The baron, followed by the count, traversed a long series ofapartments, in which the prevailing characteristics wereheavy magnificence and the gaudiness of ostentatious wealth,until he reached the boudoir of Madame Danglars - a smalloctagonal-shaped room, hung with pink satin, covered withwhite Indian muslin. The chairs were of ancient workmanshipand materials; over the doors were painted sketches ofshepherds and shepherdesses, after the style and manner ofBoucher; and at each side pretty medallions in crayons,harmonizing well with the furnishings of this charmingapartment, the only one throughout the great mansion inwhich any distinctive taste prevailed. The truth was, it hadbeen entirely overlooked in the plan arranged and followedout by M. Danglars and his architect, who had been selectedto aid the baron in the great work of improvement solelybecause he was the most fashionable and celebrated decoratorof the day. The decorations of the boudoir had then beenleft entirely to Madame Danglars and Lucien Debray. M.Danglars, however, while possessing a great admiration forthe antique, as it was understood during the time of theDirectory, entertained the most sovereign contempt for thesimple elegance of his wife's favorite sitting-room, where,by the way, he was never permitted to intrude, unless,indeed, he excused his own appearance by ushering in somemore agreeable visitor than himself; and even then he hadrather the air and manner of a person who was himselfintroduced, than that of being the presenter of another, hisreception being cordial or frigid, in proportion as theperson who accompanied him chanced to please or displeasethe baroness.

Madame Danglars (who, although past the first bloom ofyouth, was still strikingly handsome) was now seated at thepiano, a most elaborate piece of cabinet and inlaid work,while Lucien Debray, standing before a small work-table, wasturning over the pages of an album. Lucien had found time,preparatory to the count's arrival, to relate manyparticulars respecting him to Madame Danglars. It will beremembered that Monte Cristo had made a lively impression onthe minds of all the party assembled at the breakfast givenby Albert de Morcerf; and although Debray was not in thehabit of yielding to such feelings, he had never been ableto shake off the powerful influence excited in his mind bythe impressive look and manner of the count, consequentlythe description given by Lucien to the baroness bore thehighly-colored tinge of his own heated imagination. Alreadyexcited by the wonderful stories related of the count by DeMorcerf, it is no wonder that Madame Danglars eagerlylistened to, and fully credited, all the additionalcircumstances detailed by Debray. This posing at the pianoand over the album was only a little ruse adopted by way ofprecaution. A most gracious welcome and unusual smile werebestowed on M. Danglars; the count, in return for hisgentlemanly bow, received a formal though graceful courtesy,while Lucien exchanged with the count a sort of distantrecognition, and with Danglars a free and easy nod.

"Baroness," said Danglars, "give me leave to present to youthe Count of Monte Cristo, who has been most warmlyrecommended to me by my correspondents at Rome. I need butmention one fact to make all the ladies in Paris court hisnotice, and that is, that he has come to take up his abodein Paris for a year, during which brief period he proposesto spend six millions of money. That means balls, dinners,and lawn parties without end, in all of which I trust thecount will remember us, as he may depend upon it we shallhim, in our own humble entertainments." In spite of thegross flattery and coarseness of this address, MadameDanglars could not forbear gazing with considerable intereston a man capable of expending six millions in twelve months,and who had selected Paris for the scene of his princelyextravagance. "And when did you arrive here?" inquired she.

"Yesterday morning, madame."

"Coming, as usual, I presume, from the extreme end of theglobe? Pardon me - at least, such I have heard is yourcustom."

"Nay, madame. This time I have merely come from Cadiz."

"You have selected a most unfavorable moment for your firstvisit. Paris is a horrible place in summer. Balls, parties,and fetes are over; the Italian opera is in London; theFrench opera everywhere except in Paris. As for the TheatreFrancais, you know, of course, that it is nowhere. The onlyamusements left us are the indifferent races at the Champ deMars and Satory. Do you propose entering any horses ateither of these races, count?"

"I shall do whatever they do at Paris, madame, if I have thegood fortune to find some one who will initiate me into theprevalent ideas of amusement."

"Are you fond of horses, count?"

"I have passed a considerable part of my life in the East,madame, and you are doubtless aware that the Orientals valueonly two things - the fine breeding of their horses and thebeauty of their women."

