o love our neighbor, as Christians; but I thoroughly
hate but a few. Let us return to M. Franz d'Epinay. Did you say he was
coming?"

"Yes; summoned by M. de Villefort, who is apparently as anxious to get
Mademoiselle Valentine married as M. Danglars is to see Mademoiselle
Eugenie settled. It must be a very irksome office to be the father of
a grown-up daughter; it seems to make one feverish, and to raise one's
pulse to ninety beats a minute until the deed is done."

"But M. d'Epinay, unlike you, bears his misfortune patiently."

"Still more, he talks seriously about the matter, puts on a white tie,
and speaks of his family. He entertains a very high opinion of M. and
Madame de Villefort."

"Which they deserve, do they not?"

"I believe they do. M. de Villefort has always passed for a severe but a
just man."

"There is, then, one," said Monte Cristo, "whom you do not condemn like
poor Danglars?"

"Because I am not compelled to marry his daughter perhaps," replied
Albert, laughing.

"Indeed, my dear sir," said Monte Cristo, "you are revoltingly foppish."

"I foppish? how do you mean?"

"Yes; pray take a cigar, and cease to defend yourself, and to struggle
to escape marrying Mademoiselle Danglars. Let things take their course;
perhaps you may not have to retract."

"Bah," said Albert, staring.

"Doubtless, my dear viscount, you will not be taken by force; and
seriously, do you wish to break off your engagement?"

"I would give a hundred thousand francs to be able to do so."

"Then make yourself quite easy. M. Danglars would give double that sum
to attain the same end."

"Am I, indeed, so happy?" said Albert, who still could not prevent an
almost imperceptible cloud passing across his brow. "But, my dear count,
has M. Danglars any reason?"

"Ah, there is your proud and selfish nature. You would expose the
self-love of another with a hatchet, but you shrink if your own is
attacked with a needle."

"But yet M. Danglars appeared"--

"Delighted with you, was he not? Well, he is a man of bad taste, and is
still more enchanted with another. I know not whom; look and judge for
yourself."

"Thank you, I understand. But my mother--no, not my mother; I
mistake--my father intends giving a ball."

"A ball at this season?"

"Summer balls are fashionable."

"If they were not, the countess has only to wish it, and they would
become so."

"You are right; You know they are select affairs; those who remain
i