he
threshold. "I ask your pardon, my dear count," said Albert, "for
following you here, and I must first tell you that it was not the
fault of your servants that I did so; I alone am to blame for the
indiscretion. I went to your house, and they told me you were out, but
that they expected you home at ten o'clock to breakfast. I was walking
about in order to pass away the time till ten o'clock, when I caught
sight of your carriage and horses."

"What you have just said induces me to hope that you intend breakfasting
with me."

"No, thank you, I am thinking of other things besides breakfast
just now; perhaps we may take that meal at a later hour and in worse
company."

"What on earth are you talking of?"

"I am to fight to-day."

"For what?"

"I am going to fight"--

"Yes, I understand that, but what is the quarrel? People fight for all
sorts of reasons, you know."

"I fight in the cause of honor."

"Ah, that is something serious."

"So serious, that I come to beg you to render me a service."

"What is it?"

"To be my second."

"That is a serious matter, and we will not discuss it here; let us speak
of nothing till we get home. Ali, bring me some water." The count turned
up his sleeves, and passed into the little vestibule where the gentlemen
were accustomed to wash their hands after shooting. "Come in, my lord,"
said Philip in a low tone, "and I will show you something droll."
Morcerf entered, and in place of the usual target, he saw some
playing-cards fixed against the wall. At a distance Albert thought it
was a complete suit, for he counted from the ace to the ten. "Ah, ha,"
said Albert, "I see you were preparing for a game of cards."

"No," said the count, "I was making a suit."

"How?" said Albert.

"Those are really aces and twos which you see, but my shots have turned
them into threes, fives, sevens, eights, nines, and tens." Albert
approached. In fact, the bullets had actually pierced the cards in the
exact places which the painted signs would otherwise have occupied, the
lines and distances being as regularly kept as if they had been ruled
with pencil. "Diable," said Morcerf.

"What would you have, my dear viscount?" said Monte Cristo, wiping his
hands on the towel which Ali had brought him; "I must occupy my leisure
moments in some way or other. But come, I am waiting for you." Both men
entered Monte Cristo's carriage, which in the course of a few minutes
deposited them safely at No. 30.