Towards the beginning of the year 1838, two young menbelonging to the first society of Paris, the Vicomte Albertde Morcerf and the Baron Franz d'Epinay, were at Florence.They had agreed to see the Carnival at Rome that year, andthat Franz, who for the last three or four years hadinhabited Italy, should act as cicerone to Albert. As it isno inconsiderable affair to spend the Carnival at Rome,especially when you have no great desire to sleep on thePiazza del Popolo, or the Campo Vaccino, they wrote toSignor Pastrini, the proprietor of the Hotel de Londres,Piazza di Spagna, to reserve comfortable apartments forthem. Signor Pastrini replied that he had only two rooms anda parlor on the third floor, which he offered at the lowcharge of a louis per diem. They accepted his offer; butwishing to make the best use of the time that was left,Albert started for Naples. As for Franz, he remained atFlorence, and after having passed a few days in exploringthe paradise of the Cascine, and spending two or threeevenings at the houses of the Florentine nobility, he took afancy into his head (having already visited Corsica, thecradle of Bonaparte) to visit Elba, the waiting-place ofNapoleon.

One evening he cast off the painter of a sailboat from theiron ring that secured it to the dock at Leghorn, wrappedhimself in his coat and lay down, and said to the crew, - "To the Island of Elba!" The boat shot out of the harborlike a bird and the next morning Franz disembarked atPorto-Ferrajo. He traversed the island, after havingfollowed the traces which the footsteps of the giant haveleft, and re-embarked for Marciana. Two hours after he againlanded at Pianosa, where he was assured that red partridgesabounded. The sport was bad; Franz only succeeded in killinga few partridges, and, like every unsuccessful sportsman, hereturned to the boat very much out of temper. "Ah, if yourexcellency chose," said the captain, "you might have capitalsport."

"Where?"

"Do you see that island?" continued the captain, pointing toa conical pile rising from the indigo sea.

"Well, what is this island?"

"The Island of Monte Cristo."

"But I have no permission to shoot over this island."

"Your excellency does not require a permit, for the islandis uninhabited."

"Ah, indeed!" said the young man. "A desert island in themidst of the Mediterranean must be a curiosity."

"It is very natural; this island is a mass of rocks, anddoes not contain an acre of land capable of cultivation."

"To whom does this island belong?"

"To Tuscany."

"What game shall I find there!"

"Thousands of wild goats."

"Who live upon the stones, I suppose," said Franz with anincredulous smile.

"No, but by browsing the shrubs and trees that grow out ofthe crevices of the rocks."

"Where can I sleep?"

"On shore in the grottos, or on board in your cloak;besides, if your excellency pleases, we can leave as soon asyou like - we can sail as well by night as by day, and ifthe wind drops we can use our oars."

As Franz had sufficient time, and his apartments at Romewere not yet available, he accepted the proposition. Uponhis answer in the affirmative, the sailors exchanged a fewwords together in a low tone. "Well," asked he, "what now?Is there any difficulty in the way?"

"No," replied the captain, "but we must warn your excellencythat the island is an infected port."

"What do you mean?"

"Monte Cristo although uninhabited, yet serves occasionallyas a refuge for the smugglers and pirates who come fromCorsica, Sardinia, and Africa, and if it becomes known thatwe have been there, we shall have to perform quarantine forsix days on our return to Leghorn."

"The deuce! That puts a different face on the matter. Sixdays! Why, that's as long as the Almighty took to make theworld! Too long a wait - too long."

"But who will say your excellency has been to Monte Cristo?"

"Oh, I shall not," cried Franz.

"Nor I, nor I," chorused the sailors.

"Then steer for Monte Cristo."

The captain gave his orders, the helm was put up, and theboat was soon sailing in the direction of the island. Franzwaited until all was in order, and when the sail was filled,and the four sailors had taken their places - threeforward, and one at the helm - he resumed the conversation."Gaetano," said he to the captain, "you tell me Monte Cristoserves as a refuge for pirates, who are, it seems to me, avery different kind of game from the goats."

"Yes, your excellency, and it is true."

"I knew there were smugglers, but I thought that since thecapture of Algiers, and the destruction of the regency,pirates existed only in the romances of Cooper and CaptainMarryat."

"Your excellency is mistaken; there are pirates, like thebandits who were believed to have been exterminated by PopeLeo XII., and who yet, every day, rob travellers at thegates of Rome. Has not your excellency heard that the Frenchcharge d'affaires was robbed six months ago within fivehundred paces of Velletri?"

"Oh, yes, I heard that."

"Well, then, if, like us, your excellency lived at Leghorn,you would hear, from time to time, that a little merchantvessel, or an English yacht that was expected at Bastia, atPorto-Ferrajo, or at Civita Vecchia, has not arrived; no oneknows what has become of it, but, doubtless, it has struckon a rock and foundered. Now this rock it has met has been along and narrow boat, manned by six or eight men, who havesurprised and plundered it, some dark and stormy night, nearsome desert and gloomy island, as bandits plunder a carriagein the recesses of a forest."

"But," asked Franz, who lay wrapped in his cloak at thebottom of the boat, "why do not those who have beenplundered complain to the French, Sardinian, or Tuscangovernments?"

"Why?" said Gaetano with a smile.

"Yes, why?"

