The Count of Monte Cristo (32-55) 210 pages

Chapter 32. The Waking.

When Franz returned to himself, he seemed still to be in a dream. Hethought himself in a sepulchre, into which a ray of sunlight in pityscarcely penetrated. He stretched forth his hand, and touched stone; herose to his seat, and found himself lying on his bournous in a bed ofdry heather, very soft and odoriferous. The vision had fled; and as ifthe statues had been but shadows from the tomb, they had vanished athis waking. He advanced several paces towards the point whence the lightcame, and to all the excitement of his dream succeeded the calmness ofreality. He found that he was in a grotto, went towards the opening, andthrough a kind of fanlight saw a blue sea and an azure sky. The air andwater were shining in the beams of the morning sun; on the shore thesailors were sitting, chatting and laughing; and at ten yards from themthe boat was at anchor, undulating gracefully on the water. There forsome time he enjoyed the fresh breeze which played on his brow, andlistened to the dash of the waves on the beach, that left against therocks a lace of foam as white as silver. He was for some time withoutreflection or thought for the divine charm which is in the things ofnature, specially after a fantastic dream; then gradually this viewof the outer world, so calm, so pure, so grand, reminded him of theillusiveness of his vision, and once more awakened memory. He recalledhis arrival on the island, his presentation to a smuggler chief, a subterranean palace full of splendor, an excellent supper, and aspoonful of hashish. It seemed, however, even in the very face of openday, that at least a year had elapsed since all these things had passed, so deep was the impression made in his mind by the dream, and so stronga hold had it taken of his imagination. Thus every now and then hesaw in fancy amid the sailors, seated on a rock, or undulating in thevessel, one of the shadows which had shared his dream with looks andkisses. Otherwise, his head was perfectly clear, and his body refreshed;he was free from the slightest headache; on the contrary, he felt acertain degree of lightness, a faculty for absorbing the pure air, andenjoying the bright sunshine more vividly than ever.

He went gayly up to the sailors, who rose as soon as they perceived him;and the patron, accosting him, said, "The Signor Sinbad has left hiscompliments for your excellency, and desires us to express the regret hefeels at not being able to take his leave in person; but he trusts youwill excuse him, as very important business calls him to Malaga. "

"So, then, Gaetano, " said Franz, "this is, then, all reality; thereexists a man who has received me in this island, entertained me rightroyally, and his departed while I was asleep?"

"He exists as certainly as that you may see his small yacht with allher sails spread; and if you will use your glass, you will, in allprobability, recognize your host in the midst of his crew. " So saying, Gaetano pointed in a direction in which a small vessel was making sailtowards the southern point of Corsica. Franz adjusted his telescope, anddirected it towards the yacht. Gaetano was not mistaken. At the sternthe mysterious stranger was standing up looking towards the shore, andholding a spy-glass in his hand. He was attired as he had been on theprevious evening, and waved his pocket-handkerchief to his guest intoken of adieu. Franz returned the salute by shaking his handkerchief asan exchange of signals. After a second, a slight cloud of smoke was seenat the stern of the vessel, which rose gracefully as it expanded inthe air, and then Franz heard a slight report. "There, do you hear?"observed Gaetano; "he is bidding you adieu. " The young man took hiscarbine and fired it in the air, but without any idea that the noisecould be heard at the distance which separated the yacht from the shore.

"What are your excellency's orders?" inquired Gaetano.

"In the first place, light me a torch. "

"Ah, yes, I understand, " replied the patron, "to find the entrance tothe enchanted apartment. With much pleasure, your excellency, if itwould amuse you; and I will get you the torch you ask for. But I toohave had the idea you have, and two or three times the same fancy hascome over me; but I have always given it up. Giovanni, light a torch, "he added, "and give it to his excellency. "

Giovanni obeyed. Franz took the lamp, and entered the subterraneangrotto, followed by Gaetano. He recognized the place where he had awakedby the bed of heather that was there; but it was in vain that he carriedhis torch all round the exterior surface of the grotto. He saw nothing, unless that, by traces of smoke, others had before him attempted thesame thing, and, like him, in vain. Yet he did not leave a foot of thisgranite wall, as impenetrable as futurity, without strict scrutiny; hedid not see a fissure without introducing the blade of his hunting swordinto it, or a projecting point on which he did not lean and press inthe hopes it would give way. All was vain; and he lost two hours in hisattempts, which were at last utterly useless. At the end of this time hegave up his search, and Gaetano smiled.

When Franz appeared again on the shore, the yacht only seemed like asmall white speck on the horizon. He looked again through his glass, buteven then he could not distinguish anything. Gaetano reminded him thathe had come for the purpose of shooting goats, which he had utterlyforgotten. He took his fowling-piece, and began to hunt over the islandwith the air of a man who is fulfilling a duty, rather than enjoying apleasure; and at the end of a quarter of an hour he had killed a goatand two kids. These animals, though wild and agile as chamois, were toomuch like domestic goats, and Franz could not consider them as game. Moreover, other ideas, much more enthralling, occupied his mind. Since, the evening before, he had really been the hero of one of the tales ofthe "Thousand and One Nights, " and he was irresistibly attracted towardsthe grotto. Then, in spite of the failure of his first search, he begana second, after having told Gaetano to roast one of the two kids. Thesecond visit was a long one, and when he returned the kid was roastedand the repast ready. Franz was sitting on the spot where he was on theprevious evening when his mysterious host had invited him to supper; andhe saw the little yacht, now like a sea-gull on the wave, continuing herflight towards Corsica. "Why, " he remarked to Gaetano, "you told me thatSignor Sinbad was going to Malaga, while it seems he is in the directionof Porto-Vecchio. "

"Don't you remember, " said the patron, "I told you that among the crewthere were two Corsican brigands?"

"True; and he is going to land them, " added Franz.

"Precisely so, " replied Gaetano. "Ah, he is one who fears neither Godnor Satan, they say, and would at any time run fifty leagues out of hiscourse to do a poor devil a service. "

"But such services as these might involve him with the authoritiesof the country in which he practices this kind of philanthropy, " saidFranz.

"And what cares he for that, " replied Gaetano with a laugh, "or anyauthorities? He smiles at them. Let them try to pursue him! Why, in thefirst place, his yacht is not a ship, but a bird, and he would beat anyfrigate three knots in every nine; and if he were to throw himself onthe coast, why, is he not certain of finding friends everywhere?"

It was perfectly clear that the Signor Sinbad, Franz's host, had thehonor of being on excellent terms with the smugglers and banditsalong the whole coast of the Mediterranean, and so enjoyed exceptionalprivileges. As to Franz, he had no longer any inducement to remainat Monte Cristo. He had lost all hope of detecting the secret of thegrotto; he consequently despatched his breakfast, and, his boat beingready, he hastened on board, and they were soon under way. At themoment the boat began her course they lost sight of the yacht, as itdisappeared in the gulf of Porto-Vecchio. With it was effaced thelast trace of the preceding night; and then supper, Sinbad, hashish, statues, --all became a dream for Franz. The boat sailed on all day andall night, and next morning, when the sun rose, they had lost sight ofMonte Cristo. When Franz had once again set foot on shore, he forgot, for the moment at least, the events which had just passed, while hefinished his affairs of pleasure at Florence, and then thought ofnothing but how he should rejoin his companion, who was awaiting him atRome.

He set out, and on the Saturday evening reached the Eternal City by themail-coach. An apartment, as we have said, had been retained beforehand, and thus he had but to go to Signor Pastrini's hotel. But this was notso easy a matter, for the streets were thronged with people, and Romewas already a prey to that low and feverish murmur which precedesall great events; and at Rome there are four great events in everyyear, --the Carnival, Holy Week, Corpus Christi, and the Feast of St. Peter. All the rest of the year the city is in that state of dullapathy, between life and death, which renders it similar to a kind ofstation between this world and the next--a sublime spot, a resting-placefull of poetry and character, and at which Franz had already halted fiveor six times, and at each time found it more marvellous and striking. Atlast he made his way through the mob, which was continually increasingand getting more and more turbulent, and reached the hotel. On hisfirst inquiry he was told, with the impertinence peculiar to hiredhackney-coachmen and inn-keepers with their houses full, that there wasno room for him at the Hotel de Londres. Then he sent his card to SignorPastrini, and asked for Albert de Morcerf. This plan succeeded; andSignor Pastrini himself ran to him, excusing himself for having made hisexcellency wait, scolding the waiters, taking the candlestick from theporter, who was ready to pounce on the traveller and was about to leadhim to Albert, when Morcerf himself appeared.

The apartment consisted of two small rooms and a parlor. The two roomslooked onto the street--a fact which Signor Pastrini commented upon asan inappreciable advantage. The rest of the floor was hired by a veryrich gentleman who was supposed to be a Sicilian or Maltese; but thehost was unable to decide to which of the two nations the travellerbelonged. "Very good, signor Pastrini, " said Franz; "but we must havesome supper instantly, and a carriage for tomorrow and the followingdays. "

"As to supper, " replied the landlord, "you shall be served immediately;but as for the carriage"--

"What as to the carriage?" exclaimed Albert. "Come, come, SignorPastrini, no joking; we must have a carriage. "

"Sir, " replied the host, "we will do all in our power to procure youone--this is all I can say. "

"And when shall we know?" inquired Franz.

"To-morrow morning, " answered the inn-keeper.

"Oh, the deuce! then we shall pay the more, that's all, I see plainlyenough. At Drake's or Aaron's one pays twenty-five lire for common days, and thirty or thirty-five lire a day more for Sundays and feast days;add five lire a day more for extras, that will make forty, and there'san end of it. "

"I am afraid if we offer them double that we shall not procure acarriage. "

"Then they must put horses to mine. It is a little worse for thejourney, but that's no matter. "

"There are no horses. " Albert looked at Franz like a man who hears areply he does not understand.

"Do you understand that, my dear Franz--no horses?" he said, "but can'twe have post-horses?"

"They have been all hired this fortnight, and there are none left butthose absolutely requisite for posting. "

"What are we to say to this?" asked Franz.

"I say, that when a thing completely surpasses my comprehension, I amaccustomed not to dwell on that thing, but to pass to another. Is supperready, Signor Pastrini?"

"Yes, your excellency. "

"Well, then, let us sup. "

"But the carriage and horses?" said Franz.

"Be easy, my dear boy; they will come in due season; it is only aquestion of how much shall be charged for them. " Morcerf then, with thatdelighted philosophy which believes that nothing is impossible to a fullpurse or well-lined pocketbook, supped, went to bed, slept soundly, anddreamed he was racing all over Rome at Carnival time in a coach with sixhorses.

Chapter 33. Roman Bandits.

The next morning Franz woke first, and instantly rang the bell. Thesound had not yet died away when Signor Pastrini himself entered.

"Well, excellency, " said the landlord triumphantly, and without waitingfor Franz to question him, "I feared yesterday, when I would not promiseyou anything, that you were too late--there is not a single carriage tobe had--that is, for the last three days of the carnival. "

"Yes, " returned Franz, "for the very three days it is most needed. "

"What is the matter?" said Albert, entering; "no carriage to be had?"

"Just so, " returned Franz, "you have guessed it. "

"Well, your Eternal City is a nice sort of place. "

"That is to say, excellency, " replied Pastrini, who was desirous ofkeeping up the dignity of the capital of the Christian world in theeyes of his guest, "that there are no carriages to be had from Sundayto Tuesday evening, but from now till Sunday you can have fifty if youplease. "

"Ah, that is something, " said Albert; "to-day is Thursday, and who knowswhat may arrive between this and Sunday?"

"Ten or twelve thousand travellers will arrive, " replied Franz, "whichwill make it still more difficult. "

"My friend, " said Morcerf, "let us enjoy the present without gloomyforebodings for the future. "

"At least we can have a window?"

"Where?"

"In the Corso. "

"Ah, a window!" exclaimed Signor Pastrini, --"utterly impossible; therewas only one left on the fifth floor of the Doria Palace, and that hasbeen let to a Russian prince for twenty sequins a day. "

The two young men looked at each other with an air of stupefaction.

"Well, " said Franz to Albert, "do you know what is the best thing we cando? It is to pass the Carnival at Venice; there we are sure of obtaininggondolas if we cannot have carriages. "

"Ah, the devil, no, " cried Albert; "I came to Rome to see the Carnival, and I will, though I see it on stilts. "

"Bravo! an excellent idea. We will disguise ourselves as monsterpulchinellos or shepherds of the Landes, and we shall have completesuccess. "

"Do your excellencies still wish for a carriage from now to Sundaymorning?"

"Parbleu!" said Albert, "do you think we are going to run about on footin the streets of Rome, like lawyer's clerks?"

"I hasten to comply with your excellencies' wishes; only, I tell youbeforehand, the carriage will cost you six piastres a day. "

"And, as I am not a millionaire, like the gentleman in the nextapartments, " said Franz, "I warn you, that as I have been four timesbefore at Rome, I know the prices of all the carriages; we will give youtwelve piastres for to-day, tomorrow, and the day after, and then youwill make a good profit. "

"But, excellency"--said Pastrini, still striving to gain his point.

"Now go, " returned Franz, "or I shall go myself and bargain with youraffettatore, who is mine also; he is an old friend of mine, who hasplundered me pretty well already, and, in the hope of making more outof me, he will take a less price than the one I offer you; you will losethe preference, and that will be your fault. "

"Do not give yourselves the trouble, excellency, " returned SignorPastrini, with the smile peculiar to the Italian speculator whenhe confesses defeat; "I will do all I can, and I hope you will besatisfied. "

"And now we understand each other. "

"When do you wish the carriage to be here?"

"In an hour. "

"In an hour it will be at the door. "

An hour after the vehicle was at the door; it was a hack conveyancewhich was elevated to the rank of a private carriage in honor of theoccasion, but, in spite of its humble exterior, the young men would havethought themselves happy to have secured it for the last three days ofthe Carnival. "Excellency, " cried the cicerone, seeing Franz approachthe window, "shall I bring the carriage nearer to the palace?"

Accustomed as Franz was to the Italian phraseology, his first impulsewas to look round him, but these words were addressed to him. Franzwas the "excellency, " the vehicle was the "carriage, " and the Hotel deLondres was the "palace. " The genius for laudation characteristic of therace was in that phrase.

Franz and Albert descended, the carriage approached the palace; theirexcellencies stretched their legs along the seats; the cicerone spranginto the seat behind. "Where do your excellencies wish to go?" asked he.

"To Saint Peter's first, and then to the Colosseum, " returned Albert. But Albert did not know that it takes a day to see Saint Peter's, and amonth to study it. The day was passed at Saint Peter's alone. Suddenlythe daylight began to fade away; Franz took out his watch--it washalf-past four. They returned to the hotel; at the door Franz orderedthe coachman to be ready at eight. He wished to show Albert theColosseum by moonlight, as he had shown him Saint Peter's by daylight. When we show a friend a city one has already visited, we feel the samepride as when we point out a woman whose lover we have been. He wasto leave the city by the Porta del Popolo, skirt the outer wall, andre-enter by the Porta San Giovanni; thus they would behold the Colosseumwithout finding their impressions dulled by first looking on theCapitol, the Forum, the Arch of Septimus Severus, the Temple ofAntoninus and Faustina, and the Via Sacra. They sat down to dinner. Signor Pastrini had promised them a banquet; he gave them a tolerablerepast. At the end of the dinner he entered in person. Franz thoughtthat he came to hear his dinner praised, and began accordingly, but atthe first words he was interrupted. "Excellency, " said Pastrini, "I amdelighted to have your approbation, but it was not for that I came. "

"Did you come to tell us you have procured a carriage?" asked Albert, lighting his cigar.

"No; and your excellencies will do well not to think of that any longer;at Rome things can or cannot be done; when you are told anything cannotbe done, there is an end of it. "

"It is much more convenient at Paris, --when anything cannot be done, youpay double, and it is done directly. "

"That is what all the French say, " returned Signor Pastrini, somewhatpiqued; "for that reason, I do not understand why they travel. "

"But, " said Albert, emitting a volume of smoke and balancing his chairon its hind legs, "only madmen, or blockheads like us, ever do travel. Men in their senses do not quit their hotel in the Rue du Helder, theirwalk on the Boulevard de Gand, and the Cafe de Paris. " It is of courseunderstood that Albert resided in the aforesaid street, appeared everyday on the fashionable walk, and dined frequently at the only restaurantwhere you can really dine, that is, if you are on good terms withits frequenters. Signor Pastrini remained silent a short time; it wasevident that he was musing over this answer, which did not seemvery clear. "But, " said Franz, in his turn interrupting his host'smeditations, "you had some motive for coming here, may I beg to knowwhat it was?"

"Ah, yes; you have ordered your carriage at eight o'clock precisely?"

"I have. "

"You intend visiting Il Colosseo. "

"You mean the Colosseum?"

"It is the same thing. You have told your coachman to leave the cityby the Porta del Popolo, to drive round the walls, and re-enter by thePorta San Giovanni?"

"These are my words exactly. "

"Well, this route is impossible. "

"Impossible!"

"Very dangerous, to say the least. "

"Dangerous!--and why?"

"On account of the famous Luigi Vampa. "

"Pray, who may this famous Luigi Vampa be?" inquired Albert; "he may bevery famous at Rome, but I can assure you he is quite unknown at Paris. "

"What! do you not know him?"

"I have not that honor. "

"You have never heard his name?"

"Never. "

"Well, then, he is a bandit, compared to whom the Decesaris and theGasparones were mere children. "

"Now then, Albert, " cried Franz, "here is a bandit for you at last. "

"I forewarn you, Signor Pastrini, that I shall not believe one word ofwhat you are going to tell us; having told you this, begin. "

"Once upon a time"--

"Well, go on. " Signor Pastrini turned toward Franz, who seemed to himthe more reasonable of the two; we must do him justice, --he had had agreat many Frenchmen in his house, but had never been able to comprehendthem. "Excellency, " said he gravely, addressing Franz, "if you lookupon me as a liar, it is useless for me to say anything; it was for yourinterest!"--

"Albert does not say you are a liar, Signor Pastrini, " said Franz, "butthat he will not believe what you are going to tell us, --but I willbelieve all you say; so proceed. "

"But if your excellency doubt my veracity"--

"Signor Pastrini, " returned Franz, "you are more susceptible thanCassandra, who was a prophetess, and yet no one believed her; whileyou, at least, are sure of the credence of half your audience. Come, sitdown, and tell us all about this Signor Vampa. "

"I had told your excellency he is the most famous bandit we have hadsince the days of Mastrilla. "

"Well, what has this bandit to do with the order I have given thecoachman to leave the city by the Porta del Popolo, and to re-enter bythe Porta San Giovanni?"

"This, " replied Signor Pastrini, "that you will go out by one, but Ivery much doubt your returning by the other. "

"Why?" asked Franz.

"Because, after nightfall, you are not safe fifty yards from the gates. "

"On your honor is that true?" cried Albert.

"Count, " returned Signor Pastrini, hurt at Albert's repeated doubtsof the truth of his assertions, "I do not say this to you, but to yourcompanion, who knows Rome, and knows, too, that these things are not tobe laughed at. "

"My dear fellow, " said Albert, turning to Franz, "here is an admirableadventure; we will fill our carriage with pistols, blunderbusses, anddouble-barrelled guns. Luigi Vampa comes to take us, and we take him--webring him back to Rome, and present him to his holiness the Pope, whoasks how he can repay so great a service; then we merely ask for acarriage and a pair of horses, and we see the Carnival in the carriage, and doubtless the Roman people will crown us at the Capitol, andproclaim us, like Curtius and the veiled Horatius, the preservers oftheir country. " Whilst Albert proposed this scheme, Signor Pastrini'sface assumed an expression impossible to describe.

"And pray, " asked Franz, "where are these pistols, blunderbusses, andother deadly weapons with which you intend filling the carriage?"

"Not out of my armory, for at Terracina I was plundered even of myhunting-knife. "

"I shared the same fate at Aquapendente. "

"Do you know, Signor Pastrini, " said Albert, lighting a second cigar atthe first, "that this practice is very convenient for bandits, and thatit seems to be due to an arrangement of their own. " Doubtless SignorPastrini found this pleasantry compromising, for he only answered halfthe question, and then he spoke to Franz, as the only one likely tolisten with attention. "Your excellency knows that it is not customaryto defend yourself when attacked by bandits. "

"What!" cried Albert, whose courage revolted at the idea of beingplundered tamely, "not make any resistance!"

"No, for it would be useless. What could you do against a dozen banditswho spring out of some pit, ruin, or aqueduct, and level their pieces atyou?"

"Eh, parbleu!--they should kill me. "

The inn-keeper turned to Franz with an air that seemed to say, "Yourfriend is decidedly mad. "

"My dear Albert, " returned Franz, "your answer is sublime, and worthythe 'Let him die, ' of Corneille, only, when Horace made that answer, thesafety of Rome was concerned; but, as for us, it is only to gratifya whim, and it would be ridiculous to risk our lives for so foolish amotive. " Albert poured himself out a glass of lacryma Christi, which hesipped at intervals, muttering some unintelligible words.

"Well, Signor Pastrini, " said Franz, "now that my companion is quieted, and you have seen how peaceful my intentions are, tell me who is thisLuigi Vampa. Is he a shepherd or a nobleman?--young or old?--tall orshort? Describe him, in order that, if we meet him by chance, likeBugaboo John or Lara, we may recognize him. "

"You could not apply to any one better able to inform you on all thesepoints, for I knew him when he was a child, and one day that I fellinto his hands, going from Ferentino to Alatri, he, fortunately for me, recollected me, and set me free, not only without ransom, but made me apresent of a very splendid watch, and related his history to me. "

"Let us see the watch, " said Albert.

Signor Pastrini drew from his fob a magnificent Breguet, bearing thename of its maker, of Parisian manufacture, and a count's coronet.

"Here it is, " said he.

"Peste, " returned Albert, "I compliment you on it; I have itsfellow"--he took his watch from his waistcoat pocket--"and it cost me3, 000 francs. "

"Let us hear the history, " said Franz, motioning Signor Pastrini to seathimself.

"Your excellencies permit it?" asked the host.

"Pardieu!" cried Albert, "you are not a preacher, to remain standing!"

The host sat down, after having made each of them a respectful bow, which meant that he was ready to tell them all they wished to knowconcerning Luigi Vampa. "You tell me, " said Franz, at the moment SignorPastrini was about to open his mouth, "that you knew Luigi Vampa when hewas a child--he is still a young man, then?"

"A young man? he is only two and twenty;--he will gain himself areputation. "

"What do you think of that, Albert?--at two and twenty to be thusfamous?"

"Yes, and at his age, Alexander, Caesar, and Napoleon, who have all madesome noise in the world, were quite behind him. "

"So, " continued Franz, "the hero of this history is only two andtwenty?"

"Scarcely so much. "

"Is he tall or short?"

"Of the middle height--about the same stature as his excellency, "returned the host, pointing to Albert.

"Thanks for the comparison, " said Albert, with a bow.

"Go on, Signor Pastrini, " continued Franz, smiling at his friend'ssusceptibility. "To what class of society does he belong?"

"He was a shepherd-boy attached to the farm of the Count of San-Felice, situated between Palestrina and the lake of Gabri; he was born atPampinara, and entered the count's service when he was five years old;his father was also a shepherd, who owned a small flock, and lived bythe wool and the milk, which he sold at Rome. When quite a child, thelittle Vampa displayed a most extraordinary precocity. One day, when hewas seven years old, he came to the curate of Palestrina, and asked tobe taught to read; it was somewhat difficult, for he could not quit hisflock; but the good curate went every day to say mass at a little hamlettoo poor to pay a priest and which, having no other name, was calledBorgo; he told Luigi that he might meet him on his return, and that thenhe would give him a lesson, warning him that it would be short, and thathe must profit as much as possible by it. The child accepted joyfully. Every day Luigi led his flock to graze on the road that leads fromPalestrina to Borgo; every day, at nine o'clock in the morning, thepriest and the boy sat down on a bank by the wayside, and the littleshepherd took his lesson out of the priest's breviary. At the end ofthree months he had learned to read. This was not enough--he must nowlearn to write. The priest had a writing teacher at Rome make threealphabets--one large, one middling, and one small; and pointed out tohim that by the help of a sharp instrument he could trace the letters ona slate, and thus learn to write. The same evening, when the flock wassafe at the farm, the little Luigi hastened to the smith at Palestrina, took a large nail, heated and sharpened it, and formed a sort of stylus. The next morning he gathered an armful of pieces of slate and began. Atthe end of three months he had learned to write. The curate, astonishedat his quickness and intelligence, made him a present of pens, paper, and a penknife. This demanded new effort, but nothing compared to thefirst; at the end of a week he wrote as well with this pen as with thestylus. The curate related the incident to the Count of San-Felice, who sent for the little shepherd, made him read and write before him, ordered his attendant to let him eat with the domestics, and to give himtwo piastres a month. With this, Luigi purchased books and pencils. He applied his imitative powers to everything, and, like Giotto, whenyoung, he drew on his slate sheep, houses, and trees. Then, with hisknife, he began to carve all sorts of objects in wood; it was thus thatPinelli, the famous sculptor, had commenced.

"A girl of six or seven--that is, a little younger than Vampa--tendedsheep on a farm near Palestrina; she was an orphan, born at Valmontoneand was named Teresa. The two children met, sat down near each other, let their flocks mingle together, played, laughed, and conversedtogether; in the evening they separated the Count of San-Felice'sflock from those of Baron Cervetri, and the children returned to theirrespective farms, promising to meet the next morning. The next day theykept their word, and thus they grew up together. Vampa was twelve, andTeresa eleven. And yet their natural disposition revealed itself. Besidehis taste for the fine arts, which Luigi had carried as far as hecould in his solitude, he was given to alternating fits of sadness andenthusiasm, was often angry and capricious, and always sarcastic. Noneof the lads of Pampinara, Palestrina, or Valmontone had been ableto gain any influence over him or even to become his companion. Hisdisposition (always inclined to exact concessions rather than to makethem) kept him aloof from all friendships. Teresa alone ruled by a look, a word, a gesture, this impetuous character, which yielded beneath thehand of a woman, and which beneath the hand of a man might have broken, but could never have been bended. Teresa was lively and gay, butcoquettish to excess. The two piastres that Luigi received every monthfrom the Count of San-Felice's steward, and the price of all the littlecarvings in wood he sold at Rome, were expended in ear-rings, necklaces, and gold hairpins. So that, thanks to her friend's generosity, Teresawas the most beautiful and the best-attired peasant near Rome. The twochildren grew up together, passing all their time with each other, andgiving themselves up to the wild ideas of their different characters. Thus, in all their dreams, their wishes, and their conversations, Vampasaw himself the captain of a vessel, general of an army, or governor ofa province. Teresa saw herself rich, superbly attired, and attended by atrain of liveried domestics. Then, when they had thus passed the day inbuilding castles in the air, they separated their flocks, and descendedfrom the elevation of their dreams to the reality of their humbleposition.

"One day the young shepherd told the count's steward that he had seen awolf come out of the Sabine mountains, and prowl around his flock. Thesteward gave him a gun; this was what Vampa longed for. This gun hadan excellent barrel, made at Breschia, and carrying a ball with theprecision of an English rifle; but one day the count broke the stock, and had then cast the gun aside. This, however, was nothing to asculptor like Vampa; he examined the broken stock, calculated whatchange it would require to adapt the gun to his shoulder, and made afresh stock, so beautifully carved that it would have fetched fifteen ortwenty piastres, had he chosen to sell it. But nothing could be fartherfrom his thoughts. For a long time a gun had been the young man'sgreatest ambition. In every country where independence has taken theplace of liberty, the first desire of a manly heart is to possess aweapon, which at once renders him capable of defence or attack, and, byrendering its owner terrible, often makes him feared. From this momentVampa devoted all his leisure time to perfecting himself in the use ofhis precious weapon; he purchased powder and ball, and everything servedhim for a mark--the trunk of some old and moss-grown olivetree, thatgrew on the Sabine mountains; the fox, as he quitted his earth on somemarauding excursion; the eagle that soared above their heads: and thushe soon became so expert, that Teresa overcame the terror she at firstfelt at the report, and amused herself by watching him direct the ballwherever he pleased, with as much accuracy as if he placed it by hand.

"One evening a wolf emerged from a pine-wood hear which they wereusually stationed, but the wolf had scarcely advanced ten yards erehe was dead. Proud of this exploit, Vampa took the dead animal on hisshoulders, and carried him to the farm. These exploits had gained Luigiconsiderable reputation. The man of superior abilities always findsadmirers, go where he will. He was spoken of as the most adroit, thestrongest, and the most courageous contadino for ten leagues around; andalthough Teresa was universally allowed to be the most beautiful girl ofthe Sabines, no one had ever spoken to her of love, because it was knownthat she was beloved by Vampa. And yet the two young people had neverdeclared their affection; they had grown together like two trees whoseroots are mingled, whose branches intertwined, and whose intermingledperfume rises to the heavens. Only their wish to see each other hadbecome a necessity, and they would have preferred death to a day'sseparation. Teresa was sixteen, and Vampa seventeen. About this time, a band of brigands that had established itself in the Lepini mountainsbegan to be much spoken of. The brigands have never been reallyextirpated from the neighborhood of Rome. Sometimes a chief is wanted, but when a chief presents himself he rarely has to wait long for a bandof followers.

"The celebrated Cucumetto, pursued in the Abruzzo, driven out of thekingdom of Naples, where he had carried on a regular war, had crossedthe Garigliano, like Manfred, and had taken refuge on the banks of theAmasine between Sonnino and Juperno. He strove to collect a band offollowers, and followed the footsteps of Decesaris and Gasperone, whom he hoped to surpass. Many young men of Palestrina, Frascati, andPampinara had disappeared. Their disappearance at first caused muchdisquietude; but it was soon known that they had joined Cucumetto. Aftersome time Cucumetto became the object of universal attention; the mostextraordinary traits of ferocious daring and brutality were related ofhim. One day he carried off a young girl, the daughter of a surveyor ofFrosinone. The bandit's laws are positive; a young girl belongs firstto him who carries her off, then the rest draw lots for her, and she isabandoned to their brutality until death relieves her sufferings. Whentheir parents are sufficiently rich to pay a ransom, a messenger is sentto negotiate; the prisoner is hostage for the security of the messenger;should the ransom be refused, the prisoner is irrevocably lost. Theyoung girl's lover was in Cucumetto's troop; his name was Carlini. Whenshe recognized her lover, the poor girl extended her arms to him, andbelieved herself safe; but Carlini felt his heart sink, for he but toowell knew the fate that awaited her. However, as he was a favorite withCucumetto, as he had for three years faithfully served him, and as hehad saved his life by shooting a dragoon who was about to cut him down, he hoped the chief would have pity on him. He took Cucumetto one side, while the young girl, seated at the foot of a huge pine that stood inthe centre of the forest, made a veil of her picturesque head-dress tohide her face from the lascivious gaze of the bandits. There he toldthe chief all--his affection for the prisoner, their promises of mutualfidelity, and how every night, since he had been near, they had met insome neighboring ruins.

"It so happened that night that Cucumetto had sent Carlini to a village, so that he had been unable to go to the place of meeting. Cucumetto hadbeen there, however, by accident, as he said, and had carried the maidenoff. Carlini besought his chief to make an exception in Rita's favor, asher father was rich, and could pay a large ransom. Cucumetto seemed toyield to his friend's entreaties, and bade him find a shepherd to sendto Rita's father at Frosinone. Carlini flew joyfully to Rita, tellingher she was saved, and bidding her write to her father, to informhim what had occurred, and that her ransom was fixed at three hundredpiastres. Twelve hours' delay was all that was granted--that is, untilnine the next morning. The instant the letter was written, Carliniseized it, and hastened to the plain to find a messenger. He found ayoung shepherd watching his flock. The natural messengers of the banditsare the shepherds who live between the city and the mountains, betweencivilized and savage life. The boy undertook the commission, promisingto be in Frosinone in less than an hour. Carlini returned, anxious tosee his mistress, and announce the joyful intelligence. He found thetroop in the glade, supping off the provisions exacted as contributionsfrom the peasants; but his eye vainly sought Rita and Cucumetto amongthem. He inquired where they were, and was answered by a burst oflaughter. A cold perspiration burst from every pore, and his hair stoodon end. He repeated his question. One of the bandits rose, and offeredhim a glass filled with Orvietto, saying, 'To the health of the braveCucumetto and the fair Rita. ' At this moment Carlini heard a woman'scry; he divined the truth, seized the glass, broke it across the face ofhim who presented it, and rushed towards the spot whence the cry came. After a hundred yards he turned the corner of the thicket; he found Ritasenseless in the arms of Cucumetto. At the sight of Carlini, Cucumettorose, a pistol in each hand. The two brigands looked at each other fora moment--the one with a smile of lasciviousness on his lips, the otherwith the pallor of death on his brow. A terrible battle between thetwo men seemed imminent; but by degrees Carlini's features relaxed, his hand, which had grasped one of the pistols in his belt, fell to hisside. Rita lay between them. The moon lighted the group.

"'Well, ' said Cucumetto, 'have you executed your commission?'

"'Yes, captain, ' returned Carlini. 'At nine o'clock to-morrow Rita'sfather will be here with the money. '--'It is well; in the meantime, wewill have a merry night; this young girl is charming, and does credit toyour taste. Now, as I am not egotistical, we will return to our comradesand draw lots for her. '--'You have determined, then, to abandon her tothe common law?' said Carlini.

"'Why should an exception be made in her favor?'

"'I thought that my entreaties'--

"'What right have you, any more than the rest, to ask for anexception?'--'It is true. '--'But never mind, ' continued Cucumetto, laughing, 'sooner or later your turn will come. ' Carlini's teethclinched convulsively.

"'Now, then, ' said Cucumetto, advancing towards the other bandits, 'areyou coming?'--'I follow you. '

"Cucumetto departed, without losing sight of Carlini, for, doubtless, he feared lest he should strike him unawares; but nothing betrayed ahostile design on Carlini's part. He was standing, his arms folded, nearRita, who was still insensible. Cucumetto fancied for a moment the youngman was about to take her in his arms and fly; but this mattered littleto him now Rita had been his; and as for the money, three hundredpiastres distributed among the band was so small a sum that he caredlittle about it. He continued to follow the path to the glade; but, tohis great surprise, Carlini arrived almost as soon as himself. 'Let usdraw lots! let us draw lots!' cried all the brigands, when they saw thechief.

"Their demand was fair, and the chief inclined his head in sign ofacquiescence. The eyes of all shone fiercely as they made their demand, and the red light of the fire made them look like demons. The names ofall, including Carlini, were placed in a hat, and the youngest of theband drew forth a ticket; the ticket bore the name of Diovolaccio. Hewas the man who had proposed to Carlini the health of their chief, andto whom Carlini replied by breaking the glass across his face. A largewound, extending from the temple to the mouth, was bleeding profusely. Diovalaccio, seeing himself thus favored by fortune, burst into a loudlaugh. 'Captain, ' said he, 'just now Carlini would not drink your healthwhen I proposed it to him; propose mine to him, and let us see if hewill be more condescending to you than to me. ' Every one expected anexplosion on Carlini's part; but to their great surprise, he took aglass in one hand and a flask in the other, and filling it, --'Yourhealth, Diavolaccio, ' said he calmly, and he drank it off, without hishand trembling in the least. Then sitting down by the fire, 'Mysupper, ' said he; 'my expedition has given me an appetite. '--'Well done, Carlini!' cried the brigands; 'that is acting like a good fellow;' andthey all formed a circle round the fire, while Diavolaccio disappeared. Carlini ate and drank as if nothing had happened. The bandits looked onwith astonishment at this singular conduct until they heard footsteps. They turned round, and saw Diavolaccio bearing the young girl in hisarms. Her head hung back, and her long hair swept the ground. As theyentered the circle, the bandits could perceive, by the firelight, theunearthly pallor of the young girl and of Diavolaccio. This apparitionwas so strange and so solemn, that every one rose, with the exceptionof Carlini, who remained seated, and ate and drank calmly. Diavolaccioadvanced amidst the most profound silence, and laid Rita at thecaptain's feet. Then every one could understand the cause of theunearthly pallor in the young girl and the bandit. A knife was plungedup to the hilt in Rita's left breast. Every one looked at Carlini;the sheath at his belt was empty. 'Ah, ah, ' said the chief, 'I nowunderstand why Carlini stayed behind. ' All savage natures appreciate adesperate deed. No other of the bandits would, perhaps, have done thesame; but they all understood what Carlini had done. 'Now, then, ' criedCarlini, rising in his turn, and approaching the corpse, his hand on thebutt of one of his pistols, 'does any one dispute the possession ofthis woman with me?'--'No, ' returned the chief, 'she is thine. ' Carliniraised her in his arms, and carried her out of the circle of firelight. Cucumetto placed his sentinels for the night, and the bandits wrappedthemselves in their cloaks, and lay down before the fire. At midnightthe sentinel gave the alarm, and in an instant all were on the alert. Itwas Rita's father, who brought his daughter's ransom in person. 'Here, 'said he, to Cucumetto, 'here are three hundred piastres; give me backmy child. But the chief, without taking the money, made a sign to himto follow. The old man obeyed. They both advanced beneath the trees, through whose branches streamed the moonlight. Cucumetto stopped atlast, and pointed to two persons grouped at the foot of a tree.

"'There, ' said he, 'demand thy child of Carlini; he will tell theewhat has become of her;' and he returned to his companions. The old manremained motionless; he felt that some great and unforeseen misfortunehung over his head. At length he advanced toward the group, the meaningof which he could not comprehend. As he approached, Carlini raised hishead, and the forms of two persons became visible to the old man's eyes. A woman lay on the ground, her head resting on the knees of a man, who was seated by her; as he raised his head, the woman's face becamevisible. The old man recognized his child, and Carlini recognized theold man. 'I expected thee, ' said the bandit to Rita's father. --'Wretch!'returned the old man, 'what hast thou done?' and he gazed with terror onRita, pale and bloody, a knife buried in her bosom. A ray ofmoonlight poured through the trees, and lighted up the face of thedead. --'Cucumetto had violated thy daughter, ' said the bandit; 'I lovedher, therefore I slew her; for she would have served as the sport ofthe whole band. ' The old man spoke not, and grew pale as death. 'Now, 'continued Carlini, 'if I have done wrongly, avenge her;' and withdrawingthe knife from the wound in Rita's bosom, he held it out to the old manwith one hand, while with the other he tore open his vest. --'Thou hastdone well!' returned the old man in a hoarse voice; 'embrace me, myson. ' Carlini threw himself, sobbing like a child, into the arms of hismistress's father. These were the first tears the man of blood hadever wept. 'Now, ' said the old man, 'aid me to bury my child. ' Carlinifetched two pickaxes; and the father and the lover began to dig at thefoot of a huge oak, beneath which the young girl was to repose. Whenthe grave was formed, the father kissed her first, and then the lover;afterwards, one taking the head, the other the feet, they placed herin the grave. Then they knelt on each side of the grave, and said theprayers of the dead. Then, when they had finished, they cast the earthover the corpse, until the grave was filled. Then, extending hishand, the old man said; 'I thank you, my son; and now leave mealone. '--'Yet'--replied Carlini. --'Leave me, I command you. ' Carliniobeyed, rejoined his comrades, folded himself in his cloak, and soonappeared to sleep as soundly as the rest. It had been resolved the nightbefore to change their encampment. An hour before daybreak, Cucumettoaroused his men, and gave the word to march. But Carlini would not quitthe forest, without knowing what had become of Rita's father. He wenttoward the place where he had left him. He found the old man suspendedfrom one of the branches of the oak which shaded his daughter's grave. He then took an oath of bitter vengeance over the dead body of the oneand the tomb of the other. But he was unable to complete this oath, fortwo days afterwards, in an encounter with the Roman carbineers, Carliniwas killed. There was some surprise, however, that, as he was with hisface to the enemy, he should have received a ball between his shoulders. That astonishment ceased when one of the brigands remarked to hiscomrades that Cucumetto was stationed ten paces in Carlini's rear whenhe fell. On the morning of the departure from the forest of Frosinone hehad followed Carlini in the darkness, and heard this oath of vengeance, and, like a wise man, anticipated it. They told ten other stories ofthis bandit chief, each more singular than the other. Thus, from Fondito Perusia, every one trembles at the name of Cucumetto.

"These narratives were frequently the theme of conversation betweenLuigi and Teresa. The young girl trembled very much at hearing thestories; but Vampa reassured her with a smile, tapping the butt of hisgood fowling-piece, which threw its ball so well; and if that did notrestore her courage, he pointed to a crow, perched on some dead branch, took aim, touched the trigger, and the bird fell dead at the foot of thetree. Time passed on, and the two young people had agreed to be marriedwhen Vampa should be twenty and Teresa nineteen years of age. They wereboth orphans, and had only their employers' leave to ask, which had beenalready sought and obtained. One day when they were talking over theirplans for the future, they heard two or three reports of firearms, and then suddenly a man came out of the wood, near which the two youngpersons used to graze their flocks, and hurried towards them. When hecame within hearing, he exclaimed. 'I am pursued; can you conceal me?'They knew full well that this fugitive must be a bandit; but there is aninnate sympathy between the Roman brigand and the Roman peasant and thelatter is always ready to aid the former. Vampa, without saying a word, hastened to the stone that closed up the entrance to their grotto, drewit away, made a sign to the fugitive to take refuge there, in a retreatunknown to every one, closed the stone upon him, and then went andresumed his seat by Teresa. Instantly afterwards four carbineers, onhorseback, appeared on the edge of the wood; three of them appeared tobe looking for the fugitive, while the fourth dragged a brigand prisonerby the neck. The three carbineers looked about carefully on every side, saw the young peasants, and galloping up, began to question them. Theyhad seen no one. 'That is very annoying, ' said the brigadier; for theman we are looking for is the chief. '--'Cucumetto?' cried Luigi andTeresa at the same moment.

"'Yes, ' replied the brigadier; 'and as his head is valued at a thousandRoman crowns, there would have been five hundred for you, if you hadhelped us to catch him. ' The two young persons exchanged looks. Thebrigadier had a moment's hope. Five hundred Roman crowns are threethousand lire, and three thousand lire are a fortune for two poororphans who are going to be married.

"'Yes, it is very annoying, ' said Vampa; 'but we have not seen him. '

"Then the carbineers scoured the country in different directions, butin vain; then, after a time, they disappeared. Vampa then removed thestone, and Cucumetto came out. Through the crevices in the granite hehad seen the two young peasants talking with the carbineers, and guessedthe subject of their parley. He had read in the countenances of Luigiand Teresa their steadfast resolution not to surrender him, and he drewfrom his pocket a purse full of gold, which he offered to them. ButVampa raised his head proudly; as to Teresa, her eyes sparkled when shethought of all the fine gowns and gay jewellery she could buy with thispurse of gold.

"Cucumetto was a cunning fiend, and had assumed the form of a brigandinstead of a serpent, and this look from Teresa showed to him that shewas a worthy daughter of Eve, and he returned to the forest, pausingseveral times on his way, under the pretext of saluting his protectors. Several days elapsed, and they neither saw nor heard of Cucumetto. Thetime of the Carnival was at hand. The Count of San-Felice announced agrand masked ball, to which all that were distinguished in Rome wereinvited. Teresa had a great desire to see this ball. Luigi askedpermission of his protector, the steward, that she and he might bepresent amongst the servants of the house. This was granted. The ballwas given by the Count for the particular pleasure of his daughterCarmela, whom he adored. Carmela was precisely the age and figure ofTeresa, and Teresa was as handsome as Carmela. On the evening of theball Teresa was attired in her best, her most brilliant ornaments in herhair, and gayest glass beads, --she was in the costume of the women ofFrascati. Luigi wore the very picturesque garb of the Roman peasantat holiday time. They both mingled, as they had leave to do, with theservants and peasants.

"The festa was magnificent; not only was the villa brilliantlyilluminated, but thousands of colored lanterns were suspended fromthe trees in the garden; and very soon the palace overflowed to theterraces, and the terraces to the garden-walks. At each cross-path wasan orchestra, and tables spread with refreshments; the guests stopped, formed quadrilles, and danced in any part of the grounds they pleased. Carmela was attired like a woman of Sonnino. Her cap was embroideredwith pearls, the pins in her hair were of gold and diamonds, her girdlewas of Turkey silk, with large embroidered flowers, her bodice and skirtwere of cashmere, her apron of Indian muslin, and the buttons of hercorset were of jewels. Two of her companions were dressed, the one as awoman of Nettuno, and the other as a woman of La Riccia. Four young menof the richest and noblest families of Rome accompanied them with thatItalian freedom which has not its parallel in any other country inthe world. They were attired as peasants of Albano, Velletri, Civita-Castellana, and Sora. We need hardly add that these peasantcostumes, like those of the young women, were brilliant with gold andjewels.

"Carmela wished to form a quadrille, but there was one lady wanting. Carmela looked all around her, but not one of the guests had a costumesimilar to her own, or those of her companions. The Count of San-Felicepointed out Teresa, who was hanging on Luigi's arm in a group ofpeasants. 'Will you allow me, father?' said Carmela. --'Certainly, 'replied the count, 'are we not in Carnival time?'--Carmela turnedtowards the young man who was talking with her, and saying a few wordsto him, pointed with her finger to Teresa. The young man looked, bowedin obedience, and then went to Teresa, and invited her to dance in aquadrille directed by the count's daughter. Teresa felt a flush passover her face; she looked at Luigi, who could not refuse his assent. Luigi slowly relinquished Teresa's arm, which he had held beneath hisown, and Teresa, accompanied by her elegant cavalier, took her appointedplace with much agitation in the aristocratic quadrille. Certainly, inthe eyes of an artist, the exact and strict costume of Teresa had a verydifferent character from that of Carmela and her companions; and Teresawas frivolous and coquettish, and thus the embroidery and muslins, thecashmere waist-girdles, all dazzled her, and the reflection of sapphiresand diamonds almost turned her giddy brain.

"Luigi felt a sensation hitherto unknown arising in his mind. It waslike an acute pain which gnawed at his heart, and then thrilled throughhis whole body. He followed with his eye each movement of Teresa and hercavalier; when their hands touched, he felt as though he should swoon;every pulse beat with violence, and it seemed as though a bell wereringing in his ears. When they spoke, although Teresa listened timidlyand with downcast eyes to the conversation of her cavalier, as Luigicould read in the ardent looks of the good-looking young man that hislanguage was that of praise, it seemed as if the whole world was turninground with him, and all the voices of hell were whispering in his earsideas of murder and assassination. Then fearing that his paroxysm mightget the better of him, he clutched with one hand the branch of a treeagainst which he was leaning, and with the other convulsively graspedthe dagger with a carved handle which was in his belt, and which, unwittingly, he drew from the scabbard from time to time. Luigi wasjealous! He felt that, influenced by her ambitions and coquettishdisposition, Teresa might escape him.

"The young peasant girl, at first timid and scared, soon recoveredherself. We have said that Teresa was handsome, but this is not all;Teresa was endowed with all those wild graces which are so much morepotent than our affected and studied elegancies. She had almost allthe honors of the quadrille, and if she were envious of the Count ofSan-Felice's daughter, we will not undertake to say that Carmela was notjealous of her. And with overpowering compliments her handsome cavalierled her back to the place whence he had taken her, and where Luigiawaited her. Twice or thrice during the dance the young girl had glancedat Luigi, and each time she saw that he was pale and that his featureswere agitated, once even the blade of his knife, half drawn from itssheath, had dazzled her eyes with its sinister glare. Thus, it wasalmost tremblingly that she resumed her lover's arm. The quadrille hadbeen most perfect, and it was evident there was a great demand for arepetition, Carmela alone objecting to it, but the Count of San-Felicebesought his daughter so earnestly, that she acceded. One of thecavaliers then hastened to invite Teresa, without whom it was impossiblefor the quadrille to be formed, but the young girl had disappeared. Thetruth was, that Luigi had not felt the strength to support another suchtrial, and, half by persuasion and half by force, he had removed Teresatoward another part of the garden. Teresa had yielded in spite ofherself, but when she looked at the agitated countenance of the youngman, she understood by his silence and trembling voice that somethingstrange was passing within him. She herself was not exempt from internalemotion, and without having done anything wrong, yet fully comprehendedthat Luigi was right in reproaching her. Why, she did not know, but yetshe did not the less feel that these reproaches were merited. However, to Teresa's great astonishment, Luigi remained mute, and not a wordescaped his lips the rest of the evening. When the chill of the nighthad driven away the guests from the gardens, and the gates of the villawere closed on them for the festa in-doors, he took Teresa quite away, and as he left her at her home, he said, --

"'Teresa, what were you thinking of as you danced opposite the youngCountess of San-Felice?'--'I thought, ' replied the young girl, withall the frankness of her nature, 'that I would give half my life for acostume such as she wore. '

"'And what said your cavalier to you?'--'He said it only depended onmyself to have it, and I had only one word to say. '

"'He was right, ' said Luigi. 'Do you desire it as ardently as yousay?'--'Yes. '--'Well, then, you shall have it!'

"The young girl, much astonished, raised her head to look at him, buthis face was so gloomy and terrible that her words froze to her lips. As Luigi spoke thus, he left her. Teresa followed him with her eyes intothe darkness as long as she could, and when he had quite disappeared, she went into the house with a sigh.

"That night a memorable event occurred, due, no doubt, to the imprudenceof some servant who had neglected to extinguish the lights. The Villaof San-Felice took fire in the rooms adjoining the very apartment of thelovely Carmela. Awakened in the night by the light of the flames, shesprang out of bed, wrapped herself in a dressing-gown, and attemptedto escape by the door, but the corridor by which she hoped to fly wasalready a prey to the flames. She then returned to her room, calling forhelp as loudly as she could, when suddenly her window, which was twentyfeet from the ground, was opened, a young peasant jumped into thechamber, seized her in his arms, and with superhuman skill and strengthconveyed her to the turf of the grass-plot, where she fainted. When sherecovered, her father was by her side. All the servants surrounded her, offering her assistance. An entire wing of the villa was burnt down; butwhat of that, as long as Carmela was safe and uninjured? Her preserverwas everywhere sought for, but he did not appear; he was inquired after, but no one had seen him. Carmela was greatly troubled that she had notrecognized him. As the count was immensely rich, excepting the dangerCarmela had run, --and the marvellous manner in which she had escaped, made that appear to him rather a favor of providence than a realmisfortune, --the loss occasioned by the conflagration was to him but atrifle.

"The next day, at the usual hour, the two young peasants were on theborders of the forest. Luigi arrived first. He came toward Teresa inhigh spirits, and seemed to have completely forgotten the events of theprevious evening. The young girl was very pensive, but seeing Luigi socheerful, she on her part assumed a smiling air, which was natural toher when she was not excited or in a passion. Luigi took her arm beneathhis own, and led her to the door of the grotto. Then he paused. Theyoung girl, perceiving that there was something extraordinary, lookedat him steadfastly. 'Teresa, ' said Luigi, 'yesterday evening you toldme you would give all the world to have a costume similar to that of thecount's daughter. '--'Yes, ' replied Teresa with astonishment; 'but I wasmad to utter such a wish. '--'And I replied, "Very well, you shall haveit. "'--'Yes, ' replied the young girl, whose astonishment increasedat every word uttered by Luigi, 'but of course your reply was only toplease me. '

"'I have promised no more than I have given you, Teresa, ' said Luigiproudly. 'Go into the grotto and dress yourself. ' At these words hedrew away the stone, and showed Teresa the grotto, lighted up by twowax lights, which burnt on each side of a splendid mirror; on a rustictable, made by Luigi, were spread out the pearl necklace and the diamondpins, and on a chair at the side was laid the rest of the costume.

"Teresa uttered a cry of joy, and, without inquiring whence this attirecame, or even thanking Luigi, darted into the grotto, transformed into adressing-room. Luigi pushed the stone behind her, for on the crest of asmall adjacent hill which cut off the view toward Palestrina, he saw atraveller on horseback, stopping a moment, as if uncertain of his road, and thus presenting against the blue sky that perfect outline which ispeculiar to distant objects in southern climes. When he saw Luigi, he put his horse into a gallop and advanced toward him. Luigi was notmistaken. The traveller, who was going from Palestrina to Tivoli, hadmistaken his way; the young man directed him; but as at a distance ofa quarter of a mile the road again divided into three ways, and onreaching these the traveller might again stray from his route, he beggedLuigi to be his guide. Luigi threw his cloak on the ground, placed hiscarbine on his shoulder, and freed from his heavy covering, precededthe traveller with the rapid step of a mountaineer, which a horse canscarcely keep up with. In ten minutes Luigi and the traveller reachedthe cross-roads. On arriving there, with an air as majestic as that ofan emperor, he stretched his hand towards that one of the roads whichthe traveller was to follow. --"That is your road, excellency, and nowyou cannot again mistake. "--'And here is your recompense, ' said thetraveller, offering the young herdsman some small pieces of money.

"'Thank you, ' said Luigi, drawing back his hand; 'I render a service, Ido not sell it. '--'Well, ' replied the traveller, who seemed used to thisdifference between the servility of a man of the cities and the prideof the mountaineer, 'if you refuse wages, you will, perhaps, accept agift. '--'Ah, yes, that is another thing. '--'Then, ' said the traveller, 'take these two Venetian sequins and give them to your bride, to makeherself a pair of earrings. '

"'And then do you take this poniard, ' said the young herdsman; 'you willnot find one better carved between Albano and Civita-Castellana. '

"'I accept it, ' answered the traveller, 'but then the obligation willbe on my side, for this poniard is worth more than two sequins. '--'For adealer perhaps; but for me, who engraved it myself, it is hardly worth apiastre. '

"'What is your name?' inquired the traveller. --'Luigi Vampa, ' repliedthe shepherd, with the same air as he would have replied, Alexander, King of Macedon. --'And yours?'--'I, ' said the traveller, 'am calledSinbad the Sailor. '" Franz d'Epinay started with surprise.

"Sinbad the Sailor. " he said.

"Yes, " replied the narrator; "that was the name which the traveller gaveto Vampa as his own. "

"Well, and what may you have to say against this name?" inquired Albert;"it is a very pretty name, and the adventures of the gentleman of thatname amused me very much in my youth, I must confess. "--Franz said nomore. The name of Sinbad the Sailor, as may well be supposed, awakenedin him a world of recollections, as had the name of the Count of MonteCristo on the previous evening.

"Proceed!" said he to the host.

"Vampa put the two sequins haughtily into his pocket, and slowlyreturned by the way he had gone. As he came within two or three hundredpaces of the grotto, he thought he heard a cry. He listened to knowwhence this sound could proceed. A moment afterwards he thought he heardhis own name pronounced distinctly. The cry proceeded from the grotto. He bounded like a chamois, cocking his carbine as he went, and in amoment reached the summit of a hill opposite to that on which he hadperceived the traveller. Three cries for help came more distinctly tohis ear. He cast his eyes around him and saw a man carrying off Teresa, as Nessus, the centaur, carried Dejanira. This man, who was hasteningtowards the wood, was already three-quarters of the way on the road fromthe grotto to the forest. Vampa measured the distance; the man was atleast two hundred paces in advance of him, and there was not a chanceof overtaking him. The young shepherd stopped, as if his feet hadbeen rooted to the ground; then he put the butt of his carbine to hisshoulder, took aim at the ravisher, followed him for a second in histrack, and then fired. The ravisher stopped suddenly, his knees bentunder him, and he fell with Teresa in his arms. The young girl roseinstantly, but the man lay on the earth struggling in the agonies ofdeath. Vampa then rushed towards Teresa; for at ten paces from the dyingman her legs had failed her, and she had dropped on her knees, so thatthe young man feared that the ball that had brought down his enemy, hadalso wounded his betrothed. Fortunately, she was unscathed, and it wasfright alone that had overcome Teresa. When Luigi had assured himselfthat she was safe and unharmed, he turned towards the wounded man. Hehad just expired, with clinched hands, his mouth in a spasm of agony, and his hair on end in the sweat of death. His eyes remained open andmenacing. Vampa approached the corpse, and recognized Cucumetto. Fromthe day on which the bandit had been saved by the two young peasants, hehad been enamoured of Teresa, and had sworn she should be his. From thattime he had watched them, and profiting by the moment when her lover hadleft her alone, had carried her off, and believed he at length had herin his power, when the ball, directed by the unerring skill of the youngherdsman, had pierced his heart. Vampa gazed on him for a momentwithout betraying the slightest emotion; while, on the contrary, Teresa, shuddering in every limb, dared not approach the slain ruffian butby degrees, and threw a hesitating glance at the dead body over theshoulder of her lover. Suddenly Vampa turned toward his mistress:--'Ah, 'said he--'good, good! You are dressed; it is now my turn to dressmyself. '

"Teresa was clothed from head to foot in the garb of the Count ofSan-Felice's daughter. Vampa took Cucumetto's body in his arms andconveyed it to the grotto, while in her turn Teresa remained outside. If a second traveller had passed, he would have seen a strange thing, --ashepherdess watching her flock, clad in a cashmere grown, with ear-ringsand necklace of pearls, diamond pins, and buttons of sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. He would, no doubt, have believed that he hadreturned to the times of Florian, and would have declared, on reachingParis, that he had met an Alpine shepherdess seated at the foot ofthe Sabine Hill. At the end of a quarter of an hour Vampa quitted thegrotto; his costume was no less elegant than that of Teresa. He worea vest of garnet-colored velvet, with buttons of cut gold; a silkwaistcoat covered with embroidery; a Roman scarf tied round his neck; acartridge-box worked with gold, and red and green silk; sky-blue velvetbreeches, fastened above the knee with diamond buckles; garters ofdeerskin, worked with a thousand arabesques, and a hat whereon hungribbons of all colors; two watches hung from his girdle, and a splendidponiard was in his belt. Teresa uttered a cry of admiration. Vampa inthis attire resembled a painting by Leopold Robert, or Schnetz. He hadassumed the entire costume of Cucumetto. The young man saw the effectproduced on his betrothed, and a smile of pride passed over hislips. --'Now, ' he said to Teresa, 'are you ready to share myfortune, whatever it may be?'--'Oh, yes!' exclaimed the young girlenthusiastically. --'And follow me wherever I go?'--'To the world'send. '--'Then take my arm, and let us on; we have no time to lose. '--Theyoung girl did so without questioning her lover as to where he wasconducting her, for he appeared to her at this moment as handsome, proud, and powerful as a god. They went towards the forest, and soonentered it. We need scarcely say that all the paths of the mountain wereknown to Vampa; he therefore went forward without a moment's hesitation, although there was no beaten track, but he knew his path by looking atthe trees and bushes, and thus they kept on advancing for nearly an hourand a half. At the end of this time they had reached the thickest of theforest. A torrent, whose bed was dry, led into a deep gorge. Vampa tookthis wild road, which, enclosed between two ridges, and shadowed by thetufted umbrage of the pines, seemed, but for the difficulties of itsdescent, that path to Avernus of which Virgil speaks. Teresa had becomealarmed at the wild and deserted look of the plain around her, andpressed closely against her guide, not uttering a syllable; but as shesaw him advance with even step and composed countenance, she endeavoredto repress her emotion. Suddenly, about ten paces from them, a manadvanced from behind a tree and aimed at Vampa. --'Not another step, ' hesaid, 'or you are a dead man. '--'What, then, ' said Vampa, raising hishand with a gesture of disdain, while Teresa, no longer able to restrainher alarm, clung closely to him, 'do wolves rend each other?'--'Whoare you?' inquired the sentinel. --'I am Luigi Vampa, shepherd ofthe San-Felice farm. '--'What do you want?'--'I would speak with yourcompanions who are in the glade at Rocca Bianca. '--'Follow me, then, 'said the sentinel; 'or, as you know your way, go first. '--Vampa smileddisdainfully at this precaution on the part of the bandit, went beforeTeresa, and continued to advance with the same firm and easy step asbefore. At the end of ten minutes the bandit made them a sign to stop. The two young persons obeyed. Then the bandit thrice imitated the cry ofa crow; a croak answered this signal. --'Good!' said the sentry, 'you maynow go on. '--Luigi and Teresa again set forward; as they went onTeresa clung tremblingly to her lover at the sight of weapons and theglistening of carbines through the trees. The retreat of Rocca Biancawas at the top of a small mountain, which no doubt in former dayshad been a volcano--an extinct volcano before the days when Remus andRomulus had deserted Alba to come and found the city of Rome. Teresaand Luigi reached the summit, and all at once found themselves in thepresence of twenty bandits. 'Here is a young man who seeks and wishesto speak to you, ' said the sentinel. --'What has he to say?' inquiredthe young man who was in command in the chief's absence. --'I wish tosay that I am tired of a shepherd's life, ' was Vampa's reply. --'Ah, I understand, ' said the lieutenant; 'and you seek admittance into ourranks?'--'Welcome!' cried several bandits from Ferrusino, Pampinara, and Anagni, who had recognized Luigi Vampa. --'Yes, but I came to asksomething more than to be your companion. '--'And what may that be?'inquired the bandits with astonishment. --'I come to ask to be yourcaptain, ' said the young man. The bandits shouted with laughter. 'And what have you done to aspire to this honor?' demanded thelieutenant. --'I have killed your chief, Cucumetto, whose dress I nowwear; and I set fire to the villa San-Felice to procure a wedding-dressfor my betrothed. ' An hour afterwards Luigi Vampa was chosen captain, vice Cucumetto deceased. "

"Well, my dear Albert, " said Franz, turning towards his friend; "whatthink you of citizen Luigi Vampa?"

"I say he is a myth, " replied Albert, "and never had an existence. "

"And what may a myth be?" inquired Pastrini.

"The explanation would be too long, my dear landlord, " replied Franz.

"And you say that Signor Vampa exercises his profession at this momentin the environs of Rome?"

"And with a boldness of which no bandit before him ever gave anexample. "

"Then the police have vainly tried to lay hands on him?"

"Why, you see, he has a good understanding with the shepherds in theplains, the fishermen of the Tiber, and the smugglers of the coast. Theyseek for him in the mountains, and he is on the waters; they follow himon the waters, and he is on the open sea; then they pursue him, and hehas suddenly taken refuge in the islands, at Giglio, Guanouti, or MonteCristo; and when they hunt for him there, he reappears suddenly atAlbano, Tivoli, or La Riccia. "

"And how does he behave towards travellers?"

"Alas! his plan is very simple. It depends on the distance he may befrom the city, whether he gives eight hours, twelve hours, or a daywherein to pay their ransom; and when that time has elapsed he allowsanother hour's grace. At the sixtieth minute of this hour, if themoney is not forthcoming, he blows out the prisoner's brains with apistol-shot, or plants his dagger in his heart, and that settles theaccount. "

"Well, Albert, " inquired Franz of his companion, "are you still disposedto go to the Colosseum by the outer wall?"

"Quite so, " said Albert, "if the way be picturesque. " The clock strucknine as the door opened, and a coachman appeared. "Excellencies, " saidhe, "the coach is ready. "

"Well, then, " said Franz, "let us to the Colosseum. "

"By the Porta del Popolo or by the streets, your excellencies?"

"By the streets, morbleu, by the streets!" cried Franz.

"Ah, my dear fellow, " said Albert, rising, and lighting his third cigar, "really, I thought you had more courage. " So saying, the two young menwent down the staircase, and got into the carriage.

Chapter 34. The Colosseum.

Franz had so managed his route, that during the ride to the Colosseumthey passed not a single ancient ruin, so that no preliminary impressioninterfered to mitigate the colossal proportions of the gigantic buildingthey came to admire. The road selected was a continuation of the ViaSistina; then by cutting off the right angle of the street in whichstands Santa Maria Maggiore and proceeding by the Via Urbana andSan Pietro in Vincoli, the travellers would find themselves directlyopposite the Colosseum. This itinerary possessed another greatadvantage, --that of leaving Franz at full liberty to indulge his deepreverie upon the subject of Signor Pastrini's story, in which hismysterious host of Monte Cristo was so strangely mixed up. Seated withfolded arms in a corner of the carriage, he continued to ponder overthe singular history he had so lately listened to, and to ask himselfan interminable number of questions touching its various circumstanceswithout, however, arriving at a satisfactory reply to any of them. Onefact more than the rest brought his friend "Sinbad the Sailor" backto his recollection, and that was the mysterious sort of intimacy thatseemed to exist between the brigands and the sailors; and Pastrini'saccount of Vampa's having found refuge on board the vessels of smugglersand fishermen, reminded Franz of the two Corsican bandits he had foundsupping so amicably with the crew of the little yacht, which had evendeviated from its course and touched at Porto-Vecchio for the solepurpose of landing them. The very name assumed by his host of MonteCristo and again repeated by the landlord of the Hotel de Londres, abundantly proved to him that his island friend was playing hisphilanthropic part on the shores of Piombino, Civita-Vecchio, Ostia, andGaeta, as on those of Corsica, Tuscany, and Spain; and further, Franzbethought him of having heard his singular entertainer speak bothof Tunis and Palermo, proving thereby how largely his circle ofacquaintances extended.

But however the mind of the young man might be absorbed in thesereflections, they were at once dispersed at the sight of the darkfrowning ruins of the stupendous Colosseum, through the various openingsof which the pale moonlight played and flickered like the unearthlygleam from the eyes of the wandering dead. The carriage stopped near theMeta Sudans; the door was opened, and the young men, eagerly alighting, found themselves opposite a cicerone, who appeared to have sprung upfrom the ground, so unexpected was his appearance.

The usual guide from the hotel having followed them, they had paid twoconductors, nor is it possible, at Rome, to avoid this abundant supplyof guides; besides the ordinary cicerone, who seizes upon you directlyyou set foot in your hotel, and never quits you while you remain in thecity, there is also a special cicerone belonging to each monument--nay, almost to each part of a monument. It may, therefore, be easily imaginedthere is no scarcity of guides at the Colosseum, that wonder of allages, which Martial thus eulogizes: "Let Memphis cease to boast thebarbarous miracles of her pyramids, and the wonders of Babylon be talkedof no more among us; all must bow to the superiority of the giganticlabor of the Caesars, and the many voices of Fame spread far and widethe surpassing merits of this incomparable monument. "

As for Albert and Franz, they essayed not to escape from theirciceronian tyrants; and, indeed, it would have been so much the moredifficult to break their bondage, as the guides alone are permitted tovisit these monuments with torches in their hands. Thus, then, theyoung men made no attempt at resistance, but blindly and confidinglysurrendered themselves into the care and custody of their conductors. Albert had already made seven or eight similar excursions to theColosseum, while his less favored companion trod for the first time inhis life the classic ground forming the monument of Flavius Vespasian;and, to his credit be it spoken, his mind, even amid the glib loquacityof the guides, was duly and deeply touched with awe and enthusiasticadmiration of all he saw; and certainly no adequate notion of thesestupendous ruins can be formed save by such as have visited them, andmore especially by moonlight, at which time the vast proportions of thebuilding appear twice as large when viewed by the mysterious beams ofa southern moonlit sky, whose rays are sufficiently clear and vivid tolight the horizon with a glow equal to the soft twilight of an easternclime. Scarcely, therefore, had the reflective Franz walked a hundredsteps beneath the interior porticoes of the ruin, than, abandoningAlbert to the guides (who would by no means yield their prescriptiveright of carrying their victims through the routine regularly laid down, and as regularly followed by them, but dragged the unconscious visitorto the various objects with a pertinacity that admitted of no appeal, beginning, as a matter of course, with the Lions' Den, and finishingwith Caesar's "Podium, "), to escape a jargon and mechanical surveyof the wonders by which he was surrounded, Franz ascended ahalf-dilapidated staircase, and, leaving them to follow their monotonousround, seated himself at the foot of a column, and immediately oppositea large aperture, which permitted him to enjoy a full and undisturbedview of the gigantic dimensions of the majestic ruin.

Franz had remained for nearly a quarter of an hour perfectly hiddenby the shadow of the vast column at whose base he had found aresting-place, and from whence his eyes followed the motions of Albertand his guides, who, holding torches in their hands, had emerged froma vomitarium at the opposite extremity of the Colosseum, and then againdisappeared down the steps conducting to the seats reserved for theVestal virgins, resembling, as they glided along, some restless shadesfollowing the flickering glare of so many ignes-fatui. All at once hisear caught a sound resembling that of a stone rolling down the staircaseopposite the one by which he had himself ascended. There was nothingremarkable in the circumstance of a fragment of granite giving way andfalling heavily below; but it seemed to him that the substance that fellgave way beneath the pressure of a foot, and also that some one, whoendeavored as much as possible to prevent his footsteps from beingheard, was approaching the spot where he sat. Conjecture soon becamecertainty, for the figure of a man was distinctly visible to Franz, gradually emerging from the staircase opposite, upon which the moon wasat that moment pouring a full tide of silvery brightness.

The stranger thus presenting himself was probably a person who, likeFranz, preferred the enjoyment of solitude and his own thoughts tothe frivolous gabble of the guides. And his appearance had nothingextraordinary in it; but the hesitation with which he proceeded, stopping and listening with anxious attention at every step he took, convinced Franz that he expected the arrival of some person. By a sortof instinctive impulse, Franz withdrew as much as possible behind hispillar. About ten feet from the spot where he and the stranger were, theroof had given way, leaving a large round opening, through which mightbe seen the blue vault of heaven, thickly studded with stars. Aroundthis opening, which had, possibly, for ages permitted a free entranceto the brilliant moonbeams that now illumined the vast pile, grew aquantity of creeping plants, whose delicate green branches stood out inbold relief against the clear azure of the firmament, while large massesof thick, strong fibrous shoots forced their way through the chasm, andhung floating to and fro, like so many waving strings. The person whosemysterious arrival had attracted the attention of Franz stood in a kindof half-light, that rendered it impossible to distinguish his features, although his dress was easily made out. He wore a large brown mantle, one fold of which, thrown over his left shoulder, served likewiseto mask the lower part of his countenance, while the upper part wascompletely hidden by his broad-brimmed hat. The lower part of his dresswas more distinctly visible by the bright rays of the moon, which, entering through the broken ceiling, shed their refulgent beams on feetcased in elegantly made boots of polished leather, over which descendedfashionably cut trousers of black cloth.

From the imperfect means Franz had of judging, he could only come toone conclusion, --that the person whom he was thus watching certainlybelonged to no inferior station of life. Some few minutes had elapsed, and the stranger began to show manifest signs of impatience, when aslight noise was heard outside the aperture in the roof, and almostimmediately a dark shadow seemed to obstruct the flood of light that hadentered it, and the figure of a man was clearly seen gazing with eagerscrutiny on the immense space beneath him; then, as his eye caughtsight of him in the mantle, he grasped a floating mass of thickly mattedboughs, and glided down by their help to within three or four feetof the ground, and then leaped lightly on his feet. The man who hadperformed this daring act with so much indifference wore the Transteverecostume. "I beg your excellency's pardon for keeping you waiting, " saidthe man, in the Roman dialect, "but I don't think I'm many minutes aftermy time, ten o'clock has just struck on the Lateran. "

"Say not a word about being late, " replied the stranger in purestTuscan; "'tis I who am too soon. But even if you had caused me to waita little while, I should have felt quite sure that the delay was notoccasioned by any fault of yours. "

"Your excellency is perfectly right in so thinking, " said the man; "Icame here direct from the Castle of St. Angelo, and I had an immensedeal of trouble before I could get a chance to speak to Beppo. "

"And who is Beppo?"

"Oh, Beppo is employed in the prison, and I give him so much a year tolet me know what is going on within his holiness's castle. "

"Indeed! You are a provident person, I see. "

"Why, you see, no one knows what may happen. Perhaps some of these daysI may be entrapped, like poor Peppino and may be very glad to have somelittle nibbling mouse to gnaw the meshes of my net, and so help me outof prison. "

"Briefly, what did you glean?"

"That two executions of considerable interest will take place theday after to-morrow at two o'clock, as is customary at Rome at thecommencement of all great festivals. One of the culprits will bemazzolato; [*] he is an atrocious villain, who murdered the priest whobrought him up, and deserves not the smallest pity. The other suffereris sentenced to be decapitato; [**] and he, your excellency, is poorPeppino. "

* Knocked on the head.

** Beheaded.

"The fact is, that you have inspired not only the pontifical government, but also the neighboring states, with such extreme fear, that they areglad of all opportunity of making an example. "

"But Peppino did not even belong to my band: he was merely a poorshepherd, whose only crime consisted in furnishing us with provisions. "

"Which makes him your accomplice to all intents and purposes. But markthe distinction with which he is treated; instead of being knocked onthe head as you would be if once they caught hold of you, he is simplysentenced to be guillotined, by which means, too, the amusements ofthe day are diversified, and there is a spectacle to please everyspectator. "

"Without reckoning the wholly unexpected one I am preparing to surprisethem with. "

"My good friend, " said the man in the cloak, "excuse me for saying thatyou seem to me precisely in the mood to commit some wild or extravagantact. "

"Perhaps I am; but one thing I have resolved on, and that is, to stop atnothing to restore a poor devil to liberty, who has got into this scrapesolely from having served me. I should hate and despise myself as acoward did I desert the brave fellow in his present extremity. "

"And what do you mean to do?"

"To surround the scaffold with twenty of my best men, who, at a signalfrom me, will rush forward directly Peppino is brought for execution, and, by the assistance of their stilettos, drive back the guard, andcarry off the prisoner. "

"That seems to me as hazardous as uncertain, and convinces me that myscheme is far better than yours. "

"And what is your excellency's project?"

