Monte Cristo repeated all the titles he had read on the baron's
card.
Danglars felt the irony and compressed his lips. "You will, I
trust, excuse me, monsieur, for not calling you by your title when
I first addressed you," he said, "but you are aware that we are
living under a popular form of government, and that I am myself a
representative of the liberties of the people."
"So much so," replied Monte Cristo, "that while you call
yourself baron you are not willing to call anybody else count."
"Upon my word, monsieur," said Danglars with affected
carelessness, "I attach no sort of value to such empty
distinctions; but the fact is, I was made baron, and also chevalier
of the Legion of Honor, in return for services rendered, but" —
"But you have discarded your titles after the example set you by
Messrs. de Montmorency and Lafayette? That was a noble example to
follow, monsieur."
"Why," replied Danglars, "not entirely so; with the servants, —
you understand."
"I see; to your domestics you are `my lord,' the journalists
style you `monsieur,' while your constituents call you `citizen.'
These are distinctions very suitable under a constitutional
government. I understand perfectly." Again Danglars bit his lips;
he saw that he was no match for Monte Cristo in an argument of this
sort, and he therefore hastened to turn to subjects more
congenial.
"Permit me to inform you, Count," said he, bowing, "that I have
received a letter of advice from Thomson & French, of
Rome."
"I am glad to hear it, baron, — for I must claim the privilege
of addressing you after the manner of your servants. I have
acquired the bad habit of calling persons by their titles from
living in a country where barons are still barons by right of
birth. But as regards the letter of advice, I am charmed to find
that it has reached you; that will spare me the troublesome and
disagreeable task of coming to you for money myself. You have
received a regular letter of advice?"
"Yes," said Danglars, "but I confess I didn't quite comprehend
its meaning."
"Indeed?""Yes," said Danglars, "but I confess I didn't quite comprehend
its meaning."
"Indeed?"
"And for that reason I did myself the honor of calling upon you,
in order to beg for an explanation."
"Go on, monsieur. Here I am, ready to give you any explanation
you desire."
"Why," said Danglers, "in the letter — I believe I have it about
me" — here he felt in his breast-pocket — "yes, here it is. Well,
this letter gives the Count of Monte Cristo unlimited credit on our
house."
"Well, baron, what is there difficult to understand about
that?"
"Merely the term unlimited — nothing else, certainly."
"Is not that word known in France? The people who wrote are
Anglo-Germans, you know."
"Oh, as for the composition of the letter, there is nothing to
be said; but as regards the competency of the document, I certainly
have doubts."
"Is it possible?" asked the count, assuming all air and tone of
the utmost simplicity and candor. "Is it possible that Thomson
& French are not looked upon as safe and solvent bankers? Pray
tell me what you think, baron, for I feel uneasy, I can assure you,
having some considerable property in their hands."
"Thomson & French are perfectly solvent," replied Danglars,
with an almost mocking smile: "but the word unlimited, in financial
affairs, is so extremely vague."
"Is, in fact, unlimited," said Monte Cristo.
"Precisely what I was about to say," cried Danglars. "Now what
is vague is doubtful; and it was a wise man who said, `when in
doubt, keep out.'"
"Meaning to say," rejoined Monte Cristo, "that however Thomson
& French may be inclined to commit acts of imprudence and
folly, the Baron Danglars is not disposed to follow their
example."
"Not at all."
"Plainly enough. Messrs. Thomson & French set no bounds to
their engagements while those of M. Danglars have their limits; he
is a wise man, according to his own showing."
"Monsieur," replied the banker, drawing himself up with a
haughty air, "the extent of my resources has never yet been
questioned."haughty air, "the extent of my resources has never yet been
questioned."
"It seems, then, reserved for me," said Monte Cristo coldly, "to
be the first to do so."
"By what right, sir?"
"By right of the objections you have raised, and the
explanations you have demanded, which certainly must have some
motive."
Once more Danglars bit his lips. It was the second time he had
been worsted, and this time on his own ground. His forced
politeness sat awkwardly upon him, and approached almost to
impertinence. Monte Cristo on the contrary, preserved a graceful
suavity of demeanor, aided by a certain degree of simplicity he
could assume at pleasure, and thus possessed the advantage.
"Well, sir," resumed Danglars, after a brief silence, "I will
endeavor to make myself understood, by requesting you to inform me
for what sum you propose to draw upon me?"
"Why, truly," replied Monte Cristo, determined not to lose an
inch of the ground he had gained, "my reason for desiring an
`unlimited' credit was precisely because I did not know how much
money I might need."
The banker thought the time had come for him to take the upper
hand. So throwing himself back in his arm-chair, he said, with an
arrogant and purse-proud air, — "Let me beg of you not to hesitate
in naming your wishes; you will then be convinced that the
resources of the house of Danglars, however limited, are still
equal to meeting the largest demands; and were you even to require
a million" —
"I beg your pardon," interposed Monte Cristo.
"I said a million," replied Danglars, with the confidence of
ignorance.
"But could I do with a million?" retorted the count. "My dear
sir, if a trifle like that could suffice me, I should never have
given myself the trouble of opening an account. A million? Excuse
my smiling when you speak of a sum I am in the habit of carrying in
my pocket-book or dressing-case." And with these words Monte Cristo
took from his pocket a small case containing his visiting-cards,
and drew forth two orders on the treasury for 500,000 francs each,