"Because, in the first place, they transfer from the vesselto their own boat whatever they think worth taking, thenthey bind the crew hand and foot, they attach to every one'sneck a four and twenty pound ball, a large hole is choppedin the vessel's bottom, and then they leave her. At the endof ten minutes the vessel begins to roll heavily and settledown. First one gun'l goes under, then the other. Then theylift and sink again, and both go under at once. All at oncethere's a noise like a cannon - that's the air blowing upthe deck. Soon the water rushes out of the scupper-holeslike a whale spouting, the vessel gives a last groan, spinsround and round, and disappears, forming a vast whirlpool inthe ocean, and then all is over, so that in five minutesnothing but the eye of God can see the vessel where she liesat the bottom of the sea. Do you understand now," said thecaptain, "why no complaints are made to the government, andwhy the vessel never reaches port?"

It is probable that if Gaetano had related this previous toproposing the expedition, Franz would have hesitated, butnow that they had started, he thought it would be cowardlyto draw back. He was one of those men who do not rashlycourt danger, but if danger presents itself, combat it withthe most unalterable coolness. Calm and resolute, he treatedany peril as he would an adversary in a duel, - calculatedits probable method of approach; retreated, if at all, as apoint of strategy and not from cowardice; was quick to seean opening for attack, and won victory at a single thrust."Bah!" said he, "I have travelled through Sicily andCalabria - I have sailed two months in the Archipelago, andyet I never saw even the shadow of a bandit or a pirate."

"I did not tell your excellency this to deter you from yourproject," replied Gaetano, "but you questioned me, and Ihave answered; that's all."

"Yes, and your conversation is most interesting; and as Iwish to enjoy it as long as possible, steer for MonteCristo."

The wind blew strongly, the boat made six or seven knots anhour, and they were rapidly reaching the end of theirvoyage. As they drew near the island seemed to lift from thesea, and the air was so clear that they could alreadydistinguish the rocks heaped on one another, like cannonballs in an arsenal, with green bushes and trees growing inthe crevices. As for the sailors, although they appearedperfectly tranquil yet it was evident that they were on thealert, and that they carefully watched the glassy surfaceover which they were sailing, and on which a fewfishing-boats, with their white sails, were alone visible.They were within fifteen miles of Monte Cristo when the sunbegan to set behind Corsica, whose mountains appearedagainst the sky, showing their rugged peaks in bold relief;this mass of rock, like the giant Adamastor, rose deadahead, a formidable barrier, and intercepting the light thatgilded its massive peaks so that the voyagers were inshadow. Little by little the shadow rose higher and seemedto drive before it the last rays of the expiring day; atlast the reflection rested on the summit of the mountain,where it paused an instant, like the fiery crest of avolcano, then gloom gradually covered the summit as it hadcovered the base, and the island now only appeared to be agray mountain that grew continually darker; half an hourafter, the night was quite dark.

Fortunately, the mariners were used to these latitudes, andknew every rock in the Tuscan Archipelago; for in the midstof this obscurity Franz was not without uneasiness - Corsica had long since disappeared, and Monte Cristo itselfwas invisible; but the sailors seemed, like the lynx, to seein the dark, and the pilot who steered did not evince theslightest hesitation. An hour had passed since the sun hadset, when Franz fancied he saw, at a quarter of a mile tothe left, a dark mass, but he could not precisely make outwhat it was, and fearing to excite the mirth of the sailorsby mistaking a floating cloud for land, he remained silent;suddenly a great light appeared on the strand; land mightresemble a cloud, but the fire was not a meteor. "What isthis light?" asked he.

"Hush!" said the captain; "it is a fire."

"But you told me the island was uninhabited?"

"l said there were no fixed habitations on it, but I saidalso that it served sometimes as a harbor for smugglers."

"And for pirates?"

"And for pirates," returned Gaetano, repeating Franz'swords. "It is for that reason I have given orders to passthe island, for, as you see, the fire is behind us."

"But this fire?" continued Franz. "It seems to me ratherreassuring than otherwise; men who did not wish to be seenwould not light a fire."

"Oh, that goes for nothing," said Gaetano. "If you can guessthe position of the island in the darkness, you will seethat the fire cannot be seen from the side or from Pianosa,but only from the sea."

"You think, then, this fire indicates the presence ofunpleasant neighbors?"

"That is what we must find out," returned Gaetano, fixinghis eyes on this terrestrial star.

"How can you find out?"

"You shall see." Gaetano consulted with his companions, andafter five minutes' discussion a manoeuvre was executedwhich caused the vessel to tack about, they returned the waythey had come, and in a few minutes the fire disappeared,hidden by an elevation of the land. The pilot again changedthe course of the boat, which rapidly approached the island,and was soon within fifty paces of it. Gaetano lowered thesail, and the boat came to rest. All this was done insilence, and from the moment that their course was changednot a word was spoken.

