And, whatever people may say," continued Caderousse, in his native language, which was not altogether devoid of rude poetry, "I cannot help being more frightened at the idea of the malediction of the dead than the hatred of the living." "Imbecile!" exclaimed La Carconte.
"Do you, then, know in what manner Fernand injured Dantes ?" inquired the abbe of Caderousse.
"Do I?
No one better." "Speak out then, say what it was!" "Gaspard!" cried La Carconte, "do as you will; you are master--but if you take my advice you'll hold your tongue." "Well, wife," replied Caderousse, "I don't know but what you're right!" "So you will say nothing ?" asked the abbe.
"Why, what good would it do ?" asked Caderousse.

"If the poor lad were living, and came to me and begged that I would candidly tell which were his true and which his false friends, why, perhaps, I should not hesitate.

But you tell me he is no more, and therefore can have nothing to do with hatred or revenge, so let all such feeling be buried with him." "You prefer, then," said the abbe, "that I should bestow on men you say are false and treacherous, the reward intended for faithful friendship ?" "That is true enough," returned Caderousse.

"You say truly, the gift of poor Edmond was not meant for such traitors as Fernand and Danglars; besides, what would it be to them?
no more than a drop of water in the ocean." "Remember," chimed in La Carconte, "those two could crush you at a single blow!" "How so ?" inquired the abbe.

"Are these persons, then, so rich and powerful ?" "Do you not know their history ?" "I do not.