striving to conceal a quid of tobacco he had just thrust into his
cheek. A few locks of gray mingled with his hair, which was still
thick and matted, while his bronzed features and determined glance
well suited an old sailor who had braved the heat of the equator
and the storms of the tropics. "I think you hailed me, Mademoiselle
Julie?" said he. Penelon had still preserved the habit of calling
his master's daughter "Mademoiselle Julie," and had never been able
to change the name to Madame Herbault. "Penelon," replied Julie,
"go and inform M. Emmanuel of this gentleman's visit, and
Maximilian will conduct him to the salon." Then, turning to Monte
Cristo, — "I hope you will permit me to leave you for a few
minutes," continued she; and without awaiting any reply,
disappeared behind a clump of trees, and escaped to the house by a
lateral alley.
"I am sorry to see," observed Monte Cristo to Morrel, "that I
cause no small disturbance in your house."
"Look there," said Maximilian, laughing; "there is her husband
changing his jacket for a coat. I assure you, you are well known in
the Rue Meslay."
"Your family appears to be a very happy one," said the count, as
if speaking to himself.
"Oh, yes, I assure you, count, they want nothing that can render
them happy; they are young and cheerful, they are tenderly attached
to each other, and with twenty-five thousand francs a year they
fancy themselves as rich as Rothschild."
"Five and twenty thousand francs is not a large sum, however,"
replied Monte Cristo, with a tone so sweet and gentle, that it went
to Maximilian's heart like the voice of a father; "but they will
not be content with that. Your brother-in-law is a barrister? a
doctor?"
"He was a merchant, monsieur, and had succeeded to the business
of my poor father. M. Morrel, at his death, left 500,000 francs,
which were divided between my sister and myself, for we were his
only children. Her husband, who, when he married her, had no other
patrimony than his noble probity, his first-rate ability, and hispatrimony than his noble probity, his first-rate ability, and his
spotless reputation, wished to possess as much as his wife. He
labored and toiled until he had amassed 250,000 francs; six years
sufficed to achieve this object. Oh, I assure you, sir, it was a
touching spectacle to see these young creatures, destined by their
talents for higher stations, toiling together, and through their
unwillingness to change any of the customs of their paternal house,
taking six years to accomplish what less scrupulous people would
have effected in two or three. Marseilles resounded with their
well-earned praises. At last, one day, Emmanuel came to his wife,
who had just finished making up the accounts. `Julie,' said he to
her, `Cocles has just given me the last rouleau of a hundred
francs; that completes the 250,000 francs we had fixed as the
limits of our gains. Can you content yourself with the small
fortune which we shall possess for the future? Listen to me. Our
house transacts business to the amount of a million a year, from
which we derive an income of 40,000 francs. We can dispose of the
business, if we please, in an hour, for I have received a letter
from M. Delaunay, in which he offers to purchase the good-will of
the house, to unite with his own, for 300,000 francs. Advise me
what I had better do.' — `Emmanuel,' returned my sister, `the house
of Morrel can only be carried on by a Morrel. Is it not worth
300,000 francs to save our father's name from the chances of evil
fortune and failure?' — `I thought so,' replied Emmanuel; `but I
wished to have your advice.' — `This is my counsel: — Our accounts
are made up and our bills paid; all we have to do is to stop the
issue of any more, and close our office.' This was done instantly.
It was three o'clock; at a quarter past, a merchant presented
himself to insure two ships; it was a clear profit of 15,000
francs. `Monsieur,' said Emmanuel, `have the goodness to address
yourself to M. Delaunay. We have quitted business.' — `How long?'yourself to M. Delaunay. We have quitted business.' — `How long?'
inquired the astonished merchant. `A quarter of an hour,' was the
reply. And this is the reason, monsieur," continued Maximilian, "of
my sister and brother-in-law having only 25,000 francs a year."
Maximilian had scarcely finished his story, during which the
count's heart had swelled within him, when Emmanuel entered wearing
a hat and coat. He saluted the count with the air of a man who is
aware of the rank of his guest; then, after having led Monte Cristo
around the little garden, he returned to the house. A large vase of
Japan porcelain, filled with flowers that loaded the air with their
perfume, stood in the salon. Julie, suitably dressed, and her hair
arranged (she had accomplished this feat in less than ten minutes),
received the count on his entrance. The songs of the birds were
heard in an aviary hard by, and the branches of laburnums and rose
acacias formed an exquisite framework to the blue velvet curtains.
Everything in this charming retreat, from the warble of the birds
to the smile of the mistress, breathed tranquillity and repose. The
count had felt the influence of this happiness from the moment he
entered the house, and he remained silent and pensive, forgetting
that he was expected to renew the conversation, which had ceased
after the first salutations had been exchanged. The silence became
almost painful when, by a violent effort, tearing himself from his
pleasing reverie — "Madame," said he at length, "I pray you to
excuse my emotion, which must astonish you who are only accustomed
to the happiness I meet here; but contentment is so new a sight to
me, that I could never be weary of looking at yourself and your
husband."
"We are very happy, monsieur," replied Julie; "but we have also
known unhappiness, and few have ever undergone more bitter
sufferings than ourselves." The Count's features displayed an
expression of the most intense curiosity.
"Oh, all this is a family history, as Chateau-Renaud told you