h the
disagreeable expression he had before assumed, "you must pay for it--you
understand?"

"Well, what do you want?"

"I think that with a hundred francs a month"--

"Well?"

"I could live"--

"Upon a hundred francs!"

"Come--you understand me; but that with"--

"With?"

"With a hundred and fifty francs I should be quite happy."

"Here are two hundred," said Andrea; and he placed ten gold louis in the
hand of Caderousse.

"Good!" said Caderousse.

"Apply to the steward on the first day of every month, and you will
receive the same sum."

"There now, again you degrade me."

"How so?"

"By making me apply to the servants, when I want to transact business
with you alone."

"Well, be it so, then. Take it from me then, and so long at least as I
receive my income, you shall be paid yours."

"Come, come; I always said you were a fine fellow, and it is a blessing
when good fortune happens to such as you. But tell me all about it?"

"Why do you wish to know?" asked Cavalcanti.

"What? do you again defy me?"

"No; the fact is, I have found my father."

"What? a real father?"

"Yes, so long as he pays me"--

"You'll honor and believe him--that's right. What is his name?"

"Major Cavalcanti."

"Is he pleased with you?"

"So far I have appeared to answer his purpose."

"And who found this father for you?"

"The Count of Monte Cristo."

"The man whose house you have just left?"

"Yes."

"I wish you would try and find me a situation with him as grandfather,
since he holds the money-chest!"

"Well, I will mention you to him. Meanwhile, what are you going to do?"

"I?"

"Yes, you."

"It is very kind of you to trouble yourself about me."

"Since you interest yourself in my affairs, I think it is now my turn to
ask you some questions."

"Ah, true. Well; I shall rent a room in some respectable house, wear
a decent coat, shave every day, and go and read the papers in a cafe.
Then, in the evening, I shall go to the theatre; I shall look like some
retired baker. That is what I want."

"Come, if you will only put this scheme into execution, and be steady,
nothing could be better."

"Do you think so, M. Bossuet? And you--what will you become? A peer of
France?"

"Ah," said Andrea, "who knows?"

"Major Cavalcanti is already one, perhaps; but then, hereditary rank is
abolished."

"No politics, Caderousse. And now that you have all you want, and that
we understand each other, jump down