Chapter ThreeBetrayed
The officer and soldiers took Dantes to Judge Villefort.
The judge looked at Dantes.
“What is your name and what do you do?”
“I am Edmond Dantes,” he answered.
“I am an officer on the Pharaoh, one of Mr. Morrel’s ships.”1
“Where were you when the soldiers came?” the judge asked.
“I was at my wedding,” Dantes answered.
He was worried.
The past few days had been so happy.
He was back at home, he was getting married, and he was about to become Captain of the Pharaoh.2
But now, he didn’t know what was happening.
“I have a letter here that says you work for Napoleon,”3 the judge said.
“It says you are a dangerous man.
That you want to kill the King and bring back Napoleon.
These are very serious charges. What do you say?”
Key Words
officer (n): viên sĩ quan; người chỉ huy
past (adj): đã qua
be about to + V: sắp sửa
work for (v): làm việc cho
bring back (v): mang (ai) lại
charge (n): lời buộc tội
Key Sentences
1 I am an officer on the Pharaoh, one of Mr. Morrel’s ships.
2 He was back at home, he was getting married, and he was about to become Captain of the Pharaoh.
3 I have a letter here that says you work for Napoleon.
“Dangerous? Me?” Dantes was surprised.
“I am only 20 years old. I work on a ship.
I care nothing about politics.”1
“You have never met Napoleon?
You didn’t see him on the island of Elba recently?”2 the judge asked.
“I did meet him,” Dantes answered honestly.
“It was the last order of my captain, Captain Leclere.
Before he died, he asked me to go to Elba and meet Napoleon.
How could I refuse, sir?”
Villefort understood Dantes’ position.
“You say you don’t care about politics?
That you were only following the orders of your dying captain?3
If this is true, then perhaps it is not so serious,” Villefort said.
“No, sir. I don’t care about politics or Napoleon,” Dantes answered.
“I was only trying to do my duty.”
Check up
Complete the following sentence according to the story.
Dantes met Napoleon because he couldn’t _________ the captain’s order.
a. follow
b. accept
c. refuse
Key Words
care about (v): quan tâm đến
politics (n): chính trị
recently (adv): gần đây, mới đây
honestly (adv): thực tình, thật thà
order (n): mệnh lệnh
refuse (v): từ chối
position (n): vị trí, tình thế
follow (v): làm theo
perhaps (adv): có lẽ, có thể
serious (adj): nghiêm trọng
try to (v): cố gắng
duty (n): nhiệm vụ
Key Sentences
1 I care nothing about politics.
2 You didn’t see him on the island of Elba recently?
3 That you were only following the orders of your dying captain?
“Then what about the letter?” Villefort asked.
“Where is the letter for Paris?”
“You have it, sir,” Dantes answered.
“Your men took it when they arrested me.”
“Give me the letter,”
Villefort ordered the soldiers.
“If the letter isn’t dangerous, you can go back to your wedding.”1
The soldiers gave the letter to Villefort.
He started to read it.
Suddenly his expression changed.
The letter was very dangerous!
If the letter got to Paris, there would be a lot of problems for the King and for Villefort.
Dantes said he didn’t read the letter, Villefort remembered, but maybe he was lying.
The safest thing for the King, and for Villefort, would be to put Dantes in prison.2
Dantes watched Villefort read the letter.
He didn’t know what was in the letter.
But he was worried.
The look on Villefort’s face was not good.
Key Words
what about…?: thế còn… thì sao?
go back to (v): trở về
start to + V (v): bắt đầu
expression (n): biểu hiện
get to (v): đến
remember (v): biết
put A in prison (v): tống A vào tù
(put - put - put)
(prison: nhà tù)
Key Sentences
1 If the letter isn’t dangerous, you can go back to your wedding.
2The safest thing for the King, and for Villefort, would be to put Dantes in prison.
Suddenly Villefort threw the letter into the room’s fire.1
“Listen to me.
The letter is now gone.
Tell no one about it.
If anyone asks about the letter, tell them to talk to me.2
Now, I will keep you here at the court until tonight. Then you will leave.
But you must never tell anyone about this letter.”
“Oh! Thank you, Judge.” Dantes felt better.
He thought he would soon see Mercedes and his father.
“Follow this soldier,” Villefort ordered.
“He will take care of you.”
Dantes followed the soldier out of the room and into another part of the court.3
Dantes was taken to a small cell.
The soldier locked him inside and left.
He was alone in the dark, but he still trusted Villefort.4
“I just need to wait and then I will be free.
