walls, intermingled with magnificent trophies of war, while heavy
curtains of costly tapestry were suspended before the different
doors of the room. "If your excellencies will please to be seated,"
said the man, "I will let the count know that you are here."
And with these words he disappeared behind one of the tapestried
portieres. As the door opened, the sound of a guzla reached the
ears of the young men, but was almost immediately lost, for the
rapid closing of the door merely allowed one rich swell of harmony
to enter. Franz and Albert looked inquiringly at each other, then
at the gorgeous furnishings of the apartment. Everything seemed
more magnificent at a second view than it had done at their first
rapid survey.
"Well," said Franz to his friend, "what think you of all
this?"
"Why, upon my soul, my dear fellow, it strikes me that our
elegant and attentive neighbor must either be some successful
stock-jobber who has speculated in the fall of the Spanish funds,
or some prince travelling incog."
"Hush, hush!" replied Franz; "we shall ascertain who and what he
is — he comes!" As Franz spoke, he heard the sound of a door
turning on its hinges, and almost immediately afterwards the
tapestry was drawn aside, and the owner of all these riches stood
before the two young men. Albert instantly rose to meet him, but
Franz remained, in a manner, spellbound on his chair; for in the
person of him who had just entered he recognized not only the
mysterious visitant to the Colosseum, and the occupant of the box
at the Teatro Argentino, but also his extraordinary host of Monte
Cristo."Gentlemen," said the Count of Monte Cristo as he entered, "I
pray you excuse me for suffering my visit to be anticipated; but I
feared to disturb you by presenting myself earlier at your
apartments; besides, you sent me word that you would come to me,
and I have held myself at your disposal."
"Franz and I have to thank you a thousand times, count,"
returned Albert; "you extricated us from a great dilemma, and we
were on the point of inventing a very fantastic vehicle when your
friendly invitation reached us."
"Indeed," returned the count, motioning the two young men to sit
down. "It was the fault of that blockhead Pastrini, that I did not
sooner assist you in your distress. He did not mention a syllable
of your embarrassment to me, when he knows that, alone and isolated
as I am, I seek every opportunity of making the acquaintance of my
neighbors. As soon as I learned I could in any way assist you, I
most eagerly seized the opportunity of offering my services." The
two young men bowed. Franz had, as yet, found nothing to say; he
had come to no determination, and as nothing in the count's manner
manifested the wish that he should recognize him, he did not know
whether to make any allusion to the past, or wait until he had more
proof; besides, although sure it was he who had been in the box the
previous evening, he could not be equally positive that this was
the man he had seen at the Colosseum. He resolved, therefore, to
let things take their course without making any direct overture to
the count. Moreover, he had this advantage, he was master of the
count's secret, while the count had no hold on Franz, who had
nothing to conceal. However, he resolved to lead the conversation
to a subject which might possibly clear up his doubts.
"Count," said he, "you have offered us places in your carriage,
and at your windows in the Rospoli Palace. Can you tell us where we
can obtain a sight of the Piazza del Popolo?"
"Ah," said the count negligently, looking attentively at"Ah," said the count negligently, looking attentively at
Morcerf, "is there not something like an execution upon the Piazza
del Popolo?"
"Yes," returned Franz, finding that the count was coming to the
point he wished.
"Stay, I think I told my steward yesterday to attend to this;
perhaps I can render you this slight service also." He extended his
hand, and rang the bell thrice. "Did you ever occupy yourself,"
said he to Franz, "with the employment of time and the means of
simplifying the summoning your servants? I have. When I ring once,
it is for my valet; twice, for my majordomo; thrice, for my
steward, — thus I do not waste a minute or a word. Here he is." A
man of about forty-five or fifty entered, exactly resembling the
smuggler who had introduced Franz into the cavern; but he did not
appear to recognize him. It was evident he had his orders.
"Monsieur Bertuccio," said the count, "you have procured me windows
looking on the Piazza del Popolo, as I ordered you yesterday."
"Yes, excellency," returned the steward; "but it was very
late."
"Did I not tell you I wished for one?" replied the count,
frowning.
"And your excellency has one, which was let to Prince Lobanieff;
but I was obliged to pay a hundred" —
"That will do — that will do, Monsieur Bertuccio; spare these
gentlemen all such domestic arrangements. You have the window, that
is sufficient. Give orders to the coachman; and be in readiness on
the stairs to conduct us to it." The steward bowed, and was about
to quit the room. "Ah," continued the count, "be good enough to ask
Pastrini if he has received the tavoletta, and if he can send us an
account of the execution."
"There is no need to do that," said Franz, taking out his
tablets; "for I saw the account, and copied it down."
"Very well, you can retire, M. Bertuccio; but let us know when
breakfast is ready. These gentlemen," added he, turning to the two
friends, "will, I trust, do me the honor to breakfast with me?"
"But, my dear count," said Albert, "we shall abuse your
kindness."