The next morning dawned dull and cloudy. During the nightthe undertakers had executed their melancholy office, andwrapped the corpse in the winding-sheet, which, whatever maybe said about the equality of death, is at least a lastproof of the luxury so pleasing in life. This winding-sheetwas nothing more than a beautiful piece of cambric, whichthe young girl had bought a fortnight before. During theevening two men, engaged for the purpose, had carriedNoirtier from Valentine's room into his own, and contrary toall expectation there was no difficulty in withdrawing himfrom his child. The Abbe Busoni had watched till daylight,and then left without calling any one. D'Avrigny returnedabout eight o'clock in the morning; he met Villefort on hisway to Noirtier's room, and accompanied him to see how theold man had slept. They found him in the large arm-chair,which served him for a bed, enjoying a calm, nay, almost asmiling sleep. They both stood in amazement at the door.

"See," said d'Avrigny to Villefort, "nature knows how toalleviate the deepest sorrow. No one can say that M.Noirtier did not love his child, and yet he sleeps."

"Yes, you are right," replied Villefort, surprised; "hesleeps, indeed! And this is the more strange, since theleast contradiction keeps him awake all night."

"Grief has stunned him," replied d'Avrigny; and they bothreturned thoughtfully to the procureur's study.

"See, I have not slept," said Villefort, showing hisundisturbed bed; "grief does not stun me. I have not been inbed for two nights; but then look at my desk; see what Ihave written during these two days and nights. I have filledthose papers, and have made out the accusation against theassassin Benedetto. Oh, work, work, - my passion, my joy,my delight, - it is for thee to alleviate my sorrows!" andhe convulsively grasped the hand of d'Avrigny.

"Do you require my services now?" asked d'Avrigny.

"No," said Villefort; "only return again at eleven o'clock;at twelve the - the - oh, heavens, my poor, poor child!"and the procureur again becoming a man, lifted up his eyesand groaned.

"Shall you be present in the reception room?"

"No; I have a cousin who has undertaken this sad office. Ishall work, doctor - when I work I forget everything." And,indeed, no sooner had the doctor left the room, than he wasagain absorbed in study. On the doorsteps d'Avrigny met thecousin whom Villefort had mentioned, a personage asinsignificant in our story as in the world he occupied - one of those beings designed from their birth to makethemselves useful to others. He was punctual, dressed inblack, with crape around his hat, and presented himself athis cousin's with a face made up for the occasion, and whichhe could alter as might be required. At twelve o'clock themourning-coaches rolled into the paved court, and the Rue duFaubourg Saint-Honore was filled with a crowd of idlers,equally pleased to witness the festivities or the mourningof the rich, and who rush with the same avidity to a funeralprocession as to the marriage of a duchess.

Gradually the reception-room filled, and some of our oldfriends made their appearance - we mean Debray,Chateau-Renaud, and Beauchamp, accompanied by all theleading men of the day at the bar, in literature, or thearmy, for M. de Villefort moved in the first Parisiancircles, less owing to his social position than to hispersonal merit. The cousin standing at the door ushered inthe guests, and it was rather a relief to the indifferent tosee a person as unmoved as themselves, and who did not exacta mournful face or force tears, as would have been the casewith a father, a brother, or a lover. Those who wereacquainted soon formed into little groups. One of them wasmade of Debray, Chateau-Renaud, and Beauchamp.

"Poor girl," said Debray, like the rest, paying aninvoluntary tribute to the sad event, - "poor girl, soyoung, so rich, so beautiful! Could you have imagined thisscene, Chateau-Renaud, when we saw her, at the most threeweeks ago, about to sign that contract?"

"Indeed, no," said Chateau-Renaud - "Did you know her?"

"I spoke to her once or twice at Madame de Morcerf's, amongthe rest; she appeared to me charming, though rathermelancholy. Where is her stepmother? Do you know?"

"She is spending the day with the wife of the worthygentleman who is receiving us."

"Who is he?"

"Whom do you mean?"

"The gentleman who receives us? Is he a deputy?"

"Oh, no. I am condemned to witness those gentlemen everyday," said Beauchamp; "but he is perfectly unknown to me."

"Have you mentioned this death in your paper?"

"It has been mentioned, but the article is not mine; indeed,I doubt if it will please M. Villefort, for it says that iffour successive deaths had happened anywhere else than inthe house of the king's attorney, he would have interestedhimself somewhat more about it."

"Still," said Chateau-Renaud, "Dr. d'Avrigny, who attends mymother, declares he is in despair about it. But whom are youseeking, Debray?"

"I am seeking the Count of Monte Cristo" said the young man.

