The Count of Monte Cristo

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"But," exclaimed Monte Cristo, "why was I absent? And why were you
alone?"

"Because you had been arrested, Edmond, and were a prisoner."

"And why was I arrested? Why was I a prisoner?"

"I do not know," said Mercedes. "You do not, madame; at least, I hope
not. But I will tell you. I was arrested and became a prisoner because,
under the arbor of La Reserve, the day before I was to marry you, a man
named Danglars wrote this letter, which the fisherman Fernand himself
posted." Monte Cristo went to a secretary, opened a drawer by a spring,
from which he took a paper which had lost its original color, and the
ink of which had become of a rusty hue--this he placed in the hands
of Mercedes. It was Danglars' letter to the king's attorney, which the
Count of Monte Cristo, disguised as a clerk from the house of Thomson &
French, had taken from the file against Edmond Dantes, on the day he