Chapter TwoAn enemy’s trap
Dantes walked quickly to his father’s small house.
“Son! You’re home!”
Dantes’ father lived alone and he was happy to see his son.1
“I have good news and bad news, Father,” said Dantes.
“Captain Leclere is dead.
He died before we came home.”
“That is bad news, my son. He was a good man and a good captain,” said the old man.
“But what is the good news?”
“Father, I feel bad to say it now, so soon after Captain Leclere died.2
But I am to become Captain of the Pharaoh!” Dantes said.
“That is great news, Son.
You will make an excellent captain.”
Dantes’ father said proudly.
“Thank you, Father, but now please excuse me.
I must go visit someone else.”
“Ah yes,” Dantes’ father said.
“Have a good visit with your new wife.”3
Key Words
alone (adv): một mình
become (v): trở thành
(become - became - become)
excellent (adj): tuyệt vời
proudly (adv): một cách tự hào
wife (n): vợ
Key Sentences
1 Dantes’ father lived alone and he was happy to see his son.
2 Father, I feel bad to say it now, so soon after Captain Leclere died.
3 Have a good visit with your new wife.
Dantes called out to Mercedes as he approached her home, “Mercedes! Mercedes!”1
Suddenly, a happy voice answered from inside.
“I’m here, Dantes!
I’m here!”
Mercedes answered as she ran to him.
Dantes took her in his arms.
For a few moments the rest of the world disappeared.
The two lovers only knew each other.
But others knew of them.
Sitting and drinking wine nearby was Danglars.2
He was busy trying to think of a plan.
He did not want Dantes to be Captain.
Just then Mercedes and Dantes walked by the outdoor cafe where Danglars was drinking.3
Talking happily with Mercedes, Dantes didn’t see him.
“Now that you’re Captain, you won’t even talk to your friends?” Danglars asked.4
“No, no, I was just talking to Mercedes and didn’t see you,” Dantes answered.
Check up
What is the best word to describe the two people’s mind from the text “... the rest of the world disappeared.”
a. sadness
b. worry
c. happiness
Key Words & Sentences
approach (v): tiến gần, lại gần
voice (n): giọng nói
take A in one’s arms: ôm A trong vòng tay
the rest of: phần còn lại
disappear (v): biến mất, tan biến
lover (n): người yêu nhau, tình nhân
others (pronoun) : những người khác
wine (n): rượu
nearby (adv): ở gần đó, không xa
be busy + V-ing (adj): bận rộn làm gì
think of (v): nghĩ về
(think - thought -thought)
plan (n): kế hoạch
outdoor (adj): ngoài trời
1 Dantes called out to Mercedes as he approached her home, “Mercedes! Mercedes!”
2 Sitting and drinking wine nearby was Danglars.
3 Just then Mercedes and Dantes walked by the outdoor cafe where Danglars was drinking.
4 “Now that you’re Captain, you won’t even talk to your friends?” Danglars asked.
“When is the wedding?”
Danglars asked, without saying hello.1
“Soon,” Dantes answered,
“tomorrow or the next day.”
“You are in a hurry!” Danglars said.
“Why are you getting married so quickly, Captain?”
“I’m not Captain yet,” Dantes answered.
“We are in a hurry because I must go to Paris.
After that, with Mr. Morrel’s blessing,
I may become Captain.”2
“Paris? Why must you go to Paris?”
Danglars asked.
“Before he died, Captain Leclere asked me to do something for him.
For that reason I’m going to Paris,” Dantes explained.
He said nothing about the letter.
He knew it could be dangerous
and he didn’t trust Danglars.
“You must come to our wedding.”
“Of course,” Danglars answered.
Then he said quietly to himself, “You will never make it to Paris and you will never be my captain.”3
Key Words
wedding (n): đám cưới
say hello (v): nói lời chào
in a hurry: vội vàng, gấp gáp
blessing (n): sự chúc phúc
may (modal verb): có lẽ, có thể
ask A to do something (v): nhờ A làm gì
for that reason: vì lý do đó
trust (v): tin tưởng
say to oneself: tự nhủ
make it to (v): đến được, làm được
Key Sentences
1 “When is the wedding?” Danglars asked, without saying hello.