"I met him on the boulevard, on my way here," saidBeauchamp. "I think he is about to leave Paris; he was goingto his banker."

"His banker? Danglars is his banker, is he not?" askedChateau-Renaud of Debray.

"I believe so," replied the secretary with slightuneasiness. "But Monte Cristo is not the only one I misshere; I do not see Morrel."

"Morrel? Do they know him?" asked Chateau-Renaud. "I thinkhe has only been introduced to Madame de Villefort."

"Still, he ought to have been here," said Debray; "I wonderwhat will be talked about to-night; this funeral is the newsof the day. But hush, here comes our minister of justice; hewill feel obliged to make some little speech to the cousin,"and the three young men drew near to listen. Beauchamp toldthe truth when he said that on his way to the funeral he hadmet Monte Cristo, who was directing his steps towards theRue de la Chausse d'Antin, to M. Danglars'.

The banker saw the carriage of the count enter the courtyard, and advanced to meet him with a sad, though affablesmile. "Well," said he, extending his hand to Monte Cristo,"I suppose you have come to sympathize with me, for indeedmisfortune has taken possession of my house. When Iperceived you, I was just asking myself whether I had notwished harm towards those poor Morcerfs, which would havejustified the proverb of `He who wishes misfortunes tohappen to others experiences them himself.' Well, on my wordof honor, I answered, `No!' I wished no ill to Morcerf; hewas a little proud, perhaps, for a man who like myself hasrisen from nothing; but we all have our faults. Do you know,count, that persons of our time of life - not that youbelong to the class, you are still a young man, - but as Iwas saying, persons of our time of life have been veryunfortunate this year. For example, look at the puritanicalprocureur, who has just lost his daughter, and in factnearly all his family, in so singular a manner; Morcerfdishonored and dead; and then myself covered with ridiculethrough the villany of Benedetto; besides" -

"Besides what?" asked the Count.

"Alas, do you not know?"

"What new calamity?"

"My daughter" -

"Mademoiselle Danglars?"

"Eugenie has left us!"

"Good heavens, what are you telling me?"

"The truth, my dear count. Oh, how happy you must be in nothaving either wife or children!"

"Do you think so?"

"Indeed I do."

"And so Mademoiselle Danglars" -

"She could not endure the insult offered to us by thatwretch, so she asked permission to travel."

"And is she gone?"

"The other night she left."

"With Madame Danglars?"

"No, with a relation. But still, we have quite lost our dearEugenie; for I doubt whether her pride will ever allow herto return to France."

"Still, baron," said Monte Cristo, "family griefs, or indeedany other affliction which would crush a man whose child washis only treasure, are endurable to a millionaire.Philosophers may well say, and practical men will alwayssupport the opinion, that money mitigates many trials; andif you admit the efficacy of this sovereign balm, you oughtto be very easily consoled - you, the king of finance, thefocus of immeasurable power."

Danglars looked at him askance, as though to ascertainwhether he spoke seriously. "Yes," he answered, "if afortune brings consolation, I ought to be consoled; I amrich."

"So rich, dear sir, that your fortune resembles thepyramids; if you wished to demolish them you could not, andif it were possible, you would not dare!" Danglars smiled atthe good-natured pleasantry of the count. "That reminds me,"he said, "that when you entered I was on the point ofsigning five little bonds; I have already signed two: willyou allow me to do the same to the others?"

"Pray do so."

There was a moment's silence, during which the noise of thebanker's pen was alone heard, while Monte Cristo examinedthe gilt mouldings on the ceiling. "Are they Spanish,Haitian, or Neapolitan bonds?" said Monte Cristo. "No," saidDanglars, smiling, "they are bonds on the bank of France,payable to bearer. Stay, count," he added, "you, who may hecalled the emperor, if I claim the title of king of finance,have you many pieces of paper of this size, each worth amillion?" The count took into his hands the papers, whichDanglars had so proudly presented to him, and read: -

"To the Governor of the Bank. Please pay to my order, fromthe fund deposited by me, the sum of a million, and chargethe same to my account.

"Baron Danglars."

"One, two, three, four, five," said Monte Cristo; "fivemillions - why what a Croesus you are!"

"This is how I transact business," said Danglars.

"It is really wonderful," said the count; "above all, if, asI suppose, it is payable at sight."

"It is, indeed, said Danglars.

"It is a fine thing to have such credit; really, it is onlyin France these things are done. Five millions on fivelittle scraps of paper! - it must be seen to be believed."

"You do not doubt it?"

"No!"

"You say so with an accent - stay, you shall be convinced;take my clerk to the bank, and you will see him leave itwith an order on the Treasury for the same sum."

