use of the father-in-law
of his son; then again, if he disliked his choice, the major takes the
key, double-locks his coffer, and Master Andrea would be obliged to live
like the sons of a Parisian family, by shuffling cards or rattling the
dice."

"Ah, that boy will find out some Bavarian or Peruvian princess; he will
want a crown and an immense fortune."

"No; these grand lords on the other side of the Alps frequently marry
into plain families; like Jupiter, they like to cross the race. But do
you wish to marry Andrea, my dear M. Danglars, that you are asking so
many questions?"

"Ma foi," said Danglars, "it would not be a bad speculation, I fancy,
and you know I am a speculator."

"You are not thinking of Mademoiselle Danglars, I hope; you would not
like poor Andrea to have his throat cut by Albert?"

"Albert," repeated Danglars, shrugging his shoulders; "ah, well; he
would care very little about it, I think."

"But he is betrothed to your daughter, I believe?"

"Well, M. de Morcerf and I have talked about this marriage, but Madame
de Morcerf and Albert"--

"You do not mean to say that it would not be a good match?"

"Indeed, I imagine that Mademoiselle Danglars is as good as M. de
Morcerf."

"Mademoiselle Danglars' fortune will be great, no doubt, especially if
the telegraph should not make any more mistakes."

"Oh, I do not mean her fortune only; but tell me"--

"What?"

"Why did you not invite M. and Madame de Morcerf to your dinner?"

"I did so, but he excused himself on account of Madame de Morcerf being
obliged to go to Dieppe for the benefit of sea air."

"Yes, yes," said Danglars, laughing, "it would do her a great deal of
good."

"Why so?"

"Because it is the air she always breathed in her youth." Monte Cristo
took no notice of this ill-natured remark.

"But still, if Albert be not so rich as Mademoiselle Danglars," said the
count, "you must allow that he has a fine name?"

"So he has; but I like mine as well."

"Certainly; your name is popular, and does honor to the title they have
adorned it with; but you are too intelligent not to know that according
to a prejudice, too firmly rooted to be exterminated, a nobility which
dates back five centuries is worth more than one that can only reckon
twenty years."

"And for this very reason," said Danglars with a smile, which he
tried to make sardonic, "I prefer M. Andrea Cavalcanti to M. Albert de
Morcerf."

"Still, I should not think