Gaetano, who had proposed the expedition, had taken all theresponsibility on himself; the four sailors fixed their eyeson him, while they got out their oars and held themselves inreadiness to row away, which, thanks to the darkness, wouldnot be difficult. As for Franz, he examined his arms withthe utmost coolness; he had two double-barrelled guns and arifle; he loaded them, looked at the priming, and waitedquietly. During this time the captain had thrown off hisvest and shirt, and secured his trousers round his waist;his feet were naked, so he had no shoes and stockings totake off; after these preparations he placed his finger onhis lips, and lowering himself noiselessly into the sea,swam towards the shore with such precaution that it wasimpossible to hear the slightest sound; he could only betraced by the phosphorescent line in his wake. This tracksoon disappeared; it was evident that he had touched theshore. Every one on board remained motionless for half anhour, when the same luminous track was again observed, andthe swimmer was soon on board. "Well?" exclaimed Franz andthe sailors in unison.

"They are Spanish smugglers," said he; "they have with themtwo Corsican bandits."

"And what are these Corsican bandits doing here with Spanishsmugglers?"

"Alas," returned the captain with an accent of the mostprofound pity, "we ought always to help one another. Veryoften the bandits are hard pressed by gendarmes orcarbineers; well, they see a vessel, and good fellows likeus on board, they come and demand hospitality of us; youcan't refuse help to a poor hunted devil; we receive them,and for greater security we stand out to sea. This costs usnothing, and saves the life, or at least the liberty, of afellow-creature, who on the first occasion returns theservice by pointing out some safe spot where we can land ourgoods without interruption."

"Ah!" said Franz, "then you are a smuggler occasionally,Gaetano?"

"Your excellency, we must live somehow," returned the other,smiling impenetrably.

"Then you know the men who are now on Monte Cristo?"

"Oh, yes, we sailors are like freemasons, and recognize eachother by signs."

"And do you think we have nothing to fear if we land?"

"Nothing at all; smugglers are not thieves."

"But these two Corsican bandits?" said Franz, calculatingthe chances of peril.

"It is not their fault that they are bandits, but that ofthe authorities."

"How so?"

"Because they are pursued for having made a stiff, as if itwas not in a Corsican's nature to revenge himself."

"What do you mean by having made a stiff? - havingassassinated a man?" said Franz, continuing hisinvestigation.

"I mean that they have killed an enemy, which is a verydifferent thing," returned the captain.

"Well," said the young man, "let us demand hospitality ofthese smugglers and bandits. Do you think they will grantit?"

"Without doubt."

"How many are they?"

"Four, and the two bandits make six."

"Just our number, so that if they prove troublesome, weshall be able to hold them in check; so, for the last time,steer to Monte Cristo."

"Yes, but your excellency will permit us to take all dueprecautions."

"By all means, be as wise as Nestor and as prudent asUlysses; I do more than permit, I exhort you."

"Silence, then!" said Gaetano.

Every one obeyed. For a man who, like Franz, viewed hisposition in its true light, it was a grave one. He was alonein the darkness with sailors whom he did not know, and whohad no reason to be devoted to him; who knew that he hadseveral thousand francs in his belt, and who had oftenexamined his weapons, - which were very beautiful, - ifnot with envy, at least with curiosity. On the other hand,he was about to land, without any other escort than thesemen, on an island which had, indeed, a very religious name,but which did not seem to Franz likely to afford him muchhospitality, thanks to the smugglers and bandits. Thehistory of the scuttled vessels, which had appearedimprobable during the day, seemed very probable at night;placed as he was between two possible sources of danger, hekept his eye on the crew, and his gun in his hand. Thesailors had again hoisted sail, and the vessel was once morecleaving the waves. Through the darkness Franz, whose eyeswere now more accustomed to it, could see the looming shorealong which the boat was sailing, and then, as they roundeda rocky point, he saw the fire more brilliant than ever, andabout it five or six persons seated. The blaze illumined thesea for a hundred paces around. Gaetano skirted the light,carefully keeping the boat in the shadow; then, when theywere opposite the fire, he steered to the centre of thecircle, singing a fishing song, of which his companions sungthe chorus. At the first words of the song the men seatedround the fire arose and approached the landing-place, theireyes fixed on the boat, evidently seeking to know who thenew-comers were and what were their intentions. They soonappeared satisfied and returned (with the exception of one,who remained at the shore) to their fire, at which thecarcass of a goat was roasting. When the boat was withintwenty paces of the shore, the man on the beach, who carrieda carbine, presented arms after the manner of a sentinel,and cried, "Who comes there?" in Sardinian. Franz coollycocked both barrels. Gaetano then exchanged a few words withthis man which the traveller did not understand, but whichevidently concerned him. "Will your excellency give yourname, or remain incognito?" asked the captain.

"My name must rest unknown, - merely say I am a Frenchmantravelling for pleasure." As soon as Gaetano had transmittedthis answer, the sentinel gave an order to one of the menseated round the fire, who rose and disappeared among therocks. Not a word was spoken, every one seemed occupied,Franz with his disembarkment, the sailors with their sails,the smugglers with their goat; but in the midst of all thiscarelessness it was evident that they mutually observed eachother. The man who had disappeared returned suddenly on theopposite side to that by which he had left; he made a signwith his head to the sentinel, who, turning to the boat,said, "S'accommodi." The Italian s'accommodi isuntranslatable; it means at once, "Come, enter, you arewelcome; make yourself at home; you are the master." It islike that Turkish phrase of Moliere's that so astonished thebourgeois gentleman by the number of things implied in itsutterance. The sailors did not wait for a second invitation;four strokes of the oar brought them to land; Gaetano sprangto shore, exchanged a few words with the sentinel, then hiscomrades disembarked, and lastly came Franz. One of his gunswas swung over his shoulder, Gaetano had the other, and asailor held his rifle; his dress, half artist, half dandy,did not excite any suspicion, and, consequently, nodisquietude. The boat was moored to the shore, and theyadvanced a few paces to find a comfortable bivouac; but,doubtless, the spot they chose did not suit the smuggler whofilled the post of sentinel, for he cried out, "Not thatway, if you please."

