Tricking the Jailer into Leaving the Saucepan
Dantès devises a scheme to trick the jailer into leaving the saucepan behind. He places his plate on the ground near the door; the jailer steps on it and breaks it upon entering. Unable to blame Dantès, the jailer grudgingly accepts Dantès’ suggestion to leave the saucepan and retrieve it at breakfast, sparing himself another trip.
Using the Saucepan Handle as a Lever
Dantès devours his food rapidly and waits an hour to ensure the jailer will not return. He then removes his bed, inserts the point of the saucepan handle between the hewn stone and the rough stones of the wall, and uses it as a lever. A slight oscillation confirms success, and after an hour, the stone is extricated, leaving a cavity a foot and a half in diameter.
Concealing the Excavation and Continuing Work
Dantès carefully conceals his work by collecting the plaster, carrying it into the corner of his cell, and covering it with earth. He toils without ceasing to make the best use of his time. At dawn, he replaces the stone, pushes his bed back against the wall, and lies down. When the jailer enters and sees no plate, Dantès is given the saucepan permanently—an outcome that fills him with profound gratitude.
Encountering a Blocking Beam
After the jailer’s visit, Dantès straightens the saucepan handle, returns it to its place, and continues working. That evening, after two or three hours of labor, he encounters an obstacle: the iron makes no impression but meets a smooth surface. He discovers it is a beam that crosses, or rather blocks up, the hole he has made, necessitating digging above or below it.
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