perpetually with me, sing to me, compose verses and
music within ten paces of me, and that for my whole life, it frightens
me. One may forsake a mistress, but a wife,--good heavens! There she
must always be; and to marry Mademoiselle Danglars would be awful."

"You are difficult to please, viscount."

"Yes, for I often wish for what is impossible."

"What is that?"

"To find such a wife as my father found." Monte Cristo turned pale, and
looked at Albert, while playing with some magnificent pistols.

"Your father was fortunate, then?" said he.

"You know my opinion of my mother, count; look at her,--still beautiful,
witty, more charming than ever. For any other son to have stayed with
his mother for four days at Treport, it would have been a condescension
or a martyrdom, while I return, more contented, more peaceful--shall
I say more poetic!--than if I had taken Queen Mab or Titania as my
companion."

"That is an overwhelming demonstration, and you would make every one vow
to live a single life."

"Such are my reasons for not liking to marry Mademoiselle Danglars. Have
you ever noticed how much a thing is heightened in value when we obtain
possession of it? The diamond which glittered in the window at Marle's
or Fossin's shines with more splendor when it is our own; but if we
are compelled to acknowledge the superiority of another, and still
must retain the one that is inferior, do you not know what we have to
endure?"

"Worldling," murmured the count.

"Thus I shall rejoice when Mademoiselle Eugenie perceives I am but a
pitiful atom, with scarcely as many hundred thousand francs as she has
millions." Monte Cristo smiled. "One plan occurred to me," continued
Albert; "Franz likes all that is eccentric; I tried to make him fall in
love with Mademoiselle Danglars; but in spite of four letters, written
in the most alluring style, he invariably answered: 'My eccentricity may
be great, but it will not make me break my promise.'"

"That is what I call devoted friendship, to recommend to another one
whom you would not marry yourself." Albert smiled.--"Apropos," continued
he, "Franz is coming soon, but it will not interest you; you dislike
him, I think?"

"I?" said Monte Cristo; "my dear Viscount, how have you discovered that
I did not like M. Franz! I like every one."

"And you include me in the expression every one--many thanks!"

"Let us not mistake," said Monte Cristo; "I love every one as God
commands us t