ease.

Albert found in his anteroom two guns, with all the accoutrements for
hunting; a lofty room on the ground-floor containing all the ingenious
instruments the English--eminent in piscatory pursuits, since they
are patient and sluggish--have invented for fishing. The day passed in
pursuing those exercises in which Monte Cristo excelled. They killed
a dozen pheasants in the park, as many trout in the stream, dined in a
summer-house overlooking the ocean, and took tea in the library.

Towards the evening of the third day. Albert, completely exhausted
with the exercise which invigorated Monte Cristo, was sleeping in
an arm-chair near the window, while the count was designing with his
architect the plan of a conservatory in his house, when the sound of
a horse at full speed on the high road made Albert look up. He was
disagreeably surprised to see his own valet de chambre, whom he had not
brought, that he might not inconvenience Monte Cristo.

"Florentin here!" cried he, starting up; "is my mother ill?" And he
hastened to the door. Monte Cristo watched and saw him approach the
valet, who drew a small sealed parcel from his pocket, containing a
newspaper and a letter. "From whom is this?" said he eagerly. "From M.
Beauchamp," replied Florentin.

"Did he send you?"

"Yes, sir; he sent for me to his house, gave me money for my journey,
procured a horse, and made me promise not to stop till I had reached
you, I have come in fifteen hours."

Albert opened the letter with fear, uttered a shriek on reading the
first line, and seized the paper. His sight was dimmed, his legs sank
under him, and he would have fallen had not Florentin supported him.

"Poor young man," said Monte Cristo in a low voice; "it is then true
that the sin of the father shall fall on the children to the third and
fourth generation." Meanwhile Albert had revived, and, continuing to
read, he threw back his head, saying, "Florentin, is your horse fit to
return immediately?"

"It is a poor lame post-horse."

"In what state was the house when you left?"

"All was quiet, but on returning from M. Beauchamp's, I found madame in
tears: she had sent for me to know when you would return. I told her my
orders from M. Beauchamp; she first extended her arms to prevent me, but
after a moment's reflection, 'Yes, go, Florentin,' said she, 'and may he
come quickly.'"

"Yes, my mother," said Albert, "I will return, and woe to the infamous
wretch! But first of