"No," said Monte Cristo folding the five notes, "mostdecidedly not; the thing is so curious, I will make theexperiment myself. I am credited on you for six millions. Ihave drawn nine hundred thousand francs, you therefore stillowe me five millions and a hundred thousand francs. I willtake the five scraps of paper that I now hold as bonds, withyour signature alone, and here is a receipt in full for thesix millions between us. I had prepared it beforehand, for Iam much in want of money to-day." And Monte Cristo placedthe bonds in his pocket with one hand, while with the otherhe held out the receipt to Danglars. If a thunderbolt hadfallen at the banker's feet, he could not have experiencedgreater terror.

"What," he stammered, "do you mean to keep that money?Excuse me, excuse me, but I owe this money to the charityfund, - a deposit which I promised to pay this morning."

"Oh, well, then," said Monte Cristo, "I am not particularabout these five notes, pay me in a different form; Iwished, from curiosity, to take these, that I might be ableto say that without any advice or preparation the house ofDanglars had paid me five millions without a minute's delay;it would have been remarkable. But here are your bonds; payme differently;" and he held the bonds towards Danglars, whoseized them like a vulture extending its claws to withholdthe food that is being wrested from its grasp. Suddenly herallied, made a violent effort to restrain himself, and thena smile gradually widened the features of his disturbedcountenance.

"Certainly," he said, "your receipt is money."

"Oh dear, yes; and if you were at Rome, the house of Thomson& French would make no more difficulty about paying themoney on my receipt than you have just done."

"Pardon me, count, pardon me."

"Then I may keep this money?"

"Yes," said Danglars, while the perspiration started fromthe roots of his hair. "Yes, keep it - keep it."

Monte Cristo replaced the notes in his pocket with thatindescribable expression which seemed to say, "Come,reflect; if you repent there is till time."

"No," said Danglars, "no, decidedly no; keep my signatures.But you know none are so formal as bankers in transactingbusiness; I intended this money for the charity fund, and Iseemed to be robbing them if I did not pay them with theseprecise bonds. How absurd - as if one crown were not asgood as another. Excuse me;" and he began to laugh loudly,but nervously.

"Certainly, I excuse you," said Monte Cristo graciously,"and pocket them." And he placed the bonds in hispocket-book.

"But," said Danglars, "there is still a sum of one hundredthousand francs?"

"Oh, a mere nothing," said Monte Cristo. "The balance wouldcome to about that sum; but keep it, and we shall be quits."

"Count." said Danglars, "are you speaking seriously?"

"I never joke with bankers," said Monte Cristo in a freezingmanner, which repelled impertinence; and he turned to thedoor, just as the valet de chambre announced, - "M. deBoville, receiver-general of the charities."

"Ma foi," said Monte Cristo; "I think I arrived just in timeto obtain your signatures, or they would have been disputedwith me."

Danglars again became pale, and hastened to conduct thecount out. Monte Cristo exchanged a ceremonious bow with M.de Boville, who was standing in the waiting-room, and whowas introduced into Danglars' room as soon as the count hadleft. The count's sad face was illumined by a faint smile,as he noticed the portfolio which the receiver-general heldin his hand. At the door he found his carriage, and wasimmediately driven to the bank. Meanwhile Danglars,repressing all emotion, advanced to meet thereceiver-general. We need not say that a smile ofcondescension was stamped upon his lips. "Good-morning,creditor," said he; "for I wager anything it is the creditorwho visits me."

"You are right, baron," answered M. de Boville; "thecharities present themselves to you through me: the widowsand orphans depute me to receive alms to the amount of fivemillions from you."

"And yet they say orphans are to be pitied," said Danglars,wishing to prolong the jest. "Poor things!"

"Here I am in their name," said M. de Boville; "but did youreceive my letter yesterday?"

"Yes."

"I have brought my receipt."

"My dear M. de Boville, your widows and orphans must obligeme by waiting twenty-four hours, since M. de Monte Cristowhom you just saw leaving here - you did see him, I think?"

"Yes; well?"

"Well, M. de Monte Cristo has just carried off their fivemillions."

"How so?"

"The count has an unlimited credit upon me; a credit openedby Thomson & French, of Rome; he came to demand fivemillions at once, which I paid him with checks on the bank.My funds are deposited there, and you can understand that ifI draw out ten millions on the same day it will appearrather strange to the governor. Two days will be a differentthing," said Danglars, smiling.

"Come," said Boville, with a tone of entire incredulity,"five millions to that gentleman who just left, and whobowed to me as though he knew me?"

"Perhaps he knows you, though you do not know him; M. deMonte Cristo knows everybody."