"Nay, count," said the baroness, "it would have beensomewhat more gallant to have placed the ladies first."

"You see, madame, how rightly I spoke when I said I requireda preceptor to guide me in all my sayings and doings here."At this instant the favorite attendant of Madame Danglarsentered the boudoir; approaching her mistress, she spokesome words in an undertone. Madame Danglars turned verypale, then exclaimed, - "I cannot believe it; the thing isimpossible."

"I assure you, madame," replied the woman, "it is as I havesaid." Turning impatiently towards her husband, MadameDanglars demanded, "Is this 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 mycarriage, he discovered that they had been removed from thestables without his knowledge. I desire to know what is themeaning of this?"

"Be kind enough, madame, to listen to me," said Danglars.

"Oh, yes; I will listen, monsieur, for I am most curious tohear what explanation you will give. These two gentlemenshall decide between us; but, first, I will state the caseto them. Gentlemen," continued the baroness, "among the tenhorses in the stables of Baron Danglars, are two that belongexclusively to me - a pair of the handsomest and mostspirited creatures to be found in Paris. But to you, atleast, M. Debray, I need not give a further description,because to you my beautiful pair of dappled grays were wellknown. Well, I had promised Madame de Villefort the loan ofmy carriage to drive to-morrow to the Bois; but when mycoachman goes to fetch the grays from the stables they aregone - positively gone. No doubt M. Danglars has sacrificedthem to the selfish consideration of gaining some thousandsof paltry francs. Oh, what a detestable crew they are, thesemercenary speculators!"

"Madame," replied Danglars, "the horses were notsufficiently quiet for you; they were scarcely four yearsold, and they made me extremely uneasy on your account."

"Nonsense," retorted the baroness; "you could not haveentertained any alarm on the subject, because you areperfectly well aware that I have had for a month in myservice the very best coachman in Paris. But, perhaps, youhave disposed of the coachman as well as the horses?"

"My dear love, pray do not say any more about them, and Ipromise you another pair exactly like them in appearance,only more quiet and steady." The baroness shrugged hershoulders with an air of ineffable contempt, while herhusband, affecting not to observe this unconjugal gesture,turned towards Monte Cristo and said, - "Upon my word,count, I am quite sorry not to have met you sooner. You aresetting up an establishment, of course?"

"Why, yes," replied the count.

"I should have liked to have made you the offer of thesehorses. I have almost given them away, as it is; but, as Ibefore said, I was anxious to get rid of them upon anyterms. They were only fit for a young man."

"I am much obliged by your kind intentions towards me," saidMonte Cristo; "but this morning I purchased a very excellentpair of carriage-horses, and I do not think they were dear.There they are. Come, M. Debray, you are a connoisseur, Ibelieve, let me have your opinion upon them." As Debraywalked towards the window, Danglars approached his wife. "Icould not tell you before others," said he in a low tone,"the reason of my parting with the horses; but a mostenormous price was offered me this morning for them. Somemadman or fool, bent upon ruining himself as fast as he can,actually sent his steward to me to purchase them at anycost; and the fact is, I have gained 16,000 francs by thesale of them. Come, don't look so angry, and you shall have4,000 francs of the money to do what you like with, andEugenie shall have 2,000. There, what do you think now ofthe affair? Wasn't I right to part with the horses?" MadameDanglars surveyed her husband with a look of witheringcontempt.

"Great heavens?" suddenly exclaimed Debray.

"What is it?" asked the baroness.

"I cannot be mistaken; there are your horses! The veryanimals we were speaking of, harnessed to the count'scarriage!"

"My dappled grays?" demanded the baroness, springing to thewindow. "'Tis indeed they!" said she. Danglars lookedabsolutely stupefied. "How very singular," cried MonteCristo with well-feigned astonishment.

"I cannot believe it," murmured the banker. Madame Danglarswhispered a few words in the ear of Debray, who approachedMonte Cristo, saying, "The baroness wishes to know what youpaid her husband for the horses."

