The date is February 14, 1815 and the vessel, the Pharaon is returning to Marseilles after a three month long journey. The ship's owner, M. Morrel, watches his boat arrive in the harbor and he quickly jumps into a small skiff to go meet it. Once aboard, M. Morrel and the reader encounter the protagonist, Edmond Dantès. He is described as eighteen or twenty years old with black eyes and "raven" black hair. He also has an aura of calmness and resolution that befits an individual accustomed to danger. M. Morrel finds that Dantès, a captain's mate when the ship left, has now assumed the captain's post because misfortune befell the ship and the aging war veteran, Captain Leclère, has died. Thus, it is now Dantès who commands the ship. His crew is fond of him and they follow his orders quickly and precisely. M. Morrel is impressed and thus plans to officially make Dantès the captain of the ship. First, however, he must consult the boat's co-owner. M. Morrel also converses with Danglars, the ship¹s accountant, who bears nothing but hate for Dantès. Danglars complains to M. Morrel that Dantès delayed the ship's progress at the Island of Elba for a day and a half. Dantès clears his responsibility for this delay by clarifying to M. Morrel that he merely stopped at Elba to deliver a package for the deceased Captain. The package was for the Emperor Napoleon himself. M. Morrel is delighted. In conversation, Danglars hints at a letter that Dantès may be withholding from M. Morrel. M. Morrel assumes that if such a letter exists, Dantès will give it to him. He does not doubt Dantès' integrity. Dantès turns down Morrel's dinner offer for the evening, however, because he must first see his poor father and his betrothed, Mercedes. The chapter ends with both M. Morrel and Danglars watching Dantès row ashore.