"Just this. I will so advantageously bestow 2, 000 piastres, that theperson receiving them shall obtain a respite till next year for Peppino;and during that year, another skilfully placed 1, 000 piastres willafford him the means of escaping from his prison. "

"And do you feel sure of succeeding?"

"Pardieu!" exclaimed the man in the cloak, suddenly expressing himselfin French.

"What did your excellency say?" inquired the other.

"I said, my good fellow, that I would do more single-handed by themeans of gold than you and all your troop could effect with stilettos, pistols, carbines, and blunderbusses included. Leave me, then, to act, and have no fears for the result. "

"At least, there can be no harm in myself and party being in readiness, in case your excellency should fail. "

"None whatever. Take what precautions you please, if it is anysatisfaction to you to do so; but rely upon my obtaining the reprieve Iseek. "

"Remember, the execution is fixed for the day after tomorrow, and thatyou have but one day to work in. "

"And what of that? Is not a day divided into twenty-four hours, eachhour into sixty minutes, and every minute sub-divided into sixtyseconds? Now in 86, 400 seconds very many things can be done. "

"And how shall I know whether your excellency has succeeded or not. "

"Oh, that is very easily arranged. I have engaged the three lowerwindows at the Cafe Rospoli; should I have obtained the requisite pardonfor Peppino, the two outside windows will be hung with yellow damasks, and the centre with white, having a large cross in red marked on it. "

"And whom will you employ to carry the reprieve to the officer directingthe execution?"

"Send one of your men, disguised as a penitent friar, and I will give itto him. His dress will procure him the means of approaching the scaffolditself, and he will deliver the official order to the officer, who, inhis turn, will hand it to the executioner; in the meantime, it will beas well to acquaint Peppino with what we have determined on, if itbe only to prevent his dying of fear or losing his senses, because ineither case a very useless expense will have been incurred. "

"Your excellency, " said the man, "you are fully persuaded of my entiredevotion to you, are you not?"

"Nay, I flatter myself that there can be no doubt of it, " replied thecavalier in the cloak.

"Well, then, only fulfil your promise of rescuing Peppino, andhenceforward you shall receive not only devotion, but the most absoluteobedience from myself and those under me that one human being can renderto another. "

"Have a care how far you pledge yourself, my good friend, for I mayremind you of your promise at some, perhaps, not very distant period, when I, in my turn, may require your aid and influence. "

"Let that day come sooner or later, your excellency will find me whatI have found you in this my heavy trouble; and if from the other endof the world you but write me word to do such or such a thing, you mayregard it as done, for done it shall be, on the word and faith of"--

"Hush!" interrupted the stranger; "I hear a noise. "

"'Tis some travellers, who are visiting the Colosseum by torchlight. "

"'Twere better we should not be seen together; those guides are nothingbut spies, and might possibly recognize you; and, however I may behonored by your friendship, my worthy friend, if once the extent of ourintimacy were known, I am sadly afraid both my reputation and creditwould suffer thereby. "

"Well, then, if you obtain the reprieve?"

"The middle window at the Cafe Rospoli will be hung with white damask, bearing a red cross. "

"And if you fail?"

"Then all three windows will have yellow draperies. "

"And then?"

"And then, my good fellow, use your daggers in any way you please, and Ifurther promise you to be there as a spectator of your prowess. "

"We understand each other perfectly, then. Adieu, your excellency;depend upon me as firmly as I do upon you. "

Saying these words, the Transteverin disappeared down the staircase, while his companion, muffling his features more closely than before inthe folds of his mantle, passed almost close to Franz, and descendedto the arena by an outward flight of steps. The next minute Franz heardhimself called by Albert, who made the lofty building re-echo with thesound of his friend's name. Franz, however, did not obey the summonstill he had satisfied himself that the two men whose conversation he hadoverheard were at a sufficient distance to prevent his encountering themin his descent. In ten minutes after the strangers had departed, Franz was on the road to the Piazza de Spagni, listening with studiedindifference to the learned dissertation delivered by Albert, after themanner of Pliny and Calpurnius, touching the iron-pointed nets used toprevent the ferocious beasts from springing on the spectators. Franz lethim proceed without interruption, and, in fact, did not hear whatwas said; he longed to be alone, and free to ponder over all that hadoccurred. One of the two men, whose mysterious meeting in the Colosseumhe had so unintentionally witnessed, was an entire stranger to him, butnot so the other; and though Franz had been unable to distinguish hisfeatures, from his being either wrapped in his mantle or obscured by theshadow, the tones of his voice had made too powerful an impression onhim the first time he had heard them for him ever again to forget them, hear them when or where he might. It was more especially when this manwas speaking in a manner half jesting, half bitter, that Franz's earrecalled most vividly the deep sonorous, yet well-pitched voice that hadaddressed him in the grotto of Monte Cristo, and which he heard for thesecond time amid the darkness and ruined grandeur of the Colosseum. Andthe more he thought, the more entire was his conviction, that the personwho wore the mantle was no other than his former host and entertainer, "Sinbad the Sailor. "

Under any other circumstances, Franz would have found it impossible toresist his extreme curiosity to know more of so singular a personage, and with that intent have sought to renew their short acquaintance; butin the present instance, the confidential nature of the conversationhe had overheard made him, with propriety, judge that his appearance atsuch a time would be anything but agreeable. As we have seen, therefore, he permitted his former host to retire without attempting a recognition, but fully promising himself a rich indemnity for his present forbearanceshould chance afford him another opportunity. In vain did Franz endeavorto forget the many perplexing thoughts which assailed him; in vain didhe court the refreshment of sleep. Slumber refused to visit his eyelidsand the night was passed in feverish contemplation of the chain ofcircumstances tending to prove the identity of the mysterious visitantto the Colosseum with the inhabitant of the grotto of Monte Cristo; andthe more he thought, the firmer grew his opinion on the subject. Wornout at length, he fell asleep at daybreak, and did not awake till late. Like a genuine Frenchman, Albert had employed his time in arrangingfor the evening's diversion; he had sent to engage a box at the TeatroArgentino; and Franz, having a number of letters to write, relinquishedthe carriage to Albert for the whole of the day. At five o'clock Albertreturned, delighted with his day's work; he had been occupied in leavinghis letters of introduction, and had received in return more invitationsto balls and routs than it would be possible for him to accept; besidesthis, he had seen (as he called it) all the remarkable sights at Rome. Yes, in a single day he had accomplished what his more serious-mindedcompanion would have taken weeks to effect. Neither had he neglected toascertain the name of the piece to be played that night at the TeatroArgentino, and also what performers appeared in it.

The opera of "Parisina" was announced for representation, and theprincipal actors were Coselli, Moriani, and La Specchia. The young men, therefore, had reason to consider themselves fortunate in having theopportunity of hearing one of the best works by the composer of "Luciadi Lammermoor, " supported by three of the most renowned vocalists ofItaly. Albert had never been able to endure the Italian theatres, withtheir orchestras from which it is impossible to see, and the absence ofbalconies, or open boxes; all these defects pressed hard on a man whohad had his stall at the Bouffes, and had shared a lower box at theOpera. Still, in spite of this, Albert displayed his most dazzling andeffective costumes each time he visited the theatres; but, alas, hiselegant toilet was wholly thrown away, and one of the most worthyrepresentatives of Parisian fashion had to carry with him the mortifyingreflection that he had nearly overrun Italy without meeting with asingle adventure.

Sometimes Albert would affect to make a joke of his want of success; butinternally he was deeply wounded, and his self-love immensely piqued, tothink that Albert de Morcerf, the most admired and most sought after ofany young person of his day, should thus be passed over, and merely havehis labor for his pains. And the thing was so much the more annoying, as, according to the characteristic modesty of a Frenchman, Albert hadquitted Paris with the full conviction that he had only to show himselfin Italy to carry all before him, and that upon his return heshould astonish the Parisian world with the recital of his numerouslove-affairs. Alas, poor Albert! none of those interesting adventuresfell in his way; the lovely Genoese, Florentines, and Neapolitans wereall faithful, if not to their husbands, at least to their lovers, andthought not of changing even for the splendid appearance of Albert deMorcerf; and all he gained was the painful conviction that the ladies ofItaly have this advantage over those of France, that they are faithfuleven in their infidelity. Yet he could not restrain a hope that inItaly, as elsewhere, there might be an exception to the general rule. Albert, besides being an elegant, well-looking young man, was alsopossessed of considerable talent and ability; moreover, he was aviscount--a recently created one, certainly, but in the present day itis not necessary to go as far back as Noah in tracing a descent, anda genealogical tree is equally estimated, whether dated from 1399or merely 1815; but to crown all these advantages, Albert de Morcerfcommanded an income of 50, 000 livres, a more than sufficient sum torender him a personage of considerable importance in Paris. It wastherefore no small mortification to him to have visited most of theprincipal cities in Italy without having excited the most triflingobservation. Albert, however, hoped to indemnify himself for all theseslights and indifferences during the Carnival, knowing full well thatamong the different states and kingdoms in which this festivity iscelebrated, Rome is the spot where even the wisest and gravest throw offthe usual rigidity of their lives, and deign to mingle in the follies ofthis time of liberty and relaxation.

The Carnival was to commence on the morrow; therefore Albert had notan instant to lose in setting forth the programme of his hopes, expectations, and claims to notice. With this design he had engaged abox in the most conspicuous part of the theatre, and exerted himselfto set off his personal attractions by the aid of the most rich andelaborate toilet. The box taken by Albert was in the first circle;although each of the three tiers of boxes is deemed equallyaristocratic, and is, for this reason, generally styled the "nobility'sboxes, " and although the box engaged for the two friends wassufficiently capacious to contain at least a dozen persons, it had costless than would be paid at some of the French theatres for one admittingmerely four occupants. Another motive had influenced Albert's selectionof his seat, --who knew but that, thus advantageously placed, he mightnot in truth attract the notice of some fair Roman, and an introductionmight ensue that would procure him the offer of a seat in a carriage, ora place in a princely balcony, from which he might behold the gayetiesof the Carnival? These united considerations made Albert more lively andanxious to please than he had hitherto been. Totally disregarding thebusiness of the stage, he leaned from his box and began attentivelyscrutinizing the beauty of each pretty woman, aided by a powerfulopera-glass; but, alas, this attempt to attract notice wholly failed;not even curiosity had been excited, and it was but too apparentthat the lovely creatures, into whose good graces he was desirous ofstealing, were all so much engrossed with themselves, their lovers, or their own thoughts, that they had not so much as noticed him or themanipulation of his glass.

The truth was, that the anticipated pleasures of the Carnival, with the"holy week" that was to succeed it, so filled every fair breast, as toprevent the least attention being bestowed even on the business of thestage. The actors made their entries and exits unobserved or unthoughtof; at certain conventional moments, the spectators would suddenly ceasetheir conversation, or rouse themselves from their musings, to listento some brilliant effort of Moriani's, a well-executed recitative byCoselli, or to join in loud applause at the wonderful powers of LaSpecchia; but that momentary excitement over, they quickly relapsed intotheir former state of preoccupation or interesting conversation. Towardsthe close of the first act, the door of a box which had been hithertovacant was opened; a lady entered to whom Franz had been introduced inParis, where indeed, he had imagined she still was. The quick eye ofAlbert caught the involuntary start with which his friend beheld the newarrival, and, turning to him, he said hastily, "Do you know the womanwho has just entered that box?"

"Yes; what do you think of her?"

"Oh, she is perfectly lovely--what a complexion! And such magnificenthair! Is she French?"

"No; a Venetian. "

"And her name is--"

"Countess G----. "

"Ah, I know her by name!" exclaimed Albert; "she is said to possess asmuch wit and cleverness as beauty. I was to have been presented to herwhen I met her at Madame Villefort's ball. "

"Shall I assist you in repairing your negligence?" asked Franz.

"My dear fellow, are you really on such good terms with her as toventure to take me to her box?"

"Why, I have only had the honor of being in her society and conversingwith her three or four times in my life; but you know that even suchan acquaintance as that might warrant my doing what you ask. " At thatinstant, the countess perceived Franz, and graciously waved her hand tohim, to which he replied by a respectful inclination of the head. "Uponmy word, " said Albert, "you seem to be on excellent terms with thebeautiful countess. "

"You are mistaken in thinking so, " returned Franz calmly; "but youmerely fall into the same error which leads so many of our countrymen tocommit the most egregious blunders, --I mean that of judging the habitsand customs of Italy and Spain by our Parisian notions; believe me, nothing is more fallacious than to form any estimate of the degree ofintimacy you may suppose existing among persons by the familiar termsthey seem upon; there is a similarity of feeling at this instant betweenourselves and the countess--nothing more. "

"Is there, indeed, my good fellow? Pray tell me, is it sympathy ofheart?"

"No; of taste, " continued Franz gravely.

"And in what manner has this congeniality of mind been evinced?"

"By the countess's visiting the Colosseum, as we did last night, bymoonlight, and nearly alone. "

"You were with her, then?"

"I was. "

"And what did you say to her?"

"Oh, we talked of the illustrious dead of whom that magnificent ruin isa glorious monument!"

"Upon my word, " cried Albert, "you must have been a very entertainingcompanion alone, or all but alone, with a beautiful woman in such aplace of sentiment as the Colosseum, and yet to find nothing better atalk about than the dead! All I can say is, if ever I should get such achance, the living should be my theme. "

"And you will probably find your theme ill-chosen. "

"But, " said Albert, breaking in upon his discourse, "never mind thepast; let us only remember the present. Are you not going to keep yourpromise of introducing me to the fair subject of our remarks?"

"Certainly, directly the curtain falls on the stage. "

"What a confounded time this first act takes. I believe, on my soul, that they never mean to finish it. "

"Oh, yes, they will; only listen to that charming finale. Howexquisitely Coselli sings his part. "

"But what an awkward, inelegant fellow he is. "

"Well, then, what do you say to La Specchia? Did you ever see anythingmore perfect than her acting?"

"Why, you know, my dear fellow, when one has been accustomed to Malibranand Sontag, such singers as these don't make the same impression on youthey perhaps do on others. "

"At least, you must admire Moriani's style and execution. "

"I never fancied men of his dark, ponderous appearance singing with avoice like a woman's. "

"My good friend, " said Franz, turning to him, while Albert continued topoint his glass at every box in the theatre, "you seem determined not toapprove; you are really too difficult to please. " The curtain at lengthfell on the performances, to the infinite satisfaction of the Viscountof Morcerf, who seized his hat, rapidly passed his fingers through hishair, arranged his cravat and wristbands, and signified to Franz that hewas waiting for him to lead the way. Franz, who had mutely interrogatedthe countess, and received from her a gracious smile in token that hewould be welcome, sought not to retard the gratification of Albert'seager impatience, but began at once the tour of the house, closelyfollowed by Albert, who availed himself of the few minutes requiredto reach the opposite side of the theatre to settle the height andsmoothness of his collar, and to arrange the lappets of his coat. Thisimportant task was just completed as they arrived at the countess's box. At the knock, the door was immediately opened, and the young man whowas seated beside the countess, in obedience to the Italian custom, instantly rose and surrendered his place to the strangers, who, in turn, would be expected to retire upon the arrival of other visitors.

Franz presented Albert as one of the most distinguished young men of theday, both as regarded his position in society and extraordinary talents;nor did he say more than the truth, for in Paris and the circle inwhich the viscount moved, he was looked upon and cited as a model ofperfection. Franz added that his companion, deeply grieved at havingbeen prevented the honor of being presented to the countess during hersojourn in Paris, was most anxious to make up for it, and had requestedhim (Franz) to remedy the past misfortune by conducting him to her box, and concluded by asking pardon for his presumption in having takenit upon himself to do so. The countess, in reply, bowed gracefully toAlbert, and extended her hand with cordial kindness to Franz; then, inviting Albert to take the vacant seat beside her, she recommendedFranz to take the next best, if he wished to view the ballet, andpointed to the one behind her own chair. Albert was soon deeplyengrossed in discoursing upon Paris and Parisian matters, speakingto the countess of the various persons they both knew there. Franzperceived how completely he was in his element; and, unwilling tointerfere with the pleasure he so evidently felt, took up Albert'sglass, and began in his turn to survey the audience. Sitting alone, inthe front of a box immediately opposite, but situated on the thirdrow, was a woman of exquisite beauty, dressed in a Greek costume, whichevidently, from the ease and grace with which she wore it, was hernational attire. Behind her, but in deep shadow, was the outline of amasculine figure; but the features of this latter personage it was notpossible to distinguish. Franz could not forbear breaking in upon theapparently interesting conversation passing between the countess andAlbert, to inquire of the former if she knew who was the fair Albanianopposite, since beauty such as hers was well worthy of being observed byeither sex. "All I can tell about her, " replied the countess, "is, thatshe has been at Rome since the beginning of the season; for I saw herwhere she now sits the very first night of the season, and since thenshe has never missed a performance. Sometimes she is accompanied by theperson who is now with her, and at others she is merely attended by ablack servant. "

"And what do you think of her personal appearance?"

"Oh, I consider her perfectly lovely--she is just my idea of what Medoramust have been. "

Franz and the countess exchanged a smile, and then the latter resumedher conversation with Albert, while Franz returned to his previoussurvey of the house and company. The curtain rose on the ballet, whichwas one of those excellent specimens of the Italian school, admirablyarranged and put on the stage by Henri, who has established for himselfa great reputation throughout Italy for his taste and skill in thechoreographic art--one of those masterly productions of grace, method, and elegance in which the whole corps de ballet, from the principaldancers to the humblest supernumerary, are all engaged on the stage atthe same time; and a hundred and fifty persons may be seen exhibitingthe same attitude, or elevating the same arm or leg with a simultaneousmovement, that would lead you to suppose that but one mind, one act ofvolition, influenced the moving mass--the ballet was called "Poliska. "However much the ballet might have claimed his attention, Franz was toodeeply occupied with the beautiful Greek to take any note of it; whileshe seemed to experience an almost childlike delight in watching it, hereager, animated looks contrasting strongly with the utter indifferenceof her companion, who, during the whole time the piece lasted, nevereven moved, not even when the furious, crashing din produced by thetrumpets, cymbals, and Chinese bells sounded their loudest from theorchestra. Of this he took no heed, but was, as far as appearances mightbe trusted, enjoying soft repose and bright celestial dreams. The balletat length came to a close, and the curtain fell amid the loud, unanimousplaudits of an enthusiastic and delighted audience.

Owing to the very judicious plan of dividing the two acts of the operawith a ballet, the pauses between the performances are very short, thesingers in the opera having time to repose themselves and changetheir costume, when necessary, while the dancers are executing theirpirouettes and exhibiting their graceful steps. The overture to thesecond act began; and, at the first sound of the leader's bow across hisviolin, Franz observed the sleeper slowly arise and approach the Greekgirl, who turned around to say a few words to him, and then, leaningforward again on the railing of her box, she became as absorbed asbefore in what was going on. The countenance of the person who hadaddressed her remained so completely in the shade, that, though Franztried his utmost, he could not distinguish a single feature. The curtainrose, and the attention of Franz was attracted by the actors; and hiseyes turned from the box containing the Greek girl and her strangecompanion to watch the business of the stage.

Most of my readers are aware that the second act of "Parisina" openswith the celebrated and effective duet in which Parisina, whilesleeping, betrays to Azzo the secret of her love for Ugo. The injuredhusband goes through all the emotions of jealousy, until convictionseizes on his mind, and then, in a frenzy of rage and indignation, he awakens his guilty wife to tell her that he knows her guilt and tothreaten her with his vengeance. This duet is one of the most beautiful, expressive and terrible conceptions that has ever emanated from thefruitful pen of Donizetti. Franz now listened to it for the thirdtime; yet its notes, so tenderly expressive and fearfully grand asthe wretched husband and wife give vent to their different griefs andpassions, thrilled through the soul of Franz with an effect equal to hisfirst emotions upon hearing it. Excited beyond his usual calmdemeanor, Franz rose with the audience, and was about to join theloud, enthusiastic applause that followed; but suddenly his purpose wasarrested, his hands fell by his sides, and the half-uttered "bravos"expired on his lips. The occupant of the box in which the Greek girl satappeared to share the universal admiration that prevailed; for he lefthis seat to stand up in front, so that, his countenance being fullyrevealed, Franz had no difficulty in recognizing him as the mysteriousinhabitant of Monte Cristo, and the very same person he had encounteredthe preceding evening in the ruins of the Colosseum, and whose voice andfigure had seemed so familiar to him. All doubt of his identity was nowat an end; his singular host evidently resided at Rome. The surpriseand agitation occasioned by this full confirmation of Franz's formersuspicion had no doubt imparted a corresponding expression to hisfeatures; for the countess, after gazing with a puzzled look athis face, burst into a fit of laughter, and begged to know what hadhappened. "Countess, " returned Franz, totally unheeding her raillery, "Iasked you a short time since if you knew any particulars respecting theAlbanian lady opposite; I must now beseech you to inform me who and whatis her husband?"

"Nay, " answered the countess, "I know no more of him than yourself. "

"Perhaps you never before noticed him?"

"What a question--so truly French! Do you not know that we Italians haveeyes only for the man we love?"

"True, " replied Franz.

"All I can say is, " continued the countess, taking up the lorgnette, and directing it toward the box in question, "that the gentleman, whosehistory I am unable to furnish, seems to me as though he had justbeen dug up; he looks more like a corpse permitted by some friendlygrave-digger to quit his tomb for a while, and revisit this earth ofours, than anything human. How ghastly pale he is!"

"Oh, he is always as colorless as you now see him, " said Franz.

"Then you know him?" almost screamed the countess. "Oh, pray do, forheaven's sake, tell us all about--is he a vampire, or a resuscitatedcorpse, or what?"

"I fancy I have seen him before; and I even think he recognizes me. "

"And I can well understand, " said the countess, shrugging up herbeautiful shoulders, as though an involuntary shudder passed through herveins, "that those who have once seen that man will never be likelyto forget him. " The sensation experienced by Franz was evidently notpeculiar to himself; another, and wholly uninterested person, felt thesame unaccountable awe and misgiving. "Well. " inquired Franz, after thecountess had a second time directed her lorgnette at the box, "what doyou think of our opposite neighbor?"

"Why, that he is no other than Lord Ruthven himself in a living form. "This fresh allusion to Byron [*] drew a smile to Franz's countenance;although he could but allow that if anything was likely to induce beliefin the existence of vampires, it would be the presence of such a man asthe mysterious personage before him.

"I must positively find out who and what he is, " said Franz, rising fromhis seat.

"No, no, " cried the countess; "you must not leave me. I depend upon youto escort me home. Oh, indeed, I cannot permit you to go. "

* Scott, of course: "The son of an ill-fated sire, and the father of a yet more unfortunate family, bore in his looks that cast of inauspicious melancholy by which the physiognomists of that time pretended to distinguish those who were predestined to a violent and unhappy death. "--The Abbot, ch. Xxii.

"Is it possible, " whispered Franz, "that you entertain any fear?"

"I'll tell you, " answered the countess. "Byron had the most perfectbelief in the existence of vampires, and even assured me that he hadseen them. The description he gave me perfectly corresponds withthe features and character of the man before us. Oh, he is the exactpersonification of what I have been led to expect! The coal-black hair, large bright, glittering eyes, in which a wild, unearthly fire seemsburning, --the same ghastly paleness. Then observe, too, that thewoman with him is altogether unlike all others of her sex. She is aforeigner--a stranger. Nobody knows who she is, or where she comes from. No doubt she belongs to the same horrible race he does, and is, likehimself, a dealer in magical arts. I entreat of you not to go nearhim--at least to-night; and if to-morrow your curiosity still continuesas great, pursue your researches if you will; but to-night you neithercan nor shall. For that purpose I mean to keep you all to myself. " Franzprotested he could not defer his pursuit till the following day, formany reasons. "Listen to me, " said the countess, "and do not be so veryheadstrong. I am going home. I have a party at my house to-night, andtherefore cannot possibly remain till the end of the opera. Now, Icannot for one instant believe you so devoid of gallantry as to refuse alady your escort when she even condescends to ask you for it. "

There was nothing else left for Franz to do but to take up his hat, open the door of the box, and offer the countess his arm. It was quiteevident, by her manner, that her uneasiness was not feigned; and Franzhimself could not resist a feeling of superstitious dread--so muchthe stronger in him, as it arose from a variety of corroborativerecollections, while the terror of the countess sprang from aninstinctive belief, originally created in her mind by the wild tales shehad listened to till she believed them truths. Franz could even feel herarm tremble as he assisted her into the carriage. Upon arriving ather hotel, Franz perceived that she had deceived him when she spoke ofexpecting company; on the contrary, her own return before the appointedhour seemed greatly to astonish the servants. "Excuse my littlesubterfuge, " said the countess, in reply to her companion'shalf-reproachful observation on the subject; "but that horrid man hadmade me feel quite uncomfortable, and I longed to be alone, that I mightcompose my startled mind. " Franz essayed to smile. "Nay, " said she, "donot smile; it ill accords with the expression of your countenance, andI am sure it does not spring from your heart. However, promise me onething. "

"What is it?"

"Promise me, I say. "

"I will do anything you desire, except relinquish my determination offinding out who this man is. I have more reasons than you can imaginefor desiring to know who he is, from whence he came, and whither he isgoing. "

"Where he comes from I am ignorant; but I can readily tell you where heis going to, and that is down below, without the least doubt. "

"Let us only speak of the promise you wished me to make, " said Franz.

"Well, then, you must give me your word to return immediately to yourhotel, and make no attempt to follow this man to-night. There arecertain affinities between the persons we quit and those we meetafterwards. For heaven's sake, do not serve as a conductor between thatman and me. Pursue your chase after him to-morrow as eagerly as youplease; but never bring him near me, if you would not see me die ofterror. And now, good-night; go to your rooms, and try to sleep away allrecollections of this evening. For my own part, I am quite sure I shallnot be able to close my eyes. " So saying, the countess quitted Franz, leaving him unable to decide whether she were merely amusing herself athis expense, or whether her fears and agitations were genuine.

Upon his return to the hotel, Franz found Albert in his dressing-gownand slippers, listlessly extended on a sofa, smoking a cigar. "My dearfellow. " cried he, springing up, "is it really you? Why, I did notexpect to see you before to-morrow. "

"My dear Albert, " replied Franz, "I am glad of this opportunity totell you, once and forever, that you entertain a most erroneous notionconcerning Italian women. I should have thought the continual failuresyou have met with in all your own love affairs might have taught youbetter by this time. "

"Upon my soul, these women would puzzle the very Devil to read themaright. Why, here--they give you their hand--they press yours inreturn--they keep up a whispering conversation--permit you to accompanythem home. Why, if a Parisian were to indulge in a quarter of thesemarks of flattering attention, her reputation would be gone forever. "

"And the very reason why the women of this fine country put so littlerestraint on their words and actions, is because they live so muchin public, and have really nothing to conceal. Besides, you must haveperceived that the countess was really alarmed. "

"At what? At the sight of that respectable gentleman sitting opposite tous in the same box with the lovely Greek girl? Now, for my part, I metthem in the lobby after the conclusion of the piece; and hang me, ifI can guess where you took your notions of the other world from. Ican assure you that this hobgoblin of yours is a deuced fine-lookingfellow--admirably dressed. Indeed, I feel quite sure, from the cut ofhis clothes, they are made by a first-rate Paris tailor--probablyBlin or Humann. He was rather too pale, certainly; but then, you know, paleness is always looked upon as a strong proof of aristocratic descentand distinguished breeding. " Franz smiled; for he well remembered thatAlbert particularly prided himself on the entire absence of color in hisown complexion.

"Well, that tends to confirm my own ideas, " said Franz, "that thecountess's suspicions were destitute alike of sense and reason. Did hespeak in your hearing? and did you catch any of his words?"

"I did; but they were uttered in the Romaic dialect. I knew that fromthe mixture of Greek words. I don't know whether I ever told you thatwhen I was at college I was rather--rather strong in Greek. "

"He spoke the Romaic language, did he?"

"I think so. "

"That settles it, " murmured Franz. "'Tis he, past all doubt. "

"What do you say?"

"Nothing, nothing. But tell me, what were you thinking about when I camein?"

"Oh, I was arranging a little surprise for you. "

"Indeed. Of what nature?"

"Why, you know it is quite impossible to procure a carriage. "

"Certainly; and I also know that we have done all that human meansafforded to endeavor to get one. "

"Now, then, in this difficulty a bright idea has flashed across mybrain. " Franz looked at Albert as though he had not much confidence inthe suggestions of his imagination. "I tell you what, Sir Franz, "cried Albert, "you deserve to be called out for such a misgiving andincredulous glance as that you were pleased to bestow on me just now. "

"And I promise to give you the satisfaction of a gentleman if yourscheme turns out as ingenious as you assert. "

"Well, then, hearken to me. "

"I listen. "

"You agree, do you not, that obtaining a carriage is out of thequestion?"

"I do. "

"Neither can we procure horses?"

"True; we have offered any sum, but have failed. "

"Well, now, what do you say to a cart? I dare say such a thing might behad. "

"Very possibly. "

"And a pair of oxen?"

"As easily found as the cart. "

"Then you see, my good fellow, with a cart and a couple of oxen ourbusiness can be managed. The cart must be tastefully ornamented; andif you and I dress ourselves as Neapolitan reapers, we may get up astriking tableau, after the manner of that splendid picture by LeopoldRobert. It would add greatly to the effect if the countess would joinus in the costume of a peasant from Puzzoli or Sorrento. Our groupwould then be quite complete, more especially as the countess is quitebeautiful enough to represent a madonna. "

"Well, " said Franz, "this time, Albert, I am bound to give you creditfor having hit upon a most capital idea. "

"And quite a national one, too, " replied Albert with gratified pride. "A mere masque borrowed from our own festivities. Ha, ha, ye Romans!you thought to make us, unhappy strangers, trot at the heels of yourprocessions, like so many lazzaroni, because no carriages or horses areto be had in your beggarly city. But you don't know us; when we can'thave one thing we invent another. "

"And have you communicated your triumphant idea to anybody?"

"Only to our host. Upon my return home I sent for him, and I thenexplained to him what I wished to procure. He assured me that nothingwould be easier than to furnish all I desired. One thing I was sorryfor; when I bade him have the horns of the oxen gilded, he told me therewould not be time, as it would require three days to do that; so you seewe must do without this little superfluity. "

"And where is he now?"

"Who?"

"Our host. "

"Gone out in search of our equipage, by to-morrow it might be too late. "

"Then he will be able to give us an answer to-night. "

"Oh, I expect him every minute. " At this instant the door opened, andthe head of Signor Pastrini appeared. "Permesso?" inquired he.

"Certainly--certainly, " cried Franz. "Come in, mine host. "

"Now, then, " asked Albert eagerly, "have you found the desired cart andoxen?"

"Better than that!" replied Signor Pastrini, with the air of a manperfectly well satisfied with himself.

"Take care, my worthy host, " said Albert, "better is a sure enemy towell. "

"Let your excellencies only leave the matter to me, " returned SignorPastrini in a tone indicative of unbounded self-confidence.

"But what have you done?" asked Franz. "Speak out, there's a worthyfellow. "

"Your excellencies are aware, " responded the landlord, swelling withimportance, "that the Count of Monte Cristo is living on the same floorwith yourselves!"

"I should think we did know it, " exclaimed Albert, "since it is owingto that circumstance that we are packed into these small rooms, like twopoor students in the back streets of Paris. "

"When, then, the Count of Monte Cristo, hearing of the dilemma in whichyou are placed, has sent to offer you seats in his carriage and twoplaces at his windows in the Palazzo Rospoli. " The friends looked ateach other with unutterable surprise.

"But do you think, " asked Albert, "that we ought to accept such offersfrom a perfect stranger?"

"What sort of person is this Count of Monte Cristo?" asked Franz of hishost. "A very great nobleman, but whether Maltese or Sicilian I cannotexactly say; but this I know, that he is noble as a Borghese and rich asa gold-mine. "

"It seems to me, " said Franz, speaking in an undertone to Albert, "thatif this person merited the high panegyrics of our landlord, he wouldhave conveyed his invitation through another channel, and not permittedit to be brought to us in this unceremonious way. He would havewritten--or"--

At this instant some one knocked at the door. "Come in, " said Franz. Aservant, wearing a livery of considerable style and richness, appearedat the threshold, and, placing two cards in the landlord's hands, whoforthwith presented them to the two young men, he said, "Please todeliver these, from the Count of Monte Cristo to Viscomte Albert deMorcerf and M. Franz d'Epinay. The Count of Monte Cristo, " continued theservant, "begs these gentlemen's permission to wait upon them as theirneighbor, and he will be honored by an intimation of what time they willplease to receive him. "

"Faith, Franz, " whispered Albert, "there is not much to find fault withhere. "

"Tell the count, " replied Franz, "that we will do ourselves the pleasureof calling on him. " The servant bowed and retired.

"That is what I call an elegant mode of attack, " said Albert, "You werequite correct in what you said, Signor Pastrini. The Count of MonteCristo is unquestionably a man of first-rate breeding and knowledge ofthe world. "

"Then you accept his offer?" said the host.

"Of course we do, " replied Albert. "Still, I must own I am sorry tobe obliged to give up the cart and the group of reapers--it would haveproduced such an effect! And were it not for the windows at the PalazzoRospoli, by way of recompense for the loss of our beautiful scheme, Idon't know but what I should have held on by my original plan. What sayyou, Franz?"

"Oh, I agree with you; the windows in the Palazzo Rospoli alone decidedme. " The truth was, that the mention of two places in the PalazzoRospoli had recalled to Franz the conversation he had overheard thepreceding evening in the ruins of the Colosseum between the mysteriousunknown and the Transteverin, in which the stranger in the cloak hadundertaken to obtain the freedom of a condemned criminal; and if thismuffled-up individual proved (as Franz felt sure he would) the same asthe person he had just seen in the Teatro Argentino, then he should beable to establish his identity, and also to prosecute his researchesrespecting him with perfect facility and freedom. Franz passed the nightin confused dreams respecting the two meetings he had already had withhis mysterious tormentor, and in waking speculations as to what themorrow would produce. The next day must clear up every doubt; andunless his near neighbor and would-be friend, the Count of Monte Cristo, possessed the ring of Gyges, and by its power was able to render himselfinvisible, it was very certain he could not escape this time. Eighto'clock found Franz up and dressed, while Albert, who had not the samemotives for early rising, was still soundly asleep. The first actof Franz was to summon his landlord, who presented himself with hisaccustomed obsequiousness.

"Pray, Signor Pastrini, " asked Franz, "is not some execution appointedto take place to-day?"

"Yes, your excellency; but if your reason for inquiry is that you mayprocure a window to view it from, you are much too late. "

"Oh, no, " answered Franz, "I had no such intention; and even if I hadfelt a wish to witness the spectacle, I might have done so from MontePincio--could I not?"

"Ah!" exclaimed mine host, "I did not think it likely your excellencywould have chosen to mingle with such a rabble as are always collectedon that hill, which, indeed, they consider as exclusively belonging tothemselves. "

"Very possibly I may not go, " answered Franz; "but in case I feeldisposed, give me some particulars of to-day's executions. "

"What particulars would your excellency like to hear?"

"Why, the number of persons condemned to suffer, their names, anddescription of the death they are to die. "

"That happens just lucky, your excellency! Only a few minutes ago theybrought me the tavolettas. "

"What are they?"

"Sort of wooden tablets hung up at the corners of streets the eveningbefore an execution, on which is pasted up a paper containing the namesof the condemned persons, their crimes, and mode of punishment. Thereason for so publicly announcing all this is, that all good andfaithful Catholics may offer up their prayers for the unfortunateculprits, and, above all, beseech of heaven to grant them a sincererepentance. "

"And these tablets are brought to you that you may add your prayers tothose of the faithful, are they?" asked Franz somewhat incredulously.

"Oh, dear, no, your excellency! I have not time for anybody's affairsbut my own and those of my honorable guests; but I make an agreementwith the man who pastes up the papers, and he brings them to me as hewould the playbills, that in case any person staying at my hotel shouldlike to witness an execution, he may obtain every requisite informationconcerning the time and place etc. "

"Upon my word, that is a most delicate attention on your part, SignorPastrini, " cried Franz.

"Why, your excellency, " returned the landlord, chuckling and rubbing hishands with infinite complacency, "I think I may take upon myself tosay I neglect nothing to deserve the support and patronage of the noblevisitors to this poor hotel. "

"I see that plainly enough, my most excellent host, and you may relyupon me to proclaim so striking a proof of your attention to yourguests wherever I go. Meanwhile, oblige me by a sight of one of thesetavolettas. "

"Nothing can be easier than to comply with your excellency's wish, " saidthe landlord, opening the door of the chamber; "I have caused one to beplaced on the landing, close by your apartment. " Then, taking the tabletfrom the wall, he handed it to Franz, who read as follows:--

"'The public is informed that on Wednesday, February 23d, being thefirst day of the Carnival, executions will take place in the Piazzadel Popolo, by order of the Tribunal of the Rota, of two persons, namedAndrea Rondola, and Peppino, otherwise called Rocca Priori; the formerfound guilty of the murder of a venerable and exemplary priest, namedDon Cesare Torlini, canon of the church of St. John Lateran; and thelatter convicted of being an accomplice of the atrocious and sanguinarybandit, Luigi Vampa, and his band. The first-named malefactor will besubjected to the mazzuola, the second culprit beheaded. The prayers ofall good Christians are entreated for these unfortunate men, that it mayplease God to awaken them to a sense of their guilt, and to grant them ahearty and sincere repentance for their crimes. '"

This was precisely what Franz had heard the evening before in the ruinsof the Colosseum. No part of the programme differed, --the names of thecondemned persons, their crimes, and mode of punishment, all agreedwith his previous information. In all probability, therefore, theTransteverin was no other than the bandit Luigi Vampa himself, and theman shrouded in the mantle the same he had known as "Sinbad the Sailor, "but who, no doubt, was still pursuing his philanthropic expeditionin Rome, as he had already done at Porto-Vecchio and Tunis. Time wasgetting on, however, and Franz deemed it advisable to awaken Albert; butat the moment he prepared to proceed to his chamber, his friend enteredthe room in perfect costume for the day. The anticipated delights ofthe Carnival had so run in his head as to make him leave his pillow longbefore his usual hour. "Now, my excellent Signor Pastrini, " said Franz, addressing his landlord, "since we are both ready, do you think we mayproceed at once to visit the Count of Monte Cristo?"

"Most assuredly, " replied he. "The Count of Monte Cristo is always anearly riser; and I can answer for his having been up these two hours. "

"Then you really consider we shall not be intruding if we pay ourrespects to him directly?"

"Oh, I am quite sure. I will take all the blame on myself if you find Ihave led you into an error. "

"Well, then, if it be so, are you ready, Albert?"

"Perfectly. "

"Let us go and return our best thanks for his courtesy. "

"Yes, let us do so. " The landlord preceded the friends across thelanding, which was all that separated them from the apartments of thecount, rang at the bell, and, upon the door being opened by a servant, said, "I signori Francesi. "

The domestic bowed respectfully, and invited them to enter. They passedthrough two rooms, furnished in a luxurious manner they had not expectedto see under the roof of Signor Pastrini, and were shown into anelegantly fitted-up drawing-room. The richest Turkey carpets coveredthe floor, and the softest and most inviting couches, easy-chairs, andsofas, offered their high-piled and yielding cushions to such as desiredrepose or refreshment. Splendid paintings by the first masters wereranged against the walls, intermingled with magnificent trophies ofwar, while heavy curtains of costly tapestry were suspended before thedifferent doors of the room. "If your excellencies will please to beseated, " said the man, "I will let the count know that you are here. "

And with these words he disappeared behind one of the tapestriedportieres. As the door opened, the sound of a guzla reached the ears ofthe young men, but was almost immediately lost, for the rapid closingof the door merely allowed one rich swell of harmony to enter. Franzand Albert looked inquiringly at each other, then at the gorgeousfurnishings of the apartment. Everything seemed more magnificent at asecond view than it had done at their first rapid survey.

"Well, " said Franz to his friend, "what think you of all this?"

"Why, upon my soul, my dear fellow, it strikes me that our elegant andattentive neighbor must either be some successful stock-jobber who hasspeculated in the fall of the Spanish funds, or some prince travellingincog. "

"Hush, hush!" replied Franz; "we shall ascertain who and what he is--hecomes!" As Franz spoke, he heard the sound of a door turning on itshinges, and almost immediately afterwards the tapestry was drawn aside, and the owner of all these riches stood before the two young men. Albertinstantly rose to meet him, but Franz remained, in a manner, spellboundon his chair; for in the person of him who had just entered herecognized not only the mysterious visitant to the Colosseum, and theoccupant of the box at the Teatro Argentino, but also his extraordinaryhost of Monte Cristo.

Chapter 35. La Mazzolata.

"Gentlemen, " said the Count of Monte Cristo as he entered, "I pray youexcuse me for suffering my visit to be anticipated; but I feared todisturb you by presenting myself earlier at your apartments; besides, you sent me word that you would come to me, and I have held myself atyour disposal. "

"Franz and I have to thank you a thousand times, count, " returnedAlbert; "you extricated us from a great dilemma, and we were onthe point of inventing a very fantastic vehicle when your friendlyinvitation reached us. "

"Indeed, " returned the count, motioning the two young men to sit down. "It was the fault of that blockhead Pastrini, that I did not soonerassist you in your distress. He did not mention a syllable of yourembarrassment to me, when he knows that, alone and isolated as I am, Iseek every opportunity of making the acquaintance of my neighbors. Assoon as I learned I could in any way assist you, I most eagerly seizedthe opportunity of offering my services. " The two young men bowed. Franzhad, as yet, found nothing to say; he had come to no determination, and as nothing in the count's manner manifested the wish that he shouldrecognize him, he did not know whether to make any allusion to the past, or wait until he had more proof; besides, although sure it was hewho had been in the box the previous evening, he could not be equallypositive that this was the man he had seen at the Colosseum. Heresolved, therefore, to let things take their course without making anydirect overture to the count. Moreover, he had this advantage, he wasmaster of the count's secret, while the count had no hold on Franz, whohad nothing to conceal. However, he resolved to lead the conversation toa subject which might possibly clear up his doubts.

"Count, " said he, "you have offered us places in your carriage, and atyour windows in the Rospoli Palace. Can you tell us where we can obtaina sight of the Piazza del Popolo?"

"Ah, " said the count negligently, looking attentively at Morcerf, "isthere not something like an execution upon the Piazza del Popolo?"

"Yes, " returned Franz, finding that the count was coming to the point hewished.

"Stay, I think I told my steward yesterday to attend to this; perhaps Ican render you this slight service also. " He extended his hand, and rangthe bell thrice. "Did you ever occupy yourself, " said he to Franz, "withthe employment of time and the means of simplifying the summoning yourservants? I have. When I ring once, it is for my valet; twice, for mymajordomo; thrice, for my steward, --thus I do not waste a minute or aword. Here he is. " A man of about forty-five or fifty entered, exactlyresembling the smuggler who had introduced Franz into the cavern; buthe did not appear to recognize him. It was evident he had his orders. "Monsieur Bertuccio, " said the count, "you have procured me windowslooking on the Piazza del Popolo, as I ordered you yesterday. "

"Yes, excellency, " returned the steward; "but it was very late. "

"Did I not tell you I wished for one?" replied the count, frowning.

"And your excellency has one, which was let to Prince Lobanieff; but Iwas obliged to pay a hundred"--

"That will do--that will do, Monsieur Bertuccio; spare these gentlemenall such domestic arrangements. You have the window, that is sufficient. Give orders to the coachman; and be in readiness on the stairs toconduct us to it. " The steward bowed, and was about to quit the room. "Ah, " continued the count, "be good enough to ask Pastrini if hehas received the tavoletta, and if he can send us an account of theexecution. "

"There is no need to do that, " said Franz, taking out his tablets; "forI saw the account, and copied it down. "

"Very well, you can retire, M. Bertuccio; but let us know when breakfastis ready. These gentlemen, " added he, turning to the two friends, "will, I trust, do me the honor to breakfast with me?"

"But, my dear count, " said Albert, "we shall abuse your kindness. "

"Not at all; on the contrary, you will give me great pleasure. Youwill, one or other of you, perhaps both, return it to me at Paris. M. Bertuccio, lay covers for three. " He then took Franz's tablets out ofhis hand. "'We announce, ' he read, in the same tone with which hewould have read a newspaper, 'that to-day, the 23d of February, will beexecuted Andrea Rondolo, guilty of murder on the person of the respectedand venerated Don Cesare Torlini, canon of the church of St. JohnLateran, and Peppino, called Rocca Priori, convicted of complicity withthe detestable bandit Luigi Vampa, and the men of his band. ' Hum! 'Thefirst will be mazzolato, the second decapitato. ' Yes, " continuedthe count, "it was at first arranged in this way; but I think sinceyesterday some change has taken place in the order of the ceremony. "

"Really?" said Franz.

"Yes, I passed the evening at the Cardinal Rospigliosi's, and theremention was made of something like a pardon for one of the two men. "

"For Andrea Rondolo?" asked Franz.

"No, " replied the count, carelessly; "for the other (he glanced at thetablets as if to recall the name), for Peppino, called Rocca Priori. Youare thus deprived of seeing a man guillotined; but the mazzuola stillremains, which is a very curious punishment when seen for the firsttime, and even the second, while the other, as you must know, is verysimple. The mandaia [*] never fails, never trembles, never strikes thirtytimes ineffectually, like the soldier who beheaded the Count of Chalais, and to whose tender mercy Richelieu had doubtless recommended thesufferer. Ah, " added the count, in a contemptuous tone, "do not tell meof European punishments, they are in the infancy, or rather the old age, of cruelty. "

* Guillotine.

"Really, count, " replied Franz, "one would think that you had studiedthe different tortures of all the nations of the world. "

"There are, at least, few that I have not seen, " said the count coldly.

"And you took pleasure in beholding these dreadful spectacles?"

"My first sentiment was horror, the second indifference, the thirdcuriosity. "

"Curiosity--that is a terrible word. "

"Why so? In life, our greatest preoccupation is death; is it not then, curious to study the different ways by which the soul and body can part;and how, according to their different characters, temperaments, and eventhe different customs of their countries, different persons bear thetransition from life to death, from existence to annihilation? As formyself, I can assure you of one thing, --the more men you see die, theeasier it becomes to die yourself; and in my opinion, death may be atorture, but it is not an expiation. "

"I do not quite understand you, " replied Franz; "pray explain yourmeaning, for you excite my curiosity to the highest pitch. "

"Listen, " said the count, and deep hatred mounted to his face, as theblood would to the face of any other. "If a man had by unheard-ofand excruciating tortures destroyed your father, your mother, yourbetrothed, --a being who, when torn from you, left a desolation, a woundthat never closes, in your breast, --do you think the reparation thatsociety gives you is sufficient when it interposes the knife of theguillotine between the base of the occiput and the trapezal muscles ofthe murderer, and allows him who has caused us years of moral sufferingsto escape with a few moments of physical pain?"

"Yes, I know, " said Franz, "that human justice is insufficient toconsole us; she can give blood in return for blood, that is all; but youmust demand from her only what it is in her power to grant. "

"I will put another case to you, " continued the count; "that wheresociety, attacked by the death of a person, avenges death by death. Butare there not a thousand tortures by which a man may be made to sufferwithout society taking the least cognizance of them, or offering himeven the insufficient means of vengeance, of which we have just spoken?Are there not crimes for which the impalement of the Turks, the augersof the Persians, the stake and the brand of the Iroquois Indians, areinadequate tortures, and which are unpunished by society? Answer me, donot these crimes exist?"

"Yes, " answered Franz; "and it is to punish them that duelling istolerated. "

"Ah, duelling, " cried the count; "a pleasant manner, upon my soul, ofarriving at your end when that end is vengeance! A man has carried offyour mistress, a man has seduced your wife, a man has dishonored yourdaughter; he has rendered the whole life of one who had the right toexpect from heaven that portion of happiness God his promised to everyone of his creatures, an existence of misery and infamy; and you thinkyou are avenged because you send a ball through the head, or pass asword through the breast, of that man who has planted madness in yourbrain, and despair in your heart. And remember, moreover, that it isoften he who comes off victorious from the strife, absolved of all crimein the eyes of the world. No, no, " continued the count, "had I to avengemyself, it is not thus I would take revenge. "

"Then you disapprove of duelling? You would not fight a duel?" askedAlbert in his turn, astonished at this strange theory.

"Oh, yes, " replied the count; "understand me, I would fight a duel fora trifle, for an insult, for a blow; and the more so that, thanks tomy skill in all bodily exercises, and the indifference to danger I havegradually acquired, I should be almost certain to kill my man. Oh, I would fight for such a cause; but in return for a slow, profound, eternal torture, I would give back the same, were it possible; an eyefor an eye, a tooth for a tooth, as the Orientalists say, --our mastersin everything, --those favored creatures who have formed for themselves alife of dreams and a paradise of realities. "

"But, " said Franz to the count, "with this theory, which renders you atonce judge and executioner of your own cause, it would be difficult toadopt a course that would forever prevent your falling under the powerof the law. Hatred is blind, rage carries you away; and he who pours outvengeance runs the risk of tasting a bitter draught. "

"Yes, if he be poor and inexperienced, not if he be rich and skilful;besides, the worst that could happen to him would be the punishmentof which we have already spoken, and which the philanthropic FrenchRevolution has substituted for being torn to pieces by horses or brokenon the wheel. What matters this punishment, as long as he is avenged? Onmy word, I almost regret that in all probability this miserable Peppinowill not be beheaded, as you might have had an opportunity then ofseeing how short a time the punishment lasts, and whether it is wortheven mentioning; but, really this is a most singular conversation forthe Carnival, gentlemen; how did it arise? Ah, I recollect, you askedfor a place at my window; you shall have it; but let us first sit downto table, for here comes the servant to inform us that breakfast isready. " As he spoke, a servant opened one of the four doors of theapartment, saying--"Al suo commodo!" The two young men arose and enteredthe breakfast-room.

During the meal, which was excellent, and admirably served, Franz lookedrepeatedly at Albert, in order to observe the impressions which hedoubted not had been made on him by the words of their entertainer; butwhether with his usual carelessness he had paid but little attention tohim, whether the explanation of the Count of Monte Cristo with regardto duelling had satisfied him, or whether the events which Franz knewof had had their effect on him alone, he remarked that his companion didnot pay the least regard to them, but on the contrary ate like a manwho for the last four or five months had been condemned to partake ofItalian cookery--that is, the worst in the world. As for the count, hejust touched the dishes; he seemed to fulfil the duties of a host bysitting down with his guests, and awaited their departure to be servedwith some strange or more delicate food. This brought back to Franz, inspite of himself, the recollection of the terror with which the counthad inspired the Countess G----, and her firm conviction that the man inthe opposite box was a vampire. At the end of the breakfast Franz tookout his watch. "Well, " said the count, "what are you doing?"

"You must excuse us, count, " returned Franz, "but we have still much todo. "

"What may that be?"

"We have no masks, and it is absolutely necessary to procure them. "

"Do not concern yourself about that; we have, I think, a private room inthe Piazza del Popolo; I will have whatever costumes you choose broughtto us, and you can dress there. "

"After the execution?" cried Franz.

"Before or after, whichever you please. "

"Opposite the scaffold?"

"The scaffold forms part of the fete. "

"Count, I have reflected on the matter, " said Franz, "I thank you foryour courtesy, but I shall content myself with accepting a place in yourcarriage and at your window at the Rospoli Palace, and I leave you atliberty to dispose of my place at the Piazza del Popolo. "

"But I warn you, you will lose a very curious sight, " returned thecount.

"You will describe it to me, " replied Franz, "and the recital from yourlips will make as great an impression on me as if I had witnessed it. Ihave more than once intended witnessing an execution, but I have neverbeen able to make up my mind; and you, Albert?"

"I, " replied the viscount, --"I saw Castaing executed, but I think I wasrather intoxicated that day, for I had quitted college the same morning, and we had passed the previous night at a tavern. "

"Besides, it is no reason because you have not seen an execution atParis, that you should not see one anywhere else; when you travel, it isto see everything. Think what a figure you will make when you are asked, 'How do they execute at Rome?' and you reply, 'I do not know'! And, besides, they say that the culprit is an infamous scoundrel, who killedwith a log of wood a worthy canon who had brought him up like his ownson. Diable, when a churchman is killed, it should be with a differentweapon than a log, especially when he has behaved like a father. If youwent to Spain, would you not see the bull-fight? Well, suppose it isa bull-fight you are going to see? Recollect the ancient Romans ofthe Circus, and the sports where they killed three hundred lions anda hundred men. Think of the eighty thousand applauding spectators, thesage matrons who took their daughters, and the charming Vestals who madewith the thumb of their white hands the fatal sign that said, 'Come, despatch the dying. '"

"Shall you go, then, Albert?" asked Franz.

"Ma foi, yes; like you, I hesitated, but the count's eloquence decidesme. "

"Let us go, then, " said Franz, "since you wish it; but on our way to thePiazza del Popolo, I wish to pass through the Corso. Is this possible, count?"

"On foot, yes, in a carriage, no. "

"I will go on foot, then. "

"Is it important that you should go that way?"

"Yes, there is something I wish to see. "

"Well, we will go by the Corso. We will send the carriage to wait for uson the Piazza del Popolo, by the Strada del Babuino, for I shall be gladto pass, myself, through the Corso, to see if some orders I have givenhave been executed. "

"Excellency, " said a servant, opening the door, "a man in the dress of apenitent wishes to speak to you. "

"Ah, yes" returned the count, "I know who he is, gentlemen; will youreturn to the salon? you will find good cigars on the centre table. Iwill be with you directly. " The young men rose and returned into thesalon, while the count, again apologizing, left by another door. Albert, who was a great smoker, and who had considered it no small sacrifice tobe deprived of the cigars of the Cafe de Paris, approached the table, and uttered a cry of joy at perceiving some veritable puros.

"Well, " asked Franz, "what think you of the Count of Monte Cristo?"

"What do I think?" said Albert, evidently surprised at such a questionfrom his companion; "I think he is a delightful fellow, who does thehonors of his table admirably; who has travelled much, read much, is, like Brutus, of the Stoic school, and moreover, " added he, sending avolume of smoke up towards the ceiling, "that he has excellent cigars. "Such was Albert's opinion of the count, and as Franz well knew thatAlbert professed never to form an opinion except upon long reflection, he made no attempt to change it. "But, " said he, "did you observe onevery singular thing?"

"What?"

"How attentively he looked at you. "

"At me?"

"Yes. "--Albert reflected. "Ah, " replied he, sighing, "that is not verysurprising; I have been more than a year absent from Paris, andmy clothes are of a most antiquated cut; the count takes me for aprovincial. The first opportunity you have, undeceive him, I beg, andtell him I am nothing of the kind. " Franz smiled; an instant after thecount entered.

"I am now quite at your service, gentlemen, " said he. "The carriage isgoing one way to the Piazza del Popolo, and we will go another; and, if you please, by the Corso. Take some more of these cigars, M. DeMorcerf. "

"With all my heart, " returned Albert; "Italian cigars are horrible. Whenyou come to Paris, I will return all this. "

"I will not refuse; I intend going there soon, and since you allow me, I will pay you a visit. Come, we have not any time to lose, it ishalf-past twelve--let us set off. " All three descended; the coachmanreceived his master's orders, and drove down the Via del Babuino. While the three gentlemen walked along the Piazza de Spagni and theVia Frattina, which led directly between the Fiano and Rospoli palaces, Franz's attention was directed towards the windows of that last palace, for he had not forgotten the signal agreed upon between the man in themantle and the Transtevere peasant. "Which are your windows?" asked heof the count, with as much indifference as he could assume. "The threelast, " returned he, with a negligence evidently unaffected, for he couldnot imagine with what intention the question was put. Franz glancedrapidly towards the three windows. The side windows were hung withyellow damask, and the centre one with white damask and a red cross. Theman in the mantle had kept his promise to the Transteverin, and therecould now be no doubt that he was the count. The three windows werestill untenanted. Preparations were making on every side; chairs wereplaced, scaffolds were raised, and windows were hung with flags. Themasks could not appear; the carriages could not move about; but themasks were visible behind the windows, the carriages, and the doors.

Franz, Albert, and the count continued to descend the Corso. As theyapproached the Piazza del Popolo, the crowd became more dense, andabove the heads of the multitude two objects were visible: the obelisk, surmounted by a cross, which marks the centre of the square, and infront of the obelisk, at the point where the three streets, del Babuino, del Corso, and di Ripetta, meet, the two uprights of the scaffold, between which glittered the curved knife of the mandaia. At the cornerof the street they met the count's steward, who was awaiting his master. The window, let at an exorbitant price, which the count had doubtlesswished to conceal from his guests, was on the second floor of the greatpalace, situated between the Via del Babuino and the Monte Pincio. Itconsisted, as we have said, of a small dressing-room, opening into abedroom, and, when the door of communication was shut, the inmates werequite alone. On chairs were laid elegant masquerade costumes of blue andwhite satin. "As you left the choice of your costumes to me, " said thecount to the two friends, "I have had these brought, as they will bethe most worn this year; and they are most suitable, on account of theconfetti (sweetmeats), as they do not show the flour. "

Franz heard the words of the count but imperfectly, and he perhaps didnot fully appreciate this new attention to their wishes; for he waswholly absorbed by the spectacle that the Piazza del Popolo presented, and by the terrible instrument that was in the centre. It was the firsttime Franz had ever seen a guillotine, --we say guillotine, becausethe Roman mandaia is formed on almost the same model as the Frenchinstrument. [*] The knife, which is shaped like a crescent, that cutswith the convex side, falls from a less height, and that is all thedifference. Two men, seated on the movable plank on which the victimis laid, were eating their breakfasts, while waiting for the criminal. Their repast consisted apparently of bread and sausages. One of themlifted the plank, took out a flask of wine, drank some, and then passedit to his companion. These two men were the executioner's assistants. At this sight Franz felt the perspiration start forth upon his brow. Theprisoners, transported the previous evening from the Carcere Nuovo tothe little church of Santa Maria del Popolo, had passed the night, eachaccompanied by two priests, in a chapel closed by a grating, beforewhich were two sentinels, who were relieved at intervals. A double lineof carbineers, placed on each side of the door of the church, reachedto the scaffold, and formed a circle around it, leaving a path about tenfeet wide, and around the guillotine a space of nearly a hundred feet. All the rest of the square was paved with heads. Many women held theirinfants on their shoulders, and thus the children had the best view. The Monte Pincio seemed a vast amphitheatre filled with spectators; thebalconies of the two churches at the corner of the Via del Babuino andthe Via di Ripetta were crammed; the steps even seemed a parti-coloredsea, that was impelled towards the portico; every niche in the wallheld its living statue. What the count said was true--the most curiousspectacle in life is that of death. And yet, instead of the silence andthe solemnity demanded by the occasion, laughter and jests arose fromthe crowd. It was evident that the execution was, in the eyes of thepeople, only the commencement of the Carnival. Suddenly the tumultceased, as if by magic, and the doors of the church opened. Abrotherhood of penitents, clothed from head to foot in robes of graysackcloth, with holes for the eyes, and holding in their hands lightedtapers, appeared first; the chief marched at the head. Behind thepenitents came a man of vast stature and proportions. He was naked, withthe exception of cloth drawers at the left side of which hung a largeknife in a sheath, and he bore on his right shoulder a heavy ironsledge-hammer. This man was the executioner. He had, moreover, sandalsbound on his feet by cords. Behind the executioner came, in the orderin which they were to die, first Peppino and then Andrea. Each wasaccompanied by two priests. Neither had his eyes bandaged. Peppinowalked with a firm step, doubtless aware of what awaited him. Andrea wassupported by two priests. Each of them, from time to time, kissed thecrucifix a confessor held out to them. At this sight alone Franz felthis legs tremble under him. He looked at Albert--he was as white as hisshirt, and mechanically cast away his cigar, although he had not halfsmoked it. The count alone seemed unmoved--nay, more, a slight colorseemed striving to rise in his pale cheeks. His nostrils dilated likethose of a wild beast that scents its prey, and his lips, half opened, disclosed his white teeth, small and sharp like those of a jackal. Andyet his features wore an expression of smiling tenderness, such as Franzhad never before witnessed in them; his black eyes especially were fullof kindness and pity. However, the two culprits advanced, and as theyapproached their faces became visible. Peppino was a handsome youngman of four or five and twenty, bronzed by the sun; he carried his headerect, and seemed on the watch to see on which side his liberatorwould appear. Andrea was short and fat; his visage, marked with brutalcruelty, did not indicate age; he might be thirty. In prison he hadsuffered his beard to grow; his head fell on his shoulder, his legsbent beneath him, and his movements were apparently automatic andunconscious.

* Dr. Guillotin got the idea of his famous machine from witnessing an execution in Italy.

"I thought, " said Franz to the count, "that you told me there would bebut one execution. "

"I told you true, " replied he coldly.

"And yet here are two culprits. "

"Yes; but only one of these two is about to die; the other has manyyears to live. "

"If the pardon is to come, there is no time to lose. "

"And see, here it is, " said the count. At the moment when Peppinoreached the foot of the mandaia, a priest arrived in some haste, forced his way through the soldiers, and, advancing to the chief of thebrotherhood, gave him a folded paper. The piercing eye of Peppino hadnoticed all. The chief took the paper, unfolded it, and, raising hishand, "Heaven be praised, and his holiness also, " said he in a loudvoice; "here is a pardon for one of the prisoners!"

"A pardon!" cried the people with one voice--"a pardon!" At this cryAndrea raised his head. "Pardon for whom?" cried he.

Peppino remained breathless. "A pardon for Peppino, called RoccaPriori, " said the principal friar. And he passed the paper to theofficer commanding the carbineers, who read and returned it to him.

"For Peppino!" cried Andrea, who seemed roused from the torpor inwhich he had been plunged. "Why for him and not for me? We ought to dietogether. I was promised he should die with me. You have no right to putme to death alone. I will not die alone--I will not!" And he brokefrom the priests struggling and raving like a wild beast, and strivingdesperately to break the cords that bound his hands. The executionermade a sign, and his two assistants leaped from the scaffold and seizedhim. "What is going on?" asked Franz of the count; for, as all the talkwas in the Roman dialect, he had not perfectly understood it. "Do younot see?" returned the count, "that this human creature who is about todie is furious that his fellow-sufferer does not perish with him? and, were he able, he would rather tear him to pieces with his teeth andnails than let him enjoy the life he himself is about to be deprivedof. Oh, man, man--race of crocodiles, " cried the count, extending hisclinched hands towards the crowd, "how well do I recognize you there, and that at all times you are worthy of yourselves!" Meanwhile Andreaand the two executioners were struggling on the ground, and he keptexclaiming, "He ought to die!--he shall die!--I will not die alone!"

"Look, look, " cried the count, seizing the young men's hands--"look, foron my soul it is curious. Here is a man who had resigned himself to hisfate, who was going to the scaffold to die--like a coward, it is true, but he was about to die without resistance. Do you know what gave himstrength?--do you know what consoled him? It was, that another partookof his punishment--that another partook of his anguish--that anotherwas to die before him. Lead two sheep to the butcher's, two oxen to theslaughterhouse, and make one of them understand that his companion willnot die; the sheep will bleat for pleasure, the ox will bellow with joy. But man--man, whom God created in his own image--man, upon whom God haslaid his first, his sole commandment, to love his neighbor--man, to whomGod has given a voice to express his thoughts--what is his first crywhen he hears his fellow-man is saved? A blasphemy. Honor to man, thismasterpiece of nature, this king of the creation!" And the count burstinto a laugh; a terrible laugh, that showed he must have sufferedhorribly to be able thus to laugh. However, the struggle stillcontinued, and it was dreadful to witness. The people all took partagainst Andrea, and twenty thousand voices cried, "Put him to death! puthim to death!" Franz sprang back, but the count seized his arm, and heldhim before the window. "What are you doing?" said he. "Do you pity him?If you heard the cry of 'Mad dog!' you would take your gun--you wouldunhesitatingly shoot the poor beast, who, after all, was only guilty ofhaving been bitten by another dog. And yet you pity a man who, withoutbeing bitten by one of his race, has yet murdered his benefactor; andwho, now unable to kill any one, because his hands are bound, wishes tosee his companion in captivity perish. No, no--look, look!"

The command was needless. Franz was fascinated by the horriblespectacle. The two assistants had borne Andrea to the scaffold, andthere, in spite of his struggles, his bites, and his cries, had forcedhim to his knees. During this time the executioner had raised his mace, and signed to them to get out of the way; the criminal strove to rise, but, ere he had time, the mace fell on his left temple. A dull and heavysound was heard, and the man dropped like an ox on his face, and thenturned over on his back. The executioner let fall his mace, drew hisknife, and with one stroke opened his throat, and mounting on hisstomach, stamped violently on it with his feet. At every stroke a jet ofblood sprang from the wound.

This time Franz could contain himself no longer, but sank, halffainting, into a seat. Albert, with his eyes closed, was standinggrasping the window-curtains. The count was erect and triumphant, likethe Avenging Angel!

Chapter 36. The Carnival at Rome.

When Franz recovered his senses, he saw Albert drinking a glass ofwater, of which, to judge from his pallor, he stood in great need;and the count, who was assuming his masquerade costume. He glancedmechanically towards the square--the scene was wholly changed; scaffold, executioners, victims, all had disappeared; only the people remained, full of noise and excitement. The bell of Monte Citorio, which onlysounds on the pope's decease and the opening of the Carnival, wasringing a joyous peal. "Well, " asked he of the count, "what has, then, happened?"

"Nothing, " replied the count; "only, as you see, the Carnival hiscommenced. Make haste and dress yourself. "

"In fact, " said Franz, "this horrible scene has passed away like adream. "

"It is but a dream, a nightmare, that has disturbed you. "

"Yes, that I have suffered; but the culprit?"

"That is a dream also; only he has remained asleep, while you haveawakened; and who knows which of you is the most fortunate?"

"But Peppino--what has become of him?"

"Peppino is a lad of sense, who, unlike most men, who are happy inproportion as they are noticed, was delighted to see that the generalattention was directed towards his companion. He profited by thisdistraction to slip away among the crowd, without even thanking theworthy priests who accompanied him. Decidedly man is an ungrateful andegotistical animal. But dress yourself; see, M. De Morcerf sets youthe example. " Albert was drawing on the satin pantaloon over his blacktrousers and varnished boots. "Well, Albert, " said Franz, "do you feelmuch inclined to join the revels? Come, answer frankly. "

"Ma foi, no, " returned Albert. "But I am really glad to have seen sucha sight; and I understand what the count said--that when you have oncehabituated yourself to a similar spectacle, it is the only one thatcauses you any emotion. "

"Without reflecting that this is the only moment in which you can studycharacter, " said the count; "on the steps of the scaffold death tearsoff the mask that has been worn through life, and the real visage isdisclosed. It must be allowed that Andrea was not very handsome, thehideous scoundrel! Come, dress yourselves, gentlemen, dress yourselves. "Franz felt it would be ridiculous not to follow his two companions'example. He assumed his costume, and fastened on the mask that scarcelyequalled the pallor of his own face. Their toilet finished, theydescended; the carriage awaited them at the door, filled with sweetmeatsand bouquets. They fell into the line of carriages. It is difficult toform an idea of the perfect change that had taken place. Instead of thespectacle of gloomy and silent death, the Piazza del Popolo presented aspectacle of gay and noisy mirth and revelry. A crowd of masks flowedin from all sides, emerging from the doors, descending from the windows. From every street and every corner drove carriages filled with clowns, harlequins, dominoes, mummers, pantomimists, Transteverins, knights, andpeasants, screaming, fighting, gesticulating, throwing eggs filled withflour, confetti, nosegays, attacking, with their sarcasms and theirmissiles, friends and foes, companions and strangers, indiscriminately, and no one took offence, or did anything but laugh. Franz and Albertwere like men who, to drive away a violent sorrow, have recourse towine, and who, as they drink and become intoxicated, feel a thick veildrawn between the past and the present. They saw, or rather continuedto see, the image of what they had witnessed; but little by little thegeneral vertigo seized them, and they felt themselves obliged to takepart in the noise and confusion. A handful of confetti that came froma neighboring carriage, and which, while it covered Morcerf and histwo companions with dust, pricked his neck and that portion of his faceuncovered by his mask like a hundred pins, incited him to join in thegeneral combat, in which all the masks around him were engaged. He rosein his turn, and seizing handfuls of confetti and sweetmeats, with whichthe carriage was filled, cast them with all the force and skill he wasmaster of.

The strife had fairly begun, and the recollection of what they had seenhalf an hour before was gradually effaced from the young men's minds, so much were they occupied by the gay and glittering procession they nowbeheld. As for the Count of Monte Cristo, he had never for an instantshown any appearance of having been moved. Imagine the large andsplendid Corso, bordered from one end to the other with lofty palaces, with their balconies hung with carpets, and their windows with flags. Atthese balconies are three hundred thousand spectators--Romans, Italians, strangers from all parts of the world, the united aristocracy of birth, wealth, and genius. Lovely women, yielding to the influence of thescene, bend over their balconies, or lean from their windows, and showerdown confetti, which are returned by bouquets; the air seems darkenedwith the falling confetti and flying flowers. In the streets the livelycrowd is dressed in the most fantastic costumes--gigantic cabbages walkgravely about, buffaloes' heads bellow from men's shoulders, dogs walkon their hind legs; in the midst of all this a mask is lifted, and, asin Callot's Temptation of St. Anthony, a lovely face is exhibited, which we would fain follow, but from which we are separated by troopsof fiends. This will give a faint idea of the Carnival at Rome. At thesecond turn, the count stopped the carriage, and requested permission towithdraw, leaving the vehicle at their disposal. Franz looked up--theywere opposite the Rospoli Palace. At the centre window, the one hungwith white damask with a red cross, was a blue domino, beneathwhich Franz's imagination easily pictured the beautiful Greek of theArgentina. "Gentlemen, " said the count, springing out, "when you aretired of being actors, and wish to become spectators of this scene, you know you have places at my windows. In the meantime, dispose of mycoachman, my carriage, and my servants. " We have forgotten to mention, that the count's coachman was attired in a bear-skin, exactly resemblingOdry's in "The Bear and the Pasha;" and the two footmen behind weredressed up as green monkeys, with spring masks, with which they madegrimaces at every one who passed. Franz thanked the count for hisattention. As for Albert, he was busily occupied throwing bouquets at acarriage full of Roman peasants that was passing near him. Unfortunatelyfor him, the line of carriages moved on again, and while he descendedthe Piazza del Popolo, the other ascended towards the Palazzo diVenezia. "Ah, my dear fellow, " said he to Franz; "you did not see?"

"What?"

"There, --that calash filled with Roman peasants. "

"No. "

"Well, I am convinced they are all charming women. "

"How unfortunate that you were masked, Albert, " said Franz; "here was anopportunity of making up for past disappointments. "

"Oh, " replied he, half laughing, half serious; "I hope the Carnival willnot pass without some amends in one shape or the other. "

But, in spite of Albert's hope, the day passed unmarked by any incident, excepting two or three encounters with the carriage full of Romanpeasants. At one of these encounters, accidentally or purposely, Albert's mask fell off. He instantly rose and cast the remainder of thebouquets into the carriage. Doubtless one of the charming femalesAlbert had detected beneath their coquettish disguise was touched by hisgallantry; for, as the carriage of the two friends passed her, she threwa bunch of violets. Albert seized it, and as Franz had no reason tosuppose it was meant for him, he suffered Albert to retain it. Albertplaced it in his button-hole, and the carriage went triumphantly on.

"Well, " said Franz to him; "there is the beginning of an adventure. "

"Laugh if you please--I really think so. So I will not abandon thisbouquet. "

"Pardieu, " returned Franz, laughing, "in token of your ingratitude. "The jest, however, soon appeared to become earnest; for when Albert andFranz again encountered the carriage with the contadini, the one who hadthrown the violets to Albert, clapped her hands when she beheld themin his button-hole. "Bravo, bravo, " said Franz; "things go wonderfully. Shall I leave you? Perhaps you would prefer being alone?"

"No, " replied he; "I will not be caught like a fool at a firstdisclosure by a rendezvous under the clock, as they say at theopera-balls. If the fair peasant wishes to carry matters any further, we shall find her, or rather, she will find us to-morrow; then she willgive me some sign or other, and I shall know what I have to do. "

"On my word, " said Franz, "you are wise as Nestor and prudent asUlysses, and your fair Circe must be very skilful or very powerful ifshe succeed in changing you into a beast of any kind. " Albert was right;the fair unknown had resolved, doubtless, to carry the intrigue nofarther; for although the young men made several more turns, they didnot again see the calash, which had turned up one of the neighboringstreets. Then they returned to the Rospoli Palace; but the count andthe blue domino had also disappeared; the two windows, hung with yellowdamask, were still occupied by the persons whom the count had invited. At this moment the same bell that had proclaimed the beginning of themascherata sounded the retreat. The file on the Corso broke the line, and in a second all the carriages had disappeared. Franz and Albert wereopposite the Via delle Maratte; the coachman, without saying a word, drove up it, passed along the Piazza di Spagni and the Rospoli Palaceand stopped at the door of the hotel. Signor Pastrini came to the doorto receive his guests. Franz hastened to inquire after the count, and toexpress regret that he had not returned in sufficient time; but Pastrinireassured him by saying that the Count of Monte Cristo had ordered asecond carriage for himself, and that it had gone at four o'clock tofetch him from the Rospoli Palace. The count had, moreover, chargedhim to offer the two friends the key of his box at the Argentina. Franzquestioned Albert as to his intentions; but Albert had great projectsto put into execution before going to the theatre; and instead of makingany answer, he inquired if Signor Pastrini could procure him a tailor. "A tailor, " said the host; "and for what?"

