Meanwhile the count had arrived at his house; it had takenhim six minutes to perform the distance, but these sixminutes were sufficient to induce twenty young men who knewthe price of the equipage they had been unable to purchasethemselves, to put their horses in a gallop in order to seethe rich foreigner who could afford to give 20,000 francsapiece for his horses. The house Ali had chosen, and whichwas to serve as a town residence to Monte Cristo, wassituated on the right hand as you ascend the Champs Elysees.A thick clump of trees and shrubs rose in the centre, andmasked a portion of the front; around this shrubbery twoalleys, like two arms, extended right and left, and formed acarriage-drive from the iron gates to a double portico, onevery step of which stood a porcelain vase. filled withflowers. This house, isolated from the rest, had, besidesthe main entrance, another in the Rue Ponthieu. Even beforethe coachman had hailed the concierge, the massy gatesrolled on their hinges - they had seen the Count coming,and at Paris, as everywhere else, he was served with therapidity of lightning. The coachman entered and traversedthe half-circle without slackening his speed, and the gateswere closed ere the wheels had ceased to sound on thegravel. The carriage stopped at the left side of theportico, two men presented themselves at thecarriage-window; the one was Ali, who, smiling with anexpression of the most sincere joy, seemed amply repaid by amere 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 upthe three steps of the portico; "and the notary?"

"He is in the small salon, excellency," returned Bertuccio.

"And the cards I ordered to be engraved as soon as you knewthe number of the house?"

"Your excellency, it is done already. I have been myself tothe best engraver of the Palais Royal, who did the plate inmy presence. The first card struck off was taken, accordingto your orders, to the Baron Danglars, Rue de la Chausseed'Antin, No. 7; the others are on the mantle-piece of yourexcellency's bedroom."

"Good; what o'clock is it?"

"Four o'clock." Monte Cristo gave his hat, cane, and glovesto the same French footman who had called his carriage atthe Count of Morcerf's, and then he passed into the smallsalon, preceded by Bertuccio, who showed him the way. "Theseare but indifferent marbles in this ante-chamber," saidMonte Cristo. "I trust all this will soon be taken away."Bertuccio bowed. As the steward had said, the notary awaitedhim in the small salon. He was a simple-looking lawyer'sclerk, elevated to the extraordinary dignity of a provincialscrivener. "You are the notary empowered to sell the countryhouse that I wish to purchase, monsieur?" asked MonteCristo.

"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?" askedthe count carelessly, addressing himself half to Bertuccio,half to the notary. The steward made a gesture thatsignified, "I do not know." The notary looked at the countwith astonishment. "What!" said he, "does not the count knowwhere 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 never before been at Paris, and it is the first timeI have ever even set my foot in France."

"Ah, that is different; the house you purchase is atAuteuil." At these words Bertuccio turned pale. "And whereis Auteuil?" asked the count.

"Close by here, monsieur," replied the notary - "a littlebeyond Passy; a charming situation, in the heart of the Boisde Boulogne."

"So near as that?" said the Count; "but that is not in thecountry. What made you choose a house at the gates of Paris,M. Bertuccio?"

"I," cried the steward with a strange expression. "Hisexcellency did not charge me to purchase this house. If hisexcellency will recollect - if he will think" -

"Ah, true," observed Monte Cristo; "I recollect now. I readthe advertisement in one of the papers, and was tempted bythe false title, `a country house.'"

"It is not yet too late," cried Bertuccio, eagerly; "and ifyour excellency will intrust me with the commission, I willfind you a better at Enghien, at Fontenay-aux-Roses, or atBellevue."

"Oh, no," returned Monte Cristo negligently; "since I havethis, I will keep it."

"And you are quite right," said the notary, who feared tolose his fee. "It is a charming place, well supplied withspring-water and fine trees; a comfortable habitation,although abandoned for a long time, without reckoning thefurniture, which, although old, is yet valuable, now thatold things are so much sought after. I suppose the count hasthe tastes of 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 MonteCristo. "The deed, if you please, Mr. Notary." And he signedit rapidly, after having first run his eye over that part ofthe deed in which were specified the situation of the houseand the names of the proprietors. "Bertuccio," said he,"give fifty-five thousand francs to monsieur." The stewardleft the room with a faltering step, and returned with abundle of bank-notes, which the notary counted like a manwho never gives a receipt for money until after he is sureit is all there. "And now," demanded the count, "are all theforms complied with?"

"All, sir."

"Have you the keys?"

"They are in the hands of the concierge, who takes care ofthe house, but here is the order I have given him to installthe count in his new possessions."

"Very well;" and Monte Cristo made a sign with his hand tothe notary, which said, "I have no further need of you; youmay go."

"But," observed the honest notary, "the count is, I think,mistaken; it is only fifty thousand francs, everythingincluded."

"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 yourloss of time and trouble," said the count; and he made agesture of polite dismissal. The notary left the roombackwards, and bowing down to the ground; it was the firsttime he had ever met a similar client. "See this gentlemanout," said the count to Bertuccio. And the steward followedthe notary out of the room. Scarcely was the count alone,when he drew from his pocket a book closed with a lock, andopened it with a key which he wore round his neck, and whichnever left him. After having sought for a few minutes, hestopped at a leaf which had several notes, and compared themwith the deed of sale, which lay on the table. "`Auteuil,Rue de la Fontaine, No. 28;' it is indeed the same," saidhe; "and now, am I to rely upon an avowal extorted byreligious or physical terror? However, in an hour I shallknow all. Bertuccio!" cried he, striking a light hammer witha pliant handle on a small gong. "Bertuccio!" The stewardappeared at the door. "Monsieur Bertuccio," said the count,"did you never tell me that you had travelled in France?"

"In some parts of France - yes, excellency."

"You know the environs of Paris, then?"

"No, excellency, no," returned the steward, with a sort ofnervous trembling, which Monte Cristo, a connoisseur in allemotions, rightly attributed to great disquietude.

"It is unfortunate," returned he, "that you have nevervisited the environs, for I wish to see my new property thisevening, and had you gone with me, you could have given mesome useful information."

"To Auteuil!" cried Bertuccio, whose copper complexionbecame livid - "I go to Auteuil?"

"Well, what is there surprising in that? When I live atAuteuil, you must come there, as you belong to my service."Bertuccio hung down his head before the imperious look ofhis master, and remained motionless, without making anyanswer. "Why, what has happened to you? - are you going tomake me ring a second time for the carriage?" asked MonteCristo, in the same tone that Louis XIV. pronounced thefamous, "I have been almost obliged to wait." Bertuccio madebut one bound to the ante-chamber, and cried in a hoarsevoice - "His excellency's horses!" Monte Cristo wrote twoor three notes, and, as he sealed the last, the stewardappeared. "Your excellency's carriage is at the door," saidhe.

"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 residingat the house." It was unexampled for a servant of thecount's to dare to dispute an order of his, so the steward,without saying a word, followed his master, who got into thecarriage, and signed to him to follow, which he did, takinghis place respectfully on the front seat.