embarrassed the government of the fears
it had on his account."

"How was that?"

"How? Do you not comprehend?"

"No."

"The Chateau d'If has no cemetery, and they simply throw the dead into
the sea, after fastening a thirty-six pound cannon-ball to their feet."

"Well," observed the Englishman as if he were slow of comprehension.

"Well, they fastened a thirty-six pound ball to his feet, and threw him
into the sea."

"Really!" exclaimed the Englishman.

"Yes, sir," continued the inspector of prisons. "You may imagine the
amazement of the fugitive when he found himself flung headlong over the
rocks! I should like to have seen his face at that moment."

"That would have been difficult."

"No matter," replied De Boville, in supreme good-humor at the certainty
of recovering his two hundred thousand francs,--"no matter, I can fancy
it." And he shouted with laughter.

"So can I," said the Englishman, and he laughed too; but he laughed as
the English do, "at the end of his teeth."

"And so," continued the Englishman who first gained his composure, "he
was drowned?"

"Unquestionably."

"So that the governor got rid of the dangerous and the crazy prisoner at
the same time?"

"Precisely."

"But some official document was drawn up as to this affair, I suppose?"
inquired the Englishman.

"Yes, yes, the mortuary deposition. You understand, Dantes' relations,
if he had any, might have some interest in knowing if he were dead or
alive."

"So that now, if there were anything to inherit from him, they may do so
with easy conscience. He is dead, and no mistake about it."

"Oh, yes; and they may have the fact attested whenever they please."

"So be it," said the Englishman. "But to return to these registers."

"True, this story has diverted our attention from them. Excuse me."

"Excuse you for what? For the story? By no means; it really seems to me
very curious."

"Yes, indeed. So, sir, you wish to see all relating to the poor abbe,
who really was gentleness itself."

"Yes, you will much oblige me."

"Go into my study here, and I will show it to you." And they both
entered M. de Boville's study. Everything was here arranged in perfect
order; each register had its number, each file of papers its place. The
inspector begged the Englishman to seat himself in an arm-chair, and
placed before him the register and documents relative to the Chateau
d'If, giving him all the time he desired for the examination, wh