2 After that, with Mr. Morrel’s blessing, I may become Captain.
3 Then he said quietly to himself, “You will never make it to Paris and you will never be my captain.”
Danglars wrote a letter to Judge Villefort.
Villefort was the King’s judge in Marseilles.
He told the judge he was “a friend of the King”, but didn’t give his name.1
In his letter Danglars gave the judge information about Dantes.
He wrote that Dantes was an enemy of the King and that Dantes had a secret letter from Napoleon for someone in Paris.2
He asked the judge to arrest Dantes and question him.3
He knew Dantes wouldn’t lie to the judge.
He also knew that the secret letter from Napoleon would get Dantes into serious trouble.4
Danglars was an evil man.
When he sent the letter, he was happy.
He expected to be Captain of the Pharaoh soon.
Check up
Complete the following sentence according to the story.
Danglars’ plan is to get Dantes into _____ and to _____ Captain of the Pharaoh.
Key Words & Sentences
judge (n): thẩm phán, biện lý
information (n): thông tin
enemy (n): kẻ thù
secret (adj): bí mật
arrest (v): bắt giữ
question (v): truy vấn, tra khảo
lie (v): nói dối
get A into trouble (v): đẩy A vào rắc rối
serious (adj): nghiêm trọng
expect to (v): mong muốn
1 He told the judge he was “a friend of the King”, but didn’t give his name.
2 ...that Dantes had a secret letter from Napoleon for someone in Paris.
3 He asked the judge to arrest Dantes and question him.
4 He also knew that the secret letter from Napoleon would get Dantes into serious trouble.
Two days later,
Dantes and Mercedes had their wedding.
Everyone was there – Morrel, Danglars, and other friends and family.
Suddenly, as the wedding finished, a police officer and four soldiers arrived.1
“Who is Edmond Dantes?” the officer asked.
“I am Edmond Dantes,” Dantes answered.
“How can I help you, sir?”
“I am here to arrest you,” the officer answered.
“You are to appear before Judge Villefort.”2
Everyone at the wedding was surprised.
Danglars pretended to be surprised.
“But why?”
Both Morrel and Dantes spoke at the same time.
“Everything will be explained at the court,”
the officer answered.
“Please come with me.”
Dantes left with the officer and the soldiers.
He gave a last look at Mercedes.
He promised her he would return quickly.
He didn’t see the smile on Danglars’ face.3
Key Words
police officer (n): viên cảnh sát
soldier (n): người lính
enter (v): tiến vào trong
appear (v): xuất hiện, trình diện
pretend to + V (v): giả vờ
both A and B: cả A và B
at the same time: cùng một lúc
court (n): phiên tòa
give a look at (v): nhìn
return (v): quay trở về
Key Sentences
1 Suddenly, as the wedding finished, a police officer and four soldiers arrived.
2 You are to appear before Judge Villefort.
3 He didn’t see the smile on Danglars’ face.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Complete the sentences with the words below.
arrest - dangerous - judge - enemy
1. A ____________ is the boss of a court. He or she can send people to jail.
2. If something is not safe, you can say it is ‘unsafe’ or ____________.
3. The opposite of a friend is an ____________.
4. If you do something bad, the police might ____________ you.
B. Connect the beginning and the end of the sentences.
1. Mercedes and Dantes • • a. a police officer arrests Dantes.
2. Danglars • • b. love each other.
3. Dantes’ father • • c. writes a letter to the judge.
4. At the end of the • • d. is happy to see his son.
C. Choose to complete the following sentences.
1. Danglars expects __________ to be the next captain.
(a) Morrel (b) Dantes (c) himself
2. Dantes is arrested because of __________.
(a) Danglars (b) Morrel (c) Mercedes
3. Napoleon is the king’s __________.
(a) friend (b) enemy (c) brother
4. Dantes is going to Paris because of __________.
(a) Danglars (b) Morrel (c) Captain Leclere
D. Put the sentences in order.
1. Dantes was arrested.
2. Dantes married Mercedes.
3. Dantes met his father.
4. Dantes and Mercedes saw Danglars.