__, ________ 1829
The day after the visit made by Dantès, in disguise, to the Inn on the road between Bellegarde and Beaucaire; Where he learnt the fates of his traitors, his beloved, his father and his patron, the Morrels. A man of about thirty or two and thirty, dressed in a bright blue frock-coat, nankeen trousers and a white waistcoat, having the appearance and accent of an Englishman, stepped walking with that step peculiar to the sons of Great Britain from the shade of No. 15 Rue de Nouialles, where he had just met with M. de Bouville, the inspector of prisons. Eye's followed the individual with as much attention as they would to the many strangers that pass through the city each day. But this individual excited a little more interest through his 'foreign' ways. His light manner and his air of wealth and elevation. The tilt of his chin and the gait of his stride spoke volumes of his mannerisms and attitude to life as a business. But what conflicted such an appearance was the direction he was headed. To the registrars office. Was it for marriage or a birth? Surely such an individual could not be researching a death. He just seemed to ... busy.
"Sir, I am chief clerk of the house of Thomson and French, of Rome. We are and have been connected these last ten years connected with the house of Morrel and Son, of Marseilles. We are a little uneasy at reports that have reached us that the firm is on the eve of ruin. I have come therefore straight from Rome. Therefore I have come to seek information as to this house. So far my investigations have been with the Mayor. He has directed me to you. As I want to research into an affair concerning Monsieur Morrel. It seems to me that this affair may have begun the current state of difficulties the firm is now currently facing."
"Sir," replied the registrar, "I know very well of what you speak. I am close friends with M. Morrel and I have often taken a drink with him. He seems a tormented man. misfortune seems to pursue him. He lost four and now possibly five vessels in these past few years, to great pains to some people in this town who are invested in him, the further suffering caused by three or four bankruptcies have severely dented peoples confidence in him, through no thought of his own. What is it I can help you with?"
"You mentioned bankruptcies? Can you explain and inform me of these bankruptcies and what you know of them?"
"Why certainly. However, I cannot tell you any more than is known by the average person. It has been due to the recent arrival of a new company in the area. I'm not sure where this company has come from. Some say Italy, others that is the Austrians and their emperor that his instigated this aggressive company and it's policies. But whatever it is and where ever it has come from, it is squeezing the common merchant sir. It's my opinion that the loss of those ships might not have been as simple as a storm or of simple crew incompetence and those bankruptcies not through any mismanagement of their owners."
"I understand. That is quite an accusation to make. And I have to admit that you are not the first person I have heard to comment on such occurrences."
"Quite truly sir. I hear the complaints of many about such things and I feel that they are the result of these new companies influence. They sir are quite morally bankrupt. I hear they flout the trading rules laid down and continually flout the authorities. Openly disregarding the rules. I've heard rumour sir that even gendarme vessels have gone missing. And I commend myself, sir, that it always seems to be the honest ones. My Niece was married to such a man, and she is still grieving at his loss. Lost at sea sir. His boat never recovered."
"It seems your speculation M. ..."
"Oh sorry, M. De Gascoin.I am always so forgetful of etiquette. I'm so familiar with most in this city, I feel such things are unnecessary and distancing."
"M. De Gascoin, ... your speculations seem well-founded, and you see before you a man who is only just scratching the surface of what is going on. I myself have looked into similar bankruptcies along these lines."
"So what is it you would like to know about M. Morrel sir?"
"I am investigating an incident M. Morrel was involved in some years ago now. The date in question was 1815 I believe..."
"Those were interesting times sir. Records of that time are scant at best. I'm sure sir you know the confusion and anarchy that rained over France at the time with Napoleans return and of course the rain of blood sir conducted in this area by M.'s Trestaillon, Truphemy and Graffan. Very dark times sir. I remember it clearly sir. The departments of the south were powerless and government rule was ineffective. All the mob seemed to recognise was violence and the bayonet. Some dark times sir if I may so say myself. Even after this dark chapter we then suffered the 100 days sir. Napolean's return. Records are scant at best."
"Yet I know you do have some M. De Gascoin."
"yes indeed sir, I bolted my doors shut and shuttered the windows. I didn't open for anybody in those times and although we lost many documents at the time, I kept our older records safe... what is it you are looking for?" A quizzical look was now mounted on the man's face after such a turbulent time had been referred to that many native to France would rather forget.
"I am interested in a family connected with M. Morrel. I believe the son may have worked for M. Morrel at about that time. M. Morrel's connections to him may have in some way be connected to these recent events. I hope not of course, but one never knows." The registrar now seemed quite defensive and though he knew the question that was coming. The man clearly was looking to pre-empt it and be rid of this snooping foreigner. "I know the man you seek. You are not the first. Although... although you are the first who has come to me directly with any link other than the man you seek to that of Bonaparte himself. For I believe the man you are going to ask me of, is one named Dantes, Edmond." The Chief Clark of Thomson and French of Rome tried his best to look uncomfortable and a little aghast at the man's ability to recall such a name so quickly. "I knew the family before you ask sir. And yes, they were quite a tragedy. The son, accused of being a Bonapartist spy and sentenced to prison, from where I have heard little more about him other than his death, to his father. An old friend of my brothers sir. As to the details I am not aware. I know also that we hold no records about them here sir, for you are not the first who has been here seeking for them recently. A priest was not long ago seeking for such information. That is all I can tell about the subject. I searched well for information about it but found nothing. I am aware however that he was attendant at the Abbey of St. Victor, he spoke of some research he was doing there with regards the family. He also sir, was looking for something." an intrigued and slightly concerned look passed across the clark's face. But it was fleeting and the man quickly composed himself. "Did this man, this priest I presume, did he give a name?"
"Why yes Sir. He was indeed a priest. Now let me see, I make a note of my visitors. Let me just fetch my book..." the man shuffled off of his seat and made his way over the wall of shelves that held volumes and volumes of leather-bound books, each dated and number specifically and accurately as meticulously as a man of this nature did "...Here we are.." returning to the desk and laying a bound book on the tabletop. A boney finger running through the index, by date. Then methodically moving through the pages until he reached the month in mind. "He visited a number of times throughout the month, always prompting me and requesting if I had found anything. Sadly I hadn't..." the man's finger ran down the column of names and the requests or more often submitted requests or search requests made to the registrar to make. Many of the contributors are priests, bishops, civilians registering in the town... until his finger, rasping down the page stopped " Here we are. An ' - Abbe-Boudet' of Italy." The man spun the book around so that the clerk could view the contents. The boney finger pointing out the calligraphic hand recording the name. Next to it, a column defining the nature of the request. "Why is this request left blanc?" The clerk looked up at the registrar. Expectantly. "He wanted it that I not write it as it was too sensitive in nature to his investigations. And I am held still to my promise sir that I cannot say either. So I left it blank. But all I will say is that he didn't find his answer here. If you want to know more sir, I advise you to approach the Abbe of St. Victor." And with that, he closed the book and returned it to the shelf. "Thank you M. De Gascoin. This is for you and I hope to receive the same discretion you have showed for Abbe Boudet, for me." The clerk laid two coins on the desk before the registrar. The man slowly took them and placed them in his pocket. "Why I'm not sure what you could be talking about sir. The individual in question was merely here for a short time and only asked questions of me about the Morrel family regards Thomson and French of Rome's business with the family. A satisfied smile passed across the clerk's face and he touched the rounded handle of his cane in salute to the registrar as he turned to leave. "Thank you M. De Gascoin. Your help is much appreciated." And with that, the Clerk of Thomson and French left without a fuss.
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