Gaetano faltered an excuse, and advanced to the oppositeside, while two sailors kindled torches at the fire to lightthem on their way. They advanced about thirty paces, andthen stopped at a small esplanade surrounded with rocks, inwhich seats had been cut, not unlike sentry-boxes. Around inthe crevices of the rocks grew a few dwarf oaks and thickbushes of myrtles. Franz lowered a torch, and saw by themass of cinders that had accumulated that he was not thefirst to discover this retreat, which was, doubtless, one ofthe halting-places of the wandering visitors of MonteCristo. As for his suspicions, once on terra firma, oncethat he had seen the indifferent, if not friendly,appearance of his hosts, his anxiety had quite disappeared,or rather, at sight of the goat, had turned to appetite. Hementioned this to Gaetano, who replied that nothing could bemore easy than to prepare a supper when they had in theirboat, bread, wine, half a dozen partridges, and a good fireto roast them by. "Besides," added he, "if the smell oftheir roast meat tempts you, I will go and offer them two ofour birds for a slice."

"You are a born diplomat," returned Franz; "go and try."

Meanwhile the sailors had collected dried sticks andbranches with which they made a fire. Franz waitedimpatiently, inhaling the aroma of the roasted meat, whenthe captain returned with a mysterious air.

"Well," said Franz, "anything new? - do they refuse?"

"On the contrary," returned Gaetano, "the chief, who wastold you were a young Frenchman, invites you to sup withhim."

"Well," observed Franz, "this chief is very polite, and Isee no objection - the more so as I bring my share of thesupper."

"Oh, it is not that; he has plenty, and to spare, forsupper; but he makes one condition, and rather a peculiarone, before he will receive you at his house."

"His house? Has he built one here, then?"

"No; but he has a very comfortable one all the same, so theysay."

"You know this chief, then?"

"I have heard talk of him."

"Favorably or otherwise?"

"Both."

"The deuce! - and what is this condition?"

"That you are blindfolded, and do not take off the bandageuntil he himself bids you." Franz looked at Gaetano, to see,if possible, what he thought of this proposal. "Ah," repliedhe, guessing Franz's thought, "I know this is a seriousmatter."

"What should you do in my place?"

"I, who have nothing to lose, - I should go."

"You would accept?"

"Yes, were it only out of curiosity."

"There is something very peculiar about this chief, then?"

"Listen," said Gaetano, lowering his voice, "I do not knowif what they say is true" - he stopped to see if any onewas near.

"What do they say?"

"That this chief inhabits a cavern to which the Pitti Palaceis nothing."

"What nonsense!" said Franz, reseating himself.

"It is no nonsense; it is quite true. Cama, the pilot of theSaint Ferdinand, went in once, and he came back amazed,vowing that such treasures were only to be heard of in fairytales."

"Do you know," observed Franz, "that with such stories youmake me think of Ali Baba's enchanted cavern?"

"I tell you what I have been told."

"Then you advise me to accept?"

"Oh, I don't say that; your excellency will do as youplease; I should be sorry to advise you in the matter."Franz pondered the matter for a few moments, concluded thata man so rich could not have any intention of plundering himof what little he had, and seeing only the prospect of agood supper, accepted. Gaetano departed with the reply.Franz was prudent, and wished to learn all he possibly couldconcerning his host. He turned towards the sailor, who,during this dialogue, had sat gravely plucking thepartridges with the air of a man proud of his office, andasked him how these men had landed, as no vessel of any kindwas visible.

"Never mind that," returned the sailor, "I know theirvessel."

"Is it a very beautiful vessel?"

"I would not wish for a better to sail round the world."

"Of what burden is she?"

"About a hundred tons; but she is built to stand anyweather. She is what the English call a yacht."

"Where was she built?"

"I know not; but my own opinion is she is a Genoese."

"And how did a leader of smugglers," continued Franz,"venture to build a vessel designed for such a purpose atGenoa?"

"I did not say that the owner was a smuggler," replied thesailor.

"No; but Gaetano did, I thought."

"Gaetano had only seen the vessel from a distance, he hadnot then spoken to any one."

"And if this person be not a smuggler, who is he?"

"A wealthy signor, who travels for his pleasure."

"Come," thought Franz, "he is still more mysterious, sincethe two accounts do not agree."

"What is his name?"

"If you ask him he says Sinbad the Sailor; but I doubt if itbe his real name."

"Sinbad the Sailor?"

"Yes."

"And where does he reside?"

"On the sea."

"What country does he come from?"

"I do not know."

"Have you ever seen him?"

"Sometimes."

"What sort of a man is he?"

"Your excellency will judge for yourself."

"Where will he receive me?"

"No doubt in the subterranean palace Gaetano told you of."

