he could not help thinking that perhaps for the first time in his life he would not be able to pay the promissory note he had signed. "Is that all?"

"No, sir, there are also futures due at the end of next month, which were transferred to our firm by the Pascal firm and the Marseilles Verdeau-Tiernay firm, about 5.5 francs, and the total of the previous and subsequent transactions is 287500 francs."

No ink can describe the anguish the unfortunate Morrel felt at such a time of payment after payment. "287500 francs," he repeated mechanically.

"Yes, sir," replied the Englishman, and after a moment's silence he added, "We know that you have kept your promises so far beyond reproach, but I need not hide from you, and I am afraid that, according to the rumors at Marseilles, You are unable to pay your various futures."

Upon hearing such straightforward words, Morrel turned pale and frightening. "Sir," he said, "yes, so far. I have taken over the business from my father for more than 24 years, and my father has run it for 35 years. So far, the notes signed by Van Morrel and Sons , There has never been a precedent that cannot be fulfilled.”

"Yes, I know all that," said the Englishman, "but tell the truth as a good friend. Will you, sir, pay these promissory notes exactly as you have done before?"

Morrel shuddered, looked at the other party, and felt that what he said now was different from what he said just now, and he said it firmly. "Since the question is so straightforward," said he, "the answer should be open and frank. Yes, sir, I will pay, only to see if my ship arrives as safely as I wish. I have had several accidents in succession. The incident damaged my reputation, but it can be restored as soon as that ship arrives. However, the only source of income I can count on now is the ship 'King of Egypt', in case something happens..." Speaking of which, poor The owner of the ship has tears in his eyes.

"Yes," the other party asked, "what if this last source of income is not reliable?"

"Yes," continued Morrel, "it is very painful to say, sir. . . . Now that I am accustomed to misfortune, and now to disgrace, yes, I think I shall have to suspend payment then." .”

"Don't you have any friends who can help you through this?"

Morrel smiled wryly. "In business, sir," said he, "you know you can't have friends, only customers."

"It is true," murmured the Englishman, "so you have but one hope now?"

"There's only one left."

"The last one?"

"It's the last."

"So, in case this hope also fails..."

"I'm finished, sir, completely finished."

"When I came here, there happened to be a ship coming into port."

"I know, sir. There is a young man who voluntarily stays with me in times of trouble. He spends some time every day watching on the platform of this building, hoping to be the first to report the good news to me. He has already told me About that ship coming into port."

"Not your ship?"

"No, this ship is the 'Gironde' from Bordeaux, which also came back from India, but it is not my ship."

"Perhaps it has encountered the 'King of Egypt' and will bring you some news?"

"Let me tell you the truth, sir! I'm afraid that I'll be caught in a sea of ​​smoke and never know, and I'm afraid that I'll get news of my three-masted schooner, which is hopeful." Then Morrel said hoarsely. , "This departure is unreasonable. The 'King of Egypt' left Calcutta on February 2, and should have arrived a month ago."

"What's the matter?" said the Englishman, pricking up his ears again. "What's the matter with all the fuss?"

"Oh, my God, my God!" cried Morrel, growing paler, "what's the trouble?"

Sure enough, there was a chaotic sound on the stairs, only the sound of footsteps coming and going, and even someone yelling in pain.Morrel got up. He wanted to open the door, but he was so weak that he fell down on the chair.The two of them looked at each other from the room, Morrel trembling in all limbs, and his visitor watching him with great sympathy.The uproar fell silent, but Morrel seemed to be waiting for something to happen, for the uproar had its causes and must have its consequences.The visitor seemed to hear crept up the stairs, and what appeared to be several persons ascending, stopped again on the landing.A key was inserted into the lock of the first door, and the hinges of the door creaked.

"There are only two persons who have the key to this door," said Morrel softly. "One is Cocles, and the other is Julie."

At this moment, the second door also opened, and the girl with a pale face and tears all over her face came to the door.Morrel stood up tremblingly, leaning on the arm of the chair in which he was sitting, he could no longer stand.He wanted to speak to his daughter, but could not speak.

(End of this chapter)