t one idea to you?"

"Certainly."

"It is that, next to you, Bertuccio must be the richest gentleman in
Europe."

"You are mistaken, viscount; I believe he has not a franc in his
possession."

"Then he must be a wonder. My dear count, if you tell me many more
marvellous things, I warn you I shall not believe them."

"I countenance nothing that is marvellous, M. Albert. Tell me, why does
a steward rob his master?"

"Because, I suppose, it is his nature to do so, for the love of
robbing."

"You are mistaken; it is because he has a wife and family, and ambitious
desires for himself and them. Also because he is not sure of always
retaining his situation, and wishes to provide for the future. Now, M.
Bertuccio is alone in the world; he uses my property without accounting
for the use he makes of it; he is sure never to leave my service."

"Why?"

"Because I should never get a better."

"Probabilities are deceptive."

"But I deal in certainties; he is the best servant over whom one has the
power of life and death."

"Do you possess that right over Bertuccio?"

"Yes."

There are words which close a conversation with an iron door; such was
the count's "yes." The whole journey was performed with equal rapidity;
the thirty-two horses, dispersed over seven stages, brought them to
their destination in eight hours. At midnight they arrived at the gate
of a beautiful park. The porter was in attendance; he had been apprised
by the groom of the last stage of the count's approach. At half past two
in the morning Morcerf was conducted to his apartments, where a bath and
supper were prepared. The servant who had travelled at the back of
the carriage waited on him; Baptistin, who rode in front, attended the
count. Albert bathed, took his supper, and went to bed. All night he was
lulled by the melancholy noise of the surf. On rising, he went to his
window, which opened on a terrace, having the sea in front, and at the
back a pretty park bounded by a small forest. In a creek lay a little
sloop, with a narrow keel and high masts, bearing on its flag the Monte
Cristo arms which were a mountain on a sea azure, with a cross gules
on the shield. Around the schooner lay a number of small fishing-boats
belonging to the fishermen of the neighboring village, like humble
subjects awaiting orders from their queen. There, as in every spot where
Monte Cristo stopped, if but for two days, luxury abounded and life went
on with the utmost