"Have you never had the curiosity, when you have landed andfound this island deserted, to seek for this enchantedpalace?"

"Oh, yes, more than once, but always in vain; we examinedthe grotto all over, but we never could find the slightesttrace of any opening; they say that the door is not openedby a key, but a magic word."

"Decidedly," muttered Franz, "this is an Arabian Nights'adventure."

"His excellency waits for you," said a voice, which herecognized as that of the sentinel. He was accompanied bytwo of the yacht's crew. Franz drew his handkerchief fromhis pocket, and presented it to the man who had spoken tohim. Without uttering a word, they bandaged his eyes with acare that showed their apprehensions of his committing someindiscretion. Afterwards he was made to promise that hewould not make the least attempt to raise the bandage. Hepromised. Then his two guides took his arms, and he went on,guided by them, and preceded by the sentinel. After goingabout thirty paces, he smelt the appetizing odor of the kidthat was roasting, and knew thus that he was passing thebivouac; they then led him on about fifty paces farther,evidently advancing towards that part of the shore wherethey would not allow Gaetano to go - a refusal he could nowcomprehend. Presently, by a change in the atmosphere, heknew that they were entering a cave; after going on for afew seconds more he heard a crackling, and it seemed to himas though the atmosphere again changed, and became balmy andperfumed. At length his feet touched on a thick and softcarpet, and his guides let go their hold of him. There was amoment's silence, and then a voice, in excellent French,although, with a foreign accent, said, "Welcome, sir. I begyou will remove your bandage." It may be supposed, then,Franz did not wait for a repetition of this permission, buttook off the handkerchief, and found himself in the presenceof a man from thirty-eight to forty years of age, dressed ina Tunisian costume - that is to say, a red cap with a longblue silk tassel, a vest of black cloth embroidered withgold, pantaloons of deep red, large and full gaiters of thesame color, embroidered with gold like the vest, and yellowslippers; he had a splendid cashmere round his waist, and asmall sharp and crooked cangiar was passed through hisgirdle. Although of a paleness that was almost livid, thisman had a remarkably handsome face; his eyes werepenetrating and sparkling; his nose, quite straight, andprojecting direct from the brow, was of the pure Greek type,while his teeth, as white as pearls, were set off toadmiration by the black mustache that encircled them.

His pallor was so peculiar, that it seemed to pertain to onewho had been long entombed, and who was incapable ofresuming the healthy glow and hue of life. He was notparticularly tall, but extremely well made, and, like themen of the south, had small hands and feet. But whatastonished Franz, who had treated Gaetano's description as afable, was the splendor of the apartment in which he foundhimself. The entire chamber was lined with crimson brocade,worked with flowers of gold. In a recess was a kind ofdivan, surmounted with a stand of Arabian swords in silverscabbards, and the handles resplendent with gems; from theceiling hung a lamp of Venetian glass, of beautiful shapeand color, while the feet rested on a Turkey carpet, inwhich they sunk to the instep; tapestry hung before the doorby which Franz had entered, and also in front of anotherdoor, leading into a second apartment which seemed to bebrilliantly illuminated. The host gave Franz time to recoverfrom his surprise, and, moreover, returned look for look,not even taking his eyes off him. "Sir," he said, after apause, "a thousand excuses for the precaution taken in yourintroduction hither; but as, during the greater portion ofthe year, this island is deserted, if the secret of thisabode were discovered. I should doubtless, find on my returnmy temporary retirement in a state of great disorder, whichwould be exceedingly annoying, not for the loss itoccasioned me, but because I should not have the certainty Inow possess of separating myself from all the rest ofmankind at pleasure. Let me now endeavor to make you forgetthis temporary unpleasantness, and offer you what no doubtyou did not expect to find here - that is to say, atolerable supper and pretty comfortable beds."

"Ma foi, my dear sir," replied Franz, "make no apologies. Ihave always observed that they bandage people's eyes whopenetrate enchanted palaces, for instance, those of Raoul inthe `Huguenots,' and really I have nothing to complain of,for what I see makes me think of the wonders of the `ArabianNights.'"

"Alas, I may say with Lucullus, if I could have anticipatedthe honor of your visit, I would have prepared for it. Butsuch as is my hermitage, it is at your disposal; such as ismy supper, it is yours to share, if you will. Ali, is thesupper ready?" At this moment the tapestry moved aside, anda Nubian, black as ebony, and dressed in a plain whitetunic, made a sign to his master that all was prepared inthe dining-room. "Now," said the unknown to Franz, "I do notknow if you are of my opinion, but I think nothing is moreannoying than to remain two or three hours together withoutknowing by name or appellation how to address one another.Pray observe, that I too much respect the laws ofhospitality to ask your name or title. I only request you togive me one by which I may have the pleasure of addressingyou. As for myself, that I may put you at your ease, I tellyou that I am generally called `Sinbad the Sailor.'"

"And I," replied Franz, "will tell you, as I only requirehis wonderful lamp to make me precisely like Aladdin, that Isee no reason why at this moment I should not be calledAladdin. That will keep us from going away from the Eastwhither I am tempted to think I have been conveyed by somegood genius."

