6 The fisherman's replies

Chapter 6 The fisherman's replies Edmond plunged into the icy water. He wriggled free of the sack, but he was dragged deeper by the cannonball attached to his legs. He felt as if his lungs were on fire. Then he remembered -the knife! He grabbed the blade from his pocket and cut the rope, freeing himself of the weight. He burst to the surface, but now a wave slammed him against a fishing boat tethered to the rocks. Exhausted, Edmond just managed to cling onto the side of the boat and haul himself up onto the deck.

But there was no time to rest. Soon the guards would discover Edmond had escaped. With his last gasps of strength, he rowed and rowed until Chateau D'If was just a shadowy speck in the distance. Ahead, he could see lights glimmering on Marseilles' docks. Edmond had dreamed of his home for twenty years, but the sight gave him no joy. All he thought of was revenge. Another fishing boat passed. Edmond called to the captain. "I am headed to Marseilles to surprise an old friend. Do you know a man named Danglars?" "I did once," the fisherman replied. "But he moved to Paris. I hear he is a rich banker now, called Baron Danglars." "What about Fernand Mondego?"

"He too is a rich man. He lives in Paris with his wife and son Albert." Edmond couldn't believe it. While he had been rotting in jail, his enemies had grown rich. "Do you know a girl named Mercedes?" he asked. "You are truly out of luck," the fisherman laughed. "She lives in Paris too. She is Fernand's wife." Edmond slumped to the deck. More than ever, he craved revenge. A plan was forming in his head. First he would go to Monte Cristo and find the Abbé's treasure. Then he would disguise himself as a rich noble like his enemies. He would enter their lives. And he would destroy them.