摘要
"Now, if you will come on board, M. Morrel," said Dant6s, observing the owner'simpatience, "here is your supercargo, M. Danglars, coming out of his cabin, who willfurnish you with every particular. As for me, I must look after the anchoring, and dressthe ship in mourning." The owner did not wait to be twice invited. He seized a rope which Dant~s flung tohim, and, with an activity that would have done credit to a sailor, climbed up the sideof the ship, whilst the young man, going to his task, left the conversation to theindividual whom he had announced under the name of Danglars, who now coming outof the cabin advanced toward the owner. He was a man of twenty-five or twenty-sixyears of age, of unprepossessing countenance, obsequious to his superiors, insolent tohis inferiors; and then, besides his position as responsible agent on board, which isalways obnoxious to the sailors, he was as much disliked by the crew as EdmondDant+s was beloved by them. "Well, M. Morrel," said Danglars, "you have heard of the misfortune that hasbefallen us？" "Yes - yes！ poor Captain Leclere！ He was a brave and an honest man！" "And a first-rate seaman, above all, grown old between sky and ocean, as should aman charged with the interests of a house so important as that of Morrel and Son,"replied Danglars. "But," replied the owner, following with his look Dant~s, who was watching theanchoring of his vessel, "it seems to me that a sailor needs not to be so old as you say,Danglars, to understand his business; for our friend Edmond there does his, it seems tome, like a man who has no need to ask instruction from any one." "Yes," said Danglars, casting toward Edmond a look in which a feeling of hate wasstrongly visible. "Yes, he is young, and youth is invariably self-confident. Scarcely wasthe captain's breath out of his body than he assumed the command without consultingany one, and he caused us to lose a day and a half at the Isle of Elba, instead of makingfor Marseilles direct."