"Five millions!"

"Here is his receipt. Believe your own eyes." M. de Bovilletook the paper Danglars presented him, and read: -

"Received of Baron Danglars the sum of five million onehundred thousand francs, to be repaid on demand by the houseof Thomson & French of Rome."

"It is really true," said M. de Boville.

"Do you know the house of Thomson & French?"

"Yes, I once had business to transact with it to the amountof 200,000 francs; but since then I have not heard itmentioned."

"It is one of the best houses in Europe," said Danglars,carelessly throwing down the receipt on his desk.

"And he had five millions in your hands alone! Why, thisCount of Monte Cristo must be a nabob?"

"Indeed I do not know what he is; he has three unlimitedcredits - one on me, one on Rothschild, one on Lafitte;and, you see," he added carelessly, "he has given me thepreference, by leaving a balance of 100,000 francs." M. deBoville manifested signs of extraordinary admiration. "Imust visit him," he said, "and obtain some pious grant fromhim."

"Oh, you may make sure of him; his charities alone amount to20,000 francs a month."

"It is magnificent! I will set before him the example ofMadame de Morcerf and her son."

"What example?"

"They gave all their fortune to the hospitals."

"What fortune?"

"Their own - M. de Morcerf's, who is deceased."

"For what reason?"

"Because they would not spend money so guiltily acquired."

"And what are they to live upon?"

"The mother retires into the country, and the son enters thearmy."

"Well, I must confess, these are scruples."

"I registered their deed of gift yesterday."

"And how much did they possess?"

"Oh, not much - from twelve to thirteen hundred thousandfrancs. But to return to our millions."

"Certainly," said Danglars, in the most natural tone in theworld. "Are you then pressed for this money?"

"Yes; for the examination of our cash takes placeto-morrow."

"To-morrow? Why did you not tell me so before? Why, it is asgood as a century! At what hour does the examination takeplace?"

"At two o'clock."

"Send at twelve," said Danglars, smiling. M. de Boville saidnothing, but nodded his head, and took up the portfolio."Now I think of it, you can do better," said Danglars.

"How do you mean?"

"The receipt of M. de Monte Cristo is as good as money; takeit to Rothschild's or Lafitte's, and they will take it offyour hands at once."

"What, though payable at Rome?"

"Certainly; it will only cost you a discount of 5,000 or6,000 francs." The receiver started back. "Ma foi," he said,"I prefer waiting till to-morrow. What a proposition!"

"I thought, perhaps," said Danglars with supremeimpertinence, "that you had a deficiency to make up?"

"Indeed," said the receiver.

"And if that were the case it would be worth while to makesome sacrifice."

"Thank you, no, sir "

"Then it will be to-morrow."

"Yes; but without fail."

"Ah, you are laughing at me; send to-morrow at twelve, andthe bank shall be notified."

"I will come myself."

"Better still, since it will afford me the pleasure ofseeing you." They shook hands. "By the way," said M. deBoville, "are you not going to the funeral of poorMademoiselle de Villefort, which I met on my road here?"

"No," said the banker; "I have appeared rather ridiculoussince that affair of Benedetto, so I remain in thebackground."

"Bah, you are wrong. How were you to blame in that affair?"

"Listen - when one bears an irreproachable name, as I do,one is rather sensitive."

"Everybody pities you, sir; and, above all, MademoiselleDanglars!"

"Poor Eugenie!" said Danglars; "do you know she is going toembrace a religious life?"

"No."

"Alas, it is unhappily but too true. The day after theevent, she decided on leaving Paris with a nun of heracquaintance; they are gone to seek a very strict convent inItaly or Spain."

"Oh, it is terrible!" and M. de Boville retired with thisexclamation, after expressing acute sympathy with thefather. But he had scarcely left before Danglars, with anenergy of action those can alone understand who have seenRobert Macaire represented by Frederic,* exclaimed, - "Fool!" Then enclosing Monte Cristo's receipt in a littlepocket-book, he added: - "Yes, come at twelve o'clock; Ishall then be far away." Then he double-locked his door,emptied all his drawers, collected about fifty thousandfrancs in bank-notes, burned several papers, left othersexposed to view, and then commenced writing a letter whichhe addressed:

"To Madame la Baronne Danglars."

Frederic Lemaitre - French actor (1800-1876). RobertMacaire is the hero of two favorite melodramas - "Chien deMontargis" and "Chien d'Aubry" - and the name is applied tobold criminals as a term of derision.

"I will place it on her table myself to-night," he murmured.Then taking a passport from his drawer he said, - "Good, itis available for two months longer."