"Well, then, Signor Aladdin," replied the singularamphitryon, "you heard our repast announced, will you nowtake the trouble to enter the dining-room, your humbleservant going first to show the way?" At these words, movingaside the tapestry, Sinbad preceded his guest. Franz nowlooked upon another scene of enchantment; the table wassplendidly covered, and once convinced of this importantpoint he cast his eyes around him. The dining-room wasscarcely less striking than the room he had just left; itwas entirely of marble, with antique bas-reliefs ofpriceless value; and at the four corners of this apartment,which was oblong, were four magnificent statues, havingbaskets in their hands. These baskets contained fourpyramids of most splendid fruit; there were Sicilypine-apples, pomegranates from Malaga, oranges from theBalearic Isles, peaches from France, and dates from Tunis.The supper consisted of a roast pheasant garnished withCorsican blackbirds; a boar's ham with jelly, a quarter of akid with tartar sauce, a glorious turbot, and a giganticlobster. Between these large dishes were smaller onescontaining various dainties. The dishes were of silver, andthe plates of Japanese china.

Franz rubbed his eyes in order to assure himself that thiswas not a dream. Ali alone was present to wait at table, andacquitted himself so admirably, that the guest complimentedhis host thereupon. "Yes," replied he, while he did thehonors of the supper with much ease and grace - "yes, he isa poor devil who is much devoted to me, and does all he canto prove it. He remembers that I saved his life, and as hehas a regard for his head, he feels some gratitude towardsme for having kept it on his shoulders." Ali approached hismaster, took his hand, and kissed it.

"Would it be impertinent, Signor Sinbad," said Franz, "toask you the particulars of this kindness?"

"Oh, they are simple enough," replied the host. "It seemsthe fellow had been caught wandering nearer to the harem ofthe Bey of Tunis than etiquette permits to one of his color,and he was condemned by the bey to have his tongue cut out,and his hand and head cut off; the tongue the first day, thehand the second, and the head the third. I always had adesire to have a mute in my service, so learning the day histongue was cut out, I went to the bey, and proposed to givehim for Ali a splendid double-barreled gun which I knew hewas very desirous of having. He hesitated a moment, he wasso very desirous to complete the poor devil's punishment.But when I added to the gun an English cutlass with which Ihad shivered his highness's yataghan to pieces, the beyyielded, and agreed to forgive the hand and head, but oncondition that the poor fellow never again set foot inTunis. This was a useless clause in the bargain, forwhenever the coward sees the first glimpse of the shores ofAfrica, he runs down below, and can only be induced toappear again when we are out of sight of that quarter of theglobe."

Franz remained a moment silent and pensive, hardly knowingwhat to think of the half-kindness, half-cruelty, with whichhis host related the brief narrative. "And like thecelebrated sailor whose name you have assumed," he said, byway of changing the conversation, "you pass your life intravelling?"

"Yes. I made a vow at a time when I little thought I shouldever be able to accomplish it," said the unknown with asingular smile; "and I made some others also which I hope Imay fulfil in due season." Although Sinbad pronounced thesewords with much calmness, his eyes gave forth gleams ofextraordinary ferocity.

"You have suffered a great deal, sir?" said Franzinquiringly.

Sinbad started and looked fixedly at him, as he replied,"What makes you suppose so?"

"Everything," answered Franz, - "your voice, your look,your pallid complexion, and even the life you lead."

"I? - I live the happiest life possible, the real life of apasha. I am king of all creation. I am pleased with oneplace, and stay there; I get tired of it, and leave it; I amfree as a bird and have wings like one; my attendants obeymy slightest wish. Sometimes I amuse myself by deliveringsome bandit or criminal from the bonds of the law. Then Ihave my mode of dispensing justice, silent and sure, withoutrespite or appeal, which condemns or pardons, and which noone sees. Ah, if you had tasted my life, you would notdesire any other, and would never return to the world unlessyou had some great project to accomplish there."

"Revenge, for instance!" observed Franz.

The unknown fixed on the young man one of those looks whichpenetrate into the depth of the heart and thoughts. "And whyrevenge?" he asked.

"Because," replied Franz, "you seem to me like a man who,persecuted by society, has a fearful account to settle withit."

"Ah," responded Sinbad, laughing with his singular laughwhich displayed his white and sharp teeth. "You have notguessed rightly. Such as you see me I am, a sort ofphilosopher, and one day perhaps I shall go to Paris torival Monsieur Appert, and the little man in the bluecloak."

"And will that be the first time you ever took thatjourney?"

"Yes; it will. I must seem to you by no means curious, but Iassure you that it is not my fault I have delayed it so long- it will happen one day or the other."

"And do you propose to make this journey very shortly?"

"I do not know; it depends on circumstances which depend oncertain arrangements."

"I should like to be there at the time you come, and I willendeavor to repay you, as far as lies in my power, for yourliberal hospitality displayed to me at Monte Cristo."

"I should avail myself of your offer with pleasure," repliedthe host, "but, unfortunately, if I go there, it will be, inall probability, incognito."

The supper appeared to have been supplied solely for Franz,for the unknown scarcely touched one or two dishes of thesplendid banquet to which his guest did ample justice. ThenAli brought on the dessert, or rather took the baskets fromthe hands of the statues and placed them on the table.Between the two baskets he placed a small silver cup with asilver cover. The care with which Ali placed this cup on thetable roused Franz's curiosity. He raised the cover and sawa kind of greenish paste, something like preserved angelica,but which was perfectly unknown to him. He replaced the lid,as ignorant of what the cup contained as he was before hehad looked at it, and then casting his eyes towards his hosthe saw him smile at his disappointment. "You cannot guess,"said he, "what there is in that small vase, can you?"