"I scarcely know," replied the count; "it was a littlesurprise prepared for me by my steward, and cost me - well,somewhere about 30,000 francs." Debray conveyed the count'sreply to the baroness. Poor Danglars looked so crest-fallenand discomfited that Monte Cristo assumed a pitying airtowards him. "See," said the count, "how very ungratefulwomen are. Your kind attention, in providing for the safetyof the baroness by disposing of the horses, does not seem tohave made the least impression on her. But so it is; a womanwill often, from mere wilfulness, prefer that which isdangerous to that which is safe. Therefore, in my opinion,my dear baron, the best and easiest way is to leave them totheir fancies, and allow them to act as they please, andthen, if any mischief follows, why, at least, they have noone to blame but themselves." Danglars made no reply; he wasoccupied in anticipations of the coming scene betweenhimself and the baroness, whose frowning brow, like that ofOlympic Jove, predicted a storm. Debray, who perceived thegathering clouds, and felt no desire to witness theexplosion of Madame Danglars' rage, suddenly recollected anappointment, which compelled him to take his leave; whileMonte Cristo, unwilling by prolonging his stay to destroythe advantages he hoped to obtain, made a farewell bow anddeparted, leaving Danglars to endure the angry reproaches ofhis wife.

"Excellent," murmured Monte Cristo to himself, as he cameaway. "All his gone according to my wishes. The domesticpeace of this family is henceforth in my hands. Now, then,to play another master-stroke, by which I shall gain theheart of both husband and wife - delightful! Still," addedhe, "amid all this, I have not yet been presented toMademoiselle Eugenie Danglars, whose acquaintance I shouldhave been glad to make. But," he went on with his peculiarsmile, "I am here in Paris, and have plenty of time beforeme - by and by will do for that." With these reflections heentered his carriage and returned home. Two hoursafterwards, Madame Danglars received a most flatteringepistle from the count, in which he entreated her to receiveback her favorite "dappled grays," protesting that he couldnot endure the idea of making his entry into the Parisianworld of fashion with the knowledge that his splendidequipage had been obtained at the price of a lovely woman'sregrets. The horses were sent back wearing the same harnessshe had seen on them in the morning; only, by the count'sorders, in the centre of each rosette that adorned eitherside of their heads, had been fastened a large diamond.

To Danglars Monte Cristo also wrote, requesting him toexcuse the whimsical gift of a capricious millionaire, andto beg the baroness to pardon the Eastern fashion adopted inthe return of the horses.

During the evening, Monte Cristo quitted Paris for Auteuil,accompanied by Ali. The following day, about three o'clock,a single blow struck on the gong summoned Ali to thepresence of the count. "Ali," observed his master, as theNubian entered the chamber, "you have frequently explainedto me how more than commonly skilful you are in throwing thelasso, have you not?" Ali drew himself up proudly, and thenreturned a sign in the affirmative. "I thought I did notmistake. With your lasso you could stop an ox?" Again Alirepeated his affirmative gesture. "Or a tiger?" Ali bowedhis head in token of assent. "A lion even?" Ali sprungforwards, imitating the action of one throwing the lasso,then of a strangled lion.

"I understand," said Monte Cristo; "you wish to tell me youhave hunted the lion?" Ali smiled with triumphant pride ashe signified that he had indeed both chased and capturedmany lions. "But do you believe you could arrest theprogress of two horses rushing forwards with ungovernablefury?" The Nubian smiled. "It is well," said Monte Cristo."Then listen to me. Ere long a carriage will dash past here,drawn by the pair of dappled gray horses you saw me withyesterday; now, at the risk of your own life, you mustmanage to stop those horses before my door."

Ali descended to the street, and marked a straight line onthe pavement immediately at the entrance of the house, andthen pointed out the line he had traced to the count, whowas watching him. The count patted him gently on theshoulder, his usual mode of praising Ali, who, pleased andgratified with the commission assigned him, walked calmlytowards a projecting stone forming the angle of the streetand house, and, seating himself thereon, began to smoke hischibouque, while Monte Cristo re-entered his dwelling,perfectly assured of the success of his plan. Still, as fiveo'clock approached, and the carriage was momentarilyexpected by the count, the indication of more than commonimpatience and uneasiness might be observed in his manner.He stationed himself in a room commanding a view of thestreet, pacing the chamber with restless steps, stoppingmerely to listen from time to time for the sound ofapproaching wheels, then to cast an anxious glance on Ali;but the regularity with which the Nubian puffed forth thesmoke of his chibouque proved that he at least was whollyabsorbed in the enjoyment of his favorite occupation.Suddenly a distant sound of rapidly advancing wheels washeard, and almost immediately a carriage appeared, drawn bya pair of wild, ungovernable horses, while the terrifiedcoachman strove in vain to restrain their furious speed.

