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II . The Wedding Feast The next day was the day of the betrothal feast . It was held at an inn called La Réserve , and all the guests were in good spirits . Old Dantès wore his best coat , Monsieur Morrel had come to honour his young officer , and Mercédès looked more beautiful than ever . Even Caderousse was there , and Danglars smiled and shook hands with everyone , while Fernand sat at the end of the table , very pale , and hardly said a word . “ In an hour and a half , ” Dantès said happily , “ Mercédès will be my wife . I have arranged everything with the mayor . ” At that moment there were three loud knocks at the door , and a police officer came in with four soldiers . “ In the name of the law , ” he said , “ which of you is Edmond Dantès ? ” “ I am , ” the young man answered calmly . “ What do you want with me ? ” “ I am arresting you . You will learn the reason later . ” Monsieur Morrel tried to speak to the officer , but it was no use . Dantès kissed his father and Mercédès and promised them that he would come back soon , and then the soldiers took him away . The old man sat down and began to cry , and Mercédès went home and spent the night alone in tears . Dantès was taken to the house of Monsieur de Villefort , the deputy of the king’s attorney . Villefort was only twenty - seven , but he was clever and ambitious , and he was going to marry Renée de Saint - Méran , the daughter of a rich and noble family who were loyal friends of the king . On that very evening he had been at his own engagement dinner when the police called him away . At first the young prisoner made a good impression on him . Dantès answered every question honestly , and he told Villefort about the dying captain , the packet for the Grand Marshal , and the letter that he was carrying to Paris . “ I have no interest in politics , ” Dantès said . “ I only wanted to obey my captain . I am going to be married , I love my father and my work , and I have no enemies in the world . ” Villefort believed him . “ You will be free soon , ” he said , “ but first give me this letter . To whom is it addressed ? ” “ To a Monsieur Noirtier , in Paris . ” Villefort turned white . He took the letter , read it , and sat down heavily in his chair . Monsieur Noirtier was his own father . His father was a dangerous enemy of the king and an old friend of Napoleon , and the letter showed that Napoleon was preparing to return to France . If anyone discovered that the young deputy had such a father , his career and his marriage would be finished . “ Have you shown this letter to anyone ? ” he asked in a low voice . “ To nobody , sir , I swear it . ” Villefort held the letter over the candle and watched it burn . “ This was the only proof against you , ” he said , trying to smile . “ I am going to keep you here until this evening , and if anyone asks you about the letter , say nothing . ” Dantès thanked him warmly , because he thought that this man was his friend . But Villefort had already made a terrible decision . As long as Dantès was free , he might talk about the letter and the name of Noirtier , and so the young man had to disappear .
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