il did you find out that?"

"At their ball; it was apparent enough. Why, did not the countess, the
proud Mercedes, the disdainful Catalane, who will scarcely open her lips
to her oldest acquaintances, take your arm, lead you into the garden,
into the private walks, and remain there for half an hour?"

"Ah, baron, baron," said Albert, "you are not listening--what barbarism
in a megalomaniac like you!"

"Oh, don't worry about me, Sir Mocker," said Danglars; then turning to
the count he said, "but will you undertake to speak to the father?"

"Willingly, if you wish it."

"But let it be done explicitly and positively. If he demands my daughter
let him fix the day--declare his conditions; in short, let us either
understand each other, or quarrel. You understand--no more delay."

"Yes, sir, I will give my attention to the subject."

"I do not say that I await with pleasure his decision, but I do await
it. A banker must, you know, be a slave to his promise." And Danglars
sighed as M. Cavalcanti had done half an hour before. "Bravi, bravo,
brava!" cried Morcerf, parodying the banker, as the selection came to an
end. Danglars began to look suspiciously at Morcerf, when some one came
and whispered a few words to him. "I shall soon return," said the banker
to Monte Cristo; "wait for me. I shall, perhaps, have something to say
to you." And he went out.

The baroness took advantage of her husband's absence to push open the
door of her daughter's study, and M. Andrea, who was sitting before
the piano with Mademoiselle Eugenie, started up like a jack-in-the-box.
Albert bowed with a smile to Mademoiselle Danglars, who did not appear
in the least disturbed, and returned his bow with her usual coolness.
Cavalcanti was evidently embarrassed; he bowed to Morcerf, who replied
with the most impertinent look possible. Then Albert launched out in
praise of Mademoiselle Danglars' voice, and on his regret, after what
he had just heard, that he had been unable to be present the previous
evening. Cavalcanti, being left alone, turned to Monte Cristo.

"Come," said Madame Danglars, "leave music and compliments, and let us
go and take tea."

"Come, Louise," said Mademoiselle Danglars to her friend. They passed
into the next drawing-room, where tea was prepared. Just as they were
beginning, in the English fashion, to leave the spoons in their cups,
the door again opened and Danglars entered, visibly agitated. Monte
Cristo observed it partic