In the vehicle was a young woman and a child of about sevenor eight clasped in each other's arms. Terror seemed to havedeprived them even of the power of uttering a cry. Thecarriage creaked and rattled as it flew over the roughstones, and the slightest obstacle under the wheels wouldhave caused disaster; but it kept on in the middle of theroad, and those who saw it pass uttered cries of terror.

Ali suddenly cast aside his chibouque, drew the lasso fromhis pocket, threw it so skilfully as to catch the forelegsof the near horse in its triple fold, and suffered himselfto be dragged on for a few steps by the violence of theshock, then the animal fell over on the pole, which snapped,and therefore prevented the other horse from pursuing itsway. Gladly availing himself of this opportunity, thecoachman leaped from his box; but Ali had promptly seizedthe nostrils of the second horse, and held them in his irongrasp, till the beast, snorting with pain, sunk beside hiscompanion. All this was achieved in much less time than isoccupied in the recital. The brief space had, however, beensufficient for a man, followed by a number of servants, torush from the house before which the accident had occurred,and, as the coachman opened the door of the carriage, totake from it a lady who was convulsively grasping thecushions with one hand, while with the other she pressed toher bosom the young boy, who had lost consciousness.

Monte Cristo carried them both to the salon, and depositedthem on a sofa. "Compose yourself, madame," said he; "alldanger is over." The woman looked up at these words, and,with a glance far more expressive than any entreaties couldhave been, pointed to her child, who still continuedinsensible. "I understand the nature of your alarms,madame," said the count, carefully examining the child, "butI assure you there is not the slightest occasion foruneasiness; your little charge has not received the leastinjury; his insensibility is merely the effects of terror,and will soon pass."

"Are you quite sure you do not say so to tranquillize myfears? See how deadly pale he is! My child, my darlingEdward; speak to your mother - open your dear eyes and lookon me once again! Oh, sir, in pity send for a physician; mywhole fortune shall not be thought too much for the recoveryof my boy."

With a calm smile and a gentle wave of the hand, MonteCristo signed to the distracted mother to lay aside herapprehensions; then, opening a casket that stood near, hedrew forth a phial of Bohemian glass incrusted with gold,containing a liquid of the color of blood, of which he letfall a single drop on the child's lips. Scarcely had itreached them, ere the boy, though still pale as marble,opened his eyes, and eagerly gazed around him. At this, thedelight of the mother was almost frantic. "Where am I?"exclaimed she; "and to whom am I indebted for so happy atermination to my late dreadful alarm?"

"Madame," answered the count, "you are under the roof of onewho esteems himself most fortunate in having been able tosave you from a further continuance of your sufferings."

"My wretched curiosity has brought all this about," pursuedthe lady. "All Paris rung with the praises of MadameDanglars' beautiful horses, and I had the folly to desire toknow whether they really merited the high praise given tothem."

"Is it possible," exclaimed the count with well-feignedastonishment, "that these horses belong to the baroness?"

"They do, indeed. May I inquire if you are acquainted withMadame Danglars?"

"I have that honor; and my happiness at your escape from thedanger that threatened you is redoubled by the consciousnessthat I have been the unwilling and the unintentional causeof all the peril you have incurred. I yesterday purchasedthese horses of the baron; but as the baroness evidentlyregretted parting with them, I ventured to send them back toher, with a request that she would gratify me by acceptingthem from my hands."

"You are, then, doubtless, the Count of Monte Cristo, ofwhom Hermine has talked to me so much?"

"You have rightly guessed, madame," replied the count.

"And I am Madame Heloise de Villefort." The count bowed withthe air of a person who hears a name for the first time."How grateful will M. de Villefort be for all your goodness;how thankfully will he acknowledge that to you alone he owesthe existence of his wife and child! Most certainly, but forthe prompt assistance of your intrepid servant, this dearchild and myself must both have perished."