"To make us between now and to-morrow two Roman peasant costumes, "returned Albert. The host shook his head. "To make you two costumesbetween now and to-morrow? I ask your excellencies' pardon, but thisis quite a French demand; for the next week you will not find a singletailor who would consent to sew six buttons on a waistcoat if you paidhim a crown a piece for each button. "

"Then I must give up the idea?"

"No; we have them ready-made. Leave all to me; and to-morrow, when youawake, you shall find a collection of costumes with which you will besatisfied. "

"My dear Albert, " said Franz, "leave all to our host; he has alreadyproved himself full of resources; let us dine quietly, and afterwards goand see 'The Algerian Captive. '"

"Agreed, " returned Albert; "but remember, Signor Pastrini, that both myfriend and myself attach the greatest importance to having to-morrow thecostumes we have asked for. " The host again assured them they might relyon him, and that their wishes should be attended to; upon which Franzand Albert mounted to their apartments, and proceeded to disencumberthemselves of their costumes. Albert, as he took off his dress, carefully preserved the bunch of violets; it was his token reservedfor the morrow. The two friends sat down to table; but they couldnot refrain from remarking the difference between the Count of MonteCristo's table and that of Signor Pastrini. Truth compelled Franz, inspite of the dislike he seemed to have taken to the count, to confessthat the advantage was not on Pastrini's side. During dessert, theservant inquired at what time they wished for the carriage. Albertand Franz looked at each other, fearing really to abuse the count'skindness. The servant understood them. "His excellency the Count ofMonte Cristo had, " he said, "given positive orders that the carriage wasto remain at their lordships' orders all day, and they could thereforedispose of it without fear of indiscretion. "

They resolved to profit by the count's courtesy, and ordered the horsesto be harnessed, while they substituted evening dress for that whichthey had on, and which was somewhat the worse for the numerous combatsthey had sustained. This precaution taken, they went to the theatre, and installed themselves in the count's box. During the first act, theCountess G---- entered. Her first look was at the box where she had seenthe count the previous evening, so that she perceived Franz and Albertin the place of the very person concerning whom she had expressed sostrange an opinion to Franz. Her opera-glass was so fixedly directedtowards them, that Franz saw it would be cruel not to satisfy hercuriosity; and, availing himself of one of the privileges of thespectators of the Italian theatres, who use their boxes to holdreceptions, the two friends went to pay their respects to the countess. Scarcely had they entered, when she motioned to Franz to assume the seatof honor. Albert, in his turn, sat behind.

"Well, " said she, hardly giving Franz time to sit down, "it seems youhave nothing better to do than to make the acquaintance of this new LordRuthven, and you are already the best friends in the world. "

"Without being so far advanced as that, my dear countess, " returnedFranz, "I cannot deny that we have abused his good nature all day. "

"All day?"

"Yes; this morning we breakfasted with him; we rode in his carriage allday, and now we have taken possession of his box. "

"You know him, then?"

"Yes, and no. "

"How so?"

"It is a long story. "

"Tell it to me. "

"It would frighten you too much. "

"So much the more reason. "

"At least wait until the story has a conclusion. "

"Very well; I prefer complete histories; but tell me how you made hisacquaintance? Did any one introduce you to him?"

"No; it was he who introduced himself to us. "

"When?"

"Last night, after we left you. "

"Through what medium?"

"The very prosaic one of our landlord. "

"He is staying, then, at the Hotel de Londres with you?"

"Not only in the same hotel, but on the same floor. "

"What is his name--for, of course, you know?"

"The Count of Monte Cristo. "

"That is not a family name?"

"No, it is the name of the island he has purchased. "

"And he is a count?"

"A Tuscan count. "

"Well, we must put up with that, " said the countess, who was herselffrom one of the oldest Venetian families. "What sort of a man is he?"

"Ask the Vicomte de Morcerf. "

"You hear, M. De Morcerf, I am referred to you, " said the countess.

"We should be very hard to please, madam, " returned Albert, "did we notthink him delightful. A friend of ten years' standing could not havedone more for us, or with a more perfect courtesy. "

"Come, " observed the countess, smiling, "I see my vampire is only somemillionaire, who has taken the appearance of Lara in order to avoidbeing confounded with M. De Rothschild; and you have seen her?"

"Her?"

"The beautiful Greek of yesterday. "

"No; we heard, I think, the sound of her guzla, but she remainedperfectly invisible. "

"When you say invisible, " interrupted Albert, "it is only to keep upthe mystery; for whom do you take the blue domino at the window with thewhite curtains?"

"Where was this window with white hangings?" asked the countess.

"At the Rospoli Palace. "

"The count had three windows at the Rospoli Palace?"

"Yes. Did you pass through the Corso?"

"Yes. "

"Well, did you notice two windows hung with yellow damask, and one withwhite damask with a red cross? Those were the count's windows. "

"Why, he must be a nabob. Do you know what those three windows wereworth?"

"Two or three hundred Roman crowns?"

"Two or three thousand. "

"The deuce. "

"Does his island produce him such a revenue?"

"It does not bring him a baiocco. "

"Then why did he purchase it?"

"For a whim. "

"He is an original, then?"

"In reality, " observed Albert, "he seemed to me somewhat eccentric; werehe at Paris, and a frequenter of the theatres, I should say he was apoor devil literally mad. This morning he made two or three exits worthyof Didier or Anthony. " At this moment a fresh visitor entered, and, according to custom, Franz gave up his seat to him. This circumstancehad, moreover, the effect of changing the conversation; an hourafterwards the two friends returned to their hotel. Signor Pastrinihad already set about procuring their disguises for the morrow; and heassured them that they would be perfectly satisfied. The next morning, at nine o'clock, he entered Franz's room, followed by a tailor, whohad eight or ten Roman peasant costumes on his arm; they selected twoexactly alike, and charged the tailor to sew on each of their hats abouttwenty yards of ribbon, and to procure them two of the long silk sashesof different colors with which the lower orders decorate themselves onfete-days. Albert was impatient to see how he looked in his new dress--ajacket and breeches of blue velvet, silk stockings with clocks, shoeswith buckles, and a silk waistcoat. This picturesque attire set him offto great advantage; and when he had bound the scarf around his waist, and when his hat, placed coquettishly on one side, let fall on hisshoulder a stream of ribbons, Franz was forced to confess that costumehas much to do with the physical superiority we accord to certainnations. The Turks used to be so picturesque with their long and flowingrobes, but are they not now hideous with their blue frocks buttoned upto the chin, and their red caps, which make them look like a bottle ofwine with a red seal? Franz complimented Albert, who looked at himselfin the glass with an unequivocal smile of satisfaction. They were thusengaged when the Count of Monte Cristo entered.

"Gentlemen, " said he, "although a companion is agreeable, perfectfreedom is sometimes still more agreeable. I come to say that to-day, and for the remainder of the Carnival, I leave the carriage entirely atyour disposal. The host will tell you I have three or four more, so thatyou will not inconvenience me in any way. Make use of it, I pray you, for your pleasure or your business. "

The young men wished to decline, but they could find no good reason forrefusing an offer which was so agreeable to them. The Count of MonteCristo remained a quarter of an hour with them, conversing on allsubjects with the greatest ease. He was, as we have already said, perfectly well acquainted with the literature of all countries. A glanceat the walls of his salon proved to Franz and Albert that he was aconnoisseur of pictures. A few words he let fall showed them that he wasno stranger to the sciences, and he seemed much occupied with chemistry. The two friends did not venture to return the count the breakfast he hadgiven them; it would have been too absurd to offer him in exchange forhis excellent table the very inferior one of Signor Pastrini. They toldhim so frankly, and he received their excuses with the air of a man whoappreciated their delicacy. Albert was charmed with the count's manners, and he was only prevented from recognizing him for a perfect gentlemanby reason of his varied knowledge. The permission to do what he likedwith the carriage pleased him above all, for the fair peasants hadappeared in a most elegant carriage the preceding evening, and Albertwas not sorry to be upon an equal footing with them. At half-past onethey descended, the coachman and footman had put on their livery overtheir disguises, which gave them a more ridiculous appearance thanever, and which gained them the applause of Franz and Albert. Alberthad fastened the faded bunch of violets to his button-hole. At the firstsound of the bell they hastened into the Corso by the Via Vittoria. Atthe second turn, a bunch of fresh violets, thrown from a carriage filledwith harlequins, indicated to Albert that, like himself and his friend, the peasants had changed their costume, also; and whether it was theresult of chance, or whether a similar feeling had possessed them both, while he had changed his costume they had assumed his.

Albert placed the fresh bouquet in his button-hole, but he kept thefaded one in his hand; and when he again met the calash, he raised it tohis lips, an action which seemed greatly to amuse not only the fair ladywho had thrown it, but her joyous companions also. The day was as gayas the preceding one, perhaps even more animated and noisy; the countappeared for an instant at his window, but when they again passed he haddisappeared. It is almost needless to say that the flirtation betweenAlbert and the fair peasant continued all day. In the evening, on hisreturn, Franz found a letter from the embassy, informing him that hewould have the honor of being received by his holiness the next day. Ateach previous visit he had made to Rome, he had solicited and obtainedthe same favor; and incited as much by a religious feeling as bygratitude, he was unwilling to quit the capital of the Christian worldwithout laying his respectful homage at the feet of one of St. Peter'ssuccessors who has set the rare example of all the virtues. He didnot then think of the Carnival, for in spite of his condescension andtouching kindness, one cannot incline one's self without awe before thevenerable and noble old man called Gregory XVI. On his return from theVatican, Franz carefully avoided the Corso; he brought away with him atreasure of pious thoughts, to which the mad gayety of the maskerswould have been profanation. At ten minutes past five Albert enteredoverjoyed. The harlequin had reassumed her peasant's costume, and asshe passed she raised her mask. She was charming. Franz congratulatedAlbert, who received his congratulations with the air of a man consciousthat they are merited. He had recognized by certain unmistakable signs, that his fair incognita belonged to the aristocracy. He had made up hismind to write to her the next day. Franz remarked, while he gave thesedetails, that Albert seemed to have something to ask of him, but that hewas unwilling to ask it. He insisted upon it, declaring beforehandthat he was willing to make any sacrifice the other wished. Albert lethimself be pressed just as long as friendship required, and then avowedto Franz that he would do him a great favor by allowing him to occupythe carriage alone the next day. Albert attributed to Franz's absencethe extreme kindness of the fair peasant in raising her mask. Franzwas not sufficiently egotistical to stop Albert in the middle of anadventure that promised to prove so agreeable to his curiosity and soflattering to his vanity. He felt assured that the perfect indiscretionof his friend would duly inform him of all that happened; and as, duringthree years that he had travelled all over Italy, a similar piece ofgood fortune had never fallen to his share, Franz was by no means sorryto learn how to act on such an occasion. He therefore promised Albertthat he would content himself the morrow with witnessing the Carnivalfrom the windows of the Rospoli Palace.

The next morning he saw Albert pass and repass, holding an enormousbouquet, which he doubtless meant to make the bearer of his amorousepistle. This belief was changed into certainty when Franz saw thebouquet (conspicuous by a circle of white camellias) in the hand of acharming harlequin dressed in rose-colored satin. The evening was nolonger joy, but delirium. Albert nothing doubted but that the fairunknown would reply in the same manner. Franz anticipated his wishes bysaying that the noise fatigued him, and that he should pass the next dayin writing and looking over his journal. Albert was not deceived, forthe next evening Franz saw him enter triumphantly shaking a folded paperwhich he held by one corner. "Well, " said he, "was I mistaken?"

"She has answered you!" cried Franz.

"Read. " This word was pronounced in a manner impossible to describe. Franz took the letter, and read:--

Tuesday evening, at seven o'clock, descend from your carriage oppositethe Via dei Pontefici, and follow the Roman peasant who snatches yourtorch from you. When you arrive at the first step of the church ofSan Giacomo, be sure to fasten a knot of rose-colored ribbons to theshoulder of your harlequin costume, in order that you may be recognized. Until then you will not see me.

Constancy and Discretion.

"Well, " asked he, when Franz had finished, "what do you think of that?"

"I think that the adventure is assuming a very agreeable appearance. "

"I think so, also, " replied Albert; "and I very much fear you will goalone to the Duke of Bracciano's ball. " Franz and Albert had receivedthat morning an invitation from the celebrated Roman banker. "Take care, Albert, " said Franz. "All the nobility of Rome will be present, and ifyour fair incognita belong to the higher class of society, she must gothere. "

"Whether she goes there or not, my opinion is still the same, " returnedAlbert. "You have read the letter?"

"Yes. "

"You know how imperfectly the women of the mezzo cito are educated inItaly?" (This is the name of the lower class. )

"Yes. "

"Well, read the letter again. Look at the writing, and find if youcan, any blemish in the language or orthography. " (The writing was, inreality, charming, and the orthography irreproachable. ) "You are born togood fortune, " said Franz, as he returned the letter.

"Laugh as much as you will, " replied Albert, "I am in love. "

"You alarm me, " cried Franz. "I see that I shall not only go alone tothe Duke of Bracciano's, but also return to Florence alone. "

"If my unknown be as amiable as she is beautiful, " said Albert, "I shallfix myself at Rome for six weeks, at least. I adore Rome, and I havealways had a great taste for archaeology. "

"Come, two or three more such adventures, and I do not despair of seeingyou a member of the Academy. " Doubtless Albert was about to discussseriously his right to the academic chair when they were informed thatdinner was ready. Albert's love had not taken away his appetite. Hehastened with Franz to seat himself, free to recommence the discussionafter dinner. After dinner, the Count of Monte Cristo was announced. They had not seen him for two days. Signor Pastrini informed them thatbusiness had called him to Civita Vecchia. He had started the previousevening, and had only returned an hour since. He was charming. Whetherhe kept a watch over himself, or whether by accident he did not soundthe acrimonious chords that in other circumstances had been touched, hewas to-night like everybody else. The man was an enigma to Franz. Thecount must feel sure that Franz recognized him; and yet he had not letfall a single word indicating any previous acquaintance between them. On his side, however great Franz's desire was to allude to their formerinterview, the fear of being disagreeable to the man who had loaded himand his friend with kindness prevented him from mentioning it. Thecount had learned that the two friends had sent to secure a box at theArgentina Theatre, and were told they were all let. In consequence, hebrought them the key of his own--at least such was the apparent motiveof his visit. Franz and Albert made some difficulty, alleging their fearof depriving him of it; but the count replied that, as he was going tothe Palli Theatre, the box at the Argentina Theatre would be lost ifthey did not profit by it. This assurance determined the two friends toaccept it.

Franz had by degrees become accustomed to the count's pallor, which hadso forcibly struck him at their first meeting. He could not refrain fromadmiring the severe beauty of his features, the only defect, or ratherthe principal quality of which was the pallor. Truly, a Byronic hero!Franz could not, we will not say see him, but even think of him withoutimagining his stern head upon Manfred's shoulders, or beneath Lara'shelmet. His forehead was marked with the line that indicates theconstant presence of bitter thoughts; he had the fiery eyes that seemto penetrate to the very soul, and the haughty and disdainful upper lipthat gives to the words it utters a peculiar character that impressesthem on the minds of those to whom they are addressed. The count was nolonger young. He was at least forty; and yet it was easy to understandthat he was formed to rule the young men with whom he associated atpresent. And, to complete his resemblance with the fantastic heroes ofthe English poet, the count seemed to have the power of fascination. Albert was constantly expatiating on their good fortune in meeting sucha man. Franz was less enthusiastic; but the count exercised over himalso the ascendency a strong mind always acquires over a mind lessdomineering. He thought several times of the project the count hadof visiting Paris; and he had no doubt but that, with his eccentriccharacter, his characteristic face, and his colossal fortune, he wouldproduce a great effect there. And yet he did not wish to be at Pariswhen the count was there. The evening passed as evenings mostly pass atItalian theatres; that is, not in listening to the music, but in payingvisits and conversing. The Countess G---- wished to revive the subject ofthe count, but Franz announced he had something far newer to tell her, and, in spite of Albert's demonstrations of false modesty, he informedthe countess of the great event which had preoccupied them for the lastthree days. As similar intrigues are not uncommon in Italy, if we maycredit travellers, the comtess did not manifest the least incredulity, but congratulated Albert on his success. They promised, upon separating, to meet at the Duke of Bracciano's ball, to which all Rome was invited. The heroine of the bouquet kept her word; she gave Albert no sign of herexistence the morrow or the day after.

At length Tuesday came, the last and most tumultuous day of theCarnival. On Tuesday, the theatres open at ten o'clock in the morning, as Lent begins after eight at night. On Tuesday, all those who throughwant of money, time, or enthusiasm, have not been to see the Carnivalbefore, mingle in the gayety, and contribute to the noise andexcitement. From two o'clock till five Franz and Albert followed in thefete, exchanging handfuls of confetti with the other carriages andthe pedestrians, who crowded amongst the horses' feet and the carriagewheels without a single accident, a single dispute, or a single fight. The fetes are veritable pleasure days to the Italians. The author ofthis history, who has resided five or six years in Italy, does notrecollect to have ever seen a ceremony interrupted by one of thoseevents so common in other countries. Albert was triumphant in hisharlequin costume. A knot of rose-colored ribbons fell from his shoulderalmost to the ground. In order that there might be no confusion, Franzwore his peasant's costume.

As the day advanced, the tumult became greater. There was not on thepavement, in the carriages, at the windows, a single tongue that wassilent, a single arm that did not move. It was a human storm, made upof a thunder of cries, and a hail of sweetmeats, flowers, eggs, oranges, and nosegays. At three o'clock the sound of fireworks, let off on thePiazza del Popolo and the Piazza di Venezia (heard with difficulty amidthe din and confusion) announced that the races were about to begin. Theraces, like the moccoli, are one of the episodes peculiar to the lastdays of the Carnival. At the sound of the fireworks the carriagesinstantly broke ranks, and retired by the adjacent streets. All theseevolutions are executed with an inconceivable address and marvellousrapidity, without the police interfering in the matter. The pedestriansranged themselves against the walls; then the trampling of horses andthe clashing of steel were heard. A detachment of carbineers, fifteenabreast, galloped up the Corso in order to clear it for the barberi. When the detachment arrived at the Piazza di Venezia, a second volley offireworks was discharged, to announce that the street was clear. Almostinstantly, in the midst of a tremendous and general outcry, sevenor eight horses, excited by the shouts of three hundred thousandspectators, passed by like lightning. Then the Castle of Saint Angelofired three cannon to indicate that number three had won. Immediately, without any other signal, the carriages moved on, flowing on towards theCorso, down all the streets, like torrents pent up for a while, whichagain flow into the parent river; and the immense stream again continuedits course between its two granite banks.

A new source of noise and movement was added to the crowd. The sellersof moccoletti entered on the scene. The moccoli, or moccoletti, arecandles which vary in size from the pascal taper to the rushlight, andwhich give to each actor in the great final scene of the Carnival twovery serious problems to grapple with, --first, how to keep his ownmoccoletto alight; and secondly, how to extinguish the moccoletti ofothers. The moccoletto is like life: man has found but one means oftransmitting it, and that one comes from God. But he has discovered athousand means of taking it away, and the devil has somewhat aided him. The moccoletto is kindled by approaching it to a light. But who candescribe the thousand means of extinguishing the moccoletto?--thegigantic bellows, the monstrous extinguishers, the superhuman fans. Every one hastened to purchase moccoletti--Franz and Albert among therest.

The night was rapidly approaching; and already, at the cry of"Moccoletti!" repeated by the shrill voices of a thousand vendors, twoor three stars began to burn among the crowd. It was a signal. At theend of ten minutes fifty thousand lights glittered, descending fromthe Palazzo di Venezia to the Piazza del Popolo, and mounting from thePiazzo del Popolo to the Palazzo di Venezia. It seemed like the fete ofjack-o'-lanterns. It is impossible to form any idea of it without havingseen it. Suppose that all the stars had descended from the sky andmingled in a wild dance on the face of the earth; the whole accompaniedby cries that were never heard in any other part of the world. Thefacchino follows the prince, the Transteverin the citizen, every oneblowing, extinguishing, relighting. Had old AEolus appeared at thismoment, he would have been proclaimed king of the moccoli, and Aquilothe heir-presumptive to the throne. This battle of folly and flamecontinued for two hours; the Corso was light as day; the features ofthe spectators on the third and fourth stories were visible. Every fiveminutes Albert took out his watch; at length it pointed to seven. Thetwo friends were in the Via dei Pontefici. Albert sprang out, bearinghis moccoletto in his hand. Two or three masks strove to knock hismoccoletto out of his hand; but Albert, a first-rate pugilist, sent themrolling in the street, one after the other, and continued his coursetowards the church of San Giacomo. The steps were crowded with masks, who strove to snatch each other's torches. Franz followed Albert withhis eyes, and saw him mount the first step. Instantly a mask, wearingthe well-known costume of a peasant woman, snatched his moccoletto fromhim without his offering any resistance. Franz was too far off to hearwhat they said; but, without doubt, nothing hostile passed, for he sawAlbert disappear arm-in-arm with the peasant girl. He watched them passthrough the crowd for some time, but at length he lost sight of them inthe Via Macello. Suddenly the bell that gives the signal for the end ofthe carnival sounded, and at the same instant all the moccoletti wereextinguished as if by enchantment. It seemed as though one immense blastof the wind had extinguished every one. Franz found himself in utterdarkness. No sound was audible save that of the carriages that werecarrying the maskers home; nothing was visible save a few lights thatburnt behind the windows. The Carnival was over.

Chapter 37. The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian.

In his whole life, perhaps, Franz had never before experienced so suddenan impression, so rapid a transition from gayety to sadness, as in thismoment. It seemed as though Rome, under the magic breath of some demonof the night, had suddenly changed into a vast tomb. By a chance, whichadded yet more to the intensity of the darkness, the moon, which was onthe wane, did not rise until eleven o'clock, and the streets which theyoung man traversed were plunged in the deepest obscurity. The distancewas short, and at the end of ten minutes his carriage, or rather thecount's, stopped before the Hotel de Londres. Dinner was waiting, butas Albert had told him that he should not return so soon, Franz sat downwithout him. Signor Pastrini, who had been accustomed to see them dinetogether, inquired into the cause of his absence, but Franz merelyreplied that Albert had received on the previous evening an invitationwhich he had accepted. The sudden extinction of the moccoletti, thedarkness which had replaced the light, and the silence which hadsucceeded the turmoil, had left in Franz's mind a certain depressionwhich was not free from uneasiness. He therefore dined very silently, inspite of the officious attention of his host, who presented himself twoor three times to inquire if he wanted anything.

Franz resolved to wait for Albert as late as possible. He ordered thecarriage, therefore, for eleven o'clock, desiring Signor Pastrini toinform him the moment that Albert returned to the hotel. At eleveno'clock Albert had not come back. Franz dressed himself, and went out, telling his host that he was going to pass the night at the Duke ofBracciano's. The house of the Duke of Bracciano is one of the mostdelightful in Rome, the duchess, one of the last heiresses of theColonnas, does its honors with the most consummate grace, and thus theirfetes have a European celebrity. Franz and Albert had brought to Romeletters of introduction to them, and their first question on his arrivalwas to inquire the whereabouts of his travelling companion. Franzreplied that he had left him at the moment they were about to extinguishthe moccoli, and that he had lost sight of him in the Via Macello. "Thenhe has not returned?" said the duke.

"I waited for him until this hour, " replied Franz.

"And do you know whither he went?"

"No, not precisely; however, I think it was something very like arendezvous. "

"Diavolo!" said the duke, "this is a bad day, or rather a bad night, to be out late; is it not, countess!" These words were addressed tothe Countess G----, who had just arrived, and was leaning on the arm ofSignor Torlonia, the duke's brother.

"I think, on the contrary, that it is a charming night, " replied thecountess, "and those who are here will complain of but one thing--itstoo rapid flight. "

"I am not speaking, " said the duke with a smile, "of the persons who arehere; the men run no other danger than that of falling in love withyou, and the women of falling ill of jealousy at seeing you so lovely; Imeant persons who were out in the streets of Rome. "

"Ah, " asked the countess, "who is out in the streets of Rome at thishour, unless it be to go to a ball?"

"Our friend, Albert de Morcerf, countess, whom I left in pursuit of hisunknown about seven o'clock this evening, " said Franz, "and whom I havenot seen since. "

"And don't you know where he is?"

"Not at all. "

"Is he armed?"

"He is in masquerade. "

"You should not have allowed him to go, " said the duke to Franz; "you, who know Rome better than he does. "

"You might as well have tried to stop number three of the barberi, whogained the prize in the race to-day, " replied Franz; "and then moreover, what could happen to him?"

"Who can tell? The night is gloomy, and the Tiber is very near the ViaMacello. " Franz felt a shudder run through his veins at observing thatthe feeling of the duke and the countess was so much in unison with hisown personal disquietude. "I informed them at the hotel that I had thehonor of passing the night here, duke, " said Franz, "and desired them tocome and inform me of his return. "

"Ah, " replied the duke, "here I think, is one of my servants who isseeking you. "

The duke was not mistaken; when he saw Franz, the servant came up tohim. "Your excellency, " he said, "the master of the Hotel de Londres hassent to let you know that a man is waiting for you with a letter fromthe Viscount of Morcerf. "

"A letter from the viscount!" exclaimed Franz.

"Yes. "

"And who is the man?"

"I do not know. "

"Why did he not bring it to me here?"

"The messenger did not say. "

"And where is the messenger?"

"He went away directly he saw me enter the ball-room to find you. "

"Oh, " said the countess to Franz, "go with all speed--poor young man!Perhaps some accident has happened to him. "

"I will hasten, " replied Franz.

"Shall we see you again to give us any information?" inquired thecountess.

"Yes, if it is not any serious affair, otherwise I cannot answer as towhat I may do myself. "

"Be prudent, in any event, " said the countess.

"Oh, pray be assured of that. " Franz took his hat and went away inhaste. He had sent away his carriage with orders for it to fetch him attwo o'clock; fortunately the Palazzo Bracciano, which is on one sidein the Corso, and on the other in the Square of the Holy Apostles, ishardly ten minutes' walk from the Hotel de Londres. As he came near thehotel, Franz saw a man in the middle of the street. He had no doubtthat it was the messenger from Albert. The man was wrapped up in a largecloak. He went up to him, but, to his extreme astonishment, the strangerfirst addressed him. "What wants your excellency of me?" inquired theman, retreating a step or two, as if to keep on his guard.

"Are not you the person who brought me a letter, " inquired Franz, "fromthe Viscount of Morcerf?"

"Your excellency lodges at Pastrini's hotel?"

"I do. "

"Your excellency is the travelling companion of the viscount?"

"I am. "

"Your excellency's name"--

"Is the Baron Franz d'Epinay. "

"Then it is to your excellency that this letter is addressed. "

"Is there any answer?" inquired Franz, taking the letter from him.

"Yes--your friend at least hopes so. "

"Come up-stairs with me, and I will give it to you. "

"I prefer waiting here, " said the messenger, with a smile.

"And why?"

"Your excellency will know when you have read the letter. "

"Shall I find you here, then?"

"Certainly. "

Franz entered the hotel. On the staircase he met Signor Pastrini. "Well?" said the landlord.

"Well--what?" responded Franz.

"You have seen the man who desired to speak with you from your friend?"he asked of Franz.

"Yes, I have seen him, " he replied, "and he has handed this letter tome. Light the candles in my apartment, if you please. " The inn-keepergave orders to a servant to go before Franz with a light. The young manhad found Signor Pastrini looking very much alarmed, and this hadonly made him the more anxious to read Albert's letter; and so he wentinstantly towards the waxlight, and unfolded it. It was written andsigned by Albert. Franz read it twice before he could comprehend what itcontained. It was thus worded:--

My Dear Fellow, --The moment you have received this, have the kindnessto take the letter of credit from my pocket-book, which you will findin the square drawer of the secretary; add your own to it, if it benot sufficient. Run to Torlonia, draw from him instantly four thousandpiastres, and give them to the bearer. It is urgent that I should havethis money without delay. I do not say more, relying on you as you mayrely on me. Your friend, Albert de Morcerf.

P. S. --I now believe in Italian banditti.

Below these lines were written, in a strange hand, the following inItalian:--

Se alle sei della mattina le quattro mile piastre non sono nelle miemani, alla sette il conte Alberto avra cessato di vivere.

Luigi Vampa.

"If by six in the morning the four thousand piastres are not in myhands, by seven o'clock the Count Albert will have ceased to live. "

This second signature explained everything to Franz, who now understoodthe objection of the messenger to coming up into the apartment; thestreet was safer for him. Albert, then, had fallen into the hands ofthe famous bandit chief, in whose existence he had for so long a timerefused to believe. There was no time to lose. He hastened to open thesecretary, and found the pocket-book in the drawer, and in it the letterof credit. There were in all six thousand piastres, but of these sixthousand Albert had already expended three thousand. As to Franz, he hadno letter of credit, as he lived at Florence, and had only come to Rometo pass seven or eight days; he had brought but a hundred louis, andof these he had not more than fifty left. Thus seven or eight hundredpiastres were wanting to them both to make up the sum that Albertrequired. True, he might in such a case rely on the kindness of SignorTorlonia. He was, therefore, about to return to the Palazzo Braccianowithout loss of time, when suddenly a luminous idea crossed his mind. Heremembered the Count of Monte Cristo. Franz was about to ring for SignorPastrini, when that worthy presented himself. "My dear sir, " he said, hastily, "do you know if the count is within?"

"Yes, your excellency; he has this moment returned. "

"Is he in bed?"

"I should say no. "

"Then ring at his door, if you please, and request him to be so kindas to give me an audience. " Signor Pastrini did as he was desired, and returning five minutes after, he said, --"The count awaits yourexcellency. " Franz went along the corridor, and a servant introduced himto the count. He was in a small room which Franz had not yet seen, andwhich was surrounded with divans. The count came towards him. "Well, what good wind blows you hither at this hour?" said he; "have you cometo sup with me? It would be very kind of you. "

"No; I have come to speak to you of a very serious matter. "

"A serious matter, " said the count, looking at Franz with theearnestness usual to him; "and what may it be?"

"Are we alone?"

"Yes, " replied the count, going to the door, and returning. Franz gavehim Albert's letter. "Read that, " he said. The count read it.

"Well, well!" said he.

"Did you see the postscript?"

"I did, indeed.

"'Se alle sei della mattina le quattro mile piastre non sono nelle miemani, alla sette il conte Alberto avra cessato di vivere.

"'Luigi Vampa. '"

"What think you of that?" inquired Franz.

"Have you the money he demands?"

"Yes, all but eight hundred piastres. " The count went to his secretary, opened it, and pulling out a drawer filled with gold, said to Franz, --"Ihope you will not offend me by applying to any one but myself. "

"You see, on the contrary, I come to you first and instantly, " repliedFranz.

"And I thank you; have what you will;" and he made a sign to Franz totake what he pleased.

"Is it absolutely necessary, then, to send the money to Luigi Vampa?"asked the young man, looking fixedly in his turn at the count.

"Judge for yourself, " replied he. "The postscript is explicit. "

"I think that if you would take the trouble of reflecting, you couldfind a way of simplifying the negotiation, " said Franz.

"How so?" returned the count, with surprise.

"If we were to go together to Luigi Vampa, I am sure he would not refuseyou Albert's freedom. "

"What influence can I possibly have over a bandit?"

"Have you not just rendered him a service that can never be forgotten?"

"What is that?"

"Have you not saved Peppino's life?"

"Well, well, " said the count, "who told you that?"

"No matter; I know it. " The count knit his brows, and remained silent aninstant. "And if I went to seek Vampa, would you accompany me?"

"If my society would not be disagreeable. "

"Be it so. It is a lovely night, and a walk without Rome will do us bothgood. "

"Shall I take any arms?"

"For what purpose?"

"Any money?"

"It is useless. Where is the man who brought the letter?"

"In the street. "

"He awaits the answer?"

"Yes. "

"I must learn where we are going. I will summon him hither. "

"It is useless; he would not come up. "

"To your apartments, perhaps; but he will not make any difficulty atentering mine. " The count went to the window of the apartment thatlooked on to the street, and whistled in a peculiar manner. The man inthe mantle quitted the wall, and advanced into the middle of the street. "Salite!" said the count, in the same tone in which he would havegiven an order to his servant. The messenger obeyed without the leasthesitation, but rather with alacrity, and, mounting the steps at abound, entered the hotel; five seconds afterwards he was at the door ofthe room. "Ah, it is you, Peppino, " said the count. But Peppino, insteadof answering, threw himself on his knees, seized the count's hand, and covered it with kisses. "Ah, " said the count, "you have, then, notforgotten that I saved your life; that is strange, for it is a weekago. "

"No, excellency; and never shall I forget it, " returned Peppino, with anaccent of profound gratitude.

"Never? That is a long time; but it is something that you believe so. Rise and answer. " Peppino glanced anxiously at Franz. "Oh, you may speakbefore his excellency, " said he; "he is one of my friends. You allow meto give you this title?" continued the count in French, "it is necessaryto excite this man's confidence. "

"You can speak before me, " said Franz; "I am a friend of the count's. "

"Good!" returned Peppino. "I am ready to answer any questions yourexcellency may address to me. "

"How did the Viscount Albert fall into Luigi's hands?"

"Excellency, the Frenchman's carriage passed several times the one inwhich was Teresa. "

"The chief's mistress?"

"Yes. The Frenchman threw her a bouquet; Teresa returned it--all thiswith the consent of the chief, who was in the carriage. "

"What?" cried Franz, "was Luigi Vampa in the carriage with the Romanpeasants?"

"It was he who drove, disguised as the coachman, " replied Peppino.

"Well?" said the count.

"Well, then, the Frenchman took off his mask; Teresa, with the chief'sconsent, did the same. The Frenchman asked for a rendezvous; Teresa gavehim one--only, instead of Teresa, it was Beppo who was on the steps ofthe church of San Giacomo. "

"What!" exclaimed Franz, "the peasant girl who snatched his mocolettofrom him"--

"Was a lad of fifteen, " replied Peppino. "But it was no disgrace to yourfriend to have been deceived; Beppo has taken in plenty of others. "

"And Beppo led him outside the walls?" said the count.

"Exactly so; a carriage was waiting at the end of the Via Macello. Beppogot in, inviting the Frenchman to follow him, and he did not wait to beasked twice. He gallantly offered the right-hand seat to Beppo, and satby him. Beppo told him he was going to take him to a villa a league fromRome; the Frenchman assured him he would follow him to the end of theworld. The coachman went up the Via di Ripetta and the Porta San Paola;and when they were two hundred yards outside, as the Frenchman becamesomewhat too forward, Beppo put a brace of pistols to his head, thecoachman pulled up and did the same. At the same time, four of the band, who were concealed on the banks of the Almo, surrounded the carriage. The Frenchman made some resistance, and nearly strangled Beppo; but hecould not resist five armed men, and was forced to yield. They madehim get out, walk along the banks of the river, and then brought himto Teresa and Luigi, who were waiting for him in the catacombs of St. Sebastian. "

"Well, " said the count, turning towards Franz, "it seems to me that thisis a very likely story. What do you say to it?"

"Why, that I should think it very amusing, " replied Franz, "if it hadhappened to any one but poor Albert. "

"And, in truth, if you had not found me here, " said the count, "it mighthave proved a gallant adventure which would have cost your friend dear;but now, be assured, his alarm will be the only serious consequence. "

"And shall we go and find him?" inquired Franz.

"Oh, decidedly, sir. He is in a very picturesque place--do you know thecatacombs of St. Sebastian?"

"I was never in them; but I have often resolved to visit them. "

"Well, here is an opportunity made to your hand, and it would bedifficult to contrive a better. Have you a carriage?"

"No. "

"That is of no consequence; I always have one ready, day and night. "

"Always ready?"

"Yes. I am a very capricious being, and I should tell you that sometimeswhen I rise, or after my dinner, or in the middle of the night, Iresolve on starting for some particular point, and away I go. " The countrang, and a footman appeared. "Order out the carriage, " he said, "andremove the pistols which are in the holsters. You need not awaken thecoachman; Ali will drive. " In a very short time the noise of wheelswas heard, and the carriage stopped at the door. The count took out hiswatch. "Half-past twelve, " he said. "We might start at five o'clock andbe in time, but the delay may cause your friend to pass an uneasy night, and therefore we had better go with all speed to extricate him from thehands of the infidels. Are you still resolved to accompany me?"

"More determined than ever. "

"Well, then, come along. "

Franz and the count went downstairs, accompanied by Peppino. At the doorthey found the carriage. Ali was on the box, in whom Franz recognizedthe dumb slave of the grotto of Monte Cristo. Franz and the count gotinto the carriage. Peppino placed himself beside Ali, and they set offat a rapid pace. Ali had received his instructions, and went down theCorso, crossed the Campo Vaccino, went up the Strada San Gregorio, and reached the gates of St. Sebastian. Then the porter raised somedifficulties, but the Count of Monte Cristo produced a permit from thegovernor of Rome, allowing him to leave or enter the city at any hour ofthe day or night; the portcullis was therefore raised, the porter hada louis for his trouble, and they went on their way. The road which thecarriage now traversed was the ancient Appian Way, and bordered withtombs. From time to time, by the light of the moon, which began to rise, Franz imagined that he saw something like a sentinel appear at variouspoints among the ruins, and suddenly retreat into the darkness on asignal from Peppino. A short time before they reached the Baths ofCaracalla the carriage stopped, Peppino opened the door, and the countand Franz alighted.

"In ten minutes, " said the count to his companion, "we shall be there. "

He then took Peppino aside, gave him an order in a low voice, andPeppino went away, taking with him a torch, brought with them in thecarriage. Five minutes elapsed, during which Franz saw the shepherdgoing along a narrow path that led over the irregular and broken surfaceof the Campagna; and finally he disappeared in the midst of the tallred herbage, which seemed like the bristling mane of an enormous lion. "Now, " said the count, "let us follow him. " Franz and the count in theirturn then advanced along the same path, which, at the distance ofa hundred paces, led them over a declivity to the bottom of a smallvalley. They then perceived two men conversing in the obscurity. "Oughtwe to go on?" asked Franz of the count; "or shall we wait awhile?"

"Let us go on; Peppino will have warned the sentry of our coming. " Oneof the two men was Peppino, and the other a bandit on the lookout. Franzand the count advanced, and the bandit saluted them. "Your excellency, "said Peppino, addressing the count, "if you will follow me, the openingof the catacombs is close at hand. "

"Go on, then, " replied the count. They came to an opening behind a clumpof bushes and in the midst of a pile of rocks, by which a man couldscarcely pass. Peppino glided first into this crevice; after they gotalong a few paces the passage widened. Peppino passed, lighted historch, and turned to see if they came after him. The count first reachedan open space and Franz followed him closely. The passageway sloped ina gentle descent, enlarging as they proceeded; still Franz and the countwere compelled to advance in a stooping posture, and were scarcely ableto proceed abreast of one another. They went on a hundred and fiftypaces in this way, and then were stopped by, "Who comes there?" At thesame time they saw the reflection of a torch on a carbine barrel.

"A friend!" responded Peppino; and, advancing alone towards the sentry, he said a few words to him in a low tone; and then he, like the first, saluted the nocturnal visitors, making a sign that they might proceed.

Behind the sentinel was a staircase with twenty steps. Franz and thecount descended these, and found themselves in a mortuary chamber. Fivecorridors diverged like the rays of a star, and the walls, dug intoniches, which were arranged one above the other in the shape ofcoffins, showed that they were at last in the catacombs. Down one of thecorridors, whose extent it was impossible to determine, rays of lightwere visible. The count laid his hand on Franz's shoulder. "Would youlike to see a camp of bandits in repose?" he inquired.

"Exceedingly, " replied Franz.

"Come with me, then. Peppino, put out the torch. " Peppino obeyed, andFranz and the count were in utter darkness, except that fifty paces inadvance of them a reddish glare, more evident since Peppino had put outhis torch, was visible along the wall. They advanced silently, the countguiding Franz as if he had the singular faculty of seeing in the dark. Franz himself, however, saw his way more plainly in proportion as hewent on towards the light, which served in some manner as a guide. Threearcades were before them, and the middle one was used as a door. Thesearcades opened on one side into the corridor where the count and Franzwere, and on the other into a large square chamber, entirely surroundedby niches similar to those of which we have spoken. In the midst of thischamber were four stones, which had formerly served as an altar, as wasevident from the cross which still surmounted them. A lamp, placed atthe base of a pillar, lighted up with its pale and flickering flame thesingular scene which presented itself to the eyes of the two visitorsconcealed in the shadow. A man was seated with his elbow leaning on thecolumn, and was reading with his back turned to the arcades, through theopenings of which the new-comers contemplated him. This was the chiefof the band, Luigi Vampa. Around him, and in groups, according to theirfancy, lying in their mantles, or with their backs against a sort ofstone bench, which went all round the columbarium, were to be seentwenty brigands or more, each having his carbine within reach. At theother end, silent, scarcely visible, and like a shadow, was asentinel, who was walking up and down before a grotto, which was onlydistinguishable because in that spot the darkness seemed more dense thanelsewhere. When the count thought Franz had gazed sufficiently on thispicturesque tableau, he raised his finger to his lips, to warn him to besilent, and, ascending the three steps which led to the corridor ofthe columbarium, entered the chamber by the middle arcade, and advancedtowards Vampa, who was so intent on the book before him that he did nothear the noise of his footsteps.

"Who comes there?" cried the sentinel, who was less abstracted, and whosaw by the lamp-light a shadow approaching his chief. At this challenge, Vampa rose quickly, drawing at the same moment a pistol from his girdle. In a moment all the bandits were on their feet, and twenty carbines werelevelled at the count. "Well, " said he in a voice perfectly calm, and nomuscle of his countenance disturbed, "well, my dear Vampa, it appears tome that you receive a friend with a great deal of ceremony. "

"Ground arms, " exclaimed the chief, with an imperative sign of the hand, while with the other he took off his hat respectfully; then, turning tothe singular personage who had caused this scene, he said, "Your pardon, your excellency, but I was so far from expecting the honor of a visit, that I did not really recognize you. "

"It seems that your memory is equally short in everything, Vampa, " saidthe count, "and that not only do you forget people's faces, but also theconditions you make with them. "

"What conditions have I forgotten, your excellency?" inquired thebandit, with the air of a man who, having committed an error, is anxiousto repair it.

"Was it not agreed, " asked the count, "that not only my person, but alsothat of my friends, should be respected by you?"

"And how have I broken that treaty, your excellency?"

"You have this evening carried off and conveyed hither the VicomteAlbert de Morcerf. Well, " continued the count, in a tone that madeFranz shudder, "this young gentleman is one of my friends--this younggentleman lodges in the same hotel as myself--this young gentleman hasbeen up and down the Corso for eight hours in my private carriage, andyet, I repeat to you, you have carried him off, and conveyed him hither, and, " added the count, taking the letter from his pocket, "you have seta ransom on him, as if he were an utter stranger. "

"Why did you not tell me all this--you?" inquired the brigand chief, turning towards his men, who all retreated before his look. "Why haveyou caused me thus to fail in my word towards a gentleman like thecount, who has all our lives in his hands? By heavens, if I thought oneof you knew that the young gentleman was the friend of his excellency, Iwould blow his brains out with my own hand!"

"Well, " said the count, turning towards Franz, "I told you there wassome mistake in this. "

"Are you not alone?" asked Vampa with uneasiness.

"I am with the person to whom this letter was addressed, and to whomI desired to prove that Luigi Vampa was a man of his word. Come, yourexcellency, " the count added, turning to Franz, "here is Luigi Vampa, who will himself express to you his deep regret at the mistake he hascommitted. " Franz approached, the chief advancing several steps to meethim. "Welcome among us, your excellency, " he said to him; "you heardwhat the count just said, and also my reply; let me add that I wouldnot for the four thousand piastres at which I had fixed your friend'sransom, that this had happened. "

"But, " said Franz, looking round him uneasily, "where is theViscount?--I do not see him. "

"Nothing has happened to him, I hope, " said the count frowningly.

"The prisoner is there, " replied Vampa, pointing to the hollow space infront of which the bandit was on guard, "and I will go myself and tellhim he is free. " The chief went towards the place he had pointed outas Albert's prison, and Franz and the count followed him. "What is theprisoner doing?" inquired Vampa of the sentinel.

"Ma foi, captain, " replied the sentry, "I do not know; for the last hourI have not heard him stir. "

"Come in, your excellency, " said Vampa. The count and Franz ascendedseven or eight steps after the chief, who drew back a bolt and openeda door. Then, by the gleam of a lamp, similar to that which lighted thecolumbarium, Albert was to be seen wrapped up in a cloak which one ofthe bandits had lent him, lying in a corner in profound slumber. "Come, "said the count, smiling with his own peculiar smile, "not so bad for aman who is to be shot at seven o'clock to-morrow morning. " Vampa lookedat Albert with a kind of admiration; he was not insensible to such aproof of courage.

"You are right, your excellency, " he said; "this must be one of yourfriends. " Then going to Albert, he touched him on the shoulder, saying, "Will your excellency please to awaken?" Albert stretched out his arms, rubbed his eyelids, and opened his eyes. "Oh, " said he, "is it you, captain? You should have allowed me to sleep. I had such a delightfuldream. I was dancing the galop at Torlonia's with the Countess G----. "Then he drew his watch from his pocket, that he might see how time sped.

"Half-past one only?" said he. "Why the devil do you rouse me at thishour?"

"To tell you that you are free, your excellency. "

"My dear fellow, " replied Albert, with perfect ease of mind, "remember, for the future, Napoleon's maxim, 'Never awaken me but for bad news;' ifyou had let me sleep on, I should have finished my galop, and have beengrateful to you all my life. So, then, they have paid my ransom?"

"No, your excellency. "

"Well, then, how am I free?"

"A person to whom I can refuse nothing has come to demand you. "

"Come hither?"

"Yes, hither. "

"Really? Then that person is a most amiable person. " Albert lookedaround and perceived Franz. "What, " said he, "is it you, my dear Franz, whose devotion and friendship are thus displayed?"

"No, not I, " replied Franz, "but our neighbor, the Count of MonteCristo. "

"Oh, my dear count, " said Albert gayly, arranging his cravat andwristbands, "you are really most kind, and I hope you will considerme as under eternal obligations to you, in the first place for thecarriage, and in the next for this visit, " and he put out his hand tothe Count, who shuddered as he gave his own, but who nevertheless didgive it. The bandit gazed on this scene with amazement; he was evidentlyaccustomed to see his prisoners tremble before him, and yet here was onewhose gay temperament was not for a moment altered; as for Franz, he wasenchanted at the way in which Albert had sustained the national honor inthe presence of the bandit. "My dear Albert, " he said, "if you will makehaste, we shall yet have time to finish the night at Torlonia's. Youmay conclude your interrupted galop, so that you will owe no ill-will toSignor Luigi, who has, indeed, throughout this whole affair acted like agentleman. "

"You are decidedly right, and we may reach the Palazzo by two o'clock. Signor Luigi, " continued Albert, "is there any formality to fulfilbefore I take leave of your excellency?"

"None, sir, " replied the bandit, "you are as free as air. "

"Well, then, a happy and merry life to you. Come, gentlemen, come. "

And Albert, followed by Franz and the count, descended the staircase, crossed the square chamber, where stood all the bandits, hat in hand. "Peppino, " said the brigand chief, "give me the torch. "

"What are you going to do?" inquired the count.

"I will show you the way back myself, " said the captain; "that isthe least honor that I can render to your excellency. " And taking thelighted torch from the hands of the herdsman, he preceded his guests, not as a servant who performs an act of civility, but like a king whoprecedes ambassadors. On reaching the door, he bowed. "And now, yourexcellency, " added he, "allow me to repeat my apologies, and I hope youwill not entertain any resentment at what has occurred. "

"No, my dear Vampa, " replied the count; "besides, you compensate foryour mistakes in so gentlemanly a way, that one almost feels obliged toyou for having committed them. "

"Gentlemen, " added the chief, turning towards the young men, "perhapsthe offer may not appear very tempting to you; but if you should everfeel inclined to pay me a second visit, wherever I may be, you shall bewelcome. " Franz and Albert bowed. The count went out first, then Albert. Franz paused for a moment. "Has your excellency anything to ask me?"said Vampa with a smile.

"Yes, I have, " replied Franz; "I am curious to know what work you wereperusing with so much attention as we entered. "

"Caesar's 'Commentaries, '" said the bandit, "it is my favorite work. "

"Well, are you coming?" asked Albert.

"Yes, " replied Franz, "here I am, " and he, in his turn, left the caves. They advanced to the plain. "Ah, your pardon, " said Albert, turninground; "will you allow me, captain?" And he lighted his cigar at Vampa'storch. "Now, my dear count, " he said, "let us on with all the speedwe may. I am enormously anxious to finish my night at the Duke ofBracciano's. " They found the carriage where they had left it. The countsaid a word in Arabic to Ali, and the horses went on at great speed. Itwas just two o'clock by Albert's watch when the two friends entered intothe dancing-room. Their return was quite an event, but as they enteredtogether, all uneasiness on Albert's account ceased instantly. "Madame, "said the Viscount of Morcerf, advancing towards the countess, "yesterdayyou were so condescending as to promise me a galop; I am rather late inclaiming this gracious promise, but here is my friend, whose characterfor veracity you well know, and he will assure you the delay arose fromno fault of mine. " And as at this moment the orchestra gave the signalfor the waltz, Albert put his arm round the waist of the countess, anddisappeared with her in the whirl of dancers. In the meanwhile Franz wasconsidering the singular shudder that had passed over the Count of MonteCristo at the moment when he had been, in some sort, forced to give hishand to Albert.

Chapter 38. The Compact.

The first words that Albert uttered to his friend, on the followingmorning, contained a request that Franz would accompany him on a visitto the count; true, the young man had warmly and energetically thankedthe count on the previous evening; but services such as he had renderedcould never be too often acknowledged. Franz, who seemed attractedby some invisible influence towards the count, in which terror wasstrangely mingled, felt an extreme reluctance to permit his friend to beexposed alone to the singular fascination that this mysterious personageseemed to exercise over him, and therefore made no objection to Albert'srequest, but at once accompanied him to the desired spot, and, after ashort delay, the count joined them in the salon. "My dear count, " saidAlbert, advancing to meet him, "permit me to repeat the poor thanks Ioffered last night, and to assure you that the remembrance of all I oweto you will never be effaced from my memory; believe me, as long as Ilive, I shall never cease to dwell with grateful recollection on theprompt and important service you rendered me; and also to remember thatto you I am indebted even for my life. "

"My very good friend and excellent neighbor, " replied the count, with asmile, "you really exaggerate my trifling exertions. You owe me nothingbut some trifle of 20, 000. Francs, which you have been saved out ofyour travelling expenses, so that there is not much of a score betweenus;--but you must really permit me to congratulate you on the ease andunconcern with which you resigned yourself to your fate, and the perfectindifference you manifested as to the turn events might take. "

"Upon my word, " said Albert, "I deserve no credit for what I could nothelp, namely, a determination to take everything as I found it, and tolet those bandits see, that although men get into troublesome scrapesall over the world, there is no nation but the French that can smileeven in the face of grim Death himself. All that, however, has nothingto do with my obligations to you, and I now come to ask you whether, inmy own person, my family, or connections, I can in any way serve you?My father, the Comte de Morcerf, although of Spanish origin, possessesconsiderable influence, both at the court of France and Madrid, and Iunhesitatingly place the best services of myself, and all to whom mylife is dear, at your disposal. "

"Monsieur de Morcerf, " replied the count, "your offer, far fromsurprising me, is precisely what I expected from you, and I accept it inthe same spirit of hearty sincerity with which it is made;--nay, I willgo still further, and say that I had previously made up my mind to ask agreat favor at your hands. "

"Oh, pray name it. "

"I am wholly a stranger to Paris--it is a city I have never yet seen. "

"Is it possible, " exclaimed Albert, "that you have reached your presentage without visiting the finest capital in the world? I can scarcelycredit it. "

"Nevertheless, it is quite true; still, I agree with you in thinkingthat my present ignorance of the first city in Europe is a reproachto me in every way, and calls for immediate correction; but, in allprobability, I should have performed so important, so necessary a duty, as that of making myself acquainted with the wonders and beauties ofyour justly celebrated capital, had I known any person who would haveintroduced me into the fashionable world, but unfortunately I possessedno acquaintance there, and, of necessity, was compelled to abandon theidea. "

"So distinguished an individual as yourself, " cried Albert, "couldscarcely have required an introduction. "

"You are most kind; but as regards myself, I can find no merit Ipossess, save that, as a millionaire, I might have become a partner inthe speculations of M. Aguado and M. Rothschild; but as my motive intravelling to your capital would not have been for the pleasure ofdabbling in stocks, I stayed away till some favorable chance shouldpresent itself of carrying my wish into execution. Your offer, however, smooths all difficulties, and I have only to ask you, my dear M. DeMorcerf" (these words were accompanied by a most peculiar smile), "whether you undertake, upon my arrival in France, to open to me thedoors of that fashionable world of which I know no more than a Huron ora native of Cochin-China?"

"Oh, that I do, and with infinite pleasure, " answered Albert; "and somuch the more readily as a letter received this morning from my fathersummons me to Paris, in consequence of a treaty of marriage (my dearFranz, do not smile, I beg of you) with a family of high standing, andconnected with the very cream of Parisian society. "

"Connected by marriage, you mean, " said Franz, laughingly.

"Well, never mind how it is, " answered Albert, "it comes to the samething in the end. Perhaps by the time you return to Paris, I shall bequite a sober, staid father of a family! A most edifying representativeI shall make of all the domestic virtues--don't you think so? But asregards your wish to visit our fine city, my dear count, I can only saythat you may command me and mine to any extent you please. "

"Then it is settled, " said the count, "and I give you my solemnassurance that I only waited an opportunity like the present to realizeplans that I have long meditated. " Franz did not doubt that these planswere the same concerning which the count had dropped a few words in thegrotto of Monte Cristo, and while the Count was speaking the young manwatched him closely, hoping to read something of his purpose in hisface, but his countenance was inscrutable especially when, as in thepresent case, it was veiled in a sphinx-like smile. "But tell me now, count, " exclaimed Albert, delighted at the idea of having to chaperon sodistinguished a person as Monte Cristo; "tell me truly whether you arein earnest, or if this project of visiting Paris is merely one of thechimerical and uncertain air castles of which we make so many in thecourse of our lives, but which, like a house built on the sand, isliable to be blown over by the first puff of wind?"

"I pledge you my honor, " returned the count, "that I mean to do as Ihave said; both inclination and positive necessity compel me to visitParis. "

"When do you propose going thither?"

"Have you made up your mind when you shall be there yourself?"

"Certainly I have; in a fortnight or three weeks' time, that is to say, as fast as I can get there!"

"Nay, " said the Count; "I will give you three months ere I join you; yousee I make an ample allowance for all delays and difficulties.

"And in three months' time, " said Albert, "you will be at my house?"

"Shall we make a positive appointment for a particular day and hour?"inquired the count; "only let me warn you that I am proverbial for mypunctilious exactitude in keeping my engagements. "

"Day for day, hour for hour, " said Albert; "that will suit me to a dot. "

"So be it, then, " replied the count, and extending his hand towards acalendar, suspended near the chimney-piece, he said, "to-day is the 21stof February;" and drawing out his watch, added, "it is exactly half-pastten o'clock. Now promise me to remember this, and expect me the 21st ofMay at the same hour in the forenoon. "

"Capital, " exclaimed Albert; "your breakfast shall be waiting. "

"Where do you live?"

"No. 27, Rue du Helder. "

"Have you bachelor's apartments there? I hope my coming will not put youto any inconvenience. "

"I reside in my father's house, but occupy a pavilion at the fartherside of the court-yard, entirely separated from the main building. "

"Quite sufficient, " replied the count, as, taking out his tablets, he wrote down "No. 27, Rue du Helder, 21st May, half-past ten in themorning. "

"Now then, " said the count, returning his tablets to his pocket, "makeyourself perfectly easy; the hand of your time-piece will not be moreaccurate in marking the time than myself. "

"Shall I see you again ere my departure?" asked Albert.

"That depends; when do you leave?"

"To-morrow evening, at five o'clock. "

"In that case I must say adieu to you, as I am compelled to go toNaples, and shall not return hither before Saturday evening or Sundaymorning. And you, baron, " pursued the count, addressing Franz, "do youalso depart to-morrow?"

"Yes. "

"For France?"

"No, for Venice; I shall remain in Italy for another year or two. "

"Then we shall not meet in Paris?"

"I fear I shall not have that honor. "

"Well, since we must part, " said the count, holding out a hand toeach of the young men, "allow me to wish you both a safe and pleasantjourney. " It was the first time the hand of Franz had come in contactwith that of the mysterious individual before him, and unconsciously heshuddered at its touch, for it felt cold and icy as that of a corpse. "Let us understand each other, " said Albert; "it is agreed--is itnot?--that you are to be at No. 27, in the Rue du Helder, on the 21st ofMay, at half-past ten in the morning, and your word of honor passed foryour punctuality?"

"The 21st of May, at half-past ten in the morning, Rue du Helder, No. 27, " replied the Count. The young men then rose, and bowing to thecount, quitted the room. "What is the matter?" asked Albert of Franz, when they had returned to their own apartments; "you seem more thancommonly thoughtful. "

"I will confess to you, Albert, " replied Franz, "the count is a verysingular person, and the appointment you have made to meet him in Parisfills me with a thousand apprehensions. "

"My dear fellow, " exclaimed Albert, "what can there possibly be in thatto excite uneasiness? Why, you must have lost your senses. "

"Whether I am in my senses or not, " answered Franz, "that is the way Ifeel. "

"Listen to me, Franz, " said Albert; "I am glad that the occasion haspresented itself for saying this to you, for I have noticed how cold youare in your bearing towards the count, while he, on the other hand, hasalways been courtesy itself to us. Have you anything particular againsthim?"

"Possibly. "

"Did you ever meet him previously to coming hither?"

"I have. "

"And where?"

"Will you promise me not to repeat a single word of what I am about totell you?"

"I promise. "

"Upon your honor?"

"Upon my honor. "

"Then listen to me. " Franz then related to his friend the history of hisexcursion to the Island of Monte Cristo and of his finding a party ofsmugglers there, and the two Corsican bandits with them. He dwelt withconsiderable force and energy on the almost magical hospitality he hadreceived from the count, and the magnificence of his entertainmentin the grotto of the "Thousand and One Nights. " He recounted, withcircumstantial exactitude, all the particulars of the supper, thehashish, the statues, the dream, and how, at his awakening, thereremained no proof or trace of all these events, save the smallyacht, seen in the distant horizon driving under full sail towardPorto-Vecchio. Then he detailed the conversation overheard by him at theColosseum, between the count and Vampa, in which the count had promisedto obtain the release of the bandit Peppino, --an engagement which, asour readers are aware, he most faithfully fulfilled. At last he arrivedat the adventure of the preceding night, and the embarrassment in whichhe found himself placed by not having sufficient cash by six or sevenhundred piastres to make up the sum required, and finally of hisapplication to the count and the picturesque and satisfactory resultthat followed. Albert listened with the most profound attention. "Well, "said he, when Franz had concluded, "what do you find to object to inall you have related? The count is fond of travelling, and, being rich, possesses a vessel of his own. Go but to Portsmouth or Southampton, andyou will find the harbors crowded with the yachts belonging to such ofthe English as can afford the expense, and have the same liking for thisamusement. Now, by way of having a resting-place during his excursions, avoiding the wretched cookery--which has been trying its best to poisonme during the last four months, while you have manfully resisted itseffects for as many years, --and obtaining a bed on which it is possibleto slumber, Monte Cristo has furnished for himself a temporary abodewhere you first found him; but, to prevent the possibility of the Tuscangovernment taking a fancy to his enchanted palace, and thereby deprivinghim of the advantages naturally expected from so large an outlay ofcapital, he has wisely enough purchased the island, and taken its name. Just ask yourself, my good fellow, whether there are not many persons ofour acquaintance who assume the names of lands and properties they neverin their lives were masters of?"

"But, " said Franz, "the Corsican bandits that were among the crew of hisvessel?"

"Why, really the thing seems to me simple enough. Nobody knows betterthan yourself that the bandits of Corsica are not rogues or thieves, butpurely and simply fugitives, driven by some sinister motive from theirnative town or village, and that their fellowship involves no disgraceor stigma; for my own part, I protest that, should I ever go to Corsica, my first visit, ere even I presented myself to the mayor or prefect, should be to the bandits of Colomba, if I could only manage to findthem; for, on my conscience, they are a race of men I admire greatly. "

"Still, " persisted Franz, "I suppose you will allow that such men asVampa and his band are regular villains, who have no other motive thanplunder when they seize your person. How do you explain the influencethe count evidently possessed over those ruffians?"

"My good friend, as in all probability I own my present safety to thatinfluence, it would ill become me to search too closely into its source;therefore, instead of condemning him for his intimacy with outlaws, youmust give me leave to excuse any little irregularity there may be insuch a connection; not altogether for preserving my life, for my ownidea was that it never was in much danger, but certainly for saving me4, 000 piastres, which, being translated, means neither more nor lessthan 24, 000 livres of our money--a sum at which, most assuredly, Ishould never have been estimated in France, proving most indisputably, "added Albert with a laugh, "that no prophet is honored in his owncountry. "

"Talking of countries, " replied Franz, "of what country is the count, what is his native tongue, whence does he derive his immense fortune, and what were those events of his early life--a life as marvellousas unknown--that have tinctured his succeeding years with so dark andgloomy a misanthropy? Certainly these are questions that, in your place, I should like to have answered. "

"My dear Franz, " replied Albert, "when, upon receipt of my letter, youfound the necessity of asking the count's assistance, you promptly wentto him, saying, 'My friend Albert de Morcerf is in danger; help me todeliver him. ' Was not that nearly what you said?"

"It was. "

"Well, then, did he ask you, 'Who is M. Albert de Morcerf? how does hecome by his name--his fortune? what are his means of existence? what ishis birthplace! of what country is he a native?' Tell me, did he put allthese questions to you?"

"I confess he asked me none. "

"No; he merely came and freed me from the hands of Signor Vampa, where, I can assure you, in spite of all my outward appearance of ease andunconcern, I did not very particularly care to remain. Now, then, Franz, when, for services so promptly and unhesitatingly rendered, he but asksme in return to do for him what is done daily for any Russian princeor Italian nobleman who may pass through Paris--merely to introduce himinto society--would you have me refuse? My good fellow, you must havelost your senses to think it possible I could act with such cold-bloodedpolicy. " And this time it must be confessed that, contrary to the usualstate of affairs in discussions between the young men, the effectivearguments were all on Albert's side.

"Well, " said Franz with a sigh, "do as you please my dear viscount, foryour arguments are beyond my powers of refutation. Still, in spite ofall, you must admit that this Count of Monte Cristo is a most singularpersonage. "

"He is a philanthropist, " answered the other; "and no doubt his motivein visiting Paris is to compete for the Monthyon prize, given, as youare aware, to whoever shall be proved to have most materially advancedthe interests of virtue and humanity. If my vote and interest can obtainit for him, I will readily give him the one and promise the other. Andnow, my dear Franz, let us talk of something else. Come, shall we takeour luncheon, and then pay a last visit to St. Peter's?" Franz silentlyassented; and the following afternoon, at half-past five o'clock, the young men parted. Albert de Morcerf to return to Paris, andFranz d'Epinay to pass a fortnight at Venice. But, ere he entered histravelling carriage, Albert, fearing that his expected guest mightforget the engagement he had entered into, placed in the care of awaiter at the hotel a card to be delivered to the Count of Monte Cristo, on which, beneath the name of Vicomte Albert de Morcerf, he had writtenin pencil--"27, Rue du Helder, on the 21st May, half-past ten A. M. "

Chapter 39. The Guests.

In the house in the Rue du Helder, where Albert had invited the Count ofMonte Cristo, everything was being prepared on the morning of the21st of May to do honor to the occasion. Albert de Morcerf inhabited apavilion situated at the corner of a large court, and directly oppositeanother building, in which were the servants' apartments. Two windowsonly of the pavilion faced the street; three other windows looked intothe court, and two at the back into the garden. Between the court andthe garden, built in the heavy style of the imperial architecture, wasthe large and fashionable dwelling of the Count and Countess of Morcerf. A high wall surrounded the whole of the hotel, surmounted at intervalsby vases filled with flowers, and broken in the centre by a large gateof gilded iron, which served as the carriage entrance. A small door, close to the lodge of the concierge, gave ingress and egress to theservants and masters when they were on foot.

It was easy to discover that the delicate care of a mother, unwilling topart from her son, and yet aware that a young man of the viscount's agerequired the full exercise of his liberty, had chosen this habitationfor Albert. There were not lacking, however, evidences of what we maycall the intelligent egoism of a youth who is charmed with the indolent, careless life of an only son, and who lives as it were in a gilded cage. By means of the two windows looking into the street, Albert could seeall that passed; the sight of what is going on is necessary to youngmen, who always want to see the world traverse their horizon, even ifthat horizon is only a public thoroughfare. Then, should anything appearto merit a more minute examination, Albert de Morcerf could follow uphis researches by means of a small gate, similar to that close to theconcierge's door, and which merits a particular description. It was alittle entrance that seemed never to have been opened since the housewas built, so entirely was it covered with dust and dirt; but thewell-oiled hinges and locks told quite another story. This door was amockery to the concierge, from whose vigilance and jurisdiction it wasfree, and, like that famous portal in the "Arabian Nights, " opening atthe "Sesame" of Ali Baba, it was wont to swing backward at a cabalisticword or a concerted tap from without from the sweetest voices or whitestfingers in the world. At the end of a long corridor, with which thedoor communicated, and which formed the ante-chamber, was, on the right, Albert's breakfast-room, looking into the court, and on the left thesalon, looking into the garden. Shrubs and creeping plants covered thewindows, and hid from the garden and court these two apartments, theonly rooms into which, as they were on the ground-floor, the prying eyesof the curious could penetrate. On the floor above were similar rooms, with the addition of a third, formed out of the ante-chamber;these three rooms were a salon, a boudoir, and a bedroom. The salondown-stairs was only an Algerian divan, for the use of smokers. Theboudoir up-stairs communicated with the bed-chamber by an invisible dooron the staircase; it was evident that every precaution had been taken. Above this floor was a large atelier, which had been increased in sizeby pulling down the partitions--a pandemonium, in which the artist andthe dandy strove for preeminence. There were collected and piled up allAlbert's successive caprices, hunting-horns, bass-viols, flutes--a wholeorchestra, for Albert had had not a taste but a fancy for music; easels, palettes, brushes, pencils--for music had been succeeded by painting;foils, boxing-gloves, broadswords, and single-sticks--for, followingthe example of the fashionable young men of the time, Albert de Morcerfcultivated, with far more perseverance than music and drawing, thethree arts that complete a dandy's education, i. E. , fencing, boxing, and single-stick; and it was here that he received Grisier, Cook, and Charles Leboucher. The rest of the furniture of this privilegedapartment consisted of old cabinets, filled with Chinese porcelain andJapanese vases, Lucca della Robbia faience, and Palissy platters; of oldarm-chairs, in which perhaps had sat Henry IV. Or Sully, Louis XIII. OrRichelieu--for two of these arm-chairs, adorned with a carved shield, on which were engraved the fleur-de-lis of France on an azure fieldevidently came from the Louvre, or, at least, some royal residence. Overthese dark and sombre chairs were thrown splendid stuffs, dyed beneathPersia's sun, or woven by the fingers of the women of Calcutta or ofChandernagor. What these stuffs did there, it was impossible to say;they awaited, while gratifying the eyes, a destination unknown to theirowner himself; in the meantime they filled the place with their goldenand silky reflections. In the centre of the room was a Roller andBlanchet "baby grand" piano in rosewood, but holding the potentialitiesof an orchestra in its narrow and sonorous cavity, and groaning beneaththe weight of the chefs-d'oeuvre of Beethoven, Weber, Mozart, Haydn, Gretry, and Porpora. On the walls, over the doors, on the ceiling, wereswords, daggers, Malay creeses, maces, battle-axes; gilded, damasked, and inlaid suits of armor; dried plants, minerals, and stuffed birds, their flame-colored wings outspread in motionless flight, and theirbeaks forever open. This was Albert's favorite lounging place.

However, the morning of the appointment, the young man had establishedhimself in the small salon down-stairs. There, on a table, surrounded atsome distance by a large and luxurious divan, every species of tobaccoknown, --from the yellow tobacco of Petersburg to the black of Sinai, and so on along the scale from Maryland and Porto-Rico, to Latakia, --wasexposed in pots of crackled earthenware of which the Dutch are so fond;beside them, in boxes of fragrant wood, were ranged, according to theirsize and quality, pueros, regalias, havanas, and manillas; and, in anopen cabinet, a collection of German pipes, of chibouques, with theiramber mouth-pieces ornamented with coral, and of narghiles, with theirlong tubes of morocco, awaiting the caprice or the sympathy of thesmokers. Albert had himself presided at the arrangement, or, rather, thesymmetrical derangement, which, after coffee, the guests at a breakfastof modern days love to contemplate through the vapor that escapes fromtheir mouths, and ascends in long and fanciful wreaths to the ceiling. At a quarter to ten, a valet entered; he composed, with a little groomnamed John, and who only spoke English, all Albert's establishment, although the cook of the hotel was always at his service, and on greatoccasions the count's chasseur also. This valet, whose name was Germain, and who enjoyed the entire confidence of his young master, held in onehand a number of papers, and in the other a packet of letters, whichhe gave to Albert. Albert glanced carelessly at the different missives, selected two written in a small and delicate hand, and enclosed inscented envelopes, opened them and perused their contents with someattention. "How did these letters come?" said he.

"One by the post, Madame Danglars' footman left the other. "

"Let Madame Danglars know that I accept the place she offers me in herbox. Wait; then, during the day, tell Rosa that when I leave the OperaI will sup with her as she wishes. Take her six bottles of differentwine--Cyprus, sherry, and Malaga, and a barrel of Ostend oysters; getthem at Borel's, and be sure you say they are for me. "

"At what o'clock, sir, do you breakfast?"

"What time is it now?"

"A quarter to ten. "

"Very well, at half past ten. Debray will, perhaps, be obliged to go tothe minister--and besides" (Albert looked at his tablets), "it is thehour I told the count, 21st May, at half past ten; and though I do notmuch rely upon his promise, I wish to be punctual. Is the countess upyet?"

"If you wish, I will inquire. "

"Yes, ask her for one of her liqueur cellarets, mine is incomplete; andtell her I shall have the honor of seeing her about three o'clock, andthat I request permission to introduce some one to her. " The valet leftthe room. Albert threw himself on the divan, tore off the cover of twoor three of the papers, looked at the theatre announcements, made a faceseeing they gave an opera, and not a ballet; hunted vainly amongst theadvertisements for a new tooth-powder of which he had heard, and threwdown, one after the other, the three leading papers of Paris, muttering, "These papers become more and more stupid every day. " A moment after, a carriage stopped before the door, and the servant announced M. LucienDebray. A tall young man, with light hair, clear gray eyes, and thinand compressed lips, dressed in a blue coat with beautifully carved goldbuttons, a white neckcloth, and a tortoiseshell eye-glass suspended by asilken thread, and which, by an effort of the superciliary and zygomaticmuscles, he fixed in his eye, entered, with a half-official air, withoutsmiling or speaking. "Good-morning, Lucien, good-morning, " said Albert;"your punctuality really alarms me. What do I say? punctuality! You, whom I expected last, you arrive at five minutes to ten, when the timefixed was half-past! Has the ministry resigned?"

"No, my dear fellow, " returned the young man, seating himself on thedivan; "reassure yourself; we are tottering always, but we never fall, and I begin to believe that we shall pass into a state of immobility, and then the affairs of the Peninsula will completely consolidate us. "

"Ah, true; you drive Don Carlos out of Spain. "

"No, no, my dear fellow, do not confound our plans. We take him tothe other side of the French frontier, and offer him hospitality atBourges. "

"At Bourges?"

"Yes, he has not much to complain of; Bourges is the capital of CharlesVII. Do you not know that all Paris knew it yesterday, and the daybefore it had already transpired on the Bourse, and M. Danglars (I donot know by what means that man contrives to obtain intelligence as soonas we do) made a million!"

"And you another order, for I see you have a blue ribbon at yourbutton-hole. "

"Yes; they sent me the order of Charles III. , " returned Debray, carelessly.

"Come, do not affect indifference, but confess you were pleased to haveit. "

"Oh, it is very well as a finish to the toilet. It looks very neat on ablack coat buttoned up. "

"And makes you resemble the Prince of Wales or the Duke of Reichstadt. "

"It is for that reason you see me so early. "

"Because you have the order of Charles III. , and you wish to announcethe good news to me?"