"No, I really cannot."

"Well, then, that green preserve is nothing less than theambrosia which Hebe served at the table of Jupiter."

"But," replied Franz, "this ambrosia, no doubt, in passingthrough mortal hands has lost its heavenly appellation andassumed a human name; in vulgar phrase, what may you termthis composition, for which, to tell the truth, I do notfeel any particular desire?"

"Ah, thus it is that our material origin is revealed," criedSinbad; "we frequently pass so near to happiness withoutseeing, without regarding it, or if we do see and regard it,yet without recognizing it. Are you a man for thesubstantials, and is gold your god? Taste this, and themines of Peru, Guzerat, and Golconda are opened to you. Areyou a man of imagination - a poet? Taste this, and theboundaries of possibility disappear; the fields of infinitespace open to you, you advance free in heart, free in mind,into the boundless realms of unfettered revery. Are youambitious, and do you seek after the greatnesses of theearth? Taste this, and in an hour you will be a king, not aking of a petty kingdom hidden in some corner of Europe likeFrance, Spain, or England, but king of the world, king ofthe universe, king of creation; without bowing at the feetof Satan, you will be king and master of all the kingdoms ofthe earth. Is it not tempting what I offer you, and is itnot an easy thing, since it is only to do thus? Look!" Atthese words he uncovered the small cup which contained thesubstance so lauded, took a teaspoonful of the magicsweetmeat, raised it to his lips, and swallowed it slowlywith his eyes half shut and his head bent backwards. Franzdid not disturb him whilst he absorbed his favoritesweetmeat, but when he had finished, he inquired, - "What,then, is this precious stuff?"

"Did you ever hear," he replied, "of the Old Man of theMountain, who attempted to assassinate Philip Augustus?"

"Of course I have."

"Well, you know he reigned over a rich valley which wasoverhung by the mountain whence he derived his picturesquename. In this valley were magnificent gardens planted byHassen-ben-Sabah, and in these gardens isolated pavilions.Into these pavilions he admitted the elect, and there, saysMarco Polo, gave them to eat a certain herb, whichtransported them to Paradise, in the midst of ever-bloomingshrubs, ever-ripe fruit, and ever-lovely virgins. What thesehappy persons took for reality was but a dream; but it was adream so soft, so voluptuous, so enthralling, that they soldthemselves body and soul to him who gave it to them, andobedient to his orders as to those of a deity, struck downthe designated victim, died in torture without a murmur,believing that the death they underwent was but a quicktransition to that life of delights of which the holy herb,now before you had given them a slight foretaste."

"Then," cried Franz, "it is hashish! I know that - by nameat least."

"That is it precisely, Signor Aladdin; it is hashish - thepurest and most unadulterated hashish of Alexandria, - thehashish of Abou-Gor, the celebrated maker, the only man, theman to whom there should be built a palace, inscribed withthese words, `A grateful world to the dealer in happiness.'"

"Do you know," said Franz, "I have a very great inclinationto judge for myself of the truth or exaggeration of youreulogies."

"Judge for yourself, Signor Aladdin - judge, but do notconfine yourself to one trial. Like everything else, we musthabituate the senses to a fresh impression, gentle orviolent, sad or joyous. There is a struggle in natureagainst this divine substance, - in nature which is notmade for joy and clings to pain. Nature subdued must yieldin the combat, the dream must succeed to reality, and thenthe dream reigns supreme, then the dream becomes life, andlife becomes the dream. But what changes occur! It is onlyby comparing the pains of actual being with the joys of theassumed existence, that you would desire to live no longer,but to dream thus forever. When you return to this mundanesphere from your visionary world, you would seem to leave aNeapolitan spring for a Lapland winter - to quit paradisefor earth - heaven for hell! Taste the hashish, guest ofmine - taste the hashish."

Franz's only reply was to take a teaspoonful of themarvellous preparation, about as much in quantity as hishost had eaten, and lift it to his mouth. "Diable!" he said,after having swallowed the divine preserve. "I do not knowif the result will be as agreeable as you describe, but thething does not appear to me as palatable as you say."