"Indeed, I still shudder at the fearful danger you wereplaced in."

"I trust you will allow me to recompense worthily thedevotion of your man."

"I beseech you, madame," replied Monte Cristo "not to spoilAli, either by too great praise or rewards. I cannot allowhim to acquire the habit of expecting to be recompensed forevery trifling service he may render. Ali is my slave, andin saving your life he was but discharging his duty to me."

"Nay," interposed Madame de Villefort, on whom theauthoritative style adopted by the count made a deepimpression, "nay, but consider that to preserve my life hehas risked his own."

"His life, madame, belongs not to him; it is mine, in returnfor my having myself saved him from death." Madame deVillefort made no further reply; her mind was utterlyabsorbed in the contemplation of the person who, from thefirst instant she saw him, had made so powerful animpression on her. During the evident preoccupation ofMadame de Villefort, Monte Cristo scrutinized the featuresand appearance of the boy she kept folded in her arms,lavishing on him the most tender endearments. The child wassmall for his age, and unnaturally pale. A mass of straightblack hair, defying all attempts to train or curl it, fellover his projecting forehead, and hung down to hisshoulders, giving increased vivacity to eyes alreadysparkling with a youthful love of mischief and fondness forevery forbidden enjoyment. His mouth was large, and thelips, which had not yet regained their color, wereparticularly thin; in fact, the deep and crafty look, givinga predominant expression to the child's face, belongedrather to a boy of twelve or fourteen than to one so young.His first movement was to free himself by a violent pushfrom the encircling arms of his mother, and to rush forwardto the casket from whence the count had taken the phial ofelixir; then, without asking permission of any one, heproceeded, in all the wilfulness of a spoiled childunaccustomed to restrain either whims or caprices, to pullthe corks out of all the bottles.

"Touch nothing, my little friend," cried the count eagerly;"some of those liquids are not only dangerous to taste, buteven to inhale."

Madame de Villefort became very pale, and, seizing her son'sarm, drew him anxiously toward her; but, once satisfied ofhis safety, she also cast a brief but expressive glance onthe casket, which was not lost upon the count. At thismoment Ali entered. At sight of him Madame de Villefortuttered an expression of pleasure, and, holding the childstill closer towards her, she said, "Edward, dearest, do yousee that good man? He has shown very great courage andresolution, for he exposed his own life to stop the horsesthat were running away with us, and would certainly havedashed the carriage to pieces. Thank him, then, my child, inyour very best manner; for, had he not come to our aid,neither you nor I would have been alive to speak ourthanks." The child stuck out his lips and turned away hishead in a disdainful manner, saying, "He's too ugly."

The count smiled as if the child bade fair to realize hishopes, while Madame de Villefort reprimanded her son with agentleness and moderation very far from conveying the leastidea of a fault having been committed. "This lady," said theCount, speaking to Ali in the Arabic language, "is desirousthat her son should thank you for saving both their lives;but the boy refuses, saying you are too ugly." Ali turnedhis intelligent countenance towards the boy, on whom hegazed without any apparent emotion; but the spasmodicworking of the nostrils showed to the practiced eye of MonteCristo that the Arab had been wounded to the heart.

"Will you permit me to inquire," said Madame de Villefort,as she arose to take her leave, "whether you usually residehere?"

"No, I do not," replied Monte Cristo; "it is a small place Ihave purchased quite lately. My place of abode is No. 30,Avenue des Champs Elysees; but I see you have quiterecovered from your fright, and are, no doubt, desirous ofreturning home. Anticipating your wishes, I have desired thesame horses you came with to be put to one of my carriages,and Ali, he whom you think so very ugly," continued he,addressing the boy with a smiling air, "will have the honorof driving you home, while your coachman remains here toattend to the necessary repairs of your calash. As soon asthat important business is concluded, I will have a pair ofmy own horses harnessed to convey it direct to MadameDanglars."

"I dare not return with those dreadful horses," said Madamede Villefort.