"No, because I passed the night writing letters, --five and twentydespatches. I returned home at daybreak, and strove to sleep; but myhead ached and I got up to have a ride for an hour. At the Bois deBoulogne, ennui and hunger attacked me at once, --two enemies who rarelyaccompany each other, and who are yet leagued against me, a sort ofCarlo-republican alliance. I then recollected you gave a breakfast thismorning, and here I am. I am hungry, feed me; I am bored, amuse me. "

"It is my duty as your host, " returned Albert, ringing the bell, whileLucien turned over, with his gold-mounted cane, the papers that lay onthe table. "Germain, a glass of sherry and a biscuit. In the meantime, my dear Lucien, here are cigars--contraband, of course--try them, andpersuade the minister to sell us such instead of poisoning us withcabbage leaves. "

"Peste, I will do nothing of the kind; the moment they come fromgovernment you would find them execrable. Besides, that does not concernthe home but the financial department. Address yourself to M. Humann, section of the indirect contributions, corridor A. , No. 26. "

"On my word, " said Albert, "you astonish me by the extent of yourknowledge. Take a cigar. "

"Really, my dear Albert, " replied Lucien, lighting a manilla at arose-colored taper that burnt in a beautifully enamelled stand--"howhappy you are to have nothing to do. You do not know your own goodfortune!"

"And what would you do, my dear diplomatist, " replied Morcerf, with aslight degree of irony in his voice, "if you did nothing? What? privatesecretary to a minister, plunged at once into European cabals andParisian intrigues; having kings, and, better still, queens, to protect, parties to unite, elections to direct; making more use of your cabinetwith your pen and your telegraph than Napoleon did of his battle-fieldswith his sword and his victories; possessing five and twenty thousandfrancs a year, besides your place; a horse, for which Chateau-Renaudoffered you four hundred louis, and which you would not part with; atailor who never disappoints you; with the opera, the jockey-club, andother diversions, can you not amuse yourself? Well, I will amuse you. "

"How?"

"By introducing to you a new acquaintance. "

"A man or a woman?"

"A man. "

"I know so many men already. "

"But you do not know this man. "

"Where does he come from--the end of the world?"

"Farther still, perhaps. "

"The deuce! I hope he does not bring our breakfast with him. "

"Oh, no; our breakfast comes from my father's kitchen. Are you hungry?"

"Humiliating as such a confession is, I am. But I dined at M. DeVillefort's, and lawyers always give you very bad dinners. You wouldthink they felt some remorse; did you ever remark that?"

"Ah, depreciate other persons' dinners; you ministers give such splendidones. "

"Yes; but we do not invite people of fashion. If we were not forced toentertain a parcel of country boobies because they think and vote withus, we should never dream of dining at home, I assure you. "

"Well, take another glass of sherry and another biscuit. "

"Willingly. Your Spanish wine is excellent. You see we were quite rightto pacify that country. "

"Yes; but Don Carlos?"

"Well, Don Carlos will drink Bordeaux, and in ten years we will marryhis son to the little queen. "

"You will then obtain the Golden Fleece, if you are still in theministry. "

"I think, Albert, you have adopted the system of feeding me on smokethis morning. "

"Well, you must allow it is the best thing for the stomach; but I hearBeauchamp in the next room; you can dispute together, and that will passaway the time. "

"About what?"

"About the papers. "

"My dear friend, " said Lucien with an air of sovereign contempt, "do Iever read the papers?"

"Then you will dispute the more. "

"M. Beauchamp, " announced the servant. "Come in, come in, " said Albert, rising and advancing to meet the young man. "Here is Debray, who detestsyou without reading you, so he says. "

"He is quite right, " returned Beauchamp; "for I criticise him withoutknowing what he does. Good-day, commander!"

"Ah, you know that already, " said the private secretary, smiling andshaking hands with him.

"Pardieu?"

"And what do they say of it in the world?"

"In which world? we have so many worlds in the year of grace 1838. "

"In the entire political world, of which you are one of the leaders. "

"They say that it is quite fair, and that sowing so much red, you oughtto reap a little blue. "

"Come, come, that is not bad!" said Lucien. "Why do you not join ourparty, my dear Beauchamp? With your talents you would make your fortunein three or four years. "

"I only await one thing before following your advice; that is, aminister who will hold office for six months. My dear Albert, one word, for I must give poor Lucien a respite. Do we breakfast or dine? I mustgo to the Chamber, for our life is not an idle one. "

"You only breakfast; I await two persons, and the instant they arrive weshall sit down to table. "

Chapter 40. The Breakfast.

"And what sort of persons do you expect to breakfast?" said Beauchamp.

"A gentleman, and a diplomatist. "

"Then we shall have to wait two hours for the gentleman, and threefor the diplomatist. I shall come back to dessert; keep me somestrawberries, coffee, and cigars. I shall take a cutlet on my way to theChamber. "

"Do not do anything of the sort; for were the gentleman a Montmorency, and the diplomatist a Metternich, we will breakfast at eleven; in themeantime, follow Debray's example, and take a glass of sherry and abiscuit. "

"Be it so; I will stay; I must do something to distract my thoughts. "

"You are like Debray, and yet it seems to me that when the minister isout of spirits, the opposition ought to be joyous. "

"Ah, you do not know with what I am threatened. I shall hear thismorning that M. Danglars make a speech at the Chamber of Deputies, andat his wife's this evening I shall hear the tragedy of a peer of France. The devil take the constitutional government, and since we had ourchoice, as they say, at least, how could we choose that?"

"I understand; you must lay in a stock of hilarity. "

"Do not run down M. Danglars' speeches, " said Debray; "he votes for you, for he belongs to the opposition. "

"Pardieu, that is exactly the worst of all. I am waiting until you sendhim to speak at the Luxembourg, to laugh at my ease. "

"My dear friend, " said Albert to Beauchamp, "it is plain that theaffairs of Spain are settled, for you are most desperately out of humorthis morning. Recollect that Parisian gossip has spoken of a marriagebetween myself and Mlle. Eugenie Danglars; I cannot in conscience, therefore, let you run down the speeches of a man who will one day sayto me, 'Vicomte, you know I give my daughter two millions. '"

"Ah, this marriage will never take place, " said Beauchamp. "The kinghas made him a baron, and can make him a peer, but he cannot make him agentleman, and the Count of Morcerf is too aristocratic to consent, forthe paltry sum of two million francs, to a mesalliance. The Viscount ofMorcerf can only wed a marchioness. "

"But two million francs make a nice little sum, " replied Morcerf.

"It is the social capital of a theatre on the boulevard, or a railroadfrom the Jardin des Plantes to La Rapee. "

"Never mind what he says, Morcerf, " said Debray, "do you marry her. Youmarry a money-bag label, it is true; well, but what does that matter? Itis better to have a blazon less and a figure more on it. You have sevenmartlets on your arms; give three to your wife, and you will still havefour; that is one more than M. De Guise had, who so nearly became Kingof France, and whose cousin was Emperor of Germany. "

"On my word, I think you are right, Lucien, " said Albert absently.

"To be sure; besides, every millionaire is as noble as a bastard--thatis, he can be. "

"Do not say that, Debray, " returned Beauchamp, laughing, "for here isChateau-Renaud, who, to cure you of your mania for paradoxes, will passthe sword of Renaud de Montauban, his ancestor, through your body. "

"He will sully it then, " returned Lucien; "for I am low--very low. "

"Oh, heavens, " cried Beauchamp, "the minister quotes Beranger, whatshall we come to next?"

"M. De Chateau-Renaud--M. Maximilian Morrel, " said the servant, announcing two fresh guests.

"Now, then, to breakfast, " said Beauchamp; "for, if I remember, you toldme you only expected two persons, Albert. "

"Morrel, " muttered Albert--"Morrel--who is he?" But before he hadfinished, M. De Chateau-Renaud, a handsome young man of thirty, gentleman all over, --that is, with the figure of a Guiche and the witof a Mortemart, --took Albert's hand. "My dear Albert, " said he, "let meintroduce to you M. Maximilian Morrel, captain of Spahis, my friend; andwhat is more--however the man speaks for himself--my preserver. Salutemy hero, viscount. " And he stepped on one side to give place to a youngman of refined and dignified bearing, with large and open brow, piercing eyes, and black mustache, whom our readers have already seenat Marseilles, under circumstances sufficiently dramatic not to beforgotten. A rich uniform, half French, half Oriental, set off hisgraceful and stalwart figure, and his broad chest was decorated withthe order of the Legion of Honor. The young officer bowed with easy andelegant politeness. "Monsieur, " said Albert with affectionate courtesy, "the count of Chateau-Renaud knew how much pleasure this introductionwould give me; you are his friend, be ours also. "

"Well said, " interrupted Chateau-Renaud; "and pray that, if you shouldever be in a similar predicament, he may do as much for you as he didfor me. "

"What has he done?" asked Albert.

"Oh, nothing worth speaking of, " said Morrel; "M. De Chateau-Renaudexaggerates. "

"Not worth speaking of?" cried Chateau-Renaud; "life is not worthspeaking of!--that is rather too philosophical, on my word, Morrel. Itis very well for you, who risk your life every day, but for me, who onlydid so once"--

"We gather from all this, baron, that Captain Morrel saved your life. "

"Exactly so. "

"On what occasion?" asked Beauchamp.

"Beauchamp, my good fellow, you know I am starving, " said Debray: "donot set him off on some long story. "

"Well, I do not prevent your sitting down to table, " replied Beauchamp, "Chateau-Renaud can tell us while we eat our breakfast. "

"Gentlemen, " said Morcerf, "it is only a quarter past ten, and I expectsome one else. "

"Ah, true, a diplomatist!" observed Debray.

"Diplomat or not, I don't know; I only know that he charged himselfon my account with a mission, which he terminated so entirely to mysatisfaction, that had I been king, I should have instantly created himknight of all my orders, even had I been able to offer him the GoldenFleece and the Garter. "

"Well, since we are not to sit down to table, " said Debray, "take aglass of sherry, and tell us all about it. "

"You all know that I had the fancy of going to Africa. "

"It is a road your ancestors have traced for you, " said Albertgallantly.

"Yes? but I doubt that your object was like theirs--to rescue the HolySepulchre. "

"You are quite right, Beauchamp, " observed the young aristocrat. "It wasonly to fight as an amateur. I cannot bear duelling since two seconds, whom I had chosen to arrange an affair, forced me to break the arm ofone of my best friends, one whom you all know--poor Franz d'Epinay. "

"Ah, true, " said Debray, "you did fight some time ago; about what?"

"The devil take me, if I remember, " returned Chateau-Renaud. "But Irecollect perfectly one thing, that, being unwilling to let such talentsas mine sleep, I wished to try upon the Arabs the new pistols that hadbeen given to me. In consequence I embarked for Oran, and went fromthence to Constantine, where I arrived just in time to witness theraising of the siege. I retreated with the rest, for eight and fortyhours. I endured the rain during the day, and the cold during thenight tolerably well, but the third morning my horse died of cold. Poorbrute--accustomed to be covered up and to have a stove in the stable, the Arabian finds himself unable to bear ten degrees of cold in Arabia. "

"That's why you want to purchase my English horse, " said Debray, "youthink he will bear the cold better. "

"You are mistaken, for I have made a vow never to return to Africa. "

"You were very much frightened, then?" asked Beauchamp.

"Well, yes, and I had good reason to be so, " replied Chateau-Renaud. "Iwas retreating on foot, for my horse was dead. Six Arabs came up, fullgallop, to cut off my head. I shot two with my double-barrelled gun, andtwo more with my pistols, but I was then disarmed, and two were stillleft; one seized me by the hair (that is why I now wear it so short, forno one knows what may happen), the other swung a yataghan, and I alreadyfelt the cold steel on my neck, when this gentleman whom you see herecharged them, shot the one who held me by the hair, and cleft the skullof the other with his sabre. He had assigned himself the task of savinga man's life that day; chance caused that man to be myself. When I amrich I will order a statue of Chance from Klagmann or Marochetti. "

"Yes, " said Morrel, smiling, "it was the 5th of September, theanniversary of the day on which my father was miraculously preserved;therefore, as far as it lies in my power, I endeavor to celebrate it bysome"--

"Heroic action, " interrupted Chateau-Renaud. "I was chosen. But that isnot all--after rescuing me from the sword, he rescued me from the cold, not by sharing his cloak with me, like St. Martin, but by giving me thewhole; then from hunger by sharing with me--guess what?"

"A Strasbourg pie?" asked Beauchamp.

"No, his horse; of which we each of us ate a slice with a heartyappetite. It was very hard. "

"The horse?" said Morcerf, laughing.

"No, the sacrifice, " returned Chateau-Renaud; "ask Debray if he wouldsacrifice his English steed for a stranger?"

"Not for a stranger, " said Debray, "but for a friend I might, perhaps. "

"I divined that you would become mine, count, " replied Morrel; "besides, as I had the honor to tell you, heroism or not, sacrifice or not, thatday I owed an offering to bad fortune in recompense for the favors goodfortune had on other days granted to us. "

"The history to which M. Morrel alludes, " continued Chateau-Renaud, "isan admirable one, which he will tell you some day when you are betteracquainted with him; to-day let us fill our stomachs, and not ourmemories. What time do you breakfast, Albert?"

"At half-past ten. "

"Precisely?" asked Debray, taking out his watch.

"Oh, you will give me five minutes' grace, " replied Morcerf, "for I alsoexpect a preserver. "

"Of whom?"

"Of myself, " cried Morcerf; "parbleu, do you think I cannot be saved aswell as any one else, and that there are only Arabs who cut off heads?Our breakfast is a philanthropic one, and we shall have at table--atleast, I hope so--two benefactors of humanity. "

"What shall we do?" said Debray; "we have only one Monthyon prize. "

"Well, it will be given to some one who has done nothing to deserve it, "said Beauchamp; "that is the way the Academy mostly escapes from thedilemma. "

"And where does he come from?" asked Debray. "You have already answeredthe question once, but so vaguely that I venture to put it a secondtime. "

"Really, " said Albert, "I do not know; when I invited him three monthsago, he was then at Rome, but since that time who knows where he mayhave gone?"

"And you think him capable of being exact?" demanded Debray.

"I think him capable of everything. "

"Well, with the five minutes' grace, we have only ten left. "

"I will profit by them to tell you something about my guest. "

"I beg pardon, " interrupted Beauchamp; "are there any materials for anarticle in what you are going to tell us?"

"Yes, and for a most curious one. "

"Go on, then, for I see I shall not get to the Chamber this morning, andI must make up for it. "

"I was at Rome during the last Carnival. "

"We know that, " said Beauchamp.

"Yes, but what you do not know is that I was carried off by bandits. "

"There are no bandits, " cried Debray.

"Yes there are, and most hideous, or rather most admirable ones, for Ifound them ugly enough to frighten me. "

"Come, my dear Albert, " said Debray, "confess that your cook isbehindhand, that the oysters have not arrived from Ostend or Marennes, and that, like Madame de Maintenon, you are going to replace the dishby a story. Say so at once; we are sufficiently well-bred to excuse you, and to listen to your history, fabulous as it promises to be. "

"And I say to you, fabulous as it may seem, I tell it as a true one frombeginning to end. The brigands had carried me off, and conducted me to agloomy spot, called the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian. "

"I know it, " said Chateau-Renaud; "I narrowly escaped catching a feverthere. "

"And I did more than that, " replied Morcerf, "for I caught one. Iwas informed that I was prisoner until I paid the sum of 4, 000 Romancrowns--about 24, 000 francs. Unfortunately, I had not above 1, 500. I wasat the end of my journey and of my credit. I wrote to Franz--and were hehere he would confirm every word--I wrote then to Franz that if he didnot come with the four thousand crowns before six, at ten minutes pastI should have gone to join the blessed saints and glorious martyrs inwhose company I had the honor of being; and Signor Luigi Vampa, such wasthe name of the chief of these bandits, would have scrupulously kept hisword. "

"But Franz did come with the four thousand crowns, " said Chateau-Renaud. "A man whose name is Franz d'Epinay or Albert de Morcerf has not muchdifficulty in procuring them. "

"No, he arrived accompanied simply by the guest I am going to present toyou. "

"Ah, this gentleman is a Hercules killing Cacus, a Perseus freeingAndromeda. "

"No, he is a man about my own size. "

"Armed to the teeth?"

"He had not even a knitting-needle. "

"But he paid your ransom?"

"He said two words to the chief and I was free. "

"And they apologized to him for having carried you off?" said Beauchamp.

"Just so. "

"Why, he is a second Ariosto. "

"No, his name is the Count of Monte Cristo. "

"There is no Count of Monte Cristo" said Debray.

"I do not think so, " added Chateau-Renaud, with the air of a man whoknows the whole of the European nobility perfectly.

"Does any one know anything of a Count of Monte Cristo?"

"He comes possibly from the Holy Land, and one of his ancestorspossessed Calvary, as the Mortemarts did the Dead Sea. "

"I think I can assist your researches, " said Maximilian. "Monte Cristois a little island I have often heard spoken of by the old sailors myfather employed--a grain of sand in the centre of the Mediterranean, anatom in the infinite. "

"Precisely!" cried Albert. "Well, he of whom I speak is the lord andmaster of this grain of sand, of this atom; he has purchased the titleof count somewhere in Tuscany. "

"He is rich, then?"

"I believe so. "

"But that ought to be visible. "

"That is what deceives you, Debray. "

"I do not understand you. "

"Have you read the 'Arabian Nights'?"

"What a question!"

"Well, do you know if the persons you see there are rich or poor, iftheir sacks of wheat are not rubies or diamonds? They seem like poorfishermen, and suddenly they open some mysterious cavern filled with thewealth of the Indies. "

"Which means?"

"Which means that my Count of Monte Cristo is one of those fishermen. Hehas even a name taken from the book, since he calls himself Sinbad theSailor, and has a cave filled with gold. "

"And you have seen this cavern, Morcerf?" asked Beauchamp.

"No, but Franz has; for heaven's sake, not a word of this before him. Franz went in with his eyes blindfolded, and was waited on by mutes andby women to whom Cleopatra was a painted strumpet. Only he is not quitesure about the women, for they did not come in until after he had takenhashish, so that what he took for women might have been simply a row ofstatues. "

The two young men looked at Morcerf as if to say, --"Are you mad, or areyou laughing at us?"

"And I also, " said Morrel thoughtfully, "have heard something like thisfrom an old sailor named Penelon. "

"Ah, " cried Albert, "it is very lucky that M. Morrel comes to aid me;you are vexed, are you not, that he thus gives a clew to the labyrinth?"

"My dear Albert, " said Debray, "what you tell us is so extraordinary. "

"Ah, because your ambassadors and your consuls do not tell you ofthem--they have no time. They are too much taken up with interfering inthe affairs of their countrymen who travel. "

"Now you get angry, and attack our poor agents. How will you have themprotect you? The Chamber cuts down their salaries every day, so that nowthey have scarcely any. Will you be ambassador, Albert? I will send youto Constantinople. "

"No, lest on the first demonstration I make in favor of Mehemet Ali, theSultan send me the bowstring, and make my secretaries strangle me. "

"You say very true, " responded Debray.

"Yes, " said Albert, "but this has nothing to do with the existence ofthe Count of Monte Cristo. "

"Pardieu, every one exists. "

"Doubtless, but not in the same way; every one has not black slaves, a princely retinue, an arsenal of weapons that would do credit to anArabian fortress, horses that cost six thousand francs apiece, and Greekmistresses. "

"Have you seen the Greek mistress?"

"I have both seen and heard her. I saw her at the theatre, and heard herone morning when I breakfasted with the count. "

"He eats, then?"

"Yes; but so little, it can hardly be called eating. "

"He must be a vampire. "

"Laugh, if you will; the Countess G----, who knew Lord Ruthven, declaredthat the count was a vampire. "

"Ah, capital, " said Beauchamp. "For a man not connected with newspapers, here is the pendant to the famous sea-serpent of the Constitutionnel. "

"Wild eyes, the iris of which contracts or dilates at pleasure, " saidDebray; "facial angle strongly developed, magnificent forehead, livid complexion, black beard, sharp and white teeth, politenessunexceptionable. "

"Just so, Lucien, " returned Morcerf; "you have described him feature forfeature. Yes, keen and cutting politeness. This man has often made meshudder; and one day that we were viewing an execution, I thought Ishould faint, more from hearing the cold and calm manner in whichhe spoke of every description of torture, than from the sight of theexecutioner and the culprit. "

"Did he not conduct you to the ruins of the Colosseum and suck yourblood?" asked Beauchamp.

"Or, having delivered you, make you sign a flaming parchment, surrendering your soul to him as Esau did his birth-right?"

"Rail on, rail on at your ease, gentlemen, " said Morcerf, somewhatpiqued. "When I look at you Parisians, idlers on the Boulevard de Gandor the Bois de Boulogne, and think of this man, it seems to me we arenot of the same race. "

"I am highly flattered, " returned Beauchamp. "At the same time, " addedChateau-Renaud, "your Count of Monte Cristo is a very fine fellow, always excepting his little arrangements with the Italian banditti. "

"There are no Italian banditti, " said Debray.

"No vampire, " cried Beauchamp. "No Count of Monte Cristo" added Debray. "There is half-past ten striking, Albert. "

"Confess you have dreamed this, and let us sit down to breakfast, "continued Beauchamp. But the sound of the clock had not died away whenGermain announced, "His excellency the Count of Monte Cristo. " Theinvoluntary start every one gave proved how much Morcerf's narrativehad impressed them, and Albert himself could not wholly refrain frommanifesting sudden emotion. He had not heard a carriage stop in thestreet, or steps in the ante-chamber; the door had itself openednoiselessly. The count appeared, dressed with the greatest simplicity, but the most fastidious dandy could have found nothing to cavil at inhis toilet. Every article of dress--hat, coat, gloves, and boots--wasfrom the first makers. He seemed scarcely five and thirty. But whatstruck everybody was his extreme resemblance to the portrait Debray haddrawn. The count advanced, smiling, into the centre of the room, andapproached Albert, who hastened towards him holding out his hand in aceremonial manner. "Punctuality, " said Monte Cristo, "is the politenessof kings, according to one of your sovereigns, I think; but it is notthe same with travellers. However, I hope you will excuse the twoor three seconds I am behindhand; five hundred leagues are not to beaccomplished without some trouble, and especially in France, where, itseems, it is forbidden to beat the postilions. "

"My dear count, " replied Albert, "I was announcing your visit to some ofmy friends, whom I had invited in consequence of the promise you did methe honor to make, and whom I now present to you. They are the Count ofChateau-Renaud, whose nobility goes back to the twelve peers, and whoseancestors had a place at the Round Table; M. Lucien Debray, privatesecretary to the minister of the interior; M. Beauchamp, an editor of apaper, and the terror of the French government, but of whom, in spite ofhis national celebrity, you perhaps have not heard in Italy, since hispaper is prohibited there; and M. Maximilian Morrel, captain of Spahis. "

At this name the count, who had hitherto saluted every one withcourtesy, but at the same time with coldness and formality, stepped apace forward, and a slight tinge of red colored his pale cheeks. "Youwear the uniform of the new French conquerors, monsieur, " said he; "itis a handsome uniform. " No one could have said what caused the count'svoice to vibrate so deeply, and what made his eye flash, which was ingeneral so clear, lustrous, and limpid when he pleased. "You have neverseen our Africans, count?" said Albert. "Never, " replied the count, whowas by this time perfectly master of himself again.

"Well, beneath this uniform beats one of the bravest and noblest heartsin the whole army. "

"Oh, M. De Morcerf, " interrupted Morrel.

"Let me go on, captain. And we have just heard, " continued Albert, "ofa new deed of his, and so heroic a one, that, although I have seen himto-day for the first time, I request you to allow me to introduce himas my friend. " At these words it was still possible to observe in MonteCristo the concentrated look, changing color, and slight trembling ofthe eyelid that show emotion. "Ah, you have a noble heart, " said thecount; "so much the better. " This exclamation, which corresponded tothe count's own thought rather than to what Albert was saying, surprisedeverybody, and especially Morrel, who looked at Monte Cristo withwonder. But, at the same time, the intonation was so soft that, howeverstrange the speech might seem, it was impossible to be offended at it. "Why should he doubt it?" said Beauchamp to Chateau-Renaud.

"In reality, " replied the latter, who, with his aristocratic glanceand his knowledge of the world, had penetrated at once all that waspenetrable in Monte Cristo, "Albert has not deceived us, for the countis a most singular being. What say you, Morrel!"

"Ma foi, he has an open look about him that pleases me, in spite of thesingular remark he has made about me. "

"Gentlemen, " said Albert, "Germain informs me that breakfast is ready. My dear count, allow me to show you the way. " They passed silently intothe breakfast-room, and every one took his place. "Gentlemen, " said thecount, seating himself, "permit me to make a confession which must formmy excuse for any improprieties I may commit. I am a stranger, and astranger to such a degree, that this is the first time I have ever beenat Paris. The French way of living is utterly unknown to me, and up tothe present time I have followed the Eastern customs, which are entirelyin contrast to the Parisian. I beg you, therefore, to excuse if you findanything in me too Turkish, too Italian, or too Arabian. Now, then, letus breakfast. "

"With what an air he says all this, " muttered Beauchamp; "decidedly heis a great man. "

"A great man in his own country, " added Debray.

"A great man in every country, M. Debray, " said Chateau-Renaud. Thecount was, it may be remembered, a most temperate guest. Albert remarkedthis, expressing his fears lest, at the outset, the Parisian mode oflife should displease the traveller in the most essential point. "Mydear count, " said he, "I fear one thing, and that is, that the fare ofthe Rue du Helder is not so much to your taste as that of the Piazza diSpagni. I ought to have consulted you on the point, and have had somedishes prepared expressly. "

"Did you know me better, " returned the count, smiling, "you would notgive one thought of such a thing for a traveller like myself, whohas successively lived on maccaroni at Naples, polenta at Milan, ollapodrida at Valencia, pilau at Constantinople, karrick in India, andswallows' nests in China. I eat everywhere, and of everything, onlyI eat but little; and to-day, that you reproach me with my want ofappetite, is my day of appetite, for I have not eaten since yesterdaymorning. "

"What, " cried all the guests, "you have not eaten for four and twentyhours?"

"No, " replied the count; "I was forced to go out of my road to obtainsome information near Nimes, so that I was somewhat late, and thereforeI did not choose to stop. "

"And you ate in your carriage?" asked Morcerf.

"No, I slept, as I generally do when I am weary without having thecourage to amuse myself, or when I am hungry without feeling inclined toeat. "

"But you can sleep when you please, monsieur?" said Morrel.

"Yes. "

"You have a recipe for it?"

"An infallible one. "

"That would be invaluable to us in Africa, who have not always any foodto eat, and rarely anything to drink. "

"Yes, " said Monte Cristo; "but, unfortunately, a recipe excellent for aman like myself would be very dangerous applied to an army, which mightnot awake when it was needed. "

"May we inquire what is this recipe?" asked Debray.

"Oh, yes, " returned Monte Cristo; "I make no secret of it. It is amixture of excellent opium, which I fetched myself from Canton in orderto have it pure, and the best hashish which grows in the East--that is, between the Tigris and the Euphrates. These two ingredients are mixedin equal proportions, and formed into pills. Ten minutes after one istaken, the effect is produced. Ask Baron Franz d'Epinay; I think hetasted them one day. "

"Yes, " replied Morcerf, "he said something about it to me. "

"But, " said Beauchamp, who, as became a journalist, was veryincredulous, "you always carry this drug about you?"

"Always. "

"Would it be an indiscretion to ask to see those precious pills?"continued Beauchamp, hoping to take him at a disadvantage.

"No, monsieur, " returned the count; and he drew from his pocket amarvellous casket, formed out of a single emerald and closed by a goldenlid which unscrewed and gave passage to a small greenish colored pelletabout the size of a pea. This ball had an acrid and penetrating odor. There were four or five more in the emerald, which would contain abouta dozen. The casket passed around the table, but it was more to examinethe admirable emerald than to see the pills that it passed from hand tohand. "And is it your cook who prepares these pills?" asked Beauchamp.

"Oh, no, monsieur, " replied Monte Cristo; "I do not thus betray myenjoyments to the vulgar. I am a tolerable chemist, and prepare my pillsmyself. "

"This is a magnificent emerald, and the largest I have ever seen, " saidChateau-Renaud, "although my mother has some remarkable family jewels. "

"I had three similar ones, " returned Monte Cristo. "I gave one to theSultan, who mounted it in his sabre; another to our holy father thePope, who had it set in his tiara, opposite to one nearly as large, though not so fine, given by the Emperor Napoleon to his predecessor, Pius VII. I kept the third for myself, and I had it hollowed out, whichreduced its value, but rendered it more commodious for the purpose Iintended. " Every one looked at Monte Cristo with astonishment; he spokewith so much simplicity that it was evident he spoke the truth, orthat he was mad. However, the sight of the emerald made them naturallyincline to the former belief. "And what did these two sovereigns giveyou in exchange for these magnificent presents?" asked Debray.

"The Sultan, the liberty of a woman, " replied the Count; "the Pope, thelife of a man; so that once in my life I have been as powerful as ifheaven had brought me into the world on the steps of a throne. "

"And it was Peppino you saved, was it not?" cried Morcerf; "it was forhim that you obtained pardon?"

"Perhaps, " returned the count, smiling.

"My dear count, you have no idea what pleasure it gives me to hear youspeak thus, " said Morcerf. "I had announced you beforehand to my friendsas an enchanter of the 'Arabian Nights, ' a wizard of the Middle Ages;but the Parisians are so subtle in paradoxes that they mistake forcaprices of the imagination the most incontestable truths, when thesetruths do not form a part of their daily existence. For example, here isDebray who reads, and Beauchamp who prints, every day, 'A member of theJockey Club has been stopped and robbed on the Boulevard;' 'four personshave been assassinated in the Rue St. Denis' or 'the Faubourg St. Germain;' 'ten, fifteen, or twenty thieves, have been arrested in a cafeon the Boulevard du Temple, or in the Thermes de Julien, '--and yet thesesame men deny the existence of the bandits in the Maremma, the Campagnadi Romana, or the Pontine Marshes. Tell them yourself that I was takenby bandits, and that without your generous intercession I shouldnow have been sleeping in the Catacombs of St. Sebastian, instead ofreceiving them in my humble abode in the Rue du Helder. "

"Ah, " said Monte Cristo "you promised me never to mention thatcircumstance. "

"It was not I who made that promise, " cried Morcerf; "it must have beensome one else whom you have rescued in the same manner, and whom youhave forgotten. Pray speak of it, for I shall not only, I trust, relatethe little I do know, but also a great deal I do not know. "

"It seems to me, " returned the count, smiling, "that you played asufficiently important part to know as well as myself what happened. "

"Well, you promise me, if I tell all I know, to relate, in your turn, all that I do not know?"

"That is but fair, " replied Monte Cristo.

"Well, " said Morcerf, "for three days I believed myself the object ofthe attentions of a masque, whom I took for a descendant of Tullia orPoppoea, while I was simply the object of the attentions of a contadina, and I say contadina to avoid saying peasant girl. What I know is, that, like a fool, a greater fool than he of whom I spoke just now, I mistookfor this peasant girl a young bandit of fifteen or sixteen, with abeardless chin and slim waist, and who, just as I was about to imprinta chaste salute on his lips, placed a pistol to my head, and, aided byseven or eight others, led, or rather dragged me, to the Catacombs ofSt. Sebastian, where I found a highly educated brigand chief perusingCaesar's 'Commentaries, ' and who deigned to leave off reading to informme, that unless the next morning, before six o'clock, four thousandpiastres were paid into his account at his banker's, at a quarter pastsix I should have ceased to exist. The letter is still to be seen, for it is in Franz d'Epinay's possession, signed by me, and with apostscript of M. Luigi Vampa. This is all I know, but I know not, count, how you contrived to inspire so much respect in the bandits of Rome whoordinarily have so little respect for anything. I assure you, Franz andI were lost in admiration. "

"Nothing more simple, " returned the count. "I had known the famous Vampafor more than ten years. When he was quite a child, and only a shepherd, I gave him a few gold pieces for showing me my way, and he, in order torepay me, gave me a poniard, the hilt of which he had carved with hisown hand, and which you may have seen in my collection of arms. In afteryears, whether he had forgotten this interchange of presents, whichought to have cemented our friendship, or whether he did not recollectme, he sought to take me, but, on the contrary, it was I who capturedhim and a dozen of his band. I might have handed him over to Romanjustice, which is somewhat expeditious, and which would have beenparticularly so with him; but I did nothing of the sort--I suffered himand his band to depart. "

"With the condition that they should sin no more, " said Beauchamp, laughing. "I see they kept their promise. "

"No, monsieur, " returned Monte Cristo "upon the simple condition thatthey should respect myself and my friends. Perhaps what I am about tosay may seem strange to you, who are socialists, and vaunt humanity andyour duty to your neighbor, but I never seek to protect a society whichdoes not protect me, and which I will even say, generally occupiesitself about me only to injure me; and thus by giving them a low placein my esteem, and preserving a neutrality towards them, it is societyand my neighbor who are indebted to me. "

"Bravo, " cried Chateau-Renaud; "you are the first man I ever metsufficiently courageous to preach egotism. Bravo, count, bravo!"

"It is frank, at least, " said Morrel. "But I am sure that the count doesnot regret having once deviated from the principles he has so boldlyavowed. "

"How have I deviated from those principles, monsieur?" asked MonteCristo, who could not help looking at Morrel with so much intensity, that two or three times the young man had been unable to sustain thatclear and piercing glance.

"Why, it seems to me, " replied Morrel, "that in delivering M. DeMorcerf, whom you did not know, you did good to your neighbor and tosociety. "

"Of which he is the brightest ornament, " said Beauchamp, drinking off aglass of champagne.

"My dear count, " cried Morcerf, "you are at fault--you, one of the mostformidable logicians I know--and you must see it clearly proved thatinstead of being an egotist, you are a philanthropist. Ah, you callyourself Oriental, a Levantine, Maltese, Indian, Chinese; your familyname is Monte Cristo; Sinbad the Sailor is your baptismal appellation, and yet the first day you set foot in Paris you instinctively displaythe greatest virtue, or rather the chief defect, of us eccentricParisians, --that is, you assume the vices you have not, and conceal thevirtues you possess. "

"My dear vicomte, " returned Monte Cristo, "I do not see, in all I havedone, anything that merits, either from you or these gentlemen, thepretended eulogies I have received. You were no stranger to me, forI knew you from the time I gave up two rooms to you, invited you tobreakfast with me, lent you one of my carriages, witnessed the Carnivalin your company, and saw with you from a window in the Piazza del Popolothe execution that affected you so much that you nearly fainted. I willappeal to any of these gentlemen, could I leave my guest in the handsof a hideous bandit, as you term him? Besides, you know, I had the ideathat you could introduce me into some of the Paris salons when I cameto France. You might some time ago have looked upon this resolution as avague project, but to-day you see it was a reality, and you must submitto it under penalty of breaking your word. "

"I will keep it, " returned Morcerf; "but I fear that you will be muchdisappointed, accustomed as you are to picturesque events and fantastichorizons. Amongst us you will not meet with any of those episodes withwhich your adventurous existence has so familiarized you; our Chimborazois Mortmartre, our Himalaya is Mount Valerien, our Great Desert is theplain of Grenelle, where they are now boring an artesian well to waterthe caravans. We have plenty of thieves, though not so many as is said;but these thieves stand in far more dread of a policeman than a lord. France is so prosaic, and Paris so civilized a city, that you will notfind in its eighty-five departments--I say eighty-five, because I donot include Corsica--you will not find, then, in these eighty-fivedepartments a single hill on which there is not a telegraph, or a grottoin which the commissary of police has not put up a gaslamp. There is butone service I can render you, and for that I place myself entirelyat your orders, that is, to present, or make my friends present, youeverywhere; besides, you have no need of any one to introduce you--withyour name, and your fortune, and your talent" (Monte Cristo bowed witha somewhat ironical smile) "you can present yourself everywhere, and bewell received. I can be useful in one way only--if knowledge of Parisianhabits, of the means of rendering yourself comfortable, or of thebazaars, can assist, you may depend upon me to find you a fittingdwelling here. I do not dare offer to share my apartments with you, as Ishared yours at Rome--I, who do not profess egotism, but am yet egotistpar excellence; for, except myself, these rooms would not hold a shadowmore, unless that shadow were feminine. "

"Ah, " said the count, "that is a most conjugal reservation; I recollectthat at Rome you said something of a projected marriage. May Icongratulate you?"

"The affair is still in projection. "

"And he who says in 'projection, ' means already decided, " said Debray.

"No, " replied Morcerf, "my father is most anxious about it; and Ihope, ere long, to introduce you, if not to my wife, at least to mybetrothed--Mademoiselle Eugenie Danglars. "

"Eugenie Danglars, " said Monte Cristo; "tell me, is not her father BaronDanglars?"

"Yes, " returned Morcerf, "a baron of a new creation. "

"What matter, " said Monte Cristo "if he has rendered the State serviceswhich merit this distinction?"

"Enormous ones, " answered Beauchamp. "Although in reality a Liberal, henegotiated a loan of six millions for Charles X. , in 1829, who madehim a baron and chevalier of the Legion of Honor; so that he wears theribbon, not, as you would think, in his waistcoat-pocket, but at hisbutton-hole. "

"Ah, " interrupted Morcerf, laughing, "Beauchamp, Beauchamp, keep thatfor the Corsaire or the Charivari, but spare my future father-in-lawbefore me. " Then, turning to Monte Cristo, "You just now spoke his nameas if you knew the baron?"

"I do not know him, " returned Monte Cristo; "but I shall probably soonmake his acquaintance, for I have a credit opened with him by the houseof Richard & Blount, of London, Arstein & Eskeles of Vienna, and Thomson& French at Rome. " As he pronounced the two last names, the countglanced at Maximilian Morrel. If the stranger expected to produce aneffect on Morrel, he was not mistaken--Maximilian started as if he hadbeen electrified. "Thomson & French, " said he; "do you know this house, monsieur?"

"They are my bankers in the capital of the Christian world, " returnedthe count quietly. "Can my influence with them be of any service toyou?"

"Oh, count, you could assist me perhaps in researches which have been, up to the present, fruitless. This house, in past years, did ours agreat service, and has, I know not for what reason, always denied havingrendered us this service. "

"I shall be at your orders, " said Monte Cristo bowing.

"But, " continued Morcerf, "a propos of Danglars, --we have strangelywandered from the subject. We were speaking of a suitable habitationfor the Count of Monte Cristo. Come, gentlemen, let us all propose someplace. Where shall we lodge this new guest in our great capital?"

"Faubourg Saint-Germain, " said Chateau-Renaud. "The count will findthere a charming hotel, with a court and garden. "

"Bah, Chateau-Renaud, " returned Debray, "you only know your dulland gloomy Faubourg Saint-Germain; do not pay any attention to him, count--live in the Chaussee d'Antin, that's the real centre of Paris. "

"Boulevard de l'Opera, " said Beauchamp; "the second floor--a house witha balcony. The count will have his cushions of silver cloth broughtthere, and as he smokes his chibouque, see all Paris pass before him. "

"You have no idea, then, Morrel?" asked Chateau-Renaud; "you do notpropose anything. "

"Oh, yes, " returned the young man, smiling; "on the contrary, I haveone, but I expected the count would be tempted by one of the brilliantproposals made him, yet as he has not replied to any of them, I willventure to offer him a suite of apartments in a charming hotel, in thePompadour style, that my sister has inhabited for a year, in the RueMeslay. "

"You have a sister?" asked the count.

"Yes, monsieur, a most excellent sister. "

"Married?"

"Nearly nine years. "

"Happy?" asked the count again.

"As happy as it is permitted to a human creature to be, " repliedMaximilian. "She married the man she loved, who remained faithful tous in our fallen fortunes--Emmanuel Herbaut. " Monte Cristo smiledimperceptibly. "I live there during my leave of absence, " continuedMaximilian; "and I shall be, together with my brother-in-law Emmanuel, at the disposition of the Count, whenever he thinks fit to honor us. "

"One minute, " cried Albert, without giving Monte Cristo the time toreply. "Take care, you are going to immure a traveller, Sinbad theSailor, a man who comes to see Paris; you are going to make a patriarchof him. "

"Oh, no, " said Morrel; "my sister is five and twenty, my brother-in-lawis thirty, they are gay, young, and happy. Besides, the count will be inhis own house, and only see them when he thinks fit to do so. "

"Thanks, monsieur, " said Monte Cristo; "I shall content myself withbeing presented to your sister and her husband, if you will do me thehonor to introduce me; but I cannot accept the offer of any one of thesegentlemen, since my habitation is already prepared. "

"What, " cried Morcerf; "you are, then, going to an hotel--that will bevery dull for you. "

"Was I so badly lodged at Rome?" said Monte Cristo smiling.

"Parbleu, at Rome you spent fifty thousand piastres in furnishing yourapartments, but I presume that you are not disposed to spend a similarsum every day. "

"It is not that which deterred me, " replied Monte Cristo; "but as Idetermined to have a house to myself, I sent on my valet de chambre, andhe ought by this time to have bought the house and furnished it. "

"But you have, then, a valet de chambre who knows Paris?" saidBeauchamp.

"It is the first time he has ever been in Paris. He is black, and cannotspeak, " returned Monte Cristo.

"It is Ali!" cried Albert, in the midst of the general surprise.

"Yes, Ali himself, my Nubian mute, whom you saw, I think, at Rome. "

"Certainly, " said Morcerf; "I recollect him perfectly. But how could youcharge a Nubian to purchase a house, and a mute to furnish it?--he willdo everything wrong. "

"Undeceive yourself, monsieur, " replied Monte Cristo; "I am quite sure, that, on the contrary, he will choose everything as I wish. He knowsmy tastes, my caprices, my wants. He has been here a week, with theinstinct of a hound, hunting by himself. He will arrange everything forme. He knew, that I should arrive to-day at ten o'clock; he was waitingfor me at nine at the Barriere de Fontainebleau. He gave me this paper;it contains the number of my new abode; read it yourself, " and MonteCristo passed a paper to Albert. "Ah, that is really original, " saidBeauchamp.

"And very princely, " added Chateau-Renaud.

"What, do you not know your house?" asked Debray.

"No, " said Monte Cristo; "I told you I did not wish to be behind mytime; I dressed myself in the carriage, and descended at the viscount'sdoor. " The young men looked at each other; they did not know if it wasa comedy Monte Cristo was playing, but every word he uttered had suchan air of simplicity, that it was impossible to suppose what he saidwas false--besides, why should he tell a falsehood? "We must contentourselves, then, " said Beauchamp, "with rendering the count all thelittle services in our power. I, in my quality of journalist, open allthe theatres to him. "

"Thanks, monsieur, " returned Monte Cristo, "my steward has orders totake a box at each theatre. "

"Is your steward also a Nubian?" asked Debray.

"No, he is a countryman of yours, if a Corsican is a countryman of anyone's. But you know him, M. De Morcerf. "

"Is it that excellent M. Bertuccio, who understands hiring windows sowell?"

"Yes, you saw him the day I had the honor of receiving you; he has beena soldier, a smuggler--in fact, everything. I would not be quite surethat he has not been mixed up with the police for some trifle--a stabwith a knife, for instance. "

"And you have chosen this honest citizen for your steward, " said Debray. "Of how much does he rob you every year?"

"On my word, " replied the count, "not more than another. I am sure heanswers my purpose, knows no impossibility, and so I keep him. "

"Then, " continued Chateau-Renaud, "since you have an establishment, asteward, and a hotel in the Champs Elysees, you only want a mistress. "Albert smiled. He thought of the fair Greek he had seen in the count'sbox at the Argentina and Valle theatres. "I have something better thanthat, " said Monte Cristo; "I have a slave. You procure your mistressesfrom the opera, the Vaudeville, or the Varietes; I purchased mine atConstantinople; it cost me more, but I have nothing to fear. "

"But you forget, " replied Debray, laughing, "that we are Franks by nameand franks by nature, as King Charles said, and that the moment she putsher foot in France your slave becomes free. "

"Who will tell her?"

"The first person who sees her. "

"She only speaks Romaic. "

"That is different. "

"But at least we shall see her, " said Beauchamp, "or do you keep eunuchsas well as mutes?"

"Oh, no, " replied Monte Cristo; "I do not carry brutalism so far. Everyone who surrounds me is free to quit me, and when they leave me willno longer have any need of me or any one else; it is for that reason, perhaps, that they do not quit me. " They had long since passed todessert and cigars.

"My dear Albert, " said Debray, rising, "it is half-past two. Yourguest is charming, but you leave the best company to go into the worstsometimes. I must return to the minister's. I will tell him of thecount, and we shall soon know who he is. "

"Take care, " returned Albert; "no one has been able to accomplish that. "

"Oh, we have three millions for our police; it is true they are almostalways spent beforehand, but, no matter, we shall still have fiftythousand francs to spend for this purpose. "

"And when you know, will you tell me?"

"I promise you. Au revoir, Albert. Gentlemen, good morning. "

As he left the room, Debray called out loudly, "My carriage. "

"Bravo, " said Beauchamp to Albert; "I shall not go to the Chamber, but Ihave something better to offer my readers than a speech of M. Danglars. "

"For heaven's sake, Beauchamp, " returned Morcerf, "do not deprive me ofthe merit of introducing him everywhere. Is he not peculiar?"

"He is more than that, " replied Chateau-Renaud; "he is one of the mostextraordinary men I ever saw in my life. Are you coming, Morrel?"

"Directly I have given my card to the count, who has promised to pay usa visit at Rue Meslay, No. 14. "

"Be sure I shall not fail to do so, " returned the count, bowing. AndMaximilian Morrel left the room with the Baron de Chateau-Renaud, leaving Monte Cristo alone with Morcerf.

Chapter 41. The Presentation.

When Albert found himself alone with Monte Cristo, "My dear count, "said he, "allow me to commence my services as cicerone by showing youa specimen of a bachelor's apartment. You, who are accustomed to thepalaces of Italy, can amuse yourself by calculating in how many squarefeet a young man who is not the worst lodged in Paris can live. Aswe pass from one room to another, I will open the windows to let youbreathe. " Monte Cristo had already seen the breakfast-room and the salonon the ground-floor. Albert led him first to his atelier, which was, aswe have said, his favorite apartment. Monte Cristo quickly appreciatedall that Albert had collected here--old cabinets, Japanese porcelain, Oriental stuffs, Venetian glass, arms from all parts of theworld--everything was familiar to him; and at the first glance herecognized their date, their country, and their origin. Morcerf hadexpected he should be the guide; on the contrary, it was he who, underthe count's guidance, followed a course of archaeology, mineralogy, andnatural history. They descended to the first floor; Albert led his guestinto the salon. The salon was filled with the works of modern artists;there were landscapes by Dupre, with their long reeds and tall trees, their lowing oxen and marvellous skies; Delacroix's Arabian cavaliers, with their long white burnouses, their shining belts, their damaskedarms, their horses, who tore each other with their teeth while theirriders contended fiercely with their maces; aquarelles of Boulanger, representing Notre Dame de Paris with that vigor that makes the artistthe rival of the poet; there were paintings by Diaz, who makes hisflowers more beautiful than flowers, his suns more brilliant than thesun; designs by Decamp, as vividly colored as those of Salvator Rosa, but more poetic; pastels by Giraud and Muller, representing childrenlike angels and women with the features of a virgin; sketches torn fromthe album of Dauzats' "Travels in the East, " that had been made in a fewseconds on the saddle of a camel, or beneath the dome of a mosque--in aword, all that modern art can give in exchange and as recompense for theart lost and gone with ages long since past.

Albert expected to have something new this time to show to thetraveller, but, to his great surprise, the latter, without seekingfor the signatures, many of which, indeed, were only initials, namedinstantly the author of every picture in such a manner that it was easyto see that each name was not only known to him, but that each styleassociated with it had been appreciated and studied by him. From thesalon they passed into the bed-chamber; it was a model of taste andsimple elegance. A single portrait, signed by Leopold Robert, shone inits carved and gilded frame. This portrait attracted the Count of MonteCristo's attention, for he made three rapid steps in the chamber, andstopped suddenly before it. It was the portrait of a young woman of fiveor six and twenty, with a dark complexion, and light and lustrous eyes, veiled beneath long lashes. She wore the picturesque costume of theCatalan fisherwomen, a red and black bodice, and golden pins in herhair. She was looking at the sea, and her form was outlined on the blueocean and sky. The light was so faint in the room that Albert did notperceive the pallor that spread itself over the count's visage, or thenervous heaving of his chest and shoulders. Silence prevailed for aninstant, during which Monte Cristo gazed intently on the picture.

"You have there a most charming mistress, viscount, " said the count ina perfectly calm tone; "and this costume--a ball costume, doubtless--becomes her admirably. "

"Ah, monsieur, " returned Albert, "I would never forgive you this mistakeif you had seen another picture beside this. You do not know my mother;she it is whom you see here. She had her portrait painted thus sixor eight years ago. This costume is a fancy one, it appears, and theresemblance is so great that I think I still see my mother the sameas she was in 1830. The countess had this portrait painted duringthe count's absence. She doubtless intended giving him an agreeablesurprise; but, strange to say, this portrait seemed to displease myfather, and the value of the picture, which is, as you see, one of thebest works of Leopold Robert, could not overcome his dislike to it. It is true, between ourselves, that M. De Morcerf is one of the mostassiduous peers at the Luxembourg, a general renowned for theory, but amost mediocre amateur of art. It is different with my mother, who paintsexceedingly well, and who, unwilling to part with so valuable a picture, gave it to me to put here, where it would be less likely to displeaseM. De Morcerf, whose portrait, by Gros, I will also show you. Excuse mytalking of family matters, but as I shall have the honor of introducingyou to the count, I tell you this to prevent you making any allusionsto this picture. The picture seems to have a malign influence, for mymother rarely comes here without looking at it, and still more rarelydoes she look at it without weeping. This disagreement is the only onethat has ever taken place between the count and countess, who are stillas much united, although married more than twenty years, as on the firstday of their wedding. "

Monte Cristo glanced rapidly at Albert, as if to seek a hidden meaningin his words, but it was evident the young man uttered them in thesimplicity of his heart. "Now, " said Albert, "that you have seen all mytreasures, allow me to offer them to you, unworthy as they are. Consideryourself as in your own house, and to put yourself still more at yourease, pray accompany me to the apartments of M. De Morcerf, he whom Iwrote from Rome an account of the services you rendered me, and to whomI announced your promised visit, and I may say that both the count andcountess anxiously desire to thank you in person. You are somewhat blaseI know, and family scenes have not much effect on Sinbad the Sailor, who has seen so many others. However, accept what I propose to you asan initiation into Parisian life--a life of politeness, visiting, and introductions. " Monte Cristo bowed without making any answer; heaccepted the offer without enthusiasm and without regret, as one ofthose conventions of society which every gentleman looks upon as a duty. Albert summoned his servant, and ordered him to acquaint M. And Madamede Morcerf of the arrival of the Count of Monte Cristo. Albert followedhim with the count. When they arrived at the ante-chamber, above thedoor was visible a shield, which, by its rich ornaments and its harmonywith the rest of the furniture, indicated the importance the ownerattached to this blazon. Monte Cristo stopped and examined itattentively.

"Azure seven merlets, or, placed bender, " said he. "These are, doubtless, your family arms? Except the knowledge of blazons, thatenables me to decipher them, I am very ignorant of heraldry--I, a countof a fresh creation, fabricated in Tuscany by the aid of a commanderyof St. Stephen, and who would not have taken the trouble had I not beentold that when you travel much it is necessary. Besides, you must havesomething on the panels of your carriage, to escape being searched bythe custom-house officers. Excuse my putting such a question to you. "

"It is not indiscreet, " returned Morcerf, with the simplicity ofconviction. "You have guessed rightly. These are our arms, that is, those of my father, but they are, as you see, joined to another shield, which has gules, a silver tower, which are my mother's. By her side I amSpanish, but the family of Morcerf is French, and, I have heard, one ofthe oldest of the south of France. "

"Yes, " replied Monte Cristo "these blazons prove that. Almost all thearmed pilgrims that went to the Holy Land took for their arms either across, in honor of their mission, or birds of passage, in sign ofthe long voyage they were about to undertake, and which they hoped toaccomplish on the wings of faith. One of your ancestors had joined theCrusades, and supposing it to be only that of St. Louis, that makes youmount to the thirteenth century, which is tolerably ancient. "

"It is possible, " said Morcerf; "my father has in his study agenealogical tree which will tell you all that, and on which I madecommentaries that would have greatly edified Hozier and Jaucourt. Atpresent I no longer think of it, and yet I must tell you that we arebeginning to occupy ourselves greatly with these things under ourpopular government. "

"Well, then, your government would do well to choose from the pastsomething better than the things that I have noticed on your monuments, and which have no heraldic meaning whatever. As for you, viscount, "continued Monte Cristo to Morcerf, "you are more fortunate than thegovernment, for your arms are really beautiful, and speak to theimagination. Yes, you are at once from Provence and Spain; thatexplains, if the portrait you showed me be like, the dark hue I so muchadmired on the visage of the noble Catalan. " It would have required thepenetration of Oedipus or the Sphinx to have divined the irony the countconcealed beneath these words, apparently uttered with the greatestpoliteness. Morcerf thanked him with a smile, and pushed open the doorabove which were his arms, and which, as we have said, opened into thesalon. In the most conspicuous part of the salon was another portrait. It was that of a man, from five to eight and thirty, in the uniform ofa general officer, wearing the double epaulet of heavy bullion, thatindicates superior rank, the ribbon of the Legion of Honor around hisneck, which showed he was a commander, and on the right breast, the starof a grand officer of the order of the Saviour, and on the left thatof the grand cross of Charles III. , which proved that the personrepresented by the picture had served in the wars of Greece and Spain, or, what was just the same thing as regarded decorations, had fulfilledsome diplomatic mission in the two countries.

Monte Cristo was engaged in examining this portrait with no less carethan he had bestowed upon the other, when another door opened, and hefound himself opposite to the Count of Morcerf in person. He was a manof forty to forty-five years, but he seemed at least fifty, and hisblack mustache and eyebrows contrasted strangely with his almost whitehair, which was cut short, in the military fashion. He was dressed inplain clothes, and wore at his button-hole the ribbons of the differentorders to which he belonged. He entered with a tolerably dignified step, and some little haste. Monte Cristo saw him advance towards him withoutmaking a single step. It seemed as if his feet were rooted to theground, and his eyes on the Count of Morcerf. "Father, " said the youngman, "I have the honor of presenting to you the Count of Monte Cristo, the generous friend whom I had the good fortune to meet in the criticalsituation of which I have told you. "

"You are most welcome, monsieur, " said the Count of Morcerf, salutingMonte Cristo with a smile, "and monsieur has rendered our house, inpreserving its only heir, a service which insures him our eternalgratitude. " As he said these words, the count of Morcerf pointed to achair, while he seated himself in another opposite the window.

Monte Cristo, in taking the seat Morcerf offered him, placed himself insuch a manner as to remain concealed in the shadow of the large velvetcurtains, and read on the careworn and livid features of the count awhole history of secret griefs written in each wrinkle time had plantedthere. "The countess, " said Morcerf, "was at her toilet when she wasinformed of the visit she was about to receive. She will, however, be inthe salon in ten minutes. "

"It is a great honor to me, " returned Monte Cristo, "to be thus, on thefirst day of my arrival in Paris, brought in contact with a man whosemerit equals his reputation, and to whom fortune has for once beenequitable, but has she not still on the plains of Metidja, or in themountains of Atlas, a marshal's staff to offer you?"

"Oh, " replied Morcerf, reddening slightly, "I have left the service, monsieur. Made a peer at the Restoration, I served through the firstcampaign under the orders of Marshal Bourmont. I could, therefore, expect a higher rank, and who knows what might have happened had theelder branch remained on the throne? But the Revolution of July was, itseems, sufficiently glorious to allow itself to be ungrateful, and itwas so for all services that did not date from the imperial period. Itendered my resignation, for when you have gained your epaulets on thebattle-field, you do not know how to manoeuvre on the slippery groundsof the salons. I have hung up my sword, and cast myself into politics. I have devoted myself to industry; I study the useful arts. During thetwenty years I served, I often wished to do so, but I had not the time. "

"These are the ideas that render your nation superior to any other, "returned Monte Cristo. "A gentleman of high birth, possessor of anample fortune, you have consented to gain your promotion as an obscuresoldier, step by step--this is uncommon; then become general, peer ofFrance, commander of the Legion of Honor, you consent to again commencea second apprenticeship, without any other hope or any other desire thanthat of one day becoming useful to your fellow-creatures; this, indeed, is praiseworthy, --nay, more, it is sublime. " Albert looked on andlistened with astonishment; he was not used to see Monte Cristo givevent to such bursts of enthusiasm. "Alas, " continued the stranger, doubtless to dispel the slight cloud that covered Morcerf's brow, "wedo not act thus in Italy; we grow according to our race and our species, and we pursue the same lines, and often the same uselessness, all ourlives. "

"But, monsieur, " said the Count of Morcerf, "for a man of your merit, Italy is not a country, and France opens her arms to receive you;respond to her call. France will not, perhaps, be always ungrateful. Shetreats her children ill, but she always welcomes strangers. "

"Ah, father, " said Albert with a smile, "it is evident you do not knowthe Count of Monte Cristo; he despises all honors, and contents himselfwith those written on his passport. "

"That is the most just remark, " replied the stranger, "I ever heard madeconcerning myself. "

"You have been free to choose your career, " observed the Count ofMorcerf, with a sigh; "and you have chosen the path strewed withflowers. "

"Precisely, monsieur, " replied Monte Cristo with one of those smilesthat a painter could never represent or a physiologist analyze.

"If I did not fear to fatigue you, " said the general, evidently charmedwith the count's manners, "I would have taken you to the Chamber;there is a debate very curious to those who are strangers to our modernsenators. "

"I shall be most grateful, monsieur, if you will, at some future time, renew your offer, but I have been flattered with the hope of beingintroduced to the countess, and I will therefore wait. "

"Ah, here is my mother, " cried the viscount. Monte Cristo, turned roundhastily, and saw Madame de Morcerf at the entrance of the salon, atthe door opposite to that by which her husband had entered, pale andmotionless; when Monte Cristo turned round, she let fall her arm, whichfor some unknown reason had been resting on the gilded door-post. She had been there some moments, and had heard the last words of thevisitor. The latter rose and bowed to the countess, who inclined herselfwithout speaking. "Ah, good heavens, madame, " said the count, "are youill, or is it the heat of the room that affects you?"

"Are you ill, mother?" cried the viscount, springing towards her.

She thanked them both with a smile. "No, " returned she, "but I feelsome emotion on seeing, for the first time, the man without whoseintervention we should have been in tears and desolation. Monsieur, "continued the countess, advancing with the majesty of a queen, "I owe toyou the life of my son, and for this I bless you. Now, I thank youfor the pleasure you give me in thus affording me the opportunity ofthanking you as I have blessed you, from the bottom of my heart. "The count bowed again, but lower than before; He was even paler thanMercedes. "Madame, " said he, "the count and yourself recompense toogenerously a simple action. To save a man, to spare a father's feelings, or a mother's sensibility, is not to do a good action, but a simple deedof humanity. " At these words, uttered with the most exquisite sweetnessand politeness, Madame de Morcerf replied. "It is very fortunate for myson, monsieur, that he found such a friend, and I thank God that thingsare thus. " And Mercedes raised her fine eyes to heaven with so ferventan expression of gratitude, that the count fancied he saw tears in them. M. De Morcerf approached her. "Madame, " said he. "I have already made myexcuses to the count for quitting him, and I pray you to do so also. Thesitting commences at two; it is now three, and I am to speak. "

"Go, then, and monsieur and I will strive our best to forget yourabsence, " replied the countess, with the same tone of deep feeling. "Monsieur, " continued she, turning to Monte Cristo, "will you do us thehonor of passing the rest of the day with us?"

"Believe me, madame, I feel most grateful for your kindness, but Igot out of my travelling carriage at your door this morning, and I amignorant how I am installed in Paris, which I scarcely know; this is buta trifling inquietude, I know, but one that may be appreciated. "

"We shall have the pleasure another time, " said the countess; "youpromise that?" Monte Cristo inclined himself without answering, butthe gesture might pass for assent. "I will not detain you, monsieur, "continued the countess; "I would not have our gratitude becomeindiscreet or importunate. "

"My dear Count, " said Albert, "I will endeavor to return your politenessat Rome, and place my coupe at your disposal until your own be ready. "

"A thousand thanks for your kindness, viscount, " returned the Count ofMonte Cristo "but I suppose that M. Bertuccio has suitably employed thefour hours and a half I have given him, and that I shall find a carriageof some sort ready at the door. " Albert was used to the count'smanner of proceeding; he knew that, like Nero, he was in search of theimpossible, and nothing astonished him, but wishing to judge with hisown eyes how far the count's orders had been executed, he accompaniedhim to the door of the house. Monte Cristo was not deceived. As soon ashe appeared in the Count of Morcerf's ante-chamber, a footman, thesame who at Rome had brought the count's card to the two young men, andannounced his visit, sprang into the vestibule, and when he arrived atthe door the illustrious traveller found his carriage awaiting him. Itwas a coupe of Koller's building, and with horses and harness for whichDrake had, to the knowledge of all the lions of Paris, refused onthe previous day seven hundred guineas. "Monsieur, " said the count toAlbert, "I do not ask you to accompany me to my house, as I can onlyshow you a habitation fitted up in a hurry, and I have, as you know, areputation to keep up as regards not being taken by surprise. Give me, therefore, one more day before I invite you; I shall then be certain notto fail in my hospitality. "

"If you ask me for a day, count, I know what to anticipate; it will notbe a house I shall see, but a palace. You have decidedly some genius atyour control. "

"Ma foi, spread that idea, " replied the Count of Monte Cristo, puttinghis foot on the velvet-lined steps of his splendid carriage, "and thatwill be worth something to me among the ladies. " As he spoke, he spranginto the vehicle, the door was closed, but not so rapidly that MonteCristo failed to perceive the almost imperceptible movement whichstirred the curtains of the apartment in which he had left Madame deMorcerf. When Albert returned to his mother, he found her in the boudoirreclining in a large velvet arm-chair, the whole room so obscure thatonly the shining spangle, fastened here and there to the drapery, andthe angles of the gilded frames of the pictures, showed with somedegree of brightness in the gloom. Albert could not see the face of thecountess, as it was covered with a thin veil she had put on her head, and which fell over her features in misty folds, but it seemed to him asthough her voice had altered. He could distinguish amid the perfumes ofthe roses and heliotropes in the flower-stands, the sharp and fragrantodor of volatile salts, and he noticed in one of the chased cups on themantle-piece the countess's smelling-bottle, taken from its shagreencase, and exclaimed in a tone of uneasiness, as he entered, --"My dearmother, have you been ill during my absence?"

"No, no, Albert, but you know these roses, tuberoses, and orange-flowersthrow out at first, before one is used to them, such violent perfumes. "

"Then, my dear mother, " said Albert, putting his hand to the bell, "theymust be taken into the ante-chamber. You are really ill, and just nowwere so pale as you came into the room"--

"Was I pale, Albert?"

"Yes; a pallor that suits you admirably, mother, but which did not theless alarm my father and myself. "

"Did your father speak of it?" inquired Mercedes eagerly.

"No, madame; but do you not remember that he spoke of the fact to you?"

"Yes, I do remember, " replied the countess. A servant entered, summonedby Albert's ring of the bell. "Take these flowers into the anteroom ordressing-room, " said the viscount; "they make the countess ill. " Thefootman obeyed his orders. A long pause ensued, which lasted until allthe flowers were removed. "What is this name of Monte Cristo?" inquiredthe countess, when the servant had taken away the last vase of flowers, "is it a family name, or the name of the estate, or a simple title?"

"I believe, mother, it is merely a title. The count purchased an islandin the Tuscan archipelago, and, as he told you to-day, has foundeda commandery. You know the same thing was done for Saint Stephen ofFlorence, Saint George, Constantinian of Parma, and even for the Orderof Malta. Except this, he has no pretension to nobility, and callshimself a chance count, although the general opinion at Rome is that thecount is a man of very high distinction. "

"His manners are admirable, " said the countess, "at least, as far as Icould judge in the few minutes he remained here. "

"They are perfect mother, so perfect, that they surpass by far all Ihave known in the leading aristocracy of the three proudest nobilitiesof Europe--the English, the Spanish, and the German. " The countesspaused a moment; then, after a slight hesitation, she resumed, --"Youhave seen, my dear Albert--I ask the question as a mother--you haveseen M. De Monte Cristo in his house, you are quicksighted, have muchknowledge of the world, more tact than is usual at your age, do youthink the count is really what he appears to be?"

"What does he appear to be?"

"Why, you have just said, --a man of high distinction. "

"I told you, my dear mother, he was esteemed such. "

"But what is your own opinion, Albert?"

"I must tell you that I have not come to any decided opinion respectinghim, but I think him a Maltese. "

"I do not ask you of his origin but what he is. "

"Ah, what he is; that is quite another thing. I have seen so manyremarkable things in him, that if you would have me really say what Ithink, I shall reply that I really do look upon him as one of Byron'sheroes, whom misery has marked with a fatal brand; some Manfred, someLara, some Werner, one of those wrecks, as it were, of some ancientfamily, who, disinherited of their patrimony, have achieved one by theforce of their adventurous genius, which has placed them above the lawsof society. "

"You say"--

"I say that Monte Cristo is an island in the midst of the Mediterranean, without inhabitants or garrison, the resort of smugglers of all nations, and pirates of every flag. Who knows whether or not these industriousworthies do not pay to their feudal lord some dues for his protection?"

"That is possible, " said the countess, reflecting.

"Never mind, " continued the young man, "smuggler or not, you must agree, mother dear, as you have seen him, that the Count of Monte Cristo isa remarkable man, who will have the greatest success in the salons ofParis. Why, this very morning, in my rooms, he made his entree amongstus by striking every man of us with amazement, not even exceptingChateau-Renaud. "

"And what do you suppose is the count's age?" inquired Mercedes, evidently attaching great importance to this question.

"Thirty-five or thirty-six, mother. "

"So young, --it is impossible, " said Mercedes, replying at the same timeto what Albert said as well as to her own private reflection.

"It is the truth, however. Three or four times he has said to me, andcertainly without the slightest premeditation, 'at such a period I wasfive years old, at another ten years old, at another twelve, ' andI, induced by curiosity, which kept me alive to these details, havecompared the dates, and never found him inaccurate. The age of thissingular man, who is of no age, is then, I am certain, thirty-five. Besides, mother, remark how vivid his eye, how raven-black his hair, and his brow, though so pale, is free from wrinkles, --he is not onlyvigorous, but also young. " The countess bent her head, as if beneath aheavy wave of bitter thoughts. "And has this man displayed a friendshipfor you, Albert?" she asked with a nervous shudder.

"I am inclined to think so. "

"And--do--you--like--him?"

"Why, he pleases me in spite of Franz d'Epinay, who tries to convinceme that he is a being returned from the other world. " The countessshuddered. "Albert, " she said, in a voice which was altered by emotion, "I have always put you on your guard against new acquaintances. Now youare a man, and are able to give me advice; yet I repeat to you, Albert, be prudent. "

"Why, my dear mother, it is necessary, in order to make your advice turnto account, that I should know beforehand what I have to distrust. The count never plays, he only drinks pure water tinged with a littlesherry, and is so rich that he cannot, without intending to laugh at me, try to borrow money. What, then, have I to fear from him?"

"You are right, " said the countess, "and my fears are weakness, especially when directed against a man who has saved your life. How didyour father receive him, Albert? It is necessary that we should be morethan complaisant to the count. M. De Morcerf is sometimes occupied, hisbusiness makes him reflective, and he might, without intending it"--

"Nothing could be in better taste than my father's demeanor, madame, "said Albert; "nay, more, he seemed greatly flattered at two or threecompliments which the count very skilfully and agreeably paid him withas much ease as if he had known him these thirty years. Each of theselittle tickling arrows must have pleased my father, " added Albert witha laugh. "And thus they parted the best possible friends, and M. DeMorcerf even wished to take him to the Chamber to hear the speakers. "The countess made no reply. She fell into so deep a revery that her eyesgradually closed. The young man, standing up before her, gazed uponher with that filial affection which is so tender and endearing withchildren whose mothers are still young and handsome. Then, after seeingher eyes closed, and hearing her breathe gently, he believed she haddropped asleep, and left the apartment on tiptoe, closing the door afterhim with the utmost precaution. "This devil of a fellow, " he muttered, shaking his head; "I said at the time he would create a sensation here, and I measure his effect by an infallible thermometer. My mother hasnoticed him, and he must therefore, perforce, be remarkable. " Hewent down to the stables, not without some slight annoyance, whenhe remembered that the Count of Monte Cristo had laid his hands on a"turnout" which sent his bays down to second place in the opinion ofconnoisseurs. "Most decidedly, " said he, "men are not equal, and I mustbeg my father to develop this theorem in the Chamber of Peers. "

Chapter 42. Monsieur Bertuccio.

Meanwhile the count had arrived at his house; it had taken him sixminutes to perform the distance, but these six minutes were sufficientto induce twenty young men who knew the price of the equipage they hadbeen unable to purchase themselves, to put their horses in a gallop inorder to see the rich foreigner who could afford to give 20, 000 francsapiece for his horses. The house Ali had chosen, and which was to serveas a town residence to Monte Cristo, was situated on the right hand asyou ascend the Champs Elysees. A thick clump of trees and shrubs rose inthe centre, and masked a portion of the front; around this shrubberytwo alleys, like two arms, extended right and left, and formed acarriage-drive from the iron gates to a double portico, on every step ofwhich stood a porcelain vase, filled with flowers. This house, isolatedfrom the rest, had, besides the main entrance, another in the RuePonthieu. Even before the coachman had hailed the concierge, the massygates rolled on their hinges--they had seen the Count coming, and atParis, as everywhere else, he was served with the rapidity of lightning. The coachman entered and traversed the half-circle without slackeninghis speed, and the gates were closed ere the wheels had ceased to soundon the gravel. The carriage stopped at the left side of the portico, twomen presented themselves at the carriage-window; the one was Ali, who, smiling with an expression of the most sincere joy, seemed amply repaidby a mere look from Monte Cristo. The other bowed respectfully, and offered his arm to assist the count in descending. "Thanks, M. Bertuccio, " said the count, springing lightly up the three steps of theportico; "and the notary?"

"He is in the small salon, excellency, " returned Bertuccio.

"And the cards I ordered to be engraved as soon as you knew the numberof the house?"

"Your excellency, it is done already. I have been myself to the bestengraver of the Palais Royal, who did the plate in my presence. Thefirst card struck off was taken, according to your orders, to the BaronDanglars, Rue de la Chaussee d'Antin, No. 7; the others are on themantle-piece of your excellency's bedroom. "

"Good; what o'clock is it?"

"Four o'clock. " Monte Cristo gave his hat, cane, and gloves to the sameFrench footman who had called his carriage at the Count of Morcerf's, and then he passed into the small salon, preceded by Bertuccio, who showed him the way. "These are but indifferent marbles in thisante-chamber, " said Monte Cristo. "I trust all this will soon be takenaway. " Bertuccio bowed. As the steward had said, the notary awaited himin the small salon. He was a simple-looking lawyer's clerk, elevated tothe extraordinary dignity of a provincial scrivener. "You are the notaryempowered to sell the country house that I wish to purchase, monsieur?"asked Monte Cristo.

"Yes, count, " returned the notary.

"Is the deed of sale ready?"

"Yes, count. "

"Have you brought it?"

"Here it is. "

"Very well; and where is this house that I purchase?" asked the countcarelessly, addressing himself half to Bertuccio, half to the notary. The steward made a gesture that signified, "I do not know. " The notarylooked at the count with astonishment. "What!" said he, "does not thecount know where the house he purchases is situated?"

"No, " returned the count.

"The count does not know?"

"How should I know? I have arrived from Cadiz this morning. I have neverbefore been at Paris, and it is the first time I have ever even set myfoot in France. "

"Ah, that is different; the house you purchase is at Auteuil. " At thesewords Bertuccio turned pale. "And where is Auteuil?" asked the count.

"Close by here, monsieur, " replied the notary--"a little beyond Passy; acharming situation, in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne. "

"So near as that?" said the Count; "but that is not in the country. Whatmade you choose a house at the gates of Paris, M. Bertuccio?"

"I, " cried the steward with a strange expression. "His excellencydid not charge me to purchase this house. If his excellency willrecollect--if he will think"--

"Ah, true, " observed Monte Cristo; "I recollect now. I read theadvertisement in one of the papers, and was tempted by the false title, 'a country house. '"

"It is not yet too late, " cried Bertuccio, eagerly; "and if yourexcellency will intrust me with the commission, I will find you a betterat Enghien, at Fontenay-aux-Roses, or at Bellevue. "

"Oh, no, " returned Monte Cristo negligently; "since I have this, I willkeep it. "

"And you are quite right, " said the notary, who feared to lose his fee. "It is a charming place, well supplied with spring-water and fine trees;a comfortable habitation, although abandoned for a long time, withoutreckoning the furniture, which, although old, is yet valuable, now thatold things are so much sought after. I suppose the count has the tastesof the day?"

"To be sure, " returned Monte Cristo; "it is very convenient, then?"

"It is more--it is magnificent. "

"Peste, let us not lose such an opportunity, " returned Monte Cristo. "The deed, if you please, Mr. Notary. " And he signed it rapidly, afterhaving first run his eye over that part of the deed in which werespecified the situation of the house and the names of the proprietors. "Bertuccio, " said he, "give fifty-five thousand francs to monsieur. " Thesteward left the room with a faltering step, and returned with a bundleof bank-notes, which the notary counted like a man who never gives areceipt for money until after he is sure it is all there. "And now, "demanded the count, "are all the forms complied with?"

