e a delightful
cicerone. And now you will do me a favor, will you not?"

"What is it?"

"Do not introduce me to any of these gentlemen; and should they wish it,
you will warn me." Just then the count felt his arm pressed. He turned
round; it was Danglars.

"Ah, is it you, baron?" said he.

"Why do you call me baron?" said Danglars; "you know that I care nothing
for my title. I am not like you, viscount; you like your title, do you
not?"

"Certainly," replied Albert, "seeing that without my title I should
be nothing; while you, sacrificing the baron, would still remain the
millionaire."

"Which seems to me the finest title under the royalty of July," replied
Danglars.

"Unfortunately," said Monte Cristo, "one's title to a millionaire does
not last for life, like that of baron, peer of France, or Academician;
for example, the millionaires Franck & Poulmann, of Frankfort, who have
just become bankrupts."

"Indeed?" said Danglars, becoming pale.

"Yes; I received the news this evening by a courier. I had about a
million in their hands, but, warned in time, I withdrew it a month ago."

"Ah, mon Dieu," exclaimed Danglars, "they have drawn on me for 200,000
francs!"

"Well, you can throw out the draft; their signature is worth five per
cent."

"Yes, but it is too late," said Danglars, "I have honored their bills."

"Then," said Monte Cristo, "here are 200,000 francs gone after"--

"Hush, do not mention these things," said Danglars; then, approaching
Monte Cristo, he added, "especially before young M. Cavalcanti;" after
which he smiled, and turned towards the young man in question. Albert
had left the count to speak to his mother, Danglars to converse with
young Cavalcanti; Monte Cristo was for an instant alone. Meanwhile the
heat became excessive. The footmen were hastening through the rooms with
waiters loaded with ices. Monte Cristo wiped the perspiration from his
forehead, but drew back when the waiter was presented to him; he took no
refreshment. Madame de Morcerf did not lose sight of Monte Cristo; she
saw that he took nothing, and even noticed his gesture of refusal.

"Albert," she asked, "did you notice that?"

"What, mother?"

"That the count has never been willing to partake of food under the roof
of M. de Morcerf."

"Yes; but then he breakfasted with me--indeed, he made his first
appearance in the world on that occasion."

"But your house is not M. de Morcerf's," murmured Mercedes; "and sinc