"Because your palate has not yet been attuned to thesublimity of the substances it flavors. Tell me, the firsttime you tasted oysters, tea, porter, truffles, and sundryother dainties which you now adore, did you like them? Couldyou comprehend how the Romans stuffed their pheasants withassafoetida, and the Chinese eat swallows' nests? Eh? no!Well, it is the same with hashish; only eat for a week, andnothing in the world will seem to you to equal the delicacyof its flavor, which now appears to you flat anddistasteful. Let us now go into the adjoining chamber, whichis your apartment, and Ali will bring us coffee and pipes."They both arose, and while he who called himself Sinbad - and whom we have occasionally named so, that we might, likehis guest, have some title by which to distinguish him - gave some orders to the servant, Franz entered still anotherapartment. It was simply yet richly furnished. It was round,and a large divan completely encircled it. Divan, walls,ceiling, floor, were all covered with magnificent skins assoft and downy as the richest carpets; there wereheavy-maned lion-skins from Atlas, striped tiger-skins fromBengal; panther-skins from the Cape, spotted beautifully,like those that appeared to Dante; bear-skins from Siberia,fox-skins from Norway, and so on; and all these skins werestrewn in profusion one on the other, so that it seemed likewalking over the most mossy turf, or reclining on the mostluxurious bed. Both laid themselves down on the divan;chibouques with jasmine tubes and amber mouthpieces werewithin reach, and all prepared so that there was no need tosmoke the same pipe twice. Each of them took one, which Alilighted and then retired to prepare the coffee. There was amoment's silence, during which Sinbad gave himself up tothoughts that seemed to occupy him incessantly, even in themidst of his conversation; and Franz abandoned himself tothat mute revery, into which we always sink when smokingexcellent tobacco, which seems to remove with its fume allthe troubles of the mind, and to give the smoker in exchangeall the visions of the soul. Ali brought in the coffee. "Howdo you take it?" inquired the unknown; "in the French orTurkish style, strong or weak, sugar or none, cool orboiling? As you please; it is ready in all ways."

"I will take it in the Turkish style," replied Franz.

"And you are right," said his host; "it shows you have atendency for an Oriental life. Ah, those Orientals; they arethe only men who know how to live. As for me," he added,with one of those singular smiles which did not escape theyoung man, "when I have completed my affairs in Paris, Ishall go and die in the East; and should you wish to see meagain, you must seek me at Cairo, Bagdad, or Ispahan."

"Ma foi," said Franz, "it would be the easiest thing in theworld; for I feel eagle's wings springing out at myshoulders, and with those wings I could make a tour of theworld in four and twenty hours."

"Ah, yes, the hashish is beginning its work. Well, unfurlyour wings, and fly into superhuman regions; fear nothing,there is a watch over you; and if your wings, like those ofIcarus, melt before the sun, we are here to ease your fall."He then said something in Arabic to Ali, who made a sign ofobedience and withdrew, but not to any distance. As to Franza strange transformation had taken place in him. All thebodily fatigue of the day, all the preoccupation of mindwhich the events of the evening had brought on, disappearedas they do at the first approach of sleep, when we are stillsufficiently conscious to be aware of the coming of slumber.His body seemed to acquire an airy lightness, his perceptionbrightened in a remarkable manner, his senses seemed toredouble their power, the horizon continued to expand; butit was not the gloomy horizon of vague alarms, and which hehad seen before he slept, but a blue, transparent, unboundedhorizon, with all the blue of the ocean, all the spangles ofthe sun, all the perfumes of the summer breeze; then, in themidst of the songs of his sailors, - songs so clear andsonorous, that they would have made a divine harmony hadtheir notes been taken down, - he saw the Island of MonteCristo, no longer as a threatening rock in the midst of thewaves, but as an oasis in the desert; then, as his boat drewnearer, the songs became louder, for an enchanting andmysterious harmony rose to heaven, as if some Loreley haddecreed to attract a soul thither, or Amphion, theenchanter, intended there to build a city.

At length the boat touched the shore, but without effort,without shock, as lips touch lips; and he entered the grottoamidst continued strains of most delicious melody. Hedescended, or rather seemed to descend, several steps,inhaling the fresh and balmy air, like that which may besupposed to reign around the grotto of Circe, formed fromsuch perfumes as set the mind a dreaming, and such fires asburn the very senses; and he saw again all he had seenbefore his sleep, from Sinbad, his singular host, to Ali,the mute attendant; then all seemed to fade away and becomeconfused before his eyes, like the last shadows of the magiclantern before it is extinguished, and he was again in thechamber of statues, lighted only by one of those pale andantique lamps which watch in the dead of the night over thesleep of pleasure. They were the same statues, rich in form,in attraction, and poesy, with eyes of fascination, smilesof love, and bright and flowing hair. They were Phryne,Cleopatra, Messalina, those three celebrated courtesans.Then among them glided like a pure ray, like a Christianangel in the midst of Olympus, one of those chaste figures,those calm shadows, those soft visions, which seemed to veilits virgin brow before these marble wantons. Then the threestatues advanced towards him with looks of love, andapproached the couch on which he was reposing, their feethidden in their long white tunics, their throats bare, hairflowing like waves, and assuming attitudes which the godscould not resist, but which saints withstood, and looksinflexible and ardent like those with which the serpentcharms the bird; and then he gave way before looks that heldhim in a torturing grasp and delighted his senses as with avoluptuous kiss. It seemed to Franz that he closed his eyes,and in a last look about him saw the vision of modestycompletely veiled; and then followed a dream of passion likethat promised by the Prophet to the elect. Lips of stoneturned to flame, breasts of ice became like heated lava, sothat to Franz, yielding for the first time to the sway ofthe drug, love was a sorrow and voluptuousness a torture, asburning mouths were pressed to his thirsty lips, and he washeld in cool serpent-like embraces. The more he stroveagainst this unhallowed passion the more his senses yieldedto its thrall, and at length, weary of a struggle that taxedhis very soul, he gave way and sank back breathless andexhausted beneath the kisses of these marble goddesses, andthe enchantment of his marvellous dream.