m of the affairs in the Bourse."

"Then you do not speculate?"

"I?--How could I speculate when I already have so much trouble in
regulating my income? I should be obliged, besides my steward, to keep
a clerk and a boy. But touching these Spanish affairs, I think that the
baroness did not dream the whole of the Don Carlos matter. The papers
said something about it, did they not?"

"Then you believe the papers?"

"I?--not the least in the world; only I fancied that the honest Messager
was an exception to the rule, and that it only announced telegraphic
despatches."

"Well, that's what puzzles me," replied Danglars; "the news of the
return of Don Carlos was brought by telegraph."

"So that," said Monte Cristo, "you have lost nearly 1,700,000 francs
this month."

"Not nearly, indeed; that is exactly my loss."

"Diable," said Monte Cristo compassionately, "it is a hard blow for a
third-rate fortune."

"Third-rate," said Danglars, rather humble, "what do you mean by that?"

"Certainly," continued Monte Cristo, "I make three assortments in
fortune--first-rate, second-rate, and third-rate fortunes. I call those
first-rate which are composed of treasures one possesses under one's
hand, such as mines, lands, and funded property, in such states as
France, Austria, and England, provided these treasures and property form
a total of about a hundred millions; I call those second-rate fortunes,
that are gained by manufacturing enterprises, joint-stock companies,
viceroyalties, and principalities, not drawing more than 1,500,000
francs, the whole forming a capital of about fifty millions; finally,
I call those third-rate fortunes, which are composed of a fluctuating
capital, dependent upon the will of others, or upon chances which
a bankruptcy involves or a false telegram shakes, such as banks,
speculations of the day--in fact, all operations under the influence of
greater or less mischances, the whole bringing in a real or fictitious
capital of about fifteen millions. I think this is about your position,
is it not?"

"Confound it, yes!" replied Danglars.

"The result, then, of six more such months as this would be to reduce
the third-rate house to despair."

"Oh," said Danglars, becoming very pale, how you are running on!"

"Let us imagine seven such months," continued Monte Cristo, in the same
tone. "Tell me, have you ever thought that seven times 1,700,000 francs
make nearly twelve millions? No, you have not;--well