"All, sir. "

"Have you the keys?"

"They are in the hands of the concierge, who takes care of the house, but here is the order I have given him to install the count in his newpossessions. "

"Very well;" and Monte Cristo made a sign with his hand to the notary, which said, "I have no further need of you; you may go. "

"But, " observed the honest notary, "the count is, I think, mistaken; itis only fifty thousand francs, everything included. "

"And your fee?"

"Is included in this sum. "

"But have you not come from Auteuil here?"

"Yes, certainly. "

"Well, then, it is but fair that you should be paid for your loss oftime and trouble, " said the count; and he made a gesture of politedismissal. The notary left the room backwards, and bowing down to theground; it was the first time he had ever met a similar client. "Seethis gentleman out, " said the count to Bertuccio. And the stewardfollowed the notary out of the room. Scarcely was the count alone, whenhe drew from his pocket a book closed with a lock, and opened it with akey which he wore round his neck, and which never left him. After havingsought for a few minutes, he stopped at a leaf which had severalnotes, and compared them with the deed of sale, which lay on the table. "'Auteuil, Rue de la Fontaine, No. 28;' it is indeed the same, " said he;"and now, am I to rely upon an avowal extorted by religious or physicalterror? However, in an hour I shall know all. Bertuccio!" criedhe, striking a light hammer with a pliant handle on a small gong. "Bertuccio!" The steward appeared at the door. "Monsieur Bertuccio, "said the count, "did you never tell me that you had travelled inFrance?"

"In some parts of France--yes, excellency. "

"You know the environs of Paris, then?"

"No, excellency, no, " returned the steward, with a sort of nervoustrembling, which Monte Cristo, a connoisseur in all emotions, rightlyattributed to great disquietude.

"It is unfortunate, " returned he, "that you have never visited theenvirons, for I wish to see my new property this evening, and had yougone with me, you could have given me some useful information. "

"To Auteuil!" cried Bertuccio, whose copper complexion became livid--"Igo to Auteuil?"

"Well, what is there surprising in that? When I live at Auteuil, youmust come there, as you belong to my service. " Bertuccio hung down hishead before the imperious look of his master, and remained motionless, without making any answer. "Why, what has happened to you?--are yougoing to make me ring a second time for the carriage?" asked MonteCristo, in the same tone that Louis XIV. Pronounced the famous, "Ihave been almost obliged to wait. " Bertuccio made but one bound to theante-chamber, and cried in a hoarse voice--"His excellency's horses!"Monte Cristo wrote two or three notes, and, as he sealed the last, thesteward appeared. "Your excellency's carriage is at the door, " said he.

"Well, take your hat and gloves, " returned Monte Cristo.

"Am I to accompany you, your excellency?" cried Bertuccio.

"Certainly, you must give the orders, for I intend residing at thehouse. " It was unexampled for a servant of the count's to dare todispute an order of his, so the steward, without saying a word, followedhis master, who got into the carriage, and signed to him to follow, which he did, taking his place respectfully on the front seat.

Chapter 43. The House at Auteuil.

Monte Cristo noticed, as they descended the staircase, that Bertucciosigned himself in the Corsican manner; that is, had formed the sign ofthe cross in the air with his thumb, and as he seated himself in thecarriage, muttered a short prayer. Any one but a man of exhaustlessthirst for knowledge would have had pity on seeing the steward'sextraordinary repugnance for the count's projected drive without thewalls; but the Count was too curious to let Bertuccio off from thislittle journey. In twenty minutes they were at Auteuil; the steward'semotion had continued to augment as they entered the village. Bertuccio, crouched in the corner of the carriage, began to examine with a feverishanxiety every house they passed. "Tell them to stop at Rue de laFontaine, No. 28, " said the count, fixing his eyes on the steward, to whom he gave this order. Bertuccio's forehead was covered withperspiration; however, he obeyed, and, leaning out of the window, he cried to the coachman, --"Rue de la Fontaine, No. 28. " No. 28 wassituated at the extremity of the village; during the drive night had setin, and darkness gave the surroundings the artificial appearance of ascene on the stage. The carriage stopped, the footman sprang off thebox, and opened the door. "Well, " said the count, "you do not get out, M. Bertuccio--you are going to stay in the carriage, then? What areyou thinking of this evening?" Bertuccio sprang out, and offered hisshoulder to the count, who, this time, leaned upon it as he descendedthe three steps of the carriage. "Knock, " said the count, "and announceme. " Bertuccio knocked, the door opened, and the concierge appeared. "What is it?" asked he.

"It is your new master, my good fellow, " said the footman. And he heldout to the concierge the notary's order.

"The house is sold, then?" demanded the concierge; "and this gentlemanis coming to live here?"

"Yes, my friend, " returned the count; "and I will endeavor to give youno cause to regret your old master. "

"Oh, monsieur, " said the concierge, "I shall not have much cause toregret him, for he came here but seldom; it is five years since he washere last, and he did well to sell the house, for it did not bring himin anything at all. "

"What was the name of your old master?" said Monte Cristo.

"The Marquis of Saint-Meran. Ah, I am sure he has not sold the house forwhat he gave for it. "

"The Marquis of Saint-Meran!" returned the count. "The name is notunknown to me; the Marquis of Saint-Meran!" and he appeared to meditate.

"An old gentleman, " continued the concierge, "a stanch follower of theBourbons; he had an only daughter, who married M. De Villefort, who hadbeen the king's attorney at Nimes, and afterwards at Versailles. " MonteCristo glanced at Bertuccio, who became whiter than the wall againstwhich he leaned to prevent himself from falling. "And is not thisdaughter dead?" demanded Monte Cristo; "I fancy I have heard so. "

"Yes, monsieur, one and twenty years ago; and since then we have notseen the poor marquis three times. "

"Thanks, thanks, " said Monte Cristo, judging from the steward's utterprostration that he could not stretch the cord further without danger ofbreaking it. "Give me a light. "

"Shall I accompany you, monsieur?"

"No, it is unnecessary; Bertuccio will show me a light. " And MonteCristo accompanied these words by the gift of two gold pieces, whichproduced a torrent of thanks and blessings from the concierge. "Ah, monsieur, " said he, after having vainly searched on the mantle-piece andthe shelves, "I have not got any candles. "

"Take one of the carriage-lamps, Bertuccio, " said the count, "and showme the apartments. " The steward obeyed in silence, but it was easy tosee, from the manner in which the hand that held the light trembled, howmuch it cost him to obey. They went over a tolerably large ground-floor;a second floor consisted of a salon, a bathroom, and two bedrooms; nearone of the bedrooms they came to a winding staircase that led down tothe garden.

"Ah, here is a private staircase, " said the count; "that is convenient. Light me, M. Bertuccio, and go first; we will see where it leads to. "

"Monsieur, " replied Bertuccio, "it leads to the garden. "

"And, pray, how do you know that?"

"It ought to do so, at least. "

"Well, let us be sure of that. " Bertuccio sighed, and went on first; thestairs did, indeed, lead to the garden. At the outer door the stewardpaused. "Go on, Monsieur Bertuccio, " said the count. But he who wasaddressed stood there, stupefied, bewildered, stunned; his haggard eyesglanced around, as if in search of the traces of some terrible event, and with his clinched hands he seemed striving to shut out horriblerecollections. "Well, " insisted the Count. "No, no, " cried Bertuccio, setting down the lantern at the angle of the interior wall. "No, monsieur, it is impossible; I can go no farther. "

"What does this mean?" demanded the irresistible voice of Monte Cristo.

"Why, you must see, your excellency, " cried the steward, "that this isnot natural; that, having a house to purchase, you purchase it exactlyat Auteuil, and that, purchasing it at Auteuil, this house should be No. 28, Rue de la Fontaine. Oh, why did I not tell you all? I am sure youwould not have forced me to come. I hoped your house would have beensome other one than this; as if there was not another house at Auteuilthan that of the assassination!"

"What, what!" cried Monte Cristo, stopping suddenly, "what words doyou utter? Devil of a man, Corsican that you are--always mysteries orsuperstitions. Come, take the lantern, and let us visit the garden; youare not afraid of ghosts with me, I hope?" Bertuccio raised the lantern, and obeyed. The door, as it opened, disclosed a gloomy sky, in which themoon strove vainly to struggle through a sea of clouds that covered herwith billows of vapor which she illumined for an instant, only tosink into obscurity. The steward wished to turn to the left. "No, no, monsieur, " said Monte Cristo. "What is the use of following the alleys?Here is a beautiful lawn; let us go on straight forwards. "

Bertuccio wiped the perspiration from his brow, but obeyed; however, hecontinued to take the left hand. Monte Cristo, on the contrary, took theright hand; arrived near a clump of trees, he stopped. The steward couldnot restrain himself. "Move, monsieur--move away, I entreat you; you areexactly in the spot!"

"What spot?"

"Where he fell. "

"My dear Monsieur Bertuccio, " said Monte Cristo, laughing, "controlyourself; we are not at Sartena or at Corte. This is not a Corsicanarbor, but an English garden; badly kept, I own, but still you must notcalumniate it for that. "

"Monsieur, I implore you do not stay there!"

"I think you are going mad, Bertuccio, " said the count coldly. "If thatis the case, I warn you, I shall have you put in a lunatic asylum. "

"Alas, excellency, " returned Bertuccio, joining his hands, and shakinghis head in a manner that would have excited the count's laughter, had not thoughts of a superior interest occupied him, and rendered himattentive to the least revelation of this timorous conscience. "Alas, excellency, the evil has arrived!"

"M. Bertuccio, " said the count, "I am very glad to tell you, that whileyou gesticulate, you wring your hands and roll your eyes like a manpossessed by a devil who will not leave him; and I have always observed, that the devil most obstinate to be expelled is a secret. I knew youwere a Corsican. I knew you were gloomy, and always brooding over someold history of the vendetta; and I overlooked that in Italy, becausein Italy those things are thought nothing of. But in France they areconsidered in very bad taste; there are gendarmes who occupy themselveswith such affairs, judges who condemn, and scaffolds which avenge. "Bertuccio clasped his hands, and as, in all these evolutions, he did notlet fall the lantern, the light showed his pale and altered countenance. Monte Cristo examined him with the same look that, at Rome, he had bentupon the execution of Andrea, and then, in a tone that made a shudderpass through the veins of the poor steward, --"The Abbe Busoni, then toldme an untruth, " said he, "when, after his journey in France, in 1829, hesent you to me, with a letter of recommendation, in which he enumeratedall your valuable qualities. Well, I shall write to the abbe; I shallhold him responsible for his protege's misconduct, and I shall soon knowall about this assassination. Only I warn you, that when I reside ina country, I conform to all its code, and I have no wish to put myselfwithin the compass of the French laws for your sake. "

"Oh, do not do that, excellency; I have always served you faithfully, "cried Bertuccio, in despair. "I have always been an honest man, and, asfar as lay in my power, I have done good. "

"I do not deny it, " returned the count; "but why are you thus agitated. It is a bad sign; a quiet conscience does not occasion such paleness inthe cheeks, and such fever in the hands of a man. "

"But, your excellency, " replied Bertuccio hesitatingly, "did not theAbbe Busoni, who heard my confession in the prison at Nimes, tell youthat I had a heavy burden upon my conscience?"

"Yes; but as he said you would make an excellent steward, I concludedyou had stolen--that was all. "

"Oh, your excellency, " returned Bertuccio in deep contempt.

"Or, as you are a Corsican, that you had been unable to resist thedesire of making a 'stiff, ' as you call it. "

"Yes, my good master, " cried Bertuccio, casting himself at the count'sfeet, "it was simply vengeance--nothing else. "

"I understand that, but I do not understand what it is that galvanizesyou in this manner. "

"But, monsieur, it is very natural, " returned Bertuccio, "since it wasin this house that my vengeance was accomplished. "

"What! my house?"

"Oh, your excellency, it was not yours, then. "

"Whose, then? The Marquis de Saint-Meran, I think, the concierge said. What had you to revenge on the Marquis de Saint-Meran?"

"Oh, it was not on him, monsieur; it was on another. "

"This is strange, " returned Monte Cristo, seeming to yield to hisreflections, "that you should find yourself without any preparation in ahouse where the event happened that causes you so much remorse. "

"Monsieur, " said the steward, "it is fatality, I am sure. First, you purchase a house at Auteuil--this house is the one where I havecommitted an assassination; you descend to the garden by the samestaircase by which he descended; you stop at the spot where he receivedthe blow; and two paces farther is the grave in which he had just buriedhis child. This is not chance, for chance, in this case, is too muchlike providence. "

"Well, amiable Corsican, let us suppose it is providence. I alwayssuppose anything people please, and, besides, you must concede somethingto diseased minds. Come, collect yourself, and tell me all. "

"I have related it but once, and that was to the Abbe Busoni. Suchthings, " continued Bertuccio, shaking his head, "are only related underthe seal of confession. "

"Then, " said the count, "I refer you to your confessor. Turn Chartreuxor Trappist, and relate your secrets, but, as for me, I do not likeany one who is alarmed by such phantasms, and I do not choose that myservants should be afraid to walk in the garden of an evening. I confessI am not very desirous of a visit from the commissary of police, for, inItaly, justice is only paid when silent--in France she is paid onlywhen she speaks. Peste, I thought you somewhat Corsican, a great dealsmuggler, and an excellent steward; but I see you have other strings toyour bow. You are no longer in my service, Monsieur Bertuccio. "

"Oh, your excellency, your excellency!" cried the steward, struck withterror at this threat, "if that is the only reason I cannot remain inyour service, I will tell all, for if I quit you, it will only be to goto the scaffold. "

"That is different, " replied Monte Cristo; "but if you intend to tell anuntruth, reflect it were better not to speak at all. "

"No, monsieur, I swear to you, by my hopes of salvation, I will tell youall, for the Abbe Busoni himself only knew a part of my secret; but, I pray you, go away from that plane-tree. The moon is just burstingthrough the clouds, and there, standing where you do, and wrapped inthat cloak that conceals your figure, you remind me of M. De Villefort. "

"What!" cried Monte Cristo, "it was M. De Villefort?"

"Your excellency knows him?"

"The former royal attorney at Nimes?"

"Yes. "

"Who married the Marquis of Saint-Meran's daughter?"

"Yes. "

"Who enjoyed the reputation of being the most severe, the most upright, the most rigid magistrate on the bench?"

"Well, monsieur, " said Bertuccio, "this man with this spotlessreputation"--

"Well?"

"Was a villain. "

"Bah, " replied Monte Cristo, "impossible!"

"It is as I tell you. "

"Ah, really, " said Monte Cristo. "Have you proof of this?"

"I had it. "

"And you have lost it; how stupid!"

"Yes; but by careful search it might be recovered. "

"Really, " returned the count, "relate it to me, for it begins tointerest me. " And the count, humming an air from "Lucia, " went to sitdown on a bench, while Bertuccio followed him, collecting his thoughts. Bertuccio remained standing before him.

Chapter 44. The Vendetta.

"At what point shall I begin my story, your excellency?" askedBertuccio.

"Where you please, " returned Monte Cristo, "since I know nothing at allof it. "

"I thought the Abbe Busoni had told your excellency. "

"Some particulars, doubtless, but that is seven or eight years ago, andI have forgotten them. "

"Then I can speak without fear of tiring your excellency. "

"Go on, M. Bertuccio; you will supply the want of the evening papers. "

"The story begins in 1815. "

"Ah, " said Monte Cristo, "1815 is not yesterday. "

"No, monsieur, and yet I recollect all things as clearly as if they hadhappened but then. I had a brother, an elder brother, who was in theservice of the emperor; he had become lieutenant in a regiment composedentirely of Corsicans. This brother was my only friend; we becameorphans--I at five, he at eighteen. He brought me up as if I had beenhis son, and in 1814 he married. When the emperor returned from theIsland of Elba, my brother instantly joined the army, was slightlywounded at Waterloo, and retired with the army beyond the Loire. "

"But that is the history of the Hundred Days, M. Bertuccio, " said thecount; "unless I am mistaken, it has been already written. "

"Excuse me, excellency, but these details are necessary, and youpromised to be patient. "

"Go on; I will keep my word. "

"One day we received a letter. I should tell you that we lived in thelittle village of Rogliano, at the extremity of Cape Corso. This letterwas from my brother. He told us that the army was disbanded, and that heshould return by Chateauroux, Clermont-Ferrand, Le Puy, and Nimes; and, if I had any money, he prayed me to leave it for him at Nimes, with aninn-keeper with whom I had dealings. "

"In the smuggling line?" said Monte Cristo.

"Eh, your excellency? Every one must live. "

"Certainly; go on. "

"I loved my brother tenderly, as I told your excellency, and I resolvednot to send the money, but to take it to him myself. I possessed athousand francs. I left five hundred with Assunta, my sister-in-law, andwith the other five hundred I set off for Nimes. It was easy to do so, and as I had my boat and a lading to take in at sea, everything favoredmy project. But, after we had taken in our cargo, the wind becamecontrary, so that we were four or five days without being able to enterthe Rhone. At last, however, we succeeded, and worked up to Arles. Ileft the boat between Bellegarde and Beaucaire, and took the road toNimes. "

"We are getting to the story now?"

"Yes, your excellency; excuse me, but, as you will see, I only tell youwhat is absolutely necessary. Just at this time the famous massacrestook place in the south of France. Three brigands, called Trestaillon, Truphemy, and Graffan, publicly assassinated everybody whom theysuspected of Bonapartism. You have doubtless heard of these massacres, your excellency?"

"Vaguely; I was far from France at that period. Go on. "

"As I entered Nimes, I literally waded in blood; at every step youencountered dead bodies and bands of murderers, who killed, plundered, and burned. At the sight of this slaughter and devastation I becameterrified, not for myself--for I, a simple Corsican fisherman, hadnothing to fear; on the contrary, that time was most favorable for ussmugglers--but for my brother, a soldier of the empire, returning fromthe army of the Loire, with his uniform and his epaulets, there waseverything to apprehend. I hastened to the inn-keeper. My misgivings hadbeen but too true. My brother had arrived the previous evening atNimes, and, at the very door of the house where he was about to demandhospitality, he had been assassinated. I did all in my power to discoverthe murderers, but no one durst tell me their names, so much were theydreaded. I then thought of that French justice of which I had heard somuch, and which feared nothing, and I went to the king's attorney. "

"And this king's attorney was named Villefort?" asked Monte Cristocarelessly.

"Yes, your excellency; he came from Marseilles, where he had beendeputy-procureur. His zeal had procured him advancement, and he was saidto be one of the first who had informed the government of the departurefrom the Island of Elba. "

"Then, " said Monte Cristo "you went to him?"

"'Monsieur, ' I said, 'my brother was assassinated yesterday in thestreets of Nimes, I know not by whom, but it is your duty to find out. You are the representative of justice here, and it is for justice toavenge those she has been unable to protect. '--'Who was your brother?'asked he. --'A lieutenant in the Corsican battalion. '--'A soldier of theusurper, then?'--'A soldier of the French army. '--'Well, ' replied he, 'he has smitten with the sword, and he has perished by the sword. '--'Youare mistaken, monsieur, ' I replied; 'he has perished by theponiard. '--'What do you want me to do?' asked the magistrate. --'I havealready told you--avenge him. '--'On whom?'--'On his murderers. '--'Howshould I know who they are?'--'Order them to be sought for. '--'Why, yourbrother has been involved in a quarrel, and killed in a duel. All theseold soldiers commit excesses which were tolerated in the time of theemperor, but which are not suffered now, for the people here do not likesoldiers of such disorderly conduct. '--'Monsieur, ' I replied, 'it is notfor myself that I entreat your interference--I should grieve for him oravenge him, but my poor brother had a wife, and were anything to happento me, the poor creature would perish from want, for my brother's payalone kept her. Pray, try and obtain a small government pension forher. '

"'Every revolution has its catastrophes, ' returned M. De Villefort;'your brother has been the victim of this. It is a misfortune, andgovernment owes nothing to his family. If we are to judge by all thevengeance that the followers of the usurper exercised on the partisansof the king, when, in their turn, they were in power, your brother wouldbe to-day, in all probability, condemned to death. What has happened isquite natural, and in conformity with the law of reprisals. '--'What, 'cried I, 'do you, a magistrate, speak thus to me?'--'All these Corsicansare mad, on my honor, ' replied M. De Villefort; 'they fancy that theircountryman is still emperor. You have mistaken the time, you should havetold me this two months ago, it is too late now. Go now, at once, or Ishall have you put out. '

"I looked at him an instant to see if there was anything to hope fromfurther entreaty. But he was a man of stone. I approached him, and saidin a low voice, 'Well, since you know the Corsicans so well, you knowthat they always keep their word. You think that it was a good deedto kill my brother, who was a Bonapartist, because you are a royalist. Well, I, who am a Bonapartist also, declare one thing to you, which is, that I will kill you. From this moment I declare the vendetta againstyou, so protect yourself as well as you can, for the next time we meetyour last hour has come. ' And before he had recovered from his surprise, I opened the door and left the room. "

"Well, well, " said Monte Cristo, "such an innocent looking person as youare to do those things, M. Bertuccio, and to a king's attorney at that!But did he know what was meant by the terrible word 'vendetta'?"

"He knew so well, that from that moment he shut himself in his house, and never went out unattended, seeking me high and low. Fortunately, Iwas so well concealed that he could not find me. Then he became alarmed, and dared not stay any longer at Nimes, so he solicited a change ofresidence, and, as he was in reality very influential, he was nominatedto Versailles. But, as you know, a Corsican who has sworn to avengehimself cares not for distance, so his carriage, fast as it went, wasnever above half a day's journey before me, who followed him on foot. The most important thing was, not to kill him only--for I had anopportunity of doing so a hundred times--but to kill him without beingdiscovered--at least, without being arrested. I no longer belonged tomyself, for I had my sister-in-law to protect and provide for. For threemonths I watched M. De Villefort, for three months he took not a stepout-of-doors without my following him. At length I discovered that hewent mysteriously to Auteuil. I followed him thither, and I saw himenter the house where we now are, only, instead of entering by thegreat door that looks into the street, he came on horseback, or in hiscarriage, left the one or the other at the little inn, and entered bythe gate you see there. " Monte Cristo made a sign with his head toshow that he could discern in the darkness the door to which Bertuccioalluded. "As I had nothing more to do at Versailles, I went to Auteuil, and gained all the information I could. If I wished to surprise him, it was evident this was the spot to lie in wait for him. The housebelonged, as the concierge informed your excellency, to M. DeSaint-Meran, Villefort's father-in-law. M. De Saint-Meran lived atMarseilles, so that this country house was useless to him, and it wasreported to be let to a young widow, known only by the name of 'thebaroness. '

"One evening, as I was looking over the wall, I saw a young and handsomewoman who was walking alone in that garden, which was not overlooked byany windows, and I guessed that she was awaiting M. De Villefort. Whenshe was sufficiently near for me to distinguish her features, I saw shewas from eighteen to nineteen, tall and very fair. As she had a loosemuslin dress on and as nothing concealed her figure, I saw she would erelong become a mother. A few moments after, the little door was openedand a man entered. The young woman hastened to meet him. They threwthemselves into each other's arms, embraced tenderly, and returnedtogether to the house. The man was M. De Villefort; I fully believedthat when he went out in the night he would be forced to traverse thewhole of the garden alone. "

"And, " asked the count, "did you ever know the name of this woman?"

"No, excellency, " returned Bertuccio; "you will see that I had no timeto learn it. "

"Go on. "

"That evening, " continued Bertuccio, "I could have killed the procureur, but as I was not sufficiently acquainted with the neighborhood, I wasfearful of not killing him on the spot, and that if his cries wereoverheard I might be taken; so I put it off until the next occasion, andin order that nothing should escape me, I took a chamber looking intothe street bordered by the wall of the garden. Three days after, aboutseven o'clock in the evening, I saw a servant on horseback leave thehouse at full gallop, and take the road to Sevres. I concluded that hewas going to Versailles, and I was not deceived. Three hours later, the man returned covered with dust, his errand was performed, and twominutes after, another man on foot, muffled in a mantle, opened thelittle door of the garden, which he closed after him. I descendedrapidly; although I had not seen Villefort's face, I recognized him bythe beating of my heart. I crossed the street, and stopped at a postplaced at the angle of the wall, and by means of which I had once beforelooked into the garden. This time I did not content myself with looking, but I took my knife out of my pocket, felt that the point was sharp, andsprang over the wall. My first care was to run to the door; he had leftthe key in it, taking the simple precaution of turning it twice in thelock. Nothing, then, preventing my escape by this means, I examinedthe grounds. The garden was long and narrow; a stretch of smooth turfextended down the middle, and at the corners were clumps of trees withthick and massy foliage, that made a background for the shrubs andflowers. In order to go from the door to the house, or from the houseto the door, M. De Villefort would be obliged to pass by one of theseclumps of trees.

"It was the end of September; the wind blew violently. The faintglimpses of the pale moon, hidden momentarily by masses of dark cloudsthat were sweeping across the sky, whitened the gravel walks that ledto the house, but were unable to pierce the obscurity of the thickshrubberies, in which a man could conceal himself without any fear ofdiscovery. I hid myself in the one nearest to the path Villefort musttake, and scarcely was I there when, amidst the gusts of wind, Ifancied I heard groans; but you know, or rather you do not know, yourexcellency, that he who is about to commit an assassination fancies thathe hears low cries perpetually ringing in his ears. Two hours passedthus, during which I imagined I heard moans repeatedly. Midnight struck. As the last stroke died away, I saw a faint light shine through thewindows of the private staircase by which we have just descended. Thedoor opened, and the man in the mantle reappeared. The terrible momenthad come, but I had so long been prepared for it that my heart did notfail in the least. I drew my knife from my pocket again, opened it, andmade ready to strike. The man in the mantle advanced towards me, but ashe drew near I saw that he had a weapon in his hand. I was afraid, notof a struggle, but of a failure. When he was only a few paces from me, I saw that what I had taken for a weapon was only a spade. I was stillunable to divine for what reason M. De Villefort had this spade in hishands, when he stopped close to the thicket where I was, glanced round, and began to dig a hole in the earth. I then perceived that he washiding something under his mantle, which he laid on the grass in orderto dig more freely. Then, I confess, curiosity mingled with hatred;I wished to see what Villefort was going to do there, and I remainedmotionless, holding my breath. Then an idea crossed my mind, which wasconfirmed when I saw the procureur lift from under his mantle a box, twofeet long, and six or eight inches deep. I let him place the box in thehole he had made, then, while he stamped with his feet to remove alltraces of his occupation, I rushed on him and plunged my knife intohis breast, exclaiming, --'I am Giovanni Bertuccio; thy death for mybrother's; thy treasure for his widow; thou seest that my vengeance ismore complete than I had hoped. ' I know not if he heard these words; Ithink he did not, for he fell without a cry. I felt his blood gushover my face, but I was intoxicated, I was delirious, and the bloodrefreshed, instead of burning me. In a second I had disinterred the box;then, that it might not be known I had done so, I filled up the hole, threw the spade over the wall, and rushed through the door, which Idouble-locked, carrying off the key. "

"Ah, " said Monte Cristo "it seems to me this was nothing but murder androbbery. "

"No, your excellency, " returned Bertuccio; "it was a vendetta followedby restitution. "

"And was the sum a large one?"

"It was not money. "

"Ah, I recollect, " replied the count; "did you not say something of aninfant?"

"Yes, excellency; I hastened to the river, sat down on the bank, andwith my knife forced open the lock of the box. In a fine linen clothwas wrapped a new-born child. Its purple visage, and its violet-coloredhands showed that it had perished from suffocation, but as it was notyet cold, I hesitated to throw it into the water that ran at my feet. After a moment I fancied that I felt a slight pulsation of the heart, and as I had been assistant at the hospital at Bastia, I did what adoctor would have done--I inflated the lungs by blowing air into them, and at the expiration of a quarter of an hour, it began to breathe, andcried feebly. In my turn I uttered a cry, but a cry of joy. 'God hasnot cursed me then, ' I cried, 'since he permits me to save the life of ahuman creature, in exchange for the life I have taken away. '"

"And what did you do with the child?" asked Monte Cristo. "It was anembarrassing load for a man seeking to escape. "

"I had not for a moment the idea of keeping it, but I knew that at Paristhere was an asylum where they receive such creatures. As I passed thecity gates I declared that I had found the child on the road, and Iinquired where the asylum was; the box confirmed my statement, the linenproved that the infant belonged to wealthy parents, the blood with whichI was covered might have proceeded from the child as well as from anyone else. No objection was raised, but they pointed out the asylum, which was situated at the upper end of the Rue d'Enfer, and after havingtaken the precaution of cutting the linen in two pieces, so that oneof the two letters which marked it was on the piece wrapped around thechild, while the other remained in my possession, I rang the bell, andfled with all speed. A fortnight after I was at Rogliano, and I said toAssunta, --'Console thyself, sister; Israel is dead, but he is avenged. 'She demanded what I meant, and when I had told her all, --'Giovanni, 'said she, 'you should have brought this child with you; we would havereplaced the parents it has lost, have called it Benedetto, and then, inconsequence of this good action, God would have blessed us. ' In reply Igave her the half of the linen I had kept in order to reclaim him if webecame rich. "

"What letters were marked on the linen?" said Monte Cristo.

"An H and an N, surmounted by a baron's coronet. "

"By heaven, M. Bertuccio, you make use of heraldic terms; where did youstudy heraldry?"

"In your service, excellency, where everything is learned. "

"Go on, I am curious to know two things. "

"What are they, your excellency?"

"What became of this little boy? for I think you told me it was a boy, M. Bertuccio. "

"No excellency, I do not recollect telling you that. "

"I thought you did; I must have been mistaken. "

"No, you were not, for it was in reality a little boy. But yourexcellency wished to know two things; what was the second?"

"The second was the crime of which you were accused when you asked for aconfessor, and the Abbe Busoni came to visit you at your request in theprison at Nimes. "

"The story will be very long, excellency. "

"What matter? you know I take but little sleep, and I do not suppose youare very much inclined for it either. " Bertuccio bowed, and resumed hisstory.

"Partly to drown the recollections of the past that haunted me, partlyto supply the wants of the poor widow, I eagerly returned to my trade ofsmuggler, which had become more easy since that relaxation of thelaws which always follows a revolution. The southern districts wereill-watched in particular, in consequence of the disturbances that wereperpetually breaking out in Avignon, Nimes, or Uzes. We profited by thisrespite on the part of the government to make friends everywhere. Sincemy brother's assassination in the streets of Nimes, I had neverentered the town; the result was that the inn-keeper with whom we wereconnected, seeing that we would no longer come to him, was forced tocome to us, and had established a branch to his inn, on the road fromBellegarde to Beaucaire, at the sign of the Pont du Gard. We had thus, at Aigues-Mortes, Martigues, or Bouc, a dozen places where we left ourgoods, and where, in case of necessity, we concealed ourselves from thegendarmes and custom-house officers. Smuggling is a profitable trade, when a certain degree of vigor and intelligence is employed; as formyself, brought up in the mountains, I had a double motive for fearingthe gendarmes and custom-house officers, as my appearance before thejudges would cause an inquiry, and an inquiry always looks back into thepast. And in my past life they might find something far more grave thanthe selling of smuggled cigars, or barrels of brandy without a permit. So, preferring death to capture, I accomplished the most astonishingdeeds, and which, more than once, showed me that the too great care wetake of our bodies is the only obstacle to the success of those projectswhich require rapid decision, and vigorous and determined execution. Inreality, when you have once devoted your life to your enterprises, you are no longer the equal of other men, or, rather, other men are nolonger your equals, and whosoever has taken this resolution, feels hisstrength and resources doubled. "

"Philosophy, M. Bertuccio, " interrupted the Count; "you have done alittle of everything in your life. "

"Oh, excellency!"

"No, no; but philosophy at half-past ten at night is somewhat late; yetI have no other observation to make, for what you say is correct, whichis more than can be said for all philosophy. "

"My journeys became more and more extensive and more productive. Assuntatook care of all, and our little fortune increased. One day as I wassetting off on an expedition, 'Go, ' said she; 'at your return I willgive you a surprise. ' I questioned her, but in vain; she would tell menothing, and I departed. Our expedition lasted nearly six weeks; we hadbeen to Lucca to take in oil, to Leghorn for English cottons, and weran our cargo without opposition, and returned home full of joy. When Ientered the house, the first thing I beheld in the middle of Assunta'schamber was a cradle that might be called sumptuous compared with therest of the furniture, and in it a baby seven or eight months old. Iuttered a cry of joy; the only moments of sadness I had known since theassassination of the procureur were caused by the recollection that Ihad abandoned this child. For the assassination itself I had neverfelt any remorse. Poor Assunta had guessed all. She had profited by myabsence, and furnished with the half of the linen, and having writtendown the day and hour at which I had deposited the child at the asylum, had set off for Paris, and had reclaimed it. No objection was raised, and the infant was given up to her. Ah, I confess, your excellency, whenI saw this poor creature sleeping peacefully in its cradle, I felt myeyes filled with tears. 'Ah, Assunta, ' cried I, 'you are an excellentwoman, and heaven will bless you. '"

"This, " said Monte Cristo, "is less correct than your philosophy, --it isonly faith. "

"Alas, your excellency is right, " replied Bertuccio, "and God made thisinfant the instrument of our punishment. Never did a perverse naturedeclare itself more prematurely, and yet it was not owing to any faultin his bringing up. He was a most lovely child, with large blue eyes, ofthat deep color that harmonizes so well with the blond complexion; onlyhis hair, which was too light, gave his face a most singular expression, and added to the vivacity of his look, and the malice of his smile. Unfortunately, there is a proverb which says that 'red is eitheraltogether good or altogether bad. ' The proverb was but too correctas regarded Benedetto, and even in his infancy he manifested theworst disposition. It is true that the indulgence of his foster-motherencouraged him. This child, for whom my poor sister would go to thetown, five or six leagues off, to purchase the earliest fruits andthe most tempting sweetmeats, preferred to Palma grapes or Genoesepreserves, the chestnuts stolen from a neighbor's orchard, or the driedapples in his loft, when he could eat as well of the nuts and applesthat grew in my garden. One day, when Benedetto was about five or six, our neighbor Vasilio, who, according to the custom of the country, neverlocked up his purse or his valuables--for, as your excellency knows, there are no thieves in Corsica--complained that he had lost a louisout of his purse; we thought he must have made a mistake in countinghis money, but he persisted in the accuracy of his statement. One day, Benedetto, who had been gone from the house since morning, to our greatanxiety, did not return until late in the evening, dragging a monkeyafter him, which he said he had found chained to the foot of a tree. Formore than a month past, the mischievous child, who knew not what to wishfor, had taken it into his head to have a monkey. A boatman, who hadpassed by Rogliano, and who had several of these animals, whose trickshad greatly diverted him, had, doubtless, suggested this idea to him. 'Monkeys are not found in our woods chained to trees, ' said I; 'confesshow you obtained this animal. ' Benedetto maintained the truth of whathe had said, and accompanied it with details that did more honor to hisimagination than to his veracity. I became angry; he began to laugh, Ithreatened to strike him, and he made two steps backwards. 'You cannotbeat me, ' said he; 'you have no right, for you are not my father. '

"We never knew who had revealed this fatal secret, which we had socarefully concealed from him; however, it was this answer, in which thechild's whole character revealed itself, that almost terrified me, andmy arm fell without touching him. The boy triumphed, and this victoryrendered him so audacious, that all the money of Assunta, whoseaffection for him seemed to increase as he became more unworthy of it, was spent in caprices she knew not how to contend against, and folliesshe had not the courage to prevent. When I was at Rogliano everythingwent on properly, but no sooner was my back turned than Benedetto becamemaster, and everything went ill. When he was only eleven, he chose hiscompanions from among the young men of eighteen or twenty, the worstcharacters in Bastia, or, indeed, in Corsica, and they had already, for some mischievous pranks, been several times threatened with aprosecution. I became alarmed, as any prosecution might be attended withserious consequences. I was compelled, at this period, to leave Corsicaon an important expedition; I reflected for a long time, and with thehope of averting some impending misfortune, I resolved that Benedettoshould accompany me. I hoped that the active and laborious life of asmuggler, with the severe discipline on board, would have a salutaryeffect on his character, which was now well-nigh, if not quite, corrupt. I spoke to Benedetto alone, and proposed to him to accompany me, endeavoring to tempt him by all the promises most likely to dazzle theimagination of a child of twelve. He heard me patiently, and when I hadfinished, burst out laughing.

"'Are you mad, uncle?' (he called me by this name when he was in goodhumor); 'do you think I am going to change the life I lead for your modeof existence--my agreeable indolence for the hard and precarious toilyou impose on yourself, exposed to the bitter frost at night, and thescorching heat by day, compelled to conceal yourself, and when you areperceived, receive a volley of bullets, all to earn a paltry sum? Why, Ihave as much money as I want; mother Assunta always furnishes me when Iask for it! You see that I should be a fool to accept your offer. ' Thearguments, and his audacity, perfectly stupefied me. Benedetto rejoinedhis associates, and I saw him from a distance point me out to them as afool. "

"Sweet child, " murmured Monte Cristo.

"Oh, had he been my own son, " replied Bertuccio, "or even my nephew, Iwould have brought him back to the right road, for the knowledge thatyou are doing your duty gives you strength, but the idea that I wasstriking a child whose father I had killed, made it impossible for meto punish him. I gave my sister, who constantly defended the unfortunateboy, good advice, and as she confessed that she had several times missedmoney to a considerable amount, I showed her a safe place in which toconceal our little treasure for the future. My mind was already madeup. Benedetto could read, write, and cipher perfectly, for when the fitseized him, he learned more in a day than others in a week. My intentionwas to enter him as a clerk in some ship, and without letting him knowanything of my plan, to convey him some morning on board; by this meanshis future treatment would depend upon his own conduct. I set off forFrance, after having fixed upon the plan. Our cargo was to be landed inthe Gulf of Lyons, and this was a difficult thing to do because it wasthen the year 1829. The most perfect tranquillity was restored, andthe vigilance of the custom-house officers was redoubled, and theirstrictness was increased at this time, in consequence of the fair atBeaucaire.

"Our expedition made a favorable beginning. We anchored ourvessel--which had a double hold, where our goods were concealed--amidsta number of other vessels that bordered the banks of the Rhone fromBeaucaire to Arles. On our arrival we began to discharge our cargo inthe night, and to convey it into the town, by the help of the inn-keeperwith whom we were connected. Whether success rendered us imprudent, or whether we were betrayed, I know not; but one evening, about fiveo'clock, our little cabin-boy came breathlessly, to inform us thathe had seen a detachment of custom-house officers advancing in ourdirection. It was not their proximity that alarmed us, for detachmentswere constantly patrolling along the banks of the Rhone, but the care, according to the boy's account, that they took to avoid being seen. Inan instant we were on the alert, but it was too late; our vessel wassurrounded, and amongst the custom-house officers I observed severalgendarmes, and, as terrified at the sight of their uniforms as I wasbrave at the sight of any other, I sprang into the hold, opened aport, and dropped into the river, dived, and only rose at intervals tobreathe, until I reached a ditch that had recently been made from theRhone to the canal that runs from Beaucaire to Aigues-Mortes. I was nowsafe, for I could swim along the ditch without being seen, and I reachedthe canal in safety. I had designedly taken this direction. I havealready told your excellency of an inn-keeper from Nimes who had set upa little tavern on the road from Bellegarde to Beaucaire. "

"Yes, " said Monte Cristo "I perfectly recollect him; I think he was yourcolleague. "

"Precisely, " answered Bertuccio; "but he had, seven or eight yearsbefore this period, sold his establishment to a tailor at Marseilles, who, having almost ruined himself in his old trade, wished to make hisfortune in another. Of course, we made the same arrangements with thenew landlord that we had with the old; and it was of this man that Iintended to ask shelter. "

"What was his name?" inquired the count, who seemed to become somewhatinterested in Bertuccio's story.

"Gaspard Caderousse; he had married a woman from the village ofCarconte, and whom we did not know by any other name than that of hervillage. She was suffering from malarial fever, and seemed dying byinches. As for her husband, he was a strapping fellow of forty, or fiveand forty, who had more than once, in time of danger, given ample proofof his presence of mind and courage. "

"And you say, " interrupted Monte Cristo "that this took place towardsthe year"--

"1829, your excellency. "

"In what month?"

"June. "

"The beginning or the end?"

"The evening of the 3d. "

"Ah, " said Monte Cristo "the evening of the 3d of June, 1829. Go on. "

"It was from Caderousse that I intended demanding shelter, and, as wenever entered by the door that opened onto the road, I resolved notto break through the rule, so climbing over the garden-hedge, I creptamongst the olive and wild fig trees, and fearing that Caderousse mighthave some guest, I entered a kind of shed in which I had often passedthe night, and which was only separated from the inn by a partition, inwhich holes had been made in order to enable us to watch an opportunityof announcing our presence. My intention was, if Caderousse was alone, to acquaint him with my presence, finish the meal the custom-houseofficers had interrupted, and profit by the threatened storm to returnto the Rhone, and ascertain the state of our vessel and its crew. Istepped into the shed, and it was fortunate I did so, for at that momentCaderousse entered with a stranger.

"I waited patiently, not to overhear what they said, but because I coulddo nothing else; besides, the same thing had occurred often before. Theman who was with Caderousse was evidently a stranger to the South ofFrance; he was one of those merchants who come to sell jewellery atthe Beaucaire fair, and who during the month the fair lasts, and duringwhich there is so great an influx of merchants and customers from allparts of Europe, often have dealings to the amount of 100, 000 to 150, 000francs. Caderousse entered hastily. Then, seeing that the room was, as usual, empty, and only guarded by the dog, he called to his wife, 'Hello, Carconte, ' said he, 'the worthy priest has not deceived us; thediamond is real. ' An exclamation of joy was heard, and the staircasecreaked beneath a feeble step. 'What do you say?' asked his wife, paleas death.

"'I say that the diamond is real, and that this gentleman, one of thefirst jewellers of Paris, will give us 50, 000. Francs for it. Only, inorder to satisfy himself that it really belongs to us, he wishes you torelate to him, as I have done already, the miraculous manner in whichthe diamond came into our possession. In the meantime please to sitdown, monsieur, and I will fetch you some refreshment. ' The jewellerexamined attentively the interior of the inn and the apparent povertyof the persons who were about to sell him a diamond that seemed to havecome from the casket of a prince. 'Relate your story, madame, ' said he, wishing, no doubt, to profit by the absence of the husband, so that thelatter could not influence the wife's story, to see if the two recitalstallied.

"'Oh, ' returned she, 'it was a gift of heaven. My husband was a greatfriend, in 1814 or 1815, of a sailor named Edmond Dantes. This poorfellow, whom Caderousse had forgotten, had not forgotten him, and at hisdeath he bequeathed this diamond to him. '--'But how did he obtainit?' asked the jeweller; 'had he it before he was imprisoned?'--'No, monsieur; but it appears that in prison he made the acquaintance of arich Englishman, and as in prison he fell sick, and Dantes took the samecare of him as if he had been his brother, the Englishman, when he wasset free, gave this stone to Dantes, who, less fortunate, died, and, inhis turn, left it to us, and charged the excellent abbe, who was herethis morning, to deliver it. '--'The same story, ' muttered the jeweller;'and improbable as it seemed at first, it may be true. There's onlythe price we are not agreed about. '--'How not agreed about?' saidCaderousse. 'I thought we agreed for the price I asked. '--'That is, 'replied the jeweller, 'I offered 40, 000 francs. '--'Forty thousand, 'cried La Carconte; 'we will not part with it for that sum. The abbe toldus it was worth 50, 000. Without the setting. '

"'What was the abbe's name?' asked the indefatigable questioner. --'TheAbbe Busoni, ' said La Carconte. --'He was a foreigner?'--'An Italian, from the neighborhood of Mantua, I believe. '--'Let me see this diamondagain, ' replied the jeweller; 'the first time you are often mistaken asto the value of a stone. ' Caderousse took from his pocket a small caseof black shagreen, opened, and gave it to the jeweller. At the sightof the diamond, which was as large as a hazel-nut, La Carconte's eyessparkled with cupidity. "

"And what did you think of this fine story, eavesdropper?" said MonteCristo; "did you credit it?"

"Yes, your excellency. I did not look on Caderousse as a bad man, and Ithought him incapable of committing a crime, or even a theft. "

"That did more honor to your heart than to your experience, M. Bertuccio. Had you known this Edmond Dantes, of whom they spoke?"

"No, your excellency, I had never heard of him before, and never butonce afterwards, and that was from the Abbe Busoni himself, when I sawhim in the prison at Nimes. "

"Go on. "

"The jeweller took the ring, and drawing from his pocket a pair of steelpliers and a small set of copper scales, he took the stone out of itssetting, and weighed it carefully. 'I will give you 45, 000, ' said he, 'but not a sou more; besides, as that is the exact value of the stone, I brought just that sum with me. '--'Oh, that's no matter, ' repliedCaderousse, 'I will go back with you to fetch the other 5, 000francs. '--'No, ' returned the jeweller, giving back the diamond and thering to Caderousse--'no, it is worth no more, and I am sorry I offeredso much, for the stone has a flaw in it, which I had not seen. However, I will not go back on my word, and I will give 45, 000. '--'At least, replace the diamond in the ring, ' said La Carconte sharply. --'Ah, true, 'replied the jeweller, and he reset the stone. --'No matter, ' observedCaderousse, replacing the box in his pocket, 'some one else willpurchase it. '--'Yes, ' continued the jeweller; 'but some one else willnot be so easy as I am, or content himself with the same story. It isnot natural that a man like you should possess such a diamond. He willinform against you. You will have to find the Abbe Busoni; and abbes whogive diamonds worth two thousand louis are rare. The law would seize it, and put you in prison; if at the end of three or four months you are setat liberty, the ring will be lost, or a false stone, worth three francs, will be given you, instead of a diamond worth 50, 000 or perhaps 55, 000francs; from which you must allow that one runs considerable riskin purchasing. ' Caderousse and his wife looked eagerly at eachother. --'No, ' said Caderousse, 'we are not rich enough to lose 5, 000francs. '--'As you please, my dear sir, ' said the jeweller; 'I had, however, as you see, brought you the money in bright coin. ' And he drewfrom his pocket a handful of gold, and held it sparkling before thedazzled eyes of the innkeeper, and in the other hand he held a packet ofbank-notes.

"There was evidently a severe struggle in the mind of Caderousse; it wasplain that the small shagreen case, which he turned over and over inhis hand, did not seem to him commensurate in value to the enormoussum which fascinated his gaze. He turned towards his wife. 'What do youthink of this?' he asked in a low voice. --'Let him have it--let him haveit, ' she said. 'If he returns to Beaucaire without the diamond, he willinform against us, and, as he says, who knows if we shall ever again seethe Abbe Busoni?--in all probability we shall never see him. '--'Well, then, so I will!' said Caderousse; 'so you may have the diamond for45, 000 francs. But my wife wants a gold chain, and I want a pair ofsilver buckles. ' The jeweller drew from his pocket a long flat box, which contained several samples of the articles demanded. 'Here, ' hesaid, 'I am very straightforward in my dealings--take your choice. ' Thewoman selected a gold chain worth about five louis, and the husband apair of buckles, worth perhaps fifteen francs. --'I hope you will notcomplain now?' said the jeweller.

"'The abbe told me it was worth 50, 000 francs, ' muttered Caderousse. 'Come, come--give it to me! What a strange fellow you are, ' saidthe jeweller, taking the diamond from his hand. 'I give you 45, 000francs--that is, 2, 500 livres of income, --a fortune such as I wish I hadmyself, and you are not satisfied!'--'And the five and forty thousandfrancs, ' inquired Caderousse in a hoarse voice, 'where are they?Come--let us see them. '--'Here they are, ' replied the jeweller, and hecounted out upon the table 15, 000. Francs in gold, and 30, 000 francs inbank-notes.

"'Wait while I light the lamp, ' said La Carconte; 'it is growing dark, and there may be some mistake. ' In fact, night had come on during thisconversation, and with night the storm which had been threatening forthe last half-hour. The thunder growled in the distance; but it wasapparently not heard by the jeweller, Caderousse, or La Carconte, absorbed as they were all three with the demon of gain. I myself felt; astrange kind of fascination at the sight of all this gold and all thesebank-notes; it seemed to me that I was in a dream, and, as it alwayshappens in a dream, I felt myself riveted to the spot. Caderoussecounted and again counted the gold and the notes, then handed them tohis wife, who counted and counted them again in her turn. During thistime, the jeweller made the diamond play and sparkle in the lamplight, and the gem threw out jets of light which made him unmindful of thosewhich--precursors of the storm--began to play in at the windows. 'Well, 'inquired the jeweller, 'is the cash all right?'

"'Yes, ' said Caderousse. 'Give me the pocket-book, La Carconte, and finda bag somewhere. '

"La Carconte went to a cupboard, and returned with an old leathernpocket-book and a bag. From the former she took some greasy letters, andput in their place the bank-notes, and from the bag took two or threecrowns of six livres each, which, in all probability, formed the entirefortune of the miserable couple. 'There, ' said Caderousse; 'and now, although you have wronged us of perhaps 10, 000 francs, will you haveyour supper with us? I invite you with good-will. '--'Thank you, 'replied the jeweller, 'it must be getting late, and I must return toBeaucaire--my wife will be getting uneasy. ' He drew out his watch, andexclaimed, 'Morbleu, nearly nine o'clock--why, I shall not get back toBeaucaire before midnight! Good-night, my friends. If the Abbe Busonishould by any accident return, think of me. '--'In another week you willhave left Beaucaire. ' remarked Caderousse, 'for the fair ends in a fewdays. '--'True, but that makes no difference. Write to me at Paris, toM. Joannes, in the Palais Royal, arcade Pierre, No. 45. I will make thejourney on purpose to see him, if it is worth while. ' At this momentthere was a tremendous clap of thunder, accompanied by a flash oflightning so vivid, that it quite eclipsed the light of the lamp.

"'See here, ' exclaimed Caderousse. 'You cannot think of going out insuch weather as this. '--'Oh, I am not afraid of thunder, ' said thejeweller. --'And then there are robbers, ' said La Carconte. 'The roadis never very safe during fair time. '--'Oh, as to the robbers, ' saidJoannes, 'here is something for them, ' and he drew from his pocket apair of small pistols, loaded to the muzzle. 'Here, ' said he, 'are dogswho bark and bite at the same time, they are for the two first who shallhave a longing for your diamond, Friend Caderousse. '

"Caderousse and his wife again interchanged a meaning look. It seemedas though they were both inspired at the same time with somehorrible thought. 'Well, then, a good journey to you, ' saidCaderousse. --'Thanks, ' replied the jeweller. He then took his cane, which he had placed against an old cupboard, and went out. At the momentwhen he opened the door, such a gust of wind came in that the lamp wasnearly extinguished. 'Oh, ' said he, 'this is very nice weather, and twoleagues to go in such a storm. '--'Remain, ' said Caderousse. 'You cansleep here. '--'Yes; do stay, ' added La Carconte in a tremulous voice;'we will take every care of you. '--'No; I must sleep at Beaucaire. So, once more, good-night. ' Caderousse followed him slowly to the threshold. 'I can see neither heaven nor earth, ' said the jeweller, who was outsidethe door. 'Do I turn to the right, or to the left hand?'--'To theright, ' said Caderousse. 'You cannot go wrong--the road is bordered bytrees on both sides. '--'Good--all right, ' said a voice almost lost inthe distance. 'Close the door, ' said La Carconte; 'I do not like opendoors when it thunders. '--'Particularly when there is money in thehouse, eh?' answered Caderousse, double-locking the door.

"He came into the room, went to the cupboard, took out the bag andpocket-book, and both began, for the third time, to count their gold andbank-notes. I never saw such an expression of cupidity as the flickeringlamp revealed in those two countenances. The woman, especially, was hideous; her usual feverish tremulousness was intensified, hercountenance had become livid, and her eyes resembled burning coals. 'Why, ' she inquired in a hoarse voice, 'did you invite him to sleep hereto-night?'--'Why?' said Caderousse with a shudder; 'why, that he mightnot have the trouble of returning to Beaucaire. '--'Ah, ' responded thewoman, with an expression impossible to describe; 'I thought it wasfor something else. '--'Woman, woman--why do you have such ideas?'cried Caderousse; 'or, if you have them, why don't you keep them toyourself?'--'Well, ' said La Carconte, after a moment's pause, 'you arenot a man. '--'What do you mean?' added Caderousse. --'If you had been aman, you would not have let him go from here. '--'Woman!'--'Or elsehe should not have reached Beaucaire. '--'Woman!'--'The road takes aturn--he is obliged to follow it--while alongside of the canal there isa shorter road. '--'Woman!--you offend the good God. There--listen!' Andat this moment there was a tremendous peal of thunder, while the lividlightning illumined the room, and the thunder, rolling away in thedistance, seemed to withdraw unwillingly from the cursed abode. 'Mercy!'said Caderousse, crossing himself.

"At the same moment, and in the midst of the terrifying silence whichusually follows a clap of thunder, they heard a knocking at the door. Caderousse and his wife started and looked aghast at each other. 'Who'sthere?' cried Caderousse, rising, and drawing up in a heap the goldand notes scattered over the table, and which he covered with his twohands. --'It is I, ' shouted a voice. --'And who are you?'--'Eh, pardieu, Joannes, the jeweller. '--'Well, and you said I offended the good God, 'said La Carconte with a horrid smile. 'Why, the good God sends him backagain. ' Caderousse sank pale and breathless into his chair. La Carconte, on the contrary, rose, and going with a firm step towards the door, opened it, saying, as she did so--'Come in, dear M. Joannes. '--'Ma foi, 'said the jeweller, drenched with rain, 'I am not destined to return toBeaucaire to-night. The shortest follies are best, my dear Caderousse. You offered me hospitality, and I accept it, and have returned to sleepbeneath your friendly roof. ' Caderousse stammered out something, while he wiped away the sweat that started to his brow. La Carcontedouble-locked the door behind the jeweller. "

Chapter 45. The Rain of Blood.

"As the jeweller returned to the apartment, he cast around him ascrutinizing glance--but there was nothing to excite suspicion, ifit did not exist, or to confirm it, if it were already awakened. Caderousse's hands still grasped the gold and bank-notes, and LaCarconte called up her sweetest smiles while welcoming the reappearanceof their guest. 'Well, well, ' said the jeweller, 'you seem, my goodfriends, to have had some fears respecting the accuracy of your money, by counting it over so carefully directly I was gone. '--'Oh, no, 'answered Caderousse, 'that was not my reason, I can assure you; but thecircumstances by which we have become possessed of this wealth are sounexpected, as to make us scarcely credit our good fortune, and it isonly by placing the actual proof of our riches before our eyes thatwe can persuade ourselves that the whole affair is not a dream. ' Thejeweller smiled. --'Have you any other guests in your house?' inquiredhe. --'Nobody but ourselves, ' replied Caderousse; 'the fact is, we do notlodge travellers--indeed, our tavern is so near the town, that nobodywould think of stopping here. '--'Then I am afraid I shall very muchinconvenience you. '--'Inconvenience us? Not at all, my dear sir, 'said La Carconte in her most gracious manner. 'Not at all, I assureyou. '--'But where will you manage to stow me?'--'In the chamberoverhead. '--'Surely that is where you yourselves sleep?'--'Never mindthat; we have a second bed in the adjoining room. ' Caderousse stared athis wife with much astonishment.

"The jeweller, meanwhile, was humming a song as he stood warming hisback at the fire La Carconte had kindled to dry the wet garments of herguest; and this done, she next occupied herself in arranging his supper, by spreading a napkin at the end of the table, and placing on it theslender remains of their dinner, to which she added three or fourfresh-laid eggs. Caderousse had once more parted with his treasure--thebanknotes were replaced in the pocket-book, the gold put back intothe bag, and the whole carefully locked in the cupboard. He then beganpacing the room with a pensive and gloomy air, glancing from time totime at the jeweller, who stood reeking with the steam from his wetclothes, and merely changing his place on the warm hearth, to enable thewhole of his garments to be dried.

"'There, ' said La Carconte, as she placed a bottle of wine on the table, 'supper is ready whenever you are. '--'And you?' asked Joannes. --'I don'twant any supper, ' said Caderousse. --'We dined so very late, ' hastilyinterposed La Carconte. --'Then it seems I am to eat alone, ' remarkedthe jeweller. --'Oh, we shall have the pleasure of waiting upon you, 'answered La Carconte, with an eager attention she was not accustomed tomanifest even to guests who paid for what they took.

"From time to time Caderousse darted on his wife keen, searchingglances, but rapid as the lightning flash. The storm still continued. 'There, there, ' said La Carconte; 'do you hear that? upon my word, youdid well to come back. '--'Nevertheless, ' replied the jeweller, 'if bythe time I have finished my supper the tempest has at all abated, Ishall make another start. '--'It's the mistral, ' said Caderousse, 'andit will be sure to last till to-morrow morning. ' He sighedheavily. --'Well, ' said the jeweller, as he placed himself at table, 'all I can say is, so much the worse for those who are abroad. '--'Yes, 'chimed in La Carconte, 'they will have a wretched night of it. '

"The jeweller began eating his supper, and the woman, who was ordinarilyso querulous and indifferent to all who approached her, was suddenlytransformed into the most smiling and attentive hostess. Had the unhappyman on whom she lavished her assiduities been previously acquainted withher, so sudden an alteration might well have excited suspicion in hismind, or at least have greatly astonished him. Caderousse, meanwhile, continued to pace the room in gloomy silence, sedulously avoidingthe sight of his guest; but as soon as the stranger had completed hisrepast, the agitated inn-keeper went eagerly to the door and openedit. 'I believe the storm is over, ' said he. But as if to contradict hisstatement, at that instant a violent clap of thunder seemed to shake thehouse to its very foundation, while a sudden gust of wind, mingledwith rain, extinguished the lamp he held in his hand. Trembling andawe-struck, Caderousse hastily shut the door and returned to hisguest, while La Carconte lighted a candle by the smouldering ashes thatglimmered on the hearth. 'You must be tired, ' said she to the jeweller;'I have spread a pair of white sheets on your bed; go up when you areready, and sleep well. '

"Joannes stayed for a while to see whether the storm seemed to abate inits fury, but a brief space of time sufficed to assure him that, instead of diminishing, the violence of the rain and thunder momentarilyincreased; resigning himself, therefore, to what seemed inevitable, hebade his host good-night, and mounted the stairs. He passed over my headand I heard the flooring creak beneath his footsteps. The quick, eagerglance of La Carconte followed him as he ascended, while Caderousse, onthe contrary, turned his back, and seemed most anxiously to avoid evenglancing at him.

"All these circumstances did not strike me as painfully at the time asthey have since done; in fact, all that had happened (with the exceptionof the story of the diamond, which certainly did wear an air ofimprobability), appeared natural enough, and called for neitherapprehension nor mistrust; but, worn out as I was with fatigue, andfully purposing to proceed onwards directly the tempest abated, Idetermined to obtain a few hours' sleep. Overhead I could accuratelydistinguish every movement of the jeweller, who, after making the bestarrangements in his power for passing a comfortable night, threw himselfon his bed, and I could hear it creak and groan beneath his weight. Insensibly my eyelids grew heavy, deep sleep stole over me, and havingno suspicion of anything wrong, I sought not to shake it off. I lookedinto the kitchen once more and saw Caderousse sitting by the side of along table upon one of the low wooden stools which in country places arefrequently used instead of chairs; his back was turned towards me, sothat I could not see the expression of his countenance--neither should Ihave been able to do so had he been placed differently, as his head wasburied between his two hands. La Carconte continued to gaze on him forsome time, then shrugging her shoulders, she took her seat immediatelyopposite to him. At this moment the expiring embers threw up a freshflame from the kindling of a piece of wood that lay near, and a brightlight flashed over the room. La Carconte still kept her eyes fixedon her husband, but as he made no sign of changing his position, sheextended her hard, bony hand, and touched him on the forehead.

"Caderousse shuddered. The woman's lips seemed to move, as though shewere talking; but because she merely spoke in an undertone, or my senseswere dulled by sleep, I did not catch a word she uttered. Confusedsights and sounds seemed to float before me, and gradually I fell intoa deep, heavy slumber. How long I had been in this unconscious stateI know not, when I was suddenly aroused by the report of a pistol, followed by a fearful cry. Weak and tottering footsteps resounded acrossthe chamber above me, and the next instant a dull, heavy weight seemedto fall powerless on the staircase. I had not yet fully recoveredconsciousness, when again I heard groans, mingled with half-stifledcries, as if from persons engaged in a deadly struggle. A cry moreprolonged than the others and ending in a series of groans effectuallyroused me from my drowsy lethargy. Hastily raising myself on one arm, Ilooked around, but all was dark; and it seemed to me as if the rain musthave penetrated through the flooring of the room above, for some kindof moisture appeared to fall, drop by drop, upon my forehead, and when Ipassed my hand across my brow, I felt that it was wet and clammy.

"To the fearful noises that had awakened me had succeeded the mostperfect silence--unbroken, save by the footsteps of a man walking aboutin the chamber above. The staircase creaked, he descended into the roombelow, approached the fire and lit a candle. The man was Caderousse--hewas pale and his shirt was all bloody. Having obtained the light, hehurried up-stairs again, and once more I heard his rapid and uneasyfootsteps. A moment later he came down again, holding in his hand thesmall shagreen case, which he opened, to assure himself it containedthe diamond, --seemed to hesitate as to which pocket he should put itin, then, as if dissatisfied with the security of either pocket, hedeposited it in his red handkerchief, which he carefully rolled roundhis head. After this he took from his cupboard the bank-notes and goldhe had put there, thrust the one into the pocket of his trousers, andthe other into that of his waistcoat, hastily tied up a small bundle oflinen, and rushing towards the door, disappeared in the darkness of thenight.

"Then all became clear and manifest to me, and I reproached myselfwith what had happened, as though I myself had done the guilty deed. I fancied that I still heard faint moans, and imagining that theunfortunate jeweller might not be quite dead, I determined to go to hisrelief, by way of atoning in some slight degree, not for the crime I hadcommitted, but for that which I had not endeavored to prevent. For thispurpose I applied all the strength I possessed to force an entrancefrom the cramped spot in which I lay to the adjoining room. The poorlyfastened boards which alone divided me from it yielded to my efforts, and I found myself in the house. Hastily snatching up the lightedcandle, I hurried to the staircase; about midway a body was lying quiteacross the stairs. It was that of La Carconte. The pistol I had heardhad doubtless been fired at her. The shot had frightfully lacerated herthroat, leaving two gaping wounds from which, as well as the mouth, theblood was pouring in floods. She was stone dead. I strode past her, andascended to the sleeping chamber, which presented an appearance of thewildest disorder. The furniture had been knocked over in the deadlystruggle that had taken place there, and the sheets, to which theunfortunate jeweller had doubtless clung, were dragged across the room. The murdered man lay on the floor, his head leaning against the wall, and about him was a pool of blood which poured forth from three largewounds in his breast; there was a fourth gash, in which a long tableknife was plunged up to the handle.

"I stumbled over some object; I stooped to examine--it was the secondpistol, which had not gone off, probably from the powder being wet. Iapproached the jeweller, who was not quite dead, and at the sound of myfootsteps and the creaking of the floor, he opened his eyes, fixedthem on me with an anxious and inquiring gaze, moved his lips as thoughtrying to speak, then, overcome by the effort, fell back and expired. This appalling sight almost bereft me of my senses, and finding that Icould no longer be of service to any one in the house, my only desirewas to fly. I rushed towards the staircase, clutching my hair, anduttering a groan of horror. Upon reaching the room below, I found fiveor six custom-house officers, and two or three gendarmes--all heavilyarmed. They threw themselves upon me. I made no resistance; I was nolonger master of my senses. When I strove to speak, a few inarticulatesounds alone escaped my lips.

"As I noticed the significant manner in which the whole party pointed tomy blood-stained garments, I involuntarily surveyed myself, and thenI discovered that the thick warm drops that had so bedewed me as I laybeneath the staircase must have been the blood of La Carconte. I pointedto the spot where I had concealed myself. 'What does he mean?' asked agendarme. One of the officers went to the place I directed. 'He means, 'replied the man upon his return, 'that he got in that way;' and heshowed the hole I had made when I broke through.

"Then I saw that they took me for the assassin. I recovered force andenergy enough to free myself from the hands of those who held me, whileI managed to stammer forth--'I did not do it! Indeed, indeed I did not!'A couple of gendarmes held the muzzles of their carbines against mybreast. --'Stir but a step, ' said they, 'and you are a dead man. '--'Whyshould you threaten me with death, ' cried I, 'when I have alreadydeclared my innocence?'--'Tush, tush, ' cried the men; 'keep yourinnocent stories to tell to the judge at Nimes. Meanwhile, come alongwith us; and the best advice we can give you is to do so unresistingly. 'Alas, resistance was far from my thoughts. I was utterly overpoweredby surprise and terror; and without a word I suffered myself to behandcuffed and tied to a horse's tail, and thus they took me to Nimes.

"I had been tracked by a customs-officer, who had lost sight of me nearthe tavern; feeling certain that I intended to pass the night there, hehad returned to summon his comrades, who just arrived in time tohear the report of the pistol, and to take me in the midst of suchcircumstantial proofs of my guilt as rendered all hopes of provingmy innocence utterly futile. One only chance was left me, that ofbeseeching the magistrate before whom I was taken to cause every inquiryto be made for the Abbe Busoni, who had stopped at the inn of the Pontdu Gard on that morning. If Caderousse had invented the story relativeto the diamond, and there existed no such person as the Abbe Busoni, then, indeed, I was lost past redemption, or, at least, my life hungupon the feeble chance of Caderousse himself being apprehendedand confessing the whole truth. Two months passed away in hopelessexpectation on my part, while I must do the magistrate the justiceto say that he used every means to obtain information of the person Ideclared could exculpate me if he would. Caderousse still evaded allpursuit, and I had resigned myself to what seemed my inevitable fate. My trial was to come on at the approaching assizes; when, on the 8th ofSeptember--that is to say, precisely three months and five days afterthe events which had perilled my life--the Abbe Busoni, whom I neverventured to believe I should see, presented himself at the prison doors, saying he understood one of the prisoners wished to speak to him;he added, that having learned at Marseilles the particulars of myimprisonment, he hastened to comply with my desire. You may easilyimagine with what eagerness I welcomed him, and how minutely Irelated the whole of what I had seen and heard. I felt some degree ofnervousness as I entered upon the history of the diamond, but, to myinexpressible astonishment, he confirmed it in every particular, and tomy equal surprise, he seemed to place entire belief in all I said. Andthen it was that, won by his mild charity, seeing that he was acquaintedwith all the habits and customs of my own country, and considering alsothat pardon for the only crime of which I was really guilty might comewith a double power from lips so benevolent and kind, I besought him toreceive my confession, under the seal of which I recounted the Auteuilaffair in all its details, as well as every other transaction of mylife. That which I had done by the impulse of my best feelings producedthe same effect as though it had been the result of calculation. Myvoluntary confession of the assassination at Auteuil proved to him thatI had not committed that of which I stood accused. When he quitted me, he bade me be of good courage, and to rely upon his doing all in hispower to convince my judges of my innocence.

"I had speedy proofs that the excellent abbe was engaged in my behalf, for the rigors of my imprisonment were alleviated by many triflingthough acceptable indulgences, and I was told that my trial was to bepostponed to the assizes following those now being held. In the interimit pleased providence to cause the apprehension of Caderousse, who wasdiscovered in some distant country, and brought back to France, where hemade a full confession, refusing to make the fact of his wife's havingsuggested and arranged the murder any excuse for his own guilt. The wretched man was sentenced to the galleys for life, and I wasimmediately set at liberty. "

"And then it was, I presume, " said Monte Cristo "that you came to me asthe bearer of a letter from the Abbe Busoni?"

"It was, your excellency; the benevolent abbe took an evident interestin all that concerned me.

"'Your mode of life as a smuggler, ' said he to me one day, 'will bethe ruin of you; if you get out, don't take it up again. '--'But how, 'inquired I, 'am I to maintain myself and my poor sister?'

"'A person, whose confessor I am, ' replied he, 'and who entertains ahigh regard for me, applied to me a short time since to procure him aconfidential servant. Would you like such a post? If so, I will give youa letter of introduction to him. '--'Oh, father, ' I exclaimed, 'you arevery good. '

"'But you must swear solemnly that I shall never have reason to repentmy recommendation. ' I extended my hand, and was about to pledge myselfby any promise he would dictate, but he stopped me. 'It is unnecessaryfor you to bind yourself by any vow, ' said he; 'I know and admire theCorsican nature too well to fear you. Here, take this, ' continued he, after rapidly writing the few lines I brought to your excellency, andupon receipt of which you deigned to receive me into your service, and proudly I ask whether your excellency has ever had cause to repenthaving done so?"

"No, " replied the count; "I take pleasure in saying that you have servedme faithfully, Bertuccio; but you might have shown more confidence inme. "

"I, your excellency?"

"Yes; you. How comes it, that having both a sister and an adopted son, you have never spoken to me of either?"

"Alas, I have still to recount the most distressing period of my life. Anxious as you may suppose I was to behold and comfort my dear sister, I lost no time in hastening to Corsica, but when I arrived at Rogliano Ifound a house of mourning, the consequences of a scene so horrible thatthe neighbors remember and speak of it to this day. Acting by my advice, my poor sister had refused to comply with the unreasonable demands ofBenedetto, who was continually tormenting her for money, as long as hebelieved there was a sou left in her possession. One morning that he haddemanded money, threatening her with the severest consequences if shedid not supply him with what he desired, he disappeared and remainedaway all day, leaving the kind-hearted Assunta, who loved him as if hewere her own child, to weep over his conduct and bewail his absence. Evening came, and still, with all the patient solicitude of a mother, she watched for his return.

"As the eleventh hour struck, he entered with a swaggering air, attendedby two of the most dissolute and reckless of his boon companions. Shestretched out her arms to him, but they seized hold of her, and one ofthe three--none other than the accursed Benedetto exclaimed, --'Put herto torture and she'll soon tell us where her money is. '

"It unfortunately happened that our neighbor, Vasilio, was at Bastia, leaving no person in his house but his wife; no human creature besidecould hear or see anything that took place within our dwelling. Two heldpoor Assunta, who, unable to conceive that any harm was intended to her, smiled in the face of those who were soon to become her executioners. The third proceeded to barricade the doors and windows, then returned, and the three united in stifling the cries of terror incited by thesight of these preparations, and then dragged Assunta feet foremosttowards the brazier, expecting to wring from her an avowal of where hersupposed treasure was secreted. In the struggle her clothes caughtfire, and they were obliged to let go their hold in order to preservethemselves from sharing the same fate. Covered with flames, Assuntarushed wildly to the door, but it was fastened; she flew to the windows, but they were also secured; then the neighbors heard frightful shrieks;it was Assunta calling for help. The cries died away in groans, and nextmorning, as soon as Vasilio's wife could muster up courage to ventureabroad, she caused the door of our dwelling to be opened by the publicauthorities, when Assunta, although dreadfully burnt, was found stillbreathing; every drawer and closet in the house had been forced open, and the money stolen. Benedetto never again appeared at Rogliano, neither have I since that day either seen or heard anything concerninghim.

"It was subsequently to these dreadful events that I waited onyour excellency, to whom it would have been folly to have mentionedBenedetto, since all trace of him seemed entirely lost; or of my sister, since she was dead. "

"And in what light did you view the occurrence?" inquired Monte Cristo.

"As a punishment for the crime I had committed, " answered Bertuccio. "Oh, those Villeforts are an accursed race!"

"Truly they are, " murmured the count in a lugubrious tone.

"And now, " resumed Bertuccio, "your excellency may, perhaps, be ableto comprehend that this place, which I revisit for the first time--thisgarden, the actual scene of my crime--must have given rise toreflections of no very agreeable nature, and produced that gloom anddepression of spirits which excited the notice of your excellency, whowas pleased to express a desire to know the cause. At this instant ashudder passes over me as I reflect that possibly I am now standing onthe very grave in which lies M. De Villefort, by whose hand the groundwas dug to receive the corpse of his child. "

"Everything is possible, " said Monte Cristo, rising from the bench onwhich he had been sitting; "even, " he added in an inaudible voice, "eventhat the procureur be not dead. The Abbe Busoni did right to send youto me, " he went on in his ordinary tone, "and you have done well inrelating to me the whole of your history, as it will prevent my formingany erroneous opinions concerning you in future. As for that Benedetto, who so grossly belied his name, have you never made any effort to traceout whither he has gone, or what has become of him?"

"No; far from wishing to learn whither he has betaken himself, I shouldshun the possibility of meeting him as I would a wild beast. Thank God, I have never heard his name mentioned by any person, and I hope andbelieve he is dead. "

"Do not think so, Bertuccio, " replied the count; "for the wicked arenot so easily disposed of, for God seems to have them under his specialwatch-care to make of them instruments of his vengeance. "

"So be it, " responded Bertuccio, "all I ask of heaven is that I maynever see him again. And now, your excellency, " he added, bowing hishead, "you know everything--you are my judge on earth, as the Almightyis in heaven; have you for me no words of consolation?"

