The same day during the interview between Madame Danglarsand the procureur, a travelling-carriage entered the Rue duHelder, passed through the gateway of No. 27, and stopped inthe yard. In a moment the door was opened, and Madame deMorcerf alighted, leaning on her son's arm. Albert soon lefther, ordered his horses, and having arranged his toilet,drove to the Champs Elysees, to the house of Monte Cristo.The count received him with his habitual smile. It was astrange thing that no one ever appeared to advance a step inthat man's favor. Those who would, as it were, force apassage to his heart, found an impassable barrier. Morcerf,who ran towards him with open arms, was chilled as he drewnear, in spite of the friendly smile, and simply held outhis hand. Monte Cristo shook it coldly, according to hisinvariable practice. "Here I am, dear count."

"Welcome home again."

"I arrived an hour since."

"From Dieppe?"

"No, from Treport."

"Indeed?"

"And I have come at once to see you."

"That is extremely kind of you," said Monte Cristo with atone of perfect indifference.

"And what is the news?"

"You should not ask a stranger, a foreigner, for news."

"I know it, but in asking for news, I mean, have you doneanything for me?"

"Had you commissioned me?" said Monte Cristo, feigninguneasiness.

"Come, come," said Albert, "do not assume so muchindifference. It is said, sympathy travels rapidly, and whenat Treport, I felt the electric shock; you have either beenworking for me or thinking of me."

"Possibly," said Monte Cristo, "I have indeed thought ofyou, but the magnetic wire I was guiding acted, indeed,without my knowledge."

"Indeed? Pray tell me how it happened?"

"Willingly. M. Danglars dined with me."

"I know it; to avoid meeting him, my mother and I lefttown."

"But he met here M. Andrea Cavalcanti."

"Your Italian prince?"

"Not so fast; M. Andrea only calls himself count."

"Calls himself, do you say?"

"Yes, calls himself."

"Is he not a count?"

"What can I know of him? He calls himself so. I, of course,give him the same title, and every one else does likewise."

"What a strange man you are! What next? You say M. Danglarsdined here?"

"Yes, with Count Cavalcanti, the marquis his father, MadameDanglars, M. and Madame de Villefort, - charming people, - M. Debray, Maximilian Morrel, and M. de Chateau-Renaud."

"Did they speak of me?"

"Not a word."

"So much the worse."

"Why so? I thought you wished them to forget you?"

"If they did not speak of me, I am sure they thought aboutme, and I am in despair."

"How will that affect you, since Mademoiselle Danglars wasnot among the number here who thought of you? Truly, shemight have thought of you at home."

"I have no fear of that; or, if she did, it was only in thesame way in which I think of her."

"Touching sympathy! So you hate each other?" said the count.

"Listen," said Morcerf - "if Mademoiselle Danglars weredisposed to take pity on my supposed martyrdom on heraccount, and would dispense with all matrimonial formalitiesbetween our two families, I am ready to agree to thearrangement. In a word, Mademoiselle Danglars would make acharming mistress - but a wife - diable!"

"And this," said Monte Cristo, "is your opinion of yourintended spouse?"

"Yes; it is rather unkind, I acknowledge, but it is true.But as this dream cannot be realized, since MademoiselleDanglars must become my lawful wife, live perpetually withme, sing to me, compose verses and music within ten paces ofme, and that for my whole life, it frightens me. One mayforsake a mistress, but a wife, - good heavens! There shemust always be; and to marry Mademoiselle Danglars would beawful."

"You are difficult to please, viscount."

"Yes, for I often wish for what is impossible."

"What is that?"

"To find such a wife as my father found." Monte Cristoturned pale, and looked at Albert, while playing with somemagnificent pistols.

"Your father was fortunate, then?" said he.

"You know my opinion of my mother, count; look at her, - still beautiful, witty, more charming than ever. For anyother son to have stayed with his mother for four days atTreport, it would have been a condescension or a martyrdom,while I return, more contented, more peaceful - shall I saymore poetic! - than if I had taken Queen Mab or Titania asmy companion."

"That is an overwhelming demonstration, and you would makeevery one vow to live a single life."

"Such are my reasons for not liking to marry MademoiselleDanglars. Have you ever noticed how much a thing isheightened in value when we obtain possession of it? Thediamond which glittered in the window at Marle's or Fossin'sshines with more splendor when it is our own; but if we arecompelled to acknowledge the superiority of another, andstill must retain the one that is inferior, do you not knowwhat we have to endure?"

"Worldling," murmured the count.

"Thus I shall rejoice when Mademoiselle Eugenie perceives Iam but a pitiful atom, with scarcely as many hundredthousand francs as she has millions." Monte Cristo smiled."One plan occurred to me," continued Albert; "Franz likesall that is eccentric; I tried to make him fall in love withMademoiselle Danglars; but in spite of four letters, writtenin the most alluring style, he invariably answered: `Myeccentricity may be great, but it will not make me break mypromise.'"

"That is what I call devoted friendship, to recommend toanother one whom you would not marry yourself." Albertsmiled. - "Apropos," continued he, "Franz is coming soon,but it will not interest you; you dislike him, I think?"

"I?" said Monte Cristo; "my dear Viscount, how have youdiscovered that I did not like M. Franz! I like every one."

"And you include me in the expression every one - manythanks!"

"Let us not mistake," said Monte Cristo; "I love every oneas God commands us to love our neighbor, as Christians; butI thoroughly hate but a few. Let us return to M. Franzd'Epinay. Did you say he was coming?"

"Yes; summoned by M. de Villefort, who is apparently asanxious to get Mademoiselle Valentine married as M. Danglarsis to see Mademoiselle Eugenie settled. It must be a veryirksome office to be the father of a grown-up daughter; itseems to make one feverish, and to raise one's pulse toninety beats a minute until the deed is done."

