has presented itself for saying this to you, for I have noticed how
cold you are in your bearing towards the count, while he, on the
other hand, has always been courtesy itself to us. Have you
anything particular against him?"
"Possibly."
"Did you ever meet him previously to coming hither?"
"I have."
"And where?"
"Will you promise me not to repeat a single word of what I am
about to tell you?"
"I promise."
"Upon your honor?"
"Upon my honor."
"Then listen to me." Franz then related to his friend the
history of his excursion to the Island of Monte Cristo and of his
finding a party of smugglers there, and the two Corsican bandits
with them. He dwelt with considerable force and energy on the
almost magical hospitality he had received from the count, and the
magnificence of his entertainment in the grotto of the "Thousand
and One Nights." He recounted, with circumstantial exactitude, all
the particulars of the supper, the hashish, the statues, the dream,
and how, at his awakening, there remained no proof or trace of all
these events, save the small yacht, seen in the distant horizon
driving under full sail toward Porto-Vecchio. Then he detailed the
conversation overheard by him at the Colosseum, between the count
and Vampa, in which the count had promised to obtain the release of
the bandit Peppino, — an engagement which, as our readers are
aware, he most faithfully fulfilled. At last he arrived at the
adventure of the preceding night, and the embarrassment in which he
found himself placed by not having sufficient cash by six or seven
hundred piastres to make up the sum required, and finally of his
application to the count and the picturesque and satisfactory
result that followed. Albert listened with the most profound
attention. "Well," said he, when Franz had concluded, "what do you
find to object to in all you have related? The count is fond of
travelling, and, being rich, possesses a vessel of his own. Go but
to Portsmouth or Southampton, and you will find the harbors crowdedto Portsmouth or Southampton, and you will find the harbors crowded
with the yachts belonging to such of the English as can afford the
expense, and have the same liking for this amusement. Now, by way
of having a resting-place during his excursions, avoiding the
wretched cookery — which has been trying its best to poison me
during the last four months, while you have manfully resisted its
effects for as many years, — and obtaining a bed on which it is
possible to slumber, Monte Cristo has furnished for himself a
temporary abode where you first found him; but, to prevent the
possibility of the Tuscan government taking a fancy to his
enchanted palace, and thereby depriving him of the advantages
naturally expected from so large an outlay of capital, he has
wisely enough purchased the island, and taken its name. Just ask
yourself, my good fellow, whether there are not many persons of our
acquaintance who assume the names of lands and properties they
never in their lives were masters of?"
"But," said Franz, "the Corsican bandits that were among the
crew of his vessel?"
"Why, really the thing seems to me simple enough. Nobody knows
better than yourself that the bandits of Corsica are not rogues or
thieves, but purely and simply fugitives, driven by some sinister
motive from their native town or village, and that their fellowship
involves no disgrace or stigma; for my own part, I protest that,
should I ever go to Corsica, my first visit, ere even I presented
myself to the mayor or prefect, should be to the bandits of
Colomba, if I could only manage to find them; for, on my
conscience, they are a race of men I admire greatly."
"Still," persisted Franz, "I suppose you will allow that such
men as Vampa and his band are regular villains, who have no other
motive than plunder when they seize your person. How do you explain
the influence the count evidently possessed over those
ruffians?"
"My good friend, as in all probability I own my present safety
to that influence, it would ill become me to search too closelyto that influence, it would ill become me to search too closely
into its source; therefore, instead of condemning him for his
intimacy with outlaws, you must give me leave to excuse any little
irregularity there may be in such a connection; not altogether for
preserving my life, for my own idea was that it never was in much
danger, but certainly for saving me 4,000 piastres, which, being
translated, means neither more nor less than 24,000 livres of our
money — a sum at which, most assuredly, I should never have been
estimated in France, proving most indisputably," added Albert with
a laugh, "that no prophet is honored in his own country."
"Talking of countries," replied Franz, "of what country is the
count, what is his native tongue, whence does he derive his immense
fortune, and what were those events of his early life — a life as
marvellous as unknown — that have tinctured his succeeding years
with so dark and gloomy a misanthropy? Certainly these are
questions that, in your place, I should like to have answered."
"My dear Franz," replied Albert, "when, upon receipt of my
letter, you found the necessity of asking the count's assistance,
you promptly went to him, saying, `My friend Albert de Morcerf is
in danger; help me to deliver him.' Was not that nearly what you
said?"
"It was."
"Well, then, did he ask you, `Who is M. Albert de Morcerf? how
does he come by his name — his fortune? what are his means of
existence? what is his birthplace! of what country is he a native?'
Tell me, did he put all these questions to you?"
"I confess he asked me none."
"No; he merely came and freed me from the hands of Signor Vampa,
where, I can assure you, in spite of all my outward appearance of
ease and unconcern, I did not very particularly care to remain.
Now, then, Franz, when, for services so promptly and unhesitatingly
rendered, he but asks me in return to do for him what is done daily
for any Russian prince or Italian nobleman who may pass through
Paris — merely to introduce him into society — would you have me