"My good friend, I can only repeat the words addressed to you by theAbbe Busoni. Villefort merited punishment for what he had done to you, and, perhaps, to others. Benedetto, if still living, will become theinstrument of divine retribution in some way or other, and then be dulypunished in his turn. As far as you yourself are concerned, I see butone point in which you are really guilty. Ask yourself, wherefore, afterrescuing the infant from its living grave, you did not restore it to itsmother? There was the crime, Bertuccio--that was where you became reallyculpable. "

"True, excellency, that was the crime, the real crime, for in thatI acted like a coward. My first duty, directly I had succeeded inrecalling the babe to life, was to restore it to its mother; but, inorder to do so, I must have made close and careful inquiry, which would, in all probability, have led to my own apprehension; and I clung tolife, partly on my sister's account, and partly from that feelingof pride inborn in our hearts of desiring to come off untouched andvictorious in the execution of our vengeance. Perhaps, too, the naturaland instinctive love of life made me wish to avoid endangering myown. And then, again, I am not as brave and courageous as was my poorbrother. " Bertuccio hid his face in his hands as he uttered these words, while Monte Cristo fixed on him a look of inscrutable meaning. Aftera brief silence, rendered still more solemn by the time and place, thecount said, in a tone of melancholy wholly unlike his usual manner, "Inorder to bring this conversation to a fitting termination (the last weshall ever hold upon this subject), I will repeat to you some words Ihave heard from the lips of the Abbe Busoni. For all evils there aretwo remedies--time and silence. And now leave me, Monsieur Bertuccio, towalk alone here in the garden. The very circumstances which inflicton you, as a principal in the tragic scene enacted here, such painfulemotions, are to me, on the contrary, a source of something likecontentment, and serve but to enhance the value of this dwelling in myestimation. The chief beauty of trees consists in the deep shadow oftheir umbrageous boughs, while fancy pictures a moving multitude ofshapes and forms flitting and passing beneath that shade. Here I havea garden laid out in such a way as to afford the fullest scope for theimagination, and furnished with thickly grown trees, beneath whose leafyscreen a visionary like myself may conjure up phantoms at will. This tome, who expected but to find a blank enclosure surrounded by a straightwall, is, I assure you, a most agreeable surprise. I have no fear ofghosts, and I have never heard it said that so much harm had been doneby the dead during six thousand years as is wrought by the living in asingle day. Retire within, Bertuccio, and tranquillize your mind. Shouldyour confessor be less indulgent to you in your dying moments than youfound the Abbe Busoni, send for me, if I am still on earth, and I willsoothe your ears with words that shall effectually calm and soothe yourparting soul ere it goes forth to traverse the ocean called eternity. "

Bertuccio bowed respectfully, and turned away, sighing heavily. MonteCristo, left alone, took three or four steps onwards, and murmured, "Here, beneath this plane-tree, must have been where the infant's gravewas dug. There is the little door opening into the garden. At thiscorner is the private staircase communicating with the sleepingapartment. There will be no necessity for me to make a note of theseparticulars, for there, before my eyes, beneath my feet, all around me, I have the plan sketched with all the living reality of truth. " Aftermaking the tour of the garden a second time, the count re-entered hiscarriage, while Bertuccio, who perceived the thoughtful expression ofhis master's features, took his seat beside the driver without utteringa word. The carriage proceeded rapidly towards Paris.

That same evening, upon reaching his abode in the Champs Elysees, theCount of Monte Cristo went over the whole building with the air of onelong acquainted with each nook or corner. Nor, although preceding theparty, did he once mistake one door for another, or commit the smallesterror when choosing any particular corridor or staircase to conduct himto a place or suite of rooms he desired to visit. Ali was his principalattendant during this nocturnal survey. Having given various orders toBertuccio relative to the improvements and alterations he desiredto make in the house, the Count, drawing out his watch, said to theattentive Nubian, "It is half-past eleven o'clock; Haidee will soon behere. Have the French attendants been summoned to await her coming?" Aliextended his hands towards the apartments destined for the fair Greek, which were so effectually concealed by means of a tapestried entrance, that it would have puzzled the most curious to have divined theirexistence. Ali, having pointed to the apartments, held up three fingersof his right hand, and then, placing it beneath his head, shut his eyes, and feigned to sleep. "I understand, " said Monte Cristo, well acquaintedwith Ali's pantomime; "you mean to tell me that three femaleattendants await their new mistress in her sleeping-chamber. " Ali, withconsiderable animation, made a sign in the affirmative.

"Madame will be tired to-night, " continued Monte Cristo, "and will, nodoubt, wish to rest. Desire the French attendants not to weary her withquestions, but merely to pay their respectful duty and retire. You willalso see that the Greek servants hold no communication with those ofthis country. " He bowed. Just at that moment voices were heard hailingthe concierge. The gate opened, a carriage rolled down the avenue, andstopped at the steps. The count hastily descended, presented himselfat the already opened carriage door, and held out his hand to a youngwoman, completely enveloped in a green silk mantle heavily embroideredwith gold. She raised the hand extended towards her to her lips, andkissed it with a mixture of love and respect. Some few words passedbetween them in that sonorous language in which Homer makes his godsconverse. The young woman spoke with an expression of deep tenderness, while the count replied with an air of gentle gravity. Preceded by Ali, who carried a rose-colored flambeau in his hand, the new-comer, who wasno other than the lovely Greek who had been Monte Cristo's companion inItaly, was conducted to her apartments, while the count retired to thepavilion reserved for himself. In another hour every light in the housewas extinguished, and it might have been thought that all its inmatesslept.

Chapter 46. Unlimited Credit.

About two o'clock the following day a calash, drawn by a pair ofmagnificent English horses, stopped at the door of Monte Cristo and aperson, dressed in a blue coat, with buttons of a similar color, awhite waistcoat, over which was displayed a massive gold chain, browntrousers, and a quantity of black hair descending so low over hiseyebrows as to leave it doubtful whether it were not artificial solittle did its jetty glossiness assimilate with the deep wrinklesstamped on his features--a person, in a word, who, although evidentlypast fifty, desired to be taken for not more than forty, bent forwardsfrom the carriage door, on the panels of which were emblazoned thearmorial bearings of a baron, and directed his groom to inquire at theporter's lodge whether the Count of Monte Cristo resided there, and ifhe were within. While waiting, the occupant of the carriage surveyed thehouse, the garden as far as he could distinguish it, and the liveryof servants who passed to and fro, with an attention so close as to besomewhat impertinent. His glance was keen but showed cunning rather thanintelligence; his lips were straight, and so thin that, as they closed, they were drawn in over the teeth; his cheek-bones were broad andprojecting, a never-failing proof of audacity and craftiness; while theflatness of his forehead, and the enlargement of the back of his skull, which rose much higher than his large and coarsely shaped ears, combinedto form a physiognomy anything but prepossessing, save in the eyes ofsuch as considered that the owner of so splendid an equipage must needsbe all that was admirable and enviable, more especially when they gazedon the enormous diamond that glittered in his shirt, and the red ribbonthat depended from his button-hole.

The groom, in obedience to his orders, tapped at the window of theporter's lodge, saying, "Pray, does not the Count of Monte Cristo livehere?"

"His excellency does reside here, " replied the concierge; "but"--addedhe, glancing an inquiring look at Ali. Ali returned a sign in thenegative. "But what?" asked the groom.

"His excellency does not receive visitors to-day. "

"Then here is my master's card, --the Baron Danglars. You will take itto the count, and say that, although in haste to attend the Chamber, mymaster came out of his way to have the honor of calling upon him. "

"I never speak to his excellency, " replied the concierge; "the valet dechambre will carry your message. " The groom returned to the carriage. "Well?" asked Danglars. The man, somewhat crest-fallen by the rebuke hehad received, repeated what the concierge had said. "Bless me, " murmuredBaron Danglars, "this must surely be a prince instead of a count bytheir styling him 'excellency, ' and only venturing to address him by themedium of his valet de chambre. However, it does not signify; he has aletter of credit on me, so I must see him when he requires his money. "

Then, throwing himself back in his carriage, Danglars called out tohis coachman, in a voice that might be heard across the road, "To theChamber of Deputies. "

Apprised in time of the visit paid him, Monte Cristo had, from behindthe blinds of his pavilion, as minutely observed the baron, by means ofan excellent lorgnette, as Danglars himself had scrutinized the house, garden, and servants. "That fellow has a decidedly bad countenance, "said the count in a tone of disgust, as he shut up his glass into itsivory case. "How comes it that all do not retreat in aversion at sightof that flat, receding, serpent-like forehead, round, vulture-shapedhead, and sharp-hooked nose, like the beak of a buzzard? Ali, " criedhe, striking at the same time on the brazen gong. Ali appeared. "SummonBertuccio, " said the count. Almost immediately Bertuccio entered theapartment. "Did your excellency desire to see me?" inquired he. "I did, "replied the count. "You no doubt observed the horses standing a fewminutes since at the door?"

"Certainly, your excellency. I noticed them for their remarkablebeauty. "

"Then how comes it, " said Monte Cristo with a frown, "that, when Idesired you to purchase for me the finest pair of horses to be found inParis, there is another pair, fully as fine as mine, not in my stables?"At the look of displeasure, added to the angry tone in which the countspoke, Ali turned pale and held down his head. "It is not your fault, mygood Ali, " said the count in the Arabic language, and with a gentlenessnone would have thought him capable of showing, either in voice orface--"it is not your fault. You do not understand the points of Englishhorses. " The countenance of poor Ali recovered its serenity. "Permit meto assure your excellency, " said Bertuccio, "that the horses you speakof were not to be sold when I purchased yours. " Monte Cristo shruggedhis shoulders. "It seems, sir steward, " said he, "that you have yet tolearn that all things are to be sold to such as care to pay the price. "

"His excellency is not, perhaps, aware that M. Danglars gave 16, 000francs for his horses?"

"Very well. Then offer him double that sum; a banker never loses anopportunity of doubling his capital. "

"Is your excellency really in earnest?" inquired the steward. MonteCristo regarded the person who durst presume to doubt his words withthe look of one equally surprised and displeased. "I have to pay a visitthis evening, " replied he. "I desire that these horses, with completelynew harness, may be at the door with my carriage. " Bertuccio bowed, andwas about to retire; but when he reached the door, he paused, and thensaid, "At what o'clock does your excellency wish the carriage and horsesto be ready?"

"At five o'clock, " replied the count.

"I beg your excellency's pardon, " interposed the steward in adeprecating manner, "for venturing to observe that it is already twoo'clock. "

"I am perfectly aware of that fact, " answered Monte Cristo calmly. Then, turning towards Ali, he said, "Let all the horses in my stables be ledbefore the windows of your young lady, that she may select those sheprefers for her carriage. Request her also to oblige me by sayingwhether it is her pleasure to dine with me; if so, let dinner be servedin her apartments. Now, leave me, and desire my valet de chambre tocome hither. " Scarcely had Ali disappeared when the valet entered thechamber. "Monsieur Baptistin, " said the count, "you have been in myservice one year, the time I generally give myself to judge of themerits or demerits of those about me. You suit me very well. " Baptistinbowed low. "It only remains for me to know whether I also suit you?"

"Oh, your excellency!" exclaimed Baptistin eagerly.

"Listen, if you please, till I have finished speaking, " replied MonteCristo. "You receive 1, 500 francs per annum for your services here--morethan many a brave subaltern, who continually risks his life for hiscountry, obtains. You live in a manner far superior to many clerks whowork ten times harder than you do for their money. Then, though yourselfa servant, you have other servants to wait upon you, take care of yourclothes, and see that your linen is duly prepared for you. Again, youmake a profit upon each article you purchase for my toilet, amounting inthe course of a year to a sum equalling your wages. "

"Nay, indeed, your excellency. "

"I am not condemning you for this, Monsieur Baptistin; but let yourprofits end here. It would be long indeed ere you would find solucrative a post as that you have now the good fortune to fill. Ineither ill-use nor ill-treat my servants by word or action. An errorI readily forgive, but wilful negligence or forgetfulness, never. Mycommands are ordinarily short, clear, and precise; and I would rather beobliged to repeat my words twice, or even three times, than they shouldbe misunderstood. I am rich enough to know whatever I desire to know, and I can promise you I am not wanting in curiosity. If, then, Ishould learn that you had taken upon yourself to speak of me to any onefavorably or unfavorably, to comment on my actions, or watch my conduct, that very instant you would quit my service. You may now retire. I nevercaution my servants a second time--remember that. " Baptistin bowed, andwas proceeding towards the door. "I forgot to mention to you, " said thecount, "that I lay yearly aside a certain sum for each servant in myestablishment; those whom I am compelled to dismiss lose (as a matter ofcourse) all participation in this money, while their portion goes to thefund accumulating for those domestics who remain with me, and among whomit will be divided at my death. You have been in my service a year, yourfund has already begun to accumulate--let it continue to do so. "

This address, delivered in the presence of Ali, who, not understandingone word of the language in which it was spoken, stood wholly unmoved, produced an effect on M. Baptistin only to be conceived by such as haveoccasion to study the character and disposition of French domestics. "Iassure your excellency, " said he, "that at least it shall be my studyto merit your approbation in all things, and I will take M. Ali as mymodel. "

"By no means, " replied the count in the most frigid tones; "Ali has manyfaults mixed with most excellent qualities. He cannot possibly serve youas a pattern for your conduct, not being, as you are, a paid servant, but a mere slave--a dog, who, should he fail in his duty towards me, Ishould not discharge from my service, but kill. " Baptistin opened hiseyes with astonishment.

"You seem incredulous, " said Monte Cristo, who repeated to Ali in theArabic language what he had just been saying to Baptistin in French. TheNubian smiled assentingly to his master's words, then, kneeling on oneknee, respectfully kissed the hand of the count. This corroboration ofthe lesson he had just received put the finishing stroke to the wonderand stupefaction of M. Baptistin. The count then motioned the valetde chambre to retire, and to Ali to follow to his study, where theyconversed long and earnestly together. As the hand of the clock pointedto five the count struck thrice upon his gong. When Ali was wantedone stroke was given, two summoned Baptistin, and three Bertuccio. Thesteward entered. "My horses, " said Monte Cristo.

"They are at the door harnessed to the carriage as your excellencydesired. Does your excellency wish me to accompany him?"

"No, the coachman, Ali, and Baptistin will go. " The count descended tothe door of his mansion, and beheld his carriage drawn by the verypair of horses he had so much admired in the morning as the propertyof Danglars. As he passed them he said--"They are extremely handsomecertainly, and you have done well to purchase them, although you weresomewhat remiss not to have procured them sooner. "

"Indeed, your excellency, I had very considerable difficulty inobtaining them, and, as it is, they have cost an enormous price. "

"Does the sum you gave for them make the animals less beautiful, "inquired the count, shrugging his shoulders.

"Nay, if your excellency is satisfied, it is all that I could wish. Whither does your excellency desire to be driven?"

"To the residence of Baron Danglars, Rue de la Chaussee d'Antin. " Thisconversation had passed as they stood upon the terrace, from which aflight of stone steps led to the carriage-drive. As Bertuccio, witha respectful bow, was moving away, the count called him back. "I haveanother commission for you, M. Bertuccio, " said he; "I am desirous ofhaving an estate by the seaside in Normandy--for instance, between Havreand Boulogne. You see I give you a wide range. It will be absolutelynecessary that the place you may select have a small harbor, creek, orbay, into which my corvette can enter and remain at anchor. She drawsonly fifteen feet. She must be kept in constant readiness to sailimmediately I think proper to give the signal. Make the requisiteinquiries for a place of this description, and when you have met withan eligible spot, visit it, and if it possess the advantages desired, purchase it at once in your own name. The corvette must now, I think, beon her way to Fecamp, must she not?"

"Certainly, your excellency; I saw her put to sea the same evening wequitted Marseilles. "

"And the yacht. "

"Was ordered to remain at Martigues. "

"'Tis well. I wish you to write from time to time to the captains incharge of the two vessels so as to keep them on the alert. "

"And the steamboat?"

"She is at Chalons?"

"Yes. "

"The same orders for her as for the two sailing vessels. "

"Very good. "

"When you have purchased the estate I desire, I want constant relays ofhorses at ten leagues apart along the northern and southern road. "

"Your excellency may depend upon me. " The Count made a gesture ofsatisfaction, descended the terrace steps, and sprang into his carriage, which was whirled along swiftly to the banker's house. Danglars wasengaged at that moment, presiding over a railroad committee. But themeeting was nearly concluded when the name of his visitor was announced. As the count's title sounded on his ear he rose, and addressinghis colleagues, who were members of one or the other Chamber, hesaid, --"Gentlemen, pardon me for leaving you so abruptly; but a mostridiculous circumstance has occurred, which is this, --Thomson & French, the Roman bankers, have sent to me a certain person calling himself theCount of Monte Cristo, and have given him an unlimited credit with me. Iconfess this is the drollest thing I have ever met with in the courseof my extensive foreign transactions, and you may readily suppose it hasgreatly roused my curiosity. I took the trouble this morning to callon the pretended count--if he were a real count he wouldn't be so rich. But, would you believe it, 'He was not receiving. ' So the master ofMonte Cristo gives himself airs befitting a great millionaire or acapricious beauty. I made inquiries, and found that the house in theChamps Elysees is his own property, and certainly it was very decentlykept up. But, " pursued Danglars with one of his sinister smiles, "anorder for unlimited credit calls for something like caution on the partof the banker to whom that order is given. I am very anxious to see thisman. I suspect a hoax is intended, but the instigators of it little knewwhom they had to deal with. 'They laugh best who laugh last!'"

Having delivered himself of this pompous address, uttered with a degreeof energy that left the baron almost out of breath, he bowed to theassembled party and withdrew to his drawing-room, whose sumptuousfurnishings of white and gold had caused a great sensation in theChaussee d'Antin. It was to this apartment he had desired his guest tobe shown, with the purpose of overwhelming him at the sight of so muchluxury. He found the count standing before some copies of Albano andFattore that had been passed off to the banker as originals; but which, mere copies as they were, seemed to feel their degradation in beingbrought into juxtaposition with the gaudy colors that covered theceiling. The count turned round as he heard the entrance of Danglarsinto the room. With a slight inclination of the head, Danglars signedto the count to be seated, pointing significantly to a gilded arm-chair, covered with white satin embroidered with gold. The count sat down. "Ihave the honor, I presume, of addressing M. De Monte Cristo. "

The count bowed. "And I of speaking to Baron Danglars, chevalier of theLegion of Honor, and member of the Chamber of Deputies?"

Monte Cristo repeated all the titles he had read on the baron's card.

Danglars felt the irony and compressed his lips. "You will, I trust, excuse me, monsieur, for not calling you by your title when I firstaddressed you, " he said, "but you are aware that we are living under apopular form of government, and that I am myself a representative of theliberties of the people. "

"So much so, " replied Monte Cristo, "that while you call yourself baronyou are not willing to call anybody else count. "

"Upon my word, monsieur, " said Danglars with affected carelessness, "Iattach no sort of value to such empty distinctions; but the fact is, Iwas made baron, and also chevalier of the Legion of Honor, in return forservices rendered, but"--

"But you have discarded your titles after the example set you by Messrs. De Montmorency and Lafayette? That was a noble example to follow, monsieur. "

"Why, " replied Danglars, "not entirely so; with the servants, --youunderstand. "

"I see; to your domestics you are 'my lord, ' the journalists styleyou 'monsieur, ' while your constituents call you 'citizen. ' Theseare distinctions very suitable under a constitutional government. Iunderstand perfectly. " Again Danglars bit his lips; he saw that he wasno match for Monte Cristo in an argument of this sort, and he thereforehastened to turn to subjects more congenial.

"Permit me to inform you, Count, " said he, bowing, "that I have receiveda letter of advice from Thomson & French, of Rome. "

"I am glad to hear it, baron, --for I must claim the privilege ofaddressing you after the manner of your servants. I have acquired thebad habit of calling persons by their titles from living in a countrywhere barons are still barons by right of birth. But as regards theletter of advice, I am charmed to find that it has reached you; thatwill spare me the troublesome and disagreeable task of coming to you formoney myself. You have received a regular letter of advice?"

"Yes, " said Danglars, "but I confess I didn't quite comprehend itsmeaning. "

"Indeed?"

"And for that reason I did myself the honor of calling upon you, inorder to beg for an explanation. "

"Go on, monsieur. Here I am, ready to give you any explanation youdesire. "

"Why, " said Danglers, "in the letter--I believe I have it aboutme"--here he felt in his breast-pocket--"yes, here it is. Well, thisletter gives the Count of Monte Cristo unlimited credit on our house. "

"Well, baron, what is there difficult to understand about that?"

"Merely the term unlimited--nothing else, certainly. "

"Is not that word known in France? The people who wrote areAnglo-Germans, you know. "

"Oh, as for the composition of the letter, there is nothing to be said;but as regards the competency of the document, I certainly have doubts. "

"Is it possible?" asked the count, assuming all air and tone of theutmost simplicity and candor. "Is it possible that Thomson & Frenchare not looked upon as safe and solvent bankers? Pray tell me whatyou think, baron, for I feel uneasy, I can assure you, having someconsiderable property in their hands. "

"Thomson & French are perfectly solvent, " replied Danglars, with analmost mocking smile: "but the word unlimited, in financial affairs, isso extremely vague. "

"Is, in fact, unlimited, " said Monte Cristo.

"Precisely what I was about to say, " cried Danglars. "Now what is vagueis doubtful; and it was a wise man who said, 'when in doubt, keep out. '"

"Meaning to say, " rejoined Monte Cristo, "that however Thomson & Frenchmay be inclined to commit acts of imprudence and folly, the BaronDanglars is not disposed to follow their example. "

"Not at all. "

"Plainly enough. Messrs. Thomson & French set no bounds to theirengagements while those of M. Danglars have their limits; he is a wiseman, according to his own showing. "

"Monsieur, " replied the banker, drawing himself up with a haughty air, "the extent of my resources has never yet been questioned. "

"It seems, then, reserved for me, " said Monte Cristo coldly, "to be thefirst to do so. "

"By what right, sir?"

"By right of the objections you have raised, and the explanations youhave demanded, which certainly must have some motive. "

Once more Danglars bit his lips. It was the second time he had beenworsted, and this time on his own ground. His forced politeness satawkwardly upon him, and approached almost to impertinence. Monte Cristoon the contrary, preserved a graceful suavity of demeanor, aided bya certain degree of simplicity he could assume at pleasure, and thuspossessed the advantage.

"Well, sir, " resumed Danglars, after a brief silence, "I will endeavorto make myself understood, by requesting you to inform me for what sumyou propose to draw upon me?"

"Why, truly, " replied Monte Cristo, determined not to lose an inch ofthe ground he had gained, "my reason for desiring an 'unlimited' creditwas precisely because I did not know how much money I might need. "

The banker thought the time had come for him to take the upper hand. Sothrowing himself back in his arm-chair, he said, with an arrogant andpurse-proud air, --"Let me beg of you not to hesitate in naming yourwishes; you will then be convinced that the resources of the houseof Danglars, however limited, are still equal to meeting the largestdemands; and were you even to require a million"--

"I beg your pardon, " interposed Monte Cristo.

"I said a million, " replied Danglars, with the confidence of ignorance.

"But could I do with a million?" retorted the count. "My dear sir, if atrifle like that could suffice me, I should never have given myself thetrouble of opening an account. A million? Excuse my smiling when youspeak of a sum I am in the habit of carrying in my pocket-book ordressing-case. " And with these words Monte Cristo took from his pocketa small case containing his visiting-cards, and drew forth two orders onthe treasury for 500, 000 francs each, payable at sight to the bearer. A man like Danglars was wholly inaccessible to any gentler methodof correction. The effect of the present revelation was stunning; hetrembled and was on the verge of apoplexy. The pupils of his eyes, as hegazed at Monte Cristo dilated horribly.

"Come, come, " said Monte Cristo, "confess honestly that you have notperfect confidence in Thomson & French. I understand, and foreseeingthat such might be the case, I took, in spite of my ignorance ofaffairs, certain precautions. See, here are two similar letters to thatyou have yourself received; one from the house of Arstein & Eskeles ofVienna, to Baron Rothschild, the other drawn by Baring of London, uponM. Laffitte. Now, sir, you have but to say the word, and I will spareyou all uneasiness by presenting my letter of credit to one or other ofthese two firms. " The blow had struck home, and Danglars was entirelyvanquished; with a trembling hand he took the two letters from thecount, who held them carelessly between finger and thumb, and proceededto scrutinize the signatures, with a minuteness that the count mighthave regarded as insulting, had it not suited his present purpose tomislead the banker. "Oh, sir, " said Danglars, after he had convincedhimself of the authenticity of the documents he held, and rising as ifto salute the power of gold personified in the man before him, --"threeletters of unlimited credit! I can be no longer mistrustful, butyou must pardon me, my dear count, for confessing to some degree ofastonishment. "

"Nay, " answered Monte Cristo, with the most gentlemanly air, "'tisnot for such trifling sums as these that your banking house is to beincommoded. Then, you can let me have some money, can you not?"

"Whatever you say, my dear count; I am at your orders. "

"Why, " replied Monte Cristo, "since we mutually understand eachother--for such I presume is the case?" Danglars bowed assentingly. "Youare quite sure that not a lurking doubt or suspicion lingers in yourmind?"

"Oh, my dear count, " exclaimed Danglars, "I never for an instantentertained such a feeling towards you. "

"No, you merely wished to be convinced, nothing more; but now thatwe have come to so clear an understanding, and that all distrust andsuspicion are laid at rest, we may as well fix a sum as the probableexpenditure of the first year, suppose we say six millions to"--

"Six millions!" gasped Danglars--"so be it. "

"Then, if I should require more, " continued Monte Cristo in a carelessmanner, "why, of course, I should draw upon you; but my presentintention is not to remain in France more than a year, and during thatperiod I scarcely think I shall exceed the sum I mentioned. However, weshall see. Be kind enough, then, to send me 500, 000 francs to-morrow. Ishall be at home till midday, or if not, I will leave a receipt with mysteward. "

"The money you desire shall be at your house by ten o'clock to-morrowmorning, my dear count, " replied Danglars. "How would you like to haveit? in gold, silver, or notes?"

"Half in gold, and the other half in bank-notes, if you please, " saidthe count, rising from his seat.

"I must confess to you, count, " said Danglars, "that I have hithertoimagined myself acquainted with the degree of all the great fortunes ofEurope, and still wealth such as yours has been wholly unknown to me. May I presume to ask whether you have long possessed it?"

"It has been in the family a very long while, " returned Monte Cristo, "asort of treasure expressly forbidden to be touched for a certain periodof years, during which the accumulated interest has doubled the capital. The period appointed by the testator for the disposal of these richesoccurred only a short time ago, and they have only been employed by mewithin the last few years. Your ignorance on the subject, therefore, iseasily accounted for. However, you will be better informed as to me andmy possessions ere long. " And the count, while pronouncing these latterwords, accompanied them with one of those ghastly smiles that used tostrike terror into poor Franz d'Epinay.

"With your tastes, and means of gratifying them, " continued Danglars, "you will exhibit a splendor that must effectually put us poor miserablemillionaires quite in the shade. If I mistake not you are an admirer ofpaintings, at least I judged so from the attention you appeared to bebestowing on mine when I entered the room. If you will permit me, Ishall be happy to show you my picture gallery, composed entirely ofworks by the ancient masters--warranted as such. Not a modern pictureamong them. I cannot endure the modern school of painting. "

"You are perfectly right in objecting to them, for this one greatfault--that they have not yet had time to become old. "

"Or will you allow me to show you several fine statues by Thorwaldsen, Bartoloni, and Canova?--all foreign artists, for, as you may perceive, Ithink but very indifferently of our French sculptors. "

"You have a right to be unjust to them, monsieur; they are yourcompatriots. "

"But all this may come later, when we shall be better known to eachother. For the present, I will confine myself (if perfectly agreeable toyou) to introducing you to the Baroness Danglars--excuse my impatience, my dear count, but a client like you is almost like a member of thefamily. " Monte Cristo bowed, in sign that he accepted the profferedhonor; Danglars rang and was answered by a servant in a showy livery. "Is the baroness at home?" inquired Danglars.

"Yes, my lord, " answered the man.

"And alone?"

"No, my lord, madame has visitors. "

"Have you any objection to meet any persons who may be with madame, ordo you desire to preserve a strict incognito?"

"No, indeed, " replied Monte Cristo with a smile, "I do not arrogate tomyself the right of so doing. "

"And who is with madame?--M. Debray?" inquired Danglars, with an air ofindulgence and good-nature that made Monte Cristo smile, acquainted ashe was with the secrets of the banker's domestic life.

"Yes, my lord, " replied the servant, "M. Debray is with madame. "Danglars nodded his head; then, turning to Monte Cristo, said, "M. Lucien Debray is an old friend of ours, and private secretary to theMinister of the Interior. As for my wife, I must tell you, she loweredherself by marrying me, for she belongs to one of the most ancientfamilies in France. Her maiden name was De Servieres, and her firsthusband was Colonel the Marquis of Nargonne. "

"I have not the honor of knowing Madame Danglars; but I have already metM. Lucien Debray. "

"Ah, indeed?" said Danglars; "and where was that?"

"At the house of M. De Morcerf. "

"Ah, ha, you are acquainted with the young viscount, are you?"

"We were together a good deal during the Carnival at Rome. "

"True, true, " cried Danglars. "Let me see; have I not heard talk ofsome strange adventure with bandits or thieves hid in ruins, and ofhis having had a miraculous escape? I forget how, but I know he usedto amuse my wife and daughter by telling them about it after his returnfrom Italy. "

"Her ladyship is waiting to receive you, gentlemen, " said the servant, who had gone to inquire the pleasure of his mistress. "With yourpermission, " said Danglars, bowing, "I will precede you, to show you theway. "

"By all means, " replied Monte Cristo; "I follow you. "

Chapter 47. The Dappled Grays.

The baron, followed by the count, traversed a long series of apartments, in which the prevailing characteristics were heavy magnificence and thegaudiness of ostentatious wealth, until he reached the boudoir of MadameDanglars--a small octagonal-shaped room, hung with pink satin, coveredwith white Indian muslin. The chairs were of ancient workmanshipand materials; over the doors were painted sketches of shepherds andshepherdesses, after the style and manner of Boucher; and at each sidepretty medallions in crayons, harmonizing well with the furnishings ofthis charming apartment, the only one throughout the great mansionin which any distinctive taste prevailed. The truth was, it had beenentirely overlooked in the plan arranged and followed out by M. Danglarsand his architect, who had been selected to aid the baron in the greatwork of improvement solely because he was the most fashionable andcelebrated decorator of the day. The decorations of the boudoir had thenbeen left entirely to Madame Danglars and Lucien Debray. M. Danglars, however, while possessing a great admiration for the antique, as itwas understood during the time of the Directory, entertained the mostsovereign contempt for the simple elegance of his wife's favoritesitting-room, where, by the way, he was never permitted to intrude, unless, indeed, he excused his own appearance by ushering in some moreagreeable visitor than himself; and even then he had rather the air andmanner of a person who was himself introduced, than that of beingthe presenter of another, his reception being cordial or frigid, inproportion as the person who accompanied him chanced to please ordisplease the baroness.

Madame Danglars (who, although past the first bloom of youth, was stillstrikingly handsome) was now seated at the piano, a most elaborate pieceof cabinet and inlaid work, while Lucien Debray, standing before a smallwork-table, was turning over the pages of an album. Lucien had foundtime, preparatory to the count's arrival, to relate many particularsrespecting him to Madame Danglars. It will be remembered that MonteCristo had made a lively impression on the minds of all the partyassembled at the breakfast given by Albert de Morcerf; and althoughDebray was not in the habit of yielding to such feelings, he had neverbeen able to shake off the powerful influence excited in his mind by theimpressive look and manner of the count, consequently the descriptiongiven by Lucien to the baroness bore the highly-colored tinge of his ownheated imagination. Already excited by the wonderful stories related ofthe count by De Morcerf, it is no wonder that Madame Danglars eagerlylistened to, and fully credited, all the additional circumstancesdetailed by Debray. This posing at the piano and over the album was onlya little ruse adopted by way of precaution. A most gracious welcome andunusual smile were bestowed on M. Danglars; the count, in return forhis gentlemanly bow, received a formal though graceful courtesy, whileLucien exchanged with the count a sort of distant recognition, and withDanglars a free and easy nod.

"Baroness, " said Danglars, "give me leave to present to you the Countof Monte Cristo, who has been most warmly recommended to me by mycorrespondents at Rome. I need but mention one fact to make all theladies in Paris court his notice, and that is, that he has come to takeup his abode in Paris for a year, during which brief period he proposesto spend six millions of money. That means balls, dinners, and lawnparties without end, in all of which I trust the count will rememberus, as he may depend upon it we shall him, in our own humbleentertainments. " In spite of the gross flattery and coarseness of thisaddress, Madame Danglars could not forbear gazing with considerableinterest on a man capable of expending six millions in twelve months, and who had selected Paris for the scene of his princely extravagance. "And when did you arrive here?" inquired she.

"Yesterday morning, madame. "

"Coming, as usual, I presume, from the extreme end of the globe? Pardonme--at least, such I have heard is your custom. "

"Nay, madame. This time I have merely come from Cadiz. "

"You have selected a most unfavorable moment for your first visit. Parisis a horrible place in summer. Balls, parties, and fetes are over; theItalian opera is in London; the French opera everywhere except in Paris. As for the Theatre Francais, you know, of course, that it is nowhere. The only amusements left us are the indifferent races at the Champ deMars and Satory. Do you propose entering any horses at either of theseraces, count?"

"I shall do whatever they do at Paris, madame, if I have the goodfortune to find some one who will initiate me into the prevalent ideasof amusement. "

"Are you fond of horses, count?"

"I have passed a considerable part of my life in the East, madame, andyou are doubtless aware that the Orientals value only two things--thefine breeding of their horses and the beauty of their women. "

"Nay, count, " said the baroness, "it would have been somewhat moregallant to have placed the ladies first. "

"You see, madame, how rightly I spoke when I said I required a preceptorto guide me in all my sayings and doings here. " At this instant thefavorite attendant of Madame Danglars entered the boudoir; approachingher mistress, she spoke some words in an undertone. Madame Danglarsturned very pale, then exclaimed, --"I cannot believe it; the thing isimpossible. "

"I assure you, madame, " replied the woman, "it is as I have said. "Turning impatiently towards her husband, Madame Danglars demanded, "Isthis true?"

"Is what true, madame?" inquired Danglars, visibly agitated.

"What my maid tells me. "

"But what does she tell you?"

"That when my coachman was about to harness the horses to my carriage, he discovered that they had been removed from the stables without hisknowledge. I desire to know what is the meaning of this?"

"Be kind enough, madame, to listen to me, " said Danglars.

"Oh, yes; I will listen, monsieur, for I am most curious to hear whatexplanation you will give. These two gentlemen shall decide between us;but, first, I will state the case to them. Gentlemen, " continued thebaroness, "among the ten horses in the stables of Baron Danglars, aretwo that belong exclusively to me--a pair of the handsomest and mostspirited creatures to be found in Paris. But to you, at least, M. Debray, I need not give a further description, because to you mybeautiful pair of dappled grays were well known. Well, I had promisedMadame de Villefort the loan of my carriage to drive to-morrow to theBois; but when my coachman goes to fetch the grays from the stables theyare gone--positively gone. No doubt M. Danglars has sacrificed them tothe selfish consideration of gaining some thousands of paltry francs. Oh, what a detestable crew they are, these mercenary speculators!"

"Madame, " replied Danglars, "the horses were not sufficiently quietfor you; they were scarcely four years old, and they made me extremelyuneasy on your account. "

"Nonsense, " retorted the baroness; "you could not have entertained anyalarm on the subject, because you are perfectly well aware that I havehad for a month in my service the very best coachman in Paris. But, perhaps, you have disposed of the coachman as well as the horses?"

"My dear love, pray do not say any more about them, and I promiseyou another pair exactly like them in appearance, only more quiet andsteady. " The baroness shrugged her shoulders with an air of ineffablecontempt, while her husband, affecting not to observe this unconjugalgesture, turned towards Monte Cristo and said, --"Upon my word, count, I am quite sorry not to have met you sooner. You are setting up anestablishment, of course?"

"Why, yes, " replied the count.

"I should have liked to have made you the offer of these horses. I havealmost given them away, as it is; but, as I before said, I was anxiousto get rid of them upon any terms. They were only fit for a young man. "

"I am much obliged by your kind intentions towards me, " said MonteCristo; "but this morning I purchased a very excellent pair ofcarriage-horses, and I do not think they were dear. There they are. Come, M. Debray, you are a connoisseur, I believe, let me have youropinion upon them. " As Debray walked towards the window, Danglarsapproached his wife. "I could not tell you before others, " said he in alow tone, "the reason of my parting with the horses; but a most enormousprice was offered me this morning for them. Some madman or fool, bentupon ruining himself as fast as he can, actually sent his steward tome to purchase them at any cost; and the fact is, I have gained 16, 000francs by the sale of them. Come, don't look so angry, and you shallhave 4, 000 francs of the money to do what you like with, and Eugenieshall have 2, 000. There, what do you think now of the affair? Wasn'tI right to part with the horses?" Madame Danglars surveyed her husbandwith a look of withering contempt.

"Great heavens?" suddenly exclaimed Debray.

"What is it?" asked the baroness.

"I cannot be mistaken; there are your horses! The very animals we werespeaking of, harnessed to the count's carriage!"

"My dappled grays?" demanded the baroness, springing to the window. "'Tis indeed they!" said she. Danglars looked absolutely stupefied. "Howvery singular, " cried Monte Cristo with well-feigned astonishment.

"I cannot believe it, " murmured the banker. Madame Danglars whispereda few words in the ear of Debray, who approached Monte Cristo, saying, "The baroness wishes to know what you paid her husband for the horses. "

"I scarcely know, " replied the count; "it was a little surprise preparedfor me by my steward, and cost me--well, somewhere about 30, 000 francs. "Debray conveyed the count's reply to the baroness. Poor Danglars lookedso crest-fallen and discomfited that Monte Cristo assumed a pitying airtowards him. "See, " said the count, "how very ungrateful women are. Yourkind attention, in providing for the safety of the baroness by disposingof the horses, does not seem to have made the least impression on her. But so it is; a woman will often, from mere wilfulness, prefer thatwhich is dangerous to that which is safe. Therefore, in my opinion, mydear baron, the best and easiest way is to leave them to their fancies, and allow them to act as they please, and then, if any mischief follows, why, at least, they have no one to blame but themselves. " Danglars madeno reply; he was occupied in anticipations of the coming scene betweenhimself and the baroness, whose frowning brow, like that of OlympicJove, predicted a storm. Debray, who perceived the gathering clouds, and felt no desire to witness the explosion of Madame Danglars' rage, suddenly recollected an appointment, which compelled him to take hisleave; while Monte Cristo, unwilling by prolonging his stay to destroythe advantages he hoped to obtain, made a farewell bow and departed, leaving Danglars to endure the angry reproaches of his wife.

"Excellent, " murmured Monte Cristo to himself, as he came away. "Allhas gone according to my wishes. The domestic peace of this family ishenceforth in my hands. Now, then, to play another master-stroke, bywhich I shall gain the heart of both husband and wife--delightful!Still, " added he, "amid all this, I have not yet been presented toMademoiselle Eugenie Danglars, whose acquaintance I should have beenglad to make. But, " he went on with his peculiar smile, "I am here inParis, and have plenty of time before me--by and by will do for that. "With these reflections he entered his carriage and returned home. Twohours afterwards, Madame Danglars received a most flattering epistlefrom the count, in which he entreated her to receive back her favorite"dappled grays, " protesting that he could not endure the idea of makinghis entry into the Parisian world of fashion with the knowledge thathis splendid equipage had been obtained at the price of a lovely woman'sregrets. The horses were sent back wearing the same harness she had seenon them in the morning; only, by the count's orders, in the centre ofeach rosette that adorned either side of their heads, had been fasteneda large diamond.

To Danglars Monte Cristo also wrote, requesting him to excuse thewhimsical gift of a capricious millionaire, and to beg the baroness topardon the Eastern fashion adopted in the return of the horses.

During the evening, Monte Cristo quitted Paris for Auteuil, accompaniedby Ali. The following day, about three o'clock, a single blow struck onthe gong summoned Ali to the presence of the count. "Ali, " observedhis master, as the Nubian entered the chamber, "you have frequentlyexplained to me how more than commonly skilful you are in throwing thelasso, have you not?" Ali drew himself up proudly, and then returned asign in the affirmative. "I thought I did not mistake. With your lassoyou could stop an ox?" Again Ali repeated his affirmative gesture. "Or atiger?" Ali bowed his head in token of assent. "A lion even?" Ali sprungforwards, imitating the action of one throwing the lasso, then of astrangled lion.

"I understand, " said Monte Cristo; "you wish to tell me you have huntedthe lion?" Ali smiled with triumphant pride as he signified that hehad indeed both chased and captured many lions. "But do you believeyou could arrest the progress of two horses rushing forwards withungovernable fury?" The Nubian smiled. "It is well, " said Monte Cristo. "Then listen to me. Ere long a carriage will dash past here, drawn bythe pair of dappled gray horses you saw me with yesterday; now, at therisk of your own life, you must manage to stop those horses before mydoor. "

Ali descended to the street, and marked a straight line on the pavementimmediately at the entrance of the house, and then pointed out the linehe had traced to the count, who was watching him. The count patted himgently on the shoulder, his usual mode of praising Ali, who, pleasedand gratified with the commission assigned him, walked calmly towards aprojecting stone forming the angle of the street and house, and, seatinghimself thereon, began to smoke his chibouque, while Monte Cristore-entered his dwelling, perfectly assured of the success of his plan. Still, as five o'clock approached, and the carriage was momentarilyexpected by the count, the indication of more than common impatience anduneasiness might be observed in his manner. He stationed himself in aroom commanding a view of the street, pacing the chamber with restlesssteps, stopping merely to listen from time to time for the sound ofapproaching wheels, then to cast an anxious glance on Ali; but theregularity with which the Nubian puffed forth the smoke of his chibouqueproved that he at least was wholly absorbed in the enjoyment of hisfavorite occupation. Suddenly a distant sound of rapidly advancingwheels was heard, and almost immediately a carriage appeared, drawn bya pair of wild, ungovernable horses, while the terrified coachman strovein vain to restrain their furious speed.

In the vehicle was a young woman and a child of about seven or eightclasped in each other's arms. Terror seemed to have deprived them evenof the power of uttering a cry. The carriage creaked and rattled as itflew over the rough stones, and the slightest obstacle under the wheelswould have caused disaster; but it kept on in the middle of the road, and those who saw it pass uttered cries of terror.

Ali suddenly cast aside his chibouque, drew the lasso from his pocket, threw it so skilfully as to catch the forelegs of the near horse in itstriple fold, and suffered himself to be dragged on for a few steps bythe violence of the shock, then the animal fell over on the pole, whichsnapped, and therefore prevented the other horse from pursuing its way. Gladly availing himself of this opportunity, the coachman leaped fromhis box; but Ali had promptly seized the nostrils of the second horse, and held them in his iron grasp, till the beast, snorting with pain, sunk beside his companion. All this was achieved in much less timethan is occupied in the recital. The brief space had, however, beensufficient for a man, followed by a number of servants, to rush fromthe house before which the accident had occurred, and, as the coachmanopened the door of the carriage, to take from it a lady who wasconvulsively grasping the cushions with one hand, while with the othershe pressed to her bosom the young boy, who had lost consciousness.

Monte Cristo carried them both to the salon, and deposited them on asofa. "Compose yourself, madame, " said he; "all danger is over. " Thewoman looked up at these words, and, with a glance far more expressivethan any entreaties could have been, pointed to her child, who stillcontinued insensible. "I understand the nature of your alarms, madame, "said the count, carefully examining the child, "but I assure you thereis not the slightest occasion for uneasiness; your little charge has notreceived the least injury; his insensibility is merely the effects ofterror, and will soon pass. "

"Are you quite sure you do not say so to tranquillize my fears? Seehow deadly pale he is! My child, my darling Edward; speak to yourmother--open your dear eyes and look on me once again! Oh, sir, in pitysend for a physician; my whole fortune shall not be thought too much forthe recovery of my boy. "

With a calm smile and a gentle wave of the hand, Monte Cristo signed tothe distracted mother to lay aside her apprehensions; then, openinga casket that stood near, he drew forth a phial of Bohemian glassincrusted with gold, containing a liquid of the color of blood, of whichhe let fall a single drop on the child's lips. Scarcely had it reachedthem, ere the boy, though still pale as marble, opened his eyes, andeagerly gazed around him. At this, the delight of the mother was almostfrantic. "Where am I?" exclaimed she; "and to whom am I indebted for sohappy a termination to my late dreadful alarm?"

"Madame, " answered the count, "you are under the roof of one who esteemshimself most fortunate in having been able to save you from a furthercontinuance of your sufferings. "

"My wretched curiosity has brought all this about, " pursued the lady. "All Paris rung with the praises of Madame Danglars' beautiful horses, and I had the folly to desire to know whether they really merited thehigh praise given to them. "

"Is it possible, " exclaimed the count with well-feigned astonishment, "that these horses belong to the baroness?"

"They do, indeed. May I inquire if you are acquainted with MadameDanglars?"

"I have that honor; and my happiness at your escape from the danger thatthreatened you is redoubled by the consciousness that I have beenthe unwilling and the unintentional cause of all the peril you haveincurred. I yesterday purchased these horses of the baron; but as thebaroness evidently regretted parting with them, I ventured to send themback to her, with a request that she would gratify me by accepting themfrom my hands. "

"You are, then, doubtless, the Count of Monte Cristo, of whom Herminehas talked to me so much?"

"You have rightly guessed, madame, " replied the count.

"And I am Madame Heloise de Villefort. " The count bowed with the air ofa person who hears a name for the first time. "How grateful will M. DeVillefort be for all your goodness; how thankfully will he acknowledgethat to you alone he owes the existence of his wife and child! Mostcertainly, but for the prompt assistance of your intrepid servant, thisdear child and myself must both have perished. "

"Indeed, I still shudder at the fearful danger you were placed in. "

"I trust you will allow me to recompense worthily the devotion of yourman. "

"I beseech you, madame, " replied Monte Cristo "not to spoil Ali, eitherby too great praise or rewards. I cannot allow him to acquire the habitof expecting to be recompensed for every trifling service he may render. Ali is my slave, and in saving your life he was but discharging his dutyto me. "

"Nay, " interposed Madame de Villefort, on whom the authoritative styleadopted by the count made a deep impression, "nay, but consider that topreserve my life he has risked his own. "

"His life, madame, belongs not to him; it is mine, in return for myhaving myself saved him from death. " Madame de Villefort made no furtherreply; her mind was utterly absorbed in the contemplation of theperson who, from the first instant she saw him, had made so powerfulan impression on her. During the evident preoccupation of Madame deVillefort, Monte Cristo scrutinized the features and appearance ofthe boy she kept folded in her arms, lavishing on him the most tenderendearments. The child was small for his age, and unnaturally pale. Amass of straight black hair, defying all attempts to train or curlit, fell over his projecting forehead, and hung down to his shoulders, giving increased vivacity to eyes already sparkling with a youthful loveof mischief and fondness for every forbidden enjoyment. His mouthwas large, and the lips, which had not yet regained their color, were particularly thin; in fact, the deep and crafty look, giving apredominant expression to the child's face, belonged rather to a boy oftwelve or fourteen than to one so young. His first movement was to freehimself by a violent push from the encircling arms of his mother, and torush forward to the casket from whence the count had taken the phial ofelixir; then, without asking permission of any one, he proceeded, in allthe wilfulness of a spoiled child unaccustomed to restrain either whimsor caprices, to pull the corks out of all the bottles.

"Touch nothing, my little friend, " cried the count eagerly; "some ofthose liquids are not only dangerous to taste, but even to inhale. "

Madame de Villefort became very pale, and, seizing her son's arm, drewhim anxiously toward her; but, once satisfied of his safety, she alsocast a brief but expressive glance on the casket, which was not lostupon the count. At this moment Ali entered. At sight of him Madame deVillefort uttered an expression of pleasure, and, holding the childstill closer towards her, she said, "Edward, dearest, do you see thatgood man? He has shown very great courage and resolution, for he exposedhis own life to stop the horses that were running away with us, andwould certainly have dashed the carriage to pieces. Thank him, then, my child, in your very best manner; for, had he not come to our aid, neither you nor I would have been alive to speak our thanks. " The childstuck out his lips and turned away his head in a disdainful manner, saying, "He's too ugly. "

The count smiled as if the child bade fair to realize his hopes, whileMadame de Villefort reprimanded her son with a gentleness and moderationvery far from conveying the least idea of a fault having been committed. "This lady, " said the Count, speaking to Ali in the Arabic language, "isdesirous that her son should thank you for saving both their lives; butthe boy refuses, saying you are too ugly. " Ali turned his intelligentcountenance towards the boy, on whom he gazed without any apparentemotion; but the spasmodic working of the nostrils showed to thepracticed eye of Monte Cristo that the Arab had been wounded to theheart.

"Will you permit me to inquire, " said Madame de Villefort, as she aroseto take her leave, "whether you usually reside here?"

"No, I do not, " replied Monte Cristo; "it is a small place I havepurchased quite lately. My place of abode is No. 30, Avenue des ChampsElysees; but I see you have quite recovered from your fright, and are, no doubt, desirous of returning home. Anticipating your wishes, I havedesired the same horses you came with to be put to one of my carriages, and Ali, he whom you think so very ugly, " continued he, addressing theboy with a smiling air, "will have the honor of driving you home, whileyour coachman remains here to attend to the necessary repairs of yourcalash. As soon as that important business is concluded, I will have apair of my own horses harnessed to convey it direct to Madame Danglars. "

"I dare not return with those dreadful horses, " said Madame deVillefort.

"You will see, " replied Monte Cristo, "that they will be as different aspossible in the hands of Ali. With him they will be gentle and docileas lambs. " Ali had, indeed, given proof of this; for, approaching theanimals, who had been got upon their legs with considerable difficulty, he rubbed their foreheads and nostrils with a sponge soaked in aromaticvinegar, and wiped off the sweat and foam that covered their mouths. Then, commencing a loud whistling noise, he rubbed them well all overtheir bodies for several minutes; then, undisturbed by the noisy crowdcollected round the broken carriage, Ali quietly harnessed the pacifiedanimals to the count's chariot, took the reins in his hands, and mountedthe box, when to the utter astonishment of those who had witnessedthe ungovernable spirit and maddened speed of the same horses, he wasactually compelled to apply his whip in no very gentle manner beforehe could induce them to start; and even then all that could be obtainedfrom the celebrated "dappled grays, " now changed into a couple of dull, sluggish, stupid brutes, was a slow, pottering pace, kept up withso much difficulty that Madame de Villefort was more than two hoursreturning to her residence in the Faubourg St. Honore.

Scarcely had the first congratulations upon her marvellous escape beengone through when she wrote the following letter to Madame Danglars:--

Dear Hermine, --I have just had a wonderful escape from the most imminentdanger, and I owe my safety to the very Count of Monte Cristo we weretalking about yesterday, but whom I little expected to see to-day. Iremember how unmercifully I laughed at what I considered your eulogisticand exaggerated praises of him; but I have now ample cause to admit thatyour enthusiastic description of this wonderful man fell far short ofhis merits. Your horses got as far as Ranelagh, when they darted forwardlike mad things, and galloped away at so fearful a rate, that thereseemed no other prospect for myself and my poor Edward but that of beingdashed to pieces against the first object that impeded their progress, when a strange-looking man, --an Arab, a negro, or a Nubian, at leasta black of some nation or other--at a signal from the count, whosedomestic he is, suddenly seized and stopped the infuriated animals, evenat the risk of being trampled to death himself; and certainly he musthave had a most wonderful escape. The count then hastened to us, andtook us into his house, where he speedily recalled my poor Edward tolife. He sent us home in his own carriage. Yours will be returned to youto-morrow. You will find your horses in bad condition, from the resultsof this accident; they seem thoroughly stupefied, as if sulky and vexedat having been conquered by man. The count, however, has commissionedme to assure you that two or three days' rest, with plenty of barley fortheir sole food during that time, will bring them back to as fine, thatis as terrifying, a condition as they were in yesterday. Adieu! I cannotreturn you many thanks for the drive of yesterday; but, after all, I ought not to blame you for the misconduct of your horses, moreespecially as it procured me the pleasure of an introduction to theCount of Monte Cristo, --and certainly that illustrious personage, apartfrom the millions he is said to be so very anxious to dispose of, seemedto me one of those curiously interesting problems I, for one, delight insolving at any risk, even if it were to necessitate another drive tothe Bois behind your horses. Edward endured the accident with miraculouscourage--he did not utter a single cry, but fell lifeless into my arms;nor did a tear fall from his eyes after it was over. I doubt not youwill consider these praises the result of blind maternal affection, butthere is a soul of iron in that delicate, fragile body. Valentine sendsmany affectionate remembrances to your dear Eugenie. I embrace you withall my heart.

Heloise de Villefort.

P. S. --Do pray contrive some means for me to meet the Count of MonteCristo at your house. I must and will see him again. I have just madeM. De Villefort promise to call on him, and I hope the visit will bereturned.

That night the adventure at Auteuil was talked of everywhere. Albertrelated it to his mother; Chateau-Renaud recounted it at the JockeyClub, and Debray detailed it at length in the salons of the minister;even Beauchamp accorded twenty lines in his journal to the relationof the count's courage and gallantry, thereby celebrating him as thegreatest hero of the day in the eyes of all the feminine members of thearistocracy. Vast was the crowd of visitors and inquiring friends wholeft their names at the residence of Madame de Villefort, with thedesign of renewing their visit at the right moment, of hearing from herlips all the interesting circumstances of this most romantic adventure. As for M. De Villefort, he fulfilled the predictions of Heloise to theletter, --donned his dress suit, drew on a pair of white gloves, orderedthe servants to attend the carriage dressed in their full livery, anddrove that same night to No. 30 in the Avenue des Champs-Elysees.

Chapter 48. Ideology.

If the Count of Monte Cristo had been for a long time familiar withthe ways of Parisian society, he would have appreciated better thesignificance of the step which M. De Villefort had taken. Standing wellat court, whether the king regnant was of the older or younger branch, whether the government was doctrinaire liberal, or conservative; lookedupon by all as a man of talent, since those who have never experienceda political check are generally so regarded; hated by many, but warmlysupported by others, without being really liked by anybody, M. DeVillefort held a high position in the magistracy, and maintainedhis eminence like a Harlay or a Mole. His drawing-room, under theregenerating influence of a young wife and a daughter by his firstmarriage, scarcely eighteen, was still one of the well-regulated Parissalons where the worship of traditional customs and the observance ofrigid etiquette were carefully maintained. A freezing politeness, a strict fidelity to government principles, a profound contempt fortheories and theorists, a deep-seated hatred of ideality, --these werethe elements of private and public life displayed by M. De Villefort.

He was not only a magistrate, he was almost a diplomatist. His relationswith the former court, of which he always spoke with dignity andrespect, made him respected by the new one, and he knew so manythings, that not only was he always carefully considered, but sometimesconsulted. Perhaps this would not have been so had it been possible toget rid of M. De Villefort; but, like the feudal barons who rebelledagainst their sovereign, he dwelt in an impregnable fortress. Thisfortress was his post as king's attorney, all the advantages of whichhe exploited with marvellous skill, and which he would not have resignedbut to be made deputy, and thus to replace neutrality by opposition. Ordinarily M. De Villefort made and returned very few visits. His wifevisited for him, and this was the received thing in the world, where theweighty and multifarious occupations of the magistrate were accepted asan excuse for what was really only calculated pride, a manifestation ofprofessed superiority--in fact, the application of the axiom, "Pretendto think well of yourself, and the world will think well of you, " anaxiom a hundred times more useful in society nowadays than that of theGreeks, "Know thyself, " a knowledge for which, in our days, we havesubstituted the less difficult and more advantageous science of knowingothers.

To his friends M. De Villefort was a powerful protector; to his enemies, he was a silent, but bitter opponent; for those who were neither theone nor the other, he was a statue of the law-made man. He had a haughtybearing, a look either steady and impenetrable or insolently piercingand inquisitorial. Four successive revolutions had built and cementedthe pedestal upon which his fortune was based. M. De Villefort had thereputation of being the least curious and the least wearisome man inFrance. He gave a ball every year, at which he appeared for a quarter ofan hour only, --that is to say, five and forty minutes less than the kingis visible at his balls. He was never seen at the theatres, at concerts, or in any place of public resort. Occasionally, but seldom, he playedat whist, and then care was taken to select partners worthy ofhim--sometimes they were ambassadors, sometimes archbishops, orsometimes a prince, or a president, or some dowager duchess. Such wasthe man whose carriage had just now stopped before the Count of MonteCristo's door. The valet de chambre announced M. De Villefort at themoment when the count, leaning over a large table, was tracing on a mapthe route from St. Petersburg to China.

The procureur entered with the same grave and measured step he wouldhave employed in entering a court of justice. He was the same man, orrather the development of the same man, whom we have heretofore seen asassistant attorney at Marseilles. Nature, according to her way, hadmade no deviation in the path he had marked out for himself. From beingslender he had now become meagre; once pale, he was now yellow; hisdeep-set eyes were hollow, and the gold spectacles shielding his eyesseemed to be an integral portion of his face. He dressed entirely inblack, with the exception of his white tie, and his funeral appearancewas only mitigated by the slight line of red ribbon which passed almostimperceptibly through his button-hole, and appeared like a streak ofblood traced with a delicate brush. Although master of himself, MonteCristo, scrutinized with irrepressible curiosity the magistrate whosesalute he returned, and who, distrustful by habit, and especiallyincredulous as to social prodigies, was much more despised to lookupon "the noble stranger, " as Monte Cristo was already called, as anadventurer in search of new fields, or an escaped criminal, rather thanas a prince of the Holy See, or a sultan of the Thousand and One Nights.

"Sir, " said Villefort, in the squeaky tone assumed by magistrates intheir oratorical periods, and of which they cannot, or will not, divestthemselves in society, "sir, the signal service which you yesterdayrendered to my wife and son has made it a duty for me to offer you mythanks. I have come, therefore, to discharge this duty, and to expressto you my overwhelming gratitude. " And as he said this, the "eye severe"of the magistrate had lost nothing of its habitual arrogance. He spokein a voice of the procureur-general, with the rigid inflexibility ofneck and shoulders which caused his flatterers to say (as we have beforeobserved) that he was the living statue of the law.

"Monsieur, " replied the count, with a chilling air, "I am very happy tohave been the means of preserving a son to his mother, for they say thatthe sentiment of maternity is the most holy of all; and the good fortunewhich occurred to me, monsieur, might have enabled you to dispense witha duty which, in its discharge, confers an undoubtedly great honor; forI am aware that M. De Villefort is not usually lavish of the favor whichhe now bestows on me, --a favor which, however estimable, is unequalto the satisfaction which I have in my own consciousness. " Villefort, astonished at this reply, which he by no means expected, started like asoldier who feels the blow levelled at him over the armor he wears, anda curl of his disdainful lip indicated that from that moment he noted inthe tablets of his brain that the Count of Monte Cristo was by nomeans a highly bred gentleman. He glanced around, in order to seizeon something on which the conversation might turn, and seemed to falleasily on a topic. He saw the map which Monte Cristo had been examiningwhen he entered, and said, "You seem geographically engaged, sir? It isa rich study for you, who, as I learn, have seen as many lands as aredelineated on this map. "

"Yes, sir, " replied the count; "I have sought to make of the humanrace, taken in the mass, what you practice every day on individuals--aphysiological study. I have believed it was much easier to descend fromthe whole to a part than to ascend from a part to the whole. It isan algebraic axiom, which makes us proceed from a known to an unknownquantity, and not from an unknown to a known; but sit down, sir, I begof you. "

Monte Cristo pointed to a chair, which the procureur was obliged to takethe trouble to move forwards himself, while the count merely fell backinto his own, on which he had been kneeling when M. Villefort entered. Thus the count was halfway turned towards his visitor, having his backtowards the window, his elbow resting on the geographical chart whichfurnished the theme of conversation for the moment, --a conversationwhich assumed, as in the case of the interviews with Danglars andMorcerf, a turn analogous to the persons, if not to the situation. "Ah, you philosophize, " replied Villefort, after a moment's silence, duringwhich, like a wrestler who encounters a powerful opponent, he tookbreath; "well, sir, really, if, like you, I had nothing else to do, Ishould seek a more amusing occupation. "

"Why, in truth, sir, " was Monte Cristo's reply, "man is but an uglycaterpillar for him who studies him through a solar microscope; but yousaid, I think, that I had nothing else to do. Now, really, let me ask, sir, have you?--do you believe you have anything to do? or to speak inplain terms, do you really think that what you do deserves being calledanything?"

Villefort's astonishment redoubled at this second thrust so forciblymade by his strange adversary. It was a long time since the magistratehad heard a paradox so strong, or rather, to say the truth more exactly, it was the first time he had ever heard of it. The procureur exertedhimself to reply. "Sir, " he responded, "you are a stranger, and Ibelieve you say yourself that a portion of your life has been spentin Oriental countries, so you are not aware how human justice, soexpeditious in barbarous countries, takes with us a prudent andwell-studied course. "

"Oh, yes--yes, I do, sir; it is the pede claudo of the ancients. I knowall that, for it is with the justice of all countries especially that Ihave occupied myself--it is with the criminal procedure of all nationsthat I have compared natural justice, and I must say, sir, that it isthe law of primitive nations, that is, the law of retaliation, that Ihave most frequently found to be according to the law of God. "

"If this law were adopted, sir, " said the procureur, "it would greatlysimplify our legal codes, and in that case the magistrates would not (asyou just observed) have much to do. "

"It may, perhaps, come to this in time, " observed Monte Cristo; "youknow that human inventions march from the complex to the simple, andsimplicity is always perfection. "

"In the meanwhile, " continued the magistrate, "our codes are in fullforce, with all their contradictory enactments derived from Galliccustoms, Roman laws, and Frank usages; the knowledge of all which, you will agree, is not to be acquired without extended labor; it needstedious study to acquire this knowledge, and, when acquired, a strongpower of brain to retain it. "

"I agree with you entirely, sir; but all that even you know with respectto the French code, I know, not only in reference to that code, but asregards the codes of all nations. The English, Turkish, Japanese, Hindulaws, are as familiar to me as the French laws, and thus I was right, when I said to you, that relatively (you know that everything isrelative, sir)--that relatively to what I have done, you have verylittle to do; but that relatively to all I have learned, you have yet agreat deal to learn. "

"But with what motive have you learned all this?" inquired Villefort, in astonishment. Monte Cristo smiled. "Really, sir, " he observed, "I seethat in spite of the reputation which you have acquired as a superiorman, you look at everything from the material and vulgar view ofsociety, beginning with man, and ending with man--that is to say, inthe most restricted, most narrow view which it is possible for humanunderstanding to embrace. "

"Pray, sir, explain yourself, " said Villefort, more and more astonished, "I really do--not--understand you--perfectly. "

"I say, sir, that with the eyes fixed on the social organization ofnations, you see only the springs of the machine, and lose sight ofthe sublime workman who makes them act; I say that you do not recognizebefore you and around you any but those office-holders whose commissionshave been signed by a minister or king; and that the men whom God hasput above those office-holders, ministers, and kings, by giving them amission to follow out, instead of a post to fill--I say that theyescape your narrow, limited field of observation. It is thus that humanweakness fails, from its debilitated and imperfect organs. Tobias tookthe angel who restored him to light for an ordinary young man. Thenations took Attila, who was doomed to destroy them, for a conquerorsimilar to other conquerors, and it was necessary for both to revealtheir missions, that they might be known and acknowledged; one wascompelled to say, 'I am the angel of the Lord'; and the other, 'I amthe hammer of God, ' in order that the divine essence in both might berevealed. "

"Then, " said Villefort, more and more amazed, and really supposing hewas speaking to a mystic or a madman, "you consider yourself as one ofthose extraordinary beings whom you have mentioned?"

"And why not?" said Monte Cristo coldly.

"Your pardon, sir, " replied Villefort, quite astounded, "but you willexcuse me if, when I presented myself to you, I was unaware that Ishould meet with a person whose knowledge and understanding so farsurpass the usual knowledge and understanding of men. It is not usualwith us corrupted wretches of civilization to find gentlemen likeyourself, possessors, as you are, of immense fortune--at least, so itis said--and I beg you to observe that I do not inquire, I merelyrepeat;--it is not usual, I say, for such privileged and wealthybeings to waste their time in speculations on the state of society, inphilosophical reveries, intended at best to console those whom fate hasdisinherited from the goods of this world. "

"Really, sir, " retorted the count, "have you attained the eminentsituation in which you are, without having admitted, or even withouthaving met with exceptions? and do you never use your eyes, which musthave acquired so much finesse and certainty, to divine, at a glance, thekind of man by whom you are confronted? Should not a magistrate be notmerely the best administrator of the law, but the most crafty expounderof the chicanery of his profession, a steel probe to search hearts, atouchstone to try the gold which in each soul is mingled with more orless of alloy?"

"Sir, " said Villefort, "upon my word, you overcome me. I really neverheard a person speak as you do. "

"Because you remain eternally encircled in a round of generalconditions, and have never dared to raise your wings into those upperspheres which God has peopled with invisible or exceptional beings. "

"And you allow then, sir, that spheres exist, and that these marked andinvisible beings mingle amongst us?"

"Why should they not? Can you see the air you breathe, and yet withoutwhich you could not for a moment exist?"

"Then we do not see those beings to whom you allude?"

"Yes, we do; you see them whenever God pleases to allow them to assume amaterial form. You touch them, come in contact with them, speak to them, and they reply to you. "

"Ah, " said Villefort, smiling, "I confess I should like to be warnedwhen one of these beings is in contact with me. "

"You have been served as you desire, monsieur, for you were warned justnow, and I now again warn you. "

"Then you yourself are one of these marked beings?"

"Yes, monsieur, I believe so; for until now, no man has found himself ina position similar to mine. The dominions of kings are limited eitherby mountains or rivers, or a change of manners, or an alteration oflanguage. My kingdom is bounded only by the world, for I am not anItalian, or a Frenchman, or a Hindu, or an American, or a Spaniard--I ama cosmopolite. No country can say it saw my birth. God alone knows whatcountry will see me die. I adopt all customs, speak all languages. Youbelieve me to be a Frenchman, for I speak French with the same facilityand purity as yourself. Well, Ali, my Nubian, believes me to be an Arab;Bertuccio, my steward, takes me for a Roman; Haidee, my slave, thinksme a Greek. You may, therefore, comprehend, that being of no country, asking no protection from any government, acknowledging no man asmy brother, not one of the scruples that arrest the powerful, or theobstacles which paralyze the weak, paralyzes or arrests me. I have onlytwo adversaries--I will not say two conquerors, for with perseverance Isubdue even them, --they are time and distance. There is a third, and themost terrible--that is my condition as a mortal being. This alone canstop me in my onward career, before I have attained the goal at whichI aim, for all the rest I have reduced to mathematical terms. What mencall the chances of fate--namely, ruin, change, circumstances--I havefully anticipated, and if any of these should overtake me, yet itwill not overwhelm me. Unless I die, I shall always be what I am, andtherefore it is that I utter the things you have never heard, even fromthe mouths of kings--for kings have need, and other persons have fearof you. For who is there who does not say to himself, in a society asincongruously organized as ours, 'Perhaps some day I shall have to dowith the king's attorney'?"

"But can you not say that, sir? The moment you become an inhabitant ofFrance, you are naturally subjected to the French law. "

"I know it sir, " replied Monte Cristo; "but when I visit a country Ibegin to study, by all the means which are available, the men from whomI may have anything to hope or to fear, till I know them as well as, perhaps better than, they know themselves. It follows from this, thatthe king's attorney, be he who he may, with whom I should have to deal, would assuredly be more embarrassed than I should. "

"That is to say, " replied Villefort with hesitation, "that human naturebeing weak, every man, according to your creed, has committed faults. "

"Faults or crimes, " responded Monte Cristo with a negligent air.

"And that you alone, amongst the men whom you do not recognize as yourbrothers--for you have said so, " observed Villefort in a tone thatfaltered somewhat--"you alone are perfect. "

"No, not perfect, " was the count's reply; "only impenetrable, that'sall. But let us leave off this strain, sir, if the tone of it isdispleasing to you; I am no more disturbed by your justice than are youby my second-sight. "

"No, no, --by no means, " said Villefort, who was afraid of seemingto abandon his ground. "No; by your brilliant and almost sublimeconversation you have elevated me above the ordinary level; we no longertalk, we rise to dissertation. But you know how the theologians in theircollegiate chairs, and philosophers in their controversies, occasionallysay cruel truths; let us suppose for the moment that we are theologizingin a social way, or even philosophically, and I will say to you, rudeas it may seem, 'My brother, you sacrifice greatly to pride; you may beabove others, but above you there is God. '"

"Above us all, sir, " was Monte Cristo's response, in a tone and withan emphasis so deep that Villefort involuntarily shuddered. "I have mypride for men--serpents always ready to threaten every one who wouldpass without crushing them under foot. But I lay aside that pride beforeGod, who has taken me from nothing to make me what I am. "

"Then, count, I admire you, " said Villefort, who, for the first timein this strange conversation, used the aristocratic form to the unknownpersonage, whom, until now, he had only called monsieur. "Yes, and Isay to you, if you are really strong, really superior, really pious, or impenetrable, which you were right in saying amounts to thesame thing--then be proud, sir, for that is the characteristic ofpredominance. Yet you have unquestionably some ambition. "

"I have, sir. "

"And what may it be?"

"I too, as happens to every man once in his life, have been taken bySatan into the highest mountain in the earth, and when there he showedme all the kingdoms of the world, and as he said before, so said he tome, 'Child of earth, what wouldst thou have to make thee adore me?' Ireflected long, for a gnawing ambition had long preyed upon me, and thenI replied, 'Listen, --I have always heard of providence, and yet I havenever seen him, or anything that resembles him, or which can make mebelieve that he exists. I wish to be providence myself, for I feel thatthe most beautiful, noblest, most sublime thing in the world, isto recompense and punish. ' Satan bowed his head, and groaned. 'Youmistake, ' he said, 'providence does exist, only you have never seen him, because the child of God is as invisible as the parent. You have seennothing that resembles him, because he works by secret springs, andmoves by hidden ways. All I can do for you is to make you one of theagents of that providence. ' The bargain was concluded. I may sacrificemy soul, but what matters it?" added Monte Cristo. "If the thing wereto do again, I would again do it. " Villefort looked at Monte Cristo withextreme amazement. "Count, " he inquired, "have you any relations?"

"No, sir, I am alone in the world. "

"So much the worse. "

"Why?" asked Monte Cristo.

"Because then you might witness a spectacle calculated to break downyour pride. You say you fear nothing but death?"

"I did not say that I feared it; I only said that death alone couldcheck the execution of my plans. "

"And old age?"

"My end will be achieved before I grow old. "

"And madness?"

"I have been nearly mad; and you know the axiom, --non bis in idem. Itis an axiom of criminal law, and, consequently, you understand its fullapplication. "

"Sir, " continued Villefort, "there is something to fear besidesdeath, old age, and madness. For instance, there is apoplexy--thatlightning-stroke which strikes but does not destroy you, and yet whichbrings everything to an end. You are still yourself as now, and yet youare yourself no longer; you who, like Ariel, verge on the angelic, arebut an inert mass, which, like Caliban, verges on the brutal; and thisis called in human tongues, as I tell you, neither more nor less thanapoplexy. Come, if so you will, count, and continue this conversationat my house, any day you may be willing to see an adversary capable ofunderstanding and anxious to refute you, and I will show you my father, M. Noirtier de Villefort, one of the most fiery Jacobins of the FrenchRevolution; that is to say, he had the most remarkable audacity, seconded by a most powerful organization--a man who has not, perhaps, like yourself seen all the kingdoms of the earth, but who has helped tooverturn one of the greatest; in fact, a man who believed himself, like you, one of the envoys, not of God, but of a supreme being; not ofprovidence, but of fate. Well, sir, the rupture of a blood-vessel on thelobe of the brain has destroyed all this, not in a day, not in an hour, but in a second. M. Noirtier, who, on the previous night, was the oldJacobin, the old senator, the old Carbonaro, laughing at the guillotine, the cannon, and the dagger--M. Noirtier, playing with revolutions--M. Noirtier, for whom France was a vast chess-board, from which pawns, rooks, knights, and queens were to disappear, so that the king wascheckmated--M. Noirtier, the redoubtable, was the next morning 'poor M. Noirtier, ' the helpless old man, at the tender mercies of the weakestcreature in the household, that is, his grandchild, Valentine; a dumband frozen carcass, in fact, living painlessly on, that time may begiven for his frame to decompose without his consciousness of itsdecay. "

"Alas, sir, " said Monte Cristo "this spectacle is neither strange tomy eye nor my thought. I am something of a physician, and have, likemy fellows, sought more than once for the soul in living and in deadmatter; yet, like providence, it has remained invisible to my eyes, although present to my heart. A hundred writers since Socrates, Seneca, St. Augustine, and Gall, have made, in verse and prose, the comparisonyou have made, and yet I can well understand that a father's sufferingsmay effect great changes in the mind of a son. I will call on you, sir, since you bid me contemplate, for the advantage of my pride, thisterrible spectacle, which must have been so great a source of sorrow toyour family. "

"It would have been so unquestionably, had not God given me so large acompensation. In contrast with the old man, who is dragging his wayto the tomb, are two children just entering into life--Valentine, the daughter by my first wife--Mademoiselle Renee de Saint-Meran--andEdward, the boy whose life you have this day saved. "

"And what is your deduction from this compensation, sir?" inquired MonteCristo.