"But M. d'Epinay, unlike you, bears his misfortunepatiently."

"Still more, he talks seriously about the matter, puts on awhite tie, and speaks of his family. He entertains a veryhigh opinion of M. and Madame de Villefort."

"Which they deserve, do they not?"

"I believe they do. M. de Villefort has always passed for asevere but a just man."

"There is, then, one," said Monte Cristo, "whom you do notcondemn like poor Danglars?"

"Because I am not compelled to marry his daughter perhaps,"replied Albert, laughing.

"Indeed, my dear sir," said Monte Cristo, "you arerevoltingly foppish."

"I foppish? how do you mean?"

"Yes; pray take a cigar, and cease to defend yourself, andto struggle to escape marrying Mademoiselle Danglars. Letthings take their course; perhaps you may not have toretract."

"Bah," said Albert, staring.

"Doubtless, my dear viscount, you will not be taken byforce; and seriously, do you wish to break off yourengagement?"

"I would give a hundred thousand francs to be able to doso."

"Then make yourself quite easy. M. Danglars would givedouble that sum to attain the same end."

"Am I, indeed, so happy?" said Albert, who still could notprevent an almost imperceptible cloud passing across hisbrow. "But, my dear count, has M. Danglars any reason?"

"Ah, there is your proud and selfish nature. You wouldexpose the self-love of another with a hatchet, but youshrink if your own is attacked with a needle."

"But yet M. Danglars appeared" -

"Delighted with you, was he not? Well, he is a man of badtaste, and is still more enchanted with another. I know notwhom; look and judge for yourself."

"Thank you, I understand. But my mother - no, not mymother; I mistake - my father intends giving a ball."

"A ball at this season?"

"Summer balls are fashionable."

"If they were not, the countess has only to wish it, andthey would become so."

"You are right; You know they are select affairs; those whoremain in Paris in July must be true Parisians. Will youtake charge of our invitation to Messieurs Cavalcanti?"

"When will it take place?"

"On Saturday."

"M. Cavalcanti's father will be gone."

"But the son will be here; will you invite young M.Cavalcanti?"

"I do not know him, viscount."

"You do not know him?"

"No, I never saw him until a few days since, and am notresponsible for him."

"But you receive him at your house?"

"That is another thing: he was recommended to me by a goodabbe, who may be deceived. Give him a direct invitation, butdo not ask me to present him. If he were afterwards to marryMademoiselle Danglars, you would accuse me of intrigue, andwould be challenging me, - besides, I may not be theremyself."

"Where?"

"At your ball."

"Why should you not be there?"

"Because you have not yet invited me."

"But I come expressly for that purpose."

"You are very kind, but I may be prevented."

"If I tell you one thing, you will be so amiable as to setaside all impediments."

"Tell me what it is."

"My mother begs you to come."

"The Comtesse de Morcerf?" said Monte Cristo, starting.

"Ah, count," said Albert, "I assure you Madame de Morcerfspeaks freely to me, and if you have not felt thosesympathetic fibres of which I spoke just now thrill withinyou, you must be entirely devoid of them, for during thelast four days we have spoken of no one else."

"You have talked of me?"

"Yes, that is the penalty of being a living puzzle!"

"Then I am also a puzzle to your mother? I should havethought her too reasonable to be led by imagination."

"A problem, my dear count, for every one - for my mother aswell as others; much studied, but not solved, you stillremain an enigma, do not fear. My mother is only astonishedthat you remain so long unsolved. I believe, while theCountess G - - takes you for Lord Ruthven, my motherimagines you to be Cagliostro or the Count Saint-Germain.The first opportunity you have, confirm her in her opinion;it will be easy for you, as you have the philosophy of theone and the wit of the other."

"I thank you for the warning," said the count; "I shallendeavor to be prepared for all suppositions."

"You will, then, come on Saturday?"

"Yes, since Madame de Morcerf invites me."

"You are very kind."

"Will M. Danglars be there?"

"He has already been invited by my father. We shall try topersuade the great d'Aguesseau,* M. de Villefort, to come,but have not much hope of seeing him."

"`Never despair of anything,' says the proverb."

Magistrate and orator of great eloquence - chancellor ofFrance under Louis XV.

"Do you dance, count?"

"I dance?"

"Yes, you; it would not be astonishing."

"That is very well before one is over forty. No, I do notdance, but I like to see others do so. Does Madame deMorcerf dance?"

"Never; you can talk to her, she so delights in yourconversation."

"Indeed?"

"Yes, truly; and I assure you. You are the only man of whomI have heard her speak with interest." Albert rose and tookhis hat; the count conducted him to the door. "I have onething to reproach myself with," said he, stopping Albert onthe steps. "What is it?"

"I have spoken to you indiscreetly about Danglars."

"On the contrary, speak to me always in the same strainabout him."

"I am glad to be reassured on that point. Apropos, when doyou aspect M. d'Epinay?"

"Five or six days hence at the latest."

"And when is he to be married?"

"Immediately on the arrival of M. and Madame deSaint-Meran."

"Bring him to see me. Although you say I do not like him, Iassure you I shall be happy to see him."

"I will obey your orders, my lord."

"Good-by."

"Until Saturday, when I may expect you, may I not?"

"Yes, I promised you." The Count watched Albert, waving hishand to him. When he had mounted his phaeton, Monte Cristoturned, and seeing Bertuccio, "What news?" said he. "Shewent to the Palais," replied the steward.

"Did she stay long there?"

"An hour and a half."

"Did she return home?"

"Directly."

"Well, my dear Bertuccio," said the count, "I now advise youto go in quest of the little estate I spoke to you of inNormandy." Bertuccio bowed, and as his wishes were inperfect harmony with the order he had received, he startedthe same evening.