y father?"

"I imagine any one may write to Yanina."

"But one person only wrote!"

"One only?"

"Yes; and that was you!"

"I, doubtless, wrote. It appears to me that when about to marry your
daughter to a young man, it is right to make some inquiries respecting
his family; it is not only a right, but a duty."

"You wrote, sir, knowing what answer you would receive."

"I, indeed? I assure you," cried Danglars, with a confidence and
security proceeding less from fear than from the interest he really felt
for the young man, "I solemnly declare to you, that I should never
have thought of writing to Yanina, did I know anything of Ali Pasha's
misfortunes."

"Who, then, urged you to write? Tell me."

"Pardieu, it was the most simple thing in the world. I was speaking of
your father's past history. I said the origin of his fortune remained
obscure. The person to whom I addressed my scruples asked me where your
father had acquired his property? I answered, 'In Greece.'--'Then,' said
he, 'write to Yanina.'"

"And who thus advised you?"

"No other than your friend, Monte Cristo."

"The Count of Monte Cristo told you to write to Yanina?"

"Yes; and I wrote, and will show you my correspondence, if you like."
Albert and Beauchamp looked at each other. "Sir," said Beauchamp, who
had not yet spoken, "you appear to accuse the count, who is absent from
Paris at this moment, and cannot justify himself."

"I accuse no one, sir," said Danglars; "I relate, and I will repeat
before the count what I have said to you."

"Does the count know what answer you received?"

"Yes; I showed it to him."

"Did he know my father's Christian name was Fernand, and his family name
Mondego?"

"Yes, I had told him that long since, and I did only what any other
would have done in my circumstances, and perhaps less. When, the day
after the arrival of this answer, your father came by the advice of
Monte Cristo to ask my daughter's hand for you, I decidedly refused him,
but without any explanation or exposure. In short, why should I have
any more to do with the affair? How did the honor or disgrace of M. de
Morcerf affect me? It neither increased nor decreased my income."

Albert felt the blood mounting to his brow; there was no doubt upon the
subject. Danglars defended himself with the baseness, but at the same
time with the assurance, of a man who speaks the truth, at least
in part, if not wholly--not for conscience' sake, but through f