"My deduction is, " replied Villefort, "that my father, led away by hispassions, has committed some fault unknown to human justice, but markedby the justice of God. That God, desirous in his mercy to punish butone person, has visited this justice on him alone. " Monte Cristo with asmile on his lips, uttered in the depths of his soul a groan which wouldhave made Villefort fly had he but heard it. "Adieu, sir, " said themagistrate, who had risen from his seat; "I leave you, bearing aremembrance of you--a remembrance of esteem, which I hope will not bedisagreeable to you when you know me better; for I am not a man to boremy friends, as you will learn. Besides, you have made an eternal friendof Madame de Villefort. " The count bowed, and contented himself withseeing Villefort to the door of his cabinet, the procureur beingescorted to his carriage by two footmen, who, on a signal from theirmaster, followed him with every mark of attention. When he had gone, Monte Cristo breathed a profound sigh, and said, --"Enough of thispoison, let me now seek the antidote. " Then sounding his bell, he saidto Ali, who entered, "I am going to madam's chamber--have the carriageready at one o'clock. "

Chapter 49. Haidee.

It will be recollected that the new, or rather old, acquaintances of theCount of Monte Cristo, residing in the Rue Meslay, were no other thanMaximilian, Julie, and Emmanuel. The very anticipations of delight tobe enjoyed in his forthcoming visits--the bright, pure gleam of heavenlyhappiness it diffused over the almost deadly warfare in which he hadvoluntarily engaged, illumined his whole countenance with a look ofineffable joy and calmness, as, immediately after Villefort's departure, his thoughts flew back to the cheering prospect before him, of tasting, at least, a brief respite from the fierce and stormy passions of hismind. Even Ali, who had hastened to obey the Count's summons, went forthfrom his master's presence in charmed amazement at the unusual animationand pleasure depicted on features ordinarily so stern and cold; while, as though dreading to put to flight the agreeable ideas hovering overhis patron's meditations, whatever they were, the faithful Nubian walkedon tiptoe towards the door, holding his breath, lest its faintest soundshould dissipate his master's happy reverie.

It was noon, and Monte Cristo had set apart one hour to be passed in theapartments of Haidee, as though his oppressed spirit could not all atonce admit the feeling of pure and unmixed joy, but required a gradualsuccession of calm and gentle emotions to prepare his mind to receivefull and perfect happiness, in the same manner as ordinary naturesdemand to be inured by degrees to the reception of strong or violentsensations. The young Greek, as we have already said, occupiedapartments wholly unconnected with those of the count. The rooms hadbeen fitted up in strict accordance with Oriental ideas; the floors werecovered with the richest carpets Turkey could produce; the walls hungwith brocaded silk of the most magnificent designs and texture; whilearound each chamber luxurious divans were placed, with piles of soft andyielding cushions, that needed only to be arranged at the pleasure orconvenience of such as sought repose. Haidee and three French maids, and one who was a Greek. The first three remained constantly in a smallwaiting-room, ready to obey the summons of a small golden bell, or toreceive the orders of the Romaic slave, who knew just enough Frenchto be able to transmit her mistress's wishes to the three otherwaiting-women; the latter had received most peremptory instructions fromMonte Cristo to treat Haidee with all the deference they would observeto a queen.

The young girl herself generally passed her time in the chamber at thefarther end of her apartments. This was a sort of boudoir, circular, and lighted only from the roof, which consisted of rose-colored glass. Haidee was reclining upon soft downy cushions, covered with blue satinspotted with silver; her head, supported by one of her exquisitelymoulded arms, rested on the divan immediately behind her, while theother was employed in adjusting to her lips the coral tube of a richnarghile, through whose flexible pipe she drew the smoke fragrant by itspassage through perfumed water. Her attitude, though perfectly naturalfor an Eastern woman would, in a European, have been deemed too fullof coquettish straining after effect. Her dress, which was that ofthe women of Epirus, consisted of a pair of white satin trousers, embroidered with pink roses, displaying feet so exquisitely formed andso delicately fair, that they might well have been taken for Parianmarble, had not the eye been undeceived by their movements as theyconstantly shifted in and out of a pair of little slippers with upturnedtoes, beautifully ornamented with gold and pearls. She wore a blue andwhite-striped vest, with long open sleeves, trimmed with silver loopsand buttons of pearls, and a sort of bodice, which, closing only fromthe centre to the waist, exhibited the whole of the ivory throat andupper part of the bosom; it was fastened with three magnificent diamondclasps. The junction of the bodice and drawers was entirely concealedby one of the many-colored scarfs, whose brilliant hues and rich silkenfringe have rendered them so precious in the eyes of Parisian belles. Tilted on one side of her head she had a small cap of gold-colored silk, embroidered with pearls; while on the other a purple rose mingled itsglowing colors with the luxuriant masses of her hair, of which theblackness was so intense that it was tinged with blue. The extremebeauty of the countenance, that shone forth in loveliness that mockedthe vain attempts of dress to augment it, was peculiarly and purelyGrecian; there were the large, dark, melting eyes, the finely formednose, the coral lips, and pearly teeth, that belonged to her race andcountry. And, to complete the whole, Haidee was in the very springtideand fulness of youthful charms--she had not yet numbered more thantwenty summers.

Monte Cristo summoned the Greek attendant, and bade her inquire whetherit would be agreeable to her mistress to receive his visit. Haidee'sonly reply was to direct her servant by a sign to withdraw thetapestried curtain that hung before the door of her boudoir, theframework of the opening thus made serving as a sort of border to thegraceful tableau presented by the young girl's picturesque attitude andappearance. As Monte Cristo approached, she leaned upon the elbow of thearm that held the narghile, and extending to him her other hand, said, with a smile of captivating sweetness, in the sonorous language spokenby the women of Athens and Sparta, "Why demand permission ere you enter?Are you no longer my master, or have I ceased to be your slave?" MonteCristo returned her smile. "Haidee, " said he, "you well know. "

"Why do you address me so coldly--so distantly?" asked the young Greek. "Have I by any means displeased you? Oh, if so, punish me as youwill; but do not--do not speak to me in tones and manner so formal andconstrained. "

"Haidee, " replied the count, "you know that you are now in France, andare free. "

"Free to do what?" asked the young girl.

"Free to leave me. "

"Leave you? Why should I leave you?"

"That is not for me to say; but we are now about to mix in society--tovisit and be visited. "

"I don't wish to see anybody but you. "

"And should you see one whom you could prefer, I would not be sounjust"--

"I have never seen any one I preferred to you, and I have never lovedany one but you and my father. "

"My poor child, " replied Monte Cristo, "that is merely because yourfather and myself are the only men who have ever talked to you. "

"I don't want anybody else to talk to me. My father said I was his'joy'--you style me your 'love, '--and both of you have called me 'mychild. '"

"Do you remember your father, Haidee?" The young Greek smiled. "He ishere, and here, " said she, touching her eyes and her heart. "And wheream I?" inquired Monte Cristo laughingly.

"You?" cried she, with tones of thrilling tenderness, "you areeverywhere!" Monte Cristo took the delicate hand of the young girl inhis, and was about to raise it to his lips, when the simple childof nature hastily withdrew it, and presented her cheek. "You nowunderstand, Haidee, " said the count, "that from this moment you areabsolutely free; that here you exercise unlimited sway, and are atliberty to lay aside or continue the costume of your country, as it maysuit your inclination. Within this mansion you are absolute mistress ofyour actions, and may go abroad or remain in your apartments as may seemmost agreeable to you. A carriage waits your orders, and Ali and Myrthowill accompany you whithersoever you desire to go. There is but onefavor I would entreat of you. "

"Speak. "

"Guard carefully the secret of your birth. Make no allusion to thepast; nor upon any occasion be induced to pronounce the names of yourillustrious father or ill-fated mother. "

"I have already told you, my lord, that I shall see no one. "

"It is possible, Haidee, that so perfect a seclusion, though conformablewith the habits and customs of the East, may not be practicable inParis. Endeavor, then, to accustom yourself to our manner of living inthese northern climes as you did to those of Rome, Florence, Milan, andMadrid; it may be useful to you one of these days, whether you remainhere or return to the East. " The young girl raised her tearful eyestowards Monte Cristo as she said with touching earnestness, "Whether wereturn to the East, you mean to say, my lord, do you not?"

"My child, " returned Monte Cristo "you know full well that whenever wepart, it will be no fault or wish of mine; the tree forsakes not theflower--the flower falls from the tree. "

"My lord, " replied Haidee, "I never will leave you, for I am sure Icould not exist without you. "

"My poor girl, in ten years I shall be old, and you will be stillyoung. "

"My father had a long white beard, but I loved him; he was sixty yearsold, but to me he was handsomer than all the fine youths I saw. "

"Then tell me, Haidee, do you believe you shall be able to accustomyourself to our present mode of life?"

"Shall I see you?"

"Every day. "

"Then what do you fear, my lord?"

"You might find it dull. "

"No, my lord. In the morning, I shall rejoice in the prospect of yourcoming, and in the evening dwell with delight on the happiness I haveenjoyed in your presence; then too, when alone, I can call forth mightypictures of the past, see vast horizons bounded only by the toweringmountains of Pindus and Olympus. Oh, believe me, that when three greatpassions, such as sorrow, love, and gratitude fill the heart, ennui canfind no place. "

"You are a worthy daughter of Epirus, Haidee, and your charming andpoetical ideas prove well your descent from that race of goddesses whoclaim your country as their birthplace. Depend on my care to seethat your youth is not blighted, or suffered to pass away in ungenialsolitude; and of this be well assured, that if you love me as a father, I love you as a child. "

"You are wrong, my lord. The love I have for you is very different fromthe love I had for my father. My father died, but I did not die. Ifyou were to die, I should die too. " The Count, with a smile of profoundtenderness, extended his hand, and she carried it to her lips. MonteCristo, thus attuned to the interview he proposed to hold with Morreland his family, departed, murmuring as he went these lines of Pindar, "Youth is a flower of which love is the fruit; happy is he who, afterhaving watched its silent growth, is permitted to gather and call ithis own. " The carriage was prepared according to orders, and steppinglightly into it, the count drove off at his usual rapid pace.

Chapter 50. The Morrel Family.

In a very few minutes the count reached No. 7 in the Rue Meslay. Thehouse was of white stone, and in a small court before it were two smallbeds full of beautiful flowers. In the concierge that opened the gatethe count recognized Cocles; but as he had but one eye, and that eyehad become somewhat dim in the course of nine years, Cocles did notrecognize the count. The carriages that drove up to the door werecompelled to turn, to avoid a fountain that played in a basin ofrockwork, --an ornament that had excited the jealousy of the wholequarter, and had gained for the place the appellation of "The LittleVersailles. " It is needless to add that there were gold and silver fishin the basin. The house, with kitchens and cellars below, had abovethe ground-floor, two stories and attics. The whole of the property, consisting of an immense workshop, two pavilions at the bottom of thegarden, and the garden itself, had been purchased by Emmanuel, who hadseen at a glance that he could make of it a profitable speculation. Hehad reserved the house and half the garden, and building a wall betweenthe garden and the workshops, had let them upon lease with the pavilionsat the bottom of the garden. So that for a trifling sum he was as welllodged, and as perfectly shut out from observation, as the inhabitantsof the finest mansion in the Faubourg St. Germain. The breakfast-roomwas finished in oak; the salon in mahogany, and the furnishings were ofblue velvet; the bedroom was in citronwood and green damask. There wasa study for Emmanuel, who never studied, and a music-room for Julie, who never played. The whole of the second story was set apart forMaximilian; it was precisely similar to his sister's apartments, exceptthat for the breakfast-parlor he had a billiard-room, where he receivedhis friends. He was superintending the grooming of his horse, andsmoking his cigar at the entrance of the garden, when the count'scarriage stopped at the gate.

Cocles opened the gate, and Baptistin, springing from the box, inquiredwhether Monsieur and Madame Herbault and Monsieur Maximilian Morrelwould see his excellency the Count of Monte Cristo. "The Count of MonteCristo?" cried Morrel, throwing away his cigar and hastening to thecarriage; "I should think we would see him. Ah, a thousand thanks, count, for not having forgotten your promise. " And the young officershook the count's hand so warmly, that Monte Cristo could not bemistaken as to the sincerity of his joy, and he saw that he had beenexpected with impatience, and was received with pleasure. "Come, come, "said Maximilian, "I will serve as your guide; such a man as you areought not to be introduced by a servant. My sister is in the gardenplucking the dead roses; my brother is reading his two papers, thePresse and the Debats, within six steps of her; for wherever you seeMadame Herbault, you have only to look within a circle of four yardsand you will find M. Emmanuel, and 'reciprocally, ' as they say at thePolytechnic School. " At the sound of their steps a young woman of twentyto five and twenty, dressed in a silk morning gown, and busily engagedin plucking the dead leaves off a noisette rose-tree, raised her head. This was Julie, who had become, as the clerk of the house of Thomson& French had predicted, Madame Emmanuel Herbault. She uttered a cryof surprise at the sight of a stranger, and Maximilian began to laugh. "Don't disturb yourself, Julie, " said he. "The count has only been twoor three days in Paris, but he already knows what a fashionable woman ofthe Marais is, and if he does not, you will show him. "

"Ah, monsieur, " returned Julie, "it is treason in my brother to bringyou thus, but he never has any regard for his poor sister. Penelon, Penelon!" An old man, who was digging busily at one of the beds, stuckhis spade in the earth, and approached, cap in hand, striving to conceala quid of tobacco he had just thrust into his cheek. A few locks ofgray mingled with his hair, which was still thick and matted, while hisbronzed features and determined glance well suited an old sailor who hadbraved the heat of the equator and the storms of the tropics. "I thinkyou hailed me, Mademoiselle Julie?" said he. Penelon had still preservedthe habit of calling his master's daughter "Mademoiselle Julie, " andhad never been able to change the name to Madame Herbault. "Penelon, "replied Julie, "go and inform M. Emmanuel of this gentleman's visit, and Maximilian will conduct him to the salon. " Then, turning to MonteCristo, --"I hope you will permit me to leave you for a few minutes, "continued she; and without awaiting any reply, disappeared behind aclump of trees, and escaped to the house by a lateral alley.

"I am sorry to see, " observed Monte Cristo to Morrel, "that I cause nosmall disturbance in your house. "

"Look there, " said Maximilian, laughing; "there is her husband changinghis jacket for a coat. I assure you, you are well known in the RueMeslay. "

"Your family appears to be a very happy one, " said the count, as ifspeaking to himself.

"Oh, yes, I assure you, count, they want nothing that can render themhappy; they are young and cheerful, they are tenderly attached to eachother, and with twenty-five thousand francs a year they fancy themselvesas rich as Rothschild. "

"Five and twenty thousand francs is not a large sum, however, "replied Monte Cristo, with a tone so sweet and gentle, that it went toMaximilian's heart like the voice of a father; "but they will not becontent with that. Your brother-in-law is a barrister? a doctor?"

"He was a merchant, monsieur, and had succeeded to the business of mypoor father. M. Morrel, at his death, left 500, 000 francs, which weredivided between my sister and myself, for we were his only children. Herhusband, who, when he married her, had no other patrimony than his nobleprobity, his first-rate ability, and his spotless reputation, wished topossess as much as his wife. He labored and toiled until he had amassed250, 000 francs; six years sufficed to achieve this object. Oh, I assureyou, sir, it was a touching spectacle to see these young creatures, destined by their talents for higher stations, toiling together, andthrough their unwillingness to change any of the customs of theirpaternal house, taking six years to accomplish what less scrupulouspeople would have effected in two or three. Marseilles resounded withtheir well-earned praises. At last, one day, Emmanuel came to his wife, who had just finished making up the accounts. 'Julie, ' said he to her, 'Cocles has just given me the last rouleau of a hundred francs; thatcompletes the 250, 000 francs we had fixed as the limits of our gains. Can you content yourself with the small fortune which we shall possessfor the future? Listen to me. Our house transacts business to the amountof a million a year, from which we derive an income of 40, 000 francs. We can dispose of the business, if we please, in an hour, for I havereceived a letter from M. Delaunay, in which he offers to purchasethe good-will of the house, to unite with his own, for 300, 000 francs. Advise me what I had better do. '--'Emmanuel, ' returned my sister, 'thehouse of Morrel can only be carried on by a Morrel. Is it not worth300, 000 francs to save our father's name from the chances of evilfortune and failure?'--'I thought so, ' replied Emmanuel; 'but I wishedto have your advice. '--'This is my counsel:--Our accounts are made upand our bills paid; all we have to do is to stop the issue of any more, and close our office. ' This was done instantly. It was three o'clock; ata quarter past, a merchant presented himself to insure two ships; it wasa clear profit of 15, 000. Francs. 'Monsieur, ' said Emmanuel, 'havethe goodness to address yourself to M. Delaunay. We have quittedbusiness. '--'How long?' inquired the astonished merchant. 'A quarter ofan hour, ' was the reply. And this is the reason, monsieur, " continuedMaximilian, "of my sister and brother-in-law having only 25, 000 francs ayear. "

Maximilian had scarcely finished his story, during which the count'sheart had swelled within him, when Emmanuel entered wearing a hat andcoat. He saluted the count with the air of a man who is aware of therank of his guest; then, after having led Monte Cristo around the littlegarden, he returned to the house. A large vase of Japan porcelain, filled with flowers that loaded the air with their perfume, stood inthe salon. Julie, suitably dressed, and her hair arranged (she hadaccomplished this feat in less than ten minutes), received the count onhis entrance. The songs of the birds were heard in an aviary hard by, and the branches of laburnums and rose acacias formed an exquisiteframework to the blue velvet curtains. Everything in this charmingretreat, from the warble of the birds to the smile of the mistress, breathed tranquillity and repose. The count had felt the influence ofthis happiness from the moment he entered the house, and he remainedsilent and pensive, forgetting that he was expected to renew theconversation, which had ceased after the first salutations had beenexchanged. The silence became almost painful when, by a violent effort, tearing himself from his pleasing reverie--"Madame, " said he at length, "I pray you to excuse my emotion, which must astonish you who are onlyaccustomed to the happiness I meet here; but contentment is so new asight to me, that I could never be weary of looking at yourself and yourhusband. "

"We are very happy, monsieur, " replied Julie; "but we have also knownunhappiness, and few have ever undergone more bitter sufferings thanourselves. " The Count's features displayed an expression of the mostintense curiosity.

"Oh, all this is a family history, as Chateau-Renaud told you the otherday, " observed Maximilian. "This humble picture would have but littleinterest for you, accustomed as you are to behold the pleasures and themisfortunes of the wealthy and industrious; but such as we are, we haveexperienced bitter sorrows. "

"And God has poured balm into your wounds, as he does into those of allwho are in affliction?" said Monte Cristo inquiringly.

"Yes, count, " returned Julie, "we may indeed say he has, for he has donefor us what he grants only to his chosen; he sent us one of his angels. "The count's cheeks became scarlet, and he coughed, in order to have anexcuse for putting his handkerchief to his mouth. "Those born to wealth, and who have the means of gratifying every wish, " said Emmanuel, "knownot what is the real happiness of life, just as those who have beentossed on the stormy waters of the ocean on a few frail planks can alonerealize the blessings of fair weather. "

Monte Cristo rose, and without making any answer (for the tremulousnessof his voice would have betrayed his emotion) walked up and down theapartment with a slow step.

"Our magnificence makes you smile, count, " said Maximilian, who hadfollowed him with his eyes. "No, no, " returned Monte Cristo, pale asdeath, pressing one hand on his heart to still its throbbings, whilewith the other he pointed to a crystal cover, beneath which a silkenpurse lay on a black velvet cushion. "I was wondering what could bethe significance of this purse, with the paper at one end and the largediamond at the other. "

"Count, " replied Maximilian, with an air of gravity, "those are our mostprecious family treasures. "

"The stone seems very brilliant, " answered the count.

"Oh, my brother does not allude to its value, although it has beenestimated at 100, 000 francs; he means, that the articles contained inthis purse are the relics of the angel I spoke of just now. "

"This I do not comprehend; and yet I may not ask for an explanation, madame, " replied Monte Cristo bowing. "Pardon me, I had no intention ofcommitting an indiscretion. "

"Indiscretion, --oh, you make us happy by giving us an excuse forexpatiating on this subject. If we wanted to conceal the noble actionthis purse commemorates, we should not expose it thus to view. Oh, wouldwe could relate it everywhere, and to every one, so that the emotion ofour unknown benefactor might reveal his presence. "

"Ah, really, " said Monte Cristo in a half-stifled voice.

"Monsieur, " returned Maximilian, raising the glass cover, andrespectfully kissing the silken purse, "this has touched the hand of aman who saved my father from suicide, us from ruin, and our name fromshame and disgrace, --a man by whose matchless benevolence we poorchildren, doomed to want and wretchedness, can at present hear everyone envying our happy lot. This letter" (as he spoke, Maximilian drewa letter from the purse and gave it to the count)--"this letter waswritten by him the day that my father had taken a desperate resolution, and this diamond was given by the generous unknown to my sister asher dowry. " Monte Cristo opened the letter, and read it with anindescribable feeling of delight. It was the letter written (as ourreaders know) to Julie, and signed "Sinbad the Sailor. " "Unknown yousay, is the man who rendered you this service--unknown to you?"

"Yes; we have never had the happiness of pressing his hand, " continuedMaximilian. "We have supplicated heaven in vain to grant us thisfavor, but the whole affair has had a mysterious meaning that wecannot comprehend--we have been guided by an invisible hand, --a hand aspowerful as that of an enchanter. "

"Oh, " cried Julie, "I have not lost all hope of some day kissing thathand, as I now kiss the purse which he has touched. Four years ago, Penelon was at Trieste--Penelon, count, is the old sailor you saw in thegarden, and who, from quartermaster, has become gardener--Penelon, whenhe was at Trieste, saw on the quay an Englishman, who was on the pointof embarking on board a yacht, and he recognized him as the personwho called on my father the fifth of June, 1829, and who wrote me thisletter on the fifth of September. He felt convinced of his identity, buthe did not venture to address him. "

"An Englishman, " said Monte Cristo, who grew uneasy at the attentionwith which Julie looked at him. "An Englishman you say?"

"Yes, " replied Maximilian, "an Englishman, who represented himself asthe confidential clerk of the house of Thomson & French, at Rome. It wasthis that made me start when you said the other day, at M. De Morcerf's, that Messrs. Thomson & French were your bankers. That happened, asI told you, in 1829. For God's sake, tell me, did you know thisEnglishman?"

"But you tell me, also, that the house of Thomson & French haveconstantly denied having rendered you this service?"

"Yes. "

"Then is it not probable that this Englishman may be some one who, grateful for a kindness your father had shown him, and which he himselfhad forgotten, has taken this method of requiting the obligation?"

"Everything is possible in this affair, even a miracle. "

"What was his name?" asked Monte Cristo.

"He gave no other name, " answered Julie, looking earnestly at the count, "than that at the end of his letter--'Sinbad the Sailor. '"

"Which is evidently not his real name, but a fictitious one. "

Then, noticing that Julie was struck with the sound of his voice, --

"Tell me, " continued he, "was he not about my height, perhaps a littletaller, with his chin imprisoned, as it were, in a high cravat; his coatclosely buttoned up, and constantly taking out his pencil?"

"Oh, do you then know him?" cried Julie, whose eyes sparkled with joy.

"No, " returned Monte Cristo "I only guessed. I knew a Lord Wilmore, whowas constantly doing actions of this kind. "

"Without revealing himself?"

"He was an eccentric being, and did not believe in the existence ofgratitude. "

"Oh, heaven, " exclaimed Julie, clasping her hands, "in what did hebelieve, then?"

"He did not credit it at the period which I knew him, " said MonteCristo, touched to the heart by the accents of Julie's voice; "but, perhaps, since then he has had proofs that gratitude does exist. "

"And do you know this gentleman, monsieur?" inquired Emmanuel.

"Oh, if you do know him, " cried Julie, "can you tell us where heis--where we can find him? Maximilian--Emmanuel--if we do but discoverhim, he must believe in the gratitude of the heart!" Monte Cristo felttears start into his eyes, and he again walked hastily up and down theroom.

"In the name of heaven, " said Maximilian, "if you know anything of him, tell us what it is. "

"Alas, " cried Monte Cristo, striving to repress his emotion, "if LordWilmore was your unknown benefactor, I fear you will never see himagain. I parted from him two years ago at Palermo, and he was then onthe point of setting out for the most remote regions; so that I fear hewill never return. "

"Oh, monsieur, this is cruel of you, " said Julie, much affected; and theyoung lady's eyes swam with tears.

"Madame, " replied Monte Cristo gravely, and gazing earnestly on the twoliquid pearls that trickled down Julie's cheeks, "had Lord Wilmore seenwhat I now see, he would become attached to life, for the tears you shedwould reconcile him to mankind;" and he held out his hand to Julie, whogave him hers, carried away by the look and accent of the count. "But, "continued she, "Lord Wilmore had a family or friends, he must have knownsome one, can we not--"

"Oh, it is useless to inquire, " returned the count; "perhaps, after all, he was not the man you seek for. He was my friend: he had no secretsfrom me, and if this had been so he would have confided in me. "

"And he told you nothing?"

"Not a word. "

"Nothing that would lead you to suppose?"

"Nothing. "

"And yet you spoke of him at once. "

"Ah, in such a case one supposes"--

"Sister, sister, " said Maximilian, coming to the count's aid, "monsieuris quite right. Recollect what our excellent father so often told us, 'It was no Englishman that thus saved us. '" Monte Cristo started. "Whatdid your father tell you, M. Morrel?" said he eagerly.

"My father thought that this action had been miraculously performed--hebelieved that a benefactor had arisen from the grave to save us. Oh, it was a touching superstition, monsieur, and although I did not myselfbelieve it, I would not for the world have destroyed my father's faith. How often did he muse over it and pronounce the name of a dear friend--afriend lost to him forever; and on his death-bed, when the near approachof eternity seemed to have illumined his mind with supernaturallight, this thought, which had until then been but a doubt, becamea conviction, and his last words were, 'Maximilian, it was EdmondDantes!'" At these words the count's paleness, which had for some timebeen increasing, became alarming; he could not speak; he looked at hiswatch like a man who has forgotten the hour, said a few hurried wordsto Madame Herbault, and pressing the hands of Emmanuel andMaximilian, --"Madame, " said he, "I trust you will allow me to visit youoccasionally; I value your friendship, and feel grateful to you foryour welcome, for this is the first time for many years that I have thusyielded to my feelings;" and he hastily quitted the apartment.

"This Count of Monte Cristo is a strange man, " said Emmanuel.

"Yes, " answered Maximilian, "but I feel sure he has an excellent heart, and that he likes us. "

"His voice went to my heart, " observed Julie; "and two or three times Ifancied that I had heard it before. "

Chapter 51. Pyramus and Thisbe.

About two-thirds of the way along the Faubourg Saint-Honore, and in therear of one of the most imposing mansions in this rich neighborhood, where the various houses vie with each other for elegance of designand magnificence of construction, extended a large garden, where thewide-spreading chestnut-trees raised their heads high above the walls ina solid rampart, and with the coming of every spring scattered a showerof delicate pink and white blossoms into the large stone vases thatstood upon the two square pilasters of a curiously wrought iron gate, that dated from the time of Louis XII. This noble entrance, however, in spite of its striking appearance and the graceful effect of thegeraniums planted in the two vases, as they waved their variegatedleaves in the wind and charmed the eye with their scarlet bloom, hadfallen into utter disuse. The proprietors of the mansion had many yearsbefore thought it best to confine themselves to the possession of thehouse itself, with its thickly planted court-yard, opening into theFaubourg Saint-Honore, and to the garden shut in by this gate, whichformerly communicated with a fine kitchen-garden of about an acre. Forthe demon of speculation drew a line, or in other words projected astreet, at the farther side of the kitchen-garden. The street waslaid out, a name was chosen and posted up on an iron plate, but beforeconstruction was begun, it occurred to the possessor of the propertythat a handsome sum might be obtained for the ground then devotedto fruits and vegetables, by building along the line of the proposedstreet, and so making it a branch of communication with the FaubourgSaint-Honore itself, one of the most important thoroughfares in the cityof Paris.

In matters of speculation, however, though "man proposes, " "moneydisposes. " From some such difficulty the newly named street died almostin birth, and the purchaser of the kitchen-garden, having paid a highprice for it, and being quite unable to find any one willing to take hisbargain off his hands without a considerable loss, yet still clingingto the belief that at some future day he should obtain a sum for it thatwould repay him, not only for his past outlay, but also the interestupon the capital locked up in his new acquisition, contented himselfwith letting the ground temporarily to some market-gardeners, at ayearly rental of 500 francs. And so, as we have said, the iron gateleading into the kitchen-garden had been closed up and left to the rust, which bade fair before long to eat off its hinges, while to prevent theignoble glances of the diggers and delvers of the ground from presumingto sully the aristocratic enclosure belonging to the mansion, the gatehad been boarded up to a height of six feet. True, the planks were notso closely adjusted but that a hasty peep might be obtained throughtheir interstices; but the strict decorum and rigid propriety of theinhabitants of the house left no grounds for apprehending that advantagewould be taken of that circumstance.

Horticulture seemed, however, to have been abandoned in the desertedkitchen-garden; and where cabbages, carrots, radishes, pease, and melonshad once flourished, a scanty crop of lucerne alone bore evidence of itsbeing deemed worthy of cultivation. A small, low door gave egress fromthe walled space we have been describing into the projected street, theground having been abandoned as unproductive by its various renters, andhad now fallen so completely in general estimation as to return noteven the one-half per cent it had originally paid. Towards the housethe chestnut-trees we have before mentioned rose high above the wall, without in any way affecting the growth of other luxuriant shrubs andflowers that eagerly dressed forward to fill up the vacant spaces, asthough asserting their right to enjoy the boon of light and air. At onecorner, where the foliage became so thick as almost to shut out day, alarge stone bench and sundry rustic seats indicated that this shelteredspot was either in general favor or particular use by some inhabitantof the house, which was faintly discernible through the dense mass ofverdure that partially concealed it, though situated but a hundred pacesoff.

Whoever had selected this retired portion of the grounds as the boundaryof a walk, or as a place for meditation, was abundantly justified inthe choice by the absence of all glare, the cool, refreshing shade, thescreen it afforded from the scorching rays of the sun, that found noentrance there even during the burning days of hottest summer, theincessant and melodious warbling of birds, and the entire removal fromeither the noise of the street or the bustle of the mansion. On theevening of one of the warmest days spring had yet bestowed on theinhabitants of Paris, might be seen negligently thrown upon the stonebench, a book, a parasol, and a work-basket, from which hung a partlyembroidered cambric handkerchief, while at a little distance from thesearticles was a young woman, standing close to the iron gate, endeavoringto discern something on the other side by means of the openings in theplanks, --the earnestness of her attitude and the fixed gaze with whichshe seemed to seek the object of her wishes, proving how much herfeelings were interested in the matter. At that instant the littleside-gate leading from the waste ground to the street was noiselesslyopened, and a tall, powerful young man appeared. He was dressed in acommon gray blouse and velvet cap, but his carefully arranged hair, beard and mustache, all of the richest and glossiest black, ill accordedwith his plebeian attire. After casting a rapid glance around him, inorder to assure himself that he was unobserved, he entered by the smallgate, and, carefully closing and securing it after him, proceeded with ahurried step towards the barrier.

At the sight of him she expected, though probably not in such a costume, the young woman started in terror, and was about to make a hastyretreat. But the eye of love had already seen, even through the narrowchinks of the wooden palisades, the movement of the white robe, andobserved the fluttering of the blue sash. Pressing his lips close to theplanks, he exclaimed, "Don't be alarmed, Valentine--it is I!" Again thetimid girl found courage to return to the gate, saying, as she did so, "And why do you come so late to-day? It is almost dinner-time, and I hadto use no little diplomacy to get rid of my watchful mother-in-law, mytoo-devoted maid, and my troublesome brother, who is always teasing meabout coming to work at my embroidery, which I am in a fair way never toget done. So pray excuse yourself as well as you can for having made mewait, and, after that, tell me why I see you in a dress so singular thatat first I did not recognize you. "

"Dearest Valentine, " said the young man, "the difference between ourrespective stations makes me fear to offend you by speaking of my love, but yet I cannot find myself in your presence without longing to pourforth my soul, and tell you how fondly I adore you. If it be but tocarry away with me the recollection of such sweet moments, I could eventhank you for chiding me, for it leaves me a gleam of hope, that ifyou did not expect me (and that indeed would be worse than vanity tosuppose), at least I was in your thoughts. You asked me the cause of mybeing late, and why I come disguised. I will candidly explain the reasonof both, and I trust to your goodness to pardon me. I have chosen atrade. "

"A trade? Oh, Maximilian, how can you jest at a time when we have suchdeep cause for uneasiness?"

"Heaven keep me from jesting with that which is far dearer to me thanlife itself! But listen to me, Valentine, and I will tell you all aboutit. I became weary of ranging fields and scaling walls, and seriouslyalarmed at the idea suggested by you, that if caught hovering about hereyour father would very likely have me sent to prison as a thief. Thatwould compromise the honor of the French army, to say nothing of thefact that the continual presence of a captain of Spahis in a placewhere no warlike projects could be supposed to account for it might wellcreate surprise; so I have become a gardener, and, consequently, adoptedthe costume of my calling. "

"What excessive nonsense you talk, Maximilian!"

"Nonsense? Pray do not call what I consider the wisest action of my lifeby such a name. Consider, by becoming a gardener I effectually screenour meetings from all suspicion or danger. "

"I beseech of you, Maximilian, to cease trifling, and tell me what youreally mean. "

"Simply, that having ascertained that the piece of ground on which Istand was to let, I made application for it, was readily accepted bythe proprietor, and am now master of this fine crop of lucerne. Thinkof that, Valentine! There is nothing now to prevent my building myselfa little hut on my plantation, and residing not twenty yards from you. Only imagine what happiness that would afford me. I can scarcely containmyself at the bare idea. Such felicity seems above all price--as a thingimpossible and unattainable. But would you believe that I purchase allthis delight, joy, and happiness, for which I would cheerfully havesurrendered ten years of my life, at the small cost of 500 francs perannum, paid quarterly? Henceforth we have nothing to fear. I am on myown ground, and have an undoubted right to place a ladder against thewall, and to look over when I please, without having any apprehensionsof being taken off by the police as a suspicious character. I may alsoenjoy the precious privilege of assuring you of my fond, faithful, andunalterable affection, whenever you visit your favorite bower, unless, indeed, it offends your pride to listen to professions of love from thelips of a poor workingman, clad in a blouse and cap. " A faint cry ofmingled pleasure and surprise escaped from the lips of Valentine, whoalmost instantly said, in a saddened tone, as though some envious clouddarkened the joy which illumined her heart, "Alas, no, Maximilian, thismust not be, for many reasons. We should presume too much on ourown strength, and, like others, perhaps, be led astray by our blindconfidence in each other's prudence. "

"How can you for an instant entertain so unworthy a thought, dearValentine? Have I not, from the first blessed hour of our acquaintance, schooled all my words and actions to your sentiments and ideas? And youhave, I am sure, the fullest confidence in my honor. When you spoketo me of experiencing a vague and indefinite sense of coming danger, I placed myself blindly and devotedly at your service, asking no otherreward than the pleasure of being useful to you; and have I ever since, by word or look, given you cause of regret for having selected me fromthe numbers that would willingly have sacrificed their lives for you?You told me, my dear Valentine, that you were engaged to M. D'Epinay, and that your father was resolved upon completing the match, and thatfrom his will there was no appeal, as M. De Villefort was never knownto change a determination once formed. I kept in the background, as youwished, and waited, not for the decision of your heart or my own, buthoping that providence would graciously interpose in our behalf, andorder events in our favor. But what cared I for delays or difficulties, Valentine, as long as you confessed that you loved me, and took pityon me? If you will only repeat that avowal now and then, I can endureanything. "

"Ah, Maximilian, that is the very thing that makes you so bold, andwhich renders me at once so happy and unhappy, that I frequentlyask myself whether it is better for me to endure the harshness of mymother-in-law, and her blind preference for her own child, or to be, as I now am, insensible to any pleasure save such as I find in thesemeetings, so fraught with danger to both. "

"I will not admit that word, " returned the young man; "it is at oncecruel and unjust. Is it possible to find a more submissive slave thanmyself? You have permitted me to converse with you from time totime, Valentine, but forbidden my ever following you in your walks orelsewhere--have I not obeyed? And since I found means to enter thisenclosure to exchange a few words with you through this gate--to beclose to you without really seeing you--have I ever asked so much as totouch the hem of your gown or tried to pass this barrier which is buta trifle to one of my youth and strength? Never has a complaint or amurmur escaped me. I have been bound by my promises as rigidly as anyknight of olden times. Come, come, dearest Valentine, confess that whatI say is true, lest I be tempted to call you unjust. "

"It is true, " said Valentine, as she passed the end of her slenderfingers through a small opening in the planks, and permitted Maximilianto press his lips to them, "and you are a true and faithful friend; butstill you acted from motives of self-interest, my dear Maximilian, for you well knew that from the moment in which you had manifested anopposite spirit all would have been ended between us. You promised tobestow on me the friendly affection of a brother. For I have no friendbut yourself upon earth, who am neglected and forgotten by my father, harassed and persecuted by my mother-in-law, and left to the solecompanionship of a paralyzed and speechless old man, whose withered handcan no longer press mine, and who can speak to me with the eye alone, although there still lingers in his heart the warmest tenderness forhis poor grandchild. Oh, how bitter a fate is mine, to serve either asa victim or an enemy to all who are stronger than myself, while my onlyfriend and supporter is a living corpse! Indeed, indeed, Maximilian, Iam very miserable, and if you love me it must be out of pity. "

"Valentine, " replied the young man, deeply affected, "I will not sayyou are all I love in the world, for I dearly prize my sister andbrother-in-law; but my affection for them is calm and tranquil, in nomanner resembling what I feel for you. When I think of you my heartbeats fast, the blood burns in my veins, and I can hardly breathe; butI solemnly promise you to restrain all this ardor, this fervor andintensity of feeling, until you yourself shall require me to renderthem available in serving or assisting you. M. Franz is not expected toreturn home for a year to come, I am told; in that time many favorableand unforeseen chances may befriend us. Let us, then, hope for the best;hope is so sweet a comforter. Meanwhile, Valentine, while reproaching mewith selfishness, think a little what you have been to me--the beautifulbut cold resemblance of a marble Venus. What promise of futurereward have you made me for all the submission and obedience I haveevinced?--none whatever. What granted me?--scarcely more. You tell me ofM. Franz d'Epinay, your betrothed lover, and you shrink from the idea ofbeing his wife; but tell me, Valentine, is there no other sorrow in yourheart? You see me devoted to you, body and soul, my life and each warmdrop that circles round my heart are consecrated to your service; youknow full well that my existence is bound up in yours--that were I tolose you I would not outlive the hour of such crushing misery; yet youspeak with calmness of the prospect of your being the wife of another!Oh, Valentine, were I in your place, and did I feel conscious, as youdo, of being worshipped, adored, with such a love as mine, a hundredtimes at least should I have passed my hand between these iron bars, andsaid, 'Take this hand, dearest Maximilian, and believe that, livingor dead, I am yours--yours only, and forever!'" The poor girl made noreply, but her lover could plainly hear her sobs and tears. A rapidchange took place in the young man's feelings. "Dearest, dearestValentine, " exclaimed he, "forgive me if I have offended you, and forgetthe words I spoke if they have unwittingly caused you pain. "

"No, Maximilian, I am not offended, " answered she, "but do you not seewhat a poor, helpless being I am, almost a stranger and an outcast inmy father's house, where even he is seldom seen; whose will has beenthwarted, and spirits broken, from the age of ten years, beneath theiron rod so sternly held over me; oppressed, mortified, and persecuted, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, no person has cared for, even observed my sufferings, nor have I ever breathed one word on thesubject save to yourself. Outwardly and in the eyes of the world, I amsurrounded by kindness and affection; but the reverse is the case. Thegeneral remark is, 'Oh, it cannot be expected that one of so stern acharacter as M. Villefort could lavish the tenderness some fathers doon their daughters. What though she has lost her own mother at a tenderage, she has had the happiness to find a second mother in Madame deVillefort. ' The world, however, is mistaken; my father abandons me fromutter indifference, while my mother-in-law detests me with a hatred somuch the more terrible because it is veiled beneath a continual smile. "

"Hate you, sweet Valentine, " exclaimed the young man; "how is itpossible for any one to do that?"

"Alas, " replied the weeping girl, "I am obliged to own that mymother-in-law's aversion to me arises from a very natural source--heroverweening love for her own child, my brother Edward. "

"But why should it?"

"I do not know; but, though unwilling to introduce money matters intoour present conversation, I will just say this much--that her extremedislike to me has its origin there; and I much fear she envies me thefortune I enjoy in right of my mother, and which will be more thandoubled at the death of M. And Mme. De Saint-Meran, whose sole heiressI am. Madame de Villefort has nothing of her own, and hates me for beingso richly endowed. Alas, how gladly would I exchange the half of thiswealth for the happiness of at least sharing my father's love. Godknows, I would prefer sacrificing the whole, so that it would obtain mea happy and affectionate home. "

"Poor Valentine!"

"I seem to myself as though living a life of bondage, yet at thesame time am so conscious of my own weakness that I fear to break therestraint in which I am held, lest I fall utterly helpless. Then, too, my father is not a person whose orders may be infringed with impunity;protected as he is by his high position and firmly establishedreputation for talent and unswerving integrity, no one could oppose him;he is all-powerful even with the king; he would crush you at a word. Dear Maximilian, believe me when I assure you that if I do not attemptto resist my father's commands it is more on your account than my own. "

"But why, Valentine, do you persist in anticipating the worst, --whypicture so gloomy a future?"

"Because I judge it from the past. "

"Still, consider that although I may not be, strictly speaking, whatis termed an illustrious match for you, I am, for many reasons, not altogether so much beneath your alliance. The days when suchdistinctions were so nicely weighed and considered no longer exist inFrance, and the first families of the monarchy have intermarried withthose of the empire. The aristocracy of the lance has allied itself withthe nobility of the cannon. Now I belong to this last-named class; andcertainly my prospects of military preferment are most encouraging aswell as certain. My fortune, though small, is free and unfettered, andthe memory of my late father is respected in our country, Valentine, asthat of the most upright and honorable merchant of the city; I say ourcountry, because you were born not far from Marseilles. "

"Don't speak of Marseilles, I beg of you, Maximilian; that one wordbrings back my mother to my recollection--my angel mother, who died toosoon for myself and all who knew her; but who, after watching over herchild during the brief period allotted to her in this world, now, Ifondly hope, watches from her home in heaven. Oh, if my mother werestill living, there would be nothing to fear, Maximilian, for I wouldtell her that I loved you, and she would protect us. "

"I fear, Valentine, " replied the lover, "that were she living I shouldnever have had the happiness of knowing you; you would then have beentoo happy to have stooped from your grandeur to bestow a thought on me. "

"Now it is you who are unjust, Maximilian, " cried Valentine; "but thereis one thing I wish to know. "

"And what is that?" inquired the young man, perceiving that Valentinehesitated.

"Tell me truly, Maximilian, whether in former days, when our fathersdwelt at Marseilles, there was ever any misunderstanding between them?"

"Not that I am aware of, " replied the young man, "unless, indeed, anyill-feeling might have arisen from their being of opposite parties--yourfather was, as you know, a zealous partisan of the Bourbons, while minewas wholly devoted to the emperor; there could not possibly be any otherdifference between them. But why do you ask?"

"I will tell you, " replied the young girl, "for it is but right youshould know. Well, on the day when your appointment as an officer of theLegion of honor was announced in the papers, we were all sitting with mygrandfather, M. Noirtier; M. Danglars was there also--you recollect M. Danglars, do you not, Maximilian, the banker, whose horses ran away withmy mother-in-law and little brother, and very nearly killed them? Whilethe rest of the company were discussing the approaching marriage ofMademoiselle Danglars, I was reading the paper to my grandfather; butwhen I came to the paragraph about you, although I had done nothing elsebut read it over to myself all the morning (you know you had told me allabout it the previous evening), I felt so happy, and yet so nervous, atthe idea of speaking your name aloud, and before so many people, thatI really think I should have passed it over, but for the fear that mydoing so might create suspicions as to the cause of my silence; so Isummoned up all my courage, and read it as firmly and as steadily as Icould. "

"Dear Valentine!"

"Well, would you believe it? directly my father caught the sound of yourname he turned round quite hastily, and, like a poor silly thing, I wasso persuaded that every one must be as much affected as myself by theutterance of your name, that I was not surprised to see my father start, and almost tremble; but I even thought (though that surely must havebeen a mistake) that M. Danglars trembled too. "

"'Morrel, Morrel, ' cried my father, 'stop a bit;' then knitting hisbrows into a deep frown, he added, 'surely this cannot be one of theMorrel family who lived at Marseilles, and gave us so much trouble fromtheir violent Bonapartism--I mean about the year 1815. '--'Yes, ' repliedM. Danglars, 'I believe he is the son of the old shipowner. '"

"Indeed, " answered Maximilian; "and what did your father say then, Valentine?"

"Oh, such a dreadful thing, that I don't dare to tell you. "

"Always tell me everything, " said Maximilian with a smile.

"'Ah, ' continued my father, still frowning, 'their idolized emperortreated these madmen as they deserved; he called them 'food for powder, 'which was precisely all they were good for; and I am delighted to seethat the present government have adopted this salutary principle withall its pristine vigor; if Algiers were good for nothing but to furnishthe means of carrying so admirable an idea into practice, it would bean acquisition well worthy of struggling to obtain. Though it certainlydoes cost France somewhat dear to assert her rights in that uncivilizedcountry. '"

"Brutal politics, I must confess. " said Maximilian; "but don't attachany serious importance, dear, to what your father said. My father wasnot a bit behind yours in that sort of talk. 'Why, ' said he, 'doesnot the emperor, who has devised so many clever and efficient modes ofimproving the art of war, organize a regiment of lawyers, judges andlegal practitioners, sending them in the hottest fire the enemy couldmaintain, and using them to save better men?' You see, my dear, thatfor picturesque expression and generosity of spirit there is not muchto choose between the language of either party. But what did M. Danglarssay to this outburst on the part of the procureur?"

"Oh, he laughed, and in that singular manner so peculiar tohimself--half-malicious, half-ferocious; he almost immediately got upand took his leave; then, for the first time, I observed the agitationof my grandfather, and I must tell you, Maximilian, that I am the onlyperson capable of discerning emotion in his paralyzed frame. And Isuspected that the conversation that had been carried on in his presence(for they always say and do what they like before the dear old man, without the smallest regard for his feelings) had made a strongimpression on his mind; for, naturally enough, it must have pained himto hear the emperor he so devotedly loved and served spoken of in thatdepreciating manner. "

"The name of M. Noirtier, " interposed Maximilian, "is celebratedthroughout Europe; he was a statesman of high standing, and you mayor may not know, Valentine, that he took a leading part in everyBonapartist conspiracy set on foot during the restoration of theBourbons. "

"Oh, I have often heard whispers of things that seem to me moststrange--the father a Bonapartist, the son a Royalist; what can havebeen the reason of so singular a difference in parties and politics?But to resume my story; I turned towards my grandfather, as though toquestion him as to the cause of his emotion; he looked expressivelyat the newspaper I had been reading. 'What is the matter, deargrandfather?' said I, 'are you pleased?' He gave me a sign in theaffirmative. 'With what my father said just now?' He returned a sign inthe negative. 'Perhaps you liked what M. Danglars said?' Another sign inthe negative. 'Oh, then, you were glad to hear that M. Morrel (I didn'tdare to say Maximilian) had been made an officer of the Legion ofHonor?' He signified assent; only think of the poor old man's being sopleased to think that you, who were a perfect stranger to him, had beenmade an officer of the Legion of Honor! Perhaps it was a mere whim onhis part, for he is falling, they say, into second childhood, but I lovehim for showing so much interest in you. "

"How singular, " murmured Maximilian; "your father hates me, while yourgrandfather, on the contrary--What strange feelings are aroused bypolitics. "

"Hush, " cried Valentine, suddenly; "some one is coming!" Maximilianleaped at one bound into his crop of lucerne, which he began to pull upin the most ruthless way, under the pretext of being occupied in weedingit.

"Mademoiselle, mademoiselle!" exclaimed a voice from behind the trees. "Madame is searching for you everywhere; there is a visitor in thedrawing-room. "

"A visitor?" inquired Valentine, much agitated; "who is it?"

"Some grand personage--a prince I believe they said--the Count of MonteCristo. "

"I will come directly, " cried Valentine aloud. The name of Monte Cristosent an electric shock through the young man on the other side of theiron gate, to whom Valentine's "I am coming" was the customary signalof farewell. "Now, then, " said Maximilian, leaning on the handle of hisspade, "I would give a good deal to know how it comes about that theCount of Monte Cristo is acquainted with M. De Villefort. "

Chapter 52. Toxicology.

It was really the Count of Monte Cristo who had just arrived at Madamede Villefort's for the purpose of returning the procureur's visit, and at his name, as may be easily imagined, the whole house was inconfusion. Madame de Villefort, who was alone in her drawing-room whenthe count was announced, desired that her son might be brought thitherinstantly to renew his thanks to the count; and Edward, who heard thisgreat personage talked of for two whole days, made all possible haste tocome to him, not from obedience to his mother, or out of any feeling ofgratitude to the count, but from sheer curiosity, and that some chanceremark might give him the opportunity for making one of the impertinentspeeches which made his mother say, --"Oh, that naughty child! But Ican't be severe with him, he is really so bright. "

After the usual civilities, the count inquired after M. De Villefort. "My husband dines with the chancellor, " replied the young lady; "he hasjust gone, and I am sure he'll be exceedingly sorry not to have had thepleasure of seeing you before he went. " Two visitors who were therewhen the count arrived, having gazed at him with all their eyes, retiredafter that reasonable delay which politeness admits and curiosityrequires. "What is your sister Valentine doing?" inquired Madame deVillefort of Edward; "tell some one to bid her come here, that I mayhave the honor of introducing her to the count. "

"You have a daughter, then, madame?" inquired the count; "very young, Ipresume?"

"The daughter of M. De Villefort by his first marriage, " replied theyoung wife, "a fine well-grown girl. "

"But melancholy, " interrupted Master Edward, snatching the feathers outof the tail of a splendid parroquet that was screaming on its gildedperch, in order to make a plume for his hat. Madame de Villefort merelycried, --"Be still, Edward!" She then added, --"This young madcap is, however, very nearly right, and merely re-echoes what he has heard mesay with pain a hundred times; for Mademoiselle de Villefort is, inspite of all we can do to rouse her, of a melancholy disposition andtaciturn habit, which frequently injure the effect of her beauty. Butwhat detains her? Go, Edward, and see. "

"Because they are looking for her where she is not to be found. "

"And where are they looking for her?"

"With grandpapa Noirtier. "

"And do you think she is not there?"

"No, no, no, no, no, she is not there, " replied Edward, singing hiswords.

"And where is she, then? If you know, why don't you tell?"

"She is under the big chestnut-tree, " replied the spoiled brat, as hegave, in spite of his mother's commands, live flies to the parrot, whichseemed keenly to relish such fare. Madame de Villefort stretched out herhand to ring, intending to direct her waiting-maid to the spot where shewould find Valentine, when the young lady herself entered theapartment. She appeared much dejected; and any person who considered herattentively might have observed the traces of recent tears in her eyes.

Valentine, whom we have in the rapid march of our narrative presentedto our readers without formally introducing her, was a tall and gracefulgirl of nineteen, with bright chestnut hair, deep blue eyes, and thatreposeful air of quiet distinction which characterized her mother. Her white and slender fingers, her pearly neck, her cheeks tinted withvarying hues reminded one of the lovely Englishwomen who have been sopoetically compared in their manner to the gracefulness of a swan. Sheentered the apartment, and seeing near her stepmother the stranger ofwhom she had already heard so much, saluted him without any girlishawkwardness, or even lowering her eyes, and with an elegance thatredoubled the count's attention. He rose to return the salutation. "Mademoiselle de Villefort, my daughter-in-law, " said Madame deVillefort to Monte Cristo, leaning back on her sofa and motioningtowards Valentine with her hand. "And M. De Monte Cristo, King of China, Emperor of Cochin-China, " said the young imp, looking slyly towards hissister.

Madame de Villefort at this really did turn pale, and was very nearlyangry with this household plague, who answered to the name of Edward;but the count, on the contrary, smiled, and appeared to look at the boycomplacently, which caused the maternal heart to bound again with joyand enthusiasm.

"But, madame, " replied the count, continuing the conversation, andlooking by turns at Madame de Villefort and Valentine, "have I notalready had the honor of meeting yourself and mademoiselle before? Icould not help thinking so just now; the idea came over my mind, andas mademoiselle entered the sight of her was an additional ray of lightthrown on a confused remembrance; excuse the remark. "

"I do not think it likely, sir; Mademoiselle de Villefort is not veryfond of society, and we very seldom go out, " said the young lady.

"Then it was not in society that I met with mademoiselle or yourself, madame, or this charming little merry boy. Besides, the Parisian worldis entirely unknown to me, for, as I believe I told you, I have been inParis but very few days. No, --but, perhaps, you will permit me to callto mind--stay!" The Count placed his hand on his brow as if to collecthis thoughts. "No--it was somewhere--away from here--it was--I do notknow--but it appears that this recollection is connected with a lovelysky and some religious fete; mademoiselle was holding flowers in herhand, the interesting boy was chasing a beautiful peacock in a garden, and you, madame, were under the trellis of some arbor. Pray come to myaid, madame; do not these circumstances appeal to your memory?"

"No, indeed, " replied Madame de Villefort; "and yet it appears to me, sir, that if I had met you anywhere, the recollection of you must havebeen imprinted on my memory. "

"Perhaps the count saw us in Italy, " said Valentine timidly.

"Yes, in Italy; it was in Italy most probably, " replied Monte Cristo;"you have travelled then in Italy, mademoiselle?"

"Yes; madame and I were there two years ago. The doctors, anxious formy lungs, had prescribed the air of Naples. We went by Bologna, Perugia, and Rome. "

"Ah, yes--true, mademoiselle, " exclaimed Monte Cristo as if this simpleexplanation was sufficient to revive the recollection he sought. "It wasat Perugia on Corpus Christi Day, in the garden of the Hotel des Postes, when chance brought us together; you, Madame de Villefort, and her son;I now remember having had the honor of meeting you. "

"I perfectly well remember Perugia, sir, and the Hotel des Postes, andthe festival of which you speak, " said Madame de Villefort, "but in vaindo I tax my memory, of whose treachery I am ashamed, for I really do notrecall to mind that I ever had the pleasure of seeing you before. "

"It is strange, but neither do I recollect meeting with you, " observedValentine, raising her beautiful eyes to the count.

"But I remember it perfectly, " interposed the darling Edward.

"I will assist your memory, madame, " continued the count; "the day hadbeen burning hot; you were waiting for horses, which were delayed inconsequence of the festival. Mademoiselle was walking in the shade ofthe garden, and your son disappeared in pursuit of the peacock. "

"And I caught it, mamma, don't you remember?" interposed Edward, "and Ipulled three such beautiful feathers out of his tail. "

"You, madame, remained under the arbor; do you not remember, that whileyou were seated on a stone bench, and while, as I told you, Mademoisellede Villefort and your young son were absent, you conversed for aconsiderable time with somebody?"

"Yes, in truth, yes, " answered the young lady, turning very red, "I doremember conversing with a person wrapped in a long woollen mantle; hewas a medical man, I think. "

"Precisely so, madame; this man was myself; for a fortnight I had beenat that hotel, during which period I had cured my valet de chambre ofa fever, and my landlord of the jaundice, so that I really acquired areputation as a skilful physician. We discoursed a long time, madame, ondifferent subjects; of Perugino, of Raffaelle, of manners, customs, ofthe famous aquatofana, of which they had told you, I think you said, that certain individuals in Perugia had preserved the secret. "

"Yes, true, " replied Madame de Villefort, somewhat uneasily, "I remembernow. "

"I do not recollect now all the various subjects of which we discoursed, madame, " continued the count with perfect calmness; "but I perfectlyremember that, falling into the error which others had entertainedrespecting me, you consulted me as to the health of Mademoiselle deVillefort. "

"Yes, really, sir, you were in fact a medical man, " said Madame deVillefort, "since you had cured the sick. "

"Moliere or Beaumarchais would reply to you, madame, that it wasprecisely because I was not, that I had cured my patients; for myself, I am content to say to you that I have studied chemistry and thenatural sciences somewhat deeply, but still only as an amateur, youunderstand. "--At this moment the clock struck six. "It is six o'clock, "said Madame de Villefort, evidently agitated. "Valentine, will you notgo and see if your grandpapa will have his dinner?" Valentine rose, andsaluting the count, left the apartment without speaking.

"Oh, madame, " said the count, when Valentine had left the room, "was iton my account that you sent Mademoiselle de Villefort away?"

"By no means, " replied the young lady quickly; "but this is the hourwhen we usually give M. Noirtier the unwelcome meal that sustains hispitiful existence. You are aware, sir, of the deplorable condition of myhusband's father?"

"Yes, madame, M. De Villefort spoke of it to me--a paralysis, I think. "

"Alas, yes; the poor old gentleman is entirely helpless; the mind aloneis still active in this human machine, and that is faint and flickering, like the light of a lamp about to expire. But excuse me, sir, fortalking of our domestic misfortunes; I interrupted you at the momentwhen you were telling me that you were a skilful chemist. "

"No, madame, I did not say as much as that, " replied the count with asmile; "quite the contrary. I have studied chemistry because, havingdetermined to live in eastern climates I have been desirous of followingthe example of King Mithridates. "

"Mithridates rex Ponticus, " said the young scamp, as he tore somebeautiful portraits out of a splendid album, "the individual who tookcream in his cup of poison every morning at breakfast. "

"Edward, you naughty boy, " exclaimed Madame de Villefort, snatchingthe mutilated book from the urchin's grasp, "you are positively pastbearing; you really disturb the conversation; go, leave us, and joinyour sister Valentine in dear grandpapa Noirtier's room. "

"The album, " said Edward sulkily.

"What do you mean?--the album!"

"I want the album. "

"How dare you tear out the drawings?"

"Oh, it amuses me. "

"Go--go at once. "

"I won't go unless you give me the album, " said the boy, seating himselfdoggedly in an arm-chair, according to his habit of never giving way.

"Take it, then, and pray disturb us no longer, " said Madame deVillefort, giving the album to Edward, who then went towards the door, led by his mother. The count followed her with his eyes.

"Let us see if she shuts the door after him, " he muttered. Madame deVillefort closed the door carefully after the child, the count appearingnot to notice her; then casting a scrutinizing glance around thechamber, the young wife returned to her chair, in which she seatedherself. "Allow me to observe, madame, " said the count, with that kindtone he could assume so well, "you are really very severe with that dearclever child. "

"Oh, sometimes severity is quite necessary, " replied Madame deVillefort, with all a mother's real firmness.

"It was his Cornelius Nepos that Master Edward was repeating when hereferred to King Mithridates, " continued the count, "and you interruptedhim in a quotation which proves that his tutor has by no means neglectedhim, for your son is really advanced for his years. "

"The fact is, count, " answered the mother, agreeably flattered, "he hasgreat aptitude, and learns all that is set before him. He has but onefault, he is somewhat wilful; but really, on referring for the momentto what he said, do you truly believe that Mithridates used theseprecautions, and that these precautions were efficacious?"

"I think so, madame, because I myself have made use of them, that Imight not be poisoned at Naples, at Palermo, and at Smyrna--that is tosay, on three several occasions when, but for these precautions, I musthave lost my life. "

"And your precautions were successful?"

"Completely so. "

"Yes, I remember now your mentioning to me at Perugia something of thissort. "

"Indeed?" said the count with an air of surprise, remarkably wellcounterfeited; "I really did not remember. "

"I inquired of you if poisons acted equally, and with the same effect, on men of the North as on men of the South; and you answered me that thecold and sluggish habits of the North did not present the same aptitudeas the rich and energetic temperaments of the natives of the South. "

"And that is the case, " observed Monte Cristo. "I have seen Russiansdevour, without being visibly inconvenienced, vegetable substances whichwould infallibly have killed a Neapolitan or an Arab. "

"And you really believe the result would be still more sure with usthan in the East, and in the midst of our fogs and rains a manwould habituate himself more easily than in a warm latitude to thisprogressive absorption of poison?"

"Certainly; it being at the same time perfectly understood that heshould have been duly fortified against the poison to which he had notbeen accustomed. "

"Yes, I understand that; and how would you habituate yourself, forinstance, or rather, how did you habituate yourself to it?"

"Oh, very easily. Suppose you knew beforehand the poison that wouldbe made use of against you; suppose the poison was, for instance, brucine"--

"Brucine is extracted from the false angostura [*] is it not?" inquiredMadame de Villefort.

"Precisely, madame, " replied Monte Cristo; "but I perceive I have notmuch to teach you. Allow me to compliment you on your knowledge; suchlearning is very rare among ladies. "

* Brucoea ferruginea.

"Oh, I am aware of that, " said Madame de Villefort; "but I have apassion for the occult sciences, which speak to the imagination likepoetry, and are reducible to figures, like an algebraic equation; but goon, I beg of you; what you say interests me to the greatest degree. "

"Well, " replied Monte Cristo "suppose, then, that this poison wasbrucine, and you were to take a milligramme the first day, twomilligrammes the second day, and so on. Well, at the end of ten days youwould have taken a centigramme, at the end of twenty days, increasinganother milligramme, you would have taken three hundred centigrammes;that is to say, a dose which you would support without inconvenience, and which would be very dangerous for any other person who had not takenthe same precautions as yourself. Well, then, at the end of a month, when drinking water from the same carafe, you would kill the personwho drank with you, without your perceiving, otherwise than from slightinconvenience, that there was any poisonous substance mingled with thiswater. "

"Do you know any other counter-poisons?"

"I do not. "

"I have often read, and read again, the history of Mithridates, " saidMadame de Villefort in a tone of reflection, "and had always consideredit a fable. "

"No, madame, contrary to most history, it is true; but what you tell me, madame, what you inquire of me, is not the result of a chance query, fortwo years ago you asked me the same questions, and said then, that for avery long time this history of Mithridates had occupied your mind. "

"True, sir. The two favorite studies of my youth were botany andmineralogy, and subsequently, when I learned that the use of simplesfrequently explained the whole history of a people, and the entire lifeof individuals in the East, as flowers betoken and symbolize a loveaffair, I have regretted that I was not a man, that I might have been aFlamel, a Fontana, or a Cabanis. "

"And the more, madame, " said Monte Cristo, "as the Orientals do notconfine themselves, as did Mithridates, to make a cuirass of hispoisons, but they also made them a dagger. Science becomes, in theirhands, not only a defensive weapon, but still more frequently anoffensive one; the one serves against all their physical sufferings, the other against all their enemies. With opium, belladonna, brucaea, snake-wood, and the cherry-laurel, they put to sleep all who stand intheir way. There is not one of those women, Egyptian, Turkish, orGreek, whom here you call 'good women, ' who do not know how, by means ofchemistry, to stupefy a doctor, and in psychology to amaze a confessor. "

"Really, " said Madame de Villefort, whose eyes sparkled with strangefire at this conversation.

"Oh, yes, indeed, madame, " continued Monte Cristo, "the secret dramasof the East begin with a love philtre and end with a death potion--beginwith paradise and end with--hell. There are as many elixirs of everykind as there are caprices and peculiarities in the physical and moralnature of humanity; and I will say further--the art of these chemistsis capable with the utmost precision to accommodate and proportion theremedy and the bane to yearnings for love or desires for vengeance. "

"But, sir, " remarked the young woman, "these Eastern societies, inthe midst of which you have passed a portion of your existence, areas fantastic as the tales that come from their strange land. A man caneasily be put out of the way there, then; it is, indeed, the Bagdad andBassora of the 'Thousand and One Nights. ' The sultans and viziers whorule over society there, and who constitute what in France we call thegovernment, are really Haroun-al-Raschids and Giaffars, who not onlypardon a poisoner, but even make him a prime minister, if his crime hasbeen an ingenious one, and who, under such circumstances, have the wholestory written in letters of gold, to divert their hours of idleness andennui. "

"By no means, madame; the fanciful exists no longer in the East. There, disguised under other names, and concealed under other costumes, arepolice agents, magistrates, attorneys-general, and bailiffs. Theyhang, behead, and impale their criminals in the most agreeable possiblemanner; but some of these, like clever rogues, have contrived to escapehuman justice, and succeed in their fraudulent enterprises by cunningstratagems. Amongst us a simpleton, possessed by the demon of hate orcupidity, who has an enemy to destroy, or some near relation to disposeof, goes straight to the grocer's or druggist's, gives a false name, which leads more easily to his detection than his real one, and underthe pretext that the rats prevent him from sleeping, purchases five orsix grammes of arsenic--if he is really a cunning fellow, he goes tofive or six different druggists or grocers, and thereby becomes onlyfive or six times more easily traced;--then, when he has acquired hisspecific, he administers duly to his enemy, or near kinsman, a dose ofarsenic which would make a mammoth or mastodon burst, and which, withoutrhyme or reason, makes his victim utter groans which alarm the entireneighborhood. Then arrive a crowd of policemen and constables. Theyfetch a doctor, who opens the dead body, and collects from the entrailsand stomach a quantity of arsenic in a spoon. Next day a hundrednewspapers relate the fact, with the names of the victim and themurderer. The same evening the grocer or grocers, druggist or druggists, come and say, 'It was I who sold the arsenic to the gentleman;' andrather than not recognize the guilty purchaser, they will recognizetwenty. Then the foolish criminal is taken, imprisoned, interrogated, confronted, confounded, condemned, and cut off by hemp or steel; or ifshe be a woman of any consideration, they lock her up for life. Thisis the way in which you Northerns understand chemistry, madame. Desrueswas, however, I must confess, more skilful. "

"What would you have, sir?" said the lady, laughing; "we do what we can. All the world has not the secret of the Medicis or the Borgias. "

"Now, " replied the count, shrugging his shoulders, "shall I tell you thecause of all these stupidities? It is because, at your theatres, by whatat least I could judge by reading the pieces they play, they see personsswallow the contents of a phial, or suck the button of a ring, andfall dead instantly. Five minutes afterwards the curtain falls, and thespectators depart. They are ignorant of the consequences of the murder;they see neither the police commissary with his badge of office, nor thecorporal with his four men; and so the poor fools believe that the wholething is as easy as lying. But go a little way from France--go eitherto Aleppo or Cairo, or only to Naples or Rome, and you will see peoplepassing by you in the streets--people erect, smiling, and fresh-colored, of whom Asmodeus, if you were holding on by the skirt of his mantle, would say, 'That man was poisoned three weeks ago; he will be a dead manin a month. '"

"Then, " remarked Madame de Villefort, "they have again discovered thesecret of the famous aquatofana that they said was lost at Perugia. "

"Ah, but madame, does mankind ever lose anything? The arts change aboutand make a tour of the world; things take a different name, and thevulgar do not follow them--that is all; but there is always the sameresult. Poisons act particularly on some organ or another--one on thestomach, another on the brain, another on the intestines. Well, thepoison brings on a cough, the cough an inflammation of the lungs, orsome other complaint catalogued in the book of science, which, however, by no means precludes it from being decidedly mortal; and if it werenot, would be sure to become so, thanks to the remedies applied byfoolish doctors, who are generally bad chemists, and which will act infavor of or against the malady, as you please; and then there is a humanbeing killed according to all the rules of art and skill, and ofwhom justice learns nothing, as was said by a terrible chemist of myacquaintance, the worthy Abbe Adelmonte of Taormina, in Sicily, who hasstudied these national phenomena very profoundly. "

"It is quite frightful, but deeply interesting, " said the young lady, motionless with attention. "I thought, I must confess, that these tales, were inventions of the Middle Ages. "

"Yes, no doubt, but improved upon by ours. What is the use of time, rewards of merit, medals, crosses, Monthyon prizes, if they do not leadsociety towards more complete perfection? Yet man will never be perfectuntil he learns to create and destroy; he does know how to destroy, andthat is half the battle. "

"So, " added Madame de Villefort, constantly returning to her object, "the poisons of the Borgias, the Medicis, the Renes, the Ruggieris, and later, probably, that of Baron de Trenck, whose story has been somisused by modern drama and romance"--

"Were objects of art, madame, and nothing more, " replied the count. "Doyou suppose that the real savant addresses himself stupidly to the mereindividual? By no means. Science loves eccentricities, leaps and bounds, trials of strength, fancies, if I may be allowed so to term them. Thus, for instance, the excellent Abbe Adelmonte, of whom I spoke just now, made in this way some marvellous experiments. "

"Really?"

"Yes; I will mention one to you. He had a remarkably fine garden, fullof vegetables, flowers, and fruit. From amongst these vegetables heselected the most simple--a cabbage, for instance. For three days hewatered this cabbage with a distillation of arsenic; on the third, thecabbage began to droop and turn yellow. At that moment he cut it. In theeyes of everybody it seemed fit for table, and preserved its wholesomeappearance. It was only poisoned to the Abbe Adelmonte. He then took thecabbage to the room where he had rabbits--for the Abbe Adelmonte hada collection of rabbits, cats, and guinea-pigs, fully as fine as hiscollection of vegetables, flowers, and fruit. Well, the Abbe Adelmontetook a rabbit, and made it eat a leaf of the cabbage. The rabbit died. What magistrate would find, or even venture to insinuate, anythingagainst this? What procureur has ever ventured to draw up an accusationagainst M. Magendie or M. Flourens, in consequence of the rabbits, cats, and guinea-pigs they have killed?--not one. So, then, the rabbit dies, and justice takes no notice. This rabbit dead, the Abbe Adelmonte hasits entrails taken out by his cook and thrown on the dunghill; on thisdunghill is a hen, who, pecking these intestines, is in her turn takenill, and dies next day. At the moment when she is struggling in theconvulsions of death, a vulture is flying by (there are a good manyvultures in Adelmonte's country); this bird darts on the dead fowl, and carries it away to a rock, where it dines off its prey. Three daysafterwards, this poor vulture, which has been very much indisposed sincethat dinner, suddenly feels very giddy while flying aloft in theclouds, and falls heavily into a fish-pond. The pike, eels, and carp eatgreedily always, as everybody knows--well, they feast on the vulture. Now suppose that next day, one of these eels, or pike, or carp, poisonedat the fourth remove, is served up at your table. Well, then, your guestwill be poisoned at the fifth remove, and die, at the end of eightor ten days, of pains in the intestines, sickness, or abscess of thepylorus. The doctors open the body and say with an air of profoundlearning, 'The subject has died of a tumor on the liver, or of typhoidfever!'"

"But, " remarked Madame de Villefort, "all these circumstances whichyou link thus to one another may be broken by the least accident; thevulture may not see the fowl, or may fall a hundred yards from thefish-pond. "

"Ah, that is where the art comes in. To be a great chemist in theEast, one must direct chance; and this is to be achieved. "--Madame deVillefort was in deep thought, yet listened attentively. "But, "she exclaimed, suddenly, "arsenic is indelible, indestructible; inwhatsoever way it is absorbed, it will be found again in the body of thevictim from the moment when it has been taken in sufficient quantity tocause death. "

"Precisely so, " cried Monte Cristo--"precisely so; and this is what Isaid to my worthy Adelmonte. He reflected, smiled, and replied to me bya Sicilian proverb, which I believe is also a French proverb, 'My son, the world was not made in a day--but in seven. Return on Sunday. ' Onthe Sunday following I did return to him. Instead of having watered hiscabbage with arsenic, he had watered it this time with a solution ofsalts, having their basis in strychnine, strychnos colubrina, as thelearned term it. Now, the cabbage had not the slightest appearance ofdisease in the world, and the rabbit had not the smallest distrust; yet, five minutes afterwards, the rabbit was dead. The fowl pecked at therabbit, and the next day was a dead hen. This time we were thevultures; so we opened the bird, and this time all special symptoms haddisappeared, there were only general symptoms. There was no peculiarindication in any organ--an excitement of the nervous system--that wasit; a case of cerebral congestion--nothing more. The fowl had not beenpoisoned--she had died of apoplexy. Apoplexy is a rare disease amongfowls, I believe, but very common among men. " Madame de Villefortappeared more and more thoughtful.

"It is very fortunate, " she observed, "that such substances could onlybe prepared by chemists; otherwise, all the world would be poisoningeach other. "

"By chemists and persons who have a taste for chemistry, " said MonteCristo carelessly.