"You will see," replied Monte Cristo, "that they will be asdifferent as possible in the hands of Ali. With him theywill be gentle and docile as lambs." Ali had, indeed, givenproof of this; for, approaching the animals, who had beengot upon their legs with considerable difficulty, he rubbedtheir foreheads and nostrils with a sponge soaked inaromatic vinegar, and wiped off the sweat and foam thatcovered their mouths. Then, commencing a loud whistlingnoise, he rubbed them well all over their bodies for severalminutes; then, undisturbed by the noisy crowd collectedround the broken carriage, Ali quietly harnessed thepacified animals to the count's chariot, took the reins inhis hands, and mounted the box, when to the utterastonishment of those who had witnessed the ungovernablespirit and maddened speed of the same horses, he wasactually compelled to apply his whip in no very gentlemanner before he could induce them to start; and even thenall that could be obtained from the celebrated "dappledgrays," now changed into a couple of dull, sluggish, stupidbrutes, was a slow, pottering pace, kept up with so muchdifficulty that Madame de Villefort was more than two hoursreturning to her residence in the Faubourg St. Honore.

Scarcely had the first congratulations upon her marvellousescape been gone through when she wrote the following letterto Madame Danglars: -

Dear Hermine, - I have just had a wonderful escape from themost imminent danger, and I owe my safety to the very Countof Monte Cristo we were talking about yesterday, but whom Ilittle expected to see to-day. I remember how unmercifully Ilaughed at what I considered your eulogistic and exaggeratedpraises of him; but I have now ample cause to admit thatyour enthusiastic description of this wonderful man fell farshort of his merits. Your horses got as far as Ranelagh,when they darted forward like mad things, and galloped awayat so fearful a rate, that there seemed no other prospectfor myself and my poor Edward but that of being dashed topieces against the first object that impeded their progress,when a strange-looking man, - an Arab, a negro, or aNubian, at least a black of some nation or other - at asignal from the count, whose domestic he is, suddenly seizedand stopped the infuriated animals, even at the risk ofbeing trampled to death himself; and certainly he must havehad a most wonderful escape. The count then hastened to us,and took us into his house, where he speedily recalled mypoor Edward to life. He sent us home in his own carriage.Yours will be returned to you to-morrow. You will find yourhorses in bad condition, from the results of this accident;they seem thoroughly stupefied, as if sulky and vexed athaving been conquered by man. The count, however, hiscommissioned me to assure you that two or three days' rest,with plenty of barley for their sole food during that time,will bring them back to as fine, that is as terrifying, acondition as they were in yesterday. Adieu! I cannot returnyou many thanks for the drive of yesterday; but, after all,I ought not to blame you for the misconduct of your horses,more especially as it procured me the pleasure of anintroduction to the Count of Monte Cristo, - and certainlythat illustrious personage, apart from the millions he issaid to be so very anxious to dispose of, seemed to me oneof those curiously interesting problems I, for one, delightin solving at any risk, even if it were to necessitateanother drive to the Bois behind your horses. Edward enduredthe accident with miraculous courage - he did not utter asingle cry, but fell lifeless into my arms; nor did a tearfall from his eyes after it was over. I doubt not you willconsider these praises the result of blind maternalaffection, but there is a soul of iron in that delicate,fragile body. Valentine sends many affectionate remembrancesto your dear Eugenie. I embrace you with all my heart.

Heloise de Villefort.

P.S. - Do pray contrive some means for me to meet the Countof Monte Cristo at your house. I must and will see himagain. I have just made M. de Villefort promise to call onhim, and I hope the visit will be returned.

That night the adventure at Auteuil was talked ofeverywhere. Albert related it to his mother; Chateau-Renaudrecounted it at the Jockey Club, and Debray detailed it atlength in the salons of the minister; even Beauchampaccorded twenty lines in his journal to the relation of thecount's courage and gallantry, thereby celebrating him asthe greatest hero of the day in the eyes of all the femininemembers of the aristocracy. Vast was the crowd of visitorsand inquiring friends who left their names at the residenceof Madame de Villefort, with the design of renewing theirvisit at the right moment, of hearing from her lips all theinteresting circumstances of this most romantic adventure.As for M. de Villefort, he fulfilled the predictions ofHeloise to the letter, - donned his dress suit, drew on apair of white gloves, ordered the servants to attend thecarriage dressed in their full livery, and drove that samenight to No. 30 in the Avenue des Champs-Elysees.