all the additional circumstances
detailed by Debray. This posing at the piano and over the album was only
a little ruse adopted by way of precaution. A most gracious welcome and
unusual smile were bestowed on M. Danglars; the count, in return for
his gentlemanly bow, received a formal though graceful courtesy, while
Lucien exchanged with the count a sort of distant recognition, and with
Danglars a free and easy nod.

"Baroness," said Danglars, "give me leave to present to you the Count
of Monte Cristo, who has been most warmly recommended to me by my
correspondents at Rome. I need but mention one fact to make all the
ladies in Paris court his notice, and that is, that he has come to take
up his abode in Paris for a year, during which brief period he proposes
to spend six millions of money. That means balls, dinners, and lawn
parties without end, in all of which I trust the count will remember
us, as he may depend upon it we shall him, in our own humble
entertainments." In spite of the gross flattery and coarseness of this
address, Madame Danglars could not forbear gazing with considerable
interest on a man capable of expending six millions in twelve months,
and who had selected Paris for the scene of his princely extravagance.
"And when did you arrive here?" inquired she.

"Yesterday morning, madame."

"Coming, as usual, I presume, from the extreme end of the globe? Pardon
me--at least, such I have heard is your custom."

"Nay, madame. This time I have merely come from Cadiz."

"You have selected a most unfavorable moment for your first visit. Paris
is a horrible place in summer. Balls, parties, and fetes are over; the
Italian opera is in London; the French opera everywhere except in Paris.
As for the Theatre Francais, you know, of course, that it is nowhere.
The only amusements left us are the indifferent races at the Champ de
Mars and Satory. Do you propose entering any horses at either of these
races, count?"

"I shall do whatever they do at Paris, madame, if I have the good
fortune to find some one who will initiate me into the prevalent ideas
of amusement."

"Are you fond of horses, count?"

"I have passed a considerable part of my life in the East, madame, and
you are doubtless aware that the Orientals value only two things--the
fine breeding of their horses and the beauty of their women."

"Nay, count," said the baroness, "it would have been somewhat more
gallant to have placed the ladies first."

"Y