"And then, " said Madame de Villefort, endeavoring by a struggle, andwith effort, to get away from her thoughts, "however skilfully it isprepared, crime is always crime, and if it avoid human scrutiny, it doesnot escape the eye of God. The Orientals are stronger than we are incases of conscience, and, very prudently, have no hell--that is thepoint. "

"Really, madame, this is a scruple which naturally must occur to a puremind like yours, but which would easily yield before sound reasoning. The bad side of human thought will always be defined by the paradox ofJean Jacques Rousseau, --you remember, --the mandarin who is killed fivehundred leagues off by raising the tip of the finger. Man's wholelife passes in doing these things, and his intellect is exhausted byreflecting on them. You will find very few persons who will go andbrutally thrust a knife in the heart of a fellow-creature, or willadminister to him, in order to remove him from the surface of the globeon which we move with life and animation, that quantity of arsenic ofwhich we just now talked. Such a thing is really out of rule--eccentricor stupid. To attain such a point, the blood must be heated tothirty-six degrees, the pulse be, at least, at ninety, and thefeelings excited beyond the ordinary limit. But suppose one pass, as ispermissible in philology, from the word itself to its softened synonym, then, instead of committing an ignoble assassination you make an'elimination;' you merely and simply remove from your path theindividual who is in your way, and that without shock or violence, without the display of the sufferings which, in the case of becoming apunishment, make a martyr of the victim, and a butcher, in every senseof the word, of him who inflicts them. Then there will be no blood, nogroans, no convulsions, and above all, no consciousness of that horridand compromising moment of accomplishing the act, --then one escapes theclutch of the human law, which says, 'Do not disturb society!' Thisis the mode in which they manage these things, and succeed in Easternclimes, where there are grave and phlegmatic persons who care verylittle for the questions of time in conjunctures of importance. "

"Yet conscience remains, " remarked Madame de Villefort in an agitatedvoice, and with a stifled sigh.

"Yes, " answered Monte Cristo "happily, yes, conscience does remain; andif it did not, how wretched we should be! After every action requiringexertion, it is conscience that saves us, for it supplies us with athousand good excuses, of which we alone are judges; and these reasons, howsoever excellent in producing sleep, would avail us but very littlebefore a tribunal, when we were tried for our lives. Thus RichardIII. , for instance, was marvellously served by his conscience after theputting away of the two children of Edward IV. ; in fact, he could say, 'These two children of a cruel and persecuting king, who have inheritedthe vices of their father, which I alone could perceive in theirjuvenile propensities--these two children are impediments in my way ofpromoting the happiness of the English people, whose unhappiness they(the children) would infallibly have caused. ' Thus was Lady Macbethserved by her conscience, when she sought to give her son, and not herhusband (whatever Shakespeare may say), a throne. Ah, maternal love is agreat virtue, a powerful motive--so powerful that it excuses a multitudeof things, even if, after Duncan's death, Lady Macbeth had been at allpricked by her conscience. "

Madame de Villefort listened with avidity to these appalling maxims andhorrible paradoxes, delivered by the count with that ironical simplicitywhich was peculiar to him. After a moment's silence, the lady inquired, "Do you know, my dear count, " she said, "that you are a very terriblereasoner, and that you look at the world through a somewhat distemperedmedium? Have you really measured the world by scrutinies, or throughalembics and crucibles? For you must indeed be a great chemist, and theelixir you administered to my son, which recalled him to life almostinstantaneously"--

"Oh, do not place any reliance on that, madame; one drop of that elixirsufficed to recall life to a dying child, but three drops would haveimpelled the blood into his lungs in such a way as to have producedmost violent palpitations; six would have suspended his respiration, andcaused syncope more serious than that in which he was; ten would havedestroyed him. You know, madame, how suddenly I snatched him from thosephials which he so imprudently touched?"

"Is it then so terrible a poison?"

"Oh, no. In the first place, let us agree that the word poison doesnot exist, because in medicine use is made of the most violent poisons, which become, according as they are employed, most salutary remedies. "

"What, then, is it?"

"A skilful preparation of my friend's the worthy Abbe Adelmonte, whotaught me the use of it. "

"Oh, " observed Madame de Villefort, "it must be an admirableanti-spasmodic. "

"Perfect, madame, as you have seen, " replied the count; "and Ifrequently make use of it--with all possible prudence though, be itobserved, " he added with a smile of intelligence.

"Most assuredly, " responded Madame de Villefort in the same tone. "Asfor me, so nervous, and so subject to fainting fits, I should requirea Doctor Adelmonte to invent for me some means of breathing freely andtranquillizing my mind, in the fear I have of dying some fine day ofsuffocation. In the meanwhile, as the thing is difficult to find inFrance, and your abbe is not probably disposed to make a journeyto Paris on my account, I must continue to use Monsieur Planche'santi-spasmodics; and mint and Hoffman's drops are among my favoriteremedies. Here are some lozenges which I have made up on purpose; theyare compounded doubly strong. " Monte Cristo opened the tortoise-shellbox, which the lady presented to him, and inhaled the odor of thelozenges with the air of an amateur who thoroughly appreciated theircomposition. "They are indeed exquisite, " he said; "but as they arenecessarily submitted to the process of deglutition--a function which itis frequently impossible for a fainting person to accomplish--I prefermy own specific. "

"Undoubtedly, and so should I prefer it, after the effects I have seenproduced; but of course it is a secret, and I am not so indiscreet as toask it of you. "

"But I, " said Monte Cristo, rising as he spoke--"I am gallant enough tooffer it you. "

"How kind you are. "

"Only remember one thing--a small dose is a remedy, a large one ispoison. One drop will restore life, as you have seen; five or six willinevitably kill, and in a way the more terrible inasmuch as, poured intoa glass of wine, it would not in the slightest degree affect its flavor. But I say no more, madame; it is really as if I were prescribing foryou. " The clock struck half-past six, and a lady was announced, a friendof Madame de Villefort, who came to dine with her.

"If I had had the honor of seeing you for the third or fourth time, count, instead of only for the second, " said Madame de Villefort; "ifI had had the honor of being your friend, instead of only having thehappiness of being under an obligation to you, I should insist ondetaining you to dinner, and not allow myself to be daunted by a firstrefusal. "

"A thousand thanks, madame, " replied Monte Cristo "but I have anengagement which I cannot break. I have promised to escort to theAcademie a Greek princess of my acquaintance who has never seen yourgrand opera, and who relies on me to conduct her thither. "

"Adieu, then, sir, and do not forget the prescription. "

"Ah, in truth, madame, to do that I must forget the hour's conversationI have had with you, which is indeed impossible. " Monte Cristo bowed, and left the house. Madame de Villefort remained immersed in thought. "He is a very strange man, " she said, "and in my opinion is himself theAdelmonte he talks about. " As to Monte Cristo the result had surpassedhis utmost expectations. "Good, " said he, as he went away; "this is afruitful soil, and I feel certain that the seed sown will not be caston barren ground. " Next morning, faithful to his promise, he sent theprescription requested.

Chapter 53. Robert le Diable.

The pretext of an opera engagement was so much the more feasible, asthere chanced to be on that very night a more than ordinary attractionat the Academie Royale. Levasseur, who had been suffering under severeillness, made his reappearance in the character of Bertrand, and, asusual, the announcement of the most admired production of the favoritecomposer of the day had attracted a brilliant and fashionable audience. Morcerf, like most other young men of rank and fortune, had hisorchestra stall, with the certainty of always finding a seat in at leasta dozen of the principal boxes occupied by persons of his acquaintance;he had, moreover, his right of entry into the omnibus box. Chateau-Renaud rented a stall beside his own, while Beauchamp, as ajournalist, had unlimited range all over the theatre. It happened thaton this particular night the minister's box was placed at the disposalof Lucien Debray, who offered it to the Comte de Morcerf, who again, upon his mother's rejection of it, sent it to Danglars, with anintimation that he should probably do himself the honor of joining thebaroness and her daughter during the evening, in the event of theiraccepting the box in question. The ladies received the offer with toomuch pleasure to dream of a refusal. To no class of persons is thepresentation of a gratuitous opera-box more acceptable than to thewealthy millionaire, who still hugs economy while boasting of carrying aking's ransom in his waistcoat pocket.

Danglars had, however, protested against showing himself in aministerial box, declaring that his political principles, and hisparliamentary position as member of the opposition party would notpermit him so to commit himself; the baroness had, therefore, despatcheda note to Lucien Debray, bidding him call for them, it being whollyimpossible for her to go alone with Eugenie to the opera. There is nogainsaying the fact that a very unfavorable construction would havebeen put upon the circumstance if the two women had gone without escort, while the addition of a third, in the person of her mother's admittedlover, enabled Mademoiselle Danglars to defy malice and ill-nature. Onemust take the world as one finds it.

The curtain rose, as usual, to an almost empty house, it being one ofthe absurdities of Parisian fashion never to appear at the operauntil after the beginning of the performance, so that the first act isgenerally played without the slightest attention being paid to it, that part of the audience already assembled being too much occupied inobserving the fresh arrivals, while nothing is heard but the noise ofopening and shutting doors, and the buzz of conversation. "Surely, " saidAlbert, as the door of a box on the first circle opened, "that must bethe Countess G----. "

"And who is the Countess G----?" inquired Chateau-Renaud.

"What a question! Now, do you know, baron, I have a great mind to pick aquarrel with you for asking it; as if all the world did not know who theCountess G---- was. "

"Ah, to be sure, " replied Chateau-Renaud; "the lovely Venetian, is itnot?"

"Herself. " At this moment the countess perceived Albert, andreturned his salutation with a smile. "You know her, it seems?" saidChateau-Renaud.

"Franz introduced me to her at Rome, " replied Albert.

"Well, then, will you do as much for me in Paris as Franz did for you inRome?"

"With pleasure. "

There was a cry of "Shut up!" from the audience. This manifestationon the part of the spectators of their wish to be allowed to hear themusic, produced not the slightest effect on the two young men, whocontinued their conversation. "The countess was present at the races inthe Champ-de-Mars, " said Chateau-Renaud.

"To-day?"

"Yes. "

"Bless me, I quite forgot the races. Did you bet?"

"Oh, merely a paltry fifty louis. "

"And who was the winner?"

"Nautilus. I staked on him. "

"But there were three races, were there not?"

"Yes; there was the prize given by the Jockey Club--a gold cup, youknow--and a very singular circumstance occurred about that race. "

"What was it?"

"Oh, shut up!" again interposed some of the audience.

"Why, it was won by a horse and rider utterly unknown on the course. "

"Is that possible?"

"True as day. The fact was, nobody had observed a horse entered by thename of Vampa, or that of a jockey styled Job, when, at the lastmoment, a splendid roan, mounted by a jockey about as big as your fist, presented themselves at the starting-post. They were obliged to stuff atleast twenty pounds weight of shot in the small rider's pockets, to makehim weight; but with all that he outstripped Ariel and Barbare, againstwhom he ran, by at least three whole lengths. "

"And was it not found out at last to whom the horse and jockeybelonged?"

"No. "

"You say that the horse was entered under the name of Vampa?"

"Exactly; that was the title. "

"Then, " answered Albert, "I am better informed than you are, and knowwho the owner of that horse was. "

"Shut up, there!" cried the pit in chorus. And this time the tone andmanner in which the command was given, betokened such growing hostilitythat the two young men perceived, for the first time, that the mandatewas addressed to them. Leisurely turning round, they calmly scrutinizedthe various countenances around them, as though demanding some oneperson who would take upon himself the responsibility of what theydeemed excessive impertinence; but as no one responded to the challenge, the friends turned again to the front of the theatre, and affectedto busy themselves with the stage. At this moment the door of theminister's box opened, and Madame Danglars, accompanied by her daughter, entered, escorted by Lucien Debray, who assiduously conducted them totheir seats.

"Ha, ha, " said Chateau-Renaud, "here comes some friends of yours, viscount! What are you looking at there? don't you see they are tryingto catch your eye?" Albert turned round, just in time to receive agracious wave of the fan from the baroness; as for Mademoiselle Eugenie, she scarcely vouchsafed to waste the glances of her large black eyeseven upon the business of the stage. "I tell you what, my dear fellow, "said Chateau-Renaud, "I cannot imagine what objection you can possiblyhave to Mademoiselle Danglars--that is, setting aside her want ofancestry and somewhat inferior rank, which by the way I don't thinkyou care very much about. Now, barring all that, I mean to say she is adeuced fine girl!"

"Handsome, certainly, " replied Albert, "but not to my taste, which Iconfess, inclines to something softer, gentler, and more feminine. "

"Ah, well, " exclaimed Chateau-Renaud, who because he had seen histhirtieth summer fancied himself duly warranted in assuming a sort ofpaternal air with his more youthful friend, "you young people are neversatisfied; why, what would you have more? your parents have chosen youa bride built on the model of Diana, the huntress, and yet you are notcontent. "

"No, for that very resemblance affrights me; I should have likedsomething more in the manner of the Venus of Milo or Capua; but thischase-loving Diana continually surrounded by her nymphs gives me a sortof alarm lest she should some day bring on me the fate of Actaeon. "

And, indeed, it required but one glance at Mademoiselle Danglars tocomprehend the justness of Morcerf's remark--she was beautiful, but herbeauty was of too marked and decided a character to please a fastidioustaste; her hair was raven black, but its natural waves seemed somewhatrebellious; her eyes, of the same color as her hair, were surmounted bywell-arched brows, whose great defect, however, consisted in an almosthabitual frown, while her whole physiognomy wore that expressionof firmness and decision so little in accordance with the gentlerattributes of her sex--her nose was precisely what a sculptor wouldhave chosen for a chiselled Juno. Her mouth, which might have been foundfault with as too large, displayed teeth of pearly whiteness, renderedstill more conspicuous by the brilliant carmine of her lips, contrastingvividly with her naturally pale complexion. But that which completed thealmost masculine look Morcerf found so little to his taste, was a darkmole, of much larger dimensions than these freaks of nature generallyare, placed just at the corner of her mouth; and the effect tendedto increase the expression of self-dependence that characterized hercountenance. The rest of Mademoiselle Eugenie's person was in perfectkeeping with the head just described; she, indeed, reminded one ofDiana, as Chateau-Renaud observed, but her bearing was more haughty andresolute. As regarded her attainments, the only fault to be found withthem was the same that a fastidious connoisseur might have found withher beauty, that they were somewhat too erudite and masculine for soyoung a person. She was a perfect linguist, a first-rate artist, wrotepoetry, and composed music; to the study of the latter she professed tobe entirely devoted, following it with an indefatigable perseverance, assisted by a schoolfellow, --a young woman without fortune whose talentpromised to develop into remarkable powers as a singer. It was rumoredthat she was an object of almost paternal interest to one of theprincipal composers of the day, who excited her to spare no pains in thecultivation of her voice, which might hereafter prove a source of wealthand independence. But this counsel effectually decided MademoiselleDanglars never to commit herself by being seen in public with onedestined for a theatrical life; and acting upon this principle, thebanker's daughter, though perfectly willing to allow Mademoiselle Louised'Armilly (that was the name of the young virtuosa) to practice withher through the day, took especial care not to be seen in her company. Still, though not actually received at the Hotel Danglars in the lightof an acknowledged friend, Louise was treated with far more kindness andconsideration than is usually bestowed on a governess.

The curtain fell almost immediately after the entrance of MadameDanglars into her box, the band quitted the orchestra for the accustomedhalf-hour's interval allowed between the acts, and the audience wereleft at liberty to promenade the salon or lobbies, or to pay and receivevisits in their respective boxes. Morcerf and Chateau-Renaud wereamongst the first to avail themselves of this permission. For an instantthe idea struck Madame Danglars that this eagerness on the part of theyoung viscount arose from his impatience to join her party, and shewhispered her expectations to her daughter, that Albert was hurrying topay his respects to them. Mademoiselle Eugenie, however, merely returneda dissenting movement of the head, while, with a cold smile, shedirected the attention of her mother to an opposite box on the firstcircle, in which sat the Countess G----, and where Morcerf had just madehis appearance. "So we meet again, my travelling friend, do we?"cried the countess, extending her hand to him with all the warmth andcordiality of an old acquaintance; "it was really very good of you torecognize me so quickly, and still more so to bestow your first visit onme. "

"Be assured, " replied Albert, "that if I had been aware of your arrivalin Paris, and had known your address, I should have paid my respectsto you before this. Allow me to introduce my friend, Baron deChateau-Renaud, one of the few true gentlemen now to be found in France, and from whom I have just learned that you were a spectator of the racesin the Champ-de-Mars, yesterday. " Chateau-Renaud bowed to the countess.

"So you were at the races, baron?" inquired the countess eagerly.

"Yes, madame. "

"Well, then, " pursued Madame G---- with considerable animation, "you canprobably tell me who won the Jockey Club stakes?"

"I am sorry to say I cannot, " replied the baron; "and I was just askingthe same question of Albert. "

"Are you very anxious to know, countess?" asked Albert.

"To know what?"

"The name of the owner of the winning horse?"

"Excessively; only imagine--but do tell me, viscount, whether you reallyare acquainted with it or no?"

"I beg your pardon, madame, but you were about to relate some story, were you not? You said, 'only imagine, '--and then paused. Praycontinue. "

"Well, then, listen. You must know I felt so interested in the splendidroan horse, with his elegant little rider, so tastefully dressed ina pink satin jacket and cap, that I could not help praying for theirsuccess with as much earnestness as though the half of my fortune wereat stake; and when I saw them outstrip all the others, and come to thewinning-post in such gallant style, I actually clapped my hands withjoy. Imagine my surprise, when, upon returning home, the first objectI met on the staircase was the identical jockey in the pink jacket! Iconcluded that, by some singular chance, the owner of the winning horsemust live in the same hotel as myself; but, as I entered my apartments, I beheld the very gold cup awarded as a prize to the unknown horse andrider. Inside the cup was a small piece of paper, on which were writtenthese words--'From Lord Ruthven to Countess G----. '"

"Precisely; I was sure of it, " said Morcerf.

"Sure of what?"

"That the owner of the horse was Lord Ruthven himself. "

"What Lord Ruthven do you mean?"

"Why, our Lord Ruthven--the Vampire of the Salle Argentino!"

"Is it possible?" exclaimed the countess; "is he here in Paris?"

"To be sure, --why not?"

"And you visit him?--meet him at your own house and elsewhere?"

"I assure you he is my most intimate friend, and M. De Chateau-Renaudhas also the honor of his acquaintance. "

"But why are you so sure of his being the winner of the Jockey Clubprize?"

"Was not the winning horse entered by the name of Vampa?"

"What of that?"

"Why, do you not recollect the name of the celebrated bandit by whom Iwas made prisoner?"

"Oh, yes. "

"And from whose hands the count extricated me in so wonderful a manner?"

"To be sure, I remember it all now. "

"He called himself Vampa. You see, it's evident where the count got thename. "

"But what could have been his motive for sending the cup to me?"

"In the first place, because I had spoken much of you to him, as you maybelieve; and in the second, because he delighted to see a countrywomantake so lively an interest in his success. "

"I trust and hope you never repeated to the count all the foolishremarks we used to make about him?"

"I should not like to affirm upon oath that I have not. Besides, hispresenting you the cup under the name of Lord Ruthven"--

"Oh, but that is dreadful! Why, the man must owe me a fearful grudge. "

"Does his action appear like that of an enemy?"

"No; certainly not. "

"Well, then"--

"And so he is in Paris?"

"Yes. "

"And what effect does he produce?"

"Why, " said Albert, "he was talked about for a week; then thecoronation of the queen of England took place, followed by the theft ofMademoiselle Mars's diamonds; and so people talked of something else. "

"My good fellow, " said Chateau-Renaud, "the count is your friend andyou treat him accordingly. Do not believe what Albert is telling you, countess; so far from the sensation excited in the Parisian circles bythe appearance of the Count of Monte Cristo having abated, I take uponmyself to declare that it is as strong as ever. His first astoundingact upon coming amongst us was to present a pair of horses, worth32, 000 francs, to Madame Danglars; his second, the almost miraculouspreservation of Madame de Villefort's life; now it seems that he hascarried off the prize awarded by the Jockey Club. I therefore maintain, in spite of Morcerf, that not only is the count the object of interestat this present moment, but also that he will continue to be so for amonth longer if he pleases to exhibit an eccentricity of conduct which, after all, may be his ordinary mode of existence. "

"Perhaps you are right, " said Morcerf; "meanwhile, who is in the Russianambassador's box?"

"Which box do you mean?" asked the countess.

"The one between the pillars on the first tier--it seems to have beenfitted up entirely afresh. "

"Did you observe any one during the first act?" asked Chateau-Renaud.

"Where?"

"In that box. "

"No, " replied the countess, "it was certainly empty during the firstact;" then, resuming the subject of their previous conversation, shesaid, "And so you really believe it was your mysterious Count of MonteCristo that gained the prize?"

"I am sure of it. "

"And who afterwards sent the cup to me?"

"Undoubtedly. "

"But I don't know him, " said the countess; "I have a great mind toreturn it. "

"Do no such thing, I beg of you; he would only send you another, formedof a magnificent sapphire, or hollowed out of a gigantic ruby. It ishis way, and you must take him as you find him. " At this moment thebell rang to announce the drawing up of the curtain for the second act. Albert rose to return to his place. "Shall I see you again?" asked thecountess. "At the end of the next act, with your permission, I will comeand inquire whether there is anything I can do for you in Paris?"

"Pray take notice, " said the countess, "that my present residence is22 Rue de Rivoli, and that I am at home to my friends every Saturdayevening. So now, you are both forewarned. " The young men bowed, andquitted the box. Upon reaching their stalls, they found the whole of theaudience in the parterre standing up and directing their gaze towardsthe box formerly possessed by the Russian ambassador. A man of fromthirty-five to forty years of age, dressed in deep black, had justentered, accompanied by a young woman dressed after the Eastern style. The lady was surpassingly beautiful, while the rich magnificence of herattire drew all eyes upon her. "Hullo, " said Albert; "it is Monte Cristoand his Greek!"

The strangers were, indeed, no other than the count and Haidee. In a fewmoments the young girl had attracted the attention of the whole house, and even the occupants of the boxes leaned forward to scrutinize hermagnificent diamonds. The second act passed away during one continuedbuzz of voices--one deep whisper--intimating that some great anduniversally interesting event had occurred; all eyes, all thoughts, wereoccupied with the young and beautiful woman, whose gorgeous apparel andsplendid jewels made a most extraordinary spectacle. Upon this occasionan unmistakable sign from Madame Danglars intimated her desire to seeAlbert in her box directly the curtain fell on the second act, andneither the politeness nor good taste of Morcerf would permit hisneglecting an invitation so unequivocally given. At the close of the acthe therefore went to the baroness. Having bowed to the two ladies, heextended his hand to Debray. By the baroness he was most graciouslywelcomed, while Eugenie received him with her accustomed coldness.

"My dear fellow, " said Debray, "you have come in the nick of time. There is madame overwhelming me with questions respecting the count; sheinsists upon it that I can tell her his birth, education, and parentage, where he came from, and whither he is going. Being no disciple ofCagliostro, I was wholly unable to do this; so, by way of getting outof the scrape, I said, 'Ask Morcerf; he has got the whole history ofhis beloved Monte Cristo at his fingers' ends;' whereupon the baronesssignified her desire to see you. "

"Is it not almost incredible, " said Madame Danglars, "that a personhaving at least half a million of secret-service money at his command, should possess so little information?"

"Let me assure you, madame, " said Lucien, "that had I really the sumyou mention at my disposal, I would employ it more profitably than introubling myself to obtain particulars respecting the Count of MonteCristo, whose only merit in my eyes consists in his being twice as richas a nabob. However, I have turned the business over to Morcerf, so praysettle it with him as may be most agreeable to you; for my own part, Icare nothing about the count or his mysterious doings. "

"I am very sure no nabob would have sent me a pair of horses worth32, 000 francs, wearing on their heads four diamonds valued at 5, 000francs each. "

"He seems to have a mania for diamonds, " said Morcerf, smiling, "and Iverily believe that, like Potemkin, he keeps his pockets filled, forthe sake of strewing them along the road, as Tom Thumb did his flintstones. "

"Perhaps he has discovered some mine, " said Madame Danglars. "I supposeyou know he has an order for unlimited credit on the baron's bankingestablishment?"

"I was not aware of it, " replied Albert, "but I can readily believe it. "

"And, further, that he stated to M. Danglars his intention of onlystaying a year in Paris, during which time he proposed to spend sixmillions.

"He must be the Shah of Persia, travelling incog. "

"Have you noticed the remarkable beauty of the young woman, M. Lucien?"inquired Eugenie.

"I really never met with one woman so ready to do justice to the charmsof another as yourself, " responded Lucien, raising his lorgnette to hiseye. "A most lovely creature, upon my soul!" was his verdict.

"Who is this young person, M. De Morcerf?" inquired Eugenie; "doesanybody know?"

"Mademoiselle, " said Albert, replying to this direct appeal, "I can giveyou very exact information on that subject, as well as on most pointsrelative to the mysterious person of whom we are now conversing--theyoung woman is a Greek. "

"So I should suppose by her dress; if you know no more than that, everyone here is as well-informed as yourself. "

"I am extremely sorry you find me so ignorant a cicerone, " repliedMorcerf, "but I am reluctantly obliged to confess, I have nothingfurther to communicate--yes, stay, I do know one thing more, namely, that she is a musician, for one day when I chanced to be breakfastingwith the count, I heard the sound of a guzla--it is impossible that itcould have been touched by any other finger than her own. "

"Then your count entertains visitors, does he?" asked Madame Danglars.

"Indeed he does, and in a most lavish manner, I can assure you. "

"I must try and persuade M. Danglars to invite him to a ball or dinner, or something of the sort, that he may be compelled to ask us in return. "

"What, " said Debray, laughing; "do you really mean you would go to hishouse?"

"Why not? my husband could accompany me. "

"But do you know this mysterious count is a bachelor?"

"You have ample proof to the contrary, if you look opposite, " said thebaroness, as she laughingly pointed to the beautiful Greek.

"No, no!" exclaimed Debray; "that girl is not his wife: he told ushimself she was his slave. Do you not recollect, Morcerf, his telling usso at your breakfast?"

"Well, then, " said the baroness, "if slave she be, she has all the airand manner of a princess. "

"Of the 'Arabian Nights'?"

"If you like; but tell me, my dear Lucien, what it is that constitutes aprincess. Why, diamonds--and she is covered with them. "

"To me she seems overloaded, " observed Eugenie; "she would look farbetter if she wore fewer, and we should then be able to see her finelyformed throat and wrists. "

"See how the artist peeps out!" exclaimed Madame Danglars. "My poorEugenie, you must conceal your passion for the fine arts. "

"I admire all that is beautiful, " returned the young lady.

"What do you think of the count?" inquired Debray; "he is not muchamiss, according to my ideas of good looks. "

"The count, " repeated Eugenie, as though it had not occurred to her toobserve him sooner; "the count?--oh, he is so dreadfully pale. "

"I quite agree with you, " said Morcerf; "and the secret of that verypallor is what we want to find out. The Countess G---- insists upon itthat he is a vampire. "

"Then the Countess G---- has returned to Paris, has she?" inquired thebaroness.

"Is that she, mamma?" asked Eugenie; "almost opposite to us, with thatprofusion of beautiful light hair?"

"Yes, " said Madame Danglars, "that is she. Shall I tell you what youought to do, Morcerf?"

"Command me, madame. "

"Well, then, you should go and bring your Count of Monte Cristo to us. "

"What for?" asked Eugenie.

"What for? Why, to converse with him, of course. Have you really nodesire to meet him?"

"None whatever, " replied Eugenie.

"Strange child, " murmured the baroness.

"He will very probably come of his own accord, " said Morcerf. "There; doyou see, madame, he recognizes you, and bows. " The baroness returned thesalute in the most smiling and graceful manner.

"Well, " said Morcerf, "I may as well be magnanimous, and tear myselfaway to forward your wishes. Adieu; I will go and try if there are anymeans of speaking to him. "

"Go straight to his box; that will be the simplest plan. "

"But I have never been presented. "

"Presented to whom?"

"To the beautiful Greek. "

"You say she is only a slave?"

"While you assert that she is a queen, or at least a princess. No; Ihope that when he sees me leave you, he will come out. "

"That is possible--go. "

"I am going, " said Albert, as he made his parting bow. Just as he waspassing the count's box, the door opened, and Monte Cristo came forth. After giving some directions to Ali, who stood in the lobby, the counttook Albert's arm. Carefully closing the box door, Ali placed himselfbefore it, while a crowd of spectators assembled round the Nubian.

"Upon my word, " said Monte Cristo, "Paris is a strange city, and theParisians a very singular people. See that cluster of persons collectedaround poor Ali, who is as much astonished as themselves; really onemight suppose he was the only Nubian they had ever beheld. Now I canpromise you, that a Frenchman might show himself in public, either inTunis, Constantinople, Bagdad, or Cairo, without being treated in thatway. "

"That shows that the Eastern nations have too much good sense to wastetheir time and attention on objects undeserving of either. However, asfar as Ali is concerned, I can assure you, the interest he excites ismerely from the circumstance of his being your attendant--you, who areat this moment the most celebrated and fashionable person in Paris. "

"Really? and what has procured me so fluttering a distinction?"

"What? why, yourself, to be sure! You give away horses worth a thousandlouis; you save the lives of ladies of high rank and beauty; under thename of Major Brack you run thoroughbreds ridden by tiny urchins notlarger than marmots; then, when you have carried off the golden trophyof victory, instead of setting any value on it, you give it to the firsthandsome woman you think of!"

"And who has filled your head with all this nonsense?"

"Why, in the first place, I heard it from Madame Danglars, who, by theby, is dying to see you in her box, or to have you seen there by others;secondly, I learned it from Beauchamp's journal; and thirdly, from myown imagination. Why, if you sought concealment, did you call your horseVampa?"

"That was an oversight, certainly, " replied the count; "but tell me, does the Count of Morcerf never visit the Opera? I have been looking forhim, but without success. "

"He will be here to-night. "

"In what part of the house?"

"In the baroness's box, I believe. "

"That charming young woman with her is her daughter?"

"Yes. "

"I congratulate you. " Morcerf smiled. "We will discuss that subject atlength some future time, " said he. "But what do you think of the music?"

"What music?"

"Why, the music you have been listening to. "

"Oh, it is well enough as the production of a human composer, sung byfeatherless bipeds, to quote the late Diogenes. "

"From which it would seem, my dear count, that you can at pleasure enjoythe seraphic strains that proceed from the seven choirs of paradise?"

"You are right, in some degree; when I wish to listen to sounds moreexquisitely attuned to melody than mortal ear ever yet listened to, I goto sleep. "

"Then sleep here, my dear count. The conditions are favorable; what elsewas opera invented for?"

"No, thank you. Your orchestra is too noisy. To sleep after the mannerI speak of, absolute calm and silence are necessary, and then a certainpreparation"--

"I know--the famous hashish!"

"Precisely. So, my dear viscount, whenever you wish to be regaled withmusic come and sup with me. "

"I have already enjoyed that treat when breakfasting with you, " saidMorcerf.

"Do you mean at Rome?"

"I do. "

"Ah, then, I suppose you heard Haidee's guzla; the poor exile frequentlybeguiles a weary hour in playing over to me the airs of her nativeland. " Morcerf did not pursue the subject, and Monte Cristo himself fellinto a silent reverie. The bell rang at this moment for the rising ofthe curtain. "You will excuse my leaving you, " said the count, turningin the direction of his box.

"What? Are you going?"

"Pray, say everything that is kind to Countess G---- on the part of herfriend the Vampire. "

"And what message shall I convey to the baroness!"

"That, with her permission, I shall do myself the honor of paying myrespects in the course of the evening. "

The third act had begun; and during its progress the Count of Morcerf, according to his promise, made his appearance in the box of MadameDanglars. The Count of Morcerf was not a person to excite eitherinterest or curiosity in a place of public amusement; his presence, therefore, was wholly unnoticed, save by the occupants of the box inwhich he had just seated himself. The quick eye of Monte Cristo however, marked his coming; and a slight though meaning smile passed over hislips. Haidee, whose soul seemed centred in the business of the stage, like all unsophisticated natures, delighted in whatever addressed itselfto the eye or ear.

The third act passed off as usual. Mesdemoiselles Noblet, Julie, andLeroux executed the customary pirouettes; Robert duly challenged thePrince of Granada; and the royal father of the princess Isabella, takinghis daughter by the hand, swept round the stage with majestic strides, the better to display the rich folds of his velvet robe and mantle. After which the curtain again fell, and the spectators poured forth fromthe theatre into the lobbies and salon. The count left his box, and amoment later was saluting the Baronne Danglars, who could not restraina cry of mingled pleasure and surprise. "You are welcome, count!" sheexclaimed, as he entered. "I have been most anxious to see you, that Imight repeat orally the thanks writing can so ill express. "

"Surely so trifling a circumstance cannot deserve a place in yourremembrance. Believe me, madame, I had entirely forgotten it. "

"But it is not so easy to forget, monsieur, that the very next dayafter your princely gift you saved the life of my dear friend, Madamede Villefort, which was endangered by the very animals your generosityrestored to me. "

"This time, at least, I do not deserve your thanks. It was Ali, myNubian slave, who rendered this service to Madame de Villefort. "

"Was it Ali, " asked the Count of Morcerf, "who rescued my son from thehands of bandits?"

"No, count, " replied Monte Cristo taking the hand held out to him by thegeneral; "in this instance I may fairly and freely accept your thanks;but you have already tendered them, and fully discharged your debt--ifindeed there existed one--and I feel almost mortified to find you stillreverting to the subject. May I beg of you, baroness, to honor me withan introduction to your daughter?"

"Oh, you are no stranger--at least not by name, " replied MadameDanglars, "and the last two or three days we have really talked ofnothing but you. Eugenie, " continued the baroness, turning towards herdaughter, "this is the Count of Monte Cristo. " The Count bowed, whileMademoiselle Danglars bent her head slightly. "You have a charming youngperson with you to-night, count, " said Eugenie. "Is she your daughter?"

"No, mademoiselle, " said Monte Cristo, astonished at the coolness andfreedom of the question. "She is a poor unfortunate Greek left under mycare. "

"And what is her name?"

"Haidee, " replied Monte Cristo.

"A Greek?" murmured the Count of Morcerf.

"Yes, indeed, count, " said Madame Danglars; "and tell me, did you eversee at the court of Ali Tepelini, whom you so gloriously and valiantlyserved, a more exquisite beauty or richer costume?"

"Did I hear rightly, monsieur, " said Monte Cristo "that you served atYanina?"

"I was inspector-general of the pasha's troops, " replied Morcerf; "andit is no secret that I owe my fortune, such as it is, to the liberalityof the illustrious Albanese chief. "

"But look!" exclaimed Madame Danglars.

"Where?" stammered Morcerf.

"There, " said Monte Cristo placing his arms around the count, andleaning with him over the front of the box, just as Haidee, whoseeyes were occupied in examining the theatre in search of her guardian, perceived his pale features close to Morcerf's face. It was as if theyoung girl beheld the head of Medusa. She bent forwards as though toassure herself of the reality of what she saw, then, uttering a faintcry, threw herself back in her seat. The sound was heard by the peopleabout Ali, who instantly opened the box-door. "Why, count, " exclaimedEugenie, "what has happened to your ward? she seems to have been takensuddenly ill. "

"Very probably, " answered the count. "But do not be alarmed on heraccount. Haidee's nervous system is delicately organized, and she ispeculiarly susceptible to the odors even of flowers--nay, there aresome which cause her to faint if brought into her presence. However, "continued Monte Cristo, drawing a small phial from his pocket, "I havean infallible remedy. " So saying, he bowed to the baroness and herdaughter, exchanged a parting shake of the hand with Debray and thecount, and left Madame Danglars' box. Upon his return to Haidee he foundher still very pale. As soon as she saw him she seized his hand; her ownhands were moist and icy cold. "Who was it you were talking with overthere?" she asked.

"With the Count of Morcerf, " answered Monte Cristo. "He tells me heserved your illustrious father, and that he owes his fortune to him. "

"Wretch!" exclaimed Haidee, her eyes flashing with rage; "he sold myfather to the Turks, and the fortune he boasts of was the price of histreachery! Did not you know that, my dear lord?"

"Something of this I heard in Epirus, " said Monte Cristo; "but theparticulars are still unknown to me. You shall relate them to me, mychild. They are, no doubt, both curious and interesting. "

"Yes, yes; but let us go. I feel as though it would kill me to remainlong near that dreadful man. " So saying, Haidee arose, and wrappingherself in her burnoose of white cashmire embroidered with pearls andcoral, she hastily quitted the box at the moment when the curtain wasrising upon the fourth act.

"Do you observe, " said the Countess G---- to Albert, who had returnedto her side, "that man does nothing like other people; he listens mostdevoutly to the third act of 'Robert le Diable, ' and when the fourthbegins, takes his departure. "

Chapter 54. A Flurry in Stocks.

Some days after this meeting, Albert de Morcerf visited the Count ofMonte Cristo at his house in the Champs Elysees, which had alreadyassumed that palace-like appearance which the count's princely fortuneenabled him to give even to his most temporary residences. He came torenew the thanks of Madame Danglars which had been already conveyed tothe count through the medium of a letter, signed "Baronne Danglars, nee Hermine de Servieux. " Albert was accompanied by Lucien Debray, who, joining in his friend's conversation, added some passing compliments, the source of which the count's talent for finesse easily enabled him toguess. He was convinced that Lucien's visit was due to a double feelingof curiosity, the larger half of which sentiment emanated from theRue de la Chaussee d'Antin. In short, Madame Danglars, not being ablepersonally to examine in detail the domestic economy and householdarrangements of a man who gave away horses worth 30, 000 francs and whowent to the opera with a Greek slave wearing diamonds to the amount of amillion of money, had deputed those eyes, by which she was accustomedto see, to give her a faithful account of the mode of life of thisincomprehensible person. But the count did not appear to suspect thatthere could be the slightest connection between Lucien's visit and thecuriosity of the baroness.

"You are in constant communication with the Baron Danglars?" the countinquired of Albert de Morcerf.

"Yes, count, you know what I told you?"

"All remains the same, then, in that quarter?"

"It is more than ever a settled thing, " said Lucien, --and, consideringthat this remark was all that he was at that time called upon to make, he adjusted the glass to his eye, and biting the top of his gold headedcane, began to make the tour of the apartment, examining the arms andthe pictures.

"Ah, " said Monte Cristo "I did not expect that the affair would be sopromptly concluded. "

"Oh, things take their course without our assistance. While we areforgetting them, they are falling into their appointed order; andwhen, again, our attention is directed to them, we are surprised atthe progress they have made towards the proposed end. My father and M. Danglars served together in Spain, my father in the army and M. Danglarsin the commissariat department. It was there that my father, ruined bythe revolution, and M. Danglars, who never had possessed any patrimony, both laid the foundations of their different fortunes. "

"Yes, " said Monte Cristo "I think M. Danglars mentioned that in a visitwhich I paid him; and, " continued he, casting a side-glance at Lucien, who was turning over the leaves of an album, "Mademoiselle Eugenie ispretty--I think I remember that to be her name. "

"Very pretty, or rather, very beautiful, " replied Albert, "but of thatstyle of beauty which I do not appreciate; I am an ungrateful fellow. "

"You speak as if you were already her husband. "

"Ah, " returned Albert, in his turn looking around to see what Lucien wasdoing.

"Really, " said Monte Cristo, lowering his voice, "you do not appear tome to be very enthusiastic on the subject of this marriage. "

"Mademoiselle Danglars is too rich for me, " replied Morcerf, "and thatfrightens me. "

"Bah, " exclaimed Monte Cristo, "that's a fine reason to give. Are younot rich yourself?"

"My father's income is about 50, 000 francs per annum; and he will giveme, perhaps, ten or twelve thousand when I marry. "

"That, perhaps, might not be considered a large sum, in Parisespecially, " said the count; "but everything does not depend on wealth, and it is a fine thing to have a good name, and to occupy a high stationin society. Your name is celebrated, your position magnificent; andthen the Comte de Morcerf is a soldier, and it is pleasing to seethe integrity of a Bayard united to the poverty of a Duguesclin;disinterestedness is the brightest ray in which a noble sword canshine. As for me, I consider the union with Mademoiselle Danglars a mostsuitable one; she will enrich you, and you will ennoble her. " Albertshook his head, and looked thoughtful. "There is still something else, "said he.

"I confess, " observed Monte Cristo, "that I have some difficulty incomprehending your objection to a young lady who is both rich andbeautiful. "

"Oh, " said Morcerf, "this repugnance, if repugnance it may be called, isnot all on my side. "

"Whence can it arise, then? for you told me your father desired themarriage. "

"It is my mother who dissents; she has a clear and penetrating judgment, and does not smile on the proposed union. I cannot account for it, butshe seems to entertain some prejudice against the Danglars. "

"Ah, " said the count, in a somewhat forced tone, "that may be easilyexplained; the Comtesse de Morcerf, who is aristocracy and refinementitself, does not relish the idea of being allied by your marriage withone of ignoble birth; that is natural enough. "

"I do not know if that is her reason, " said Albert, "but one thing Ido know, that if this marriage be consummated, it will render her quitemiserable. There was to have been a meeting six weeks ago in orderto talk over and settle the affair; but I had such a sudden attack ofindisposition"--

"Real?" interrupted the count, smiling.

"Oh, real enough, from anxiety doubtless, --at any rate they postponedthe matter for two months. There is no hurry, you know. I am not yettwenty-one, and Eugenie is only seventeen; but the two months expirenext week. It must be done. My dear count, you cannot imagine how mymind is harassed. How happy you are in being exempt from all this!"

"Well, and why should not you be free, too? What prevents you from beingso?"

"Oh, it will be too great a disappointment to my father if I do notmarry Mademoiselle Danglars. "

"Marry her then, " said the count, with a significant shrug of theshoulders.

"Yes, " replied Morcerf, "but that will plunge my mother into positivegrief. "

"Then do not marry her, " said the count.

"Well, I shall see. I will try and think over what is the best thingto be done; you will give me your advice, will you not, and if possibleextricate me from my unpleasant position? I think, rather than give painto my dear mother, I would run the risk of offending the count. " MonteCristo turned away; he seemed moved by this last remark. "Ah, " said heto Debray, who had thrown himself into an easy-chair at the farthestextremity of the salon, and who held a pencil in his right hand and anaccount book in his left, "what are you doing there? Are you making asketch after Poussin?"

"Oh, no, " was the tranquil response; "I am too fond of art to attemptanything of that sort. I am doing a little sum in arithmetic. "

"In arithmetic?"

"Yes; I am calculating--by the way, Morcerf, that indirectly concernsyou--I am calculating what the house of Danglars must have gained by thelast rise in Haiti bonds; from 206 they have risen to 409 in three days, and the prudent banker had purchased at 206; therefore he must have made300, 000 livres. "

"That is not his biggest scoop, " said Morcerf; "did he not make amillion in Spaniards this last year?"

"My dear fellow, " said Lucien, "here is the Count of Monte Cristo, whowill say to you, as the Italians do, --

"'Danaro e santita, Meta della meta. ' [*]

* "Money and sanctity, Each in a moiety.

"When they tell me such things, I only shrug my shoulders and saynothing. "

"But you were speaking of Haitians?" said Monte Cristo.

"Ah, Haitians, --that is quite another thing! Haitians are the ecarteof French stock-jobbing. We may like bouillotte, delight in whist, beenraptured with boston, and yet grow tired of them all; but we alwayscome back to ecarte--it is not only a game, it is a hors-d'oeuvre! M. Danglars sold yesterday at 405, and pockets 300, 000 francs. Had he butwaited till to-day, the price would have fallen to 205, and instead ofgaining 300, 000 francs, he would have lost 20 or 25, 000. "

"And what has caused the sudden fall from 409 to 206?" asked MonteCristo. "I am profoundly ignorant of all these stock-jobbing intrigues. "

"Because, " said Albert, laughing, "one piece of news follows another, and there is often great dissimilarity between them. "

"Ah, " said the count, "I see that M. Danglars is accustomed to play atgaining or losing 300, 000 francs in a day; he must be enormously rich. "

"It is not he who plays!" exclaimed Lucien; "it is Madame Danglars: sheis indeed daring. "

"But you who are a reasonable being, Lucien, and who knows howlittle dependence is to be placed on the news, since you are at thefountain-head, surely you ought to prevent it, " said Morcerf, with asmile.

"How can I, if her husband fails in controlling her?" asked Lucien; "youknow the character of the baroness--no one has any influence with her, and she does precisely what she pleases. "

"Ah, if I were in your place"--said Albert.

"Well?"

"I would reform her; it would be rendering a service to her futureson-in-law. "

"How would you set about it?"

"Ah, that would be easy enough--I would give her a lesson. "

"A lesson?"

"Yes. Your position as secretary to the minister renders your authoritygreat on the subject of political news; you never open your mouth butthe stockbrokers immediately stenograph your words. Cause her to lose ahundred thousand francs, and that would teach her prudence. "

"I do not understand, " stammered Lucien.

"It is very clear, notwithstanding, " replied the young man, with anartlessness wholly free from affectation; "tell her some fine morningan unheard-of piece of intelligence--some telegraphic despatch, ofwhich you alone are in possession; for instance, that Henri IV. Wasseen yesterday at Gabrielle's. That would boom the market; she willbuy heavily, and she will certainly lose when Beauchamp announces thefollowing day, in his gazette, 'The report circulated by some usuallywell-informed persons that the king was seen yesterday at Gabrielle'shouse, is totally without foundation. We can positively assert that hismajesty did not quit the Pont-Neuf. '" Lucien half smiled. MonteCristo, although apparently indifferent, had not lost one word of thisconversation, and his penetrating eye had even read a hidden secretin the embarrassed manner of the secretary. This embarrassment hadcompletely escaped Albert, but it caused Lucien to shorten his visit;he was evidently ill at ease. The count, in taking leave of him, saidsomething in a low voice, to which he answered, "Willingly, count; Iaccept. " The count returned to young Morcerf.

"Do you not think, on reflection, " said he to him, "that you have donewrong in thus speaking of your mother-in-law in the presence of M. Debray?"

"My dear count, " said Morcerf, "I beg of you not to apply that title soprematurely. "

"Now, speaking without any exaggeration, is your mother really so verymuch averse to this marriage?"

"So much so that the baroness very rarely comes to the house, and mymother, has not, I think, visited Madame Danglars twice in her wholelife. "

"Then, " said the count, "I am emboldened to speak openly to you. M. Danglars is my banker; M. De Villefort has overwhelmed me withpoliteness in return for a service which a casual piece of good fortuneenabled me to render him. I predict from all this an avalanche ofdinners and routs. Now, in order not to presume on this, and also to bebeforehand with them, I have, if agreeable to you, thought ofinviting M. And Madame Danglars, and M. And Madame de Villefort, tomy country-house at Auteuil. If I were to invite you and the Count andCountess of Morcerf to this dinner, I should give it the appearance ofbeing a matrimonial meeting, or at least Madame de Morcerf would lookupon the affair in that light, especially if Baron Danglars did me thehonor to bring his daughter. In that case your mother would hold me inaversion, and I do not at all wish that; on the contrary, I desire tostand high in her esteem. "

"Indeed, count, " said Morcerf, "I thank you sincerely for having used somuch candor towards me, and I gratefully accept the exclusion which youpropose. You say you desire my mother's good opinion; I assure you it isalready yours to a very unusual extent. "

"Do you think so?" said Monte Cristo, with interest.

"Oh, I am sure of it; we talked of you an hour after you left us theother day. But to return to what we were saying. If my mother could knowof this attention on your part--and I will venture to tell her--I amsure that she will be most grateful to you; it is true that my fatherwill be equally angry. " The count laughed. "Well, " said he to Morcerf, "but I think your father will not be the only angry one; M. And MadameDanglars will think me a very ill-mannered person. They know that Iam intimate with you--that you are, in fact; one of the oldest of myParisian acquaintances--and they will not find you at my house; theywill certainly ask me why I did not invite you. Be sure to provideyourself with some previous engagement which shall have a semblance ofprobability, and communicate the fact to me by a line in writing. Youknow that with bankers nothing but a written document will be valid. "

"I will do better than that, " said Albert; "my mother is wishing to goto the sea-side--what day is fixed for your dinner?"

"Saturday. "

"This is Tuesday--well, to-morrow evening we leave, and the day after weshall be at Treport. Really, count, you have a delightful way of settingpeople at their ease. "

"Indeed, you give me more credit than I deserve; I only wish to do whatwill be agreeable to you, that is all. "

"When shall you send your invitations?"

"This very day. "

"Well, I will immediately call on M. Danglars, and tell him that mymother and myself must leave Paris to-morrow. I have not seen you, consequently I know nothing of your dinner. "

"How foolish you are! Have you forgotten that M. Debray has just seenyou at my house?"

"Ah, true. "

"Fix it this way. I have seen you, and invited you without any ceremony, when you instantly answered that it would be impossible for you toaccept, as you were going to Treport. "

"Well, then, that is settled; but you will come and call on my motherbefore to-morrow?"

"Before to-morrow?--that will be a difficult matter to arrange, besides, I shall just be in the way of all the preparations for departure. "

"Well, you can do better. You were only a charming man before, but, ifyou accede to my proposal, you will be adorable. "

"What must I do to attain such sublimity?"

"You are to-day free as air--come and dine with me; we shall be asmall party--only yourself, my mother, and I. You have scarcely seen mymother; you shall have an opportunity of observing her more closely. She is a remarkable woman, and I only regret that there does not existanother like her, about twenty years younger; in that case, I assureyou, there would very soon be a Countess and Viscountess of Morcerf. Asto my father, you will not see him; he is officially engaged, and dineswith the chief referendary. We will talk over our travels; and you, whohave seen the whole world, will relate your adventures--you shall tellus the history of the beautiful Greek who was with you the othernight at the Opera, and whom you call your slave, and yet treat like aprincess. We will talk Italian and Spanish. Come, accept my invitation, and my mother will thank you. "

"A thousand thanks, " said the count, "your invitation is most gracious, and I regret exceedingly that it is not in my power to accept it. I amnot so much at liberty as you suppose; on the contrary, I have a mostimportant engagement. "

"Ah, take care, you were teaching me just now how, in case of aninvitation to dinner, one might creditably make an excuse. I require theproof of a pre-engagement. I am not a banker, like M. Danglars, but I amquite as incredulous as he is. "

"I am going to give you a proof, " replied the count, and he rang thebell.

"Humph, " said Morcerf, "this is the second time you have refused to dinewith my mother; it is evident that you wish to avoid her. " Monte Cristostarted. "Oh, you do not mean that, " said he; "besides, here comes theconfirmation of my assertion. " Baptistin entered, and remained standingat the door. "I had no previous knowledge of your visit, had I?"

"Indeed, you are such an extraordinary person, that I would not answerfor it. "

"At all events, I could not guess that you would invite me to dinner. "

"Probably not. "

"Well, listen, Baptistin, what did I tell you this morning when I calledyou into my laboratory?"

"To close the door against visitors as soon as the clock struck five, "replied the valet.

"What then?"

"Ah, my dear count, " said Albert.

"No, no, I wish to do away with that mysterious reputation that you havegiven me, my dear viscount; it is tiresome to be always acting Manfred. I wish my life to be free and open. Go on, Baptistin. "

"Then to admit no one except Major Bartolomeo Cavalcanti and his son. "

"You hear--Major Bartolomeo Cavalcanti--a man who ranks amongst the mostancient nobility of Italy, whose name Dante has celebrated in the tenthcanto of 'The Inferno, ' you remember it, do you not? Then there is hisson, Andrea, a charming young man, about your own age, viscount, bearing the same title as yourself, and who is making his entry into theParisian world, aided by his father's millions. The major will bring hisson with him this evening, the contino, as we say in Italy; he confideshim to my care. If he proves himself worthy of it, I will do what I canto advance his interests. You will assist me in the work, will you not?"

"Most undoubtedly. This Major Cavalcanti is an old friend of yours, then?"

"By no means. He is a perfect nobleman, very polite, modest, andagreeable, such as may be found constantly in Italy, descendants of veryancient families. I have met him several times at Florence, Bolognaand Lucca, and he has now communicated to me the fact of his arrival inParis. The acquaintances one makes in travelling have a sort of claim onone; they everywhere expect to receive the same attention which you oncepaid them by chance, as though the civilities of a passing hour werelikely to awaken any lasting interest in favor of the man in whosesociety you may happen to be thrown in the course of your journey. Thisgood Major Cavalcanti is come to take a second view of Paris, which heonly saw in passing through in the time of the Empire, when he was onhis way to Moscow. I shall give him a good dinner, he will confide hisson to my care, I will promise to watch over him, I shall let him followin whatever path his folly may lead him, and then I shall have done mypart. "

"Certainly; I see you are a model Mentor, " said Albert "Good-by, weshall return on Sunday. By the way, I have received news of Franz. "

"Have you? Is he still amusing himself in Italy?"

"I believe so; however, he regrets your absence extremely. He says youwere the sun of Rome, and that without you all appears dark and cloudy;I do not know if he does not even go so far as to say that it rains. "

"His opinion of me is altered for the better, then?"

"No, he still persists in looking upon you as the most incomprehensibleand mysterious of beings. "

"He is a charming young man, " said Monte Cristo "and I felt a livelyinterest in him the very first evening of my introduction, when I methim in search of a supper, and prevailed upon him to accept a portion ofmine. He is, I think, the son of General d'Epinay?"

"He is. "

"The same who was so shamefully assassinated in 1815?"

"By the Bonapartists. "

"Yes. Really I like him extremely; is there not also a matrimonialengagement contemplated for him?"

"Yes, he is to marry Mademoiselle de Villefort. "

"Indeed?"

"And you know I am to marry Mademoiselle Danglars, " said Albert, laughing.

"You smile. "

"Yes. "

"Why do you do so?"

"I smile because there appears to me to be about as much inclination forthe consummation of the engagement in question as there is for my own. But really, my dear count, we are talking as much of women as they do ofus; it is unpardonable. " Albert rose.

"Are you going?"

"Really, that is a good idea!--two hours have I been boring you to deathwith my company, and then you, with the greatest politeness, ask me if Iam going. Indeed, count, you are the most polished man in the world. And your servants, too, how very well behaved they are; there is quite astyle about them. Monsieur Baptistin especially; I could never get sucha man as that. My servants seem to imitate those you sometimes see in aplay, who, because they have only a word or two to say, aquit themselvesin the most awkward manner possible. Therefore, if you part with M. Baptistin, give me the refusal of him. "

"By all means. "

"That is not all; give my compliments to your illustrious Luccanese, Cavalcante of the Cavalcanti; and if by any chance he should be wishingto establish his son, find him a wife very rich, very noble on hermother's side at least, and a baroness in right of her father, I willhelp you in the search. "

"Ah, ha; you will do as much as that, will you?"

"Yes. "

"Well, really, nothing is certain in this world. "

"Oh, count, what a service you might render me! I should like you ahundred times better if, by your intervention, I could manage to remaina bachelor, even were it only for ten years. "

"Nothing is impossible, " gravely replied Monte Cristo; and taking leaveof Albert, he returned into the house, and struck the gong three times. Bertuccio appeared. "Monsieur Bertuccio, you understand that I intendentertaining company on Saturday at Auteuil. " Bertuccio slightlystarted. "I shall require your services to see that all be properlyarranged. It is a beautiful house, or at all events may be made so. "

"There must be a good deal done before it can deserve that title, yourexcellency, for the tapestried hangings are very old. "

"Let them all be taken away and changed, then, with the exception ofthe sleeping-chamber which is hung with red damask; you will leavethat exactly as it is. " Bertuccio bowed. "You will not touch the gardeneither; as to the yard, you may do what you please with it; I shouldprefer that being altered beyond all recognition. "

"I will do everything in my power to carry out your wishes, yourexcellency. I should be glad, however, to receive your excellency'scommands concerning the dinner. "

"Really, my dear M. Bertuccio, " said the count, "since you have beenin Paris, you have become quite nervous, and apparently out of yourelement; you no longer seem to understand me. "

"But surely your excellency will be so good as to inform me whom you areexpecting to receive?"

"I do not yet know myself, neither is it necessary that you should doso. 'Lucullus dines with Lucullus, ' that is quite sufficient. " Bertucciobowed, and left the room.

Chapter 55. Major Cavalcanti.

Both the count and Baptistin had told the truth when they announced toMorcerf the proposed visit of the major, which had served Monte Cristoas a pretext for declining Albert's invitation. Seven o'clock had juststruck, and M. Bertuccio, according to the command which had been givenhim, had two hours before left for Auteuil, when a cab stopped at thedoor, and after depositing its occupant at the gate, immediately hurriedaway, as if ashamed of its employment. The visitor was about fifty-twoyears of age, dressed in one of the green surtouts, ornamented withblack frogs, which have so long maintained their popularity all overEurope. He wore trousers of blue cloth, boots tolerably clean, but notof the brightest polish, and a little too thick in the soles, buckskingloves, a hat somewhat resembling in shape those usually worn bythe gendarmes, and a black cravat striped with white, which, if theproprietor had not worn it of his own free will, might have passed for ahalter, so much did it resemble one. Such was the picturesque costume ofthe person who rang at the gate, and demanded if it was not at No. 30 inthe Avenue des Champs-Elysees that the Count of Monte Cristo lived, andwho, being answered by the porter in the affirmative, entered, closedthe gate after him, and began to ascend the steps.

The small and angular head of this man, his white hair and thick graymustaches, caused him to be easily recognized by Baptistin, who hadreceived an exact description of the expected visitor, and who wasawaiting him in the hall. Therefore, scarcely had the stranger time topronounce his name before the count was apprised of his arrival. He wasushered into a simple and elegant drawing-room, and the count rose tomeet him with a smiling air. "Ah, my dear sir, you are most welcome; Iwas expecting you. "

"Indeed, " said the Italian, "was your excellency then aware of myvisit?"

"Yes; I had been told that I should see you to-day at seven o'clock. "

"Then you have received full information concerning my arrival?"

"Of course. "

"Ah, so much the better, I feared this little precaution might have beenforgotten. "

"What precaution?"

"That of informing you beforehand of my coming. "

"Oh, no, it has not. "

"But you are sure you are not mistaken. "

"Very sure. "

"It really was I whom your excellency expected at seven o'clock thisevening?"

"I will prove it to you beyond a doubt. "

"Oh, no, never mind that, " said the Italian; "it is not worth thetrouble. "

"Yes, yes, " said Monte Cristo. His visitor appeared slightly uneasy. "Let me see, " said the count; "are you not the Marquis BartolomeoCavalcanti?"

"Bartolomeo Cavalcanti, " joyfully replied the Italian; "yes, I am reallyhe. "

"Ex-major in the Austrian service?"

"Was I a major?" timidly asked the old soldier.

"Yes, " said Monte Cristo "you were a major; that is the title the Frenchgive to the post which you filled in Italy. "

"Very good, " said the major, "I do not demand more, you understand"--

"Your visit here to-day is not of your own suggestion, is it?" saidMonte Cristo.

"No, certainly not. "

"You were sent by some other person?"

"Yes. "

"By the excellent Abbe Busoni?"

"Exactly so, " said the delighted major.

"And you have a letter?"

"Yes, there it is. "

"Give it me, then;" and Monte Cristo took the letter, which he openedand read. The major looked at the count with his large staring eyes, and then took a survey of the apartment, but his gaze almost immediatelyreverted to the proprietor of the room. "Yes, yes, I see. 'MajorCavalcanti, a worthy patrician of Lucca, a descendant of the Cavalcantiof Florence, '" continued Monte Cristo, reading aloud, "'possessing anincome of half a million. '" Monte Cristo raised his eyes from the paper, and bowed. "Half a million, " said he, "magnificent!"

"Half a million, is it?" said the major.

"Yes, in so many words; and it must be so, for the abbe knows correctlythe amount of all the largest fortunes in Europe. "

"Be it half a million, then; but on my word of honor, I had no idea thatit was so much. "

"Because you are robbed by your steward. You must make some reformationin that quarter. "

"You have opened my eyes, " said the Italian gravely; "I will show thegentlemen the door. " Monte Cristo resumed the perusal of the letter:--

"'And who only needs one thing more to make him happy. '"

"Yes, indeed but one!" said the major with a sigh.

"'Which is to recover a lost and adored son. '"

"A lost and adored son!"

"'Stolen away in his infancy, either by an enemy of his noble family orby the gypsies. '"

"At the age of five years!" said the major with a deep sigh, and raisinghis eye to heaven.

"Unhappy father, " said Monte Cristo. The count continued:--

"'I have given him renewed life and hope, in the assurance that you havethe power of restoring the son whom he has vainly sought for fifteenyears. '" The major looked at the count with an indescribable expressionof anxiety. "I have the power of so doing, " said Monte Cristo. The majorrecovered his self-possession. "So, then, " said he, "the letter was trueto the end?"

"Did you doubt it, my dear Monsieur Bartolomeo?"

"No, indeed; certainly not; a good man, a man holding religious office, as does the Abbe Busoni, could not condescend to deceive or play off ajoke; but your excellency has not read all. "

"Ah, true, " said Monte Cristo "there is a postscript. "

"Yes, yes, " repeated the major, "yes--there--is--a--postscript. "

"'In order to save Major Cavalcanti the trouble of drawing on hisbanker, I send him a draft for 2, 000 francs to defray his travellingexpenses, and credit on you for the further sum of 48, 000 francs, whichyou still owe me. '" The major awaited the conclusion of the postscript, apparently with great anxiety. "Very good, " said the count.

"He said 'very good, '" muttered the major, "then--sir"--replied he.

"Then what?" asked Monte Cristo.

"Then the postscript"--

"Well; what of the postscript?"

"Then the postscript is as favorably received by you as the rest of theletter?"

"Certainly; the Abbe Busoni and myself have a small account open betweenus. I do not remember if it is exactly 48, 000. Francs, which I am stillowing him, but I dare say we shall not dispute the difference. Youattached great importance, then, to this postscript, my dear MonsieurCavalcanti?"

"I must explain to you, " said the major, "that, fully confiding in thesignature of the Abbe Busoni, I had not provided myself with any otherfunds; so that if this resource had failed me, I should have foundmyself very unpleasantly situated in Paris. "

"Is it possible that a man of your standing should be embarrassedanywhere?" said Monte Cristo.

"Why, really I know no one, " said the major.

"But then you yourself are known to others?"

"Yes, I am known, so that"--

"Proceed, my dear Monsieur Cavalcanti. "

"So that you will remit to me these 48, 000 francs?"

"Certainly, at your first request. " The major's eyes dilated withpleasing astonishment. "But sit down, " said Monte Cristo; "really Ido not know what I have been thinking of--I have positively kept youstanding for the last quarter of an hour. "

"Don't mention it. " The major drew an arm-chair towards him, andproceeded to seat himself.

"Now, " said the count, "what will you take--a glass of port, sherry, orAlicante?"

"Alicante, if you please; it is my favorite wine. "

"I have some that is very good. You will take a biscuit with it, willyou not?"

"Yes, I will take a biscuit, as you are so obliging. "

Monte Cristo rang; Baptistin appeared. The count advanced to meet him. "Well?" said he in a low voice. "The young man is here, " said the valetde chambre in the same tone.

"Into what room did you take him?"

"Into the blue drawing-room, according to your excellency's orders. "

"That's right; now bring the Alicante and some biscuits. "

Baptistin left the room. "Really, " said the major, "I am quite ashamedof the trouble I am giving you. "

"Pray don't mention such a thing, " said the count. Baptistin re-enteredwith glasses, wine, and biscuits. The count filled one glass, but in theother he only poured a few drops of the ruby-colored liquid. The bottlewas covered with spiders' webs, and all the other signs which indicatethe age of wine more truly than do wrinkles on a man's face. The majormade a wise choice; he took the full glass and a biscuit. The count toldBaptistin to leave the plate within reach of his guest, who began bysipping the Alicante with an expression of great satisfaction, and thendelicately steeped his biscuit in the wine.

"So, sir, you lived at Lucca, did you? You were rich, noble, held ingreat esteem--had all that could render a man happy?"

"All, " said the major, hastily swallowing his biscuit, "positively all. "

"And yet there was one thing wanting in order to complete yourhappiness?"

"Only one thing, " said the Italian.

"And that one thing, your lost child. "

"Ah, " said the major, taking a second biscuit, "that consummation ofmy happiness was indeed wanting. " The worthy major raised his eyes toheaven and sighed.

"Let me hear, then, " said the count, "who this deeply regretted son was;for I always understood you were a bachelor. "

"That was the general opinion, sir, " said the major, "and I"--

"Yes, " replied the count, "and you confirmed the report. A youthfulindiscretion, I suppose, which you were anxious to conceal from theworld at large?" The major recovered himself, and resumed his usual calmmanner, at the same time casting his eyes down, either to give himselftime to compose his countenance, or to assist his imagination, all thewhile giving an under-look at the count, the protracted smile on whoselips still announced the same polite curiosity. "Yes, " said the major, "I did wish this fault to be hidden from every eye. "

"Not on your own account, surely, " replied Monte Cristo; "for a man isabove that sort of thing?"

"Oh, no, certainly not on my own account, " said the major with a smileand a shake of the head.

"But for the sake of the mother?" said the count.

"Yes, for the mother's sake--his poor mother!" cried the major, taking athird biscuit.

"Take some more wine, my dear Cavalcanti, " said the count, pouring outfor him a second glass of Alicante; "your emotion has quite overcomeyou. "

"His poor mother, " murmured the major, trying to get the lachrymal glandin operation, so as to moisten the corner of his eye with a false tear.

"She belonged to one of the first families in Italy, I think, did shenot?"

"She was of a noble family of Fiesole, count. "

"And her name was"--

"Do you desire to know her name?"--

"Oh, " said Monte Cristo "it would be quite superfluous for you to tellme, for I already know it. "

"The count knows everything, " said the Italian, bowing.

"Oliva Corsinari, was it not?"

"Oliva Corsinari. "

"A marchioness?"

"A marchioness. "

"And you married her at last, notwithstanding the opposition of herfamily?"

"Yes, that was the way it ended. "

"And you have doubtless brought all your papers with you?" said MonteCristo.

"What papers?"

"The certificate of your marriage with Oliva Corsinari, and the registerof your child's birth. "

"The register of my child's birth?"

"The register of the birth of Andrea Cavalcanti--of your son; is not hisname Andrea?"

"I believe so, " said the major.

"What? You believe so?"

"I dare not positively assert it, as he has been lost for so long atime. "

"Well, then, " said Monte Cristo "you have all the documents with you?"

"Your excellency, I regret to say that, not knowing it was necessary tocome provided with these papers, I neglected to bring them. "

"That is unfortunate, " returned Monte Cristo.

"Were they, then, so necessary?"

"They were indispensable. "

The major passed his hand across his brow. "Ah, per Bacco, indispensable, were they?"

"Certainly they were; supposing there were to be doubts raised as to thevalidity of your marriage or the legitimacy of your child?"

"True, " said the major, "there might be doubts raised. "

"In that case your son would be very unpleasantly situated. "

"It would be fatal to his interests. "

"It might cause him to fail in some desirable matrimonial alliance. "

"O peccato!"

"You must know that in France they are very particular on these points;it is not sufficient, as in Italy, to go to the priest and say, 'We loveeach other, and want you to marry us. ' Marriage is a civil affair inFrance, and in order to marry in an orthodox manner you must have paperswhich undeniably establish your identity. "

"That is the misfortune! You see I have not these necessary papers. "

"Fortunately, I have them, though, " said Monte Cristo.

"You?"

"Yes. "

"You have them?"

"I have them. "

"Ah, indeed?" said the major, who, seeing the object of his journeyfrustrated by the absence of the papers, feared also that hisforgetfulness might give rise to some difficulty concerning the 48, 000francs--"ah, indeed, that is a fortunate circumstance; yes, that reallyis lucky, for it never occurred to me to bring them. "

"I do not at all wonder at it--one cannot think of everything; but, happily, the Abbe Busoni thought for you. "

"He is an excellent person. "

"He is extremely prudent and thoughtful. "

"He is an admirable man, " said the major; "and he sent them to you?"

"Here they are. "

The major clasped his hands in token of admiration. "You married OlivaCorsinari in the church of San Paolo del Monte-Cattini; here is thepriest's certificate. "

"Yes indeed, there it is truly, " said the Italian, looking on withastonishment.

"And here is Andrea Cavalcanti's baptismal register, given by the curateof Saravezza. "

"All quite correct. "

"Take these documents, then; they do not concern me. You will give themto your son, who will, of course, take great care of them. "

"I should think so, indeed! If he were to lose them"--

"Well, and if he were to lose them?" said Monte Cristo.

"In that case, " replied the major, "it would be necessary to write tothe curate for duplicates, and it would be some time before they couldbe obtained. "

"It would be a difficult matter to arrange, " said Monte Cristo.

"Almost an impossibility, " replied the major.

"I am very glad to see that you understand the value of these papers. "

"I regard them as invaluable. "

"Now, " said Monte Cristo "as to the mother of the young man"--

"As to the mother of the young man"--repeated the Italian, with anxiety.

"As regards the Marchesa Corsinari"--

"Really, " said the major, "difficulties seem to thicken upon us; willshe be wanted in any way?"

"No, sir, " replied Monte Cristo; "besides, has she not"--

"Yes, sir, " said the major, "she has"--

"Paid the last debt of nature?"

"Alas, yes, " returned the Italian.

"I knew that, " said Monte Cristo; "she has been dead these ten years. "

"And I am still mourning her loss, " exclaimed the major, drawing fromhis pocket a checked handkerchief, and alternately wiping first the leftand then the right eye.

"What would you have?" said Monte Cristo; "we are all mortal. Now, youunderstand, my dear Monsieur Cavalcanti, that it is useless for you totell people in France that you have been separated from your son forfifteen years. Stories of gypsies, who steal children, are not at all invogue in this part of the world, and would not be believed. You sent himfor his education to a college in one of the provinces, and now you wishhim to complete his education in the Parisian world. That is the reasonwhich has induced you to leave Via Reggio, where you have lived sincethe death of your wife. That will be sufficient. "

"You think so?"

"Certainly. "

"Very well, then. "

"If they should hear of the separation"--

"Ah, yes; what could I say?"

"That an unfaithful tutor, bought over by the enemies of your family"--

"By the Corsinari?"

"Precisely. Had stolen away this child, in order that your name mightbecome extinct. "

"That is reasonable, since he is an only son. "

"Well, now that all is arranged, do not let these newly awakenedremembrances be forgotten. You have, doubtless, already guessed that Iwas preparing a surprise for you?"

"An agreeable one?" asked the Italian.

"Ah, I see the eye of a father is no more to be deceived than hisheart. "

"Hum!" said the major.

"Some one has told you the secret; or, perhaps, you guessed that he washere. "

"That who was here?"

"Your child--your son--your Andrea!"

"I did guess it, " replied the major with the greatest possible coolness. "Then he is here?"

"He is, " said Monte Cristo; "when the valet de chambre came in just now, he told me of his arrival. "

"Ah, very well, very well, " said the major, clutching the buttons of hiscoat at each exclamation.

"My dear sir, " said Monte Cristo, "I understand your emotion; you musthave time to recover yourself. I will, in the meantime, go and preparethe young man for this much-desired interview, for I presume that he isnot less impatient for it than yourself. "

"I should quite imagine that to be the case, " said Cavalcanti.

"Well, in a quarter of an hour he shall be with you. "

"You will bring him, then? You carry your goodness so far as even topresent him to me yourself?"

"No; I do not wish to come between a father and son. Your interview willbe private. But do not be uneasy; even if the powerful voice of natureshould be silent, you cannot well mistake him; he will enter by thisdoor. He is a fine young man, of fair complexion--a little too fair, perhaps--pleasing in manners; but you will see and judge for yourself. "

"By the way, " said the major, "you know I have only the 2, 000 francswhich the Abbe Busoni sent me; this sum I have expended upon travellingexpenses, and"--

"And you want money; that is a matter of course, my dear M. Cavalcanti. Well, here are 8, 000 francs on account. "

The major's eyes sparkled brilliantly.

"It is 40, 000 francs which I now owe you, " said Monte Cristo.

"Does your excellency wish for a receipt?" said the major, at the sametime slipping the money into the inner pocket of his coat.

"For what?" said the count.

"I thought you might want it to show the Abbe Busoni. "

"Well, when you receive the remaining 40, 000, you shall give me areceipt in full. Between honest men such excessive precaution is, Ithink, quite unnecessary. "

"Yes, so it is, between perfectly upright people. "

"One word more, " said Monte Cristo.

"Say on. "

"You will permit me to make one remark?"

"Certainly; pray do so. "

"Then I should advise you to leave off wearing that style of dress. "

"Indeed, " said the major, regarding himself with an air of completesatisfaction.

"Yes. It may be worn at Via Reggio; but that costume, however elegant initself, has long been out of fashion in Paris. "

"That's unfortunate. "

"Oh, if you really are attached to your old mode of dress; you caneasily resume it when you leave Paris. "

"But what shall I wear?"

"What you find in your trunks. "

"In my trunks? I have but one portmanteau. "

"I dare say you have nothing else with you. What is the use of boringone's self with so many things? Besides an old soldier always likes tomarch with as little baggage as possible. "

"That is just the case--precisely so. "

"But you are a man of foresight and prudence, therefore you sent yourluggage on before you. It has arrived at the Hotel des Princes, Rue deRichelieu. It is there you are to take up your quarters. "

"Then, in these trunks"--

"I presume you have given orders to your valet de chambre to put in allyou are likely to need, --your plain clothes and your uniform. On grandoccasions you must wear your uniform; that will look very well. Do notforget your crosses. They still laugh at them in France, and yet alwayswear them, for all that. "

"Very well, very well, " said the major, who was in ecstasy at theattention paid him by the count.

"Now, " said Monte Cristo, "that you have fortified yourself against allpainful excitement, prepare yourself, my dear M. Cavalcanti, to meetyour lost Andrea. " Saying which Monte Cristo bowed, and disappearedbehind the tapestry, leaving the major fascinated beyond expressionwith the delightful reception which he had received at the hands of thecount.