Tonight I will go home to Mercedes and my father.”
Check up
Based on the story, write down “T” if true or “F” if false.
a. Villefort burned the letter to save Napoleon. ____
b. Dantes was set free because of his honesty. ____
Key Words & Sentences
throw (v): ném, quăng
(throw - threw - thrown)
fire (n): ngọn lửa
be gone: biến mất, thủ tiêu
keep (v): giữ, tạm giam
(keep - kept - kept)
take care of (v): chăm sóc
(take - took - taken)
be taken to (v): được dẫn vào
cell (n): xà lim, phòng nhỏ
lock A inside (v): nhốt A bên trong
free (adj): tự do
1 Suddenly Villefort threw the letter into the room’s fire.
2 If anyone asks about the letter, tell them to talk to me.
3 Dantes followed the soldier out of the room and into another part of the court.
4 He was alone in the dark, but he still trusted Villefort.
A few hours later, the soldiers returned.
Now it was night.
When the soldiers came, Dantes felt much better.1
Now he could go home...
But instead the soldiers took him to a small ship.
“Where are you taking me?” Dantes asked.
“Judge Villefort said I could go home.”
“You are going home,” a soldier answered.
“The prison on that island is your new home.2
Judge Villefort ordered us to take you there.”
Dantes knew the island where the soldiers were taking him.3
It was a very famous prison.
It was only for the worst criminals and enemies of the King.4
Suddenly he was very afraid.
Check up
Complete the following sentence.
Dantes was afraid because he was being taken to the _________ on the island.
Key Words & Sentences
take (v): dẫn
order A to + V (v): ra lệnh A làm gì
famous (adj): nổi tiếng
the worst (adj): tồi tệ nhất,
nguy hiểm nhất
criminal (n): tội phạm
afraid (adj): hoảng sợ
1 When the soldiers came, Dantes felt much better.
2 The prison on that island is your new home.
3 Dantes knew the island where the soldiers were taking him.
4 It was only for the worst criminals and enemies of the King.
When Dantes arrived at the island, one of the prison soldiers came out to meet him.1
He took him to a small cell.
“Sleep here,” he said.
Dantes was alone.
“Will I ever leave this island?” he thought.
“Will I ever see my father again? Or Mercedes?”
He was very, very sad.
The next morning the guard brought him some food.
“Prisoner! Are you okay?” the guard asked.
“I don’t know,” Dantes answered.
“I want to see the head of the prison.”
The guard laughed.
“If he wants to see you, he will call for you.
If you want to see him, no one cares.”
Then the guard left.
Every day was the same.
The guard would come, give Dantes some bread and water, and ask if he was okay.2
After a while,
Dantes stopped asking to meet anyone.
How would he ever get out of this prison and off the island?3
Key Words
ever (adv): bao giờ
guard (n): tên cai ngục
prisoner (n): tù nhân
head (n): người quản lý
call for (v): gọi cho
care (v): quan tâm, để ý
the same (adj): tương tự nhau, giống nhau
bread (n): bánh mì
ask if…: hỏi xem có hay không
after a while: một lát sau
stop + V-ing (v): dừng
get out of (v): trốn khỏi
Key Sentences
1 When Dantes arrived at the island, one of the prison soldiers came out to meet him.
2 The guard would come, give Dantes some bread and water, and ask if he was okay.
3 How would he ever get out of this prison and off the island?
Comprehension Quiz
A. Complete the sentences with the words given.
prison - guard - duty - trust
1. Something you do because you have to is your ____________.
2. A place you have to live in if you do something bad is a ____________.
3. A person who works at a prison to watch the prisoners is a ____________.
4. Another way to say you believe someone is to say you ____________ them.
B. Based on the story, mark “T” if true or “F” if false.
1. Judge Villefort was Napoleon’s friend. T...F
2. Dantes did not lie to Judge Villefort. T...F
3. Judge Villefort thought Dantes was an evil man. T...F
4. Dantes regretted following the last order of his captain. T...F
C. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. For whom is the letter dangerous?
(a) Danglars and Morrel
(b) Dantes’ father and Mercedes
(c) The King and Judge Villefort
2. Where did Judge Villefort send Dantes?
(a) The island of Elba
(b) The prison for enemies of the King
(c) The port of Marseilles
D. Put the sentences in order.
1. Dantes met Judge Villefort.
2. Dantes went to prison.
3. Judge Villefort read the letter to Paris.
4. Dantes waited at the court until night.
Dantes, getting tired of his endless prison life, met an old man who tried to escape from prison, and then his life changed completely.
